BY JODY WEISEL

When you race with the same guys week in and week out you get to see the whole spectrum of human endeavor. Some good, some bad and some rained out. Even in the antiseptic halls of insurance companies, law firms and auto parts stores it is human nature to cherish the nice moments and forget the scary ones. Not so in motocross! For some reason racers find the scary moments funny and relive them over and over. Each time they tell how they endoed down the Carlsbad downhill they laugh longer and louder. It may be weird, but it’s part of the mind’s self defense mechanism. As long as you plan to throw a leg over a motorcycle, you have to look at the worst thing that can happened to you as just another part of the human comedy.

I won’t lie to you, in my racing career I’ve seen horrific crashes, heartrending events and more than my fair share of stomach turners. The effect is not as negative as you’d expect. If you hang around long enough you become hardened to the situations that an inexperienced rider and 220 pounds of metal can get into. Laughter is the best medicine — but not necessarily for the patient.

My friend Fred Phalange is a classic example of motocross racers twisted view of danger. On a day-to-day basis the gang never really pays any attention to Fred (except when he sits on the lid of the ice chest). Fred doesn’t have any striking personality traits that make him stand out; he’s not especially fast, he doesn’t look all that good in motocross gear and at speed he most resembles a hermit crab straddling a bowling ball. If he wasn’t sitting on the ice chest every time somebody wanted to get something out of it, he would almost be invisible.

However, Fred does have one attribute that makes him unique. What is it? Fred Phalange is so susceptible to getting concussions that he can get knocked out if a Rhinoceroses Beetle flies into him in the pits (even with his helmet on). Even more drastic is the fact that when Fred’s knocked out he completely blanks out. So, it’s no wonder that whenever there is a first turn crash, one of the gang has to go up and guide Fred Phalange back to the pits, tell him what happened, what day it is and where he parked. It’s not really funny, concussions are serious, but when Fred is concussed he is the perfect foil for practical jokes.

A couple years ago Fred showed up at the track wearing some incredibly ugly riding gear. It was pink and green and had a giant spider web pattern on it. In practice Fred crashed and was knocked out. The ambulance guys brought him back to our pit and said that they thought he was okay, but that he couldn’t remember where he lived. We sat Fred down (on the ice chest) and quizzed him about the directions to his house. He was clueless, but suddenly he looked down at his jersey and pants and said, “How did I get in these ugly clothes?” You gotta admire a guys who can have good taste knocked into him.

Last weekend I was standing by the side of the track, trying to find a titanium seat bolt that had fallen out in practice when Fred Phalange came flying towards the whoop section. He was in last place and trying to make up time. We’ll never know what Fred was thinking (because he can’t remember), but he moved to the bad side of the whoops and left his bike tapped in fourth. I closed my eyes, but could still hear his YZ250 cartwheeling end over end. When I opened my eyes he was laid out, sprawled out and knocked out.

I ran over to where he lay, stopping for a moment to dig in the dirt when I saw something shiny that looked like a seat bolt. By the time I got to Fred he was coming to. “What happened?” he asked groggily.

“You were winning,” I said with lots of enthusiasm. I figured he’d never remember anything that took place and it would make him feel good to think that he was fast. It’s bad enough to be dingy without being slow.

“What lap did I crash on?” he asked hopefully.

“The last lap. You almost had the victory in the bag, but you got taken out by a lapper,” I was lying, but Fred wasn’t questioning my version the story.

“Where’s my bike?” he asked looking around groggily. A flagman had pushed it into the bushes to get it off the track.

“Your Honda is over there,” I said pointing towards the brush.

“What Honda?” he asked.

“Your Honda CR250, ” I answered.

“I don’t have a Honda!”

“Sure you do. You sold your YZ about a two months ago and have been riding Honda’s since October.”

“What month is it?” he asked slowly.

“December, ” I said. It was only August. Only in the Sun Belt could you get away with a seasonal lie so bold.

“Fred, I’d like to stay with you, but I have to go back to the pits and find Lulubelle.”

“You mean Louella, don’t you?”

“Who’s Louella?” I asked. Just then the paramedics walked up and began shining a light in Fred’s eyes.

I pulled the head ambulance guy over and said, “He can’t remember anything. His name is Jimmy Mac and I think he has a concussion. He thinks it’s December and he swears that he was riding a Honda. If he doesn’t get his memory back, come and see me in the pits. My name is Fred Phalange.”

The post BEST OF JODY’S BOX: LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE — BUT NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE PATIENT. appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.

 THE CARS THAT NEVER CAME TO THE LOCAL AUTO MALL

You know them for their classic motorcycles, but lots of motocross brand either started in the automobile business, moved into car manufacturing, thought they could make money by diversifying or just blindly decided to become a car company. Here are some of the most unique bike/car match-ups.

1934 JAWA 700

Czech motorcycle manufacturer Jawa (who were eventually merged with CZ), signed a license agreement with DKW in 1933 to produce the German cars in Czechoslovakia. The first Jawa car made was the 1934 Jawa 700, based on the DKW F2 Meisterklasse design. The Jawa 700 was a front-wheel drive vehicle with a 689cc two-stroke engine and three-speed transmission. The Jawa 700 could reach a top speed of 56 mph. It differed from its DKW parent in having a 4-inch longer wheelbase. The Jawa 700 was introduced at the 1934 Prague Motor Show. Only 1002 Jawa 700s were manufactured. Production ended In 1937.

1937 BSA SCOUT

BSA actually starting making cars in 1907, but stopped and started several times (1914, 1921 and 1932). The last BSA car was produced in 1940. Their best known car was the BSA Scout. The Scouts came as two-seat sports cars, four-seat tourers and two-seat coupes. It was a front-wheel drive car, manufactured and sold by a subsidiary of the Birmingham Small Arms Company. It was launched in 1935 with a three-speed, four-cylinder layout, 1075cc engine (out of the previous BSA three-wheeled car). It had a rakish looking body with cut-away doors, luggage space in the tonneau, motorcycle-style fenders and a single-piece windshield.

1956 MAICO 500 CAR

You may have heard of the Maico 501, but don’t confuse it with the Maico 500. Yes, it was an air-cooled two-stroke, but the engine wasn’t made by Maico, but by airplane manufacturer Heinkel. If you had been in the market for a car back in the day, would you have bought a Maico? Maico marketed their line of small cars from 1956 to 1958 (which they inherited when they bought the defunct Champion car company). The Maico 500 was powered by a 452cc, twin-cylinder, 18-horsepower, water-cooled, two-stroke Heinkel engine. The two-door car could hold four people, but it was by no means roomy. Warranty issues doomed the car and production was stopped in 1958. Maico went out of the automobile business in 1958, but continued to manufacture motorcycles through 1986.

1956 DKW MONZA 

Danish engineer Jorgen Rasmussen founded DKW in Germany in 1916. It’s first products were steam fittings. Rasmussen designed and built a two-stroke engine in 1919. He put a slightly modified version of this engine into a motorcycle and called it Das Kleine Wunder (DKW). By the late 1920s, DKW was the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer. In 1932, DKW merged with Audi, Horch and Wanderer to form Auto Union. Although often thought of as a motorcycle manufacturer, the first DKW car was made in 1928 and, its most famous car, was the 1956-1958 DKW Monza sports car. The fiberglass-bodied, front-wheel drive car was powered by a 900cc, three-cylinder, two-stroke engine. A guesstimate of the number of Monzas produced is around 240 or less.

1963 HONDA T360 PICKUP TRUCK

Honda has been the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a production of 400 million units per year. They are also the world’s largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines — 14 million a year. They may be a massive automobile powerhouse in 2020, but their first production automobile was a lot less impressive. In 1963 Honda made the T360 mini pick-up truck. It was powered by a 356cc, double-overhead-cam, four-cylinder engine that was mid-mounted under the truck’s bench seat. The engine generated 30 horsepower at a very high 8500 rpm. Production ran from 1963 to 1968 with 108,920 T360s being manufactured. Every one of them was painted blue. The T360 was followed a few months later by Honda’s first actual automobile, S500 sports car, which was chain-driven.

1970 MONTESA FORMULA 4

Montesa never made a real car and the only photo of their British Formula IV race car comes from a 1970 newspaper clipping. The driver was Tony Brise, who’s father was the British Montesa importer. Brise, who at the time was a British karting champion, won the 1970 British Formula IV championship in a car equipped with a 250cc Montesa engine. Tony Brise would eventually become a Formula 1 driver. Tony was the protege of World Driving Champion Graham Hill, who was the only driver to have won the Triple Crown of racing — Formula 1 Championship (1962 & 1968), Indianapolis 500 (1966) and 24 Hours of LeMans (1972). The 23-year old Brise raced the Formula 1 series in 1975 for the Embassy-Hill team as Graham Hill’s fill-in driver — and had several top ten finishes. Sadly, Brise was a passenger in a plane flown by friend Graham Hill that crashed short of Elstree Airport (12 miles north of London) on November 30, 1975. Hill, 46, survived the crash. He had retired from Formula 1 racing five months earlier.

1972 GREEVES INVACAR

In 1948, Bert Greeves adapted a motorbike to help of his paralysed cousin, Derry Preston-Cobb, get around town. The idea caught on and, with British government support, Greeves started building the Invacar for soldiers disabled in the Second World War. The British Ministry of Pensions distributed Invacars free to disabled people from 1948 until the 1970s. Early vehicles were powered by an 147cc, air-cooled, two-stroke Villiers engine, but near the end of their run, the Invacar had a 500cc Puch four-stroke engine. The body was made of fiberglass and most of them were the same shade of blue. Greeves sold thousands of Invacars which helped finance his motocross bikes and race teams.

1991 YAMAHA OX99 SUPERCAR

Yamaha OX99-11 Supercar.

Yamaha has a long history in auto manufacturing. In 1967 Yamaha built the engines for the Toyota 2000GT (the first Japanese Super Car). In 1984 Yamaha was producing engines for the Ford Motor Company. And, most significantly, Yamaha had an engine in the 1989 Formula 1 West Zakspeed cars, but what you don’t know—is that Yamaha built a Super Car based on what they learned in F1. Most notably, using the 3.5-liter V12 engine.

The 1991 Yamaha OX99 two-seat sports car (with the passenger in tandem to the driver) featured a wing-like front spoiler, aircraft-style cockpit and protruding engine scoop.  Top speed was 210 miles per hour via a six-speed gearbox. To keep it secret, Yamaha tested the OX99 at night at the Millbrook Proving Ground in England (with F1 GP driver John Watson as a test driver).

Only three OX99-11’s were built.

