The previous column talked about the Capriolo 75. This week an even more unusual Capriolo is featured.
A rare Capriolo is this Cento 50
The Cento 50 (150) was debuted at the Milan Show in 1953 and is a rare example of a non-BMW influenced flat twin and also the smallest capacity such design to make production.
The Cento 50 was notable for the 150 flat twin powerplant
The pressed steel frame was very similar to the 75’s and the motor also carried over some features, such as usage of face-cams. The pressed steel Earles fork of the prototype was replaced by a normal telescopic fork for production.
The chassis was also similar to the Capriolo 75’s
Notable advanced features included indicators within the tail light and a neutral indicator light. A single carburettor was used, partially housed within the rear of the engine unit for a very clean appearance. Output was 8 hp and top speed was 95 km/h.
Power output was 8hp, enough for a top speed of 95km/h
Two versions were produced, with the later (coming in 1955) being easily distinguished by the full width brakes.
Capriolo Cento 50
Production ceased in 1956. Only some 500 were built making this sophisticated motorcycle highly collectable.
Only 500 of the Cento 50 were made in two versions, making them very collectableCapriolo Cento 50
With pricing for Honda’s Africa Twin and Adventure-Sports versions released back in May, year’s end sees the 2019 editions of the Adventure-Sports arriving, with pricing remaining the same and a brand new colour – Digital Silver Metallic – available from Australian dealers just in time for your Christmas adventures.
2019 Africa Twin Adventure-Sports in Digital Silver Metallic
The Africa Twin Adventure-Sports stands out as the harder edged off-road option, being taller, with more upright seating position, flatter seat (920mm height), and extended wind protection, as well as a standard sump guard and side pipe. A larger fuel tank with 5.4L extra capacity is also featured, as is longer travel suspension. Read on below for full details.
Honda’s 2019 Africa Twin Adventure-Sports arrives in Digital Silver Metallic for $19.499 for the ABS/Manual and $19,999 for the ABS/DCT version
Honda’s massively successful Africa Twin has only been on the market a couple of years but the impact it has made in the adventure-touring market has been huge.
2018 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports
Combining an excellent price point compared to many rivals in the sector, along with rugged looks, a charismatic parallel twin and genuine go pretty much anywhere ability it relaunched Honda into the adventure-touring category and immediate success.
For 2018 Honda has updated both the base model CRF1000L Africa Twin but also added a new Africa Twin Adventure Sports model, aiming to extend the platform even further into long-range off-road ready territory, with 2019 models remaining unchanged.
The base model arrives standard with ABS now in the Australian line-up. The three model Africa Twin range now starts with a manual/ABS model at $17,499 then steps up to the new Adventure Sports model at $19,499 for the manual/ABS variant before topping out at $19,999 for the Adventure Sports with DCT. Thus the base model can no longer be ordered with the DCT transmission and ABS is standard across the range.
Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports
Africa Twin Adventure Sports Changes Summary
5.4 litre bigger fuel tank – 24.2 litres
Fly-By-Wire Throttle
Three Riding Modes
50mm taller seat height, flatter seat
Longer travel suspension
Lithium-Ion battery saves 2.3kg
Modified Air-box & Exhaust
Stronger mid-range response
Lighter Balancer Shaft
Off-Road pegs
Stainless Spokes
Heated Grips
AC Charging Socket
2018 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports
Africa Twin v Africa Twin Adventure Sports comparison
Side-by-side with its sibling, the CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports is obviously taller, with a flatter seat profile and more upright riding position. The fairing and screen offer more wind protection and a large sump guard and side pipe fully protect the machine. An extra 5.4L fuel capacity extends range beyond 500km, while heated grips and an AC charging socket add comfort and convenience.
The 2018 CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports will be available in one 30th anniversary Tricolore paint scheme to celebrate the XRV650’s launch in 1988.
2018 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports
Mr K. Morita, Large Project Leader (LPL)
“Our CRF1000L Africa Twin has proven itself a worthy successor to the original and very much the ‘Go Anywhere’ machine that we set out to make. Over the last two years it’s a motorcycle that’s covered millions of kilometres, and we have received plentiful feedback from owners. For 2018, with the Africa Twin Adventure Sports we have used the revised CRF1000L as a starting point and added everything the long-distance rider needs to get the very most out of any adventure.”
2018 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports
2018-2019 Honda Africa Twin Model Overview
The four-valve 998cc parallel twin Unicam unit’s tractable and usable all-day performance belies its extremely compact dimensions. They are the result of clever packaging touches such as housing the water pump within the clutch casing, and using the engine’s balancer shafts to also drive water and oil pumps. As a result, longitudinally, it is the same length as Honda’s popular 500cc engine, and its short height contributes to the Africa Twin Adventure Sport’s 270mm of ground clearance.
For 2018, a modified airbox improves the power unit’s mid-range response, as does a lighter balancer shaft weight. A revised exhaust serves up an even more evocative howl as revs rise and also contributes to the improved performance.
A significant addition to the Africa Twin platform for 2018 is its new Throttle By Wire (TBW) system, which brings with it 3 riding modes to adjust engine character and output to suit riding conditions. Also new is an extended range of Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) input.
2018 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports
The unique DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) version features the standard manual mode – allowing the rider to operate gearshifts through triggers on the left handlebar – and two automatic modes. D mode offers the best balance of fuel economy and comfort cruising whilst S mode gives three different, sportier shift patterns to choose from. The DCT is also fully equipped to operate in an off-road environment and off-road functionality is enhanced by the G button. Pushing the G button in any riding mode modifies the control of the clutch system to give a more direct drive.
The semi-double cradle steel frame provides the ideal balance of high-speed stability matched to genuine off-road ability by combining sheer strength with flexibility. The engine is mounted on 6 engine hangers, which keeps vibration to a minimum, avoiding the need for steering dampers. The new lithium-ion battery saves 2.3kg on the 2017 Africa Twin’s lead unit, and the Adventure Sports version shares several detail changes made to improve the platform’s off-road ability and durability.
2018 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports
Fully adjustable 45mm Showa inverted forks, fully-adjustable rear shock, dual radial-mount Nissin four-piston brake calipers and 310mm ‘wave’ style floating discs are unchanged for 2018. The 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoked wheels are constructed from stainless steel. In addition to the standard dual-purpose 90 front/150 rear rubber, block tyres are also approved for fitment.
2018 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports
Dual LED headlights maintain the original Africa Twin’s presence and the seat height adjusts 20mm from the 900mm to 920mm (both respectively 50mm higher than the standard model). The 24.2L fuel tank – and the engine’s fuel efficiency of 21.8km/l (WMTC in DCT mode) – provides a range of over 500km.
Many riders may not realise that if they are involved in a crash, they may not be covered for what could be a very long and expensive ambulance ride.
Freebies
The good news for permanent Queensland and Tasmanian residents is that they are covered. Even if they travel interstate and crash. That includes all emergency pre-hospital ambulance treatment and transport Australia-wide.
If you crash outside the state and receive an invoice for ambulance treatment and transport, just send it to the Queensland or Tasmanian ambulance service with proof of residency for payment.
Interestingly, Queensland won’t pay up if a Tasmanian makes a clam in that state!
Costly ambulance ride
However, if you are not a resident of those states, the cheapest ambulance callout fee is $382 in NSW. Then it rises massively.
NT is $790, ACT $959, Western Australia $967, South Australia $976 and Victoria – a popular destination for interstate riders – is a massive $1204.
That’s just for starters.
Depending on the length of the ambulance ride and the services required, it can cost thousands.
And you will still be liable for the cost even if someone else calls an ambulance for you and you refuse service.
Insurance
Many riders erroneously believe they are covered by Medicare.
