MX Vice Magazine Issue 5

ISSUE 5 - AUGUST 2014

FEATURED

STEVEN CLARKE

“I WAS PROUD TO PUT THE UNION JACK WHEREVER I COULD.”

DYLAN WOODCOCK

INSIDE THE MIND OF A FUTURE STAR.

BRITISH MOTOCROSS

WHAT IS NEXT FOR OUR SPORT?

ALSO: ADAM STERRY ~ SILLY SEASON ~ GIUSEPPE LUONGO

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WELCOME The fifth issue of the MX Vice magazine is finally in your hands (well, on the screen in front of you)! It may have seemed like you had to wait a little longer this month, but that is because you did; we elected to wait another week or two before releasing this one, for reasons that I will explain here.

We want you to love every issue, and it sounds like you have, based on the feedback we have received thus far. However, we also felt that it could be even better if we put some more time into it – we hope that is evident with this issue.

After all, we are always looking to improve this magazine, as well as the website.

Speaking of the website, we had our best day ever last month, with twenty-five thousand people coming through on a single day! With the Motocross des Nations coming up, we are pretty confident that we will beat that soon enough.

The site really is growing at an unprecedented rate, which is really exciting for everyone that is involved. It has shown that British motocross is still strong, as everyone is still interested in what goes on at the races!

You would have seen the front cover by now, and noticed that we have gone against the grain slightly by putting a youth rider (the very fast Dylan Woodcock) on there. We are not just here for the pros, although a majority of our coverage obviously revolves around them. However, in order for our greatest youth riders to grow, we have to cover them at this stage of their career; it gives them a platform to build off of later on and experience with the media, which is becoming increasingly important.

Anyway, we hope that you enjoy this issue, which has a bit of everything, as always. Along with a Dylan Woodcock interview, we caught up with Steven Clarke, the new EMX250 champion, and also have a look at some of the silly season rumours that are floating around, among other things. So, crack on and have a good time whilst reading the rest of this issue; if there is anything you want to see in the future, just let us know.

Lewis Phillips

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FEATURES THE SILLIEST SEASON 32-39 STEVEN CLARKE 42-49 WHAT NEXT? 52-60 DYLAN WOODCOCK 64-71 GIUSEPPE LUONGO 74-77

CONTRIBUTORS

Lewis Phillips Elliot Spencer Jonathan McCready James Burfield James Dunford James Lissimore

KTM Images Simon Cudby Ray Archer Honda World Motocross Kawasaki Racing

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The two stroke isn’t dead! Kristian Whatley took advantage of an opportunity to ride both the MX1 class and the two-stroke class at the MX Nationals, and ended up taking both wins.

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Although the rain may make some riders a little nervous, Ken Roczen was cool, calm and collected at the penultimate round of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series.

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Elliott Banks-Browne is inching closer to the front following a string of injuries at the start of the season. His reaction time clearly didn’t suffer after the time off!

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Round 7 Pres

Register at m

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ston Docks

mxnationals.co.uk

06.09.14 - 07.09.14

MX VICE MA Why was Jeffrey Herlings allowed to ride an 85cc at the ‘Everts and Friends’ charity race? It has potentially cost both Jeffrey and his team a championship! Surely someone at KTM could see that this was quite risky? Mark Well Mark, I tend to agree with you on this. I am always quite surprised when I see riders taking part in a unique race mid-season, but an 85cc one left me speechless! If you go back to issue four of this magazine, you will see that I quizzed many British riders on why they chose to do the ‘Pro Nationals Festival’ and whether it was worth the risk. A lot of them said that you could get injured whenever you throw your leg over a bike, so they do not think a race is any riskier. I would guess that the same applies here. However, despite this, I’m willing to bet we don’t see Jeffrey on an 85cc again next year!

You said we could express opinions, so here is something that has been on my mind a lot recently. I really hope we see both Nathan and Ben Watson in the GP series full-time next year. I think both riders have proven their worth this year, and they need to get out there and do a full year as soon as possible, in order to continue growing as riders. Billy We agree, Billy, and the same goes for MX Vice columnist Adam Sterry! They are certainly the future of British motocross.

I feel bad for James Stewart. Although I was all for the drugs testing to begin with, it is such a shame that it could end James’ career and potentially damage his legacy. Admittedly he has brought this on himself, but his substance is not as bad as it could have been in my opinion. Anyway, I was just wondering if you guys think he will be penalised? Max I did not think that he was going to get penalised at first. However, as this story develops, it does seem that some kind of penalty could be on the horizon. Whether this will be something that simply costs him some money or makes him miss some races remains to be seen, although we will surely find out soon – it has been quite a while since the initial announcement! What I am most interested to see is whether James continues after this; he has had a rough time recently.

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It seems like politics are becoming more of an issue when federations select their Motocross des Nations teams. Why was Marvin Musquin not selected for the French team? I know he has not had the best season, but he is still more capable than Dylan Ferrandis and he has more experience at the event.

Carl Firstly, I agree with you; Marvin Musquin should have been selected for the team. However, there is more to it than meets the eye. Marvin had a falling out with the team manager last year, hence why he was not on the team in 2013. It seems that the issue between the two was not rectified this year, which is unfortunate – the best riders need to be at the event.

In America, the whole amateur season revolves around Loretta Lynn’s – the best riders are there, as well as representatives from the pro teams. I think that the UK would benefit from something that is similar to this, as there are so many national calibre youth championships that the best riders are not at all of them, which is making it harder for some to get recognised.

Josh I do think that it is something that should be considered; however, having the youth classes running alongside a series like the MX Nationals does help, as the teams are there and can see who has a future in the sport. I agree that the amount of youth championships is a little odd, and we may benefit from having less, so that the younger riders know what to focus on.

Giuseppe Luongo has stated many times that he will only introduce more flyaway races to the FIM Motocross World Championship if he can do it in a cost effective way. So, why does the 2015 schedule go to Argentina, The Netherlands and then Mexico? Surely that will hurt the teams and ultimately lead to fewer riders on the gate?

Steve The answer to this is actually quite simple – the 2015 calendar will not pan out that way. I know it says that at the moment, but the provisional calendar always changes drastically before it becomes concrete. I have already heard some people state that there is no way they will

AILROOM be going to Argentina twice, and Luongo has entertained the idea of having GPs in the USA and Japan next year, despite the fact that they are not on the first calendar.

I understand why Shaun Simpson, Tommy Searle and Dean Wilson have been selected for the Motocross des Nations team, but why is Tommy in MX2 and Dean in the Open? Surely it would be more beneficial to have each rider on the bike that they have ridden all year! There has to be a reason for it?

Shaun There is a reason for it, it is too expensive to bring Dean’s 250F over from America and he can supposedly have a factory 450F to race in the Open class – that is what Tommy posted on Twitter, so it is a reliable source. Both riders have experience on the bikes they will race at the event, so we think Team GB could do some damage!

Do you have a question, comment or opinion on anything to do with motocross? If you do, send it to lewis.phillips@mxvice.com, and you may be featured in this column next month!

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HOT

OR

SHAUN SIMPSON: Shaun Simpson seems to be getting stronger each week, as he continues to impress on his Hitachi Construction Machinery UK KTM machine. After posting a handful of top five finishes, Shaun finally made his way to the MXGP overall podium in the deep sand of Lommel. Shaun then capitalised on this momentum one week later as he clinched the 2014 MX1 Maxxis British Championship title at the new venue of Cusses Gorse. Although Shaun has not yet confirmed what team he will ride for in 2015, many factory teams have shown interest in him – he is certainly deserving of a ride on one of the best teams in the paddock.

NOT

CLEMENT DESALLE: Prior to the Swedish GP back in July, most were keen to see if Clement Desalle could challenge Antonio Cairoli for the MXGP championship. However, Clement crashed in turn one at Uddevalla, which forced him onto the sidelines for a couple of weeks.

The Belgian then decided to sit out the rest of the season in order to let his wrist injury (that he sustained at Maggiora) heal. This has also ruled him out of the Motocross des Nations, which is disastrous for his nation. However, this will allow him to come him into 2015 one hundred percent, where he will attempt to dethrone Cairoli once again.

MAX ANSTIE: Although bike problems continue to plague Max Anstie, he finally claimed a GP win at Lommel! His prowess in the sand is undoubted, so it was far from surprising to see him capture his maiden victory at Lommel. Max has continuously stated that he is working towards 2015 and judging by his recent form, you have to think he will be a contender if he can get that bike sorted out.

MIKE ALESSI: When Mike Alessi first announced that he was going to contest the Rockstar Energy (Canadian) Motocross Nationals this year, many presumed that he was a shoo-in for the title. However, Colton Facciotti (the eventual champion) proved to be a worthy competitor, as he beat Mike straight up a lot of the time. Unfortunately Alessi also had to deal with some mechanical issues (and some controversy off the track), which stopped him from challenging for the title. The MotoConcepts rider ended the season in second, but it sounds like he will be back next year to try again!

ELI TOMAC: Prior to the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross season, Eli Tomac was having a mediocre debut season in the 450F class. However, since returning from a broken collarbone, Eli has stolen a few victories from the title contenders and robbed them of vital points. Although Tomac struggled with his bike to begin with, he seems to have that issue straightened out now, which will undoubtedly put him in a position to challenge for a title next year. He has also been rewarded with a spot on the American Motocross des Nations team again, because of his recent performances

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JEFFREY HERLINGS: Following the Finnish GP, Jeffrey Herlings needed five measly points to secure his third consecutive world title.

