First-career MXGP win boosts Seewer into title contention
Section: Competition
Husqvarna team 1-2 in MX2 at Lombardia from Olsen and Beaton.
Image: Supplied.
A maiden victory in the MXGP of Lombardia has boosted Jeremy Seewer into title contention, as Thomas Kjer Olsen and moto two winner Jed Beaton delivered a Husqvarna 1-2 in MX2.
Seewer won the first moto of the day ahead of Red Bull KTM duo Jorge Prado and Antonio Cairoli, later earning third in moto two to clinch the round.
The second moto was taken out by world champion Tim Gajser (Team HRC), who was eighth in moto one, from Glenn Coldenhoff (Standing Construct GasGas) and Seewer. Overall it was Seewer, Coldenhoff and Prado on the podium.
Seewer had initially crossed the finish in sixth, but penalties were applied to Prado, Prado, Gautier Paulin (Monster Energy Yamaha) and Romain Febvre (Monster Energy Kawasaki) for ‘not respecting a waved yellow flag’.
Australian Mitch Evans (Team HRC) was 13th overall at Mantova after he recorded 18-9 results. He struggled to get out of the gate in both races and crashed in the first turn of moto one, but will look to rebound on Wednesday.
Defending champion Gajser leads the point-standings following the ninth round of the season, now four points clear of nine-time world champion Cairoli, with Seewer a further 11 behind following his victory on Sunday.
Image: Supplied.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna teammates Olsen and Beaton were first and second overall in MX2, with consistent results of 4-2 sealing the round for Olsen.
Beaton took seventh in the opening moto, but quickly worked his way into the lead during moto two and managed to keep Ben Watson (Monster Energy Yamaha) at bay for his first-career race victory. Watson completed the round podium in P3.
Of the other Australians in the field, Bailey Malkiewicz went 10-23 for 15th overall, with Team Honda 114 Motorsports teammate Nathan Crawford credited 21st overall after scoring points for 16th in moto two.
Moto one was won by world championship leader Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM), but he had a troubled second outing for 14th and ended up seventh overall. Still, he leads the standings by 30 points.
The 2020 MXGP World Championship will continue this Wednesday, 30 September, with the MXGP of Citta di Mantova, which will mark the second of three rounds at the Italian circuit this week.
Statement ride from Osborne with pivotal WW Ranch sweep
Section: Competition
Another 250MX double for Ferrandis at WW Motocross Park.
Image: Octopi Media.
450MX red plate-holder Zach Osborne has captured the most critical win of his Lucas Oil Pro Motocross career at WW Ranch with a spectacular 1-1 result.
A convincing effort from Osborne in the opening 450MX moto saw him strike in the final five minutes, moving by both Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) and Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) to go on and win by 2.733s.
It was Cianciarulo and Sexton who were up front throughout much of the moto, with the latter applying pressure and attempting a pass at halfway, but Cianciarulo remained composed.
Few anticipated the attack of Osborne, however, elevating his pace and going on to make a statement with the win over the rookie, Cianciarulo and a late move from Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM) saw him take Sexton – who appeared to go down on the final lap – for P3 despite a heavy practice crash earlier.
Finishing fifth was Justin Barcia (Monster Energy Yamaha), followed by Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki), Blake Baggett (Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS), Joey Savatgy (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki), Fredrik Noren (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki) and Christian Craig (Team Honda HRC).
Osborne made it a perfect round in Jacksonville by getting out front by halfway and winning with a 4.201s margin, but not before he had to fend off a late surge from defending champion Tomac.
It was initially Cianciarulo who led the way until he and Musquin made contact, which allowed the Frenchman to take his turn at the front. It was soon Osborne who charged past, however, and that is where he would remain in a brilliant way to bounce back from his troubles of a week ago.
Behind Osborne and Tomac, Musquin settled into third position, in front of Max Anstie (HEP Motorsports Suzuki), Sexton, Baggett, Cianciarulo, Noren, Savatgy and Craig. After a strong start, Barcia went down while in P2 on the opening lap, forced to pit for repairs and eventually working his way back into the points for 13th.
