Indoor MX Park

 

Sydney Indoor MotoX Park approved by Blacktown City Council

 

Construction expected to begin at Eastern Creek early in the new year.

Australia’s first indoor motocross facility, Sydney Indoor MotoX Park, has been approved by Blacktown City Council, with construction expected to begin early in the new year.

The venue will be constructed within the confines of Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this month and will change its name to Sydney Premier Karting Park.

After a lengthy process to present its plans to council, Sydney Indoor MotoX Park owners Mattew and Barbara Bartolo are thrilled with the news that council has approved Western Sydney’s newest tourist attraction.

“We’ve had a lot of support from riders and the industry of course all keen to know when we’re going to be built and operational, but it was a long process and we had to get it right,” explained Mattew Bartolo. “We wanted to ensure we had every piece of information council needed before submitting the application and in the initial phase for a speedy approval. It is an unbelievable feeling to get the development application passed unopposed and a testament to my consultants’ determination to get it correct first time around.”

He is confident that the final Construction Certificate can be presented before the end of the year, along with awarding tenders and then construction can take place early in the new year.

Bartolo is importing the air-filled dome that will cover the facility from the United States, where its development will be finalised in the coming weeks. Once it is in Australia, it will be assembled on site at Eastern Creek before being elevated over the site.

The Sydney Indoor MotoX Park will encompass multi-million dollar upgrades to the karting facility’s outer grounds to allow for race team transporters and trailers to visit the facility.

“We can’t thank Garry and Sandy Holt from Eastern Creek Karting Raceway enough for their help, they have gone above and beyond for us,” Bartolo added. “Their support has been invaluable, along with several people at Blacktown City Council and key members of our family and team that have worked closely with us to ensure everything we needed to get this across the line was correct.

“The path is cleared now for the dream to become a reality for local, social and professional riders to now have their own state of the art complex in Sydney. The enthusiasm for Sydney Indoor MotoX Park from when we first mentioned the project through the launch and application phase has been quite overwhelming. It is a project that the whole dirt bike industry can be part of and utilise year round and we want everyone to embrace it.”

Aside from the indoor tracks designed by an international track builder, Sydney Indoor MotoX Park will feature spectator seating, a cafe, merchandise and trade areas and a mezzanine area that can be used by spectators or turned into a corporate presentation area. It will operate seven days per week from 7:00am to 10:00pm and will be climate controlled throughout the year.

Soaring 28 metres (nine storeys) high adjacent to the M4 Motorway, it is going to be quite a sight in Western Sydney and will become a destination for motorcyclists around Australia and the world. Hire bikes will be available for hire or riders can bring their own and it is open to riders of every age and skill bracket.

Based around recreational riders, Sydney Indoor MotoX Park aims to develop opportunities for junior training days along with engaging bike shops within the drive area to utilise it for customer and manufacturer events, along with bootcamps for young riders and those looking to improve their skills.

More information about Sydney Indoor MotoX Park can be found at www.sydneyindoormotox.com.au and www.facebook.com/sydneyindoormotox.

Geneve SX – Report

Marvin On Top!

Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin cannot be stopped in the build-up to the 2018 AMA Supercross series. Using his KTM 450 SX-F the French star owned both evenings of the well-attended Geneva Supercross at the Palexpo last weekend to be crowned ‘King of Geneva’ for the fourth time.
#25 triumphed on Friday night and then took advantage of slip by training partner Jason Anderson to win Saturday’s Main Event across a tight and rough layout by almost five seconds.

After victory in Las Vegas, the Red Bull Straight Rhythm, the Paris Supercross and now the last major dirt bike racing fixture of 2017, the 27 year old will enter the new supercross campaign in good form and confidence.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson claimed the runner-up position on both nights of racing. Finishing a close second on Friday’s opening final, Anderson repeated his performance during Saturday’s race, missing out on the win by less than three seconds.

Fresh from his overall win at the Aus-X Open Supercross in Australia at the beginning of November, Jason Anderson brought his winning pace to Europe and the 2017 Geneva Supercross in Switzerland. After qualifying fourth on Friday, he went on to win his heat race from fellow American, Justin Brayton. Going into the SX Open final, Anderson held the lead for the first two laps but was then passed by eventual winner, Marvin Musquin. The pair battled for top honours throughout the race with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider finishing as runner-up at the flag, trailing the winner by only four seconds.

