Erzberg 2016 - Hare Scramble Highlights

 Highlights from the Red Bull Hare Scramble.

 

Chris Windle on the Climb for Erzberg 2016

Chris is training on his Beta 300RR

RV's Thoughts on Supercross

Remember Ryan Villopoto? When we last saw RV here he had just wrapped up his fourth straight 450SX title and was going under the knife, which would force him out of the 2014 450MX season. He attempted a MXGP season in 2015, but due to injury he retired after competing in just four rounds. RV’s still around here and there, doing promotional work for Kawasaki and his long-time sponsors. He also keeps tabs on the sport from his home base in Washington.

I caught up with Ryan while he was on his lunch break at work. Yes, you read that right. Villopoto has taken a job two to three days a week using his tractor and grader to help his buddies driveway business. He’s also going for his CDL license any day now, he’s going to be a dad to twins and he seems very happy with his life.

Like all of us, he’s been watching the just completed 2016 Monster Energy Supercross Championship and has some thoughts and musings on what happened. Without further adieu, here is RV’s perspective on what happened this year.

Racer X: On Ryan Dungey winning the 450SX title…
Ryan Villopoto: ”Even when I was racing, Dungey was the guy that you could count on being there every single weekend. So as a competitor, as a racer, just as I’m sure [Ken] Roczen or Eli [Tomac] asked the question, how do you beat him? Because he is so consistent. I think a big part of it is number one you have to be consistent, but I don’t see anybody out there being more consistent than him, so then you have to win more races than him. You have to have sheer speed.

You have to try and break him via pure speed. When I raced him I was pretty consistent, but I would think he was on the podium more than I was. You’d have to go back and look, I feel like he was really consistent but I won way more races, which got me the title.”

On Dungey working with his old trainer Aldon Baker…
”I don’t take anything away from Ryan. He’s the best guy right now by quite a ways. But look at his program, look at him as a rider and how much more confidence he has. He didn’t have that when I was racing and I had Aldon. So I had the whole package, and now he’s got the whole package. You ask how much has Aldon helped? I think the results show themselves how much that’s helped, which is a lot.

I talk to him [Baker] all the time. I think around Anaheim 1 or 2 me and Dungey and Aldon went to dinner. Everything’s cool with him and I. He’s got to get a job, right? He’s got to move on. I moved on, so he’s got to move on.

"Dungey’s program as a whole, with Aldon and everything, you can’t beat it." Cudby

On Dungey doing less with Baker than he did on his own…
“I’ve talked to Aldon a little bit and when they first started working together. I said, how is he, and so on? What do you think of the program? Ryan is one of those guys that he wouldn’t stop searching until he found it, no matter what. I was kind of opposite. If I searched for a while, and if I couldn’t find it, I’m like, f**k it. I’m over it. So it was more of a problem for Dungey. I think he would go to bed thinking about “How can I beat RV?” or “What can I change?” Instead of going to bed and just getting a good night’s rest and knowing everything’s taken care of. Aldon takes care of all that for you.”

On Dungey being so dominant this year…
“I’m not surprised at how much better he is than the other guys. They put in a lot of work. KTM, they put in a sh** ton of work also. Dungey’s program as a whole, with Aldon and everything, you can’t beat it. If everything goes well and you have no injuries or bike problems, stuff that’s not in your control, you’ve got to be dumb to bet against him.”

On Ken Roczen’s season…
“It was just okay. I was expecting for him to be better. But you can’t start the season that far off. You can’t start the season and be that far behind in points right away and that far off. Sure, he had a couple good runs there but he only won a few races. That’s the perfect scenario. When I raced Dungey, he won three or four races or whatever it was, and I won 11. There you go. How’s that going to work out? It’s not going to work. I expected him to be better.”

On Roczen leaving Baker’s program…
“The results speak for themselves so far. He hasn’t won, and I’m not saying that Kenny can’t find a trainer that could train him and put a program together for him to where he couldn’t be competitive, but really, to be honest, finding really good trainers for our sport is hard.”

