Southwick Back From The Grave!

Southwick National returning in 2016 as part of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship

 

Broc Tickle during the first 450 moto at the last National held at Southwick 338 on Saturday, June 29, 2013. The Southwick National will return to the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship in 2016. (MICHAEL BESWICK / THE REPUBLICAN) (Michael Beswick)

By Tim Culverhouse | tim.culverhouse@masslive.com masslive.com

 October 08, 2015 at 12:54 PM

After a three-year hiatus, the highly popular Southwick National will return to the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship in 2016.

The Championship, sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), brings the top riders from around the world to 24 motos in 11 different states. The Southwick National is scheduled to take place on July 9, 2016.

"When we made the decision to leave Southwick at the conclusion of the 2013 season there was always a belief that we would return there in the near future. We are proud to say that the time has come to bring the championship back to 'the sandbox,' filling a void many fans and members of the industry have felt the last three years," MX Sports Pro Racing President Davey Coombs said. "We are excited to return to the passionate fans in New England and showcase one of the most beloved and unique venues of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship."

The 44th season of the Pro Motocross Championship will begin in May with two straight weekend races in California before traveling across the country during the four-month season. The Ironman National wraps up the 2016 schedule at the Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Ind.

"The 2016 championship schedule consists of the most renowned facilities in all of American motocross and fittingly comes to an end at the sport's newest track that is quickly making a name for itself after just two seasons," Coombs added. "It was a year to remember for Ryan Dungey and Jeremy Martin in 2015, but they will need to fend off an exceptionally talented field of challengers at the country's finest race tracks if they hope to make even more history and defend their titles. It's sure to be an incredible season of motocross."

Works Connection ... Home Grown

Works Connection | Works Parts For The Working Man

October 06, 2015 By Michael Antonovich

Trans World Motocross

WORKSCONNECTION.COM

At some point in their riding time, almost every motocross rider will long for a special part that they’ve spotted on a factory-built bike. This is exactly what happened to Eric Phipps in the late 1980s. But rather than settle for a less than stellar part, the machinist decided to make his own “works” style aluminum pieces and then founded Works Connection. The company has become a giant in the accessories division of the motocross industry first skid plate was cut, and it’s common to see a number of their products bolted onto the bikes in the pro pit area. During a recent visit to their headquarters (which happens to be down the street from Hangtown), we spoke with Phipps about his twenty-five years in the business.

“My first item was a skid plate. I couldn’t find a factory style skid plate, because they were all the bigger wrap-around type. I saw a void and went after it. I was a machinist and I worked for my dad building street rod parts. I took what I learned from him and building street rod parts, like shifter and other billet aluminum parts, and applied it to what I was passionate about.

“In those days, it was easier than I thought it would be but that wasn’t our goal. Our goal was to cater to the weekend warrior guy that wanted factory-style parts, and it surprised me when the factories started to call us. Steve Lamson was the first racer to call and I helped him out as a privateer, because he was local and I knew him already. We ran products on his bike privateer but when he went to the Peak Pro Circuit team in 1991, we had skid plates on those bikes instantly. That was our first factory effort and it came a little over a year into our business.”

 

“We took a hit like everyone else did in 2008 and 2009, but we soldiered through and did what we had to do. There was a time before that when there were a lot of start-up companies, and some of them went away, so we picked up a little bit. It wasn’t easy through those years, but we were solid enough as a company to withstand the downturn. It’s coming back slowly. I wouldn’t say it’s all the way back, but we’re seeing growth now.

“Our staff is 14 people, and that’s the most we’ve had in five years. With the workload that we do, we all wear a few hats, so we could each be doing sales calls or marketing and then trade off.”

 

“Being in Northern California has pluses and minuses. I grew up in this area so I love it. It’s a little harder to find employees, because if we were in Southern California we’d have a bigger pool to draw from, but we have a great group of people now. From the manufacturing side of things, it’s comparable and I wouldn’t trade it. The cost of living here is definitely less expensive and if we need to test with someone, we just make the drive down.

“It is tough to make it in the industry. If the product is over the top awesome, it will sell itself. But if the product is just a slight fix or something that already exists, there is a longer road for it to get the public’s attention or to make it popular.”

Works Connection’s Top Products

Radiator Braces

“A lot of the bikes now have weak radiators, so guys are bending radiators without even crashing. These have been important.”

Pro-Launch Starting Device

“This started in 2002. We saw them on the factory bikes and anything we see there, we want to offer that to the general public. We took what they were doing, improved on it a bit, and brought it to the general market.

