Never Forget.

At exactly 19.28 on Sunday, January 15^th, one of the greatest enduro riders the world has ever known was tragically taken from us. Finland’s Mika Ahola died as a result of ongoing complications from the internal injuries he suffered during a training crash in Spain last December. As news filtered through early Monday morning of the five-time enduro world champion’s untimely death, it shocked not only enduro community but also the world of motorcycling.

For a man regarded as being so fit and strong, one who had reached the very peak of his career; it seems impossible for his life to end so suddenly and swiftly. How Mika passed away and the exact cause of the injuries he sustained will probably always remain a mystery nor really do we want to delve any deeper into them, the fact is that he his gone and enduro is now a lesser place because of it.

Mika’s rise to fame was a late one, a true professional of the sport from an early stage of his adult life, it seemed a chance of becoming world champion had eluded him. Often second but never quite near enough, it took Mika until 2007 to finally lock down that first world enduro championship – winning E2 with Honda. What followed will now forever be known as an incredible feat of dominance. Winning just about everything there was to be won in E1 and E2 in the three years that followed, Mika established himself as the fastest rider in the paddock. During 32-races of the world enduro championship in 2009 and 2010 only twice did he fail stand on the podium, both in France, after he was crowned champion and both due to mechanicals.

Leading into 2011, he needed new motivation. The one title he’d left to claim was in truth the one he wanted the most – Enduro 3 had slipped his grasp. A big bike specialist for the majority of his working life, the closest he had got to a title was finishing second way back in 2001 and as long ago as that was; it still niggled in the back of the Mika’s head. Sticking with Honda, they built him a bike and once again Mika rewarded them with a championship.

How successful Mika may have become is something we’ll now never know. He broke all current records – five times consecutive world champion, a winner in all three classes and at 37 years young became the oldest ever world champion. For 2012 he had originally intended to defend his crown with the newly formed Jotagas. As we now understand it, his training crash cut short those plans, which lead to his retirement until tragically three weeks later injuries cut short his life.

On Saturday February 4th at 14.00 local time (12.00 Irish), Mika Ahola will be laid to rest in his hometown of Hämeenlinna – but he’ll never be forgotten.

Slán leat mo chara.

Mika Ahola

1974-2012

Four Winners in Four Races: 2012 Monster Energy Supercross Season Living up to Hype as it Returns to Anaheim. Not Since 1976 Have There Been Four Different Winners Through Four Races

Entering the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season, the attention surrounded the four former champions who were set to wage war inside the most storied and popular stadiums in North America. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto – the reigning World Champion, TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel-Ray Honda’s Chad Reed, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, and Toyota/Yamaha/JGRMX’s James Stewart had all reached the sport’s pinnacle over the past four seasons and were ready to provide the world with a sure-to-be-memorable 2012 championship. Now, after four races, each rider has taken his turn atop the podium and as the season makes its return to Anaheim’s Angel Stadium this weekend, the Supercross Class Championship is still wide open.

Press Day is Thursday, February 2, from Noon-2:00 p.m., featuring Monster Energy Kawasaki riders Ryan Villopoto and Jake Weimer, along with MotoConcepts Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, Jeff Alessi, and Vince Friese.

Stewart’s maiden victory of the 2012 season last weekend in Oakland also signified his first win as a member of the Joe Gibbs Racing team. The two-time Monster Energy Supercross Champion stayed on two wheels throughout the entire 20-lap main event for the first time this year, and was rewarded for it, passing Reed for the lead on Lap 9 and pulling away. While Stewart took the checkered flag, Reed secured the runner-up effort, fending off the challenges of Villopoto, who finished third. Dungey overcame a 10th-place start to finish off the podium for the first time in 2012, in fourth.

It was a special race for the entire Joe Gibbs Racing organization, which enjoyed just its second Monster Energy Supercross win in four years, and also signified a historic moment in the 39-year history of the sport.

For the first time since 1976 – when the Monster Energy Supercross Championship consisted of just six races – there are four different winners through the first four races of the season. Even more impressive yet, each of these four riders have claimed at least one Monster Energy Supercross title, which has only been achieved one previous time since the inception of the championship, during the 1985 season. However, never before have four former champions won consecutive races, particularly to start a season.

Despite being just a month into the 2012 schedule, this is the most parity in the history of Monster Energy Supercross and as a result, the championship is exceptionally close heading back to Anaheim. Currently, just 12 points separate these four riders, with Dungey and Reed sharing possession of the red number plate atop the standings. Villopoto sits a mere two points back of the leaders, while Stewart’s victory helped bring him to within a dozen points of the lead duo. Additionally, each of the four title favorites has captured at least two podium results through the first four races.

