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• CLASSIC MXA TEST RIDER CRASHES
You don’t have to wonder if this rider saved it. It’s obvious that his feet are off the pegs, the rear wheel has broken traction and the bike is climbing towards vertical. You gotta give Jody Weisel credit for sticking to his mantra about never letting go to the bars. He rode this 1979 Yamaha YZ125 until the bars and bike were laying on top of his chest. This is at Saddleback Park.
• SUPERCROSSES CHRISTMAS TRUCE
These four riders (Canard, Roczen, Dungey and Tomac) will all have a shot at winning, but most pre-race experts (who most likely won’t be post-race experts) believe that Ken Rocaen (94) will be unbeatable…and that Ryan Dungey (5) will play it cool and wait for Kenny to beat himself. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Christmas and New Years are often a time when Pro riders take some time off from spinning mind numbing laps to spend time with their families. With 10 days to go until the gate falls on the 2017 Supercross season, here are few pertinent facts:
(1) Movie reference. So far, no pit pundit has called the 2017 season the “Perfect Storm.” If this holds true for the next week we will have dodged a weak analogy to a movie that is 17 years old —and would require the every rider on the track to go down with the ship.
(2) Injured reserve. So far, fingers crossed, no major players have been injured in the lead-up to the Anaheim 1 opener. This is a rarity in modern Supercross.
(3) More races. So far, it looks as though an alliance of team managers has stopped, or at the very least slowed down, Feld’s desire to increase the number of Supercross races in a season from 17 races to 22. Hopefully the same holds true for their play-off idea.
(4) Factory rides. Contrary to all the sturm und drang about riders being left out in the cold, most riders who deserved a ride on a high-profile factory-backed team got one for 2017. The exceptions are the Stewart brothers and Dean Wilson, but each team has its reasons for who it chooses and who it doesn’t. There are over 40 riders that are on factory or officially factory-backed teams (and that doesn’t count the smaller privateer teams). That is enough paid riders to fill every sport in both the 250 and 450 Mains at a Supercross.
• THE VERY LAST RACE OF 2016 IS AT GLEN HELEN THIS SATURDAY
It looks like Saturday will have a big enough window between Friday’s showers and Saturday afternoon’s rains to have a great track with no rain. For more info go to www.remsatmx.com
• DON’T WORRY NOTHING GOT HURT — EXCEPT CREDIBILITY
ANAHEIM 1 TRACK MAP: JANUARY 7, 2017
• THE DANGERS OF OWNING A SHADE TREE AND A CHAY-ZED
This is a very lovely vintage Bultaco, but look closer. Installing a CZ engine in a Bul is an easy way to get away from the Bultaco’s popcorn transmission. Photo; Justyn Norek
Here is another CZ engine — this time in Jody Weisel’s 1983 Husqvarna twin-shock. According to Jody, he only had to make new front motor mount plates and the engine slipped right in a few minutes. Photo; Ketchup Cox
• ULTIMATE MINI-THUMPER: BBR’S YAMAHA TTR-150 FACTORY EDITION
Hand-made frame, one-off plastic & BBR expertise. For more info go to www.bbrmotorsports.com
• ASK THE MXPERTS: HELP! I KEEP BREAKING KTM FOOTPEG SPRINGS
Yhe 2016-17 KTM’s footpeg springs mount differently from the 2015 and previous models. This info applies to Husqvarnas also.
Dear MXperts,
I keep breaking KTM footpegs. What am I doing wrong?
Starting with the 2015-1/2 Factory Editions (and continuing through all 2017 Husky and KTM models) the footpeg springs are installed differently than they were on all previous KTM models. You didn’t say if you are a long time KTM owner, but whether you are or aren’t you have been putting the footpeg springs on incorrectly. On older model KTMs the spring went between the frame and top of the footpeg. On the 2016 and newer KTMs the footpeg springs hook in the cavity in the frame (see photo). We recommend that every 2016-17 KTM and Husky owner pull the black plastic frame guard off their bikes (you can get it far enough out of the way without cutting the zip-tie) and take a quick look at their footpeg springs (on both sides of the bike). If it doesn’t look like the photo above, pull the footpeg pivot bolt and reinstall the spring properly. Don’t assume that just because your footpegs are still spring loaded that your springs are okay. It may just mean that they haven’t broken yet.
