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QUICK LINKS IN THE WIND 28 LEADERBOARD 100

DAYTONA SUPERCROSS

COMING OF AGE 33 YEAR-OLD BRAYTON GETS FIRST SX WIN!

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

WILD BOAR GNCC

RUSSELL DOUBLES UP

FIRST TESTS

2018 ALTA REDSHIFT MXR JUICED UP 2018 YAMAHA

MT-07

JACK OF ALL TRADES ALSO…

MotoGP Preview Texas Hare & Hound Utah Sprint Hero Enduro 50 Years Of Penton Unveiled: New Indian Chieftain Elite ARCHVIES: Racer X

CONTENTS

It looks and rides like your typical motocrosser but the electric-power Alta Redshift MXR is anything but typical.

We get our first ride on the all-new MXR.

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RACED 50 DAYTONA SUPERCROSS

Supercross invades Bike Week 70 FLORIDA GNCC

Russell tames the Wild Boar TESTED 76 2018 ALTA REDSHIFT MXR

The motocross Alta-native 86 2018 YAMAHA MT-07

A walk on Yamaha’s wild side DEPARTMENTALIZED 6

VOICES

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CAPTURED

28 IN THE WIND 94 STUFF 98 CALENDAR 100 LEADERBOARD 102 RACING ON THE TUBE 104 ARCHIVES 106 BIKES OF THE STARS 108 LOOKING BACK 110 IN THE PADDOCK QUICK LINKS IN THE WIND 28 LEADERBOARD 100

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

WILD BOAR GNCC

RUSSELL DOUBLES UP FIRST TESTS

2018 ALTA REDSHIFT MXR JUICED UP 2018 YAMAHA

MT-07

JACK OF ALL TRADES ALSO…

DAYTONA SUPERCROSS

COMING OF AGE

MotoGP Preview Texas Hare & Hound Utah Sprint Hero Enduro 50 Years Of Penton Unveiled: New Indian Chieftain Elite ARCHVIES: Racer X

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIT PALMER

33 YEAR-OLD BRAYTON GETS FIRST SX WIN!

On The Cover: Braytona Supercross!

Justin Brayton nabbed his career-first Supercross win at Daytona International Speedway after surviving a brutal track designed by none other than the GOAT, Ricky Carmichael.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB KOY

CN III VOICES

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W H AT Y O U A R E S AY I N G

“His name will be forever etched as a Daytona SX winner.”

Daytona Supercross Congratulations Justin! Unwavering dedication and discipline and lots of hard work are paying off.

Many racers would have given up if things didn’t happen for them within the first few years. You’re obviously made of different stuff, the kind of stuff that the armchair racers are completely unfamiliar with. You never gave up, and now you are a Daytona winner.

Your win was a win for the working man. I hope there are more. It sure looks like you’re fast enough these days!

Howard Halterman

Long-time coming, always look for Justin. Remember he almost got one on the yellow and black YZ a few years ago.

Congrats on a great win.

Daytona isn’t for the slackers.

Robert Laroque

Down goes Tomac! One heck of a charge back through the pack.

Musquin went down at least twice and still managed a fifth.

Congratulations to Justin Brayton. His name will be forever etched as a Daytona SX winner.

Terry Heath

If Chad Reed want’s to chase records, fine with me. He’s has always been one of my favorite

Justin Brayton celebrates Daytona SX win.

racers when he was on top; I’m not going to desert him now just because he’s not. Nobody wins forever. Nobody races forever. It’s his life and career to do whatever he likes. And he likes supercross, so I’m glad to see him out there.

And if a mud race comes up, don’t be surprised if he wins it.

He’s maybe the best mud rider of all time.

Adam Wright

ARCHIVES: When H-D Almost Won A Superbike Race I was one of those Harley haters that screamed themselves silly on that sunny day in 1994.

When the pack came into turn

four and Mr. Duhamel outbraked everyone to slither into the lead, my beer flew in the air and a slew of “holy f’ing shits” spewed out of my mouth.

I watched in absolute amazement, as he did the same thing for the next four laps. Mr. Lawrence’s description of that day is nuts-on. It was magical.

Even though I secretly loved watching the Bostrom and Wait brothers hustle those 883s around in clouds of burnt exhaust valves and ground-down frame bits each week, I was the first one to rip on the chrome and fringe crowd. But for that one afternoon, I was truly in Hog Heaven.

I always admired the efforts of anybody that rode the VR. Well, except for Mr. Ru$$el.

Rick Waschek

Flat Track Preview With now seven FTR’s at every race, it’s not a question of Indian repeating, it’s whether any non-Indian can podium. Other than Henry Wiles and Briar Bauman at TTs on Kawi’s, I’d say no, unfortunately. At least with that many FTR’s in the field, Jared Mees will likely not be so dominant.

Michael Mcline

Should be fun to watch, this will be an epic season!

Monty Sanders

Letters to the editor can be sent to voices@cyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News. Letters should not exceed 150 words and are subject to editing. Anonymous letters won’t be considered for publication and each letter should contain the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number… Editor

America’s Motorcycle News Source

Volume LV EDITORIAL KIT PALMER EDITOR kitpalmer@cyclenews.com RENNIE SCAYSBROOK ROAD TEST EDITOR rennie.scaysbrook@cyclenews.com

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Super Hero Off-road legend Destry Abbott continues to have fun racing, not to mention bringing home the trophies.

He finished third at the Sprint Hero Enduro in Utah.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HARLEN FOLEY

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Vale Ralf Waldmann Grand Prix racing lost one of its brightest characters over the weekend with the sudden death of Ralf Waldmann. The German was one of the main protagonists in a golden age for 250cc racing in the 1990s, narrowly missing the title twice in 1996 and 1997. Here, he leads chief rival Max Biaggi, Olivier Jacque and Tetsuya Harada in 1997.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

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CAPTURED

Treeline Kailub Russell came from behind to claim the overall win at the Wild Boar GNCC in Palatka, Florida. Although he carded wins at first two rounds, they haven’t come easily by any means.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARIN CHAPMAN

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

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MOOSERACING.COM

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Looks Are Deceiving You might never guess the location of this racecourse, but this is some of Glen Helen’s finest, as seen at the JBC 6 Hour Endurance Race. Precision Concepts Kawasaki’s Justin Seeds slices through the single-track en route to the overall win.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBBY BELL/PRECISION CONCEPTS RACING

Winners Never Quit Justin Brayton rewrote the history books with his Daytona Supercross win.

And while he may be the oldest rider to land a premier-class SX victory, we want to celebrate the spirit and determination he’s always shown, chasing the dream until he scored not only a decisive win, but a win at one of the toughest, most legendary tracks on the circuit. So congratulations, Justin, and to everyone on the MotoConcepts team, from all of us at American Honda.

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Long-Time Coming The Daytona fans reach out and give winner Justin Brayton well-deserved high fives after winning his first AMA Supercross race at the age of 33.

He’s now the oldest rider to win a Supercross main event. Mike LaRocco previously held that honor.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB KOY

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CONGRATULATIONS TO JUSTIN BRAYTON ON A HISTORIC WIN AT DAYTONA, WITH HIS FIRST 450 AMA SX VICTORY OF HIS CAREER. SCOTT PROSPECT MX GOGGLE RED / WHITE

SCOTT-SPORTS.COM | © SCOTT SPORTS SA 2018 | photo: Ocotopi Media

MADE IN THE USA

J U S T I N B R AYO N | S M A RTO P / B U L L F R O G S PA S / H O N DA

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VALE RALF WALDMANN

R

alf Waldmann has died at the age of 51 from a suspected heart attack.

The German won 14 Grands Prix during a career that saw him compete in 125cc, 250cc and 500cc competition, but he is best remembered as being one of the main protagonists of 1990s 250GP racing, where he twice finished runnerup to Max Biaggi.

Waldmann’s victory in the 2000 British 250cc Grand Prix has gone down as one of the best wet-weather performances in history, where he came back from 21st place to snatch the most unlikely of victories from Olivier Jacque in the final corner.

Waldmann’s last appearance as a Grand Prix rider came also at Donington Park, where he

filled in as an injury replacement at Kiefer Racing at the age of 43.

Waldmann had been working at an expert commentator for Eurosport up to the time of his death.

Cycle News sends its deepest condolences to Waldmann’s family and many fans across the globe. CN

Ralf Waldmann was a star of 1990s 250GP racing, an era that was stacked with racing talent.

SUTER BACK AT THE ISLE OF MAN TT

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uter will return to the Isle of Man TT in 2018 with the MMX500.

The Swiss team last raced the event in 2016 with veteran, multi TT-winning rider Ian Lougher at the helm, who piloted the 580cc V4 two-stroke to 34th place in the Senior TT and will once again be the man charged with racing the exquisite machine.

“It goes without saying, I am excited to be racing the Suter MMX500 again at the Isle of Man TT races,” Lougher said. “I feel that after all the hard work put in by the entire Suter team and myself, it’s very much unfinished business and I can’t wait to go testing. It’s two years since our last episode together, and the engineers say they have managed to squeeze even more power out of the engine and iron out all the problems we encountered in 2016. I’m ready to go down Bray Hill and give the spectators that two-stroke experience again.” CN Suter plans to return to the Isle of Man with the new MMX500.

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TEAM HRC BACK IN SUZUKA 8 HOURS

A

fter three straight wins by the factory Yamaha Racing team, Honda has decided to field a full works entry in the 2018 Suzuka 8 Hours—the first such entry in 10 years.

The team will be managed by former five-time Suzuka 8 Hours winner and MotoGP race winner Tohru Ukawa, with 2017 Japan Superbike Champion Takumi Takahashi named as one of the riders. His two teammates are yet to be named.

“We’re aiming for the win, obviously,” says Tohru Ukawa, “but the key thing is to recreate an official HRC team to give young Honda riders a renewed dream, fresh ambition and a new Tohru Ukawa (left) future.” with his rider Takumi The last time Honda won the Takahashi. He has Suzuka 8 Hours was in 2014 been charged with bringing the Suzuka with riders Takahashi, Leon 8 Hour title back to Haslam and Michael van der Honda.

Mark. CN

ROBERT HEALING UP

T

aylor Robert is well down the road to recovery but will still be off the bike for a while.

The FMF KTM Factory Racing Team rider suffered injuries while practicing late last month Taylor Robert is well on the road to recovery but it will still be a few months before he gets back on the bike.

after colliding with another rider. Two weeks after the initial incident, Robert underwent successful surgery to repair damaged ligaments in his left thumb, as he begins his next step toward recovery. In addition to his thumb injuries, Robert also sustained a fractured ulna and radius in his left arm, both of which have shown favorable healing thus far. According Robert’s doctor, the bones in Robert’s arm are expected to heal at the same time as his thumb, giving him another four weeks until the cast is removed and he’s able to start physical therapy.

Robert’s exact return to racing is still undetermined but the team is confident that he will be back on the bike before the first half of the season is over. CN

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JONES WINS UTAH SPRINT HERO ENDURO ustin Jones won the Sprint Hero Racing Series held at Iron Mine Raceway in Cedar City, Utah, March 1-2. Jones, riding his Monster Energy Honda, beat out Cole Shondeck and Destry Abbott for the victory and took the points lead in the process.

The event was the second of three being held this season.

The race was held on six miles of motocross, single track and off-road sections and that were separated into full-length tests.

Riders were sent out on each loop in 10-second intervals and were challenged to run a full-out lap, followed by a break. The racer in each class that has the

lowest total time on course over the two days is the winner. The Iron Mine event was held on three tests: Motocross, GP and Enduro over the two-day event.

Jones, who finished second in the first race at Glen Helen, had to play catch-up after a hard tumble during Saturday’s race.

He came back on Sunday and took the win.

“On Saturday, Destry and Cole Shondeck were really going fast and I didn’t make it easy on myself,” said Jones. “I made a lot of mistakes and went down hard once. I rebounded on Sunday and conditions couldn’t have been better. We had a decent

amount of rain last night and I came out on top.”

After finishing fifth in the opener, Shondeck decided to run the whole series and was rewarded with a runner-up finish, just behind Jones. A veteran motocross racer, Shondeck said the format has helped him really come up to speed in off-road racing.

“I did the first round in Glen Helen and I liked it so much I decided to do the whole series,” said Shondeck. “It was an awesome weekend. The enduro test was super cool. The single-track section was tight and completely different than the rest of it. The GP sections were fast, but they Justin Jones topped the second round of the Sprint Hero Enduro Series in Utah.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HARLEN FOLEY

J

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Cole Shondeck was second overall.

were fun. You get a little bit of everything out here. I grew up doing motocross and I’m a little bit new to the off road stuff.”

Forty-five-year-old Destry Abbott finished third on the weekend, just ahead of his son Cooper. Despite fitness levels challenged by chemotherapy, Abbott was able to put in competitive runs both days. He said the new format allows him to continue racing.

“My fitness isn’t all there,” Abbott said. “I’m still dealing with chemo and being 45 isn’t the best, so this style is really the bet for me right now. You can be young or old and this is a great style of racing.”

Cooper Abbott finished out the weekend approximately 30 seconds behind his dad, while Steven Gibson rounded out the top five overall about a minute behind the junior Abbott.

The top Vet A 30+ rider was Brad Goolsby in sixth overall. Mitch Anderson breezed to victory in Open A, while Austin Phillips won Lites A. Harlen Foley

Five-time AMA Hare & Hound National Champion Destry Abbott rounded out the podium.

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SEEDS, THOMPSON TOP GLEN HELEN 6 HOUR teady rain in the days leading up to the John Burr Cycles (JBC) 6 Hour Endurance Race, the first round of Glen Helen’s 2018 Endurance Series, left many to ponder whether or not they were willing to take on what was sure to be a soggy course.

A Saturday-night soaking left course workers making some last-minute changes to the 6+ mile course on Sunday morning, which involved cutting out the entire main track and REM track.

Blayne Thompson (pictured) teamed up with Justin Seeds to capture the overall victory at the Glen Helen JBC 6 Hour.

While conditions in the morning were quite muddy, the course dried out as the day wore on, leaving riders with ideal conditions, especially through the tight single-track sections.

Among those who made the last-minute decision to show up were Blayne Thompson and Justin Seeds, who teamed up on their Chaparral Motorsports/Precision Concepts Kawasaki. The decision paid off for the duo, who handily won by nearly two laps ahead of

Tyler Nicholson’s KTM-mounted team. Samuel Montalvan and crew rounded out the overall podium in third. CN Overall (Riders of record listed) 1. Blayne Thompson (Kaw) 2. Tyler Nicholson (KTM) 3. Samuel Montalvan (KTM) 4. James Shultz (Yam) 5. Brent Harmon (KTM)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBBY BELL/PRECISION CONCEPTS RCING

S

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The bomb run was considerably shorter than usual and more like a hare scrambles start, but Kendall Norman got a great start ahead of local fast guy Cole Kirkpatrick (NT921) and Chance Fullerton (X999).

NORMAN TOPS IN TEXAS

T

hough he’s best known as someone who excels in the fast desert races like Baja, Kendall Norman proved he could also hold his own in more technical going like the Lone Star National Hare & Hound, hosted by the Lubbock Trail Riders (LTR), March 11.

The race was round three of the Kenda/SRT AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series, Presented by FMF. The 2010 series champ proved that point in winning round two a couple weeks ago and backing

that up with a runaway victory in the first-ever AMA Hare & Hound National in Texas, where the going was much slower with constant twists and turns making for a significantly slower speed average than usual.

That, of course, was not unexpected, considering the LTR’s previous experience is putting on both national and local enduros.

The club laid out two separate 40mile loops that in several instances followed the trails used in a local enduro the previous weekend.

Not that it seemed to matter to Norman, who once again grabbed the holeshot aboard his Chocolate Mountain Ranch/Pro Circuit/ Alpinestars CRF450X over local favorite Cole Kirkpatrick, Beta’s Chance Fullerton, 3 Bros. KTM’s Nick Stover, Beta’s Joe Wasson, Purvines Racing Yamaha’s Nick Burson and the rest of the field.

