WORKS CONNECTION BRAKE AND CLUTCH CAPS FOR MAGURA SYSTEMS 

                     Brake Caps   Retail $29.95                Clutch Caps   Retail $27.50                  

Works Connection has expanded its front brake cap line and clutch cap line to include Magura equipped, late model Husqvarna MX and Off-Road models. Billet aluminum construction and offered in three color choices that provide clean lines and stand out style.

                 Contact your local retailer or visit www.worksconnection.com

• ·         CNC machined from billet aluminum to exacting specifications
• ·         Polished to a mirror finish prior to anodizing
• ·         Engraved logo
• ·         Available in Blue, Red or Black anodized finish
• ·         Made in the USA

About Works Connection:

Established in 1989 with the desire to produce ‘Works’ type products and make them available to the general riding public. Works Connection continues that original idea today through constant evolution and expansion of their unique product line developed from ‘race-tested’ feedback and product research. 

For more information on Works Connection products, go to www.worksconnection.com

Shawn Ralls
WORKS CONNECTION
4130 Product Drive
Cameron Park, CA 95682
OFFICE:   530-642-9488, Ext201
FAX:         530-672-938

shawn@worksconnection.com
www.worksconnection.com

E Bikes From Yamaha...The Pedal Kind

Four New Yamaha Electric Bicycles Coming to U.S. This Summer

Before you get mad at us for covering bicycles, you should take note of the fact that electric powered two-wheelers are taking an ever-increasing piece of the motorcycle market here in the United States, and abroad. Consider these low powered “motorcycles” or put any other label on them you desire.

Did you know that Yamaha “launched the world’s first electrically power assisted bicycle in 1993”, and has produced more than four million drive units, with some shared to different OEM bicycle manufacturers?  Earlier today, we received the following press release from Yamaha regarding four electric bikes that will be available in the U.S. this summer.

You can see the details below, but looking at the specs is interesting. Three of the four bikes deliver 70Nm of max torque, while the fourth (the off-road capable YDX-TORC) puts out an impressive 80Nm max torque. These power figures compare favorably with the popular Bosch e-bike motors, and the 500 Watt-hour batteries (rechargeable in four hours) are also competitive among electric bikes. You can find all of the details on the four models on Yamaha’s website dedicated to electric bicycles. Prices range from $2,399 to $3,499.

Here is the press release from Yamaha:

CYPRESS, Calif., March 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, is announcing full specifications and pricing for its complete line of power assist electric bicycles at www.YamahaBicycles.com.

Yamaha’s Power Assist e-Bikes are designed for active outdoor enthusiasts seeking alternative commuting options, a fun and casual weekend cycling adventure, or a thrilling off-road experience. The fun, reliable, and performance-driven commuting, fitness, and mountain bikes are designed to provide the most natural and smooth power assist experience available on an e-Bike today.

Yamaha is bringing four all-new power assist electric bicycle models to the U.S. this summer, including the CrossConnect, a completely accessorized commuter/utility bike, the CrossCore, a high style efficient fitness bike, the UrbanRush, a drop-bar do everything road bike, and YDX-TORC, a performance hardtail e-mountain bike.

CrossConnect: Everyday recreation-utility for those that want to take their gear with them
Designed for all-day comfort with power, durability and performance, the Yamaha CrossConnect is an exciting and fully accessorized urban commuter with integrated components like front and rear fenders, rear rack, and headlight that maximize versatility and functional reliability. An air sleeve suspension fork with adjustable compression is unique to Yamaha’s e-commuter, with a through-axle that increases the overall stiffness and strength of the front hub, and it can be fully locked out for even greater efficiency on pavement. The Yamaha CrossConnect will be available at select e-Bike dealers this summer starting at $2,999 MSRP.

CrossCore: Fitness hybrid design for efficiency and ergonomic comfort
With a comfortable and ergonomic design, Yamaha’s CrossCore delivers a hybrid bike for the fitness-focused rider. The CrossCore features optimized geometry, class-leading power and performance features and classic Yamaha durability and reliability. The CrossCore is also equipped with mounts for a water bottle cage, fenders, and rear rack, while also pre-wired for a rear rack light as standard essentials to keep the rider’s focus on the workout. The Yamaha CrossCore will be available at select e-Bike dealers this summer starting at $2,399 MSRP.

