Assen Qualifing

Herlings wins Saturday

As expected Jeffrey Herlings of the Red Bull KTM Factory team has won the Saturday qualification race for the MXGP class. Second was Antonio Cairoli and third Glenn Coldenhoff.

“It is a great weekend so far, fastest in both practice, won the qualification race and I just want to win the championship, if we win the championship with the GP, that would be a dream come true.”

Herlings into the lead quickly in the MXGP qualifier, Cairoli second, third was Gajser, then Desalle, Coldenhoff, Anstie, Simpson, Van Horebeek, Searle and Paulin. Van Horebeek down and back in 13^th place and returning rider Bogers down in 22^nd place.

After five laps Herlings lead was six seconds, with Cairoli second, then Coldenhoff, Anstie, Gajser, Desalle, Simpson, Searle, Paulin, and Lieber 10^th.

Simpson was in a great battle with Desalle for sixth spot, but then went down when he clipped the back wheel of the Belgian and dropped back to 10^th.

Paulin moved past Searle with two laps to go, and Simpson into ninth place. Herlings won it from Cairoli and Coldenhoff.

MXGP - Qualifying Race - Classification

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 24:10.420; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:17.945; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:20.619; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:26.627; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:30.909; 6. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:47.821; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:54.214; 8. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:58.863; 9. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:59.670; 10. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +1:12.143; 11. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +1:13.040; 12. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +1:33.409; 13. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:35.663; 14. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +1:44.944; 15. Filip Bengtsson (SWE, Yamaha), +1:46.062; 16. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 17. Matiss Karro (LAT, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 18. Sven Van der Mierden (NED, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 19. Brian Bogers (NED, Honda), -1 lap(s); 20. Graeme Irwin (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 21. Harri Kullas (EST, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 22. Jeffrey Dewulf (BEL, KTM), -1 lap(s); 23. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), -1 lap(s); 24. Milko Potisek (FRA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 25. Lars van Berkel (NED, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 26. Erki Kahro (EST, KTM), -1 lap(s); 27. Maxime Desprey (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 28. Nino Dekker (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 29. Nathan Renkens (BEL, Honda), -1 lap(s); 30. Manolis Kritikos (GRE, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 31. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, Yamaha), -6 lap(s); 32. Petar Petrov (BUL, Honda), -9 lap(s); 33. Todd Waters (AUS, Honda), -9 lap(s); 34. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), -9 lap(s); 35. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Suzuki), -11 lap(s);

Husky...E Bicycles...Erzbergrodeo?

Husqvarna Motorcycles have announced a new partnership between Husqvarna Bicycles and the Erzbergrodeo for the iconic event’s 25th anniversary, 2019. This a short video has Erzberg head honcho, Karl Katoch pitting MTB supremo Guido Tschugg against Junior SuperEnduro World Champion Kevin Gallas

Hot Topics: MXGP at Assen

A handful of topics to watch closely

Jeffrey Herlings is going to take the premier-class title at the nineteenth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship this weekend. It is not guaranteed, okay, but it would take something catastrophic to stop him. There will be a ton of attention on the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing tent across the weekend, but there are also some interesting stories to follow further down the order.

Brian Bogers will return to racing, which is great news for all involved, but it is not a story at this point. It is most likely that he is going to struggle in his return to the highest level, as he has not spent too much time on his bike in the last ten months. It would almost be disrespectful, following the struggles that he has gone through this season, to place some expectations on his shoulders. Getting through the weekend without a major hiccup would make this a successful outing. The repercussions of his return are more intriguing at this point.

Brian Bogers will make his premier-class debut with HRC this weekend (Honda Racing Corporation)

Todd Waters was keeping his seat warm on Team HRC and is now no longer needed, but he was given a bit of a lifeline by the Assomotor outfit. Arminas Jasikonis has effectively dropped off the face of the earth and consequently there is a bike to ride on that team. One would presume that he has not yet given up on that dream of landing another full-time deal, despite the rough ride that he has had, but he really needs to show something. Waters needs to do more than that actually, like pull off some kind of miracle. The competition in the paddock is extremely stiff at this point in time.

It has not been a successful foray in the FIM Motocross World Championship, one could certainly claim, as he has not broken into the top ten at all and spent a majority of his time outside of the top fifteen. Based on his results when he rode for the IceOne outfit three seasons ago, it seemed inevitable that he was going to become a regular inside of the top ten and slot in right around eighth. It just has not worked out though and there have been no flashes of brilliance or potential, so there is nothing to even cling onto at this point.

