CONTENTS
COVER SHOOT Clowning Around PHOTOS:
12
Tim Slayton
10
28
26
FIRST LOOK
FEATURE
STUFF
THE END
6 . . . . Editors Letter
12. . . Cover Story Clowning Around
22. . . IMS
28. . . Nuclear Cowboys
24. . . Special Bond Elias Family
30. . . Product Reviews
8 . . . . Thieves Corner 10. . . Female Rider
18. . . Feature Model Joyce R
26. . . Supercross Preview
CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
|5
CyclePath Is the Ultimate Two Wheeled Nation’s Magazine.
GET COMMITED www.cyclepathmagazine.com
EDITOR’S
LETTER Editor: Tim Slayton Our trusted leader undercover in the field
Well 2009 is now over and we blast into 2010 With the Ultimate Two wheeled Nation. The past few months have been a great learning experience. Since we are a new face on the scene, we have a few hurdles to overcome. The industry is rough for the new kid on the block but we will remain focused on the outcome of the magazine and do whatever we need to do to bring you, the reader the most informative information on what we cover. We start off the year with the much anticipated Monster Energy Supercross. With the major players and some up and coming stars of the futures are all ready to battle SX Champion James Stewart for the number one plate. We cannot wait for the drop of the gate to see who has put in the work and ready to be champion. The Nuclear cowboys are coming to a city near you. This is one great show, a must see! This is a great time of year for new starts for the New Year, we here at CyclePath Magazine are looking forward to all the new events and challenges coming. We are committed to bringing the latest custom motorcycles, models and events happening around this great nation. Look for us at an event somewhere near you.
Editor in Chief Executive Editor Managing Editor Executive Assistant
CyclePath
EDITORIAL
Tim Slayton Arlin Slayton Tony Contreras Brandi Castillo
ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN Art Director
SALES Vince Villagran
CONTRIBUTORS Frank Gutierrez Nick Kearney Grace Tellez
6 | CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
Robert Bailon
Corey Esquero Kaine
CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
|7
THIEVES
CORNER ven the lowest estimates suggest that in excess of 26,000 motorcycles are stolen every year in America. The actual figure is likely far higher, somewhere around 100,000 units. Nobody knows for sure, due to the fact that the figures are based on thefts reported to law enforcement and insurance companies. An unknown number of thefts aren’t reported to either type of agency (some because matters were taken in own hands).In the motorcycle thefts that are recorded, significant errors are often introduced into the statistics due to sloppy reporting. Maybe an upset exowner or tired clerk may get a digit or two wrong when they’re listing the Vehicle Identification Number of a stolen Honda CBR600, and now it gets entered into the vast crime database as a Honda civic. With this big difference we don’t know how many bikes are stolen. With this trend rising with approximately 10 percent more stolen bikes every year. When it comes right down to it, the motorcycle theft problem is an issue. What matters is keeping the motorcycle you own from joining the statistics. With some modest investments in security products can reduce the chance of theft. No matter how you look at it, walking out to discover that your motorcycle has been stolen is guaranteed to make you sick. Unfortunately, it’s a feeling a number motorcycle owners have experienced firsthand. We’ve put together 7 key ways to help keep your bike from disappearing:
E
1. Lock It
4. Don’t Be a Show-Off
Lock it, or you just might lose it. A determined, professional thief may get your motorcycle no matter what you do, but plenty of motorcycles are stolen by opportunist. Your fork lock is just a start. Adding a disc lock is better. But why stop there? Use a strong, motorcycle U-lock and a chain to attach your bike to a solid object, or another motorcycle. Looping the chain through the frame is better than draping it through the wheel, which can be removed. Make the chain as tight as possible to offer less access for bolt-cutters, and don’t let it drape on the ground, where it can be chiseled. Put the locks in hard-to-reach spots—if it’s more work for you to put the lock on, it’s more work for a thief to get it off. Maybe he’ll move on to an easier target. A lever lock on the clutch adds another layer of hassle for the thief, especially if you leave the bike in gear, unbolt the shift lever and take it with you. And remember that the same chain you use to secure your bike can also secure your gear. Run the chain through your helmet and jacket sleeve so you won’t have to carry them around all day.
Some people are so proud of their bikes that they park them in the front yard for everyone to admire. That just makes it easier for thieves to admire also. Always try to park your bike inside a garage if possible. Keep the door closed and consider covering the windows. When parking outside, use a cover. The more your bike is out of sight, the more it’s out of a thief ’s mind.
