Four-time Canadian National champion, Dusty Klatt, and RJ Marnoch hanging out at the Yamaha Blackfoot factory rig.

Hello RJ, congratulations on winning the ‘Yamaha Factory Ride’ award at this year’s Walton TransCan!
RJ Marnoch: Thank you.

How many times have you raced the TransCan?
About 5 years now.

Is this your best year as far as results go?
Yeah, definitely.

What clicked for you this year at Walton?
Riding the big bike, my YZ250F, helped me out a lot. I’m a little too big for an 85cc, and I feel more comfortable on the 4-stroke.

You raced a 125 2-stroke in the Schoolboy, and a 250F in MX2 Junior. What’s the biggest difference for you between the two bikes?
Probably my corner speed; it’s way easier to roll-on the throttle on the 250F compared to the 125. I only got onto my 250F a few weeks ago, and now I’m wishing I had of been on one sooner.

You’ve had great results all summer. Are you the type of person who sets goals, or do you just go out, ride and let the results come?
I just go into it with my head held high, try my best and take it moto by moto.

Regarding the ‘Yamaha Factory Ride,’ which includes a 2012 YZ of your choice and a $2500 parts and accessories credit, have you given much thought to which bike you’ll choose?
Probably another 250F.

RJ and his father, Roddy, were given a full guided tour of the factory Yamaha Blackfoot racing semi.

How did you get into motocross, RJ?
I started riding when I was 4 years old, when my parents got me a dirt bike for my birthday. A friend down the street was into racing, he was friends with my dad, and we started going with them to the races. We just kept getting a little more serious every year. I’ve been on Yamaha’s since I started racing 80s.

Do you have a certain type of track that you prefer, or that you’re riding style suits best?
I like loam with lots of jumps.

Oh really, so Walton probably isn’t your favourite track but you still won!
Yeah, not really but it’s still a good track to ride. I like Sand Del Lee, and down in the states Area 51 is pretty fun.

Aside from racing, any other hobbies or interests?
I ski in the winter and race in the summer. That’s about it.

I know your dad, Roddy, is very supportive and enthusiastic about racing, and you have many other people helping you out. Who do you want to thank for helping you in 2011?
My whole family, Stouffville Toyota, DMX, Renegade Fuels, Fox Shox, Progressive Lighting, Lime Nine graphics, and everyone else.

Yamaha is planning to bring back the ‘Yamaha Factory Ride’ award to the TransCan and other amateur events in 2012. So keep your results up next year and you could win another Factory Ride!
That’s awesome, thanks!

On the topic of riding, OFTR’s Ken Hoeverman was in the office yesterday discussing the going-ons of trail riding in Ontario. Ken is a passionate, intelligent guy who has some really good ideas, many of which are already in action, to promote off-road riding throughout the province.

His main objective is answering the most simplest of questions for new (and even current) riders. Things like, Where can I ride? Do I need a license plate? Do I need insurance? Where can I learn how to ride? Furthering his proactive approach, Ken wrote these questions down on hang-tags, and has sent them to supporting dealerships to place onto bikes.

Makes sense … I’m buying a bike, now tell me where I can ride it. It’s not like it used to be; you can’t just fire up your bike and head out into the great unknown. Well, you can, but it’s not going to help the cause.

Insurance has been a longstanding battle for those wishing to hit the trails without spending a fortune. Fortunately, the wall is starting to crumble. Ken and his group have worked out a deal with Open Skies Insurance. Beginning May 1, 2010, Open Skies is offering a flat rate liability only insurance for trail plated bikes in Ontario. The rate is $160/year for non-members, and OFTR members receive a 25 percent discount on the premium. Not too bad, eh!

Stay tuned to their website, oftr.ca, for more details.

Noise (more sound = less ground), who to ride with, training facilities, current stats, and general trail riding responsibility was discussed as well. Probably the biggest hurdle that keeps us dirty dirt bike riders from gaining more ground, is the fact that we’re still looked upon as “bad.” We’re no good. Our bikes our loud, we kick up dust and promote chaos everywhere we go. I don’t mind being considered a badass (chicks dig it!) but this “dirt bikers are bad guys” has got to stop.