“I’ve heard stories from my dad back in the ISDE Qualifier days and he had some wild stories so it’s super-interesting to come here and see what the terrain’s like and

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

actually ride the terrain and now experience it,” Norman shared. “He told me about the cat’s claw. They’re like the bushes that don’t look like much—they look like a normal desert bush, but they’ve got really gnarly spikes on them.”

He continued, “I definitely really wanted to get that start. Getting a few bad starts this year, I put more emphasis on starts and it’s paying off. I knew if I got out front, I could kind of ride my own race and ease into the terrain and get used to it.

His second win in a row gives Norman a healthy 20-point lead in the series over race runner-up Burson, 81-61.

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After running as high as second overall, Chance Fullerton settled for fifth overall, though that was good enough for his second consecutive FMF Pro 250 victory.

“It’s pretty awesome terrain, to be honest. There weren’t too many crazy scary ditches or anything [and] the trail had a really good flow to it—but man, it was relentless! It never stopped twisting!”

Norman completed the 80 miles in two hours, 58 minutes and 43 seconds, an astounding 5:18 ahead of eventual runner-up Burson.

Precision Concepts/FMF/O’Neal Racing YZ450FX-mounted Burson said, “I got an okay start and made some passes [early] and I think I was fourth and I did a stupid move: I tried to shave a corner a little bit and ended up in a ditch like they’d talked about [at the rider’s meeting].

“I was getting frustrated—I could see Kendall was gone—and I was stuck behind a couple guys. [Getting passed] actually made me ride better.”

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IN THE

WIND

One of the guys he’d passed was Chidester Transport Racing Yamaha/Purvines Racing support rider Tyler Lynn, who ended up a strong third aboard his Kenda/IMS/Sidi-backed YZ250FX, 3:27 behind Burson.

A podium in only his third Pro race, the 2017 FMF Pro 250 champ and 2016 Big Wheel champ admitted he didn’t even know he was close: “I thought I was fourth or fifth or sixth. I was doing the best I’ve ever done at a National so I was pumped thinking I’m fifth or sixth, and I came into the pits [at the end of the first loop] and they go, ‘You’re third! You’re third!’

“It made me nervous for that second loop, but I kept it on two wheels. This is a lot like the stuff I ride all the time [back home in Utah]—really tight, technical, not so much fast stuff so it really worked to my advantage being just like home.”

Lynn had good reason to be nervous since SRT Husqvarna’s Clayton Gerstner was closing in and ended up just 17 seconds behind at the checkered flag, fourth, his best-to-date National finish. Gerstner revealed, “We raced [an RMEC enduro] here last weekend so it definitely gave me a little bit of an advantage so I liked that!

“I’d say 10 miles from the finish I started catching [Lynn’s] dust, but I was [done] and like, ‘I don’t think I’m going to catch him.’ But it was good.”

FMF Pro 250 winner Fullerton took advantage of his great start to finish a career-best fifth overall aboard his Motul/Nitro Mousse/Fast House-sponsored 250 RR. His second-consecutive class triumph (like Norman) puts him firmly in the points lead and he said, “I was second overall until about mile 20 and I ended up getting passed by Nick and Jake [Argubright], but just after that Jake crashed (he DNFed with a sore back and ribs, similar to Stover’s fate).

“It was definitely a learning curve, for sure [to race in a new area]. If I could’ve ridden the first loop like I rode the second loop, I think it would’ve been a whole different story. With each turn, it was learning.”

FMF/Maxxis/RPM Racing KTM’s Eric Yorba claimed a best-to-date sixth followed by Wasson, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Off-road

Brandy Richards made her first start of the season a winning one in Women A, finishing 20th overall aboard her 450 XC-F.

Team’s Dalton Shirey, SRT Husqvarna’s Ryan Smith and Chidester Transport Racing Yamaha’s Daemon Woolslayer, the FMF Pro 250 runner-up.

Norman added another 30 points and now leads the standings at 81 followed by Burson at 61 followed by Shirey (53), Lynn (48) and Argubright and Wasson who are tied for fifth at 41 points apiece.

Brandy Richards made her return to the series a successful one, topping Women A over fellow Bell Helmets KTM rider Britney Gallegos with Rachel Stout third.

Mark Kariya

OVERALL 1. Kendall Norman (Hon) 2. Nick Burson (Yam) 3. Tyler Lynn (Yam) 4. Clayton Gerstner (Hus) 5. Chance Fullerton (Bet)

6. Eric Yorba (KTM) 7. Joseph Wasson (Bet) 8. Dalton Shirey (Hus) 9. Ryan Smith (Hus) 10. Daemon Woolslayer (Yam)

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PENTON—THE FIRST 50 YEARS

I

t was a noble goal. Build and sell a small motorcycle that could win in “woods racing.” That was over 50 years ago.

Leaving for the 1967 ISDT in Zakopane, Poland, trail-hardened John Penton had seen some samples from the small manufacturer in Mattighofen, Austria, called KTM. After the ISDT, Penton paid KTM a visit. Later that year, after a prototype to John’s specifications was approved, John and KTM’s President Erik Trunkenpolz struck a deal to make 10 “Penton Motorcycles.”

Those 10 bikes arrived to the

Penton family farm on March 7, 1968. The rest, as they say, is history with those 10 125cc “Six Day” motorcycles leading to more containers from Austria as Penton Motorcycles began racing and selling all over the U.S. and abroad with KTM badging. Today, KTM is the leading manufacturer for off-road sport motorcycles in the world.

Over the March 10-11 weekend, The Penton Owners Group, or commonly known in their circles as “Poggers,” celebrated the Penton Motorcycle’s “First 50 Years” in Amherst, Ohio, at

A crowd of 500 (including John Penton, front row, left) were in attendance for the festivities in one of KTM’s warehouses.

one of KTM’s warehouses. The building was turned into a “Smithsonian of Penton motorcycles and memorabilia” from Penton collectors all over the USA along with a big stage and sitting area for presentations, interviews, videos, food service, etc. In typical Penton fashion, they even found old cases of new Hi-Point Oil to put on the tables as gifts for guests in lieu of wine.

The displays of Penton prod-

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

ucts were unimaginable with examples of every model of Penton motorcycle produced from 1968 through 1978 when the brand was changed to KTM in the U.S. There were even serial numbers #1, #2 and #3 on display. Bike #2 was originally purchased by Hall of Fame announcer Larry Maiers, who was in attendance.

“I wish I had kept that bike all those years ago, but who knew?” he said. “I just wanted to upgrade to the next model.”

Penton “Berkshires,” “Six Days,” “Jack Piners,” “Hare Scramblers,” and “Mint,” were all there. Even a couple of infamous “Wassel” trials bikes.

And the memorabilia…Wow! Displays of Penton riding gear, catalogs, posters, ads, newsletters, ISDT books, patches, stickers and more were on display.

Even John Penton’s original gearbag was dug out of his garage and emptied out displaying some crusty Hi-Point boots, a barber jacket and his legendary red bandana. Bob Gilman from Maryland brought his well-curated collection of Penton posters, jerseys, brochures, ads, books and more. “I have ridden Pentons since the end of the ‘60s and I collect all of it,” explained Gillman. “It’s important for the new people to know the history

Pentons of all models and years were in attendance.

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of things like this.”

The man of the day of course was John Penton himself who was amazed at the estimated 500 in attendance. “I can’t believe that all these people showed up for this,” he said.

“He was on a microphone later expressing to the crowd that the one word that expresses everything of this day was “love.”

Besides Penton Motorcycles, there was a display of bikes that John Penton, himself, raced throughout his career such as a 1947 Harley-Davidson, 1950 BSA B33, NSU 175cc Maxi and BMW R27. The NSU and BMW were Penton’s actual race bikes that

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John Penton and Hall of Fame announcer Larry Maiers take a moment during John’s lengthy autograph sessions.

were found in barns in Ohio and restored by the Borer brothers John and his late brother Jeff.

Most of these bikes were used in reenactments for the documentary on John Penton that came out in 2014 called PENTON: The John Penton Story narrated by Grammy winner, Lyle Lovett.

Along with Penton himself, who, at 92 years young still has the energy to sign hundreds of autographs, was his family including his famed trio of legendary and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame gold

medal winning sons, Tom, Jeff and Jack.

In addition to the “Penton Clan,” the room was filled with Penton employees, factory riders and ISDT veterans like Frank Gallo, Gary Younkins, Eric Jensen, Mark Hyde, Kevin Lavoie, Paul Danik and more who took pictures, signed memorabilia and swapped stories on stage during bench racing sessions moderated by Larry Maiers.

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Carl Cranke traveled from Wash-

ington state to be part of the celebration. “I have never been at an event before where so many people I used to race with were in the same place. It’s been unbelievable,” Cranke said.

That same stage later hosted 40 minutes of never-before-seen stories from the John Penton film and later the entire film itself.

For more information on The Penton Owners Group, click here.

Todd Huffman

www.kiska.com Photo: R. Schedl Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations.

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/ktmusa

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INDIAN INTRODUCES CHIEFTAIN ELITE

I

ndian Motorcycle has unveiled its 2018 Chieftain Elite, resplendent in a beautiful hand-painted silver color scheme.

“As the name suggests, this paint was inspired by the silver mines in the Black Hills of South Dakota, which is near Indian Motorcycle’s custom paint facility in Spearfish, SD,” read a release from Indian Motorcycle.

The 2018 Chieftain gets a black 10-spoke, 19-inch wheel up front, Pathfinder LED headlight and driving lights, a beautiful infotainment system with a 200-watt stereo, keyless ignition, push-button power flare windshield, billet alu-

minum rider and passenger floorboards, genuine leather seats and smaller hand controls for improved ergonomics.

The Chieftain Elite is powered by the 111 c.i Thunderstroke V-Twin, with a claimed 119 lb-ft of torque at 3000 rpm, which can be upgraded to a 116 c.i Stage Three kit which pumps up the claimed torque another 15 percent with a 20 percent increase in horsepower.

We tested the Chieftain Elite last year, which you can read here.

The 2018 MSRP will start at $31,499 in the U.S. and $37,999 in Canada. CN

If you want something ultraexclusive, the Chieftain Elite might be for you.

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

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CARVER, STOLLINGS LAND ROOF SYSTEMS SPONSORSHIP

J

effrey Carver Jr. and Kevin Stollings Jr. announced that Roof Systems will be their title sponsors for the 2018 American Flat Track AFT season.

As for Carver, Roof Systems comes on board in addition with Ben Evans Racing. The team has also received additional support from Indian of Metro Milwaukee and will feature the Indian FTR750 (with the option to run last year’s bikes) in its battle against the factory squads for the 2018 American Flat Track premier-class title.

“He reminds me of the ‘70s, that era, that type of flat track (Above) Jeffrey Carver Jr. and Roof Systems of Dallas, Texas, have joined forces for this year’s AFT Twins Championship.

(Left) Roof Systems is also supporting Kevin Stollings Jr. in AFT Singles.

racer,” said Roof Systems owner Jerry Stinchfield of Carver. “He’s got this grittiness. He’s got this attitude: ‘this is who I am, if you don’t like me, tough.’ He’s just good people. Also, he’s really truly coming into his own. I’ve been watching him for a long time and I think this year is the year for Jeffrey Carver. We’re aiming for the championship. I think we’re going to win some races, just like he put a whooping on them last year in Texas.”

Roof Systems will be Stollings’ title sponsor for this year’s AFT Singles Championship. Since his debut in the series in 2016, Stollings is considered as one of the sport’s rising stars. The 18-year-old built on his debut season of five podium finishes with two wins in 2017 and six podium finishes. He finished both seasons fifth in the points standings with a small, family-run privateer effort and heads into 2018 with his eyes set on the AFT Singles title and extra support from Roof Systems owner Jerry Stinchfield Jr. In addition to going after the AFT Singles Championship, Stollings will be using a provisional to race both Springfield Miles aboard the Stollings Racing Indian Scout FTR750, and looks forward to making his first-ever AFT twins main event. CN

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IN THE

WIND

Shanya Texter will pilot a Husqvarna FC 450 in the AFT Singles class.

TEXTER, HUSQVARNA JOIN FORCES

S

hayna Texter, who celebrated five national victories in 2017, will team with Husqvarna Motorcycles in the AFT Singles division for the 2018 American Flat Track season.

“I’m thrilled to be part of the Husqvarna Motorcycles family, and to be riding such a proven motorcycle,” said Texter. “I’m out to win the AFT Singles championship this season, for sure, but also to showcase the legendary Husqvarna brand and have a blast racing motorcycles along the way. It’s a really special and

exciting opportunity for me.”

Texter will ride the number-52 Husqvarna FC 450 for her own team in 2018, with support from the factory.

“Husqvarna Motorcycles believes strongly in supporting the female riding movement,” said Jenna Parker, Husqvarna Motorcycles Marketing Manager. “This is an ideal match for us. Shayna is not only a ferocious competitor and a proven winner, but she also displays great character and humility. We’re delighted to be working with her.”

“American Flat Track is growing fast and in many exciting directions,” said Michael Lock, CEO of American Flat Track.

“Having Husqvarna Motorcycles competing in our AFT Singles class and partnering with one of our top competitors is great news for Shayna Texter and also for the entire sport. We are grateful to Husqvarna Motorcycles for their vote of confidence in AFT, and we are all looking forward with great anticipation to see the evolution of their project during the 2018 season.” CN

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P46

IN THE

WIND

Marc Marquez— the best of his generation, and odds-on favorite to grab a fifth MotoGP title this year.

MOTOGP PREVIEW

I

s this a second golden age of motorcycle racing? The new MotoGP season—at 19 rounds, the longest ever—begins on March 18, and after eight months of racing, the fans and the 24 riders in the premier class will provide the answer.

2018 comes off the back of two epic years. In 2016, there were a record nine different race winners. This showed that Dorna’s dumbed-down technical restrictions really did level the odds, and cut the factory teams down to size.

In 2017, there were fewer winners—just five. But the battle for

overall victory between defending champion Marc Marquez and veteran Andrea Dovizioso on the reinvigorated Ducati was only resolved at the final race. The pre-eminent pair shared six wins apiece. Three more went to Maverick Vinales, one to Movistar Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi, and two to Marquez’s Repsol Honda stalwart Dani Pedrosa.

The crown went, as we know, to Marquez, his fourth in five years on the factory Honda, confirming his status as the dominant force of modern road racing. But, thanks to some miscalculations at Honda combined

with Dorna’s rule freezing engine development throughout the season, it was an uphill struggle, and a classic example of genius turning hubris into victory.

The roots of Marquez’s difficulties were nourished by HRC’s sometimes fruitful but often pig-headed determination to do things their own way. While rivals prepared for the unified hardware of 2014, then unified software in 2016, HRC persisted with their own highly sophisticated in-house electronics until the last possible moment. Yamaha and Ducati were already familiar with the Magneti Marelli systems

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

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and techniques, Honda had to learn from scratch. It proved complicated.

Another dimension came from the freeze in engine changes. In 2015, Honda installed a low-inertia crankshaft, giving very jagged throttle response and spoiling acceleration. The next year, they reversed crankshaft rotation, and the revised torque reaction upset everything they knew about chassis behavior. And in 2017, another major change—different firing intervals with a more Big Bang effect.

(Above) Will Valentino Rossi and the factory Yamaha be a threat once again in 2018? (Left) Andrea Dovizioso has more power and a better chassis for 2018. Can he topple the charging Marquez?

In all cases, they were stuck with it, giving riders a whole new set of parameters to master.

In 2015, a flummoxed Marquez was third overall to the Yamahas, but over the next two years, his skill and determination prevailed.

Hugely helped by a willingness to have many crashes—17 in 2016 and Aleix Espargaro has a new bike and teammate at Aprilia and will be looking to grab that elusive podium for the Noale team.

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IN THE

WIND

27 last year. He had to fight hard for both of those titles.

Last year, by midseason, he had managed just two wins and had crashed out twice. After that, he and his engineers finally got to grips with the bike’s latest quirks, and it still took him until the 18th and final race before he was confirmed champion for a fourth time.

