WSX Calgary: Strong start, but Webb & Anstie win

Stark Future has kicked off the new FIM World Supercross Championship season with podium finishes, strong starts, and top positions in both classes. Michael Hicks finished the Canadian GP second overall in the SX2 class, while Brian Hsu led all three starts in his WSX debut. In SX1, Jorge Zaragoza finished second in the second sprint race, and Vince Friese collected twelve points.

Calgary's high altitude played into the hands of the electrically powered VARG. McMahon Stadium is situated approximately 1.060 meters above sea level. The electric motors were unaffected by the lower oxygen content of the air, while the combustion engines did not achieve their usual performance under these conditions.

Hsu leads after all three starts

Brian Hsu got the best start in his first WSX race, the opening sprint race. The German initially pulled away before defending champion Max Anstie closed the gap and took the lead in lap four.

Devin Simonson also overtook Hsu to finish second. Hicks held onto third place against Cameron McAdoo, while Hsu, after leading early, finished fifth.

In the second sprint, the two VARG riders were once again at the front. Hsu led ahead of Hicks, while Anstie had to close the gap on the track. The Briton gained ground, especially in the whoops. He overtook Hsu on the penultimate lap. Hicks snatched the lead from his teammate a lap later and brought Hsu home in second place.

Hicks brings Stark to second place overall

Hsu also led after the start of the Main Event. The 28-year-old thus led at least the initial stages of all three SX2 races.

Anstie prevailed once again over the twelve laps. Cameron McAdoo finished second, and Hicks came in third. With these results, the Stark driver secured second place overall behind the defending champion, while McAdoo finished third.

Hicks reached the podium with a sprained ankle. A week before Calgary, he had crashed in another race and dislocated the joint. "It's swollen and bruised, and I've been limping all week. So I didn't think tonight would go like this," Hicks said.

The American had been searching for a permanent spot in the World Supercross Championship for quite some time. "This means a lot to me. I've been trying to get a World Supercross ride, and finally Stark gave me this opportunity. I believe I can prove myself now."

Anstie has to pass the VARG three times.

Max Anstie secured the overall SX2 victory despite the starts of Hsu and Hicks. The 33-year-old won both sprint races as well as the main event, taking maximum points in his first WSX appearance for Rick Ware Racing.

The acceleration of the two VARG bikes occupied the Briton throughout the evening. “It was tough. The track was brutal – and the electric bikes. I think they were perhaps the most difficult obstacle,” said Anstie. “They were gone at the start, and on that track it was really difficult to make up the time.”

McAdoo also witnessed the starts of the electric motorcycles up close. "The electric bikes are crazy. At the start, it's truly insane. We have the altitude here, and it was pretty wild how much power they had," said the Kawasaki rider.

McAdoo finished his first World Supercross Championship race in third place overall. His Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team had given him permission to compete in Canada.

Friese leads early – Zaragoza moves into second place

Stark was also in the mix at the front in the SX1 class. In the first sprint race, Vince Friese initially took the lead, but was unable to maintain his position and finished in sixth place.

Justin Hill won the opening race. His Rick Ware Racing teammate Cooper Webb worked his way up to second place, holding off Dean Wilson. Defending champion Jason Anderson crashed out in the first lap and finished without points.

In the second sprint race, Webb reversed the order. The two-time AMA Supercross champion worked his way through the field, jumping the whoops and holding tight lines through the corners, securing the victory.

Behind him, Jorge Zaragoza brought the Stark VARG home in second place. Wilson finished third. Hill had to fight his way back after a crash in the first lap. On his way back towards the top three, he got caught between Wilson and Mitchell Harrison and dropped back to fifth. Christian Craig also crashed.

Storm stops Webb on his way to Main Event victory

Webb went into the Main Event with ten points from the first and nine from the second Sprint Race. The Rick Ware Racing driver was leading when the weather conditions over McMahon Stadium deteriorated rapidly.

Strong gusts of wind blew Tough Blocks onto the track. Initially, yellow flags were shown. As the wind continued to increase, the FIM stopped the race with a red flag. Shortly afterward, heavy rain began. Race control did not restart the main event and used the results of the two previously completed sprint races to determine the overall standings.