Most of those on the trail are reasonable, approachable people, and it’s usually families and kids looking to enjoy our land. Our tainted image won’t be removed overnight, but if we work together, and support clubs and organizations who are taking on “the man,” we’ll get there.

I’m more of a track than trail rider, so my knowledge of trail riding is limited. But I am working on making contact with other regions in Canada, and will do my best to bring the pertinent info to you guys and girls here. Darryl Copithorne of Alberta Society of Off-road Motorcyclists (ASORM) touched base with me today, and appears to be trying to create some structure in his region. I’ve also shared some conversations with Scott Josey, who works with the Nova Scotia Off-Road Riders Association (NSORRA). Those guys should be able to answer any questions in their respective regions.

If you have any suggestions of places to ride, that won’t cause a fuss, feel free to share them with us. Or if you have ideas that could help bring new light to off-road riding, share them also.

Keep the rubber side down!

DanBro

For those of you who don’t know, the Photo Contest is being run on our Facebook page. It’s easy to enter; all you need to do is become a fan of our page, upload some sweet pics and hit “submit now” on the Contest page …

Our goal with the contest is to get you guys being creative, and show us – and everyone – what makes you and your Yamaha the cat’s behind. The contest ends on February 28, 2010 and so far we’ve received over 200 photos. Awesome.

So what do you get if you’re photo is chosen by our panel of judges? A $5,000 Yamaha Shopping Spree! Not too bad, eh? Also, if one or two or three photos really standout, we may use them in corporate YAMAHA advertising. We don’t really have  a clearcut leader at the moment, but there are quite a few inspiring and interesting submissions. Here are some of my favs:

Midnight oil: Luke Tudor surely had some assistance in this sweet shot of him and his R1, and it’s paid off.

The impossible shot? Craig Adams isn’t afraid of a little hard work. I’m guessing it was a PITA trying to set up this unique photo with his Nytro but worth the results.

Michael Zwier clearly loves his VMAX.

Adrian Van Vugt sent us a whole collection of images featuring his FZ. If you flip through the album on Facebook, you’ll see that Adrian and his Yamaha have explored nearly every inch of this country.

Girl Power: Katrina Bryant’s photos impress me for two reasons: first, because she’s put a lot of effort into her work, second, because it’s not often you see a woman riding a sleek and powerful R1. “A bike is only as dangerous as you make it,” she says. “Any bike accident on any size bike will yield similar results, the cc of the bike only dictates how quickly you might arrive at your destination.”

 …. we’re stuck for words as well. Bear-skins, lamp shades, vintage YZ … Jessica Off is definitely leading the contest as far as creativity goes.

Shaun May and his family show off their beautiful blue C3. It brings tears to Mr. Scooter Sense seeing love like this ….

It’s not going to be easy choosing a winner. We need your help. Visit our Facebook page, become a fan, and comment on these and others contest photos. Tell us what you like or don’t like and who gets your vote.

Thanks for reading!

DanBro

Before we get too far, did you notice the cool new video we incorporated into the Bike Blog header graphic? Neat, eh. A big thanks to our web developer, Emily, and graphic designer, Nick, for making my little dream a reality. I think it brightens this place up.

There’s no business like show business, and there’s no business like motorcycle show business! This weekend marks the first round of the Canadian Motorcycle Shows, which kicks off at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in, you guessed it, downtown Toronto….

Though I’m an avid enthusiast, more so of the “dirt” breed, it’s been quite some time since I’ve attended the Toronto MC Show. In fact, the last time I was there, two-strokes still ruled the roost—and that was only in 2005! How times have changed….

I’m excited for my first show as part of the Blue Team. I’m sure we’ll see a huge increase of attendees at the Yamaha booth due to my presence; I think it would be even bigger if I were allowed to go sans-shirt but unfortunately, Dr. Dre axed that provocative idea. Regardless, there are still lots of reasons to stop by Yamaha HQ.

