DIRTBIKE

By the time you read this, theADBhead

office will have moved north, back to

Sydney where the mag was born. ADB

and sister publications AMCN and

Motorcycle Trader changed hands last

year, and the proud new owners are

based in Surry Hills.

There were several reasons for ADB’s

relocation. Most importantly our new

owners wanted us within yelling

distance of the fi nance team next time

we head off on a junket, while

manufacturers and the dirtbike industry

were growing tired of the drive down the

Hume Freeway every time we wanted to

throw a leg over one of their bikes. I

must make it clear it is only ADB that is

moving back to Sydney.

My time in Melbourne has been

unforgettable. While the closure of

riding areas during winter, from June to

November, was a frustration like no

other and the freezing conditions for six

months of the year made getting out of

bed a nightmare, the rest of what

Melbourne has to offer is outstanding.

With Melbourne so close to the

Victorian High Country I’ve had the

opportunity to explore one of the most

inspiring and remarkable areas in

Australia. It should be on the bucket list

for any adventure seeker. I’ve visited the

most southern point of Australia’s

mainland, Wilsons Promontory, on an

Aprilia Caponord Rally, circumnavigated

Victoria with my brothers on a trio of

BMWs, blasted along the Murray River,

traversed the Grampians National Park and

raced along the Great Ocean Road. Because

the state of Victoria is so small, everything is

within a few hour’s drive.

ADBwill still have a presence in Victoria.

MX Editor Lee Hogan will continue conducting

his tests there while Staff Writer Dylan Ruddy

and Sub Editor Wolter Kuiper will remain

trapped in the trackless wastes of Oakleigh.

Personally it means I will be able to spend

more time with my family after a traumatic

month. In late January one of my brothers,

Sam, was hit by a car while riding his Suzuki

GSX-R750 home from work. The accident left

him in an induced coma for just over a week

and in hospital for nearly a month. The

injuries included a busted aorta which

required a stent, a ruptured spleen which had

to be removed, two broken shoulders, a

shattered right hand, a full complement of

busted ribs and a busted pelvis.

While it was quite a traumatic experience

for the entire family as we waited for him to

come out of the coma, doctors were able to

confirm that his Shark Vision-R2 helmet and

Alpinestars jacket saved his life. I hate to think

what could have been the result if he hadn’t

opted for a quality lid and jacket. It served as a

great reminder to always buy quality protective

gear, because it could save your life. My

brother is now living proof of that.

EDITORIAL | MITCH LEES

ON THE COVER

Lee Hogan drifts Gavin

Faith’s Factory Honda

CRF450R in an exclusive

test for ADB.

Photo // Max Peters

EDITORIAL

Editor: Mitch Lees

Sub Editor: Wolter Kuiper

Staff Writer: Dylan Ruddy

Digital Editor: Olly Malone

Designer: Brendon Wise

MX Editor: Lee Hogan

Enduro Editor: Geoff Braico

Technical Editor: Mat Boyd

Race & Fitness Editor: Stephen Gall

European Correspondent: Jono Bentman

US Correspondent: Steve Matthes

Founder: Geoff Eldridge

ADB Honour Roll: Tony Kirby, Paul Broomfield

CONTRIBUTORS

Simon Cudby, Josh Evans, Ben Grabham, Warren Jack.

Dean Mellor, Max Peters, Matt Phillips, Simon

Makker, Chad Reed, Stephen Tuff, Danny Wilkinson,

Jemma Wilson, JP Media, Max Sullivan

PRODUCTION

Production Manager: Ian Scott

Advertising Co-ordinator: Sourita Phommaseng

ADVERTISING

Group Sales Manager:  Brian Vegh

0401 712 942 [email protected]

Brand Sales Managers

VIC and TAS:  Mal Jarrett 

[email protected]

0407 726 682

NSW, SA and WA: Dale Johnson

[email protected]

0403 743 587

QLD: Todd Anderson

0409 630 733 [email protected] 

MANAGEMENT

BIDEFORD BLACK PTY LTD

Publisher: Matt O’Malley

0419 901 863 [email protected]

Publisher: Jim Flynn

0449 801 899 [email protected]

Financial Controller: Stuart Harle

[email protected]

Accounts Assistants: Fiona Trickett and Eva English

CONTACT ADB

Australasian Dirt Bike

A: 12/20 Edward St, Oakleigh, Vic 3166

P: (02) 9186 9186

E: [email protected]

ISSN: 1320-

SUBSCRIPTIONS*

http://www.magshop.com.au

E: [email protected]

Mail: Magshop, GPO Box 5252, Sydney, NSW 2001

P: 136 116 (8am to 6pm EST Mon-Fri) 

Published by Bideford Black Pty Ltd ABN 26 602 607 045, 

4/74 Foveaux St, Surry Hills NSW 2010. The trademark

Australasian Dirt Bike (ADB) is the property of Bideford Black

Proprietary Limited and is used under licence © 2013 All rights

reserved. Printed by Webstar, Unit 1, 83 Derby Street, Silverwater,

NSW 2128. Material contained in ADB is protected under the

Commonwealth Copyright Act 1968 and may not be reproduced in

part or whole without written consent from the copyright holders. 

Distributed by Network Distribution, 54 Park St, Sydney, Ph: (02)

9 282 8777. *$9.50 maximum and recommended retail price only. 

NORTHERN

MIGRATION

AND LIFE

SAVING LIDS

The Shark helmet that

saved Sam’s life

14 | APRIL 2016 http://www.adbmag.com.au