Transworld Motocross October 2017

“RETIREMENT IS THE UGLIEST WORD IN THE LANGUAGE.” — ERNEST HEMINGWAY If there’s one thing in this sport that makes me feel old, it’s watching racers come and go. Granted, the career of a professional motocross racer is short in comparison to many other sports, but man oh man, did I feel old the other day when Trey Canard announced his retirement from professional motocross and Supercross, effective immediately. In my 30s, I got a wild hair up my butt and decided to try and race some high-level Amateur Nationals in the Vet classes. It was at Loretta Lynn’s that I first met Trey, when he was a top A class rider for Kawasaki Team Green. He was already a big deal in the amateur scene, so I certainly knew…

THOMAS COVINGTON After moving across the Atlantic Ocean as an 18-year-old and competing in eight consecutive FIM Motocross World Championship seasons— placing in the runner-up position on three separate occasions along the way—it all finally came together for Bob Moore. On Sunday, August 28, 1994, in Borgloon, Belgium, he won the 125cc World Championship. Nearly a decade in the making, the 27-year-old Californian had committed everything to winning a World Championship, and in doing so, he fulfilled a lifelong dream. It’s been 23 years since that sunny afternoon in Belgium when Moore crossed the finish line on his jet-black Chesterfield-backed Yamaha YZ125. Since then, no American-born racer has been able bring home a World Championship. Thomas Covington is looking to change that. Covington began life in Alabama before making the…

FLY RACING LITE HYDROGEN GEAR Price: $49.95 (jersey); $169.95 (pant); $21.95 (glove) What It Is First introduced in 2012, Fly’s Lite Hydrogen race wear is designed to be lightweight, minimalistic, and high in performance. This year the Lite Hydrogen pant received several updates including the Boa waist closure system that the brand introduced on its standard Evolution 2.0 pant last year. Hits • The cut and fit of the Lite Hydrogen pant is excellent. Generous amounts of stretch panels built into the hips, thighs, and knees of the pant make it one of the most comfortable, least-restrictive pair of pants we have ever worn. • Generous leather paneling in the knee areas not only protect against exhaust pipe burns, but offer excellent traction against the side of the bike, too.…

Anyone who has lined up on the starting gate knows that all-to-familiar feeling. Pre-race nerves affect everyone, from beginners to professionals, and being able to conquer your nerves and maintain mental focus is key. Thinking about the moments that lie ahead or a daunting obstacle on the track can cloud your mind and turn your stomach in knots—especially if you’re dealing with a lot of pressure—but the last thing you want to do is lose concentration. Ultimately, you have to channel your focus on your instincts and the skills you’ve developed in order to ride at your best and minimize mistakes. “Being mentally strong is probably the most important aspect of a big race day because the last thing you want to do is psych yourself out before you even…

In the world of motocross suspension specialists, Ross Maeda and enzo racing are highly regarded as one of the best resources around for not only great suspension modifications, but also as a vendor for genuine Kayaba parts and components, like KYB Kit Suspension. Best of all, you can purchase KYB Kit Suspension from enzo with the full works treatment—custom tuned for you, and with or without the enzo Technica QS Subtank System installed on the fork. Although Maeda was paralyzed nearly a decade ago in a freak motocross crash and can no longer do his own test riding, he has recruited a skilled group of test riders and can also derive feedback from the top professional racers the brand sponsors. The bike that we tested is a 2017 Kawasaki KX450F,…

DOWNWARD SPIRAL Cianciarulo’s pro career started off amid issues, as his debut in the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship was delayed due a case of salmonella poisoning that ravaged his diminutive teenage body. The highly touted racer joined the series at Budds Creek, the fifth stop of the schedule, and went on to finish out the summer with a handful of top-10 overall finishes, the best result being a fourth place in Utah. “When I went pro it started off rough with the outdoors, but I kind of expected that,” he reflects. ”I was aware that jumping into the pro ranks was not going to be an easy task, but I wanted to be in there early to learn.” As soon as the summer ended, attention turned to the…