Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2017 i Dirt Action

RYAN DUNGEY All respect to this guy. The numbers don’t lie and they’ll never change. He has become one of the greats and played a huge part in helping KTM grow worldwide with the type of growth other companies would kill for. He was always aware that he held a position of stature; he knew he was a role model and he ticked all the boxes like few riders ever have. Well done, RD, and thanks for the memories. DEAN FERRIS Why the smile? If you were four seconds a lap faster than the rest of the field, you’d be smiling, too.…

JOSHUA GREEN: ACTIVE8 YAMALUBE YAMAHA TEAM 1. HELMET: THOR VERGE VORTECHS FLO GREEN/NAVY 2. JERSEY: THOR FUSE PROPEL BLACK/LIME 3. GOGGLES: SPY OMEN 4. GLOVES: THOR DRAFT COMB BLACK/ FLO GREEN 5. BOOTS: TCX COMP EVO MICHELIN 6. KNEE BRACES: CTI CUSTOM 7. PANTS: THOR FUSE PROPEL BLACK/LIME 8. UNDERPANT: VIRUS V2 COMPRESSION PANT READERS' RIDES…

Polisport Folding MX Lift Stand, a winner of a Red Dot Award for Product Design, is a foldable lift bike stand developed to make the user’s life easier when performing bike maintenance while minimising the footprint when kept in storage or being transported. The bike stand’s foot pedal helps the user elevate the motorcycle with minimal effort. The foldable design makes this a unique product as the only hybrid bike stand (made of plastic and metal) to bring together the lift feature with a completely foldable design. Additionally, the built-in handle makes transport easy and comfortable while the completely foldable design saves a lot of space at home or during transport. The hybrid structure makes the bike stand lighter than the metallic competitors. The top of the stand is built…

WBR (Whitten Brothers Racing Team) has fast become a staple in the national MX and SX paddocks, helped certainly by some outstanding rides by team rider Aaron Tanti early in the 2017 MX Nationals season. We originally caught up with Travis Whitten for a feature on privateer team owners in last month’s issue but, after spending close to an hour with him on the phone, it was obvious the way he was going about things needed a little more than one page to really appreciate. Let’s kick things off by taking it back to the start. Where does your passion for racing come from? Like everyone, I raced and that was a passion from a young age. I grew up on a small farm and had somewhere to ride when…

I don’t know what happened to the Japanese love of off-road but three of the four manufacturers (Yamaha excluded) decided at some point it was something they’d just hand over to the Europeans. That culling of the gene pool isn’t a great outcome for the rest of us. The bush used to be alive with a sound made in Japan but those days are long gone. It seemed they each held on just a little while after they killed the two-stroke and then gave up. Suzuki has offered up just one four-stroke enduro model, as has Kawasaki, and Honda hasn’t made a new CRF450X since 2009. What happened, guys? Is it something we said? Please come back. Right now I’m sitting at my computer and directly in front of me…

If it’s mountains and valleys and epic scenery you want, the AMTRA Suzuki High Country Ride is where to find them. Run by the Australian Motorcycle Trail Riders Association (AMTRA), the event takes in all that’s great about the Victorian High Country from the club’s enviable base in the Buffalo Valley. The club promotes it as an adventure ride and it’s an apt description. It’s less about single-trail and more about mountains and finishing a long day of riding in a well-organised and supportive atmosphere. You couldn’t find a more welcoming club. Riders are treated to excellent food and amenities as well as a heap of giveaways and the odd bullshit session at the bar and then hours of trail over the two days. What more could you want, really?…

This month on the WR450F we visited MSC Moto, which has a new steering damper for current-model WR-F and YZ-Fs, and got one of those suckers fitted. This was to be the first time I’ve ever gone bush with a damper (I’ve ridden in the desert with one), which is a bit surprising after all these years. And, no, I don’t count the little arm on the CRF450X as a proper damper. The guys at MSC are the best at what they do — all their products are designed and manufactured in Australia and I was more than happy to give one a try. However, to be honest, I really wasn’t sure if it was going to be my thing. I also said goodbye to the FIM tyres and fitted…

1. FOX RACING FLEXAIR RED MOTH LE JERSEY & PANT NEW JERSEY FEATURES ▪ Taped seams in shoulder & collar to reduce chafing on body ▪ TruDri main body fabric provides a soft, lightweight fit & moisture management. Laser perforation on chest increases airflow ▪ All-new bonded cuff provides a slim athletic fit NEW PANT FEATURES ▪ New knee construction provides a sleek performance fit over braces or guards ▪ Completely new chassis for an improved fit ▪ Updated rigid waist system to hold pant in place ▪ Laser perforation in key areas for enhanced airflow ▪ Durable four-way stretch TruMotion main body fabric provides unmatched mobility ▪ Elimination of internal liner reduces weight & heat ▪ Heat- & abrasion-resistant leather knee panels ▪ Critically taped seams to reduce chafing…

