ClubMX's Martin opts out of Supercross season remainder

ClubMX's Martin opts out of Supercross season remainder

Post: Kellen Brauer

Jeremy Martin will not return to racing for final rounds of Supercross.

Image: Octopi Media.

Due to complications stemming from his crash earlier this year, Jeremy Martin has decided to sit out the remainder of the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross season. The decision comes as a mutual agreement between Martin and his Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha team in order to focus on Martin’s health.

“I am incredibly disappointed to have to make this decision but when it comes to my health and my future, it is the right move,” said Martin.

“I struggled having to tell the team, but they were completely supportive knowing everything that I have gone through.”

Martin’s season started with a brutal crash during the heat race at the opening round of 250SX East in Detroit where Martin slammed his head into the ground and was knocked unconscious. He spent a few minutes out while the Alpinestars medical team was quick to get there and help stabilize Martin. He would miss the following round at Arlington before returning at Daytona where he collected a 12th place result. Martin would go 5-7 at Birmingham and Indianapolis, respectfully, but was still not 100% during those races. Coming off the final break in the schedule for the year, it was decided it was not worth it to continue risking his health to race less than at full strength.

“These situations are never easy for the rider or the team because you are not sure if you are getting the entire story on the health side of things,” explained Team Owner Brandon Haas. “The racer always wants to compete, and Jeremy is one of the toughest competitors the sport has ever seen. When it comes right down to it, he has helped our program grow in so many ways, it only makes sense to support him in any decision he makes.”

No timetable has been established on his return just yet, but the hope of course would be that Martin would be ready to go for AMA Pro Motocross when it begins in late May. The two-time 250 class champion of Pro Motocross certainly factors in as a front runner if he is to get back to full health. For now, the team says they are just taking a deep breath and seeing what the future holds.

Alessio “Chicco” Chiodi to Race 2024 VMXdN Foxhill.

We are proud to announce that with the full backing of Yamaha Racing Heritage Club and Crescent Yamaha, multiple world champion Alessio “Chicco” Chiodi will be racing at this year’s 2024 VMXdN Foxhill.

Chicco will return to the hillside amphitheatre that he was so successful on in his stellar career, on route to his three world titles in 1997, 1998, and 1999.

He will be racing a Yamaha YZ 250, but in which class is yet to be decided.

Last time he won the +50 class with ease, to the sold-out crowd showing he has lost none of his trademark smooth, yet somehow aggressive riding style. The +50 class for 2024 is already looking full and so he could line up in more than one class, much like his old sparring partner Mike Brown.

The plan at present is for Chicco to be on a 2002 YZ250, built by DocWob in the “main” VMXdN class, but we will keep you updated as we hear more team news.

VMXdN Foxhill immediately established itself as the “must go” event on the British and indeed world MX calendar, the four-day festival which celebrates all wonderful things from the 2-stroke Grand Prix racing of the 90’s and 00’s era, is an event not to be missed. Not only is there epic racing in every class but the Friday “Show’N’Shine ” bike show is a highlight, not to mention the social aspect with the packed beer tent is not to be missed (don’t worry, they are removing the sides in 2024).

Race entries were sold out in seconds, and getting in to race is deemed to be a “golden ticket”! In 2023, camping passes for the event sold out, and ticket sales are well above last year, so this could well be the first outdoor MX event to be sold out before the gates open.

Ensure you book your tickets early to avoid disappointment.

I was 19 with NO MONEY! - Marvin Musquin EXPOSES Honda Team for Suing him

Marvin Musquin shares insane stories from the first years racing in MXGP and how a Honda Team Sued him for switching to Red Bull KTM mid season. French Supercross legend Marvin Musquin joins the podcast today to talk everything from being retired from Supercross to being sued while winning his first World Title. Marvin is not only a French Motocross and Supercross icon, but he is also one of the nicest guys in the sport.

Hear from Musquin as looks back to that sureal time when he was sued by his old team while leading the world championship – and had to miss a GP after moving to KTM mid-season!

Roger DeCoster

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ADAM CIANCIARULO INTERVIEW: “STARTS ARE LIKE A GOLF SWING; SOMETIMES YOU JUST SHOW UP AND FEEL GOOD”

ADAM CIANCIARULO INTERVIEW: “STARTS ARE LIKE A GOLF SWING; SOMETIMES YOU JUST SHOW UP AND FEEL GOOD”

Make no mistake about this; Adam Ciancurulo is happy to be racing Supercross. but he is still not pumped about his fourteenth place in the Supercross standings. Now 27 years old, the Floridian has had a very promising career, however, injury after injury has slowed his progression. Only time, and maybe technology will determine his future. But Adam is living his best motocross life.

BY JIM KIMBALL

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ADAM, LETS BEGIN WITH YOUR CRASH IN MOTO ONE AT THE ST. LOUIS TRIPLE CROWN. It was unfortunate that Mitchell Oldenburg’s bike came into my line, and I crashed into it. I felt I was riding well during qualifying. Initially, I thought I had a big problem with my lower leg or ankle, but I now believe it’s more of a sprain. Having the next weekend off comes at a good time! My plan is to be back at the next round. It’s dirt bike racing, but I had hoped to put in a good ride for my mechanic Justin Shantie who is moving on to a job in the auto side. So, that part was disappointing.

