Charlie Brown's Mantra!

Shorty Earns Fifth In Second Half of 2019 Dakar

Andrew Short | Career-Best Finish 2019 Dakar

ANDREW SHORT CLAIMS CAREER BEST RESULT

ON STAGE FIVE OF DAKAR

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING RIDER EARNS A POSITIVE FIFTH PLACE RESULT ON THE SECOND PART OF THE MARATHON STAGE

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Andrew Short has earned an impressive top-five result on stage five of the 2019 Dakar Rally – the American's second participation in the world's most demanding rally. Following a well-calculated plan of attack, Pablo Quintanilla claimed a 13th place result and is very well placed ahead of Sunday's stage six.

The two Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing riders had the chance to race alongside one another for much of the day's timed special stage. Remaining fast from start to finish, Andrew Short claimed his best individual stage result of this Dakar. Finishing fifth on stage five, he bettered his strong sixth place result from stage 10 of the 2018 Dakar. His top five result on Friday allows Andrew to move back inside the top 10 of the overall standings.

As for Pablo Quintanilla, the Chilean rally star made good use of his experience today in Peru. Claiming a 13th place result, Pablo is currently third in the provisional overall. As the 13th rider to start on Sunday, Pablo is in a great position to fight for the provisional overall lead.

On Saturday, all competitors will enjoy a well-deserved day of rest in Arequipa. During the rest day, Pablo and Andrew will be able to prepare themselves for the second week of racing in Peru.

Pablo Quintanilla: "Five days done and I'm in a great position in this rally. The first part of the stage was a lot of fun. I took the lead after the mass start, but then decided to stay off the gas a bit. My eyes are focused on the overall classification and I'm in a good spot to attack during the second week. Today I felt great on my bike. I was able to get a good pace and do my own race. The Dakar is always a long event and you need to always see the overall picture. I'm happy with my performance today because I've managed to put myself in a great position for Sunday's stage six. I am feeling great physically and I'm looking forward to the second week. It's important to get back as much time as possible on Sunday so that I can then control my pace for the rest of the race."

Andrew Short: "I had a better day today. It was really fun to ride with Pablo pretty much all day. The mass start was huge fun, especially for a guy like me coming from motocross. From the beach we went to the big dunes. It was really steep and we were going up and down all the time. That part was really fun to ride. Overall, it was a good day for me and Pablo and hopefully as we continue we can keep getting better. When I have someone like Pablo who I can trust, it's a lot easier for me to ride fast. The more I ride with the top guys the better I can get. I am getting more experience and I hope I can keep improving during the second week of racing."

2019 Dakar Rally – Stage 5 Provisional Classification
1. Sam Sunderland (KTM) 04:11:48
2. Xavier de Soultrait (Yamaha) 04:15:11
3. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 04:15:48
4. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha), 04:16:14
5. Andrew Short (Husqvarna) 04:16:14
6. Luciano Benavides (KTM) 04:16:14
…
13. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 04:19:07

2019 Dakar Rally – Provisional Overall Standings After Stage 5
1. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 16:51:34
2. Sam Sunderland (KTM) 16:52:33
3. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 16:54:26
4. Toby Price (KTM) 16:54:55
5. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 16:58:10
6. Kevin Benavides (Honda) 17:00:35
…
10. Andrew Short (Husqvarna) 17:19:28

Andrew Short Confident Heading Into Second Dakar

American Andrew Short is set for his second tilt at the toughest race on two wheels, the 2019 Dakar Rally when the 42nd edition takes place in Peru from January 6-17, 2019.

Putting in considerable racing kilometres in 2018, Short has gained valuable knowledge during his first full year of rally competition and is fired up for success in what will be his second participation in the Dakar Rally. Looking to make use of the experience he’s acquired, the American will be eyeing a good overall result.

“I’ve learned a lot during the 2018 season and now I’m ready to put this experience to good use at the Dakar," Short said.

"The season started for me in Morocco with the Merzouga Rally and since then we’ve also raced in Chile and Peru. I had some good race time and was able to study the strategy of the top guys. I saw how fast they can go in specific sections and kept improving my speed while navigating correctly," Short contuned.

"In Peru, I was able to battle with them all the way to the finish and I was happy to get my first podium in rally racing.

