Tag Archives: Dakar Rally

Moto News | Dakar 2022 prep hots up | New signings

Honda to defend Dakar title in 2022, with KTM on the hunt

The scene has changed a lot in the interlude between the 2021 and 2022 acts of the Dakar, and while the actors of the January melodrama remain mostly the same, a few now wear different costumes.

Scheduled to cover 8,375 kilometres, the Dakar Rally begins with its traditional prologue ahead of 12 physically demanding stages. Besides a mid-race rest day where riders and teams can regroup ahead of the final six days of racing, the Dakar Rally will once again provide a variety of challenging terrain to ensure a relentless test for all riders and their machinery with the eventual winner declared on January 14 in Jeddah.

Kevin Benavides and Ricky Brabec give Honda the 2021 Dakar Rally 1-2 – Image by Rally Zone

Saudi Arabia shook up the competition and ushered in a new era of dominance by Honda, which brought down the curtain on the KTM hegemony, first with Ricky Brabec in 2020 and then with Kevin Benavides in 2021.

However, the Argentinian reigning champion’s move to the Austrian outfit has made rivals of the former teammates, who not even a year ago were standing next to Sam Sunderland on the podium in Jeddah.

As well as boosting its firepower in a major way, KTM has deployed its resources masterfully by sending its champions to its cousins at Gas-Gas and Husqvarna.

Toby Price – Image by Rally Zone

Kevin Benavides will form a trident with Toby Price and another biker clad in orange overalls, Matthias Walkner, perhaps the man of the season after winning the Silk Way Rally, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and the FIM World Championship.

KTM’s sphere of influence extends to its Spanish ally, Gas-Gas, whose red bikes will be left to the care of Sam Sunderland and the up-and-coming Daniel Sanders, fourth last year in his first Dakar start.

Daniel Sanders moves to GasGas for 2022 from KTM – Image by Rally Zone

Meanwhile, Skyler Howes, fifth in 2021, has earned a spot on the Husqvarna factory team and is a credible title contender. Aware that the key battles are also decided behind the scenes, KTM has also recalled Marc Coma, one of its all-time stars, as a supervisor and strategist… The Austrians are bringing out the big guns!

Honda is bound and determined to extend its victorious streak and has also landed a good catch in the transfer market. Ricky Brabec has stayed loyal to the Japanese brand, as has his teammate “Nacho” Cornejo, who crashed out of the overall lead two days before the finish in Jeddah.

Ricky Brabec – Image by Rally Zone

The young Chilean, who has made waves with his uncanny talent for navigation, will be riding alongside an older countryman, signing of the year Pablo Quintanilla, who adapted to his new machine so quickly that he has already claimed the Rallye du Maroc on it.

Joan Barreda could also take over leadership duties depending on how the race unfolds. The most prolific active stage hunter in the category has a real shot at improving on his best finish so far (fifth in 2017) and even clinching the rally in his twelfth start.

Joan Barreda – Image by Rally Zone

Lady Luck has not been kind to Yamaha riders in recent years, but they are still heading into the race with lofty ambitions. Their natural and historic leader, Adrien Van Beveren, remains as motivated as ever despite four consecutive withdrawals.

The French biker has proved that he has racing on sand down to a science multiple times this season (second in the World Championship). He is joined by two dark horses, the American Andrew Short and the Botswanan Ross Branch, in a quest to bring Yamaha back to the top.

Meanwhile, the Indian constructor Hero will have its work cut out for it to bag a podium spot now that former Yamaha man Franco Caimi has been forced to sit out this one after crashing during training.

Sherco has a clearer path to the same goal with the Spaniard Lorenzo Santolino. Several young riders have already shown that they have what it takes to fight for the places of honour in their Dakar debut.

Lorenzo Santolino

20-year-old American Mason Klein and 23-year-old South African Bradley Cox could steal the show on their first try, as could Italian Danilo Petrucci, now starting a new adventure in rally raids after a successful MotoGP career (two Grand Prix victories, sixth in the 2019 championship).

The “Original by Motul” bikers are nothing if not resourceful. They tackle the Dakar on its hardest difficulty setting by taking it upon themselves to maintain their bikes at the end of each stage. Seasoned veterans are joined by newcomers to the extreme “Original by Motul” challenge year after year.

One thing is for sure: anyone would love to get their hands on this trophy. 2022 should be a rematch for the same competitors who dominated the race in 2021. Lithuanian Arūnas Gelažninkas came out on top in his first outing in this class, beating 2020 champion Emanuel Gyenes and Benjamin Melot, who has finished on every step of the podium bar the top one.

Among the pretenders nipping at their heels are Czech Milan Engel, who will be making his “Original” debut after coming in fifteenth overall in 2019, and Portuguese Mário Patrão, who boasts what is possibly the strongest track record of the field with a thirteenth-place finish in 2016.

2022 Dakar Rally schedule

Stage Date Start/Finish Distance | Special
STAGE 1A Sat, Jan 1, 2022 Jeddah > Hail 834 km | 19 km
STAGE 1B Sun, Jan 2, 2022 Ha’il > Hail 546 km | 334 km
STAGE 2 Mon, Jan 3, 2022 Ha’il > Al Artawiyah 585 km | 339 km
STAGE 3 Tues, Jan 4, 2022 Al Artawiyah > Al Qaysumah 554 km | 368 km
STAGE 4 Wed, Jan 5, 2022 Al Qaisumah > Riyadh 707 km | 465 km
STAGE 5 Thurs, Jan 6, 2022 Riyadh > Riyadh 563 km | 348 km
STAGE 6 Fri, Jan 7, 2022 Riyadh > Riyadh 635 km | 421 km
REST Sat, Jan 8, 2022 Riyadh
STAGE 7 Sun, Jan 9, 2022 Riyadh > Al Dawadimi 700 km | 401 km
STAGE 8 Mon, Jan 10, 2022 Al Dawadimi > Wadi Ad Dawasir 828 km | 394 km
STAGE 9 Tues, Jan 11, 2022 Wadi Ad Dawasir > Wadi Ad Dawasir 490 km | 287 km
STAGE 10 Wed, Jan 12, 2022 Wadi Ad Dawasir > Bisha 757 km | 374 km
STAGE 11 Thurs, Jan 13, 2022 Bisha > Bisha 500 km | 345 km
STAGE 12 Fri, Jan 14, 2022 Bisha > Jeddah 676 km | 163 km
2022 Dakar Rally schedule and map
2022 Dakar Rally schedule and map

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Yamaha Rally Team looking to start 2022 on a high

Leading the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team into the desert at the 2022 Dakar Rally is Adrien Van Beveren. With his impressive second place finish in the 2021 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship still fresh in his mind, the Frenchman used the entire series as part of his preparations for the 2022 Dakar.

Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team 2022
Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team 2022

Rounding out his highly positive season with three stage wins and a second-place overall result at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in November, Van Beveren is feeling fit, strong, and is undoubtedly back to his very best.

Adrien Van Beveren

“I’ve just completed my final training sessions ahead of the Dakar and I’m feeling really strong and ready for the race. The whole of 2021 has been great for me. Round by round in the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship I had a solid strategy of being consistent and minimising mistakes. I was able to execute my plan perfectly and end the season as vice world champion, which I was really pleased about for both myself and the team. To avoid some unnecessary pressure, I’m looking at the Dakar as just another race and a continuation of my progress throughout the last year. For sure it is a huge race that everyone in rally focuses on, but I will take it day by day, stage by stage, and apply the same mindset that took me to success in this year’s world championship.”

Adrien Van Beveren in 2021

For Ross Branch, 2021 was something of a learning year in what was only his first full season of rally racing.

Demonstrating his capabilities with an impressive win at Rally Kazakhstan, the Botswana native posted impressive stage finishes at all rounds of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship with a few unfortunate incidents hampering his overall results.

Undeterred and with a renewed focus, Ross looks to harness his raw speed to successfully reach the Dakar finish line on January 14.

Ross Branch

“This year has flown by, and Dakar is now just around the corner. I’m really excited for it. A fresh start, new stages, and I think it’s going to be a really good race. During the last year the team have been working super-hard and this is really motivating as a rider to see as it just inspires me to put everything that I have into my training and preparation. My goal for the race is to finish each stage. It sounds modest but it’s such a long and wild race where anything can happen. Staying trouble free will be so important and now with my experience from racing all year in 2021, I’m in a really good place mentally ahead of the Dakar. I’ve got a great team behind me, and everything is in place for a successful race. I can’t wait to get started.”

Ross Branch in 2021

Lining up with his sights set on securing his best ever result at the Dakar Rally is the third and final Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team rider, Andrew Short.

With the American knowing the importance of safely completing each and every stage, as well as how chaotic the first few days of the Dakar can be, the 39-year-old is fully focused on achieving his goal.

Andrew Short

“I’m really looking forward to Dakar 2022 and it’ll actually be my fifth time racing the event. For this one I want to beat my best finish of sixth and to do that it’s super important to finish every stage safely. Each year I seem to experience some kind of problem early in the race so my focus will be on getting through week one without any major issues, then I’ll have the option to ramp things up in week two if I need to. Overall, you never really know how this race will go but I’ll be doing everything in my power to ensure the best result possible and have no regrets when the race comes to an end.”

Dakar Rally Stage Andrew Short Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
Andrew Short moves from Husqvarna to the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team in 2022

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Empire Kawasaki to run Rykers, Yokoyama, Constantinou  in 2022

Kawasaki Motors Australia have confirmed the continuation of Empire Motorsports as the supported motocross team under the Empire Kawasaki banner. The direct collaboration between Kawasaki Motors Australia and Empire Kawasaki is entering its fourth season.

Haruki Yokoyama
Haruki Yokoyama

Tyson Cherry and Empire Motorsport will manage the motocross and supercross racing effort in the 2022 Australian Motocross Championship (ProMX) and Australian Supercross Championship. The Empire Kawasaki team will field Jayden Rykers of the KX450 (MX1), Haruki Yokoyama on the KX250 (MX2) and Jai Constantinou on a KX250 (MX2).

Jayden Rykers
Jayden Rykers

Robert Walker – Kawasaki Motors Australia

“Kawasaki are excited to see the 2022 ProMX series get going. With a new KX250 and KX450 for this year, we are very confident of some great results. Our team manager Tyson Cherry has done a great job over the last couple of years and, Kawasaki will continue to support the Empire team.”

Tyson Cherry – Empire Kawasaki Team Owner/Manager

“Empire Kawasaki is excited for a full year of racing in 2022! Heading into the season the preparation is going really well, all the boys are fit and healthy and ready to go racing on the 27th of March at Wonthaggi. Our focus for 2022 is to keep consistent and to be standing on the box at the end of the season.”

Jayden Rykers will be competing on the 2022 Kawasaki KX450 in MX1

Jayden Rykers

“I am happy to be continuing with the Empire Kawasaki team for 2022. I have spent some time on the test track on the new KX450 and, I think that as a whole, it suits my style better than my previous bike. This, paired with a strong pre-season strategy, will see me hunting the podium throughout the year.”

Jayden Rykers
Jayden Rykers – Image by RBMotoLens

International Championship Rider, Haruki Yokoyama (Japan), is returning to the ProMX series on the 2022 Kawasaki KX250 in MX2.

Haruki Yokoyama

“Feeling super adamant on putting some good results on the board for the 2022 MX season, my bike this year is feeling awesome. The new 2022 KX250 has really blown me away this year excited to show my potential.”

Haruki Yokoyama
Haruki Yokoyama and Jai Constantinou

Haruki Yokoyama will be working with Jai Constantinou to strengthen the MX2 team campaign.

Empire Motorsport are a dynamic force in motorsport. In 2022 Empire Motorsport team will continue to support the industry through coaching, rider development and a future plan of broadening of the team into the off-road racing series.

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Mellross & Fox to GasGas Racing Team in 2022

The GasGas Racing Team will feature an increased motocross presence for the 2022 season, with Hayden Mellross joining the brand’s factory line-up in MX1 alongside current MX2 signing Blake Fox.

Hayden Mellross & Blake Fox
Hayden Mellross & Blake Fox

Hungry to deliver strong results onboard the GASGAS MC 450F, 26-year-old Mellross enters 2022 off the back of fifth overall in ProMX championship, displaying consistent form throughout the year.

Victoria-based Mellross is no stranger to competing at the sharp end of competition, gathering a range of experience internationally during his careers as well as a list of credible results domestically.

Hayden Mellross

“I’m extremely excited to be on GASGAS! I’ve also been lucky enough to link up with a few cool sponsors that go along with it, so I think it is shaping up to be unreal and exciting year. I feel at home with the brand and team already, so now we’ll look to get to work into the new year!”

Hayden Mellross
Hayden Mellross

Current MX2 champion Fox steps up to MX2 with the official team for 2022 riding a GASGAS MC 250F, dominating the shortened 2021 MX3 championship by winning five out of the six races. The emerging 17-year-old has proven on multiple occasions that he can handle the pressure of fighting at the front and will be one to watch as the upcoming season unfolds.

Blake Fox

“I’m super-excited to work with everybody again and race onboard GASGAS machinery. We’ve been together a long time and I think this 250 program that they are building for next year will be good for me, it’s a great step at this stage of my career, so I’m super-keen to get out there already!”

Blake Fox
Blake Fox

Kyle Blunden – KTM Group Australia Motorsport Manager

“Since we didn’t get to partake in as much racing as we wanted last year, we are still kind of the new kids in the paddock… but what better way to kick off this new race season than with young gun Blake Fox on the MC 250F and a very determined Hayden Mellross on the MC 450F! We are excited to be back at the races in 2022 and have expanded our team to include an MX2 program, which will see Blake back on the MC 250F hot on the heels of taking out the MX3 title, GASGAS’s first Australian national championship. And with Hayden piloting the MC 450F in MX1, we can’t wait to see what these guys can do in 2022 – and have some fun while we are at it!”

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Kjer Olsen and Everts to DIGA Procross KTM for MXGP in 2022

DIGA Procross KTM will run KTM SX-F race technology in both the MXGP and MX2 classes of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship with a fresh rider line-up. The German squad welcome Grand Prix winner Thomas Kjer Olsen and Grand Prix rookie Liam Everts into their Cologne-based operation.

Thomas Kjer Olsen and Grand Prix rookie Liam Everts join DIGA Procross KTM in 2022
Thomas Kjer Olsen and Grand Prix rookie Liam Everts join DIGA Procross KTM in 2022

Justin Amian’s unit will now steer KTM’s advanced SX-F motocross machinery – with factory backing – but they will also harbor the competitive objectives of Thomas Kjer Olsen in the MXGP class and newcomer Liam Everts in MX2.

Olsen enters only his second term in MXGP after claiming victories, podiums and three top-three classifications in a successful MX2 tenure. The 24-year-old Dane is looking to progress his career in 2022 after showing sufficient speed to become a top ten regular in 2021. Next year’s calendar will see #19 race the KTM 450 SX-F for the first time for what will also be DIGA Procross’ maiden appearance in the category.

Liam Everts makes the step into Grand Prix competition for his first full year at world championship level. The 17-year-old Belgian has been carving his name into the foundations of the sport thanks to excellent technique and bags of potential. He showed enough promise through the EMX125 and EMX250 European Championships (with podium appearances in both divisions) – as well as debuting for his country at the 2021 Motocross of Nations – to earn his MX2 berth with the KTM 250 SX-F.

Justin Amian – DIGA Procross Team Manager

“We are happy and proud to officially represent KTM in the FIM Motocross World Championship from 2022.With Liam Everts we have a young, hungry and very talented athlete in our team, and we will try to support his progressas much as possible. With Thomas Kjer Olsen wewill start a new chapter in the premier class in 2022. Thomas has personally developed a lot in his 2021 MXGP rookie season and has shown great pace, which gives us the confidence that he will one day be at the front of the toughest series on the planet. Our team is eager for great results and we will do everything in our power to get better and better every day.I would like to thank Pit Beirer and Robert Jonas for the confidence they have shown in us and for the opportunity to represent KTM at the highest level.”

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Red Bull KTM welcomes Kody Kopp

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will add 17-year-old up-and-comer Kody Kopp to its rider lineup for the 2022 Progressive American Flat Track Championship. Racing alongside teammate and championship contender, Max Whale, Kopp will pilot the KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition in the AFT Singles class this season, which begins on March 10 and 11 with the Volusia Half-Mile in Barberville, Florida.

Kody Kopp

“I’m very thankful for this amazing opportunity to join Red Bull KTM Factory Racing! I raced KTMs a lot as an amateur, so I am super excited to be returning back to my roots. I’m also stoked to have Max as my teammate. We’ve had some decent battles in the past and he is going to be a great mentor to learn from. I’ve looked up to the entire KTM organization for a long time, so I couldn’t be more ecstatic to get this 2022 season started!”

Kody Kopp
Kody Kopp

Kopp, a Washington native, earned Rookie of the Year in his 2021 AFT Singles debut season, finishing an impressive seventh overall in the championship. Claiming three podium finishes and six top-10s, the young rider laid a solid foundation in his first season and he looks to build upon that experience in 2022. Spending a lot of time training and riding with his teammate during the off-season, Kopp continues to learn and grow with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing program.

Chris Fillmore – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Flat Track Team Manager

“With one year of racing at the top level under his belt, the timing felt right to bring Kody on-board with Red Bull KTM. At 17, you are quite young and have some experience still to gain, but Kody’s level of talent and natural ability were very evident after watching him race last season. Kody has had great mentorship from his father Joe, who is a legend in the sport of flat track himself, and I look forward to continuing to help him grow. From the first week of riding, I feel the chemistry between the two riders is really good and they will continue to push each other on and off the track to deliver on KTM’s Ready to Race brand promise.”

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Source: MCNews.com.au

Moto News | Sanders talks Dakar | AMX Open | Lawrence bros

Daniel Sanders features in GasGas Dirt Episode 7

27-year-old Daniel Sanders sat down in front of the GASGAS Dirt cameras to share what makes the him tick, with the 2022 Dakar Rally fast approaching after an impressive fourth place finish in the 2021 event, alongside third overall in the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship this year.

Check it out:


2022 Australian Motocross Invitational set for Feb 19-20

The Australian Motocross Invitational and Monster Truck Madness weekend will place at Nowra Speedway February 19-20, 2022. Featuring Australia’s first MotoX Skins event with a purpose built motocross track. This special event is made possible by the NSW REAF Funding program to generate events in regional NSW.

Stay tuned for more details as they are released.


Historic weekend at Queensland Speedway title

History has been made, with Queensland Speedway recording the first ever brother and sister combination, as well as the first ever female rider to take top step in a Speedway title meet in Queensland in best pairs. Welldone Jordy and Anika Loftus have worked hard for this result and with their dreams now having come true. Second place went to the dueo of Jetzen Lyons and Jai Bainbridge, while third was Viv Muddle and Ky Mitchell. Congratulations!


Jack Fewster claims WA Senior Sidecar Championship title at Pinjar

Jack Fewster has beaten off all comers to claim the Western Australian Senior Sidecar Championship at Pinjar Park Motorcycle Speedway Circuit, including former champs Jeff and Daniel Bishop as well as defending champs Darren Nash and Ash Shield.

Jack and passenger Jonah Sita won four qualifying heats, before winning the A Final in convincing style.

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Webster, Budd and McCutcheon top MX Open

The 2021 running of the AMX MX Open has been a resounding success, with the two days of racing crowning Kyle Webster, Rhys Budd and Taylah McCutcheon in their respective classes, with plans already underway for an even bigger 2022 event.

Kyle Webster

 Chris Townsend – Dandenong Motorcycle Club President

“Yarrive and his crew did a fantastic job promoting the event and our club, committee, canteen personal, track crew worked selflessly to make it a great event for the riders and fans. We think we can improve the experience for everyone next year and we will start planning early in the new year.”

Factory Honda’s Kyle Webster dominated the MX1 class winning all three races and qualifying first. CDR Yamaha’s Monster Energy newly signed Aaron Tanti took second and Factory Honda’s Brett Metcalfe finished third.

Kyle Webster topped the MX1 from Tanti and Metcalfe

Webster was confident going into the weekend but didn’t know what to expect as this was his first hit out in 450 class against his rivals.

Kyle Webster – P1

“Wow, what a weekend, the 2022 CRF450R is amazing, seriously amazing. I didn’t expect this. We got some new SHOWA suspension a week ago and bolted it in and it was great. The whole team lifted this last week, and everyone was excited to go racing. This is what our sport and team needed, it was great to be racing again.”

Kyle Webster

Brett Metcalfe – P3

“I am glad I came over to race, I still feel competitive, and I love racing. I haven’t decided what I am doing next year but I want to race and hopefully I can make that happen.”

Brett Metcalfe

Yamaha proved to strong in the MX2 class. Yamaha lube Yamaha Racing’s Rhys Budd raced away with two race wins and a second to take the overall ahead of Factory Kawasaki’s Empire rider Jai Constantinou. Newly signed Honda Genuine RIDE RED rider Liam Andrews finished third.

Rhys Budd
Rhys Budd wins the overall Jai Constantinou, Liam Andrews

Rhys Budd

“I am glad I made the trek from New South Wales. It was a great event and it was good to go racing again.”

Rhys Budd

The Bass Coast Shire Women’s Open show cased some of Australia’s best talent and young Queenslander Taylah McCutcheon proved to strong for her competitors. Taylah swept all five races. Honda’s Maddy Brown and Maddy Healy were second and third respectively.

Taylah McCutcheon
Taylah McCutcheon won from Maddy Brown and Maddy Healy

Taylah McCutcheon

“I am really happy with the way I rode, and the other girls did great as well. This track is hard so I am glad we made the drive down from Queensland to compete as we will be racing here next year. It was a great weekend, and I am looking forward to seeing Philip Island over the next two days. It really is confidence inspiring being given the same recognition and prize money as the men. All of the girls train hard and to be rewarded with the same prize money was appreciated.”

Taylah McCutcheon

AMX and the Bass Coast Shire moved fast to ensure the event ran, with 4 weeks’ notice the promoter, organisers, club, sponsors, and Bass Coast Shire came together to make the event happen and event promoter and coordinator Yarrive Konsky was proud of everyone’s efforts.

Yarrive Konsky

“We had 264 entries, the factory teams turned up to support the event, sponsors came together, and the Bass Coast Shire were amazing to deal with. Riders came from all over Australia and fans flocked to the track to witness some amazing battles. This event had dual purposes. We needed to stimulate competition again following some trying times in Australia and we wanted people to get out and about to socialise with their peers, friends, and rivals. Racing is a community of people with the same interests, so it was terrific to see everyone out and enjoying what they love.”

AMX Open MX1 Results

Pos Rider Total R1 R2 R3
1 Kyle Webster 75 25 25 25
2 Aaron Tanti 64 22 22 20
3 Brett Metcalfe 58 20 20 18
4 Luke Clout 49 11 16 22
5 Dean Ferris 49 18 15 16
6 Connor Tierney 44 15 14 15
7 George Knight 40 13 13 14
8 Bryce Ognenis 39 14 12 13
9 Rory McKercher 35 12 11 12
10 Hayden Mellross 34 16 18
11 Shane Mason 31 10 10 11

AMX Open MX2 Results

TBA

AMX Open Women’s Results

Pos Competitor Total R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
1 Taylah McCutcheon 125 25 25 25 25 25
2 Madison Brown 104 20 20 20 22 22
3 Madison Healey 102 18 22 22 20 20
4 Ebony Harris 88 16 18 18 18 18
5 Charlotte Berrill 78 15 15 16 16 16
6 Taylor Thompson 53 22 16 15

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Lawrence brothers feature in Team Honda HRC 2022 AMA line-up

American Honda have revealed their 2022 Team Honda HRC roster – comprising Ken Roczen, Chase Sexton, Aussie brothers Hunter Lawrence and Jett Lawrence – as well as team management and crew.

