JT RACING FOUNDER JOHN GREGORY SURVIVES PLANE CRASH: LANDS IN TOP OF TREE

JT Racing founder John Gregory sold JT Racing to paintball company Brass Eagle in 2000 and retired to Idaho, where he took up flying as a hobby.

According to the Idaho Statesman: “A 79-year-old pilot crash-landed his plane into a tree a few miles east of McCall on Monday night — and a firefighter scaled the 60-foot tree to get him to the ground safely, with the plane perched precariously on top. The pilot was not injured in the crash, and neither was anyone who helped rescue him, according to the McCall Fire Department. Rescuers had him out of the tree just after midnight, two hours after arriving at the scene. The pilot was McCall resident John Gregory, according to a press release from the Valley County Sheriff’s Office. The plane was a Piper Cub PA-18. The tree was a giant white fir. The pilot took off from Challis and was intending to land at the McCall Airport before the plane began to lose power. He then tried to divert to a field…The Valley County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release that it was notified at 8:19 p.m. of a SPOT locator beacon activation. At 8:42 p.m., it received notice of an emergency position radio beacon. Gregory also called 911 to report that he’d crashed into a tree.” Photo by Jason Speer. Read more about the crash by Clicking Here to go to the Idaho Statesman story.

THIS WEEK’S METLIFE STADIUM SUPERCROSS TV SHOW IS ON EARLY

The 16th of the 17 rounds in the 2019 AMA Supercross series will be shown on NBC-Sports at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time). That means that it will air out west at 2:00 p.m. Yes, we know that you will be out riding on Saturday at 2, but set your doohickey to capture the whatchamacallit so you can watch it after you wash your bike. Oh yeah, turn your cell phone off, tell your friends to shut up and don’t send us any emails when we run the results before you are ready to see them.

TAKE A LAP OF SATURDAY’S PENULTIMATE SUPERCROSS RACE: IS IT ANOTHER COOKIE CUTTER TRACK?

MXA MOTO-CHALLENGE: THERE ARE THREE FAMOUS CZ GUYS FROM THIS ERA. WHICH ONE IS THIS?

We want the names of the big three CZ riders from this era, but most of all we want the name of this rider — who held the record for the most World Championship by a single rider for decades. Answer at the bottom of the page.

MXA TESTS THE 2019 OSET MX10 ELECTRIC PEE-WEE: THE PERFECT BACKYARD BIKE

COLIN EDWARDS’ DIRT WARS & MAD DOG FLAT TRACK RACE ON MAY 4

For more info go to www.texastornadoboot camp.com

2019 WISECO WORLD TWO-STROKE RECAP VIDEO

MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: KTM POWER WEAR TECH 10 BOOTS

KTM Power Parts Alpinestars Tech 10 boot.

Why wear any Alpinestars Tech 10 when you can wear the brand-specific orange KTM Power Wear version. It has all the great features of the regular Tech 10, but customized to look good on a KTM. It uses abrasion-proof, rip-resistant microfiber material, high-impact aluminum buckles (with memory settings) and Microfiber gaiters to protect against excessive water and dirt entry. Plus, it is an exclusive boot that is available only from your friendly local KTM dealer.

CLASSIC MXA TEST RIDER PHOTO: WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH AN EMPTY FIELD?

Ignore the fact that this looks like a photo of MXA’s John Basher wheelying through a field of wheat. How come? Because it’s not wheat and that is not John Basher. That’s MXA managing editor Daryl Ecklund in John Basher’s green and yellow Shift gear (with a giant skid mark on the side of the pants). Basher, however, did shoot the photo of Daryl on MXA’s 2013 Kawasaki KX450F.

IS KUWAIT GOING TO GET A GRAND PRIX NEXT YEAR? MXA RIDES AT THE TRACK’S FIM TEST SESSION

CLASSIC MOTOCROSS ADS: “I ALREADY KNEW WHAT MXA JUST FOUND OUT,” K-DUB

When MXA named the 1996 Yamaha YZ125 the Bike of the Year, Yamaha took out a full page ad proclaiming their victory. In the copy Kevin Windham said, “I already knew what MXA just found out.”

