Ronnie Renner Plays Golf

Is this every dirt bike riders dream...a pristine golf course to roost!

The Revolution...in the beginning DT1

What was your first bike? Mine was a DT1 a bike that changed the motorcycle world. Here's a little history about the beginnning.

Yamaha Revolutionizes Motocross

 If you've been around long enough you may remember seeing Karsmakers or Hannah blitz the motocross world on Yamaha's revolutionary new suspension system. Here's a look at the beginning.

Glen Helen: America's Burliest Motocross Track

 

© Garth Milan/Red Bull Content Pool

Just east of the Los Angeles hills lies Southern California’s Inland Empire, motocross’s mecca. There are more professional and amateur racers per square mile there than anywhere on the planet. Venture into one of the area’s billion housing developments, tee up a golf ball, and smash that masochistic white orb in any direction, and the odds are strong that you will hear the shout of a professional motocross rider as the ball careens through his kitchen window. Then as you speed away in mischievous delight, you might see Ken Roczen and Jessy Nelson at the stoplight. Really, though, that could happen. Of course, smack dab in the middle of the I.E. is Glen Helen Raceway.

There is no motocross track that captures the essence of the American dream like Glen Helen. A racetrack built into jagged Southern California peaks, a fortified hotbed of excess, at least as far as a motorcycle racer is concerned. The arms race to creating the biggest and baddest motocross track in the country during the sport’s rise in the '80s produced several greats, but nothing like Glen Helen. The hills are gigantic and steep, the absurd constructions of a small child’s imagination — the start, the first turn, the massive hills and the booter jumps. It’s a motocross racer’s Pipeline, his Matterhorn.

Take a moto 1 lap with Jessy Nelson!

Racing at Glen Helen might as well be a combination of motocross, Supercross, Hard Enduro and Rampage rolled into one (and freestyle motocross, if you are Marvin Musquin with the heel-clicker game). The track is one of the fastest of the year, and the roughest, with tremendously technical sections thrown into the mix for good measure. The crown jewel of Glen Helen is Mount Saint Helens, a 200-foot climb into the SoCal stratosphere, followed immediately by a descent all the way down. The GoPro videos you see here do not do it justice. The hill up and down are nearly impossible to walk: An overweight patron of the races might find himself losing his footing here and transforming into a human bowling ball. Now imagine racing a motorcycle on that incline with 39 other professionals, all of whom would love for you go away — quickly. The track builders might just be practicing sadists.

Neither Ken Roczen nor Jessy Nelson won at Glen Helen, but each finished in the top five, with Nelson actually landing on the podium by way of 4-4 motos in the 250 class. Nelson has always been great at starts, a talent that can be viewed in all its glory in the first few seconds of his POV from moto one, where he ripped a decisive and uncontested holeshot. It was a heartbreaker for Nelson to lose two positions in the last two laps, but consistency prevails in a sport of attrition like motocross, and he still stood on the podium at the end of the day.

Roczen was clearly feeling chipper compared to his day at Hangtown, where a recent back injury slowed him down considerably. He went down in turn one of the first 450 moto and came all the way through the pack to eighth by moto's end. In moto two, he managed a decent start in the top five and made his way to third on the first lap, where he would stay for the duration of the 36-minute moto. The next step for Roczen is the top step, so watch him closely at Thunder Valley this weekend.

WORCS RD 6 Iron Mine

Joe Montana Visits Roseville Kawasaki Saturday

We are proud to announce that on Saturday, May 30th at 1pm NFL Legend Joe Montana will be visiting Roseville Kawasaki at 2014 Taylor Road in Roseville, CA to meet fans and sign autographs!!! Bring your favorite 49er memorabilia and get an autograph from the man himself!!! Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the 4-time Super Bowl Champ, 3-time Super Bowl MVP and NFL Hall of Famer that broke records and captivated NFL fans throughout his legendary career. Admission is FREE for this event...hope you can join us!!! For more information, feel free to give us a call at (916) 784-2444. Hope to see you Saturday! Sean Coplen General Manager Roseville Yamaha Kawasaki Disclaimer: Arrive early for your best chance to meet Joe! Joe will sign most items. However, due to personal reasons and/or other contractual conflicts, Joe may be unwilling or unable to sign certain items. Limit one item per person -- this is at Joe's request to be fair to all fans. Sorry, no exceptions.

