Moto News Wrap for November 10 by Darren Smart
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Australasian News
Mountain Man Motocross
The 40th anniversary of the very first running of the Mountain Man Motocross held at Toowoomba’s Echo Valley was celebrated last weekend with two days of racing at the iconic venue jointly co-ordinated by QVMX, Toowoomba Motocross Club and Toowoomba Motorcycle Club.
The atmosphere was electric when the gate dropped for the opening Mountain Man of Motocross moto which saw some of the best talent on offer contest three back-to-back ten minute motos before lunch then finish the day with a 30 minute moto and when all was said and done CDR Yamaha rider Kade Mosig put his name among the legends of motocross in Australia by winning three of the four motos ahead of Caleb Ward and Luke Arbon.
Mountain Man was Caleb Ward’s first professional race on a big bore. “It was good to race against Mosig who is obviously a top 450 guy. In the last moto we sort of played a bit of cat and mouse – he sort of pulled a bit on me at the start, and then I was sort of matching him for ages. I made a few mistakes in the middle and he gapped me a little bit more. I waited and waited because I didn’t know how well I would last on the big bike in the long moto and then right at the end I put in a big charge and managed to get onto his back wheel but I got held up by lappers on the last lap so that was a bit unfortunate, but it was a really good day. Obviously he is on a factory Yamaha and I was just on my practice bike, which was pretty much stock. It’s still faster than my factory 250 but I’m really happy with my speed and how I felt on the 350. I love it here. We had a national here this year and I did really well, and obviously this weekend track was prepped awesome and there were some ruts that sort of suited me. I really enjoyed it.”
Arbon also won the Gold Tyre 125cc Cup ahead of local gun Kerrod Morrissy, Isaac Ferguson, Sam Liekefett, Damien Harrison and ‘the other’ Nathan Crawford (#00 not #199) while James Deakin, Brad Van Barello and Callum Wastell took the honours in the Pre 1990, Pre 1985 and EVO classes.
Kerrod Morrissy – “It was a really good day for me. It started off pretty well with a race win and then in the second race I got a pretty bad start, and I knew Arbon was out front so I had to work really hard I got back to second so I was super pumped. It all came down to the last one, and I crumbled under the pressure a little bit I think, and couldn’t get around the boys good enough. The track was on point though, and the other boys rode absolutely awesome. Today I rode a stock standard 2016, just pulled straight out the crate. We didn’t actually do anything to it so the thing absolutely flies. I love the KTMs, they handle really good out-of-the-box and that’s why they are a ready-to-race bike.”
Legends at Mountain Man
The 40th Anniversary of Mountain Man Motocross saw the biggest gathering of former legends in Australia with many of the previous winners of the event on hand including Peter Boyle (who raced an RM400C), Pelle Granquist, Robert ‘Beetle’ Bailey (who raced an RM500), Anthony Gunter, Jeff Leisk, Dave Armstrong, Craig Dack, Troy Carroll and Glen Bell (who rode the 125cc Cup).
That aside, we also saw former GP regular Robert Scott, multi Qld Champ Andrew Bailey, multi everything champions Brad Van Barello and John Kemp, Coffs Harbour fast man Glenn Poole, former Australian Supercross and Motocross Champion James Deakin, former Australian Junior Motocross Champion Steve Freiberg, larger than life Geoff Udy and former Australian Dirt Track Champion Paul Filippini racing in several classes while in the crowd we got to chat with Bryan Flemming, Don Newell, Calvin Brewster, Alex Kidas, Bob Johnston and a plethora of champions from yesteryear.
It really was a special weekend and many of these former champion travelled substantial distances to be there and each and every one made themselves available for photo opportunities with their fans.
Junior Mountain Man
Tom Goodall won all three Junior Mountain motos over the weekend to take the overall ahead of the hard charging trio of Logan Hoyling, Griffin Deakin (son of James and Pippa) and Mitchell Evans.