Could the switch to the Italian-based Assomotor awning help? It would be extremely tough for one to make a case that going from a factory team to a satellite team is advantageous, so it would honestly be surprising to see him post results around eleventh through the remaining rounds. Add in the fact that fifty percent of those motos will be held in the sand and it does not look good. It will just be interesting to see whether he can maintain the same level that he was at with the HRC team, actually, as very few guys have jumped onto the Assomotor team and flourished.

Todd Waters has slid across to the Assomotor awning for the first time (Honda Racing Corporation)

There are others within the paddock who are in a similar position to Todd Waters, except they are more in need of a lifeline. Morgan Lesiardo will make his debut as a full-blown privateer at Assen and must improve. All of the above applies though. It will be tough for him to do that now that he is doing it on his own, sand is not where he is at his best and there have been no signs to indicate that he can make progress. The split from Marchetti KTM has been very ominous and the way that he performs at round nineteen could indicate who was to blame in that break up.

Morgan Lesiardo may have unrealistic expectations on his shoulders. The EMX champion has always moved onto the main stage and had the ability to contend with established stars and, seeing as that applied to his predecessors, most presumed that he could do the same. The support class was not exactly at its strongest last year though and he still did not manage to dominate the division. Lesiardo never made it clear that he was going to be one of the greats, but some continue to believe that based on past accomplishments. It is most likely that he will be on the fringe of the top ten for a majority of his career.

No matter what Todd Waters or Morgan Lesiardo achieve in the sand of Assen this weekend, it will still be most intriguing to see how their recent team changes impact their respective performances. It is only right that both guys should receive attention, as well as the usual race winners, anyway. Everyone has a story.

Words: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: Honda Racing Corporation

The Man Speaks!

DeCoster - MXoN Stories

Roger De Coster has always been a special character in the sport of Motocross. One of the true legends of the sport, with five 500cc motocross world titles, and a long list of MXoN victories. He has also been the team manager of the American effort since their first success in 1981 and continues to be an important part of the American legacy at this event.

For me personally my first two MXdN events as a fan, were at Unadilla in 1987 and France in 1988. Unadilla was a complete wash-out and the highlight for me was getting drunk with Jeff Leisk in a bar down the road from the circuit. France in 88 was my first des Nations in Europe, and what an eye opening that was. I knew I had to move to Europe, and make a living following the sport.

De Coster no doubt there were more important things to worry about than drinking beer. Check out his comments from those 87 and 88 events.

Below are some of this thoughts about some of the MXoN events he has attended.

MXLarge: What does the MXoN mean to you?

De Coster: The high point of the year was that we (America) won the Trophee and Motocross des Nations. The des Nations events mean a lot to me. They are very important, and were always the biggest events of the year. Everyone talks about this guy is the fastest, or the 125 guys are fastest, or the 250 guys are best. But the des Nations puts everyone together in the same class at the same time. One week you rode the 250 event (Trophee des Nations) and the next week you rode the 500 event (Motocross des Nations).

MXlarge: The 1981 team wasn't the best riders was it?

De Coster: We could see the potential in the Honda bikes and team members for those events. Our guys were not winning at the time though. Suzuki had Mark Barnett winning the 125 class and in supercross. And Kent Howerton on Suzuki was strong in the 250 class. Our team was Johnny O’Mara, Chuck Sun, Danny LaPorte and Donnie Hansen. Towards the end of the year, our results started to improve. We thought ‘We need to go to the des Nations’.

MXLarge: What was the story behind that first Team USA victory in 1981?

De Coster: Towards the end of August, as the des Nations approached, there seemed to be a lack of interest. No one seemed to be able to get their act together. No one was excited. Finally, I thought to myself ‘Why don’t we send all Honda riders as the US team?’ At the time, I think that American Honda did not know too much about the des Nations events. They did not know what it would cost to send the entire team. I took a chance, but we did it. Now things were in motion. But by the time the events were to come about, the bosses at Honda started to complain, after realizing how much money we were spending on this thing. But now it was too late to do anything different. Plus we had the magazine Motocross Action with Dick Miller and Larry Maiers in helping us raise monies for the team. That fund raising and Honda paid for the entire thing.

MXLarge: A Belgian going back to Belgium, with Team USA.

