November 2019
Racer X Illustrated
November 2019
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CONTENTS
ONE FINE DAY
Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull KTM’s Shane McElrath was untouchable in both motos at the GEICO Motorcycle Budds Creek National.
PHOTO BY: Rich Shepherd
Features
The 2019 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch once again featured amateur racing at its pinnacle. And we (almost) escaped the rain!
Updated AMA rules and a packed GEICO Honda team semi made for a very busy Unadilla weekend—including three pro debuts from the Factory Connection amateur squad.
Former factory rider Michael Byrne has made a very successful jump to management with the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM-WPS team.
When the AMA’s 1986 Production Rule went into effect, it ended a glorious run of exotic, hand-built—and wildly expensive—bikes in AMA racing.
COVER PHOTO // Garth Milan/Octopi Media
RACER X ILLUSTRATED (ISSN No. 1099-6729) is published monthly by Filter Publications, LLC at 122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV, 26508. Periodicals postage paid at Morgantown, WV, 26508 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Racer X Illustrated, PO Box 469051, Escondido, CA, 92046-9051. Copyright ©2019 Filter Publications, LLC. All rights reserved. Nothing in this magazine may be reprinted in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher. Newsstand distribution by Curtis Circulation. Racer X is not responsible for unsolicited materials.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/FOUNDER: DAVEY COOMBS
PUBLISHER: SCOTT WALLENBERG
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: JASON WEIGANDT

Editorial

MANAGING EDITOR: ANDREW FREDRICKSON
SENIOR EDITOR: JEFF KOCAN
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER: SIMON CUDBY
EDITORS-AT-LARGE: DAVID PINGREE, AARON HANSEL, STEVE MATTHES, JASON THOMAS
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR: JASON TODD
ONLINE ASSOCIATE EDITOR: MITCH KENDRA
SENIOR CONTRIBUTORS: PAUL BUCKLEY, ERIC JOHNSON, FRAN KUHN
VOICE OF REASON: RITA COOMBS

ADVERTISING AND PRODUCTION
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DESIGN AND MARKETING
ART DIRECTOR: DAVID LANGRAN

CONTRIBUTORS: RAY ARCHER, BROWNDOGWILSON, JASON CRANE, ADAM DUCKWORTH, MIKE EMERY, MIKE FISHER, ALEX GOBERT, JEFF KARDAS, ROB KOY, STEPHAN LEGRAND, JAMES LISSIMORE, LYLE LOVETT, NICK McCABE, DICK MILLER, CHRISTIAN MUNOZ, SPENCER OWENS, RICH SHEPHERD, RYAN SIPES, BRETT SMITH, COLLIN SPECKNER, CHASE STALLO, BRYAN STEALEY, BILL URSIC, OLIVIER DE VAULX, THOM VEETY, BLAKE WHARTON, ADAM WHEELER

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Contributors

Garth Milan
Garth Milan

Garth Milan has been shooting motocross professionally since the 1990s and still goes to every single supercross and Pro Motocross event on the schedule with his business partner at Octopi Media, Ryne Swanberg. Milan originally hails from Columbia County, New York, but now resides in Southern California’s Lake Arrowhead. When he doesn’t have a camera in hand, Garth enjoys camping and dual-sporting, riding his mountain bike, or boating on the local lake with his wife, Valerie. In this issue, you can check out Garth’s work right on Page 1 with the insane whip shot of Tyler Bereman taken at X Games Minneapolis.

David Dewhurst
David Dewhurst

David Dewhurst graduated from photography college in Blackpool, England, and started Trials and Motocross News, a weekly off-road newspaper, before being hired as technical editor and motocross tester for Cycle Guide magazine in California. David followed the supercross series during the early eighties and is currently working on a coffee-table book of racing in the eighties called Motocross: The Golden Era (www.motocrossthegoldenera.com). These days, David races a restored 1978 390CR Husqvarna when he’s not out shooting car photography for many of the major car manufacturers. Check out his incredible images from 1985 in “The Last Works Bikes” starting on page 104.

SPIN CITY
When French freestyler David Rinaldo left the takeoff ramp for his turn in Moto X Best Trick and began what looked to be some kind of backflip, few in the global audience might have guessed what would come next. Rinaldo stunned everyone by spinning his body all the way around underneath the flipping motorcycle, in a seemingly impossible backflip body varial. But Rinaldo landed it, and in doing so became the first European rider to ever win Moto X Best Trick in X Games history.
Photo BY: Garth Milan/ESPN Images
INSET: Matt Morning/ESPN Images
French freestyler David Rinaldo
SPIN CITY
SPIN CITY
When French freestyler David Rinaldo left the takeoff ramp for his turn in Moto X Best Trick and began what looked to be some kind of backflip, few in the global audience might have guessed what would come next. Rinaldo stunned everyone by spinning his body all the way around underneath the flipping motorcycle, in a seemingly impossible backflip body varial. But Rinaldo landed it, and in doing so became the first European rider to ever win Moto X Best Trick in X Games history.
Photo BY: Garth Milan/ESPN Images
INSET: Matt Morning/ESPN Images
French freestyler David Rinaldo
DOUBLE SHOT
For the first time in eight years, one manufacturer swept both championships in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross—and for the second time in eight years, it was Kawasaki. First, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac (right) wrapped up his third straight 450 Class title with a win at the GEICO Motorcycle Budds Creek National. One week later, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo (left) clinched his first professional title in the 250 Class at Indiana’s season-ending Stacyc Ironman National. Back in 2011, the same two Kawasaki teams swept the outdoor titles, only the champions were Ryan Villopoto (450) and Dean Wilson (250).
Photo BY: Rich Shepherd
DOUBLE SHOT
DOUBLE SHOT
For the first time in eight years, one manufacturer swept both championships in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross—and for the second time in eight years, it was Kawasaki. First, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac (right) wrapped up his third straight 450 Class title with a win at the GEICO Motorcycle Budds Creek National. One week later, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo (left) clinched his first professional title in the 250 Class at Indiana’s season-ending Stacyc Ironman National. Back in 2011, the same two Kawasaki teams swept the outdoor titles, only the champions were Ryan Villopoto (450) and Dean Wilson (250).
Photo BY: Rich Shepherd
TEAM UNIQUE
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Jason Anderson has found himself at a unique crossroads in his career. He is the only rider in the sport’s history ever to have won the AMA Supercross Championship without winning an outdoor national. But wait, there’s more: “El Hombre” is also the only currently active U.S. rider to have won a moto outright in the FIM Motocross of Nations. Any hope for a second SX title, or even a first outdoor national win, will have to wait until 2020, but Anderson will have a chance to add a second MXoN moto win (and hopefully more) at the end of September when he lines up for Team USA alongside Zach Osborne and Justin Cooper in the Netherlands.
Photo BY: BrownDogWilson
TEAM UNIQUE
TEAM UNIQUE
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Jason Anderson has found himself at a unique crossroads in his career. He is the only rider in the sport’s history ever to have won the AMA Supercross Championship without winning an outdoor national. But wait, there’s more: “El Hombre” is also the only currently active U.S. rider to have won a moto outright in the FIM Motocross of Nations. Any hope for a second SX title, or even a first outdoor national win, will have to wait until 2020, but Anderson will have a chance to add a second MXoN moto win (and hopefully more) at the end of September when he lines up for Team USA alongside Zach Osborne and Justin Cooper in the Netherlands.
Photo BY: BrownDogWilson
CAMP LORETTA’S
CAMP LORETTA’S
CAMP LORETTA’S
When covering an event as big as the 38th Annual Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch, we often find ourselves so focused on keeping track of the action on the racetrack that we overlook the sheer emotions that competitors display before and after their races. Fortunately, that’s where our contributor Chelsea Adams likes to train her camera lens throughout the week at Loretta’s, as her yearbook for this year’s event can attest.
Photo BY: Chelsea Adams
CAMP LORETTA’S
CAMP LORETTA’S
CAMP LORETTA’S
CAMP LORETTA’S
When covering an event as big as the 38th Annual Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch, we often find ourselves so focused on keeping track of the action on the racetrack that we overlook the sheer emotions that competitors display before and after their races. Fortunately, that’s where our contributor Chelsea Adams likes to train her camera lens throughout the week at Loretta’s, as her yearbook for this year’s event can attest.
Photo BY: Chelsea Adams
CAMP LORETTA’S
CAMP LORETTA’S
Davey Coombs
Reason For Being
By Davey Coombs
Davey Coombs
Reason For Being
By Davey Coombs
E