 

"You can’t start the season and be that far behind in points right away and that far off. " Cudby

On Roczen’s late season surge…
“I think at one of the races where Dungey could have wrapped it up, in Boston, he got third, and Kenny won. I’ve raced Dungey plenty enough. In my situation, you go to a race and you know you can wrap it up, there’s definitely more nerves than not. I’m not trying to take the win away from him, or the bike setup, sure that might have helped, but I think that he looked at the situation and kind of figured out he was pretty far off and maybe started putting more effort into it, training more and riding more and got better. But it’s not enough. It’s way too late.”

On Eli Tomac’s season…
“That was, by far, I think everybody’s biggest shocker. I don’t think anybody was expecting that. I know he’s young. He hasn’t switched between a lot of teams. I didn’t switch any teams, but switched to a new bike. He’s figuring it out. Obviously it wasn’t the year that anybody thought that he was going to have. I didn’t think he was going to win, but I at least thought he would be fighting for podiums every weekend. I was expecting that. I’m not betting against Dungey for the title as long as he’s racing, put it that way. Eli’s got a big contract and that could be pressure—everyone’s different in how they handle that. It didn’t bother me but I can see others who it did.”

On Jason Anderson’s season…
“I thought it was decent. I think there are probably some people out there that thought he was going to do really well. I thought he was going to do well but I also knew he was going to be up and down. So for me, it was what I was kind of expecting. Maybe he could have been a little more consistent but nothing shocking in either way. He needs to mature and get way more consistency under his belt before he can be a title guy. And I’m sure he can. He showed consistency in the Lites class. He has it, but will he ever get it in the 450 class? I don’t know.”

On why he and Dungey never got into very aggressive passes…
“There’s already so many other things you have to try to worry about and try to control that making enemies out there, that’s just another thing you’ve got to add to your plate to watch out for. So if you can get the job done without being dirty or without being too aggressive, then that’s what you should do because that alleviates something else you’ve got to be worried about. You’re always a little bit worried about it but you never know what’s going to happen. You can’t just leave the insides blatantly open. There’s so many other things you’ve got to worry about. Don’t make enemies and have to worry about that also.

I know for a fact I’m not very good at it (aggressive passing), and I know Dungey is not good at it either. We’ve both kind of in the same book right there. We both aren’t very good at playing that game. And that’s not a factor of winning or losing a championship. That’s not going to change it in the end.”

On Chad Reed…
“Chad’s still plugging away. He’s still up there fighting for the podium. That’s really all you can ask for. I know he wants to win or feels like he can and he wants to be really, really back up front and winning, but I don’t know if that’s realistic. But he’s still up there fighting for podiums, and on a really damn good day he’s up there in second and maybe really close to first. Chad has to think that he can win because if you’re not thinking that way you’re never going to get there. You’ve got to think positive. But he’s still out there doing a pretty good job.”

On racing Reed for a supercross title…
“The year that he got hurt was the year that he probably had it going the best since the Stew/RC years…I don’t know, maybe ask him what he thought. But I would say he was possibly at his best. So he was really good. I wouldn’t say I worried about him too much. I would be more worried about Stew for whatever reason.”

“I was always worried about Stew just because you never knew what you could get." Cudby

On Dungey’s losing a race win for jumping on a red-cross…
“I didn’t really see what happened but I heard about it. All I know is in Dungey’s shoes and when I was racing, that’s the last thing we’re worried about is trying to make up speed. So 100 percent he didn’t see it or the light wasn’t on, or it was in-between. Whatever he said happened was probably what exactly happened.”

On his surprises in the 450SX class…
“I’d say Marvin Musquin. Marvin rode good. He almost got a race win. He almost got landed on in the same race also! I don’t want to say you expect them to do that but he did surprise me a bit. Again, like Dungey he’s got the solid program up and down so you expect him to be good.”

On James Stewart…
“I was always worried about Stew just because you never knew what you could get. Dungey you knew who he was, what he was going to eat for breakfast in the morning, and everything. You could play his whole day out as a racer. But Stew you never knew what you were going to get. But now…he’s obviously racing for some reason, whatever reason that is. He thinks he can still win, I don’t know. I came in one year out of shape and it wasn’t pretty. It ended up bad. That was shocking. For Stewart to finish one round out of 17, I don’t have any words for that. Honestly, I don’t even know what to say. That’s how bizarre it is.”

