Throwdown No.175 – 30/01/14

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Did you know, that all three of Ryan Villopoto’s 450SX Class titles came after being the first man to win twice in a season? Both of James Stewart’s, both of Chad Reed’s and Ryan Dungey’s all came the same way. And so did the last three of Ricky Carmichael’s. And so did the first four of Jeremy McGrath’s! If that doesn’t make you believe that RV’s going to take home the title this year, we don’t know what will.

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It came to our attention that Reed was wearing completely blacked-out goggles at the first three rounds of this year’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross series. By blacked-out, we mean that there was no branding on the strap. Last year, Reed designed his own signature goggle with Fox, but it looks like that deal’s come and gone. Reed was rocking Oakley Airbrake MX goggles at Oakland, and we can only assume that’s who he’s signed with for 2014.

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As Australians were celebrating summer and enjoying the beer, food and good times Christmas, New Year’s and Australia Day brings; Matt Moss was training, racing and knuckling down. The current Aussie motocross and supercross champ dipped into his own pocket to take a working holiday to the US, to race the opening rounds of the 2014 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series. While it hasn’t been cheap, Moss believes the experience against the world’s best will be invaluable for defending his titles this year. The Dillaway Brothers spoke to Moss at Oakland, and he revealed he’d like to return to the US next year to race more Monster Energy AMA Supercross rounds.

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Dirt Shark @ Oakland… Enough said, eh?

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Here’s another interesting statistic for you. From four rounds – three of which were wins – Rockstar KTM Racing’s Jason Anderson has led a grand total of six laps. And he has the red plate at the moment! In comparison, Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda’s Cole Seely has led 40, and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson has led eight. Justin Hill is the only other rider to have led a lap. Can you think of a rider that’s led less laps than Anderson and holds a red plate this early in a season? We certainly can’t…

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Transmoto’s exclusive new video featuring Victorian rider, Lewis Woods, is set to drop this Friday (30/01/14). Check out a few images that Pixel Pig’s Jorden Bethune captured at the shoot to get you amped. We also put together a small interview with Bethune this week on aerial filming. If you’re interested in that sort of thing, be sure to take a look at it.

^Lewiville: Dropping tomorrow!

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Damn! Check out Cooper Webb’s practice crash from Oakland. The youngster played it tough, raced the Main Event that night, and secured an impressive ninth Overall. An awesome effort. Another man who went down at Oakland was Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia. You can check out his Main Event crash here.

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Contrary to comments made on our website late last year, and again in our MX Nats Musical Chairs article, it appears that Monster Energy will remain the title-sponsor for Troy Carroll’s factory Kawasaki team in Australia for season 2014. At least, that’s what Carroll told us a couple of weeks ago. “I’m not sure how or where the talk started,” said Carroll when he contacted Transmoto in early January. “I suspect that, because we didn’t make any official announcements late last year about the team’s sponsors or rider line-up, people have jumped to conclusions. Wrong conclusions. I can confirm that we’ve signed both Adam Monea and Jake Moss as team riders,” TC went on to explain, before saying he was very close to finalising a deal with Monster for 2014. Despite those comments, it was interesting to read that yesterday’s press release from Kawasaki made no mention of Monster Energy or its on-going association with the team. Stay tuned for further developments.

^ Left to right: Adam Monea, Troy Carroll and Jake Moss…

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It was confirmed last week that Penrite Oils (as speculated) will be the official naming rights sponsor for Honda’s factory racing team in Australia in 2014. Penrite Honda Racing will field New Zealand’s Cody Cooper in the MX1 class, and South Australian Josh Cachia in the MX2 class. It’s also been announced that Penrite will be the official naming rights sponsor of the 2014 Broadford Bike Bonanza, scheduled to take place April 19-20.

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Speaking of Cooper, he won the annual Woodville GP in New Zealand over the weekend, going 2-2-1 ahead of NZ-native Brad Groombridge and KTM Australia’s Kirk Gibbs. Ford Dale, Gibbs’ teammate, won the first two motos on debut for KTM, but was forced out of the final moto with fatigue.