Others believe their private medical insurance will cover the ambulance ride, but that may not always be the case.
Have a look at the fine print in your insurance now before you head off interstate these Christmas holidays.
If not, you can pay a fairly small membership fee (usually under $100 for a family) to the ambulance service in your state. But that still won’t cover you interstate.
You can also upgrade your insurance to include ambulance cover, or you can opt for a specialist ambulance cover.
But again, make sure it covers you Australia-wide.
Also, find out if the cover includes just emergencies or non-emergencies as well and includes all pre-hospital treatment.
Some pensioner and concession cards may either provide free cover for an ambulance ride and treatment or at least a discount on ambulance insurance.
If you only need insurance while you are interstate, the cheapest option could be set-period travel insurance. Just make sure ambulance services are included.
2018 New Zealand Suzuki Series Round 1 – Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park
The first of this year’s three round Suzuki Series at Taupo’s Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park on Sunday had it all – suspense, thrill-a-minute motorcycle racing and certainly drama all the way.
There were internationals stars, returning former Kiwi champions, riders making their debut rides – a few even celebrating their debut victories, plenty of passing, a couple of crashes, wheelies and slides … there was something for everyone.
There’s little time for anyone to catch their breath because more can be expected at Round 2 on the outskirts of Feilding this coming weekend too. The series will have its traditional public street race spectacular to wrap it all up on Boxing Day, racing around Whanganui’s famous Cemetery Circuit.
But there’s plenty that will happen before then and the Suzuki Series riders will no doubt arrive at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon this weekend with the adrenaline still coursing through their veins after a frenetic series opener in Taupo.
Shane Richardson – 2018 New Zealand Suzuki Series Round 1
Supporters of every bike brand had reason to celebrate, and possibly reason to commiserate too, with this year’s edition of the popular three-round Suzuki Series perhaps boasting more talent per kilometre of tarmac than has ever before been seen in New Zealand.
Wainuiomata’s Shane Richardson had more reason than most to break out the champagne late on Sunday, the 23-year-old taking a borrowed Kawasaki ZX-10R bike to top the premier Formula One superbike class.
He didn’t win a race but two runner-up finishes were good enough, and he will take a slender four-point advantage over defending Suzuki Series F1 champion Scott Moir (Suzuki GSX-R1000) to Manfeild this coming weekend.
Taupo’s Moir twice finished third in this premier F1 class on Sunday, a solid performance and a good platform on which to build his title defence over the coming races.
The first F1 race on Sunday was won by Whakatane’s Mitch Rees and the second F1 race by his younger brother, fellow Honda Fireblade rider Damon Rees.
It was Richardson’s debut outing on a 1000cc superbike, the man from the Wellington region more familiar to race fans as a Supersport 600 class campaigner, one who has enjoyed plenty of success over recent years, including in the United States.
Shane Richardson
“I’m more than happy with this result, my first time in New Zealand racing on a big bike. Battling with Damo (Rees) again feels like a bit of déjà vu from the 2017 season. The racing was so tight. It was good. It’s such a good class right now and I’m over the moon. I didn’t expect to be leaving this track with the points lead. Obviously I would have liked to win both races today and that was my goal, but, realistically, being my first time on a superbike, I didn’t think it was possible.”
Interestingly, it was also Damon Rees’ Suzuki Series debut on a superbike. With three wins from four starts, it’s probably fair to say that the 23-year-old Rees was the most dominant individual racing on Sunday.
The Team Rees Racing Honda man impressed by taking his Carl Cox Motorsport-backed Honda CBR600RR to qualify fastest and then win both races in the Formula Two (600cc) class on Sunday, setting a new F2 lap record in the process.
2018 New Zealand Suzuki Series Round 1
On both occasions he finished ahead of fellow Kiwi international Avalon Biddle (Kawasaki ZX-6R), from Waimakariri, with Manukau’s Toby Summers (Kawasaki ZX-6R) claiming third overall for the day.
Then, perhaps even more remarkably, Whakatane’s Rees qualified fastest in the 1000cc Formula One superbike class. Rees’ elder brother, Mitch, then took his Team Rees Racing Honda CBR1000SP1 to win the first of the day’s two F1 races, but it was rising star Damon who stepped up to win the next race, his first ever victory on a superbike.
Unfortunately for the two Rees brothers, they were both unable to finish one of their two F1 outings. Damon ran off the track in the first F1 race and, because he was deemed by a marshal to have dropped the bike, was not permitted to continue. Mitch failed to start the second F1 race when his bike threw a chain during the warm-up lap.
Instead it was Richardson who was credited with the overall win in the F1 class, with Taupo’s Moir taking the runner-up spot and Rangiora’s Jake Lewis (Yamaha YZF-R1) completing the F1 podium.
Damon Rees will complete this series racing both classes, but, for the upcoming nationals, he will concentrate solely on the superbike class.
Damon Rees
“Mitch celebrated his first superbike race win here at Taupo last year and now it was my turn, maybe there’s something about the Rees family and this track, eh? Back-to-back wins in the F2 class was awesome… that was certainly my plan at the start of the day. I earned pole position and I was reasonably comfortable winning those races. Avalon (Biddle) was riding exceptionally and she certainly pushed me to begin with. But I had just the little bit more. The first time I’d hopped back on a 1000cc superbike was only about three weeks ago. First race didn’t finish so well for me but the second one did. I holeshot the race and led from start to finish. So that was three wins from four starts for me today… we’ll just quietly forget about the one where I got no result. I’m feeling so at home on the superbike now and I think I’m only going to get faster.”
Damon Rees – 2018 New Zealand Suzuki Series Round 1
Though F1 and F2 race wins eluded the Suzuki camp, they did still have plenty of reason to smile on Sunday. Taupo’s Brad Groombridge loves the power of his Suzuki dirt bikes, but he discovered there was a whole new level of bravery required when he made his debut at the weekend on a 1000cc superbike.
More accustomed to racing his Suzuki RM-Z450 or Suzuki RM-Z250 dirt bikes in motocross, enduro and cross-country events, his main focus at the weekend was in actually avoiding any encounters with the dirt and staying in control of a Suzuki GSX-R1000 superbike.
The reigning New Zealand enduro and cross-country champion, who is also ranked No.2 in the national MX2 motocross class, jumped at the chance to try a different motorcycling code… and no, he wasn’t able to avoid a little accidental off-track dirt biking.
Groombridge raced in the Formula Sport class, the 28-year-old finishing second and eighth in his two outings, good enough for third overall, behind experienced road-racers Brendon Coad and Steve Bridge. A podium finish on his road-racing debut probably better than Groombridge could have dreamed of.
Brad Groombridge
“I received a call about a week ago from (Suzuki’s national superbike champion) Sloan Frost and he said he had a spare bike for me if I wanted to give it a go on a superbike. I went down to Wellington on Thursday (just last week) to pick the bike up and I managed to have a ride on a ‘bucket’ bike at a local kart track for about 40 minutes, so that was my first road-bike experience. I have ridden a road bike up and down the road before, but no significant distance. The transition went pretty well and my track times were pretty good, straight off the bat. It was a learning experience trying to find my braking markers at 260kmph and not using any rear brakes … it’s all front brake really. There were a few different things I had to figure out. The first few times at full throttle down the main straight were a bit scary, but then I got used to the speed and I was okay. I did have one ‘off’, when I low-sided the bike and slid into the ‘kitty litter’, but it was nothing too major. I am committing to doing the whole Suzuki Series and also now will do the 2019 New Zealand Superbike Championships too. None of the dates clash with my enduro, motocross or cross-country events, so I’m free to race the superbike.”