Team Honda HRC’s 2022 line-up: Ken Roczen, Chase Sexton, Hunter Lawrence, Jett Lawrence, Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager, Shane Drew – 450 Crew Chief, Grant Hutcheson – 250 Crew Chief, Brandon Zimmerman as Sexton’s new mechanic.

The veteran of the team, Roczen enters his sixth year as a Honda rider, and he’s coming off his most successful season with the brand – second in AMA Supercross and third in AMA Pro Motocross. The German, who has a 250 MXGP crown and two AMA Pro Motocross Championships to his name, is paired with fellow CRF450R rider Chase Sexton, the Illinois native who joined Honda’s factory team midway through 2020. A two-time AMA Supercross 250SX East Region Champion, Sexton scored three indoor podium finishes in 2021 (his freshman year as an AMA Supercross premier-class rider), six in AMA Pro Motocross.

Australian brothers Hunter and Jett Lawrence are embarking on their second season with Team Honda HRC, and both are armed with the all-new CRF250R.

Hunter Lawrence – Team Honda HRC 2022

Last season saw Hunter win one AMA Supercross 250SX West round and finish second in points, while Jett topped three East Region races and was third in the final standings.

In AMA Pro Motocross, Jett took home the title, with Hunter finishing third, making the Lawrences the only siblings in the series’ history to both finish in the top three in the same year. This season, the Lawrences will trade AMA Supercross Regions, with Jett campaigning West and Hunter East.

Jett Lawrence – Team Honda HRC 2022

While the rider roster is the same as 2021, Team Honda HRC has undergone several personnel changes. As previously announced, Lars Lindstrom takes over as Team Manager. Shane Drew fills Lindstrom’s old position as 450 Crew Chief (while retaining his previous duties in Chassis R&D), and Grant Hutcheson has been brought in as 250 Crew Chief. In addition, Sexton has a new mechanic in Brandon Zimmerman.

The 17-round 2022 AMA Supercross season commences on January 8 in Anaheim, California.

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ShopYamaha Off Road Racing introduce four-rider line-up

Josh Green, Michael Driscoll, Kyron Bacon and Blake Hollis will form the ShopYamaha Off Road Racing team for 2022, showcasing Yamaha’s dedication to off-road racing in Australia and their high performance products.

2022 ShopYamaha Off Road Racing - Josh Green
2022 ShopYamaha Off Road Racing – Josh Green

The four-rider team will again be under the guidance of former AORC champ, AJ Roberts, and have two Yamaha trucks on site at each of the Australian Off-Road Championships, The Australian Four Day Enduro as well as Hattah.

AJ Roberts

“Yamaha will continue to have a huge presence in off-road racing for 2022 and our consistent investment is another form of Yamaha’s passion not just for racing but also product development and the Australian market. From contesting these events, we constantly give feedback to Japan and as a result, the quality of the production bike improves. The WR250F and WR450F are better than they have ever been, and racing plays a huge part of that. Having a four-rider team will make it an extremely busy year but that’s what we love doing. I feel we have great opportunities with our riders in both E1 and E2 as all four are determined to have a successful season. We are also looking forward to getting a normal season back under way. The last two years have been tough with limited national events but for 2022 we are looking at a full calendar with AORC, A4DE and Hattah and I know everyone can’t wait to get stuck into it and get back to racing.”

2022 ShopYamaha Off Road Racing - Blake Hollis
2022 ShopYamaha Off Road Racing – Blake Hollis

Green and Driscoll will spearhead the charge in the E2 (450cc) category for 2022. Green, the veteran of over 10 years of professional off-road racing, shows no signs of slowing down and his passion for racing is as strong as ever.

2022 ShopYamaha Off Road Racing - Michael Driscoll
2022 ShopYamaha Off Road Racing – Michael Driscoll

Michael Driscoll continues to improve and now sees himself as a legitimate outright contender at every round. He now has the strength and experience to muscle the powerful 450cc machine around and is set on a successful 2022 season where he breaks through for major success.

In the E1 (250cc) division, the Yamaha flag will be in the hands of Kyron Bacon and Blake Hollis. Bacon, based in Tasmania, has been the man turning heads as he impresses at every outing. With an aggressive riding style and bulldog determination, Bacon will be a leading contender in the E1 championship in 2022.

2022 ShopYamaha Off Road Racing – Kyron Bacon

Blake Hollis makes the step up from EJ and ready to make his mark in professional racing. Hollis moved to Queensland during 2021 to be closer to the team base and work on his riding. He went back to his motocross roots recently to pick up his intensity and now has his sights set on 2022.

Tara-Lea Albury – Yamaha’s Parts and Accessories Division

“Yamaha continue to expand our on-line presence and our association with the Yamaha’s off-road team gives us a direct line to our customer base. We saw in increase in traffic in 2021 through ShopYamaha and that tied in well with our first year with the team. ShopYamaha is now a one stop online retail space that allows you to view thousands of accessories and Yamalube products for your Yamaha and it will continue to grow as we invest more in the future. We look forward to another strong season with AJ and his team with some fun promotions and activations to be rolled out during the year.”


Motorcycling Australia Women’s Committee Receive FIM Trophy

Motorcycling Australia Women’s Committee has been recognised internationally after winning the FIM Women in Motorcycling Trophy during the recent FIM Awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Jemma Wilson
Jemma Wilson is part of the MA Women’s Committee

With its Women in Motorcycling Trophy, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) recognises and acknowledges those who have significantly:

  • Contributed to improving and developing the presence of women in all motorcycling-related areas.
  • Encouraged greater awareness of women in motorcycling.

This award recognises the hard working effort of women in motorcycle sport around the world throughout the 115 national federation of the FIM. The FIM Women in Motorcycling Award nominees highlight the many projects occurring worldwide to grow women’s participation in the sport.

The MA Women’s Committee award winning projects completed in 2021 included –

  • Development Club Guideline
  • Mentoring Program
  • International Women’s Day Moto Festival Event Plan
  • Ladies Garage Nights Event Plan
  • Women In Motorcycling TV
  • Women In Motorcycling Website

Alana Baratto – MA Women’s Committee Chairperson

“I accept this award on behalf of the Australian Women’s Committee who are terribly disappointed not to be able to travel to accept the award in person. We take this opportunity to thank the FIM and FIM Oceania for their support, we are proud of the initiatives created throughout COVID period. Our hope is that these initiatives are widely adopted nationally and even worldwide, and to see more women experience and enjoy our great sport.”

Alana Baratto

The MA Women’s Committee consists of Alana Baratto (Chairperson), Rikki Dryden, Jemma Wilson, Caity Hynes and Kate Peck.

MA Women’s Committee will have a strong focus in 2022 on projects to increase the number of women participating in road racing and to inspire women volunteers in the sport.

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2022 FIM ISDE set for Le Puy en Velay in France

The 96th edition of the FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) will take place at Puy en Velay – France, the capital of the Haute-Loire department in the heart of the Auvergne region – Rhône–Alpes, from Monday 29 August to Saturday 3 September 2022.

The Organising Committee (COISDE–2022) is made up of three motorcycle clubs specialising in the discipline, the Moto Club du Puy en Velay, the Moto Club de Saugues and the Moto Club Moto Verte Haute Lozère, which will benefit from the full support of the FFM and the Regional stakeholders.

Rider's setting of for the final Cross Test of the 2021 ISDE
The ISDE heads to France for 2022

The COISDE–2022 has been working for more than six months on the creation of the course by being focused on two main points: to propose a course as the riders like them, varied with breath–taking landscapes and a certain technical level specific to the DNA of the ISDE.

The route will be organised around three completely different loops each of around two hundred kilometres, which will take the competitors on a journey to the heart of the region and beyond, with no less than thirteen different special tests and five timed tests per day, five service time checks per day, including two double ones, so only three separate spots in order to limit the logistics for the teams:

  • Days 1 & 2 – Loop 1: Haute Loire – Haut Allier – Gévaudan.
  • Days 3 & 4 – Loop 2: Haute Loire – Lozère – Langogne.
  • Day 5 – Loop 3: Haute Loire – Puy en Velay – Emblavez.
  • Day 6 – Final Cross Test: Haute Loire – Puy en Velay, in the immediate vicinity of the Paddock.

Always with the aim to reduce costs for all the teams, pro and amateur alike, the FIM wanted to reduce the length of stay by one day by eliminating the day between the last day of checks and the first day of racing. So, the timing of the event will be as follows:

  • Tuesday 23 August: Opening of the Paddock.
  • Friday 16 August to Sunday 28 August late morning: Administrative and technical controls.
  • Saturday 27 August – Evening: Opening ceremony at Puy en Velay, ten kilometres from the paddock.
  • From Monday 29 August to Saturday 3 September: The race.
  • Sunday 4 September: Closure of the Paddock.

The pre-registrations opening is scheduled for January 2022.

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AFT announces 2022 Production Twins Challenge rules ahead of 2023 merger

Progressive American Flat Track have revealed the technical rules for the 2022 Mission Production Twins Challenge. These developments lay the groundwork for merging the Mission SuperTwins and AFT Production Twins classes in 2023.

Production Twins - Peoria TT
The Production Twins will see new rules to help merging with the SuperTwins in 2023 – Image by Scott Hunter

To combine the two existing twin-cylinder classes into a dynamic premier class in 2023, Progressive AFT has implemented a set of technical adjustments in Mission SuperTwins and AFT Production Twins for 2022 that will align the performance envelopes of production-based and race-only machines.

While the technical changes serve as the first step to a single twin-cylinder championship, the Mission Production Twins Challenge will act as a bridge between the classes in 2022. Following the AFT Production Twins Main at each event, the top four finishers will be granted provisional starting positions for the Mission SuperTwins Main Event on a dedicated Mission Production Twins Challenge row.

The inclusion of the top AFT Production Twins entries in the premier-class Main will allow for repeated head-to-head comparisons between the Mission SuperTwins contenders and the most competitive AFT Production Twins machines, providing critical data to guide the future evolution of the technical rules.

AFT Production Twins
AFT Production Twins – Image by Scott Hunter

Along with acting as an ongoing evaluation program, the Mission Production Twins Challenge will aid in the development efforts of AFT Production Twins teams by providing an opportunity to earn over $100,000 throughout the season. The top Mission Production Twins Challenge riders at each round will be eligible to earn $72,000 in potential Mission SuperTwins purse payouts plus $28,800 in race bonus awards from Mission Foods.

In addition, the top three riders in the Mission Production Twins Challenge point standings at the conclusion of the season will also be eligible for a $26,000 year-end points fund from Mission Foods. To qualify for the year-end bonus, Mission Production Twins Challenge riders must compete in every Mission SuperTwins Main Event for which they are eligible.

Progressive AFT will kick off the 2022 season with a Daytona Bike Week doubleheader on March 10-11 at Volusia Speedway Park.

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Carmichael designed 2022 Daytona Supercross course revealed

If Eli Tomac wants to stand alone as the all-time winner in DAYTONA Supercross, he will have to conquer the grueling and demanding course designed by the man he currently shares the Daytona record with – GOAT Ricky Carmichael.

Daytona International Speedway unveiled the course design for the 52nd annual DAYTONA Supercross on March 5, and for the 15th consecutive year, the unique and difficult course layout was created by Carmichael, the five-time Daytona Supercross champion. It will be the toughest of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship season and the only AMA Supercross event in the state of Florida in 2022.

The Ricky Carmichael designed Daytona Supercross circuit
The Ricky Carmichael designed Daytona Supercross circuit for 2022

The Daytona Supercross at the World Center of Racing is the longest continuous Supercross race in America dating back to 1971 and will feature the best riders in the world. Tomac, who has won the last three (2019, ‘20, ‘21) and five out of the last six (2016, ‘17) Daytona Supercross events, will go for a record sixth victory that would take him out of a tie with Carmichael.

Carmichael’s signature design will sport tremendous obstacles – 57 in fact – on a 3,300-foot (.625 miles) layout that features a multitude of turns and vaulted jumps. The start gate will originate from pit road with the riders launching full throttle towards fans across from the NASCAR start/finish line to kick off the action before taking a hard left in a counter-clockwise direction. After that sweeping first turn, riders will have 400 feet and 13 obstacles to sort things out before entering the first, tight 180-degree turn.

Returning is the exciting “over-under bridge” with riders racing across the bridge while other riders battle for position beneath them. One item of change, however, is that it will be located closer to the tri-oval and fans in the stands. The beach sand section will be back and will cause havoc for the riders with two 150-foot-long legs attached to a 180-degree turn. And, of course, the high-rising finish line will be parallel with the NASCAR finish line.

Ricky Carmichael

“I can’t believe it’s been 15 years that I have been designing the Daytona Supercross track. Every year we try to make it better for both the fans and riders, and for 2022, I believe we did just that with some new twists. First off, I’m glad we were able to get the over-under bridge back because it opens up the options on the course. That and the split lane are what I am looking most forward to seeing along with the famous sand section that the fans always love to see! The Daytona Supercross in March is going to be the only one in my home State of Florida so I am very excited about that as well. It’s going to be a great track and I can’t wait to watch and see how it all unfolds this year!”

Also returning in 2022 will be the 12th annual Ricky Carmichael Amateur Supercross on Sunday, March 6 and Monday, March 7. Amateur supercross racers have an opportunity to test their skills on a slightly modified version of the same course used in the DAYTONA Supercross. Following the Ricky Carmichael Amateur Supercross will be the Daytona Vintage Supercross (DVSX) and ATV Supercross, both of which take place on Tuesday, March 8. For more information, visit https://racedaytona.com.

Daytona Supercross 2022 will be a part of 81st annual Bike Week, which will culminate with the March 12 Daytona 200 hosted by MotoAmerica.

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Ben Watson joins Febvre in Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP efforts in 2022

Kawasaki will bring in Ben Watson as the new teammate of Romain Febvre in 2022, joining the Frenchman in the Kawasaki Racing Team assault on the FIM MXGP Motocross World Championship.

Considered one of the most-promising British youngsters of recent years Ben Watson had a solid MXGP rookie season this summer, gaining in experience as the year went on in this highly-competitive class to culminate his season with the MXGP gold medal at the Motocross of Nations.

Ben eventually just missed the top-ten in the final MXGP series rankings by a couple of points but he finished top-ten at no less than ten rounds with a fifth overall as his best result at the Dutch round of the series.

Ben Watson
Ben Watson

The twenty-four-year-old native of Nottinghamshire, England, first appeared on the international stage when he contested the European series as a ten-year-old, winning his very first race in the 65cc class. He progressed through the classes and has impressed throughout his adult career, starting with a fifth place in EMX250 and victory at the world-famous Enduro du Touquet in the Junior class.

Ranked top five in the MX2 World Championship in both 2018 and 2020, he proved his ability on all surfaces in the closing stages of the latter season with GP victories on the vastly-different tracks of Lommel in Belgium and Pietramurata in Italy before switching to the premier MXGP class in 2021.

Ben now has a little over two months to prepare for the opening round of the 2022 World Championship which will start in his native UK on February 20th at Matterley Basin.

Ben Watson

“I’m really looking forward to this fresh start. I’ve been with another couple of brands almost all my life and Kawasaki is one I’ve never ridden before, so to have this fresh start with new colours is definitely something I need at this stage of my career. I’ve had some ups-and-downs during my MXGP rookie season this year but I think I proved on numerous occasions like the Nations and several other GPs that I have what it takes to race up front. I was just missing a few things but I’m joining a group of guys and a bike I really believe will help me. I’m really excited to put my leg over the KX450-SR. The plan is to get used to the bike before Christmas; to get a feeling for the handling, the power delivery and sort out a few small things like seat height, position of the bars and so on. I’m looking forward to working with Romain and all the team and I think this is exactly what I need as a package to make the next step. It’s going to be a tough couple of months leading up to the opening GP at Matterley in February but wow, what a start to my Kawasaki career at the home GP with all the British fans cheering me on!“

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Four-man Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team ready for AMA SX 2022

A solid four-rider Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team is set to enter the 2022 AMA Supercross Championship aboard the new KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition and KTM 250 SX-F Factory Edition models.

The 2022 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team

Cooper Webb, Marvin Musquin and Aaron Plessinger will officially debut the all-new KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition at the Anaheim SX opener on January 8, 2022, while Max Vohland is set to race the KTM 250 SX-F Factory Edition in the 250SX class.

Webb, the reigning 450SX Champion, will proudly display the #1 plate aboard his new bike as he sets out to defend his title for the second time.

Cooper Webb

“I’m really excited for the upcoming series. It’ll be great defending the number one plate again, we worked hard last year to get the championship. We have a brand new bike this year and that is great. We’ve also been having fun with the new team dynamic and having Aaron [Plessinger] on the team. I’ve been teammates with him before, so it’s been great to reunite and have a three-man team on the 450, with Max on the 250. I’m looking forward to it.”

Cooper Webb

Returning for his 12th season with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Musquin will be among Webb’s toughest competitors as the French rider looks to earn a title of his own with a supercross-only focus in 2022.

Marvin Musquin

“It’s always exciting to go for a new season, especially this year with a new bike. It is something that I was looking forward to – we have made progress and we’re still learning to be even better, so it’s super exciting. We are going into my 12th year with Red Bull KTM here in America. It’s very special and I’m always super honored to be a part of the Red Bull KTM family and to go for one more year and achieve great things. It’s going to be a very strong team for this new season!”

Marvin Musquin

Joining Webb and Musquin on-track for the first time is Red Bull KTM newcomer, Aaron Plessinger, aboard the #7 machine. Like his teammates, Plessinger has been hard at work in his pre-season training in high anticipation for his debut with the team at Anaheim.

Aaron Plessinger

“It’s an amazing accomplishment for me to have joined the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team. My dad used to race for KTM in GNCC, and won a couple championships, so it’s pretty special for me to get to be a part of this team. My goal is to get as many race-wins as I can and try to win these guys some more championships. My time is due and I feel like this year is going to be a really good year with two great teammates – Cooper and Marvin – I think we can really do some damage out there. The new bike is awesome. I love this thing. It’s so nimble and light, I can put it where I want it and the suspension works great on it. I think it’s going to be a really good year and I’m looking forward to it.”

Aaron Plessinger

Maximus Vohland continues with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team for his second season in the 250SX division. The 18-year-old missed the majority of his rookie Supercross season due to an injury sustained early on, but he came back strong for the AMA Pro Motocross Championship with a top-10 result in the 250 category.

Max Vohland

“It’s been a really great off-season and I’m looking forward to 2022 with the new teammates and the new bike. It feels fresh and I’m looking forward to it. The new FACTORY EDITION has been awesome, the whole package has been great from suspension to chassis and motor-wise – we’re making steps forward every day. I only have three SX races under my belt, so I have a little bit of experience, but I think this extra time I’ve had on the bike during the off-season has really helped and I feel like a completely different rider than last year, I feel way ahead of where I was last year for this new season coming up.”

Max Vohland

Ian Harrison added his thought about the line-up for season 2022.

Ian Harrison – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager

“The team has expanded this year with three 450 guys and Max on for his second year as a 250 rider, plus we have new bikes across the board. We’re excited about that. There’s been a lot of work and testing hours being put into the bikes here and in Austria, and we’ve made good progress with it on both sides. We’re looking forward to going racing in early January. We’ve got a good platform and the guys are happy to start the season. The team dynamic is great right now. I think Aaron brings that real ‘loving-life’ style to the team, which is good. Cooper is looking happy with his new bike, he’s making good progress and I’m excited to see what he can do. I think Marvin is going to surprise us all. He’s had a good off-season and he did really well when he went to Europe to race the SX, so I think he’s going to be really good. With Max, we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do on the new bike with a clean bill of health this season. We’re excited to get things rolling here in a month.”

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Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team reveal AMA SX/MX riders

With the opening round of the AMA Supercross Championship just around the corner, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team announced its rider lineup for the 2022 race season, which includes returning riders Dean Wilson, RJ Hampshire, Jalek Swoll and Stilez Robertson – along with newcomer Malcolm Stewart – all piloting the new FC Rockstar Editions.

Since the exciting announcement over the summer, fans across the globe have anticipated Malcolm Stewart’s debut aboard the FC 450 Rockstar Edition and the time is finally upon us. Coming off a successful supercross season in 2021, Stewart has proven himself as a contender in the premier 450 class with a podium finish and four top-five finishes last season.

Malcolm Stewart

“I feel really good. We’ve been doing a lot of training and we’ve got the bike really dialed in, so we’re looking forward to going into A1 and the 2022 season. It’s going to be a good year for me. I know I ended really good last year for the last couple rounds but now obviously we’re on a new team and feeling better, I like the whole vibe here. All we can do is go out there, have fun and do what we can do!”

Malcolm Stewart

Wilson, who first came to Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in 2017, will enter his sixth season with the team in 2022. Battling through an ongoing illness in 2021, Wilson missed quite a few races but he still managed to stay consistent and finish just outside the top-10 in the AMA Supercross Championship and he looks to build upon that foundation as he heads into 2022 healthy and ready to go.

Dean Wilson

“I’m really excited for the new season. I have another great opportunity with the team and I’m feeling really good. I’m looking for some good finishes, everything is kind of falling into place so it should be good.”

Dean Wilson

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team boasts a lineup of seasoned 250 cc riders aboard the new generation FC 250 Rockstar Edition for 2022 too. At the helm for his third year with the team is multi-time race winner, RJ Hampshire. With an endless amount of speed and determination, Hampshire is a fierce competitor on the race track and he looks to refine his skills this season and finally land on top of the box with a number one plate.

RJ Hampshire

“I’m feeling good heading into the new season. We’ve had a good off-season so far and the bike is awesome, so we have a lot of things to look forward to. We’re starting fresh and just excited to be with the team for another year and build on what we’ve started the last couple years.”

RJ Hampshire

Jalek Swoll, who began his professional supercross career with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in 2020, now enters his third season in the class. The 21-year-old had a break-out season in 2021, claiming a strong second-place at Arlington SX before rounding out the series with a top-five overall in the championship standings. He also showed flashes of brilliance outdoors, securing his first-career overall win with 1-3 moto finishes at the High Point National. For 2022, Swoll will line up in the 250SX Western division where he looks forward to a new set of challenges on the west coast.

Jalek Swoll

“I’m excited to race, going to be on a different coast than usual so that will be a different and fun learning experience. I’m looking forward to that. I think we’re in for a pretty good year. I’m just going to do what I did last year and have fun all the way through and let the results come to me.”

Jalek Swoll

With one full year of professional racing under his belt, Stilez Robertson will return for his sophomore season with the team. Despite an up-and-down rookie season due to injury and illness, the 19-year-old came away with a few highlights in 2021, including an impressive second-place finish at Daytona SX.

He missed three of the last five rounds but still managed a respectable 13th overall in the standings. Hoping for a strong push outdoors, Robertson got off to a decent start but illness prevented him from finishing out the season. Fully recovered heading into 2022, Robertson is confident that he will stack up when the gate drops in January.

Stilez Robertson

“It was a tough off-season with the sickness but I got over it and I’m really looking forward to going racing. I’ve been putting in the work and now I’m ready to go and show everybody what we’ve been working for. I’m excited to have a good season, be up front and try to put together some good results in both supercross and outdoors.”

Stilez Robertson

Stephen Westfall – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager

“I feel really good heading into the 2022 season. The team is solid and we have an all-new bike for both the 450 and 250. We have a really solid base and I think we will continue to get better throughout the year. The team is working hard, we’ve got a good group down in Florida all training together and pushing each and every day. We’ll continue to improve and we’re looking forward to the results this year.”