However, he was struck by bad luck following that round, as he sustained a femur injury in an 85 race at the ‘Everts and Friends’ charity event. The Dutchman is now in a race against time to ensure that he is ready for the final GP of the season, so that he can attempt to stop his teammate [Jordi Tixier] from clinching the number one plate.

VICE - A - GRAM

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Talon wheels have led the way in British motocross for quite some time, and the below stats are a testament to that.

If you take a look around when you are next at a round of the Maxxis British Championship or the MX Nationals, you will notice that a large majority of the teams use the products, because they demand the best.

It is clear that Talon dominate British motocross, so we decided to gather the exact figures to see just how strong their riders and teams have been so far this year. I think you will agree, the stats are extremely impressive.

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MAXXIS BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP MOTOS MX1 Moto Podiums 39/54 MX1 Moto Victories 12/18 MX2 Moto Podiums 34/54 MX2 Moto Victories 2/18 MAXXIS BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS MX1 Overall Podiums 13/18 MX1 Overall Victories 5/6 MX2 Overall Podiums 11/18 MX2 Overall Victories 3/6 MX NATIONALS MOTOS MX1 Moto Podiums MX1 Moto Victories MX2 Moto Podiums MX2 Moto Victories

45/45 15/15 40/45 12/15

MX NATIONALS ROUNDS MX1 Overall Podiums MX1 Overall Victories MX2 Overall Podiums MX2 Overall Victories

15/15 5/5 13/15 5/5

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VICE VOICE

THE ‘VICE VOICE BOX’ QUESTION THIS MONTH RELATES TO THE QUES ON IN THIS ISSUE. EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION ON WHAT NEEDS TO C AMOUNT OF RESPONSES ON BOTH FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. WITHOU THE FANS THIS MONTH. Question: Where do you think British motocross will be in ten years?

Holly Ellis (Facebook): Amateur motocross is going downhill and pro motocross is becoming too capitalised. So, in ten years, without amateurs you will not have pros, so there will be a generation game at the pro level, with the children/family of pro motocross riders becoming the next top riders. Or it may become a forgotten sport in this country. It will end up with the pros racing abroad and the amateurs riding around in fields or travelling hundreds of miles because so few clubs are left.

Ady Cowshall (Facebook): There is a big problem with Internet booking in and clubs taking provisional bookings. There are then no-shows on the day, due to bad weather or people booking into more than one meeting – then the club has to cancel due to a lack of numbers. With so many organising bodies and

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so few decent tracks something needs to be done to turn the decline of racers, as many are just riding practice tracks, as they see it as better value for money. So, in answer to the question, you could see very few clubs still running in ten years, and some clubs may run under their own insurance and not as a part of a governing body.

The knock on effect being that any riders good enough to be a World Championship contender have to move to other countries, and the British Championship will only be for those with endless supplies of cash. However, a new series taking riders ability into consideration rather than their bank balance could be the new premier British Championship. Oh, one has already started up!

Gareth Chamberlain (Facebook): [It will still be] soldiering on with a minority of people trying hard to keep the sport going for a silent majority, whilst a small but very vocal group of negative people slag off their efforts.

Phil Malins (Twitter): Are we doing that bad?

[Albie] Wilkie and [Steven] Clarke are EMX champions, and [Shaun] Simpson is fifth in MXGP! [Conrad] Mewse will come good, and so will [Max] Anstie without bike problems. Plus regular top tens for [Tommy] Searle and [Jake] Nicholls – I think we have a wealth of talent.

Ryan Daniels (Twitter): If we can provide a foundation for talent to grow and give riders with less financial backing help, it will be great!

Dave King (Facebook): Not too long ago all of the kids aspired to be BSMA club champions, and then make it to the finals. Now they just get their £180 out and sign up for one of the many national championships and get lapped, demoralised and give up when Dad has run out of money! Club level grass roots is where the sport has gone wrong, too many championships think they can do a better job than another association.

Neil Carnell (Facebook): The way it is going,

E BOX:

STION THAT WE ASKED THE INDUSTRY IN A FEATURE LATER CHANGE IN OUR SPORT, EVIDENTLY, AS WE GOT A LARGE UT FURTHER ADO, THIS WAS THE QUESTION WE POSED TO I wouldn’t be surprised if there is just one championship class. When I started riding the British Championship we had to do a clubman series just to have the chance to race. In the open class now they are looking for riders just to make it a full line up. I cannot see how it can ever be as great as it was in my racing career – I think I was lucky to race in such a great era of great riders. In regard to the world championship, I think it is a joke; there are more vets riders on the line than in the main races.

Tim Coleman (Facebook): Nowadays there are too many different organisations trying to compete, and clashing as a result. A prime example is when two different organisations tried running on the same weekend not too long ago, and it resulted in them both cancelling due to a lack of entries! If they had worked together and only had the one meeting there would have been somewhere to ride that weekend, as all the riders would have booked into one event.

Thomas White (Facebook): I think it will be a

dying sport and only the rich will do it. Bikes, kits, events and campers cost a lot – wages are not going up, but everything else is. I think there will only be half of us doing it!

Ryan Gee (Facebook): I think on a world level it will be very good for Britain. With the likes of Adam Sterry, Ben Watson and Nathan Watson, I think we have some of the most promising young riders and I think they all have the ability to go and challenge on an international level. On a domestic level I worry about British motocross, because the amount of national championships is frankly ridiculous, and there seems to be more and more each season. If I asked you to tell me who the British youth champion is, you couldn’t tell me. Unless everyone in British motocross sits down and sorts it out, I think British MX could be in trouble in the next ten years Dave Garland (Facebook): In ten years I would like to think we would have all got over the recession and the building trade will be thriving,

as it is this industry that a majority of the people in our sport rely on to give them an income capable of supporting themselves or their kids in racing. This will hopefully help to regenerate interest at club level and give the top riders the desire to chase bigger things. However, it is the governing bodies that need to get together and create a blue print for the future based on what our friends in France, Italy, and Holland are doing, because they are definitely leading the way!

Brett Gipp (Twitter): I think that unless we up our game with the tracks in the UK, we’re always going to be behind the eight ball. I also feel that kids need to learn how to ride rough tracks and the tracks shouldn’t be graded as much.

Chick Morton (Twitter): [It will be] twenty years behind the AMA. We need something to bring the youth up to the pro level, similar to Loretta Lynn’s, just to give the youth riders in the sport a proving ground with TV coverage to get their name out.

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RACE REWIND For this month’s flashback, we’re going to take a trip back in time to 2011 and the Motocross of Nations at St Jean D’Angély, France. Regardless of the small part on earth that hosts this event, it is always worth a trek.

However, 2011 proved to be extra special for so many reasons, starting with the track. If you have not been, it’s a pretty breathtaking place; situated on the side of an enormous hill, with huge drop offs and a couple of massive table tops. Oh, and fans can sit on the other side with views across the whole track.

The race day turned out to be an absolute thriller, and it was the last time we really saw the strongest possible team from the United States, consisting of Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey and Blake Baggett. The first race saw the MX1 and MX2 riders line up, and issues arose straight away. The reigning world champion, Antonio Cairoli, crashed out immediately and ended up pulling out with

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bent handlebars. Chad Reed took the lead, with Dungey second and Ken Roczen in third – then it rained. That changed everything, as certain riders started to struggle.

In a similar move to the one that Travis Pastrana pulled on Stephane Roncada all those years ago, the heavens opened and Kenny let loose. The largest jump on the track is a leap off of the top of a hill, which is where the legendary pass happened. The TV cameras didn’t actually catch it, but being stood in the middle of the track I fortunately did. Dungey tiptoed over as Roczen launched off the top, jumping over the top of Ryan.

That is how race one ended up; Reed, Roczen and Dungey.

Gautier Paulin ripped the holeshot and took the lead in the second race, much to the delight of the patriotic French crowd. It didn’t last until the end though, as Jeffrey Herlings came through the pack (on a 350F) and overtook Gautier, who actually did end up passing him back and taking the win. Slightly lower down, Villopoto and Roczen went at it tooth and nail in what seemed like a race-long battle, with Villopoto on the bigger bike eventually coming out on top. It’s hard to describe the atmosphere at an event like that when a home rider takes the win in front of the world’s best riders, but suffice to say; many shivers went down my spine.

Evgeny Bobryshev took an unlikely holeshot in moto three, with Villopoto and Dungey in tow.

RV flew past pretty quickly, but then dropped it a couple laps later, enabling Bobby to grab the lead again. At this point things looked very good for France. Pourcel sat in fourth with Paulin seventh – France would have won if the race had finished like that. However, their luck soon ran out, as Pourcel fell off and had a weird issue with his tyre coming off the rim, which effectively ended his race and his nation’s charge towards the Chamberlain trophy.

Up front, Bobryshev dropped back and Villopoto put the hammer down as only he can, building up an enormous lead in the process (it must have been about thirty seconds at one point), with Dungey in second. He slowed near the end of the race to cross the finish alongside his countryman, securing victory for the USA. France did take second and Australia rounded out the top three. It was a pretty eventful day!

That was actually the last time that America took home the Chamberlain trophy too, and although the records don’t show it, it was extremely close until that last moto.

