Racerhead #42
Friday, October 21, 2011 | 5:00 PMHonda is the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, and the undisputed leader in motorcycle technology. More motocross riders have won titles on Hondas than on any other bike. When you’re serious about winning, Honda is the machine for you.
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Welcome to Racerhead. Been a long week.
The Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas was as an extraordinary event. It was no regular supercross by any means. In some ways (prize money, razzle-dazzle) it was better. In other ways (rider and industry participation, crowd, track design, perfect presentation and cadence) it was not. But the fastest guys won, the drama was palpable, and a motocross rider earned himself $1 million—the biggest single payday in motorcycle racing history.
But then it all seemed to go to hell, with three separate tragedies connected to the races. First was the mysterious death of Nick Hoffman, Michael Byrne's former mechanic. The 30-year-old from West Palm Beach was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday morning. The cause of death has not been reported.
The second tragedy was more removed from the race. While I was in Vegas last week I helped Tom White hook up Chip Ganassi and his crew with tickets and all for the Monster Energy Cup (thanks, Feld; thanks, EJ) and he came out to the race to check it out. Ganassi, one of the most respected men in all of motorsports, actually grew up around Pittsburgh and raced at my parents' first track, Appalachia Lake. He was also the main sponsor for Jeff Ward when Wardy made a go of an open-wheel racing career. Anyway, at the race he was apparently asking all kinds of questions from people like Mitch Payton about what it takes to be a team owner in motocross, what kind of budget is needed, and more. Could Ganassi follow Gibbs Racing into our sport? That would be fantastic.
But then on Sunday, Chip's weekend turned horrible when his former driver Dan Wheldon died in that tragic crash on Lap 11 of the Las Vegas Indy Car race. I was on a plane back home when it happened, but on the news I saw Chip, obviously torn up by the loss of his friend, telling the world, "Today we lost a little bit of IndyCar...."
Chip Ganassi at the MEC in Las Vegas last Saturday night.
Also racing at Las Vegas Speedway was Ricky Carmichael, and he was leading the Camping World Truck Race early when someone hit him from behind and caused a multi-car crash. The carnage of that collision was minor compared to the ugly scene the next day, which has caused a lot of hand-wringing and second-guessing about whether those cars belong on a banked oval like that.
Carmichael was doing double duty on Saturday—after the truck race he headed over to the Monster Energy Cup to do some TV broadcasting for the SPEED TV live broadcast. He was one of many Monster Energy-backed athletes who were there for the big weekend. Another was Rick Huseman and his brother Jeff Huseman, two of the best off-road truck racers in the sport. They were returning home from Las Vegas in a small airplane when it crashed near Barstow, California, killing both men and a third person.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the victims of these tragedies.
Looking ahead to 2012 and the Anaheim Supercross kickoff, we will hear officially what James Stewart is riding on Tuesday when he holds a presser to announce his new deal—Matthes and Weege will have more on that later on. The bonus here is that Stewart will be riding outdoors again, which is something everyone involved in the series has been hoping would happen. It will make next summer even better than the one we just completed.
Ken Roczen debuted his #70 KTM for Simon Cudby today.
Photo: Simon Cudby
He was also wearing some slick Fox Racing gear, which brings me to the GEICO Honda team. They will not be wearing Fox in 2012, apparently because GEICO, the team's title sponsor, wants a different look for the team and will be rolling out some kind of special new gear. That means the Fox Racing stable will lose Justin Barcia, Eli Tomac, Wil Hahn, and Justin Bogle in one fell swoop if this comes to pass.
Eli Tomac and friends may have a different tailor in 2012.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Okay, let's get into some really, really deep bench racing. Check out this site (first part, second part) about the history of motocross in Russia that Scott Wallenberg found.
Here's the kicker: According to site, the first "motocross racing" in Russia took place in 1898! That's a full twenty-six years before what most consider the first motocross race, the Southern Scot Scrambles on Camberley Heath in England in 1924: "The first motocross racing was organized on the 8th of November, 1898. The two-way distance was 41,6 km long, the road from the railway-station Alexandrovskaya (near Detskoye village) till the turn to the station Strelna was chosen as the event venue."
Obviously, bikes that old would look more like bicycles than motorcycles, but the small engines that propelled those bikes technically make them motorcycles! The site also says Russia was hosting a national motocross series beginning in 1928 (when it was called the Soviet Union) all the way up until 1941, when war broke out with Germany.
What does it all mean? Bryan Stealey, who covered the history of that first motocross race in England a few years back in Racer X Illustrated (August '02), is going to have to get his butt on an Aeroflot jetliner and head to Russia!
Okay, here's Jason Weigandt:
Now that it seems James Stewart’s deal with JGR is on the way, other pieces can fall into place. So even if you’re not a JS7 fan, this move has an impact—and all over the place at that. I know teams in the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series are even sweating which way James is going to go, because it could make a difference in which brands have the leftover budget for other series' and other riders next year.
