Supercross test tracks

TheOriginalPancakee
Profile picture for user TheOriginalPancakee
Posts
2273
Joined
3/28/2016
Location
Woodbine, NJ, USA
TheOriginalPancakee 11/8/2016 5:41pm
11/8/2016 5:41pm
Any of these new?
papibarros
Profile picture for user papibarros
Posts
22
Joined
9/20/2010
Location
Astoria, NY, USA
papibarros 11/9/2016 2:00pm
11/9/2016 2:00pm
papibarros wrote:
I wonder what would be the reasoning of having all the tracks so close to each other. Do you know?
ML512 wrote:
The owner of the property is super easy to deal with and really likes moto...
Thanks for the answers ML and Mr. Info.

That makes it easy but i still think it's odd and I would assume manufacturer's would want more privacy.

It does not look difficult for one to spy the other if wanted.
tek14
Profile picture for user tek14
Posts
4980
Joined
1/26/2014
Location
Vantaa, FI
tek14 11/9/2016 2:12pm
11/9/2016 2:12pm
Did they bring that red-dirt to tracks or is it mixture of something added to base soil of area?
I would just love to have that colour at track to get cool colourful fotos :D
MX45
Profile picture for user MX45
Posts
1166
Joined
11/14/2008
Location
Phoenix, AZ, USA
MX45 11/9/2016 2:59pm
11/9/2016 2:59pm Edited Date/Time 11/9/2016 3:00pm
JB426 wrote:
Hahaha. Yeah missed the "interactive-ness" of the pic the first time, I had just expanded it. I got it now. Cool, thanks ML512. I like how...
Hahaha. Yeah missed the "interactive-ness" of the pic the first time, I had just expanded it. I got it now.

Cool, thanks ML512.

I like how they have that different dirt for some of them.
GuyB wrote:
To be honest, I think a lot of people miss it. I've been surprise how few people comment on these. I think they're pretty cool. For...
To be honest, I think a lot of people miss it. I've been surprise how few people comment on these. I think they're pretty cool. For example, the one below from the Monster Energy Cup.

I think these views are awesome. Thanks GuyB!
(Any way to save these to my PC?).

I've been doing these VR's for the track maps since 2012, but nobody know's what to do with them so they never go out. Ha!

Here's a couple examples:
Hangtown 2012
MEC 2016

The Shop

See All »
ML512
Profile picture for user ML512
Posts
17104
Joined
12/28/2008
Location
Wildomar, CA, USA
Fantasy
1328th
ML512 11/9/2016 4:23pm
11/9/2016 4:23pm
abomination wrote:
this is a huge surprise to me. are they not riding these all season long?
After Supercross season ends, they pretty much sit all Summer and into early fall with no action. The few years we had SX at X Games would produce a week or two of action in July, but not anymore.
ML512
Profile picture for user ML512
Posts
17104
Joined
12/28/2008
Location
Wildomar, CA, USA
Fantasy
1328th
ML512 11/9/2016 4:24pm
11/9/2016 4:24pm
tek14 wrote:
Did they bring that red-dirt to tracks or is it mixture of something added to base soil of area? I would just love to have that...
Did they bring that red-dirt to tracks or is it mixture of something added to base soil of area?
I would just love to have that colour at track to get cool colourful fotos :D
Each track has a different mix of soils, but yes there's a lot of clay mixed in. The clay actually comes from the owner of the property, as his business is "Corona Clay"
ML512
Profile picture for user ML512
Posts
17104
Joined
12/28/2008
Location
Wildomar, CA, USA
Fantasy
1328th
ML512 11/9/2016 4:27pm
11/9/2016 4:27pm
TheOriginalPancakee wrote:
Any of these new?
What do you mean? The newest is Husqvarna's, which was built last winter (thus why it's not on the Google Earth image that was posted).
crf250pilot
Profile picture for user crf250pilot
Posts
2135
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Manning, OR, USA
crf250pilot 11/9/2016 11:39pm
11/9/2016 11:39pm
mark911 wrote:
Picture of C. Webb sporting the #2 at the Yamaha test track (see arrow for the exact corner). I'm pretty lucky in that I can ride...
Picture of C. Webb sporting the #2 at the Yamaha test track (see arrow for the exact corner). I'm pretty lucky in that I can ride my MX bikes from my house to the tracks all on fire trails. You'd think it would be really great spectating but for the most part the riders are only on the track maybe 20% of the time.







