Over $8 million in contingency committed to 2021 Lucas Oil Pro MX
With a month remaining until the start of the 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, MX Sports Pro Racing has announced a record sum of manufacturer contingency support for the upcoming season. With the addition of American motocross’ seventh competing manufacturer, GASGAS, more than $8.3 million will be up for grabs for competitors over the course of the 12-round season.
2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
Davey Coombs – Vice President of MX Sports Pro Racing
“With a record amount of contingency support and the expansion of our field of competing manufacturers, it’s an exciting time in American motocross as we prepare for a new season. In the face of an extremely challenging past year our manufacturers have doubled down on their commitment to the sport, which will only serve to benefit the hundreds of competitors that will line up on the gate this summer. Manufacturers play arguably the most important role in elevating the global impact of not only our championship, but off-road motorcycling as a whole, and they continue to serve as invaluable partners in the ongoing legacy of American motocross.”
The 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship is anchored by the factory supported efforts of GASGAS, Honda, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki and Yamaha.
For GASGAS, the Spanish manufacturer that became an icon in motorcycle trials competition, its historic series debut will be spearheaded by the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS lineup of Justin Barcia in the 450 Class, along with Pierce Brown and Michael Mosiman in the 250 Class. GASGAS will become the 27th different manufacturer to contest the off-road motorcycle racing series.
2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
The 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship will once again consist of a 12-round schedule, beginning on Memorial Day Weekend with the season-opening Fox Raceway I National on May 29 from Southern California’s Fox Raceway.
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2021 AORC to broadcast on SBS on May 9
The Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship, presented by MXstore, (AORC) will make its historical TV debut with broadcast partner – SBS Australia – May 9, from 1.30-2.30pm.
The hour-long feature brings the racing action from the opening rounds of the 2021 AORC, held at Golden Beach, Victoria, straight into the lounge rooms of race fans around the country for the first time ever, showcasing the gruelling nature, triumphs, and challenges of the championship. Hosted by Kate Peck, renowned motorsport journalist and self-confessed ‘motorbike addict’, Peck joined the Golden Beach paddock to capture the ups and downs of the season’s opening races firsthand.
2021 AORC to broadcast on SBS on May 9
Dive into the behind-the-scenes stories of the AORC athletes with never-before-seen access, and watch the marquee rivalries of the championship unfold, pitting machine against machine and rider against rider in the fierce race for glory.
After the premiere, the AORC TV show will be available to view via the SBS on Demand Channel. Tune in on SBS from 1.30pm to 2.30pm, May 9, to be amongst the first to witness AORC in all its glory .
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Hard Enduro heads to Portugal for the Extreme XL Lagares
The wait is almost over, with just one week to go all roads lead to the inaugural round of the 2021 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, Extreme XL Lagares in Portugal.
Overcoming the restrictions of the ongoing Covid pandemic, the world’s best Hard Enduro athletes, together with a wealth of amateur and hobby riders, will compete for pride and glory across three demanding days of competition.
In a change to previous editions of Extreme XL Lagares due to public restrictions, the FIM World Championship category will compete in three events over two days with an Endurocross race and mountain time-trial Prologue on Saturday, followed by Sunday’s Main Race.
Non-championship riders will take to the Endurocross track on Friday, followed by the Saturday Prologue and join the World Championship competitors on the start line for Sunday’s action.
As the 2019 WESS Champion and 2020 Red Bull Romaniacs winner, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manual Lettenbichler naturally starts as one of the favourites for the top step of the podium. But despite previous podium results in Portugal, Lettenbichler has yet to truly master the rigorous rocks the region is famed for, so will 2021 be his year to triumph?
Sherco Factory Racing will be a formidable force this season, their sights very much set on success. In 2019 Mario Roman stole the show with a phenomenal ride to victory. Demonstrating a perfect mix of speed and technical ability, the Spaniard turned up the heat in the closing stages to win and will be aiming high again this year. Teammate Wade Young is a past winner of the race, in 2017, and finished as runner-up in 2019. A fan of the terrain, he’ll also be pushing for nothing less than victory too.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing boast a trio of Hard Enduro talent. Billy Bolt, Alfredo Gomez and Hard Enduro legend Graham Jarvis have all won in Portugal before, with Jarvis holding the all-time win record over Gomez. The potential for a podium-sweep can’t be ruled out with these guys.
Jonny Walker will make one of the most anticipated team debuts in Portugal with Vision Track Beta. After a decade on KTM machinery, Walker made a jump to Beta Motorcycles during the winter and Extreme XL Lagares will be his first serious outing in new colours. Vastly experienced and hungry to impress, Walker is an obvious threat for podium honours.
GASGAS Factory Racing debut their two-rider outfit of Taddy Blazusiak and Michael Walkner. A true mix of experience and youth, Blazusiak will come out swinging while Walkner is keen to demonstrate that he is a young talent to watch out for.
Trece Racing Society will be a new crew to keep an eye on as Pol Tarres rolls out on Yamaha machinery for the first time in Hard Enduro. The Spaniard’s ability on a bike knows no bounds and he’s excited to show what his Yamaha is capable of when the going gets tough.
Changing colours for 2021, TTR Squadra Corse field a three-rider team of Travis Teasdale, Kevin Gallas and Azzalini Alessandro on GASGAS machinery and will be a privateer force to be reckoned with among the factory outfits.
Jarvis Husqvarna Racing – managed by Graham Jarvis – is also a new team to watch for in 2021. The team’s five riders include Bulgaria’s Teodor Kabakchiev and Britain’s Will Hoare, Jonathan Richardson, Sam Winterburn and Grant Churchward. Featuring a real mix of raw, young talent under the guidance of Graham, expect fireworks!
Add in a wealth of youngsters like Israel’s Suff Sella, Russia’s David Leonov, Germany’s Tim Apolle and Leon Hentschel plus South Africa’s Matt Green who have all signed up, and the countdown is firmly on to round one in Portugal.
In keeping with strict government Covid guidelines, coronavirus testing facilities will be available on site. Competitors will also be able to take a test before returning home. Spectator attendance is not permitted.
The opening round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship takes place at Extreme XL Lagares, Portugal on May 7-9.
FIM World Championship schedule
6 May
09:00 – 24:00: Technical and documental verifications. Covid Testing
12:00 – 24:00 – Bikes in Parc Ferme
8 May
08.00 – 12.00: Endurocross
16.00 – 18.00: Prologue
9 May
10.00: Main Race Start
17.30: Podium
Amateur Class schedule
6 May
09:00 – 24:00: Technical and documental verifications. Covid Testing
12:00 – 24:00 – Bikes in Parc Ferme
7 May
09.00 – 17.00: Endurocross
8 May
14.00 – 16.00: Prologue
9 May
10.00: Main Race Start
17.00: Podium
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Jonny Walker talks to switch to Beta for Hard Enduro
The biggest off-season rider team switch unquestionably came from Jonny Walker. After almost a decade with KTM, he shocked the Hard Enduro world with his change to Beta machinery.
Putting together his own team during the winter months, Vision Track Beta came to life. In what is sure to be the biggest test of his career, Jonny’s performance at round one – next week’s Extreme XL Lagares – will tell Jonny, his competitors, and the wider audience if the move was a successful one.
Jonny Walker
But, if one thing is certain, it’s clear that when Jonny’s got a spring back in his step, he’s a ferociously fast and competitive Hard Enduro racer…
With the opening round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship nearly here, have all the pieces of the puzzle, the building of Vision Track Beta, come together?
Jonny Walker: “I think we’re there now with everything. As ready as we can be for round one. All the brands and partners I’ve spoken with have come onboard to support me. We’ve put a lot of testing in and plenty of track laps. I’d like to have done a couple more races, but it’s not been possible. I’m just looking forward to getting started now.”
Has building your own team been a challenging and enjoyable process?
“Yes! I’ve always raced for a factory team, so as a professional rider I’ve never really seen it from the other side. The factory life is an ‘arrive and race’ sort of thing, but now I’m more hands on. I’ve total say in what I’m doing and the products I’m using on my bike. I’ve enjoyed the process of speaking with companies and brands directly too. There’s been lots of phone calls, lots of emailing, but it’s come together really well.”
You won the Endurocross race at Extreme XL Lagares in 2019. It would be pretty cool if you could win it again, first time out on the Beta!
“Yeah, that would be cool, but being successful in the main event is the priority. I do enjoy the multi-race format aspect of Extreme XL Lagares though. If you can win an individual event, it gives good exposure. It would be awesome to put Beta on the top step of the podium and a great way to start off the weekend!”
Jonny Walker
Unfortunately, there is no city prologue in Porto this year. That must be a bit of a relief after taking a swim there in 2019! But in all seriousness, will you miss that part of race?
“Yes, it is a shame not to have the prologue in Porto this year, but understandable too. It’s super cool and not just a highlight of Extreme XL Lagares, but of our sport because it’s so unique. I think my mechanic is the most relieved about it not taking place this year. He can stop googling ‘how to waterproof a 2-stroke!’. Like everyone, I hope the city prologue will be back for 2022.”
Looking ahead to the entire season, what races will play to your strengths?
“There’s been a lot of changes this offseason and so naturally Extreme XL Lagares is the biggest test to see how things have come together. Once those round one nerves and jitters are out of the way and we’re up and racing, I’ll settle into it better. Red Bull Erzbergrodeo and Red Bull Romaniacs are big favourites for me. I’m looking forward to them.”
Is it good to finally have an FIM Hard Enduro World Championship to race for, a series that brings all the iconic races together?
“It’s cool to be under the FIM umbrella. Hard Enduro is such a big scene now, so it’s good to be properly recognised with every other motorcycle championship out there. But Hard Enduro is different too. It’s special, unique and successful because amateur and hobby riders are such a big part of what we do. We’re all in it together, if you know what I mean. That’s why it’s become so popular. So as long as that element remains unchanged – it doesn’t become too elite, the tracks stay as they are, and the atmosphere stays cool – then who knows how much bigger things will get!”
Jonny Walker
Past form shows you know how to race for a championship title – leading WESS in 2018 and third in 2019. What is the key to maintaining that sort of consistency across a full season?
“Trying to be at the sharp end of the results every time you race is key for sure. As a rider I feel like I’ve got a strong all-round skill set. My speed is good and I’ve been trying to improve on the technical side of my riding as this championship is 100 per cent Hard Enduro focused. The goal is to win the title and become world champion. That’s what I’d love to do and what I’m aiming for. I feel like we can do it too if everything goes well and we get a little bit of luck along the way.”
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Skyler Howes joins Husqvarna Factory Racing from 2021
Skyler Howes has signed to the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team for a three-year contract. The 29-year-old will first compete on Husqvarna machinery at the Sonora Rally in Mexico in early May, before lining up at round one of the 2021 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship – the Rally Kazakhstan – in June.
Skyler Howes joins Husqvarna Factory Racing
Born in California, Howes grew up competing off-road, specifically desert racing, before turning his hand to rally in 2018. Contesting the Dakar Rally for the first time in 2019, the American admits he underestimated the iconic event, and despite showing great pace on the tough terrain he was forced to retire after dislocating his shoulder. Exceptional rides in both the 2020 and 2021 races saw the Utah resident finish inside the top 10 and as leading privateer – the highlight being an impressive fifth overall at this year’s event.
Now, looking ahead to the 2021 season, Howes will compete in a number of local North American races before focusing on the full FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship. Although he has some experience racing world championship events having previously competed in Morocco, Skyler plans on using the 2021 season to build his pace and experience on the varied terrain he’ll experience at each of the six championship races, while getting up to speed on his FR 450 Rally machine.
Skyler Howes
Howes and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team’s first FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship outing will be the Rally Kazakhstan on June 7-13.
Skyler Howes
“I am so excited to have signed for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team – it is something I have worked hard my whole life for. I started riding when I was just three years old and have raced offroad my entire life. I have only been racing rally for the past three years, and in order to be able to compete in the Dakar this year I had to sell everything I owned. I raced the Dakar for the first time in 2019, in Peru, and I have to be honest, it was a huge wake-up call. In 2020, I was able to sort a ride and, despite losing some time through the event, I was able to finish inside the top-10 and as top privateer. For this year it was a struggle financially to get to the start, but I knew I was capable of a really good result – I finished fifth, and as top privateer once again. Thankfully, my result got the attention of the factory teams and now it’s a dream come true to sign for Husqvarna Motorcycles – they have one of the best structures and set-ups in the paddock. One of the biggest things for me is the fact that I can now concentrate on my training 100 percent and hopefully take my riding and results to the next level. The goal for this year is to take in the world championship rounds and get as much experience as possible before January next year where the aim is to go on to challenge for the Dakar podium.”
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Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP & MX2 teams break cover
The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP & MX2 teams are looking fast and motivated as they set their sights on the first FIM Motocross World Championship gate-drop of the new season.
The team will line up with three popular names inside the premier class, MXGP. Jeremy Seewer will remain on the team for a third consecutive season (fourth with Yamaha) and will be joined under the awning by hot new recruits, Glenn Coldenhoff and Ben Watson.
Spearheading the outfit in 2021, five times silver medallist Seewer hopes to steer his YZ450FM to the top step of the podium.
Jeremy Seewer
“I’ve finished second in the world five times, two times in MX2, two times in MXGP and one time at the Junior World Championships and these are not bad stats, you know, but of course I want to win, and yes, I think I can! Usually, we race in 19 different countries and on different tracks, sand, hardpack, hot, cold, winter, summer, you know, so it’s such an open book. It just takes a lot, a lot, a lot and at the base, I think it’s hard work from everybody.”
Glenn Coldenhoff
“Yeah, I think there’s a lot of hard work, not only for myself, but I also think from the whole team. I think I was ready for a big change this year, which I actually did, and I really feel good already within the team. I feel like I have really good people around me, and the goal will always be to get the world title.”
While his teammates strive for more race and Grand Prix wins, 23-year-old rookie Ben Watson hopes to soak up their knowledge and experience as he gets set to get his feet wet.
Ben Watson
“For me it’s a really big opportunity, to join the Yamaha Factory MXGP team, and something I’m really grateful for because obviously the beginning of the season in MX2 last year, it wasn’t going really the way I wanted and the opportunities to show myself were coming less and less. Fortunately, at the end of the season I found myself and started to ride how I know I can, so it was definitely my time to take this step to the 450.”
Yamaha has a strong strategy to develop the next generation of MXGP champions from within its own ranks, and as Watson progresses up the Yamaha Racing pyramid, so too will young Yamaha stars Maxime Renaux and Thibault Benistant as they join title favourite Jago Geerts inside the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team for 2021.
Maxime Renaux
“It means a lot to me to become a Yamaha Factory Rider for the MX2 team. For sure, it was a goal. It’s the highest team in the MX2 class that we can have in Yamaha.”
It’s no secret that Yamaha is on the hunt for FIM Motocross World Championship glory as the riders aim to secure the MX2 Championship gold plate while defending Yamaha’s title as the MX2 Manufacturer of the Year.
