MIKE ALESSI DOUBLES UP AT THE “PASHA 125 OPEN” TWO-STROKE RACE

Mike Alessi loves two-strokes and he hopes to win his second World Two-Stroke Championship on October 3. Mike won his first back in 2016. Mike used the Pasha 125 Open to measure his fitness.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI

You’ve probably been to the occasional race that has a weird format, unusual class structure or purse payout that breaks the molds. And if you have been any of the “Pasha 125 Open” races you know exactly what we mean. Here are some examples from this weekend’s unique 125cc two-stroke race.

(1) Hollywood actor Pasha Afshar decided that he wanted to help the 125 Pro class at the 2020 World Two-Stroke Championship grow, so he organized the “Pasha 125 Open” and paid the purse money out of his own pocket. He didn’t take a dime from the race entries. He is dedicated to increasing the profile of 125 two-strokes.

Toni Bou Again

Toni Bou gets 2020 TrialGP World Championship underway with a win!

Superstar Spaniard Toni Bou has picked up where he left off at the end of 2019 with a spectacular performance at TrialGP France – the opening round of the 2020 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – staged today at the Alpine ski resort of Isola 2000.

Following an enforced delay due to COVID-19, the series kicked off with a full-house of classes.
Staged 2000 metres above sea level under a fierce sun, the sections mostly comprised imposing rocks under trees on a super-steep hillside. The dry conditions ensured that grip on the huge boulders was plentiful but loose ground in between meant traction was hard to find.

The toughest hazard for the premier TrialGP class was section nine, plotted along a stream with an under-cut step making for a challenging exit. With the opening lap scrapped for all classes due to time issues, Bou – who’s aiming for his 14th consecutive title – dropped half of his four marks lost on observation here with single dabs on both scored attempts. These, coupled with an additional two time penalties, brought his final total up to six which still gave him a five-mark winning margin over his young compatriot Jaime Busto.

Jeroni Fajardo filled the final podium position on 14 with Adam Raga and Jorge Casales completing an all-Spanish top-five ahead of Japan’s Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda).

"Today was quite a strange day," Bou said. "Going back into competition after so many months has been difficult, but we did our best and we rode a trial with very few mistakes. It was tough mentally as we finished the event very late and it was hard to keep up. Now, we have many trials one after the other, so it will be tough. I am very happy to start the World Championship this way and even more so given that it is such a short championship. It will not be easy, but tomorrow we will continue fighting and give it our best shot."

Herlings Wins with 1-1 in Italy

 

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings did pretty much what everyone expected with a 1-1 performance at the opening GP at the Faenza circuit and the way he looked means bad news for his rivals. With defending champion Tim Gajser finishing off the podium and struggling somewhat. Gajser is now 67 points off the red plate.

“It is amazing to equal Tony Cairoli (his 90th GP victory) and there is one guy left on the list and that is Stefan Everts. He was my idol when I was a kid and I need another 11 to catch him. We had a good start, but it was a rough one, had to fight until the end and Jeremy was riding really well. It was hard to pass Jorge, just one line, but looking forward to the race on Wednesday.”

Monster Energy Yamaha rider Jeremy Seewer finished second with 2-2 results and another Red Bull KTM rider Antonio Cairoli finished third with 3-3 scores. Cairoli moved into second place in the MXGP points but is 60 points behind Herlings. As we know, Cairoli knows where to be if something happens to Herlings or Gajser.

Prado led the second MXGP moto from Herlings, Seewer, Paulin, Desalle, Gasjer, Cairoli, Jacobi, Febvre and Walsh in 10^th place. After four laps Prado was 1 second ahead of Herlings, then Seewer, Paulin, Cairoli, Gajser, Febvre, Desalle, Jacobi, and Evans 10^th. Paulin went down and was well back in the positions.

While it was Jasikonis who was in the mix with the World champions in Latvia, this time it is Seewer tucked between the former or present champions. Prado, Herlings, Seewer, Cairoli, Gajser and Febvre the top six, then Desalle, Jacobi, Evans and Jasikonis.