ight years ago at Loretta Lynn’s I was standing in the grass near the impound area, just off the far outside of the start stretch. I was giving a tour of the event and the race to KTM North America’s Jon-Erik Burleson and John Hinz along with some of the KTM brass who had flown over from Europe to check out the world’s biggest amateur race. They wanted to see for themselves what they were up against as they prepared to retool their amateur support program—at the time, they weren’t in a good place as far as U.S. market share went.

RacerX November 2019 Racers coming around corner
Their motto was “Ready to Race,” and they knew they needed to invest in younger amateur prospects.
KTM had already begun upping the ante at the professional level, first hiring Roger De Coster and Ian Harrison away from Suzuki. Superstar rider Ryan Dungey would follow one year later, soon to be joined by foreign imports Ken Roczen and Marvin Musquin.
Pit Pass
Pit Pass
Kelly Kirby’s moto garden.
Kelly Kirby’s moto garden.
Michael Mosiman’s fans are growing.
Michael Mosiman’s fans are growing.
Uncle Ted Parks wants you. . . .
Uncle Ted Parks wants you. . . .
Gear Services track crew surveys Budds Creek.
Gear Services track crew surveys Budds Creek.
Sean Murphy on the Husky hotplate.
Sean Murphy on the Husky
hotplate.
This grom is going to need smaller boots.
This grom is going to need smaller boots.
Bennett’s War red-carpet premiere for Matt, Shane, Andrew, and James.
Bennett’s War red-carpet premiere for Matt, Shane, Andrew, and James.
Eli Tomac was all Gameday in Indiana.
Eli Tomac was all Gameday in Indiana.
The Feed
The Feed
The Feed

Email Icon Our sport has been my obsession since I first saw a dirt bike in 1973. My greatest friendships in life are with people I have met racing motocross. Although racing families come from very diverse backgrounds, they are usually very accepting of anyone who shares their love of racing. That is why I was greatly saddened at this year’s Southwick National when Marvin Musquin was booed on the podium after his heroic win and Dylan Ferrandis was flipped off lap after lap. It’s hard to accept that such xenophobic behavior was coming from anyone involved with our sport. Unfortunately, we are not immune. This is the type of publicly accepted prejudice that has poisoned our country and leads to the tragedies we read about every day in the news. Shame on us.
Paul E. Lerandeau // Racer X Online

Shayna Texter
“At the end of the day, I want to be known as a good motorcycle racer first and a female second.”
Red Bull KTM factory flat-tracker Shayna Texter, who has won multiple American Flat Track Nationals against her male competitors/Red Bulletin
Shayna Texter
“At the end of the day, I want to be known as a good motorcycle racer first and a female second.”
Red Bull KTM factory flat-tracker Shayna Texter, who has won multiple American Flat Track Nationals against her male competitors/Red Bulletin
OVERHEARD. OVERREAD. OVERSAID.
“It’s not really about being professional or whatever. It’s just I’m working really hard. I know what I do every day, every morning when I wake up. If he beats me, I know he’s doing the same and working as hard as I do, so I have respect for that.”
Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrandis says his handshake with rival Adam Cianciarulo after the Unadilla National wasn’t about being professional/Post-race Pulpcast interview with Steve Matthes
“The task is serious. We’re racing in European sand, a real sandbox. But these guys are going to put in 100 percent effort. We’re going to go over and put in a lot of testing. It’s going to be very tough, but we hope to be competitive.”
Team USA’s Roger De Coster on the selection of Zach Osborne, Jason Anderson, and Justin Cooper and their plan to travel to Europe early to prepare for the 2019 Motocross of Nations in Assen, Holland/Racer X Online
“It fits me perfectly, which is terrible.”
Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha assistant team manager Wil Hahn on testing Yamaha minicycles—he says a Supermini feels just about right/RacerTV.com
“I like to say that I’m the fastest pit-bike rider out there.”
Maximus Vohland, who is nearly 5’10”, on cramming himself behind the bars of a Supermini during his Loretta’s podium speech
“I’m just going to tell you straight-up my personal opinion where I feel that comes from. That’s coming from Eli and John Tomac saying ‘Take the heat, because we don’t want to take the heat.’ That’s my personal opinion. He don’t want to do it. He runs Kawasaki just like Roczen runs Honda. So they said, ‘We don’t want to do it.’”
Jeff Stanton on Monster Energy Kawasaki sitting out the MXoN/PulpMX Show
“I just think it’s horrible timing for our guys. Again, they’re great. They should be able to adapt and go and do that. What’s in it for the riders? It’s your country. I get that. I totally understand that. Don’t get me wrong. But with all these other events coming up, it’s bad timing.”
Damon Bradshaw on the MXoN/PulpMX Show
“Maybe days like today when I get a big gap of over 30 seconds in the second moto people can say it’s boring. But they also don’t show me on the TV! Every time I watch the race back, it seems like I am never on TV. I think a maximum of two laps each time.”
Jorge Prado, after dominating yet another MX2 race, this time Lommel, Belgium
Jorge Prado
“It’s not really about being professional or whatever. It’s just I’m working really hard. I know what I do every day, every morning when I wake up. If he beats me, I know he’s doing the same and working as hard as I do, so I have respect for that.”
Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrandis says his handshake with rival Adam Cianciarulo after the Unadilla National wasn’t about being professional/Post-race Pulpcast interview with Steve Matthes
“The task is serious. We’re racing in European sand, a real sandbox. But these guys are going to put in 100 percent effort. We’re going to go over and put in a lot of testing. It’s going to be very tough, but we hope to be competitive.”
Team USA’s Roger De Coster on the selection of Zach Osborne, Jason Anderson, and Justin Cooper and their plan to travel to Europe early to prepare for the 2019 Motocross of Nations in Assen, Holland/Racer X Online
“It fits me perfectly, which is terrible.”
Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha assistant team manager Wil Hahn on testing Yamaha minicycles—he says a Supermini feels just about right/RacerTV.com
“I like to say that I’m the fastest pit-bike rider out there.”
Maximus Vohland, who is nearly 5’10”, on cramming himself behind the bars of a Supermini during his Loretta’s podium speech
“I’m just going to tell you straight-up my personal opinion where I feel that comes from. That’s coming from Eli and John Tomac saying ‘Take the heat, because we don’t want to take the heat.’ That’s my personal opinion. He don’t want to do it. He runs Kawasaki just like Roczen runs Honda. So they said, ‘We don’t want to do it.’”
Jeff Stanton on Monster Energy Kawasaki sitting out the MXoN/PulpMX Show
“I just think it’s horrible timing for our guys. Again, they’re great. They should be able to adapt and go and do that. What’s in it for the riders? It’s your country. I get that. I totally understand that. Don’t get me wrong. But with all these other events coming up, it’s bad timing.”
Damon Bradshaw on the MXoN/PulpMX Show
Jorge Prado
“Maybe days like today when I get a big gap of over 30 seconds in the second moto people can say it’s boring. But they also don’t show me on the TV! Every time I watch the race back, it seems like I am never on TV. I think a maximum of two laps each time.”
Jorge Prado, after dominating yet another MX2 race, this time Lommel, Belgium
David Pingree
Electronic Ping
By David Pingree   Racer X Instagram   @DAVIDPINGREE101
David Pingree
Electronic Ping
By David Pingree   Racer X Instagram   @DAVIDPINGREE101
A