Reprint from RacerX    5/19/2016

The 5 Gnarliest Tracks of the Outdoor MX Nationals

These AMA National motocross tracks make even the manliest of men quiver in their boots.

Every track on the AMA Pro Motocross Nationals schedule is scary in more ways than one — that's just the nature of the beast. If the best racers are going to race there, it has to be serious material. But there are a few standouts that deserve recognition for being the stuff of motocross legend, and we shall recognize them in the list below:

1. Glen Helen

Glen Helen has always lived at the very beginning or end of the AMA Nationals schedule, because it is one of the most iconic tracks in American motocross. For good reason, too. Glen Helen is an arduous amalgamation of gigantic hills and massive jumps in the heat blanket of Southern California. After a day’s worth of motos, the track is so rough it looks like a scene out of Dante’s Inferno.

Gnarliest feature: Mount St. Helens, a 200-foot climb followed immediately by a steep descent all the way back down, with plenty of massive braking bumps throughout for good measure.

2. Unadilla

One of the oldest MX tracks in America, Unadilla in upstate New York only hosts one race every year: the national. The northeast dirt is loaded with big rocks, and the ruts everywhere on the track are deep enough to conceal a small child. Nobody forgets the chest protectors and hand guards come race day at Unadilla.

Gnarliest Feature: The Gravity Cavity, a deep valley that riders drop into and then immediately fly out of, some launching almost 100 feet to flat in order to save precious seconds on the lap time. Also worth mentioning is the Sky Shot — a 100-foot table top where riders love to please the fans with humongous whips.

James Stewart at Southwick © Medium Creative Group/Red Bull 

3. Southwick

The sands of New England bring us Southwick, a legendary American motocross track nestled in the trees behind a western Massachusetts high school. Southwick makes its triumphant return to the AMA schedule in 2016, because it always will be “the sand race” to AMA MX pro racers. Soft beach sand over a harder base layer make Southwick a brutal racetrack once a few laps have been thrown down on it. The biggest and scariest braking bumps of the year can always be found here.

Gnarliest feature: The sand. Southwick does not have much in the way of single track features, because there’s only one thought any rider may have when uttering its name: So much sand.

Ryan Dungey aloft over Larocco's Leap © Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool 

4. Red Bud

The race at Red Bud is always held on the 4th of July weekend because the track perfectly represents moto Americana. The Michigan venue plays host to the craziest pit parties — and some of the best racing of the year. Red Bud is a favorite among the riders for its pristine dirt and several huge-yet-enjoyable jumps.

Gnarliest feature: Larocco’s Leap, a 120-foot triple step-up right out of a corner, in front of the grandstands. Just hold it wide open and hope you got out of that turn fast enough.

Dungey slashes a perfect Spring Creek berm © Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool 

5. Spring Creek

The Spring Creek MX track in Millville, Minnesota, is another favorite among the riders for the loamy, perfect soil. However, the unfortunate (or fortunate, depending on what position you’re in) consequence of soft dirt is that it gets rough. At Millville, it gets really rough. The track is also extremely fast, so one miscue could mean the end of a racer’s day.

Gnarliest feature: The whoops, consisting of two straightaways loaded with some of the most massive rollers the riders will ever see.

History of the Yamaha YZM500 Works Bike 1987-1988 / DirtBikeDudeZ

These bikes were totally unobtainable to the public, and it was a miracle if you could find one stock part on them. How trick is that? A very different scenario to the new era that emerged in 1987 when the AMA introduced their production rule, therefore ending in one foul swoop the golden era of the full works bike. Mostly in the hands of collectors now, and what many people think was one of – if not the – trickest bike of all

Erzbergrodeo prep with Colton Haaker

Colton Haaker is no stranger to tough offroad races, but this will be the current World Super Enduro Champions first attempt at the Iron Giant.

Virginia City GP 2016....Wild and Wholly

Here's a recap video from this years Virginia City Grand Prix, everything from the race to the party afterwards and some legendary commentary at the end. See you all next year!

AMA Supercross pros reveal their favorite tracks

With so much quality dirt to ride we find out which tracks get the bikers more pumped than the rest.