"It gives me extra confidence knowing that the 2019 Dakar will take place in Peru. I am looking forward to going back racing in the massive Peruvian dunes.

My goal for the coming Dakar is not on a number or place, it’s just to continue to race with the top guys. I want to be even more competitive in January and be as close as possible to the front. Andrew Short

Team Manager Pela Renet is happy with Shorts growing experience.

"Andrew earned his first podium in Peru in September and he is feeling comfortable racing in sandy conditions," Renet said.

"We want to see him continue making progress in 2019. The atmosphere within our team is great and our riders are happy with the performance of our rally bikes. With the coming Dakar featuri

HRC and Dakar

HRC and Dakar

 

While the rest of the planet bids farewell to 2018, Monster Energy Honda Team has its sights set several days ahead for the start of the 2019 Dakar Rally.

The 2019 edition of the Dakar Rally will feature the five official riders of the Monster Energy Honda Team: Joan Barreda (Spain, 35), Kevin Benavides (Argentina, 29), Ricky Brabec (USA, 27), José Ignacio Cornejo (Chile, 24) and Paulo Gonçalves (Portugal, 39). The team, in addition to the riders, is made up of a crew of thirty who will strive to achieve top results in the most extreme of conditions. This year’s edition will feature ten tough stages in Peru with a margin of error of virtually zero.

The 2019 Dakar Rally kicks off on January 6th in Lima and will conclude in the Peruvian capital on the 17th after ten stages across the vast Peruvian desert.

Optimal 2018 season
Over the 2018 season, Monster Energy Honda Team have completed an intense, but optimal program including various tests and competitive races. The team thus arrives at the season’s blue riband event in first rate conditions.

The team riders proved to be particularly strong in the South American rallies, where they were victorious in the three major races held in August and September (Atacama Rally, Ruta 40 and Inca Challenge), in addition to triumphing earlier in Morocco in April (Merzouga Rally).

After a period which has seen the Honda CRF450 RALLY undergo testing for several specific bike parts, Monster Energy Honda Team are now poised to tackle the great challenge that is the 2019 Dakar Rally.

Ten stages with start and finish in Lima
The team will now undergo the administrative and technical checks in the days prior to the Dakar Rally which sets off from Lima on January 7th with the dispute of a first stage between the Peruvian capital and Pisco. The stage will include just 84 kilometres of timed special out of a total stage of 331 kilometres.

The second stage of the 2019 Dakar Rally from Pisco to San Juan de Marcona could prove to be a tricky one with the bikes starting out after the cars. This will mean a tough job for the motards, who will have to tackle terrain previously churned up by the passing of the four-wheel vehicles. The longest day of this edition of the Dakar will be stage three from San Juan de Marcona to Arequipa covering some 800 kilometres of stage.

The sole Marathon stage of this edition will play out on day four, as riders head out from Arequipa to the bivouac at Moquegua. Riders will be unable to receive mechanical assistance from their teams and will have to undertake any bike repairs by themselves. The following day will feature a motocross-style line start.

The rest day is scheduled for Arequipa on Saturday, January 12th before the second week gets underway and returns to Lima with looping stages in San Juan de Marcona and Pisco. The ‘Super-Ica’ will be held in the dunes of Ica on January 15th, which will see riders battling it out alongside cars and trucks in a stage that includes the rally’s most lengthy special with 361 kilometres against the clock. The following day will feature another motocross-style line start.

The arrival back in Lima is scheduled for Thursday, January 17th with any survivors by now having completed a total of 5541 kilometres of track including some 2889 km of timed special stages.

Of the 334 vehicles taking part in the 2019 Dakar, a total of 138 will be motorcycles. The race will be broadcast over 70 television channels in 190 countries.

Dakar Rally 2019

Day	Stage	Special Stage Km	Total Km
6 January	Start podium Lima
7 January	Lima-Pisco	84	331
8 January	Pisco-S. Juan de Marcona	342	554
9 January	SS.an Juan de Marcona-Arequipa	331	799
10 January	Arequipa-Moquegua	352	511
11 January	Moquegua-Arequipa	345	776
12 January	Rest day
13 January	Arequipa-S. Juan de Marcona	317	839
14 January	S. Juan de Marcona-S. Juan de Marcona	323	387
15 January	S. Juan de Marcona-Pisco	361	576
16 January	Pisco-Pisco	313	410
17 January	Pisco-Lima	112	358
Total km		2889	5541

"Hurricane" Warnings

BOB “HURRICANE” HANNAH

TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS AT A1-SX

Matrix Concepts | Tag Metals, SX / MX Legend Bob “Hurricane” Hannah to make Supercross appearance at Monster Energy SX at A1 this coming Saturday, January 5, 2019.