Standings following the 2018 NZ Suzuki Series Round 1
Formula One Superbike
Shane Richardson (Wainuiomata) 44 points
Scott Moir (Taupo) 40
Jake Lewis (Rangiora) 36
Formula 2 600
Damon Rees (Whakatane) 51 points
Avalon Biddle (Waimakariri) 44
Toby Summers (Manukau) 38
Formula 3
Jacob Stroud (Palmerston North) 26 points
Leigh Tidman (Taumarunui) 22
Glen Skachill (Wellington) 20
GIXXER Cup
Jesse Stroud (Hamilton) 48 points
Zak Fuller (Taupiri) 47
Shane Miller (Sanson) = Clark Fountain (Greymouth); 38
Post Classics, Pre-89, Senior
Duncan Coutts (Whangarei) 51 points
Peter Bogusz (Paraparaumu) 44
Gian Louie (Hastings) 40
Post Classics, Pre-89, Junior
Scott Findlay (Auckland) 51 points
Chris Sales (Palmerston North) = Dean Bentley (Lower Hutt); 42
BEARS (non-Japanese bikes) and Formula Sport, Seniors
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Ixon Gyre Jacket
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Ixon Gyre Jacket
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Ixon Gyre Jacket
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Ixon Gyre Jacket
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Ixon Gyre Jacket
Ixon Gyre Jacket features
Racing style collar
Mesh panels – front, back and sleeves
Removable waterproof and breathable Drymesh liner
Removable vest warm liner
Cuffs with tightening strap
Bottom tightening with buckle
External shells on shoulders
Flex material on elbows and back of shoulders
Two external pockets
Four internal pockets
One waterproof wallet pocket
Connection with trousers thanks to loop and zip 270°
Popular off-road and enduro championship bolstered with eight-round series.
Image: Supplied.
Following its inaugural season, the World Enduro Super Series (WESS) is set to return in 2019 with an eight-round championship consisting of classic enduro, hard enduro and cross-country events.
Successfully playing host to the opening round of WESS in 2018, Extreme XL Lagares will open the new season in Portugal on 10-12 May, before heading to France for a classic enduro at the Trefle Lozerien AMV on 17-19 May.
The iconic Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble in Austria will host round three on 30 May-2 June, with Italy provisionally scheduled to hold the fourth stop in late June. The infamous Red Bull Romaniacs will serve up five unforgettable days of hard enduro racing for round five on 30 July-4 August.
On 21-22 September, the championship charges onwards to the Hawkstone Park Cross-Country in the United Kingdom for round six, followed up by the penultimate round called Solsona Enduro in Spain on 5-6 October. The championship will be decided in style at the GetzenRodeo in Germany, pencilled in for 2-3 on November.
2019 World Enduro Super Series calendar:
Rd1 – 10-12 May – Extreme XL Lagares, Portugal
Rd2 – 17-19 May – Trefle Lozerien AMV, France
Rd3 – 30 May-2 June – Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble, Austria
Rd4 – TBA – Classic enduro, Italy
Rd5 – 30 July-4 August – Red Bull Romaniacs, Romania
Rd6 – 21-21 September – Hawkstone Park Cross Country, United Kingdom
Rd7 – 5-6 October – Solsona Enduro, Spain
Rd8 – 2-3 November – GetzenRodeo, Germany
Talented duo make up official Yamaha MXD outfit for next year.
Image: Foremost Media.
WBR Yamaha has signed Maximus Purvis and Jack Kukas in an all-new line-up for the 2019 Pirelli MX Nationals and Australian Supercross Championship, which will once again see the outfit head up Yamaha’s official MXD efforts.
New Zealander Purvis experienced a standout year this season in the development category, scoring a number of wins before finishing up third in the championship rankings.
“I have done two seasons in Australia now and I feel comfortable racing here now as I know the riders and how the events work,” Purvis explained. “But, it’s also the first time I have had major support over here and its cool to be a part of the WBR Yamaha.
“I had to race against them in 2018 and I know how well prepared and organised they were so it’s exciting to now be on the same side as them. I won plenty of rounds last year, but I just wasn’t consistent enough in the rounds that I didn’t win so that’s an area I need to address this year.
“Championships are won on your bad days, so I need to find a way grind out a good result when things aren’t going my way and be consistent across all 10 rounds. I love racing in Australia and the MX Nationals is a great series. Doing the NZ Nationals, the MX Nationals and the Australian Supercross Championship will be a huge year for me, but I can’t wait to get started.”
Queensland’s Kukas, a former Yamaha Junior Racing rider, has just returned from a season campaigning in America, where he completed a number amateur events.
“It’s awesome to be back here in Australia and on the WBR Yamaha team for the 2019 season,” said Kukas. “I have been a Yamaha rider all my life to so get the opportunity to ride for the official Yamaha MXD team is a bit of a dream come true.
“I have already spent a week down with the team in Echuca just getting settled on the bike and meeting everyone. Travis and Nathan are awesome to deal with and are so helpful in getting me comfortable on and off the bike. I can’t thank them enough for giving me this chance and I hope to repay them with some good results.
“The 2019 YZ250F is such a good bike and we have a great group of sponsors on board for next year so I’m going to give it my all and try and get another championship for Yamaha and the WBR team.”
The opening round of the MX Nationals will be hosted in New South Wales on 17 March, with the series boasting 10 rounds over eight weekends.
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop Geomax
Proudly brought to you by Dunlop Geomax
What Went Down Last Weekend?
Brook and Koppe win North Brisbane Cup
FIM SuperEnduro World Championship – Round 1 – Krakow, Poland
French Beach Race Series – Round 4 – Ronde des Sables
Wade Young wins Roof of Africa
Faggotter ready for Dakar 2019
2019 WESS calendar announced
2019 AFT calendar announced
2019 GNCC calendar announced
2019 Sunshine State Series calendar announced
2019 Australian Speedway Senior Solo draw announced
Tanti joins Crawford at Serco
WBR Yamaha sign Purvis and Kukas for MXD
Argentina to kick-off 2019 MXGP season
Stefan Everts in hospital
Brook and Koppe Win North Brisbane Cup
MotoGP racer Jack Miller added some extra prestige into the annual North Brisbane Cup last Saturday afternoon and evening but it was the talented pairing of Damien Koppe and Jarrod Brook who took the overall win after winning both feature races.
Damien Koppe and Jarrod Brook who took the overall win
Some of our best speedway, dirt track, road race and enduro riders were on hand but the real pace setters were Damien Koppe, Jarred Brook, Max Whale, Jake Allen, Kayden Downing and Jack Miller – in fact, Miller has lost none of his dirt track speed after going down in turn one of the Pro Open teams event, before remounting and carving back to third place in time for the changeover to fellow Townsville terror Kayden Downing.
Despite the relatively tight confines of Mick Doohan Raceway – for a long track slider designed for a mile track – speedway pro Josh Grajczonek proved himself competitive throughout the event.
North Brisbane Cup Results
Damien Koppe, Jarrod Brook 9:21.380
Max Whale, Jake Allen 1.791
Jack Miller, Kayden Downing 13.700
Harrison Maxwell, Nick Hallas 25.592
Bailey Spencer, Ben Montgomery 26.068
Briony Hendrickson, Andy McLeisch 1 lap
Lachlan Stanford, Fraser Higlett 1 lap
Jay Southwell, Max Losch 2 laps
Daniel Perdikis, Trevor Velt 2 laps
1Ryan Douglas, Joshua Grajczonek 3 laps
Brooke Goulding, Blake Goulding 11 laps
Jack Miller made an appearance at the North Brisbane Cup
Damien Koppe, Jarrod Brook 9:22.703
Max Whale, Jake Allen 6.763
Bailey Spencer, Ben Montgomery 1 lap
Harrison Maxwell, Nick Hallas 1 lap
Lachlan Stanford, Fraser Higlett 1 lap
Benjamin Mclaughlin, Adam Bevan 1 lap
Andrew McLiesh, Grace Hudson 1 lap
Jay Southwell, Max Losch 2 laps
Brooke Goulding, Blake Goulding 2 laps
Daniel Perdikis, Trevor Velt 2 laps DNF Jack Miller, Kayden Downing Lap 19
FIM SuperEnduro World Championship Round 1 – Krakow, Poland
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Taddy Blazusiak has won the opening round of the 2019 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship held in Krakow, Poland while Cody Webb and Colton Haaker rounded out the podium
Krakow SuperEnduro 2019 Round 1 – Image by Future7Media
On a dry and fast track at the Tauron Arena in Krakow, Blazusiak delighted his home fans by taking the overall win at round one of the championship. It wasn’t plain sailing for the six-time champion however as an early fall in the third and final heat left him playing catch-up to the riders ahead.