De Coster: The first event was the Trophee des Nations in Lommel, Belgium. I had problems with myself to a certain extent because it felt strange coming and representing the US. I had always tried to win as a rider for Belgium. In the Trophee des Nations, as a member of the Belgian team, I was part of the winning team ten years in a row. We also won six times in the open class (500cc – Motocross des Nations). It felt weird. But what made it easier was that the Belgian motorcycle federation never asked me for help. I had offered my help for the des Nations teams earlier to them, but they were not interested. That made me feel easier about helping the US team. Also, before the race, I had asked the Lommel club to help with financial support for travel expenses. They said ‘What are you going to do here on a sand track with an American team? You are going to be slaughtered here. We are going to kill you. If you were going to come here and were the main draw, we might consider it, but you are! also-rans’. So that motivated me even more.

MXlarge: How was preperation for Lommel?

De Coster: Our team went over early. We went to sand tracks and practiced and practiced and practiced. We initially had a lot of bike problems because we had no experience in the US riding on sand like that. But we worked thru the whole thing, and by race-time we were ready.

MXLarge: Honda were happy with the win?

De Coster: Of course, everything was fine when we won. It was one of the greatest wins ever. And Honda was able to get so much advertising out of that race. I think the wins also gave a lot of confidence to the team and our riders. The following year would be good for us. That was the springboard for us to do well for the next number of years.

MXlarge: 1987 at Unadilla was something of a muddy experience wasn't it, and Team USA wasn't really your best team?

De Coster: Bob Hannah really wanted to be on the team. He had been on the team before in ’78 and ’79, but had never been on a winning team. At the time, it was not so clear who should be on the 125. Micky Dymond had won the 125 nationals, and Hannah had some injuries earlier in the year. It was a miserable day on the track itself, because it never stopped raining the entire weekend. Bob came thru on the 125. It was a very difficult situation because of the mud and ruts. Some of the time riders could not even make it up some of the hills in those conditions. You could not find someone better than Bob because he was very tough … he didn’t give up. The US team won, and we were invited by President Ronald Reagan to the White House. We got to meet him in the Oval Office. It was quite a treat.

MXlarge: Going to the whitehouse must have been something special for the team?

De Coster: One funny story about Bob Hannah. Bob was always talking big and tough, like John Wayne. I think John Wayne was his hero. Both John Wayne and Bob like to live life ‘big’. I think Bob still lives his life that way. We are all waiting in this room next to the Oval Office, getting ready to meet the President. Everyone was nervous and sweating. Bob says ‘I’m not worried. I’m not going to be nervous about meeting that old guy’. As the time got closer to our meeting, Bob says ‘Hey RD …. I AM sweating!’ I think he was more nervous than anybody when we got into the Oval Office.

MXLarge: A great victory for Team USA was in France in 1988, Ricky Johnson, Jeff Ward and Ron Lechien.

De Coster: The Motocross des Nations was in France in 1988, and I remember something about that. Ron Lechien, who was with Kawasaki at the time, was part of the US team. It was Wardy on the 125, Ricky on the 250, and Lechien in the open class.

MXLarge: You had some trouble with Lechien or not?

De Coster: We were staying in this little hotel in the eastern part of France. We were all a little bit worried about Ronnie. We all knew how much talent he had, but he had a wild past. Saturday night before the race, the entire team is to have dinner together. Everyone is there, everyone has started eating, but no Ronnie. So I go looking for Ronnie, and I find him in his hotel room. There are cases of beer everywhere. Beer on the floor. Beer on his night table. Beers here. Beers there. I’m not saying he drank them all, but there was beer everywhere. I said ‘Ronnie, we are all waiting for you! Get over to the restaurant! And what about all these beers?’ Ronnie said ‘Don’t worry, it’s just all my friends. “Don’t worry, I’ll be over there in a minute.’ So he comes over to the dinner, eats really quickly, and before anyone else, he’s gone again! Our hotel rooms were across the parking lot from the restaurant. Before I am even done with my dinner, I go looking for him. As I enter the parking lot, I see Ronnie starting to drive away with a couple of girls in his car. I stopped him before he took off, and said ‘Ronnie! What are you doing? I am going to kill you if you don’t ride great tomorrow!’ He says ‘Don’t worry R.D., I’ll be fine.’ The next morning I make sure to wake him up. He didn’t wake up too easy. We got him to the track. Once the gate dropped and the racing started, he rode so well, it was like he was riding by himself.”

Changing of the Guard - MXoN

I still remember attending my first ever major race in America, as a 17-year-old travelling across America with my parents in a big camper van and getting to watch the 1978 Daytona supercross and then a week later the Houston supercross.