Bob will be on hand and hosted by Yamaha Motor Corporation at the Factory Yamaha Racing Rig from 2:30pm to 3:30pm to sign autographs. Stop by, say hi, take a photo and feel free to bring any of your Bob Hannah Memorabilia by for Bob sign. Yamaha will have a new limited edition Yamaha Poster that Bob will be signing.

Matrix Concepts & Tag Metals is accepting accepting rider team resumes for the 2019 season. Visit our individual brands at www.hookit.com or the brand websites listed above.

About GROUP 6 USA, LLC...now includes the following iconic brands from one location and include Matrix Concepts / Tag Metals / Atlas Brace is based in Valencia, California.

Our products are used and developed by the top MX/Off-Road race teams in the world. For more information on our products please visit our brand sites at:

Merry Christmas To All

Merry Christmas to All from the gang at MX43!

Art (43)    Eric (33)         Doug (21J)     Joe

Remember the Flying Dentist

Gerrit Wolsink interview

Posted on December 20, 2018

Nobody had ever hooked into the Carlsbad circuit in Southern California like Dutchman Gerrit Wolsink. With four USGP wins around the rock hard Carlsbad circuit no single man had dominated at the United States Grand Prix like the Dutchman. 

Wolsink arrived on the Grand Prix scene around the same time as legends Roger De Coster and Heikki Mikkola, and despite never reaching for the FIM gold medal like his two rivals the flying Dutchman did win 13 GP overalls, placing him 16th in the all-time winners list for 500cc machines, every man ahead of him had at least one World Motocross championship to his name, while behind him came Brad Lackey, Bengt Aberg, Andrea Bartolini, Shayne King and Graham Noyce, all former World 500cc champions. 

Wolsink would not retire disappointed, the fact he had raced side by side with the likes of De Coster and Mikkola was proof enough he belonged in amongst the legends.  Wolsink finished near the top of the World 500cc championship enough times to smell the taste of championship glory, and in his homeland is still considered one of the most important people in the sport of Motocross.

He was known as the flying dentist, raised in the socially warm country of Holland in Europe Gerrit Wolsink became one of the most exciting riders of his era. He spilt his blood in an era which saw seeing the Motocross powers turning to America. At a time when the Europeans were still the best in the World Wolsink was one of the riders on the front line against the every improving Americans.

Who will ever forget the knee dragging shot of Wolsink at his beloved Carlsbad, or the shots of him pushing his more illustrious team-mate Roger De Coster around the tough circuits of Europe? Going two 45-minute motos and still looking sharp at the end.

"For sure, back in the mid-70's I was as quick as anyone. Because I rode for Suzuki I knew I had the best bikes, and my speed was always good, didn't matter if it was sand, rock-hard or whatever."

America was more than likely the most interesting stop for Wolsink, girls, sun and a place called Carlsbad fitted into his plans. He might have been the quiet Dutchman, but on the treacherous Carlsbad layout the Dutch dentist let it rip.

"I would spent three or four weeks in America in the summer because we had the USGP then a month later the Canadian Grand Prix. In the winter I would spent three months in America, I did that for six-years in a row, and I loved it. I hadn't been back for a long time, I got to go back for the Las Vegas Supercross, which was interesting."

"In 1976 I was blocked by a rider for two heats for the complete race, the tracks were very dusty in those days, at the old track at Ettelbrook, I passed this guy twice and he crashed into me. I never got angry, but he cost me the World championship that year. We had a rule that we didn't get involved in the fights for the championship, this guy just went out to stop me being World champion, and I’ll never forget what happen."

"I talked to Honda in America, but the AMA locked up that the European riders couldn't go to America and rule. Jimmy Weinart was behind that. They were scared that if too many European riders went to America that we could stop them making money. I really was a long way along with Honda to race in America in 1975 or something like that. Then they came back to me and told me the AMA didn't want anyone from Europe racing there anymore, only the guys who were already involved, guys like Pierre Karsmakers. I didn't care I had a good deal with Suzuki in the Grand Prix, and to be honest Europe was the top level then, we were the best riders in the World. The money in America was getting better back then though, although Europe was also good back then."