Speaking of budgets, people are pretty fast on the James-took-to-money-to-go-with-Yamaha-and-JGR bandwagon. You may have a point, but we will probably know more once the official announcement comes out and we have a chance to talk to James about the decision. From what I hear, though, that decision was made difficult because Suzuki is still in a bit of a transitional state. Last week a PR finally emerged stating that the factory Suzuki effort was indeed being taken over by Yoshimura, as we expected, but in general, Suzuki ended up with a blip in their racing plans at the exact worst time. While Yamaha and other brands had their T’s crossed and I’s dotted, budgets set and offers made, Suzuki was in the middle of a transition and couldn’t be quite as aggressive. You’re dealing with set plans from one brand versus plans that will hopefully pan out (but haven’t yet) for another.Also, the Suzuki-Rockstar connection and Stewart-Red Bull connection wasn’t a factor in negotiations. I’m hearing Rockstar and Makita are out at Suzuki for 2012 so this didn’t turn into an energy drink war.
Expect an announcment from Stewart and JGR on Tuesday.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Also, I do know that Stewart liked the JGR Yamaha more than he expected to, and it seems that bike is quite a bit different than the Yamaha he rode in 2011. Will it be different enough to deliver a championship in 2012? That’s the ultimate question, but then again, when isn’t it? In racing, you live and die by the results, and all decisions look wise if some race wins get mixed in.
Other things are happening. We hear Andrew Short is back on the bike for the first time since his elbow/wrist injuries in late summer. And Ivan Tedesco is back on the bike for the first time since knee/hip surgeries after supercross. And other free agents may soon have rides—where will Josh Grant end up? Will Ben Townley get a ride? Will Brett Metcalfe have a teammate? Will Stewart at JGR? I bet we know all of this by November 1. And now that the Monster Energy Cup is over, this is the best news we have to cover.
Here's Steve Matthes:
The Monster Energy is over and another lost weekend in Las Vegas for many in the industry has come and gone.
I’ve spoken and written everything I can on the Monster Energy Cup, from doing a podcast with Jason Thomas and Jimmy Albertson to Observations to a Pulpmx Point/Counterpoint to James Lissimore doing a Pulpmx ME Cup photo report. There simply isn’t anything else to say about the race.
Short is back on the bike and prepping for 2012.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Was it a home run? No, as I said in the Point/Counterpoint, but it was a solid double up the middle and the folks at Feld will make some tweaks and come back next year.
So now that we’ve gotten past the hump of the Monster Energy Cup, up next is the Bercy Supercross in Paris next Friday night. I’ll be going over and checking everything out, so stay tuned to Racer X for updates and make sure you follow @racerxonline.com as well as my own account @pulpmx on Twitter to get the play-by-play.
American riders like last year’s champion, Justin Barcia, his teammate Eli Tomac, Mike Alessi, Kyle Chisholm, and factory Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer will all be lining up to take a swing at claiming the prestigious King of Bercy title.
It’s always a good time to go over there hang out, watch some intense racing, and hey, there’s even going to be a Dogger sighting! The 1985 125 National Champion, Ron Lechien, will be making the trip over to promote one of his sponsors, JT Racing.And finally, thank you James Stewart for finally making a decision. Now we can all rest.
There’s a press conference on Tuesday at JGR Yamaha to announce the Stewart signing, and this is huge for the JGR guys and their sponsors. We’ve always known that Coy Gibbs was coming into the sport to be up front and so far, the results have been mixed a bit. This is the statement by JGR that they’re in the running and stepping up. With Stewart doing the outdoors as well, the team has a real chance of taking both titles next year and as well as being a big roll of the dice for JGR, it’s also a real coup for Pirelli ties. With Bridgestone pulling out a few years back, it’s left Dunlop as the only real choice for the riders and teams in the pits.
Where will Josh Grant land for 2012?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Enter Pirelli with JGR and to me competition is always good for the sport. The Pirelli guys have a crap ton of World Championships in Europe, and now with Stewart they have their best shot at an AMA title as well. It’s interesting to me that Stewart rode the JGR Yamaha twice and must have thought the bike/tire package was much better than his L&M Yamaha of last year. We all know blue wasn’t JS7’s first choice for a bike, so him signing with JGR raises the Hmmm Level to super-mega-interested to see if this works.
Look for Kyle Chisholm to be the third guy on the BTOSports.com/BBMX Suzuki team next year with Michael Byrne and Jason “I Love Finland” Thomas. The team is also rumored to be using JGR engines and suspension next year, which is a big step up for the BBMX guys as well as the JGR guys.
As far as the second guy at JGR, I’ve long thought it was going to be Davi Millsaps but it appears that he may want more money than the guys there can do, so rumors are he’s sniffing around the "Laremy McBrooks" team. It’s been reported that Kyle Regal is there but checking in with Larry Brooks, it appears that’s not the case yet.
Is Chisholm on his way to BTOSports.com/BBMX Suzuki?
Photo: Simon Cudby
Josh Grant to the Jeff Ward Racing (formerly L&M) team? I think that’s going to work out. Team manager Paul DeLaurier has been fielding phone calls left and right from riders looking to jump on that spot and by all indications, it looks like they will be on Kawasakis.
Thanks for coming out, see you next week. Tip your waiter.
