Australasian Dirt Bike Magazine Issue 507

CLUBBY HAD A VERY PAINFUL AFTERNOON TUTORING ME ON HOW TO USE A COMPUTER IT’S 23 YEARS SINCE I sat anywhere near the Editor’s chair at ADB, let alone actually sitting in the thing. As crazy as it sounds, I never had ambitions for the top job, I was too focused on what I was doing at any given time to think about the bigger picture, but here I am. It’s crazy how life takes its twists and turns and even crazier are the opportunities that present themselves along the way. I first started at ADB way back in 1998 as a columnist after having a feature story published on the first ADB Supercross Supertour. A few months later I was offered the Assistant Editor’s job, which was the opportunity of a lifetime.…

THE YAMAHA WR250F is looking better than ever, with a host of upgrades borrowed from the YZ-F motocross version. The 2022 model comes with a number of engine tweaks, including a new cylinder head, improved intake port shape, new exhaust camshaft profile and revised engine balancer and gear selector cam. Yamaha says these updates help to produce stronger mid to top-end power and increased peak power, while retaining bottom-end torque. The WR’s frame has new engine mounts along with a redesigned top triple-clamp, with different handlebar mounts, a new front axle and footpegs. The KYB shock and fork both received damping upgrades while the front brake caliper has bigger brake pads to suit the new 270mm rotor. Dunlop Geomax EN91 tyres complete the changes. So if you’re looking at an MY22…

BETA HAS RELEASED its premium Racing models for MY22 with upgrades across the eight-bike two-stroke and four-stroke range. All models have quick-release front axles with anodized red levers, red Vertigo handshields, alloy footpegs with steel pins, Metzeler tyres, ZF composite rear sprockets with anodized aluminium centers and steel teeth, blue anti-slip seatcovers with timecard holder pockets, black anodized gearlevers and brake pedals, anodized red oil filter caps, oil filler caps and gearbox oil caps, anodized red chain tensioner blocks, Racing graphics and red rim decals. They all come fitted with KYB forks and ZF shocks. The 200cc and 300cc two-strokes have had their own specific upgrades. The RR300 Racing features a bunch of engine tweaks with the cylinder featuring modified exhaust and transfer ports and a recalibrated power valve. To compliment…

RICKY CARMICHAEL HAS cemented his ambassadorial role with Triumph as it prepares its upcoming motocross and enduro range by testing the MY22 Triumph Tiger 1200 prototype. No doubt the GOAT put the big adventure model through its paces and, as cool as that lightened adventure machine may be, what we really want to see is RC turning laps on the highly-anticipated motocrosser. The Triumph dirtbike testing and development duties are being shared with five-time world enduro champ Ivan Cervantes. With such successful racing talent on board, it will be super interesting to see the machines roll off production lines and onto the dirt.…

WIL RUPRECHT IS this year’s Italian Enduro Champion. The kid from Taree on the mid-north coast of NSW wrapped up the title aboard his TM Boano Factory 300Fi EN in what is proving to be a stand-out year for him. Ruprecht continues to evolve as a racer at the elite level in lands far, far away and on a brand not all that well known and new to the Boano team, which used to run Betas, at the start of the year. Despite the relatively short relationship between rider and bike, Ruprecht and the TM have proven to be a winning combination.…

THE MOTOCROSS OF Nations was won by Italy in nail-biting fashion with just one point separating them from The Netherlands. Italy played host to the mud bath in Mantova in what turned out to be a soggy affair that the Aussie stars wouldn’t have minded missing out on. It was a strange year for the international teams motocross that usually pits the best riders from across the globe against each other but, as you can imagine, many nations did not front the startgate due to COVID constraints. It’s a bummer because there is always debate about which country has the fastest riders, but also which is the best championship. It’s long been debated whether the AMA Pro Motocross Championship or the World Motocross Championship is the best, so there is extra pride…