While Wolsink dominated the USGP winning in 1974/5/6 and 1979 the Dutchman also suffered losses at the Carlsbad circuit. Even in the depth of his career he lost out to the Finnish ironman Mikkola, and again to two young Americans Chuck Sun and Marty Moates.

"Carlsbad was a really interesting place, you knew you were in America, and the American riders didn't ride with the same discipline as the Europeans, they didn't mind trying stuff. I remember back in Carlsbad in 1981, Roger De Coster was team manager for the Honda team, and I was on a semi-factory team. Roger asked me if I would like to race the USGP for the factory team over in America, and I remember in the first heat I started too late, and I got second and Chuck Sun won the USGP, I finished second. That really upset me, I mean to win the USGP was normal for me, and here I was riding for the factory Honda team and I couldn't win it. I just got a bad start in both motos and in the second heat I crashed in the start. The American riders were so wild, in Europe we rode so smooth, and those guys were stop and go, and we were more technical, always thinking. You could out trick the Americans, they were not that smart back then. We saw guys like Hannah and Smith improving, and once those guy's improved they were just too good for us."

While Woslink watched and wondered if the Europeans could duplicate the improvement of the Americans he also looked at ways to bring the new breed of American riders to Europe. It was at the Amsterdam stadium in early 1980 that Wolsink was part of history, bringing the first ever Supercross race to Europe. While everyone looks at Bercy as the threshold of European Supercross races it was in fact an event which included names such as Broc Glover and Mike Bell.

"I remember after Ricky Johnson won the USGPs and he came to me and was saying he was nearly as good as me, now RJ was a hero for me, although he was younger he rode the Supercross races I promoted in Europe, and he was all show. Ricky was such a class guy, and one night we were sitting around and he said he won a GP at Carlsbad and he was nearly as good as Wolsink, which meant a lot to me."

As good as Wolsink was, battling the best in the World, and on the odd occasion winning, the Dutchman never looked at himself as anything but an average rider.

"You don't realise how good you were, but now I see how difficult it was for the guy's I sometimes work with, how hard it is for them, I realise how good I was, and how good guys like De Coster were. Still I worked hard to get to the top of Grand Prix racing, we all did, it was 100% commitment, with not the same payback they have now, maybe that is also a problem, we did it more for the passion of winning, than for the money, sure the money was important, but times have changed, it is so easy now for a young rider to make a living from Motocross."

And as for the young riders of today, Wolsink doesn’t see them putting in the effort and time to make it. They want it now, while riders from the 1970s took the hard route, and it paid off.

"I think the youngest riders don't take the time to get to the top, they want to get to the top quickly, too quickly. If they put more thought into racing, how to prepare, how to get into the position of being at the top maybe we wouldn't see so many accidents and rider injuries. Look at what happened in France, they had so much help with their young riders, with Jacky Vimond helping out and Boneface working with the young riders, but that has also stopped, the French are not bringing in riders like they used to. Australia obviously are doing something, we in Holland have tried several times, but it does not always work out. They tried it in Italy back in the early 1990's, but again I'm not sure if the effort there anymore."

After retirement, Wolsink got into promoting and even worked with current MXGP promoter, Giuseppe Luongo.

"I was 35-years-old and I had lost interest, I had injuries, I was a full-time dentist, so I just got out, stood on the side, although I am very involved now. I did some promotions, ran some Supercross races, the first one in Europe that was in Amsterdam, back in the early 1980. I also worked with Giuseppe Luongo on his Masters series, rode the ISDE, then I was in the side again before I was the clerk of the course at the 1993 International Six Day Enduro in Assen, Holland, that was terrible, we had so much rain, the routes were terrible, so much politics. The FIM asked me to be in the Motocross commission, I always said no."

One of the very good Grand Prix riders of the 1970s, and still often seen at a GP event, the Dutch dentist will always be remembered for his domination of the American and GP riders in the burning heat of southern California and around the Carlsbad dust bowl.

