Behind The Gate

Barcia back as Cairoli returns to Red Bud for Ducati!

Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing is set for a packed Fourth of July weekend as the team heads to Red Bud for Round 5 of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship with a full roster, welcoming back Justin Barcia while adding nine-time MXGP World Champion Tony Cairoli under the awning.

After missing the High Point National, Justin Barcia will return to the starting gate aboard his Ducati Desmo450 MX. The fan favorite sustained a mild back injury during the opening moto at Thunder Valley, forcing him to sit out Moto 2 and later decided to miss High Point entirely to allow additional time for recovery.

“I am stoked to be back especially for Red Bud on the 4th of July,” said Justin Barcia. “I tweaked my back at Thunder Valley and was experiencing some spasms. So, we decided to capitalize on the weekend off after High Point and decided to sit out High Point to give me some extra time to heal up. But I’m back, ready to get behind the gate, and have some fun celebrating the 4th of July at Red Bud.”

The Red Bud National will also mark the addition of one of motocross’ greatest legends to the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing lineup. Nine-time MXGP World Champion Tony Cairoli will join the team for three rounds of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, competing at Red Bud, Southwick, and Spring Creek.

Cairoli’s relationship with both Troy Lee Designs and Ducati runs deep. The Italian legend played a significant role in the early development and testing of Ducati’s Desmo450 project, helping shape the motorcycle from its earliest stages into the race-winning machine it is today.

Cairoli also competed in two rounds of the 2025 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, racing Red Bud and Spring Creek as a Ducati ambassador before the manufacturer established an official U.S. factory effort. With Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing now serving as Ducati’s official AMA Pro Motocross team, the opportunity to bring Cairoli into the factory program for three rounds represents a special addition to the team’s 2026 campaign.

“For these three rounds I’m pretty pumped because last year I had good times [racing Red Bud and Spring Creek] and this year the bike is in a much better spot with improvements and development,” said Tony Cairoli. “I think it will be nice to line up for these three rounds and see those bike improvements in a race scenario. I am familiar with the tracks from last year [Red Bud, Southwick, and Millville] and I’m excited to see all the American fans again, I felt welcome last year and I’m excited to do it again this year.”

With the addition of Tony Cairoli alongside the returning Justin Barcia and the team’s full-time effort, Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing will field three riders in the 450 class in the US for the first time in the team’s history. The expanded lineup marks another milestone in Ducati’s growing presence in American motocross as the team heads into one of the sport’s most iconic events at Red Bud.

Stewart vs. Carmichael

James Stewart on Ricky Carmichael and moving to the premier class

Stewart had something to prove that went beyond racing motorcycles, but that need to win made him ride over his head all too often. You can't win if you crash, regardless of how fast you can ride a few laps at a time. Carmichael was fast and consistent so outpacing him for a few laps wasn't going to cut it. Stewart kind of started acting weird anyway, probably because of the fame, money, injuries and failure to secure more championships. Luckily, he settled down and is what we see today.

Seth Hammaker Out For Season

Not the news anyone wanted to hear following a brilliant start to the Pro Motocross campaign for Seth Hammaker. Kawasaki announced today that he will be "on the mend for the remainder of the season" following a shoulder injury suffered at High Point. You might recall that Hammaker, who held a share of the red plate coming into the race, looped out and hurt himself early in the second moto at that event.

We assume this long layoff means shoulder surgery again for Seth. He battled through the 2025 season by pushing shoulder surgery into the off season. Bummer ending to a good start.

Kawasaki also added that Enzo Temmerman, who had jumped on board with the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team from his usual Team Green spot, also hurt his shoulder and will miss RedBud. Temmerman could be back soon, though.

Cooper Webb to World Supercross

Daniel Blair: Why Cooper Webb is the Rider Everyone will be Chasing in World Supercross

Few people in the World Supercross paddock are as enthusiastic about the championship as Daniel Blair. The former racer and current broadcaster admits he's "one of those weird people that gets excited about everything," but when the conversation turns to the title contenders for 2026, his excitement becomes particularly focused on one rider: Cooper Webb.

For Blair, Webb enters the season as the benchmark, despite the 30-year-old having made his debut in the Championship in 2025. Webb, who joined up with the series as a Wildcard entrant for the Australian GP, is coming back – and this time it is for the full season.

“I think Cooper Webb joining the series is going to be really awesome because he showed up last year, was really good, but you could tell that he was just feeling out the series and the format,” says Blair.

“Yes, he’s done three-race formats before, but with the points escalation and just the way they do it with the different times, I think that was cool to see. To have him back for the entire Championship is awesome. He’s a multi-time champion, one of the greats in the sport. And to see him seeking out this Championship and wanting to be there is awesome.”

