Jeff Ward at MX des Nations...1989

Throwback Thursday: Jeff Ward Soars in Motocross Des Nations (1989)

Larry Lawrence | September 22, 2022

Team USA with Jeff Ward, Jeff Stanton and Mike Kiedrowski, managed by Roger DeCoster, won the event

Nate Rauba photo

In this week’s Throwback we dial back the time machine to 1989 and travel to Gaildorf, West Germany, site of that year’s Motocross des Nations. This photo shows Jeff Ward (No. 1) soaring past Team Norway’s Håkon Huseby as a packed crowd watched Team USA dominate the international competition. Team USA Manager Roger DeCoster directed a strong team. Ward was already part of five winning American squads coming into that year’s event and he was joined by pair of Motocross des Nations rookies in Jeff Stanton and Mike Kiedrowski. Ward won the first moto, Stanton the other two. And Kiedrowski did a great job as well, finishing as the top 125 class rider in the first moto and the second in Moto 2.  As a result, Team USA won with 4 points, Italy was second with 11, Great Britain third with 15.

Here’s hoping Team USA break its 11-year dry spell and turns in another strong performance this weekend at the 2022 edition of the Motocross des Nations at RedBud MX in Buchanan, Michigan.

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Red Bud ...Team USA

75th Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations Returns to Legendary RedBud This Weekend

REDBUD (United States) – The Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations will make its much-anticipated return to RedBud in Buchanan, Michigan this weekend for the 75th edition of the event which promises to be bigger and better than ever before!

Since the success of the 2018 Monster Energy FIM MXoN, everyone has been eager to see the event return to ‘America’s Motocross Track’, where home fans hope to see their local heroes Team USA back on the top step after an 11-year drought.

This will be the second time that RedBud will host the biggest motocross event of the season, and the fifth in total in the United States. The US first hosted the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations in 1987 at Unadilla with Bob Hannah, Rick Johnson and Jeff Ward contributing to USA’s 13-year winning streak that ran between 1981 and 1993.

Team USA is of course one of the favourites heading into this weekend. Having won a total of 22 times, more than any other nation, the Americans are looking to get back on top after not winning a single event since their last victory in 2011 at Saint Jean d’Angely. This year the team consists of Eli Tomac, Justin Cooper and Chase Sexton, with Sexton making his very first Monster Energy FIM MXoN appearance.

There is no doubt the trio will feel some kind of pressure, since the only time the US team was ever beaten on home soil was in RedBud 2018, but with the support of the home crowd and a very strong line-up, we could see the Americans back on top!

• Team USA wins in 2011 MXGP

Meanwhile, Team France will be looking to repeat their success from 2018, when the nation scored their fifth consecutive victory with Gautier Paulin, Jordi Tixier and Dylan Ferrandis. Of course, Dylan Ferrandis will be back on the team this time around alongside Maxime Renaux and Marvin Musquin, with the trio a real threat for the Chamberlain Trophy once again.

Team Australia’s Mitch Evans, Hunter Lawrence and Jett Lawrence are another big threat for the top spot this year with a very strong team line-up. With Evans strong in MXGP and the Lawrence brothers shaking things up in the American series’ – this trio is one that could gift Australia their very first victory at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations.

Team Great Britain is also a team to look out for with Dean Wilson, Max Anstie and Tommy Searle representing the Union Jack in the USA. The British squad has some history too, having won the event 16 times and is second in terms of the most wins as a nation. Wilson, Anstie and Searle are also the trio that began Team GB’s podium streak in 2017 at Matterley Basin where they finished third and since then, the squad has placed third for the last four events consecutively and will be looking to end their weekend with another medal to make it five!

Team Italy with Antonio Cairoli, Andrea Adamo and Mattia Guadagnini are the defending champions this year after their victory on home soil last year in Mantova. Having tasted victory last year, the motivation will be high.

• Team Italy wins in 2021 MXGP
• Glenn Coldenhoff dominates in RedBud 2018 MXGP

Though Team Netherlands will also arrive hungry for the win after losing the title last year by just a single point to the Italian team. The team made up of Glenn Coldenhoff, Kay De Wolf and Calvin Vlaanderen will aim to clinch the nation’s second title, since their first win in Assen of 2019, a team that both Coldenhoff and Vlaanderen were a part of. Vlaanderen will also be looking to put the heartbreak of his time in RedBud last time around, behind him and focus on bringing home a solid result, while Coldenhoff will be looking to dominate just like he did in 2018 when he went 1-1 in his heats.

