Legends & Heroes Celebrates LaRocco at Indy

Courtesy of Legends and Heroes

Friday, March 13, 2015

The Legends and Heroes Tour is very proud to honor one of America's premier racing stars, Mike LaRocco.

In 1988 "The Rock" launched his professional racing career at age 17 and upon his retirement in 2006 this fan favorite was widely recognized as the elder statesman on the professional circuit with 228 Supercross starts to his credit. He collected championships in the 1993 AMA 500 National Motocross Series, the 1994 AMA 250 National Motocross Series as well as the Supercross World Championship title in 2000.

An Indiana native, LaRocco was a fixture on the elite teams including Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Honda, the latter as a factory-supported Factory Connection rider. Mike won Supercross races throughout three decades in both the 125cc and 250cc classes. His legendary 1994 AMA 250 Motocross National Championship run was perhaps his most memorable. Upon his retirement in 2006, LaRocco had logged a total of 53 podium appearances in the 450cc class and 16 in the 125cc class.

"Mike LaRocco was always a tough competitor who gave more than 100% in his training, his racing and to his many fans," says Alex Moroz, General Managing partner for the Legends and Heroes tour. "The Rock was always one of the most focused competitors throughout his 19-year professional career and we are very proud to pay tribute to him this weekend."
During Saturday evening's pre-race ceremony Mike LaRocco will be presented with the Legends and Heroes award on the Monster Podium and a personally monogrammed Rockwell timepiece watch.

For more information on the Legends & Heroes Tour, contact Alex Moroz at: alex@legendsandheroestour.org or visit www.LegendsAndHeroesTour.org or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LegendsAndHeroesTour.

About the Tour
The Legends and Heroes Moto Museum Tour is a professional historical display and time-line of America's greatest motorsport. The tour includes the machines and the champs of Motocross and Supercross. The project was conceived by a dedicated group of motocross enthusiasts who, over the years, have discovered the value of the rich 40+ years of Motocross legacy and its impact on the American motorsports history. The dedication and passion of the sport has brought the Legends and Heroes Motocross Tour to the next level of sharing this legacy, the history of the machines and the men and women who made it happen! The history of the Classic Iron and its' champions is an ever changing dynamic model. We see this rich history as a great learning lab for all ages.

Do you want to see what a $350,000 bridge looks like?

 21J wanders around the Sierras looking for well spent OHV funds.

During my ride with Wayne in Georgetown while doing the six part series on the 250FX we rode down to Rock Creek to take a break and enjoy the surroundings and the creek, which countless others have done over the years. We’ve (Motorcyclists) been crossing this creek for many, many decades. In the winter it can be impassible (Too deep) but the riding area is routinely closed when the forest service thinks the area has had too much rain anyway. Even in the summer if you don’t do it right you could tip over and drown your bike.

A couple of years ago now a bridge was built over Rock Creek which is in the El Dorado National forest and this particular bridge is in the OHV (Off Highway Vehicle) riding area above Georgetown, CA.

The local environmentalist group argued that if a motorcycle should tip over the pollutants could harm the creek and its inhabitants downstream. The solution build a $350,000 bridge with OHV money.

At one time many, many years ago there was a road (For vehicles) that came down the hill on both sides of the creek and there was a bridge that crossed the creek but had washed out decades before. Over the years the road coming down from one direction has deteriorate the point walking or riding a motorcycle is the only way down. The other side is still passable in a vehicle to within a ¼ of a mile or so from the creek.

Looking at the pictures of the bridge it doesn’t look like it should have cost that much, but it did.

Doug 21J 

PS Yes, that is a car in the picture behind Wayne. About twenty years ago some fool (fools) drove their car down the bad side of the hill and that’s where it ended up. I’m sure that was the last attempt by anyone.

Finally MX Track Approval in WA

Granite Falls motocross track gets council approval

By Kari Bray, Herald Writer

GRANITE FALLS — A long-debated motocross track here may be able to move forward after a 4-1 vote of the Snohomish County Council Monday.

The council chambers, packed with about 120 people, erupted into cheers when county leaders announced their decision. The council voted to uphold a Dec 23 decision by the county hearing examiner that approved plans for a motocross complex and camping area on a 437-acre property between Green Mountain Mine and the Sand Hill gravel pit. MXGP of Kirkland purchased the acreage in 2007, after an attempt to build near Maltby met opposition. They’ve been seeking permission to build the off-road tracks northeast of Granite Falls since. Three parties appealed the hearing examiner’s December approval of the track: Martin Robinette, Ginger Amundson and the nonprofit Mountain Loop Conservancy.

The council was tasked with reviewing county code and determining whether the examiner’s decision, and the process used to reach it, meets all legal requirements. The council postponed the decision twice, once on Feb. 11 and again on Feb. 18. They started Monday’s meeting with a 12-minute executive session before taking a vote. Chairman Dave Somers was the lone vote against the project. The final written decision is scheduled to come before the council on Wednesday. It includes an amendment that requires MXGP to build a berm around the property before they can begin operating. The condition is tacked onto a 14-page list included in the hearing examiner’s ruling.

