Throwdown No.105

What’s this “Throwdown”? It’s a digital home for rumour, fact and innuendo, delivered on a weekly basis. Covering a broad spectrum of the off-road world’s news, the Throwdown will touch on everything from racing to trailriding; from industry tidbits to issues facing the sport. It’s about delivering you timely information all in one place so you don’t have to scour the internet looking for it.

Quote of the week: “If Dungey got a dime every time someone said he only won the title because everyone was injured, he’d earn more money than James Stewart has all year.” – Vurbmoto on Red Bull KTM Ryan Dungey’s hot streak in the AMA Motocross.

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Matt Moss tells us that he has signed a supercross-only deal with the JDR/J-Star KTM team in America to ride the West Coast 250cc class in 2013. While it can’t yet be confirmed, Moss may also be riding a new fuel-injected 2013-model KTM 450SX-F for the four-round Australian Supercross Championship, which begins in mid October at Dubbo.

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After talking with CDR Yamaha’s Craig Dack last weekend about newly crowned MX1 champion Josh Coppins’ plans for the remainder of the year, it comes as no surprise to us that he is going to race with his old team, Monster Energy Yamaha, for the final two rounds of the World Motocross Championship in Italy (Sept 9) and Germany (Sept 23).

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There are no surprises that the new-look, Rob Twyerould-managed, Australian Factory KTM race team is speaking to 450cc-class riders for 2013. But one name that seems to be linked more than others to the new team is Suzuki’s Todd Waters, who was runner-up to Josh Coppins in the premier MX1 class at this year’s MX Nats. Given Waters spent so much of his Junior, Under 19s and Lites career on KTMs, it makes sense that the young Queenslander would consider a move back to the Austrian brand, especially now that they have a very competitive EFI machine in the 450cc class.

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Serco Yamaha has just confirmed that team rider Kirk Gibbs has been ruled out of the 2012 Australian Supercross after having a serious crash at the final round of the MX Nationals. Gibbs underwent surgery on his wrist yesterday, for an injury that he has been carrying throughout the entire season.

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At the final round of the MX Nats, WEM’s Kevin Williams gave an insight into some changes being considered for the 2013 series. Williams said they were looking at bringing the MXD (Under 19) class back to an Under 18 class. He also said some of the more geographically isolated tracks from this year’s series were unlikely to appear on the 2013 calendar, and that there may be two rounds held at the Macarthur MX Complex at Appin (which won the “Round of the Year” award for 2012). Williams also spoke of a three-round Amateur MX series, which he was hoping to incorporate into the 2013 MX Nationals Grand Finale at Coolum.

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Each year Suzuki VMX Classic Dirt has gotten bigger and attracted a wider cross-section of off-road enthusiasts. This year, at “CD9”, the entry list reads like a who’s who of the Aussie MX scene in the past four decades. Try a few of these names for size: Trevor Williams, Anthony Gunter, Dave and Gary Armstrong, Ray Vandenberg, Craig Dack, Jeff Leisk and Geoff Ballard. The event will take place this weekend (September 7-9) at Wallerawang – the rolling grass hills near Lithgow where the final moto of the 2010 A4DE was held. Aside from the guaranteed top-shelf bench racing, there’s a classic film night on the Friday, trade stands and swap meets, Aussie legends cutting demo laps, and a range of new-model Suzuki dirt bikes available to test over the weekend. For more information about what promises to be a cracker of an event, see http://www.suzukimotorcycles.com.au/news/events/suzuki-vmx-classic-dirt-9.html

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The final round of the AMA Motocross series will take place at Lake Elsinore this weekend and with the 450 class all wrapped up – Dungey won it at the third-to-last round at Unadilla and took his ninth straight win coming into the final event – the focus is on the 250 class. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett is leading the quarter-litre class, 14 points ahead of GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac and 18 points in front of Tomac’s teammate, Justin Barcia. Baggett may have the lead but powerhouse Tomac took his fourth Overall win of the season at the penultimate round with a dominate 1-1 performance, and Baggett was off the podium with a 4-4 result. It’ll be a very close race this weekend! Have a read of this week’s USA Insider to find out more.

