Here is a complete view of the Toronto SX track for tonight’s race. The dirt isn’t even comparable to last year’s mess. After one round of practice, this track looks like it’s going to hold up and provide some tight racing.

The 250SX could have a bright future, it depends on what happens regarding the rules and regulations: KTM wants them to be introduced to MX2 to allow teams that don’t have millionaire budget to compete against the 4-strokes. For the 2-stroke, the injection is ready, and this would provide cleaner and precise power delivery.

While the idea of fuel injection for two-strokes has been talked about and discussed, there has been little to indicate that it would be workable on a racing two-stroke motocross bike. This news points to the fact that KTM has been working on it for quite some time and seems to have solved the issues that prevented fuel injection for racing two-strokes.

Since this article in Motocross Digital was written some changes have been announced in the FIM rules to allow two-strokes to compete with four-strokes in MX2 (250cc). There are also rumblings that this rule will be applied to the AMA Outdoor Nationals for 2009.

So there is a good chance the Fuel Injected 250SX KTM will be hitting the tracks in the very near future. This is great news for all the two stroke fans of the world.

Two thumbs up for the folks at KTM!

In addition to Off Road, MX and ATV, KTM have added Road Racing and professional Motocross, Arenacross and Supercross to their 2010 program. The 2010 Road Race Contingency Program rewards everyone from weekend racers to experienced professionals for their racing success with KTM. This grassroots contingency program will cover the entire United States with 7 regional road racing series and 21 racing classes.

KTM will be using XTRM’s industry leading online automated contingency payout and sponsorship system. The proprietary system tracks results and payout schedules electronically, plus ranks athletes with a unique ranking and ratification system. This will allow KTM to automatically pay winning athletes with KTM bucks, discounts and even cash. Everything is done with a few clicks of the button on XTRM’s website. As a result, KTM’s brand is associated with not only winning athletes and teams, but also a company that takes their contingency seriously.

KTM road racers are encouraged to sign up for the contingency program at www.xtrm.com/ktm for an opportunity to stake claim to their share of the 2010 contingency. Once all race series schedules are finalized, racers will be able to log on and review the eligibility requirements, race classes covered and earn KTM Cash.

Read More… (Source Racer X Online)

CBS Sports will bring a total of nine hours of Monster Energy® Supercross coverage to a national network audience, including the season preview show, the legends of supercross feature and the season wrap-up show. The Monster Energy® Supercross … Four Legends Show will focus on four of the greatest supercross racers of all time, Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, Chad Reed and James Stewart, and is schedule to air on CBS Sports on February 28, at Noon EST.

After opening the season with the live broadcast of Anaheim 1, SPEED will carry the entire Monster Energy® Supercross season as well as four additional live AMA Supercross class broadcasts (Indianapolis, Atlanta, Toronto and Las Vegas).

From Anaheim 1 to Las Vegas, the television team of pit reporter Erin Bates, color analyst Jeff Emig and host Ralph Sheheen will deliver the race calls to the loyal Monster Energy® Supercross fans throughout the highly anticipated 2010 championship season.

Want a SX refresher? Check out these stats and history lesson on AMA Pro Suprecross.

