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Lastnight saw the second last round of the Future West Supercross Series that was been held in London UK.

It was filled with close racing action and the dash for cash race was the highlight of the evening! The fans were treated the amazing site of multiple champion Mike Brown,he was  working his magic around the tight but fast passed track in the O2 Arena and came out with a great nail biting finish to claim first place. The clubmans class was great and the riders did thier best to keep it on two wheels and please a worthy crowd. “Job weldone guys”!

The young guys were out in full swing and to the crowds amazment saw young rides as young as 8 years old hitting the 75ft tripple jumps that made the crowd stand to its feet. This was a great evening and we will be at all other events later in this year so stay tuned and we will bring straight to you in the comfort of your home.

From the MX4U crew.

Day 10: Home Time!

Homeward bound and a 22 hour flight to look forward to, but with great memories and cool pictures to show off, it’s well worth it. I learnt a lot on this trip, and just through the travelling process alone, MX4U has provided some really useful travel tips and advice to make the entire journey more pleasurable.

At this time, I would like to say a big thank you to all the Staff at Racesocal and MX4U for making it possible to visit America. A big thanks to Stephen and Mandy for entertaining me and all the people I met along the way. I made some good friends and had a life-changing experience. This is a great opportunity for any MX rider or fan, and I will definitely be back for more of the Californian Dream.

For more info on this trip along with great pictures and other future tours visit www.mx4u.co.za and also join the MX4U Facebook page for all the details of the race programmes on offer.

So, come and experience the MX Lifestyle in the United States of Awesome!

Day 9: Factory Tours

This is an important day – the factory tours! This is what makes a trip – the chance to get to see what goes on behind the scenes. We head off to Pro Circuit, Troy Lee Designs and Langston’s Motorsport.

At Langston’s we meet Gerald and get to see all the championship bikes Grant Langston has won on. We get to see the Dyno Room and how this shop runs like a well-oiled machine, with friendly staff.

At Pro Circuit all the championship winning bikes from past to present are displayed. Wow, this place is amazing! All the goodies that the teams race with are available to buy, so you can race the same bike that the top guys race. We also get a sneak peak into the back area to see where and how all the work is done. Here is the best part – we are shown the R&D (Research and Development) section, a highly top secret area with a strict “no cameras” policy. It is so impressive, truly worth the trip right here just seeing the whole American race industry in its glory. Mitch, the owner, rewards the entire staff with pizza today for doing so well at the Nationals. What a cool boss!

Troy lee Designs is a really cool place with its own museum, displaying cool helmets and “trick” stuff. He even has an Indy car hanging on the wall and all the bikes from the pros, like Albertyn’s bikes and Pastranna’s X Games bike. There are also tons of goodies you can buy. This is a brilliant day for any MX fan, racer, dad, mom or whoever. I highly recommend that you do whatever you can to go on one of these trips!

On the way home we stop at all the private Supercross test tracks and get to see where all the big factory teams test for the Supercross season. These tracks are awesome and so well prepped with amazingly high jumps. When we get home, we all pack up, chill out for a bit and then hit the town for a well deserved dinner at a cool restaurant. Chinese was the order of the day, and was a great way to end the week-long MX experience.

Day 8: Relax Day

After a great tour, we treat ourselves to a relaxing day. Some of us head out to Cahuilla Creek for a ride and others visit Starwest MX track. We all get a bit of last minute shopping done for family and friends back home, swim in the pool and have a BBQ (braai).

The pool

Day 7: Pala Raceway

Finally, the big day has arrived! We all load ourselves into the big Chevy 5.7l V10 people carrier and head off to Pala Raceway, just outside San Diego, a 25min drive from the house. This is the location of the Outdoor National Final as well as the Women’s MX Final. We arrive to a sight of thousands of fans pouring into the circuit. This place is massive and the crowd eventually built to a strong 150K. It is mind blowing how many fan there are. The trade section of the track displays various MX paraphernalia for purchase, and in the pits the factory teams are prepping with tons of hot babes around promoting the various energy drink companies. I get to meet some cool people including Tatum Sik, a young female rider chasing the dream this year. This is a great opportunity for her and watching her ride is unreal – her speed like the rest of the young ladies is just incredible. Tatum #12 posts in the top 5 and is really interested in joining our European tour that is planned for next year. We look forward to having them!