UrbanRush: Balance of power, stiffness and speed in a sleek road bike chassis
The All-New Yamaha UrbanRush maximizes performance and commuting riding, delivering the ultimate in road-bike power, style and performance. The drop handle bar styling results in a confidence-inspiring rider position for optimal control and efficiency. Stylish convenience features include recessed fender mounts, front headlight and pre-wiring for Yamaha’s rear rack with integrated tail light. The Yamaha UrbanRush will be available at select e-Bike dealers this summer starting at $3,299 MSRP.

YDX-TORC: Agile hardtail e-mountain bike with powerful and responsive performance
Yamaha’s all-new 2.75 hardtail power assist mountain bike, the YDX-TORC, is powered by the award-winning Yamaha PW-X center drive motor system offering more power for more adventure and exploration on the trails. The YDX-TORC is built with a new progressive geometry — unlike any other hardtail trail e-Bike — that allows for a more playful and stable balance for more trails of all grades. And the motor’s low center-of-gravity supports optimized handling and cornering on tight switchbacks, and quick acceleration out of the saddle. The Yamaha YDX-TORC will be available at select e-Bike dealers this summer starting at $3,499 MSRP.

Yamaha Power Assist Bicycle Geometry; Rider Fit
Yamaha is the only manufacturer with 25-years of experience designing complete e-Bikes from frame to motor. That bicycle design heritage reveals itself with the most comprehensive approach to matching the behavior of the motor in alignment with fine tuning the rider’s body position on the bicycle to allow for a natural and confidence inspiring feel and handling characteristic. Yamaha’s bicycle frame dimensions and component designs are created to increase rider comfort, enhance rider control, and to maximize the efficiencies of both rider and motor for each of the intended riding experiences, which include: Performance Road, Recreational Utility and Mountain.

The all-new models have three sizing options which will allow for most riders to easily find a bicycle that fits their body size and riding style. Yamaha’s unique differences to the bicycle design ultimately translates into the category’s most consistent fit, performance and comfort regardless of the rider’s size.

“Yamaha’s core design philosophy drives our designers to create products that blend and balance person and machine, and we have created a unique ride characteristic on all of our power assist bicycles,” said Drew Engelmann, Yamaha’s Power Assist bicycle group sales and marketing manager. “Yamaha’s Power Assist bicycles strike the best balance of modern e-Bike styling with maximum comfort and superior handling. It’s our history of making e-Bikes for 25 years that has given our design team firsthand knowledge and experience that no other brand possesses in this market, and we are excited to be bringing a ride experience that is unlike any other to the U.S. riding community. It is going to be a lot of fun.”

Yamaha’s PWSeries SE and PW-X Motors and Triple Sensor System
Yamaha’s UrbanRush, CrossCore and CrossConnect e-Bikes are powered by the PWSeries SE motor, which has four levels of support: ECO+, ECO, STANDARD, and HIGH providing 70Nm of max torque and cadence support up to 110 rpm.

The award-winning PW-X motor on the YDX-TORC e-mountain bike features five power levels: ECO+, ECO, STANDARD, HIGH and EXPW. The first four modes deliver 70Nm of max torque with a cadence support of up to 110 rpm, while EXPW increases max torque to an impressive 80Nm and rpms up to 120. The PW-X also features a 13% percent smaller, lighter motor case, and faster ratchet ring engagement for faster motor response and increased performance when riding under more challenging conditions.

All of Yamaha’s power assist motors provide the purest, most natural assist feel thanks to Yamaha’s Triple Sensor System that has been exclusively optimized for Yamaha’s U.S. power assist bikes. Through the Triple Sensor System, thousands of times per second, frictionless sensors measure the rider’s pedal-torque, bicycle speed, and crank arm cadence with tremendous precision. Communicating back to the motor, the system helps determine how much assist is provided based on the changing terrain and situations (such as hills, speed, etc.) common to cycling. The design is unique to Yamaha and results in a drive unit that provides the smoothest, most refined and natural rides available in an e-Bike.

Every model in the Yamaha Power Assist Bicycles lineup is powered by a 500 Watt-hour Lithium-ion battery pack with a 36V output that recharges in just four hours. The bikes employ a center mount system in which the power unit and battery are secured close to the pedals to create a low center-of-gravity for better weight balance and excellent riding stability, while the unique side-exiting battery design allows for a lower stand-over height for greater rider confidence.

