stopped at Ford Field in Detroit on March 25 and put on a show before more than 46,000 fans. That’s about 15,000 more fans than turned out for the Verizon IndyCar Series’ Sunday show at nearby Belle Isle last summer.
The figures weren’t unusual for the 17-race series -- actually, it was one of the slower nights. Atlanta and Indianapolis stops each topped 60,000 fans, while the series drew 57,800 in Dallas and 54,200 in Phoenix.
“The live event has seen consistent and steady growth over the years,” said Dave Prater, senior director of operations, 2 Wheel, at Feld Entertainment, the series’ owner. “I believe the mainstream media is starting to take notice.”
“We were definitely happy with those television numbers, but I don’t think we were surprised,” Prater said. “We believe Supercross should be drawing those type of numbers. It’s just a matter of exposing the sport to more people. Once you’ve witnessed it live or on television, we’re confident you’ll be a fan.”
Ryan Sipes claimed his second victory of the season at round three of the Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series presented by PRI Powersports Insurance, putting his Coastal Racing Husqvarna on top of the box ahead of SRT KTM Racing’s Cory Buttrick and Beta USA’s Jordan Ashburn.
If you saw the St. Louis Supercross you saw the Reed/Dungey situation. In my opinion Reed's move was BS. Chad Reed is a great competitor but he is not a great champion. Tell us what you think.
HRC Factory rider Tim Gajser has extended his lead in the MXGP points standings with an impressive 1-1 score at the Grand Prix of Mexico. The MXGP champion continued his brilliance, after scoring the same result in Argentina two weeks ago. Second overall was Antonio Cairoli with 4-2 results and third Gautier Paulin with 3-3 scores.
Tim Gajser: It was a perfect weekend, want to thank everyone. The bike was working perfect and I felt really good. I am enjoying the track and the bike. Huge thanks to everyone around me, my dad, my team, my family, the team. I am enjoying it and when you enjoy it, its amazing. I enjoyed it so much. The track is in better shape than yesterday, a little sketchy and slippery, but better. I had a good start, made a gap and I look forward to the next one.”
Antonio Cairoli: For me it’s a difficult track and I know Tim is nearly unbeatable on this track, same as last year. I tried to stay with him, but I got tired. The speed was there and in that first moto I was faster, but I couldn’t pass Paulin and Bobryshev. This is motocross we try and win the next one.
With 30 degree temperatures and beautiful sunshine, defending world MXGP champion Tim Gajser powered his HRC Factory machine to the victory in the opening MXGP moto, at the Leon circuit in Mexico.
Gajser took the holeshot from Bobryshev, Paulin, Desalle, Cairoli, Butron, Van Horebeek, Nagl, Guillod, Tonus, Simpson, Strijbos and Herlings in 13th.
Cairoli nearly off the track as he looks a little wild. The two HRC riders looking sharp up front. Cairoli goes past Desalle, and Herlings up to 10th. Febvre back in 12th, Anstie 1tth, and Jasikonis 18th.
Desalle went down and Nagl and Tonus made the pass, as did Febvre. Herlings back in 13th as he continued to struggle in the big bike class. Anstie up to 12th.
After two laps the top ten was Gajser, Bobryshev, Paulin, Cairoli, Van Horebeek, Nagl, Tonus, Febvre, Desalle and Strijbos.
Tonus is on fire as he blasts past Nagl for sixth place, Febvre was also pushing Nagl.
Gajser had extended his lead to five seconds on lap five, and Cairoli was doing his best to keep with Bobryshev and Paulin.
Herlings continued to fight hard in 13th place, with Jasikonis closing on the Dutchman. Amazing depth in this class as Guillod was in 17th and Coldenhoff in 19th.
Gajser clocks the best lap of the moto and after six laps is now seven seconds ahead of Bobryshev, with Paulin a further second back and Cairoli 10 seconds behind the leader.
Amazingly, Jasikonis passes Herlings for 13th spot, dropping the MX2 world champion to 14th.
Bobryshev, Paulin and Cairoli were still close for second, third and fourth places. Van Horebeek wasn’t that far back from that group either.
After 11 laps the lead was 11 seconds, and Gajser just cruises his way to victory.
After 13 laps Gajser led by 13 seconds, followed by Bobryshev, just ahead of Paulin, then came Cairoli, Van Horebeek, Tonus, Nagl, Desalle, Febvre, Anstie, Strijbos, Simpson, Jasikonis, Herlings and Guillod 15th.
While Gajser cruised up front, six riders were close for second place, with Bobryshev getting heat from Paulin, Cairoli right on the back of the Frenchman, and Van Horebeek and Tonus right onto the Italian.
