Savatgy tests MotoConcepts Honda at State Fair MX

Savatgy tests MotoConcepts Honda at State Fair MX

Public outing sees Savatgy and Bloss on track alongside the returning Friese.

Joey Savatgy has completed a test at State Fair MX with SmarTop Bullfrog Spas MotoConcepts Honda aboard the team’s current CRF450R race bike, setting up a potential high-profile switch for 2021.

It has been unclear whether Savatgy would be remaining at JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki and this latest development indicates the 26-year-old could be on the move for next year.

Savatgy stepped up to the 450 class with Monster Energy Kawasaki last year and immediately delivered strong results, however, injury has largely affected him since switching to the factory RM-Z450 this season.

A deal at MotoConcepts to ride the brand new 2021 CRF450R would be an attractive option for Savatgy, despite the team being Supercross-only, providing a competitive package in order to reach his potential in the premier class.

It’s understood that a position has opened at MotoConcepts after the team and Malcolm Stewart parted ways. Stewart has most recently been seen riding KTM machinery, however, his future also remains uncertain.

The only certainty regarding MotoConcepts for next year appears to be team mainstay Vince Friese, who was also at State Fair MX this week shaking down the latest CRF450R. It’s unknown whether Justin Hill will return to the team for a second term.

In addition to Savatgy, former Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM rider Benny Bloss – who was impressive in 450SX this season – also turned laps with the MCR Honda team today, coming off a season in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross riding a privateer Husqvarna.

Lommel MXGP Highlights

Watch all the best actions of today here at Lommel track for the MXGP of Limburg 2020!

World Vet

SECOND ANNUAL WORLD VET CUP OF NATIONS STILL ON WITH A FEW CHANGES!

Glen Helen Raceway.

The World Vet Motocross Championships “World Vet Cup of Nations,” the Veteran version of the Motocross des Nations Championships is on schedule to be run in conjunction with the 2020 World Vet Motocross Championship weekend. Given the restriction in many nations on travel or with quarantines on travelers because of the pandemic, the 2020 World Vet Cup of Nations  will undergo some modifications to keep it alive for future years. Last year the “World Vet Cup of Nations” was made-up of three-man teams from 20 nations. Each team had to be comprised of one Over-30 rider, one rider over 40 rider and one over 50 rider —with all three riders being passport holder from their home nations. Obviously, with many foreign riders unable to attend the November 6-7-8, 2020, event, the organizers have been forced to make a few rule changes.

THE 2020 WORLD VET CUP RULES CHANGES

Glen Helen’s Bud Feldkamp with the Dubya USA World Vet Championship “World Cup of Nations” trophy.

For 2020, and 2020 only, each National team will only be required to have a Team Captain that holds a passport from a foreign nation. That team captain will be allowed to recruit the other two members of his team from any nation—including the United States. Each nation will be allowed to form three separate teams of three riders. Each team must have a 30-year-old, a 40-year-old and a 50-year-old rider (although it is legal to have two 40-years-olds and one 50 year old, or two 50-year-olds and one 40 year old, but under no circumstances can a team have two or more 30-year-old riders. The riders can be of any skill level.

Mexico sends a big team every year to the World Vet and Oscar Lopez (33), who’s father owned Moto-Islo Motorcycles, is the man most likely to pull Team Mexico together for the 2020 World Cup.

For example, Kurt Nicoll, as a British citizen, can form a British team by recruiting any British citizens living or visiting in the USA (and if he can’t find any other Brits, he is free to recruit American, Australian, Canadian, Brazilian or Irish riders for complete his three-man British squad). Additionally, since Kurt is 56 years old, he can ride for the team in any of the three required age groups. It is expected that Australian Dan Alamangos will be able to recruit an all-Australian team from within the ranks the American motorcycle industry. Irishman David O’Connor has already found the riders for his all-Irish team, although his third rider, Dave Feeney, is just of Irish descent. Ralf Schmidt, the U.S. TM importer, will be forming a Dutch team, probably with a few Americans to help out. South African Alan Jullien could easily form a South African team from the ranks of his REM friends and so on through the nationalities.

The goal is to keep the spirit of the World Vet Cup alive during this difficult years so that it can go on in the future. There should be Swedish, Mexican, Canadian, Japanese, Puerto Rican and Brazilian teams. At last year’s inaugural World Vet Cup, there were 20 foreign teams with Team USA #2, Team Great Britain, Team USA #1, Team Brazil and Team France rounding out the top five.

HOW THE WORLD VET CUP RACES WILL BE RUN AT THE 2020 WORLD VET

Kurt Nicoll will represent England at the World Vet “World Cup of Nations” and World Vet Motocross Championship at Glen Helen in November 6-8.

The event will be a two-moto format with both motos racing on Sunday, November 8. Each team will line up behind the starting line in their separate age groups. The 30-year-old riders will go in first wave, the Over-40 riders in the second wave and the Over-50 riders in the third wave, they will be separate by approximately 40-seconds. Each nations three riders will receive color-coded race bibs with the color of the bib indicating what age group they are racing in and, of course, their nations flag. The three waves (age groups) will only be scored against riders in their age group. Overall scoring will be based on all three riders and both motos with the lowest score of the two-moto format to determine the winning team and country. That means that there are six scores added together to determine the winning nations (2 motos times 3 classes). The worst score will not be dropped.

