Throwdown No.55

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 that can’t wait till the next issue of Transmoto magazine, and stuff we’d like to hear your immediate feedback on.

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• Chad Reed has tweeted that he’s thought of pulling out of the $1,000,000 Monster Energy Cup to be held in Las Vegas on October 15. It’s not a certainty but the guy needs some time off to get himself and his team on track for 2012. We’re not saying that a cool $1,000,000 wouldn’t go astray!

• From what we’ve heard on the grape vine, Dean Ferris has inked a ride for 2012 with a European based World Motocross team. We’re not too sure who it is or what he’ll be riding just yet, and even if we did, wouldn’t it be better for him to break that news?

• After dominating the World MX3 Championship and securing the title for 2011 relatively unscathed, Honda rider, Julien Bill, could now be out for two months. Julien went down hard during a local race in Switzerland over the weekend landing on his head with the bike landing on his back. He’s suffered seven broken ribs and may need surgery on his shoulder.

• Monster Energy Yamaha’s Steven Frossard, currently second in the MXGP MX1 World Championship standings had a clear message for his team on Sunday evening after the Grand Prix of Europe: “get the bike ready for Fermo”. The Frenchman suffered a heavy knock to the head after a first race crash in Gaildorf, and it was originally thought he might miss the last round of the MXGP calendar this weekend in Italy.

• Mike Alessi hasn’t had the best of seasons in 2011, and his contract with KTM America is due to expire. With the imminent arrival of the Dunge to KTM for 2012 we may see Alessi hunting for a new ride. Word is that he’s a candidate for both MotoConcepts and the Larry Brooks/Jeremy McGrath team next year. In other news Justin Brayton may be sealing a deal with factory Honda next year and Malcolm Stewart, James Stewart’s younger brother, may well have a spot waiting for him under JDR KTM tent and not with Star Yamaha as first whispered.

• KTM’s Ken Roczen claimed his maiden World Championship in Gaildorf last weekend. He may not have had the best performance on the weekend with Britain’s Tommy Searle stealing the MX2 Overall for the day but K-Roc’s heart-felt display of emotion at his accomplishment was simply breathtaking. MPora’s Mikey Neale captured the day in quite possibly the video of the year.

• Young Swiss MX2 rider, Arnaud Tonus, is making waves as he fights for a championship podium spot this weekend in Fermo, Italy – the last round of the World MXGP season. In his second year racing GPs the young Bike It Cosworth Wild Wolf Yamaha rider could well be hot property for the future. Check out this cool video of Tonus from Gaildorf over at MPora.

• Despite Suzuki’s Australia’s best efforts, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Brett Metcalfe will not be coming back to Australia to contest his first Super X series. That means the Rockstar Motul Suzuki’s Daniel McCoy will step up to the 450 class for Super X – where he has acquitted himself admirably in the past aboard KTM machinery. Go get em, DMC!

• Speaking of Brett Metcalfe, the Aussie’s form has come on-song just in time for the Motocross of Nations to be held in France. In a cool interview on the MA website, Metty speaks emotively about how special it is to represent his country. He’ll join Chad Reed and MXoN debutante, Matt Moss, on the three-man Australian team. And correct us if we’re wrong, but isn’t this the first time since about 1998 when Michael Byrne has not been on the Aussie team? The full Metty interview is over at MA’s website.

• After KTM’s Antonio Cairoli wrapped up the 2011 World MX1 Championship title last weekend (his third in the class and fifth world title), the FIM has seen fit to honour the gritty little Sicilian with a golden number plate, which he’ll run on his bike next season. According to Youthstream’s press release, if Cairoli is leading the points standings, “he’ll receive the red plate on the podium, and will continue to race with the golden number plate with a red angle within the gold plate.” Seems like they’ll really thought this through, huh? What must 10-time world champ, Stefan Everts, be thinking of all the Cairoli fuss?

• There’s been a few rumours floating around that James Stewart has been testing a new bike. No one would’ve guessed one of these though!

• Reigning AORC Champion and Motorex KTM Offroad Team rider Toby Price has confirmed that he won’t be competing in Rounds 7 and 8 of the AORC this weekend as he needs to rest is injuries sustained at the last round in South Australia. With a venue change for this weekend as well due to some “furry goats” we will see the competition move back to the Port Macquarie venue that has been used in the previous years.