For 2018, pre-season tests have sounded an ominous note for the opposition. This year’s Honda appears to have fewer built-in quirks, and a significant power boost. Instead of struggling and crashing, Marquez and Pedrosa have made smooth and very rapid progress.

Last year’s opposition was from Ducati, where in its fifth year under ex-Aprilia engineer Gigi Dall’Igna, the Italians had done the opposite of Honda—at last finding a way to harness their desmodromic engine’s class-leading horsepower in a chassis that was able to find its way around corners better than ever. For the first time since winning with Casey Stoner in 2008, in the experienced hands of Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati was a serious title threat.

He was helped by a switch (by popular demand) to a harder front tire construction, leading directly to his first win of the year at Mugello. Twice he out-braved Marquez in last-corner shootouts, but the Ducati still struggled at tracks where sustained

Johann Zarco has been a rockstar since joining MotoGP in 2017 and is likely to grab multiple podiums—if not a win or two— this year.

turning momentum was required, like Phillip Island, where a lowly 13th place lost him the championship.

New teammate Jorge Lorenzo proved a fast learner and made the podium three times; satellite rider Danilo Petrucci (on a factory bike in Pramac colors) got four.

Further improvements were obvious at this year’s pre-season tests, and Lorenzo topped the timesheets at the first Sepang outing. More impressively, new Pramac recruit Jack Miller, on a 2017 bike, was right up with the fastest guys.

The question that needs answering concerns race pace and consistency over different tracks.

Only if the Duke is strong here can it pose a serious challenge to the mighty Hondas.

And Yamaha? Last year, the traditional Honda rival stumbled.

New recruit Maverick Vinales had dominated the tests and took the first two races, but took only one more win; Movistar teammate Valentino Rossi also won only once, while class rookie Johann Zarco (up from winning the first double Moto2 crown) made hay on the 2016 bike.

A winter of development was based on the 2016 chassis.

But the early tests were not too promising. The factory riders both had problems with sustained runs, and (as last year) were complaining of different issues, adding to further confusion.

And all the while Johann Zarco, who had elected to retain his 2016 bike, was going con-

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

sistently fast. The Frenchman underlined his strength by posting the top time at the final tests at Qatar.

Alex Rins’s first year at Suzuki was spoiled by several injuries: his second started in flying style when he placed fifth at Buriram (Thailand) tests, and eighth at Qatar. The factory has reverted to “concession” status after poor results last year, meaning extra tests and free engine development. The GSX-RR chassis already boasts sweet handling, and the Japanese poor relation could pack some surprises. At the same time, hot property Rins might inspire his erratic teammate Andrea Iannone to greater feats in his own second year.

The Italian was fastest on day two at Qatar.

Aprilia and KTM remain as concession teams, with a different status. The Italian squad retained hard charger Aleix Espargaro and

recruited the so-far disappointing Scott Redding, and has furnished them with a new engine. Aprilia has plenty to prove.

So too KTM, after a very strong debut 2017. Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith are staying on, with test rider Mika Kallio promised the odd wildcard outing. If the Austrian bikes—with

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(Above) If he stays fit, Alex Rins is a podium contender on the factory Suzuki. (Below) Jack Miller has been on fire in the preseason tests.

Can he convert that speed to race winning success?

their heretical steel-tube frames and WP suspension—continue to improve at the same rate, they could attract stronger riders for next season.

Racing starts in Qatar on March 18 and spans the globe (including a new round at Buriram) before finishing as is now traditional at Valencia on November 18.

Place your bets.

My money is going on Marquez. But with the Michelin control tires again adding a variable, it could be more open than it might appear at first.

Michael Scott

ROUND 10 / MARCH 10, 2018 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY / DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

SUPERCROSS

P50

MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS, AN FIM WORLD CHAMP

Braytona!

BY STEVE COX PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB KOY

Justin Brayton takes down his first-ever main-event win, and sets a record in the process

J

ustin Brayton has been on the gas all year, but his biggest successes have come early in the night with heat-race wins, which he has not been able to convert into wins in the main events. He did win one of the three races at the Atlanta Triple Crown a week earlier but that won’t go down in the record books as an official Supercross win. At Daytona International Speedway, however, Brayton again won early in

the night, taking the opening heat-race win. But this time, Brayton backed it up with his first-ever win in the main event. This one will indeed get written into the history books.

The win was not only Brayton’s first, but it also set a new record for the oldest racer ever to win an AMA Supercross main event. Brayton turns 34 the week after the Daytona Supercross, and the previous record-holder was Mike LaRocco,

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PIONSHIP Justin Brayton’s persistence finally paid off with his first career AMA Supercross win for the 33-year-old.

ROUND 10 / MARCH 10, 2018 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY / DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

SUPERCROSS

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MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS, AN FIM WORLD CHAMP

who was 33 years, one month and six days old when he won his final main event. This marks the second of LaRocco’s records to fall in 2018. The first one fell to Chad Reed who surpassed LaRocco in the most Supercross mains started.

In the 250SX class, Jordon Smith (TLD Red Bull KTM) led every lap of the Daytona main event to snatch his first win of the year, while points leader Zach Osborne came from behind for fourth, just one spot behind Austin Forkner. Osborne and Forkner are now tied atop the championship standings.

The 450SX field launches off Daytona’s iconic start line on the infield of Daytona International Speedway.

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

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PIONSHIP

450SX

When people want to talk about determination or grit, they often talk about racers like Ricky Carmichael, Ryan Villopoto, Bob Hannah, Ryan Dungey or Mike LaRocco. But it’s easy to stay motivated when you’re reaping the rewards for your hard work on a regular basis, winning races and championships. For a guy like Justin Brayton, or others such as Andrew Short in the past, determination is a much bigger factor. Justin

Brayton (Motoconcepts/SmarTop Honda) has been chasing his very first supercross win for a decade, yet he never wavered. Through injuries, hard luck, loss of rides, he just kept showing back up and putting it on the line again, determined to put forth his best effort. And Saturday night in Daytona Beach, Florida, it finally paid off.

Brayton started second in the main event, behind Christian Craig (Honda HRC), then passed

ROUND 10 / MARCH 10, 2018 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY / DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

SUPERCROSS

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MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS

Eli Tomac (3) and Cooper Webb (2) battle over second place in the 450SX main.

the fill-in racer (on loan from the Geico Honda squad) and took off, leading every lap of the main event. In the final laps, he was tasked with keeping Eli Tomac (who won the last two races at Daytona) at bay, and he had enough in the tank to do just that, taking his first-ever main-event win at almost 34 years of age.

“I can’t even describe it,” Brayton said on the podium.

“This is just...a supercross win at Daytona? Are you serious?! Oh my gosh, this is so awesome...

this is so amazing. I’m turning 34 this week, but I feel good. I feel great. This is amazing. I got a supercross win at Daytona. Crazy.”

Daytona has a history of giving people their first supercross win, but Brayton’s was still unusual.

Typically, it’s a motocross specialist who gets their first SX win at Daytona, like Mike Kiedrowski or Ricky Carmichael, but Brayton is a supercross specialist.

“I’m not an outdoor guy! This is like an outdoor track!” he said.

“I sprinted the first few laps, and

my lungs were just so closed off.

But I knew if I could put in some laps at the beginning, I was fast enough to get away and get a cushion, and it worked! This is awesome. It’s so awesome.”

Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) hung on for second with time to spare over Cooper Webb (Monster Energy Yamaha). Jason Anderson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) had a tough night for seventh in Daytona but still holds a 40-point lead as the series heads to St. Louis. cont. on page 62

Eli Tomac AMA 450 Supercross and Motocross

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ROUND 10 / MARCH 10, 2018 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY / DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

SUPERCROSS

MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS

iii My Own Race: 3

ELI TOMAC

2ND 450SX

6

JEREMY MARTIN

2ND 250SX EAST

Naysayers can make the case that Justin Brayton’s win at Daytona had a lot to do with “luck” because so many of the expected winners had bad nights, but even late in the race, when all the momentum was on Eli Tomac’s side, he couldn’t catch Brayton. But it certainly did help that Tomac went down on the opening lap and had to come from dead last to eventually finish second. “In the end-zone corner, there was a spot, and I just got hung up at the top of the berm and I had nowhere to go,” Tomac said. “I lost my balance and actually looped out my bike. It was pretty sketchy for what it was. The good thing is this year Daytona allowed for some good passing with long straightaways and lanes, so it was good. At least I was able to make something out of it.” In the last four Daytona Supercrosses, Tomac has finished 2-1-1-2.

Jeremy Martin came into Daytona with high hopes, considering he is typically considered more of an “outdoor guy” and he actually finished second in the 450SX class in 2017, but he just didn’t quite have anything for winner Jordon Smith. “It’s Daytona, a real man’s track,” Martin said. “It was the toughest race of the year as far as fitness.

I had to slow down a little bit halfway through the main. I’ve been kind of sick the last couple weeks. I was getting close to Jordon there and I was starting to think about where I could make a move on him, then I made some mistakes and he got back away from me. I couldn’t quite get close again, but it’s good. We’re on the podium and we’re in contention for wins again, and that’s something I haven’t been able to say in supercross in awhile. We want to get wins and now we know it’s coming.”

34 WESTON PEICK

6TH 450SX

Weston Peick (Autotrader/Yoshimura Suzuki) had a solid race despite not feeling 100 percent. “Daytona went better than expected for me. I got sick this past week, and I was obviously sore from my crash in Atlanta. I got off to a decent start in my heat race, but then got tangled up in the first turn. I charged up to third, so I was happy with that. I had a good start in the main event and rode in third place for quite a while.

Then, due to being sick and sore, I fell back a few positions. Regardless, I’m happy to get some good points and head into next weekend feeling better.”

35 AUSTIN FORKNER 3RD 250SX EAST

Austin Forkner has quietly worked himself up into the championship lead after four rounds of the 250SX East Championship. After holding off Osborne for third at Daytona, he’s tied with the defending champ atop the points standings. “Honestly, just keep getting consistent podiums,” Forkner said. “That’s really what I want to do. And I think if I can get consistent podiums, then I’ll be in the championship hunt no matter what. I tried to run with those guys. It was super-hard to push and be consistent.

The track was obviously really tiring. I sprinted really hard in the beginning and then kind of made some mistakes and fell off. Then I tried to pick it back up and reel them back in.”

2

COOPER WEBB

3RD 450SX

Cooper Webb was in contention all night at Daytona, qualifying inside the top five, then leading his heat race until he cross-jumped in front of Eli Tomac, prompting a perturbed Tomac to make a questionable move in the following corner, resulting in them both hitting the dirt. Still, in the main, Webb ran as high as second before relinquishing that spot to Tomac late in the race. “Daytona was really good this year,” Webb said. “It was the first time I ever raced it, but I grew up coming here as a kid to watch, so it’s pretty special to be here now in the 450 class. Overall, it was a solid day. We did a lot of great testing this week at Justin Barcia’s house to get a great setting for here at Daytona!”

P56

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ROUND 10 / MARCH 10, 2018 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY / DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

SUPERCROSS

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MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS, AN FIM WORLD CHAMP

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

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PIONSHIP

Briefly...

HEROES TO ZEROES

(Left) Christian Craig (32) grabbed the 450SX holeshot but slipped back to fourth. (Below) Tomac and Webb exchange words.

The two had a few run-ins.

Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha went from potential 250SX East championship contenders to being knocked out of the title fight in just one week. First there was Dylan Ferrandis, who was battling up front in Atlanta when he crashed out and ended his series with numerous injuries, including broken teeth, then during the week between Atlanta and Daytona, teammate Colt Nichols, who was third in points going into the race, went down while practicing and broke his humerus, which he had broken last year. He’ll be out indefinitely, as well.

Nichols said via Instagram: “Sometimes you want a explanation for things and you will never get one. The only thing you can do is look forward and keep chasing what you want. And I will never stop fighting for what I want. I had a practice crash on Wednesday and broke my humerus again, effectively ending my season. As soon as I can get fully healthy and have no complications with my arm, I’ll be back. It’s disheartening, not so much for myself but for my team, fans and everybody that enjoyed watching me race supercross. But time still ticks, the sun still sets and rises, and I will be back and stronger than ever.”

HAMPSHIRE BANGED UP Geico Honda’s RJ Hampshire, who was third in points going into Daytona, suffered a big crash in his heat race and suffered injuries that will sideline the Floridian for while. “I felt good on the bike all day yesterday,” Hampshire said via Instagram on Sunday. “Had some pretty good speed and my foot just slid off hitting my shifter in those rollers during that heat race. After seeing the pictures from the crash I’m cont. on page 63

ROUND 10 / MARCH 10, 2018 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY / DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

SUPERCROSS

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MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS

Marvin Musquin had a great chance to win after passing Brayton, but the Daytona track bit him twice. He ended up fifth.

Action Pic: SimonCudby

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ROUND 10 / MARCH 10, 2018 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY / DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

SUPERCROSS

250SX EAST

MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS, AN FIM WORLD CHAMP

Jordon Smith was a championship contender in the 2017 250SX East Series, and he may have had that championship locked up if not for a massive crash at the series finale in Las Vegas. As such, he came into the 2018 series with high hopes, and has left most of the first few rounds disappointed. He scored two sixth-place finishes in a row at the opening two rounds, grabbed third overall in Atlanta’s Triple Crown (with 3-4-6 finishes), but he came out swinging in Daytona.

Jordon Smith made the Daytona track look easy en route to a wire-to-wire win.

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Smith qualified third at Daytona, then won his heat race and was awarded first gate pick in the main event, promptly grabbed the holeshot and took off, leading every lap on the way to his first win of the year.

“I mean, I was getting off to a great start,” Smith said. “And, you know, the track was extremely tough out there today.

Mentally, physically, everything about it, you know. It’s a great feeling to be back on top. It’s not been the start that I wanted to the season but we’re getting it rolling now.”

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PIONSHIP

Briefly... very thankful I didn’t take that shot to my head. I have some fractures in my T3/T4 in my back and ribs. Also have some damage to my lungs, which is why I’ll be spending a couple nights in the hospital. I’ll be getting some more checkups this week on the shoulder also.”

DECOTIS DOWN AutoTrader/JGR Suzuki’s Jimmy Decotis will be sidelined for a while after crashing early in the 250SX main. “Not the way I wanted to end my night,” Decotis said via his Instagram account. “I had a big crash before the finish line. I’m thankful to be walking.

Couple fractures in the L2 and L3 and some broken ribs. Back injuries are scary, so I feel I’m truly blessed with the outcome. Thank you so much @ ichorsportsmedicine [Eddie Casillas], Doc Bodner and everyone at the medical unit.”

MARTIN LAST MAN STANDING Geico Honda’s Cameron McAdoo missed the Daytona Supercross after re-breaking his hand at the Atlanta Supercross a week earlier, and with RJ Hampshire now out of the series, Jeremy Martin is the last racer still healthy for the team in the 250SX East Series. He’s fourth in points, 19 out of the lead, with five rounds left to run.

SPECIAL DAYTONA PREP Zach Osborne mentioned that their track builder at the Baker’s Factory (trainer Aldon Baker’s facility in Florida) had helped him and anybody else training at the facility to prepare for the Daytona Supercross by building a replica of the track to test and train on for a week prior to the event. “We

ROUND 10 / MARCH 10, 2018 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY / DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

SUPERCROSS

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MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS, AN FIM WORLD CHAMP

Jeremy Martin (Geico Honda) was second overall, matching his finish in the 450SX class from 2017, and Austin Forkner (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki) held off hard-charging points leader Zach Osborne for third on the final lap.

Osborne (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) had a fall on the opening lap that left him coming from behind, but he ran out of time to make it up to the podium positions. Now, Osborne and Forkner will share the red plate at the next round in St. Louis.

