MX Half Way

Post: Dylan Wills - Motoonline.com

Key points to be aware of at the halfway stage of the 2023 season.

The first half of the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship has delivered some big surprises and notable battles across the two classes. As the series heads into the final five rounds, MotoOnline takes a closer look at the Top 10 topics to follow.

1. The possibility of Jett Lawrence going 22-0 as a rookie:
After teenager Jett Lawrence shocked many by beating Team Honda HRC teammate and recently-crowned Monster Energy Supercross 450SX champion Chase Sexton at the opening round of the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship at Fox Raceway, the question, ‘can Lawrence really go 22-0?’ started to get thrown around. Then, Sexton missed a few rounds after a practice crash ruled him out with a concussion. As the series has hit its midway point, the 450MX rookie has grown even more since his initial 1-1 at the season-opener, he looks even better now. The first real challenge for Lawrence came at High Point when Ken Roczen lined up for a one-off outdoor race. The Suzuki rider lead laps during the motos, but even then, Lawrence would overcome him in both outings, even after a decent-sized crash in the opening moto. Since then, Lawrence has cruised to moto wins over his rivals, and the question has almost become, ‘who’s actually going to beat him?’.

2. 250MX title tightening up:
With the recent misfortunes of longtime red plate-holder Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC), the hunt for the 250MX title has well and truly tightened up. The vibe from the outside is that a lot of these guys feel they’ve now got a second chance at winning this title. Lawrence was looking primed to run away with it, but that has quickly turned on its head, with Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) at the top of the standings and the top five separated by only 22 points with five rounds remaining in the series.

3. Deegan takes the red plate:
After a successful rookie season in Monster Energy Supercross, everyone was eager to see how Deegan would fare in his first full Pro Motocross campaign. The 17-year-old impressed early, landing on the podium at the opening two rounds with second at Fox Raceway and third at Hangtown. He’s since gone on to podium two more times, including a popular win at RedBud. While it’s obvious that Deegan has inherited the points lead due to the disastrous last two rounds of Lawrence, you can’t discredit the professionalism of Deegan and how he’s conducted himself being in the title hunt at such a young age and, at times, it makes you forget that he’s a rookie

4. The arrival of Ty Masterpool:
Now, it’s not really the ‘arrival’ of Ty Masterpool as such, because we’ve seen him put in rides like this before. But, it is the apparent arrival of Masterpool into the 450MX fold. The number 81 has really shocked the industry with some outstanding rides this season, the most notable coming at Thunder Valley when he seemingly rode his way around a number of factory riders in the second moto to finish fourth. Since then, the privateer Kawasaki rider has continued to impress, finishing every single moto since stepping into the premier class inside the top 10, barring one DNF when his bike let go in moto two at RedBud. Masterpool sits P6 in the 450MX standings with five rounds remaining in the series.

5. Vialle gets his first Pro Motocross win:
One of the biggest talking points heading into 2023 was the addition of two-time MX2 world champion Tom Vialle. Many thought the Frenchman would be in the hunt for race and overall wins straight off the bat, but it’s taken until round six at Southwick for the Red Bull KTM rider to get both of those. Vialle has shown tonnes of promise throughout the opening rounds, finishing inside the top five overall and in the top three in the second moto at every round except for Thunder Valley, where a crash in the opening moto ruled him out for the remainder of the day. Observers were curious to see Vialle in action in the sand at Southwick and he delivered, taking 1-3 in the motos to secure his first-career overall win on American soil.

6. Webb exits Red Bull KTM:
It was a pleasant surprise to see Webb even line up outdoors to begin with, as most assumed that after his crash at Nashville ruled him out of the remaining Monster Energy Supercross rounds, he would likely miss the Pro Motocross Championship. But, in a last-minute decision, it was announced that Webb would be there for the opening round of the series at Fox Raceway, where he would go on to finish a respectable fifth overall. The improvements were swift as he landed back-to-back podiums at Hangtown and Thunder Valley with third overall, before finishing in fifth again at High Point. Unfortunately, a crash in the two-week break ruled Webb out of the RedBud round and then, the real shock would come afterward, as Red Bull KTM announced that Webb and the team would mutually part ways prior to Southwick. Now the big question remains around what the two-time Monster Energy Supercross champion will do next… He’s been linked to returning to his former team, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing, however, time will tell how that plays out.

7. Time to bounce back for Hunter Lawrence:
After Lawrence opened the series by winning the first four overalls, the wheels have started to somewhat fall off for the Australian, but to no fault of his own. A DNF at RedBud in moto two was almost the beginning of the end as he went down in a first-turn pile-up and left the track clutching his arm. Many thought that might’ve been it for Lawrence, but in gritty fashion, he returned to the starting line at the following round at Southwick, only to DNF the opening moto due to a bike malfunction in the closing stages. Battered and bruised following his RedBud incident, it was apparent that Lawrence was not at 100 percent at Southwick, as he fought to P8 in the final moto of the day. After entering round five at RedBud with a 28-point lead in the championship, he leaves round seven at Spring Creek in second place, five points down on Deegan with five rounds left in the series.

