Lawerence Bros Chase The Ring!

The Lawrence brothers put on an amazing one-on-one battle at High Point, but it was looking like a distant memory after Jett turned up the wick a week later. His engine blew up at RedBud, but so did his motivation.

“After RedBud, I was pissed off and told Christian [mechanic] and Doc G, ‘For now on I’m winning every race to the end of the season,’” he told Steve Matthes in an interview on Saturday at Millville. “So far so good.”

With the engine fixed, the second moto at RedBud was much different. Jett went from a blown engine to blowing them all away. He followed it with 1-1 at Southwick while Hunter Lawrence faltered. The battle of the Lawrences? The scales were no longer even.

Hunter tried to get them back on his side at Millville, and he accomplished the hardest part. He found the speed! In the first moto he snuck into the lead when Jett got held up by a crashing Justin Cooper. He pulled away slightly and then really messed up the whoops, going off the track and nearly heading into a tree or Spring Creek itself. Hunter saved it but not before Jett pounced and then completed the pass half a lap later. But Hunter responded! He retook the lead and held it again, until the lappers slowed him just as Jett launched one more attack. Hunter was stuck with the lappers, and Jett rode by. Run that race back in a simulator a few times and Hunter wins a few of them. The brothers were back to being that close again.

“We learn so much off of each other,” Hunter explained to Steve Matthes. “You know Jurassic Park, and those raptors? Where they adapt and learn and get smarter and smarter and smarter? That’s literally like how it is with me and Jett. High Point. Study him for four laps, pass him. He’d study me for four laps, pass me back, and then vice-versa. It’s not just racing all out, because our speed is so similar to each other, that even if someone is slightly faster, we can just adapt and learn the faster speed.”

In moto two Hunter was in an even better position, nailing the start and getting the early lead and sprinting while Jett had to make some passes. Then came a red flag and a restart, and it was wiped out. Hunter blew the start the next time, and it was over. The best he could do was fifth. Jett cruised to a 1-1.

Bummer it didn’t work for Hunter, but he can’t curse the racing luck completely, because he’d be some 50 points down if Jett’s bike made it to the finish at RedBud. Sometimes it bounces your way, sometimes it doesn’t. All you can do is be ready when opportunity strikes, and Hunter is doing all he can to take advantage.

Musquin Back for 2023 with KTM

Supercross deal of KTM and Musquin to continue in 2023

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Section: Competition Post: Alex Gobert

Longtime Red Bull KTM team rider remaining for another season.

Image: Octopi Media.

KTM has confirmed that Marvin Musquin will remain with Red Bull KTM for another year after re-signing for the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross Championship.

The 32-year-old Frenchman won the St. Louis Triple Crown round this season and it was announced at KTM’s dealer conference that he will continue for next year.

Musquin’s signing locks in the Red Bull KTM team’s 450SX program for next season, with Cooper Webb also recently re-signing and Aaron Plessinger on a two-year contract that commenced this year.

With Musquin and Webb both on Supercross-only contracts at this point, it is unclear what KTM has in store for next year’s Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. This year has seen Ryan Dungey return alongside Plessinger outdoors.

R&D at Works Connection

The boys at Works Connection are always working on new stuff to help make our bikes better. Look for something new and  exciting coming soon!

Reed To WSX

UK supercross fans will get the chance to see Chad Reed go bar-to-bar with Ken Roczen and Eli Tomac when the 2022 World Supercross Championship gets underway in Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales on Saturday 8 October, with the two-time world champion announced as riding for US-based MDK Motorsport.

"Opportunities like WSX don’t come along every day. Growing up in Australia, I have always enjoyed an opportunity to grab my passport, travel the world, and ride my dirt bike. After two years of retirement, I have a new perspective on racing at the highest level. I am beyond excited to get back on the bike, into the athletic mindset and ready to compete to win in October," said Chad Reed. "The WSX Championship going global is the biggest thing to happen to supercross in its history and I’m looking forward to joining Mark Kvamme and the MDK team. They possess the technical expertise, resources, and passion I need behind me to be successful.

He added, "I haven’t raced in Melbourne since 2019, so it’ll be an unbelievable experience to get back here in October and go up against the best current riders in the world. It’s going to be an epic experience competing for an FIM-sanctioned world championship."

"The addition of Australia’s own supercross legend and two-time world champion Chad Reed to the 10 team and 40 world class rider field is incredible," said Adam Bailey, SX Global’s managing director – motorsport. "He only adds to what is already a star-studded lineup of the world’s best supercross riders and it’s going to be great watching him mix it with the likes of Roczen and Brayton. The WSX Championship is the future of world supercross."

Dungey Figuring It Out?

