Moto News Weekly Wrap
April 17, 2018 – By Darren Smart
Proudly brought to you by Dunlop Geomax
Latest News & Reports
- RIP Ivan Mauger
- Ferris Scores MX1 Win at Newry
- MX2 Victory for Tanti Win at Newry
- Three-Way Tie for MXD at MX Nationals
- Carafa Wins Yamaha 125 Gold Cup at Newry
- Merzouga Rally Stage 1
- Tomac and Martin Win Minneapolis Supercross
- Forkner and Webb Injured at Minneapolis
- Broc Tickle Provisionally Suspended From Competition
- Jason Anderson on Broc Tickle: “It Really Sucks”
- Christian Craig Set for Outdoors With Honda HRC
- KTM Secures 20 Moto Winning Streak at MXGP of Portugal
- Duncan Goes 1-1 in Portugal
- Mathys Boisrame Wins EMX250 Class in Portugal
- Treloar and Headland take Aussie title to cap off Triple Crown
- Junior and Classic Dirt Track Entries Now Open
- Ben Townley to Host KTM Motorcycle Tours
- KTM 300EXC Tops Off-Road Sales Figures
- SXS Australian Championship kicks off in Adelaide
- Holden On Tight Raises $7000 for cancer
RIP Ivan Mauger
After suffering from a form of dementia and alzheimers for several years, iconic New Zealand speedway racer Ivan Mauger has passed away in Australia early this week at the age of 78 and is being remembered as a megastar of the speedway world.
Mauger, who was born in Christchurch in 1939, won six world titles (1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977 and 1979) and runner-up in 1971, 1973 and 1974.
Many have described Mauger as the greatest racer the speedway world had ever seen but Mauger’s daughter, Debbie Pritchard, paid a more personal tribute. “You knew him as “Ivan” and I truly respect that I really do, I was so lucky and privileged to know him as Dad, how lucky we all were. Such an amazing life lived to the max,” she said.
Check out this UK made documentary on the Kiwi legend produced in the seventies:
Ferris Scores MX1 Win at Newry
The opening round of the MX Nationals was held in the Victorian town of Newry last weekend and despite the track being slick and dusty Dean Ferris dominated the MX1 class with a pair of hard fought wins over Kirk Gibbs and the class revelation in Mitch Evans while the Husqvarna pairing of Kade Mosig and Caleb Ward rounded out the top five but there was no luck for Brett Metcalfe who suffered a mechanical failure in race two.
Dean Ferris
“It was a good start to the year and just what myself and the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team were looking for. The track was quite tough to ride and Kirk kept the pressure on me all the way but I enjoy racing like that and was satisfied with how things turned out. The team again did a great job and my bike worked well on a track that was tough to get the right set up. If I had to pick something I need to improve, it would be my qualifying positions. I didn’t get a great lap in qualifying and then I didn’t generate enough speed in the superpole lap but it’s hard to get too angry after winning both motos.”
Pirelli MX Nationals Rd1 Newry – MX1 Results
- Dean Ferris (Yamaha) 70
- Kirk Gibbs (KTM) 64
- Mitch Evans (KTM) 56
- Kade Mosig (Husqvarna) 53
- Caleb Ward (Husqvarna) 51
- Luke Clout (KTM) 50
- Rhys Carter (Kawasaki) 48
- Dylan Long (Yamaha) 46
- Connor Tierney (Yamaha) 42
- Joel Wightman (Honda) 40
MX2 Victory for Tanti Win at Newry
MX2 revelation Aaron Tanti was winning the opening moto before a fall saw the Kawasaki rider drop back through the field before he stormed all of the way back to third place before getting the holeshot and blitzing the second moto.
Aaron Tanti
“It’s a really good feeling to take the win at the opening round. We’ve put in a lot of hard work and to have this great team behind me showed today. I can’t say I was expecting to win, but my goal was to be top five. Even though our team has only been established for couple of months, I was feeling confident and the bike is just amazing. Getting those two holeshots helped a lot against such a quality field.”