Trophy Girl: The Rockstar ladies will be on hand in Anaheim

In the fourth race of the Western Regional Supercross Lites Championship, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac became the first rider in all of Monster Energy Supercross to become a repeat winner in 2012. The sophomore rider capitalized on a strong start, and the misfortune of Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson and Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki’s Martin Davalos, to maintain control of the red number plate as the championship leader, and extend his advantage in the standings to 15 points over Wilson.
Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin tied a career-best finish with his second runner-up effort in three weeks, while Monster Energy/BikeIt/Cosworth Yamaha’s Zach Osborne rounded out the podium. Osborne has now posted back-to-back third-place finishes, vaulting him to third in the championship. Wilson recovered from his Lap 2 misfortune to climb from 19th to 10th in the main event.

Last year during the second visit to Anaheim, Stewart put forth his most convincing effort of the 2011 season to capture his third win of that championship. In the Supercross Lites Class, Josh Hansen overcame a broken hand suffered in practice earlier in the day, to take his third win of the season for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki.

The first race held in Anaheim was on December 4, 1976. Marty Smith won on a Honda. Ricky Carmichael and Jeremy McGrath share the all-time Supercross Class win record at Angel Stadium with eight wins apiece. In the Western Regional Supercross Lites Class, three riders have swept each event at Angel Stadium: Hansen, Villopoto, Ivan Tedesco and Ernesto Fonseca. Villopoto, Stewart, Kevin Windham and McGrath are the only riders in history to win in the Supercross Lites Class and Supercross Class at Anaheim.

All the action from round five of CTR Events Winter Series in Wales run by former top enduro rider Carl Tiley. Digger Offroad Films supplied the action.

Making his Expert debut, David McNulty – Husaberg got his 2012 season off to a flying start with a clear victory. Completing a maximum of eight laps for the three hour race, McNulty finished over a lap clear of his nearest rival Pat Kinlan – Gas Gas. After a poor start McNulty eventually worked his way up to second where a battled ensued between himself and race leader Hilton Hinks – Honda for almost four laps. Hinks would eventually finish the day in fourth just behind Niall Stapleton.

Winning Start: David McNulty was the fastest man of the day

“It’s been brilliant to get the year started off with a win,” confirmed McNulty. “The rain made things tough today but with the course being so long it held up really well. After a bad start, I managed to work my way into second behind Hilton. For nearly four laps we had a great battle swapping positions at almost every corner. He was faster on some sections and then on others I had an advantage. After the pit stop I was able to pull a gap and began focusing on my own race. I just tried to be smooth and pick my lines. I’m delighted to have won.”

Topping the Seniors was the 2011 Irish Clubman Enduro champion Jonny Mercier – KTM. Carding a total of seven laps, Mercier’s result lifted him to second overall on the day. Richard McCarthy was second with Paul McCann in third.

Also on seven laps, John Lynch – KTM was victorious in Clubman, getting the better of Steven Regan and T. Regan. Simon Kennedy won Sportsman, also with seven laps to his credit.

Endurocross star Taddy Blazusiak signs up for British Sprint Enduro Championship opener…

Hot on the heels of the recent announcement that US racer Ricky Dietrich will contest the 2012 Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship, organisers GMC Events are pleased to announce that Poland’s Endurocross star Taddy Blazusiak will also take his place on the start line at the series opener in Aldershot on February 11/12.

Blazusiak, the reigning AMA Endurocross champion and run-away leader of the FIM SuperEnduro series, will use rounds one and two of BSEC series as part of his preparation for the forthcoming 2012 AMA Endurocross championship. Taddy, who has dominated the indoor enduro racing scene throughout the past 24 months, has also indicated that, schedule permitting, he will contest as many rounds of the BSEC series as possible.

Taddy Blazusiak: ‘I had a great time when I raced the first rounds of the 2010 sprint enduro series in the UK and have wanted to come back ever since. Now that my schedule allows me to do that I’m really looking forward to competing in the British Sprint Enduro Championship again. The sprint format really works for me as great training as each special test is about the same length as an Endurocross race. In the States I race against a lot of riders from motocross backgrounds, so I have to constantly keep working on my speed. The sprints are a great place for me to do that. I know there’re a lot of really fast riders in the UK so I’m excited to get in amongst them and do my best. I also have a lot of fans in the UK so to get the chance to come back and race in front of them is something I’m really looking forward to.’

Jonty Edmunds – BSEC Events Director: ‘Having Taddy sign up to compete in the BSEC opener is a major boost for the series. He last rode in the championship two years ago and since then has always stayed in contact with us. He’s had a phenomenal 24 months, winning just about every race that he’s entered with his hard charging riding style that’s always exciting to watch. Adding both Taddy and Ricky Dietrich to the entry list adds a great international flavour to what is going to be an explosive start to this year’s championship.’

The opening rounds of the 2012 Husqvarna ACU British Sprint Enduro Championship take place Nr Aldershot, Hampshire on February 11/12.

Stewart was the fourth different winner of the season so far (after finishing third in LA last week) and reached the chequered flag in the twenty lap main event by over two seconds from Chad Reed in what was an emotionally charged evening in the wake of the tragic accident to the Floridian’s training mechanic Mark Adams on Thursday morning.