Growing up with the AMA official results coming through the letter box as my father had a motorcycle magazine in Australia, its funny to look back and think how things were back then. Finding out the results two or three weeks after a race took place cracks me up, when you consider in this day and age of internet, were we can watch every single major sporting event live.

Standing on the infield of that Daytona supercross, and actually being just metres away from my hero Marty Smith, well, it was pretty cool. A week later the glowing career of Smith would be just about over as he smashed his hip and never won another championship. Marty Smith was the first real superstar in the sport, with his surfer look, and his easygoing nature.

We might make fun of America on occasion, laugh at their current president, and not understand the way they communicate, but what we shouldn’t forget, is that America are pretty much doing the same thing to the rest of the World, so I guess the name calling, and the stupid jokes about each other are considered a bit normal.

One thing the Americas are good at is winning and another is promoting sport better than just about every single country in the World. The drama, the pageantry, and the high voltage announcing. I would rather watch the Augusta National in golf than the British Open or listen to American commentary in Boxing than the toned-down British version. Americans do most things better than most and they know it.

It doesn’t matter if it’s the Ryder Cup in golf, or the Motocross of Nations, that Europe vs America rivalry will always be a fun topic, and while some don’t like the debate, it will go on forever, and thank god for that, because its competition like these that really make our sport or any sport a lot more fun.

Back in the 1970s when Torsten Hallman, Joel Robert and Roger De Coster headed to America to race the Trans-AMA events, and run training schools for the novice American riders. They couldn’t have known the Americans could catch on so quickly, and within 10 years, American riders owned the sport.

It was the Grand Prix riders who helped the sport in America to what it is today, and while supercross made sure that domination lasted for more than 30 years, that all started changing when Youthstream took over the FIM Motocross World Championships in 2004.

Unlike in the 70s, the American riders were dominating our guys in every single area, winning in Europe, winning in America and winning anywhere else. Didn’t matter if it was Australia, Japan, Indonesia or South America, if an American was on the starting line, then the rest of the World was going to get beaten.

From 1981, until 2011, Team USA were the team to beat, and names like Johnny O’Mara, Brad Lackey, Danny Laporte, Ricky Johnson, Jeff Ward, David Bailey, Donny Schmit, Broc Glover, Trampas Parker, Bobby Moore, Jeff Emig,  Ron Lechien, Jeff Stanton, Ricky Carmichael, and many, many more dominated our GP riders.

Something changed though when Youthstream took over, because YS president, Giuseppe Luongo, as much a fan of the American riders knew that he didn’t want to see the Euro riders getting beaten any longer. He made sure the GP tracks changed, from rock-hard speed and old school, to a new breed of motocross track. More technical sections, wave sections, something that at times resembled the whoops the Americans raced on in supercross. Luongo knew that the GP riders needed to change their techniques and their mind set against the almighty Americans.

He made a structure in the Grand Prix that made it tougher than ever, the age limit pushing all the best riders into the MXGP class. Never have we seen the premier class so cutthroat and so demanding for the competitors. The diversity of tracks improved the GP riders and the proof is in the pudding, as they now dominate the American riders on most occasions.

I still remember it like it was yesterday. Being around the sport now for more than 40 years, every now and then you would see something that surprised you, and it was at the 2009 Motocross of Nations in Italy.

The Franciacorta circuit, specially made for the MXoN, and never used again for a major International race. Franciacorta had a long slightly uphill wave section and during the Saturday qualification race (from memory), Chad Reed, who was the previous year’s AMA supercross champion and a multiple champion in supercross started up the slight elevation. Right behind Reed was New Zealand’s Josh Coppins. Now Josh would admit it himself, he is old school. Coppins isn’t J.M. Bayle, or Christophe Pourcel, but half way through that wave section he caught and passed Reed and took off. I sat there, excited, but what hit me was that this was the start of something special for the GP riders.

Three years later, after Team USA had dominated that Italian MXoN, won the 2010 version at Thunder Valley in America, and defended the Chamberlain Trophy again at St Jean d’Angly in France, we saw another moment of change. It was 2012, and it was again Lommel, the same place team USA had dominated in 1981 to start their World domination.

Prior to the event the European media were on about how this deep, deep sand of Lommel could be the place the Euros finally get a MXoN victory again. The American media fired back that they had sand in America, and most of the leading riders lived in the sandy state of Florida and would have no problem with Lommel.

We all know what happened that day in Belgium. Just like in 1981, a new era was born. A new sheriff was in town, and this time, it wasn’t the cool looking Americans, but three young men from Germany, Ken Roczen, Max Nagl and a very unexpecting hero in Marcus Schiffer.