Eight laps and the lead was still around a second, as Seewer was all over the back wheel of Herlings. Herlings again making big leaps towards his fifth World title as he gets miles ahead of anyone else in the points race.

Seewer all over Herlings and Prado starting to fade, the end of this race will light up. Herlings into the lead and Seewer also past Prado, with Cairoli closing on the top three, then came Febvre, Gajser, Evans, Coldenhoff, Desalle, Jasikonis in 10^th. Seewer going after Herlings again.

Prado struggling as he dropped to sixth place and seemingly tiring badly. 16^th lap the lead by Herlings was two seconds from Seewer, then Cairoli, Febvre, Gajser, Prado, Evans, Coldenjoff, Jasikonis, and Lupino in 10^th. Herlings wins the race and the overall, followed by Seewer who also finished second overall and Cairoli, who finished third overall

WC Labor Day Sale

Weston Peick Whats Next?

He's been on the sidelines ever since he was inured at a European off-season race—now he's ready for a new start in what has been an inspirational motocross career

All New 2021 CR450F

Nearly two decades after its introduction to the motocross world, Honda’s CRF450 begins a new chapter for 2021, this latest version inspired by a “Razor Sharp Cornering” design philosophy. Already the industry’s top-selling motocross model along with its exclusive CRF450WE sibling, the CRF450 is guided by three main goals for 2021: improved power (particularly on corner exits), improved handling and more consistent lap times over the course of a tough moto.

Honda’s lightened, latest-generation twin-spar aluminum frame headlines the update list, with changes that reduce lateral rigidity for improved cornering performance and stability. Out back, a new swingarm improves rear traction. The Unicam engine features updates to the decompression system, intake and exhaust (including a switch from two mufflers to one), resulting in improved low-to-mid performance and a narrower layout. A stouter clutch with hydraulic activation is new, delivering reduced slip and a lighter lever pull for more consistent performance. The new bodywork and seat offer a slimmer, smoother rider interface, as well as simplified maintenance.

“Having already earned a place on the list of all-time successful Honda models, the CRF450 continues to demonstrate Honda’s commitment to winning,” said Lee Edmunds, Senior Manager of Powersports Marketing at American Honda. “With its emphasis on cornering performance, we’re confident that the all-new 2021 model will help Red Riders write their own names in the record books with dominant performances from gate drop to checkered flag.”

Zack Osborne MXA Interview

ZACH OSBORNE INTERVIEW: THE ONLY 450 SUPERCROSS WINNER

& GNCC OFF-ROAD CONTENDER

BY JIM KIMBALL

The 2020 Supercross Championship was full of highs and lows for Zach Osborne who overcame a difficult start to the 2020 series and later suffered a severe practice crash that should have left him sidelined until the Outdoor Nationals. However, the three-month halt in the season allowed Osborne to heal up in time to finish out the final seven rounds of the season.

Now, while the rest of the racers wait in limbo for the local, state and federal governments to lift restrictions and allow public events like the Nationals to happen with spectators, Zach decided to go GNCC racing at the High Voltage event in West Virginia where he finished an impressive 7th place in the dusty, three-hour off-road event. We caught up with Zach to talk mostly about Supercross and motocross, but we also asked him about his GNCC experience as well.

WITH YOUR PRACTICE CRASH DURING SUPERCROSS, THE COVID-19 BREAK ACTUALLY PLAYED INTO YOUR FAVOR RIGHT? I had that big crash, practicing the week before the Atlanta Supercross. I ended up breaking my back in five places, broke my wrist, and partially collapsed both of my lungs. It was a pretty big crash and it took me probably eight weeks before I felt even remotely normal again. For sure, without Covid-19 I would not have been even remotely close to racing Supercross, in a sense, it really hooked me up pretty good.

