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KEN ROCZEN OUT OF MXDN BECAUSE A BIG SWELL IS PREDICTED FOR THAT WEEKEND
No German team for Kenny in 2014.
Ken Roczen has confirmed that he will not race the Motocross des Nations (and it is “des” for any neophyte fans). This means that Germany will most likely field Dennis Ullrich, Max Nagl and Marcus Schiffer. Why is Roczen not going? As assumed, he wants to spend more time with his new Suzuki before the Monster Cup and he has also applied for a Green Card to insure that he can stay in America for an extended time. During the approval process he cannot leave the USA—or he will derail the process and be forced to walk across the Texas border. There is no truth to the big swell rumor and most surfing experts say that Kenny is a four-foot-and under man anyway.
LOOKING BACKWARDS FROM THE WEEK OF THE BLUE BUFFALO
Ryan Zimmer at Unadilla with his Blue Buffalo/Slater Skins CRF450.
When privateer Ryan Zimmer got a last minute deal to race the Unadilla 450 National the motocross world was all a tizzy because his bike was equipped with full bodywork from Slater Skins. John Slater had gotten sponsorship from Blue Buffalo pet food to sponsor Ryan. Amid a torrent of conversation over the way the bodywork looked, Ryan and Blue Buffalo rode a wave of publicity around the Unadilla track. And, best of all, Blue Buffalo was happy, not just because they sponsored a rider, but because their logo was more visible than any other sponsor’s logo on the track. Many people think that this is a new idea, but, in fact, it dates back 21 years to a company called Rhino International. They made Rhino Skins, and John Slater was involved in that project also. The MXA wrecking crew has had a host of race bikes with full bodywork on them, so we thumbed through the photo files to find a photo of MXA’s 1993 Honda CR250 equipped with clear Lexan body panels (the logo was painted on the inside of the clear Lexan). The idea of bodywork never caught on in motocross, because the motorcycle manufacturers wanted riders to race with the stock plastic to help sell bikes. John Slater did have some success in freestyle, at a time when the manufacturers didn’t care what freestylers did with their bikes. Now, two decades later, the idea is back in the spotlight. In the photo below you get an idea of how large as sponsor’s logo could be.
MXA’s 1993 Honda CR250 at Perris Raceway.
JOEL ROELANTS RUN/WALK/CYCLE FROM GROBBENDONK TO SCHERPENHEUVAL ON AUGUST 23
Joel Roelants.
Grand Prix racer Joel Roelants was paralyzed in a crash earlier this season and has been going through rehab, but he wants to invite everyone to come to a fund raiser, not for him but to support the organization “To Walk Again. The event will be held on August 23. It is a walk or cycle event from Joel’s hometown of Grobbendonk to Scherpenheuval. Donations are 5 euros ($6.75). Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/staystrongcharity
WHO’S WHO IN THE AMA NATIONAL ZOO: HEADING TO INDIANA
The major players in the 450 title chase are Ken Roczen (94) and Ryan Dungey (5), but Eli Tomac (3) and Trey Canard (41) are more than fast enough to affect the outcome of the two-man title chase.
DATE………..TRACK……….…..450………………..250
May 24………Glen Helen…………Ryan Dungey…………Jeremy Martin
May 31………Hangtown………..…Ken Roczen……………Jeremy Martin
June 7……….Thunder Valley……Ken Roczen……………Blake Baggett
June 14………Mt. Morris………….James Stewart…….…Blake Baggett
June 28………Muddy Creek……..Ken Roczen……………Cooper Webb
July 5…………Red Bud…………….Ken Roczen…………..Jeremy Martin
July 12……….Budds Creek……….Ryan Dungey……..….Blake Baggett
July 19……….Millville………………Eli Tomac……………..Jeremy Martin
July 26……….Washougal…………Ryan Dungey……..….Marvin Musquin
Aug. 9…………Unadilla……….…..Ryan Dungey……..….Christophe Pourcel
Aug. 16……….Indiana…………..