While the American media suddenly started using Lommel as the only reason the euros won, I wrote that this was in fact the changing of the guard, a new era had arrived. I got a lot of what you could call hate mail from some of my American media friends, one saying what I had said was the most stupid thing he had ever seen written. Vitalmx, a very popular forum once again said MXGeoff is a complete fool, but that moment in 2009, in that wave section kept coming back to me.

Now here we are, six years after Lommel, and Team USA have their chance for victory. Jeffrey Herlings leading the European charge into America, guns blazing, and coming off the best 12 months of his life. Without question the fastest rider in the World, and despite his 2016 and 2017 MXoN moto losses to Max Anstie and Jason Anderson, the king of the castle when it comes to motocross.

Once again, the European fans and American fans debate if Herlings better than Tomac, will Barcia and Plessinger have enough to help Tomac take the win in USA, for USA?

Davey Coombs, one of the most passionate media guys in America, owner of the leading MX magazine in America, RacerX, and also the guy in charge of the AMA Nationals knows that if it doesn’t happen in 2018, then this domination by the Euros may continue for as long as that 1981 until 2011 domination. Assen Holland in 2019 will without question see a European team win, and if defeated at Redbud this year, you even have to wonder if American would send a team again in 2020, or any times soon.

With Roger De Coster possibly running out of energy to be Team USA manager, and also the man who was the main reason Team USA started making a serious challenge to the Euros in the first place (back in his 1970 visit to USA, and back at Lommel in 1981), questions start to build on what the future is for Team USA. Without a victory in 2018, we might see the end of what has been an entertaining and exciting era in the Motocross des Nations history.

I for one hope Team USA can get the win, continue on as the biggest and brightest team in the event, and regain some of their credibility as winners. We will all find out on October 7.

Weston Beach Race - KTM Support

RHL Activities is pleased to announce that KTM UK will be powering the HydroGarden Weston Beach Race, which takes place on October 19-21, with a KTM village set-up on the promenade and many initiatives for race-goers over the course of the event weekend.  
KTM is Europe’s largest motorcycle manufacturer and the market leader in the motocross and enduro sector around the globe – including in the UK. KTM has its roots firmly planted in offroad competition where the Austrian firm has amassed over 300 world championship titles. These have mostly been won with offroad machinery, including achieving huge success at the notorious Dakar rally, in the MXGP Motocross World Championship, in AMA Supercross and in Enduro. KTM is relishing in the opportunity to get close to the offroad racers, fans and spectators at the 2018 HydroGarden Weston Beach Race. 
 
With KTM’s brand promise ‘READY TO RACE’ in mind, staff from KTM UK competed in the gruelling 2017 HydroGarden Weston Beach Race three-hour solo race, and will do so again in 2018. The best way for KTM UK’s management and staff to be engaged with their customers is by lining up on the beach with them and getting amongst the action. 
 
For spectators, the Orange brand will create a KTM Village on the promenade with a huge set-up including a number of displays and teams, as well as the very latest KTM motorcycle range. KTM will also host racers such as Robbie Maddison, whose signed bike will be given away during the course of the weekend in a mammoth competition!
 
For RHL Activities having KTM as partner of the HydroGarden Weston Beach Race is paramount. Industry support for this growing event is vital, and KTM is also encouraging new people to take part in the sport – something that RHL Activities has always been keen to promote. For those attending the race, make sure you head down to the KTM Village to see what’s on offer.
 
Gareth Hockey: Director of RHL Activities
“Last year we had a great display with KTM, and you can really see their commitment to offroad with how involved in the event they wanted to be. Having Matt Walker (KTM UK Managing Director) and his staff compete in the race really shows their passion for the industry they are connected with, and this is truly important for the sport. KTM has a lot planned for this year; showcasing their bikes and range within the KTM Village, a huge competition, and more. We’re looking forward to working with them further, and of course they will support some of our star riders taking part in the race. I’m pleased to announce that the HydroGarden Weston Beach Race will be powered by KTM.”
 
Simon Roots: KTM Marketing, Events & Motorsport Manager
“The HydroGarden Weston Beach Race is such an iconic event and KTM certainly wants to be involved with events of this scale and nature. We don’t just want to provide a display to let riders and customers know all about our bikes, we want to show everyone spectating that KTM is a READY TO RACE company. We’ll have nearly a quarter of our staff competing this year, and we’ll bring along our display truck with all of the 2019 models. We’ll also be supporting superstar Robbie Maddison with his effort, and there will be other KTM pro riders racing on orange. It goes without saying that we hope we can win the main solo race as well. The KTM Village will incorporate various race trucks with our race teams, as well as featuring as many dealers as we can to bring in that community feel to show exactly how we operate. We’ll be encouraging spectators and riders to come and talk to us to see our products, learn about KTM and if they don’t ride, we can point them in the right direction on where to start. We’re really looking forward to it so come by and say hello!”