dam Cianciarulo just wrapped up his first professional title, and I haven’t met one person who isn’t happy for him. He’s been nicknamed “Baby Jesus” by those who worked with him as an amateur, to give you some idea of how good he’s always been and the pressure that has been on his shoulders to succeed. Sacrilege aside, Adam was poised to win as he moved up to big bikes and went straight to Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki—the most successful team in the business.

RacerX Adam Cianciarulo
Want to know how to speak with the media? Watch that interview. Or any of his interviews.
Jason Weigandt
Voice Box

By JASON WEIGANDT   Racer X Twitter  @JASONWEIGANDT

Jason Weigandt
Voice Box

By JASON WEIGANDT   Racer X Twitter  @JASONWEIGANDT

W

ith Adam Cianciarulo securing the 250 Class Pro Motocross Championship, it not only puts Mitch Payton’s Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team back on top, but also Kawasaki’s bottom-up system of talent development with Team Green.

The squad is undoubtedly the most consistently successful amateur team in the business, but things have gotten tougher lately. Following the world economic crash, Kawasaki kept the budget flowing at the top end, paying Ryan Villopoto handsomely—and RV, a Team Green product, kept winning Monster Energy Supercross 450SX Championships. But when Villopoto retired, Kawasaki, for the first time, didn’t have a ready replacement in the pipeline. Teams like GEICO Honda and Star Racing Yamaha had made a stronger push for amateurs, signing many of the top prospects. By 2015, Villopoto was off to an unsuccessful foray into MXGP racing, and Kawasaki tried a Davi Millsaps-Wil Hahn team that barely got going. Reid Nordin, the longtime Team Green head who had moved into a senior role with Kawasaki Racing, moved on.

RacerHead
RacerHead
FIVE GUYS, ONE QUESTION | BY AARON HANSEL
QUESTION: What are you most looking forward to this off-season?
JACOB HAYES
JACOB HAYES
“I’m going on a cruise with a lot of the riders, which will be sick considering I’ve never been on a vacation before. Then the other thing is, I’m going back to Australia to race. I had a blast last year, so I’m really looking forward to going back.”
KEN ROCZEN
KEN ROCZEN
“I’m honestly looking forward to just taking some actual time off. My body needs to rest and recover, so I’m taking a decent amount of time off from riding after the season to go to Hawaii, Germany, and Lake Powell. I just want to get healthy.”
FREDRIK NOREN
FREDRIK NOREN
“I like the off-season, but I’m already really looking forward to supercross. I love riding my dirt bike, and supercross is a lot of fun to ride. I do like hanging out with my family, and we’re moving into a new house, so that’s exciting too.”
SHANE MCELRATH
SHANE MCELRATH
“Time off is rare at this level. I have some sort of training to do daily, whether that’s cardio, the gym, or both. It’s very important to let your body and mind rest, and I’m really looking forward to having some down time to relax with my family.”
TY MASTERPOOL
TY MASTERPOOL
“I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me this off-season with supercross training and physical training. I’m trying to break 120 pounds [laughs]. I like to work and play hard and will have plenty of fun in the process. Follow along on IG! @tymasterpool
JACOB HAYES
JACOB HAYES
“I’m going on a cruise with a lot of the riders, which will be sick considering I’ve never been on a vacation before. Then the other thing is, I’m going back to Australia to race. I had a blast last year, so I’m really looking forward to going back.”
KEN ROCZEN
KEN ROCZEN
“I’m honestly looking forward to just taking some actual time off. My body needs to rest and recover, so I’m taking a decent amount of time off from riding after the season to go to Hawaii, Germany, and Lake Powell. I just want to get healthy.”
FREDRIK NOREN
FREDRIK NOREN
“I like the off-season, but I’m already really looking forward to supercross. I love riding my dirt bike, and supercross is a lot of fun to ride. I do like hanging out with my family, and we’re moving into a new house, so that’s exciting too.”
SHANE MCELRATH
SHANE MCELRATH
“Time off is rare at this level. I have some sort of training to do daily, whether that’s cardio, the gym, or both. It’s very important to let your body and mind rest, and I’m really looking forward to having some down time to relax with my family.”
TY MASTERPOOL
TY MASTERPOOL
“I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me this off-season with supercross training and physical training. I’m trying to break 120 pounds [laughs]. I like to work and play hard and will have plenty of fun in the process. Follow along on IG! @tymasterpool
PAGE 54
THE WINNGEST BRANDS
THE WINNGEST BRANDS
Who dominated at the Ranch?
PAGE 56
LIFE IS GOOD
LIFE IS GOOD
Cole Seely’s goodbye
PAGE 61
CIRCUIT RACER
CIRCUIT RACER
Alta’s Redshift SM rips
PAGE 64
THE PREMIER CLASS
THE PREMIER CLASS
Not 450s—85s!
RacerHead
RacerHead
LORETTA LYNN’S: TITLES BY BRAND | | BY DAVEY COOMBS
T

he Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch is something of a melting pot for American motocross, as fast riders from all around the country gather to compete for the nation’s top amateur honors. It’s also a chance for motorcycle manufacturers to take stock of their market share and respective rider-support programs. This time around, seven different OEMs got to celebrate titles—some more often than they expected, others . . . not so much.

