Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2017 i Transworld Motocross

“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…

WHAT’S NEW + Electric start with high-end lithium-ion battery + Firmer suspension settings, front and rear + New engine hangers for better flex characteristic + Softer, more-controllable map one (standard) settings Last year the Honda CRF450R under went a complete revamp, and the 2017 model was the best-selling 450cc motocross bike of the year. For 2018, the bike received a few key improvements that may not seem like much on paper, but make a big difference on the track. For many, the most exciting change is the electric start. Although the system eliminates the kickstarter and the internal gear associated with it, the starter motor and battery add five pounds to the CRF’s overall weight. It is not detectable on the track or when lifting the bike off the stand,…

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…

WHAT’S NEW + Revised cylinder head, intake cam angle, longer intake ports + New bridge-box piston, new throttle body, new fuel injectors + Longer, larger diameter header pipe for increased torque + Revised air intake duct for a straighter shot of air with greater volume + Revised Showa SFF fork with a softer spring rate and increased preload + Revised rear shock valve settings Refinements are the name of the game in the second year of production following a complete redesign, and for 2018, the Kawasaki KX250F receives a laundry list of upgrades that address all of the 2017 bike’s shortcomings. Greater torque and low-end throttle response—as well as top-end over-rev— were a priority for Kawasaki engineers in ’18, and a slew of interval changes were made to the engine…

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.…

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…

We first caught a glimpse of the 2018 Yamaha YZ450F in April at the All Japan MX National Championship Series opener at Kyushu Sportsland in Kumamoto, Japan. Piloted by factory rider Yu Hirata, it was obvious that the then-works bike was completely redesigned and we waited with bated breath to see if the production version would be similar. Much to our delight, the ’18 machine is indeed a product of the same R&D that went into the bike Hirata has been racing for some time now. The newest rendition of the YZ450F still incorporates Yamaha’s now-trademark reverse-cylinder engine design, although the new bike features less of a rearward cylinder slant, as well as a moreforward location inside the new chassis. Internally, the engine has been completely reworked, with a lighter…

Hometown: Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture Years Wrenching: 10 Rider: Yohei Kojima Past Riders: Akira Narita, Cloud Toda Believe it or not, motocross is not as popular in Japan as it is in the United States—even though the majority of the world’s motocross bikes are produced on the tiny island country. That said, those who are involved in the sport—be they racers, mechanics, or support personnel—are a highly dedicated group of individuals. Such is the case with Team Suzuki Japan’s Hideki Hiratsuka, who currently spins wrenches on the works Suzuki RM-Z450WS piloted by former All Japan National Champion Yohei Kojima. Hiratsuka’s younger brother raced motocross, and Hideki learned the ropes by helping him all the way through his professional career. “I never tried riding or racing myself, because motocross is dangerous!”…