Cairoli Still Has Some Fight!

Cairoli wins incredible GP

The legend, Antonio Cairoli just rode possibly the greatest GP victory ever. On a circuit that was impossible to pass, after a rough first corner, and a crash in turn two, that put him back in 25^th place, the Red Bull KTM Factory rider put together a masterclass as one by one he passed his competition, passing Evgeny Bobryshev on the last lap to steal the GP victory from Tim Gajser.

Going 1-2 the Italian was running on adrenaline and as he sang his national anthem on the podium, a young man next to him, Tim Gajser looked on in disappointment. It’s going to be a classic MXGP season as the veteran, the eight-time world motocross champion continues to try and fight off the challenge of the young lion from Slovenia.

Antonio Cairoli: You know, I got pushed off the track from Tim in the first corner and I didn’t appreciate that, but its racing, then I crashed on the second corner and I made some good passes. I had to win this GP, and I am so happy for the fans.  I think this was my best GP victory, or right up there. The start was important and I got stuck and crashed and I got hit by some riders. I worked hard and I was angry and I kept going and I saw it was possible to win, passing on this track so difficult.

Tim Gajser: I am really happy, you know, even if I finish second. Tony was fast today. I had arm pump in the first raced and the second moto I had the holeshot and controlled the race and really enjoyed that race. I could hear the crowd in every corner, the crowd was just amazing. I am really looking forward to Valkenswaard.

Arnaud Tonus: It was great, a little surprised to finish on the podium. They told me I had to pass Gautier to get on the podium, so I was surprised I got it. I am really happy for the team and thanks to everyone for supporting me.

Gajser impressive as he took the lead in the second MXGP moto, pushing Cairoli aside, in the first corner, Herlings finally gets a start and is in third place. Cairoli caught in a crash and is back in 15^th place.

Top 15 after one lap was Gajser, Bobryshev, Herlings, Coldenhoff, Desalle, Paulin, Nagl, Tonus, Van Horebeek, Lupino, Butron, Valentin, Cairoli, and Graulus.

After three laps Gajser held a two second lead over Bobryshev, with Herlings a further two seconds back, then came Desalle, Coldenhoff, Paulin, Tonus, Nagl, Van Horebeek and Lupino in 10^th.

Cairoli making passes all over the place as he moves into 10^th place. Paulin all over Coldenhoff, but passing isn’t easy and Paulin seemed to have settled in behind the Dutchman, then suddenly makes a pass on a quick corner.

Cairoli passed Van Horebeek, and sets out after Nagl. Amazingly Cairoli is in sight of Herlings, with a handful of riders between them. Watching Cairoli ride is just brilliant.

After nine laps Gajser leads by three second to Bobryshev, then Herlings who is now 10 seconds back in third, followed by Desalle, Paulin, Tonus, Cairoli, and Coldenhoff.

The way Cairoli is riding he should get up to at least fourth. He is six seconds behind Herlings and 15 seconds behind Gajser. Cairoli onto Tonus, and just ahead of them is Paulin.

Cairoli is amazing, his block pass on Tonus was aggressive, but he is on fire and now about to set up Paulin. Desalle is also close enough to get the Kawasaki rider.

After 14 laps Cairoli block passes Paulin in the same way he did to Tonus, aggressive, but it’s beautiful to watch the legend riding like this. Desalle will be the next victim.

Herlings is also just ahead of Desalle, he won’t be able to stop the Italians run.

After 15 laps its Gajser by four seconds to Bobryshev, Herlings is five seconds off Gajser, then came Desalle, Cairoli, Paulin, Tonus, Van Horebeek, Nagl, and Strijbos in 10^th.

Time running out for Cairoli to get to Herlings and equal points to Gajser. Bobryshev has lost some time and Cairoli is now right behind Herlings and the Russian as he block passes Desalle in the same place he got Tonus and Paulin.

Cairoli onto Herlings with two laps to go. This is just brilliant from Cairoli. This is ridiculous, he passes Herlings in the same spot as the others, again a block pass on Herlings.

