In a nutshell, these two special-edition motorcycles appear to be a real value for Triumph fans. Considering the electronic suspension, along with the quickshifter and Arrow titanium slip-on exhaust, plus you get the special paint and graphics to boot, these are a bargain that can easily be overlooked if you’re not paying close attention.
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com
A planned rally in the NSW outback this May hopes to break the world record for the most Indian motorcycle riders at one event, set in the USA with 651 bikes.
Organiser Chris Keeble says they already have more than 280 registrations for the rally on Saturday, 9 May 2020, at Silverton, the site of Australia’s only museum dedicated to Mad Max 2.
Chris says the rally will not be affected by Indian Motorcyle Australia’s shock decision this month to close its company owned stores in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and seek independent dealers.
“I understand why they are doing it and there are some positives to this new model of independents,” says Chris who rides a 2017 Vintage Chief called Calamity Jane.
Chris and Calamity Jane
“Many independent dealerships are working really well such as in Tamworth and Wollongong, so it can work.
“But I’ll miss the signature dealerships — they were great to visit — and now I need to find someone to service my bike.”
She says Indian has been supportive of the rally and supplied access to their customer data base to alert owners to the event.
“They are also shouting all registered riders to a free barbecue breaky on Saturday morning put on by the Lions club,” she says.
“The company have been great to deal with. The previous management team were all supportive and from what I gather so is the new team. I’m yet to meet the new head guys.”
Breaky will be followed by a parade through the town. There are no other formal festivities organised.
Chris
Chris says the parade and rally will be the first Indian-only event in the Southern Hemisphere.
“The world record would be icing on the cake,” she says.
“We have riders from all over Australia gathering in one iconic Aussie location to meet fellow enthusiasts who share a passion for the Indian Motorcycle brand.
“This is about camaraderie and community, just as much as making and breaking records.”
Chris is welcomed by a local Silverton dog
She says Silverton, which is only 15 minutes west of Broken Hill, was chosen as an “historical Aussie backdrop” with a “good infrastructure of hotels and eateries”.
“If it isn’t on your bucket list to visit, it should be, and this event will tick a few boxes for many folk.
“Plus, it is taking traffic out to the country regions that need support for both morale and the economy. Short of doing a rain dance, country Australia and locals are very appreciative of these events.”
The event now has the sultry catch phrase of “C U N Silvo”.
Chris hopes the event will become annual.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
News 28 Jan 2020
Section: Competition
Spaniard 15th on the timesheets during both days of testing at Portimao.
Image: Supplied.
Spaniard Alvaro Bautista says it was frustrating spending additional time in the garage with an increased testing workload at Portimao, which came as a result of a wet Jerez test last week that hindered development.
Bautista made a high-profile move from Aruba.it Racing – Ducati to the newly-introduced Honda HRC squad for 2020, where teammate Leon Haslam and himself are in the early stages of developing the all-new CBR1000RR-R.
The title contender struggled to match the pace of the leaders in Portugal, finishing 15th on the timesheets during both days of testing.
“These tests have been tough for us because in Jerez we could not test much due to the bad weather,” Bautista admitted. “So we had to concentrate all the work here in Portimao, basically trying to complete four days of work in just two days. That meant we were forced to spend more time inside the garage than on track and this of course is a bit frustrating when you just want to have everything ready, put in a new tyre and go for it.
“Anyway, this is the kind of job that has to be done with a new project. I think we now have a lot of data that can be useful in developing the bike and we’ll see how the next step goes in Australia. Those tests prior to the first round will be very important.”
Bautista has one more opportunity to come to grips with the new Fireblade ahead of the season-opener, with a test due to take place at Phillip Island in the lead-up to round one on February 24-25.
Source: CycleOnline.com.au
News 28 Jan 2020
Section: Competition
Altherm JCR Yamaha rider second at the New Zealand event.
Image: Supplied.
Kirk Gibbs made a strong return to racing at Woodville’s New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix, finishing up on the podium in his first race since August last year.
Gibbs, who races on a motocross-only contract with CDR Yamaha Monster Energy in Australia, contested the Kiwi event with Altherm JCR Yamaha in the lead up to the 2020 New Zealand MX Nationals.
The South Australian recorded 2-2-1 for runner-up honours, finishing second to Hamish Harwood (KTM) as Ethan Martens (Kawasaki) locked out the podium.
“In the first moto, I didn’t get off the line very well at all and had to come from pretty much dead last,” Gibbs explained. “I actually felt really comfortable on the bike, made some good progress on the leaders and then got into second. Then I got right onto the back of first for the last lap but just ran out of time.
“I got into second [in race two], then just as I got into the lead Hamish Harwood passed me. He could turn off a few things a little bit better than me until the track started to dry out towards the end of the race, and then I got right back on him but couldn’t pass
“I sat there for a little bit but started to inch up. He made a little mistake down the back and I got through and rode it home for a win [in the final moto]. All in all, I felt very good and felt good on the bike. My starts can definitely be better and I’ve got to work on those this week and then I’ll come out swinging for round one.”
The MX2 category saw Maximus Purvis (Altherm JCR Yamaha) secure victory over Josiah Natzske (Kawasaki) and Dylan Walsh (Ben Townley Tours/Altherm JCR Yamaha).
Source: MotoOnline.com.au
The latest patent application drawings from Honda seem to indicate the Japanese company is planning an electric Fireblade.
But don’t get too excited or outraged yet!
Most traditional motorcycle manufacturers have toyed with the idea of electric motorcycles for years.
Some have produced electric scooters, mobility scooters, trials bikes and trail bikes.
However, none has yet come to the market with a full-sized electric motorcycle, except for Harley’s LiveWire.
Harley LiveWire
Honda also filed has an extraordinary number of patent applications in the past couple of years.
None of these has yet come to the market either.
Honda’s scooter airbag
We wouldn’t bet on an electric Fireblade, unless they are planning on taking over the supply of race bikes from Energica for the FIM Moto-e World Cup.
Honda’s electric plans seem more tailored to scooters, mobility scooters and small commuter bikes.
Also, the use of the Fireblade outline in the drawings could simply be artist expediency as several other patent application drawings have included Fireblade outlines.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
If you’ve ever lost your motorcycle key and don’t have a back-up, you’ll know how expensive modern keys can be to replace.
Many modern motorcycle keys now have a security code for the ignition immobiliser. It can be etched on the key itself, written down on purchase documentation or owner’s manual, stamped on a card or engraved on a metal tab attached to the key.
If you lose your keys and have the security code, some bikes have an emergency contingency for starting your bike, usually using a series of controls on the indicators or other controls.
