The November 2007 issue is out, and you can read it right now! Click here for more info.

Let’s start with Rob Dingman’s message about the evolving mission of the AMA and the association’s decision to get out of the promotions business. I have known Rob for maybe two years and have found him to be a very smart and capable man. I think this is a great step forward—allowing true promotional companies to organize the various AMA pro racing series while continuing with the officiating and rules-making aspects of the sport—though there will be some bumps in the road.

Just look at supercross, with the way Live Nation has taken AMA Supercross to new heights in the past ten years since they brought the whole together under what was then the PACE Motorsports umbrella. There were some huge obstacles along the way (Jam Sports, anyone?) but now the series is looked at as THE premier motorcycling tour.

I’m biased here: My hope is that the NPG will be able to step up and be that group that runs the series its promoters have created since its inception in 1972, and that we can continue to work with the AMA and Live Nation to push our beloved sport further along and benefit the riders, the teams, the sponsors and the race fans.

Cut Mr. Dingman some slack here: He knows what it’s going to take to move motorcycle racing forward and he’s moving towards accomplishing that task with this extraordinary move.

Next week, the motocrossing nations of the world will be in Budds Creek for the 61st Motocross of Nations, but the pits will look like a pro national to some degree. Even though Factory Connection and Moto XXX do not have any of their team riders on anyone’s roster, they are loaning out their trucks to their motocross brothers from afar. In the case of the SoBe No Fear/Samsung Honda team, they will be the base for the Erick Vallejo-led Team Mexico. And according to Allan Brown of Moto XXX, they have stepped in at Honda’s request to help out Brazil.

Here's the cover of the 2007 MXoN souvenir program.

“Honda USA approached us about it after Honda Brazil approached them, and we said ‘Sure, we’d be glad to help out,’” said Brown. “Honda Brazil is helping out with the cost of driving the truck out from California to Maryland and back. Obviously, there’s a huge cost involved with the fuel and providing our mechanics and staff with airplane tickets and lodging and all. It’s not cheap by any means, but it’s worth it—it’s going to be a fun event for everyone.”

Check this out: KTM will be working with 23 racers from 18 different countries next weekend, and all 23 of them will use the Merge Adjustable Leak Jet. Here’s more.

And finally, my longtime friend from PA MX, Dean O’Dell, and his family have offered to let any team that’s having a hard time come up with a work place at the MXoN to use their Fun Mover. Dean says he doesn’t care where they’re from or how fast they are, he just wants to help out. So if you’re reading this from, say, Lithuania or the Czech Republic or Chile, and are still looking for help at Budds Creek, email online@racerxill.com and I will pass it on to Dean O’Dell.

The MXoN has lost a few top names to injuries—James Stewart, Josh Coppins, David Vuillemin, Kevin Strijbos, Chris Pourcel—but there’s also a few nations that just plain aren’t coming. Finland, the land that gave us Heikki Mikkola and Pekka Vehkonnen and finished third at the ‘03 MXoN in Belgium, couldn’t apparently come up with a sponsor to cover the trip.

Also, the Netherlands, which hosted the MXoN in ‘04, is not coming, which means no Marc De Reuver. The reason is unclear, though it may have something to do with the fact that Team USA did not show up over there in 2004.

If you want to watch the 2007 Red Bull Motocross of Nations from your own couch or coffee shop on your computer, you should sign up now for the Media Zone Moto pay-per-view coverage. The cost is $19.99 to get the MXoN delivered directly to your computer, or you can purchase your MXoN viewing as well as the entire 2008 FIM World MX Championships for just $39.99. Go to MediaZone.com/Moto and simply enter the coupon code: moto3999 when ordering to receive their special offer.

Racer X Illustrated is proud to have been selected to do the souvenir program for the MXoN and we packed it full of really cool stories about the riders, the teams, and the history of the “Olympics of motocross.” Look for your program everywhere at the event, and if you’re not going, you can order one at Racer X Online and get one after the race—we’ll set that up for next week.

You can read this feature right now!

Also, you have to read Eric Johnson’s amazing tale of Team USA’s forgotten heroes: “The Lost Teams” of the 1970s that went to Europe time and time again and came home empty-handed before our breakthrough in 1981. It’s in the brand new issue of Racer X Illustrated, but you can read it right now if you sign up for a Racer X Digital subscription! Here’s how.