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The fifth and final round of the East Coast MX series will take place at Oakdale this weekend and with 261 riders already entered, and clear skies forecast, it should be a blast for all in attendance. Gates open at 6am, with practice starting at 9am and the first race kicking off around 9.30. Entry is free for spectators, however the Salvation Army will be on the gate during the morning and a gold coin donation would be appreciated. Event Organiser, Michel Constantinou, will even front up to race the Pro Lites class and says, “I haven’t raced for about seven years, so I’ve done a couple of club days in the last few months and have been doing fitness training. I’m hoping to get a podium but we’ll see how it goes.” And his ride…it’ll be a pimped out KTM with custom graphics. Entries are still open for the event. You’ll find registration details at http://eastcoastmx.com.au.

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The World Motocross championship heads to Faenza for the GP of Europe, the penultimate round of this 16-round series. Heading into the second-to-last event, KTM is sitting pretty with the Red Bull KTM duo of Tony Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings dominating at last weekend’s event in Lierop. Cairoli took his sixth GP win in a row (and the 52nd Overall victory of his career) and extending his championship lead to 76 points over rival Clement Desalle. While Herlings won both motos and now has a 65 point lead.

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Get your workout started with a light warm-up courtesy of Miss Supercross, Dianna Dahlgren. Featuring Blake Baggett, Broc Tickle, and Darryn Durham.

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In what Active8 Yamaha Yamalube Team Manager, AJ Roberts, is referring to a role reversal, team rider, Josh Green, will be driving the support truck in the upcoming Australasian Safari, with Roberts and Team Mechanic, Casey Treasure, swinging spanners for friend and veteran motocross rider, Duncan Benstead. The way Roberts tells it, Benstead has contracted the Active8 Yamaha team to provide support, equipment and advice for his Safari effort.

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Word is Active8 Yamaha Yamalube team rider, Josh Green (who took second in the AORC E1 class this year and fifth Outright) has decided to step it up and ride Yamaha’s WR450F at this year’s A4DE in late October. According to Green, “It’s early days yet but it’s definitely a possibility. I’ve wanted to ride the WR450F for a while and with Jarrod Bewley out of the 4-Day I thought it would be a great opportunity to see how I perform.” Contrary to what Green says, his Team Manager, AJ Roberts, tells us Green isn’t on the fence and will definitely be riding the WR450F.

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And when we asked Green about his upcoming support role at the Australasian Safari, he said: “I thought I’d take a few weeks off and scope the event. In future years I’d love to race the event, so it’s a good way to see what it’s all about.”

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Word on the street is that Motorex KTM Off-Road Racing’s Team Manager, Brad Williscroft, has got Yamaha rider, Josh Green, on his shopping list for season 2013. Which makes sense, as Williscroft prefers versatile riders who are fast in both traditional enduro racing circles as well as Australia’s desert racing scene where his Motorex KTM Off-Road team has tasted so much success in recent years. According to Green, who ran second Outright in his debut Hattah Desert Race this year, “It’s news to me. I haven’t really spoken to anyone about the 2013 season at this stage and I’m focusing all my attention on the A4DE before I look to next year.” But, again, contrary to Green’s comments, rumour has it he has already talked with KTM, Honda and Yamaha…

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And what does AJ Roberts think of all this attention on his rider? “Greeny is getting faster with each race and has grown into a mature rider,” said Roberts. “He got everyone’s attention at the Hattah this year with a second, finishing behind Toby Price. I know Josh is looking for an enduro and desert deal next year, and right now, only the Motorex KTM team and Active8 Yamaha have that package on offer. So it’s really no surprise that KTM are interested.”

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Speaking of Williscroft, there’s talk that his lead rider, Toby Price, is considering a lucrative deal put on the table by Honda. According to rumours in the AORC pit paddock, the sign-on offered by the Honda deal would almost double what Price currently earns with KTM, and has similar contingency payments. We tried to get in contact with Price this week but he’s taking a much-needed holiday.

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Speculation continues about who will take over the running of Yamaha’s official national off-road team, in the wake of Geoff Ballard hanging up his Team Manager boots. With AJ Roberts confirming he’s likely to continue with his Active8 Yamalube Yamaha team for 2013, the talk is that long-time Yamaha technician, Darren “The Enthusiast” Thomson, will taken over Yamaha’s team for the AORC and A4DE, but leave Roberts’ team to represent Yamaha at Finke, Hattah and other selected desert races next year. Thommo has, after all, had several years’ experience with Scott Bishop’s GYTR Yamaha Under 19s MX/SX team. According to Thommo, “I’m flattered that there’s a rumour going around about it, but I haven’t heard anything myself. I know a lot of people have put their hand up for the position, but I’m unaware of any decision being made. Plus, at the moment I’m still involved with the Under 19s program and there are already plans in place for next year, which I’m involved with. So if it were offered to me, I don’t think there’s a lot of time to organise everything.”

