Yamaha’s 2009 YZ250 and YZ125 Intro: The MXA Wrecking Crew Meets The Wolfman

TESTING THE ONLY JAPANESE BUILT TWO-STROKES ON A VERY SPECIAL TRACK

Yamaha is the last Japanese manufacturer to make 125cc and 250cc two-strokes for the American market. It is fact that they are proud of. Yamaha is quick to point out that their two-strokes share all the same components as their four-strokes, are ten pounds lighter, easier to maintain, fun to ride and retail for up to $750 less than their comparable four-stroke brethren.

John Minert roosts his way under the awning of an enormous oak tree on a YZ250. Minert is 24 years old and the tree is 140 years old.

To bring the point home about how good the 2009 Yamaha YZ125 and YZ250 are, Yamaha invited the MXA wrecking crew to a private track on the ranch built by former actor Lon Chaney. Lon Chaney was a famous Hollywood actor from 1930 through 1960. He is best know for his role as the Wolfman in a series of monster movies that included “The Wolfman (1941),” “The Mummies Tomb,” “Son of Dracula” and most famously in “High Noon” with Gary Cooper. Chaney died in 1973.

His ranch near Warner Springs, California, is currently owned by lawyer and motorcycle racer Ed Picossi. Picossi was thrilled when Yamaha asked if they could use his private motocross track for the YZ125/YZ250 introduction.

For the MXA wrecking crew, who was in Texas two weeks ago for the CRF450 intro and Tennessee last week for the KX450F intro, the Lon Chaney Ranch was still a long way from our Valencia offices. Luckily, MXA has two editors who are pilots. So, we loaded up Jody’s plane and borrowed Joe Melton’s Piper Lance to turn what would have been a three-hour drive to Warner Springs (it is on the road to Ocotillo Wells) into a quick flight. Luckily, the Chaney Ranch is located seven minutes away from a private glider airport that was gracious enough to let our airplanes land. Once on the ground, we unloaded our gear bags and hopped in a Yamaha truck for the seven-minute ride to the track.

Grant Langston decided to come down to the Ranch for a chance to ride. Grant hasn’t ridden in several months and it looks like he won’t be able to ride much in the coming months. He is going to have eye surgery soon.

Ed Picossi spared no expense on his track. It is very long, includes a fifth gear uphill straight, sprinkler system, water truck and incredible dirt. The MXA gang spent the complete days roosting dirt with the YZ125 and YZ250, eating barbecue, shooting skeet and getting Grant Langston to spin an incredible number of laps (for a guy who hasn’t be able to ride because of his eye problems, he is still very fast).
 

John Basher rails the 2009 Yamaha YZ125 through a deep berm. Lap times at the very private track were close to three minutes.

When the day was done, we were impressed with the Yamaha two-strokes. They are light, snappy, super suspended and turn key bikes that need little more than premix to make them race ready. You may not be a two-stroke fan, but MXA has always believed in them…and you will see full tests in upcoming issues.

Thanks go to Yamaha’s Tim Olson, Chaney Ranch’s Ed Picossi and Joe “Meltdown” Melton for a great day on a great track. After seven hours of riding, we were back in our airplanes and winging our way home (once Jody got back out of the cockpit to untie the tail of his plane).


The Chaney Ranch is located in valley just down the road from the famous Palomar Observatory. Yamaha set up camp in Lon Chaney’s old front yard.


If you make it to the front gate of the Chaney Ranch you are greeted by an iron gate with Chaney’s initial on it. Once past the gate, the motocross track is on the left.


When we weren’t riding, we spent our time shooting clay pigeons over the lake. If motocross improves hand/eye coordination, we didn’t prove it. Lots of pigeons lived to fly another day.
 
You might also like

Comments are closed.