The overall podium saw Osborne joined by Musquin and Tomac, which has allowed Osborne to stretch his series lead out to 29 points over Cianciarulo – fourth today – and another point in front of Musquin with two rounds left to run.
Image: Octopi Media.
Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrandis took one step closer toward the 250MX crown with another 1-1 sweep at WW Motocross Park.
There was no halting Ferrandis on his way to the victory in 250MX moto one, hitting the lead by lap three and then controlling his advantage at the front for an eventual 9.655s victory.
Behind him, Australian teenager Jett Lawrence (Geico Honda) sliced his way through the chasing pack for second, taking points from teammate Jeremy Martin (Geico Honda) in third.
Martin benefited from a late error of RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) to earn that final place on the podium, ahead of Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) and Alex Martin (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki).
Positions six through 10 were Hunter Lawrence (Geico Honda), Shane McElrath (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) after claiming the holeshot, Jo Shimoda (Geico Honda), Cameron McAdoo (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) and Carson Mumford (Geico Honda).
It was another commanding ride from Ferrandis in the second moto, scoring a clean-sweep for the second round in a row with a dominant 15.304s buffer to early leader Cooper in second.
A late pass from Jeremy Martin saw him climb to third, getting the better of McElrath in the final laps, with Jett Lawrence working his was into fifth, but just short of the overall podium once again.
P6 was a great way to rebound for Hampshire, as Alex Martin – after tangling with brother Jeremy and going down – was seventh, McAdoo eighth, Brandon Hartranft (TLD Red Bull KTM) ninth and Shimoda 10th. Hunter Lawrence went out with a mechanical.
Overall for the round, Ferrandis stood atop the podium over Cooper in his first top three of the season and Jeremy Martin took third. Ferrandis now has a 13-point lead in the standings with two rounds remaining.
Next on the schedule is the Thunder Valley national in Colorado, next Saturday, 3 October, for the penultimate round of the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.
Mad Skills Motocross 2’s vurbmoto Flash Jam begins
Section: GeneralPost: MotoOnline
New in-game event within Mad Skills Motocross 2 for iOS and Android.
Image: Supplied.
Swedish mobile game developer Turborilla has announced the start of the vurbmoto Flash Jam, a new in-game event within Mad Skills Motocross 2 for iOS and Android.
The game has been a part of global motocross culture for years now and close to 150,000 people still pick it up to get their laps in every single day.
More than 50 million people across the globe have installed Mad Skills Motocross 2. The vurbmoto Flash Jam is a seven-day event open to anybody, for free. Each day is a separate round with its own track, designed by the top track builders in the game.
Players get 24 hours to set the best time they can on each track. At the end of each round, times will be uploaded to vurbmoto.com and converted into points and there will be a points-paying series in which players compete. For more details on how this works, check out vurbmoto.com.
There will also be cool in-game prizes every day—players must simply log 100 attempts on each track to unlock the day’s prize. Mad Skills has invited Thor’s Hallman Racing brand into the event to make things extra legit and add a bit of retro flavor. Here are the in-game items that can be unlocked for free:
Image: Supplied.
Day 1 (21 SEP): vurbmoto Reboot Gear Day 2 (22 SEP): Hallman Tapd Gear Day 3 (23 SEP): vurbmoto Viva Helmet Day 4 (24 SEP): Hallman McCoy Helmet Day 5 (25 SEP): Hallman Ringer Gear Day 6 (26 SEP): vurbmoto Platinum Helmet Day 7 (27 SEP): vurbmoto Galaxy Gear
In conjunction with the vurbmoto Flash Jam, Mad Skills Motocross 2 is releasing the first new bike in the game in more than a year. Bike 13 is a modern 500cc two-stroke monster that produces as much power as even the best players can handle. It can be unlocked for free with a series of in-game achievements or purchased outright. There’s even a vintage skin available for Bike 13 in the in-game shop.