To have him back for the entire championship is awesome. He’s a multi-time champion, one of the greats in the sport.

As World Supercross continues to grow, attracting top riders and teams from around the globe, the schedule presents a unique challenge. Logistics, different time zones and each track being totally unique tests the very best.

“I think one of the coolest parts of the series is the changing in environment,” says Blair, who joined the Championship’s broadcast team last year. “We went from cold to hot to cold back and forth. For the riders, though, it is super challenging because your body changes completely, like, within a couple days,” Blair said. “But they’re professionals. They’ve been through this. And if you ask them, they’ll say it was challenging but accomplishable.”
This season’s schedule kicks off in Calgary, Canada, on 8th August before embarking on a global tour containing some of the best riders in the world – with more to be announced. The uncertainty keeps everyone guessing.

“I’m looking forward to seeing that release when it comes out, who’s going where, where the battles are going to be, and how that’s going to interfere with the championship,” Blair adds. “It was cool to see the guys that were in it for the entire series having to deal with these superstars that showed up as Wildcards, and it ended up making for great racing and a great Championship.”

I’m looking forward to seeing that release when it comes out, who’s going where, where the battles are going to be, and how that’s going to interfere with the Championship

That dynamic seems perfectly suited to a rider like Webb, who will ride for Rick Ware Racing. Throughout his career, he has consistently excelled in situations where races become tactical and championships become complicated. Rather than relying purely on speed, Webb has built a reputation for finding ways to win when the pressure is highest.

As the championship evolves, Blair is also encouraged by the continued growth of the series itself with a good depth of riders already announced. “I think it’s super important to see the growth of the rosters and the teams,” he said.

“To have a KTM team teaming up with 595 Racing from Brazil and entering the series, that’s great for the series itself and great for the fans too to get all the manufacturers involved. The more growth there, the better for everybody.”

Vialle set for World Supercross 2026 wildcard entry

Honda HRC Petronas MXGP front-runner in for 2026 British Grand Prix.

Image: Supplied.

MXGP front-runner Tom Vialle will make a high-profile debut in the 2026 World Supercross Championship in Birmingham this season, announced as a wildcard entry for the British Grand Prix at Alexander Stadium on October 10.

Vialle, who won a pair of AMA 250SX East titles (2023 and 2024), returned from the US to Europe this season after signing a long-term agreement with Honda HRC Petronas.

It was previously announced last year that the double MX2 world champion would contest the Australian GPs which never eventuated, however, he did make his first HRC start at the annual Paris Supercross this past November – finishing sixth overall.

“I’m really looking forward to racing in Birmingham,” the 25-year-old Frenchman said. “It’s always exciting to compete in a new environment and in front of different fans, and the UK has a strong passion for the sport.

“World Supercross is continuing to grow, and it’s great to be part of it for the first time. I’m ready to get out there and put on a show competing against the world’s elite.”

World Supercross director of racing, Thomas Covington, added: “Tom making his World Supercross debut is hugely exciting. Bringing him in as a wildcard adds real quality to the field in Birmingham and is exactly the kind of opportunity we want to create across the championship. The British GP is shaping up to be a key round on the calendar and this only adds to the level of competition fans can expect.”

Now 10 rounds into his first season of premier class MXGP competition, Vialle currently sits ninth in the standings with a single victory to his credit in Switzerland. He’s also claimed podium results in Argentina – where he won the qualifying race on debut – and Trentino, both in P3.

It’s understood that Vialle’s in the first of an extensive three-year deal at HRC in the Motocross World Championship, with his unique Monster Energy Supercross background keeping him well-placed to crossover into World Supercross beyond his MXGP schedule.

Coenen Watches and Learns from the Best!

Lucas Coenen: "I can learn from the best."

Ralph Marzahn June 30, 2026

Lucas Coenen wanted to win the MXGP of Portugal. The KTM rider left no doubt about that after the race. But when Jeffrey Herlings increased the pressure in the second heat and finally overtook him, Coenen opted for the pragmatic approach: secure points, extend his championship lead, and limit the risk.

In the end, he finished second in the day's standings. No win, but a result that could be almost more valuable in the title race than a forced attack on the Dutchman.

"The key is to drive smartly."

Coenen dominated the weekend for much of the race. The Belgian won the first heat, demonstrating the perfect blend of speed and control that has made him so strong this season. He also led the second heat initially, before Herlings closed the gap.

“The key is to ride cleverly,” Coenen explained after the Grand Prix. That’s exactly what he tried to do. In the first race, his feeling on the bike was very good, and in the second, he wanted to control the situation.

