Monster Energy Kawasaki confirms AMA riders for 2023

Monster Energy® Kawasaki and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki are geared up for yet another full year of world-class racing in 2023. The Kawasaki racing teams will compete against the premier supercross and motocross talents from around the globe as they seek to contend for the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, the AMA Pro Motocross Championship and the groundbreaking SuperMotocross World Championship.

Monster Energy Kawasaki will continue its two title favorites of Kawasaki Team Green™ graduate and 2020 Pro Motocross runner-up Adam Cianciarulo who will compete for his fourth year aboard the KX™450SR alongside 2022 AMA Supercross runner-up Jason Anderson following an exceptional 2022 season. In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki will also continue with its roster of proven race winners with Jo Shimoda, Austin Forkner, Cameron McAdoo, and Seth Hammaker in addition to nine-time AMA Amateur National Champion Jett Reynolds and upcoming Kawasaki Team Green rider Ryder DiFrancesco.

“We are confident with our team roster for 2023,” said Kawasaki Racing Senior Manager, Dan Fahie. “The success we shared with Jason in both supercross and motocross is promising as we look to the upcoming unified SuperMotocross World Championship. We’re also very optimistic about Adam’s return to the starting gate as he’s proven to be a top contender at the premier level. We are in a great place with the development of our KX450SR and look forward to continued success through this next evolution of professional motocross.”

Anderson and his KX450SR proved a winning pair through the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross Championship, earning seven Monster Energy Supercross Main Event wins and leading 135 Main Event laps; nearly twice as many laps led as his closest rival. Anderson carried his success into the Pro Motocross Championship where he claimed his first 450 Class overall win at Round 2 and asserted himself as a staple podium finisher. Looking to the Monster Energy Supercross Championship, Pro Motocross Championship and SuperMotocross World Championship in 2023, Anderson aims to continue his fight for premier class supremacy.

“My first year racing the KX450SR with the Monster Energy Kawasaki team has been awesome,” said Anderson. “I’ve won more races this season than any other in my career, so it’s clear the program and the team environment we have are working well. Next year there will be more up for grabs than ever before, so we are focused on making another strong push for the championship.”

Cianciarulo will line up with Monster Energy Kawasaki in 2023 to continue his illustrious 18-year partnership with Kawasaki as he enters his fourth year of 450 Class racing. The No.9 KX450SR rider graduated through the Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green program on his way to the 2019 AMA Pro Motocross 250 Championship, was crowned 2019 Monster Energy Cup Champion, secured 2020 Pro Motocross runner-up honors and has a total of 21 combined professional wins. Cianciarulo is geared up to capitalize on a full off-season of preparation with the team ahead of his 2023 Championship efforts.

“I’m eager to get back to racing at the top level again this year,” said Cianciarulo. “With a thorough recovery period behind me, I’m in a great place physically and mentally to excel when we go racing. I’m really enthusiastic about what’s coming with the new developments to our sport and I’m doing everything I can, along with the whole Monster Energy Kawasaki team, to be the best when it comes time to drop the gate.”

Herlings Future?

Herlings - What Will We Get in 2023?

Posted on August 04, 2022

One of the saddest things from the 2022 MXGP season, or in fact, from 2022 in general when it comes to motocross or supercross is the fact we won’t see World MXGP champion Jeffrey Herlings race. We had all hoped he might be able to squeeze in a GP or two, maybe the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations, but now, we know that isn’t the case. Hell, at one point we all thought he would race the AMA Nationals, so seeing nothing of the KTM factory rider hasn’t been easy.

With more than 15 months out of racing (once the 2023 season begins) he will have been away from the track for the longest time in his career.

After his November 10, 2021, performance, where he not only went 1-1 to take the Mantova GP victory, but also scored his fifth World motocross championship, you have to wonder what type of “The Bullet” we get in 2023?

For many years we have all seen Herlings as the fastest rider on the planet, and the fact he has five World championships with his injury list, well, that is just astonishing. He has probably missed out on at least another five championships in years he was the fastest, but also sat in a hospital bed mid-season.