Image: Supplied.
Finally, the Turborilla crew will be running a daily live video feed of their Turborilla Show, where they will break down each day’s track. Today’s episode, which starts at 5:00pm EST (Tuesday, 7:00am AEST), features none other than Star Racing Yamaha’s Justin Cooper.
Cooper also happens to be one of the fastest Mad Skills Motocross 2 players in the world and he’ll demonstrate how it’s done while taking fan questions, so it’s a unique opportunity to talk to one of the top young riders in the sport.
Now is the time to dust off those old boots, install or update Mad Skills Motocross 2 and pop some wheelies in the biggest mobile motocross game of all time. Visit www.madskillsmx.com to get started.
Consistent Cairoli takes charge with Emilia Romagna MXGP overall
Section: Competition
Vialle makes it another perfect weekend for KTM as Beaton scores podium.
Image: Supplied.
Nine-time world champion Antonio Cairoli is back atop the MXGP standings after a consistent 2-2 score earned him the overall at the Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna.
The third round in a row at Faenza, Red Bull KTM’s Cairoli stood on top of the podium alongside Tim Gajser (Team HRC) and Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM).
It was rookie standout Prado who won the opening moto from Cairoli and Jeremy Seewer (Monster Energy Yamaha), before defending champion Gajser topped moto two over Cairoli and Romain Febvre (Monster Energy Kawasaki). Gajser’s 5-1 score placed him second for the round, ahead of Prado’s 1-6 results.
Australian Mitch Evans (Team HRC) also continued to show signs of improvement over the weekend, qualifying fourth and then finishing fourth in the first moto, followed by eighth in moto two for sixth overall.
With former red plate-holder Jeffrey Herlings (Red Bull KTM) sidelined, Cairoli is the new points-leader, now seven points ahead of Gajser as the fight for the 2020 championship intensifies mid-season.
Image: Supplied.
MX2 championship leader Tom Vialle made it another sweep for Red Bull KTM in Italy after being tied on points with title rival Jago Geerts (Monster Energy Yamaha).
Geerts won the first moto of the day ahead of Vialle and Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), before Vialle turned the tables on Geerts in moto two, with Jed Beaton (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) third.
A 4-3 for Beaton saw him stand on the podium alongside Vialle and Geerts in third overall, with Vialle still leading the standings by 21 points over Geerts.
Of the remaining Australians in the field, Team Honda 114 Motorsports riders Nathan Crawford and Bailey Malkiewicz were ranked 11th and 17th overall.
The 2020 MXGP World Championship will now take one weekend off before resuming at Mantova, Italy, on 27 September for the first of three-straight events in another triple-header schedule.
Prado breaks through in Faenza MXGP as Herlings sidelined
Section: Competition
Red Bull KTM double with Vialle extending MX2 championship lead.
Image: Supplied.
It was a Red Bull KTM double at the MXGP of Faenza as Jorge Prado and Tom Vialle took victory, on a day that saw premier class series leader Jeffrey Herlings injured.
Herlings crashed during practice, taken to a nearby hospital for a precautionary MRI on his head and neck and to also examine some pain to his shoulder. He was conscious and had full feeling across his body.
It was Jeremy Seewer (Monster Energy Yamaha) who earned his first-career MXGP race win in the opening moto, before defending champion Tim Gajser (Team HRC) won the second encounter. It was a 2-2 score for rookie Prado that saw him top the grand prix overall, joined on the podium by Gajser (5-1) and Seewer (1-7).
The world championship is still led by Herlings, now 22 points ahead of Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM) – fourth overall at Faenza – and a further four ahead of Gajser.
Image: Supplied.
In MX2, current red plate-holder Vialle stretched his points-lead to 21 points after going 1-1 on Wednesday.
Vialle topped the round from Maxime Renaux (Yamaha SM Action M.C Migliori J1 Racing) and Thomas Kjer Olsen (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna).