Jago Geerts
“I will try to fight again for the world title. The benefits of staying in the same team for a couple years is you get to know the people very good and we made really some improvements with the bike this year, for sure suspension wise and setup of the bike… this year I really want to to get back on the top step of the podium. I want more moto wins, more GP wins, and to do better let’s say.”
Meanwhile, Benistant is enjoying the move from the GYTR kitted YZ250F to the fully-fledged Factory YZ250FM. The 18-year-old sets his sights on a promising rookie season.
Thibault Benistant
“Of course everything is a little bit different, the engine, suspension, everything is a little bit more strong and to be a rookie, I think I have a little bit less experience than the more older, but it’s similar because we have almost the same hours on the bike, just not in the same championship, in MX2 I won’t have pressure. I know what I need to do and I’m working for.”
The 2021 FIM Motocross MXGP and MX2 World Championships are expected to kick-off on the 13th of June in Orlyonok, Russia.
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Australian ProMX visits Canberra for Round 2
The 2021 Penrite ProMX Championship presented by AMX Superstores swept into Canberra over the weekend, marking Round Two of the series, with the Thor MX1, Pirelli MX2 and Maxxis MX3 joined by the bLU cRU YZ65 Cup for the first time in 2021.
Luke Clout tops the Australian ProMX Round 2
The Thor MX1 class saw Luke Clout reign victorious, but Regan Duffy retains the red plate after a consistent performance for third overall, tied on 40-points with Hayden Mellross.
Regan Duffy now leads the Thor MX1 standings on 85-points, to Todd Waters on 78, with Hayden Mellross completing the top-three, a further five-points in arrears. Luke Clout and Kirk Gibbs sit fourth and fifth, with sixth placed Brett Metcalfe tied on points with Gibbs.
Regan Duffy retains the MX1 lead
Todd Waters
“It was an interesting day out there. I qualified well and had a good first race, but the track baked out before the back-to-back races and I struggled with that hard-pack. It was an easy track to throw it away on and, with everyone being so close, I didn’t want that to happen. I rode within my capabilities and I’m happy to walk away with the points today – it’s certainly a lot better than crashing and getting 10ths. We might have lost a few points in the championship, but we’ll go back, regroup and look forward to Gillman.”
Todd Waters
Kirk Gibbs
“I am not there yet; I need to improve in some areas, and we have a plan. We proved today that we can win which is an important positive.”
Brett Metcalfe
“If this is my worst round its ok but I cannot afford another repeat of this weekend. I crashed last week, and I did not have the strength I needed to ride at my best. It was frustrating but we will bounce back for Gilman.”
Brett Metcalfe
Jayden Rykers
“Today was definitely a step forward in comparison to the first round and we took a lot out of this one. We’ve made some changes with the bike to suit me more and they’ve worked, although I’d still like to be up toward the front further! All in all, we had a consistent day and it’s more to build from.”
Pirelli MX2
Kyle Webster was untouchable in the Pirelli MX2 class, adding another two wins to his tally and continuing his winning streak – now four from four for the season. Noah Ferguson was second overall, ahead of Jay Wilson.
Kyle Webster
As a result Webster now sits on 100-points, with Rhys Budd second on 69, and Jesse Dobson is third overall on 67-points, one-point ahead of Jay Wilson.
Kyle Webster
“Being from Western Australia, I am considered more of a sand specialist so in the off-season I focused on improving my hard-pack skills. The team has really been putting in, we have been to Gilman twice in the past few months and I like the track. Whilst I have a decent point’s lead I can’t afford to let up. Gilman will be really important for the team and I am focused on getting maximum points there.”
Jay Wilson
“Today was a step in the right direction for me but there is still a lot of work to be done. At least this weekend I was in the battle and competitive unlike Wonthaggi where I just stunk. There is still more speed to come and some fitness at the end of the motos but things are heading in the right direction and with a four weeks until round three in Adelaide, hopefully I can make another step forward. Thanks to the team for a big effort in the lead up to the round and I’m looking forward to get more work under my belt before Adelaide and getting back to where I belong.”
Rhys Budd
“Overall, I’m pretty happy with how I rode today and race at a speed that would put me inside the top five. On the hand other, I need to put two motos together at each round and get as many points as I can in every race. The sixth place was good and I felt had I been able to get passed the rider in front of me quicker, I may have been able to move further forward. Race two was ugly as I was ran over a few times and ended up with a bike on me in that first turn crash. But I raced all the way to the end and was able to salvage as many points as I can.”
Rhys Budd
Maxxis MX3
Blake Fox went two for two in the Maxxis MX3 class, retaining the standings lead, with Ben Novak second overall and Ryder Kingsford third.
The standings are a similar story but saw a slightly different order, with Fox on 97-points, with Kingsford second and Novak third.
Ben Novak
“Second overall for the day is awesome and it’s a positive step forward. I came into round 1 injured so we have been following a plan which is working. We have spent time at Gilman training and testing. Our bike is working great, and I believe another 4 weeks on the bike will prove invaluable.”
Ben Novak
bLU cRU YZ65 Cup
The early bLU cRU YZ65 Cup leader is Heath Davy, who took the win, but is tied on 47-points with Peter Wolfe.
bLU cRU YZ65 Cup – Heath Davy
Paddy Lewis was third overall and currently sits on 38-points, two ahead of Dejan Sankovic. The overall standings are the same as this was Round 1 of the YZ65 Cup.
Manuel Lettenbichler prepared for 2021 Hard Enduro
Manuel Lettenbichler is hot property when it comes to Hard Enduro. The 2019 WESS Champion and two-time Red Bull Romaniacs winner has not only asserted himself as the rider to beat in recent seasons, at just 22 years of age he’s also risen to the top in a sport where experience is key.
Now, with all signs indicating that racing is firmly back on track, the German has got his sights set on rising to the top once again, this time in the inaugural season of FIM Hard Enduro World Championship competition.
Manuel Lettenbichler – Image by Future7Media
Eager to get back to business, and his winning ways, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing star is prepared, hungry for success, and ready to take each race as they come in 2021…
Manuel Lettenbichler “It’s cool to have the FIM involved in Hard Enduro, for the sport and all involved to receive more recognition. I guess it shows how far our sport has come since when my father started competing. It also brings new motivation for everyone, as well as some new riders and teams, which is always good. New interest in our sport is super important. I feel like it’s a natural progression, so it will be cool to see how the championship grows. I’m excited to get it started.
“For sure it’s been the strangest of years, so as a rider it’s nice to have Extreme XL Lagares as a milestone for returning to racing properly. Although I won the WESS title in 2019, I never got to defend it. But the Hard Enduro World Championship is different, so I don’t feel like there is a target on my back. I just want to race my bike and try to win, try to be on the podium. After the year we’ve had, I’m mostly excited about getting back to racing.
Manuel Lettenbichler’s Red Bull KTM – Image by Future7Media
“If it’s not fun, then it’s not for me. I’ve always tried to live that way and in particular apply that to my racing. I certainly have done that as I’ve been preparing for this season. Every time I put my helmet on the goal is to enjoy myself. I feel like when I do that the results take care of themselves. You can be more in the moment and not worry about pressure so much. I’m so lucky to get to race dirt bikes as a job, so by keeping it fun the work becomes easier!”
Manuel Lettenbichler further sharing, “Red Bull Erzbergrodeo is top of my ‘must win’ list. It’s the most famous race in the world for our sport and I dream of standing on top of the podium there. A lot needs to go right there because it’s so crazy. You need a good start to fight for the win. It’s like a sprint from the drop of the start flag. In Carl’s Dinner you want to stop – it’s mental and physical torture – but once you get out of that section there is pure relief because it’s over and you’re nearly home.
Manuel Lettenbichler – Image by Future7Media
“GetzenRodeo as the final round of the championship is like a carrot on a stick for me. It’s become such a special place for me – winning the race and the WESS Championship there in 2019 – so I’m stoked to have it on the calendar this year. Of course, we’ve a lot of racing to get through before then and I’ll be doing my best to be in a position where I can fight for the title on home soil in front of (fingers crossed) a home crowd.”
Manuel Lettenbichler Gallery
Images by Future7Media
Joining Lettenbichler in 2021 with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team is Spaniard Josep Garcia who has been waiting patiently for the EnduroGP series to start in Portugal, in mid-June. Armed with the potent KTM 350 EXC-F, Garcia is focused on returning to the series with a bang as he looks to add to the Enduro2 title he won back in 2017.
Josep Garcia Gallery
Images by Future7Media
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Mario Roman talks returning to the Extreme XL Lagares with Sherco
The last time Sherco Factory Racing’s Mario Roman raced at Extreme XL Lagares, he won. At the time, the experienced Spaniard’s victory came as a bit of a surprise to many, but in reality, it shouldn’t have.
With one of the most developed skill sets of all top Hard Enduro racers, Mario’s mix of Motocross, Enduro and Trial techniques is impressive. Above all, his ability to adapt and master the notoriously slippery, rocky Portuguese riverbeds that Lagares is famous for is arguably his biggest asset. His victory back in 2019 was ultimately a masterclass in technique, patience and above all confidence.
Mario Roman claimed the WESS Round 1 win at the Extreme XL Lagares back in 2019
Among the first to sign up for the newly formed FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, Mario is refreshed, focused and ready to rock at Extreme XL Lagares again…
Mario, you’ve been waiting a long time for a FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. What are your initial thoughts on the championship and races ahead this year?
Mario Roman: “It’s great news to have a world championship this year. I’ve been racing Hard Enduro since 2014 and have missed having a series like we do in classic enduro. Bringing it in line with the FIM puts us on the same level as MotoGP and MXGP with a world title to race for. I won the 125 Enduro world title in 2010, so if I could do it in Hard Enduro after so many years, that would be incredible!”
You travel the world with your training schools. At a grassroots level, how do you see the sport of Hard Enduro growing and will a world championship help it grow further?
Mario Roman: “I love the training and coaching schools I do. It helps me to travel to so many places around the world, like South America, Israel, and when travel restrictions ease, Australia. Getting to spend 1-on-1 time with amateur riders and pass on my experience is cool. In the beginning we mostly did Classic Enduro techniques, but now it’s changed. They want to know how to climb, ride boulders, to push and how to ride the Hard Enduro way. So, I see the sport developing a lot. Hopefully with a world championship behind it now it will bring opportunities and investment to young riders in these countries so they can come race with us too.”
Mario Roman – Spanish Hard Enduro 2021
You never got to defend your 2019 Extreme XL Lagares win last year. You must be looking forward to getting back on the start line for 2021?
Mario Roman: “Yes! Extreme XL Lagares is a special race for me. It’s only five hours from my home in Madrid and in the past many close family and friends came to support me. I’d been trying for a few years to win and finally it happened in 2019. Unfortunately, we didn’t race last year, but as the first round of the world championship it’s extra motivation to fight for the win again. Although we’ve had a long offseason, I feel like I’ve done my homework. I’m in tune with my Sherco and feel like my riding is in a good place. I’ll stay focused, make own race and hope that’s enough to deliver a big result.”
The region of Lagares has become like a second home to you. But what makes the terrain and technical river beds there so difficult to master?
Mario Roman: “What makes it so difficult is the rocks – they are always super slippery. If it’s dry it is much easier to ride – but it’s never dry at Lagares! If it rains during the night and then stops before the race then we’re in trouble because they become so greasy. The best situation is when it continues to rain, this way the rocks are washed clean all the time.”
2020 Red Bull Romaniacs – Mario Roman
For amateur riders, what top tips can you share to help them survive the main event on Sunday?
Mario Roman: “The three keys are fitness, bike setup and tyres. You need a good level of fitness to survive riding these mountains for five hours. But bike setup can help a lot. I set my Sherco low in the rear so I can put both feet down in the riverbeds at any time. This helps in deep water and prevents crashing. If you crash there and need to change a spark plug, you will lose a lot of time. Tyres and a good mousse are crucial too. I use a super soft compound to find that extra traction when I need it most.”
Along with Extreme XL Lagares, what races are you looking forward to most in the Hard Enduro World Championship, and why?
Mario Roman: “Honestly, the calendar looks great. Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, Hixpania Hard Enduro and Red Bull Romaniacs are my other favourites, but I’m keen to see what the race in Italy is like also. I think it’s the variety of racing I love. The Red Bull TKO final is 30 minutes, but Red Bull Romaniacs is like 40 hours in one week. And when I can spend time like that on my bike, I’m happy!”
Mario Roman
The opening round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship takes place at Extreme XL Lagares in Portugal on May 7-9.
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Pablo Quintanilla and Husqvarna part ways
Husqvarna Motorcycles have thanked and wished Pablo Quintanilla well in his future career, as well as for his commitment, enthusiasm and successes in his five seasons with the team, racing both the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship and the Dakar Rally.
Signing with Husqvarna Motorcycles prior to the 2016 Dakar Rally, Quintanilla immediately made his mark by claiming a stage win on his way to third overall. Later that year, the Chilean rider went on to top the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, clinching podium results in all four rounds.
Pablo Quintanilla at the Dakar 2021
Forced to retire from the 2017 Dakar, Pablo made up for his disappointment by successfully defending his world title, including a win at the challenging Atacama Rally on home soil – a race he has won no fewer than four times.
Runner-up in the world championship in 2018, Quintanilla went on to narrowly miss the podium at the 2019 Dakar by just seven minutes following over 42 hours of racing through the deserts of South America. With the remainder of his 2019 season plagued with injury, the 34-year-old came back fighting at the 2020 Dakar, claiming a runner-up finish – both his and Husqvarna Motorcycles’ best result at the tough event.
Pela Renet – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Rally Team Manager
“It’s never easy to part company with a rider that has been such an important part of our team for so many years, but in motorsport this happens. Pablo is a great rider and has contributed so much to Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing. Before working with Pablo as Team Manager we were teammates, so to have raced alongside him and then worked and supported him, it’s been very special. Personally, and on behalf of the team and everyone involved, I want to thank Pablo for his hard work and commitment and wish him all the best for the future.”
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AORC Nowra rescheduled for August
The Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship, presented by MXstore (AORC), will return to Nowra, NSW in 2021 for Rounds 7 and 8 of the Championship on August 28 and 29.
AORC 2021
The rounds scheduled for Nowra earlier this year were postponed due to severe weather which impacted the area causing extensive flooding of the track and pit area making it impossible for riders and teams to travel and participate in the event.
The Oyster Bay Motorcycle Club had done significant work in preparing for the original rounds and we know they will leave no stone unturned to ensure a sensational track is provided come August 28 and 29 for what will now be AORC Rounds 7 and 8.
The Championship has also received significant support from Shoalhaven City Council which ensures the event can provide a spectacular race weekend for both riders and fans of AORC.
Brayton to lead all new Muc-Off Honda Racing Team in AMA SX
Jonny Walker teams up with Beta Motorcycles in 2021
Ricky Brabec & Honda to defend Dakar crown in 2021
Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team set for Dakar campaign
Shakedown tests complete for KTM Dakar crew
New rules aimed at boosting Dakar safety
Dakar Rally 2021 schedule
Dakar Motorcycle Entry List 2021
2021 Racing Calendars
Inaugural e-FMX World Champion crowned
The Grand Final of the inaugural e-FMX World Championship produced the best gameplay to date with two new champions and the introduction of a brand new Night of the Jumps Best Trick level in TiMX : This is Motocross.
