THE WEEKLY FEED: GERRIT WOLSINK THE CARLSBAD MASTER

A HISTORY LESSON

Gerrit Wolsink, a Dutch motocross racer who cut his teeth on sand tracks in Holland hit the GP scene racing for Maico (1973). His teammate Willy Bauer won the ’73 Carlsbad GP on a machine that revolutionized the sport when Maico moved the shocks forward and made a long travel motocrosser. Gerrit captured the attention of the fledging American racing world when he dominated the USGP at Carlsbad five times. A dentist by trade, Gerrit was hired by Suzuki in 1974 and finished 3rd in the GPs in ’75, 2nd in ’76, 3rd in ’77 and 2nd in 1979. But he will be forever known as the man who mastered the brutal hard pack Carlsbad circuit where he won in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978! While he won 13 GPs during his career, he said that his way of attacking Carlsbad’s rock like surface and high speeds was to stay fluid. Gerrit also says that the GP riders of the time were more fit than Americans and this was critical for maintaining a charge for 2-45 minute motos.

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ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE ADDITION OF DALTON SHIREY

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing is excited to announce the addition of Dalton Shirey to the Off-Road team through the 2018 season. Supported by Zip Ty Racing in 2015 and 2016, he placed second in the WORCS series his rookie season. After an injury interrupted his 2017 season he has made a full recovery and is expected to race National Hare and Hound, and the AMA West Coast GP series aboard a Husqvarna FX 450.

ANDREW DELONG JOINS GASGAS

Pennsylvania’s Andrew Delong joins the GasGas North America race effort. The 2014 National Enduro Champion will be aboard the new 2018 XC300 machine on the Front Row during the 2018 GNCC season, contesting the XC1 Pro class. In addition to the GNCC series, Delong will be competing in the National Enduro NE Pro 1 division. New in name only, the NE Pro 1 class is the top-level class that Andrew has won in the past. Although he is sure to face stiff competition in both GNCC and NEPG, we are confident that Andrew and the XC300 will be up to the task.

EPA releases final renewable fuel mandates for 2018

Higher volumes not in best interest of motorcyclists

The renewable fuels mandates released this week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are higher than the 2017 levels and the 2018 levels the agency proposed in June.
The EPA’s final 2018 Renewable Volume Obligations call for 19.29 billion gallons of renewable fuel — primarily corn ethanol — to be blended into the nation’s gasoline supplies. That figure is higher than the 19.24 billion gallons the agency proposed in June and slightly higher than the 19.28 billion gallons required in 2017.

“It is disappointing to learn the EPA raised its proposed Renewable Volume Obligations for 2018,” said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. “The decision goes against the agency’s promise to listen to consumers, who have indicated a low demand for higher ethanol blends. Forcing more ethanol into the nation’s fuel supply places motorcyclists at greater risk of misfueling their bikes.”

The EPA mandates continue to rise, even as cars become more fuel efficient and drivers travel fewer miles each year. Forcing more ethanol into fewer gallons of gasoline results in higher-ethanol blends for consumers. Most gasoline sold in the United States contains 10 percent ethanol (E10), which all modern automobile engines and many motorcycle engines are built to accommodate. However, if the RFS requirements continue to be implemented, it will result in higher-ethanol blends-such as E15 (15 percent ethanol)-to become more prevalent at retail outlets.

None of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles in use in the United States is approved by the EPA to operate on ethanol blends higher than 10 percent. Using higher-ethanol blends in those vehicles is illegal and may cause engine and fuel system damage and void the manufacturer’s warranty.
“The Renewable Fuel Standard has been broken for years, and Congress needs to reform the law to protect motorcyclists and the millions of consumers who do not want higher ethanol blends,” Allard said.