RacerHead
RacerHead
COLE SEELY: ON HIS OWN TERMS | BY JASON WEIGANDT
COLE SEELY: ON HIS OWN TERMS | BY JASON WEIGANDT
COLE SEELY: ON HIS OWN TERMS | BY JASON WEIGANDT
C

ole Seely doesn’t retire from full-time racing with an uncountable number of race wins and titles, but in some ways his career was the best of all, because it was never supposed to exist in the first place. Seely was far from a highly touted prospect, and he even quit the sport in his amateur days, burned out from the pressure. He returned determined to keep it fun, and so simply making the grade in each manner—getting a privateer ride, making mains, then a fill-in spot, getting podiums, then a factory ride, then winning races—all took on the look of bonus time. Seely had a true appreciation for the racing life as he was living it, and it’s that richness of spirit that makes for a great life. See, racing a motorcycle for a living is the dream, but at the top, it becomes so steeped in pressure and work that it doesn’t always feel that way. Seely was the rare man able to actually enjoy it in the moment.

“This was more than a dream come true,” Seely said in a post on his YouTube channel. “I never imagined I’d come so far in this sport.”

RacerHead
RacerHead

TEAM USA: Organized Underdogs | BY JASON WEIGANDT

T

he days of Team USA entering the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations as favorites are long gone. The American contingent’s 2018 blowout loss on home soil added a seventh year to their winless streak, and the European sand of this year’s host track in Assen, Holland, makes the task look even more ominous.

A Team USA press conference before the Ironman National helped boost spirits, though. Team members Zach Osborne, Jason Anderson, and Justin Cooper have a plan to right some of the wrongs, starting with pre-race prep. Anderson will leave for Holland on September 1 and spend an entire month acclimating to the conditions and working with the European arm of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna. Osborne will take an extra week to rest a sore shoulder and then head over; Cooper will arrive two weeks in advance. This is much more prep than normal, and further, there are rumors that Anderson and Osborne may end up using some of the works parts Husqvarna deploys in the GPs. The team is also making arrangements to pit together at the race, work more closely, and at least give themselves the best possible chance.

RacerHead
RacerHead
The
Goods
FirePower Racing Motor Oils
FirePower
Racing Motor Oils
MSRP: $14.49 (1 Quart) / $49.99 (1 Gallon)
www.firepowerparts.com
Fire Power is entering the four-stroke motor oil market with their brand-new line of oils, which includes 10W-40 and 20W-50 full synthetic motor oils. First and foremost, Fire Power’s goal is to source the highest-grade materials with durability and quality in mind, all while keeping the price point low. The synthetic formula is fortified with racing ester to withstand extreme heat and high RPM use—perfect for motocross bikes. Before production, they evaluated 20 different additive options, chose the five best-performing, and then narrowed it down to their final choice by intensive dyno testing. The result is what you see today. Look for Fire Power oil soon in your local dealerships.
FirePower Racing Motor Oils
RacerHead
RacerHead

Fun Bikes: ALTA REDSHIFT SM | BY DAVID PINGREE

I

’ve spent a bit of time on Alta’s motocross model, and I was impressed by it. Their demise as a company was a bummer, because I really believe electric is where we’re headed. How soon? I’m not sure, but I want to have as much experience as I can with these machines so I have solid reference points when gas cans are only used to fuel your generator.

The Redshift SM has a very cool, sleek look at first glance. The battery is square and bulky, but they make up for it in the shapes and design elsewhere. This fully street-legal bike has four power settings, from very mellow to leave-a-stain-in-your-shorts acceleration. I went ahead and started at four, because why not? You know you’d do the same thing. As I twisted the throttle, I expected good acceleration; after all, I’d ridden the MX version plenty. But when traction is 100 percent and torque is at 100 percent right off the bat, things get exciting quickly. The front end wants to climb immediately, and I found myself having to chop the throttle to keep from looping out. Even at 40 to 50 mph, a quick twist to full throttle and the front end comes off the tarmac. I was smiling huge under my helmet.

RacerHead
RacerHead

BUZZ

PRADO Easily the most dominant rider in the world right now, the Spanish teenager has won all but one MX2 overall this year. With old KTM stablemates Jeffrey Herlings and Antonio Cairoli out with injuries for most of the season, his stock is rising quickly. It needs to, because according to FIM rules, the two-time MX2 Champion has to move up to MXGP in 2020, despite being just 18 years old.
FACCIOTTI Colton calls it a career up in Canada by clinching his sixth Canadian National Motocross Championship, walking off the northern stage with one more championship than his friend and mentor Jean-Sebastien Roy.
RacerHead
RacerHead
THE
Premier
Class
Looking for talent? Age 13 on 85s is where you’ll find it | By Jason Weigandt
A

dizzying array of classes makes the amateur landscape hard to understand, but we’ve found one nearly surefire predictor of talent: the 13-year-old division of 85cc racing is the true all-star class. At a younger age, riders can mix and match 65cc and 85cc racing, and older riders can jump to big bikes early or stay on minis late, so the best don’t always race the best. Win on an 85 at age 13, though, and you’re a bad little dude.

Check out the list of AMA National Champions from Loretta Lynn’s in this class, starting 30 years ago and stretching to 2009. In 2010, the (12-13) division switched to a (12-14) division, obscuring the results a bit. Occasionally the (12-13) designation returns, though, and Garrett Marchbanks, Carson Mumford, Dilan Schwartz, Matt LeBlanc, and Ryder DiFrancesco have claimed titles there. Also, if you’re looking for this year’s hits, the 85 (10-12) class might provide the closest data set, as riders are forced off of 65s after age 11. KTM Orange Brigade riders Haiden Deegan and Daxton Bennick, who split the 85 (10-12) Modified and Limited titles this year and are both 13, are in very good company.