E-FMX World Championship Trophy
The Grand Final episode featured a three-way battle between the favourite for the series, Nitro World Games winner from Australia, Pat Bowden, who was up against the Spanish FMX Champion and TikTok MX star, Pedro Moreno and the young gun from the Czech Republic, Matej Cesak.
Pedro Moreno put together one of the best runs of the series in the final. After two weeks training since the Semi Finals, Pedro decided to utilise more variety in his run including the McMetz to Cliffhanger combo which was actually performed IRL by Dany Torres from Spain. Unfortunately variety alone wasn’t enough to advance further and Pedro finished the season in third position.
After 11 months out of action due to injury, Pat Bowden returned to his YZ250 only a week ago since his crash in January. However, after his first ride, Pat’s doctor scheduled him in for surgery immediately to remove the Lunate bone in the wrist and replace it with a prosthetic replacement! This all happened two-days before the final run of the game. Somehow, Pat managed to put together an incredibly good run inside TiMX, and the judges voted him to be in second position overall.
With the smoothest of runs, showing incredible variety, dexterity and difficulty in tricks both in real life and inside the game mechanics, Matej Cesak was crowned the first ever e-FMX World Champion by proving every week to be one of the best riders. Perhaps as the youngest in the final he had an advantage on the mobile game, but Matej’s win could not be disputed with such a smooth run and some tricks looking very similar to his style in real life!
Matej Cesak
For the win, Matej takes home $500 for winning the overall series from TiMX and Aussie Adrenaline, but also receiving an invite to compete at a real-world FMX competition at Night of the Jumps in 2021 and also 250,000 Gold Coins of in-game currency.
The first ever FMX eSport series became even more interesting in the final round, with a brand new discipline coming online only four days before the final with an all new FMX Best Trick competition mode inside the Night of the Jumps textured level.
With an invite open to all 16 players who had competed throughout the series and a couple of new riders, the Best Trick competition was on another level with a Roll-in set up to give the rider enough speed before the huge Moon Booter, the largest ramp built into the game, with riders able to try almost any trick imaginable!
There was so much variety from Josh Sheehan’s 720 to Taka Higashino’s Double Backflip California Roll 360 to Maikel Melero’s Quadruple Backflip with a Bike Flip (technically creating the only Quin Flip in the entire series!). However the win came down to the riders who showed variety, degree of difficulty and also innovation.
Tied for third place, was Matej Cesak and Pat Bowden. Matej with his Quadruple Backflip 360 California Roll and Pat with his Triple Backflip 360 with a Bike Flip. The runner-up for Best Trick was the Russian FMX Champion and Crowd Favourite, Nick Ivankov with his very innovative Backflip to Inside Roll (body varial) to Front Flip.
Pedro Moreno – Best Trick Winner – Image courtesy of Pedro Moreno FMX Instagram
The winner for the first ever e-FMX World Championship Best Trick competition was the Spanish FMX Champion, Pedro Moreno. Pulling a Quadruple Backflip including a 360 in the middle and holding the Cliffhanger on the final backflip rotation, Pedro showed an incredible use of game mechanics to produce the trick while stating that he “needs more fingers and hands to perform bigger tricks!”
Not only is the special Night of the Jumps track in the game for this competition series, it is also available for all players who have downloaded the game on iOS or Android platforms with the Gold VIP Membership. The NOTJ Track which was designed from the Berlin World Championship course looks almost identical to the real world and is available in the Early Access area for VIP Members with the option to become available as one of the divisions in the open game.
The e-FMX World Championship series could not have happened without the support of FC Moto. Aussie Adrenaline produced an incredible mobile game, and Night of the Jumps partnered with AA to create this all new eSport series in 2020 and into the future with all new projects.
Brayton to lead all new Muc-Off Honda Racing Team in AMA SX
Konsky Motorsport Group have announce Muc-Off as their new title sponsor for 2021. Muc-Off Honda, run by Australian Yarrive Konsky, will be competing in the premier division of the US world championship – the Monster Energy AMA Supercross as well as select European rounds during 2021.
Heading up the team is four times Australian SX champion and Daytona Supercross Winner veteran Justin Brayton, who will compete in the 450SX class on the new 2021 CRF 450R.
Brayton is considered to be the most consistent rider in the prolific series, finishing inside the top ten 12 times during the 2020 season. 2021 marks Brayton’s 18th year as a professional motocross/supercross racer. In 2018 he achieved a career best where he won the main event in Daytona onboard a CRF 450R and in 2012 he had his best overall championship finish – fourth.
Justin Brayton
“It’s super exciting to be working closely with Yarrive again for 2021, especially with him bringing an exciting new brand to the table. His passion and enthusiasm for this sport has been a positive influence on me. We have seen a lot of success in Australia, so I hope to relive this in the U.S supercross this year. I have been riding the new 2021 CRF 450R and I am feeling comfortable on it, testing has been great so now I just need to put it all together and focus on a strong and consistent season.”
Justin Brayton – Muc-Off Honda Racing Team
Mitchell Oldenburg will also be returning to the team in 2021 where he will be riding the CRF 250 alongside new teammate Mitchell Harrison. Harrison returns to the American Supercross Championship after a brief stint racing in the FIM World Motocross championship in the MX2 class.
Mitchell Oldenburg
“This is my third season with Yarrive and Honda and I feeling more ready than ever to go racing. Riding the same bike for a third season is an advantage as I am feeling so comfortable with the bike and I feel at home with the team. With Muc-Off as the new title sponsor, it has given me the motivation to show the world what I have got!”
Mitchell Oldenburg – Muc-Off Honda Racing Team
Mitchell Harrison
“When I got the call up to race for Muc-Off Honda, I was excited as I have only good things about their program. I went out to test the bike and immediately asked for the contract as it just felt right. The team is competitive and because of both Muc-Off and Honda coming in to support the team for 2021, I am committed to getting top results.”
The Supercross season gets underway at the NRG Stadium in Houston Texas on the 16th January 2021. This will be the first of three races in Houston.
Mitchell Harrison – Muc-Off Honda Racing Team
Yarrive Konsky – Team Owner
“I am really pleased that we can finally shout about our plans for 2021. It has been 4 months in the making, with a final push at the 11th hour to get to this point, but now we are here, I am keen to start seeing results. Working with Muc-Off as our new title sponsor for next year has been really refreshing. Their ethos and work ethic has been instrumental in getting us here and I am looking forward to seeing this relationship develop.”
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Jonny Walker teams up with Beta Motorcycles in 2021
Jonny Walker has signed with Beta in a Factory supported team to challenge for top honours in both the Super Enduro World Championship and the new FIM Extreme Championship in 2021, marking his first appearance on the Beta and along with existing support from worldwide brands Redbull, Leatt, GoPro, POD.
Jonny Walker joins Beta in 2021
Jonny Walker
“It is really exciting for me to undertake this new adventure, seeing the success that BETA has had in World Enduro championship over the years made my decision easy. Being able to carry on with my existing loyal sponsors is amazing and a credit to their vision and direction. I am really looking forward to working with new brands and helping them grow.”
Jonny Walker
Fabrizio Dini Factory Beta Team Manager
“Beta are extremely happy to support Jonny, he is for sure a very professional and strong world class rider. We are excited to work with him as we know that he is serious and professional about his business and the great results that will surely follow. Beta are also very happy that we are starting work as soon as possible and look forward to a good and successful season working together.”
Jonny Walker will compete the Super Enduro World Championship and the new FIM Extreme ChampionshipMoto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Ricky Brabec to defend Dakar crown in 2021
For the first time since the official Honda team returned to the Dakar Rally in 2013 after a 23-year absence, one of the team bikes will compete the event with the number one emblazoned on its fairings. The Monster Energy Honda Team will be seeking to replicate the feat achieved by Ricky Brabec last year, as they face a new goal and a new challenge.
Monster Energy Honda Rally Team – Dakar 2021
The Monster Energy Honda Team is already in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, sitting out the final hours of lockdown in the hotel, after the final COVID-19 testing, ahead of the day of scrutineering. The team is all set to do battle in the 2021 Dakar Rally in a bid to hold on to the title clinched last year by American Ricky Brabec.
Recent months have seen the team undergo very thorough pre-race preparations in order to arrive at the world’s toughest race in the best possible conditions.
Ricky Brabec – Monster Energy Honda Rally Team – Dakar 2021
Ricky Brabec
“We’ve finished the scrutineering and we are now looking forward to the prologue tomorrow. The whole team is ready. I’m ready as well. We will try and do our best to defend the number one. It’s not going to be easy. The target on our back is pretty big. But we are here and we can’t really say much right now. The race hasn’t even started. We’ll get back to you guys in a couple of days and let you know how things are going. That’s the goal – to defend the number one.”
Ricky Brabec, José Ignacio Cornejo, Kevin Benavides and Joan Barreda are the four factory riders lining up for the Monster Energy Honda Team, all having managed to finish the most recent edition of the Dakar. The squad arrives at the Dakar in top physical shape, hoping to relive the sensation of lifting the Dakar winner’s bronze Touareg prize.
José Ignacio Cornejo- Monster Energy Honda Rally Team – Dakar 2021
José Ignacio Cornejo
“I’m happy to be here to start another Dakar Rally, my sixth and fourth with HRC. I’m pleased, the team is solid and highly-motivated, eager to get out and have a good race. Tomorrow, we have the prologue and it will be important to make a solid start, with good pace and without making mistakes. It will be a good chance to get a feel for things ahead of stage one on Sunday. We will give it everything we can, as always.”
Gilles Lalay won the Dakar back in 1989 and no other Honda rider has since adorned the plaque until 2021. The American rider’s CRF450 Rally now proudly sports the winner’s decals. Ricky Brabec will be accompanied by three other top-class riders: Chilean José Ignacio Cornejo, fourth last year, who has proven to be a valuable asset, adapting well to the Saudi Arabian terrain.
Kevin Benavides- Monster Energy Honda Rally Team – Dakar 2021
Alongside will be Argentinean rider Kevin Benavides (#47), runner-up in 2018. He will be another rider aspiring to claim the overall victory and arrives on top form this year after a win at the Andalucia Rally. No introduction is necessary for Joan Barreda (#88). By now a Dakar rider of legendary status, having participated eleven times and the current competing rider with the highest number of stage wins under his belt – 24.
Kevin Benavides
“Everything is ready. The wait is over and I am very motivated to start this new Dakar Rally. I have trained a lot and I was able to win in the only race – the Andalucia Rally – that I competed in, which has made me far more motivated to arrive here in good shape. I am eager to start this Dakar, so let’s get the action underway!”
Joan Barreda
“Today we did the administrative and technical verifications and the truth is that everything went quite quickly because we had practically everything ready to go. Normally everything is slower and more laborious. Now we only need to start tomorrow at noon with the prologue where we can give it some throttle, which is what we all want.”
Joan Barreda- Monster Energy Honda Rally Team – Dakar 2021
The 2021 Dakar Rally begins on January 3 in Jeddah and is set to finish in the same Saudi Arabian city on the 15th of the same month after a total 7,649-kilometre trek, to include some 4,767 kilometres against the clock.
Ricky Brabec- Monster Energy Honda Rally Team – Dakar 2021
Ruben Faria – General Manager
“The bikes have been checked, the documents, too. Everything is done and we are ready to start the prologue tomorrow that will determine the starting order on the first day. It won’t be a very long special, but there will be some navigation and we hope it won’t be too complicated. It will be difficult for the riders as starting the Dakar is always an emotion-filled event. The idea is that they can do the best possible prologue. The goal is to reach January 15 on top sport and with all the bikes in the top ten, with some good feelings. There are many very good riders. Ours guys are good too and they are also in great shape. I’m confident the team to be able to produce a good result.”
The Monster Energy Honda Team at Dakar scrutineeringMoto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team set for Dakar campaign
In 2021, for the first time in history the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team will enter the Dakar Rally with five riders. Forming a formidable line-up of experienced, determined racers, all eyes will be on Adrien Van Beveren, Franco Caimi, Andrew Short, Ross Branch and Jamie McCanney as all five take on one of the world’s toughest off-road rally races in the new year.
Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team – Dakar 2021
With the opening stage of the 2021 Dakar Rally set to kick off, all members of the team are fully prepared for the upcoming challenge. Well aware of the demanding days that lay ahead, each rider heads to the start line with high hopes and with the experience needed to secure a strong result in the desert.
Leading the team is the experienced Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren. Fully focused on his dream of winning the Dakar Rally, after spending the early part of 2020 recovering from surgery, he more recently spent much of the autumn and early winter in Dubai, re-acquainting himself with the same desert conditions he will face this January. Currently feeling strong and riding as well as he’s ever done following a positive outing at the Hail Rally, Van Beveren is set to take on the Dakar Rally in arguably his best ever form.
Adrien Van Beveren
“Since my crash at Dakar in 2020 it took two surgeries before I could work on my full recovery. I had six months off the bike, but I now feel really good. I’m not deterred by my crash last year and I still dream of winning the Dakar. This has been my motivation to work hard and prepare myself for 2021. My training has gone really well and I have been in Dubai riding in the dunes for a while now, so I feel like I am back to my best. I managed to race the Hail Rally recently, which was a positive part of my training. With the race taking place on the same terrain as the Dakar it also included tricky navigation, so it was perfect for me to race there. My bike is good and I feel good, so I am really confident now and I can’t wait to go racing again.”
Adrien Van Beveren
Franco Caimi was a consistent threat for top five stage results throughout the 2020 Dakar Rally, with the 32-year-old ultimately placing eighth overall to match his career-best result from the 2017 edition. Since then, Franco returned home to his native Argentina and following a brief recovery period and time to reflect, he switched his attention to the 2021 edition. Now, with months of focused training under his belt, Caimi is confident in establishing himself as a title contender.
Franco Caimi
“I’ve been at home training in Argentina and my preparations have been going really well. I feel great on the bike and physically and mentally I’m ready to go racing. I’m confident for a good result in 2021. For sure I will be pushing for the win which would be amazing for me and the team and it’s what I have been working for. I’ve studied the schedule and the stages, and the new route looks really good with a lot of mixed terrain, so I’m positive for a good result at the Dakar.”
Franco Caimi
Since joining the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team in March 2020, Andrew Short has spent much of the year riding in the Nevada desert, becoming fully acquainted with his Yamaha WR450F Rally machine. Following months of training, he made his racing debut with the team at the Andalucia Rally in Spain where a positive result saw Short confidently adjust to his new team surroundings and further develop his bike set-up. Looking ahead, Andrew has drawn upon his experiences from previous Dakars to form a solid race strategy heading into the 2021 event as he looks forward to taking on the Dakar rally challenge.