With his KTM 350 EXC-F blasting off the line, Blazusiak secured the holeshot in heat one. The Polish rider was never challenged for the remainder of the race and after riding eight smooth and consistent laps crossed the line 15 seconds ahead of teammate Webb. Putting in a similar performance in the reverse-grid heat two, Taddy fought his way through the pack early on to win by over five seconds from the second-placed finisher Haaker.
Aiming to take the hat-trick, Taddy fell early in the third heat and was placed dead-last at the beginning of the opening lap. Charging hard, he got his head down and proceeded to pick off the riders ahead of him, ultimately battling his way through to fourth at the line – enough to claim the overall event win and with it the championship lead heading into round two in Germany.
“The whole event has been amazing. Race one went perfectly, I was able to get out in front and set my own pace to take the win. Race two was pretty much the same, I had quite a lot of pressure from the guys behind and made a couple of mistakes, but I was able to put in some fast lap times and break the challenge. In the last moto, I got a pretty good start but I got tangled up with some other riders over the first jumps and went down. I picked myself and the bike up and saw I was in last place so I took a couple of seconds to make sure everything was ok and set off again. I was pushing hard and able to overtake the guys in front quite well. I did make a mistake in one rut and washed the front again, luckily I didn’t lose too much time and was happy enough to take fourth. Championship-wise, I’m a little disappointed to lose a few points but I think we’ll all have challenging races over the season. To be leading going into round two feels great.”
The 2019 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship continues with round two in Riesa, Germany on January 5, 2019.
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop Geomax
French Beach Race Series – Round 4 – Ronde des Sables
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Nathan Watson has secured his second consecutive victory in the Championnat de France des Sables. Putting in a strong performance throughout the two-hour 30-minute beach race, Watson initially crossed the finish line in second, but was later awarded the overall win.
Yentel Martens – 2018 French Beach Races Round 4 Hossegor – Image by Pascal Haudiquert
After his confidence-boosting victory at last weekend’s round three, Nathan Watson headed to round four with hopes of making it two wins in a row and after starting strongly, he battled with teammate Camille Chapeliere for the lead during the first half of the race before taking control.
Camille Chapeliere – 2018 French Beach Races Round 4 Hossegor – Image by Pascal Haudiquert
However, despite pulling a sizeable advantage, Watson was unable to maintain his lead as the race conditions changed. With organisers cutting the event short due to an incoming tide, the Brit slipped back to second place at just the wrong moment in the race. Unable to regroup in time, Watson shadowed provisional winner Milko Potisek across the finish line for what he thought was a runner-up result. Later confirmed as the winner, Watson claimed his second consecutive beach race win.
Nathan Watson
“I’m disappointed to have physically just missed out on that race win but naturally pleased to be awarded the overall win. The race to the chequered flag itself was close and I was right behind him crossing the finish line. I had a good race and was leading with about a one-minute advantage. Then suddenly he came past me and I was shocked because I didn’t realise he was catching me so quick. I must have been riding too relaxed in traffic. He passed me on the last lap and I tried to regroup, but it was too late. With two tough rounds back-to-back and my victory at Red Bull Knock Out, I’ll take a bit of time to recover over the Christmas break and then work hard to prepare for the next round.”
Nathan Watson – 2018 French Beach Races Round 4 Hossegor – Image by Pascal Haudiquert
Claiming the holeshot on his KTM 450 SX-F, Watson’s teammate Camille Chapeliere put in a series of blisteringly fast laps to hold firm at the front of the results and maintain the race lead during the first hour of racing. With lapped traffic hampering his vision, the Frenchman was forced to pit earlier than scheduled for a fresh pair of goggles. Despite his strong pace during the latter half of the race, Chapeliere was unable to catch the leaders and had to settle for third overall, but was later awarded second.
Camille Chapeliere
“After last weekend’s disappointment I was determined to return strong here. I worked a lot to be ready and I wanted to show my speed on the track. My first hour was good. I took the holeshot and lead for quite a while. I had a little issue with my goggles and was unable to hold that position as I needed to pit early for a fresh set. But overall it’s been a good race and now I will continue to work and be ready for the next round as we build towards Enduropale le Touquet.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Yentel Martens delivered a strong ride at round four of the French Beach Race series in Ronde des Sables, Hossegor-Capbreton to claim a confidence-boosting fourth-place result.
Yentel Martens – 2018 French Beach Races Round 4 Hossegor – Image by Pascal Haudiquert
Yentel Martens
“Today was a positive step forward for me. After some bad luck last weekend and then picking up a small foot injury I was nervous about how things would go. Unfortunately, my start wasn’t the best and I was outside the top 20, so had a bit of work to do there. But my speed was good and I was able to make up the positions quite quickly. I caught up to Jeffrey Dewulf near the end but crashed and lost some time to him that I wasn’t able to recover. However, I’m happy with the progress. I know my speed is good enough to win now and as a team we are all working hard to make it happen.”
The Championnat de France des Sables continues with round five in Grayan on January 13, 2019.
Yentel Martens – 2018 French Beach Races Round 4 Hossegor – Image by Pascal Haudiquert
Results – French Beach Race Series, Round 4
Nathan Watson, KTM, 25 laps 2:23:11.880
Camille Chapeliere, KTM, 2:26:59.150 +3:47.270
Jeffrey Dewulf, KTM, 2:28:59.550 +5:47.670
Yentel Martens, Husqvarna, 2:23:59.550 +1 lap
Daymond Martens, Honda, 2:24:01.590 +1 lap
Championship Standings (After Round 4)
Jeffrey Dewulf, KTM, 500 points
Milko Potisek, Yamaha, 500 pts
Nathan Watson, KTM, 435 pts
Maxime Sot, Yamaha, 397 pts
Yentel Martens, Husqvarna, 390 pts
Wade Young Wins Roof of Africa
Wade Young has topped off an incredible 2018 hard enduro racing season by winning the infamous Motul Roof of Africa in a total time of 14-hours and 47-minutes, a clear 23-minutes ahead of the second placed rider, Travis Teasdale.
It has been widely reported that the 2018 version of the Roof of Africa was one if the toughest with legendary racer and former Roof winner Alfie Cox reporting, “It was tough. It was not a walk in the park and people had to dig deep. Some blokes were on the bike for ten to eleven hours a day. But that is what the Roof of Africa is all about.”
Wade Young wins the 2018 Roof Of Africa – Image by www.trompievanderberg.co.za / www.zcmc.co.za
While the mountains of Lesotho proved unforgiving, Wade Young made short work of the competition with a 40-minute lead after a strenuous 8-hours and 28-minutes on the bike after the first day of racing. Young played it safe on day-two, relinquishing some of his lead but ensuring his fourth Roof of Africa title.
The Sherco Factory rider claimed a number of high-profile hard enduro events in 2018 with victory in the Sea to Sky, Romaniacs, Megawatt and Australia’s own Wildwood Rock Extreme.