450SX 1. Justin Brayton (Hon) 2. Eli Tomac (Kaw) 3. Cooper Webb (Yam) 4. Christian Craig (Hon) 5. Marvin Musquin (KTM) 6. Weston Peick (Suz) 7. Jason Anderson (Hus) 8. Dean Wilson (Hus) 9. Blake Baggett (KTM) 10. Broc Tickle (KTM) 250SX EAST 1. Jordon Smith (KTM) 2. Jeremy Martin (Hon) 3. Austin Forkner (Kaw) 4. Zach Osborne (Hus) 5. Martin Davalos (Kaw) 6. Kyle Peters (Suz) 7. Sean Cantrell (KTM) 8. Brandon Hartranft (Yam) 9. Ramyller Alves (Yam) 10. Luke Renzland (Yam) Jeremy Martin had another solid race, this time nabbing second in the 250SX East main.

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PIONSHIP

Briefly... actually had our guy Corey, at the Baker’s Factory, build us a really nice replica this week, and we had a really good week of testing,” Osborne said “I didn’t change a whole lot coming into tonight.”

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER The 2018 Daytona Supercross marked Justin Brayton’s 131st-career main event, and his first win. “I knew that I had to put in really good laps in the beginning with that good of a start, and I made that pass on Christian [Craig] the first lap and really just tried to get a gap, and then just tried to manage that gap,” Brayton said of how he won the 450SX main. “I saw Coop [Cooper Webb] in second, and he made a little bit of a charge, and once Eli [Tomac] got him, I think there were four or so laps to go, and I was like, ‘Oh, boy, here he comes.’ I put together good laps. I knew towards the end of the race he could only go so fast, once the track gets rough like that, so I thought I managed it well, and it’s crazy. I finally got a win!”

ROCZEN PROPOSES (WELL, SORT OF) It was another busy day for the recuperating Ken Roczen (Honda HRC), who attended his third consecutive race on the sidelines. (Roczen was injured at the San Diego Supercross.)

After signing autographs alongside Honda teammate Christian Craig for over 30 minutes, the German helped a fan propose to his girlfriend by writing “Will you marry me?” on one of his posters. She said yes! We assume to her boyfriend. CN

ROUND 10 / MARCH 10, 2018 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY / DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

SUPERCROSS

MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS

(Above) Zach Osborne came from way back to salvage a fourth-place finish, enough to cling to the points lead (even if he now shares it with Austin Forkner). (Below) Austin Forkner (35) had to fight his way past Sean Cantrell in the 250SX main en route to a third-place finish.

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ENGINEERED FOR THE RIDE AHEAD

“Thanks Team SRT for the help, support and awesome products.”

– Wally Palmer,

2017 AMA East Hare Scramble Champion and Fan Favorite

PARTS

PERFECT-FIT BODY PLASTICS

ACCESSORIES

COMPLETE WHEEL ASSEMBLY

APPAREL

PRO-LINE BRAKE PADS

ROUND 10 / MARCH 10, 2018 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY / DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

SUPERCROSS

MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS

iii My Own Race: 25

MARVIN MUSQUIN

5TH 450SX

21

JASON ANDERSON

7TH 450SX

32

CHRISTIAN CRAIG

4TH 450SX

76

KYLE PETERS

6TH 250SX EAST

27

MALCOLM STEWART

16TH 450SX

Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM) blew a golden opportunity to pull back a chunk of points on championship leader Jason Anderson when he passed Brayton for the lead early in the race, but instead, the runner-up in the series, Musquin, proceeded to crash several times for an eventual fifth place. “It’s really disappointing to finish fifth tonight,” Musquin said. “I felt really good all day on my bike and I feel like we threw away a win. I had a good start and was there in third, but this time I tried to be smarter with my passes and it worked as I got into the lead. I was able to pull away a little until I made a big mistake, almost looped out and landed on the ground in the mechanics area. I then had another crash in a turn quickly after getting back on the bike, which took me a little bit of time to reset and refocus so I fought hard to come back to fifth.” This broke Musquin’s streak of four second-place finishes in a row. The mistakes cost Musquin eight points in the championship chase, which he now trails by 40.

Jason Anderson had his first bad night of the season. Slow starts and falls cost him big all night, starting with a heat-race crash on the opening lap, which left him barely qualifying for the main event in ninth place. Then another poor start and a crash left him seventh in the main event, his worst finish of the season so far. “I had great qualifying sessions,” said Anderson. “I fell down in the heat race after getting hit with a Tuff Block, but came back to ninth to qualify for the main. I didn’t have the best gate pick in the main, but I made my way through the pack and ended up falling down. I was able to finish seventh. My points are still good, so I’m just going to move onto next week and keep the train rolling.”

Honda HRC fill-in rider Christian Craig almost made it two Hondas on the 450SX podium. “I had a good gate pick and some confidence going into the main,” Craig said who had earlier in the evening won his heat race. “I grabbed the holeshot and led for almost the first lap, but [Justin] Brayton got by me pretty quick. I stayed second for quite a while. I just rode my hardest and did my best. Unfortunately, a couple guys got by me in the end so I ended up fourth. The track was so tough. This is only my second time racing Daytona and last year didn’t go well, so I really wanted to get some revenge this year. It’s better than the week before, but man, I was so close to a podium.”

It was a good night for Kyle Peters. The Autotrader/Yoshimura Suzuki Team rider got off to a fast start in the main and was just as fast at the end for sixth. “I had a good day,” Peters said. “Right off the bat I felt better than all of the other [supercross rounds this year]. I got in a little bit better of a flow. My practice times were up there.

I had a good start in the heat race and rode defensively, so I need to work on that.

Everyone flinched off the gate at the start of the 250 main event and I got a terrible jump, but I came around in the top 10. I need to be a bit more aggressive with my riding, but I’m gaining ground. Sixth place isn’t where I want to be, but we’re making improvements. The goal is to be on the box, and I’m not satisfied until I get up there.”

Malcolm Stewart (Autotrader/Yoshimura Suzuki) was hoping to have a good finish in front of his home fans but a crash in the main prevented that from happening. “I felt really good all day long,” Stewart said. “The heat race went well, and I finished fourth. In the main event I was running in seventh place after a few laps, but tangled with another rider. I fell back to 18th, and moved up to 16th by the end of the race.

That’s part of racing.”

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ROUND 2 / MARCH 11, 2018 RODMAN PLANTATION / PALATKA, FLORIDA

OFF-ROAD

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AMSOIL GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES, AN AMA

RUSSELL WINS WILD BOAR PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEN HILL

K

ailub Russell rebounded from a less-than-stellar opening lap to claim his second overall win in as many races at the Moose Racing Wild Boar GNCC, round two of the Amsoil Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series, an AMA National Championship, in Palatka, Florida.

Russell suffered a few self-inflicted wounds early on in the three-hour race, including a couple of crashes and a bent shift lever, however, the FMF KTM Factory Off-Road racer gathered his composure and ultimately took control of the race just before the sixth and final lap to beat out Tely Energy KTM’s Steward Baylor at the finish. The win was Russell’s second in a row for 2018 in his pursuit of a sixth-straight XC1 title and the 49th overall of his career.

“I got a bad start and, after that Thad, and I just started trading crashes; I’d go down and pick it up, then he’d go down and pick it up,” said Russell. “It was one of those races where it seemed like nothing was going right for me and I’ve got to get that sorted out. It was just mental errors. I watered out my goggles on the first lap and then, on the second lap, I crashed and bent my shifter, just dumb little things that put me at a deficit.”

Baylor seemed in control of things during the first half of the race, and at one point held a 28-second lead over Strang, who in turn had a comfortable gap over a fierce battle between Russell and Duvall for third.

Kailub Russell came from behind to grab his second win of the season at the Wild Boar GNCC in Florida.

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NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP “I got a very, very good start, which was kind of surprising,” said Baylor. “I think everyone pinched in tight in the first turn and I was on the outside and I just hit it in third gear and pulled into the lead.”

Baylor sprinted hard during the first few laps in an obvious attempt to pull away from the field. Strang pushed hard too, despite fighting off the effects of the flu, which had stricken the Aussie off-road star at the beginning of the week. At the end of three laps, however, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory racer was weakening and losing momentum. Unable to grip the bars, Strang started to slip back into the pack where he eventually settled into ninth.

“I was sick all week and with the rough track today it just sapped all my energy,” said Strang. “It’s a real bummer because I felt great for three laps and then I just couldn’t hold on any more.”

Baylor held a solid lead over Russell and Duvall just before starting lap five, but a mistake in one of the mud holes allowed Russell to pull within striking distance.

“Like a moron, I missed my line and I went down and tweaked my front end,” said

RUSSELL, BAYLOR AND DUVALL SHARE THE PODIUM IN FLORIDA

ROUND 2 / MARCH 11, 2018 RODMAN PLANTATION / PALATKA, FLORIDA

OFF-ROAD

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AMSOIL GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES, AN AMA

Baylor. “Kailub gained a lot of ground on me and he just had more momentum and was able to pass me. Once he got by I tried as hard as I could but I just couldn’t close the gap. All I could do was leave everything out on the track.”

Once in the lead, Russell was

able to put some breathing room between himself and Baylor, and took the checkered flag with 16 seconds to spare over the South Carolina rider.

“After that first lap, I was able to smooth out a little bit and regroup,” said Russell. “Baylor kind of set sail at the start of the

race, but I was able to get back in the flow and reel him in.”

Baylor finished 20 seconds ahead of Duvall to claim the runner-up slot, besting his roundone finish by one position.

“I stayed out front for almost five laps, but then Kailub just put it to me,” said Baylor. “Once he

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NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP passed me I gave it everything I had but I couldn’t close the gap.

I think I rode well, I think I led more laps than any other race in my career. I think I’m getting better each race so I’m looking forward to next week’s race in Georgia.”

Through the first four laps, Duvall’s race went according to plan. However with two laps to go the West Virginian started to lose his composure.

“I really struggled those last two laps,” said Duvall. “Me and Kailub were able to catch up to Steward, but then I crashed few times and I picked some bad lines and I just couldn’t keep it together. I feel like I rode pretty

(Above) Steward Baylor led most of the race but could hold off the defending champ, Russell.

(Right) Ben Kelley surged to the front of the XC2 class and came away with the victory.

good for most of the day, I just let the race get away from me there at the end.”

Trail Jesters KTM Racing’s Ben Kelley made a last-lap pass on FMF KTM’s Josh Toth to finish fourth overall and first in the XC2 250 Pro class. Toth, who won the XC2 250 Pro division at round one of the series in South Carolina, led Kelley for most of the race, but a tip-over on the final lap while trying to pass a lapper allowed the lanky Connecticut rider to close in for the kill. Kelley made a pass on Toth stick and held on to the finish as the two KTMs fight to see who stamps their name on the series.

“I sorta got shuffled around at

ROUND 2 / MARCH 11, 2018 RODMAN PLANTATION / PALATKA, FLORIDA

OFF-ROAD

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AMSOIL GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES

Thad Duvall rounded out the XC1 Pro-class podium.

the start and I was back about 10th on the first lap, but I was able to work my way up to Josh,” said Kelley. “When I caught up to him I had to calm myself down a bit, but once I got my composure I was able to make a pass and hold on for the win.”

Trevor Bollinger put his JCR Honda into sixth overall, nearly three minutes behind Toth, while Coastal Racing Husqvarna’s Pascal Rauchenecker, finished third in the XC2 class with an eighth overall, one spot behind Husqvarna rider Layne Michael (XC1).

Strang and Coastal Racing Husqvarna’s Craig DeLong (XC2) rounded out the top 10.

KTM-mounted Jesse Ansley topped the FMF XC3 125 ProAm class with an 18th overall finish, besting former National Hare Scrambles champ Jason Raines (Raines Racing Yamaha) for the win by just over four minutes. Grizzly Peak Yamaha’s Jacob Rowland was third in the class and 27th overall.

Tayla Jones came from behind to win the Women’s XCW class at the series opener in South Carolina in a down-to-the-wire thriller. At the Wild Boar, however, the KR4 Husqvarna rider left nothing to chance, dominating the race from start to finish to claim an impressive victory. Fly/ Maxxis/Seat Concepts KTM’s

Becca Sheets finished second about four minutes off the pace, while Beta USA’s Rachel Gutish rounded out the podium another seven minutes back. CN OVERALL 1. Kailub Russell (KTM) 2. Steward Baylor (KTM) 3. Thad Duvall (Hus) 4. Ben Kelley (KTM) 5. Josh Toth (KTM) 6. Trevor Bollinger (Hon) 7. Layne Michael (Hus) 8. Pascal Rauchenecker (Hus) 9. Josh Strang (Hus) 10. Craig DeLong (Hus)

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FIRST TEST

2018 ALTA REDSHIFT MXR

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Adding

More Juice More power, better suspension and a lower price tag, but can it replace your gas-powered bike?

BY CYCLE NEWS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIT PALMER

I

s the future of motocross going to be powered by batteries?

If so, are we there yet? We got to spend a full day at the motocross track riding the 2018 Alta Redshift MXR to try to answer these questions.

As we reported in our first test of the 2017 Alta Redshift MX last year, we came away impressed with the design, build quality and performance. You can read that story by clicking here. We also noted that electric powered cars have proven to be among the quickest production cars available, so the technology is there but it is challenging to squeeze that down to fit into a motorcycle. On the track and trails, the 2017 Redshift MX had some advantages over a standard internal combustion-powered motorcycle. The lack of a shifter allows you to evenly weight both pegs and you don’t have to worry about being in the right gear or stalling the motor in tight and technical conditions. The motor is basically maintenance-free with a 1000-hour maintenance cycle and you don’t need to clean air filters or change the oil. (You just might have to replace the chain and sprockets every now and then.) The lack of sound also opens a lot of riding options as the Alta can be ridden on a backyard track without your neighbors even knowing.

But we also noted a few negatives: The 2017 Redshift MX weighed in at 266 pounds, which is about 25-30 pound more than a current 250 four-stroke MX bike. The power decreased a little as soon as the battery dipped below 75%. The suspension was pretty soft and not up to aggressive motocross track riding. It took almost three hours to re-charge a completely depleted battery and perhaps the biggest negative was the $14,995 price tag.

FIRST TEST

2018 ALTA REDSHIFT MXR

an hour and a half using the new charger if you have access to a 220 plug or generator.

Even with all these improvements, the Redshift MXR retail price is $11,995, which is still significantly less than the 2017 Redshift MX. Alta says that the reduced cost is due mostly to increased production volumes.

And you can still argue that the reduced cost of maintenance makes the total cost of ownership very competitive with a traditional gas-powered motorcycle.

Alta has proven their ability to build extremely high-quality bikes and those bikes are designed and manufactured in Brisbane, California, just south of San Francisco. The CNC-machined aluminum forged main frame is constructed with the motor and controller nicely integrated.

The Redshift MXR still uses a

(Above) The new Alta Redshift MXR gets better performance and longer battery life—not to mention a substantially smaller price tag. (Right) The rear WP shock gets new settings specifically designed for the Alta. (Bottom) The MXR is fitted with high-end WP AER 48 forks.

Here we are just a year later, and Alta has made some huge gains on all those negatives.

To start, the 2018 Redshift MX, which has just a few technical updates now has a retail price of just $10,495. That does not include the battery charger, which will cost $500 for the basic charger or $750 for a new version that will charge the Redshift MX a little quicker. (You’ll be glad you spent the extra $250 for the latest one.) But the big news is the Redshift MXR, this new model gets a new battery and upgrades to the firmware

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and software that increases the horsepower from 40 to 50 at the rear wheel, and that power now holds steady even as the battery discharges. It also gets the latest generation WP Shock and WP AER 48 forks, which are now tuned for an aggressive intermediate-level motocross rider. Plus, more aggressive footpegs, an upgraded seat and dash mounting that allows for easier handlebar adjustment. The battery and air forks combine to shave eight pounds off the bike getting it down to 259 pounds. And that new battery will charge in about

INTERMEDIATE MX

1

M X TIR E S & T U BE S

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TRACTION. CONTROL.

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FIRST TEST

2018 ALTA REDSHIFT MXR

water-cooled 14,000 rpm brushless motor. And the sub-frame is a twopiece plastic unit that helps make up for some of the weight penalty of the battery. Perhaps the most important part of any motorcycle is the “connection between the throttle and the wheel.” This is where Alta has really flexed their muscle. The controller and four optional maps on the Redshift MX provided a lot of options and that carry over on the MXR but each option now provides a lot more power. Those four map options can still be changed on the fly via buttons on the handlebar.

