Transworld Motocross March 2018

When I was a kid racing a dumb three-wheeler, I remember my big brother Ross being somewhat excited about turning 30 and becoming eligible for the Vet Pro class. “Man, dudes still race when they’re 30?” I thought. “That’s old!” Little did I know back then that some of the most enjoyable racing of my life would take place in my 30s and 40s! When I first turned 30, I was pretty anxious to join my local vet club, the Over The Hill Gang. Racers in “The Gang” were—for the most part—relaxed and more after a good time than trophies and series championships. It was also in my 30s that I finally got my lifelong struggle with exercise-induced asthma under control, and racing to the checkered flag became something that…

CHASE SEXTON The GEICO Honda team is without question one of the most powerful in the 250 class and has consistently stacked its roster with talented riders. Among their newest recruits is Chase Sexton, who has wasted no time putting himself right up front with some of the best. His rookie season wasn’t all that easy though, as he had overcome two simultaneously broken wrists and a broken femur, delaying his debut. Injuries of that level often take a toll on a rider’s speed and confidence, but they seemed to do very little to stop Sexton. Yet, the talented young racer has flown a little under the radar and has yet to line up for his first Supercross race. For people who don’t know you well, where do you come…

■ Originally from Ireland, David O’Connor came to vacation in the United States in 2007, then found a reason to move here the following year when he worked as the race mechanic for Adam Chatfield on the Richardson’s RV Suzuki team. These days, “Irish Dave” is settled in Murrieta, California, and is a media relations technician at KTM North America. “Basically, any test bike that the media rides on is prepared by my department,” O’Connor said. “We uncrate each new bike, put it together, break it in, and make sure it is in tip-top shape for the test riders.” Recently, we discovered how quick O’Connor is on a dirt bike when he came out to compete at the final round of the Terra Firma Series, presented by Spy. “I’ve been…

THE BIKE The 2018 Honda CRF250R is unquestionably one of the most-exciting new bikes of the year, and we can report with confidence that it lives up to the hype! The new CRF has a completely redesigned engine with a unique dual-pipe design, an all-new chassis, and also makes a return to traditional spring forks. The bike is a huge improvement over the previous model and has great power and exceptional handling characteristics. We’ve already begun to test parts and accessories on the exciting new bike in search of greater performance. So far, Bill’s Pipes used our test bike to develop a stainless-steel exhaust system that weighs less than stock and coaxed a lot more much-needed bottom-end power out of the CRF. A one-tooth-larger Pro Taper rear sprocket also helped,…

■ For over three decades, top racers have spent the final weeks of their winter months competing for fans at the iconic Geneva Supercross. Held in the massive Palexpo building, a sprawling multiuse facility that sits just outside the Switzerland city known for banking, the unique configuration brings riders and fans within feet of each other during the motos. The vibe of the weekend in Geneva is unlike any other Supercross race in the world, as the organizers take pride in both the near-deafening noise created by the fans on the metal bleachers that are erected around the tight track and the international roster of riders who fill out the starting line. In 2017, the field was highlighted with participation from Marvin Musquin, Jason Anderson, Justin Brayton, Ricky Carmichael, and…

■ When the gate drops at the season-opening Anaheim Supercross, Ken Roczen will have already won. Nearly one year after his massive crash and the horrific injuries that resulted, the fact that Roczen is able to ride again—let alone race at the highest level—is a miracle. Two issues ago, we chronicled Roczen’s journey to hell and back with his injuries. This month, we caught up with him to see how his preparation for the new season was going. As always, mental strength remains K-Roc’s biggest asset. Kenny, it’s been awesome to see the recovery you’ve made from the crazy injury and getting back on a bike. Yeah, I actually feel awesome. I’ve put in a lot of work over a long period of time. It’s kind of tough in the…