Indholdsfortegnelse for September 1, 2015 i Dirt Action

Marc Coma has retired from competing to become the sports director of the Dakar Rally. After racing the Dakar 12 times and winning it five, Coma has decided to hang up the boots and work to help grow the event from the inside instead. In a statement released on social media, the 38-year-old said, “I quit. I believe that it’s the right time to do it. After 12 Dakars, five wins and six world championships, I have to be honest with myself and with all the people who have supported me along those years. “To my sponsors and especially KTM, where I’ve always felt at home, thank you. As a new sportive director of Dakar I will have the chance to give back all the energy that somehow the rally…

“I had a great week before the race, prepping with the team and running the race bike in. I felt fast, the bike felt great and I had some pretty decent track time leading up to the race. “On the Friday before the race we were able to meet and greet our race fans at the scrutineering opening night of the Finke Desert Race, handing out many posters and stickers. On the Saturday we had to prologue to determine starting order for the big race. This involved a one-lap, 8km shootout on a motocross-style track. I headed out for my lap but unfortunately I left my steering dampener a little tight and overshot a tight corner, which cost me a sixth-place start for the big race. “On Sunday I started…

I’ve been fortunate enough to ride many impressive race bikes over the years but they have always been enduro, motocross or supercross machines. This is something different — I’ve never had the chance to sit astride a bike specifically set up for the high-speed world of desert racing. Desert racing is a whole different beast altogether. Although I’ve never lined up for Finke, I have raced Hattah so I’ve experienced it enough to know there are many ways to set a bike up for the desert. The thing is this isn’t just any desert racing bike; this is the machine just ridden to victory this year by desert-racing Viking Toby Price at both Finke and Hattah. In fact, we were riding the bike the day after he piloted it to…

The Hattah Desert Race, held just outside of Mildura, Victoria, on the first weekend in July, is a unique event that pits the weekend trail rider-cum-racer against a huge variety of competitors tackling a 40km sand loop in an effort to complete seven laps in the quickest time possible. It’s an event where the fastest rider, Toby Price, will set lap times right on the 30-minute mark each and every lap while the slowest rider on the same track at the same time may post a time well over the one-hour mark — and that’s on their fastest lap! It’s the type of event where riders of all ages and skill levels come together — from the fastest of pros to A-grade motocrossers, former national MX racers, local enduro riders,…

Adventure bikes have to be many things to many people. A large portion of buyers will never ride on anything beyond a dirt road. Many, drawn to the look of the bikes and the promise of potential exploration but never daring to go beyond the commute to work, won’t ride anything but tar. And then there’s the long list of riders that will push the bike in extreme conditions, be it bush or desert, for days at a time. And the average adventure bike is expected to do all those things really well. It’s a tough job. A GSXR has one purpose. A YZ450F has one purpose and so does the Kawasaki Trojan, but adventure bikes have by far the widest brief and if they don’t measure up they get…

LILY DRONE • Midnight Black polycarbonate• Brushed aluminium• Built-in lithium-ion battery• 20-min flight time• Charging via 5A charger• 2-hour charge time• Waterproof rating IP67• Video resolution 1080p 60fps/720p 120fps• Video FOV 94º• Video format H.264 codec, .mp4 file format• Photo resolution 12 MP DOGFISH HEAD 90 MINUTE IPA Esquire magazine calls Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA “perhaps the best IPA in America”. An imperial India pale ale (IPA) best savoured from a snifter, 90 Minute has a great malt backbone that stands up to the extreme hopping rate. IFUSION The iFusion combines the capabilities of many top-selling iPhone accessories in one device. The first iPhone docking station for business, the iFusion is a complete mobility solution. • Bluetooth speakerphone & handset• Charging station• Plays your music• Connects through your iPhone network• One-touch Bluetooth pairing• USB data synchronisation with a connected Mac or PC• Full Duplex Speakerphone• Replaces separate traditional…

My results have been up and down this year on the KTM 350 SX-F. Some days it clicks; others it doesn’t. I really needed to spend a full day trying some different things and getting my head around this bike. It’s been much, much better, but after a weekend at Louee Riding Park it’s all clicked. I spend a bucketload of time riding at Louee — no camera, no GoPro, just two of my good mates and 20L of fuel through the big girl. I ride all the tracks and spend a lot of time in the bush. I’ve finally got the riding style of this bike down pat. It’s almost 250F style, but with respect. With the 52-tooth sprocket I’ve never handled third-gear turns this well and every time…

