When several 450 factory riders went out, privateers moved up in the ranks and results. But even when some of the big names returned, the independents stayed up front.
WORDS: JASON WEIGANDT
PHOTOS: ALIGN MEDIA
Don’t cry for Ty Masterpool. He’s not on a factory team, but he gets the opportunity to show up each weekend, on his own bike, and prove why he deserves one (not to mention our front cover). He’s thankful for that, and making the most of it by battling for podiums against the factory bikes every weekend. Plus, he just loves racing, anyway, so he smiles and laughs when you ask about anything.
“I would love the factory support,” says Ty, who rides his own Sport
Clips-backed Kawasaki KX450. “I have a completely stock motor with an FMF pipe, suspension, and different motor mounts. Bars and grips, that’s it!”
The Masterpool family doesn’t want to do it on their own, as they have huge respect for the knowledge and wisdom of the teams around them. But these are the cards they’ve been dealt, and as they’ve done before, they keep pushing forward the best that they can.
We are deeply rooted in Moto—We’ve been here all our lives. Back in 1998 when we turned an underground newspaper into a shiny color magazine, it immediately changed the game with its unprecedented depth of coverage, sense of humor, and access to the sport’s biggest names. Today, our readers know they can go to Racer X Online for all the news, race results, and event coverage they need, and then enjoy even more detail and perspective in the pages of Racer X Illustrated. The mag offers a chance to learn something new on every page and stay connected with the people and personalities that shape our sport—the competitors out on the racetrack, as well as the ones behind the scenes—through our exclusive deep-dive stories and columns.
Our trademark has always been insider knowledge from the experts who are at the races and around the sport. We have long prided ourselves on our unparalleled race reporting and detailed storytelling. We go deep with the riders and teams to provide comprehensive coverage you won’t find anywhere else—all with first-class photography and design. It’s a full education in motocross past, present, and future.
Davey Coombs
Editor-in-chief & Founder
Racer X Illustrated
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