A new key could only cost about $50. However, the security fob can cost several hundred dollars.
Harley remote key fob
But if you lose the keys and your security code, you could face thousands of dollars to get a new ignition security system and sometimes the ECU as well!
If you are buying brand new, you will get two sets of keys and/or fobs plus a pin code.
Immediately put your pin code in your phone along with your VIN (vehicle identification number) and keep a copy with your spare key at home in a safe place.
Be aware that thieves have been known to break into houses just to steal vehicle keys.
If you buy a bike second-hand, always ensure you get the back-up set of keys. If they say they lost them, be suspicious as they could be planning to visit your place and reclaim their bike in the middle of the night!
Buy your “warning” keyring now at the Motorbike Writer online shop for just $6.
Older bikes without immobilisers will have a key code on the ignition cylinder which you will have to pry out. If you can’t remove the ignition cylinder, try the seat lock, fuel tank or steering lock as they should be the same.
A locksmith should be able to replicate a key based on that code for a reasonably small fee.
If you can’t find the code or it’s rusted off, call an automotive locksmith.
They may still be able to help you based on the model details, so long as you have proof of ownership.
If you have a pre-immobiliser bike and only one key, it’s a good idea to get a spare cut from that key. Again, it’s cheap insurance.
Keep it in a safe place at home and maybe get a third key that you keep in your wallet or jacket.
Buy your “warning” keyring now at the Motorbike Writer online shop for just $6
The best way to avoid any of the above costly problems is to never lose your keys.
Many riders, including myself, forget to take their keys out of the bike when they park.
That’s because there is so much to do when you stop: Kill switch, side stand, glasses, helmet, gloves, etc. It’s easy to forget to take out your key.
Thieves have been known to steal motorcycles with the keys still in them.
It’s not only dumb to leave your keys in your bike, but also illegal in some states with fines up to more than $100. I’ve seen cops fining riders who are more than 3m from their bike with the key still in it!
So get into a routine when you get off your bike: take out the key first.
Also, put your key in exactly the same pocket of your jacket or pants every time you get off the bike. Make sure it’s a secure pocket with a zip.
Keep a spare key with your vehicle ownership records at home in a safe place. Maybe keep a third set in another place or in your wallet or jacket. Never “hide” a spare key on your bike.
Thieves are not that stupid. They will look under the seat and fenders, etc for zip-tied spare keys.
You can also buy a “tile” which goes on your keyring and pairs via Bluetooth to your phone to show you where your keys are.
They cost from about $20 to about $100. Obviously, the more you pay, the more reliable they are.
Most are made of plastic so they won’t scratch your bike. However, you can get keyrings with covers to protect your bike.
There are now more hi-tech options that will even track your bike on an app so you know where you parked it in case you forgot or it’s stolen!
But make sure it’s waterproof like the BlaqWold key tracker which costs $24.99. You can use it for a lot of other uses, as well.
As we said, thieves usually aren’t stupid and will identify these trackers and remove them, but at least you will be notified if your bike has been stolen.
Sometimes keys can get bent or damaged and won’t turn in the ignition.
A locksmith may be able to fix that or replicate the key.
But first try white graphite powder in the ignition barrel.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Toprak Razgatlioglu has proven the man to beat at the Portimao Test as the Turk topped the timesheets for Pata Yamaha. That man Jonathan Rea though and KRT were not present in Portugal, and were instead at Montmelo near Barcelona for their own test session.
“It has been so nice to get this extra day after Jerez, because we got really decent weather, the track was dry and we managed to put in a lot of laps. We were able to back-to-back some items that we were not sure about with the weight balance of the bike in Jerez. In the end we tried something on the front suspension and did some practice starts. The big positive is that I really enjoyed the track and the bike works really well here. I think it sets us up in a good frame of mind now. I feel fast and consistent and this positive test has prepared us to go to Australia, where we will start the new season. Thanks to the team for pulling out all the stops to get us a proper test day here because I know it was not in the plan. Next is the team launch where we get to be all excited about our new colours and then move on.”
Kawasaki Racing Team had their own separate test at Montmelo
“I want to say a big thank to KRT for working really hard to get us this extra test. Obviously I have not had too many chances to have dry laps this winter so I really appreciate this extra day at Montmelo. The track is fantastic. It is always exciting coming to a track for the first time. I am getting old now so there are not many tracks I have not ridden! I have really enjoyed it today and I probably learned more about the bike than in the other tests, so that is really positive for me going into Phillip Island. I really enjoyed working with the team and I cannot wait to start racing now.”
Alex Lowes
With KRT absent from Portimao it was Razgatlioglu topping the timesheets from Scott Redding by just 0.079s as the test came to a close.
“It was a good day even though, to be honest, I couldn’t find the ideal pace. On a few occasions, I found traffic on the track and when I tried the new tyres, the four almost consecutive red flags didn’t allow me to lap consistently. The result of the test is still very positive, considering that this is a circuit where I only rode once in the past and it can’t be considered the most favourable for Ducati. All things considered, we have worked very well and I am satisfied.”
Scott Redding
Michael Van Der Mark was fourth fastest, focusing on conserving tyre life, in a move likely to pay dividends at Phillip Island.
Chaz Davies completed the top five as the second Ducati, with Yamaha otherwise dominating the top five, with three of the fastest five riders.
“It’s been a busy couple of days. We were lucky because the weather helped us to carry on our work. We tried new solutions: some of them gave positive results, while on other aspects we will have to work further. The lap-times? We will return to Portugal in September and the track conditions will be completely different so the crono wasn’t our first target. In view of the first Grand Prix in Australia, I feel much more ahead of what I felt last year.”
Chaz Davies
Leon Haslam was the fastest Honda, ahead of BMW’s Tom Sykes and Eugene Laverty.
“We’ve made some good steps today and have got through a lot of the things we had down to test. We didn’t perhaps make the step that others did with the soft qualifying tyre, but all in all the lap times aren’t too bad and I was pretty happy with the race tyres. We have a lot of work ahead of us of course and we’re not yet at the stage where we’re fine-tuning the bike, as we’re still testing fundamental components. I can’t wait to get to Phillip Island now, it’s one of my favourite circuits. The test there will be very important too, and then the aim for the race weekend is to try to be competitive right from the outset.”
Leon Haslam
Both BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team riders had two bikes at their disposal, allowing Sykes and Laverty and their respective crews to evaluate more new components and different set-up configurations, working on the best possible basis set-up in time for the start of the season.
