THE LATEST NEWS AND RACE RESULTS
PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
MOTODRY ADVENT TOUR GEAR
MOTODRY ADVENT
TOUR GEAR
MotoDry Advent Tour gear is one of those rare beasts that performs well above its price line. Well-made and comfortable, the MotoDry jacket and pants have plenty of good-size pockets (including hand-warming pockets) and openings for airflow, as well as enough layers to keep you warm and the option to unzip when it gets hot. Our personal favourite element of the range is the superior comfort. The adjustable waistband in the pants, generous pant-leg sizing (easy to fit over boots or even with braces) and a jacket that’s not restricting across the shoulders are just a few winning
points. The Velcro airflow pockets along with the forearm and back zips provide enough airflow to keep things comfortable before you need to start stripping off layers. There’s also a reserve in the jacket for a hydration bladder and loops to hold the hose. Both the jacket and pants have light armour built in, which we sometimes find obtrusive but not in the MotoDry. This really is comfortable gear, which, on a long day or even multiple days, is gold. For the full specs and sizes, head to motonational.com.au
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REASONS WE LOVE DUCATI MULTISTRADA ENDURO 1200
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One-sixty horsepower is pretty unnecessary in the bush but it’s no end of fun on the road while you’re on the way to the bush. It’s a bit like Satan reaches up and gives you a good shove from behind.
ABS has come a long way. There was a time when ABS wasn’t welcome on any bike in the dirt but now we have some pretty amazing examples of how well it works. The Ducati runs a brilliant and clever system that will win fans and turn haters into lovers.
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On an adventure bike that runs some deep and complicated electronic systems, it would be easy for all that blinking jiggery to be too much for a mere mortal, causing them to get lost and feel the need to reboot every 10 minutes. But the Multistrada is surprisingly intuitive and user-friendly, with easy exits from places you don’t want to be. More importantly, it’s not hard to understand and use to its fullest. Adventure requires range and with a 30-litre tank the Ducati is offering the opportunity to travel well beyond the last servo stop. You’ll be a long way from home after running through three tanks.
The Multistrada is impressively smooth. There’s so little vibration through the ’bars or footpegs, which obviously makes it more comfortable and less fatiguing. The suspension is plush in the right setting but at the flick of a switch can be set to a more aggressive mode so you can behave like a bad boy.
MOTOR MOUTH
POWERED BY
FRANCE CAPTURES THIRD STRAIGHT MXON VICTORY Team France has taken out the 2016 Motocross of Nations after a thrilling final moto, while Team Australia has finished eighth. WORDS HAYDEN GREGORY
The 20th edition of the Motocross of Nations was held in Maggiora, Italy and there was no shortage of entertainment. The opening race was taken in stunning fashion by France’s Romain Febvre ahead of hometown rider Antonio Cairoli and Dutchman Kevin Strijbos. Australia’s Todd Waters finished in a respectable seventh place while Mitch Evans was back in 35th. The second race saw a scintillating battle between America’s Jason Anderson and flying Dutchman Jeffrey Herlings. The amazing hit out saw Anderson stun for victory before a nasty incident occurred moments later. The American was celebrating his victory after crossing the finish line before a lapper rider landed on his head. There was immediate concern for Anderson following the shocking incident yet he has since confirmed no major damage was done. Frenchman Gautier Paulin finished the moto in third behind Herlings, with Australia’s Dean Ferris and Evans crossing the line in sixth and 37th places respectively. Heading into the final moto the championship was still up for grabs, with Teams USA, Netherlands and France all within striking distance of the crown. Herlings would dominate the final race leading start to finish ahead of Cairoli and fellow countryman Strijbos. Team USA looked set for the overall with Cooper Webb holding fifth place before a small crash near the end of the race cost his team victory. With Webb unable to make back lost ground in the final moments, France were awarded their third straight MXoN victory. Netherlands were one point further back in second with Team USA dropping to third. Team Australia would ultimately finish in eighth place after Waters and Ferris battled for 14th and 15th places respectively in moto three. Motocross of Nations overall standings: 1. France 29 2. The Netherlands 30 3. USA 33 4. Belgium 36 5. Italy 44 6. Switzerland 44 7. Great Britain 73 8. Australia 76 9. Estonia 93 10. Canada 95 11. Russia 96 12. Spain 96 13. Sweden 102 14. Denmark 102 15. Austria 137 16. Czech Republic 139 17. New Zealand 140 18. Japan 145 19. Lithuania 158 20. Ireland 114 (Failed to score in every race)
JASON ANDERSON UPDATE
The American rider has spoken following the nasty incident at Motocross of Nations.