Andrew Short
“It’s been a strange year with only one race since the last Dakar, so it’s not been normal that’s for sure. I raced the Andalucia Rally which was only a small race, but it was important as it was the first one for me on the Yamaha. It was good for me to ride the bike in a race environment but also work with the whole team and spend time with the whole crew. I’ve been training a lot in the Nevada desert, continuing to learn the bike and lately I’ve been working on getting back into the racing mindset. The Dakar is a race like no other and for 2021 I’ll be taking it day by day. You learn a lot every year and for me it will be important to know when to push and when not to. I can’t wait to start racing and hopefully by the end of 13 days in the desert we can come away with a solid result.”
Andrew Short
Much like his teammates Franco and Andrew, Ross Branch has spent much of 2020 training, clocking up countless miles on his Yamaha WR450F Rally in his Botswana homeland. Working on further improving his roadbook skills, and now armed with the full support of the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team, Ross is excited to race at the 43rd edition of the Dakar. With Branch looking to harness his raw speed to ensure consistently high stage results, the 34-year-old is aiming for a top 10 overall result.
Ross Branch
“My training and preparation for Dakar has gone amazingly well and I’m really excited for January 3 to get things started. I’ve spent a lot of time at home in Botswana on my Yamaha and focussed on my roadbook training. I’m really happy with everything and it’s not long until we can go racing. It’s a strong field for 2021 and I think there’s 20 riders that could win. I’ll be focussing on minimising mistakes and being consistent on every stage. I’m really thankful for the team giving me this opportunity to give the Dakar my best shot and I hope to repay them with a solid result inside the top 10.”
Ross Branch
The team’s youngest rider is 26 years old Jamie McCanney, who is well prepared for what will be his second Dakar Rally. Still very new to the discipline, the Manxman made his Dakar debut a little over a year ago, making positive steps as the event progressed. Towards the end of the two-week race, Jamie enjoyed some rapid progress, delivering his best on stage 11 with sixth overall – a result that helped push him up the leaderboard to 15th in the final classification. With valuable experience earned, and with more time spent working on the set-up of his Yamaha WR450F Rally, McCanney is confident of improving upon his debut result.
Jamie McCanney
“I’m really looking forward to the Dakar Rally. It’s a shame that we only got to race once since the last Dakar and I’ve not been able to ride sand dunes like I’ll experience in January. I’ve been preparing myself in different ways though, working hard on my roadbook skills especially. I’ve been doing as much as I can, riding a lot and I’m really happy with my bike. Throughout the year the team has been working hard and we’re much better prepared than last time, so I’m happy with where we are at ahead of racing again. My expectations are to take it day by day, step by step, but ultimately I want to enjoy my riding and improve upon my 15th place finish last year.”
Jamie McCanney
The 2021 Dakar Rally gets underway in the port city of Jeddah on January 3 and will cover more than 7500km before finishing in the same location on January 15.
Alexandre Kowalski – Yamaha Europe Off-Road Racing Manager
“For sure 2020 has been a challenging year but we are really looking forward to the Dakar Rally. It’s an exciting time for the team as it will be the first time in history that five official Yamaha riders will race in this event. With Adrien, Franco, Jamie, Ross, and Andrew, we have a very strong team. We were fortunate to race the Andalucia Rally in October with all riders present and that was really good practice and preparation for us. The team spirit is really strong and they have all been training hard. Because of travel restrictions they have had to make their final preparations alone, but they are all hard workers and know what they need to do. The bike for 2021 has a few minor changes, so in their final preparations the riders can fully-focus on their riding and roadbook training. For Dakar, there are new regulations, with the new safety air bag and especially with the number of rear tyres that each rider can use. Each rider can only use six in total so there is some race management that the riders need to think about and prepare for. There is a strong line-up of riders and our team is ready for the challenge. We’re excited to start racing.”
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Shakedown tests complete for KTM Dakar crew
Held in the Middle East for the second consecutive year, and celebrating its 43rd edition, this year’s Dakar Rally looks set to challenge all competitors from day one. Following the short 11km Prologue, riders will face 12 demanding stages, totaling 7,646km, taking them through some of the toughest terrain Saudi Arabia has to offer.
Toby Price, Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland
Delivering a completely new route for 2021, the event organizers have been working hard to create a race that further tests all competitors’ navigational skills. Average speeds across the 4,767km of timed specials will also be reduced, with the stages expected to comprise of slower, more technically demanding terrain. In the interest of safety, new regulations have also been brought in for this year’s race, including restrictions on tires, an audible warning system that will notify riders of dangers ahead while racing, as well as airbag jackets also becoming compulsory.
The three Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders already enjoy a huge amount of rally experience – all three are former Dakar winners – together with knowledge of racing the Dakar in the Middle East. Toby Price, Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland are fit and fully motivated to take on the upcoming race and have their sights set on securing strong results.
Daniel Sanders – Image by Marcin Kin
KTM Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders has only contested one cross-country rally in his career and comes into the 2021 Dakar as a relative rookie. Nevertheless, the team’s junior rider has shown great maturity and speed on the run up to the race and will be aiming to complete the event with a solid finish.
Jordi Viladoms – KTM Rally Team Manager
“Things are going well here in Jeddah, it has been a tough journey for the whole team to get here with the various restrictions and tests in place, but we’re 100% ready for the race now. The Shakedown was extremely positive, and although the terrain wasn’t quite what we expect to face in the rally itself, all riders were immediately up to speed and felt comfortable on their bikes. We now just have to complete the final administrative and technical checks and then we can finally go racing!”
Following the short Prologue on Saturday, January 2, the 2021 Dakar Rally starts with the 623km stage one on Sunday, January 3 from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. In total, the event consists of 12 full stages, covering a distance of 7,646km, with the finish also taking place in Jeddah, on January 15.
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New rules aimed at boosting Dakar safety
It is a question as old as motorbike racing itself: how can one go faster than the competition without being too reckless? Even the Dakar has to come up with an answer to this dilemma for the world of motor sports, as bikers seek to squeeze every last ounce of speed from their machines while organisers place the safety of the competitors at the heart of their concerns.
Tyre limits aim to slow riders down, boosting safety, with only six rears allowed – Daniel Sanders’ 2021 KTM 450 Rally
Bikers, manufacturers, organisers, federations and other stakeholders came together in Lisbon in autumn to bridge the gap between these ambitions. “It has become obvious that motorbikes go too fast nowadays”, stresses David Castera, the director of the Dakar. “Today’s 450 cc single-cylinders are just as fast as the 800 cc twin-cylinders of the late 1980s, and they accelerate even faster to boot. There are two main approaches to boosting safety. Active safety is about improving the equipment used, for example, by requiring the use of airbags, whereas passive safety can be increased by capping the speed of the bikers and similar rules.
“Too many bikers want to ride as if it were a motocross race, but a rally raid is completely different. The focus is on endurance and stamina. This is why top bikers will not be allowed to use more than six rear tyres throughout the two weeks of racing. “Going full gas on stony terrain will no longer be an option for anyone who wants to win this race”, insists David Castera. “They will have to take care of their gear to make it to the finish.”
Race official Jordi Pérez was in charge of marking the batch of six tyres for each of the competitors subject to the new rule. “36 bikers are affected, explains the Spaniard, who is serving as a technical scrutineering official. “The tyres all have to be the same model and are branded with a red-hot iron. We also put a special sticker on them and paint them with a stroke of coloured reactive marker.” As abrasive as it is, even the Saudi sand should be unable to erase these markings.
2021 Dakar Schedule
Stage
Date
Start > Finish
Total
Special
P
Saturday, January 2, 2021
Jeddah > Jeddah
11 km
11 km
1
Sunday, January 3, 2021
Jeddah > Bisha
622 km
277 km
2
Monday, January 4, 2021
Bisha > Wadi Al Dawasir
685 km
457 km
3
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Wadi Al Dawasir > Wadi Al Dawasir
630 km
403 km
4
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Wadi Al Dawasir > Riyadh
813 km
337 km
5
Thursday, January 7, 2021
Riyadh > Buraydah
625 km
419 km
6
Friday, January 8, 2021
Buraydah > Ha’il
655 km
485 km
Rest
Saturday, January 9, 2021
Ha’il (Rest Day)
–
–
7
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Ha’il > Sakaka
737 km
471 km
8
Monday, January 11, 2021
Sakaka > Neom
709 km
375 km
9
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Neom > Neom
579 km
465 km
10
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Neom > Al-Ula
583 km
342 km
11
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Al-Ula > Yanbu
557 km
511 km
12
Friday, January 15, 2021
Yanbu > Jeddah
452 km
225 km
Dakar 2021 Preview
2021 Dakar Motorcycle Entry List
Num.
Rider
Nat.
Team
1
Brabec Ricky
USA
Honda Monster Energy Honda Team 2021
2
Quintanilla Pablo
CHL
Husqvarna Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
3
Price Toby
AUS
KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Team
4
Cornejo Florimo Jose Ignacio
CHL
Honda Monster Energy Honda Team 2021
5
Sunderland Sam
GBR
KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Team
6
Caimi FRAnco
ARG
Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
7
Short Andrew
USA
Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
9
Howes Skyler USA
KTM
Bas Dakar KTM Racing Team
11
Svitko Stefan
SVK
KTM Slovnaft Rally Team
12
De Soultrait Xavier
FRA
Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
15
Santolino Lorenzo
ESP
Sherco Tvs Sherco Tvs Rally Factory
17
Pedrero Garcia Juan
ESP
KTM Fn Speed – Rieju Team
18
Branch Ross
BWA
Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
19
Goncalves Dias
RUI
Jorge PRT Sherco Tvs Sherco Tvs Rally Factory
20
Tomiczek Adam
POL
Husqvarna Orlen Team
21
Sanders Daniel
AUS
KTM KTM Factory Team
22
Giemza Maciej
POL
Husqvarna Orlen Team
23
Jakes Ivan
SVK
KTM Jakes Dakar Team
24
Bühler Sebastian
DEU
Hero Hero Motosports Team Rally
25
Spierings Paul
NLD
Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
26
Engel Milan
CZE
KTM Moto Racing Group (Mrg)
27
Rodrigues Joaquim
PRT
Hero Hero Motosports Team Rally
29
Gyenes Emanuel
ROU
KTM Autonet Motorcycle Team
30
Gelazninkas Arunas
LTU
KTM Zigmas Dakar Team
31
Michek Martin
CZE
KTM Moto Racing Group (Mrg)
32
Schareina Tosha
ESP
KTM Fn Speed – KTM Team
33
Koitha Veettil Harith Noah
IND
Sherco Sherco Tvs Rally Factory
34
Patrao Mario
PRT
KTM Credit Agricola – Mario Patrao Motosport
35
Guillen Rivera Juan Pablo
MEX
KTM Nomadas Adventure
36
Brabec Jan
CZE
KTM Strojrent Racing
37
Pabiska David
CZE
KTM Jantar Team
39
Melot Benjamin
FRA
KTM Benjamin Melot
41
Yakp Zaker
CHN
KTM Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Dakar Rally Team
42
Van Beveren Adrien
FRA
Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
44
Sanz Laia
ESP
Gas Gas Gas Gas Factory Team
45
Min Zhang
CHN
KTM Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Dakar Rally Team
46
Marcic Simon
SVN
Husqvarna Marcic
47
Benavides Kevin
ARG
Honda Monster Energy Honda Team 2021
48
Doveze Mathieu
FRA
KTM Nomade Racing Assistance
50
C. S. Santosh
IND
Hero Hero Motosports Team Rally
51
Al-Lal Lahadil Rachid
ESP
KTM Melilla Sport Capital
52
Walkner Matthias
AUT
KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Team
53
Podmol Libor
CZE
Husqvarna Podmol Dakar Team
54
Chapeliere Camille
FRA
KTM Team Baines Rally
55
Hongyi Zhao
CHN
KTM Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Dakar Rally Team
56
Pacheco Giordano
COL
KTM Calidoso Racing Team
58
Iglesias Sanchez Eduardo
ESP
KTM Fn Speed – Team Monforte Rally
59
Interno Tiziano
ITA
Beta Rally Pov
60
Darques Stéphane
FRA
Yamaha M.O.R.Al
61
Dubois Norbert
FRA
KTM Aventure Moto 61
62
Houlihan Andrew Joseph
AUS
KTM Nomadas Adventure
63
Dabrowski Konrad
POL
KTM Duust Rally Team
65
Picco FRAnco
ITA
Husqvarna Team FRAnco Picco
66
Bouchet Pascal
FRA
KTM Team Baines Rally
67
Lhotsky Rudolf
CZE
Husqvarna Jantar Team
68
Mccanney Jamie
GBR
Yamaha Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
69
Roelants Walter
BEL
Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
70
Alghuneim Mishal
SAU
KTM Mishal Alghuneim
71
Farhan Salman Mohamed Humood Farhan
BHR
Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
72
Rauber Pascal
FRA
KTM Team 2rm
73
Jaffar Mohammed
KWT
KTM Duust Rally Team
74
Betriu Jaume
ESP
KTM Fn Speed – KTM Team
76
Krejci Roman
CZE
KTM Bo!Beton Team
77
Benavides Luciano
ARG
Husqvarna Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
78
Zacchetti Cesare
ITA
KTM Cesare Zacchetti
79
Baratin Amaury
FRA
KTM Horizon Moto 95
80
Burgess Michael
AUS
KTM Bas Dakar KTM Racing Team
81
Vlcak Erik
SVK
Husqvarna Slovnaft Rally Team
82
Raorane Ashish
IND
KTM Ashish Raorane
83
Chavez David
PER
KTM Club Aventura Touareg
84
Hawker Neil
GBR
Husqvarna Neil Hawker
85
Azinhais Alexandre
PRT
KTM Club Aventura Touareg
86
Herbst Charlie
FRA
KTM Team Charlie Herbst
87
Mena Oriol
ESP
Rieju Fn Speed – Rieju Team
88
Barreda Bort Joan
ESP
Honda Monster Energy Honda Team 2021
89
Saghmeister Gabor
SRB
KTM Saghmeister Team
90
Catanese FRAncesco
ITA
Yamaha Tuttogru
92
Martinez Eric
FRA
Husqvarna Eric Martinez
93
Lorenzo Piolini
ITA
