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Ohh maybe it's the technology thing. but still DOUG HENRY ! WARRIOR !!!
Doug Henry is the man!
I really dont think it wasn't that one race that changed it at all. It was the EPA laws that had changed. Yamaha knew this, took advantage of it and in my opinion made a wise business decision. At that time we saw the YZF but it was common thought that there would be no way Yamaha could produce a bike of that caliber in a production bike. Seeing that first production YZF on the covers of the MX mags was a huge shock. Yamaha did what was thought impossible. Motocross Competitive four stroke that wasn't a XR hog. Henry took the idea that others didnt want any part of and with Yamaha and Henry together proved that it could be done.
Henry was the right man for the Job.
Slick, slick track that night......
It's not badass Tiki, it's just bad.
Yamaha engineer Yoshiharu Nakayama first came up with the idea of creating the first competitive four stroke race motocross bike. The Yamaha YZ400F was developed to fit into this category. It solved the power dilemma by borrowing superbike technology and giving the YZ a five valve head, liquid cooling and a 12.5-1 compression ratio.
In 1997, Yamaha rocked the motocross world with the introduction of the YZ400M prototype, a concept motorcycle which borrowed much technology from road racing. The YZM was far ahead of all competition among four stroke motocross bikes. Doug Henry piloted the YZ400M to its first victory in 1997 at the Las Vegas Supercross. This was the first time any four stroke had won an AMA event. The YZ400M was the predecessor of the production YZ400F, which was released the next year. Doug Dubach had more influence of the development than Doug Henry did
Pit Row
Aparently Yamaha said we need a 4 stroke engine that weighs this much, produces this much power, this size displacement and will fit in this frame and Arrows developed it.
I could be wrong but I heard it from a very good source.
I think this is where the Yoshiharu Nakayama factor came in.Those companies often have employee competitions to meet the companies needs. So I don't disagree with your story. I just remember what prompted it here in California. It was even to be believed that the four strokes would be California specific. Back to the issue, everyone was working on a four stroke. Meantime taking advantage of the cc ruling. Yamaha used the Works rule to give it wings. Starting in Europe, then coming to America.
The laws are still out there, and my guess seeing the KTM electric bike there may be something still happening.
The stories of this week is a good example of how one little thing in Washington have such a huge effect on our sport.
Those early 400's were cool. Im still pretty stoked with the modern big bore four strokes. The manufactures won for sure. They are jack knife bikes. Dirt Track, Off Road, Motocross, even some single's road racing bikes. With the current cabinet in place, i.e. Clinton term returned, I wouldn't expect to much in the future.
So, true or not that was the story coming out of the industry in the late 90's and it happened to be in line with what was going on politically.
Gold.
How about how many times DB was messing up? And you guys give Emig shit for it...
http://twostrokemotocross.com/
The thing is that most of the two stroke fanatics are young and were not around in the beginning of MX here in the USA and of course not in Europe, the home of MX. I love 4 stks, always have even though for 30 years i almost exclusively raced 2 stks!
I do not like the 4 stk because its popular or its all i can get. I like it cause its much more fun to ride and always has been. If you like explosive wheel spinning power that makes you "look" fast then you will like the smoker. If you like to "go fast" you will like the four banger.
Remember, the four stroke has been around a lot longer than the smoker so do not talk of "core MX" people when you mention the smoker, its simply not true..
The DT-MX Yamahas, TM Suzukis were not competitive, Kawasaki's were rare, and Hondas were a joke.
It wasn't until the first YZ's that Japanese bikes became competitive with the Euros.
I guess we need VOLBASS to come out of hiding and explain it to you new guys. MX went from a rich man's sport to a millionaires sport during the 4 pork era. Sure there are a few exceptions but the cost of racing is very prohibitive to the average person with a family
Post a reply to: The night that changed it all Pt.1 & 2