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Tomac joins Ferrandis at Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing for 2022

Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis and Eli Tomac are ready for thestart of the 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season having been hard at work at their new facility in Cairo, Georgia, looking to build on this year’s successful premier class debut.

Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis and Eli Tomac

Ferrandis is fresh off a stellar rookie year on the YZ450F, securing his first premier class title at the penultimate Pro Motocross round in Pala, California. The Frenchman also enjoyed a great start to his 450SX debut earlier in the year, scoring his first podium at the second Supercross round in Houston, Texas. He looks to keep that momentum rolling into the New Year and fight for another number-one plate.

Dylan Ferrandis – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing

“Our off-season has been going great. We have been working really hard on and off the bike. We still have one month left to prepare for the 2022 Supercross season, but I’m pretty excited for my second season on the 450 and can’t wait for A1!”

Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis

In addition to Ferrandis securing the title a weekend early, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. earned Manufacturer of the Year honors, and the Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing Team was named Team of the Year. The series also awarded Jeremy Coker Team Manager of the Year and the 450 Mechanic of the Year went to Ferrandis’ mechanic, Alex Campbell.

Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing 450 Team Manager

“This off-season has been one that I will never forget. We moved the team across the country and have a new addition with Eli, so it’s been a lot of long hours to prepare for the season, but it’s very exciting. Dylan and Eli have been working very hard and look amazing. Hard work pays off, and we saw that last year. I think 2022 looks to be even better!”

Joining the team for 2022, Tomac is eager for that first gate drop aboard the Yamaha YF450F at the series opener at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The Coloradan is a proven title contender, adding the 2020 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship to his resume after his impressive three-peat (2017-2019) in the Pro Motocross 450MX Championship. He is also the winningest rider currently active in the premier class and aims to reclaim the throne in 2022.

Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing

“December riding at the Star Racing facility in Florida alongside my teammates has been great preparation. We’ve all been pushing for the next level and are ready to go for the 2022 Supercross season!”

Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing’s Eli Tomac

The Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing team also heads into 2022 looking to reign supreme in the 250 class divisional championships, with a six-rider line-up boasting a blend of youth and experience with the reigning 250SX West Champion Justin Cooper, 250SX East Champion Colt Nichols, two-time 250MX Champion Jeremy Martin, Christian Craig and two of the sports up-and-coming riders – Nate Thrasher and Levi Kitchen. Jensen Hendler comes on board as the team manager for the 250 team.

The Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing team’s 250 line-up

Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing 250 Team Manager

“We are very excited to get the season kicked off, as our riders are looking very good and ready to compete for the championship on both coasts. We have put a lot of work into our championship-winning program to make sure our riders and staff are ready to win!”

Cooper enters his fifth year with the team and is coming off an impressive 2021 season. After taking the 250SX West crown in Supercross, the New Yorker backed it up with a great outdoor season. He came just shy of the title in the end, but lead the way in qualifying, holeshots and scored seven moto wins and never missed the overall podium. Cooper now has his eyes set on 2022 and adding more number-one plates to his resume.

Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing

“I’m very excited for the 2022 season. I’ve been working really hard with the team to be my best self come race time. We’ve made the transition to Florida this year so it is nice to get on some new dirt and see where we can be better.”

Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing

Nichols also heads into the new year with a number-one plate. The Oklahoman took the title in the Eastern regional division to make it a Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing sweep in the 250 class, becoming the first team to do so in nearly a decade. Unfortunately, an injury sidelined him with five rounds remaining in the Pro Motocross season, but Nichols is ready to return to action for year six with the team and make another championship run.

Colt Nichols – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing

“I’m excited for the season to get underway. It’s been a very productive off-season so far, and I’ve been trying to work on my weaknesses to be a better rider and translate that into the weekends. I’m looking forward to getting the ‘22 season going!”

Colt Nichols – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing

Last year, Martin returned to the team where he won his back-to-back Pro Motocross 250MX titles (2014-2015). Although injuries sidelined him for the supercross season and a few rounds of motocross, the Minnesotan showed a lot of grit and determination. Despite not being 100%, he scored six moto wins and three overall 250MX victories. With some time to return to full fitness, Martin is eager to lineup on the gate in 2022 and fight for the championship.

Craig kicked off his debut season with the team with a bang, winning the 2021 250SX East season opener in Houston. He battled for top honors with his teammate all season until a crash at the penultimate round ended his title hopes prematurely. The Californian moved over to the 450 team for the outdoor season, where he enjoyed some solid results to end the year sixth. He now shifts gears back to the Yamaha YZ250F to try and claim the coveted 250SX crown, and will return to the premier class for the 2022 Pro Motocross season.

Thrasher turned a lot of heads during his first full season in the pro ranks, taking two 250SX wins at a very physically demanding track at the Atlanta Motor Speedway tripleheader, and ended the season seventh in the points standings. Unfortunately, he too was sidelined during the outdoor season, but the young Tennessee rider is ready to return and looks to build on his impressive rookie year.

Kitchen capped off his amateur career with a pair of titles at the 2021 AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s and was named the Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award Winner. He made his pro debut at the Pro Motocross RedBud National and showed speed straight away, scoring some solid results inside the top 10. The Washington State native is now eager to start his first full season in the pro ranks and to make his debut in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.

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Gabriel Marcelli joins Toni Bou with Repsol Honda Trial Team for 2022

Repsol Honda Team presents new faces for the forthcoming season: Toni Bou will have Gabriel Marcelli as team-mate while Takahisa Fujinami takes over as Team Manager to battle for the TrialGP and X-Trial World Championships.

Gabriel Marcelli joins Toni Bou with Repsol Honda Trial Team for 2022
Repsol Honda Team 2022: Gabriel Marcelli, Toni Bou and Team Manager Takahisa Fujinami

Toni Bou, who has reigned for fifteen years, needs little introduction: the most successful ever sportsman, the trial legend and the point of reference for everyone, will go all out to defend his number one status that has remained intact for a decade-and-a-half. Bou will start as both the firm favourite and the man to beat in his sixteenth season with the Repsol Honda Team.

Toni Bou

“This forthcoming season will be very interesting for all of us. As always, our objectives are the titles and we are continuously preparing for it, as our rivals always want to take the world championship number one position away from us. We will continue the line of work that we have been taking over these years. I would like to welcome Gabriel Marcelli to the team. He is a very good rider and he rode some great trials this year. I’m sure that he will do really well and it will be good for the team. I also wish to congratulate Takahisa Fujinami as the new Team Manager. I’m sure his racing experience will be positive for us.”

Toni Bou
Toni Bou returns in 2022

And alongside Toni Bou, young Galician rider Gabriel Marcelli (04/02/2000) will make his debut in the team this year. The rider joins the team after a successful Trial2 career where he was proclaimed world champion in 2019, followed by two solid seasons in TrialGP.

Gabriel Marcelli

“I am more than happy to join the best trial team in the world. First of all I want to thank all my sponsors who have supported me over the years, especially this last season. From now on maybe there will be more pressure. The fact of joining the Repsol Honda Team gives you more responsibilities, you are in the eyes of everyone… being Toni’s team-mate, having such a good team, I think it will bring many great moments and I hope it will be a relationship that lasts for many years. I take over from Takahisa Fujinami, who has set the bar very high all these years. I will try to do my best and show that I am up to it and I trust in the work to get to the top and hopefully be at the top with Toni Bou.”

Repsol Honda Team have also reshuffled part of its staff with the incorporation of former rider Takahisa Fujinami as the new team manager. After 26 active seasons in the trial world championship, Fujinami will take up a new role within a structure he knows so well. His competitive experience will be a key factor in this new challenge for the 2004 Trial World Champion.

Takahisa Fujinami – Team Manager

“For me it is a great honour to be able to defend, from this point on, the colours of the Repsol Honda Trial Team as Team Manager. It is a great challenge for me, no doubt whatsoever. The team has achieved great success and my intention will be to continue this long streak of titles and to collaborate in making the brand even bigger. In 2022 we are adding a new rider to the team: Gabriel Marcelli. He is a young rider with a promising future. In 2020 he achieved his first podium and in 2021 he finished the season clearly on the rise. With his entry into the Repsol Honda Team we are sure that he will make a great leap forward in his career. He will be the team-mate of our great champion Toni Bou. Toni has won 30 world championship titles and … what else can you say about someone who has achieved so much? As always, he will be looking to win the TrialGP and X-Trial world championships once again next season, and the whole team will be working to make it possible for another year!”

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Four-rider Monster Energy Honda Rally Team for 2022

The Official Honda HRC Cross-Country Rally Team has broken cover and the Monster Energy Honda Team is all set to face the new challenges ahead, the toughest of which will be the 2022 Dakar Rally kicking off the new year.

2022 Monster Energy Honda Rally Team

The current Dakar Rally championship-winning team were in attendance for the gala presentation of the official Honda HRC teams for the new 2022 season. The revamped Monster Energy Honda Team will be aiming to replicate last season’s win in the world’s toughest race, the Dakar Rally.

Indeed, if anything is tougher than conquering such a mighty goal, it is repeating it. And after last year’s Dakar, it has become abundantly clear that Monster Energy Honda Team are determined to pull off the triumph as many times as they possibly can. For this very reason the team will line up a mix of both youth and experience, making a formidable squad with a high chance of achieving their aim.

2022 Monster Energy Honda Rally Team

In the 2021 Dakar, Monster Energy Honda Team proved themselves to be a resilient outfit, not only winning stages and leading much of the race, but having several riders constantly vying for the top spot.

Ricky Brabec, American, champion in 2020 and runner-up in 2021, will adorn the #2 plate on his Honda CRF450 RALLY. With four stage wins last year, going from strength to strength throughout the campaign and in the final fray for the overall victory… who could ask for anything more?

Ricky Brabec

“2021 has been a lot of training so far. Unfortunately we are still in the Covid crisis, so not much racing going on. I don’t mind training more than racing. It’s always good to race and stay competitive, but also doing a lot of training is also good. I can train really close to my house so it makes it super easy and super beneficial to train for Dakar 2022. We were very close to achieving another win in 2021. Unfortunately two major setbacks haunted us the whole rally in doing so. Like we said – we know how to train and know exactly where to start off, just learning from 2019 to 2020 to 2021. This year, in preparation for 2022, we know where to start training and we know how to progressively train. I’m looking forward to seeing how it has helped us. Obviously, the main goal is the Dakar for any Honda rider. We have four really good, strong, confident riders. Unfortunately I want to win, but so do the other three. If one Honda wins, or two, or three, or, just one gets on the podium -it’s a team effort and a team win. So as a whole, that’s our main goal, to win the Dakar again.”

Ricky Brabec

José Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Cornejo, the young 27-year-old Chilean promise will return to Saudi Arabia hoping to improve on last year’s bittersweet edition, although nobody will be able to take away his stage win or the fact that he led the race for three whole days.

José Ignacio Cornejo

“The real pressure was when I was a privateer. I had to try to make it to be a professional. I didn’t have the resources. I’m having fun. I’m living the dream. Racing professionally for HRC. Fighting to win the Dakar Rally – the most important rally in the world. I just don’t feel the pressure. The Atacama was really good training for what was coming. Good conditions and good routes. I had a lot of fun. The pandemic? We thought that we would have more races, but some of them were cancelled or postponed, so it’s still not a normal year. It was better than last year. I’ve been able to do some testing and some normal training and some races with the team. Last year we just did one before the Dakar. It was better than last year for sure.”

José Ignacio Cornejo

Joan Barreda is currently the active rider with the highest number of stage wins in the motorcycle category. The #88 never-say-die needs little introduction. But who would dare to rule out Bang Bang from the list of contenders for the overall victory?

Joan Barreda

“I tried to do a good job throughout the whole season. We started the year with the Andalucian Rally and we did a good job. We were also racing close to my house in Baja, Spain. It was a great rally and I showed some good speed. It was good training to do all that work. This year we worked a lot especially on the second week of the Dakar. It’s a long race – different from the other rallies. I think we work well. We are trying to be in good physical and mental condition. We are trying to take care of all the small details. With all this together, with a really good bike and a great team, we are sure we can do a good job.”

Joan Barreda

Pablo Quintanilla is the latest addition to the Monster Energy Honda Team! Welcome aboard! The rider has already been on the final Dakar podium on no less than two occasions and also holds two world championship titles. The latest signing to the squad will be more visible than ever this year.

Pablo Quintanilla

“I feel really happy and excited to be part of the team. For me it is an honor to be part of the team that already won the Dakar in the last edition. For me it’s something that I have been searching for all these years. The atmosphere in the team is really nice. The relationship between the riders, the mechanics and all the people who work here is really nice. It is an honor to be part of the team. I think that all the riders want to win the Dakar. We come every year with the ambition to win the race. For me it’s a special feeling. I’ve already finished second and third in the race. For sure I want to win. But the important thing is to improve my skills and pace to have the chance to be able to win. For me it is important to have a big team behind you. Some things you can prepare for yourself before the race, but the other thing is that you have the correct team, with the correct people and the right bike to make it happen. I want to win. I will prepare for the victory. I will do my best as always. I will give it 100% every day and every stage. I hope and I wish this dream comes true.”

Pablo Quintanilla

The 2022 Dakar Rally will start on January 1 in Ha’il, Saudi Arabia, and, after 12 stages and a rest day, will end in Jeddah on January 14. The Dakar 2022 will also be the first round of the new Cross-Country Rallies World Championship.

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Yamaha reveals 2022 EMX125 & EMX250 line-ups

Yamaha Motor Europe have revealed that EMX250 bronze medalist Rick Elzinga will join fellow EMX250 title challengers Andrea Bonacorsi and Dave Kooiker at the Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 team for the 2022 EMX250 European Championship campaign. Meanwhile, the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team has retained its current crop of young stars, Ivano van Erp, Karlis Reisulis and Ferruccio Zanchi, for the 2022 EMX125 season.

Rick Elzinga joins Yamaha in 2022

Thorsten Lentink – Yamaha Motor Europe MX Racing Coordinator

“We are already looking forward to the 2022 European Motocross Championship after securing a strong 2022 line up for both of our Official EMX250 and EMX125 teams. In EMX250, after an incredible rookie season with Andrea Bonacorsi finishing fourth in the EMX250 Championship, we are excited to keep Andrea onboard for another season where we hope to regularly challenge the podium. In addition, we have also retained Dave Kooiker. He has just turned 16 and is a young talent on the rise, he started the year strong and solid but ended up facing some struggles later in the season, he has shown that he is a fighter and will keep pushing forward. And finally, we are super happy to re-sign Rick Elzinga. Rick is a rider who we started a relationship with inside the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team a few years ago, and despite a couple of challenging seasons that were spoiled by injury, he bounced back strong in 2021 and has proven that he is a title challenger in the EMX250 class. Rick is a true talent and a real asset to the Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 team, especially as he comes from the same area as the title sponsor, Hutten Metaal. We are really looking forward to working with these three riders and helping them reach their full potential. In the 125cc category, I am very happy that we can continue in 2022 with the exact same team. We have made a big step forward, and we have proven that we can fight for race and round wins. This year, we landed on the podium with all three of the MJC Yamaha riders, Ivano van Erp, Karlis Reisulis and Ferruccio Zanchi, and many times we had the fastest lap times. We are definitely podium contenders and very competitive, so I look forward to continuing in this direction with all three riders and the GYTR kitted YZ125.”

Spearheading the effort in the MX2 feeder class, EMX250, Elzinga makes his return to the Yamaha Family after a two-year hiatus. The Dutchman demonstrated his capabilities in the 2021 EMX250 Championship with an emphatic overall victory at his home round, the first of his career. The 19-year-old went on to score another three podiums, before securing the EMX250 bronze medal with a third-place finish at the final round in Mantova, Italy.

After winning the EMX125 Championship in 2020, Bonacorsi moved up to the highly competitive EMX250 class in 2021, joining the Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 team. Raising the bar for the next crop of up-and-coming talents, the 18-year-old Italian completed his first full term in the 250cc category in fourth overall after proving his true potential with a pair of back-to-back race wins at two of the three rounds in Pietramurata, Italy. The rookie sensation also raced his GYTR kitted YZ250F to the podium on three further occasions and will look to add to that tally to mount a title challenge next year.

Remaining with the Hutten Metaal set-up for a third full-season, 16-year-old Kooiker hopes to line up fit and strong in 2022, eager to inch closer to the front runners.

Wim Hutten – Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 Team Owner

“I am happy and proud to run Yamaha’s Official EMX250 Team for a third year in a row. For this upcoming season, we add Rick Elzinga to the team, which is exciting because we are a Dutch-based team and he is a Dutch rider, and is also close to the Hutten Metaal area. It is also nice to keep Andrea, after an excellent rookie season, and Dave who will continue with us for another year as well. We see a lot of potential in this line-up, and our team will do all we can to give them the best opportunity to show what they are able to achieve.”

In the EMX125 series, the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team is thrilled to continue with its trio of proven title challengers, Van Erp, Reisulis and Zanchi.

Ivano van Erp

All three MJC Yamaha riders celebrated podium silverware in 2021. Van Erp emerged as one of the major title contenders with three race and round wins at EMX125 events in Germany, Spain, and Italy. After starting the 2021 season with an injury, Reisulis bounced back with a vengeance.

The 16-year-old Latvian rounded out his season with two overall podiums at the final two rounds in Italy, finishing second on both occasions. Zanchi was classified second overall at the first round in Matterley Basin, while the Italian’s first full season in the series also included an impressive race victory in France.

All three riders are confident and eager to continue racing the highly competitive GYTR kitted YZ125 inside the EMX125 Championship in 2022.

Loic LeFoll – MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 Team Owner

“I am so happy to continue working with these young riders. All three riders are very talented, which is exciting for our team, and in addition to that, they are very hard working and have great attitudes on and off the bike. I really enjoy working with riders like this, and we are already looking forward to the new season. The team is motivated, the riders are motivated, the YZ125 is a fantastic bike and we are excited for the 2022 season.”

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Source: MCNews.com.au

Toby Price biography coming soon

As Aussie Toby Price goes for his third Dakar Rally title in January 2022, book stores across the country will be busy stocking up on his biography.

Endurance: The Toby Price Story is his incredible and inspiring journey from childhood racing prodigy on a remote farm in the Australian bush to the top of the podium in one of the world’s most unforgiving race events and recipient of an OAM at age 33.

Widely renowned for his ‘Bush Mechanic’ persona and one of the most beloved figures in Australian sport today, Toby has overcome many formidable bumps in the road: The death of his adored sister, Min; the tragic loss of mentors and rivals in the desert; countless broken bones and an accident that should have paralysed him for life.

The 34-year-old from Maitland, NSW, has seven Finke wins across bike and car classes, five Hattah Desert Race victories, five Australian Off-Road Championships, and two National Enduro championships. 

In 2015, Toby made his first attempt at the soul-destroying, 9000km, 14-day Dakar Rally. 

A stage win and an overall podium earned Price a full-time seat on the KTM Factory Red Bull Racing Team. 

He now has two Dakar titles, in 2016 and 2019, and sadly crashed out while chasing the lead last year in Saudi Arabia.

He will be back next January aiming for his third title.

Endurance: The Toby Price Story is co-written with Andrew Van Leeuwin and will be published on 1 February 2022.

Andrew is an award-winning journalist who has specialised in motorsport for more than 15 years. 

Tony Weber prepares to learn to ride

He started his career at Australasian Motorsport News in Melbourne, working his way into the top digital editor role before relocating to Mainz, Germany, in 2012. 

During a three-year stint in Europe he covered a number of series, including the DTM, while working for Autosport, before returning to Australia as part of Motorsport.com‘s global expansion in early 2015. 

He currently leads Motorsport Network’s Supercars coverage and is considered one of the top motorsport journalists and podcasters in Australia. 

He lives in Perth with his wife Anne, kids Nico and Billie and chihuahua Coco.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Bespoke Rallies Hosts 4,000 Mile Homage to Original “Dakar Rally”

Three weeks, 20 motorcycles, and a whole lot of landmass to cover.

Bespoke Rallies is offering the experience of a lifetime with their 2022 Dakar Enduro Rally, set to begin February 28, 2022.

The words ‘Dakar Rally’ come with a huge following…and not a little risk. Not to be confused with the original  (a blistering 6,200-mile endurance rally founded in 1977, with a bike category installed in 1979), Bespoke’s rally is more of a tour-style experience open to the masses. 

It will also be the first rally to maintain as much of the original Dakar route possible, given that 2008 saw the original rally route canceled due to security threats from Mauritania

Dakar Rally Motorcycle Map for 2022

Voted as the world’s most iconic enduro event, the Dakar Rally, or “The Dakar,” had many routes pre-2008 – the most famous being the 9,500 miles run in 1986 from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal. Today, Bespoke Rallies plans a very similar route, with a starting point in the hills of Britain and a finish line in Dakar. 

It’s enough to get any moto head to nerd out – and who wouldn’t with giants like the Yamaha Tenere & Honda Africa Twin owing their birth to this monument of moto and auto history.

CYRIL NEVEU, winner of the 1979 first Motorbike Dakar Rally, on a Yamaha

At present, the official Dakar Rally is held almost exclusively in Saudi Arabia, with no less risk to the competitors – and their wallets.

Call to challenge exhaust noise fines sign noise cameras

Bespoke has commented that the Dakar Enduro Rally will be more laid-back than its predecessor.

“Bespoke Rallies’ Dakar Enduro Rally takes its inspiration from this iconic endurance event, but at an altogether more manageable pace…we will be running in the wheel tracks of the original event wherever possible, using some of the finest roads of the classic route while avoiding the dune bashing of the more extreme sections.”

Dust down and gear up for the ride of the year, gents.

And bring some deodorant – you’re going to need it.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Sanders third in 2021 Dakar Prologue | Price ninth

Dakar Rally 2021 – Prologue


Today saw the Dakar Rally 2021 kick off with the prologue, Maurizio Gerini marking the first biker to enter the 11km stage travelling from Jeddah to Jeddah, however it was last year’s winner Ricky Brabec who stamped his authority on the day.

Ricky Brabec

“Today was good. Pretty short – just a ten-kilometre prologue. Nothing to really lose or nothing to gain. Just enough to shake the bugs out of the bike and the body. We’re now ready for the actual start. Tomorrow we start nice and early. We came away with first and second place in the prologue for me and Joan. So tomorrow Joan and I will open the way and hopefully it will go well. It’s a long race but I think strategy will start to play in, but as of now, it’s time to get lunch, get the gear off and time to focus.”

Ricky Brabec proved the man to beat topping the 2021 Dakar prologue

Joan Barreda looked like an early shoo-in for the win, with Aussie Daniel Sanders in close proximity, however Brabec proved fastest overall, just 13-seconds separating the top three.

Daniel Sanders third in Dakar 2021 Prologue – Image by Rally Zone

Joan Barreda was actually the first of the favourites to get to grips with the motorbike special, with the occasion marking his eleventh Dakar, boasting 17 stage wins under his belt, showing immediate speed. He was outpaced by Brabec by six-seconds, with Sanders a further seven-seconds in arrears.

Joan Barreda

“I am happy with this first day. It was a pretty quick prologue and it wasn’t easy. The first part was in an open river and it was complicated because we had to validate each note within an 80-metre radius. From there we entered a very stony mountainous area which was very quick and quite difficult. I hesitated over some of the Roadbook validations but didn’t really waste too much time. I am quite happy with this first contact.”

Joan Barreda

The 2020 Dakar champion, Ricky Brabec, was of course the last biker to start the special, but that proved no hurdle.

