TrialGP Of Japan Kicks Off 2024 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship

Toni Bou at 2023 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship in Motegi, Japan Photo: Future7Media

The pre-season preparations are done, the riders and their machines are good to go and the wait is almost over as the countdown continues to the opening round of the 2024 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship – the TrialGP of Japan – at the Mobility Resort Motegi on 17-19 May.

The feeling of anticipation for the first round of any championship is always heightened and there is a strong sense of excitement surrounding this year’s opening salvo in TrialGP. Who has put in the hard work in the off-season? Who has the strongest will to win? Who will draw first blood? Who – and this is the question on almost everyone’s lips – can step it up and take the fight to Toni Bou?

The premier TrialGP and TrialGP Women competitors will be in action alongside Trial2 at the iconic Mobility Resort Motegi that is situated less than one-hundred-and-fifty kilometres north of Tokyo. Apart from a three-year absence due to the pandemic, the impressive facility has staged a round of the series ever since the very first TrialGP of Japan in 2000 and it is always an eagerly-awaited fixture on the calendar with its steep wooded climbs and imposing granite rocks providing a suitably tough test for the best Trial riders in the world.

The bad news for competitors in the elite TrialGP class is that defending champion Bou, who has remained unbeaten over a full season ever since he claimed his first crown in 2007, has started the year in incredible form and is currently unbeaten following the first four rounds of the 2024 FIM X-Trial World Championship.

Stopping Bou from taking his eighteenth consecutive title is a seemingly impossible task, but the thirty-seven-year-old superstar Spaniard was pushed extremely hard in the early stages of the 2023 series by his compatriot Jaime Busto who has finished runner-up in the championship for the last two years. Busto would dearly like to go one better this season, but as well as setting his sights on Bou the twenty-six-year-old must also make sure he stays ahead of the chasing pack led by Spain’s Gabriel Marcelli.

A career-best third last season in just his fourth year in the class, Marcelli is currently leading Busto in the X-Trial indoor series and is hoping that his forceful style of riding will see him add to his total of eight podiums, carry him to a first victory at this level and allow him to consistently challenge the top two for the title.

Veteran Italian Matteo Grattarola was fourth last year and is a contender for podiums and it would be foolish to dismiss two-time champion Adam Raga. Having turned forty-two last month, Raga is very much the elder statesman of TrialGP, but with his high-profile off-season move to a new manufacturer could come fresh motivation to succeed.

Outside of last year’s top five finishers, Britain’s Toby Martyn is possibly the most likely to spring a surprise. Only tenth in 2023 after missing four rounds through injury, the twenty-four-year-old already has already scored an X-Trial podium this year and is aiming to carry this form into TrialGP.

With nine TrialGP Women titles in the last ten years, Britain’s Emma Bristow must surely start favourite to retain her title. Last year she suffered just two defeats, but both of these came on the first weekend of the series and her long-time Spanish rival Berta Abellan – who won both opening days in 2023 – knows another strong start is essential if she’s to claim her first crown.

Italy’s Andrea Sofia Rabino was third last season and beat Bristow into third on the opening day of round one, but she knows consistency is key and that she cannot afford to ride at anything other than her best if she is to climb higher up the ladder.

Naomi Monnier has finished fourth for the last two seasons, but the French rider has proved herself to be a podium contender and she too will be aiming to advance up the rankings, as will Britain’s Alice Minta who scored two third-placed finishes on her way to fifth in 2023.

Trial2 was extremely unpredictable in 2023 with six different winners before Britain’s Billy Green took the title at the final round and the series’ biggest class – no fewer than thirty-four riders will be in action in Japan – is shaping up to be equally as exciting with Green returning to defend his title.

While Spain’s Pablo Suarez – who was second last year – and French rider Hugo Dufrese who ended 2023 in sixth have both opted to move up to TrialGP, former champion Sondre Haga from Norway and the British pairing of Jack Peace and Jack Dance all know what it takes to win at this level and are genuine title contenders.

In total there will be a record five electric bikes in action in Trial2 with Haga debuting the new GASGAS, France’s Gael Chatagno riding for Electric Motion and home heroes Kenichi Kuroyama, Seiya Ujikawa and Fumitaka Nozaki mounted on Yamahas.

