Dakar Stage 3

NBC Sports and Peacock Supercross Coverage

NBC Sports and Peacock will offer the off-road motorcycle racing community extensive live and commercial-free Supercross and Pro Motocross coverage on Peacock Premium. Beginning with the start of the 2021 Monster Energy Supercross season on Jan. 16, NBC Sports’ exclusive streaming coverage will move from NBC Sports Gold’s “Supercross and Pro Motocross Pass,” “Supercross Pass” and “Pro Motocross Pass” to Peacock Premium, which is available for $4.99 per month.

The Supercross and Pro Motocross packages included on Peacock Premium will serve as a one-stop shop for all Monster Energy Supercross and Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship fans. Peacock Premium will offer comprehensive live coverage and on-demand replays of their respective 2021 seasons, including Supercross qualifiers and races, and Pro Motocross main practice sessions, qualifiers, Moto 1s and Moto 2s.

Supercross and Pro Motocross streaming coverage on Peacock will complement robust linear coverage in 2021 of both series as part of NBC Sports’ ‘Home of Motorsports’ programming. The Supercross season kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 16 in Houston while the Pro Motocross season begins later in 2021. NBC Sports’ telecast schedule for the 2021 Monster Energy Supercross season will be announced soon.

Contaminated fuel the cause of Andrew Short's exit from Dakar Rally

Andrew Short

Andrew Short, was forced to retire from the 2021 Dakar Rally during Stage 2 after coming to a halt shortly after the second refuelling stop 267km into the special stage.

Despite his best efforts, the American was unable to restart the bike, leaving him with no option but to abandon the race.

Subsequent inspection of the bike on its return to the bivouac identified the problem as contaminated fuel, with a significant amount of water found to be present in both the fuel tank and the fuel pump on Short's bike.

Water was also found in the fuel of Short's Monster Energy Yamaha teammate Franco Caimi when his fuel tank was drained after the stage. Fortunately for the Argentinian, the fuel contamination wasn't as severe as that of his teammate and he was able to complete the day's stage.

As the contaminated fuel that caused the problem for Short was supplied by the organisers, and was therefore outside of the team's control, the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team lodged an official request to the FIM to freeze the results of the stage at Checkpoint 2. This would have allowed Short to start the race today. This request was rejected and, as a result, Short will play no further part in the 2021 Dakar Rally.

Because of the fuel contamination, the fuel tanks on all four of the remaining Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team bikes had to be drained and the fuel pumps replaced ahead of today's 629km Stage 3 around Wadi Ad-Dawasir.

Alexandre Kowalski - Yamaha Europe Off-Road Racing Manager said, "I am sad and disappointed for Andrew. He has put so much time and energy into preparing for the Dakar Rally, his first with the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team, and we had high hopes of him fighting at the front coming into the event.

"Andrew was given fuel from a new fuel can at the second refuelling stop on Stage 2 yesterday and this fuel was obviously contaminated with water, which ended up in his fuel tank. To see him forced out of the rally, after a massive amount of preparation work by both him and the team, by something that was completely outside of our control is incredibly frustrating.

"As the contaminated fuel was supplied by the organisers, we submitted a request to the FIM to freeze the results at Checkpoint 2, which would have allowed Andrew to start today, but this request was rejected. It's disappointing for everyone, but the race continues and now we need to focus on our four remaining riders, all of whom are doing a great job. This year we are really part of the game and we will continue to push until the end."

Happy New Year!

Simply The Very Best Lift Stand!

This is the stand for everyone from mini rider to the everyday rider to the professional racer. Easy to transport and store. Easy to use. The easy access 2 point "POWER PEDAL" makes it easy to operate.

LS1 LIFT STAND (EASY LIFT)

Constructed from thin wall lightweight super strong carbon steel.

Developed and tested by top riders in professional racing.

Very stable center post design. Works with all off road bikes.

Height is 12" in down position and 15.5" in up position.

Top platform 8" long X 11" wide.

Durable powder coated finish.

8 team graphics or you can customize with your name and number.

Replaceable anti slip rubber top & feet.

Slotted top making it easy to pick up and handle.

DeRon bushing in center post for easy smooth action with urethane bottom bumper.

Easy access pedal to operate "self locking" in "up position" Lift 500 lbs +.

Bolt - on wedge kit available. CLICK HERE FOR STAND TOP WEDGE KIT

Capacity - 500 lbs

Still Time for Christmas...Rocky Mountain

Magoo one of the greatest entertainers of our sport

THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER DANNY “MAGOO” CHANDLER

There will never be another Danny “Magoo” Chandler. His go-for-broke riding style earned him a legion of loyal fans. But while his boldness endeared him to the fans, it wasn’t a formula for success. In truth, it eventually led to tragedy for Magoo. For the first few years of his AMA career, the Sacramento-born Magoo was an oddity. The first time he showed up at Hangtown to race a 125 National, he had to stand on a milk crate to get on his bike. At the 1976 Super Bowl of Motocross, Magoo finished 16th in the 500 support class. He ran much higher than that but flew off the track several times at full speed, often reentering the track without shutting off.

It wasn’t until 1978 that Magoo made his first official mark on the AMA circuit. He earned three top-10 finishes in the 125 Nationals and got his first-ever podium finish—a third—at the Escape Country 125 National in Trabuco Canyon, California.