Tomac Back On Top!

Tomac the new 450MX points leader after Millville win

Double-moto victory sees him overtake Chase Sexton in the points standings.

Image: Octopi Media.

Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing’s Eli Tomac has claimed his fourth consecutive round win to take the 450MX championship lead after an entertaining round of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross at Millville.

Tomac won both races after heated battles with Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) to take the overall, with Sexton second and Craig Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) completing the podium.

Tomac made it six race wins in a row after a good battle with Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton in the opening 450MX moto.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy scored the holeshot, but Tomac quickly jumped into the lead, with Ryan Dungey (Red Bull KTM) and Sexton third and fourth.

Sexton was able to capitalise on errors by Dungey and Savatgy to promote himself into second, then set off after Tomac.

At the mid-point of the race Sexton closed the gap and passed Tomac for the lead, but just as he began to check out, he crashed at bottom of one of the Spring Creek hills and let Tomac back into the lead.

Tomac went on to take a comfortable 14-second win over Sexton.

Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) held off Dungey for third, as Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing’s Christian Craig rounded out the top five.

Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) and Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM) crossed the line in sixth and seventh. Max Anstie (Fire Power Honda), and BBMX KTM riders Benny Bloss and Fredrik Noren completed the top 10.

Tomac claimed the second 450MX moto victory after a gritty battle with Sexton.

Savatgy again scored the holeshot with Sexton and Roczen right behind him.

Sexton, Roczen and Tomac quickly dispatched of the Kawasaki rider, before Tomac went into beast-mode, worked his way past Roczen on the third lap, then closing the two-second gap to Sexton.

A lap later Tomac surged into the lead and tried to sprint away, while behind them, Christian Craig ground away at Roczen, eventually taking P3 midway through the moto, before Anderson also found his way past the Honda rider a lap later.

Despite the laps wearing down, Sexton refused to give up and continued to bring the battle to Tomac, keeping the gap between one and two seconds for the rest of the race.

Tomac was able to keep Sexton at bay, though, and took the win, with the pair finishing more than 44 seconds ahead of Craig, with Anderson fourth and Barcia fifth.

Dungey, Plessinger, Savatgy, Garrett Marchbanks (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha) and Bloss rounded out top 10.

In the championship hunt, Tomac now holds a five-point lead over Sexton (317 points to 312 points), with Anderson moving up to third overall, a further 72 points adrift.

The eighth round of the Pro Motocross Championship will be held at Washougal next Saturday.

International Classic Motocross Racing

Drumlanrig Castle 2022

MX Characters

Polarizing Characters - Our Sport

Posted on July 14, 2022 - at MXLarge

 

There is no doubt, when it comes to riders that are polarizing, you have in motocross, Jett Lawrence and Jeffrey Herlings. In a World where characters are not like in the 1960s and 1970s, where they said what they think, many are now being programmed to not piss anyone off and then we get some pretty average interviews or race comments. 

You really have to search for people who say what they think, using no filter to guard what could bring negative comments from social media or forums. Of course, it isn't hard to get negative comments from these two places, because it seems the World is in a place now where putting people down makes sad people happier.

For me, the louder the person, the more I like them and sportsman like Nick Kyrgios, Max Verstappen, Herlings or Lawrence are personalities that I find interesting. Not so much Lawrence, but Kyrgios, Verstappen and Herlings often say stuff that can come across pretty cocky and at times just outlandish, but I would rather that than somebody who just says the right thing all the time.

Just before a Grand Prix this year, I think the British GP, Herlings placed on his social media that he just bought his 57^th house, or something like that. Now, some found that being arrogant, or showing off, but to me, I just think, throw it out there, if you are proud of yourself, why not.

We all remember the Herlings interview after a battle with Mel Pocock, who was friends with Herlings main rival in 2012 and the Dutchman felt Pocock was blocking his progress. Of course, “The Bullet” has grown up a lot since that 2012 season, but I really like that type of drama between the competitors. I wish we had more of it, but it seems everyone loves each other at the moment.

Herlings comments on wanting to go head-to-head with Eli Tomac on Gypsy Tales a month or so ago was again a great insight into the KTM riders’ attitude and while again some found it not to their liking, I think we need more riders challenging each other.

Riders like Tim Gajser, Romain Febvre or Jorge Prado often say the right thing and don’t give too much away and you have to respect them for that, but it doesn’t really create any drama in the sport. Always polite and correct doesn’t really make headlines and that is the case with a majority of the MXGP and MX2 riders in this current era. Nobody dares to rock the boat between each other and that has been replaced by huges and high fives at the end of a moto.