Manuel Lettenbichler Takes Victory At FIM HEWC Season Opener

Manuel Lettenbichler got his 2024 FIM Hard Enduro Championship (HEWC) campaign off to a winning start, dominating proceedings at the Valleys Hard Enduro in the UK. Following

The opening round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship saw Manuel Lettenbichler take a commanding win at the Valleys Hard Enduro.

Teodor Kabakchiev and Mario Roman completed the podium in second and third.

The FIM Hard Enduro Junior World Championship supported by KLIM saw Mitch Brightmore start his title defence off with a victory in Wales.

Round one of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship saw riders take to the start line on Sunday for the feature Race. After two exciting days of racing on Friday and Saturday, Sunday’s three-lap Hard Enduro would decide the outcome of the season opener at Valleys Hard Enduro.

As the defending champion and winner of Friday and Saturday’s racing, Manuel Lettenbichler was the red-hot favourite for victory on Sunday. And he didn’t disappoint. Fast off the line, the KTM rider quickly worked his way into the race lead and was never headed.

Teodor Kabakchiev finished 3 minutes back in second place.

Despite the hot and dusty conditions, Lettenbichler found his rhythm and opened up a strong lead. A mid-race charge by Teodor Kabakchiev saw that gap reduce slightly. But as they began the third and final lap, Manuel upped his pace even further and took a very commanding three-minute margin of victory.

“It wasn’t easy out there,” Lettenbichler said. “The pace was so fast and the intensity was high. It was difficult to find a rhythm but being able to build a gap helped. However, on the final lap, Teodor began to close in and I had to pick it up again. It’s great to take the win at round one and get the championship started in such a strong way. I’m really happy and now looking forward to the next round at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo in two weeks.”

Behind Manuel, the battle for the remainder of the podium positions was ever-changing. Initially, it was Jonny Walker who held second place on lap one. But the Kabakchiev and Mario Roman closed in and overhauled the Brit.

Kabakchiev looked strong on the technical climbs and wasn’t suffering in the heat. The Bulgarian did appear to have Lettenbichler in his sights on lap two but couldn’t bridge the gap he needed. Distancing himself from Roman, he crossed the finish line as the runner-up.

Once up into third, Roman wasn’t able to keep the pace of his teammate. Managing a comfortable gap over Walker in fourth, the Spaniard did enough to take third and claim his first podium result of the season.

After a solid start, Walker just missed out on a potential podium result with fourth, while Will Hoare completed the top five. Wade Young was sixth.

In the FIM Hard Enduro Junior World Championship supported by KLIM, it was defending champion Mitch Brightmore who took the win. The young Brit was kept honest by his younger brother Ashton, who followed him home for eighth.

After an incredible start to the 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, round two takes place at Austria’s Red Bull Erzbergrodeo on May 30-June 2.

Chase Sexton on Salt Lake City

Chase Sexton ticked some massive boxes at the final round of the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross series, Salt Lake City, as he completed the trifecta in the 450SX class. Here, he discusses that and how his starts have improved so drastically in recent weeks.

MXGP of Galicia 2024

Anderson vs Hunter

Jason Anderson is unapologetically honest with a splash of humour and reality as he gives his view on the latest altercation with a Lawrence brother, following he and Hunter Lawrence getting into it in Salt Lake City!

Anderson made a hard pass on Hunter that left the Aussie in the deck before an annoyed Hunter went for some payback when he was being lapped and Anderson found himself in another heated discussion after the race!

Anderson said on Instagram: “Was trying to go 2 for 2 on helmet grabs last night. But on the real people / fans of our sport be hating so hard on my character based off of the 20 minute dirtbike race. Could give you more insight to my life and more interviews to persuade you I’m a good person but f**k that,, that ain’t me.

“On the track I try my hardest and i don’t take sh*t from nobody so if the sport needs a villain then f**k it I’ll play that character. But for me I leave the race with close ones crush some beers get a little fried to celebrate a healthy season and the successes we had! For the supporters you know who you are no tag needed.”

Is Jett the Future?

Just 20 years old,Jett Lawrence is only the third rider to secure the premier-class Supercross crown in his rookie season. He also earned the AMA 450SX Rookie of the Year award. Lawrence kicked off the year with a win at Anaheim 1, becoming the first rider to win in his premier-class debut. He added victories in Detroit, Daytona, Birmingham, Indianapolis, Nashville, Philadelphia and Denver. (By comparison, the next-winningest rider scored four victories.) Lawrence collected additional podium finishes in Glendale and Seattle. Over the course of the season, he was the top qualifier at nine rounds, and he earned eight heat-race wins. (He and his brother/teammate Hunter Lawrence swept the 450SX heat-race wins in Seattle and Nashville, becoming the only sibling pairing ever to do so, and in Denver they notched a historic 1-2 finish in the main event.) At eight of the 14 non-Triple Crown rounds, Jett turned in the fastest main-event lap time. Congrats on an incredible season, Jett!

