WORKS CONNECTION ELITE THROTTLE TUBE

  Santa says read MXA's test before you twist your throttle!

 

WHAT IS IT? Works Connection’s Elite throttle tube incorporates all the current throttle technology to produce a frictionless feel when you twist the throttle.

WHAT’S IT COST? $69.95.

CONTACT? www.worksconnection.com or (530) 642-9488.

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the Works Connection Elite throttle tube.

(1) Concept. Works Connection combined the best ideas about throttle tube design into one package. First, there is nothing unique about a CNC-machined 6061-T6 aluminum throttle tube. Every factory bike or high-end project bike uses an aluminum tube for durability. Second, the trend over the last few years is to use one throttle tube combined with an assortment of interchangeable cam pulleys to allow a single aluminum tube to be used on many different machines. This lowers manufacturing costs and is the hallmark of clamp-on grips from ODI, A’ME, Pro Taper, KTM, Moose and Torc1. Third, the Elite throttle tube has a ball bearing mounted internally to lessen drag. Works Connection was able to combine all these existing technologies into a single throttle tube.

(2) Interchangeable cams. The snap-on pulley cams allow the Works Connection Elite throttle tube to work on all modern four-strokes. Each cam has a letter molded in it that signifies which model of bike it fits. As a bonus, the system can be moved to your new bike when you sell the old one.

(3) Bearing. Installing bearings in a throttle tube to reduce drag is nothing new. Here is an incomplete list of aftermarket throttle tubes with ball-bearing inserts: Oberg (2001), Wirtz Twister (2005), Nue-Tec A.P.E. (2007), Zap Technix (2010) and Pro Taper Twister (2010). The Works Connection Elite throttle tube rides on a sealed, ABEC-1+ rated, radial ball bearing and an internal polymer bushing. The combination of the bearing and bushing allows the throttle tube to ride above the handlebars to create a frictionless feel. Less contact between the two translates into less drag.

(4) Installation. The Works Connection throttle tube installs like a traditional throttle tube, but there are a few tricks. If you have handlebars with a larger than normal inner diameter, like Renthal TwinWalls, you need to install the two supplied O-rings to take up the slack. Pay attention to which way the pulley cam snaps on to the throttle housing. It will go on backwards. Make sure that you feel the bearing plug into the end of the handlebars. Don’t misplace the steel end cap on the throttle tube. It keeps grit out of the bearing, but, most important, it stops grip glue from gumming up the bearing.

(5) Performance. Hallelujah! It is smoother, turns easier, especially at small incremental movements, snaps back with authority and works with all brands of grips.

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? No issues. Be sure to take time to read the instructions, because making a mistake with your throttle has bigger consequences than putting your underwear on backwards.

MXA RATING: We absolutely love the Works Connection Elite throttle tube, thanks to its 6061 tube, radial bearing, Delrin cams and smooth feel.

Lake Havasu WCGP

Blayne Thompson takes us for a ride around the notoriously tough Lake Havasu race track in Arizona during the final WCGP race of 2018. The Chaparral Motorsports, Precision Concepts, Kawasaki Team Green rider was caught out off the start when Zach Bell’s downed his Husky in the first corner. Thompson picked up around 11^th, eventually catching third placed Trevor Stewart. The two pitted on different laps and the Precision Concepts pit crew did a great job getting him out in third position.

A few laps later, Thompson fell in the swampy waters on the edge of the lake with the bike on its handlebars, causing havoc with the controls. With throttle issues, Blayne pushed on back past Stewart and back onto the podium. Thompson’s third place meant third overall in the FMF Big 6 Series having also wrapped up the Heavyweight AA championship on his KX450 with a top-ten finish on Saturday.

“I was feeling really good coming into the weekend thinking I could get a podium or a win out here.” Said Thompson after the Havasu race weekend. “We ended up coming out with a third, so I’m not going to complain about that. I felt like I was riding better than that third, but I had a couple issues and went down, so I can’t complain about anything. 

“I was caught sleeping a little bit [off the start], but came into the corner halfway decent. Then, Zach [Bell] crashed in front of me so I ended up hitting his bike. I tried to pick off people every lap and stay on two wheels.

“Coming into the straightaway next to the lake, the mud was getting really deep. I swapped out and the bike shot me off and I landed on my head. That slowed me down for a good twenty seconds. I had to get the bike off of me, turn it around and get going again. 

“Then, Dalton [Shirey] was pushing me into Trevor [Stewart] big time. When I saw Dalton coming and I had to go because that was third place in the championship right there. If he got around me he would have got third. 

“But I wasn’t going to let that happen so I sent it that last lap and ended up getting Trevor for third.”

Italy To Host 2020 FIM International Six Day Enduro (ISDE)

Parc fermé Chile 2018. Photo: Dario Agrati

The FIM has informed FMI (Italian Motorcycling Federation) that the request by Moto Club Alfieri to organise the ISDE has in 2020 been accepted.

The FIM has informed FMI (Italian Motorcycling Federation) that the request by Moto Club Alfieri to organise the ISDE has been accepted.

The dates are still being defined, but the Six Days will certainly take place between the end of August and the beginning of September, over the Piedmont and Lombardy regions. Moto Club Alfieri will organise the event in collaboration with other FMI clubs, and they are already working to prepare a memorable ISDE. The Six Days will be making its return to Italy (after the 2013 edition in Sardinia) in a territory with a strong Enduro tradition.

