More Than A Trade Show
The EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan, Italy, went off in November displaying thousands of off-road goodies from Italy. A few cool items seen were these big and beautiful 53mm Marzocchi forks, an MX version of Aprilia's twin-cylinder bike, Benelli MX and off-road bikes with their aluminum and carbon frames, and this Italy-only Suzuki enduro, a conversion done by Valenti. Unfortunately, the show was interrupted when a round of the European Supercross Series broke out in the parking lot. The event held an FMX show, a supermoto, an endurocross, a supercross, then capped the weekend with a three-man team race combining supermoto, endurocross and supercross. The riders raced all three combined tracks for a 10-minute moto each. After the first session the leader was Ryan Beat, the lone American at the event, riding for Magic Yamaha/Progrip/One Industries/Alpinestars. His team went on to eventually finish second overall. Italy's a long way to go, but if you ever find yourself there in November, don't miss this event-and take it easy on the espressos!
Photo: Pete Peterson
Photo: Pete Peterson
Photo: Pete Peterson
Shameless DirtRider.com Plug
OK, we have to do it because we put a lot of work into it. Yes, our formerly pathetic and now loaded with content but still a little difficult to use website needs you take a look at it. Not so you can tell us what we already know (yes, it is a little hard to find some stuff and I know you've seen better), but so you can see some of the really cool stuff we've been putting up there. Things like complete pipe comparisons for the 2009 bikes, web-exclusive bike first impressions, full first tests of bikes that don't make the magazine and videos of a lot of the stories you've seen and will be seeing right here in the printed version of Dirt Rider. We don't like to brag, but we're pretty proud of some of our digital content, especially if you find it interesting. And there are even some pretty cool items submitted from guys just like you, our loyal readers. So if you want to get a start in this business, get to work and make a mark on www.dirtrider.com.
2009 Supercross Predictions
It's official: Supercross is upon us. As with any exciting new season, the 2009 supercross series inevitably brings new heroes to cheer for, new television broadcasts to critique and new trophy girls in the backs of new pickup trucks who shoot new T-shirts at the new crowd with the same old swag cannon. So what's the buzz around the DR office about '09? Pull up a chair, because here are our thoughts!
Who is your pick to take the supercross championship this year?
"Last year I bet Sean Finley, our publisher, that if James Stewart lost the SX title I'd run a marathon. It turns out James can't win with a bum knee. It's a good thing I'm not a man of my word or else I'd have died in the marathon Finley ran with a hernia (true story, he's an animal). For '09, I'm going with Stewart all the way. And I'm willing to wager the same marathon that I didn't run last year on it. Stewart is going to destroy everyone and make them (not me this time) look silly." -Jesse Ziegler
"I'm going to go with my buddy Reed. He's tough as nails and I think he has more to prove than the other guy. Or guys." -Jimmy Lewis
"I think Ryan Villopoto is going to kill it this year on the big bike. The kid has been working his tail off, and it wouldn't surprise me if he came out on top at the end of the season." -Chris Denison
"Chad Reed. I don't want him to win, but I think he will." -Joe McKimmy
"My money's on Stewart. I just hope it's close. I predict Alessi will win one late in the season." -Pete Peterson
"I don't care who wins as long as there is good racing for the whole series. Ideally the championship should come down to the last race, and Kevin Windham would win, but I think Stewart will do it." -Karel Kramer