Only three OX99s were built (a raw aluminum one, a black one and a red one). Yamaha had plans to develop the OX99 as a production car, but in 1994 that idea was discontinued.

2017 BULTACO LINX

At the 2017 International Motorcycle Show in Milan, Bultaco unveiled the Linx—it’s first automobile. The Linx hits the scales at 1870 pounds and production was expected to be less than 50 cars per model year. The price would have been $109,000. The planned powerplant was a 2.0 liter turbo from either Audi or Volkswagen. The rear engine roadster does not have a windshield, side windows or roof.  And yes, the exhaust is from Akrapovic. There was talk of turning the Bultaco Linx into an all-electric car.

YAMAHA SPORT RIDE

Yamaha Sport Ride super car.

Over the past few years Yamaha has introduced concept cars and even a pickup truck that led people to believe that they were interested in entering the car market. The concept cars fueled the idea, but the hiring of McLaren Formula 1 designer Gordon Murray gave it credence. Murray designed three uniquely different cars for Yamaha.

Yamaha Cross Hub pickup truck.

Yamaha Motiv-e City car

The Yamaha Motiv-e electric city car, the carbon fiber Yamaha Sport Ride mini-super car and the Yamaha Cross Hub pickup truck were all Murray designs. But much like the OX99 supercar of 1991-92, which was a 210 mph, carbon fiber tub, sports car equipped with a 3.5 liter, five-valve V12 engine that never made it out of the prototype phases, it has been reported that Yamaha has announced that automobiles are not in Yamaha’s future plans—preferring to stick to more motorcycle projects. There is always the chance that Yamaha will find a partner to take on the three projects, in which case Yamaha would become a supplier or parts and design, but not the manufacturer. It has happened before with the Toyota 200GT.

TOYOTA 2000 GT

Toyota 2000GT.

Toyota 2000GT sport car, used in the James Bond film “You Only Live Twice,”  was actually a Yamaha project contracted to Toyota in the 1960s.

KTM X-BOW

MXA tried to do a test of the KTM X-bow (pronounced Crossbow) for several years, finally we got an invitation to drive one at Sonoma Raceway. Thanks to the X-Bow race team we put MXA’s orange helmet inside a race car.

Josh Mosiman (96) and Daryl Ecklund line up for a grudge match at Sonoma Raceway.

In building the X-Bow, KTM was like a conductor of a symphony. KTM brought together some of the most highly respected companies in the car racing industry to work together in unison to create the unique car. The Kiska design team was in charge of giving the X-Bow its KTM DNA, as the team has had their hands in designing many KTM models in the past. KTM Technologies and Dallara came together to develop the X-Bow as the world’s first production car with a full-carbon composite monocoque chassis. Dallara has had a near monopoly in the Formula 3 series for the last 25 years. The X-Bow’s carbon chassis was then outsourced to Wethje Carbon Composites in Austria. And last on the list is Audi, who brought to the table their turbocharged, inline, four-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine. This is the same engine that is used on many of Audi’s production cars all the way up to the Audi S3—and the Volkswagen Golf. However, the Audi engine arrives in parts at the Graz production plant as many alterations are made to the engine to get it to produce 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque for the X-Bow R model.

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The post MOTORCYCLE OR CAR? UNKNOWN CARS FROM FAMOUS MOTORCYCLE BRANDS appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.

LIVE TODAY AT 11:15 am PDT: Pro  Showcase Invitational Race 250 & 450 – Livestreamed with MXA, 2-Moto format race on the National MX Track consisting of the top riders in the country.  $70,000 Purse to be broken down and paid out as Must race on the same size bike you will be racing on in the 2025 outdoor MX season. 

BIG DISCOUNTS FROM PARTNERS SIDI BOOTS & MOTOSPORT

The post LIVE! $70,000 PRO PURSE – 250 & 450 PRO CLASSES – MOTOFEST AT GLEN HELEN appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.

Modeled after the Talladega Speedway banking, Glen Helen’s first turn allows riders to get through the steeply banked first turn 7-abreast or, in this case 44 riders at one time.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI

Well, glory be! Glen Helen Raceway in Southern California decided to put up a $100,000 purse for two races—The $30,000 Stopwatch National on Thursday, May 15, and the $70,000 Pro Invitational on Saturday, May 17. No expensive license was required and there was no entry fee for the Pro riders. It was open to any Pro who applied to race either or both of the two races.  These two races were held in the gap between the end of the 2025 AMA Supercross season and the beginning of the 2025 AMA 250/450 Nationals. It was billed as a chance for racers headed to the Pala National on May 24 to test their fitness on one of the most heralded motocross tracks in the world.

Troy Lee (left) brought out his Ducati Team transporter so the fans could see a Ducati Desmo450 up close and personal. Bud Feldkamp (right) opened up his racetrack for four-days of Pro, Amateur, Vintage, Minicycle and Pee-Wee racing. Luckily, he has enough land to throw in a cross-country GP on Sunday.

The Pro race program was part of the four-day MotoFest, where most of Glen Helen’s tracks would be used on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and included Stacyc, Pee-Eee, minicycle and vintage races—with Sunday’s finale being a cross-country Grand Prix race.

WHAT ABOUT THE STOPWATCH NATIONAL?

Colt Nichols (45) was thrilled to get a chance to get in some outdoor testing and get paid over $11,000 while he was doing it.

Jason Anderson.

Justin Barcia. 

Ivan Tedesco.

Broc Tickle.

Julien Beaumer (23) was a late entry for the Stopwatch National, but it turned out to be a good day for the KTM factory rider as he got in plenty of outdoor seat time and came home with $5000 for second overall.

Ryder DiFrancesco’s day was ruined when he crashed in the first moto at the Museum turn, but he came back out for the second moto and made his GasGas MC250 the second fastest bike on the track. His 43-2 score left him 21st overall.

Derek Kelley (58) earned $2400 for his 5-4 fourth place finish. He also earned the respect of the crowd for his nonchalant fly-bys over the massive Log Cabin jump.

Ryder DiFrancesco crashed in the first moto to finish 43rd, but came back in the second moto to chase Colt Nichols to the finish line. Unfortunately, his 43-2 left Ryder in 21st overall. The racer who finished second behind Colt in the first moto was Enzo Temmerman. Enzo rose to fame in this year’s Supercross “Next” series and put a lot of pressure on Colt Nichols in moto one. On the second to last lap, Enzo made a really solid effort to get in front of Colt at the bottom of the Shoei uphill. Unfortunately, that last chance pass attempt failed and Enzo decided to wait for moto two. However, a bad start in moto two required Enzo to use all of the energy stores he had in the waning lap of the second Stopwatch National, luckily his 2-5 score gave third overall and $2500 in purse money.

Dilan Schwartz (44) was fast and fit enough to go 4-6 for fifth overall.

Grant Harlen (43) went 6-8 for sixth overall. That paid $1200.

Dakota Bender (39) airs it out over the Log Cabin jump, Dakota was 9th in the first moto, but 21st in the second moto.

KTM’s Julien Beaumer put together two third place finishes to secure second overall and the $5000 check. Julien fought hard on every lap of both motos, and his hard work paid off with the second step on the podium.

 Off-road racer Dare DeMartile (200) put his Beta 450RX into the top ten with a 8-7 score for seventh. Beta teammate Bryson Gardner went 20-12 for 14th overall

This is YouTube Live Stream central. You can watch the 2025 Stopwatch National by going to Motocross Action’s YouTube channel

The last time Derek Drake raced at Glen Helen he was winning the Open Pro class at the World Two-Stroke Championship—only to have his bike die just a couple laps short of victory. At the Stopwatch National he didn’t have to wait for something as long. He had to pull into the pits in the first moto to get scored in 39th place. Derek came back in the second moto to have a 39-10 day.

MXA test rider Brian Medeiros (37) built a special GYTR-sponsored Yamaha YZ250F with an XPR dual-injector engine, only to break his rear hub in practice and end up borrowing MXA’s 2025 Kawasaki KX250. 

Glen Helen is considered to be a hard-pack racetrack, but the heavy rains this winter turned it into a sand track — don’t worry the summer heat will bake it after a couple 100 degree days.

Josh Mosiman won the 125 World Two-Stroke Championship a month ago at Glen Helen, but a crash in the first moto of the Stopwatch National pushed him back to 20th place — which was amazing still in the front half of the field.

MXA’s Jody Weisel and Husqvarna/KTM/GasGas’s Andy Jefferson go back to the early days of Mitch Payton’s Pro Circuit Husqvarna team. Jody is wearing the infamous PCP T-shirt that Mitch dropped after finding out what the acronym “PCP” stood for.

THE REALLY BIG NEWS

No one else got to lead any laps at the 2025 Stopwatch National because Colt Nichols (45) was up front from the gate drop to the checkers.

Colt Nichols was collecting cash and “big checks” left and right. Here, ASV Levers’ Bob Morales presents Colt with a $400 “big check” and an envelope with $400 more for holeshotting every race he was in…including the one that was red flagged.

The top three at Thursday’s Stopwatch National with their “Big Checks.” Julien Beaumer (left), Colt Nichols (center), Enzo Temmerman (right).

2025 GLEN HELEN STOPWATCH NATIONAL TOP 20

1. Colt Nichols (Suz)…1-1 ($10,000)

2. Julien Beaumer (KTM)…3-3 ($5000)

3. Enzo Temmerman (Kaw)…2-5 ($2500)

4. Derek Kelley (Yam)…5-4 ($2400)

5. Dilan Schwartz (Yam)…4-6 ($1500)

6. Grant Harlan (Yam)…6-8 ($1200)

7. Dare Demartile (Bet)…8-7 ($900)

8. Romain Pape (Yam)…8-7 ($800)

9. Brandon Ray (Hon)…11-11 ($750)

10. Lux Turner (KTM)…7-16 ($700)

11. Scotty Verhaeghe (Yam)…12-14 ($650)

12. C. J. Bernard (KTM)…13-15 ($600)

13. Dakota Bender (Yam)…9-21 ($550)

14. Bryson Gardner (Bet)…20-12 ($500)

15. Josh Mosiman (Yam)…19-13 ($450)

16. Parker Ross (Yam)…14-18 ($400)

17. Ryder Floyd (Hon)…16-19 ($350)

18. Brock Bennett (Hus)…17-23 ($300)

19. Kyle Wise (Yam)…18-24 ($250)

20. Kai Aieloo (Hus)…21-22 ($200)

Total Purse—$30,000

If you missed Thursday’s “Stopwatch National, don’t miss Saturday’s Pro Showcase. It pays back to 20th place—with the 20th place riders getting $400. For more info go to www.GlenHelen.com

 

The post BIG MONEY, BIG HILLS, BIG AIR & BIG THRILLS AT THE 2025 STOPWATCH NATIONAL appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.