Ross Branch was fourth fastest, followed by Sebastian Buhler, Andrew Short, Kevin Benavides, Pablo Quintanilla and then Australian Toby Price in ninth 22s off pace, with Joaquim Rodrigues completing the top 10. Price’s teammates, Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland both also finished within a minute of the leader.

Toby Price was 22s off pace for the Dakar 2021 prologue – Image by Rally Zone

Michael Burgess was the next fastest Australian in 39th, 1m14s off leading pace, while Joseph Houlihan came home in 72th, 2m46s off the leader.

Sunday, sees the first stage of the Dakar 2021, which will be contested entirely on-track between Jeddah and Bisha. Competitors can expect 277 kilometres of special timed out of a 622-kilometre total trek. The route will pass through several valleys with several sections requiring deft roadbook reading skills. Some of the stony sections could prove detrimental to the tyres.


2021 Dakar Rally – Prologue Results

Pos Rider Nat. Man. Time Gap
1 R. BRABEC USA HONDA 000:06:01
2 J. BARREDA BORT ESP HONDA 000:06:07 0:00:06
3 D. SANDERS AUS KTM 000:06:14 0:00:13
4 R. BRANCH BWA YAMAHA 000:06:15 0:00:14
5 S. BÜHLER DEU HERO 000:06:17 0:00:16
6 A. SHORT USA YAMAHA 000:06:18 0:00:17
7 K. BENAVIDES ARG HONDA 000:06:21 0:00:20
8 P. QUINTANILLA CHL HUSQVARNA 000:06:23 0:00:22
9 T. PRICE AUS KTM 000:06:23 0:00:22
10 J. RODRIGUES PRT HERO 000:06:24 0:00:23
11 J. MCCANNEY GBR YAMAHA 000:06:24 0:00:23
12 M. GIEMZA POL HUSQVARNA 000:06:27 0:00:26
13 S. HOWES USA KTM 000:06:28 0:00:27
14 F. CAIMI ARG YAMAHA 000:06:30 0:00:29
15 L. BENAVIDES ARG HUSQVARNA 000:06:30 0:00:29
16 L. SANTOLINO ESP SHERCO FACTORY 000:06:32 0:00:31
17 A. VAN BEVEREN FRA YAMAHA 000:06:33 0:00:32
18 M. WALKNER AUT KTM 000:06:33 0:00:32
19 X. DE SOULTRAIT FRA HUSQVARNA 000:06:35 0:00:34
20 R. GONCALVES PRT SHERCO FACTORY 000:06:36 0:00:35
21 S. SVITKO SVK KTM 000:06:38 0:00:37
22 O. MENA ESP KTM 000:06:39 0:00:38
23 A. TOMICZEK POL HUSQVARNA 000:06:41 0:00:40
24 M. MICHEK CZE KTM 000:06:41 0:00:40
25 JI. CORNEJO FLORIMO CHL HONDA 000:06:51 0:00:50
39 M. BURGESS AUS KTM 000:07:15 0:01:14
72 AJ. HOULIHAN AUS KTM 000:08:47 0:02:46

2021 Dakar Schedule

Stage Date Start > Finish Total Special
P Saturday, January 2, 2021 Jeddah > Jeddah 11 km 11 km
1 Sunday, January 3, 2021 Jeddah > Bisha 622 km 277 km
2 Monday, January 4, 2021 Bisha > Wadi Al Dawasir 685 km 457 km
3 Tuesday, January 5, 2021 Wadi Al Dawasir > Wadi Al Dawasir 630 km 403 km
4 Wednesday, January 6, 2021 Wadi Al Dawasir > Riyadh 813 km 337 km
5 Thursday, January 7, 2021 Riyadh > Buraydah 625 km 419 km
6 Friday, January 8, 2021 Buraydah > Ha’il 655 km 485 km
Rest Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ha’il (Rest Day)
7 Sunday, January 10, 2021 Ha’il > Sakaka 737 km 471 km
8 Monday, January 11, 2021 Sakaka > Neom 709 km 375 km
9 Tuesday, January 12, 2021 Neom > Neom 579 km 465 km
10 Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Neom > Al-Ula 583 km 342 km
11 Thursday, January 14, 2021 Al-Ula > Yanbu 557 km 511 km
12 Friday, January 15, 2021 Yanbu > Jeddah 452 km 225 km

Dakar 2021 Preview

Source: MCNews.com.au

Moto News Weekly | Brabec to defend Dakar | e-FMX | Brayton to Honda

Moto News Weekly Wrap
January 2, 2021

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What’s New:

  • Inaugural e-FMX World Champion crowned
  • Brayton to lead all new Muc-Off Honda Racing Team in AMA SX
  • Jonny Walker teams up with Beta Motorcycles in 2021
  • Ricky Brabec & Honda to defend Dakar crown in 2021
  • Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team set for Dakar campaign
  • Shakedown tests complete for KTM Dakar crew
  • New rules aimed at boosting Dakar safety
  • Dakar Rally 2021 schedule
  • Dakar Motorcycle Entry List 2021
  • 2021 Racing Calendars

Inaugural e-FMX World Champion crowned

The Grand Final of the inaugural e-FMX World Championship produced the best gameplay to date with two new champions and the introduction of a brand new Night of the Jumps Best Trick level in TiMX : This is Motocross.

E-FMX World Championship Trophy

The Grand Final episode featured a three-way battle between the favourite for the series, Nitro World Games winner from Australia, Pat Bowden, who was up against the Spanish FMX Champion and TikTok MX star, Pedro Moreno and the young gun from the Czech Republic, Matej Cesak.

Pedro Moreno put together one of the best runs of the series in the final. After two weeks training since the Semi Finals, Pedro decided to utilise more variety in his run including the McMetz to Cliffhanger combo which was actually performed IRL by Dany Torres from Spain. Unfortunately variety alone wasn’t enough to advance further and Pedro finished the season in third position.

After 11 months out of action due to injury, Pat Bowden returned to his YZ250 only a week ago since his crash in January. However, after his first ride, Pat’s doctor scheduled him in for surgery immediately to remove the Lunate bone in the wrist and replace it with a prosthetic replacement! This all happened two-days before the final run of the game. Somehow, Pat managed to put together an incredibly good run inside TiMX, and the judges voted him to be in second position overall.

With the smoothest of runs, showing incredible variety, dexterity and difficulty in tricks both in real life and inside the game mechanics, Matej Cesak was crowned the first ever e-FMX World Champion by proving every week to be one of the best riders. Perhaps as the youngest in the final he had an advantage on the mobile game, but Matej’s win could not be disputed with such a smooth run and some tricks looking very similar to his style in real life!

Matej Cesak

For the win, Matej takes home $500 for winning the overall series from TiMX and Aussie Adrenaline, but also receiving an invite to compete at a real-world FMX competition at Night of the Jumps in 2021 and also 250,000 Gold Coins of in-game currency.

The first ever FMX eSport series became even more interesting in the final round, with a brand new discipline coming online only four days before the final with an all new FMX Best Trick competition mode inside the Night of the Jumps textured level.

With an invite open to all 16 players who had competed throughout the series and a couple of new riders, the Best Trick competition was on another level with a Roll-in set up to give the rider enough speed before the huge Moon Booter, the largest ramp built into the game, with riders able to try almost any trick imaginable!

There was so much variety from Josh Sheehan’s 720 to Taka Higashino’s Double Backflip California Roll 360 to Maikel Melero’s Quadruple Backflip with a Bike Flip (technically creating the only Quin Flip in the entire series!). However the win came down to the riders who showed variety, degree of difficulty and also innovation.

Tied for third place, was Matej Cesak and Pat Bowden. Matej with his Quadruple Backflip 360 California Roll and Pat with his Triple Backflip 360 with a Bike Flip.
The runner-up for Best Trick was the Russian FMX Champion and Crowd Favourite, Nick Ivankov with his very innovative Backflip to Inside Roll (body varial) to Front Flip.

Pedro Moreno – Best Trick Winner – Image courtesy of Pedro Moreno FMX Instagram

The winner for the first ever e-FMX World Championship Best Trick competition was the Spanish FMX Champion, Pedro Moreno. Pulling a Quadruple Backflip including a 360 in the middle and holding the Cliffhanger on the final backflip rotation, Pedro showed an incredible use of game mechanics to produce the trick while stating that he “needs more fingers and hands to perform bigger tricks!”

Not only is the special Night of the Jumps track in the game for this competition series, it is also available for all players who have downloaded the game on iOS or Android platforms with the Gold VIP Membership. The NOTJ Track which was designed from the Berlin World Championship course looks almost identical to the real world and is available in the Early Access area for VIP Members with the option to become available as one of the divisions in the open game.

The e-FMX World Championship series could not have happened without the support of FC Moto. Aussie Adrenaline produced an incredible mobile game, and Night of the Jumps partnered with AA to create this all new eSport series in 2020 and into the future with all new projects.

You can check out or download the app at – https://www.nightofthejumps.com/esport (link)

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Brayton to lead all new Muc-Off Honda Racing Team in AMA SX

Konsky Motorsport Group have announce Muc-Off as their new title sponsor for 2021. Muc-Off Honda, run by Australian Yarrive Konsky, will be competing in the premier division of the US world championship – the Monster Energy AMA Supercross as well as select European rounds during 2021.

Heading up the team is four times Australian SX champion and Daytona Supercross Winner veteran Justin Brayton, who will compete in the 450SX class on the new 2021 CRF 450R.

Brayton is considered to be the most consistent rider in the prolific series, finishing inside the top ten 12 times during the 2020 season. 2021 marks Brayton’s 18th year as a professional motocross/supercross racer. In 2018 he achieved a career best where he won the main event in Daytona onboard a CRF 450R and in 2012 he had his best overall championship finish – fourth.

Justin Brayton

“It’s super exciting to be working closely with Yarrive again for 2021, especially with him bringing an exciting new brand to the table. His passion and enthusiasm for this sport has been a positive influence on me. We have seen a lot of success in Australia, so I hope to relive this in the U.S supercross this year. I have been riding the new 2021 CRF 450R and I am feeling comfortable on it, testing has been great so now I just need to put it all together and focus on a strong and consistent season.”

Justin Brayton – Muc-Off Honda Racing Team

Mitchell Oldenburg will also be returning to the team in 2021 where he will be riding the CRF 250 alongside new teammate Mitchell Harrison. Harrison returns to the American Supercross Championship after a brief stint racing in the FIM World Motocross championship in the MX2 class.

Mitchell Oldenburg

“This is my third season with Yarrive and Honda and I feeling more ready than ever to go racing. Riding the same bike for a third season is an advantage as I am feeling so comfortable with the bike and I feel at home with the team. With Muc-Off as the new title sponsor, it has given me the motivation to show the world what I have got!”

Mitchell Oldenburg – Muc-Off Honda Racing Team

Mitchell Harrison

“When I got the call up to race for Muc-Off Honda, I was excited as I have only good things about their program. I went out to test the bike and immediately asked for the contract as it just felt right. The team is competitive and because of both Muc-Off and Honda coming in to support the team for 2021, I am committed to getting top results.”

The Supercross season gets underway at the NRG Stadium in Houston Texas on the 16th January 2021. This will be the first of three races in Houston.

Mitchell Harrison – Muc-Off Honda Racing Team

Yarrive Konsky – Team Owner

“I am really pleased that we can finally shout about our plans for 2021. It has been 4 months in the making, with a final push at the 11th hour to get to this point, but now we are here, I am keen to start seeing results. Working with Muc-Off as our new title sponsor for next year has been really refreshing. Their ethos and work ethic has been instrumental in getting us here and I am looking forward to seeing this relationship develop.”

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Jonny Walker teams up with Beta Motorcycles in 2021

Jonny Walker has signed with Beta in a Factory supported team to challenge for top honours in both the Super Enduro World Championship and the new FIM Extreme Championship in 2021, marking his first appearance on the Beta and along with existing support from worldwide brands Redbull, Leatt, GoPro, POD.

Jonny Walker joins Beta in 2021

Jonny Walker

“It is really exciting for me to undertake this new adventure, seeing the success that BETA has had in World Enduro championship over the years made my decision easy. Being able to carry on with my existing loyal sponsors is amazing and a credit to their vision and direction. I am really looking forward to working with new brands and helping them grow.”

Jonny Walker

Fabrizio Dini Factory Beta Team Manager

“Beta are extremely happy to support Jonny, he is for sure a very professional and strong world class rider. We are excited to work with him as we know that he is serious and professional about his business and the great results that will surely follow. Beta are also very happy that we are starting work as soon as possible and look forward to a good and successful season working together.”

Jonny Walker will compete the Super Enduro World Championship and the new FIM Extreme Championship


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Ricky Brabec to defend Dakar crown in 2021

For the first time since the official Honda team returned to the Dakar Rally in 2013 after a 23-year absence, one of the team bikes will compete the event with the number one emblazoned on its fairings. The Monster Energy Honda Team will be seeking to replicate the feat achieved by Ricky Brabec last year, as they face a new goal and a new challenge.

Monster Energy Honda Rally Team - Dakar 2021
Monster Energy Honda Rally Team – Dakar 2021

The Monster Energy Honda Team is already in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, sitting out the final hours of lockdown in the hotel, after the final COVID-19 testing, ahead of the day of scrutineering. The team is all set to do battle in the 2021 Dakar Rally in a bid to hold on to the title clinched last year by American Ricky Brabec.

Recent months have seen the team undergo very thorough pre-race preparations in order to arrive at the world’s toughest race in the best possible conditions.

Ricky Brabec – Monster Energy Honda Rally Team – Dakar 2021

Ricky Brabec

“We’ve finished the scrutineering and we are now looking forward to the prologue tomorrow. The whole team is ready. I’m ready as well. We will try and do our best to defend the number one. It’s not going to be easy. The target on our back is pretty big. But we are here and we can’t really say much right now. The race hasn’t even started. We’ll get back to you guys in a couple of days and let you know how things are going. That’s the goal – to defend the number one.”

Ricky Brabec, José Ignacio Cornejo, Kevin Benavides and Joan Barreda are the four factory riders lining up for the Monster Energy Honda Team, all having managed to finish the most recent edition of the Dakar. The squad arrives at the Dakar in top physical shape, hoping to relive the sensation of lifting the Dakar winner’s bronze Touareg prize.

José Ignacio Cornejo- Monster Energy Honda Rally Team – Dakar 2021

José Ignacio Cornejo

“I’m happy to be here to start another Dakar Rally, my sixth and fourth with HRC. I’m pleased, the team is solid and highly-motivated, eager to get out and have a good race. Tomorrow, we have the prologue and it will be important to make a solid start, with good pace and without making mistakes. It will be a good chance to get a feel for things ahead of stage one on Sunday. We will give it everything we can, as always.”

Gilles Lalay won the Dakar back in 1989 and no other Honda rider has since adorned the plaque until 2021. The American rider’s CRF450 Rally now proudly sports the winner’s decals. Ricky Brabec will be accompanied by three other top-class riders: Chilean José Ignacio Cornejo, fourth last year, who has proven to be a valuable asset, adapting well to the Saudi Arabian terrain.

Kevin Benavides- Monster Energy Honda Rally Team – Dakar 2021

Alongside will be Argentinean rider Kevin Benavides (#47), runner-up in 2018. He will be another rider aspiring to claim the overall victory and arrives on top form this year after a win at the Andalucia Rally. No introduction is necessary for Joan Barreda (#88). By now a Dakar rider of legendary status, having participated eleven times and the current competing rider with the highest number of stage wins under his belt – 24.

Kevin Benavides

“Everything is ready. The wait is over and I am very motivated to start this new Dakar Rally. I have trained a lot and I was able to win in the only race – the Andalucia Rally – that I competed in, which has made me far more motivated to arrive here in good shape. I am eager to start this Dakar, so let’s get the action underway!”

Joan Barreda

“Today we did the administrative and technical verifications and the truth is that everything went quite quickly because we had practically everything ready to go. Normally everything is slower and more laborious. Now we only need to start tomorrow at noon with the prologue where we can give it some throttle, which is what we all want.”

Joan Barreda- Monster Energy Honda Rally Team – Dakar 2021

The 2021 Dakar Rally begins on January 3 in Jeddah and is set to finish in the same Saudi Arabian city on the 15th of the same month after a total 7,649-kilometre trek, to include some 4,767 kilometres against the clock.

Ricky Brabec- Monster Energy Honda Rally Team – Dakar 2021

Ruben Faria – General Manager

“The bikes have been checked, the documents, too. Everything is done and we are ready to start the prologue tomorrow that will determine the starting order on the first day. It won’t be a very long special, but there will be some navigation and we hope it won’t be too complicated. It will be difficult for the riders as starting the Dakar is always an emotion-filled event. The idea is that they can do the best possible prologue. The goal is to reach January 15 on top sport and with all the bikes in the top ten, with some good feelings. There are many very good riders. Ours guys are good too and they are also in great shape. I’m confident the team to be able to produce a good result.”

The Monster Energy Honda Team at Dakar scrutineering
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Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team set for Dakar campaign

In 2021, for the first time in history the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team will enter the Dakar Rally with five riders. Forming a formidable line-up of experienced, determined racers, all eyes will be on Adrien Van Beveren, Franco Caimi, Andrew Short, Ross Branch and Jamie McCanney as all five take on one of the world’s toughest off-road rally races in the new year.

Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team – Dakar 2021

With the opening stage of the 2021 Dakar Rally set to kick off, all members of the team are fully prepared for the upcoming challenge. Well aware of the demanding days that lay ahead, each rider heads to the start line with high hopes and with the experience needed to secure a strong result in the desert.

Leading the team is the experienced Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren. Fully focused on his dream of winning the Dakar Rally, after spending the early part of 2020 recovering from surgery, he more recently spent much of the autumn and early winter in Dubai, re-acquainting himself with the same desert conditions he will face this January. Currently feeling strong and riding as well as he’s ever done following a positive outing at the Hail Rally, Van Beveren is set to take on the Dakar Rally in arguably his best ever form.

Adrien Van Beveren

“Since my crash at Dakar in 2020 it took two surgeries before I could work on my full recovery. I had six months off the bike, but I now feel really good. I’m not deterred by my crash last year and I still dream of winning the Dakar. This has been my motivation to work hard and prepare myself for 2021. My training has gone really well and I have been in Dubai riding in the dunes for a while now, so I feel like I am back to my best. I managed to race the Hail Rally recently, which was a positive part of my training. With the race taking place on the same terrain as the Dakar it also included tricky navigation, so it was perfect for me to race there. My bike is good and I feel good, so I am really confident now and I can’t wait to go racing again.”

Adrien Van Beveren

Franco Caimi was a consistent threat for top five stage results throughout the 2020 Dakar Rally, with the 32-year-old ultimately placing eighth overall to match his career-best result from the 2017 edition. Since then, Franco returned home to his native Argentina and following a brief recovery period and time to reflect, he switched his attention to the 2021 edition. Now, with months of focused training under his belt, Caimi is confident in establishing himself as a title contender.

Franco Caimi

“I’ve been at home training in Argentina and my preparations have been going really well. I feel great on the bike and physically and mentally I’m ready to go racing. I’m confident for a good result in 2021. For sure I will be pushing for the win which would be amazing for me and the team and it’s what I have been working for. I’ve studied the schedule and the stages, and the new route looks really good with a lot of mixed terrain, so I’m positive for a good result at the Dakar.”

Franco Caimi

Since joining the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team in March 2020, Andrew Short has spent much of the year riding in the Nevada desert, becoming fully acquainted with his Yamaha WR450F Rally machine. Following months of training, he made his racing debut with the team at the Andalucia Rally in Spain where a positive result saw Short confidently adjust to his new team surroundings and further develop his bike set-up. Looking ahead, Andrew has drawn upon his experiences from previous Dakars to form a solid race strategy heading into the 2021 event as he looks forward to taking on the Dakar rally challenge.

Andrew Short

“It’s been a strange year with only one race since the last Dakar, so it’s not been normal that’s for sure. I raced the Andalucia Rally which was only a small race, but it was important as it was the first one for me on the Yamaha. It was good for me to ride the bike in a race environment but also work with the whole team and spend time with the whole crew. I’ve been training a lot in the Nevada desert, continuing to learn the bike and lately I’ve been working on getting back into the racing mindset. The Dakar is a race like no other and for 2021 I’ll be taking it day by day. You learn a lot every year and for me it will be important to know when to push and when not to. I can’t wait to start racing and hopefully by the end of 13 days in the desert we can come away with a solid result.”

Andrew Short

Much like his teammates Franco and Andrew, Ross Branch has spent much of 2020 training, clocking up countless miles on his Yamaha WR450F Rally in his Botswana homeland. Working on further improving his roadbook skills, and now armed with the full support of the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team, Ross is excited to race at the 43rd edition of the Dakar. With Branch looking to harness his raw speed to ensure consistently high stage results, the 34-year-old is aiming for a top 10 overall result.

Ross Branch

“My training and preparation for Dakar has gone amazingly well and I’m really excited for January 3 to get things started. I’ve spent a lot of time at home in Botswana on my Yamaha and focussed on my roadbook training. I’m really happy with everything and it’s not long until we can go racing. It’s a strong field for 2021 and I think there’s 20 riders that could win. I’ll be focussing on minimising mistakes and being consistent on every stage. I’m really thankful for the team giving me this opportunity to give the Dakar my best shot and I hope to repay them with a solid result inside the top 10.”

Ross Branch

The team’s youngest rider is 26 years old Jamie McCanney, who is well prepared for what will be his second Dakar Rally. Still very new to the discipline, the Manxman made his Dakar debut a little over a year ago, making positive steps as the event progressed. Towards the end of the two-week race, Jamie enjoyed some rapid progress, delivering his best on stage 11 with sixth overall – a result that helped push him up the leaderboard to 15th in the final classification. With valuable experience earned, and with more time spent working on the set-up of his Yamaha WR450F Rally, McCanney is confident of improving upon his debut result.

Jamie McCanney

“I’m really looking forward to the Dakar Rally. It’s a shame that we only got to race once since the last Dakar and I’ve not been able to ride sand dunes like I’ll experience in January. I’ve been preparing myself in different ways though, working hard on my roadbook skills especially. I’ve been doing as much as I can, riding a lot and I’m really happy with my bike. Throughout the year the team has been working hard and we’re much better prepared than last time, so I’m happy with where we are at ahead of racing again. My expectations are to take it day by day, step by step, but ultimately I want to enjoy my riding and improve upon my 15th place finish last year.”

Jamie McCanney

The 2021 Dakar Rally gets underway in the port city of Jeddah on January 3 and will cover more than 7500km before finishing in the same location on January 15.

Alexandre Kowalski – Yamaha Europe Off-Road Racing Manager

“For sure 2020 has been a challenging year but we are really looking forward to the Dakar Rally. It’s an exciting time for the team as it will be the first time in history that five official Yamaha riders will race in this event. With Adrien, Franco, Jamie, Ross, and Andrew, we have a very strong team. We were fortunate to race the Andalucia Rally in October with all riders present and that was really good practice and preparation for us. The team spirit is really strong and they have all been training hard. Because of travel restrictions they have had to make their final preparations alone, but they are all hard workers and know what they need to do. The bike for 2021 has a few minor changes, so in their final preparations the riders can fully-focus on their riding and roadbook training. For Dakar, there are new regulations, with the new safety air bag and especially with the number of rear tyres that each rider can use. Each rider can only use six in total so there is some race management that the riders need to think about and prepare for. There is a strong line-up of riders and our team is ready for the challenge. We’re excited to start racing.”

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Shakedown tests complete for KTM Dakar crew

Held in the Middle East for the second consecutive year, and celebrating its 43rd edition, this year’s Dakar Rally looks set to challenge all competitors from day one. Following the short 11km Prologue, riders will face 12 demanding stages, totaling 7,646km, taking them through some of the toughest terrain Saudi Arabia has to offer.