Always lock your garage and get an alarm. Installing a U-bolt in the garage floor gives you an easy way to lock your bike. Don’t confuse a garage-door opener with a lock. A simple lock on the frame inside the door will keep it from opening unless the thief pry’s on it. That might create enough noise to wake you up. Installing a U-bolt in the garage floor gives you an easy way to lock your bike. You can extend your home security system to include the garage. Some people even mount a closed-circuit video camera so they can check on their bikes from inside the house. Park your car behind it makes the thief lift your motorcycle over the car if he wants it that bad enough.
2. Cover It
6. Disable Your Bike
No, a motorcycle cover won’t stop a determined thief. But it might mean your bike attracts less of the wrong kind of attention. So after you’ve locked it, cover it. A plain cover is best. After all, the purpose is not to advertise your loyalty to a particularly valuable brand of motorcycle, but to avoid letting thieves know what you’ve got. A cover with metal grommets can be locked in place to help keep prying eyes away, and to prevent the cover itself from being stolen.
Locking your bike to something stops a thief from lifting it into a truck and hauling it away, but you can also temporarily disable the motorcycle to keep someone from riding it away. It can be as simple as removing the main fuse and dropping it into your pocket after you park. Some owners install hidden switches that disable the ignition. If you have fuel injection, a switch that cuts power to the fuel pump will keep the engine from starting. Anti-theft measures are so the thief runs out of patients and walks away leaving your bike.
3. Consider an Alarm
7. Choose Parking Spots Carefully
An alarm in conjunction with a lock can be a difficult combination for a thief, especially if the alarm is hidden. Cutting chains and removing locks is likely to set off the alarm, which could stop a theft attempt before it succeeds. What if your bike is parked where you can’t hear the alarm, or if you live where nobody pays attention to screaming vehicles because there are always false alarms? Get an alarm with a pager that notifies you when someone tampers with your bike. Alarms attached to a cover can be really effective. Lift the cover, and the noise starts.
In a parking lot, don’t park next to a panel truck, van or other vehicle that can conceal thieves at work. Choose a spot where thieves cannot intentionally use their stolen-bike transporter to block the view of your motorcycle. Try to think like a Thief and change your behavior to make your machine less of a target. You can stop the Thieves, it all comes down to a test of who is more determined you or them. Luckily you have a lot of resources at your disposal, and with a little prevention we hope you’ll never have a lonely ignition key as the only reminder of the motorcycle you once owned. Last but not least don’t feed the monster. Stop the demand and this might slow the theft. Don’t buy stolen bikes and parts.
8 | CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
5. Secure Your Garage
FEMALE
RIDER
Getting to know Monik V.G. What got you into riding? I’ve always wanted to ride,for me it was more about the timing. I bought a Corvette a few years before so getting a bike was the next step for me, I have a need for speed. I love to go fast. How long have you been Riding? I’ve been riding about six months. What modifications have you done to your bike? A Candy Hawiian Hot Pink custom paint job overlaid with Gloss Black. Airbrushed Stars with Rinestones, matching helmet and wheels. Full Pink LED lighting system. Two Brothers exhaust. 15K HID headlights. MP3 Navigation and full sound system. Custom Black seats. What future modifications do you plan on doing to your bike? I would like to put more lights on my bike. Pink stiching on my seats with a design. I would like my pegs and kick stand custom painted pink and black. What was your first experience riding alone like? OMG, I was so scared and nervous! It was only my third time riding and I was still getting use to my bike. I had already dropped it twice getting off of it, before I actually got it lowered. I was still staling out, when I would pull off from a light, man I was sweating bullets. With all that I did make it home safe and sound, I was coming from Dee’s in Long Beach so I took Lakewood Blvd. all the way home. I’ve never been so nervous and excited at the same time. Whats your dream motorcycle? My bike I absolutely Love it, once I get a few more things done to it I’ll be satisfied. There’s no other type of bike I can see myself riding. Who influenced you? Nobody in particular I know a few people who ride already so I talked to them about a few 10 | CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
things before I got my bike. They all gave me the same advice about riding and being safe. I decided to take the class before I got my bike to make sure this was what I really wanted. When I left the class after my first day on the range I knew I wanted a bike, I was ready! The instructor told us to go home and practice what we learned and I was so sad because I was the only one in my group that didn’t have a bike yet. So I went shopping for a bike. Do you plan on racing or doing track days? Yes I do want to race and do track days. I haven’t looked into it but it’s definitely something I want to do, once I’ve been riding a little longer I will try it. What do you think about stunting and would you like to try it? Stunting looks like a lot of fun! But I’m not ready for it. I would like to try a few different stunts but that’s a few years away for me. I’m a daredevil and I like to try new things but I dont want to beat up my pretty bike! LOL Most embarrassing moment riding? It happened when Nichole and I rode to Bike Night for the first time. I was behind a car that just stopped right as it entered the parking lot which made me have to stop as well. But it left me going uphill, still in second gear and as soon as I went forward my bike cut off and I rolled back a little. Once I got it in first gear and tried to go it kept cutting off and I kept rolling back. Now I’m sweating and embarrassed because everybody is standing there watching me struggle, finally a couple guys ran over to help me. They pushed me up the little hill and told me not to worry that I wasn’t alone out here. I still haven’t got over that experience and I’m so afraid of getting stuck going up any type of hills because I feel like I’m going to roll backwards. Whats the most fun ride you have had? When I went on my first canyon ride on Ortega Hwy, I was scared and excited at the same time. I was with a few friends and the weather was nice that day. Gus rode behind me and let me ride my ride. I took my time because I was nervous but I enjoyed every minute.