Aug. 23………..Miller …………..
450 Points Leader: Ken Roczen (+7)
250 Points Leader: Jeremy Martin (+66)
MARK HAMERSLY’S MEMORIES OF PRAIRIE CITY
Mark’s 1972 Yamaha RT-2 360 at the Yuba-Sutter M/C in 1972.
Dear MXA,
After the McGill’s bought what is now Prairie City OHV Park from AeroJet General in 1972, they hosted a few big races that year. One of the biggest, and in my opinion, best, was the Lilliputian Grand Prix. This was held on a snowy day in, as I remember, December. I was a just-turned 19-year-old privateer on a very shoestring budget. I was a USAF Airman 1st Class (E-3) stationed at Beale AFB (45 miles north of Sacramento) — who made a princely sum of $344 per month. I was racing a 1972 Yamaha RT-2 360 Enduro, stripped down for racing (yeah, right…). It was heavy, ill-handling, and all I could afford. But, it was actuallys well suited to the 8-mile GP track at Prairie City. The bike was ported, polished and ran a high compression head, but I kept the stock Enduro exhaust pipe. I actually swallowed the “Less Sound = More Ground” rhetoric of the day. We made less sound, and the State of California took more ground.
I was running pretty good in the 500 Novice class, and had my right boot sole ripped off, mid race. I swapped my motocross boots out for combat boots, and rejoined the race. I made it back up to third place on the last lap and was goingf lat out in fourth gear and trying to skirt the mud-hole, when two things happened. First, Dick Mann (AMA Grand National #2) passed me like I was in reverse. Second, I fouled the only plug that bike ever fouled on this bike. Still, it was a great race and a great memory to sustained me when I was in Vietnam in 1973. After my year in Vietnam I was stationed in Ramstein, West Germany, and raced a 1975 Maico 250GP in the German National support class at the MotorSport Ring, Offenbach. Good times for all!
Mark Hamersly
District 38, #169R
MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: HOP-UP YOUR DESK
Cruising the web just became easier with Pro Circuit’s new mouse pad. Measuring at 7″ x 9″ x 1/8″, this mouse pad comes equipped with Pro Circuit logos printed underneath a heavy-duty Vynex surface, and a natural-rubber bottom to prevent spinning out when maneuvering your mouse. Easy to clean, and a cool gift item,the Pro Circuit Mouse Pad will have you roosting on the internet in no time. Retail price: $7.95. www.procircuit.com
KTM FORK TUTORIAL: HOW TO CHANGE OIL ON THE NEW 4CS FORK
A MESSAGE FROM SWEDISH RIDER ROBERT LIND
Robert Lind in the hospital.
“First I want to thank everybody for such an amazing support and for all the prayers that’s been giving to me. Everyone knows what happened by now at Unadilla this past Saturday, and it will be a long and probably rough way to get back 100%. My fractures on t5 and t6 luckily didn’t hit the nerves, and I now got feelings everywhere when everything has been settle down a few days from the crash. Beside some incredible pain, I’m still very blurry in my head and have really bad vision in my eyes, which cause problem with my balance etc, my eye specialist can’t do anything about it, so it’s just to hope that it will solve it self within the next few weeks when my concussion settles down. I’m far from good but after been seeing pictures of the crash and the damage on my back on the cat-scan, I’m really so happy that I’m not in worse shape then I am, the doctors are positive about my recovery and so am I. I will do everything I can all the way to get back 100% again, and to start my preparations for the Supercross season 2015. Thank you all.”
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS MONTH?
