We Don't Need No Stinkin Dust!

A look back, 14 years ago our Baja team of senior citizens takes on the Baja 500.

2012 Baja 500 (Geezer Style)

The Fly-Works Connection-MX43.com Baja 500 team for 2012 race consisted of Marc Prince, Doug Smith, Dave Potts, Ray Spore and Eric McKenna. They seem to be on a roll with their win at Baja 250, now the 500 and hope to continue to carry their luck/momentum into the 1000 later this year in November.

The race started and ended in Ensenada with the early Saturday morning departure of 6am for the first motorcycle.  It was overcast with no wind which is not a good thing for this type of race with the bikes starting at intervals of 30 seconds per bike. Without the wind to help clear the way the dust just hangs and becomes unbearable in some places. Since I drew the short straw, I mean volunteered to do the start, it meant the first hour and a half of my riding would be like getting a last place start in a cross country event while riding directly into the rising sun on a dusty course without much help from mother nature to clear the air.  But since everyone else was in the same boat I figured it would be some riding and a lot of luck as to how things went. When I finally handed off to Doug at about mile 80 I figured I weighed an extra 3 pounds or so with all the dust collected on my riding gear and down my throat.

We did fine during the first 225 miles while engaged in a see-saw battle with another team until our first bike problem. I happened to be on the bike when it occurred. I was riding along on a paved transition section with a 60 mph speed limit minding my own business when the bike just quit! Just like it had run out of gas. I looked at the tank and could clearly see fuel so I knew that was not the problem. I immediately start to think it must be an electrical problem and am wondering how the heck I am going to find the problem and maintain the lead we had of around 8 minutes. It must have been our lucky day because I was stopped for less than a minute when Chris Haines and his mechanic, Jimmy, pull up to me and ask what is wrong. I know Jimmy has been a Honda mechanic for quite some time and tell him it was like the bike has run out of gas. I was double lucky to have Jimmy be in the truck when they stop and to also give him the correct description of what was wrong. He immediately went through the check list of fuel supply and venting and had the bike running in probably less than 2 minutes. He discovered the overflow line on the aftermarket tank had been kinked slightly on the last gas stop and was starving the bike for fuel by not allowing air to pass through the vent line.  I actually thought it was an electrical problem.  But when he told me to hit the starter and see if it was ok the bike fired right up. I stomped it into gear and was back in the race!  I am pretty sure I said “Thank You Jimmy!” when I rode off.

I finished out my section where Doug took over and put on a new rear wheel/tire. He did an excellent ride over to the coast with Dave taking the coastal section and maintaining a good pace with only one tip over if I got all the story right. Somewhere along Dave’s route he bent the rear brake rotor pretty badly where it was working the brake pad pin out.  Dave handed the bike over to Ray to get it to the finish where on inspection it was discovered that the rear brake pads were being held in by about 1 thread on the brake pin!  Doug inspected it at the finish and thinks if we had to go another couple of miles we would have lost the rear brake. So it appears we were lucky on more than one occasion during this race. But you know the old saying, Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good.  In our case on this day that was true, because with everything totaled on corrected start times and penalties we won by about 1 minute!  That is a race when you have 2 teams with 5 or so riders on each team and it comes down to about a minute after almost 500 miles of racing.

So this 2012 year for the MX43.com team has been great so far with the win at the Baja 250 and now the 500 we are headed to the last round in November with the points lead and a chance to win the coveted 500X plate. I will keep you posted if you will keep your fingers crossed for us!

Buenos Dias my Amigos,

#33

Roczen ‘aware of the situation’ in 450SX title bid

450SX contender Ken Roczen admitted that he is ‘aware of the situation’ as he pursues a maiden Monster Energy Supercross premier class title in 2026, intent on applying added pressure as his points deficit extended to 20 following Daytona.

The Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki rider has opened the SMX World Championship season with his customary fast start, claiming victory at Glendale’s fifth round and standing on the podium on a further four occasions.

