Innehållsförteckning för January 2016 från Dirt Action

The Wildwood Rock Extreme Enduro is one of the more sadistic races ever run in Australia and it’s gone from strength to strength since its inception. The 2015 running saw KTM’s Daniel “Chucky” Sanders grab the win on yet another challenging course that took more than its fair share of victims. Fellow KTM rider Matt Phillips finished second to Sanders by a margin of around five minutes with Mitch Harper rounding out the podium with a hard-earned third on a Husqvarna. On his epic win, 21-year-old Sanders said, “There were some big names there so it was good to beat them and see that my fitness was right up there. It’s the hardest race in Australia, a good challenge, and somehow I had fun out there just because of the…

As of late November, Motorcycling Victoria will base itself at Broadford’s State Motorcycle Sports Complex, which Motorcycling Victoria’s CEO Wayne Holdsworth described as “the traditional home of motorcycle sport in Victoria”. MV Management Committee meetings will still take place at Port Melbourne but a new administration and community building will be completed on the Broadford site in the middle of 2016. Motorcycling Australia will take over the former MV offices in Port Melbourne — a move, explained MA CEO Jeremy Kann, that “will allow our staff to service the needs of our stakeholders in a much more user-friendly environment” and “continues our recent efforts of making sure we are improving in each area of the organisation and making the necessary changes as needed to do so”.…

If there’s a motocross version of the Bathurst weekend, this year’s 40th-anniversary running of Mountain Man Motocross made it clear exactly what and where that is. The sky was overcast but the threat of a classic Mountain Man mid-afternoon rainstorm had faded and Echo Valley’s natural colours — steep green slopes and rich red-brown clay — glowed while the music of unlimited motocross played for one final lap. Two-stroke 125s and 250s, four-stroke 250s and 450s rang out inside the track’s natural amphitheatre setting. Closing the throttle on his powerful CDR Yamaha YZ450F, Kade Mosig shoulder-checked to see how far back Caleb Ward was, rolled down to his crew and exchanged a few excited hugs at the end of a gruelling Mountain Man finale. A thirty-minute moto on a 450…

Go back in time to the 2014 Four Day Enduro and Tom McCormack wins the E1 class for the Active8 Yamaha team. He’s then signed to the CDR Yamaha team and things are looking pretty sweet for the young bloke from Byron Bay. He had a rough 2015 Enduro X campaign but then, who didn’t? The AORC season started without Tom, who was recovering from a wrist injury sustained in said Enduro X series, but he joined the fray in round six in Adelaide, determined to kick his gear back into gear. On the Saturday, Tom finished a brilliant second in E1 after battling through the field but on the Sunday things went bad — real bad. Tom doesn’t remember it at all. He was stabilised and airlifted from the…

The Kawasaki KX 250F is arguably the winningest 250 four-stroke on the market. The majority of its success can be credited to Mitch Payton’s almighty Monster Energy Pro Circuit racing team in the USA. Their domination of the 250 class has been legendary but has slipped slightly over the past few years as other teams piece together solid programs and take the fight to them. It could be said that, like the teams in the pits, the other manufacturers have picked up their game and the KX 250F now has a real battle on its hands in the Lites class lineup. It’s not totally surprising Kawasaki hasn’t made any changes for this year. It obviously tipped budget and man hours into the new 450 and the 250 was holding its…

BLUE FURY Yamaha’s TT-R110E is a tough little four-stroke with an auto clutch and four-speed gearbox. It even has electric start and with 180mm of ground clearance it can handle some pretty rugged tracks. We love that the bike looks just like a YZ-F motocrosser. You can pick a race number and stick it on the front and sides and go ride lap after lap like a boss! 2016 FOX COMP 5 YOUTH BOOTS SPECIFICATIONS * Race bonded outsole brings a new level of comfort and durability to value-priced off-road boots * Full leather upper construction ensures an easy break-in and long life * Ultra-easy aluminium soft-touch pivot-lock buckles lock down securely and operate smoothly * Anatomically contoured construction in shin plate and outer medial plastic guarantee free, easy movement…

So no tooling or fooling around this month on the YZ125. It’s just been about riding — and why the hell not? I have no imposing maintenance schedule to stick to and the bike hasn’t been broken or bent yet. I just fuel it up and go. I’ve said this before but one of the things I love about the YZ is that you see possibility in the smallest patch of land that can keep you amused for ages. It might be a corner or a log, a drop-off or a section of trail, but just pushing it more and more to get it right while not being physically beaten up is so much fun. The best trails are the double-width flowing types that let you sit steady with some…

