THE WEEKLY FEED: JOHN DESOTO-MX TO POLITICS, VIDEO DRAMA, OFF-ROAD TESTING

GLORY DAYS: John “The Flying Hawaiian” DeSoto

by Carl Ribaudo

Being from Hawaii you might assume John DeSoto was known for his surfing. But he wasn’t, DeSoto was known as an incredibly competitive motocross racer. DeSoto got his start riding dirt bikes in his native Hawaii but he was also a football star in junior college on scholarship in Utah. After attending some local races DeSoto took a chance moving to Southern California in 1967 to compete in the hotbed of motocross competition.

DeSoto got his start in some European Scrambles trying to get traction in the Southern California motocross scene. Living in an abandoned car near the shop he was sponsored by he caught the break he needed from the West Coast Montesa dealer and racing the highly competitive Southern California racing scene.
DeSoto raced in Europe in 1969 lasting a half-season before injuring himself and upon returning was offered a sponsored ride in the U.S. on a Husqvarna by Edison Dye which eventually led to a CZ sponsorship a year later.
As an ex-football player DeSoto was anything but a typical skinny lanky MX rider. DeSoto was built like a solid brick wall which enabled him to be a tough, gritty, hard-charging competitor. He picked up the nickname The Flying Hawaiian. DeSoto was a top competitor in the early 1970s in both the Trans AM and Inter AM series. He won a 250 National in 1973 and went on to represent the United States in the Motocross Des Nations along with Jim Pomeroy and Mike Hartwig.

DeSoto went on to race for both Suzuki and Kawasaki retiring in 1975, he was always at the front of the pack. After his return to Hawaii and in the mid 80’s he ran and was elected to the Honolulu City Council, serving the maximum four-year term. He continues to participate in vintage events nationally. From riding the pineapple fields in Hawaii to being a factory racer at the pinnacle of the American motocross scene to the Honolulu city council and to the AMA Hall of Fame. John DeSoto a life well-lived.

NEWS

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING’S THAD DUVALL SUFFERS ACL INJURY

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team has confirmed that GNCC title contender Thad DuVall has sustained a torn ACL and damage to the meniscus in his right knee, where he is set to undergo surgery later this month. His goal is to be back for the second half of the season. Thad was coming back from knee surgery in 2019 which sidelined him near the end of the GNCC season.

2020 BETA 125 RR-S DUAL SPORT

Beta is proud to launch the 2020 RR-S 125 model adding new colors for the new year.The 2020 125 RR-S was designed for many different riders and is determined to put a smile on all that experience it. The bike is very reliable with its 125cc electric start 4 stroke engine that provides a soft power delivery yet enough torque to inspire riders of all abilities. All this while being street legal in all 50 states. Also new for 2020 is the ability for customers to order their 125 RR-S model straight from the factory with a 1.5″ lower seat height over the stock models. These “lowboy” models have parts installed inside the front fork and rear shock to lower the seat height.

Price: $4999.00 (no price increase)

https://betausa.com/street-legal/2020-125-rr-s-drive/?utm_source=2020+125+RR-S&utm_campaign=Race+Team&utm_medium=email

VIDEO JUKEBOX

THIS IS WAY COOL! A TEN YEAR OLD TRIALS RIDER DOING AMAZING THING ON AN OSET ELECTRIC MACHINE

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9AHZ2mgKFN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

CLASSIC STEWART/REED BARN BURNER!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9K3sONg6UU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Rf6bclMZq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9O_FZTD0S6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

SOCIAL DISTORTION

EARLY HURRICANE WARNING!

GEAR BAG

MOOSE RACING SILICONE SPRAY

Keep your bike looking and feeling fresh with the brand new Ultra Glow Silicone Spray by Moose Racing. Designed to provide a high-gloss finish when applied, the Ultra Glow Silicone Spray is the perfect detailing spray that also prevents mud and debris from sticking to your bike.

Price: $8.95

www.mooseracing.com

TESTING…TESTING

This past weekend we (Ryan Koch, BP, Tip Webb and I) drove up to Keysville for a ride. It’s a long trip, but Ryan loves the area and convinced us to suck it up. It was epic, just under 60-miles and five and half hours of riding. Of course the combined age of the three old guys was over 180 years and I have belts older than Ryan so it kicked my caboose. It was good technical trail, lots of sidehills, some good woods single track and a down hill at the end that was a slot car drop from hell.

Ryan Koch is my main off-road tester at DB and is an accomplished pilot. He was in charge of keeping the ‘coots’ together. Ryan has been doing a long term test on our Beta 300.

The Wolfster crossing a little stream on his 300 TPI. He was testing some rubber from Motoz, their Tractionator Enduro S/T 90/100-21 FATTY which is DOT legal. The tire is impressive, has a large footprint, works really well in sand and like every Motoz tire that I’ve used, is incredibly durable!

Tip, Ryan and Brian Palmer enjoying the view

Tip and his Chilean 300 TPI in one of the manzanita forests in the Greenhorns.

Little brother flatted, fortunately Ryan had a tube and the proper tools to fix it. Tip found the rock to use as a stand!

WOLF: BACK IN THE DAY

Love this, 1980 Can-Am 400. Racing for Kolbe, I had just started at Dirt Bike and had a great year riding enduros. I had fit the forks off of our YZ250 test bike and the front wheel onto my bike (that fork was superb!) and ended up a AA for the year and won the District #1 plate. Great bike, great teammate in Pete Smith, loved Andy Kolbe and I’d landed the dream job. Wow.