Hampshire's Future

Gradual transition into premier class the ideal scenario next season.

Image: Align Media.

The intention is for newly-crowned 250SX West champion RJ Hampshire to defend his title in 2025 as part of a unique plan that would see him gradually transition into the premier class next season. That’s the scenario that he hinted at after clinching in Salt Lake City on Saturday night.

Hampshire signed a contract extension with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing mid-last year to remain in the 250 class through 2024-2025, but is in the prime of his career at 28 years of age and following almost a decade in the lower tier.

Winning the title after defeating Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) in the 250SX East/West Showdown – the duo entering the Monster Energy Supercross finals tied on points – came as a significant result for Hampshire, which could instead prompt a promotion into Husqvarna’s premier class program as soon as next year. The value in defending with the number one plate in 250SX West is an opportunity the brand likely won’t want to pass on, however, that case could result in Hampshire entering an FC 450 on the east coast before going full-time outdoors.

“Now’s a good time to talk about an extension…” Hampshire commented after finishing P2 in the Utah main event. “What I want, I think will happen, my plan is I want to spend all off-season on a 450, train like I’m going racing on a 450, defend next year west coast on a 250, race the opposite coast on a 450, and then make my debut full-time outdoors next year.”

The 2022 Pro Motocross season almost saw Hampshire fill in on the 450 before a late decision saw him remain in the 250MX class on that occasion, while a one-off ride at the Daytona Supercross in 2023 saw him win his heat race and finish eighth in the main event. His achievements in 250SX include finishing runner-up to Jett Lawrence in both 2022 (east) and 2023 (west) prior to executing for the title this year.

Hampshire’s title is Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s first in Supercross since Jason Anderson won the 2018 450SX championship and Zach Osborne claimed back-to-back 250SX East championships in 2017-2018. Osborne also went on to earn the 2020 450MX national championship, which was the team’s most recent professional MX/SX title in the United States prior to Hampshire’s success.

“Everybody has their own story, and I was determined to write my own and to have a championship and be part of that,” he reflected. “It’s truly special. I’ve had so many ups, so many downs, and still have people that just believe in me. I’ve always worked hard my entire life just to be in this position and to have the team.

“My group is small, but they’re the best guys that I could ask for, and that just goes to show that it definitely plays a big role in my results and how I am each weekend. Just how the vibes are around the team, and like I said, I would not change my group. Just a massive thanks to everyone that has been involved and been part of this story.”

Malcolm Stewart is in the first of a two-year contract to remain at Rockstar Energy Husqvarna through 2025, while this year marks Christian Craig’s final term of his 2023-2024 deal that’s largely been affected by injury. It’s unclear if he will be provided a career lifeline of sorts into next season.

Hunter Fined

Hunter Lawrence fined following late Anderson clash

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Section: Competition Post: Alex Gobert

Pair come together twice in Salt Lake City Supercross finals.

Team Honda HRC rookie Hunter Lawrence has been fined an undisclosed amount by AMA race direction following his clash with Jason Anderson in Salt Lake, with former 450SX champion Anderson receiving a written warning for ‘aggressive/reckless riding’.

Anderson – as he also did in Nashville – had made contact with Lawrence in the left-hand turn after the whoops that resulted in him going down while both were positioned inside the top-five on lap two.

In the closing stages of the main event when Anderson was mounting a challenging on Cooper Webb (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) for the final place on the podium, it appeared Lawrence deliberately checked up while going a lap down and retaliated on the Monster Energy Kawasaki by forcing him wide and almost off-track. He didn’t crash, but proved costly on his way to P4.

The AMA has since declared that the elder Lawrence brother had violated the sport’s code of conduct in his response to Anderson’s tactics and he too received a written warning, in addition to the fine that he was given.

“It was a good day of riding,” Lawrence recalled. “It turned out to be a practice race for me after that incident in the main event, but now we’re on to a blank slate for this summer.”

Lawrence ultimately finished Salt Lake City in 15th position to round out his first Monster Energy Supercross campaign in the premier class. He was ranked ninth in the final championship standings, highlighted by two podiums to his credit – third in St. Louis and second in Denver.

