Throwdown No.191 – 29/05/14

—

The opening round of the 2014 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship is in the books! As many expected, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey walked away with the win in the 450 Class, and as not one person expected, Yamalube/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin claimed the win in the 250 Class. Australian riders did really well, with Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Brett Metcalfe finishing in fourth Overall after going 4-5 (click here to read all about Metty’s day at Glen Helen), and Discount Tire Racing/TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed finishing in tenth Overall going 9-10 – a fantastic effort for his first race back since San Diego’s AMA Supercross round. Another Aussie, Jackson Richardson, also went 15-15 in the 250 Class – a very solid result. You can check out highlights and grab detailed results from the event here. 

—

Speaking of Reed, last week we uploaded an exclusive interview with the man via an all-new free-to-view digital feature – The Dirt Journal. On the eve of the 2014 AMA Outdoor series, a candid and controversial Reed spoke about his mistrust for the industry, the injury that cost him a supercross title, the spectre of his retirement, the burnout of Ryan Villopoto, and his much-awaited ‘comeback’. Be sure to check it out.

—

Jump on board for a few laps with Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Justin Barcia at the opening round of the 2014 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

—

Did anyone else feel for KTM’s Ken Roczen at the opening round of the AMA Outdoor series last weekend? The former World MX and AMA SX champ ran second in both 450cc-class motos by the smallest of margins (less than two bike lengths in each race) – in the first moto, to JGR Yamaha’s Josh Grant, and in the second, to his teammate, Ryan Dungey, who he’d led for the entire 35-minute moto… Until just three turns before the chequers. It must have been a tough pill to swallow for the German-born 450-class rookie on the brutally bumpy Glen Helen track. But in true Kenny form, he remained positive (for the TV cameras, at least) in the wake of the round, immediately focusing is attention on this weekend’s Hangtown Classic.

—

It might have been four years since the AMA Outdoors had raced at the infamous Glen Helen circuit, but would you believe it’s been 10 years since Yamaha has won an Overall in the 250cc class? True! Mike Brown last gave Yami a 250cc-class Overall win back in the Juy of 2004 at Red Bud. When Yamaha broke their decade-long drought at last weekend’s opening round, they sure did it in style – with Jeremy Martin and Cooper Webb going 1-1 and 2-2 in the two motos, respectively. Ka-boom!

—

Some had a fantastic day at Glen Helen, and others were ready to find a nice, quiet corner to hang out in while they cried in despair… Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team boss, Mitch Payton, was one of those men… Martin Davalos and Adam Cianciarulo are still out. Then Darryn Durham, who missed nearly all of supercross with a concussion, broke a bone below his knee just days before Glen Helen. Hopes were still high with former champions Baggett and Dean Wilson on board, as well as Justin Hill, who enjoyed a strong supercross season and ended it with a win at the Las Vegas finale. Then it all went wrong… Read more in this week’s USA Insider.

—

Anybody notice that Mike Alessi was a non-starter at Glen Helen? Turns out the he’ll be racing the Canadian MX Nationals this season, along with Josh Hill, who took the Team Leading Edge Kawasaki seat vacated by Brett Metcalfe (who took the factory Monster Energy Kawi seat vacated by Ryan Villopoto). Got it?

—

The fifth round of the 2014 Monster Energy MX Nationals went down over the weekend at Wanneroo, Western Australia. Walking away with the win in the MX1 class was CDR Yamaha’s Billy Mackenzie, who went 1-2-4 ahead of Team Motul Suzuki’s Matt Moss, NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Moss, KTM Motocross Racing Team’s Kirk Gibbs and Jake Moss’ teammate, Adam Monea. Matt Moss continues to lead the series at the mid-way point, with a 22-point lead over Gibbs. In the MX2 class, 17-year-old Privateer, Caleb Ward, came out of nowhere to claim the Overall round victory. The KTM-supported rider went 1-1-3 to win ahead of Husqvarna-mounted rider, Luke Arbon, and Penrite Oil Honda Racing’s Josh Cachia. Serco Yamaha’s Luke Clout still holds the red plate after finishing in eighth at Wanneroo, sitting 10 points ahead of CMR Red Bull KTM’s Hamish Harwood.

—

Check out Transmoto’s 20-image gallery from the fifth round of the 2014 Monster Energy MX Nationals, captured by Jeremy Hammer, owner and operator of PureMX. The sixth round of the 2014 Monster Energy MX Nationals is set to take place at Swan Hill in Victoria, June 29.

