THE KLX250S IS BACK!

This week Kawasaki announced the 2018 KLX250S dual-sport bike. This is a great bike from a few years back that just got a remake. It has a new look, fuel injection and a price that is pretty impressive: $5349. For $200 more there’s a Matrix Gray edition.

The KLX was a staple in the Kawasaki line for years, and even did some time in the Marines. In 2014 it vanished from the line, but then Honda’s CRF250L really took off. That’s the biggest reason for its return with EFI. Kawasaki decided to one-up the Honda by giving the KLX real suspension with clickers and everything. It will be available in October.

TOM WHITE’S MUSEUM

Our video editor Travis Fant just completed the first edition of a new series called “Tom White’s Museum.” You can check it out by licking the image above. I got the idea from Jay Leno’s Garage, which I love. This is what Jay Leno does in his post-Tonight Show life, and it allows him to share his passion with collecting cars and motorcycles in fairly high-quality videos. The biggest difference is that Jay takes his cars for a drive around the block. We can’t really do that with Tom’s bikes. His neighbors and the police in Villa Park wouldn’t understand. The first episode deals with a Hallman TT500. There are three more videos in the can and more that are planned. Tom has no shortage of great material.

OFF-ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP WATCH

Thad Duvall is offering the only real drama at the end of the 2017 off-road championship season. He left for the ISDE in Frace with a realistic chance at winning both the GNCC series and the National Enduro Series. He came back with an injured wrist and a season in jeopardy. The GNCC series was the first casualty. He missed Unadilla and watched series leader Kailub Russell take the win. Now Kailub sits with a 32 point lead (more than a race win) and three rounds left. Third place Stewart Baylor also has missed races and is more than 60 points back, so it’s looking like a Kailub runaway. The National Enduro series is a different story. Thad wrapped up his wrist, finished third and kept a slim points lead there. Baylor is riding really well, so the two remaining rounds will decide the season.

The Rocky Mtn ATV WORCS series is a little weird this year, too. Taylor Robert has won every round he’s entered, but he was injured most of the year. That means Gary Sutherlin is the runaway leader. Justin Seeds is the only rider with a mathematical chance to beat Sutherlin, who only has to finish 16th or better in the final round. Dante Oliveira has already wrapped up the Pro 2s. It’s a similar story in the Kenda/SRT National Hare & Hound series. Sutherlin has finished on the podium in every single round, while Ricky Brabec and Taylor Robert have both missed two rounds apiece. Now, Sutherlin sits with a 33 point lead and two rounds left. Big 6 Racing looks pretty good for Ox’s Zach Bell, who has a 19 point lead. But there are three rounds left and both Trevor Stewart and Blayne Thompson have a shot. EnduroCross is just getting started, with round two this week.

NICKY HAYDEN INCLUDED IN DUNLOP COLLECTION

Nicky Hayden was one of the most beloved racers the world has ever known. His great morality, respect for everyone, kindness, dedication and true love of racing will never be forgotten.

To pay tribute to Nicky, Dunlop has made him a part of the iconic Legends poster series, a program to honor racing heroes. Nicky’s poster features an amazing photograph taken by Tom Riles during Nicky’s run at the 2002 AMA Superbike championship. It perfectly captures the ferocity and commitment of Nicky’s never-give-in riding style.

In addition to his love of racing, Nicky also loved his home town of Owensboro, Kentucky, and was very active in various charities. He loved to give back, especially to the children in his local community. In his honor, the Hayden family has set up the Nicky Hayden Memorial Fund. Nicky’s Legends poster is available for $29.00 plus shipping through the Hayden Brothers General Store (http://www.haydenbrosgeneralstore.com), with proceeds going to his memorial fund. Posters will begin shipping the first week of October. More information about his fund can be found here https://cflfund.net/netcommunity/hayden.

The first 69 poster orders will also receive a special #69 Dunlop podium hat, and #69 sticker.

“Most people probably didn’t know Nicky dedicated so much of his time to charity, but knowing Nicky it shouldn’t surprise anyone,” said Mike Buckley, Dunlop Motorcycle’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “He had a big heart, and through this program we can help continue to give back in Nicky’s honor.”