Unfortunately, after his collision with Mitchell Oldenburg, Adam Cianciarulo was unable to keep racing in St. Louis.

PREVIOUS TO YOUR NIGHT ENDING EARLY IN ST. LOUIS, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR APPROACH TO RACING RIGHT NOW. YOU’VE HAD SOME PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE NOT ALLOWING YOU TO RACE AT YOUR BEST. It is not my fitness, and I am in great shape.  It is not a matter of me getting tired or not being strong enough, or anything like that. But a lot of my issue is that things would get worse as the race went on. Nerves are funny. It is an evolving thing that simply morphed into something different, where it is hard for me to have that sprint pace. If you watch me at the end of the race, my lap times are still how they were in the beginning. If anything, sometimes my heart rate this year has been maxing in the low 170s, like where I could normally get it to 190 or so. That shows you that I just can’t push really that hard. My main priority is just trying to get the absolute most out of it. I have a job to do for Kawasaki and that bike deserves to be up front. The guys work hard, and I still have this opportunity in front of me. So, it is one of those things where I must control what I can control, and that is what I am doing. I’m trying to be as positive as possible and think my way around the track a little bit. Hopefully, I can start working on getting the bike towards the front.

After struggling last year, Adam is feeling a lot more confident on the new 2024 Kawasaki KX450 model.

SPEAKING OF YOUR NEW KAWASAKI 450, I HEAR GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT. I love the bike.  It was a great step from last year. Overall, last year we were struggling with some turning, and the first thing I said when I got on the 2024 was just how much feel there is, like the center of gravity. It feels like a balanced, and plush motorcycle. At the same time, in saying that, it has also kept the Kawasaki KX a stable bike as well. Probably the best thing about our bike is its stability, and it kept that.  No complaints about the bike; the bike can win, absolutely.  There are a lot of talented guys out there. Of course, every team is working hard, and it takes a rider too.

WE HAVE NOW HAD A COUPLE OF TRIPLE CROWNS, DOES THAT SUIT YOU? DO YOU LIKE IT OR DISLIKE IT? It suits me because my game plan right now is just to do consistent laps and stay out of trouble. And I finally feel confident in my starts again. Starts are like a golf swing; sometimes you just show up and feel good. Other times you lose it a little bit. I got the confidence back on a couple of good starts in Alabama and figured out some things at the track recently. At the shorter races, I think it will help me to start up front. I am always down for whatever the fans are excited about. The Triple Crown from a rider’s point of view, is that it is a little risky because any time you are going four wide off a triple, it is risky right? The starts are hectic and that’s where you can make or break your race. It is a little riskier from that point of view, but I think it is great for the fans.  

Constantly running into bad luck Adam is one of the most positive guys at the track and is loved by many.

RETURNING TO YOUR NERVE ISSUE, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO?   I have had over ten or twelve surgeries, trying to figure out what it is. The most conclusive thing we have come up with so far is that I dislocated my shoulders so many times around the time I turned pro. I also grew like seven inches in six months during that time. I probably just rushed things a little bit. There are the nerve endings that sit on the top of your shoulders, called the brachial plexus and those nerves have been stretched out so many times from the shoulder dislocating. It is one of those things where nerves require rest. Sometimes they can heal and come back but our sport is high impact. A lot is going on, and it just has not really been able to have that rest that’s needed. I am still hopeful, and I still always trying different techniques to keep my mind open about it. I am in a great place mentally and just in a very accepting place where I can only do my best. I believe there are some people out there who think I just woke up and forgot how to go fast on a dirt bike suddenly. But that is fine, I am still having fun out there.

RACING IS SO CONSTANT.  IT HAS TO BE DIFFICULT TO REALLY TAKE THE TIME REQUIRED OFF. It is hard to take time off. Especially in this sport, the level is only elevated. Everybody is getting faster. You have Jett coming in now and Chase. Those guys have raised the pace so much, and I love to see it from a fan point of view. These guys are extremely talented, and it is great to be out there on the track with them. But yes, it is going to require some rest and, it is what it is.  

Adam has been riding for Kawasaki since his 85’cc days and has been dedicated to the brand to this day.

IT’S INTERESTING TO ME THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WITH KAWASAKI YOUR ENTIRE PRO CAREER TO DATE; YOU MUST HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP. Of course, I have always valued loyalty, and Kawasaki has been great to me. Of course, there have been a lot of times in amateurs and getting close to the pro ranks where there were different offers. But you both must be loyal to each other, right? I could not have asked for a better situation. If you had told me when I signed with Kawasaki in 2004 that I would still be riding for them in 2024, twenty years later, having gone through the team green program to Mitch’s program and now to the factory 450 level, it has really been a dream come true. This does not happen often; it is just a testament to those guys. The way Kawasaki runs their program, with the people they have in-house is amazing. We all have great relationships; they stuck by me and always supported and encouraged me. We have a great relationship, so it is really something that I do not take for granted.  

