Honda HRC Strengthens Its Lineup for the 2025 MXGP

The HRC Honda team is going to take some beating in the 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship as last year’s impressive trio of Tim Gajser (MXGP), Ruben Fernandez (MXGP) and Ferruccio Zanchi (MX2) will be joined by Valerio Lata (MX2). This well-rounded lineup has generated plenty of excitement as they prepare for what could be a highly successful season.

Of course, that shouldn’t come as a surprise when you consider the accolades of five-time world champion Gajser, who narrowly missed out on his sixth title at the final round of 2024. Despite that disappointment, he was able to rebound quickly and put in an incredible performance at the Motocross of Nations in Matterley Basin, going one-one and quickly reminding everyone that he’ll be the man to beat this coming season.

Fernandez is in a different situation, given how he missed a large portion of the 2024 campaign, but the Spaniard showed on his return that he is a force to be reckoned with, when he got back to full-fitness and with a complete off-season behind him, he’s ready to show the speed that saw him take victory at the opening round of the 2023 season. And while the track they visit in Argentina for round one this year is different than the one he won at, the #70 knows what he is capable of, and is excited at the prospect of starting afresh in ’25.

A rookie in the MX2 class last year, Zanchi made a solid debut in Honda HRC’s reintroduced 250cc programme. Despite the challenges, the young Italian delivered several strong performances, ultimately finishing 10th in the championship standings. Now, with a full season of experience and further development of the CRF250R, Zanchi is determined to take his performance to the next level. Relocating to Belgium over the winter demonstrates his commitment to improving, and he is eager to showcase his growth on the global stage.

Valerio Lata, the newest addition to the team, arrives with an impressive European motocross resume and the determination to continue his success in the world championships. Having already earned a podium as a wildcard rider in 2024, Lata has proven he has the speed necessary for the MX2 class. However, he understands the challenges of a full season and has used the winter to adapt to the bike while enhancing his fitness in preparation for the demanding 20-round schedule. Lata is eager to make his official debut with Honda HRC and is excited about the opportunity to prove himself on the world stage.

Before the season kicks off, the team will head to Mantova, Italy, for the Internazionali D’Italia on February 9, allowing the riders a chance to get in a few competitive races before the championship begins in earnest. Following that, the riders will choose from events in Montevarchi (Italy), Sommieres (France), and Cadiz (Spain) for additional preparation before traveling to Cordoba, Argentina, for the season opener. With a strong lineup and high expectations, the Honda HRC team is ready to showcase their capabilities in the 2025 World Motocross Championship.

Haiden Deegan will benefit from more Supercross experience

This is Lawrence

Jett Lawrence Sidelined, Torn ACL

Surgery today!

TORRANCE, Calif. (February 3, 2025) – Following an injury incurred during Saturday’s Glendale, Arizona, round of AMA Supercross, Honda HRC Progressive rider Jett Lawrence was diagnosed today with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, and he will undergo surgery tomorrow.

Early in the third race at the Glendale Triple Crown, Lawrence dabbed his right foot in a corner to maintain his balance, and immediate pulled off the track in pain. An initial visit to the Alpinestars Mobile Medical unit didn’t reveal any serious injury, but an MRI scan today revealed that Lawrence had suffered a torn ACL, as well as a small tear to his meniscus. He is scheduled to undergo an operation tomorrow morning in Orange County, California.

Having been credited with an eighth-overall result in Glendale, Lawrence currently now sits fifth in the AMA Supercross 450 title chase, but this setback will effectively end his chance of a successful title defense. His recovery prognosis isn’t yet known.

“I found out today that I tore my ACL and am having surgery tomorrow to repair it,” Jett said. “I’m not exactly sure when I’ll be able to return, but rehabbing will be my new fulltime job, so I hope to see you guys as soon as possible! I’m super-bummed to let the fans down, and I can’t wait to get back out there.”

“We’re all absolutely gutted for Jett, as we had high hopes for him winning another Supercross title this season,” added Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing and Advertising at American Honda. “After some misfortune at round 1, his speed has been very impressive, as he scored a main-event win at round 3 and sat in first overall after the first two races at the Glendale Triple Crown. Injuries are a part of racing though, and everyone at Honda is pulling for Jett to have a successful surgery and a good recovery. We know this is just a speedbump and that Jett will be back as strong as ever. In the meantime, we look forward to continuing to provide our full support to our active riders.”

Honda HRC Progressive is back in action this weekend at the Tampa, Florida, AMA Supercross round, with Hunter Lawrence campaigning the 450SX division. The event marks the opening round of the 250SX East series; Chance Hymas will make a late decision on whether to participate, as he continues to recover from his own ACL surgery.

International Vet MX

Supercross Round #4 450SX Highlights

Kawasaki ...Return of the 2 Stroke

Supercross Round #3 450SX Highlights

If True... Big Story!

BREAKING NEWS! KAWASAKI IS BRINGING BACK THE KX TWO-STROKE

On Jan 25, 2025 Last updated Jan 25, 2025

BREAKING NEWS! KAWASAKI IS BRINGING BACK THE KX TWO-STROKE

The Kawasaki KX two-stroke returns! Saturday, January 25th, just before everything kicks off at the Anaheim 2 Supercross, Kawasaki shares an abbreviated press release showing countless comments asking for a two-stroke model, and then Kawasaki replies, “We heard you” with a two-stroke revving up in the background.

Kawasaki last produced the KX125 in 2006, and the KX250 in 2007. Now, almost 20 years later, Kawasaki is developing another two-stroke. Does this mean they’ll have to change the name for their four-strokes back to KX250F and KX450F? We think so!