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS: K-ROC IS 25, BROWNIE 47, MUSGRAVE 56

April 26…Jeff Matiasevich 1970
April 26…Nicolas Aubin 1988

April 26…Taddy Blazusiak 1983
April 27…Eric McCrummen 1986
April 28…Keith Bowen 1966

April 29…Willy Musgrave 1963

April 29…Ken Roczen 1994
April 29…John Ker 1950
April 29…Brian Hsu 1998

May 1…Mike Brown 1972
May 1…Matt Goerke 1986

May 1…Akira Narita 1980
May 2…Tania Satchwell 1980

OLD SCHOOL SCRAMBLES AT GLEN HELEN ON MAY 5, JUNE 30, JULY28, AUG. 25 & Dec. 22

Pre-Registration closes Wednesday, May 1, 2019, at 9:00 p.m. and all mail-in forms must be post-marked by Saturday, April 27th! All pre-register riders will receive a 35% discount card towards a Motion Pro product purchase and a $10 Cash Credit from Rocky Mountain ATV & MC. That’s like money in the bank, so don’t delay, get your entry in today! For more information, please visit www.OldSchoolScramblesRacing.com

MXA TEAM TESTED: SPROCKET STUFF COUNTERSHAFT SPROCKET TOOL

Sprocket Stuff makes a very special tool that allows you to easily remove your bike’s countershaft sprocket without having to stand on the rear brake or shove rags into the engine cases. If you want to replace a worn-out countershaft sprocket or change your gearing, removing the old countershaft sprocket can be a hassle. It is typically corroded in place, and when you try to turn the sprocket, you typically turn the engine over (and the sprocket doesn’t budge). Sprocket Stuff’s countershaft sprocket tool is designed to lock your bike’s countershaft sprocket to the swingarm so that it can’t spin. The MXA wrecking crew has used this tool for years, but last week we were at the KTM Factory race shop and every mechanic had a Sprocket Stuff countershaft tool in his toolbox.

The original Sprocket Stuff tool had to be ordered in teeth sizes. For example, if you wanted to remove a 13-tooth countershaft sprocket, you needed the 13-tooth tool. That’s all well and good, unless you were adding a 14-tooth sprocket in place of the 13; then you needed a 14-tooth tool to install it (or remove it when it was time to replace it). The new design now fits on 13- 14- and 15-tooth sprockets. All you have to do is move the pins that slip into the grooves between the sprocket teeth. Additionally, the new design is more compact, so you don’t have to remove your engine’s case saver.

How to use the tool: In step one, you have to remove the chain. Why? Because the pins of the Sprocket Stuff tool have to fit into the teeth of the countershaft sprocket, and they can’t do this if the chain is on the sprocket. At the KTM race shop, they often work on engines that are out of the frame, and the Sprocket Stuff tool is the best way to remove a countershaft on the workbench.

Step two is to bend the locking tab away from the countershaft nut. Step three is to slip the Sprocket Stuff countershaft sprocket tool onto the sprocket with the two elongated arms positioned above and below the swingarm pivot. The arms lessen side load on the countershaft bearing.

The final step is to put the proper size socket on the nut and turn it with a ratchet or breaker bar. Sprocket Stuff does not recommend using an air impact wrench for this job. To install a new countershaft sprocket, you simply reverse the direction of your motion. You can hand-crank it into place or, if you are smart, use a torque wrench to set it at the proper torque setting (found in your owner’s manual).  Of course, there are other homegrown ways to remove and install a countershaft sprocket that don’t require a $20 tool, but most mechanics are tool junkies, and if a tool exists to do a job, they want it.

DIGITS:  $19.99—www.sprocketstuff.com.

MXA RATING: If you don’t work on engines, this is a tool that will mystify you, but for anyone who has struggled to split cases or get a frozen countershaft sprocket off, the Sprocket Stuff’s countershaft tool is a must-have. We use this tool.