RAW ACTION AT THE GLEN HELEN STOPWATCH NATIONAL // $30,000 PRO PURSE

The Glen Helen Stopwatch National is back and bigger than ever before! The Stopwatch National kicks off Glen Helen’s new MASSIVE Motofest with $30,000 on the line! Popular riders like Colt Nichols, Julien Beaumer, Ryder DiFrancesco and more battle it out for a chance at big cash. We highlight some of the action in the race but be sure to check out the LIVE stream for the full race recap!

BIG DISCOUNTS FROM PARTNERS SIDI BOOTS & MOTOSPORT

• SIDI is offering $100 off their X Power SC boots
  
• Motosport.com is offering $20 off any $100 spend

The post RAW ACTION AT THE GLEN HELEN STOPWATCH NATIONAL // $30,000 PRO PURSE appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.

Oak Bluff, Manitoba – May 16, 2025 — FXR Racing is thrilled to announce that Malcolm
Stewart, 2016 250cc Supercross Champion and 450cc race winner, one of the most dynamic
and respected riders in professional motocross and supercross, is officially joining the FXR 
Racing family for the 2025 season. Stewart will represent FXR’s cutting-edge dirt bike gear 
throughout the remainder of his racing career, bringing his signature style and grit to the track in
full FXR performance apparel.

In a move that blends his passion for racing and the outdoors, Stewart is also launching his own 
fishing apparel brand, 27 Parallel, in collaboration with FXR Pro Fish—FXR’s performance 
fishing division. The brand will deliver premium gear designed for serious anglers who want
 comfort, protection, and a touch of Stewart’s unmistakable personality.

“FXR has been pushing boundaries in motocross gear, and I’m hyped to be part of the
 team,” said Stewart. “But this is bigger than racing. With 27 Parallel, I’m sharing another part of who I am—fishing has always been my escape, and now I get to create gear for
 people who love it as much as I do. Partnering with FXR Pro Fish made that dream a
reality.”

27 Parallel is named after Stewart’s iconic racing number 27 and the 27th parallel, which runs 
right through where he grew up—representing the intersection of two worlds: speed and 
serenity, throttle and tide. The debut collection will feature lightweight UV-protective shirts, 
hoodies, gloves, and headwear engineered for long days on the water, developed with the same
performance-first mindset FXR is known for.

“Malcolm is one of the most authentic athletes out there,” said Milt Reimer, President of 
FXR Racing. “He’s as passionate about fishing as he is about racing, and that shows in everything he does. We’re excited to support both sides of his lifestyle—on the track with
 FXR Racing and on the water with FXR Pro Fish and 27 Parallel.”

Fans can expect to see Stewart debuting FXR Racing gear at the first round of the AMA Pro
Motocross Championship, while the 27 Parallel fishing apparel line is set to launch later this 
year. Both will be available online and through select FXR dealers.

The post MALCOLM STEWART PARTNERS WITH FXR RACING & LAUNCHES 27 PARALLEL FISHING APPAREL BRAND BACKED BY FXR PRO FISH appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.

By Tom White

Cooper Motorcycles was the brainchild of Frank Cooper, owner of Apache Limited, the U.S. Maico distributor in Burbank, California. Cooper saw a gap in the marketplace between the inexpensive Japanese dirt bikes and the expensive and often quirky European brands. He approached Moto Islo, a high-volume Mexican commuter bike manufacturer, to build a dirt bike that would fill this gap. Moto Islo is named for the initials of its creator, Isidro Lopez. Frank hoped the Mexican-built Cooper would handle like a Maico, run like a Yamaha and cost less than the Japanese entries.

The Cooper 250 Enduro first appeared at the 1972 Long Beach Motorcycle Show. Beneath its distinctive yellow fiberglass side panels, fenders and fuel tank sat a Maico-inspired chromoly frame with a two-stroke engine that resembled a Yamaha clone. In fact, the Cooper borrowed its plate-style shift system from Maico, the dual-use kickstarter/shift shaft from CZ, and a Yamaha YZ250 top-end could be slipped right onto the Cooper cases. The front forks were Mexican-manufactured Betors, and the shocks were by Boge. The dry weight was 227 pounds with a full 28 horsepower on tap. The suggested retail price for a Cooper 250 Enduro model was $825. Unfortunately, reliability would become a problem. The initial production run of Coopers had suspect steel rims, fragile fiberglass fenders and weak transmissions. Frank Cooper fixed the rims and the gear ratios but couldn’t fix the machine’s reputation for poor metallurgy.

Suggested retail for the enduro model was $825, and the MX model was $840. Coopers have never achieved “collector” status, nor become desirable AHRMA race bikes, so the value of this Early Years of Motocross Museum example is around $4000, less than the cost of its restoration. There were enduro and motocross versions made during the two-year life of Cooper Motorcycles. The cool, and hard-to-find, components are the fiberglass tank and side panels. Don’t worry about the front and rear fiberglass fenders, as they are the same as early 1970s Maico fenders and easily sourced. Also, look for the Betor replica forks, Boge shocks and the “thru-the-frame” exhaust with a J&R-type silencer.

Frank Cooper’s brainchild was well received, but reliability was a problem. The initial production run of the Coopers had suspect steel rims, fragile fiberglass fenders and a “close-ratio” transmission that yielded a top speed of just over 50 mph. Frank Cooper fixed the rims and the gear ratios, but not the machine’s bad reputation. By 1975, Cooper Motorcycles was going out of business, and the Jones family bought the Mexican-based enduro bike as a prototype for the first Jones-Islo motocross bike (the name would later be changed to Ammex, which stood for American-Mexican).

WHAT IT BECAME IN ITS SECOND LIFE

This is the Jones family version, originally called Jones-Islo, but changed to Ammex after the phonetics proved embarrassing. For more info on the Ammex click here.

In the end, the famous Jones family (Don, Dewayne and Gary) bought the brand and renamed it “Ammex” with the intent of having four-time 250 Champion Gary Jones race it to sales success (with Eddie Lawson racing one in dirt track). Don Jones hoped to fix the Cooper’s flaws and have an improved motocross version raced by his sons. The Ammex suffered a litany of reliability issues with the Mexican machine, but they worked tirlessly to solve the problems as they came up, but the one thing they couldn’t fix was the devaluation of the Mexican peso, which wiped out their money and ended the Cooper/Ammex story.

Gary Jones on the Ammex 250 at the 1976 San Diego Supercross.

The Ammex was a vastly superior machine to the Cooper, but was doomed when the Mexican peso was devalued in 1976. With 65% of the Ammex required to be of Mexican content, the massive dive in the value of the peso wiped out the Jones’ investment. Moto Islo vanished from the Mexican motorcycle market and, after a brief stint as a Honda subsidiary, went on to produce washing machines. Isidro Lopez died on July 5, 2008.

For more info go to the Early Years of Motocross Museum site at www.earlyyearsofmx.com

The post CLASSIC MOTOCROSS IRON: 1973 COOPER 250 ENDURO appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.

Joe Oehlhof 1976

May 15…Warren Johnson 1968

May 16…Jo Shimoda 2002
May 16…Dustin Miller 1981

May 16…Broc Glover 1960 
May 16…Laurette Cushman-Nicoll

May 17…Maxime Renaux 2000
May 17…Darrin Sorenson

May 17…Rui Goncalves 1985
May 17…Ryan Abrigo
May 17…Paul Coates
May 18…John Anderson 1963

May 19…Clement Desalle 1989

May 19…Mike Alessi 1988

May 20…Dennis Stapleton, Sr. 1956 (with little Dennis).

May 20…Joel Roelants 1989

May 22…Matt Lemoine 1989
May 24…Steve Hatch 1969

May 24…Darryn Durham 1989

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The post THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS: JO SHIMODA 23, CLEMENT DESALLE 36, MIKE ALESSI 37 & BROC GLOVER 65 appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.

LIVE AT 10:15 am PDT! STOPWATCH NATIONALS $30,000 ON THE LINE AT GLEN HELEN

Pro Race with the 250s, 450s and E-bikes racing each other! – Livestreamed with MXA, 2-Moto format race on the National MX Track, consisting of the top riders in the country. $30,000 Purse to be broken down and paid out. The entry list is growing!

BIG DISCOUNTS FROM PARTNERS SIDI BOOTS & MOTOSPORT

• SIDI is offering $100 off their X Power SC boots
  
• Motosport.com is offering $20 off any $100 spend

The post LIVE NOW! STOPWATCH NATIONALS $30,000 ON THE LINE AT GLEN HELEN WITH JUJU BEAUMER SIGNED UP appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.

$30,000 GLEN HELEN STOPWATCH NATIONAL IS TODAY

Thursday, May 15th – $30,000 Stopwatch National Pro Invitational
The first of four days kicks off with the Stopwatch National today, where AMA racers and and top privateer pros will line up on a 40-man gate with 250s and 450s combined to battle through two 30-minute motos for a $30,000 purse..

• THE $70,000 GLEN HELEN MOTO FEST IS COMING ON SATURDAY, MAY 18

Saturday, May 17th – Glen Helen MotoFest Pro Showdown: Saturday’s 250/450 MotoFest Pro Invitational pays $70,000 purse money (to 20th place in both the 250 and 450 classes). Thursday’s $35,000 “Stopwatch National” is a combined 250/450 event that pays $30,000 to 20th place. The Stopwatch National and MotoFest Pro Invitational races are free to the accepted Pro riders. There are amateur events and practice sessions mixed in on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Including a “Saturday at the Glen” motocross race on the National track on Saturday, for the local Glen Helen heroes. For more information and to pre-enter go to www.glenhelen.com. Catch all the action live on MXA’s YouTube channel and witness who takes home the cash and the glory!>

• JULIEN BEAUMER SIGNS UP FOR $30,000 “STOPWATCH NATIONAL” PREMIER PRO EVENT TODAY

Thursday, May 15: Stopwatch National – Livestreamed with MXA – Main events for Thursday will see racing taking place in between the Pro-only closed course practice sessions and general open practices. Racing will consist of two motos (combined 250s & 450s) with a $30,000 purse. Motos consist of a maximum of 40-man pro-riders by invitation through an open application process. No race entry fees if you are selected to race.