Yamaha Multifunction Display
All of Yamaha’s Power Assist bicycles feature an easy to use and easy to read multi-function LCD display unit. The compact unit is mounted to the Yamaha alloy handlebars, providing an ergonomic interface while riding, and the LCD assist-mode and LED power-level indicators make for a great quick reference to power assist settings. Simple, ergonomically designed push-button controls toggle through the various settings like rolling speed, max speed, trip meter, odometer, range, battery capacity, and cadence.

Yamaha History in e-Bikes
Yamaha Motor Company, Ltd. (YMC) launched the world’s first electrically power assisted bicycle in 1993 and has since produced more than 4 million drive units and sold more than 2 million Yamaha power assist bicycles. YMC supplies class-leading e-Bike Systems to select OEM partners worldwide.

“Yamaha is a world leader in eBike design and innovation, and we’re excited to bring these four all-new models – with more than two decades of experience and expertise built into them – to the U.S. this summer,” said Rob Trester, who leads Yamaha’s New Business Development Division and e-Bike unit. “Electric assist bicycles open up the world of cycling to both current cyclists and an all-new audience for a variety of fun and practical purposes. Since we unveiled the Yamaha Power Assist e-Bikes to the U.S. last fall, we’ve seen incredible enthusiasm and interest from consumers, retailers, and the e-Bike community that is looking for a fun, reliable performance e-Bike package.”

All of Yamaha’s Power Assist bikes are class 1 e-Bikes.

View Yamaha’s full line of Power Assist Bicycles at www.YamahaBicycles.com

Cody Webb Wins Championship!

Cody Webb 2018 SuperEnduro World Champion

Cody Webb has won the 2018 SuperEnduro World Championship in dramatic showdown in Sweden.

Webb has been the hottest man in the 2018 championship, arriving in Sweden for the final three races of the season with a healthy 17 point lead.

It was a comfortable lead but with 60 points up for grabs in Sweden, and in this unpredictable sport, Cody knows only too well that it can all come down the wire.

And so it did as main rival Taddy Blazusiak was looking every bit the challenger on the night – winning race one while Cody was down in fourth at the flag.

 

Photo Credit: Andrea Belluschi/Future7Media

 

Webb was putting in some good laps but by his own admission was making too many errors while Taddy looked fast and confident.

Then race two came along and just when Blazusiak was challenging Billy Bolt for the lead a suspension failure put him out of the race and out of the championship.

That left Webb free to relax and bring it home in third and in doing so take his first world championship title - lest we should forget beating an incredibly high quality field of riders.  

A slightly relieved Cody said after the race: “It was a great championship for sure. It was always going to be down to the wire. I was riding tight there today and I can’t really believe it."

 

Photo Credit: Andrea Belluschi/Future7Media

“To be World Champion is incredible," Cody continued, "I respect all these guys I’m racing with but you know Taddy was my idol and here we are going bar-to-bar, it's incredible.

“I rode pretty bad tonight and it wasn’t championship form but you know it is a season for a reason and that’s what counts.

“I can’t quite believe but I am World Champion! That makes me the best in the world for now and I’ll take it.”

McGrath - Always the King

McGrath - Always the King

Posted on April 01, 2018

My favourite rider of all-time to interview was Jeremy Mcgrath. The story below sums up why. From a guy in America who looked up the the King of Supercross.

In 1992 I was 12 years old and this was the year that @jeremymcgrathserved notice to the 250 class “which now the 450 class” that it was going to be a long time until there was going to be another Supercross champion. 

He was my idol I wanted to ride a motorcycle like him, I wanted the blonde highlights like him, hell I even pierced my ears like him. He was Showtime before the King 👑 but most of all I am lucky enough to call Jeremy my friend. 

This past weekend I watched Jeremy put on one hell of a show at the age of 46 racing and beating a @keeferinctesting one hell of a rider/racer after not racing a dirt bike for 7 years. In Jeremy’s next race against me he was running 3rd while I was in 2nd and I had one of the most horrific crashes that I’ve experienced in 15 years probably. I was knocked unconscious for over two minutes and Jeremy never made it past me once I crashed. He proceeded to stay by my side and make sure I was safe until the medics got to me. Once he knew I was in hands of the medics he assured my son that Dad was going to be ok. 

