The following video was shot and edited by Paul Sanders of IV Films.

John Dowd (16) & Dag Boyesen (11) get great starts... photo by Michael Smola

Carlo Coen and John Dowd put on a fun show during practice. photo by Michael Smola

Dag Boyesen flying high over Unadilla Valley. photo by Michael Smola

Motivational Speaker Harold Glissen showed the crowd that determination and belief can accomplish miracles. photo by Michael Smola

RM250 two-stroke. photo by Michael Smola

Honda CR. photo by Michael Smola

Carlo Coen brought out his son James' 2004 KX125 to compete in the Invitational. He's still very fast. photo by Michael Smola

Another Honda two-stroker. If you know the names of these racers, please comment below. photo by Michael Smola

Cool red tire on the rear! photo by Michael Smola

John Dowd on his hybrid KX250 two-stroke. photo by Michael Smola

Interview for the fans.

Kawasaki X250. photo by Michael Smola

Now that's flying high! John Dowd demonstrates. photo by Travis Ramsey

Some of the enthusastic two-stroke racers.

Carlo Coen in his new Fly Clothing provided by WPS.

Ken Napolitano loves Unadilla.

Harold Glissen.

Michael Lewis.

Alex Moroz celebrates Jim "The Jammer" Weinert's birthday.

Jim Weinert and Eyvind Boyesen sharing stories.

Carlo Coen and Gary Bailey waiting for some Jammer birthday cake!

A very special thank you to the Robinson family and the Unadilla Sports center for arranging this race event. It was a fantastic time for all involved.

Related posts:

1. Unadilla 2 Stroke Challenge – Saturday August 14th
2. FMF 2 Stroke Invitational – Unadilla Edition
3. John Dowd’s Aluminum Framed PT250

The Polish KTM rider battled early with Mike Brown and had pressure from Geoff Aaron but proved to be the only rider to avoid serious mistakes and slowly left the other riders behind. The battle for the final podium spots was amazing as no fewer than six riders battled hard for the positions. In the end, GEICO backed Kyle Redmond took second for his first ever EnduroCross podium. The California rider has been the top American at Extreme Enduro events such as Erzeberg and Romaniacs multiple times and finally made his skills pay off on the intense EnduroCross course. He was joined by another first time podium finisher as RPM KTM backed Kevin Rookstool, a journeyman motocross racer that has made all three main events this season stole the position from some established stars.

Cody Webb, the recently crowned 2010 National Trials champion got the day started by setting the fastest time during the Pioneer Hot Lap that determines the gate picks for the evenings heat races. The Gas Gas rider also earned a $500 bonus from Rekluse clutch by being the fastest rider using their auto clutch. Taddy Blazusiak and Geoff Aaron were the second and third fastest qualifiers.

Brown, Blazusiak and Aaron were the heat race winners and Brown used his first gate pick to take the $750 Girardi Wealth Management holeshot award. Brown struggled through the wood pile on the first lap and dropped back to third, which he held until he yard saled in the same section and ultimately finished 9th. Geoff Aaron, the second place finisher at the last two events held second and then third position for most of the race but bent his shifter and finished 11th. Redmond steadily rode his Kawasaki to second position and held it despite several riders breathing down his neck all the way to the checkered flag. Rookstool had to go through the LCQ to make the main event and then rode a solid race to hold off Gary Sutherlin and Justin Soule. Lucas Oil backed Colton Haaker had a legitimate shot at the podium but threw it away in the same log pile that took Brown down and he finished sixth ahead of Cory Graffunder and Jamie Lanza. Brown, Webb and Aaron rounded out 9th to 11th positions.

In the support classes, Steve Leivan won the Vet class over Off Road legend Jeff Fredette and Rik Smits, the former Indiana Pacers basketball player that now loves riding dirt bikes. Michael Williams won the open Amateur main event and Patrick Smage won the TrialsCross class. The top four in the Amateur classes battled for $500 in the dash for cash and Smage came back again to take the cash for gas money back to Wisconsin.

