Tuesday
Dec072021

Honda 2022

Fire Power Honda Racing uncovers new-look team for 2022

Davalos team manager, Smith and Frye to contest 250SX East series.

Image: Supplied.

Fire Power Honda Racing will feature a new-look team in 2022, the outfit owned by Yarrive Konsky signing Jarrett Frye alongside Jordon Smith to contest 250SX East and Martin Davalos as team manager.

The team formerly known as Muc-Off Honda Racing will also relocate from California to the Millsaps Training Facility (MTF) in a further bid to improve on its modest success since its 2020 inception.

“I am pumped for this new chapter with Fire Power Honda Racing,” explained Davalos. “I was hoping an opportunity like this would come my way, as I know I have a lot to offer the team. I’m looking forward to managing the program in Georgia and to being involved in testing and development as well.

“The team has a championship-winning program in Australia and I believe in its direction in America for the 2022 season. Relocating the team to MTF will be a huge advantage, to get the most out of a program that wants to contend for championships.  We have signed two riders and have a lot in place already.”

Smith made his professional debut in 2015 and since has claimed a multiple podiums and three race wins on-board 250 machinery, notably finishing second in the 2018 250SX East standings. He moves across from the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team for 2022.

“I am excited to be joining Fire Power Honda Racing next year,” Smith stated. “The team has shown promise the past two seasons and the changes they are making for next year show an unwavering commitment to succeeding.

“It’s going to be great next year, being in Georgia and at MTF will give us all the ability to be better prepared and I believe that will make a massive difference to our results. Martin is very meticulous and focused and will make us all accountable. I can see why he was so successful as a racer and it’s already translating into our preparation for next year.”

Frye experienced a difficult 2021 season with injuries impacting his rookie campaign with Star Yamaha, scoring a best result of 10th in 250SX West at Arlington 3. Alongside Smith, he has begun testing and preparations for 2022 in his new colors.

“This year proved challenging, racing and riding with injuries and feeling the pressure to race was hard. I knew I didn’t have a deal for 2022, so I persevered and did my best,” explained Frye.

“Being at MTF is great and Marty is unbelievable. There aren’t too many team managers in the pits that have his achievements. He knows what it takes, and he is working hard to build a solid program.”

While the Fire Power Honda Racing team will focus on the eastern regional 250 series, selected Pro Motorcross races are also being considered. There is also the possibility of taking the US riders over to compete in the Australian Supercross Championship.

Konsky added: “Our current focus is the East coast Supercross championship, but we haven’t ruled out racing two or three rounds of the motocross championship and bringing some or all of the riders, including Davalos, to race in the Australian Supercross Championship.”

The 2022 Monster Energy Supercross 250SX East season begins on 19 February at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN, marking the first of nine rounds, two of which being East/West Showdown events.

Tuesday
Dec072021

Help Wanted - Dist 36

D36 Members, Clubs and Promoters:

December elections for the 2022 season are coming up! District 36 is looking for energetic, hardworking individuals to join in various capacities.

Positions Open:

BOD (2 year terms)

1 Board of Director seat is open.
Nominations to BOD include these qualifications:
A) Have held a D36 card or recognized card for 2 of the last 4 years. 
B) Be and remain a resident of the district. 
C) Have served at least 2 years either as club referee or club president, representative of this corporation or as a member of the BOD.

 A combination of any of these positions will satisfy the requirements of 2 years.  Requirements of section C may be waived by a two-thirds vote of those (active members) present at a regular meeting. 

Nomination are also being accepted for the following open positions, positions will be elected by the 2022 BOD:

  • President
  • Director of Competition
  • Enduro Steward
  • Family Enduro Steward
  • GP Steward

Any D36 member in good standing can get involved.  Anyone interested in a position, please email Monique Whitworth at d36secretary2020@gmail.com

WE NEED HELP, please consider getting involved.

 

Monique Whitworth

D36 Secretary

209-896-6280

Thursday
Dec022021

Chad Reed on his career

Great Interview by Jonathan McCready at Gatedrop.com

Chad Reed on his career, Carmichael, Stewart, MXGP, Cairoli and Herlings

 

 

Chad Reed has experienced almost everything in his long career. Adapting to GPs at 18 then winning in America and battling arguably the two best American’s to ever race in James Stewart and Ricky Carmichael for supercross titles. Reed has first hand experience and knowledge of all aspects of the sport.

Coming back to the Paris supercross proved to be a great chance to see the Aussie legend race again and we also had the chance to catch up with Reed for over 30 minutes to discuss his career as well as a wide range of topics with the articulate and thoughtful Australian, who has two AMA 250 supercross titles to his name, a world supercross title, a 450 US outdoor title and a 125 East supercross championship plus that sole GP win when he came second in the 250cc World championship in his one year racing GPs in 2001.

