2006
Kawasaki finally gets in the four-stroke 450 game. The KX450F is well regarded, and for a first-year effort the bike is very successful. It earns an arenacross championship, supercross and National wins and a variety of amateur honors. In addition, it nails the national Hare & Hound championship and takes young Ricky Dietrick to the WORCS No. 1 plate. Yamaha also had big news in new bikes for 2006. The aluminum chassis that debuted on the two-strokes in 2005 makes its way to the four-strokes. Most importantly, the YZ450F is finally fun and easy to ride. All of the previous YZ450Fs have been too gnarly for the mainstream rider. With a new look, chassis and engine tune, the Yamahas sell very well. It doesn't hurt that limited-edition models with yellow and black plastic remind riders of Yamaha's Broc Glover, Bob Hannah and Rick Burgett glory days. In motocross, Stewart keeps Carmichael honest, but RC still takes home all the major titles. Former World MX2 champ Ben Townley is the latest import to the Pro Circuit squad, but injuries keep him from racing much. Brand-new pro Ryan Villopoto makes the outdoor MX championships an all-freckled redhead sweep. Langston takes the West Lites crown. In doing so he racks up every major 125cc/Lites championship in the world. He has a 125cc World MX crown, the AMA MX championship and both U.S. Lites titles. Yamaha signs him for 2007 to ride a 450 full time. Russell Bobbitt becomes the first new face atop the national enduro pile in decades. Pete Peterson becomes DR's web producer but later takes over when Steahly returns to the family flywheel biz.
Mike Lafferty | 
Ryan Orr | 
Rory Sullivan |
2007
KTM drops the only new MX-model bomb with an all-new 450 (with a 505 variant) motocrosser that is electric start only. Even with the electric start, the KTM is as light or lighter than the kickstart bikes. The technology used to lighten the 450 trickles to other models through shared components and the entire line is extremely light. After battling head to head and losing races to James Stewart in 2006, Carmichael is expected to have a typical farewell tour. In the SX series Stewart gives RC fits, but in the outdoors Carmichael goes on to earn his 150th AMA win. Even though he is leading the series despite missing races, RC sticks to his plans for a limited schedule. Villopoto and Ben Townley win the SX Lites championships, then take the rivalry outdoors. The two go toe-to-toe and remained tied in points for much of the season. Villopoto takes the Lites title. Grant Langston and Yamaha take the MX title.