Cairoli Heading Home

The stint of nine-time world champion Tony Cairoli in the US came to a conclusion on Saturday, his four-race guest showing in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross ending with a knee injury that caused a double DNF at High Point.

Cairoli had initially been due to contest the opening two rounds and that was extended through Thunder Valley and Mt. Morris, however, that decision was made prior to this past weekend that he would be heading home to Italy.

The decision for the 36-year-old not to continue his welcome entry in the American series came with a share of disappointment since it’s understood that he was requesting a bonus structure in order to keep lining up. Following his retirement from MXGP at the end of last season, Cairoli has been under an ongoing ambassador arrangement with the Austrian brand.

“In practice this morning, I felt better than the previous race, of course the pace was much better and we worked a little bit on speed this week, so the feeling was good,” he said. “First moto, the start was okay with sixth on the first lap and I knew I needed to attack to win some positions, but I made a mistake and touched together with another rider and I put down my knee really hard.

“I felt it immediately because this knee is giving me some trouble already and it was a big hit. It started swelling up and fluid inside, so I pulled off. Second moto, I was last off the start because it’s a different format than in GPs and I was a little surprised at the silly mistake I did and I had to line up on the outside, which is not the ideal place to start.

“With the knee in this condition, I couldn’t really pull a good start and then I was out of the top 20. I got back up to 13th, but I was struggling a lot with my knee, so I decided it’s not really a good day, let’s move on. We had a good time here… For sure I would like to end up in a different situation, but it’s okay. We are not hurt so bad, just a bad day.”

Cairoli was sixth in the 450MX standings entering High Point – still currently ninth despite not finishing last weekend – and achieved a best result of fifth overall in Colorado’s third round of the season.

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Roczen & Sexton Penalized?

 Following the 2022 Thunder Valley National, we have learned that Ken Roczen and Chase Sexton both were penalized one point each along with Josh Gilbert and Bryson Gardner for jumping on red and white flashing lights. I was able to dive back in and find where the infraction happened and we try to break it all down here. We also have a closer look at the terrific Roczen vs. Tomac battle in the second moto along with what Antonio Cairoli is doing that is working so well off the starts.

Rumour: Is Tom Vialle’s future in America?

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In October 2021, it was announced that Tom Vialle had signed a four-year contract extension with Factory KTM and that included moving up to the premier class of MXGP in 2023. However, there’s rumours that the French talent has changed his mind on moving up to MXGP next year and now wants to race in America instead.

We heard last week that Factory KTM want to sign Jago Geerts for the 2023 season whose contract is up with Yamaha at the end of the year and we’ve also heard that Vialle moving to America is very much a possibility. The move could see a domino effect of moves in the paddock.

Let’s start with Factory KTM in America. Whilst they have the promising Max Vohland, they lack an elite 250cc rider so would probably love to have a rider of Vialle’s calibre. The former MX2 World Champion also has a good technique so in theory should suit Supercross if he does make the move. Okay, he is very unlikely to run with the Lawrence brothers in his first year, but he could be a top five SX rider which would be acceptable in year one.

In the GP scene, Andrea Adamo securing a factory ride for the 2023 season is a bad kept secret at this point. However, initially it was thought he’d be under the Factory KTM awning, but we now believe that he might be under the De Carli GasGas awning instead. That awning could be big next year with Prado, Laengenfelder and Guadagnini although the latter’s contract is up at the end of the year, but he has impressed since moving up to MXGP. It’s also possible one of the riders could move to a different Austrian brand.

Pic: Juan Pablo Acevedo

With Adamo potentially being under the De Carli GasGas awning, that would leave room at Factory KTM for a new signing. As previously mentioned, it’s thought they want Jago Geerts who will be the heavy favourite for the 2023 MX2 World Championship title and his contract with Yamaha is also up at the end of the year but it remains to be seen if he’ll leave the bLU cRU.

