SuperEnduro 2020 round 1 highlights from Poland

Video highlights from the opening SuperEnduro round of the 2020 World Championship in Krakow, Poland

Savatgy Injured

JOEY SAVATGY SIDELINED WITH INJURY: MULTIPLE SURGERIES REQUIRED

Only about a month after announcing his plans to race a factory JGR Suzuki during the 2020 SX season Joey Savatgy just released a statement that he will be out for at least four to six weeks recovering from surgery. Savatgy was injured while his bike hit neutral on the face of a jump during practice at the Australian SX Open. He was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery to stabilize the injury and then flew to the states a few days later where he had another surgery. Savatgy will have his pins removed in four weeks and then start the recovery process.

MXA Asks Why?

WHAT RYAN DUNGEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE GEICO HONDA MOVE

By Josh Mosiman

WHAT WAS THE MOTIVATION FOR MOVING INTO AN OWNERSHIP ROLE APART OF THE FACTORY CONNECTION GEICO HONDA RACING TEAM? Post-racing I wasn’t really sure where I was going to fit in. That’s not to say that I wasn’t welcome anywhere, but after racing and taking a break I was trying to process everything. I was asking myself the tough questions like, “What motivates me?” “What are my interests?” “What do I enjoy?” “What’s best for my family?” There’s a lot of questions that come into play, but ultimately I think it was important to apply myself to new challenges. It was really important for me to make sure I wasn’t being complacent and that I was trying different things.

HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM RACER TO TEAM OWNER? If I’m honest, there weren’t a lot of things that really clicked and I was kind of waiting for the right opportunity to come about. This deal with Factory Connection Racing wasn’t the first opportunity that came by, but when it came up I thought that it could be really good to have ownership and to be able to apply the things I’ve learned to the next generation. I’m also excited to learn myself. I think that growth and progressing as a human is good for you. Just like anybody, you want to be challenged and be involved with things that you’re interested in. That helps you that express who you are.

RACING OR BUSINESS? Of course I’m interested in racing, but I’ve also been very interested in business, so I’m glad this opportunity brings in the business aspect as well. I’m excited to learn and grow in that area and I have some really good people to help guide me through that. Tthere were a lot of good things that helped me check the boxes. The more time went on, the more this sat on my mind. I’m really careful when making decisions, I don’t like to just jump right on it. Fast forward to now, I’m happy to be able to have the opportunity with Factory Connection Racing, it’s a team that has been super successful on and off the track—winning races and championships. Just to be able to be a part of that is really exciting. Hopefully we can keep adding to that success. I hope to contribute to that if I can.

ARE YOU A PART-OWNER IN FACTORY CONNECTION SUSPENSION, OR ARE YOU ONLY A PART OF THE RACE TEAM? I’m a part of Factory Connection Racing, just the race team.

WILL YOU BE TESTING BIKES FOR THE TEAM NOW? No, being a test rider isn’t something I’m looking to do. I really do believe that there are a lot of good riders on our team, especially on the 450 side, that have a good feel for the bike. Christian Craig has done a lot of the testing for the team and he has weeded out a lot of things that the riders have really benefited from. It is good that the riders have a good feel. I definitely want to ride both the CRF250 and CRF450 to get a feel and check them out. It’s been a while since I’ve ridden a different brand, so that’ll be interesting. But of course, if there is something we run into and it comes to that, I’ll give a little feedback if I can. But I have to make sure I’m in somewhat of good riding shape for that. 

DO YOU KNOW THE RIDERS ON THE GEICO TEAM? Some of the riders I know and have a good relationship with. Jeremy Martin and I obviously go way back to the amateur days. We grew up riding together in Minnesota. Some of the other riders I’ve gotten to know and also the mechanics and the staff, a couple of them I knew from before.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS IMPORTANT WHEN MAKING THIS TRANSITION? Right now it’s going to be about getting to know everyone and spending time with them. It’s not going to be everyday interactions. I’ll be at a good amount of the races and obviously the phone is always there and I’m available to talk. It’s going to be a lot more travel on my end being Minnesota. I feel like our team has a really good structure, there’s a lot of good feedback and there are a lot of conversations. Just being able to have that good communication is going to be important. It’s also really important that we have a strong staff structure and people in place to make sure that we are holding up on our end to give the riders the best chances to perform at their fullest potential.