COVER
STORY
CP
CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
| 13
COVER
STORY
CP
Would you like to be 50 retired and building motorcycles for a hobby? That’s just how Mark spends his spare time. After working as a Mechanic for Toyota a number of years, Mark saved his money, invested in Precious metals and hit it big after Listening to his father who showed Mark the stock market game. He saved his money to follow in his father’s footsteps. Soon after the investment paid off, he put it all on gold and hit the jackpot. Mark now enjoys his not so twilight years Building custom bikes. His first attempt was a 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550; he put a turbo, paint, and a few of his special touches. He then began to move on to other brands including a few Harley’s. For his next project he thought the Suzuki Hayabusa was the perfect start cause of the clean lines. He drove to Corona Motorsports to purchase the 2008 Suzuki, brought it home and tore it down. With his plan all mapped out, the parts were purchased and calls were made. Tricked Out Custom Cycles, All Things Chrome, Jt motors, Michelin, Extreme Paint, Voo Doo, Galfer, Johns Motors, Toby’s seats, and Night Glow helped out with parts. He had an idea to put the Nitrous with a twist of the throttle so the N.O.S. is activated at full Throttle. He changed the valves and pistons so you can go fast without melting them. It also has an 11” stretch swing arm with custom one off rims and Michelin tires. On to the paint, Extreme went all in on the crazy Air Brushing. You Throw in Voo Doo Exhaust, Custom Mirrors, two Go Pro camera, Navigation with rear view camera display, Johns motors Triple Clamp, Night Glow L.E.D.s, Toby’s Custom seat, and Some Galfer Wave Rotors to slow down this beast and you have all in. As for Mark, he enjoys Building and fabricating. To him it’s a passion for custom motorcycles! His influences are South West coast feel with a little East flavor. He has new project in the works, be on the lookout for his next creation. 14 | CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
COVER
STORY
CP
16 | CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
CYCLEPATH MAGAZINE GETS TO KNOW JOYCE
Juicy-J or many of us when you hear the word “Juicy” come from somebodies mouth, you think of the late Notrious B.i.g. That used to be the case for me, but that will no longer be. There is now a new meaning for that word. I mean no disrespect but, come on. How can you think of a song when you see our first cover model grace the pages of this issue.
F
CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
| 19
COVER
MODEL
CP
How did you get started into modeling? I started modeling when I submitted my headshots for the Hooters Calendars when I worked there for about two years. My first shoot was with a great photographer Derek Branum and I fell in love with modeling! Do you have a nickname and how did you get it? My nickname is Juicy-J, I still don’t know why all my friends call me that but they’ve done it since high school. It’s sexy and it has a nice ring to it :) What do you do on your spare time? On my spare time I definitely always try and hang out with my family, especially my big sister Jamie who is my best friend. Go grab drinks with the girls or go dancing! Do you have any hobbies? If so what are they? My hobbies are dancing, scrapbooking, baking and SHOPPING :) I like making money because I LOVE spending it! What is your favorite type of food? My favorite food is Sushi & Sake, doesn’t get any better than that. What do you consider to be your best feature? I think my best feature is my smile. It’s one thing to have a nice body, but every man wants a kind, pretty face to take home to their mommas :) What will most people be surprised to know about you? Most people would be surprised to know I have a 4.0 in college. Beauty and brains, baby! Do you have a favorite TV show? My favorite TV shows are Sex & the City, the Simpsons, and Oprah. What is your favorite type of music? My all time favorite music is Blues or Jazz. My favorites are Norah Jones & Michael Buble. What is your favorite type of motorcycle? My favorite type of motorcycle is any bike with a hot guy riding on it :) Do you ride? I don’t ride motorcycles, I just pose on them. Have you ever been on one? I’ve actually never rode on one, want to take me? What are your future plans? My future plans are to continue to build a successful modeling empire, start a foundation for abused women and the homeless, become a registered nurse and one day be an outstanding mother and wife. 20 | CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
HEIGHT: 5'0 ETHNICITY: Filipina SIGN: Sagittarius BIRTHDAY: November 28 facebook.com/missjoyceroque THANKS: I'd like to thank my parents and my big sister that I love with all my heart and to whom I dedicate all my successes to, the rest of my extended family for all their words of encouragement, my best friends Susan & Jennifer for their undying support, all the love from CyclePath Magazine fans, and last but certainly not least.... EVERY member of the CyclePath Magazine team. You guys are the best!
CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
| 21
Cycle World International Motorcycle Show at Long Beach
he Southern California when the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows nationwide tour made its third stop on its 12-city tour at the Long Beach Convention Center California known as the mecca for two and threewheeled riders. This Showcase of for the 2010 sport bikes, dirt bikes, dual sports, cruisers, scooters, ATVs and eco friendly all Electric. From seasoned to new riders, the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show® is the perfect place to get to know the bike culture, talk to experts, test out the latest gear and more. Additionally, this motorcycle extravaganza will pack the Long Beach Convention Center with highenergy entertainment including The TapouT tribute Suzuki Hayabusa Built by Voo Doo Industries. Punkass and Skyskrape were on hand for the unveiling, they brought a few of their sponsored UFC fighters to meet and sign autographs. The TapouT display will be a part of the remaining 10 stops on the IMS tour as part of the TapouT Champions Area. Bike and Beats Ultimate Builder Competition, Hip Hop dancers, Live Music from J. Pigg, interactive family activities, motorcycle action from the Ducati Freestyle Team, educational seminars, demo rides and more There was hundreds of 2010 models like Honda, Suzuki, Victory, BMW, Ducati, Yamaha, Yamaha Star, Harley Davidson, Triumph, KTM, Aprillia, Moto Guzzi, Vespa, Kawasaki, Norton, Husquavarna, T Rex, And Zero. Some top motorcycles were Hondas new flagship, the V-4-powered VFR1200F, a part sport bike part tourer, Honda says it “brings MotoGP technology to
T
22 | CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
the street,” Also making its debut is the NT700V light tourer. It’s powered by a 680cc V-Twin and includes an adjustable windscreen, shaft drive and highly integrated saddlebags. Honda’s display also included the Shadow Phantom, The new Shadow RS The full line of Off road bikes, Quads, and scooters Victory Motorcycles the new Cross Roads and Cross Country baggers, Victory announced the availability of special prices for U.S. military in a campaign titled Full Throttle Salute. In conjunction, the company has built two custom bikes to benefit families affected by the tragic shootings at Fort Hood last month. A U.S. Army-themed Kingpin 8-Ball cloaked in olive-drab paint joins a Hammer S with a modern military theme in an eBay auction to be held next spring. “We at Victory Motorcycles and Polaris Industries are proud to support those who have made the greatest commitment to this country, and we thank them for their dedicated service,” said Mark Blackwell, Vice President of Motorcycles. “It was a unique experience to build these two American motorcycles that represent the freedom, quality and lifestyle of our country that our Armed Forces protect each day.” Ducati display debut of the Multistrada 1200was big news, a Latin hybrid of an adventure-tourer and sport-tourer. “We said to our race engineers, build a bike you’d like to ride on the street and throw everything at it,” said Ducati North America CEO Michael Lock. “It’s the adventure-touring equivalent of our superbike.” The Ducati display also included the recently announced Hypermotard 1100 EVO and EVO SP, plus the 796 Hypermotard , Also on display at the Ducati section was a fashion show
highlighting the Ducati Apparel Collection. Harley-Davidson 2010 models unveiled were the latest Harleys, including the Wide Glide and Fat Boy, the Electra Glide Ultra Limited, and Road Glide. Added to the display was a cool “Fit Shop” in which you can see how H-D’s accessory pieces will alter riding ergonomics to various bikes. Also, a flag was laid out for people to sign, which Harley than will be sending to our military overseas. Notably absent from the H-D booth was the Buell brand. Sad. Suzuki Senior Communications Manager Steve Bortolomedi opened with news that Suzuki has recently been posting some positive financial reports. They claim a 31 billion yen profit over the first six months of 2009, and profit expectations for 2010 have also been raised. Not much new in terms of new models except for the dirtbike lineup. New to the lineup is the RM-X450Z enduro bike complete with fuel-injection like MX Championship RMZ 450, and a revised RM-Z250 was also on display. Suzuki also highlighted Suzuki’s 2010 race teams, now managed by the Yoshimura race shop that has a longstanding association with Suzuki. Tommy Hayden and Blake Young rejoin the Yosh superbike team, while Ryan Dungey, Matt Moss and Austin Stroupe will represent Suzuki’s motorcross/supercross teams managed by the legendary Roger Decoster. Yamaha featured the new YZF-R1 Valentino Rossi replica getting the most attention. Battling for coolest bike on display with Rossi’s M1 GP bike, James Stewarts SX Championship YZ 450F, The all new 2010 450F (Features a new Motor, Frame, And Suspension), also Ben Spies’ championship-winning
