Andrew Short – His Life

Not even a year into retirement from a long and successful racing career, Andrew Short is already keeping extremely busy in the next chapter of his life as American Honda’s brand ambassador, as well as Team Honda HRC’s test rider and mentor. In episode 4 of the REDefined series, you’ll see Short in his new role at the races, while enjoying a new passion for off-road racing and life with his family at their Texas home.

2018 CRF 450...Gets The E Button

2018 Honda CRF 450

Honda revealed today that the CRF450R gets even better for the 2018 model year, with electric starting now standard. Designed following an “Absolute Holeshot” philosophy that resulted in a downdraft-intake layout achieving optimum power and centralized mass, the revolutionary motocross model is the industry’s top-selling 450cc motocrosser. The electric starter that was previously offered as an accessory is now standard, as is a lightweight lithium-ion battery, and the CRF450R also gets updated suspension settings aimed at improving chassis feel and overall action.

Today’s 2018 model-year announcement also included the updated CRF450RX closed-course off-road bike and returning CRF150R mini motocrosser.

“It’s been amazing to see the success of the CRF450R this year, and we’re even more excited about this model with the improvements we’ve made for 2018,” said Lee Edmunds, American Honda’s Manager of Motorcycle Marketing Communications. “In addition to the obvious convenience, electric starting can save valuable seconds following a mid-moto mistake, and with the use of a lithium-ion battery, we can still achieve an extremely light weight. These changes make the CRF450R more competitive than ever, and of course customers can continue to count on Honda durability, quality, and reliability.”

CRF450R
The CRF450R’s downdraft air-intake and fuel-injection layout achieves a potent, broad spread of torque, but it also allows for heavier components to be located as centrally and low as possible so that all that power can be effectively utilized. In addition, the vehicle packaging results in nimble cornering, while updated suspension settings to the Showa® shock and 49mm coil-spring fork improve handling. Corresponding with the addition of an electric starter (powered by a lightweight lithium-ion battery), the kick-start lever has been removed in order to shave precious weight. An updated ECU setting means power delivery is more useable than ever, and the big CRF still has great features like a titanium fuel tank, engine-mode select button, and wave-pattern 260mm front brake. Add it all together and you’ve got a bike that delivers even better on its promise of the “Absolute Holeshot.”

• Color: Red
• Price: $9,149
• Availability: July 2017

CRF450RX
Currently being campaigned in the GNCC series by JCR Honda’s Trevor Bollinger, the CRF450RX already came with electric starting, but for 2018 the model gets a weight reduction with the removal of the kick-start lever and the switch to a lighter-weight lithium-ion battery. The model is based closely on the flagship CRF450R but with off-road-focused updates like a larger 2.2-gallon fuel tank, 18-inch rear wheel, side stand, optimized ECU and suspension settings, and more. When it comes to closed-course competition like GNCC, hare scrambles, and Grand Prix racing, the CRF450RX constitutes the ultimate off-road weapon.

2017 EnduroGP of Spain | Race Highlights

check some of the action at the 2017 EnduroGP World Championship in Spain.

Two Stroke Fuel Injection

Sherco ready-but-waiting with 2-stroke fuel injected enduro bikes

Photo Credit: Robert Lynn/Future7Media

Sherco boss Marc Teissier has confirmed that they are ready and waiting with their fuel injected two-stroke enduro bike but happy to watch KTM make the jump first.

“The bike is ready, the fuel injected system is ready and we are ready, but it is not yet necessary to put it on the market,” Marc Teissier told to enduro21.com.

With KTM ready to deliver a world-first launch of their eagerly awaited EXC TPI two-stroke enduro bikes in 250cc and 300cc displacements next week, Sherco will be keeping a close eye on proceedings and the publics’ reaction.

About three years ago the French manufacturer grabbed the headlines when they released a video of their two-stroke fuel injection bike being tested by French magazine Moto Verte. 

Since then they’ve remained tight-lipped about it, allowing KTM to make the jump first.

