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Mike Brown repeated as winner of the Kenda Tennessee Knockout. Photo by Shan Moore.
Cody Webb leads Mike Brown during the first “knockout” round. Photo by Shan Moore.
Mike Brown gutted out a hard-earned and exhausting win at the second annual KENDA Tennessee Knockout, beating out former national trials champ and current Endurocross star Cody Webb in a grueling, all-day shootout in the rugged terrain of middle Tennessee.
During one of the “knockout” qualifying rounds, Brown was close to being eliminated from the event when he was hopelessly stuck in one of the tougher special test sections known as the waterfall. At one point, the FMF/KTM rider had his helmet off and steam spewing from his KTM as he tried to find a way up a wet and rocky creak. He needed to finish in the top three and more importantly finish the loop in time to qualify for the main event.
With the hillsides filled with screaming fans, Brown finally found a way to get through the section and finished out the loop in a qualifying position for the finale.
Once in the finale, Brown took the lead away from Webb on the first lap of the 10-lap main event and withstood steady pressure for over thirty minutes before edging away over the last few laps to take the win.
“I thought the race was over for me when I was stuck up in that Creek and I was physically overheating” Brown said after the main event. “But then I realized that most of the other riders were also stuck in the same section so I kept pushing and pulling my bike up the ledges that were slick from the rain that hit just before the start of that third round. The main event was really tough but I managed to keep from making any big mistakes.”
The race featured riders from several different disciplines and in the end, Brown, the 2012 X Games Enduro X gold medalist took the win over fellow EnduroCross regular and former AMA Trials Champion Cody Webb. Russell Bobbitt, the multi time National Enduro Champion took third ahead of current GNCC point’s leader Paul Whibley. Nick Fahringer, another Enduro regular, rounded out the top five.
Tennessee Knockout Results
1. Mike Brown (KTM)
2. Cody Webb (Beta)
3. Russell Bobbitt (KTM)
4. Paul Whibley (Yam)
5. Nick Fahringer (Hsb)
6. Jordan Ashburn (Yam)
7. Colton Haaker (Kaw)
8. Aaron McKnight (KTM)
9. Andrew Delong (Hsq)
10. Zach Love (KTM)
Ryan Dungey claimed his ninth win of the season at Steel City. Photo by Jeff Kardas.
In the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross series, Delmont’s Steel City Raceway hosted the penultimate round of the schedule, with its annual Labor Day Weekend stop in Western Pennsylvania. Just a couple weeks removed from capturing his second career 450 Class title, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., raced to his ninth straight overall victory of the season with another impressive sweep of the motos. In the 250 Class, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac, of Cortez, Colo., captured his fourth overall win with a dominant 1-1 outing that tightened the championship heading into the final round of the season. For sure, the 250 title will go down to the wire this weekend in California, with Tomac and Baggett battling it out for the championship in what will surely be a captivating race.
For more on the Steel City race and the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Series, head on over the www.motocross.com for more.
All-new dual-purpose from Husqvarna features competitive pricing and will arrive soon in North America!
Husqvarna Motorcycles North America (HMNA) this week announced pricing for the all-new TR650 platform to the 2013 line of motorcycles. The TR650 Terra and TR650 Strada will be arriving in the North American market soon, bringing with them very competitive pricing!
MSRPs
2013 Husqvarna TR650 Terra: $6999
2013 Husqvarna TR650 Strada: $7499
The TR650 Terra is the dual-purpose member of the all-new Husqvarna duo. The Terra rolls on spoke wheels – 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear – and features red coloring – distinguishing it from its Strada counterpoint. The TR650 Terra will carry an MSRP of $6999 and will be available in American dealerships as early as late September 2012.
Not far behind the arrival of the Terra will be the TR650 Strada. The street-going Strada features black bodywork, cast aluminum wheels (19-inch front and 17-inch rear) and will come equipped with a disengageable ABS (Anti-lock Braking System). The Strada will retail for $7499 USD.
