Prado Another Rookie Year...Nah Don't Think So

Jorge Prado views 2026 as another 'rookie year' 

Mike Wroblewski...New SMX Stuff

New Beginings!

Jeffrey Herlings has given his thoughts on riding a different brand for the first time ever in his 15 year professional career and the Dutchman even admits he has been struggling to sleep thinking ahead to riding the Honda and working with a new team.

Herlings commented after riding the bike: “New beginning, 2026, I’ve been with KTM since 2009, so it’s a complete new chapter for me. A new beginning, January 1st today, first day on the bike, and yeah, just super excited. Trying to get as much riding time in as we can, because obviously it’s not that long before the first race. This is like 6-7 weeks, so we need every single minute while we can, and yeah, just try to be ready and prepare for round one Argentina.

“Bro, I didn’t sleep for like a week or so. I was like, I was really looking forward to a change. Is the bike going to be better? It could also be worse.The new people, how do they work? I just wanted to witness once in my career something different, and yeah, today was a day to start.

“I jumped on a brand new bike, they don’t have any experience with me, I don’t have any experience with them, and it’s just everything is new for them, for me. So, throughout the first day, we already made massive steps, and you know, there’s so much experience at Honda HRC, not just for Moto, because they have Formula 1, MotoGP, Enduro, any sport, you almost can name it, so they have so much experience, so it’s a pleasure to work with them, and already in the first day we made huge improvement, and yeah, looking forward to the times ahead.”

Gajser Goes Blue

A New Era at HRC...Jeff Herlings

Super Cross King Jeremy's Play Bike!

 Beach Cruiser, MX Play Bike or Just Plain Fun? 

101 Bikes has launched its first e-bike, inspired by the California Coast.

Industry veterans and legends Bob Haro and Jeremy McGrath
join forces to create an innovative new bike.

Inspired by the scenic beauty and adventurous spirit of California’s iconic Highway 101,
the new 101 Bikes company proudly introduces its first e-bike.
This groundbreaking e-bike is designed by BMX freestyle pioneer Bob Haro in collaboration with seven-time American Motorcyclist Association Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath. Blending BMX and Moto heritage with rugged aesthetics and performance, 101 Bikes promises to handle any challenge with ease.

The 101 Bike company was founded in 2023 by a group of longtime friends and action sports industry veterans: Bob Haro, Jeremy McGrath, Scott Sepkovic, and Eddie Cole. One memorable sunset evening on the Southern California coast, the group reminisced about their days of riding BMX and Motocross.
They exchanged ideas and innovations that had shaped their sports, and their enduring passion for two-wheeled adventures was evident. It was that evening they decided to collaborate and create something new that they would love to ride: an e-bike infused with Moto and BMX-inspired performance.

Born in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, 101 Bikes embodies the go-anywhere, do-anything spirit with a fresh California vibe. These machines are designed for adventure, freedom, and the thrill of the ride.

TUSK Tools for all Things Dirt Bike

Details

The Tusk Hose Pinch-Off Pliers are a great addition to any toolbox whether you’re working on UTVs, ATVs, or Motorcycles. They make removing and working on coolant, fuel, and oil lines a less messy job. For all your shop needs look no further than Tusk!

• 3 Piece set includes large, medium, and small pliers.
• Durable Nylon construction.
• May not completely seal off "kinkless" hoses
• For hoses smaller than 1/4" in diameter, it is recommend to fold the hose and then clamp on the bend.
• DO NOT use on rigid, reinforced, or high-pressure lines.

WC...Essential Suspension Device

What Happens When the space for motocross disappears

Motocross starts are not only exciting, but also a nuisance to environmentalists due to increased noise

Motocross has always been a sport that needs space. Space to breathe, space to ride, space to make mistakes. And that space is shrinking. Not suddenly, not loudly – ​​but gradually. Tracks are disappearing, track times are being cut, projects are getting bogged down somewhere between building authorities, expert opinions, and appeal deadlines. And while many are still debating whether all of this is "still relevant," another question has long since arisen: Where will this sport even take place in ten or twenty years?

Old routes, new realities

Many of today's well-known motocross tracks were built in a different era. Land was cheaper, permits were more readily available, and motocross was less of a niche sport. Today, these facilities are suddenly located in growth zones, close to new housing developments, logistics centers, or future residential parks. Economic pressure is increasing – and with it, the temptation to "develop" motorsport venues.

For track operators, this means a constant balancing act. Passion alone is no longer enough. It's about noise assessments, liability issues, insurance costs, environmental regulations, and political acceptance. Anyone operating a track today is less of a race organizer and more of a project manager – and often also a crisis mediator.

Why new railway lines are hardly being built anymore

New motocross tracks rarely fail due to a lack of will within the community. They usually fail because of... Environmental considerationsThis concern is entirely justified in itself, but in practice it is often interpreted one-dimensionally. Motocross quickly becomes synonymous with noise, land use, and emissions – and is thus categorically categorized as a problem.

This perspective ignores how drastically the sport has changed. Modern facilities operate with clear travel time models, noise limits, soundproof walls, environmental monitoring, and renaturation plans. Many projects are deliberately built on former industrial sites, open-cast mines, or military areas – areas that would otherwise either lie fallow or be completely sealed.

Nevertheless, many projects fail even on paper. Not because they are poorly planned, but because motorsport often lacks political support.

A look at the USA: California as a warning signal

Anyone who thinks this is purely a German or European problem only needs to look at California. There, motocross has been experiencing for years exactly what we are increasingly facing here. Traditional tracks are disappearing because land prices are skyrocketing. New projects are failing due to environmental regulations, lawsuits, or local residents' initiatives. Even legendary off-road areas have been closed or severely restricted.

California shows where things lead when regulation and urban development grow faster than dialogue with the sport. Motocross still exists there – but increasingly in rural areas, further and further away from metropolitan centers. Anyone who wants to ride has to accept long commutes. Youth programs suffer, spontaneous training sessions become impossible, and clubs lose members. The sport becomes more elitist, not more accessible.

A self-reinforcing cycle

The result is a vicious cycle: because new routes are rarely approved, everything is concentrated on a few existing facilities. This increases the strain on these existing facilities, complaints rise, and regulations become stricter. Ultimately, this confirms the very criticism that was intended to be addressed.

At the same time, riding is shifting into gray areas. Unofficial tracks, illegal training, lack of enforcement. A situation that benefits neither the environment nor safety – but arises from a lack of alternatives.

Between idealism, environment and future

Motocross is not a sport looking backwards. It is constantly evolving technically, athletically, and structurally. Electric training bikes, quieter engines, stricter noise limits – all of this already exists. But without space, every innovation remains ineffective.

Environmental considerations must be part of the solution, not the end of the discussion. Sustainable route concepts, transparent communication with communities, realistic requirements instead of blanket rejection – this is precisely where the future hinges.

Because in the end, it's about more than just tracks. It's about young talent, club life, legal structures, and the question of whether motocross remains visible, controllable, and socially integrated. Or whether it slowly disappears from the public sphere.

Space is becoming scarcer. In Germany. In Europe and the USA.
He's still here. But he won't stay on his own.

Chad Reed Very Early Days

RARE FOOTAGE: Chad Reed at 16 Years Old