Tuesday, 19 August 2008 23:30
As our domestic seasons in various disciplines wind up, it's time for the big international one-offs to get under way. The first day of the Safari has Ben Grabham whooping freckle, but there's some serious competition looming as Kawaskai's Shane Diener chomps into Grabbo's early lead.
Ben Grabham is clearly a world-class talent, and I can only hope at some stage he decides to have a crack at the world rallye circuit. If he does, and he can get the right backing, he'll be a contender. I especially like the idea that Ben has come to rallye so young. Where a lot of the current crop of leaders are semi-retired from motocross and enduro, Ben is still very young, and has had a long history already of motocross and enduro success. He'd still be a front-runner at national motocross in Australia, I'd think, and he proved himself as a 16-year-old class winner at the ISDE in Traralgon.
Which brings me to the ISDE, due to kick off in Serres, Greece, next week.
Australia's done well at international enduro, and for such a small population, amazingly well at the ISDE. Watts, Grabham (again), Ballard, Merriman, Williscroft and a swag of others have held the Aussie flag high and done well in the WECs over the years. This year the teams look as good as any: Hollis, Hutton, Ben Kearney, Glen Kearney, Merriman, and Roberts in the seniors; Bewley, Braico, Hore and Strang in the Juniors. These days there's a trend to cutting chops in the US instead of Europe, but I think the training ground is just as good from a riding point of view. The cultural difference between Europe and America may be a factor, but that's what the team management is partly for.
So all is looking good there.
Finally, the Motocross des Nations.
Without raking over the coals of years past, this September will see Chad Reed, Michael Byrne and Brett Metcalfe doing their best for Aussie - and personal - pride. I'll have my fingers crossed, but it's never been a stand-out affair for Australia, mainly because our expectations are so high. The enduro and rallye guys can do it.
Why can't the motocrossers?
Maybe they can. Maybe 2008 will finally be our year.
I'll be glued to the web for all these events, willing Australia on.
Meanwhile, I'm about to launch seriously into issue #24. I've knocked over a few bits and pieces, but it all starts to get serious today, with the CRF back on its wheels and running like a dream. I still don't know what the problem was, because the mechanic who did the work has been off since I picked up the bike, but I'll find out today and let youse know. It wasn't valves, I'm relieved to say. The originals are still in there, and the bill didn't even go close to covering replacement.
So the bike's in its final stages of prettying up before heading out to Chilli for some engine mods and a few extra horsepower. The BMW 450 and 800 release is just around the corner, so that'll be in there as well, along with a brief 'how to' on shooting video.
More and more people are shooting video, and it's obvious we all need some pointers. Phil Hodgens' mate, Marc 'Marky Mark' Smith is a pro cameraman for a TV station, and he's knocking out the piece for us.
There's a stack of product and a few tech tips, as well as the usual news and reviews.
And I've done hardly any, so I have to hook in.
Got a copy of #23, by the way. Looks horn!
Check back here for the update on the problem with the CRF.
TF
CRF UPDATE: The problem was a faulty plug. Bike's running really well now, still on the original valves as supplied. TF
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