Nathan Crawford won the opening moto but couldn’t back that up in the second moto but the Queenslander managed second overall ahead of Kiwi flyer Hamish Harwood who in turn got the nod over the hard charging trio of Kyle Webster, Richie Evans and Wilson Todd.
Pirelli MX Nationals Rd1 Newry – MX2 Results
- Aaron Tanti (Kawasaki) 65
- Nathan Crawford (Yamaha) 63
- Hamish Harwood (KTM) 58
- Kyle Webster (Honda) 53
- Richie Evans (Yamaha) 53
- Wilson Todd (Yamaha) 52
- Jackson Richardson (Honda) 48
- Jay Wilson (Yamaha) 46
- Egan Mastin (KTM) 46
- Dylan Wills (Husqvarna) 39
Three-Way Tie for MXD at MX Nationals
In a first for a national motocross round in Australia the Motul MXD class saw Hugh McKay, Riley Dukes and Callum Norton all finishing the day on 60 points but on a count-back Mackay was awarded the round overall from Dukes and Norton.
Morgan Fogarty won the opening race from Norton, Dukes, McKay and Brodie Ellis but in the second moto, Bailey Malkiewicz held off a fast-finishing McKay for the race win, with Dukes, Norton and Ellis again rounding out the top five placings.
Motul MXD Results
- Hugh McKay (Yamaha) 60
- Riley Dukes (Husqvarna) 60
- Callum Norton (Honda) 60
- Bailey Malkiewicz (Yamaha) 59
- Morgan Fogarty (KTM) 58
- Brodie Ellis (Yamaha) 52
Carafa Wins Yamaha 125 Gold Cup at Newry
Sherco rider Justin Carafa won the overall in the Yamaha 125cc Gold Cup at the opening round of the MX Nationals with a pair of moto wins over former national champion Cameron Taylor while Tyler Darby rounded out the podium ahead of Steve Powell and multi-talented speedster Geoff Braico.
Justin Carafa
“The second moto I didn’t get a great start and was sixth after the first turn, I was up to second behind Taylor by end of first lap and made a pass for the lead at around the half way point of the moto. Taylor came back at me and we had some close calls late in race where the elbows came out but I gauged the pressure and got the win. It was nice to get the win on one of the toughest and worst prepared tracks I have ever seen.”
Yamaha 125 Gold Cup Results Round One
- Justin Carafa – 70
- Cameron Taylor – 64
- Tyler Darby – 60
- Steve Powell – 56
- Geoff Braico – 52
Merzouga Rally Stage 1
Following his strong performance at the opening round of the 2018 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship in Abu Dhabi, Toby Price came into the Merzouga Rally recharged and looking for a top result, taking second place in the prologue, while a navigational error in the first stage knocked him out of the top five, eventually placing seventh.
Toby Price
“The first part of this morning went really well. I was only two-and-a-half minutes down after the first loop and riding well. Halfway through Loop B there was supposed to be a waypoint at kilometre 68, but for me it was another kilometre or so down the track. When the waypoints don’t click off properly like that it spoils your day and you end up losing time. Nevertheless, I am happy with my riding and the bike is running superbly so I’ll look forward to tomorrow now and hopefully a better day. The end of the rally is still many kilometres away, I’ll give it my all to continue having fun on my bike, and avoid surprises with the road book… This is a great place for a rally. I’m eager for more!”
The five-stage Afriquia Merzouga Rally began with a 206.71 km stage featuring fast tracks and several tricky dune sectors. It was an ideal start for the multitude of amateurs eager to tackle a real rally-raid course like the ones specialists are used to. Elite riders also had a blast, with Spain’s Joan Barreda claiming the opening stage ahead of Franco
Caimi (Yamaha) and Ricky Brabec (Honda).