• STOPWATCH NATIONAL— LIVE FEED THURSDAY, MAY 15, AT 10:15 AM PST—$30,000 ON THE LINE

Saturday, May 17: Pro Showcase Invitational Race 250 & 450:Livestreamed with MXA, two-Moto format race on the National MX Track Racing for their share of $70,000.  The $70,000 Purse to be broken down will be paid out to 20th place. The racers race on the same size bike they will be racing on in the 2025 outdoor MX season.

• PRICE CREEP IN AMA NATIONAL MOTOCROSS TICKET PRICES

There are many modern motocross racers who can remember when you could buy a ticket for the Unadilla AMA 250/500 National for $3.00 (camp for $1.00 per night). Seem unlikely? Well, at that same time gasoline only cost 25 cents a gallon, a McDonald’s hamburgers was 15 cents and you could buy a Japanese pick-up truck for $2300. It’s not if prices will rise, it’s just when will they rise so much that people stop coming. Below are the ticket prices for the March 24, 2025,  Pala 250/450 National. All the prices are per person—except for camping.

TEN MOST COMMON TICKET PRICES
1. Saturday only (Adult)…..$74.67
2. Saturday only (Adult with pit pass)…$107.83
3. Saturday only (Kid 6-11)…..$41.51
4. Saturday only (Kid 6-11 with pit pass)…$58.09.
5. Two-day Friday-Saturday (Adult)…$102.30
6. Two-day Friday-Saturday (Adult with pit pass)…$146.51
7. Two-day Friday-Saturday (Kid)…$58.09
8. Two-day Friday-Saturday (Kids with pit pass)…$91.25
9. Three-day Thurs-Saturday (Adult VIP Super ticket)…$334.41
10. Three-day Thurs-Saturday (Kid VIP Super ticket)…$168.62
Plus: Fan Camping Thurs-Saturday (Admission tickets required)…$334.41

• THIS WEEK IN MXA: THE GLEN HELEN NATIONAL IS BACK…SORT OF WITH $100,000 IN PURSE MONEY

Bud Feldkamp, the owner of Glen Helen Raceway, has invested big time into the 2025 Glen Helen MotoFest race; not only is he putting up $100,000 in purse money, but Glen Helen has also invested in a new backdrop to the starting gate, and a revamped race track for this weekend of racing. This video is all about the “MotoFest” and “Stopwatch National” at Glen Helen next week, plus MXA’s Josh Mosiman talks about this past weekend’s Denver Supercross with the Deegan takeout drama and more.

• SUNDAY’S $70,000 PRO INVITATIONAL 250/450 PURSE BREAKDOWN

1. $10,000
2. $5000
3. $3000
4. $2500
5. $2250
6. $1750
7. $1400
8. $1000
9. $950
10. $900
11. $850
12. $800
13. $750
14. $700
15. $650
16. $600
17. $550
18. $500
19. $450
20. $400
TOTAL $35,000 (PER CLASS)

• TODAY’S $30,000 STOPWATCH NATIONAL COMBINED 250/450 PURSE BREAKDOWN

1. $10,000
2. $5000
3. $2500
4. $2400
5, $1500
6. $1200
7. $900
8. $800
9. $750
10. $700
11. $650
12. $600
13. $550
14. $500
15. $450
16. $400
17. $350
18. $300
19. $250
20. $200
TOTAL $30,000 (250/450 COMBINED)

• MXA’S PHOTO OF THE WEEK! WRINGIN’ OUT THE ALL-NEW TRIUMPH TF450-RC

Learn more about the all-new Triumph TF450RC in the video below.

MXA VIDEO: 2025 TRIUMPH TF450-RC TESTED

The 2025 Triumph TF450-RC has officially made it to California and the MXA wrecking crew has been wide open on it (both literally and figuratively). It’s always exciting to get a new bike, especially when it’s as new as this one. This is the British manufacturers first attempt at a 450 four-stroke motocrosser, and they did a great job! In this video, MXA’s Josh Mosiman and Josh Fout get into the details on the new TF450-RC.

• EVERY 2025 AMA SUPERCROSS WINNER AT A GLANCE

The 2025 AMA Supercross season is over and done with , but will return for the three-race, four-lane dragstrip version of Supercross when the SMX Playoffs start on September 6.

Date/Venue                                                      450                                                250
Jan. 11…Anaheim, CA……………….Chase Sexton (KTM)……………Jo Shimoda (Hon)
Jan. 18…San Diego, CA……………..Eli Tomac (Yam)…………………..Julien Beaumer (KTM)
Jan. 25…Anaheim, CA…………….Jett Lawrence (Hon)………………Haiden Deegan (Yam)
Feb. 1…Glendale, AZ………………..Chase Sexton (KTM)………………Jordon Smith (Tri)
Feb. 8…Tampa, FL…………………….Malcolm Stewart (Hus)…………..Max Anstie (Hon)
Feb. 15…Detroit, MI………………..Cooper Webb (Yam)……………….Levi Kitchen (Kaw) 
Feb. 22…Arlington, TX……………Cooper Webb (Yam)……………….Haiden Deegan (Yam)
Mar. 1…Daytona Beach, FL……Ken Roczen (Suz)………………………R.J. Hampshire (Hus)
Mar. 8…Indianapolis, IN…..……..Cooper Webb (Yam)………………..Seth Hammaker (Kaw)
Mar. 22…Birmingham, AL……….Chase Sexton (Yam)………………..NateThrasher (Yam)
Mar. 29…Seattle, WA……………….Cooper Webb (Yam)………………..Cole Davies (Yam)
Apr. 5…Foxborough, MA…………Aaron Plessinger (KTM)………….Chance Hymas (Hon)
Apr. 12…Philadelphia, PA………..Chase Sexton (KTM)…………………Cole Davies (Yam)
Apr. 19…East Rutherford, NJ…..Chase Sexton (Yam)………………Seth Hammaker (Kaw)
Apr. 26…Pittsburgh, PA…………...Cooper Webb (Yam)……………….Tom Vialle (KTM)
May 3…Denver, CO…………………..Chase Sexton (KTM)……………..Haiden Deegan (Yam)
May 10…Salt Lake City, UT………Chase Sexton (KTM)……………..Haiden Deegan (Yam)
450 points leader………….Cooper Webb (Yam)
250 West Champion…...Haiden Deegan (Yam)
250 East points leader…Tom Vialle (KTM)

• “WHO’S WHO IN THE SUPERCROSS ZOO?” FINAL AMA SUPERCROSS POINTS AFTER THE SALT LAKE FINALE

Chase Sexton (4) was untouchable in Salt Lake City, where he won his 7th 450 race of 2025. 

450 RESULTS: SALT LAKE CITY SUPERCROSS
1. Chase Sexton…(KTM)
2. Malcolm Stewart…(Hus)
3. Justin Cooper…(Yama)
4. Cooper Webb…(Yam)
5. Joey Savatgy…(Hon
6. Aaron Plessinger…(KTM)
7. Dean Wilson…(Hon)
8. Justin Hill…(KTM)
9. Shane McElrath…(Hon
10. Dylan Ferrandis…(Hon)

Cooper Webb (2) clinched the 2025 AMA 450 Supercross Championship by 2 points over Chase Sexton by finishing 4th at the final round in Salt Lake City.

TOP TEN IN 450 FINAL POINTS
(After 17 of 17 rounds)
1. Cooper Webb…365
2. Chase Sexton..363
3. Justin Cooper…281
4. Malcolm Stewart…277
5. Ken Roczen…281
6. Aaron Plessinger…255
7. Dylan Ferrandis…194
8. Justin Hill…194
9. Shane McElrath…..192
10. Justin Barcia…185

250 EAST/WEST SHOWDOWN RESULTS: SALT LAKE CITY
1. Haiden Deegan…(Yam)
2. Julien Beaumer…(KTM)
3. Tom Vialle (KTM)
4. Seth Hammaker…(Kaw
5. Michael Mosiman…(Yam
6. R.J. Hampshire…(Hus)
7. Garrett March…(Kaw)
8. Jo Shimoda…(Hon
9. Coty Schock…(Yam)
10. Drew Adams…(Kaw)

Since Haiden Deegan (38) clinched the 250 West title in Denver the week before the Salt Lake City 250 East/West Showdown, the 250 East contenders just let him go to keep him out of the mix in Salt Lake.

TOP TEN IN 250 WEST FINAL POINTS
(After 10 of 10 rounds)
1. Haiden Deegan…221
2. Julien Beaumer…189
2. Cole Davies…171
4. Jo Shimoda…163
5. Garrett Marchbacks…145
6. Coty Schock…139
7. Michael Mosiman…131
8. Jordon Smith…126
9. Hunter Yoder…78
10. Lux Turner…71

Tom Vialle (1) won the 2025 AMA 250 East Supercross Championship in a very dramatic 250 East/West Challenge race between Tom, Seth Hammaker and R.J. Hampshire.  This is the second time Tom Vialle has won the 250 East Supercross crown, which means he will have to move to the 450 class next year.

TOP TEN IN 250 EAST FINAL POINTS
(After 10 rounds)
1. Tom Vialle…180
2. Seth Hammaker…177
3. R.J. Hampshire…173
4. Nate Thrasher…137
5. Cullin Park…131
6. Chance Hymas…130
7. Max Vohland..123
8. Henry Miller…85
9. Max Anstie…78
10. Daxton Bennick…77

• THE GREATEST DEAL IN MOTOCROSS: REAL WORDS, LARGE PHOTOS, MORE TECH & A $25 ROCKY MOUNTAIN CREDIT

This is the May 2025 cover of MXA. Inside are indepth tests of the 2025 Beta 450RX, 2025 -1/2 Husqvarna FC450 Factory Edition, 2025 GasGas MC250F, plus, four home-built Works Edition including an unobtainable Fantic XX300 two-stroke (on the cover),  a KX450 that reimagined the 2025 KX450 Special Racer with different components than the ones Kawasaki chose, the GasGas MC85 that carried Dane Pappas to the 85cc (13-15) Mini Sr. 2 title at  Loretta Lynn’s and the personal YZ250F of ETS Fuels’ Kyle Moose, built with an unlimited budget that totaled up to $28,000 (also on the cover).

The May issue also went inside the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge at the San Diego Supercross, where we followed the son of Manfred Edlinger, the head of R&D for KTM’s motocross division, from the time he got off the plane from Austria until 8-year-old Raphy Edlinger raced under the lights, in front of 40,000 American fans. If that’s not enough, with the news that Kawasaki intends introduce a two-stroke  in 2026, we went back into the MXA archives to a test of the last Kawasaki KX250 two-stroke that Kawasaki made before pulling out of two-stroke back in 2007. You find it to be enlightening.

