The Return of Lord Alfred Weigandt

Well E’llo! Lord Alfred Weigandt here awakening from a glorious slumber. Many have asked where my realistic visions on sport have been hiding. Well, after watching King/God Stefan Everts systematically dismantle American motocross at Matterly Basin in 2006, I took it as a sign that my work was done. The world now truly understood the blatant superiority of European talent in comparison to their Yank counterparts, who are more interested in freestyle jumping, cross ups and clickers than being true sporting champions. 1 1 of 3 Simon Cudby Photo Lord Alfred thinks Tommy Searle is the favorite. I basically fainted after Everts made his glorious pass and haven’t woken up until now. No worries, I knew fellow patriots Beckham and Searle would do my bidding anyway. Becks has launched the popularity of soccer so soundly in the States that teams from Europe are just begging to bring him back. I’m sure thy fear that his European influence will make the U.S. the main world outpost for soccer, just like real men like DeCoster and Robert launched motocross in the States fortnights ago. Spain, though, will have to wait. Becks will first eclipse Michael Jordan in popularity by the end of 2010 and then he can return to the Continent with American hearts tucked into his deep pockets. Don’t worry, folks, you have satellite TV now, so you will still be able to watch him. Hearts will only bend, not break. Bend it like Beckham, as we say. Haha! We can combine Becks’ success with the one-two British Formula 1 punch of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, who by next weekend will have delivered back-to-back world driving championships for mighty GB. We have now truly brought world sport to a new level, and as such, even Richard Carmichael II has chosen to abandon motocross and take up car racing. No doubt, Lewis’ spectacular rookie F1 season in 2007 gave Carmichael that idea. So now let me focus on my favourite topic of sport, motocross. The Searlinator come second in last year’s MX2 World Championship chase only to “The Accomplished Colonist” Tyla Rattray, and they set up a double-edged attack on American scrambles for 2009. Searle ended up sixth and Rattray was ninth in the final points, an amazing run for their first year in the U.S. Keep in mind these two world-class sportsmen had never raced on the American tracks before. I can’t imagine another rider coming over from the GPs and doing any better in his very first season racing over here. Searle and Rattray will surely dominate American racing next year (even stadiumcross). So set, in fact, is Searle’s path to dominance that the all-mighty King Kurt Nicoll has left his post at KTM, content knowing that Searle has orange dominance locked in for the next decade. Now it’s on to the last bastion of American existence, freestyle. King Kurt is now running the show for Travis Pastrana and his band of merry imbicles in the nac-nac circus. The takeover has begun! But taking down the Yanks at their own game begins next season. This year at the Trophy des Nations, a trap has been set across the Atlantic, and three over-confident American lads are walking right into it. This is the moment I have been waiting 23 years for, and I’ve already booked a return flights to Italy and Australia so I can visit the Peter Chamberlin trophy again in a few months (that is, if it doesn’t just return to its rightful place here in GB. Go Searle! Go Simpson! Go Billy Mac!) An Italian Trophy of Nations (what I like to call it) brings up bad memories for we Brits. The tragic events of Maggioria, Italy, in 1986, rank up there with bombing raids during the Great Wars. It was on that day that grown men wept, women cried, and children, soaking in their parents tears, asked, “would this be the right time for me to enjoy my first pint?” And it was. At the Trophy des Nations of 1986, the Septic Tanks (Yanks) won every moto, punctuated by Johnny O’Hannah, on a 1-2-5, passing King/God David Thorpe in a sorry second moto. This was a sad set of circumstances for Thorpey, who had lost the brakes on his monster CR500 and chose to merely hanging back and score solid, consistent points for his team. Back then, the 1-2-5s and the 500 bikes were scored separately, and hence Thorpy, ever the wise, knew he didn’t need to mess with that annoying nat on the buzzing bike. O’Hannah, as with any other cocky American of that era (and any other), risked his team’s success and instead focused on individual glory. Proud Englishmen like King Kurt Nicoll would never stoop to such levels! Consistency is why King Kurt is known as one of the greatest vice champions of all time! Anyway, there are many reasons why Thorpe struggled that day, some stories which will never go told since David the Golliath doesn’t make excuses. I’ve heard he lost his brakes. Or he was tired from carrying an entire family out of a burning building a few days earlier. And remember, he was actually helping the Americans by developing future Hondas with his works bike, whereas the inferior Americans had to ride production bikes that year. 1 1 of 2 Sarah Guiterrez photo Will Cairoli be on a roll this weekend? Surely Ricky Johnson, who won the 1987 and 1988 