Ranked equal third in the 450SX standings, title rivals Hunter Lawrence (Honda HRC Progressive) and Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM) finished ahead of Roczen at Daytona, a scenario he has since acknowledged must change.

“I know that points-wise, I can’t let these guys be in front of me all the time,” Roczen explained. “Having said that, it’s a good thing that Eli won, and Hunter was second, so I only lost a couple of points overall. But I’m going to have to get on that, try to change something about it.

“It doesn’t really mean that I’m going to do anything different – I’m aware of the situation, but I’m not stressing about it. We still have a lot of racing to go, I have to just start getting a couple wins here and there, for sure.”

With the series set to contest its second Triple Crown event of the season at Indianapolis this weekend, the 31-year-old noted that starts will be a priority, with three gate-drops having a significant influence on the final result.

“Over the last few weeks, I’m still doing some testing because I feel like we can get better and more consistent,” he continued. “But I have been getting pretty good starts when it counts the most, so I’m hoping to bring that into the Triple Crown next week because that’s obviously more than half the battle, so [we’re] focusing on that.”

Lawrence leads the 450SX standings on 171 points after eight rounds, with Tomac trailing the Australian by a single point following his eighth premier-class Daytona victory. Roczen sits level with defending champion Cooper Webb (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), with both riders on 151 points.

Gaerne... THE NEXT CHAPTER STARTS NOW!

JULIEN “JUJU” BEAUMER SIGNS MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH GAERNE BOOTS

The future of Supercross meets 64 years of Italian championship craftsmanship.

From the Veneto region of Northern Italy — home to the world-renowned Montebelluna sports footwear district — GAERNE has handcrafted boots for champions since 1962. Today, that legacy enters a new era. 

GAERNE proudly announces that Julien “JuJu” Beaumer has signed a long-term, multi-year agreement with the brand.

 

Born in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Beaumer’s rise has been electric. After an impressive privateer campaign in 2023, including a standout performance at Anaheim 2 in Supercross Futures, he earned his position with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing aboard the KTM 250 SX-F Factory Edition 

His momentum continued:

• 2025 250SX West Class Winner — San Diego

• 2nd Overall — 2025 AMA Supercross 250 West Championship

Now, Beaumer will compete in GAERNE’s premier boot, the SG-22, engineered for elite-level performance and protection. 

A LEGACY BUILT IN ITALY. A FUTURE BUILT ON SPEED.

Founded 64 years ago by Ernesto Gazzola, GAERNE remains family-owned and operated. 

For generations, the brand has supported riders competing — and winning — at the highest levels of the sport. Today, the GAERNE family proudly welcomes JuJu to its roster.

Ernesto Gazzola, Founder of GAERNE

“For more than 64 years, we have built boots for riders who are driven by winning. JuJu represents the future of our sport, and we are proud to welcome him to GAERNE on a long-term agreement. We look forward to chasing many championships together.”

Marta Gazzola, Director of Marketing, GAERNE

“GAERNE stands for performance without compromise. JuJu’s determination and belief reflect exactly who we are as a brand. This partnership is about shared ambition, and we are proud to have him competing in the SG-22.”

Julien “JuJu” Beaumer

“I’ve known the GAERNE reputation for years, but when I had the chance to ride in the boots myself, that’s when it really clicked. The feel and support were exactly what I was looking for. After spending time with the team, I knew this was the right move. At this level, championships come down to surrounding yourself with the right people and the right equipment — and I believe in what GAERNE is building.”

THE NEXT CHAPTER STARTS NOW.

Handcrafted in Italy. Trusted by champions. Now worn by one of the brightest young stars in Supercross.

Julien “JuJu” Beaumer.

GAERNE SG-22.

GAERNE Boots are distributed in the United States by Western PowerSports, Turn 14 Distributors, and O’Neal Distributing, and are available through leading powersports & cycling retailers nationwide.

