Dunlop Issue 39 - Dunlop Motorcycle Tires

MARCH 2016
HISTORIC
JASON ANDERSON, 2016 ANAHEIM 1 450 SX WINNER
HUSQVARNA’S FIRST PREMIER-CLASS VICTORY IN AMA SUPERCROSS HISTORY
@RideDunlop
DunlopMotorcycleTires.com ©2016 Dunlop Motorcycle Tires.
coNteNts
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DUNlop offErs NEw opportUNitiEs for clUb racErs
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2016 DUNlop MarKEtiNG
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tEaM DUNlop cElEbratEs its 10th YEar
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savatGY aND forKNEr taKE first pro wiNs
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DEsiGNED for aDvENtUrE—thE all-NEw
hiGh-pErforMaNcE DUNlop trailsMart
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waYNE raiNEY’s sEcoND-YEar charM
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rUssEll rUlEs
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biKEs of thE stars
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sX UpDatE
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2016 aMa pro flat tracK sEasoN prEviEw
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thE wasp
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thE oraNGE crUsh
100 UpcoMiNG EvENts
ON THE COVER:
Roland Sands, founder of RSD,
is a busy boy. His latest
creation, The Wasp, pays
homage to Mr. Kenny Roberts.
RYANDUNGEY
@RideDunlop
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Dunlop Download magazine is published for Dunlop Motorcycle Tires by Vreeke & Associates. www.vreeke.com
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DuNlop offeRs New oppoRtuNities foR club RAceRs
For the 2016 racing season, Dunlop has redirected its contingency program to offer club racers across the country
alternative support. Dunlop polled club racers and determined that contingency wasn’t a big reason why racers
choose a tire brand at the club level.
As a result, Dunlop has reallocated its contingency budget into other initiatives that will benefit riders who have
used Dunlop tires in the past, and those who may want to give Dunlop race tires a try.
Details of the new 2016 Dunlop roadrace Program are available
at our exclusive distribution partner race Tire Service.
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CliCk here To VieW The SiTe
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2016 DuNlop
MARKetiNG
What is marketing? At Dunlop, we believe it’s all about connecting with our
customers by celebrating our sport. Combining compelling black and white
photography with headlines that tug on our enthusiast emotions and
compelling black and white photography, Dunlop’s new marketing
campaign reaches back to capture the greats of the sport while reaching
forward to all-new products that will ride us into the future—plus just about
everything in between. With tires for virtually every market segment and a
racing heritage as old as motorcycle racing itself, Dunlop has a
commitment to our sport that is unrivaled by the competition. You’ll see
more Dunlop ads online and in print publications throughout the year.
WAYNE RAINEY
HERITAGE
@RideDunlop
DunlopMotorcycleTires.com ©2016 Dunlop Motorcycle Tires.
WAYNe rAiNeY
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PERFORMANCE
ORIGINAL
Isle of Man TT, 1969. Malcolm Uphill breaks the 100 mph lap barrier on a
production bike, a Triumph Thruxton. Dunlop commemorates the historic victory
by naming the rear tire the TT100—the same tire pattern available today.
JOE ROBERTS,
2015 MOTOAMERICA
SUPERSTOCK 600 CHAMP
DERIVED FROM RACING
TT100
D404
@RideDunlop
DunlopMotorcycleTires.com ©2016 Dunlop Motorcycle Tires.
@RideDunlop
DunlopMotorcycleTires.com ©2016 Dunlop Motorcycle Tires.
@RideDunlop DunlopMotorcycleTires.com ©2016 Dunlop Motorcycle Tires.
CliCk here To See More oF The 2016 CAMPAigN
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teAM
DuNlop
celebRAtes its 10th YeAR
Celebrating its 10th year in 2016, Team Dunlop
Jazzmyn Canfield and Crockett Myers. They’ll be joined
continues its legacy as one of the most prestigious
by returning riders hunter Yoder, Casey Cochran, Max
amateur motocross programs in the U.S. Dozens of the
Vohland, lance kobusch, Stilez robertson, Carson
country’s top amateur riders have been selected over
Mumford, Jett reynolds, ryder DiFrancesco, Matthew
the years to be a part of Team Dunlop elite since the
leBlanc, Aiden Tijero, haiden Deegan, Daxton Bennick
program’s inception, and today Team Dunlop elite
and Nick romano.