“A lot of people worked really, really hard on this and put a lot into it,” MXGP co-owner Gary Strode said after the vote. “Our lives have been on hold for nine years.”

It could take years to build the berm to contain noise and manage runoff, as required in the council’s decision, he said. The track likely won’t be finished for at least 15 years. It’s not ideal, he said, but he still is excited and relieved by the vote.

“We just want to have a place to ride,” he said.

Amundson, one of the appellants who opposes the motocross track, plans to pursue an appeal in court. Amundson believes the county already had decided to support the project, and nothing would sway leaders away from that decision. She hopes a judge may see things differently.

“It’s about the laws and the county code,” she said.

Opponents’ concerns have included noise, pollution and safety along with more technical worries about the permitting process and timeframe.

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439, kbray@heraldnet.com

MX Historical Mayhem... Caution This May Hurt

10 Most Brutal Motocross Crashes Of All Time

You wont be able to look away, as much as you might want to…

By:James Lycett

Crashes are an inevitable part of motocross. No matter how horrific an accident may be they are also some of the most exciting moments in a race.

Fans will watch on in shock and awe as riders defy the laws of physics, soaring high above the floors of huge sporting arena’s and historic rolling fields alike. The combination of excitement and danger is one that keeps the fans flocking to motocross events the world over. Without the huge risks that these athletes take motocross would not be the same.

This does mean that, from time to time, there are crashes that will make headlines of their own. The spectacular nature of some of the crashes in this list will mean you won’t be able to look away, as much as you may want to!

Some of the featured riders walked away unscathed from incidents that may look potentially career ending. Some of them were not so lucky…

All of the riders in this list are, or have been, at the top level of the sport. This just emphasises the risks that a rider takes every time they time they throw their leg over the bike.

Without further a do, here is a list of the 10 most brutal crashes in motocross history.

Do you agree? Check this site http://whatculture.com/sport/10-most-brutal-motocross-crashes-of-all-time.php

Snowbirds!

Snowbirds...that's those retired people that leave the snow behind every year and migrate to places like Yuma, AZ. Most spend their time lounging, playing cards, going to the movie or playing lots of golf. However, some actually find other things to do... like riding the thousands of open miles the desert provides. They explore old mines or downed planes. Sometimes they just get out and bother the Border Patrol. Here is a short video of a couple of northern California snowbirds exploring an AZ sandwash. No rain, no snow just blue sky and miles of open trail. Life is good!

Eddie Cole Sucessfully Launches Next Components

Matrix Concepts launched the Next Components brand in mid January 2015 and exceeded their first quarter sales target in just the first two weeks of the launch.
 
The Next Components brand was strategically developed over a two-year period. Eddie Cole stated, “We are thrilled with the initial response from our customers and we can’t wait to introduce phase 2 and 3 of the launch”.

Next Component’s launch video showcases key innovative products that are now available.

Uniquely innovative products that include the Smart Lever; lightweight-unbreakable composite clutch and brake levers as well as a complete clutch perch assembly that integrates the Smart Lever technology.  The product line is completed with a full line of single and duel compound grips, shifters, foot pegs, chain guides/sliders, hand guards, rotator clamps and skid plates.

About Matrix Concepts / Next Components / 1.7 Cleaning Solutions: Matrix / Next / 1.7 is based in Valencia, California. Our products are used and developed by the top MX/Off-Road/Cycling race teams in the world and include personalized off road Motorcycle and Bicycle Stands, Tie Downs, Tool Boxes, Utility Cans, Mats, Next Levers, Grips, Hand guards, Foot-pegs, shifters, chain guides, sliders and Skid Plates as well as 1.7 Cleaning Solutions.  For more information on Matrix Concepts products visit: www.matrixracingproducts.com

10 Most Successful Motocross Riders To Make The Trip Across The Atlantic

Only a handful of riders have had real success after crossing the pond…

Over the years many riders have made the trip across the Atlantic Ocean to face a fresh challenge.

However, many riders have struggled to make the transition with any great success. This had led to a constant comparison between American and World Championship competition, and one that can only be made at the Motocross des Nations, an annual one day event.

This has once again been highlighted by recent high profile moves, including Ryan Villopoto’s decision to contest the 2015 MXGP series. For the first time in years a top American rider is making the decision to pit himself against the world’s best GP riders.

We see riders move to the States regularly, looking to the more glamorous Supercross and Nationals series’, following childhood dreams of riding the tracks that legend’s such as Rick Johnson, David Bailey and Bob Hannah made their name on.

Over the years we have seen many riders struggle to have a successful career following such a move, and it has proved that only the most versatile and talented riders have been able to do so successfully.