Gajser wins it by 15 seconds, from Bobryshev, Paulin, Cairoli, Van Horebeek and Tonus. Very close for those minor positions.
Paulin took the lead in the second MXGP moto, followed by Gajser, Desalle, Cairoli, Van Horebeek, Nagl, Anstie, Simpson and Herlings.
Gajser quickly took the lead, as Cairoli looked for a way past Desalle and Paulin. Cairoli riding hard as he passed Desalle and Paulin to move into second.
Desalle also pushes Paulin out of the way to move into third. Herlings goes past Tonus to move into seventh place.
Top ten after one lap its Gajser, Cairoli, Desalle, Paulin, Van Horebeek, Nagl, Anstie, Herlings, Tonus and Febvre.
Gajser clocks a 1.50.551, two seconds quicker than everyone else as he takes his lead to three seconds.
Bobryshev, who passes Febvre was all over the back wheel of Herlings, and putting massive pressure on the Dutchman. Bobryshev goes past and Febvre also putting pressure on the KTM rider, then passes. Herlings just isn’t looking comfortable.
British riders Anstie and Simpson drop back a lot of places, down in 18th and 21st. Bobryshev also in trouble as he cruised around and lost places fast.
After four laps its Gajser, Cairoli, Paulin, Desalle, Van Horebeek, Tonus, Nagl, Febvre, Herlings and Coldenhoff.
After 13 laps it was still Gajser, with a lead of nearly five seconds, then came Cairoli, Paulin, Van Horebeek, Tonus, Desalle, Nagl, Febvre, Herlins and Strijbos in 10th.
MXGP – Overall Classification
1 243 Gajser, Tim SLO AMZS HON 25 25 50 2 222 Cairoli, Antonio ITA FMI KTM 18 22 40 3 21 Paulin, Gautier FRA MCM HUS 20 20 40 4 4 Tonus, Arnaud SUI FMS YAM 15 18 33 5 89 Van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL FMB YAM 16 16 32 6 777 Bobryshev, Evgeny RUS MFR HON 22 7 29 7 25 Desalle, Clement BEL FMB KAW 13 15 28 8 12 Nagl, Maximilian GER DMSB HUS 14 13 27 9 461 Febvre, Romain FRA FFM YAM 10 14 24 10 22 Strijbos, Kevin BEL FMB SUZ 11 11 22 11 99 Anstie, Max GBR ACU HUS 12 8 20 12 84 Herlings, Jeffrey NED KNMV KTM 7 12 19
American rider Thomas Covington has won the Grand Prix of Mexico with a 4-1 results. The Factory Husqvarna rider copied his Mexican victory from last year, and moved inside the top ten in the MX2 standings. Jeremy Seewer the red plate owner finished with 1-4 for second overall and third overall was Julien Lieber with 3-3 results.
Thomas Covington: Its unbelievable, so glad to be here, travelling and racing my dirt bike. Its probably the best moto of my career that second moto. I wasn’t sure I could pass for the lead, but I got through. The team do so much for me, even when I am struggling. I just can’t believe it.
Jeremy Seewer: First moto I took the lead and could control the lead, second moto I came to third and made a small mistake and lost energy and finished second overall. Disappointed, but happy with the red plate. Going back to Europe with it.
Julien Lieber: I am really happy with my weekend. We had a lot of battled and the track was really tough. I got third in both motos and third overall.
Jonass took the holeshot in the opening MX2 moto, but it was Seewer who took the lead early from Jonass, Lieber, Vlaanderen, Covington, Bogers, Paturel, Sterry, Van Doninck, and Brylyakov in 10th. Sterry made a mistakes and dropped to 17th place, and Prado was back in 18th place.
Jonass dropped back to fourth, but started to look for a way past Lieber as he tried to get to Seewer. Bogers moved into fifth place as he passed Covington. Covington made his way back past Bogers and started closing in on Jonass, but then suddenly Paturel made his way past Covington to drop him back to sixth.
Seewer pulled it to three seconds ahead over Vlaanderen, and behind them a big group of riders were fighting for fifth place, with Paturel, Covington, Bogers, Van Doninck and Olsen all together. Brylyakov went down, and lost a bunch of positions. Meanwhile Vlaanderen was starting to get pressure from Lieber and Jonass who were closing in on the South African. Paturel was also making up time on those three guys.
Olsen was riding well, moving into 8th place after a poor start. Sterry, Lawrence and Prado were 13th, 14th and 15th.
The battle between Vlaanderen, Lieber and Jonass was very close as Jonass moved into second place. Paturel is all over those three, as the racing continued to be brilliant in the MX2 class. Lieber also gets Vlaanderen as the three riders nearly collided with each other in a wild moment. Paturel also went past and into fourth place. Seewers lead was nine seconds after nine laps.
