2023 Progressive American Flat Track
Arizona Super TT
Progressive American Flat Track TT master JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) added another chapter to his legend by reigning supreme at Saturday’s ZO CBD Arizona Super TT presented by RideNow Powersports at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona.
Beach, who has now claimed victories in seven of the most recent eight Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle TT Main Events, ultimately proved worthy of his status as the heavy favorite coming into the weekend. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t have to work for this one.
That work started in the race’s opening corner after initially getting displaced to third behind reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) and points leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT).
The biggest danger moment for Beach came when Daniels took control of the lead two minutes into the Main. The on-form Daniels – who actually out-qualified Beach earlier in the day – looked to rip open an advantage while his teammate was stuck behind Mees on a track that presented few opportunities to pass and plenty of opportunities to mess up.
Almost exactly a minute later, Beach (literally) flew by Mees over the start-finish jump to slot into second. And almost exactly one minute after that he pulled a carbon-copy of the high-flying move on Daniels to take the lead for himself.
Daniels did well to keep Beach honest as they left the remainder of the field in their wake. However, he ultimately gave up the chase with a couple minutes remaining on the clock, content to cruise to second.
JD Beach – P1
“Growing up, I was told you either had to be smart or dumb, and I chose dumb. I was going for it. No, it was a great race. I knew Dallas had my number all day long. He’s been riding so good. All season, he’s been hauling the mail. It’s been frustrating for me because we’re on the same bike, and he’s been whupping my butt. Today, I’ve got to thank my crew. They worked so hard all day long. We were kind of on the back foot, but they didn’t give up. They kept working, and that’s what I did in the Main Event too.”
Behind the Estenson Racing 1-2, Mees ran in third with Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 890 Duke) in determined pursuit. That is until Mees’ machine became unsettled over the bumps and then lost the rear. While Mees did an admirable job to pick up and remount his factory Indian as quickly as was humanly possible, he still lost a few positions in the aftermath of the mishap.
That elevated Bauman to his second podium in four starts on the Rick Ware Racing KTM. It also rewarded Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750) and Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) with fourth- and fifth-place finishes, respectively.
Mees salvaged sixth and was joined by Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 890 Duke), Kolby Carlile (No. 36 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07), and Ryan Wells (No. 94 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) in the bottom half of the top ten.
Title hopeful Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) was a Main Event scratch after suffering a fall during practice at the start of the day.
Following four of 18 races, Daniels leads with 92 points, followed by Beach (73), Mees (71), and Bauman (62).
Mission SuperTwins Results
Pos
Rider
Man
Gap
Points
1
JD Beach
Yamaha MT-07
23 Laps
25
2
Dallas Daniels
Yamaha MT-07
+4.14
21
3
Briar Bauman
KTM 890 Duke
+15.011
18
4
Ben Lowe
Indian FTR750
+21.709
16
5
Johnny Lewis
Royal Enfield 650
+23.201
15
6
Jared Mees
Indian FTR750
+27.103
14
7
Davis Fisher
Indian FTR750
+28.777
13
8
Bronson Bauman
KTM 790 Duke
+22 Laps
12
9
Kolby Carlile
Yamaha MT-07
+6.185
11
10
Ryan Wells
Royal Enfield 650
+8.838
10
11
Jarod Vanderkooi
Indian FTR750
+16.725
9
12
Andrew DiBrino
KTM 790 Duke
21 Laps
8
13
Shelby Miller
KTM 790 Duke
+1.605
7
14
Kasey Sciscoe
HD XG750R
+15.128
6
15
Jimmy McAllister
Husq Norden 901
2 Laps
5
Mission SuperTwins Standings
Pos
Rider
Points
1
Dallas Daniels
92
2
JD Beach
73
3
Jared Mees
71
4
Briar Bauman
62
5
Davis Fisher
57
6
Brandon Robinson
51
7
Jarod Vanderkooi
47
8
Johnny Lewis
45
9
Ben Lowe
42
10
Bronson Bauman
41
11
Kolby Carlile
34
12
Sammy Halbert
26
13
Dan Bromley
20
14
Kayl Kolkman
19
15
Billy Ross
15
16
Ryan Wells
14
17
Cameron Smith
12
18
Jesse Janisch
11
19
Andrew DiBrino
8
20
Shelby Miller
7
21
Kasey Sciscoe
7
22
Jeffery Lowery
7
23
Mitch Harvat
7
24
Michael Rush
6
25
Michael Hill
6
26
Jimmy McAllister
5
27
Jordan Harris
4
28
Brandon Newman
1
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
2019 Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) closed to within one point of the ‘23 points lead with a precise and patient ride to victory at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
Gauthier established himself as the favorite going in with his strong pre-race performance but ended up corralled behind Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) in the early going after Cose dove down from the outside of Row 1 to claim the lead coming out of the race’s opening corner.
Gauthier sat close on Cose’s rear wheel as they circulated the slick, one-line track, hoping to either find or force a mistake from the leader. All the while, Gauthier faced similar heat from behind, with a long string of riders jammed up behind them, spearheaded by Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), who himself was flanked by Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) and Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).
Just as the race approached mid-distance, Gauthier made his move, landing along- and inside of Cose as they completed a jump and slid into the subsequent left-hander.
Kopp attempted to slip underneath Cose at the same time but was denied. While Kopp and co. regrouped to map out another assault, Gauthier opened a two second lead at the front. The reigning champ did finally push his way up the inside of Cose a couple minutes later and was joined in the overtake by Whale and Brunner.
A late red flag added the potential for some unexpected drama to a race that appeared all but settled when Andrew Luker (No. 11 Rackley Racing/Keeran Racing Yamaha YZ450F) crashed with just 10 seconds remaining on the clock.
That set the stage for a staggered restart and three-lap shootout. However, Gauthier successfully survived the second launch and cleared off to grab his first checkered flag of the season. The win was his third career TT victory and sees him remain the only rider in the field to have finished on the podium in every race this season.
Kopp held for second to retain his points lead over Gauthier (86-85) despite third-placed Whale and fourth-placed Brunner applying maximum pressure over the final laps.
Kody Kopp – P2
“We definitely rode our heart out, left it all out on the track! I qualified eighth, which was my second-worst of the year, and we had to dig ourselves out of a hole. I had the first pick on the second row for the Main, and that was probably one of the better starts of my career. That helped me so much, because I had the speed, but just couldn’t get a start earlier on. I ran third for the first four minutes of the race, made a really risky pass on Chad Cose going into turn one, and made it stick – that was all I had! You’ve gotta sometimes just take what you can get, can’t push it too much on a sketchy track, so hats off to my team for this P2, we still have a one-point championship lead and still have the red plate.”
Max Whale – P3
“I qualified second, was second in my Heat race and I felt like the track was really one-lined today. The start was very different from one side to the other, so I had tough starts all day and had to work my way through… We were fourth in the Dash and finished third in the Main, just ran out of room to pass and it was just difficult out there in this one.”
Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) completed the top five, followed by Hayden Gillim (No. Comstock Energy/Vance & Hines KTM 450 SX-F), who made his way from a crash in his heat to the LCQ to an eventual sixth-place ride.
Cose was the biggest loser in the red-flag reshuffle, winding up ninth after leading the opening half of the race and running in the top-two for the bulk of the contest.
After a hugely disrupted 2020, North Brisbane Junior Motorcycle Club had hoped for a more stable 2021. Unfortunately, the Coronavirus pandemic put pay to that, with all the proposed national events to be run at the club eventually being cancelled due to border closures and the like.
2022 is off to a flying start however, with the North Brisbane Cup run on Saturday and a strong contingent of riders travelling long distances to compete. There was also over $9,000 in prize money up for grabs, sweetening the deal and ensuring tough competition.
The event covered numerous classes from the demo or Division 1 riders all the way through to the Pro 450 class, containing a prestige field of some of Australia’s top dirt track riders. Some of the headliners were Jarred Brook, Cyshan Weale, Billy Van Eerde, Harrison Voight, Kye Thomson and Dale Borlase, just to name a few.
There were also good numbers of quad and dirt track sidecars entered, and thankfully only a few riders had to withdraw due to Covid quarantine restrictions.
Riders were lined up at the gate on the day at 6:30 am, keen to access the pit area and undertake preparations for the huge day to follow.
After the riders briefing there was a parade lap and minute’s silence for one of the North Brisbane quad riders – John Rice – who was a gentleman of the sport and tragically passed away of natural causes after a great day’s riding back in late November.
The weather in January in Brisbane can be quite variable and Saturday proved no different. Localised showers passed through off the ocean for most of the day. Thankfully these showers did not cause any stoppages to the program.
The track was set in a long-track format with a tight back dog-leg after turn 2 and before turn 3. This proved challenging for a lot of riders and limited opportunities for overtaking through this section. Later in the day in the main event everyone got to see how the dog leg could be used to a rider’s advantage.
After two laps of practice, there were three rounds of racing for all classes, showcasing some fantastic individual performances, before a final for each class. Points were awarded across the three races and the finals.
The main event of the day was the Pro 450 cc North Brisbane Cup, and saw 20 laps of the North Brisbane circuit raced under lights with 12 of the countries best dirt track riders.
Cyshan Weale got a great start and led the race for the first few laps with Jarred Brook and Kye Thomson chasing him down. It was wheel to wheel racing with the lead changing between Weale and Brook multiple times with Thomson in hot pursuit.
Brook was then able to pass Weale and led into the final lap, but Weale pulled out all the stops and got back past in the back dogleg, to cross the line six hundredths of a second ahead of Brook. The energy around the track was electric, everyone had just witnessed an amazing spectacle.
Cyshan Weale has been chasing Jarred Brook for quite a few years, always with the intention of one day taking the win, and the North Brisbane Cup proved to be the day. Jarred was very gracious and immediately congratulated Cyshan on the win.
With the 125 cc Cup class making a huge comeback in multiple genres of motorcycle racing the NB Cup was no different. A grid of 13 riders from many different disciplines faced of, including dirt track specialist Cyshan Weale, speedway rider Ryan Douglas for the Wolverhampton Wolves (UK), Blake Cobbin, as well as Redbull Rookie and Asia Talent Cup road racer Billy van Eerde riding Jack Miller’s dirt track machines.
The racing in the 125cc category was fast and furious, with some great match ups to watch. Ultimately Cyshan Weale again prevailed over Billy van Eerde, with Blake Cobbin taking third.
It was also good to see a grid of six women, including rivals Briony Hendrickson and Brooke Goulding, who have been fierce competitors for quite a few years. Newcomers to the open Women’s 450 class were Emma Scott and Chloe Doak, both making their inaugural appearances. Briony Hendrickson topped the class, ahead of Brooke Goulding and Brie Levy.
In the 250 Open class it was Ryan Douglas who won from Morty Michelmore, with Ben Montgomery completing the top three. Kevin Bradley topped the Over 45s class, ahead of Peter Jack and John Johnson.
Brayden Bradford was top 100/125 Juniors 13 to U16, ahead of Rory McQualter and Lucas Quinn. George Holmkvist led the 65 cc 7-U9 Years results, from Theo Aefeaki and Lucy Heaton. Riley Nauta won the 65 cc 9-13 Years class, beating Viv Muddle and Brodie Paige.
Viv Muddle won the 85 cc 2st & 150 cc 4St 9-U13 Years category however, while Cooper Archibald was the top performer in the 85 cc 2st & 150 cc 4St 12-U16 Years class.
Rory McQualter was fastest 200-250 cc 4St 13-U16 Years racer, ahead of Brayden Bradford and Lucas Quinn. Topping the Auto Division 7-U9 was George Holmkvist, while Steven McGill was fastest Classic Pre-1990, heading Peter Jack and Darren Saxon.
In the Quads Unlimited Mathew Griffiths was victorious, while Steven Liebke topped the Sidecars.
On Saturday everyone was a winner, with spectators getting to see some of the closest hard-fought racing one can hope to see. While the Pro 450 was the main event with $3750 up for grabs all the other classes were equally well contested with numerous personal bests to come from the day’s racing.
It was also worthy of note how many participants also compete in road racing both domestically and internationally. It comes as no great surprise that dirt track and flat track racing is a great discipline to learn bike craft for other disciplines.
North Brisbane has become well known for running numerous premier events and will be running the 2022 Australian Junior and Senior Dirt Track Championships.
Progressive American Flat Track offers its condolences to the family and friends of Earl Hayden, patriarch of the fabled Hayden family, who passed away overnight following a long battle with cancer. He was 74 years old.
The news will be deeply felt across the two-wheeled racing community. Hayden was a universally beloved figure whose presence graced dirt track and roadracing paddocks across the globe for decades.
A dirt track racer for some twenty years, Hayden brandished the #69 himself before it became synonymous with his late son (and 2006 MotoGP World Champion) Nicky. The story of its origins (Earl claimed he had to choose a number that read the same whether he was upright or upside down) remains an eternal reminder of Earl’s legendary sense of humor.