After all the practice sessions, it is time for the national anthem sung by none other than American Idols winner, David Cook. The whole crowd stopped, hats off, hands on hearts, and sang. Man, it was awesome – these Yanks are so patriotic! To end it off, a military parachutist flies in and all the fans go wild. The racing is amazing with Pourcel and Wilson, along with Rattary keeping it real. They are so fast and the MX 1 class is just as good, with Dungey dominating all the way! The Americans are so loud, screaming for their guys to win – very cool. The sweltering day, filled with fun, food and fantastic memories comes to an end, so we head off to the after party in a nearby casino. We have VIP tickets and get to hang out with all the pros and vet riders, including Roger Decoster, Kevin Windam and all the factory riders, as well as industry guys like Mitch Payton of Pro Circuit. We also attended the FMF Charity Auction where some pro rider’s helmets were being auctioned off to benefit cancer research.  What a great way to end the MX season!

Day 6: Milestone MX Track

Today we are heading out to the famous Milestone Track situated just a short 15min drive from the house. It is a 56 acre property with over 6 full tracks on it: supercross, motocross, pit bike, oval, and speed way – in fact, if it has a motor and you can race it; they have a track for you. It’s sponsored by Transworld MX, so at any given time you can see Don Madea and the testing staff doing their thing. We get in early, offloaded the bikes and start riding. This track is so well prepped (the best yet) and the jumps are huge, something you come to expect in the US. We are pounding out the laps and having loads of fun. We take it easy though, as the next day is the big day for the AMA Final at Pala. 

Milestone

Day 5: Glen Helen  

Glen Helen, home of the USGP and the world famous motocross track.

We load up the bikes and are joined by an English rider, Aaron Lowe, a champion winner on the master series in the UK. We have our 250 and 450 loaded and head off with Lasse. It’s about a 35 min drive on the 115. Along the way, we pass Langston Racing and Chaparral Cycle Supply the biggest shop in the US. It’s like 3 football fields long, but more on that later.

It’s about 9am as we role into Glen Helen, and the sun is so hot that we have our air-con on full. I see the famous mountain drop and the long start straight with the Nascar-like bend, a very famously photographed shot in all magazines. This place is huge – the pictures don’t do it justice. The main drop-off on the track is 15 stories high and I can’t wait to get out and try it.

All the pros are here again in preparation for the final at Pala raceway on Saturday. It’s the last round of the AMA outdoor series and all the guys are doing their last bit of testing. Aaron and I kit up, Lasse warms up the bikes, and we are off. Aaron is so excited that he is putting on his kit and trying to mount the bike at the same time. He is mad for it and wants to get out – this is a big dream for the 18 year old, and who can blame him? After winning his championship in the UK, it was a cool gift from his folks to get him to America and he is in his element. Before we know it, Ryan Villopoto pulled up alongside us and Aaron and I looked at each other – like crazed kids fighting for the last sweet we both get our helmets on and race off to the track! The track is unreal – perfect and loamy and we are powering up the huge hill only to come out at the top and fly off it.

My stomach is running away from me and I’m screaming, “I love America!” It isn’t long before Villopoto flies by me. Bagget and the Rockstar Canidae riders are all, along with the KTM guys, and even Damon Huffman, a rider from the good old days. Ryan Hughes is riding too and we are all mixing it up. The track is packed by lunch time and it is so hot that the track is rutting out, turning braking bumps into small doubles. Arm pump is setting in and man it was gnarly, but riding with all the pros today is so awesome! Later on, I head over to Villopoto’s pits and had a chat with him and got a picture. What a super cool guy he is, and very friendly. We cruise the pits before heading out for a last Moto and see all the factory technicians doing their thing. The Dunlop guys were there and if you had Dunlop tyres you get instant track assistance! This is what makes racing in America so big – the support! Technicians from all different companies are on hand to provide sponsored merchandise and guidance to anyone using their products.