Before Stefan Everts worked for KTM and before he went on that dominant streak with Yamaha in MXGPs, he won his first title in 1991 on a Suzuki. Now the Belgian is back with Suzuki and in a partnership with his early mentor Sylvian Geboers to run the Factory program in the MX1, MX2 and EMX250 classes of MXGP. “It is a very big challenge and a big responsibility ... but actually I think I am ready for it,” said Everts in a statement released by Suzuki. “I have the age and the knowledge. I have been retired for nine years and thanks to my former job I was able to build up some experience on the other side of the fence. I feel ready!” Geboers put the signing in…

LET’S JUST CELEBRATE THAT AUSTRALIA IS BY FAR THE GREATEST ENDURO NATION IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW The debacle that was the final Trophy team results in the 2015 ISDE has been resolved and Australia has been awarded the outright win. This also means that checkpoints still count in enduro. How this was ever in question we’ll never know but what matters now is that the Aussie teams completed a clean sweep of the ISDE, winning all major categories, making this an historic year. The French team were given the gold medals on the day even though their disqualification was suspended pending an investigation (instigated by the French, Brits and Spanish), so the Aussie boys missed the opportunity to revel in the moment. This was another poor decision by the…

1: MOPHIE H2PRO JUICE PACK The Mophie H2Pro Juice pack is a waterproof iPhone 6 case with military-grade protection and more than 100 per cent extra battery life. The all-in-one case provides multiple layers of shock-absorbing materials, water-tight ports and an anti-glare screen protector. An inbuilt battery teamed with an integrated power button lets you choose when you charge your phone, meaning there’s no need for cords or a powerpoint connection. Simply press the button to access up to 100 per cent extra charge, all saved up within your case. The H2Pro has been tested and passed standards against foreign objects and water immersion up to 1.2m for 30 minutes. The case also exceeds military standard 810G which tests against vibrations, shocks and drops up to 1.2m. The juice pack…

In 2015, Suzuki released the RM-Z450 with a host of changes that included updates to the frame, motor and suspension. They did something similar in 2013 as well. But for the years in between — 2014 and now 2016 — there’s not much happening in the development of the tried and true RM-Z450. Overall, the bike has proved a very good machine and has stood the test of time well. It doesn’t have the most powerful motor in the class but does produce a healthy dose of power in the right areas and the strong midrange will take everyone’s fancy. But with KTM and Kawasaki introducing brand-new bikes for 2016 and the Yamaha getting some serious upgrades, you have to wonder just how long Suzuki can ride out the storm…

Our route took us through some amazing scenery, through national parks and rural lands on open tracks Since way back in 1994, BMW GS diehards have been saddling up for the annual BMW GS Safari. It’s a chance for guys who otherwise would rarely touch dirt (if even in some cases) to take their Beemers off the beaten path and for those who know the bush well to join a well-run, pre-mapped route that provides everything you need along the way. It’s also a gathering of the like-minded and the importance of this can’t be understated. There’s a family feel at the GS Safari I’ve not seen replicated anywhere else. I know it’s an awful cliché but it’s true. Many of the riders are meeting up with guys they only…

GRAHAM JARVIS Let’s start with current Husqvarna ace Graham Jarvis, a UK-born rider who’s proved time and time again he’s one of the greatest extreme enduro riders in the world. Winning his first title at the age of 10, he progressed through the trial scene to contest at a world-championship level in 1996. By 2001 he’d claimed his first world championship round win before going on to boast one of the most impressive enduro résumés we’ve seen. Jarvis is a five-time British Trials champion and four-time winner of the Scottish Six Days Trial. One of Jarvis’ greatest achievements has been to win the infamous Scott Trial an unprecedented nine times. Graham Jarvis soon became involved in extreme enduro racing as it began to build an international audience. This is where…

01 As a spectator, the New Year brings a clean slate of possibilities. Who will win the first race of the year? All of a sudden there are 10 favourites, no one is on a roll and the riders all believe they’ve done the work and are on top of their game, ready to beat their competitors. It’s as exciting as the sport gets. 02 Seeing new bikes for the first time is exciting — not just new production models but also the new race-team bikes around the world. New graphics, new colours and new looks are always cool to check out. 03 Everyone loves new gear and the New Year brings all sorts of new colours and concepts. It can hurt the bank account when you get excited by…