Sidecar Mountain Man
Despite having to traverse the deep ruts cut up by the two wheel motocross machines David Mattock managed to just get the nod over Wayne Holloway in the Sidecar Mountain Man class with evergreen Geoff Udy coming home in third.
Jay Wilson Returns for Jimboomba ASX
Current MX Nationals MX2 champion Jay Wilson will make his first appearance of the 2015 Australian Supercross Championship at the fourth round of the Australian Supercross Championships at Jimboomba, west of Brisbane on 21 November. Wilson has fully recovered from the injury that put him out of the 2015 Motocross of Nations.
Stewart Out of ASX
Surprise, surprise, James Stewart will not attend the Australian Supercross round coming up on November 28th as planned BUT he will race the upcoming Bercy-Lille Supercross in France on November 14th and 15th. Stewart feels the time it will take out of his program is too substantial for the trip to be viable. For us older heads, this is no surprise; ‘Bubba’ pulled the same stunt a few years back…..hard to be a fan… More Here.
Waters to Suzuki in Australia?
This is not confirmed but there is a rumour floating around that Todd Waters may return to Australia to race a Suzuki for one of the current teams that is not running Suzuki machinery right now.
American News
Chad Reed and Discount Tires Part Ways
Chad Reed posted this on his Instagram regarding his relationship with Discount Tires ending – ‘Been getting tagged a bunch by my awesome friends and discount tire employees attending SEMA this week Sadly it’s the end of the road for me and discount Want to thank each and everyone of you who I had the pleasure meeting and working with the last 3 or so years Hosting you guys at SX races around the country was a lot of fun I’ll miss you guys!! THANKS! And have fun out at Vegas motor speedway – keep it on the black stuff #no #im #not #retiring’
As a footnote – Chad is still pumping out laps with his training partner Michael Byrne in preparation for the up-coming supercross season and he is waiting for Yamaha to come up with a budget for his 2016 campaign.
Riding Gear Changes
The Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha team riders Jeremy Martin, Alex Martin, Cooper Webb, Aaron Plessinger and Mitchell Harrison are moving from ANSR gear to Thor after team owner Bobby Regan signed a new clothing deal while the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team of Joey Savatgy, Adam Cianciarulo, Chris Alldredge, Tyler Bowers, Arnaud Tonus and Austin Forkner is going from Thor (which they’ve worn since 1999) to Fox Racing gear.
Kiniry Retires
American motocross and supercross racer Bobby Kiniry has announced his retirement from professional racing at the age of 30. Kiniry was injured on October 9 at round three of the Canadian AX Tour in Sarnia, Ontario where he reportedly sustained a broken femur and dislocated hip.
Matt Bisceglia and Daniel Baker Go MAD
Matt Bisceglia and Daniel Baker have signed two-year contracts with MAD Racing to compete aboard Suzuki-supported Yoshimura/Dirt Candy Graphics RMZ 250s. Bisceglia will race the 250SX West Region in 2016, with Baker competing in the 250SX East Region while both riders will compete in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross championships.
McElrath Injured
Troy Lee Designs announced on their website that Shane McElrath sustained a wrist injury during a practice crash and will miss four to six weeks. The injury will more than likely move McElrath to the 250SX East Region to give him more time to heal and prepare.
Strang Wins Again
Josh Strang has won four events over four weekends after winning the final round of the Japanese National Cross Country AAGP on a Husqvarna TE250. Strang won the three hour Gotland Grand National in Sweden mid October before returning to the States to win the final two rounds of the GNCC (Powerline Park and Ironman Raceway) then finished his season off with a win in Japan – being busy is one thing, being a winner makes it all worthwhile.
Euro News
Webb Wins in Genova
Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Cooper Webb went 2-1 in Genova, Italy to win the SX1 overall over RCH Suzuki’s Broc Tickle and GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle. BTOSports.com KTM’s Justin Brayton won the first main event but had problems in the second main event and finished eleventh for fourth overall. Brayton did win the K.O.G Superfinal over Cedric Soubeyras and Valentin Gulliod.