Now to Ping:
In another move that shows Dave Gowland moving the Rockstar/Suzuki 250 team in the right direction, the team has hired Randy Lawrence as the team trainer/coach. Randy has been around the sport for a long time as a mechanic and as a trainer and he knows how to bring out the best in riders. He has won championships with McGrath as a mechanic and even more titles with Villopoto and Weimer. This year he’ll have Anderson, Davalos, Hewitt and Wharton to work with. I expect good things from those riders and that team next year. It has always surprised me that more teams don’t subscribe to the team trainer concept. They spend seven figures putting a team together and paying riders and then just hope they show up prepared and ready at A1. Top riders can afford to have their own trainer but for younger riders or guys not making big money that isn’t an option. You think stick and ball teams just let their athletes prepare any way they want? I’m guessing no.
Ping and the rest of the west coast Racer X crew tested all the 250cc new models this week.
Photo: Simon Cudby
I think we are going to hear very soon what riders land on the MC/Brooks Honda team. I know a couple of the guys they are talking to and it sounds like it may happen soon. As for the Wardy/Kranyak team it seems like they have to get a manufacturer nailed down first. At least one of the guys they are talking to is waiting to see what color bikes they ride before he signs. I still think it will be green.
Did you catch the Racer X 2012 250cc Shootout we posted this week? Our staff rode the new models and gave their feedback right HERE. It’s a good year to buy a 250F.
We also held the 2012 450 shootout this week but we enlisted the help of some very fast test riders for this one. Ron Lechien, Micky Dymond, Grant Langston and Billy Laninovich helped me run through each manufacturers offering for 2012. Stay tuned to this site for that when it posts very soon.
PanicRev has a big event going on this Sunday at Relevant/PanicREV with guest speaker Johnny Campbell. Johnny will be sharing about his life, his career, and about loosing Ox this year. Check out more HERE.
Okay, here are a few random notes:
The iconic photographer Paul Buckley, know for the famous "Buckley Berm" at Southwick, is now giving graphic design a shot. Check out his first attempt.
Our friend Greco Gaspar sent us this email this week: “Some teams in Brazil are asking me about foreign riders that could race here next season. Do you have contacts of good riders that might be interested? Hope to hear from you soon.” If anyone is interested, drop us a line at [email protected] and we'll put you in touch with Greco.
Check out this cool video from Matt Wozney of the legendary Rio Bravo track as riders take to it for the AMA Outlaw452.com Main Event Series, which my friend Larry Hughes has been hosting for the last five years in the Houston area. Rio Bravo is a historic track as its the place where Jammin' Jimmy Weinert became the first American to win a Trans-AMA and beat the Europeans, way back in 1973. If you listen at the beginning of the vid you will hear Larry discuss that history a little; Hughes is a first-class bench racer working for Parts Unlimited or his own Main Event Promotions.
Saturday night marks two firsts for the popular Endurocross Series. One, this will be its first ever visit to Boise, Idaho, and two, because the track venue the Idaho Center is larger than a normal arena floor, it allowed the track crew more space to get creative with the infamous water pond section so there will be a "double pond" for the riders to negotiate! The riders will splash into the first pond and then hop out into a second pond, with logs lining the exit of course. Wet logs are not easy so you can expect this obstacle to cause some chaos. The region also has an abundance of rocks and logs so the racers and spectators are going to be in for a real treat on Saturday.
Ticket holders will also be treated to a free pre-race concert from the Blues Addicts courtesy of Husqvarna and Moto Tech.
Video by Buttery Films of Bryce Vallee already hard at work prepping for SX with new trainer Dave "Ping" Pingree at the Lapalia SX track in Temecula.That's Ping with the big straw hat.
That's it for this week in motocross. Thanks for reading Racerhead. See you at the races.
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not a single thing said about Rick Huesman wtf? Race in peace Rick your greatly missed.
Stew signs with traction-gate, I love this stuff!
I thought Chis would go with Stewie to JGR? Millsaps is a head case, I think he needs to tough it out as a privateer next season.
TomKTM I told you JS would be outside, You said you would bet anything he will not and i said how about $50 but you never replyed. Either way you owe me Fiddybucks cuz I took the bet that you threw out there.
@wink- top of article 5th or 6th paraghraph down
Carmichael was doing double duty on Saturday—after the truck race he headed over to the Monster Energy Cup to do some TV broadcasting for the SPEED TV live broadcast. He was one of many Monster Energy-backed athletes who were there for the big weekend. Another was Rick Huseman and his brother Jeff Huseman, two of the best off-road truck racers in the sport. They were returning home from Las Vegas in a small airplane when it crashed near Barstow, California, killing both men and a third person.
That's too much bad news in the sport for one weekend!! Very sad!! Now regarding JS, i hope that he really did like the Yamaha.....i thought for sure he was gonna end up on a Suzuki!! Time will tell how it all works out.......and HOLY CRAP, a commitment to the Nationals as well.....Hell YES!!!
Matthes,
I was unaware Pirelli made ties... I should pick one up for the board meetings. ; )
Rockstar pulling out of outdoor sponsorship, pulling out of Suzuki sponsorship...not selling enough energy crack juice? Is this the beginning of the energy drink collapse? Who is spono for outdoors next year? I hear Red Bull but it doesn't seem like their style to follow Monster and Rockstar already having done it...
@ wink...
You must have missed this...
Another was Rick Huseman and his brother Jeff Huseman, two of the best off-road truck racers in the sport. They were returning home from Las Vegas in a small airplane when it crashed near Barstow, California, killing both men and a third person.