2010 Indianapolis EnduroCross Expert Class results:

1. Taddy Blazusiak KTM
2. Kyle Redmond Kasasaki
3. Kevin Rookstool KTM
4. Gary Sutherlin Kawasaki
5. Justin Soule Kawasaki
6. Colton Haaker Kawasaki
7. Cory Graffunder Husqvarna
8. Jamie Lanza Kawasaki
9. Mike Brown KTM
10. Cody Webb Gas Gas
11. Geoff Aaron Christini KTM

Related posts:

1. Taddy Blazusiak Opens 2010 GEICO EnduroCross Series with a win in Las Vegas!
2. Taddy Blazusiak Wins 2009 Endurocross Title on Two Stroke
3. Random News, Quotes and Other Fun Stuff

According to Green Car Reports;

The funding is to be used to further develop a new engine design called the Opposed Piston Opposed Cylinder, or OPOC for short. According to EcoMotors, based in suburban Detroit, the new OPOC engines feature 50 percent fewer parts than regular engines, while also being 50 percent more fuel efficient. Everyone knows that a lot of energy in internal combustion engines is wasted due to frictional losses, and having 50 percent fewer parts should go a long way to remedying this issue.

But that’s only part of the story–the OPOC engine also features a two-stroke design. The benefit here is that a two-stroke engine delivers a power pulse with every revolution of the crankshaft, as opposed to the four-stroke engine which fires each cylinder on every other revolution.

Previous two-stroke designs were quickly banished as emissions standards started to get tougher. The design is such that unburned fuel and lubricating oils are released through the exhaust, causing emissions to be much higher. However, EcoMotors believes its design has overcome this challenge.

To read the entire Green Car Article, click here – www.greencarreports.com

Khosla Ventures and Bill Gates Invest in EcoMotors’ Revolutionary opoc® Engine

Securing “Series B” funding from two prominent investors represents a major advance in the global commercialization of the opoc® technology.

TROY, Michigan, July 12, 2010 — EcoMotors International CEO Don Runkle announced today that the Company has secured substantial Series B funding – sufficient to complete engineering and testing of the opoc® engine.

The two exclusive investors in EcoMotors’ Series B are Khosla Ventures of Menlo Park, California and Bill Gates. The two principals, Vinod Khosla and Bill Gates, indicate their stakes in EcoMotors reflect a shared belief in the global potential of the opoc® technology and the impact it can have on transportation emissions because of its cost effectiveness.

“opoc® is precisely the kind of game-changing innovation that we at Khosla Ventures are passionate about,” said Khosla. “The only truly disruptive technologies are those that can provide not only payback in months but also economic and carbon benefits to large segments of the world’s population without the need for subsidies or massive infrastructure investments. Among next-generation propulsion systems, the opoc® engine is broadly applicable and can provide lower carbon emissions than almost any other technology.”

“The opoc® engine can be an important step in providing affordable, low-emission transportation for the developing world,” said Gates. “EcoMotors has developed a promising technology that could help reduce levels of greenhouse gas emissions in a low-cost, globally relevant way.”

The revolutionary opoc® architecture of opposed pistons and opposed cylinders provides unparalleled benefits:

High Efficiency: The unique enginearchitecture – which offers true modular displacement capability – delivers up to 50% greater fuel efficiency compared with conventional engines of similar output, along with a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Half the weight and half the size of conventional engines: Theopoc® engine provides unparalleled power density and flexibility in automobile and truck design as well as other engine applications.

Low Cost: With50% fewer parts than a conventional engine, the opoc® is less expensive to manufacture, to purchase, to operate and to tool up.

Established in early 2008, EcoMotors is quickly achieving critical mass in terms of changing the landscape of internal combustion power. Based in Troy, Mich., EcoMotors is commercializing the unique opoc® engine for use in cars, light trucks, commercial vehicles, aerospace, marine, agriculture, auxiliary power units, generators, etc. Anywhere conventional gas or diesel power is currently utilized, opoc® represents a better propulsion solution.

