Friday, December 28, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
KTM Announces Coma Unable to Ride in Dakar 2013
KTM, the brand whose factory teams and bikes have sealed eleven consecutive
Dakar Rally victories announced in a press conference in Barcelona on Friday
that one of its key riders, Spaniard Marc Coma will be unable to ride in the
2013 edition of the world’s most famous rally.
Coma, who injured his
shoulder in an accident in the Morocco Rally in October is not completely fit.
The team has therefore decided he should not tackle the event that involves more
than 8000 km of perilous riding over the world’s toughest off-road terrain
through Peru, Argentina and Chile.
“Marc is one of our key riders and together with his teammate Cyril Despres has giving KTM the last seven Dakar titles. While we are disappointed that he is unable to ride, the health and welfare of our factory riders is the most important consideration. If he is not 100 percent fit, it is better for him to sit out the 2013 rally,” said KTM factory team manager Alex Doringer. Coma, winner of three Dakar titles and the reigning World Cross Country World Championship is, together with his teammate Despres, recognized as one of the world’s finest exponents of rally sport.
A deeply disappointed Coma spoke after the press conference
saying: “We worked really hard with the doctors and the physiotherapists right
up until the last minute but we have to be realistic. One of the muscles in my
shoulder is still giving me problems and there is a lack of movement. This is
the logical consequence and we must be honest and clear about the situation.”
Coma, who will now concentrate his efforts on regaining complete fitness ahead of the rest of the 2013 season and looking forward to the Dakar 2014 said he was sad for the team but underlined that the Dakar is a ‘winning project’ for KTM so there was no alternative than to make this announcement. Team manager Alex Doringer said he hoped Marc would be at the start in Lima to wish the team well and see them launch their attack.
Doringer underlined that in view of the high profile that the Dakar Rally has for KTM, that the company had always taken the precaution of having a reserve rider registered with the Dakar organizers, ASO. He said they had now given the green light for the accredited reserve rider to step in and ride Coma’s KTM 450 Rally bike.
“We always took the precaution to have a reserve rider properly registered in case of such circumstances and it will be KTM USA’s Kurt Caselli who will step in to ride Coma’s bike. We want him to ride the Dakar without any pressure, embrace the adventure and learn from the experience,” Doringer said.
Caselli is at
the forefront of the US off-road scene and is the current AMA National Hare and
Hound Champion. He is a multiple national title winner in premium US off-road
events, has been a stalwart in the US International Six Days Enduro (ISDE)
Championship and was a member of the KTM team that recently finished second in
the 2012 edition of the legendary Baja 1000. Caselli’s start number is yet to be
confirmed.
Kurt Caselli: “It has always been a goal in my career to compete in the Dakar. There would be no way possible for me to achieve this without the ongoing support of KTM. To be able to race the greatest off road race in the world aboard the best bike in the world is truly a blessing. This is not only a milestone in my career but also in my life.”
Coma, who injured his
shoulder in an accident in the Morocco Rally in October is not completely fit.
The team has therefore decided he should not tackle the event that involves more
than 8000 km of perilous riding over the world’s toughest off-road terrain
through Peru, Argentina and Chile.“Marc is one of our key riders and together with his teammate Cyril Despres has giving KTM the last seven Dakar titles. While we are disappointed that he is unable to ride, the health and welfare of our factory riders is the most important consideration. If he is not 100 percent fit, it is better for him to sit out the 2013 rally,” said KTM factory team manager Alex Doringer. Coma, winner of three Dakar titles and the reigning World Cross Country World Championship is, together with his teammate Despres, recognized as one of the world’s finest exponents of rally sport.
A deeply disappointed Coma spoke after the press conference
saying: “We worked really hard with the doctors and the physiotherapists right
up until the last minute but we have to be realistic. One of the muscles in my
shoulder is still giving me problems and there is a lack of movement. This is
the logical consequence and we must be honest and clear about the situation.”Coma, who will now concentrate his efforts on regaining complete fitness ahead of the rest of the 2013 season and looking forward to the Dakar 2014 said he was sad for the team but underlined that the Dakar is a ‘winning project’ for KTM so there was no alternative than to make this announcement. Team manager Alex Doringer said he hoped Marc would be at the start in Lima to wish the team well and see them launch their attack.
Doringer underlined that in view of the high profile that the Dakar Rally has for KTM, that the company had always taken the precaution of having a reserve rider registered with the Dakar organizers, ASO. He said they had now given the green light for the accredited reserve rider to step in and ride Coma’s KTM 450 Rally bike.
“We always took the precaution to have a reserve rider properly registered in case of such circumstances and it will be KTM USA’s Kurt Caselli who will step in to ride Coma’s bike. We want him to ride the Dakar without any pressure, embrace the adventure and learn from the experience,” Doringer said.
