Innholdsfortegnelse for 259 i Dirt Action

DA: Charli Cannon, you’re the 2024 champion. How are you feeling? CC: I’m so happy to have won three championships in a row, all undefeated. I’ve won every single race I’ve done. You can’t ask for anything more. And to top it off, everyone on my team took out every class. So Honda is on a high right now. I’m super happy. And now I look forward to racing the last WMX round at the MXGP in Turkey in a few weeks. DA: Joining Honda in 2024 was a big move for you. How was the transition from Yamaha? CC: Yeah, I enjoyed the transition. Two great teams and Honda have been amazing this year. Very, very supportive. They built me an awesome bike and I’m also getting awesome support,…

The dust has well and truly settled on an epic year of racing in the 2024 Australian Off Road Championship. Presented by MXstore, the series wrapped up with its 12th and final round in Nowra, New South Wales. After an intense season spanning four states, the AORC champions were finally crowned following a thrilling last round of sprints on the MXstore test track. The competition remained tight until the end, highlighting the depth of talent in this year’s field. Securing the 2024 titles were Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Off Road Racing Team) in E1, Daniel Milner (DM31 Racing, KTM Australia) in E2, Danielle McDonald (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) in EW and Jett Yarnold (Yamaha Motor Australia, Yamalube) in EJ. Meanwhile, Jye Dickson (Beta Racing Australia) claimed his first-ever…

Elite enduro rider Jonny Walker has officially signed with the Triumph Racing Enduro Team. As a Red Bull athlete, Walker will compete in the 2025 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, alongside select hard enduro and EnduroGP events. He will also make a wildcard appearance in this year’s AMA EnduroCross series. After three consecutive runner-up finishes in SuperEnduro, Walker is focused on securing the championship title under the leadership of new team manager, motorsport legend Paul Edmondson. With more than 15 years of enduro experience and a background in trials, Jonny’s resume includes three Red Bull Erzbergrodeo victories and multiple SuperEnduro wins. On his deal Jonny said: “I’m really excited to join Triumph! To be the first rider to represent Triumph Racing in enduro is special. It’s amazing to be part of…

1. SEAT HEIGHT The first obvious thing we noticed about the Tuareg was how easy it is to throw a leg over the seat when climbing aboard. Many adventure bikes these days have a tall seat height, making it difficult to get on and off the bike, even for tallish guys like JB and I, who are around the 181cm range. The Aprilia engineers have done an excellent job with the ergonomics of this bike. The shorter riders out there will love its design as the lower seat height of 860mm will allow them to easily plant their feet on the ground. As JB pointed out, “I noticed how easy the bike was to paddle through the tight technical sections of trail thanks to the lower seat height. I felt…

FEATURE: BRUTAL QMP AORC Looking back, I don’t know what we were thinking entering the QMP round. The signs were there, with people telling us how tough it was last time, and being a carded enduro format it’s not like a sprint format where you have a decent rest between laps. One lap was 45km with tests thrown in the middle, and you had a set time to make it back around for the start of the next one, which meant no slacking off on the trail. After racing the Kyogle sprint round in 2023 and loving it, I was keen to experience the different format. But if I had known before entering just how hard it would be, I might have changed my mind. When you have two bikes…

LEARNING SKILLS AND BUILDING CONFIDENCE Kat is sitting atop a steep and rocky descent with Jess Gardiner’s advice ringing around her helmet — dirtbike riding is 70 per cent mental. If you think you can do it, you probably will. If you don’t think you can, guess what? You won’t. If Kat focuses on the washed-out rut halfway down, then that’s where she’ll end up… Jess knows that teaching bike skills is one thing, but overcoming the mental challenge of riding out of your comfort zone is another. Mastering the basics and learning techniques gives confidence to push out of that comfort zone. The Ladies/Girls Only Coach and Camp weekend covers the mental and physical aspects of riding and provides a judgement-free zone that helps students become more confident riders.…

Hey there, Kye Anderson here from Endeavour Motorcycle Tours with another adventure essentials segment. This one will give you insight into how to take your adventure to the next level. For years, my partner Lesley and I have pushed further into the bush and mountains, seeking more adventure in remote places where no one goes and being there for days at a time. These adventures have been both on foot and two wheels. The common denominator is that you need to be kitted out properly with the right gear to do the right job, and if one item can do more than one job, it’s worth having onboard. Fortunately, our backcountry hiking gear and my bike-packing setup transfer straight over, giving me unlimited adventures! Flick through these adventure essentials below…

