BLAST FROM THE PAST
Carl Cranke laying it down and matting the throttle during an ISDT special tests- the drag race. Skunk helmet, tee shirt, Hallman desert leathers and Hi Points highlight one of the heroes and characters from the earlier days of off-road racing. Carl Cranke was a top American motorcycle enduro racer of the 1960s and ’70s. He represented the United States in 10 International Six Day Trials (ISDT) events while competing aboard Penton, KTM and Yamaha motorcycles. He earned seven gold medals and two silver medals in ISDT competition.
FRANCE DES NATIONS TEAM LOOKS DAUNTING!
France has named Marvin Musquin (MX2), Gautier Paulin (MX1) and Romain Febvre (Open) to their 2015 squad. The 2015 Motocross of Nations will take place at Ernee, France on the weekend of September 27.
Last year’s French team consisting of Paulin, Dylan Ferrandis and Steven Frossard won the Chamberlain Trophy in Kegums, Latvia.
The French present a deep squad that should challenge for a second straight championship. Musquin is currently four points back of points leader Jeremy Martin in the 250 Class in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross.
The surprise of MXGP, Febvre, holds an eighty-four-point lead over Paulin in the FIM World Motocross Championship MXGP (450) Class.
WASHINGTON WORCS TO RUSSELL
Following a two-month summer break from racing, the racers headed to the Pacific Northwest for the seventh round of the WORCS season, which is typically a cool and damp race location, but that wasn’t the case this year with record heat and dry conditions, which made for an unusual dusty race through the trees.
Besides the normal Pro main event on Sunday, racers also competed in a special WORCS X race on Saturday night, which also counted toward the WORCS Pro championship, so this was one round not to miss for those in the hunt for the title.
AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell tookthe win at round seven of the 2015 Rocky Mountain MC World Off-Road Championship Series held at Straddleline ORV Park in Washington. KTM’s Gary Sutherlin, snared a runner-up finish on the weekend, and Jacob Argubright rounded out the pro podium. RPM / KTM’s Eric Yorba claimed the Pro win Saturday night in the WORCS X event.
For Russell it was redemption from finishing in the runner-up position in 2014 after Sutherlin made a last-second pass. Russell, who spends the majority of his racing in the GNCC series (and he’s second in XC2 Pro Lites) made the trip to Washington to race WORCS while the GNCC season is on its summer break.
Gary Sutherlin had a difficult weekend, although he finished second in Saturday’s WORCS X, as well as Sunday’s event. Jacob Argubright claimed the final spot on the podium, he has spent most the year recovering from a wrist injury, but it didn’t show in his performance this weekend as he battle for the final podium spot with Justin Morgan for several laps.
The WORCS points leader Robby Bell returned to competition this weekend after a hard crash three weeks ago at Glen Helen, where he knocked out nine teeth and fractured his jaw. Despite not riding since the accident, Bell salvaged some valuable points this weekend, finishing seventh and eighth on Saturday and Sunday. Bell’s finishes in Washington allow him to hold onto a 39-point lead going into the final two races of the season.
While Eric Yorba finished ninth on Sunday during the Main event, he was on fire on Saturday as he went on to claim his first WORCS Pro win in the WORCS X race. Ty Tremaine rounded out the WORCS X Pro podium behind Sutherlin on Saturday for a KTM podium sweep, and Tremaine was in the running for another podium finish on Sunday when he went down and mangled his motorcycle forcing him out of the rave.
MALCOLM SMITH AUTOBIOGRAPHY
This note comes from my buddy Mitch Boehm! Mitch was a long time editor at Motorcyclist, spent time at Cycle World and is the driving force behind Moto Retro.
The Malcolm Smith autobiography I’ve been working on with Malcolm is finished, printed and in my grubby hands!
Anyway, I’m just really excited and had to tell someone! Thanks for being there all these years, and I hope you’ll somehow get a copy to read. It’s 400 pages, over 100,000 words, 11×11 inches, hardbound, and filled with a lot of photos no one outside Malcolm’s family has ever seen. And Bruce Brown did the foreword.