One lap to go and Cairoli tries to set up Bobryshev, you know where he will pass him don’t you?

Cairoli takes Bobryshev in the same spot. He takes the GP overall. Maybe his best GP victory ever.

MXGP – Overall Classification

1 222 Cairoli, Antonio ITA FMI KTM 25 22 47
2 243 Gajser, Tim SLO AMZS HON 20 25 45
3 4 Tonus, Arnaud SUI FMS YAM 22 14 36
4 777 Bobryshev, Evgeny RUS MFR HON 14 20 34
5 21 Paulin, Gautier FRA MCM HUS 18 15 33
6 25 Desalle, Clement BEL FMB KAW 16 16 32
7 89 Van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL FMB YAM 15 13 28
8 84 Herlings, Jeffrey NED KNMV KTM 7 18 25
9 12 Nagl, Maximilian GER DMSB HUS 10 12 22
10 27 Jasikonis, Arminas LTU LMSF SUZ 9 10 19

MXGP – Championship Classification

1 243 Gajser, Tim SLO HON 201
2 222 Cairoli, A. ITA KTM 183
3 25 Desalle, C. BEL KAW 151
4 777 Bobryshev, E. RUS HON 145
5 21 Paulin, G. FRA HUS 145
6 89 Van Horebeek, J. BEL YAM 144
7 461 Febvre, Romain FRA YAM 106
8 4 Tonus, Arnaud SUI YAM 101
9 12 Nagl, M. GER HUS 95
10 22 Strijbos, K. BEL SUZ 90
11 24 Simpson, Shaun GBR YAM 88
12 84 Herlings, J. NED KTM 84

MXGP Trentino

Prado wins in Trentino

Spanish rider Jorge Prado of the Red Bull KTM Factory rider has given us the glimpse of the future as he rolled off a 2-1 result to win the Grand Prix of Trentino. Prado led home Pauls Jonass and Julien Lieber for a complete KTM podium.

Jorge Prado: You know, it was a really good win, first time in hard pack and it gives me more confidence. I got the holeshot and Pauls caught me and on that last corner, I can’t believe I am the guy winning it. First moto was already good, the second moto I needed to win it, and I got mixed up with some lappers and I was so emotional at the end.

Pauls Jonass: In the first race I got the holeshot and got the win, but in the second Jorge got the holeshot and its so difficult to pass. Big thanks to all my supporters to fans and I am glad to take the red plate. I got a good start with my team-mate Jorge Prado (in the first moto). We had a really good race, this morning we made some changes to the bike, to the suspension and I am looking forward to the second race and I hope I can do the same.”

Julien Lieber: Good weekend for me, we made some changes to the bike and in the first moto I made a mistake and second moto two Husqvarna riders took me out really hard, and I was really disappointed about that.

Jonass  won the opening MX2 moto at the Grand Prix of Trentino. The Latvian led home Jorge Prado and Julien Lieber. Jonass once again showed brilliant mental strength as Prado remained close for most of the race.

Jonass led early from Prado, Lieber, Olsen, Watson, Brylyakov, Bogers, Cervellin, Ostlund and Mewse in 10^th. Seewer goes down quickly and was back in 18^th place.

Watson gets past Olsen to move into fourth place, but Olsen gets him back quickly. Mewse moved into 8^th place as Bogers drops back to 26^th place. Covington back in 17^th place after a terrible start of his race.

Lieber slides down and Olsen tried to pass and crashed himself, dropping back a few places.

Top ten after three laps was Jonass, Prado, Lieber, Brylyakov, Watson, Cervellin, Mewse, Olsen, Vlaanderen and Sterry. Seewer not making a lot of progress in 19^th place.

Prado is doing a great job as he keeps Jonass in his sight. Three brits in the top ten with Watson still fifth, Mewse seventh and Sterry 10^th.

Covington moved into 14^th place as he passed Lawrence and Tropepe, and Seewer is also setting those guys up.