In America, apart from Lawrence, I also struggle to see anyone who is making outlandish statements or getting our attention. It isn’t Eli Tomac or Chase Sexton, maybe Ken Roczen a little, but he changes from being very correct in his comments, to saying stuff that can be seen as either cocky or arrogant.

Back in the past of course the World of sport had guys like Muhammad Ali, John McEnroe, Diego Maradona, Michael Jordan or Mike Tyson. These people become prominent Worldwide with their often outrageous or cocky attitude to fellow competitors, but we all loved it.

So, while we sit in what hasn’t been the most overwhelming MXGP and MX2 season, we do await the return of Herlings and the growth of Jett Lawrence, because for the time being, these two are the most polarizing riders in our sport and we need them fit and racing.

Sexton and Tomac Will Ride If Called

RedBud MXoN intentions confirmed by Sexton, Tomac

Speculation surrounds who will represent Team USA in MX2.

Leading Pro Motocross duo Chase Sexton and Eli Tomac have confirmed they will compete in the 2022 Motocross of Nations (MXoN) if selected, as a number of 450MX regulars have also expressed their interest to ride a 250 at RedBud.

Current Lucas Oil Pro Motocross points-leader Sexton, 22, hasn’t lined up at an MXoN to date and would relish the opportunity to do so, with the US last entering the event in 2019.

“I just want to race it,” Sexton explained. “That’s all I want to do – that’s been a dream of mine. I wanted to go last year, but obviously we didn’t go. This year being at RedBud, it’s going to be – if it doesn’t rain – probably the biggest motocross race ever, I hope. If I can be a part of that, it would make my day, for sure.

“Like I said, it’s been a race that I’ve wanted to race, obviously. It’s on my mind, it’s going to come eventually. We’re just waiting to hear, but it’s going to be a cool race, I think. Hopefully, they send the best team, that’s my only thing, I want the best riders going. If I get picked, I obviously want to go there and win and bring home a win for the USA. It’s been a little bit and I think we definitely deserve it.”

Meanwhile, Tomac last represented Team USA in 2018 – also at RedBud – where he scored 4-5 results in his motos. The past three rounds of 450MX have seen Tomac dominate with consecutive overall victories, arguably strengthening the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider’s prospects of being selected.

“We know it’s going to come, right?” Tomac said. “The question is going to come if we can race it, so at this point, we’re the two best guys [himself and Sexton] and I think we should assume we’re going to get chosen for it.”

In the post-race press conference a week earlier at RedBud, he confirmed: “Yeah, we can talk about that. If I’m selected, I’ll be here.”

Both Sexton and Tomac have been the clear standouts outdoors this season, so it would seem they are the likely choice to represent in the Open and MXGP categories. Jason Anderson is the only other American to take a 450MX overall victory in the first six rounds of 2022 – German Ken Roczen being the other round winner – and revealed on Twitter that he would be up to ride a 250 for the event.

As well, on a recent PulpMX Show, TLD Red Bull GasGas’ Justin Barcia also expressed he would not turn down an opportunity to ride in MX2, raising the consideration of a 450 contender being selected to step down to a 250F for the weekend. Post-race at Southwick, Sexton too admitted he would ride a 250 if it came down to it, however, made it clear his preference was to race a 450.

This year’s MXoN takes place on 24-25 September, with the announcement of Team USA’s roster expected in the coming weeks. Pro Motocross resumes this Saturday at Spring Creek, with Sexton holding a single-point advantage ahead of Tomac in the 450MX title race. Justin Cooper is the top-placed American in the 250MX standings, currently P4.

Nichols set to make Pro Motocross return at Unadilla

Section: Competition Post: Troy Guenther

Star Yamaha team to field complete roster in final outdoors

The 250MX return of Colt Nichols is set for round nine of the 2022 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Unadilla, marking his first professional appearance since Anaheim 1.

Nichols crashed heavily in the first heat race at A1 while leading and underwent surgery on a pair of broken arms, as well as requiring a skin graft on burns to his back sustained in the incident.

Now healed, last year’s 250SX East champion will join what is expected to be a complete Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing roster in the final outdoor rounds, with Matthew LeBlanc targeting a return in August following a broken collarbone and injured left arm from a crash in moto two at Southwick, and reigning 450MX champion Dylan Ferrandis also aiming to come back at the ninth round.

“We’re excited to have Colt back for Unadilla, he’s been working hard to get back to racing, and we can’t wait to see him out there,” Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 team manager Jensen Hendler said. “Matt [LeBlanc] also looks to return by Unadilla, so we’re looking to have our full roster back in action in New York.”

No set return date has been announced for the recently-injured Levi Kitchen, although hoping to return – potentially also at Unadilla – before the season’s out after undergoing surgery on his broken wrist this week.