KTM Caravanserraglio Rally Racing Team
94
Susset Olivier
FRA
Husqvarna Xtreme Garage
95
Flick Xavier
FRA
Husqvarna Xtrem Racing
96
Albero Puig Daniel
ESP
KTM Team Un Diabetico En El Dakar
97
Benko Martin
SVK
KTM Norwit Racing
98
Garcia Sara
ESP
Yamaha Pont Grup Yamaha
99
Vega Puerta Javier
ESP
Yamaha Pont Grup Yamaha
100
Rossat Audrey
FRA
KTM Rossat Audrey
101
Knight David
GBR
Husqvarna Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing
102
Jugla Sara
FRA
KTM Team Baines Rally
104
Altoaimi Fawaz
SAU
Yamaha Fawaz Racing
105
Dominguez Fernando
ESP
KTM Club Aventura Touareg
107
Stigliano Giovanni
ITA
Yamaha Team Jbrally
108
Calmet Marc
ESP
KTM Fn Speed – Rieju Team
110
Bartoszek Jacek
POL
KTM Duust Rally Team
111
Cherpin Pierre
FRA
Husqvarna Pierre Cherpin
112
Campdera Juan
ESP
KTM Juan Campdera
114
Carbonell Mendez Eladio
ESP
KTM Pikaeras Team
115
Harmsen Olaf
NLD
KTM Bas Dakar KTM Racing Team
116
Blandin Erick
FRA
KTM Team Baines Rally
117
Alexander James
BWA
Yamaha The Kalahari Madala
118
Bispo Alexandre
ESP
KTM Expresso Racing
120
Trejos Jhon
COL
KTM Jhon Trejos
121
Barthelemy Guillaume
FRA
KTM Team Rs Concept
123
Pedemonte Angelo
ITA
KTM Pedemonte Angelo
125
Barlerin Frédéric
FRA
KTM Rallye Fred
126
Llanos Diego Gamaliel
ESP
KTM Diego Gamaliel Llanos
127
Jobard Willy
FRA
Garnati Garnati Racing
133
Davide Cominardi
ITA
Honda Cominardi
142
Gerini Maurizio
ITA
Husqvarna Solarys Racing
Moto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
2021 Racing schedule
2021 Provisional MXGP Calendar
Rnd
Grand Prix
Date
1
MXGP of Oman, Muscat
Fri 2 Apr – Sat 3 Apr
2
MXGP of Italy, TBA
Sat 24 Apr – Sun 25 Apr
3
MXGP of Portugal, Agueda
Sat 8 May – Sun 9 May
4
MXGP of The Netherlands, Oss
Sat 22 May – Sun 23 May
5
MXGP of Germany, Teutschenthal
Sat 29 May – Sun 30 May
6
MXGP of Russia, Orlyonok
Sat 12 Jun – Sun 13 Jun
7
MXGP of Latvia, Kegums
Sat 19 Jun – Sun 20 Jun
8
MXGP of Jakarta (INA), Jakarta
Sat 3 Jul – Sun 4 Jul
9
MXGP of Indonesia, Semarang
Sat 10 Jul – Sun 11 Jul
10
MXGP of Czech Replublic, Loket
Sat 24 Jul – Sun 25 Jul
11
MXGP of Belgium, Lommel
Sat 31 Jul – Sun 1 Aug
12
MXGP of Sweden, Uddevalla
Sat 7 Aug – Sun 8 Aug
13
MXGP of Finland, Iitti-KimiRing
Sat 21 Aug – Sun 22 Aug
14
MXGP of Igora Drive (RUS), Igora Drive
Sat 28 Aug – Sun 29 Aug
15
MXGP of Turkey, Afyonkarahisar
Sat 11 Sep – Sun 12 Sep
16
MXGP of China, TBA
Sat 18 Sep – Sun 19 Sep
17
MXGP of France, St Jean d’Angely
Sat 9 Oct – Sun 10 Oct
18
MXGP of Spain, intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos
Sat 16 Oct – Sun 17 Oct
19
TBA
Sat 30 Oct – Sun 31 Oct
20
MXGP of Patagonia Argentina, Neuquen
Sat 13 Nov – Sun 14 Nov
2021 Yamaha AORC presented by MXStore calendar
Round
Location
Date
Rounds 1 & 2
Nowra, NSW
March 27-28
Rounds 3 & 4
TBA, VIC
April 17-18
Rounds 5 & 6
Kyogle, NSW
July 17-18
Rounds 7 & 8
TBA, QLD
August 6-7
Rounds 9 & 10
Kingston SE, SA
September 18-19
Rounds 11 & 12
Omeo, VIC
October 16-17
2021 Australian Pro MX calendar
Rnd
Date
Location
1
Apr-11
Wonthaggi, Victoria Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, 125 CUP
2
May-02
Canberra, ACT Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3
3
May-30
Gilman, South Australia Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, 125 CUP
FIM Hard Enduro World Championship launched in 2021
GasGas announce Australian factory MX, SX and Enduro teams
Waters, Wills, Norton to lead Husqvarna Factory efforts in 2021
Daniel Milner to headline KTM Factory Teams line-up in 2021
Jesse Dobson completes Serco Yamaha line-up for 2021
2021 Dakar Rally showcases global talent
2021 GNCC Series schedule announced
FIM Bajas World Cup 2021 Provisional Calendar
2021 Racing Calendars
Kayne Lamont wins 2020 Whakatane Summercross
Kayne Lamont has won the 2020 Whakatane Summercross MX1 title, with racing coming down to the fifth and final race of the day, which saw Lamont and Cody Cooper tied on points. Each rider had claimed two wins and two second places a-piece, heading into a hard fought final with everything on the line.
Kayne Lamont – Altherm JCR Yamaha
Race 1 saw Lamont take the win from Cooper and Ethan Martens, with Rhys Carter claiming fourth. Race 2 saw a repeat performance with Lamont once again taking the win from Cooper, this time by 5.838s, while Carter moved into the top three, a position he was intent on maintaining.
Cooper turned the tables on Lamont in Races 3 & 4, taking both wins, by 6.272 and 8.021s respectively, while Carter came home in third across both races.
The fifth and final race saw competitors facing a longer 11-lap race, but one that featured the joker lane lap unique to Whakatane, proving the closest race, with only 0.811s separating Lamont and Cooper at the line. A distant third saw Carter wrap up a consistent day.
The final win for Kayne Lamont lent him a four-point lead and the Whakatane Summercross MX1 title, ending the day on 242-points, to Cody Cooper on 238, while Rhys Carter wrapped up third with 213-points. Ethan Martens (206) and Tommy Watts (196) completed the top five in the MX1 class.
Kayne Lamont
“I am still in the mix of finding my final bike setup for nationals, which I will finalise with Ben Townley throughout January. I had decent starts all day and managed to get to the front early in my first two races. In races 3 and 4, I managed to get to second behind Cody but the track was very difficult to pass on so I finished behind him. In the final race I got the holeshot and rode a nice smooth race with Cody right behind me the whole time but I held him off to claim the win and the overall!”
Breingan Earthmoving – MX1 Overall Results
Pos
Competitor
Total
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
1
Kayne Lamont
242
50
50
46
46
50
2
Cody Cooper
238
46
46
50
50
46
3
Rhys Carter
213
41
43
43
43
43
4
Ethan Martens
206
43
41
41
40
41
5
Tommy Watts
196
39
40
39
39
39
6
Tyler Steiner
190
36
33
40
41
40
7
Brad Groombridge
189
40
37
37
37
38
8
Jacob Steel
187
37
39
38
36
37
9
Richard Horne
178
38
38
28
38
36
10
Isaiah McGoldrick
172
34
35
36
35
32
11
Quade Young
166
35
36
32
28
35
12
Sam Middleton
165
33
31
34
34
33
13
Andy Todd
161
32
34
35
29
31
14
Aydan Palmer
160
31
32
33
30
34
15
Caleb Franklin
151
30
28
30
33
30
16
Craig Dally
150
28
30
31
32
29
17
Travis Rankin
146
29
29
29
31
28
MX2
In the MX2 Josiah Natzke put in a masterclass of control, taking the holeshot in each race with overtaking proving difficult, leaving him with a perfect 250-points after five races.
Ben Townley and Maximum Purvis finished the day on 219-points a-piece, however Townley was awarded second with second place in the final race, leaving Purvis disappointed, sharing, “We’ve got a few things to work on before Woodville so we will go away put our heads down and try to sort them out.”
Maximum Purvis – Altherm JCR Yamaha
Completing the top five was James Scott on 212-points, while Luke Van der Lee was fifth with 197-points.
The Altherm JCR Yamaha Team will now prepare for the Woodville Grand Prix which ties into Round 1 of the New Zealand Motocross Championship, and will be held over the January 30-31 weekend at Palmerston North.
Josh Coppins – Altherm JCR Yamaha Team Manager
“We will spend the next four weeks getting Kayne and Max further tuned in for round one of the nationals which coincides with the Woodville GP on January 31. Our new junior rider Madoc Dixon will return from his wrist injury rehab and we look forward to seeing how he goes in the 125cc class this season.”
Underwood & Wilkins – MX2 Overall Results
Pos
Competitor
Total
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
1
Josiah Natzke
250
50
50
50
50
50
2
Ben Townley
219
41
43
46
43
46
3
Maximus Purvis
219
46
46
43
41
43
4
James Scott
212
43
41
41
46
41
5
Luke Van der Lee
197
40
39
39
40
39
6
Jacob Hunt
184
37
37
36
38
36
7
Carlin Hedley
178
36
36
34
37
35
8
Luka Freemantle
177
39
40
21
39
38
9
Hunter Scott
170
32
38
32
35
33
10
Carter Hanes
164
30
33
33
36
32
11
Sam Corston
163
35
34
31
32
31
12
Kaleb Livesey
162
34
32
29
33
34
13
Logan Maddren
155
27
30
37
34
27
14
Jack Rodgers
146
28
31
30
31
26
15
Reece Lister
140
38
22
40
–
40
16
Liam Hutton
137
29
25
28
27
28
17
Seton Head
136
31
–
38
30
37
18
Kyle Pickerill
132
26
28
27
26
25
19
Sam Robbie
131
21
26
26
28
30
20
David Ashton
129
25
27
25
29
23
21
Ben Valois
126
23
29
22
23
29
22
Toby McKendry
118
22
24
23
25
24
23
Leslie Longstaff
117
24
23
24
24
22
24
Toby Winiata
103
33
35
35
–
–
Moto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
FIM Hard Enduro World Championship launched in 2021
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and WESS Promotion GmbH have announced a partnership for the Hard Enduro Sport, with the ‘FIM Hard Enduro World Championship’ launched with an inaugural season in 2021.
A new Pro-Class regulation, in line with all FIM international standards, will offer the highest level of transparency and fairness to professional riders, teams and manufacturers who will compete to win the official world-recognized title of FIM Hard Enduro World Champion.
Extreme XL Lagares
The integration of amateur riders has been promised to stay an inherent and defining characteristic of the series, which will see the common effort of amateurs and professionals competing in the same race to further attract enthusiasts around the world to participate in FIM Hard Enduro World Championship events, ensuring long-term growth of the Championship.
Tony Skillington – FIM CEO
“Every once in a while an opportunity comes to do something very interesting and new in motorcycle sport. I am completely convinced that this Championship will become a very important part of the FIM calendar in the future and I am more than pleased that we are finally signing a four-year contract for the promotion of a FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. I also appreciate the energy and dedication that both FIM and WESS have deployed together to work on all of the ways to make this Championship a success.”
Red Bull Romaniacs
Winfried Kerschhaggl – WESS Promotion GmbH states
“This is a very exciting time for us and our sport. Following an incredibly busy time, building and shaping WESS, work is paying off. The past three years helped us to gain the recognition of the FIM. A special thanks from our side goes to Tony Skillington, who has been very supportive since the conversations about a joint project started. We’re ready to take the next step as the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. Together with the FIM we move into 2021 with confidence and enthusiasm and look forward to ongoing exciting racing.”
2021 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Provisional calendar
Round 1
May 7-9
Extreme XL Lagares
Portugal
FMP
Round 2
June 3-6
Red Bull Erzbergrodeo
Austria
AMF
Round 3
July 10/11
TBD
Italy
FMI
Round 4
July 27-31
Red Bull Romaniacs
Romania
FRM
Round 5
August 14/15
Red Bull TKO
USA
AMA
Round 6
September 18/19
TBD
Poland
PZM
Round 7
October 1-3
Hixpania Hard Enduro
Spain
RFME
Round 8
October 30/31
GetzenRodeo
Germany
DMSB
GasGas announce Australian factory MX, SX and Enduro teams
GasGas Motorcycles has announced a pair of race teams in Australia ahead of the 2021 season, marking the arrival of GasGas factory motocross, supercross and enduro squads.
GasGas announced 2021 Factory Racing effort in Australia
GasGas signed a youthful combination of Aaron Tanti (motocross/supercross) and Mason Semmens (enduro) for the coming year, set to battle it out among the sport’s best at a national level – a first for the GasGas brand across those categories.
Tanti is transferring into the MX1/SX1 category for the Australian Motocross Championship (ProMX) and Australian Supercross Championship. He will be equipped with the GasGas MC 450F, benefiting from experience gained in the US at the beginning of 2020.
Aaron Tanti – GasGas Motocross Racing Team
“I’m really looking forward to joining the factory GasGas team in 2021, it will be a lot of fun being part of the brand and I can’t wait to get on the new MC 450F. I was always aiming to step up to the premier class for next year if I was staying here in Australia, so it’s worked out well to be joining GasGas in the factory team and having this opportunity. I’ve been putting a lot of effort into my racing for a number of years now, so I look forward to getting things going!”
Aaron Tanti will join the GasGas Factory Racing team in Australia for 2020 – Image by Jeff Kardas
Alongside him and equally as eager to showcase his talents in the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) is Semmens, who has learned his craft within the KTM Group family and will lead the GasGas enduro team on-board a GasGas EC 250F. He claimed runner-up in E1 as a rookie in the shortened 2020 season.
Mason Semmens – GasGas Enduro Racing Team
“To be joining GasGas for 2021 and continuing this journey off-road is super-exciting, I feel like it’s a good fit for me and I know that the bikes will be really competitive from the start. Last season we didn’t get to race as much as we’d hoped in the AORC, but it was a promising opening few rounds that I had and I’ve still been working hard since, so now I have my sights set on what’s to come next and hope to be right there challenging for wins and the title in my class especially.”
Mason Semmens will compete the AORC with GasGas Factory Racing
Brad Hagi – Managing Director KTM Group Oceania
“As we launch this exciting new brand into the market, it pairs perfectly having Aaron and Mason on board to represent us. GasGas is set to be competitive right out of the gates, but there is also an authentic, grassroots element to the brand that these two young guns represent with their enthusiastic and vibrant personalities. Mason has grown up through the KTM Group ranks and both himself and Aaron are ready to step up and stamp their authority on the Australia racing scene with GasGas.”
Moto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Waters, Wills, Norton to lead Husqvarna Factory efforts in 2021
National MX1 champion Todd Waters will remain with Husqvarna in 2021 and will pull double-duty in both the Australian Motocross Championship (ProMX) and Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC).
Husqvarna Australia announce Todd Waters, Dylan Wills and Callumn Norton as their factory racers for 2021
Waters is an ambassador for the Husqvarna Motorcycles brand and will split his time between the Husqvarna Factory Racing Team riding the FC 450 in motocross and the FE 450 in enduro, where he placed third in E2 on debut during 2020.
Todd Waters
“To be remaining part of the Husqvarna family into 2021 is a big deal to me, an exciting project and one that I am happy to be involved in. We haven’t been able to race nationally since winning the MX1 title in 2019, but it has been a busy year in its own ways and now we are definitely looking forward to getting back on track and working hard to defend the championship. I’m also looking forward to continuing off-road, gaining experience there and hopefully being in contention throughout the season.”