This is what motocross is all about people. We all need to remember where we came from and what we are doing. It’s a very dangerous sport that very few can retire after racing but guys like Jeremy remind me why I fell in love with this sport. Thank you too Jeremy and all my moto Fam that were their for me and Mason on Saturday that was a scary moment that could have been much worse. 

It was a pleasure to watch two legends like @jeremymcgrathand @ryanvillopoto come out and race with us enthusiasts where it all started for them. And a Big THANK YOU to the @twmxraceseries @twmxdotcom team for putting together one help of a event for us old guys.

Husky Wins Abu Dhabi

Quintanilla wins 2018 Desert Challenge from Sunderland and Benavides

Pablo Quintanilla has taken victory at the opening round of the 2018 Cross Country Rallies World Championship – the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

Pablo Quintanilla won a tactical see-saw battle with rivals Sam Sunderland and Kevin Benavides to finish five minutes clear by the end of stage five in the UAE.

The final stage of the rally got off to an MX-style start with the riders in line. The fastest riders formed a group over the opening stretches of the 218 kilometre special.

Reports say the course gradually turned to dusty tracks which meant riders had to slow and spread out to avoid the dangers of visibility.

At the head of the field on stage five though was Dakar champion, Matthias Walkner dictating the pace with Honda’s Kevin Benavides coming home within one second of each other.

 

Photo Credit: Edoardo Bauer/Rally Zone

Sam Sunderland finished just 19seconds back and cemented second overall in the event. Toby Price was fourth on the stage with Quintanilla just 1:25s behind.

Retaining his lead in the overall classification, the Husqvarna rider wrapped up the 2018 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge five minutes and 11 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.

“I’m really happy to get the win in Abu Dhabi and it’s been a fantastic start to the new season.” Said Quintanilla.

“This year’s Desert Challenge has been a really tough race from the beginning until the end. During these last few days we battled through extreme heat and the massive sand dunes of the area. There were many high-speed tracks and lots of off-piste sections where navigation was crucial. We also had some great fights with my main competitors and I’m happy I came out on top.”

 

Photo Credit: Marcin Kin

2018 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Stage 5 Classification

1. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 02:46:40
2. Kevin Benavides (Honda) 02:46:40.05
3. Sam Sunderland (KTM) 02:46:59
4. Toby Price (KTM) 02:47:26
5. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 02:48:05

2018 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Final Overall Standings

1. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 16:51:11
2. Sam Sunderland (KTM) 16:56:22
3. Kevin Benavides (Honda) 16:59:45
4. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 17:00:47
5. Paulo Goncalves (Honda) 17:09:46

Red Plate To #222

Throttle Therapy?

'Throttle Therapy' is a thing — and it works

By Shannon Corbeil Mar. 26, 12:36 PM

The topic of combat-related trauma is finally being addressed in mainstream medicine across the United States. After seventeen consecutive years in overseas conflicts, trauma is both a reality and a devastation for our troops. As the stigma previously attached to mental health challenges fades, we’re finally coming together collectively to help support the men and women who serve in our military.

Luckily, there are many forms of treatment. Throttle therapy happens to be one of them — and a high octane one at that.

Eli Tomac flies high at the 2018 Monster Energy Supercross.

“Throttle therapy” is the term for time spent on a motorized bike with the intent to enjoy feelings of euphoria that may exceed the capabilities of prescription or illegal drugs. According to the nonprofit Veteran Motocross Foundation, or VetMX, “Research has shown that physical experiences which are thrilling and physically demanding can re-center human brain chemistry.”

In other words, sports like Motocross can help alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress, especially for veterans.

“It’s not something radical we’ve come up with,” said Dustin Blankenship, an Air Force veteran with a paralyzed left thigh. “There’s proof that riding a motorcycle helps people. It’s almost like you’re in a trance state on a motorcycle. It’s like meditation.”

Blankenship discovered that his injury doesn’t hold him back when he rides.

2nd Lt. Michael Reardon poses in front of a race track in Maize, Kan. Reardon has competed in motocross races for nearly three years and has been riding since he was 10 years old. (U.S. Air Force photo)

He’s not the only veteran to experience a transformation when he rides. Then-2nd Lt. Michael Reardon told the Air Force that motocross racing was the ultimate stress reliever and the perfect adrenaline rush — within reason: “[Motocross] is only dangerous if you let it be dangerous. The sport is much safer if you don’t exceed your own limits.”