The 124 competitors tackled a 206.71 km course consisting of two loops on varied terrain, ranging from very fast tracks to a slew of dunes. The aim was to put the competitors’ navigational skills to the test. To shake things up a bit in the opening stage, bikers and Side-by-Side drivers started the race and tackled the first kilometre together.
The tracks at the beginning of the stage were fast but treacherous, with several competitors hit by mechanical problems. A bit further down the road, at km 50, the focus shifted to navigation and many competitors were forced to wander around in their search for the waypoints. The favourites, on the other hand, did not miss a beat. Joan Barreda racked up another win for Honda after Kevin Benavides took the prologue. The Japanese maker placed three bikes in the top 5, with Ricky Brabec in third place and Kevin
Benavides in fifth. Franco Caimi (Yamaha) finished second and Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) came in fourth.
Joan Barreda
“I’m delighted with this result. It’s a great way to start the rally. The first stage was a complicated one with a lot of navigation and some traps which were difficult to get out of. We have managed to get a good result on this first day, but there is still a long way to go and we must keep working hard, stay focused on the navigation and at the same time, keep the pace on track.”
Ricky Brabec
“It was an awesome stage. Some parts were hard to navigate, with up to four notes in just one kilometre. However, it made for some great training thanks to its nice variety of landscapes, with dunes, fesh-fesh and faster tracks. This race has the ideal terrain to get used to your bike, make adjustments and tackle each stage with ambition. The next stages promise to be hard, so we’ll need to recover!”
Pablo Quintanilla
“The tricky winding sections made the first stage hard. At the beginning of the stage it took me a few kilometres to ease into a good pace and get used to the navigation. I’ve got a good feeling with my bike, and I hope it’ll be the same for the rest of the week.”
Just like the opener, stage 2 consists of two loops —one to the north and one to the south— for a total of 175.3 km. Both stages feature fast tracks and finish in a sea of dunes. It will be a technical stage with lots of navigation. The start, finish and neutralisation will
all take place at the Toumbouctou Hotel, where assistance crews are based.
Provisional Results Stage 1 – 2018 Merzouga Rally
- Joan Barreda (Honda) 3 h 15′58′′
- Franco Caimi (Yamaha) + 8′03′′
- Ricky Brabec (Honda) + 11′25′′
- Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) + 12′17′′
- Kevin Benavides (Honda) + 13′46′′
…7. Toby Price
Tomac and Martin Win Minneapolis Supercross
Minneapolis hosted the third and final ‘triple-crown’ format at round 14 of the AMA Supercross Championships last weekend and it was Eli Tomac and Jeremy Martin who took out the 450 and 250 class overalls respectively after a night of bar banging action.
Tomac went 1-4-3 over the tree motos to edge out championship leader Jason Anderson who extended his championship lead to 39 points over Marvin Musquin who finished the night with 7-1-2 results while Justin Brayton and Justin Barcia rounded out the top five – Chad Reed ended the night in 13th place.
Jason Anderson
“This was kind of a crazy day, I was able to come away with a second today, despite a small mistake in the second main event. I still extended my points lead so I can’t complain. I’ll try and keep the ball rolling and get some podiums from here on out.”
450SX Race Results
- Eli Tomac (KAW) 1-4-3
- Jason Anderson (HUS) 2-6-1
- Marvin Musquin (KTM) 7-1-2
- Justin Brayton (HON) 4-2-5
- Justin Barcia (YAM) 3-7-4
…13. Chad Reed (HUS) 12-13-9
Martin has hit form at the right end of the 250SX series with the overall win at Minneapolis to move to just 20 points behind championship leader Zach Osborne who ended the night in second overall ahead of Jordan Smith while arch rival and second overall coming into the night Austin Forkner crashed out of the final moto to finish 10th outright.
Osborne now has a 16 point lead in the championship over Jordan Smith.
Zach Osborne
“All in all it was a pretty good night, I was fastest in all three sessions and came into the night show feeling really good. I got a bad start in the first main event, but turned it around in the second main event with a win. I got off to a good start in the last main event, went back to fourth, then I had to work my way up. I gained some points, and I’m really happy with the way I’m riding.”