“We’re very excited to have the TR650 Terra and Strada arriving so soon,” commented HMNA Marketing Manager Corey Eastman. “The Terra and Strada will really open up the Husqvarna brand to a wider audience, since we can now offer street-legal bikes to the core off-road riders with the TE line, and also offer the TR650 for the more casual, practical outdoorsmen. The competitive pricing will also open up the appeal of the Terra and Strada – classic dual-purpose motorcycles with modern technology, fresh styling and a modest price tag are hard to resist!”
Please direct any additional questions or inquiries to HMNA National Marketing Manager Corey Eastman. Corey.Eastman@husqvarna-motorcyclesna.com
Marty Smith to Receive Edison Dye Award
Bud Feldkamp, Tom White, and the Glen Helen Staff announced this week that Marty Smith, the AMA’s first 125cc motocross champion, will receive the 16th Annual Edison Dye Motocross Lifetime Achievement Award.
In addition to being the first 125cc AMA motocross champion, Smith also won 18 AMA national events, ultimately giving him the 125cc national championships in 1974 and 1975, as well as the AMA 500cc national championship in1977. He is one of a very few riders who won national championship races in 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc categories. In addition, during his stellar career Marty won Trans AMA races as well as the US Grand Prix of Motocross, 125cc, in 1975 and 1976.
Marty won all his championships as part of the Honda Factory Team. Marty was known for his great looks, his flowing locks, and his “rock star” status with the masses of young motocross fans throughout the world! Marty was indeed a teen icon, very much responsible for the tremendous increase in popularity of the sport of motocross in the 1970s!
A full biography of Marty will be included in the 28th Annual MTA World Veteran Motocross Championships program, available at the World Veteran Motocross Champions at Glen Helen, November 3-4. The presentation of the award, along with Marty’s induction into the Walk of Fame, will be on Sunday, November 4th, around 12:30 pm, just before the 30+ pro race.
Tom White will MC the presentation, and many previous recipients of the Edison Dye award will be in attendance to honor Marty. Tom will introduce many celebrities who will reminisce those glorious motocross days of the 70s and early 80s when Marty was at the peak of his career! The event will feature an autograph session where fans can see their heroes of yesteryear, talk with them, and get an autographed poster!
For additional information, including online entry for competitors and spectator ticket information, visit the Glen Helen Raceway website at: www.glenhelen.com.
Photo courtesy Nuclear Cowboyz
Feld Motor Sports® announced this week the schedule for the 2013 Nuclear Cowboyz® freestyle motocross (FMX) tour, which kicks off Saturday, January 12 at the Sprint Center of Kansas City, Mo. For the first time ever, the highly acclaimed Nuclear Cowboyz 2013 tour will visit New Orleans and San Antonio, and back by popular demand, will return to Houston and Atlanta, following a one-year hiatus. Tickets will be available to the general public on Friday, September 21.
Nuclear Cowboyz 2013 is the only FMX tour of its kind that’s told through an adrenaline-packed narrative based in a futuristic setting. The saga is defined through jaw-dropping freestyle stunts meshed with stimulating pyrotechnic and laser displays all synchronized to heavy metal, rock alternative and electronic dubstep music.
Nuclear Cowboyz 2013 has the greatest cast of freestyle motocross, trials and quad riders ever assembled, including recent X Games 2012 medalists Ronnie Faisst, Mike Mason, Taka Higashino and Winter X Games gold and silver medalist Colten Moore. The tour also includes former gold medalists Adam Jones and Matt Buyten as well as award-winning freestylers Derek Garland, Brody Wilson, Jimmy Fitzpatrick, Wes Agee, Nick Dunne, Geoff Aaron, Keith Wineland and Marco Picado in this action-packed freestyle performance of pure danger and raw combat.
“We are so excited to bring Nuclear Cowboyz 2013 back for its fourth tour in North America,” exclaimed producer Juliette Feld. “This is the only place where fans can catch the top freestyle riders in the world riding side by side in an all out production. Fans will be mesmerized as two, three, then four riders flip together. These thrills are heightened by the most radiant pyrotechnic and laser effects ever seen indoors. Nuclear Cowboyz 2013 is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on every fan.”