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop Geomax
Faggotter Ready for Dakar 2019
Yamalube Yamaha Rally team riders Adrien Van Beveren, Xavier de Soultrait and Aussie Rodney Faggotter will be aboard the newest edition of the WR450F Rally works machine as they take on the 41st Dakar which will be for the first time contested exclusively in Peru.
Rod Faggotter
Playing a crucial role for the Yamalube Yamaha Rally team during the last two Dakar Rallies, Rodney Faggotter remains with the squad going into the 2019 edition of the event after an extremely consistent run that saw him finish 16th overall and the highest placed Yamaha rider at the 2018 Dakar Rally.
Rodney Faggotter
“I’m looking forward to the 2019 Dakar. I’ve been racing some Bajas and training hard back home in Australia these last few months. I feel strong physically and also mentally. In the beginning of December, we’ve spent a full week testing and training with the team in Morocco and that was a good morale booster for me. We have a great spirit within the team and I want to be there for my teammates if they need me. I want to have a good clean run and do my own race. This Dakar might seem shorter, but we all know it’s still going to be a long and demanding race. If it all goes well, I’m confident I can improve my overall result from last year and fight for a spot inside the top-10.”
Rodney Faggotter – Dakar 2018
Race Schedule – Dakar Rally 2019
Stage 1 | Jan 7 | Lima to Pisco | SS: 84km | Total: 331km
Stage 2 | Jan 8 | Pisco to San Juan de Marcona | SS: 342km | Total: 554km
Stage 3 | Jan 9 | San Juan de Marcona to Arequipa | SS: 331km | Total: 779km
Stage 4 | Jan 10 | Arequipa to Moquegua | SS: 352km | Total: 511km
Stage 5 | Jan 11 | Moquegua to Arequipa | SS: 345km | Total: 776km
Rest Day | Jan 12 | Arequipa
Stage 6 | Jan 13 | Arequipa to San Juan de Marcona | SS: 317km | Total: 839km
Stage 7 | Jan 14 | San Juan de Marcona, return| SS: 323km | Total: 387km
Stage 8 | Jan 15 | San Juan de Marcona to Pisco | SS: 361km | Total: 576km
Stage 9 | Jan 16 | Pisco to Pisco | SS: 313km | Total: 410km
Stage 10 | Jan 17 | Pisco to Lima | SS: 112km | Total: 358km
2019 WESS Calendar Announced
The World Enduro Super Series will be an eight-round championship for the 2019 season with two additional Classic Enduro events scheduled for the coming season, combined with established Hard Enduro favourites, plus the Hawkstone Park Cross-Country.
2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
The Extreme XL Lagares will once again open the season in Portugal, on May 10-12 before moving to France and the Classic Enduro at the Trèfle Lozérien AMV, then the Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble, Red Bull Romaniacs, Hawkstone Park Cross-Country in the United Kingdom, the Solsona Enduro in Spain et and finally GetzenRodeo in Germany on November 2-3.
Winfried Kerschhaggl – WESS Series Manager
“Further broadening the mix of events in the championship, while sharpening the focus on true Enduro competitions has been our goal. Traditional Enduro is always close to our hearts, fuelling our passion for racing, and for that reason it has led to the addition of two Classic Enduro events being added to the calendar. Combined with some of our much-loved events from 2018, plus the welcomed addition of the GetzenRodeo, we are very much looking forward to the start of the new series and the battle to find the 2019 Ultimate Enduro Champion.”
WESS 2018 – Round 8 Red Bull Knock Out – Image by Future7Media
World Enduro Super Series – 2019 Schedule
Round 1: Extreme XL Lagares (Portugal) May 10-12
Round 2: Trèfle Lozérien AMV (France) May 17-19
Round 3: Erzbergrodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble (Austria) May 30-June 2
Round 4: Classic Enduro (Italy) TBA
Round 5: Red Bull Romaniacs (Romania) July 30-August 4
Round 6: Hawkstone Park Cross Country (United Kingdom) September 21-22
Round 7: Solsona Enduro (Spain) October 5-6
Round 8: GetzenRodeo (Germany) November 2-3
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop Geomax
2019 AFT Calendar Announced
American Flat Track has finalized its 2019 schedule and prepares to launch ticket sales in time for the holidays.
The 2019 running of the New York Short Track at Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, NY has been moved back one week to July 13, 2019. Race fans can plan on an entire weekend of excitement, as AFT Events will once again throw a pre-race kickoff party with food, live music, entertainment and rider meet & greet session.
American Flat Track 2019 calendar announced
AFT’s season finale returns to the Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment at the famed MetLife Sports Complex in East Rutherford, NJ for a second running of the Meadowlands Mile. The race is set for September 28, 2019 – one week earlier than its 2018 date. This venue provided showstopping race action in 2018 and has already become one of the most highly-anticipated events of the upcoming season.
Cameron Gray, COO of AFT Events
“Now that we have finalized our 2019 schedule, we can hit the ground running. We’ve got new venues, freshly-built and redesigned racetracks and are planning some major improvements to overall fan experience for the coming season. AFT fans can look forward to the most exciting season of American Flat Track to date.”
AFT returns in 2019
American Flat Track will kick off its 2019 season with its bar-banging Daytona TT in appropriate fashion – during the wild Bike Week festivities in Daytona Beach. The 2019 Daytona TT happens Thursday, March 14 once again under the lights of the iconic Daytona International Speedway. Tickets will be available soon at https://www.americanflattrack.com.
2019 American Flat Track Schedule
March 14: Daytona TT – Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
March 23: Atlanta Short Track – Dixie Speedway, Woodstock, GA
April 20: Texas Half-Mile – Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX
April 27: Wild Horse TT – Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, Chandler, AZ
May 11: Perris Half-Mile – Perris Auto Speedway, Perris, CA
May 18: Sacramento Mile – Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA
May 26: Springfield Mile I – Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL
(AFT Singles Springfield TT same weekend)
June 1: Red Mile – Red Mile, Lexington, KY
June 15: Laconia Short Track – New Hampshire Motor Sp., Loudon, New Hampshire
June 29: Lima Half-Mile – Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, OH
July 13: New York Short Track – Weedsport Speedway, Weedsport, NY
August 4: Buffalo Chip TT – Buffalo Chip, Sturgis, SD
August 6: Black Hills Half-Mile – Black Hills Speedway, Rapid City, SD
August 17: Peoria TT – Peoria Motorcycle Club, Peoria, IL
September 1: Springfield Mile II – Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL
(AFT Singles Springfield Short Track same weekend)
September 7: Williams Grove Half-Mile – Williams Grove Sp., Mechanicsburg, PA
September 21: Minnesota Mile – Canterbury Park, Shakopee, MN
September 28: Meadowlands Mile – Meadowlands R & E, East Rutherford, NJ
2019 GNCC Calendar Announced
Racer Productions, producer of the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series, is pleased to announce the 2019 series schedule.
New for the 2019 season will be the expanded Micro (50cc) Racing program, while the eMTB racing will take place at eight rounds including an eMTB only race held on July 27 at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
2019 GNCC calendar announced – Image by Ken Hill
Jeff Russell – GNCC Trail Boss
“We’re excited to get the 2019 season rolling. With a great schedule of events on some of the best off-road courses the country has to offer, the upcoming season is shaping up to be one of the best yet. We have several facilities to consider for the fall TBA event. A lot of factors go into finding a venue to host a GNCC event and we hope to have an announcement on that round as soon as possible.”
The 2019 schedule welcomes back many of its most seasoned venues, including Camp Coker Bullet in Society Hill, South Carolina; X-Factor in Peru, Indiana; The John Penton in Millfield, Ohio; Tomahawk in Alpine, New York; West Virginia’s popular Snowshoe GNCC in Snowshoe, West Virginia; and the Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
The Queensland Motocross subcommittee is pleased to announce details of a freshly revamped 2019 Sunshine State Motocross Series, with four exciting venue additions from last year’s Airoh series.