For more information contact us at: support@gaerneusa.com or visit US.Gaerne.com

Ken Roczen and the great Saturday night misunderstanding

There are these moments in Supercross that feel bigger than they actually are. The gate drops, Ken Roczen He comes along as if on rails towards the first bend, lays down two clean rhythm sections in a row, and suddenly that thought is there again: Tonight is his night. Tonight he's in control.

Three laps later, everything seems logical. Five laps later, it looks dominant. And sometime around the halfway point of the race, the mood shifts. The gap closes. The pressure mounts. The TV receives verbal support from the living room.

Many fans' simple explanation is that Roczen's performance is declining – but the numbers tell a different story.

The rocket launch is no coincidence

Anyone who looks at the Main Event lap times from Anaheim 1, San Diego, Anaheim 2, Glendale, Seattle, Arlington, and Daytona will see a clear pattern: Roczen is almost always at winning pace in the opening minutes of the race. Not "good." Not "solid." But really fast.

In several races, his first five to seven laps are among the strongest in the entire field. He positions himself at the front, controls the pace, and forces the competition into his line choice. That's not luck, that's quality.

Roczen isn't a rider who works his way into the race. He's there from the start. And that's exactly what shapes the perception.

Not a break-in – but a creeping shift

The crucial point: the figures show no dramatic drop in performance. Consistency scores repeatedly reach around 98 percent or higher. This is not the profile of a driver who is physically "running out of steam".

In Anaheim 1, his average lap time is practically on par with the leaders. In San Diego, he's within the same time range as Lawrence and Tomac. Again, no collapse, no sudden jumps in pace, no chaos. What is apparent, however, is more subtle: In the final third of the race, his lap times increase minimally, with only two exceptions, presumably due to lapped cars. Three tenths. Sometimes five. Not a game-changer. But in the 450SX field, that's exactly what's needed.

Arlington is a prime example. Roczen leads for a long time, consistently posting clean lap times in the 49s and 50s. From the final laps onward, he starts dropping into the 51s. At the same time, Lawrence stabilizes his pace – or even improves slightly. Suddenly, the lead shrinks. Suddenly, the momentum shifts.

No drama. Just mathematics.

The competition drives differently – not necessarily faster.

What about drivers like Hunter Lawrence, So Tomac or  Cooper Webb What's striking is their race strategy. They start fast, but controlled. They seem to stretch their energy over 20 minutes plus one lap – not over the first eight minutes.

Daytona illustrates this particularly clearly. Roczen takes an early lead, setting the pace. But while Tomac consistently maintains lap times in the low 1:18 to 1:19 range, Roczen's times later dip slightly towards 1:21. Not a disaster – but enough to lose his rhythm.

This isn't a fitness problem. It's pacing or traffic on the track.

At this level, Supercross is no longer decided by seconds, but by tenths of a second that multiply. Three tenths per lap over eight laps adds up to almost two and a half seconds. That's the difference between control and defense.

Why it feels worse

The emotional effect amplifies everything. As long as Roczen is in front, the race seems stable. But when the first attack comes, every small time difference feels dramatic. An overtaking maneuver in the final minutes leaves a more lasting impression than ten consistently strong laps at the beginning.

The brain stores the image of the pursuer passing – not the phase in which Roczen dominated the race. And that's how the narrative of "decline" arises.

The real question

Perhaps the crucial question isn't: Is Ken Roczen declining? But rather: Is he riding the first 40 percent of the race slightly too intensely?

The data suggests that his early-race peak is extremely high. He sets a pace there that's geared towards victory. His competitors, on the other hand, ride more conservatively – and still have reserves at the end. In Glendale, where he won the race, everything came together perfectly. The early pace was high, the consistency was excellent, and there was no noticeable pace shift in the final third. That's exactly where you see how the model can work.

Not a battery problem, but a racing architecture issue.

Ken Roczen isn't collapsing. The numbers don't support that narrative. What they show is a minimal performance trend, which dips slightly in the final third – while the competition remains stable or improves slightly.