Maico signed Magoo for 1979, and the unreliable Maico and the out-of-control Magoo were a match made in Hades. No one in the history of the sport crashed as many times as Magoo did in 1979 and 1980, but his Maico rides had not been for naught. Magoo caught the eye of Team Honda manager Roger DeCoster who, although not impressed by Magoo’s antics, saw something special in the NorCal wild man. When there was a support class opening at Team Honda for the 1981 Trans-AMA series, Magoo got the call. He made the most of it, winning and moving to Team Honda full-time in 1982.

During his time at Team Honda, Danny Chandler won four 500 Nationals, finished third in the 1983 500 National Championship and shocked the world by winning the 1982 USGP at Carlsbad. And he did it after being stung by a bee, in spite of the fact that he was extremely allergic.

Chandler iced his reputation when he rode like a man possessed at the 1982 ABC-TV Superbikers race. Magoo’s victory earned him a spot on the 1982 American Motocross and Trophee des Nations teams. At Gaildorf, Germany, and Wohlen, Switzerland, Magoo became the only rider in motocross history to win all four motos. Magoo couldn’t have been a bigger hero, but it was all about to change for the likable redhead.

Chandler was injured in the off-season leading up to the 1984 season and only made the top 10 twice all year long. Honda dropped him. With no other offers, Magoo agreed to ride for Team Kawasaki in the 500 World Championships. Magoo couldn’t believe it when Kawasaki told him that he would have to let their star rider, Georges Jobe, pass him if the two got close to each other. Magoo said that he wouldn’t take a dive for anybody and quit Kawasaki. He was quickly picked up by Team KTM and won the 1985 French 500 GP.

Unfortunately, three months later, Magoo went to the Paris Supercross and his life was changed forever. After being paralyzed that day in Paris in 1985, Magoo reinvented himself as a mountain bike race promoter, motocross trainer, motivational safety speaker and D.A.R.E. coordinator. He loved the idea of helping people less fortunate than himself (and often during those times there were few people less unfortunate than Danny) by running the International Riders Helping People (IRHP) organization. At the age of 50, Danny was finally at peace with who he was and what he could achieve. Sadly, Danny passed away suddenly after a brief illness on May 5, 2010.

A Look at the Legend... Carl Cranke

In the spring of 2013 off-road motorcycle legend, ISDT Gold Medalist and AMA Hall of Fame racer, Carl Cranke was interviewed for the feature documentary film PENTON: The John Penton Story narrated by Grammy Winner, Lyle Lovett.

More on Carl Cranke

One of my favorite picture of Carl Cranke.

Carl  laying it down and matting the throttle during an ISDT special tests- the drag race. Skunk helmet, tee shirt, Hallman desert leathers and Hi Points highlight one of the heroes and characters from the wild west days of off-road racing.

Carl Cranke, one of America’s true off-road legends passed away on November 14 following a battle with cancer. Carl was one of those very rare gifted racers who was competitive in nearly every facet of riding.  Carl  grew up just outside of Sacramento in Fair Oaks racing dirt track,  but because of the expense shifted his efforts to anything off-road. After an incredible performance in a Trans AM race Carl began a long relationships with Penton motorcycles,  the marque he was most associated with. Carl not only raced Pentons’ but was intimately involved in the development of the Penton line. How good was Carl? Very good.

Carl represented  the United States in ten International Six Days and in the process won 9 medals, 7 golds and 2 silvers. No matter what class he rode, he was known to ride in the 100, 125 and 250 class, if he showed up on the starting line he was favored to win. In addition to his racing career Carl was also the West Coast service manager for Penton. Many of us were lucky enough to be decent at one discipline of racing, it’s incredibly rare to be really good at everything. Carl Cranke was great at everything he raced and everywhere he raced. Rare indeed.

Godspeed.

New MX Team

Three powerful companies all pulling together, the team will contest the Monster Energy Supercross and Outdoor MX Nationals in 2021. The team has signed Alex Martin, Alex's drive and determination is second to none, the group will focus on providing him with everything possible to be successful.

Alex Martin

“I’m super excited to be working with my new team; Manluk/Rock River Yamaha/Merge Racing. I had some of the best years of my career with Yamaha. I’m looking forward to what the new team can do in 2021. Three great organizations and I’m grateful that we could organize this new team."

About Manluk:

Manluk Corporation a global supplier of turnkey manufacturing solutions. Manluk ships product to over 20 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Middle East, and Africa, supporting industries such as on and off-shore drilling, wellhead, downhole tools and mining. Visit: https://manluk.com/

About Rock River Yamaha:

Rock River Yamaha is a 5 Star Platinum Yamaha and Specialized dealer with a global presence. From their home base in Johnson Creek Wisconsin they not only have a 30,000 square foot dealership selling everything Yamaha and Specialized E-bikes, but run the Amateur trackside support program, the National Amateur Elite Program, and a Professional Supercross/Motocross program for Yamaha. A staple in the industry for 2 decades, these programs get stronger and stronger every year. Visit:  https://rockriverpowersports.motorcycles/

About Merge Racing:

The members of Merge Racing Technologies have owned professional race teams, worked as Factory mechanics on winning teams in AMA SX/MX and FIM GP’s, and managed R&D programs for Factory teams. Merge was formed to design and build works parts for professional race teams, but we also make those parts available to you. Visit: https://mergeracing.com/