What's this "Thursday Throwdown"? It's a digital home for rumour, fact and innuendo, delivered on a weekly basis. Covering a broad spectrum of the off-road world's news, Thursday Throwdown will touch on everything from racing to trailriding; from industry tidbits to issues facing the sport. It's about delivering you timely information that can't wait until the next issue of Transmoto magazine, and stuff we'd like to hear your immediate feedback on.

MX/SX

• San Manual Yamaha rider Josh Hill received an infection from the injuries he sustained while practicing for the X Games 'Speed and Style' event. We've heard that the "worst case" scenario is that he may lose his leg. We'd like to wish him all the best, and hope that he pulls through okay.
• KTM and Honda are supposedly in negotiations with Chad Reed for 2011. If JDR Motorsports KTM pick up Reed, they will be boasting an Australian owned team, with Australia's best rider, which will compliment its first year in the "big time". That is, unless the North American factory team wants to try to keep him.
• Another rumour for the JDR Motorsports crew is that they will have another foreigner pitting out of the truck next year. This time it won't be an American though; it'll be someone from the European continent.

OFF-ROAD

• The final round of the Australian Off-Road Championship will be held this weekend, and Motorex KTM are looking to take the 1-2-3 Outright. Toby Price is currently sitting in top spot, on 172 points, followed by Jarrod Bewley (138 points) and Ben Grabham (132 points). The only person that could bring it all falling down for the team is Ballard's Wellard Yamaha rider Stefan Merriman, who currently sits seven points behind Grabham. Will Merriman upset the 1-2-3 balance? With Toby sitting 47 points ahead of Merriman, something major would have to happen to the Singleton lad if the four-time world champ was still eyeing off first place Outright. However, it will be interesting to see if Merriman can knock Grabham or Bewley out of their spots and take a podium position. The final round is set to be action packed!
• The final AORC round will be held near Warwick, in Queensland, and the track is currently quite dry and very rocky, having received no rain over the last few weeks. At least the riders won't be covered in mud like many events this year, although Sunday is forecast to have showers throughout the day.
• The head organisers of the event will be holding a meeting to try and resolve the direction of the AORC. This will be a very significant event, as it will decide on the AORC's future. Motorcycling Australia's David White will be attending, and hopefully fast track any decisions that are made. The plan is to discuss what is needed to help the AORC grow back into the rich sport it once was. The AORC currently suffers from a dwindling numbers of competitors, land, and promoters and clubs willing to take it on.
• One of Enduro World Championship rider Josh Green's mechanic's buddies rode his Electraction TM race bike pre-race to 'check it', and crashed it big time. Lucky he was wearing Josh's helmet (as he had set off without a helmet on). Nevertheless, he ended up in hospital as a result of the crash. He smashed the helmet to bits and can't remember anything. When asked where he was, he answered 'Germany', despite the race being in Greece, and that was three days after crashing!
• Juha Salminen recently returned to action, having been forced to sit out rounds three, four and five of the EWC series following a foot injury he sustained on his hybrid BMW/Husky. Salminen wasted no time in getting himself and his new machine (TE449 Husky) up to speed and placed a strong fourth in class on day one, and a deserved runner-up on day two.

FMX

• Jarryd McNeil, Australian Whip sensation who bagged 2nd in X Games for 'Best Whip', has been in training in California and getting ready for his American racing debut at the final AMA Outdoor Nationals round of the year, to be held at Pala Raceway. Don't believe us? Take a look at this vid from Racer X. However, it looks like he might not get to race the event, with news that he had a crash while practicing yesterday, and has sustained injury to his liver and elbow. We wish him a speedy recovery.

INDUSTRY

• Sam Moore from 88 Agencies was pleased to tell us that he has hooked up with two up-and-coming-riders, Matt Lewis and Jed Beaton, to use his new glove brand, Fist. Lewis is set to show the Australian FMX scene what he is capable of in the coming months, while Beaton (younger brother of Ross Beaton) has just wrapped up the Big Wheel 85cc class titles in both Victoria and Tasmania.