About The Dunlop Legends Program

In 2005 Dunlop introduced the Legends program to benefit injured riders. These historic black-and-white posters honor some of the greatest racers in the sport, including David Bailey, Yvon Duhamel, Broc Glover, Bob Hannah, Kent Howerton, Rick Johnson, Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts, Bubba Shobert, Jeff Ward, Bruce Ogilvie, Malcolm Smith, Doug Henry, Jeremy McGrath, Jeff Stanton and now Nicky Hayden. The posters are 19 x 26 inches, and printed in black and white on heavy matte art paper.

HUSKY GOOD OLD TIMES: CHRISTER HAMMARGREN

Kenneth Olausson does a great job with a regular feature called the Husky Good Old Times Blog. He finds fantastic photos and info about Husqvarna riders from the past–some of them more famous that others. This month he features Christer Hammargren, who younger American might not know about. Christer wasn’t one of the riders who regularly came to the U.S. with DeCoster, Hallman and the others who started MX, but he was a big deal in Europe and helped Sweden win the Motocross des Nations.  You can read about him by clicking the image above.

PRO MOTOCROSS NUMBERS FOR 2018

The American Motorcyclist Association has announced the professional competition numbers for pro-licensed riders competing in Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, and the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship for the 2018 season.

All riders use the assigned professional number for competition. In addition, the current champion runs the No. 1 plate instead of an assigned professional number when competing in the class or region in which the No. 1 plate was earned. When competing in a class other than the class where the championship was earned, the rider must use the assigned professional number.

2018 Top 100 and Career Pro Numbers for AMA Supercross and Motocross 
* Career Numbers
** New Career Number for 2018

1 – 450MX Eli Tomac
1 – 250MX Zach Osborne
1 – 450SX Ryan Dungey
1 – 250SX West Justin Hill
1 – 250SX East Zach Osborne
2* Cooper Webb
3* Eli Tomac
4* Blake Baggett
5* Ryan Dungey
6* Jeremy Martin
7* James Stewart
10* Justin Brayton
11* Kyle Chisholm
12* Jake Weimer
14* Cole Seely
15* Dean Wilson
16* Zach Osborne
17* Joey Savatgy
18* David Millsaps
19* Justin Bogle
20* Broc Tickle
21* Jason Anderson
22* Chad Reed
23* Aaron Plessinger
24 Dylan Ferrandis
25* Marvin Musquin
26* Alex Martin
27** Malcolm Stewart
28 Shane McElrath
29 Martin Davalos
30 Mitchell Harrison
31 Colt Nichols
32 Christian Craig
33* Josh Grant
34 Weston Peick
35 Austin Forkner
36 RJ Hampshire
37 Fredrik Noren
38 Luke Renzland
39 Kyle Cunningham
40 Chase Sexton
41* Trey Canard
42 Dakota Alix
43 Sean Cantrell
44 Lorenzo Locurcio
45 Jordan Smith
46** Justin Hill
47 Jimmy Decotis
48 Henry Miller
49 Nick Gaines
50 Dan Reardon
51* Justin Barcia
52 Mitchell Oldenburg
53 Bradley Taft
54 Phil Nicoletti
55 Vince Friese
56 Anthony Rodriguez
57 John Short
58 Matt Bisceglia
59 Cole Martinez
60 Benny Bloss
61 Heath Harrison
62 Justin Cooper
63 Hayden Mellross
64 Michael Mosiman
65 Gannon Audette
66 Cameron McAdoo
67 Justin Hoeft
68 Justin Starling
69 Tyler Bowers
70 Jesse Wentland
71 Josh Mosiman
72 Joshua Hansen
73 Brandon Scharer
74 Jon Ames
75 Noah McConahy
76 Kyle Peters
77 Ryan Surratt
78 Ronnie Stewart
79 Nick Schmidt
80 AJ Catanzaro
81 Chase Marquier
82 Cody Williams
83 Cole Thompson
84 Scott Champion
85 Joshua Cartwright
86 Dylan Merriam
87 Dylan Wright
88 Paul Coates
89 Jerry Robin
90 Dakota Tedder
91 Alex Ray
92** Adam Cianciarulo
93 Mark Worth
94* Ken Roczen
95 Joey Crown
96 Zack Williams
97 Cade Clason
98 Ryan Sipes
99 Dillan Epstein
800* Mike Alessi

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