Turn It On And Go

The first thing you notice when sitting on the Redshift MX or MXR is the lack of a clutch lever and once you take off, you may find yourself looking for the shifter, but you forget about all of that very quickly. A lot of that is because you are always in the right gear that is always matched perfectly to the power, so you’re never tempted to shift gears or grab the clutch.

The new MXR has some serious power, especially in the most aggressive map setting. Again, Alta claims the MXR has 50 horsepower, and produces 42 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheel. With 50 horsepower right off idle, you don’t feel the need to “clutch it” to find the sweet spot in the power so you can focus more on riding. The Redshift MX power is in the range of a stock 250F while the new MXR is in the range of a highly modified 250F. And that power is plenty to jump anything you would do on a traditional 250F motocross bike. The lack of motor sound is also a little strange at first as you hear the

With less moving internal parts, the Alta doesn’t fight the rider when it comes to the turns. It goes where it’s pointed almost effortlessly.

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chain slap, rocks and dirt clods slamming into the plastic finders, and the rear tire spinning, which makes you think you have a flat.

Plus, normally, on gas bikes, when things go silent over a big double jump, that’s usually a sign that something bad is about to happen, but not on the Alta.

It’s totally normal. The bike isn’t completely silent, though, as there is an audible gear whine when you open up the throttle and motor speed picks up; it’s not much different than what a remote-controlled car toy makes.

But, overall, you pretty quickly get used to the lack of sound.

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The new WP shock and AER48 fork and settings make the MXR a very capable motocross bike in stock form, even for a fast-intermediate rider. The overall handling of the bike is very predictable and balanced.

Even with the weight loss for the MXR, it is still 15-20 pounds heavier than a 250F and you will notice that when you lift the bike onto a stand but we can’t say that we really noticed it on the track. The lack of rotating mass and well-centralized weight contribute to great handling.

This was our first time on the Alta with other Altas on the track

FIRST TEST

2018 ALTA REDSHIFT MXR

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at the same time. We found that it can be startling having another electric bike pass you if you’re not paying attention on what’s going on behind you. A courtesy “on your left” would be nice. Yes, you can actually have a conversation with the rider next to you. The fun potential here is quite high on the Alta, especially if your riding buddy has one too.

With all these improvements, is the Alta Redshift MXR up to the task of replacing our gas-powered bikes? In terms of pure performance and lap times, it is there now but there are still some big The 2018 Alta Redshift MX is a slightly upgraded version of last year’s model with softer suspension and less horsepower than the new MXR.

The Alta hooks up out of the turns amazingly well.

Issues

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FIRST TEST

2018 ALTA REDSHIFT MXR

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An aggressive rider will drain the MXR battery in 25-30 minutes and it will then take 90 minutes to charge. That may be more time than you have between motos if you are racing and more time than you care to sit around even if you are just riding motos at the track. We

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018 experienced this first hand during our test day. And that 90-minute charge time requires a 220 plug or high-output generator.

So the bike may be very quiet on the track but you will likely be listening to a generator running while you sit around waiting for it to charge up. And you may need to include the cost of a generator in that total cost of ownership calculation as well as plan for the space to transport it to the track.

And ironically, you will still need to stop at the gas station for fuel for that generator.

A slower, less aggressive rider will get a lot more time out of the battery and riding trails on the number 1 or 2 maps also dramatically increase the ride time and that may be enough for many.

Alta’s philosophy is that they don’t want to make just the best electric motocross bike but the best motocross bike. They’ve come a long way in a short time.

But any aggressive riding will likely leave you looking for more juice to get a full day in. If you are fortunate enough to have a large yard or property to ride on, the charging issues may be resolved but most of us still ride at public tracks.

Just like a gas bike, you still have to monitor “fuel” consumption when you’re out riding, there is no limp-home mode when you run out of juice on the Alta, just like there is none on a gas motocross bike. You do, however, have a digital meter on the handlebars to keep you informed.

The Alta Redshift MXR is by far the best electric powered motorcycle produced to date and if you look at the rate of improvement in battery technology and performance over just the last year, it may not be long before those range and charging limitations are no longer an issue. And the recent announcement of Harley-Davidson becoming and equity investor in Alta and a collaborator on electric technology could accelerate that development. CN

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SPECIFICATIONS

2018 ALTA REDSHIFT MXR ($11,995) MOTOR:........................High Speed PMAC TORQUE:...........................................42 lb-ft HORSEPOWER:........................................ 50 TRANSMISSION:.............................1 speed GEAR RATIO:........................................3.5:1 FINAL DRIVE:....................................12/53T BATTERY:............ Waterproof Li-Ion 350v CAPACITY:...... 5.8kW or 3.3kW Offboard RECHARGE TIME:.................1.5 hrs (240v) ELECTRONICS:.......Alta-Digital w/4 maps FRAME:....................................... Aluminum FRONT SUSPENSION:............ WP AER 48, fully adjustable fork REAR SUSPENSION:..... WP 2018 Alta spec, fully adjustable, single shock FRONT BRAKE:............Brembo two piston 260mm rotor REAR BRAKE:..........Brembo single piston 240mm rotor TIRES:................... Dunlop Geomax MX3S SEAT HEIGHT:................................. 37.5 in.

WHEELBASE:...................................58.6 in.

RAKE:...................................................... 27° OFFSET:............................................. 2.2 in.

CURB WEIGHT (CLAIMED):...........259 lbs.

FIRST TEST We’ll spare you a crappy rhyme about rain and Spain. Suffice to say it was wet— real wet—and the little MT was a great ride for the conditions.

2018 YAMAHA MT-07

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PUNCHING ABOVE ITS WEIGHT A few years back, Yamaha released the MT-07. No one, not even Yamaha, could predict how important the little bike would become. We headed to Spain to ride version 2.0

BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY YAMAHA

Here’s a question for you: What do you think the top selling Yamaha motorcycle in the U.S is? YZ450F? YZF-R1? The PW50? Any of these would be a fair answer, but none would be correct.

The bike that brings home the bacon for the Tuning Fork company is none other than the little FZ-07, now branded the MT-07, which is what the bike was known as everywhere else but in the U.S. since its release in 2014 (2015 in the U.S.).

In the 2017 model year, Yamaha saw 24,358 MT-07s roll into new garages across the globe, with 3891 of those in the U.S. The 07 accounts for over half of all Yamaha MT sales, with nearly four

times as many MT-07s finding new homes as the big daddy MT-10.

This is more than the little bike that could. It’s the little bike that does; it’s proven a brilliant tool for everything from daily commuting to customizing to racing—it really is a jack of all trades.

Part of the reason the MT has been so successful is its simplicity. Take a good engine, put it in a light chassis, and price it competitively. It’s the same theory Yamaha used to excellent effect when they released the RD350 in the ’80s, a bike still credited as kick-starting a generation of new riders.

The MT-07 also benefits from a brilliant marketing campaign. The “Dark Side of Japan” campaign

FIRST TEST

2018 YAMAHA MT-07

has been a stroke of genius for Yamaha, highlighting the weird and wacky Tokyo underworld and allowing the engineers to infuse some of that persona into the bike itself.

The MT-07 has been around in the U.S. at least for three years, which isn’t a great deal of time between updates. Gone are the days when bikes more than two years old were entirely replaced—development dollars need to stretch further as budgets conversely get smaller—so it helps if you knock one out of the park the ttfirst time out so as not to have to reinvent the wheel in a few years’ time.

This year, the MT-07 gets a few ergonomics changes as well as

stiffer suspension front and back swiped from the XSR700, itself just an MT-07 in drag. The fork now houses a six percent stiffer spring with 16 percent faster rebound damping (which remains unadjustable), while the shock gets rebound damping adjustment, an 11 percent stiffer spring, 27 percent increase in high-speed rebound damping and 40 percent more high-speed compression damping, the latter also unadjustable.

To the naked eye, the ergonomic changes are small at best but they make a big difference in riding. The seat height is unchanged at 31.7 inches, but the tank is now 10mm shorter front-to-back and the rider and passenger seats

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have been expanded. For the rider at least, the seat is beefier all attround with a claimed 30 percent more real estate, giving them more room to move front and back although, truth be told, there wasn’t much wrong with the old seat.

As far as looks go, the ’18 MT gets a repositioned headlight, a new one-piece front fender, a new radiator cover, redesigned tank cover and a brake light taken from the MT-09. Overall, the 2018 Yamaha MT-07 is pretty close to the bike that came out three years ago, which is a good thing. Trust me.

To confirm this theory, we headed to the stunning holiday resort of Malaga, one of the southernmost

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The tank cover has been shortened by 10mm, bringing the rider closer to the front of the bike.

One of the big points with the ’18 is the bigger seats. The rider’s seat is now a whopping 30 percent bigger, and the passenger also gets a wider pew.

tips of Spain and a playground for the rich and famous. Malaga sits on the edge of Europe, where on a clear day you can see the beginnings of Africa and the mysterious land of Morocco while you sip sangria and munch on fresh seafood, taking in the golden rays of Andalusian sun.

That’s what happens to other people, at other times of the year, because I can assure you, Malaga did nothing but absolutely piss down rain so hard we could hardly see 15 feet in front of us by the end of the day. Superb sunny Spain, this was not.

However, the weather conditions didn’t stop us. Hell no! We ain’t wimps here at Cycle News,

(Top to bottom) The dash is unchanged—it’s not the most inspiring of designs but it does come with a gear indicator, which many more expensive bikes don’t. That CP2 motor is one of the best things to come out of the Yamaha factory in years.

High-viz wheels have nothing to do with safety and everything to do with looking cool.

and the dodgy conditions highlighted just what a mechanically magnificent bike the MT-07 is.

Thrashing the living daylights out of the MT was not going to happen,

given the streams of water running across the road, so it gave the motor’s unintimidating nature a chance to really shine through.

The 689cc parallel-twin is

FIRST TEST

2018 YAMAHA MT-07

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If you’re under 5’ 10,” this bike will fit you like a gem. Taller riders might be a touch cramped.

designed to entice new riders, but that doesn’t mean riders with years of experience won’t have a good time with it. There’s 50 lb-ft of torque available at 6500 rpm from the CP2 motor with its 270° crank, the uneven firing order making for a delightfully smooth ride which was a welcome characteristic in the pouring Spanish rain.

It’s pretty close to a 1-1 ratio in

that what you ask for at the grip is what you get at the tire, which is something new riders are going to relish. The torque is delivered in a delightfully unintimidating fashion, which allows you to really surf that midrange between 4-7000 rpm in third and fourth gears as you roll in and out of the throttle between 40-75 mph. There’s also a surprising amount of top-end on offer

with the CP2 motor, and it takes minimal impetus to have the front wheel waving at the sky in any of the first three gears. Not bad for a bike aimed at new riders.

The motor is married to a lovely and light tubular steel chassis, which is another welcome feature in the rain. It takes little effort to change direction on the 07 (indeed, claimed wet weight is just

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The MT-07 with its party pants on. Check out the Akrapovic exhaust, axle sliders, rearsets, radiator guard, levers and bar ends—all part of the accessory catalog.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ACCESSORIES

Having an MT-07 is one thing, jazzing the hell out of it to make it unique is quite another. Yamaha knows this, and has given the MT rider a plethora of choices for their ride that cover everything from proper hop-up street parts like exhausts and levers/rearsets, to touring items like saddlebags and top boxes. You can make this bike whatever you want, which is one of its strong points.

To check out the accessories list, click here.

403 pounds) but conversely it is not unstable at highway speeds— it’s an excellent compromise of street performance and practicality. This is character trait has been infused from the start and isn’t new to the 2018 model, but the ’18 does have a bit more sporting prowess than the 2015-17 edition thanks to the stiffer KYB suspension. The new bike is not worlds

(Clockwise from above) Nothing fancy, but the brakes are quality units and used to be featured on bikes like the old FZ1.

The MT-07 went to a party at the MT-09’s house and stole its brake light.

The intake funnels look tough as nails.

FIRST TEST

2018 YAMAHA MT-07

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S P E C I F I C A T I O N S apart from the old one in terms of ride quality, but it has a bit more braking stability and doesn’t wallow about as much when you hit a bump while cranked over midcorner.

Helping the stability is the 180-section Bridgestone BT-023 rear tire. Whereas something like a Kawasaki Ninja 650 uses a 160-rear tire, the MT’s wider rear rubber makes for a more secure ride as well as opening up the rider to a wider range of performance tires.

The brakes on the MT-07 are not superbike-level stoppers, and those with a keen eye will see they have been used on many different Yamahas in the past, but that’s because they work and work well. Recently I’ve noticed quite large variations in braking performance between bikes with higher-spec calipers than the MT but with a cheaper master-cylinder: the Yamaha’s is middle-ofthe-road in terms of price point, but the front master-cylinder and dual four-piston calipers are quality units that provide predictable and repeatable braking performance.

There are no electronics on the MT aside from ABS, which is good because you don’t need them, and thus won’t have to pay for them. Yamaha’s engineers have instead gone for the more traditional route of good mechanical grip via a well sorted chassis and an engine that does what it says on the packet, and nothing else. Besides, it makes the little MT great for customizing as the

lack of wires and control units means you can get real creative without blowing up something valuable!

The ride position on the MT-07 is pretty much the same as before, although the rider’s seat is noticeably wider and a bit plusher. That 30 percent increase in seat space is more angled at the back of the seat rather than the front, which is itself changed for this year as the tank cover is now 10mm shorter front to back, moving the rider closer to the front wheel. Shorter riders are going to love this, but taller pilots may find the overall ride position a little cramped. This isn’t helped by the fact the handlebar is, for me, not quite wide enough. I asked a Yamaha technician about this and he informed me that widening the bar was a design priority, but due to the bend and material used, the engineers were at their max width and thus couldn’t change it. Changing the bar would also mean changing the dash mount and the top triple clamp, so sticking with what the bar/devil knew was the way to go.

Regardless, the MT-07 is still one of my favorite bikes for street riding, regardless of engine size. It’s got a great motor, a comfortable and versatile chassis that can handle proper canyon scratching and touring, and it’s priced super competitively. Yamaha did so well with the original, better than the MT-09 in my opinion, that there was no need to really screw with it this time around. The MT represents

2018 YAMAHA MT-07 ($7599) ENGINE:.....Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-stroke, 8 valves, parallel twin DISPLACEMENT:..................................689cc BORE X STROKE:.....................80 x 68.8mm COMPRESSION RATIO:.......................... 11.5:1 CLUTCH:................................Wet multi-plate TRANSMISSION:............................... 6-speed CHASSIS:.................................. Tubular steel FRONT SUSPENSION:..41mm KYB inverted fork, non-adjustable REAR SUSPENSION:....... Single KYB shock absorber, preload and rebound damping adjustable FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL:........................ 5.1 in.

REAR WHEEL TRAVEL:.......................... 5.1 in.

FRONT BRAKE:..282mm dual semi-floating discs, 4-piston calipers, ABS standard REAR BRAKE:... 245mm disc, single-piston caliper, ABS standard FRONT TIRE:......120/70 ZR 17 Bridgestone BT-023 REAR TIRE:........ 180/55 ZR17 Bridgestone BT-023 RAKE:......................................................24.8° WHEELBASE:.......................................55.1 in.

SEAT HEIGHT:......................................31.7 in.

FUEL CAPACITY:................................. 3.7 gal WEIGHT (WET, CLAIMED):...............403 lbs.

COLOR:... Team Yamaha Blue; Matte Gray; Intensity White excellent value and you get a lot of bike for the money, and it isn’t necessarily a bike you’ll want to get rid of once you get your experience up. CN

STUFF

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II HJC HELMETS RPHA 70 ST BLACK PANTHER

$609.99 I 562.407.2186 www.hjchelmets.com The latest in HJC Helmets’ licensed Marvel graphics is an RPHA 70 ST helmet with a design inspired by the Black Panther of the Avengers series. The RPHA 70 ST Black Panther features Wakanda tribal details to replicate T’Challa’s Black Panther suit. The helmet has bright eyes, metallic accents and a semi-flat finish. The design is complete with the iconic Black Panther logo on the rear.