Words by James Dunford

COMPETITION Following months of anticipation, Milestone released their latest game, MXGP, in March. MXGP (the official motocross videogame) features sixty riders, sixty teams, the rules and the tracks from the 2013 FIM Motocross World Championship. Since it was released, MXGP has received countless positive reviews from many people. Everyone wants it!

We are giving one lucky fan the chance to win a copy of the MXGP game (for either an Xbox 360 or a PlayStation 3). All you have to do is correctly answer this question: Please email all answers to lewis.phillips@mxvice.com. A winner will then be selected (at random) at the end of the month. Good luck!

Terms and Conditions: Only UK residents may enter. The winner will be notified via email. All answers must be emailed to lewis.phillips@mxvice.com

How many GP wins does Jeffrey Herlings have? a) 36 b) 41 c) 43

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The Columnists

ADAM STERRY This year just keeps getting better for me! After having a couple of EMX250 podiums and missing out on the top three at the British multiple times, I have taken my first European win, secured third in that championship and had my first British podium in the last two months! It is awesome, but I certainly have more to give.

The Swedish round was a disaster last year, as I didn’t qualify. In practice/qualifying I came over a jump to find another rider down in the middle of the track, with no yellow flag out I landed on him and went down. The bike took a beating and we were lucky that no one got injured.

It was the complete opposite this year though, as I took my first EMX250 win in the first moto. I got a decent start in the top five; I was patient on the technical track and controlled the race after making my way into the lead. The emotion after that race was awesome! I nearly crashed after fist pumping over the finish, but at that point I did not care. In the second race I needed to do the same, but, as always in the EMX, it is hard to be really consistent.

I got another top five start, but I got taken down in the second corner, which meant I had to come back from last to eleventh, which was a good result, but meant I didn’t make the podium! I was even more gutted after finding out I missed it by a point.

Finland was up next, and it was a track that I did well at last year (until a stone jammed my chain), so I was looking forward to racing there again. I rode so badly in the first race; I didn’t flow, my lines were terrible and I tightened up, which left me ninth at the flag. We made a couple of changes after that, and of course Sunday is another day.

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I got a good start in second and got pushed back to third early on. I kept third until two laps to go when I had the biggest moment I’ve had all year! I hit a soft rut on the finish take-off and was so close to going through the front door; I jarred my shoulder as well. With that mistake I ended up fourth, so it was a solid result considering all of that.

FatCat was the British round that I have looked forward to all year, as I really like the track there and plus it is sand. The day did not start too well with a mechanical in qualifying, but we got around it and posted a third in the superpole. The track got really rough and technical, as expected, so I went 2-3-4 for third overall and my first overall podium in the British Championship, which I was really happy about. Hats off to Martin and Neil – the track was perfect, especially after the rain we had.

Lommel was one of the best weekends I have had racing in a long time! Everything about that place is different, and awesome, with the track being so gnarly, a lot of British fans going over and showing their support, and finally securing third in the EMX250 championship!

In race one I came from eighth to finish second, just nine thousandths behind Vlaanderen. It was a great feeling to pass the Dutch and Belgian riders on their own track.

In race two I got a better start, but Ben Watson and I burnt too much energy on the first couple of laps. I can’t remember how many times we passed each other, but it was a lot! I still managed to get fourth, which gave me third overall and more importantly third in the championship.

It was a great end to an awesome European championship, with big highs and big lows. I can’t thank everyone enough that has helped me!

It is nearly the end of the season as well, with one round of the British Championship left, where I hope to secure third in that series as well. It is also silly season and contract time. Hopefully I will be able to let you guys know soon what my plans are, but until then ride safe and have fun! #811

The TheColumists Columnists

LEWIS PHILLIPS Like a lot of fans, I love silly season.

There are always an abundance of rumours regarding the team line-ups for the following season, and this year is no different. Although he is not racing, Ryan Villopoto has been at the centre of a lot of those rumours recently, as everyone is trying to figure out what he is going to do next year. RV is not like most riders; it seems that whatever path he takes will be unusual.

When rumours surfaced in June that suggested Ryan Villopoto could be heading over to the MXGP series in 2015, most shrugged them off, as the same rumours emerge each year. However, it does carry some more weight this time around, which has prompted intrigue from onlookers. Ryan has mentioned multiple times in the past that he would like to do one season in Europe before the curtain closes on his career, but I (like many others) thought that he was saying this simply to keep fans happy. However, it seems this is something that is actually of interest to him.

Villopoto has made no secret about the fact that this is a job for him and he does not get too much enjoyment from it. Although I am sure this will outrage some, you have to remember that he is constantly being pulled in many different directions, is always under the spotlight and has a ruthless travel schedule to contend with. When you take

everything into consideration, it is not too surprising that the fun gets sucked out of it. RV is not particularly a rider that enjoys all of the attention either.

This makes his interest in the FIM Motocross World Championship even more bewildering. If he is not enjoying travelling the USA, surely he will detest travelling to countries like Russia and Argentina? The only thing that I believe would suit him is that there are less sponsor obligations; you do not have to go to multiple dealer signings etc. It does seem like travelling the world is something that interests Ryan and his wife, as they have made multiple trips to Europe simply to do a bit of sight seeing. Although we (MX Vice) have heard that this is going to happen from a very good source, I have a hard time believing it, simply because it is the path less travelled.

However, as time has gone on, this rumour has not gone away and it has started to seem more and more likely. It does seem that either retirement or the MXGP series are his options, as rumours suggest that he has sold his Floridian training facility and his Californian house, so that is a large indication that he is done. However, there has been another twist in this story recently, as new information has emerged that if he wanted to compete in Monster Energy Supercross next year, he would not be able to, because his leg injury (which turned out to be a torn ACL in the end) is taking much longer to heal than originally anticipated.

So, perhaps he is entertaining the idea of just doing the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series in 2015 and then calling it a day? Ryan has many options currently, and he is the rider that is holding up silly season, as many teams (on both sides of the pond) are hesitant to sign another rider before they know what RV is doing. For the sake of the sport, I hope he continues, as he is one of the greatest talents that we have and makes a race more exciting.

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The TheColumists Columnists

ELLIOTT BANKS-BROWNE I’m back now, which feels good to say!

I can’t believe it’s been ten weeks since my injury – that’s crazy! So, what has been going on in my time off?

I had to be on total rest after my second operation, well, I was sort of forced if you like by the doctor. He said I was doing too much before, so I had a pretty boring time for two weeks, but I was straight back at it in the gym every day as soon as I was given the all clear. I was there twice a day a lot of the time, rehabbing my shoulder and trying to get fit and strong again.

I’ve been back on the bike now for just over three weeks. The first few times were a little sore, but I really did not think I had lost any speed at all, maybe I wasn’t as sharp, but my speed felt good. Ryan (my mechanic) came down for a few days to get me back into the swing of things, and to get my bike dialled in. We had a couple of new things to try, too, and ever since then I have been riding as much as possible.

I was pretty bummed out after hurting myself, as I felt that I was just starting to find myself, and I hadn’t been able to show what I was capable of on a 450F. But, I now have the rest of the season for that, starting this weekend at Whitby, which is a track that I love.

It’s not all bad though, as I was given the opportunity to go to the Ron Haslam road race school the other week, and I can honestly say it was

the most fun I have had in a long time. I loved every second of it – I had a smile from ear to ear the whole time! I even managed to scrape up my old knee sliders, which was cool! It feels really weird at first, but after a couple of times it’s the best feeling ever.

Well that’s about it really, I don’t have a lot to say, as I’ve not been up to much except training and riding. But, it all kicks off again for me this weekend at Whitby. I hope to see a lot of you there, cheering on the 44 that will hopefully be at the front of the pack.

Also, when I heard the news that Joel Roelants was hurt I was gutted!

He is such a cool guy, and so down to earth. Everyone is thinking of you buddy, and I hope you get better soon. #SupportJR VIDEO: Motivation has now dropped! My cousin (who owns Bedia Productions) and I have been shooting some good stuff over the last few months, and I think we have come up with something pretty cool, so watch out for the link on my Twitter and Facebook page (@EBanksBrowne) and let me know what you think.

UP NEXT: Whitby is this weekend, and I can’t wait – I love that place! I’ve always done well there, so I’m happy to be making my return at such an awesome track.

EBB #44

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THE

SILLIEST SEASON

It is not just the racing that occupies fans at this time of year, as it sometimes takes a back seat to the rumours that travel through the pits. Well, silly season is again in full swing and it is crazier than ever, with many people indicating that large changes may be afoot for some of the biggest names in the sport.

With the amount of speculation going around at the moment, we decided to offer up our thoughts on a few rumours (and some facts).

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KEN ROCZEN TO RCH SUZUKI (LIKELINESS: 100%) Although unconfirmed, the common consensus on both sides of the Atlantic is that Ken Roczen will be leaving the confines of the elite Red Bull KTM team to join the relatively new RCH Suzuki squad, which is headed by industry heavyweights Ricky Carmichael and Carey Hart.

Although a return to the brand that kick-started his career is hardly surprising, the fact that he is heading to a private team, rather than the official factory Suzuki outfit has caused most to question his decision.

Admittedly RCH does receive factory support, and their race shop is next to where the Yoshimura Suzuki team works. They do not share too much technical information, but with some ace mechanics on the team, the RCH bikes are certainly where they need to be. Ivan Tedesco has even come aboard as the test rider for the team, to ensure that the bike is ready for Roczen.