Olsen gets back past Watson, and then the brit made a mistake and dropped to 10^th place. Sterry loses places and goes to 12^th place.

Seewer in 17^th, but a group of six or seven riders were just ahead of him. Olsen all over Cervellin.

Olsen dives under Cervellin to move into fifth position. Mewse back in ninth place and Watson 13^th. Top fifteen after 10 laps was Jonass, Prado, Lieber, Brylyakov, Olsen, Cervellin, Paturel, Vlaanderen, Mewse, Hsu, Sterry, Covington, Ostlund, Watson and Seewer.

Jonass doing a brilliant job as he continues to keep Prado off the lead, but the Spanish youngster is doing a great job.

Covington is on fire as he moves into ninth place after passing his Husqvarna team-mate Mewse. Seewer up to 12^th position.

The top three are now close as Lieber also moves to within two seconds of Prado and Jonass. Prado losing ground on Jonass and Lieber onto the Spaniard.

Lieber got past Prado, and Seewer moved into ninth position. Prado repassed Lieber for second place and even caught Jonass near the end.

Jonass wins it from Prado and Lieber.

Prado took the lead early in the second MX2 moto, followed by Jonass, Lieber, Seewer, Covington, Olsen, Bogers, Watson, Monticelli, Bernardini and Mewse.

Prado continued to stretch his lead, and Lieber was looking for a way to pass Jonass for second place.

Covington bursts past Seewer and looks to set up Lieber for a pass. The American is riding really well.

After five laps the top 15 was Prado, Jonass, Lieber, Covington, Seewer, Olsen, Bogers, Watson, Monticelli, Bernardini, Hsu, Mewse, Van Doninck, Brylyakov, and Gole.

The group of Jonass, Lieber, Covington and Seewer remained close together, but no passing. Covington putting a lot of pressure on Liever, but it’s a hard place to pass is Trentino.

Prado fading as Jonass starts to close in for the moto and GP victory.

Brilliant passing move by Covington as he dives up the inside of Lieber, and Olsen passes Seewer and then pushes Lieber off the track and goes into third.

Its action all around the track as Jonass looks for a way to pass Prado. Olsen is also chasing Jonass and Prado as he moves closer to those guys.

Olsen went down hard while in third, and dropped back to sixth.

Prado riding a brilliant race as he continued to hold off his KTM team-mate Jonass.

Prado wins the moto and the GP.

MX2 – GP Classification 1 61 Prado Garcia, Jorge ESP RFME KTM 22 25 47 2 41 Jonass, Pauls LAT LAMSF KTM 25 22 47 3 33 Lieber, Julien BEL FMB KTM 20 16 36 4 19 Olsen, Thomas Kjer DEN DMU HUS 16 15 31 5 64 Covington, Thomas USA MUL HUS 10 20 30 6 91 Seewer, Jeremy SUI FMS SUZ 12 18 30 7 18 Brylyakov, Vsevolod RUS MFR KAW 18 11 29 8 172 Van doninck, Brent BEL FMB YAM 9 12 21 9 189 Bogers, Brian NED KNMV KTM 2 14 16 10 426 Mewse, Conrad GBR ACU HUS 11 5 16

