Andrew Short Joins Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team

 

Amsterdam, the Netherlands - The Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team are excited to announce a strengthened rider line-up for the 2020 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, as Andrew Short and Ross Branch join the squad. Both racers showed impressive pace and the ability to overcome adversity at this year’s Dakar Rally and look set to become key members of the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team.

Andrew Short is one of the world’s most versatile and successful off-road motorcycle racers. A hugely experienced US supercross and motocross competitor, with close to 40 career podium results to his credit, he was also a winning member of the USA’s 2010 Motocross of Nations team. 

Calling time on his 16-year supercross and motocross career, the Texas native switched to cross-country rally racing at the end of 2017. Competing in his first Dakar Rally in 2018, Andrew has since completed three Dakars, placed as runner-up in the 2019 Silk Way Rally and won the 2019 Rally du Maroc. 

Ross Branch was one of the stand-out performers at the 2020 Dakar Rally. Quickly adjusting to the unpredictable Saudi Arabian terrain, the 33-year-old from Botswana won the event’s second stage, going on to challenge for further wins and take four more top-10 stage results, despite carrying an injury throughout the event.  

Competing in his first Dakar Rally in 2019, Ross completed the South American event in 13th overall in the motorcycle class and as the event’s highest-finishing Rookie competitor. He also finished as runner-up in the Merzouga Rally and eighth in the Rally du Maroc in 2019.

Short and Branch were set to make their competitive debut for the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. However, with the opening event of the 2020 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship postponed due to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, the new target is Rally Kazakhstan, which runs from 24-29 May.

Andrew Short:

"I am really excited to be joining the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team ahead of the 2020 FIM Rally World Championship. I’m looking forward to working with a new group of people and a brand that has enjoyed a lot of success in rally in the past. I know everyone in the team will be pushing me to improve and get better results. My main goal is Dakar 2021, but between now and then we hope to get a lot of racing and preparation work done, and I can’t wait to get it all started."

Ross Branch:

"Joining the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team is a dream come true for me. To become a part of an official factory rally team is what I have been working hard to achieve over the last few years. The opportunity to work with a team that is focused on both Dakar and the rally world championship is amazing for me. I want to improve as a racer and believe that I have the speed to get improved results. Winning a stage at Dakar this year was a huge boost for my confidence, now I have the support of Monster Energy Yamaha I’m excited to see what I can achieve."

Alexandre Kowalski (Team Manager):

"Everyone involved in the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team is extremely pleased to be welcoming both Andrew and Ross, two top riders that we are sure will deliver great results. They come from different continents and have very different riding backgrounds, but they both want to achieve more in rally and are full of energy and enthusiasm. We saw at this year’s Dakar Rally that both riders were able to adapt to the event’s terrain, which was hugely important. Together with the team’s existing riders, we all look forward to working together and enjoying many great achievements together."

So You Think You've Got Skills?

Video riding lessons in the art of front wheel hops and small pivots turns with the master, Graham Jarvis

2020 Wild Boar

The Wild Boar highlights show focuses on the action in the tough conditions down in Florida but begins behind the scenes getting ready for the race start with Josh Strang and the Babbitts Online Kawasaki team. GNCC RacerTV highlights are looking sweet this 2020 season.

KTM clean sweep at “brutal” Palakta, Wild Boar GNCC round 2

Two rounds and two easy victories for FMF KTM Factory Racing Team’s Kailub Russell in the 2020 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series. The early season comes thick and fast for GNCC 2020 with round one just two weeks previous and round three on the bounce next weekend at The General in Washington, GA.

Wild Boar GNCC is known for its brutal course with a mixture of sand, black soil and a few mud holes in between. Added to that the course planners laid on four miles of fresh trail, which gave the pro riders a unique stretch of new terrain to factor into their already intense three-hour race. 

