Thursday Throwdown No.46 – Price and Hollis going head to head

What’s this “Thursday 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, Thursday 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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In 2010, what some dubbed the greatest moto movie of all time, MOTO2, was released. There’s now talk of a sequel … MOTO3. Today, reigning AMA SX champ, Ryan Villopoto, posted on Twitter, “Filming the movie MOTO 3 Tomorrow in @ClermontFlorida. We have a helicopter to film from should be fun.” Sounds exciting!

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Sadly, we’ve learned that one of Australia pioneering scrambling greats, Col Evans, passed away last Wednesday. Fittingly, Col was featured in our “Lest We Forget” feature in the July issue Transmoto about track closures. On his No.13 machine and sporting the classic old-school footy jersey, Col was pictured ripping up the now defunct Moorebank circuit on the shores of the George’s River in Sydney. Our condolences to Col’s wife, Pat, and his family.

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Monster Energy Team Green young gun, Adam Cianciarulo, is set to ride the Super-Mini class at the Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas this October. Also confirmed this week is Red Bull KTM’s Mike Alessi who says he’s looking forward to the MX and SX track combinations: “If they are saying the track is a combination of motocross and supercross track elements, it is going to be exciting.”

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Changes to the Australian Junior MX World Championship team were announced last week after Shaun Redhead and Errol Willis were deemed ineligible to compete in the event. Why? An oversight by MA in regards to an age group rule change (which was made last year!) has, understandably, left the two young Aussies bitterly disappointed. Luke Clout and Scott Mann have replaced them. The 2011 Junior MX World Championship will be held at Cingoli, Italy, on August 13-14.

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Confirming rumours we published last week, Christophe Pourcel and the CLS Kawasaki team have in fact inked a deal, which will see the former world champ returning to the World Motocross Championship in the MX1 class for the remainder of the season, effectively filling the seat vacated by Ben Townley. “I’m happy to be back with Team CLS, who offered me a nice challenge. I know the team and I’m sure that we will do a great job together,” said Pourcel.

Reigning A4DE champion, Toby Price and former A4DE champion, Chris Hollis, have been battling it out for Outright honours at Day 1 of the Australian 4-Day Enduro, which started in Mackay today. Hollis held the lead throughout the day, but Toby Price made a charge late in Day 1 and currently holds the top spot as they head into Day 2. Carrying badly bruised ribs and shredded hands (courtesy of the Hattah Desert Race that Pricey won on Sunday), Price now has to endure another four days and 800km to complete the gruelling 4-Day. If Pricey can pull this one out of the bag, he sure will have earned it! Read more insider info about Day 1 at the A4DE.

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It’s a surprise to see Ben Burrell riding the A4DE, when he was due back in Europe to finish the British Sprint Enduro Championship (BSEC). According to Transmoto’s European Correspondent and BSEC promoter, Jonty Edmunds, Burrell had visa problems trying to get back into the UK and was sent immediately back to Australia. Riding a Yamaha in the 450cc 4-Stroke class, Burrell is currently sitting 21st Outright after Day 1’s action.

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Transmoto will have daily galleries from the A4DE, courtesy of Ken Roche from http://404shots.com, posted each night. We’ll also keep you up-to date with all the behind-the-scenes happenings you won’t find in the press releases. And for daily A4DE results, head to MyLaps.

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The Swann Insurance 24 Hour Reliability Trail is on this weekend in the Eudunda area of SA, with organisers saying this year’s course will ensure it’s going to be as tough as ever. Unfortunately, a date clash with the re-scheduled A4DE means the country’s top off-road racers will be generating blisters elsewhere.

FMX star, Andre Villa, has signed a sponsorship deal with Spy Optic for an undisclosed term and will now endorse Spy goggles and sunglasses on and off the track. Currently sitting in second in this year’s X-Fighters tour, Villa is also confirmed for X Games 17 on July 29.

Husaberg fans finally have plenty to celebrate. In addition to the “Husaberg Hot Laps” demo program they’re running nationally this year, Australian distributors of the blue and yellow machines have also sharpened their pencil when it comes to 2012 RRPs. The table below confirms that the $500 to $600 RRP premium the Husabergs carried over the KTM counterparts last year has completely evaporated. Sure, the 2012 Bergs may have only received minimal upgrades for 2012 (yellow frames, clear fuel tanks, and handguards and frame protectors now as standard equipment), and the two-stroke TE models don’t get the mods the 2012 KTM two-strokes did, but the Bergs still run the higher-spec closed-cartridge WP48mm fork. In any case, Berg dealers how now got two aces up their sleeve – lots of models and super-competitive price tags!

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After seven years as Press Fleet Manager for KTM/Husaberg Australia, the loveable rogue that is Mr David Woodard has bought his own small business in the motoring industry, and changed his last tyre and air filter for Australia’s over-expectant motorcycle journos. He’s been replaced by the vastly experienced Kevin Doyle – a man who has been around the industry since he bought his first motorcycle dealership in 1972, and has long been regarded as one of the country’s best engine tuners. Not that he’ll be using those skills when prepping standard bikes for media testing! Welcome to moto media fold, Kevvy.

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Leading US-based photographer, Simon Cudby, injured his shoulder in a recent mountain biking shoot and his arm is now in a sling. If this shot is anything to go by, he isn’t too unhappy about it…

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Red Bull’s only officially branded gear, Kini Red Bull, is a clothing range that sees a large proportion of profits donated to the Wings for Life foundation who work towards finding a cure for spinal cord injury. The range of Kini apparel is now being distributed in Australia by Ficeda Accessories. Download the full list of products or donate to the cause directly.

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During July, Kawasaki has announced deals on their demo models, which includes motorcycles, ATVs, MULE utility vehicles and Jet Skis. Head to http://www.kawasaki.com.au to find a demo near you.

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DC Shoes USA founder and rally-driving YouTube sensation, Ken Block, is heading to Oz for his Gymkhana World Tour. You’ll be able to see the maniac in action on September 3 at Melbourne’s Calder Park Raceway, with tickets available from Ticketmaster (mostly) free – you’ll only have to pay a small fee for parking.