Sunday, February 9, 2014

WHO GETS TO BE AN MXA TEST RIDER?

There are three levels of MXA test rider: (1) In house; (2) MXA Race Team; (3) Photo Session. 

"In house" test riders have been testing bikes for years. They have ridden virtually every bike made, including factory works bikes and high-dollar exotics. These are the most experienced test riders in the world, because unlike manufacturers test riders, they aren't bound to one brand or one engine size. No MXA test bike is evaluated by any single rider but will be ridden by Jody Weisel, John Basher, Dennis Stapleton, Alan Olson and Willy Musgrave before it is handed down to the next tier of test riders--the MXA race team.

The "MXA race team" races every week and can normally be found at Glen Helen, Cahuilla Creek, Piru, Gorman or Competitive Edge. MXA race team members get free bikes, parts, clothes, helmets, maintenance and tires. But, they have to race a different bike every week, sometimes a different bike between motos. Their job is to accumulate a vast reservoir of information about each test bike in a short period of time. Its not unusual for one test bike to be ridden in four different classes on the same day.

The "Photo Session" riders ride the bikes for magazine photography. Many famous riders have spent time before the MXA cameras, the best known being Jeremy McGrath, but Mike Craig, Mike Chamberlain, Lance Moorewood, Clark Jones, Larry Brooks, Jeff Ward, Greg Schnell and Phil Lawrence have done the deed.


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