“They are are great for anyone that races with dirt starts. I feel we have the market cornered with all of the teams and privateers that run our starting devices, just because they are simple and they work.”

Skid Plate

“It was the first item we ever had. Whether it’s a motocross style skid plate or a full-coverage unit, they’re still solid. Now that bike are built with some flex, our rubber mounting system allows for the frame to flex while still getting an aluminum plate that works.”

Riders Talk Strategy at Straight Rhythm

There is no race in motocross like Red Bull Straight Rhythm. That is to say, nothing even comes close. A full-on Supercross sprint, with no turns, against the best racers in the world. Riding Supercross is very difficult, but racing it is a mind-boggling concept. Supercross is a game of precision, where riders have little room for error. That notion is very counterintuitive to the racing model, which is, “Go as fast as you possibly can; balls to the wall until the finish line.” In Supercross, that’s how riders have to operate, while also thinking, “Be smooth, be calculated.” It’s like a crossbreed of classical music and death metal.

Each race at Straight Rhythm is a SX race compacted into about 60 seconds, which compresses the entire mental aspect of a main event race into 60 seconds, as well. No room for error, yet wide open from gate drop to checkered flag. This is how Straight Rhythm separates the goods from the greats.

Riders like James Stewart and Ken Roczen, who have been given a gift from above with their abilities on a dirtbike, excel in these circumstances because they don’t have to think as much about making the bike do what they want it to do; it just happens naturally for them.

Riders often use almost-subliminal cues on tracks to remember which section is which. It could be as simple as a tree or foul ball pylon in a stadium in their peripheral vision marking a corner and subsequent rhythm section. At Straight Rhythm, those cues are less effective, because there are no turns. As Dean Wilson mentions in the video, remembering the track is much more difficult at this race.

Whoops are a massive separator at any Supercross race, and at Straight Rhythm even more so. It's the spot on the track that Travis Pastrana credits with keeping him alive as long as he was in the bracket. The whoops make up a serious portion of the track, and are the most difficult feature out there. As Vince Friese says, it’s the riders who are willing to hit them as fast as the bike can go that are going to make the difference out there. At Straight Rhythm, the factors of precision and speed in a motocross race are exponentially exaggerated because there's so little time to make the difference between rider and opponent.

One Last Wild Look at 2015 MXDN

 Dirt Shark takes you up close for a look at the MXDN. The fans are there to have a good time and the racing was very good..

Tifosi Wins Big at 2015 Interbike Awards

On September 17, 2015, Tifosi Optics was awarded the 2015 Interbike Award for Highest Brand Profitability to the LBS, Unit Turns.  Voted for by our valued bicycle retailers, Tifosi is honored with the win.

We thank our retailers for trusting us to be their source for top quality sport optics.  We are honored to have won this award and are especially grateful to have such wonderful customers to do business with.

Thank you from all of us at Tifosi Optics, Inc.

Hosted by comedy veteran Alonzo Bodden, the awards ceremony presented more than 35 winners with the coveted IB Award.

Jarvis wins Sea to Sky to deny Walker’s grand slam!

Graham Jarvis scored his first win of 2015 to stop Jonny Walker claiming a hard enduro Grand Slam.

Graham Jarvis brought an epic hard enduro season to a close with victory at the Red Bull Sea to Sky.

With all eyes on Jonny Walker to see if he could wrap up the perfect season by winning in Turkey, Jarvis was determined to keep the Grand Slam out of reach for his fellow Brit.

In a reversal of fortune to when Walker stopped Jarvis clinching the Grand Slam in 2013, Jarvis became Walker's spoiler in the mix for 2015.

After his customary slow start, Jarvis got his head down exiting the canyon section. Up to third by half distance, he hunted down both Walker and Wade Young, who were trying to make a break for it.

I really wanted that win. It’s been a long season without one.

– Graham Jarvis

With the trio locked together, it looked like becoming a battle to the finish, but Jarvis had one card left up his sleeve to play. Gambling on the final refuel stop, he didn't pit and hit the front of the field as they headed towards the final mountain climb. Pulling clear, he crossed the finish-line as the clear and certain winner.

Graham Jarvis scored his first win of 2015 to stop Jonny Walker claiming a hard enduro Grand Slam.

Graham Jarvis brought an epic hard enduro season to a close with victory at the Red Bull Sea to Sky.

