Dirt rider kicks off

The Dirt Rider Expo kicked off yesterday with even more manufacturers and even more stars attracting riders to the Stoneleigh Park show, near Coventry.

There is enough to keep anyone happy for hours with all the 2005 bikes on show from the likes of Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Husqvarna and KTM, as well as absolutely loads of deals to be had on all kinds of kit, from race rep sticker kits to £500 knee supports.

Yamaha was showing it’s new YZ range of two-stroke crosser which now come with an aluminium frame. They also had Stefan Everts World Motocross championship winning YZ450F as well as the two wheeled drive versions of the WR bikes that competed in the AMA supermoto championship and numerous Rally raids.

Gas Gas was showing its brand new FSE450 enduro bike, which has been almost completely revised for 2005, while Honda were showing the CRF450X, which it claims is the lightest and most powerful dirtbike. The bike is derived from the CRF450R but gets electric start, wider gear ratios and more torque.

Husqvarna had a limited edition TE510C that was dripping in carbon fibre. Only 100 are being made and you can have one for just £13,995. They also had the new for ’05 SM450R and SM510R supermotos, which get a programmable CPU and a whole host of engine and suspension revisions.

Dirt bike stars such as Jamie Dobb and Mark Hucklebridge were joined at the show by Superbike rider Steve Plater and GP rider Jay Vincent.

The Talon stand were showing some eye catching bright red Michelin tyres and PivotPegz have developed a new footpeg that can move around on its base to track the riders foot and keep the surface of the peg in contact with the sole of the boot at all times.

As well as all this there is the live action arena, which sees the likes of world stunt champion Christian Pfeiffer pulling off some unbelievable tricks on both road and dirt bikes.

The show is on until Sunday November 28 Stoneleigh Park exhibition centre, near Coventry.