EcoMotors is led by Don Runkle (Chief Executive Officer) and Prof. Peter Hofbauer (Chairman and Chief Technical Officer).

opoc® was conceived by Prof. Peter Hofbauer – who formerly as Head of Powertrain Development at VW designed the original VW high speed diesel engine that became the foundation for the Jetta Clean Diesel that won 2009 Green Car of the Year honors. Don Runkle, as former VP of N.A. Engineering at GM, spearheaded the GM EV1 electric car along with countless other innovations.

EcoMotors is a Khosla Ventures portfolio company. Khosla Ventures offers venture assistance, strategic advice and capital to entrepreneurs. The firm helps entrepreneurs extend the potential of their ideas in breakthrough scientific work in clean technology areas such as solar, battery, high efficiency engines, lighting, greener materials like cement, glass and bio-refineries for energy and bioplastics, and other environmentally friendly technologies as well as traditional venture areas like the Internet, computing, mobile and silicon technology arenas. Vinod Khosla founded the firm in 2004 and was formerly a General Partner at Kleiner Perkins and founder of Sun Microsystems. Khosla Ventures is based in Menlo Park, California.

Related posts:

1. A Two-Stroke Revival, Without the Blue Haze
2. Lotus: Omnivore engine is 10% more efficient with more to come
3. Direct injection keeps two-stroke alive for Bombardier in 2012

According to the Moto Matters web site;

The good news in that announcement is that the Grand Prix Commission is thinking seriously about how to prevent the class once again being dominated by a single manufacturer charging monopoly prices to selected teams for the best bikes…. The bad news is that as they stand, the suggested solutions are so woefully inadequate for their intended aim that they more likely to encourage manipulation rather than reduce it.

There is good reason to believe that there will be many more than three manufacturers wishing to supply engines to the Moto3 grid: I have personally been approached by two separate manufacturers currently working on a Moto3 engine, and I know of at least one other project currently underway. And these are new projects being set up by manufacturers not involved in MotoGP at the moment: As the current crop of Japanese manufacturers all already have experience building 250cc single-cylinder four-stroke motocross engines, there is every reason to believe that at least one, and probably two or three, will also start building a Moto3 engine.

MotoGP’s Technical Director Mike Webb explains that at the start of every season, the team managers drop by his office one by one and apologize for what they are about to inflict upon him, deliberately seeking out the boundaries of the rules as they stand. As we have discussed here before, the more rules that are drawn up, the more loopholes there are to slip through. Rules merely produce cheating at an exponential rate.

To read this entire article please go here http://motomatters.com

Former World Champion Wayne Gardner had this to say;

The confirmation that the 125cc grand prix class is set to become obsolete is a very sad development. For decades it’s been a great breeding ground for future talent and has produced many amazing champions.

… considering the class is going to be replaced by a 250cc four-stroke category. Slower, heavier and with less horsepower than the two-strokes they’ll be replacing, these new machines will also be a lot easier to ride, and this is my big problem. Like it or not, four-strokes do not promote or necessitate the development of rider precision. Skills like sharp throttle control and sensitive line selection are no longer as important because four-strokes lower the bar as far as accuracy is concerned.

Put simply, you can be less refined and still succeed. …. As a result, the riders that come up through the system will not be as good as the current generation, simply because they don’t need to be. Is this really the way we want to go? I just don’t know.

Now, I understand the move to four-strokes is partly about bringing costs down, but I’m not sure how this is going to happen. Afterall, you can’t get much cheaper or simpler than a 125cc GP bike. Make no mistake, four-strokes are not cheap, and you can bet that the costs of this new class will definitely rise.

After all the expense and drama of the four-stroke MotoGP experiment, I wouldn’t be all surprised to see the two-strokes make a triumphant return to the world championship arena one day. In fact, I’ll put money on it. The signs are already there.

Whichever way you cut it, the two-stroke is an ingenious design – light, simple, and the ability to produce a lot of power per capacity. And they’re cheap to run and easy to maintain.

If governing bodies are really serious about saving costs and running a sustainable race series, they may just have to go back to the future. I really believe the two-stroke will make a comeback and I can’t wait for the great sound of that high-pitched scream. I don’t know when it will happen, exactly, but you read it here first.

To read the entire story click here www.waynegardnerapproved.com

Here is another case of the Sanctioning body of a racing organization setting up rules that in the long run will be damaging to motorcycle racing sports as a whole.

