MXA’S WEEKEND NEWS ROUND-UP: THE WSX IS BACK…SORT OF

• BIKES YOU’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE: 1972 YANKEE 460MX SINGLE

The worn paint on the gas tank happened back in 1972 when Barry Higgins did the test riding on the Yankee 460MX. This  bike was at the 2024 Las Vegas Mecums Motorcycle Auction. It was bid up to $27,000, but the owner didn’t take the offer.

Yankee, who gambled on the big, twin-cylinder, six-speed, Yankee 500Z, was owned by John Taylor, who was both the American Bultaco and Ossa importer. John had a dream to build the ultimate American off-road bike. To achieve this, he talked Ossa into modifying a twin-cylinder, 460cc, Ossa road race engine, designed by Eduardo Giro, into a 488cc dirt bike engine by mating two 250cc Ossa Pioneer top-ends, including the pistons, cylinders and heads, onto a unified two-cylinder engine case.

Dick Mann designed three frames for John Taylor. The first was the Ossa-powered Dick Mann Replica (DMR) short tracker, the second was the twin-cylinder Yankee 500Z and the final one was for the Yankee 460MX.

Dick Mann designed the large tubing frame on the 500Z. Dick had also built a dirt track frame for Ossa—which was marketed as the Dick Mann Replica (DMR). Less than 200 of these Ossa-powered flat trackers (bearing Dick’s name) were produced and when the 1971 Yankee 500Z began to languish in the sales department, John Taylor pinned his hopes on building a lighter, 460cc, single-cylinder motocross bike and had Dick Mann design a down-sized frame to house the smaller single-cylinder engine. The Yankee 460MX borrowed the Kelsey-Hayes rear disc brake from the 500Z, but used a front drum brake from a Husqvarna. The Dick Mann influence showed in the large-diameter tubing, double-cradle frame with its oval section swingarm.

The 460cc Motosacoche engine was a very clean design with nice castings, plentiful finning and a twin spark ignition. This restored  prototype has a Bing carb instead of the original IRZ carb.

Surprisingly, even though John Taylor was the Ossa/Bultaco importer, he went to Switzerland to spec a 460cc, air-cooled, piston-port, two-stroke Motosacoche engine. The Motosacoche engine was incredibly modern for its time, especially when compared to the Ossa powerplants. The Swiss engine had many modern features including a twin spark ignition with two plugs (with the second plug’s timing retarded for a fuller fuel burn). Carburetion was via a 36mm, double needle, IRZ carburetor. All in all, Yankee Motor Corporation only had eight of the radially finned engines on hand during prototype testing.

The 1972 460MX was a new project, it was intended to replace the heavy Ossa twin-cylinder design. Built in Switzerland by Motosacoche, the new engine had many features of the Ossa single-cylinder two-stroke motor, but the capacity was boosted to 460cc. The engine used twin spark plugs with timing on one plug slightly retarded for a fuller fuel burn and a 36mm IRZ racing carburetor. Only two complete bikes were built for racing before production commenced, although an additional 8 engines were built as spares.

This machine was raced by Barry Higgins and is in remarkably original condition, although it is fully and sympathetically restored as befits such a rare and historically important racer. If one-of-only-two classic bikes sounds good to you, the 1972 Yankee 460 MX should whet your appetite, Sadly, the two completed prototype Yankee 460MXs were the only Yankee motocross bikes built by the Yankee Motor Company of Schenectady, New York. Too bad, because it was a beautiful machine and could have been a success if given more time.

• MAX ANSTIE QUITS FIREPOWER WHEN THE WSX DRAGS ITS FEET, JOINS STAR YAMAHA (AGAIN) ONLY TO HAVE WSX COME BACK, BUT BY THAT TIME MAX HAD MOVED ON

Max Anstie had a tumultuous week. First, he announced that he was leaving the Firepower Honda team, largely because the World Supercross Series didn’t look like it was going to put a series together this year, then Max signed with the Star Yamaha team and finally on Wednesday the  FIM World Supercross Series (WSX) released a pitiful four-race series (in three countries). Max has to be happy to have landed a plum spot on the Star Yamaha team.

