Honda’s Blake “Bilko” Williams Out Of Dew Sports Tour After Taking Second
Posted on July 5, 2008
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Blake Williams recently reported in from the USA after nabbing second overall at the first round of the Dew Action Sports Tour in Baltimore, Maryland.
Unfortunately, Australia’s popular Honda FMX rider came to grief on the second of two runs, resulting in a number of season ending injuries.
However, his points from the first and best run allowed Bilko to slip in behind Nate Adams on the podium. “I was looking forward to a good season in America with my two CRF250’s set up well,” Bilko explained.
“I headed to the first tour stop with little riding time, as well as no time on the different ramps they use in America. My aim was to qualify and finish top ten, so I was stoked to win the open qualifier.”
Bilko plus six other riders, along with the top 10 from last year and two wildcards went into the preliminaries. After that, ten riders progressed to the finals where the 22-year-old Victorian qualified second.
“I was confident about what I could achieve, but the track soil was horrible and it was windy so I knew it would be hard to put a good run together without mistakes.”
“The first run went fine but the next time it didn’t go to plan. I went for a ruler flip, but as I left the ramp and threw my legs off the bike, I felt really unbalanced. This meant I was spinning way too fast and over rotated. I more or less landed on my feet.”
Bilko’s injuries include dislocated toes and ankle, as well as a broken leg and damaged knee. “It’s disappointing for sure because I am now going to have to miss the rest of this tour, as well as X Games and Madrid Red Bull X Fighters.”
“But I will concentrate on my recovery for now, and will look forward to coming back strong as ever in 2008. Thanks heaps to my sponsors including Honda Australia for a great year.”
Chain maintenance
Posted on July 2, 2008
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Why is it so
One of the most critical parts of a dirt bike is the chain, without it, your motocross bike is nothing more than a push bike. There is a lot of stuff on a dirt bike that you can do without and continue riding to some degree but without a chain your going nowhere fast. I recently completed a moto after braking my front brake lever on the first lap.
Prevention is better than cure
Your chain should be at the top of your maintenance list before you go for a ride. Looking over the sprockets will also reveal wear and problems waiting to unfold. You should ensure your chain is at the correct tension, is not stretched and in doing so you’ll get a lot more mileage out of your chain and sprockets.
If the teeth of a sprocket are chaffed on either side it can mean either, the rear wheel is misaligned or the chain is badly stretched and can sway left or right under load. A stretched chain will make a harsh chatter sound when accelerating in a tall gear.
Chain types
Unless you ride your dirt bike very little and don’t ride it very hard you should replace the standard chain with an O ring or X ring chain. Every link on a standard chain is exposed to the elements and there is no defence against sand or dirt grinding away at them. The links wear quickly which causes the chain to increase in length, often referred to as a stretched chain. This problem causes your sprockets to wear prematurely as the profile of the chain will no longer match the profile of the sprockets. So if you are replacing an old chain you should also replace the sprockets.
The X-ring chain is a low friction version of the O-ring chain, both prevent grit being embedded in the chain and grinding away at the pivoting links. These chains wear in sync with the sprockets and will take a serious amount of motocross, supercross or trail riding abuse before they need to be replaced. If you want reliability, on of the best things you can do is fit your bike with a heavyweight (520) O-ring chain and steel sprockets. To get the most out of your chain you should replace the front sprocket as soon as the profile of the teeth starts looking more worn than the rear. Low quality sprockets should be replace every few months even if the wear appears minimal. The teeth on the front sprocket contact the chain around three times more than the rear, therefore it will wear quicker and contribute more to the wear of the chain.
Chain tension
Dirt bikes have different dimensions when it comes to the length of the swing arm. Bikes with a longer swing arm will require less chain tension than those with a shorter swing arm. This allows the swing arms to move as the rear suspension compresses. If your chain is to tight, it will be stretched as the suspension compresses. The only way to accurately gauge what your chain tension should be is to compress the rear of the bike until countershaft sprocket, swing arm and rear axle are all on the same plane. At this point the chain is at its tightest so there must be at least 10-15mm of slack in the middle of the chain. You can compress the rear end of the dirt bike by attaching a tie down strap from the axle to the muffler.
