Innehållsförteckning för Issue 241 från Dirt Action

He won the under-19 class of the AORC in 2019, took third in the E1 class in 2020, and for 2021 he is chasing the E1 championship after finishing second in the opening rounds and recently won his class at Hattah. The progress of Kyron Bacon over the past few seasons has been as rapid and inspiring as anyone. Bacon hails from Tasmania which, despite its excellent riding terrain, is hardly a hot bed of competition. It takes a dedicated and motivated athlete to move up the ladder. Bacon has his sights set high and would like nothing more than to take on the world off-road scene and follow in the footsteps of mentor and former world champion Matt Phillips. For now, however, the focus is on the AORC, gaining…

With the Lawrence brothers snaring plenty of attention for their outstanding performances and results in the US championships, it’s easy to forget Australia also has a large contingent of riders based in Europe and chasing world championship glory. Jed Beaton, Wilson Todd, Mitch Evans and Bailey Malkiewicz are all competing in the motocross GPs and flying the Aussie flag with pride. All of these riders parked their comfortable careers in Australia, packed up their gear bags and headed to Europe to challenge themselves and chase a childhood dream. None of them capture the limelight in the same way as a teenage phenom like Jett Lawrence, but all of them work hard, are talented athletes and are experiencing a culture and a lifestyle unlike anything they have experienced before. Each of…

KRUZ MADDISON Age: 10 Lives: Temecula, California @kruzmaddison LIVING THE DREAM: Kruz isn’t your average ten year old. Between jumping huge FMX ramps on his KTM65, wakeboarding, skateboarding, indoor skydiving, BMX riding, hucking backflips into his pool and hanging out with Japan’s Taka Higashino, he still enjoys some downtime too. “When I’m road tripping somewhere I play MadSkillsMX on my phone, and when I’m at home I play MX vs. ATV heaps on the Xbox. Sometimes I play Fortnite if I have time,” he explains. Kruz told us that adapting to technology at a young age (amongst all his other epic activities) has helped him get his head around social media to promote himself. Kruz will definitely be popping up on your feeds more frequently in future. “WHEN I’M ROAD…

2015 WAS THE YEAR I DECIDED TO PACK ALL MY STUFF UP INTO MY VAN AND TRAILER. I DROVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH A FRIEND AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS I HAD OFFICIALLY MOVED TO NSW. So, Kyle, let’s try and start this off professionally, which will be hard for both of us. I know your whole back story, but not many fans know the Kyle without a helmet on. Can you give us an insight of how and where it all started? I was originally born in South Africa, where my dad got me into racing when I was four years old on a PW50. I lived in South Africa up until I was six, then we moved to England until I was 11. In England I rode 50s…

The world has seen some big changes since March 2020. It has been a tough time for everyone mentally and financially. One of the big changes was the crazy COVID tax that appeared nearly overnight on secondhand items, and only now are we starting to see realistic prices again. We all kept busy in many ways during lockdown, be it home renovations, exercise, online study or basically anything to keep boredom at bay and keep the mind stimulated for our mental health. For me, I decided to take on a project and wanted a bike to restore, so I started to search the classifieds for something suitable. While searching Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace, I started to catch myself noticing how bad some of the photos and descriptions were and some…

FEATURED JUNIOR: TAYLOR THOMPSON » What’s your name? Taylor Thompson » Where are you from? Lower Portland » What do you ride? YZ250F » Who’s your biggest inspiration? Courtney Duncan and the Lawrence brothers » Favourite colour? Blue » Best thing about riding? The hard work that goes into it, working with my team, the feeling of accomplishment and winning, having fun with my friends and fam and going FAST. » Who are your riding buddies? Max Locock, Heath Davy, Ky Woods, Max Compton, Riley Burgess, Byron and Eliza Dennis. » What do you do when you’re not riding? In the gym, running, stand-up jet skiing, coaching, water skiing, watching motocross and hanging with my friends and family. » Any sponsors you’d like to thank? Excite Motorsports, YMF Finance, YMI…

