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Edited Date/Time
1/6/2016 12:53am
Some thread title, amirite 
After years of being ignored as much as possible by every manyfacturer other than Yamaha and KTM, it seems the wheels are finally turning on the return of the 125 production bikes.
Why now all of a sudden, do you ask? Well, a major factor is the EMX125 series that has become the perfect feeder series to the GP teams. At this point, you are nobody (in Europe) of you haven't shown yourself on a 125. This, coupled with the fact that pretty much every domestic youth/junior championship in Europe is now 125 only, has become a major problem for Suzuki, Kawasaki and Honda.
Why? Because it has become impossible for them to sign talent at a young enough age and groom them for GP racing. 75% procent of 85 and 125cc racers in Europe are on KTMs/husky's, 20% on Yamaha's and 5% on something else (mostly TMs). That means KTM has total control over pretty much the entire crop of European talent. Best example is Jorge prado, who was signed by KTM straight out of the 85 class and is now en route to becoming their next star.
The first response is coming from Yamaha, who will start their 'YZ125 challengers cup'. A brand new series that will have the winner on a factory YZ125 for the 2017 season. They have also started to give factory support to David Phillipaerts team, who will have 2 riders on factory 125s.
Kawasaki and Suzuki... Rumours of a new KX125 are growing stronger and Everts has hinted that 2018 will be the year for a new RM125.
Honda will probably remain as stubborn and braindead as they are and miss this boat completely. (150F fuck yeah)
I hope a lot of people get a good belly chuckle out of this post and write "there will never a new 2-stroke from a Japanese manufacturer". Well let me tell you, while I have no idea about the evolution of 250 2-strokes, there WILL be brand new 125 2-strokes in 5 years or less. You can stamp that any way you want to.
After years of being ignored as much as possible by every manyfacturer other than Yamaha and KTM, it seems the wheels are finally turning on the return of the 125 production bikes.
Why now all of a sudden, do you ask? Well, a major factor is the EMX125 series that has become the perfect feeder series to the GP teams. At this point, you are nobody (in Europe) of you haven't shown yourself on a 125. This, coupled with the fact that pretty much every domestic youth/junior championship in Europe is now 125 only, has become a major problem for Suzuki, Kawasaki and Honda.
Why? Because it has become impossible for them to sign talent at a young enough age and groom them for GP racing. 75% procent of 85 and 125cc racers in Europe are on KTMs/husky's, 20% on Yamaha's and 5% on something else (mostly TMs). That means KTM has total control over pretty much the entire crop of European talent. Best example is Jorge prado, who was signed by KTM straight out of the 85 class and is now en route to becoming their next star.
The first response is coming from Yamaha, who will start their 'YZ125 challengers cup'. A brand new series that will have the winner on a factory YZ125 for the 2017 season. They have also started to give factory support to David Phillipaerts team, who will have 2 riders on factory 125s.
Kawasaki and Suzuki... Rumours of a new KX125 are growing stronger and Everts has hinted that 2018 will be the year for a new RM125.
Honda will probably remain as stubborn and braindead as they are and miss this boat completely. (150F fuck yeah)
I hope a lot of people get a good belly chuckle out of this post and write "there will never a new 2-stroke from a Japanese manufacturer". Well let me tell you, while I have no idea about the evolution of 250 2-strokes, there WILL be brand new 125 2-strokes in 5 years or less. You can stamp that any way you want to.
The Shop
125 is motocross, no better bang or buzz for your buck long live premix!
I'll believe it when I see a new yellow and green 125 on showroom floors...
Or would kawi ad Suzuki have to make more RMZ styled and aluminum frames for the new 125? either way I'm all about it.
No matter how far out it goes, she always comes back.
Pit Row
And its more likely Yamaha would do this, do you not recall they petitioned AMA to allow them to race a 400cc four stroke against the 250 2 strokes and that started the whole 4 stroke revolution? And Yamaha sold 2 strokes then that were pretty good.
Honda (like the other manufactures) just followed Yamaha, yes it fitted their no 2 strokes mantra but it wasn't them that started the whole change. so if you don't like them not producing 2 strokes then blame Yamaha for starting it.
I personally don't think there will be a KX125 or RM125 but happy to be proven wrong in 2018. And I doubt there will ever be a Honda 2 stroke MX bike produced in the future, but again happy to be proven wrong.
Yamaha introduced the modern era 4 stroke..
Glad to see the resurgence of two strokes at the tracks, I've stood firm and ride for the enjoyment these days but two strokes build better riders, 250f can turn a very average rider into more haha
No doubt Luongo has been good for the 125's. Credit where credit is due!
The fact that all the kids now see EMX125 as a must do series, to get picked up for EMX250 puts the pressure on riders to make a comittment to a manufacturer, which is going to be Husky /KTM or Yamaha.
Hsu wasnt ready to hit a 250 F like Roczen , but they didnt want anyone else taking him on.
Honda went big bucks on Tim Gajser just because they had to stop KTM having him.
BUT.. look at KTM , they have killed it for years, kids start on an auto , then a 65, 85 etc, by the time they get to 12 tears old they have been orange for 6 years.. they have all the gear and have bought into the whole Cairoli/Herlings thing .
Yamaha have proved that an old bike with new plastics can do the deal, Maxime Reneaux has been superb on the blue bike this year, they dont have to build anything new , just build something.
Suzuki need to something while they still can.
Post a reply to: 125 production models ARE coming back, and awkwardly, Luongo will be the one to thank.