This week, the DR staff is scattered across the country celebrating the holidays and wolfing down calories. The office is officially closed, but there are still some good tidbits of info floating around out there…
Photo by Nick Cade
If you’re looking for some good holiday YouTube viewing, check this out: The folks at Troy Lee Designs just sent an epic video of Matt Wadsworth, a blind musician, learning how to jump a motorcycle for a World Record attempt. The documentary is split into two parts:
Part 1
Part 2
As TLD’s Sheri Ridenour explains: “The beginning of Part 2 is all about his background and life in England. There’s riding footage very close to the end of the video at @ 11 minute mark.You gotta see the last few seconds of the whole thing…. @ 12 minute mark. Matt’s has his biggest crash to date – he was OK afterwards … thanks to his protective wear.Of course, the main topic of conversation around the table in moto fans’ homes this week centered on the upcoming AMA Supercross season. There’s going to be no shortage of talent in both the 250F and 450 classes as nearly all of the heavy-hitters are healthy and ready to do battle. Unfortunately, a few big names are on the mend, most notably Trey Canard and-as of Christmas day-Ken Roczen, who broke his arm while practicing at the KTM test track in Corona, CA. Luckily, Roczen is expected to make a full and speedy recovery in time for the commencement of the 2012 Supercross Lites East Championship Series.
Photo by Drew Ruiz
On the off-road front, the AmPro / FMF / Yamaha Factory Offroad Team has made some pretty significant changes heading into the upcoming 2012 race season. Over the past several years, the team has piloted riders in both the Pro 450cc Class and the Pro 250cc Class. For 2012, the team will be represented exclusively by two 450cc Pro Class riders: 2011 OMA National Champion Paul Whibley and 2011 GNCC XC2 Class Runner-Up Jordan Ashburn. Team owner Randy Hawkins explains: “We had to make some tough decisions heading into the new season,” said Hawkins. “The choice to pilot only two Pro 450cc Riders just seemed to be the right one. Paul and Jordan work excellent together I and honestly believe that they will push each other to be the best!” From what we saw of both riders at the Kenda Tennessee Knockout Hard Enduro this year, this is a solid choice!
The boys over at Fastway/ Pro Moto Billet sent over some shots of their new Adventure peg, which will be available shortly. According to their website, the new platforms have an extra-wide profile with an extremely lightweight construction, and each peg ships with full sets of 10 and 12mm pins, with serrate pins and spikes sold separately. The puppies look SHARP!-Chris Denison
Photo Courtesy Offroadchampions.com
Eastern off-roader and 2008 XC2 GNCC champion Thad DuVall got a great Christmas gift when he was signed recently by John Ross and Shenandoah Honda / Offroadchampions.com to ride the GNCC and the AMA Rekluse National Enduro series on a Honda 450 CRF. Ross, who will be heading up the team, was involved with HM Honda Zanardo’s effort during their North America EWC efforts in 2006 and 2007, and has selected a group a companies/sponsors based on quality to support the team. The program has not yet been finalized and an announcement with all sponsors will be made before the first National Enduro on January 29. “I’m excited and very thank full towards John Ross and Erik Nijkamp for this opportunity. I will start testing the Honda in the next few weeks with John Ross and other technical sponsors. I can’t wait for the first Enduro in Sumter and later on the GNCC opener in Florida”. Offroadchampions has been working with Italian based Team Jolly Racing for the last year and will be working with Duvall and Ross as well. -Shan MooreThat’s it for this week. We hope everyone had an awesome holiday, and don’t forget to watch Robbie Maddison and Levi LaVallee go huge at the Red Bull New Year No Limits event on New Year’s Eve! -Chris Denison
