The Hurricane Was Always Creative!

FORGOTTEN MOTOCROSS TECH: HURRICANE HANNAH’S MOST INNOVATIVE IDEAS

MXA Aug 30, 2022

Motocross history is filled with examples of creative ideas that were heralded as groundbreaking, but, because of the rapid rate of change in development, sank into the swamp of forgotten technology. Although some are best left abandoned, others were truly innovative (if not ultimately successful). MXA loves to reveal motocross’ tech trivia. Do you remember these ideas? Hannah Racing Products (HRP).

The ubiquitous HRP Flak Jak.

Bob Hannah is famous for many things—his AMA National Championships, bold public statements, ramming Kent Howerton and his 1987 Motocross des Nations victory—but his longest-lasting contribution to the sport is often forgotten. At the height of his motocross fame, Bob Hannah started Hannah Racing Products (HRP), and, as you would expect from such an eccentric person, his gear ideas were very unique. While many of his most creative ideas were misses, he had one major hit that changed the way motocross racers dress today.

In 1981 Bob Hannah showed up wearing the first-ever all-plastic chest protector, the HRP Flak Jak. The $70 Flak Jak was a front and back design that used arched shoulder cups to join the two halves. Inside the shoulder cups were nets that kept the plastic pieces off the rider’s body. Before the HRP Flak Jak, most chest protectors were padded cloth designs with plastic pieces sewn on. Hannah went all plastic, and eventually every company would copy his design.

Gary Jones in HRP Hi-Back pants.

Not as successful were his $128 HRP Hi-Back pants, which combined the pant and kidney belt into one piece. Functionally, the Hi-Backs were incredible to wear, as the kidney belt stayed centered over the small of the rider’s back and the kidney belt kept the pants in place; however, they didn’t catch on, largely because riders didn’t know what to do with the kidney belt when they were in the pits.

HRP’s Bio-Foam jersey looked like a typical cotton jersey but with padded Bio-Foam shoulder panels sewn in. You could wear the jersey by itself or in conjunction with the HRP Flak Jak. Unfortunately, the Bio-Foam shoulders weren’t as happy in the washing machine as the cotton was. Bob sold the HRP and Flak Jak names in 1987. HRP is still in business today, but without Bob.

Great Britain Extend World Trophy Lead With FIM ISDE Day Three Win

Reaching the halfway point in this year’s FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) Great Britain took victory on Day Three to further strengthen their lead in the World Trophy competition.

Leaving the beaten-up special tests of Days One and Two behind them, the FIM ISDE competitors today headed south into the Loziere region for a new course and new tests to.

With momentum behind them following their Day Two win, Great Britain were on a charge. With all four riders again featuring inside the top fifteen in the outright classification, they steadily etched out their lead to win by fifty-eight seconds over Italy.

They now enter the second half of the FIM ISDE with a two minute and twenty-three second lead over Italy.

For the third day in a row, Italy placed as the runners up. While not getting close enough to challenge for victory they are proving incredibly consistent and are ready to capitalise on any mistakes that may befall their rivals.

There was added reason to be upbeat in the Italian camp with Andrea Verona (GASGAS) also closing out Day Three with his first outright win of the week.

“I feel all week that I have been riding well, but today it just came together,” told Verona. “I remembered the lines quite well in the new tests and was in a big fight for the win with Josep (Garcia). On the final test I just gave it full gas and it worked out.”

Spain was third today to maintain their position of third overall in the race. Similarly, France took fourth, with the United States fifth, mirroring their World Trophy standings.

However, after three days of racing, only three hundredths of a second separate both France and the United States, which is set to make for an exciting second half of the FIM ISDE.

Mindset of Lawrence unchanged entering Pala finals

News 29 Aug 2022

 Competition Post: Troy Guenther

Australian targeting overall victory to conclude 250MX season.

Image: Octopi Media.

The mindset of Hunter Lawrence remains unchanged entering the final round of the 2022 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Fox Raceway as he trails Jo Shimoda by seven points for P2 in the 250MX standings.

Lawrence started the year in fine form, scoring a worst result of P4 across the opening 10 motos of the season.

Misfortune sporadically throughout the rounds since has seen the number 96 lose crucial points to the red plate and come under pressure from the in-form Jo Shimoda, who relegated Lawrence to third in the standings following Budds Creek.