Chad Reed, you are back where it almost all began in that cross-over between GP and supercross and racing Jeremy McGrath (here at Paris in 2002), how pivotal was that night for you in terms of believing in yourself that you could do it on the American stage?

Truthfully, I don’t know if that particular night was good or bad for me. I think that night probably defines how I thought, my biggest idol ever (McGrath) and he left the door open and I threw it in there, we made contact and both crashed but I went on to beat him for the rest of the weekend sand also, for the most part, the rest of his career in the US. i was a young kid with a full head of steam that wanted to win races and do the best I could. so I don’t no that that weekend is good or bad but think it was consistent with the rest of it.

I’m excited to be back, almost a year and a half without taking supercross gate drop. Riding by myself I feel okay but the real test will be when i line up elbow to elbow and there’s a race intensity and i think the race intensity is probably what I’ll lack but that just comes from racing but i think outside of that it should be a fun weekend. (Reed went on to acquit himself well in race conditions going 6-5-7 over the three motos for a solid sixth overall).

Have you missed racing? Is that part of the reason you are doing this or have you been relatively content watching your kids start racing?

I would honestly say i have been content. I really haven’t missed racing because I have been so busy doing other stuff. I have been doing some amateur racing at some local area stuff so that need to race/ride or whatever, I feel like I have been watering that in other ways. I can honestly say at a professional level I haven’t missed racing but this was a timing thing. I always believe things happen for a reason and things come about because of where you are at in life and for me, I was just riding and I was kind of wanting to get back into shape a little bit so it was just perfect timing to come and race.

And watching your kids race, how does that compare nerve wise to racing yourself?

Waayyyy more nerve wrecking! I can honestly say for the 265 or whatever it was starts that I did, I don’t know that I was ever as nervous as watching my children race. Especially when, my 11 year old is on an 85, and he is starting to push those boundaries of wanting to go faster and do the bigger jumps that gets me a little bit scared but it also excites me so hopefully he figures that out quickly so i can be a little bit more at ease but yeah, i really enjoy trying to help and watch them do their thing.

Do you feel now you can understand more what your dad went through as he watched you take the steps in your racing?

Definitely different perspectives of my childhood comes up coming back to the races with your own children. my dad, if I was to describe my dad, he was always super committed to me but always very highly strung and stressed! And I never understood why and i think i have a different understanding and perspective of why (now) just because the travel to the races , the anxiety of your kid riding at such a high level and pushing the limit and all those things. i understand that side of my parents a lot more.

Moving on to Tony Cairoli and what he has done this year winning a GP a 36 years old and even the Nations along with nine world titles, i know you know him and are fairly friendly with him, what are you thoughts on him and his career, you know about riding into you mid-30s as well!

Tony and I are great friends probably the past ten years we are quite close and communicate, whether I go back and stay and hang out in Italy or whenever they are in the US, but yeah, amazing career. It’s tough, when you get older, everyone talks about age that at a certain point it’s a drop-off. I don’t know that it’s a drop-off but it’s the feeling and the pressure. You think you have pressure as a young kid trying to make it, I think the pressure as an established great, and there are only a few of those, right? And I would put Tony in the greats, to sustain being great, to sustain trying to win more titles, there’s far more pressure and I felt it, and I see it in Tony and I see it in Valentino (Rossi), trying to succeed at that level being older, I think that that wears on you and it’s like every race is your last race and it’s that feeling that the time is getting away from you. And sometimes you put so much effort into trying to win because you feel the clock ticking so I think it’s kind unfair to feel like you are getting older and then that clock ticking.

I wish the world was a little more quiet in telling people, ‘you’re getting old,’ because I don’t think it’s matter of old, I really don’t. We seen Tony this year already win a GP so can he win? Yes, but it’s that ability of sustaining it and knowing that it’s going away and that’s what’s hard.

We are seeing it a wee bit more, you have done it, Tony has done it, Tom Brady in the NFL, Ronaldo and Messi in football mid 30s and a very high level, Tom Brady in his 40s…is there a reason for that in this generation?

Tom Brady I feel like is the exception, I feel like the higher the pressure the bigger the game, the better his is. But it’s also not fair to compare Valentino, Tony, myself, because you are an individual and when you have a team of people willing to take some of that burden.. Tony and Valentino are only as good as they are right? Tom Brady’s badass and he probably brings the team up but if those guys are not catching the ball then it doesn’t matter how good he is, right? I always think team sports are a little different and it’s hard to compare but Tom Brady is badass, 42 I think he is, it’s pretty impressive.

Moving to your career, for me what you did in the GPs in your first year to get second was almost as amazing as winning those 250 supercross titles – although Gordon Crockard still isn’t happy that you beat him to second place in the last round of the year,(Reed laughs), he said you cost him a lot of money! What were your thoughts on that season and did that help prepare you for America?

