THROWDOWN NO.248 – 31/07/15

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This weekend sees the FIM Motocross World Championship return to the infamous sandpit that is the Lommel circuit in Belgium for Round 14 of the series. While young Frenchman, Romain Febvre appears to have all but cemented his first MXGP-class title, news that Jeffrey Herlings’ injury will sideline him for the rest of the year means that interest on the MX2 class has intensified. Both Yamaha’s Valentin Guillod and Honda’s Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser are tied for second in the Championship points chase, just 24 points behind Herlings, which means there’s a good chance that one of them will come away with the red plate after this weekend. Check out our highlights videos early next week of what promises to be an intriguing Belgian round.

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Speaking of Herlings, did you see his classic, attitude-ridden Instagram update last week? Out with a dislocated hip, the Belgian multi world champ obviously wrote the post in a lot of pain – both physically and psychologically. Click here to find out more.

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Organisers of the August 8-9 King of the Cross MX – held in WA’s Southern Cross – have announced what sounds like a damn strong rider line-up for the 2015 event. Joining reigning King of the Cross Champion, Jay Marmont, will be Dean Porter, Cody Mackie, Luke Davis, Louis Calvin, Jess Moore, Chelsea Blakers and, fresh out of Juniors, Kalgoorlie’s Connor Tierney – who is currently running second in the MXD class at the 2015 MX Nats.

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Suzuki Australia has confirmed that two-time and reigning premier-class MX Nats champion, Matt Moss, will miss the remainder of the MX Nats series after his horrific run-in with a Bobcat during Superpole at the Shepparton round two weeks ago. The Moss camp is playing their cards close to their chest about the specific nature and severity of Matt’s injuries, but Suzuki Australia has confirmed they will be “closely following the investigation being carried out by Williams Event Management, Motorcycling Australia and the event Steward” into the incident.

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Speaking of the MX Nats, Honda’s Ben Townley will be back racing in Oz as Round 8 of the series moved to Nowra this weekend. BT’s comeback to full-time racing was fast-tracked by news a couple of weeks ago that Honda’s Ford Dale’s “indefinite departure” from the Penrite Honda race team. Don’t bet against the former World and AMA champ claiming at least one moto win on the weekend, either. In his past two ‘cameo’ rides for the team at the MX Nats, BT’s done exactly that. The Nowra round will also host the final round of the Yamaha Australian Women’s championship.

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Italy’s Kiara Fontanesi has wrapped up her fourth FIM Women’s MX World Championship, but largely as a result of the bad luck that befell Livia Lancelot, whose bike died on the sighting lap of the season’s final moto. Lancelot was leading the points coming into the last round, but the mechanical was enough to allow Fontanesi to snatch the championship. For more information about about Women’s title chase, click here.

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We’re hearing more talk out of Europe that we may well see a shake-up with race-team personnel at KTM later this season, with many suggesting that Stefan Everts could be moving on – which, if true, could have serious repercussions for the KTM Factory Junior team under Everts’ auspices.

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Where has New Zealand’s motocross talent gone? With only one rider representing NZ at the recent Junior Worlds in Spain, does the country’s future in the sport sit solely on the shoulders of Josiah Natzke? Click here to find out what Chris Richie had to say in this week’s NZ Insider.

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So, who’s going to be selected to ride on Australia’s MX of Nations team, to race on France’s hallowed Ernee circuit? With the event taking place in late September, you’d have to think an announcement from MA must be imminent. From what we understand, Chad Reed intends to race, despite not being officially tied to any particular manufacturer – yet! Surely, MXGP regulars Todd Waters and Dean Ferris will be front-runners for the Aussie team. But will Kirk Gibbs finally get the call-up to race in the green and gold? It’ll sure be a very interesting selection this year.

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The Czech Republic round of the MXGP championship was with filled with carnage. Have you caught up on all the action? If not, check out the MXGP highlights here.

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Round 4 of the East Coast MX Series took place in Maitland over the weekend. Click here to view the results. The Maitland club provided an awesome venue, the track was prime, the sun was shining, and race conditions could not be more perfect. Check out the highlights video from the event.