“I’m very happy with the two tests. Jerez obviously was very challenging on the weather front but we were able to utilise that and do some little fundamental things. It then was much more consistent here in Portugal and we were just able to do a lot of work with our BMW S 1000 RR. We just had to turn a bit of a blind eye to what was going on on track and focus on what we are doing. We worked really hard on different chassis set-ups, on the brakes, electronic strategies… and the list goes on. A big credit to the entire BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, the boys have worked really hard over these days. Now it’s time to go back home and get everything ready for Phillip Island and where we can focus more on performance.”
Tom Sykes
“I am really delighted and optimistic coming away from the test. The November test was a bit of a tough one as I got a few surprises when I rode the RR for the first time. The work that the guys have done since is incredible. That’s the nice thing of being involved with a factory team again: the progress is so quick and these guys are so intelligent. I give my comments but in the end my comments are only backing up what they already know. These guys understand very well how to make the bike work. The focus in Spain had been power delivery and traction control and when we arrived at Portimão, we started to play around with the chassis setting. The performance in the end was really good. So after these tests, I’m very happy, we’re in a good position.”
Eugene Laverty
Top Kawasaki performer was Xavi Fores, but that was due to the Kawasaki Racing Team testing at Montmelo, instead of at the Portimao Test.
Xavi Fores
Alvaro Bautista worked non-stop across both Sunday and Monday in order to make headway with a intense schedule and provide the engineers with as much information as possible so as to facilitate bike development work, and was 16th fastest.
“These tests have been tough for us because in Jerez we could not test much due to the bad weather. So we had to concentrate all the work here in Portimao, basically trying to complete four days of work in just two days. That meant we were forced to spend more time inside the garage than on track and this of course is a bit frustrating when you just want to have everything ready, put in a new tyre and go for it. Anyway, this is the kind of job that has to be done with a new project. I think we now have a lot of data that can be useful in developing the bike and we’ll see how the next step goes in Australia. Those tests prior to the first round will be very important.”
Alvaro Bautista
The final pre-season tests will take place at Phillip Island, the venue for the opening round in Australia, just a few days before the start of a whole new racing season.
| Pos. | Rider | Man. | Time/Gap |
| 1 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | Yamaha | 01:40.8 |
| 2 | Scott Redding | Ducati | +0.079 |
| 3 | Loris Baz | Yamaha | +0.19 |
| 4 | Michael Van Der Mark | Yamaha | +0.622 |
| 5 | Chaz Davies | Ducati | +0.795 |
| 6 | Leon Haslam | Honda | +0.851 |
| 7 | Tom Sykes | Bmw | +0.982 |
| 8 | Eugene Laverty | Bmw | +1.186 |
| 9 | Federico Caricasulo | Yamaha | +1.226 |
| 10 | Garrett Gerloff | Yamaha | +1.241 |
| 11 | Michael Rinaldi | Ducati | +1.505 |
| 12 | Leandro Mercado | Ducati | +1.658 |
| 13 | Xavi Fores | Kawasaki | +1.998 |
| 14 | Sylvain Barrier | Ducati | +2.654 |
| 15 | Pohssom Christophe | Aprilia | +2.676 |
| 16 | Alvaro Bautista | Honda | +2.755 |
| 17 | Sandro Cortese | Ducati | +3 |
Jules Cluzel leaves the Portimao test as the man to beat in the World Supersport class, closing out the test ahead of Andrea Locatelli and Steven Odendaal, although it bears mentioning it was Locatelli’s first time at Portimao.
Jules Cluzel
Steven Odendaal also worked on coming to terms with the WSSP Yamaha, while Lucas Mahias was the top non-Yamaha rider in fourth on the Kawasak Puccetti Racing machine.
Corentin Perolari made for another Yamaha in the top five on the GMT94 Yamaha, while Philipp Oettl was sixth.
Philipp Ottl
Top Honda was Hikari Okubo in seventh, having made the move from Kawasaki in 2019 to Dynavolt Honda for 2020.
| Pos | Rider | Man | Time |
| 1 | Jules Cluzel | Yamaha | 01:44.4 |
| 2 | Andrea Locatelli | Yamaha | 01:44.7 |
| 3 | Steven Odendaal | Yamaha | 01:44.8 |
| 4 | Lucas Mahias | Kawasaki | 01:44.8 |
| 5 | Corentin Perolari | Yamaha | 01:45.6 |
| 6 | Phillip Ottl | Kawasaki | 01:45.9 |
| 7 | Hikari Okubo | Honda | 01:45.9 |
| 8 | Can Oncu | Kawasaki | 01:46.3 |
| 9 | Danny Webb | Yamaha | 01:47.1 |
| 10 | Jaimie Van Sikkelerus | Yamaha | 01:47.4 |
| 11 | Patrick Hobelsberger | Honda | 01:47.5 |
had their own separate test at MontmeloJonathan worked on balance and overall set-up on his Ninja ZX-10RR machine while Alex learned not just a new track layout but also more aspects of his Ninja ZX-10RR’s character to take into the first competitive round.
Source: MCNews.com.au
News 28 Jan 2020
Section: Competition
Redding and Baz a fraction of the Turkish ace in Portugal.
Image: Supplied.
Heading to Phillip Island as the man to beat, Toprak Razgatlioglu piped Scott Redding on the final day of 2020 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) testing from Portimao.
Despite numerous incidents bringing out several red flags, nothing and nobody could stop Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha) from hitting the top of the standings in Portugal, with Yamaha’s new recruit the man to beat heading to Australia.
Beavering away frantically in the last testing day before jetting off to Phillip Island in Australia, it was Pata Yamaha who featured prominently on the final day. Toprak Razgatlioglu was on top at lunch as he worked his way towards a better front end set up, whilst also adapting his style towards the 2020 R1 Yamaha. He set quick laps on both of his bikes to finishing top overall, whilst teammate Michael van der Mark was also right up at the sharp end too, placing fourth and looking to conserve tyre life more ahead of Phillip Island.
Having led the way on day one at Portimao, Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) placed at the front again, saving his pace until the final ten minutes to initially deny Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) top spot, before being pipped himself by Turkish star Razgatlioglu. Redding focussed on tyre life and especially grip, with Portimao offering the perfect opportunity to do so ahead of the equally as fast Phillip Island, with the Brit second overall. Teammate Chaz Davies was outside of the top ten in the later afternoon, eventually ending in fifth after a late charge.
At Jerez, he was quick but Baz was a stand-out performer at Portimao, proving that the wet weather in the south of Spain was absolutely no fluke. The 26-year-old was right on the money in Portugal and continued his back-to-back testing with the 2019 and 2020 Yamahas. He was third at the end of testing, with fellow Independent Yamaha riders Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team) and his teammate Garrett Gerloff impressing in ninth and 10th respectively.