The question I’ve been getting all week is this: Will Racer X and Motocross.com have any coverage from Budds Creek of the 2007 MXoN?

Tim Ferry will represent Team USA in the Open class at the MXoN. photo: Carl Stone

Yes! Starting on Monday, we will profile one of the contenders each day, beginning with Monster Team USA’s Tim Ferry on Monday. And then on Saturday, with the cooperation of the gang at Media Zone, we will present the Racer X Motocross Show on Motocross.com, direct from the Team USA pits at Budds Creek. We will give you an early look at our boys, plus the ridiculously fast Tony Cairoli, off-the-couch-and-back-on-track Chad Reed, England’s top prospect Tommy Searle, newly-crowned MX1 World Champion Steve Ramon, and many more. That’s next Saturday night, on Motocross.com!

There will be NO audio webcast from Racer X—the only way to get the live action is to watch on www.mediazone.com --but we will be back with a Monday morning wrap-up show, direct from the Monster Team USA pits, which will either be a joyous occasion or the absolute saddest spot in Maryland! We’re betting on the former.

And I really can’t wait to see that Carmichael guy from Florida race a dirt bike one more time. I hear he’s still pretty good….

Here’s a good place to let Ping take over:

Langston is number one! photo: Carl Stone

Last Friday was the final round of the Java Monster celebrity crossover challenge at Glen Helen. I’m sure you’ve heard all about Langston and Villopoto winning their titles but there was a championship being decided on Friday that not many people heard about. There wasn’t any money involved in the wins but the guys involved have as much of a passion for motocross as anyone: the Monster Energy Glen Helen Crossover.

BMX star Aaron Cooke grabbed the win Friday and edged out all the other action sports athletes to take the top honors overall. One of the best alpine skiers the U.S. has ever produced, Daron Rahlves, got stuck in the gate the first moto but rallied in the second round for third.

Crossover mastermind Pat Schutte and skiing legend Glen Plake. photo: Eric Johnson

Shaun Palmer also crawled out of his hiding spot in Tahoe and showed up with a Honda 250 two-stroke. Palm still has some speed and he absolutely crushed the field in the first moto, even on the underpowered two-smoker. He didn’t say much about his arrangement with Yamaha of Troy to race the nationals that he didn’t follow through with. But he did say he is planning on racing the world cup boarder cross events this winter as well as the Winter X Games. And he still has his eye on the Olympics coming up in Vancouver, British Columbia in 2010.

Glen Plake was another skiing legend that showed up to support the event. Plake is an icon in the skiing world and he is easily recognized by his enormous Mohawk.

Monster Energy Glen Helen Crossover Results:
1st Aaron Cooke, BMX
2nd Steve Martin, Snocross
3rd Daron Rahlves, skier
4th Gunnar Newquist, skier
5th John Dadak, skier

Ross Robinson has produced records for such bands as Korn, At the Drive-In and the Cure. photo: Eric Johnson

Other notable athletes competing in the Monster Energy MX Crossover @ Glen Helen included: Josh Sleigh (surfer), Igor Reoutt (wakeboarder), Ross Robinson (record producer), Dwayne Taylor (BMXer), Jim Rippey (snowboarder), Buster Akrey (musician), Will Lacheuaer (skier), Keith Hutchins (snocross) and Jordan Burns (musician).

Speaking of crossover athletes; I want to send out my best wishes to Tara Llanes, one of the world’s best female downhill mountain bike racers, who was seriously injured in a crash last weekend. Tara is one of the friendliest faces in the pits and I’m sure that whole industry is reeling from the news right now. Get well soon, Tara.

Monday night was the second annual Dirty Hairy’s Backyard Bonanza. This is turning into an end-of-the-season classic. Launi DiMaggio organized for ten identical 50s to be delivered to her house with only taller bars added. She had Randy Mennenga, a popular track builder in the area, sculpt a scaled-down mini Supercross track in her back yard and invited everyone in the industry to come race, party and hang out—some were doing all three things at the same time.