Will the switch benefit Ken and his career?

Honestly, I cannot see how it would, unless the set-up issues that he has had with his Red Bull KTM really have hindered him. The German has made no secret of his disdain for the machine at different points this year, although it is hard to believe when he goes out and wins races. If anything, it will surely be a sideways move from one top team to another.

No matter what manufacturer he rides for in 2015, most have him tipped as the man to beat already, despite the fact that this year is far from over. Ken is certainly the full package, as he has an abundance of fans, is likeable and represents any brand well, so it is far from surprising that RCH offered him a deal so large that KTM chose not to match it.

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JUSTIN BARCIA TO JGR YAMAHA (LIKELINESS: 100%) Like the Ken Roczen deal, this appears to be done, despite the fact that no official confirmation has surfaced. The reason for the switch also seems to be down to the fact that Justin has fallen out of love with the Honda, and honestly I think a change will be good for him. Barcia has been on a Honda his entire career (with two teams), and I think this is a case of the grass looks greener on the other side.

Justin was sometimes limited at Muscle Milk Honda, when it came to making changes to a bike that most struggled with. However, he should not have that problem at JGR; although they are the team that Yamaha puts the most support into, they can still make radical changes to suit the rider in question - just look at what they did for James Stewart back in 2012. Although that relationship went sour, they gained some valuable knowledge.

The Yamaha has had a bad reputation, which has scared many high-profile riders away from the JGR team. However, Justin Brayton (who has reportedly signed with BTO Sports KTM) has proven that the bike can be competitive, and the motor is clearly excellent, judging by the amount of holeshots that their riders have pulled thus far this year. I think this is a move that will blossom into something great for both parties.

the bike can be competitive, and the motor is clearly excellent, judging by the amount of holeshots that their riders have pulled thus far this year

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DEAN WILSON TO RED BULL KTM (LIKELINESS: 100%) When Red Bull KTM realised that they were going to lose Ken Roczen, they set out to find a rider that could fill his shoes. They ended up signing Dean Wilson, which means his first full season on a 450F will be spent with the squad. Although it is somewhat surprising that he has left Monster Energy for this deal, the fact that he has ended up on orange should not be shocking, as they were heavily pursuing his signature when he first looked to move up to the bigger bike at the end of the 2012 season.

Although he was originally linked to a spot on the Monster Energy Kawasaki squad, which would have been a relatively seamless switch, I still think KTM is a great spot for him to rebuild his career following his recent lacklustre results and injuries, as the crew that they have beneath the tent is unrivalled. Unlike when he joined Jeff Ward Racing in 2012, they will provide him with a solid base to build off of in his rookie 450F season, which is bound to have its ups and downs.

Rumours suggest that the factory KTM team could be riding 2016 bikes at the beginning of next year, too, so he should have the most advanced bike in the field, which will certainly be an advantage in such a strong class.

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DAVI MILLSAPS TO MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI (LIKELINESS: 100%) Although unconfirmed, the fact that Davi Millsaps has released photos of him riding a Kawasaki indicates that he will be on the premier Monster Energy Kawasaki team. Millsaps was so unhappy with his previous team in the end that he was released from his contract, despite the fact that he did not complete a single race on his KTM. One of the things that make that situation weirder is that he was the one that told the team to go to KTM; he had the choice between that and Yamaha. Millsaps has been linked to Monster Energy Kawasaki since the beginning of the summer, and the day that he was released he was out on the green bike – that isn’t a coincidence!

You have to think that this move will be a positive one for him, as the Kawasaki must be a bike that suits him more. By the time that Anaheim 1 rolls around, Davi would have not lined up behind a gate for a year and a half, which may hinder him, but being on a full factory team for the first time since 2010 must be motivation.

Depending on what Ryan Villopoto does, he could end up as the number one guy on the team too – it would be interesting to see how he copes with that.

MAX NAGL TO RED BULL ICE ONE HUSQVARNA (LIKELINESS: 98%) In his two-year stint on a factory Honda, Max Nagl has had a reasonable amount of success; he has certainly delivered much better results to HRC than they have had in recent years. However, he is not a title contender, and that is what the team is looking for. Although it originally looked like Nagl could potentially stay at HRC alongside Gautier Paulin, rumours now suggest that he will be the number one guy over at the Red Bull Ice One Husqvarna team, which would be a great spot for him.

When Max first got on his Honda, he was desperately trying to make it feel more like a KTM, because that is the bike that he has spent a majority of his career on and that suits him best. The Husqvarna is essentially a KTM, of course, so it should be like returning home for the rider that has two moto wins to his name thus far this year.

He would also be reunited with Red Bull, another brand that he is comfortable with. For this reason, it is undoubtedly a positive move and one that should see him fighting for wins again. However, it will depend on whether he can stay healthy, as that has always been an issue with Max.

GAUTIER PAULIN TO HRC (LIKELINESS: 100%) Gone are the days when HRC were an unstoppable force in the MXGP paddock, as they have struggled to acquire the signature of a title contender over the last seven years. However, they will have one of the stars of the series beneath their tent next year, if rumours are to be believed, as Gautier Paulin could be making the big switch. It is hardly surprising that they may be returning to the top step as soon as next year, as they have already pushed forward in a big way this season, with increased technical support from Japan.

I am certain that this played a role when Gautier was trying to decide whom to ride for in 2015 and beyond, although it is still surprising that he has chosen to leave a team that is based around him and his needs. By moving to HRC, he would also have to ditch all of his personal gear contracts with brands like Thor, who he has been with for quite some time, as HRC has team deals for everything.

The same goes for energy drink sponsors, as Gautier would have to end his association with Monster Energy, because Honda do not allow riders to have deals like that – these decisions are heavily influenced by the Japanese.

For these reasons, you have to think that money was a factor in the decision; rumours suggest HRC were offering many riders a large sum of cash for next year. They are serious about dethroning KTM and putting an end to their unbeaten run! It is great to see Honda putting the effort in, and the MXGP series will benefit as a result.

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RYAN VILLOPOTO TO MONSTER ENERGY KRT (LIKELINESS: 75%) Ryan Villopoto is the one holding up a lot of the team deals on both sides of the Atlantic, as many riders are waiting to see what he does, as they could potentially have a shot at a factory Kawasaki ride! Despite the fact that the off-season is almost upon us, we still have no idea what he is going to do in 2015. Ryan could retire, race in his homeland or contest the MXGP series.

Honestly, every week we hear a different thing, so who knows what he is going to do. If he were to move to Europe, it would enhance his legacy and also make the MXGP series much more appealing to the fans around the world.

However, he has reportedly split from his trainer, Aldon Baker, so whether he would come over and be at his best remains to be seen. If he came over and did not give it his all, it would be a shame, as that would be the last memory most have of him.

Recent rumours suggest that the knee injury he sustained during supercross is actually much

DANTEC HUSQVARNA UK TO CEASE OPERATION (LIKELINESS: 100%) If you take a look around in the pits at the Maxxis British Championship, it is hard to deny that Dantec Husqvarna UK has the most impressive set-up. The squad has certainly made a splash both on and off the track this year, hence why it will be such a shame to see them shut up shop at the end of the season. At the time of writing they have captured countless podium finishes and multiple wins in both the Maxxis British Championship and MX Nationals, with riders Nathan Watson and Steven Lenoir.

British motocross needs teams like this, in order to make it seem like a professional sport and entice interest from larger sponsors.

Of course, losing the team means that there are two less spots for riders to fill, which isn’t good. Fingers crossed most of the other teams stay around and continue to give our riders a chance to follow their dreams.

THE END OF THE ROAD FOR DB RACING HONDA (LIKELINESS: 100%)

more serious than originally suspected, and there is no way he would be ready for Monster Energy Supercross. So, if he were to stay in the USA he would just contest the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross series before riding off into the sunset. It is unknown what condition he would be in at the start of the MXGP series, if he were to come over here. The GP of Qatar is on the last weekend in February, so he would only have two months more to prepare.

It is certainly an interesting story to follow, and after months of speculation it seems we are no closer to an answer. However, you can be sure that various people are putting pressure on him to make a decision; if he leaves it too long Kawasaki will find it tough to sign another title contender.

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It is quickly becoming clear that the British Championship paddock will look quite different next year, as a handful of teams have announced that they will either downscale or shut up shop completely. DB Racing Honda has been around since 2007 and is undoubtedly one of the most loved teams in the paddock, but after putting more and more money into the sport each year they have elected to walk away.

Most do not realise that the British teams do not get everything for free, and unfortunately there comes a point when each team has to give up. DB Racing has long had top riders beneath their tent, but they have enjoyed the most success with Neville Bradshaw (who is also retiring at the end of the year, because he does not want to compete unless he can fight for podiums and wins, like he has done for so long). Bradshaw rode for the team in 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014 and won the MX2 Red Bull Pro Nationals title in that time.

It’ll certainly be sad to see DB Racing Honda go.

TOMMY SEARLE TO RED BULL KTM (LIKELINESS: 80%) Tommy Searle has been one of the hottest free agents in the MXGP paddock, as he has been linked to spots on a handful of different teams.

However, following many different rumours, it now seems that he will be heading to the Red Bull KTM team aboard a 350F. If this proves to be true, it will most certainly be a step in the right direction for the popular British rider, who has struggled since switching to the MXGP division.