• Extreme enduro specialist, Taddy Blazusiak, made a successful return to EWC competition at the penultimate round of the 2011 championship, the GP of Andorra, over the weekend. The KTM Enduro Factory Team rider placed sixth and fifth in the E2 class aboard the 350 EXC-F after the first day’s competition – a machine he’s testing for the upcoming Indoor Enduro World Championship. After Day 2 Taddy had earned fifth Overall in E2 behind EWC regulars Cristobal Guerrero, Ivan Cervantes, Antoine Meo and Pela Renet.

• GHR Honda may not be competing in the 2012 Dakar, but the team is full steam ahead with developing their 450Xs for the 2013 event. In the meantime, a prototype version of the Dakar machines is likely to be under the GHR tent at the Australasian Safari, which starts in WA on September 23. GHR is also is the process of finalising arrangements with Honda Australia that’d see GHR make available 20 2012-model CRF450Rs set up specifically for the 2012 Finke Desert Race. According the GHR’s Glenn Hoffmann, “The 450Rs would have to be purchased via the dealer, and then the GHR suspension work to suit the rider’s weight would be part of the purchase price.” GHR is also looking to offer a support role to cater to these bike owners at Finke, as well as what Hoffmann says are very competitive rates to transport bikes to and from Alice Springs.

• The third running King of the Yamaha Enduro Cross has been confirmed for Gillman Speedway in SA on Saturday October 15. For any other details or enquiries, visit the King of The Enduro Cross website www.endurox.keynetonmcc.asn.au

• The inaugural Monster Energy Cup to be held on October 15 at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium will now feature a go-for-broke FMX best trick competition. With $40,000 on the line, FMX’s best riders (including Cam Sinclair, Jackson Strong and Mark Monea) will be pulling out all the stops. Monster Energy’s Kyle Loza is said to be practicing a brand new trick to unleash on the night. Check it here….

• Remember the big raucous surrounding the rebirth of JT Racewear? We certainly did! We covered the fabled JT revival story in Transmoto’s Issue 9 and haven’t heard a lot since, so what’s happened in the interim? McLeod Accessories have recently announced the exclusive distribution for the iconic MX Apparel brand in Australia. According to McLeods’ Damian Ballinger, “the gear looks even better in person, than on paper!” Expect to see 2012 JT stock filter into the country around mid to late October with gloves from $39.95, Jerseys $69.95 and Pants $219.95. Initial shipments will be limited to retro lines only with more colours and styles to be released early in 2012

• While trawling the web the other day we came across this weird company name that could only be used in Europe called KoalaOz and no it doesn’t look like there are any Australians behind it.

• Finally, if you have an iPad or just like to sit at your desk and read your computer screen make sure you’ve subscribed to our digital version of Transmoto or get it delivered to your do each month and read it wherever you like with the print version.

• A little more than a year on from the tragic death of Andrew McFarlane, the JDR Motorex KTM Racing team that Sharky was set to take up a managerial role with, has certainly not forgotten the great Aussie rider. The team has recently revamped the action site (www.am7auctions.com.au) where a bunch of sporting memorabilia will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to the Andrew McFarlane Family Foundation to help support of Andrew’s widow, Natalie, and daughter, Tayla. You can also access the auction details via the team’s site: http://www.jdrmotorsports.com.au/

• Kawasaki Australia has announced that Darren Holmes has been appointed as their new Sales Manager in Victoria and Tasmania.

• JDR KTM rider, Ryan “Doggy” Marmont, and his partner Chelsea are celebrating the arrival of their beautiful baby girl, Indigo Grace Marmont, born earlier this week. Congrats guys.

• Suzuki Australia is set to stage a launch for their 2012 RM-Z250 and 450 next week at Maitland, with all media outlets seemingly invited. But why go to all that trouble and expense for the new bikes whose only changes are black fork guards, a red seat-top and some added bits in the spares kit? Word is that Suzuki is keen to point out how close the standard bikes are to the Rockstar Motul Suzuki race team bikes, which will also be on hand at the launch.