R1 was a custom R1 built to benefit the excellent Riders for Health charity which was shepherded by the Daytona-winning racer Don Emde.. Star Motorcycles The new Stratoliner Deluxe bagger was the star of the display, overshadowing a freshened version of the V-Star 1300 Tourer. For a pure visual statement, Nick Anglada-built custom Star Raider, a baseball-themed bike to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr. organized the project, and it includes baseballs inset in the bike’s fuel tank signed by the Seattle Mariners slugger plus Hall-of-Famers Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, number 2 and 4 respectively on the career MLB Home Run. It will be auctioned next year to raise funds for charity. Aprilia returned to SBK racing with the RSV4 and it’s easy to tell. A simple glance tells you that this is a purpose-built machine. As I mentioned, Aprilia didn’t have a booth but thanks to San Diego’s own GP Motorcycles and Moto-Forza, there was a RSV4 to check out. Max Biaggi piloted the RSV4 to great results in its first year racing. Kawasaki had all its 2010 bikes on display the Concours 14, as well as Fonzie’s fun ride aboard the KLX110 models. the all-new 2010 Z1000. Reports
inside coming in don’t gloss over the potency of the new 1043cc inline-Four powering the Z, but it seems the newest is the Z’s new chassis. Word is, the stiff new frame finally allows the rider to fully access and exploits the full potential of the big motor. Norton reborn was shown at Long Beach. The naked roadster is an update to the Kenny Dreer design that struggled to reach production a couple of years ago. Now with fuel injection fitted by its U.K. Company, the air-cooled parallel-Twin is said to pump out 80 horsepower. Initial production will consist of 50 numbered bikes to be brought into the U.S., and American importer Matt Capri says he expected all of them to be spoken for by the end of the show. KTM RC8 was a thing of beauty. What more can you say but SICK. What a work of art. Nuff Said. There were plenty of vendors showing off the great new products for 2010. Everything you need to build, fix, clean, wear, or learn to ride was on display. It was a great time had by many. We like to thank all that came out to support the industry. Show organizers report attendance of 47,903, down slightly from 55,702 in 2008. This was not bad considering the shape of the economy.
Cycle World International Motorcycle Show Schedule • December 11-13, 2009, Qwest Field Event Center, Seattle, WA. • January 1-3, 2010, Rock Financial Showplace, Novi, MI. • January 8-10, 2010, Carolina First Center, Greenville, SC. • January 15-17, 2010, Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C. • January 22-24, 2010, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, NY. • January 29-31, 2010, I-X Center, Cleveland, OH • February 5-7, 2010, Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, MN. • February 19-21, 2010, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Chicago, IL.
CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
| 23
REAL
PEOPLE
SPECIAL BOND The Elias family has always had a huge interest in motorcycles along with attending shows. Sons Eric, Marc and Gary along with their father David all share this as their common interest. Eric, the eldest of the brothers worked at a motorcycle shop for quite some time. In 2003 David got his 100 year anniversary edition fat boy, soon after Eric and Marc started piecing together their own. They all have a very similar taste in Motorcycles. Being too hard to narrow their likes down to a specific motorcycle, they admit that they are more drawn to Harley based bikes, but they do really like the older bikes such as Flat heads, Knuckle Heads, Pan Heads, etc. However, they DO respect all other types of motorcycles. Eric and Marc’s choppers were built from the frame up in their own backyard by all four of them as well as David’s Harley. Gary’s Harley came complete but it was completely taken apart and everything was redone. Many of the parts were changed to fit Gary’s personal style with plenty help from a family friend, Chris Richardson, owner of LA SPEED SHOP. While it seems that their styles in motorcycles are by far different from each other, they are also very similar says younger brother Gary. Each of their bikes has a different style to fit the bike so it has a clean and simple look to it. Their influence comes from those that are old school style bikes from the 40’s to the 60’s with a modern touch to them. Eric’s bike is a 2005 special construction chopper. It was started with a rigid frame stretched 4 inches and a 34 degree rake. The rear tire is a 200, it has a springer front end and an 80ci S&S motor with a five speed transmission along with a 3 inch open primary. The bike is not yet painted; it only has a clear coat and is pin striped. This bike had to be rebuilt and was finished in September after it was crashed on the 210 freeway in March of 2009. 24 | CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