Gordon is still asking for beer money! I would agree that my first year was as good as.. well, winning is winning right? I think more for me, I expected to do well but the year started out pretty tough, but I got better and better and I was constantly a podium guy. I won Lierop, one of the toughest GPs of the year, so when I look at that year, from where I came form to where I finished, I learned so much. From that point was really the start of going forward, going to the US and things like that.

It gave me the confidence I could achieve my long term goal. i would say that Europe has always been valued to me as one of my most important, pivotal years of my career. Ellie and I were really excited to spend the year here, I learned so much from Shayne King, Jan de Groot, Pichon, Gordon, all those guys. I was a big sponge and I learned a lit and that set me up for the rest of the career.

Your first year in the 250 class as it was then in America in 03, Carmichael then maybe had a a bit of intimidation on everyone else but you weren’t intimated at all. You probably should have won that year, did you have any doubt going into that season that you could be that fast?

Yes and no. The young version of me, yes, I thought I could do it. But was the expectation to go win a title? No. I don’t know that I truly believed, and probably why I lost is because of that. I think that it was round three or four, I won the first race, I was second in the second one and then I really struggled. I had a bad start and i was young and all i wanted to do was to get the front and I got sixth, and when you look at the points difference, that one race was the difference. It was learning, would I change it? I wouldn’t because it was just part of the process but yeah, i believed that i could win, I believed I could be as good as Ricky, but did I believe i could be a champion in 2003? I probably lacked that belief a little bit.

Did winning it fulfil your childhood ambitions in terms of euphoria, the year you won it in 04 finally?

Yeah i mean it’s just accomplishment. You set for so many years of your life, you’re like, ‘ I want to go to America, I want to go to America, you want to be supercross champion and to achieve only in year two was quite a big accomplishment you know? I hit the ground running; the team, the bike, it was a really good era. Yamaha was really strong on two-stokes, Jeremy kind of built Yamaha and I kind of inherited that and took it to another level. That was really fun for me to think of my childhood and looking up to Jeremy then to be able to take it from that a little bit was really exciting, it was fun.

And 05, I often wonder what if you had went to Suzuki instead of Ricky, I read you had that option, I’m not sure how close it was, but do you ever look back with regret or are you okay with that?

I wouldn’t say regret. Honestly, I never had the contract in hand. I rode the bike, Ricky, I think in a lot of ways they really wanted Ricky and I think Ricky was probably wanting to go that direction but I think he was also using it for leverage with Honda. I think I was part of the leverage, I think I was almost the back-up plan. So I rode the bike and it was a good bike, probably riding the bike hurt me more than not because I knew how good the bike was. It was basically a Yamaha, the cylinder head was basically a Yamaha, the linkage was a Yamaha the motorcycle rode like a Yamaha, the engine was a little bit better than ours. They were going into year two, 2004 was the first year of unleaded. Our bike (Yamaha) in 04 was a really good chassis but the engine was so-so, where (in 05) it was the opposite, I had rode the Suzuki, realized the engine was good, when I stayed at Yamaha I made them aware. I said, ‘guys, I rode the Suzuki, their engine is so much better than ours, we need to work on it.’ So our engine was really good in 05 but then our chassis was shit.

I don’t regret it because it was never really an option because Ricky took the deal and then once he took that there was no budget to take both of us. But you always wonder had that progression happened, where would your career have gone but yeah, it was exciting. we were switched out a little bit, I had spent many years having the better bike than Ricky, I had better tyres, better bike and then in 05 he had the same tyres and I really think he had the better bike so it was a little bit of a role reversal. It was a bit of wake up call of how things change, a learning part of my life really.

Those wins (in 05) Orlando was maybe the biggest supercross race ever and you won it and you had just beaten Ricky at Daytona. You didn’t win the title but those wins must be really special to you looking back?

Yeah, those two you talk of were really special because Orlando was really the first race of all three of us, me James and Ricky. The hype was…to this day I have never entered a race with so much… you could feel the tension. Individually i think that moment meant a lot to all of us. So to win that race was really special, because no-one can take that away from you, you won the first battle. Then yeah, of course, Daytona, Ricky was always so strong there and I kicked his ass! That was such a good race. If there was any race throughout my whole career where you know hot the marks and you didn’t leave anything out there, it was just, boom, boom boom, lap after lap. Really just turn for turn, going for it. And that’s how you want to race, that’s the feeling you thrive for.

Regarding the MXGP world championship this year it was five, then three, then two at the last round. How did you view that series and Herlings delivered under pressure, because you had a similar experience in 06 when it came down to the last round

When you go into the last moto tied up, it’s nerve wrecking. I feel a little bit sad for Romain, the last two races are sand. I mean, at that point you are really pushing. For him to come out and think it was those last two races and the first of the two races, he won the first moto, at that point that’s impressive. Yeah, Jeffrey crashed or whatever. I don’t think it’s a matter of you are lucky or you’re not but I say that Jeffrey was very fortunate to have a lot of teammates throughout the last four races, we see Tony pull over twice, teammates are nice to have in that scenario, because if you take the teammates away, Jeffrey doesn’t win, you know? But you can always say woulda, coulda, shoulda, right?