Coenen knew what Herlings needed. "I knew that Jeffrey wanted to win – and that he had to win." For Herlings, what mattered most in Portugal was... the day's victoryFor Coenen, however, it was about the bigger picture.

No unnecessary risks

The decisive moment came when Herlings set up the attack. Coenen later explained that he himself had made a small mistake by not attempting the triple. This allowed Herlings to close the gap. "I thought he was going to come inside, so I slowed down a bit. Then he was very close and I had to react, otherwise I would have been down."

Coenen accepted the maneuver. No big drama, no excuses. Instead, he put the situation into perspective. "That's what we love: good racing." After losing the position, he tried to react again, but didn't push himself to the limit. The Belgian knew that second place would be enough that day.

One more point instead of all or nothing

The decisive factor is the World Cup billAlthough Coenen lost the Grand Prix victory, he still took a one-point lead back from Portugal. For a young rider competing against one of the most successful motocross riders of all time, that's a strong statement. "I didn't lose any points, I gained one," Coenen clarified.

This statement describes his current approach quite accurately. He's not just thinking about the individual race, but about the season as a whole. If you want to become world champion, you don't have to force every race. Sometimes it's enough to avoid the damage and let the opponent do the work.

Learn from the best

Coenen's perspective on Herlings was particularly noteworthy. The Belgian knows that the Honda rider improves his statistics with every victory. For him, something else matters. "Jeffrey keeps pushing his numbers higher. I don't care about my statistics. I want to be smart."

Coenen has a realistic view of his situation. He's young, leads the world championship, and is competing against riders who have known how to win titles for years. "I'm young, I have to learn. And I can learn from the best."

It is precisely this attitude that makes his second place in Portugal so valuable. Coenen showed not only speed but also maturity. He could have tried to counter Herlings with all his might. Instead, he secured a result that strengthened his lead in the World Championship standings.

To South Africa with the Red Plate

After Portugal, Coenen travels on with the Red Plate to the next Grand Prix. South Africa will be the third World Championship round within three weeks and will present the next challenge in terms of track, travel and conditions.

When asked what he expected to do there, Coenen replied succinctly and aptly: "Enjoy."

That sounds relaxed, but it also shows how focused the Belgian is right now. He knows the season is long. And he knows that days like the one in Portugal can ultimately decide the championship. A win would have been nicer. Second place might have been more important.

Jeffrey Herlings: “For me it was time for something new”

Jeffrey Herlings spoke not only about his victory at the MXGP of Portugal. 117th Grand Prix victory. At the press conference, the Honda rider was also asked about his switch from KTM to Honda – and explained unusually openly why he had decided to make a fresh start after so many years.

The Dutchman made it clear that his decision was not due to a lack of confidence in KTM.

No goodbye because of the motorcycle

For many years, Herlings was closely associated with KTM. He celebrated numerous Grand Prix victories and world championship titles with the Austrian brand. His switch to Honda therefore came as a surprise to many observers.

Herlings firmly denied that the motorcycle was the reason. "The KTM is a really good motorcycle."

As proof, he cited the brand's numerous successes. Whether Antonio Cairoli, Jorge Prado, or Lucas Coenen – in his view, KTM had repeatedly proven in recent years that its equipment was competitive. Simon Längenfelder also won the MX2 World Championship title on a KTM last year.

Changes in the team

Herlings believed the real reason lay elsewhere. In his estimation, the environment within the team had changed increasingly in recent years. "More and more good people have left the team."

Especially in top-level sports, it is often the people behind the scenes who make the difference. For Herlings, therefore, not only the motorcycle itself played a role, but also the structure with which things are done on a daily basis.

He felt that the environment in which he had been successful for many years was changing step by step.

The right time

Furthermore, Herlings didn't want to postpone the change any longer. Now almost 32, he was aware that the opportunity for a fresh start wouldn't come around indefinitely. "If I wanted to change things again, I had to do it now."

This consideration ultimately tipped the scales. Not because he was dissatisfied with his current situation, but because he wanted to start a new chapter.

New people, new ideas

At Honda, Herlings found exactly what he was looking for. He describes the move less as a technological advancement and more as a change in the entire work environment. "It's simply a new group of people and a new adventure."

Herlings declined to answer whether the Honda was fundamentally better than his previous KTM. "Both motorcycles are good," he said. For him, it was more about the overall package. New workflows, different approaches, and fresh impetus had given him renewed motivation.

His success proves him right.

That the decision was the right one is now also evident on the track. With his victory in Portugal, Herlings increased his record to 117 Grand Prix victories. Already in his first season with Honda, the Dutchman is regularly among the contenders for victory.