8. Sexton fighting to get back to last season’s form:
When title rival Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) bowed out of the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross Championship with an achilles injury at the penultimate round, it was expected that Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton could potentially run away with the 450MX Pro Motocross title after last year’s battle. A crash after the opening round at Fox Raceway left Sexton sidelined with a concussion, until he returned at RedBud, going 2-3 for third overall and losing second place on a countback to Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing). He then went on to finish second in both motos at Southwick to Team Honda HRC teammate Jett Lawrence. Not to be mistaken, these are still great results, but it feels as though we have yet to see the Chase Sexton we saw challenge Tomac down to the wire in 2022. Or is it a case of Lawrence really being that good?

9. The physical condition of Adam Cianciarulo:
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo has really been through injury after injury since stepping up to the premier class in 2020 and, unfortunately, the injury that stands out most is the nerve injury in his right arm. It’s been a lingering issue since 2021 and, while outright speed is never the issue for AC, the question still remains, will we ever see the best of him? So far, Cianciarulo sits fourth in the 450MX standings and stood on the podium with third overall at High Point.

10. Ferrandis gaining comfort on new YZ450F:
When Eli Tomac went on to dominate the early stages of Monster Energy Supercross on the 2023 YZ450F, it was obvious that this new-generation Yamaha was the real deal… on a Supercross track, at least. Unfortunately, Dylan Ferrandis sat out the majority of the 450SX season due to injury, which also meant losing valuable time learning the new model. After the first few rounds of Pro Motocross, it was obvious that the Frenchman wasn’t 100 percent at one with the bike. But, as the rounds have gone on, 2021 champion Ferrandis has been vocal about his progression and appears to be creeping closer to the lead, moto-by-moto. He currently sits second in the 450MX series, some 67 points back from Team Honda HRC’s Lawrence, but if Supercross was any indication, it’s not over, until it’s over.

Jett Goes 1-1 Again!

Lawrence stays undefeated despite Sexton challenge at Millville

Another 1-1 result sees talented teenager continue to extend 450MX points lead.

Image: Octopi Media.

Despite a concerted challenge from his team-mate Chase Sexton, Team Honda HRC’s series leader Jett Lawrence continued to dominate the 450MX field, finishing the seventh round of the Pro Motocross Championship at Spring Creek with another 1-1 result.

Lawrence has now won 14 motos in a row, and stood atop the round podium flanked by Sexton and Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrandis.

Lawrence survived a serious challenge from Sexton to win the opening 450MX moto.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo scored the holeshot, closely followed by Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM) and Lawrence, but the series leader wasted no time moving into the lead.

A fall on the opening lap saw Sexton drop from third to seventh, but remounted and angrily worked his way back up and closed down the five-second lead that Lawrence had stretched out.

The 2023 450Sx Supercross Champion mounted a challenge for the lead, but got held up by a lapped rider with five minutes remaining and lost valuable time. Sexton then he slid out again on the final lap, allowing Lawrence to cruise to an 11.9-second lead and keep his perfect season intact.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson put in a great moto to finish third ahead of a Plessinger, while Ferrandis – who also spun out on the last lap – finished fifth.

Garrett Marchbanks (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha), Cianciarulo, Ty Masterpool (Kawasaki), Grant Harlan (Manluk Rock River Racing Yamaha) and Fredrik Noren (Twisted Tea HEP Suzuki) completed the top 10.

Lawrence coasted to an easy win in the second moto and kept his perfect season win streak intact for at least another week.

Sexton led a Team Honda HRC 1-2 off the start and scored the holeshot from Lawrence, but a mistake in the third corner handed the lead to the young Australian.

Sexton managed to claw his way back onto Lawrence’s rear wheel, but then lost the front end and went down again, allowing Lawrence to coast to another easy 17-second win and remain undefeated in 2023.

Ferrandis finished the moto in third after a lengthy battle with Plessinger, while Cianciarulo completed the top five positions.

Masterpool, Harlan, Marchbanks, Noren and Jose Butron (Wildcat Race Team) filled positions fifth through 10^th.

In the championship standings, Lawrence now sits on 350 points with Ferrandis 81 points behind in second, and

3 Straight for Febvre

KTM offer Herlings update – nearing return!

Jeffrey Herlings is nearing a return to racing but will unfortunately miss this weekend’s GP in Lommel.

KTM said: “Jeffrey Herlings is recovering well from neck injury but will miss the Belgian Grand Prix and look for a racing return as soon as possible after the Lommel fixture.”