The Tatts Finke Desert Race has taken out the Festivals & Events category at the 2015 Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards. The mighty desert race was praised at a gala awards ceremony, marking the fifth such award the race has won. Finke Desert Race president Antony Yoffa said: “This award recognises that the Tatts Finke Desert Race is so much more than a sporting event; it is a successful tourism event. This year we had 22,000 paying spectators across the weekend at various events, with 15,000 people camped along the track.” Mr Yoffa also took the moment to thank the more than 300 volunteers who work to keep the event running each year, as well as mentioning sponsor the Tatts Group, which is to retain naming rights until 2017.…

Spanish manufacturer Gas Gas has had a rough time of it lately but it seems there may be light at the end of the tunnel. Rumours abounded that KTM might acquire the company, which didn’t go down well in Spain. Sherco made an offer but then a Spanish company called the Torrot Group stepped in. At the time of writing it looks to have successfully acquired Gas Gas. The Torrot Group manufactures electric bikes and trail bikes and is looking to have Gas Gas up on its feet by the middle of next year. While it’s all a little uncertain right now, this seems to be good news for the handful of workers still keeping the wheels spinning at Gas Gas. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this all works…

MX TO ENDURO Milner’s enduro-winning bike started life as a motocrosser but a few tweaks and it was ready for four days in the bush. Here’s what gets added or switched out to get it ready. • Front numberplate is replaced with a WR 450F headlight • 19-inch rear wheel is replaced with an 18-inch rear wheel from a WR 450F • WR 450F tail-light and extension is added to the rear fender • WR 450F sidestand is fitted • Off-road wiring sub harness and brake switch is fitted to power lights • Dunlop mousse tubes are fitted to both front and rear wheels • Off-road-style GYTR bash plate is fitted • Folding rear vision mirror added to right-hand side of handlebars • Solid rear GYTR disc fitted • Cycra…

Where does the YZ250X sit in the grand scheme of things and why was I so excited to ride this bike? These are valid questions because, while many of us, myself included, wanted to see another Japanese two-stroke enduro bike on the market, there’s been a brilliant orange-coloured 250F available for some time in the 250EXC. So what’s the big deal? I honestly don’t know the answer. Sometimes emotion for bikes or brands is stronger than we can comprehend and at my age the Japanese two-stroke remains the bedrock of my introduction to dirtbikes, so maybe that’s it. WE CAN ONLY LAMENT THE NANNY-STATE, GREEN-OBSESSED, REGRESSIVE LEGISLATION THAT KEEPS US FROM ENJOYING BIKES LIKE THESE BUILT TO BASH I put together a trail-ready YZ250 as a project bike a couple…

IN APRIL, THE WORLD BECAME A PLACE WHERE THE TRIPLE BACKFLIP WAS POSSIBLE HE’S BACK Dan Reardon announced his comeback and the responses were mixed. Can he win again or will he just muddy the great record he left upon retirement? Is he there just to make sure CDR has a second bike on the track and should we be happy that the most exciting rider news in years is that a retired racer is coming back? Surely he couldn’t get up to speed after so much time away, right? Dan didn’t just come up to speed; he went past it and passed the whole field on his way to wins in motocross and supercross. He looked like he’d taken a month off — a month of heavy partying in…

KINCROME KICK START JUMP STARTER • Jump Starter starts 4- & 6-cylinder petrol and 4-cylinder diesel engines — great for vehicles, motorcycles, small boats, jet skis• Lithium-Ion technology holds 80% shelf charge for up to 6 months• Surge-protected cables provide added protection for your vehicle’s electronic equipment• Up to 20 starts per recharge enable multiple restarts without recharging GOAL ZERO SWITCH 8 SOLAR RECHARGING KIT • An ultra-lightweight power supply that charges smartphones and USB gear anywhere• Refuel Goal Zero Switch 8 from the sun in five hours• Fully charge a smartphone in 1 hour SUREFIRE P3X FURY TACTICAL • Virtually indestructible, ultra-high-output LED emitter regulated to maximise output and runtime• High-strength aerospace aluminium body, Mil-Spec hard anodised for extreme durability• Ultra-high-output LED that delivers 1000 blinding lumens of perfectly focused light YAMAHA SUPERJET • 2-stroke 2-cylinder 701cc engine• Slip-resistant Hydro-Turf mats…