KTM Ride Day

If you have ever wondered what a KTM ride day was all about here is a report on how the day goes.

With a ticket from Nor Cal Motor Sports in my hand I went out to Prairie City today and participated in KTM’s ride day. They had on hand three each of the 125, 150, 250SX two stroke bikes and three each of the 250, 350 and 450SXF four strokes. We were given the opportunity to ride each bike for two laps, on the Hangtown track and then if we wanted fill out a questioner and ride the bike of our choice one more time for another two laps. 

The track for the first part of the day was very wet and slippery and some of the guys riding the smaller two strokes struggled getting up few of the hills. Later in the day the track dried out a little but by that time had lots of ruts. And with so many different skill level riders the ruts were everywhere, it made for some sketchy riding at times especially riding totally stock and unfamiliar bikes. 

The turnout was great, I’d say there were about fifteen riders in line to ride each bike all the time, plus 18 bikes out on the track at all times. Every hour they’d fill all the bikes with fuel which was the only time they were given a breather. By the end of the day the chains were dry and making noise, the idles were very high on some of the bikes as well. No doubt as a result of the motors breaking. But all the bikes certainly handled the flogging.

So which bike did I like the best, that answer is full of caveats. I only rode the four strokes; I don’t see myself buying a two stroke any time soon, so why bother. But I will say this everyone who rode the 150SX raved about how much fun it was. 

I rode the 250SXF first on a very wet slippery track and with only two laps just started to get a feel for it when I had to get off. It felt very light and had decent power (I believe my Yamaha YZ250FX has more low to mid range power) Next was the 350, this was the bike I was really looking forward to riding. First off I had a 2011 350SXF and the power characteristics are very different between the two. The 2016 has great low and mid range power and on top it just keeps on pulling and winding out. The 2016 is much easier to ride on a Moto Cross track than my old 350 was. The 450 was even easier for me to ride than the other two. Leave it in a higher gear and torque yourself around the track.

I didn’t notice any vibration from any of the bikes, and for me anyway they all felt very comfortable while sitting and riding on them, I didn’t notice any real difference when I got off one and on another, but I do have a 2012.5 450 and a 2012 500 KTM.

The 250 felt like a 250 very light and easy to move around. I expected the 350 to feel like the 250 only with more power it didn’t for me. Actually the 350 and 450 felt almost identical in the way the weight of the bike felt and handling characteristics. All the bikes felt much lighter than any previous KTM’s I’ve ridden though.

The negative to all these bikes was the suspension not so much the shocks but the forks varied greatly. The 250 suspension probably worked the best of all of them and was the most balanced. The 350 was by far the worst it was spooky at times. The 450 was much better than the 350. I don’t know why it was this way, had I ridden another of the 350’s perhaps my impression would have been different. I saw several riders playing with the settings before they went out on the track. In all fairness it doesn’t take much fiddling to throw the suspension way off.

I did ride the250 a second time this time when the track was much drier and it worked a lot better for me. I did ride a different 250 the second time (All the bikes were numbered) and this bike’s idle wasn’t as high as the first one and didn’t push me into the corners like the first one did. There really wasn’t enough time to ride the 350 or the 450 another time. I especially would have liked to have ridden another 350. 

For me today anyway the 450 was the easiest for me to ride and didn’t tire me out as much as the other two. They are all great bikes and it just goes to show you how easily each bike can vary depending on the state of tune when you ride it.

A big thanks to KTM for doing this and even though today the 350 turned out to be my least favorite it wouldn’t keep me from buying one if I was in the market. Goes to show you the value of proper bike set up. 

Doug 21J

Tyla Rattray Signs Out

The 2015 USGP marked the retirement of former MX2 motocross champion Tyla Rattray. After a fifteen year career that has taken him from his native South Africa, to the world championship, on to the USA and then ending up back in the Grand Prix series teamed with Ryan Villopoto for what would prove to be the final season for both riders, Rattray rode his last race at Glen Helen.
Long-time sponsors Thor put together this short film to celebrate a truly world class rider.

Herlings to 2016 MXGP?

Herlings teases about possible MXGP debut

Jeffrey Herlings threw a cat among the pigeons with this update on his Facebook page. Herlings has missed out on MX2 titles two years on the bounce by injuries and it was widely felt that he would stay down for 2016 to finally regain the title before he takes on the boys in MXGP. But in the final part of the update the Dutch rider teases with the comment 'Which class for 2016 is not decided yet.

If Herlings does move up than it would seem and even bigger job for his stable-mate Tony Cairoli who will have to overcome the new world champion Romain Febvre and Herlings to get his ninth title. The prospect for the new season just got even better - book your flight to Qatar!

Here's the whole post - it's heartfelt and disarmingly honest

Just would like to give all my fans a quick update as its been so calm around me lately.
Man... this is a long road back. Since July 2014 its been a dark moment in my career and life. At this time its mentally as though as physically. We are working hard to get back on the bike. Roughly planning says I should normally be able to be back riding in 4 to 6 weeks from now. All injuries are taking care off and now its only my dislocated hip which is still recovering and next week my plate on the collarbone will also be removed. So we hope to be back on the bike somewhere towards the mid to end of November.
Its hard knowing where we come from and that's winning in 2013/2014 27 GP's straight and then having such a tough come back time and being on the ground as much as I was last year. Obviously its hard mentally from knowing where I come from when nothing could go wrong to where I am right now. But it also shows me how hard life can be, and how fast things can turn around. Also I lost a person who meant a lot to me and was a strong person in my life the last 2 years but due some stupid mistakes I lost her. @brittvoorn thank you for helping me the last 2 years and you will be missed in our team, team 84.
But I learned from many things as I am on the sideline right now and I got so much motivation to show all my fans. I really wanna show you guys I am still being able to win championships. I hope all my fans are still believing in me like I believe in them. We are all in this together. We will come back, and we will win. Which class for 2016 is not decided yet. Just wanna say a big thank you to my great team Red-Bull KTM Factory racing team and all other sponsors and partners for still in believing in me. And my family and close friends for never giving up on me. I love u guys.

Image Ray Archer / KTM

Moto Magazine

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.