Millsaps demanding more money??? Those are some very expensive half-seasons he's riding!
"I promise to give you at least 75% for the first 8 races. After that we can talk about 2013!"
I tell ya....didn't Millsaps miss the 2nd half of each of the last 2 MX seasons? And now he prices himself out of a good thing with JGR? Speaking of JGR.....what are the odds Stewart is outdoors when the time comes? He was "guaranteed" to be doing the 1st 4 races last year......believe it when Pala comes and he has been at them all. Would be funny if he figures out a way to fire Joe and Coy!
^ hahaha
You just never stop
Hey "jairsack"..why don't you for once grow a pair of man balls and explain your racist rants!! If we had a little background on when and how you were hurt so deeply it caused you to hate we might understand your illness a little better. It has become sadly obvious that you are crying for help here, that you just want someone to love you and that your ignorant racial attacks on the African-American population as a whole (namely J.S. and B.O.) surely do not represent the caring and loving unbiased beauty that lies underneath your grotesque exterior!! TALK TO US FRIEND............on second thought, Nah, just F-off!!!
bottom line , ... he will never stop , as long as he has an audience , If all the @Jairtime haters just stop responding to him he will run out of steam , as long as he knows it gets to us he will keep it up , the best you can all do is report his comments , and DO NOT RESPOND , its hard to do , but let it go , He is a angry little boy, and not worth anymore of my time , See Ya You Losey PIg F*****
Stewie is goping to hold a press conference to say were he is riding next seaon?? Who does he think he is "Lebron James"?? Please. just sign and get to practice. Why does he have to make a huge showcase of everything he does... That is part of his problems, he isnt a TV star, or a rock star, just be a motocross racer./
No mention of MotoConcepts Yamaha. Are they done?
Bubbles having a press conference to make a big anouncement because he thinks he is bigger than life? It will be great to see Bubbles race next season and hopefully all year. Why not just save the big speech for after the season in case he has his head handed to him. There is only one person here who get all warm and fuzzy when James makes a big debut and thats gayair. You are correct bd, just show up and race.
@MisterRoboto- yes there was a mention of MotoConcepts or should I say Team Alessi, but it got pulled.
Some of you guys just need to lighten up a bit. While he's sometimes inappropriate, Jairtime is actually entertaining and you schmucks keep falling into his trap.
I'm sure half you whiners don't even know what a tome is!
Keep it going Jairtime but keep it clean for the ultra sensitive.
MotoConcepts is going to be Suzuki with Mike Alessi.
JGR is doing the press conference at JGR......I don't think its JS7 saying " hey I want to do a press conference"....Its not being televised on SPEED or anything....It's simply a big deal for JGR and the sport.....so they are holding a little shindig to announce their team....teams do it all the time....this one is just a bigger deal
I think the JGR set up will be good for James....no nonsense and whether or not its a partnership "team" between JGR and JSE we'll find out Tuesday....
@ ripdown ...UUHH ! A Book ! geeezz
How doe super douche Sorby and the gang fit in at JGR?
Very good Preston! But you gave it away for the rest.....
@ripdown.. Sorry
I'm surprised that even after RV dominance, Stewart is still the HOTTEST commodity in motocross right now. Love him or hate him, he is what the sponsors want. The guy has spectacular crashes and charisma and pple talk about him a lot. Thats all you need in marketing.
preston wrote: "bottom line , ... he will never stop...as long as he knows it gets to us he will keep it up"
This is true. I had a dog once who would shit regularly all over my clean floors. I would beat it literally as hard as I could, until I was exhausted myself, push its face down into its own mess to impress upon it what a foul, disgusting creature it was. It never did learn. Eventually I had it put down--with a tome to the dome.
When was the last time JS7 even raced? He skipped the entire outdoors season and did horrible in SX. As far as I'm concerned he is irrelevant until he's proven himself again. I'm so tired of hearing about him. He just creates all this hype for himself, but then does nothing to back it up.
No one cares JS7, you're not as fast as you used to be. RV and RD are taking over. Quit the hype and just go race. Once you start beating them you can hype yourself up.
But of course he has help from people like RacerX
@ Whoopster
I actually find that more offensive than anything Jairtime has said! Gonna presume you were kidding....
It's good Practice to let the dogs outside on a frequent basis.
Reed tweeted he tried to sign James. That would have been interesting. Still no word on who Reed will sign or what he will ride...
Jairtime is an Ice-T fan......picture is getting clearer!
"Gonna presume you were kidding...."
That would be wise.
"Jairtime is an Ice-T fan......picture is getting clearer!"
Gonna presume you were kidding...
I'm agreeable today. I agree with BD200, CZmark, and Ripdown. Come on back JS7 and we will see if you still can bring it with you. And do your bragging after the fact. Would love to see you adding to the competition, but it's more of a make or break year for you now. Not too many people believe in you anymore. And if you're gonna get it back, it's now or never. Still fast no doubt, but I think the Ryans, have stepped it up, and time away wouldn't be good for anyone. And as for Jairtime, I find him entertaining too, most of the time. I notice his typing and punctuation are goood as well. And every once in a while I notice a comment about racing in the Phillopines, etc. that I find very interesting. Would like to sit down with this guy and chat through some of his racing/riding experiences. Some of his comments really have me wondering exactly who he is. Or do I mean was?
