MORE Afternoon Moto News - Yamaha Celebrates & Bonhams Vintage European Auction

Yamaha Motor Company has released some videos to celebrate their 2009 racing season. Champions Ben Spies, Cal Crutchlow, Tony Cairoli and James Stewart and their race machines are featured in these highlight videos from last season. Yamaha has a way with these things and they are well worth watching.

http://tinyurl.com/yarmqy2

At the Bonhams sale of An Important European Collection of Pioneer, Vintage and Collectors’ Motorcycles at the RAF Museum, Hendon on 27 February 2010, a selection of small and some strange European motorcycles will be auctioned. They will have everything there from a three-seater 1937 Böhmerland 603cc Langtouren all the way to a "penny farthing" - which is a converted bicycle. For more information, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yhy473o

Afternoon Moto News - Yamaha YZ450F & Honda CRF250R

We have all heard the various reports on the new for 2010 Yamaha YZ450F. Well, we finally have a test on the machine - outside of just watching James Stewart - and it is presented here by Cycle World. Of course, the changes made to the engine and chassis do make a difference, and the bike is much stronger on the start. So, how does it handle? Well, take the link and learn for yourself.

http://tinyurl.com/yf569q3

And, the 2010 Honda CRF250R is the first 250c.c. motocrosser to have fuel injection. The bike itself is almost 100% new - from the ground up, minus the tires, wheels and some buts and bolts. The fuel injection has not even added to the weight - it weighs the same as the 2009 model. How does all of this work together? Again, it is best that you read it from the source.

http://tinyurl.com/ybtam7h

New Year's Day Moto News - First Edition of 2010

First of all Happy New Year! The year has changed again and I am very optimistic that 2010 will be a good year for the motorcycle industry - and I hope it will be great for you as well!

It seems that things have worked out to where Jake Zemke will be riding for Jordan Suzuki in 2010. He will compete in the AMA Pro Racing series, but the exact details have yet to be released. It also appears that Aaron Yates will remain with the team, but they will be letting Geoff May go; this is an odd development as May was always close with the team members. Anyway, it's all un-official for now, so the truth may be completely different.

http://tinyurl.com/ybvdago

A big off-road 450c.c. shootout is available from MotorcycleUSA already. I suppose that they had it ready to go when the date changed as I doubt anyone there is working today - almost everything is closed. But, if you would like to see how the 450 dirt motorcycles from the major manufacturers compare to one another, take a look here. Unfortunately, all they were able to test were the offerings from Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha and KTM (Suzuki has shuttered their press department due to the economy!).

http://tinyurl.com/yzuo8lk

Well, there are some updates for other stories, but that is about it for now, so take a look and get some reading done in this new year we have before us now...

Yamaha YZ450F Cafe Racer Build

This came from our friends at MCN (UK) and it is a neat looking machine. The builder has not released much in the way of details, but we do have two nice photos. It is a great design and it looks very well thought out. It would be nice to know more, though, so keep an eye on it...

http://tinyurl.com/yap49ru

Grant Langston Returns to Racing!

Phenomenal news here! Langston has some 5 championship titles and had to leave racing due to eye cancer - yes, eye cancer! It was such terrible news, especially coming when it did while he was at the top of the game. Now, his doctor has given him a clean bill of health and he will return to AMA Supercross in January of next year on board a Yamaha and wearing O'NEAL gear.

http://tinyurl.com/ycr5qvc

Ohlins and Yamaha Join Forces in World Motocross Championship

Ohlins is not too far removed from motocross as it started in the off-road world back in 1976 and only left the dirt in 2003. So, now they have teamed up with the Yamaha Monster Energy world motocross team, which consists of riders David Philippaerts (MX1) and Gautier Paulin (MX2). It should add to the competitiveness of the all new 2010 YZ450F and its little partner, the YZ250F.

http://tinyurl.com/ykf7do4

First Ride: 2010 Honda CRF450R

Well, the reviewer seems to think that the Best Motocross Bike for five years running is just not stable enough out of the box - it needs better rear suspension. It does matter as Yamaha's new YZ450F is revolutionary and these two will be going head to head on the track and in the press. At least Honda pleased them with the ergonomics, smooth running engine, and refined bodywork. Personally, it will be hard to beat the incredible tractability of the Honda motocrosser.

http://tinyurl.com/yb6nnyj

Another riding impression (from Oz) of the mighty CRF450R, but this one comes right after the author tested the new YZ450F. The two machines are not compared head-to-head, though; we are all still waiting for that write-up!