WORDS HAYDEN GREGORY
Jason Anderson blitzed the field to beat Jeffrey Herlings straight up and win the second moto at the Motocross of Nations in Italy over the weekend. In bizarre circumstances the Husqvarna rider decided to roll the finish line before raising his hands in triumph. What followed was hard to watch as a lapped rider jumped the finish line, landing straight on Anderson mid celebration. The race winner was immediately knocked to the ground unconscious as the medical crew came to his aid. Anderson was taken straight to a local Italian hospital before updating fans hours later on his surprisingly stable condition. “My first race went pretty well from the get go,” Anderson said. “I got the holeshot and started pulling away from the field. Midway through the race Herlings caught up and we had a pretty good battle for a couple of laps before he went down. After that I was just coasting to the finish to get the win. I was really excited to cross the line first but right after that I felt another bike landing on me. We’ve got everything checked out and I’m going to be OK. It’s just a bit of a bummer I couldn’t get out there in the last moto to help Team USA battle for the win.” Anderson can consider himself a very lucky man given the circumstances. Team USA were consequently left with just one rider for the final race, Cooper Webb who was in pole position to secure the title for his team before a disastrous crash in the closing stages. America would drop to third place behind Team France and Team Netherlands.
MOTOR MOUTH
POWERED BY
DOYLE MAKES IT THREE STRAIGHT
Australian Speedway racer Jason Doyle has secured this third straight FIM Grand Prix round victory to lead the World Championship standings.
WORDS HAYDEN GREGORY Doyle entered Friends Arena in Stockholm trailing Chris Holder by five points in the championship. By night’s end the Aussie had a five point lead of his own, notching his fourth Grand Prix win of the season. It has been ten years since spectators have seen a rider take three Grand prix victories in a row and that record belongs to the one and only Jason Crump from 2006. “To win four SGPs this year is special.” Doyle exclaimed. “I can’t really comprehend what I have achieved at the moment. I still have a long way to go, but to win three GPs in a row is unbelievable. “When I had gate one in the final, I knew I had to stick to the inside. I knew they were going to try and go around me and it would be a pretty desperate first corner. I stuck to my own plan and it worked again.” Doyle now leads the championship standings with two rounds left to race. Greg Hancock and defending champ Tai Woffinden remain within striking distance and the Australian accepts he will need to be at the top of his game to claim the title. “We know what’s going to happen in the next two rounds. It’s going to be very difficult. We came to this Grand Prix trying to bag the points and if we can go and make a final in the next couple, we’ll be up there in the end. Tonight sealed the deal that I’ll be in the GPs next year, which is a massive achievement that I set out to do at the start of the season. We can park that one and go for something in the future now.” The series will head to Torun next Saturday before Doyle has the chance to be crowned the first Aussie World Champion on home soil, with the finale hits Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium on October 22. “This is what we need for Etihad Stadium – to have some Aussies up there in the title chase. We need to show we’ve got some really good Australian riders in the World Championship. “We’re going to go to Melbourne, do what we need to do to up the sport, get as many people as possible in the stadium and put on a good show. “I’ve been riding in Europe for over 10 years now. But to go to Melbourne and have 90 percent of the stadium shouting for me and Chris is awesome. It’s a really good feeling to get your name called in front of that