Of course, we’ll have a host of new models, including the Stratoliner “Bagger” Deluxe, Rossi FIAT Yamaha R1 replica, and my personal fav, the YZ450F, but we also have a fantastic lineup of celebrities stopping by. Vicki Grey from Motoress headlines our “She Rides Night” on Friday, answering questions from show patrons about women and riding. She will also be conducting new model introductions with Yamaha Motorcycle Product Manager, John Bayliss. We’re very proud to have some faithful “biker chicks” in-house. You can read about some of their trials and tribulations here and here.

Btw, if you need info on how the new YZ Power Tuner works with the 450F, chat with our MX tech specialist, Nick “Machine” DiCristofaro. I know he seems a little serious and intimidating at first (by little, I mean really, really serious. He’s like the Grinch but meaner.) but he’s actually a big softie at heart and has great knowledge of motorcycles, especially dirt bikes. Don’t be shy and say hi to angry Nick if you get a chance. Maybe give him a hug too.

Colton Facciotti and his alien arms will be on hand signing autographs Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 12pm and 2pm – 3pm. The two-time MX1 Canadian National champ is fresh off victories in the British SX Championships and is looking forward to showing his appreciation to fans in TO. (Note: If anyone is interested, you may also grab an autograph from me as well. I don’t like to brag, but I did finish 3rd overall in 125 Intermediate in the 2002 CMX Fall Series.) Red Bull will be on hand as well with their beautiful “wings” ladies supporting Colt.

Clinton Smout’s Yamaha Riding Academy will be in full swing, training youngsters between the ages of 6-12 the basics of riding an off-road bike. It’s great way to introduce wee ones to the sport in a safe and controlled environment with experience instructors. If you’re an advanced rider, though, you want to ask Colton or I for tips. We’re both really fast.

For full details and schedules on the Toronto and upcoming shows, stay tuned to http://motorcycleshows.ca/.

Some random notes and thoughts …

The new YZ450F is winning over many pubs and sites, and also riders of other brands. Check out this email from DSM, Jeff Ryan:

It’s good to see a guy with some serious passion for a sport. Cam Hood is a pro motocrosser from Grande Prairie, and has a sponsored ride with a competitor. He was offered two bikes for 2010 but Cam said “No, thank you. I’m buying a YZ.”

Yesterday Red Line got their first YZ450 at 2pm, by 4:30 it was in the back of Cam’s truck with aftermarket plastic and DR D Exhaust. He drove to Chilliwack (14hr drive) to race this weekend. Cam’s comment: “This thing is fast as heck, pulls much harder than my old bike!”

He’s Blue Blood now and plans to spend some time in the states racing and practicing over the winter and will race the CMRC series this season. Just thought you would appreciate a story about a new customer

Our Quebec RSM, Francois Morneau also had some racing updates from his area:

Jean Philippe Leblanc won the #1 plate in the QC ATV Championship in Pro MX Provincial series on his YFZ450R, prepared by G-Force Division/Gagne Lessard Sport. This was Leblanc’s first year racing the Pro series.  His positive attitude, extreme preparation and training with the support of Messier/GForce Team helped him to dominate the series. Kevin Vachon and Jasmin Plante finished second and third in the series. In the Quebec Flat Track Series, Marc Antoine Auger claimed the # 1 plate of the on his YFZ450R prepared by G-Force Division/Gagne Lessard Sport.

A total of six available ATV Championships in Quebec were won on Yamaha YFZ450R’s; four of these were won by Jean-Philippe Leblanc and two were won by Marc Antoine Auger. Congrats to all of these guys, and thanks for choosing Yamaha!

Thanks Francois. The guys at G-force gotta be happy this summer, winning all of those ATV titles and setting a snowmobile land speed World Record at Bonneville. Go team go!

On the topic of four wheels, in the latest issue of All-Terrain Vehicle, we earned awards for Best Mid-Range Sport Utility ATV (Grizzly 550) and Best Sport ATV Hardcore (YFZ 450X). We were runner-up in some other categories too; Best Big Bore (Grizzly 700 FI), Best Sport ATV Trail (Raptor 700), and Best Dual Purpose UTV (Rhino).