Make your voice heard.

Related posts:

1. Two Stroke on the Comeback!
2. FIM announces 125cc 2 Stroke European Championship
3. Is A 250cc Two Stroke More Powerful Then A 250cc Four Stroke??

He wants to race at the Pala National on his YZ250, but he finds himself a bit low on funds to get to the race. He is a newly married young man, paying his own way.

At Washougal Devin almost got the two-stroke into the big show. He only missed qualifying by a very small margin. His best lap time was a 2:22 and he needed a 2:19 to make it in.

For those of you that have not experienced the cost of competing on the National level, let’s just say that even the smallest attempt is a very costly one. Just the entry fee alone for each National is $200.

If everyone that read this article sent a couple of dollars to help Devin out, it would be a huge help.

Here’s a chance to help out a two stroke brother. Let’s help get him to Pala.

Devin’s Paypal account is svlandscape@hotmail.com

Please remember that every little bit helps, even if it’s just a $10. – $5. or $2. donation. Every little bit can help. Plus then you could tell all your friends that you sponsor a National level racer!! How cool is that?

Thank you!

Related posts:

1. Devin Watson to attempt to qualify for Washougal on a two stroke
2. UNADILLA 2 STROKE CHALLENGE
3. RacerX Test – 2009 Yamaha YZ’s

Project Two 50’s goal is to successfully race a 250cc two-stroke machine in the Outdoor Nationals this summer.

Want more information and updates? Become a Project Two 50 fan page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Project-Two-50/) for up to date news, personalized information, and insider information. We want to hear your comments so fire away!

A very special thanks to all the sponsors of Project Two 50.

Kinetic, MicroBlue Racing, Amsoil, DK Construction, Benstar Racing, Revanche 2 Strokes, Titan MX, V-Force, Pro Clean, Get Real Racing, FMF Racing, Boyesen, Peak Performance, Cool Fuel, RacePro USA, Two Stroke Motocross, Twin Air, Renthal, Ride Engineering, Edmonds Racing, D&D Crank, Dunlop, Scott USA, O’Neal, AHP Mini’s, IV Films, Matt Francis Photography.

Related posts:

1. Misc. Two Stroke News for June
2. 2009 FMF 2-Stroke Invitational Race Series
3. Revanche 2 Stroke Apparel

The schedule is as follows;
11:50-12:00 site lap
12:00-12:15 2 stroke race

So far the entry list contains these racers from all parts of the USA;

Pete Aceto
Don Ashmore, Jr
Ben Atkinson
Ken Burger
Carlo Coen
Eric DeBadts
Bud Fee
Michael Fowler
Jeremy Garges
Allen Gavlak
Harold Glissen
Eric Heinecke
Michael Lewis
Russell Lineman
John Lyons IV
Matt Moore
Ken Napolitano
John Nelsen
Shelby Reitz
Randy Schenkel
Rick Spinella
Todd Weindel

In addition there just may be a few surprise last minute entries, as there were a few well-known ex-pro racers who have shown some interest.

We will do our best to bring you coverage of this race.

Related posts:

1. 2010 Unadilla 2 Stroke Challenge
2. UNADILLA 2 STROKE CHALLENGE
3. 2009 Glen Helen 2-Stroke Invitational Video & Results

HILLSDALE, Mich., (Aug. 10, 2010) – The big news out of Hurricane Mills, Tenn., this past week was Cobra Motorcycles sweeping all of the 50cc titles at the 29^th running of the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships, presented by AMSOIL, at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

But possibly the biggest news for Cobra as a company was the CX65’s first-ever 65cc overall podium at Loretta’s with Illinois’ Chase Sexton bringing home a 3^rd place finish in the 7-11 Modified class, going 6^th/3^rd/5^th.

“This is the first of many to come,” said Cobra President Sean Hilbert of what was also the first-ever podium finish as well for an American-made dirt bike in the 65 class at Loretta’s.

Sexton would go on to finish a solid 6^th overall in the 65cc 10-11 stock class as well. And Missouri’s Michael Hicks (8^th) and New Mexico’s Brandon Smith (10^th) would also put the American-made Cobra CX65 in the 7-9 Stock top ten overall scoring.