Kailub Russell has started 2020 like a rider on a mission. After his round one win, Kailub bagged the holeshot and never looked back at Wild Boar. Even a crash on lap three, when a vine got caught in his front brake, twisting the handlebars and jerking him off the bike, didn’t see him drop the ball. With a decent lead already, Russell had “time to spare” and the seven-time GNCC Champion gradually extended his lead to over two minutes by the flag.

“It was a tough day but I got a great start and just kind of did my own thing, trying not to make any mistakes.” Explained Russell. 

“I kept a pretty steady pace the first three laps and I was able to get that buffer and kind of bide my time and ride the final three laps. It’s easy to do that when you’re not under pressure and you can kind of pick your lines and get around the lappers a little more stress-free. It was a brutal course but it wasn’t as bad as it has been in years past.” 

 

If Kailub was fast out the blocks the story off was an opposite one for Babbitts Online Kawasaki rider, Josh Strang who was bang last off the start. Jordan Ashburn was P2 early on but dropped a place to Layne Michael on lap two who was fast early on.

Strang meanwhile was down in eighth as they crossed the line after lap one. Progressing to fifth a lap later before picking off a rider a lap in the last three laps to cement what has been a solid start to his season – Josh now sits second in the points, square on 46 with Ricky Russell.

It was not such a solid start for Sherco-mounted Baylor brothers. Steward was forced to retire at the end of lap one with a mechanical issue on his new Sherco mount while Grant finished eighth in class and 20th overall.

Herlings Sensational in Holland

Jeffery Herlings of the Red Bull KTM Factory team is the master of race craft. His cruise to second place in the opening moto made us all doubt he is still the man in MXGP, but his total domination of the second moto, to score 2-1 results proved “The Bullet” is still the man, taking his second GP of the season and his 88^th in his career. It was also Herlings ninth victory at the Valkenswaard circuit. Herlings also lapped up to fifth place.

“Yes, he did (Gajser gave him a hard time),” Herlings said. “I don’t know how he did it from that start position and he did great, he was up the front in both races early. Second race we were first and second, so nice to beat him straight up. He beat me in the first one fair and square, and I beat him in the second one. I am looking forward to Argentina now. He was good, I don't know what he has done in the winters, he has improved so much and he did a great job and kept me honest. We lapped up to fifth place, so we were on it."

Second overall was Tim Gajser who went 1-2 after crashing while in second in the second moto, but showed enough over the weekend to let us know that he will give Herlings some tough races in 2020. Third overall was Arminas Jasikonis with 3-3 results.

“Overall I am super happy from what happened yesterday with a really bad gate pick," Gajser said. "Two solid starts and the second race battling with Jeffrey, but I got a roost in the second one and couldn't see properly and it was easy to make a mistake, because the ground was realy soft."

In the championship points it is Jeffrey Herlings 94 points, Tim Gajser 85 points and Antonio Cairoli on 68 points. It might be a two horse race moving into the next few rounds.

Herlings led the second MXGP moto from Gajser, Cairoli, Jasikonis, Jonass, Simpson, Monticelli, Cervellin, Lupino, Bobryshev in 10^th. Gajser tried to pass Herlings, but the Dutchman wasn’t having any of it as he blocked the Honda riders move. Prado and Seewer down in the first corner and Jonass down and way out of the top ten soon after. Tonus stuck on the start with what seemed like a dead motor. Evans not starting after injuring his shoulder in the first race.

After two laps the lead was two seconds as Gajser seems to be really pushing his limits and Herlings is another animal from the first race. His go slow attitude seems to be spot on. Top ten on lap two was Herlings, Gajser, Jasikonis, Cairoli, Simpson, Monticelli, Bobryshev, Van Horebeek, Cervellin, and Van Berkel 10^th.

Herlings looking brilliant again and making everyone in the crowd comfortable again.  Monticelli down and Seewer also in trouble, as was Adam Sterry. After two laps the lead was nearly five seconds and the lap times of Herlings were three seconds quicker than Gajser.

Gajser though turned up his times on lap four and was suddenly less than three seconds behind Herlings. Cat and mouse stuff by the two quickest riders in the World and the crowd are loving it. Desalle back in 15^th, Prado 16^th and Paulin 20^th.