Australian Mitch Evans (Team HRC) had his best ride since returning from injury with 9-4 finishes for seventh overall in MXGP. Meanwhile, in MX2, Jed Beaton (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) was fifth via P2 in moto two, plus Team Honda 114 Motorsports teammates Bailey Malkiewicz 19th and Nathan Crawford 21st.
The 2020 MXGP World Championship will continue with its third-straight round at the Italian Faenza circuit this Sunday, 13 September.
Monster Energy Kawasaki rookie Adam Cianciarulo broke through for his first 450MX round win of his career at round five of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, at RedBud today.
Current championship points’ leader Zach Osborne (Rockstar Husqvarna Factory Racing) enjoyed a day near the front of the field in both races to extend his championship lead, while Rocky Mountain ATV MC KTM racer Blake Baggett took the field by storm to win the second moto.
In the opening 450 race, an ecstatic Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo held off a hard charge from his team-mate and three-time champion Eli Tomac to claim his first-ever 450cc moto win in the opening premier class race.
Cianciarulo led from wire to wire and managed a relatively comfortable 2-3 second lead for most of the race before Tomac piled on late pressure.
Cianciarulo remained composed to take a hard-fought win, while Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin, who rebounded well from a hard pass from Justin Barcia (Monster Energy Yamaha) earlier in the race, rounded out the podium.
Osborne spent most of his race in second position, before losing spots to a hard-charging Tomac and Musquin late in the moto.
Barcia finished fifth, while Baggett placed sixth, ahead of Joey Savatgy (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing), Broc Tickle (Monster Energy Yamaha), Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC), and Christian Craig (Team Honda HRC).
In the second moto, Cianciarulo again enjoyed a perfect jump out of the blocks and took off at the front of the pack, while behind him, Tomac, Barcia and Sexton were caught in a second-turn pile-up that left Tomac restarting from dead last.
Seperate errors in the same corner from Marvin Musquin and Joey Savagty saw Baggett jump from fifth to third behind Cianciarulo and Osborne and he took off after the frontrunners.
While enjoying a four-second lead at the midway point, Cianciaculo ran into the back lapped rider at the bottom of an off-camber turn and went down, allowing Osborne and Baggett both past.
Late in the race Baggett closed in on Osborne and made a clever pass for the lead, then checked out, leading by 13 seconds by the time he got to the checkered flag.
Behind him, Osborne took a content second, Cianciarulo third, Musquin fourth and Tickle fifth. Christian Craig, Tomac, Savatgy, Sexton, and Barca finished out the top 10 positions.
Image: Octopi Media
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire posted consistent 2-3 results to win his second overall of the year at an action-packed round five of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at RedBud, MI.
Despite a day of mixed fortunes that saw him finish fourth overall, championship leader Jeremy Martin (Geico Honda) has retained the championship lead heading into his home race at Millville.
Despite everything, Martin only gave up three points to his closest rival, Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha).
Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Shane McElrath won a drama-filled opening 250MX moto.
Teammates McElrath and Ty Masterpool spearheaded the pack through the first turn, while Martin and Ferrandis found themselves outside the top 10.
Ferrandis hunted down Martin, but at the midway mark both riders went down after Ferrandis tried to squeeze past entering the left-hander at the bottom of Larocco’s Leap.
The Frenchman remounted quickly, and, despite another high-side crash several laps later, would finish fifth. Martin however, failed to move forward and finished 11th.
Up front, Hampshire jumped to the lead after passing McElrath then capitalising on a mistake from leader Masterpool.
With two laps to go Hampshire also made a mistake and allowed McElrath back past for the lead and eventual win, while Australian teenager Jett Lawrence (Geico Honda) applied the pressure all the way to the checkered flag for a career-best third.
Masterpool and Ferrandis rounded out the top five, while Harrison, Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha), Alex Martin (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki), Stilez Robertson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) and Brandon Hartranft (TLD Red Bull KTM) completed the top 10 placings.