Reed Racing Monster Cup...Anyone Surprised?

Chad Reed To Race 2018 Monster Energy Cup

Will Race With JGRMX

September 13, 2018 By Michael Antonovich

 

The AutoTrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Suzuki team has announced that Chad Reed will race the 2018 Monster Energy Cup with support from the team. Reed and the North Carolina-based crew have formed a close bond over the last year or so, which recently resulted in Reed racing the final round of the 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Ironman. In the weeks since then, Reed has stayed aboard the yellow bikes and has shared footage of him riding Supercross tracks at the team’s facility on the East Coast.

We spoke with Team Manager Jeremy Albrecht at the Ironman Motocross round about the future between Reed and the team. At that time Albrecht was hopeful that something could be worked out that would bring Reed under the factory tent for the 2019 Supercross season, but Albrecht made it clear that it would require additional support from sponsors to pay for the cost.

As of now, the AutoTrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Suzuki has three confirmed riders for 2019 with Justin Hill and Weston Peick racing the full season in the 450 class and Alex Martin race the full season in the 250 class, but there are three more spots left to be filled in the 250 class.

The press release from the team is posted in full below…

The Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Team announces that two-time 450 Supercross champion Chad Reed will contest the Monster Energy Cup on Saturday, October 13th. Reed will be racing a Suzuki RM-Z450 and vying for the $1 million bonus of winning the richest Supercross race in the sport.
 
Chad Reed contested the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship finale at Ironman Raceway for the Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Team. The 36-year-old holeshot a moto and finished 5-8 for eighth overall. Reed has since spent several weeks testing the Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing RM-Z450 at JGRMX's Supercross track in North Carolina. The Australian is in great form and very comfortable on the Suzuki RM-Z450. This led to the mutual decision between rider and team to contest the Monster Energy Cup. Fourth on the all-time Supercross wins list, with 44 main event victories, Reed is eager to make a statement on the hybrid-style Supercross track.

"My experience with the team at the Ironman National was awesome," stated Reed. "The race went better than I personally thought it would, because I wasn't in 100 percent race shape. I achieved my personal goals. Since that time, I have continued to work with the team and help test the Suzuki RM-Z450. I'm enjoying the bike and team. I am looking forward to racing the Monster Energy Cup."

Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing team manager Jeremy Albrecht is excited to continue working with one of the sport's most decorated athletes. "Chad Reed has been outstanding to work with. He has proven to be a valued addition to our testing program with the Suzuki RM-Z450. I'm eager to see Reed race in Las Vegas, and I think we will turn heads. This should be fun."

In addition to racing, Chad Reed will be on hand to sign autographs and meet fans at the Suzuki display during the sixth annual AIMExpo, which will be held at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Convention Center. He will be joined by Weston Peick, who recently inked a contract extension with the Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Team
for 2019.

Tony Alessi Details The Malcolm Stewart & MotoConcepts Deal

"I think he will do really well and I’m excited."

September 12, 2018 By Michael Antonovich

 

Last week Malcolm Stewart made waves through motocross by posting a quick image of a SmarTop/MotoConcepts/Honda with his numbers and a caption that said “First day out!” Instantly there was talk that Stewart had inked a full contract with the team for 2019 but as initially reported by Steve Matthes at Racer X Online, the deal is currently just through the end of December. Because both Mike and Jeff Alessi lined up for our SLAM Pro Race over the weekend at Milestone MX Park, we had a chance to talk with Tony about Stewart’s program, the future of the team, and his recently formed AME Minicross series that runs through Southern California. As always, Alessi was open and honest on each subject and gave great insight into what is necessary for success at the top level of the sport.

Everyone saw the photo that Malcolm posted on Thursday with the bike. We had heard rumors about for a while about this, but how did Malcolm and the team finally come together?

The relationship between Malcolm and SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts/Honda has evolved over the last few years. It's been something that we both wanted to do for a couple of years and the time was right this time around to put ourselves in a position to help. What we are doing for Malcolm is through the months that will lead up to Supercross, which will be from now all the way through October, November, and December. We will assist him with bikes, parts, mechanics, and help at all of the offseason overseas races that he has this year. He's here right now and we're doing our best to get him ready for Montreal, but he's already exceptionally good. The idea is that if he has some success over the next three months that sponsors would be interested to contribute with the costs associated with his program for the 2019 Supercross season. That's what we're working on right now.