What is your view on Jeffrey? Because on speed is probably one of the fastest ever but he has had all these injuries but he is very tough then on the other side to come through all that and win again, what is your assessment with him?

(laughs) “I agree, he’s badass, but when you talk about the greatest people in the sport, I don’t know that you put him in that group. Speed wise, yes, but I mean the titles don’t lie, he has two. In my opinion he only has two titles. Lites are Lites, I don’t count them and maybe he wins the next five…he’s getting old now…what age is he? (27). Oh he’s not even old, I thought he was older than that because he’s been around for so long!

But yeah, when you look at dominance, dominance in my opinion is controlling and understanding how to win world titles or championships. He has not yet achieved that in my opinion, but as far as a badass on a motorcycle and what he can do? One of the greatest at that.

Would you say he is like Stewart but in the World championship? A lot of speed but some crashes?

It’s hard to compare. For me I’m team Tony, and I’m not against Jeffrey but if you were to put me out there and I was to take a lie detector test, I’m team Tony always. And that’s my era so I am always going to gravitate towards that and I think Jeffrey is part of the new era. So it’s hard it’s always hard to comment on that without sounding disrespectful because I’m not disrespecting what he’s done, but there’s a category and I don’t know that I put him there…yet.

(Andy McKinstry) You made a name for yourself in GPs and are an Aussie. The last couple of years in GPs we have had Hunter and Jett coming through, Mitch Evans and Jed Beaton, do you see any similarities with them guy and yourself? Also in the future I could see Australia contending for an MXoN win…

A victory…Des Nations is so difficult. I have been on so many Des Nations teams when we should have been an easy second or third potential went for the win. Des Nations comes down to so many different things, luck is a big one but luck comes from every individual understanding the big picture and every team I’ve been on we always fall short on that. In 2011 we were on the podium, I won the first moto but even that weekend we should have been easily second my teammate didn’t get to race the first moto because the bike broke. I don’t like saying luck because luck in racing, you kind of create your own but in so many ways it’s seems the exception that Australia has really bad luck at Ds Nations.

But yeah, there is so much talent. Can all that talent come together on one day? It’s yet to be seen. I know the Lawrence brothers quite well because I have got to know them but previous to the last 12-18 months I really didn’t know much about them. I met Mitch last time here for the first time and Mitch seems like a good kid, this year seems really rough with a wrist injury. I think Mitch seems like he has the ability to do quite well but he needs to get on the right side of the preparation and working and bringing the luck to you. Why he is having injury after injury I don’t know.

Jett seems like the obvious. He is the youngest the one with the most success at this point but I didn’t know them as children because I was always abroad and I was so busy you don’t have that connection with what is happening at a lower level but I am excited to see more Australians coming through.

I have a question that you might be able to answer. The Australian and New Zealand riders seems to be able to adapt well to GPs but the Americans seems to struggle more obviously Osborne and Mike Brown the exceptions. Why is that when the level of the US Nationals are closer the the GPs than the Australian series so what is is that makes Australians be able to adapt to the World championship or Europe better than Americans, to me it shouldn’t really be like that?

I think there are a few things. The US way of racing is difficult to replicate that here. I think Americans never have to change much. They grow up on tracks that are similarly prepped in their amatuer and pro career. A lot of the team structure, amateur and pro is the same. Dunlop tyres are from amateur to pro. So when you come here, (MXGP), the way you need to ride the bike, the way you need to ride the tracks is so different and no-one has done that. And not because they don’t want to but because they don’t have to. Why would any American need to come to Europe? And that’s a real question not a disrespectful one, but why would you ever want to come here or need to come here because the goal growing up is to be your own (champ in own series), the series is so big you never have to go anywhere.

Villopoto is the exception, he came here as a good guy. But he came here because he was made to come, i don’t think he came here by choice and so I thin the Ryan VIllopoto that we know wasn’t the same Villopoto here. i think the Villopto that I know can win here, 100%, there’s no doubt in my mind.

Have you told Tony?!

I’ll tell Tony (smiles). And I think if you ask Tony, in the right scenarios, I think Tony admits that Ryan is a part of the badass group I do believe that. No-one at the top level has tried to come and make a career out of it here so it’s a tough comparison.

It’s so different as well…

It is yeah and getting back to your question of Australians, Australians have to be good here. If you don’t do good here you never get to stay here or if your goal was like me, Jett or Hunter, if you don’t succeed here you don’t get to go to America. Europe is make ot break, so there is so much more emphasis, yo are willing to change. Australia is a good blend of Europe of America, it’s not one-side so I think that’s why Australians typically succeed more here.

