DUCATI MULTISTRADA

Ducati just released the 2017 Multistrada. For 2017 the Multistrada 1200 family features a new airbox in the intake zone and new engine calibration. If you remember back to the days when Ducati was owned by Cagiva, you remember the Elefant, and you might also recall that the company won the Paris Dakar Rally. There’s definitely a dirt heritage there, and it looks like the company is returning to it. The DRE Enduro is the most dirt-oriented bike yet in the Multistrada line. I need to admit, it looks so sexy that I would think twice about taking it into the dirt. We will be getting one to test very soon, so stay tuned.

HUSQVARNA RECALL

 

Husqvarna Motorcycles is recalling certain frame numbers of TC, FC, TX, TE and FE models of model year 2017 to authorized Husqvarna dealers for an inspection and, if necessary, replacement of the hand brake cylinder.

Following market investigations by Husqvarna it has been determined that anomalies in the manufacturing process have resulted, with certain batches, in hand brake cylinders with defective machining from the supplier. This can lead to early wear of the sealing cup in the hand brake cylinder, thus leading to impaired braking performance. As the anomalies are restricted to specific batches, the hand brake cylinder must be checked and the affected batches replaced.

The following models are affected by the recall (the list may vary based on country specification)

TC 125
TC 250
FC 350
FC 450
TX 125
TE 250

TE 300
TX 300
FE 250
FE 350
FE 450
FE 501

Owners of affected motorcycles will be informed by a personal letter and are asked to immediately contact an authorized Husqvarna Motorcycles dealer to arrange an appointment for inspection. In addition, customers can check online in the ‘Service’ area of the Husqvarna Motorcycles website to determine if their motorcycle is affected by this recall.

The check and/or replacement of the hand brake cylinder will be carried out at no cost to motorcycle owners, but must be performed by authorized Husqvarna dealers only.

FRED HOESS & THE ISDE

The ISDE will begin in 10 days. It will be in Navarra, Spain, which is special for several reasons. The first time it was in Spain was in 1970, in El Escorial and it was featured in the original On Any Sunday. That segment of the movie worked its way into my brain and never left. It influenced me in ways I never would have guessed and led to a long obsession with the ISDE (ISDT at the time). In 1985 it was in Spain again, and I was there. Another rider who was there that year for the first time was Fred Hoess. Fred went on to become the second-most accomplished ISDE rider in American history. He’s been to the event 25 times and earned 18 gold medals. This year Fred is going again to commemorate that first ride in 1985, and he’s doing it on the same bike! He will be riding a 1986 Husky WR250 in the Evo 86 class, which is a special addition to this year’s event. I’m especially jealous because I had planned on doing that myself, but didn’t get my act together. Good luck Fred!

 

CHINA GRAND RALLY

Yes, there is a China rally. The HRC team sent two riders to the event this year, and just past the halfway point, the team has won every stage. Joan Barreda currently leads over KTM rider Armand Monleon and HRC teammate Michael Metge. The nine-day rally takes place in the northern provinces of China, kicking off in the city of Baotou in the Chinese region of Inner Mongolia. It deals with sand and loose gravel as well as the great Mongolian dunes. The total distance will be almost four thousand kilometres including 1,650 km against the clock and more than 2,300 kilometres of liaison sections. Yesterday, the longest special stage of the event was cancelled due to heavy rains. The race concludes in Zuo Qi on October 3.

GNCC RUSSELL BENEFIT

The 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series packs up and heads to St. Clairsville, Ohio this weekend, October 1 and 2, for the Polaris Ace Powerline Park GNCC. FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Kailub Russell will have his eyes set on the overall win this Sunday, in addition to the opportunity to wrap up his fourth-straight National Championship.

Russell moves into the twelfth round of the season with a 50-point gap on his closest competition in the points standings. If all things go well K Russell will have the opportunity to secure the 2016 National Championship this Sunday, and while much of the focus will be on K Russell a whole field of pro riders will be looking to steal the spotlight from the defending champion.

Kailub Russell is hoping to wrap up his fourth National Championship this weekend in Ohio. 
Photo: Ken Hill

The only rider who has been able to top K Russell is Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing/Bel-Ray’s Josh Strang. Strang will be fighting off an acute injury this weekend, but will still remain a top contender for the top spot of the box.

Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4 Arrive-N-Ride Team’s Thad Duvall is known for his ability to excel in the rough and muddy conditions that the Powerline Park GNCC is known for. With a second and third overall thus far, the only thing Duvall is lacking is an overall win which he will aim to add to his resume this weekend.

SRT/KTM/Kenda Tires’ Cory Buttrick’s breakout ride this past weekend may serve as the perfect opportunity for the Ohio native to earn his first career pro podium. Buttrick was able to lead the first lap of the seven-lap race where he fended off the pressure coming from K Russell.  Perhaps this will provide Buttrick with the confidence boost needed to produce a podium finish this Saturday.

After a successful last round, Cory Buttrick will be a top contender for the overall podium at the Powerline Park GNCC.  
Photo: Ken Hill

ENDUROCROSS DRAMA

The 2016 AMA EnduroCross series will start the second half of the season in Denver this weekend and Colton Haaker holds a small seven point lead over Cody Webb. Husqvarna’s Haaker has won three of the four races so far and looked very strong taking the win in Phoenix last weekend. KTM’s Webb, the two time defending champion, has one win, two seconds and a third so far this season, enough to keep the pressure on Haaker.

While those two riders have been dominant so far, Husqvarna’s Mike Brown has been the most consistent among the rest. The ageless Brown had another strong ride in Phoenix to take fourth, backing up two consecutive third place finishes in Sioux Falls and Salt Lake City. He currently holds third in the championship.

Fourth is currently held by RPM KTM’s Ty Tremaine. The twenty year old is getting closer to the podium all the time. Tremaine also leads the Junior EnduroCross Championship, which is a championship within a championship for riders twenty-one and under.

Geoff Aaron continues to mix it up at the front on his GasGas and is tied for fifth in the championship with Beta’s Max Gerston.

Seventh is held by Kyle Redmond. The Factory Beta rider has displayed solid speed this season but struggled with putting together the top finish he is capable of.

Noah Kepple, another youngster battling for the Junior EnduroCross Championship, has qualified for all four main events thus far and finished fifth in Sioux Falls. He is currently tied for eighth with Canada’s Cory Graffunder. Graffunder thrives on the tough tracks and put in his best finish of the season so far in Phoenix with a sixth. He has finished on the podium in the past and is hungry to get back there in the four races still to come.

Tenth position is another tie between Poland’s Taddy Blazusiak and young Trystan Hart. Blazusiak opened the season with a third but has struggled since injuring his thumb at round two. Canada’s Hart on the other hand missed the opening round but has come on strong with sixth, seventh and fifth place finishes in Sioux Falls, Salt Lake and Phoenix respectively. This is another kid to keep your eye on.

This weekend’s Denver event will be held inside the National Western Events Center on Saturday, October 1^st. The Arena is open for free for the daytime practice and qualification sessions that start at 10:00 am. Then the Arena opens back up to the public at 6:00 pm with opening ceremonies at 7:30 pm.