Vic Eastwood - R.I.P

 

The ACU sent out this press release today about the passing of British motocross legend Vic Eastwood. Numerous Motocross des Nations victories and one of the World's best riders in the 1960s, MXlarge would also like to send out their condolences to the Eastwood family.

ACU Press release

ACU are saddened to learn of the passing of British Motocross rider Vic Eastwood on Sunday 1^st December. Vic was one of the greats of British scrambling/motocross during the 60’s and was part of the Team GB winning team at the 1965/66 and 67 Motocross Des Nations.

1965 saw Vic claim his highest finish in the World 500cc Motocross Championship in 4^th place on the Works BSA, while in 1968 Vic claimed victory in the 500cc British Grand Prix at Farleigh Castle.

Vic will be sorely missed by many and the ACU wishes to offer it condolences to his wife Ann, sons Mark and Scott, and all his family and friends at this difficult time.

Marvin Out For Supercross!

KNEE SURGERY SIDELINES MARVIN MUSQUIN FOR COMPLETE 2020 AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team regretfully announces that Marvin Musquin has sustained a leg injury that required surgery and he will miss the entire 2020 AMA Supercross Championship.

Musquin injured his knee when he cased a jump at KTM’s test track facility in Corona, California, while preparing for the upcoming Supercross season. He returned to France this week and successfully underwent surgery to repair his left knee and will now concentrate on intense therapy to properly heal over the next few months.

 

Marvin in the hospital.

Musquin: “It’s tough to share this disappointing news. I was really happy to be back on the bike riding after being injured at the end of the Motocross season and starting to train for Supercross. Unfortunately, I had an incident at the KTM test track and ultimately over-jumped a jump that had a very big impact on my legs when I landed, injuring my left knee. I had it evaluated by several doctors and it was determined that my knee required surgery. It’s devastating news to me as I was really looking forward to racing Supercross, but I will take the time needed to recover properly with my main focus being to return when I am strong enough to win races.”

Red Bull KTM Team Manager, Ian Harrison: “We want Marvin to take the time he needs to fully recover. He is a big part of our program and we have a good working relationship so we understand how disappointing this is for him and the whole team. We are here to support him and look forward to him making a return to racing when he is 100% ready.” 

Practice Makes Perfect!

TEN THINGS ABOUT MOTOCROSS TECHNIQUE DRILLS

 

(1) Drills. In every top-tier sport, such as baseball, football or basketball, drills are an essential part of honing the craft. Drills help refine one’s technique. They take a conscious movement and, with repetition, make it a subconscious movement. If you are just practicing the game or spinning laps, it is hard to focus on the small changes necessary to refine your technique. That’s why it is best to put some time aside for focusing on repetitive drills. This way, what you’re working on will automatically be in your subconscious mind when you get back on the track. Drills are a great way to be a better—and safer—rider.

(2) Circle drills. Corners are where motocross races are won. If you don’t have good corner speed, you won’t be able to do the jump out of the corner. Your clutch will be working twice as hard, and your rear end will be more likely to come around on you. You can make big and small circles. With each size you will learn different things, but the fundamentals are the same no matter what size the circle. Perfect form is the key with any drill. You should refrain from touching the rear brake while doing circle drills and keep your outside foot on the ball of the foot. If you build up too much speed and are starting to come out of the rut, it is time to keep a finger over the front brake lever. This will allow you to drag the front brake, which will help keep the front end from coming out of the rut.

(3) Variations. Circle drills are beneficial in three variations. All are, however, done without using the rear brake. (a) Normal technique with your leg in front of you. (b) Normal technique with both feet on the pegs. (c) Standing with both feet on the pegs.

(4) Figure eight. Figure-eight drills are very effective. It is good to practice big and small figure eights. The small one keeps the speed down so you can focus on body movement and technique getting into the corner. It is also beneficial to use this drill without using your rear brake or even with no brakes at all. It will help you learn how to carry momentum more effectively.