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Toby Price wrapped up his fifth AORC title at Kyogle over the weekend, ahead of the final round. Click here to read the results. This championship caps off what has been an amazing fortnight for the 27-year-old, following the announcement of his deal with KTM Factory Red Bull Rally Racing.

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When someone’s life depends on the state of their motorcycle, it’s never good when you get put in a situation with no fuel stations and no marked route. But that’s exactly the predicament Motology’s Adam Riemann found himself in recently in Central Asia. In this week’s blog post: Crossing the Gobi, Riemann speaks about how he and his two cohorts stepped outside their comfort zone and rode into the nothingness of Mongolia’s great Gobi Desert.

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Aussie off-road champ, Daniel Milner, has struggled in his debut race season in America. But last weekend, “Doogs” demonstrated he’s back to his best, beating Kailub Russell – the bloke who’s won eight of the nine GNCC rounds this year – at the Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series. Click here to check out the epic footage from the event. And when we say epic, we mean some of the best helcam race footage you’re ever likely to see.

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Yamaha-supported off-road Pro, Stefan Granquist, posted an awesome video for the Transmoto 6-Hour earlier this week. So check it out here.

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Last weekend’s Golden Beach 6-Hour race lived up to its reputation for breaking bikes and bodies, as riders battled the brutally whooped-out sand track. Sherco’s Justin Carafa nabbed the Ironman win, punching out a phenomenal 12 laps, despite recently dislocating his shoulder. For more detail, check out the online piece on the Golden Beach 6-Hour we posted today.

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Aussie FMX rider, Tom Robinson, and Ben Heidrich from Headstrong Films have just released their latest video, shot at Jackson Strong’s compound in Lockhart, NSW. Tommy has been stepping up his game lately, throwing big flip tricks and perfectly extended up rights. Check it out

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Young Jake Smith has also been turning it up a notch as of late, learning these super-extended look through Ruler Flips

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Australia’s FMX riders, Lance Russell, Jake Smith and Pat Bowden have just dropped this epic training session video. Check it out; it’s worth a watch.

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Josh Hannah speaks about the Australian Freestyle Motocross stunt show ‘Freestyle Kings’ in this week’s FMX Insider.

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The market seems to have been talking about its imminent arrival for 18 months now, maybe more, but Honda’s all-new Africa Twin adventure bike has finally been revealed. So, what do you think of this new 1000cc machine that goes on sale in Australia next week? Is it capable of taking on the adventure machines from KTM, BMW, Triumph, etc? Take a look at the new Africa Twin

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Have you got your entry sorted for the 2015 Husqvarna Watagan Trail Bike Rally on August 15-16? If not, get onto it ASAP as early bird entries close at Midnight Sunday. For more information click here.

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Sherco Australia has just released information and a few select images of their 2016 range of enduro machines. Here’s a sneak peek of the sexy-looking French machines, the details of which we’ll bring you this coming week.

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The winner of the Sony action cam for the magazine’s March – April issue (#49) was announced yesterday. The lucky winner was Rowan Walker.

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A few weeks back, we brought you this teaser of what we can expect to see Husqvarna’s 2016 range of dirt bikes. This coming week, Transmoto’s Andy Wigan heads to the USA for the international media launch of Husky’s 2016 MX models at the infamous Budds Creek track. So stay tuned for more about the new Huskys late next week.

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Australian distributors of Bridgestone tyres, McLeod Accessories, has recently announced significant price reductions for the off-road tyre range’s RRPs – including Bridgestone’s all-new Battlecross X20, X30 and X40 hoops. Senior sizes are now 15-20% cheaper, while the Junior kicks see 20-30% discounts.

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This 2013 Honda CRF450R is this week’s “Bike Of The Week” on Transmoto Trader. To can grab more information on the bike by click here.

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Ducati’s creative department have been at it again … their ‘Land of Joy’ (a promotional installation that was showcased at Bondi a few months back) was re-erected at the Bologna base in Italy this week in celebration of the Ducati Scrambler’s first birthday.

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Transmoto Dirt Bike Magazine‘s 2015 July-August issue (#51) is on sale now. Click here to find out what’s inside and be sure to grab a print copy from your local newsagents or a digital version via the Zinio App.

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