Todd Waters will compete in the motocross and enduro events for 2021
Dylan Wills will also be running the Husqvarna flag, and is regarded as one of the country’s top young talents as he prepares to step up to the premier class in supercross. He will also be contesting MX2 outdoors within his own program.
Dylan Wills
“This is a dream come true for me, to be a part of a factory team in supercross and as a rookie on the FC 450. I will have great people behind me and the best equipment possible, so that is a great opportunity that I want to make the most of at this stage of my career and I’m thankful for everybody who has been involved to get this deal together. I’m going to be riding outdoors in MX2 with my own program as well, so we have solid plans in place and I’m looking forward to it all in 2021.”
Husqvarna Motorcycles will also bring their desert racing program back in-house, set to tackle the FINKE Desert Race with up-and-comer Callum Norton aboard the FE 501.
Callum Norton
“I am really excited to be able to go racing again and looking forward to what hopefully should be a good year! This will be my third FINKE desert race and I cannot wait to get out there on the Husky. I have always been attracted to desert racing, ever since I was a kid and went to watch the HATTAH race. Through my junior ranks I realised I liked sand and was pretty good at riding it, so when the opportunities came up when I turned Senior to focus on the desert style of racing, I jumped at the chance. And now to be part of the Husky team for 2021, I am so excited to get out there and see what we can do.”
Moto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Daniel Milner to headline KTM Factory Teams line-up in 2021
KTM has announced its factory teams to contest the national enduro, motocross and supercross championships, as well as desert competition for 2021, with reigning Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) #1 plate-holder Daniel Milner headlining the line-up and continuing for a fifth-straight year.
Milner will revert to his favoured KTM 500 EXC-F in the E3 division next season, determined to get back to racing after having the 2020 championship cut short and spearheading KTM’s more focused off-road program.
Daniel Milner
“Being able to sign for my fifth year with KTM in 2021 is really cool. I’m looking forward to working with the team again, getting back to the races and seeing what we can do in the new year. I’ve been able to achieve a lot with KTM since joining them and have been really motivated this year, so we will continue that, aim to do the same again next season and deliver some more championships.”
Daniel Milner
In addition, longtime KTM Junior Motocross Racing Team standout Regan Duffy will lead KTM’s return to operating an in-house factory Australian Motocross Championship (ProMX) and Australian Supercross Championship effort.
Duffy captured the 2019 Australian MXD title riding KTM machinery and, following a glowing performance at that year’s Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in Holland riding the KTM 450 SX-F, the teenager has earned his opportunity in the premier class with KTM Motocross Racing Team.
Regan Duffy
“I’m really excited to be joining KTM and riding the 450 SX-F next season. I’ve been part of the brand’s development path for a lot of my career and feel at home on the bigger bike, so it’s a really good opportunity to step up with a great team around me. Not being able to race at the national level in 2020 was disappointing, but we will now set our sights on what’s ahead and look forward to the challenge.”
Regan Duffy
Current Finke Desert Race title-holder David Walsh will also return to the KTM Factory Racing Team in 2021, eager to get back on the KTM 500 EXC-F in a competitive environment as he looks to defend his result achieved in the prestigious event during 2019.
David Walsh
“I can’t wait to get back out on the bike with KTM and it will be good to do some racing again. I’m very grateful to be part of the factory team and I really want to keep the success in the desert going for everybody. I chased the Finke win for so long and managed to hold onto it without even racing this year! Seriously though, we will prepare for 2021 and make the most of this opportunity together.”
David WalshMoto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Jesse Dobson completes Serco Yamaha line-up in 2021
After taking a fill-in ride with Serco Yamaha halfway through the 2020 season, Jesse Dobson joins as a full time ride with the Yamaha MX2 team in 2021. He will join Nathan Crawford in the two pronged attack contesting the MX2 championship at both the Pro MX and the Australian Supercross Championship.
Jesse Dobson
Dobson adjusted instantly to the Yamaha YZ250F and gelled with the team and the results showed on the track. His speed was right there with the best MX2 pilots in Australia and with the extra time to fine tune his training and riding, Dobson expects to be a major player in MX2 championships in the season ahead.
Jesse Dobson
“I said when I moved to the MX2 class at the start of 2020 that I wasn’t going to be there to make up the numbers and that I wanted success and that hasn’t changed. In fact, it has only got stronger as I was able to use 2020 as a season to gain experience back on a 250 and learn how to ride one properly and effectively again. I’m stoked to re-sign with Serco Yamaha and have a great bunch of people around me. The bikes are awesome, and we have a great list of team sponsors who provide us with the tools to win races and championships. It’s been a long wait between national events, and I can’t wait to get back behind the gate at round one and feel the excitement of competing at a national again. The MX2 class is always super competitive and there are plenty of good riders capable of winning rounds, so it’s time to get to work and make the most of the pre-season.”
Jesse Dobson
Team owner, Gavin Eales, likes how his team has come together and after a year of not much on track action, is recharged and ready to go for season 2021.
Gavin Eales – Serco Yamaha Team Owner
“In Nathan and Jesse we have two hard working and dedicated athletes who are both focused on winning races. Both of them enjoy the training aspect of racing and now bring a lot of experience to the team as they have been on the scene for several years now. It’s also a benefit that both live near our team base in Brisbane which makes life much easier when testing and maintaining bikes. We have also been fortunate to be with Yamaha Motor Australia and continue our relationship into its 21st year and the team will be the show case for the range of high performance products Serco distributes in Australia.”
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2021 Dakar Rally showcases global talent
The 43rd edition of the Dakar Rally is shaping up to offer an amazing field of competition in the bike category, a year after the victory by Ricky Brabec halted KTM’s long reign. 2020 will however see the Austrian firm counting on three former winners with the ambition of retaking their crown.
Ricky Brabec Dakar 2020 – Image by Rally Zone
The Saudi challenge will probably not be limited to a duel between KTM and Honda, Yamaha’s Van Beveren or Husqvarna’s Quintanilla, among other contenders, boast the capacities to join in the battle for victory.
Their hour has perhaps not yet arrived, but the leaders of the younger generation have already shown a glimpse of their talent, with the likes of Ross Branch, Skyler Howes and Jamie McCanney, alongside rookies like Daniel Sanders and Tosha Schareina, who will be attempting to make an impression.
Daniel Sanders – Image by Marcin Kin
The threat had been growing for several years, but the blows struck against KTM failed to land properly until last January. The saga was commenced by Fabrizio Meoni in 2001, then continued by the reign of Cyril Despres and Marc Coma, as well as via the emergence of a new generation at the end of the 2010s, but was interrupted by Ricky Brabec and his Honda following 18 consecutive victories.
The Austrian firm’s pride may have taken a blow, but it has not lost any of its potential and its trio of former winners, made up of Toby Price, Sam Sunderland and Mathias Walkner are only thinking of climbing back to the rally’s summit.
Toby Price, Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland
Among the favourites since his breakthrough in 2016 (claiming fourth), the dreams of Kevin Benavides could come true if he rides a flawless race. He managed to do this on the Rally of Andalusia, dominating his rivals on a less demanding racing format than the Dakar. His team-mate Ignacio Cornejo (fourth at Dakar in 2020), will also be on the lookout for victory, as will Spanish rider Joan Barreda who is still seeking a place on the podium.
Kevin Benavides Dakar 2020
While Honda can point to the boast of having been the first constructor to rock the KTM boat, Yamaha’s ambitions are just as legitimate, despite a 2020 edition marred by the premature exits of its two leaders. Adrien Van Beveren, whose taste of Saudi Arabia’s sands did not exceed three-days last January, has been whetting his appetite on the recent Bajas de Ha’il, where he won ahead of competitors that were less imposing than on the Dakar but sufficient to get him up to the right pace.
Adrien Van Beveren – Hail Baja 2
In the blue bike camp, he will be accompanied by the newcomer to the team Andrew Short (sixth in 2019) as well as by Franco Caimi (eighth in 2020). His former accomplice Xavier de Soultrait will be donning the colours of Husqvarna to join Pablo Quintanilla, the runner-up to Brabec in January, and a rider who also seems perfectly set to triumph after finishing in the top five in four participations out eight.
The places in this tightly packed elite will be even more sought-after given that a new generation is starting to break through, with Luciano Benavides, Ross Branch, Skyler Howes and Jamie McCanney, all finishing in the top 15 off the last edition.
Looking to the future, a watchful eye will also have to be cast over a handful of especially promising rookies who have caught the attention of the main constructors by shining in similar disciplines before making their debut this year on the Dakar.
Daniel Sanders – Image by Marcin Kin
Such is the case for Australia’s Daniel Sanders, who aims to follow in the tracks of Toby Price for KTM, but also Portugal’s Rui Gonçalves enrolled by Sherco and Spaniard Tosha Schareina. Finally, the youngest rider in the category also deserves a mention: Konrad Dabrowski, who is the direct heir to Marek, one of the pioneers of the Polish rally-raid school in Africa (with a ninth place finish in 2003 in particular).
2021 Dakar Schedule
Stage
Date
Start > Finish
Total
Special
P
Saturday, January 2, 2021
Jeddah > Jeddah
11 km
11 km
1
Sunday, January 3, 2021
Jeddah > Bisha
622 km
277 km
2
Monday, January 4, 2021
Bisha > Wadi Al Dawasir
685 km
457 km
3
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Wadi Al Dawasir > Wadi Al Dawasir
630 km
403 km
4
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Wadi Al Dawasir > Riyadh
813 km
337 km
5
Thursday, January 7, 2021
Riyadh > Buraydah
625 km
419 km
6
Friday, January 8, 2021
Buraydah > Ha’il
655 km
485 km
Rest
Saturday, January 9, 2021
Ha’il (Rest Day)
–
–
7
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Ha’il > Sakaka
737 km
471 km
8
Monday, January 11, 2021
Sakaka > Neom
709 km
375 km
9
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Neom > Neom
579 km
465 km
10
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Neom > Al-Ula
583 km
342 km
11
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Al-Ula > Yanbu
557 km
511 km
12
Friday, January 15, 2021
Yanbu > Jeddah
452 km
225 km
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Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports Suzuki Racing AMA SX team announced
Suzuki’s 450 class race team for the 2021 Monster Energy AMA/ FIM World Supercross Championship will be Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports Suzuki Racing, with riders Max Anstie, Brandon Hartranft and Adam Enticknap on the race-ready 2021 Suzuki RM-Z450.
Max Anstie – Image by Jeff Kardas
Both Anstie and Enticknap had a solid season of racing in 2020 under the H.E.P. Suzuki tent and are excited to start racing in 2021. New to the H.E.P Motorsports Suzuki team for 2021 is Brandon Hartranft, making his rookie debut in the 450 class. All three riders will compete on the 2021 Suzuki RM-Z450 and benefit from the support of Suzuki’s RM Army support program.
Dustin Pipes – Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports/ Suzuki Racing Team Co-Owner
“We are thrilled to up our game with Suzuki and its legendary RM-Z450 class bikes for the 2021 Supercross series. With Max, Adam and now Brandon on the squad, we expect strong and consistent results in the premier class this season.”
Chris Wheeler – Suzuki’s Racing Manager
“I’m excited to work with the Twisted Tea/ H.E.P. Motorsports Team, our premier 450 class Supercross team for 2021. This team has the experience and the strength of this rider line-up to make for a competitive and exciting Supercross season for Suzuki, and the RM Army in 2021.”
2021 GNCC Series schedule announced
The Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series presented by Specialized have just announced the series schedule for the upcoming 2021 season.
2020 GNCC Buckwheat 100 – Image by Ken Hill
Jeff Russell – GNCC Trail Boss
“We’re excited to get the 2021 GNCC Racing season off and rolling. We have a lot of really great facilities that have hosted some amazing events in the past, and we’re ready to see another season full of excellent racing on some great racecourses.”
The GNCC Series is set to kick off on February 20-21 with the Big Buck GNCC in Union, South Carolina. From there the series will head south for the seventh Annual Wild Boar GNCC in Palatka, Florida, which is also held in conjunction with the 2021 Daytona Beach “Bike Week” festivities on March 7-8.
Then the next weekend, March 13-14, the series continues in Washington, Georgia for a back-to-back round with The General GNCC at Aonia Pass Motocross.
Moving onto round four of the season, the series will head to Society Hill, South Carolina for the Camp Coker Bullet GNCC, March 27-28. Then after a two-week hiatus the series will once again return to Union, South Carolina April 17-18 for the Tiger Run GNCC at Big Buck Farm.
Kailub Russell retired in 2020 – Photo: Ken Hill
Kicking off the month of May will be the Hoosier GNCC in Crawfordsville, Indiana at Ironman Raceway for the first of two GNCC’s to be held on that property. Returning to the series schedule as one of the oldest GNCC events on the circuit will be the 33rd John Penton GNCC held in Millfield, Ohio on May 22-23, followed by the Mason-Dixon GNCC held in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania on June 5-6. The series will also make its return to Snowshoe Mountain for the 14th Annual Snowshoe GNCC event on June 26-27.
After the summer break, the series will return to Summit Bechtel Reserve for round 10 on September 11-12. The Mountaineer GNCC continues to be a popular addition to the series schedule. Located in the heart of southern West Virginia, the race is hosted at the spectacular 11,000-acre home of the National Scout Jamboree. Round 11 will be held in Millfield, Ohio for the Burr Oak GNCC, with the penultimate round of racing being hosted at the Buckwheat 100 in Newburg, West Virginia on October 9-10. Ironman in Crawfordsville, Indiana, will make its return to host the GNCC season finale race on October 23-24.
Josh Toth – Image by Ken Hill
The 2021 schedule welcomes back many of its most seasoned venues, including Big Buck in Union, South Carolina; The General in Washington, Georgia; The John Penton in Millfield, Ohio; West Virginia’s popular Snowshoe GNCC in Snowshoe, West Virginia; and the Ironman finale in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
Two rain date have been set for the 2021 season for the weekends of July 11-12 and November 13-14, with locations to be announced at a later date, if needed.
2021 GNCC Schedule
Round
Date
Event Name
City, State
Micro/eMTB
Rnd 1
Feb 20-21
Big Buck
Union, SC
Micro
Rnd 2
Mar 6-7
Wild Boar
Palatka, FL
Micro
Rnd 3
Mar 13-14
The General
Washington, GA
Micro/eMTB
Rnd 4
Mar 27-28
Camp Coker Bullet
Society Hill, SC
Micro
Rnd 5
Apr 17-18
Tiger Run
Union, SC
Micro/eMTB
Rnd 6
May 1-2
Hoosier
Crawfordsville, IN
Micro/eMTB
Rnd 7
May 22-23
The John Penton
Millfield, OH
Micro/eMTB
Rnd 8
Jun 5-6
Mason-Dixon
Mount Morris, PA
Micro/eMTB
Rnd 9
Jun 26-27
Snowshoe
Snowshoe, WV
eMTB
Rain
Jul 10-11
RAIN DATE
–
–
–
Jul-31
Loretta Lynn eMTB
Hurricane Mills, TN
eMTB
Rnd 10
Sep 11-12
The Mountaineer
Beckley, WV
Micro/eMTB
Rnd 11
Sep 25-26
Burr Oak
Millfield, OH
Micro
Rnd 12
Oct 9-10
Buckwheat 100
Newburg, WV
Micro
Rnd 13
Oct 23-24
Ironman
Crawfordsville, IN
Micro
Rain
Nov 13-14
RAIN DATE
–
–
FIM Bajas World Cup 2021 Provisional Calendar
The 2021 FIM Bajas World Cup takes place over a Series of Qualifying Events as well as a Final. Each Event in the Qualifying Series has a scoring coefficient of 1 *. The Final has a scoring coefficient of 2 .