Whether you’re a beginner, pro, or somewhere between, you probably have a favourite place to ride. And the best racers in the world are no different. Check out what these athletes said when we asked them where they liked racing the most.

Ryan Dungey
I would probably go with Millville [Minnesota, USA], but RedBud [Missouri, USA] is at the top of the list too. Between those two, it’s a close battle for the first spot but they’re both good tracks. I grew up racing Millville but they’ve both got exceptional dirt and everything a motocross rider can ask for from a track. They’re fun, challenging and exciting with lots of elevation, big jumps and technical obstacles.

 

Marvin Musquin
There a lot that I like but I like RedBud the best. It has a nice track and good dirt, really good fans and the fourth of July atmosphere makes the weekend really fun.

Dean Wilson
My favourite National track is Millville. I love the sand rollers and the jumps. It’s just a really fun and enjoyable track for me.

Justin Hill
My favourite AMA National track has got to be Washougal MX Park [Washington, USA]. It’s my hometown track and I get to see a lot of my old friends when I race there.

Marvel at the Rivalry That Is Dungey vs. Roczen

Feast your eyes on the Marvelous stylings of Ken Roczen’s and Ryan Dungey’s Fox Racing kits for the 2016 Las Vegas Supercross. In conjuction with the release of the latest big screen release in the fan-favorite superhero genre, Roczen and Dungey will take to the track in Sam Boyd Stadium donning the likeness of Iron Man and Captain America, but with dirt bikes (obviously). It may seem like a stroke of the ego for Hollywood, and it kind of is, but it is also a noteworthy moment capture of the sport’s greatest rivalry in 2016.

The Ken Roczen/ Ryan Dungey rivalry has matured tremendously since Roczen’s move to the 450 class in 2014. Immediately a winner, Roczen posed a completely new threat to Dungey’s championship efforts, a deck that was already stacked with the likes of Ryan Villopoto, James Stewart, Chad Reed, Trey Canard and others. But Roczen was different — a then-19 year old filled with all the piss and vinegar that Germany could possibly produce, and an unheard of natural ability on a motorcycle. Americans had already seen what Ken could do, but when he blasted out of the gate in 2014 on a 450, no one was prepared for him to be of championship caliber that quickly.

Roczen of course won the 2014 AMA Pro Motocross 450 Championship, in his first attempt at the title. It was a feat the motocross world had not seen since Dungey did exactly that in 2010. But 2015 brought with it the second era of the Dungey Dynasty. The Dunge hasn’t won everything since then, but it sure feels like it sometimes. Since the beginning of 2015, Dungey has decisively won all three major AMA championships: 2015 Supercross, 2015 Nationals and now 2016 Supercross.

But in the last several weeks of the AMA Supercross series, we have seen a new Roczen. His trademark speed is now coupled with a fresh dose of consistency — Roczen starts up front every week, and is now the fastest rider on the track by a solid margin. He has won the last two rounds in Massachusetts and New Jersey with huge leads over second place. Dungey was focused on wrapping up the title, and now that he has done it, his sights are set on making a statement to Roczen before the two start with a clean slate in the opener of the AMA Motocross Nationals at Hangtown just two weeks later.

Atlas Brace Offers 2016 AMA National MX Racers Free Braces This Outdoor Season

Wednesday, May 11, 2016 – Atlas Brace wants the to help protect the AMA Motocross Professionals that will be riding the AMA Outdoor Motocross National Championship this season.

 
AMA Pro's that are riding the AMA National Championship this season can send an email to proracing@atlasbrace.com with (1) Name and Contact Info (2) Copy of 2016 AMA Pro License and (3) List of National Championship Outdoor events they are entered in. We will forward an agreement and supply a neck brace free of charge.

The Atlas AIR Neck Brace is the brace "you don't even know your wearing" that features the exclusive Atlas revolutionary Flex System that helps disperse loads throughout the upper body.

About Atlas Brace Technologies: Atlas Brace Technologies is based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, and Valencia, California. Founded in 2011, Atlas is the home of the first racer designed and racer tested next generation neck braces and body protection. The entire product line is uniquely designed and of the highest level of safety, comfort, and mobility. For more information on Atlas Brace Technologies, please visit www.atlasbrace.com.