Now, with 15 months of not racing, once the 2023 season started next February, you have to question will he still be the fastest man on the planet. I say yes, because at 27 years of age, and turning 28 on 12 September, you have to think he is still in his prime. Can he get better, I am not so sure, because what we saw in 2021, was the man who once dominated the World battling hard with Romain Febvre and Tim Gajser. So easily winning GP’s might be a thing of the past for the Dutchman?

I could be wrong and maybe with a streak of GP victories in 2023, he might once again dominate, however that is one of the big question marks that awaits us next year. I have always been a believer that he might just be the fastest Grand Prix rider ever, and maybe even the fastest rider including AMA ever. Better than Stefan Everts, better than Ricky Carmichael and better than anyone else who has thrown their leg over a motorcycle, but of course, statistics are also something I believe in, and for that, obviously nobody beats the Belgian and American legends in that regard.

I like everyone else want to see him back, I see in my website stats that the MXGP championship had less eyes in 2022, just because Herlings wasn’t racing and while Slovenian legend, Tim Gajser walks away with this years MXGP title and enters the 2023 also as a five-time World champion really makes for an interesting 2023.

It would be the first time in the sports history that we enter a GP season with two five-time World champions going head-to-head. Back in the 2004 season, when Stefan Everts a seven-time World champion went up against Joel Smets a five-time World champion. Everts was the MX1 World champion and Smets the 650 World champion, but that is another story, for another day.

I am as excited as anyone to get this somewhat boring 2022 season out of the way and look forward to yet another classic battle as Gajser vs Herlings already begins to make my mouth water.

Factories within SuperMotocross

Input: Factories within SuperMotocross championship

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Section: Regulars Post: Alex Gobert

Manufacturer involvement in unified series to launch from 2023.

It was officially announced today that Feld Motor Sports and MX Sports Pro Racing will unite in 2023 to create the SuperMotocross World Championship, which will follow Monster Energy Supercross and Lucas Oil Pro Motocross to culminate in October at the LA Coliseum. While a lot of detail is still to follow, one of the major factors is that the series has attracted factory participation and a group of North American representatives from those brands commented on the announcement in this latest Input feature.

Roger De Coster (KTM Group):
The creation of the SuperMotocross World Championship is the biggest and most positive step to ever happen in our sport. Supercross and motocross racing in the US is very strong right now and this investment from Feld Motor Sports and MX Sports Pro Racing will bring the next generation of fans to motorcycling.

Chris Brull (Kawasaki):
The SuperMotocross World Championship is an important and necessary step forward for our sport. The collaboration between Feld Motor Sports and MX Sports Pro Racing further strengthens Kawasaki’s commitment to this new world championship and to the already well-established and successful supercross and motocross championships.

Brandon Wilson (Honda):
As a manufacturer, it’s great to see two of our valued partners collaborating to bring something new to our sport. Considering that this has been in the works for more than two years, we are excited to now finally be able to share this significant news. The SuperMotocross World Championship is going to add a lot of intrigue for everyone. Fans will have more opportunities to see their favorite riders and the most competitive racing, plus we’ll now see who the best overall rider is.

Image: Octopi Media.

Derek Brooks (Yamaha):
As the current and reigning champion in both Supercross and Motocross, we’re extremely proud to have earned those titles battling the best competition on the planet. The SuperMotocross World Championship is a unique, yet also natural next step for the sport as we work together to highlight the immense talent of the athletes who compete on our class-leading product.

Chris Wheeler (Suzuki):
We are inspired to see this new partnership and the creating of the SuperMotocross World Championship. Suzuki is looking forward to racing in this new championship and competing at the highest level in supercross, motocross and now the SuperMotocross World Championship.

Old Guys Fast at Loretta's

The 41^st Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is officially up and running. Day one from Loretta Lynn Ranch took place Tuesday, August 2, with the first of three rounds of motos playing out, which will eventually determine 36 AMA National Champions by the end of the week.

So far, the weather is typical here—hot and humid but no rain so far.

