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.

Sam Sunderland Takes Control at Abu Dhabi Stage Three

Sam Sunderland was first at every waypoint through the timed special and it wasn’t long until he caught the front-runners. Photo: Marcin Kin

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Sam Sunderland has won a hot and gruelling stage three of the 2018 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

Matthias Walkner, having been caught by Sunderland, crossed the finish line second, three-minutes down on his team-mate. Honda trio Kevin Benavides, Ricky Brabec and Paulo Goncalves finished third, fourth and fifth respectivly. Stage two winner and leader going into stage three Pablo Quintanilla dropped to fourth in the event’s provisional overall standings after a small technical issue forced him to ease his pace, eventually finishing the stage in 8th.

Aussie Toby Price had a tough day following his crash on stage two, ultimately placing 11th.

Stage three of the 2018 Desert Challenge saw riders cover numerous large sand dunes in the Liwa Desert, just south of Abu Dhabi. Comprised of deep, soft sand and steep drop-offs, the first half of the stage rewarded careful navigation and the ability to read the terrain. The 281.38km timed special proved to be one of the toughest of the rally so far in the heat of the United Arab Emirates sun.

Setting off fifth this morning, Sam Sunderland immediately pushed to catch the four riders in front of him. The Brit’s pace placed him first at every waypoint through the timed special and it wasn’t long until he caught the front-runners. After catching team-mate Matthias Walkner just after the refuelling stop, the pair raced on together ultimately claiming the top-two positions come the finish. Sunderland now leads the provisional overall standings by over seven minutes.

"That was another long, hot day in the sand for the bike and my body," Sunderland said. "I am feeling good though and I’m really happy to win the stage and put some time between myself and the others. My start position helped a lot today, I was able to push right from the start and chase down the guys in front. Obviously, it means I will be opening the stage tomorrow, but we still have two days of riding left. I’ll continue to push on and we’ll see what happens at the end of the rally.”

Mathehas Walkner covered the 281km stage in just over three-an-a-half hours of riding – enough to move him up to second overall. Photo: Marcin Kin

Placing second today, 2018 Dakar Champion Matthias Walkner rode an excellent stage three. Maintaining a fast and consistent pace, the Austrian covered the 281km stage in just over three-an-a-half hours of riding – enough to move him up to second overall in the standings, over two-minutes ahead of third-placed Kevin Benavides.

"Today went well for me. The stage covered some deep sand and the speed through the dunes was not so fast so we chose a different tyre and it performed really well," Walkner explained. "I managed to find a good rhythm and was able to keep to that pace for most of the day. Sam caught me in the second half of the special so we ended up riding together and were able to push on a little more. We caught the other guys in front around kilometre 220 and so I’m really happy to take second position for the day. I have a little pain in my shoulder, but I’ll rest up now and then we will prepare for tomorrow.”

Monster Energy Honda Team rider Kevin Benavides led home a trio of Honda riders with third place on stage. Photo: Edoardo Bauer

Monster Energy Honda Team rider Kevin Benavides, who started second today, was able to hunt down the rider who opened the course, managing to pull ahead of the field over several kilometres, before being reached by the other riders. Benavides eventually finished third and holds third position in the overall standings.

"I felt good. I went out to push hard and I was able to catch the rider who started first and then I had to open the track for quite some time," Benavides said. "I felt very confident on the bike in this special desert. The bike has given zero problems. We have to keep on like this, pushing hard over the two remaining days of racing and see how things turn out in the end."

American Ricky Brabec finished in fourth place, half a minute adrift of his team-mate Kevin Benavides. Photo: Edoardo Bauer

American Ricky Brabec decided to up the ante today and try to increase speed in spite of the dangerous cut dunes of the Liwa. Brabec posted fourth place, half a minute adrift of his Monster Energy Honda team-mate Benavides, but ahead of Portuguese rider Paulo Gonçalves who had suffered a minor fall whilst taking a jump. The rider got stuck briefly in a dune, dropping some time in the process.

"This third day was good," Brabec said. "We got into the bigger dunes. It was very fast. I don’t like it so much at high speeds in this type of undulation and rolling dunes, where you can’t see what’s on the other side. My body is not tired yet and we are ready to face the next few days."

Paulo Gonçalves finished fith despite a small crash that resultes in a slightly damaged my shoulder. Photo: Edoardo Bauer

Paulo Gonçalves didn't come away from the stage completly unscathed.

"Another long stage full of dunes. I felt pretty good at the start, and pushed with a fast pace," Gonçalves recalled. "I caught the rider in front of me and we rode very quick until I fell at a cut dune and then got stuck. I slightly damaged my shoulder and until the end I had to take it a bit easier. The objective is still to accumulate kilometres... and for the moment we are doing well."

Stage two winner and leader going into stage three, Pablo Quintanilla, dropped down the order after a technical issue limited his speed, he finished eighth and dropped 12 minutes.

Making good use of his experience, Syage two winner Pablo Quintanilla posted the eighth fastest time for the day. Currently fourth in the provisional overall rankings, Quintanilla has his eyes set on taking advantage of his good starting position tomorrow in the hope of reducing the gap to the riders ahead of him.