The fall/winter issue of Horizons should be hitting mailboxes shortly, if they haven’t already. I think this issue is one of our best yet, and I’m not saying that because I do most of the writing now … okay, maybe I am. I was super excited to see our new 450F grace the cover (our first MX cover!!)  and “Cowbell” did an incredible job with design of the entire mag. Inside you’ll find features on how we’re tackling social media and minimizing our environmentally footprint, and like always, we got some great letters and photos from Yamaha owners. If you’d like to become a Horizons subscriber, just click here. And while you’re there, be sure to sign up for our online newsletter, Red Line.

This from Mr. SledTalk: Here’s a cool link for Bike Blog. Greg is the World Cup Downhill champ (mountain bikes) very well know amongst cyclists… (also has his own web-site with more related stuff).

 Toyota gets creative with their motocross love interest.

Yamaha racing fanatic, Pete Swanton, passed along this cool link, showing off Yamaha’s European Racing HQ. It’s interesting to see where we’ve come from and all of the technology (and great racers) that has evolved in Yamaha’s sport bikes. Even for a dirt bike guy like myself, seeing all of those trick factory race bikes makes me want to hit the highway. Then I’d be able to get the chicks….

Rossi switching to motocross? Hmm, probably not, but “The Doctor” appears more than capable on the dirt. Check out valentinorossi.com and watch Rossi in action on a 450F. After watching this vid with Bayliss, we couldn’t help but debate … who would win in a cross-over match? James Stewart or Rossi? This then led to debate over who is more successful and talented, to which John offered this …

“Make no mistake!! No mistake …. if you add up the zeros in their pay cheques, Rossi could buy Stewart with his pocket change.”  True, John … but watch this video and then let’s talk .

All right, time to grab a Nytro and rip some laps around the office … thanks for reading!

DanBro

Depending upon where you live in this great country, Mother Nature has been very kind to the motorcycling faithful this fall. Especially in Southern Ontario. Just when we thought the riding season was over, the sun came out and temperatures during the day were high enough to extend our riding season. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but winter is coming and it is time to prepare your bike for its winter hibernation.

“Danger” – that’s Johnny’s middle name! Johnny has experience on all forms of motorcycles, and if you keep reading, some wonderful insight on properly storing your bike.

I have owned plenty of bikes over the years, and each fall, I take the time to store them properly so they are ready to go when spring arrives. I’d like to share some advice and tips for winterizing your bike this year. I am not a mechanic, but I am a backyard enthusiast who loves to tinker. I have yet to experience one of my bikes failing to fire-up in the spring … so I must be doing something right. Here is my list of winter motorcycle storage tips:

1. Fill your gas tank with fresh premium fuel that contains no ethanol (Shell premium contains no ethanol … or so says the sign on the pump). I recommend premium because most regular grade fuels contain ethanol and there are a bunch of folks saying it is not the best for power sports applications … especially if you are not using them everyday. More importantly, add the recommended amount of fuel stabilizer. Make sure the tank is completely full for final storage … it will prevent condensation during winter temperature fluctuations.

2. Either take your bike for a short 5 to 10 minute ride or warm your bike up in the driveway and change your oil and filter (this will also insure that the fuel stabilizer has worked its way through the entire fuel system). Refer to your owner’s manual for oil change info.  Unless you have recently changed your oil (1,000 kms or less), it is a good idea to store your bike with fresh oil … it will also save you from having to do it next spring when you are itching to go riding. A bike should not be stored with old, well used oil … its acidity levels will be elevated and could harm your engine internals. Start your bike after the oil change for a minute or so to get the fresh oil circulating.      

3. Once your bike has completely cooled down, if the float bowl drain screws (on non- fuel-injected bikes) can be accessed, drain the float bowls (it is a bit of extra “insurance”). There is no draining required on fuel injected motorcycles, since it is sealed from the outside air.

4. Wash your motorcycle before storing. A coat of wax on the painted parts is a good idea. Always inspect your bike as you wash it. This is a great time to look for damaged, loose or missing parts. If your bike is being stored in a damp environment, consider using some light oil on the chrome bits … just make sure you remove it prior to starting the bike in the spring.

Sigh …. opportunities to ride your two wheeler are few and far between now. Unless, of course, you have some studs! (And no, I don’t mean in the Chip ‘n’ Dale sense ….)