(5) Front-brake drills. Learning to use the front brake effectively can only be achieved by knowing its limitations. Different body positions and learning how much modulation is needed for different braking scenarios will help you hone your craft. You can test these body positions and different modulations by doing front-brake drills. These drills are performed in a straight line with only the front brake. Start slow. After some practice, start gaining more speed. Always come to a complete stop. By doing this, you will learn the front brake’s limitations.

 

Don’t wait until you are looking down the longest ruts in the world to learn how to ride through them.

(6) Rut track. Using a rut track is great for many aspects of riding. It allows you to transfer your skills from drills to the track. It is great to slow things down and feel the flow. As the flow comes at a slow speed, you can gradually pick up the pace. Also, doing no-brake and no-clutch drills around a rut track is beneficial.

(7) Rear-brake drills. These drills are performed the same way as front-brake drills—in a straight line—only using your rear brake and coming to a complete stop. When you perform these drills, you will learn that the rear brake is more like a rudder, as the front brake does most of the braking. However, you still want to get the most out of your rear brake, as it accounts for 20 percent of your stopping power. As you do these drills, you should concentrate on modulating the rear brake without locking it up. If the rear wheel is locked up, the rear end can step out and you’ll lose braking power. Try to use the rear brake as though it were the anti-lock brakes on you car.

(8) Powerslide. There are times when it is necessary for your bike’s rear end to step out, specifically in flat corners. Often it happens by accident, which can lead to high-siding or sliding out. By practicing powersliding around flat circles, you will learn to be safer and more calculated in turns. This is a more advanced technique, but with practice, good body position and judicious throttle control, you can master it. Too easy? Try powersliding in circles standing up with both feet on the pegs.

(9) Clutch drill. Many American riders are in the habit of abusing the clutch. Riding laps without the clutch will teach you how to carry more momentum and flow around the track. Plus, you won’t fry so many clutches.

(10) Standing drill. After you’re comfortable doing circle drills while standing, try it around an entire track. That’s right; never sit down. Many riders tend to sit in rough chop. This drill will teach you where to stand (you’ll feel the difference) and help improve your balance.

21-year-old Honda CR500 does Supercross

Neville Bradshaw and his beastly CR500 and sending it around a Supercross track!

If you’ve ever ridden a 500cc motocross bike you’ll know how impressive this is, especially with standard motocross suspension and an unprepared track! Crazy stuff from Nev.

“Strong, the Destry Abbott Story”, Released

Destry Abbott’s moving story of his battle with leukaemia, “Strong, the Destry Abbot Story”, has officially launched on popular streaming platforms, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and Vimeo. 

Destry Abbott’s story goes beyond the story of his infamous racing career, the popular off road and desert racer did it all. “Strong, the Destry Abbott Story” describes his journey battling leukaemia and how his passion for the sport and love for his family have seen him to fulfil his dreams both on and off the track. 

Media 66 Inc. has been working on the film for over a year with the goal of inspiring those battling illness or any internal battle that seems impossible to overcome. 

More information and links to streaming platforms: Media66inc.com

Blazusiak crowned Polish SuperEnduro king

 Taddy Blazusiak has owned the Tauron Arena in Krakow delivering a 100% win record at the first round of SuperEnduro since his return.  Time seems to stand still for the SuperEnduro G.O.A.T, as seasons go on he’s always in the fight for the championship and during the last two years he’s been close to bagging it once more. Expect Blazusiak to be ready to chase a record seventh title this season. 

Debrief: Justin Brayton

US Supercross champion recalls victory at AUS-X Open Melbourne.

It was an incredible weekend at the 2019 Monster Energy AUS-X Open Melbourne for Justin Brayton, the Penrite Honda Racing rider securing his first-ever win at the event while on his way to an astonishing fourth-straight Australian Supercross Championship! 

