We stopped by the Virus Action Sports Performance headquarters in Orange County, California, to check out where the exciting new compression gear is made. Virus’ Sten Rasmussen walked us through the product line, a favorite of the TWMX staff…
Article source: http://motocross.transworld.net/1000129933/videos/house-call-virus-action-sports-performance/
We aren’t sure if this is considered a “Catching Up With” interview. It’s more like an introduction. Although he is the younger brother to the most decorated racer of recent history, Tyler Villopoto is clearly his own person. The 21 year old from Washington state has created a buzz around himself thanks in part to his extremely fluid riding style, which is laden with scrubs and whips. The first time we saw him ride in person, it was a typical windy spring day at Comp Edge. But that didn’t stop the Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki rider from throwing his bike completely parallel to the ground over every jump on the circuit. His speed is impressive, even more so for someone with less than a full year back on the bike. Villopoto will spend his summer racing the Canadian Nationals with the intention of coming to the US full time in 2013.
Many people began to know you after seeing videos and pictures on the Internet. Give us a brief rundown of your career and where you are going for those that don’t know.
This is my first year back on the bike because I have had a rough path up until now. I got back on the bike at the beginning of last summer and was riding here and there in Washington. I have the support that I need to make something happen and I came down to California and have been hitting it as hard as my body will allow me to hit it. I have a pretty good ride set up in Canada with Kawasaki and I’m excited about everything. I am trying stay healthy until I get there, then make it through the season healthy and worry about next year.
This will be your first year of making it your career?
Yeah. It has always been my passion but I got hurt a lot back in the day and didn’t have the support a lot back in the day. Everything is coming around now and I’m just making a run at it.
Being the brother to the person that wins everything doesn’t mean any of it funnels your way?
Now that I have been putting a massive effort forward, everyone has been helping out and jumping on the bandwagon, but before that, no. It was, “fend for yourself.” But he had helped me out enough with a bike here and there when I needed it.
Obviously, you are your own person. Are you glad that you don’t live in his shadow?
Yeah, we are two totally different people and grew up totally different. We were raised by the same people, but it was completely different. There is a massive shadow but I’m just trying to do my own thing, not trying to do anything he is doing. That will be hard to accomplish that. I am trying to make a living, and even if I am barley scratching by, that is fine with me.
Is going to Canada a stepping-stone to help you come to the United States?
Yeah, I’m just trying to get through this season healthy and as mistake free as I can do it. I am trying to do as good as I can and I have no expectations for myself because it is my first year back. I want to do what I can for the team and for myself, and maybe next year I’ll go up there and race the Lites, or I will come down here and train and feel good enough to do something here.
What are the differences you see when you are in Washington for as long as your were then come to California?
Washington state, you get only two or three months that you can actually ride. 10 months out of the year, it is raining and you are riding in the mud a lot, waking up with clouds over your head unsure of what the day is going to be like. It is completely different than Washington state, there is so much talent down here and so it the entire industry. It is the Mecca for motocross. All the riders live within four exits, so it gives you a gauge for what is going on. It helps out so much. The weather is sunny every day of the week and gives you nothing but time to work on yourself.
After distancing yourself from everything, living in Washington, and not riding, do you see where riders come to California and get burnt out?
Yeah, I can see how it gets old. Same tracks every week, same day every week. But they have it so good; they are so spoiled when compared to other places. Washington state is terrible and we got out of there soon enough, we didn’t stick around that long, which is why Ryan made it. We wouldn’t have done anything if we stayed up there.
What would you be doing if you didn’t make this last run at motocross?
To be honest, I have worked a lot of jobs. I’ve done construction, cabinetry, worked on the beaches doing clams and oysters, flooring, working on your hands and knees, which was terrible. I’m not quite sure. When I wasn’t riding, I didn’t feel like the same person, was depressed and felt like a nobody or a loser.
How would you describe your riding style? The way you scrub and whip everything has made you Internet famous, but notorious as well.
It’s totally different. The 450 is harder to ride that way because it is already beating you up enough that you aren’t trying to throw any extra energy into whipping it. I can’t wait to get on the 250 after this year. I had never ridden a 450 until I got my bike now, and I have three or four months of time on it now. When I get back on the 250, it’s going to feel like a Tonka toy.