And, in more positive news, according to Lewis Phillips, Herlings could also race the final AMA round at Ironman to take on Jett Lawrence and Chase Sexton, if KTM allow – what a race that would be!

Style In Any Era

Wow! Cooper Webb, KTM Part Ways—Effective Immediately

A huge bomb just dropped from the KTM camp: Cooper Webb and the Red Bull KTM team have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately. The team announced last week that Webb would miss the RedBud National, via a very vague press release. Now, the two have parted ways.

In their five years together (2019 through now) Webb claimed two 450SX titles with the team (2019 and 2021), 21 AMA Supercross 450SX main event wins and his maiden 450 Class AMA Motocross overall win (2019 Spring Creek National).

As we understand it from multiple sources, Webb has likely signed with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing for 2024. Will we see Webb on a Star Yamaha YZ450F this summer, or in the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) playoff rounds this fall? The #2 sits second in 450SMX standings behind Chase Sexton.

The following press release is from KTM:

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING THANKS Cooper Webb FOR FOR FIVE YEARS OF RACING SUCCESSES

MURRIETA, Calif. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing would like to thank Cooper Webb for his achievements, commitment and determination following a highly-successful five seasons together. At this time, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and the 27-year-old Webb have mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect.

Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager:

“On behalf of the team, I would like to thank Cooper for the years of successes we have had together. Over the past five years, we have been on the 450SX podium 52 times and of those, 21 were victories. We won the 450SX titles in 2019 and 2021, had a strong runner-up season in 2020 and finished third this year despite an unfortunate season-ending crash in Nashville.

Cooper had the option in his contract as to whether he wanted to race outdoors and he decided at Daytona that he would not compete in AMA Pro Motocross in 2023. However, following his SX season-ending crash in Nashville, Cooper reached out about racing MX and KTM agreed to support him for the summer. Both sides came into the series somewhat underprepared and a practice crash before RedBud sidelined Cooper once again.

Both Cooper and the team have decided to part ways, this will give him time to recover and then move on to the next chapter of his racing career. The team and myself wish him all the best. I will always be reminded of the success we have had together because Cooper’s championship bikes and trophies stand proudly in the KTM race shop lobby.”

Webb joined Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in 2019 and went on to clinch a first-career 450SX Championship in that inaugural campaign, before again claiming the premier class crown in 2021 onboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION.

Collectively, between 2019-2023, Webb and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing amassed a total of 21 Main Event wins together in the 450SX division of the AMA Supercross Championship, as well as a single AMA Pro Motocross Championship 450MX round victory in 2019. The entire team wishes Cooper well in his future endeavors.

Ferrandis Says...Must Be Perfect To Beat Jett

Moto two at RedBud a promising showing for former 450MX champion.

Image: Octopi Media.

An improved second moto by Dylan Ferrandis highlighted a step made at RedBud, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider believing there is scope to beat runaway 450MX leader Jett Lawrence, but he is ‘going to have to be perfect’ to do so.

Ferrandis has continued to build and gain comfort on the all-new 2023 YZ450F across the opening rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship, with crucial testing carried out during the weekend off in the series.

As round five of the season got underway, the number 14 qualified ninth fastest, but featured in the top three in the early stages of moto one. Ferrandis was shuffled back to fifth on lap seven but was able to ultimately elevate to third, where he finished the race.

In what was one of his stronger showings of the season so far, Ferrandis charged his way forward in moto two to pressure Lawrence at times, bridging the gap down to as low as two seconds. He later completed the race in the runner-up position to secure second overall on the day.

“Like I said a lot during the season, it took some time to understand the new bike and that week off was good, we used it a lot, we tested a lot and it is better,” commented 2021 champion Ferrandis. “The first moto was not that great – I spent many, many time behind [Ty] Masterpool and never found a way to pass him, lost too much time and energy.

“In the second moto I was behind Jett, I tried everything I could to try to pass him, but yeah, he was still a little bit better. I think there is room to beat him, but we are going to have to be perfect and maybe, for sure, if we can get a better start than him, that would help us a lot. A think we made a big step this weekend.”

With five rounds of the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship complete, Ferrandis trails Lawrence – winner of all 10 of the 450MX motos contested so far this year – by 57 points as the series moves to Southwick this Saturday.

Ferrandis is yet to confirm his future beyond the current SuperMotocross World Championship season, not expected to be returning to Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing, and with little indication surrounding where he could potentially land from season 2024.

Hunter Lawrence cleared of any major injury

Australian holds 11-point advantage ahead of Southwick on Saturday.

Image: Octopi Media.

Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence has been cleared of any major injury following that first corner incident in moto two at RedBud, the 250MX red plate-holder set to be back on track at Southwick.

After taking a dominant wire-to-wire victory in race one, Lawrence was involved in a multi-rider incident at the fast-sweeping first turn, which brought him down hard early in the final moto.