• THE 2025 GREAT PLAINS VINTAGE MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP STARTS ON MAY 18 IN ALMA, NEBRASKA

The eight-round Great Plains Vintage series The Great Plains Vintage MX association is kicking off our 2025 season with six vintage-style tracks, each designed to honor the roots of our sport. No monstrous double (or triple) jumps or treacherous rhythm sections! For 2025 it has has four rounds in Nebraska, two rounds in Iowa and one round in South Dakota.For more information go to www.greatplainsvintagemx.org.

• 2025 MXGP WINNERS AT A GLANCE — 8 DOWN, 12 TO GO

Lucas Coenen (6) moved up to the 450 class from the 250 class this year and won his first-ever 450 Grand Prix at his sixth 450 race ever and backed it up with a second victory a week later in muddy Portugal.

Date/Venue                                                450                                                     250
Mar. 2…Argentina………..Maxime Renaux (Yam)…………………..Kay de Wolf (Hus)
Mar. 16…Spain #1………..Tim Gajser (Hon)…………………………….Liam Everts (Hus)
Mar. 23…France #1……….Tim Gajser (Hon)……………………………Andrea Adamo  (KTM)
Apr. 6…Sardinia……………Romain Febvre(Hon)……………………….Kay de Wolf (Hus)
April 13…Italy……………….Tim Gajser (Hon)……………………………..Thibault Benistant (Yam)
April 21…Switzerland……Lucas Coenen (KTM)…………………..Simon Laegenfelder (KTM)
May 4…Portugal……………..Lucas Coenen (KTM)…………………..Andrea Adamo  (KTM)
May 11…Spain #2………..Romain Febvre (Kaw)……………………….Kay de Wolf (Hus)
May 25…France #2
June 1…Germany
June 8…Latvia
June 22…Great Britain
July 13…Finland
July 27…Czech Republic
Aug. 3…Belgium
Aug. 17…Sweden
Aug 24…Holland
Sept. 7…Turkey
Sept. 14…China
Sept. 21…Australia
450 points leader…Tim Gajser (Hon)
250 points leader...Kay de Wolf (Hus)

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 YAMAHA YZ250 TWO-STROKE TEST

The Yamaha YZ250 two-stroke platform has stayed relatively the same since 2006. Yamaha went from steel to this same aluminum frame in 2005, and then they added the famous Kayaba SSS forks on it in 2006. Since then, there have been minor updates, with the most notable being in 2022 when it gained new plastics, a new seat, and an updated subframe. However, the YZ250 still feels a lot like the 2006 model, but we aren’t complaining (anymore). It’s true, we’ve harped on Yamaha for years, asking them to make big changes, but now that KTM has gone overboard with updates (fuel-injection, electric power valves and electric start on their motocross two-strokes), we’re extra appreciative of Yamaha’s Keihin carburetors. In this video, MXA test rider Brian Medeiros explains what it was like for him to get on the YZ250 and go racing at the 2025 Wiseco World Two-Stroke Championship, where he swept both motos in the Over-30 Expert class and went stright back to the start line to get ninth overall in the Open Pro class.

• WHAT’S LEFT OF THE ALL IMPORTANT 2025 RACE SCHEDULES 

The 2025 AMA outdoor Nationals will start on May 24 and end on August 23, but the 2025 Motocross des Nations will be held at Crawfordsville on October 5.

2025 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 11…Anaheim, CA
Jan. 18…San Diego, CA
Jan. 25…Anaheim, CA
Feb. 1…Glendale, AZ
Feb. 8…Tampa, FL
Feb. 15…Detroit, MI
Feb. 22…Arlington, TX
Mar. 1…Daytona Beach, FL
Mar. 8…Indianapolis, IN
Mar. 22…Birmingham, AL
Mar. 29…Seattle, WA
Apr. 5…Foxborough, MA
Apr. 12…Philadelphia, PA
Apr. 19…East Rutherford, NJ
Apr. 26…Pittsburgh, PA
May 3…Denver, CO
May 10…Salt Lake City, UT

2025 AMA NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
May 24…Pala, CA
May 31…Hangtown, CA
June 7…Thunder Valley, CO
June 14…Mount Morris, PA
June 28…Southwick, MA
July 5…Red Bud, MI
July 12…Millville, MN
July 19…Washougal, WA
Aug. 9…Crawfordsville, IN
August 16…Unadilla, NY
August 23…Budds Creek, MD

2025 SUPERMOTOCROSS PLAYOFFS
Sept. 6…Concord, NC
Sept. 13…St. Louis ,MO
Sept. 20…Las Vegas, NV

2025 FIM WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 2…Argentina
Mar. 16…Spain #1
Mar. 23…France #1
Apr. 6…Sardinia
April 13…Italy #1
April 21…Switzerland
May 4…Portugal
May 11…Spain #2
May 25…France #2
June 1…Germany
June 8…Latvia
June 22…Great Britain
July 6….Indonesia
July 27…Czech Republic
Aug. 3…Belgium
Aug. 17…Sweden
Aug 24…Holland
Sept. 7…Turkey
Sept. 14…China
Sept. 21….Australia

2025 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
Oct. 5…Crawfordsville, Indiana

WISECO WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Apr. 19…Glen Helen, CA

2025 GLEN HELEN STOPWATCH NATIONAL
May 15…Glen Helen, CA

2025 GLEN HELEN FOUR-DAY MOTOFEST
May 15-18….Glen Helen, CA

2025 BLU CRU INVITATIONAL
Mar. 28-30…Glen Helen, CA
May 16-18…Red Bud, MI
Jun. 6-8…Alvord, TX
Nov. 7- 9 …Monster Mountain, AL

2025 AMA NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Jul. 28-Aug.2…Loretta Lynn, TN

2025 WORLD VET MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Oct. 31—Nov. 1-2…Glen Helen, CA

• MXA’S 2025 COLLECTION OF IN-DEPTH 2025 VIDEO TESTS

• MXA VIDEO: MOTOCROSS ACTION’S 2025 450 SHOOTOUT

• MXA VIDEO: MOTOCROSS ACTION’S 2025 250 SHOOTOUT

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 KAWASAKI KX450SR (SPECIAL RACER) FIRST RIDE

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 HONDA CRF250 WORKS EDITION FIRST RIDE

• MXA VIDEO: FIRST RIDE ON A 2025 YAMAHA YZ65 MINI

• MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE 2025 HUSQVARNA FC450

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 KTM 350SXF FIRST RIDE

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 TRIUMPH TF450-RC FIRST RIDE

MXA VIDEO: INSIDE SECRETS OF AIDEN ZINGG’S KTM 112SX SUPERMINI

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 YAMAHA YZ250FX FIRST RIDE

• MXA VIDEO: WE RIDE COTY SCHOCK’S PERSONAL YAMAHA YZ125

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 KAWASAKI KX250 FIRST RIDE

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 HONDA CR450 FIRST RIDE

• MXA VIDEO: WE RIDE DR.D’s PURPOSE-BUILT YAMAHA YZ85

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 YAMAHA YZ450F FIRST RIDE

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 YAMAHA YZ250F FIRST RIDE

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 YAMAHA YZ250FX CROSS-COUNTRY FIRST RIDE

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 KTM 150SX TWO-STROKE FIRST RIDE

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 KAWASAKI KX450 FIRST RIDE

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 KTM 450SXF FIRST RIDE

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 KTM 250SXF FIRST RIDE

• MXA VIDEO: HOW TO BUILD A VET RIDER’S DREAM YZ250F

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 KX450SR VS 2025 KAWASAKI KLX230 IN A LAP TIME BATTLE

• MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE GASGAS MC85 TWO-STROKE THAT WON LORETTA

• MXA VIDEO: WE RIDE THE 125 THAT 525,750 VIEWERS CAN’T BUY IN THE USA

• MXA VIDEO: WE RIDE PHIL NICOLETTI’S FINAL CLUBMX YZ250F

MXA VIDEO: BRINGING A 2006 SUZUKI RM125 BACK TO LIFE AFTER 18 YEARS

• MXA YOUTUBE CHANNEL | HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON

The MXA wrecking crew is everything moto related. Check out our MXA YouTube channel for bike reviews, Supercross coverage, rider interviews and much more. And don’t forget to hit that subscribe button.

• TALK MOTO WITH ON MXA’S FACEBOOK GROUP CHAT

We love everything moto and want to bring all moto junkies together into one place to share their two cents, ideas, photos, bike fixes, bike problems and much more. To check it out, you  need to have a Facebook account. If you don’t, it isn’t much work to get one (and you could even have an alias so nobody knows it is you). To join MXA’s Facebook Group, click HERE. After you request to join we will accept your request shortly after. 

Photos Credits:  Trevor Nelson, Debbi Tamietti, GasGas,  Jon Ortner, Beta,  KTM, Jett Lawrenc e Instagram, Honda, Brian Converse, Kawasaki, Wassermann Group, and MXA archives

The post RUMORS , GOSSIP & UNFOUNDED TRUTHS: ALL EYES TURN TO GLEN HELEN — WITH THE FIRST OF TWO MEGA PURSE PRO RACES TODAY appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.

CATCH UP ON THE LATEST VIDEOS: A BLAST FROM THE PAST

In case you haven’t had the time to scour the internet to get your weekly fill of motocross and Supercross videos, the MXA wrecking crew has done all the work for you. For your enjoyment, we have an arrangement of videos starting with a throwback episode of Bubba’s World which gives a more in-depth look at the life of James Stewart. We then head over and check out Chase Sexton’s preparation prior to the last race of the season in Salt Lake City. From there we watch Axell Hodges and Carson Brown shred pit bikes at the Slayground. From there we watch the Red Bull crew as they race up the tallest building in the world. Finishing it off we go back to the Two-Stroke World Championships where MXA’s own Josh Mosiman has an epic battle with Brandon Ray.

BUBBA’S WORLD | SEASON 1 EPISODE 1 | THE COMPOUND

THE END GAME | CHASE SEXTON

The post CATCH UP ON THE LATEST VIDEOS: A BLAST FROM THE PAST appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.

2025 GLEN HELEN MOTOFEST: $100,000 ON THE LINE

Glen Helen Raceway will be livestreaming two epic pro events this week—don’t miss the action!

• Thursday, May 15th – Stopwatch National Pro Invitational
  The first of four days kicks off with the Stopwatch National, where top factory and privateer pros will line up on a 40-man gate—250s and 450s combined—to battle through two 30-minute motos for a $30,000 purse.

• Saturday, May 17th – Glen Helen MotoFest Pro Showdown
  The pros return for the main event, racing for their share of a massive $70,000 purse in front of a packed crowd.

Catch all the action live on our YouTube channel and witness who takes home the cash and the glory!