Feel the need to chatter your way into a tight tarmac turn? Look no further than the Husqvarna FS450. Available in limited numbers from November 2021 in Australia and NZ, the 2022 FS 450 features striking new colours while also benefitting from a Brembo hydraulic clutch system for perfect, fade-free action in all conditions. The FS450 continues to feature WP suspension for accurate handling and stability. The WP XACT forks with AER technology feature a mid-valve damping system that guarantees consistent front-end suspension performance, even on the roughest of surfaces. Together with an easily adjustable WP XACT shock, these proven components create a Supermoto-specific setup. Powered by a compact 63 hp SOHC engine, the FS450 delivers impressive performance, offering responsive and usable power, delivered smoothly thanks to the Pankl Racing…

Looking for a weekend away? The coastal town of Wollongong, NSW, is a cracking spot to pack up the family or fellas and make a weekend of it. Rip the Wollongong Motorcycle Club track and enduro loop, cool off with a swim and then a hit a pub for dinner. Here’s a bunch of info to help with your next stay. LOCATION: WOLLONGONG, NSW Wollongong is based on the south coast of NSW. The coastal city is home to some of the most amazing beaches in NSW, epic pubs and, of course, plenty of awesome moto riding. WHERE TO STAY There are loads of places to say in Wollongong and on the NSW south coast. In Wollongong itself, it’s hard to go past the Novotel at Main Beach. It’s overlooking…

The Freeride 350 is equal parts trail and trials, with the best bits of each preserved and compromises found at each point in between. The result is a bike unlike anything you’ve ever ridden before. It’s a new type of bike. The first thought that came to mind when I sat on the Freeride was, “Well… this is odd.” I never claimed to be a deep thinker. The bike is thin, low and — well, odd. It feels like a trials bike with a long seat, it feels like a mountain bike and it feels like an 85. There is no single bike I can point to and say it’s just like that. On the trail, the bike stayed something of a mystery for a good 30 minutes. It’s weighted…

The Hattah Desert Race is Australia’s most popular dirtbike event. The combination of offroad and motocross make it the most sought-after race in the country, with 600 riders filling the start line each year and the event selling out in record time. Each June, the rolling sand paddocks just outside of Mildura in Victoria are swarmed by riders from all over the country wanting a piece of the Hattah magic. Many of the riders just roll up on current bikes and give it a shake, fun factor high on the agenda. But if you’re serious about winning Hattah, there are a few steps you’ll need to take to get to the top step. UNIQUELY HATTAH It’s unique in the way the course is designed. Yes, you can drive it in…

The world waits for no-one, unless of course it’s the Yamaha YZ125 or YZ250, two modern-day bikes that have stood the test of time and will continue to do so. With literally thousands of 2005-2021 YZ125s and YZ250s in the marketplace, the legacy of such significant motocross bikes will live on for a long time. Think back to what you were doing in 2005. The population in Australia was just a tick over 20 million, John Howard was the prime minister, Schapelle Corby wanted to go ‘boogie boarding’ in Bali and landed in jail for nearly 20 years, and Yamaha unveiled two all-new two-stroke motocross bikes in the YZ125 and YZ250. Fast forward to 2021 and after 16 years, the legendary bikes are now getting a makeover. The 125 gets…

A common goal for upcoming riders is to be sponsored. In our industry, sponsorship advertising is a great way for brands to help events, teams or athletes achieve their goals. Anyone can become a sponsored rider but there is a lot to know before you approach a company for support. Let’s go over a full rundown of everything you need to know. IT’S NOT A REWARD A mindset that riders can assume is that a sponsorship is purely a reward, whether it’s a reward for your improved riding level or even a race win. In reality, a sponsorship is in fact engaging in a genuine business deal. That means you have to deliver a respectable Return On Investment (ROI). Your sponsorship should at the very least give a 1,000 per…

One of the most enticing aspects of hitting the trail is the fact that you never really know what’s waiting for you around the next turn. It could be the most pristine section of moist, loamy single track that you’d be happy to ride for hours, or just as easily it could be a snotty hill that’s rough, rutted and stretches your riding ability to the limit. Either way, you need to deal with it or turn around and ride home, which I’m guessing isn’t an option. DON’T DO YOUR HEAD IN The first step is not to panic! Don’t look at the section and write yourself off in an instant. More often than not, it looks tougher than it really is and the major battle is keeping your confidence.…