II BKE RACING ADVANCED HANDLEBAR ISOLATION SYSTEM

$225 I 905.464.7064 www.bkeracing.com The Advanced Handlebar Isolation System from BKE Racing is like having suspension for your handlebars. Designed to reduce vibrations, it can help reduce fatigue, numb hands and arm pump. The Advanced Handlebar Isolation System is available to fit most KTM, Husaberg, Husqvarna, Beta and Sherco off-road bikes.

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II WARP 9 RACING TUBELESS SUPERMOTO WHEELS

Starting at $844 I 801.699.7979 www.warp9racing.com Warp 9 Racing has new Tubeless Supermoto Wheels. Offered in the Switch (left) and Stiletto (right), these tubeless wheels are machined from forged aluminum and offer a modular Cush-Drive rear hub. The tubeless design offers overall weight savings and simplicity compared to spoked wheels. Warp 9 Wheels come with a 90-degree valve stem, floating front rotor, rubber Cush-Drive bumpers and a sprocket in your choice of tooth size. For a limited time, Warp 9 is giving riders a free chain with a Tubeless Wheel Set purchase.

II REV’IT! IGNITION 3 JACKET/PANTS

$539.99 Jacket, $439.99 Pants I Call Your Local REV’IT! Dealer www.revitsport.com The REV’IT! Ignition 3 jacket and pants are made from a combination of Monaco cowhide and Dynax mesh. The jacket is comprised of three layers: the outer shell, a waterproof liner and a removable thermal liner. The pants have stretch material along the inseam and at the back of the knees. Protection includes the REV’IT! Seeflex CE-Level 2 armor at the knees, shoulders and elbows.

Additional pockets are ready for adding back and hip protectors.

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STUFF II HARDLINE HOUR METERS

$34.99-$49.99 I 888.413.8315 www.hardlineproducts.com Hardline has a range of hour meters for off-road bikes that includes basic ones that simply track running time to ones with more features, such as tachometers and trip-meter modes. Functions on certain models can be programmed to alert when it’s time to perform services, such as oil changes or valve services. Other hour meters with the tach feature are useful to riders when they need to monitor rpm when doing sound checks.

II DAINESE MUGELLO R D-AIR RACE SUIT $4499.95 I 949.645.9500 www.dainese.com The Mugello R D-Air Race Suit from Dainese has the integrated D-air system. The D-air system includes airbags that cover the neck, shoulder, collarbone and lower rib cage. It features a seamless LED interface that is triggered by an onboard computer algorithm. Dainese says the D-Air system can reduce the forces of impact by 90-percent compared to composite protection. In addition to D-Air, the suit includes a hydration system and additional composite and titanium protection.

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II LEATT 4.5 LITE AND X-FLOW JERSEYS $34.99 X-Flow, 39.99 Lite 661.287.9258 I www.leatt.com Leatt’s 4.5 Lite and X-Flow jerseys share a similar construction. Both have shirt tails with silicone prints to keep them tucked in, and they have collars designed for use with or without a neck brace.

They are both made from MoistureCool 3D stretch mesh and are super ventilated for hot-weather riding. These two jerseys have a more relaxed fit compared to the race-tight factory 5.5 jerseys.

II ANTIGRAVITY RE-START BATTERIES

Starting at $129.99 310.527.2330 I antigravitybatteries.com Antigravity Battery has a new lineup of lithium-ion batteries with a built-in jump-starting feature. These Re-Start batteries have buttons that, when pushed, access the battery’s reserve energy to start a bike that had a key left on or sat too long between uses. It also has a Battery Management System to protect the battery from over-charge, over-discharge and over-temperature conditions. A remote key fob is in the works, so the re-start feature can be accessed without having to remove the seat or fairing.

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CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR SUPERCROSS /MOTOCROSS AMA SUPERCROSS 3/17 (Rnd 11) St. Louis, MO 3/24 (Rnd 12) Indianapolis, IN 4/7 (Rnd 13) Seattle, WA 4/14 (Rnd 14) Minneapolis, MN 4/21 (Rnd 15) Foxborough, MS 4/28 (Rnd 16) Salt Lake City, UT 5/5 (Rnd 17) Las Vegas, NV FIM MXGP WORLD MOTOCROSS 3/18 (Rnd 2) Valkenswaard, Netherlands 3/25 (Rnd 3) Valencia, Spain 4/8 (Rnd 4) Trentino, Italy 4/15 (Rnd 5) Agueda, Portugal 5/1 (Rnd 6) Orlyonok, Russia 5/13 (Rnd 7) Kegums, Latvia 5/20 (Rnd 8) Teutschenthal, Germany 6/3 (Rnd 9) Matterley Basin, England 6/10 (Rnd 10) St Jean d’Angély, France 6/17 (Rnd 11) Lombardia, Italy 7/1 (Rnd 12) Pangkal Pinang, Indonesia 7/8 (Rnd 13) Semarang, Indonesia 7/22 (Rnd 14) Loket, Czech Republic 8/5 (Rnd 15) Lommel, Belgium 8/19 (Rnd 16) Frauenfeld, Switzerland 9/2 (Rnd 17) Afyon, Turkey 9/16 (Rnd 18) Assen, The Netherlands 9/30 (Rnd 19) Imola, Italy PRO MOTOCROSS 5/19 (Rnd 1) Rancho Cordova, CA 5/26 (Rnd 2) San Bernardino, CA 6/2 (Rnd 3) Lakewood, CO 6/16 (Rnd 4) Mt. Morris, PA 6/23 (Rnd 5) Blountville, TN 6/30 (Rnd 6) Southwick, MA 7/7 (Rnd 7) Buchanan, MI 7/21 (Rnd 8) Millville, MN 7/28 (Rnd 9) Washougal, WA 8/11 (Rnd 10) New Berlin, NY 8/18 (Rnd 11) Mechanicsville, MD 8/25 (Rnd 12) Crawfordsville, IN ARENACROSS 3/17-18 (Rnd 7) Denver, CO 3/24-25 (Rnd 8) Nampa, ID 4/7-8 (Rnd 9) Wichita, KS 4/21-22 (Rnd 10) Portland, OR 4/28-29 (Rnd 11) Reno, NV 5/4-6 (Rnd 12) Las Vegas, NV ROAD RACING AMA SUPERMOTO 4/14 (Rnd 1) Boise, ID 5/13 (Rnd 2) Tucson, AZ 6/8 (Rnd 3) Austin, TX 6/9 (Rnd 4) Austin, TX 8/3-5 (Rnd 5) Quebec, Canada 9/8 (Rnd 6) Sturgis, SD

MOTOGP 3/18 (Rnd 1) Losail, Qatar 4/8 (Rnd 2) Río Hondo, Argentina 4/22 (Rnd 3) Austin, TX 5/6 (Rnd 4) Jerez, Spain 5/20 (Rnd 5) Le Mans, France 6/3 (Rnd 6) Mugello, Italy 6/17 (Rnd 7) Barcelona, Catalunya 7/1 (Rnd 8) Assen, Netherlands 7/15 (Rnd 9) Sachsenring, Germany 8/5 (Rnd 10) Brno, Czech Republic 8/12 (Rnd 11) Spielberg, Austria 8/26 (Rnd 12) Wales, England 9/9 (Rnd 13) Misano, Italy 9/23 (Rnd 14) Aragon, Spain 10/7 (Rnd 15) Buriram, Thailand 10/21 (Rnd 16) Motegi, Japan 10/28 (Rnd 17) Phillip Island, Australia 11/4 (Rnd 18) Sepang, Malaysia 11/18 (Rnd 19) Valencia, Spain FIM WORLD SUPERBIKE 3/23–25 (Rnd 2) Buriram, Thailand 4/13-15 (Rnd 3) Aragon, Spain 4/20-22 (Rnd 4) Assen, The Netherlands 5/11-13 (Rnd 5) Imola, Italy 5/25-27 (Rnd 6) Donington Park, England 6/8-10 (Rnd 7) Brno, Czech Republic 6/22-24 (Rnd 8) Monterey, California 7/6-8 (Rnd 9) Misano, Italy 9/14-16 (Rnd 10) Portimão, Portugal 9/28-30 (Rnd 11) Magny-Cours, France 10/12-14 (Rnd 12) El Villicum, Argentina 10/25-27 (Rnd 13) Losail, Qatar MOTOAMERICA 4/13-15 (Rnd 1) Braselton, GA 4/20-22 (Rnd 2) Austin, TX 5/4-6 (Rnd 3) Alton, VA 6/1-3 (Rnd 4) Elkhart Lake, WI 6/22-24 (Rnd 5) Monterey, CA 7/20-22 (Rnd 6) Tooele, UT 8/10-12 (Rnd 7) Sonoma, CA 8/24-26 (Rnd 8) Wampum, PA 9/7-9 (Rnd 9) Millville, NJ 9/21-23 (Rnd 10) Birmingham, AL BRITISH SUPERBIKE 3/31-4/2 (Rnd 1) Donington Park 4/13-15 (Rnd 1) Brands Hatch 5/5-7 (Rnd 2) Oulton Park 6/15-17 (Rnd 3) Snetterton 7/6-8 (Rnd 4) Knockhill 7/20-22 (Rnd 5) Brands Hatch 8/3-5 (Rnd 6) Thruxton 8/17-19 (Rnd 7) Cadwell Park 9/7-9 (Rnd 8) Silverstone 9/14-16 (Rnd 9) Oulton Park 9/28-30 (Rnd 10) Assen, NE 10/12-14 (Rnd 11) Brands Hatch ISLE OF MAN TT 5/26-6/8 Isle of Man

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FIM ENDURANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 4/21-22 (Rnd 2) Le Mans, France 5/12 (Rnd 3) Orechova Poton, Slovakia 6/9 (Rnd 4) Oschersleben, Germany 7/29 (Rnd 5) Suzuka, Japan OFF ROAD GNCC 3/17-18 (Rnd 3) TBA, GA 4/7-8 (Rnd 4) Morganton, NC 4/21-22 (Rnd 5) Society Hill, SC 5/12-13 (Rnd 6) Peru, IN 5/26-27 (Rnd 7) Millfield, OH 6/9-10 (Rnd 8) Odessa, NY 6/23-24 (Rnd 9) Snowshoe, WV 9/15-16 (Rnd 10) Harpursville, NY 9/29-30 (Rnd 11) Mount Morris, PA 10/13-14 (Rnd 12) St. Clairsville, OH 10/27-28 (Rnd 13) Crawfordsville, IN AMA NATIONAL HARE & HOUND 4/21-22 (Rnd 4) Jericho, UT 5/4-5 (Rnd 5) Jericho, UT 7/28-29 (Rnd 6) TBD, WY 8/8-9 (Rnd 7) Big Sandy, MT 8/25 (Rnd 8) Panaca, NV 10/13-14 (Rnd 9) TBD, CA 10/27-28 (Rnd 10) Lucerne Valley, CA AMA WEST HARE SCRAMBLE 3/17-18 (Rnd 3) Gorman, CA 3/24-25 (Rnd 4) Emmett, ID 4/14-15 (Rnd 5) Redding, CA 5/19 (Rnd 6) Pioche, NV 6/23-24 (Rnd 7) Bellingham, WA 10/6-7 (Rnd 8) Silverwater, OK 10/20-21 (Rnd 9) Trukee, CA TBA (Rnd 10) CA AMA NATIONAL ENDURO 4/15 (Rnd 3) Lynnville, IN 5/6 (Rnd 4) Arrington, VA 6/3 (Rnd 5) Greensboro, GA 7/22 (Rnd 6) Cross Fork, PA 8/26 (Rnd 7) Zanesville, OH 9/9 (Rnd 8) Marquette, MI 9/23 (Rnd 9) Matthews, IN 11/4 (Rnd 10) Stanton, AL WORCS 3/23-25 (Rnd 3-4) Lake Havasu, AZ 4/27-29 (Rnd 5) Hurricane, UT 5/25-27 (Rnd 6) Cedar City, UT 9/14-16 (Rnd 7) Devore, CA 10/5-7 (Rnd 8) Mesquite, CA 11/10-11 (Rnd 9) Primm, NV FIM TRIAL DES NATIONS 9/22-23 Sokolov, Czech Republic FIM SUPERENDURO 3/31 (Rnd 5) Lidköping, Sweden

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FIM ENDURO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 3/17-18 (Rnd 1) Helsinki, Finland 4/27-29 (Rnd 2) Santiago, Spain 5/4-6 (Rnd 3) Castelo Branco, Portugal 6/1-3 (Rnd 4) Tallinn, Estonia 6/30 (Rnd 5) Arco di Trento, Italy 8/31-9/2 (Rnd 6) Edolo, Italy 9/22-23 (Rnd 7) Hawkstone Park, England 10/11-14 (Rnd 8) Woltersdorf, Germany FIM INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS ENDURO 11/12-17 Viña del Mar, Chile BEST IN THE DESERT 4/6-7 Laughlin, NV 5/3-6 Alamo, NV 8/15-18 Vegas-To-Reno FIM WORLD TRIALS 5/19–20 (Rnd 1) Camprodon, Spain 6/2-3 (Rnd 2) Motegi, Japan 6/16-17 (Rnd 3) TBC, Great Britain 6/30-7/1 (Rnd 4) La Antigua, Guatemala 7/14-15 (Rnd 5) Auron, France 7/28-29 (Rnd 6) Comblain-au-Pont, Belgium 9/1-2 (Rnd 7) TBC, Europe 9/8-9 (Rnd 8) Arco Di Trento, Italy FULL GAS SPRINT ENDURO 3/24-25 (Rnd 2) Bristol, VA 5/19-20 (Rnd 3) Axton, VA 6/16-17 (Rnd 4) Wellston, OH 7/14-15 (Rnd 5) Fairmount City, PA 8/11-12 (Rnd 6) Fairview, IN 9/1-2 (Rnd 7) Union, SC 10/21-22 (Rnd 8) Glen Daniel, WV D37 BIG 6 GRAND PRIX 4/7-8 (Rnd 4) 29 Palms, CA 5/5-6 (Rnd 5) Primm, NV 10/6-7 (Rnd 6) Ridgecrest, CA 11/3-4 (Rnd 7) Gorman, CA 12/1-2 (Rnd 8) Lake Havasu City, AZ MID-SOUTH CROSS COUNTRY 3/18 (Rnd 12) Salem, KY 4/15 (Rnd 13) Morgantown, KY 4/29 (Rnd 14) Hermitage Springs, TN WORLD CROSS COUNTRY RALLY 3/24-29 (Rnd 1) Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 4/17-22 (Rnd 2) Qatar Cross-Country Rally 7/29-8/5 (Rnd 3) Inka Desert Challenge 8/11-19 (Rnd 4) Atacama Rally 8/25-31 (Rnd 5) Desafio Ruta 40 10/3-9 (Rnd 6) Rally du Maroc NATC MOTOTRIALS 4/21-22 (West Rnds 1-2) Roswell, NM 4/28-29 (West Rnds 3-4) TBD, CO 6/9-10 (East Rnds 1-2) Sequatchie, TN 6/16-17 (East Rnds 3-4) Uniontown, AR 9/1-2 (Rnds 5-6) Donner, CA