Is Wonder bread the new title sponsor for the Yamaha team?
rpawley
Profile picture for user rpawley
Posts
484
Joined
3/13/2013
Location
Denver, CO, USA
rpawley 11/10/2016 12:12am
11/10/2016 12:12am
Keep em coming GuyB!
abomination
Profile picture for user abomination
Posts
708
Joined
1/9/2016
Location
SLC, UT, USA
abomination 11/10/2016 1:07am
11/10/2016 1:07am
ML512 wrote:
After Supercross season ends, they pretty much sit all Summer and into early fall with no action. The few years we had SX at X Games...
After Supercross season ends, they pretty much sit all Summer and into early fall with no action. The few years we had SX at X Games would produce a week or two of action in July, but not anymore.
I would've guessed these tracks would've been turned over regularly, to keep the riders exposed to different rhythms. The track maps are out, so say if next week's track had a 'unique' obstacle (dragonback to dragonback or something), they'd at minimum build that in for some extra reps.
TheSandMan491 11/10/2016 6:42am
11/10/2016 6:42am
I always got the impression the big factory test tracks were in some secluded location separate from each other with very restricted access (between other teams as well as the public). I knew they were close (in the same county), but didn't know they were on the same hill!
ML512
Profile picture for user ML512
Posts
17104
Joined
12/28/2008
Location
Wildomar, CA, USA
Fantasy
1328th
ML512 11/10/2016 7:46am
11/10/2016 7:46am Edited Date/Time 11/10/2016 9:09am
abomination wrote:
I would've guessed these tracks would've been turned over regularly, to keep the riders exposed to different rhythms. The track maps are out, so say if...
I would've guessed these tracks would've been turned over regularly, to keep the riders exposed to different rhythms. The track maps are out, so say if next week's track had a 'unique' obstacle (dragonback to dragonback or something), they'd at minimum build that in for some extra reps.
They tend to stick with the same layout for testing reasons. Keeps everything a bit more consistent throughout the season. Most of these tracks are built with what the guys will see for obstacles through the year, but I've seen them change a section if there's something really unique on the upcoming schedule. But as for variety, they don't really need to adjust their tracks often, as there's a few public or semi-private Supercross tracks in the area you can use. Like the public/pro-only ones at Lake Elsinore, Pala, Milestone, and a new one in Hemet. There is sometimes one at Starwest (333 park now) as well...

Beyond that, the manufactures have access to quite a few tracks.

If you're factory Honda or on Geico you can ride the Honda track in Corona (in that test track group) or Geico has a private Supercross track in the back corner at Milestone that Honda supported riders can use.

With Factory Kawasaki, their main Supercross test track is down the hill from all the ones in the Canyon, out by the freeway, Plus they have K2 in the canyon (on the hillside between Suzuki and TLD. They could also access the two SX tracks that Pro Circuit has at Glen Helen private. PC can use their two tracks at Glen Helen plus K2 in Corona.

KTM/Husky guy's have it good as their are side-by-side tracks for Husqvarna and KTM which they can both use, along with some general use of TLD's. TLD can do the same...

Yamaha and Star have two test tacks side-by-side on the one pad in Corona...

Suzuki si the most limited, with just one test track in Corona and the public ones.

Plus, most of the top guys have access to Supercross tracks back east. The Geico team plus many other riders have access to "The Nest" (Villo's old property), some guys ride at Baggett's El Chupacabra Ranch, there's also Tim Ferry's place, Carmichael's ranch, Barcia's and Reed's... then the Baker Factory for those on that program. These places all have at least one SX track, some even have two.