Caselli is at
the forefront of the US off-road scene and is the current AMA National Hare and
Hound Champion. He is a multiple national title winner in premium US off-road
events, has been a stalwart in the US International Six Days Enduro (ISDE)
Championship and was a member of the KTM team that recently finished second in
the 2012 edition of the legendary Baja 1000. Caselli’s start number is yet to be
confirmed.Kurt Caselli: “It has always been a goal in my career to compete in the Dakar. There would be no way possible for me to achieve this without the ongoing support of KTM. To be able to race the greatest off road race in the world aboard the best bike in the world is truly a blessing. This is not only a milestone in my career but also in my life.”
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Introducing Fredrik Norén
Five Star Cycle is excited to work with two-time Swedish National Champion Fredrik Norén.
Norén has begun testing a 2013 KTM 250 SX-F to compete in the 2013 AMSOIL Arenacross Series. He is getting ready for the first round in Worcester, MA on January 4th.
He currently plans to race the first three rounds of the Arenacross series, continuing on to further rounds if he is satisfied with his results and decides to continue.
Fredrik will then run the AMA National Motorcross season on a 2013 KTM 450 SX-F.
... It has been decided that I will run a Ktm 250 sx-f 2013 in the stadium my bike starting the first weekend in January thanks to Five Star Cycle! Have tried the bike a bit and think it feels good and the guys at Five Star is good and serious. Come to the USA a few weeks ago and have since tried to get it together to be able to run them 3 first Arena Cross races as they go 3 the first weekend in January, And have now met some people who will help me with Arena Crossen, A dealer called Five Star Cycle has decided to help with the bike and will also help out with the Ohlins suspension. There are some halls around here so will try to run as much as possible before and then we will see how it will go in Arena Crossen, No major objectives, but are most pleased to be able to run a bit during this winter and hopefully be a little quicker to Ama nationals.
The first round of the Arenacross series is scheduled to air live on Speed January 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET. Followed by live coverage of the Anaheim SX opener.
Norén has begun testing a 2013 KTM 250 SX-F to compete in the 2013 AMSOIL Arenacross Series. He is getting ready for the first round in Worcester, MA on January 4th.
He currently plans to race the first three rounds of the Arenacross series, continuing on to further rounds if he is satisfied with his results and decides to continue.
Fredrik will then run the AMA National Motorcross season on a 2013 KTM 450 SX-F.
From Five Star Cycle:
Five Star Cycle is excited to work with Fredrik in preparation of his bike. He's a fast kid and we are lucky to work with him. As you know, the KTM's motocross program is evolving to the point where we literally see a new model from KTM every six months. For us to be able to work on setting up a bike for Fredrik's skill level in motocross, we will be able to learn, almost along with Factory KTM, how to make these bikes faster. Then, for us to be able to bring that knowledge to any one of our customers who is looking for that winning edge, we couldn't be more excited.From Fredrik Norén:
The first round of the Arenacross series is scheduled to air live on Speed January 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET. Followed by live coverage of the Anaheim SX opener.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Fantasy SX
Five Star Cycle Fantasy Supercross presented by Fly Racing is now live up on motorcycle-usa.com!
If you are not familiar with the website, you will need to create an account to participate. You can do that by clicking here.
Once you have created you account, you will be able to join the league called "Fans of Five Star Cycle"
Fantasy SX Game Rules:
OVERVIEW
Fantasy SX players will choose 1 A-Rider and 2 B-Riders in the premier Supercross class during every race weekend of the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. Each rider earns fantasy points based off their performance in that week’s Supercross main event race. Points earned reflect the AMA points scoring system, with 25 points awarded for a win on down to 1 point for 20th (see table below). An additional 5-point bonus will be awarded to the rider posting the holeshot at the start of each race. Players will also make a team selection, which nets the combined totals of the two-rider team.
Players can make and alter fantasy picks up to two hours before the race start, but remember to check cut-off times as race dates and times fluctuate based on time zone and round schedules. Players have the option to receive a pick-reminder email before the round is locked out. Simply check the "remind me" box in Edit Team Info.
RIDER SELECTION
The Fantasy SX rider pool is divided into three groups: A-Riders, B-Riders and a team selection. Players select 1 A-Rider and 2 B-Riders per race, as well as one team selection. Each rider and team can be selected a maximum of 5 times per season.
A-Riders are the top performers in the Supercross series determined by their previous performance in Motocross and Supercross seasons. There are six A-Riders for the 2013 Fantasy SX season listed below. Each A-Rider can be selected a maximum of 5 times in the year. Unlike B-Riders, there will be no additions to the A-Rider pool in the case of injury - so choose wisely.