2018 AMA PRO HILLCLIMB 6/3 (Rnd 1) Spring Grove, PA 6/10 (Rnd 2) Freemansburg, PA 6/13 (Rnd 3) Laconia, NH 7/28 (Rnd 4) Jefferson, PA 8/5 (Rnd 5) Michigan, MI 8/11 (Rnd 6) Millville, MN 9/15 (Rnd 7) Buffalo Valley, TN 9/23 (Rnd 8) Jefferson, PA 9/30 (Rnd 9) Freemansburg, PA 10/14 (Rnd 10) Oregonia, OH FLAT TRACK/SPEEDWAY AMERICAN FLAT TRACK 3/15 (Rnd 1) Daytona Beach, FL 4/7 (Rnd 2) Woodstock, GA 4/28 (Rnd 3) Fort Worth, TX 5/5 (Rnd 4) Calistoga, CA 5/12 (Rnd 5) Phoenix, AZ 5/19 (Rnd 6) Sacramento, CA 5/27 (Rnd 7) Springfield, IL 6/2 (Rnd 8) Lexington, KY 6/16 (Rnd 9) Oklahoma City, OK 6/30 (Rnd 10) Lima, OH 7/7 (Rnd 11) Weedsport, NY 8/5 (Rnd 12) Sturgis, SD 8/7 (Rnd 13) Rapid City, SD 8/18 (Rnd 14) Peoria, IL 9/2 (Rnd 15) Springfield, IL 9/8 (Rnd 16) Mechanicsburg, PA 9/29 (Rnd 17) Shakopee, MN 10/6 (Rnd 18) East Rutherford, NJ

WORLD SPEEDWAY GP 5/12 (Rnd 1) Warsaw, Poland 5/26 (Rnd 2) Prague, Czech Republic 6/30 (Rnd 3) Horsens, Denmark 7/7 (Rnd 4) Hallstavik, Sweden 7/21 (Rnd 5) Cardiff, England 8/11 (Rnd 6) Malilla, Sweden 8/25 (Rnd 7) Gorzow, Poland 9/8 (Rnd 8) Krsko, Slovenia 9/22 (Rnd 9) Teterow, Germany 10/6 (Rnd 10) Torun, Poland TBC (Rnd 11) Melbourne, Australia DRAG RACING NHRA PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE 3/15-18 (Rnd 1) Gainesville, FL 4/27-29 (Rnd 2) Charlotte, NC 5/4-6 (Rnd 3) Atlanta, GA 5/31-6/3 (Rnd 4) Chicago, IL 6/21-24 (Rnd 5) Norwalk, OH 7/20-22 (Rnd 6) Denver, CO 7/27-29 (Rnd 7) Sonoma, CA 8/16-19 (Rnd 8) Brainerd, MN 8/29-9/3 (Rnd 9) Indianapolis, IN NHRA COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP 9/13-16 (Rnd 1) Reading, PA 9/21-23 (Rnd 2) St. Louis, MO 10/4-7 (Rnd 3) Dallas, TX 10/25-28 (Rnd 4) Las Vegas, NV 11/8-11 (Rnd 5) Pomona, CA

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CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD ROAD RACING 2017 MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Marc Marquez (298/6 wins) 2. Andrea Dovizioso (261/6 wins) 3. Maverick Vinales (230/3 wins) 4. Dani Pedrosa (210/2 wins) 5. Valentino Rossi (208/1 win) 6. Johann Zarco (174) 7. Jorge Lorenzo (137) 8. Danilo Petrucci (124) 9. Cal Crutchlow (112) 10. Jonas Folger (84) 2017 MOTO2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Franco Morbidelli (308/7 wins) 2. Thomas Luthi (243/1 win) 3. Miguel Oliveira (241/3 wins) 4. Alex Marquez (201/3 wins) 5. Francesco Bagnaia (174) 6. Mattia Pasini (148) 7. Takaaki Nakagami (137/1 win) 8. Brad Binder (125) 9. Simone Corsi (117) 10. Hafizh Syahrin (106) WORLD SUPERBIKE

1. Marco Melandri (50/1 win) 2. Tom Sykes (33) 3. Jonathan Rea (31) 4. Xavi Fores (29) 5. Alex Lowes (21) 6. Leon Camier (19) 7. Chaz Davies (16) 8. Michael Van Der Mark (16) 9. Loriz Baz (12) 10. Leandro Mercado (10) WORLD SUPERSPORT

1. Lucas Mahias (25/1 win) 2. Randy Krummenacher (20) 3. Sandro Cortese (16) 4. Federico Caricasulo (13) 5. Luke Stapleford (11) 6. Raffaele de Rosa (10) 7. Jules Cluzel (9) 8. Kyle Smith (8) 9. Ayrton Badovini (7) 10. Thomas Gradinger (6) 2017 MOTOAMERICA SUPERBIKE

1. Toni Elias (410/10 wins) 2. Roger Hayden (322/3 wins) 3. Cameron Beaubier (255/4 wins) 4. Josh Hayes (223/1 win) 5. Mathew Scholtz (216/1 win)

6. Jake Lewis (165) 7. Bobby Fong (160) 8. Josh Herrin (157) 9. Danny Eslick (148) 10. Kyle Wyman (128) 2017 MOTOAMERICA SUPERSTOCK 1000

1. Mathew Scholtz (422/10 wins) 2. Jake Lewis (321/3 wins) 3. Bobby Fong (308/5 wins) 4. Danny Eslick (297/1 win) 5. Hayden Gillim (221) 6. Bryce Prince (200) 7. Max Flinders (146) 8. Anthony West (81) 9. David Anthony (66) 10. Tyler Ohara (54) 2017 MOTOAMERICA SUPERSPORT

1. Garrett Gerloff (387/11 wins) 2. JD Beach (345/5 wins) 3. Valentin Debise (268/2 wins) 4. Benny Solis Jr. (231) 5. Jason Aguilar (147) 6. Nick McFadden (133) 7. Michael Gilbert (123) 8. Conner Blevins (110) 9. Braeden Ortt (102) 10. Daytona Anderson (92) 2017 MOTOAMERICA SUPERSTOCK 600

1. Jason Aguilar (300/6 wins) 2. Michael Gilbert (258/4 wins) 3. Nick McFadden (247/2 wins) 4. Conner Blevins (215/2 wins) 5. Braeden Ortt (209/1 win) 6. Shane Richardson (173) 7. Anthony Mazziotto III (155/2 wins) 8. JC Camacho (117) 9. Andrew Lee (107) 10. Brandon Cleland (82) FLAT TRACK/SPEEDWAY 2017 AMERICAN FLAT TRACK TWINS

1. Jared Mees (387/10 wins) 2. Bryan Smith (298/4 wins) 3. Brad Baker (247) 4. Sammy Halbert (241) 5. Jeffrey Carver (229) 6. Briar Bauman (219/2 wins) 7. Brandon Robinson (140) 8. Davis Fisher (139) 9. Jarod Vanderkooi (125)

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10. Henry Wiles (111/1 win) 2017 AMERICAN FLAT TRACK SINGLES

1. Kolby Carlile (267) 2. Brandon Price (244/3 wins) 3. Shayna Texter (240/5 wins) 4. Ben Lowe (218) 5. Kevin Stollings (189/2 wins) 6. Cameron Smith (159) 7. Wyatt Anderson (147) 8. Jesse Janisch (122/1 win) 9. Oliver Brindley (122) 10. Dan Bromley (116) 2017 WORLD SPEEDWAY GP

1. Jason Doyle (161/2 wins) 2. Patryck Dudek (143/1 win) 3. Tai Woffinden (131/1 win) 4. Maciej Janowski (122/1 win) 5. Bartosz Zmarzlik (121/1 win) 6. Emil Sayfutdinov (117) 7. Matej Zagar (107) 8. Fredrik Lindgren (107/2 wins) 9. Martin Vaculik (99) 10. Chris Holder (85) SUPERCROSS/MOTOCROSS AMA SUPERCROSS

1. Jason Anderson (223/4 wins) 2. Marvin Musquin (183) 3. Justin Brayton (170/1 win) 4. Blake Baggett (164) 5. Eli Tomac (160/4 wins) 6. Weston Peick (153) 7. Cooper Webb (146) 8. Broc Tickle (131) 9. Cole Seely (124) 10. Justin Barcia (113) 250 WEST SUPERCROSS

1. Aaron Plessinger (133/2 wins) 2. Joey Savatgy (129/1 win) 3. Shane McElrath (117/1 win) 4. Adam Cianciarulo (116) 5. Chase Sexton (107) 6. Christian Craig (106) 7. Justin Hill (105/1 win) 8. Kyle Chisholm (84) 9. Mitchell Harrison (72) 10. Hayden Mellross (67) 250 EAST SUPERCROSS

1. Zach Osborne (89/1 win) 2. Austin Forkner (88/2 wins) 3. Jordon Smith (80) 4. Jeremy Martin (69)

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

5. RJ Hampshire (56) 6. Colt Nichols (54) 7. Luke Renzland (54) 8. Martin Davalos (52) 9. Kyle Peters (50) 10. Jimmy Decotis (49) 2017 AMA 450 MOTOCROSS

1. Eli Tomac (470/3 wins) 2. Marvin Musquin (453/4 wins) 3. Blake Baggett (451/2 wins) 4. Dean Wilson (340) 5. Cole Seely (330) 6. Justin Bogle (308/1 win) 7. Cooper Webb (268) 8. Weston Peick (268) 9. Martin Davalos (263) 10. Jason Anderson (216) 2017 AMA 250 MOTOCROSS

1. Zach Osborne (501/5 wins) 2. Jeremy Martin (420/2 wins) 3. Adam Cianciarulo (374/1 win) 4. Aaron Plessinger (337) 5. Joey Savatgy (324/2 wins) 6. Dylan Ferrandis (305) 7. Colt Nichols (303) 8. Alex Martin (296/1 win) 9. Mitchell Harrison (279) 10. Shane McElrath (248) MXGP WORLD MOTOCROSS

1. Jeffrey Herlings (47/1 win) 2. Antonio Cairoli (47) 3. Clement Desalle (40) 4. Jeremy Van Horebeek (34) 5. Romain Febvre (34) 6. Gautier Paulin (30) 7. Shaun Simpson (24) 8. Julien Leiber (22) 9. Max Nagl (21) 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (21)

MX2 WORLD MOTOCROSS

1. Pauls Jonass (50/1 win) 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (42) 3. Hunter Lawrence (37) 4. Ben Watson (36) 5. Jed Beaton (27) 6. Vsevolod Brylyakov (24) 7. Henry Jacobi (21) 8. Darian Sanayei (20) 9. Jago Geerts (20) 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (19)

AMA ARENACROSS

1. Jacob Hayes (187/2 wins) 2. Gavin Faith (179/4 wins) 3. Chris Blose (174) 4. Gared Steinke (130) 5. Kyle Bitterman (115) 6. Shane Sewell (107) 7. Jacob Williamson (94) 8. Daniel Herrlein (83) 9. Heath Harrison (83) 10. Travis Sewell (62) OFF ROAD 2017 NATIONAL ENDURO

1. Steward Baylor (231/4 wins) 2. Thad Duvall (224/4 wins) 3. Grant Baylor (159/1 win) 4. Russell Bobbitt (147) 5. Cory Buttrick (141) 6. Jesse Groemm (127) 7. Evan Smith (118) 8. Thorn Devlin (89) 10. Josh Toth (67) GNCC OVERALL

1. Kailub Russell (60/2 wins) 2. Steward Baylor (46) 3. Thad Duvall (46) 4. Trevor Bollinger (33) 5. Ben Kelley (32) 6. Josh Toth (15) 7. Josh Strang (28) 8. Layne Michael (27) 9. Pascal Rauchenecker (25) 10. Austin Lee (20) GNCC XC2 250 PRO

1. Ben Kelley (55/1 win) 2. Josh Toth (55/1 win) 3. Pascal Rauchenecker (42) 4. Austin Lee (34) 5. Craig DeLong (34) 6. Liam Draper (25) 7. Trevor Barrett (24) 8. Zack Hayes (20) 9. Ryder Lafferty (16) 10. Michael Witkowski (15) NATIONAL HARE & HOUND

1. Kendall Norman (81/2 wins) 2. Nick Burson (61) 3. Dalton Shirey (53) 4. Tyler Lynn (48) 5. Jacob Argubright (41/1 win) 6. Joseph Wasson (41) 7. Ryan Smith (39) 8. Chance Fullerton (35)

9. Eric Yorba (31) 10. Taylor Robert (30/1 win) FIM SUPERENDURO

1. Cody Webb (202/2 wins) 2. Taddy Blazusiak (185/2 wins) 3. Billy Bolt (169) 4. Jonny Walker (153) 5. Colton Haaker (146) 6. Manuel Lettenbichler (132) 7. Alfredo Gomez (105) 8. Blake Gutzeit (74) 9. Cristobal Guerrero (58) 10. Benjamin Herrera (47) WORCS

1. Giacomo Redondi (43/1 win) 2. Gary Sutherlin (42) 3. Dante Oliveira (36) 4. Zach Bell (31) 5. Eric Yorba (28) 6. Taylor Robert (25/1 win) 7. Justin Jones (24) 8. Blayne Thompson (24) 9. Justin Seeds (23) 10. Ty Tremaine (22) AMA D37 WEST COAST GP

1. Eric Yorba (67) 2. Trevor Stewart (64/1 win) 3. Dalton Shirey (61) 4. Zach Bell (60/1 win) 5. Kailub Russell (46) 6. Justin Seeds (42) 7. Justin Jones (40) 8. Justin Wallis (36) 9. Blayne Thompson (33) 10. Giacomo Redondi (30/1 win) DRAG RACING 2017 NHRA PRO STOCK

1. Eddie Krawiec (2783/7 wins) 2. Andrew Hines (2614/7 wins) 3. LE Tonglet (2591) 4. Scotty Pollacheck (2492) 5. Jerry Savoie (2472) 6. Matt Smith (2454) 7. Hector Arana Jr (2453) 8. Karen Stoffer (2301) 9. Joey Gladstone (2280) 10. Angie Smith (2258)

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CN III RACING ON THE TUBE

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RACE

CHANNEL EASTERN CENTRAL MOUNTAIN PACIFIC

FIM Ice Speedway British MX World MXGP British F1 Sidecar: Mallory Park Canadian MX FIM Sidecar: Le Mans FIM Sidecar: Le Mans FIM Ice Speedway FIM MXGP: Neuquen, Argentina FIM Ice Speedway FIM MX2: Neuquen, Argentina FIM X-Trials British F1 Sidecar: Mallory Park FIM X-Trials Swann Super Series Pit Lane: Road Racing Highlights MotoGP 2017 Season Review Pit Lane: Road Racing Highlights Best In The Desert: Laughlin Best In The Desert: Laughlin Pit Lane: Road Racing Highlights Pit Lane: Road Racing Highlights MotoGP 2017 Season Review Supercross: Daytona MotoGP 2017 Season Review Pit Lane: Road Racing Highlights MotoGP: Qatar Qualifying Supercross: St. Louis, MO LIVE MotoGP: Qatar Qualifying FIM MX2: Valkenswaard MotoGP: Qatar FIM MXGP: Valkenswaard MotoGP: Moto3 Qatar FIM MXGP: Valkenswaard MotoGP: Moto2 Qatar MotoGP: Qatar Dave Despain: Troy Lee Supercross: St. Louis, MO Dave Despain: Troy Lee

MavTV MavTV MavTV MavTV MavTV MavTV MavTV MavTV CBS Sports MavTV CBS Sports MavTV MavTV MavTV MavTV beIN Sports beIN Sports beIN Sports MavTV MavTV beIN Sports beIN Sports beIN Sports Fox Sports 2 beIN Sports beIN Sports beIN Sports Fox Sports 1 beIN Sports CBS Sports beIN Sports CBS Sports beIN Sports CBS Sports beIN Sports beIN Sports MavTV Fox Sports 2 MavTV

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For the most up-to-date listings, visit CycleNews.com/Motorcycle-TV-Listings

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CN III ARCHIVES

P104

BY LARRY LAWRENCE

20

RACER X TURNS A

fter a successful amateur career a promising young motocross racer named Davey Coombs was primed and ready to launch his pro career. At the 1985 Daytona 125 East Supercross Coombs rode his best and when the race was over the results weren’t quite what he’d hoped.

“At that point I thought going to college sounded like a good idea,” Coombs recalls with a chuckle in his voice. “I finished ninth. That turned out to be the high-water mark in my pro career.”

So, it was back to school for Coombs, but along the way he discovered he enjoyed writing about racing and the racing scene. One thing led to another and in March of 1998 Coombs launched the magazine Racer X Illustrated. As anyone with even a passing interest in motocross and supercross racing knows, Racer X went on to be wildly popular and established a entirely new category in the sport as a lifestyle magazine.