OUR PICK OF THE PICS FROM THE PROS ON INSTAGRAM SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/DIRTACTIONMAGAZINE LINDSAY DUNGEY 2017 SX Champ! Last night was unbelievable, I couldn’t more proud of you @ryandungey! After coming back from a broken neck last summer and all the obstacles of the season, it’s hard to put this moment into words. You are a true champion on and off the track and inspire me and many others every day! Thank you @leigusa for capturing this. Pure bliss! God is good! #3peat #4xchamp #RDS RICKY CARMICHAEL #tbt 2002. Deep in thought about something. Blond highlights in hair, don’t care. KTM AUSTRALIA Kicking off the 2017 KTM Adventure Media Launch for Asia Pacific in the Blue Mountains. #ktm #ktmadventure #ridektm JEFFREY HERLINGS First win of the season. CHAD…

MXD CLASS The MXD class as we know it today started in 2007, though before that there was a National Cup series that was open to riders of all ages but aimed at giving junior riders a way to step into the national series without competing directly with seasoned pros. Currently known as the Pirelli MXD class, the championship is now an eightround national series for riders aged under 19. The original intention of the class was to give riders stepping out of the junior ranks a way to ease into the pro classes and get to know how things operated on the national stage before going on to compete in the full national championship in either the MX2 or MX1 class. POSITIVE ▪ A way for riders to prepare…

Big-bore enduro bikes are no longer the huge, heavy beasts they once were. In the past, if you decided on a high-capacity four-stroke to ride in the bush, it was a given you’d also have to deal with a heap more weight and a slightly agricultural feel below you. Those days are officially gone. The Husqvarna FE501 is an impressive bike in stock form so to get the chance to ride one that belongs to Husqvarna Off-Road Racing Team’s Lachlan Stanford was an exciting prospect. This FE501 has been tested and developed in house at Husqvarna Australia specifically for the Australian Off Road Championships and Lachy Stanford has already bagged some class victories and top-five outright results. THE LOOK This bike is a clean-looking Husky fitted with a majority of…

The broad overview of the adventure bike market shows perhaps more shapes and sizes than any other category and the prices range from under 10 grand to over $30,000. You can get anything from a 250cc to a 1200 and embrace technology ranging from a simple air-cooled single-cylinder engine to selfadjusting suspension and lean angle sensors. You can buy European or Japanese and in most cases you can even dress to match your machine and find a world where the flip-up helmet is still acceptable. But for the pure dirt rider, not all bikes are equal. For the rider who wants to take it off the track and away from the road, there are clearer choices than those that concern the weekend cruiser. You can find adventure on just about…

Aussie Hunter Lawrence is on the ride of a lifetime in the MX2 class of the MXGP series. In just eight rounds of his maiden year with Team Suzuki World MX2, Hunter raced to the second step of his first GP podium at Teutschenthal, one of the tougher tracks on the planet. It was a good day for Suzuki with Hunter’s teammate Jeremy Seewer bagging the top step. They both did themselves huge favours as it all happened in front of the president of Suzuki Germany, Tomoyo Sekiguchi. The team’s bikes are some of the most beautiful-looking machines on any track and team boss Stefan Everts is clearly steering the young Aussie in the right direction. Keep ’em coming, Hunter! In the meantime, let’s take a close look at his…

I WAS PRETTY PISSED OFF AT MYSELF — NOT SO MUCH FOR CRASHING, BECAUSE THAT HAPPENS TO EVERYONE, BUT FOR PUTTING A DOWNER ON A RIDE THAT WAS EPIC AND FOR WHICH I HAD THE PERFECT BIKE Where better to take a 500 than on the AMTRA High Country Ride? You want hills? You need tractable power? You want something big but nimble? Then, hell, this is the perfect combo: High Country and a 500 EXC-F. This month the Kato has been out and about but as yet pretty much untouched except for the Moto Kit graphics work. The biggest outing by far was the AMTRA High Country ride, which is where I asked to take it. I picked it up from Matt, promising to return it without a scratch.…

