News 28 May 2020

Reed details decision to make mid-season KTM transfer

Image: Octopi Media.

Outgoing Australian icon Chad Reed will be KTM-equipped when Monster Energy Supercross resumes in Salt Lake City, set to complete his remarkable career over the next three weeks.

The 38-year-old began his final season aboard privateer Honda machinery through Daytona, however, he has since switched to KTM in the break.

Reed sold his Hondas when Supercross was first stopped due to COVID-19 in March, initially expecting for the series to restart in the fall. Instead, organizers have been able to bring the final seven rounds forward, beginning this Sunday in Utah.

“I was told that we were done until September-October,” Reed stated. “So, basically I was just getting a motorcycle I wanted to ride for the summer. Mountain Motorsports is a dealer for everyone and for me at this point in my career it gives me a fun opportunity to ride some bikes.

“I loved my Husky when I rode it, so I was just kind of doing it for a little bit of fun. One thing led to another, I really enjoyed the bike, I liked it and then I got the word that we were going back racing and I had already sold all of my bikes.

“But really, to answer the question, I enjoy it. I loved that the brakes, transmission, how light it is, all the things you want from a race bike at the highest, highest level, this bike comes like that production, so it’s just a great starting point.”

In comparison to the independent Husqvarna he rode during the 2018 season in what was a difficult year, Reed has now gained access to higher specification WP suspension that has been specifically developed to suit the KTM.

“The one thing I struggled with most when I rode my Husky – a lot of people want to know that question – I didn’t have the resources back then with the time we had, to have access to the good WP suspension,” he continued. “This time around I have been lucky to have access to that and that has played such a huge role, working with a company the bike is built around.

“So far so good, I really like it. It brings back some fun memories, a lot of the things you do to make it better or improve certain feelings, you are going back 15 years, 16 years to my steel chassis days, so it’s funny to have that stuff in the back of your memory bank and a lot of that still works in the current day going racing.”

Reed is currently 17th in the 450SX championship points, delivering improved results directly prior to the stoppage with 13th-place finishes in Arlington and Daytona. He’s due to retire from the sport following round 17 in a few weeks time.

News 15 May 2020

Supercross confirmed for May restart in Salt Lake City

Image: Octopi Media.

Monster Energy Supercross will officially resume on 31 May at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, which will host the remaining seven rounds over a three-week period.

The ‘made for TV’ races will be broadcast on NBC networks and the Supercross Video Pass, staged with no fans in attendance due to COVID-19.

Following 10 rounds and with just three points separating Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) and Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC), Supercross was paused following Daytona on 7 March. Upon restarting, the series will span between 31 May-21 June.

“We’re excited to continue our work with Feld Entertainment, Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah and the Utah Department of Health Services,” commented Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of Utah Sports Commission.

“Their continued support along with Utah’s Governor Gary R. Herbert, have made it possible for Supercross’ return to Utah. We also look forward to showcasing Utah worldwide via Supercross’ global footprint.”

The responsible return to racing will provide guidelines and protocols to competitors and essential staff that complies with all federal, state and local health guidance and mandates.

Mitigation efforts include mandated pre-screening, testing, temperature checks, face masks, increased sanitation efforts and social distancing to limit contact among individuals executing the events.

The racing format has been adjusted to reduce the number of athletes to stay within the minimum requirements and a standard race format will be used for all seven rounds, except for the finale which will be an Eastern/Western Regional 250SX Class Showdown.

The top 40 Riders based on current point-standings and 2020 top 100 number or combined season qualifying results will be permitted to compete. Two qualifying sessions, two heat races, LCQs and main events will be held across the 450SX and 250SX categories.

Events will alternate between Sundays and Wednesdays over the course of the remaining seven rounds. Rounds 11, 12, 13 and 16 will feature 250SX East, while rounds 14 and 15 will be 250SX West. The final round will be the 250SX Showdown.

News 13 May 2020

New-look MXGP season scheduled to resume in August

Image: Supplied.

A wide range of revisions have been made to the 2020 MXGP World Championship calendar as the series prepares to move forward following the coronavirus pandemic.

Rounds one and two were held prior to COVID-19 bringing world sport to a stop, however, Infront Moto Racing has confirmed that it won’t be until August that the championship will resume.

The MXGP of Russia, that was scheduled to take place on 4-5 July, will now move to 1-2 August, additionally the MXGP of Latvia that was due to take place on 11-12 July will now take place on 8-9 August at the Kegums circuit.

This means that the Monster Energy MXGP of Belgium and the MXGP of Germany due to take place on these dates, will now be rescheduled. The MXGP of Belgium has been moved to 24-25 October, while the date for the German GP, along with the MXGP of Czech Republic and the MXGP of Emilia Romagna (Imola), that will also see a change of date, remains as TBA at this time and will also be announced soon.

Unfortunately, certain events will no longer be able to take place. These include the MXGP of Italy in Maggiora, which was scheduled for 18-19 July, as well as the MXGP of France in St. Jean d’Angely originally planned on 27-28 June with both events cancelled for the 2020 season.

French fans will still be able to enjoy the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, which is set to take place on 26-27 September at the popular Ernee circuit. Further information on the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship originally scheduled in Megalopolis, Greece, on 8–9 August, will be coming soon.