Looking forward to watching the 2012 Supercross season on SpeedTV, with lots of live coverage? Have DirecTV? Speed and FuelTV are included in this: http://www.ourpromisetoyou.com/ ,
@rcx1
seriously? he did horrible in sx? really...
rv had 6 wins
js had 5 wins
tc had 3 wins
cr had 2 wins
rd had 1 win
so how exacltly did you think he did horrible?
if he did horrible than dungey just sucks, reed is terrible, and canard is just average...
haterz gonna hate, ur lame
Wins don't make a great season if you crash your brains out in the other races! Maybe some day Bubba Trooper will stop trying to be a celebrity and focus on keeping himself off the ground? Don't have to win or crash trying to be a champion!
You win when you can and when you need too. See: RV-1
My number one question is.Will JS7 have to move to NC now that he is on JGR team like everyone else had to do?
Question number 2: Will we ever get the full story of the Larry Brooks/LM,JS7 thing? Now that everyone seems to be set up and gone in different directions.Probably not!
Question 3: Haven't heard much on the FMF energy drink thing.Whats up with that?
Question 4: Who wrote the opening statements in this weeks Racerhead? I assume it was Davey since he talked about the Appalachin track thing but would like to know for sure.
dgizzy, you never fail to bring it. Stewie is the hottest commodity? Because JGR is negotiating with him? Who else was in this secret bidding war? Since RV and Dungey were locked up sometime in July, that trakes them out of it. As with Reed, he is all set now with his own team. If sponsors were all after James so badly, he would have been signed LONG ago for a lot more than he will make with JGR. What do you think all the negotiating is about? Stewart arguing that he isn't worth the Brinks truck they are trying to drop on him? The fact that he is going to be back on Yamaha speaks VOLUMES about him being the hottest commodity. Honda? Kawasaki? Suzuki? KTM? Hello? None of them could have put together a package for the "hottest commodity"? Too much.
Porkchop ,I mean Matthes.I really enjoyed reading your live chat thing this morning.It must of been nice to be able to hand pick the intelligent questions over the tardpill takers questions.Maybe you can do a follow up show that has some of the most dumnist questions just for laughs.I didn't particapte because it thought it would be stupid and I didn't have a intelligent question to ask you that would of mattered.For some reason after reading the Matthes Archive this morning I came up with a few.My questions were not intelligent but I think my question are what we as RacerX readers want to know.I really enjoyed that live chat thing Fatboy.Keep up the good work.
stew is gonna sack it 2 all of them.why?well because he is still fast and since he doing the outdoors i am on the bandwagon again.there i said it.
Well it looks like David Vuillemin quit MotoConcepts team before he was fired.He should of let them fire him so he could draw unemployment.It looks like Moto Concepts is goiing to finace Mike Alessi's new team useing Zooks.
The same old crew of Stewart doubters, haters, critics.....B-KR...Jairscrotum....Ripdown...keep bringing it boys!! I hope you all have the stamina to fling yer dung throughout the whole 2012 season!!! Maybe not the "hottest", but I suppose you disagree that he was still even a "hot" commodity then don't you B-KR?? Like it matters anyway....homey gonna be out there so call him what you want....at least he's racin'!!
Reminds me of the days , when I was racing against Roger Decoster , and Tp199 in the Phillipines , on My 20014 cr 122, It wa a strange time , The only ones allowed to Race were American Indians and the people from a lost tribe called the aborigknomes , We ate poodles for breakfeast , and kittens as snacks , the tracks were made of sand and glass and the motos were 3 days long .. Tyra banks , and ICE T were the top riders , and David Baily was my Mechanic , Seriously ,Its all true
OK, well I guess I gotta drop in. Ejoyed all of your comments and opinions! RACERHEAD is alway a good article to read. @ jairtime your posts dont bother me as long as you help me vote bama out! Ya I think I know ya? been a long time. Also Davey you forgot to mention the loss of Huckabee a great Texas racer lost only a week before the carnage at Vegas?
Yess I am gonna do a billC here and make 3 posts! On the JS7 Saga I dont really care but I do think it is good for JGR Racing as I remember when Coy Gibbs said "In 3 years we want to be able to sign a racer that has a chance to win it all" the JGR team is right on schedule with what he said. I would like to race for a team that can make my parts right there in the machine shop. no having to get aproval from across the sea. I think it is a good fit for both James and Gibbs. James may have the best practice place money can buy? It is close to the shop I mean what is a few hundred miles? good luck to all!
Yess I am gonna do a billC here and make 3 posts! On the JS7 Saga I dont really care but I do think it is good for JGR Racing as I remember when Coy Gibbs said "In 3 years we want to be able to sign a racer that has a chance to win it all" the JGR team is right on schedule with what he said. I would like to race for a team that can make my parts right there in the machine shop. no having to get aproval from across the sea. I think it is a good fit for both James and Gibbs. James may have the best practice place money can buy? It is close to the shop I mean what is a few hundred miles? good luck to all!
OPPS my keyboad bounced. sorry for the repeat.