There were more positives for Team HRC, who continued their work, keeping their cards close to their chest throughout Portuguese testing. Leon Haslam once again led the charge from the Japanese manufacturer, setting a faster lap time than he managed throughout racing action at Portimao to go sixth. Alvaro Bautista was less prominent and was down in 15th place ahead of the trip to Australia in a few weeks’ time.
German manufacturer BMW were inside the top five at Portimao on the second day, with Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Eugene Laverty (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) enjoying plenty of positives at Portimao. Sykes was relentless and was continuing to focus on set-up, whilst Laverty enjoyed an incident-free day on day two. Sykes was seventh, whilst Laverty concluded his action in eighth.
Outside of the top 10, there were plenty of positives carried forward for Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team GOELEVEN) in 11th, whilst Leandro Mercado (Motocorsa Racing) was 12th. Xavi Fores (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 13th ahead of Sylvain Barrier (Brixx Performance), whilst Sandro Cortese (Barni Racing Team) was 16th, having suffered a crash at Turn 7 this morning.
Source: CycleOnline.com.au
As tipped last week, Ducati has debuted two new Scrambler 1100 Pros that finally dispense with the ugly looping brake cable.
There are two models, the Sport having fully adjustable Öhlins suspension. (Full tech specs at the end of the article.)
Here they are in action in Miami. (We’re a bit concerned the female’s ride doesn’t have the Öhlins setup!)
1100 Sport Pro
The neater cabling on the Pros is a welcome addition as is the Icon-style short rear fender and remote mudguard/plate holder.
Current 1100 Scrambler with looping cable
That looping cable was originally designed to be reminiscent of their original 1970s Scrambler 450 with high and wide off-road bars.
1972 Ducati Scrambler 450
Now, the bars are black, narrower and shorter, with the Sport edition getting low-slung flat bars and Café Racer-style bar-end mirrors.
1100 Pro
The other major change is the twin-stacked right-side mufflers. We can see the Sport edition up close and it looks great with a brushed titanium-look finish.
Sport cans
We don’t get a close-up look at the 1100 Pro cans which seem to have an aluminium finish.
Scrambler 1100 Pro comes in two-tone “Ocean Drive” (silver with an orange pinstripe) and black steel trellis frame and rear aluminium subframe.
Scrambler 1100 Sport Pro features matt black paint with black gloss “1100” on the tank.
LCD instruments and other details, dimensions and tech secs seem to be the same as the current 1100 models.
The bikes will be available at the end of March in most markets and “very late in the year” in Australia with pricing released closer to the date.
Current 1100 Scrambler prices range from $19,790 to $22,990 for the Sport edition with Öhlins suspension.
| Engine: | Engine: 1079cc, L-Twin, Desmodromic distribution, 2 valves per cylinder, air cooled |
| Bore x stroke: | 98 x 71 mm |
| Compression: | 11:01 |
| Power: | 63kW (86hp) @ 7500rpm |
| Torque: | 88Nm (65lb ft) @ 4750rpm |
| Economy: | 5.2 l/100km |
| Emissions: | CO2 120g/km |
| Transmission: | 6-speed, wet clutch |
| Sport suspension: | Öhlins fully adjustable 48mm USD fork; Öhlins monoshock, pre-load and rebound adjustable |
| Standard suspension: | Marzocchi fully adjustable 45mm USD fork; Kayaba mono shock preload and rebound adjustable |
| Wheels: | 10-spoke alloy, 3.50″ x 18”; 5.50″ x 17” |
| Brakes: | 320mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Brembo Monobloc M4.32 callipers, 4-piston, axial pump; 245mm disc, 1-piston floating calliper; Bosch Cornering ABS |
| Wheelbase: | 1514mm (59.6in) |
| Rake/trail: | 24°.5/111mm (4.4in) |
| Total steering lock: | 33° |
| Fuel: | 15 litres (3.96 US gal) |
| Dry weight: | 189kg (417lb) |
| Wet weight: | 206kg (454lb) |
| Seat: | 810mm (31.9”) |
| Length: | 2190mm (86”) |
| Height: | 1330mm (52.4”) |
| Width: | 895mm (35.2”) |
| Wheelbase: | 1514mm (59.6”) |
| Standard equipment: | Riding Modes, Power Mode, Ducati Safety Pack (Cornering ABS + DTC), RbW, LED light-guide, LED rear light with diffusion-light, LCD instruments with gear and fuel level indications, Steel tank with interchangeable aluminium side panels, Machine-finished aluminium belt covers, Under-seat storage compartment with USB socket |
| Warranty: | 24 months unlimited mileage |
| Service and valve check: | 12,000km (7500mi)/12 months |
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop
For the full 2020 AMA Supercross Round 4 report see:
2020 AMA Supercross Round Four – Glendale
The first SX1 Main Event saw Tomac was all over Roczen by half distance, when he started to put his Kawasaki alongside the Honda. In the final laps though Roczen proved to have Tomac’s measure and pulled clear to take victory by two-seconds. Adam Cianciarulo rounded out the podium ahead of Malcolm Stewart and Jason Anderson. Aussie Chad Reed finished 18th.
450 Main Event 2 saw a restart following Justin Bogle going down so medical attention could be provided and from the re-start it was Ken Roczen taking the early advantage and stretching a lead by half distance. Cianciarulo and Tomac worked to close down the gap, with Cianciarulo going down, ending up in eighth when he remounted.
Adam Cianciarulo
Roczen was the eventual victor by seven-seconds over Tomac while Anderson rounded out the podium. Baggett got the better of Webb for fourth. Cianciarulo recovered to salvage a sixth place finish ahead of Brayton and Barcia. Chad Reed came home in 19th position.
In 450 Main Event 3 Ken Roczen once again had a five-second lead by half-race distance, this time ahead of Jason Anderson. Cianciarulo caught Webb and challenged for second, before going over the bars in the whoops, with Webb slightly caught up, allowing Tomac to slip into third. Ken Roczen was an untroubled victor, ahead of Anderson and Tomac.
Ken Roczen thus goes 1-1-1 for the overall victory ahead of Tomac and Anderson, the German extending his championship lead to eight points over Tomac.