SX A-Riders
Trey Canard
Chad Reed
James Stewart
Jake Weimer
Ryan Dungey
Ryan Villopoto
B-Riders are the remaining riders in the Supercross class. Players will select 2 B-Riders for each Supercross race, with the points earned by both B-Riders contribute to the total fantasy score. Each B-Rider can be selected a maximum of 5 times in the year. The amount of B-Riders will grow as the season progresses, and Motorcycle USA will do its best to update the available rider lists for each round to accommodate wild card entries. It is up to the fantasy player to determine a rider's status before the race.
SX B-Riders
Andrew Short
Justin Brayton
Broc Tickle
Davi Millsaps
Matt Goerke
Robert Kiniry
Kevin Windham
Phil Nicoletti
Josh Grant
Josh Hill
Justin Barcia
Kyle Chisholm
Michael Byrne
SX Teams represent the two-man supported efforts in the premier Supercross class. The team score will be a combination of the two team riders fantasy points, including holeshot bonus. Each team may be selected a total of five times. If one of the riders in a factory squad is replaced for any reason, the replacement rider's points will factor into the team total. There are currently only seven team selections available, but the number may grow as the 2013 rider roster solidifies.
SX Teams
BTO Sports KTM (Michael Byrne, Matt Goerke)
JGRMX Yamaha (Justin Brayton, Josh Grant)
Monster Energy Kawasaki (Ryan Villopoto, Jake Weimer)
RCH Racing Suzuki (Josh Hill, Broc Tickle)
Team Honda Muscle Milk (Trey Canard, Justin Barcia)
Velocity 3 Racing (Robert Kiniry, Kyle Chisholm)
Geico Honda / Team Chaparral (Kevin Windham, Andrew Short)
RIDER SCORING
1st = 25 points 11th = 10 points
2nd = 22 points 12th = 9 points
3rd = 20 points 13th = 8 points
4th = 18 points 14th = 7 points
5th = 16 points 15th = 6 points
6th = 15 points 16th = 5 points
7th = 14 points 17th = 4 points
8th = 13 points 18th = 3 points
9th = 12 points 19th = 2 points
10th = 11 points 20th = 1 point
Holeshot Bonus = 5 points
LEAGUES AND GROUPS
Players automatically join the Motorcycle USA Fantasy SX group league by signing up, with an overall leaderboard and weekly results posted on the Fantasy SX 2013 page. However, players can create a league and invite friends to play. To create a league, simply click on "Create a League" on the Fantasy SX page and follow the instructions. As the Commissioner you will be able to invite your friends or other racing fans to join your league.
Sign up now! Supercross starts on Jan. 5!
Friday, December 14, 2012
5 Key Reasons Why Husabergs are Different from KTMs
A closer look at the 2013 Husaberg line-up reveals that some key and different characteristics from it's orange sister, KTM. Here they are and why:
Handling
 |
Handling characteristics are different from the KTM due in large part by the 20mm offset triple clamps. In recent years, we have seen KTM adopt a 22mm offset triple clamp. What's the difference? While the 22mm offset provides a more stable ride at higher speeds, it requires the steering of the motorcycle to be more reliant on the rider leaning while turning. However, the 20mm offset clamp on the Husaberg allows the rider to steer the motorcycle with the handlebar and a more "flick-able" bike is achieved. This tends to be a more desirable set-up for tight trail and enduro riding.
Air Box
 |
Forks
 |
Ploy Sub Frame
All supporting parts of the rear end of the Husaberg are made from high strength, injection-molded plastic. The three elements are bolted together and link perfectly with the surrounding bodywork. The ribbing and toughness of the material allow the highest level of stability to be achieved at minimum weight for the bike. For good measure, it also provides vibration dampening as it absorbs vibration from being transferred to the rider.
Appearance
But, are they completely different? Well, no, and for good reason. The TE 250 and TE 300 utilize the best power plant in the industry from KTM. Instead of going with the 70 degree four-stroke motor for the 5th year in a row, Husaberg has opted to use engines from KTM. This gives Husaberg it's lightest four stroke ever in its FE 250. The FE 350 pulls more horse power and is lighter than it's predecessor, the FE 390. All while the big-bore FE 501 provides a lighter weight and more nimble ride than in the past.
Part of the beauty of the Husaberg concept is we end up with truly unique bike with out the common pains of doing so. Parts resources are secured as parts distribution is provided by Husaberg's parent company KTM in North America. If that's not enough, a majority of the parts are interchangeable with KTM.
Finally, the R&D and performance goals of the Husaberg are from the same vein as KTM. If you want a bike that will truly compete with a KTM, but don't want to get lost in the sea of orange, that bike is a Husaberg.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
2013 KTM Street Preview
Last week at the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show KTM introduced the 2013 Street lineup. This has given us a peek into what KTM will be offering this spring.
Unlike KTM's Off-road lineup, the street lineup is scheduled to hit showroom floors this spring, giving us all winter to drool at pictures and dream of hitting the road.