So right now it hinges on him putting in the results and a company that is not already a sponsor of the team coming in to help fund his part of the program?

Yeah. And we're not even asking for a sponsor to fund his whole part, but just a contribution towards the costs of running a guy like him for seventeen races.

In the past the team has had three people, like in 2018 with Vince Friese, Jake Weimer, and Justin Brayton. Was the plan for 2019 to just have two riders with Vince and Justin?

Initially, the plan was just to have Vince and Justin. That was how we set our deals up for 2019 with existing sponsors, but with this opportunity with Malcolm becoming more relevant, it's hard for them to adjust the budgets they have already set for the two riders we have. It's easy for us to run his program in the offseason because there is no travel cost, that's what the promoters take care of, and we blend his day-by-day stuff in with what we're doing here because Justin is in Australia. It makes this a no-brainer. We are able to help him at a one hundred percent level in the offseason and we will build him a stellar bike for the Monster Energy Cup. I think he will do really well and I'm excited. I've gotten to the tracks at 6:30 in the morning just to get the guy on the track because he's really good. He's a cool guy and very punctual, he's polite, so it's fun for us to work with him.

As a media guy I have to not be biased, but from my perspective, it seems like it would be a no-brainer for a team to try to sign him just off of the crowd reaction and publicity that he gets. Anything we post online about him gets a huge reaction and he has a long autograph line at the races. It's something that has surprised me about teams because he brings exposure for sponsors.

That would be the idea and that's the idea behind Supercross too. It's like, "Here is the platform and now sponsors will jump onboard." But the reality is that sponsors don't do that. I don't have an answer for that and I'm surprised by it. We had a great season last year and we won a race, had five podiums, five heat race wins, and had a good amount of television time. We have to pay more now to our riders for the level of participation that they had last year but we can't get anyone to contribute more. And to add Malcolm would be a huge undertaking. My thinking is that Malcolm will win Montreal and people will talk about him a bit. Then he can get a podium at Monster Energy Cup and then people will want to get on the program and it goes from there. That's my ambition and if we can make that happen then we will have the funding for him to have a successful Supercross season in 2019.

This last year has been great but I would say that MCR has been building for the last three years with Honda coming in, the team getting Justin, and everything being consistent all the way through. For someone in your position, have you done and changed many things to get to this point or did it just take time for everything to come together?

I've always felt that our platform is crazy good. We have a team owner that is into it and there is no compromising on our team with materials. We build really good packages for the riders in terms of engines and suspensions, so the performance of the bike is equal to a factory bike without being a factory bike. That took a lot of work and experience to get it done, but I feel that we have done a good job with it and it showed last year. More riders are seeing this and seeing that they can be successful. And that's been the goal. At some point in the very near future, we would like to have a team that contends for championships, but that's an evolutionary process and it takes time to build that up. We have to have the right materials in place to get the riders and for them to get the confidence that they can achieve things with us. That's all still building.

For all of the time that you have put into this team, how rewarding was 2018?

It was exceptionally rewarding for us. It was like the first opportunity to get recognized for the effort that we put in. And don't get me wrong, there are other riders and teams that put in equal effort, but they may not get the results. We've been there for a few years before this. To finally break through and show that your program is capable is an amazing feeling.

You've put so much of your time and energy into the sport as a whole, with the boys being near or in their 30s now. Did you ever think that what you are doing now was obtainable or did the goals change over time?

Initially, I got involved in the sport because I loved to ride and race, just like everyone else. All of a sudden I had kids and they were good, so we knew we had to do something about it. Obviously, we participated in their program and the goal was always to be the greatest rider there ever was. That was the vision that we had. Mike raced professional Supercross from 2004 to 2017 and he was four-time runner-up in the outdoor Nationals. He finished second in the 250 championship to Tedesco in 2005, second to Villopoto in 2006, and 2007 was his rookie year in the 450 and he wasn't even 20 years old yet but he finished second to Grant Langston. Later on in life, he came onboard with the MotoConcepts team and we got him second overall. In the term of his career he won lots of races and got lots of podiums, led more laps than probably anyone in that timespan, and that was all exciting. As Mike is winding down now, the ambition is still to have a rider that is the best in the world and can prove to be the best there is. That hasn't changed and is still there with me. I want to achieve that at some point and that's my life's ambition, to win a championship. I'm 53 so I think I can do it for twenty more years.