Toby Price, Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland

Delivering a completely new route for 2021, the event organizers have been working hard to create a race that further tests all competitors’ navigational skills. Average speeds across the 4,767km of timed specials will also be reduced, with the stages expected to comprise of slower, more technically demanding terrain. In the interest of safety, new regulations have also been brought in for this year’s race, including restrictions on tires, an audible warning system that will notify riders of dangers ahead while racing, as well as airbag jackets also becoming compulsory.

The three Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders already enjoy a huge amount of rally experience – all three are former Dakar winners – together with knowledge of racing the Dakar in the Middle East. Toby Price, Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland are fit and fully motivated to take on the upcoming race and have their sights set on securing strong results.

Daniel Sanders – Image by Marcin Kin

KTM Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders has only contested one cross-country rally in his career and comes into the 2021 Dakar as a relative rookie. Nevertheless, the team’s junior rider has shown great maturity and speed on the run up to the race and will be aiming to complete the event with a solid finish.

Jordi Viladoms – KTM Rally Team Manager

“Things are going well here in Jeddah, it has been a tough journey for the whole team to get here with the various restrictions and tests in place, but we’re 100% ready for the race now. The Shakedown was extremely positive, and although the terrain wasn’t quite what we expect to face in the rally itself, all riders were immediately up to speed and felt comfortable on their bikes. We now just have to complete the final administrative and technical checks and then we can finally go racing!”

Following the short Prologue on Saturday, January 2, the 2021 Dakar Rally starts with the 623km stage one on Sunday, January 3 from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. In total, the event consists of 12 full stages, covering a distance of 7,646km, with the finish also taking place in Jeddah, on January 15.


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New rules aimed at boosting Dakar safety

It is a question as old as motorbike racing itself: how can one go faster than the competition without being too reckless? Even the Dakar has to come up with an answer to this dilemma for the world of motor sports, as bikers seek to squeeze every last ounce of speed from their machines while organisers place the safety of the competitors at the heart of their concerns.

Tyre limits aim to slow riders down, boosting safety, with only six rears allowed – Daniel Sanders’ 2021 KTM 450 Rally

Bikers, manufacturers, organisers, federations and other stakeholders came together in Lisbon in autumn to bridge the gap between these ambitions. “It has become obvious that motorbikes go too fast nowadays”, stresses David Castera, the director of the Dakar. “Today’s 450 cc single-cylinders are just as fast as the 800 cc twin-cylinders of the late 1980s, and they accelerate even faster to boot. There are two main approaches to boosting safety. Active safety is about improving the equipment used, for example, by requiring the use of airbags, whereas passive safety can be increased by capping the speed of the bikers and similar rules.

“Too many bikers want to ride as if it were a motocross race, but a rally raid is completely different. The focus is on endurance and stamina. This is why top bikers will not be allowed to use more than six rear tyres throughout the two weeks of racing. “Going full gas on stony terrain will no longer be an option for anyone who wants to win this race”, insists David Castera. “They will have to take care of their gear to make it to the finish.”

Race official Jordi Pérez was in charge of marking the batch of six tyres for each of the competitors subject to the new rule. “36 bikers are affected, explains the Spaniard, who is serving as a technical scrutineering official. “The tyres all have to be the same model and are branded with a red-hot iron. We also put a special sticker on them and paint them with a stroke of coloured reactive marker.” As abrasive as it is, even the Saudi sand should be unable to erase these markings.

2021 Dakar Schedule

Stage Date Start > Finish Total Special
P Saturday, January 2, 2021 Jeddah > Jeddah 11 km 11 km
1 Sunday, January 3, 2021 Jeddah > Bisha 622 km 277 km
2 Monday, January 4, 2021 Bisha > Wadi Al Dawasir 685 km 457 km
3 Tuesday, January 5, 2021 Wadi Al Dawasir > Wadi Al Dawasir 630 km 403 km
4 Wednesday, January 6, 2021 Wadi Al Dawasir > Riyadh 813 km 337 km
5 Thursday, January 7, 2021 Riyadh > Buraydah 625 km 419 km
6 Friday, January 8, 2021 Buraydah > Ha’il 655 km 485 km
Rest Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ha’il (Rest Day)
7 Sunday, January 10, 2021 Ha’il > Sakaka 737 km 471 km
8 Monday, January 11, 2021 Sakaka > Neom 709 km 375 km
9 Tuesday, January 12, 2021 Neom > Neom 579 km 465 km
10 Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Neom > Al-Ula 583 km 342 km
11 Thursday, January 14, 2021 Al-Ula > Yanbu 557 km 511 km
12 Friday, January 15, 2021 Yanbu > Jeddah 452 km 225 km

Dakar 2021 Preview

2021 Dakar Motorcycle Entry List

Num. Rider Nat. Team
1 Brabec Ricky USA Honda Monster Energy Honda Team 2021
2 Quintanilla Pablo CHL Husqvarna Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
3 Price Toby AUS KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Team
4 Cornejo Florimo Jose Ignacio CHL  Honda Monster Energy Honda Team 2021
5 Sunderland Sam GBR KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Team
6 Caimi FRAnco ARG  Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
7 Short Andrew USA  Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
9 Howes Skyler USA KTM  Bas Dakar KTM Racing Team
11 Svitko Stefan SVK  KTM Slovnaft Rally Team
12 De Soultrait Xavier  FRA Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
15 Santolino Lorenzo  ESP Sherco Tvs Sherco Tvs Rally Factory
17 Pedrero Garcia Juan  ESP KTM Fn Speed – Rieju Team
18 Branch Ross  BWA Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
19 Goncalves Dias  RUI Jorge PRT Sherco Tvs Sherco Tvs Rally Factory
20 Tomiczek Adam POL Husqvarna Orlen Team
21 Sanders Daniel AUS KTM KTM Factory Team
22 Giemza Maciej POL Husqvarna Orlen Team
23 Jakes Ivan SVK KTM Jakes Dakar Team
24 Bühler Sebastian DEU Hero Hero Motosports Team Rally
25 Spierings Paul NLD  Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
26 Engel Milan CZE KTM Moto Racing Group (Mrg)
27 Rodrigues Joaquim  PRT Hero Hero Motosports Team Rally
29 Gyenes Emanuel  ROU KTM Autonet Motorcycle Team
30 Gelazninkas Arunas  LTU KTM Zigmas Dakar Team
31 Michek Martin  CZE KTM Moto Racing Group (Mrg)
32 Schareina Tosha  ESP KTM Fn Speed – KTM Team
33 Koitha Veettil Harith Noah IND Sherco Sherco Tvs Rally Factory
34 Patrao Mario  PRT KTM Credit Agricola – Mario Patrao Motosport
35 Guillen Rivera Juan Pablo  MEX KTM Nomadas Adventure
36 Brabec Jan  CZE KTM Strojrent Racing
37 Pabiska David  CZE KTM Jantar Team
39 Melot Benjamin FRA KTM Benjamin Melot
41 Yakp Zaker  CHN KTM Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Dakar Rally Team
42 Van Beveren Adrien FRA Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
44 Sanz Laia  ESP Gas Gas Gas Gas Factory Team
45 Min Zhang  CHN KTM Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Dakar Rally Team
46 Marcic Simon  SVN Husqvarna Marcic
47 Benavides Kevin  ARG Honda Monster Energy Honda Team 2021
48 Doveze Mathieu  FRA KTM Nomade Racing Assistance
50 C. S. Santosh  IND Hero Hero Motosports Team Rally
51 Al-Lal Lahadil Rachid  ESP KTM Melilla Sport Capital
52 Walkner Matthias  AUT KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Team
53 Podmol Libor CZE  Husqvarna Podmol Dakar Team
54 Chapeliere Camille FRA KTM Team Baines Rally
55 Hongyi Zhao  CHN KTM Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Dakar Rally Team
56 Pacheco Giordano  COL KTM Calidoso Racing Team
58 Iglesias Sanchez Eduardo  ESP KTM Fn Speed – Team Monforte Rally
59 Interno Tiziano  ITA Beta Rally Pov
60 Darques Stéphane  FRA Yamaha M.O.R.Al
61 Dubois Norbert FRA KTM Aventure Moto 61
62 Houlihan Andrew Joseph AUS KTM Nomadas Adventure
63 Dabrowski Konrad  POL KTM Duust Rally Team
65 Picco FRAnco ITA Husqvarna Team FRAnco Picco
66 Bouchet Pascal  FRA KTM Team Baines Rally
67 Lhotsky Rudolf  CZE Husqvarna Jantar Team
68 Mccanney Jamie  GBR Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
69 Roelants Walter  BEL Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
70 Alghuneim Mishal  SAU KTM Mishal Alghuneim
71 Farhan Salman Mohamed Humood Farhan  BHR Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
72 Rauber Pascal  FRA KTM Team 2rm
73 Jaffar Mohammed  KWT KTM Duust Rally Team
74 Betriu Jaume ESP KTM Fn Speed – KTM Team
76 Krejci Roman  CZE KTM Bo!Beton Team
77 Benavides Luciano ARG Husqvarna Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
78 Zacchetti Cesare ITA KTM Cesare Zacchetti
79 Baratin Amaury  FRA KTM Horizon Moto 95
80 Burgess Michael  AUS KTM Bas Dakar KTM Racing Team
81 Vlcak Erik  SVK Husqvarna Slovnaft Rally Team
82 Raorane Ashish IND KTM Ashish Raorane
83 Chavez David PER KTM Club Aventura Touareg
84 Hawker Neil  GBR Husqvarna Neil Hawker
85 Azinhais Alexandre  PRT KTM Club Aventura Touareg
86 Herbst Charlie FRA KTM Team Charlie Herbst
87 Mena Oriol  ESP Rieju Fn Speed – Rieju Team
88 Barreda Bort Joan  ESP Honda Monster Energy Honda Team 2021
89 Saghmeister Gabor  SRB KTM Saghmeister Team
90 Catanese FRAncesco  ITA Yamaha Tuttogru
92 Martinez Eric  FRA Husqvarna Eric Martinez
93 Lorenzo Piolini  ITA KTM Caravanserraglio Rally Racing Team
94 Susset Olivier  FRA Husqvarna Xtreme Garage
95 Flick Xavier FRA Husqvarna Xtrem Racing
96 Albero Puig Daniel  ESP  KTM Team Un Diabetico En El Dakar
97 Benko Martin  SVK KTM Norwit Racing
98 Garcia Sara ESP Yamaha Pont Grup Yamaha
99 Vega Puerta Javier  ESP Yamaha Pont Grup Yamaha
100 Rossat Audrey  FRA KTM Rossat Audrey
101 Knight David  GBR Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
102 Jugla Sara  FRA KTM Team Baines Rally
104 Altoaimi Fawaz  SAU Yamaha Fawaz Racing
105 Dominguez Fernando  ESP KTM Club Aventura Touareg
107 Stigliano Giovanni  ITA Yamaha Team Jbrally
108 Calmet Marc  ESP KTM Fn Speed – Rieju Team
110 Bartoszek Jacek POL KTM Duust Rally Team
111 Cherpin Pierre  FRA Husqvarna Pierre Cherpin
112 Campdera Juan  ESP KTM Juan Campdera
114 Carbonell Mendez Eladio  ESP KTM Pikaeras Team
115 Harmsen Olaf  NLD KTM Bas Dakar KTM Racing Team
116 Blandin Erick FRA KTM Team Baines Rally
117 Alexander James  BWA Yamaha The Kalahari Madala
118 Bispo Alexandre  ESP KTM Expresso Racing
120 Trejos Jhon COL KTM Jhon Trejos
121 Barthelemy Guillaume FRA KTM Team Rs Concept
123 Pedemonte Angelo ITA  KTM Pedemonte Angelo
125 Barlerin Frédéric  FRA KTM Rallye Fred
126 Llanos Diego Gamaliel  ESP KTM Diego Gamaliel Llanos
127 Jobard Willy  FRA Garnati Garnati Racing
133 Davide Cominardi ITA Honda Cominardi
142 Gerini Maurizio ITA Husqvarna Solarys Racing
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2021 Racing schedule

2021 Provisional MXGP Calendar

Rnd Grand Prix Date
1 MXGP of Oman, Muscat Fri 2 Apr – Sat 3 Apr
2 MXGP of Italy, TBA Sat 24 Apr – Sun 25 Apr
3 MXGP of Portugal, Agueda Sat 8 May – Sun 9 May
4 MXGP of The Netherlands, Oss Sat 22 May – Sun 23 May
5 MXGP of Germany, Teutschenthal Sat 29 May – Sun 30 May
6 MXGP of Russia, Orlyonok Sat 12 Jun – Sun 13 Jun
7 MXGP of Latvia, Kegums Sat 19 Jun – Sun 20 Jun
8 MXGP of Jakarta (INA), Jakarta Sat 3 Jul – Sun 4 Jul
9 MXGP of Indonesia, Semarang Sat 10 Jul – Sun 11 Jul
10 MXGP of Czech Replublic, Loket Sat 24 Jul – Sun 25 Jul
11 MXGP of Belgium, Lommel Sat 31 Jul – Sun 1 Aug
12 MXGP of Sweden, Uddevalla Sat 7 Aug – Sun 8 Aug
13 MXGP of Finland, Iitti-KimiRing Sat 21 Aug – Sun 22 Aug
14 MXGP of Igora Drive (RUS), Igora Drive Sat 28 Aug – Sun 29 Aug
15 MXGP of Turkey, Afyonkarahisar Sat 11 Sep – Sun 12 Sep
16 MXGP of China, TBA Sat 18 Sep – Sun 19 Sep
17 MXGP of France, St Jean d’Angely Sat 9 Oct – Sun 10 Oct
18 MXGP of Spain, intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos Sat 16 Oct – Sun 17 Oct
19 TBA  Sat 30 Oct – Sun 31 Oct
20 MXGP of Patagonia Argentina, Neuquen Sat 13 Nov – Sun 14 Nov

2021 Yamaha AORC presented by MXStore calendar

Round Location Date
Rounds 1 & 2 Nowra, NSW March 27-28
Rounds 3 & 4 TBA, VIC April 17-18
Rounds 5 & 6 Kyogle, NSW July 17-18
Rounds 7 & 8 TBA, QLD August 6-7
Rounds 9 & 10 Kingston SE, SA September 18-19
Rounds 11 & 12 Omeo, VIC October 16-17

2021 Australian Pro MX calendar

Rnd Date Location
1 Apr-11 Wonthaggi, Victoria
Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, 125 CUP
2 May-02 Canberra, ACT
Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3
3 May-30 Gilman, South Australia
Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, 125 CUP
4 Jun-27 Maitland, NSW
Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, Classic Motocross Evolution Motocross Cup
5 Jul-25 Wodonga, Victoria
Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, 125 CUP
6 Aug-08 QMP, Queensland
Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, MXW, AORC (Fri & Sat)
7/8 August 14-15 Coolum, Queensland
Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, VETS (Sat)
MX1, MX2, MX3, MXW (Sun)

2021 Speedway GP Calendar

Date Round Location
Apr-24 2021  FIM Speedway Grand Prix TBC
May-15 2021 PZM Warsaw  FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland PGE Narodowy
May-22 2021 German   FIM Speedway Grand Prix Bergring Arena
Jun-05 2021 Czech Republic  FIM Speedway Grand Prix Marketa Stadium
Jun-19 2021  FIM Speedway Grand Prix TBC
Jul-17 2021 Adrian Flux British  FIM Speedway Grand Prix Principality Stadium
Jul-31 2021 Betard Wroclaw FIM Speedway Grand Prix OF POLAND Olympic Stadium
Aug-14 2021 Swedish  FIM Speedway Grand Prix G&B Arena
Aug-28 2021 Russian FIM Speedway Grand Prix Anatoly Stepanov Stadium
Sep-11 2021 Danish FIM Speedway Grand Prix Sponsored by ECCO Vojens Speedway Center
Oct-02 2021 Torun  FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland Marian Rose MotoArena

2021 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship (Provisional)

Round 1 May 7-9 Extreme XL Lagares Portugal FMP
Round 2 June 3-6 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo Austria AMF
Round 3 July 10/11 TBD Italy FMI
Round 4 July 27-31 Red Bull Romaniacs Romania FRM
Round 5 August 14/15 Red Bull TKO USA AMA
Round 6 September 18/19 TBD Poland PZM
Round 7 October 1-3 Hixpania Hard Enduro Spain RFME
Round 8 October 30/31 GetzenRodeo Germany DMSB

2021 Australian Senior Speedway Solo calendar

Round Location Date
Round 1 Gillman Speedway, SA 3 January, 2021
Round 2 Olympic Park, VIC 5 January, 2021
Round 3 Diamond Park, Albury Wodonga, VIC 7 January, 2021
Round 4 Loxford Park, NSW 9 January, 2021
Round 5 Mick Doohan Raceway, QLD 13 January, 2021

2021 Australian Speedway events

Championship Location  Date
2021 Australian Under 21’s Speedway Championship Gillman Speedway, SA 16 January, 2021
2021 Australian Junior Speedway Sidecar Championship Pinjar Park, WA 3-4 April, 2021
2021 Australian Senior Speedway Sidecar Championship Pinjar Park, WA 3-4 April, 2021
2021 Speedway FIM Oceania Speedway Championship Gillman Speedway, SA 30 January, 2021
2021 Speedway FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship Gillman Speedway, SA 17 April, 2021

2021 FIM Cross-Country Rallies calendar

Date Event Cat 1 RallyGP Cat 2 Rally 2 Cat 3
Grp1 Moto-Rally Grp1 Moto-Rally Grp2 Moto Enduro Grp3 Quad Adventure Trophy Grp1+3 SSV
April 9-13 BP Ultimate Portugal Rally (POR) X X X X X X
June 7-13 Rally Kazakhstan (KAZ) X X X X X
July 1-11 Silkway Rally (RUS) X X X X X
August 13-22 Rally do Sertoes (BRA) X X X X X
October 8-13 Rallye du Maroc (MAR) X X X X X X
November 6-12 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (UAE) X X X X X X

2021 AMA Supercross calendar

2021 AMA Supercross Calendar
Round 1 Houston, Texas East NRG Stadium Sat, January 16
Round 2 Houston, Texas East NRG Stadium Tues, January 19
Round 3 Houston, Texas East NRG Stadium Sat, January 23
Round 4 Indianapolis, Indiana East Lucas Oil Stadium Sat, January 30
Round 5 Indianapolis, Indiana East Lucas Oil Stadium Tues, February 2
Round 6 Indianapolis, Indiana East Lucas Oil Stadium Sat, February 6
Round 7 Orlando, Florida East Camping World Stadium Sat, February 13
Round 8 Orlando, Florida West Camping World Stadium Sat, February 20
Round 9 Daytona Beach, Florida West Daytona Int. Speedway Sat, March 6
Round 10 Arlington, Texas West AT&T Stadium Sat, March 13
Round 11 Arlington, Texas West AT&T Stadium Tues, March 16
Round 12 Arlington, Texas West AT&T Stadium Sat, March 20
Round 13 Atlanta, Georgia West Atlanta Motor Speedway Sat, April 10
Round 14 Atlanta, Georgia West Atlanta Motor Speedway Tues, April 13
Round 15 Atlanta, Georgia West Atlanta Motor Speedway Sat, April 17
Round 16 Salt Lake City, Utah East Rice-Eccles Stadium Sat, April 24
Round 17 Salt Lake City, Utah W/E Rice-Eccles Stadium Sat, May 1

2021 GNCC

Round Date Event Name City, State Micro/eMTB
Rnd 1 Feb 20-21 Big Buck Union, SC Micro
Rnd 2 Mar 6-7 Wild Boar Palatka, FL Micro
Rnd 3 Mar 13-14 The General Washington, GA Micro/eMTB
Rnd 4 Mar 27-28 Camp Coker Bullet Society Hill, SC Micro
Rnd 5 Apr 17-18 Tiger Run Union, SC Micro/eMTB
Rnd 6 May 1-2 Hoosier Crawfordsville, IN Micro/eMTB
Rnd 7 May 22-23 The John Penton Millfield, OH Micro/eMTB
Rnd 8 Jun 5-6 Mason-Dixon Mount Morris, PA Micro/eMTB
Rnd 9 Jun 26-27 Snowshoe Snowshoe, WV eMTB
Rain Jul 10-11 RAIN DATE
Jul-31 Loretta Lynn eMTB Hurricane Mills, TN eMTB
Rnd 10 Sep 11-12 The Mountaineer Beckley, WV Micro/eMTB
Rnd 11 Sep 25-26 Burr Oak Millfield, OH Micro
Rnd 12 Oct 9-10 Buckwheat 100 Newburg, WV Micro
Rnd 13 Oct 23-24 Ironman Crawfordsville, IN Micro
Rain Nov 13-14 RAIN DATE

2021 New Zealand Motocross Championship

Round Location Date
Round One Woodville Grand Prix 31st January, 2021  
Round Two Rotorua 21st February, 2021
Round Three Hawkes Bay 20th March, 2021
Round Four Taupo 28th March, 2021

FIM Bajas World Cup 2021 (Provisional)

Date Round Location Nation
18-20 Feb Dubai Intl Baja Dubai UAE
18-20 Mar Jordan Baja Aqaba Jordan
8-10 Apr Qatar Int Baja Doha Qatar
28-30 May Baja do Pinahl Serta Portugal
17-19 Jun Baja Jalapao 500 Teruel Spain
23-25 Jul Baja Aragon Teruel Spain
5-8 Aug Hungarian Baja Varpalota Hungary
29 Aug-1 Sep Atacama Baja 1 Copiapo Chile
2-4 Sep Atacama Baja 2 Copiapo Chile
28-30 Oct Baja Portalegre Portalegre Portugal

2021 Provisional Australian Supercross dates

  • 25 September – Further information TBA
  • 9 October – Further information TBA
  • 16 October – Further information TBA
  • 23 October – Further information TBA
  • 30 October – Further information TBA
  • 6 November – Further information TBA
  • 20 November – Further information TBA
  • 27 November – Further information TBA

2021 Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE)
May 19-22 – Harvey, WA

2021 Enduro Australian Three Day Vintage Enduro (A3VE)
7-9 May – Blackwood, VIC

2021 Finke Desert Race
11-14 June – Northern Territory

2021 Hattah Desert Race
3-4 July – Hattah, Victoria

2021 Motocross Australian Classic Motocross Championship
9-11 July – Nowra, NSW

2021 Motocross Australian Post Classic Motocross
16-18 July – Nowra, NSW

2021 International Six Day Enduro (ISDE)
30 August – 4 September – Italy

U.S. AMA West ISDE Qualifier Series

  • March 20-21: Red Mountain, Calif., Desert MC and Prospectors MC, AMA District 37 Sprint Enduro
  • April 17-18: Campwood, Ariz., Arizona Trail Riders, AMA AMRA
  • May 22-23: Craig, Colo., Enduro Colorado, AMA RMEC

U.S. AMA East ISDE Qualifier Series

  • May 1-2: Battle Creek Mich., BCMC, AMA Michigan Sprint Enduro
  • May 7-8: Plantersville, Ala., Southern Enduro Riders Association
  • May 29-30: Glen Daniel, W. Va., AMA Full Gas Sprint Enduro
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Source: MCNews.com.au

Price, Sanders, Burgess & Houlihan to fly Aussie flag at Dakar

Toby Price, Daniel Sanders, Michael Burgess & Andrew Houlihan set for Dakar 2021


Dakar 2021 will kick off on January 3, with four Australians aiming to make history at one of the world’s toughest off-road events, with a route of 7,646 km starting and finishing in Jeddah, including 4,767 km of special stages.

