Highpoint 450 Highlights

Lawrence Wins Again

Lawrence overcomes High Point adversity to extend streak

Spontaneous Roczen entry translates to second overall.

Image: Octopi Media.

History continues to unfold in the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship as Jett Lawrence turned the High Point National into proof that he can overcome significant competition and crashes on a rain-affected track and still leave with his perfect win record intact.

The Team Honda HRC sensation’s day is reflected on the official results as 1-1 moto scores, but that far from tells the story of the daylong headache Ken Roczen provided in his one-off outdoors appearance with Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki.

Additionally, heavy rain in the days leading into the Pennsylvania event heightened the difficulty of the High Point Raceway track, perhaps contibuting to the heavy crash Lawrence suffered while leading the opening 450MX moto.

At that point, Roczen and Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha representative Garrett Marchbanks got by, but Lawrence caught and passed both to extend his season record to 7-0 — though he gave up the distinction of leading every lap of the year.

Struggling to change his line while approaching a lapper on the muddy track late in the first moto, Roczen hit the ground and lost considerable time as he worked to kickstart his machine while on a hill. Marchbanks’ second-place start and strong moto paid off as Roczen dropped from the front and the ClubMX rider returned to the second position. Marchbanks finished there, 26.205s back from Lawrence.

Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) was next, followed by two Kawasaki KX450 bikes: the Monster Energy Kawasaki-prepared ride for Adam Cianciarulo and Ty Masterpool’s privateer entry, which was smoking in the closing minutes after a fall.

Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) reached sixth after an unideal start and led Roczen, Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM), Derek Drake (BarX Suzuki), and Romain Pape in completing the top 10.

Looking to exit the season’s fourth round with his perfect record intact, Lawrence faced another severe challenge en route to his eighth moto victory of 2023 in the day’s concluding moto.

Roczen led early with Cianciarulo trailing him and Lawrence working to quickly catch both. Lawrence cut into Roczen’s lead until the 11th of the race’s 16 laps, at which point he returned his No. 18 Honda CRF450R to its familiar position of first and closed out another 1-1 moto result.

Roczen settled for second in the moto and also was second overall after his seventh-place result in the opening moto. Ferrandis overcame Cianciarulo for third, but fell short of the overall podium with 6-3 moto scores. By finishing fourth in both High Point motos, Cianciarulo earned his first podium outdoors thus far in 2023.

Plessinger, Webb, Masterpool, Marchbanks, Grant Harlan, and Freddie Noren (Twisted Tea HEP Suzuki) comprised the bottom half of the top 10 in the event’s final moto.

Lawrence has amassed the maximum possible sum of 200 points through four rounds, and heads to the fifth event — the FMF Redbud National on Saturday, July 1 — with a 49-point advantage over former series champion Ferrandis. KTM’s Webb and Plessinger are third and fourth in the standings, 53 and 62 points back, respectively.

Six gate drops, six great starts...is it Jett or is it Works Connection?

Works Connection It's What The Pros Use! Go down the line oday at High Point and you will find most of the top riders using the WC Pro Launch.

MXA TEAM TESTED: WORKS CONNECTION PRO LAUNCH

WHAT IS IT? Works Connection has been a market leader in holeshot devices since they came out with the Pro Launch in 2002. This is the second-gen Pro Launch, and it’s a must-have for serious motocross racers. This is the same device used by Star Racing Yamaha, HRC Honda, MotoConcepts Honda and the MXA wrecking crew. 

WHAT’S IT COST? $129.95.

CONTACT? www.worksconnection.com or info@worksconnection.com.

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with Works Connection’s Pro Launch device.

(1) History. The original starting device was invented back in 1979 by Husqvarna rider Arlo Englund. It was a simple trigger device, but Arlo only used it for one season. It wasn’t until 22 years later that Arlo’s idea was rediscovered at the Yamaha Grand Prix team that Chad Reed raced for in 2001. When Chad moved to America in 2002, he told Yamaha USA about the idea and Chad showed up at Anaheim 1 with the starting device (that Yamaha tried unsuccessfully to hide from prying eyes). From that time on, the holeshot device became the thing to have.

