TRAIL MAIL:

THANKS FOR A GREAT RIDE WITH CLUB Y & TRAIL ZONE!

Hi Clubby and Popgun: Just a quick email to thank you both very much for putting on a great day last Saturday on the Club Y // TRAIL ZONE trail ride at Clarence and organising all that'’s required to make it happen. Everyone from our group enjoyed themselves immensely, and had an excellent day and a lot of laughs with a great bunch of guys and gals. Special thanks for all the prep and pre-riding the trails and picking up the pieces when sweeping at the back. For such a large group it all went brilliantly and we look forward to the next one!

-- Rod Green, via www.trailzone.com.au

Thanks for your email, Rod, and yep, we sure enjoyed the day, too. But truth be told, Dr Phil and I were sweating the night before, when Cheryl from Club Y confirmed that we would have 30 starters on the ride, which is a massive pack for a guided trail ride by anyone's standards! Remarkably, though, we were fortunately immune from major carnage, with the only injury being Mark's tweaked calf muscle after getting stuck on the optional 'Expert' hill just before lunch. Heck, we didn't even get a single flat tyre! A failed clutch and a fried rear brake were the extent of the day's bike casualties, and both riders managed to coax their machines back to the vans to complete the ride anyway. We had a wide range of bikes and riders, from 65-year-olds on DR-Z250s to whipper-snippers on fresh new Yamahas, Katos and Husabergs, yet everyone managed to enjoy themselves and go home satisfied after a great day in the sticks. Thanks for supporting Club Y and TRAIL ZONE and look out for the ride again next year -- in the meantime make sure you keep watch on the www.cluby.com.au web site for upcoming trail rides ... it looks an assault on the Watagans will be next -- yahoo!

-- Clubby, www.trailzone.com.au

PRESS RELEASE:

ANDREW McFARLANE FAMILY TRUST FUND ANNOUNCED

JDR Motorex KTM Racing has announced details for a trust fund set-up to support the family of late motocross racer Andrew McFarlane, who tragically lost his life on May 2 at the Australian Motocross Championship.

All financial contributions no matter how small will be appreciated, as together the motorcycle community help build a foundation for Andrew’s wife Natalie and daughter Tayla who are left to carry on without their hero, husband and father Andrew McFarlane.

Anyone can donate through a National Australia Bank, and just need to put Andrew McFarlane or JDR as a reference, the full details are:

Bank: National Australia Bank

Name: PKF Trust Account

BSB: 082 055

Account Number: 61 637 2235

Swift Code: NATAAU3302

Thank you to everyone who donates.

PRESS RELEASE:

BRAICO GETS PLASTERED!

Husaberg racer Geoff Braico has suffered a major blow to his 2010 racing season after shattering his right foot at round two of the NSW Enduro Series held at Dungog, which will see him off the bike for three months.

“I’m absolutely shattered literally and emotionally,” Geoff explains. “I was having such a good start to the year, and really enjoying my ride on the Husaberg FE 570, and now my riding is pretty much over for the racing season.

“It all happened on day two of the NSW Enduro Series in the second enduro test when I was riding over a technical creek bed which got the better of me. The crash itself wasn’t very big, but the angle of the creek bed saw me come off the bike and my right foot hit a rock. I knew something was wrong, but I had adrenaline pumping through me so the pain hadn’t really set in.

“I rode in and ambulance staff arranged for me to go to the hospital where doctors initially thought I had just broken a small bone on the top of my foot. Unfortunately, X-rays revealed otherwise. I have in fact broken my bottom right heel, and one of the main bones in the arch of my foot, plus I’ve dislocated my foot from my ankle, and all up my foot is in nine pieces. Doctors said it’s like someone got a sledge hammer and smashed the front of my foot, and if I wasn’t wearing my Alpinestars Tech10s I could have lost my foot.

“I have surgery scheduled for next Thursday where doctors will put pins, plates and screws into the bone to put my foot back together, and then I will have a lot of time on my hands before I can start rehabilitation.