As a father, Earl fostered an environment that produced three of the most successful and popular motorcycle racers of the past generation. Along with Nicky’s crowning achievement on the world stage, he and his brothers, Tommy and Roger, were each AMA national roadracing champions. Additionally, all three were top flight dirt trackers; Nicky and Tommy boasted premier class Grand National Champion race victories, and Roger joined them on the podium in a historic all-Hayden sweep of the podium at the 2002 Springfield TT.
There was a direct line connecting their combined success to the incredible support and many sacrifices of Earl and his wife, Rose, who together moved mountains with regularity to ensure their children had every possible opportunity to maximize their potential.
Rather than run dry, that well of generosity spilled out beyond just his immediate family, as Hayden served as a mentor and supporter of countless other aspiring racers, particularly those from the Owensboro, Kentucky area.
2021 Australian Speedway Champs officially cancelled
Motorcycling Australia, in conjunction with the MA Track Commission and key stakeholders, have now advised the 2021 Australian Speedway Senior Solo, Australian U21’s and Australian U16’s 250cc Championships have been cancelled, along with postponing the 2022 Australian Speedway Senior Solo Championship.
With so much uncertainty around the State border restrictions, as well as lockdowns and the lack of availability of international flights and with a significant number of riders currently overseas a decision as early as possible as important.
Motorcycling Australia (MA) and the Australian Track Commission have been in consultation with riders and clubs and are now concentrating on delivering a successful condensed 2022 Championship calendar pending Government restrictions around Covid-19.
April 1–3 – Australian U16’s 125cc Individual & Teams Speedway Championships – Sidewinders SA
November 26 – Australian U16’s 250cc Speedway Championship – Gillman Speedway SA
November 26 – Australian U21’s Speedway Championship– Gillman Speedway SA
December 2-3 – Australian Senior Solo Speedway Championship – TBA
Eli Tomac joins Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing for 2022
Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing will welcome Eli Tomac to the team for the 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross and Lucas Oil Pro Motocross season, joining the newly crowned 2021 Pro Motocross Champion Dylan Ferrandis, while Christian Craig will join the duo for the outdoor season stepping up to the Yamaha YZ450F.
Tomac brings with him a wealth of experience and is a proven championship contender. In addition to his three consecutive Pro Motocross 450MX titles from 2017-2019, he added the coveted 450SX Championship to his resume in 2020. The Coloradan has amassed an impressive number of victories and is the winningest rider currently active in both premier class championships.
Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing
“I’m really excited about this next chapter of my racing career with the Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing team. With the recent success of the team, motorcycle, and crew members in place, I know we will be ready for the challenge of winning races. January can’t come soon enough!”
The Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing 450 Team is fresh off of a great debut in the premier class. After a solid start in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship with all three riders earning their first 450SX podium and finishing comfortably inside the top-10 in the standings, the team had a stellar Lucas Oil Pro Motocross season.
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
“We’re really happy to have Eli on board next season. He is a proven championship contender and an incredible athlete. Together with Dylan and then Christian joining us for the outdoor season, we have a great line-up and look to be fighting up front for the number-one plate in both championships. This year was a great first year in the premier class for the team and an absolutely incredible Pro Motocross season. We look to build on that and are really excited for the 2022 season.”
Husqvarna and Jason Anderson part ways after seven years
Husqvarna Motorcycles thanked Jason Anderson for his hard work, commitment, and racing achievements during the last seven years, as following a highly successful relationship with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, the American’s time with the team has now drawn to a close.
Since joining Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in 2015 to compete on FC 450 machinery in the 450 class, Jason Anderson has entered each AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross season as a genuine title contender.
The highlight of Anderson’s time with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna came in 2018 when he was crowned 450SX champion. The victory marked the first 450 supercross title for Husqvarna Motorcycles with Jason’s performances and championship result also making a notable contribution to the brand’s international standing, as well as adding to their now 106 World Championship wins. During his time with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Jason won seven 450SX Main Events and claimed 27 podium finishes.
Further success was achieved outdoors in the 450 Pro Motocross series, with Anderson claiming 16 overall podium results and a career-best championship finish of fourth in 2019. Outside of racing in America, Anderson won multiple Australian Supercross Championship races and represented Team USA at the FIM Motocross of Nations on two occasions.
Stephen Westfall – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager
“It’s been an honour to have worked with such a talented and committed racer like Jason. His dedication and talent, together with his willingness to always put the work in, ensured he was always the best rider he could be. It’s unfortunate that his time with the team coincides with him being injured as he was showing some great speed early on in the Pro Motocross season. On behalf of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, I wish Jason well and look forward to seeing him at the races in the future.”
Monster Energy Kawasaki welcome Anderson to the team
Jason Anderson will join Adam Cianciarulo with the Monster Energy Kawasaki race team for 2022, alongside testing and development rider Broc Tickle.
Anderson closed out his amateur racing career with Kawasaki Team Green, winning the AMA Horizon Award aboard a KX250 before moving on to become a 250 Supercross West Champion, now reunited with Kawasaki, Anderson is prepared to repeat his former success and fight for premier class supremacy in both the AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross Championships.
Jason Anderson – Monster Energy Kawasaki Race Team
“It’s great to join the Monster Energy Kawasaki race team for 2022. I’m ready to start working with the team to have a successful run right out of the gate when we go racing in January. The bike is proven, and the many accolades of the team speak volumes to what we can achieve together. I’m looking forward to the good times ahead.”
Meanwhile, Cianciarulo hopes to see his record-setting amateur years with the Kawasaki Team Green race team and success underneath the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team awning reach a culmination in 2022 with his goal of championship contention in the upcoming year of premier class racing.
Building from his AMA Pro Motocross Rookie of the Year honors that came along with second place in the 2020 450MX Pro Motocross standings, Cianciarulo led 51 laps during the 2021 season and secured three overall podiums. Cianciarulo now looks to capitalize on a full off-season of development with the team to claim the top step of the podium in 2022.
Adam Cianciarulo – Monster Energy Kawasaki Race Team
“I’m ready for the 2022 season. I’ve had a lot of great experiences in my first two seasons with the team. We have made major strides together and are positioned to perform at our very best in this upcoming year of racing. I look forward to continuing to improve and reaching our goals together.”
2022 Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team roster breaks cover
With the 2022 racing season marking nearly three decades of success, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki race team has revealed five-rider lineup for the upcoming season. The team will field the established Austin Forkner, Cameron McAdoo, Jo Shimoda and 2021 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Rookie of the Year, Seth Hammaker. Kawasaki also welcomes long-time Team Green amateur rising star Jett Reynolds to the fold as he graduates into the pro ranks.
As one of the most successful teams in the paddock, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki boasts an resume that includes the most combined supercross and motocross wins in the 250 class and 29 total championships.
Mitch Payton – Pro Circuit Owner
“We have a skilled group of riders on the team for the 2022 season. With seasoned riders like Austin, Cameron, and Jo returning, last year’s rookie sensation Seth ready to begin his sophomore season and Jett making his pro debut; we are in a good spot to compete for both 250 West and East Supercross titles. Everyone on the team including riders, staff and personnel, are preparing for the new season to begin and we expect to finish on top of the podium.”
Returning for a seventh season with the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki squad in 2022 is Austin Forkner. The 12-time 250 Class race winner has high hopes to return to his winning ways this season after his promising 2021 supercross title campaign was cut short due to injury.
McAdoo is also back under the Kawasaki tent for the upcoming season. Coming off a career-best season in 2021 that saw McAdoo collect his first AMA 250 Supercross win, the Iowa native is keen on improving his third-place finish in the Supercross 250 West Championship point standings.
Back for his second year with the Kawasaki team is Shimoda. Building on a stand-out 2021 season, the Japanese-born rider secured a career-first 250SX Class win along with six podiums last season and appears ready to use his experience running up front to mount a championship fight.
Entering his sophomore season, Hammaker returns to the Kawasaki squad with his first career 250SX Class win and three AMA Supercross podiums under his belt. Last year’s rookie stand out heads into the new season with expectations to battle for race wins and podiums.
Making his professional debut with the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team is Reynolds. Carrying nine AMA Amateur National titles and the 2017 Monster Energy Cup Supermini Class championship, Reynolds is set to make an immediate impact for the team in both series at the beginning of the 2022 season.
Rallye du Maroc returns in 2021!
With the 2020 edition cancelled due to the global pandemic, it has been two years since the Rallye du Maroc has been held in the Kingdom of His Majesty Mohammed VI. From 7 to 13 October, housed in a bivouac outside Zagora, the race returns to the desert. Hand in hand, the Moroccan authorities, ODC Events and their local partners have put all their energy into making the running of the rally possible.
David Castera
“Each year, the Rallye du Maroc takes on ever more importance in the country. It is no longer simply a case of us organising an event on our own, with permission from the Moroccan authorities. The Rallye du Maroc is now the fruit of a common enterprise, the will and help of the authorities, partners such as Maroc Telecom, Afriquia or OCP, and the tourism industry, right down to the small businesses and service providers who are close to us on the ground, happy and proud to be working again. A strong relationship between us has been forged in this very special context. This edition will be one of resilience for us all.”
As a reward for the efforts made over the last few weeks by all involved in resurrecting the Rallye du Maroc, the number of entrants expected at administrative and technical scrutineering on Thursday 7 October will break all records. 160 bikes and 100 cars are expected to arrive at the bivouac in Zagora next week eclipsing previous figures.
All the official teams are present and 27 riders are registered in RallyGP, while there are no less than 99 in Rally2.
In RallyGP, we see the best drivers in the cross-country discipline. KTM’s Matthias Walkner leads the provisional classification of the 2021 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship and is joined in Morocco by the current FIM World Champion Sam Sunderland, Toby Price and Kevin Benavides.
Yamaha has entered Rally Kazakhstan winner Ross Branch, Adrien Van Beveren and Andrew Short.
Husqvarna, meanwhile, will run machines for Luciano Benavides and Skyler Howes, while Daniel Sanders rides for Gas-Gas.
Honda will participate in its first rally of the season with Pablo Quintanilla, Ricky Brabec, Nacho Cornejo and Joan Barreda. Hero will also be present with Franco Caimi, Sebastian Bühler and Joachim Rodrigues, while Sherco lines up with Lorenzo Santolino, Rui Gonçalves and Harith Noah.
Two Juniors will also be in the starting blocks in RallyGP: Konrad Dabrowski (KTM) and Tomas de Gavardo (KTM).
Between the competitors, their entourage and the organisation, the 2021 Rallye du Maroc caravan will number 850 people, housed for almost ten days in the ephemeral bivouac of Zagora.
David Castera
“If I had asked for such a bivouac in France or anywhere else in the world, people would have thought I was insane,. The know-how of the nomads and their capacity to adapt is phenomenal. Nothing is impossible, the answer to every question is always ‘machi moushkil’, literally ‘no problem’. And they always manage to pull it off, sometimes really incredible feats. The Rallye du Maroc no longer simply bears the name of a country, but that of its people, who share with us the values of solidarity and pushing one’s limits that have always been intrinsic to rally-raid.”
2021 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship Standings
Pos
Rider
Man.
Points
1
Mathias Walkner
KTM
58
2
Gregorio Caselani
Honda
38
3
Skyler Howes
Husqvarna
36
4
Daniel Sanders
Gas Gas
33
5
Franco Caimi
Hero
32
6
Adrien Van Beveren
Yamaha
31
7
Ross Branch
Yamaha
25
8
Sebastian Bühler
Hero
24
9
Luciano Benavides
Husqvarna
24
10
Andrew Short
Yamaha
23
Charlotte Half-Mile set for AFT finale
Following 15 fiercely fought Progressive American Flat Track rounds, the season-ending Honda Charlotte Half-Mile will determine the 2021 Grand National Championship under the lights at the Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday, October 8.
As they arrive in Charlotte, North Carolina, reigning two-time Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle champion Briar Bauman (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) and living legend Jared Mees (No. 9 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) are separated by just four points. That means both factory Indian stars are in position to secure the 2021 crown from the top step of the podium, simple as that.
It gets a bit more complicated should another rider play the spoiler and steal away the victory. Should that happen, Mees’ slight lead earned on the strength of an active four-race win streak provides him an advantage in that he could still take the title by finishing close behind Bauman on track.
Considering their combined ability, winning percentage, and motivation, it may seem unlikely that another rider is able to elbow ahead with so much on the line, but Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) managed to do just that (twice) in last year’s similarly tight DAYTONA finale.
The scenario of a title-shifting upset just became that much more realistic with the news that Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (No. 23 Happy Trails Racing/DPC/KullyCo/Bigelow Indian FTR750) has been added to the entry list. As a reminder, in last year’s late-season battle in Charlotte, Bauman and Mees traded the lead back and forth until privateer Carver shot past them both en route to a huge win. A repeat effort could literally decide which bike the #1 plate is brandished upon in 2022.
The field is stocked with potential spoilers, including Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Coolbeth-Nila Racing Indian FTR750), Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), Brandon Price (No. 92 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) and JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT).
