BMP/Johnson Bros TXC511 - OMRA GP Series

Much of the intiial report here has been previously posted in the 4 Stroke thread due to the Suspension subject. Ive now laid my hands on some action shots so thought it would be good to start a race thread.

We are running my TXC511, with 50Ex #1 plate holder Mark Johnson as rider (my brother). He switched off his KTM250 2-stroke at mid season. This thread will focus on the last 5 events in the 11 race OMRA GP series www.omraoffroad.com
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Trial by fire day, Sept 9, 2012
50 Expert Class
Smiling winner


The Johnson Brothers/BMP TXC511 with Watson Performance suspension pulled a tie for the holeshot but had to wait a couple of miles on the 7.5 mile hard packed GP course to secure the lead in the 50 Expert class and then start walking away....... Until suddenly the bike sputtered a few times and eventually died allowing those trailing orange things to catch back up. It was quickly discovered that BOTH fuel petcocks need to be open :-) Without being passed Mark was back aboard and extending the lead once again. At the end of 90 minutes he had over a 2 minute lead on the dueling KTMs in second and third.

Temperature was mid to high 70s with a 30mph wind, course was mostly dry and hard packed and often dusty with several extensive rocky patches that just love to throw you off line, plus a couple of top gear sections for extra thrills. The bike tracked great in these conditions, turned nicely and hooked up well on the low traction course with the Pirelli Scorpions off of my new TXC449. On a couple of the most sever g-outs it would bottom; we will check in with Tom Watson on slightly stiffening the rear before the next round at Washougal on Sept 29. Washougal is a combination of the MX track you see at the (televised) National, a large grass track and a few hilly sections in the trees. Unlike most of our GP/XC courses, Washougal has real jumps, temping one to get a little air time.











The 1R TXC511 is now tied for the lead in the OMRA GP series with 4 of 11 events remaining.


nelyon on a WR250 is also leading the 50 Am class in the same series. Nelson also took first for the day.


Thanks to Bills Motorcycles Plus, Watson Performance and the Husqvarna Contingency program.

Jagow Memorial GP at Washougal, Sept 23, 2012







On to Washougal at the Dick Jagow Memorial GP, Sept 23, 2012. As mentioned above this course uses the largely natural terrain MX track (that natural terrain includes a couple of steep hills), grass track and a few forays into the woods and pastures.www.washougalmx.com

Unfortunately Ive been laid up with severe flu and did not make it to the track, however Mark was there to ride and Tom Watson our suspension guy http://www.watsonperformance.com/ also showed up and rode 50 Ex (until he overdid the triple and took a soil sample, putting him down a lap) The 50 Ex class started from the last row of an 85 rider field with AA and all the 'younger' expert classes in the earlier waves. Mark took the Johnson Brothers/BMP 511 to first 50 Ex again and 40th overall out of the 85 rider field. This is a bigger feat than it appears because this event is notorious for having a large number of non-OMRA riders show up who ride the MX track regularly and 'misclassify' themselves. Or as one of our officials put it "It is amazing how many Beginner class riders can easily do that triple jump!"



Suspension setting were left as they were from the prior week, except that compression was cllicked in by 1 both front and back. Only change to the bike we made was removing the bar risers. Mark found it easier to ride this way since he is about 5' 10". He did avoid the temptations to do significant air time so the suspension setup was pretty good on the dry, hard course. Stiffer setting would have been in order if riding the course in MX (max airtime) mode. The stock rear spring is right on the edge of being a touch soft and at some point we may try going up to the next stiffer spring.

The 1R Johnson Brothers/BMP TXC511 now has a solid lead in the OMRA GP series with 3 of 11 events remaining. Next weeks course is back to the high speed hard pack of south central WA at Starvation Ridge; then on to Shedd a heavily treed, tight and twisty thing that most people would choose to ride a TXC310 on, but we dont have one of those :-)

Thanks again to Bill's Motorcycles Plus , Watson Performance and the Husqvarna Contingency program.