Motocross Supercross TFS e-mag Empire New Home Page

9/30/99: The e-mag now has photos of the Pro's MX Gear that we will be auctioning off to benefit injured riders Tony Haynes and Geoff Eberly. Watch for instructions on Mototalk. DC is in charge of this one, right DC?

9/29/99: Mototalk has been buzzing after that last Fro interview with Aussie Journalist Geoff Meyer. American Western movies used to idolize guys who would party hard and win in the end. I guess motocross guys don't get to? A #1 plate should be enough, no? I guess Fro doesn't get to be John Wayne.

9/27/99: Mototworld.net has a review of the MXdN up already, as well as an InterNet first, an on-location audio review of the ultimate showdown, by Art Eckman! Let's switch over and check it out:

Art confirms RC's second moto ended in less than a lap due to a crash and broken throttle cable. Photohound Mitch Freidman is back from Brasil, and he said the same. RC was fifth overall and the first 125 on the opening lap when it happened. When you need some slides from the MXdN for your moto magazine, it's best to be nice to Mitch, he might be the only source in Southern California.

Steve G's Motodrive web site has the only photo feature I know of from this weekend's debut PACE Freestyle in Fresno.

Stevemeister was doing slides from a distance indoors, which is pretty hard to do without a nuclear-powered flash. Hopefully he didn't cause any problems with radioactivity. There were no reports of bikes glowing the dark.

One doesn't shoot from the floor at an FMX, which is ok because if you get too close you just get photos of drain plugs and soles of feet. After a while those all look the same.

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Trevor Vines

9/26/99: The USA had still another Bogus Day at an MXdN! Italy's power trio of Chiodi, Bartolini, and Federichi won, and Everts proved himself by winning both the motos he rode. Italy was on top, then France, Belgium, USA, and those crazy Brits who run around naked rounded out the top five.

Action Group came through big time with timely results, lap sheets and press releases.

What happened? According to the first reports, RC bashed a pipe in his first race and had to stop for a replacement. He finished 27th. Then in his second race he crashed out on the first lap. If I understand AG's press release correctly, he broke a throttle cable.

In the last moto, which Team USA went into in 16th place, KW and LaRocco both had rotten starts (24th and 18th) and only caught up to 9th and 6th. Impressive charging, but Bartolini and Everts were out front. Everts was again an MXdN hero, just like last year.

Also on the e-mag: Text for the photo report on the Gravity Games by Oggi, and check out the report on the Fresno FMX. The Fresno report is an impression from someone who has never been to a freestyle, a motocross, or a Supercross...

On Mototalk SUNDAY, we plan on doing a gear auction to benefit two riders. This is from Mototalk:

"Let everyone know that it's more souvenirs donated to help out fellow racers Tony Haynes and Geoff Eberly. (Though by reading this, you now know that!)"
-DC

Clifford Adoptante won the first night of PACE Freestyle in Fresno! (Steve G photo) The second night went to Trevor Vines.

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Nicolas Vouilloz

9/24/99: Still more from our buddy Steve G - "Hey, here's one rider who doesn't need to talk to get his competition motivated...his actions speak louder than words. Nicolas Vouilloz (France) bagged his eighth consecutive World Championship title in the Men's Downhill in Åre, Sweden, last weekend. That's serious domination." -SG

Steve G sends in so much maybe we can get him to take over this gig! He also plans on making the trip to Fresno for the first ever PACE Freestyle tonight and tomorrow night at the Sellard Arena. He will bump into our own Steve Bauer, who will be one of the judges.

Also, for saturday's show, we should get an outsider's view of the Freestyle event from someone who has never seen one, or ever been to a Supercross. The TFS e-mag will get a real person's report from Uncle Joe! Yep, Joe is my real uncle and he lives in nearby Clovis. It will be interesting to see what he thinks of the show. So far he has been hooked on local high school football and growing cactus.

Sunday the TFS e-mag empire laptop travels to High Point to spectate the MXdN via the web and hang with DC and his sister Carrie Jo at a Racer Productions Cross Country event. Watch for a gear auction as well via Mototalk. The gear that wasn't sold at the auction after Steel City should be there.

Racerhead has plenty of intresting stuff in it this week, don't miss what DC says about Fro's new bike, MC at the USSX, and the Albee to Yamaha rumors.