Tomac Update

Earlier this month word came out of California that Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing pilot Eli Tomac had made a decision to line up and compete in the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship, beginning with the AMA Pro Motocross Championship opening round set for Fox Raceway.

One day following, at the penultimate round of the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross in Denver, Tomac hit the dirt during free practice and landed on his thumb. Result of the small shunt? A Bennet Fracture. According to the National Library of Medicine, The Bennet Fracture is the most common fracture involving the base of the thumb and this fracture refers to an intraarticular fracture that separates the palmar ulnar aspect of the first metacarpal base from the remaining first metacarpal.

Got all that? We think we do. Long story short, on May 9, Yamaha, via a press release, announced that Eli Tomac had decided to get surgery on the injury, and in doing so, would be out of racing action for six to eight weeks. Immediately taken out of the season-concluding Salt Lake City Supercross, it was also communicated that Tomac would be absent from the opening rounds of Pro Motocross. Tentatively expected to return to action at the Southwick National on June 29, Tomac, from his home in Cortez, Colorado, spoke about just what went down with the thumb. 

“It was just in free practice there in Denver and I just tipped over and I must have just landed on it wrong and with the weight of my body on it and it tore my ligament. I also actually even fractured a piece of my thumb, so it was kind of wild. 

 

“What was interesting about it is that I did a quick X-ray at Alpinestars [medical unit] at the track,” continued Tomac. “This was right after the fact. I guess we missed it or didn’t have the correct angle, so I thought it was just kind of a jam or a sprain. It obviously hurt, but I was like, ‘Well, I can just try and get through this.’ I did get through the main event, but I crashed and that was actually because my hand gave out. At that point I didn’t really know what was up and said, ‘Well, I’ll give it a couple days here and see.’ It never got better, and I knew I had to get a real MRI on the thumb. Sure enough, there was some bad news with the thumb.” 

A race winner and six-time podium finisher in the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross Championship, Tomac believed he was building speed, confidence, and momentum heading toward the opening phase of Pro Motocross.

“Well, I was beginning to gain momentum,” explained Tomac. “I feel like my results have been a little bit up-and-down this season, but overall, I felt like I was coming around. My speed was pretty good most of the time. I was good in qualifying. I had one main event win this season and a handful of second place finishes. You know just thinking back, for it being a comeback season from a big Achilles tendon injury, I was feeling pretty good, and I was getting stronger. It was just unfortunate timing for this to happen. I was just enjoying the moment and enjoying the racing and it’s still what I love to do. Yeah man, stuff like this is a bummer, but I guess it’s a part of racing, you know?”

So once again, Tomac, as a result of thumb surgery and the healing process that will follow, will be forced to watch the motocross world go on without him. 

“Yep, I do have to wait it out now,” he said. “So, I’m getting this fixed on Monday. That’s as soon as they could get me in to fix this thumb issue. I guess the only positive outlook to all of this is it won’t be as long of a recovery as say, my Achilles or my shoulder injuries. I think I’ll be back around the two-month mark. They said that I have to have pins in for six weeks and then they pull it and then basically you just have to let the wound heal. That’s when I can get back to riding. I envision myself back in two months or somewhere along that timeframe and that puts me somewhere in the middle of the motocross season, If I can get a few of those rounds in and then really be strong for the SMX, that would be another successful comeback in my eyes.”

Undaunted and genuinely enthused to get back to racing as soon as possible this summer, Tomac totally realizes that all is certainly not lost. 

“Yes. That’s the good thing,” pointed out Tomac. “I’m not out the whole year and I’ve got something to go for, you know? And that’s just trying to get back healthy, and I know I can get back to racing before we round out the year. And it has been a good year. It was solid. Of course, I wanted more, and I wanted to be closer to the championship run, but at the same time, I have to have realistic expectations from what I came back from. I would consider it solid up to this point with a win in there. That was my goal number one in coming back from my Achilles injury and I accomplished that. Yeah, I wanted to be in the points race. I missed that a little bit. I don’t know, I’d rate the season an eight out of ten. Ten out of ten would have obviously meant winning the championship, but I got that one goal of winning the race and was able to make a successful comeback. The Achilles injury was really a horror story, and it can be for most people.”

What did Tomac make of the sensational Jett Lawrence, as well as the other world class racers he faced off against all winter long?