Currently, the details are slim, but we are pleasantly surprised by Kawasaki’s decisions here. In the world we live in now, we thought it would be more likely for Kawasaki to produce an electric bike, rather than a two-stroke.

This could be Kawasaki’s smartest move in a long time. The two-stroke market is alive and well. With prices going up everywhere due to inflation, consumers are craving tw0-strokes because they’re more affordable to maintain and more fun to ride. Since we don’t have photos of their new bike yet, let’s take a look back at Kawasaki’s two-strokes of the past. We don’t expect they’ll be resurrecting an old steel frame for their new two-stroke, it’s more likely they’ll go the platform-sharing route and fit a two-stroke engine into their current KX250/KX450 chassis

Cooper Webb Ready to Race!

Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha racer Cooper Webb on winning the 2019 and 2021 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, as well as placing runner-up in the championship in both 2020 and 2024.

“I think if I’m ever in a championship, I can stay in it.”

Welcome to the 2025 edition of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship where 450SX class veteran Cooper Webb has already posted up spirited and fighting fourth and third place finishes at the opening two rounds of the series.

“Yeah, I think the sport is evolving and changing and as we know, there is a fast group of guys right now between us and the generation that has been around the last ten years and the new bucks like Jett Lawrence and Chase Sexton and Hunter Lawrence and all of them,” explained Webb of going up against the newest and latest wave of prodigiously talented, championship-motivated 450cc supercross pilots. “But yeah, and with that being said, I do feel like that over seventeen rounds, I feel that I have shown that over the last six or seven years that I can be in it right to the very end. You know whether being a two-time champion, or being the runner-up twice, yeah, I might get written off some times, but I do know that over seventeen rounds that I’m going to be in the championship fight, for sure.”

And above all, Cooper Webb is there to take on the world’s best stadium motocross racers and win 450SX main events.

 

Webb had to hold off his old rival Ken Roczen to hang on for a San Diego podium.Align Media

“100 percent I’m there to win. 100-percent,” declared Webb. “It’s tough, right? Like you said, there are so many good guys now. I recently looked at all the statistics and there are five AMA Supercross champions on the line, so it’s no joke. It’s not easy by any means. I’m 29 years old, so I am definitely at a point now where I’m getting to be the veteran of the class, but I’m definitely here to win. That’s why I line up every year to go and try win supercross. Even after being injured and getting second in the championship in 2024, I still believe winning is a valid goal and that I can still do it.”

The "It's coming out both ends but I'm about to lead this main event and get a podium anyway." face.Align Media

Webb continued on to weigh-in on his to key competitors thus far in 2025, namely Jett Lawrence and veteran Eli Tomac.

“I mean as a racer, it’s not great to get beat, right? You definitely hate getting beat. In San Diego they were, by far, the best two guys out there and they put on a show, for sure. Obviously being Eli’s teammate and racing against Eli my whole career, it’s cool to see [the win] for him. I think it just shows that us wily veterans can still give it to the kids, right? From a team perspective, it was cool to see Eli do what he did. I’m not surprised. We all know how good Eli is and how good he can be. Same with Jett. We have just got to be better and try to bridge that gap and come into Anaheim 2 and hopefully be more in the mix. I love racing Anaheim. We’ve done it forever and there are just good vibes there for me. Yeah, we’ve had a good week. Like I said, I was a little bit under the weather, but now I was able to have a good day riding yesterday and I’m kind of feeling back to normal. I know what we need to work on. I think we saw in San Diego that those guys had a lot of speed, so we dialed that in this week. We focused on getting a little faster and we’ll see if it pays off at Anaheim.”

Now in his second season with the Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha 450cc organization, Webb is thrilled with the race team and what they have all achieved thus far.

“Yes, it has been incredible, man. Obviously, starting my career with the Star Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team was amazing. We had a lot of success in the 250 class. They were in a position where they didn’t have a 450 team at the time, so we all know how it kind of went from there. To be able to come back last year and us get second in the series and win a bunch of races and to be on the podium a lot was a really good showing. To be back, it feels like a family for me. I’ve known all those people there for over ten years now. I’m stoked that it happened. Now it’s our second year on the team and I’m more comfortable and kind of know the bike and I know the team personnel a little bit better. I’m trying to get better. It has been a great thing for me. We do our thing in Tallahassee at the GOAT Farm and it works really well for me. I’m excited for the future. As many good racers that we have now, it makes you step up, right? It’s one of things that I still feel at age 29 that I’m able to get better. Each day I go to the track with the intention to get better. I still have that drive and that will to want to go win races, so as long as I have that, I’m going to give it my all and let that be the goal.”

Currently fourth in 2025 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship points and only a handful of marks out of the lead, Webb is totally content to lurk in the shadows to see what comes next for the championship leaders.

“I’m kind of always under the radar and I’m never really talked about a lot and I’m just kind of doing my own thing. And yeah, maybe it is my riding style or my personality, I guess I’m not super glamorous and don’ t get the attention of the fans like Jett and Eli and Chase, but with that being said, I know my attributes and that’s kind of being a fighter and being a wily and experienced guy that leans on my racecraft and puts myself in good situations. We’ll continue to do that and stick to our gameplan. With the bike and the team and my training, everything is rock solid and I couldn’t be happier.”

And does Cooper Webb still feel like he has something to prove?

“I feel like I do. I think that is a good and bad thing, right? Obviously, I’ve accomplished everything and then some of what I set out to do as a kid. I think once you win, it becomes addicting, right? I definitely would love to try to be a three-time supercross champ before it’s all over. In my mind I believe I can and that’s what I’m going to set out to try and accomplish.”