Saturday we should have some more info on the MXdN, and hopefully some photos. So far you will find a Web Surfers Guide to the MXdN on the TFS e-mag

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"Oggi" and Travis Pastrana

"Oggi," a TFS e-mag regular, went to the Gravity Games and brought back a photo report.

Next weekend the FIM Supercross World Championship series kicks off at the Stade de France. The e-mag plans on covering it again this year with an on-site photo report. Last year was the first for the venue. The FIM pulled the Bercy SX from the series last year and said it wanted races in larger stadiums and with more credibility, like US Supercross.

AT last year's Stade de France Lami appeared for the first time on his Chaparral Yamaha, and Reynard was flying. The stadium has an open top, and rain made the race a muddy mess. Reynard slipped, Vuillemin won. The French closed the event with a huge tribute to the homeboy, with "I will survive" playing over and over and a ton of colored confetti showering down at the podium! They know how to party.

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9/23/99: Mototalkers are all over the Albee goes to Yamaha or not rumor. A reliable source says no, Albee stays with Suzuki.

How do YOU spell Albee? On the back of his helmet it says A.L.B.E.E. So there. Let's spell it the way he does. He's the champ, he should know.

Other news: Don Graber's writeup on Binghamton has been on the server for three weeks, but I forgot to add a link to it. Oops. Here it is...

In case you haven't been looking: There is a long list of contents on the e-mag that goes way back into last year. Check it out...

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MC BMX bike

9/22/99: (Left) Here's a cool BMX MC style from the Interbike show in Vegas, sent in by Steve G.

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These ladies are Marzocchi reps

9/21/99: A short TFS e-mag preview of the MXdN is up. It looks like the USGP news made it to Mototalk pretty fast last weekend, since we have so many friends who get Eurosport - thanks! Hopefully the same will happen for the USGP.

Along with the MXdN this weekend, another happening is the first-ever PACE Freestyle MX in Fresno at the Selland Arena. Selland Arena is a basketball court-sized indoor venue. Previous events out west have reportedly been boring, or dangerous due to cross-winds. If anyone can make an evening of bike jumping in front of judges interesting PACE can! Forget about the SX is too much of a 'show' debate. This one is all show. Have fun.

9/20/99: Silly season is just about over, and 'start money' season takes over. That's when the top moto pros get cool trips and a sure paycheck to race all over the planet. One of the coolest is said to be the Fastcross in Italy, where each year the US gang goes over to show the Euros who's the baddest to the bonest. This year's winner was our own Stefan Everts!

Ward, who really likes the Italian event and has always done good there, was second. Fro made it (his first race back) and rode a YZ. Fro's deal to race in England the weekend before was de-railed because he wasn't going to be on a KX.

The MXdN will be the third international showdown in a row! It's too bad the next race is so far, KW vs Everts, RC vs Chiodi, and LaRocco vs everyone should be a classic. The US media turnout will be very smal. We will still cover the event through Ray Archer and Catherine and Pascal Haudiquert, just like the 250 GPs.

9/19/99: There are some interesting questions floating on Mototalk. Here's what I hear...

-MC at US Open? This hasn't been a given, as you might expect. You would think MC's appearance would be a sure thing, but the word is it's not 100% yes (yet).

-Albee not re-signing with Suzuki? This one is still kicking around. Suzuki should not want to pass on a chance to parade that #1 plate for 12 weekends, but if the rival has an open slot and the $$$ - who knows?

-So far Primal Impulse has confirmed it's Arenacross team (Budman and Snoop), but the rest seems to be on hold. Some things are still up in the air in the land of yellow. There is also a rumor about a possible second yellow big rig. This rumor goes back farther than Fro's week from hell, so it is unlikely it's a Fro thing.

Last year it was tough finding Fastcross results quickly on the web. MXLarge will probably come through first.

At Binghamton the TFS e-mag teamed up with Jeff Piccolo from Motocrossmadness2.com. Jeff borrowed a TFS digicam and did such a great job he ended up handing over half the weekend's photos (about 900 in all, thanks also to Don Graber). Look for more photos and news on Jeff's excellent site.

I'm not sure if any web folks are covering the Montreal Supercross this Saturday. The e-mag is taking a break.

An old friend Nick Devillo wrote to Mikeee about two tragedies at NW Florida MX Park, also known at Milton. Milton holds saturday night SX-style events in a track that is down in a sandy pit. KW and RC did some of their last local racing there, and so did yours truly (in the slow class).

