THE BEST RACE OF THE WEEKEND WAS…
Not at High Point Raceway. It did not have anyone named Dungey, Roczen or Musquin in attendance and the majority of the fans spoke…Italian!
The MXGP of Italy, round nine of the FIM Motocross World Championship held on the infamous Maggiora circuit where riders like Friedrichs, Puzar and Cairoli have had 40,000 wild fans screeching like the Beatles dropped in for an impromptu concert held a GP that was hounded by a rogue storm and in the MXGP division, overalled by a man who could not be denied.
Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube’s Romain Febvre took the first moto win on a very slippery and treacherous circuit. But moto number two was special, especially since the Frenchman performed a spectacular crash on lap one over a vaulted table top jump. He clipped Hitachi Construction Machinery Revo KTM’s Shaun Simpson and yet bounced back for sixth and his second consecutive MXGP overall victory. And he won with handelbars that looked like they came off a Tour De France Colnago and no front stopper at all. His effort was titanic, his will to overcome adversity off the charts. It was definitely the best race that we have seen this year.
Febvre said “I am happy for my team because it is Yamaha’s 60th anniversary and we are in yellow, so that is nice. In race two there was a little bit of sun on the hill so I had to change my line quick and I crashed. I had to ride with no front brake, on this track you can’t imagine how hard it was but I wanted to win the GP so I kept pushing.”
The Frenchman is definitely a legitimate threat for the MXGP crown this year, which he confirmed with his heel-clicker sealed win in race one. Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos put in an outstanding performance on his return from injury with an epic last lap pass on the championship leader, Max Nagl, to win the final race of the day.
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THINKING ABOUT #66
Kurt Caselli was a good friend of DB’s and someone who I had watched evolve, mature and come to dominate the sport of off-road. I ran across these pics while I was searching for…something critical at the time. I think about him and remember him every day.
RODNEY SMITH/JOHN PARAHM IN THE AMA HALL OF FAME
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame to welcome Rodney Smith, John Parham in October ceremony
Class of 2015 to be inducted Oct. 17 in Orlando, Fla.
Tthe American Motorcyclist Association will welcome the Class of 2015 into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Two of those motorcycling greats will be racer Rodney Smith and entrepreneur and patron John Parham.
“It’s my pleasure to announce the first two members of the Class of 2015,” said Ken Ford, a member of the AMA and American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation boards of directors. “Rodney Smith was one of the most versatile motorcycle racers of the 1990s, excelling in both motocross and off-road at the highest levels. John Parham created one of the most-successful motorcycle accessory businesses and later became one of the greatest benefactors of motorcycling’s heritage. Their contributions to the world of motorcycling are enduring and substantial.”
The Class of 2015 includes three competition category inductees and three non-competition category inductees. Smith, from the off-road category, and Parham, from the ambassador and industry category, are the first two inductees announced for 2015.
Rodney Smith started riding motorcycles in the hills of Northern California with his family in the 1960s and ’70s. From there, he blossomed into a local motocross standout and then an international contender. Smith accepted an offer to race in Brazil in 1985 and won five Brazilian national championships. He then moved to the world level and finished third in the 1988 Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme 250cc World Motocross Championships before returning to America in 1990.
Back in the United States, Smith turned his focus to off-road racing, where he became one of the most dominant riders of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Smith won 13 AMA-sanctioned national championship series, including five Grand National Cross Country titles, three AMA National Hare Scrambles titles and five AMA National Reliability Enduro Championships. He also excelled in the International Six Days Enduro, winning multiple gold medals, competing on the premier U.S. Trophy Team and twice earning top-American honors.
John Parham opened his first shop with a partner in 1975 in his hometown of Anamosa, Iowa. Four years later, he branched out with his wife Jill, starting J. Parham Enterprises. This company came to be known as J&P Cycles. By the 1990s, J&P Cycles had grown into one of the largest motorcycle accessory mail order companies in the world.
Parham stayed on board to run J&P Cycles after selling it to Motorsports Action Group in 2001. At that time, he also focused additional energy and resources on preserving motorcycling history. In 2001, Parham relocated the National Motorcycle Museum to Anamosa, where it has continued to thrive and grow into one of the world’s foremost motorcycle museums.
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction ceremony is open to the public and, for the second consecutive year, takes place in conjunction with the AIMExpo — the fast-growing and impactful event that brings together consumers, dealers, manufacturers, and the world press in one location for global product launches, demo rides, motorcycling seminars, and much more.
Tickets to the 2015 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony are available now at www.motorcyclemuseum.org. Regular entry is $25 per person. VIP tickets that include an exclusive reception, reserved seating and the AIMExpo show admission are $90 per person.
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KAILUB RUSSELL WINS WYOMING NATIONAL ENDURO
Kailub Russell claimed his second victory in as many races at the Inyan Kara National Enduro – round six of the Kenda AMA National Enduro Series in Upton, Wyoming, topping FMF/KTM teammate Russell Bobbitt by one-minute-and-forty-nine seconds in a tough and demanding race.
A hard, overnight rain left the Upton area saturated and the course was extremely slippery when over 430 riders took to the trails for test one where Russell kicked things off with a big win, posting a time that was a minute and 35 seconds faster than Colorado’s Ian Blythe (KTM). Bobbitt was fastest in test two; however, edging Russell by 27 seconds. Russell came back with a strong ride in the third test, posting another win. Bobbitt won the final test, but it was Russell’s consistency that earned him the overall win, as the North Carolina rider finished the day with three second-place times to go with his two wins, while Bobbitt had two test wins, a third and two fourths.