MTA 2 Stroke National Pro Class Results

MTA 2 STROKE MX NATIONAL - 4/15/2017 GLEN HELEN RACEWAY

LA SLEEVE PRO RACE - Overall Finish Positions

Overall Nbr Name Moto 1 Moto 2  1st   #338   RYAN SURRATT  CORONA, CA  4th 1st  2nd   #111   MIKE SLEETER  MURRIETA, CA  3rd 2nd  3rd   #179   JON AMES  RIVERSIDE, CA  2nd 4th  4th   #100   ZACH BELL  ,   1st 6th  5th   #275   JOHNNY JELDERDA  MENIFEE, CA  7th 5th  6th   #505   SEAN LIPANOVICH  RIVERSIDE, CA  10th 7th  7th   #62   RJ WAGEMAN  NEWHALL, CA  9th 9th  8th   #992   JORDYN SCALVINI  BRENTWOOD,   13th 10th  9th   #17   TRAVIS BELL  PEARBLOSSOM,   6th 17th  10th   #207   SEAN COLLIER  SAUGUS, CA  16th 8th  11th   #184   DENNIS STAPLETON  LAKE ELSINORE, CA  14th 12th  12th   #768   COLE SHONDECK  ,   12th 14th  13th   #15   MAX GERSTON  ,   15th 13th  14th   #29   JUSTIN JONES  MURRIETA, CA  8th 20th  15th   #154   BRANDON SCHARER  GARDENA, CA  28th 3rd  16th   #321   BRADLEY LIONNET  MENIFEE, CA  21st 11th  17th   #149   TALLON LAFOUNTAINE  JBC,   5th 28th  18th   #116   JUSTIN MUSCUTT  LAKE ELSINORE, CA  17th 18th  19th   #711   MITCH VANDEMORTEL  YORBA LINDA,   11th 26th  20th   #44   KYLE PARTRIDGE  CANYON LAKE,   22nd 16th  21st   #111x   CASEY CASPER  YORBA LINDA, CA  19th 19th  22nd   #68   BRIAN MEDEIROS  KAUAI, HI  18th 24th  23rd   #186   RAY OBERMEYER  ,   20th 23rd  24th   #49   BILLY LEA  REDWOOD CITY, CA  26th 21st  25th   #67   ERIC JONES  GLENDORA, CA  25th 22nd  26th   #319   DYLAN BENNETT  HESPERIA, CA  23rd 27th  27th   #595   DOMINIC DESIMONE  PERRIS, CA  36th 15th  28th   #169   AUSTIN MCCONNELL  LAKE MATTHEWS,   27th 25th  29th   #763   DANE ROUSE  TORRANCE, CA  24th 29th  30th   #750   COLBY RAHA  ,   32nd 31st  31st   #140   MATTHEW CERAMI  CHINO HILLS, CA  34th 30th  32nd   #30   BILLY LAVORCI  , CA  29th DNF  33rd   #311   JERED THOMAS  CHINO, CA  30th DNF  34th   #388   BRYAN WALLACE  CANYON LAKE,   31st DNF  35th   #874   ARIK SWAN  ,   33rd DNF  36th   #335   JEREMY MCCOOL  29 PALMS, CA  35th DNF  DNF   #718   GAGE DAY  SAN CLEMENTE,   DNF DNF

MXGP of TRENTINO 2017 Qualifying Races Highlights

MXGP Trentino

Tim Gasjer Interview – 2017 MXGP of Trentino

 

Two Stroke RM Spotted at Glen Helen

SPY PHOTOS : ALUMINUM FRAMED SUZUKI RM250 TWO-STROKE

Could this be a new beginning of two-stroke production machines for Suzuki ? We hope so ! With how hot the two-stroke market is currently Suzuki would for sure sell every unit imported into the US. The bike looks pretty close to a production unit with the use of all stock parts.

MX And Family A Perfect Mix

On the right track: Motocross is a family affair for area riders

Chad Watkins - Dakota County Star

On a damp and muddy Sunday morning, hundreds of people congregate at Fiddler Creek Motocross track to watch racers speed around corners and soar over jumps. Some come to race, some to watch friends and relatives, but they are all family.

Denise and Liam Philpotts have been involved in motocross for almost 20 years. Originally getting their start in England, the couple is an integral part of the Fiddler Creek MX track in Homer, Neb. Racing is part of the family tradition for the Philpotts’, as not only are Liam and Denise involved, but also their sons Brandon and Kieran.

Family is not just about blood in this sport, as Denise says.