As for the Star Yamaha they announced their multiyear deal with Max Anstie for AMA Supercross, the AMA Nationals and the SuperMotocross Playoffs. The British rider will make his first appearance at  Round 5 of the AMA Nationlal Motocross Championship in Southwick, Massachusetts, on June 29. This is not the first time that Max has signed with Star Yamaha as he raced for them back 14 years ago in 2010, Max brings with a wealth of experience in the USA and in the MXGP series

Max Anstie  said: “This marks a new chapter in my career and one that I’m motivated to take full advantage of. I’ve got unfinished business in the United States, especially in Pro Motocross, and I know that Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing will help me tick those boxes. From Southwick on, we’ll start taking steps to understand the YZ250F in order to make a title run in 2025. I’ve never felt more ready.”

• 2024 FIM WORLD SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE… DON’T FRET, IT’S EASY READING

Ken Roczen won the first two World Supercross Championships.

SX Global, the official promoters of the FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX), has revealed a four-event schedule for the upcoming 2024 season, announcing rounds in Canada, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. After an abbreviated season in 2022, WSX tried to expand into new markets in 2023, but more events were canceled than were held . In 2023, Ken Roczen, claimed his second WSX 450 World Championship title, while Britain’s Max Anstie etched his name on the 250 World Championship crown.

WSX will commence its less than impressive 2024 season on October 26 in Vancouver, Canada, by racing at BC Place – the home of Vancouver Whitecaps FC soccer team.. The championship will then head to Perth, Australia, on November 23-24 for a double header at HBF Park. After racing in Australia, the WSX championship will head to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, on December 4, where the final event of the 2024 campaign will race in Etihad Arena on the same weekend as the 2024 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

2024 FIM WORLD SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Oct. 26…Vancouver, Can
Nov. 23-24…Perth, Aus
Dec. 4…Abu Dhabi, UAE

• AUSTIN FORKNER UNDERGOES BRAIN SURGERY

Austin Forkner (64) at the 2024 Arlington Supercross with the Red Plate.

After Austin Forkner crash at the Arlington Supercross while leading, he has been on the sidelines back in February. About the time that he was ready to rejoin his Pro Circuit team on the AMA 250 National circuit, his doctors discovered that an old condition, which had first been diagnosed in 2017 needed medical atttention. Austin described it as “a cluster of blood vessels that are abnormal.”

Austin will be back for the 2025 season.

Austin underwent successful brain surgery on June 10 and will not be back to racing this year, but he will make a full recovery in three months time. Austin has posted a complete explanation on his Instagram page if you’d like to leave a message for him.

•  MXA AD OF THE WEEK: BRAND NEW 1975 CZ125 SPORT ONLY $399 IN THE CRATE

By 1975 CZ had lost its mojo with American motorcycle racers, but they felt that they could attract casual street riders with their CZ 125 and 175 Sport street bikes. They were wrong. They were so over-stocked that they  dumped the bikes on a liquidator who sold them in the crate for $399 for the 125 Sport and $448 for the 175 Sport.

• MEMORIES OF THE WAY WE WERE

Don’t you hate it when someone writes all over the gas tank on your vintage CZ? This, however, is one autograph that increases the value of the bike.

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 HONDA CR250 FIRST TEST

The 2025 Honda CRF250 is already here and MXA’s Josh Mosiman, Dennis Stapleton and Justin Lee spent day one of the 2025 Honda test regimen comparing it to the 2024 Honda CRF250. They dissected the differences between the chassis and engines. In this video, Josh explains how it works on the track, and dives into lots of details that you might otherwise have missed.

• 2024 AMA NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP TV SCHEDULE: SOUTHWICK ON JUNE 29

• MXA VIDEO: 2025 KTM 450SXF FIRST TEST

The 2025 KTM 450SXF’s frame has received significant updates, with visible cutouts, tube-wall thickness changes, redesigned head stays, a more forgiving shock linkage and for amenable shock tower. We know all about this bike because the MXA test riders have been riding and racing on the 2024-1/2 KTM 450SXF Factory Edition, which has all the same major updates as the 2025, plus some extra Factory Edition goodies. In this video, MXA’s Josh Mosiman talks about the new bike after a day of testing at Glen Helen.