But then in the big scheme of things, what Australian has really succeeded here and won? Jeff Leisk, myself, Andrew McFarlene, no-one else has been successful. No one else has won races or challenged for titles. Being good and getting a good ride is one thing, winning races, being on the podium and contending for a world championship is another thing. Andrew did that, I did it…although I didn’t technically contend for a title because Mickael was so much better. Had I of stayed and went for a world title in 2002, then we would have found out if I was good enough or not right? (laughs). Hunter was good but didn’t contend for a world title, again not being disrespectful but going by the data and the numbers, they don’t lie.

Going back to your career, I interviewed you after you won a race in 2014 on Kawasaki then you got hurt the next race in the whoops, I was starting to think that was maybe the end of your career at that point. But you kept coming back year after year and you still had the speed for the majority of that. What kept you coming back? Obviously that was another injury getting on in your career and you were still able to come back. What kept you coming back? Was it because you still believed you could still do it or did you just really, really enjoy it?

Again, no regrets. But when yo look back at the shoulda, woulda, coulda. 2012 I feel like I’m worthy of a championship that year with me and Villopoto going back and forth and that’s when I crashed and blew out my knee and 2014 was another one of those years where I was only two points shy of the championship lead. Villopoto and I had separated ourselves away, we were really strong we were beating up on Dungey and Stewart week after week so at that point you put yourself in that, okay, it’s between me and Ryan, one of us is going to be champion. You put yourself in that category and without the injury could I go on and be champion? I think there is a good chance. So to come back from that injury, I think at that point you acknowledge time is ticking, I am 30 or 31, the clock is ticking away and those moments are, you don’t necessarily say they are coming to an end but you understand times is going on.

It was kind of just another chink in the armour, I don’t know that is was I’m done racing. The reason for my longevity, I just enjoyed racing so much, I oved it. All the way to my last race, I loved it. I didn’t see nothing else. I think of Villopoto, Carmichael and Dungey being 26/27. I always think how at that age did they just walk away because I never could. But then maybe they felt what i felt where something comes across you like, ‘I’m good.’ And that never came across me until that last season. Going into the last season I was like, for me it was you start acknowledging what you did and at that point I think it’s over. You’re reflecting and you are happy and you have that good feeling of, ‘wow, time flew by and I really appreciate the battles and the things I got to achieve,’ and at that point you stop thinking you want to kill everyone, you want to win everything and I think at that point that was me acknowledging that’s me, I’m done.

I haven’t missed racing, I’m excited to race this weekend but it’s a very different scenario. I don’t have that pressure of the qualifying, the heat races, the practice times. You know you are in the main event, it’s about going and racing three main events and enjoy it. That part, I enjoy, if I had a past champions exemption and i could go to 16/17/18 supercross races and just race main events, I would do that, I actually would still do that. But I don’t enjoy the bullshit side of racing anymore.

A question on next year’s supercross series, I’m not sure if you are doing any but Eli Tomac is switching to Yamaha, teammates with Ferrandis, Ken Roczen not changing anything, Cooper Webb no Aldon Baker. What is your take on the changes, does Eli need to change teams? Does Roczen need to change nothing and Webb leaving Aldon as well?

Kenny needs to change something, that’s clear. What that is is to be determined. We have all seen him be so worthy of a supercross championship but fall short on a few minor details. At that level it’s not like he needs to change many things, it’s just maybe one little thing here, one little thing there that will make the big difference.

Eli i think needed the change, I think there was some bad blood at Kawi. I think a change will be refreshing. Will it be the answer? We don’t know that yet. Web stepping away from Aldon… I have yet to see anybody leave Aldon and be successful. Nobody has left Aldon and been more successful or as successful as what they were with Aldon.

Every championship I ever fought for was with an Aldon athlete. So, anybody that has a foot in the door and leaves, everyone has their reasons and that i don’t know but man, I don’t know, history says that it’s not a great move, right? But if you want a longer career you have to acknowledge you can’t sustain that ability of work out. And I’ve never been there so I don’t know what that is.

Would you have liked to have worked with him?

I would have liked to. If I was to do a race next year and this is is not happening necessarily but I would love to race a race at 40 and I would love to do a bootcamp with Aldon to race that race. Just because for 20 years I raced against him.

I missed out by one day. At the end of 2010 I left Kawasaki and I called him to see if he would be my trainer because it was when he broke up with Stewart, and the day before Ryan Villopoto called him, so I missed it by one day. It’s one of those things, I don’t regret not working with him but it would be really exciting to work with him for one race. For me it’s not about that sustainability of week after week after week. It’s more just going and understanding and really getting to work with someone who is considered the greatest in that position in our sport.

Jeffrey did that in 2017 then dominated in 2018 using some of those methods…

Yeah, correct right?

Final question Chad, who was your most intense rival? Ricky? Because that seemed quite spiky 03/04 and obviously James it was a longer period. Who played on your mind the most or who did you feel the most intense towards?

