Smokers. Is Honda next??

Paul_Jacky wrote:

First manufacturer to race a modern four-stroke in AMA Supercross1st: KTM — 1997Lance Smail raced a works KTM 540 SX four-stroke.He became the first...

First manufacturer to race a modern four-stroke in AMA Supercross

1st: KTM — 1997

• Lance Smail raced a works KTM 540 SX four-stroke.
• He became the first rider to qualify a four-stroke into a modern AMA Supercross main event at Daytona Supercross.

But the bike that really changed the sport was:

• Yamaha Motor Company with the YZM400F and Doug Henry in 1997.
• Henry won the Las Vegas Supercross, becoming the first rider to win an AMA Supercross race on a four-stroke.

Who switched later?

Approximate order of the major Japanese manufacturers:

1. KTM — 1997 (first four-stroke SX main event)
2. Yamaha Motor Company — 1997 (YZM400F)
3. Honda — 2001 (factory CRF450 effort)
4. Suzuki — 2005 (RM-Z450 factory prototype racing)
5. Kawasaki — among the later major Japanese brands to move fully into four-strokes; by the mid-2000s all major manufacturers were competing with four-strokes.

So the short answer:

• First: KTM (first modern four-stroke Supercross main event)
• First to prove it could win at the top level: Yamaha (Doug Henry, 1997)
• Latest of the big Japanese brands: Suzuki was one of the last, switching around 2005.

The interesting part is that Yamaha pushed the change, but KTM actually beat them onto the Supercross track.

Paul_Jacky wrote:

First manufacturer to race a modern four-stroke in AMA Supercross1st: KTM — 1997Lance Smail raced a works KTM 540 SX four-stroke.He became the first...

First manufacturer to race a modern four-stroke in AMA Supercross

1st: KTM — 1997

• Lance Smail raced a works KTM 540 SX four-stroke.
• He became the first rider to qualify a four-stroke into a modern AMA Supercross main event at Daytona Supercross.

But the bike that really changed the sport was:

• Yamaha Motor Company with the YZM400F and Doug Henry in 1997.
• Henry won the Las Vegas Supercross, becoming the first rider to win an AMA Supercross race on a four-stroke.

Who switched later?

Approximate order of the major Japanese manufacturers:

1. KTM — 1997 (first four-stroke SX main event)
2. Yamaha Motor Company — 1997 (YZM400F)
3. Honda — 2001 (factory CRF450 effort)
4. Suzuki — 2005 (RM-Z450 factory prototype racing)
5. Kawasaki — among the later major Japanese brands to move fully into four-strokes; by the mid-2000s all major manufacturers were competing with four-strokes.

So the short answer:

• First: KTM (first modern four-stroke Supercross main event)
• First to prove it could win at the top level: Yamaha (Doug Henry, 1997)
• Latest of the big Japanese brands: Suzuki was one of the last, switching around 2005.

The interesting part is that Yamaha pushed the change, but KTM actually beat them onto the Supercross track.

queen of spodes wrote:

Stop using AI for everything. Most of us already knew KTM was first.. what that slopfest didn't mention is that he did it on KTM's LC4 engine...

Stop using AI for everything. 

Most of us already knew KTM was first.. what that slopfest didn't mention is that he did it on KTM's LC4 engine platform, which was mainly used in its dual sport line. The frame was actually based on the LC4 620 dual sport.. obviously modified with upgraded suspension for motocross.