Could you maybe mention a couple of riders that were been taken away from us last week . Both of the riders were in accidents at West Florida Motocross Park (Steve Bruhn can tell you about the track) in Milton Florida. Saturday night (9/3/99) Nine year old James Roger Brown from Collierville, Tenn was down here visiting and decided to race. During practice he suffered a nasty spill and ended up being hit by his KX-60. His neck was broken and he later died at the hospital. This really hit a soft spot because my 7 year old son (Brien DeVillo) was immediately behind J.R. when J.R. fell and has been really upset by the accident. Then Wednesday nite, Jake Riley 18 from Jay Florida dies when practicing at the same track. He went over the bars, was hit by his 4 wheeler and die at the scene. If you need some research/documentation on these riders the Pensacola News Journal in Pensacola Florida has a web site and wrote articles about the accidents. Maybe we could all do something for the families.

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Pat Schutte - 'King of Extreme' PR

Rumors are flying on Mototalk about Fro to Suzuki, Albee to Yamaha, and Schutte to car racing to do PR.

The only one I can confirm is Schutte to Chrysler/Damlier's racing effort, where he will be a valuable addition, just like he was for PACE. Next we will see "Viper, the 'King of Extreme' Racing cars," and all that!

Pat will be a tough act to follow. DC once wrote he was a V.I.P. at PACE, and he wasn't just being polite. Pat's contributions to Supercross promotion will outlast him for sure. Pat broke new ground by engineering a vision for Supercross (The tie-in with Extreme Sports), and he raised the level of professionalism in motorcycle racing PR to a new level.

After every SX, Pat was focused on cranking out a killer press release before leaving the stadium that was better than the last one. The car folks are going to get one WFO PR guy!

9/16/99: The KTM lineup has been added to the Motonews 2000 Silly Season rider list. There are still some question marks, mostly for the yellow team folks.

Emig was spotted at Nathan Ramsey's wedding in LA instead of the Supercross in Manchester England. Fro said he was in for that event at Steel City, but it is likely the start money went away when he wasn't going to ride a Kawasaki.

The time after the last US national is not only silly season, it's start money season. That's when top rider's travel the globe to race for whatever the going rate is. Good for them. They are pros and should be paid like pros. Start money season and silly season blend a little too, so you never know when the year 2000 brand switch becomes effective.

This weekend's races include the annual Fastcross in Italy, and the Montreal Supercross. The Fastcross is popular with the start money folks, which means you can bet they will have an impressive turnout of top talent.

The weekend after this will feature the MXdN, and the first ever PACE Freestyle event at the Selland Arena in Fresno. Fresno is a sports-crazy town, so much so that the town's heavies kidnapped the local state university's sports program and moved some of it downtown.

9/14/99: Two questions that always re-surface are rider prize money and electronic scoring. The latter again came up after the USGP and people got to see the cool gadgets the Euros have.

DC reported on Mototalk that PACE was getting a scoring system on it's own for PACE Supercross events (all of them except the one in Florida). I asked about such a system for AMA events at the Budd's national a couple of months ago, and this is what they said... (next page)..

For the AMA to switch to electronic scoring (transponders and computers, and someone who can keep them working), the AMA would need to add at least one person to the small traveling group that does every event. At each FIM event I have been to, I have seen two people pretty much busy all the time keeping the gadgets and the monitors going full time. So add the price of a system (DC says $140,000) and one or two people full-time and a travel budget, and it's not a cheap idea.

The number of support folks you see at FIM/Action Group events (250 GPs, world SX, and MXdN) and all the equipment they ship is very impressive. I don't know the details on how they cover the expenses of such an effort, but I do know they are all about prestige and take the world-class nature of the events seriously.

More photos from the USGP pits Sunday are up, and a few more photo ideas from the GP weekend are still in work, so don't drift away! Once a day is all we ask...

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"The funnest race all year"

9/14/99: Jeff Stanton wasn't taking credit for KW's arm-twisting with the folks back at the Honda office to get plans changed for the USGP, but this was no secret. The former USGP winner himself helped turn a possible ho-hum event into a great story.

"It was a little rough to say," said Everts Sunday, of his now-famous "cowards" comment. "I found out it wasn't just the rider's decision [to skip the GP]. It's like a prestige thing...I was disappointed."

