Roczen on His History with Webb

Smets on Herlings - Interview at MXlarge.com

Obviously, the big news this week was the fact Jeffrey Herlings will more than likely miss a handful of races at the start of the 2025 season and that blows nearly any chance of him winning a sixth World title this year.

Even sadder news was the fact, if he cannot find a contact for next year and this year being his final year on his KTM contact, he might even end his career come Darwin, Australia in September.

For what “The Bullet” has given the sport over the last 15 years, I don’t think anyone really wants to see him retire without getting a shot at that sixth World title and just for highlight value, we all want Herlings on the gate in 2026. He isn't done yet, as he showed us in 2024.

Now, while most of us are devastated with this news, I decided to give Joel Smets a call, the team manager of the Red Bull KTM team effort and of course a five time World champion himself, to ask his opinion on the Herlings news and also if there is any possibility of Herlings racing the AMA Nationals, if he misses too many rounds of the MXGP title chase.

It is a long interview, that we will run early next week, but for now, here are a couple the questions to Smets, about Herlings and his future.

MXLarge: Tell me, obviously, tough times for KTM and Jeffrey’s news makes these times even tougher. For most of the motocross fans, its tough to hear his chances of winning a sixth World title in 2025 seem to be nearly gone, but what is your opinion of the injury and time frame for a comeback?

Smets: Well, what can I say Geoff, for everybody it is sad, but what can I say, you cannot change it. We evaluate week after week and with this injury, it isn’t like a broken bone. With a broken bone, you can put a date on it, and then we start riding, but with an ACL, it isn’t like that. We recently had the same with Marco Rossi also and if you hear Jett’s situation, they also don’t put a timeframe on his return. They say the minimum the doctor talks about it four months, but is it going to be four months, or is it going to be five months? In case of an ACL, you can always take a risk, after four months, the pain is fine, you will be able to ride, but the strength of the ACL, which is built in, is not the same for everyone and you cannot see on MRI’s, how strong it is. It has a strength, but you don’t know the risk of it snapping again. Of course, even with a healthy ACL, it can snap, but that is difficult to judge. Some people ride after three months, but some ride after five months with less success. It is up to the athlete, not just physically, but also mentally, when is he willing to do it.

MXLarge: I know the current situation with KTM, both in Europe and America is different and the current situation for KTM in Austria isn’t great, but has there been any talk of Jeffrey moving to race the AMA Nationals, if his chances of winning in Europe are gone?

Smets: We have always had these stories and that always comes up, but at the moment, and with the financial situation, not yet, but I do not say it won’t come up, because, for sure, at some stage if might come up, but at the moment, no. As you know, we have Chase and Aaron and normally with both we can score podiums and we won the championship with Chase last year, so there isn’t a high need to put another rider there, so for now, it isn’t on the table, yet.

Webb Is Doing What Webb Does!

Cooper Webb is often unfairly forgotten when it comes to a straight shootout of potential championship winners at the start of every season and, once again, he is proving those doubters wrong – and enjoying it too.

Webb was reportedly coming in a bit banged up into the season but, as usual, he was consistent and even got a third at San Diego despite feeling ill. Even then the signs were there before the injuries. Webb points-wise was right there, then he got faster and the injuries hit Lawrence and Tomac – then Webb got inspired.

He knows it’s his time to strike and not only is he consistent and smart but he has impressive raw speed, even in qualifying, he’s throwing down laps, whipping the bike in the air and putting a marker down. Mind games, speed games, winning games. Cooper Webb is where he wants to be just like he was from “lap three,” in Detroit when he admitted he was very confident in knowing what to do next which is a move we have all seen before, follow Roczen, watch Roczen then pass Roczen late for the win, and the momentum.

Webb said of the win, underlining his confidence, “felt super comfortable, kind of knew where I was going to make the pass, and I was able to execute.”

Webb waits for his moment, then attacks, and he admits he knows the opportunity is there and so is the chip on his shoulder to prove the doubters wrong once again. “Just the opportunity, again, ” said Webb. “Obviously we’ve had some injuries as we know, which is a bummer, but you know I’m just I’m in the in the championship fight, right? I’m tied for the red plate. It’s just not talked about much, you know, so I think a lot of people didn’t expect this. A lot of people expected the other guys to kind of maybe do their thing. So, yeah, it’s just good to, to quietly remind everybody, always.”

Cooper Webb isn’t the underdog anymore. He is many peoples favourite for the title after Detroit.

Deegan suggests introduction of 250 class age limit

'You don't want to take jabs at people for how long they've been in the class.'

250SX West title prospect Haiden Deegan has suggested the introduction of an age limit for the quarter-liter category in future, his opinion being that it would promote rides for the younger generation in the class.

Deegan, 19, made it clear that he wasn’t taking aim at anyone in particular when questioned on the topic post-race in Glendale – that main event won by 250 veteran Jordon Smith.