AFT Singles
The 2021 AFT Singles championship will be determined in Charlotte as well. While there doesn’t appear to be much room for drama as in the premier class, if second-ranked Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE) manages to dethrone defending class champ Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), you can bet some serious drama went down.
With 20 points and the tiebreaker working in his favor, Daniels merely needs to finish 13th or better in the Main even if Australian Whale wins. And if Whale doesn’t win, Daniels doesn’t need to do anything but collect his trophy.
Morgen Mischler (No. 13 Mission Roof Systems KTM 450 SX-F) is nearly as safe in third with Daniels’ teammate, Mikey Rush (No. 15 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), 18 points back in fourth.
Last year’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway was a classic, with Daniels clinching the title thanks to a last-lap pass for victory over Mischler. Whale finished fourth, just 0.201 seconds back of the win, which sets the table nicely for another spectacular scrap on Friday night.
AFT Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines
Last season, Cory Texter (No. 65 G&G Racing/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07) scored a holeshot-to-checkered flag win in Charlotte. The situation was considerably different, as Texter was desperate just to keep his slim 2020 AFT Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines title hopes alive at the time.
Now he comes into the finale having already locked down a second-career AFT Production Twins championship. That said, Texter is a racer’s racer and one making up for lost time spent as a long-time journeyman pilot. He’s unlikely to lack for motivation even with the title already taken care of.
Meanwhile, AFT Production Twins championship runner-up honors are still up for grabs with Chad Cose (No. 49 Voodoo Ranger/Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) nine points up on Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) with one race to go.
The evening also presents one final chance for the likes of Ben Lowe (No. 25 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) and Jesse Janisch (No. 96 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R) to get a win before the year is out.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Charlotte Half-Mile will also feature the season finale of Royal Enfield’s hugely popular BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. program and the penultimate round of the innovative Super Hooligan National Championship. BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. showcases the talent, versatility, competitiveness, and enthusiasm of female motorcyclists in its own action-packed style, while the outlaw-minded Super Hooligan series features customized heavy street bikes competing at a road race circuit, a Short Track, a Half-Mile and an asphalt oval to determine the nation’s most all-around skill heavy street bike racer.
The Honda Charlotte HM will also feature all the pomp and circumstance befitting a season finale off the track as well. NASCAR superstar Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will serve as the evening’s Grand Marshal ahead of the weekend’s NASCAR doubleheader at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Al-Balooshi wins 2021 Qatar International Baja
The UAE’s Mohammed Al-Balooshi sealed outright victory in the motorcycle category of the Qatar International Baja after the third desert selective section that was held in punishing heat on Saturday.
MX Ride Dubai’s Mohammed Al-Balooshi delivered a polished performance over the closing 249.68km selective section that started at Al-Kharsaah and included a tricky final passage through the sand dunes near the Inland Sea, south of Doha, where temperatures rose into the low forties Centigrade.
He completed the gruelling stage in just under nine minutes shy of five hours to seal a 10min 57sec victory over British youngster Robert Wallace in the motorcycle section. The latter’s consolation was sealing top spot in the FIM Juniors category.
Mohammed Al-Balooshi
“It was a very tough two stages but I am happy that we managed to bring the bike home and win this round of the FIM Bajas World Cup and extend our championship lead. I am a little bit disappointed that Abdullah Abuaisheh could not start because it is good to have your main rival competing. I thank him for letting me use his front wheel. I damaged mine. Now I will go to Portugal for the last round, which is double points. I started off with third in Dubai, a win in Jordan and a win here. But I have a torn ligament in my shoulder. I was nursing it home and managed to win. I probably only rode at 60 or 70%.”
The UK’s Andrew Newland rounded off the podium places and Kuwait’s Abdullah Al-Shatti overcame a fall to finish fourth. Richard Dors and Makis Rees-Stavros rode strongly on the final day to snatch fifth and sixth.
Unfortunately, x-rays confirmed Martin Chalmers’s worst fears and the Qatar-based Australian was forced to withdraw from the motorcycle event with two broken ankle bones and ligament damage. It was testament to his determination that he had completed the second stage in first position and managed to put his bike into Parc Ferme to restart, albeit with eight minutes of penalties later added to his time.
Royal Enfield”s debut season in competition Flat Track racing with their 650s in Europe came to the perfect conclusion, after Gary Birtwhistle and Aussie Paul Young claimed five wins from five rounds of racing, wrapping up the title and runner up spots to boot.
This fifth and final round of the 2021 DTRA (Dirt Track Rider’s Association) season took place at the TT circuit at Greenfield Dirt Track, Lincolnshire. With an additional right-hand turn and a jump incorporated into the track, it was all to play for going into the final weekend of the season.
With Royal Enfield’s principal rider, Gary Birtwistle having his season cut short with a broken scaphoid bone in his wrist (after having won all of the first three races), it all came down to team-mate Paul Young to secure the Championship Crown for the Royal Enfield Team.
Relatively new to flat track, but with years of GP2 racing experience under his belt, Paul flew through the qualifying heats and found himself at the front of the grid heading into the final.
While being pushed hard all the way to the final lap, the chequered flag and the 2021 Championship Crown was destined to be claimed by Paul and Royal Enfield.
The result marked Royal Enfield’s first “factory” European Championship win since the legendary Johnny Brittain won the ACU Star at the National Trials Championship back in 1956. After a hiatus of 65 years, this marks an exciting new milestone for Royal Enfield as it further develops its footing in the world of competitive racing.
The ProMX Management Team has advised that all Penrite ProMX Championship presented by AMX Superstores events continue to remain on hold due to the current national landscape around COVID-19 State Border Restrictions.
With all remaining championship events postponed, a final decision on the status of running the remainder of the championship rounds will be announced no later than 15th October 2021.
ProMX is continuing to examine the environment around COVID-19 State Border Restrictions, relying on information from state governments on plans to reopen borders.
Planning for the 2022 ProMX Championship is also underway, with an aim to begin in March 2022 with eight Championship events. Further updates and information will be provided in the coming weeks and months.
ProMX Management is also monitoring the changing landscape of potential vaccine passports which may be required by State and Federal governments for future air travel, entry to venues, and as a condition of inclusion in some situations. Some sporting venues in Australia have already made announcements where proof of double vaccination will be required for entry, whilst other are considering their position on this topic.
ProMX respects the choice of individuals when it comes to the topic of COVID-19 vaccination. However, it is highly likely that proof of vaccination or vaccination passport may be required for entry into some states and venues moving forward. ProMX Management provides this as information only.
2021 Penrite ProMX Championship Calendar
Round
Date
Location
Status
Round 5
TBA
Wodonga, VIC
Postponed
Round 6
TBA
QMP, QLD
Postponed
Round 7 & 8
TBA
Coolum, QLD
Postponed
Round 9 & 10
TBA
Gillman, SA
Postponed
2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Calendar
The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship is set to expand to nine rounds for 2022. Build on what’s been a successful inaugural season of racing for the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, the series will provisionally expand to nine rounds for 2022, while introducing a host of new events to the calendar.
Further strengthening its grip as a truly international offroad motorcycling world championship, the series will see races in Israel, Serbia and Canada added to an already bustling schedule.
An early start at the beginning of April will see the 2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship season commence in Israel. Venturing to Asia for the Minus 400, the best Hard Enduro riders in the world will showcase their talents in front of enduro fans in the Middle East.
Returning to Europe for round two, Xross is a Hard Enduro Rallye in the Serbian mountains of Zlatibor, Tara and Mokra Gora. A long-established event, Xross has been running since 2014 and prides itself on featuring some of the most remote and technical Hard Enduro terrain in the southeast of Europe.
The return of Red Bull Erzbergrodeo in Austria for 2022 is sure to set fans and competitors hearts racing. On hold for the past two years due to the Covid pandemic, everyone is waiting for the Iron Giant to roar back into life in spectacular fashion next June.
Following its successful debut this year, the Abestone Hard Enduro returns to the championship for 2022. The distinct Tuscany venue has already become a much talked about race. Busily preparing trails for 2022, organiser Michele Bosi is eager to deliver something special next year.
Synonymous with Hard Enduro, it would be impossible not to feature the iconic Red Bull Romaniacs in the 2022 schedule. Now a mecca for Hard Enduro competitors from across the world, organisers are currently working on the 19th edition of this world famous Hard Enduro Rallye.
From Romania, the series will take a trip across the Atlantic to North America for a double header in the USA and Canada. Kicking things off for round six will be Red Bull TKO in Tennessee. The venue produced some spectacular racing and many memorable battles this year and will be eagerly anticipated next August.
Two weeks later, the championship heads north to Canada for the already established Red Bull Outliers in the Badlands of Alberta. The feature race is a multi-lap extreme cross-country event across a rugged wasteland with plenty of near-vertical climbs.
HERO Challenge will play host to the penultimate round in mid-September. A welcomed addition to the 2021 series, its format twist of motocross, superenduro and hard enduro elements pushed competitors to their physical limits. Now, with 12 months to prepare for the next edition, expect organisers to raise the bar even higher.
Seven months after round one in Israel, the championship will draw to an exciting conclusion at Spain’s Hixpania Hard Enduro in Aguilar de Campoo, as a spectacular end to the 2022 season is guaranteed.
Winfried Kerschhaggl – FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Manager
“It’s great to already have the 2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship provisionally in place. I would like to thank all event organizers for their commitment to the championship, and for the energy they have. Being so early with this provisional calendar gives everyone the advantage of being able to market each particular event professionally, as well as giving competitors an early look at the exciting championship we have. Pushing so hard in 2021 earned us a lot of interest from fans, media and potential event organizers all around the world. With Israel, Serbia and Canada added to an already diverse calendar we aim to strengthen our grip as a true offroad motorcycling World Championship.”
2022 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Provisional Schedule
Round 1: Minus 400 – Israel, April 5/6/7
Round 2: Xross – Serbia, May 19/20/21
Round 3: Red Bull Erzbergrodeo – Austria, June 16/17/18/19
Round 4: Abestone Hard Enduro – Italy, July 8/9/10
Round 5: Red Bull Romaniacs – Romania, July 26/27/28/29/30
Round 6: Red Bull TKO – USA, August (date TBC)
Round 7: Red Bull Outliers – Canada, August (TBC, two weeks after TKO)
Round 8: HERO Challenge – Poland, September 10/11 (location TBC)
Round 9: Hixpania Hard Enduro – Spain, October 7/8/9
HRC Manager Erik Kehoe retires
Just over a week after Jett Lawrence wrapped up the 2021 AMA Pro Motocross 250MX Championship, Erik Kehoe announced that he will step down from the position of Manager of Team Honda HRC, the manufacturer’s U.S. factory motocross/supercross squad.
Kehoe was a Honda-backed professional racer in the late ’80s and early ’90s before managing the Honda of Troy/Yamaha of Troy race program for seven seasons. He served an earlier stint managing the factory team from the 2002 season through 2012. During Kehoe’s management tenures, Team Honda HRC earned five AMA Pro Motocross National Championships and two AMA Supercross Championships.
Erik Kehoe
“This decision to retire was very difficult, but at the same time, I know it’s time to slow down my pace. I would like to thank American Honda, and [Manager of Sports & Experiential] Brandon Wilson in particular, for giving me the chance to return to the team this last time. I really wanted to help get Honda some positive momentum in supercross and motocross, and this past season, I think the team has enjoyed many successes. I’ve truly enjoyed my time here, but it’s time to focus on some personal projects that I’ve been putting off for some time.”
Takahisa Fujinami retires from Trial World Championship in Portugal
After 26 seasons in the Trial World Championship, a record number of participations, 168 podiums, 34 victories, 7 runner-up finishes and one world championship title, Repsol Honda Team rider Takahisa Fujinami (Mie, Japan, 13/01/1980) will bring his career to a close this coming Saturday in Portugal.
Since his debut in Navacerrada, Spain in 1996 at the age of 16, he has spent over a quarter of a century fully dedicated to trial competition, collecting several key achievements along the way including the world championship title sealed in 2004.
In addition, the Japanese rider has also broken several records in the specialty, such as the youngest rider to win a world championship event (Talheim, 1997) at the age of 17, as well as the record for the most elderly rider, attained earlier in 2021 with a win in Italy aged 41. Indeed, this kind of longevity has led him to become the rider with the highest number of participations in elite competition, with a tally of 355, including this Saturday’s event in Gouveia.
With 34 victories – always with Montesa-Honda – Takahisa Fujinami is the rider with the fifth highest number of triumphs in world championship trials and is fourth in terms of number of podiums, surpassed only by Adam Raga, Toni Bou and Dougie Lampkin. He has also finished in the world championship top five over 20 consecutive seasons.
Fujigas’ has also been world championship runner-up on seven occasions. The number rises further with the indoor competition tally: one runner-up, one victory and 36 podiums out of 139 trials. In Japan, he also won five national titles between 1995 and 2001. Finally, he took part in 15 Trial du Nations events representing the Japanese team, contributing to five runner-up finishes.