Then add in Tomac's private setup, Stewart's, Canard's, etc... There's lots of options out there if you're that guy or team members with them.
Zaugg
Profile picture for user Zaugg
Posts
1083
Joined
9/1/2012
Location
Not California, CA, USA
Zaugg 11/10/2016 8:56am
11/10/2016 8:56am
It's also really expensive to rebuild a track which is why you only see them change up a section and not an entire layout.

With so many options within 45-60 mins, there's no need to rework layouts.

abomination
Profile picture for user abomination
Posts
708
Joined
1/9/2016
Location
SLC, UT, USA
abomination 11/10/2016 9:00am
11/10/2016 9:00am
Interesting stuff—thanks for the detailed reply @ML512.
abomination
Profile picture for user abomination
Posts
708
Joined
1/9/2016
Location
SLC, UT, USA
abomination 11/10/2016 9:06am
11/10/2016 9:06am Edited Date/Time 11/10/2016 9:47am
Zaugg wrote:
It's also really expensive to rebuild a track which is why you only see them change up a section and not an entire layout. With so...
It's also really expensive to rebuild a track which is why you only see them change up a section and not an entire layout.

With so many options within 45-60 mins, there's no need to rework layouts.

Expensive, maybe, but if you think it gives you 25% better chance to make 400% more money on any given weekend, it becomes a lot less expensive.

And like most things I'm sure it could be done affordably…it's well reported how little some mechanics and other positions within the industry are paid. Divide some very low salary by the number of riders & purchase or rent equipment half the week, and you have a full-time track builder (edit: to clarify, I mean someone else, not one of the riders). Seems feasible and probably oversimplified.

45-60 minutes each way (and I don't know if that include infamous SoCal traffic) is a lot of time when you figure they have to race Saturday, recover Sunday, and be traveling Thursday or Friday…
ML512
Profile picture for user ML512
Posts
17104
Joined
12/28/2008
Location
Wildomar, CA, USA
Fantasy
1328th
ML512 11/10/2016 9:13am
11/10/2016 9:13am
Zaugg wrote:
It's also really expensive to rebuild a track which is why you only see them change up a section and not an entire layout. With so...
It's also really expensive to rebuild a track which is why you only see them change up a section and not an entire layout.

With so many options within 45-60 mins, there's no need to rework layouts.

abomination wrote:
Expensive, maybe, but if you think it gives you 25% better chance to make 400% more money on any given weekend, it becomes a lot less...
Expensive, maybe, but if you think it gives you 25% better chance to make 400% more money on any given weekend, it becomes a lot less expensive.

And like most things I'm sure it could be done affordably…it's well reported how little some mechanics and other positions within the industry are paid. Divide some very low salary by the number of riders & purchase or rent equipment half the week, and you have a full-time track builder (edit: to clarify, I mean someone else, not one of the riders). Seems feasible and probably oversimplified.

45-60 minutes each way (and I don't know if that include infamous SoCal traffic) is a lot of time when you figure they have to race Saturday, recover Sunday, and be traveling Thursday or Friday…
If you live in Corona or Murrieta (where most of the moto guys do) these test tracks in the hills are only about a 20-25 min drive each way, in a fairly traffic free zone depending on the direction you're traveling. My experience, don't let riders run equipment, they screw shit up that's very expensive to fix. Let the professionals do it... They already pay to lease the land, new material costs, equipment costs, rebuilds, prep, water, etc... It's all in a budget and they do what they can.
ML512
Profile picture for user ML512
Posts
17104
Joined
12/28/2008
Location
Wildomar, CA, USA
Fantasy
1328th
ML512 11/10/2016 9:17am
11/10/2016 9:17am
Here's some half-assed labeling.



51xc
Profile picture for user 51xc
Posts
2190
Joined
7/27/2015
Location
DE
51xc 11/10/2016 9:38am
11/10/2016 9:38am
looks depressing to me. tomac, reed, barcia etc are some lucky sob's to have their own facilities.