Dealing With The Challenges Of The Dakar

Reed in for Suzuki Factory

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) and JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing is excited to announce its race teams for the 2019 Monster Energy Supercross series. Geared up for the 450 class is two-time 450 Supercross Champion Chad Reed and Justin Hill. In addition, Alex Martin will join Jimmy Decotis, Kyle Peters, and Enzo Lopes in the 250 class. The four-rider 250 program will race with the all-new 2019 Suzuki RM-Z250.

Weston Peick, a 450 class favorite, will also return to the JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Team for his fifth year. However, due to a serious injury at the Paris Supercross in November where he suffered multiple facial injuries, Peick will not be competing until he is healthy and ready. Peick is hopeful to return to the track this season but until then, he will be signing autographs and meeting fans at various Supercross races.

Fan favorite Chad Reed (#22) continues with the JGRMX team for the 2019 Supercross season. Fourth on the all-time Supercross win list, with 44 main event victories, Chad Reed is easily one of the most popular riders in the paddock and will contest the 17-round 450 Supercross series on a Suzuki RM-Z450. The 36-year-old had a busy off-season, sweeping the S-X Open in New Zealand and capturing the International FIM Oceania Championship. He looks to carry that success into 2019.

After several successful 450 class outings in 2018, Justin Hill (#46) will now race the Suzuki RM-Z450 full-time during the 2019 season.

Justin Hill, the 2017 Western Regional 250 Supercross Champion, is moving up to the 450 class full-time in 2019. The Yoncalla, Oregon native contested several 450 Supercross rounds in 2018 and served notice by logging fast qualifying times and running up front. The 23-year-old is poised and confident heading into Anaheim 1 on January 5th.

Armed with Suzuki's new RM-Z250, Jimmy Decotis is back with the JGRMX 250 West Supercross effort for 2019.

Jimmy Decotis returns to the team for his second year. The Peabody, Massachusetts native earned a podium at the Dallas Supercross and positioned himself as a title contender, before sustaining a back injury midway through the series. Decotis is focused and ready for a great 250 West Supercross campaign.

Sporting a new competition number and teaming with Decotis in the 250 West Supercross championship, Brazil's Enzo Lopes (#67) is also on the new RM-Z250.

Brazil’s Enzo Lopes raced the 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship under the JGRMX/Suzuki umbrella. The 19-year-old is excited to contest his rookie season of Supercross on the Suzuki RM-Z250. Lopes will join Decotis in the 250 West series.

New to Suzuki and JGRMX, Alex Martin (#26) has already put in the time and effort to get fast on his new RM-Z250.

Alex Martin, out of Millville, Minnesota, has three podiums and eight top-five finishes in his Supercross career. The 29-year-old has enjoyed a successful off-season with the JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Team and is gunning for the 250 East series crown, which begins on February 9th in Minneapolis.

Joining Martin in the 250 East Supercross championship, Kyle Peters (#55) has surgery behind him and is ready to take on the new season.

Kyle Peters was the feel-good story of the 2018 Supercross series. The Greensboro, North Carolina resident showed determination and resilience by finishing third at the Foxborough Supercross, while racing with multiple torn ligaments in his knee. Peters underwent surgery and is eager to get back on the Supercross podium. He will join Martin in the 250 East series.

“Chad Reed is a consummate professional, and I see that he has that hunger to win,” said Jeremy Albrecht, JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing team manager. "I’m also eager to see Justin Hill race in the 450 class. The kid is an incredible talent. He has really ramped up his training program this off-season. I am looking forward to Weston Peick lining up to the gate when he’s healthy. Peick is a tough person and fierce competitor.”

Albrecht continued, “In the 250 class, we scored a win and three podiums with three different riders in our first year as Suzuki’s 250 factory effort in 2018. With Decotis and Peters returning to the team, Lopes making his Supercross debut, and proven veteran Martin on the team, I expect bigger things in 2019. The all-new Suzuki RM-Z250 is an outstanding platform, and all of the guys are very happy with it.”

Stefan Everts - Recovering

Posted on December 17, 2018

Great news came in today from Belgium. The condition of Stefan Everts, who was struck by malaria, is evolving favorably. His condition is no longer critical. That is why it is no longer necessary to sediment the 10 time world champion motocross. 

Everts is still in the intensive care department of the University Hospital in Leuven, where he is closely monitored and where only family members are admitted. About the effects of malaria (the investigations continue) or about the duration of the recovery, nothing can be said at the moment.