“If you speak to any motocrosser they will tell you about the “motocross family.” We are

all truly one big family at the track. Lifetime bonds and friendships are formed over the season. We will all come together to help each other out, from lending parts to making sure other riders get their bikes, a quick fix to race, to lending out entire bikes to complete their motos. When a rider gets injured we are there for the families, to make sure their family member gets treated without worrying about anything else. We bond over bonfires, food, and lots of laughter after practice sessions and track prep.”

Many racers spend time at the track and travel with one another as the season progresses from March to October.

These bonds lead to a lifetime of friendship, said Kieran.

“I have made some of my best friends at the track. It’s kind of like we are just one big family at the track and nobody wants to see another rider get hurt. I got my first bike when I was around four and I only really started racing when I moved to America, but some of my best memories have been made while I was racing. Fiddler Creek Mx Park is my home track and it was one of the first tracks I had ever ridden at. My family and I have always been a part of that track and brought many friends into racing because of the track. The fact that it’s local just helps so much. We make new friends all the time and just become an even bigger family, but as soon as you get on the track, everyone drops those smiles and gets serious.”

And while the riders may be serious during the race, when the checkered flag comes down, they go back to being part of one big family.

 

 

 

 

USGP Returns Sept 3

New Venue for Sept. 3 USGP Announced 

By Jason Weigandt

Last year’s Charlotte, North Carolina, MXGP of the Americas is no more, but during the press conference announcing a new tie up between MX Sports (promoters of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross and sister company to Racer X) and Youthstream (promoters of the FIM World Motocross Championship) there was said to be a replacement venue coming soon, and it would be located in the American Southeast.

Today, that new USGP venue became official via a Youthstream press release, and it’s the popular Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainesville, Florida. Gatorback hosted AMA National motocross races from 1983-1997, and has hosted the Thor Winter Olympics (aka The Mini Os) on Thanksgiving weekend for over 40 years.

The new race will be dubbed the Monster Energy MXGP of USA and will take place on September 3, the weekend after Lucas Oil Pro Motocross concludes in Indiana. It will serve as the 17th round of the 19-round Grand Prix circuit. Previously, the series had concluded in the U.S. with another USGP at Glen Helen, but that race is no more, and Grand Prix teams have expressed a desire to end the series back on their home continent.

David Luongo, Youthstream Vice-President and Head of Operations, stated: “We are very excited to come back in the United States of America for the Monster Energy MXGP of USA. Gatorback is one of the most historical tracks out there, the venue is beautiful and the MXGP fans in America will have the opportunity to watch the best motocross riders in the world to race on a classic U.S. track which will be very exciting for everybody. I really want to thank MX Sports and the AMA that helped a lot to make this event to happen and also Mr. Kern, the owner of Gatorback facility, to take this opportunity to bring back the MXGP World Championship in USA.”

"We are excited that Youthstream and MX Sports are working together to bring the Monster Energy MXGP of the USA to Gatorback Cycle Park this fall,” says Wyn Kern of Unlimited Sports MX, which operates Gatorback. “We are going to give motocross fans the rare opportunity to see the best racers from AMA Pro Motocross line up against the best riders from the FIM’s MXGP World Championships, on a classic American motocross track. Add the fact that Unlimited Sports MX will host national-caliber amateur racing on this same Labor Day Weekend and Gatorback Cycle Park is going to be the capitol of the entire motocross world come the first of September."

Davey Coombs, President of MX Sports Pro Racing (and Racer X Editor-in-Chief), stated: “This is very exciting for American motocross, and also for MX Sports, finally having a chance to work with Youthstream to build a successful new race together here in the U.S. Our fans, not to mention most of the top riders, have long been familiar with what a great motocross track Wyn Kern and the Unlimited Sports MX crew has at Gatorback Cycle Park, so there is a lot of buzz already building about bringing the best professional motocross riders in the world here once again for a new MXGP in the USA.”

Plans for 160 acre motocross park to open near Boise this summer

What may look like a big dirt lot is a blank canvas for Andrew and Andrea Anderson.  It's the future home of the new ARC, or Anderson Racing Compound, a public motocross park and training center for all ages and skill levels. 