Saturday also went well for Anderson as he won his semi-final. A great start from the gate in the final gave the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider the holeshot and the race lead during the first few laps. Setting a good pace at the front, Jason and second-placed Marvin Musquin soon started to gap the rest of the field. Unfortunately, a small mistake on a slower part of the track resulted in Anderson dropping his bike and losing the lead. Despite remounting and fighting hard to catch Musquin, there wasn’t enough time left and Anderson crossed the line as runner-up, just two-and-a-half seconds from the win.

Marvin Musquin: “The goal was to come here and win like I did in Paris two weeks ago and also here last year. I knew coming in with Jason and Justin Brayton there would be some good racing. The track was pretty good; a really nice whoops section and a couple of nice rhythm sections and the split section was pretty cool. It got beaten up with the soft dirt and it became choppy and rutted and was technical. On Friday Jason and I had an intense battle: it could have been dirty but we kept it clean! At the end I was able to make the pass stick and beat him straight-up. A different story on Saturday because he had the better start and we were going for it and pushing hard. My aim was to put pressure on him and to see what would happen with that pressure. He made it easy for me by making a mistake and going down, after that I just managed the gap. It is great to win here four times in a row.”

Jason Anderson: “Day one went well here in Geneva. From the first practice to the last I was just learning the whole process. I didn’t realise the first practice was timed but still managed to qualify fourth which was ok. After making a few tweaks to my bike before going into the night-race I knew I just had to get a good start and get up front to battle with the guys. It didn’t come as easily as I had thought, Brayton and Musquin were really strong and it took a little time for me to get into my rhythm. In the main I felt comfortable and it was good to be able to fight for the win.
Saturday was pretty decent – I qualified second, which was good. In my heat race I stalled on the line and fought my way right back to the front from last place. The track here in Geneva is a little tighter than I’m used to so I’ve found it quite tiring and it’s taken a little while to adapt my style. In the main I got the holeshot and tried to control the race from the front, but I knew Marvin wasn’t far behind. A couple of minutes in I dropped the bike in one of the tighter turns and lost the lead. I tried my best to get back on terms with the leader but there wasn’t enough time. I’m happy with how I rode and I’ll definitely be back to Geneva next year to fight for the win.”

39th TransBorgaro Vet

Old Boys, Still Fast (Andras Hegyi)

Earlier this month, the 39th TransBorgaro Vet race was held at Borgaro Torinese, a municipality near Turin in the northeast of Italy. This vintage motocross race has become more and more famous, with several American motocross stars traveling there to compete every year. Also on hand were former motocross and enduro world champions, and other off-road big names took part in. This year TransBorgaro was held in a brand-new venue, but its scenario and schedule were the same: races in three different categories and a then family cup. 

In the '70s Class, the biggest name was the “Golden Boy” himself, six-time AMA National Motocross Champion Broc Glover. The Californian, 57 and still in race trim, was a pre-race favorite, and he did not disappoint. The field had 39 racers from the seventies, and Glover, who works for Dunlop as an off-road senior manager, won both motos. The first time out, Glover won by 10 seconds; in the second moto, he got 21 seconds ahead of everyone else. Glover debuted at the TransBorgaro in 2014 and since then he has been undefeated, taking four consecutive victories.

Another American star, 61-year-old Chuck Sun, counts as an old-timer at the TransBorgaro. The 1980 AMA 500cc National Champion finished fourth overall, with 3-5 moto finishes. 

The '80s Class had 34 racers, and the winner was Italy’s Paolo Caramello, who hails from Turin. Caramello, who raced in the 250cc Grand Prix circuit in the 1980s, took 2-1 moto finishes. The most famous member of the field was Micky Dymond, but the two-time AMA 125cc National Champion was only able to go 3-3 for third. The 52-year-old was racing with cracked ribs from just before the TransBorgaro.

The strongest field was the '90s Class, which had 39 riders, among them Americans John Dowd, Robbie Reynard, and Doug Dubach plus two Italian World Champions, Alex Puzar and David Philippaerts. The winner was the “Junk Yard Dog,” the 52-year-old Dowd, the 1998 AMA 125cc East Supercross Champion. The ageless Dowd got 1-2 moto finishes, while the 40-year-old Robbie Reynard was fourth overall, collecting 6-4 moto finishes. Dubach, Puzar, and Philippaerts had no good luck. The 54-year-old Dubach finished third in the first moto but was forced to pull off in the second because of a technical issue. The 2008 MX1 World Champion, Philippaerts had the same schedule. In the first moto, he was fourth; in the second, mechanical troubles forced him to retire. Together with his brother Deny Philippaerts, a former motocrosser who at present is an enduro rider, they won the Family Cup competition.