That's enough in a championship at this level.

Supercross is neither a sprint nor a marathon. It's a controlled, high-speed, heart-pounding race lasting 20 minutes. Whoever manages it best wins. Roczen is often the fastest in the stadium during the opening minutes. However, the titles are decided in the final minutes.

Ferrandis out of Indianapolis Supercross – thumb injury

Corona, CA, March 5, 2026 — Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing rider Dylan Ferrandis will sit out this weekend’s Indianapolis round of the AMA Supercross Championship as he continues to recover from injuries sustained during last Saturday’s race in Daytona International Speedway.

Ferrandis crashed during his 450SX heat race in Daytona, hyperextending his thumb. Despite the injury, he attempted to compete in the evening’s main event but suffered another crash and was forced to retire early.

An MRI conducted earlier this week showed no broken bones or ligament damage. However, significant fluid buildup, inflammation, and bruising remain in the injured thumb. After attempting to ride during practice on Thursday, Ferrandis experienced weakness in his grip and determined he would be unable to safely compete in Indianapolis.

“I had an MRI on Tuesday and the results were positive with no broken bones and no ligament damage,” said Ferrandis. “I tried to ride today (Thursday) before I was planning to fly to Indy, but right away on the first lap I felt my thumb was not capable of pushing or holding onto the handlebars, so I have decided not to race this weekend. It is very frustrating and I am very bummed for myself and the team.”

Ferrandis will use this weekend and the upcoming off weekend to focus on rest, rehabilitation, and recovery with the goal of returning for Round 10 of the championship in Birmingham, Alabama.

MXGP 2026 analysis and favorites: the most evenly matched season ever?

Between who can win the championship and who can fight for a top-five finish the MXGP 2026 emerges as one of the most uncertain championships ever.

Putting aside prep races around Europe for MXGP riders, it’s time to put the same destination on the GPS. In fact,the 2026 season will kick off with the MXGP of Argentina on the weekend of March 7-8.

It has probably been years since there has been so much anticipation for the start of the World Motocross Championship. Indeed, 2026 will see eight World Champions representing 18 world titles lined up in MXGP. A figure that goes to create an – almost – unprecedented balance in the list of MXGP title favorites for 2026.

MXGP 2026: the favorites to win the world title

The entry list of the 2026 MXGP World Championship allows four riders to be pointed out as the biggest suspects for winning the rainbow crown: Lucas Coenen, Romain Febvre, Tim Gajser and Jeffrey Herlings . The Belgian and the Frenchman, protagonists in the battle for the title in 2025 as well, will have one advantage in the first GPs of the championship: knowing their bikes 100 percent.

Gajser and Herlings, in fact, have switched manufacturers for 2026: from Honda to Yamaha the former and from KTM to Honda the latter. The process of refining to the new means, however, already seems well underway. The Slovenian won the Internazionali d’Italia Motocross; the Dutchman the first round of the Dutch Master MX in Lierop.

Starting a hair further back on our MXGP 2026 “tier list” are Tom Vialle and Maxime Renaux. The two Frenchmen, both title winners in MX2, come from opposite situations: the newly acquired Honda rider will have to get reacquainted with European tracks after three seasons in the United States; the Yamaha standard-bearer will have to stay away from injuries and for the first time since his move to MXGP he will not be the lead rider for the official team of the House of the Three Tuning Forks.

Speaking of who passes in MXGP: the two rookies Andrea Adamo and Kay de Wolf will certainly not stay away from the top group. The Italian showed great speed in the Internazionali d’Italia while the Dutchman is likely to be penalized by a hand injury in the first races of the World Championship.

Also playing a key role in the title fight will be all those riders who are ready to place in the top five or on the podium in some GPs of the season. A group, this one, that is resoundingly large: from Ruben Fernandez, third point of the stellar Honda HRC team to the Ducatis of Andrea Bonacorsi, Calvin Vlaanderen and Jeremy Seewer, via Alberto Forato ‘s Fantic and private team riders such as Isak Gifting, who will start the season as an injured rider, Mattia Guadagnini, Jan Pancar, Kevin Horgmo and Thibault Benistant.