On the world-famous Cobra 50cc bikes, the reigning king of all mini bikes – Cobra’s King 50 – swept the entire 7-8 AMA 2 class podium. Georgia’s Jackson Turpin would take the overall title with some consistently fast riding (3^rd/4^th/3^rd), followed by third moto winner Parker Mashburn (Texas) in 2^nd place overall and Maryland’s Jack Rogers in 3^rd.

2010 LL Turpin (15) and Rogers (25)

The AMA 2 class was not without drama as Cobra’s pre-race favorites, California’s Stilez Robertson and Missouri’s “Lightning” Lance Kobush both won motos – and both had troubles that would take them out of medal contention. Robertson, who went 1^st/2^nd in the first two motos (to Kobush’s win in the second moto), was poised to take the overall when he wrecked twice in the final moto and was only able to make it back to 11^th in the third and deciding race.

In the 4-6 AMA 1 class Georgia’s Gage Linville was the (little) Man – sweeping all three motos for the overall title. Linville was joined on the podium by Nevada’s Robert Hailey in 2^nd – and the two should have been joined by Ohio’s Vance Stiers, who placed 2^nd/2^nd in the first two AMA 1 motos. But Stiers ran into trouble on the start straightaway of moto three when he found himself at the bottom of a pile-up, ending his Loretta’s podium hopes for 2010.

“Again, congrats to all the Cobra racers and their families who qualified for 2010 AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships. Cobra was proud to be there in full force with factory support and will continue to do so at all the major amateur nationals throughout the competition season,” added Hilbert. “Enjoy the rest of the summer and get after your schoolwork like you get after a motocross track. We’ll look forward to seeing you at the Mini Os in November.”

2010 50cc SR Podium (Turpin, Rogers, Mashburn)

Read Hilbert’s web log account of Loretta’s at: http://blog.cobramotorcycle.com/

For more information on the 2010 AMA Amateur National Championships – including up-to-date scoring, link to the Loretta’s website at: http://www.mxsports.com

Cobra, founded in 1993, produces the most successful line of competition mini cycles and mini quads in the United States with more than 200 national titles in the last decade. Based out of Hillsdale, Mich., Cobra’s mission is to build premium products for the serious racer. For more information on Cobra products, please visit our website at www.cobramotorcycle.com.

High Profile Public Relations (HPPR), LLC, is a multi-faceted communications agency specializing in strategic media relations – both industry and mainstream – for the powersports and action sports communities. Dialed in with all forms of power and action sports, its participants, manufacturers and live event promoters, HPPR’s Pat Schutte can be reached at (734) 369-2170 and pat@highprofilepr.com.

Related posts:

1. Cobra racers return for Branson MX redo and come away with multiple 50cc and 65cc titles
2. Cobra’s Jordan Bailey & Gauge Keith sweep the 50cc Senior, Junior class titles at the Gatorback MX Park’s Mini Os!
3. Cobra mini bikes buzz Texas, lock down all the top 50cc podium spots

Luke Renzland from New Jersey put his Yamaha YZ250 into the winners circle in two classes. His win in the Schoolboy 1 (12-16) showed Luke’s riding skill and ability on the slippery track.

Luke also finished 3rd in the 250B Stock class.

Click the following link for an interview with Luke following his win in the Schoolboy class. Included in the video is footage of Luke powering his YZ250 over the tough Loretta Lynn’s Race course to a win in the final moto.

http://www.motoplayground.com/main/index.php/mpg-todays-everyone-loretta-lynns/friday-8-06/schoolboy-1-12-16-champ

The following quote is from a report by East MX.com about Luke’s accomplishment.

Schoolboy 1 had an upset winner, Luke Renzland, taking the title. Favorites like Joey Savatgy, Colt Nichols and Matt Besceglia could not compare with Luke’s consistency going 4-2-1 for the championship. Savatgy seemed to be plagued with bad starts all week and would work his way up inside the top 5. Even with Nichols moto win, Renzland started up front made the pass early and never looked back to get his first Loretta Lynn’s championship.