alumni rank among the top professionals in the sport,
including eli Tomac, Blake Baggett, Justin Bogle, Justin
“This is obviously a special year for Team Dunlop,” said
Barcia, Matt Bisceglia, Zach Bell, Adam Cianciarulo,
team manager rob Fox. “over the past decade, the
Justin hill, Jessy Nelson, Chris Alldredge, Jordon Smith,
program has gotten stronger and stronger, and we’re
Joey Savatgy, Aaron Plessinger and Austin Forkner.
very proud to see team graduates making a name for
themselves in the pro ranks. Making it to this elite team
For 2016, the Team Dunlop elite lineup consists of 16
means that you’re not just fast, but that you have the
top amateur motocross riders who will receive special
determination and personality that it takes to become a
tire support, preferred service at select races, plus
true champion.”
advertising and promotional opportunities in national
media and on the Team Dunlop website. These riders
Beyond the elite team, Dunlop continues to offer one of
will compete at top amateur motocross nationals all
the largest amateur support programs in the nation,
across the country in classes ranging from 50cc to
which is open to eligible up-and-coming racers through
Super Mini.
a unique partnership with hookit. Visit teamdunlop.com
today to check out all the benefits of membership in
New to the team this year are Caden Braswell,
the Team Dunlop community.
CliCk here To leArN More ABoUT The riDerS
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SAVATgY AND ForkNer TAke FirST Pro WiNS
longtime Team Dunlop elite riders Austin Forkner and Joey Savatgy added their names
to the growing list of Team Dunlop alumni who have turned pro and won main events. At
the greensboro, North Carolina, Arenacross—only his second pro race—Forkner swept
both main events on his Monster energy/Pro Circuit/kawasaki kX450 to grab his first
career professional win. Savatgy, Forkner’s kawasaki teammate, made his mark at the
oakland Supercross and then grabbed another win at San Diego 2.
in 2014, Arenacross became an important stepping stone for new riders aspiring to
compete in Supercross. Promotor Feld Motor Sports introduced the ricky Carmichael
road to Supercross rule, making it mandatory for any rider not yet qualified to race
Supercross to earn a minimum of three points in the Arenacross series before being able
to race in the 250 Supercross class.
Dunlop-supported Forkner has won 39 major amateur championships in a career that
began at the age of five. With his win in greensboro, he became the second rider to
post a 1-1 sweep in the 2016 Arenacross series, and only the second road to
Supercross rookie to win an Arenacross main since Aaron Plessinger—another Team
Dunlop alumni—did it in 2014.
Savatgy turned pro in 2013 but spent his early seasons plagued by injury. he started
this season with an eighth at Anaheim, then grabbed a second at the first San Diego
round and a fourth at Anaheim 2. he scored his first pro Supercross win at oakland,
posted a third in Phoenix, and then his grabbed his second win at San Diego 2 to take
over the 250 West Supercross championship points lead.
AustiNforKNEr
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JoeYsavatGY
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DesiGNeD foR
ADveNtuRe
the All-New hiGh-peRfoRMANce DuNlop tRAilsMARt
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No MAtteR how You MeAsuRe it, this is the AGe
of ADveNtuRe. Roll iNto YouR fAvoRite suNDAY
MoRNiNG hAuNt AND chANces ARe You’ll see
ADveNtuRe biKes plAsteReD with DestiNAtioN
sticKeRs oN theiR pANNieRs pARKeD AMoNG the
spoRt biKes AND cAfé RAceRs.
Measured by sales or model proliferation, no other
pattern provides a large footprint and equalizes pressure
segment has grown like the adventure bikes, and among
distribution across the tire, improving mileage and
the many offerings you’ll find some of the most powerful
handling and promoting more even wear as the miles add
and sophisticated motorcycles available today.
up. Tread block rib angles help optimize block stiffness to
reduce tire squirm and friction-induced heat buildup, thus
Adventure bike usage is as diverse as the riders
reducing wear around the tread block edges.
themselves. Touring, commuting, weekends on winding
back roads and off-road exploring all define the segment.