At the same time, he made it clear that he doesn't intend to rest on his laurels. The season is only half over, and his focus is on winning more races and securing as many podium finishes as possible.

For Jeffrey Herlings, the move to Honda was therefore far more than just a change of brand. It was a conscious decision for a new environment – ​​and so far, this step seems to have unleashed new energy.

Red Bud Advantage... WC and Lawrence Boys!

This may be the most important product for success Saturday at Red Bud.

WHAT IS IT? Works Connection has been a market leader in holeshot devices since they came out with the Pro Launch in 2002. This is the second-gen Pro Launch, and it’s a must-have for serious motocross racers. This is the same device used by Star Racing Yamaha, HRC Honda, MotoConcepts Honda and the MXA wrecking crew. 

CONTACT? www.worksconnection.com or info@worksconnection.com.

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with Works Connection’s Pro Launch device.

(1) History. The original starting device was invented back in 1979 by Husqvarna rider Arlo Englund. It was a simple trigger device, but Arlo only used it for one season. It wasn’t until 22 years later that Arlo’s idea was rediscovered at the Yamaha Grand Prix team that Chad Reed raced for in 2001. When Chad moved to America in 2002, he told Yamaha USA about the idea and Chad showed up at Anaheim 1 with the starting device (that Yamaha tried unsuccessfully to hide from prying eyes). From that time on, the holeshot device became the thing to have.

(2) System. Works Connection started out like everyone else with a spring-loaded device but soon replaced the old-fashioned spring and plunger with a magnetic locking system. This new design was more consistent and less likely to malfunction and catch mid-race because of the strong magnet. 

(3) Activation. Because of its lever-style mechanism and chamfered engagement point, the Pro Launch glides over the receiver on the way down and catches on the way up. Some riders can set the device by themselves, but most MXA test riders have a friend engage it for them. To set it, the rider has to hold the front brake on while he or his mechanic compress the fork by pushing down on the handlebars with a rocking motion. There is a learning curve to mastering it. 

(4) Installation. Works Connection provides an aluminum template with pre-drilled holes, plus three different paper templates in the shape of each brand’s fork guard to align the aluminum template at 90mm, 100mm and 110mm. Once you choose the location of the device, you tape the metal template to the fork guard and use the supplied drill bit to make the mounting hole. It’s easy.

(5) Consistency. Historically, starting devices have been difficult to set, disengaged unexpectedly, refused to disengage, or broke the fork guard off the bike. The new Pro Launch is a different story; it works consistently every time. Works Connection holeshot devices are bike and brand specific to ensure each model has a perfect fit. 

(6) Setting. MXA test riders typically run their Pro Launch devices at 100mm, which is in the middle of Works Connection’s recommended settings; however, tackier dirt behind the starting gate might require setting the device lower because of the increased traction on launch. In Supercross and MXGP races, where they use a metal starting grate, we’ve seen riders set the device as low as 160mm. 

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? No complaints. 

MXA RATING: Works Connection’s magnetic Pro Launch raised the bar far beyond the old-school button-style devices, and it continues set the bar for holeshot devices in motocross today.

Conversation: Jett Lawrence

Round three winner details Thunder Valley race weekend.

It was another convincing weekend for defending 450MX champion Jett Lawrence, who delivered his second victory of Pro Motocross 2026 via a 1-1 scorecard at Thunder Valley. In this Conversation feature, Lawrence recounts his weekend in Colorado, as well as claiming the red plate three rounds into the season.

Image: Octopi Media.

Congratulations on now earning yourself the red plate. Can you talk a little bit about your day, and then also, I’m sure we’d all like to hear about the status of your foot and how that’s affecting you.

[I’m] super pumped to have [the] red plate. It’s obviously good to have. Doesn’t mean anything at this point, really. It’s more important if you have it at the last round, so not really much changes. To be fair, my ankle felt really, really good this weekend. I still can’t ride normal – I just have a little bit less pain. Every now and then, I still jar it a bit, but it was good, honestly. Even after walking around, it’s getting a lot better, which I’m happy about because it means I don’t have to struggle with walking as much as I did before, so I think it’s looking positive. I think each weekend we make some good strides in improving it, where it feels like it’s kind of going back to normal. Even during the week, when Dr. G adjusts my ankle, he would pull on it…only pop the left side of my foot, and my right side was still stuck. It was still pretty stiff going side to side, and this week we were able to get both sides to pop and a lot more range of movement. I was able to get a lot more range of movement side to side, so that was really, really good. Hopefully, each weekend it keeps making more improvements.

