The last time I rode one of Kawasaki’s 110cc MX bikes, I was banging elbows with Gary Nixon in a journo race on Max Yasgers, I mean Mertens Dairy farm in beautiful Sonoma, California.

Battling against experienced racers, a muddy track and humorous rider-to-motorcycle ergonomics, I managed to outshine all of the racing glory at the nearby Infineon raceway by taking home the gold, shoes. Top prize for endangering my life in a battle of laughter and pocket-sized Singles was a pair of size 13 sneakers spray painted gold. Still got ‘em on the shelf! I even had Gary Nixon sign them for me.

If you’ve got a tween girl in your life you’re probably aware that High School Musical star Corbin Bleu has a new motocross-inspired movie “Free Style” coming out on October 9.

Bleu and some of his co-stars were on hand at a Kawasaki event at Piru Motocross Park in Piru, California to promote the film and the actor/singer took to the track. Bleu got geared up and took a KLX110 and a KLX140 around the track to have a little fun.

We can’t vouch for the quality of the motocross scenes in the film or Bleu’s riding ability, but Free Style appears to be aimed directly at the young entertainer’s fan base of not quite teenage girls who would like nothing more than to see him find love and win races.

If you’d like to see the trailer you can find it after the jump.

You’ll realize how cheesy that headline is after watching the pretty rad video that Yamaha has released.

Yamaha’s new motocross bike has taken a radical new approach.  The engine is backwards.

Yamaha’s reason for doing this is to shift the heavy end of the motor more to the center of the motorcycle to make it more agile and responsive.  Slanting the cylinder also made for a straighter pathway for the air intake at the front of the bike.

Of course you can read about many more details and features of Yamaha’s YZ on Motorcycle.com where they just wrote a preview for it this week!  There’s also a bunch of photos to go through if you just don’t feel like doing any reading.

Check out the rest of the post for Yamaha’s official video on the 2010 YZ450F and also why I mention sketching (also, see if you can understand any of the equations that are scribbled down throughout the video)

In the world of motocross, this year’s most highly anticipated machine is Yamaha’s all-new YZ450F. All kinds of crazy rumors about the bike have spread across the internet, and there’s some real doozies out there. In this video from Yamaha, multi-time motocross and supercross champ James Stewart debunks some of the crazier rumors, with special guest appearances by Valentino Rossi, Ben Spies, Colin Edwards, James Toseland, Jorge Lorenzo and TV personality Erin Bates.

What, you mean it’s not powered by a 1.2-gigawatt flux capacitor?

Motorcycle.com will get a chance to see the new YZ this week in a private unveiling, and we’ll unleash full details when the embargo ends on September 8. Stay tuned!

Hit the jump, watch and learn.

Brought to you by YamaTube, here is a demo video of the redesigned 2010 Yamaha YZ250F.  With a plethora of new features and improvements, the highlight has to be the new bi-lateral aluminum chassis.  The 2010 Yamaha YZ250F is much improved out of the corners and overall handling, Yamaha has also improved power over the entire powerband.  MSRP to be announced Fall 2009.

Hit the jump to see the the bike in action and another video that explains all of the new goodies.

The Great American Championship Motorcycle Hill Climb celebrates 91 years of up-hill history this weekend. For the greater part of a century riders have pitted themselves – and their machines – against physics and the all mighty hill. Modified motorcycles screaming “Yes, I Can!” with fully cranked wrists and open throttles spinning wildly up impossible terrain.

The few who make it look down on 420 feet of shale hill and near vertical climbs. For the greater sum of competitors it’s the inevitable fate of “what goes up, must come down”. Gravity grabs hold throwing rider and machine back to cold, hard earth.

Another electric motorcycle launched by Zero.  With a newly designed suspension and frame its stronger, lighter and more agile then ever, here are some numbers to crunch:

• 50 ft-lbs of torque
• Total weight is 156 lbs
• 23 hp
• Battery range up to 2 hours or 40 miles
• Recharge time Less than 2 hours
• Typical cost to recharge is less than $.01 per mile

There are just too many other features and upgrades to the latest dirt bike to list them all here, if your interested check out the Zero site for all the details.

Hit the jump to watch the Zero MX in action.

After announcing the Zero S earlier this year, Zero Motorcycles have now released info on the 2009 Zero X. The new electric motorcycle not only features updated custom bodywork and a more advanced brake system, it also comes with a new two year limited warranty that is extended to all of their motorcycles, including two new warranty plans for increased coverage. You can run through all of new features and upgrades here.

Hit the jump to watch some video contest winners.

Aprilia has recently jumped into the motocross category with both feet by launching the new 2009 MXV450.  A first for the company and the only V-Twin-equipped motocross bike in the world, the MXV 450 promises to combine a high-performance engine with authentic Italian style, light weight and advanced technology.

Jim DeChamp attempted the frontflip at the X Games in the Staples Center on August 31, 2008 with some painful results that makes DeChamp either extremely brave or insane, maybe both. Check out the attempt from last year after the jump.