“You don’t want to take jabs at people for how long they’ve been in the class, but I don’t know…” the two-time 250SMX and defending 250MX champion explained. “I honestly think the class should have an age limit on it just so the younger generation has opportunity to get rides.”

Deegan reiterated that while he is in favor of the regional championships in Monster Energy Supercross to introduce age limits – which could bring the US series more in line with the MX2 World Championship’s maximum age of 23 years – he maintains respect for the aging group of riders setting high standards in the premier class.

“That’s no jab for anybody, that’s just my thought,” he added. “But besides that, the 450 class, I mean if you’re fit and healthy at an old age, you still could pull it off.”

The western division of 250SX – which will resume this Saturday in Arlington – is currently led by teenage revelation Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM) ahead of Smith, with Deegan currently third. The trio are separated by just three points following the opening four rounds and a two-week break in the series.

250SX East has Deegan’s Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing teammate and Tampa winner Max Anstie atop the point-standings at 31 years of age following the opening two rounds of the division.

JT's Thoughts

Who’s Hot

Cooper Webb won his first round of the season, grabbed a share of the red plate and is heading to a venue where he’s won six prior times and is incredibly proficient at Triple Crown events. That’s a lot of momo.

Ken Roczen may have lost another battle to Webb, but he proved he’s still in this thing. The silver lining is that he’s two points closer to the lead than he was entering Detroit. It’s a weird metric to think about but being closer to the lead is binary.

Levi Kitchen bounced back in a serious way, winning the main event in controversial fashion. Kitchen doesn’t make the rules and did the only thing he could do, maximize the situation. He has a weekend off before Daytona to build from it.

Cole Davies had an eventful break after Glendale but should come in with a lot of momentum and confidence after his last Triple Crown rendezvous.

Jordon Smith won the last west round and should be ready for more. Jordon is in a precarious spot for the rest of the field. He has the most experience and if he can avoid the small mistakes that have plagued him in years prior, look out.

Who’s Not

I struggle to put Chase Sexton here because he is riding so well. But running into the starting gate and crashing on the first lap are preventable and proved costly.

Julien Beaumer blew a golden opportunity in Glendale and will need to erase that sentiment on Saturday. He is more than capable in every way.

Haiden Deegan didn’t have the speed he wanted in Glendale and will want to remove that taste from his mouth in Texas.

Eli...I'll Be Back!

KR's Plan

How Ken Roczen plans to overcome Cooper Webb’s late-race heroics

Motoonline Competition Post: Dylan Wills

The tactics required to hold ongoing 450SX arch-rival at bay in Supercross.

Progressive Ecstar Suzuki 450SX front-runner Ken Roczen knows the narrative all too well – when it comes down to the wire, Cooper Webb has a way of snatching main event victories. Following his P2 finish in Detroit, Roczen acknowledged the reputation that Webb has built with his late-race heroics, vowing to ‘continue trying and charging to not let that happen’.

Image: Octopi Media.

Roczen had a strong ride at Ford Field, battling early with Aaron Plessinger before taking control of the race. He led for the majority of the main event, only to see Webb make his move with just over a minute left on the race clock. It was yet another example of Webb’s trademark ability to strike late, a skill that has caught Roczen out multiple times over the years.

Their history of last-minute duels dates back to Arlington in 2019, where Webb pulled off a dramatic last-corner pass to edge Roczen by just 0.028 seconds, marking one of the closest finishes in Supercross history.

In 2021, Webb capitalized on lapped traffic at Houston 3, making another decisive pass on Roczen in the final moments to steal the win. Fast-forward to Detroit 2025, and the trend continued as Webb’s late-race charge once again left Roczen watching victory slip away, allowing the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider to tie Red Bull KTM’s Chase Sexton in the championship standings.

Despite the outcome, Roczen remained upbeat, reflecting on the progress he’s made: “I know the stigma behind when we go to battle and him getting me towards the end. But I just tried what I could. It was honest work. I had a really good week of training and rebounded after last weekend – that was really important for me.

“Honestly, it was a really fun race. I was really pumped on my starts and the battles. I kept my cool the whole time, even though he was revving behind me and all that stuff, so I was really happy with that… I didn’t let anything phase me. I really tried toward the end and he got the better of me, but I’m happy with a podium, I really am.

“Even though we only got two points closer, I’m doing whatever I can out there and we’re executing our plans that we have coming into the night show. I’m happy with it, it was a good battle, and even just gapping the rest of the field, it just feels good to be up in the mix, honestly. I’m going to continue trying and charging to not let that happen towards the end of the race, but nonetheless, I’m happy with it.”.

With 11 rounds still remaining, Roczen – who wore the red plate in Glendale but is yet to claim a main event victory to date in 2025 – now sits third in the 450SX standings, 16 points behind joint leaders Webb and Sexton as the series heads to Arlington for round six. If he continues this type of form, we could be witnessing the rebirth of Ken Roczen’s career as a genuine title threat once again.

Trey Canard Testing Supercross on Jett's Bike – Is a Comeback Happening?