It looked like you were out there for a zone two ride, and I know yesterday you said you’re trying to keep your ankle at a seven out of 10, but in the first moto, you had some battles with your brother and [Haiden] Deegan. It looked like you might’ve gone more into that zone three or zone four threshold – do you just have more in the tank, or are you only riding around 80 percent?

That first one, I was going slow. I didn’t have a flow on the track at all, and you could have said zone two, honestly, but surprisingly, because I was so disjointed and didn’t have much of a flow, I almost got more tired in that one than I did the second one. The second one I was pushing, you could say, harder everywhere, but I didn’t get as tired as in the first one. That first one, I just couldn’t crack the flow. And obviously, with my foot, there are just some things – the reaction side of things – you want both feet to be on the pegs where sometimes my right foot’s just really light in areas, so when it flicks, it flicks my right foot off. So, it was not ideal, but we were just in defense mode in that first one. I think we did pretty well.

Is there any hesitancy in putting your foot down, any worry about dabbing it with the ankle, and does that throw your rhythm off just a little bit?

Yeah, I mean, I’ve dabbed it a few times, and it gives this kind of sharp pain up my ankle into my calf, but I try not to dab it too much because it takes a few turns to kind of flare it back down, get it back to normal. So, I try not to, I’ve been pretty good with not dabbing it, and when I have dabbed it, I’ve been really light with it. Try not to stomp it as you normally would. So yeah, it definitely would affect me for a few turns, but it recovers fairly quickly, thankfully.

I heard you mention the track conditions, and that’s been a little bit of a subject around the pits. I’ve heard this weekend, when you go back and look at this race from the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, it’s traditionally a hard pack race. Ruts where they saturate it, but they get hard-packed deep. We’re kind of in that mulch era again, where it’s really spongy in places, and certain areas look decent. Walk me through what you thought of the track changes and the conditions today.

They obviously added mulch to the track, which I don’t think is a bad thing. It’s not like it’s a terrible thing. I think that it’s just added too close to the race. I think if they had added it in the months prior, when the mulch can work into the soil and mix, then I think it’ll hold better moisture. They add the mulch to hold the moisture, but right now it’s the mulch on top, and then there’s still a rock-hard base underneath, so it’s basically worse. I think if they added it sooner in the year, where it gives it one or two months to mix in with the dirt, I think it’d be a lot better. Because otherwise, you just get this where everything kind of pushes, nothing really holds. Eventually, it blows out and gets this – you get a hard edge, but then a slick base, and it gets loose. This creates a really untrustworthy feeling with your front and rear wheel. I mean, my first few laps when I went out there, I had both wheels sliding because of the mulch and the water on top of it as well. I think if they can do that, I think it’ll be a lot better.

Image: Octopi Media.

Secondly, Lucas and Sacha Coenen were here as well this weekend. A lot of people compare it a little bit to your story, it’s a little different. You guys went from Australia to Europe to do GPs and then to the US, but I mean same for them, starting the GPs, two brothers chasing a dream, wanting to come live the American dream. You’ve gone to race them a couple of times now. What do you think of their progress? What are your expectations if they’re able to come here in 2027?

It’s sick to see. I mean, I think I said it maybe yesterday – not many people get to experience the feeling that my brother and I get when we do well, when in 2023 Hunter won the 250 championship, and I won the 450 championship. We’re the only people that can really relate to that, and now, honestly, the Coenen brothers [can]. Lucas is doing really well in MXGP, and Sacha is as well in the 250 class, MX2. So, it’s cool when you see two brothers doing well. It’s sick. We had Jeremy Martin and Alex Martin before Hunter and I, and when you see those two do well, it’s always cool. It’s like a family thing. So, it was cool to see them come over. I got to race them last year at Ironman and have already seen them improve just from then. So, it’s cool to see, especially at a young age, being 19 years old, I remember when I was 19 riding a 450, you just keep learning and keep learning. You have that young energy, so it’s really, really cool to see. And they came over [at] a tough track. As I said, this dirt was really kind of weird and hard to adapt to.

Last week, you talked about being able to manage your flow, especially in moto two. This week was a contrast – you couldn’t manage the flow quite as much in the first race. Is that what we saw? And did you learn anything by being pressed as hard as you were by both Haiden and Hunter?

I learned that I didn’t have a good flow – I can tell you that for sure. It’s hard to learn much when you’re out front on someone else, but you kind of get a feeling a little bit on where they’re going to pass, and you can kind of read what’s his name like a book, where he is going to try and pass. So, it’s a little easier to kind of defend that. Hunter gets a lot more creative. He was able to get around me, and I was able to kind of fire back and get a good run-up to the start straight. I wouldn’t say I learned a crazy amount then, when I’m probably battling with them more behind.