2020 MXGP World Championship calendar (updated):
Rd1 – 1 March – Matterley Basin, Great Britain
Rd2 – 8 March – Valkenswaard, the Netherlands
Rd3 – 2 August – Orlyonok, Russia
Rd4 – 9 August – Kegums, Latvia
Rd5 – 16 August – Uddevalla, Sweden
Rd6 – 23 August – KymiRing, Finland
Rd7 – 6 September – Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
Rd8 – 13 September – Shanghai, China
Rd9 – 20 September – TBA
Rd10 – 4 October – Pietramurata, Italy
Rd11 – 11 October – Arroyomlinos, Spain
Rd12 – 18 October – Agueda, Portugal
Rd13 – 25 October – Lommel, Belgium
Rd14 – 1 November – Jakarta, Indonesia
Rd15 – 8 November – TBA, Indonesia
Rd16 – 22 November – Neuquen, Argentina
Rd17 – 29 November – TBA

News 11 May 2020

WEM confirms MX Nationals exit following 2020 season

Image: Foremost Media.

Longstanding Australian Motocross Championship promoter Williams Event Management (WEM) will step down at the conclusion of the 2020 MXstore MX Nationals season.

Following a 23-year reign at the helm of motocross domestically, WEM will return the series commercial rights back to Motorcycling Australia (MA) for next year.

WEM has been managing the championship since 1997 and has steered the MX Nationals for over two decades with an instrumental effect on the sport at a national level. It is understood that MA will take the series in-house from 2021.

“First and foremost I would like to take this opportunity to thank Motorcycling Australia and all of the MX Nationals series sponsors, teams, riders and stakeholders that have supported our time promoting the MX Nationals over the past 23 years,” Williams stated.

“WEM has and always will be a family business that provided us with an incredible lifestyle, memories and camaraderie whilst travelling the country with my wife Christine, our children and our small staff running MX Nationals events. Our time promoting MX Nationals is something I will always cherish.

“I’m sure many people are asking why it is now time to step away from promoting the series at the end of 2020. The honest answer is, it is a reflection of the times, where the industry currently sits and the fact that the landscape of sporting events and digital entertainment is changing.

“Through our various initiatives over the years we have kept audiences entertained both trackside, along with TV coverage and more recently MX Live on the NRGTV livestream, but the expense both to WEM and the industry has to be realistic. In this current environment, that is something that as a private promoter I feel we can no longer achieve if we were to proceed into 2021.

“WEM has always prided itself as a company that has been able to pay our bills and remain solvent, whilst many promoters over the years have come and gone, some with great detriment to the industry, our business model has always remained solid.

“This is not a knee jerk reaction, although unfortunately the Coronavirus outbreak has further changed the business landscape of the industry for the foreseeable future. I was honest and vocal about my concerns regarding the 2020 season at the end of 2019.

“As everyone is aware, Motorcycling Australia has stepped in to ensure the viability of the series for this year, but a new model needs to be established for racing at a national level in Australian motocross to remain sustainable.

“It is my opinion that a more grassroots model for the Australian Motocross Championship is needed to ensure the longterm sustainability of the series and WEM will continue to work with MA to help establish what that model looks like for 2021 and beyond.”

MA CEO Peter Doyle commented: “This announcement marks the end of an era. On behalf of the Motorcycling Australia federation, I would like to thank Kevin, Christine and the entire WEM team for their contribution, dedication and passion over the last 20-plus years.

“The last decade has brought a significant amount of change to racing and WEM have always been at the forefront of supporting and creating pathways for Australian motocross competitors.

“Motorcycling Australia are currently in the process of developing a plan for the future of motocross and the 2021 national motocross season in consultation with championship stakeholders.

“As outlined at the beginning of 2020, the objective of Motorcycling Australia was to support the WEM team throughout their final season. We still hope to do this in the second half of the year, when we are able to go racing once more.”

Following a lengthy delay due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 MXstore MX Nationals is scheduled to commence at Conondale, Queensland, on 9 August.

News 22 Apr 2020

Tentative updates made to 2020 MX Nationals calendar

Image: Foremost Media.

An overhauled 2020 MXstore MX Nationals calendar has been announced by Williams Event Management (WEM) as organisers continue to adapt to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

All nine rounds to be contested across six events including three double-headers will tentatively remain on the schedule for this season.

The series was originally due to commence at Horsham in April and conclude at Coolum toward the end of August. Instead, round one has been delayed until August 9 at Conondale when the gates are now anticipated to drop.

Each original location is set to remain, including Maitland, Newry, Horsham, Gympie and the traditional Coolum finals now slated for October 10-11. Maitland, Horsham and Coolum are the double-header events.

“It is important that everyone understands the new calendar is a projected series schedule with the current information that we have available to us,” explained WEM director Kevin Williams. “We are seeing positive information on the slowdown of this outbreak and we can begin to anticipate what a return to some normality in life looks like.

“Following the ease of restrictions will be the projected return to sporting events and ultimately a time for us to go racing. We are putting our best foot forward to give everyone the most time to prepare, including the riders, teams and hosting clubs.

“The major hurdles that will disrupt the projected start of the series in August will be the government not lifting the interstate travel ban and a continued restriction on the number of people allowed to attend outdoor events.

“We have continually stated that WEM is committed to delivering a full nine-round series in 2020 and this is still our goal. As always we will keep everyone updated with the relevant information as soon as it becomes available.”

This latest MX Nationals calendar will result in the start of the Australian Supercross Championship being delayed, with a 2020 scheduled yet to be formally announced by series rights-holders AUS SX Holdings. A draft outline circulated privately indicated that the series was initially going to begin on October 3 in Queensland.

2020 MX Nationals calendar:
Rd1 – August 9 – Conondale, QLD
Rds 2-3 – August 15-16 – Maitland, NSW
Rd4 – September 6 – Newry, VIC
Rds 5-6 – September 12-13 – Horsham, VIC
Rd7 – October 4 – Gympie, QLD
Rds 8-9 – October 10-11 – Coolum, QLD