Five laps down and the lead was again five seconds, Jasikonis was third, then Cairoli, Simpson, Van Horebeek, Bobryshev, Cervellin, Kullas, and Van Berkel 10^th. Desalle 13^th, Prado 17^th and Paulin 18^th.

A lap later and the lead was two seconds again as he started catching Herlings and in third place Jasikonis was 16 seconds back in third. Jonass a brilliant ride and into the top ten as he moved into 8^th place.

Gajser onto Herlings as the bullet blocked by lapped riders, and then Gajser nearly off the bike as he mis-times a jump as he slipped in the muddy conditions. Suddenly the lead was more than five seconds. Desalle into 10^th place and Paulin into 13^th.

Lapped riders getting out of the way of Herlings as he starts lapping up to 15^th place, and Gajser has a little more trouble to get past the slower riders. After 10 laps it was Herlings, Gajser, Jasikonis, Cairoli, Simpson, Van Horebeek, Bobryshev, Jonass, Kullas, and Desalle. Gajser making little mistakes and the lead was up to around seven seconds.

After 11 laps the lead was nine seconds as Herlings continued to look the goods, Gajser second, Jasikonis half a lap behind the leader, then Simpson, Cairoli, Van Horebeek, Bobryshev, Desalle, Coldenhoff and Kullas. Herlings lapping 10^th place rider, but more importantly, Gajser took five seconds out of the lead by Herlings, just five seconds on lap 12.

Gajser down hard as he handed the GP overall to Herlings and the Dutchman laps seventh placed Desalle. The lead was 19 seconds as Herlings wins the race, the overall and is still the man in MXGP.

MXGP of Netherlands - Highlights

Daytona Preview

Roczen wins Atlanta

The Monster Energy AMA Supercross an FIM World Championship crossed the season's half way point, and round 9 of the 17-race series was a barn burner in Atlanta in front of 59,743 fans inside Mercedez Benz Stadium. The 450SX Class Main Event was a thrill-a-minute battle for nearly everyone except race winner Ken Roczen of Team Honda HRC. Roczen pulled the holeshot and disappeared from the pack to convincingly grab his third win of the season. The victory brings the Honda rider into a championship points tie with Monster Energy Kawasaki's Eli Tomac.

After two fourth-place finishes in the past two weekends, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing's Justin Barcia grabbed a podium finish the hard way - the Yamaha rider recovered from a 15^th place start to steadily and aggressively push through the pack to finish in second place. Red Bull KTM's Cooper Webb spent all week recovering from a brutal crash seven days prior; after an eighth-place start Webb fell back a bit in the early laps but kept his head down. Tomac also started poorly, then mis-timed a block pass on Rocky Mountain ATV/MC-KTM-WPS's Blake Baggett, sending both riders to the ground. Tomac remounted in 14^th and made the push toward the front.

 
With four minutes left on the clock Tomac reached Webb and started applying the pressure - at that point battling for sixth place. The two moved forward on the leader board and with two laps remaining had reached Team Tedder / Monster Energy Racing's Martin Davalos who ran in third. On the final lap Webb squared up a 180-degree berm and cut under and passed Davalos with hardly an inch to spare. Tomac followed and kept the pressure on Webb, but the defending champ held strong until the end and turned what might have been a no-show event for most riders into a podium finish.

Herlings wins in England

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings has gone 1-2 for victory at the Grand Prix of Great Britain. The 2018 MXGP champion added another GP victory to his name and goes into his home GP at Valkenswaard next weekend with a lot of confidence. 

Tim Gajser, the defending champion also showed his hand with a stunning second moto victory, but a crash in the first race cost him any chance of battling Herlings for the GP win. 

Second overall was Tim Gajser and third Antonio Cairoli. Three of the big four on the podium and a championship that is looking very good. A total of 16 World championships on the podium with the big three. 200 GP wins between the big three. Yes, these boys are all legends.