▪ The 2003 Honda CR250 two-stroke was the last Honda machine to win the premier class of the AMA Supercross Championship in the hands of Ricky Carmichael. ▪ Additionally, the 2003 Honda CR250R was the last two-stroke machine to win the AMA (250/450) Motocross Championship, again in the hands of RC, who also rode an RM250 to the last supercross win by a two-stroke. ▪ The 2003 Honda CR250R didn’t get much of a look in here in Australia, the majority of Honda riders electing to race the CRF450R during the Motocross Championship. However, both Troy Dorron and Shane Metcalfe campaigned the 2003 CR250R during the Australian Supercross Championship, finishing second and third respectively. 2003 HONDA CR250 SPECS ▪ Displacement: 249.30cm3 ▪ Engine type: Single-cylinder two-stroke ▪ Bore/stroke: 66.4×72mm ▪…

▪ Nickname: Webb ▪ DOB: 24/04/96 ▪ First bike: PW50 ▪ What age did you start riding? 3 ▪ Current ride/team: Penrite CRF Honda Racing When and where was your first race and how did it pan out? My first race was in South Africa when I was four years old. I think I came second last Your greatest dirtbike-related achievement to date? I think I’d have to say the 2016 Sydney Supercross where I finished on the podium in the SX2 class on the final night. All my family and friends were there and it was such an awesome atmosphere. If you weren’t racing, what would you be doing? I’d probably be plumbing and surfing in Perth. I’d also be riding mountain bikes. If you could make one change…

The time has arrived. You’ve spent your life enjoying the pleasures that only come from weekends at the local track or in the bush aboard your pride and joy and now your firstborn is showing more than a keen interest in your fascination with all things dirtbike. You’ve made the decision: little Johnny or Liza is ready to ride. Now all you have to do is go out and buy them their first bike. Simple, right? Then the questions start to flood your mind. New or used? What size bike do we need? Can we go racing? Can we ride in the bush? What bike is going to suit riding down on the farm? Do we need training wheels? Can you even get training wheels for minibikes? We’ve all been…

KTM started talking positively about two-stroke fuel injection around a decade ago. Back then we thought it was just around the corner but here we are 10 years later and only now getting to see the bikes in the flesh. Why did it take so long? Because the bikes sell and there was no need to mess with a winning formula or face raising prices until the European emissions standards dictated so. Of course, this isn’t the first fuel-injected two-stroke. Some of you may remember Honda’s unique but short-lived CRM250AR Active Radical system. Ossa had an injected two-stroke, as do most outboard marine engine manufacturers. But KTM has taken a unique direction with TPI and separate oil injection and it’s certainly turned the two-stroke world on its head. We remember…

WHERE DID SWM COME FROM? It’s actually been around for a long time, debuting its first bike at a race in Spain in 1971. The brand ceased production in 1984 but in 2014 former Husqvarna engineer Ampelio Macchi purchased his designs from Pierer Industrie, who now owned them, and went back to the then-vacant former Husqvarna production factory. With investment from the Shineray Group he was able to fire up manufacturing once again, many of the former workers returning to their former workplace. This is a factory that also received a major overhaul in 2007 during BMW’s ownership of Husqvarna. With Shineray’s backing, production of bikes started, predominantly from the 2010 Husqvarna designs. Knowing he couldn’t use the Husqvarna name he acquired the sleeping SWM brand — and here we…

Ryan Dungey has recently announced his retirement at the relatively young age of 27, bringing an end to a short but ferocious career that saw him battle and conquer some of the biggest names in motocross and supercross. Dungey is the athlete you want your kids to look up to: clean cut, professional, respectful, well spoken and dedicated to his sport. These attributes have led many to cheer for his more flamboyant rivals. I can admit I have; it’s easy when you look at his competition, some of the most popular names in motocross. Names such as Chad Reed, James Stewart, Kevin Windham, Jason Lawrence, Ryan Villopoto and, most recently, Ken Roczen and Eli Tomac come to mind. Against these more outlandish riders, Dungey kept focused and tenacious, earning an…

What a crazy, exciting month it’s been with our Husqvarna TC 250. After picking up the all-new Husqvarna two-stroke from Moto Adelaide I spent a month riding and racing a range of motocross tracks, ride parks and private properties around South Australia. I spent the first few days with the new beast in my life chasing sunsets in an effort to capture the shiny white masterpiece in all its glory. Then it was time to head out to some local riding areas and kick the Husky into life for the very first time. We started things off at a local ride park that’s become my go-to place to run bikes and got a quick feel for my new pride and joy. Port Gawler offers some fast-flowing sand tracks along with…