Motocross 101
Scrubbing Jumps
WORDS: DAVID PINGREE
PHOTOS: SIMON CUDBY
Motocross 101
WORDS: DAVID PINGREE
PHOTOS: SIMON CUDBY
Scrubbing Jumps
S

Scrubbing has become a standard racing technique for young riders, who have been working on emulating the move since James Stewart first dropped jaws back in 2002. I get asked all the time how to scrub jumps, and so much of it is a feeling that it’s difficult to explain. It’s also an advanced technique, and it’s something that can get you into trouble if you don’t do it correctly. With that in mind, we shot this sequence of a very subtle scrub, which is designed to minimize airtime off a jump.

The first thing you have to work out is coasting off of a jump. A scrub only works when you’re completely off the throttle, so if you still blip the throttle on the face of jumps, this isn’t going to work. The concept is that you attack the jump with more speed than you actually need and use the scrub to decrease height and distance so you don’t overjump the obstacle. You should start by accelerating toward a jump and letting off the throttle as you coast over. (Tabletops are best for learning.) Be prepared for the front end to drop a bit, as the engine brake will affect the attitude of the bike. Once you have this down, you can move on to scrubbing.
Try to keep your head and upper body neutral. You can see that I’m turning the bike down with my arms and legs but keeping my shoulders and head square while looking where I want to go.
At a certain point in the jump—and this all depends on the distance of the jump—you’ll need to turn the wheel back to the right and straighten the bike out. By simply turning the wheel back to the right and giving the throttle a twist, the bike should come back around via gyroscopic movement. Ideally, you want to land perfectly straight with the throttle on. Sometimes you’ll still have a little bit of an angle when you land, but this can typically be powered out with the throttle.
The first thing you have to work out is coasting off of a jump. A scrub only works when you’re completely off the throttle, so if you still blip the throttle on the face of jumps, this isn’t going to work. The concept is that you attack the jump with more speed than you actually need and use the scrub to decrease height and distance so you don’t overjump the obstacle. You should start by accelerating toward a jump and letting off the throttle as you coast over. (Tabletops are best for learning.) Be prepared for the front end to drop a bit, as the engine brake will affect the attitude of the bike. Once you have this down, you can move on to scrubbing.
Next, set up your direction—you want to approach the jump at a slight angle. You’ll notice pros enter at a much steeper angle up the face, but that’s elite-level skill. A slight angle will help you set up.
EXPOSURE
By Jason Todd // Photos By CHRISTIAN MUNOZ
The Feed
EXPOSURE
By Jason Todd // Photos By CHRISTIAN MUNOZ
Maximus VOHLAND
DOB: March 16, 2003
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Bike: KTM 85 SX (112cc Supermini)
Classes: Supermini 1, Supermini 2
Sponsors: KTM Orange Brigade, Red Bull, Acerbis, Troy Lee Designs, Scott, Prato, JM Environmental, Masimo, Motion Pro, Dunlop, FMF, Nihilo, ProTaper, Hinson Racing, Guts, Motorex, Ethika, Vertex, Dt1, Ogio

Maximus Vohland in RacerX's Exposure

A perfect six-for-six sweep at the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s is an impressive feat, and only one rider managed it in 2019: motocross legacy Maximus Vohland.

Racer X: You were the only rider to have a perfect six-for-six week at Loretta Lynn’s this year. What are your thoughts on how the week went for you?
Maximus Vohland: The week went perfect for me. I got good starts, and I was the fastest every time I was on the track. It couldn’t have gone better!

A perfect six-for-six sweep at the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s is an impressive feat, and only one rider managed it in 2019: motocross legacy Maximus Vohland.

Maximus Vohland in RacerX's Exposure
Five days, 36 classes, 108 motos, and all the laps that counted in the 2019 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch
WORDS: DAVEY COOMBS
PHOTOS: CHRISTIAN MUNOZ

AT PRECISELY 7:00 A.M. ON TUESDAY, July 30, 2019, country music icon Loretta Lynn’s autobiographical ballad “Coal Miner’s Daughter” blared across the loudspeakers of her central Tennessee ranch and campground. Below the speakers, people were beginning to gather around the motocross track that sits in the middle of the property, waiting for the first of 108 motos that would make up the 2019 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship.

After some drive-time banter between the announcers, the staging area behind the starting gate began to fill up with the 42 riders who made up the Vet 30+ Sportsman class. They would draw chips from a bucket for gate picks, line up accordingly, and then take their sighting lap. Once they were all back on the starting gate, the motors were shut down, Kevin Cozadd of MXers for Jesus gave a morning prayer, our national anthem was sung, and then the 42 bikes fired back up. At 7:30 a.m. sharp, the starting gate dropped and the races were underway. Two minutes later, #2 Taylor Painter, a Kawasaki KX450 rider from Cleburne, Texas, crossed the finish line to record the first competitive lap of 2019. Over the course of the next five days, 47,047 more laps would follow.

47,048 Laps
Five days, 36 classes, 108 motos, and all the laps that counted in the 2019 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch
WORDS: DAVEY COOMBS
PHOTOS: CHRISTIAN MUNOZ
AT PRECISELY 7:00 A.M. ON TUESDAY, July 30, 2019, country music icon Loretta Lynn’s autobiographical ballad “Coal Miner’s Daughter” blared across the loudspeakers of her central Tennessee ranch and campground. Below the speakers, people were beginning to gather around the motocross track that sits in the middle of the property, waiting for the first of 108 motos that would make up the 2019 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship.

After some drive-time banter between the announcers, the staging area behind the starting gate began to fill up with the 42 riders who made up the Vet 30+ Sportsman class. They would draw chips from a bucket for gate picks, line up accordingly, and then take their sighting lap. Once they were all back on the starting gate, the motors were shut down, Kevin Cozadd of MXers for Jesus gave a morning prayer, our national anthem was sung, and then the 42 bikes fired back up. At 7:30 a.m. sharp, the starting gate dropped and the races were underway. Two minutes later, #2 Taylor Painter, a Kawasaki KX450 rider from Cleburne, Texas, crossed the finish line to record the first competitive lap of 2019. Over the course of the next five days, 47,047 more laps would follow.

New rules and a loaded lineup made for three simultaneous pro debuts for Factory Connection Honda
WORDS: JASON WEIGANDT
PHOTOS: RICH SHEPHERD & JEFF KARDAS
IT’S SATURDAY MORNING AT THE GEICO Budds Creek National, and the riders are working on punchlines. Team co-owner Jeff Majkrzak comes in to join the fun. With six riders racing for the team, everyone scrambles for jokes about a lack of hiring standards. “Jason, I think we need a few more riders on this team, eh?” Majkrzak says.

“Yeah, we had a contest, and anyone who wins gets to race one of the bikes,” Hunter Lawrence quips.

“Pull a fan out of the ticket line and gave him a bike,” Chase Sexton adds.

Seriously, this team has a lot of riders right now.