Also, Team Spain with Jorge Prado, Guillem Farres and Ruben Fernandez is a strong team who is likely to score top positions, along with Team Belgium with Jago Geerts, Liam Everts and Jeremy Van Horebeek, as Everts is set to make his debut for the Belgian squad, while Van Horebeek is set to make his 11th event representing his home country, which will also be the final time for the Belgian who announced his retirement.

Team Japan’s, Yuki Okura, Jo Shimoda and Kota Toriyabe are another trio to look out for this year, as well as Team South Africa’s Tristan Purdon, Camden Mc Lellan and Cameron Anthony Durrow.

This Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations will be full of big milestones as we celebrate the 75th edition of the event that began in 1947. This year, Team Estonia’s Tanel Leok will compete at his 20th Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations while for Team Germany’s Max Nagl this will be his 17th appearance, as Team Ireland’s Martin Barr will represent his nation for the 16th time. Others celebrating big milestones include Antonio Cairoli who will make it his 15th appearance, Jeremy Van Horebeek and Team GB’s Tommy Searle will line up for the 12th time, as well as Glenn Coldenhoff and Team Switzerland’s Jeremy Seewer who will ride for their country for the 11th and 10th time!

A total of 34 teams, including special teams from FIM Europe and FIM Latin America, will participate in the 75th edition of the event with the action promising to be bigger and better than ever with a very competitive line-up that makes the podium hard to predict!

The State of Supercross, Motocross

There’s certainly a resurgence in the racing world. More specifically, the state of Supercross. The announcement of two new series, the World Supercross Championship (WSX) and the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) are both set to give fans no shortage of racing in the coming years. New teams, new locations, and ultimately more races isn’t something to complain about, and we like to think that a rising tide floats all ships. But is there a competition between the two entities, and if so, will this be better or worse for the sport as a whole?

Supercross, motocross, World Supercross and SuperMotocross—racers have more options than ever. Photo by BrownDog Wilson

To clear things up, the WSX are the new kids on the block ready to strut their stuff. It’s an all-new series run by the team that organized the Aus-X Open a few years back. They’re set to embark on their inaugural season in October and have locked down big purses, international locations, 10 teams, and 40 riders. From the outside, their business model looks like F1 or MotoGP, but fit to spec for Supercross. For 2022, their series of 3-4 races will take place after the American Motocross series but they plan to overlap that schedule in coming years. It will be interesting when that schedule comes out.

The SMX is the newest collaboration between the two big American promoters, Feld and MX Sports. They’ve teamed up to make one giant series within two separate series, which spans the current Supercross and Motocross Championship and pays points throughout the year. From what we understand, the top 20 riders in each class will be eligible to race in three “playoff” rounds which will be held on a hybrid-style track (think Monster Cup). Points from those rounds will then earn someone the SuperMotocross World Championship crown. In theory, three different riders could win throughout the year: one Supercross, one motocross and one SuperMotocross. It’s something new and we will learn more down the road when more details from Feld and MX Sports are revealed.

But let’s play a game of hypotheticals here. As a rider, this could be good. More racing means more chances to put money in your pocket. And if you’re a Supercross specialist, maybe this is your shot to ride stadiums year-round. No more hot summers and no more 30-plus-two motos. But hopefully your team is okay with you choosing which schedule you’d like to run. In the case of KTM USA, we’ve yet to see any support from them regarding the new WSX series. Same goes for Kawasaki, as none of their U.S. riders have been confirmed, either. This gives us the idea that they’ll be competing in the SMX Championship, which is basically the current American schedule.

From a team’s perspective, more racing means more money. More travel, more parts, more time, more money. That’s the bottom line. The WSX grid is composed mostly of privately funded or European-run efforts. Teams like MotoConcepts, MDK Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing are all privately run ventures that seem to have enough “resources” to fund a new racing venture. The others, Craig Dack Yamaha, Bud Racing Kawasaki and Honda NILS are all staples in the MXGP or Australian Championships. The WSX promoters do plan on off-setting team costs, but, in the end, international travel for big teams will come with a hefty price tag.

Justin Brayton made a comment that really resonated with me regarding this topic. In short, he said that Supercross and motocross are about the same as indoor and beach volleyball. Sure, they’re both volleyball, but the technique, training and physical exertion required to play each one makes them two entirely different games. Brayton’s choice to race the WSX route is an easy insight to his opinion on the two options.