Webb posted this on Instagram: ‘A wild night last night in Genoa Italy. Was able to go 2-1 in the SX main events for 1st overall. Then in the Superfinal I was running 2nd place and ended up having a crash late in the race. Fun night of racing looking forward to Lille next weekend! PS was able to run number 1 because of my SX title in the US! Someone already had 17’
Searle to Dixon Kawasaki
Tommy Searle has signed to race for the British-based Monster Energy Kawasaki team run by Steve Dixon to contest the MXGP class and British National championship.
Simpson to WILVO Forkrent KTM
British National Champion and multi GP winner Shaun Simpson has signed a two-year deal to race for the Wilvo Forkrent KTM team of Steve Turner with full factory backing and technical support from KTM.
Getteman to Silver Arrows KTM
Jens Getteman has signed with the Italian-based Silver Action KTM Team for the 2016 FIM 250 Grand Prix season. The Belgian rider will age out after this year and have to move to the 450 class in 2017.
MXGP Round Changes
Youthstream has released another update to the 2016 FIM World Motocross Championship calendar. Instead of starting the season with five consecutive fly-away races—Qatar, Thailand, Malaysia, Argentina and Mexico—as was proposed on the most recent update, the series will now open with three fly-away races—Qatar, Thailand and Malaysia—before heading to Europe for the MXGP at Valkenswaard and then Argentina and Mexico. The dates changed for some of the events as well.
The remainder of the schedule will stay intact, with the location of Round 10 yet to be announced.
2016 FIM Motocross World Championship
- Rd1: February 27 – Grand Prix of Qatar – Losail
- Rd2: March 6 – Grand Prix of Thailand – Suphan Buri
- Rd3: March 13 – Grand Prix of Malaysia – Sepang
- Rd4: March 28 – Grand Prix of Europe – Valkenswaard
- Rd5: April 10 – Grand Prix of Patagonia – Argentina, Neuquen
- Rd6: April 17 – Grand Prix of Leon – Mexico, Leon
- Rd7: May 1 – Grand Prix of Latvia – Kegums
- Rd8: May 8 – Grand Prix of Germany – Teutschenthal
- Rd9: May 15 – Grand Prix of Trentino – Pietramurata
- Rd10: May 29 – TBA – TBA
- Rd11: June 5 – Grand Prix of France – St. Jean d’Angély
- Rd12: June 19 – Grand Prix of Great Britain – Matterley Basin
- Rd13: June 26 – Grand Prix of Lombardia – Italy, Mantova
- Rd14: July 24 – Grand Prix of Czech Republic – Loket
- Rd15: July 31 – Grand Prix of Belgium (TBC) – Lommel
- Rd16: August 7 – Grand Prix of Switzerland – Frauenfeld
- Rd17: August 28 – Grand Prix of the Netherlands – Assen
- Rd18: September 3 – Grand Prix of Americas – Charlotte Motor Speedway
- Rd19: September 11 – Monster Energy Grand Prix of the USA – Glen Helen
Smarty’s Race Report and Results from Last Weekend
GEICO AMA EnduroCross Series – Nampa, Idaho
Rockstar Husqvarna’s Colton Haaker scored a hard-earned come-from-behind win at the GEICO AMA EnduroCross Series round in Nampa, Idaho, November 7. And when we mean come from behind, we really mean from way behind. Haaker recovered from a first-lap fall that put him in dead last, but the Husky rider, who is very much in contention for the 2015 title, dropped the hammer and worked his way up through the pack.
Late in the race, Haaker caught race leader (and points leader) Cody Webb, on the FMF/RPM/Team Maxxis KTM, and made the pass for the lead that he kept to the finish.