The Final is open to all competitors. In order to be included in the ranking of the FIM Bajas World Cup, competitors must have completed and scored points in at least one of the Events of the Qualifying Series. Only these competitors will be eligible for the final ranking of the FIM Bajas World Cup.
The final ranking of the FIM Bajas World Cup will be established on the basis of the two best results of the Qualifying Series, added to the points awarded in the Final. This is valid in all three categories (Motorbikes, Quads and SSV) and in all three classes (Women’s, Junior and Veteran).
FIM Bajas World Cup 2021 Provisional Calendar
Date
Round
Location
Nation
18-20 Feb
Dubai Intl Baja
Dubai
UAE
18-20 Mar
Jordan Baja
Aqaba
Jordan
8-10 Apr
Qatar Int Baja
Doha
Qatar
28-30 May
Baja do Pinahl
Serta
Portugal
17-19 Jun
Baja Jalapao 500
Teruel
Spain
23-25 Jul
Baja Aragon
Teruel
Spain
5-8 Aug
Hungarian Baja
Varpalota
Hungary
29 Aug-1 Sep
Atacama Baja 1
Copiapo
Chile
2-4 Sep
Atacama Baja 2
Copiapo
Chile
28-30 Oct
Baja Portalegre
Portalegre
Portugal
Moto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
2021 Racing schedule
2021 Provisional MXGP Calendar
Rnd
Grand Prix
Date
1
MXGP of Oman, Muscat
Fri 2 Apr – Sat 3 Apr
2
MXGP of Italy, TBA
Sat 24 Apr – Sun 25 Apr
3
MXGP of Portugal, Agueda
Sat 8 May – Sun 9 May
4
MXGP of The Netherlands, Oss
Sat 22 May – Sun 23 May
5
MXGP of Germany, Teutschenthal
Sat 29 May – Sun 30 May
6
MXGP of Russia, Orlyonok
Sat 12 Jun – Sun 13 Jun
7
MXGP of Latvia, Kegums
Sat 19 Jun – Sun 20 Jun
8
MXGP of Jakarta (INA), Jakarta
Sat 3 Jul – Sun 4 Jul
9
MXGP of Indonesia, Semarang
Sat 10 Jul – Sun 11 Jul
10
MXGP of Czech Replublic, Loket
Sat 24 Jul – Sun 25 Jul
11
MXGP of Belgium, Lommel
Sat 31 Jul – Sun 1 Aug
12
MXGP of Sweden, Uddevalla
Sat 7 Aug – Sun 8 Aug
13
MXGP of Finland, Iitti-KimiRing
Sat 21 Aug – Sun 22 Aug
14
MXGP of Igora Drive (RUS), Igora Drive
Sat 28 Aug – Sun 29 Aug
15
MXGP of Turkey, Afyonkarahisar
Sat 11 Sep – Sun 12 Sep
16
MXGP of China, TBA
Sat 18 Sep – Sun 19 Sep
17
MXGP of France, St Jean d’Angely
Sat 9 Oct – Sun 10 Oct
18
MXGP of Spain, intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos
Sat 16 Oct – Sun 17 Oct
19
TBA
Sat 30 Oct – Sun 31 Oct
20
MXGP of Patagonia Argentina, Neuquen
Sat 13 Nov – Sun 14 Nov
2021 Yamaha AORC presented by MXStore calendar
Round
Location
Date
Rounds 1 & 2
Nowra, NSW
March 27-28
Rounds 3 & 4
TBA, VIC
April 17-18
Rounds 5 & 6
Kyogle, NSW
July 17-18
Rounds 7 & 8
TBA, QLD
August 6-7
Rounds 9 & 10
Kingston SE, SA
September 18-19
Rounds 11 & 12
Omeo, VIC
October 16-17
2021 Australian Pro MX calendar
Rnd
Date
Location
1
Apr-11
Wonthaggi, Victoria Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, 125 CUP
2
May-02
Canberra, ACT Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3
3
May-30
Gilman, South Australia Classes: MX1, MX2, MX3, 125 CUP
John S. Hoskins was the secretary of the Maitland Show Society. On his drives around the local area he had often noticed young blokes riding/sliding motorcycles in circles around local paddocks in the area.
Now John thought what a great spectacle this would make at the struggling Maitland Showgrounds (NSW) as part of the show. So he organised some of these riders to put on a bit of entertainment around the trotting track at the show. This is widely acknowledged as the birth of motorcycle speedway and happened for the first time on December 15, 1923. December 15. 1
Hoskins then took the idea to Newcastle, then Sydney, Perth and Brisbane.
The first organised event in Perth was held on May 14th,1927. Harry ‘ Cannonball’ Baker won the ‘Silver Gauntlet’ on his 2¾ AJS. Lights were then installed at ‘Claremont Speedway’ and the 1st night event was held on September 10th, 1927. It drew a 15,000 strong crowd which founded a hugely popular new summertime attraction for the public of Perth who continued to support the sport and went on to make Claremont Speedway the longest running venue of its type in the world. I have some great childhood memories of night meetings at Claremont Speedway, I can smell and taste the methanol now…
The sport was growing with the news of the success and on April 10th, 1928 a ship called the ‘Oronsay’ set sail from Fremantle with 13 Australian riders and their machines to help introduce the exciting new sport to England. This of course proved popular in the U.K. and from there it grew across other oceans to mainland Europe and then the United States.
Australia continues to be at the forefront of motorcycle speedway.
Tim Coleman has conquered the 11th running of the Wildwood Rock Extreme Enduro in a new knockout format, specifically designed to meet Covid19 rules and restrictions.
The 2020 format was a new creation and riders had to work hard with a ruthless sprint format this year. With no rest between objects, arm pump was the main factor for rider error, particularly after a tough year with the lack of opportunity for many to train. The event was almost called off, however the limited number of allowed riders was very close to full, with racers keen to get back out there.
2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme
Each class had two heats on a longer course (1.5km) involving the well known prologue area and an added natural terrain section that provided further challenges. Riders could not afford to drop any time in either heats with times being combined and the fastest four moving into the final.
Tim Coleman – 2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme winner – Image by Russel Colvin
The final format was the man-made area or prologue course as it’s known bye many, with two laps providing some great chopping and changing in all classes to decide outright winners in each class.
2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme – Owen Lock
Riding for the Motul Pirelli Sherco Off-Road Team Tim Coleman was here to impress, taking out the Gold Class win with a total time of 5m44s with clean wins in both heats leading up to the final. Callum Ceglinski put in a solid second, with the desert king Ben Grabham in third, making it a Sherco 1-2-3 finish.
2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme
Tim Coleman
“Wildwood was my first Hard Enduro and I’d never taken home the win, so it’s something I’ve really wanted to tick off my racing bucket-list. The field may have been slightly depleted, but there was still great competition there and I had to really have a crack to bring home the win. The new 2021 Sherco 300 SE Factory feels great honestly. It’s just so good for this type of racing, and having the full support of the Sherco Factory Team made a big difference on the day. I’m already excited for next year’s event.”
Tim Coleman and Derek Grundy – Image by Russel Colvin
Silver class was won by Billy McCulloch (7m14s), ahead of Ian Derwent and Max Koczak. Bronze class was won by Ash Green, (10m02s), ahead of Michael Chapman and Nathan Xerri.
Being the first post-COVID Extreme Enduro to be held in Australia was a tough challenge and was only approved with easing of the rules one week before the event, as motorcycle riding was not deemed as a professional sport prior.
2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme – Tim Coleman
Under the changed guidelines Wildwood could operate with a total of 500 people in groups of 50, but keeping to the Covid19 Event checklist it was decided to not host any spectators for the event and instead live stream the event to the people at home.
2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme – Sam Preece
Wildwood would normally operate over three hours with each rider doing a individual timed section of the course. In the 2020 edition it was a total different feel with riders parked apart and grouped in 20s to not over crowd the course with people. With further changes seen, each rider was able to bring one support person on the day to help them if needed. Temperature checks done on every person attending the event added yet another new twist to Wildwood.
Ben Grabham – 2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme – Image by Russel Colvin
With no injuries to any riders and most bikes going home with few battle scares the event was seen as a great success from all angles, particularly considering it was so close to being called off, after changing the date to the 29th of November.
The 2021 event date has been set for November 7, 2020, as part of the National Grassroots Hard Enduro Championship. Click the result images below for zoomed in view.
2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme Gold Class Results
2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme Silver Class Results
2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme Bronze Class Results
Moto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Price & Sanders ramp up Dakar prep
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price, Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland are beginning the final stages of their pre-Dakar Rally testing, as they ramp up preparations ahead of the iconic event’s start on January 2. Joined by KTM Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders, who enters the upcoming Dakar as part of KTM’s junior rally program, the four KTM 450 Rally mounted riders are hard at work in Dubai as they count down the days to the gruelling 12-stage race.
Toby Price, Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland
With the 2021 Dakar Rally now just one month away, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing have their sights firmly set on battling for the number one position at the world’s toughest cross-country rally. In what has been a hugely disrupted year, which saw the team make only one competitive outing following the 2020 Dakar, Toby Price, Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland are all fully fit and keen to get racing at the 43rd edition of the event.
Looking for his third Dakar title, Toby Price will go into the race armed with the experience gained from the 2020 event and aiming to secure another strong result. Like all riders this year, Toby was forced to spend more time off the bike than he would have liked. However, after travelling to Europe towards the end of the summer, the Australian has committed to an intense schedule of training and preparation on the run up to Dakar and will remain in the Middle East testing on his KTM 450 Rally, in preparation for the challenge awaiting him.
Toby Price
Toby Price
“Obviously, it’s been a really tough year for everyone. With all the restrictions, we’ve not been able to race like we normally would. We’ve only managed to fit in one rally since the Dakar in January, which was great, but I think everyone is looking forward to getting back to some serious racing now. For me, I pretty much had to leave home for the last three months and won’t be heading back to Australia until after Dakar. My base is now in Dubai and I’ll spend Christmas there on the run up to the event. It’s great that we can get out into the dunes for testing but it’s still a big sacrifice to make, missing out on the regular family time over the holidays. For the last couple of months, the team have been testing hard, things have been going well and there’s certainly nothing better to build your fitness than time on the bike. We’ve been able to try out a lot of new things and I’m really happy with how the bike feels. At the end of the day, I know the KTM 450 RALLY is going to get me to the finish, the rest is up to me!”
Toby Price’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Rally – Image by S Fleischer
Toby Price – Image by Marcin Kin
Toby Price – Image by Marcin Kin
Toby Price’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Rally – Image by S Fleischer
Toby Price’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Rally – Image by S Fleischer
Toby Price’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Rally – Image by S Fleischer
Toby Price’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Rally – Image by S Fleischer
Toby Price’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Rally – Image by S Fleischer
Toby Price’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Rally – Image by S Fleischer
Toby Price’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Rally – Image by S Fleischer
Toby Price’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Rally – Image by S Fleischer
Toby Price’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Rally – Image by S Fleischer
Toby Price’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Rally – Image by S Fleischer
Toby Price – Image by Marcin Kin
Toby Price’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Rally – Image by S Fleischer
Toby Price’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Rally – Image by S Fleischer
Toby Price – Image by Marcin Kin
Toby Price – Image by Marcin Kin
Toby Price – Image by Marcin Kin
Toby Price’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 Rally – Image by S Fleischer
Toby Price – Image by Marcin Kin
Toby Price
2018 Dakar winner Matthias Walkner prides himself on his navigational skills and with the 2021 event promising a more technically demanding route, this should fall into the Austrian’s favor. Happy with recent improvements made to his KTM 450 Rally, Matthias feels he is on form both physically and mentally and is looking forward to another solid race in the desert.
Also back at full fitness, Sam Sunderland is known for his speed in the dunes and with the 2021 Dakar Rally expected to contain more deep sand than seen in this year’s event, Sam is confident of making the most of his skills.
Facing his first ever Dakar, KTM Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders comes into the demanding race with only one cross-country rally under his belt. Joining the team in September, Sanders has endured an intense period of testing and training to get him up to speed with the skills required for success in the sport. Racing the Andalucia Rally just weeks after throwing his leg over a KTM 450 Rally for the first time, the 26-year-old put in an excellent performance including a win on the final stage. The Dakar is far more demanding however, but the young Australian racer knows the magnitude of the challenge ahead.
Daniel Sanders
Daniel Sanders
“The year has been a crazy one for me for more reasons than one. When I got the call to come ride for the team it was really cool. I flew over to Europe with Toby and I think I’ve spent about five months here testing and learning the skills needed for rally racing. We raced the Andalucia Rally back in October, which was a real eye opener, but other than a couple of mistakes, I was really pleased with my pace and my navigation. Winning the final stage was great but I’m realistic about the Dakar – I know it’s another level completely. Testing has been going really well – every day I spend on the bike I feel more comfortable. I couldn’t wish for better people around me either, all three of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing guys have won a Dakar – Toby has won two – and Jordi (Viladoms) has been amazing getting me up to speed in such a short amount of time. I know I have a lot to learn, but that will come with racing a few more events. Right now, I’m fully focused on the big one in January.”
2021 Dakar Schedule
Stage
Date
Start > Finish
Total
Special
P
Saturday, January 2, 2021
Jeddah > Jeddah
11 km
11 km
1
Sunday, January 3, 2021
Jeddah > Bisha
622 km
277 km
2
Monday, January 4, 2021
Bisha > Wadi Al Dawasir
685 km
457 km
3
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Wadi Al Dawasir > Wadi Al Dawasir
630 km
403 km
4
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Wadi Al Dawasir > Riyadh
813 km
337 km
5
Thursday, January 7, 2021
Riyadh > Buraydah
625 km
419 km
6
Friday, January 8, 2021
Buraydah > Ha’il
655 km
485 km
Rest
Saturday, January 9, 2021
Ha’il (Rest Day)
–
–
7
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Ha’il > Sakaka
737 km
471 km
8
Monday, January 11, 2021
Sakaka > Neom
709 km
375 km
9
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Neom > Neom
579 km
465 km
10
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Neom > Al-Ula
583 km
342 km
11
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Al-Ula > Yanbu
557 km
511 km
12
Friday, January 15, 2021
Yanbu > Jeddah
452 km
225 km
Moto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
Nathan Crawford returns to Australia to Serco Yamaha for 2021
After a season in Europe racing MXGP, Nathan Crawford has returned to Australia and will take up a seat on the Serco Yamaha team for the 2021 season. The 23 year-old, Brisbane resident, is back on Australian soil and already back in the saddle of a Yamaha YZ250F as his preparations begin for the 2021 Australian motocross and supercross championships.