“I can’t believe we won all three main events! I think it’s the focus that we bring. Between my team and especially my mechanic, we just have a good regimen going into all the races. Every time we go down there for a gate drop, I just want to put maximum focus, put myself in a good position and make life a lot easier—and safer as well. We had some good battles with Eli [Tomac] in the first one, but I was stoked to pull it off. I got a decent start in the second one, and then we had to do a restart unfortunately. I grabbed that holeshot and rode a super-solid race and won. The first start for race three was not good, and me and Tomac were battling in like eighth or something. Then we had another restart, and I pulled the holeshot there and just rode a super-solid race. I had a good time tonight, and I’m really happy with how the team has been excelling and making changes to the bike. We’ve been working really well together, and the team spirit is high right now. Obviously, I’m beyond stoked and want to enjoy tonight and tomorrow, but then get back to work and keep 100% focus.”
Ken Roczen piling the pressure on Zach Osborne
“These Triple Crown races are already crazy and then to add the two red flags, there was just a lot going on. We technically had five starts tonight and I didn’t exactly help myself on those, but I was able to make my way to the front and remain consistent with my finishes. Consistency really was the key tonight and the team worked their tails off to help me finish up on the podium. We still have some work to do but overall, we had a successful night and I’m glad we’re close in the point standings.”
“All-in-all, I had a great night. I keep getting better as the season goes on, I feel like I keep racing better and better. It’s been a good night. The team is working hard and we’re ready to start charging and make some headway.”
“It was a good day. It’s kind of crazy, we had a bunch of red flags so we ended up with a lot of starts tonight. I feel like I finally figured out my starts by the end and I was up front and able to run with the lead group but I just didn’t quite have it tonight. It was a good turnaround from the first Main Event but we’ve still got some stuff to work on and we’ll keep plugging away and try to improve this week before heading into Oakland.”
“It was a difficult day right off the bat. The track changed as the night went on and I struggled with turning a little bit and in the whoops, but it was the starts that really hurt me. I had to fight a lot tonight to get up to where I was able to finish, but with such short races like this, it’s difficult. The track was very one-lined, and it was very difficult to pass. Triple crowns are gnarly. Everyone’s so fast. If you don’t get a good start it’s just difficult to put yourself in a good position. There were guys flying around everywhere tonight and crashing, so I’m glad to be getting out of here healthy. I’m a smarter, more mature rider than I have been in the past, so I’ll take what I can get tonight like I did last week. It’s only round four. We’re still in a decent spot and just need to keep plugging away.”
“The night went pretty good, but I had a lot of bad starts for some reason. I really struggled with track position at the beginning of the race, and I came from the back pretty much all three races. I’m a little disappointed in that because I felt like with my lap times, a better track position could have given me a top-five finish. But to end up sixth is nothing to hang our heads for at all. It was a positive night, awesome to see Kenny get the win, and the team’s just jelling really well right now; everyone’s doing an amazing job, and I keep getting better and better every weekend. I hope to keep this momentum rolling and be in the top five next week.”
| Pos. | Rider | M1 | M2 | M3 | Overall |
| 1 | Ken Roczen | 1 | 1 | 1 | 26 |
| 2 | Eli Tomac | 2 | 2 | 3 | 23 |
| 3 | Jason Anderson | 5 | 3 | 2 | 21 |
| 4 | Cooper Webb | 8 | 5 | 4 | 19 |
| 5 | Justin Barcia | 6 | 8 | 7 | 18 |
| 6 | Justin Brayton | 7 | 7 | 9 | 17 |
| 7 | Malcolm Stewart | 4 | 14 | 6 | 16 |
| 8 | Adam Cianciarulo | 3 | 6 | 17 | 15 |
| 9 | Aaron Plessinger | 11 | 9 | 8 | 14 |
| 10 | Blake Baggett | 12 | 4 | 14 | 13 |
| 11 | Martin Davalos | 10 | 16 | 5 | 12 |
| 12 | Justin Hill | 9 | 13 | 10 | 11 |
| 13 | Dean Wilson | 16 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
| 14 | Vince Friese | 13 | 12 | 12 | 9 |
| 15 | Tyler Bowers | 15 | 15 | 13 | 8 |
| 16 | Ryan Breece | 19 | 18 | 15 | 7 |
| 17 | Chris Blose | 17 | 17 | 18 | 6 |
| 18 | Zach Osborne | 22 | 11 | 22 | 5 |
| 19 | Alex Ray | 20 | 20 | 16 | 4 |
| 20 | Chad Reed | 18 | 19 | 19 | 3 |
| 21 | Justin Bogle | 14 | 22 | 21 | 2 |
| 22 | Jerry Robin | 21 | 21 | 20 | 1 |
| Pos | Rider | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total |
| 1 | Ken Roczen | 17 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 92 |
| 2 | Eli Tomac | 16 | 19 | 26 | 23 | 84 |
| 3 | Justin Barcia | 26 | 23 | 14 | 18 | 81 |
| 4 | Jason Anderson | 18 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 78 |
| 5 | Cooper Webb | 21 | 11 | 21 | 19 | 72 |
| 6 | Adam Cianciarulo | 23 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 71 |
| 7 | Justin Brayton | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 63 |
| 8 | Malcolm Stewart | 14 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 62 |
| 9 | Zach Osborne | 9 | 18 | 19 | 10 | 56 |
| 10 | Blake Baggett | 19 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 55 |
| 11 | Aaron Plessinger | 11 | 13 | 8 | 14 | 46 |
| 12 | Justin Hill | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 46 |
| 13 | Vince Friese | 13 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 42 |
| 14 | Dean Wilson | 10 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 42 |
| 15 | Martin Davalos | 8 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 31 |
| 16 | Justin Bogle | 7 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 24 |
| 17 | Tyler Bowers | 6 | 6 | 7 | 19 | |
| 18 | Chris Blose | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 17 |
| 19 | Chad Reed | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 15 |
| 20 | Alex Ray | 4 | 2 | 4 | 10 | |
| 21 | Ryan Breece | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | |
| 22 | Kyle Cunningham | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | |
| 23 | Benny Bloss | 6 | 1 | 7 | ||
| 24 | Kyle Chisholm | 4 | 4 | |||
| 25 | James Decotis | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 26 | Fredrik Noren | 2 | 2 | |||
| 27 | Jerry Robin | 0 | 1 | 1 |
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The opening 250 moto of this week’s triple crown format saw Championship leader Justin Cooper drop his bike on lap one and suffer damage to his levers that put him at the back of the field. Dylan Ferrandis meanwhile got the better of Michael Mosiman later in the race to move up to second place, while Austin Forkner had a commanding five-second lead with two-minutes remaining in the moto.