Webb, knowing a second-place finish would still keep him somewhat comfortably ahead of Haaker in the race for the championship with one round to go, didn’t put up much of a fight at the end, not wanting to risk a fall on what was another challenging EnduroCross track.
Haaker took the win ahead of Webb, while FMF KTM’s Taylor Robert out-dueled Rockstar Husqvarna’s Mike Brown for third place. (Brown dropped a few positions right at the end and finished out the race in seventh.)
With one round to go in two weeks in Ontario, California, Webb still controls the championship with a 10-point lead over Haaker, but when it comes to EnduroCross racing, the reality is that the race for the title is far from over.
KTM rider Cory Graffunder and Beta’s Kyle Redmond rounded out the top five overall.
Main Event: 1. Colton Haaker (Hus). 2. Cody Web (KTM). 3. Taylor Robert (KTM). 4. Cory Graffunder (KTM). 5. Kyle Redmond (Beta). 6. Max Gerston (Beta). 7. Mike Brown (Hus). 8. Ty Tremaine (KTM). 9. Tyrstan Hart (Hus). 10. Wyatt Hart (Hus).
World Vet Championships – Glen Helen
With 740 Vet riders on hand for the Dubya World Vet Motocross Championships you can bet on plenty of bar banging action over the two day event – here are the top ten in the major classes.
Over-70 Expert Class: 1. Roque Colman (Yam) 1 -1. 2. Bart Kellog KTM) 2-2. 3. Nobuhiro Furuta (Yam) 4-3. 4. Lars Larsson (Hus) 3-5. 5. Bruce Hoover (Hon) 5-4. 6. Gary Anderson (Hon) 7-6. 7. Jan Lindmark (KTM) 6-7.
Over-60 Expert Class: 1. Don Grahn (KTM) 2-1. 2. Pete DeGraaf (KTM) 1-2. 3. Rick Johnson (Hon) 3-3. 4. Will Harper (KTM) 5-4. 5. Jim Latendresse (KTM) 4-5. 6. Bob Rutten (KTM) 9-6. 7. Mike Brubaker (Kaw) 7-10. 8. Mike Marion (Yam) 11-7. 9. Larry Rowland (Yam) 10-8. 10. Scott Smith (Yam) 13-9.
Over-50 Expert Class: 1. Doug Dubach (Yam) 1-1. 2. Kurt Nicoll (KTM) 2-2. 3. Kevin Foley (Hon) 3-3. 4. Ed Foesdish (Kaw) 4-4. 5. Pete Murray (Yam) 6-5. 6. Isao Ida (Hon) 5-7. 7. Andy Jefferson (Hus) 9-6. 8. Rob Engel (Kaw) 8-8. 9. Jon Ortner (Yam) 7-10. 10. Ian Fitz-Gibbon (Yam) 10-11.
Over-40 Pro Class: 1. Kurt Nicoll (KTM) 2-1. 2. Doug Dubach (Yam) 1-2. 3. Gordon Ward (Yam) 3-3. 4. Mike Reefman (Yam) 4-5. 5. Danny Tollet (KTM) 5-6. 6. Kenjiro Tsuji (Yam) 9-4. 7. Roger Suessson (Ym) 6-7. 8. Shawn Wynne (Suz) 8-8. 9. Brandon Milstead (Suz) 7-10. 10. Ed Foedish (Kaw) 10-11.
Over-30 Pro Class: 1. Ryan Morais (KTM) 2-1. 2. Tonni Anderson (KTM) 5-2. 3. Kris Keefer (Yam) 4-3. 4. Arik Swan (Kaw) 3-4. 5. Billy Jurevitch (Kaw) 8-5. 6. Andy Mathieu (Yam) 7-6. 7. Matt Karlsen (Kaw) 9-7. 8. Jason Thomas (Hon) 10-9. 9. Broc Armbruster (Yam) 12-8. 10. Mike Sleeter (KTM) 1-19.