Once Supercross wraps up, you have an entire summer to work towards the next year. This year you brought the AME Minicross series to Milestone and it's cool to see someone in your position give back to a level of the sport that rarely every receives attention from high up. Where did the idea come from?

I felt like with my boys I missed it on Supercross. We put so much effort into Loretta Lynn's and winning that we were 99.9-percent motocross and we missed the Supercross element. Realistically, I think it was a big nail in Mike's confidence and when he went to his first Supercross, he was slower than the test rider at KTM, which was Casey Lytle. It took about ten years for him to get decently good at Supercross and we could have had those ten years in prior to pro racing if we had a program like Minicross. It's a junior level, scaled down Supercross track run under the same format. We do heat races and main events just like a Supercross. I feel like because I missed it, I don't want the other local kids to miss that.

Supercross is so different in every way. When I see riders go to a Supercross for their first time, they are often lost. It doesn't matter how good of an amateur rider they were, because they are lost in something that is unlike anything they have ever done.

I felt I needed to do this to make up for what I didn't in the past. The kids come out and love it. And you wouldn't believe how good they get so quickly. They start at a really low level but a month later they look like pros. The next series will start with a warm-up on the last Saturday of September and that's when we'll break in the brand-new amateur Supercross track that Milestone is building. We'll run two events in October, two events in November, and two events in December, with half of them being run on the Stadiumcross track at Glen Helen, just to mix it up and make a real champion at the end.

Timaru's Michael Dunn wins NZ veterans MX title

MYTCHALL BRANSGROVE/STUFF

A happy Michael Dunn with his Kawasaki KX450 and the trophy for being crowned NZ Motocross champion in the veterans 35-39 years grade.

Michael Dunn's dedication to motocross has been rewarded with a New Zealand title near Timaru at the weekend.

The 37-year-old from Timaru, who admits motocross has dominated his sporting life "since I was kid", is now the NZ champion in the veterans' 35-39 years category after scoring three wins and two seconds from his five races over the two days at Southburn.

It could have been a lot different though as he revealed he crashed his Kawasaki KX450 in two races but was able to recover and record seconds both times.

Eldon Megaw from Clandeboye riding a Kawasaki KZ450 in action at the New Zealand Veteran and Women's Motocross Championship at Southburn near Timaru.

There was a sixth race, an all in "champion of champions" race for the winners and he was happy to get third in that race behind a star of weekend, Christchurch's 2009 national MX1 champion Justin McDonald who won all his races.

"It was a good weekend, but it was pretty tough," Dunn said.

"The track was hard work for veterans. It was physically demanding."

Dunn puts his success down to more focus over the past 12 months.

"I suppose I've never really done that but I've put a lot more effort in since the end of last year and am certainly doing better."

He is heading into a busy period of racing, with "heaps of events" around the South Island and racing looms in places like Alexandra, Invercargill, Dunedin and Balclutha over the coming weeks.

The two-day event featured many riders who, despite their veteran status, still rate among the sport's elite, while the female side of the sport that shared the race programme was just as intense.

McDonald, who is semi-retired now, said it was great to be out on the track again though.

Former Otago rugby captain David Latta from Balclutha showed talent in another sport, winning the veterans' 55-59 years' class title.

Event organiser, MNZ board member Noel May, said the weekend was "perfect in so many ways".

"We were a wee bit worried about the weather, because rain had been forecast, but nothing came until after all the racing was completed on Sunday afternoon. We were a bit lucky," he said.

"I was really proud of the track we were able to provide and the racing was exceptional. The riders all loved it ... it was natural, old-school style.

"It was great to have Carey Hart show up. He was a really chilled-out guy and signed heaps of autographs. It was great for the sport to have him come here and he remarked that the track was 'just heaven' and better than anything he rides on back home."

Other class winners from the weekend were: Tai Patu's Brendan Wilson (Vets 40-44 years); Christchurch's Brad Norton (Vets 45-49 years); New Plymouth's Mitch Rowe (Vets 50-54 years); Balclutha's Brian Jacobs (Vets 60-69 years); Ongarue's Reg Davey (Vets over-70 years); Australian Jessica Moore (Senior women); Motueka's Roma Edwards (Junior women, 12-16 years, 125cc/250cc); Invercargill's Charlotte Clark (Junior women, 13-16 years, 85cc); Ngatea's Brooke Dalley (Junior women, 8-12 years, 85cc).