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KTM Desert Racing Team rider, Ivan Long, made his first competitive appearance in his new team colours a victorious one, winning the famous Deep Well Motocross event, south of Alice Springs. 24-year-old Long powered his KTM 450EXC to victory in the event ahead of Daymon James Stokie and Lachy Summers. The event boasts a list of previous winners that includes Red Bull KTM rider, Dean Ferris, seven-time Aussie enduro champ, Brad Williscroft, and Finke desert race winners, Ben Grabham and Michael Vroom. Grabham, who’s managing the all-new KTM Desert Racing Team this year, was thrilled with Long’s win. “The race is three, 40-minute motos on an awesome fun 10-kilometre, natural terrain track with dune jumps, clay pans and maximum speeds up to 170km/h!” said Grabham. “The temperatures are also extreme – the three times I’ve done it it’s been 43-46 degrees out in the desert. It’s great to see Longy do so well.”

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Most athletes in the dirt bike industry these days have their own Facebook pages and Instagram profiles set-up for keeping fans in the loop with what they’re up to. Motorex KTM Off Road Racing’s Toby Price has gone one step further, and has had his own website developed. You can check it out here. Be sure to look at the website regularly to stay up to date with what Toby’s up to.

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Accomplished off-road racer, Stefan Granquist, will join Josh Green and Tom McCormack at Active8 Yamaha in 2014, forming a three-man team to contest this year’s Australian Off Road Championship (AORC) and Australian 4-Day Enduro (A4DE). Granquist, originally from Sweden, will compete on board a WR450F in the E2 class, giving the team chances to take home titles in all three national classes contested in the AORC. He’ll make his debut with the Active8 Yamaha team this weekend at the opening round of the 2014 KTM Australian Enduro-X Nationals at Archerfield Speedway in Brisbane. He and McCormack will be in action, while Green will sit on the sidelines with an arm injury.

^ Granquist in action last year…

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Around four years ago, Fourohfour‘s Ken Roche put out a photography competition online, with first prize being a place on an upcoming video shoot. They chose a kid that was about 13-14 years old, and he was talented. They reckon he was well mannered, nicely spoken, and possessed everything needed to succeed in this industry. He was also level-headed, smart and switched on, and had an eye for creativity. Last year, the duo of Roche and Amanda Kirkpatrick at Fourohfour were flat out, covering Aussie off-road and filming their film, RIDE. This year, they’ll be taking on that kid they met four years ago as their first-ever apprentice. Jake Albertson is fresh out of High School, and he’ll soon be jetting off around the world as a part of Fourohfour’s team. Congrats, mate. Enjoy the ride.

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Australia’s top enduro pilots will fire their first shots in anger this weekend, when the three-round 2014 KTM Australian Enduro-X Nationals kicks off at Brisbane’s Archerfield Speedway. Despite all intentions to race the entire Enduro-X series , the Husqvarna race team doesn’t look like they’ll be starters at the opening round. Why? From what we hear, because the 2014-model Husqvarnas have only began arriving in Oz this week. With KTM/Husqvarna’s Jeff Leisk in the USA until early next week, there’re still no official PR about the make-up of Husqvarna’s off-road team for 2014. But it’s widely rumoured that Glenn Kearney will manage the new-look outfit; whose rider line-up is said to be made up of himself, Lachlan Stanford and Scott Keegan. We’ll be able to confirm whether our intel is any good next week, when the official announcement is expected. At this stage, no one from Husqvarna is willing to make any official comment.

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Yes, it’s true. At the ripe old age of 41, USA-based Aussie off-road legend, Shane Watts, is intending to make a comeback to the pro-row of America’s premier off-road series, the Grand National Cross-Country (GNCC). Wattsy may be a former Enduro World Champion (1997) and multiple GNCC champ (2000 and 2001), but he’s now discovering that getting his battered old boy back into shape is tougher than he initially thought. For an amusing insight into Wattsy’s comeback – and fellow Maxxis/KLiM/DirtWise rider Jason Thomas (the 2012 X2-class GNCC champ) – check out his website and follow the links to Episode 1 of “Getting DirtWise”.