2010 Monster Energy Supercross Television Schedule

Race Channel Date Time

Anaheim 1 (Supercross class) – SPEED – 1/9/2010 – 10pm ET
Phoenix (Lites) – SPEED – 1/17/2010 – 5pm ET
Phoenix (Supercross class) – SPEED – 1/17/2010 – 6pm ET
Anaheim 2 (Supercross class) – CBS – 1/24/2010 – 1pm ET
Anaheim 2 (Lites) – SPEED – 1/24/2010 – 10pm ET
Anaheim 2 (Supercross class) – SPEED – 1/30/2010 – 3am ET
San Francisco (Supercross class) – CBS – 1/31/10 – 12pm ET
San Francisco (Lites) – SPEED – 1/31/10 – 10pm ET
San Diego (Lites) – SPEED – 2/7/2010 – 10pm ET
San Diego (Supercross class) – SPEED – 2/7/2010 – 10pm ET
Anaheim 3 (Supercross class) – CBS – 2/14/2010 – 12pm ET
Anaheim 3 (Lites) – SPEED – 2/14/2010 – 6pm ET
Anaheim 3 (Supercross class) – SPEED – 2/20/2010 – 3am ET
Indianapolis (Supercross class) – SPEED – 2/20/2010 – 8pm ET
Indianapolis (Lites) – SPEED – 2/21/2010 – 5pm ET
Indianapolis (Supercross class) – SPEED – 2/21/2010 – 6pm ET
Atlanta (Supercross class) – SPEED – 2/27/2010 – 7:30pm ET
Four Legends – CBS – 2/28/2010 – 12pm ET
Atlanta (Lites) – SPEED – 2/28/2010 – 5pm ET
Atlanta (Supercross class) – SPEED – 2/28/2010 – 6pm ET
Toronto (Supercross class) – SPEED – 3/13/2010 – 7:30pm ET
Toronto (Lites) – SPEED – 3/14/2010 – 5pm ET
Toronto (Supercross class) – SPEED – 3/14/2010 – 6pm ET
Dallas (Lites) – SPEED – 3/21/2010 – 5pm ET
Dallas (Supercross class) – SPEED – 3/21/2010 – 6pm ET
Jacksonville (Supercross class) – CBS – 3/28/2010 – 12pm ET
Jacksonville (Lites) – SPEED – 3/28/2010 – 6pm ET
Jacksonville (Supercross class) – SPEED – 4/3/2010 – 3am ET
Houston (Lites) – SPEED – 4/11/2010 – 3pm ET
Houston (Supercross class) – SPEED – 4/11/2010 – 6pm ET
St. Louis (Supercross class) – CBS – 4/18/2010 – 2pm ET
St. Louis (Lites) – SPEED – 4/18/2010 – 6pm ET
St. Louis (Supercross class) – SPEED – 4/24/2010 – 3am ET
Seattle (Lites) – SPEED – 4/25/2010 – 5pm ET
Seattle (Supercross class) – SPEED – 4/25/2010 – 6pm ET
Salt Lake City (Supercross class) – CBS – 5/2/2010 – 12pm ET
Salt Lake City (Lites) – SPEED – 5/2/2010 – 6pm ET
Salt Lake City (Supercross class) – SPEED – 5/8/2010 – 3am ET
Las Vegas (Supercross class) – SPEED – 5/8/2010 – 10pm ET
Wrap Up (Supercross class) – CBS – 5/9/2010 – 3pm ET
Las Vegas (Lites) – SPEED – 5/9/2010 – 5pm ET
Las Vegas (Supercross class) – SPEED – 5/9/2010 – 6pm ET

Check your local listings as dates and times are subject to change.

A season-long subscription to the official webcast of Monster Energy Supercross, Supercross LIVE®, is available for $39.99: http://www.supercrossonline.com/supercrosslive. Supercross LIVE® is the only weekly live Monster Energy Supercross race call, and features long time voices of supercross, Jason Weigandt and Jim Holley. The Supercross LIVE® season-long subscription includes the Anaheim 1 opening round press conference on Thursday, January 7th at 3:00 EST/Noon PST. Fans that have purchased a season pass for Supercross LIVE®! can tune into the press conference at www.SupercrossOnline.com beginning at 3:00 EST/Noon PST.

For more information on the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305.

About Feld Motor Sports(SM)
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam®, SuperBull(SM), Monster Energy® Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz(SM), Gravity Slashers(SM), and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

2010 SX Schedule

1. January 9 Angel Stadium Anaheim, Calif.
2. January 16 Chase Field Phoenix
3. January 23 Angel Stadium Anaheim, Calif.
4. January 30 AT&T Park San Francisco
5. February 6 Qualcomm Stadium San Diego
6. February 13 Angel Stadium Anaheim, Calif.
7. February 20 Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis
8. February 27 Georgia Dome Atlanta
9. March 6 Daytona Int’l Speedway Daytona, Fla.*
10. March 13 Rogers Centre Toronto, ON
11. March 20 Cowboy Stadium Arlington, Texas
12. March 27 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Jacksonville
13. April 10 Reliant Stadium Houston
14. April 17 Edward Jones Dome St. Louis
15. April 24 Quest Field Seattle
16. May 1 Rice-Eccles Salt Lake City
17. May 8 Sam Boyd Stadium Las Vegas

On Saturday, Jan. 9, SPEED will present six-and-half hours of live programming, starting with Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam® live (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT) from Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, followed by the season-opening Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, race from Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. beginning at 10 pm. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Japan Motorcycle Production for August 2009

The Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) reported
that the number of motorcycles produced during August 2009 was
recorded as 38,312 units.  This compares to 76,487 units recorded August of
2008, so the 2009 figure is a decrease of 38,175 units
or 49.9%.

Japanese motorcycle manufacturers have now recorded
production decreases on the same month of the previous
year for twenty four consecutive months.

Japanese Motorcycle Production Data for August 2009

Number of Motorcycles Produced

Number of Motorcycle Domestic Sales
Domestic sales (factory shipment) in August 2009 stood at 30,045
units, a decrease of 41.7% as compared with the same month of the
previous year.

Exports stood at 45.9% as compared with the same month
of the previous year.

See Also: 

Japanese
Motorcycle Production for Q1-Q2 (Below)

Q3 U.S. Motorcycle Sales

October 20, 2009 – Our sources tell us that U.S. motorcycle sales
remain dismal, now 3/4 of the way through 2009.  The first 9
months of the year indicate dual-sport sales are down 44%; street
bike sales are down 44%; off-road motorcycle sales down 33%; scooter
sales down a whopping 62% from the big sales rise in 2008 due to
high fuel costs. 