many fans. You get the goosebumps and you get a bit emotional. After what happened in the final last year, hopefully I can do something special,” Doyle finished. STOCKHOLM SGP SCORES: 1 Jason Doyle 19, 2 Chris Holder 13, 3 Fredrik Lindgren 14, 4 Matej Zagar 15, 5 Bartosz Zmarzlik 12, 6 Tai Woffinden 11, 7 Piotr Pawlicki 10, 8 Greg Hancock 9, 9 Maciej Janowski 8, 10 Niels-Kristian Iversen 7, 11 Peter Kildemand 6, 12 Kim Nilsson 5, 13 Antonio Lindback 4, 14 Michael Jepsen Jensen 4, 15 Jacob Thorssell 1, 16 Chris Harris 0 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: 1 Jason Doyle 123, 2 Greg Hancock 118, 3 Tai Woffinden 107, 4 Bartosz Zmarzlik 100, 5 Chris Holder 98, 6 Piotr Pawlicki 81, 7 Maciej Janowski 80, 8 Antonio Lindback 74, 9 Fredrik Lindgren 73, 10 Niels-Kristian Iversen 64, 11 Matej Zagar 64, 12 Nicki Pedersen 62, 13 Peter Kildemand 62, 14 Andreas Jonsson 39, 15 Chris Harris 33, 16 Michael Jepsen Jensen 11
RUSSELL TOPS ROCKY MOUNTAIN GNCC The FMF/KTM rider continued his hot run of form claiming his eighth win from 11 rounds this series. WORDS HAYDEN GREGORY IMAGE KEN HILL Racing for round eleven of the 2016 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series got underway with a holeshot to Ricky Russell earning the $250 All Balls Racing XX1 Pro Holeshot award in the process. Unfortunately the lead was shortlived however as a small mishap allowed Cory Buttrick to move to the front. Championship leader Russell suffered from a poor start but eventually began to move though the pack as expected. Buttrick was soon caught by the champ before also falling into the clasps of Thad Duvall. Out in front Kailub began to pull away and looked certain to secure his eighth win of the season. A few minor issues over the closing stages didn’t seem to faze Russel as he cruised to victory by 54 seconds. "As easy as it may look sometimes, it's never easy," said Kailub Russell. "The track was pretty brutal with the dusty and hard-packed conditions, and it really takes a toll on your body and you just have to be patient. I got a terrible start and I was just impatient after that and continued to push through. Duvall was able to hold on for second place despite some late pressure from Ricky Russell in third. "The course was rough and I felt a little off all day," said Duvall. "I just couldn't ride my bike the way I wanted to. I decided to slow down and ride my own race to feel safe and keep it off the ground. When Ricky caught up to me I realized I wasn't ready to get third again so I just put my head down and charged pretty hard the last few laps." Despite leading early, a crash hampered Ricky Russell’s chances and he was forced to play catch ups for the remainder of the race, ultimately claiming third. "I got off to a great start and then just got a little wild in the third corner and went down," said Ricky Russell. "I got back up and was mid-pack trying to work my way through the dust. I crashed a few more times and then I started picking my lines and slowly worked my way through everyone. It's been a rough year with ups and downs but it just feels good to finally make it happen." Kailub Russell now leads the 2016 GNCC championship by 50 points over injured Australian rider Josh Strang. Trevor Bollinger is the next closest competitor in third, 131 points behind Russell. The series will now head to Clairsville, Ohio for round twelve next weekend, October 1st and 2nd.
XC1 Pro Event Results: Kailub Russell (KTM) Thad Duvall (HSQ) Ricky Russell (SUZ) Steward Baylor Jr. (KTM) Jordan Ashburn (KTM) Cory Buttrick (KTM) Josh Strang (HSQ) Johnny Aubert (BET) Ryan Sipes (HSQ) Chris Bach (HON) *Overall National Championship Standings: Kailub Russell (286) Josh Strang (236) Trevor Bollinger (155) Jordan Ashburn (143) Steward Baylor Jr. (134) Thad Duvall (130) Craig Delong (127) Ricky Russell (120) Grant Baylor (117) Chris Bach (105) *Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2016 National Champion.