“I was having a great day until the refuelling point," Quintanilla said. "The stage started with some big dunes and some massive drops. The pace was quite fast. As the first to take the start this morning, I was doing my best to stay up front and my pace was good in the fast sections. Right after the refuelling point I had a small technical issue that didn’t let me continue in the same rhythm.

"I was unable to keep the pace with the guys up front and had to do my best to avoid losing much time. At the end I’m happy I brought my bike home and I’m still within striking distance to the top. We finished a tough stage and we now have two more to go in this rally. Everything could happen and I will do my best to make up for the time lost.”

Toby Price was still suffering a bit after yesterday's big crash. He also stopped to help an injured rider. He rounded out the day in 11th. Photo: Marcin Kin

Following his crash on yesterday’s stage two, Toby Price did his best to conserve energy today, whilst keeping to a good speed through the desert. His pace placed him within the top-five at many of the early waypoints. After stopping to help a fellow rider, the 2016 Desert Challenge winner eventually placed 11th, with the time lost being credited to him at the finish. Price now lies eighth in the overall standings.

"The stage was good today, I got through the first half feeling really comfortable on the bike and setting a good pace through the steep dunes. I am suffering a little after the crash I had yesterday so I’m certainly not riding at 100%, but all-in-all things are going well," Price said.

"On the second half of the stage Balooshi had a crash in front of me and I stayed with him for a little while to assist. Luckily, he is going to be ok and is not too badly hurt. I’ll take the last two days as they come and just try to conserve myself and get to the finish so I can let my body recover.”

Stage four of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will cover a total of 390.66km, 244.49km of which will be timed special stage.

2018 Cross-Country Rallies Tuesday, March 27th 2018

Stage 3 Results - Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2018
1 Sunderland Sam 5 GBR Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM 3:29'52
2 Walkner Matthias 3 AUT Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +6'03
3 Benavides Kevin 2 ARG Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +9'01
4 Brabec Ricky 11 USA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +9'35
5 Goncalves Paulo 4 POR Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +9'54
6 Cornejo José Ignacio 14 CHI Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +11'29
7 Metge Michael 12 FRA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +11'36
8 Quintanilla Pablo 1 CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +12'02
9 Giemza Maciej 10 POL KTM Orlen Rally Team KTM +28'40
10 McBride David 8 GBR Vendetta Racing UAE KTM +35'38

Yamaha steps into E-bike market

Yamaha has developed its first competition off-road motorcycle, the TY-E trials bike to enter the 2018 FIM Trial-E Cup.

Yamaha Motor Co. has announced the development of the TY-E electric trials bike to compete in the 2018 Trial-E Cup. It’s not enduro, of course, but it is interesting to see and it is hard not to find it a significant step for Yamaha.

Focusing on a trial model for competition means e-bike development within Yamaha has started and will evolve – it is shorter step from trials to enduro than it is for the many millions invested by, for example, by Honda and Mugen in electric street race bikes.

 

 

Building an electric trials bike poses “development issues”, Yamaha says, such as creating high output of power from a small and lightweight motor. Harnessing the character of the power is a challenge they say. Particularly taking the high torque output and turning it into an easy, responsive and controllable character.

Again, it is hard not to see that kind of talk as a developmental necessity if you were to produce an enduro model in the future.

 

 

The TY-E comes straight from the company's "Evolving R&D" programme, in which Yamaha R&D employees are given the opportunity to work outside conventional frameworks and devote up to 5% of their working hours towards developing innovative new concepts.

Yamaha TY-E Key Features:

A high rotation type compact high-power electric motor

High off-road performance with both powerful low speed torque and extended acceleration

Sophisticated motor control technology which is responsive and produces a strong feeling of power from extremely low to high-speed ranges

A mechanical clutch that ensures instantaneous power and control

Optimised flywheel that combines with clutch to deliver excellent traction performance

A newly designed compact high-output battery pack with compact and lightweight components

Advanced CFRP monocoque frame that is at the lightest possible weight, while delivering optimal rigidity and battery storage space

Slim bodywork that does not interfere with dynamic rider movement

 

The TY-E will compete in the 2018 FIM Trial-E Cup, with scheduled appearances at Auron in France on July 14-15, and at Comblain au Pont in Belgium on July 21-22.

Kenichi Kuroyama – something of a legend in the sport who is currently competing in the All Japan Trial Championship – will represent the Yamaha Factory Racing Team during 2018.

 

 

At some point Yamaha had to produce an electric bike and this is the first step. Trials as a sport is pushing forward with electric bikes. Several manufacturers already make e-trials bikes, most notably Gas Gas who last year won the E-Cup with Marc Colomer.

Perhaps because trials can, because the nature of the sport lends itself to the performance levels of e-bikes as they currently exist, is why we're seeing the electric revolution grow here first.

That’s not to gloss over the Alta bikes which, we hear, might form an entry to Erzberg in 2018. Watch this space.