Searle has been plagued by injuries this year, and has struggled with his Kawasaki since his return, as he has been constantly searching for a

way to lessen the power that the machine puts out, hence why a 350F seems like the perfect solution for him. The fact that he could work out of the factory KTM awning is an added bonus, although he would occupy the number two spot on the team alongside reigning champion Antonio Cairoli, which is something he isn’t too familiar with.

If this pans out as reports suggest it will, it should finally put Searle in a position to return to the podium and challenge for wins, which most expected him to do when he first stepped up to the bigger bike. Tommy undoubtedly has the potential; it seems he just needs the right package that suits him – this could be it.

Words: Lewis Phillips

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Steven Clarke

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Steven Clarke has raced all over the world, but it was only a couple of weeks ago that he won his first adult championship. It was a nailbiting way to win, but Clarke survived the Belgian sand to win the 2014 EMX250 championship in true gritty fashion.

Clarke based himself in America at the beginning of his adult career and had some success, but came back to Britain halfway through last season and has now settled in his homeland. Although his British Championship results have been up and down this year, his EMX performances have been ruthlessly consistent as Clarke used his vast experience to adapt to whatever track was put in front of him.

MX Vice: So, you’re the EMX250 champion! Has it sunk in yet?

Steven Clarke: Yeah, it was pretty cool. I worked hard all year for it. I didn’t expect it to happen but I knew as long as nothing went wrong it would be sweet.

Hard work pays off.

MX Vice: What were your expectations going into the championship? Were you looking to fight for the championship or did you want to enjoy yourself and race the GP tracks?

Steven Clarke: Well, I did two rounds of it last year and I had a second at the British rounds. Before the season I knew I would be a contender for the win, but I just set my sights on the top five/ten. I had a knee injury just before the first round and I didn’t ride for four weeks before it, so I wanted to go to Bulgaria to get top ten and get some solid points, but I came away third, so it was a good start to the season.

MX Vice: You were hardly out of the top five all year, was that the plan? It was incredible consistency.

Steven Clarke: If you look at any champion in any sport, consistency is the key and that is what I have lacked in the past. I really tried to work on that for this year and it showed.

MX Vice: I was impressed with your first moto on the Saturday in Belgium; it looked like you were going backwards, but you regrouped and started going forwards again.

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I knew I would be a contender for the win

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Steven Clarke: I got a good start but I just rode the first three or four laps really tight, I wasn’t breathing properly and I got a bit of arm pump and rode pretty crap if I’m honest. About four or five laps in I found myself back in ninth, so I took a few deep breaths and asked myself, ‘what am I doing here? I am better than these guys and I’m going to lose the championship at the last round.’ So I dug deep, rode from the heart and caught back up. Once I found some lines, I picked my speed up again and I started to flow.

MX Vice: How nervous were you during the second moto? Your dad was limping about and was very nervous, but cheering you all the way!

Steven Clarke: I wasn’t nervous. I knew that as long as I put one hundred percent into the race and left nothing on the table that whether I won or not I wasn’t going to be down on myself. At the end of the day you can only do your best, and if my best wasn’t good enough

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to win then there’s nothing I can do about it. That’s the view I’ve had on the sport for the last year or so, now I’ve got a bit more mature, as long as you put in the work and do everything you can then you just have to let fate decide the rest.

MX Vice: When you came over the line it didn’t look like you knew you had won the championship, then when you came around the corner you put your arm in the air. Was it a big feeling of elation and a bit of surprise?

Steven Clarke: Yeah it was a big surprise! I don’t tend to look at my pit board very often but the one time I did look at it I saw “need Watson”.

I put the hammer down, passed Watson and fought all the way to the end – when I crossed the line I thought ‘that’s it I’ve done all I can do.’

But when I went around the corner I heard the announcer say I was the champion, so that’s when I knew! Just as I heard that I saw my dad and everyone cheering, so it was a really cool feeling. It would have been

nice to know before the jump so I could have done a fist pump or what have you!

helped you adapt to doing the European championship than the younger British riders like Watson and Sterry?

MX Vice: How does it compare to the British Championship level?

Steven Clarke: I wouldn’t say it was the racing in different countries that helped me; I would say it was more the experience of racing in those different countries that helped. We ride the same on different tracks and it’s the same for everybody, once you’re there you just get on with it. But with those boys being so young I don’t know whether the pressure gets to them, but they seem to ride a bit different at some of the races. Being a bit of a veteran, you learn to blank everything else out, focus on the track, put your laps in and try not to make any mistakes.

Steven Clarke: It’s hard to say, because you get Ben Watson and Adam Sterry, who are up front at the British, then in the Europeans they will have one good moto and one bad moto. I’ll have two good motos at the Europeans and then have two bad motos at the British. At any professional level everyone is putting in hard work but the difference in tracks is big. There are a lot more lines and jumps on the world circuit and it is a longer race so I think it makes for better racing. It gives you more opportunity to pass and stuff. At Cusses Gorse it was a more European style track and I think you will find the racing was a lot better.

MX Vice: Do you feel your experience of racing in different countries

MX Vice: Your seasons have been very different in the British and European championship. What do you put that down to?

Steven Clarke: I want to win the British Championship races just as

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much as I wanted to win European races. I put the work in at the track, but it just seemed like the luck didn’t fall my way at the British. We had a few bike troubles trying to get it up to speed, because I race a different bike in the UK. I had some help from Standing Construct in the EMX series and we had a bit more speed on the bike – that’s what I needed. So just a few things didn’t line up in the British Championship, but now we have got the bike sorted and I had a third at Cusses Gorse, and that last round is Foxhill, which is my favourite track, so hopefully we can get some good results at that one.

MX Vice: Do you think the British Championship doesn’t get the level of respect that it deserves amongst GP teams? It seems harder for a rider who just bases himself in Britain to get noticed.

Steven Clarke: I think that is down to the rider. If his parents are behind him all the way they should take him off to the 85cc Europeans and try and get a stepping-stone that way. That’s what I did, that’s what Max Anstie and Tommy Searle did. Even the Dutch guys don’t just race the Dutch championship – they go off to Germany. I know it may be a bit easier for them but you have to spread your name about more. It’s one thing racing the British Championship, but if you want to get recognised you have to go to them and show them you can do it and that you are not just a British Championship rider.

It’s like in America, if you want a ride on one of the teams you can’t base yourself in one place, you have to go to California, ride those tracks in front of Mitch Payton and those guys and show them you have the speed.

MX Vice: What are you doing for next year? Do you wish you had come home earlier so you could race EMX and then do MX2 GPs? Steven Clarke: I don’t really believe in that age rule. It’s a bit stupid, if you ask me. I have raced all over the world and nowhere else is there an age rule to race the 250 class. I was a young boy and got the offer of a lifetime to go and race in America, turn pro, follow my dream and race supercross, and I did that. A few years down the line I have come home and got my speed back after the injuries and I have won this European series. This age limit has made me miss a stepping-stone in my career basically, next year would have been a great time to go and race MX2 but the age limit is stopping that.

It makes it harder because I have raced a 250 all year and now I have to find an MXGP ride. It’s tough, because none of the teams have seen me race a 450 and they don’t know if I am going to be good in MXGP. I have no offers on paper at the minute but I have been talking to a few people, nothing too serious but I will just play it by ear and see what happens.

MX Vice: You had a couple of good years in America when you were on a Suzuki. How does your speed compare now that you are back from injury and have had a couple of years just racing motocross?

Steven Clarke: After any injury you suffer a loss of speed and fitness. I had a really serious wrist injury on my throttle hand and I have hardly any movement in it, so that was big, I had to change my whole set-up on the bike. I can’t ride with my old handlebars anymore because it just doesn’t work with my hand. So that took a lot of time to get used to and to get my speed back to where it is now.

I have a completely different riding style, I used to be flat out and hold it wide-open, kind of American style. But now, because of my wrist injury, I only have twenty-seven percent strength in my right hand and I

can’t hold on too tight with that. I have had to be smooth and hope my consistency will pay off. It’s hard to compare the two, I wouldn’t say I am any worse or better off.

MX Vice: You have said before Americans live in a bubble and that makes it hard for them to adapt to the World Championship. Will that affect Ryan Villopoto or is he too good and can he win the world title next season against Antonio Cairoli?

Steven Clarke: I’d say Villopoto is past that. He is going to have the mentality of it’s a job and it’s a track - he just has to do his thing. He has the speed and the experience so barring any injury or bike failure, he is going to be a front-runner that’s for sure.

MX Vice: Do you think Villopoto racing GPs will open up the World Championship to Americans? Will more want to come over to try and win a world title?

Steven Clarke: I wouldn’t say so, and I think that is down to the FIM. There is no prize money and it costs so much money to race it. It’s one thousand Euros per round. I am not trying to slag the FIM off by saying that, because they have to cover their costs to put on such epic events like they do. I can’t say the FIM isn’t as good as the AMA, because to be honest it is presented a lot better, the tracks are laid out well and there are cool locations, so it costs a lot of money to do that.

But the Americans have such a good championship in their own country and to them it seems like, ‘why would I travel to Europe to race away from home when I can live at home and do a championship that is equally as good.’ For a privateer he can go to the race in a pick-up truck and a trailer, it probably costs him one thousand dollars to get to the race and stuff but if he were here he would have to find somewhere to live and then to do the flyaway races.

MX Vice: Have you had any thoughts about going back to America or are you happy being based in the UK again?