FEATURE: SUPERCROSS
SX BACK IS
THE 2016 AUSTRALIAN SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP LAUNCHES INTO LIFE AT JIMBOOMBA STORY AND PHOTOS AARYN MINERDS
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The opening round of the 2016 Australian Supercross Championship launched into life on Saturday the 17th of September as Australia’s top SX talente squared up against a host of American racers. Though only a short pre-season of such, with only a two week turn around from the final round of the MX Nationals to the opening round of the SX Series, the supercross championship quickly created plenty of hype, mainly due to the number of international riders announced in the short period of time. The comments back and forth across social networks regarding the attention the mainly U.S riders could help bring to our series verse the limiting of potential rides for local riders divided the moto community in Australia and quickly set the bar for the bench racing we will hopefully continue to see the whole way through the series. While the online chatter continued, The Queensland town of Jimboomba was all set for their third invasion of two wheeled moto fans, after hosting two popular and exciting rounds of racing the year prior in front of a good sized crowd. Well before the crowd rocked up, riders took to the track for the first laps of SX action of 2016 before settling in and throwing down their fastest lap in timed qualifying. With the
results showing some early favourites for the racing that lied ahead later that night. Topping the time sheets in the SX1 class was the last minute draftee in to the KTM Australian racing team, American Kyle Peters who set a lap time just over 49 seconds. Despite an American rider topping the time sheets and the fact that three of the top four spots where filled by International riders, the fears that the series could turn into a battle of the U.S racers was quelled quickly with CDR Yamaha’s Dan Reardon and Dean Ferris along with Wilson Coolair Motul Factory Suzuki racings Todd Waters all posting times on par with Brayton and NPE
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Wil Hahn. In fact with the top nine riders separated by less and one-second, things were shaping up for a tight evening of racing action. In the SX2 class it was a pair of Honda mounted American riders who separated themselves from the field with former two time Australian SX2 champion and current American Arenacross champion Gavin Faith and reigning Australian SX2 champion Jimmy Decotis setting the pace with times a full half a second quicker than the Serco Yamaha pairing of Wade Hunter and Jackson Richardson.
The big surprise of SX2 qualifying came from Yamalube Yamaha racings Mitch Evans who fresh of his under 19s motocross championship win posted the 5th fastest time, just ahead of DPH motorsports Hayden Mellross as four Yamaha’s completed the top six riders in the session. With qualifying over the gates to the venue were flung open to the public and it did not take long for the pits to fill as the JimboombXstadium Pit Party fired into life with thousands of race fans lining up for autographs of their favourite riders, while checking out first hand the factory and privateer race bikes on display. There were two riders who proved to be more than a little popular with the crowd with local rider Nathan Crawford, despite not being able to race due to a recent injury having a huge line up for his autograph session, while American racer and rapper Adam Enticknap quickly made his presence felt as he welcomed in any fan that walked anywhere near the Penrite oil marquee that was hosting the Honda riders autograph session. As the sun came down and the lights around the freshly prepared track flickered into life, riders were introduced to the near capacity crowed with the likes of Wil Hahn, Jimmy Decotis, Kade Mosig and Jesse Dobson all thrilling the crowd with some huge whips and stretched out Nac Nac’s during opening ceremonies. Unfortunately for local ace Jacob Wright who was riding for the Jimboomba Star Yamaha dealership that is located across from the venue itself, his front brake line got caught up on the top of his number plate as he threw his bike sideways for the crowd. With the front brake locking on causing him to crash as he landed the Queenslanders night was all but done, though he did try to ride through the pain in his heat race to no avail. The two SX1 and SX2 heat races along with some junior lites and 85cc racing gave the crowd a bit of a taste of what lied ahead for the night as Gavin Faith and Hayden Mellross raced to victory in their respective SX2 heats, while Reardon got his title defence off to the perfect start winning the opening SX1 heat race ahead of Waters and DPH Yamaha’s Lawson Bopping. Justin Brayton took the win in SX1 heat two from Ferris and Hahn while Jay Marmont in his return to racing crossed the line in 4th. While the heat races provided some great entertainment and a chance for riders to get the feel for racing under lights , the Dash 4 Cash really got their crowd up on their feet from the get go as young gun Mitch Evan out foxed experienced SX2 racer and the rider who finished fourth in last years championship, Geran Stapleton in a race that had both riders at a virtual stand still at points as the played a game of cat and
mouse heading into every turn, including some wheel tapping and brake checking that made for some more than close moments. With the losing rider of each one on one race being eliminated the field of top five qualifiers from the two pro classes was quickly whittled down to the final two racers, with Brayton continuing on his winning ways as he overcame Hahn in the final one lap battle to win the Dash 4 Cash event. After a short intermission the SX2 riders lined up at the top of the down hill start ready for the all important, points paying main event. When the gates dropped it was the Penrite Oil team-mates of Gavin Faith and Josh Cachia who lead the field out of the first turn, before DPH Motorsports Hayden Mellross quickly moved into second position behind Faith, with Stapleton moving his way into third. As the leading three riders settled into their pace, Serco Yamaha’s Richardson and Hunter were moving their way forward through the field. Out front Faith continued to lead the way from Mellross while things has changed up behind the leading duo with Hunter moving his way into third.
