In June 2000 motorcycles took my interest, and in true Krippner fashion, that would be the start of a very intense year and a half.  A 1983 Honda XR 250 would be the starting point, restored in a whirlwind 2 weeks, trail riding was the aim; up creeks - down muddy trails: 1 month saw me out grow this bike.

A lighter more powerful upgraded version was the question!  Honda built a 1991 XR 250 as the answer.

That is until a friend asked me to try motor cross, at the time only 6 months into my riding career but it was evident that the heavy 4 stroke bikes wouldn't allow me progress fast enough.  Enter the 2 strokes, a Honda CR 125 (1995 model) was acquired to fill the gap.

After only 1 month of moto cross racing, an opportunity to purchase an even lighter more powerful and faster aluminum frame 1998 honda CR 125 was presented, and I took it.

Not content to stop at just competing at moto cross, super cross was in my sights. With smaller, tighter and more technical tracks that are now more than ever in the public view, this meant another new bike.  What I needed was power on tap, 40, 50 even 60 foot jumps with little run up.  This brings us up to the bike I race now…year 2000 Honda CR 250, kited with Ohlins race suspension, duel curve electronic ignition, this bike has it all! twice the power of the 125 and only a few Kg’s heavier.  On the first weekend out this bike earned me a national title of New Zealand novice miniature TT champion.

Three months on the new bike, having finished the first moto cross season well, the first super cross mid field, another broken wrist, torn A/C joint, another concussion and many more lessons learnt, yet again it was time to set my sights higher … FREESTYLE MOTO CROSS! From Palmerston North I purchased one of only 6 freestyle Ramps in the country & set it up to a 40-foot jump in the front yard, … big air and big tricks.

Ivan Krippner - July 2002

From where I sit, I could spit and hit the front door of my house!

The ramp was supplied by Palmy FMX - web site:  http://www.palmyfmx.com/

Goals for 2002:

This was the year of major meetings and high visibility, to place well through consistency and to develop-compete and showcase freestyle motocross (FMX) was top of the list, big air and even bigger tricks!
At national level I  competed in;
        -The New Zealand supercross nationals - Tokoroa & Taupri
        -Queens birthday motocross annual - Tokoroa
        -The New Zealand miniature TT championship - Taumarunui
        -Labour day motocross extravaganza - Taupo
        -The New Zealand motocross national championship - Huntly.
At club level, the autumn-winter and spring series at both Cambridge and Te Awamutu will took up two weekends out of four of every months until November.
 

Slater motocross Park, Huntly - June 2002	And in Full Flight

In 2003 i retired for moto x to pursue freestyle full time, ridding the same (but
now modified CR 250) and forming FMX KRAZZY freestyle moto x team (see TEAM FMX KRAZZY scrap book for pictures), the year was going well, buying another larger up ramp and working on some of the more advanced moves like, superman seat grabs, no hander lander's and nothings, already having completed a number of freestyle demonstrations it was all going to plan until...

Ivan heel clicker at taupri super x track

I mentioned earlier the price we must pay for the speed of our learning, this price
was paid in full in the form of three spectacular crashes over two days which i
was lucky enough to walk, well limp away from in August.
The first was a 60ft gap that i didn't judge well and the bike ended slamming into the top of the down ramp and stopping instantly ... with me still on it!
The second was the same 60ft gap, and mid way through the take of ramp the
engine died, taking the bike to a nose dive attitude, the only option was to exit the
bike in mid flight and hope for the best. I landed on the down ramp and the bike
was impaled in the down ramp behind me.
The third (and they say they come in three's) was the one that earned a trip to
hospital for x-ray's. At the peek height of a 45ft super kicker a lapse of concentration led me to stall the bike, once again the best option was to leave the bike in mid flight, i done this ok but ended landing back on the bike handle bars, I ended up tangled up in a fence while the bike was to be found in the next paddock.

Time for a new bike mmmmmm 2002... yip this will do

IF YA GONNA DO THIS.... MAKE SURE YA PULL IT BACK.... OR YA GET THIS

In 2004 I spent July and August doing freestyle moto x in South Korea with Shane Burton for there summer season.
The tour had some highlights but was constantly dogged by the lack of organization and preparation skills by our hosts,
and with the complete absence of remuneration, spending the last two weeks of the tour held to ransom in not being able to speak the language to defend ourselves and being prevented from leaving the country in fear of our own lives ... the fact that we were having to ride in 40 degrees heat with no water and no breakfast being provided till late afternoon seem to pale in comparison in this self funded (and lost) 60 day cock up!
To add to witch that it took 2 months and a lawyers bill that we could have done without to have the 2 bikes released from customs all because the Korans.

2005
2005 started of with a bang, while setting up for a show in Dargaville i over jumped the 45ft gap and landed on the flat ... the reward for my stupidity was two broken ankles, mean whiplash and a bruised ego.

George Krippner right and far right Claudlands Hamilton 

Te Awamutu courier April 2005
Feb 2006, almost a year to the day since the last crash, while practicing at 60ft at was back on crutches again. only sprains this time ... not to bad for throwing the bike away mid jump.

Ya know, im starting to think that Feb is a bad month for me to ride hahahaha
26th feb 2007 put me in waikato hospital for 14 days, a steel plate, 10 screws and 16 stiches was what it took to mend a shaterd heel bone. all my thanks and big ups to all the doctors and staff at Waikato hospital ward 6, thanks guys.

 -  -
From this to this, Honda cr 250 R7
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"KAT" available for your photo shoot

THIS WAS IVAN


IVAN IS NOW RETIRED FROM DOING FREESTYLE MOTO X SHOWS

With the help from my sponsors.
Sponsors:

WWW.GOFAST.CO.NZ

Nelda & Pieter Noyan invite you for	a selection of fine local wines and	a great time here at Vilagrads!