Author Archives: Contributor

SLAM Fest Returns to Riverside

Motocross spawned in the U.S. in the 1970s, with simple off-road races. Today, the sport now generates millions of dollars in revenue, taking place in huge stadiums and attracting spectators from all over the world.

On Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, The TransWorld Motocross SLAM Fest, presented by MTA Distributing, will kick off at Milestone Motocross Park in Riverside, California, and extend to the following day. Admission to the event is free, and will feature two races, Hell On Wheels “Run What You Brung,” featuring vintage bikes, as well as the always popular pro Supercross race.

About 40 vendors will attend the event, both selling their products and allowing attendees to test them out. Open track practice will be available on two Milestone tracks, and kids’ learn-to-ride classes will also be taking places throughout the weekend.

On Friday, before SLAM Fest actually begins, industry workers will take a break from the office and participate in the TransWorld Motocross Industry Cup. Riders of all skill levels will race on a brand new track that covers the entirety of Milestone Park. There will be three classes for the race: one for professionals, one for intermediate riders, and the “desk jockey” race, meant for beginner riders or even those who have never gotten on a bike before. Each class will be broken up by age group as well.

After the individual races, the Tretta Motoda Cup Team Race will take place in a Grand Prix format, different from the more intense, cutthroat style from years prior — these races are just for fun!

For those who don’t want to miss out on any weekend racing action, set up camp and bring the whole family. For those of age, bring some adult beverages to tailgate with. Plan on two to three drinks per person, just like a cocktail party. Don’t get your fill too early, though. There will be a spectators-only beer garden available on-site, as well as food for sale.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Signs Thomas Kjer Olsen

EMX250 champion Thomas Kjer Olsen has signed on with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s MX2 team for a two-year contract.

The 19-year-old motocross champion has been welcomed into the Husqvarna Motorcycles family, who are sponsoring him for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

“I can’t thank Husqvarna enough for giving me this incredible opportunity to join their official MX2 team,” said Olsen.

The young star will be entering the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship alongside impressive teammates: Thomas Covington and Conrad Mewse.

Together, the three are sure to be a force to be reckoned with at the World Championship.

Olsen, a Husqvarna FC 250 mounted rider from Denmark, completed a very nearly perfect season in the EMX250 class of the European Motocross Championship.

He collected three overall victories in this class. Not only that, but he stood on the podium after every race, even if he didn’t secure the top spot.

Whether it was schooling or personal training that catapulted Olsen into success is still a mystery, but schooling certainly is responsible for countless athletes’ success.

Approximately 86% of private schools have fewer than 300 students, which often allows them to devote more time to students individually, as well as extracurricular activities.

In fact, about one-third of Rio medalists from Britain has previously attended private schools and honed their sport there.

Although six out of 10 of this year’s British medallists — including gymnast Max Whitlock and boxer Nicola Adams — attended comprehensive schools, sports like rowing and hockey are still dominated by private schools.

In fact, members of Britain’s Olympic teams are four times as likely to have attended private schools as the rest of the general public.

“Although some state schools have improved support for competitive sport over the last decade, they’re still more likely to benefit from ample time set aside for sport, excellent sporting facilities and highly qualified coaches,” said Sir Peter Lampl, the chairman of the Sutton Trust and the Education Endowment.

Whether or not motocross champion Olsen found the time in school isn’t something fans are concerned with, though.

The young champion is more focused on his career in motocross than on anything else, and with a secure contract, he now has the means to do so.

“Working with such a strong team means I’ll have the best support and equipment to reach the top. My goal is to continue working hard to improve my results and get closer to the top in MX2,” he said.

Manitoba Man Misses the Mark While Snowmobiling in August

One would think that snow sports would be reserved for the winter, but many auto racers tend to be somewhat of rule breakers. A man from the rural municipality of Woodlands in Manitoba, Canada was seriously injured this summer after attempting a stunt on his snowmobile.

Less than two weeks ago, the Manitoba native attempted to clear an 18-meter (59-foot) space after riding up a 2.5-meter (8.2-foot) wooden ramp. He failed to make it. Instead, he collided with the receiving dirt ramp on the other side and was consequently thrown over the handlebars. The snowmobile landed on top of the man, causing serious injuries that required him to be airlifted to a nearby hospital in Winnipeg.

While we know motor sports are dangerous, it’s hard to exactly pinpoint how many injuries they cause annually. In a recent study, the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, published by the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, reported that of 758 patients who received medical attention at the selected trauma center between 1998 and 2015, the majority of spinal, lower extremity, and femur fractures were caused by snowmobile accidents, despite the number of patients suffering from snowmobile injuries (87) being vastly lower than those from ATV (308) or dirtbike-related (363) trauma.

In the U.S. alone, there are approximately 6.8 million bones broken annually from a variety of reasons, including sports. As for all of the broken bones in North America, it’s hard to pinpoint.

The injured rider in Manitoba reportedly suffered from a broken neck and did not require critical care while hospitalized in Winnipeg. He was an experienced amateur rider who was participating in the second annual “244 Throwdown,” a motocross and snowmobiling event held by professionals and amateurs alike.

Rosberg Wins Belgian Grand Prix in Tight Race with Hamilton

The Belgian Grand Prix ended with a dramatic flourish at the Spa circuit last weekend as Nico Rosberg stole the show and won the whole series over his Mercedes teammate and competitive rival, Lewis Hamilton.

Rosberg collected maximum points, while Hamilton struggled to gain ground after suffering grid penalties earlier this season. Though he started in the last position, he still placed on the podium in third place, after Australian Daniel Ricciardo.

Rosberg even congratulated his teammate on his impressive showing, considering the circumstances.

“Congrats to Lewis,” he said. “From last place to third must have been pretty impressive.”

The race was not without drama, though, after Danish racer Kevin Magnussen lost the back end of his Renault during lap six in a harrowing crash against a wall at Raidillon.

The impact of the crash sent Magnussen’s headrest flying from the car and damaged the chassis, though the driver was able to emerge from the vehicle relatively unscathed. After a trip to the hospital, he Tweeted: “On my way home now with a sore ankle but will be ready for Monza.”

Magnussen was lucky that the ankle was all that he damaged, since 35% of the U.S. population has trouble paying off medical debt. The crash also yielded a red flag on the circuit, requiring all cars to return to the pits for a restart.

With Belgium in the books, the battle for the world championship is now a tight running between Rosberg, who is racing for his first world title, and Hamilton, who’s on the hunt for his fourth. Ricciardo remains in third place overall, 23 points ahead of the next-closest rival, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

Despite his third-place finish, Hamilton seemed pleased with the race results.

“The team did an amazing job this weekend,” he said. “It was just a remarkable day. Beautiful weather, great crowd and a great race.”