 

"Every year that there is always another level that you have to step up to. That’s the evolution of racing and I felt like we were able to step up in some parts, but there are other things that we definitely have to work on to catch up to those new guys.” Eli TomacAlign Media

“It was very competitive, and Jett is the newcomer right now,” stated Tomac. “He’s the guy. Cooper Webb made a bike switch and he’s on my team, on Star Yamaha. There was newness to the season, and it seems like every year that there is always another level that you have to step up to. That’s the evolution of racing and I felt like we were able to step up in some parts, but there are other things that we definitely have to work on to catch up to those new guys.”

Fourteen years ago, on May 22, 2010, to be exact, rookie racer Eli Tomac lined up and won the very first Pro Motocross event he ever lined up for at Hangtown in Northern California. Along the way, there were more than a few ups and downs for Tomac, but he continued to build his fan base. Nowhere was that more evident than the ’24 Monster Energy Supercross Series, where legions of fans cheered their hearts out and fully supported the veteran Tomac. 

“I have noticed that with the fans and it’s so cool to see,” said an appreciative Tomac. “I feel like the sport, as a whole, is growing. The stadiums seem like they’re more packed. Our autograph lines have been ginormous this year. Unfortunately, people have to get cut off because there are so many fans in the lines. The support for myself and the sport has just been fantastic. Yeah, I’ve been in this a while now, and like you said, since 2010. It has gone by in a flash, but at the same time, it has been the most enjoyable ride ever, so right now I’m trying not to consider myself done at all. I want another season. I want to make a run at in 2025, so it has been great. Wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s really cool. I mean you think back to when you start at the beginning, and you try and build that fanbase. Obviously, it helps when you get good results and all that, but yeah, it’s just pretty hard to believe when you’re in my shoes and you see all these people wearing your T-shirt and hats and merchandise, but it’s so awesome. I want to leave a good example for the kids and anyone watching the sport, so yeah, I am just grateful for it all.”

This season marks Eli Tomac’s third year with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing organization, a career move that comes at the back half of Tomac’s storied career. The relationship between Tomac and the entire Yamaha contingent has been both positive and fulfilling.

“You know, if you would have asked me when I started my career if I would have been second place on the All-Time supercross career win list with 52 wins, I would have said, ‘Well, that’s a lofty goal.’" -Eli TomacAlign Media

“It has been a great fit for us. Right off the bat in 2022, we really came out swinging. We basically did the best that we could. We won both championships there. In 2023 we should have had the supercross championship locked up, but that’s when I injured my ankle. Overall, it has been an outstanding team. I’ve been able to have a good ride. Yeah, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team has been an excellent spot for us.

“You know, if you would have asked me when I started my career if I would have been second place on the All-Time supercross career win list with 52 wins, I would have said, ‘Well, that’s a lofty goal.’ You look at some of those names on that list and it's amazing, but I have achieved that, so it's been so good. I’m really grateful I’ve made it in the sport to the age of 30 and I’m still at a high level. Man, winning 450 championships, that’s the number one thing and I’ve been able to accomplish that.”

And what of the approaching 2024 Motocross of Nations poised to take place at the sprawling Matterley Basin circuit in Great Britain on October 6, 2024? If he’s healed and up to speed, would Tomac like to represent Team USA at the storied event that has been running annually since 1947?

“Oh yeah,” Tomac answered assuredly. “If I’m in the position to race it and I’m top two in those Open or 450 classes, yes, sign me up. It’s a race like no other, you know? There is no environment like it. Yeah, it’s a very cool event for us. But right now, yeah, I’ve got to keep myself in shape, so it’s not like I’m out six months this time. I’m out for a couple of months, so I’ll be cross training and hanging out with my family as much as I can and really just trying to get ready for the later part of this summer of racing. Those are my goals and those are my intentions, although I don’t have this under contract yet. That’s what I want to try and do. Right now, that’s my mindset and we’re doing everything we can to make that happen.”

Webb Out for Thumb Surgery

“It was awesome to end the season on the podium despite the adversity we’ve been dealt these past few weeks. I had to dig deep for that one tonight and I’m pumped to share the podium with my teammate for his first 450SX podium.

“It’s disappointing to be missing the beginning of Pro Motocross, but fixing this thumb injury is a must to be at my best for the remainder of the year. The goal is to come back for the final stretch of the outdoor season and come into the SMX playoffs swinging.”