Jorge Viegas, FIM President expressed his satisfaction: “Italy has a lot of experience in the organisation of the FIM ISDE, as the country will be hosting the competition for the ninth time since its origin in 1913. Italy’s experience and affection for Enduro is a guarantee of success for the 94th edition!”

Giovanni Copioli, FMI President added: "I am really proud, both as president and as a passionate motorcycle fan, that the FIM ISDE will return to Italy. Six Days is a unique competition because of its history and the challenge between national teams. Furthermore, after the victories in Chile, there is a lot of enthusiasm. Congratulations to the Moto Club Alfieri! We wish to give big encouragement to all the clubs that organise this event. All eyes of the Enduro world will be focused on Italy and there is no doubt that the ISDE will have a great (economic and not only) impact on the areas where the race will be held.”

Franco Gualdi, FMI Enduro Committee Coordinator concluded, added: "In our country there is a lot of passion for Enduro. The organisation of a second edition of the ISDE in Italy within just a few years’ time bears witness to this. Six Days is a great event for hundreds of enthusiastic amateur riders who will surely come to Italy. Moto Club Alfieri and the other clubs have a lot of experience and expertise to organise this big event.”

The Moto Club Alfieri is already hard at work with club President, Giorgio Bandoli, concluding: "We are very proud and excited to organise the 2020 FIM ISDE. In 2015 we had the idea of asking to host the Six Days and now we are already working very hard on it. We are enjoying a great collaboration with other clubs.”

Josh Strang Goes Green In 2019

Josh Strang and his Team Babbitt’s/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green Team.

Josh Strang has signed on with th new Team Babbitt’s/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green that will see the former GNCC champion contest the 2019 GNCC and Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series.

Kawasaki USA will continue it's long and successful racing relationship with Team Babbitt’s Online where they captured eight of the last nine AMA Arenacross Championships from 2010-2018. Joining the team aboard his all-new KX450 motorcycle will be former GNCC XC1 Champion and current Full Gas Sprint Enduro Champion Josh Strang.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to ride the all-new KX450,” said Strang. “It’s exciting to join a team like Kawasaki, who believe in the potential of my riding and my results. I rode Kawasaki’s in Australia for many years before moving to the U.S. to race, so it’s really gone full circle for me. I can’t wait to get back on a brand that helped start my career and continues to provide support, which is a big part of succeeding," the Australian concluded.

“We have been working hard to put these programs together and re-establish our presence in the off-road segment,” said Team Green Manager Ryan Holliday. “Having the opportunity to continue our successful relationship with Team Babbitt’s Online and be involved with the GNCC series was an easy decision for us. The combination of having a great new KX450 model, experienced riders and the knowledge of our team staff gives us the potential for success right away.”

Team Babbitt’s/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green along with the Team Green trackside support crew will take on the treacherous terrain of the Big Buck GNCC season opener in Union, South Carolina on February 24, 2019.

Cole Seely Returns

Cole Seely is working hard to come back into the AMA Supercross series with confidence and good results, after an injury riddled 2018 seaso. Heading to Torino this weekend for the supercross, the American had done some preperation in California

Cairoli, Reed Challenge Rossi

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi has claimed his seventh victory in the Monza Rally Show, sweeping all nine stages of the event's 2018 edition.

Valentino Rossi, Carlo Cassina, Ford Fiesta WRC

The result means that Rossi moves two wins clear of Le Mans 24 Hours winner Rinaldo Capello in the rankings of the most successful drivers in the history of the Monza Rally Show – which had also been won by the likes of Sebastien Loeb and Robert Kubica.

The dominant Italian, for who this year marked a fourth consecutive Monza triumph, shared the spoils with M-Sport Ford WRC regular Teemu Suninen on the eighth stage, but was otherwise unmatched throughout the three-day contest.

Rossi was in one of the four current-spec Ford Fiestas that ran in the WRC Plus category and locked out the top four against older-spec WRC machinery.

Suninen, partnered by WRC2 driver Takamoto Katsuta's regular co-driver Marko Salminen, had a big off at the chicane during one of the stages and ultimately ended the rally a minute and seven seconds behind Rossi.

Suzuki MotoGP staffer Roberto Brivio, brother of team boss Davide, took third place, edging out Rossi's long-time right-hand man Uccio Salucci.

Motocross great Antonio Cairoli – a Monza Rally Show regular – led the way among the older WRC cars in fifth place in his Hyundai i20. Fellow motocross star Chad Reed, likewise driving a Hyundai WRC car, was 27th.

Former Audi LMP1 driver Marco Bonanomi, who had been runner-up to Rossi in 2017, piloted an older-spec Fiesta WRC and came up less than a second short of toppling Cairoli.

The new Volkswagen Polo headed the R5 class at the hands of Alessandro Re, who benefitted from a technical infringement penalty assessed against Hyundai driver Luca Rossetti.

Davide Valsecchi, the 2012 GP2 champion, was among the competitors in R5. He wound up 24th in class and 37th overall of 85 finishers.

Rossi also beat Suninen in the WRC Plus class final of the subsequent head-to-head Masters competition - only to lose out in the four-lap super final to the older-spec Hyundai of Cairoli.

Cairoli trailed Rossi after the opening lap, but the motocross ace slashed the gap to 0.28s at halfway point before pulling away to win by half a second.

Stefan Everts introduced into a coma

Motocross legend Stefan Everts introduced into a coma due to a mosquito bite