2014 AMA 250/450 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
August 16…Crawfordsville, Indiana
2014 CMRC CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
August 17…Walton, Canada
2014 GEICO ENDUROCROSS SERIES
August 23…Atlanta, Georgia
2014 WORLD SIDECARCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
August 24…Roggenburg, Switzerland
2014 AMA VINTAGE NATIONAL SERIES
August 24…Lincoln Trail, Illinois
2014 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
August 24…Gladstone, Queensland
2014 WMX WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
August 31…Millington, Michigan
2015 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Jan. 3………………….Anaheim, CA
Jan. 10…………………Phoenix, AZ
Jan. 17…………………Anaheim, CA
Jan. 24…………………Oakland, CA
Jan. 31…………………Anaheim, CA
Feb. 7………………….San Diego, CA
Feb 14…………………Arlington, TX
Feb 21…………………Atlanta, GA
Feb 28…………………Atlanta, GA
March 7………………..Daytona, FL
March 14……………..Indianapolis, IN
March 21……………..Detroit, MI
March 28……………..St. Louis, MO
April 11………………..Houston, TX
April 18………………..Santa Clara, CA
April 25………………..East Rutherford, NJ
May 2…………………..Las Vegas, NV
USED IT, ABUSED IT, TESTED IT: EARTH X KTM LFX BATTERY
The EarthX battery is two pounds, one ounce lighter than the stock KTM Yuasa YTX battery. It uses Lithium Iron Phosphate technology instead of the traditional lead acid construction. As an added plus, it can be charged with a regular battery charger (some LFX batteries can’t be). Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries have an incredibly long charge life and excellent cranking power.
VERDICT: You might think that as long as the engine starts, one battery is the same as another. That’s not true because LFX batteries are nontoxic, longer lasting, more powerful, easier to recharge and several pounds lighter than lead-acid batteries. $159.95 (ETX12A) ? www.earthxmotorsports.com or (970) 301-6064.
THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS: BIG WEEK FOR FRENCH CHAMPS
Aug. 16…Christophe Pourcel 1988
Aug. 16…Erick Bartoldus
Aug. 18…Doug Schopinsky
Aug. 19…Sebastien Tortelli 1978
Aug. 19…Rob Buydos
Aug. 22…Forrest Butler
DON’T FORGET! WORLD VET CHAMPIONSHIP IS COMING — PRE-ENTRIES ARE OPEN NOW
Find out more info or pre-enter at www.glenhelen.com
YOUR AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SCORECARD: THE PLAYERS & THEIR POINTS
Jeremy Martin (19) has a 66-point lead over Blake Baggett with two races left and can clinch the title in Indiana with two solid motos.
450 CLASS
(After 10 of 12 races)
1. Ken Roczen………………447
2. Ryan Dungey……………440
3. Trey Canard………………373
4. Brett Metcalfe……………280
5. Eli Tomac………………….252
6. Andrew Short…………….247
7. Weston Peick……………..244
8. James Stewart……………226
9. Josh Grant…………………218
10. Fredrik Noren…………..159
250 CLASS
(After 10 of 12 races)
1. Jeremy Martin……………422
3. Blake Baggett…………….356
2. Cooper Webb……………..348
4. Marvin Musquin………….329
5. Christophe Pourcel……..321
6. Justin Bogle……………….310
7. Jason Anderson………….243
8. Cole Seely………………….225
9. Jessy Nelson………………200
10. Dean Wilson………………176
THE NEW ISSUE OF MXA IS ON NEWS STANDS, COMPUTERS, APPS, iPADS, iPHONES OR YOUR MAILBOX
Go back to the home page to find out how.
MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: STEELMAN 24 ART PIECES WITH NUTS AND BOLTS
Steelman metal figures are elaborately handcrafted and made in Germany. Each individual piece is unique and these small pieces of art are made from pieces of steel, copper, nuts and screws that are are coated with a transparent nontoxic film to preserve its luster and shine.
Steelman offers an incredible range of metal sculptures in every thing from baseball to soccer to horseback riding to military figures and a small collection of motorcycle sculptures.
Although there weren’t any motocross pieces, there was collection of street bike, Harley and chopper art. We did find freestyle, road race and mechanic art that was very unique. Prices vary from $69 to $109 depending on complexity. For more info go to www.steelman24usa.com
Photos by Scott Mallonee, John Basher, John Ker, Yamaha