SX1 RESULTS 1. JUSTIN BRAYTON 2. DEAN FERRIS 3.DANIEL REARDON 4. TODD WATERS 5. WIL HAHN 6. KADE MOSIG 7. LUKE WILSON 8. JAY MARMONT 9. JAY WILSON 10. ADAM ENTICKNAP
The top three would remain in the same positions for the remainder of the race, with Faith crossing the finish line to open up his 2016 Supercross points account in the best way possible. Richardson was able to make a move around Stapleton for fourth late in the race while Cachia in his first national race since the end of the 2014 Supercross season impressed with a solid night out that included finishing second in his heat race followed by his sixth place result in the main event. 2015 champ, Jimmy Decotis who had crossed the line at the end of the opening lap in 18th position moved his way up to 7th by race end, while Lewis Woods who won a Jimboomba round of the Supercross series last year followed Decotis through the field to finish 8th after also succumbing to a bad start. Yamahalube Yamaha’s Pro Rookie Jordan Hill completed a positive day out in 9th with CRF Honda Racing’s Joel Wightman round out the top ten. The SX2 main event proved to be a tough affair for a host of riders, including one of the pre-season favourites in Dylan Wills who finished two laps down after a couple of crashes and recording a 15th place finish. Mitch Evans who was in fine form during
qualifying and the Dash 4 Cash had a main event to forget with a couple of crashes leaving him three laps down from the race winner. Kyle Webster was another rider who showed great form during the day with a third place finish in his heat. The CRF250 rider had a final he not only would rather forget, but probably will forget after a heavy crash left him searching for his bike that had cartwheeled down the track and out of sight over the back of a berm. With the SX2 podium celebrations over, the nights main event was lined up and ready launch as the SX1 riders prepared to do battle over 20 laps. While the majority of the field made a clean getaway, privateer Jono Krusic became the first casualty of the race before he had even made it to the bottom of the start ramp as his rear wheel was tagged by a bouncing start gate, forcing him over the bars and out of the race. Out front it was Honda’s Justin Brayton who shot to the lead followed by CDR Yamaha’s Dean Ferris. The two riders quickly built a lead over the field and settled into a pace that would see the duo pull away from the rest of the back and become embroiled in a battle for the win.
SX2 RESULTS 1. GAVIN FAITH 2. HAYDEN MELLROSS 3.WADE HUNTER 4. JACKSON RICHARDSON 5.GERAN STAPLETON 6. JOSH CACHIA 7. JIMMY DECOTIS 8. LEWIS WOODS 9. JORDAN HILL 10. JOEL WIGHTMAN
Brayton slowly edged away from Ferris early before the newly crowned Australian motocross champion found a fast line through the sand section and started gaining on the American. With a handful of laps to run as the two riders battled through traffic Ferris closed in enough to make a couple of attempts for the lead enticing the already loud and vocal crowd to get even more involved in the race that was unfolding in front of them. Brayton however proved to be fast on the closing two laps, once again pulling a small gap over Ferris to cross the line three seconds ahead of the Yamaha rider to claim Victory. While most of the focus was on the battle for the race lead, the battle for the final spot on the podium was even more intense as the #1 plated Reardon and Suzuki’s Todd Waters spent the majority of the race fighting it out for third. Overcoming a mid pack start, Waters was able to rapidly work through the field and then not only close in on Reardon by the midway point of the race, but was able to execute a pass on the YZ450F racer. Reardon was up to the task however and was able to fight back quickly and re take the position. Keeping with in striking distance for the remainder of the race, Waters put in one last charge on the final lap making a last ditched attempt for third in the final turn. However Reardon was up for the challenge and was able to hold on to cross the line in third ahead of Waters. Wil Hahn who was in second place early in