250SX Race Results
- Jeremy Martin (HON) 3-3-1
- Zach Osborne (HUS) 4-1-2
- Jordon Smith (KTM) 2-2-3
- Sean Cantrell (KTM) 5-4-5
- Anthony Rodriguez (KTM) 6-11-6
…10. Austin Forkner (KAW) 1-10-19
Forkner and Webb Injured at Minneapolis
Austin Forkner and Cooper Webb were injured at the Minneapolis in separate incidents and here is what they posted on social media:
@austinforkner: ‘Each pic pretty much describes how my mains went last night. Pretty bummed about my riding in the second and third mains, just think I was being impatient in the second one which caused more mistakes and then ended the night in that third one. Pretty sure just a broken collarbone from what I’ve been told as of right now which is pretty much what I felt as soon as I crashed. It’s not from a lack of effort just doesn’t go ur way sometimes, but I guess I’ll see u guys in outdoors.’
@cooperwebb2: ‘Little update for you guys. Lastnight in Minneapolis I was involved with some carnage in the rhythm section right off the start and I ended up getting landed on in the 1st main event of the night. I ended up with a fractured tibia as of now. Have an appointment Monday with an ortho to see the final word. Extremely bummed to say the least… but I do know it’s hard to beat someone who won’t give up. I’ll be back soon. Thank you to all my sponsors and people in my corner for the uplifting’
Broc Tickle Provisionally Suspended From Competition
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has advised US Supercross rider Broc Tickle that he is provisionally suspended pursuant to Article 7.9 of the FIM Anti-doping Code.
The decision to provisionally suspend Mr. Tickle was taken following the receipt of a report from the WADA accredited laboratory in Cologne indicating an Adverse Analytical Finding of 5-methylhexan-2-amine, a specified substance under Section 6 (Stimulants) of the 2018 FIM Prohibited List, in a urine sample collected from him at an in-competition test carried out by the FIM at the round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship held in San Diego, California, USA, on 10 February 2018.
Mr. Tickle has the right to request and attend the analysis of his B sample.
Mr. Broc Tickle is provisionally suspended with effect from 14 April 2018. He is therefore barred from participating in any Sports competition until further notice (Art. 10.12 of the FIM Anti-doping Code). Under Article 7.9.3.2 of the FIM Anti-doping Code, Mr. Tickle may request lifting of his provisional suspension.
Under the World Anti-Doping Code and the FIM Anti-Doping Code, the FIM is unable to provide any additional information at this time but it is widely known that Tickle is working with KTM’s lawyers to sort the situation as soon as possible.
Jason Anderson on Broc Tickle: “It Really Sucks”
Current AMA Supercross Championship point’s leader Jason Anderson was asked about his training partner Broc Tickle and the doping ban – here is what he told RacerX:
“I know for him [Tickle] he would never, in his head, would think this do something like this. And I’m with him every day. I know he has these supplements from GNC or whatever, we take electrolytes, stuff like that, but it’s nothing ever in his head where he’s like “I’m gonna try and cheat.” I believe there should be testing, but at some point I’m just overwhelmed at what is going on, because a dude that’s such a good dude, that’s selfless, he tries, he’s so good for our group and everything like that, for that to happen to him, it sucks. It really sucks.”
Christian Craig Set for Outdoors with Honda HRC
Christian Craig, who has been filling in for the injured Ken Roczen and Cole Seely in the Honda HRC Factory Team during the AMA Supercross Championship, will continue with the team throughout the 2018 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
Roczen is planning to make his return at Hangtown, May 19, but Seely still faces a lengthy recovery so this announcement is not surprising.
Christian Craig
“I’m really happy to continue riding for Team Honda HRC through the outdoor season, I’ve been on their bike a lot in the last couple seasons and feel really comfortable on it and working with the whole team. They’ve made me feel nothing but welcome since day one. We spent a few days testing up at Zaca Station before Easter, and it went well, so I’m happy to see where we are with the setup right now. I’m excited for the summer and am ready to put in some good results.”