500 Championships in America, can thank Thorpey for taking one for his company and developing the future production 500 in September of 1986! Just imagine how strong Thorpe could have tuned in a Triumph of BSA. Oh I’m bloody soiling myself thinking of that scenario…it would have been a triumph indeed. Anyway, Great Britain took its revenge on the Yanks at Roggenberg in 1994 and the rest is history. Just like the USA’s win streak, which ended then and will end again this weekend. Yes, motorsport can be a cruel mistress, bringing the rush of victory and conquest, but also the crushing heartbreak and cold revenge of a woman scorned. Indeed in this case, England is the woman (a very tough, strong, manly type woman, however) and the fury will be unleashed on the Americans. Of course, they are not aware of the trap that has been set for them in Italy. Any smart American racer wouldn’t go near this event, but smart American racer is an oxymoron, and as such they found three willing to try. From what I hear, Mr. O’Hannah himself has been linked to both Tedesco and Dungey as a physio trainer. No surprise. I give credit to a few American riders, namely Bubba Stewart, who wisely decided to not in this year’s event. Bubba saw the motocross writing on the wall and it said, “Searle is coming.” You believe it’s a coincidence that he bowed out of natural-terrain racing at the very same moment Tommy boy arrived? In 2008 Bubba again expected victory, coming in overconfident after winning every single moto in the States. He of course wasn’t used to the speed of his European challengers, and after Sebastien Pourcel applied lap after lap of relentless pressure, James crashed. Broken in spirit by a Frenchman! Incredible. Bubba hasn’t raced a motocross race since. So I applaud James for making the right move and bowing out. Same for little Villo, who wanted no part in taking on his arch rival “Super” Tony Carolli in Italy. Caroli delivered a championship in his first season on a 450 this year. I look at the results and see Villopoto finished 24th in his first 450 season in the U.S. Run, run away, Ryan. That leaves Dungey, Tedesco and some MX2 guy I have not heard of. Cockiness runs in the American blood, and Dungey will race motocross on a 450 for the first time here. He will taste O’Hannah’s medicine when Searlinator runs him down on the 250F! Tedesco was flat whipped at the conclusion of his last moto at the ‘of Nations back in 2006, exhausted from trying to run the GP pace. And the other guy, what’s his name, Wimmer? I predict he will be not a Wimmer but a loser when it’s all over. Oh how I make myself laugh sometimes! Meanwhile, the hot-blooded Italians have a veritable super-team, led by Super Tony, backed by last year’s MX1 Champion David Phillapearts, and featuring David Guarneri in MX2. Like the moments before a well-cooked Italian meal, this team is hungry. Don’t expect any seconds, either. The Italians made the right decision to join the Brits in the second Great War, and now they will win another battle this weekend. If they falter, we have the always-strong Belgian team, with Clement “American Podium” DeSalle leading the way. If anyone is hungry, it’s the MX Panda! As for the Brits, we have recently added Shaun Simpson to the team. With Searle heading to dominate the U.S., Simpson was set to dominate MX2 this year, proving that you can, indeed win wars while fighting on two fronts. Injuries forced Simpsy out of the chase, though, and a Frenchman named Marvin Musquin snuck through. French fans beware, though. Their last major star-to-be was named Christophe Pourcel. He won the MX2 Championship in 2006, was beaten down by Super Tony in 2007, and then disappeared from the rankings altogether after that. I honestly have no idea what Christophe is up to nowadays but I note he’s not on the entry list for Team France this weekend. Surrender probably has something to do with it. The rest of our team includes Searlinator, of course, and the venerable Scottsman, Billy MacKenzie. Yes, Billy Mac is racing for Team GREAT BRITAIN. Get it? Scottsman Jeff Ward was a traitor for winning eight Trophy des Nations for the U.S. team, and now Canada will make the same grievous error by putting Scottish-born Dean Wilson on their team. Line up Wilson with Simpson and Searle and you’ve got the strongest young trio in the motocross world. That’s Great Britain! (At least Canada still respects the Queen so I’ll give Wilson a free pass for the weekend). Last but not least (and certainly not last, either) comes me Australian mates, Reedy, Byrnie and Metty. Take a look at the Aussie flag and you will see the Union Jack proudly embedded in it. The Aussies simply take what they like: our flag, and America’s 450 motocross championship! With Reed and Byrne aided by DeCoster, chances are that the Land Down Under will finish up top! Allow me to make a prediction for this weekend’s race: 1. Great Britain 2. Italy 3. Australia Truthfully, I haven’t been myself lately, and by lately I mean the last 23 years. Our proud British Empire has been rocked and ravaged before, and we have always proven to return to form even stronger, and I have a feeling in me bones that this year, we will rise again!