Luke Renzland flying at Loretta Lynn's in the Schoolboy 1 class. Photo by Matt Rice / East MX

A great big CONGRATULATIONS to Luke on his first Amateur National title. This is just the first of many for this talented young racer.

All photos courtesy of Matt Rice / East MX
www.eastmx.com

Related posts:

1. Joey Rossi poised to podium at Amateur National Motocross Championships
2. Cobra mini quad racers dominate ATVA National Championships @ Loretta Lynn’s Ranch!
3. Cobra sweeps 50cc titles at Loretta’s – add company’s first-ever 65cc podium

HILLSDALE, Mich., (Aug. 3, 2010) – Cobra mini cycle racers stepped up and swept the entire Jr. and Sr. 50cc Stock and Modified class podiums at the  NMA’s biggest race of the season – the 2010 Ponca City Grand National this past week/weekend.

Aboard the American-made King 50s, CXJRs and CX65s, Cobra racers accounted for five titles – including an incredible 1^st place run by Utah’s Pierce Brown to win the overall Super Pee Wee 6-9 title at, get this, seven-years-old!

Cobra's Pierce Brown Ponca 2010. Photo by MotoPlayGround

“Absolutely unheard of what Pierce pulled off,” said Cobra President Sean Hilbert. “That was Cobra’s biggest highlight of the Ponca City Grand National weekend and this may very well be a first for the event.” Note: California’s Stilez Robertson and Florida’s Cole Williams rounded out the all-Cobra podium sweep in the Super Pee Wee class.

Another big story for Cobra at Ponca was the effort by Colorado’s Aaden Veazie, Cobra’s newest addition to its team, in the 6-8 65cc Modified class. Veazie, running the Cobra CX65, was leading Lance Kobush late in the contest in the final moto when he ran into a downed lapped rider and broke his clutch lever.

Cobra's Lance Kobush Ponca 2010. Photo by MotoPlayGround

Iowa’s Gage Fisher would land a top ten finish in the 6-8 65cc Modified class and Veazie would place 9^th in the 6-8 65cc Stock class. Cobra’s Hunter Budd (Texas) scored a 3^rd place podium finish in the first moto of the 9-11 65cc Stock class.

Leading the 7-8 50cc PW Stock and Modified class moto sweep was Missouri’s Kobush. The Cobra King 50 racer swept top honors in both classes, with Brown taking 2^nd place in both – Levi Kitchen (Washington) in 3^rd in the Stock class and California’s Robertson locking down 3^rd in the 7-8 PW Modified class.

The little guys (4-6) were led by Georgia’s Gage Linville, who won the Stock class and Colorado’s Andrew Britt, who took top honors in the PW Modified class – though Linville won the second 4-6 Modified moto (7^th in the opening moto). Nevada’s Robert Hailey was the runner-up in both the 4-6 Stock and Modified classes, with Britt placing 3^rd in Stock and Cooper Gerecke (California) scoring a 3^rd in the 4-6 PW Modified class.

Now it’s onto Loretta’s for the AMA Amateur National MX Championships this week.

For more information on the 2010 Ponca City Grand National – including up-to-date scoring, link to the NMA’s website at: http://www.nmamx.com/

Cobra, founded in 1993, produces the most successful line of competition mini cycles and mini quads in the United States with more than 200 national titles in the last decade. Based out of Hillsdale, Mich., Cobra’s mission is to build premium products for the serious racer. For more information on Cobra products, please visit our website at www.cobramotorcycle.com.

High Profile Public Relations (HPPR), LLC, is a multi-faceted communications agency specializing in strategic media relations – both industry and mainstream – for the powersports and action sports communities. Dialed in with all forms of power and action sports, its participants, manufacturers and live event promoters, HPPR’s Pat Schutte can be reached at (734) 369-2170 and pat@highprofilepr.com.

Related posts:

1. Cobra riders roll into Ponca City as the favorites in the mini bike classes
2. Cobras sizzle at the Mini GPs – sweep entire 50cc podiums, add two more podos on 65s
3. Cobra mini bikes buzz Texas, lock down all the top 50cc podium spots