Steven Clarke: Just wherever man! As long as I can wake up in the morning and can say that I race a motocross bike for a living it doesn’t really matter what country I am in. It’s a job that I love doing – it’s my passion.

MX Vice: You seem to have enjoyed your last two years racing in the UK? Steven Clarke: It has been a rollercoaster. I had to overcome a lot of stuff with myself as well as other people. I got slated a lot for going to America and racing in Australia, they thought I had chosen that lifestyle.

But I really didn’t, I promoted England as much as I could; I never tried to take on the American accent. I was proud to put the Union Jack wherever I could. So I when I came home it was kind of hard, people were expecting big things from me and when I would come home for a one-off race it was hard to get used to everything, so I would end up getting a tenth or something. It is hard to just jump in and win.

I came home last year just before Milton Park and had a few weeks training and everything – it’s nice being home with my family and friends. I have a girlfriend now, who I am living with, so it makes it a lot more fun to be home. I have matured and settled, and I’m happy. I have won this European title, so it shows when you’re happy and doing what you love good things happen.

Interview: Jonathan McCready

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WHAT NEXT?

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Every person in the British Championship paddock has their own opinion and views on a variety of different topics.

However, if there is one thing that everyone can agree on, it is that they want to see the sport grow.

Whilst wandering through the pits this year, we have noticed that more and more people have started to voice an opinion on the state of the sport in the UK, so we started to gather the views of different people in order to put together this intriguing feature.

You are obviously never going to please everyone, but each person questioned had an interesting view on where the sport that they love so much is heading. We simply asked 54 | MX Vice - August 2014 - Issue 5

each person where they think British motocross is going, what they like and what they believe needs to be changed.

Neville Bradshaw (Putoline Apico Honda): “I don’t know where it is heading, to be honest.

Something needs to change, because it has been the same for so many years now. They just cancel races and change venues; there is no stability with it. It is a professionally run series, but there is no buzz about it. The fans don’t come and watch it, because there is no buzz.

“It was better before, when they had longer motos – the riders enjoyed them a lot more, and the spectators just wanted to watch two motos. There is no one watching the last motos. Why have three? It is three sets of goggles, tyres etc. The positive thing is that there are a lot of good British riders coming through and doing well in the European series. The reason they are doing so well is because of the pace that we are running in

the British Championship. I just think something needs to change up a little bit to bring the excitement back into the racing.”

Steve James (Apico LPE Kawasaki): “I am still in love with the sport at the moment, but something needs changing. What though?

There are plenty of people that are saying what needs changing, but it is not as easy as it seems. Plans need to be put into action, but I still think the Maxxis British Championship is the premier series, without a doubt. I think that the arenacross and the British Championship are the two biggest series in the country, and there are others like the MX Nationals, they are coming on strong now, the GT Cup and Ken Winstanley is coming back. There is loads going on, and motocross is strong in that respect. I think that the premier side of things does need a tweak here and there though.

“I have long been a believer in going back to the two thirty minute motos, rather than the three twenty minute ones, but it has its pros and cons. I am not saying I am totally against it; I still like the three-moto format. But I think that you need to see the riders that have done the training over the winter for their fitness as well as their speed, and the last ten minutes of a thirtyminute moto is where that really makes a difference.

need the people from the trade and the product sponsors. If the trade stands could sell more products when they’re buying from the big people like Apico, RaceFX and what have you, those companies are going to be in a better position to help people. The people in the schoolboys are the people that are buying stuff – it is a knock on effect.

“Jeff Perrett has had the idea of bringing the schoolboys along and having the British Youth Nationals on the Saturday before a British Championship round. I think that could be good for the sport, because one thing that a lot of people forget is that we

“More money needs to be put into the sport and they are only going to do that through their own measure, because there is not much other money coming into the sport anymore. It is a difficult one, but there are things that can be done and we need to

understand what is the best thing.

I think that the organisers need to be open to people that put stuff together – it’s a big topic at the moment.”

Shaun Simpson (Hitachi Construction Machinery UK KTM): “I’m not a massive fan of the superpole, and I don’t think it is that much of a spectacle for the fans, purely because they can’t see lap times. But, it’s all part of racing. I’m not much of a fan of the three-moto format, especially when I have got to do two races at a GP. The 55 | MX Vice - August 2014 - Issue 5

Britain needs continuity. We have too much confusion at the moment

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three sprints do help make it a better show for the fans, but it’s hard work for the teams.

The mechanics have got to be in, washed, prepped and back down the start – there is not that much time either. But whatever happens, it is what it is and I’ll just get on with it.”

Steve Dixon (Bike It Yamaha Cosworth): “Britain needs continuity. We have too much confusion at the moment, I think it was really bad that the MCF had to pull out at the end of last season, but it was good to see the MX Nationals step up, because people buy bikes to ride and they need championships to compete in. People need to work together and then build some strong series without clashes – everyone has to talk. There is only one pie and it has to be divided up between the people that want to put back into that pie.

“We are in a sport that is built on passion and if you treat the people behind the scenes well, the sport will go forward.

The professionalism is good against other countries, and I think we should build on that and the solidarity, rather than everyone running races to make a living. If the British GP can cover itself, I’m happy. I could go back to continuity, with continuity comes confidence and with confidence comes people that will return – that’s what we need.”

Stefan Paetow (PR): “It'll be dead unless everyone (sanctioning bodies, riders and fans) starts pulling together. This fractious bullsh*t has to stop because it'll cost us more than people will ever realise.”

Lewis Phillips (MX Vice): “Like Bradshaw, I feel like ‘the buzz’ has disappeared, for whatever reason. Perhaps it is down to the lack of foreign GP stars that contest the series now? I have noticed countless times that a lot of fans leave following the second motos, which certainly does not look good to outsiders. If the promoters built up the series

more and made it look more professional (admittedly they have done that somewhat this year), I think it would have a positive impact on the riders and fans.

“Obviously everyone looks to the format as the thing that desperately needs to be changed, but it looks like the three motos will be sticking around for a little while. I would be interested to see what would happen if they were to revert back to the two, longer motos. Would we see more GP riders?

Would there be more interest throughout the day? Would we see different winners? They certainly have to take these questions into consideration when making decisions for the future.

“It is not all bad though, despite what some will lead you to believe. The fact that the ‘ACU British Experts Cup’ will be introduced in 2015 shows that the ACU are listening to the fans and looking to make changes, which is what we all want to see, right? It is about time too, as changes are needed in order to stop the sport from standing still, because you can be sure that every other nation is moving forward with their series.”

Steven Clarke (Dyer and Butler KTM): “I think it is good – it is heading in the right direction.

They are trying to get better tracks and trying to promote the fan side of it, which is great, because without the fans it is just a bunch of lads riding around a field. They are stepping in the right direction but I think more TV coverage would definitely help the sport. The level of riding has definitely picked up over the last few years and we have more foreign guys that come over. Max Anstie has come back a few times to race, which shows we have some good circuits and there is more interest in it, so that is good. I think more GP riders need to start doing it again like they used to, because that is only going to help with the fans and publicity.”

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Motocross has been in a state for a number of years and until we can get the industry, riders, teams, land owners and governing bodies all talking and working together we will struggle to make sense of it.

Paul Irwin (RaceFX): “Motocross has been in a state for a number of years and until we can get the industry, riders, teams, land owners and governing bodies all talking and working together we will struggle to make sense of it. It feels like people are finally listening and realising that change is needed. The question is what has to change first? The MX Nationals series that I am involved with is trying to bring all of the relevant people together. We’ve listened and we’ve learned; now let’s see if we can make a difference.”

Jeff Perrett (Kawasaki Team Green): “I’d like to think I’m a positive person and therefore I believe that things can always improve and evolve. I think the British MX scene had a shot in the arm when the Pro Nationals came along, but now they’ve gone as of yet no other organiser or federation has been able to pick up the baton and run with it in my opinion.

“The Pro Nationals and Ken Winstanley’s KWS series before proved that having pros and kids together is a positive thing and fundamentally it definitely works here in the UK. It’s hardly a radical, new concept.

Things have changed a lot in MX over the past twenty years or so and in my personal opinion, having been both sides of the fence, the industry isn’t big enough to support adult and youth motocross as successfully as it should by having them at separate events. If the high end British national championship racing was altogether for all classes from 65 or 85cc upwards I’m sure all manufacturers and brands could unite and get behind one official national championship, then all the racers would benefit from a better series with more support and coverage.

“I’ve recently been trying to encourage the ACU, as the UK’s longest standing and leading motorcycle governing body, to mirror the format that the Pro Nationals have and combine the British Youth Nationals

with the Maxxis British Championship. From what I hear chatting to most people it appears to be what they want, I think a lot of people are missing the Pro Nationals now they’ve gone.

“Thing is, even when they were around the ACU Maxxis British Championship still was and arguably still is the main championship that the manufacturers want to win, mostly because of the prestige, so how cool would it be if the kids were racing at that and the manufacturers got behind them as well? To me it just brings your house in order, you know? A one-stop shop, all singing and dancing motocross championship that is ‘the one’ to win for any racer, parent or sponsor.