SPROCKET STUFF COUNTERSHAFT TOOL VIDEO

MEMORIES OF THE WAY WE WERE: DUCATI DESMO 450

The Ducati R/T 450 was not a very good motocross bike back in 1971, but imagine the status you would get today by showing up at the track with a Desmodromic 450 Ducati motocross bike.

2019 HAWAIIAN SUPERCROSS ON MAY 11 AT ALOHA STADIUM

The Hawaiian Supercross is scheduled for one week after the 2019 AMA Supercross series ends.  Riders listed for the race are Ryan Sipes, Justin Brayton, Austin Politelli, Josh Hill, Ben Lamay, Tyler Bowers, Alex Ray, Mike Alessi, Kyle Chisholm and one lone Hawaiian, Brian Medeiros. For more information go to www.hawaiiansx.com

2019 AMA SUPERCROSS WINNERS AT A GLANCE

All eyes will be on Austin Forkner this week as he tries to ride with a torn ACL to protect his slim points lead in the 250 East.

Date               Venue                                            450                                250
Jan. 5……..Anaheim, CA………………..Justin Barcia…………Colt Nichols
Jan. 12…..Glendale, AZ…………………Blake Baggett………Adam Cianciarulo
Jan. 19…..Anaheim, CA…………………Cooper Webb………Shane McElrath
Jan. 26…..Oakland, CA………………….Cooper Webb………Adam Cianciarulo
Feb. 2……San Diego, CA………………..Eli Tomac……………..Adam Cianciarulo
Feb. 9…….Minneapolis, MN………….Cooper Webb………Austin Forkner
Feb. 16…..Arlington, TX………………..Cooper Webb………Austin Forkner
Feb. 23….Detroit, MI…………………….Eli Tomac………………Austin Forkner
Mar. 2……Atlanta, GA……………………Cooper Webb………Adam Cianciarulo
Mar. 9……Daytona Beach, FL……….Eli Tomac………………Austin Forkner
Mar. 16…Indianapolis, IN…………….Marvin Musquin…..Austin Forkner
Mar. 23….Seattle, WA…………………..Marvin Musquin…..Dylan Ferrandis
Mar. 30…Houston, TX………………….Cooper Webb……….Dylan Ferrandis
Apr. 6…….Nashville, TN………………….Eli Tomac……………….Martin Davalos
Apr. 13….Denver, CO…………………..Eli Tomac………………Adam Cianciarulo
Apr. 27….East Rutherford, NJ…
May 4……Las Vegas, NV……………
450 Points leader……………Cooper Webb (KTM)
250 West points leader…Adam Cianciarulo (Kaw)
250 East points leader…..Austin Forkner (Kaw)

ON HIATUS: 2019 FIM GRAND PRIX WINNERS AT A GLANCE

Thanks to a massive break in the 2019 Grand Prix schedule (from April 7 to May 12), Antonio Cairoli has been sitting on his 450 points leads for all of March and April. The GP don’t start up again until March 12 in Italy.

Date               Venue                                            450                                250
Mar. 3……. Argentina……………………….Tony Cairoli…………Jorge Prado
Mar. 24……England………………………….Tony Cairoli…………Thomas Kjer Olsen
Mar. 31……Holland…………………………..Tony Cairoli………..Jorge Prado
Apr. 7……….Trentino, Italy………………..Tim Gajser………….Jorge Prado
May 12…….Lombardia, Italy
May 19……..Portugal
May 26…….France
June 9…..…Russia
June 16……Latvia
June 23……Germany
July 7………Palembang, Indo.
July 14……..Semarang, Indo
July 28….…Czech Republic
Aug. 4………Belgium
Aug. 18….…Imola, Italy
Aug. 25….…Sweden
Sept. 8……..Turkey
Sept. 15…..Shanghai, China
Sept. 22…..Hong Kong, China (Canceled)
450 points leader…………..Tony Cairoli (KTM)
250 points leader…………..Thomas Kjer Olsen (Hus)

WHO’S WHO IN AMA SUPERCROSS POINTS AFTER 15 OF 17 ROUNDS

With an 18-point lead Cooper Webb can sit on his 450 Supercross advantage and ride out the next two races by playing it safe. However, history is full of riders who didn’t play it safe.