Top ten after nine laps was Seewer, Jonass, Lieber, Paturel, Vlaanderen, Covington, Van Doninck, Olsen, Cervellin, and Sterry. Covington had also worked his way up to Vlaanderen and was pushing hard to get past. Lieber moved into second, dropping Jonass to third.
Paturel then made his way past Lieber for second place, as Jonass dropped to fourth. Seewer was cruising up front with a 12 second lead. Covington, who had passed Vlaanderen, then caught and passed Jonass for fourth place. Top 10 after 16 laps was Seewer, Paturel, Lieber, Covington, Jonass, Vlaanderen, Olsen, Van Doninck, Cervellin, and Sterry.
Seewer won though from Paturel and Lieber.
In the second MX2 moto Covington took the holeshot, but Jonass quickly took the lead, followed by Covington, Lieber, Prado, Van Doninck, Sterry, Prado, Seewer, Vlaanderen, Bogers and Cervellin in 10th. While Jonass led, once again the battle for second was exciting with Covington closing on the leader, and Lieber, Van Doninck and Seewer all close together. Lieber, Van Doninck and Seewer were all over eachother in a great battle, as Jonass and Covington pulled away.
Seewer got past Van Doninck, and Covington was also all over Jonass for the lead.
Top 15 after six laps was Jonass, Covington, Lieber, Seewer, Van Doninck, Sterry, Olsen, Brylyakov, Vlaanderen, Bogers, Cervellin, Bernardini, Paturel, Prado, and Lawrence.
Covington moved into the lead and also held the GP overall. Seewer though was all over Lieber and a pass would see him take the overall victory.
Suddenly both Lieber and Seewer were closing on Jonass in second place. Seewer passed Lieber to take third and the lead in the overall points.
Top fifteen after nine laps was Covington, Jonass, Seewer, Lieber, Van Doninck, Sterry, Olsen, Brylyakov, Bogers, Cervellin, Paturel, Vlaanderen, Bernarnini, Lawrence and Larranaga.
Seewer nearly went down after losing the front end, and kept control of this Suzuki, losing a place to Lieber and the overall.
Covington had opened his lead to seven seconds with two laps to go, and still held the overall points lead.
With a lap to go Lieber made a small error and Seewer got a little closer, but the Belgian was giving it everything to stay in third place behind Covington and Jonass. Covington wins the moto and the GP.
MX2 – Grand Prix Race 1 – Classification
1 91 Seewer, Jeremy SUI FMS Suzuki 35:36.310 2 6 Paturel, Benoit FRA FFM Yamaha 35:44.232 3 33 Lieber, Julien BEL FMB KTM 35:49.401 4 64 Covington, Thomas USA MUL Husqvarna 35:54.861 5 41 Jonass, Pauls LAT LAMSF KTM 35:56.223 6 10 Vlaanderen, Calvin NED KNMV KTM 35:58.467 7 19 Olsen, Thomas Kjer DEN DMU Husqvarna 35:59.595 8 172 Van doninck, Brent BEL FMB Yamaha 36:03.763 9 747 Cervellin, Michele ITA FMI Honda 36:09.504 10 811 Sterry, Adam GBR ACU Kawasaki 36:16.085
Monster Energy Honda Team begin the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship campaign this weekend with the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Paulo Gonçalves and Kevin Benavides line up for the race.
After kicking off the season successfully with American Ricky Brabec clinching a notable victory at the Sonora Rally, Monster Energy Honda Team now field team-mates Paulo Gonçalves and Kevin Benavides in Abu Dhabi for the start of the world championship. The team returns to the race following last year’s absence.
Portuguese rider Paulo Gonçalves returns to the action in the Middle East after post-Dakar vacations. Paulo – a previous winner in the 2014 edition – will be looking for a prudent re-entry to racing, particularly as Abu Dhabi presents plenty of potential dangers involving dunes, high-speeds and a high degree of technical navigation.
Argentina’s promising young Kevin Benavides makes an Abu Dhabi debut with a return to competitions after an injury picked up just days before the start of the Dakar 2017. With various right hand fractures behind him the rider from Salta is ready to go full-throttle on the Honda CRF450 RALLY.
The two Monster Energy Honda Team riders are scheduled to take part in every round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship with the first stop at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, which gets underway from the Yas Marina on 31st March with the technical and administrative shake-down.