http://tinyurl.com/y889mbn

An Exercise in Logo Placement - JGR/Toyota Motocross Bike Concept

The 2009 YZR450F that this concept dirt bike is based on is hard to find underneath all of the changes - and the numerous Toyota logos. It figures that this comes from a NASCAR shop (the motocross team helped with the design) given the corporate logo coverage. Go ahead, try to count them all. Anyway, it is thoroughly lightened and very highly tuned and was displayed at the SEMA show in Las Vegas recently. Have a look, but don't expect to buy as it is a one-off.

http://tinyurl.com/yaal5en

Early First Ride: 2010 Honda CRF450R

This article does not provide a full review, but it is a quick note on the changes made to the class-leading CRF450R. How it compares to the 2010 Kawasaki KX450F and the revolutionary 2010 Yamaha YZ450F. Honda has only updated their 450 motocrosser slightly, but they did make some changes which customers have been asking for since the 2009 model was released.

http://tinyurl.com/ye4yuhh

Results from 2009 Bercy Supercross in France

The event was the 27th Annual Bercy Supercross in Paris. James Stewart easily ran to the front on the first two days, but his Yamaha AMA Motocross teammate, Justin Brayton, took the overall King of Bercy crown from the event. Stewart sat out the third day due to what may have been food poisoning. Home favorite, Frenchman Marvin Musquin, put forward a very strong effort on his KTM.

http://tinyurl.com/yjplmp3

Chad Reed Signs With Kawasaki for AMA Motocross and Supercross

There were rumors that he was thinking of the signing - especially when he rode a Kawasaki in the Australian Super X series. Well, now Reed will be riding alongside Ryan Villopoto on the Monster Energy Kawasaki team in both the AMA Motocross Championship and the AMA Supercross Championship. This should really shake things up when he goes up against James Stewart and the new Yamaha YZ450F - either way, both series are sure to be very good racing!

http://tinyurl.com/yhg2xxw

Yamaha Motor USA Redirects Racing Effort in the US

There is not much of a change here. Yamaha will continue to partner with L&M Racing in the Supercross and Motocross classes; James Stewart and the new 2010 YZ450F will continue to race in the series. Also, Graves Motorsports will assume greater control over the AMA road racing effort, but Yamaha will still be there to support them. Read the PR for yourself...

http://tinyurl.com/yzd7v8m

More details: http://tinyurl.com/yzvfj4c

Press Release from Team Toyota Yamaha Red Bull Blackfoot Fox Racing

The Canadian team did very well at the final Supercross round at Montreal. The team already has the MX1 Championship with rider Colton Facciotti on his 2009 Yamaha YZ450F, but they also had a great race from the 2010 YZ250F rider on the team. Kyle Beaton managed to win the MX2 class at the event. The team was alos part of the press launch of the all-new 2010 YZ450F...

http://tinyurl.com/yhazbk3

Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open Championship Press Conference

Yamaha championship rider James Stewart will be the first racer to take the new 2010 Yamaha YZ450F through its paces at the Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open. The event will take place 9 - 11 October at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Most of the top Supercross and Motocross riders will participate - have a look!

http://tinyurl.com/yf87lj9

http://tinyurl.com/yz4mpmk

Pit Pass Radio to Have Chris Carr Interview

Along with the new fastest man on two wheels, they will also have Chris Fillmore of Troy Lee Designs Graves Yamaha, Justin Brayton of JGMX motocross fame, Tim Olson from Yamaha talking about the new YZ450F and many others. Don't miss it! Tune in tonight...see the link for times and availability.

http://tinyurl.com/y9w4zjd

2010 Yamaha YZ450F - Press Intro Video!

While it is really just full of cool computer graphics and some pretty pictures, it still highlights most of the changes to the YZ450F for 2010. The imagery also demonstrates the changes from the 2009 model, but don't expect a great deal of detail, just fun to watch. Yamaha, I believe, wants to completely change the equation for winning at the top level of motocross.

http://tinyurl.com/lsbnzq

Yamaha's Hotly Anticipated 2010 YZ450F

This is an article which you absolutely should read. Yamaha has finally shown us the 2010 YZ450F and it is replete with changes and high technology features. They have even done the 'reverse engine' like Cannondale implemented on its ill-fated dirt bike many years ago; the exhaust exits out the back and the intake is in the front. Take a look, please...

http://tinyurl.com/m8fpbm

P.S. Watch the Specs as there is a misprint...unless the Yamaha can actually handle 245lbs. of fuel!

The 2010 Yamaha YZ450F - Rumors You May Not Have Heard

From the crew at Yamaha USA has put out another quirky video about a bike launch - they just love doing that. This video is all about the rumors surrounding the 2010 YZ450F - and most of them are quite strange!

http://tinyurl.com/mh9cq5