like Dunlop’s high-performance Sportmax tires, the
So when Dunlop set about building the ultimate adventure
Trailsmart also employs Jointless Band (JlB) rear-tire
tire, the performance envelope had to be a broad one.
construction. JlB uses a continuously wound belt around
the tire that helps maintain a consistent contact patch,
enter the Trailsmart, the most advanced adventure tire
reduces distortion and excessive heat buildup, and
Dunlop has ever created. Designed to complement the
contributes to an enhanced highway ride and higher mileage.
weight and massive power of today’s large-displacement
adventure bikes, the Trailsmart was developed over 18
The Trailsmart also employs a new silica-fortified tread
intensive months. More than 400 tires in 52 different
compound that enhances traction in wet and dry
configurations were tested before Dunlop finalized the
conditions, promotes quick warm-up on cool days, and
design. The end result is a tire for serious adventure riders
helps reduce rolling resistance for better mileage.
who place a priority on mileage and wet and dry grip, and
who ride primarily on the street but also explore beyond
With a broad size range that includes 19- and 21-inch
the pavement’s end.
fronts and 17- and 18-inch rears, the Trailsmart covers a
huge selection of adventure bikes, from middleweights to
The Trailsmart features Dunlop’s new XgT Cross groove
the 150-horsepower big-displacement machines at the top
tread pattern. intersecting tread grooves rapidly evacuate
of the food chain.
water in wet conditions and help find traction off-road.
The grooves also aid in bump absorption, which helps the
high mileage, a smooth ride, great wet and dry grip, and
tires roll over small obstacles for greater off-road traction.
the capability to tackle off-road exploration as well, the
Trailsmart is a new-generation adventure tire for a new
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The interaction and orientation of the Cross groove tread
generation of adventure riders who want a tire that can
pattern also have significant advantages on the street. The
do it all.
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wAYNe RAiNeY’s secoND-YeAR chARM
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tAKe A close looK At the cAReeR of wAYNe RAiNeY
AND You’ll see A pAtteRN: cAll it the secoNDseAsoN ADvANtAGe. iN Just About eveRY oNe of his
secoND seAsoNs, RAiNeY MADe the MAGic hAppeN.
From the U.S. Superbike championship to the grand Prix in europe, rainey approached the second
year of a championship a little differently. if the first year was a learning experience, year two was
approached with knowledge and an unwavering focus and drive to win.
ExamplEs
in 1983 rainey won the AMA Superbike championship. it was his second full season in the series. he
won his first AMA Superbike event in 1982, but by 1983 he showed a relentless ability to pull wins from
an aging air-cooled kawasaki Superbike against a fleet of futuristic honda liquid-cooled V4 interceptors.
After a season in europe riding 250s and dabbling in grand National Dirt Track, rainey returned to the
U.S. with the American honda factory Superbike team in 1986. he won races that year, but it was in his
second season with the team that he dominated, winning his first Superbike title with honda.
rainey’s second-season success rate dipped slightly when he left Superbike to compete in the 500cc
grand Prix wars for Yamaha. his first season (1988) on the violent two-strokes was his learning year, but
the big success came in 1989 when he led the championship with barely 15 gP races under his belt,
and he might have won it if a big crash late in the season hadn’t settled it.
Though rainey won his first gP title in his third year, there’s no denying that all he’s needed in his career
is a year under his belt before the magic happens.
enter 2016—rainey’s second year as the head of the MotoAmerica national road racing championship.
if the past is any indicator, expect to see the series blossom from its foundation season.
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how Do the seRies AND teAMs
stAcK up iN 2016? schEdulE
Monster energy/graves/Yamaha Factory racing team will
At press time, nine rounds of the championship had been
enter the same riders as in 2015: now defending MotoAmerica
scheduled, starting at Circuit of the Americas (CoTA) in April
Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier and four-time AMA
and ending at New Jersey Motorsports Park in September.