KTM Secures 20 Moto Winning Streak at MXGP of Portugal
The World Motocross Championship is just five rounds old after the latest round was held in Portugal last weekend and KTM is now on an unprecedented 20 moto winning streak after Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado dominated the MX1 and MX2 classes respectively.
The Herlings V Antonio Cairoli battle continued throughout the weekend with the rest of the field relegated the mopping up the slops and after 10 motos the two KTM pilots are separated by just 16 points as number one and two in the world.
Jeffrey Herlings
“It was a perfect weekend, perfect starts, it can’t be any better, same as last weekend and I just want to keep it going to this way. I have so much motivation in the tank to keep going, I feel like we are a good position right now and I can’t wait for Russia already.”
Antonio Cairoli achieved his 150th career podium.
Antonio Cairoli
“I feel good, it is a good championship but it is very difficult, you know it is always me or Jeffrey at the moment and it is difficult to stay in front always. I’m looking forward to another race in 2 weeks and I’m going to try to build up to a better physical condition.”
Tim Gajser managed 3-5 results for third outright ahead of Romain Febvre and Glenn Coldenhoff.
Tim Gajser
“This weekend I was feeling good, also the track was really technical with many lines, I’m really happy and really looking forward to Russia.”
MXGP Overall Top Ten
- Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points
- Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 44
- Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 36
- Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 34
- Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 29
- Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 28
- Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 27
- Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, SUZ), 24
- Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 20
- Maximilian Nagl (GER, TM), 20
MXGP Championship Top Ten
- Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 241 points
- Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 225
- Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 169
- Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 165
- Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 147
- Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 140
- Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 132
- Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 113
- Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 110
- Maximilian Nagl (GER, TM), 88
MX2
Jorge Prado used the power of his KTM to earn two MX2 holeshots and two wins to bring himself to within 14 points of defending champion and championship leader Pauls Jonass who had a less than stellar weekend.
Prado was as pleased as punch with his recent form.
Jorge Prado
“Second win in a row, last year I won three GPs but never 2 in row so I am getting there, I am getting to where I want to be. We are training hard and it pays off, last weekend was almost a perfect weekend just lost in the last lap but this weekend I managed to take the qualification win and two races so I’m really happy.”
Thomas Kjer Olsen went 4-2 for second overall while Aussie Jed Beaton went 3-4 for his second world championship podium.
Thomas Kjer Olsen
“I’m very satisfied, it is always good to be on the podium, it is what we all work for so I’m pretty stoked. This weekend the starts were better and I had a good Saturday which gave me a good gate pick making it a lot easier.”
MX2 Overall Top Ten
- Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 50 points
- Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 40
- Jed Beaton (AUS, KAW), 38
- Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 36
- Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 36
- Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, YAM), 29
- Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 27
- Henry Jacobi (GER, HUS), 25
- Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, HON), 18
- Ruben Fernandez (ESP, KAW), 17
MX2 Championship Top Ten
- Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 216 points
- Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 202
- Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 185
- Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 141
- Jed Beaton (AUS, KAW), 129
- Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, YAM), 115
- Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 100
- Hunter Lawrence (AUS, HON), 99
- Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, HON), 97
- Henry Jacobi (GER, HUS), 96
Duncan Goes 1-1 in Portugal
Portugal hosted round 2 of the FIM Women’s Motocross Championship and it was Kiwi Courtney Duncan who claimed the WMX victory over Larissa Papenmeier who’s 3-2 finishes secured her second over Nancy van de Ven’s 2-4 finishes.
Courtney Duncan
“It was really tricky conditions out there and both races were completely different. One was heaps of ruts and really technical and the second moto was really muddy, as we got rain in the night, which made for tough conditions out there this morning. So to come away with two wins and the championship lead is super rewarding.”