After two years of work, Malcolm Smith’s long-awaited autobiography, titled Malcolm! The Autobiography is finished, printed, and on it’s way to Malcolm’s Southern California store via ocean container.
Expected arrival of the bulk shipment is October 2015, or sooner. Which means customers can expect their books to be shipped at that time. Of course, books are available for immediate order (and October delivery) from Malcolm Smith Motorsports [7599 Indiana Ave. Riverside, CA 92504, 951.687.1300] at www.malcolmsmith.com or www.themalcolmbook.com. Retail price is $49.95.
For the 400-page, 11 x 11-inch hardbound book, Malcolm teamed up with longtime motojournalist Mitch Boehm, a 30-year industry veteran who edited Motorcyclist for 15 years, and who also worked at Cycle World and American Honda.
Saturated with personal storytelling, rich in detail, and containing many never-before-seen photographs from Malcolm’s personal archive, Malcolm! The Autobiography is a must-read for any motorcyclist or off-road enthusiast. From his early days along Canada’s Pacific coast, to his childhood in San Bernardino, California, to his first bikes, his racing efforts in the U.S., Baja, Europe and Asia, to his business life, the iconic movie On Any Sunday and his family life, it’s all here, and all told by one of the world’s legendary motorcycle and off-road racers.
“There’s a lot here,” says Malcolm. “Ten chapters, over 100,000 words worth of stories, and hundreds of photographs, many of them never seen before. It’s an amazing book. I have to give credit to Todd Westover, who handled the design for us, and my wife Joyce, who helped organize the project and scanned many of the photos. I just know folks are going to love it.”
Retail price: $49.95
For more information contact Malcolm Smith Motorsports [7599 Indiana Ave. Riverside, CA 92504, 951.687.1300 or www.malcolmsmith.com, or click on www.themalcolmbook.com
MXGP SHOCKER!
KTM rider Shaun Simpson takes 1-1 for overall in MXGP; Max Anstie dominates MX2
The track here in Lommel for the fourteenth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship was extremely gnarly. Quite possibly the gnarliest it has ever been in the last twenty-five years since it first hosted a round of the FIM Motocross World Championship back in 1990. Privateer KTM rider Shaun Simpson who races for Hitachi Construction Machinery Revo KTM, delivered a career best performance In MXGP on the deep and treacherous soft sand circuit in what was a golden weekend for the Scottish rider. He went into Sunday’s races as the fastest qualifier and took two impressive race wins to secure the overall, despite constant and hard challenges by top racers like championship leader Roman Febvre and Gautier Paulin. Heading for the finish line in the closing stages of the race, Simpson had some heart-stopping moments when he took a tumble but he scrambled back on the bike without losing a position and went on to wrap up his overall victory. “It was a bit of a stupid one, really,” he said. “I was still doing the quad quite easily but I changed my line and it took me into some soft sand. It pitched me one way then the other, and I went down. I don’t think I have ever got up as quickly. I was back on the bike in three or four seconds.”
MX2 Action
As predicted, it was a barn burner of a weekend for Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki’s Max Anstie who was absolutely unstoppable on his way to his second perfect Grand Prix of the season. “Latvia was my first 1 – 1 result, it felt a lot easier there than it did here. The track here was so physically demanding, but we managed to get the job done while searching for the right settings,” Anstie said. In regards to the climatic title chase he said: “the one thing I have learnt from this year is that you don’t have to win every race, you just have to be there every weekend to race and not throw things away.
In the absence of his teammate Jeffrey Herlings, who suffered a season-ending dislocated hip in the last round in Loket (CZE), Pauls Jonass, in his rookie year, more than answered the challenge. While the very experienced British rider Max Anstie was the overall winner, the young Latvian rode smart and consistent for his 2-2 result and left with the red plate as championship leader for the first time in his young career. “It was a tough race, really tough, but I’m a quite good sand racer so the main thing was not to be over-confident. I felt good all weekend and I was twice second behind Max (Anstie) and he was really fast this weekend. To have the red plate is something unbelievable. I didn’t expect this would happen for at least two years.”