Eventually the two schedules will overlap and there will be choices for everyone involved: Which series to run, which teams to ride for, and which schedule to adopt. But for fans, it’s an easy choice. We can support both endeavors and enjoy more racing than we know what to do with. CN

Ken Roczen To Genuine Honda For World Supercross

Its official, Ken Roczen has found his home for the upcoming two-round World Supercross Championship. He’ll still be on a Honda, but not the same American Honda we’ve seen him on for the past six years. He’s secured a deal with Genuine Honda (Fire Power Honda), the Australian Factory Honda team run by Yarrive Konsky. It also sounds like Roczen will bring along some of his current sponsors like Fox and Red Bull (the team has a current gear deal with Fly Racing). This seems like a best case scenario for the 94 as he gets to race relatively familiar equipment during the new series, but no word on where this leaves him for the 2023 AMA series. The full press release can be read below.

 

Roczen will stay on a Honda with the Genuine Honda team. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson

With the opening event of the 2022 FIM World Supercross Championship just weeks away, Honda Genuine Honda Racing is pleased to announce a collaborative effort with Ken Roczen for the two-round season that will include events in the United Kingdom and Australia.

“Yarrive and his team are experienced, and they have achieved creditable results across the globe. I want to race this off season, and the Honda Genuine Honda Racing team is working with me and my personal sponsors,” said Roczen. “I am looking forward to seeing parts of Europe that I have not experienced as an adult, and I am really looking forward to travelling to Australia too! I have friends and fans there and can’t wait to enjoy some off season racing and great people.”

Roczen is going to compete this off season aboard a CRF450R that will be built and prepared by the HGA squad. Showa suspension is going to be equipped to his ‘red’ steed – Factory Connection has assisted by building and preparing chassis components. Competing aboard machinery that he is comfortable on will aid Roczen in his quest for the WSX title.

 

Roczen testing his blank Honda with the Factory Connection techs. Photo: Instagram

“Ken is one of the fastest and most experienced racers in the world. I believe that experience is going to help the team,” said Yarrive Konsky – Honda Genuine Honda Racing Team Owner. “Additionally, his popularity will only help the sport grow globally as he races in new countries. It is a rare opportunity for me to learn and for fans of supercross around the world to see him in action. We are happy to play a small part in that.”

October 08 marks the beginning of the 2022 FIM World Supercross Championship. The Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, will host the historic event. Roczen last raced in front of the British fans in the August of 2011 – he won the FIM Motocross World Championship round that was run on that day and took the MX2 world title in that same year.

The FIM World Supercross Championship announced tickets were on sale for the first Grand Prix at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, which can be found HERE. The FIM World Supercross Championship 2022 will serve as a “pilot” season, allowing the championship to establish itself and build momentum going into 2023. From 2023, and subsequent years, the FIM World Supercross Championship expand annually between June and November, with up to twelve events in 2023

WORCS Preston ID

Matteo Grattarola Takes Victory At TrialGP Of Italy But It’s Sweet 16 For Toni Bou

Sunday, September 18th, 2022

 

Matteo Grattarola took a little shine off Toni Bou’s 16th World Title by taking the round win. Photo: Future7Media

He didn’t win today’s battle but Toni Bou most definitely won the war with second on the first day of the final round of the 2022 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – the TrialGP of Italy – easily good enough to secure the superstar Spaniard a 16th-straight title and 32nd World Title.

With snow shimmering on the Alps’ picturesque peaks, the temperature at Ponte di Legno was the lowest the riders have experienced all season, and overnight rain added to the severity of the natural sections set in a riverbed and on super-steep, rock-strewn wooded bankings before the final man-made hazard.

Competing on home turf, Matteo Grattarola led at the halfway stage on 19 with Adam Raga another two marks behind on observation plus an additional time penalty in second with Miquel Gelabert third on 26.

Sections seven and eight – near vertical climbs over massive rocks – provided back-to-back challenges and claimed maximums from the entire TrialGP entry on the opening lap.

Tied for fourth with fellow countryman Jaime Busto on 28 after an expensive first lap, Bou showed his class on lap two by dropping his score to 13 and demonstrating his brilliance with a one-mark ride on section eight where the rest of the field failed to make it to the end.

Grattarola, however, matched him almost mark for mark and his final total of 33 earned him a career-first TrialGP win by eight marks from Bou with Raga dropping a place to third on 45 – four ahead of Gabriel Marcelli – with Jorge Casales claiming fifth by a mark from Gelabert.

Toni Bou had a very rare second place. Photo: Future7Media

“It’s really, really important for me to get this win,” said Grattarola. “It’s next to my house so it’s perfect – I couldn’t hope for more. Today I had a really good feeling on the bike but I wasn’t expecting to get the win so I’m very happy and tomorrow I hope to do the same.”