SX Fill-In for Lawrences? Lars Lindstrom: "We Don't Really Have to…But We'd Like to”

In a matter of a week, we saw both Jett (torn ACL in right knee) and Hunter Lawrence (torn labrum in shoulder) suffer injuries that require surgery and will keep the Australian brothers out for the remainder of Monster Energy AMA Supercross. After today’s action in Michigan—with no HRC CRF450R on the gates—11 rounds will remain in the championship. So, what happens for the 450cc roster for Honda HRC Progressive for the next three months?

The four-rider roster has the Lawrence duo in the premier class with Jo Shimoda racing the 250SX West Division and Chance Hymas racing the 250SX East Division (racing today at the Detroit SX). Chances are (no pun intended) we do not see either Shimoda or Hymas race the 450SX Class on opposite coasts. Shimoda is nursing two broken fingers in his left hand after catching a stray pit board in qualifying at the second round and Hymas is coming back from an injury himself and told media his big picture is a run at the 250 Class AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

There have been some rumors online of a possible fill-in ride, as Steve Matthes wrote in Friday’s Racerhead #7 week recap. A few options could be Shane McElrath, Joey Savatgy, and Dylan Ferrandis, although again, these are just speculation at the moment.  

This morning, Honda posted an Instagram video today of Honda HRC Progressive team manager Lars Lindstrom talking about the possibility of signing a fill-in rider for the remainder of supercross.

In short, Lindstrom said the team does not have to fill either seat, although they would like to if a fill-in ride deal makes sense. Both Jett and Hunter are eyeing a return to racing at the Pro Motocross opener in California on May 24. Maybe we will see someone on an HRC bike next weekend in Texas

Ryan Villopoto -“That Was a Really Really Bad Call, Max Got Robbed”

Ricky Carmichael and Ryan Villopoto dive into the late red flag that stripped Max Anstie of his second-straight win and provide their thoughts on if throwing the red flag at that time was the right call or not.

Ryan Villopoto on Ricky Carmichael on the Red Flag – “I think that was a really, really bad call. They should have let the clock run down those last seven seconds and then called the race if it was an immediate situation that needed to be addressed on the track. I 100% think the call was wrong, especially with the seven-second lead Max had. Now, if we were in a bar-to-bar battle, I think that would justify a staggered restart and an all-out sprint. What i saw is a bad call being made.

With Honda HRC left without a single rider in the 450 class following Jett and Hunter Lawrence’s injuries, longtime test rider Trey Canard could be stepping up in an unexpected way.

Jett Lawrence, the reigning 450SX champion, suffered a shoulder injury during a practice crash before the start of the 2025 AMA Supercross season, forcing him to sit out the entire championship. His older brother, Hunter Lawrence, who was set to debut in the premier class full-time, also sustained a serious injury—a broken scapula—leaving Honda’s factory squad completely sidelined.

For years, Trey Canard has been a crucial part of Honda HRC’s testing program, helping develop the CRF450R race  bike. However, the 2010 250SX East champion and 2015 AMA Motocross 450 overall winner had made it clear that he had no intention of returning to professional racing. That all changed today when Canard posted a video of himself testing Supercross on Jett Lawrence’s #1 bike, captioned: “Ready to get back to this.”

Canard last raced an AMA Supercross event in 2017 before retiring due to repeated injuries throughout his career. A fan favorite known for his smooth style and resilience, Canard amassed five 450SX main event wins and a 250SX championship during his time as a professional racer. Despite retiring, he has remained heavily involved in Honda’s development efforts and even made a brief return to racing at the 2022 Motocross of Nations, representing Team USA.

With Honda in desperate need of a replacement rider, could Canard be gearing up for an official return to Supercross? Fans are already speculating, and if this comeback happens, it would be one of the most unexpected storylines of the season.

Hunter Lawrence Confirms SX Season-Ending Injury – Surgery Required!

Hunter Lawrence’s night at the 2025 Tampa Supercross took an unfortunate turn after a crash in his heat race. The incident saw him land on tuff blocks, forcing him to withdraw from the event. Following further medical evaluation, Lawrence has now provided an update on his condition.

“I got the MRI results back, and my shoulder has some fractures, which isn’t an issue compared to the torn ligament that is requiring surgery,” Lawrence shared. “Going to get it fixed and come back 100% to go and battle for the Outdoor and SMX title again. Thank you to all my amazing partners who continually support us and are the reason all this is possible. We will get this 2025 turned around soon enough.  See you at select upcoming races for the @factoryfanzone.”

While this injury means Lawrence will miss upcoming Supercross rounds, his focus is now on recovery and making a strong return for the Pro Motocross and SMX season.

Hunter Lawrence posted – “I got the MRI results back and my shoulder has some fractures which isn’t an issue compared to the torn ligament that is requiring surgery. Going to get it fixed and come back 100% to go and battle for the Outdoor and SMX title again. Thankyou to all my amazing partners who continually support us and are the reason all this is possible, we will get this 2025 turned around soon enough see you at select upcoming races for the @factoryfanzone“