Marc, the middle of the brothers also has a 2005 special construction chopper. Very similar to Eric’s with the rigid frame, stretched 4 inches, a 34 degree rake and a 200 rear tire. It has a wide glide front end and an 80ci motor from Harley Davidson. This is also a five speed transmission and a three inch open. This bike is also not yet painted and like Eric’s, it has a clear coat with pin striping. Gary has a 1981 FLH Harley Davidson. The bike has been completely taken apart and redone. This bike has been painted dark green with ghost flames; it has been rewired, changed the handle bars, rebuilt the carburetor and put a new Rivera Primo clutch. Everything on this motorcycle has been completely re-done as nothing remains the same as purchased. In addition, it also has a 21” front wheel with a 16” in the rear, both are twisted spokes. The motor is the original rebuilt Shovel head with the original rebuilt 4 speed transmission. It is both kick and electric start. Gary’s built is both modern and old school. The family goes on rides as much as possible. Sometimes they ride to breakfast on the weekends and once a year they go on a ride to Lone Pine here in CA. The Elias family also goes on a once a year ride to Palm Springs but unfortunately, Gary’s bike has not been finished long enough to actually ride with his family on the longer rides although he did follow by car. The longer rides usually happen with a large group of friends as they also do a lot of fundraiser rides together. On the third Wednesday of every month, the family would ride to The Diner on Main St. restaurant in Alhambra, CA for a small car show. Their favorite and longest ride has been to Lone Pine as they say it is very nice. As for their future motorcycle plans, they really don’t have any set but to ride as much as possible, have a good time and stay safe. Aside from that, just see where they end up. Gary would like to build up a street bike and maybe even a dirt bike too. David only plans on riding Harley’s.
CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
| 25
SUPERCROSS
PREVIEW
2010 Monster Energy® Supercross championship, Feld Motor Sports. Last year’s racing was battles were epic and with the likes of guys like, Ryan Dungey, Josh Hansen, And Jason Lawrence this year is going to be one to remember. When the gate drops January 9th the sparks will fly and riders will be pushed to their limits in search of that number one plate. The defending AMA Supercross champion James Stewart looks to earn his third career championship while holding last year’s runner up Chad Reed and a pack of up-and-coming riders that are eager to take Stewart’s number one plate. Coming off an 11-win in the 2009 Monster energy Supercross season, Stewart and the San Manuel Yamaha team want to keep the #1 plate. Chad Reed the Former two-time AMA Supercross class champion will switch from the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team to the Monster Energy Kawasaki team. Reed won three races in 2009, Reed and Stewart battled down to the final stop of the season at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium in what is considered the greatest season in the sport’s history. Ryan Villopoto will be joined by Chad Reed under the Monster Energy Kawasaki tent. Villopoto’s two victories in 2009 supercross class also made him the only rider in history to beat Stewart in a race that he did not crash. Josh Grant had a great rookie season debut by winning the Anaheim 1 race last year, Josh Grant was in the hunt early earning valuable experience. When the gate drops the number 33 will be ready to challenge for the title in 2010. Ryan Dungey Moving up from the AMA Lites class captured the Western Regional title last year. Dungey raced in select AMA Supercross class races in 2009, finishing as high as second in the Minneapolis race. Josh Hansen is joining the party looking to prove that he has what it takes to run up front. Coming off his second x games win Hansen is ready to show he has done the work and has what it takes to be a threat to the front runners. Jason Lawrence had a rough going in 2009 showing he has the speed to finish on the top step of the podium, but with bad luck and off track problems he showed speed but not endurance. Jason Lawrence is back in 2010 with a new outlook and ready to prove to himself that he has the skill and ability to be in the hunt for the 2010 Monster Energy Supercross Championship. Hondas DM18 and Short had moments in 2009 and they along with a whole host of riders will be up for the task of a hard fought season. The series starts January 9th in Anaheim, Ca. and ends May 8th in Las Vegas!