A quantum leap is also expected from Beta, which, especially with Jago Geerts, is poised to appear in the top ranks of MXGP.

In short, there are at least 19 drivers capable of leading in GPs and at least 8 ready to fight for the Championship victory. Are you now convinced? It is the most balanced season ever!

Hunter + Works Connection = Holeshot

HOLESHOTS WIN RACES

Team Honda Depends on Works Connection

PRO LAUNCH START DEVICE

Lars Lindstrom..."Shame on me for not knowing that."

MXA... TONY CAIROLI LOOKS BACK AT THE SWITCH TO DUCATI

MXA

BY JIM KIMBALL

TONY, CAN WE BEGIN WITH YOU LEAVING KTM AND JOINING DUCATI? Yes. It was a very special opportunity to come to Ducati, but it was a very difficult one because KTM was like part of my family for so many years. In one way, I was very proud that the Italian brand Ducati was coming out with a motocross machine. Ducati is such an iconic brand.

I took the challenge, which was also a very difficult one because I know what I left with KTM, but I did not know what to expect from Ducati since they have no experience in motocross. So, it was quite a tough deal to leave KTM and sign with them, but I was very proud of it. It was a good decision.

MOVING TO DUCATI WAS A BIG CHANGE, AS YOU NO LONGER WORKED WITH THE DE CARLI TEAM. Yes, I was with the De Carli family from the beginning. We switched from Yamaha to KTM while there, and we accomplished so much together after winning that first 250 World Championship in 2005. Claudio De Carli and his family treated me like one of their own, and this helped me a lot after both my parents passed away. I was with the De Carlis for 18 years and 92 Grand Prix wins.

HOW HAS THE DUCATI CHANGED OR EVOLVED SINCE YOU JOINED THE BRAND? The first time I saw the bike was on a scratch pad! It was a very tough project working to making it arrive at what it is now. There was initially a lot of base riding, trying a lot of different things. It was tough but fun. Now we have a very good base. I think as a motocross bike, it is one of the best on the market.

HOW WAS IT RACING IN MXGP ON THE BIKE? Racing is tough always, especially when you have been retired for a few years and haven’t been training for racing. Initially, all I did at Ducati was to test; basically, you do one lap in and one lap out and change things—quite a lot of things. So, it is very different from when you are testing to develop your race bike. It is not easy getting back into racing shape, and with my age now 40, that is a big factor.

I had to play with many things, such as recuperation between motos. It is not the same as when I was younger. It is tough, but I still had a lot of fun, so I am really happy I have the potential to still do it.

 Tony’s Desmo450 needed a special waiver from the AMA to bypass the homologation rules that require 400 production bikes to be legal to race the Ducati in the USA. Photo by Kyle Berry.

NOW THAT DUCATI HAS AN MXGP TEAM, ARE YOU MAINLY INVOLVED WITH BIKE DEVELOPMENT OR DO YOU ALSO WORK WITH THE RIDERS? I only work with the motorcycle. There are so many aspects of the 450 that we are still working on. And of course we are also starting to develop the Ducati 250, so I am not working with the team riders. That is not my thing.

YOU RACED YAMAHAS FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE KTM. CAN YOU COMPARE HOW THE DUCATI FEELS? In all honesty, it rides a bit more like my Yamaha. Of course, the aluminum frame contributes to that. It is quite a different feeling than the chromoly steel frame on the KTM. It definitely feels more like a Japanese bike when you ride it.

TELL US ABOUT THE DECISION YOU MADE TO COME TO AMERICA TO DO A COUPLE AMA 450 NATIONALS. HOW DID THAT EVOLVE? It evolved because we know that the American market is very important for dirt bikes—maybe the most important market in the world for sure. So, I expressed my interest in coming to America to test with Factory Connection because I knew they had good knowledge in many areas. I think it was a good mix. We improved a lot in those AMA Nationals and got a lot of testing done.