5. Lube your chain (if applicable) after you have washed and dried your bike. Once again, it is not a bad idea to adjust your chain at the same time … it will save from you having to do it next spring. Please note, chains are not tightened, they are adjusted to a specific tension spec which will be outlined in your owner’s manual.

6. Find a safe, secure spot to store your bike. If your bike has a centre stand, it is best to put it on this stand in order to get as much weight off the wheels and suspension as possible. If you own a sport bike, there are various types of stands available that can raise the wheels off the ground. If not, the side stand will have to do. Remember to store your bike in a well ventilated area away from open flames, sparks, electric motors, etc. (as high ozone levels will degrade the rubber in tires). While talking of tires, the very soft compounds used for high performance sport bikes become easily damaged when the ambient temperatures get really cold. Even a gentle bump down a curb can crack the surface of the tire.

7. Remove the battery, and if applicable, check the electrolyte level and top it up to the correct level with distilled water. Put the battery on charge and fully charge it. The battery should then be stored in a warm, dry place. Never store your battery directly on a concrete floor … this could damage or permantely kill the battery. You can use a 2×4 to keep it up off the concrete. The battery should be charged every 4 to 6 weeks while in storage. [Note: Some MF (maintenance free) batteries require a special charger. There are some very good chargers that can be left connected to the battery for the whole storage period. Perfect if you want to connect and forget it until spring.]

8. Since you have warmed the bike up to change the oil, double check to see if the gas tank needs to be topped up again. If so, make sure you use stabilized premium fuel … this will help prevent condensation and corrosion in the tank. If your bike has a fuel petcock, make sure it is in the off position during storage.

9. Cover your bike with a breathable cover to help protect it and keep it clean. Careful of using a non-breathable cover (plastic tarp etc.) which could cause condensation and corrosion.

10. Depending on where your bike is being stored, if vermin are a concern, take the time to tape up the intake opening and exhaust outlet and put some moth balls under the cover … this will help keep the critters away. (I have also been told that dryer sheets do the same thing … keep vermin away … but have never tried them.) Make sure you remove them before starting in the spring.

11. Some folks go the extra step and remove spark plugs, put a small amount of oil (about a teaspoon) into each cylinder and then rotate the engine a few times to prevent rusting. I have never done this, but some folks feel it is very important. If you are storing your bike for more than just the winter this could be a good idea. [Note: Be careful … removing spark plugs can be a tough job on the newer high-tech bikes, and do not put too much oil into the cylinders.]

12. If you are storing a race bike that has water or water wetter in the cooling system, (read: road race bikes) make sure you drain the water from the cooling system and replace it with proper coolant to prevent freezing and a very costly engine repair.

Finally, remember that thieves don’t go away in the winter. Keep your bike locked up at all times and out of view if possible.

[Note: Lots of riders get an itch to go for a ride on that beautiful mid winter day … if you do this, remember to go through most of the storage procedure again. Also, be aware that if you ride through a puddle or wet area you may have just sprayed your bike with salty water … do not put it away without thoroughly washing it again. Otherwise you will be in for a surprise when you pull the cover off it in the spring … the salt will not only corrode your chrome but may also pit any aluminum parts too.]

Thanks for reading! If you have some tips of your own, feel free to share!

Johnny B

It’s a question that has troubled experts and bench racers alike since the beginning of motorcycle racing: is it the rider or the bike?

Anyone with some racing background and experience, obviously says it’s the rider who ultimately determines the results. Sure, equipment is important – you need reliability, performance and confidence – but a good bike can only take you so far. A team is a valuable asset as well, but at the end of the day, it’s the rider turning the throttle.

For those with minimal motorcycling experience, they’ll typically say it’s machine, not man, who determines results. (At least that’s what all my high school buddies told me when I tried to share some glory on my motocross racing. “Come on, Danny, all you do is turn the throttle!” Yep, that’s all you do guys … turn a throttle … it’s that easy.)

That said, after looking back at our results and championships in several disciplines of two wheel racing this year, maybe it is the bike? Or maybe I’m just saying that because I work for Yamaha and have been drinking too much of the Kool-Aid?