Stage
Date
Total Km
Special Km
Super Special
1 April
Yas Marina Circuit
Stage 1
2 April
418.96
276.59
Stage 2
3 April
521.18
283.39
Stage 3
4 April
379.90
288.73
Stage 4
5 April
396.42
250.25
Stage 5
6 April
357.25
219.76
Competitors can look forward to over 2000 kilometres of course with 1300 km of special stage against the clock (64% of the total length). The curtain-raising Super Special will get the show up and running on Saturday 1st April and will decide the starting order for the first full-stage in the Liwa Desert. The event wraps up on 6th April at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Paulo Goncalves
Two and a half months after the Dakar and a short holiday, we are back racing again, this time in Abu Dhabi. I’m happy to race here and things usually turn out well; this will be my fifth participation, three of which I’ve finished on the podium. I even won in 2014. I hope to be in the battle for the top positions as this is a nice rally and it would be a great way to start the season.
Kevin Benavides
For me this is the first race of the year and it’s the first one since I had the accident just before the Dakar. Three months have passed now since the crash. I’ve worked really hard to come back and I’m very happy to be in Abu Dhabi for the first time – it’s a beautiful place. I can’t wait to be able to get back on the bike and feel those sensations again. I’m going to tackle this race without pressure, try and enjoy it and get some kilometres under my belt.
Colton Haaker Crowned 2017 SuperEnduro World Champion
Photo Credit: Robert Lynn/Future7Media
Colton Haaker has won the 2017 FIM Maxxis SuperEnduro World Championship at the final round of the season on France.
Successfully defending his title, the American put his Husqvarna on the top step of the championship podium for the second year in a row.
Colton Haaker wins the 2017 SuperEnduro World Championship.
Alfredo Gomez won the Prestige class overall in France.
Blake Gutzeit is the new SuperEnduro Junior World Champion.
Travis Teasdale claimed a debut Junior class overall victory.
Mike Hartmann is the European Cup champion.
It was a full house in France, with the arena sold out.
It was a night of celebration for South Africa, with Yamaha mounted Blake Gutzeit winning the SuperEnduro Junior World Championship, while in the European Cup the night and the title belonged to German Mike Hartmann (Husqvarna).
Securing his second consecutive overall podium, KTM’s Alfredo Gomez was the victor in the GP AMV of France Prestige class, while Travis Teasdale (KTM) of South Africa claimed a debut overall in the Junior category.
Photo Credit: Robert Lynn/Future7Media
“Amazing — absolutely incredible to have won my second world title,” told Haaker. “It’s been a great season, there’s been some fantastic battles at every round, so to come away with the #1 plate is fantastic for myself, my family, my mechanic Josh and of course Husqvarna.”
For Gutzeit, the GP AMV of France in Albi, was also a night to saviour when he claimed his debut world crown.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” told Gutzeit. “I’ve worked so hard for this for so long. To become a world champion is an amazing feeling and one that’s not yet really sunk in. It’s going to take some time getting used to that.”
Photo Credit: Robert Lynn/Future7Media
Kicking things off inside the packed to capacity Exhibition Centre of Alibi it was KTM’s Jonny Walker who once again secured the Akrapovic SuperPole, setting the fastest lap time around the demanding course. His SuperPole win in France also earned him the overall Akrapovic SuperPole title.
With just 11 points separating Haaker and Gomez in the title fight, everything was still to play for when the gate dropped in Prestige heat one. However it was Walker who put his KTM out front and managed to secure a comfortable win. Haaker crossed the line in second while Gomez was third.
The reversed start for heat two saw Gomez work his way to the front to take the win. Mistakes in the Motorex Oils Rock Garden held Walker back to an eventual third with Haaker once again picking up second.
Holding a small points buffer entering the final heat, Haaker had the advantage. Gomez was determined to end his night on a high and claimed his second victory of the night to take the overall win. Walker raced his way to second, with Haaker — content in third —crossed the finish line to become world champion.
Photo Credit: Robert Lynn/Future7Media
With Gomez, Walker and Haaker placing 1-2-3 on the night, 2016 SuperEnduro Junior World Champion Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) delivered his best showing of the season for a very impressive fourth overall thanks to two fourth place results in heats one and two.
Sherco’s Mario Roman ended his night fifth overall with Mike Brown (Husqvarna) completing the top six.
In the Junior class the night ultimately belonged to Gutzeit with the South African claiming his first world title. But it was fellow countryman Teasdale who took the top step of the podium thanks to his 2-3-1 race results.
Photo Credit: Robert Lynn/Future7Media
Frenchman Max Vial had the 4,000 strong crowd on their feet when he delivered a win in heat two to eventually place second overall. Helped in part by his opening heat race win, Gutzeit also ended his night third overall.
Czech rider David Cyprian (KTM) was fourth while Chile’s Ben Herrera (TM) completed the top five.
In the European class Mike Hartmann (Husqvarna) proved unbeatable as he raced his way to a double victory and the European Cup title.
Thursday, April 6, 2017 at 3:43PM 