• THE 2017 SEASON STARTS ON 1-1-2017 IN TEXAS & FLORIDA
2017 TEXAS WINTER SERIES
Jan. 1…………Freestone, TX
Jan.7-8…………………..Swan, TX
Jan. 21-22………….…..Village Creek, TX
Feb. 4-5…………….……Johnsonville Farm, TX
Feb. 25-26………….…..Freestone, TX
2017 FLORIDA WINTER SERIES
Jan. 1…………………………Diamondback, FL
Jan. 8…………………………Dade City, FL
Jan. 15………………………..Marion County
Jan. 21-22…………………..Diamondback, FL
Jan. 29……………………….Waldo, FL
• HOW TO SUBSCRIBE & GET MXA FOR FREE: WE ACTUALLY PAY YOU $9.00
Interested in getting a new bike this year? The January 2017 issue of MXA is on the news stands now and includes the long-awaited 2017 MXA 250 Shootout. You should be reading MXA, and if you subscribe now you get a $25 gift certificate from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC which more than pays for your subscription.
Do you subscribe to MXA? You should. We know that you think that print magazines are dead and that the internet will fill the void, but most of the stuff in the current issue of MXA won’t appear on the web for several months, if at all. Luckily, you can get all of MXA on your iPhone, iPad, Kindle or Android by going to the Apple Store, Amazon or Google Play. Better yet get the Digital desktop version at https://hi-torque.com/product/motocross-action-digital-edition/ for $9.99 a year.
The MXA test riders prefer the print version and not just because it is delivered by a uniformed employee of the U.S. Government, but because right now you can get 12 issues for $15.95 and a free $25 Gift Card from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC. That means that there is a profit to be made in this deal for you. For the Print magazine go to: https://hi-torque.com/product/motocross-action/
• 2017AMSOIL ARENACROSS SERIES STARTS ON JANUARY 7-8
• MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN CAT…OR LOAD A BIKE
You see some pretty odd things on the road and that includes the myriad ways that people carry their bikes. This is awesome. It may look like Christmas wrapping run amok, but it got there.
• HOW IS YOUR TWITTER GAME GOING? UP IT BY FOLLOWING MXA
Follow us to see fresh content every day at www.twitter.com/MXAction or on twitter at “MXAction”
• BIRTHDAYS OF THE STARS: THE LIL PROFESSOR IS 56
Dec. 29…Steve Ramon 1979
Dec. 30…Marvin Musquin 1989
Dec. 31…David Herbreteau 1997
Dec. 31…Rodrig Thain 1979
Dec. 31…Doug Domokos 1955
Dec. 31…David Bailey 1961
Dec. 31…Romain Febvre 1991
Jan. 1…Larry Brooks 1967
Jan. 2…James Dobb 1972
Jan. 2…Ron Hinson 1972
Jan. 3…Nathan Woods 1978
Jan. 4…Kelly Smith 1980
• SPECIAL EVENTS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
The “Day After The Night Before” race is a special Sunday event on the morning after the Anaheim Supercross. It will be held on the Glen Helen USGP track on January 8, 2017. For more info go to www.remsatmx.com.
This news probably doesn’t effect you unless you own a Husqvarna (and we aren’t talking about just vinatge Huskys, but new ones, olds one and pitiful ones. The race will be held at SoCal’s Cahuilla Creek track on March 5-6.
Just in case you need a little extra time to get your trusty, but rusty, two-stroke ready to race, the e017 MTA World Two-Stroke Championship is a littler over three months away. It will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2017, at Glen Helen Raceway.
• MUST-SEE TV STARTS ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 2017
Check you local listing for times in your region.
• 2017 MOTOCROSS SCHEDULES: WHERE TO BE & WHEN TO BE THERE
2017 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 7…………………………Anaheim, CA
Jan. 14………………………San Diego, CA
Jan. 21………………………Anaheim, CA
Jan. 28………………………Glendale, AZ
Feb. 4……………………….Oakland, CA
Feb. 11………………………Arlington, TX
Feb. 18………………………Minneapolis, MN
Feb. 25………………………Atlanta, GA
Mar. 4………………………Toronto, ON
Mar. 11………………………Daytona, FL
Mar. 18………………………Indianapolis, IN
Mar. 25………………………Detroit, MI
Apr. 1…………………………St. Louis, MO
Apr. 8………………………..Seattle, WA
Apr 22……………………….Salt Lake City, UT
2017 AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
May 20……………………Hangtown, CA
May 27.…………………..Glen Helen, CA
June 3..………………….Thunder Valley, CO
June 17..…………………Mt Morris, PA
June 24.………………….Muddy Creek, TN
July 1.…………………….Red Bud, MI
July 8..……………………Southwick, MA
July 22.…………………..Millville, MN
July 29.…………………..Washougal, WA
Aug. 12..………………….Unadilla, NY
Aug. 19..………………….Budds Creek, MD
Aug. 26.…………………..Crawfordsville, IN
2017 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Feb. 25…………………….Qatar (Saturday)
Mar. 5………………………Indonesia
Mar. 19…………………….Argentina
Apr. 2………………………Mexico
Apr. 16……………………..Italy
Apr. 23…………………….Holland
May 7………………………Latvia
May 21…………………….Germany
May 28…………………….France
June 11…………………….Russia
June 25……………………Italy
July 2……………………….Portugal
July 9……………………….San Marino (Cancelled)
July 23……………………..Czech Republic
Aug. 6……………………..Belgium
Aug. 13…………………….Switzerland
Aug. 20…………………….Sweden
Sept. 3………………………USA (Monday)
Sept. 10……………………Holland
Sept. 17…………………….France
2017 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
October 1…………………..Matterley Basin, Great Britain
2017 SMX RIDERS & MANUFACTURERS CUP
October 7………………….Gelsenkirchen, Germany
2017 AMSOIL ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 7-8…………………….Cincinnati, OH
Jan. 13-15…………………Grand Rapids, MI
Jan. 20-22…………………Baltimore, MD
Jan. 28-29…………………Nashville, TN.