WMX Overall Top Ten
- Courtney Duncan (NZL, YAM), 50 points
- Larissa Papenmeier (GER, SUZ), 42
- Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 40
- Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, YAM), 34
- Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), 31
- Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 29
- Anne Borchers (GER, SUZ), 28
- Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 26
- Natalie Kane (IRL, HON), 26
- Virginie Germond (SUI, KTM), 23
WMX Championship Top Ten
- Courtney Duncan (NZL, YAM), 90 points
- Larissa Papenmeier (GER, SUZ), 87
- Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 80
- Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, YAM), 74
- Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), 67
- Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 58
- Natalie Kane (IRL, HON), 53
- Virginie Germond (SUI, KTM), 45
- Anne Borchers (GER, SUZ), 44
- Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 36
Mathys Boisrame Wins EMX250 Class in Portugal
The European 250 Championship has completed its second round of the 2018 season in Agueda, Portugal last weekend and it was Mathys Boisrame who scored the perfect 50 points while Pom Mel Pocock was second with 36 and Giuseppe Tropepe’s 8-5 finishes gave him 29 points, good enough for third. Mel Pocock now leads the championship and takes the red plate heading into Russia.
Kiwi Dylan Walsh finished the day in ninth overall and now sits sixth in the championship.
EMX250 Overall Top Ten
- Mathys Boisrame (FRA, HON), 50 points
- Mel Pocock (GBR, HUS), 36
- Giuseppe Tropepe (ITA, YAM), 29
- Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 28
- Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, YAM), 28
- Martin Barr (GBR, HUS), 26
- Brian Strubhart Moreau (FRA, KAW), 24
- Pierre Goupillon (FRA, KAW), 23
- Dylan Walsh (NZL, HUS), 23
- Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KTM), 22
EMX250 Championship Top Ten
- Mel Pocock (GBR, HUS), 73 points
- Pierre Goupillon (FRA, KAW), 65
- Giuseppe Tropepe (ITA, YAM), 63
- Martin Barr (GBR, HUS), 62
- Mathys Boisrame (FRA, HON), 58
- Dylan Walsh (NZL, HUS), 53
- Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, YAM), 51
- Tom Vialle (FRA, HUS), 43
- Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 41
- Brian Strubhart Moreau (FRA, KAW), 40
Treloar and Headland take Aussie title to cap off Triple Crown
Darrin Treloar and Jesse Headland have capped off a stellar month completing the Triple Crown, taking home the FIM World Cup, FIM Oceania Championship and now the Aussie title after winning the 2018 Australian Speedway Sidecar Championship held in Tamworth, New South Wales last weekend.
Treloar and Headland have been in some serious form and after a rain affected Saturday night, the pair didn’t drop a single point on their way to the Australian title, backing up their perfect performances at the FIM World Cup and FIM Oceania Championship.
The effort puts Treloar at the elite level of Australian Speedway Sidecar riders after this was his tenth Australian title, which puts him tied for the most Australian titles with Leigh Adams.
Andrew Buchanan and Denny Cox had to settle for second place in the final after a solid nights riding, but they just couldn’t find the pace of Treloar and Headland. Trent Headland, brother of winner Jesse Headland and his swinger Darryl Whetstone rounded out the podium in third position.
The Australian Junior Speedway Sidecar Championship was welcomed back to the same meeting as the Senior Championship after a year hiatus, and it was Western Australian brothers Jack and Adam Fewster claiming the title.
Junior and Classic Dirt Track Entries Now Open
Motorcycling Australia have released the Supplementary Regulations for the 2018 Australian Junior Dirt Track and Classic Dirt Track Championships with the Australian Junior Dirt Track Championship taking place 9-10 June at Loxford Park, Kurri Kurri and The Australian Classic Dirt Track Championship will be held on 7-8 July at Mick Doohan Raceway, Brisbane.
Go to www.ma.org.au for more information.
Ben Townley to Host KTM Motorcycle Tours
New Zealand’s Ben Townley and KTM are breaking new ground with a brand-new off-road motorcycle tour company based in the riding mecca of New Zealand’s North Island.