—

The 2014 FIM Motocross World Championship moves to France this weekend for Round 9. We’re really hoping to see Australia’s 2013 250cc MX/SX champ, Luke Styke, score a top-ten finish, as he’s been finishing in 14th, 15th and 16th very consistently over the past few weeks. Go get ’em, mate.

—

The 2014 Manjimup 15,000 has shaped up to be bigger and better than the 1992 Motocross des Nations, set to be held at the picturesque Cosy Creek Circuit in Western Australia this weekend. The event will feature an international presence, with American riders Brett Cue and AJ Catanzaro already confirmed, plus New Zealand’s Ben Townley. Many of Australia’s top riders have also been confirmed, including Kirk Gibbs, Ford Dale, Kade Mosig, Jay Marmont, Jake Moss, Luke Arbon and more. Stay tuned for results and imagery next week.

—

For 2014, the revamped quarter-litre motocrossers from Yamaha and Honda went up against refined offerings from Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki and TM. But who stands tall in the cold, hard light of back-to-back testing? Check out our full-length 2014 250cc MX bike shootout, online now, to find out.

—

Check out our brand new weekly web-exclusive column, Transmoto‘s NZ Insider. Penned each week by Kiwi, Chris Ritchie, the NZ Insider will present the story-behind-the-stories on NZ-related dirt bike happenings across the globe. This week, we’re looking at the recent results of Townley, Lamont, Harwood, Natzke and more.

—

—

Bel-Ray Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Graham Jarvis is currently gearing up for the defence of his ErzbergRodeo crown. The biggest Hard Enduro race of the year celebrates its 20th edition on June 1, with Jarvis returning to Austria’s formidable Iron Giant ready to give it his all on his TE300. Check out a pre-race interview with Jarvis here.

—

Australia’s Josh Strang put forth yet another solid ride at Round 7 of the 2014 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series, finishing in third Overall behind the Factory FMF/KTM duo of Kailub Russell and Charlie Mullins. Active8 Yamaha rider, Tom McCormack, has been staying with Strang over in the US, as he himself contests GNCC round while the 2014 Yamaha Australian Off Road Championship takes a break. He’s riding a YZ450F in the XC1 Class, and finished in tenth Overall at the Mountaineer Run GNCC round over the weekend – an incredible effort.

—

—

The 22-year-old from Palmerston North, New Zealand’s Levi Sherwood, is proving to be unstoppable this year, as he claimed his second consecutive Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour Victory in Osaka, Japan, over the weekend. He won the season opener in Mexico City, before dominating the battle at Osaka Castle with runs that were nearly flawless. Rémi Bizouard of France earned second-place honours, with Dany Torres of Spain finishing in third. Detailed results from the event can be found here. 

—

—

Did you see that footage of Cam Sinclair attempting to Backflip his dirt bike with two other people on board at a Nitro Circus Live show last year? Well, he’s stepped his game up, now attempting to Backflip his dirt bike with three other people on board! If two failed many times, three has to work, right? Transmoto was on hand at Nitro Circus Live’s show over the weekend at Sydney, and watching Sincs perform his all-new stunt in person sure was something else! You can check out the footage here. It was pretty amazing watching Travis Pastrana ride on Australian shores again, too…

—

—

Click here to find out what’s inside Transmoto Dirt Bike Magazine’s 2014 June Issue (#44), and be sure to grab yourself a print or digital edition.

—

It has been nearly 14 years since Husqvarna has participated in AMA Supercross. Next year, highlighting the all-new Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team will be this year’s 250SX Class Western Regional champion, Jason Anderson. The New Mexico-native will be making the step up to the premier class, and will be riding a Husqvarna FC450 in AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross in 2015. Read more on the announcement here.

—

MOTO EXPO Melbourne presented by InsureMyRide, to be held at Melbourne Showgrounds on November 28-30 is shaping up to the biggest motorcycle exhibition ever seen in Australia. Over 80% of the Melbourne Showgrounds main hall that will feature over 100 exhibitors showcasing their latest products and services, has been sold in the first three days of being on sale. Manufacturer test rides will depart from MOTO EXPO across the weekend and a number of organised rides are planned to depart locations outside Melbourne before heading to the event. In addition to the nightly events scheduled for consumers, there will also be a series of motorcycle industry events planned to promote business-to-business interaction and networking opportunities.

—

Following on from 2013’s mind-blowing video, Imaginate, Epecuén is the latest film from Danny MacAskill. This epic piece was put together in the forgotten town of Epecuén in Argentina – a location that has been submerged for the majority of the past 25 years.

—