Superbike Champion Josh hayes. Teammates under the tent
races at Virginia international raceway (Vir), Utah, road
and friends away from the track, their relationship is slightly
America, laguna Seca, road Atlanta and Barber Motorsports
conflicted as they are a team of rivals. Beaubier narrowly beat
Park fill the schedule between Austin and Jersey, with two
hayes to the 2015 title, and it’s clear hayes wants it back. “i’m
rounds scheduled in New Jersey. glad Cameron is my teammate again for 2016,” hayes said,
“because i’ll have that number-one plate sticking right in my
classEs face, up close and personal, all season long, and i’m gonna
MotoAmerica’s Superbike, Superstock 1000, Supersport,
take that thing back from him.” Superstock 600 and the kTM rC390 Cup will all return in
2016, with the kTM “spec” series running at every
Both riders will again race top-level Yamaha YZF-r1
MotoAmerica round other than CoTA, where MotoAmerica
Superbikes.
shares the track with MotogP. With elements like hayden versus hayes, Beaubier trying to
supErbikE
Taken at face value, the 2016 MotoAmerica Superbike class is
a rematch between the two teams and two factories that
battled it out in 2015. however there is one semi-new face in
the Superbike mix that has many paddock observers talking in
expectant tones. First the regulars: Yoshimura Suzuki, with backing from
American Suzuki, will attack the MotoAmerica championship
with the tried-and-true gSX-r1000 ridden by veteran rider
roger lee hayden and upstart Jake lewis. This will mark
Yoshimura’s 40th season of American Superbike racing,
defend his first Superbike title and lewis pushing to become
the next big thing, there’s already plenty of drama in the
MotoAmerica Superbike class.
Then there’s Jake gagne.
in 2015, gagne dominated the MotoAmerica Superstock 1000
Championship with seven poles and 13 wins. his Superstock
r1 was able to battle hard with the Superbikes, and many
wondered just where gagne would finish if he were on a
full Superbike. though they will have to battle with a bike that’s overdue for
an update.
Wonder no more. in 2016 the Broaster
Chicken/roadrace Factory/Yamaha effort—led by ex-racer
Yoshimura VP Don Sakakura says, “i have to admit i look back
and American Supercamp owner Danny Walker—will step up
with some amazement when i realize we’re celebrating the
to the Superbike class with gagne as rider. 40th anniversary, and the fact that Yoshimura has been part of
the series since its founding. The years sort of creep up on
Call him either a throwback or an anomaly, but there are well-
you. i guess it’s true when they say time flies when you’re
respected people who feel that gagne is the most talented
having fun.
American rider racing today. his skill set isn’t just limited to
Superbike racing—last year he qualified for a national outdoor
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This season will be special because of the 40th anniversary,
motocross race, and he also raced the las Vegas
and we’re proud to have been a part of that rich history
Superprestigio event. if he isn’t the most talented U.S.
and tradition.”
road racer today then he must be one of the most versatile.
on the other side of the paddock sits Suzuki’s rival in the
Wayne rainey and MotoAmerica’s second season of
Superbike class, Yamaha. like Suzuki, the
Superbike racing will be exciting to watch. Stay tuned.
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Russell
Rules
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in 2015, kailub russell demonstrated how a dirt bike should
standings, so it didn’t take much arm-twisting for him to
be ridden. he also went a long way toward proving he’s the
decide to ride through the pain in hopes of winning a third
best off-road racer in the country by claiming the AMA
straight gNCC title.
National enduro, Full gas Sprint enduro and grand National
Cross Country (gNCC) titles all in the same year. And had it
With his knee bandaged and the pain dulled by an injection,
not been for an event-ending knee injury at the international
russell was able to put up with the discomfort and come
Six Days enduro in Slovakia, russell might have led his U.S.
away with a fourth-place finish at Unadilla, giving him more
teammates to an iSDe team victory as well.
than enough points to wrap up the title three races early.
russell came into the 2015 series as the pre-season favorite in
“i couldn’t have lived with myself if i didn’t at least give it a
the gNCC, having won the series title the previous two years.
try,” russell said about riding with the injury.
And the FMF/kTM rider started the season with five
consecutive wins. however, the National enduro series was a
You have to go back a long ways to find a rider who has
foreign format to him in comparison, and russell was getting
dominated the gNCC series like russell has. And even though
his first taste of it. his father, Jeff, had won the National enduro
he missed the final three rounds, he still finished the series
title back in 1991, but the younger russell grew up racing
with a 47-point margin over second place in the title chase.
gNCCs and that was where he was most comfortable. The
enduro series features much tighter terrain where a rider sees
in the National enduro series, however, it took a few races
the trail for the first time, unlike a gNCC where a rider
before russell actually got his “enduro legs” under him, finally
competes over the same course for five to seven laps.
winning his first national after three straight runner-up finishes.