Racing is important to see exactly where those changes are going to bring you. Of course, it was not easy because, to be honest, the racing level here is very high. For me, it is just a matter of showing the bike to the American fans and seeing if we can put some good laps in with it. The focus was to get in some gate drops and enjoy good racing—that is it.

“I TOOK THE CHALLENGE, WHICH WAS ALSO A VERY DIFFICULT ONE BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT I LEFT WITH KTM, BUT I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM DUCATI SINCE THEY HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN MOTOCROSS.”

YOU HAVE BEEN A WINNER FOR SO MANY YEARS. I IMAGINE YOUR MAIN PURPOSE IS TO TEST, BUT I’M SURE THAT AS A RACER YOU WANT TO WIN. For sure, it is not easy to accept when you are in the back, but I am a racer. I know that at my age, being 40 years old and battling against guys 20 years younger than me, it is very difficult, especially because I don’t train for racing. I train for testing mostly. However, I think that if I wanted to do a proper season, like going for a championship, I think I could probably still do it, fighting for the top five in the MXGP series, but it is not the case now. I am here to test all the things on the bike. I have not been training to win races for two, three or four years, since the end of 2021. When I stopped racing, I stopped all my training programs and just rode for testing or fun. But it is difficult to accept. Your mind wants you to be at the front, but your body has to accept that your physical condition is not good.

WHAT WILL YOU DO AFTER YOUR TRIP TO AMERICA? After this trip, we will need to settle down and evaluate what we learned here and what this brought to us here. Remember, we also have the MXGP team, and we can give them some better settings and parts to race with and to perform better. I will keep riding, of course. I would like to keep doing some MXGP rounds at the end of the series. Maybe the Motocross des Nations can be an option if I am riding well. It is an option since the MXDN is in the USA at Ironman in October. We have the bikes and everything else here already. It depends on the Italian Federation and what their thoughts are on this, but I would be open to it because I would love to race for Team Italy at the Motocross des Nations.  

 Even though he retired from racing in 2021, Tony racked up top-10 finishes at 40 years old in both the MXGP and AMA 450 Nationals this year.

YOU FINISHED SEVENTH AT AN MXGP EARLIER THIS YEAR. WERE YOU HAPPY WITH THAT? Yes, I was super happy. The only moto I did before that race was one moto to test some temperature stuff for the bike. But, I had not been doing motos for the last three years, so it was nice to see if my body could be pushed without training. Of course, I know that I cannot win because I would need refined technique, fitness and speed to win, but even if I don’t train, I can use my technique and experience to finish in the top seven.

Here in America, I was proud to be in the top 10. It is a different style of racing—different race tracks, a completely different race schedule from MXGP and on a production bike that we are testing a lot of different things on. I knew from being here a couple years ago on a KTM that the AMA riders are very fast in the beginning of the race, and I am not used to that since it has been so many years now. It has been a very good challenge.

“YES, I WAS SUPER HAPPY. THE ONLY MOTO I DID BEFORE THAT RACE WAS ONE MOTO TO TEST SOME TEMPERATURE STUFF FOR THE BIKE. BUT, I HAD NOT BEEN DOING MOTOS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, SO IT WAS NICE TO SEE IF MY BODY COULD BE PUSHED WITHOUT TRAINING.

WILL YOU COME BACK FOR PRE-SUPERCROSS TESTING? Yes, for sure. I will be involved more and more to check what the rider situation is. I’ll be very happy if I can help with testing. Of course, Supercross is not my thing, but I can still give a little advice. Hopefully the team will be announced soon so we can start working on the riders to see who to pick and who not so we can see what the situation is.