New Virginia MX Track Approved

Hanover Planning Commission approves motocross race, training facility

Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2015 10:30 pm

By LAURA KEBEDE Richmond Times-Dispatch Richmond.com

The Hanover County Planning Commission voted in favor of a proposal Thursday evening for a motocross dirt bike race track and training facility in Doswell.

Edmonia Iverson of the Beaverdam District, where the property is located, introduced a motion to deny the proposal after a nearly two-hour public hearing and discussion.

The commission voted down Iverson’s motion 2-5, with Jerry Bailey of the Henry District joining Iverson.

A motion to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve the motocross facility — with a condition to eliminate outdoor lighting and limit evening hours — passed 5-2 with Iverson and Bailey dissenting.

It was not immediately clear when supervisors will take up the matter.

Dozens of families from Hanover, Spotsylvania County and even out of state filled the meeting room in support of the proposed motocross track.

Nearly 20 children in racing jerseys and adults with “Yes to MX” stickers pleaded with the commission to allow a dirt bike racing track, pointing out that the nearest training ground is in Maryland.

The planning staff recommended approval of the proposal, citing county supervisors’ recent approval of an economic development plan to promote sports tourism to boost hotel stays and other business from out-of-town visitors.

The nearly 44-acre property along U.S. 1 near Verdon Road is designated as industrial use in the county’s comprehensive plan. The facility would include 30 recreational vehicles campsites for race participants and be allowed to hold three races per year.

Several accommodations were made in the proposal to reduce noise. A natural ridge line running north and south hems the facility between U.S. 1 and train tracks just before Interstate 95. The proposal also includes a berm with a fence that would further decrease noise, said David P. Maloney, the Planning Commission secretary.

The area is heavily wooded to the north and south.

Training from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the week would involve one to three bikes at one time, according to the applicant, Randall Everett.

Weekends would generally have 50 to 100 bikes at one time, which would translate to 130 to 150 people attending a practice at one time. Everett estimated attracting 200 people during race weekends.

Everett has competed with dirt bikes internationally and addressed some of the concerns nearby residents had about noise and thinking the facility would be a magnet for drugs and alcohol.

“There are a lot of positives,” said Everett, a Nokesville native. “The families here and the kids here need a safe place to ride. ... I strive to be a great neighbor and I promise you that.”

Opponents cited environmental, noise and traffic concerns.

“I endure the noise from Kings Dominion and the rock quarry,” said Regan Armentrout-Waggin, who has lived in Doswell for nearly 50 years. “Sometimes I can barely hear my TV over the noise.”

Fly Racing Presents The Hangtown Experience

Vet Motocross Racing in Austalia

Flying past 40: Veteran motocross rider shares lifelong passion for sport ahead of national titles at Murray Bridge

ABC Adelaide   By Brett Williamson

Most people might think at 47 it is time to slow down, but for Gumeracha's John Platt it is time to go full throttle.

Mr Platt was given his first motorcycle at the age of six and began competitive riding shortly after.

Over the years he has finished third in the 1985 Australian titles, represented South Australia and placed in the top 10 riders of the state on many occasions.

"There is a saying in motocross that you will never understand it until you do it," Mr Platt said.

Each weekend Mr Platt races or competes in major meetings, but the Monday mornings have changed over the years.

"Every Monday is a slow day," he said with a laugh.

Few things have come between Mr Platt and his love of the sport, with the financial commitment of starting a family and buying a home sidelining him for a few years and breaking his arm at a Supercross also putting him out of the sport for a year.

"I was never going to not ride again," he said.

"It was just as soon as the doctors would sign the piece of paper to say I could ride I was back on the bike.

"As one of the old fellas from our club says — you always come back."

With the veterans' class including riders aged into their 60s, Mr Platt believes it is a strong feeling of unity that keeps most of the riders coming back.

"We rub a bit of plastic, but we all get along fairly well," he said.

Racing runs in the family

 

Motoring memorabilia hangs on the walls of Mr Platt's shed.

His family lines are rich in drag and motocross racing, with his own family even beginning trackside.

"I met my wife through motocross," he said.

His fellow competitor and brother-in-law's girlfriend introduced the two, and true to form, their son now also races motocross competitively.