Two-time FIM World Champion Puzar had a disappointing day. His 49th birthday was the day of the TransBorgaro, and “Crazy Horse” wanted to win. He managed to do it in the first moto, but in the second one he fell and finished only 15th, good for sixth overall.

Danish rider Brian Jorgensen also rode and made the podium, as well as this film.

A little Smack from KR

Ken Roczen – Big Talk

Ken Roczen isn’t liking all the attention Marvin Musquin is getting, as you can see from his comments below. Not sure I agree with Kenny, everyone has an opinion, and not everyone is correct with their opinion, but it’s still their opinion. Makes for a great A1 no matter what happens. The Euros vs the Americans, once again.

Musquin Again!

Marvelous Marvin wins

Marvin Musquin rolled through Geneve with the Saturday night victory to go with his Friday success.

SX OPEN Finale

1 25 MUSQUIN Marvin REDBULL KTM KTM FRA
2 21 ANDERSON Jason HUSQVARNA ROCKSTAR Husqvarna USA
3 10 BRAYTON Justin HONDA MOTO CONCEPT Honda USA
4 85 SOUBEYRAS Cedric MC Chateauneuf les Martigues Suzuki FRA
5 137 ESCOFFIER Adrien Moto Club Pertuis Durance Lubéron Husqvarna FRA
6 871 IZOIRD Fabien Moto club Sommierois Honda FRA
7 911 TIXIER Jordi BOSS KTM FRA
8 6 RAMETTE Thomas Moto Club Brienon Suzuki FRA
9 941 PELLEGRINI Angelo Suzuki ITA
10 3 AUBIN Nicolas Ouville Moto Club Suzuki FRA

Marvin Wins Another SX

Geneve SX – Musquin wins Friday

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Marvin Musquin has won the opening night of the Geneve Supercross. The Frenchman led home American riders Jason Anderson and Justin Brayton. Anderson led the opening two laps, before Musquin took the lead and was never headed again.

Main Event – Results

1 25 MUSQUIN Marvin REDBULL KTM KTM FRA 00:10:07.391 17 34.394
2 21 ANDERSON Jason HUSQVARNA ROCKSTAR Husqvarna USA 00:10:11.425 17 34.647 4.034
3 10 BRAYTON Justin HONDA MOTO CONCEPT Honda USA 00:10:26.400 17 35.683 19.009
4 85 SOUBEYRAS Cedric MC Chateauneuf les Martigues Suzuki FRA 00:10:41.195 17 36.182 33.804
5 6 RAMETTE Thomas Moto Club Brienon Suzuki FRA 00:10:43.463 17 37.023 36.072
6 911 TIXIER Jordi BOSS KTM FRA 00:10:44.015 17 36.845 36.624
7 121 BOOG Xavier Moto Club des 3 Lys Honda FRA 00:10:09.889 16 36.924 1 Tr.
8 871 IZOIRD Fabien Moto club Sommierois Honda FRA 00:10:10.630 16 36.570 1 Tr.
9 5 COULON Cyrille Moto Club des Hautes Vallées Suzuki FRA 00:10:11.064 16 37.071 1 Tr.
10 137 ESCOFFIER Adrien Moto Club Pertuis Durance Lubéron Husqvarna FRA 00:10:17.061 16

This Is An Amusement Park

Dougie Lampkin’s Last Joyride in an abandoned theme park

Dougie Lampkin has taught us to do wheelies and to ride on a single wheel for 60 kilometres and for an hour and a half. He has won the trial championship twelve times and always finds a way to astonish and be the central figure of new challenges. This time he relives a place dedicated to fun and games, an abandoned playground in Milan, with his technique along his creativity made up of cutting-edge tricks.

It's Not Moto but It's Very Cool!