You’ll be full factory Kawasaki up north?
Yeah, Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki. I’m excited to do the best I can for them and myself.
Article source: http://motocross.transworld.net/1000129945/features/catching-up-with-tyler-villopoto/
May 18, 2012 - JT Racing USA is pleased to announce its continued support of the MotoConcepts race program for the 2012 AMA Lucas Oil Outdoor National Motocross Series. After an exciting and successful season ushering the brand back to professional racing, we will continue to provide apparel for the team that helped us do so as they get set to compete in the 12 round national series.
We would first like to congratulate Team MotoConcepts on the results achieved thus far in 2012 and wish them the best of success as they compete this summer. Due to commitments made prior to the 2012 Supercross series, MotoConcepts riders will not be able to compete the outdoor series in the all new ALS-02 motocross helmet, but will be outfitted in JT Racing apparel for the next 12 rounds of competition. JT Racing’s Daniel Sandstedt states “I would like to personally thank MotoConcepts team owner Mike Genova for making the necessary adjustments in his sponsorship program to allow us to introduce our ALS-02 helmet during the Supercross series. It was a successful campaign that we both felt it was important to include in JT’s return to professional racing”.
MotoConcepts will be using its outdoor series helmet sponsor to achieve its goals of facilitating the endorsement of its own brand of motocross related accessories baring the MotoConcepts and MotoOptics logos.
For more information about JT Racing USA please visit www.jtracingusa.com or contact us at info@jtracingusa.com.
ABOUT JT RACING USA - Launched by John and Rita Gregory in the late 1960′s, JT Racing ruled the motocross world for decades. It was the gear of choice for racing legends like Smith, Hannah, Johnson, Lechien, Bayle, and Bailey. JT Racing returns to the sport it helped build with an innovative 2012 line of motocross gear: pants, gloves, jersey and a trick new helmet not only reminiscent of the ground-breaking ALS-2 of the early 1980’s, but one that will make you rethink helmet technology. With many past champions – Glover, LaPorte, Sun, Gibson, Smith, Lechien, and Hansen – developing, testing and promoting the new line of gear, JT Racing is poised to unleash the style and innovation that will once again become the gold standard in motocross. JT Racing USA – History. Innovation. And heart.
Article source: http://motocross.transworld.net/1000129942/news/jt-racing-outdoor-nationals-press-release/
We checked in with Jake Weimer last week, discussed what’s going on with testing, the competition for Outdoors, as well as reflect on the 2012 Supercross season. Jake also rips around the track at Comp Edge in this episode of Thor Theater.
Article source: http://motocross.transworld.net/1000129904/news/thor-theater-checking-in-with-jake-weimer-3/
After a fractured neck halted his Supercross season, Tyla Rattray’s focus was turned to the very distant outdoors series. While Rattray worked himself back into race shape aboard his familiar Pro Circuit Kawasaki KXF250, Ryan Villopoto was sidelined with a knee injury that would park the defending champion for the summer. Monster Energy searched for a suitable replacement to the fill the vacant role, and after weeks of speculation announced that Tyla Rattray would make the jump to the 450 class for the summer.
How was the recovery process after you crash in Oakland?
After Oakland, I had to take three months off to let my neck heal up. I have been riding for a few weeks now, and everything has been going good. I got the ride with Kawasaki in the 450 class, which I had been hoping for.
Do you feel like more of a 450 rider because you are a bigger rider and older?
Yeah, definitely. I raced it at the Motocross of Nations a couple of times and really enjoy riding the bike. It has a lot of power and with me being a bigger guy it suits me more. I am looking forward to getting out there because I have never done a full season on the 450.
Though the initial plans called for Rattray to ride a Pro Circuit 450 during the summer, his plans were altered after Ryan Villopoto’s season ending injury. He will now ride for Monster Energy Kawasaki’s factory effort.
The end of your recovery and Ryan’s injury happened at around the same time. How long was it before you were approached by Kawasaki to ride for them?