“Initially we were afraid of the upcoming EU homologation so that’s why we began to develop the fuel injection system for two strokes,” continued Teissier. 

“But we also worked to find ways to keep the system we have and are now able to pass the Euro 4 homologation with the carburettor. And for me that is better.”

 

Photo Credit: Jonty Edmunds/Future7Media

  

A purest at heart Teissier believes in the simplicity of a carburettor, even if EU homologation rules are pushing manufacturers away from it. 

“Carburetion is the two-stroke mentality. It has simplicity and ease of use and maintenance for the customer with less cost. Fuel injection will add an extra cost on the bike.”

As the first manufacturer to roll out fuel injected four-stroke enduro bikes, those lessons learned then are still very much at the forefront of Teissier’s mind.

“I don’t see the need to rush things right now. I feel we made that mistake by being the first four-stroke fuel injected bike on the off road market. 

“It was all very new then and the customer was afraid of the changes. So this is why we wait a little. 

“We have all the technology for the four-stroke, and now also for the two-stroke fuel injection but we patiently wait.”

Check Out The Latvia GP Track

Watch Evgeny Bobryshev racing in the Moto 2, from Round 7 of the 2017 FIM World Motocross championship in Kegums, Latvia!

Yamaha's Factory Daker Team

De Soultrait & Caimi join Yamaha’s factory team for Dakar

 

Photo Credit: Yamaha Racing

Frenchman Xavier De Soultrait and Franco Caimi have signed with Yamaha to be part of their four-man team for Dakar Rally 2018.

Top rookie of the 2017 Dakar Rally, Caimi from Argentina placed eighth overall.

“There are no words to thank Yamaha for giving me the opportunity to join their official team,” told Caimi. “The feeling has been great ever since I got on the WR450F Rally machine. Switching from enduro to rally racing almost two years ago I immediately felt it was the right thing to do, so joining the Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team is a huge step in my career.”

One of the strongest Yamaha riders during the early stages of the rally, privateer De Soultrait was fastest on the opening stage and consistently placed inside the top five until running into trouble mid way. Now part of the official Yamaha he’s looking forward to better his result of 13th from Dakar 2016.

“Being part of the Yamaha family for a long time, it feels great to be part of the Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team,” said De Soultrait. “Everything is so well organised and from our part we only have to worry about our performance in the stages. 

“We've started testing the latest version of the WR450F Rally couple of weeks ago and I was immediately impressed by its overall performance. Compared to the mostly standard bike I raced in this year's Dakar, there is more power, better braking performance and loads of extra top speed. It's a great package, which we want to make even better for the upcoming Dakar.”

 

Photo Credit: Yamaha Racing

 

The duo make their start as factory Yamaha riders in this week’s Afriquia Merzouga Rally. 

“We are happy to announce that Xavier de Soultrait and Franco Caimi will be the factory riders alongside Adrien Van Beveren and Rodney Faggotter,” said the Yamaha boss José Leloir, 

“We are at the Afriquia Merzouga Rally for the fifth time as it’s a great training ground and nice competition for the riders and the machines."

2017 J Day Offroad Crow Hill GP Highlights

Tim Gajser Post Crash Interview!

In order to contend for a title, you must push your limits. That cost Tim Gajser at the Grand Prix of Latvia, unfortunately, as he withdrew from the second moto after a huge crash. The day was far from perfect before that also, as he got taken out in the first moto and had to overcome a severe dead leg. The MX Vice editor, Lewis Phillips, was lucky enough to catch up with Gajser for a post-race interview. Remember, you can watch the incident to see exactly what happened.

MX Vice: Pushing all the results to one side, it is just great to see you here and okay. That second moto crash was gnarly!

Tim Gajser: Yeah, I am really happy. Really thankful. Actually for the moment I was on the x-ray, everything was okay. Nothing is broken, so I think that is the most important thing. Now we have one week off, so fourteen days until the next race. I hope I can get myself together and be there.

Nothing is broken then? It is just a case of you are beaten, battered and sore?

Yeah, just that. Really happy about that.

Is there one thing specifically that is hurting?

