Throwdown No.170 – 12/12/13

—

The 2014 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series is fast approaching and is anticipated to be one of the best seasons we’ve ever seen. Think about the riders looking to take home that 450SX Class title. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto and Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey are at the top of their game, and Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart and Discount Tire Racing’s Chad Reed will be out there fighting to prove they’ve still got what it takes. Throw in Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia, and new-comers to the class such as Eli Tomac and Ken Roczen, and we’re in for a treat.

—

Sadly, Barcia’s teammate Trey Canard and Rockstar KTM Racing’s Davi Millsaps won’t be at the 2014 SX series opener, as they both sustained injuries last week. It’s a real bummer, as it was Canard and Millsaps that rode neck-and-neck at last year’s opening Anaheim round, with Millsaps eventually taking the surprise win. That’s it for the 450s. In the 250SX Class, it’s GEICO Honda’s Justin Bogle and Millsaps’ teammate Joey Savatgy that will miss the opening rounds of the season. Both injured themselves practicing this week. You can read more on that in this week’s USA Insider.

—

What about the Aussie riders heading over to A1? In the big-bike class, we’ve got this year’s MX Nats and Aussie SX champion, Matt Moss, heading over to contest the first five rounds of the series. He’s getting support from Yoshimura while he’s over there. It’s going to be quite interesting to watch, taking into account the whole “Jake Moss versus Josh Hill” scenario that went down at Toowoomba a few weeks ago. Will there be a bit of hostility in the air, or has everyone moved on? We’ll have to wait and see. In the 250SX Class, we’ve got Dean Ferris over there under Roger DeCoster’s wing at Red Bull KTM. Ferris was killin’ it at this year’s Motocross of Nations, and he really turned it on towards the end of this year’s FIM Motocross World Championship. It’ll be super interesting to see how he goes racing SX.

—

We’ve also heard whispers that Lawson Bopping will also head over to the US to contest the first few rounds of the AMA Supercross series. Bopping, who raced for CDR Yamaha this year, is yet to lock down plans for season 2014 in Australia. At this stage, punters are throwing their money on Billy Mackenzie and Jay Marmont to make up Craig Dack’s squad next year, so where would that leave Bopping? Well, Cody Cooper’s been racing a Honda in New Zealand, and if he locks down a ride with Carlton Dry Honda Racing in Oz, that leaves a seat vacant next to Matt Moss at Motul Pirelli Suzuki. And of course, with Marmont leaving Monster Energy Kawasaki, there’s a ride available there, too. Silly season’s in full-swing!

—

Daniel McCoy officially struck a deal with TM Racing Australia this week, to pilot a MX250 two-stroke in the MX2 class at next year’s MX Nats. McCoy will be the sole rider and Team Manger at this stage, with the possibility of bringing on another rider still on the cards. McCoy is yet to decide which bike and class he will contest the 2014 SX series aboard. Very interesting!

—

Word on the street is that Dan Reardon, who is now retired from racing and running Alter Ego Elite (training the likes of Matt and Jake Moss, Luke Styke and Jay Wilson), is looking to contest a couple of Monster Energy MX Nationals rounds next year, as well as the Aussie SX Championship. Reardon wasn’t available for a comment when Transmoto tried to contact him earlier today. It would be pretty cool to see the man back in the saddle.

—

It was announced this week that 16-year-old Jed Beaton will join Joel Dinsdale at GYTR Yamaha for season 2014. The Under 19s competition better be on the look out for this duo next year.

—

Josh Cachia has his own little slice of paradise on the beach in South Australia, where he pretty much has more fun than anyone else on a dirt bike. This week, Cachia’s section from MOTO 5: The Movie was put online for our viewing pleasure. Watch the clip and take the tour of Cachia’s humble dwellings, and the terrain that has moulded his unique riding style.

—

A provisional calendar for the 2014 Australian Supercross Championship was released this week. Next year’s series will run over five rounds, located in Darwin, NSW, Victoria and Queensland. The championship, which will open in Darwin on September 20, will then return to NSW after a year’s hiatus. Where in NSW? We don’t know.The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix will host rounds three and four, with Queensland to host the final round on November 1. Where in Queensland? We don’t know! Yeah, details are scarce right now. Stay tuned for more.

—

On Monday morning, we had Serco Yamaha rider, Luke Clout, stop by the Transmoto office to hang out. It was nice to show Clouty what the dirt bike media world has to offer, and how rad the surf beach just across the road from our office is. While he was here, we asked you guys to send a few questions his way via Instagram and Facebook. Check out Luke’s answers to those questions in the clip below.

—

—

Word on the street is that Active8 Yamaha could be looking to sign a third rider for season 2014. It was announced two weeks ago that Josh Green and Tom McCormack would return under AJ Roberts’ wing next year. Who’s the third rider going to be, though? And which class will they contest? Stay tuned for more details as they come to hand.