The Nuclear Cowboyz 2013 freestyle motocross tour will travel to the following North American cities:
Nuclear Cowboyz 2013 Tour Schedule
January 12-13 Sprint Center Kansas City, Mo.
January 19-20 U.S. Bank Arena Cincinnati
January 26-27 Consol Energy Center Pittsburgh
February 1-2 Alamodome San Antonio*
February 9 The Palace at Auburn Hills Auburn Hills, Mich.
February 15-17 Tampa Bay Times Forum Tampa, Fla.
March 2-3 Philips Arena Atlanta
March 8-9 New Orleans Arena New Orleans
March 16-17 IZOD Center East Rutherford, N.J.
April 5-7 Citizens Business Bank Arena Ontario, Calif.
April 27-28 Reliant Stadium Houston
Dirt Rider found the following report of financial misconduct regarding the California Off Highway Vehicle Trust Fund in the Sacramento Bee:
The amount of money hidden by California state parks officials in one of two special funds has suddenly become unclear, preventing the Legislature from spending the money to repair and reopen parks.
A dedicated pot of money known as the Off Highway Vehicle Trust Fund holds the majority of the “hidden assets” that officials at the state Department of Parks and Recreation kept off the books when they filed annual reports with the Department of Finance.
When the scandal was first reported by The Bee on July 20, officials in the administration of Gov. Jerry Brown reported that the hidden assets totaled $54 million. The OHV fund held about $34 million, and the balance of $20 million was in the State Parks and Recreation Fund.
Unlike general government spending for basics such as payroll and paper clips that are covered by the state’s general fund, these special funds collect revenue generated at the parks themselves, through entrance fees, souvenir sales and other site-specific sources. The OHV fund serves the state’s eight parks dedicated to off-road vehicle enthusiasts, as well as grants for trail projects elsewhere. The State Parks and Recreation Fund helps cover operating costs at the state’s 270 other parks.
For reasons still unclear, parks leaders squirreled away the $54 million for as long as 12 years, according to a preliminary investigation by the Natural Resources Agency and the Finance Department. This continued even as parks officials moved last year to close 70 parks to comply with cuts to the state’s general fund.
Parks director Ruth Coleman resigned as the scandal broke. Separate investigations are under way by the attorney general, the state auditor and the Legislature.
Late last week, Finance Department chief deputy director Michael Cohen told the Senate Budget Committee that his agency is no longer sure how much money was hidden in the OHV fund, and that clear answers would have to await the outcome of the investigations, expected to last the rest of the year.
He said it also was unclear how much of that final amount would be available to spend on parks vs. what has already been committed to particular projects.
“What exactly was going on with that fund is not clear,” Cohen said. “Because we don’t have full information on the fund, we don’t think it’s appropriate to make additional … decisions based on information that may or may not be accurate.”
His testimony came during debate over Assembly Bill 1478, by Assemblyman Bob Blumenfeld, D-Woodland Hills, to spend the $20 million discovered in the State Parks and Recreation Fund. The bill was approved by the Senate on Thursday and awaits the governor’s signature. It appropriates $10 million from the fund for park maintenance projects and $10 million as matching funds for private grants for parks.
Cohen said the Finance Department has enough information to know that the $20 million in the parks and recreation fund actually exists, and so the committee approved the bill.
There was bipartisan support to amend the bill to begin disbursing the $34 million hidden in the off-highway fund, as well. But the senators were outraged to learn there is far less certainty about these funds.
“What I don’t understand is that we’re OK going ahead with the $20 million, but we have to have ongoing investigations for some months on the OHV fund,” said Sen. Doug Lamalfa, R-Richvale. “Why is the OHV fund being discriminated against? It’s deplorable.
Follow this link to see the report in the Sacramento Bee: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/01/4777548/california-officials-now-unsure.html#storylink=cpy
—Shan Moore
That’s all for this week, check in next week for more off-road news.