2019 Sunshine State Motocross Series calendar announced
Since its inception as a B & C Grade series more than 25 years ago, the ‘Sunny States’ have made a consistent contribution to the development of Queensland’s racing stocks, and established a tradition as a proving ground for up-and-coming riders.
Averaging around 330 riders per round, the series contributes significantly to the ‘dirt bike economy’ that fuels small towns in South-East Queensland, while offering competitors the best prizemoney of any comparable series.
Next year’s incarnation will see a mix of trusted and true venues and exciting new locations, with the respected Suncoast Junior Motorcycle Club both raising and lowering the curtain on the series, boasting two rounds at its iconic Coolum track.
2019 Sunshine State Motocross Series calendar announced
In between though, riders will take a thrill ride of fresh racing challenges to grow their skills, re-visiting old favourites like a recently-updated Roma, Mundubbera, Kilcoy and Goondiwindi.
New series coordinator Rachelle Houterman is anything but a new face on the scene, and in taking over the reins from Jason Watson, will look to maintain what’s great about the series, but improve what she can.
She’ll again assume the role of Race Secretary for the series and will steer the ship overall with help from the Motocross Subcommittee, as well as the promoting clubs and series officials.
Rachelle Houterman – Race Secretary
“It’ll be a busy year for me and my helpers, but we have a lot of experience with all aspects of the series and we’re looking to continue to grow Queensland’s premier motocross series as well as trying to increase the payback to the clubs and open up more contingencies for juniors. Some riders may not have previously experienced a few of these tracks, but are sure to be in for a great time at venues that older riders still speak very highly of. Roma has had some exciting new changes as well, so there’ll be lots of opportunity for riders to learn new tracks and gain new skills. Kilcoy has also been missing from the series lately, but the Kilcoy Motorcycle Club has gained a huge following in recent years, so we’re happy to return this track to the calendar.”
The Motocross Subcommittee wishes to thank Jason Watson for all of his hard work over the past two years and wishes him all the best for his new endeavours. Jason remains a valued member of the MX Subcommittee.
2019 Sunshine State Motocross Series calendar announced
The series sponsor is expected to be announced very soon, and a host of sponsorship opportunities now exist with the Sunshine State MX Series. Please contact Rachelle direct on 0409 174 273 or email [email protected].
2019 Sunshine State Series Venues and Dates
Coolum 16/17 February
Roma 23/24 March
Mundubbera 6/7 April
Kilcoy 11/12 May
Goondiwindi 1/ 2 June
Coolum 15/16 June
Further information, Rachelle Houterman, Series Coordinator. Ph: 3281 2255 E: [email protected]
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2019 Australian Speedway Senior Solo draw announced
The 2019 Australian Senior Solo Speedway Championship kicks off bright and early on January 3rd 2019 at Gillman Speedway, South Australia, and the seeded and qualifying line-up is locked and loaded!
For the first time in three years, the Australian Senior Solo Speedway Championship will run a Qualifier the day before Round 1, where 16 selected riders will battle it out for the remaining eight spots in the Championship.
2019 Australian Speedway Senior Solo draw announced
Gillman Speedway will play host to the first round of the Championship, setting the bar higher than the South Australian Summer temperature! Round 1 will commence with the Qualifier on Wednesday night, January 2nd, where each rider will vie for their spot in the available eight places remaining on Thursday night.
With no brakes, gears or fear, Thursday 3rd January is anticipated to be an absolute scorcher, as tensions continue to run high after a tough Qualifier the day prior. Speedway Commission Chair, Ivan Golding, reflected on the draw of seeded and qualifying riders for the 2019 Australian Senior Solo Speedway Championship.
Ivan Golding – Speedway Commission Chair
“This has been one of the strongest qualifiers we have experienced in quite some time! Yesterday’s draw was extremely tough, making our job even harder than in previous years. The depth of nominations received for the 2019 Championship are some of the best we have received, which has made the draw super tough. The quality of riders to pick from was very impressive, and we are no doubt locked in for a thrilling 2019 Championship!”
The field includes eight seeded riders, including the 2018 reigning Champion, Rohan Tungate, alongside the likes of Max Fricke, Chris Holder, Jack Holder and Jaimon Lidsey.
The full list of seeded riders in the 2019 Australian Senior Solo Speedway Championship are as follows:
The 16 riders selected for the Qualifier on January 2nd are as follows
At the close of Round 1, riders will move North to Mildura, Victoria for Round 2 on 5th January, followed by Round 3 on 7th January at Undera, Victoria. The penultimate round will be held on 9th January at Albury Wodonga, Victoria, with a close to the Championship at Kurri-Kurri, New South Wales on 12th January.
Tanti joins Crawford at Serco
Serco Yamaha will again be a force to be reckoned with next season after enlisting Nathan Crawford and Aaron Tanti to steer their YZ250F’s in the 2019 MX Nationals and Australian Supercross Championships.
Nathan Crawford
“I hate being off the bike and not riding and its driving me crazy but my motivation is as good as it’s ever been and I’m excited to be locked in with Serco and the opportunity to race the YZ250F again. I haven’t even ridden the 2019 bike, but it looks and sounds amazing and I know Serco Yamaha will give me the best bike in the class. I’m able to bare weight on my leg and start physio this week with a view to start riding again by late January. That still leaves me enough time to get myself bike fit and ready to go for the MX Nationals and I’m already looking forward to racing again.”
Nathan Crawford
Aaron Tanti
“Up until last year, I was juggling work with racing but for 2018 I was able to get myself in a position where I could ride and train full time and it instantly showed improvement in my results. The reward of the hard work and sacrifice came when Gavin approached me about racing for Serco in 2019. Now to have the support and structure of the Serco Yamaha team behind me and entering the new year feeling fit and refreshed, I am confident 2019 will be my best season yet as I feel there is still a lot of room for improvement in my riding and racing.
Aaron Tanti joins Crawford at Serco in 2019
“I spent a day on the bike earlier this week and I’m impressed with everything about it. We just ran through some basic things like bar bends to get me comfortable, stiffened up the fork a little and I was good to go. The Yamaha YZ250F feels awesome and that is just the production bike, I can’t wait to ride the full- blown race bike Serco will build for me. I’m proud to have achieved this ride with Serco Yamaha but I know the real work is about to come. But I will give it my all and aim to win as many races and championships as I can.”
Aaron Tanti
Round one of the MX Nationals takes place at Appin, west of Sydney on March 17.
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WBR Yamaha sign Purvis and Kukas for MXD
WBR Yamaha team will be out to match their 2018 success that saw them claim the top two spots in the MXD class at the MX Nationals, with Max Purvis and Jack Kukas lining up for 2019.
Max Purvis
“I have done two seasons in Australia now and I feel comfortable racing here now as I know the riders and how the events work. But, it’s also the first time I have had major support over here and its cool to be a part of the WBR Yamaha. I had to race against them in 2018 and I know how well prepared and organised they were so it’s exciting to now be on the same side as them. I won plenty of rounds last year, but I just wasn’t consistent enough in the rounds that I didn’t win so that’s an area I need to address this year. Championships are won on your bad days, so I need to find a way grind out a good result when things aren’t going my way and be consistent across all 10 rounds. I love racing in Australia and the MX Nationals is a great series. Doing the NZ Nationals, the MX Nationals and the Australian Supercross Championship will be a huge year for me, but I can’t wait to get started.”