I think it had obviously been negotiated for quite a while, but only got the go ahead the day before it was announced. I am really pumped about it because I think it is a great opportunity for me to step up to the factory team and ride Ryan’s bike. It has won a lot of championships and races, so I know what it is capable of. It is just a matter of me putting in testing time and getting it how I like it. The most important thing is getting out there, because I know my fitness is good.
It took three months for Rattray to heal the neck injury he suffered in late January at the Oakland round of the Supercross season.
There was talk that you would contest the Nationals aboard a Pro Circuit 450. How close to a reality was that?
I was going to. I told Mitch that I would have liked to race a 450 outdoors, if it was for him or if it was for Kawasaki. I am just happy that this opportunity came around. Obviously, it is not a Pro Circuit 450; it is a factory Kawasaki. It is kind of a bummer to leave Mitch, because he has been so good to me over the years, along with everyone at the team, but they can see it is a great opportunity for me. I can’t thank them enough for letting me do this.
Even though you are coming of injury, you stayed in shape and look fast aboard the bike. What do you set for expectations?
I just want to go there and try to get good starts. I was still working hard with the injury that I had, and with my neck I could still cycle, run, and do my gym work. Going into Hangtown, I just want to do well and get out of there safe. That is going to be my plan; go there, get good starts, race as hard as I can whether it is for the win or third place. I’d like to be up front and racing for the win, but I have only been riding for a short amount of time. As the season goes I will get better and better with more saddle time. I’m looking forward to getting back to racing again. It has been a long layoff since January for me, a good four months that I have missed racing.
With a limited amount of time to aclimate himself to Ryan Villopoto’s machine, Rattray will line up for the first time in the 450 class at Hangtown.
This will be your third year on the National circuit. Are there tracks that you favor more than others?
I like tracks like Texas and Budds Creek. All the hot races, those are the ones I’m really looking forward to. I have been working hard in my offseason, you could call it, and am looking forward to getting on those rough tracks. Kawi has a great bike and they have won so many races, so if I get out the gate I don’t see why I can’t win.
Article source: http://motocross.transworld.net/1000129846/features/catching-up-with-tyla-rattray-2/
With only days until the kickoff of the 2012 outdoor Nationals, teams are wrapping up their final preseason testing for Saturday’s Hangtown opener. Randy Roberts headed out to Lake Elsinore Motosports Park to catch James Stewart, Martin Davalos, Gareth Swanepoel, Malcolm Stewart, Jake Canada, Tommy Hahn, and Weston Peick for this raw edit.
CATEGORIZED: Motocross, News, Videos
TAGS: gareth swanepoel, jake canada, james stewart, lake elsinore, malcolm stewart, martin davalos, randy roberts, tommy hahn, Weston Peick
Article source: http://motocross.transworld.net/1000129831/news/lake-elsinore-may-16th-raw-edit/
After a career that included stints at Factory Connection Honda, Factory KTM, and Factory Kawasaki, Billy Laninovich disappeared from the sport in the summer of 2009. A failed attempt to restart his career in Europe brought him back to the US, but Laninovich distanced himself from the sport and took a job in the construction trade. When talk swirled in Southern California over the winter that he would return to racing at Anaheim One, it was considered an unconfirmed rumor until a Honda with a variation of his tradition “32″ wheeled onto the line. With the Supercross season complete, he will spend the first five Nationals aboard a Troy lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda.
How did your ride with Troy Lee come about?
They called me a few races after Christian got hurt and asked me to fill in, but I didn’t want to do it. I wanted to do my own deal and didn’t want to leave my team. I really wanted to do it on my own so everyone couldn’t say I did it on a factory bike. All the riders got hurt at Salt Lake City and they needed a rider badly, and I wanted to better myself for next year. I got the opportunity to ride the bike in Las Vegas and was hoping to do better, but we struggled and had bad luck in the first main event. I got taken out and bent the shifter and the shift shaft, so I had to come in. I won the LCQ but got a bad start in the Shootout. There were so many fast guys. Baggett was right there in front of me, and so was Cunningham and Bogle. There were a lot of really good guys back there. It was disappointing but I am looking forward to the Outdoors coming up.
How long did you have on the bike before Las Vegas?
I had three days. We rode Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and spent two days at the Honda track and rode at Ronnie Faisst’s speed and style track.