WEBER BABY Q » Porcelain-enamelled, cast iron split cooking grills » Push-button ignition » Cast aluminium lid and body » Glass-reinforced nylon frame » Removable catch pan » Infinite control burner valve » Compact for easy storage or transport » Q recipe handbook with operating instructions » An 8.5kg gas bottle will last over 45 hours worth of barbecuing » Total weight: approx. 10.75kg Welcome to a new section of DIRT ACTION, Camp & Ride. We love getting out in the great outdoors, ripping dirtbikes, cooking a killer feed and shooting a few yarns over a couple of beers, so let’s dedicate these pages to all things camping and good times! CAMP IN STYLE Jayco Basestation is Jayco’s largest toy hauler and the ultimate base for your outdoor pursuits. It…

Being flown across the world, treated like a king and carving trails and tracks at a world KTM media launch is the absolute pinnacle of media testing. However, putting bikes through their paces on Australian soil is a solid real-world Australian test. So when KTM Australia invited us to the Aussie media launch, we jumped at the opportunity to answer the hard questions about KTM’s ‘22 range. BUSH-BASHING THE EXC RANGE Which bikes did we ride? The line-up of amazing bikes we had for the test was the 250 EXC-F, 350 EXC-F, 450 EXC-F and the big daddy of the orange range, the 500 EXC-F. Having an elite line-up of enduro bikes like this to switch between and compare in all different types of terrain was the perfect way to…

BODYWORK HAS ALSO BEEN MODIFIED WITH THE NARROWER SIDE COVER WIDTH AND LOWERED SEAT REAR END CLAIMED TO IMPROVE RIDER POSITION. It’s no real secret that Honda’s lites class offering hasn’t quite hit the mark, especially in the power department, for a couple of models now. Well, I think that’s all about to change. This bike was impressive, and I think Honda has really continued overall development improvements while also strengthening the bike’s weaknesses. Here’s a rundown on what’s new and what we thought after a day at the track. WHAT’S NEW FOR ‘22? Yep, that heading just rhymed. For 2022, the Honda CRF 250R is pretty much new from the ground up. Here are the details. ENGINE The 249cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, DOHC four-valve engine is significantly updated. Honda claims…

After a bit of time out of the sport and away from the world of magazine publishing, I have got the itch to hit the track and trails again. That feeling is second to none and I have missed it. So when Conor from KTM called to let me know a 2022 EXC would be arriving in the coming days, I got the butterflies. What would it be? My favourite of all time, a 500 EXC? Or the logical choice, a 350 EXC-F? I was hoping it wasn’t a 300 EXC as it’s been a while since I have been in the bush and those things are a lot of motorcycle. “A 250 EXC TPI,” Conor burst out excitedly. I couldn’t help but feel a tad meh. It just doesn’t…

Also known as Coolum Pines MX, Suncoast Junior Motorcycle Club was incorporated over 20 years ago in 1997. Located at Research St, Coolum, this track has established itself as one of the most renowned and loved MX venues in Australia for riders and spectators, attracting thousands of visitors every year. The sandy conditions are a treat for riders who like to hang out and ride on the edge. From Ricky Carmichael to Dean Ferris and Kirk Gibbs, this track has not only been host to some of the greatest riders of all time, it has been the home club for many of our rising junior stars – Jesse Dobson, Jai Walker, Jet Alsop, and Hunter and Jett Lawrence, just to name a few! Many more young gun riders are keen…

01 FOOT POSITION You will be on the arch of your foot for the most part, and here are the reasons why. In this position your ankles are much more supported. If you land hard off a jump, for example, you have the best chance of handling the impact and not injuring your ankles. When you are on the arch of your foot you can reach your shifter and rear brake, too. As you become a more experienced rider you will, however, start to move around on the footpegs more, including riding on the balls of your feet or what from the outside looks like you are on your toes. See the sidebar for more info on this foot position, its advantages and what you need to be careful of.…

QUAD LOCK MOTO MOUNT I like to carry my phone when trailriding, especially if I am ducking away for a quick squirt in the bush near my house. Sure, it’s easy to throw it in the Camelbak, but this is 2021 so let’s take things to the next level. The Quad Lock system is very impressive. I have noticed a stack of adventure riders using it (including my dad) and they rave about it, so I thought I would give it a go purely for holding the phone. That was until I saw Lance Russell creating content with the Quad Lock mount carrying his iPhone, which is a big plus for a magazine editor! The Quad Lock moto range is available as handlebar, mirror and fork stem mount kits. I…