This is the cover of the July 2024 issue of MXA. It features our exclusive test of the Fantic XX125. This is a platform-shared 2024 Yamaha YZ125, with aftermarket European parts, plastic and pipe. Fantic is not allowed to import any of the Yamaha-based XX models (125XX, two-stroke. 250XX two-stroke, 250XX four-stroke or 450XX four-stroke) to the USA.

Did you know that you it couldn’t be easier or cheaper to subscribe to MXA than it is right now—because when you subscribe you receive a Rocky Mountain ATV/MC credit for $25 towards anything in their massive inventory, all at  no cost to you. Plus, you will get all the content in the 12 monthly issues of Motocross Action magazine delivered to your home by a uniformed U.S. government employee.

The upcoming July 2024 issue includes full tests of the Fantic 125XX (and of a hopped-up Pasha Racing version to compare it to. There is also KTM250SXF Factory Edition versus a GasGas MC450F Factory Edition to help you choose the best Factory Edition for you riding style, budget and tastes. We also tested three exotic two-stroke project bikes, including Landen Gordon’s Pro Circuit-built Kawasaki KX112, Steve Christiano’s  Ride Engineering Yamaha YZ250 and, most intriguing of all, Robert Reed’s Possum Valley Racing Kawasaki KX315 TMR big-bore. We also interview Greg Albertyn about the hardships of being a South African Grand Prix racer in the era of apartheid, hitting a deer at the Motocross des Nations and  winning the  1999 AMA 250 National Championship on a Suzuki RM250.

And that isn’t all that is in the Jule 2024 Issue of MXA, but we have to leave some surprises left for when your new issue hits your mailbox. Don’t forget, the $25 credit from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC means that you get a subscription for MXA at a giant discount. Are you smart enough to recognize a great deal when you see it? To subscribe call (800) 767-0345 or Click Here

• JOSH MOSIMAN GETS A YAMAHA FACTORY RIDE FOR THE CANADIAN 450 NATIONALS….WELL, MORE ACCURATELY, ONE CANADIAN NATIONAL

MXA’s Josh Mosiman and Trevor Nelson headed to Canada this past weekend for round three of the Canadian Triple Crown Series with the Factory FXR Racing/MX101 Yamaha team. The race took place at Prairie Hill MX in Pilot Mount, Canada. Things looked great on Saturday, but a rainstorm came through Saturday night and drenched the track. MXA’s Josh Mosiman raced a 2024 Yamaha YZ450F through some gnarly track conditions and finished tenth overall with the help of FXR’s Carson Soviak on the wrenches, FXR’s Andy White managing the effort and FXR owner, Milt Reimer, racing amateur day on Saturday and cheering on the Pros on Sunday.

MXA FANTASY LEAGUE UPDATES AVAILABLE FOR THE SOUTHWICK NATIONAL ROUND

We are headed into motocross for the continuation of the 2024 season. With all new prizes, play weekly for a chance to win.

Apple app download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mxa-fantasy-league/id6473468112

Dive into an unparalleled motocross Fantasy experience with MXA’s cutting-edge app, meticulously crafted to deliver all the action directly to your fingertips. Our sophisticated, seamless, and completely free platform allows you to engage in intense competitions, even if you join mid-season. With opportunities to win prizes every weekend based on the most points gained from each race, you’re never out of the running. The season is already in full swing, but you can still challenge your friends, create groups, and immerse yourself in the competition by joining private parties. Enter at any point in the 2024 Supercross series, and stay tuned for our 2024 AMA Motocross Fantasy game. If you’re using Apple click here and if you’re on Android click here

• PANIC REV’S “CAMP REV” MOTOCROSS CAMP AT PERRIS ON JULY 15-17

PanicREV will host their Summer Camp at Perris MX Park on July 15-17. CampREV is set up for riders of all ages and skill levels that are looking to take their skills on the racetrack to a new level! This is achieved by breaking everyone up into groups based on their ages and skill levels. CampREV features daily chapel services and prayer, in addition to refining skills such as conditioning, corners, jumping, starts, riding position, technique and a whole lot of FUN! For more info go to www.camprev.com.

•  PASHA GRAND PRIX & TT SCRAMBLES AT GLEN HELEN ON SUNDAY, JULY 28

For more info go to www.ossrg.com

• EVERY 2024 FIM WORLD MOTOCROSS GRAND PRIX WINNER AT A GLANCE