Lubrication
There are many different types of chain lube you can use on your chain. Avoid cheap, low quality lubes as they will not give adequate protection and will most likely splatter and make a mess at speed.
Tacky lubes have a thick consistency like honey and are designed to cling to the chain and not fling off at speed. The problem with this type of lubricant is that dirt and roost from the rear wheel will end up coating the chain, forming a grinding paste that will seriously wear your chain. You should only use this type of lubricant in extremely good conditions.
Silicone lubes are the only lubricant you should use in sandy or dry, dusty conditions. Coat the chain up to three times, letting each coat dry and wiping the excess off the links. The silicone will give your chain rollers a slippery finish which will repeal dirt.
Chain wax repeals water and dirt and is best suited to wet conditions. After you’ve washed your bike it also doubles as a good anti-rust lubricant.
Ryan Dungey OK after Thunder Valley 2nd Moto Get Off
Posted on July 2, 2008
Filed Under AMA Motocross | Leave a Comment
Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey had a nasty crash during the second moto in round 5 of the AMA motocross championship at Thunder Valley. After his third-place performance in the first Lites class moto, Dungey crashed hard at the bottom of a high-speed downhill section on the first lap of the second moto. To get some more info on Dungey’s condition, we spoke with his agent Tony Gardea following the race and he said that it looks like Ryan will be ok. Following the crash, it appeared that Dungey was spitting up blood. He was taken to the local hospital to be checked out and it was determined that he had bit his tongue in the nasty crash and possibly bruised a lung. If all goes well, Ryan should be back at Red Bud next weekend.
Dungey had this to say on his website…
I wanted to send a quick note to let everyone know that I’m doing fine and feeling well after my crash on Saturday at Thunder Valley. I went and got checked out at the hospital after the races and the doctors said other than bruising and soreness that I was fine and healthy! That was great news after that high-speed get off.
I plan on riding this week in hopes of returning to Red Bud next weekend. I want to first congratulate my teammate Nico for getting his first podium on Saturday and to thank Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki for being behind me through thick and thin. We have a great team and I’m proud to be a part of a great group of hard working guys!
Thanks to everyone who called, text and emailed to check in on me. The support us racers receive from the fans is amazing and makes me feel good about our sport!
I’m already looking forward to getting back on the track next weekend!
AMA motocross under lights
Posted on June 28, 2008
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Round 5 of the 2008 AMA motocross championship will be held under lights at Thunder Valley. The altitude at Thunder Valley causes the bikes to run with less power which in turn increases the running temperature of the bikes due to the riders trying to make them run at race speed. Riders must also adjust to the thin air prior to racing.
This will be only the fourth time the gate has dropped for an AMA Motocross at Thunder Valley. The first AMA Motocross race was held at Thunder Valley on July 24, 2005, with Ricky Carmichael winning on a Suzuki. Ricky Carmichael won the first two races at Thunder Valley, with James Stewart breaking through with his only win for last season.
Motocross racing starts
Posted on June 25, 2008
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The pro’s
If you’ve been following the 2008 AMA motocross season so far you would have seen Mike Allessi grabbing the holeshot in nearly every moto. Mike is the second fastest motocross rider in the championship and puts himself well ahead of the pack week after week. Not far behind but a little less consistent in getting to the front of the pack in the first corner is James Stewart.
Gate drop reaction
In order to get the jump on your competition at the start of a motocross race there are a few things to remember which will help you get the jump on the other riders.
Body position
Make sure you keep your weight as far forward as possible and evenly balanced on the bike. If you have trouble touching the ground with both feet you can use starting blocks which are required to be certain dimensions set by various racing governing bodies. If you are not balanced correctly the bike will jut to the left or right and you may lose control.
