Welcome to the Weekly Dirt, the place to go each week to catch up on the world of off-road. This week we’ve got a special mix of off-road tid-bits, including some international competitions; so let’s get to it!
Germany Wins Motocross des Nations
The German team made history by winning their first MXoN. Photo by Jeff Kardas, kardyphoto.com.
Ryan Dungey blasts down a Lommel straightaway. Photo by Jeff Kardas, kardyphoto.com.
Blake Baggett went 23-14 in his two motos. Photo by Jeff Kardas, kardyphoto.com.
The German team of Ken Roczen, Max Nagl, and Marcus Schiffer got into a good points position after the first of three motos and held onto that advantage until the final points where tallied. In the race-for-your-country event, where the worst of each team’s six moto scores is thrown out, Germany’s 24 points (MX1 & MX2, 3rd and 5th, MX2 & Open 4th and 7th, and MX1 & Open, 6th and 14th) won over second place Team Belgium’s 29 points and Team USA’s podium-earning 39. It was Germany’s first win ever at the event, and at just the right time as Germany was already set to host next year’s race.
Almost as big as the news of Germany winning, it was a surprise that after seven straight victories Team USA did not win. The sandy track in Lommel, Belgium (the site of Team USA’s Trophee des Nations (250cc bikes) victory in 1981) did not favor the US riders in 2012 who never seemed to be in serious contention for even a moto win.
MX1 World Champion Antonio Cairoli of Italy dominated both of his motos. In his first he just pulled away and established himself as the man to set the fast pace that day. In his second outing, the final moto of the day, and this time on the line with MX2 World Champion Jeffrey Herlings of the Netherlands, Cairoli stretched out an early lead while Herlings was way back after he and his teammate Mar de Reuver crashed in the first turn. Herlings charged through the pack and seemed clearly faster than Cairoli, but after getting close to the Italian he seemed to have trouble closing right in on him, and finished the race in second. Herlings had an impressive charge, and this followed a dominating moto win in the race just prior to his showdown moto with Cairoli.
Dungey had a mediocre day and never was a challenge for the win. He started well but when he was moving up through the pack he did it slowly. He finished the day going 7, 9, frustrating especially since he was running second in his final moto when a crash through the banners, possibly the result of Barcia getting out of shape while passing Dungey for the position, dropped him way back because after he remounted he struggled to find a safe track re-entry point.
Justin Barcia, at his first MXdN, and riding a Honda 450 in the Open class, showed a lot of speed. In his first moto (MX2 and Open) he collided with Ken de Dycker while dicing for second. Barcia went down, but quickly got going… though not at the same pace. After dropping back a few positions he pulled off with a locked-up front wheel. He pitted and got rolling to finish the moto, but well back in 14th position. His second race went better, charging up into second past Dungey. He held the position until Herlings passed on his pursuit of Cairoli. Barcia finished the moto in third, the only Team USA rider to podium in any of the motos.
Blake Baggett didn’t have one of his incredible charge-to-the-front days. He had is work cut out for him when he started the first moto in 23rd. He charged, but the bad start and a crash left him in 14th. He improved in his second moto and finshed in sixth.
Congratulations to Team Germany for their win. It will be a very exciting race again next year when the Germans host the race and attempt to defend their title.
For more on the race and three galleries of photos, check out the links below to our sister site, motocross.com. —Pete Peterson
Photo gallery pre-event
http://www.motocross.com/features/motocross-of-nations-pre-race-gallery/
Qualifying results and photos
http://www.motocross.com/features/motocross-of-nations-2012-practice-gallery/
Race photos and race results
http://www.motocross.com/features/team-usa-defeated-at-nations/
Results:
Race 1 top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 34:26.888; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:21.182; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:28.933; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:38.741; 5. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), +0:40.180; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +1:05.036; 7. Ryan Dungey (USA, KTM), +1:11.286; 8. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:38.040; 9. Marc de Reuver (NED, Kawasaki), +1:42.851; 10. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +1:44.824;
Race 2 top ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:41.619; 2. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), +0:58.141; 3. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +1:00.358; 4. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), +1:48.464; 5. Davide Guarneri (ITA, KTM), +2:27.689; 6. Blake Baggett (USA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 7. Marcus Schiffer (GER, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 8. Todd Waters (AUS, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 9. Max Anstie (GBR, Honda), -1 lap(s); 10. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s);
Race 3 top ten: 1. Cairoli, Antonio (ITA, KTM), 35:00.015; 2. Herlings, Jeffrey (NED,KTM), 3.037; 3. Barcia, Justin (USA, HON), 57.823; 4. Leok, Tanel (EST, SUZ), 1:23.257; 5. De Dycker, Ken (BEL, KTM), 1:29.784; 6. Nagl, Maximilian (GER, KTM), 1:37.774; 7. Desalle, Clement (BEL, SUZ), 1:49.089; 8. Paulin, Gautier (FRA, KAW), 1:56.647; 9. Dungey, Ryan (USA, KTM), 2:00.599; 10. Goncalves, Rui (POR, HON), 2:08.575.