the race, drifted back to finish 5th some 16 second down on the race winner, with his NPE Monster Energy Kawasaki team mate of Kade Mosig in 6th. Suzuki mounted Luke Wilson put in his best ever Supercross performance to cross the line in 7th after earlier being involved in a back and forth skirmish with Crankt Honda’s Jay Wilson. Wilson would go on to finish 9th, losing one further position to a hard charging Jay Marmot who had to overcome a twisted bike after crashing hard while banging bars with Waters in the early stages of the race. Much like the 250 class the big bike class had its fair share of riders who succumbed to bad luck and crashes in their main event. Lawson Bopping after looking good early in the race was forced to retire on lap seven and was joined on the sidelines by KTM’s Kyle Peters on lap eleven after the American who cashed heavily in his heat race once again hit the deck hard. Overall the opening night of the 2016 Australian Supercross Championship will go down in the history books as a great success. With an even bigger crowed rolling into Jimboomba than 2016, full gates in both main events, the biggest prize payout in recent history and some sensational on track action, round one of this years series has set the tone and expectation for the remainder of the year. With round two heading to Toowoomba in just a couple of weeks time, riders will be working hard ready for the big Friday night race on October the 14th.
2016 PHOTOGRAPHY ASHENHURST
GALLERY
MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS EPIC IMAGES FROM THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
FEATURE
AORC GALLERY
PENSHURST AORC FINALE
PHOTOS AARYN MIN
ERDS
FEATURE:
BIKE TEST: 2016 SUZUKI RMX450Z
register to race
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WE SPEND A MONTH WITH THE RACE-READY RMX450Z — NOW ROAD-REGISTRABLE — IN A REAL-WORLD TEST WORDS MATT BERNARD PHOTOGRAPHY SHANE BOOTH & KATRINA BERNARD
The RMX has a clever hinged airbox opening to make changing filters that much easier
It’s all neat and tidy up front
T
he Suzuki RMX450Z has long been the wandering soul of the 450 enduro market. Being unregistrable, the motocrosser turned enduro machine once had a small market niche; the RMX wasn’t able to be legally trail ridden in most states. In 2015, Suzuki Australia took the significant step of going through the process to have the RMX450Z ADR approved. From that point on, the game changed. The Suzuki RMX450Z isn’t new to these pages; nor has it been overhauled or updated in 2016, but it’s due for a test at the hands of DIRT ACTION. I was fortunate enough to be invited along for two of Suzuki’s RMX450Z Australian media launches — the first when the bike first landed on Australian soil in 2010 and the next just last year, when the bike was reinvented in the ADR-approved version. Each time I’ve been on board the RMX I’ve left impressed. I’m a motocrosser at heart — always will be. However, low-key trail rides with a bunch of mates are becoming more and more attractive as responsibilities get more prominent and time more precious. So having a machine with Motocross DNA tuned for the trails ticks the boxes.
INTO THE TRAILS Sitting on the RMX450Z, a bike based around an MX-weapon, you’re presented with everything you’d expect. Shut your eyes and this is a motocross bike. The seat is firm but comfortable, the bike thin and the oversized Renthal Fat Bars are a suitable bend for the ergonomics of the bike. The bike is sleek up front. In competition mode, as we tested the bike, the computer and on/off switch tuck neatly in behind the headlight. In full ADR mode, the headlight sits slightly further out to allow for the ignition key and extra wiring. As far as stylish enduro bikes go, the RMX450Z is right up there. I’m lucky to have some excellent trails not far from my home; it’s a short run on the tar to some epic singletrail. On the road, the RMX is pretty loud. After about 10 minutes you’ve pretty much had enough of the blacktop and the drone of the barking exhaust but, after all, the bike is designed for epic trails, not dodging taxis. The RMX450Z has a strong and broad engine, raw and exciting without being uncontrollable. Despite the internal differences in the RMZ and RMX engines,
Where the magic happens: the RMX has an impressive powerplant you’re still treated to an impressive and fairly aggressive engine package. The RMX does its work at low rpm. It has a strong torque entry to its power curve, which I’ve found an absolute breeze to make snotty hills. As you enter the open trails and fire roads you’ll find top gear fairly quickly; I’d suggest some gearing changes if you’re looking at doing a lot of transit roads or high-speed
The RMX is an awesome-looking machine
The 6.2L fuel tank
WHAT WE'D DO
• •To fix the fuel issue, look at an IMS oversized fuel tank — but it’s not a cheap exercise. To avoid breaking the bank, Acerbis do a 2L handlebar-mounted tank that drains into your tank as you use the fuel: perfect if there’s some transit roads to get into the trails. • Try a 49- or 50-tooth sprocket. • Sweet-talk your dealer into including handguards in the deal. • Investigate an aftermarket exhaust. • Ride the wheels off it!