Gear selection
Choose the highest gear that you can get your bike momentum up as quickly as possible without shifting through the gears. Some riders start with their feet on the ground in front of the footpegs and shift up a gear with their heal when they are moving their feet to the pegs.
Throttle and clutch control
You should use a smaller amount of throttle the higher the gear you start in. Try your starts in different gears and amounts of throttle until you are happy. When you start, use the clutch to control the lift in the front end rather than backing off on the throttle.
Chain tension
Keep your fingers on the front brake and slightly engage the clutch in order to put tension on the chain so when you release the clutch the bike will start moving forward instantly.
Gate drop
Some riders watch the pin on the side of the gate, some watch the gate itself. You should be aware that you will react to something you look at indirectly using peripheral vision, quicker than looking straight at it.
First corner braking
One thing is for sure, if you watch Alessi and Stewart you will notice that for most start they are not very far ahead of the pack along the straight before the corner. It is the last 15 meters or so before the corner that they split away from the rest of the riders in the field. This happens because the brake a lot later then the other riders in the race going into the first corner.
Bilko back in the game in Baltimore
Posted on June 23, 2008
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Australian Blake ‘Bilko’ Williams has won the freestyle motocross event Sunday at the AST Dew Tour Panasonic Open in Baltimore.
Williams earned 90.33 on his first run with solid, smooth, big flip tricks and a combination of 360’s on the ramps. He held the lead throughout the event. Two-time defending Dew Cup champion Nate Adams of Glendale, Ariz. was second at 89.33. Switzerland’s Mathieu Rebeaud finished third at 89.00.
“To come back here and take it out, you know, I’m stoked,” Williams said. “Nate and I are good friends so should be a good year battling together and everyone else is obviously going to step it up.”
Williams was injured last season and did not compete for six months.
“Just to come out this year I wasn’t as comfortable,” Williams said. “Still the injury from last year had got in the back of my mind, but I threw down what I had to. I got a lot of confidence back from this weekend and should be able to take that through the rest of the year, which is good.”
FMX Finals
1. Blake Williams, Australia, 90.33.
2. Nate Adams, Glendale, Ariz., 89.33.
3. Mathieu Rebeaud, Switzerland, 89.00.
4. Thomas Pages, France, 86.83.
5. Jim McNeil, Glendale, Ariz., 86.67.
6. Adam Jones, Minden, Nev., 85.77.
7. Jeremy Lusk, San Diego, Calif., 84.67.
8. Robbie Maddison, Australia, 83.73.
9. Nixey Danielson, Phoenix, Ariz., 83.50.
10. Mike Mason, Carson City, Nev., 82.97.
Ronnie Renner to attempt the biggest air on a motorcycle
Posted on June 22, 2008
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The latest Red Bull experiment will attempt to send Ronnie Renner closer to the moon than any other freestyle motocross rider before. The event will take place at Santa Monica Pier on Friday, July 11 at 7:00 p.m.
Renner is a respected freestyle motocross veteran, will attempt to establish the Guinness World Record for highest air ever attained on a motorcycle. This kind of attempt is not something Renner is known for as he seemed to be more focused on style, highlighted by huge whips, rather than risk-taking, Renner assures everyone that he’s ready to soar into freestyle fame. “My whole career has been shaping up to do something unique like this,” he said. “I feel like the sport needs it. I don’t want to just be a trick guy. This is where my heart is at.”
Ronnie Renners credentials include a gold medal in Step-Up at the 2007 Summer X Games. He also held the Step-Up world record at 35 feet until recently. Renner will attempt the high jumps onto a massive custom built galvanized steel quarter pipe measuring 64 feet wide and 25 feet tall.
Renner’s jump will be the third chapter of the Red Bull Experiment, following the record-shattering performances of fellow motocross sensation Robbie Maddison and BMX star Kevin Robinson. Maddison jumped the length of a football field in front of thousands on New Year’s Eve, clearing 322 feet at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. On June 12, Robinson soared 27 feet above the lip of a huge quarter pipe (54 feet above the ground) in New York’s Central Park to set the BMX big air world record.