All the left side. Everything on the left side.

Did the crash in the first moto have anything to do with that? Obviously you appeared to be in tons of pain, so has that contributed to this at all?

Yeah. First race I had a good start and then Butron was behind me. He just left the bike, left the clutch in the corner and just cleaned me out. I don’t know if this was on purpose or not, but it was dangerous for myself and for him as well. Even for the other guys as well! I was in a lot of pain after that crash, but I was glad that I could continue riding and still take some important points in first moto. That is how it is, anyway. That is motocross. Bad races also can happen.

Are you bothered at all about losing the red plate, or is that not really an issue at this point in the season? Obviously getting yourself ready for Teutschenthal is the priority.

For the moment I am glad that I’m okay. That’s the main point. The season is still really long. We have still twelve races to go, so anything can still happen. I’m a little bit disappointed to lose the red plate, for sure, but that is how it is. We can’t change that.

What did you think of the track this weekend? Obviously it caught a lot of guys out in the second moto. Maybe it was a bit harder underneath than before? What did you think of it?

The track was really bumpy – it was really damaged. They did not work a lot during the races like they usually do, but that is how it is. It was the same for everyone. I risked a little bit too much and then I went over the handlebars and didn’t finish the moto, so I lost a lot of points. That is how it is and, like I mentioned, hope I can ride in Teutschenthal. I will be back – that is it.

The way you feel right now then, it is questionable whether you could ride? If, say, the race was next weekend, would you be sat here thinking there is no chance at all?

I think we will see. We have like fourteen days, so I go back home tomorrow. We will make some further searches on my body, some further x-rays and everything. Tomorrow we will know how it is, if it is really just the pain and nothing is broken. I hope so. For sure if I will be able to sit on the bike, I will ride in Teutschenthal.

Interview: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: ConwayMX

MXGP of Latvia Tim Gajser Crash

Take a look at the Tim Gajser crash from Latvia. A big accident

Tim Gajser – Injury Update

Tim Gajser the defending MXGP champion and red plate owner going into the Grand Prix of Latvia had a big crash today and it seems he is ok. Rushed to the trackside medical area the HRC rider has had x-rays and scans. We spoke to HRC sport manager Roger Harvey about the accident and injury.

“We are hearing he is ok. They have given him x-rays and scans and it seems ok, but with bruising some things can be mask stuff. We will get him checked fully, but the current news is good. It seems he got lost in one of the big ruts we have here in Kegums.”

Bavo Swijgers image

2017 CZ World Championship

CZ World Championships

Photos By Bill Evans

The CZ World Championships were held last weekend at Prairie City instead of Est. because of the high tides caused by the Oroville dam. Bill Evans called me Saturday morning about our club pop-up he thought it would be a good idea to have our club represented. So did I, so I took the 10x20 club pop-up out and helped set it up. We were in a great spot next to where riders entered the track.

I got there mid morning and in a large open area up front was set up for riders to display their bikes. Most of them were CZ’s but there also were Hodoka’s, Bultaco’s and some Macio’s, it was a great thing to see all those old classic bikes. Some were in better than new condition and you could see the hours and hours of effort put into these classics. The old bikes offer their owners the opportunity to be innovated to a degree in how they go about fixing them up, some were as stock as they can be and others were heavily modified.

A lot of those bikes had their own sort or unique sound so a lot of them sounded like they did back in the day, but there were a lot that sounded unlike anything back then a very solid modern two stroke sound.

The track looked perfect for those old bikes (The Armstrong’s did a great job I thought)  one of the things that impressed me the most was the cornering speed they are low and just railed the corners. (In the right hands of course)

I don’t know how many riders there were my guess would be between two to three hundred a lot of riders had several bikes they rode. They came from all over the country and world for that matter. Some of the old names we remember (Or at least me) John Desoto, Rex Staten, Brad Lackey, Danny Turner etc. 

I liked what I saw Saturday and decided to come back Sunday and watch the races. I thoroughly enjoyed them and will go again for sure.

Doug 21J