What Didn't Happen At Thunder Valley Motocross

Jason Weigandt walks and talks after a wild day both on and off the track at the Toyota Thunder Valley National in Colorado, round three of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship for 2024. From Jett Lawrence's super deep dig to get the overall win in the 450 class, to Chase Sexton's crazy day, to Haiden Deegan and Tom Vialle's epic battle and Chance Hymas' first career moto win, this day had it all. There's probably more in store for High Point, too!

Thunder Valley National 250 Class Highlights

Herlings Is Back!

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings has scored his 104th Grand Prix victory with a 1-3 performance at the MXGP of Latvia, although while he gets the GP win, Tim Gajser finished with 2-2 results for second overall, so very few points gained for the Dutchman. Jorge Prado finished with 7-1 for third overall. Gajser takes the red plate to Maggiora next week.

Championship points are now Tim Gajser 454 points, Jorge Prado 450pts, Jeffrey Herlings 386pts. So, Gajser with a four points lead over Prado and Herlings some 68 points back. Had he not had that mechanical issue in a round, he would be a lot closer.

Jeffrey Herlings: “It was last time I was here, 103 here and now 104 here. Twice with good starts and I could follow them until the end. Good riding, 1-3 and lets keep building from here, lets go. I mean, after yesterday I was driving to the hotel and asked myself what I am doing, but I wanted to show people I can still ride a bit. I didn’t have the pace early in that second moto, but I did catch them, just didn’t have the speed to pass them.”

Jett...My Legs Were Gone!

Barcia's Day

Justin Barcia: "Thunder Valley was a pretty good day! I qualified decent in the top 10, which I wasn't thrilled about, but it was okay. I got off to two good starts, charged really hard all day, and the bike was really good. We made a change after the second practice and it was really consistent, so I was able to adapt to different lines today and felt comfortable. We came away with a solid fourth, so it's good. We want more, so we're going to keep pushing, and we'll get there soon!"

Chase comments

In wearing the red plates on his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION for the first time outdoors and coming off a victory at Hangtown, Chase Sexton displayed his front-running pace once again, but track position and a heavy crash while looking to take charge of Moto 2 resulted in 6-5 scores for fifth overall. He currently sits second in the standings, six points from the series lead following Round 3.

Chase Sexton: “It was nice to have the red plate today, and I felt like we had speed on our side, but it just didn’t come together in the motos. Considering the results, we’re still right there in the championship, so look forward to rebounding at High Point next weekend.”

Jett and Hunter Go 1 - 2 at Thunder Valley

Rebound victory for Lawrence at Thunder Valley

Motoonline Competition Post: Kellen Brauer

The Lawrence brothers split moto wins in Colorado.

Image: Octopi Media.

One week on from a tough crash that left a gash in his leg, Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence found his way to the top step of the podium at Thunder Valley putting together 2-1 moto scores on the day. It was an all-Lawrence day in the 450 class as Hunter Lawrence went 1-2 for second behind his brother and took over the championship lead in the process.

Both motos ended up seeing a similar script in that Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper led much of both motos from the start before a Lawrence brother caught and passed him. In the first moto, it was Hunter with Jett quickly following into second, and in the second moto, it was reversed.

Hunter Lawrence’s triumph in the first moto was the first win of his 450 class career and he provisionally took over the championship lead with it. Though his brother bested him in the second moto, the result was still enough to give Hunter sole possession of the red plate after three rounds of racing.

Justin Cooper would settle in for a 3-3 day for third overall as he just tailed off at the end of both motos. Behind him, it was Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas’ Justin Barcia who went 4-6 for fourth just edging out Red Bull KTM’s Chase Sexton for fifth.

Sexton entered Thunder Valley as the championship leader and had a frustrating day at the office. The first moto saw him take a while to get into fourth, but then he fell late in the moto and slipped back to sixth. Then in the second moto, he was on Justin Cooper for the lead when he crashed and eventually finished fifth. He now sits six points down in the championship.

Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM) was sixth ahead of Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) in seventh, Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) in eighth, Dylan Ferrandis (Phoenix Racing Honda) in ninth, and Christian Craig (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) rounding out the top 10.

Next up is High Point in one weeks time where it will be Hunter Lawrence’s turn to defend the red plate for the first time this season.

Old School Dentist

Tusk Air Filters Great Product Great Value

Here at MX43 we love these filters. They are well made, work well and are priced right. We buy several so we always have a clean one ready to go. Riding season is here. Check'em out at www.tuskoffroad.com

VMXDN Foxhill 2024

Double Whammy for Team USA

The third annual VMXdN at Foxhill is getting even more international recognition as word spreads of the success and overall 90's vibe of the four-day festival weekend. Entering its third year held at the iconic Wiltshire Grand Prix circuit near Swindon over the August Bank holiday weekend, the venue is like hallow ground to anybody who was around the 90's and 00's motocross scene.

Italy has now entered two teams, and the USA has entered a second squad, with the first to be announced as New England Fairhurst USA.

Steve Wells, the kingpin behind KX500 Tech, will manage the team. Wells will build and run a 2001 Kawasaki KX 250 with number 25 for the +40 category rider—the legend Keith Johnson. Johnson has been a regular at the VMXdN for a few years and runs the AMA National at Southwick, and the vets race there. He is supported by FXR and 6D helmets.

Second up is Chris Canning, another New England legend who will be racing a RM 250 supplied and run by Fathead Racing, running the number 26 plate. Again, Canning is supported by FXR clothing and 6D helmets.

Third, and by no means least, is Heath Harrison. He is the crew chief for the Phoenix/Factory Connection Honda squad in the States—Dylan Ferrandis' boss! Heath is a very accomplished racer in his own right and will most certainly be up the sharp end of the action. He will be racing a CR 250 supplied and worked on by Ultimate Wheels boss Jamie Smith, running the number 27.

In just two short years, VMXdN Foxhill has quickly established itself as the "must-go-to" event on the British MX calendar. The four-day festival weekend celebrates all that is good about the '90s and '00s two-stroke era at a circuit that is synonymous with the insurgent 125 and 250 GPs held there back in the day.

It's a cracking weekend for the whole family. With a packed schedule, open paddocks, podcast show, entertainment, Show’N’Shine - brought to you by The Range, and nonstop racing action on Saturday and Sunday, it’s no wonder the camping spaces sold out in 2023! This year’s event is on course to sell out before the gates open, which is unheard of for an outdoor motocross event in the UK.

We strongly advise booking now to avoid disappointment! With a weekend adult ticket starting at just £16 a day, not only is it a great 90s vibe MX weekend, but the prices are pretty