READ ALSO :   Rumour: Marchetti Racing to run 2023 Factory Beta effort in MXGP?

If Geerts decides to stay with Yamaha, then KTM are thought to be interested in Thibault Benistant as well. The French talent has been very impressive the past two GP’s and won his first overall in Germany – he has a very promising future. At this stage even if Vialle did decide to stay with KTM to race MXGP, it’s likely the Austrian brand would still be after a top MX2 World Championship contender for the 2023 season.

What is becoming clear is that it could be difficult for the Factory Yamaha MX2 team to keep both Geerts and Benistant for the 2023 season. Liam Everts has been linked to the team and before his injury in Germany had been running in the top five which is impressive for his rookie season.

There’s a lot of silly season chat around the paddock at the moment but contracts should start being signed in the near future so we will keep you updated…

Pic: Ray Archer

Toni Bou Bounces Back At FIM Trial World Championship Openers Second Day

Reigning TrialGP World Champion Toni Bou appeared to feel far more at ease on the second day of the Spanish TrialGP, claiming his first win of the new season. Photo: Futre7Media

After slipping to a shock defeat on the first day of the opening round of the 2022 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship, defending champion Toni Bou fired straight back to reclaim the top spot at round two – but the victory hung in the balance until the very last section of the final lap.

The rider who pushed him all the way to the end of day two of the TrialGP of Spain at L’Hospitalet de L’Infant was yesterday’s winner Jaime Busto who has started the season in the best form of his career.

With three sections made harder for all classes following yesterday’s event and the blazing Spanish sun beaming down all day, fitness and finesse were called for in equal measure.

At the age of 35, Bou is 11 years older than his fellow Spaniard and he needed to draw on all the experience of 15 years at the top to beat a rival who is displaying incredible maturity and the ability to soak up the pressure – and there was no shortage of pressure today with just one mark separating the winning pair after the full 24 sections.

Bou led Busto by one mark following the opening lap on a total of three but an early maximum on section two on the second lap when he momentarily stopped between two huge steps handed the younger man a four-point advantage which he briefly held before he incurred a five of his own on the rocky, near-vertical banks of section four.

The pair then slugged it out at the front through a super-tense final eight section with both adding a couple more marks to their totals with Bou ending on 10 to Busto’s 11.

“I’m very happy because today I felt much better than yesterday,” Bou said. “I felt more comfortable, but Jaime rode an incredible trial again today. We were both very good, we made very few mistakes and I was able to make the difference in section 4. If it hadn’t been for the fiasco that I had in section 2 on the second lap, I think it would have been a very complete race. Even so, we were stronger than yesterday and we were able to withstand the pressure. If I wanted to win, it was key to get it right in section 4 and, despite the pressure, I was able to do that. Jaime made things very difficult for us, he will be a great rival and Adam, even if it wasn’t his weekend, I’m sure he will be back and it will be a very tough championship.”

Just to underline their dominance, former champion Adam Raga was third on 32 and the veteran was 11 clear of fourth-placed Jorge Casales and 17 ahead of Gabriel Marcelli who completed the all-Spanish top five.

Next stop for the TrialGP World Championship will be next weekend, from the 18-19th of June, in another double-date event in Sant Julià de Lòria (Andorra).

High Point MX

Established 1976
Welcome to the Information Center for High Point Raceway – one of the premier motocross racing facilities on the national circuit! High Point is proud to host rounds of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, AMA Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Racing, ATV Motocross National Championship and an AMA Loretta Lynn Qualifier.

Since 1976, High Point Raceway, nestled in the scenic mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania near Mt. Morris, has challenged the world's fastest motocross athletes. Generations have enjoyed the thrill that only pro motocross fans can lay claim to.

Its unique amphitheater setting offers premiere viewing from every aspect of the race course, making it a fan favorite among hardy moto fans and racers. High Point hosts an extensive schedule of Amateur Motocross racing from spring to fall. Join us for an exciting day of racing in the great outdoors!

