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For a motocross rider, there is nothing more tantalizing to the senses than the sweet sound of a 150cc two-stroke screaming for mercy at the hands of a skilled professional. The high-pitched shriek of the bike as it is hammered around the track is music to the ears. Riding a modern day 450 or 250 requires finesse and a mutual respect between man and machine. A 150 is at its happiest when it is being manhandled while sounding like a swarm of angry bees, and that is why we love them.
Nowadays, 125s and 150s are increasingly rare at racetracks, with all professional riders favoring the far more powerful four-stroke 250s in the small-bore class. Even young riders today more often choose to skip two-strokes altogether when transitioning up from minis. Small-bore two-stroke is now is like a classic car — not many would choose it as their primary weapon, but getting at the controls of one every once in a while is a real treat.
Jessy Nelson is a rider who appreciates the thrill and fun factor of riding a 150 two-stroke. The Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Red Bull KTM rider took a break from his rigorous training schedule to throw his new “play bike” around the Swanpound: a facility nestled in the hills of Santa Cruz, California, overlooking Monterey Bay. In the sands and redwoods of NorCal, on a factory-prepped machine that will have every die-hard motocross fan salivating in a Pavlovian response, Nelson twisted the grips off his KTM 150SX for the Red Bull cameras.
Follow Nelson and the rest of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship racers throughout the season right here at RedBull.com.
Video by: RedBull