Sum it up and motorcycle sales totaled just 434,370
so far this year, down from 771,950 in the first 9
months of 2008 for a drop of 337,580, which makes
overall sales down 44%.

See Also: 

U.S. Q2 Motorcycle
Sales Report and
U.S. Q1 Motorcycle Sales Report (Both Below)

Worldwide Motorcycle Demand to Increase Through 2013

September 2009 – Worldwide demand for motorcycles will grow at a rate
of approximately 8% per year for the next 5 years. 
This is according to

The Freedonia Group, Inc., a "leading international
industry market research company that provides its
clients with information and analysis needed to make
informed strategic decisions for their businesses.

They recently released a $5,700.00 USD detailed study
with country-by-country data on motorcycle growth. 
Who buys a $5,700 report on this topic is puzzling, but
the press information they released had some interesting
tidbits. 

They say that "normal" motorcycles with
internal combustion engines will still remain the
primary type sold, but electric motorcycle sales will
grow.  Also, motorcycle sales in Africa, the Middle
East and the Asia/Pacific markets will experience the
fastest growth levels.

This makes sense, as motorcycles have traditionally
been a relatively inexpensive form of transportation in
emerging economies for the last 100 years or so.

They also said that electric motorcycles are already
very popular in China, a country which they say will
account for 55 percent of all additional motorcycle
sales worldwide through 2013, but traditional
motorcycles will account for about 95% of sales
elsewhere.  Finally, there are still some
underserved markets that will experience high growth
levels; countries like Nigeria, Philippines and Vietnam.

Japan Motorcycle Production for January – June 2009

The Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) reported
their statistics on the number of motorcycles produced during the
first half of the 2009 calendar year.

360,981 units were reported, compared with 593,384 units recorded for the previous
year during the same time period.  This is a decrease of 232,403 units or 39.2%, and
it represents a production decrease for
three consecutive years.

Number of Motorcycle Domestic Sales
Domestic Japanese sales (factory shipment) for the
first half of the 2009 calendar
yearstood at 205,678 units, a decrease of 22.2 %.

Exports (result) stood at 64.6% as compared with the previous
year.

Q2 U.S. Motorcycle Sales

The numbers aren’t looking good for the first six months of 2009
compared to the same time period in 2008.  Sources tell us that
street bike sales for the first two quarters of the 2009 year so far
totaled 212,130, down 46% from the same time period in 2008. 
Dual sport sales are down 47%; off-road motorcycle sales down 37%
and scooter sales are down a whopping 67% from the first 6 months of
2008.

Meanwhile, some numbers from Japan indicate
motorcycle production in May 2009 was down 28,445 units
or 40.9% of the May 2008 number of 69,626 units
produced.  Motorcycle exports from Japan in May
2009 totaled 33,845 units, down 28,203 units or 45.5% of
May 2008 figure of 62,048 units.

Just for comparison, Japanese automobile exports in
May 2009 were 233,217 units, down 295,400 units or 55.9%
from the May 2008 figure of 528,617 units.

Factoid: BMW
Motorcycle Production in 2008

April 22, 2009 – The BMW Group today reported that 101,964
motorcycles were produced in the Berlin plant in 2008, ranking 8 for total
output of the 24 BMW manufacturing facilities located in 13 countries. 
2,000 BMW associates are employed at the plant (51 motorcycles per employee).

The Husqvarna Motorcycles S.r.l.
manufacturing plant in Cassinetta di Biandronno, Italy
produced 14,232 motorcycles with 268 employees (53 per
employee).

Just for comparison, the #1 ranked plant
for total number of vehicles produced was the BMW Munich
plant, which produces the BMW 3 Series Sedan, Touring
and engines.  That plant has 8,000 employees and
2008 production was 202,992 automobiles and 131,254
engines.

U.S. Q1 2009
Motorcycle Sales

April 21, 2009 – First quarter 2009
motorcycle sales have been bleak in all categories
according to various sources.

Total sales year to date,
from January to March of 2009 were reported as 120,794
compared to 173,922 in Q1 of 2008.  This is a
decrease of 53,128 or almost 32%.

Street bike sales were down
approximately 27%, while dual-sport sales, which had
some strength even in the weak market, were down 24.0%. 
Sales of off-road motorcycles were down 40% and scooter
sales were down 37%.

Here’s a press release from
the Motorcycle Industry Council, dated April 23, 2009:

The economy affected U.S. sales of new motorcycles in
the first quarter of 2009, down a total of 30.5 percent,
compared to the same period last year, among 12 of the
leading brands.