I KNOW STEFAN EVERTS WON TEN WORLD TITLES, BUT YOUR NINE WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS WERE AGAINST TOUGHER COMPETITION. It is tough to win that many titles. Of course, Stefan Everts did an amazing job, but it was at a different time. There were times when he only raced one moto in a day. And one year, I think he won two championships because he was racing all the classes, so it was very different times of course. What I am mostly proud of is myself and my career. I was racing against Stefan in his time, and I am now racing with riders like Jett Lawrence and Lucas Coenen. It has been quite difficult during the years, but I am most proud of having the speed through those different generations.

 It takes a village.

“YES, WINNING ON THE 350 WAS VERY SPECIAL, AS WE WON FIVE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN A ROW.”

AND MANY OF YOUR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS WERE ON THE KTM 350! Yes, winning on the 350 was very special, as we won five championships in a row. That was also when KTM hired me to run the team in America. This was a big time in America for KTM. Roger DeCoster and Ryan Dungey helped make the brand what it is now.

WHO WAS YOUR GREATEST COMPETITOR THROUGHOUT YOUR RACING CAREER? I have raced against many generations of riders, even Stefan Everts as you mentioned, but it is probably Christophe Pourcel I think of the most when it comes to a career competitor. He was a very good rival. Of course, Jeffrey Herlings and Tim Gajser were two other great competitors.

YOU MENTIONED JETT LAWRENCE A MINUTE AGO. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HIM? I believe that Jett Lawrence is something special in motocross. What he is doing is amazing. I think he is the best motocross rider in the world. There are some other young riders, including Lucas Coenen in MXGP and Haiden Deegan in America, who are fast as well. But now, Jett is on another level.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT SO MANY GP RIDERS WANTING TO COME TO AMERICA? Almost every rider had the big dream to come to America and race. Of course, Supercross was the big draw, but even the outdoor motocross tracks are so much nicer here in America than in the MXGP series. In the USA, they prepare the tracks between the motos, which makes them much safer in the States. At the GP races, the tracks are old school and not the best for high-level motocross. Also, on the GP weekend, they have too many different classes racing, so there is no time to fix the tracks. This makes the riders look slow. The GP tracks are too sketchy.

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN YOUR FUTURE? I would say that for probably the next couple of years, I will keep riding and helping with the bikes until my body cannot keep going. I am still fast, and I think you must be fast to make bikes better. I feel I can do this, and I would love to be involved with R&D in the future. After that, we will see. Most of all, I will enjoy life with my wife Jill and our children.

Anderson Takes A Break

Jason Anderson Steps Away From Racing To Address Personal Issues

Things aren’t looking good for the 2018 450SX Champion.

Ordinarily, Eli Tomac winning his eighth Daytona Supercross would’ve dominated headlines on Sunday. Instead, another star’s personal issues became the talk of the town. Vital MX forum users were attempting to uncover the reasons for Jason Anderson’s absence at Daytona, announced by the HEP Motorsports team as medical related. Anderson missed chunks of time during the 2025 season due to medical issues as well, prompting users to search for more information. In the process, some members discovered that Anderson has been involved in legal issues.

Anderson was arrested on December 15th and charged with Battery. A police report uncovered from the incident stated that Anderson and his wife got into an argument, which escalated. According to the document, Anderson “hit her in the side and grabbed her neck.” Another part of the document alleges that Anderson has a history of domestic violence.

In the light of the news, Pipes Motorsports Group released a statement on Monday evening. The full statement reads below.

“Pipes Motorsports Group announces that rider Jason Anderson will be stepping away from Supercross competition for an indefinite period to address personal, family, and ongoing medical matters. This decision was made jointly by Jason and his management team in coordination with the organization.

Pipes Motorsports Group respects Jason and his family’s privacy and fully supports his decision. No further statements will be made at this time.”

The HEP Motorsports team will now compete with two riders. Ken Roczen will continue representing the Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki branch of the team, while Colt Nichols is left as the sole racer for the Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance side of the team. Stay with Motocross.com for more updates on the current situation.