The win came at a wet and rocky event in Missouri.
russell’s knee injury at Six Days, a torn ACl, came in
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September, which is relatively late in the season, so there were
Although russell was new to the series and had spent the first
only four rounds remaining on the gNCC schedule. Thanks to
few races adjusting to the new format, he was fast and sharp
a strong start, one that saw him win eight of the first nine
on the slippery Missouri single-track, and he set himself up
rounds, russell held a comfortable lead in the gNCC point
nicely by winning the opening test of the day by 19 seconds
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iN 2015, KAilub Russell DeMoNstRAteD
how A DiRt biKe shoulD be RiDDeN.
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over Grant Baylor, and then added wins in the second,
compensate for my knee then I started to ride a lot better,”
fourth and fifth tests for good measure.
said Russell.
In the end, Russell, who was racing the new KTM 250 SX-
With the finish, Russell and his father became the first
F Factory Edition for the first time, took the overall win by
father/son duo to win a National Enduro title.
1 minute and 37 seconds over Baylor, with defending
series champ Andrew DeLong finishing third another
“It’s pretty cool to win the same title that my dad won a
minute and five seconds back.
long time ago,” said Russell. “I was pretty much against
riding this series at the start of the year because I didn’t
“I got off to a good start and won the first test, but I had
think I would enjoy it, but I’ve started enjoying it, and I
done that at all of the nationals up to that point, and I was
think it has shown in my riding.”
still coming up short,” said Russell. “I’m always good at
the beginning of the races, but the difference in Missouri
Russell rounded out his historic season with a title in the
was I rode well all day.”
Full Gas Sprint Enduro series, where he won five of the
eight rounds over the summer—more or less icing on the
Russell won again in Michigan, which gave him a healthy
cake for Russell’s year.
points lead heading into the penultimate round in Indiana.
Russell needed only to finish ahead of title rivals Russell
Russell had knee surgery October 15 and immediately
Bobbitt, Grant Baylor and Steward Baylor to claim the
began the long process of rehabbing his knee for the
championship. Again, Russell was faced with riding with
2016 season. Since the National Enduro series started
his injured knee. But like he did at Unadilla, he did what he
in February, Russell thought that would be pushing it,
needed to do, finishing the event nearly a minute ahead of
but he says he’ll be 100 percent by the opening round
Baylor for a third. Just enough to clinch the title.
of the GNCC series in March where he has his sights
set on a fourth GNCC title. Barring another injury,
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“That was a tough day for me because I hadn’t ridden in a
it should be another banner year for the rider from
week, due to my knee, but once I figured out how to
West Virginia.
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biKes of the stARs
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RYANDUNGEY’s
ReD bull KtM 450 sX-f
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coopeRwEbb’s
YAMAlube/stAR RAciNG/YAMAhA YZ250f
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JoeYsavatGY’s
MoNsteR eNeRGY/pRo ciRcuit/KAwAsAKi KX250f
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MitchellOldenburg’s
troy lee Designs factory reD Bull KtM 250 sX-f
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tReYcaNarD’s
teAM hoNDA hRc cRf450R
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colesEElY’s
teAM hoNDA hRc cRf450R
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chRistiANcraiG’s
Geico hoNDA cRf250R
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JAsoNaNDErsoN’s
RocKstAR eNeRGY RAciNG husqvARNA fc450
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KeNrocZEN’s
Rch/soARiNG eAGle/JiMMY JohN’s/suZuKi RM-Z450
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elitoMac’s
MoNsteR eNeRGY KAwAsAKi KX450f
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JAMesstEwart’s
YoshiMuRA suZuKi RM-Z450
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sX
upDAte
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RYANDUNGEY
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the oNlY coNstANt About supeRcRoss is
chANGe. ANY lAp, ANY RAce cAN chANGe
the couRse of the chAMpioNship.