Generally affordable, fuel-efficient dual-purpose
motorcycles declined the least, by 24 percent.  The
off-highway market went down the most, by 39.7 percent,
some of which is linked to the government’s ban on youth
models due to a controversial new law regarding lead
content in consumer products.

"There are still many customers wanting new
motorcycles, both veteran riders and those wanting to
join in the fun and gain the benefits," said Tim Buche,
President of the Motorcycle Industry Council.

"But, in reaction to the economy, there have been
some production cuts.  And the lead ban turned many
parents away from buying new dirt bikes for their kids. 
There’s a need for wholesale financing to help keep
dealerships supplied with inventory, and a need for
consumer credit to loosen up so that dealerships can get
those new bikes out on the roads and on the trails. 
It’s very hard to get retail financing now, even if you
have good credit."

The early year sales decline follows a relatively
flat year for motorcycles.  The MIC’s preliminary
estimate for all motorcycles and scooters sold
nationwide in 2008 is 1,087,000, down just 3.3 percent
compared to 2007.

Sales still topped the one-million mark, and did so
for the sixth straight year.  That beat the longest
run of million-plus sales ever recorded by the MIC,
during the five years from 1970 to 1974.

Also, scooter sales last year reached their highest
annual level ever, currently estimated at 222,000. 
Among the major brands, scooter sales through the first
quarter of 2009 were down 36.7 percent compared to the
first three months of 2008.  The on-highway market
declined by 27.3 percent.

U.S. Motorcycle Sales, 1992 – 2008

January 30, 2009 – I updated our chart showing U.S.
motorcycle sales figures, which now covers 1992 to 2008.  These
are gross numbers, including motorcycles (street bike,
dual-sport and off-road) and scooters.  The numbers
were compiled from various public sources but most of
the sources probably trace back to the Motorcycle Industry
Council, who tracks motorcycle sales in the U.S.A.

Note, however, that if a motorcycle
manufacturer isn’t an MIC member, their sales may not be
reflected in these numbers.  But overall, this is
about as good of an indication as you will find.

Here are the gross sales figures for
2008 and a comparison to 2007:

Japanese Motorcycle Manufacturing Totals for 2008

Motorcycle production in December 2008 was recorded as
112,024 units or -10.6 compared with the total recorded
for the same month of the previous year.  This is a
production decrease on the same month of the previous
year for sixteen consecutive months.

Motorcycle production for calendar year 2008 (January –
December) was recorded as 1,226,839 units, -26.8%
compared with the units total recorded for the previous
year.  This is the third consecutive year of
production decreases over the previous year.

Source: JAMA, January 2009

Selected Worldwide Motorcycle Statistics

Interesting

motorcycle ownership and use graphs and charts
courtesy of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers
Association.

Ryan Dungey 450 SX Testing from Donn Maeda on Vimeo.

For more information, see the video and to donate visit: www.LegendsAndHeroesTour.org or www.BradLackey.com.

For more information about Danny Chandler and to purchase Magoo merchandise and DVD’s visit www.DannyMagoo.com

eBay auction beginning on September 25th, 2009, featuring memorabilia from riders Bob Hannah, David Bailey, Tony DiStefano, Jim Holley, Jason Lawrence, Davi Millsaps, Brad himself, and more.

http://twitpic.com/i2peq – Ivan and ryan with their team usa gear.

http://twitpic.com/i2676 – First look Ivan Tedesco MXoN bike with graphics.

http://twitpic.com/i2j1d – Tedescos MXoN helmet.

http://twitpic.com/i26yt – Check out jake wiemers mxon bike.

More from Fox Twitter feed at: http://twitter.com/foxheadinc

Also check out many other MX Tweets and Follower, provided by AMSA Blog.

Can you keep up?

18th Annual Texas Pro Challenge
October 3-4 – Swan Raceway Park
$25,000 Pro Purse

Buffalo Creek Easy Money Texas AMA Pro-Am
October 10-11 – Buffalo Creek MX Park
*AMA Pro-Am Advancement Points Race*
$10,000 Pro Purse

Well after all we’re only human, though these inside tips may help you appear to be super human over those unaware.

Stumbled across an interesting web page with a lot of helpful info for racers…
Check out the RacerX Virtual Trainer archive, something for everyone here.

Podcast interview with Ivan Tedesco

Honda Red Bull Racing’s Ivan Tedesco said that after he went 1-1 he wasn’t going to answer any calls from “new friends”, so Steve Matthes with Racer-X waited until he went 11-11 at Washougal to interview him on the show. Listen in as they talk about his contract, what drives him crazy in our sport and a whole bunch more.

Listen online here or launch iTunes and open the podcast.

Looking for some Pro Tips from Ivan, check out DirtRider Magazine online, Pro Secrets.

Oh yes, we carry and recommend only quality tubes. Give us a call, today!  Watch the Video: Tube Selection

Check out the YouTube video.