Australian Hunter Lawrence (Geico Honda) crossed the line in 12th.
In the second moto, Martin rebounded to claim the win by a comfortable eight seconds.
Off the gate it was again Ty Masterpool who secured his second holeshot of the day, with Martin in second and Hampshire in third.
Ferrandis experienced a horror mid-pack start and had to grind his way through the field on his way to second place and second overall for the day.
A desperate last-lap pass on RJ Hampshire saw him gain a handful of championship points over Martin, while Mitchell Harrison (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) finished fourth and Justin Cooper fifth.
Rounding out the top 10 was Jo Shimoda (Geico Honda), Cameron McAdoo (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), Jett Lawrence, Alex Martin and moto 1 winner Shane McElrath.
Hunter Lawrence crashed into Hartranft early in the race, and had to retreat to the pits so the team could straighten out a bent gear shifter. He eventually finished 26th.
The sixth round of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will be held at Millville MN on September 19.
Italian MXGP win the 90th-career grand prix victory of Herlings
Section: Competition
Yamaha’s Renaux breaks through for first-ever overall in MX2 category.
Image: Supplied.
Red Bull KTM’s Jeffrey Herlings took victory in the MXGP of Italy on Sunday, the first of three-straight world championship rounds at the Monte Coralli circuit in Faenza.
Herlings swept the round with 1-1 results to extend his lead in the standings, topping Jeremy Seewer (Monster Energy Yamaha) and Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM) in both motos.
Australia’s Mitch Evans continues to make progress, the Team HRC rider going 9-7 for eighth overall and his second top 10 result in a row while recovering from shoulder surgery.
It is Herlings who continues to lead the championship by 60 points over Cairoli, with defending champion Tim Gajser (Team HRC) third after finishing sixth overall on the weekend.
Image: Supplied.
In MX2, it was Maxime Renaux (Yamaha SM Action M.C Migliori J1 Racing) who earned his first-career world championship round win.
Renaux split the moto victories with Jago Geerts (Monster Energy Yamaha), however, his 2-1 results were stronger than the 1-3 scorecard of Geerts. Completing the overall podium was Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM).
After finishing sixth in both motos, Jed Beaton (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) carded fifth overall for the weekend, with countrymen Bailey Malkiewicz (Team Honda 114 Motorsports) 20th and his teammate Nathan Crawford 22nd.
It is still red plate-holder Vialle who leads the championship by a small margin, three points ahead of Geerts, with Renaux third, but 61 points outside of Vialle.
The 2020 MXGP World Championship will continue this Wednesday, 9 September, as the second of three rounds to be held in succession at the Faenza venue.
Osborne extends 450MX advantage with RedBud 1 sweep
Section: Competition
Perfect score at fourth round earns Martin 250MX points-lead.
Image: Octopi Media.
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship leader Zach Osborne has extended his 450MX advantage after claiming a dominant clean-sweep at RedBud 1 on Friday.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Osborne led from start to finish in a pivotal first 450MX moto, getting out front early and maintaining a slim advantage at the front.
Osborne topped Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM) by 1.912s, with rookie Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) earning a top three result in P3.
Defending champion Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) recovered from ninth on lap one to fourth ahead of teammate Adam Cianciarulo, who went down while in second on the opening lap.
Finishing seventh was Justin Barcia (Monster Energy Yamaha), moving by Christian Craig (Team Honda HRC) – who was in podium position early – on the final lap, while Broc Tickle (Monster Energy Yamaha), Joey Savatgy (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki) and Blake Baggett (Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS) were the top 10.
There was disappointment for Fredrik Noren, the factory Suzuki rider starting inside the top five, but forced out with a bike problem soon afterwards.
Osborne was unstoppable this afternoon in the first of two-straight rounds at RedBud, sprinting toictory in the second outing for what was his first-career 450MX sweep.