Connected Circuit
New rules and a loaded lineup made for three simultaneous pro debuts for Factory Connection Honda
WORDS: JASON WEIGANDT
PHOTOS: RICH SHEPHERD & JEFF KARDAS
IT’S SATURDAY MORNING AT THE GEICO Budds Creek National, and the riders are working on punchlines. Team co-owner Jeff Majkrzak comes in to join the fun. With six riders racing for the team, everyone scrambles for jokes about a lack of hiring standards. “Jason, I think we need a few more riders on this team, eh?” Majkrzak says.

“Yeah, we had a contest, and anyone who wins gets to race one of the bikes,” Hunter Lawrence quips.

“Pull a fan out of the ticket line and gave him a bike,” Chase Sexton adds.

Seriously, this team has a lot of riders right now.

Connected Circuit
Longtime factory rider Michael Byrne is managing his way up in the sport
WORDS: STEVE MATTHES
PHOTOS: RICH SHEPHERD, JEFF KARDAS, & SIMON CUDBY
IT’S NOT EASY BEING A TEAM MANAGER in supercross and motocross. You have to deal with all the logistics of moving semi trucks full of motorcycles and racing equipment all around the country with a dozen or so people all looking to you for leadership. There’s also a rider or three on the team who need to focus on trying to do the best they can on the racetrack, and they’re looking at the manager to help them fulfill their potential.
Bonus Time
Longtime factory rider Michael Byrne is managing his way up in the sport
WORDS: STEVE MATTHES
PHOTOS: RICH SHEPHERD, JEFF KARDAS, & SIMON CUDBY
IT’S NOT EASY BEING A TEAM MANAGER in supercross and motocross. You have to deal with all the logistics of moving semi trucks full of motorcycles and racing equipment all around the country with a dozen or so people all looking to you for leadership. There’s also a rider or three on the team who need to focus on trying to do the best they can on the racetrack, and they’re looking at the manager to help them fulfill their potential.
In 1986, the AMA’s Production Rule brought an end to the era of works bikes in America—custom-made, hand-built machines on which no expense was spared. This is the story of the death of the works bike, in the words of the last men to ride them
WORDS: ERIC JOHNSON
PHOTOS: DAVID DEWHURST
IN 1984, THE AMERICAN Motorcyclist Association dictated that, beginning in 1986, all participants in AMA Pro Motocross and Supercross must compete aboard production-based motorcycles. The shock announcement—maybe the most radical in American motocross history—signaled the end of the works-bike era on the AMA circuit. However, the production rule left a brief window open for the Japanese OEMs to continue to develop their race bikes as much as possible before it went into effect. Some, like Team Honda, took full advantage of the grace period; others had already ceased developing works bikes. This led to an epic battle of the haves and the have-nots. We spoke about this period with some of the top contenders of that time: David Bailey, Broc Glover, Bob Hannah, Rick Johnson, Ron Lechien, Johnny O’Mara, and Jeff Ward.
Bonus Time
In 1986, the AMA’s Production Rule brought an end to the era of works bikes in America—custom-made, hand-built machines on which no expense was spared. This is the story of the death of the works bike, in the words of the last men to ride them
WORDS: ERIC JOHNSON
PHOTOS: DAVID DEWHURST
IN 1984, THE AMERICAN Motorcyclist Association dictated that, beginning in 1986, all participants in AMA Pro Motocross and Supercross must compete aboard production-based motorcycles. The shock announcement—maybe the most radical in American motocross history—signaled the end of the works-bike era on the AMA circuit. However, the production rule left a brief window open for the Japanese OEMs to continue to develop their race bikes as much as possible before it went into effect. Some, like Team Honda, took full advantage of the grace period; others had already ceased developing works bikes. This led to an epic battle of the haves and the have-nots. We spoke about this period with some of the top contenders of that time: David Bailey, Broc Glover, Bob Hannah, Rick Johnson, Ron Lechien, Johnny O’Mara, and Jeff Ward.
Bonus Time
In 1986, the AMA’s Production Rule brought an end to the era of works bikes in America—custom-made, hand-built machines on which no expense was spared. This is the story of the death of the works bike, in the words of the last men to ride them
WORDS: ERIC JOHNSON
PHOTOS: DAVID DEWHURST
IN 1984, THE AMERICAN Motorcyclist Association dictated that, beginning in 1986, all participants in AMA Pro Motocross and Supercross must compete aboard production-based motorcycles. The shock announcement—maybe the most radical in American motocross history—signaled the end of the works-bike era on the AMA circuit. However, the production rule left a brief window open for the Japanese OEMs to continue to develop their race bikes as much as possible before it went into effect. Some, like Team Honda, took full advantage of the grace period; others had already ceased developing works bikes. This led to an epic battle of the haves and the have-nots. We spoke about this period with some of the top contenders of that time: David Bailey, Broc Glover, Bob Hannah, Rick Johnson, Ron Lechien, Johnny O’Mara, and Jeff Ward.
Honda's David Bailey 1984: Photo by David Dewhurt
Monster Energy / Yamalube / Star Racing Yamaha's Colt Nichols 2019 Washougal National: Photo by Jeff Kardas
Racer X Dealer Network
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*Italicized Dealerships carry 25 copies of Racer X each month.
Racer X Dealer Network
Learn more about the world’s best magazine sales program, and the free print and online advertising that comes with it, at www.filterpubs.com/dealers. It’s a no-brainer!
*Italicized Dealerships carry 25 copies of Racer X each month.
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Dealer Spotlight
Bob’s Cycle Supply // St. Paul, MN // bobscycle.com // 888-306-2627

Bob’s Cycle Supply is more than just a store—it’s the destination in the Midwest for everything motorcycles, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and ATVs. Since the doors opened in 1971, Bob’s Cycle Supply has been a Minnesota staple for a tight-knit community of motorsports enthusiasts—a motorcycle store that has given the local riding community a place for parts and accessories, not only for motorcycles but motorsports of all kinds. Need a new tire? Bob’s is the place to go, offering great deals on motorcycle tires with an exceptional tire-change service department to get you back on the road. Time for a new helmet? Bob’s Cycle Supply is the place. The massive showroom holds a full selection of full-face helmets, dirt bike helmets, ATV helmets, and snowmobile helmets to suit any riding style. With all the top brands to choose from, our knowledgeable sales staff will help you try on all your top picks while making sure safety, fit, and function are the number-one priority.