Takahisa Fujinami
“I firmly believe that the time has come to close the curtain on my career as a world trial championship rider after 26 years in the competition. Thanks to everyone’s support, over this period, I have been able to make trial my profession and perform at a more than satisfactory level for over a quarter of a century. Thank you very much. They have been 26 great years. And I have to also thank my family, who supported me from the first moment, my team-mates, the brand, the sponsors and also the fans who have cheered me on throughout. I would like to greet each of my fans one by one, and I hope to do it someday, to thank them for the enormous support they have given throughout this time. Honda Racing and Montesa-Honda gave me a bike to participate in the world championship when I was 16 years old and, since then, I am proud to have battled with this team right through to the very end.
“I still remember the shouts and applause of support at my debut in Japan and also in Spain: ‘Fujigas’ was born there! The first victory in Germany, the tough, complicated years, but also the joy of the world title in 2004. It’s a long time ago, but it’s my particular treasure… I would also like to particularly remember the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, which started in 2000 and has always had such an enthusiastic crowd. Thank you again. As for what I will do from now on… I don’t really know yet. I haven’t made up my mind yet what I will do after retiring from competition, but I hope to stay involved in trials in some way. I’m confident that everything will go well in my new life.”
Toni Bou wins a 29th Trial World Championship title in Portugal
Repsol Honda Team rider Toni Bou has been proclaimed the 2021 TrialGP World Champion, also winning the day’s trial in Portugal – taking his GP palmares to 125 triumphs and 15 consecutive TrialGP titles, plus 14 indoor – 29 championship wins for the greatest rider of all time.
The Repsol Honda Team ace set the benchmark from the start in a trial filled with natural yet demanding sections, where the first 12 sections had been made quite slippery by the water which flows through the Portuguese town of Gouveia. Bou made it through to the end of the trial with sufficient advantage to claim a 125th victory in the Trial World Championship for the Montesa Cota 4RT rider. This season saw him victorious in seven 2021 Trial World Championship events to clinch the top TrialGP World Championship honours for a 15th time in a row.
Today was also a very special event for Japanese Repsol Honda Team rider Takahisa Fujinami who brings to an end his career in the Trial World Championship. Fujinami rode a trial that went from strength to strength, improving considerably on the second lap before eventually posting seventh place on the day. “Fujigas” thus wraps up the world championship in sixth place overall.
With this final trial in Portugal, Repsol Honda Team bids farewell to this year’s TrialGP campaign. The next appointment for Toni Bou will be tomorrow, held in the same Portuguese town, where the champion will represent the Spanish national team in the Trial des Nations event.
Toni Bou – P1
“This year has been very special for me because at the beginning things were very complicated with the injury just a month before the start of the championship. In the end there will come a year when I will not be able to win – I’ve won for 15 consecutive years – but the fact that I got injured just before the start of the world championship made it special and I didn’t want to lose a championship in this way. Once again we battled 100%, I tried to get into shape as the championship progressed and the fact that I had a very good work rate before I got injured also helped me to recover faster. I am very happy to be able to win another world championship. Once again, many thanks to the whole team. Today was also a very special day for everyone as it was Fujinami’s last trial. It is very difficult to think of Team HRC without him. I wish him all the best for the future.”
Takahisa Fujinami – P7
“First of all, I want to thank Honda, HRC and the whole Montesa team, including mechanics, minders and all the people who have helped me over these 26 years. Without all of them I could not have been in the world championship for 26 years. Today I wanted to get a good result, in the end I finished seventh, but I’m still happy with the way I rode today. I battled until the end. Today I close this stage, but I am sure that the future will be promising. Today was a really special day, thanks to the whole trial family, all the brands and all the people who were in Portugal today. I am very proud to have shared this day with all of them.”
GasGas’s Laia Sanzs wraps up 2021 TrialGP Women title
After eight years away from the Trial World Championship, Laia Sanz has returned to the top of the podium once again, winning the final round of the 2021 season on her GASGAS TXT GP 300 to become TrialGP Women World Champion for an incredible 14th time.
Laia Sanz
“It’s been an incredible day, to win is amazing. It wasn’t the hardest trial of the championship, but the hard thing for me was to stay 100% focused, so mentally it wasn’t easy at all. Coming back to TrialGP after so many years away, to return and finally be successful and win another world title, it’s amazing. Apart from section three on the first lap, I think I had one of my best days of the championship today. It’s not been an easy year for me, so I am proud that I have been able to do what I hoped I would. Also, I want to thank the team and GASGAS, they have been so, so good to me. It’s the result that we all worked really hard for.”
Proving once again that she’s unquestionably the queen of trial, Laia Sanz did exactly what she needed to do at the all-important final round of the 2021 TrialGP World Championship, winning the day and claiming an incredible 14th trial title.
Coming into the Portuguese event one point behind her closest championship rival Emma Bristow, Laia set her sights on winning from the moment she entered the day’s opening section.
Knowing that there was no room for error, she completed the opening lap having lost just four marks. In doing so she put one hand on the women’s title. Holding her nerve, her best was yet to come as she dropped just two marks on the second lap and delivered her best ride of the season, when it mattered most.
Securing her third win of the championship, in never finishing lower than second this season Laia’s composure and consistency ultimately ensured she won her 14th trial world title.
Royal Enfield have already been dipping their peg in Flat Track racing around the world and have run schools in both Europe and the USA for riders to get a taste for some sideways action.
In some big news for Aussie enthusiasts, the Aussie importer for Royal Enfield, Urban Moto Imports, are gearing up to run a series of ‘Flat Track Slide Schools’ here in Australia.
The timeline and venues are still being locked in but the plans are well advanced and the details are expected to be announce soon.
AFT Singles Championship contender Max Whale has signed a two-year deal to remain with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team through the 2023 American Flat Track Championship, after another successful season in 2021.
In his fourth season in the class, the Aussie has established himself as a force in the AFT Singles division as he prepares to battle down to the wire for the coveted title, which is mathematically still up for grabs at the Charlotte Half-Mile finale next month. With four Main Event victories and four top-five finishes in his first season with the team, Whale continues to build on his solid platform aboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION for the next two seasons.
Max Whale
“I am so pumped to sign a two-year extension with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team. I’ve been having an awesome time this year with my team, racking up victories and points! I’m excited for the next two years of my career with the crew.”
Australia finishes fourth in Team Speedway U21s
Three Australian speedway riders flew the national flag at the FIM Team Speedway Under 21 World Championship finale in Poland. Matthew Gilmore, Keynan Rew and Brayden McGuiness carried Australia’s hopes in Bydgoszcz, Poland, against some of the best speedway teams in the world, and missed out on a bronze medal by just a single point.
Team Poland won on home soil, Wiktor Lampart and Jakub Miśkowiak didn’t give any chance to their rivals. The podium was completed by the Danes and quite unexpectedly the British. The Team Junior World Championships final in Bydgoszcz was held in the format which fans know from Speedway of Nations.
Team Captain Matthew Gilmore
“It has been an konour to Captain “Team Australia” in the FIM Team Speedway U21 World Championship. It was great to ride along side Keynan and Brayden, we gave it our best and finished fourth in the world. Thanks go out to Aussie Team Manager Mark Lemon for all his organisation, advice and encouragement which was greatly appreciated by us Joeys. Thanks also to Motorcycling Australia for your ongoing support. To my sponsors, family, friends and followers that have supported me, thanks. It has been an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to represent Australia and I was fortunate to do so, Thanks again MGR. Craig Watson, GM Engines, Signworx Group, C4 Industries, LAR (Leigh Adams Racing), JTR, KLS Denmark, GM Australia, LKI Brand, Scott Brown Flooring & Chris Watson Motorcycles.”
Team Speedway U21s Results
I. Team Poland- 45 7. Jakub Miśkowiak – 21+3 (0,4,3*,3*,4,3*,4) 8. Wiktor Lampart – 24+2 (4,3*,4,4,3*,4,2) 18. Mateusz Cierniak – NS
II. Team Denmark – 35 3. Mads Hansen – 17+1 (4,4,d,-,4,2,3*) 4. Tim Soerensen – 7+1 (2,-,2,3*,w,-) 16. Marcus Birkemose – 11+1 (3*,4,4,0)
III. Team Great Britain – 27 9. Tom Brennan – 20 (4,2,4,2,4,4) 10. Drew Kemp – 5+1 (3*,0,2,-,-,d) 19. Leon Flint – 2 (0,2)
IV. Team Australia – 26 13. Matthew Gilmore – 9+1 (2,3*,0,2,2,0) 14. Keynan Rew – 17 (3,4,3,0,4,3) 21. Brayden McGuinness – NS
V. Team Czech Rep. – 23 5. Daniel Klima – 5 (-,-,3,0,-,2) 6. Jan Macek – 6 (3,0,-,-,0,3) 17. Petr Chlupac – 12 (2,2,2,3,3)
VI. Team Latvia – 22 1. Francis Gusts – 15 (3,4,4,4,w,0) 2. Ricards Ansviesulis – 0 (0,-,0,-,-,-) 15. Daniił Kołodinski – 7 (d,2,3,2)
VII. Team Sweden – 20 11. Philip Hellstroem-Baengs – 14 (2,t,t,3,4,3,2) 12. Alexander Woentin – 6 (0,2,-,2,2,-) 20. Jonatan Grahn – 0 (0,0)
Malcolm Steward joins Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team and Malcolm Stewart have inked a two-year deal to join the team’s 450 efforts in both AMA Supercross World Championship and AMA Pro Motocross racing. The 28-year-old Florida native will pilot the FC 450 Rockstar Edition for the 2022 and 2023 race seasons, beginning on January 8 with the Anaheim SX season opener.
Malcolm Stewart
“I’m really excited to have a full indoor/outdoor deal that’s sealed for two years. It’s definitely a great opportunity for me and I think there’s nothing but positive vibes coming from me. I’ve always wanted to ride one of these Husqvarna motorcycles, I’ve seen everybody in the past do very well on it. We’ve been putting in the work this summer. Having a new training program going with Aldon Baker, I know there’s going to be a lot of big changes for me but I’m looking forward to it all. I’ve seen the successes that have happened through The Baker’s Factory and I want to be a part of those people, so I feel that this is a good opportunity for me in these next two years to go out there and do the best that I can.”
Fresh off his best-career Supercross season with sixth overall in 2021, the 2016 250SX East Champion earned his first 450SX podium at the penultimate round in Salt Lake City before finishing the year out strong with a top-five result. Now, with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team behind him, Stewart looks to keep the momentum rolling as he prepares to attack both Supercross and Motocross for the first time since 2014.
“It’s been a while since I’ve done the outdoors but I feel like racing is racing – anytime the gate drops there’s no negative vibes and it’s always going to be a positive. You live and you learn something from it, so let’s just get ready because that #27 is going to be out there!”
Marvin Musquin extends KTM contract through 2022 SX season
Marvin Musquin has locked in a deal to remain with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team through the 2022 AMA Supercross Championship. Entering his 12th season with the U.S. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team in 2022, the French rider has become synonymous with the brand thanks to his top level of performance and commitment within the sport.
Enjoying success at the last two rounds of the 2021 AMA Supercross Championship, the 31-year-old has proven that he still has plenty to give as he charges full-steam ahead towards a career-first 450SX title come January.
Marvin Musquin
“I’m really happy to extend my contract for another year making 12 years racing in the U.S. and 14 years in total with the with the Red Bull KTM family! It’s no secret that everyone on the team is like family to me. It will be another fun challenge working with the new bike, which will be a lot more work but that’s exciting! I look forward to focusing my efforts on the Supercross series and to the Supercross schedule being back to normal starting back at Anaheim in January!”
2021 Speedway of Nations semi-finale squads confirmed
The national squads for the 2021 Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations have been revealed. The competition gets underway with the Semi-Finals at Latvian venue Daugavpils on September 17 and 18.
Poland face off against Sweden, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Finland, Slovenia and the USA in Semi-Final 1 on Friday, September 17, with hosts Latvia taking on MFR, Australia, Germany, France, Italy and the Ukraine in Semi-Final 2 on Saturday, September 18.
Each country must list a squad of two or three senior riders, plus one or two under-21s, before naming their final starting line-up next week, featuring two seniors and one under-21.
World champion Bartosz Zmarzlik has been named in Poland’s squad ahead of Semi-Final 1, with Maciej Janowski returning to the group after missing the 2020 tournament.
Last year’s under-21 star Dominik Kubera is handed a dream call-up to complete the list of seniors, having reached both Orlen Lublin FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland finals on a sensational SGP debut weekend last month.
Lublin star Wiktor Lampart and Czestochowa racer Jakub Miskowiak are Poland’s under-21 options as team manager Rafal Dobrucki names his first SON squad since taking charge of his country.
The Danes name SGP stars Leon Madsen and Anders Thomsen in their senior spots, along with European champion Mikkel Michelsen.
FIM Speedway Under-21 World Championship leader Mads Hansen and Jonas Seifert-Salk serve as their under-21s.
World No.3 Fredrik Lindgren leads the Swedish selections and he is joined by double Swedish champion Jacob Thorssell and 2021 Swedish Championship runner-up Pontus Aspgren.