26 | CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
NUCLEAR COWBOYZ
THE DAWN OF A NEW FREESTYLE
Thought you knew all you needed to know about anything relating to Freestyle MX? Think again! We were invited to the first dress rehearsal and a press conference of the 2010 Nuclear Cowboyz Tour at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. The main principals were introduced to the assembled media. Speakers at the press conference included: • Ken Feld - CEO of Feld Entertainment • Barry Lather - Director and Choreographer • Micky Dymond - Rider Choreographer and Stunt Coordinator • Todd Jendro - Senior Director of Feld Entertainment Motor Sports • Jeremy ‘Twitch’ Stenberg - rider and leader of one ‘tribe’ • Nate Adams - rider and leader of one ‘tribe’ Mr. Feld spoke first. We know Feld Entertainment put on shows, with their Disney, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. They have only been motorsports for a year. Mr. Feld said he felt that freestyle motocross had more potential. And that potential is The Nuclear Cowboyz show concept: Performance art, pyrotechnics, music, storytelling, lighting, and choreography. To create a new form of art. 28 | CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
Todd Jendro, Senior Director of Feld Entertainment Motor Sports conceived the idea of Nuclear Cowboyz. He started by making a written script, something he’s actually wanted to do for a few years. “I really wanted to change, to transform freestyle motocross in a big way”. Todd said. I asked myself “How can we change the inside of an arena into literally another world?” I developed the script’s first story line as a post apocalyptic world. You’ll discover there are two tribes in this post apocalyptic world. The two tribes (Soldiers of Havoc & Metal Mulisha) and their leaders battle for supremacy in this new world. Then, they discover, they actually need each other.” Jeremy ‘Twitch’ Stenberg, leader of one of the tribes said, “We’ve been putting in a lot of hard work. I first read the script, and didn’t fully understand ... but then I came to the first rehearsal ... and now I really began to understand!” Nate Adams, leader of one of the tribes added, “It’s different Very different. We compete all year long ... but now we get to have fun, I get to ride with my friends. It’s still a bit competitive, and we want to ‘best’ each other, but it’s friendly now.”
The show starts. It’s a new world - post apocalypse. There is lighting, dancers, smoke, music ... and it’s just the first few moments. The scene is set right from the start The battle begins - It tells a story good versus evil. It’s a battle of two tribes going after each other for new world supremacy. The conflict is building. The two tribal leaders face off in a one on one battle. The two go at it then head back to their tribes. The two tribes come out to an all out war; bikes, riders, girls, a quad and its total chaos! After all the pushing, fighting, freestyle, and fireworks the two tribes unite. That’s the only way to survive in the post apocalyptic world. This is the beginning of The Nuclear Cowboyz! This show is very unique it really tells a story. It’s like nothing we’ve ever seen before like a freestyle opera. You’ll just have to see out the show nearest you! For tickets and info visit: http://www.nuclearcoboyz.com The crew involved in production was great. The riders hit every mark. Everybody involved was amazing. They have a great team with all the right stuff to make this work. Riders include: Geoff Aaron, Nate Adams, Jeremy Stenberg,
Beau Bamburg, Matt Buyten, Ronnie Faisst, Jimmy Fitzpatrick, Brian Foster, Derek Garland, Taka Higashino, Adam Jones, Mike Mason, Jimmie McGuire, Jim McNeil, Dustin Miller, Todd Potter, Wes Agee, and Derek Guetter. The 2010 Nuclear Cowboyz Tour schedule: January 2 - Pittsburg PA - Mellon ArenaJanuary 8,9 - Richmond VA Richmond ColiseumJanuary 16, 17 - Boston MA - TD GardenJanuary 23 Dallas TX - American Airlines CenterJanuary 30 - Houston TX - Reliant StadiumFebruary 6 - Indianapolis IN - Lucas Oil StadiumFebruary 13 - Atlanta GA - Georgia DomeFebruary 19, 20 - Tampa FL - St. Pete ForumFebruary 26, 27 - East Rutherford NJ - IZOD CenterMarch 6, 7 - Birmingham AL Birmingham J. Conv. ComplexMarch 12, 13 - San Diego CA - San Diego Sports ArenaMarch 20, 21 - Tacoma WA - Tacoma DomeMarch 26, 27, 28 Anaheim CA - Honda CenterApril 2, 3 - Ontario CA - Citizens Bank ArenaApril 17, 18 - Rosemont IL - Allstate Arena “This will be global. You don’t need to speak a specific language to understand this!”
CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
| 29
NEW
STUFF GoPro Hero HD GoPro continues to innovate and excite, especially with the release of a new line of high-definition (HD) cameras which has created quite a market niche for motor sports video capture. These new gadgets record in 1080p, 960p and 720p resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio and can be mounted to any helmet, motorcycle, car, 4-wheeler, boat, etc. Basically, anything that is motorized or moves is perfect for the GoPro Hero HD Mounting hardware is available for up to 2 helmets and 3 vehicle. And with a waterproof housing good to up to 180 feet, you can take the GoPro Hero HD diving or on your watercraft. Up to 2.5 hours of footage can be captured on one charge. If you scoop up a separate 32 gig card, you can grab 9 hours total. The 5MP camera can be set to shoot at 2, 5, 10, 30 or 60 second intervals. We can see some pretty cool stop motion possibilities here. Retail: $299.99.