“I’m absolutely devastated with this injury. I wasn't feeling comfortable through the creek bed sections, and I knew they were really sketchy so I said to myself slow down and get through it. My front end hit a rock and I went down. I got up straight away, unhurt, but my foot gave way. It was a horrible feeling sitting there knowing my season was pretty much done.

“It is a real shame because since the A4DE, I have been training really hard and my results on day one of the NSW Enduro were really promising. As soon as I’m able, I will be starting strength building to get back on the bike and into racing. Prior to this event I did some suspension testing with Charlie Constanzo, and we had my Husaberg FE 570 handling awesome. By the time I return to racing, I’ll be out of Championship reach in terms of points, but I’ll still try hard to get some E3 round wins on the board.

“I must thank Husaberg Australia, Sutto’s, Alpinestars and everybody else for their support during 2010 and, as I said, hopefully I can get some wins on the board for them when I return to racing. Thanks also to my family for their help and to the medical crew who supported me at Dungog”.

Details on Geoff Braico’s return to racing will be posted on www.husaberg.com.au as information comes to hand.

ASK DR PHIL:

WHICH BIKE FOR THE NEXT STEP UP?

Dear TRAIL ZONE: My head is in a spin as to which bike to buy next! I currently have an '09 Husky TE310 which is a great bike but I am in the market for some new wheels, but which way do I go? I have ridden the KTM and Husky 450s but my head is telling me that I want to go on some bigger rides that will take me on some big adventure. I am looking at a KTM 450 with a bigger tank or a BMW 650 GS Dakar or even a Transalp ... I want the best of both worlds to be able to go on a big ride with my mates or a quick squirt out the bush. I have got every edition of TRAIL ZONE and I read every issue back to front until the next one comes along. I have read everything you guys have said in previous issues and I am confued as which bike to buy. PLEASE HELP -- and keep up the great work as it's the best mag on the market!

-- 'Confused Rider' Dean Thompson, via www.trailzone.com.au

Dear Confused: Thanks for your email, Dean. Yes, you certainly sound like you’re in a spin. It’s always tough deciding just which bike to go for next. The fact you’re already on a Husky 310 tells me you may well be disappointed with a larger/heavier adventure machine like the Dakar or the Transalp -- they are a lot more soft-core and road-oriented than the Husky TE310 you're currently used to. Is it possible you may in fact like the next Husky in the range -- the mighty TE450? I think you’d love it and the larger 450cc powerplant should give you the scope to do longer trail rides more comfortably than the 310. But if you're still determined to get closer to the adventure riding end of the spectrum, why not look at the Husky TE610, or even the KTM 690 Enduro? These bikes are well suited to racking up long distance rides yet still offer great capabilities in the bush when you want to to tackle some more hard-core trail sections -- sections you would never want to take a GS or Transalp into! So work those couple of bikes into the mix and then do your best to get test-rides on all of them, either through bike shops or even from other owners you cross trails with. My advice is that you MUST try and ride them ALL! Good luck with it and let us know what you end up deciding on and why.

-- Dr Phil, www.trailzone.com.au

(Got a question for the Doctor? Then email askdrphil@trailzone.com.au)

TRAIL BOSS BLOG:

REST IN PEACE ANDREW 'SHARKY' McFARLANE

The news from last Sunday's round of the Rockstar Australian MXNationals at Broadford, Victoria, was horrible:

"JDR Motorsports KTM team rider Andrew McFarlane had suffered fatal injuries in a crash in practice."

It's the news no-one ever wants to learn ... it was the same when Jono Porter passed away at an Aussie Motocross title race in Queensland ... and when Andy Caldecott passed away in the Dakar Rally.

It's simply tragic, saddening news and nothing prepares you for it.

Sharky was one of the real legends and good guys of the Aussie dirt bike scene, who worked hard at his trade with family and friends that backed him every step of the way.

