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Roger DeCoster

Reed to the Broadcast Booth

CHAD REED JOINS SX GLOBAL AS MOTORSPORT ADVISOR AND EXPERT BROADCAST COMMENTATOR

Press release: Australian Supercross legend and two-time FIM World Supercross Champion Chad Reed will join the SX Global team as an expert motorsport advisor and play an integral role in the FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX) broadcast team for the 2023 season.

Holding the record for competing in the most supercross ‘main events’ in history, Reed is also the fifth most successful supercross rider of all time. He will use his invaluable experience to provide operational and strategic advice in all sporting aspects of WSX, from track design to format and safety.

Reed will also join the broadcast team, providing input for the 2023 season alongside the returning line-up that includes long-time Supercross broadcaster Ralph Sheheen, former Supercross champion Jeff Emig and trackside reporter Kristen Beat.

Reed will not only bring expert knowledge to the event broadcast, but he will also host exclusive behind-the-scenes content for WSX.TV.

“Supercross has had a piece of my heart since I was 12 years old,” said Reed. “I’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world and race supercross at the highest level and at some of the most amazing stadiums and events known in the supercross world.

“I can now use my understanding of the sport and my experience as an athlete, series promoter, and team owner to assist SX Global in making the best decisions to sustainably grow supercross around the world.

“My goals are always based on winning and winning means contributing to WSX successfully running supercross races globally and giving future supercross racers the platform to be worldwide superstars.

“2023 will be exciting, and I am thrilled to be a part of it. When I see the announcements and images for locations like Singapore, it genuinely makes me so proud of the potential for Supercross in the future.

“Even our biggest critics are envious of those images. Supercross is a sport loved globally, and it’s time to grow like never before.”

SX Global CEO Adam Bailey said Chad will be an immense asset to the WSX team.

“We’re ecstatic to have Chad join our team. There’s nobody with more experience across all facets of international supercross racing than him.

“He’s always been one I could lean on for real-time feedback, and I’m looking forward to leaning on his experience as we continue to grow the WSX Championship.

“His expert comments will provide incredible insights for our television broadcast and WSX.TV audiences spanning the globe.

“I have tremendous respect for what Chad has achieved as a racer, a business owner, and as a father of young motocross riders. The breadth of his perspective is unrivaled and can only lead to great things for the future of WSX.

Jason Anderson Update

Anderson back on the bike and looking to 450MX return

motoonline.com Post: Troy Guenther

KX450SR contender targeting Pro Motocross comeback in coming weeks.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson has completed his first day back riding following a neck injury sustained in AMA Supercross and looks to make a return to competition in the coming weeks of the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship.

Anderson was ruled out of the final two rounds of 450SX this year after it was revealed he sustained a non-displaced fracture in his C5-C6 vertebrae during a crash at Nashville.

The number 21 additionally missed the opening rounds of Pro Motocross this year as he recovered, and while an exact return date has not been specified, Kawasaki has confirmed he aims to be back in the coming weeks after Anderson felt good riding again.

“This is my first day back riding and it feels really good,” Anderson explained. “Honestly in the time off I’ve just been trying to hang out, heal up, hang out with my new baby girl. It’s been enjoyable, but I’ve been watching the races and I’m itching to get back out there and have some fun with the guys.”

In Anderson’s absence, Adam Cianciarulo has been the sole Monster Energy Kawasaki representative in the 450MX category and is currently fifth in the championship standings after three rounds.

Despite missing the final two rounds of Monster Energy Supercross and the first three rounds of 450MX, Anderson now holds eighth in SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) combined point standings.

What's Happening as MX Moves East

Countdown: Early Pro Motocross trends

Post: Motoonline.com Troy Guenther

What's emerging in the opening rounds of the 2023 championship.

As the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship heads to High Point this Saturday, a number of different dynamics and storylines have surfaced across the opening rounds. In this edition of Countdown, MotoOnline takes a closer look at a selection of trends that are emerging following the motos that have taken place so far.