We pack up the pits and get some final photos of Glen Helen as we head home. On the way we pop into the Chaparral Motorsports store. This place is huge – the pictures really don’t do it justice! It’s the size of 3 American football fields and has anything and everything bike related. If you think it, they have it! This alone is worth the trip and after a bit of shopping we go home, clean the bikes, chill out in the pool, and get an early night. All in all, a brilliant day!

Glen Helllen

Day 4: Cahuilla Creek MX Park

Cahuilla Creek MX Park, a track located on an old Red Indian reservation, can be found on the 15 towards the small town of Anza.

It’s another early start and we first pop over to the Rock River Yamaha team house where Dave and Dennis are waiting. We load everyone up in our race van and we are off. It’s about a 45 min drive and after a while on the road (passing Temecula home of the Metal Mulish), we spot a sign post that says “speed enforcement by air” – the Yanks don’t mess about hey! Finally we get there and I awe at the track which is set into a huge built up landscape – it looks amazing! We pay our track fees at the gate and Dennis suggests that we park at the top to get the best views. Once parked, we chat to some locals at the track who just so happen to be the #108 Monster Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider, Dean Wilson, and his friends. Whilst unloading the bikes I look around at the immaculately kept track, pampered like thoroughbred race horse! I immediately kit up and warm the bikes. This track looks very easy to ride with long berms, big step-ups, nice doubles, and long drop offs.

As I glance around, I see one of my heroes, Brian Deegan, rolling out into the start area blinged-out in all the Mulisha gear that has landed in shops all over the US. Off I go – braaaap! – flying through the air accomplishing huge air time, railing berms and roosting it up. Suddenly Deegan flies passed me for a freestyler. As an ex-racer I was surprised at how on top of his game he was, still executing fast moto’s with cool, effortless style, just as he had done all those years ago. Dennis is out and we are battling for spaces – this is the dream right here, riding with the pros. The track is buzzing with the sound of popping four stokes and the odd two stoke – Awesome!! After hours of riding it seems, I head into the pits, park up and head over to Deegan’s huge monster truck to meet the legend. I chat and get a picture with him, a friendly guy of note. We have a few laughs, after which he packs up and heads home to the wife and kids, all in a day’s work.

Dennis comes in and we both decide we’ve had enough riding for the day and decide to watch for a bit. We pack up and hit the road before the traffic sets in. We rode all day until about 2pm and it was so hot that the track closed at 3pm for an hour of prep, then reopened for the last session. On the way home Dennis and I pop into an American mall where we bumped into his wife. Wow this place is huge! We did a spot of shopping for the guys back home, grabbed some lunch, then headed back to the house to clean and prep the bikes for next day. We are hitting the famous Glen Helen.

Duties done, I chill in the hot tub before going out to Chili’s, a cool sports bar, for some dinner with the race crew consisting of myself, Stephen, Mandy, Dennis, Tawni, and Lasse. Lasse Andersen, Stephen’s house manager, had just arrived from Denmark. He is a real cool cat of note and always after the ladies. We all sit down to dinner and American football is on the big screen. It’s a big passion over here and the locals are mad for it, just like our guys and rugby! Halfway through the night we meet a group of police officers doing charity work. It turns out that the one guy’s daughter is racing in the Women’s Pro League and will be at the final race on Saturday. We chat for a bit and then he agrees to show us his police car, how it works, how they arrest people, and he even lets us sit in it while the lights are on! Every kids dream, right?! America – the place were anything can happen. A great night was had by all and we retire for the evening after much laughter.

Day 3: Perris Raceway

Perris Raceway is the oldest track in California and is a short drive from the house.

With the bikes loaded, we are off, arriving at about 8:30. We pay our entrance (which is included in a typical trip) and pull up to the pitted area where we are joined by Tyla Rattaray and Dan Reardon (Valley Motorsports team). Within the hour there are about 50 more guys and girls arriving – all big names in the industry in their smart pickup trucks and box vans. I look over to the track. It is perfectly maintained and looks just like in the magazines – I can’t believe I’m here! The pro guys end up pitting next to us and surprisingly, they are so friendly and approachable – we all just start chatting easily.