"My son stands over six foot and the local footy club wants to know when their ruckman is coming out, but he is just not interested," Mr Platt said.

"From the day he could talk, it was, 'when can I ride a motorbike?'"

Although the top riders can make a living out of riding, Mr Platt said the lifestyle requires strong commitment, both socially and financially, for the family to stay in the sport.

One of my close friends is 61 and travels the world racing motocross — I would love to be in that position.

John Platt

"The reality is the cost of buying parts, entering events, travelling, accommodation — we have taken up tenting to just to save a few extra dollars," he said.

Oil changes that cost up to $40 per litre are required every five hours a bike is ridden.

The pace of the sport and demands on the machinery means it is preferential to replace the entire motorcycle each year at a cost of about $10,000.

"As the bike gets older the maintenance costs go up, so it's a catch 22," Mr Platt said.

Mr Platt also spends several hours in a gym each week to ensure he is as well-maintained as his bike.

"Motocross athletes have heart rates that are up to the end of cyclists in the Tour de France, so your cardiovascular fitness is comparable to the top-end athletes," Mr Platt said.

When asked when he may consider finishing up in the sport, Mr Platt said he hoped to be competing for years to come.

"One of my close friends is 61 and travels the world racing motocross — I would love to be in that position," he said.

"Physically I reckon I could, but I don't know if I could financially.

"I hope to be doing something in years to come, I just don't think I will be doing as fast as I am today."

Mr Platt will compete at the Motocross Nationals in Murray Bridge this weekend.

Ontario Ski Resort Adding Moto!

Motocross trails being developed at ski hill  

By Alan S. Hale, The Daily Press

Tuesday, May 12, 2015 10:22:40 EDT PM

TIMMINS - It may seem a stretch – but the jobs of security personnel at local mining quarries and tailings sites should get a bit easier now that Timmins is getting a motocross track.

The track is being built as a new summer feature of the Kamiskotia Snow Resort.

It will be operated by a local motocross company 705MX.

Neal Neamtu, the owner of 705MX, said having a proper place for motocross will not only give Timmins residents another outdoor activity to enjoy, it should help put an end to the dangerous practice of individuals who take their bikes onto mining sites because there is nowhere else to go.

“We want to get the kids off the streets, out of the pits and off the mining properties,” said Neamtu. “They’re always excavating, and it’s dangerous,” said Neamtu. “We want to get the kids out of there and into a controlled riding environment where everyone is going the same direction in a safe manner.”

Neamtu has been trying to establish a competition-level motocross track in Timmins for almost a decade, but has never seen his project come to fruition.

When he proposed the idea to Kamiskotia last summer, they leapt at the chance.

Monique Koski, who has been appointed as the project’s director by Kamiskotia, a motocross track fits perfectly with the resort’s long-term goals.

“Kamiskotia has always wanted to be a four-season resort,” she said. “It’s always been one of our action items to have something happening here in the summer time. We were approached by Neil, saying he would like a location for a track, and we thought it was a no-brainer. We already have facilities with the restaurant, the bar, the bathrooms and we have the property. So it was just a matter of getting permission.”

After some bureaucratic wrangling, the ski hill received permission from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to log a 10-hectare plot on their property located just off the main road leading up to the ski lodge. Local logging company DeBastos & Sons donated their equipment and personnel for the job.

Presently, most of the future site of the track has been cleared of trees, and Borèal Collége has agreed to bring in some of their forestry students to remove the stumps once logging is complete. But before they can start to build the track, they will need another round of permits from the MNRF, and no one is sure how long that process will take.

Neamtu said he envisions a track that will be the envy of the rest of the province.

“The plan is to have the one of the best – if not the best – track in Ontario,” he said. “There will be all the regular elements such as doubles, triples, tabletops, and we hope to bring enough material in to build some nice big berms. We’ll be providing some nice racing and practising areas so kids can fine-tune their skills, and parents can come out, watch and have a coffee.”

Plans for the track also include a motocross school, and Neamtu’s welding company will be fabricating a bank of bleachers for spectators.

Once the track is complete, the Kamiskotia plans to get it certified by the Canadian Motocross Racing Corporation, which will allow it to host sanctioned racing events.

Because of the uncertainty in the required permitting process, there is no opening date set for the new track, but Kamiskotia hopes construction will be complete by the end of the summer.