Round 1 at Eddieville, Mark wins on 310R

Team Johnson Bros./BMP Racing are off to a strong start in both the OMRA GP and XC series after Round 1 at Eddieville (Over The Bars Gang, Goldendale, WA).

This year the 50 Expert starting line is 50% Red with Mark Johnson (defending 1R) on a 310R, Nelson Lyon (just bumped up from 50 Am championship) also on 310R and Lonny Johnson (Old guy out for a ride) on TXC449.

Saturday's GP race on the dry hard packed course had Mark and non-series rider Chuck Worley run away from the field. While Mark did manage to pass Chuck's 450 KTM on a long uphill ...yes you read that right .. stock 310R passes KTM 450 on long uphill. Ultimately Chuck got back by and Mark had to settle for 2nd on Saturday but went away with the GP series points lead. Nelson also put in a solid run in his first 50 Ex race and old guy Lonny, cruised around for the exercise :-)

Conditions changed dramatically overnight, temperatures dropped and we were greeted by a thin crust of snow on Sunday for the XC races. Longer course, lots of grass track added. Decision was made to delay start and combine all classes at 11 am. By then the moisture had soaked in and conditions were epic. (Pictures coming soon) Mark had a short tussle with another non-series KTM rider about 3 corners in and then he ran away with race, but did get to dice with some of the 30 and 40 Experts in the earlier waves for entertainment, scoring a strong 1st. Last year he did it with the 511, this year 310R. Same result !!

Thanks for BMP in Salem and Watson Performance Suspension (who was at the track helping refine the setup on the 310)

6 Hour Endurance Team Spring 2013

Mark chucking rocks on the 310R

Nelson charging out of a turn

Team BMP finally got a chance to do a little racing last weekend here in the Pacific Northwest. 

Mark giving the Watson Suspension
setup a little workout

Ryan Clay getting on the TXC511

Wonderful sunny conditions at Eddieville for the opening of the Over The Bars Gang Endurance Series Spring 6 Hour

Mark and Nelson tried to pull together a 50+ team but we couldn't find anther 50 year old who was available on short notice. In the end Nelson recruited one of the Mt. Scott MC brothers, Ryan Clay and I donated my TXC511 to the cause and TEAM BMP RACING 6 HOUR was born.

Since Ryan is under 40 we ended up with two 50+ year olds mounted on new TXC310Rs and one 30-something on the '11 TXC511 racing to 2nd place in the 30 Expert class, and they weren far off the pace for 1st. Old guys rule.

Thanks again to Bill's Motorcycle Plus for their support and assistance in putting the 6 Hour team together and to Husqvarna Rider Support for helping put Mark and Nelson on the 310Rs.

Team Racing

We're itching to get a little time on the new bike before the points series starts so we've formed an impromptu BMP Racing Husqvarna Team for the 6 Hour Team Endurance race on Sunday, March 3 at Eddieville near Goldendale, WA.

Mark will be on the new TXC310R, Nelson Lyon on the same and Mystery rider #3 will either ride our TXC511 or Nelson's WR300.  It should be fun. Since MR#3 is under 50 they are carrying the BMP banner in the Open Expert class.

The action starts at 10 am on Sunday....unfortunately, not televised !

Suspension and more

No pics yet, but we got the suspension back from Tom at Watson Performance/Suspension in Hood River a couple days ago.  We are using the forks that Tom built for last year's TXC511 on the 310R, with adjustments, and a full build on the rear shock to fit Mark.

Mark took the bike out for a quick run ahead of the next winter storm.  So far "It starts, runs, bounces up and down"  :-)

Next up, we are looking at pipes...Pro Circuit just made a RedHead pipe available, and Zip-Ty may be able to supply an FMF PowerBomb built to fit.  No decisions yet, but Mark has a soft spot for Zip-Ty as Ty Davis is one of his favorite riders.

Feels like that March 16 Eddieville weekend is closing in fast......or we may hit the recently hatched GP at Albany MX park on March 10 for a tuneup run, before the OMRA points series starts.

OMRA Awards Banquet

Mark picking up the #1 50 Expert GP award and SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR !!!!

2013 310R is here

The little Husky has arrived and been assembled by the crew at Bills Motorcycles Plus. I zipped to Salem yesterday to fetch it. Brought the plastic in the house to clean and warm so I could apply the Decal Works numbers. The first pics are below. With any luck we will find someplace dry enough and warm enough to get it dirty this soon.

The 2013 season is coming up fast and we are working to prepare for the opening OMRA races in March.

Thanks to Husqvarna Rider Support and Contingency, plus the outstanding support of Bills Motorcycles Plus , Mark will be riding a Husqvarna 2013 TXC310R.  We are expecting delivery any day, then we will be off to Four Corners in central Oregon for break-in and setup.  Once we get some baseline information, Watson Performance Suspension out of Hood River will apply Tom's magic.