"We are going to have multiple tracks. We're going to have junior motocross tracks. We're going to have little teeny tracks so the guys on the little peewees can go bump around and start learning. We will have a little bit more advanced stuff for the kids that are a little bit bigger," explained Andrew Anderson.

With 160 newly purchased acres to work with just east of Boise off Simco Road, the Anderson's have plans for a vintage track, a track for UTV's and ATV's, a round track, and even a flat track.

The plans are ambitious, but like many ideas, it started off very simply, after Andrew's daughter found the same love for motocross that her dad had as a kid.

"The first thing I did was start looking where in our community can I take her and train her, where can we go and put those hours in," said Andrew. "The more I looked, I couldn't find anything."

So, Andrew started looking for a couple of acres to put a track on, and once word started to spread, Andrew said he met an entirely new community of riders he didn't know existed who were lacking a place to call their own. That's when then ARC was born.

"We really want this to be a place where it doesn't matter if you are a professional needing to come put in some laps for a race that is coming up, or you're the family that just loves getting out and playing in the dirt. There will be something for everyone out at the park," said Andrew.

They said they want the communities input to make it a place that everyone can enjoy. To let them know what you would like to see just click here and give them a call, or send them a message. 

"We might not be able to fill every want, need, and desire of our community, but we are going to be able to fulfill a lot of them," said Andrew.

While it may just look like a dirt lot, to the Anderson's it's a dream come true. 

"We're still a ways away from knowing the final picture of what the arc will look like, but it's going to be great," said Andrew.

The Anderson's hope to have at least a few tracks open by the beginning of  summer.

Danny Laporte interview

Danny Laporte

With a list of victories that place him as one of the greatest American racers of all time, Danny Laporte is very much a rider with a great history in the sport. The 1979 500cc AMA motocross champ, 1992 world 250cc champ, and 1981 MXdN winner, with Team USA, Laporte is a rider who knew how to win in all conditions. He also finished second in the 1992 Dakar rally, when it was really a lot tougher than it now is.

Now working with FMF in America, Danny keeps involved in the sport, continues to ride all over the world, either with friends or in classic events. He is as passionate about the sport now as he ever was, and recently visited the Grand Prix of Mexico, where his fellow countryman, Thomas Covington took victory, riding with an FMF pipe.

We caught up with Danny and asked him about his visit to Mexico, and his thoughts on motocross and supercross tracks.

MXlarge: Danny, first tell me, why did you travel to Mexico for the GP. I am pretty sure you have been a few times or not?

Laporte: Yes, we have been to all three in Mexico. We go riding in Mexico a lot, more the retired type of guys, ex pro guys, or old friends. We like the pace in Mexico, its kick back, and really relaxed. Leon is a really nice region, and a bunch of really nice cities in the area. Obviously, we (FMF) sponsor the GP series, and it’s a great chance to not have to fly all the way to Europe and still get to see a GP. It is very relaxed at these fly-away races. If you go to a race in Europe everyone is there, so it’s hard to talk to people, but in Mexico, they have that big tent that fields the paddock, and it’s really easy to talk to the people we have to deal with. It’s like a big family and people have more time and that is a good reason to go there on the business side of things. We don’t want to get in the way in the big races in Europe.

MXlarge: It can be a tough couple of months for the GP riders with those four fly-away racing starting the series, can’t it?

Laporte: For the guys being on the road that long, with the week break between Argentina and Mexico, it’s a long couple of weeks, flying to Europe and back. Those are long flights from Europe.

MXlarge: You got a bit lucky, having an American win in Mexico, and also an FMF sponsored rider. What is that like for you, being a six time GP winner, an America, and you are watching this young kid, Covington standing on the podium with the American national anthem playing?