A LESSER MAN MAY HAVE THOUGHT “I SHOULD SIT OUT SUPERCROSS AND TAKE MORE TIME AND GET READY FOR OUTDOORS,” DID THAT OCCUR TO YOU AT ALL? That would have been the plan, obviously had the Coronavirus not happened, because I had no chance of being healthy or being able to really put in some good rides. That would have been the plan with just outdoor racing. Then, when I started riding, that was still the plan, because there was not going to be any Supercross, so I was just riding outdoors. When Feldannounced the Salt Lake City races, I got back on the Supercross track and started riding.

BEFORE YOUR CRASH, YOU LOOKED GOOD, BUT I DON’T THINK YOU WERE HAPPY WITH YOUR RESULTS. BUT AFTER GETTING SALT LAKE CITY THINGS WERE COMING TOGETHER. The beginning of the season was not great for me. I was struggling with just feeling really sick in January. That put me in a tough spot and made it hard for me to recover during the week, and it just started to build on me. Finally, in Dallas, before I got injured, I was having a decent race. I think I went 7-5-3 in the Triple Crown for 5th overall and that was the best I had ridden all year. At the same time, it was not at nearly the level I was riding when we were in Salt Lake.

TAKING THE WIN AT THE FINAL ROUND MUST HAVE BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. It was awesome. I rode well the whole time we were there, led some races and got comfortable with that. I got comfortable riding in front of the premier class in the world in Supercross and I really wanted to win that last one. I knew that those guys would be Championship-minded, especially Eli. And if Eli was up front then Cooper would have been the same. I felt like I really had a good opportunity and I was able to capitalize on it and get a win.

DO YOU NOW SEE YOURSELF AS ONE OF THOSE TOP CANDIDATES TO WIN RACES? I would like to think so. I was kind of the complete package when we were in Salt Lake with my starts and just the consistency I was putting down. Next year going in, I already have checked the race win box, and I would like to  continue charging forward and trying to build some wins. I want to put myself in good position the whole season and stay healthy, that is the main thing.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR HUSQVARNA TO GO 1, 2, 3 AND DOMINATE LIKE YOU GUYS DID AT THE LAST RACE? It was for all of us and for everyone involved it was great. It was a huge day with Michael Mosiman on the podium in the 250 class and then for us to go 1, 2, 3 was really cool. It was the first time ever for Husky and that was awesome. Obviously, I was glad to be the guy that won, but even with that, it was a really cool day for all of us.

WHAT IS IT LIKE RIDING FOR THE ROCKSTAR HUSQVARNA TEAM? We enjoy going racing together. We have a good team atmosphere. We all have fun and I think that it is key to not only good results but just enjoying the racing and grind that it takes.

BASED ON YOUR SUCCESS IN SUPERCROSS, DO YOU FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT OUTDOORS? I feel great about it. I hope that they can pull something together for us to be able to go racing. It is going to be a really good series if they make it happen. I would like to think that they will get it together. And with my fitness, I believe that I am in a good spot to contend for race wins there too.

ARE YOU OKAY WITH HOW MX SPORTS IS HANDING THINGS? Not only is it out of my control, but it is out of their control too. They are only as good as the limitations and there are a lot of limitations at the moment. I don’t know what else they can do as far as it goes with getting it together. It is going to be a little more complex than Supercross, because they are not going to do it at one venue. So, yes, I am okay with what they are doing right now.

Zach finished 7th place at the High Voltage GNCC after failing to start his bike right away in the dead engine start and coming around the first turn the last rider off the first line. 

WHAT YOUR MOTIVATION TO RACE GNCC IN THE BREAK? Well, unique times offer unique opportunities. This is just the way to go race, have some fun, and put myself in front of some different people. At the end of the day, I am a racer and I want to go racing, it was cool and fun for me, and hopefully fun for the team and also for the fans.

HOW DID YOU APPROACH THE HIGH VOLTAGE GNCC, DID YOU GO THERE TO WIN, OR MORE AS HAVING FUN? It was just for fun. Of course, I would have liked to have won, but I don’t know how realistic that was. I do not have any time on the trails at the moment. I had very little time to sort the bike out. For me, it was mostly just for fun. I would have loved to carve out a good result and be up at the front, but I mean it is what it is.