He was the Aussie minibike riding kid who went all the way to the top, winning state and national titles here at home in Australia, before graduating to the world scene with no less a powerhouse than the pinnacle Rinaldi Yamaha team in Italy and eventually finishing second in the World Motocross Championships.

From there his career took him to the USA, before he and wife Natalie and baby Tayla returned home to OZ to race with the JDR Motorsports team, with this season set to be his final year of full-time racing before moving into a management roll with the JDR team.

Here at TRAIL ZONE we crossed trails with Sharky plenty of times over the years -- and he was ever the consummate professional elite athlete.

To all of Sharky's family and friends and his legions of fans all around the world, we extend ourdeepest sympathies and condolences -- and in particular to Natalie's mum, Narelle, who hosted us on many a visit to the sunshine state.

Rest in peace Andrew 'Sharky' McFarlane.

* Note: Andrew McFarlane's funeral details have been announced: Cleveland Baptist Church, 240 Bloomfield Street, Celeveland, Brisbane, Australia, on Monday, May 17, 11am

PRODUCT NEWS:

REAL BOOST FOR YOUR WR250X/R!

Love your sweet new Yamaha WR250R or X, but want just that little bit more boost at the end of your right wrist for lofting the front end over obstacles or laying darkies round the round-abouts on the way home from the drive-thru lane at Maccas?

Then check this out: it's a gnarly turbo kit for the small-bore Yamaha thumpers that we happened across on the www.thumpertalk.com. web site.

For full details, check out www.mpfab.com and give your WR-R the real boost in horsepower you deserve ... and save on front tyre wear, because the thing will never be on the ground!

"I've been quitely developing a turbo kit for the WRX/R and after a few months of R&D on the streets and on the dyno I'm pretty happy about this. I've attached a few images and a dyno graph (see web site) comparing a 2008 WR250X with a header and slip-on versus a 2008 WR250X with the prototype MPFab turbo kit installed. I'm moving into production of these kits over the next few weeks and was wondering if any of you would be interested. I hope to have 10 of these on the shelves by the end of the month. I should have hard pricing next week and will most likely be offering a nice discount for the first 10 sold. This will be offered as a complete kit with electronics or a 'Tuner' Kit with no electronics for those of you who already use a PCIII. Both versions will come with a 'base' map to get you off and running however it would be strongly suggested that the end-user take it to a dyno and verify the tune since air/fuel ratio can change based on things like alttitude and climate. This kit is a bolt-on affair with simple tools. It requires the installer to drill and tap one hole and trim the side panel to clear the charge pipe. It can be easily installed in under three hours. Anybody interested? -- www.mpfab.com

ASK DR PHIL:

LOWER THAT SUZUKI DR-Z400

Dear Dr Phil: I have just brought a second-hand Suzuki DR-Z400E. It has had the rear shock spring changed to a heavier one and had the whole suspension professionally tuned to my weight, however it is a bit tall for my short legs. I was looking at getting a lowering kit that says it would lower it by 25mm. However my worry with this is that at the moment it is the smoothest, most comfortable bike I have ever ridden and I don't want to lose any of that, but it would be good to be able to touch the ground easier in the tight spots. Will installing a lowering kit change the ride and handling much or will it be the same?

-- Ian Tierney, via www.trailzone.com.au

Thanks for your email, Ian. Yes, a lowering kit will slightly change the 'stance' of your bike, however much of the change can be counter-acted by pulling the fork tubes UP further through the triple-clamps. Now, I can’t remember just how much you can get with the fork tubes on a DR-Z400E, but you’ll certainly get something that will help adjust the bike’s attitude once the lowering kit is installed, and in any case, lowering your bike is essential if it’s too tall for you. As for any changes these mods will deliver to the stance of your bike, well, you’re just going to have to get used to them, and in any case I don’t believe there will be any great discomfort. The more important point is you must lower the rear end to be able to feel more comfortable -- don’t live with a bike that’s clearly too tall for you. Enjoy the ride!
-- Dr Phil, www.trailzone.com.au (email your tech questions to me at: askdrphil@trailzone.com.au)