Lawrence has scored three race wins and 13 podiums across the 11 rounds this season but has been unable to land a 250MX overall victory in 2022. Achieving such is at the forefront of his mentality entering the Fox Raceway finals.

“Just same as it has been, go in and try to win,” explained Lawrence. “That’s all it has been. We have had a bit of bad luck this season, it is what it is, second or third, it’s not first.

“Regardless I’m going there to try and win, get an overall and it will be what it will be, like I said, we came in with goals to win [the championship], and it is looking like it is pretty slim now. So we will just go in and try to get an overall win, and yeah, just do me.”

Despite additional bonus money awarded to Lawrence if he can secure second in the championship, he stated that is not his motivation and looks forward to successful years ahead with an improved 2022.

After 11 rounds last year in 250MX, Lawrence had 349 points, two moto wins and five podiums to his credit. While he was also P3 in the standings then, the CRF250R rider has 430 points now entering the 12th stop in the 2022 series, highlighting the steps made in the last 12 months.

The Australian notched 3-2 results at Ironman on Saturday but was demoted two points from the opening moto for jumping under a wheels on the ground flag, which ultimately demoted him to third overall on the day.

Round 12 of this year’s Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship takes place this Saturday in Pala, CA.

Motocross riders head to Badlands for Day 2 of Red Bull Outliers

More than 500 meters of track were installed at Olympic Plaza Friday, helping turn downtown Calgary into a motocross track.

That's because the city hosted the first leg of the Red Bull Outliers event Saturday, until heavy rain wiped out the late afternoon portion of the competition.

"Safety and security of the participants and spectators is always a primary focus for Red Bull," said spokesperson Alexandra Martineau in a release. "Therefore, following discussions with local authorities, we have decided to discontinue Red Bull Outliers in Olympic Plaza – Calgary downtown."

That early shutdown didn't change the plan for Sunday, however, when Red Bull Outliers switches to the Badlands, near Steveville.

More than 250 drivers from around the world are taking part in the event, which had its Calgary debut in 2019, before being shut down the past two summers due to the pandemic.

One of the drivers is Lexi Pechout, a Calgarian, who spoke to CTV News Friday.

"Because it's part of the World Enduro series, we have lots of people coming in from Europe, the U.S., all over the world to come to this event, so it's a really big deal for it to be in the city," Pechout said.

Lexi Pechout is a Calgary motocross rider competing in the Red Bull Outliers event

It was a really big deal for Pechout to be competing at home, too.

"It's fun to compete with friends and family here too," she said. "Having an event in your home city is always fun.

"And being able to connect with people that way too."

Sunday's Badlands event has free admission.

Steveville is a ghost town in southeastern Alberta near Brooks, on Township Road 2204.

Foxhill: Team USA wins Senior MXDN/Motocross

America, featuring superstars like Ryan Villopoto, Mike Brown and Zach Osborne, took the overall win at the Veterans Motocross at Foxhill.

The famous Foxhill British Grand Prix circuit was home to the Veteran Nations Motocross (VMXDN) over the weekend. With its long climbs and descents, the traditional slope near Swindon in County Wiltshire is very dry and relatively slippery.

A highlight of the event was the team race for the legends on retro two-stroke bikes from different eras. In this race, American stars Ryan Villopoto, Mike Brown (both Yamaha 250) and Zach Osborne (Husqvarna) finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th consecutively after winning the opening race.

Nevertheless, the local heroes showed plenty of fighting spirit in front of their home crowd as the fans cheered them on. Brad Anderson in particular showed himself strongly with his 250cc Honda. During his chase, he overtook his team-mate Mel Pocock – the two Brits finishing the race in 3rd and 5th respectively.

At the end of the race, Anderson and Villopoto were in a fierce battle for P3, which Anderson narrowly won. Race victory went to Northern Ireland’s Neville Bradshaw with a 500 two-stroke Honda. A third Briton – Kurt Nicol – finished 16th. In the end, however, America secured overall victory.

2022 Team USA Motocross of Nations Team

Pickerington, Ohio — The United States will be represented by three of its fastest motocross racers at the 2022 Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Motocross of Nations, which returns to American soil at RedBud MX in Buchanan, Mich., on Sept. 23-25.

The 2022 U.S. Motocross of Nations team includes 2022 AMA Supercross 450SX Champion Eli Tomac, 2021 AMA Supercross 250SX West Champion Justin Cooper, and AMA Supercross 450SX competitor Chase Sexton.