CURRENT AMA 450 SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS
(After 15 of 17 rounds)
1. Cooper Webb (KTM)…332
2. Eli Tomac (Kaw)…314
3. Marvin Musquin (KTM)…309
4. Ken Roczen (Hon)…283
5. Blake Baggett (KTM)…255
6. Dean Wilson (Hus)…223
7. Joey Savatgy (Kaw)…192
8. Cole Seely (Hon)…180
9. Justin Bogle (KTM)…157
10. Justin Barcia (Yam)…154

Justin Cooper might be considered a long shot to win the 250 East, but with New Jersey and Las Vegas to go in the 250 East title chase, he is only 7 points back.

CURRENT AMA 250 EAST SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS
(After 8 of 10 rounds)
1. Austin Forkner (Kaw)…151
2. Chase Sexton (Hon)…148
3. Justin Cooper (Yam)…144
4. Martin Davalos (Kaw)…115
5. Mitchell Oldenburg (Yam)…105
6. Alex Martin (Suz)…105
7. Brandon Hartranft (Yam)…100
8. Kyle Peters (Suz)…98
9. Kyle Cunningham (Hon)…97
10. Jordon Bailey (Hus)…76

JGR and Suzuki are banking everything on Jimmy Decotis to break the three-way tie for fifth place in the 250 West at Las Vegas. Decotis is tied on points with Husqvarna’s Michael Mosiman and Honda’s Cameron McAdoo.

CURRENT AMA 250 WEST SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS
(After 9 of 10 rounds)
1. Adam Cianciarulo (Kaw)…208
2. Dylan Ferrandis (Yam)…200
3. Colt Nichols (Yam)…163
4. R.J. Hampshire (Hon)…145
5. Jimmy Decotis (Suz)…128
6. Michael Mosiman (Hus)…128
7. Cameron McAdoo (Yam)…128
8. Shane McElrath (KTM)…123
9. Chris Blose (Hus)…119
10. Garrett Marchbanks (Kaw)…10

GEE WHIZ! ONLY 14 ROUNDS TO GO IN THE FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS — HERE ARE THE POINTS AFTER 4 ROUNDS

Tony Cairoli has a 191-point lead over arch-rival Jeffrey Herlings, but he may have to start worrying about Honda’s Tim Gajser (above)—who went 1-1 in Trentino at the last GP. The next round is on May 12.

2019 FIM 450 WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
(After 4 of 18 rounds)
1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM)…191
2. Tim Gajser (Hon)..175
3. Gautier Paulin (Yam)…142
4. Arminas Jasikonis (Hus)…120
5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Hon)…113
6. Clement Desalle (Kaw)…112
7. Jeremy Seewer (Yam)…98
8. Shaun Simpson (KTM)…88
9. Julien Lieber (Kaw)…79
10. Arnaud Tonus (Yam)…71

Jorge Prado has won every moto of the 2019 FIM 250 World Championship that he has raced, but he missed the British GP. He has 6 wins out of 8 motos and has gotten to within 20 points of leader Thomas Kjer Olsen.

2019 FIM 250 WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
(After 4 of 18 rounds)
1. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Hus)…170
2. Jorge Prado (KTM)…150
3. Henry Jacobi (Kaw)…147
4. Ben Watson (Yam)…129
5. Jago Geerts (Yam)…125
6. Tom Vialle (KTM)…121
7. Calvin Vlaanderen (Hon)…107
8. Mitch Evans (Hon)…89
9. Adam Sterry (Kaw)…89
10. Davy Pootjes (Hus)…76

YOU DO THE MATH! SUBSCRIBE TO MXA & GET A $25 CHAPARRAL GIFT CARD

If you subscribed to Motocross Action,  the May 2019 issue of MXA would be in the throne room right now.