“I can understand why Paul and Neil Irwin and James (Burfield) started the MX Nationals, to fill the void left by the Pro Nationals and give the pros a chance to continue to earn a living. Good job too because the lads only just scrape a living, the pros don’t earn the kind of money that everyone thinks they do. I think the MX Nationals can work if it’s the feeder championship to the Maxxis and it seems like that’s been taken onboard since I spoke with Brian Higgins and Sonia Goggin and emailed all of the ACU ‘national’ championship promoters, so that’s cool.

“The way I see it is if the BYN and Maxxis isn’t going to be combined for 2015, and it doesn’t seem like it is at this moment, then both those series need to be the lead series with the GT Cup and MX Nationals being feeder or qualifying series for them respectively. Two national ACU championships for adults and two for kids and they all have a part to play in a bigger plan to develop riders and give the good ones a platform to showcase their talents.

“With so many promoters running ACU status championships there simply has to be compromises between them, or quite simply it’s never

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going to work. I’m pleased to hear they’ve all got around a table and discussed stuff for the greater good. If all four series are going to stay, which it seems like they are, then it was much needed. I gave my opinions and ideas to the ACU and all of the promoters just like I hope anyone else would and I’d like to think they were taken onboard. I honestly think that’s all we all ask really, that the ACU listen and start to take opinions and ideas on in a democratic manner.

“Of course there’s politics involved, there is in all walks of life but motocross is a minority sport in the grand scheme of things and if we’re going to progress and people ‘love’ the sport as much as they say, they should put personal agenda and ego aside and show how much they actually care by compromising and working together. We’re a too small minority sport not to really. To be fair it does feel like that is just maybe starting to happen and I really hope it does, because if it doesn’t our sport will fall even further behind here in the UK. We need a better structure for kids and by doing that, it will help the pro scene too.

“Without wanting to sound too much like Citizen Smith, now more than ever is the time that the motocross community have to voice their opinions on where we’re going so the ACU, and other organisations for that matter, can open their eyes and ears, take it on board and make changes for the better because to me it feels like we’ve fallen too far behind. It shouldn’t be as difficult as it is, it needs common sense and understanding the environment you’re in and egos putting to one side, but that seems to have become a very tall ask down the years. Hopefully, now is the time for that to change. If not I might grow my hair and stage a stay in bed protest. Well, the stay in bed bit anyway. I might struggle with the hair growing!”

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BRIAN HIGGINS SPEAKS MX Vice: What do you think about the current state of British motocross?

Brian Higgins: The world is not an easy place at the moment and motocross is not exempt from this. The gap between the pro riders in teams and the normal guy is getting bigger, because of the required money and the fitness levels are getting higher all of the time. At grass roots level there are less tracks and organisers than there were ten years ago, but the ones who have survived and put on quality events are thriving. I am in no doubt that organisers have to consider themselves "service providers" and give the rider what he wants - track time on well prepared circuits.

MX Vice: Has it been a successful year for the Maxxis British Championship?

Brian Higgins: It depends on how you measure success. With the third round scheduled for April being rained off it is sometimes difficult to keep the momentum going. With just one round remaining we have visited some superb venues and although the two leaders seem to be having it their own way in the MX1 (congrats to Shaun) and MX2 classes the racing has been very competitive. We feel that the final round at Foxhill on the 21st September will be a fitting end to the series, and we are already working on some new venues for 2015.

MX Vice: What is something that you think needs to change in the coming months, in order for the sport to grow?

Brian Higgins: This will sound very negative but we have to face facts. Motocross is a minority sport with no government funding available, so it is very difficult for the sport to grow. Although some other countries have more than one federation, Britain

could be unique with four or five all trying to have a share in a decreasing market place. Speaking as the ACU chairman, we are the only federation that funds so much, like sending teams to the Motocross des Nations, organising riders’ start permissions for foreign and Grand Prix events whilst forever defending our position with legislation and generally looking after the state of British motocross for the benefit of all. This is a massive drain on our resources and it would be good if we were not alone in this department.

MX Vice: What is something that you think currently works well, and could benefit the sport in the future?

Brian Higgins: I think that allowing organisers some flexibility within their events is good, but we always have to ensure we are in the safest possible environment. Furthermore, I believe that anything that can be introduced to keep the cost down would be a good thing and maybe we need to look at the Formula One model of engine and tyre restrictions?

Certainly at regional level an out of the crate machine would be good enough, but would all the federations support this?

MX Vice: Finally, how do you feel about Jeff Perrett's idea to change some series in the future? Is that something you would welcome?

Brian Higgins: I had a lengthy meeting with Jeff recently and whilst the idea sounds good there are flaws, which Jeff is now aware of. We pride ourselves at the Maxxis ACU rounds on running to a timetable; not cutting races short and having things run pretty smoothly. Once more classes over longer days (or two days) are introduced it will be impossible to keep this standard up, as the schedule has to be so tight. However, it is possible that this concept will be tried at a single round "festival" next year.

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DYLAN WOODCOCK

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British motocross is in a good spot when it comes to youth riders, as there are many great riders that are coming up through the ranks. Dylan Woodcock is one of those riders that has been in the spotlight for quite a while, and is looked at as one of our greatest prospects.

Dylan isn’t just your average schoolboy though, as he rides for the popular ‘Team Green’ outfit and is consequently sponsored by a few major brands. We caught up with Woodcock recently to get his take on the future, his season and much more.

MX Vice: For our readers that aren’t really familiar with you, when did you start riding and what championships have you won so far?

Dylan Woodcock: I started riding when I was two years old, in a field that is ten minutes from my house. I’ve always just loved to go and ride each weekend, and when I ride my bike it’s a massive buzz. I want to win every time and get good starts. The first proper outdoor championship that I did was East Anglia. My dad raced there too, and my whole family used to come and watch and sleep in tents - it was all good fun!

Then I started getting serious, got sponsored by a KTM dealer and was riding a 50 faster and faster. One year there was this thing where you could win a 65 in the arenacross. I won that series

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and got the ride with Cobra; I stuck with them while I was on a 65. After that the guy that was sponsoring me had a TM dealership as well, so I rode a TM for a year, which was okay.

It wasn’t a bad bike, it was just a bit dated I suppose. Then I got a Kawasaki and that was the same – we were just waiting for the new one to come out.

When the new bike came out I got on it at Canada Heights, and I cut the pipe down by around two inches just to give it more bottom end. I did that, holeshot the first race and got first! I had a few problems in qualifying that day, because stuff wasn’t tight – some stuff happened that shouldn’t have.

Since I got on Team Green with Jeff Perrett and Ross Burridge, I have ridden the Pro Nationals and events like that. It’s been a big push; Ross and Jeff are so excited for me to accomplish stuff – sometimes I go and stay with Jeff and train with him, which is good.

We go to all of the Kawasaki test days, and at lunchtime they let me ride the new bike. I show everyone how fast it can go and the limits it can be pushed at.

I just love riding my bike every weekend – I always try to keep it fun with my dad. We’re just pushing everything, working hard and trying to win a championship with no mistakes.

MX Vice: You have been with Team Green for a little while now, how are you finding that whole set-up and how did the deal come about?

Dylan Woodcock: Well, when I was riding a Cobra there was a Dutch team, which Max Anstie used to ride for on an 85, called Rabbit Racing. I rode the EMX65 for them on a Cobra, and they said they wanted to sponsor me again after that season. It was quite hard to keep travelling back and forth between England and Holland, so we asked if they could help us try to get a deal in the UK. They spoke to Ross Burridge, and Ross said that Team Green would

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Then Ricky came alongside me and we both whipped it, and someone got a picture of it. That picture got around a million likes, which is wicked!

give me a try-out. I went there and Ross was on it straight away – I was on the team and there was a press release ready etc.

I have been with them since then, and I think the first race I did for the team was the arenacross at the O2 Arena, when Harry Kimber jumped the big triple and then crashed really hard. I won that first race for Team Green and ended up winning the series, so everyone was really happy. I went to Holland with Harry to do some races for Rabbit Racing – Harry was a Twisted7 rider for Team Green, but he went to KTM so I’m almost on his ride, if that makes sense.

Team Green is really good – there is a lot of fun stuff to do, like the photo-shoots and stuff like that. They are trying to help us to look professional and feel pro, so when we do make that step up it’s a lot easier to make ourselves presentable.

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MX Vice: When you first joined Team Green, did you feel like you had more pressure to perform?

Dylan Woodcock: I did feel a lot of pressure, but I just thought that if I do my thing, and ride like I know I can, then there wouldn’t be any pressure really.

MX Vice: Since being involved with the team you’ve been able to connect with some sponsors like Monster [Energy], which must be pretty cool.

Dylan Woodcock: Yeah it’s really cool, you get to meet good people like Jamie Coppins; he has helped me out and speaks to Jeff and Ross a lot. We’re on the ‘Monster Army’ because we’re not old enough to be sponsored by Monster Energy, but that’s all good. It feels like a mini pro team – I would say we’re the biggest 85 team in the UK. All of our team members; me, Lewis [Hall] and Jed [Etchells] try to push as hard as we can and we train together.

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MX Vice: So, do you think that when you eventually go pro, all of this stuff is going to help you out?

Dylan Woodcock: Yeah, it will do in the long run, because when you are at a race you’ll be like ‘oh yeah, Jeff taught me how to do this corner, I’ll just cut it right in’ and stuff like that.

MX Vice: You were at the RCU a few weeks back as well. How was that? What sort of things did you learn?