Team Points
1. Germany -25
2. Belgium – 29
3. USA – 39
4. The Netherlands – 44
5. Italy – 45
6. France – 47
7. Estonia – 56
8. Great Britain – 56
9. Portugal – 80
10. Australia – 83
11. Russia – 93
12. Sweden – 103
13. Ireland – 106
14. Latvia – 120
15. New Zealand – 127
16. Slovenia – 134
France Dominates ISDE, U.S. Junior Trophy Team Third
If you haven’t already seen it, be sure to check out dirtrider.com for all the updates on last week’s International Six Days Enduro in Saxony, Germany. After suffering a few key injuries and getting off to a slow start, the American Trophy Teams came on strong at the end of the week, with the World Trophy Team, headed by high-finisher Taylor Robert, finishing fourth, beating Finland by a single second. Our Junior Trophy Team managed a podium, turning in a solid third behind France and Great Britain, while the U.S. Women’s team was sixth, with Mandi Mastin the lone finisher after Sarah Whitmore dropped out with an injury and Rachel Gutish houred out.
Also, Jimmy Lewis says if you want to feel like you were at the ISDE, maybe even what it feels like to be competing in it? Go to Destry Abbott’s Facebook Fan Page (
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Destry-Abbott/114746998547830?ref=ts) and see Germany like a Trophy Team Rider.
Feld Motor Sports® announced this week that two time Supercross Class Champion Chad Reed will race in the second annual Monster Energy Cup at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium on October 20 on his TwoTwo Motorsports Honda. This will be the first time that Reed will race in the Monster Energy Cup.
Reed’s debut at the Monster Energy Cup will mark his first race back since suffering season ending injuries during the Arlington stop of The Monster Energy, AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship.
“On race day, it will have been eight-plus months since I have raced,” said Reed. “It’s been a lot of work with rehab, but I’m excited to get back to racing and to have my fitness at 100%. If I win a million bucks in Vegas – I mean – you just add it to the collection; it would be better in my bank account than anyone else’s.”—Shan Moore
New Klim Gear
If you are into Adventure gear, then start saving up those dollars or making a wish with Santa because KLiM is set to introduce two new sets of gear at the INTERMONT show in Germany. Teaming up with D3O, makers of protective padding, KLiM will show a new Adventure Rally Suit and an all-new Adventure Air suit at the show running October 3-7.
Dakar 2013
Some people are already thinking about the Dakar, especially the organizers as they are out confirming the route and making the roadbooks. From the looks of things they have some dunes in the plans.
Important November Elections
As much as we all hate politics, getting out and voting this November 6th is a great way to stand up for your right to ride. And if you can afford to do something about, either with time or money, get involved.
Here’s a letter from TPAC’s founder, Don Amador, on some of the key targeted elections around the country.
With just 39 days until Election Day, TPAC is proud to announce Tommy Thompson for Senate (WI) as our 7th targeted key Senate race. Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson is in a very tight race against Tammy Baldwin.
Thompson understands OHV and OSV issues and supports responsible motorized recreation on public and private lands. On the other hand, Baldwin is anti-OHV and supports the excessive regulatory agenda of far-left environmental groups. She is not main stream on our issues.
John Koster for Congress (WA CD-1) is our 4th key targeted House race. Koster is in a dead heat with Suzan DelBene. Koster has been endorsed by the Northwest Motorcycle Association. On the other side of the campaign trail, DelBene proudly lists endorsements from the League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club.
Here is our list of TPAC’s targeted key races as of September 28, 2012
U.S. Senate
Tommy Thompson (WI-Senate)
Dean Heller (NV – Senate)
Denny Rehberg (MT-Senate)
George Allen (VA- Senate)
Jeff Flake (AZ – Senate)
Heather Wilson (NM-Senate)
Rick Berg (ND-Senate)
U.S. House of Representatives
John Koster (WA CD-1)
Dan Lungren (CA CD-7)
Chip Cravaack (MN CD-8)
Ricky Gill (CA CD-9)
After talking with a pro-access Latino political leader in New Mexico yesterday, TPAC is also sending additional support today to Heather Wilson for Senate. TPAC believes this is one of the most critical senate races in the country. It pits a pro-access candidate against a political colleague of Dave Foreman, Founder of Earth First!