“Two in a row feels pretty good after three straight runner-up finishes,” said Russell. “I just need to keep building on this momentum because I know the rounds coming up are pretty tight, and that’s kind of my weakness.”
Bobbitt finished the day in second, edging Blythe by 22 seconds. Bobbitt crashed in the final test and popped his shoulder out of socket; however, he was able to pop it back in and finish the race.
Beta USA’s Cory Buttrick claimed his best finish of the year riding the new 430 RS, beating Grant Baylor by just five seconds after holding off a late charge by the Am Pro Yamaha rider.
Defending series champ Andrew DeLong, who was riding with an injured wrist, did what he could to salvage points, and finished the day in sixth after turning in a cautious but steady ride in the mud on his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing FC 350.
Results
1. Kailub Russell (KTM)
2. Russell Bobbitt (KTM)
3. Ian Blythe (KTM)
4. Cory Buttrick (Bet)
5. Grant Baylor (Yam)
6. Andrew DeLong (Hus)
7. Steward Baylor (KTM)
8. Jesse Groemm (Bet)
9. Craig DeLong (Hus)
10. Brad Bakken (Yam)
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LAST DOG STANDING GALLERY
Check out this cool recap video of Last Dog Standing from Beau Cottington
X-FIGHTERS
We have a hard time keeping up with what’s possible and impossible this week on a motorcycle. The Red Bull X-Fighters was in Athens over the weekend and the riders continue to come up with new tricks. The lighting in the quarry where the event took place made it look even more awesome than usual.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
This photo just rocks, and maybe more so because I was a So Cal motohead who raced at Bay Mare and all these guys were my heroes. Thanks Mark, nice pic.
A LITTLE PRODUCT PIMPING
BARSTOW TO VEGAS POSTER MAP
Super Hunky has a limited number of these stored perfectly in his office. When these are gone, they’re gone, and so is a piece of history with them. The map shows the 1972 race course, the 1974 race course and two other alternate routes that use mostly existing fire roads.
On the legend of the map, The Phantom Duck Of The Desert wrote the following:
“This map was designed for study use by students of motor racing history and is not intended for use as an actual trail guide. Although it is incredibly accurate, the world is only approximate. If you become lost, make local inquiries before you go too far and are never seen again. Any connection between this document and any event, real or imagined, that may take place Thanksgiving weekend, 1980, is purely coincidental.”
It was written like this to keep the Bureau of Land Management from busting all those “illegal” trail riders on the Protest Ride. The Maps were handed out to many of the protest riders and they’re highly prized memorabilia of those rides.
The map is filled with great cartoons and truly hilarious satire. Printed on heavy cardboard stock, it’s 11” by 17”. This is a must have for the dirt biker who has been around and a valuable look at the past for the younger riders. Artist Winston Beaumont spent weeks putting this piece of art together.
The price for the B to V map is $12 with free mail in the US.
Just send check or money order to:
Rick Sieman
49818 W. Val Vista Rd.
Maricopa, AZ
85139
PRO CIRCUIT SNAP BACK HATS
Support your favorite Team Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki
rider with their new Signature Series Snapback hats. Choose between Joey Savatgy, Adam Cianciarulo, Chris Alldredge, Arnaud Tonus and Tyler Bowers or collect the whole series! These newstylish snapback hats are the perfect way to show your support.
HOT CAMS ’14/15 YZ250F CAMS
2014-15 Yamaha YZ250F Stage 1 & Stage 2 Cams
Hot Cams has released new camshafts for the popular 2014-2015 YZ 250F model. A powerful engine already, it can be improved even further by installing one of Hot Cams’ latest cam designs.
www.hotcamsinc.com
BDCW PLATFORM FOOTPEGS FOR HONDA CRF 250/450 X/R
Black Dog Cycle Works (BDCW) announced their new line of all aircraft alloy footpegs for select models of Honda CRF dirtbikes. Forgét stated, “Based on the popularity of our “Platform” footpeg designs for KTM dirt bikes and adventure bikes, they decided to extend our models to fit most Honda CRF 250/450 X and R models.BDCW “Platform” footpegs are designed to provide the rider with greater comfort and control, and because they’re made from an aircraft alloy they’re very durable.Price: $219 with introductory price of $199
ADVENTURE RIDING AND CAMPING
Moto-Mentor offers training and mentoring for fully loaded adventure bikes and insights and tips on better camping. They pride themselves on making your intro into this great lifestyle easier and more enjoyable. Get sound advise on gear and training from the people who know.
Their Promise:
“We’ll save you the time and money it takes to figure out this great lifestyle on your own, all while keeping you on your bike and enjoying your adventures.”
http://www.moto-mentor.com
BLACKWATER HERO
INTERESTING SPORTS QUOTES
“I always felt that my greatest asset was not my physical ability, it was my mental ability.”
– Bruce Jenner
TRAIL TIP OF THE WEEK
Passing on a little tech tip I’m stumbled upon last weekend. If you get a deep cut in a CV4 style hose that hasn’t gone all the way through, a little superglue in the cut will melt a little of the surrounding silicone/rubber and make it very strong again. At least enough to get you back home or ready for the next moto without having to worry about it. It might work with a hose that was cut all the way through but thankfully I haven’t had to experiment with that yet.
Andy Burian, Scranton PA
WOLF: BACK IN THE DAY
Humm, mid 80’s bustin’ laps at a track that we built in hills and tagged it ‘Unadilla West’. It was interesting that to get to this circuit we had to park our trucks about 9 or 10 miles away at a staging zone, pack gas and then trail ride over a mountain to get to UW. The track was about 2.5 miles long and was very natural and hilly. One side note here, right now I live about 10-miles from the area and trail ride right by it four or five time a month! Fran Kuhn shot the pic.