I think that some of you read the articlicle about the Russian Motocyle stuff? It is a good history lesson. If you noticed that KTM was big in 1974 and 75 they were trying back then real hard. One of my competitors at the time (Kelly Bowen) got a chance to go to Holland or somwhere over in europe to race for KTM. He came back with some prototype KTM's and they were good he had both a 125 and a 250. For you young un's in 1973,74 and 75 those were pivotol years in the MX world, the begining of long travel suspension and reed valves to name a couple. The Bikes he broought back were state of the art pre production KTM's. Very good bikes at the time. we had Penda's also that is a Honda engine in a Penton frame. A lot of inovations came at that time. I might right an article for Racer X about those day's. I would have to talk to Donnie Elmer again and maybe Mitch Payton, never taslked to Mitch before.
To all of you old timers you might no what I'm talking about? You know who you are.
I am curious as to what kind of arrangement lil Stewie will have with JGR. Since they have a really tight in house program, will lil Stewie be able to adhere to that?
@Preston- good one dude!
@Fred- you missed a question there. How much does so weigh and does she have a sister?
@RX- why did you pull the MotoConcepts Alessi announcement?
@Welker- yes Huckabee was mentioned last week.
@ czmark I hope to meet you one day? I think you know about what I know? I still remember the day after we got the new Cycle News article about De Coster moveing his shocks up. Then at St Peter's MX at ST Louis Don Zack showed up with long travel on his CZ and even that he beat Jay Clark and a lot of other fast guys and he was a usual 5th place finisher. (sorry Don) and the next week all of us pros showed up with long travel bikes. one week in American history of MX.
Welker- funny things happen in life, so you never know! You mention the Penda, but I seemed to have not recall that one. But I do remember a lot of swapping of engines and frames to find a good match. One bike may handle like crap but had a great motor in it. Those were the days of various peolpe coming out with racing frames. The laid down shocks were so trick and looked so factory at the time. How about a snail pipe on those Hondas? People were coming out with some wierd stuff then.
@CZ Mark.Don't look like anyone going to answer my questions.I like the way you do math though.24 Twinkie girls adds up to tons of fun.I remember the days of moved up shocks and all the slung chains and broken casses.The the chain tensinors things.I also remember those[I think skunk works made these] .U would use you stock shock mounts and bolt on the little linkage type things to you shocks.I think those were the first primitive rising rate linkage system for rear shocks.I don't know if anybody remembers those.I don't think they caught on though.I don't know if they worked good on not.
bd200 I believe they said JGR will hold a press conference not JS.
.BKR where did you hear / read that He was "guaranteed" to be doing the 1st 4 races last year....... I must have missed that guaranteed part..
rcx1 5 SX wins is horrible ? man your hate is showing!!
BKR did you miss the part about Suz Trying to get JS?? Honda's team was all set, Kaw was all set, Rodger wanted RD at KTM so lets see who did that leave.. YUP Suz and Yam...Hmmmm
We will all see what happens in 2012! Even Stewart himself will be wondering! I hope his confidence level is where it should be! Stewart is still fast! These fools on here with their jealous hating comments shouldnt be fooled! The man is still strong! He just needs a bike that can let him do what he wants it to do! I hope the JGR Yamaha will allow that! With him on JGR, the outdoor nationals are his taking! But RV will be a force to be reckoned with! He especially has increased his speed! Noone had nothing for him at the Monster cup! I wonder what Stewart was thinking when he was watching him smoke the field! Hahaha! RV is no joke! Stewart, I hope you will be on your game come January because its not going to be so easy!
@whoops the dog beater.....that sucks and if its true you suck. The foul disgusting "creature" is you.....my dog wants to bite your face.
@Whatever says "Homey gonna be out there, so call him what you want" Really??
@BILLC, the first paragraph in this article to mention Stewies name says, "We will officially hear what James Stewart is riding on Tuesday when he holds a pressure" So that is what I read..
DirecTV dropping SpeedTV and FuelTV. Ain't no joke, folks.
http://www.keepmynets.com/
How about Target/Chip Ganassi Racing with Ryan Dungey in 2013.
@endoman398,I guess this means the TV coverage will be even more redicalus than last year.Some weekends you would have to watch it on three different channels plus internet.MX Sports needs to quit worring about europe and take that money and apply it here to help secure a proper network here for the US.It needs to be on speed tv or maybe pay for view on internet.
What is your point "VD200" i mean "BD"??
@bd200....to restate what BillC said, it is JGR that is holding a press conference, NOT JS!! Do you forget that press, and coverage, and getting your name out is what this stuff is all about?? I understand and (somewhat) respect your "purist" racer attitude, that IS an important characteristic for a racer to have, but without sponsors who SELL PRODUCTS ( by getting their name and product or service out to the masses) there would be no SX/MX as we know it!! A press conference like that is a business move, not an egotistical one!! IN MY OPINION!!
R.I.P Marco Simoncelli.........................DAMN!!!!!!
@CZmark - I also recall the "Penda" that Welker mentioned. I won't swear to it but I believe it was Uncle Donnie @ FMF that built it. I do recall seeing a picture in the article where the Penton frame had to be altered to accept the side facing exhaust port of the Elsinore.
I thought it was Dave Miller who built or rode that Penda.