Pit Row

See All »
Bramlett321
Profile picture for user Bramlett321
Posts
1069
Joined
9/14/2012
Location
Texarkana, TX, USA
Bramlett321 11/10/2016 10:25am
11/10/2016 10:25am Edited Date/Time 11/10/2016 10:26am
JB426 wrote:
I did but I think I only found 5 tracks. Cool pic.
ML512 wrote:
There are eight if you look carefully.
I can only see 6 dangit!!.....Nevermind I'm blind
Zaugg
Profile picture for user Zaugg
Posts
1083
Joined
9/1/2012
Location
Not California, CA, USA
Zaugg 11/10/2016 10:30am
11/10/2016 10:30am Edited Date/Time 11/10/2016 10:31am
abomination wrote:
Expensive, maybe, but if you think it gives you 25% better chance to make 400% more money on any given weekend, it becomes a lot less...
Expensive, maybe, but if you think it gives you 25% better chance to make 400% more money on any given weekend, it becomes a lot less expensive.

And like most things I'm sure it could be done affordably…it's well reported how little some mechanics and other positions within the industry are paid. Divide some very low salary by the number of riders & purchase or rent equipment half the week, and you have a full-time track builder (edit: to clarify, I mean someone else, not one of the riders). Seems feasible and probably oversimplified.

45-60 minutes each way (and I don't know if that include infamous SoCal traffic) is a lot of time when you figure they have to race Saturday, recover Sunday, and be traveling Thursday or Friday…
45-60 radius not one way is what I meant and to Michael's point, the traffic out in the Inland Empire isn't as bad when teams are driving to the test tracks. Usually going against traffic so the "commute to the office" isn't so bad.

As far as expensive, the cost benefit is actually not worth changing the track with frequency for a couple reasons. The first, as pointed out, the number of options and different layouts at "public" test tracks within close proximity.

The second, track builders, unlike others in the glamorous motorcycle industry, are expensive because they're very specialized. There are only 2 companies that prep the test tracks. 2 companies/ 8 Tracks- not to mention all the "public tracks" maintained by their onsite "SX Track Specialist". DreamTraxx (Jason Baker) and Peters-Built (Mark Peters) pretty much run the show at the test tracks.

Mark pretty much works by himself. DreamTraxx has 1-2 guys except during a rebuild then Jason comes in to help. If you look at what Baker builds, you can see that not just anyone can build what his crew does, as well as his crew does, in the time frame his crew does it in. His guys get paid pretty well and rightly so. They're some of the best in the world.

You can't just hire some dirt pusher off the street to build tracks for the best riders in the world. These guys are very specialized and if they mess up, it could end a career, including their own. Sounds simple but there are some nuances to consider.



ML512
Profile picture for user ML512
Posts
17104
Joined
12/28/2008
Location
Wildomar, CA, USA
Fantasy
1328th
ML512 11/10/2016 1:29pm
11/10/2016 1:29pm


Here's another gem, the Supercross track on JGR's test property.
JJ4
Profile picture for user JJ4
Posts
101
Joined
4/7/2013
Location
Georgetown, TX, USA
JJ4 11/10/2016 2:37pm
11/10/2016 2:37pm
Back in my days of living in Temecula I used to cruise out to the test tracks to see who was riding. Last time I went there were only the KTM, Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha tracks. I'd park in the little airfield lot and watch the KTM guys for a bit, then I'd cruise up the (very empty in those days) hill and scope out the Suzuki and Honda guys. I walked a couple of those tracks on different occasions too. Fun times back then!
zJerky
Profile picture for user zJerky
Posts
13
Joined
12/2/2011
Location
Santa Ana, CA, USA
zJerky 11/10/2016 3:10pm
11/10/2016 3:10pm
Google Earth Pro (Its Free Now) Turn on 3D Buildings and Terrain layers. Shift plus WASD. and some mouse work you can see some great details, especially in the SoCal Market.





rongi#401
Profile picture for user rongi#401
Posts
1635
Joined
6/20/2016
Location
southern, CA, USA
rongi#401 11/11/2016 11:21pm
11/11/2016 11:21pm
google earth just got wierd

Post a reply to: Supercross test tracks