Innehållsförteckning för October 2018 från Dirt Action

BEACH BEEMER Shane Booth takes on a late-afternoon sand session. Nothing too unusual with that, except that he’s riding a BMW R 1200 GSA Rallye X which, to grossly understate it, isn’t a common sight on a beach. Boothy took some time to get used to the big Beemer on the soft sand but had it dialled in no time. It was crazy to watch. AUSSIE GRIT A few brave/crazy/determined Aussies make the massive trip to Romania for the annual Red Bull Romaniacs. It must surely be one of the biggest logistical undertakings for any rider, not to mention the fact that you’re then facing with one of the most sadistic races ever devised. Just the prologue alone thins the herd a heap. Well done, guys…much respect.…

CXC MOTION PRO II RACING SIMULATOR Experience the racetrack as if you are actually on it. From the low-mass motion system to high-quality audio and video, using the Motion Pro II means that you are truly in the driver’s seat. On any track, in any car, anywhere in the world. GARMIN VIRB 360 CAMERA FEATURES Waterproof - rugged, waterproof 360-degree camera with 5.7K/30fps resolution and 4K spherical stabilisation Insane resolution - up to 5.7K/30fps unstitched and 4K/30fps with in-camera stitching 360-degree sound - 4 built-in microphones capture 360-degree audio 4K spherical stabilisation - ensures a smooth video regardless of camera movement Built-in sensors - provide G-Metrix data overlays in 360-degree augmented reality (overlays added using mobile or desktop app) Easy editing - free VIRB Mobile app and VIRB Edit desktop…

Mate, you’ve been travelling non-stop since you left Australia. Where are you now and do you have a regular base? My year has been a scramble of plans, ideas, organising, training and plane flights. If you told me in January I would be back in Europe racing world championship again for HRC Honda Europe, I would've needed to pinch myself. But here we are living in a small village located in Holland called Valkenswaard. I’m almost living like a backpacker. The team organised for me to live with one of the team mechanics in his apartment. It’s actually been a great base, with everything we need at our fingertips. The original idea was to head to the US but then you went to Europe. Can you take us through the…

One of the first things we were told about this all-new 2019-model bike was that Kawasaki had chosen to drop the F from the name of the bike. With the bike now known as the KX450, they feel consumers are used to the four-stroke revolution, know that 450cc is part of a four-stroke engine and it doesn’t have to be spelled out to them. Hallelujah, I say. Following that news we had the major updates pointed out to us, the big ones being electric start, hydraulic clutch, back to a spring fork, finger follower valve action and completely redesigned frame and bodywork. Plenty of exciting things on paper, so we were keen to get out on the track. Speaking of the track, we were at The Island, a place I…

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I have a pretty cool job sometimes. Having the chance to ride factory-prepared race bikes never gets old, so when the opportunity arises I’ll do all that I can to make it happen. In this case, I rode Gibbsy’s race bike last year so to ride it again back to back was a pretty unique opportunity. We headed to Wollongong Motorcycle Club, or Mt Kembla as it’s more commonly known, to meet up with Jay Marmont and spin some laps. Although the track had some nice prep work done, the weather was just plain crazy. We were hit with winds stronger than I’ve ever ridden in, so strong that the club had no choice but to close part of the track…

For a country with a population of just a tad over 24 million people, we have always held our own on the world stage in a vast array of sports. This includes the sport that is closest to our hearts — motocross. When it comes to anything dirt related on two wheels, Australia has produced some of the world’s best athletes. From Chad Reed on the supercross and motocross front, to the likes of Toby Price killing it in the desert racing world and the great Shane Watts amongst many other Australians from the enduro world, there really is not a discipline of off-road racing in which Australia has not at some stage or another been right at the pointy end on the world stage. Despite this fact, it is…

I recently attended a day of coaching with Josh Green through the Active8 Yamaha rider’s Offroad Advantage and got a reminder on just how easy it is to forget the basics. Held at Josh’s amazing base in Stroud (NSW), the day catered for all ages and degrees of experience, with Josh’s team mate Michael Driscoll on hand to help with demonstrations and coaching. The vibe is relaxed but with a degree of seriousness and a well-thought-through method. Josh concentrates on improving the base skills that make up everything thereafter and he does it through instruction, demonstration and a series of drills. Some of the stuff Josh has the crew doing seem odd at first — stoppies, riding with your front wheel locked up and then riding in circles with the…

The 2019 Thor range of motocross apparel is really impressive. Known for their high quality, the Prime Pro MX pants and jersey have landed in Australia with a range of super-impressive colours and designs. Check out the range of Thor gear at your local dealer or preferred Australian online retailer. THOR PRIME PRO JERSEY FEATURES Hybrid fit with set-in style tailored sleeves Minimal seams for maximum comfort Fully ventilated arms and back panel Moisture-wicking material keeps you dry Tail silicone print helps keep jersey tucked in Flat-stitched seams minimise irritation Taped collar and cuffs THOR PRIME PRO PANTS FEATURES Ultra-lightweight pre-curved chassis design Inner compression short Abrasion-tolerant Poly/Spandex blend Premium-grade full-grain leather inner knee panels DuPont stretch Kevlar-backed inner knee panels Engineered small expansion stretch panels on waist Strategically placed…