Unfortunately, Adam has found himself on the ground more than a few times this year but is always determined to get back out and improve his results.

LET’S FINISH UP WITH THIS; WHAT IS YOUR MINDSET GOING INTO THE REMAINING ROUNDS? With my results this year, if you watch me ride, I think it could be easy to jump to the conclusion that I am just content with what I am doing. I think it is hard to understand my results. I say how much fun I am having, and that I am in good head space, but that does not mean I am stoked to get twelfth place. I grew up winning my whole life and I have always had at least the speed to win.  There have been some missing ingredients in there that at times, I have not put it all together, but as a racer, I am always going to go out there and do the best I can for myself and for the people who support me.  I owe that to myself, and I owe that to them.  Until I race my last lap, I will always give it everything I can within reason, the smartest way I know how to. My mindset is that I have dropped my expectations.  Now I feel like I just try to get the most out of myself and not attach it to an end goal.  Just focus on the process and do what I can and whatever it will be, will be.

Can Two Strokes Jump?

Remember this jump?

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Riders frustrated with red cross flag situation in St. Louis

Five riders were penalized shaking up the Triple Crown results massively.

At the tail end of the second 450SX race in the Triple Crown at St. Louis, Vince Friese was down in the middle of the finish line jump and landing prompting the red cross flag to be displayed as he tried to get his bike off the track. The red cross flag was shown during the white flag and checkered flag, and five riders still jumped the finish resulting in several penalties.

Jett Lawrence had won the race and jumped the finish line with the checkered flag and red cross flag displayed. He immediately looked back and put his hand on his head realizing his error, but he was not the only one. Cooper Webb, Chase Sexton, Aaron Plessinger, and Jason Anderson all jumped as well, with Anderson committing the infraction twice. Each rider was penalized two positions per infraction meaning Anderson received a four-place penalty.

Image: Octopi Media.

“I knew it was the end of the race and I didn’t even look it,” said Jett Lawrence after the race. “It kind of sucks because Vince, who they had the flag out for, was off the side of the track in between. I’m just pissed. I wish they would have warned earlier.”

Of the top seven riders in the race at that time, Eli Tomac in second and Hunter Lawrence in seventh were the only riders to not commit the infraction and roll the finish line jump. The AMA spent nearly a full hour sorting through the footage and finally posted the corrected results just before riders began staging for the final 450SX race. It promoted Hunter Lawrence, who had initially finished the race in seventh, all the way up to second place as he was able to roll the finish line jump both times.

“A lot of guys jumped on it but what are the chances you get closer than like fourth or fifth,” said Hunter Lawrence post-race. “They called out Mr. Tomac [in staging for Race 3] and then 96, and I was like, “Yeah, we’re not asking questions. We’ll just go ahead on out.” We’ve been on the bad side of that for sure many times with the red cross flag. I just had eyes on it tonight like a hawk and it worked out.”

Lawrence rolled it after watching Cooper Webb and Aaron Plessinger jump it on the white flag lap in a battle just ahead of him. Then all three were able to roll on the final lap. Eli Tomac was given the race win after finishing second to Jett Lawrence, whose two-place penalty dropped him to third. Tomac would go on to sweep all three races then while Webb still salvaged second overall with the wild scores of 5-6-2. Webb, like Jett Lawrence, knew his mistake as soon as he made it.

“Basically, we were going super inside, and it was a white flag mixed with a red cross and I saw it right when I was going up the face,” explained Webb. “I knew right then and there I did it. Like I said, I saw the white was out and then the red cross just inside of it. It was a bit tricky. I think a lot of us honestly didn’t see it. I think when I finally saw it, I was a foot from going off the takeoff. It was kind of a hectic last turn because we had a lapper and AP was on my butt. I went inside and rolled because I saw it, but it was a tricky spot for sure.”

The red cross flag was displayed as a stagnant flag, meaning it simply hung out from the AMA officials left hand while he used his right hand to actively wave the white flag and eventually the checkered flag above it. With one flag waving and one flag not, some riders did notice seeing something, but were not quite sure of what until it was too late.

Aaron Plessinger was in a battle with Cooper Webb for fifth place at the time and the intensity of that battle along with the challenging nature of the track contributed to Plessinger missing the red cross flag on the beginning of the final lap.

“When they put the finish line like that, we’re coming out of a sharp corner and we’re already looking at ruts,” Plessinger stated. “So, I knew something was there. I thought it was the white flag, but then he was waving something, and I hit the finish line, and I looked back, and I saw it. I was like, “Dude, my luck.” We’ll take the penalty and move on. But when you put the finish line like that when you’re already kind of focused on everything else, it doesn’t really matter. There’s five of us that didn’t see it.”

The whole situation left many riders frustrated, but all of them admitted their mistake and knew what the rule was and how they would be punished for it. The moment did reignite the debate about in-helmet communication or perhaps LED lights on the handlebars to warn riders of red cross flag situations. While no immediate solution is on the horizon, the AMA has mentioned a few times that it’s a situation they’d like to improve to make it so riders can either see the flag or be aware of the situation better.