Congratulations on an awesome result – when it counted, you got it done…

Yeah, this one feels by far the best, just because of how close it was this last round. Clouty has been riding really good, but I’ve just been so focused these past two weeks. I’m kind of speechless to be honest with how I felt the past couple of weeks and with how focused I’ve been. I’m honestly so sick of talking about it with people, interviews, family and friends – I kept saying yesterday I’m sick of talking about it – I just wanted to do it, talk is cheap. I was focused and knew I could do it, but you just never know with the three-race format. I knew if I could get three clean starts I could win – that’s pretty much what I did. I’m so stoked to get this fourth one – one is not easy, let alone four. It’s not easy, but I’m stoked.

The track tonight – Marvel Stadium is obviously much bigger than what we’ve seen in Sydney – but it was pretty slippery out there. What did you reckon?

Super slick! Very slick and hard-packed. Overall, the stadium and atmosphere – to be honest, walking out in opening ceremonies it seriously felt like I was at Anaheim 1 or something – it had that feel to it. With Chad having his announcement during opening ceremonies, I mean I was tearing up for him. It was just a really cool vibe, and to hear the crowd and see what Australia means to him and to see what he means to Australia, that was super cool. To execute all day and win the heat – I was a little bummed in Superpole actually, I botched up a couple of corners, but I knew if I could clean those up, I was if not the fastest guy, for sure one or two. I just executed the three starts, and that was the main thing. Once I won the first one, I knew I still had the joker lane – I took the joker lane in the second time around, I kind of knew where Anderson was points wise, so I could let him go by and go into the final moto with three, which was a lot less than anyone else. I just really managed it from there – I managed the whole last main and cruised around. I didn’t know what Hill had up his sleeve, or what Yamaha was thinking, because you just never know. I just kept my distance and I had Metty behind me as a buffer – it honestly worked perfectly. The last few laps Hill was coming back to me, so I was like ‘go, go, go’. I’m just stoked to get this done. Clouty was a great competitor this year and the Yamaha boys didn’t make it easy on me at all. They came to battle every weekend and I respect those guys a lot – I respect Craig Dack a lot. To be able to battle with those guys was pretty cool.

Speaking of Chad – that first final, he seems to turn it on sometimes doesn’t he?

Chad Reed man! He’s not a supercross champion for nothing. He’s gnarly, he’s one of the best ever and that’s why he’s in the record books for what he’s done. He has that mindset that can’t be taught and there are very few people that have it, and he’s one of them. He’s got a couple of broken ribs, he hasn’t ridden much at all and he goes and leads the first few laps against me and Anderson. It’s pretty crazy. He’s a talented dude and I have huge respect for him as well.

Image: Foremost Media.

Clout was I think 10th in that first final, did your strategy change at all?

No, it didn’t change at all. I kept on the attack because I didn’t want to be cautious on the second one and get a fourth or fifth, and then I crash in the last one or someone takes me down. I was just full attack mode. One of my big goals coming here this year was to win the AUS-X Open – it was actually number one on my list this year coming to Australia. I felt like if I could win that, I was on form to win the championship as well. To be able to both on the same night, and come in with the white number plates – I hate the way those things looks [laughs]. I’m going to enjoy this one.

The injury, from what we know it’s a rib injury, is that improving?

Yeah, I had some broken ribs that happened a few days after the second round. It was tough – there was a point where I was just going to fly home and get healthy. But I stuck it out. It’s kind of weird, this whole trip for my daughter, she’s five, I took her to Brisbane and kind of dominated that night and it seemed easy to her, which it’s not. I taught her it’s not the fastest guy, it’s the guy who tries the hardest, works the hardest – so right when I was lying there in the hospital, I was like now’s your chance to do what you’ve been preaching to your daughter. I did all the therapy I could and showed up at Wollongong not knowing what was going to happen or if I could even ride. I got out of there with a third, and the same thing at Auckland – I was a little better there. These past two weeks have been great with my focus, and I actually think it was a blessing in disguise coming in one-point down – I really enjoyed that situation.

Final one, are you coming back to try for number five?

Australia is my second home! I hope I can – we’ll see and I hope to get something worked out. I hope to come back and battle for number five, absolutely.