(2) System. Works Connection started out like everyone else with a spring-loaded device but soon replaced the old-fashioned spring and plunger with a magnetic locking system. This new design was more consistent and less likely to malfunction and catch mid-race because of the strong magnet. 

(3) Activation. Because of its lever-style mechanism and chamfered engagement point, the Pro Launch glides over the receiver on the way down and catches on the way up. Some riders can set the device by themselves, but most MXA test riders have a friend engage it for them. To set it, the rider has to hold the front brake on while he or his mechanic compress the fork by pushing down on the handlebars with a rocking motion. There is a learning curve to mastering it. 

(4) Installation. Works Connection provides an aluminum template with pre-drilled holes, plus three different paper templates in the shape of each brand’s fork guard to align the aluminum template at 90mm, 100mm and 110mm. Once you choose the location of the device, you tape the metal template to the fork guard and use the supplied drill bit to make the mounting hole. It’s easy.

(5) Consistency. Historically, starting devices have been difficult to set, disengaged unexpectedly, refused to disengage, or broke the fork guard off the bike. The new Pro Launch is a different story; it works consistently every time. Works Connection holeshot devices are bike and brand specific to ensure each model has a perfect fit. 

(6) Setting. MXA test riders typically run their Pro Launch devices at 100mm, which is in the middle of Works Connection’s recommended settings; however, tackier dirt behind the starting gate might require setting the device lower because of the increased traction on launch. In Supercross and MXGP races, where they use a metal starting grate, we’ve seen riders set the device as low as 160mm. 

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? No complaints. 

MXA RATING: Works Connection’s magnetic Pro Launch raised the bar far beyond the old-school button-style devices, and it continues set the bar for holeshot devices in motocross today.

Good Morning High Point

Morning Report

Good morning race fans! Coming to you live from High Point Raceway, AKA the “Country Club of Motocross” as Tim Cotter refers to it, in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania, as we are set for the 46th High Point National. The High Point National will be the fourth round of the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, the first on the East Coast.

After rain on Thursday and Friday (the latter canceling the press day riding session and amateur practice as well), we should be set for clear skies for today’s event. A high of about 76 degrees Fahrenheit are not expected to be too challenging today, but the High Point Raceway track characteristics will not make today easy by any means.

In the 250 Class, the big story has been Hunter Lawrence’s strong start to the season. The Honda HRC rider has taken three of the six moto wins to date as the #96 has taken all three overall wins as he sits with a 16-point lead on Justin Cooper. Things are shaping up well for Hunter Lawrence, as he becomes the eighth rider to start a 125/250 Class Pro Motocross season with three straight overall wins. The previous seven times it happened, said rider won the championship.

In the premier class, the big story has also been some great riding by a Lawrence on a Honda HRC, as Jett Lawrence continued his perfect season so far: willing all six motos and leading all 92 laps so far en route to a 3-0 start to the season. Jett has been in control every race so far, almost looking like he is on cruise control out front. Jett Lawrence’s 3-0 start is the 14th time said feat has happened in the premier class—and 11 of the previous 13 times said rider to start 3-0 went on to win the championship. The rest of the field is hoping to stop the Lawrence brother’s respective rolls. We will see what happens when the motos start.

A few things to note: Ken Roczen is making his Pro Motocross season debut today. Roczen said yesterday he asked his son Griffin if he would rather go on the boat or go racing this weekend, and racing won, so the Roczen squad decided to spend their Father’s Day weekend at High Point Raceway. The #94 is prepping for the FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX) that kicks off in July, although he will be back to an AMA starting gate in a few months’ time as he is set to race the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) playoff rounds.