TPAC is counting on your continued support and new support from trail interests who have never really been engaged the never ending political struggle to preserve and protect responsible recreational access to public lands.
Donate $10 – $5000 dollars if you want to be part of TPAC’s national strategy to elect a pro-trail majority to the U.S. Senate and keep our pro-access majority in the House.
Hey TPAC, I want to do my part with this donation
http://www.thetrailpac.com/donate.html
TPAC is encouraging you to stay strong and don’t let the current “polling debate” discourage you from fighting for your access rights via the political process.
Yours for more trail access,
Don Amador, Founder
The Trail PAC
www.thetrailpac.com
Race Tech Suspension Seminars: Next Generation Suspension Explained
If you ever wanted to understand the inner-workings of suspension, there is a place to go and learn in. RT offers classes to teach you the skills you need to be a suspension tech.
With loads of new technology to talk about, the upcoming Race Tech Technical Edge Suspension Seminars are a must-attend event for anyone working with suspension. Race Tech will take an indepth look at all the new trends in suspension including:
Pneumatic Spring Fork (PSF or “air forks”)
Separate Function Fork (SFF)
Big Piston Forks (Found in many street and minibike applications)
Many new shocks designs
Race Tech will diagnose how these suspension systems work, and show you the do’s and don’ts while servicing this next generation of suspension.
Classes:
October 6-7th – Suspension Theory: Learn the why behind the what. The facts behind how suspension works.
October 8-9th – Shop Skills: How to properly service suspension and valving.
October 10th – Kinelogix: Using data acquisition
October 11-12th – Advanced: A continuation of the Theory course, with more practical solutions and advanced applications.
Check out www.racetech.com for more info. —Jimmy Lewis
Johnny Campbell & JCR/Honda release 2013 DAKAR plans and Honda unveils CRF450 Rally bike
“My participation in the DAKAR rally over the past few years has been an amazing experience. I have been working very hard to bring the enthusiasm and attention of the USA to this prestigious global event. I am excited to be part of Honda’s official DAKAR race team and committed to it’s success. My role will be to provide consultant, development, rider and mechanical services as needed to the project. Our first race will be a shakedown for the team and bike at the Morocco Rally, beginning in just a few short weeks.” – Johnny Campbell
Honda has unveiled its CRF450 Rally model at the 2012 International Motorcycle, Scooter and Bike Fair in Cologne, Germany. The new machine will compete in the motorcycle class in the 2013 Dakar Rally to be held next January.
From 1981, Honda competed nine times in the forerunner of the current Dakar Rally, the Paris-Dakar Rally. Cyril Neveu from France rode Honda to its first victory in 1982 in the race’s fourth year and, from 1986 to 1989, Honda won four consecutive titles for an overall record of five victories in nine years.
Honda will compete in the forthcoming Dakar Rally, the world’s toughest race, with the aim of putting the fuel efficiency and endurance technology developed for its commercial vehicles to new challenges and, in turn, use the technology acquired from the race in commercial applications.
The CRF450 Rally, based on Honda’s commercial CRF450X enduro racing model, is fitted with Honda’s Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI*) electronic fuel injection system to ensure fuel efficiency and durability. Honda will be aiming for its first rally victory with a model based on a production machine.
Johnny Campbell (USA), an 11-time US Baja 1000 champion, will join the four riders already announced for Honda’s 2013 Dakar challenge – Helder Rodrigues (Portugal), Felipe Zanol (Brazil), Sam Sunderland (United Kingdom) and Javier Pizzolito (Argentina) – to complete the five-man Honda team.
The CRF450 Rally model currently under development has already undergone testing in Japan and will be ridden in its first race at the Morocco Rally 2012 from 14 October. The five riders set to compete in the Dakar Rally will ride the Morocco Rally mainly to gather data, identify any problems with the machine under race conditions, and pinpoint any operational issues.
Follow JCR/Honda on Facebook www.Facebook.com/JCRHonda
Follow JCR/Honda on Twitter www.Twitter.com/JCRHonda
Follow JCR/Honda on Instagram @JCRHonda —Adam Booth
That’s all for this week, check back this time next week for more scoop from the world of off-road.