PREMIER EVENTS (PRO ONLY) 

o Thursday, May 15: Stopwatch National – Livestreamed with MXA – Main event for the day with racing taking place in between the Pro-only closed course practice sessions and general open practices. Racing will consist of 2 motos (combined 250s & 450s) with a $30,000 purse. Motos consist of a maximum of 40 pro-riders by invitation through an open application process. No race entry fees if you are selected to race. GHR will host pro only practice sessions each of the 2 Thursdays prior. 

LIVE THURSDAY, MAY 15TH AT 10:15 am PDT // STOPWATCH NATIONALS $30,000 ON THE LINE

o Saturday, May 17: Pro  Showcase Invitational Race 250 & 450 – Livestreamed with MXA, 2-Moto format race on the National MX Track consisting of the top riders in the country.  $70,000 Purse to be broken down and paid out as Must race on the same size bike you will be racing on in the 2025 outdoor MX season. 

SIDI HAS PARTNERED WITH US FOR THE MOTOFEST & IS OFFERING $100 OFF THE X POWER SC BOOT

LIVE THIS SATURDAY, MAY 17TH 11:15 am PDT // $70,000 250 & 450 TWO MOTO FORMAT

MOTOSPORT IS ALSO OFFERING $20 OFF $100 OR MORE SPEND! SAVE THE CODE OR CLICK THE PHOTO

Kawasaki’s Broc Tickle won the lion’s share of the $10,000 this year. 

Pierce Brown was happy about earning the podium at the first-ever Stopwatch National.

The post GLEN HELEN STOPWATCH NATIONALS LIVE! PROS ONLY – MAY 15 appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.

THREE-TIME AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPION

Cooper Webb became a three-time champion in Salt Lake City.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb sealed the deal on a hard-fought 450SX Championship with a fourth-place finish at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season finale at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Cooper Webb had to finish in the top five to clinch the title. He finished fourth on the night and won over Chase Sexton by two points.

Anticipation was high for the final race of the season that would crown a champion, with Webb coming in with a nine-point advantage. He qualified third and then grabbed the holeshot in his heat race, leading the first three laps and ultimately crossing the line second. In the main event, he got another great start and quickly moved into the lead, which he maintained for the first four laps. Webb continued to run a strong pace in the runner-up spot, but as the clock wound down, more riders joined the fight, and the red plate holder dropped back to fourth, which would secure the title. From there, Webb rode a smart race to finish in that position and claim his third 450SX Championship. It was a hard-fought title campaign that saw the North Carolina rider earn five wins and a total of 13 podiums.

An emotional Cooper Webb proved he still has what it takes. He was not always the fastest rider on the track, but he showed up when it mattered most and that gave him the edge to clinch the title.

Cooper Webb said: “Man, what a night! To win this championship means the world to me. There were a lot of hard-fought days to get to where we are at right now, and being a three-time champion is rare territory. I’ve got to give it up to the team, my family, and everyone in my corner. I really appreciate it.”

BACK-TO-BACK 250 EAST CHAMPION

A moment of relief for Tom Vialle as he clinched the 250 East division title.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Tom Vialle has successfully defended his 250SX East title in the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship following Saturdays title-deciding final round of the season.

Tom Vialle was the most consistent rider all year long. With only one win he still proved it’s only being the fastest rider that counts.

At 24 years of age, Vialle adds a second AMA Supercross title to his resume onboard the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, in addition to the pair of MX2 World Championships that he earned in 2020 and 2022. After an incredibly hard-fought season this year, Vialle demonstrated a never-give-up spirit, with his fighting mentality ultimately sealing the title. Originally from Avignon, France, Vialle relocated to the U.S. ahead of the 2023 season, where he made a highly-anticipated American Supercross debut and gained experience in the stadium-based discipline, before charging to a maiden 250SX East Championship in 2024.

Sometimes in racing you need a little bit of luck and Tom was gifted just that as his title competition of Seth Hammaker and R.J. Hampshire took each other out of contention.

Since then, Vialle has pieced together convincing indoor and outdoor campaigns as part of the wider SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX), becoming a title contender in each series. This year’s 250SX East division championship didn’t come easily, however, as the defending champion began the opening two rounds at Tampa and Detroit outside of the podium positions. Second-place results at the following two rounds in Daytona and Indianapolis, followed by third in Birmingham, initially earned Vialle the red plate, before the torrential rain in Foxborough resulted in a troubled 22nd-place result. P6 in Philadelphia and third on the podium at East Rutherford were then followed by a pivotal victory in Pittsburgh, putting him back in the title hunt upon regaining the points lead, with a dramatic P3 at Utah’s 250SX Showdown sealing the championship. Vialle and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team will now focus on the upcoming AMA Pro Motocross Championship, which commences at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, on Saturday, May 24th.

A wave to the fans in opening ceremonies when tensions were at their highest.

Tom Vialle said: “I can’t believe this, to be honest! I got a good start behind Haiden [Deegan], and I was feeling good, then I started to make a couple of mistakes, and both Seth [Hammaker] and RJ [Hampshire] got me, so then I was about five seconds back. I saw them both down in the corner, and I couldn’t believe it – I thought, ‘This is crazy!’ There were still about four laps to go, and I just did it from there to clinch the title. The speed was really high this year from everyone and I lost a lot of points in the mud at Foxborough, but overall I just tried to stay steady, and that’s what paid off in the end. I came to the United States to win Supercross titles, so to have two now is insane! Two championships are hard to win, so this feels really good to achieve this with the whole Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team.”

WE CAN’T FORGET ABOUT HAIDEN DEEGAN

Supporting the number one plate in Salt Lake City as Haiden Deegan had clinched the title the week prior in Denver.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan finished the season in style, scoring a dominant victory in the East/West Showdown at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season finale at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Haiden Deegan wanted to prove he was the man to beat and did just that by winning the East/West showdown by 12 seconds.

On the heels of securing the 250SX West Championship a weekend early, Deegan hit the ground running in Salt Lake City, topping the first session of qualifying and ultimately finishing second in the combined times. In the 250SX West Heat Race, he grabbed the holeshot and led the first half of the race, but would finish in the runner-up spot after getting passed on Lap 5. In the main event, Deegan grabbed another holeshot and set the pace up front to build a comfortable gap. The newly crowned champ rode his YZ250F to a dominant victory, crossing the line with a healthy 9.255-second lead. It was a stellar season that saw the 19-year-old earn four wins and make an impressive nine trips to the podium over the 10-round season.

Now heading into outdoors Haiden Deegan will be the man to beat which won’t come easy.

Haiden Deegan said: “Tonight was solid. I rode well in the main, and that’s where it counted. I just wanted to put in a dominant last race, and we got that done. I think we won by 10 seconds, so that was pretty cool. There was a lot of chaos behind us, but we got the holeshot and were able to take off. I’m happy with the day and the season. We got the West Championship and finished with a win tonight. I’m looking forward to the outdoors.”

BEST IN THE PITS 2025 SALT LAKE CITY SUPERCROSS

MXA PHOTO TRIVIA

Who is this rider? The answer can be found at the bottom of the article.

2025 TRIUMPH TF450-RC TESTED

LET’S HEAD TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS

The start of the 2024 Fox Raceway National.

It’s that time of year once again. The sun is shining the heat is slowly creeping up and the sound of wide-open bikes is on the horizon. We get a weekend off of racing but coming May 24th, we head back to Fox Raceway for the first round of the 2025 Pro motocross series. The crowned champions from last week only have a short amount of time to soak it in but even for them, it’s right back to testing. Last year Haiden Deegan came out swinging and won the first round as did Jett Lawrence. But there is still a list of motivated riders who want to grab that red plate early. Who’s it going to be this year?

MXA FANTASY LEAGUE – AIROH GIVEAWAY: THE WINNER OF THE SALT LAKE CITY SUPERCROSS SCORED 289 POINTS

We witnessed one of the best nights in racing for the Salt Lake City Supercross. Tensions were high as championships in the 250 East division as well as the 450 class had to be decided. The 250 race was nothing short of spectacular. Haiden Deegan won the race by a large margin but what went on behind him shocked a lot of fans. Seth Hammaker and R.J. Hampshire were doing everything they could to finish in front of each other and a collision of the two rider perfectly handed over the championship to Tom Vialle who was not as fast on the night but rode well enough to get it done. In the 450 class Cooper Webb got out front early and Chase Sexton needed the win. There was a massive amount of respect between the two riders as Chase Sexton made the pass and ran away with the win. He did not try to slow up the pack or interfere with Webb’s race but instead put his head down and won in dominating fashion. Cooper Webb would ultimately become the champion.

The MXA Fantasy League is partnered with On X Offroad, players can enjoy  20% off their subscription by using promo code MXA20 at checkout.

THE WINNER OF THE SALT LAKE CITY FANTASY LEAGUE  “ZAIDA17”

Zaida17 grabbed the win for the Salt Lake City Supercross and will be enjoying a brand-new helmet from Airoh. If you haven’t checked out Airoh before you can do so by clicking here.

WEEKLY TOP TEN

450 CLASS PREDICTIONS 

Chase Sexton grabbed the win in Salt Lake City in dominating fashion but would come just two points shy of the championship.

In the 450 class, the predictions went well as Chase Sexton was picked for the win and he did do so gaining 36 fantasy points which included the ten-point bonus. In second it was Cooper Webb who finished fourth on the night giving 19 fantasy points. In third Aaron Plessinger was chosen who finished sixth on the night giving 17 fantasy points. The fourth-place rider chosen was Malcolm Stewart who ended up second giving 23 fantasy points. In fifth it was Justin Cooper chosen who was third giving 21 fantasy points and the sixth place rider was Justin Hill. He would finish outside the top six giving no points.

250 CLASS PREDICTIONS

A moment of relief for Tom Vialle as he took home his second consecutive 250 East Supercross championship.

In the 250 class Haiden Deegan was selected to win this gave 36 fantasy points including the ten-point bonus for choosing the correct location. In second Julien Beaumer was selected which was another correct prediction and that gave 33 fantasy points including the ten-point bonus. In third it was Tom Vialle picked which again was correct giving 31 fantasy points including the ten-point bonus. In fourth it was Seth Hammaker picked which was again correct, and gave 29 fantasy points. In fifth it was R.J. Hampshire selected who finished in sixth and would give 17 fantasy points with no bonus and finally in sixth it was Michael Mosiman who finished in fifth giving 18 fantasy points.

FINAL 250 WEST POINT STANDINGS

Haiden Deegan had clinched the championship in Denver but went out and won without any issues. He will prepare for the outdoor series.