“We’ve put together a strong team of riders for the Motocross of Nations this year,” said AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier, “and we believe Eli, Justin and Chase — all talented, accomplished racers — can put the U.S. on the top step of the podium in front of the home crowd at RedBud. I look forward to watching them take on the world for the United States this September.”

Team captain Tomac will be competing on the U.S. Motocross of Nations team for the fourth time and will race in the event’s MXGP Class.

“It’s an honor to be racing for Team USA this year at Motocross of Nations,” Tomac said. “I believe our team is very strong this year and we have a great shot at winning, but we will never underestimate our competitors and the challenge of the event itself. The race pace has been at an all-time high in the [Pro Motocross] series, so I’m looking forward to putting our speed, pace, and consistency to the test. With the race at RedBud we will be more motivated than ever to have a top-step result.”

Cooper will be competing on the team for the second time, racing in the MX2 Class.

“It means a lot to me to be picked to represent Team USA,” Cooper said, “especially because it’s in our country this year. Just like in 2019, I will give everything I have to represent my country right. It’s an honor and I’m so excited to be picked for the MX2 Class.”

It will be Sexton’s inaugural appearance in Motocross of Nations competition, and he will race in the Open Class.

“I’m super-stoked to be picked for the Motocross of Nations,” Sexton said. “It’s been a dream of mine ever since I was little, watching Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana, James Stewart and the other Team USA riders. It’s such a cool race —something like no other. I went to the Motocross of Nations at RedBud in 2018 and got to watch, and now I’m excited to race it. It’s going to be special for me, having grown up like two hours away from RedBud, because it’s my home race. I’m stoked about it, and the goal is to hopefully go there and win.”

AMA Motocross Hall of Fame Legend Roger DeCoster will again manage the U.S. team as it strives to secure the world championship. DeCoster, who heads up KTM, GASGAS and Husqvarna’s racing efforts in AMA Supercross and the Pro Motocross series, took part in six victorious FIM Motocross of Nations teams back in the 1960s and 1970s, and is a five-time motocross World Champion.

“I am really happy with the way things are coming along for the Motocross of Nations at Red Bud,” said Roger DeCoster. “Clearly there is a different feel than recent past years. We now have the best three riders, and their teams are excited to go. Nine events have gone by since we won in France and the pressure will be enormous, but I feel that the way they have been racing, Eli, Chase and Justin will be up to the task.”

The FIM Motocross of Nations — which emerged in post-war Europe in 1947 — is one of the world’s most high-profile motorsports events. National teams from across the globe compete for a combined score to determine the overall championship-winning country.

The U.S. team still holds the record as all-time leader in FIM Motocross of Nations overall team victories, having won the event 22 times — 20 of them with DeCoster as team manager. The last time the U.S. team claimed a Motocross of Nations victory was in 2011.

Malcolm Is Back

Malcolm Stewart on Return to Pro Motocross: “I’m Happy to be Back, But We Have Some Work To Do”

by Slaw Dog August 15, 2022, 10:17 am

Crazy to think, but prior to Unadilla this past weekend, Malcolm Stewart hadn’t raced a round of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross since finishing 17th in the 450 Class at Budds Creek in 2014!!!!!!

After missing the opening eight rounds this year due to a knee injury, Mook Dog was back in action at Dilla and went 14-16 for 15th overall.

Our man Garth Milan caught this insane crash Mookie suffered, which, yeah, probably not the best welcome back.