Team manager Morgan Andersson names Philip Hellstrom-Bangs and Alexander Woentin as his under-21s.
Vaclav Milik leads the Czech list and he is joined by veteran Josef Franc and Prague prospect Daniel Klima. Anlas Czech SGP wild card Jan Kvech and Petr Chlupac are their under-21 options.
American shooting star Luke Becker is in the USA squad, alongside Broc Nicol and Dillon Ruml. Blake Borello and Anthony Dion are their under-21s.
Matic Ivacic leads the Slovenian line-up alongside former World Under-21 finalist Nick Skorja. Anze Grmek is their sole under-21 rider in a three-man squad.
The Finns select Timo Lahti, Tero Aarnio and Jesse Mustonen as their senior stars, with Timi Salonen and Roni Niemela their under-21s.
Hosts Latvia take to the shale in Semi-Final 2 on Saturday, September 18, with former European champion Andzejs Lebedevs named in their squad, alongside fellow 2021 GP Challenge finalist Jevgenijs Kostigovs and last year’s World Under-21 Final bronze medallist Olegs Mihailovs.
Current World Under-21 finalists Francis Gusts and Daniils Kolodinskis are their junior stars.
MFR are without their triple world title-winning pair Emil Sayfutdinov and Artem Laguta, with Sergei Logachev and Vladimir Borodulin representing the reigning champions.
Lublin rider Mark Karion is their sole under-21 as team manager Tatiana Savina names a three-man squad.
Australian team manager Mark Lemon has selected 2017 world champion Jason Doyle, along with SGP 2022 qualifier Max Fricke and Jack Holder. Young guns Keynan Rew and World Under-21 finalist Matthew Gilmore are in line for the under-21 position.
Former SGP regular Martin Smolinski and Kai Huckenbeck team up for Germany and they are joined by under-21 Nick Blodorn in a three-man squad.
The French select Masarna colleagues David Bellego and Dimitri Berge, with World Under-21 finalist Steven Goret named as their under-21 rider on a three-man list.
SGP first reserve Aleksandr Loktaev is nominated by the Ukraine alongside Vitalii Lisak and Stanislav Melnychuk. Their under-21 riders are Marko Levishyn and Andryi Rozaliuk.
The Italians complete the field for Semi-Final 2 and they name Nicolas Covatti, Paco Castagna and Nicolas Vicentin in their squad. Michele Menani is their sole under-21 selection.
The top two teams from each Semi-Final automatically join hosts Great Britain in the Monster Energy SON Final in Manchester on October 16 and 17.
The third and fourth-placed teams in both of the Daugavpils rounds will then compete in the Final Qualifier at the end of each night for the two remaining places in the Final, where the 2021 Monster Energy SON world champion will be crowned.
MONSTER ENERGY SON SEMI-FINAL SQUADS (in draw order): SEMI-FINAL 1 – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
TEAM A – USA
1. Broc Nicol
2. Luke Becker
3. Dillon Ruml
U21 1. Blake Borello
U21 2. Anthony Dion
Team Manager: Steve Evans
TEAM B – POLAND
1. Maciej Janowski
2. Dominik Kubera
3. Bartosz Zmarzlik
U21 1. Wiktor Lampart
U21 2. Jakub Miskowiak
Team Manager: Rafal Dobrucki
TEAM C – CZECH REPUBLIC
1. Vaclav Milik
2. Josef Franc
3. Daniel Klima
U21 1. Jan Kvech
U21 2. Petr Chlupac
Team Manager: Filip Sitera
TEAM D – DENMARK
1. Leon Madsen
2. Mikkel Michelsen
3. Anders Thomsen
U21 1. Mads Hansen
U21 2. Jonas Seifert-Salk
Team Manager: Hans Nielsen
TEAM E – SLOVENIA
1. Matic Ivacic
2. Nick Skorja
U21 1. Anze Grmek
Team Manager: Gregor Arnsek
TEAM F – SWEDEN
1. Fredrik Lindgren
2. Pontus Aspgren
3. Jacob Thorssell
U21 1. Philip Hellstrom-Bangs
U21 2. Alexander Woentin
Team Manager: Morgan Andersson
TEAM G – FINLAND
1. Timo Lahti
2. Tero Aarnio
3. Jesse Mustonen
U21 1. Timi Salonen
U21 2. Roni Niemela
Team Manager: Jyri Palomaki
SEMI-FINAL 2 – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
TEAM A – ITALY
1. Nicolas Covatti
2. Paco Castagna
3. Nicolas Vicentin
U21 1. Michele Menani
Team Manager: Alessandro Dalla Valle
TEAM B – AUSTRALIA
1. Jason Doyle
2. Max Fricke
3. Jack Holder
U21 1. Keynan Rew
U21 2. Matthew Gilmore
Team Manager: Mark Lemon
TEAM C – UKRAINE
1. Aleksandr Loktaev
2. Vitalii Lisak
3. Stanislav Melnychuk
U21 1. Marko Levishyn
U21 2. Andryi Rozaliuk
Team Manager: Sergey Lyatosinskyy
TEAM D – MFR
1. Sergei Logachev
2. Vladimir Borodulin
U21 1. Mark Karion
Team Manager: Tatiana Savina
TEAM E – LATVIA
1. Andzejs Lebedevs
2. Jevgenijs Kostigovs
3. Olegs Mihailovs
U21 1. Francis Gusts
U21 2. Daniils Kolodinskis
Team Manager: Vladimir Ribnikovs
TEAM F – GERMANY
1. Kai Huckenbeck
2. Martin Smolinski
U21 1. Nick Blodorn
Team Manager: Herbert Rudolph
TEAM G – FRANCE
1. David Bellego
2. Dimitri Berge
U21 1. Steven Goret
Team Manager: Laurent Sambarrey
Motoland teams up with Motorcycling Queensland
Queensland’s newest motocross destination, Motoland is teaming up with the state’s governing body for motorcycle sport and recreation – Motorcycling Queensland. In a first for motocross in Queensland and one of the first in Australia, a private entity will align with the state controlling body, and a local motocross club, to deliver a motocross destination – located at the historic Tivoli Raceway site near Ipswich.
The purpose of the alliance is to not only create an incredible facility for the benefit of south-east Queenslanders, but also to drive motocross participation and grass-roots competition in the region.
In addition to three brand new tracks, designed to cater for all skill levels, Motoland’s facilities off the track, promise to be the best in the region. The park will boast multiple raised viewing areas, quality toilets and amenities and a brand new cafe and retail space. Bailey reiterated, that at Motoland, the consumer experience off the track, will be as important as the one on it.
Details of Motoland’s operating times, pricing and booking information will be provided in the coming weeks, with an official open day expected to be announced for the early stages of October. To register for your chance to be one of the first to ride Motoland, go to www.motoland.com.au.
Toni Bou leaves Spanish TrialGP one-point off title
Repsol Honda Team rider Toni Bou rode to a fine victory in Pobladura de las Regueras, León, in the seventh round of the TrialGP World Championship.
The course of this seventh event of the elite trial competition played out over varied terrain with river areas offering little grip and indoor-style areas featuring logs and stones, with riders having to complete two laps of the twelve-section course.
Repsol Honda Team rider Toni Bou dominated the first of the double-date event in Pobladura de las Regueras with an excellent showing, finishing with a total of sixteen marks, twenty less than the nearest second-placed rider, arch rival Adam Raga. Bou continues to lead the overall TrialGP World Championship standings, currently fourteen points clear of the second-placed adversary.
Bou also won for the second day running in the trial at Pobladura de las Regueras, León, to secure a sixth win of the season. Bou increased his lead in the championship standings to 19 points. Fujinami finished seventh.
As had been expected, Toni Bou had to struggle somewhat at the trial in Pobladura de las Regueras today. Opponent Jaime Busto put the pressure on the champion and it wasn’t until the very final sections that the event swung in favour of the Repsol Honda Team rider. With the triumph, the sixth of the season, Toni Bou increases the gap at the head of the overall championship, now holding a 19-point lead over second-placed rider Adam Raga. Bou needs just a single point next Saturday to be crowned 2021TrialGP champion.
The final event of the 2021 Trial World Championship will be held next Saturday in Gouveia, Portugal. The following day, Sunday 19, the Trial of Nations is scheduled to take place in the same Portuguese town.
Toni Bou
“We battled hard throughout the trial. I made a mistake in section 8 and I knew that section 11 would be my last chance, I took a gamble and it worked out well. Winning in the final sections is an incredible feeling. I want to congratulate Jaime Busto because he was really strong, not just today but all weekend and I think this is very good for trial. There will be a great final battle with Adam Raga. This is very nice and adds more value to the wins. I’m 19 points ahead in the general standings, but before the last race in Portugal anything could happen. This week I will have to be careful and for the final race we will have to be very focused so that we don’t have any mechanical issues or anything that could prevent us from winning the world championship.”
The 95th running of the International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) has come to an end, after the sixth day of competition saw Italy claim top honours after a week of dominant performances, that never saw them headed, despite tough competition from Team Spain.
Making it a memorable double for Italy, the host nation also topped the Junior World Trophy category, while the USA put the finishing touches to their incredible week-long performance to win in the Women’s World Trophy category.
Those results saw the three teams that have dominated this year’s event claim their respective class winning results.
Not needing to take any unneeded risks, Italy’s Andrea Verona (GASGAS), Davide Guarneri (Fantic), Thomas Oldrati (Honda), and Matteo Cavallo (TM) finally finished four minutes and forty-one seconds ahead of second placed Spain after the final day of competition.
Andrea Verona
“I’m really happy with my week here at the Six Days, to take the win in E1, and the World Trophy title for my country feels amazing! I had a big fight all week with Josep (Garcia) for the overall, and although I only beat him overall on one day, we both pushed each other really hard, and I think that definitely increased our pace over the whole event and improved our skills. My bike has been perfect, so much fun to race. It’s been an incredible event for the Italian teams, claiming both the World Trophy and the Junior Trophy shows the level that we’re at right now as a country, in enduro. It was so good to race at home in front of all the fans, they have been so supportive all through the event and to reward them with a result like this feels great.”
With strong final day results from Josep Garcia (KTM) and Jaume Betriu (KTM), Spain, like Italy ahead of them, put the finishing touches to a solid week-long performance.
Entering the event with hopes of claiming another World Trophy team win, the USA completed their week as the third fastest team, having not quite had the pace to challenge the two European squads ahead of them.
World Trophy Team Overall Results – Top 10 Teams
POS
TEAM
TOT
GAP
1
TEAM ITALY
12:55′ 23.02
–
2
TEAM SPAIN
13:00′ 04.48
4′ 41. 46
3
TEAM UNITED STATES
13:03′ 22.27
7′ 59. 25
4
TEAM SWEDEN
13:08′ 01.23
12′ 38. 21
5
TEAM PORTUGAL
13:32′ 03.62
36′ 40. 60
6
TEAM CZECH REPUBLIC
13:33′ 05.30
37′ 42. 28
7
TEAM CANADA
13:38′ 06.96
42′ 43. 94
8
TEAM BRAZIL
13:45′ 42.85
50′ 19. 83
9
TEAM BELGIUM
13:46′ 05.00
50′ 41. 98
10
TEAM GERMANY
13:47′ 01.41
51′ 38. 39
Junior World Trophy
Ending their winning Junior World Trophy campaign eight minutes and thirty-one seconds ahead of second-placed France, Italy’s Lorenzo Macoritto (TM), Manolo Morettini (KTM), and Matteo Pavoni (TM) delivered a dominant team performance.
Fast from the start of the event, and remaining that way day after day, despite the best efforts of France and Sweden, Italy did what they needed to do on day six and completed their amazing week.
Matteo Pavoni
“This week has been very good for me, and of course the team. I was able to start fast, which was very important. I like this terrain and that has helped me a lot. After the first few days I was more calm with my riding, no big risks. As a team we knew that we could produce a good result, and we have. We’ve had a lot of dust on some special tests this week, so taking no risks has been very important to our team the last few days. Today, we knew what we needed to do, and, well, it’s fantastic to win.”
With their World Trophy teammates enduring a rough week, France’s Junior World Trophy team kept themselves ahead of Sweden to secure a deserved runner-up result. With Italy, France, and Sweden, separated by less than ten minutes after more than thirteen hours of special test action, the three nations all did themselves proud.