Some of the big names that were there hanging out included new AMA Toyota Motocross #1 Grant Langston, Jason Lawrence, Josh Grant and Nathan Ramsey. Jeremy McGrath was also there with his wife and daughter but he was actually racing along with guys like Ronnie Renner and his brother Ricky, Kyle Krause, Kyle Engle, Michael Willard, Brock Sellards, myself and others.

Ping (101) goes to the inside of Shaun Palmer. photo: Eric Johnson

There is no purse or grand prize so it doesn’t really matter who wins. This event is more about having a good time and it always is. Ronnie Renner got so far behind in the main he decided to turn around and go backwards on the track. It definitely threw an extra challenge into the course. Nice work, Ronnie. And best wishes to his brother Ricky who smashed his ankle and was headed to the hospital to get an X-ray at the end of the night. The after-party was at a local watering hole where a karaoke jam took place. I didn’t make it there but I hear American Idol has scratched Lake Elsinore off of their list of places to look for talent this season.

Next Friday night, September 21st at 5:30pm, the Chris Ackerman poker tournament gets underway. Chris has generously offered to split all the proceeds with fellow action sports star, Stephen Murray, who was injured at the Dew Tour this year. Check out the flyer for details.
That’s it from Ping.

Now this from Andrew Langston, Grant’s uncle: “Just so people know. Grant has tried the Leatt Brace, but with having a previous broken collarbone together with how it was fitting him at the time, it was uncomfortable for him to ride with one on.”

That’s in response to the threads on Mototalk where people have criticized his decision not to wear the neck brace.

From Bad Billy:
So I stop at a gas station in downtown Morgantown on Tuesday night on my way to the Fishbowl, and I see some random guy walking across the parking lot wearing what appeared to be a motocross jersey. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a Yoshihide Fukudome jersey!!!! I couldn’t believe my eyes! Moto XXX was kind enough to hook me up with one of his jerseys earlier this season, so there are now officially two people with Fukudome jerseys in Morgantown. I bet there isn’t even that many Grant Langston jerseys around here…

Also, I want to give props to Frank Ippolito from Paint Bombs for doing up this custom helmet for me. Believe it or not, it's my first custom-painted lid! Now I don't want to get it dirty! Check out more of Frank's creations at www.paintbombs.net or on his MySpace page.

The custom-painted helmet is making a comeback! photo: Carl Stone

As usual, Steve Matthes did a good job of both summing up the Glen Helen National and also pissing a few people off (almost double-digits this time!). If you missed his review of the last round of the 2007 AMA Toyota Motocross Series, here’s a link.

All year long, Carl Stone has been helping us out with great race photos while managing to piss off absolutely no one. This week, he added his own observations on the race. Here’s CStone’s Cwords:

Observations from Carl Stone:

Trey Canard's team truck will be used by the Brazilian MXoN squad at Budds Creek. photo: Carl Stone

The final race at Glen Helen had arguably the best weather that race has seen in years, even when it was the first race of the year. Clear blue skies and temps in the low 90s. The major changes they made to the track were cool, though really, really scary (and some downright dangerous). Still, it was nice to not see the same ol’ Glen Helen course. What made this race even more spectacular was the fact that we were going to crown champions in both the Motocross and Lites class. And although the points leaders in both classes had a pretty good cushion. as we know especially in this sport, nothing is a sure thing and anything can happen.

Villopoto showed up to the race in his brand new luxury and well-deserved RV. Yup that’s right—a new RV for RV! RV’s grandparents had me laughing saying that even though he had that big state-of-the-art motor coach, he and his cousin Spencer came to their little RV and ate breakfast, lunch and dinner and cleaned them out! But I can’t blame them; Grandma Villopoto is one awesome cook and when she offered me a plate of her pasta and meatballs how could I refuse!

At the end of the day Ryan did what he had to do to secure his second championship and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki swept the podium yet once again. And as it looks, not much is going to change next year even with Townley leaving and the addition of Chris Pourcel—yet another MX2 world champ who wanted to be in America and on Mitch’s team.

The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki trailer is going to need bigger doors! photo: Carl Stone

Later that evening Mitch gets the whole team together for the mounting of the new #1 plate to the doors of the PC rig—and what an impressive set o