For Toni Bou, 16 was a sweet one.

Since 2007, Bou has won every world championship in which he has participated: 32 individual titles. To these, we should also add his appearances with the Spanish national team in the Trial des Nations competition (world championship for national teams), where he currently holds another 16 titles.

“It’s always special to win a world title. When you have a good points lead, the race in which the title is at stake is always a bit strange, because you don’t want to make mistakes and it’s hard to concentrate,” Bou said. “On the first lap I made two big mistakes and that’s where the victory slipped away from me. On the second lap I was able to get into the fight for the win at a certain point, but in the end it wasn’t to be. The trial was really beautiful, in the Alps and with a dedicated Italian crowd.

“In terms of the season, consistency has been key,” Bou added, “It has been a very good year, very regular and we have always been on the podium. We fought until the end and, finally, we were able to clinch this new outdoor title. I am very grateful to the team.”

The action continues tomorrow from 09:00 with the second day of the Trial GP of Italy, the final round of the TrialGP 2022 World Championship.

Bartosz Zmarzlik Seals FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Championship Number 3 In Sweden

Posted:

Monday, September 19th, 2022

8:40 PM

Polish history-maker Bartosz Zmarzlik admits it was a family and team effort that delivered FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Championship No.3 as he secured the sport’s biggest prize with a round to spare on Saturday.

Zmarzlik zoomed to top spot in the Kaeser FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla, but he claimed the World Championship before even turning a wheel in semi-final two after nearest rival Leon Madsen suffered an engine failure in the first semi-final.

Despite the euphoria of that moment, Zmarzlik still regained his composure to win the Speedway GP ahead of Swedish home hero Fredrik Lindgren in second place, Poland’s Maciej Janowski in third, and Great Britain racer Tai Woffinden in fourth spot.

The Gorzow hero celebrated with his crew, before joining his family, team, and sponsors on the Skrotfrag Arena podium to toast his third Speedway GP world title in four seasons.

His 2022 triumph is also his sixth SGP World Championship medal in seven years since he made his full-time debut on the sport’s biggest stage in 2016, as Zmarzlik becomes Poland’s first-ever triple speedway world champion.

While Zmarzlik gets the headlines, he admits he couldn’t have written another chapter in the Speedway GP history books without his team and family, with partner Sandra, young son Antek, father Pawel senior and his brother and manager Pawel junior sharing in the podium celebrations.

He said: “They are very important for me – my family and my sponsors. From the start of my career, my whole family has been with me and in my head, I feel we are fighting together and I am not alone. That’s really good for me because I am very close with my family in life and in my job. The whole family works really hard with me.”

Zmarzlik’s victory sees him become the first Speedway GP world champion to seal the title with a round to spare since Great Britain’s Tai Woffinden won his second world title in 2015. He will now collect the trophy at the FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Torun on October 1.

Reflecting on another milestone as he continues to establish himself as one of Speedway GP’s all-time greats, Zmarzlik admitted becoming a triple champion is still sinking in.

He said: “I don’t really understand it now. I know what I have done, but I haven’t got the full feeling now. Maybe I will understand it more tomorrow morning. I am very happy because I know now that I have won the championship and I have also won the round in Malilla.

“For me, it’s such a nice night and now I can go to Torun with No.3 and it makes it so much easier for the head.”

Zmarzlik is elated with his consistency on the sport’s biggest stage after adding a third gold medal to two silvers and a bronze since he joined Speedway GP.

He said: “I am really very happy about this. I have been in Speedway GP for seven years and I have made it six medals. That’s really nice, and three times it has been gold.

“I am really proud about this because I know how much work goes into it. Sometimes you do not win everything by doing a good job on the track. The whole season I want to do a good job on and off the track and I love it.”

Next up is Zmarzlik’s quest to become a four-time world champion in 2023. “I have many dreams and I want to do this,” he said. “But that is in the future. Now I am just happy about today.”

Runner-up Lindgren has endured a torrid battle with the ongoing effects of long Covid over the past two seasons. This has left him racing on with breathing difficulties at times.

His health issues haven’t stopped him delivering world-class performances in Speedway GP and he was delighted to storm to his best result of 2022 in front of his home fans at the Skrotfrag Arena.

He is now sixth in the standings on 92 points – level with seventh-placed Maciej Janowski but leading him on countback in the race for the final automatic qualification place for the 2023 Speedway GP series. Lindgren said: “I’m over the moon. I have struggled a lot over the last couple of weeks in the GP series. I haven’t performed very well and my league form has been a bit down as well.

“I have been struggling with a lot of health issues off the track and it was very emotional for me tonight because I have been so down for some period of time now.