Dylan Woodcock: The RCU was really good! There were a lot of fast 85 riders there, like Gianluca Facchetti. I was riding with him, Ricky Carmichael and Stefan Everts during the free time and he threw it upside down – I’ve never seen any 85 do a whip like that. Then Ricky came alongside me and we both whipped it, and someone got a picture of it. That picture got around a million likes, which is wicked!

I got to meet a lot of good people and I learnt quite a bit, like covering the brakes, using the clutch, standing up a little bit longer – all stuff that saves you a couple of tenths each time.

MX Vice: On your season quickly, you’re in contention for both the MX Nationals and BYN titles. How do you feel it has gone?

Dylan Woodcock: It has been good. At the BYN at Milton Park I didn’t have much luck really, I just had a little problem with my bike. It wasn’t anyone’s fault and it wasn’t the bike’s fault; it was just something that was rushed and not done properly. I’m third in that series and I’m winning the MX Nationals, but I’m trying to win that a round early, because it clashes with the Monster Energy Cup. So I’ll try to do that, and I’ll have to just win as much as I can before then. We’ve got Leuchars after that [the final BYN round] and it’s all or nothing in that series, so I’ll just have to give it my all.

MX Vice: Speaking of the Monster Energy Cup, how are you going to prepare for that? Was it your link to Monster that got you an entry?

Dylan Woodcock: Yeah, Monster got me in there – Jamie Coppins helped a lot and pushed for it, and so did Ross. To practice for it we go to a compound not too far from my house – I’ve got a Super Mini to practice on at the minute. A lot of people like to protest my bike, because I’m on a Kawasaki and not a KTM. My bike got checked at the BYN and it is a perfect 85.

But, yeah, we just practice at that compound. He has built a lot of big jumps – they’re steep and not rounded off, so if you case it you’ll know about it! That will hopefully get me ready for the Monster Cup and prepare me for the big jumps.

MX Vice: So what are you expecting from the Monster Energy Cup? Are you just aiming to go out there and get some experience under your belt?

Dylan Woodcock: I don’t really know what to expect, I’m just going to go out, do my thing and throw some big whips I suppose.

MX Vice: What about the Junior World Championship, how was that for you? It seemed like it went okay?

Dylan Woodcock: Yeah, it was really cool. I got a seventh in the first race and an eighteenth in the second. I had a bit of bad luck when it rained, as I lost both my goggles – they both got stolen off the track as well. Obviously I had a bit of a rivalry with Taylor [Hammal] after Canada Heights, and I really wanted to beat him. I got together with him in the race; he was sixth and I was seventh, and we were battling hard.

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shouting and cheering us on as we went past, which was good to see. Battling it out with him there was just like being back at Canada Heights. It was a great experience. Like you had to be in the starting area ten minutes early, whereas at a normal MX Nationals round you can just rock up when everyone else is on the line.

MX Vice: How do you fit in all of this riding and training around school? Are you at school five days a week or do you have some time off to put in the laps?

Dylan Woodcock: I’m at school five days a week, every week really.

I’ve got my own track like ten minutes away, so I’ll go there after

school, but a lot of people think that I have a ton of days off. If I have more than ten days off a year my dad gets a fine, so we just keep it on the low and try to sneak a day off here and there.

years? How much longer do you have on an 85 and when will you step up to the MXY2 class?

The school doesn’t understand. If you play football you’re the next superstar, if you do motocross you are nothing – that’s how it is. They just don’t like motocross because they think it’s a bunch of people with tattoos riding around the streets. I try to bring them to motocross but they’re not interested, so we just do our thing and they do theirs.

Dylan Woodcock: I think I’m going to do one more year in the 85 class, just because of my size. I’ll do a few years in MXY2 after that and try to get into some races over in America. My main goal really, like everyone, is to do AMA Supercross eventually. That’s what I want to do and hopefully I’ll be able to one day. I’ll just keep having fun with it.

MX Vice: Finally, what is the plan for you over the next couple of

Interview: Lewis Phillips

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GIUSEPPE LUONGO Giuseppe Luongo pulled no punches in his press conference at Lommel, as he stated that he is sick of hearing from the American fans and media that they are better than the MXGP riders, saying the American riders have to race the World Championship to prove they are the best. He also 74 | MX Vice - August 2014 - Issue 5

mentioned that if Ryan Villopoto does come to race MXGP next year they will work hard to get a GP back in the USA and in Japan.

Luongo feels that the World Championship is growing on a global scale with investment and sponsorship now reaching the rest of the world. It truly is a world championship now and current and potential sponsors view it as a global series.

MX Vice: Are you pleased about the level in the EMX series and how easily the EMX250 guys can go into MX2?

Giuseppe Luongo: We are very happy, because we think the level is very good thanks to the continuous competition. We have seven races this year but next year we will try to have eight or nine, because we see the big improvement and that the level is very good.

MX Vice: If Ryan Villopoto comes over will that be a game changer in regard to the American riders respecting the Grand Prix series more?

Giuseppe Luongo: Yeah, I think it is something that is already in the air. We see more and more American riders talk with teams and they are interested, this is also linked to the economy and the fact that Japan sees the World Championship as worldwide.

Before the budgets just came from Europe,

but now it comes from around the world. This is a big step because before it was clear especially from supercross that the riders in America make more money. Now things are starting to slowly change.

hard even from the European classes. You see from the MXdN results, apart from the team classification, the American riders have difficulty going in the top three and after twenty minutes they get tired.

MX Vice: A lot of people believe Villopoto is the best in the world, but how do you get that to change so people see the world champion as the best in the world?

They grow up with the sport in a different way; maybe they would win a race on an American track. But in general on World Championship tracks, and I don’t mean Ryan because he is a rider on a very high level and for sure he can win GP races, but in general I think the GP level is higher.

Giuseppe Luongo: You can say someone is better, but they have to prove they are better!

It’s like me saying I am better than Cairoli – there is no proof! I really think Americans are better in supercross - that is clear. It is an American sport and they do a really good job. I believe that in motocross our World Championship tracks are more technical and demanding, and the competition is very

MX Vice: A world champion is supposed to be able to ride on all the different tracks in different countries – that’s what makes him the best. But in America the tracks all seem fairly similar.

Giuseppe Luongo: They are very similar and this is what makes it a handicap for Americans to race the World Championship, race in different cultures with different languages and different mentalities – it’s more difficult to adapt. In America you have the same hotels everywhere, the climate is similar everywhere and the tracks are similar. But with us you go from forty degrees in Thailand to Valkenswaard two weeks later where it’s frozen!

MX Vice: The US media are quite biased towards their series in terms of the exposure they give. Is there any way that you can see them giving the World Championship the same exposure as the US Nationals?

Giuseppe Luongo: Today in the American motocross media the World Championship

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WE MUST WORK AND MAKE OUR PRODUCT MORE ATTRACTIVE. WE DON’T WANT TO BRAINWASH PEOPLE. has a very low exposure, but we have a lot of exposure on American TV with CBS Sports Network; they cover ninety-six million houses. I think we have already had one hundred and sixty hours of broadcasting on CBS Sports; the races are slightly delayed on the Sunday between 12 and 4 o’clock and they repeat again during the week.

So the exposure we have in America on the big media is already bigger and I believe if Ryan comes and more American riders come more and more fans will follow the World Championship.

MX Vice: There has been a lot of controversy with the under twenty-three rule, but are you still happy with it?

Giuseppe Luongo: We are happy – we want the best riders to be in MXGP. If we take away that rule we block the riders coming in from European championships. If a talented rider from the Europeans come in, we want them to be on a good team. If the rule wasn’t there a team could choose an older rider who might be running top five and block the young riders’ progress. Look at Tim Gajser; he was the EMX125 champion and now he is running top five in the world, because he is in a top team. We want this to keep happening.

MX Vice: Arnaud Tonus is going to America next year and Dylan Ferrandis wants to go as well. Do you mind them going to the USA or is it good to show the Americans the level of the GP riders?

Giuseppe Luongo: I would prefer them to stay. I think Arnaud is making a mistake going but it is very much linked to the French mentality. Arnaud is Swiss of course, but it is a French culture. A lot of young riders go to America, because in France they have a company who owns Moto Verte and organise Bercy, and historically they were always supporting the supercross to support Bercy and were always very critical of the GPs. So when the children start to the read the magazines they think that if you want to be somebody you have to be in America – it’s a brainwash. In general in other countries the kids want to be world champion.

I know that Tonus had a better financial proposal to stay over here, but he wanted to try supercross. It was his dream since he was little but I believe this is a mistake, because Tonus has had a lot of injuries and supercross is dangerous. The good thing is we have so many good, young riders in GPs so that if some do go it won’t affect the level, because someone else will come in and take their place.

MX Vice: I guess that something you want is to have kids in America dreaming of being world champion?

Giuseppe Luongo: Yes, but we must be fair; we live in an open world and we have to respect people’s feelings.

We must work and make our product more attractive. We don’t want to brainwash people.

Interview: Jonathan McCready

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Following a turbulent time, Ken Roczen finally clinched his maiden Lucas Oil Pro Motocross title in Utah, to the delight of his thousands of fans.

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The fight for the MX2 MX Nationals title is heating up, as just a handful of points separate Bryan Mackenzie and Neville Bradshaw with two rounds remaining. The race is on!

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Aaron Booker hasn’t had the best luck at Culham this year.

Aaron, who was making his MXY2 debut, broke his wrist at the sixth MX Nationals round. Get well soon!

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