Maximus Purvis with WBR Yamaha in 2019
Jack Kukas
“It’s awesome to be back here in Australia and on the WBR Yamaha team for the 2019 season. I have been a Yamaha rider all my life to so get the opportunity to ride for the official Yamaha MXD team is a bit of a dream come true. I have already spent a week down with the team in Echuca just getting settled on the bike and meeting everyone. Travis and Nathan are awesome to deal with and are so helpful in getting me comfortable on and off the bike. I can’t thank them enough for giving me this chance and I hope to repay them with some good results. The 2019 YZ250F is such a good bike and we have a great group of sponsors on board for next year so I’m going to give it my all and try and get another championship for Yamaha and the WBR team.”
Jack Kukas to 2019 WBR Yamaha team
The first time both riders will be on track together will be the opening round of the MX Nationals at Appin, west of Sydney, on March 17.
Argentina to kick-off 2019 MXGP season
Youthstream has revealed that the first round of the 2019 MXGP and MX2 FIM Motocross World Championship season will take place at the Patagonia-Argentina circuit of Neuquen on Sunday the 10th of March with bikes racing for the first time of the new season in Qualifying on Saturday.
MXGP 2019 kicks off in Argentina
MXGP’s return to Patagonia Argentina’s beautiful Neuquen circuit is exciting for the riders, fans, and industry members as amazing GPs have taken place at the venue since first hosting the FIM Motocross World Championship in 2015. Serving as the second round of 2017 and then the opening round of 2018 the previous years have resulted in stunning racing amongst the hillsides lined by thousands of South American motocross fans.
David Luongo – Vice President of Youthstream
“It is great news to be back in Argentina for the opening Grand Prix of the season. The circuit of Neuquen is for most of the riders, the most beautiful track of the championship and its location in the middle of Patagonia is breathtaking. We really want to thank David Eli from Mas Eventos along with the local and national authorities making this Grand Prix possible, we are sure that it will be a great success and will bring a lot of attention and exposure Argentina.”
Stefan Everts in hospital
Ten times World Champion Stefan Everts was hospitalized last week and remains at the University Hospital of Leuven in Belgium in an induced coma.
Stefan Everts
Everts participated in a charity event three weeks ago in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo to raise funds for the construction of schools in the area and contracted malaria, a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite.
During his legendary career, Everts won the record numbers of 101 Motocross Grands Prix and ten FIM world titles. After his career, he worked at KTM and then ran the Suzuki World MXGP team before Suzuki suspended its support for the FIM Motocross World Championships last year.
The moto world holds its combined breath waiting for Stefan to pull through and our hearts go out to the family.
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop Geomax
Almost one in five motorcyclists in the USA is female, rising almost 10% in the past decade, according to the American Motorcycle Industry Council.
Apart from Asian nations where many women ride scooters as their daily transport, that gives the USA the highest proportion of female riders in the western world.
The next biggest female contingent of motorcyclists seems to be New Zealand with 16%, closely followed by Germany with 15%.
While no official figures are compiled in Australia, most industry sources quote 10-12% and rising.
That’s similar to the UK where female riders are about 525,000 of the estimated 5 million motorcycle licence holders.
Rising tide of female riders
In general, most surveys of rider populations find that female riders are more likely to ride less often, seek post-licence training, ride in urban areas rather than rural and ride smaller capacity motorcycles and scooters.
So what is America doing right that other countries are not?
One of the biggest hurdles often cited by women is the height of motorcycle seats, not necessarily the weight or engine-capacity of a bike.
It has been suggested that American women are taller and therefore more are able to ride.
However, the average height of American women is 162.1cm which is actually lower than Australia (163.8cm) and the UK (164.5cm).
What is more likely is that the American large-capacity motorcycle market is dominated by cruiser-style motorcycles which have much lower seats.
Harley-Davidson, which has about half the large-capacity market in the USA, has also been actively marketing to women and building bikes with lower seat heights.
But not every woman wants to ride a cruiser.
The American Motorcycle Industry Council polled 2472 adults via their 2018 Motorcycle/ATV Owner Survey and found 19% were female riders. That’s up 5% since 2014 and 9% since 2009.
They also found some other interesting facts about female riders:
Women spend $US574 a year on maintenance, modifications, and accessories which is $77 more than the average male rider; and
66% of female riders say they have the support of family and friends for their pastime.
Why do you think America leads in female riders and how can we improve our numbers? Leave your comments below.
Our favorite freelance friend-of-MO, widely known for his stream-of-conscious verbalizing, print motojournalism stylings and bass playing, has just been profiled in VoyageLA. Yes, that VoyageLA. He’s a heavy cat, man. But we already knew that.
Thai Long, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. I started playing bass guitar at age 12 and fell in love with the idea of doing nothing but music for the rest of my life. That combined with my penchant for sleeping in and staying up all night meant that a normal job would never cut it. So I made it my life’s mission to steer clear of one at all costs! I played in a host of bands growing up, and when I realized my boat to stardom had sprung a slow leak, I seized an opportunity to open a high-end bass guitar boutique called L.A. Bass Exchange (Tarzana, CA) when I was 25. This was a way to stay surrounded by the things I loved as well as to be my own boss. Steady money helped, too. I had just been dumped by my girlfriend and had lost my job at another music store when this happened, so the motivation to succeed was at an all time high for me. They say success is the best revenge, right?
I ran that shop for five crazy fun years before a shady move by a partner combined with a growing recession forced its demise. So, as I stood at yet another crossroad in life, I decided to jump back into that leaky boat to see how far I could sail it. It was scary to be starting over at age 30, yet I was determined to succeed and frankly, too stubborn to fail. And somehow, along the way, I found myself touring the world with some great bands as both an engineer and performer. Where I experienced beautiful people and interesting places – things I would never had seen, felt and heard any other way. The bonds and memories you make with your fellow bandmates while touring the earth last a lifetime and perhaps is the best part of it all.
Around 2004, I found myself working on an album alongside the great Al McKay, legendary guitarist for Earth Wind and Fire. I even had a key to his house where I’d show up every day to work in his studio and man, did we have a blast! I co-wrote, co-produced, played bass and engineered dozens of tracks over the course of a couple years and those invaluable lessons I learned then are ingrained in me to this day. I was actually being paid to be in “groove” school! Eventually, life and growing schedules intervened, and we never did complete the project. Though, every time we speak we threaten to revisit the material, so maybe someone other than me, Al and his dogs will hear the songs some day after all!
Another pivotal moment for me was when I met Erik Zobler, the multi-Grammy-winning engineer who would become my mentor. Jazz bassist Christian McBride was in town and had invited me over to George Duke’s Le Gonks Studio, as George was about to track a new record (Face The Music, 2002) and Christian would play on a couple of cuts. Erik was George’s longtime engineer, and we became friends that day.
At some point throughout the session, Erik recognized that we were the same kind of coconut and I stayed well into the night. I was so jazzed to be there watching all this amazing music go down; little did I know this evening would change the course of my career. From that day on, Erik took this hungry, fledgling, amateur engineer under his wing and taught me how to listen like a pro. He instilled confidence and an approach to being a professional that I so sorely needed. His encouragement and constant belief in me and my abilities is why I’m here today.
In late 2011, an exciting opportunity came along that was too good to pass up. The legendary Bell Sound Studios (Los Angeles) had a rare and coveted opening in their heralded “A Room,” and I immediately jumped at the chance and moved in. I had already amassed a nice collection of recording gear for my home studio, where I had been honing my production and engineering chops for years, so the transition was quite easy. I had to give up often working in just my underwear, but the idea of not having bands traipsing through my living room at all hours of the night was appealing to me – aside from the fact that the acoustics in that studio were simply stunning!