Ryder DiFrancesco got his Loretta Lynn’s week started with a win in Open Pro Sport. Photos: Align Media

The Open Pro Sport class was one of the highlights of the day. Unfortunately, the highly anticipated showdown between rivals Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Ryder DiFrancesco and Team Honda HRC’s Chance Hymas didn’t quite pan out. Hymas had a bad start and would later fall, letting DiFrancesco focus on leader Heath Harrison on the Phoenix Racing Honda.

DiFrancesco eventually found his stride, got out in front, and led the way to the finish. Hymas finished deep in the field.

Gage Linville (Pure Outlaw Yamaha) later worked his way into second, where he would finish the moto ahead of Gavin Towers (NSA Yamaha Factory Amateur Team), Cole Martinez (Monster Energy/SlamLife Racing Honda) and Patrick Murphy (Yamaha).

In 250 B, MJ Racing KTM’s Matti Jorgensen took the win, followed by Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Preston Boespflug and NSA Yamaha Factory Amateur Team’s Evan Ferry.

Mike Brown was a double winner in 40+ and 50+.

Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha Racing’s Haiden Deegan was in this one, as well,  but was forced to retire early with a mechanical when he and Ferry got too close, and Ferry’s footpeg destroyed Deegan’s rear spokes.

Former Pro Motocrosser Mike Brown came away with a pair of wins in the Senior 40+ and Masters 50+ divisions. Kris Keefer was second in Senior 40+ and John Grewe took runner-up honors in Masters 50+.

Jett Wins Again!

Consistent Jett Lawrence takes Washougal victory

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Hunter Lawrence and Justin Cooper claim the two moto wins.

Despite not winning a moto, Team Honda HRC’s 250MX series leader, Jett Lawrence, took another round win at the 2022 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship after a close day of racing at Washougal.

Lawrence was joined by Justin Cooper (4-1) and older brother Hunter (1-4) on the round podium.

Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence claimed first blood in the opening 250MX race.

Monster Energy Pro Circuit’s Jo Shimoda leapt to the front of the first 250MX moto, followed by team-mates Hunter and Jett Lawrence, and fastest-qualifier Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha).

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker quickly dispatched of Cooper but would gradually lose touch of the front-runners.

At the 10-minute mark, and after a prolonged period of pressure, Hunter forced his way past the Japanese rider and tried to sprint away, leaving Shimoda in Jett’s sights.

Their battle whittled down Hunter’s three-second lead and as the race wore on the pressure between the three continued to ramp up.

Late in the race Jett stood Shimoda up entering the whoops, but Hunter would control the closing laps to take the win, with Jett second and Shimoda third.

Cooper made a late move on Hammaker to reclaim a distant fourth. P

ierce Brown (TLD Red Bull GasGas), Max Vohland (Red Bull KTM), RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) and KTM rider Josh Varize would complete the top 10.

Justin Cooper put in a controlled wire-to-wire moto two victory to take his first race win of the 2022 Pro Motocross Championship.

Cooper took the holeshot from Shimoda and Hunter, with Jett in fourth.

Cooper progressively stretched out a comfortable lead as Shimoda and the Lawrence brothers again went deep into the trenches.

After several laps of pressuring Shimoda, Hunter laid his bike over in a corner, dropping him to fourth.

With 11 minutes to go, and after a prolonged period of pressure, Jett found a way past Shimoda into second and the round overall position and was content to stay there and bank the points.

Hunter Lawrence put in some furious final laps to close back on Shimoda but ultimately ran out of time, finishing a hard-fought fourth.

Cooper took a five-second race win, while Jett’s 2-2 result was enough to take a one-point round win over Cooper and Hunter.

Vohland would complete the moto top five, ahead of Hampshire, Nate Thrasher (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha), Hammaker, Brown and Varize.

Jett now holds a 28-point lead over Hunter (355 to 327 points) in the championship points chase, with Shimoda third on 306 points.

The ninth round of the Pro Motocross Championship will be held at Unadilla, NY on 13 August.

Belgium Selects MXofNations Team

National coach Johan Boonen today announced the team for the 2022 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations, set for RedBud in America. Liam Everts, Jago Geerts and Jeremy Van Horebeek will lineup in the Belgian colours on 24 and 25 of September.