Racer X didn’t so much cover racing, instead focusing on the lifestyle the racers and people in the industry led. Sometimes it looked

like a glamorized version of the off-track lifestyle of a Jeremy McGrath, Travis Pastrana or Jeff Emig, but Racer X established its chops by not shying away from the often-ignored part of racing, by also telling the stories of the guys who didn’t quite make it or who fell from grace and did it in an equally compelling manner.

This month Racer X turns 20.

“We didn’t make a big deal of it,” Coombs says. “We think we’re still kids.”

Coombs mentioned a special 200th issue of Racer X (Feb. 2016 edition) where they looked back at the first issue in comparison to today’s magazine. It illustrated how quickly things can change in the rapidly moving world of motocross.

“There were some things we saw coming and others we

didn’t,” Coombs says. “As an example, there’s not a single mention of an energy drink in that first issue and there’s just one photo of a four-stroke.”

When he looks back on it now, Coombs said the transformative moment for him was when he realized he liked writing about and photographing racing as much as he did participating in the sport as a rider.

“I really liked telling stories and going on road trips,” he recalls.

“So, I starting writing for Cycle News and Dirt Rider, I did a lot of ATV stuff because those were the only people who would publish me. I sort of had a running feud with Motocross Action because Jody [Weisel] and my dad didn’t get along then. Of course, Cycle News was always looking for race coverage, so I’d raise my hand and go cover races no one else would, like a GNCC, an amateur race or a national enduro—anything that I could make 75 bucks off of.”

At the same time the Coombs family business was putting on motocross events. Davey convinced his dad—the late great race promoter Dave Coombs—to let him sell programs.

“I went from selling programs to producing them,” Davey says.

“Pretty soon I was in the program business. That was doing well and I thought that maybe I should start a newspaper. There really wasn’t an outlet to write about road trips or forgotten heroes. I mean what publication could you find that would be interested in

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

publishing an entire page about the Nac Nac? Cycle News was heavily blow-by-blow race coverage and the existing magazines were into bike tests and product evaluation and I didn’t want to do any of that. I wanted to be like, ‘Hey, we get to go to the dirt bike race this weekend. How great is this?”

At first Coombs produced a newspaper called The Racing Paper for AMA District 5 and it grew.

“I would take stacks of them with me when I would go to cover a race for Cycle News. And then I got the job with ESPN and that opened a lot of doors for me. The newspaper became a mash-up of motocross, supercross, off-road racing and all the stuff I wanted to write about that I couldn’t sell to other magazines.”

By 1997 his little newspaper had grown to the point that Coombs felt the time was right to make the leap into the glossy magazine format. He’d been inspired by the short-lived, but influential publication titled Inside Motocross, which published for only one year in 1993. Coombs had the concept in his mind, but that jump to a glossy was going to cost serious money. Coombs’ mom and dad (Dave and Rita) encouraged Davey to develop a business plan and take it around the industry to see if he could get backers. He clicked off all the big players in the industry of the time, and while some loved his concept, no one was willing to

front the money needed to get the magazine off the ground.

“After I talked to everyone and they all said, no, my dad said, ‘okay, now that I see how badly you want this, I’ll loan you the money.’ I’m proud to say I paid it back in six months.”

The timing couldn’t have been better and Racer X was a success right out of the gate.

“The industry was really hungry for what we produced,” Coombs explains. “You have to remember the context of where we were.

Freestyle was just coming online, the X Games, the Crusty Demons and Terrafirma in the video world were opening up new worlds.

This was the after-party era, the Showtime era. People didn’t want to know just who won the race, they wanted to know what they were eating on the way to the race, or what they were doing after the race, or who was the wild man in the group. And you had these ready-made characters like Jeremy McGrath, Jeff Emig, Travis Pastrana and Doug Henry.

Guys who just had really compelling stories and who were also very open to the idea of not just being a cookie-cutter personality that read sponsors off his fender when he was on the podium.”

And how could anyone forget the gorgeous girls in the pages of the early years? Another first.

The concept was gold. Racer X quickly became the thickest book in the industry. Not only was it the look, with impactful pho-

P105

tography and attractive models, Racer X also boasted some of the best journalist and writers in the industry, telling some of the best untold stories. The company was also on the leading edge when it came to producing a mustsee website and also were early adopters to social media, which gave them the jump on their competition.

Not that there haven’t been missteps along the way. Davey points to Road Racer X and Racer X Canada as great concepts, but both ultimately had to be shuttered for different reasons.

But in the big picture Racer X weathered economic downturns and became more than a magazine, but rather one of the iconic brands in all of motorcycling.

Coombs says he has no crystal ball when it comes to predicting the future of print publications in the motorcycling industry.

“If I had the ability to see into the future that would be a good thing, but it also might be a frightening thing. I’ve always been the guy who walks out of Barnes & Noble with two bags or enjoyed the time in front of a newsstand devouring periodicals as much as anyone, but I know that’s a dying breed. But I hope that there will always be a tangible market for some magazines that people still want to have, that thing on the coffee table or in the bathroom or on the airplane, but it’s changing and we’re just trying to cover all the bases that exist right now.” CN

Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives

BIKES OF THE STARS TEAM HONDA HRC HONDA CRF450RW MXGP RIDER: Tim Gajser TECHNICIAN: Nico Noge SPONSORS: HSF Logistics, Acerbis, Blackbird, D.I.D, Eliiy Power, Evans, Fox, Hinson, Motul, OMEC, Pirelli, Renthal, Shindengen, Showa, Supersprox, Twin Air, Vertex, Vibram, Yoshimura, Yutaka Giken

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VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

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LOOKING BACK

P77

50 Years Ago April 5, 1968

We dedicated our April Fool’s issue to the spirit of laughter, and the reader had to decide which stories were real or fake. However, our upside down front page was pretty real… We gave you a preview of Evel Knievel’s new “Skycycle”… We started previewing the upcoming Daytona bike week…

The Dessert Doozies M.C., District 86’s newest competition club was featured. The all-female club liked to have fun, as was pointed out in our un-politically correct story, which could’ve been real. Or not.

40 Years Ago March 22, 1978

It was all Daytona 40 years ago. Kenny Roberts took the Daytona 200 win; he lapped the entire field, including second-place finisher Johnny Cecotto.

Despite crashing twice, Skip Aksland filled out the podium. Australian Gregg Hansford won the International Lightweight class. There was a Superbike Production class and Steve McLaughlin came from 34th place to take the win on his Yoshimura R&D Suzuki GS1000. Guess who won the Novice class? Freddie Spencer. It was Spencer’s first official AMA race.

30 Years Ago March 16, 1988

We had full coverage of Daytona Bike Week. On the cover was Daytona 200 winner Kevin Schwantz who gave Suzuki its first victory in the 200.

John Kocinski won the 250cc Grand Prix, and John Ashmead won the 600cc Supersport. Rick Johnson rode to victory at a wet Daytona Supercross. Will Davis won the 600cc National Short Track at Memorial Stadium’s final race before being torn down. Larry Roeseler won the Alligator Enduro… ATK’s Tony Hendon won the AMA National Hare Scrambles opener.

20 Years Ago March 18, 1998

Scott Russell was pictured on the cover of Cycle News 20 years after winning the Daytona 200 for the fifth time. Our Daytona coverage included Doug Chandler’s win in the 600cc Superport class, Jason Pridmore’s win in 750cc Supersport and Takahito Mori’s win in 250cc GP. Also, Jeremy McGrath won the Daytona Supercross (it was McGrath’s 50th career SX victory), and Scott Parker won the GNC flat track. Just across the street from the speedway, Mike Lafferty topped the Alligator Enduro. Fred Andrews won the GNCC opener at Okeechobee.

Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives

CN III IN THE PADDOCK

P110

BY MICHAEL SCOTT

CLIMATE CHANGE – WHY WAIT FOR NATURE?

T

hey call it climate change.

It’s caused, there seems no doubt, by emissions.

Very much including those from there being too many vehicles on the road.

That was certainly the case at Qatar, where, as always, if nature doesn’t oblige, then spending a bunch of oil money

can make up the deficit. Usually, anyway.

Too many vehicles in this case comprised more than 60 tanker trucks, containing that commodity even more precious in the bleak and cheerless desert than petrol. Water. And they were emitting it in great gushing gouts onto the Losail circuit.

This was to investigate a problem that was itself already entirely man-made: to see if it would be possible to race under floodlights if it was raining. This was previously ruled impossible.

Not because there was anything intrinsically wrong with the surface, but the dazzle in the spray and the reflections off the wet

VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018

track would, it was assumed, be effectively blinding.

This, however, had become increasingly inconvenient, and it was time to think again.

Dorna men and previous champions Franco Uncini and Loris Capirossi last year essayed a rather abortive trial, the former in a rental car, the latter on a road bike.

Now a more serious trial was put into motion, with all the MotoGP riders invited to go out for half an hour, preferably in groups, to see how things were.

The answer, by the way, was mixed, though as usual wisecracking Danilo Petrucci got the best line, when he said that the visibility was atrocious, “but when you’re racing in the rain, that’s normal.”

But it was another great example of the sheer hubris underlying the opening round of the modern MotoGP season— a position on the calendar for which the Qatari’s are happy to pay handsomely, a wad of cash that Dorna is naturally happy to accept. At least in this case, unlike that of the football world cup that kicks off in Qatar in mid-June, we can assume that at least some of that money goes towards supporting less wealthy venues. Like the USA. I recall the proud boast when nighttime racing was introduced at Losail in 2008: that the floodlighting was sufficient to provide street lighting all the way from

the nearby capital city Doha to Moscow. Now there is a journey you don’t want to make. In either direction.

In truth, the floodlighting is pure vanity, transformed by circumstances into a monumental folly. Racing after dark might have made sense in the first two years of the race, 2004 and 2005, when the Qatar race was held in blazing hot October.

But by the time the lights were installed, it had already become the first race of the season, held in March. And the trouble is, during the parched country’s laughable excuse for springtime, that it does actually rain, sometimes very generously.

At the same time, temperatures during the day are not so insupportably hot as to require nighttime running. There’s no need to race after dark. A fact reflected in the change to this year’s scheduling, when racing will start in daylight at 4 p.m., and finish by 8 p.m. Everything runs two hours earlier, and the whole meeting is one day shorter. A welcome move back towards common sense, and not before time.

Who can forget 2009, when a biblical downpour coincided exactly with the start of the MotoGP race, which had to be postponed by 24 hours? Or last year, when flooding rains canceled qualifying, and the race was delayed by 40 minutes?

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Dorna’s bulging pockets notwithstanding, this gives their functionaries a big headache.

And the thrust of the post-test flooding was to establish whether it would be possible, should rain strike again, to go ahead anyway, without having to disrupt the sacred TV slots.

The results. As we have seen, were a little inconclusive. But that is in general the nature of testing. It was the same when it wasn’t raining over the previous three days, as the pre-season testing period ended. The time sheets were not conclusive.

Merely suggestive.

They did prove some things that we already knew: That top time setter Johann Zarco is well able to embarrass the factory Yamahas, despite (or perhaps because of) his twoyear-old motorcycle. That Rossi is always capable of springing a surprise. That Marquez is overall favorite, because this time Honda haven’t given him any built-in drawbacks. That Dovi and the Ducati are an even greater threat than last year. And that the rubber roulette of the multi-choice Michelins will help to make things unpredictable.

And rain in the desert?

The easiest way of dealing with the threat would be to roof in the entire 3.4 miles. But please don’t tell the Qatari promoters, because they’ll probably go ahead and do it. CN

BUYER’S GUIDE ALL THE 2018

AMERICAN AND METRIC CRUISER MOTORCYCLES

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DISP wrestling.

INDU

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018 HARLEY DAVIDSON EXHAUST

-D paired the aggressive ook and wind-cutting ower of the Road Glide’s ame-mounted shark-nose iring and dual Daymaker eflector LED headlamps ith the power of the ilwaukee-Eight 107 enne. The easily adjustable mulsion rear shocks and ouble bending valve ont suspension keep it mooth over the bumps nd planted in the corners.

BAD DAD

, INTAKE ,

AND EFI

Competition Ser ies 2-into-1 Exh aust $975 (starting) ww Bad Dad’s 2-into-1 w.baddad.com

exhaust has bee n independently add more than 12 hp and 6 ft/lb tested to of torque when an open air clea combined with ner and basic fuel tuner. This custom mandrel bent with pipe is CNC 1-7/8-inch prim ary, 3-inch outlet, a CNC billet tip.

Available for 199 and features 5-2018 Touring custom exhaust mod clears the stock air cleaner on 201 els, this models. Availabl 4-2018 Touring e in chrome, blac k, and contrast finishes.

APPARE

L

FIRST MFG.

Black Widow Jacket $269.99 • first mfg

.com The Black Widow is a rocker style jacket with intricate lace and rive lightweight Diam t detail. Made from our ond sheepskin, this jacket comes complet e with carry pockets, and shoulder vents, concealed a limited edition liner.

RLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE

WW.HARLEY-DAVIDSON.COM

ICE $21,299 GINE TYPE V Twin SPLACEMENT 1753.4cc DUCTION Fuel injection

TRANSMISSION SPEEDS 6 FINAL DRIVE Belt FRONT BRAKE Dual hyd. disc REAR BRAKE Hydraulic disc

WHEELBASE 64-inch/ 1625.6mm SEAT HEIGHT 27.4-inch/ 696mm

FUEL CAPACITY 6 gal/22.7 l CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT 820 KHROME WERK lbs/372 kg S

2-1 Header wit h 4.5-inch Mu ffler for M8 Touring Bikes Contact for pric ing These headers are khromewerks.com 16

gauge 3-step prim inch collectors. aries with 2.5They have 18m m and 12mm O2 with spherical port bungs caps to insure seal P-Clamp mountin ing and include g to the transmi ssion side cover allow expansion. to The includes a 2.5-inch 4.5-inch muffler with 2.5-inch inlet high flow stainless baffle featuring and fiberglass a tuned 3-inch expansion cham heat shields are ber. The 2.5-inch diameter with in Nickel Chrome, OE style black, and a 220° wrap. Available Eclipse finishes, Khrome Werks with your choice proprietary of billet tip or slas h cut muffler.

arley brought the Road ide to the dark side with e Special with blackedt finishes on handlebars, heels and headers. It’s o loaded with premium atures like 19-inch nt and 18-inch rear on wheels, stretched ddlebags, a painted ner fairing and a BOOM! x 6.5GT Touchscreen otainment System.

RLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE SPECIAL

dW.HARLEY-DAVIDSON.COM

aw CE $26,299 GINE TYPE V Twin PLACEMENT 1753.4cc UCTION Fuel injection

TRANSMISSION SPEEDS 6 FINAL DRIVE Belt FRONT BRAKE Dual hyd. disc REAR BRAKE Hydraulic disc

WHEELBASE 64-inch/ 1625.6mm SEAT HEIGHT 27.4-inch/ 696mm

FUEL CAPACITY 6 gal/22.7 l CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT 820 lbs/372 kg

KHROME WERK

S

Torque Booster Conversion Kit (Header) $449.95 (startin g) • khromewe rks.com The Khrome Wer ks

2-1 Torque Boo ster Conversion Kit (Patent Pending ) converts your existing Milw aukee-Eight tour ing bike’s stock hea der into a 2-1 syst em. The kit includes a prop rietary 2-1 conv erter cap and one 4.5-inch HP-Plus slip-on muffler featuring a 16 gau ge muffler body along with a new abso rptive stainless steel mat baffle, covered with and high temp fibe glass developed specifically for the r2017 Milwaukee-Eight.

The muffle

FIRST MFG.

Vendetta Cross Over Jacket $269.99 firstmfg .com

Half trucker, half mot newest cross over o, the Vendetta is First’s jacket. Features like a removable hood, ligh tweight distresse d sheepskin, zip out liner, conceale d carry pockets and zippered vents keep you cool in the warm er months.

FIRST MFG.

Revolt Touring

Jacket