So I’ve been bolted to the floor at Bell Sound for over seven years now, though my relationships with owners John Osiecki and Don Piestrup has spanned nearly 17. John is an accomplished engineer with over 45 years experience and his continued support over the course of my career cannot be overstated. Don was an unbelievable writer and composer in his day and you’ve certainly heard his work – but just never knew it. I’m honored and grateful each and every time I step foot into this amazing studio, and I try my level best to make them proud with every recording I touch.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve been branching out into the film and television side of things as well, and find that I really enjoy the creative challenges that occupy those worlds. So between working with some of LA’s finest musicians, I’m working with some of the finer names in acting, too. I find mixing a film or television project is similar to a record in that emotion is pivotal to conveying an idea and an artistic approach is coveted far above and beyond just the technical. In addition, every session and project is different from the previous – and I love that variety!
And for the record, I’d like to state that I owe everything to my mentors, who’ve helped shaped my musical, artistic and technical thinking as I continue to formulate and shape my approach to all things creative. Incredible talents that include Erik Zobler, Al McKay, Gary Chang, Eleanor Academia and more recently, Dennis Kirk.
So this is where you’ll find me to this day. When I’m not out riding my motorcycle or practicing photography, that is.
Which leads me to my side gig as a moto-journalist and bike/product tester for the esteemed Motorcycle.com where I’m, get this, a published writer! I actually get paid to ride and write about motorcycles… dig that! I don’t possess a journalism degree and the majority of my lexicon consists of four letter words, but incredibly, there I am. On top of that, some of my photography has been displayed at a small gallery, and several other images have been used in publications and print. My camera has long been a passion that now periodically rewards me with the occasional paycheck – the ultimate in encouragement I suppose. I’m not sure how, but I guess I’ve managed to turn my hobbies into careers. For this I am truly blessed. Now if I could only stop three-putting on the greens, I’d have a shot at the PGA!
Has it been a smooth road? Hardly. Anyone who finds a road smooth in the music business is either incredibly lucky or incredibly high! It’s an industry where talent doesn’t equal financial success; some of the most financially successful musicians I know are the least accomplished, yet many of the most talented are struggling to make ends meet. I truly consider anyone past age 30 making music as a sole source of income in this environment a bonafide success.
Aside from all that, try being Asian and NOT being a doctor. Go ahead. I’ll wait! Not that my parents weren’t supportive, but it was always with a “well ok for now, but when you turn 30, you’ll get a real job”, followed by a “well, when you turn 40 you’ll get a real job”, followed by “well… you’ll never find a wife that wants to marry a musician”!
Music wasn’t considered a legitimate way to earn a living in my family, especially if it wasn’t expressed in the form of a violin or piano. A bass guitar? Oh hell no! It’s gotten better as I’ve gotten older and they’ve pretty much given up trying to veer me off course. After all, it’s the life that chose me and I’m too damn stubborn anyway. That and they now have a better understanding of what it is I actually do and who I do it with. But most importantly, the love between us is undeniably strong. That’s all I really care about when it comes to it and I can handle the rest of the noise.
With that said, I totally understand their position, and it’s a conversation I’ll have with my daughter one day. If she decides she wants to be in entertainment, I’ll equip her with knowledge and experience I’ve garnered throughout my personal journey. She’s still really young, so I still have a while to go. I’ll support and encourage her no matter what, but I won’t be too upset if she decides to go into medicine one day!
In addition, after the demise of my retail store, I found myself without an identity. I was known in my immediate world as something – as someone recognizable in my industry. I was young and I needed that validation. And there I was, no longer in the position that I worked so hard to sustain and maintain. I was dejected, pissed off and eventually, broke. I sold off all of my possessions, blew through my savings and filed for bankruptcy. All around the age of 30. I had to reinvent myself and start over with no winning lottery ticket or sugar mama in sight.
This was around 2001… the year I tragically lost five people dear to me, including my father, grandfather and a close friend. All within a six month period… I felt like the harbinger of death. This combined with the loss of the business really forced me to figure out what it is I wanted to do with my life, and who I wanted to do it with. Hence, the decision to concentrate solely on being the best Producer and Engineer I could be. I made peace with that decision, picked myself up off the floor, and committed myself to reinventing my daily existence. The rest is history, as they say.
We’d love to hear more about what you do. I’m an independent music producer and audio engineer working in music, film and television. Those qualifications alone hardly make me unique in this town, but I do feel I have an advantage over many in that I received a proper recording education through invaluable mentorships and hands-on assisting on high-level sessions. I didn’t learn in a crowded classroom with a high student to teacher ratio; where you’re taught limited skills that may not bear fruit in the real world.
I learned by “being in the room” when it all went down, as an assistant when legendary musicians were in the midst of creating their vital art. I am old enough to have worked with 2″ analog tape, while still young enough to have embraced the digital revolution when it arrived. This means I know what good sound is supposed to sound like and my benchmarks are set high. I also received the technical knowledge to get there… to create or capture any sound that’s limited only by my lack of imagination.
You can’t swing a wet cat in this town without hitting a recording studio be it large or small, but how do you pick one? For me, quality gear is certainly important, but they’re merely tools that are only as effective as the person using them. The whole “Indian, not the arrow” thing. My mentors drilled the fundamentals of sound and acoustics into me as well as how to approach the creative process. I got to hear first hand how music is supposed to hit you when someone eventually presses “play”, and how to transport the listener into the sonic space you’ve created while maintaining their attention during the entire performance.
As a tracking engineer, I was taught where to place a microphone and more importantly, why. As a mixer, I was taught about balance and shading. Soundstage and depth. As a producer, I was taught about emotion and vulnerability. Tension and release. As a songwriter, I was taught about story and arc. Characters and attachment.
Most importantly, I learned how to respectfully treat musicians and artists; how to work with them to extract and capture lightning in a bottle – all while having fun. Creating music is as much about emotion and comfort as it is about the technical. I learned how to run a session in an efficient manner and how to create the best kind of client – the kind that keeps coming back. These aren’t secrets in isolation, but how one puts it all together is what keeps my cabbage rolling after all these years!
As a post-production Re-Recording Mixer, I bring everything I’ve learned in nearly 20 years of music production to each and every project. It’s a new challenge for me; one that I’m really digging and craving. There’s a lot to learn, which is part of the appeal I suppose. For now, I’ll wear both socks (film and music) on each foot for as long as I can!
Is our city a good place to do what you do? Growing up I knew that if I wanted a career in music, I’d either have to live in New York, Los Angeles, or Nashville. New York was either too frigid or sweaty, and Tennessee was just too “country”, despite having grown up in both South Carolina and Virginia. LA has that perfect weather, the beach, the mountains and is the epicenter of all things entertainment. Plus, I can ride year round. It was an easy choice.
Granted, the industry has changed considerably since my arrival in 1992, but I still think this is the place to be if you want to be working at the highest level. Not that I couldn’t make my way in some other parts of the country, but the talent pool here is so deep it makes your head spin. I’m constantly amazed by the “unknown” monsters I encounter in my studio time and time again. And it makes sense, right? The biggest fish in the smallest ponds all make their way to LA to swim this gigantic ocean. Anyone with a modicum of talent and a skull full of dreams eventually makes the journey west at some point it seems.
Whenever someone asks me about starting a career in this industry, I tell them they must be crazy. The crazier, the better! You can’t take yourself too seriously, or you’ll end up bruised and damaged. This town isn’t for everyone, but if you believe in yourself, do good work with a positive attitude, you just may find there’s no better place to be! As for where I’ll be in 10 years, who knows? If it were up to me, behind a console mixing a feature film, tracking world class talent for a kick-ass record, riding a motorcycle around a track or in the mountains, taking pictures of beautiful things and beings, and stuffing my face full of good food surrounded by loved ones. In other words, exactly what I’ve been doing all week!
Here are some current artists I’ve recently completed projects with: Sarah Reich, Buel, Postmodern Jukebox, Hadrien Feraud, David Garfield, Ginny Luke.
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
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