GNCC

The bar-to-bar XC1 Pro battle

After Josh Toth grabbed the holeshot and the lead he took advantage of a clear track while Dante Oliveira, KTM teammates Russell and Ben Kelley plus Josh Strang on the Babbitt’s Online Kawasaki were fighting for position behind him.

Toth was at the helm for the majority of the three-hour race with Russell chipping away to finally sit eight seconds back heading into the final two laps. The battle was very much on this deep into the race as they headed through the pits and back into the woods as Kelley sat right on Strang’s tail in the battle for third with Jordan Ashburn fifth and Grant Baylor in sixth place – Baylor would retire on the next lap due to another mechanical issue this season for the FactoryONE Sherco squad.

When the white flag came out, eyes were on the lead duo with Russell leading only to make a mistake and crash, breaking his gear shifter in the process and allowing Toth back to the front.

The seven-time champ typically wasn’t in the mood for letting being stuck in second gear slow him down. When Toth got caught up trying to pass a lapper rider on the final hill before the finish, Russell pulled his party-spoiling trick to steal his 67th career XC1 victory.

 “I did the best I could with the circumstances but I was frustrated mentally.” Said Russell.  “After Josh got around me, I stayed fairly close to him and while he was trying to get around a lapper at the end, I had enough room to take the main line that was faster and I passed him and the lapper at the same time.”

2 Strokes Invade Glen Helen in the Heat!!!

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY THAT THE OVER-50 125 CLASS OUTSHINED THE 125 PRO CLASS, BUT IN MANY WAYS IT DID BECAUSE IT HAD LOTS OF
FORMER AMA NATIONAL RIDERS.

 

Those Aussies know how to beat the heat—white bike, white boots, white gear and white open…no make that “wide open.” Dan Alamangos demonstrates. Photo: Jody Weisel

It is impossible to say that the Over-50 125 class outshined the 125 Pro class, but in many ways it did. It had lots of former AMA National riders including, but not limited to Robert Reisinger, Will Harper, Chris Heinrich, Jon Ortner, Pete Murray and Craig Canoy. There were also riders from other countries with Holland’s Ralf Schmidt representing TM Motorcycles, South Africa’s Alan Jullien, Australian Dan Alamangos and Great Britain’s Kurt Nicoll.

Pete Murray (7) and Jon Ortner (10) fighting over the last spot on the Over-50 podium as they climb Shoei Hill. Photo Dan Alamangos

Ralf Schmidt rarely faces 107-degree race days back home in Holland. Photo: Jody Weisel

The nagging question was whether three-time Over-50 World Vet Champion Kurt Nicoll could be beaten by three-time Vet Champion Pete Murray (who had won in the Over-40, Over-50 and Over-60 classes over the years) or by AMA Pro Craig Canoy, Dutch Champion Ralf Schmidt or three-time REM number one Jon Ortner. But there was no doubt once the gate dropped and Nicoll went 1-1, Canoy 2-2, Murray 3-3, Ortner 4-4 and Chris Heinrich 5-5.

 

Kurt Nicoll fillled his coffers with an additional check for $750, making his total for the day $1500.

The Over-50 podium: Pete Murray, Kurt Nicoll and Craig Canoy. Photo:Jon Ortner

PASHA OVER-50 RESULTS
1. Kurt Nicoll…KTM
2. Craig Canoy…Yam
3. Pete Murray..Yam
4. Jon Ortner…Suz
5. Chris Heinrich..Hon
6. Dan Alamangos…Hus
7. Scott Murphy…TM
8. Pete Vetrano…Hus
9. Ralf Schmidt…TM
10. Alan Jullien…Yam

Racing at Washougal Today!

Yes there was a little racing this weekend at Washougal...no not the AMA National we are all waiting for but some good 'ole OTMX. Hopefully there will be many more motos before summer is over.

The Polka Dots MC plus 60 MX Team had a good weekend bringing home some brass!