Tracks are designed to make it as difficult as possible for
The big surprise this year has taken place in the 250 class,
the best riders in the world, and injury is a constant threat.
where a healthy Joey Savatgy—a graduate of the Team
The schedule puts riders in a different city for 18 weekends
Dunlop elite program—beat defending champ Cooper
over consecutive months, and it takes its toll on training.
Webb to win his first two career Supercross races and take
great riders can get bad starts. have an off night. get
over the championship points lead. Webb won four times,
taken out by another rider. Anything can happen, and it
and Christian Craig—who came out of retirement to race
usually does.
this year—scored an emotional first win as well. it all
changed for Savatgy in Texas. Battling with Craig for the
That’s what makes ryan Dungey’s performance this year so
lead, he went down in the whoops but managed to salvage
remarkable. having won both the Supercross and
a 10th-place finish, while Webb went on to score another
Motocross titles last year, Dungey has elevated his game in
win and take back the points lead.
2016, combining amazing consistency with even greater
speed than before. A new program with trainer Aldon Baker,
With seven rounds in the books, Dungey has a 23-point
who guided greats James Stewart, ricky Carmichael and
lead in the championship while Webb is 11 points up on
ryan Villopoto to dominating championships, has helped
Savatgy. With only two rounds remaining in the 250 West
Dungey get to the next level of fitness and focus. At press
championship, the title chase is hardly over. And with more
time, he had won four times and finished no worse than
than half the season to go in the 450 class, several riders
second, once to Anaheim 1 winner Jason Anderson and
have proven that Dungey is beatable. And with several more
twice to a resurging ken roczen, who won in Arizona and
riders—Cole Seely, eli Tomac and Trey Canard—seemingly
again in Texas.
on the verge of a victory, anything can happen.
SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
WESTERN REGIONAL 250SX CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP
Standings after seven rounds
Standings after seven rounds
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Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 166 (4 wins)
Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki – 143 (2 wins)
Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna – 131 (1 win)
Cole Seely, Sherman Oaks, Calif., Honda – 121
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 119
Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha – 112
Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM – 92
Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 85
Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., KTM – 82
Jake Weimer, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki – 73
Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha – 145 (4 wins)
Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki – 134 (2 wins)
Christian Craig, Corona, Calif., Honda – 129 (1 win)
Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha – 117
Zach Osborne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Husqvarna – 110
Jimmy DeCotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda – 99
Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM – 97
Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda – 87
Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki – 69
Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Honda – 63
chRistiANcraiG
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JoeYsavatGY
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KeNrocZEN
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coopeRwEbb
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JAsoNaNDErsoN
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colesEElY
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2016 AMA pRo flAt tRAcK
seAsoN pReview
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The AMA Pro Flat Track series has been gaining
one more year? The Pennsylvania rider, never short on
Motorsports has put a near MotogP-level motorcycle
is a reversal enough for kenny Coolbeth Jr. to win the
momentum over the last few years. With revitalized
confidence, says he’s good to go and the championship
under Smith, and the cagey rider has used the
2016 gNC championship? Zanotti racing is one of
promotion and support from AMA Pro, more riders and
is the goal. machine—based on the kawasaki 650 twin—to win
thebackbone teams of the gNC championship. Team
teams, and innovative racing machines created by
gNC mile races and challenge for the championship.
owner Dave Zanotti leaves no technological stones
veteran tuners, the series is more competitive than it’s
What of Davis Fisher? The 19-year-old Fisher from
NASA-level technology not withstanding, Smith needs
unturned in his quest for the championship. in 2015
been in years.
Warren, oregon, won the gNC2 championship in 2015
to find more success on the short tracks if he is to
Zanotti racing developed an Xr750 engine using a
after several seasons of narrowly missing out on the
take the title. set of “reverse” cylinders and heads (the carburetors
The 2016 season brings a fresh batch of questions. Can
support class title. Now what? he will move up to the
Jared Mees score another grand National
gNC1 class in 2016 and has the eyes of many on him.