THE FLIP My recent purchase of “The Flip” camcorder was nearly one of the best purchased item I’ve made in quite some time. The need to make quick videos on the go and not carry around a large camcorder called for this chic device. The Flip digital video camera can hold up to 60 minutes of video, this translates 1 GB in internal memory. It has a resolution of 640x480 and the back side is set with a 280x120 pixel screen to view what you are filming. Instead of batteries, this device is equipped with a USB arm which plugs directly into your computer for easy uploading and sharing. This mini camcorder is the least complicated and it is very user friendly. I carry this device with me at all times whether it’s with family, friends, parties or even on a motorcycle. Again, I am extremely happy with my purchase for the simple fact that i can share memorable videos with anybody in a blink of the eye.
30 | CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
PLAYIN’
GAMES This is the newest installment of the MX vs. ATV franchise that THQ and developer Rainbow created and cultivated. Having the Xbox 360 as a canvas enables the game makers to push the envelope in a lot of different ways. MX vs. ATV Reflex. The biggest improvement in this just-released game is terrain deformation (TD). TD was mostly a cosmetic feature, Reflex is much like in an actual motocross race. Now not only do you have the Riders you have to pay attention to the ruts as well. Every lap there is a different line. So the tires can get caught and swap side to side or maybe pitched off by a nice kicker. You need to pick your “line” to able to turn tight at speed by using certain ruts or railing a berm to carry your speed. As you start a game, you’re urged to personalize the game by changing your rider’s features (though it’s not as versatile as a Tiger Woods PGA Tour game or even THQ’s own most recent WWE titles), as well as customizing the rider’s number and name that are affixed to the back of his jersey through your “Motocard.” There are also, as you’d expect, a series of simple tutorials that will give you the basic skills and lets you prove you can match the directions before moving on to the next level Outside of the riding, perhaps the most fun, which you’ll experience right off the bat, is hearing David Lee’s voiceovers as he narrates the instructional text and introduces you to each venue and race type. He’s the familiar voice you hear on national motocross commercials (among many other ads and radio/TV-station “bumpers”), and it adds an aire of authenticity to have him booming out of your speakers when you play Reflex. Most of the tutorials provide a bit-by-bit elaboration on the “Reflex” in the game’s name. It describes the use of
the Right Stick to move the rider’s body on the vehicle: side to side to enhance turning, as well as forward and back to change the loading on the ride’s wheels, which can add more air to a jump or provide better traction on an uphill climb. Combined with the Left Stick turning, Rider Reflex enables you to manipulate the navigation that much better. It seem it wouldn’t be an MX vs. ATV game without a tons of tricks, When going off a jump you push on the left bumper, then move the right joy stick in any number of combinations. It’s pretty simple to pull off the trick landing it is the hard part. With combos galore and being able to hold the trick for as long as you want, timing is key. When going through the trick library the combinations are endless. The gameplay modes are the key to any riding/racing/stunt game, with the main one in Reflex being the “Motocareer.” This takes you through a number of series comprised of many different events. The Free Ride section has you seeking out various “Discovery Points” within the designated map area; accomplish maximum altitude in Hill Climb events; nail takeoffs and landings in order to hit a number of targets in Target Practice; and get from Point A to Point B in as fast a time as possible in Trailblazer. Other series throw you into a bunch of tracks for lap races, while still others test your freestyle trick ability against a timer. Success in Motocareer earns cash and unlocks new venues and events, as well as giving you the ability to purchase new
rides in different categories, ranging from MX bikes to ATVs to trucks. Unlocking the elements in Motocareer then makes them available in Reflex’s Arcade mode, which is billed as the game’s “pick-up-and-play experience.” Arcade offers gameplay in a variety of events, such as Free Ride, Waypoint races and Omnicross (racing against different vehicles types in the same race). Multiplayer has also been expanded with the ability to have up to 16 riders in the same venue. The addition of Playlists facilitates gathering a bunch of people in the same event or simplifies the seeking of a desired event in which to participate. THQ and Rainbow also continue to improve the online component in its MX vs. ATV games, and Reflex shows how smoothly it can go when it’s designed well. Again, the Xbox 360 makes a great canvas, and some of the locations where you can drive are stunningly beautiful and lifelike. Add in Terrain Deformation, and you really get to experience the on-the-fly changes that a race track or off-road course goes through during such grueling events with many riders and powerful motorized craft. The game is highly dynamic and doesn’t play the same from one event to the next. You have to react to the changing environment, which is how it should be. This is a must have game, If you like racing on line or against the PRO’s you will be hooked.
CYCLEPATHMAG.COM
| 31