The former champion took part in a thrilling battle with Reed and reigning champion Ryan Villopoto in the formative stages of the race but after squeezing past the Australian was able to maintain a gap to seal his triumph in front of more than 46,000 spectators.

“Tonight I got up front and kind of stayed out of trouble,” commented the rider who is now fourth in the SX class and 12 points behind leaders Reed and Ryan Dungey. “I felt Ryan there and just tried not to over-ride the track. I was able to get on the inside of Chad going across the start. It worked out. I was not really riding too hard, just trying to make sure I hit the marks good.”

“I knew it was a track you just kind of had to be patient on,” he added. “But I think we had the setup a little bit better for me tonight. Those three crashes the first three races tore me up. But tonight in the Main Event I just pulled it together. So, it was awesome. Especially with my mechanic being lost this week it was definitely tough. This was definitely special.”

Hot Start: Dungey remains the points leader

“I’m bummed that I didn’t land on the podium tonight. But overall, it was still a great night,” said a dismayed Dungey. “I earned my first heat race win of the season and I made some good passes in the main event to salvage some points. It was hard to make passes tonight so I am glad I was able to pass as many riders as I did. My team has been behind me 100% this season and I am glad we are still running up front in the points and I am looking forward to a podium finish at the next event.”

Lites

Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki’s Martin Davalos grabbed the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson on his rear wheel as they headed out of turn 1. Tucked in behind the leaders, Tomac held down the number-three spot.

While chasing down Davalos, on lap 1, Wilson shot off the track, crashing and losing valuable positions as Tomac moved into second place. On lap 2, Davalos bobbled, which allowed Tomac to make a pass for the lead. Zach Osborne, of Chesterfield, S.C., pushed his Monster Energy Yamaha into second place on lap 6, but was passed by Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason Anderson on lap 10. Anderson crashed one lap later, going the number-two spot to Osborne.

On lap 12, Osborne engaged on a hotly contested battle with Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin, of Murrieta, Calif. Musquin made a solid pass and held on for second place with Osborne in third for the second consecutive weekend.

Tomac extended his points lead to 15 before heading back to Angel Stadium next weekend.

“This is my best season ever,” said Tomac. “Our team worked really hard to give me a great bike, and I made the most of it. I now have a nice lead going into Anaheim.”

On Top: Win number two for Tomac

SX Results

Bou makes it three wins in a row

An exquisite Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa proved once again why he is head and shoulders above his rivals as he completed his two-night dominance at round three of the 2012 FIM X-Trial World Championship in Marseille, France. The unrelenting Catalan outclassed his challengers for the second night in a row, cruising to a comfortable victory five marks clear of runner-up Adam Raga – Gas Gas. Albert Cabestany – Sherco completed the all-Spanish podium at the Palais des Sports arena, seven marks adrift of his slightly younger arch-rival and compatriot.

Bou laid bare his intent twenty-four hours earlier as he emerged from seven difficult sections during qualification having amassed just four marks. Despite picking up a further two courtesy of a time penalty no others came close to his score, the tough course punishing the World’s best Trial riders for the smallest of mistakes. Bou was the sole rider not to five section three, and the only rider not to pick up maximum marks in at least one section. Raga, meanwhile, was riding well. He was the best of the rest on Friday night, but Cabestany was close behind, setting the scene for a tense showdown between the two Spaniards in Saturday’s final.

The gruelling hazards took their toll on some of the less experienced protagonists, with Michael Brown – Gas Gas fiving every section in qualification and Alfredo Gomez – Montesa fairing little better. Alexandre Ferrer – Sherco performed a touch better, but was punished heavily for time, while Pol Tarres – Jotagas showed glimpses of promises on his JTG debut. All four failed to progress to Saturday’s semi-final. Loris Gubian – Gas Gas roused his home crowd with an inspired performance on Friday. However, the Frenchman’s luck ran out in the semi- final as he was relegated alongside Jeroni Fajardo – Beta. The latter was extremely disappointed with his below par performance.

Balancing Act: Raga kept Bou on his toes in France

Come the final Bou made a rare mistake, losing his balance in section five and picking up maximum points. It was his sole error in what was one of his most polished rides this season. Bou’s team mate, Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Montesa was less graceful over the big steps. The Japanese rider’s flamboyant style and over-enthusiasm saw him crash out of a dual lane race spectacularly, his bike flying over the crowd barriers to gasps from the audience. It was the most dramatic of his exploits over the two-day event, and it resulted in a fourth place finish.

Cabestany was angry at himself for making a handful of uncharacteristic mistakes on Saturday night. His third place was by no means a disaster, but it does mean he leaves Marseille tied on points with Raga in the championship standings. Raga was more upbeat and satisfied with his riding. The series now takes a five-week break before commencing again in Madrid in early March, where Bou will attempt to keep his one-hundred per cent record intact and make it four wins from four rounds. Right now, few would bet against him if his swagger in Marseille was anything to go by.

Results: 1. Toni Bou 7; 2. Adam Raga 12; 3. Albert Cabestany 19