Bob’s Cycle Supply
Garage Build 2003 SUZUKIRM125
Garage Build 2003 SUZUKIRM125
Garage Build
2003 SUZUKIRM125
BIKE BUILD BY PRO SX MX TECH // www.prosxmxtech.com
WORDS & PHOTOS: ANDREW FREDRICKSON
An ode to retro nineties moto, this RM125 was set to turn heads wherever we went
PRO SX MX TECH
Bike Build, Cerakote Coatings, Powder Coatings
prosxmxtech.com
PROGEARZ
Transmission Finishing
progearz.com
TAG METALS
T1 Handlebars, Half-Waffle Slim Grips, Grip Accessory Kit
tagmetalsracing.com
PIRELLI
MX 32 Mid-Hard, Front 80/100-21, Rear 110/90-19
pirelli.com
RIDE ENGINEERING
22mm Clamp Set, Rubber Mounted with One-Piece Oversized Bar Mount and Poly Cones, Direct Route Front Brake Line with Mounting Bracket, Perch Mounted Kill Button, Billet Front Brake Caliper
ride-engineering.com
POLISPORT
Suzuki RM Restyle Kit
polisport.com
DECAL WORKS
Full Custom Graphics Kit
decalmx.com
ARC LEVERS
Clutch Perch Assembly, Clutch Lever, Brake Lever
arclevers.com
EBC BRAKES
Brake Pads, Brake Rotors
ebcbrakes.com
TWIN AIR
Air Filter
twinair.com
MOTION PRO
Throttle Tube, Throttle Cable
motionpro.com
BOLT MOTORCYCLE HARDWARE
Suzuki RM Pro Bolt Kit
boltmotorcyclehardware.com
FASTWAY
Evolution Air Footpegs, Fit Kit, Replacement Springs
promotobillet.com
CV4
Carb Vent Hoses, Radiator Hoses, Radiator Cap
cycra.com
WRENCH RABBIT
Full Top and Bottom End Rebuild Kit
wrenchrabbit.com
PIVOT WORKS
Bearing Kits for Wheels, Linkage, Swingarm, Lower and Upper Shock, Steering Stem
www.pivotworks.com
ALL BALLS
Master Cylinder and Brake Caliper Rebuild Kits for Front and Rear, Chain Rollers Upper and Lower, Steering Bearing Kit, Carb Rebuild Kit, Clutch Cable
allballsracing.com
FUEL STAR
Petcock
fuel-star.com
BOYESEN
Rad Valve, Rad Valve Replacement Gaskets, Power Wing, Black Ignition Cover, Ignition Gaskets, Clutch Cover
boyesen.com
FASST COMPANY
Brake Clevis and Spring Kit with Custom Racer X Shield
fasstco.com
HINSON
Clutch Basket, Plates, Springs
hinsonracing.com
D.I.D
520DZ2 Chain, DirtStar STX Rims
didchain.com
JT SPROCKETS
12 Tooth Front, 49 Tooth Rear
jtsprockets.com
PSYCHIC MX
Spoke Kit
psychicmx.com
TM DESIGNWORKS
Slide N Glide Kit
tmdesignworks.com
SCALVINI
Works Exhaust Pipe, Carbon Silencer
motomandistributing.com
SGB RACING
Stage III Anodized Upper Forks, Titanium Nitride Lower Forks, Hard Coated Lugs, Stage III Anodized Shock Body, Titanium Nitride Shock Shaft
sgb-racing.com
RACE TECH
Gold Valves Re-valve and Setup
racetech.com
TUSK OFF-ROAD
Axle Blocks, Rear Brake Line
tuskoffroad.com
ETS RACING FUELS
Racing Fuel Extrablaze 100
ets-racing.com
MATRIX CONCEPTS
A2 Aluminum Stand
matrixracingproducts.com
An ode to retro nineties moto, this RM125 was set to turn heads wherever we went
PRO SX MX TECH
Bike Build, Cerakote Coatings, Powder Coatings
prosxmxtech.com
PROGEARZ
Transmission Finishing
progearz.com
TAG METALS
T1 Handlebars, Half-Waffle Slim Grips, Grip Accessory Kit
tagmetalsracing.com
PIRELLI
MX 32 Mid-Hard, Front 80/100-21, Rear 110/90-19
pirelli.com
RIDE ENGINEERING
22mm Clamp Set, Rubber Mounted with One-Piece Oversized Bar Mount and Poly Cones, Direct Route Front Brake Line with Mounting Bracket, Perch Mounted Kill Button, Billet Front Brake Caliper
ride-engineering.com
POLISPORT
Suzuki RM Restyle Kit
polisport.com
DECAL WORKS
Full Custom Graphics Kit
decalmx.com
ARC LEVERS
Clutch Perch Assembly, Clutch Lever, Brake Lever
arclevers.com
EBC BRAKES
Brake Pads, Brake Rotors
ebcbrakes.com
TWIN AIR
Air Filter
twinair.com
MOTION PRO
Throttle Tube, Throttle Cable
motionpro.com
BOLT MOTORCYCLE HARDWARE
Suzuki RM Pro Bolt Kit
boltmotorcyclehardware.com
FASTWAY
Evolution Air Footpegs, Fit Kit, Replacement Springs
promotobillet.com
CV4
Carb Vent Hoses, Radiator Hoses, Radiator Cap
cycra.com
WRENCH RABBIT
Full Top and Bottom End Rebuild Kit
wrenchrabbit.com
PIVOT WORKS
Bearing Kits for Wheels, Linkage, Swingarm, Lower and Upper Shock, Steering Stem
www.pivotworks.com
Factory Tech Tip
WORDS: Scott Adkins
PHOTOS: ANDREW FREDRICKSON
BIKE WASHING
Factory Tech Tip
BIKE WASHING
WORDS: Scott Adkins
PHOTOS: ANDREW FREDRICKSON
T

here are a lot of reasons why you need a clean bike: you can see stress fractures or cracks in your frame, your bike will perform better, it’ll be less weight on your bike, and just for wear and tear. The more mud and stuff that builds up, the more stuff wears out.

1 First and foremost, I don’t really wash my seats. I like to either very lightly wash them or just spray them down. So first we’ll take off the seat and then the gas tank and the shrouds. Those are the most common areas where dirt will hide. If you take those three pieces off, you can get down into the frame and really wash the top of the engine and the bike properly.

2 Next, you’re going to need to plug your fuel line, throttle body, and or carburetor. Cover your air filter with a plastic bag, or if you have a filter cover, those are very nice. (I like to put a white towel in behind the filter cover in case any water does seep through.) Plug your exhaust too—if you spray water in there, you’ll saturate your exhaust packing and get mud and debris in there. You could even spray water as far up into the exhaust itself, and if you have a four-stroke, the valves are open. That water could actually go straight into the engine!

6 Really rinse that thing down good with a pressure washer. Get the footpegs well, and make sure to lift them up and spray in behind them. Also the pins—make sure you spray all the dirt out of the hole in the center of the pin. Rinse until there’s no soap left.

7 Next I like to take some aluminum acid and clean the pipe with a little piece of Scotch-Brite. It’ll do wonders for two-stroke and even four-stroke pipes. It’s a mild acid, so it actually just removes any oxidation in the pipe and brings back the true color. Make sure you get all that acid off the pipe with a rinse after.