Can Brad Baker stay healthy for the 2016 season?
front. Veteran rider Coolbeth Jr. is one of the most
Championship (gNC) title? The multi-time AMA Pro Flat
he’s young, talented and a winner. is he the future of
harley-Davidson factory rider Baker was a front-
popular riders on the gNC tour, and he will again pilot
Track champion goes into 2016 on the same team
AMA Pro Flat Track racing?
runner for the 2015 gNC title on his Xr750, but a
the always interesting Zanotti racing Xr750. (rogers racing harley-Davidson), with the same tuner
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and exhaust transposed) to lead their push to the
broken leg (broken by a large rock kicked up by a
(kenny Tolbert) and plenty of the same momentum he
is 2016 the season that Bryan Smith takes one of the
rival) disrupted his season. Baker is training hard in
Who else will push to the front in 2016? riders like
enjoyed in 2015. Can his harley-Davidson Xr750
most technologically advanced motorcycles racing
the pre-season and wants a clean run at the title
Sammy halbert, Briar Bauman and henry Wiles hope to
machines be versatile enough to defeat his rivals for
anywhere in the world to the gNC title? howerton
in 2016. be the dark horses who have a breakout year in 2016. 77
the wAsp
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“the wAsp is cAuGht soMewheRe betweeN AN ’80’s
supeRbiKe AND A flAt tRAcKeR, with A NoD to oNe of
ouR All-tiMe heRoes KeNNY RobeRts.”
RolAND sANDs
Yamaha’s “Faster Son” concept is all about the creation of custom machines that pay homage to the company’s heritage. Several builders have
crafted legacy bikes from Yamaha’s current stable, and it’s believed that
Yamaha is taking a hard look at these creations with an eye toward future
production.
The latest creation comes from prolific builder roland Sands. Dubbed the
rSD Wasp, the bike began life as an FZ-09 and morphed into a tribute to
kenny roberts’ bumble bee–colored racing machines.
Says Sands, “The Wasp is caught somewhere between an ’80’s Superbike
and a flat tracker, with a nod to one of our all-time heroes kenny roberts.”
Combining history with Yamaha’s latest technology and Sands’ special vision, the Wasp features a bespoke-aluminum fuel tank, tail section, intake
scoops, radiator covers, front number plate and front mudguard fender.
There are also prototype rSD components, including the timing cover,
rearsets, rear brake reservoir, case guards, chain guard, timing plug, axle
sliders and fuel cap.
The Wasp also gets rSD Morris forged aluminum wheels, while the exhaust soundtrack is courtesy of a Two Brothers racing stainless steel
header with an rSD Slant muffler. renthal sprockets replace oeM Yamaha
fare, and the front brake discs are also from the rSD catalog, gripped
by Performance Machine radial brake calipers, an rSD radial brake master
cylinder and Spiegler brake lines. The custom leather seat is from the
Bitchin Seat Company. An rSD cable clutch perch and Barnett custom
clutch cable keep the gears in check, and rSD Nostalgia handlebar risers,
a renthal Fatbar handlebar and rSD traction grips make up the new controls. An Öhlins front fork cartridge kit and Öhlins rear shock keep the ride
tight, while Samco cooling lines add a race-level touch of detail.
Will Yamaha consider putting something akin to the Wasp into production?
We hope so.
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will YAMAhA coNsiDeR puttiNG soMethiNG AKiN
to the wAsp iNto pRoDuctioN? we hope so.
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the
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oRANGe
cRush
kTM’s success in racing is the stuff of legends. Point to any
(and the first Mexican national to win it) will take on all
championship where riders run knobby tires, and chances
comers again in 2016 as well as compete in the WorCS
are there’s a kTM rider at the top of the podium.
championship; Taylor robert —2012 WorCS champ, twotime enduro X Silver medalist, and top American at the 2013
For 2016, the Dunlop-sponsored kTM Factory off-road team
iSDe—will compete in endurocross this year; gary Sutherlin
is a seven-rider powerhouse that will tackle all the U.S.
has packed his plate with title runs at the 2016 hare
off-road championships.
Scrambles, WorCS, hare & hound and endurocross
championships; and kailub russell, who made history in
russell Bobbitt—four-time National enduro champ—will try
2015 by winning both the gNCC and National enduro titles—
to wrestle the number-one plate from his teammate kailub
will attempt to take both championships again in 2016.
russell; kaci Martinez will take up the gNCC chase; Cody
Webb—two-time endurocross champ—will defend his title
Can kTM continue its amazing dominance in 2016? Don’t
this year; ivan ramirez—2015 National hare & hound champ
bet against them.
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KAciMartiNEZ
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