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THE WEEKLY FEED: AKE JONSSON THROUGH THE YEARS • EPIC ENDURO VIDEO • BILLY BOLT-CAPTURED

Ake Jonsson through the years

Åke Jonsson was a top GP athlete in the Motocross World Championships during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Jonsson was in the hunt three times to win the World Championship title- 1968, 1970 and  in 1971. He rode for the Husqvarna factory but he was the third man behind World Champions Bengt Aberg and Torsten Hallman, though he finished in third place in the 1968 500cc World Championship. The next year he switched to Maico, taking third place in the 1970 500cc World Championship and then winning the Inter-AM series in America.

Photo courtesy of MXA, Ake in his Husqvarna days.
Racing his square barrel Maico in the U.S., this was at Ascot Park.

1971 was Ake’s best racing year. He held a tiny lead over Roger DeCoster going into the last GP of the year. DeCoster passed him when his spark plug came out of the head and ended up winning the World Championship.

1972 wasn’t a great year until the USA’s Trans AMA Motocross series where Ake dominated winning 9 races in a row at one point. Yamaha hired Ake for the 1973 season and his mount was the new single shock  “monoshock” machine. Ake had issues dealing with the fork, especially coming off of a Maico, which had the best front suspension in motocross. Ake fit a Maico front end onto his Yamaha much to the chagrin of his bosses, but felt that he was at too much of deficit with the stock fork. Ake never could overcome injuries and the handling quirks of the Yamaha. He retired at the end of the 1976 season.

Ake had issues switching to the Yamaha machine. He tested both the new Monoshock, and in this photo standard Thermal Flow dampers with a Maico front end.
His big-bore Works Yamaha, Maico forked and rear Monoshock suspension had the handling closer to what he liked. His big issue was with the power character of the machine. Unlike the tractable power of the Maico, the Yamaha hit hard and violently.
This Ake rendition must have driven the Yamaha factory nuts. He fit his factory motor and tank onto a modified Maico frame, fork and rear suspension and fit it with a downpipe.
Back on the single shock Yamaha in 1975, Ake fit it with a downpipe exhaust in an attempt to smooth out the power.
Ake’s last year racing GPs was in 1976, and he was back on a Maico.

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Tennessee Knockout Hard Enduro Recap: This is a fun look at the event featuring a number of classes.

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This is a Mario Roman highlights vid from the hairball Red Bull Outliers. Good stuff!

Husqvarna’s Billy Bolt attacking one of the giant climbs at the Red Bull Outliers Hard Enduro in Canada. Photo: Future7Media

This is a very useful and helpful kit for anyone with a modern fuel pump style motorcycle. The Nihilo Concepts Fuel Transfer Kit provides everything you need to completely drain your fuel system when changing fuel types or just wanting to empty all fuel for storage. The kit is also small and compact and can transfer fuel from one bike to another on the trail or in emergencies. Gone are the days of simply pulling off the fuel line and letting the fuel run out. Fuel pump systems must be activated with the Fuel Transfer Kit to remove or drain fuel. Price: $89.99

nihiloconcepts

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Valley Cycle Park, 1974. My 1972 CZ400. Horizons Unlimited had moved up the shocks (this was huge!) but I struggled with getting shocks that were stiff enough, and had enough rebound damping to take on the increased leverage ratio. After blowing up Arnaco’s and Boge Mullhollands, I finally got some Koni’s with Poppy bodies that were excellent. I had put on a Valerian’s Mikuni kit, Motoplat ignition and ran a Mid Valley CZ chamber. This baby was a tank, but never broke down.

ToyotaUk

Olympian Gabby Thomas Is Making Strides with Team Toyota

Gabby Thomas, an accomplished athlete and Team Toyota member, made her mark at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 by clinching two medals. But she wants to be remembered not only for her achievements on the track but also for her character.

Thomas expressed her desire to be seen as a role model who exemplifies hard work. She aims to demonstrate excellence and dedication both in her athletic pursuits and in her personal life.

Thomas secured a silver medal in the 4x100m relay and a bronze medal in the individual 200m event in Tokyo. Her impressive performance at the trials, where she broke the Olympic Trials record with a time of 21.61, earned her a spot on Team USA for the 200 meters sprint. Recently having completed her master’s degree in public health from the University of Texas at Austin, Thomas now sets her sights on qualifying for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Joining Team Toyota’s prestigious roster, Thomas seamlessly fits among the remarkable lineup of athletes. She interprets Toyota’s motto, “Let’s Go Places,” as an invitation to tackle any challenges head-on. It signifies embracing the journey, striving to be the best version of oneself, and embarking on seemingly impossible endeavors.

New Dreams

Originally from Northampton, Massachusetts, the 26-year-old Thomas graduated from Harvard in 2019. In addition to her academic accomplishments, she excelled in the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships, even setting the collegiate record in the 200m event in 2018. Although Thomas initially aimed to pursue a career in medicine, her athletic success prompted a shift in her aspirations.

She explains, “I’ve discovered new dreams – Olympic dreams. Things have clearly changed, and that’s perfectly fine. I often tell people that your journey will evolve, and it’s okay to take detours.”

Instead of medical school, Thomas pursued a master’s degree in public health with a focus on epidemiology. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she relocated to Austin to join a training group while simultaneously attending graduate school. While Thomas has developed a passion for track and field, she remains dedicated to her education.

Thomas acknowledges the significance of having diverse support networks. Besides her team, she values the friendship and guidance of her advisor and classmates. Knowing that she has people supporting her in various aspects of her life, beyond just athletics, provides her with a sense of grounding.

Leading by Example

Although balancing the demands of being a master’s student and an athlete presented challenges, Thomas attributes her perseverance to the numerous support systems in her life. With a lifelong involvement in athletics, particularly team sports, she feels that her experiences have equipped her with the necessary skills to collaborate effectively with others. Thomas thrives in team environments, whether it be with Team Toyota or her running teammates in Austin.

She takes on a leadership role within her training group, leading through her actions rather than through loud declarations. Thomas believes in setting an example and embodying the qualities of a leader.

Despite her exceptional achievements, Thomas understands that pursuing ambitious dreams often entails overcoming significant obstacles. As a young African American woman hailing from the Northeast and attending Harvard University, she has faced her fair share of challenges. However, these experiences have helped shape her into the person she is today.

Thomas believes in confronting obstacles head-on, even when they seem insurmountable. She recalls a devastating hamstring injury that kept her out of the World Championships last year. While heartbreaking, Thomas used this setback as an opportunity to showcase her resilience. Returning for the latter half of the season, she achieved remarkable results, exemplifying her unwavering dedication to both her athletic endeavors and personal pursuits.