The May issue of MXA  is filled with bike tests—including the 2019-1/2 KTM 450SXF Factory Edition, 2019 Yamaha YZ250X cross-country bike, 2019 TM 300MX two-stroke, Daryl Ecklund’s 2003 Kawasaki KX125 project bike,  2019 Honda CRF250RX (a motocross CRF250 with a big tank and 18-inch rear wheel) and a retro test of Travis Pastran’s  2003 Suzuki RM250.  Plus, a revealing interview with Johnny O’Mara, a Moto-Physics  article on how to be a rim-scrub detective and a detailed look at the Supercross Lime-gate disaster.

Or you could subscribe to MXA and Dirt Bike Magazine for only $32.99 for both and get $50 in Chaparral Gift Cards in the process.

If you subscribe to MXA you can get the mag on your iPhone, iPad, Kindle or Android by going to the Apple Store, Amazon or Google Play or in a digital version. Even better you can subscribe to Motocross Action and get a $25 Chaparral gift card to spend on whatever motorcycle parts or products you need. You can call (800) 767-0345 or CLICK HERE or click on the box at the bottom of this page.

2019 RACE SCHEDULE: WHERE TO BE AND WHEN TO BE THERE

Start planning now to join riders from over 20 different countries at the 2019 Dubya World Vet Championship on November 2-3. If you thought last week’s World Two-Stroke Championship was big, wait until you see the World Vet.

2019 AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES
Jan. 5…………………………….Anaheim, CA
Jan. 12………………………….Glendale, AZ
Jan. 19………………………….Anaheim, CA (3-moto race)
Jan. 26………………………….Oakland, CA
Feb. 2……………………………San Diego, CA
Feb. 9…………………………..Minneapolis, MN
Feb. 16………………………….Arlington, TX
Feb. 23………………………….Detroit, MI (3-moto race)
Mar. 2……………………………Atlanta, GA (250 E/W Shootout)
Mar. 9……………………………Daytona Beach, FL
Mar. 16………………………….Indianapolis, IN
Mar. 23………………………….Seattle, WA
Mar. 30………………………….Houston, TX (3-moto race)
Apr. 6……………………………Nashville, TN
Apr. 13………………………….Denver, CO
Apr. 27………………………….East Rutherford, NJ
May 4……………………………Las Vegas, NV (250 E/W Shootout)

2019 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 3…………………………… Argentina
Mar. 24……………………………England
Mar. 31……………………………Holland
Apr. 7………………………………Trentino (Italy #1)
May 12…………………………….Lombardia (Italy #2)
May 19…………………….……..Portugal
May 26……………………………France
June 9…………………………….Russia
June 16…………………………..Latvia
June 23…………………………..Germany
July 7……………………………..Palembang (Indonesia #1)
July 14……………………………Semarang (Indonesia #2
July 28……………………………Czech Republic
Aug. 4…………………………….Belgium
Aug. 18…………………………..Imola (Italy #3)
Aug. 25…………………………..Sweden
Sept. 8……………………………Turkey
Sept. 15…………………………..Shanghai, China
Sept. 22…………………………..Hong Kong (Canceled)

2019 AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
May 18……………………Hangtown, CA
May 25.…………………..Pala, CA
June 1..……………….….Thunder Valley, CO
June 15..…………………Mt. Morris, PA
June 22.………………….Jacksonville. FL
June 29..…………………Southwick, MA
July 6.………………….….Red Bud, MI​
July 20.……………………Millville, MN​
July 27.……………………Washougal, WA
Aug. 10..………………….Unadilla, NY​
Aug. 17..………………….​Budds Creek, MD
Aug. 24.…………………..Crawfordsville, IN