Here is a list of 10 riders that have achieved what many dream of; successfully beating the sports best on both sides of the pond. Visit this site for this intersting list http://whatculture.com/sport/10-most-successful-motocross-riders-to-make-the-trip-across-the-atlantic.php

Supercross...how does that black flag look now?

Supercross

The 2015 season has been entertaining thru the first eight races. Five different winners in eigth races is unusal. Chad Reed love him or hate him...the guy is a stud. It is too bad the AMA/FIM made their hasty decision to throw the black flag on him at Anaheim II. Poorly thought out decisions are what we have come to expect from the AMA. I think the rest of the supercross season will be exciting but I also think the fat lady is warming up her voice on the sidelines.

2015 YZ250FX Story Part 5...Racing

Race Day

As I said at the end of part 4 one of the next rides was going to be a CC race. Well a couple of days after I rode Mammoth Bar, I went to a place called Oasis Race Way which is near Clear Lake, CA. The day before it had rained two and a half inches in the area, but race day was clear and warm. It was a mud fest, the course was only a little over three miles and our race was an hour and a half long, so we made many, many, many laps. The course marshals made lots of changes as the event went on, routing us around sections that had become virtually impossible to negotiate.

 

So how did the bike work? It got the hole shot in front of about twenty five other riders on my row. (In second gear and a dead engine start, just pulled in the clutch and hit the button) the bike worked amazing. It had all the power I needed when and where I needed it. Suspension wasn’t a big factor today, although it worked very well considering the bike probably gained fifty pounds of mud. I usually struggle big time in deep mud, slop and ruts, but I did extremely well and the bike didn’t tire me out. (Only when I had to pick it up, that was a real struggle)

I didn’t like the front tire the bike came with so I put on a Bridgestone M30 and all I can say was the front end was a non factor so it must have worked. Although after going through some of the deeper sticker mud bogs the tires would pack and it was like being on ice and difficult to get up enough speed to clean the tires off. The course continued to deteriorate each lap and after about three laps nobody had passed me, until the top three vintage bikes did. Dist 36 has a vintage bike class; most of the bikes are from the early eighties because one of the rules is no disk brakes. It’s amazing how fast those old bikes can be ridden. (Their usually ridden by a lot of the top A and AA riders)They started on row one and I was on row six and with thirty seconds between starts and a clear track they caught up to the back rows fairly quickly.

After a few more laps I actually started getting bored with it all, it wasn’t a whole lot of fun anymore and with my great start all my normal competitors were in back of me. Usually I’m in back racing forward. I actually pulled over for a few minutes and thought about going back to the pits, even asked a course worker, but I couldn’t get back there from where I was. Staying on the course was the best way to get back and when I went through the scoring chute again I could see there wasn’t that much time left. So my incentive was to finish and see if I could catch some of the riders who passed me while I was thinking about quitting.

A couple more laps one more tip over and after getting out of one last bog with the help of a course worker I finished and I’m glad I did. When I looked down at my odo and it read eighteen miles, I said are you kidding me an hour and a half and only eighteen miles, it felt like at least double that. That’s almost embarrassing except there were about a hundred other riders out there flopping around as well and all but two were considerably younger. Goes to show you how slow and muddy it was, at least for me anyway. My friend Pete who’s been the District 36 CC champion in the 60+ Master class five out the last six years, raced on Sunday in a down pour and average a little under ten MPH in winning his class. And I thought my sixteen MPH in the sunshine was slow.

The Yamaha looks so open and bare but I found out it just leaves lots and lots of places for mud to pack in. I initially took it to a car wash and spent a lot of money getting it to a point where I could take it home and then tear it down and really clean it. I spent untold hours cleaning everything, I spent more hours cleaning than I did driving to and from the race and the race itself.

Now I’m waiting for the rain to stop and for the ground to dry up a little so I can ride some trails in the woods.

Doug 21J

10 Most Controversial Motocross Riders Of All Time

Motocross is a sport that is never short of a little controversy.

Even some of the brightest stars to ever throw a leg over a dirt bike have been in the headlines over the years for all the wrong reasons, both on, and off the track.

Over the years we have seen countless numbers of riders tipped for stardom drop of the face of the earth.

Some are overwhelmed by the fame and money forced upon them at such a young age. Some riders have let their destructive personalities cut short promising careers, and ruin the lives of themselves and others in the process. Some have been thrust into the papers as victims of the outrageous rulings.

Either way, all of the riders on this list will not just be remembered for their talent on the motocross track.

Motocross is like any sport, it has its characters. Those who have the god given talent to make it to the very top, but can’t help themselves becoming embroiled in controversies on and off the track.

Here we take a look at some of the most controversial figures in motocross, focusing on the moments that cemented them into the sport’s history, for whatever shocking reason that may be.

Visit this website for a look at these ten riders

http://whatculture.com/sport/10-most-controversial-motocross-riders-of-all-time.php