Check Point | April 29 2020

MEDIA | GNCC, Precision Concepts Racing & Moose Racing

Welcome to Check Point, a new weekly feature that will cover the ongoings in the off-road motorcycle racing world, presented by Moose Racing. Although motocross and Supercross is the center of the SML universe, our staff has massive respect for the varied disciplines of off-road, from SuperEnduro to Rally to GNCC to Big Six, and we always have an eye on what’s happening in the professional racing series. Every week we will bring updates from around the world, including race results, photos, video highlights, and new bike or product debuts.

Since this is an early installment of the feature, we want to hear your feedback. Drop a comment below and let us know what you think or what you want to see. 

FACTORYONE SHERCO & STEWARD BAYLOR SPLIT AFTER THREE RACES

On Tuesday, the FactoryONE Sherco race team announced that they had split with Steward Baylor, effective immediately. The news was sudden and offered little information as to why the growing operation would separate from the rider who just weeks ago scored their first-ever podium finish in the GNCC series, a second-place result following a long battle with defending champion Kaliub Russell. The statement, which was two sentences, simply stated that the team and its partners decided to part ways with Baylor and that there will be no further comment on the matter from their side. Baylor’s social media offers little insight on the matter, as there’s been no acknowledgment of the topic in any post, so it’ll be interesting to see if we ever hear details or a possible reason caused the deal to go sideways. 

Baylor is an accomplished competitor in the East Coast off-road series, evident in his 2011 XC2 title and his third-place rank in the XC1 overall standings in 2019, and he is currently  Although Steward is no longer part of the Sherco squad, his brother Grant will retain his spot on the team when racing resumes. 

ONBOARD WITH THE PRECISION CONCEPTS TEAM

Race teams need to have an online presence in 2020, be it through social media channels, a well put together website, or storytelling videos. The Chaparral Motorsports/Precision Concepts/Kawasaki Team Green crew has figured that out with their YouTube page, which is loaded with onboard riding footage and recap videos from their events on the West Coast. Want to feel like you’re at the controls of the team’s KX race bikes? Press play on the clips from Zach Bell, JP Alvarez, and Clay Hengeveld…

KURT CASELLI FOUNDATION | WHAT DO FLAGS MEAN

We’ve heard multiple stories of people getting back on their motorcycles during this current COVID crisis, which is a great thing for the sport. More riders mean more parts and gear will be purchased, and hopefully, more people line up for a race in the near future. If you’ve never competed in an organized motorcycle race, then give this safety video from the Kurt Caselli Foundation a watch. In two minutes the meaning and procedures of the colored flags are explained, from the basics like red/green/yellow to the advanced medical safety alerts. 

Does your track need a new set of silks? The Kurt Caselli Foundation is now offering a full set of silks (green, red, yellow, black, blue, medical cross, white, and checkered) for $100. The money from the flags will be put into the foundation’s fund to make all off-road racing safer.

QUARANTINE MAINTENANCE ROUTINE | REPLACE YOUR AIR FILTER

There’s no better time than no to get your machine fresh and ready for the next day on the trail. Moose Racing has an assortment of parts and products to ensure a solid ride, including an assortment of air filters for multiple applications, all of which are made in the USA.

The company’s Dry Air Filter is a two-layer piece of bonded high-flow foam and with a neoprene sealing ring that prevents dirt and water from entering the intake, without requiring the usual application of grease. Since this filter is dry, you’ll have to apply and clean it with your preferred choice of filter oil.

If you’d rather pull a filter out of the bag and directly on your bike without the hassle of applying and waiting for the oil to tack up, Moose offers the same two-layer filter that is pre-treated with their line of bio-friendly and flame resistant filter oil. The filters are precision oiled, which means there’s no extra oil to restrict the flow of air into the engine and hold back the bike’s power. What’s the cost difference? The pre-treated filter is about a dollar more.

If sandy or dusty conditions are where you ride most (this is an off-road post, after all) then maybe the triple-layer filter is more your style. The additional layer is intended to replace the filter skin that people use in extreme conditions, as the drop in power due to the mesh layer is worth protecting the engine. What makes this filter superior? The third layer doesn’t reduce the flow of air! And like the two-stage filter, Moose Racing has a pre-oiled offering too for just a little bit more. Click here to see the full fitment guide for the filters.