He was unable to remount – initially appearing to have injured his hand/arm region – and received further evaluation from the Alpinestars Medical Unit, where, fortunately, he was cleared of any serious damage and is planning to compete in round six of Pro Motocross this Saturday.

“It was a bit of a hero-to-zero day here at RedBud,” Lawrence recalled. “We executed perfect for our first moto holeshot and rode good laps, well within my limits. The second moto was a bit of chaos after the start.

“I’m not entirely sure where it went wrong. I didn’t holeshot, so I guess that’s where it started… It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is – part of the sport. I’m thankful it’s nothing major, we’ll buff her out, and should be good to go.”

Despite scoring zero points in the second encounter on the weekend and being scored P9 overall, Lawrence – who has won four 250MX overalls this season – currently holds an 11-point lead ahead of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan.

WSX...Let The Games Begin

It’s almost time for gates to drop on the 2023 World Supercross Championship, with the stage set at Villa Park ahead of this Saturday’s British Grand Prix. Known globally as the home of Premier League football club Aston Villa, the famous stadium will instead see Ken Roczen – this year making the switch from Honda to Suzuki with the PMG team – and Shane McElrath start their WSX and SX2 title defences from the best supercross riders in the business, including series newcomer Colt Nichols and Brits Max Anstie – who finished second in the world in the SX2 class in 2022 – and Dean Wilson.

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Announced

Five to be inducted on Sept. 15 during the AMA’s Hall of Fame Days event in Pickerington, Ohio

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Thousands of votes have been tallied, and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is proud to announce the five inductees to be honored during the 2023 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Sept. 15 in Pickerington, Ohio.

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2023 is Rita Coombs, Ryan Dungey, Barry Hawk, Grant Langston and Travis Pastrana.

“The Class of 2023 includes individuals who have excelled in many different areas of motorcycling,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “Some are champions in many of our premier racing disciplines — motocross, AMA Supercross, and Grand National Cross Country — while others have been significant ambassadors for the sport, creating prestigious events and series that have introduced motorcycling to thousands. We are honored to recognize these motorcycling greats this Sept. 15 at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.”

The induction ceremony will headline the AMA’s Hall of Fame Days, which takes place Sept. 14-17. The ceremony will take place at the nearby Violet Township Event Center on Friday evening, followed by a cocktail reception at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact AMA Business Development Manager Michael Kula at (949) 466-7833 or mkula@ama-cycle.org.

Hall of Fame inductees are selected from eight areas of influence: Ambassadors/Industry, Design/Engineering, Dirt Track, Leadership/Motorcycle Rights, Motocross/Supercross, Off-Road, Road Racing and Specialty Competition.

RITA COOMBS

Along with Paul Schlegel and her husband, AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Dave Coombs, Rita Coombs — one of the owners of MX Sports — was responsible for the creation of the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s in 1982. The event at Loretta’s has grown into the most prestigious and impactful amateur motocross event in the world over the last four decades. Coombs was also instrumental in creating the AMA Grand National Cross Country series as well as the AMA National Hare Scrambles championship.

Ryan Dungey

From 2007 to 2017, Ryan Dungey forged great success in AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross, tallying four 450SX and three 450MX titles. Dungey is one of only seven riders to have more than 30 450SX wins. His dominant run stateside was paired with three Motocross of Nations titles in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Dungey also won back-to-back ESPY Awards for Best Athlete in Men’s Action Sports (2015, 2016).

Barry Hawk

With 98 national championship event wins, Barry Hawk cemented himself as one of the most successful off-road riders ever. Showing his versatility, he stands alone as the only rider to ever win AMA GNCC national titles on both an ATV and a motorcycle. Retiring from racing in 2010 with eight AMA GNCC national championships, Hawk transitioned to manager of the Coastal Racing GasGas Factory Racing team, where he has helped propel riders to numerous wins and championships.

Grant Langston

Grant Langston is the only rider to win a World Motocross Championship, an AMA Motocross Championship and both AMA Supercross Regional Championships — East and West — in the 125/250cc classification. Langston added both an AMA Supermoto title and an AMA 450cc Motocross title to his resume before retiring, at which point he launched two successful careers as a multi-line dealership owner and a race commentator for NBC Sports.

Travis Pastrana

A racer turned daredevil, Travis Pastrana used motorcycling to build himself into a mainstream star. At the competition level, Pastrana won the 2000 AMA 125cc National Motocross Championship, becoming the youngest rider (16 years, 10 months, 26 days) to win an AMA Pro Motocross title. He also added a 125cc East AMA Supercross Championship and 17 total medals at the X Games to his resume. The lead personality behind the Nitro Circus brand, which spans a reality TV show, movie, live performance and competitions, Pastrana has built a tremendous amount of notoriety and served as an inspiration to many across the world.