With all eyes on Jonny Walker to see if he could wrap up the perfect season by winning in Turkey, Jarvis was determined to keep the Grand Slam out of reach for his fellow Brit.

In a reversal of fortune to when Walker stopped Jarvis clinching the Grand Slam in 2013, Jarvis became Walker's spoiler in the mix for 2015.

After his customary slow start, Jarvis got his head down exiting the canyon section. Up to third by half distance, he hunted down both Walker and Wade Young, who were trying to make a break for it.

I really wanted that win. It’s been a long season without one.

– Graham Jarvis

With the trio locked together, it looked like becoming a battle to the finish, but Jarvis had one card left up his sleeve to play. Gambling on the final refuel stop, he didn't pit and hit the front of the field as they headed towards the final mountain climb. Pulling clear, he crossed the finish-line as the clear and certain winner.

Young beats Walker to Sea to Sky’s Forest Race win

Just five seconds separate Jonny Walker, Graham Jarvis and Wade Young after day two in Turkey.

Jonny Walker saw his chances of a clean sweep in Red Bull Sea to Sky come to an end during day two's Forest Race when Wade Young put his name to the top of the standings.

Starting eighth, the South African teenager meant business as Red Bull Sea to Sky ventured up into the forest stage for day two. Putting his head down from the off, Young blitzed his way through the countryside on his KTM. Picking off rider after rider, the 19-year-old eventually crossed the finish line fourth to secure the win on corrected time.

"I think that was a perfect race – I felt like I hardly made a mistake," said Young after the finish. "I thought starting eighth would hamper me with the dust, but it was good out there and I could keep charging.

"When I came across the line in fourth I knew I'd put in a good ride but it's always difficult to tell. It feels awesome to get my first race win at the Sea to Sky. Let's hope this is a sign of things to come."

Hopes of a Sea to Sky hat-trick ended for Jonny Walker when he was forced to play second fiddle to Young. Leading the field off, Walker was keen to add to his Beach Race win, but with the pack hunting him down it wasn't to be. Despite crossing the line first, he missed out on the win by a mere three seconds.

"I'm a little disappointed to miss out on the win but second is good enough for a front-row start," admitted Walker. "I'm looking forward to the big one now. It's going to be a battle to the finish. There's a lot of guys riding well but hopefully I can make it up the mountain first and claim that Hard Enduro Grand Slam."

Proving just how competitive this year's race is, Graham Jarvis was just two seconds off Walker's time in third. With the top three now split by just five seconds, things are shaping up for a battle royale to claim the final crown of the season.

Jonny Walker’s grand slam bid begins on the beach

The Brit edged closer to his hard enduro grand slam by winning day one of Red Bull Sea to Sky.

Getting one of the most important weekends off his career off to a perfect start, Jonny Walker was almost untouchable in the wild and crazy Red Bull Sea to Sky beach race on the Turkish shoreline in Kemer.

Posting the fastest time in the morning qualification, Walker immediately set the tone for the evening's main event. Hot off the start, the KTM rider slotted himself inside the top three on the opening lap.

It got crazy in places but somehow I found a way through the madness

– Jonny Walker

Going elbow-to-elbow with Andreas Lettenbichler, Walker fought his way into the lead on lap two. Putting enough distance between himself and the chasing pack, he avoided the chaos and carnage ensuing behind him to secure the win.

Shredding up retirement: Edmonton motocross racer still ripping dirt at 78

A 78-year-old man has become a local attraction in Edmonton for his passion for motocross racing, a sport he’s loved for more than six decades.

Steen Hansen, who is originally from Denmark, first brought his bike to Canada in the 1960s. He’s gone on to win races around the world and was recently inducted into the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

Now living with his wife in a retirement complex , Hansen regularly rides his Husqvarna motocross bike at a local track to keep his mind and body sharp.

Hansen is passionate about fitness and regularly works out to keep his body in top shape for the demanding physical sport. He’s had his fair share of injuries, but so far nothing has dissuaded him from the extreme sport.

And while Hansen`s wife used to worry about his hobby, she says she’s more or less given up.

“He's not as crazy as he used to be, let's put it that way,” Marion Hansen said with a laugh.

Steen Hansen says motocross racing keeps his brain and body fit, even after retirement.

“I feel good, especially when I beat some of the younger ones,”

Drone Film Festival...Stuntman

Watch South African professional stuntman Warren Germishuys do what he loves best... riding motocross. Filmed entirely by drone at Table Mountain in Cape Town this film offers a glimpse into his epic lifestyle and how much fun it is to shred trails on a bike.