—

The second round of the 2013/2014 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship is set to take place in Lodz, Poland this weekend. Red Bull KTM Factory racer, Taddy Blazusiak, went 1-1-1 at the opening round in Liverpool a few weeks ago, and with Poland being his home-race, we expect him to do the same there.

—

After proving itself on the World Enduro stage, Sherco’s first two-stroke enduro bike – the 2014 SE250-R – has finally been released. We sampled the first French-made specimen to arrive in Australia. And we get there feeling it might settle here for good. To read the full-length test, pick up a print or digital edition ofTransmoto Dirt Bike Magazine‘s 2014 January (#39) Issue, on sale now.

—

On Saturday night, Transmoto attended the premiere for RIDE: The Australian Off-Road Moto Film, produced by Fourohfour. The film freakin’ sweet, and is well beyond any standard Aussie off-road racing has ever seen before. All of the riders had rad sections set in rad locations all over the country. You can pick up your copy of the film here.

—

—

Robbie Maddison and Bliss n Eso cruising around in jetpacks? Just because they can? Yeah, what a life…

—

The 2014 Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour calendar was announced this week. The series will kick off in Mexico in March, before making its way to Japan, Spain and Germany. It will then come to a close in Pretoria, South Africa come August. Wait, wasn’t South Africa meant to host a round this year, you ask? Yep, the season finale was supposed to take place there, but the plug was pulled at the last minute due to financial reasons. It looks like Red Bull’s found a way to make it work next year, though. If only they came back to Cockatoo Island here in Sydney as well, eh?!

—

—

Transmoto Dirt Bike Magazine’s 2014 January Issue (#39) is on sale now! Click here to find out what’s inside, and be sure to grab yourself a print or digital edition.

—

Want to win yourself a Jayco Toy Hauler valued at over $37,000? Yeah, you do! Subscribe to Transmoto Dirt Bike Magazine this month and you’ll be in the running. Remember, you’ve gotta be in it to win it!

—

It’s back! The date for the 2014 Transmoto 12-Hour powered by InsureMyRide has been set for the weekend of March 15-16. Entries for the event will open in early January. Once again, Transmoto Dirt Bike Magazine subscribers will be given pole position to secure a team in what has fast become Australian dirt biking’s hottest ticket! With a limited field of just 400 riders, the event is sure to sell out within last year’s record of nine hours. The 2014 event website will soon launch at www.transmoto.com.au/12-hour. You can also follow the event here.

—

A dozen years after its arrival, the bike that revolutionised small-capacity motocross finally gets a major overhaul. With its all-new powerplant, the 2014 Yamaha YZ250F is clearly faster than its predecessor. But as a package, has it given its rivals something to think about or, better still, to chase? Transmoto‘s editor, Andy Wigan, and former MX and SX champ, Cam Taylor, attended the Aussie launch of the all-new machines at Toowoomba, Qld a few weeks ago. For our full-length feature, pick up a print or digital edition ofTransmoto Dirt Bike Magazine‘s 2014 January (#39) Issue, on sale now.

—

KTM Motorsports and FMF Racing have worked together with the Caselli family in the US to set up a foundation to honour Kurt Caselli, who sadly passed away just under a month ago now. The aim of the foundation is to create safer racing conditions for current and future racers. The Kurt Caselli Memorial Ride Day was held at Glen Helen Raceway last week, and all money raised that day will be put towards the fund. A website will be up and running soon, where anyone can log in and donate as they please.

—

As most of us work full-time and don’t ride as much as we’d like to, the How-To series that kicked off last month’s issue of Transmoto Dirt Bike Magazine is all about helping you start and maintain a realistic training program – one that’ll make your riding safer and more enjoyable. Be sure to follow the four-part series, in the mag and online, as we build from basic exercise to elite-level training regimes. In the second instalment of our series, which can be found in Transmoto‘s 2014 January (#39) Issue, Alter Ego Elite’s Dan Reardon explains how to ramp up your training to achieve tangible results. More importantly, he tells you how to stay motivated. The first instalment can be found in our 2013 December (#38) Issue.

—

Feld Motor Sports announced last week that San Diego’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross round, scheduled to take place at Qualcomm Stadium on February 8, will take on a military theme to pay tribute to American members of the armed forces. The round will showcase military-themed activities, while riders and teams will be outfitted with military schemes on their gear and bikes.

—

In the third episode of this year’s SX Ed series, Dianna Dahlgren catches a ride to MetLife Stadium on the back of Broc Tickle’s Suzuki. You don’t really care, though. Dianna Dahlgren was mentioned and you hit that play button. You’re not even reading this anymore… Fine, catch you next week…

—