You can ask RacerX's Scott Wallenberg about this stuff.Ask him the story about blowing the doors off of Uncle Donnie's FMF cr125 with that Sach's engined Monark.Uncle Donnie claimed it was the fastest 125 on the planet
Whatever! Having your own reality tv show and impersonating an office of the law are egotistical moves though.
Just thought I'd add my 2 cents......keep the change
I meant officer! Damn...
@CR500AF & @Fred- wow you guys are just all over it. Must be a little brain tard from the pills Fred sells me. It was both Dave Miller and Donny Elmer buiding this bike. I found this link and it looks as if Dave Miller is still building these things for special orders. Funny thing is they show them racing this bike at Saddleback in 1975. I must have been a sleep at the starting gate or taking a dirt nap somewhere.
Another interesting thing is Donny's old shop, I remember going there a few times to pick up who knows what 36 years ago.
.
http://www.pentonusa.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11674
@CZMark,Hahahah I was wondering where u were.I've been waiting on you to chime in.
@Fred- just checking out vintage bikes on ebay and nursing a pinched nerve in my back. So much for going riding this week, the weather is perfect. I'll just suck down more tard pills and read the adventures of lil Stewie on RacerX.
@Fred, I almost forgot, I am also going to Krispy Kreme to check out the fat chicks. A1 will be here soon and I need something to keep me warm. ha ha
@CZMark ant nothing like a little fat chick eaten KK's.
@scrub this ....what the h*ll is a 'evolution denier'. Another jair sh*t stirrer ! As for the very cool in the day , Penda lol, It's to bad the Sachs shifting was so poor (i owned 80's 100's 125's 5 & 6 speeds and could actually shift one ok....it was still poor) or Hercules (DKW Sachs)might have been on par with KTM today. The GS Pro motor could be made to make serious HP for its day. Havoc7 'just do it'....
@czmark - be careful, i hear that flour dust can dull the long term memory. Maybe its that and not the pills from Fred.
So for the Penda, I'll bet Dave Miller modified the frame and Emler did what he does so well - make a 2 stroke 125 haul a$$.
@Scrub-This,, Man,, you are a freak !!! I'm serious, you are deranged.. I guess I just dont understand how you can hate js so much, but he's ALL you ever talk about ?? I think you have a man-crush on him... I think that would be pretty understandable since your head is clearly not screwed on staright.
@Whatever, now with the most childish name calling ever.. what a freakin' tool. And you wonder why everyone calls you a Tard. You are so ate up with the Stewies it eats you from the inside out, its sad really. And at one time you used to have a little sense on here, but you let every single comment that doesnt kiss your boys tail eat at you, and you consider it hating. Such a sorry existence. I am kinda hoping now that Stewie just retires so you will go away. Because if the article doesnt concern Stewie, or now his brother, or if he isnt racing, you are nowhere to be found. (And remember, your childish crap started the name calling, not me)
Is that all you've got "bd200"?? Explain to me why you felt the need to quote my line from above (which is actually what started this whole thing)?? You think i chime up every time one of you critics say something?? YOu cant keep your mouth shut whenever i mention something.....so who is worse?? Thats what i thought!! Tell me why you had to quote me...seriously, answer the question!! It bugs you just as much when i say something positive about the guy, as it does me when you rip on him.....fair play in my book!! Your whole response was about the fact that i called you "VD"..and you said nothing about anything else!! Screw you and YOUR obsession with what you THINK is my obsession with Stewart.....to be honest, i'm gonna have a hard time not wanting Dungey to kick some serious ass this year.....the racist shit is what bugs me about the anti-JS crowd...i could give a shit less who doesn't like him on here!! You called me out first bud!!
I have never said anything racist about your boy on here and never will. Dont play the race card on me, its not gonna happen. .Youi chime up when ever anything is ever said about Stewie that isnt kissing his as$, and its true. You take it so personnel its sad. And Jairtime eats it up and you let him. then you attack every post on here that isnt a Stewie love fest. Its kinda funny really..
Fred,
Yes, I wrote the opening part of Racerhead -- I always do until I send it someone else's way. Cool little personal story: I got engaged to my wife Shannon on the beach at Appalachia Lake back in 1998. It's long ago lost almost all signs of its motocross days, but I can still see some of the track's skeleton in the grass....
I haven't heard much on the FMF drink because I have yet to see it in a store here in the east, but I am sure it packs a whallop like everything the Emlers' make.
We are also waiting to hear how and where JBS will work with Gibbs, and maybe we will find out on Tuesday.
As for Larry Brooks, I have asked him to comment directly a few times but he chooses not to, and we choose to respect that. When he's ready to talk, I am sure we will have the full story. In the meantime, we can only speculate that it wasn't working out between him and James, or him and the team owner Mike Kranyak, but who's fault? Who knows.
DC
@czmark - thanks for the link to the Penton Owners Group. Good stuff
Never said you said anything racist "bd", but once again you miss my point.....i usually speak up when somebody has said something racist, or in this case when you put up a post about something i said about JS, you posted this........@Whatever says "Homey gonna be out there, so call him what you want" Really??.............was that necessary??? Whatever dude, you are so f-in hypocritical........im over ya on this one...movin' on my friend!! @Ripdown, the only thing i referred to as a business move was the press conference man, i said nothing about TV shows and non MX related "issues"!!