Junior World Trophy Team Overall Results
POS
TEAM
TOT
GAP
1
TEAM ITALY
13:09′ 35.91
–
2
TEAM FRANCE
13:18′ 07.12
8′ 31. 21
3
TEAM SWEDEN
13:19′ 29.36
9′ 53. 45
4
TEAM CHILE
14:01′ 04.04
51′ 28. 13
5
TEAM CZECH REPUBLIC
14:07′ 28.73
57′ 52. 82
6
TEAM NORWAY
14:13′ 26.48
1: 03′ 50. 57
7
TEAM NETHERLANDS
14:26′ 57.41
1: 17′ 21. 50
8
TEAM GERMANY
14:30′ 12.58
1: 20′ 36. 67
9
TEAM BELGIUM
14:33′ 29.44
1: 23′ 53. 53
10
TEAM PORTUGAL
14:33′ 40.31
1: 24′ 04. 40
11
TEAM UNITED STATES
18:20′ 30.84
5: 10′ 54. 93
12
TEAM SPAIN
20:29′ 23.46
7: 19′ 47. 55
13
TEAM SWITZERLAND
21:55′ 46.30
8: 46′ 10. 39
14
TEAM FINLAND
22:48′ 35.47
9: 38′ 59. 56
Women’s World Trophy
In the Women’s Trophy, Team USA put the finishing touches to their dominant week-long performance to complete the 2021 ISDE just over fifteen minutes ahead of second-placed Great Britain.
Once again it was Brandy Richards (KTM) who stole the show, winning the women’s day six motocross race ahead of Spain’s Mireia Badia (GASGAS) and Rachel Gutish (Husqvarna) and in doing so completing her amazing week with a dominant victory.
Brandy Richards
“I’m absolutely stoked for myself and the team here in Italy. My goals coming here were to take the overall in the Women’s class and keep Team USA at the top of the Women’s World Trophy competition and I’ve done both. There are so many fast, skillful riders here so to be inside the top 100 overall is a massive achievement for me, also. It’s been a tough week, but with the tests not being too technical, the riding has suited me perfectly.”
With no World Trophy or Junior World Trophy teams representing Great Britain, GB’s women upheld national pride and did exactly what they needed to do during the final day’s motocross races and secured a deserved runner-up overall Women’s World Trophy result.
Despite eventual third place finishers Spain closing to within less than one minute of Nieve Holmes (GASGAS), Jane Daniels (Fantic), and Rosie Rowett (KTM), GB’s women held firm and took the runner-up spot.
Women’s World Trophy Overall Results
POS
TEAM
TOT
GAP
1
TEAM UNITED STATES
9:31′ 16.84
–
2
TEAM GREAT BRITAIN
9:46′ 19.47
15′ 02. 63
3
TEAM SPAIN
9:47′ 12.29
15′ 55. 45
4
TEAM PORTUGAL
10:03′ 38.49
32′ 21. 65
5
TEAM SWEDEN
10:26′ 47.23
55′ 30. 39
6
TEAM GERMANY
11:00′ 43.74
1: 29′ 26. 90
7
TEAM ITALY
11:15′ 36.73
1: 44′ 19. 89
8
TEAM FRANCE
12:55′ 22.09
3: 24′ 05. 25
Herlings and Vialle top MXGP of Turkey
The 2021 MXGP of Turkey ran over the weekend in Afyonkarahisar and saw Jeffrey Herlings take the overall win in the MXGP class, leaving Jorge Prado and Tim Gajser to battle over the remaining podium positions.
In MX2 it was Tom Vialle taking top honours, with Australia’s Jed Beaton finishing third after consistent 3-3 results, behind Maxime Renaux. Fellow Australian Todd Wilson was eighth, with an 11-7 result.
MXGP Race 1
After posting the fastest lap time in Time Practice, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado started the first race with the Fox Holeshot, as he led Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Glenn Coldenhoff, Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre and Standing Construct GasGas Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass.
Team HRC’s Tim Gajser and Jeffrey Herlings of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing were side by side on the opening lap and moments later both got around Jonass who dropped to sixth.
Herlings then caught onto the back of Coldenhoff and passed his fellow Dutchman as Gajser set out to do the same. But the Slovenian struggled for 10 laps behind Coldenhoff always coming short of making a pass.
Febvre remained all over Prado for the lead, as Gajser came under fire from Cairoli who got around the Honda rider to move into sixth. He then got around Coldenhoff too and was pushing to get closer to Jonass.
Gajser then caught back up with the 259 of Coldenhoff and passed him on lap 11, as JM Honda Racing’s Henry Jacobi got Brian Bogers of Standing Construct GasGas Factory Racing for eighth to solidify a top 10 result.
After spending the majority of the race in third, Herlings switched it up a gear and was on a charge to close in on Febvre and Prado. It did not take him long as he got Febvre on lap 13 and then just two laps later was in front of Prado.
Jonass started to challenge Febvre too and with three laps from the end of the race was able to get the job done. Herlings was the race winner, with Prado finishing second and Jonass third.
MXGP Race 2
In the second heat it was once again Prado with the Fox Holeshot as he led the race once again while Febvre, Gajser, Jonass and Cairoli followed behind. Herlings struggled further down the field as he passed Kevin Strijbos of Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha Racing for seventh position.
Herlings then continued to make progress as he got around Coldenhoff and set his sights on Cairoli, while Gajser charged past Febvre to move into second place.
The gap was then 1.366 seconds between Prado and Gajser, as the Slovenian was clear with his intentions of going for the win.
Jonass then had a big crash as he went off the track while battling with Cairoli for fourth, with the Latvian not finishing the race. Cairoli inherited his position as Herlings started to close in too.
Gajser then made another attempt to pass Prado and was able to secure the position and take over the lead on lap nine. Cairoli then caught onto the back wheel of Febvre as the pair traded positions a couple of times before the Italian was able to make it stick and take away third from the Kawasaki rider, as Herlings did the same.
Gajser then led by 2.877 seconds, as Prado was starting to feel the force of Cairoli and Herlings who were catching up fast. Cairoli and Prado had a couple of close calls before making contact, but both remained on the bikes. Eventually Cairoli crashed after, which allowed Herlings through.
With one lap to go, Herlings got his head down and got to work as he was able to pass Prado and secure the top step of the podium. Gajser was the race winner, with Herlings second and Prado third.
With a 1-2 result, Jeffrey Herlings was back on the top step, while Jorge Prado was forced to settle for second and Tim Gajser joining the pair in third. In terms of the championship standings, Gajser leads Prado by 13 points, while Febvre remains third a further four points behind.
Jeffrey Herlings – P1
“Definitely the first race was much easier because I was around fourth of fifth in the start and only had to pass a few guys. Both starts were off today and with the high altitude here we changed some things with the bike, but I think maybe we should go in a different direction. The start was pretty bad in the first race but then I managed to pass Glenn, Romain and Jorge and then it went pretty easy. Second race I was around tenth or twelfth, it was harder to get around the other guys, the last few laps were sketchy between Jorge and Tony as they were fighting for second position. Then Tony crashed right in front of me and then I managed to sneak past Jorge, but Tim was too far away for me to do anything about it. A 1-2 is good, we have some good racing and I look forward to it, I like the track but will definitely work on the starts and try some things. The arm is fine now, in Lommel it was very painful but in Latvia it was already much better, I still had a bit of pain but nothing crazy. I don’t know if you can ever be 100% but I am trying to be the best as I can because the competition is strong. If you look at the championship, the top five guys are really close.”
Jorge Prado – P2
“I think it was a great day. I got two good starts which makes things a lot easier. I led the most laps today so this gives me a confidence boost for Wednesday, the only thing is I was riding the same lines but when Jeffrey passed me in race one and Tim in the second one, I could see where I could improve. Physically I am feeling ok and I am getting better, the bike is working good. It was a pity on the last lap to be passed by Jeffrey, but hopefully on Wednesday we get some good results. There is still a lot of racing left, I need to take it race by race and stay within the top three, that is my goal, and get some race wins if I can. You don’t always get such a good field of riders because of injuries and other reasons but now everybody is ready to go racing so it is nice to race when everybody is fit.”
Tim Gajser – P3
“That was definitely two completely different races today, but I’m glad to have finished on a high note with that victory. In the first race I just got stuck behind another rider for too long and couldn’t find a rhythm. When I did get past, the front guys were too far in front so I couldn’t catch them. In race two, I got a better start and was in third early on. I quickly moved into second and then a few laps later I moved into first. Once I was there, I was able to pull away a bit and control the race until the chequered flag. Overall, it was good and I’m excited to come back on Wednesday and try and get the win here.”
Romain Febvre – P4
“This morning I had a good feeling on the track and I was happy with my third position behind the gate. The first moto I had a good start and tried several times to pass Prado but there were not so many lines to make the difference and I couldn’t really attack him. That helped Jeffrey to come back at me; when he passed me I looked at his lines but three laps from the end I made a small mistake and lost one position to finish fourth. My second start was again a good one; I was behind Prado but my feeling was not so good. I didn’t feel well and I was not at my best physically so I had to be content to secure another fourth position. It could have been better, but if we consider how I felt in the second race it could have been worse. Now I will rest to be ready for the next GP on Wednesday.”
Tony Cairoli – P5
“Overall I’m quite happy because the speed was good. I came back to 5th in the first moto after a bad start. We know that the start is so important on a track like this where it can be difficult to pass. I had good pace but couldn’t get higher than 5th. I was better at the beginning of the second moto and caught the leaders with Jorge and Tim. I was trying hard to overtake Jorge but it was pretty tough. At one moment I was really close but unfortunately when I jumped I saw someone had knocked some haybales into the track and there were in the middle of the way. I crashed pretty hard and lost two places, back to 5th. Not the best day but I’m not hurt and there is still a lot of racing ahead.”
Jeremy Seewer – P6
“As I mentioned in the preview, I am not where I want to be, so I just need to turn up and try and that’s all I can do. If I was better in Timed Practice, I would have had a better day because my starts were amazing today. I was just far outside. I think in both motos, I could have got for the holeshot if I would be on the inside. I lacked energy in the morning, and that was my disadvantage today, going to the gate in P.14. I made the most out of the situation, but in the second moto, the track was one-lined and super hard to pass. Under the circumstances, I collected good points, and I am still here and racing and not feeling too bad, so now I will take a couple of days rest, do some recovery and see where I can improve for Wednesday.”
Glenn Coldenhoff – P8
“My day started good. I got second in Timed Practice and felt good. The track was still very wet and I like those conditions. In the first moto, I got arm-pump on lap-2 and rode tight. It went from bad to worse. I started in third and ended up finishing eighth, which was not good. We tried to work on some things before the second moto. It definitely worked out better, and in the second race, I was feeling quite okay; I could keep the pace with the front guys, but then I made a small crash and I pushed really hard in the end, but the track is very one-lined. Everyone was taking this line which made it very difficult to make some passes.”
Pauls Jonass – P9
“It was a frustrating end to the day after such a good first moto. During the break in the calendar I improved my fitness even more as well as my speed on the bike and I really felt like that showed in race one. Fortunately, I’m ok after my big crash in race two. It was a wild one and I landed on asphalt, which is never good. Luckily, I just have some really bad bruising, so I’ll be back for more on Wednesday. I’ve no doubts about what I can do and I’m excited to be racing again in a few days.”
Brian Bogers – P10
“I have mixed feelings about today. I felt good on the bike and I had a good start in race one in seventh, but I was riding too stiff and making mistakes, so I dropped back to 11th. I had another good start in the second moto but in the first few corners I lost a lot of positions. After that though, my riding was much better and I moved up from 18th to 12th, so I was happy with that one. I think for Wednesday, if I can put the good starts and smooth riding together then I can be much higher in the results.”
MX2 Race 1
In the first MX2 race of the day, it was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle who grabbed the Fox Holeshot ahead of his fellow teammate Rene Hofer as well as Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton and Kay De Wolf, as well as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Mattia Guadagnini. While Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing MX2’s Maxime Renaux was further down the field in around eighth position.
Hofer then took over the lead from Vialle, as Renaux managed to find a way through on De Wolf to move into fifth. Vialle then got to work as he caught back up with his teammate and by lap four was back in the driving seat and leading the race.
Renaux then lost a spot to Honda 114 Motorsports’ Ruben Fernandez for a brief moment before getting back around the Spaniard, while Hofer was starting to come under pressure from Beaton and Guadagnini.
Though at the front of the field, Vialle continued to clock the fastest lap times of the race, as Thibault Benistant of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing MX2 and F&H Kawasaki Racing’s Mathys Boisrame battled for eighth.
Guadagnini finally managed to get around Beaton on lap eight and then five or six laps later was able to get Hofer to get into second. Hofer then faded off as both Beaton and Renaux got around the Austrian, while Fernandez dived down the inside of De Wolf for sixth.
In the end it was Vialle who won the race 5.988 seconds ahead of Guadagnini and Beaton who crossed the line in third.
Australia’s Wilson Todd finished 11th.
MX2 Race 2
In race two it was Renaux with a flying start, as he took the second Fox Holeshot of the day and led the way with Beaton second and Vialle third. Guadagnini got another strong start and so did Gianluca Facchetti of Team Beddini Racing KTM on his first outing with the new team.
Hofer then got around Fernandez for fifth as Vialle tried to get around Beaton, with the Australian quick to respond and claim back his second-place spot.
As Renaux stretched out his lead to 2.490 seconds, Beaton came under fire from Vialle once again, with the KTM rider finally making a pass stick on lap five. Vialle then set the fastest lap of the race as he began to close in on the race leader, Renaux. But Renaux stepped it up a gear himself to set the fastest lap of the race himself, with the two Frenchman clock fast times lap after lap.