Brothers Greg Oswald and Eli Tomac, a C-17 pilot and a Supercross champ respectively, know a thing or two about getting in a machine and letting everything else fade away. Check out the video below to hear about how they support each other on the ground, in the air, or on a racetrack:

Viewpoint: Antonio Cairoli

Antonio Cairoli on his Spanish win

Antonio Cairoli was being pulled in many directions at the MXGP of La Comunitat Valenciana, but still made time to do a quick post-race interview. What did he have to say about his first triumph of the season and return to the head of the table? Read on or, alternatively, listen to the audio version elsewhere on MX Vice.

MX Vice: You are back! It’s funny – people have actually been saying that you're back, but you did not really go anywhere. You have been right in the points the whole time. Is it nice to kind of get the monkey off your back and stand on top of the podium again?

Antonio Cairoli: Like I said in the press conference, we are testing a lot of new stuff because I saw on the first races we had to improve in some parts of the race. The bike was working okay, but we want a little bit better some parts. So, finally, we get some parts this year, this race. We are really happy about this. The first moto we had not so good start, actually, we were around fifteenth place on the first lap and then I made the first two or three laps very, very good and I managed to come back to second in the back of [Romain] Febvre.

I tried to pass him, but he was responding very good and I had to spend a lot of energy to go around the left and right trying to make it happen. I only passed hm after twenty minutes. After I controlled a little bit the race. I saw that Jeffrey [Herlings] was coming back strong and we could control the first moto. The second one, again, a good start, then trying to pull away and Paulin was on the gas. He passed me. The second moto I was trying to pull away, but he was faster in the beginning. I tried to follow a little bit and then when he got a little bit tired I made the pass again. It was good.

Then I saw again on the board that Jeffrey was charging, as always. He made it very easy to pass a lot of guys. He came back in second place, so I know that I need to push harder. I made some other good laps and I responded to his lap times. Then we really did not respond. Only the last laps I had some trouble with some lapped riders again they could come closer and closer, but overall I am happy about this GP.

Antonio Cairoli has eighty-four Grand Prix wins to his name (KTM Images/Ray Archer)

 You mentioned that you got some new parts there. What were those exactly? Did you ask for those after the first two GP’s? Did you identify a problem?

Yeah, like six different kinds of parts, but making the difference I think. We are still waiting for some really structural parts of the bike, but maybe next GP.

What are they going to do? Is there a problem that you are dealing with?

No, no problem, just the bike, we work and we try to make it better always.

Jeffrey Herlings has come through the pack every time. When you are out there, are you thinking about where he is and if he is coming? I saw on the pit board your mechanics told you where he was at a few times.

Yeah, for sure. He is the fastest coming back from the rest of the guys, so I think it is important to see because he is charging very hard always. We are really looking forward to have some good battles and trying to respond as quickly as possible always.

Starts are arguably the greatest strength that Antonio Cairoli has (KTM Images/Ray Archer)

I feel like this might be the start of a good run for you because, looking at the calendar, Trentino, Agueda and even Russia are tracks that you should really shine at and quite similar to here really. You must feel good moving forward.

No, I like. We know that in Valkenswaard he would be very strong and also in Argentina, but also here because he was training here a lot and for me it was the first time. Actually, we do not really look about tracks. We just race by weekend.

What did you think of this track this weekend? Obviously it is a practice track normally, but did it race well?

Yeah, it is a practice track and I did not really train much here, never, but we are really happy about how it goes.

Interview: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: KTM Images/Ray Archer

Husky Leads Abu Dahbi

Quintanilla leads – Sunderland crashes but stays second in Abu Dhabi Rally

Crunch time in Abu Dhabi as Quintanilla takes control with one stage remaining at the Desert Challenge, Sunderland crashes but remains second overall.

A demanding stage four at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge has been a good one for Pablo Quintanilla who took stage victory and regained the lead in the overall standings.

Starting from eight, his finishing position yesterday, Quintanilla chased down the riders in front and pulled good time to regain the overall. He now leads by 6m17s.

Pablo Quintanilla: “Everything is going according to plan and I’m happy about it. Today I had a really good start position and took full advantage of it.