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Free with this month’s issue of Transmoto Dirt Bike Magazine is our 2014 calendar presented by GoPro! Have GoPro-sponsored athletes from all around the world hanging on your wall this year. We’re stoked to have female FMX sensation, Emma McFerran, on the cover. The mag’s available at your local newsagents for one more week.

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Australia’s Cam Sinclair broke his left leg during a Nitro Circus Live performance in Fresno, California a few weeks ago. His bike landed on his leg – imagine that pain… Funnily enough, Travis Pastrana has a broken left leg at the moment as well. Best of luck recovering, you two.

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This isn’t FMX, but damn it’s crazy! Professional scooter rider, Ryan Williams, throws down a BMX World First at a recent Nitro Circus Live show in the US – a Front Flip Forward Bike Flip. Watch the clip. It’s loose.

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Click here to find out what’s inside Transmoto Dirt Bike Magazine’s 2014 February Issue (#40), and be sure to grab yourself a print or digital edition.

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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!

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Transmoto, Australia’s leading cross-media dirt bike brand, continues to grow and is now seeking a highly creative national advertising sales manager. The role requires strong relationship skills with key accounts, an ability to develop and manage creative solutions across media channels, be a self-starter, and be prepared to go the extra mile to ensure client satisfaction. Send CV to phil.osborn@coastalwatch.com if interested.

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Dual-purpose can often means compromising performance when it comes to on- and 0ff-road riding. That’s not the case with Yamaha’s WR250R. This quarter-litre super-trail machine is as good on the tar as it is in the dirt. And for 2014, Yamaha has re-priced the model down to $7999 RRP – a massive $2500 cheaper than last year’s machine.

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Over 6000 people flocked to Taree Motorcycle Club for the second annual Motul Pirelli Troy Bayliss Classic last weekend, which saw event host, three-time World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss, take victory in the Troy Bayliss Cup. Check out this sweet video from the event, produced by Bret Trigg.

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Yamaha’s WR450F has proved its performance and reliability on the toughest stage, by winning the Dakar Marathon Class. The Marathon Class is a production-based category, aimed at privateers that evokes the true spirit of the Dakar. The real challenge of man and machine against the harshest conditions is highlighted in the Marathon Class, because the rules do not allow any major change of parts during the event. So, unlike the Pro class, riders must retain the same engine, frame, forks, swingarm, cylinder heads and more for two weeks of racing. This year, Venezuelan rider, Cardona Vagnoni, rode his WR450F home 41 minutes ahead of second spot to scoop the coveted victory. “These production based machines are much closer to those purchased in showrooms than the full blown rally bikes,” said Yamaha Marketing Manager, Laurie Carleton. This Marathon Class win highlights the power and performance of Yamaha’s versatile WR450F, so whether you’re out on a day’s trail in the local bush or crossing a South American desert, you can do so with confidence on the fuel injected WR450F.”

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After a long and fruitful relationship with One Industries riding gear, Team Motul Pirelli Suzuki is rumoured to have signed a deal to wear Alpinestars gear for season 2014; rumours that have been strengthened in recent weeks with team rider and reigning Aussie MX and SX champ, Matt Moss, running Alpinestars gear in the AMA SX. When we contacted Alps’ brand manager at Monza Imports, Steve Jennings, he didn’t deny the talk. Instead, he pointed to the fact an official release would soon be forthcoming.

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Penrite Honda Racing’s Josh Cachia has signed with Fist Handwear for season 2014. Enduro ace, Matty Phillips, will also join the crew at Fist this year. Phillips was one of the very first athletes to ever be on Fist when the brand was started a few years ago. To celebrate his return, he hooked up with Bret Trigg in Tasmania a few weeks ago to put together a sweet little video. We’ll be the first to show you the clip in a few weeks’ time when it’s all edited up and ready to go. Stay tuned.

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