The 33-year-old will also return to motorcycle manufacturer KTM, the brand that he claimed the 2004 World Title with and also claim third in the 2005 MX1 World Championship with.
Ben Townley Tours will offer riders from around the world the opportunity to ride some of the best motocross tracks and cross-country trails the planet has to offer, all aboard the latest model KTM range.
Based out of the spectacular tourist destination of Rotorua, riders will be able to tear up picturesque private motocross tracks, flowing single trail through mature pine plantations and native bush, be coached by Ben, or even experience a New Zealand motocross club race or organised trail rides.
Ben Townley
“I raced KTM for five years, including winning the 2004 World Motocross Championship, and I couldn’t be happier to be part of the KTM family again. From motocross through to their trail, adventure and enduro machines, KTM offers the most complete range of high-quality motorcycles to cater to all levels of rider, which is a perfect fit for Ben Townley Tours. Be it motocross or trail riding, New Zealand has some of the best off-road riding in the world and to be able to offer people a bucket-list opportunity to come here and ride these incredible tracks and trails is really exciting. While my speciality and career is motocross, New Zealand has an incredible trail network over private farmland, forestry blocks and public land, and it’s all accessible to us. New Zealand has a high standard of tourism and I want to ensure that Ben Townley Tours is run to that same standard and creates an experience that people will remember for the rest of their lives. I’m really excited for this next chapter in my career and to share the ride with KTM.”
There are a wide range of packages to cater to every need, from five-day MX and XC trips to one-day MX tours and family tours. Every package is inclusive of all expenses: food, accommodation, track entries, bike hire, fuel, and airport pick-ups are all covered.
For more information on the different packages on offer and to book the experience of a lifetime, visit www.bentownley.com
KTM 300EXC Tops Off-Road Sales Figures
The figures from the first quarter of the 2018 have been released and the Off-road category sales fell 0.5 per cent compared with the first quarter of 2017 with Yamaha maintaining its market leadership with a 25.1 per cent share, followed by Honda with 23.3 per cent, and KTM (21.4%).
Yamaha reported 1685 sales during the first quarter of 2018, 2.8 per cent down on the opening three months of 2017 while Honda picked up 6.4 per cent to 1467 sales and KTM also were in positive growth territory to record 1437 sales.
Husqvarna were the fifth biggest selling off-road brand with 627 sales and a modest 2.8 per cent growth with Kawasaki and Suzuki in negative territory on 838 and 601 sales respectively.
Underlining that two-strokes are far from dead and that consumers are willing to pay for new technology is the fact that KTM’s fuel injected 300 EXC topped the sales in a sector which is traditionally won by high volume models like the PW50, CRF50F, KLX110 or Yamaha’s WR450F
The KLX110 was the top selling Fun Bike, while the DRZ400 was the top selling Trail Bike and it was the 300EXC as the top selling Enduro bike, but the big surprise was the new CRF250R topping the Motocross bike sales over the CRF450R and YZ450F.
SXS Australian Championship kicks off in Adelaide
The SXS Australian Championship head to Adelaide for the first time on April 14th, to launch the 2018 season on Australia’s first purpose built SXS stadium offroad course under lights at Adelaide Motorsport Park.
Heading into its fourth high energy season, the SXS Australian Championship continues to go from strength to strength, with a full house of Polaris and CanAm SXS’s ready to fly off the huge jumps and lock horns in a close wheel to wheel battle on the track.
For more information visit: www.sxs-racing.com
Holden On Tight Raises $7000 for cancer
Rosco Holden of Holden On Tight has announced his third and most succesful mini-reunion which was held at the Shannons Broadford Bike Bonanza at Easter, with the 160 strong attending the Easter Friday Charity Dinner, raising $7000 towards women’s breast and men’s prostate cancer organisations, through auctions and raffles thanks to attendees generous bidding and support.