While the battle for the win was well and truly on between Renaux and Vialle, Guadagnini was also not letting go of Beaton for third as he started to apply the pressure.
With just a couple of laps from the finish, Vialle went down as he was focused on passing Renaux which handed the Yamaha rider a victory, while Vialle was able to get back on his bike quickly and hold on to second as Beaton was able to keep Guadagnini at bay and finish the day with another third-place finish.
With a 1-2 result, Tom Vialle was on the top step of the podium while Maxime Renaux was forced to settle for second ahead of Jed Beaton in third, as he secured his second podium of 2021.
Wilson Todd moved into the top-10 in Race 2 to claim 7th.
Renaux continues to lead the MX2 championship, maintaining a healthy 37-point lead over Guadagnini who has gained a bit of breathing room to Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing MX2’s Jago Geerts who is a further 15 points adrift.
Tom Vialle – P1
“It’s really good to be back on top after the injury. The summer break was good because I could train and work on the bike also and now to be back is really good. I was happy in the morning to take pole position because it’s not a lot of times that I’ve taken the pole position which was pretty nice. I took two good starts and in the second race I pushed to come back but it was difficult to pass as there were not so many lines and Maxime was riding pretty good. I tried to give my best. For sure to win here is good and to stay here in Turkey is nice, I like the track and it will be a good race on Wednesday.”
Maxime Renaux – P2
“Was two completely different races today. I took two good stars, but in the first race I went too wide which allowed the other riders on the inside, so I had to fight my way through the pack and come back from eighth to fourth. I was riding a little bit stiff and was not happy with the riding. For the second race we changed some things on the bike, I was feeling much more comfortable and took the holeshot and then had the perfect race. For Wednesday I will look to improve on my lap times because it’s important to be on the inside here. I take it race by race, I want to win all the races if I can but it’s pretty hard and I need to think about the championship. I’m also trying to be more clever than before and avoid making stupid mistakes and keep control of the championship.”
Jed Beaton – P3
“It feels really good to be back on the podium. It had been a bit of an up and down year heading into the break so to get this podium and put together two strong races, it’s the perfect start to the second half of the season. I had to really dig deep in that second moto, withstanding pressure for pretty much the whole race, so that one felt really good. The team has been amazing as always and this result sets us up really well for Wednesday. My bike was awesome, my starts were perfect and now we can just focus on the motos in a few days’ time and get back up on the box again.”
Mattia Guadagnini – P4
“I was feeling really good today and my riding was strong because of my rhythm and the line choices. I was happy to finish 2nd in the first moto. My start wasn’t great in the second and I lost time at the beginning but then I spent so much time trying to pass Jed for 3rd. I couldn’t make it and was a bit disappointed to miss the podium but the important thing is that I felt fast and we’ll try to keep this for Wednesday where we’ll hope for even better results.”
Rene Hofer – P5
“In general it was a really good day. It was nice to finally lead some laps again. Unfortunately I suffered some arm-pump in the first moto but I came away with 5th which wasn’t that bad. My start wasn’t too hot in the second moto but I passed some riders right away and I stayed in 5th. My riding was actually really good in that second race so we can build from that for Wednesday.”
Jago Geerts – P6
“I had a difficult timed practice this morning. I felt much better in the races, but with the 18th gate-pick, it was difficult to get off the start. I had to come back from 15th or 16th to finish ninth in race one. That was already a big step in the right direction. I actually got a really good start in the second heat but got cross-rutted and nearly crashed, so I lost around four places there. I made some passes after that, which was better, but I definitely want to try to do better on Wednesday.”
Kay de Wolf – P7
“I’m really happy with today. Seventh overall is another solid result for me and despite making a few mistakes, I felt like I was riding really well and with a good flow. I actually twisted my ankle in race one so that was pretty painful, but we strapped it up for moto two and it was ok once the adrenaline took over. It was a pretty fun track today and I’m looking forward to Wednesday.”
Wilson Todd – P8
“The day wasn’t too bad. The track was OK with some good ruts but you needed a good start to run up front. I spun at the gate the first moto which left me just outside the top ten. The second start was better but I was just a little too far outside from my gate-pick at turn one and got pushed out so had to chase again.“
Honda still collecting results on track in Queensland and SA
Honda riders aren’t letting Covid restrictions get them down, with Metcalfe winning the South Australian Championship over the weekend, as Gibbs claimed second in the opening round of the Queensland Championships!
Mongrel Boots Honda Racing’s Brett Metcalfe also won the final round of the South Australian Championship convincingly. The likeable South Australian went undefeated in the five-round competition. Honda riders claimed the top three positions in the MX1 class. Metcalfe was extremely happy with his 2022 CRF450R.
Brett Metcalfe
“I had so much fun racing the South Australian Championships and its so cool to be doing it with my two boys. The new Honda is awesome and its great to see Honda sweep the podium with their CRF450R. Honda rider’s Mitch Norris rode well so did Siegah Ward. Its unfortunate Levi McManus couldn’t compete in the final round, but overall Honda dominated the SA titles.”
Terrafirma’s Honda rider Kirk Gibbs proved once again that he can win, but the overall eluded him as he finished third, first and second respectively in round 1 of the Queensland Championships to claim second overall. Three points separates him from first with one round remaining.
Kirk Gibbs
“I need to execute the first few laps better and I need to make my passes stick. The speed is there, and the bike is working great. When I piece it all together, I win but I am too inconsistent at the moment. I have a month to work on my weaknesses before round 2.”
Whilst racing is suspended in Victoria, Emma Milesevic leads the Victorian State women’s championship.
Yarrive Konsky – Team Director
“We are trying to compete in as many races as possible to keep everyone poised and ready. We continue to adapt to the ever-changing restrictions. We are positive national racing will resume before the end of the year and we want to make sure our riders are ready.”
QMX1 Round Results
Pos
Competitor
Total
R1
R2
R3
1
Todd WATERS
70
25
20
25
2
Kirk GIBBS
67
20
25
22
3
Aaron TANTI
52
18
14
20
4
Jai WALKER
47
13
16
18
5
Lochie LATIMER
47
16
15
16
6
Dean FERRIS
44
22
22
–
7
Luke REARDON
43
11
18
14
8
Luke ZIELINSKI
39
14
10
15
9
Joel EVANS
39
15
11
13
10
Luke WEAVER
35
12
13
10
11
Cody O’LOAN
30
10
9
11
12
Sam LARSEN
27
6
12
9
13
Navrin GROTHUES
26
8
6
12
14
Cody SCHAT
23
7
8
8
15
Kye ORCHARD
19
5
7
7
16
Jake VALINOTI
14
9
5
–
17
Benny STREETER
10
4
–
6
QMX2 Round Results
Pos
Competitor
Total
R1
R2
R3
1
Todd WATERS
72
25
22
25
2
Jesse DOBSON
69
22
25
22
3
Isaac FERGUSON
56
20
20
16
4
Jayce COSFORD
53
18
15
20
5
Levi ROGERS
50
14
18
18
6
Ricky LATIMER
46
16
16
14
7
Ryan ALEXANDERSON
44
15
14
15
8
Kobi WOLFF
36
13
13
10
9
Joel PHILLIPS
35
12
12
11
10
Brock FLYNN
27
9
10
8
11
Jake DUTHIE
27
11
9
7
12
Ryley FITZPATRICK
26
10
7
9
13
Jackson CAMILLERI
23
–
11
12
14
Zachary WATSON
21
–
8
13
15
Braeden KREBS
20
8
6
6
16
James WALTERS
17
7
5
5
17
Zane DORRELL
11
5
4
2
18
Laird ROUGHAN
10
6
–
4
19
Angus ROBERTSON
10
4
3
3
AFT next stop Springfield ST & Mile double header
A highlight of the 2021 season awaits as the American Flat Track prepares for a monumental Labor Day Weekend double-header at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, on September 3-5.
The weekend will kick off on Friday evening with the Springfield Short Track Doubleheader, which packs two complete rounds of the tightly fought AFT Singles championship into a single evening. And then Saturday and Sunday will see the big twins head over to the “World’s Fastest Mile” for the Springfield Mile I & II.
An epic by any measure, this year’s Progressive AFT weekend in Springfield has a bit of added meaning as it represents the end of an era. It will mark the final time the “Mile Master,” Bryan Smith (No. 4 Crosley/Howerton Motorsports Indian FTR750) competes at the Springfield Mile after recently announcing his intention to retire at the end of the season.
AFT Production Twinsalso returns to the venue where the class was originally introduced to the world at speed in 2018. An already wild AFT Singles title fight likewise has the potential for another titanic shift with two full points-paying rounds taking place in a single night during Friday’s Springfield Short Track Doubleheader.
Yamaha Day 2021 awards winners
Yamaha Day 2021 saw celebrations to mark the 66th birthday of Yamaha Motor Corporation, with Yamaha Music putting a RevStar RS702B Electric Guitar up for grabs.
Following careful deliberation, the Yamaha Motor Australia Board of Directors judged the entry by Elwyn Jordan as the one that stood out from the crowd and best captured the #UnitedByYamaha spirit.
Elwyn’s highly entertaining Instagram post revealed he’s been #UnitedByYamaha for more than 40 years. His story and pictorial walk down memory lane unveiled a long-time musician and motorcycle rider with a passion for guitars and two wheels – as long as they carry the Yamaha badge. Topped off with the hashtags #UnitedByYamaha and #YamahaDay2021, his competition entry caught the eye of the judges.
Elwyn Jordan
“I’m a huge fan of Yamaha, and I’m thrilled to have won the Yamaha Revstar Guitar. I bought my first Yamaha guitar in 1979 and loved the quality so much I’ve been adding more Yamaha’s to the collection ever since. Now I’m looking forward to adding the Revstar, it’s such a unique looking guitar.”
Elwyn said he has a range of Yamaha guitars in his collection including bass, electric and classical models. Also a keen motorcyclist, Elwyn purchased his first Yamaha motorbike way back in 1977 and has never looked back. “I’ve only owned Yamaha’s since – I love the quality and reliability.”
Also up for grabs in this year’s competition were two ShopYamaha gift vouchers. Rachel Ferlazzo claimed the $500 voucher, and Scott Wolfson the $200 voucher. Both winners will enjoy a shopping spree choosing from the huge range of products available at ShopYamaha.com.au
Here are the three #UnitedByYamaha competition winning entries for you to enjoy.
1st Prize: Elwyn Jordan
2nd Prize: Rachel Ferlazzo
3rd Prize: Scott Wolfson
Romain Febvre signs with Kawasaki until 2023
French rider, Romain Febvre, has signed a direct contract with KHI, the Kawasaki factory to compete in MXGP for 2022 and 2023. For Romain to conclude a two-year deal before the 2021 season has matured will allow him to concentrate on the current championship.
Romain Febvre
“It was very important for me to agree a deal to allow me to focus on the 2021 Championship and give my best efforts to my team. I am now one of the fastest guys in the Championship and I am looking forward to a new adventure and achieving great things on the factory Kawasaki. A two-year deal will allow me to plan and extend even further my abilities with the KX450. It already suits my style well in terms of the type of power delivery I like plus the narrow chassis suits my riding style and body positioning really well. Now I have the time and space to fine tune the package and continue the necessary training regime to achieve my goal, an MXGP world title for Kawasaki.”
Steve Guttridge – Kawasaki
“There is still work to do in this year’s championship and Romain and our team are pushing as hard as they can to get on the top step at every round and fighting for the title this season. We are super happy to have secured Romain to compete in MXGP and we hope that all Kawasaki fans worldwide will join us on this exciting journey. Now that we have announced this factory deal for the coming two years, we hope that Romain will be given the time, space and respect necessary now to focus on the job in hand.”
Josep Garcia extends KTM contract a further two-years
Josep Garcia has signed a two-year contract extension with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, which will see the former Enduro World Champion remain with the team through to the end of the 2023 season, riding the proven KTM 350 EXC-F in the FIM Enduro World Championship and the ISDE.
Josep Garcia
“I’m super happy to extend my contract with KTM for another two years. We have been working together since 2017 and I think it’s the best team to be in, plus I also have a great relationship with my mechanics, Ivan and Daniele. Signing for two more years means the team and I are free to focus on the racing and aim to be at the very top. Continuing with the KTM 350 EXC-F in EnduroGP helps to keep things consistent too, so I can really work on my riding. After that, I’m hoping to experience a few new disciplines and expand my horizons as my career continues!”
Fabio Farioli – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager
“We are very proud of everything we’ve achieved with Josep and we’re happy to be continuing our strong relationship with him for a further two years. Our main focus now is to compete for great results at the ISDE, and then turn our attention back to the FIM E2 and EnduroGP championship, which concludes in October. We’ll be giving our all as a team to fight for victory, and we’re looking forward to the future together.”