RIDE LIFE
This is a cool little video from Fly’s top athletes on why they ride.
PRO CIRCUIT TITANIUM KTM VALVES
Pro Circuit’s new Titanium Intake and Exhaust Valves for the 2015-16 KTM 450 SX-F are products KTM racers are designed using their racing experience and manufactured to our exact specifications by Del West, the industry leader in F-1 valve technology. Each intake and exhaust valve is CNC machined and precision ground and then has a thermal- nitride coating applied to increase performance, durability and help reduce normal wear.
www.procircuit.com
KTM CLUTCH WEIGHTS IMPROVE POWER?
The boys over at Best Dual Sport Bikes have come up with a way to improve the power on your KTM/Husky 450/500 Their clutch weights for the KTM DDS or diaphram style clutches is a simple yet effective fix to making the KTM’s and Husky’s more tractable and less prone to “flameouts”, the new 14 oz – 4.6 diameter weight bolts directly to the outside of the clutch in minutes on the trail. It’s way more effective than little 5 oz flywheel weights and half the cost. All that, along with a 5 minute installation time and you can see how it this will be a great product for the track (450 SXF owners, and on the trail 450 XCF, 500 and 501 Husky). They sell for $64.95 at http://bestdualsportbikes.com
NEW MOOSE 2016 VENTED GEAR IS HERE!
The new 2016 Sahara Apparel is now available by Moose Releases today! The 2016 line not only is the most vented gear and is lightweight which is perfect for the hot summer Temps! Moose offers the widest range of sizing in the Industry so check us out today. You can find Moose at any Parts Unlimited dealer or go to the website to view all the new designs and color-ways
SAHARA JERSEY
MSRP: $39.95 – $44.95
Lightweight, ventilated design maximizes airflow
Custom lightweight collar design improves comfort and airflow
Athletic fit and raglan-style sleeve for full range of movement
Highly ventilated polyester mesh chassis
High-quality non-fading, breathable sublimated graphics
Available in sizes SM-3X
SAHARA PANTS
MSRP: $139.95
Highly ventilated nylon/polyester chassis
Oversized knee area with full grain genuine leather panels
Reinforced high denier nylon in high wear areas
Pre-bent ergonomic pant design with spandex stretch panels
3-point waist adjustment system allows you to fine tune fit
Available in sizes 28″ – 48″
Go To mooseracing.com for a dealer near you.
AKRAPOVIC EVO TITANIUM FULL SYSTEM KTM 450 SX-F 2016
One of the most impressive facets on a Factory KTM racing machine is the Akrapovic EVO titanium exhaust system. It is quite simply a work of art. These exhaust systems are now available for order at the Appalachian Off-road Motorcycle Company! The same system used by Ryan Dungey, Marvin Musquin, Antonio Cairoli and Jeffery Herlings can now be yours! Order now or contact our Support Center for more information.
More power and torque
Identical look to our Factory Team
Manufactured entirely of high-grade titanium
Weight savings: approx. 1 kg = 2.2 lbs.
Additional resonance body for optimum power delivery
Manifold flow optimized for production engine
Tuned to comply with the currently valid FIM noise regulations
Akrapovic logo sticker on main silencer
It sells for $1699.99
The Appalachian Off-Road Motorcycle Company
AOMC.mx
BLACKDOG KTM 1190/1290 SKIDPLATES
Known for their first in class skid plates for BMW and KTM adventure bikes, BDCW brings yet another unique design to the KTM market with this skid plate. With their patented side stand relocation bracket they’re the only manufacturer to remove the side stand from the engine case in order to avoid catastrophic damage to the case itself.
-This plate fully protects the clutch, ignition cover, header pipes and catalytic converter.
-Integrated side stand relocator doubles the protection!
-BDCW has relocated the side stand from the engine case with a PATENTED relocation bracket, eliminating the risk of a broken engine case from an impact to the side stand.