“To be able to come here in front of my home fans and sponsors and perform like I did today, getting back to myself and the way I know I can ride is a nice feeling. My pit crew has done some serious work behind the scenes over the last couple of weeks to try and figure out some stuff with the equipment. It paid off.”

Third-placed Janowski was pleased to bounce back from a nightmare Speedway GP in Vojens just a week ago. After scoring two points in Denmark, he leaves Malilla – his Swedish home track – in much better spirits with 16 points.

The Dackarna hero said: “Finally we got a good result, especially after Vojens. I am very proud. We changed a few things. I knew I needed to breathe more. We have spent the whole week here and have been thinking about many things – how to prepare the bikes.

“We can compare tonight’s Malilla track to how it is when I am representing Dackarna and we didn’t need to find the setup. From the beginning, my bike was working very well. We made a few changes during the meeting, but the night was good for us.”

The Speedway GP season concludes in Torun on October 1 – on the same weekend as the SGP2 FIM Speedway Under-21 world champion will be crowned in the FIM SGP2 of Poland – Torun on Friday, September 30.

KAESER FIM SWEDISH SPEEDWAY GP SCORES:
1 Bartosz Zmarzlik 20 Points
2 Fredrik Lindgren 18 Points
3 Maciej Janowski 16 Points
4 Tai Woffinden 14 Points
5 Martin Vaculik 12 Points

HUNTER LAWRENCE RIDES A CR500 2 STROKE

Caught Hunter Lawrence riding Aaron Colton's custom-built #CR500 two stroke at the Alpinestars ride day. So cool to see him shred a classic bike with modern style. Also grabbed a clip of Jett Lawrence tossing it on the Honda 450.

MXoN: Shimoda Ready To Shine For Japan At RedBud

After performing below his lofty expectations in Supercross, Jo Shimoda emphatically turned his fortunes around when he headed outdoors.

Going on to claim an impressive second in the 250 AMA Pro Motocross championship behind the masterful Jett Lawrence, Shimoda cut a revitalised and confident figure throughout the series.

Silky smooth, composed and riding with conviction, the Japanese starlet admirably didn’t register an overall finish worse than fifth on his way to securing nine overall podiums from the 12 rounds, including two wins at RedBud and Unadilla.

Coming out on top in five individual motos further underlined what a terrific campaign he enjoyed aboard his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki. “We gave it everything each race and hopefully next year we’ll be going for that championship from the start,” he asserted upon reflecting on his strong efforts.

Gaining the belief that he could run with and battle with the rapid Lawrence brothers, who he’s good friends with, his uptick in speed was another key takeaway. With him previously taking his time to settle into the pace of races, it was great to see him hitting his straps from the outset, thus ensuring he was ideally situated to duke it out with the frontrunners.

One of only three men to claim an overall alongside the dominant Jett Lawrence and RJ Hampshire, Shimoda’s consistently excellent displays meant he was clearly the second best man outdoors.

Improving dramatically since linking up with Nick Wey earlier in the year, this has unquestionably been a crucial catalyst towards his accomplished output outdoors. Clicking into gear, in the form of his life and going from strength to strength with every race, expect him to continue on this upward curve as he matures and spends more time under Wey’s expert tutelage.

Indeed, seeing as no Japanese rider has ever won an AMA title, if he can continue on his current path, it’s possible he could be creating history sooner rather than later. But before recalibrating his focus to Supercross and blazing more trails in America, firstly he’ll be keen to excel at the Motocross of Nations for Team Japan at RedBud, a venue he won at back in July in Pro Motocross.

Fresh from winning a Japanese national just last week on a 450, this should serve as another boost for the talented 20-year-old heading into the showpiece event. “I moved to the U.S when I was in elementary school to compete at the highest level of amateur motocross. Since turning professional in America, I haven’t had a chance to go back home and battle with my old friends, so when the opportunity was brought up, I immediately said yes,” he explained.

“Similarly, it’s an honour to be selected for Team Japan and represent the Japanese people at the Motocross of Nations. I earned my first overall win at RedBud earlier this year, so I hope to continue that success and make everyone back home proud.”

Hoping to close his year on a high on the biggest stage in the sport and carrying plenty of positive momentum into the MXoN, there’s every chance he’ll put in a statement ride to duly enhance his rapidly growing reputation. And, in the process, prove why he’s one of the truly elite 250 pilots on the planet.

Edward Stratmann September 18, 2022

Matrix Fall Sale...Some Pretty Good Deals!

 

Go to www.matrixracingproducts.com