 

Image: Octopi Media.

8. Injured riders remain in solid SMX positions:
There’s no hiding the fact that there are a number of front-running contenders sidelined from 450MX due to injuries sustained in Supercross – or in Chase Sexton’s (Team Honda HRC) case, the outdoors – in 2023. However, for the first time in the extended history of Monster Energy Supercross and Pro Motocross, both series have combined for the lucrative SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX), commencing this year. A key part of the merge is a revolutionary SMX post-season, featuring playoffs and title-deciding round on hybrid track layouts. Combined points from both the Monster Energy Supercross Championship and Pro Motocross Championships will be used to determine each rider’s seed position into the post-season, and despite Sexton missing both Hangtown and Thunder Valley rounds, he still currently holds the number one seed spot in 450SMX, equal on points with Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). While Eli Tomac’s (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) future is not confirmed following a ruptured Achilles tendon that ruled him out of Supercross, he is fourth in the SMX rankings, as the injured Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing) and Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) feature in seventh and eighth respectively.

7. Depth in the 250 category:
While injuries have left the 450MX field depleted, there is no shortage of depth in the 250MX category. Proven contenders in the class such as Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC), Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) and RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) are joined by a number of hungry rookies and fresh faces such as two-time MX2 world champion Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), Chance Hymas (Team Honda HRC) and Ryder DiFrancesco (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), to name a few. Highlighting the depth in the field, there have been four different winners across the opening six races, and Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) became the ninth rider this season to stand on the podium in the category with his P2 result in race two at Thunder Valley. Additionally, Maximus Vohland proved he is capable of a top-three finish with a second-place result in the opening moto of the season at Fox Raceway, as the competition in the class is sure to produce some edge-of-the-seat action as the series unfolds.

6. Privateers time to shine:
With a number of key contenders currently sidelined from 450MX, it has opened up the door for some privateer or non-factory teams and racers to shine. Notably, Ty Masterpool (Kawasaki) charged to an impressive fourth-place finish in the second moto at Thunder Valley, meanwhile, GasGas-mounted Lorenzo Locurcio is a solid sixth in the championship standings, delivering consistent finishes across the opening six races with a best result of P7 at Fox Raceway’s opener. Despite Ken Roczen’s (Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki) return for High Point this weekend, the absence of those mentioned above, plus the likes of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna duo Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig, boost the chances for fresh names to emerge and bank a result in the premier class.

5. Red Bull KTM 450 riders building:
It’s been a relatively consistent start to the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing pairing Cooper Webb and Aaron Plessinger, with the pair emerging from the opening three rounds third and fourth respectively in the 450MX standings. Webb skipped the outdoors altogether last season and entered Fox Raceway’s opener this year off the back of his 450SX title challenge being cut short with a concussion sustained at Nashville. The 450 SX-F Factory Edition rider notched 4-5 results in Pala for fifth overall and scored his first outdoor podium of the season a week later at Hangtown, with a 4-2 scorecard landing him third overall. Admittedly, a top-three result came sooner than he expected and Webb completed the most recent round at Thunder Valley third overall, notching two-five results. Plessinger is just three points in the standings behind his teammate and has scored moto podiums in race one at Hangtown and race two in Colorado, where he finished second. Following a season-best result, Plessinger will be one to watch at High Point this Saturday.

4. Ferrandis coming to grips with the new YZ450F:
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis admitted he was still searching for comfort onboard the all-new 2023 YZ450F in the opening races of the 450MX season, but believed a shock change in the second moto at Hangtown was a step in the right direction. Scoring four podiums in the first four motos of 2023, Ferrandis was then limited at Thunder Valley when he came together with Plessinger in the first bout. He rejoined at the back of the field and was able to recover to seventh, before a third-place finish in the final race saw him fifth overall for the round, a single point shy of Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo in P4. In the coming races, it will be interesting to see how Ferrandis evolves with the new bike, as right now he is the closest challenger points-wise to runaway leader Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC).