FINAL 250 EAST POINT STANDINGS

Tom Vialle got the job done in Salt Lake City. You have to be in it to win it and Tom was not the fastest but like we’ve been saying all season he was the most consistent and it paid off in the end.

MXA PHOTO OF THE WEEK

One of the most prized accomplishments in professional racing. The number one plate is a symbol of hard work and discipline.

CLASSIC MXA PHOTO

Kevin Windham after winning the opening round at Anaheim 1 in 2005. It rained all night and Kevin didn’t even know he had won when he crossed the finish line.

MXA Photo Trivia Answer: Austin Stroupe who was one of the best amateur racers and had a short but successful pro career. Unfortunately, injuries had taken him out of the races. He would return after a few years off but would not be able to spark his pro career back up.

The post MOTOCROSS ACTION MID-WEEK REPORT appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.

Even though the 1974 Yamaha YZ125 and YZ250 models weren’t blue, they are still part of an enviable record as the longest-running dirt bike models made.  However, Yamaha’s entrance into motocross didn’t actually begin in 1974; it kicked off in 1968 with the DT-1 250 (when outfitted with the GYT kit).

Paradoxically, Yamaha was also a pioneer in the resurgence of four-stroke race bikes with the all-blue 1998 YZ400F. The success of the 1998 Yamaha YZ400F kick-started the four-stroke movement, but also spelled the beginning of the end for a large number of production two-strokes.

Strangely, it was Yamaha who lobbied for the AMA to rewrite the “works bike” section of the rulebook, which in 1985 had banned factory works bikes from AMA races. In 1997, at Yamaha’s request, the AMA introduced the “four-stroke exemption” rule that allowed every manufacturer the right to race a full works four-stroke for one year before it had to be homologated and made available to the public.

KTM jumped into action first, using the rule for its 540SX in 1997. Lance Smail was the first rider to make a Supercross main event on a four-stroke at Daytona in 1997, but it was Yamaha and Doug Henry who spearheaded the four-stroke revolution when Doug won the Las Vegas Supercross later in 1997 on the YZM400F, and then ran away with the 1998 250 National Championship on the 1998 Yamaha YZ400 four-stroke.

Even though Yamaha pioneered the return of the four-stroke to the AMA ranks, they never gave up on the two-stroke and have benefited greatly from keeping their two-stroke fires burning. Today, only Yamaha and the KTM Group still make competitive motocross two-strokes. Honda discontinued its two-stroke lineup in 2007. Suzuki’s last run of the RM125 and RM250 two-strokes came down the line in 2008, and Kawasaki’s final run of 250 two-strokes petered out in 2007, leaving Yamaha as the only Japanese brand to continue to build two-stroke motocross bikes. 

EVEN WITH VERY FEW UPDATES OVER THE YEARS, YAMAHA STAYED RELEVANT IN THE TWO-STROKE WORLD THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION. AFTER 2008, YAMAHA BECAME THE ONLY JAPANESE MANUFACTURER SELLING TWO-STROKES.

 
Even with very few updates over the years, Yamaha stayed relevant in the two-stroke world through the process of elimination. After 2008, Yamaha became the only Japanese manufacturer selling two-strokes, meaning that any Honda, Kawasaki or Suzuki loyalist who wanted a two-stroke had to buy it from Yamaha or KTM. Obviously, Yamaha had the edge in converting former Suzuki, Kawasaki or Honda two-stroke owners to Yamahas instead of to Austrian bikes.

However, as the Japanese brands fell asleep at the wheel, KTM quietly built an arsenal of competitive two-stroke machines for motocross, enduro and cross-county racing. In the interim Yamaha lost its original advantage over KTM when the blue crew fell behind, first in off-road two-strokes and eventually in motocross models. KTM kept innovating, updating and refining its two-stroke technology, while Yamaha sat on its same-old 2006 tech. 

When KTM bought Husqvarna in 2013 and GasGas in 2021, they added both Husqvarna and GasGas two-strokes to their model lines. And by 2025, the Austrian group was manufacturing 23 different two-stroke models. Yamaha only offers four full-size two-strokes—the YZ125, YZ125X, YZ250 and YZ250X.

For quite a while, the MXA test riders were critical of Yamaha’s two-bike, two-stroke motocross line, especially since the YZs had changed very little since their inception. The most noteworthy updates were the aluminum frames in 2005 and Kayaba SSS forks in 2006. MXA has always praised Kayaba for their amazing forks, but Yamaha’s benign neglect allowed KTM to catch and pass them in both the 125 and 250 performance rankings—and on the sales charts.

The 2025 Yamaha YZ125’s biggest flaw is that it’s not the fastest 125 on the track. Yes, you can spend money to beef up the YZ125 engine, but the KTM, Husky and GasGas riders can do the same to stay ahead.

It wasn’t until 2022 that the unthinkable happened: Yamaha came out with a new YZ125 engine. From the outside, it was hard to tell what Yamaha did to the YZ125 engine; however, it was new inside and out and remains the same for 2025.

(1) The combustion chamber’s height was increased by 1.6mm. The chamber volume was enlarged by 2.4 percent, and the compression ratio dropped from 8.57 to 8.20. 

(2) The piston gained a new skirt shape to match the ports. The piston’s rigidity was increased while it also gained a stronger piston pin. 

(3) Dowel pins were added to the cylinder head to align it with the cylinder’s bore. The cylinder’s base was increased in size, and the front studs were moved 3mm forward to make more room for a larger exhaust port and bigger, lower and wider transfer ports. The intake port is larger, and the power valve has an updated shape, lift and timing. 

(4) The intake angle on the crankcase was increased by 4 percent, and the crankcase was made 8mm taller at the cylinder junction. 

(5) The exhaust pipe got a narrower profile, and the silencer was made 2 inches shorter. 

(6) There was an 8mm-longer connecting rod, and the rotational inertia of the crank was increased by 2.70 percent, while the flywheel gained a 21-percent increase in rotational inertia to improve the mid- to high-rpm power. 

(7) Plus, to feed the new engine, they added a Keihin PWK-S38 PowerJet carburetor. 

(8) Besides the changes to the engine, there were also updates to the YZ125 chassis, such as a taller and flatter seat (replacing the banana-style seat that dipped low in the middle). It gained a new fuel tank, which helped to make the bike 36mm skinnier at the tip of the shrouds and 7mm narrower in the middle where your knees grip. There was a new subframe, new side number plates, a new seat base and new air-filter cage, all to flow more air into the engine. The YZ models were graced with the same Nissin brakes as on the Yamaha four-strokes, plus a new chain, rear sprocket and stiffer suspension settings.

In 2022 the YZ250 got modernized bodywork, but it kept the same bones (chassis) and the same heart (engine) that it had since 2006.

But there was trouble in River City. Initially, MXA was blown away that Yamaha had spent real R&D dollars on updating the 125cc two-stroke. We expected the first all-new YZ125 in 16 years to be a KTM killer. Unfortunately, the engine fell far short of KTM in all aspects of the power curve. Sadly, the new engine wasn’t even impressive when compared to the 2021 YZ125 engine. It took Yamaha 16 years to update the YZ125 engine, and the result was that it was slightly slower on the bottom end and slightly stronger on the top end—1.03 horsepower to be exact. We had higher hopes for the first totally new Yamaha YZ125.

As for the 2022 Yamaha YZ250, it was also updated, but not as much as the YZ125. It kept the same engine but gained a new subframe, skinnier fuel tank, taller and flatter seat to go with the new bodywork, and an opened-up intake tract to boost air going into the airbox. The 2022 YZ250 updates included new brakes, updated suspension settings, and a new chain and sprockets as well. In 2024 the YZ250 got modernized bodywork. For example, the seat became 5mm taller in the middle and 6mm lower at the front, which makes the bike feel like a new-age model, but it has the same bones (chassis) and the same heart (engine) that it has had since 2006. 

IN 2022 THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED: YAMAHA CAME OUT WITH A NEW YZ125 ENGINE. FROM THE OUTSIDE, IT WAS HARD TO TELL WHAT YAMAHA DID TO THE YZ125 ENGINE. 

But, as the MXA test riders put more time on the latest YZ models, they began to praise the Japanese manufacturer once again. Not for pushing the envelope, but for continuing to keep real, true-to-life, carbureted two-strokes alive. KTM and Husqvarna had gone to fuel injections, but it was not ready for prime time yet. KTM’s miscalculations made the less-expensive, easier-to-work-on and carbureted YZ125 and YZ250 seem like the safe bet.

At the end of the day, the 2025 Yamaha YZ two-stroke models are two of the most fun bikes in MXA’s test fleet. Because the YZ250 has stayed the same for so long, the aftermarket upgrades for this bike are endless and tuned to perfection. The Keihin PWK carburetor has come stock on the YZ250 for a very long time, and the jetting specs haven’t been changed since 2007—even then, it wasn’t a big change; they just switched out the needle. It’s safe to say that Yamaha has the base setting dialed in for the YZ250 with the 178 main jet, 50 pilot jet, N3EW needle, the clip set at the second line from the top, and the air screw at one turn out; however, if you hop-up your YZ250 with engine porting or a pipe, you might have to go to a bigger 180 main jet or add VP C-12 fuel in a 50/50 ratio with pump gas. Also, you should know that the air screw is very sensitive between a 1/2 turn and 1 turn out. 

Because the Yamaha YZ125 and YZ250 models haven’t seen drastic changes for 2025, the older YZ two-strokes hold their value and still sell for top dollar. You can buy an used YZ and rebuild it easily with the ample amount of readily available parts in the pipeline, or you can buy a new one and enjoy the benefits of cheap maintenance and endless upgrades. The MXA test riders are thankful Yamaha is still rolling two-strokes down the production line in Japan, and we hope they will never stop.

2025 YAMAHA YZ125

The 2025 YZ125 is extremely fun to ride, and if you are looking for where the YZ125 has a clear-cut edge over the KTM, look no further than the sticker price.

Q: WHAT ABOUT THE JETTING?

A: The latest YZ125 engine took some time for the aftermarket to figure out, and now there are plenty of upgrades available for it. As mentioned, the YZ125 switched from Mikuni to the same Keihin PWK carburetor that the YZ250 uses, but the jetting wasn’t perfect initially. We recommend a 162 main jet, 72 pilot jet, NYDF needle, clip at the first line from the top and air screw at 3-1/2 turns out. 

Q: HOW FAST IS THE 2025 YZ125?