Rossi collected his 9th “egg” this past weekend.

After last weekend, we added two more championships to our growing ladder, with Ben Spies taking his first World Superbike title in Portugal, and Valentino Rossi sealing his 9th MotoGP title at the Malaysian GP. Congrats, men!

Some words from Ben … 
“I’ve got to thank Yamaha for giving me the bike I need to win. We had a really good first race, in the second we did what we had to do to win. It was quite difficult to keep it in check as the pace was pretty fast, I saw I had a couple of people behind me and I knew that if Nori won I had to be in sixth and that’s where I was so I tried to get a bit of a gap on them and stay out of trouble. Max came through the inside of me and ran off a couple of times which really freaked me out so I went to get past him and then settled in for some nice fast laps to the end. It’s been a spectacular day and I can’t thank those people enough that have been behind me. It’s been incredible to do it for Yamaha, and especially in my first year here. I don’t think I really realize what’s happening right now but I’m sure it’s going to hit me in a couple of days!”

And a few Itali-lish words from “The Doctor” … 
“It’s great to be World Champion again, I am very proud to have done this nine times in my career. I want to thank everyone in my team, Furusawa-san, Davide Brivio, Lin Jarvis, Jeremy…everybody! This season has been very hard and Lorenzo especially has pushed me to new limits, but I think it’s been a great duel for everyone to watch. Today was unbelievable, when the rain came it was scary for everyone because all the work we’d done was then useless and we were riding ‘blind’ with the setting. I made a mistake at the first corner and then I was a long way back, so I think I did a great race to finish third! I was going to try to pass Dovizioso when he fell and then for a few laps I thought I would try to get Pedrosa but with wet tyres on a drying track it was a bit risky by then and so I decided to be safe. It’s a fantastic feeling to take this title with Yamaha again and I also must thank Bridgestone, who have done a great job with the tyres all year. My celebration was because in Italy we say an old chicken makes good soup but can no longer lay eggs! I am like the old chicken – 30 years now – but I have made another egg! That’s nine!”

To read a full recap of Spies final race, go here.

To read a full recap of Rossi’s final race, go here.

It’s incredible how well we’ve done in 2009 on the racing front, but I believe it’s the result of quality machinery, hard working race teams, and riders who know what it takes to be a champion. Below are Yamaha’s 2009 motorcycle champions. We here at the Bike Blog salute you!

James Stewart joined Yamaha for the first time in 2009. (Actually, that”s not true! He raced a PW50 back in the day.) He would go on to win the 2009 AMA Supercross championship, and also the US Open of SX two weeks ago in Las Vegas. He returns to AMA SX again this January on the all-new 2010 YZ450F.

Colton Facciotti captured his second – and Blackfoot’s umpteenth – MX1 Canadian National MX championship this summer. He’ll be back with BF and Yamaha again in 2010, along with Dusty Klatt, to defend his title.

Italian Antonio Cairoli captured his first MX1 World GP MX title this past year. Cairoli now has three World titles to his credit (two in MX2 – 2005 and 2007), all of which came aboard a Yamaha.

In only his first season in World Superbike, Ben Spies came away with the championship, which marked Yamaha’s first title in that series.

Valentino Rossi … to no one’s surprise, wins again. That makes a total of 9 MotoGP titles for the 30-year-old Italian.

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow was victorious in the 2009 World Supersport series.

2009 FIM World Endurance Champions: Team YART – Steve Martin, Gwen Giabbani, and Igor Jerman.

Leon Camier won the 2009 British Superbike championship.

So what do you think? Is it the rider? Is it the bike? Be sure to comment and offer your opinion.

DanBro

 Arguably the fastest MX2 (250F) rider in the country, little “Beats” knows how to put a bike through the wringer. He’s also been riding Yamaha’s for nearly a decade, so he knows pretty much everything there is to know about these badass blue machines. Well, I mean, he is a pro racer, so he at least knows where gas and the water go … just kidding, Kyle!

But he really didn’t know anything about the new 250F until he tried it out at our press launch, so it was interesting to hear his feedback and see how he liked the changes (new bilateral beam frame, quicker revving motor, better handling, new ergonomics). So what did he think? Check out the video below to find out!