Everts knew he was in for a rough day. "This will make me popular, but not in the way I would like," he said.

At the end of the day KW got to say he saved America, and Everts showed he can back up his words. This one was very, very close.

9/12/99: It's the night before the USGP, some locals stay up late checking the InterNet from the office..

9/11/99: Windham looks like he is going to make the red-hot USGP interesting! KW was first in Friday's timed qualification ahead of Reynard and our returned friend Pichon. If it's not to late for you to get there, don't miss it. This one should be a classic.

Larry Ward won't be racing Sunday. Sondra asked him and he said he had mouth surgery, so no GP. Ward should be at Italy's Fastcross though, along with MC, Fro, LaRocco. Big Bird is training for the international events by cruisin for babes on AOL.

Sondra was off this afternoon (Friday 11th) to go to Nate Dog Ramsey and Monica's wedding.

It looks like the media turnout from the US for the MXdN is going to very, very light. Unlike last years MXdN which was well attended by Yanks, you could probably count the media for this one on a hand with few fingers. The TFS e-mag will be spectating from el Norte, just like everyone else. Brasil is not in my travel plans-been there, done that!

Do you need to REALLY make sure you will get the next holeshot? Try my engineer buddy's F-18 Jet Bike. Regulars will know this the work of an old friend and whacky engineer from Irvine, Doug Malewicki. Bob "Balls Inc" Correll is the official rider/pilot. OK Everts, lets see how brave you are and see if you can ride this one.

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Even magazine tycoons like the hard-working Davey Coombs (Racer X) is a strong supporter of the InterNet.

Ready or not - The Net is King

9/9/99: Who says the InterNet is just a playground for media wanna-bees and message board freaks that just spread stupid rumors?

Maybe it was that way, but the day the 'Net turns the moto-media upside down has already passed. The 'Net is King, and it still has a long way to go.

Consider this:

-The October/November Racer X print mag's excellent feature article on the outdoor series is by stevey d, the "Rookie of the Year" writer that started posting on Mototalk after the Tampa Supercross. The Freestyle nature of publishing on the 'Net has allowed a world class writer to leapfrog the usual "ahem-and who the hell are you?" resistance that kept many folks out of the business of reportage.

-If you were to cruise the tower and semi-improvised Press sections at Steel City last weekend, you would have spotted Cycle News doing it's mega-popular (and steadily improving) Virtual Grandstand, Motoworld.net's new cheese Denny Hartwig, stevey d, V-Mar (www.motoradio.com), PACESupercross.com's Pat Schutte, Lex from Supercross.com, Chris Williams from Motocross.com, Moto Radio's voice Denny Stephenson (Snoop), who now has a 'Net home in progress MotoXdream.com, and three excellent volunteer's for the TFS e-mag, Denise and Todd, and Don Graber. Also spotted lurking around was the 'Net's first tireless promoter of SX/MX, Mikeee P! Pull the plug on the Net now, and things would get pretty quiet!

[That is not to say, of course, that print is dead. DC will squeeze in time to write up the event for Cycle News, and other paper folks were spotted such as Rupert X (MXEast), the screwballs from Practice Track, and the excellent crew from Dirt Cool. Besides, someone has to stay home and test bikes so you can get an expert opinion.]

-When USGP promoter Jon Beasley got the word Sunday that Honda would divert bikes to the Sept 12 event after all and allow Tortelli and Windham a chance to spank Everts, he immediately cruised the pits for the 'Net folks. The 'Net gang was more than ready to report the dramatic turn of events that have turned a ho-hum "no one is racing" story into a world-class showdown.

-When Fro's day at Havasu turned into a week-from-hell, the news was on Mototalk before his mechanic J-Bone even knew. Instead of last year's rumor circus, the story stayed reasonably straight, considering the incredible volume of posts and differences of opinion. Kawasaki folks were glued to Mototalk and watched the news unfold and the opinions vent, just like you did. Two years ago the buzz on Mototalk was what is going on in the pits. At Binghamton the pit talk was what is going on on Mototalk (no kidding!).

My guess is moto-heavies are watching all this and wondering what is the next move? Will their image and long term relationships with print media become unimportant? Nah... Will the loonies take over the asylum? It seems that way sometimes on Mototalk, but we are determined to keep the sanity. As far as the rumors, Mototalk is busy enough with people who know that most of the whoppers don't last long. (Keith McCarty gets credit for the #11 plate on the ground next to Vuillemin's bike for next weekend, that was a good one! "Racing is all about fun," he said when he found out the gag was up.)