3. Early promise from ‘Dangerboy’:
It’s been a promising start to the young professional career of Deegan, and the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider currently holds a solid P3 in the highly-competitive 250MX category. Deegan contested two 250MX rounds last season, before turning pro full-time in the 250SX East championship this year. Following a successful maiden Monster Energy Supercross Championship campaign, the 17-year-old then scored his first 250MX moto and overall podium during Pala’s 2023 Pro Motocross opener, finishing second in moto two and claiming P2 overall. Deegan went one better in the opening moto the following week at Hangtown, taking a milestone wire-to-wire victory, and capping off the day with a fourth-place finish for third overall. Round three at Colorado provided its challenges for the number 238 and he salvaged a 4-9 scorecard, remaining within striking distance of the red plate, 27 points from Lawrence. All things considered, Deegan has made an immensely promising start to his professional career and it will be exciting to see how he fares as he continues to gain experience.

2. Composure of 250MX leader Lawrence:
Entering the outdoor season off the back of his first 250SX East crown, Hunter Lawrence has demonstrated a champion’s composure throughout the opening rounds to emerge with a 16-point lead. While Lawrence has had to charge his way forward at times, he has kept his head and salvaged as many points as possible when he has not been able to claim victory in a race. That said, he is the only rider to win a 250MX overall this season and also the only one to finish on the podium in every outing. In the immensely deep field of talent, the number 96 continues to position himself as the favourite to capture this year’s 250MX title.

1. 450MX rookie Lawrence perfect in opening six:
It’s been a remarkable start to the premier class career of 450MX rookie Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC), taking six from six victories to commence the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship. Lawrence has been untouchable so far all season, the only time where he really seemed to be pushed was in moto two at Fox Raceway where he withstood the constant pressure of teammate Chase Sexton. The Australian first competed onboard a 450 at the Motocross of Nations (MXoN) last year where he instantly made an impact and won the Open category, also helping Team Australia score bronze at the event. With this in mind and his four straight titles in the quarter-liter category between SX/MX, there was no doubt of the number 18’s potential to reach the top step, but to do so in such dominant fashion in the early stages of his premier class career begs the question of just how high his ceiling is, and has left his rivals searching for answers to try and reduce the deficit. Underlining his impressive form, he leads the 450MX standings by 34 points ahead of High Point’s fourth stop of the season.

Looks Like Kick Start Kenny Is In

KEN ROCZEN IN FOR HIGH POINT

Any addition to the ever diminishing 450 class is a bonus for us in the 2023 Pro Motocross season and who better to add than fan favorite and the face of Suzuki racing than Ken Roczen. Ken has been out for the majority of the Pro Motocross season as his prep for the World Supercross season has already commenced. However, the last time we spoke with him, racing outdoors wasn’t completely out of the cards. He mentioned that he would like to race some rounds during his prep for World Supercross and the statement is finally coming to fruition.

HRC Honda Semi tour

Working the pits for Factory Honda HRC and Fay Myers Motorcycle World. Lars Lindstrom takes us on a tour of the Factory Honda Semi and shows us some extremely rare works parts and accessories that ALOT of people don't get to see. Extra motors, works suspension, titanium footings, it's all in this video from the 2023 Thunder Valley National in Lakewood Colorado.

Herlings Out for Indonesia

Jeffrey Herlings: “It’s hard to find many words. It sums up my career in a way: we get the wins record but then suffer another injury and another setback. I still don’t know what really happened with the crash because I’d been using that line nicely in the moto until that point. Afterwards my neck didn’t feel right. I tried to finish and take what points I could but I know my body very well by now and could feel something was wrong. So, we’ll miss another two GPs at least but I’m glad I won’t need surgery and I hope to be back with my team and racing again as soon as I can. Thanks, as always, to Red Bull KTM and all the guys who have been in my corner and for all the messages of support.”