They are so different but they are equal I would say, both of them, it’s hard to say one or the other. The big difference is James had not many, but more weakness than Ricky. Ricky seemingly, from the outside, just never had a weakness. Like a fighter, when you feel like you had him on the ropes, and right as you are ready to try and knock the dude the f**K out and put him out and win, he just found a way back – always! Right when you are okay, you are wearing, wearing, wearing and you are thinking, ‘I’m good, I’m good,’ He would just come back stronger and find something that was another level and you are just like, ‘where did that come from?’

James had the ability, his speed was unbelievable. There were days when you just had to acknowledge you just couldn’t go that fast or the unwillingness to die to go that fast! And so some of those days, I would basically because I was for the most part and easy second, and when he was that good, sometimes I would pull back. And sometimes when you pulled back that’s when he would make the mistakes.

Do you think that is concentration on his part?

Yeah and that was his weakness. Sometimes you would be throwing down lap after lap, after lap and I would be like, ‘ i don’t know if I can go this fast,’ and sometimes if you just let him go and almost gave up and somehow, two laps later, he would somehow cartwheel and you would be like,’ alight that’s it!’ And it didn’t always happen but there was a chance of that, but more often than not he went on and won the race. Somehow there was that concentration weakness that Ricky didn’t have.

And when Ricky crashed he didn’t really get injured somehow…

Yeah, somedays I feel Ricky crashed, harder, bigger more, but he always did it at the right time. he would crash on press day, he would crash in practice or he would crash in the heat race and always just find a way to be okay in the main event.

His bad day was second or third and really third, just always second and a guy that you are going toe-to-toe in the championship, that’s what taught me to be there. I feel like I became consistent nd needing to be there, seconds, seconds, seconds, thirds, thirds thirds when you couldn’t win, you had to be on the podium just because of what I learned from Ricky.

It’s hard to say, but Ricky probably gets the nod of most intense because of the ability to find everything you had to beat him.

Imterview: Jonathan McCready

Cover image: Pascal Haudiquert

 

Wednesday
Dec012021

Musquin Sweeps Paris

Frenchman dominant at home as Soubeyras and Brayton podium.

 

 

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Marvin Musquin won all three main events in the return of the Paris Supercross, crowned ‘King of Paris’ for a third time in his career.

After qualifying quickest and topping Superpole, Musquin won all three main events on Saturday night in the annual French event at the La Defense Arena.

Musquin controlled the first two sprints and then took out the final outing, riding his 450 SX-F to a 1-1-1 streak to win the overall ahead of Husqvarna-mounted Cedric Soubeyras with 3-2-2 finishes.

“King of Paris 2021, that was obviously the goal and I came here well prepared as we are getting closer to the new Supercross season in January,” Musquin reflected. “This event is always a good training for me, although it was different this year as the track had no whoops.

“It was fun anyway and the soil was choppy, it was still challenging. I wanted to get holeshots, be at the front and keep pushing to the end. I’m happy… It was a one-day format this time, but I enjoyed it and went 1-2 with my buddy Cedric Soubeyras – two Frenchies! That was pretty amazing.”

Completing the podium on the tamed-down layout was first of the Americans Justin Brayton (Smartop Bullfrog Spas MCR Honda), who went 2-3-4 in the trio of finals. He was ahead of Justin Bogle (Twisted Tea Suzuki) and KTM-equipped Chad Reed out of retirement for 6-5-7 results.

MXGP contender Romain Febvre (Kawasaki Racing Team) was third in Superpole and charged from a bad start to fifth in the first sprint, but crashed heavily in the second outing while trailing Musquin in P2.

Retiring grand prix great Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) also impressed, going second in Superpole and then 17-6-3 in the finals for seventh overall. He made an aggressive move on Brayton for position in the final encounter.

American Arenacross champion Kyle Peters (Phoenix Racing Honda) was too strong in SX2, dominating the evening despite new MX2 world champion Maxime Renaux (Monster Energy Yamaha) holding the advantage in terms of single-lap pace through much of the weekend.

Wednesday
Nov242021

Yamaha drafts world champion Renaux to MXGP team

Winner of the MX2 title stepping straight up from 2022 season.

Image: Supplied.

Current MX2 world champion Maxime Renaux will step up to the premier class of MXGP with Monster Energy Yamaha for the 2022 season after signing a two-year deal with the factory team.

The 21-year-old Frenchman will partner Jeremy Seewer and Glenn Coldenhoff on YZ450FM machinery from next year, replacing the outgoing Ben Watson.

“I’m really excited for the new challenge and the next chapter, to move to MXGP,” Renaux commented. “I know it’s going to be an all-new challenge and it is the most important part of my career because once you reach MXGP you are at the top – there is no class to move forward.