Matt Goerke Press Release

As announced by Yamaha Motor Corp. last week, Lake Helen, Florida’s Matt Goerke’s recent success in the 2009 Lucas Oil’s AMA Pro Motocross Series has drawn the attention of the factory team managers, and Matt has signed on to fill in for the injured factory Yamaha rider, Josh Hill, for the next two rounds. Yamaha retains the option to finish the series final two rounds with Goerke under the factory tent.

Riding the #34 RMZ450 of the Suzuki City privateer team, Goerke has pushed his way into the top ten numerous times this season, highlighted by two top-five moto finishes and earning the AMA Hard Charger Award in first moto – going from 37th to 9th by the end of the moto.

“First of all, of course I’m extremely excited about getting the opportunity to ride for a factory team” said Goerke about getting the chance to compete on factory Yamaha equipment. “But I couldn’t have gotten here without the fantastic support I’ve gotten from Mike Nasakaitis and all the guys at Suzuki City. They’ve worked really hard to put me on the best equipment possible, and we’ve managed to put together a package that has allowed me to run near the front of the pack all season. I really owe a lot to them, because I wouldn’t be getting this opportunity if they hadn’t been there for me.”

“Also, my family has really sacrificed everything they could to get me to where I’m at, and I’m lucky to have them support me the way they have. I can’t thank them enough, except to make sure that I do what I need to do to make the most of this opportunity” continued Goerke. “I know I’ve got the speed and talent to make it to the top, and I can’t wait to show what I’m capable of on the best equipment in the sport.”

Goerke made his Pro debut in the summer of 2004, after a stellar amateur career that saw him claim 26 Amateur National Championships, including two overall titles and 11 moto wins at Loretta Lynn’s.

2010 Kawasaki KX450F First Ride

It’s one thing to redesign a bike that has been more or less unchanged since its inception, like Kawasaki did with the 2009 KX450F. However, it’s another thing for Kawasaki to take the 2009 model and make a myriad of improvements to it for the very next model year – especially in an economy like this one.But that’s what Kawasaki did for the 2010 KX450F.
The 2010 Kawi features an updated engine, including a factory-bike-style box-piston, lighter piston pin, new cylinder, crankshaft, ECU, camshaft, clutch operating plate and friction plates, redesigned exhaust pipe, and larger radiators.

The end result is more power as well as a more consistent power delivery and better durability.

But when you get on the new green machine, the quickest thing you notice is not that it has more power, but rather how versatile the engine is. Do you want to ride it like a 125 or 250F? You can. It will rev for a very long time. Do you want to ride it like a 500cc two-stroke? You can. Just knock it a gear high and it will pull from very low in the rev range.

In testing the bike at Pala Raceway, which is a bit of a sandy track, we were able to do one particular straightaway on the main track in second gear, third gear AND fourth gear for its entire length. In second, it was screaming. In third, it was about where it seemed comfortable. And in fourth, it was lugging. But the point is that it did it in all three gears, clearing all the jumps. The same sort of thing can be said for turns, where you can take tight turns in first, second, or even third gear.

The end result isn’t just versatility for a variety of riders, but for a variety of conditions as well as the creation of a buffer zone to allow you to make mistakes. If you mess up a turn or miss a shift, it doesn’t mean you have to avoid jumping the next jump. You can probably just rev it out a gear low and go right over it. Big mistakes will cost you less time with an engine like this.

Then there’s the chassis. The chassis updates include fork updates (coated lower fork tubes both inside and out, new spring rates and damping settings), shock updates (new spring rates, damping settings, linkage and rocker arms), new swingarm (updates to reduce rigidity), and new tires (from Dunlops to Bridgestones).

To understand how good this chassis is in stock form, understand that the author of this article was the test rider for the day (apparently even Kawasaki testing is using replacement riders, as Cox filled in for Pingree), and he injured his wrist on the second lap around the track. Then, after letting his arm loosen back up, he taped it up and rode for the rest of the day. With tape on his wrist, he was doing all the jumps and going reasonably fast considering he had only one arm. The other arm was good for balance, but not really for hanging on very well.

However, the 2010 Kawasaki KX450F still managed to do everything without as much as a wiggle, much less anything crazy enough to try and toss the test rider.

This is a testament to the overall mild-manners of the new Kawasaki. But don’t confuse mild manners with being mild. This Kawasaki is seriously fast if you want it to be. It just delivers performance more in the style of Kevin Windham than Ricky Carmichael, and that’s a good thing.

The 2010 Kawasaki KX450F will retail for $8049. For more details, check with your local Kawasaki dealer.

MCRMX Signs Matt Goerke for 2010

MotoConcepts Racing (MCRMX) is excited to announce the signing of 450 rider Matt Goerke to their 2010 Supercross/Motocross team.

“We are very excited to have Matt join our program and have high expectations and belief in his ability to deliver strong performances next year,” stated Team Owner Mike Genova. “Matt has an excellent opportunity to finish out the 2009 Motocross season riding a factory Yamaha and he will begin testing with our team in September as we prepare for 2010.”

The Florida native is coming off a strong performance at Washougal where he finished 4th in moto one and 11th overall for the day. Currently Matt is 15th overall for the series after missing a number of rounds recovering from injury.

“I’m happy to be part of a good team that is moving up,” said Matt. “I’m also excited to work with Steve Lamson again. I learned a lot from him in the past and look forward to learning more.”

MCRMX also has Tyler Bowers (450) and Vince Friese (250 East) signed for 2010.