DA: So, who’s Harry Teed in in a nutshell? HT: Oh. That’s tough. I’d say I’m a self-funded privateer off-road racer who works as a surveyor to pay the bills. I’m a CrossFit wanna-be, Rut Limbo King and a guy who likes to have fun riding my dirtbike! DA: With a full-time job, how do you find time to ride and train? HT: I do off-the-bike training every day at the gym and I ride most weekends. I’ll ride with my mates at organised trail rides, on forest loops or at a mate’s private property. I like to mix things up to keep it fresh. DA: So when an AORC or Queensland sprint race is approaching, do you increase the intensity of your training program? HT: Not really. I just…

ROSE-COLOURED GLASSES I have a soft spot for the Honda CRF250R. I had one for a few seasons in the early 2010s and to this day, it is one of my favourite race bikes. I enjoyed quite a bit of success on that bike. I won a few races and I even won the 250cc club championship at Cessnock MX. My mates still enjoy winding me up about that, labelling me the ‘Coconut Cup Champion’ (the championship that no one else was worried about winning — lol!). Anyway, even back then, the CRF250 was known for being agile and fun, with good cornering ability. The engine was never a class leader, but it was always competitive and enjoyable to ride — a great combination for most riders. Over the years,…

Heading into the final round of the 2024 Australian Penrite ProMX Championship at QMP (Queensland Moto Park), Kyle held a 14-point lead over his closest rival, Jed Beaton. Kyle and Jed had battled hard all season, and with two motos remaining, Jed had only one option: winning both races if he wanted a shot at the title. Kyle, on the other hand, had to manage his points lead, which was made difficult when he injured his hand the day before. After Jed won Moto 1 with Kyle third, the gap narrowed to nine points going into the final race of the series. That final moto was super intense, with the teams constantly calculating where the points were at during the race, and the fans on the edge of their seats…

The Battle in the Bush isn’t your normal MX event. While it’s a proper race and everyone wants to do well, the overall feeling you get is that good vibes are more important than good results. It kicks off on Saturday afternoon with some fun comps and camping, then it ramps up on Sunday with support races and the main event — the three-hour team relay feature race, the Battle in the Bush. SATURDAY While the main dance was on Sunday, there was plenty of fun on Saturday! If you’ve ever been to Conondale in winter, you’ll know it can get bloody cold overnight, but this wasn’t enough to deter a big turnout of riders who came early to make the most of the weekend. The industry got behind the…

Following the signing of multi-time Australian champion Luke Clout and legendary technician Brad McAlpine, plus the addition of an all-new KX450, the crew at Empire Kawasaki is knocking on the doors of established players, going after the top step in the 450cc class. When developing the 2024 machine, the team took a steady and measured approach, beginning with the stock bike and slowly building from there. Initially, minor adjustments were made to the suspension, going for a stiffer and more aggressive setup to handle the speed of a pro-level 450 rider such as Clout. As parts became available to suit the new bike, the team began to further fine-tune the engine package with a Hinson clutch, Pro Circuit Ti-6 Pro exhaust, a custom-tuned Vortex ECU, VP Roo 100 race fuel…

Incorporating strength training, plyometrics, sprinting and conditioning can make a massive difference in their performance and overall wellbeing. Here’s why these types of training are essential, how they benefit your young athlete physically and mentally, and some fun ways to keep them engaged. 1. STRENGTH TRAINING: BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION Strength training helps young riders develop the muscle strength and coordination they need to control their bikes better, improve reaction times and reduce the risk of getting tired or hurt. Think of it like building a solid base that makes everything else they do on and off the bike more efficient. This doesn’t mean sending them to the gym under heavy weights and doing bodybuilder workouts. Simple bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, push-ups and pull-ups are perfect for young riders,…