"I made some good passes today and had a good pace from start to finish. I’m happy I got the stage victory but most importantly I am satisfied I made up some good time in the overall. I have a small but decent gap in the lead going into tomorrow’s final stage.”

Behind Quintanilla overall today was Toby Price, still making up time after a problem earlier in the rally, followed by a bank of Hondas led home by veteran Paulo Goncalves.

 

Photo Credit: Marcin Kin

Sam Sunderland lead out today’s stage after winning yesterday but “took a bit of a digger” 15kms into the 240km special, bursting his water pack in the process.

“Tough day,” Sunderland posted on Instagram. “I knew it would be hard to open the stage and not lose too much time to the guys starting behind.

“I took a bit of a digger 15kms into the 240km special and burst my USWE pack so no water all stage was a bit rough! Second overall and last day tomorrow, keep going!”

With tomorrow’s timed special featuring a motocross-styled start, the riders will race together for the first time in the rally instead of intervals between riders based on previous day’s result.

That means the race to catch riders in front isn’t there as an incentive and, in theory, Quintanilla has it in the bag if he can play it safe and watch the time gaps.

 

Photo Credit: Rally Zone

Featuring a total of 356km, the fifth and final stage at the 2018 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge includes a 218km long timed special.

2018 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Stage 4 Provisional Classification

1. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 03:16:53
2. Toby Price (KTM) 03:19:28
3. Paulo Goncalves (Honda) 03:22:35
4. Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 03:23:36
5. Michael Metge (Honda) 03:23:41
6. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 03:25:16

Italy and Motocross

Italy will hold the next round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, set at the Trentino circuit in the north of Italy. A proud motocross country, and one that has not only the current MXGP red plate owner, Antonio Cairoli, but a very special history with the sport.

A handful of countries have a long-standing relationship with the FIM Motocross World Championship, and Italy is one of those, holding their first ever Grand Prix in 1957, when Swedish rider Bill Nilsson won at the Imola circuit.

Antonio Cairoli is passionate about his sport and even more so about his country. Often sportsman of the year in Italy, and a household name, Cairoli has done more for Italian motocross than any Italian motocrosser before him, and believe me, there have been some very special Italian riders to have graced our sport.

Present day Yamaha Factory team owner Michele Rinaldi was the pioneer of Italian world champions, winning the FIM World 125cc Motocross Championship in 1984 and scoring 13 GP wins.

Rinaldi was a lucky man, like anyone else who raced for the Suzuki factory back then he knew he had the bikes to win. The yellow Suzuki machines won 10 125cc titles in a row, Rinaldi’s crowning glory being the last of the 10.

Rinaldi still attends the races as team owner of the Yamaha Factory effort, and he has seen a changing of the guard in many ways. He has also seen the improvement in the MXGP riders over recent years.

“The modern day MXGP rider has become crazy fast. I mean these bikes they ride are so powerful. I think maybe one or two American riders are capable of racing with the MXGP riders now. Things have changed. I was in an era for me that the American riders were just too fast for us, they were much faster than me and more others.”

Alessandro Puzar kept the fire burning in Italian motocross with a 250cc title in 1990 and a 125cc title in 1995. Puzar also picked up 22 GP victories in his very exciting career and he remains one of the most interesting characters in the sport.

Following Alex Puzar success came Alessio Chiodi. Chiodi won three 125cc titles in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and scored 26 GP wins, at the time placing him just outside the top ten for all time GP winners.

At the time Chiodi was considered the best Italian rider of all time, and his battles against the likes of Grant Langston, James Dobb and David Vuillemin were epic.

Another Italian Andrea Bartolini won a world 500cc championship in 1999, racing for the Rinaldi Yamaha team Bartolini was up against the mighty Joel Smets, but made the most of the Belgians misfortunes to clinch Italy their seventh motocross world championship.

Since Bartolini times got a little quiet, although in 2008 David Philippaerts added title number eight, and of course in 2005 Cairoli began his collection of world titles.

What makes the performances of Cairoli so special is the fact he has won FIM Motocross World Championships on nine occasions, more than all his previously mentioned countrymen combined. Cairoli also has 84 GP victories. A tally he would love to add to in 10 days’ time, when the FIM Motocross World Championships return to Italy.