Fourth placed Craig chased Mosiman hard in the closing stages of the race and put a pass on the Husqvarna rider as they started the final lap, stealing third place which he then carried all the way to the flag. Forkner was the race winner over Ferrandis. Aaron Tanti was the highest finishing Aussie in ninth place while countrymen Luke Clout and Jay Wilson were 13th and 14th respectively.
In the second SX2 Main event Cooper looked on course to hold the lead, before losing the front and going down, with Drake inheriting the lead and Forkner up into second. Forkner then claimed the lead, with Ferrandis moving past Mosiman into third.
Forkner was the clear winner with a 3.5-second advantage over Ferrandis at the flag while Drake kept Mosiman at bay in order to clinch the final step on the rostrum.
Luke Clout looked set for a top ten finish but a fall on the final lap cost him that chance, he remounted to salvage 12th. Jay Wilson the top finishing Aussie in tenth while Aaron Tanti carded a 17th place finish.
The final SX2 Main Event saw Luke Clout as high as sixth but overhauled by Mosiman and Oldenburg in the closing laps to eventually finish eighth ahead of Alex Martin. Justin Cooper was the race winner from Dylan Ferrandis, while Austin Forkner was a distant third. That third place though was enough for Forkner to claim the round win over Ferrandis with Mosiman rounding out the overall podium.
Glendale 250 Podium – Forkner 1st – Ferrandis 2nd – Mosiman 3rd
“I’ve been working on the whoops with the team all week because I’ve really been struggling there, so I was ready to race tonight. I’ve had to dig myself out of a hole after last weekend and now 10 points down isn’t too bad. I’ll just keep grinding, chipping away at those points and continue to dig out of this hole. Overall, it was a great night for the entire Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team and we’re looking to keep it rolling.”
Austin Forkner
“I can’t say it was a bad day because it could’ve been much worse. I’m a little disappointed to miss the win. I feel like the bad starts cost me the win tonight, but the speed was there and I made a lot of passes. I was really stoked with my physical feeling because I was not tired at any point, my riding was really good and the bike was awesome. We just need to improve on the starts. I don’t understand why I’m struggling with the starts right now, but we are working with the team and have made some changes. Now we are three points from first place in the championship – that’s the big goal.”
Dylan Ferrandis
“I got bad starts tonight and it hurt my overall chances. We have a lot of work ahead of us, I am still not 100 per cent following my crash at A1 but I am feeling stronger and I can’t wait to throw everything I have at it. I am excited to work with Buddy.”
“It was a roller coaster night in Glendale. The track conditions were really tricky and traction was very hard to maintain. I was able to come back with the win in the third Main and hold onto the points lead. We’re going take the positives and learn from the mistakes and move on to next weekend and go for the win again.”
Justin Cooper
Luke Clout improved throughout the night, with Glendale marking his third top 10 overall in a row and he’s now moved to ninth in the championship. The team are impressed with his gutsy ride as he broke his toe on Friday during the press call.
“I am bummed I crashed on Friday and broke my toe. My foot was extremely sore, I can’t say it affected my riding but I was conscious of it. Another top 10 is good but I am not happy with these overalls. I know what I need to work on and I will continue to push forward, having Buddy will make a difference and everyone on team is working towards a common goal and I appreciate them.”
Luke Clout
| Pos | Rider | M1 | M2 | M3 | Overall |
| 1 | Austin Forkner | 1 | 1 | 3 | 26 |
| 2 | Dylan Ferrandis | 2 | 2 | 2 | 23 |
| 3 | Michael Mosiman | 4 | 4 | 6 | 21 |
| 4 | Brandon Hartranft | 5 | 6 | 4 | 19 |
| 5 | Jacob Hayes | 6 | 5 | 5 | 18 |
| 6 | Mitchell Oldenburg | 7 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| 7 | Alex Martin | 8 | 8 | 9 | 16 |
| 8 | Derek Drake | 10 | 3 | 13 | 15 |
| 9 | Justin Cooper | 17 | 9 | 1 | 14 |
| 10 | Luke Clout | 13 | 12 | 8 | 13 |
| 11 | Carson Brown | 11 | 13 | 11 | 12 |
| 12 | Robbie Wageman | 16 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
| 13 | Martin Castelo | 12 | 14 | 14 | 10 |
| 14 | Killian Auberson | 15 | 16 | 10 | 9 |
| 15 | Jay Wilson | 14 | 10 | 18 | 8 |
| 16 | Aaron Tanti | 9 | 17 | 17 | 7 |
| 17 | Christian Craig | 3 | 22 | 22 | 6 |
| 18 | Michael Leib | 19 | 15 | 15 | 5 |
| 19 | Mitchell Falk | 18 | 18 | 16 | 4 |
| 20 | Cheyenne Harmon | 20 | 19 | 19 | 3 |
| 21 | Logan Karnow | 22 | 20 | 20 | 2 |
| 22 | Ludovic Macler | 21 | 21 | 21 | 1 |
| Pos | Rider | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total |
| 1 | Justin Cooper | 26 | 23 | 23 | 14 | 86 |
| 2 | Dylan Ferrandis | 23 | 11 | 26 | 23 | 83 |
| 3 | Brandon Hartranft | 16 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 77 |
| 4 | Austin Forkner | 18 | 26 | 6 | 26 | 76 |
| 5 | Alex Martin | 13 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 66 |
| 6 | Michael Mosiman | 19 | 3 | 19 | 21 | 62 |
| 7 | Jacob Hayes | 12 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 62 |
| 8 | Mitchell Oldenburg | 7 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 55 |
| 9 | Luke Clout | 2 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 48 |
| 10 | Derek Drake | 15 | 13 | 5 | 15 | 48 |
| 11 | Jett Lawrence | 14 | 18 | 14 | 46 | |
| 12 | Carson Brown | 8 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 45 |
| 13 | Killian Auberson | 9 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 39 |
| 14 | Robbie Wageman | 10 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 35 |
| 15 | Christian Craig | 21 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 29 |
| 16 | Martin Castelo | 12 | 7 | 10 | 29 | |
| 17 | Aaron Tanti | 0 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 27 |
| 18 | Jay Wilson | 6 | 12 | 8 | 26 | |
| 19 | Michael Leib | 11 | 6 | 5 | 22 | |
| 20 | Cameron Mcadoo | 17 | 17 | |||
| 21 | Logan Karnow | 5 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 15 |
| 22 | Derek Kelley | 4 | 9 | 13 | ||
| 23 | Mitchell Falk | 1 | 7 | 4 | 12 | |
| 24 | Cheyenne Harmon | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 | |
| 25 | Ludovic Macler | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 26 | Chris Howell | 3 | 3 | |||
| 27 | Lorenzo Camporese | 0 | 2 | 2 |
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The opening round of the Internazionali d’Italia Motocross has been held in Riola Sardo, kicking off the 2020 season with strong competition across the MX1, MX2 and Supercampione classes.