Former Dakar and Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) Champion, Toby Price, aboard the Red Bull KTM, is joined by new team-mate, current AORC Champion, Daniel Sanders. They will be joined by Bendigo’s Michael Burgess and Andrew Houlihan from Albury, NSW.

Toby Price – Image by Marcin Kin

Burgess will be racing with Swiss-based team Nomad Racing aboard a KTM, while Houlihan will be competing with the Nomadas Adventure Coca Cola Racing Team and also has support from Speedcafe.

The Dakar 2021 starts in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on January 2 with a prologue, before riders start the first of 11 gruelling stages which run between January 3-15.

Dakar Rally organisers have ensured this year’s route will be a brand-new experience for all riders, including every single kilometre of the special stages, while the fastest sectors, where the difference comes down to raw power, have been trimmed.

Toby Price – Image by Marcin Kin

Add to this the fact that a majority of riders have barely had any race time on their bikes this year thanks to COVID-19, and anybody could win the Dakar.

Both Price and Sanders had seat time earlier this year with the Andalucia Rally, where Sanders surprised the rally world by not only qualifying for the Dakar, but taking a stage win in his first ever rally event. His impressive speed and handling of the rally machine had tongues wagging.

Price, a two-times Dakar winner, is fierce in the sand dunes, and regarded as one of the toughest rally riders the world has seen. He will be a force to be reckoned with and will have a massive contingent of Australian fans cheering him on from their television screens.

Toby Price – Image by Marcin Kin

Houlihan will be aboard a new 2020 KTM Rally Factory replica he has prepared in his Albury workshop in recent months.

Houlihan trained as much as possible in recent months including riding at night and navigation training aboard 2020 KTM 450 Rally Factory Replica.

Houlihan had plans to leave for Dakar on January 26, but his flight was cancelled amid COVID concerns and was forced to scramble to find alternative flights through Europe to get to Dakar.

Andrew Houlihan

“Dakar has the reputation as the most physically and mentally demanding, as well as the most dangerous race in the world. As soon as I returned to Australia in February from the Africa Eco Race COVID hit, and my plans to return to Morocco and Saudi to train did not happen. I have had to make the most of what time I’ve had available in Australia. It definitely has not been the ideal preparation for me. So for 2021 I just want to get across the finish line safely, get my first Dakar done and then return in 2022. I’m really excited to be there with Toby, Daniel and Michael. I expect all three of these guys to be very competitive. It would be great to see Aussies on the podium in Saudi.”

For Burgess, he is no stranger to desert racing having had plenty of training in the Western Australian deserts and has previously competed in the Sahara Desert sand dunes of Morocco.

Michael Burgess

“My training has been great, probably the best I have had leading into any event, and I have really enjoyed the journey. I’m fit and looking forward to riding the road books. My expectations of Dakar are the whole challenge that goes with the label ‘Dakar’. My expectations of myself are to enjoy it, results are not a factor when it comes to the investment made with an event like Dakar. Riding to finish is the goal. I am looking forward to Riding with Andrew, Daniel and Toby. We have been talking through social media networks helping each other out. I am also very proud to be waving the Australian flag alongside these three legends.”

Michael Burgess

For Sanders, the 2020 Australia Off-Road Championship Champion, this will be his first Dakar rally and only having ridden a rally bike in the past four months, he has adapted quickly and will definitely be a rider to watch.

Daniel Sanders – Image by Marcin Kin

Daniel Sanders

“My expectations are to finish and hopefully I’ve learnt a lot over the last 4-months of roadbook training and with the bike, so I’d really like to get into the top 10 but of course I want to finish it mostly. I’m expecting the worst. I expect long tiring days, low energy so it’s going to be very hard to focus and minimise the fatigue. It’s cool to be in a group of Aussies racing and to see Andrew and Michael racing and seeing their passion for the race. We’ve all been in contact and helping each other where we can in this tough situation of COVID. It will be really cool to catch up and here the stories each day in the race. For the supporters, I’ll be giving it everything. I haven’t left the country for 4-months to not finish. I think it’s going to take a couple of days in the race to get in a good rhythm and see how the race pans out. I hope to be at the pointy end but with only one rally under my belt, I hope I’ve got enough experience in racing and some luck on my side to get up the pointy end. Thanks everyone for their support.”

Daniel Sanders – Image by Marcin Kin

2021 Dakar Schedule

Stage Date Start > Finish Total Special
P Saturday, January 2, 2021 Jeddah > Jeddah 11 km 11 km
1 Sunday, January 3, 2021 Jeddah > Bisha 622 km 277 km
2 Monday, January 4, 2021 Bisha > Wadi Al Dawasir 685 km 457 km
3 Tuesday, January 5, 2021 Wadi Al Dawasir > Wadi Al Dawasir 630 km 403 km
4 Wednesday, January 6, 2021 Wadi Al Dawasir > Riyadh 813 km 337 km
5 Thursday, January 7, 2021 Riyadh > Buraydah 625 km 419 km
6 Friday, January 8, 2021 Buraydah > Ha’il 655 km 485 km
Rest Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ha’il (Rest Day)
7 Sunday, January 10, 2021 Ha’il > Sakaka 737 km 471 km
8 Monday, January 11, 2021 Sakaka > Neom 709 km 375 km
9 Tuesday, January 12, 2021 Neom > Neom 579 km 465 km
10 Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Neom > Al-Ula 583 km 342 km
11 Thursday, January 14, 2021 Al-Ula > Yanbu 557 km 511 km
12 Friday, January 15, 2021 Yanbu > Jeddah 452 km 225 km
Dakar 2021 Preview

Source: MCNews.com.au

Moto News Weekly | Summercross | Hard Enduro | Oz Factory Teams

Moto News Weekly Wrap
December 29, 2020

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What’s New:

  • Kayne Lamont wins 2020 Whakatane Summercross
  • FIM Hard Enduro World Championship launched in 2021
  • GasGas announce Australian factory MX, SX and Enduro teams
  • Waters, Wills, Norton to lead Husqvarna Factory efforts in 2021
  • Daniel Milner to headline KTM Factory Teams line-up in 2021
  • Jesse Dobson completes Serco Yamaha line-up for 2021
  • 2021 Dakar Rally showcases global talent
  • 2021 GNCC Series schedule announced
  • FIM Bajas World Cup 2021 Provisional Calendar
  • 2021 Racing Calendars

Kayne Lamont wins 2020 Whakatane Summercross

Kayne Lamont has won the 2020 Whakatane Summercross MX1 title, with racing coming down to the fifth and final race of the day, which saw Lamont and Cody Cooper tied on points. Each rider had claimed two wins and two second places a-piece, heading into a hard fought final with everything on the line.

Kayne Lamont – Altherm JCR Yamaha

Race 1 saw Lamont take the win from Cooper and Ethan Martens, with Rhys Carter claiming fourth. Race 2 saw a repeat performance with Lamont once again taking the win from Cooper, this time by 5.838s, while Carter moved into the top three, a position he was intent on maintaining.

Cooper turned the tables on Lamont in Races 3 & 4, taking both wins, by 6.272 and 8.021s respectively, while Carter came home in third across both races.

The fifth and final race saw competitors facing a longer 11-lap race, but one that featured the joker lane lap unique to Whakatane, proving the closest race, with only 0.811s separating Lamont and Cooper at the line. A distant third saw Carter wrap up a consistent day.

The final win for Kayne Lamont lent him a four-point lead and the Whakatane Summercross MX1 title, ending the day on 242-points, to Cody Cooper on 238, while Rhys Carter wrapped up third with 213-points. Ethan Martens (206) and Tommy Watts (196) completed the top five in the MX1 class.

Kayne Lamont

“I am still in the mix of finding my final bike setup for nationals, which I will finalise with Ben Townley throughout January. I had decent starts all day and managed to get to the front early in my first two races. In races 3 and 4, I managed to get to second behind Cody but the track was very difficult to pass on so I finished behind him. In the final race I got the holeshot and rode a nice smooth race with Cody right behind me the whole time but I held him off to claim the win and the overall!”

Breingan Earthmoving – MX1 Overall Results

Pos Competitor Total R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
1 Kayne Lamont 242 50 50 46 46 50
2 Cody Cooper 238 46 46 50 50 46
3 Rhys Carter 213 41 43 43 43 43
4 Ethan Martens 206 43 41 41 40 41
5 Tommy Watts 196 39 40 39 39 39
6 Tyler Steiner 190 36 33 40 41 40
7 Brad Groombridge 189 40 37 37 37 38
8 Jacob Steel 187 37 39 38 36 37
9 Richard Horne 178 38 38 28 38 36
10 Isaiah McGoldrick 172 34 35 36 35 32
11 Quade Young 166 35 36 32 28 35
12 Sam Middleton 165 33 31 34 34 33
13 Andy Todd 161 32 34 35 29 31
14 Aydan Palmer 160 31 32 33 30 34
15 Caleb Franklin 151 30 28 30 33 30
16 Craig Dally 150 28 30 31 32 29
17 Travis Rankin 146 29 29 29 31 28

MX2

In the MX2 Josiah Natzke put in a masterclass of control, taking the holeshot in each race with overtaking proving difficult, leaving him with a perfect 250-points after five races.

Ben Townley and Maximum Purvis finished the day on 219-points a-piece, however Townley was awarded second with second place in the final race, leaving Purvis disappointed, sharing, “We’ve got a few things to work on before Woodville so we will go away put our heads down and try to sort them out.”

Maximum Purvis – Altherm JCR Yamaha

Completing the top five was James Scott on 212-points, while Luke Van der Lee was fifth with 197-points.

The Altherm JCR Yamaha Team will now prepare for the Woodville Grand Prix which ties into Round 1 of the New Zealand Motocross Championship, and will be held over the January 30-31 weekend at Palmerston North.

Josh Coppins – Altherm JCR Yamaha Team Manager

“We will spend the next four weeks getting Kayne and Max further tuned in for round one of the nationals which coincides with the Woodville GP on January 31. Our new junior rider Madoc Dixon will return from his wrist injury rehab and we look forward to seeing how he goes in the 125cc class this season.”

Underwood & Wilkins – MX2 Overall Results

Pos Competitor Total R1 R2 R3 R4 R5
1 Josiah Natzke 250 50 50 50 50 50
2 Ben Townley 219 41 43 46 43 46
3 Maximus Purvis 219 46 46 43 41 43
4 James Scott 212 43 41 41 46 41
5 Luke Van der Lee 197 40 39 39 40 39
6 Jacob Hunt 184 37 37 36 38 36
7 Carlin Hedley 178 36 36 34 37 35
8 Luka Freemantle 177 39 40 21 39 38
9 Hunter Scott 170 32 38 32 35 33
10 Carter Hanes 164 30 33 33 36 32
11 Sam Corston 163 35 34 31 32 31
12 Kaleb Livesey 162 34 32 29 33 34
13 Logan Maddren 155 27 30 37 34 27
14 Jack Rodgers 146 28 31 30 31 26
15 Reece Lister 140 38 22 40 40
16 Liam Hutton 137 29 25 28 27 28
17 Seton Head 136 31 38 30 37
18 Kyle Pickerill 132 26 28 27 26 25
19 Sam Robbie 131 21 26 26 28 30
20 David Ashton 129 25 27 25 29 23
21 Ben Valois 126 23 29 22 23 29
22 Toby McKendry 118 22 24 23 25 24
23 Leslie Longstaff 117 24 23 24 24 22
24 Toby Winiata 103 33 35 35

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FIM Hard Enduro World Championship launched in 2021

The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and WESS Promotion GmbH have announced a partnership for the Hard Enduro Sport, with the ‘FIM Hard Enduro World Championship’ launched with an inaugural season in 2021.

A new Pro-Class regulation, in line with all FIM international standards, will offer the highest level of transparency and fairness to professional riders, teams and manufacturers who will compete to win the official world-recognized title of FIM Hard Enduro World Champion.

WESS Rnd Extreme XL Lagares Sun River Atmos FM
Extreme XL Lagares

The integration of amateur riders has been promised to stay an inherent and defining characteristic of the series, which will see the common effort of amateurs and professionals competing in the same race to further attract enthusiasts around the world to participate in FIM Hard Enduro World Championship events, ensuring long-term growth of the Championship.

Tony Skillington – FIM CEO

“Every once in a while an opportunity comes to do something very interesting and new in motorcycle sport. I am completely convinced that this Championship will become a very important part of the FIM calendar in the future and I am more than pleased that we are finally signing a four-year contract for the promotion of a FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. I also appreciate the energy and dedication that both FIM and WESS have deployed together to work on all of the ways to make this Championship a success.”

Red Bull Romaniacs
Winfried Kerschhaggl – WESS Promotion GmbH states

“This is a very exciting time for us and our sport. Following an incredibly busy time, building and shaping WESS, work is paying off. The past three years helped us to gain the recognition of the FIM. A special thanks from our side goes to Tony Skillington, who has been very supportive since the conversations about a joint project started. We’re ready to take the next step as the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. Together with the FIM we move into 2021 with confidence and enthusiasm and look forward to ongoing exciting racing.”

2021 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Provisional calendar

Round 1 May 7-9 Extreme XL Lagares Portugal FMP
Round 2 June 3-6 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo Austria AMF
Round 3 July 10/11 TBD Italy FMI
Round 4 July 27-31 Red Bull Romaniacs Romania FRM
Round 5 August 14/15 Red Bull TKO USA AMA
Round 6 September 18/19 TBD Poland PZM
Round 7 October 1-3 Hixpania Hard Enduro Spain RFME
Round 8 October 30/31 GetzenRodeo Germany DMSB

GasGas announce Australian factory MX, SX and Enduro teams

GasGas Motorcycles has announced a pair of race teams in Australia ahead of the 2021 season, marking the arrival of GasGas factory motocross, supercross and enduro squads.

GasGas announced 2021 Factory Racing effort in Australia

GasGas signed a youthful combination of Aaron Tanti (motocross/supercross) and Mason Semmens (enduro) for the coming year, set to battle it out among the sport’s best at a national level – a first for the GasGas brand across those categories.

Tanti is transferring into the MX1/SX1 category for the Australian Motocross Championship (ProMX) and Australian Supercross Championship. He will be equipped with the GasGas MC 450F, benefiting from experience gained in the US at the beginning of 2020.

Aaron Tanti – GasGas Motocross Racing Team

“I’m really looking forward to joining the factory GasGas team in 2021, it will be a lot of fun being part of the brand and I can’t wait to get on the new MC 450F. I was always aiming to step up to the premier class for next year if I was staying here in Australia, so it’s worked out well to be joining GasGas in the factory team and having this opportunity. I’ve been putting a lot of effort into my racing for a number of years now, so I look forward to getting things going!”

AMA SX Rnd Oakland Tanti Multiple SX OAK Kardy
Aaron Tanti will join the GasGas Factory Racing team in Australia for 2020 – Image by Jeff Kardas

Alongside him and equally as eager to showcase his talents in the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) is Semmens, who has learned his craft within the KTM Group family and will lead the GasGas enduro team on-board a GasGas EC 250F. He claimed runner-up in E1 as a rookie in the shortened 2020 season.

Mason Semmens – GasGas Enduro Racing Team

“To be joining GasGas for 2021 and continuing this journey off-road is super-exciting, I feel like it’s a good fit for me and I know that the bikes will be really competitive from the start. Last season we didn’t get to race as much as we’d hoped in the AORC, but it was a promising opening few rounds that I had and I’ve still been working hard since, so now I have my sights set on what’s to come next and hope to be right there challenging for wins and the title in my class especially.”

Yamaha AORC Rnd Toowoomba Mason Semmens
Mason Semmens will compete the AORC with GasGas Factory Racing

Brad Hagi – Managing Director KTM Group Oceania

“As we launch this exciting new brand into the market, it pairs perfectly having Aaron and Mason on board to represent us. GasGas is set to be competitive right out of the gates, but there is also an authentic, grassroots element to the brand that these two young guns represent with their enthusiastic and vibrant personalities. Mason has grown up through the KTM Group ranks and both himself and Aaron are ready to step up and stamp their authority on the Australia racing scene with GasGas.”

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Waters, Wills, Norton to lead Husqvarna Factory efforts in 2021

National MX1 champion Todd Waters will remain with Husqvarna in 2021 and will pull double-duty in both the Australian Motocross Championship (ProMX) and Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC).

Husqvarna Australia announce Todd Waters, Dylan Wills and Callumn Norton as their factory racers for 2021

Waters is an ambassador for the Husqvarna Motorcycles brand and will split his time between the Husqvarna Factory Racing Team riding the FC 450 in motocross and the FE 450 in enduro, where he placed third in E2 on debut during 2020.

Todd Waters

“To be remaining part of the Husqvarna family into 2021 is a big deal to me, an exciting project and one that I am happy to be involved in. We haven’t been able to race nationally since winning the MX1 title in 2019, but it has been a busy year in its own ways and now we are definitely looking forward to getting back on track and working hard to defend the championship. I’m also looking forward to continuing off-road, gaining experience there and hopefully being in contention throughout the season.”

Todd Waters will compete in the motocross and enduro events for 2021

Dylan Wills will also be running the Husqvarna flag, and is regarded as one of the country’s top young talents as he prepares to step up to the premier class in supercross. He will also be contesting MX2 outdoors within his own program.

Dylan Wills

“This is a dream come true for me, to be a part of a factory team in supercross and as a rookie on the FC 450. I will have great people behind me and the best equipment possible, so that is a great opportunity that I want to make the most of at this stage of my career and I’m thankful for everybody who has been involved to get this deal together. I’m going to be riding outdoors in MX2 with my own program as well, so we have solid plans in place and I’m looking forward to it all in 2021.”

Husqvarna Motorcycles will also bring their desert racing program back in-house, set to tackle the FINKE Desert Race with up-and-comer Callum Norton aboard the FE 501.

Callum Norton

“I am really excited to be able to go racing again and looking forward to what hopefully should be a good year! This will be my third FINKE desert race and I cannot wait to get out there on the Husky. I have always been attracted to desert racing, ever since I was a kid and went to watch the HATTAH race. Through my junior ranks I realised I liked sand and was pretty good at riding it, so when the opportunities came up when I turned Senior to focus on the desert style of racing, I jumped at the chance. And now to be part of the Husky team for 2021, I am so excited to get out there and see what we can do.”

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Daniel Milner to headline KTM Factory Teams line-up in 2021

KTM has announced its factory teams to contest the national enduro, motocross and supercross championships, as well as desert competition for 2021, with reigning Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) #1 plate-holder Daniel Milner headlining the line-up and continuing for a fifth-straight year.

Milner will revert to his favoured KTM 500 EXC-F in the E3 division next season, determined to get back to racing after having the 2020 championship cut short and spearheading KTM’s more focused off-road program.

Daniel Milner

“Being able to sign for my fifth year with KTM in 2021 is really cool. I’m looking forward to working with the team again, getting back to the races and seeing what we can do in the new year. I’ve been able to achieve a lot with KTM since joining them and have been really motivated this year, so we will continue that, aim to do the same again next season and deliver some more championships.”

Daniel Milner

In addition, longtime KTM Junior Motocross Racing Team standout Regan Duffy will lead KTM’s return to operating an in-house factory Australian Motocross Championship (ProMX) and Australian Supercross Championship effort.

Duffy captured the 2019 Australian MXD title riding KTM machinery and, following a glowing performance at that year’s Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in Holland riding the KTM 450 SX-F, the teenager has earned his opportunity in the premier class with KTM Motocross Racing Team.

Regan Duffy

“I’m really excited to be joining KTM and riding the 450 SX-F next season. I’ve been part of the brand’s development path for a lot of my career and feel at home on the bigger bike, so it’s a really good opportunity to step up with a great team around me. Not being able to race at the national level in 2020 was disappointing, but we will now set our sights on what’s ahead and look forward to the challenge.”

Regan Duffy

Current Finke Desert Race title-holder David Walsh will also return to the KTM Factory Racing Team in 2021, eager to get back on the KTM 500 EXC-F in a competitive environment as he looks to defend his result achieved in the prestigious event during 2019.

David Walsh

“I can’t wait to get back out on the bike with KTM and it will be good to do some racing again. I’m very grateful to be part of the factory team and I really want to keep the success in the desert going for everybody. I chased the Finke win for so long and managed to hold onto it without even racing this year! Seriously though, we will prepare for 2021 and make the most of this opportunity together.”

David Walsh
David Walsh
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Jesse Dobson completes Serco Yamaha line-up in 2021

After taking a fill-in ride with Serco Yamaha halfway through the 2020 season, Jesse Dobson joins as a full time ride with the Yamaha MX2 team in 2021. He will join Nathan Crawford in the two pronged attack contesting the MX2 championship at both the Pro MX and the Australian Supercross Championship.

Jesse Dobson

Dobson adjusted instantly to the Yamaha YZ250F and gelled with the team and the results showed on the track. His speed was right there with the best MX2 pilots in Australia and with the extra time to fine tune his training and riding, Dobson expects to be a major player in MX2 championships in the season ahead.

Jesse Dobson

“I said when I moved to the MX2 class at the start of 2020 that I wasn’t going to be there to make up the numbers and that I wanted success and that hasn’t changed. In fact, it has only got stronger as I was able to use 2020 as a season to gain experience back on a 250 and learn how to ride one properly and effectively again. I’m stoked to re-sign with Serco Yamaha and have a great bunch of people around me. The bikes are awesome, and we have a great list of team sponsors who provide us with the tools to win races and championships. It’s been a long wait between national events, and I can’t wait to get back behind the gate at round one and feel the excitement of competing at a national again. The MX2 class is always super competitive and there are plenty of good riders capable of winning rounds, so it’s time to get to work and make the most of the pre-season.”

Jesse Dobson

Team owner, Gavin Eales, likes how his team has come together and after a year of not much on track action, is recharged and ready to go for season 2021.

Gavin Eales – Serco Yamaha Team Owner

“In Nathan and Jesse we have two hard working and dedicated athletes who are both focused on winning races. Both of them enjoy the training aspect of racing and now bring a lot of experience to the team as they have been on the scene for several years now. It’s also a benefit that both live near our team base in Brisbane which makes life much easier when testing and maintaining bikes. We have also been fortunate to be with Yamaha Motor Australia and continue our relationship into its 21st year and the team will be the show case for the range of high performance products Serco distributes in Australia.”

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2021 Dakar Rally showcases global talent

The 43rd edition of the Dakar Rally is shaping up to offer an amazing field of competition in the bike category, a year after the victory by Ricky Brabec halted KTM’s long reign. 2020 will however see the Austrian firm counting on three former winners with the ambition of retaking their crown.

Dakar Rally Stage Ricky Brabec rallyzone
Ricky Brabec Dakar 2020 – Image by Rally Zone

The Saudi challenge will probably not be limited to a duel between KTM and Honda, Yamaha’s Van Beveren or Husqvarna’s Quintanilla, among other contenders, boast the capacities to join in the battle for victory.

Their hour has perhaps not yet arrived, but the leaders of the younger generation have already shown a glimpse of their talent, with the likes of Ross Branch, Skyler Howes and Jamie McCanney, alongside rookies like Daniel Sanders and Tosha Schareina, who will be attempting to make an impression.

Daniel Sanders – Image by Marcin Kin

The threat had been growing for several years, but the blows struck against KTM failed to land properly until last January. The saga was commenced by Fabrizio Meoni in 2001, then continued by the reign of Cyril Despres and Marc Coma, as well as via the emergence of a new generation at the end of the 2010s, but was interrupted by Ricky Brabec and his Honda following 18 consecutive victories.

The Austrian firm’s pride may have taken a blow, but it has not lost any of its potential and its trio of former winners, made up of Toby Price, Sam Sunderland and Mathias Walkner are only thinking of climbing back to the rally’s summit.