Hard Enduro next stop Poland’s HERO Challenge
The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship will soon gear up for the second half of the series, beginning with Poland’s HERO Challenge on September 11/12. Marking round six of this year’s championship chase, the extreme cross country race is set to welcome the world’s best Hard Enduro competitors, along with a host of passionate amateur warriors, as they do battle across two days in the Polish region of Dabrowa Górnicza.
Offering a real mix of challenges for competitors, racing begins with a qualifier on Saturday morning featuring motocross, enduro and superenduro elements, ensuring riders will work up a sweat. From there, the top 30 qualifiers line up in the nearby city centre for an evening SuperEnduro race. Under artificial lighting, an intense course is set to produce some exciting racing.
Returning to the Dabrowa Gornicza race circuit for Sunday, the business end of the weekend features a tough, physically demanding three-hour extreme cross country race. Laid out across a 15-kilometre loop, it will be an all-out action affair.
At the head of the standings Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler holds a narrow one-point lead over Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt. Sherco Factory Racing’s Wade Young and Mario Roman are also locked in a close battle for third. With three rounds remaining in this year’s title fight, there is a lot to gain at Poland’s HERO Challenge.
FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Standings
Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) – 54
Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) – 53
Wade Young (Sherco) – 40
Mario Roman (Sherco) – 37
Jonny Walker (Beta) – 34
Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) – 26
Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna) – 24
Michael Walkner (GASGAS) – 21
Teodor Kabakchiev (Husqvarna) – 19
Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) – 15
2021 AMA Speedway National Championship kicks off September
The AMA Speedway National Championship Series will take place with two of the three-round series being held in New York, followed by a final round in California in 2021.
Typically, the entire series has been held solely in California, where the sport has a large following and draws thousands of fans. By hosting rounds on both coasts this year, the goal is to further grow the popularity of the sport by reaching new fans and racers.
The series will determine which racer takes home an AMA National No. 1 plate and opens at Action Park East in Greene, New York on September 4. On September 5, the bar-to-bar action moves to Champion Speedway in Owego, New York.
The third and final round of the series will see racers travel to the West Coast on Sept. 25 to compete at Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn, Calif., where the AMA Speedway Championship No. 1 plate will be handed out.
Riders scheduled to highlight the New York field for the 2021 season include four-time Speedway Track Champion Len McBride; 2020 East Coast Points Champion Spencer Portararo; 2015 U.S. Open Champion Casey Donholt; and Veteran star Dave Oakden.
Riders from the California field include 10-time and current AMA U.S. National Champion Billy Janniro; Current FIM North American Final Champion Max Ruml; Former British League and USA World Team rider Gino Manzares; Former U.S. National Under 21 Champion and current U.S. Open Champion Austin Novratil; and the rising Northern California star, Blake Borello.
The 10-year British League Veteran David Meldrum from Florida will also be competing, as will Colorado’s Redmond Bohannon.
2021 AMA Speedway National Championship Calendar
Round
Location
Date
Round 1
Action Park East in Greene, N.Y.
September 4, 2021
Round 2
Champion Speedway in Owego, N.Y.
September 5, 2021
Round 3
Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn, Calif.
September 25, 2021
Artem Laguta wins Togliatti FIM Speedway Grand Prix
Home hero Artem Laguta celebrated writing his name in history by winning the first-ever Togliatti FIM Speedway Grand Prix to turn up the heat in the World Championship race on Saturday. Laguta topped the podium at the Anatoly Stepanov Stadium ahead of series leader Bartosz Zmarzlik, Danish champion Anders Thomsen and Emil Sayfutdinov as the Motorcycling Federation of Russia staged its first SGP event and the biggest speedway meeting in its history.
The Bolshoy Kamen-born racer cruised to the top of the heat score chart with 14 race points, but was on the verge of exiting the meeting in semi-final one until a mistake from Fredrik Lindgren allowed Laguta to overhaul the Swedish star for the all-important second place to join Sayfutdinov in the final.
He then kept his cool when it mattered most to make a fine start and triumph ahead of Zmarzlik, reducing the Pole’s lead at the SGP World Championship summit to just one point with three rounds to race. Laguta now has 138 points, with Zmarzlik just ahead on 139.
With Zmarzlik and Laguta almost inseparable in the championship chase, the Bydgoszcz-based star is expecting a close battle at the next round in Vojens, Denmark on September 11 and then a tense finish as the hunt for the sport’s biggest prize concludes with the eWinner Torun SGP of Poland double-header on October 1 and 2.
Artem Laguta
“I knew this meeting could be something special. Of course I want to win every single round and every single race. But winning in my home country – the first-ever Grand Prix here – is something special. It will go down in history and hopefully everyone will remember that the first-ever Togliatti SGP was won by me. I am pretty sure that even after Vojens it will be pretty tight. We want to do the best we can and Bartosz does too, so it’s a tough game. I am pretty sure Torun will decide everything. At 7am, we have to go to the airport and we are flying back to Poland to be ready for the Polish play-offs. We have some more goals in front of us, so we will take it step by step. There will be time for celebrations later for sure. Thank you Russia, thank you to my team and my sponsors. I am very happy. See you in Vojens.”
Runner-up Zmarzlik was content with his sixth straight top-two finish in an SGP round as he maintained top spot.
Bartosz Zmarzlik
“I am feeling good because I made my plan before Togliatti and second place is nice. I made the podium and I am really happy. I am feeling good on the bike and that’s the best thing for me. It’s important that I am feeling good this season in meeting after meeting. Congratulations to Artem and Anders. Thank you very much for your support and see you at the next round.”
Third-placed Thomsen was elated with a night he will never forget in Togliatti and cannot wait to line up in the Danish SGP sponsored by Ecco at the legendary Vojens Speedway Center in two weeks.
Anders Thomsen
“I feel amazing – my first podium and also my first final. What a feeling to get on the podium in such a big event and the first event here. Thank you to everybody. Vojens is my home track in Denmark and I have been performing pretty well there. I have won the Danish title there two times in a row now. I feel I have some engines, bikes and equipment working well there, so I am focused for the next Grand Prix.”
2021 Togliatti FIM Speedway Grand Prix results
Pos
Rider
Points
1
Artem Laguta
20
2
Bartosz Zmarzlik
18
3
Anders Thomsen
16
4
Emil Sayfutdinov
14
5
Fredrik Lindgren
12
6
Max Fricke
11
7
Leon Madsen
10
8
Tai Woffinden
9
9
Maciej Janowski
8
10
Jason Doyle
7
11
Aleksandr Loktaev
6
12
Matej Zagar
5
13
Vadim Tarasenko
4
14
Oliver Berntzon
3
15
Krzysztof Kasprzak
2
16
Robert Lambert
1
17
Renat Gafurov
0
18
Evgenii Saidullin
DNR
FIM Speedway GP Standings
Pos
Rider
Total
1
Bartosz Zmarzlik
139
2
Artem Laguta
138
3
Fredrik Lindgren
108
4
Emil Sayfutdinov
105
5
Maciej Janowski
91
6
Tai Woffinden
82
7
Leon Madsen
72
8
Max Fricke
70
9
Jason Doyle
68
10
Anders Thomsen
60
11
Robert Lambert
48
12
Martin Vaculik
45
13
Dominik Kubera
44
14
Matej Zagar
36
15
Oliver Berntzon
18
16
Krzysztof Kasprzak
18
17
Gleb Chugunov
8
18
Jan Kvech
7
19
Aleksandr Loktaev
6
20
Vadim Tarasenko
4
21
Pontus Aspgren
1
Toni Bou increases TrialGP lead in France
Repsol Honda Team rider Toni Bou came away from France having extended his lead at the head of the world championship after a win in the French town of Cahors.
After the twin trials in Andorra, the single-day sixth event of the 2021 Trial World Championship took place today in Cahors, France. The course turned out to be somewhat artificial, with some sections even resembling indoor, rather than natural ones.
Even in such conditions, Repsol Honda Team rider Toni Bou claimed the top honours in an almost flawless manner, completing the two laps of the 12 French sections with only three penalty marks in the first lap, ten less than the nearest second placed rider and main rival, Adam Raga.
The second lap of the Montesa Cota 4RT rider was impeccable, without so much as a single mistake. With today’s results Bou remains top of the overall TrialGP World Championship standings, 11 points off Raga with three races still to go.
Toni Bou
“I’m very happy with how the weekend went. It was a trial to not make mistakes and that’s how it turned out. One of the most complicated sections was section one, where we had to take a different line to the other riders and it went very well. I’m happy with the choice because it worked for us and it also helped me to gain confidence. I want to thank the team who did a great job. We had problems in Andorra, this week too and everyone has worked very hard day and night to solve them, so today’s victory is a great prize for everyone. We are still in the lead, that’s important, but it’s even more important to get back the good feelings on the bike.”
Repsol Honda Team team-mate Takahisa Fujinami did not get off to the best of starts, struggling on the first lap, but on the second he was able to pull back, to eventually finish in fifth position with the same score as the fourth-placed rider, but only thirty seconds behind. With this result “Fujigas” remains fifth in the overall standings.
Next stop for the TrialGP World Championship will be in Pobladura de las Regueras, Spain, on 11th and 12th September with the double-date format.
2021 French TrialGP Cahors results
Pos.
Rider
Nation
L1
L2
Points
1
BOU Toni
SPA
0
3
3
2
RAGA Adam
SPA
11
2
13
3
BUSTO Jaime
SPA
12
2
14
4
GELABERT Miquel
SPA
11
17
28
5
FUJINAMI Takahisa
JPN
20
8
28
6
GRATTAROLA Matteo
ITA
14
17
31
7
CASALES Jorge
SPA
16
17
33
8
MARCELLI Gabriel
SPA
24
10
34
9
BINCAZ Benoit
FRA
25
12
37
10
FAJARDO Jeroni
SPA
21
22
43
2021 TrialGP Standings
Pos.
Rider
Team
Points
1
BOU Toni
Repsol Honda Team
112
2
RAGA Adam
TRRS Factory Team
101
3
GRATTAROLA Matteo
Beta Factory Racing
79
4
BUSTO Jaime
Vertigo Factory Team
75
5
FUJINAMI Takahisa
Repsol Honda Team
69
6
GELABERT Miquel
Gas Gas
66
7
FAJARDO Jeroni
Sherco Factory Team
55
8
MARCELLI Gabriel
Montesa Factory
53
9
CASALES Jorge
Gas Gas Factory Team
34
10
BINCAZ Benoit
Beta Factory Racing
20
11
PEACE Dan
Sherco Factory Team
20
12
COLAIRO Téo
Beta
5
Jack Dance wins Trial125 Championship in France
Finishing the 2021 FIM Trial125 World Championship exactly as he started it – winning – Jack Dance put the finishing touches to his highly impressive 125cc world championship campaign, claiming victory at the TrialGP of France. In doing so he secured the Trial125 World Championship title.
Jack Dance
“It’s an amazing feeling to be the Trial125 World Champion. It’s been a tough season, staying on top was hard, but my mum, dad, brother, and the whole GASGAS team have been there to support me so that has been a big help. Today I just concentrated on riding trial like I know how and didn’t think about becoming a world champion, because otherwise the pressure would have been too much. It was an amazing feeling coming out of section 12. I wanted to come and win today, not just to secure the championship but because it’s an awesome feeling for the team and my family.”
Arriving at the final round of the Trial125 championship at the head of the class standings, Jack put in a champion’s performance in France, completing the event’s opening lap with the loss of just one mark.
Remaining cool, calm, and collected throughout the all-important second lap, in dropping only four marks he ended the day with just five marks lost, 10 clear of his nearest challenger Guadi Vall. Jack’s win, added to his two other victories and two runner-up day results earlier in the series, saw him win the Trial125 title in style, 18 points ahead of runner-up Harry Hemingway.
Trial125 Standings – Top 3
Pos
Rider
Man.
Total
1
Jack Dance
GASGAS
94
2
Harry Hemingway
Beta
76
3
Harry Turner
Scorpa
72
Conondale Classic 2021 run and won
The Conondale Classic ran over the weekend, with Zak Brown taking the twin in the Pro Class, from James Deakin and Tomas Kruger.
Jacob Dank won the Period 20 125 class, with Riley Lee runner up and Jacob Day third. In the Period 20 250s it was Adam Martin winning all three races, ahead of Riley Lee and Justin Ryan. Riley Lee meanwhile won the Pre 20 263+ class, ahead of Christopher Bangay and Shane Briese-Marshall.
In the Pre 90 125/Pre 95 250 races, Jacob Dank was the winner with three wins, from Matthew Roeder and Tomas Kruger. James Deakin won all three Pre 90 250/Women races, ahead of Riley Lee and Brett Bellairs. James Deakin and Zak Brown battled for the Pre 90 263+/Pre 95 125 race wins, with Deakin coming out in front.
Harry Sorensen won the Evo/Pre 95 263+ class, while Justin Ryan and Riley Lee completed the podium. Peter Baguley topped the Pre 85/Pre 95 4 stroke overall, ahead of Tomas Kruger and Justin Ryan. In the 125 GP it was Jacob Dank on top.
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