“I feel ready for it and I am really looking forward to making this experience a good one and a long one. I have tested the bike and I feel already really good and really comfortable. I’ve been riding a 450 in the past, so it’s not a new bike for me, but it is the first time on a factory YZ450FM.

“I already feel super-ready for it, so now we will spend the winter testing and developing the bike to suit me as best it can, so that we are ready for next season. I’m looking forward to everything.”

Renaux has been with Yamaha for more than a decade and has worked his way up the Yamaha Racing pyramid. He won the Junior 125cc World Championship in 2015, later debuted in MX2 during 2019 and took a podium on his way to P7 in the standings.

The following year, in 2020, Renaux quickly established himself as a title threat. He eventually finished third in the standings after claiming his first-ever GP race and overall victories at the MXGP of Italy in Faenza.

After many notable performances throughout his first two years in MX2, Renaux was drafted into the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team for 2021 and went on to 10 race wins, 14 podiums and five overall wins on his way to the title.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team owner Louis Vosters added: “We are very pleased to be welcoming Maxime into the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team alongside Jeremy and Glenn. The MXGP World Championship is hugely competitive, but Maxime has the speed and skills to have a promising rookie season.

“He has spent all of his career inside the Yamaha family and Maxime is an example of the successful Yamaha pyramid, which focuses on bringing a rider through the junior ranks to the pinnacle of motocross racing. I look forward to a great collaboration.”

Sunday
Nov212021

Bercy SX...#22

Sunday
Nov212021

Loon-Plage Beach Race

Fancy taking on the famous Loon-Plage beach with Jeffrey Herlings?

By Dick Law on November 18, 2021

 

Many UK riders head across the Channel to the famous sand track just outside of Dunkirk for some all-weather winter training but only a small number are brave enough to race Loon-Plage.

However, that can all change, thanks to Marc Darcourt and his MX Chrono Club, who are running an event on December 18-19, which will feature our very own sand master Todd Kellet.

Want the pot sweetening some more? How about two reigning Motocross World Champions? You know, Jeffrey Herlings and Maxime Renaux. Enter or spectate, either way, it’s one not to miss.

There are still some places up for grabs for the two-day event which include on Saturday: an 85cc class (nine years and older), which get a forty-five-minute race. There’s also a “Vintage” class, for bikes manufactured before 2000, and they get two 30-minute races. The amateurs get a two-and-a-half-hour race to complete the day.

Sunday starts with a two-and-a-half-hour quad race for both solo and two-man teams. This is followed by the two-and-a-half-hour main event.

So go have a watch or go for it and take part. Contact Marc Darcourt on FaceBook or e-mail him at marcdarcourt@gmail.com. He speaks better English than I do French.

 

Sunday
Nov212021

KTM’s $50 million California campus to carry legacy forward into the next generation

By Team TMX on November 19, 2021

"The key success factor behind it, I can tell you, is racing"

 

KTM’s $50 million California campus will carry the Austrian brand’s legacy forward into the next generation in North America.

Its all-new North American Group Headquarters project is a significant milestone for one of the leading producers of high-performance street and offroad motorcycles.

At an exclusive event held at the new building site in Murrieta this week, attendees gathered to celebrate the progress of the campus. On-site were local and regional dignitaries, members of the press and global racing athletes from KTM, Husqvarna Motorcycles and GASGAS, who were treated to an exclusive first look at the project’s 150,000 square foot plans, which include amenities for over 300 world-class employees.

The three-building campus is set to include corporate offices, state-of-the-art technical and warehouse spaces, and the company’s world-renown racing departments for all three brands.

Additionally, the very first brick laying ceremony was conducted by KTM’s Global and North America Board of Directors, a significant moment in the history of Murrieta and U.S. motorcycling, as KTM AG CEO, Stefan Pierer, was in attendance.

“It’s a very exciting and emotional day for me,” said Pierer. “Exactly 30 years ago, I started on a very small scale in the U.S. with a total of 12 people and now we are by far the biggest European motorcycle producer and we are employing 5,000 people.

 

Cooper Webb (Image: Align Media)

“The key success factor behind it, I can tell you, is racing. Racing is basically the driving force that we created throughout the 30 years and it brings us to this – the biggest single investment I ever did – with a $50 million dollar project here in the U.S.

“It’s also a new target for everybody and it’s really a great moment. Now, let’s look ahead and let’s set up new targets for the future.”

John Hinz, CEO KTM North America, added: “Our group of brands have an incredibly storied history here in the U.S. and in North America, and we are honoured to carry this legacy forward into the next generation. This celebration marks another incredible milestone in our history with this new campus, which is an incredible tool for us to deliver our service to our dealers as they truly are the lifeblood of our company.

“To commit to an investment like this requires bravery, and I want to thank Mr Pierer and the Board of Directors for their continued commitment to the business here in the U.S. and in North America.