Phil Nicoletti is making his return to racing following a wrist injury in February. Nicoletti said yesterday his goal was to return to racing at the RedBud National, but he is able to give it a go this weekend. This track is not an easy one to make your return from injury at, but the #69 will benefit from racing today and getting a race in for both himself and the all-new Yamaha YZ450F. Then, a weekend off before the RedBud National will help him as he looks to finish out the Pro Motocross season in full.

Harry Everts Champion MX Coach!

Roczen Talks WSX

Fresh from signing a three-year deal to race in the World Supercross Championship, Ken Roczen will be looking to defend his WSX crown when the 2023 season kicks off with the British Grand Prix on 1 July.

After last year’s pilot season, he talks about making World Supercross a truly global championship, racing at home, and being a supercross specialist.

What factors made you commit to another three years of World Supercross?

“To be honest, ultimately, I followed my heart. It’s no secret that I’ve struggled with my body in recent years and at this stage of my career I asked myself, how can I be around this sport for as long as possible. I’ve struggled with the outdoor and honestly it hasn’t been that fun in the last couple of years, so I’m following my heart now to become a supercross specialist.

“I also had my eyes opened last year. I had so much fun with WSX in 2022, and that was my main objective; to bring the fun back, and being able to race supercross all-year-round will do that and hopefully help me prolong my career. And also being able to race in different countries around the world, and especially in my home country of Germany this year, that got me really excited and was a big part of my decision. So I was excited to make this decision and I’m excited for a new chapter.”

It must have also been a good deal for you, personally, to have a contract for the next three years?

“It’s nice to have things firmed up for the next few years but I can honestly say that my decision wasn’t financially driven. Retirement was starting to look like a very real possibility for me and I was scared of retiring, having not been enjoying myself over the last few years. This now feels good for me, good for my family, and I’m motivated but I want to have fun with it as well.”

How much are you looking forward to racing Germany again?

“It has been a very long time since I raced at home. And we’ve been so busy in the US, which is our home now, but as a result I hadn’t really thought about it. But we did the WSX races last year and I was like, this feels new and exciting. Familiar, too, and obviously it reminded me a lot of my GP days, but it felt like I’d found what had been missing from my life. So it was good to race in the UK and Australia, but I’m super-excited to race in Germany.

“I’m kind of curious what reception I’ll get, but I want to go and really make the most of it, go early, do some cool stuff ahead of time, see the fans, see some friends and family, I’ve got a lot of friends in Europe, so I’m excited to see them, and there are exciting times ahead.”

It’s not just Germany this year, obviously the series has expanded to six rounds in six countries, is that exciting for you?

“It’s amazing and that’s a big part of why I made the decision to race WSX again. The thought of racing around the world took me back to my childhood and racing in different countries with different fans. That’s what I grew up doing, that was so much fun for me, and I got a taste of it last year and it made my heart smile again, honestly speaking; it’s what I needed and the fact that we’re growing this sport is great and I’m looking forward to the future. I’m excited to race in things like soccer stadiums as well. That’s new, that’s cool, and seeing these tracks in different venues gets me excited.

“And also the fans. With supercross being so big in the US, it’s great, but there are supercross fans around the world that can’t always travel to come and see the racing, and it’s great for us to be able to go to them. It’s something I wished had happened when I was a kid.”

Do you think we could see other riders decide to be supercross specialists in the future?

“For sure, I think you’ll see this happen more often. You’ve got some older dudes like me at the elite level of supercross, and you can see people might start thinking about retirement, but it can be a mistake. This championship gives guys like me the chance to become a supercross specialist, which can be a way to prolong a career and see some of the world. We’re already seeing it with some of the guys that are signed up again this year and some of the new names on the entry list. I only expect it to grow from here. And all those guys are still hungry, I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

Words: Press Release

Image: Feld

Breaking Down Thunder Valley

On today’s SMX Insider the guys breakdown all of the action from Thunder Valley and look ahead to High Point. James Stewart stops by for the Big Interview and tells the insiders what he saw early in practice and how it played on during the Motos. In Fowlers Facts, Clinton shows the boys how Jett Lawrence might just have scratched the surface, and that the best is yet to come from Jo Shimoda.