Webb won the Canadian GP with 19 points in his first race after joining Rick Ware Racing. The American had already participated as a wildcard in the Australian GP in 2025 and will contest the full WSX season for the first time in 2026.

“It was really good. It was nice to get the win. The conditions were pretty tough, and as you can see, the weather was already turning bad. Unfortunately, we had the red flag, but I felt really good,” Webb said before the subsequent downpour.

Wilson wins the tie against Hill.

Dean Wilson and Justin Hill each finished with 16 points after the two sprint races. Because Wilson finished ahead of Hill in the second sprint, the Honda rider took second place overall. Hill finished third.

Vince Friese finished the evening in fourth place with twelve points, securing another top finish for Stark. Mitchell Harrison followed in fifth place, also with twelve points. Zaragoza's second place in the second sprint earned him nine points and sixth place overall. Stark thus left Calgary with Hicks on the SX2 podium, and Friese and Zaragoza in fourth and sixth place respectively in SX1.

Webb's first full season in the World Supercross Championship begins in Calgary. After his wildcard appearance in Australia in 2025, the 30-year-old has committed to the entire season.

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Seth Hammaker Resigns With Kawasaki

World Supercross Coming Soon!

2026 World Supercross – Webb v Anderson?

If the 2026 World Supercross season can be half as exciting as the adrenalin-filled title decider was between Jason Anderson and Joey Savatgy with Christian Craig thrown in for good measure, it will be another can’t miss season with the unique three short motos accelerating the intensity at every round.

Unfortunately for his championship hopes, Joey Savatgy remains on the sidelines with injury for round one in Calgary but taking his place will be Dean Wilson who always adds some colour and speed to any event.

Jason Anderson, the defending champion, will be there to defend his title, but it won’t be easy with new recruit, Cooper Webb, coming in to make his mark in the international championship. Webb will be on a Star Yamaha for round one but is expected to be on team Tedder KTM for round two and the rest of the series – but he won’t have much testing time before his debut on the team in England!

How Webb adapts to KTM and the new team with such short notice will be interesting, but Webb is one of the most determined riders out there and if you give him and inch he will take a mile – and he knows how to win championships.

An interesting change to this season is the fact the riders will be allowed to pick different gates in all three motos – remember last year when Deegan had to take the last gate pick each time because he missed gate pick forcing him to the outside for ever moto? Now the rider will be able to choose whatever gate they want based the available options pending their timed qualifying position.

A rider who should not be overlooked this season is Justin Hill who will be on his more familiar KTM machinery and anywhere, anytime can run with anyone. With the sprint moto format, Hill should be in the mix along with the also very talented Christian Craig who was right in the mix last year for the title until mistakes in the final round cost him.

In MX2 the favourite will be Max Anstie as the Brit looks to defend his title but this year he will have Cameron McAdoo to contend with as well as the increasingly impressive Devin Simonsen. Brian Hsu is an interesting addition on the Stark with the former factory Suzuki rider having no lack of talent but can he pick the Supercross game up quick enough to contend for podiums? 

Jake Cannon won’t be at round one this weekend but the Aussie will be out to impress once his EMX250 season is over in MXGP, as he seeks to show the Americans he can ride Supercross as well as outdoors. Kyle Peters can never be counted out and Crockett Myers was a rapidly rising star Stateside and could impress in World Supercross this season.

Jack Chambers, Cole Thompson, Michael Hicks, Henry Millar, Ryan Breece and Robbie Wageman are all capable of getting amongst it and are not afraid of being aggressive in the short, sharp races but the question remains who can beat Max Anstie – Cameron McAdoo will be hoping he is the one that can.

Will Zack Be Back?

Triumph Continues to Build Success!

Triumph on the road to success: Why the MXGP entry in 2027 will still start from scratch

Three years ago, Triumph launched its factory program in the Motocross World Championship. Today, the British manufacturer, with Guillem Farres and Camden McLellan, is competing for race wins, podium finishes, and even the MX2 riders' and manufacturers' world championships. The development has been significantly faster than many observers anticipated. Nevertheless, the team remains grounded and views its planned entry into the MXGP class in 2027 as a completely new chapter.

Farres and McLellan were not a given.