All the 2016 motocross models have been revealed and it looks like next year is going to be more competitive than ever across both the 450 and 250 classes, with plenty of quality work and upgrades on a heap of models. Kawasaki has gone all out on its 450 and Suzuki has given a lot of love to the RMZ250. Honda also took to the CRF250R with a heap of parts and upgrades. Yamaha has an all-new (sort of) two-stroke and plenty of upgrades for the YZFs while KTM has been busy and may have just built the 350 that will change a lot of minds about the capacity. YAMAHA YAMAHA YZ450F Yamaha has been super pro-active with development of the YZ450F for a few model iterations now. Twenty-sixteen sees…

The best whip in motocross in now on green. Dylan Long has been given a release from his Tattoo Racing deal to take up a seat on the NPS Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team. The Kawi team found itself permanently one rider short when Jake Moss, reportedly close to returning to racing after a previous injury, suffered a severe fracture to his left fibula and will sit out the rest of 2015. In a statement released to media, Moss said, “It’s really bad luck to have injured my other leg. After a lot of training I was back to 100 per cent after a similar accident earlier this year so I know I can come back strong again. It’s just a matter of being patient, keeping my head up and…

“SENSE OF HUMOUR = COCKY. NO SENSE OF HUMOUR = ROBOT.”— ADAM CIANCIARULO “Sometimes you miss a gear, sometimes you almost slide out, sometimes you almost loop out. At least you’re riding. Enjoy it. True to the bike, true to life.” — KEVIN WINDHAM “WHAT ARE THOSE MEALS CALLED BETWEEN BREAKFAST & LUNCH AND BETWEEN LUNCH & DINNER? THEIR EXISTENCE IS KEY TO MY SURVIVAL.”— ADAM CIANCIARULO “Hey Mayweather, you’re supposed to hug your chick and punch your competition! #ugotitallwrong #asshole.” — GRANT LANGSTON “After reading what DC had to say over @ racerxonline I have to laugh and puke a little at the same time.”— CHAD REED “Oh, and to the team that called? Discount Tire has my back! No need to call and ask for my title…

The DIRT ACTION snow ride has always delivered the goods. We’ve headed down, roosted through private property with permission and, with no stress or hunting, landed in the white stuff. It had been a few years since we last went in search of powder berms and, with the idea brewing inside the DA office and the temperature plummeting, the organisation began. Our photographer extraordinaire flew down from the Gold Coast and, at 4am the following day, Greg and I embarked on the journey. Trailer in tow and loaded with three bikes, we tagged in Shane Booth and Greg “Hop” Masters and began the journey south. After meeting with Detour’s Lyndon Heffernan and his son Jack and around seven hours of driving later, we arrived in the town of Delegate just…

I’m kicking back on the lounge with the laptop keeping my legs warm while I contemplate the last eight months or so with the Yamaha Super Ténéré. It’s been a fun ride and I’m rapt I had the opportunity to give the big girl a home in my garage as part of the long-term fleet of our sister magazine, TRAILRIDER. PINCH ME, I’M DREAMIN’ I’ve gotta say it’s been a dream ride living with the Yamaha Super Ténéré. I was super excited when I got the call that it was my chance to experience a project bike, especially when it’s the style and category of riding I’d been looking at with envy for some time. Now, I’m a slightly second-hand trail rider with some Amcross track time and I’d turned…

South Australia-born, Victoria-based Riley Graham has taken the role of national privateer racer to new heights in 2015, choosing to contest not only the entire 10-round 2015 MX Nationals in the MX2 class aboard a KTM 250 SX, but also the entire 12-round Australian Off-Road Championship aboard a KTM 150 SX in the E1 class. Now, Riley is no small lad. Around six foot tall and well built, the 25-year-old is not your average E1-class rookie. And with a background in motocross — including a pair of 11th-place Pro Open class championship finishes in 2009 and 2010 and a top-five round result in the class in 2011 — he’s no stranger to the demands of trying to juggle a fulltime job with racing the national scene. At the midway point…

