Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2018 i Transworld Motocross

“IF MY CAREER WERE A HAIRSTYLE, IT WOULD BE HELMET-HEAD.”—LAURA DERN With over a quarter century under my belt as a magazine editor, I still find myself excited about the new bikes, accessories, and riding gear that each new season brings. While new bike intros and press launches are nothing new, it seems that apparel launches are a relatively new thing from the aftermarket. This month alone, I’ve attended five line reveals, including one that took a couple of us out of state! Whether we like to admit it or not, motocross is a flashy, fashion-driven sport. Visually, the machines we race are vivid in color and are adorned with plenty of shiny parts that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are performance enhancing. And while a very small minority…

THE BIKE Every time we throw a leg over the 2019 KTM 350 SX-F, we marvel at the fact that no one at the highest levels of the sport elects to race one of the midsized machines. Since it was introduced nearly a decade ago, the 350’s engine has gained a ton more power and torque, and is far more competitive than it was when Mike Alessi and Andrew Short raced it in the 2010 450 Motocross Nationals. The new ’19 bike, especially, is much improved, and the entire TWMX Testing Staff has been arguing over it, come the weekends. Of course, the team at FMF Racing figured out a way to coax even more low-end punch and top-end overrev out of the machine with its Factory 4.1 Titanium Exhaust,…

ALPINESTARS SUPERTECH S-M10 HELMET What It Is The Alpinestars Supertech S-M10 helmet has been five years in the making, and as is the case with everything Alpinestars produces, it has been designed with the highest level of safety in mind. The multi-composite carbon shell is designed to dissipate impacts over a wide area, which in turn allows the internal EPS liner to better absorb the blow and protect the wearer’s brain. The multi-density EPS has a four-section construction that is designed to allow for specific densities of polymer to be prepared for different zones around the helmet lining. (For instance, the EPS in the forehead area is of a different density than that found on the sides.) An internal fit system dubbed A-Head allows the user to fine tune the…

In stark contrast to the typical three- to four-year development cycle historically employed by most manufacturers, we were surprised to see the 2019 CRF450R is virtually an all-new offering from Honda. After launching a well-received, completely new platform in 2017, the 2018 boasted a number of key refinements that put it tied for Bike Of The Year honors in our annual 450 Shootout. We were not alone in our fondness of the red machine. In fact, it was the industry’s best-selling motocross bike last season. With such a strong pedigree, we expected the ’19 model to be largely similar to last year’s save for a few minor refinements to help keep their edge. We could not have been more wrong. The 2018 engine had a well-rounded output delivery, with a…

When KTM released its all-new 2018 450 SX-F Factory Edition late last year, the all-new chassis, updated suspension, revised powerplant, and new bodywork made the standard 450 SX-F seem ancient in comparison. The new machine handled better, had snappier throttle response, and had a slimmer, sleeker feel between the rider’s legs. For 2019, the standard 450 SX-F got all of that technology, plus some slightly updated suspension settings. The only thing that’s missing are Red Bull graphics and a Selle Dalla Valle seat cover! WHAT’S NEW Nothing is changed as far as the 450 SX-F powerplant goes, and that’s a good thing. In its current form, the big orange machine is an absolute monster when it comes to putting out massive amounts of torque throughout the powerband in a smooth,…

After the initial launch of the Alta Motors Redshift EX and the resulting feedback from riders of all levels, the California designers went to work on ways to improve the revolutionary electric-powered motorcycle. The chief complaints of the Redshift EX were the range that the battery pack offered, as the hours of expected ride time in a single track setting could be greatly reduced due to heat, and how quickly the power could lessen when the pack became too hot or dropped below half charge. Those issues and more were addressed and corrected on the Alta Motors Redshift EXR, a new high-performance addition to the company’s model lineup. The dual-sport, road-legal Redshift EXR shares plenty of parts and technology with the track-oriented Redshift MXR, including the multi-purpose bulkhead structure, aluminum…

The life of a professional motocross racer in the United States is oftentimes admired and applauded by the fans who love and follow the sport. However, truth be told, it’s not by any means an easy way to make a living. For instance, a factory or factory-supported rider lives and dies on his results. Naturally, things can get tense quickly with that kind of pressure. Having said all that, the summer of 2018 has been an aggravating one for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy. “This outdoor season has definitely been far from what we wanted,” Savatgy said the day after the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship round at Millville, Minnesota. “I wish a lot of things. I wish we could figured it out sooner than did, but unfortunately, it’s kind…

This Arai motocross helmet made its way back into my possession recently, and with it came a flood of memories. This particular helmet was painted by Alex Paul at AP Designs, and I believe I actually graced a cover of a mid-1990s Cycle News in it while testing a Yamaha YZ250 during my tenure there. By today’s standards the Arai MXC-Pro might look crazy to some with its two-piece design, but until it ceased production in 2005, Arai engineers strongly believed in the helmet’s protective qualities and would likely continue to produce it to this day had it not been for a change in consumer demand. The most obvious feature of the MXC-Pro helmet that distinguishes itself from others is its bolt-on mouthpiece. Arai designers believed that the “Rock Guard,”…

