FRIDAY ROUNDUP 4-8-16

MATTHEW PHILLIPS INTERVIEW

We’ve been impressed with Matthew Phillips even before he helped the Australian Trophy Team win the ISDE in 2015. He’s now on the Azzalin Sherco team, and doing an incredible David vs. Goliath job in the World Enduro Series.

GARY SEMICS HONORED

As the Monster Energy Supercross series makes it’s round 13 stop in Indianapolis The Legends and Heroes 2016 Supercross Moto Museum Tour will honor former AMA supercross and motocross champion Gary Semics.

Husqvarna signed Gary to a professional factory racing contract at 18 and he rode with Team Husky for three seasons 1972 through 1974. The following year Semics left the Swedish brand for a three season ride on Kawasakis and when that wrapped up he signed for single-season programs racing with Can-Am, then Honda, Yamaha and finally Suzuki. Now Gary teaches young riders in his motocross schools.

Gary’s career highlights included the 1974 AMA 500cc Supercross Championship title for Husqvarna followed by several national motocross event wins. Semics placed 2nd and 3rd in the AMA 500 National Series in both 1976 and 1979. He represented the United States in the 1977 Motocross des Nations in France and the 1977 Trophy des Nations in Holland in Holland. In 1982 Gary was sent overseas to compete in the 500cc World Championship Grand Prix Series. 1982 was his best season when he placed 7th in 500cc class. Throughout Semics’ racing career he was always a Top 10 finisher in World Class MX Competition.

Before the Supercross Saturday evening on the Monster Energy Supercross podium, Gary Semics will receive the coveted Legends and Heroes Award presented by his longtime friend and fellow competitor, 6-time AMA national motocross champion Broc Glover.

KAWASAKI ANNIVERSARY

Kawasaki is celebrating its 50th anniversary in America this year. Ever wonder when, where and how Kawasaki’s off-road bikes became green? The company offered the following insight:

In what would become one of the greatest brand-building moves in motorcycling, in 1969 Kawasaki took the bold gamble of repainting its existing F21M 250 Scrambler to the now-famous Lime Green color developed by Rollin Sanders, a.k.a. “Paint by Molly.” The color had already debuted at Daytona in March on the factory 250cc A1R and 350cc A7R road racers, emphatically showing that the Kawasaki name meant high performance. But while the factory road racers were not for sale, the production F21M was, making it the first Lime Green Kawasaki bike ever available to the public.

A competition scrambler, the F21M’s 238cc single-cylinder, two-stroke air-cooled engine boasted a power-inducing rotary-valve intake that helped establish Kawasaki’s performance reputation. By 1969 the model was already proven in competition because the previous year, Steve Hurd had won the Elsinore Grand Prix on a 1968 “red tank” F21M, giving Kawasaki its first major dirt win in America.

GAS GAS IS UP AND RUNNING

The first model of the Gas Gas TXT 300 Racing is now a reality. The Spanish brand is once again manufacturing trial bikes. And just as was forecast in its design and production plans, manufacture of its new enduro models will also be starting up in the next few weeks. This is due to the huge surge in demand by Gas Gas return to the off-road market

Salt (Girona), 6 de abril de 2016

Once again, motorcycles are the stars of the show on the Gas Gas production line. After months of slumber, the acquisition by Torrot has reanimated the vigour and life of the factory, which is pleased to announce the re-starting of its production line this very week. And the start-up is under way with the manufacture of the first unit of the Gas Gas TXT 300 Racing, brand flagship in the world of trial.

It is in this very special way that the company is officially re-starting production. First off the line is the manufacture of the first units of the Gas Gas TXT 300 Racing, and coming close behind is its enduro “brother”, the new Gas Gas EC 300 Racing, just as was forecast in the business plan published by the manufacturer at the beginning of the year.

The return of the brand to the off road market has provoked a surge demand from its importers and dealers. For this reason, the company has started its aim of delivering very soon the orders for over two thousand units that Gas Gas has got already.

Gas Gas has a production forecast of 4,000 units of its new range throughout 2016. Of these, 3,500 are destined for the international market.

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