The mighty Erzberg has seen some incredible racing since its inception in 1995. Just consider the names to grace the winners list. From Alfie Cox to Cyril Despres, Juha Salminen, David Knight and Taddy Blazusiak, the best of the best enduro and extreme riders have solidified their reputations in the famous event. But the list of great riders who haven’t won is way longer: the likes of Jeremy McGrath, Travis Pastrana, Dougie Lampkin, Kurt Caselli, Chris Birch and even Robbie Maddison — all certified greats on a bike, no doubt, but none able to crack the win. This also highlights Taddy’s amazing run of five wins in a row. What a freak. THE LEGEND GOES DOWN The field for the 2015 running was as strong as it’s ever been and…

STEFAN EVERTS’ 2006 YAMAHA YZ450F Stefan Everts is one of the most dominant motocross riders ever. His effortless riding style made his victories across all capacities and a range of brands look easy. His 2006 Yamaha YZ450F is a very impressive motorcycle — it oozes factory. Everts finished his illustrious career on the 2006 Yamaha YZ450F. For his final Grand Prix in Ernée, France, the then 33-year-old was delivered a special livery to celebrate his 100 Grand Prix wins and 10 world championships, plus white Pirelli tyres. To cap off the celebration, Acerbis kitted Everts out in a gold one-piece riding suit.…

High speeds on a dirtbike are fun but not all that common. Unless you ride desert races, there aren’t too many occasions when you’re flat out on a dirtbike in top gear for long periods. If or when you are, though, there are things you need to think about to stay on the track and safe from a high-speed crash. VISION This is the first thing you need to adjust when you get up to high speeds. If you’ve never gone 120km/h or more on a dirtbike and you have an opportunity to do it, it takes some getting used to. You need to scan forward and look as far ahead as the track allows to give yourself the maximum time to deal with upcoming terrain. You’ll be surprised at…

CLUB NAME: Ku-ring-gai Mini Wheels Training Club. LOCATION: St Ives showground, NSW. TRACK SURFACE: Combination of sand and clay. TRACK DETAILS: There are two MX tracks, a 50–65cc and an 85cc track. YEAR CLUB WAS ESTABLISHED: 1977. NUMBER OF EVENTS HELD AT THE CLUB: Eight club events, plus several other social events. WHAT RIDERS DO YOU CATER FOR? Riders aged from 4 to 21 years, riding bikes from 50cc up to 85cc two-stroke and 150cc four-stroke. NUMBER OF MEMBERS: Over 60. CLUB’S BIGGEST EVENT: Several inter-club events throughout the year. IS THE CLUB OPEN FOR PRACTICE? Only at organised practice days. WHAT DOES A ONE-YEAR MEMBERSHIP COST? A once-only joining fee of $50 per family and then $50 per rider. HOW CAN RIDERS CONTACT YOUR CLUB? www.miniwheels.com.au. TOILET BLOCK:Yes…

Nine-times AMA national champion Ryan Villopoto, after a disastrous and shortened season in Europe, has decided to retire from the sport, effective immediately. RV’s record stands as a testament to his impact on the sport and he leaves as fourth on the all-time winners list in both SX and MX and the second most successful American rider on a Kawasaki. “Follow-up X-rays have made clear that I also suffered severe compression of multiple discs in my lower back,” he announced. “That gets me to the sadness about making this decision now. I was so stoked to make the decision to be a part of MXGP racing. It has always been important to me to give my best and to be in the best possible position to ride my best, in…

James Stewart has signed an undisclosed multi-year deal with Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing that, it’s said, will see him through to the end of his career. “I’m happy to finish out my career with Suzuki,” Stewart said. “The team has been very supportive and I can’t wait to get back on that bike and be around my guys each weekend. I’m really looking forward to coming back to racing. “Since I was forced to step away for a time it’s made me realise how much I miss it and how much I want to be there. I still have that competitive spirit and want to get back and give my all in the final years of my career. I also thank all the fans and sponsors who’ve stuck by me.…

The Yamaha AORC series takes a one-month break between June and July, after which it heads into the final two rounds in New South Wales. Before the break the field moved to Aratula, Queensland, for a round that was a chance to solidify positions or make a run at the top spots. For those just coming off the intensity of Finke, the far more sedate speeds and tighter trails at Aratula should have been a challenge to acclimatise to but it didn’t show. In fact one bloke — Toby Price did what he always does which is win (six rounds in a row plus Finke). Toby won Finke a couple of weeks before with a badly injured foot that needed time to heal, which meant no time on the bike…