-More heft-5mm of thick aluminum
-The optimal weight to protect, perform, and last. In fact, this plate could outlive your bike.
-Smooth bottom for clearing obstacles
-No holes to facilitate spills or hang ups on rocks or branches. Glides over most obstacles without bolts, rivets, or “sliders” to snag or break off.
-Compatible with stock center stand
-Eliminates the need for an extra center stand bash plate.
Powder AND clear coated
Looks great and takes the punishment that anodized finishes can’t.
Made in the U.S. -Tested and trusted worldwide!!
MSRP: $525-$560
www.BlackDogCW.com
WP 4CS FORK MODS
The boys at Kreft have built a reputation for building magical valving into the KTM/Husky WP 4CS fork. Here’s their latest…
COOL SHOTS I FOUND ON MY LAPTOP
THIS IS A WICKED VIDEO!
High-end racers from 1989 get out and do it, not on a track but at play. The overall quality is weak here, but if you talk to shop guys from back then it was one of their best selling VHS moto tapes
CAN YOU NAME THEM
This 1981 Dirt Bike Magazine subscription ad featured three fairly heavy hitters.
ICON’S TRIUMPH TIGER 800XC – “DROMEDARII”
This baby is hugely bizarre, but somehow quite bitchen.
By guest writer Ian Lee.
So you decide you are going to build a custom bike. From this starting point you have so many directions you can head in for the style of your build. Should your bike run motocross bars or clip-ons? Is it a good idea to lengthen your swingarm? Is it really a problem if you want to run both Firestones and pipewrap? All good questions if you are a run of the mill customiser. However, if you are in the same state of mind as the builders at Icon, then your ideas will stretch far beyond conventional means, to the realm of the post-apocalyptic.
For more on the piece http://www.pipeburn.com/home/2013/02/15/icons-triumph-tiger-800xc-dromedarii.html
MORE STRANGNESS
Portugal’s Ton-Up Garage spend considerable effort to build distractingly beautiful machines and this Honda FMX650 named MUXIMA is further evidence. The curious name comes from the country of residence of the lucky owner Alex. Muxima is the name of his village in Angola, it means “heart” in Kimbundu.
“The goal was to build a bike that would reflect the spirit of the riding experience on the roads of Muxima and especially towards Quiçama National Park. They’re mainly dirt roads surrounded by an imense vegetation.”
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THIS WEEK AT LACR
LACR MX T-shirts & Stickers available for sale at our front gate!
T-shirts are $20
Stickers are $2
Wednesday August 5th:
Practice on the Vet Track & Mini Track
2pm-7pm
$25 per rider & $10 50cc Pee Wee’s
Saturday August 8th:
Practice on the Main, Vet, & Mini Track
8am-1pm
$25 per rider & $10 50cc Pee Wee’s
Sunday August 9th:
Practice on the Main, Vet, & Mini Track
8am-1pm
$25 per rider & $10 50cc Pee Wee’s
Thank you for your continued support!
-Anthony Barbacovi & Crew
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WOLF: BACK IN THE DAY
The Nevada Rally, 1994. This was a kick butt event brainstormed by Franco Acerbis and brought off by Bill Berroth, who was running Acerbis USA at the time. Starting in Las Vegas and ending at Mesquite Nevada, massive days running between 250 and 450 miles were punctuated with long special tests all navigated with a Rally Book and no course markings. I did the very smartest thing possible and contacted Bruce Ogilvie and squirmed my way into a factory Honda ride. The bike was brilliant, the Honda support surreal and I actually did ok, other than two flat tires which really cost me. Two things I will always remember, first passing my hero Stephan Peterhansel in a special test and last, breaking my foot on day four after battling with Daryl Folks for 200 miles. After he actually blew my goggle lens out with roost (remember we were usually in fourth or fifth gear so the roost was like machine gunning VW sized bullets at you!) and I finally passed him in a culvert that I hit going way too fast. I didn’t crash, but clipped the side of it and snapped several bones in my foot. I finished, but the broken foot did me no good at the Tulsa ISDE, which was right around the corner.