For some, ripping a holeshot can feel almost as great as actually winning a race while others seem to nail every start. In all reality, beating everyone to the first turn really is a huge accomplishment, but what happens next once you’ve found yourself at the front of the pack? It’s a delicate balance of riding on the very edge of disaster and keeping a calm, cool, and collected demeanor for as long as possible. Do you throw caution to the wind and use all of your energy to put some distance in between you and your competitors in the opening laps? And after a mistake, do you ride harder to make up for the lost time or just forget it even happened? One thing is for certain, you don’t…

Whether or not we choose to apply ourselves is a different story, but we all know what it takes to succeed. It simply comes down to outworking everybody else. There are no shortcuts, and the path to the top is littered with those who were unwilling or unable to find the right formula. The difference between 90 percent effort and 100 percent often separates obscurity from stardom. There are not many examples where this is more evident than with Zach Osborne and Jason Anderson. Both were extremely talented young riders as they entered the pro ranks with enormous expectations. However, with subpar fitness levels and inadequate programs in general, both were dealt the harsh reality that talent alone was not enough on “the big stage” and quickly found themselves behind…

The KTM 350 SX-F is a unique motorcycle that should really be a lot more popular than it is. Perhaps it’s because no one currently pilots one at the highest levels of racing, or maybe it’s because its odd engine size makes it too powerful to race in the 250 class but, in perception, not powerful enough to race against full-sized 450s. We’ve always been quite fond of the midsized bike because of its fun factor—it’s easy to throw around and scream like a little bike, and not quite as intimidating as a massive 450. For 2019, KTM threw the Factory Edition playbook at the 350, as it now enjoys all of the same updates that the 2018 Factory Edition 450 SX-F did and more. We took delivery of the…

Growing the sport of racing is our ultimate goal with the TWMX Race Series, and Jesse Hodges chose to enter his first race ever during our summer Terra Firma Series at the Milestone MX Park kickoff. A former professional golfer, Hodges is best known in motocross circles as the owner of Epoxy It SoCal, a high-end floor coating company that has been popular amongst racers who take pride in their garages. “At first I started Epoxy It SoCal as a fun side business, but it has really taken off and it’s allowed me to work with and meet some amazing people,” he said. Hodges chose a Yamaha YZ450F because at 6’4”, he knew that the bike would suit his stature best, and with the help of the friends he’s made…

Intense Cycles is based in Temecula, California, and the brand has deep roots in the gravity side of mountain bike racing, thanks numerous National and World Championship titles in downhill racing. This year marks the first time that the brand has produced a full-suspension cross-country mountain bike, and as one might expect, it is definitely designed to get rowdier than most serious cross-country race bikes. After shooting GEICO Honda’s Chase Sexton aboard his Intense Sniper for last issue’s installment of Racers Who Ride, we were intrigued by the new bicycle and had to try one out ourselves. That said, we’ve spent the past several weeks suffering in the saddle of a Sniper XC Elite Build and are thoroughly impressed with not only its cross-country prowess, but ability to descend with…

AARON PLESSINGER—a few hours removed from riding laps at Milestone MX Park in baking-hot Riverside, California—was both happy and at ease, yet one could also tell that a sort of new reality was setting in on the 22-year-old. “The due date is Monday,” Plessinger said, citing the fact that the stork was flapping its wings toward his and his fiancée Kendall’s home with a new baby on board. “Everything is going real well. Kendall’s definitely antsy to get him out. The doctor says he’s healthy and looks to be about six and a half pounds.” Plessinger is the 2018 AMA 250SX West Region Monster Energy Supercross Champion and runaway leader in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship 250 series. With number-one plates and a new child, it’s been a whirlwind…

“AFTER FIVE YEARS BETWEEN MAJOR CHANGES TO THE YZ250F, WE’RE EXCITED TO SAY THAT YAMAHA’S DELAY WAS ENDURED TO PRODUCE THEIR BEST 250F YET.” Few modern-day motorcycles have a history like the Yamaha YZ250F. Debuted in the early 2000s, it was the very first four-stroke motocross machine of its displacement and it immediately indicated that the two-stroke 125cc reign that we had come to know and love was near the end. Yamaha refined the machine through the early years with new frames and engine designs, but not at the pace other OEMs, and by 2011, the outdated carbureted engine and aluminum frame were among the least liked in the division. That all changed in 2014, when Yamaha started with a clean slate and dropped a more powerful fuel-injected powerplant into…

Last year, the 2018 Suzuki RM-Z450 enjoyed a major overhaul that included a new chassis, bodywork, and suspension components. Though it was popular with Suzuki loyalists, the bike received lukewarm reviews from testers who longed for an all-new powerplant and features like electric start. Furthermore, while the coil spring Showa fork was a massive improvement over the Triple Air Chamber fork it replaced, the new Balance Free Rear Cushion (BFRC) shock puzzled testers with its tendency to overpower the front-end of the machine and affect the machine’s overall handling. For 2019, the RM-Z450 returns with a few key improvements. Although no changes were made to the engine package and it is now the only machine that does not come equipped with electric start in the 450 class, Suzuki addressed the…