Tim Gajser
In the MX1 class Tim Gajser took a commanding lead which he held to the chequered flag, with Australian Mitch Evans the runner up in his 450 debut, posting a stellar performance, with Jeremy Seewer taking third overall.
“Good first race of the year in Riola! Always enjoy racing this track. I’m feeling at home back on the 450!”
Mitch Evans
In MX2 Jago Geerts was the top performer, leading home teammate Ben Watson, while Maxime Renaux completed the podium.
The Supercampione class combined the top twenty MX1 and MX2 riders and saw Tim Gajser take the win from Jeremy Seewer, while Arminas Jasikonis completed the top three.
“Great first race weekend of the year! We finish P1 in superfinal in a dominant fashion. Great preparation for the upcoming MXGP season.”
Tim Gajser won the Supercampione
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New Zealand’s 2020 Woodville Motocross GP saw Hamish Harwood and Maximum Purvis claim the MX1 and MX2 wins respectively ahead of the kick-off of the 2020 Fox New Zealand Motocross Championship.
Maximus Purvis took the MX2 win
In the MX1 class it was Hamish Harwood battling it out with Australia’s Kirk Gibbs racing for Altherm JCR Yamaha, who was back racing for the first time since August and struggled with the slippery conditions at times.
A 2-2-1 result was enough to earn Gibbs the runner up position behind Harwood, while Ethan Martens completed the overall MX1 podium.
“In the first moto, I didn’t get off the line very well at all and had to come from pretty much dead last. I actually felt really comfortable on the bike, made some good progress on the leaders and then got into second. Then I got right onto the back of first for the last lap but just ran out of time. The track had been watered before the second race and he “struggled a little bit trying to push hard when the track was drying out. I got into second, then just as I got into the lead Hamish Harwood passed me. He could turn off a few things a little bit better than me until the track started to dry out towards the end of the race and then I got right back on him but couldn’t pass. I sat there for a little bit but started to inch up. He made a little mistake down the back and I got through and rode it home for a win. All in all, I felt very good and felt good on the bike. My starts can definitely be better and I’ve got to work on those this week and then I’ll come out swinging for round one,” Gibbs concludes.”
Kirk Gibbs
Maximus Purvis dominated in the MX2 class working his way into first position from fourth for the win, while claiming the holeshot in race two and creating a gap he held for the win. The third race saw Purvis claim third, which was enough to take the overall win from Wyatt Chase, with Josiah Natzske third overall.
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The sixth and final chance to qualify for the King of MX final will be held at Dargle on May 9-10, hosted by the Oakdale Junior Motorcycle Club, with the Dargle venue regarded by many as a true motocross track due to its natural terrain layout and heritage as a venue for premiere motocross events, including Mr Motocross, through the ’70s and ’80s.
King of MX
“I’m really excited that the Oakdale committee has gotten behind this, and we as a club can be a part of the 2020 King of MX series and, even more so, to be able to take it to Dargle. To a lot of us, Dargle represents motocross in its most pure form: rider and machine battling each other as they race across the incredible terrain. As the last qualifier for the King of MX final, the event will offer the last seven Golden Tickets for each of the 18 championship classes. We’ll be encouraging all our members to get out there, race it and have some fun – and hopefully make it through.”
“We’ve obviously been working behind the scenes to include Dargle in the 2020 King of MX calendar for some time, and, although it’s a delayed announcement, I think it’s worth the wait. Dargle is iconic in NSW. The track will lead to some great racing, and it’s a fitting way to close the qualifiers before the final. Thanks to our amazing partners, we have an enormous $62,000 prize pool this year, enabling it to be distributed across all the qualifiers, as well as continuing to reward our state champions at the final, along with our Prince, Princess, King and Queen.”
Jess Moore – King of MX
For more details on the schedule see below.
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Hot on the announcement of the King of MX Qualifier Six location, we’ve found out who will be hosting the King of MX final. The Cessnock Club has put in a massive amount of work over summer to rebuild large parts of their track, redesigning it, making huge improvements to the safety and fun factor for riders, and, best of all, they now have 40 gates. What better way to christen it than to bring the final of the biggest motocross event in Australia to the club!
King of MX
“It’s always exciting to see our clubs put massive amounts of time and money into redeveloping their venues, and the work Cessnock has done over summer puts them in a position to become a host club for the King of MX final. Finding host venues for the final is actually very difficult, simply due to the size of the event. The King of MX has become so successful in its first two years it has actually outgrown some of our venues as we need so much space for competitors and spectators. With the work Cessnock has put in over summer, they are now capable of pulling this off for us. It also means the final will be well located for a whole lot of riders who will want a qualifying spot for their place on the gates, so they better all get their entries in for our regional qualifiers in Bega, Narrabri, Wagga Wagga and Bathurst to try and find a path to their Golden Ticket. If they wait for the last couple of qualifiers at Lakes and Dargle, they may just miss out, because those two events will be huge as well.”
With all seven event venues now announced, get in quick to secure your entry, earn a Golden Ticket and join us in Cessnock. For more information on the 2020 King of MX, head to www.kingofmx.com.au.
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The Oceania regions best sidecar talent will descend on Gillman Speedway March 21 and roar into life for the 2020 FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship, with MA CEO and FIM Oceania Vice President Peter Doyle announcing the event and also opening expressions of interest until 4.45pm Thursday, February 20, 2020.
Doyle said there was a very strong supporter base of speedway sidecars in Australia and he expected the competition to see the best of the best on display.
“We have a very strong history in Australia of producing some of the best sidecar talent in the world including 11-time Australian champion Darrin Treloar and rival Warren Monson. This Australian rivalry and the best of the best in the Oceania region will make the 2020 FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship at Gillman Speedway a must see.”
The Championship is open to holders of current Motorcycling Australia Senior National Competition licence holders, and holders of an appropriate FIM International Licence, Insurance and Start Permission for their Federation.
2020 FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecars Champs to Gillman March 21
The event will be run over 20 heats and two finals with four riders in each heat and final
over four laps. Fans wanting to get along to the FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship on March 21, at Gillman Speedway, can do so when gates open at 4pm, practice at 5.30pm, and racing commences at 7.30pm.
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Two of New Zealand’s motocross superpowers have joined forces to make a 2020 Fox New Zealand Motocross Championship programme happen for top Kiwi rider Dylan Walsh.