Teams must apply and be accepted for each Nation. Applications are available now and must be received by November 1. The World Vet Cup of Nations committee will review all applications and inform each team of its acceptance. But since only three team can enter from any one nation, the committee will considered which three teams are the best to represent their nation. Once accepted, each team will be required to register and pay a fee to hold the team’s spot. The race entry fee is $100 per team or $50 for an individual (Individual riders can sign up for the possibility of filling empty spots on various teams). If passport holder from a nation does not have enough riders to make up a team to represent his country, he can still apply, and the committee will attempt to combine applicants from the same country or region to make up a team.

The World Cup Trophy will be awarded to the winner and have the rider’s names and country engraved on it. The trophy will be displayed at the Glen Helen Museum throughout the year before being engraved the following year. Each winner will  receive a commemorative medallion.

Ruts...Must Be Lommel MXGP

Colorado on a Tenere 7

Colorado is not only about the Alpine Loop, the backcountry is equally amazing! From forest to mountains, fire roads to single tracks, rocky climbs to river crossings, you have everything to make it the most beautiful ride, as shown in this short but intense video shot during our Continental Divide ride last summer with Moto Trails USA. The riders in this video are using Yamaha Tenere 700s equipped with MoskoMoto bags, Dunlop Mission tires, Trail Tech Voyager Pro GPS. They wear Leatt GPX gear (boots, helmet, neck brace, knee brace, jacket, jersey, pants) with 100% Armega goggles.

Prado Goes 1-1 at Home

 

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jorge Prado has won his first ever home Grand Prix and his 33rd GP victory with a stunning 1-1 performance at the Grand Prix of Spain. The MX2 World champion is still a long way from championship points leader Tim Gajser of the HRC effort, but with six rounds remaining, anything is possible.

The GP win by Prado put him into the top ten all time GP winners in 10th place. Ahead of him in 9th place is Roger De Coster with 36 GP wins and in 8th place Torsten Hallman with 37 GP wins. Just behind him is Heikki Mikkola with 32 GP wins.

Second overall was MXGP champion Tim Gajser with 3-2 results and third overall was Romain Febvre with 2-3 results. With Antonio Cairoli struggling again against the youth of today, and going 7-6 and dropping valuable points to Gajser.

Prado once again led the MXGP race ahead of Gajser, Febvre, Cairoli, Seewer, Coldenhoff, Desalle, Bogers, Van Horebeek, and Walsh in 10^th. All the main guy at the front. Cairoli quickly passed by Seewer as Prado quickly gets away from the field.

Coldenhoff also passed Cairoli dropping the Italian to sixth place and Walsh into 8^th place as he passed a bunch of riders. Gajser was suddenly onto Prado and all over him, and after a lap the top ten was Prado, Gajser, Febvre, Seewer, Coldenhoff, Cairoli, Desalle, Walsh, Bogers and van Horebeek.

Three laps and the lead by Prado over Gajser was two seconds with Febvre back in third four seconds off Prado, then came Seewer, Coldenhoff, Cairoli, Desalle, Bogers, Van Horebeek, and Jacobi. Walsh crashed and well back.

As the riders rounded the sixth lap the championship points were, Gajser 441 points, Cairoli 24 points back on 417 pts, 43 points back was Seewer on 398 pts, with Prado 50 points off Gajser on 391pts. Prado catching slightly, but nowhere near enough to bother Gajser just yet.

Not much happening although Coldenhoff was all over Seewer and Paulin moved into 11^th place as he passed Vlaanderen. Top ten on lap eight was Prado, Gajser, Febvre, Seewer, Coldenhoff, Cairoli, Desalle, Bogers, Van Horebeek and Jacobi. Gajser made a mistake, but didn’t lose any spots, just time on Prado.

Coldenhoff again on the move after a bad start as he went past Seewer and after 13 laps it was Prado with a 5.7 second lead, then Gajser, Febvre, Coldenhoff, Seewer, Cairoli, Desalle, Bogers, Van Horebeek, and Jacobi in 10^th. Prado wins it from Gajser and Febvre

KTM Introduces 2021 890 Adventure R Rally and 890 Adventure R

Just a couple of years on from introducing the 790 Adventure models, KTM has today introduced the 2021 890 Adventure R Rally (limited availability) and 890 Adventure R models. The big news is an increase in displacement to 889cc courtesy of added bore and stroke, but there are additional changes as well. The standard R model is set to arrive at KTM dealers next month, while the 890 Adventure R Rally (200 of which will be available in the U.S.) must be pre-ordered starting November 2 (as described below).

Here is the press release from KTM:

Two years ago, KTM funneled track experience, premium technology and race-inspired design into some of the most versatile and exciting Adventure motorcycles to roll off the brand’s production lines. As a result, the KTM 790 ADVENTURE lineup quickened the pulse in the midweight segment. For 2021 and beyond, KTM is raising heartrates further with the launch of the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R RALLY and KTM 890 ADVENTURE R machines, a pair of new bikes based on new engine platforms with more power and torque, that are ready for extreme escapes off the beaten track.