Lommel... MXGP of Flanders 2022

Everts joins factory Red Bull KTM

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Red Bull KTM Factory Racing have agreed deals with upcoming stars Andrea Adamo and Liam Everts for the 2023 MX2 FIM Motocross World Championship. The Italian and Belgian will race the KTM 250 SX-F for the multi-title winning team.

Adamo, a former European Champion, is currently in his second season at Grand Prix level and the MX2 class. He ended his debut term in 2021 with 14th place and has quickly accelerated his development to capture a maiden podium result this year at Mantova for the Grand Prix of Lombardia. The 18-year-old has been on the KTM radar for some time and his work ethic, attitude and clear progression has helped Red Bull KTM Factory Racing management take the decision to put him on the KTM 250 SX-F for 2023. 

Everts, soon to be 18, is also discovering the full demands of Grand Prix level but has the fortune to be guided by two generations of former world champions in his family. Everts made his mark in EMX125 and EMX250 European Championship competition before stepping full-time in MX2 in 2022 with the DIGA Pro Motocross KTM set-up; the fourth campaign of a five-year KTM plan. He has impressed with top ten results and honed the speed to enter the top five on several occasions. 

Adamo and Everts will collaborate closely with the rest of the works crew and will hopefully follow the same excellent career trajectory enjoyed by the likes of Jeffrey Herlings, Jordi Tixier, Pauls Jonass, Jorge Prado and Tom Vialle by filtering into the MX2 line-up. Andrea and Liam will have Herlings as an MXGP teammate in 2023.

Adamo follows other successful Italians in Red Bull KTM colors such as Thomas Traversini, David Philippaerts, Tony Cairoli and Mattia Guadagnini while Everts will be the first Belgian in the factory squad since Ken De Dycker almost ten years ago. 

Andrea Adamo: “This is really cool news and like a dream come true for me. It’s one of the best race teams in the world so I’m excited and proud to have this opportunity. It makes me already excited for 2023. Tony Cairoli is obviously a big influence and it’s great that I’m able to give Italy another factory rider in Grand Prix. I want to thank the whole Red Bull KTM Factory Racing family for this chance.” 

Liam Everts: “Next year will be a new challenge and a big one! It’s a dream of mine that is now coming true and such a cool opportunity with be part of Red Bull KTM. We’ll work hard together and push for the ultimate result. I’m already looking forward to it.” 

Robert Jonas, Head of Motorsports Offroad: “Andrea was making good results throughout last season and with a clear sign of improvement almost race after race. Over the winter he has made another good step and finally finished 2nd at the GP in Mantova. He is only 18 years old but knows exactly what he wants and once he is set for a target he won’t back off until he’s reached his target. We can say very much the same about Liam, who has been part of the KTM racing strategy for a few years now and has shown us that he is able to rise up the ladder and meet each new step with maturity and no shortage of that Everts talent. We feel both riders make a good combination for the future and an important new episode in our KTM MX2 program. We strongly believe that with KTM’s backing, Joel on their side and Jeffrey Herlings as their teammate, Andrea and Liam will be able to fight for the MX2 crown within one or two years.”

Washougal Review

Dean Wilson Confirmed to Compete in World Supercross Championship

by Slaw DogJuly 22, 2022, 12:00 pm

 

Rider announcements for the inaugural season of the FIM World Supercross Championship continue to trickle in and today we got another name confirmed.

Dean Wilson will compete in the series in the 450 Class, the series announced. Wilson has yet to finalize and announce which of the 10 exclusively licensed teams he will compete with.

“Despite all my years competing in supercross in the USA, I’ve never had the chance to do so in front of a home crowd, so I’m naturally really excited for the new World Supercross Championship to be coming to the UK and to Cardiff,” Wilson said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to feed on that and challenge for the win, in front of my friends and family.”

Wilson joins the joins the previously announced Ken Roczen, Justin Brayton, Eli Tomac (who will race the opening round), Chad Reed, Cole Seely, Max Anstie, and more.

The 2022 World Supercross Championship gets underway in Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales on Saturday, October 8.

Main image: Husqvarna