From team manager Vincent Bereni's perspective, the team's sporting success is closely linked to its two current riders. When Triumph signed Guillem Farres and Camden McLellan, neither of them were on the wish list of the major factory teams. However, the team was convinced that both possessed the potential to establish themselves at the top of the sport.

This assessment now appears to be confirmed. Both riders have already worn the red plate this season, with Farres currently leading the MX2 World Championship. For Triumph, this is a confirmation of their own youth development program and their ability to identify talent early on.

The starts remain McLellan's biggest problem.

While Farres regularly manages strong starts, McLellan often loses crucial positions in the opening meters. Although both riders are on the same motorcycle, Triumph sees potential to further refine the setup to better suit McLellan's riding style.

At the same time, the team wants to avoid focusing solely on this issue. Concentrating only on starts risks neglecting other important areas. Therefore, Triumph continues to work on solutions without making it the sole development goal.

Interestingly, the team is not currently focusing on any specific setup for the start. Instead, they are concentrating primarily on providing the driver with the best possible support during the starting procedure.

The biggest development step was achieved in winter

Although Triumph was competitive in its first year, the second season, in their own estimation, was not quite as successful as hoped. Therefore, the team invested significantly more time over the past winter in further developing the motorcycle.

Particular attention was paid to the chassis. Together with numerous smaller changes to the overall package, these adjustments ensured that the machine performed much more consistently this season.

Bereni considers Triumph's current lead in the constructors' championship an extraordinary success. After all, the team is competing against manufacturers like Honda, Yamaha, and KTM, who can draw on decades of experience in motocross.

Success is not guaranteed

Despite the recent results, Triumph is by no means satisfied. The team firmly believes that the balance of power in motocross can shift at any time. That's precisely why they want to capitalize on the current phase while simultaneously continuing their consistent development.

Those in charge know that there are no guarantees in motorsport. What works today might not be enough next year.

MXGP will be a completely new challenge

Parallel to the title fight in MX2, preparations are underway for entry into the MXGP class.

It is now confirmed that Mikkel Haarup will return to the factory team in 2027. The Dane was one of the first riders in the Triumph project and is currently gaining valuable experience on the 450cc machine in the USA. As things stand, Triumph will also field a second rider in the MXGP series.

Despite all the preparations, the team sees the move to the premier class as a complete fresh start. While the experience gained in MX2 is valuable, new challenges await in MXGP. There, Triumph will once again face manufacturers who have been active in this category for decades and have accumulated a great deal of expertise.

The USA provides valuable insights

That hair up is currently in American Motocross Championship Being on the move brings additional advantages to the project. Particularly in engine development, numerous data points flow directly into the engineers' work.

At the same time, the team makes it clear that conditions in Europe differ significantly from those in the USA. Tracks like Lommel or other classic European sand and hard-packed circuits place completely different demands on rider and motorcycle.

Therefore, despite the positive findings from the USA, Triumph expects to have much to learn in its first MXGP season.

With momentum into the next expansion phase

Three years after entering the Motocross World Championship, Triumph has quickly developed into a title contender. The progress of the past few months confirms the chosen path, while the team remains realistic.

While Guillem Farres and Camden McLellan are fighting for crucial points in MX2 this season, the focus is already on 2027. For Triumph, the next big chapter begins then with their entry into the MXGP class – and although the starting position is significantly better today than it was three years ago, the team consciously views this step as a new beginning.

Lommel

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Tom Vialle talks about his MXGP restart

  After three successful years in the USA, he returns Tom Vialle 2026 with the Honda HRC PETRONAS Team Back on the MXGP stage – and with one of the most exciting steps of his career. The two-time world champion is making the move up to the 450cc class and will compete for the first time in the premier category of the Motocross World Championship. New bike, new team, new opponents – and at the same time, familiar territory in Europe.

Before the start of the season, the Frenchman answered questions from the international press about his return from America, the switch to the 450, his expectations for his first MXGP year and the special motivation that drives him.

Tom, after three years in the USA you're back in Europe and will be competing in the MXGP class on the 450 for the first time in 2026. How was the transition for you?

It was actually a nice return. I spent three years in the USA and before that four years here in Europe. Adjusting wasn't a huge adjustment; I quickly got back into the rhythm. Of course, the 450cc bike is new to me—this is my first season in this class—so there's still a lot to learn.