2022 TKO Hard Enduro

2022 TKO Hard Enduro in a nutshell:

• If anyone was in any doubt Trystan Hart wanted to take back the TKO crown and claim his first HEWC win, his race day pace on the tough TKO course at teh Sequatchie Trials Training Center was as clear as it gets. Fastest in qualifying, then fastest in both knockout races – the Canadian was in flying form straight out the truck.
• With the Thursday night straight rhythm races for the fans in downtown Nashville a distant memory for winner Alfredo Gomez, the unique TKO single day format for the HEWC Pro riders is a busy one with qualifying and two knockout races to sift the entry down to size for a multi-lap final.
• Behind the US Hard Enduro champ in the knockout races, Taddy Blazusiak was looking good not for the first time on American soil along with Teo Kabakchiev and Mani Lettenbichler who were the only other riders dipping under the hour for their first long lap race runs.
• The top 26 qualified through to race two where they set off in groups of five and Hart again went fastest with Kabakchiev and Mario Roman the riders dipping under the one hour mark for that lap. Lettenbichler was fourth quickest with 2022 GNCC points standings leader Jordan Ashburn next best in fifth and showing his enduro skills are transferable.
• The grand final for the weekend raced on the shorter course with the top 20 riders facing what was, by the standards of other HEWC rounds, a sprint race of five laps.
• Hart was again the rider setting standard time, completing lap one just under 20 seconds better than his KTM teammate Mani with Roman matching their pace in third.
• Lettenbichler showed he wasn’t keen to repeat the 2021 defeat on the same course without a fight but the German was struggling with an injury. By the fourth and fifth laps Hart had stretched the gap to half a minute, was unbeatable over the rocks and took a popular win in front of the US crowd.
• The win backs up the 2020 TKO title for Hart and but this time adds some serious scalps from the Hard Enduro World Championship regulars for his first victory in the FIM series. “The pressure was pretty intense before the main race becasue I'd won everything else.” Explained Trystan. “Then the start was delayed and it got even more intense! I had so many close calls out there but it feels really good to get the win today.”
• Mario Roman bags himself another podium in third, finishing behind his chief championship rival Lettenbichler. That levels the standings right up heading to the penultimate race in Canada, in two weeks.
• The top four was completed by Wade Young on his return from injury after being forced to miss Romaniacs. The South African was the only other rider to complete five laps of the course and says he was stoked to get the result having not ridden a bike since the Abestone round.

Unadilla

Tim Gajser Wins His 5th World Championship!

Team HRC’s Tim Gajser became the most successful current MXGP rider after winning his fifth world title and the fourth in the premier MXGP class at the MXGP of Finland. The Honda CRF450R rider wrapped up this year’s championship two rounds early, after dominating periods of what has been a very challenging campaign.

Starting off the season with six wins in the first seven rounds gave him a platform that none of his rivals could get near, and further wins in Germany and a perfect performance in Indonesia meant that he was able to cement his crown and cruise home to yet another world title. This weekend at the sandy Hyvinkaa track, the #243 wasn’t at his best, but he was still able to post six-seven results, which was more than enough to give him a 104-point advantage and wrap-up the championship with two rounds still to race. With the pressure of winning his fifth world championship over, expect Gajser to be battling for wins once again, and adding to what is already a remarkable 2022 season.

Unfortunately, teammate Mitch Evans wasn’t able to put his practice and qualification speed into either of the two motos today, as first lap crashes in each race ruined his chances of challenging for a podium. The Australian had proved in every other session that he was a contender on this gruelling Hyvinkaa surface, but luck wasn’t on his side and instead has to prepare himself for the final two rounds of the season where he’ll be once again aiming to be up there at the front of the field.

The world championship now heads to St Jean D’Angely in France next weekend, for the penultimate round of the series, with both riders highly motivated to get back at the sharp end of this MXGP field. Gajser will be looking to add to his eight GP overalls, while Evans will be hoping to get his first podium of the season for what should be another action-packed weekend of high-quality motocross riding.

Tim Gajser: Wow! What a day. I definitely didn’t ride my best, but I got the job done and that’s what I set out to achieve at the beginning of the day. Five world titles, and I can’t believe it. It really hasn’t sunk in yet. A big thank you to the whole of Team HRC, the people at the races and all the support from Japan. Also thank you my girlfriend and all the support I receive from my fans around the world. It has been great to see so many of you cheering me on around the track and I can’t thank you enough. It is a special moment for me and I am just so happy to have got my fifth title!

Mitch Evans: Today was definitely not my day. I felt good coming into the motos but things just didn’t work out for me. A crash on the first lap in race one ruined any chance of a good result there, as I was almost last by the time I remounted. I charged through to 14th but it definitely wasn’t what I was after. Then a similar story in race two. Obviously, I’m really disappointed with how it went but I’m still fit, and motivated to get things right in the final two rounds of the season.

Marcus de Freitas:I am so happy for Tim, winning the championship with a couple of rounds to spare. He works so hard and thoroughly deserves all the success he gets and to win five world titles is an unbelievable achievement. The whole of Team HRC also deserve a lot of credit, for working hard and helping him get everything right, week in, week out. It hasn’t been an easy year but no one has stopped working for a second, and it shows in the results. Unfortunately, Mitch didn’t have the best of luck, but he’s really shown his speed the past few weeks and we are excited to head to the final two rounds, where both riders can really show how fast they are.