Jeffrey Herlings - His Future

From MXlarge.com  June 15, 2023

There is no doubt, last weekends injury to Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings is heartbreaking, not just for “The Bullet”, but for the 2023 MXGP championship and the sport in general, so the question now is, how can it all be made good.

With Herlings out of the championship hunt, missing the two rounds in Indonesia and already being nearly 70 points down on series leader Jorge Prado. Another championship thrown into the back of am ambulance and unfortunately, an all to regular occurrence for the Dutchman.

A C5 spinal cord injury that Herlings picked up in Germany is the second most common level of SCI, making up about 15% of all SCIs. Damage to the C5 spinal cord often results in paralysis of both the upper and lower body, otherwise known as quadriplegia. By participating in rehabilitative therapies, individuals can learn to adjust, cope, and manage the outcomes of this type of cervical spinal cord injury.

While Herlings didn't break his C5, and just cracked it, he dodged a bullet once again with his spinal cord and walked away, similar to what happened in Faenza a couple of years ago. Herlings did make a video soon after the German accident, at home with his girlfriend. A magnificent home with a huge garden and just what a top athlete earns from his years of hard work. During the self-made video he mentioned to his girlfriend, "I am happy to walk away from that one". Of course, she agreed and I know we all agree. Nobody wants to see somebody end up in a wheel-chair, not in any circumstances.

The importance of this injury, and also the injury Herlings picked up in his crash in Faenza in 2019 make me really scared for Herlings and when he crashed and rode slowly around for three laps to score a single point was one of the saddest things I have witnessed as a fan or the sport. Something similar was the injury to Josh Coppins in 2007 when he lost the MX1 World title due to a shoulder injury. I cried that day in England, and while I didn’t cry last Sunday, I was damn close. Not just because I am a huge Herlings fan and this does serious damage to the importance of the 2023 MXGP championship, but also because I wondered if he would even want to come back once again, once again from what could have been a life changing injury.

We all remember Faenza back in 2020 don’t we. Herlings suffered a frightening crash at the MXGP of Citta di Faenza. The Red Bull KTM rider crashed heavily in practice and was airlifted to a nearby hospital for what was later diagnosed as C1, C6, and T3 vertebrae fractures. For a short time, he lost feeling in his lower body. A close call, and something that shouldn’t go without serious questions about his future.

One thing you have to love about Herlings, is how he can come back from injuries and how lightly he takes them. After his Italian injury he talked about that scary moment he thought he was paralyzed.

“I cannot describe how devastated it was being there on the ground temporarily paralyzed and not having any feeling from my neck down for minimum half an hour. Eventually I ended up breaking my C1, C6 and T3. Doctors told me I got through the eye of the needle with not ending up paralyzed. From the good side, I got 3 stable fractures with only small cracks in the bones and the healing process won’t be too long luckily and doctors say I will get a full recovery from this injury.”

Despite the significance of the injury, there was no way “The Bullet” was giving up on his dream and for normal people like me, I would have wrapped myself in cotton wool and sat on the couch the rest of my life counting my money, but Jeffrey Herlings isn’t a normal guy, and his dreams of championships and GP wins isn’t something that just goes away after an injury. That hunger just gets stronger. Again, after his Faenza crash, he wanted to come back ASAP, despite the high risk of the Italian injury.

“It’s been a very though last two seasons, but I know I still got plenty to offer in this sport. For the moment the team and I have decided to sit out the next race in Mantova and look from there when exactly we will return to racing. I believe to become back healthy is the most important for now. Once again thanks to my team and partners for their great support. I will work hard to become back healthy again as soon as possible.”

Now, after this most recent injury, Herlings will again look at his options and want to return as soon as possible. His desire outweighing his risk of further injury, but as we know, as special as the KTM rider is on the bike, his mental toughness must make him the GOAT of comebacks?

After his injury last weekend, get all got the KTM press release and once again, we got a sad story of injury, but also the comments of coming back as soon as possible. The championship is gone, but the desire is far from over.