Go Beats go! It’s hard not to like a wee, teeny, tiny little guy like Beaton who can twist the throttle. You could put him in your pocket and take him with you to the track. He could even fit in a stocking at Christmas time. Christmas Beats!
The limited edition white version features some trick looking black Excel rims. Cool, eh?
The all-new bilaterel beam frame makes for incredible turning prowess, lighter weight and a better ergonomic feel.

Thin, fast and light! This is Beats’ Yamaha!
I taught Beaton how to do this … you’re welcome.Stay tuned for even more footage and feedback on the 2010 YZ250F from “The King of Canadian MX” Jean-Sebastien Roy. Coming soon!

DanBro

The all-new 2010 YZ250F

What do you get when you combine a new dirt bike, pro racers, media, a perfectly groomed MX track, Toyota, and Red Bull? I’d say a pretty darn good time ….

This good time took place yesterday at Carruthers’ Ranch in the small town of Enniskillen. We were on hand to launch the all-new 2010 Yamaha YZ250F and things couldn’t have gone any better. While we had a few small hiccups along the way, like not being able to get the Blackfoot Yamaha semi all the way into the pit area (well, if I had of been driving the big rig, I coulda got’er done ), the day went along without a hitch.

“Huggy Bear” relives his glory days of banner detail at the nationals.

Things started off bright and early with five-time Canadian champ, Jean-Sebastien Roy, and Canada’s fastest MX2 rider, Kyle “Beats” Beaton, digging the first knobbies into the track. Right away, the two genuinely enjoyed the all-new “Little Blue Bandit.” Better low-to-mid power, quicker revs, lighter feel, and much improved cornering ability was their feedback.

It was pretty cool watching JSR and Beats race around the track, swapping lines, looking at each other over the jumps, and showing us what these machines are capable of. Ohh, to be fast ….

Kyle Beaton enjoys the flickability of the new bike.

Once we got lots of pics and video of the Blackfoot boys (stay tuned for some sweet video!), we turned our attention to the media, got them the details and history on the 2o10, and then got them out on the track. Their responses echoed the pros (Check out MXP’s review here), and all agreed that we’ve made some exciting new improvements to the style, fit and functionality of the YZ250F.

JSR still has “it.”

But who cares what JSR, Beats, Gaudly or even ”Captain Freedom” McCullough think; all that matters is what I think. So what does DanBro think? Well he thinks that he should stop writing/talking in the third person and quit trying to be funny….

As a rider, a racer, not a Yamaha PR guru, I’m loving the new 250F. Before I joined Yamaha, I owned 2001, 2003 and 2005 YZ250F’s. All of them featured strong motors, excellent suspension and unmatched reliability, but while they had a confident and stable feel, they didn’t turn as quick as this new one. Now the bike has it all.

I definitely don’t have “it.” But at least I look good?

I could easily notice the lighter, quicker turning feeling in the front end in my short but sweet test ride. In fact, it turned almost too quick!

MXP’s Ryan Gauld, a long time Yamaha rider, had this advice for setting up the steering and ergonomics of the 250F. “No longer are you feeling like the bike pushes through turns, but now you can cut corners tight and carve them hard just like you were some supercross hero,” says Gauldy. ”My opinion is you need to run the bars in the position closest to your body with the mounts turned forward.  That way it keeps you a little more neutral and disperses your weight back a little so you’re not diving in on the front end under heavy braking.”

You can put this puppy anywhere you want on the track, really. The motor is the second biggest thing that got me excited. The throttle is smooth and responsive, it has a harder hit from mid-to-low, and it seems like you can carry it a gear higher or let it rev. (I’m a lugger, so I take advantage of the ability to run a gear higher. It also saves me energy for some sleeve ripping afterwards.) I wasn’t totally loving the new body/plastic style, but it’s definitely growing on me with its trick Euro look.

So, all in all, a good day. To check out all the hype floating around on the new 2010 YZ250F, check out these links: MXP Review, DMX Virtual Tour, IMX Review

Keep your stick on the ice!

DanBro