 Anyone who has ever skied or snowboarded Jackson Hole knows just how nerve-racking it can be to send it into the infamous Corbet's Couloir, even in the best of conditions. Doing it in icy conditions on mountain bikes is nothing short of insane, and that's exactly what we did. Corbet's Couloir is one of the most legendary and challenging ski runs in the world. This spring, Cam McCaul and Casey Brown attempted the first ever Mountain Bike descent of the double black diamond ski run. There's a litany of other adjectives you could prescribe to the lines McCaul and Brown threw down - Sketchy, heavy, and borderline suicidal all come to mind - but ultimately, the end result was jaw-dropping. // From TGR's 2017 ski film Rogue Elements, presented by REI

Dungey "Homegrown"

The Minnesota moto superstar gets back to the basics in a hidden motocross paradise.

Hard work and dedication: Two words that often come to mind when you speak of a legend in any sport. In the world of motocross, Ryan Dungey is certainly one of those legends. But Dungey's work ethic isn't just something that only comes from within, it's something he grew up around.

Whether Dungey knew it growing up, the culture in the Midwest had a huge impact on the legend that he eventually grew to be. Something like agriculture, while it wasn't something that affected him day-to-day, it's part of the fabric that is midwest living. The hard work, dedication and patience that it takes to successfully grow crops, is similar to that of which Dungey showed throughout his career.

The "normal" path to the top of the motocross ranks typically involves being scouted by professional teams from a very young age. The teams then give their full support throughout the young star's amateur career and have a bike waiting for them when it comes time to step up to the pro ranks. Dungey's wasn't that, but that didn't stop him from getting to the top and cementing his name in the history books.

The "Midwest work ethic" is something that the Dungey's exercised in a big way on the journey through the amateur ranks as Dungey didn't begin turning the heads of professional teams until late in his amateur career. One thing is for sure, the dedication it took them to continuously dump thousands of hours and frankly thousands of dollars into chasing the dream of being a champion at the highest level of motocross is remarkable.

Vet Racing Around the World

Clean Sweeps Across Veteran's & Women's Motocross Classes

Wednesday, 29 November 2017,

NOVEMBER 29, 2017: Like old soldiers, it seems, motocross stars of yesteryear also do not grow old and weary.

Laurence Binyon's poem "For the Fallen", perhaps known to many who hear it each year on Anzac Day as the Ode of Remembrance, immortalised the words " Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn" and those words could well be used to describe the many "old soldiers of motocross" who battled at the 2017 New Zealand Veterans' and Women's Motocross Championships near Eltham at the weekend.

While there was a slight hint of weariness about the riders at the end of the annual two-day event, that really came as no surprise, considering that these men, many of them aged over 50, had raced with such speed, aggression and stamina, not to mention skill.

Five races per class over the two days would be enough to shatter many riders half their age.

There were many stand-out individuals, with Yamaha stalwart Tony Cooksley (Yamaha YZ250) impressing with his unbeaten run of five wins over the weekend, easily winning the most senior of grades, the over-60 years' all-capacities class.

That Cooksley dominated with such ease showcased the world class form of the man who had, just three weeks earlier, finished third overall in his over-60s class at the Veterans' World Championships in Southern California.

The 61-year-old concrete cutting business owner had that weekend finished close behind Canadian Pete DeGraff and former US factory Honda rider Chuck Sun in the big annual event at Glen Helen, San Bernadino.

Others to finish the weekend in Taranaki unbeaten included Aucklander Gaudenz Gisler, who easily won the 55-59 years' class; New Plymouth's Mitch Rowe, who won the 50-54 years' class; Whakatane's Darren Capill, who scored five wins from five starts in the 45-49 years' class; Hawera's Daryl Hurley, who was unbeaten in the 40-44 years' class; Inglewood's Larry Blair, who dominated with a string of five wins in the 35-39 years' class and Hawera's Steven Craig, who took the title with a clean sweep in the 30-34 years' class.

The 49-year-old Capill (Yamaha YZ450F), who works as a supervisor at Fonterra, didn't race the vets' nationals last year and so was naturally thrilled to win the 45-49 years' title this year, his last chance to win it before he moves to the next age category in 2018.

He had also previously won the 45-49 years' title when he last contested the nationals, at Opunake in 2015.

Meanwhile, on the female side of the programme, Opunake's Taylar Rampton came out on top, winning the senior women's class by just three points from Rotorua's Letitia Alabaster.

Tauranga's Shelby Catley won the junior women's 12-16 years' grade title by a similarly tight margin, out-scoring Te Awamutu's defending champion Rachael Archer by just one point.

Hawera's Nicholl Marshall was untouchable in clean-sweeping the veteran women's class.