“It’s hard to find many words. It sums up my career in a way: we get the wins record but then suffer another injury and another setback. I still don’t know what really happened with the crash because I’d been using that line nicely in the moto until that point. Afterwards my neck didn’t feel right. I tried to finish and take what points I could, but I know my body very well by now and could feel something was wrong. So, we’ll miss another two GPs at least but I’m glad I won’t need surgery and I hope to be back with my team and racing again as soon as I can. Thanks, as always, to Red Bull KTM and all the guys who have been in my corner and for all the messages of support.”

So, what now for “The Bullet”? Possibly some AMA rounds as he has wished to do so often in the past. Can’t see him doing Southwick, which will be run the weekends after the second Indonesian race, or Millville, which is also close to that date. He will want to race Lommel and Arnhem in July and August, but who knows if the injury will be recovered enough for those two.

I was so excited to see him race the MXoN against Jett Lawrence, but what I am more excited for is for Jeffrey Herlings a winner of 103 GPs and five World motocross championships, is to enjoy his life after motocross.

What the Bullet has given us since that 2010 Grand Prix win as a 15 year old is years and years of highlight reels. Moments we won't be getting from anyone other racer in the coming years. The speed, the drama, the injuries, the outspoken comments, all these things have made Jeffrey Herlings the most polarized motocross racer of his era and not just by a little bit.

Having earnt more money than he can spend in a lifetime, I want this still young Dutchman to celebrate his achievements once the bright lights go out and he is left at home alone with his friends and family. That I want much more than any success he might have now in yet another comeback from injury.

Ray Archer image

RD...Style,Speed,Intensity Personafied!

Roger DeCoster

Reed to the Broadcast Booth

CHAD REED JOINS SX GLOBAL AS MOTORSPORT ADVISOR AND EXPERT BROADCAST COMMENTATOR

Press release: Australian Supercross legend and two-time FIM World Supercross Champion Chad Reed will join the SX Global team as an expert motorsport advisor and play an integral role in the FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX) broadcast team for the 2023 season.

Holding the record for competing in the most supercross ‘main events’ in history, Reed is also the fifth most successful supercross rider of all time. He will use his invaluable experience to provide operational and strategic advice in all sporting aspects of WSX, from track design to format and safety.

Reed will also join the broadcast team, providing input for the 2023 season alongside the returning line-up that includes long-time Supercross broadcaster Ralph Sheheen, former Supercross champion Jeff Emig and trackside reporter Kristen Beat.

Reed will not only bring expert knowledge to the event broadcast, but he will also host exclusive behind-the-scenes content for WSX.TV.

“Supercross has had a piece of my heart since I was 12 years old,” said Reed. “I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world and race supercross at the highest level and at some of the most amazing stadiums and events known in the supercross world.

“I can now use my understanding of the sport and my experience as an athlete, series promoter, and team owner to assist SX Global in making the best decisions to sustainably grow supercross around the world.

“My goals are always based on winning and winning means contributing to WSX successfully running supercross races globally and giving future supercross racers the platform to be worldwide superstars.

“2023 will be exciting, and I am thrilled to be a part of it. When I see the announcements and images for locations like Singapore, it genuinely makes me so proud of the potential for Supercross in the future.

“Even our biggest critics are envious of those images. Supercross is a sport loved globally, and it’s time to grow like never before.”

SX Global CEO Adam Bailey said Chad will be an immense asset to the WSX team.

“We’re ecstatic to have Chad join our team. There’s nobody with more experience across all facets of international supercross racing than him.

“He’s always been one I could lean on for real-time feedback, and I’m looking forward to leaning on his experience as we continue to grow the WSX Championship.

“His expert comments will provide incredible insights for our television broadcast and WSX.TV audiences spanning the globe.

“I have tremendous respect for what Chad has achieved as a racer, a business owner, and as a father of young motocross riders. The breadth of his perspective is unrivaled and can only lead to great things for the future of WSX.