“Our goal is to grow the sport of motorcycling and the sport of bicycling, and these new buildings are going to be an incredible asset to continue delivering that service to our dealers across America.”

With global headquarters based in Mattighofen, Austria, KTM is Europe’s leading high-performance street and off-road sport motorcycle manufacturer. The brand has been an active player in the ever-growing North American market since 1967 and since the acquisition of further brands such as Husqvarna in 2013 and GASGAS in 2020, KTM has witnessed a significant increase in demand for two-wheelers across the globe.

Now with PIERER Mobility’s incorporation of the fast growing E-bike sector, the company looks ahead to a bright future in sustainable two-wheel transportation.

 

Sunday
Nov142021

Northern CA Boy Heading to the Big Time

Brandon Ray secures AMA SX ride for 2022

 

Brandon Ray has announced that he has earned a ride with the Partzilla Prmx Racing and will be racing the 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series and wherever else that racing takes him in 2022.

Brandon says that he would like to Thank Julien Perrier, Matt Bisceglia, and Sob MX for giving him this opportunity and says that he will be training full time at Sob MX and is beyond grateful for this opportunity.

“I’m gonna make the best out of it that I can! The work has just begun and I am so excited for the future! I love you all and will see you all real soon! Like my dad always says, “Time to pay the rent!” I have many new sponsors to announce soon!” Brandon said.

Saturday
Nov132021

Gajser Displays Class

Gajser Gracious in Defeat

by: Kellen Brauer

The 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP) season for the two riders who just missed out on the championship is going to be viewed with many “what ifs.” For Romain Febvre, what if he had won a few more races when he had the chance? And for Tim Gajser, what if he didn't break his collarbone halfway through the championship? As much adversity as eventual champion Jeffrey Herlings had to overcome, there were similar sentiments for both riders who fell short.

In Gajser’s case, 2021 will appear like an unsuccessful defense of his 2019 and 2020 world titles. The three-time MXGP champion (2016, 2019, and 2020) had enjoyed a remarkable run of good health and immense speed en route to back-to-back championships along the way. He sat within one point of the championship with two rounds to go, but a costly five-position penalty after cutting through the second turn at Sunday’s MXGP of Lombardia likely ended his title hopes. Still, he had a very strong season despite riding injured much of the second half and leaves 2021 behind with a new fire to get back to the top. After his second-place overall finish at Wednesday’s finale, we caught up with the Honda HRC man to get his thoughts on it all.

Racer X: So, second overall today, third in the world championship. I’m sure it’s frustrating to know you’re not going home with a world title, but you were so close in the end, and it was a great season overall. Just kind of sum up your entire season for us.
Gajser: Yeah, it was a crazy season you know. We have some nice battles also. You know, the pressure for the last couple of GPs was high. From last Sunday after I lose a couple of points from the penalty that I got, it was kind of like I was back on the ground. I knew that it was still possible, but we all know that 15 points in just one Grand Prix is difficult if everything’s normal. But anyway, overall, with the season we had a lot of ups and downs. I think the speed in the beginning of the season was good. Then, with the injury, with the broken collarbone, I was kind of like struggling for a couple of GPs. Like from that injury until the end, I didn’t really feel like myself. Even I was getting arm pump in the first motos and then for the second motos I was feeling a bit better. I could relax a little bit. But yeah, I learned a lot from this year and it’s definitely difficult to accept but that’s how it is. That’s motocross. Next year, we’re going to have another chance.

Just talking about today, you were I think seventh or eighth in qualifying, and I know you had crashed on that one lap. But what changes on the bike, or maybe some things that you did yourself, helped you turn it around for the motos?
Yeah, I’d say that this season I was struggling to make one lap in the qualification. I was always around sixth or fifth. I was second a couple of times. I even have one pole if I remember correctly. But yeah, didn’t ever do a great lap to put all the sectors together. But then in the race I know that I have speed. We made some changes that were positive for the races, so I felt really good. Riding was good so I was definitely happy to finish with good riding and a good feeling so that we go with the confidence into the offseason. It’s not going to be that long, you know. We’re going to start normally next season at the end of February, so we just have three months. So, a little short offseason, a little bit of holidays, and then we are back.

You would have ended the season in Argentina [in December], so it would have been an even another month of racing and a shorter offseason. How difficult is it when you’re in a title fight like this to have the season change midway through and to go to different tracks and different places with a tight schedule while battling for a title?
Last two seasons were difficult because usually we were starting the season in the beginning of March and ending the season like in September, but now we have like a full 12 month season with the preparation. Because usually you start at the end of November with the training and the preparation for a new season, and now we are almost into the middle of November. So basically, the season was a full year. But it was also difficult with the COVID[-19] and everything for the past two years. Hopefully life is going to go back to normal. It’s slowly starting to go and hopefully next season we’re going to have a normal season with a full weekend of Saturday and Sunday, end then ending the season also a bit earlier in the end of September.