Where did you go when you fell of the radar?
In 2009, I broke my collarbone in Las Vegas while riding for Factory Kawasaki, and I started working for my ex-girlfriend’s Dad, because he owned a construction company. I was an estimator and I did that for a year and a half. I tried to go back to Europe and race the GP for Aprilla, but I ended up crashing and fractured the C3 in my neck. I didn’t have a bike or anything, so right after I came home from Europe I wasn’t happy and started training. I traded a guy seven lessons for a 2003 KX 250 two stroke, and that was the only bike I had. About four months before Supercross, the Miller family bought me a KX 450 to ride. I was riding that when Mike Craig called me and said he wanted to start a race team. He was the only one that believed in me at the time and I said yeah. We started riding December 17th and right after that, he was let go and they kept me.
When you were injured, did you ever doubt riding again?
I was over it. I had a lot of injuries in my career and the economy was going down, so the pay wasn’t as good and I didn’t think it was worth it at the time to race for that amount of money. I regret it now, but it is all in God’s timing. Then I wanted to race, and I remember I had a picture on my computer at the office of me racing. I just wanted to get back on the track so badly. It took a year and a half before I was racing again.
Is the pace faster now than when you quit?
It is. I think I am pretty much the same speed as I was before I quit, and these kids are on a whole new level with the aggression and everything. It was hard to adapt, and I expected to come out and be a top-10 rider, but I had a rude awakening at A1. I was going to the gym, but Supercross shape is completely different. It took me four races to get up to speed.
Your deal with TLD will run through the first five Nationals, correct.
Yeah, we plan on doing five outdoors and the X Games Best Whip, if we can get into that. They needed rider and I asked them a favor to be able to ride the Supecross track next year so I have a track to ride and suspension or help in any way that they can. Hopefully next year I can be a satellite TLD rider.
This isn’t a “one and done” season?
No, I’ll be back and way more prepared next year.
Article source: http://motocross.transworld.net/1000129810/features/catching-up-with-billy-laninovich-2/
Our friend Randy Roberts from IdiotBoyz.com is at it again. This time, he captured James Stewart testing out at Lake Elsinore MX Park, and sent us this cool video!
Article source: http://motocross.transworld.net/1000129770/videos/james-stewart-testing-at-lake-elsinore/
Though it is only mid May, KTM has announced their 2013 line up. The Austrian brand has replaced their previous 450 model with the bike Ryan Dungey has developed and raced throughout the 2012 season. Those who still desire the smell of premix need not worry, as two strokes are still very much a part of the brand’s program. Check of the gallery for a look at what KTM has in store…
CATEGORIZED: Featured Products, Features, Motorcycles, News
TAGS: 125, 150, 2013, 250, 350, 450, four-stroke, ktm, New Bikes, SX-F, two-stroke
Article source: http://motocross.transworld.net/1000129722/features/ktm-releases-2013-sx-models/
Wildomar, CA – (April 18, 2012)- John Louch has joined Team Ohlins/Langston Motorsports/KTM as team trainer. “We are very pleased to announce the addition of John Louch as our team trainer. John and his newly established Rockwell Training Facility are a natural fit as we continue to improve and expand our team,” said team owner Scott Witt. Witt went on to say, “We are currently in the process of establishing a race shop in California and our riders are there in preparation for the beginning of the outdoor races. So, the timing of bringing John on board could not be better.”
John Louch is a well-known and respected trainer within the industry and he has worked with several top riders. He has recently opened Rockwell Training Facility in Wildomar, CA. The facility is designed to cater to high performance athletes. Louch commented, “I am really happy about this opportunity. The challenge of working with and helping to develop a new team is very exciting for me.” Louch went on to say, “What makes it even better is I get to work very closely again with my good friend Grant Langston.”
The Rockwell Training Facility is designed to provide custom training programs and fitness assessments to athletes of all skill levels. With his background in all types of motorcycle racing, Louch has created the gym to cater to the specific needs of motocross athletes. Programs will be designed to meet the requirements of each individual and members will receive personalized training in a first class facility. Rockwell Training Facility is located at: 24335 Prielipp Rd. Suite 123, Wildomar, CA 93595.