Feb. 4-5…………………….Louisville, KY
Feb. 18-19…………………Kansas City, MO
Feb.y 25-26……………….Tampa, FL
Mar. 3-5…………………….Southaven, MS
Mar. 11-12…………………New Orleans, LA
Mar. 18-19…………………Portland, OR
Mar. 24-26…………………Reno, NV
April 1-2…………………….Sacramento, CA
April 21-23…………………Denver, CO
May 5-7…………………….Las Vegas, NV
2017 WORLD OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP (WORCS)
Jan. 6-8…………………….Taft, CA
Jan. 27-29…………………Primm, NV
Feb. 17-19………………….TBA
Mar. 10-12…………………Lake Havasu, AZ
Apr. 1-2…………………….Las Vegas, NV
Apr. 21-23…………………Hurricane, UT
May. 19-21…………………Cedar City, UT
Jun. 9-11…………………..Adelanto, CA
Sept. 8-10…………………Glen Helen, CA
Oct 13-15…………………..TBA
2017 ITALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 29…………..………..Riola Sardo.
Feb. 5………………………Malagrotta.
Feb.12………………..……Ottobiano
2017 MAXXIS BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 12……………………Culham
Apr. 9………………………Lyng
Apr. 30…………………….Canada Heights
May 14……………………Hawkstone Park
June 18……………………Desertmartin
July 16…………………….Blaxhall
July 30…………………….Preston Docks
Aug 27……………………..Foxhill
2017 BELGIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 12……………………Moerbeke-Waas
Mar. 26……………………Kruishoutem
Apr. 2……………………..Genk
Apr 10…………………….Mons
Apr. 18……………………Axel
Apr. 30……………………Wuustwezel
June 11…………………..Comines
June 18………………….Genk
July 22……………………Axel
July 23…………………..Hasselt
July 30…………………..Gooik
Aug. 15…………………..Balen
Aug. 20………………….Wachtebeke
Aug. 27………………….Orp le Grand
2017 CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
June 4……………………Whispering Pines, BC
June 11………………….Blackwater, BC
June 18………………….Wild Rose, AB
June 25………………….Moto Valley, SK
July 9…………………….Gopher Dunes, ON
July 16…………………..Ulverton, QC
July 23…………………..Pleasant Valley, NS
July 30…………………..Riverglade, NB
Aug. 6…………………….Deschambault, QC
Aug. 13………………….RJ Motosport, ON
2017 DUTCH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 26…………………..Oss
Apr. 9th…………………..Harfsen
May 14……………………Emmen
July15-16t………………..Lichtenvoorde
2017 ADAC GERMAN MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Apr. 9……………………….Muhlberg
Apr. 30…………………….Jauer
May 14…………………….Molln
June 18……………………Bielstein
July 16…………………….Tensfeld
Aug. 27……………………Gaildorf
Sept. 24…………………..Holzgerlingen
2017 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
April 1-2…………………..Wonthaggi, Victoria
April 23…………………..Appin, New South Wales
May 7……………………..Connondale, Queensland
May 21……………………Horsham, Victoria
May 28……………………Murray Bridge, South Australia
July 2……………………..Nowra, New South Wales
July 16……………………Shepparton, Victoria
July 30……………………Port Macquarie, New South Wales
Aug. 13…………………..Toowooba, Queensland
Aug. 19-20………………Coolum, Queensland
2017 AUSTRALIAN SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Sept. 9…………………..Queensland
Sept. 23…………………Queensland
Oct. 14…………………..TBA
Oct. 26…………………..South Australia
Nov. 4…………………….Victoria
Nov. 11-12……………..New South Wales
• THE 2017 GLEN HELEN RACE SCHEDULE: CLICK ON IT TO SEE ALL THE DATES
For more info go to www.glenhelen.com
Photos: Daryl Ecklund, Brian Converse, Massimo Zanzani, Scott Malonee, Debbi Tamietti, Tom White, Dan Alamangos, John Basher, Yamaha, MXA, KTM, Husqvarna, Honda