8 Now start to wipe it down. Get the big water off with a hand towel, then you can move over to the shop air. Be careful, though. Don’t spray really hard around the electrical components, because it can actually force water into them.

One Race, One Page
// By Davey Coombs
2004 Steel City 125 National
September 5, 2004
One Race, One Page
// By Davey Coombs
2004 Steel City 125 National
September 5, 2004
T

he most memorable thing about the 2004 AMA/Chevy Trucks Pro Motocross Championship was the sheer dominance in both classes by transcendent talents. Ricky Carmichael won every moto in the 250 class aboard a Honda CRF450R for the second perfect season in his career, while in the 125 class, Kawasaki’s James Stewart went 23 for 24 in moto wins, a first-turn crash at RedBud in July costing him a first career perfect season. As a result of that dual dominance, by the time the series reached its white-flag race at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pennsylvania, the series championships had already been claimed.

However, Stewart still had something to race for. In three years of 125cc racing, he had won 26 of the 29 races he’d entered to that point, tying him with Carmichael for the all-time class record. Stewart’s three 125 national losses over the course of 2002-’04 all came due to misfortune: he lost High Point ’02 after hurting his knee, Southwick ’02 with a blown engine, and RedBud ’04 due to the aforementioned crash. Given the way he dominated, it’s hard not to consider James Stewart the most dominant 125cc motocrosser in history.

1972
Road Atlanta Trans-AMA
BY DAVEY COOMBS
Photo by Gary Van Voorhis
Here’s Jim Pomeroy aboard his Bultaco Pursang in the 1972 Trans-AMA race at Road Atlanta. The event counted as both a round of the Trans-AMA series and the first 500cc AMA Pro Motocross Championship round, with one significant difference: all European riders, who dominated the event, were taken out of the results of the 500 national. These were the early days of American motocross, and the AMA riders were no match for their international counterparts. As a result, Jim Weinert is counted as the winner of the ’72 Road Atlanta 500 National, even though he barely cracked the top five; Pomeroy, one of the best Americans of the era, did not finish in the top ten in the Trans-AMA, but as third-best AMA rider, he counted as third in the 500 national results. But Pomeroy was impressive enough against the Europeans, and one year later he would be invited to race in the FIM 250cc World Championship for Bultaco. Incredibly, and somewhat ironically, he won the first race he entered, making history as the first American to win a Grand Prix event. To see all of the late Jim Pomeroy’s AMA results, check out The Vault at vault.racerxonline.com.
Jim Pomeroy
Jeremy Ryan

Jeremy
Ryan
Rick Ryan and his son Jeremy have winning in their blood: Rick has the privateer-backed 1987 Daytona SX win to his credit, while Jeremy just won the Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C class at Loretta Lynn’s. Let’s see what happens when past meets future in this month’s 2 Tribes.
Rick Ryan

Rick
Ryan
Jeremy Ryan

Jeremy
Ryan
Rick Ryan

Rick
Ryan
Rick Ryan and his son Jeremy have winning in their blood: Rick has the privateer-backed 1987 Daytona SX win to his credit, while Jeremy just won the Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C class at Loretta Lynn’s. Let’s see what happens when past meets future in this month’s 2 Tribes.

Greatest accomplishment?
JR: That’d be my last race, winning Loretta Lynn’s.
RR: Winning the Daytona Supercross in 1987.

Which one of you could change an air filter faster?
JR: My mechanic is the best at that!
RR: Probably Jeremy if I let him change a filter.

What do you look forward to most on race day?
JR: Mostly the competition on the racetrack.
RR: Figuring out what we need to change to try to win.

Most common bike part you break?
JR: I go through brakes more than anything.
RR: Cranks on the supermini.

Best part of going to the races together?
JR: Spending quality time with my dad.
RR: Seeing the dedication Jeremy has to do his best.

Worst part of going to the races together?
JR: The worst part is sleeping in the moto van with my dad snoring.
RR: There is no worst part. It’s always better than work.

Angriest you’ve ever gotten at another competitor?
JR: I don’t really get mad at others.
RR: I just get frustrated when parents disrespect their kids. Don’t do that around me.

Any starting-gate rituals?
JR: No.
RR: I’d bang my forearms on the handlebars.

Biggest win?
JR: So far, it’s my Loretta Lynn’s win.
RR: Daytona.

Biggest rival?
JR: Nate Thrasher.
RR: Rick Johnson.

Whose ass would you like to kick?
JR: I don’t like to kick my competition.
RR: I don’t really get mad like that.

The worst part is sleeping in the moto van with my dad snoring.”—JR

TEN MINUTES WITH
BY AARON HANSEL
TEN MINUTES WITH
BY AARON HANSEL
TYLER
BEREMAN
If you haven’t heard the name Tyler Bereman lately, you’re either not into motorcycles or you’ve been trapped under a stack of old carburetors. He recently had a new Red Bull video drop, won silver and gold medals in the QuarterPipe High Air and Best Whip competitions at X Games Minneapolis, and has been competing in plenty of flat track races. This is all even more impressive considering he’s only recently gotten back on the bike following serious foot and knee injuries.
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RacerX
Stimilon Motocross Challenge
It all went wrong 20 years ago. . . .
WORDS: Dave Olcott // PHOTOS: Tabytha Perry
L

egend has it, back when we were all riding in the sandpits of Vermont, friends challenged us to run a race. We turned down the opportunity—we ran snowboard events and knew nothing about the intricacies of motocross. However, as friends do, they kept on us until we gave in. So, in 1999, the Stimilon Motocross Challenge was born.

Two decades later, 2019 saw the final SMC, hosted at the legendary Wick 338 in Southwick, Massachusetts. The goal from day one was to create a fun event that focused on friendship and why we loved this sport. The racing was awesome that weekend, but you can experience that anywhere. What makes this event unique is the pure imagination and creativity from the good people who attend and the many supporters who make this their own. Our motto: What could be better?

Tribute

Photo by Sean Howell

Bryson Howell
Last Laugh

Moments after Bryson Howell received his trophy for second place in the 51cc Shaft Drive Limited class at the 2019 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch, he and his family headed down to Loretta’s mansion for this photo. His bike was in pieces, as were the rest of the top-five finishers’ machines, after another competitor’s father posted a blanket protest (and the thousands of dollars it required) and then another followed suit. Turns out Howell’s bike was perfectly legal, as was that of class champion Braxton Baldock of Liberty, Kentucky. That led Bryson’s dad, Sean, to post this photo on Facebook with the caption “They weren’t kidding when they said, ‘If you do good at Loretta’s you’re taking your bike home in a box!’ Two different protestors and seven parts, 100% legal, $600 in protest money and second overall at the National Championship. See y’all at Baja Brawl!”

Racer X Illustrated
Thanks for reading our November 2019 issue!