ErzerbergRodeo...A Sunday Trail Ride!

2022 Red Bull Erzbergerodeo Hare Scramble – Mani Lettenbichler takes a maiden victory in what proved to be the toughest Erzberg in years at round three of the 2022 Hard Enduro World Championship with Mario Roman a close second and Trystan Hart third.

2022 Erzbergrodeo Hare Scramble race in a nutshell:

• As the flag raised at 2:30pm at the bottom of the Iron Giant, Teo Kabakchiev bagged the holeshot with Billy Bolt and Mani Lettenbichler in hot pursuit. An early course marking fail caught the front row out (they looped up and down the Rocket Ride hill for no purpose) which that held row two up for around 10 minutes off the start.
• As the dust began to settle (it was nuts early on the course) Billy and Mani assumed their familiar place out front, much like we saw so often in the 2021 HEWC, with Kabakchiev and Michael Walkner in tow.
• Lettenbichler set a blistering pace out front to pull a gap and arrived at CP10, the rocky uphill slog at “Machine” leading of Walkner, Mario Roman third, Kabakchiev and Bolt.
• With an hour gone they reached a new section called Udo’s Playground (basically a trials section), and Walkner was within touching distance of Mani with Mario closing.  
• In the three-plus kilometres of the infamous Carl’s Dinner, Mario used trials-like skills to get into P2 as Walkner hit a wall. Hart also worked his way ahead of the chasing pack and settled his claim on a podium.
• Rumour had it they would be around two hours riding the course this year but the new sections, plus a long slog through Carl’s, meant the race headed deep into a third hour – the longest it has taken the winner and certainly “the toughest ever” Erzberg according to Mario Roman.
• Another new section, the Motorex Highway, proved a hard one in the trees and here, plus a savagely hard Dynamite, proved being first can be a nightmare and Mani had to make lines other followed.
• But Lettenbichler stayed strong and went onto take his first Erzberg career win, becoming the third German to win after his father and the late Chris Pfeiffer. Two races and two wins this season puts him right in the championship mix.
• Mario Roman was close and put a lot of pressure on Mani with solid rides through the hardest sections of this hard race. But the Spaniard had to settle for second, three and a half minutes behind.
• Trystan Hart also put his and Canada’s name on the HEWC map with a very respectable third place in his second attempt at Erzberg. Next year Hart is rumoured to be racing the full season, watch out boys.
• The fight for next best went the way of Billy Bolt who got the better of Alfredo Gomez in the final stages and maintains his championship points lead at least on a day when he (and the rest of us) expected more.
• Michael Walkner took P6 and became the first Austrian official finisher of the event.
• The final kilometres got the better of Wade Young’s bike after he was running in fourth. Some serious mechanical issues on the Sherco saw him struggle to limp home in seventh just ahead of the final official finisher and compatriot Matty Green in eighth and best-placed Junior World Cup finisher.
• Graham Jarvis gets ride of the day? After bike problems right off the start, Graham started the race one hour late effectively. From 500th and last, he was inside the top 50 by checkpoint 13, by Udo’s (CP18) he was top 30, after Carl’s he was top 20, the Motorex hill (CP22 of 27) was as far as Graham could manage, knocking on the door of a top 10 finish as the four-hour cut-off arrived. Sadly, after organisers deemed him to have received outside assistance, he was later disqualified.
• CP 17, Stony Party is as far as Kailub Russell, Pol Tarres and highest-placed female rider Sandra Gomez got this year.

Plessinger Still Searching

Ankle Injury Hampers Aaron Plessinger at High Point

by Slaw Dog

It’s been a tough start to the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship for Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger.

Coming off a broken arm sustained during Monster Energy Supercross, AP went 8-8-11 at the opening three rounds, but he wasn’t up front like we are used to seeing him. 

That was turning around at High Point on Saturday, though, as Plessinger was running strong and was inside the top five with just two laps to go. 

Then he slowed.

Initially it looked like AP was suffering a bike problem as he dropped through the field. He eventually finished the moto in 15th. After the race, the team confirmed at AP sustained a twisted ankle in the moto, which caused his late race drop in positions. 

“The bike was feeling good in practice and I made some changes going into Moto 1 that didn’t really benefit me,” Plessinger said. “I rode really tight in the first one and salvaged ninth. Second moto, I was feeling really good – ready to rumble – and I got a good start and was running really good laps, but I ended up twisting my ankle pretty bad with two laps to go. I’m pumped on the way I was riding all day, it’s unfortunate that that had to happen at the end but we’ll focus on RedBud and try to get up there on the podium.”

Luckily for AP, the championship is off for a week before returning at RedBud on Fourth of July weekend. 

Main image: KTM Images

Anderson Looks for Answers on Weekend Off

Anderson ‘back to the drawing board’ in weekend off

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 Post: Troy Guenther

KX450 rider lands third overall at High Point amidst mistakes.

It’s ‘back to the drawing board’ for Jason Anderson through the 

weekend break in 2022 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross with the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider determined to problem solve and improve on third overall at High Point.

Anderson was on a charge in the opening moto at round three and worked his way up to second before a mistake allowed Eli Tomac and teammate Joey Savatgy to come through.

The number 21 was able to recover and finish third in moto one and made progress in the early stages of the second race to pass Ryan Dungey for P3 before another fall dropped him back to fifth, where he finished the race.

“The practice went good this morning, I was able to qualify first and it is always good to start your day like that,” Anderson recalled. “I went into the first moto and I got into second, and then had a little bit of a tip-over and ended up third behind Eli [Tomac] and Chase [Sexton].

“It was honestly kind of tough, that second moto for me. Just trying to find the flow and everything like that, all in all, I tried my hardest and that is all I can ask for.

“We will live to fight another day, try and problem solve this week and see how it ends up. Yeah, back to the drawing board.”

Anderson is fourth in the 450MX standings, 34 points back from red plate-holder Chase Sexton. His best result of the season came at round two, Hangtown, where he took the overall win. Following a weekend off, Lucas Oil Pro Motocross resumes at Red Bud on 3 July.

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.

Retirement?

Take A Look Highpoint

DeCoster & Dungey Talk Racing

The difference between Motocross & Supercross by World Champions

Ryan Dungey & Roger De Coster

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).