Age is just a number, right? So what if you’ve just turned 50 and you’re having trouble facing the fact you’ve got more grey hair on your temples than you’ve ever known and the thought of a solid weekend of single-track trail riding sends shivers up your spine? Old age happens to all of us but there’s a guaranteed way to help keep the thought of Zimmer frames and hand-knitted cardigans at bay. It’s simple: go retro and take a step back in time. That’s right, turn back the hands of time to an era when four inches of suspension travel, drum brakes, downpipes, leather pants and Tycon padded jerseys ruled the roost. We’re talking about vintage motocross and vinduro machines and right around the world these mighty old beasts…

The DIRT ACTION Amcross has been absolutely massive this year with 600 riders regularly lining up to take part in this dirtbike fun fair. Picton was no different, the Macarthur Motorcycle club setting out a great layout with some technical aspects and the moisture in the dirt keeping the dust down. The track wasn’t for everyone but on board the KTM350SXF project bike I had a blast and there were smiles galore around the pits. Each class was very full over the two days, some requiring reserves, which is something very positive about this grassroots series. The DIRT ACTION promotional girls gave out magazines and operated the 15-second board during the SponsorPoint Holeshot Round for that extra bit of motivation before the gate dropped. They say a picture speaks a…

1 The ability to shoot in 4K video is insane. It looks amazing on a big-screen TV, let alone a computer screen, and it encourages total immersion in the simplest clip. 2 The Night Photo mode is clever but the time-lapse ability is even cooler. There some crazy clips getting around using time lapse. 3 Twelve-megapixel photo quality is even greater but the powerful processor and quality sensor make sure the photo output is vibrant and not flat like so many are. Thirty frames a second is pretty cool, too. 4 The range of GoPro accessories is endless and there are some really clever pieces in there. We like the 3-Way grip arm that doubles as a tripod and folds down to a tiny package. 5 Shooting 1080p at 120…

1290 SUPER ADVENTURE With the ongoing advancement of electronic aids on adventure bikes it’s easy to get lost in the magnificence of the technology and lose sight of the purpose. An otherwise well-designed bike can have a host of pointless buttons and stop short of bolting a toaster on the back, but when the included electronics improve your ride and help you take it further and faster then the technological intrusion is justified and used to its fullest. We like sensible electronics and, while we’re suckers for flashing lights, pointless settings and a tripling of buttons and readouts can make the bike feel more like it’s a relative of C-3PO than a true go-anywhere adventure bike. KTM has packed the 1290 Adventure with about as much electronics as a bike…

When you’re riding an adventure bike it’s always important to remember the type of bike you’re on and what it’s capable of. That should be the first thing you consider before attacking a section of terrain that may be stretching the limits. If you’re happy to proceed you may need to put aside correct technique to conquer the section and continue. MOMENTUM Generally, this is the key to getting through a tough section. You can see here in this pic the terrain is loose, soft and rocky. Throw in a couple of logs to get over, all while climbing a bank, and you can start to see why it’s not straightforward adventure bike terrain. All of these things can mean there isn’t solid traction, so carrying forward momentum is a…

As the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun. It seems like only yesterday I was picking up the 2015 WR250F from Yamaha’s Sydney office but now it’s six months later and it’s time for the WR to return to base to be sold to some lucky bush bandit. At the beginning of this project I had envisaged doing some suspension mods. However, once I set sag the suspension wasn’t touched apart from some minimal adjustment with the clickers every now and then to suit where I’ve been riding. This year’s WR is running a 4mm longer shock shaft, which gives the rear of the bike an extra 10mm of travel. As a taller rider, it did feel to me as if the rear sat up more than the…

Another month down and more trails ridden on our TE300. It’s been fairly wet around our way so the trails have been so good to ride at times. It’s a mix of flooding and then perfect trails — if you get your timing right it’s a day of 300 heaven with traction and bush berms from start to finish. I know a lot of you don’t like heading out in the heat of summer so I hope you’re out now if you’re in an area where it rains, which in Australia is no guarantee. With the extra traction available I played around with riding the TE differently. I generally find my way to third and leave it there most of the time. The torque in the TE’s engine is such…