Toni Bou Wins Again

Toni Bou Back On Top At 2023 TrialGP Of San Marino

32-time World Champion Toni Bou was back to his dominant best at the 2023 TrialGP of San Marino

Toni Bou came from behind with a champion’s performance to secure his first double win of the 2023 Hertz FIM Trial World Championship on the second day of round four of the series – the TrialGP of San Marino – at Baldasserona.

As the series passed the halfway mark in the land-locked microstate, the reigning champion’s performance could very appropriately prove to be a pivotal moment in the championship and the Spaniard now leads his compatriot and main challenger Jaime Busto by eight points with three rounds and six scoring days to go.

Torrential overnight rain added more water to what at this time of the year is usually a dry riverbed where the sections were plotted and the combination of huge smooth boulders and lots of mud ensured that grip was very hard to find.

Following a tough day yesterday when he slipped to third, Busto looked to be back to his brilliant best in the morning and the twenty-six-year-old led on twenty-one at the halfway point with Bou a full nine marks behind and tied for second with Italy’s Matteo Grattarola.

Section two provided the first major test of the day with its exit over a huge undercut step from almost zero run-up catching out everyone apart from Busto on the opening lap. However, second time around the leader could not match the sensational clean he produced at his first attempt and he added five to his score.

Bou’s fightback began here with an amazing faultless ride and for the rest of the lap the sixteen-time champion continued to pile the pressure on with the turning point coming at section ten where Busto incurred a maximum and Bou sailed through for a single mark to finally take a lead that he held to the end to win by two marks.

“Today we had great victory and I am very happy about the weekend,” Bou said. “The team worked well and I would like to thank them, because it has been incredible. On the first lap we made a lot of mistakes and it took us a long time to recover, but in the end we achieved our objective. We have to keep working because the title race is very tight. Now we have to improve on our mistakes to give everything in Andorra and get the best results possible.”

Grattarola’s remarkable return to form following his recent move back to Beta continued and he dug deep to claim his first podium of the season, twelve marks behind Busto and two ahead of Spain’s two-time champion Adam Raga with Aniol Gelabert taking fifth on a tie-break from yesterday’s runner-up Gabriel Marcelli.

Manuel Lettenbichler Wins Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2023

Manuel Lettenbichler’s goes down in history as one of the few riders to claim back-to-back victories at the iconic Austrian hard enduro. Photo: Future7Media

Manuel Lettenbichler has taken victory at round two of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, Red Bull Erzbergrodeo in Austria.

In what proved a thrilling race, the German made it two wins from two starts in this year’s championship chase. Pushing him hard all the way, Brit Billy Bolt took second, with Canadian Trystan Hart completing the podium.

With the Blakläder Iron Road Prologue put to bed, attention turned to Sunday’s feature race at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, round two of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. Ahead of the 12.00 CET start, all 500 qualified riders took their position on the start line at the base of the Iron Giant quarry.

For 2023 no course walking was allowed, meaning competitors had little idea of what to expect from the 35-kilometre-long track. And with outside assistance forbidden, getting a clean start and being at the head of the field would prove crucial.

As the flag dropped, Hart grabbed the holeshot ahead of EnduroGP regular Andrea Verona and Manuel Lettenbichler, with Dominik Olszowy slotting into fourth.

Drama didn’t take long to kick in with Billy Bolt crashing on the very first climb. Remounting outside the top 30 put him immediately on the back foot. Upfront and the leading quartet of Hart, Lettenbichler, Olszowy, and Verona remained relatively unchanged as they cleared the first few early checkpoints. Bolt was on a mission though and after 20 minutes had joined Lettenbichler and Hart at the front as Olszowy and Verona dropped back.