Toby Price, Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland

Among the favourites since his breakthrough in 2016 (claiming fourth), the dreams of Kevin Benavides could come true if he rides a flawless race. He managed to do this on the Rally of Andalusia, dominating his rivals on a less demanding racing format than the Dakar. His team-mate Ignacio Cornejo (fourth at Dakar in 2020), will also be on the lookout for victory, as will Spanish rider Joan Barreda who is still seeking a place on the podium.

Dakar Rally Stage Kevin Benavides ABI
Kevin Benavides Dakar 2020

While Honda can point to the boast of having been the first constructor to rock the KTM boat, Yamaha’s ambitions are just as legitimate, despite a 2020 edition marred by the premature exits of its two leaders. Adrien Van Beveren, whose taste of Saudi Arabia’s sands did not exceed three-days last January, has been whetting his appetite on the recent Bajas de Ha’il, where he won ahead of competitors that were less imposing than on the Dakar but sufficient to get him up to the right pace.

Adrien Van Beveren – Hail Baja 2

In the blue bike camp, he will be accompanied by the newcomer to the team Andrew Short (sixth in 2019) as well as by Franco Caimi (eighth in 2020). His former accomplice Xavier de Soultrait will be donning the colours of Husqvarna to join Pablo Quintanilla, the runner-up to Brabec in January, and a rider who also seems perfectly set to triumph after finishing in the top five in four participations out eight.

The places in this tightly packed elite will be even more sought-after given that a new generation is starting to break through, with Luciano Benavides, Ross Branch, Skyler Howes and Jamie McCanney, all finishing in the top 15 off the last edition.

Looking to the future, a watchful eye will also have to be cast over a handful of especially promising rookies who have caught the attention of the main constructors by shining in similar disciplines before making their debut this year on the Dakar.

Daniel Sanders – Image by Marcin Kin

Such is the case for Australia’s Daniel Sanders, who aims to follow in the tracks of Toby Price for KTM, but also Portugal’s Rui Gonçalves enrolled by Sherco and Spaniard Tosha Schareina. Finally, the youngest rider in the category also deserves a mention: Konrad Dabrowski, who is the direct heir to Marek, one of the pioneers of the Polish rally-raid school in Africa (with a ninth place finish in 2003 in particular).

2021 Dakar Schedule

Stage Date Start > Finish Total Special
P Saturday, January 2, 2021 Jeddah > Jeddah 11 km 11 km
1 Sunday, January 3, 2021 Jeddah > Bisha 622 km 277 km
2 Monday, January 4, 2021 Bisha > Wadi Al Dawasir 685 km 457 km
3 Tuesday, January 5, 2021 Wadi Al Dawasir > Wadi Al Dawasir 630 km 403 km
4 Wednesday, January 6, 2021 Wadi Al Dawasir > Riyadh 813 km 337 km
5 Thursday, January 7, 2021 Riyadh > Buraydah 625 km 419 km
6 Friday, January 8, 2021 Buraydah > Ha’il 655 km 485 km
Rest Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ha’il (Rest Day)
7 Sunday, January 10, 2021 Ha’il > Sakaka 737 km 471 km
8 Monday, January 11, 2021 Sakaka > Neom 709 km 375 km
9 Tuesday, January 12, 2021 Neom > Neom 579 km 465 km
10 Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Neom > Al-Ula 583 km 342 km
11 Thursday, January 14, 2021 Al-Ula > Yanbu 557 km 511 km
12 Friday, January 15, 2021 Yanbu > Jeddah 452 km 225 km
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Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports Suzuki Racing AMA SX team announced

Suzuki’s 450 class race team for the 2021 Monster Energy AMA/ FIM World Supercross Championship will be Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports Suzuki Racing, with riders Max Anstie, Brandon Hartranft and Adam Enticknap on the race-ready 2021 Suzuki RM-Z450.

Max Anstie – Image by Jeff Kardas

Both Anstie and Enticknap had a solid season of racing in 2020 under the H.E.P. Suzuki tent and are excited to start racing in 2021. New to the H.E.P Motorsports Suzuki team for 2021 is Brandon Hartranft, making his rookie debut in the 450 class. All three riders will compete on the 2021 Suzuki RM-Z450 and benefit from the support of Suzuki’s RM Army support program.

Dustin Pipes – Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports/ Suzuki Racing Team Co-Owner

“We are thrilled to up our game with Suzuki and its legendary RM-Z450 class bikes for the 2021 Supercross series. With Max, Adam and now Brandon on the squad, we expect strong and consistent results in the premier class this season.”

 Chris Wheeler – Suzuki’s Racing Manager

“I’m excited to work with the Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports Team, our premier 450 class Supercross team for 2021. This team has the experience and the strength of this rider line-up to make for a competitive and exciting Supercross season for Suzuki, and the RM Army in 2021.”


2021 GNCC Series schedule announced

The Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series presented by Specialized have just announced the series schedule for the upcoming 2021 season.

2020 GNCC Buckwheat 100 – Image by Ken Hill

Jeff Russell – GNCC Trail Boss

“We’re excited to get the 2021 GNCC Racing season off and rolling. We have a lot of really great facilities that have hosted some amazing events in the past, and we’re ready to see another season full of excellent racing on some great racecourses.”

The GNCC Series is set to kick off on February 20-21 with the Big Buck GNCC in Union, South Carolina. From there the series will head south for the seventh Annual Wild Boar GNCC in Palatka, Florida, which is also held in conjunction with the 2021 Daytona Beach “Bike Week” festivities on March 7-8.

Then the next weekend, March 13-14, the series continues in Washington, Georgia for a back-to-back round with The General GNCC at Aonia Pass Motocross.

Moving onto round four of the season, the series will head to Society Hill, South Carolina for the Camp Coker Bullet GNCC, March 27-28. Then after a two-week hiatus the series will once again return to Union, South Carolina April 17-18 for the Tiger Run GNCC at Big Buck Farm.

Kailub Russell retired in 2020 – Photo: Ken Hill

Kicking off the month of May will be the Hoosier GNCC in Crawfordsville, Indiana at Ironman Raceway for the first of two GNCC’s to be held on that property. Returning to the series schedule as one of the oldest GNCC events on the circuit will be the 33rd John Penton GNCC held in Millfield, Ohio on May 22-23, followed by the Mason-Dixon GNCC held in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania on June 5-6. The series will also make its return to Snowshoe Mountain for the 14th Annual Snowshoe GNCC event on June 26-27.

After the summer break, the series will return to Summit Bechtel Reserve for round 10 on September 11-12. The Mountaineer GNCC continues to be a popular addition to the series schedule. Located in the heart of southern West Virginia, the race is hosted at the spectacular 11,000-acre home of the National Scout Jamboree. Round 11 will be held in Millfield, Ohio for the Burr Oak GNCC, with the penultimate round of racing being hosted at the Buckwheat 100 in Newburg, West Virginia on October 9-10. Ironman in Crawfordsville, Indiana, will make its return to host the GNCC season finale race on October 23-24.

Josh Toth – Image by Ken Hill

The 2021 schedule welcomes back many of its most seasoned venues, including Big Buck in Union, South Carolina; The General in Washington, Georgia; The John Penton in Millfield, Ohio; West Virginia’s popular Snowshoe GNCC in Snowshoe, West Virginia; and the Ironman finale in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Two rain date have been set for the 2021 season for the weekends of July 11-12 and November 13-14, with locations to be announced at a later date, if needed.

2021 GNCC Schedule

Round Date Event Name City, State Micro/eMTB
Rnd 1 Feb 20-21 Big Buck Union, SC Micro
Rnd 2 Mar 6-7 Wild Boar Palatka, FL Micro
Rnd 3 Mar 13-14 The General Washington, GA Micro/eMTB
Rnd 4 Mar 27-28 Camp Coker Bullet Society Hill, SC Micro
Rnd 5 Apr 17-18 Tiger Run Union, SC Micro/eMTB
Rnd 6 May 1-2 Hoosier Crawfordsville, IN Micro/eMTB
Rnd 7 May 22-23 The John Penton Millfield, OH Micro/eMTB
Rnd 8 Jun 5-6 Mason-Dixon Mount Morris, PA Micro/eMTB
Rnd 9 Jun 26-27 Snowshoe Snowshoe, WV eMTB
Rain Jul 10-11 RAIN DATE
Jul-31 Loretta Lynn eMTB Hurricane Mills, TN eMTB
Rnd 10 Sep 11-12 The Mountaineer Beckley, WV Micro/eMTB
Rnd 11 Sep 25-26 Burr Oak Millfield, OH Micro
Rnd 12 Oct 9-10 Buckwheat 100 Newburg, WV Micro
Rnd 13 Oct 23-24 Ironman Crawfordsville, IN Micro
Rain Nov 13-14 RAIN DATE

FIM Bajas World Cup 2021 Provisional Calendar

The 2021 FIM Bajas World Cup takes place over a Series of Qualifying Events as well as a Final. Each Event in the Qualifying Series has a scoring coefficient of 1 *. The Final has a scoring coefficient of 2 .

The Final is open to all competitors. In order to be included in the ranking of the FIM Bajas World Cup, competitors must have completed and scored points in at least one of the Events of the Qualifying Series. Only these competitors will be eligible for the final ranking of the FIM Bajas World Cup.

The final ranking of the FIM Bajas World Cup will be established on the basis of the two best results of the Qualifying Series, added to the points awarded in the Final. This is valid in all three categories (Motorbikes, Quads and SSV) and in all three classes (Women’s, Junior and Veteran).

FIM Bajas World Cup 2021 Provisional Calendar

Date Round Location Nation
18-20 Feb Dubai Intl Baja Dubai UAE
18-20 Mar Jordan Baja Aqaba Jordan
8-10 Apr Qatar Int Baja Doha Qatar
28-30 May Baja do Pinahl Serta Portugal
17-19 Jun Baja Jalapao 500 Teruel Spain
23-25 Jul Baja Aragon Teruel Spain
5-8 Aug Hungarian Baja Varpalota Hungary
29 Aug-1 Sep Atacama Baja 1 Copiapo Chile
2-4 Sep Atacama Baja 2 Copiapo Chile
28-30 Oct Baja Portalegre Portalegre Portugal
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2021 Racing schedule

2021 Provisional MXGP Calendar

Rnd Grand Prix Date
1 MXGP of Oman, Muscat Fri 2 Apr – Sat 3 Apr
2 MXGP of Italy, TBA Sat 24 Apr – Sun 25 Apr
3 MXGP of Portugal, Agueda Sat 8 May – Sun 9 May
4 MXGP of The Netherlands, Oss Sat 22 May – Sun 23 May
5 MXGP of Germany, Teutschenthal Sat 29 May – Sun 30 May
6 MXGP of Russia, Orlyonok Sat 12 Jun – Sun 13 Jun
7 MXGP of Latvia, Kegums Sat 19 Jun – Sun 20 Jun
8 MXGP of Jakarta (INA), Jakarta Sat 3 Jul – Sun 4 Jul
9 MXGP of Indonesia, Semarang Sat 10 Jul – Sun 11 Jul
10 MXGP of Czech Replublic, Loket Sat 24 Jul – Sun 25 Jul
11 MXGP of Belgium, Lommel Sat 31 Jul – Sun 1 Aug
12 MXGP of Sweden, Uddevalla Sat 7 Aug – Sun 8 Aug
13 MXGP of Finland, Iitti-KimiRing Sat 21 Aug – Sun 22 Aug
14 MXGP of Igora Drive (RUS), Igora Drive Sat 28 Aug – Sun 29 Aug
15 MXGP of Turkey, Afyonkarahisar Sat 11 Sep – Sun 12 Sep
16 MXGP of China, TBA Sat 18 Sep – Sun 19 Sep
17 MXGP of France, St Jean d’Angely Sat 9 Oct – Sun 10 Oct
18 MXGP of Spain, intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos Sat 16 Oct – Sun 17 Oct
19 TBA  Sat 30 Oct – Sun 31 Oct
20 MXGP of Patagonia Argentina, Neuquen Sat 13 Nov – Sun 14 Nov

2021 Yamaha AORC presented by MXStore calendar

Round Location Date
Rounds 1 & 2 Nowra, NSW March 27-28
Rounds 3 & 4 TBA, VIC April 17-18
Rounds 5 & 6 Kyogle, NSW July 17-18
Rounds 7 & 8 TBA, QLD August 6-7
Rounds 9 & 10 Kingston SE, SA September 18-19
Rounds 11 & 12 Omeo, VIC October 16-17

2021 Australian Pro MX calendar

Rnd Date Location
1 Apr-11 Wonthaggi, Victoria
Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, 125 CUP
2 May-02 Canberra, ACT
Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3
3 May-30 Gilman, South Australia
Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, 125 CUP
4 Jun-27 Maitland, NSW
Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, Classic Motocross Evolution Motocross Cup
5 Jul-25 Wodonga, Victoria
Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, 125 CUP
6 Aug-08 QMP, Queensland
Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, MXW, AORC (Fri & Sat)
7/8 August 14-15 Coolum, Queensland
Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, VETS (Sat)
MX1, MX2, MX3, MXW (Sun)

2021 Speedway GP Calendar

Date Round Location
Apr-24 2021  FIM Speedway Grand Prix TBC
May-15 2021 PZM Warsaw  FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland PGE Narodowy
May-22 2021 German   FIM Speedway Grand Prix Bergring Arena
Jun-05 2021 Czech Republic  FIM Speedway Grand Prix Marketa Stadium
Jun-19 2021  FIM Speedway Grand Prix TBC
Jul-17 2021 Adrian Flux British  FIM Speedway Grand Prix Principality Stadium
Jul-31 2021 Betard Wroclaw FIM Speedway Grand Prix OF POLAND Olympic Stadium
Aug-14 2021 Swedish  FIM Speedway Grand Prix G&B Arena
Aug-28 2021 Russian FIM Speedway Grand Prix Anatoly Stepanov Stadium
Sep-11 2021 Danish FIM Speedway Grand Prix Sponsored by ECCO Vojens Speedway Center
Oct-02 2021 Torun  FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland Marian Rose MotoArena

2021 Australian Senior Speedway Solo calendar

Round Location Date
Round 1 Gillman Speedway, SA 3 January, 2021
Round 2 Olympic Park, VIC 5 January, 2021
Round 3 Diamond Park, Albury Wodonga, VIC 7 January, 2021
Round 4 Loxford Park, NSW 9 January, 2021
Round 5 Mick Doohan Raceway, QLD 13 January, 2021

2021 Australian Speedway events

Championship Location  Date
2021 Australian Under 21’s Speedway Championship Gillman Speedway, SA 16 January, 2021
2021 Australian Junior Speedway Sidecar Championship Pinjar Park, WA 3-4 April, 2021
2021 Australian Senior Speedway Sidecar Championship Pinjar Park, WA 3-4 April, 2021
2021 Speedway FIM Oceania Speedway Championship Gillman Speedway, SA 30 January, 2021
2021 Speedway FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship Gillman Speedway, SA 17 April, 2021

2021 FIM Cross-Country Rallies calendar

Date Event Cat 1 RallyGP Cat 2 Rally 2 Cat 3
Grp1 Moto-Rally Grp1 Moto-Rally Grp2 Moto Enduro Grp3 Quad Adventure Trophy Grp1+3 SSV
April 9-13 BP Ultimate Portugal Rally (POR) X X X X X X
June 7-13 Rally Kazakhstan (KAZ) X X X X X
July 1-11 Silkway Rally (RUS) X X X X X
August 13-22 Rally do Sertoes (BRA) X X X X X
October 8-13 Rallye du Maroc (MAR) X X X X X X
November 6-12 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (UAE) X X X X X X

2021 AMA Supercross calendar

2021 AMA Supercross Calendar
Round 1 Houston, Texas East NRG Stadium Sat, January 16
Round 2 Houston, Texas East NRG Stadium Tues, January 19
Round 3 Houston, Texas East NRG Stadium Sat, January 23
Round 4 Indianapolis, Indiana East Lucas Oil Stadium Sat, January 30
Round 5 Indianapolis, Indiana East Lucas Oil Stadium Tues, February 2
Round 6 Indianapolis, Indiana East Lucas Oil Stadium Sat, February 6
Round 7 Orlando, Florida East Camping World Stadium Sat, February 13
Round 8 Orlando, Florida West Camping World Stadium Sat, February 20
Round 9 Daytona Beach, Florida West Daytona Int. Speedway Sat, March 6
Round 10 Arlington, Texas West AT&T Stadium Sat, March 13
Round 11 Arlington, Texas West AT&T Stadium Tues, March 16
Round 12 Arlington, Texas West AT&T Stadium Sat, March 20
Round 13 Atlanta, Georgia West Atlanta Motor Speedway Sat, April 10
Round 14 Atlanta, Georgia West Atlanta Motor Speedway Tues, April 13
Round 15 Atlanta, Georgia West Atlanta Motor Speedway Sat, April 17
Round 16 Salt Lake City, Utah East Rice-Eccles Stadium Sat, April 24
Round 17 Salt Lake City, Utah W/E Rice-Eccles Stadium Sat, May 1

2021 New Zealand Motocross Championship

Round Location Date
Round One Woodville Grand Prix 31st January, 2021  
Round Two Rotorua 21st February, 2021
Round Three Hawkes Bay 20th March, 2021
Round Four Taupo 28th March, 2021

2021 Provisional Australian Supercross dates

  • 25 September – Further information TBA
  • 9 October – Further information TBA
  • 16 October – Further information TBA
  • 23 October – Further information TBA
  • 30 October – Further information TBA
  • 6 November – Further information TBA
  • 20 November – Further information TBA
  • 27 November – Further information TBA

2021 Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE)
May 19-22 – Harvey, WA

2021 Enduro Australian Three Day Vintage Enduro (A3VE)
7-9 May – Blackwood, VIC

2021 Finke Desert Race
11-14 June – Northern Territory

2021 Hattah Desert Race
3-4 July – Hattah, Victoria

2021 Motocross Australian Classic Motocross Championship
9-11 July – Nowra, NSW

2021 Motocross Australian Post Classic Motocross
16-18 July – Nowra, NSW

2021 International Six Day Enduro (ISDE)
30 August – 4 September – Italy

U.S. AMA West ISDE Qualifier Series

  • March 20-21: Red Mountain, Calif., Desert MC and Prospectors MC, AMA District 37 Sprint Enduro
  • April 17-18: Campwood, Ariz., Arizona Trail Riders, AMA AMRA
  • May 22-23: Craig, Colo., Enduro Colorado, AMA RMEC

U.S. AMA East ISDE Qualifier Series

  • May 1-2: Battle Creek Mich., BCMC, AMA Michigan Sprint Enduro
  • May 7-8: Plantersville, Ala., Southern Enduro Riders Association
  • May 29-30: Glen Daniel, W. Va., AMA Full Gas Sprint Enduro

Source: MCNews.com.au

Moto News Weekly | Wildwood 2020 | Dakar prep’ | Signings

Moto News Weekly Wrap
December 8, 2020

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Wildwood Rock Extreme 2020

Tim Coleman has conquered the 11th running of the Wildwood Rock Extreme Enduro in a new knockout format, specifically designed to meet Covid19 rules and restrictions.

The 2020 format was a new creation and riders had to work hard with a ruthless sprint format this year. With no rest between objects, arm pump was the main factor for rider error, particularly after a tough year with the lack of opportunity for many to train. The event was almost called off, however the limited number of allowed riders was very close to full, with racers keen to get back out there.

2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme
2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme

Each class had two heats on a longer course (1.5km) involving the well known prologue area and an added natural terrain section that provided further challenges. Riders could not afford to drop any time in either heats with times being combined and the fastest four moving into the final.

Tim Coleman – 2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme winner – Image by Russel Colvin

The final format was the man-made area or prologue course as it’s known bye many, with two laps providing some great chopping and changing in all classes to decide outright winners in each class.

2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme – Owen Lock

Riding for the Motul Pirelli Sherco Off-Road Team Tim Coleman was here to impress, taking out the Gold Class win with a total time of 5m44s with clean wins in both heats leading up to the final. Callum Ceglinski put in a solid second, with the desert king Ben Grabham in third, making it a Sherco 1-2-3 finish.

2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme
Tim Coleman

“Wildwood was my first Hard Enduro and I’d never taken home the win, so it’s something I’ve really wanted to tick off my racing bucket-list. The field may have been slightly depleted, but there was still great competition there and I had to really have a crack to bring home the win. The new 2021 Sherco 300 SE Factory feels great honestly. It’s just so good for this type of racing, and having the full support of the Sherco Factory Team made a big difference on the day. I’m already excited for next year’s event.”

Tim Coleman and Derek Grundy – Image by Russel Colvin

Silver class was won by Billy McCulloch (7m14s), ahead of Ian Derwent and Max Koczak. Bronze class was won by Ash Green, (10m02s), ahead of Michael Chapman and Nathan Xerri.

Being the first post-COVID Extreme Enduro to be held in Australia was a tough challenge and was only approved with easing of the rules one week before the event, as motorcycle riding was not deemed as a professional sport prior.

2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme – Tim Coleman

Under the changed guidelines Wildwood could operate with a total of 500 people in groups of 50, but keeping to the Covid19 Event checklist it was decided to not host any spectators for the event and instead live stream the event to the people at home.

2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme – Sam Preece

Wildwood would normally operate over three hours with each rider doing a individual timed section of the course. In the 2020 edition it was a total different feel with riders parked apart and grouped in 20s to not over crowd the course with people. With further changes seen, each rider was able to bring one support person on the day to help them if needed. Temperature checks done on every person attending the event added yet another new twist to Wildwood.

Ben Grabham – 2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme – Image by Russel Colvin

With no injuries to any riders and most bikes going home with few battle scares the event was seen as a great success from all angles, particularly considering it was so close to being called off, after changing the date to the 29th of November.

The 2021 event date has been set for November 7, 2020,  as part of the National Grassroots Hard Enduro Championship. Click the result images below for zoomed in view.

2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme Gold Class Results

2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme Gold Class Results

2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme Silver Class Results

2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme Silver Class Results2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme Bronze Class Results

2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme Bronze Class Results

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Price & Sanders ramp up Dakar prep

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price, Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland are beginning the final stages of their pre-Dakar Rally testing, as they ramp up preparations ahead of the iconic event’s start on January 2. Joined by KTM Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders, who enters the upcoming Dakar as part of KTM’s junior rally program, the four KTM 450 Rally mounted riders are hard at work in Dubai as they count down the days to the gruelling 12-stage race.

Toby Price, Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland

With the 2021 Dakar Rally now just one month away, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing have their sights firmly set on battling for the number one position at the world’s toughest cross-country rally. In what has been a hugely disrupted year, which saw the team make only one competitive outing following the 2020 Dakar, Toby Price, Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland are all fully fit and keen to get racing at the 43rd edition of the event.

Looking for his third Dakar title, Toby Price will go into the race armed with the experience gained from the 2020 event and aiming to secure another strong result. Like all riders this year, Toby was forced to spend more time off the bike than he would have liked. However, after travelling to Europe towards the end of the summer, the Australian has committed to an intense schedule of training and preparation on the run up to Dakar and will remain in the Middle East testing on his KTM 450 Rally, in preparation for the challenge awaiting him.