Red Bull Erzberg Rodeo 2022

It’s race week in Austria and the 2022 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo is finally go. Lettenbichler was on another planet on his comeback ride in Serbia last time out, Billy is injured (again), Hart is across from the USA, could it be time for a Sherco winner or can Graham do it yet again?

It seems hard to believe that we were last at the Erzbergrodeo in 2019. That lifetime ago saw Graham Jarvis take his fifth win at Erzberg in what was then the WESS championship which has since been replaced by the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.

In the intervening years the old Iron Giant Mountain in Eisenerz hasn’t been resting, the quarry has been busy and changed shape in places meaning some of the familiar sections of the course will not be the same this week – notably the infamous Green Hill which riders will enter from flat ground, higher up and no longer from under a bridge, making it easier. That’s “easier”, not easy.

One of the most notorious sections, Carl’s Dinner, the loooong stretch of brutally hard rocks which the riders pass through then U-turn back for another go, hasn’t changed. We’ve seen the race won and lost here in the past as energy management becomes crucial by that part of the race. Riders who’ve conserved energy and a rear tyre, make easy pickings while others hit a wall.

Bolt, Jarvis, Kabakchiev, Roman, Young, Gomez, Lettenbichler, Hart, Walkner, possibly Blazusiak and even David Knight – pick a winner from that lot – face a number of changes to the course and rules including no more outside assistance, anywhere, and no refuelling.

It all starts with the Iron Road Prologue where the 1500 riders get two attempts, one on Friday and one on Saturday. The last rider to win the prologue was a certain Josep Garcia (warning, this is nuts):

500 people qualify from the prologue and start positions are determined in time order with rows of 50 starting the main Hare Scramble from down in the very depths of the quarry.

The weather can often play a role and the Styrian mountains have dished out some brutal wet weather in the past. While it looks set to be fine for the weekend, and hopefully for the riders that means they don’t have to start in a lake this year, there is a chance of thunderstorms on Sunday…

Three-times Erzberg winner Jonny Walker will not be riding this year, after undergoing multiple fixes on his body ahead of this HEWC season, but he will be part of the commentary team broadcasting for the main Hare Scramble race which you can watch live on Enduro21, Sunday 19 June via Red Bull TV. Stay tuned.

US-based track builder Dream Traxx in for WSX series

Section: Competition Post: Alex Gobert

Safety and competition paramount in new-look world championship.

Dream Traxx has been announced to be overseeing the World Supercross Championship (WSX) tracks entering the 2022 season in a partnership with SX Global.

Led by Dream Traxx founder and lead designer Jason Baker, WSX track layouts will be developed specifically for the international series.

“The safety of our riders is paramount and track design and track conditions are arguably the most critical area where safety is concerned – no-one understands that better than Jason Baker and his team at Dream Traxx,” said Adam Bailey, general manager – motorsport at SX Global.

“Our intention is to use our collective experience to make adjustments that enhance the racing experience for our riders, increasing their sense of freedom and confidence on the track to ultimately bring a higher level of excitement for the fans at each and every championship round.”

Dream Traxx has designed tracks for some of motocross and supercross’ most unique and innovative events, including X-Games, Red Bull X-Fighters, Red Bull Imagination, Red Bull Straight Rhythm and the Australian Supercross series. Dream Traxx also designs and manages North American test tracks for leading manufacturers including Honda, KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas.

“It’s exciting to be a part of SX Global’s mission to spread the power of supercross to fans around the world and to play a role in what will ultimately help elevate the global popularity of this sport and its incredible athletes,” said Baker.

“We’re extremely motivated by the opportunity to address aspects of track design that can improve safety for riders, while increasing excitement for fans, and ultimately, establish new standards for the sport.”

Despite a schedule yet to be released, SX Global has maintained that there will be up to four rounds – expected to be three in total – in the 2022 pilot season beginning this October, with plans to expand annually for as many as 12 rounds by next season’s opener in June.