Time to ride! I get kitted up follow Tyla out to the start gates. I end up practicing starts with him and it’s only then that I realise… I’m in the company of a world champ! He is lighting fast! After a while I go off with Stephen to do some laps, heart racing. I took it easy at first, just checking out the huge jumps – doubles, triples and rhythm section. I’m like a crazed kid in a candy store… I love it!

As a beginner by American standards, this track is awesome – the jumps are massive! After doing some laps and getting big air, I decide to take it easy as I’m here to cover a story not crash and burn while practicing.

By this time the track is full of top pros including Ryan Hughes, Dan Reardon, Kyle Cunningham , and not forgetting the top women racers such as Elisabeth Bash, Miss Balbi (#8 for the Yamaha Moto Concepts Team) and more. I start talking to Miss Bash (#5) who is still in school and has been riding for 13 years. She rides every day before and after school, and as often as she can. On this day she is hitting the same 103 foot (31.39 metre) quad jump that Mike Alessi and others where hitting. Her speed was so unbelievably fast I reckon she could give our top regional men riders a run for their money.

The riders here today mean business… and to think this is a week day. The rider count now is about 100 and 3 big factory teams are here. It’s amazing to think I’m in the land of Motocross. There is such passion here about the sport with the Americans being as patriotic as ever, with flags flying high. Racing is a serious business out here with big money being thrown into it. PJ Larsen and Ricky Dietrich are on the track now, totally ripping it up, going huge. With the speed these guys ride at, I get right out the way, but Larsen still manages to roosts me, and I think to myself, whilst giggling, wow this guy is fast! It just goes to show that this is what a person can expect on any given day when out riding with the pros in California, a sure guarantee that your riding skills will improve dramatically.

To step away from the serious side of things, the guys are also out here to have fun, and this is a sport that can be enjoyed by all. To my relief, a group of guys on Ryan Hughes’ training camp, riding at my pace and similar ability are now with me on the track, and we rip it up with comical style.

Afterwards I walk over to Ryan Hughes and introduce myself. We get talking and he tells me of his training camps and how he wants to pass on his years of experience and training to up-and-coming riders. This is something I am passionate about and enjoyed getting a heads-up about how to start offering these epic trips for riders to gain knowledge and more experience in order to master their sport – so watch this space! Stephen and I end the day and head back home but not before we pop into Carl’s Jnr, a takeout place with the best burgers in town. I have the Portobello Mushroom Swiss Cheese Burger – yummy! Back to the house now where we wash bikes and prep for the next day’s ride.

Day 2: Labour Day

Today is a holiday and Stephen gets me up early. We head into the garage and prep the bikes for the following days at the tracks. He is riding a CR 250 two stroke, and I’m handed a 2010 CRF 250 – a real mint machine. We do all the pre-riding checks and make sure all the bikes are faultless, as Stephen’s mechanic, Andrea Talozzi, is only arriving in January, an ex Martin Honda Team mechanic. With the bikes done, I head out into the town with Mandy and Stephen for a quick look around and to get my bearings. We visit some cool shops and see the Olde Western-style section of town. All the people are super friendly and are willing to help at any given moment – very different from the bigger cities. We end up going to a Mexican restaurant and eating some real Mexican food. Man alive, it’s so hot and spicy – I love it! We have a blast and after some seriously delicious burritos, during the hysterics of the afternoon, I earn the nickname “Burrito Bob the Mexican South African” as I spout off one liner’s like, “I’m so hungry, this is going down like a homesick mole!” Mandy and Stephen are in stitches.

We go back to the house and I chill out by the pool taking in the awesome views they have at the Racesocal pad. I think to myself, “Man, riders back home so have to make this trip, purely for the lifestyle.” and we haven’t even seen the tracks yet!  But tomorrow brings with it the anticipation of some awesome riding!