It’s been a heck of a year for the Lawrence bros, Hunter and Jett, and they rounded out the season by finishing 1-2 in the Super Motocross series. After going out injured early in the Pro Motocross series, Jett returned to SMX a little rusty, but he quickly found his form by the final round to narrowly beat his bro and Eli Tomac to collect his eighth pro title and a handy one million bucks. Hunter tied Jett on points but ended up second overall on a countback, and after his impressive round two win and final round performance where he pushed Jett to the finish line, it sure looks like Hunter is finding the speed we all know he’s capable of. We look forward to seeing him continue improving…

Rising enduro and motocross talent Danielle McDonald has been awarded a prestigious Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) scholarship to support the next chapter of her career. At just 17, McDonald has already made waves, taking first and third in the women’s categories at the 2024 AORC and ProMX championships. Through SAHOF’s Scholarship & Mentoring Program, supported by the Australian Sports Commission, McDonald will receive a $5000 grant to cover sporting expenses and high-level mentorship to aid her in 2025. “It’s such an honour to be part of SAHOF and work with an incredible group of athletes,” said McDonald. “Being recognised for my achievements in this way is a huge privilege, and I’m confident with their support I can achieve great things on and off the track.” She joins a…

When we watched Hunter Lawrence race the 2025 Honda CRF450R at Unadilla in America for the first time and dominate the first moto, it was clear from his smile afterwards that he loved riding the new model. You can’t fake a response like that. Hunter looked more comfortable on the ’25 CRF450R, and under pressure from KTM’s Chase Sexton, he appeared more confident, able to push harder to stay out front — which he did, securing the bike’s first win on debut. This was a dream start for Honda, showing that all the hard work poured into this new model paid off. Sure, Hunter’s bike wasn’t stock, but the new platform, including an updated frame, provided the stability and planted feel he and many other Honda riders had been seeking…

FEATURE: CAPE YORK ADVENTURE Like everyone else, I’d read all the stories and watched all the videos, and riding to Cape York was right up there on the list of things “I’m gonna do one day”. So when Woody and Ellyse from Ellwood Motorcycle Adventures asked if I was interested in tagging along and taking some photos on one of their tours, I quickly said yes before they had a chance to change their mind! The only problem was I’d only ridden a bike maybe twice in the previous 12 months… but how hard could it be, right? I arranged leave from work, booked my flights, and next thing you know I was on my way to Cairns. I’ve been riding my whole life, but after breaking my wrists quite…

It was a good idea at the time. My weekend at the QMP AORC — what an event to get off the couch for and make a one-weekend comeback. Pre-event, a few ex-pros messaged me saying, “What are you thinking?!” I’m a pretty positive person, so I brushed off the negative comments. I didn’t get much seat time before the event and it had been a good five years since I last raced, with very minimal riding time as well. When I finished racing in 2019, I was very burnt out from racing and riding. It was rare to get any enjoyment riding at any time in the last year. I felt that if I didn’t quit at the time, I might lose my passion for motorcycles in the future,…

We know a lot of crew who ride dirtbikes and many who also ride mountain bikes, mostly electric. Due to their heavier weight, electric MTBs feel more planted on the trail than traditional MTBs. They feel closer to a dirtbike, and of course there’s the bonus of the electric engine helping you get back to the top of the trail quicker, which equals more runs and more fun. When Husqvarna Australia offered us two of their Mountain Cross MC6 eMTBs to try out, we jumped at the chance. Husqvarna’s eMTB range also has the Hard Cross HC3, HC4 and HC5 models with alloy frames, which are aimed at downhill riding and boast 180/170mm travel, and the Light Cross range, which consists of the LC3 and LC5 models with carbon and…

THE JOURNEY The road to the World Junior Motocross Championships (WJMX) begins here in Australia. Motorcycling Australia opens applications early in the season; following that, at selected rounds of the ProMX Championship, the MX65 and MX85 classes compete alongside the MX3 class in a ‘qualifier’ for the WJMX. This all happens under the watchful eyes of team selectors and factory race teams, as these future stars put their best foot forward in the hope of making the official Australian Junior Team. After winning the MX85 ProMX Series in both 2023 and 2024, with a dominant performance at the final ProMX 85cc race at Maitland, Seth Thomas had cemented himself a position in the team as the lead 85cc rider for Australia’s effort in the 12-14yrs 85cc category. PLANNING THE TRIP…