For model year 2013, KTM will be launching the brand new 690 Duke, and a special North America only 990 Adventure Baja Edition. These two new models will be in addition to the returning 990 SMT, 690 Enduro, and of course the RC8.
The 690 Duke is completely redesigned featuring a lower and more comfortable seat while remaining sporty and responsive when required. With a price tag of $8,999, this Duke is the most affordable in the street lineup.
An exclusive Limited Edition of the 990 Adventure will also be available in North America only. A tribute to Baja, land of the famous Baja 1000 but also the backdrop for multiple travel adventure rides and rallies, the new 990 Adventure Baja is without a doubt the most Off-Road focused Adventure model ever distributed in North America.
Click here to view the PDF brochure
In case you were wondering if the 1190 Adventure was left out, well it is. KTM has told us that we could see the model as early as late 2013 as a 2014 model.
Of course, with a new model year comes huge sales on prior model year in stock models.
BIKE MSRP SALE SAVINGS
2010 690 Duke $10,598.00 $ 8,498.00 $2,100.00
2011 990 Adventure $14,899.00 $11,199.00 $3,700.00
2012 350 EXC-F $ 9,699.00 $ 7,599.00 $2,100.00
2012 990 SMT $13,999.00 $11,899.00 $2,100.00
2012 990 Adventure $14,999.00 $12,699.00 $2,300.00
2012 990 Adventure R $14,999.00 $12,899.00 $2,100.00
2012 1190 RC8 R $16,499.00 $14,399.00 $2,100.00
Unlike KTM's Off-road lineup, the street lineup is scheduled to hit showroom floors this spring, giving us all winter to drool at pictures and dream of hitting the road.
For model year 2013, KTM will be launching the brand new 690 Duke, and a special North America only 990 Adventure Baja Edition. These two new models will be in addition to the returning 990 SMT, 690 Enduro, and of course the RC8.
Click here to view the PDF brochure
In case you were wondering if the 1190 Adventure was left out, well it is. KTM has told us that we could see the model as early as late 2013 as a 2014 model.
Of course, with a new model year comes huge sales on prior model year in stock models.
BIKE MSRP SALE SAVINGS
2010 690 Duke $10,598.00 $ 8,498.00 $2,100.00
2011 990 Adventure $14,899.00 $11,199.00 $3,700.00
2012 350 EXC-F $ 9,699.00 $ 7,599.00 $2,100.00
2012 990 SMT $13,999.00 $11,899.00 $2,100.00
2012 990 Adventure $14,999.00 $12,699.00 $2,300.00
2012 990 Adventure R $14,999.00 $12,899.00 $2,100.00
2012 1190 RC8 R $16,499.00 $14,399.00 $2,100.00
Based on availability. Sales pricing does not include accessories, government fees, taxes, dealer vehicle freight/preparation, dealer document preparation charges or any finance charges (if applicable).
2012 Champions
Five Star Cycle would like to give a shout out to the following racers finishing within the top 5 of their class in points for the given series in 2012:
GNCC
Mike Bryant - 3rd - Senior B (40+)
PAMX
Spring Series
Jason McConnell Jr. - 1st - 250 A
Fly Racing Series
Brandon Barr - 4th - 65cc 7-11 C
Noah Carben - 2nd - 85cc 9-11 C
Jason McConnell Jr. - 3rd - 250 A
Jason McConnell Jr. - 3rd - Open A
PAXC
Chuck Taylor - 3rd - Vet A
Rex Huegel - 1st - Schoolboy
John Vincent - 3rd - Senior A
Dustin Vincent - 3rd - Supermini (12-16)
CRA
Harescramble
Dustin Vincent - 2nd - Sr. Mini Bike HS
Brad Vincent - 3rd - Open Bike HS
John Vincent - 1st - Sr. II 40 and over Bike HS
Motocross
Tristan Cecelic - 3rd - Sr. Pee Wee
Bryn Steffan - 4th - Sr. Mini Bike
Buckeye Series
Dustin Vincent - 1st - Sr. Mini Bike HS
Rex Huegel - 3rd - 125cc -200cc Bike HS
Brad Vincent - 3rd - Open Bike HS
John Vincent - 1st - Sr. II 40 and over Bike HS
Leo Jezorski - 3rd - Master Plus 56
Sunoco Series
Bryn Steffan - 1st - Sr. Mini Bike
Team Harescramble
Ryan Edixon/Josh Ferrell - 1st - Open Bike HS
Jode Palmiero - 5th - Sr. I 30 and over Bike HS
AWRCS
John Vincent - 1st - XC-Senior A
Dave Wilson - 3rd - XC-1B
Steve Christy - 4th - XC Senior C
Dustin Vincent - 3rd 80cc (13-15)
If there are any errors or omissions, please email dan@fivestarcycle.com
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