Behind him, Barcia was 2.647s in arrears as he got the better of Cianciarulo for position, with Sexton fourth and Tomac losing ground in fifth. Scoring strong results in positions six through 10th was Musquin, top qualifier Baggett, Craig, Tickle and Noren.
Overall for the round, Osborne made it three wins from four to date in 2020, joined on the podium by Sexton and Barcia.
Osborne leads the championship by 26 points from Barcia, which will reach the halfway point on Monday, 7 September, with round five of the season at RedBud 2.
Image: Octopi Media.
Geico Honda’s Jeremy Martin has taken the 250MX red plates in the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship following a clean-sweep at RedBud 1.
The opening moto of 250MX was won by Martin as he collected his second in a row, following on from Ironman a week ago, working his way into the lead on lap 10.
He would go on to win by 4.843s over RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) and Ty Masterpool (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha), who led more than half of the moto after pulling the holeshot.
Masterpool was able to keep Jett Lawrence (Geico Honda) at bay, with Cameron McAdoo (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) filling the top five.
Positions six through 10 included Alex Martin (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki), Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha), Shane McElrath (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha), Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) and the returning Darian Sanayei (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), who had been inside the top three early.
Ferrandis went down on the opening lap, again forced into damage limitation mode by charging back up the order to seventh at the conclusion of the moto.
Making it a 1-1 for his second round win in a row, Martin increased the pressure on Ferrandis in the race for this championship by taking the red plates in the process. Martin stalked McElrath through the opening portion of the race before striking just prior to halfway and then going on to win by 4.815s, with Ferrandis charging to third.
The latter climbed through the order to steal a podium from a gritty Alex Martin on the final lap, followed by Hampshire, Cooper, McAdoo, Jett Lawrence, Brandon Hartranft (TLD Red Bull KTM) and Hunter Lawrence (Geico Honda) in a season-best result.
Overall, Jeremy Martin stood atop the podium from Hampshire and McElrath, with Martin now leading the standings by 12 points ahead of Ferrandis – P4 today – entering round five of the 2020 championship at RedBud 2 on Monday, 7 September.
Limited to only 400 units and due to arrive in-store this December.
Image: Supplied.
Yamaha Motor Australia will release a unique ‘Aussie Edition’ WR450F for 2021 as a tribute to the model’s importance in the domestic market.
The exclusive model will be limited to 400 units, featuring custom graphics with a kangaroo motif and a range of locally-sourced accessories.
Since its release in 1998, Yamaha’s WR450F has dominated the retail charts and earned the title of Australia’s favourite motorcycle – a fact that Yamaha Motor Corporation has both recognised and appreciated.
With its winning combination of high performance, precise handling, bulletproof reliability and ADR compliance, the WR450F appeals to Australia’s large contingent of off-road riders. Australia sells more WR450Fs than any other territory in the world.
“The retail success we have enjoyed with this model is down to a number of factors,” explained Matthew Ferry, Yamaha Motor Australia national sales and marketing manager. “First of all, we have a big brown land covered in fast, flowing trails that is perfectly suited to this model.
“Plus, since its inception, both Aussies and Kiwis have been instrumental in the development of this model, so you can say that the WR450F is a machine created for our unique conditions. Now it is gratifying to see the factory recognise the importance of this model for our market with the release of the limited Aussie Edition.”
The Aussie Edition model is based on the all-new 2021 Yamaha WR450F and each model is stamped with its own unique collector’s number. It has custom anodised aluminium radiator guards and bashplate, developed locally by Force Accessories. Fellow Aussie firm Barkbusters supplies the handguards and an Akrapovic muffler has been fitted.
Pricing is set at $17,099 ride-away, including 12 months registration, with availability due for December 2020. Visit www.yamaha-motor.com.au for further information on the 2021 Yamaha WR450F Aussie Edition.
Resurgent Tomac rebounds with Indiana Pro Motocross win
Section: Competition
Second-straight 250MX overall won by Martin at Ironman.