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Mazda's Kevin Brown congratulates 250 champ Albee

After Sunday's racing at Steel City, I asked Albee when was he sure this was his year. He had been saying the outdoor title was his during the Supercross series final rounds, but then again, last year he said he would take the title too. Albee's answer was High Point where he ran off with both motos. After that, he said, his confidence was there and he knew he could win the title this year.

Two old friends from Southeast Alabama (fast local pros from the 70s) heard about the latest developments in the USGP lineup, and decided to make the half-day drive up to Budd's to see the showdown! Look for Hugh Gatlin and Joey Bruer spectating on Sunday.

9/6/99: This weekend's USGP at Budd's Creek, Maryland has suddenly shifted from a possible non-event to RED HOT showdown! Just last week defending world champ Tortelli got the go-ahead from the doctor to ride, and then on saturday at Steel City Kevin Windham got the go-ahead to have his bike diverted to Budd's in Maryland instead of a big Honda show in New Orleans.

So the story goes - Everts well-publicized "cowards" comment prompted Real American Windham to put last-minute pressure on headquarters in California to change some plans that were pretty much set to not include the USGP.

USGP promoter Jon Beasley was on hand Saturday as the drama unfolded. He asked if it happened could we get the word out on the web. Answer: "Sure!" After practice DC saw KW driving by in a pit cart and asked if it was a sure thing. "Give us about an hour, and we will know." said KW. Calls were made, plans had to be changed, and things got complicated.

The factory Hondas were supposed to be in New Orleans for a dealer meeting by the weekend. Instead the smaller Honda rig (the kitchen/parts truck) would go straight to Maryland with KW's bike.

DC also confirmed from trainer Cory Worf that Tortelli's got his release, and he was "in."

By Sunday morning a very pleased GP promoter Beasley was ready for the news to hit the web. Answer: "Sure!"

So that's it. This USGP will feature KW, Tortelli, Team Suzuki, Everts, Vuillemin, Bolley, Beirer, Ryno, and plenty of fast folks. Let's go!

The TFS e-mag report will be a little different, this race TFS is an assistant media grunt. The report will focus on who shows up for a GP and how they operate. So far he word is the event will be broadcast live on TV in four languages, and just this afternoon we get the word Motoworld.net will cover it live on the net!

9/3/99: The 1999 east coast 125 Supercross Champ Ernesto Fonseca turns 18 today.

Go Snoop! Mototalk's favorite fantasy MX dude and the voice of Moto Radio Denny Stephenson aka Snoop won the prestigious pro industry race at Steel City on friday! Since he knows how to work a PC and a modem maybe he can find the time to type in his own account... He also has a web site under construction MotoXdream.com

Brad over at FMF Racing has photos of Fro test riding with the FMF gang this week. FMF has already confirmed they have snagged fast off the gate, fearless jumper, and all-around nice guy Casey Lytle for next year.

9/2/99: This sunday's national at Steel City will be the last in the series. Dang. Albee has 21 points on Honda's Kevin Windham for the 250 series lead. Ever since Albee's first outdoor moto at Gainesville a few years ago he has impressed the US gang, but this is the closest he has ever been to taking a US title. If he stays up and his bike keeps working, Roger DeCoster and Albee will be posing with a long-awaited #1 plate.

Insiders are expecting Fro to make an appearance at Steel City. There was even discussion on rounding up a bike but it isn't a sure thing. Regardless of what he apologized for to CN or Motoworld, there is no confirmation he had any weed at Havasu.

The industry race, a fun opportunity for media, team folks and ex-racers to match up, should be held friday. Rumors have Pat 'holeshot' Schutte and Todd Jendro from PACE taking on the motocross gang. They have a preview on their web site, which you can see when you check out the 2000 EA Sports Supercross schedule.

2000 Silly Season rosters are still looking incomplete, but after Steel City we should have a pretty good picture of who is going where. Eveyone knows about Ward going to Kawasaki.

TFS e-mag cub reporters will be out in full force this weekend! Denise and Todd have an extra day off and are anxious to burn some digicam batteries, and Don Graber will take advantage of a US Airways supersaver weekend and pop in from Vermont for another weekend of note taking. Last weekend Don did an interview with Mike LaRocco.