at almost the exact time, between 86 and 88km. We were both mindful of the fuel consumption of the bikes, however, and did keep an eye on the trip and tried to ride accordingly without affecting the fun factor. The fuel light will give you a little time to fill up but a sensor will stop you from running the tank completely dry. Ninety-odd kays on a tank is pretty good and on par with many bikes with bigger tanks. If you were fullthrottle and pushing hard, expect more like 70 or so kilometres to a tank. So it’s still an issue where it’s worth investigating options, but certainly don’t look elsewhere when shopping for a new bike just because it has a small tank. riding. At around 95–100km/h, with standard gearing, the bike is revving fairly hard. That’s a catch-22, though: in the tight stuff, I found third gear to allow the bike to torque its way though the tight stuff and open up into the midrange to throw bricks out the back as the trails widened. It’d been almost 12 months since I’d ridden the RMX and at first I found the front end a little more nervous across sketchy terrain than I remembered. It was almost as if the front wheel had too much pressure in it, which it didn’t. Having spent a few months out of the bush, I put it in the back of my mind and as the pace picked up the problem disappeared. So, a lighter rider who might not be pushing the bike through the initial part of the forks stroke might want to look at a forks revalve. I’ve put almost 200km on the RMX450Z since I’ve had it and I’m more than comfortable with the standard suspension.
THE DOWNSIDE OK, now for the elephant in the room: the 6.2-litre fuel tank. What’s with that, Mr Suzuki? This RMX is
completely based on the MXer, as mentioned, and with that comes the wing-clipping fact of a small fuel tank. I was glued to the fuel gauge like an 18-year-old in his first strip club. I couldn’t take my eyes off it, working out how far I could ride before turning around while being smart on the throttle. I had a pretty good idea you’d get around 60 kays out of a tank, judging by the 2015 launch, which was at high altitude with long climbs and plenty of full-throttle sections. I knew where I needed to get to and back and didn’t want to push the bloody thing home. I was gentle on the throttle and after the first 55km trail stint the fuel light didn’t come on. Before the second ride, I filled up at the servo and managed to get 3.5 litres in the tank, meaning I had, give or take, 2.5 litres of fuel left after 55km. The next time I headed out I was with a mate who was on his recently purchased RMX450Z. I chucked a Gatorade bottle full of fuel into a compartment in my CamelBak and we headed off for a longer Saturday afternoon spin. After a variety of fast sections, hills, single-trail and a little tar, both our fuel lights came on
WHAT’S THE VERDICT?
HIT
I’ve had the RMX for • Great power almost a month now. • Sleek Looks I’ve had quite a few • Racy ergos rides on it and I’m • Well priced happy to say I’d buy • 1% finance one. It’s great to get the bike into your own environment in familiar • 6.2L fuel tank trails and not at the big show of an Australian media launch; it helps bring out the true colours of a motorcycle. The RMX is very close to a registered motocross bike — slightly heavier and tamer but still a pretty exciting machine. It’s easy to see why the sales of the RMX have skyrocketed since its ADR-approval; it’s a bloody good bike and can now be ridden where it belongs. Nice job, Suzuki.
MISS
THE POWER SHOT
TYE SIMMONDS PHOTO DAMIEN ASHENHURST
Tye’s dad Greg greets him after his epic second-place finish in his first Finke Desert Race. Tye makes no secret that the pace of Finke freaks him out but he’s already a favourite for a win. It’s the look of relief on the faces of family and friends that gives away the stress of competing at Finke at the pace the top guys are running.