Image: Octopi Media.
Defending 450MX champion Eli Tomac delivered Monster Energy Kawasaki a first victory of the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Ironman Raceway.
Moto one was all about Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM) as he rode to his first win of the year, remaining composed despite pressure from Tomac throughout.
The race started with a freight-train of riders fighting inside the top five, with Musquin leading Tomac, Zach Osborne (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) and Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC).
A clash between points-leader Osborne and a lapped rider saw him drop behind Cianciarulo and Sexton, making another error soon afterwards and eventually finishing P7.
Up front, Musquin managed to hold on for the win over Tomac, who in turn was comfortably ahead of Cianciarulo and Sexton in battle, while Blake Baggett (Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS) completed the top five.
Sixth to 10th were Justin Barcia (Monster Energy Yamaha), Osborne, Dean Wilson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), Broc Tickle (Monster Energy Yamaha) and Fredrik Noren (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki).
A heavy fall in the opening turns saw Justin Bogle (Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS) escape injury for 34th, while a number of big-name non-finishers included Max Anstie (HEP Motorsports Suzuki) after late troubles while running eighth, as well as Jason Anderson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) and Joey Savatgy (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki).
A thrilling second 450MX moto saw Tomac rebound to capture his first win of the year, clinching him the overall in the process after fending off Barcia in the closing laps.
It was Osborne who took the hole-shot until Cianciarulo made a move soon afterwards and led all the way until within the final seven minutes when Tomac struck. Barcia soon followed him through and maintained pressure, but the difference remained at 1.103s at the finish despite a late charge.
Third was Osborne after Cianciarulo dropped from first to fourth, while Sexton ended up right there in fifth. Opening moto winner Musquin could only manage P6 this time out, joined in the top 10 by Baggett, Wilson, Savatgy and Tickle.
Anstie went down mid-moto and appeared injured, while Anderson didn’t line-up in race two due to pain in his previously-broken arm. Overall, Tomac won the round from Musquin and Cianciarulo. In the standings, Osborne leads, 13 points ahead of Musquin.
Image: Octopi Media.
Geico Honda’s Jeremy Martin has made it back-to-back 250MX round victories in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross after splitting the Ironman moto wins with Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha).
In moto one, a rare hole-shot saw Ferrandis lead from the outset and, from there, he was the dominant force, powering away to a 26.032s victory ahead of LL2 winner Martin.
First-time outdoor podium finisher Brandon Hartranft (TLD Red Bull KTM) scored P3, however, the race was spread out among the top five, with Jett Lawrence (Geico Honda) fourth and RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) fifth, who recovered from an early fall for position.
Top qualifier Shane McElrath (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) crossed the line in P6 and directly behind Hampshire, followed by Alex Martin (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki), Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha), Cameron McAdoo (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) and Derek Drake (TLD Red Bull KTM).
Lining up despite dislocating his shoulder last weekend, Hunter Lawrence (Geico Honda) managed to score points in 19th position.
There was carnage at the beginning of 250MX moto one as Ferrandis was involved in a first turn pile-up, which also saw McElrath and McAdoo go down.
Starting from the rear of the pack, Ferrandis sliced his way to third by race’s end, but it was moto winner Jeremy Martin who earned back-to-back round victories via his 2-1 scorecard.
Martin’s first race win of the year was 5.792s ahead of Cooper, with Ferrandis third following late moves on Hartranft and Jett Lawrence. Alex Martin claimed sixth ahead of Shimoda, Harrison, Carson Mumford (Geico Honda) and McElrath.
Hunter Lawrence improved for 11th this time out, as McAdoo could only climb to 15th and problems caused Hampshire to finish 17th. Overall, Martin stood on top of the podium from Ferrandis, with Hartranft completing the top three.
The 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will now travel to RedBud for the series’ first-ever double-header, round four scheduled for this Friday, 4 September, backed up by round five on Monday, 7 September.