Toby Price
Toby Price

“Obviously, it’s been a really tough year for everyone. With all the restrictions, we’ve not been able to race like we normally would. We’ve only managed to fit in one rally since the Dakar in January, which was great, but I think everyone is looking forward to getting back to some serious racing now. For me, I pretty much had to leave home for the last three months and won’t be heading back to Australia until after Dakar. My base is now in Dubai and I’ll spend Christmas there on the run up to the event. It’s great that we can get out into the dunes for testing but it’s still a big sacrifice to make, missing out on the regular family time over the holidays. For the last couple of months, the team have been testing hard, things have been going well and there’s certainly nothing better to build your fitness than time on the bike. We’ve been able to try out a lot of new things and I’m really happy with how the bike feels. At the end of the day, I know the KTM 450 RALLY is going to get me to the finish, the rest is up to me!”

2018 Dakar winner Matthias Walkner prides himself on his navigational skills and with the 2021 event promising a more technically demanding route, this should fall into the Austrian’s favor. Happy with recent improvements made to his KTM 450 Rally, Matthias feels he is on form both physically and mentally and is looking forward to another solid race in the desert.

Also back at full fitness, Sam Sunderland is known for his speed in the dunes and with the 2021 Dakar Rally expected to contain more deep sand than seen in this year’s event, Sam is confident of making the most of his skills.

Facing his first ever Dakar, KTM Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders comes into the demanding race with only one cross-country rally under his belt. Joining the team in September, Sanders has endured an intense period of testing and training to get him up to speed with the skills required for success in the sport. Racing the Andalucia Rally just weeks after throwing his leg over a KTM 450 Rally for the first time, the 26-year-old put in an excellent performance including a win on the final stage. The Dakar is far more demanding however, but the young Australian racer knows the magnitude of the challenge ahead.

Daniel Sanders
Daniel Sanders

“The year has been a crazy one for me for more reasons than one. When I got the call to come ride for the team it was really cool. I flew over to Europe with Toby and I think I’ve spent about five months here testing and learning the skills needed for rally racing. We raced the Andalucia Rally back in October, which was a real eye opener, but other than a couple of mistakes, I was really pleased with my pace and my navigation. Winning the final stage was great but I’m realistic about the Dakar – I know it’s another level completely. Testing has been going really well – every day I spend on the bike I feel more comfortable. I couldn’t wish for better people around me either, all three of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing guys have won a Dakar – Toby has won two – and Jordi (Viladoms) has been amazing getting me up to speed in such a short amount of time. I know I have a lot to learn, but that will come with racing a few more events. Right now, I’m fully focused on the big one in January.”

2021 Dakar Schedule

Stage Date Start > Finish Total Special
P Saturday, January 2, 2021 Jeddah > Jeddah 11 km 11 km
1 Sunday, January 3, 2021 Jeddah > Bisha 622 km 277 km
2 Monday, January 4, 2021 Bisha > Wadi Al Dawasir 685 km 457 km
3 Tuesday, January 5, 2021 Wadi Al Dawasir > Wadi Al Dawasir 630 km 403 km
4 Wednesday, January 6, 2021 Wadi Al Dawasir > Riyadh 813 km 337 km
5 Thursday, January 7, 2021 Riyadh > Buraydah 625 km 419 km
6 Friday, January 8, 2021 Buraydah > Ha’il 655 km 485 km
Rest Saturday, January 9, 2021 Ha’il (Rest Day)
7 Sunday, January 10, 2021 Ha’il > Sakaka 737 km 471 km
8 Monday, January 11, 2021 Sakaka > Neom 709 km 375 km
9 Tuesday, January 12, 2021 Neom > Neom 579 km 465 km
10 Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Neom > Al-Ula 583 km 342 km
11 Thursday, January 14, 2021 Al-Ula > Yanbu 557 km 511 km
12 Friday, January 15, 2021 Yanbu > Jeddah 452 km 225 km
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Nathan Crawford returns to Australia to Serco Yamaha for 2021

After a season in Europe racing MXGP, Nathan Crawford has returned to Australia and will take up a seat on the Serco Yamaha team for the 2021 season.
The 23 year-old, Brisbane resident, is back on Australian soil and already back in the saddle of a Yamaha YZ250F as his preparations begin for the 2021 Australian motocross and supercross championships.

Nathan Crawford

He has returned after a 12 month stint in Europe where he had to grow up fast in his year contesting the MX2 (250cc) championship. Ultimately, injury and a desire to come home were the reasons for his return to Australia but he is still grateful for the international experience and racing at the highest levels.

Nathan Crawford

“Racing the world championships for a manufacturer supported team has always been a dream of mine and I’m glad I got to experience racing the best riders in the world firsthand. It was an amazing experience, and despite COVID, a year I will never forget. Travelling from country to country and racing on tracks that I had only ever seen on video or YouTube was awesome and I’m so glad I got to do it. I would love to have stayed longer, but a few things didn’t work out and I began looking at my options racing back here in Australia. Joining back up with the Serco Yamaha team is cool as we have a good working relationship from my time there in 2018 and 2019. The same mechanics are still there and not a lot has changed so it was nice to walk back into familiar surroundings and feel welcomed. It was much the same way stepping back onto the YZ250F. The bike feels so good and as a production bike, it is the best in the class. It’s great to be back. I feel motivated and determined to get my career back on track and I have unfinished business in the MX2 class, so I’m really looking forward to getting things started in 2021.”

Nathan Crawford

The second rider on the Serco Yamaha Team will be announced in the coming days. Racing for the newly restructured ProMX championship gets under way on April 11 and will run eight rounds to a double header conclusion at Coolum in August. The Australian Supercross Championship is pencilled in to start in September with five rounds to make up the series.

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Purvis & Larwood return with WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha for 2021

Two rising stars of ANZAC motocross racing, Maximus Purvis and Alex Larwood will return to the WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha Team for 2021, but with a slight twist. Both will make their debut in new classes for ’21 with Purvis making the leap to the MX1 (450cc) class while Larwood will step into the MX2 (250cc) class.

Purvis, the current New Zealand MX2 champ, is keen to return to Australia for the new season and 2021 marks his third year with the WBR Yamaha team. During the break in racing this year, Purvis was able spend time on the Yamaha YZ450F back in his NZ base and found the bike exactly to his liking.

When the discussion of 2021 came up, Max expressed a wish to race the YZ450F and the WBR Yamaha team were able to make that happen and support him in the same manner as previous years.

Maximus Purvis

“2021 needs to be a huge year for me and one that establishes me in Australian motocross. The move to the 450 class is one that excites me as I have been riding one in New Zealand for the last eight months and I feel really comfortable on the bike and suits the way I ride. I love the horsepower it generates and think that I’m now at the right size and age to step up and make a go of it. Being back with WBR Yamaha is also great. We have a great working relationship that has grown over the past few years and they are a good group of guys to go racing with. The dealership is also close to where I base myself while in Australia, so they are always available if I need anything. My first goal is to defend my New Zealand MX2 championship with JCR Yamaha and then head over to Australia in March to get set up and ready for the Pro MX championship starting in April.”

Maximus Purvis

Continuing into his second year with WBR Yamaha, South Australia’s 17-year old-Alex Larwood will move into the MX2 class and is set to rattle the cages of the big names in the class. Larwood was slated to race the MXD (under 19) division in 2020 but with the cancellation of racing and also a change to the class structure in 2021, he will make the transition into the MX2 class.

Reports early in the 2020 season had Larwood down as superfast, but a broken leg halted that progress. He is now healed up and returning to full training in preparation for the new year and will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with when national racing gets under way in April.

Alex Larwood

“It’s great to be back with WBR Yamaha again and racing the MX2 class on the YZ250F. I had put in a lot of work at the start of 2020 and was feeling great on the bike but my leg injury kept me sidelined for a while and that has only made the motivation stronger. I’m looking forward to racing the MX2 class and going against the best guys in Australia. It will be a big step but I have been training with a lot of riders already in that class and feel comfortable riding with them. The leg is nearly 100% and I have a full program ready to go in the off season to ensure I hit round one in great shape. I can’t wait to get started.”

Alex Larwood

WBR Yamaha is a motorcycle dealer in the Victorian border town of Echuca. Ran by the Whitten family, the racing arm of the business has become a great promotional tool for WBR Yamaha and one that owner, Travis Whitten, is passionate about.

Travis Whitten

“Our whole family is into racing and as the business has grown, so has both our and Yamaha’s investment in racing with us. In 2021, we will be fielding two riders in the major classes and I’m confident in both the talent and determination of Maximus and Alex to succeed. The knowledge that we learn from racing can be feed directly back to our customers and we can provide them with real world information that can make the most of their purchase. 2021 is a step-up up for our race team and one that we are looking forward to and the season can’t get here soon enough so we can be back at the track and doing what we love with two riders determined to achieve their goals.”

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MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 announce 2021 line-up

Yamaha Motor Europe and the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team have announced a three-rider line-up for the 2021 EMX125 Championship. The team has retained Dutch talent Ivano Van Erp and welcomed two new riders, Latvian Karlis Reisulis and Italian Ferruccio Zanchi.

As the 2017 Junior Motocross 65cc World Champion, Van Erp is already a recognised name in European motocross. The 15-year-old Dutchman joined the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team in 2020 and completed a positive first term inside the EMX125 class aboard a GYTR kitted YZ125 with three top-10 race finishes during the latter stages of the championship.

Reisulis made his EMX125 debut in 2020 at round five of the nine-round series, in Mantova, Italy. The 15-year-old finished seventh in both races for seventh overall and quickly established himself as one of the best performing rookies. Having scored a total of four top-10 race finishes during the five rounds he attended this year, Reisulis has proven he has potential for the future.

Completing the 2021 line-up, Zanchi will become Yamaha’s youngest Official motocross rider as he makes the step up from the 85cc class to the 125cc category. The 14-year-old will join van Erp and Reisulis on the EMX125 Championship gate, where all three riders will race GYTR kitted YZ125s throughout the 2021 season.

Loic Le Foll – MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 Team Owner

“I am very happy to announce our team for 2021. We have already spent a year with Ivano, and he is an exciting rider for the future. This year was a learning year. He showed good speed at the end of the year, which is positive as he looks to move up the standings next year. As for our two new kids, I am very happy to recruit Karlis and Feruccio because they had already caught our eye last year at the Junior Motocross World Championship in Arco Di Trento, inside the 85cc class. These boys are very young, very talented and very hardworking. 2021 will be the first year on a 125cc for Ferruccio and the second season on a 125cc for Karlis, who will aim for a big result. We are going to organize a lot of training sessions together because I am sure our three riders will upgrade each other.”

Thorsten Lentink – Yamaha Motor Europe MX Racing Coordinator

“At Yamaha Motor Europe, our aim for the 2021 season is to strengthen the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team, and the presence of the GYTR kitted YZ125 inside the EMX125 Championship. The EMX125 class makes up the bottom step of the Yamaha Racing pyramid alongside the YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup and is one of the first steps to becoming a full-time professional racer. I am confident that we can make some good progress inside the series with our 2021 MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 rider selection. It is exciting to keep Ivano van Erp for another year. This year he entered the EMX125 championship as a rookie and has already shown some positive progress. Karlis Reisulis rode a few EMX125 races this year and had great speed for a rider that was new to the class. He immediately felt confident after his test on the Yamaha YZ125, and we think that both Ivano and Karlis will be upfront fighting for good championship points in 2021. As for Ferruccio, he is only 14 years old and has been on our radar since the 2019 Junior Motocross World Championship. At such a young age, he will have the time to adapt to the YZ125. Consistency will be his main priority in 2021.”

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Brad Freeman renews with Beta until 2023

Beta has announced the renewal of rider Brad Freeman, who will continue his collaboration with the Beta Factory Team for three further years, until 2023.

Brad Freeman

The English champion owns a long series of consecutive successes in recent years, including five titles in the Enduro GP world championship, where he has shown great consistency of results, always competing for the title.

Brad and the Beta Factory Team will represent the colors of the Italian manufacturer on his Beta 300 RR 2T Factory in the Enduro GP World Championship, E3 category, where he defends the 2020 world title, as well as in the Italian Enduro Championship.

Brad Freeman
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2021 Honda UK ‘Crendon Fastrack’ motocross team announced

Honda UK have announced they are back in British Motocross Championship action with a brand new title sponsor and will be known as Crendon Fastrack Honda. The squad, backed by one of the UK’s leading Timber Engineering companies Crendon, will be formed of British champion Tommy Searle and Jake Nicholls returning in the MX1 class, with Jay Hague joining the team for an MX2 championship assault. The team will contest the UK’s two highest-level series, the British championship and MX Nationals.

2021 Crendon Fastrack Honda motocross team – Tommy Searle, Jake Nicholls and Jay Hague

Derbyshire-based Searle stays with the squad for a second year, following his successful 2020 season when he won the only professional championship to run in the UK, the MX Nationals. For Nicholls, who narrowly missed clinching the British title by a handful of points in 2018 after an injury, it will be his fourth year with the squad. This time both men will be armed with the all-new 2021 Honda CRF450R and are two of the most experienced riders in the class.

Former British youth champion Hague, who lives in Durham, heads up the MX2 category on the Honda CRF250R. The 22-year-old has tested the Crendon Fastrack Honda and says he’s excited to join the most respected and highest-profile team in the UK.

The Crendon Fastrack Honda squad is run by triple world 500 champion Dave Thorpe.

Dave Thorpe

“Our goal is to be the dominant team in British championship racing and we have everything in place to achieve that. After personally testing the brand new Honda CRF450R, I know we have the best machinery. And our team of mechanics and technical partners will ensure they are the ultimate bikes on the track. With Tommy Searle and Jake Nicholls, we have not only the fastest but also two of the most experienced and professional riders in the MX1 class. And with Jay Hague in the MX2 class, it’s a real opportunity for him to really shine. It’s great to have the full backing of Crendon. And of course we still have backing from many of our long-time partners who make it possible for the team to operate at such a high level. I’m certain the Crendon Fastrack Honda team will be the team to beat in the UK.”

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Albert Cabestany join GasGas TrialGP Team as manager

Experienced former Spanish and indoor World Champion is switching from competition to team management to lead GasGas’ 2021 factory trial team. Stepping away from full-time competition, defending Trial-E World Champion will now take charge of our factory trial team and guide them through both the X-Trial and TrialGP World Championships.

Albert Cabestany
Albert Cabestany goes from competitor to team manager in 2021

A rider with more than 20 years of international trial experience, Cabestany is not only hugely capable on a bike, he’s also incredibly knowledgeable off one. A consistent challenger for world championship honors, with no fewer than 85 outdoor and 90 indoor podium results to his credit, including 27 victories, it’s fair to say he’s been there, done it, and got a whole bunch of t-shirts!

Turning a page in his highly-successful career, Albert, who started his professional career riding for GasGas before returning to win two Trial-E World Championship titles in 2019 and 2020, will now start an exciting new chapter, leading from the front as he manages the GasGas Factory Racing Trial Team.

Focused on developing the team’s testing, training and competition program, the Spaniard will provide invaluable knowledge, experience and guidance, ensuring the team is perfectly prepared to take on the 2021 FIM X-Trial and TrialGP series.

Albert Cabestany – GASGAS Factory Racing Trial Team Manager

“After so many years competing in trial, this is the perfect next step for me. To be the GASGAS Factory Racing Trial Team Manager is such a unique and exciting opportunity, I’m really looking forward to working with our riders and doing all I can to continue the team’s success. For sure I’m going to give it my all and enjoy the experience. It’s an important team within the trial paddock, with high expectations, so I’m really excited about the future.”

Albert Cabestany
Robert Jonas – VP Motorsports Offroad

“Trial remains hugely important to GASGAS, both from a production bike point of view and also from a motorsport perspective. This is why we are pleased to have appointed Albert Cabestany as our new trial team manager. Albert is hugely experienced when it comes to all things trial, and while he is best known as a successful competitor, he also has considerable testing and development experience. We believe he will inject the right mix of energy and focus into the team and push it forward in 2021, allowing our riders to perform at their very best.”

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2021 Racing schedule

2021 AMA SX calendar

Date Event Venue Location E/W
Jan 16 Houston 1 NRG Stadium Houston, TX East
Jan 19 Houston 2 NRG Stadium Houston, TX East
Jan 23 Houston 3 NRG Stadium Houston, TX East
Jan 30 Indianapolis 1 Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN East
Feb 2 Indianapolis 2 Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN East
Feb 6 Indianapolis 3 Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, IN East
Feb20 Glendale 1 State Farm Stadium Glendale, AZ West
Feb 23 Glendale 2 State Farm Stadium Glendale, AZ West
Feb 27 Glendale 3 State Farm Stadium Glendale, AZ West
Mar 6 Daytona* Daytona Int. Speedway Daytona Beach, FL East
Mar 13 Arlington 1 AT&T Stadium Arlington, TX West
Mar 16 Arlington 2 AT&T Stadium Arlington, TX West
Mar 20 Arlington 3 AT&T Stadium Arlington, TX West
Round 14 TBD TBD TBD TBD
Round 15 TBD TBD TBD TBD
Round 16 TBD TBD TBD TBD
Round 17 Salt Lake City Rice-Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT TBD

2021 Provisional MXGP Calendar

Rnd Grand Prix Date
1 MXGP of Oman, Muscat Fri 2 Apr – Sat 3 Apr
2 MXGP of Italy, TBA Sat 24 Apr – Sun 25 Apr
3 MXGP of Portugal, Agueda Sat 8 May – Sun 9 May
4 MXGP of The Netherlands, Oss Sat 22 May – Sun 23 May
5 MXGP of Germany, Teutschenthal Sat 29 May – Sun 30 May
6 MXGP of Russia, Orlyonok Sat 12 Jun – Sun 13 Jun
7 MXGP of Latvia, Kegums Sat 19 Jun – Sun 20 Jun
8 MXGP of Jakarta (INA), Jakarta Sat 3 Jul – Sun 4 Jul
9 MXGP of Indonesia, Semarang Sat 10 Jul – Sun 11 Jul
10 MXGP of Czech Replublic, Loket Sat 24 Jul – Sun 25 Jul
11 MXGP of Belgium, Lommel Sat 31 Jul – Sun 1 Aug
12 MXGP of Sweden, Uddevalla Sat 7 Aug – Sun 8 Aug
13 MXGP of Finland, Iitti-KimiRing Sat 21 Aug – Sun 22 Aug
14 MXGP of Igora Drive (RUS), Igora Drive Sat 28 Aug – Sun 29 Aug
15 MXGP of Turkey, Afyonkarahisar Sat 11 Sep – Sun 12 Sep
16 MXGP of China, TBA Sat 18 Sep – Sun 19 Sep
17 MXGP of France, St Jean d’Angely Sat 9 Oct – Sun 10 Oct
18 MXGP of Spain, intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos Sat 16 Oct – Sun 17 Oct
19 TBA  Sat 30 Oct – Sun 31 Oct
20 MXGP of Patagonia Argentina, Neuquen Sat 13 Nov – Sun 14 Nov

2021 Yamaha AORC presented by MXStore calendar

Round Location Date
Rounds 1 & 2 Nowra, NSW March 27-28
Rounds 3 & 4 TBA, VIC April 17-18
Rounds 5 & 6 Kyogle, NSW July 17-18
Rounds 7 & 8 TBA, QLD August 6-7
Rounds 9 & 10 Kingston SE, SA September 18-19
Rounds 11 & 12 Omeo, VIC October 16-17

2021 Australian Pro MX calendar

Rnd Date Location
1 Apr-11 Wonthaggi, Victoria
2 May-02 Canberra, ACT
3 May-30 Gilman, South Australia
4 Jun-27 Maitland, NSW
5 Jul-25 Wodonga, Victoria
6 Aug-08 TBC, Queensland
7/8 August 14-15 Coolum, Queensland

2021 Speedway GP Calendar

Date Round Location
Apr-24 2021  FIM Speedway Grand Prix TBC
May-15 2021 PZM Warsaw  FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland PGE Narodowy
May-22 2021 German   FIM Speedway Grand Prix Bergring Arena
Jun-05 2021 Czech Republic  FIM Speedway Grand Prix Marketa Stadium
Jun-19 2021  FIM Speedway Grand Prix TBC
Jul-17 2021 Adrian Flux British  FIM Speedway Grand Prix Principality Stadium
Jul-31 2021 Betard Wroclaw FIM Speedway Grand Prix OF POLAND Olympic Stadium
Aug-14 2021 Swedish  FIM Speedway Grand Prix G&B Arena
Aug-28 2021 Russian FIM Speedway Grand Prix Anatoly Stepanov Stadium
Sep-11 2021 Danish FIM Speedway Grand Prix Sponsored by ECCO Vojens Speedway Center
Oct-02 2021 Torun  FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland Marian Rose MotoArena

2021 Australian Senior Speedway Solo calendar

Round Location Date
Round 1 Gillman Speedway, SA 3 January, 2021
Round 2 Olympic Park, VIC 5 January, 2021
Round 3 Diamond Park, Albury Wodonga, VIC 7 January, 2021
Round 4 Loxford Park, NSW 9 January, 2021
Round 5 Mick Doohan Raceway, QLD 13 January, 2021

2021 Australian Speedway events

Championship Location  Date
2021 Australian Under 21’s Speedway Championship Gillman Speedway, SA 16 January, 2021
2021 Australian Junior Speedway Sidecar Championship Pinjar Park, WA 3-4 April, 2021
2021 Australian Senior Speedway Sidecar Championship Pinjar Park, WA 3-4 April, 2021
2021 Speedway FIM Oceania Speedway Championship Gillman Speedway, SA 30 January, 2021
2021 Speedway FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship Gillman Speedway, SA 17 April, 2021

2021 Provisional Australian Supercross dates

  • 25 September – Further information TBA
  • 9 October – Further information TBA
  • 16 October – Further information TBA
  • 23 October – Further information TBA
  • 30 October – Further information TBA
  • 6 November – Further information TBA
  • 20 November – Further information TBA
  • 27 November – Further information TBA

2021 Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE)
May 19-22 – Harvey, WA

2021 Enduro Australian Three Day Vintage Enduro (A3VE)
7-9 May – Blackwood, VIC

2021 Finke Desert Race
11-14 June – Northern Territory

2021 Hattah Desert Race
3-4 July – Hattah, Victoria

2021 Motocross Australian Classic Motocross Championship
9-11 July – Nowra, NSW

2021 Motocross Australian Post Classic Motocross
16-18 July – Nowra, NSW

2021 International Six Day Enduro (ISDE)
30 August – 4 September – Italy

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Source: MCNews.com.au

Dakar Rally Hasn’t Been Cancelled – New Route for January 2021

#DiscoverTheRoute

Seriously, COVID-19 has managed to bugger its way into all our lives and destroy everything that we hold dear; especially motorcycle events. Although MotoGP had a successful start-up and managed to make do with this series of unfortunate events, many other motorsports divisions haven’t had the same luck.

If I made a list of things far more dangerous than the Coronavirus, Dakar Rally would be up at the top. Dakar Rally is bad-ass, tough, excruciating, nauseating, dangerous…. Should I continue? Luckily for those of us locked in the house, organizers of the Dakar Rally event have confirmed that the event will take place in January 2021 without a hitch. 

“The preparation, and in particular the reconnaissance, had to be conducted according to a schedule adapted to the 2020 travel restrictions. The rally will be held under unusual conditions drafted in a protocol designed to ensure maximum protection against the spread of the Covid-19 virus”, the organizers said in a release.

Unfortunately, the Rally loses some of its “WTF” potential with the addition of a new route that will shorten the original 8000-mile trek to the tune of 3200 miles. This new route will take place in Saudi Arabia and is planned to be 4750 miles long in its entirety.

Although we are losing some distance for this event, the organizers assure us that there are far more technical areas that will put riders’ navigation skills to the test resulting in a much more interesting race. Previous Dakar Rally’s feature long stretches of desert sand before things get spicey, so hopefully, this new event cuts some of that ‘nothing-ness’ out of the equation.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com