Interesting, i think it is anyway!!
http://www.dirtrider.com/features/web_exclusive/141_1110_ktm_350_freeride_first_look/index.html
Davey thank you for the reply.Now Question 5 is: Since Direct TV is dropping Fuel TV how does this affect TV for the outdoor nationals? Man that was a lot of TV's.
@CZMark I would like to thank you for the link as well.
@Whatever- yes that is interesting, already making think of future aluminium framed SX450. Maybe 2013?
All I can say is that i am happy stewie is racing next year, I can't wait to see him launch that yammie into Low Earth Orbit. I just hope he doesn't take a real racer out in the process. That idiot will leave this sport in a wheel-chair or body-bag, guaranteed. Again, I hope it is only him when it happens.... BillC, Whatever, bd200, I still say you guys need a cage match, but I am sure it would end up a homo-fest...
It will be interesting watching james getting slapped By Joe or Coy Gibbs the first time he bad mouths the bike or tires! He's blamed Larry Brooks and The bike last year. Maybe Joe and Coy can make a man out of him and teach him responsibility? Send Big-James home and get some work done! He is a very gifted rider. Let's hope he can quit riding out of control before he hurts or kills someone!
That could be czmark, i just love that KTM keeps trying new things!!@mxjoe99, could you please post a link where you found proof of Stewart blaming Brooks and/or the bike last year?? Thanks!! @MXLord327..You should join in and satisfy your curiosity, sounds like some wishful thinking on your part but i'm afraid you would leave disappointed....and possibly hurt!!! LOL
@jairtime.Haha! All this time I thought you were just taking those tardpills that I've been selling on here.Five broken helments,Hummm.That answers a lot of questions.Four Jokes,now thats funny stuff.
@MXLord 327, Homo-fest.Hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh fred!!!!!
@jairtime- not really sure how the performance was with those pipes, but they were surely interesting. I see they were popular on shifter carts too. As for Four Jokes, might make them look like a piped organ.
@Fred, why do I get the feeling you would pay to see that!
Yeah I started the Penda stuff the guy I knew and raced with that had one was Cris Egbert, he bought it when he went to race at Evel Knevils's big race when Knevel was supposed to jump with his jet cycle. I have a few pics somewhere of me racing the Penda.
The shop that I worked at B & J motorcycles in Keokuk Iowa. we used to build and put some ingines in the Rickman framesws also. Since I was sevice mng I talkeed shop with Donnie a bit. we were building some pretty wild bike in those days! I have some pics here at the house somewhere.
When everyone was jumping ship to Honda I build a silver tanke YZ125 that could beat the hondas and everything else. Our shop did not get honda till 76 so I had to make do with a Yamaha till I got my 125 Monoshock. The bike did have a very short fuse though? If you know how to buld a bike the only way to make it faster is more RPM that is the problem, more RPM more power and a shorther lifespan.
Time to take a tard pill......
PS: On the Zundap and Sahc's (sp?0) engines have any of you ever tried to get all of those ball bearings back in the transmision of one of those thingsw??? Also both made aan "A" and "B" type engine for both they were about the same. What we did was flush out the transmission afer every moto with kerosine and then put 30wt non detergent motor oil in and then they would shift great for 30 minutes. That was the way it wash back then.
@CZMark. Whaaat!!! I've got one of those piped organ.Carry it with me everywhere.
@Fred- still fantasizng about your Big Gun Exhaust? It is probabaly more like a little J&R silencer! ha ha
@CZMark. Yep.Hahhahaha
@czmark - @fred Beginning to think that you two need professional help, Just not sure what kind of help.
@CRF500AF- I think we have too much free time on our hands.
@CR500AF.I went for help couldn't find any.It cost to much.
@Fred- I went for help too, but they threw me out. When I am finished rebuilding this four joke carb, I might have to go back. 2 strokers are some much easier to work on.
jairtime is a very funny guy - some of you just do not get it - these are not college white papers that are being commented on - lighten up
i hope stewart does good at jgr - indoors and outdoors - is he my favorite rider - no - does anyone care - no
Whatever??? Look at his website. He was going ride the Nationals then in his own word he said "His team is not ready" Kyle Regal was ready, The truck was ready? So, Was james not ready or was the bike not ready? At Hangtown RV2 wasn't ready and look what he pulled out! Winners find a way to win championships and losers find an excuse not to....... If you love the sport and love your fans you do what you need to because both will be gone before you know it..... Life is short. I hope James finds a way to give 100% this year and turn it around.
"Who is spono for outdoors next year? I hear Red Bull but it doesn't seem like their style to follow Monster and Rockstar already having done it..."
Bring back.. Brought to you by FMF as title sponsor of both Series in 2012..Uncle Don Elmer ..got the short end of the stick because of the "official drink of Sx" Not good when other sponsors want to join AMA SX and Nats as main sponsors.. but cant do so because there is only one "official" sponsor of any product ..I am surprised AMA has not sold the "rights" to the " AMA "organization name..
Lets hope 2012 brings in new sponsors...Welcome back Uncle Don..Thanks to you and FMF for being a sponsor since the original AMA National series was established..
=Fallguy=