Through the rocky Machine climb, Lettenbichler and Bolt were wheel to wheel and now pulling clear of Hart. With Olszowy fourth, there was a battle between Sherco’s Wade Young, Teodor Kabakchiev, and Jonny Walker forming for fifth.

At Udo’s Playground, checkpoint 17 of 27, Bolt overhauled Lettenbichler. Arriving at the notorious Carl’s Dinner boulder field, Billy pressed on and opened up over 100 metres of an advantage during the 35-minute section. However, a damaged exhaust would leave the Husqvarna rider limping through the following MOTOREX Highway climbs and Lettenbichler struck back with around 30 minutes of racing to go.

Passing Bolt, Lettenbichler put his head down and never looked back. Through George’s Avenue, Dynamite, and the final signature section of Lazy Noon, Manuel built up a 10 minute lead. With everything under control, he arrived at the winner’s enclosure as this year’s Red Bull Erzbergrodeo winner, making it two wins from two starts in this year’s FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.

Despite giving it everything he could, Bolt ultimately had no match Lettenbichler as the final kilometres unfolded. Soldiering his way home, Billy took a hard-fought runner-up result.

The battle for the final step of the podium began to heat up during the final signature sections. Hart had a virtual grasp on third but couldn’t shake off a determined Walker. With the Beta rider keeping the Canadian honest, Hart crossed the finish line just two minutes ahead of Walker for third.

For Walker, fourth was still a very satisfying result having climbed as high as third at checkpoint 18 before Hart pulled him back in at Carl’s Dinner. Putting in a solid performance throughout the race, Sherco Factory Racing’s Wade Young completed the top five.

“To get back-to-back wins at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo and also my second victory of the Hard Enduro season is amazing,” a delighted Lettenbichler said. “My start was fairly solid, and I got away with the top three straight away so I pushed hard. When Billy caught up, we rode together for a while and then he pulled away from me during Carl’s Dinner. But when I got past him again at MOTOREX Highway I put my head down and pushed on. It’s been an awesome day.”

Billy Bolt admitted he couldn’t keep with Lettenbichler but was happy with second. “I got a great jump off the start line but crashed on the first climb. It was probably the worst place to fall off. The next 10 minutes were a blur trying to pass so many people before we hit the first forestry section. I caught up to Mani and rode together. But I put a dent in my exhaust pipe and lost some power. In Carl’s Dinner I knew that was my best chance to try and pull a gap, so I pushed hard. But when I got to MOTOREX Highway I struggled on the climb and kinda hit the wall. Mani got passed me again and I couldn’t go with him. I wanted to win, and I gave it everything I had today!”

Trystan Hart was happy to be on the podium with third, “Finishing on the podium two years straight here is incredible. But if I’m honest I’m not super happy with my result, I did want a bit more. I led early on and was pushing hard. But I got a bit tight and then in the first hour, I made a mistake by taking the wrong line. Fixing that burned a few matches for me and my energy dropped. I didn’t have much left after Carl’s Dinner, so I kept it together to get home in third.” the Canadian said.

Round 3, the Red Bull Romaniacs, Romania will take place on July 25/26/27/28/29

Winner Manuel Lettenbichler (C) with runnerup Billy Bolt (R) and third-placed Trystan Hart.

Herlings Hurt at German MXGP

KTM reports Jeffery Herlings hurt again

Herlings went 1-1 at Talkessel in 2018 and then finished 2nd overall in his last appearance at the track in 2021. He took a conservative 4th place in the RAM Qualification Heat on Saturday and then indulged in an entertaining battle with Jorge Prado and Jeremy Seewer in the first moto. Four laps before the end the Dutchman, while leading from Prado, crashed after becoming cross-rutted and landed heavily. He was able to remount and cruised the rest of the distance to salvage one point for 20th but could not take to the gate for the second race due to neck pain and left the circuit for more detailed medical checks. After the conclusion of the Grand Prix, Jeffrey is 2nd in the standings and 67 points behind Prado.