Transworld Motocross February 2018

“THE HOUSE OF FAME IS BUILT ON MELTING ICE, NOT STEEL.”—ANYA SETON This month’s cover shoot is one that I will remember for a very long time. In case you’ve never noticed, we very rarely use a photograph that we captured at an event for the cover of our magazine, and we will certainly never use an outtake for a team poster photo shoot that is supplied to us. Instead, we pride ourselves on going the extra distance, whatever it may be, to shoot something that will be unique to TransWorld Motocross. Among the favorites I’ve shot in recent years were Jessy Nelson in the snow, Malcolm Stewart blasting a berm made of colored chalk dust, and Christian Craig scrubbing over a jump that we doused in gasoline and set…

It’s no secret that his motocross-racing career took a toll on 29-year-old Ryan Villopoto. The Poulsbo, Washington, native has seen more success than most could ever dream of, but his record-book career didn’t come without a lifetime of commitment and pressure to win. When it came time to officially retire in 2015, he was quick to fly under the radar and collect his thoughts, spending much needed (and well-deserved) rest and relaxation with his wife and brand-new twin boys. Just two short years later, its great to see a refreshed RV2 getting back into the sport that he was a defining force in. We sat down with him to catch up on creating new opportunities for himself and carving out his next chapter on two wheels after spending the day…

Kaeden Amerine Age: 15 Hometown: Great Bend, Kansas Classes Raced: Supermini 1, Supermini 2 Sponsors: Rides Unlimited, Seven MX, Scott, Ethika, Gaerne, Bell, EBR Performance, FMF, AnkleSavers, Dunlop Tires, Renthal Kaeden Amerine is not a TWMX Race Series regular, but he really caught our eye at the 2017 Mini Major, presented by Seven MX. In addition to traveling nearly 1,500 miles from his home in Kansas to compete in the rapidly growing championship event, Amerine ran near the front of the pack in every moto he lined up for aboard his KTM Supermini. Even more impressive than his speed, however, was Amerine’s upbeat attitude and likable personality. For a 15-year-old who’s homeschooled, Amerine is remarkably well-rounded and well-spoken. “I used to play baseball and basketball when I was still I…

THE BIKE Adam Jones has been a fixture on the freestyle motocross circuit for years, and the unreal extension he gets when performing tricks earned him the nickname “Gumby.” The pinnacle of Jones’ career came in 2007 when he won gold at the Summer X Games and was named the TransWorld Motocross FMX Rider of the Year, but he remains one of the big names in the sport a decade later, as he is still a top contender at every contest he enters. “It’s just the standard freestyle dork bike,” Jones said jokingly when we asked him about his machine. “It’s a 2016 Yamaha YZ250 that I have modified for freestyle use.” Follow Jones on Instagram @adamjones760 THE MODEL Kimberley Ann is a professional photographer and internationally published model based…

GT Grade Carbon Expert Price: $2,499 Frame: Carbon Fork: Grade full carbon Brakes: Shimano BR-M365 hydraulic disc Drivetrain: Shimano 105 2x11 Wheels: 700 x 30c gtbicycles.com This month, a different type of bicycle showed up at our offices for testing. Gravel bikes are basically beefed-up road bikes that are designed to tackle some off-road terrain, while remaining quick and efficient on pavement. The GT Grade Carbon Expert is an affordable adventure bike that features a carbon fiber frame for lightweight and comfort, as well as strong wheels that are wrapped in wide tires designed for multi-surface riding. Disc brakes grace both ends of the bike, ensuring that slowing down is not a problem. To be honest, we were skeptical about testing a gravel bike because we love the fat tires…

SHOEI VFX-EVO Price: Starting at $539 in matte colors What It Is Rotational impacts and the brain injuries that can result have been the hottest topic in helmet safety for the past several years, and the Shoei VFX-Evo is the Japanese premium helmet manufacturer’s latest and greatest motocross helmet with technology evolved to try to prevent such injuries. An all-new shell design gives the Evo a distinctive new look while maintaining the classic lines of the VFX line. At the heart of the new helmet is its Motion Energy Distribution System (M.E.D.S.), which is comprised of a dual-layer multi-density EPS liner, with a unique crown portion that rotates upon impact to disperse energy from a crash. The rotating portion of the EPS liner is anchored in the center and features…