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Despite Ballard’s Yamaha team rider, Matt Phillips, turning his nose up at an offer to ride for the CH Husqvarna team in Europe last year in favour of racing another season, it sounds like Tasmanian-born youngster might be closer to inking a deal with the Husqvarna Racing team in Australia for 2013, with aspirations to take up a ride with Husqvarna in Europe on the Enduro World Championship circuit the following year. Being partnered with the vastly experience Glenn Kearney on the Husky team in Oz might be just the tonic Phillips need to convert his obvious speed and desire into Outright-winning results. Phillips denies the rumours, saying: “I haven’t really thought about next year too much yet. I’ve been focusing on the International Six Days Enduro and want to improve on my results from last year. A podium in the E2 class would be awesome! But as far as the rumours go, they’re false. I haven’t been talking to Husqvarna, but if there’s a European Husky deal on the table, then they would have my attention. I might just have to go give Husqvarna a call!”

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The Yamaha King of the Enduro X has been postponed from October 13 to April 27 2013. Organisers say this is due to a range of hurdles that were making an October event too difficult to run. South Australia’s Gillman Speedway will remain the venue for the event.

Australian FMX rider, Josh Sheehan, has returned to his bike after having surgery on his fractured C7 vertebra a number of months ago, and made appearances in FMX events in France and the UK this month. He’s just in time to defend his Sydney X-Fighters title, which will take place on Cockatoo Island on October 6.

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Speaking of X-Fighters, with one month until the Sydney round, Sheehan and V8 Supercar driver, Craig Lowndes, will head to Cockatoo Island this Friday and nail a unique stunt. Sheehan will backflip his machine over Lowndes’ 600 horsepower Holden Commodore to celebrate the countdown of the Sydney X-Fighters event. Expect to see awesome images and video come out of the stunt.

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Big name FMX riders, Matt Schubring and Steve Sommerfeld, have begun FMX Coaching in Queensland and Western Australia. If you’ve always wondered what it’s like to jump a freestyle ramp, S&S FMX Coaching have the safest Freestyle Courses around (full tabletop landings). Interested? Email steve@stevesommerfeld.com for more information.

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FMX rider Andy Hensel suffered a career-ending crash at Round 2 of the Australian & Underground Freestyle Motocross Championships held at Coonabarabran’s Goanna Tracks this year. Hensel is now paralysed and wheelchair-bound, but hopes to walk again in the future. To achieve his goal, he plans to enrol in a privately funded intense rehab program, but needs to raise upwards of $50,000 to attend. If you would like to donate to Hensel’s rehabilitation, the bank details are below:

Andy Hensel Fundraiser Fund
BSB: 085 232
Account #: 142799655

You can also keep track of Hensel’s progress via his Facebook page.

Transmoto’s European Correspondent, Jonty Edmunds, recently got married. But how did the legendary moto photographer spend his honeymoon? By heading straight into two back-to-back EWC races. Now that’s dedication to your work (or maybe just making sure there’s food on the table for his three kids)!

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With average attendance at several of the MX Nationals rounds this year, there has been some speculation that the Monster Energy sponsorship may not continue for 2013. But, not so. At the MX Nats presentation dinner in Coolum Qld, Monster Energy’s Adrian Hunter publicly confirmed that, “Monster has made a commitment to continue working together with WEM for the MX Nationals next season, and we’re looking to put together a television package for the 2013 series.” WEM’s Kevin Williams claimed that the average crowd numbers were up 25% this season.

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Transmoto’s October issue went on sale this week and it’s chocked full of all the stuff you love. We head to Spain to see how the 2013 Husabergs stack up, look at the best shots from this year’s AORC, test the 2013 Suzuki RM-Z250 and 450, look at getting the best out of your helmet camera and plenty more. Take a look for yourself: http://www.transmoto.com.au/latest