In the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R RALLY, KTM is crafting one of the most desirable Adventure offerings out there thanks to a series of components and settings derived from the efforts of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Rally team. The data recorded across landscapes around the world has been analyzed and applied directly to the form of the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R RALLY. 

Top of the range WP XPLOR Pro Components suspension allows riders to push harder with full adjustability, while the power output of the new 4-stroke, twin, DOHC engine is boosted by an ultra-light Akrapovič silencer. The KTM 890 ADVENTURE R RALLY is truly an unparalleled, specialized motorcycle for the hardcore Adventurer with a number of race-inspired details like specific rally-proven chassis settings, Rally footpegs (larger footprint and mud-free), flat offroad seat, clear screen and winglets, racing graphics, along with Quickshifter+ and RALLY ride mode as standard.

Herlings Operation Update

Posted on October 10, 2020

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing star Jeffrey Herlings will miss the remaining seven rounds of 2020 MXGP after choosing to focus on a full recovery from his injuries and face the off-season period closer to 100% fitness.

The 25-year old has healed from the neck and upper back problems suffered as a result of his crash during Free Practice for the Grand Prix Citta di Faenza at the Monte Coralli in Italy circuit last month. The Dutchman is lacking bike time and conditioning to be able to return to competitive MXGP duty, especially with the calendar hurrying to a conclusion by November 8th.

A contributing factor to the accident was the lack of flexibility and comfort in Herlings’ right foot. Therefore, the winner of four rounds this year (still more than any other rider) has decided to undergo a small procedure to remove excess bone growth and fix scar tissue on Thursday 15th of October.

If the operation and post-op period goes accordingly then Herlings will have much better use of his right limb and can immediately concentrate on preparation with his KTM 450 SX-F for the 2021 campaign.

MX2 teammate Rene Hofer is also making decent steps from his broken left shoulder and hopes to be back on the KTM 250 SX-F in the next two months.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing still have Tony Cairoli and Jorge Prado in contention for the 2020 MXGP title and Tom Vialle has held the red plate for 10 of the 11 rounds in MX2 so far.

Jeffrey Herlings: “It won’t be a big operation but the foot is a complicated part of the body and there is some extra bone growing where I broke it. It needs to be partly removed. I also have tissue that is painful and irritating. I should know after a couple of weeks if I will be pain-free or we need to look at another option to be good again. I want to have this done so I won’t be putting 2021 at risk. 2020 was going pretty well and it’s disappointing to miss out again because of injury but we’ve been through this process and at least now I can work on getting myself into even better shape for another go next season. Thanks to Red Bull KTM for all their support and to the fans for the messages.”

Yamaha Fighting Spirit Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship in Jacksonville

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing Team’s Justin Barcia once again displayed his fighting spirit with an impressive charge through the pack in the second moto on Saturday afternoon. His charge secured 10th overall with a 5-13 result at Round 7 of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship in Jacksonville, Florida.

The WW Ranch is known for being one of the most physically demanding tracks on the calendar with its sand and typically hot and humid Central Florida climate. Barcia got off to a good start, qualifying sixth and built on that with a top-five start in the first moto. The Florida rider put in some consistent, fast times but was unable to close the gap on fourth.

In the second moto, he got off to a flying start and grabbed the holeshot. He was passed early but was showing strength in second before a big crash on that first lap which caused some damage to his bike. Unwilling to quit, Barcia pulled into the mechanics’ area and the team quickly worked to get him back on track. He rejoined at the back of the pack and charged through to 13th, earning him 10th overall.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing Team looks to come back swinging next weekend at the penultimate round of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at the Thunder Valley Motocross Park, on Saturday, October 3.

Jim Roach
Yamaha Racing Department Manager for YMUS
“It was a tough day at the WW Ranch. In Moto 1, Justin got out to a fifth-place start and stayed there for the remainder of the race. We made a couple of changes for Moto 2 and he got the holeshot. He was running in second on the first lap and then had a high-speed crash. Justin picked up the bike and came to the pits to get back out there and salvaged a 13-place finish for 10th overall today. It was not what we’re looking for, but a great effort from the whole team. We’ll regroup and head to Colorado and work for a top result.”

Jim Roach
Justin Barcia
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing Team
“It wasn’t what we were hoping for at WW Ranch. In the first moto, I got a decent start and finished fifth. We made some changes to the bike for the second moto. I got the holeshot and was feeling awesome, and then had a big crash. I had to pull in, which was a bummer, but we were able to get back out there. I gave it everything I had and fought my way back up to 13th for 10th overall. It’s not the results I wanted, but all in all, have to look at the positives. I’m looking forward to next weekend.”

650 Riders At Millville Amateur Day

Vet rider or a seasoned Senior racer it is always fun to race the big National races.

#84 Mathew Bloger leads eventual winner #107 Bill Medek in the 450+ A division