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — with so much success, you would think this saying might ring true for the Blu Cru, but someone at Yamaha must have missed the memo. The 2017 model saw major changes that have led to multiple championships both at home and abroad, including this year’s 2018 AMA Supercross west region and both MX2 and MDX Australian MX Nationals. Meet Yamaha’s revised and race-ready 2019 YZ250F. With the achievements that the previous model has accomplished, Yamaha could be forgiven if a small change here and there was all this new model would be given. However, this bike has been refined from the ground up ad there is not much that has been overlooked. From the frame to the engine, weight reductions to mobile…

Bailey Malkiewicz: “I just can’t believe that happened. I was doing all I could to pressure Mattia but I could never get close enough to attempt a pass. He rides so consistently that I was beginning to think that I might be able to get by, then he made a mistake in one of the rutted turns and I was able to grab the lead. “Those last few laps are something I will never forget. I could see and hear the crowd as I rode around. There were Australian flags and airhorns everywhere and I just tried to keep my concentration as we still had a few laps to go and I couldn’t afford to lose focus. But the atmosphere was awesome and with about half a lap to go,…

Since jumping on the Yamaha YZ65, Seth’s race results have been incredibly impressive. After recovering from a broken collarbone, Seth and his family packed up and headed to Coolum, Queensland, for the YZ65 Cup, which is held in conjunction with the Pirelli MX Nationals. The track at Coolum is brutal to ride on a 450, let alone a 65cc machine, but the racing was first class. The DIRT ACTION Excite Motorsports YZ65 ripped through the dark dirt and ended up on the podium! A third place overall was an excellent achievement for both Seth and the Yamaha. GROWING PAINS As Seth is a tall young fella, a higher seat and handlebars were fitted to the YZ65 in preparation for the World Junior Motocross Championships in Horsham. This gave him the…

2019 SUZUKI RM-Z250 It’s been a number of years since the Suzuki RM-Z250 has had a substantial update. In 2019, we are treated to a completely redesigned small-bore zook — hell yeah! So what’s new? Well, pretty much everything! It’s claimed to have more horsepower, better throttle response, a new spring fork and new shock and linkage. It’s also taken on the new look of the 2018 Suzuki RM-Z450 as well, which we love. FEATURES All-new aluminium frame and swingarm Increased power Improved throttle response New exhaust system New bodywork and graphics New spring fork New shock and linkage 2019 YAMAHA YZ85 Although the Yamaha YZ65 has stolen the limelight from its bigger brother, the Yamaha YZ85 has scored a massive list of upgrades. At first sight it looks to…

RIDER: LUKE CLOUT MACHINE: 2018 KTM 450SX-F TEAM: KTM MOTOCROSS RACING TEAM LUKE CLOUT BIO AGE: 12/11/1994 HOMETOWN: Annangrove, NSW BEST RESULTS: 2014 MX2 champion HOBBIES: Cycling, MTBing and training with my mates Luke Clout is an exciting rider to watch. After claiming the 2014 MX2 Championship here in Australia, he packed his bags in search of international glory. Heading to the US, a place where he spent some time refining his skills towards the end of his junior career, Clout had varied success. Unfortunately, team closures left him without a ride and he returned to Australia. In 2018, Clout was back and finished third in the MX Nationals. Watch him in 2019 — he is a serious championship threat. 2018 KTM 450SX-F…

Hours and hours are spent organising media launches for new bikes. Unfortunately, the only thing out of their control is the weather. Kawasaki Australia put on an epic day for their 2019 Kawasaki KX450 launch; however, she was a tad muddy! That didn’t stop Boothy from getting a good feel for the bike and ripping into mud-moto after mud-moto. By the end of the day, there were some dry(ish) ruts and even some blue sky — read the full test in this issue.…

The Yamaha YZ450F project has been a great success so far. Dane Thompson has taken the ball and run with it. The pair have ripped holeshots, won motos and become comfortable up front in the DIRT ACTION Amcross series. This has all be done on completely standard suspension, so a tip of the cap to the Yamaha technicians. However, there is always room for improvement and Dane has been searching for those extra one per cents, especially when the track gets brutally rough at the end of the day in Amcross and to help with his starts. Enter Shock Treatment. TUNE THOSE SPRINGERS Terry Hay is a well-known suspension wizard. His technical knowledge combined with an excellent testing venue and first-class workshop offer a world-class suspension service based in western…

I have barely ridden an inch without knee braces from the moment I started wearing them. Any time I’ve gone out without them on, I’ve regretted it deeply for a week after. They are almost as much a part of my kit as my boots and helmet and they are beyond a shadow of a doubt prolonging my time on the bike. My first knee brace was in fact the original POD, which I chose at the time primarily because it’s an Australian company and I really didn’t know enough about braces to make the choice on any other level. I eventually replaced those with the K300s which got stolen by someone who I hope gets eaten alive by ants. I replaced those with the original Leatt braces, which showed…

Rocky terrain can be difficult. If you haven’t had to deal with the technical aspect of those pesky, hard suckers, it can be a real shock to the system during a trail ride. Here’s a few tips for those who are new to the world of trail riding. BODY POSITION Even though it might feel a little out of the ordinary, stand up when the trail gets rocky. If you are sitting down and a rock jumps out and grabs your front wheel, you are a passenger. When standing, you have more strength to manhandle your bike and counter weight the way the bike is bouncing. Grip the bike between your knees to keep it in line as the bike moves around the rocky surface. COVER YOUR LEVERS Be ready…