Renner is set to join this elite group amidst a backdrop of the iconic, and newly renovated, Pacific Park Ferris Wheel at the Santa Monica Pier on the Southern California coast. “Los Angeles - Santa Monica specifically - is the perfect location,” he remarked. “It’s the biggest stage for the biggest air.”
Black duck valley motorcycle park reopened
Posted on June 19, 2008
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Black Duck Valley has reopened after a recent enquiry into the safety of the motorcycle park resulted in the closure of the freestyle motocross ramps and tracks 1 and 4.
The park has implemented additional safety measures to meet the concerns of safety raised by various members of the community. Black Duck Valley Motorcycle Park now and in the future will provide monitoring of park users and will advise them of the risks that they face.
A First aid station has been created in the Motocross area, as well as a better camping layout which will reduce cross traffic. If you ride on the trails then you will be required to sign in and out for trail riding.
Recreational motocross riding can be dangerous, but with care and knowledge, you can enjoy motocross riding. Information will be provided to all users of the park on the risks involved in recreational motorcycle riding.
With more and more families getting in involved with motocross riding, Black duck valley is dedicated to the development of a family oriented recreational riding facility that you and your family can enjoy again and again.
Redlands shire to get new motocross track
Posted on June 18, 2008
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The newly formed Redlands Motorcycle Club backed by an official of Motorcycling Australia is negotiating with the Redland City council to allow the development of a motocross track in the area. The club is in need of support by asking dirt bike riders to voice their opinion to various council members.
Redland City Council is investigating the possibility of providing a site for the development of a new motorcycle facility. Initially catering for Motocross riding. A lot of tracks and venues have been closed or are threatened with closure. Regardless of your own location, a motocross facility in Redlands will enhance the sport and provide a safe alternative for riders of all ages.
If you support the facility forward an email or fax a message to the Redland City Council on the details listed below expressing your own views on the need for a motorcycle facility in Redlands. The council needs to know how many people would support such a facility.
Negotiations to date have been positive and would be greatly enhanced by positive feedback to the Redland City Council. We want to project a responsible community that will use such a facility to provide a safe environment for dirt bike enthusiasts.
Some time ago, laws came into place which allow police officers to confiscate noisy trail bikes. Just what constitutes a noisy trail bike is at the discretion of the officer involved. The laws apply to people riding on both public and private land. With the boom in dirt bike sales in Australia and according to Motorcycling Australia, over 200 trail bike riders registered in the southern end of the shire alone, problems will only get worse if adequate facilities are not created.
If your interested in supporting the movement please sign up as a user to this blog to receive contact information.
Timing supercross jumps
Posted on June 17, 2008
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One of the most difficult and envied supercross riding talent is the ability to time triples, doubles and rhythm sections to land precisely on the down face of a jump lap after lap.
So whats the secret?
How do the pros do it so well?
Correctly timing jumping distance depends on the type of dirt bike, slope and height of the jump face, approach speed, gear and body position. When learning a new jump take a few laps to roll the jump until you are comfortable with how the bike handles. Look for ruts or kickers that might make the bike change direction erratically.
If you can cruise over the jump and land at the base of the next obstacle then it should be easy to clear it.
Take some time to watch other riders who are clearing the triple or rhythm section. Try to work out what gear they are riding in, what speed and how much throttle is required to time the jump correctly. Speak to other riders at the track to find out how they approach the obstacle.
Make sure your body is in the correct position when approaching the ramp. Body centered on the dirt bike, gripping with your knees, elbows out, chin over the bars.
Remember not to attempt any jumps if you are not 100% sure of your ability and your motocross bike. If you think landing that triple will make you a better rider it won’t. Motocross and supercross is won in the corners, just watch the greats of the sport.
How do the pros do it?
Years and years of practice!
keep looking »