Jeffrey Herlings: “Yes, definitely (great to win), it was scary that second race with the sun so low but we have that in March. We got a great win with first and second and that second race I didn’t want to take any risk with the sun in that second one. I have been studying the championships and I want to be consistent and I don't want to win every race and I already lost a moto, so that is okay.

Tim Gajser: I mean, overall I am super happy to finish on the podium. The first race I was disappointed and crashed twice, but the second one I had a good start and got a comfortable lead and won the moto. Looking forward to next weekend.

Antonio Cairoli: Like I told before, I am really happy with anything here. My shoulder is much better, but 10 days ago I twisted my knee in Lommel and hurt my PCL and the knee was already damaged and I am thankful that I didn't have too much pain today. It was dangerous with the sun and I was scared and couldn't see much. I want to take it easy and build it up.

Gajser took the lead early from Cairoli, Herlings, Jacobi, Paulin, Desalle, Prado, Simpson, Seewer, Coldenhoff, Jonass, Tonus, Vlaanderen, Jasikonis, and Cervellin 15^th. Evans was down in 22^nd.

Gajser just took off as Cairoli got out of shape and nearly went down but remained in second place. Herlings third, with Paulin and Desalle rounding out the top five. Gajser a stunning eight seconds ahead of Cairoli and Herlings all over the Italian for second place. The pace of this class is just ridiculous.

Two laps done and the lead was 10 seconds as Gajser just bullies the race away from the competition. Evans on a small charge as he moved into 10^th place. Herlings was all over Cairoli and passed the Italian on a fantastic passing move. Within a few corners he has gapped Cairoli by 100 metres.

Evans all over Prado and Coldenhoff and he quickly dispatched the MX2 World champion and lined up Coldenhoff. Evans into seventh place as he moved Jacobi out of the way, the Aussie is flying. Evans also moved past Seewer for sixth place.

After five laps the lead by the World champion was 16 seconds, then Herlings, Cairoli, Paulin, Desalle, Evans, Seewer, Coldenhoff, Jacobi and Prado. Evans is quickly onto Desalle and Paulin. Herlings nearly off the bike as he slips and slides around a corner.

Interestingly, it looked like Paulin and Desalle were catching Cairoli and Evans was catching them. Jonass in the mechanics area with problems on lap six. The lead was extended to 19 seconds as Gajser really showing he isn’t handing his title to anyone on a plate.

Seven laps in and the lead was 22 seconds, second was Herlings just two seconds ahead of Cairoli and then came Paulin, Desalle, Evans, Seewer, Coldenhoff, Jacobi, Prado in 10^th. Coldenhoff went past Evans, and on the 11^th lap the lead by Gajser was 22 seconds.

The final finishing order for the race was Gajser, Herlings, Cairoli, Paulin, Desalle, Coldenhoff, Evans, Seewer, Jacobi and Paturel. Prado down to 12^th place, obviously struggling with his fitness after his injury.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 – Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 35:44.501; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:23.382; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:28.395; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:30.195; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:32.276; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GASGAS), +0:33.945; 7. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:36.870; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:38.209; 9. Henry Jacobi (GER, Yamaha), +0:48.109; 10.

Osborne injured - Atlanta

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Zach Osborne was injured during a practice crash in Florida this week following Round 8 of the 2020 AMA Supercross World Championship Series. Osborne suffered a broken rib, two bruised lungs and a sprained wrist. His return to racing is yet to be determined as he assesses the proper recovery time for his injuries. 

“I’m really gutted with the timing of this incident but very grateful that my injuries were minor considering the hit that I took,” Osborne said. “It’s been a very tough start to the season for me and my team has been so awesome in picking me back up as they always do.  This is just a bump in the road and I will be back as soon as I’m back to 100% and can reach my full potential again.”

Round 9 of the 2020 AMA Supercross World Championship Series will take place this Saturday, February 29 in Atlanta, Georgia where Osborne’s Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammates will line up inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.