A:  Yamaha YZ125 stayed the same for so long (2006–2021) that we gave up on asking for updates and shifted our mindset to being content that Yamaha was still willing to make 125 two-strokes. After all, it wasn’t such a bad gig. The YZ125 has consistently been the most fun bike to ride in the MXA stables; however, when Yamaha announced an all-new engine for 2022, we got greedy and expected a full-race 125 that would take down KTM. Unfortunately, the dyno showed that Yamaha’s new engine was only 1 horsepower stronger than before in the midrange, and it revealed that the new Yamaha engine was actually slower off the crack of the throttle all the way up to 7500 rpm than the previous YZ125 engine, which ran for over a decade.

To help the YZ125 get up to speed quicker, we added a tooth to the rear sprocket, going from a 13/48 to a 13/49 sprocket combination.

Q: WHAT ABOUT THE GEARING?

A: To help the YZ125 get up to speed quicker, we added a tooth to the rear sprocket, going from a 13/48 to a 13/49 sprocket combination. Yamaha also increased the Kayaba spring rates, going from 4.2 to 4.3 in the forks and 4.6 to 4.8 on the shock. The valving has been made stiffer, too. Plus, the new subframe and seat from 2024 created a flatter topography of the bike with a taller seat height. The stiffer suspension and new bodywork made the YZ125 feel racier; however, our faster and heavier test riders still complained that the suspension was too soft.

Q: HOW DOES IT HANDLE?

A: On the track, the YZ125 is still a blast to ride. Although it’s not quite as easy to exit corners as it was before, the YZ125 still gets up and goes. It requires less clutch to light up the rear wheel than the GasGas MC125. Our test riders had fun on the YZ, and many of them thought they were faster and more competitive on this bike until they started actually racing and/or noting lap times. In terms of the fun factor, the YZ125 is a 10, but when the gate drops, the power difference is really clear. If you were racing against a class of YZ125 riders only, you’d be in heaven, but there’s only one race we know of where that is the case, and it’s the bLU cRU YZ125 Cup in Europe. It is a class developed for young Yamaha riders racing in different events across Europe. The goal is to qualify for the YZ SuperFinale where the racers battle for a chance to receive a master class in training from top Yamaha MXGP riders and earn Yamaha support for the following season—pretty cool! 

MXA WAS BLOWN AWAY THAT YAMAHA HAD SPENT REAL R&D DOLLARS
ON UPDATING THE YZ125 TWO-STROKE. WE EXPECTED THE FIRST ALL-NEW YZ125 IN 16 YEARS TO BE A KTM KILLER.

Q: WHAT DO WE REALLY THINK?

A: The 2025 Yamaha YZ125’s biggest flaw is that it’s not fast enough to keep up with the high-strung, high-rpm 2025 Austrian trio. Yes, you can spend money to beef up the YZ125 engine, but the KTM, Husky and GasGas riders can easily do the same to stay ahead. The 2025 YZ125 is extremely fun to ride, and if you are looking for where the YZ125 has a clear-cut edge over the KTM, look no further than the sticker price. The 2025 Yamaha YZ125 retails for $7099, which is $1100 less expensive than the 2025 KTM 125SX—that price difference could buy a lot of fuel, pistons and clutch plates for the YZ125 owner.

2025 YAMAHA YZ250

The Yamaha YZ250 and KTM 250SX remain in a stalemate. The YZ250 isn’t as powerful from low to mid as the KTM, but it makes up for that from the midrange and up.

Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2025 YAMAHA YZ250 BETTER THAN THE 2024 YZ250?

A: No. Its performance is the same.

Q: HOW ARE THE NEW YZ ERGONOMICS?

A: The bodywork and ergonomic advancements were borrowed from the 2023–2025 Yamaha YZ450F. The big bike’s spec sheet notes that the YZ450F radiator shrouds are 50mm narrower, the fuel tank is 6mm narrower, the seat is 5mm taller, and the footpegs are 5mm farther back and 5mm lower.

Q: HOW DOES THE YAMAHA YZ250 RUN ON THE TRACK?

A: The Yamaha YZ250 two-stroke is known for being smooth and manageable, while its major competition (KTM) features aggressive hit and considerably more torque and midrange power. Tailored more for racing than trail riding, the KTM 250SX hits hard, revs fast and signs off early. On low-to-mid thrust, the KTM displays a much more race-ready amount of power 

If Yamaha wanted to engage in a horsepower war with the Austrian bike, they would have no choice but to pursue KTM’s stronger pull from idle to the middle, but going all out to match the KTM 250SX would be a mistake. The Yamaha’s strength lies in its friendlier powerband.

Q: WHAT IS THE TRUE-TO-LIFE YZ250 VERSUS 250SX MATCH-UP?

A: In short, Yamaha and KTM remain in a stalemate. The YZ250 isn’t as powerful from low-to-mid as the KTM, but it is easier to keep in the meat of its mid-and-up rpm range. The KTM 250SX has a strong engine, but thanks to its new fuel-injection system, you won’t want to stray far away from stock. We put a pipe and a new map from Twisted on our KTM 250SX, but that’s it. If you want a two-stroke that’s fun to ride and fun to tune, the YZ250 is your machine. If you want the electronic bells and whistles, the new-generation KTM has them.

Q: HOW DOES THE YAMAHA YZ250 HANDLE?

A: Lately, we have noticed a propensity for product planners, trying to seek the approval of intermediates and pro riders, to go stiffer on the valving and spring rates. If you are an intermediate or pro, this is a good thing, but it’s vice versa for the novices, vets and play riders. Luckily, the Kayaba forks just need a couple of clicks out on compression to make them fit the whole skill range. 

Power-wise, the 2025 YZ250 isn’t much faster than it was last year, but the fact that it can still run with the fuel-injected 2025 KTM 250SX proves how good the YZ250’s genes are.

Q: WHAT DID WE HATE?

A: Here’s a list of things we hated.

(1) Suspension. It’s nice that Yamaha tailored the suspension settings to favor heavier and faster riders, because modern tracks are little more than jumps strung together.

(2) Seat height. Yes, we liked that we could move around easier on the new seat and bodywork, but that did not include shorter riders, who found the taller 2025 seat to be a nuisance. 

(3) Wheels. Yamaha four-stroke and two-stroke wheels are not interchangeable. This is a bummer for two groups of riders: First, riders who own a YZ450F and a YZ250 two-stroke. They can’t use the wheels off one bike on the other in a pinch. Second, riders who like to run aftermarket wheels on their YZ250 and YZ-F four-strokes are forced to choose which bike to get spare wheels for. This really isn’t so much a wheel-related issue as it is the fault of the YZ250’s old-fashioned swingarm, which was built for smaller 22mm axles decades ago.

Q: WHAT DID WE LIKE?

A: Here’s a list of things we liked.

(1) Maintenance. MXA has never believed that two-strokes are more reliable than four-strokes, but we have always believed that when engine trouble rears its ugly head, two-stroke parts are four times cheaper. The YZ250 engine is the easiest modern motocross engine to rebuild.

(2) Seat. The new seat comes off with one 8mm bolt that’s covered by a plastic cap and is located unobtrusively in the rear of the seat—nice!

(3) Price. At $7999, that is $1350 cheaper than the 2025 KTM 250SX.

Q: WHAT DO WE REALLY THINK?

A: Yes, the YZ250 got a much-needed face lift. The new look and sleekness of the bodywork are cleaner and more user-friendly. On the downside, the ineffective engine upgrade means that, power-wise, the new YZ250 isn’t much faster than it was last year. The fact that it can still run with the all-new, fuel-injected, electronic-power-valve, electric-start, hydraulic-clutch, Brembo-braked 2025 KTM 250SX proves how good the YZ250’s genes are.

The post MXA RACE TEST: 2025 YAMAHA’S LEGACY TWO-STROKES: 2025 YZ125 & YZ250 appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.

In 2007 BMW was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in Europe, but the were under pressure from KTM, which was building it’s portfolio with a wide range of motocross, cross-country, enduro, dual-sport and street machines. Using simple logic, BMW decided to enter the dirt bike market to not only increase their appeal, lower the age of their demographic and find new markets, but to show KTM that could play in the off-road market too.

The bike they were banking on was the BMW G450. It was designed with the help of Joel Smets and was backed up by a number of factory riders who they entered in the yearly Erzbergrodeo — eventually leading to BMW hiring the two best off-road riders in the world to race the G450 — David Knight and Juha Salminen. BMW was going all-out in their battle against KTM and at first glance the G450X looked promising. But, in a strange twist of priorities, BMW purchased off-road manufacturer Husqvarna, muddying the actual role that the BMW G450 would play—given that Husqvarna had a wide range of off-road, dual-sport, cross-country and motocross bikes in their catalog, the actual reason for the G450 became more of a vanity project than a sales effort.

The hanger frame featured BMW’s coaxial Traction system, which meant that the swingarm pivot and countershaft sprocket were in line with each other. The clutch was mounted on the end of the crankshaft. Note that shock linkage is mounted on top of the swingarm instead of under it.

To most hardcore off-road riders, the BMW G450 seemed to be a science project gone astray. Eschewing common motorcycle design protocols, the BMW engineers ignored everything about off-road motorcycle design to build an offbeat machine that would prove to be a marketing disaster.

The list of radical ideas and concept included a closed loop fuel-injection system, countershaft sprocket that is mounted on the swingarm pivot, a clutch that spun on the crankshaft, a gas tank located under the seat (with the gas cap is positioned under a hole in the seat), a Taiwanese-built engine from Kymco, a hanger frame that the engine hung from and a crank spun backwards (a la the Czech ESO). The bike was a disaster.

The watch is in this photo to show how small the BMW clutch was.

Making matters worse for the G450 was that their high paid enduro ace David Knight quit mid-season saying that, “The guy who designed the bike wouldn’t admit that it was no good.”

This is the 2011 Husqvarna TC449 motocross version, with it’s Taiwanese Kymco engine, it was scheduled to be sold in America, but Husky North American stopped it from being imported in any numbers.

BMW got out of the dirt bike market at the end of 2010, but since they owned Husqvarna, they made Husky use the Taiwanese Kymco engine in the Husqvarna TX449 from 2011 to 2014. BMW even had Husqvarna make a motocross version of the Coaxial Traction System machine called the TC449. Only a handful of the motocross models were brought to the USA before Husky canned the idea when the fast-spinning clutch, excessive suspension squat, heavy overall weight and weird design convinced them to stick with enduro bikes. KTM bought Husqvarna from BMW in 2013 for pennies on the dollar, but didn’t want any of BMW’s intellectual motocross properties.

The post CLASSIC MOTOCROSS IRON: 2010 BMW G450X DISASTER appeared first on Motocross Action Magazine.