What was the biggest challenge when switching to the 450cc class?

Definitely the bike. The 450's performance is completely different, plus there's a new team and new opponents I've never raced against before. I've been riding the Honda since November and we've done a lot of testing to find a good setup I'm happy with. But testing and training is different from racing GPs – that will be the real test.

You've already achieved tremendous success in the 250cc class, both in the USA and in the World Championship. What are your expectations for your first 450cc season?

It's hard to say exactly. I've only just finished my first 450cc race. GP races are completely different from preparation races. The first step is to get on the podium and, if possible, fight for wins. Consistency is key because the season is long – almost 20 GPs. I want to be at the front every weekend and improve throughout the season.

How does racing in Europe differ from your time in the USA?

The tracks are different, the format is different – ​​in MXGP we have two race days and a long weekend. I know the European tracks, but I need to get used to the rhythm again. However, I spent four years here in the 250cc class, so I think I'll adapt quickly.

A third World Championship title would put you in a special position historically. Is that something that motivates you?

To be honest, I didn't even know that before. But of course, that would be a dream. Right now, I'm focused on developing in the 450cc class. If we can compete for titles someday, that would be fantastic.

Chase Sexton mentioned that he'd like to see you at the Motocross of Nations in Ernée. Would that be a particular goal for you?

Motocross of Nations is always something special, especially in France. I was there in 2023 and we won – that was one of the best weekends of my life. If I'm selected, I'd love to race again and compete against Chase. We've trained together a lot, but we've never actually battled each other on the track.

How would you describe your starting position before the first GP in Argentina?

I feel well prepared. We've worked hard, the bike is at a good level, and I've quickly readjusted to Europe. Now it's about putting that into practice in the race and progressing step by step.

Red Bull Romananiacs

Manuel Lettenbichler: Seventh victory at the Red Bull Romaniacs

 Ralph Marzahn 

Manuel Lettenbichler has added another chapter to his impressive success story at the Red Bull Romaniacs. The KTM factory rider won this year's edition of the hard enduro rally in Romania with a clear lead, thus equaling the previous record holder. It was already his seventh overall victory in one of the toughest off-road races in the world.

Early lead and no period of weakness

As usual, the event kicked off with the prologue in the streets of Sibiu. After Lettenbichler had already won the qualifying round, he finished the spectacular final in third place.

However, the German driver's true strength lay in the off-road section. On the very first off-road day, he secured a victory with a lead of almost eight minutes, taking the overall lead. A day later, he extended his advantage to more than 19 minutes with another stage win.

Lettenbichler remained the man to beat on the third day of off-road racing. Although he was beaten by less than a minute in the day's standings after a close duel, his lead in the overall standings was never seriously threatened.

Dominance on the final day

On the final day of racing, the 27-year-old left no room for doubt. With a superb ride, he won the final stage by 44 minutes, securing his overall victory.

At the finish line, his lead was more than an hour – a demonstration of strength rarely seen at the Red Bull Romaniacs. With his fourth consecutive victory at the event, Lettenbichler also set another impressive record.

"I never would have expected that."

His reaction at the finish line was correspondingly emotional. “To be honest, it’s hard to put into words. As I rode across the last meadows, I couldn’t help thinking about how far my journey in the sport has taken me. I never would have imagined winning the Red Bull Romaniacs for the seventh time.”

Lettenbichler particularly appreciates the effort this race demands every year. "Every victory here means an incredible amount of work and preparation. That's why this success is so special." He also enjoyed the course despite its enormous challenges. "There were some incredibly difficult sections. Nevertheless, I was able to ride my own race and really enjoy the final day. Crossing the finish line is always a fantastic feeling."

Focus on the Hard Enduro World Championship

With his triumph in Romania, Manuel Lettenbichler continues his extraordinary run of success. Seven victories at the Red Bull Romaniacs speak for themselves and once again underline his exceptional status in hard enduro racing.

Following the success in Romania, the focus now shifts back to the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. August 20th to 22th stands with Come on Orza The fourth round of the World Championships is on the program in Sweden. Lettenbichler wants to prove his strong form there once again.