Former international star Ben Townley will run Walsh in the four-round series through his Ben Townley Tours (BTT) business, with support from his equally-successful compatriot Josh Coppins, via his Altherm JCR Yamaha team.
Dylan Walsh to race NZ MX with Ben Townley Tours/Altherm JCR Yamaha
After his stand-out performance winning the 2019 British MX2 Championship, the collective New Zealand motocross community hoped Walsh would continue on the world stage flying the nation’s flag, who unfortunately didn’t get an opportunity to continue in the 2020 MX2 World Championship.
“When Josh asked if I’d help him out, I jumped at it to be honest. I really believe that I can help Dylan tick a few boxes and get his entire package as a racer ready, so he can tackle an international racing programme again, as soon as next year. I’m really looking forward to the challenge!”
“I rate Dylan as a top 10 rider in MXGP for 2020 but when it finally became clear that an international ride wasn’t going to eventuate for him this season, unfortunately our Altherm JCR Yamaha team structure was complete. So, Ben and I pulled together to make this deal work. Dylan is fortunate to get this help from Ben, who is a world class coach and my Altherm JCR Yamaha team riders are also able to tap into his wealth of knowledge, so it’s a great opportunity all-round.”
Walsh debuted in his new team this weekend at the Woodville NZ GP where BTT will provide the race structure for him and he competes as a satellite rider to Altherm JCR Yamaha. He will strengthen Yamaha’s programme as he races alongside Altherm JCR Yamaha’s current MX2 rider Mangakino’s Maximus Purvis. Walsh will then contest the New Zealand Motocross Championship, which begins in Balclutha on February 1.
Having signed a deal with Serco Yamaha in Australia, Walsh will go on to race across the Tasman in both the Australian Motocross and Supercross Championships in MX2, after the New Zealand season.
“I am super thankful that Josh and Ben put this programme together for me to race for Yamaha in New Zealand over the summer. I couldn’t have any two better people backing me and I’m just really excited to get it under way. I also really appreciate Ben and his family opening the door of their home for me to come and stay with them while I’m in New Zealand. Our goal is to definitely win the NZ MX2 championship and learn as much as I can from Ben and Josh, while building as a rider. Plus it’s a perfect preparation for the Australian championships.”
“It was a rough start to the New Zealand racing, although it was good to learn the bike all weekend and make changes. The best race I had was the last moto, despite having a fall. I’ve got to take the positives from it and the fact I’ve got the bike set-up a lot better for next weekend.”
Dylan Walsh
Australian Kirk Gibbs returned to the Altherm JCR Yamaha team for the second consecutive year and will be looking to repeat his 2018 MX1 win in the 2020 Fox New Zealand Motocross Championship. He joins the team’s Hamilton-based rider Kayne Lamont, who will also race in the top-tier motocross class.
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Following the cancellation of the final round of the 2019 campaign, Luc Ackermann has been crowned the FIM FreeStyle Motocross World Champion in 2019, ending a run of five years of dominance for his great rival Maikel Melero in forceful fashion.
2020 FMX podium – Filip Podmol, Luc Ackermann, Adam Jones – Image by Oliver Franke
After taking the silver medal last year, the German leapfrogged the Spaniard in the ‘Night of the Jumps’ rankings by winning all but one round this time, and with the riders’ lowest score of the season written off from their final total he effectively ended the campaign with a maximum points-haul.
Just as they had done last season, Ackermann and Melero fought fiercely throughout the year, although this time the young German had added consistency to his impressive range of skills. After spectacular victories in front of vociferous home crowds in Berlin and Munich, Ackermann endured a disastrous first ever visit for the series to Lake Zurich, Switzerland, when he crashed heavily and missed out on the final.
Impressive Australian Paterson Bowden put together a strong challenge for the win in his breakout season but Melero’s experience told in the final and a first victory of the year kept him in title contention.
The decisive ‘Night of the Jumps’ came in August in Daqing, the fifth different Chinese city to be visited by the series in the past eight years.
Luc Ackermann – Image by Oliver Franke
Whilst Bowden unfortunately could not compete due to visa issues, Ackermann returned to his best with a sensational run despite dewy ramps in the final – landing his Front Flip, Flair, 360 Nac Nac and Surfer Tsunami Flip and finishing with a Double Backflip to secure the gold medal in style.
| Pos | Rider | Nat. | Man. | Points |
| 1 | Luc ACKERMANN | GER | Husqvarna | 120 |
| 2 | Maikel MELERO | ESP | KTM | 108 |
| 3 | Paterson BOWDEN | AUS | Yamaha | 74 |
| 4 | Adam JONES | USA | Yamaha | 68 |
| 5 | Filip PODMOL | CZE | Yamaha | 61 |
| 6 | Kai HAASE | GER | Suzuki | 53 |
| 7 | Libor PODMOL | CZE | Husqvarna | 42 |
| 8 | Javier VILLEGAS | CHI | Suzuki | 41 |
| 9 | Robert ADELBERG | AUS | Yamaha | 40 |
| 10 | Hannes ACKERMANN | GER | KTM | 38 |
KTM Factory Racing will continue their association with leading Freestyle athlete Petr Pilát and will support the Czech rider for a fifteenth consecutive year for his 2020 campaign of events and appearances. The 29 year old will again benefit from latest spec two-stroke and four-stroke machinery from the factory for his training regime and calendar of international shows and competitions this season.
Pilát, who is one of the principal FMX names from the Czech Republic and is known for his style, determination and initiatives such as the Petr Pilát Junior Academy, will jump with 250 SX motorcycles and will maintain a link with KTM that began back in 2005.
Among a busy schedule, Pilát can be seen in the Arenacross series in the UK, Night of the Jumps, Masters of Dirt, Night of Freestyle, Goodwood Festival and appearances at the Austrian MotoGP round at Red Bull Ring and the MXGP Grand Prix of Czech Republic later in the summer.
“Another year of an epic association with KTM and I’m super-happy because I love the brand and the people at the factory. I’ve never had an issue with the bikes and they are perfect for what I need. 2019 wasn’t the best year for me even though I was really motivated. I had been working on two new tricks but then managed to break my foot and needed surgery. Unfortunately, I had an infection and a lot of pain. It meant another operation and four months of antibiotics, so I missed a lot of riding but managed to get back by the end of the year and finished 4th in the last round of the FIM World Championship in Bulgaria. Not a great result but after all I had been through it was a positive end. I’m fit and excited about 2020 and will start at the UK Arenacross series. Again, a big thanks to KTM and I’m really proud to be riding those orange bikes.”
Petr Pilát – Image KTM Racing
Source: MCNews.com.au