Laporte: I mean, it’s great. He won two years ago there, and then comes back and wins it again. For us it’s cool, because we sponsor the team, and it’s really fun. We had to bring some mufflers into Mexico, and getting stuff through the border isn’t always easy. Going through customs with product isn’t easy. It was nice, because we felt like we were part of the deal. Seeing an American win, I enjoy it a lot. I mean the tracks are so diverse in Europe. For Thomas, he didn’t really know the tracks and he is starting to learn them better. The track in Mexico, it might look easy on television, but it’s so hard to ride. You never know what you will get. The dirt in Mexico is like clay and they rip it really a lot, then water it, then the riders practice on it, then when the clay dries, the ruts get really deep and they are like concrete. The ruts are like big waves ready to brake and they go right up to your radiator shrouds, and then you have to jump and land, and try and get into one of these ruts to go through the corner. You can’t make a mistake otherwise you go down. You can see the riders tip toe their way around the track. It’s not forgiving like Argentina where you blow a line and you can still get through the corner, in Mexico you had to really ride like on a rail.

MXLarge: When you used to race, obviously, all the track were natural terrain tracks. I guess America was similar, but did you ever have any tracks like that one in Mexico back when you raced?

Laporte: Funny you should ask that, because we were joking it’s a lot like Saddleback. Its black hard clay, you know in California we had a lot of tracks like that, even Carlsbad. They never ripped Carlsbad, but they ripped Saddleback, and when they did that you had big lumps of clay like a football, you could hardly ride through them in practice. So, Mexico is similar to some tracks in California and Thomas would have been the king of Saddleback. I don’t know where he got those skills from, he came from back east, maybe they have that Georgian clay and its hard pack. A lot of tracks in Europe are like concrete and they hardly touch the tracks. Payerne in Switzerland, they used to have the cows on it, and then open it for the Grand Prix every year, then the cows would be back on it again after the racing ended.

MXlarge: Speaking about that. I have only been here 25 years, but I remember when I first got here, you would go to tracks for a GP and the water damage from winter would still be on the tracks when the riders did the first practice. Long lanes of water damage and the riders would just get on with it. That has changed, now hasn’t it? I am also guessing when you raced in America the tracks were not prepared like they are now. Carlsbad, Saddleback, those tracks were also pretty rough. Now they are really groomed and look very pretty, but are maybe easier to ride?

Laporte: I think the GP tracks have become a little like America tracks, triples, whoop sections, rhythm sections. I like to see a little air, but sometimes it’s over done. The strange side is that supercross are designed to the millimetre, the jumps, the whoops, the step-ups, it’s all done perfectly, built on a computer and all the riders get these track designs and it isn’t spontaneous anymore. Everyone can do the same thing and when you get to a track, they already know what the track will be and what they are going to do. I think it makes racing worse. That is why I love endurecross, because its unpredictable. Everyone is riding the same stuff.

MXlarge: I am not really a fan of supercross, because to me, a non-racer, it all looks the same, every single week. Stadiums look the same. Maybe some tracks like San Diego in 1986. That track was so flat, and the racing was awesome.

Laporte: Absolutely, and what happens when you build a track like what we have now, there is a sweet spot, and if you get out of that, you lose time, so it’s very much following the leader. So how do you get around a guy, that is why we see guys taking guys out in turns. Sometimes it makes the racing worse. They got carried away with the jumps. People want to see a good race and you race on the ground. The way they build these tracks it forces you to follow. That is why I don’t like supercross, because it’s dangerous. I mean putting a 500cc bike in supercross, it’s dangerous.

MXlarge: In supercross, it seems like the riders at times don’t have time to think. I mean I am not a racer and was never a racer, but it seems like that to me as a fan.

Laporte: It’s very hard, and it’s a matter of time that a guy gets hurt like that. Coming down on faces of jumps. I mean outdoors Tomac also got hurt outdoors. The racing isn’t as good as it used to be, because the tracks are now sent to the teams and everyone knows what they get and it seems like the riders and teams are determining how the track will be. I guess it happened back in the day with riders talking to the track builder, and getting a track they wanted. I know through from 1985 until the 90s when they started giving the track designs to everybody.