2019 WORLD OFF-ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP (WORCS)
Jan. 18-20………………………..Primm, NV
Feb. 1-3……………………………Glen Helen, CA
Mar. 1-3……………………………Lake Havasu, AZ
Mar. 22-24……………………….Peoria, AZ
Apr. 12-14………………………..Las Vegas, NV
Apr. 26-28………………………..Taft, CA
May 24-26……………………….Mesquite, NV
July 30-Aug. 4…………………McCleary, WA
Sept. 13-15……………………..Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 4-6……………………………Milford, CA
Nov. 15-17……………………….Primm, NV

2019 WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP
April 20…………………………..Glen Helen

2019 HAWAIIAN SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
May 4…………………………..Honolulu, HA

2019 MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN MOTOCROSS
June 21-30……………………….Mammoth Lakes, CA

2019 CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
June 1………………………………Wild Rose, AB
June 8………………………………Blackwater, BC
June 15…………………………….McNabb Valley, MB
July 13……………………………..Gopher Dunes, ON
July 20……………………………..San Del Lee, ON
July 27……………………………..Riverglade, NB
Aug. 3………………………………Deschambault, QC
Aug. 17…………………………….Walton, ON

2019 AMA NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
July 29-Aug. 3………………….Loretta Lynn, TN

2019 BRITISH ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 18-19………………………….Belfast, Irl
Feb. 1-2……………………………..Birmingham, GB
Feb. 15-6…………………………..Sheffield, GB

2019 BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 10……………………………..FatCat
Apr. 14………………………………Lyng
May 5……………………………….Canada Heights
June 2………………………………Blaxhall
June 30…………………………….Desertmartin
July 21……………………………..Hawkstone Park
Aug. 11……………………………..Foxhill
Sept. 15……………………………Landrake

2019 BRITISH APICO TWO-STROKE FESTIVAL
May 25-26……………………….Marshfield MX
Aug. 3-4……………………………Iron Works Moto
Sept. 21-22……………………..Sellindge MX

2019 GERMAN MX MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP
April 14…………………………….Princely Drehna
June 2………………………………Moggers, Austria
June 30…………………………….Molln
July 21……………………………..Tens
Aug. 11…………………………….Gaildorf
Sept. 1……………………………..Biel
Sept. 15……………………………Wood Gerlingen

2019 AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS
July 5-7…………………………….Lexington, Ohio

2019 AMA NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
July 29-Aug. 3………………….Loretta Lynn, TN

2019 RYAN VILLOPOTO AMATEUR MOTOCROSS CUP
Aug. 22-25………………………..Grays Harbor, WA

2019 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
Sept. 29…………………………….Assen, Holland

2019 MONSTER ENERGY CUP
Oct. 21……………………………..Las Vegas, NV

2019 WORLD VET CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 2-3……………………………..Glen Helen, CA

COMPLETE 2019 GLEN HELEN RACEWAY SCHEDULE: WEEK BY WEEK

For more info go to www.glenhelen.com (click on images to enlarge)

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We love everything moto and want to bring all moto junkies together into one place to share their two cents, ideas, photos, bike fixes, bike problems and much more. To check it out first you must need to or already have a Facebook account. If you don’t, it isn’t much work and you could even have an alias so nobody knows it is you. To join click HERE. After you request to join we will accept your request shortly after.

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If you are a Snap Chat user then add us to your stories. Get sneak peaks of everything moto. Our Snap Chat name is motocrossaction. Or just take a Snap of the picture above and it will add MXA automatically to your feed.

MOTO CHALLENGE ANSWER

Paul Friedrichs.

Roger Decoster.

Moto-Challenge answer: The correct answer is Joel Robert. Joel won 6 FIM 250 World Championships. He joins Paul Friedrichs and Roger DeCoster as the most famous CZ riders of the late 1960s—but Robert and DeCoster moved to Suzuki in the 1970s. Close but no cigar answers would be Dave Bickers, Jaroslav Falta, Guennady Moiseev or Viktor Arbekov.

Photos: James Brammer, Dan Alamangos, Ray Archer, Brian Converse, Travis Fant, Daryl Ecklund, John Basher, Jody Weisel, Debbi Tamietti, MXA