MOTOCROSS ACTION MID-WEEK REPORT

#WHIPITWEDNESDAY

Justin Hill 2019 Fox National pala motocross raceway-8878Rider: Justin Hill

Justin transitioned to the JGR Suzuki team in 2018, with a contract to dip his toes into the 450 class the following year. His early experiences on the Suzuki 250 were riddled with challenges, but his perseverance culminated in a victory at the San Diego Supercross. As the racing series journeyed East, he entered the 450 class, securing a sixth place at the Tampa Supercross in 2018. With the progression of the 2018 outdoor season, JGR Suzuki astutely promoted Justin from the 250 class to the 450 class, resulting in a remarkable upswing in his performance and remaining in the fold of the yellow squad through 2019.  From racing, Justin would go on to work as a patrol deputy at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. However, the allure of the racetrack proved too strong to resist. In 2023, Justin made a triumphant return to his racing roots.

HISTORY OF MAMMOTH MOTOCROSS 

Between 1878-81, gold and silver-bearing veins were discovered in Mammoth Lakes, Mono County, CA.  Word broke that gold could be found on the ground of the Eastern Sierras, causing thousands of miners to travel to the area, and Mammoth Lakes experienced a Gold Rush. This mainly took courses at the consolidated mine. It was located by the campground at Twin Lakes. The mine produced approximately  $12.75 per ton of ore removed (price in the late 1800’s). The mine continued with production until the great depression of 1933, when bank failures struck, and financing on the mine went under.

 

Dave McCoy got a  job as a hydrographer for the Los Angeles Department of  Water and Power, which involved skiing up to 50 miles per day.  1938 McCoy got a permit and set up a primitive rope tow on McGee Mountain, near Highway 395, using parts from a Model “A” Ford truck. He went to a bank, seeking an $85 loan to set up a permanent rope tow. After a few seasons, Dave noticed that the snow at McGee Mountain was insufficient and set his sights on the Mining Town of Mammoth Lakes, where he set up a rope tow in 1942.

 

Every summer since 1968, racers worldwide have visited Mammoth Lakes for the Mammoth Motocross. It is an event started by Dave McCoy, brought on by his passion for mechanics and competitive nature. Since the start of Mammoth Motocross, legendary racers have come to compete, riders such as Ricky Carmichael, Jeremy McGrath, Rick Johnson, Johnny O’Mara, Broc Glover, Donny Schmitt, Steve Lamson, Gary Jones, Kevin Windham, David Bailey, Jeff Ward, Ron Lechien, Bob Hannah, James Stewart, Mike Bell, Donny Hansen, Ryan Dungey, Ryan Villopoto, Eli Tomac and many more have raced Mammoth. In 2015, Dave McCoy was awarded the Edison Dye Lifetime Achievement Award for all his contributions to the industry we love.

EDITORS NOTE:  NEW TO THE EDITORIAL TEAM, JUSTIN LEE, WILL WORK ON MID-WEEK REPORT. Please keep those two-stroke (or four-stroke) spotlight submissions coming. If you want your bike or info featured in the “Moto Spotlight,” please email me at [email protected]. All I ask is that you give a breakdown of your bike or moto info and a detailed description. Please also send a few photos of your steed. By submitting your bike or info, you agree to release all ownership rights to the images and copy them to MXA.

MXA PHOTO TRIVIA

Who is this rider? Answer at the bottom of the pagr.

TEAM USA TEAM TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

QUOTE OF THE WEEK // CHASE SEXTON MOTIVATION FROM RESULTS 

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed leaving Ironman with a second place, but thankful to end the season healthy.”

MXA DATA ANALYSIS EFFECTS OF HIGH ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE

Dennis Stapleton Jeremy McGrath 2023 Mammoth motocrossMammoth is 7,800 feet above sea level. 

  1. Reduced Oxygen Levels: As the altitude increases, the amount of oxygen available in the atmosphere decreases. This means the body must work harder to get the oxygen it needs. This can lead to fatigue and exhaustion more quickly than usual. In response, the brain triggers increased production of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO), encouraging the body to make more red blood cells to better transport the available oxygen.
  1. Physiological Changes: The body tries to adapt to lower oxygen availability by increasing breathing and heart rates. However, these adaptations can take time, and in the initial period, individuals may experience symptoms like lethargy, headaches, and difficulty sleeping. In extreme cases, failure to adapt can result in acute mountain sickness (AMS), which can have harmful effects.
  1. Performance Impacts: High altitude can negatively impact athletic performance, particularly in endurance events. This is due to the reduced oxygen availability, which makes it harder for the body to perform at its best. Athletes might find it challenging to replicate the pace they can maintain at sea level. In contrast, for explosive events (like sprints or jumps), reducing atmospheric pressure at high altitudes can enhance performance.
  1. Acute High Altitude Illness: Athletes performing strenuous physical activity at high altitude are at increased risk for developing acute high altitude illness (AHAI), which includes syndromes such as acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE). AHAI is a potentially serious condition that can occur among travelers to altitudes above 8000 ft.

JETT ACHIEVES PERFECTION

Though it did not seem difficult for Jett Lawrence to go 22-0 this season, this was one of the most challenging accomplishments in motorcycle racing. Only three times in history has a rider accomplished this. Ricky Carmichael (twice), James Stewart once, and Jett Lawrence added his name to the list. Combining the last 50 years of racing, the probability of a rider having a perfect season in any given year is 0.01 (1%), which is a generous estimate given. Though it seemed to have come easy, this was a rarity and proves that Jett Lawrence is here to compete against those in the Hall of Fame. It will be exciting to see how Jett continues this momentum and if he can accomplish it again next season.

MXA PHOTO OF THE WEEK

  

Maybe it’s just me, but the current crop of pro racers is lacking, particularly in one area – cool nicknames. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, the top racers had really interesting nicknames, like Johnny “O’ Show” O’Mara, David “Little Professor” Bailey, Mike “Too Tall” Bell, and Broc “Golden Boy” Glover. These days, nicknames aren’t inventive (Haiden Deegan is “Danger,” Jett is just Jett, and Hunter is Hunter). At least before we had  Kevin “K-Dub” Windham, etc, let’s put on our thinking caps and create creative nicknames for the riders.

CLASSIC MXA PHOTO

Bob Hannah

Bob Hannah, riding for Honda, shows the fast way around the track.

MXA Trivia answer: The Answer Is Danny “Magoo” Chandler

 

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