Nathan Crawford
He has returned after a 12 month stint in Europe where he had to grow up fast in his year contesting the MX2 (250cc) championship. Ultimately, injury and a desire to come home were the reasons for his return to Australia but he is still grateful for the international experience and racing at the highest levels.
Nathan Crawford
“Racing the world championships for a manufacturer supported team has always been a dream of mine and I’m glad I got to experience racing the best riders in the world firsthand. It was an amazing experience, and despite COVID, a year I will never forget. Travelling from country to country and racing on tracks that I had only ever seen on video or YouTube was awesome and I’m so glad I got to do it. I would love to have stayed longer, but a few things didn’t work out and I began looking at my options racing back here in Australia. Joining back up with the Serco Yamaha team is cool as we have a good working relationship from my time there in 2018 and 2019. The same mechanics are still there and not a lot has changed so it was nice to walk back into familiar surroundings and feel welcomed. It was much the same way stepping back onto the YZ250F. The bike feels so good and as a production bike, it is the best in the class. It’s great to be back. I feel motivated and determined to get my career back on track and I have unfinished business in the MX2 class, so I’m really looking forward to getting things started in 2021.”
Nathan Crawford
The second rider on the Serco Yamaha Team will be announced in the coming days. Racing for the newly restructured ProMX championship gets under way on April 11 and will run eight rounds to a double header conclusion at Coolum in August. The Australian Supercross Championship is pencilled in to start in September with five rounds to make up the series.
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Purvis & Larwood return with WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha for 2021
Two rising stars of ANZAC motocross racing, Maximus Purvis and Alex Larwood will return to the WBR Bulk Nutrients Yamaha Team for 2021, but with a slight twist. Both will make their debut in new classes for ’21 with Purvis making the leap to the MX1 (450cc) class while Larwood will step into the MX2 (250cc) class.
Purvis, the current New Zealand MX2 champ, is keen to return to Australia for the new season and 2021 marks his third year with the WBR Yamaha team. During the break in racing this year, Purvis was able spend time on the Yamaha YZ450F back in his NZ base and found the bike exactly to his liking.
When the discussion of 2021 came up, Max expressed a wish to race the YZ450F and the WBR Yamaha team were able to make that happen and support him in the same manner as previous years.
Maximus Purvis
“2021 needs to be a huge year for me and one that establishes me in Australian motocross. The move to the 450 class is one that excites me as I have been riding one in New Zealand for the last eight months and I feel really comfortable on the bike and suits the way I ride. I love the horsepower it generates and think that I’m now at the right size and age to step up and make a go of it. Being back with WBR Yamaha is also great. We have a great working relationship that has grown over the past few years and they are a good group of guys to go racing with. The dealership is also close to where I base myself while in Australia, so they are always available if I need anything. My first goal is to defend my New Zealand MX2 championship with JCR Yamaha and then head over to Australia in March to get set up and ready for the Pro MX championship starting in April.”
Maximus Purvis
Continuing into his second year with WBR Yamaha, South Australia’s 17-year old-Alex Larwood will move into the MX2 class and is set to rattle the cages of the big names in the class. Larwood was slated to race the MXD (under 19) division in 2020 but with the cancellation of racing and also a change to the class structure in 2021, he will make the transition into the MX2 class.
Reports early in the 2020 season had Larwood down as superfast, but a broken leg halted that progress. He is now healed up and returning to full training in preparation for the new year and will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with when national racing gets under way in April.
Alex Larwood
“It’s great to be back with WBR Yamaha again and racing the MX2 class on the YZ250F. I had put in a lot of work at the start of 2020 and was feeling great on the bike but my leg injury kept me sidelined for a while and that has only made the motivation stronger. I’m looking forward to racing the MX2 class and going against the best guys in Australia. It will be a big step but I have been training with a lot of riders already in that class and feel comfortable riding with them. The leg is nearly 100% and I have a full program ready to go in the off season to ensure I hit round one in great shape. I can’t wait to get started.”
Alex Larwood
WBR Yamaha is a motorcycle dealer in the Victorian border town of Echuca. Ran by the Whitten family, the racing arm of the business has become a great promotional tool for WBR Yamaha and one that owner, Travis Whitten, is passionate about.
Travis Whitten
“Our whole family is into racing and as the business has grown, so has both our and Yamaha’s investment in racing with us. In 2021, we will be fielding two riders in the major classes and I’m confident in both the talent and determination of Maximus and Alex to succeed. The knowledge that we learn from racing can be feed directly back to our customers and we can provide them with real world information that can make the most of their purchase. 2021 is a step-up up for our race team and one that we are looking forward to and the season can’t get here soon enough so we can be back at the track and doing what we love with two riders determined to achieve their goals.”
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MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 announce 2021 line-up
Yamaha Motor Europe and the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team have announced a three-rider line-up for the 2021 EMX125 Championship. The team has retained Dutch talent Ivano Van Erp and welcomed two new riders, Latvian Karlis Reisulis and Italian Ferruccio Zanchi.
As the 2017 Junior Motocross 65cc World Champion, Van Erp is already a recognised name in European motocross. The 15-year-old Dutchman joined the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team in 2020 and completed a positive first term inside the EMX125 class aboard a GYTR kitted YZ125 with three top-10 race finishes during the latter stages of the championship.
Reisulis made his EMX125 debut in 2020 at round five of the nine-round series, in Mantova, Italy. The 15-year-old finished seventh in both races for seventh overall and quickly established himself as one of the best performing rookies. Having scored a total of four top-10 race finishes during the five rounds he attended this year, Reisulis has proven he has potential for the future.
Completing the 2021 line-up, Zanchi will become Yamaha’s youngest Official motocross rider as he makes the step up from the 85cc class to the 125cc category. The 14-year-old will join van Erp and Reisulis on the EMX125 Championship gate, where all three riders will race GYTR kitted YZ125s throughout the 2021 season.
Loic Le Foll – MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 Team Owner
“I am very happy to announce our team for 2021. We have already spent a year with Ivano, and he is an exciting rider for the future. This year was a learning year. He showed good speed at the end of the year, which is positive as he looks to move up the standings next year. As for our two new kids, I am very happy to recruit Karlis and Feruccio because they had already caught our eye last year at the Junior Motocross World Championship in Arco Di Trento, inside the 85cc class. These boys are very young, very talented and very hardworking. 2021 will be the first year on a 125cc for Ferruccio and the second season on a 125cc for Karlis, who will aim for a big result. We are going to organize a lot of training sessions together because I am sure our three riders will upgrade each other.”
Thorsten Lentink – Yamaha Motor Europe MX Racing Coordinator
“At Yamaha Motor Europe, our aim for the 2021 season is to strengthen the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team, and the presence of the GYTR kitted YZ125 inside the EMX125 Championship. The EMX125 class makes up the bottom step of the Yamaha Racing pyramid alongside the YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup and is one of the first steps to becoming a full-time professional racer. I am confident that we can make some good progress inside the series with our 2021 MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 rider selection. It is exciting to keep Ivano van Erp for another year. This year he entered the EMX125 championship as a rookie and has already shown some positive progress. Karlis Reisulis rode a few EMX125 races this year and had great speed for a rider that was new to the class. He immediately felt confident after his test on the Yamaha YZ125, and we think that both Ivano and Karlis will be upfront fighting for good championship points in 2021. As for Ferruccio, he is only 14 years old and has been on our radar since the 2019 Junior Motocross World Championship. At such a young age, he will have the time to adapt to the YZ125. Consistency will be his main priority in 2021.”
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Brad Freeman renews with Beta until 2023
Beta has announced the renewal of rider Brad Freeman, who will continue his collaboration with the Beta Factory Team for three further years, until 2023.
Brad Freeman
The English champion owns a long series of consecutive successes in recent years, including five titles in the Enduro GP world championship, where he has shown great consistency of results, always competing for the title.
Brad and the Beta Factory Team will represent the colors of the Italian manufacturer on his Beta 300 RR 2T Factory in the Enduro GP World Championship, E3 category, where he defends the 2020 world title, as well as in the Italian Enduro Championship.
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2021 Honda UK ‘Crendon Fastrack’ motocross team announced
Honda UK have announced they are back in British Motocross Championship action with a brand new title sponsor and will be known as Crendon Fastrack Honda. The squad, backed by one of the UK’s leading Timber Engineering companies Crendon, will be formed of British champion Tommy Searle and Jake Nicholls returning in the MX1 class, with Jay Hague joining the team for an MX2 championship assault. The team will contest the UK’s two highest-level series, the British championship and MX Nationals.
2021 Crendon Fastrack Honda motocross team – Tommy Searle, Jake Nicholls and Jay Hague
Derbyshire-based Searle stays with the squad for a second year, following his successful 2020 season when he won the only professional championship to run in the UK, the MX Nationals. For Nicholls, who narrowly missed clinching the British title by a handful of points in 2018 after an injury, it will be his fourth year with the squad. This time both men will be armed with the all-new 2021 Honda CRF450R and are two of the most experienced riders in the class.
Former British youth champion Hague, who lives in Durham, heads up the MX2 category on the Honda CRF250R. The 22-year-old has tested the Crendon Fastrack Honda and says he’s excited to join the most respected and highest-profile team in the UK.
The Crendon Fastrack Honda squad is run by triple world 500 champion Dave Thorpe.
Dave Thorpe
“Our goal is to be the dominant team in British championship racing and we have everything in place to achieve that. After personally testing the brand new Honda CRF450R, I know we have the best machinery. And our team of mechanics and technical partners will ensure they are the ultimate bikes on the track. With Tommy Searle and Jake Nicholls, we have not only the fastest but also two of the most experienced and professional riders in the MX1 class. And with Jay Hague in the MX2 class, it’s a real opportunity for him to really shine. It’s great to have the full backing of Crendon. And of course we still have backing from many of our long-time partners who make it possible for the team to operate at such a high level. I’m certain the Crendon Fastrack Honda team will be the team to beat in the UK.”
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Albert Cabestany join GasGas TrialGP Team as manager
Experienced former Spanish and indoor World Champion is switching from competition to team management to lead GasGas’ 2021 factory trial team. Stepping away from full-time competition, defending Trial-E World Champion will now take charge of our factory trial team and guide them through both the X-Trial and TrialGP World Championships.
Albert Cabestany goes from competitor to team manager in 2021
A rider with more than 20 years of international trial experience, Cabestany is not only hugely capable on a bike, he’s also incredibly knowledgeable off one. A consistent challenger for world championship honors, with no fewer than 85 outdoor and 90 indoor podium results to his credit, including 27 victories, it’s fair to say he’s been there, done it, and got a whole bunch of t-shirts!
Turning a page in his highly-successful career, Albert, who started his professional career riding for GasGas before returning to win two Trial-E World Championship titles in 2019 and 2020, will now start an exciting new chapter, leading from the front as he manages the GasGas Factory Racing Trial Team.
Focused on developing the team’s testing, training and competition program, the Spaniard will provide invaluable knowledge, experience and guidance, ensuring the team is perfectly prepared to take on the 2021 FIM X-Trial and TrialGP series.
Albert Cabestany – GASGAS Factory Racing Trial Team Manager
“After so many years competing in trial, this is the perfect next step for me. To be the GASGAS Factory Racing Trial Team Manager is such a unique and exciting opportunity, I’m really looking forward to working with our riders and doing all I can to continue the team’s success. For sure I’m going to give it my all and enjoy the experience. It’s an important team within the trial paddock, with high expectations, so I’m really excited about the future.”
Albert Cabestany
Robert Jonas – VP Motorsports Offroad
“Trial remains hugely important to GASGAS, both from a production bike point of view and also from a motorsport perspective. This is why we are pleased to have appointed Albert Cabestany as our new trial team manager. Albert is hugely experienced when it comes to all things trial, and while he is best known as a successful competitor, he also has considerable testing and development experience. We believe he will inject the right mix of energy and focus into the team and push it forward in 2021, allowing our riders to perform at their very best.”
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2021 Racing schedule
2021 AMA SX calendar
Date
Event
Venue
Location
E/W
Jan 16
Houston 1
NRG Stadium
Houston, TX
East
Jan 19
Houston 2
NRG Stadium
Houston, TX
East
Jan 23
Houston 3
NRG Stadium
Houston, TX
East
Jan 30
Indianapolis 1
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, IN
East
Feb 2
Indianapolis 2
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, IN
East
Feb 6
Indianapolis 3
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, IN
East
Feb20
Glendale 1
State Farm Stadium
Glendale, AZ
West
Feb 23
Glendale 2
State Farm Stadium
Glendale, AZ
West
Feb 27
Glendale 3
State Farm Stadium
Glendale, AZ
West
Mar 6
Daytona*
Daytona Int. Speedway
Daytona Beach, FL
East
Mar 13
Arlington 1
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, TX
West
Mar 16
Arlington 2
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, TX
West
Mar 20
Arlington 3
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, TX
West
Round 14
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Round 15
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Round 16
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Round 17
Salt Lake City
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Salt Lake City, UT
TBD
2021 Provisional MXGP Calendar
Rnd
Grand Prix
Date
1
MXGP of Oman, Muscat
Fri 2 Apr – Sat 3 Apr
2
MXGP of Italy, TBA
Sat 24 Apr – Sun 25 Apr
3
MXGP of Portugal, Agueda
Sat 8 May – Sun 9 May
4
MXGP of The Netherlands, Oss
Sat 22 May – Sun 23 May
5
MXGP of Germany, Teutschenthal
Sat 29 May – Sun 30 May
6
MXGP of Russia, Orlyonok
Sat 12 Jun – Sun 13 Jun
7
MXGP of Latvia, Kegums
Sat 19 Jun – Sun 20 Jun
8
MXGP of Jakarta (INA), Jakarta
Sat 3 Jul – Sun 4 Jul
9
MXGP of Indonesia, Semarang
Sat 10 Jul – Sun 11 Jul
10
MXGP of Czech Replublic, Loket
Sat 24 Jul – Sun 25 Jul
11
MXGP of Belgium, Lommel
Sat 31 Jul – Sun 1 Aug
12
MXGP of Sweden, Uddevalla
Sat 7 Aug – Sun 8 Aug
13
MXGP of Finland, Iitti-KimiRing
Sat 21 Aug – Sun 22 Aug
14
MXGP of Igora Drive (RUS), Igora Drive
Sat 28 Aug – Sun 29 Aug
15
MXGP of Turkey, Afyonkarahisar
Sat 11 Sep – Sun 12 Sep
16
MXGP of China, TBA
Sat 18 Sep – Sun 19 Sep
17
MXGP of France, St Jean d’Angely
Sat 9 Oct – Sun 10 Oct
18
MXGP of Spain, intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos
Sat 16 Oct – Sun 17 Oct
19
TBA
Sat 30 Oct – Sun 31 Oct
20
MXGP of Patagonia Argentina, Neuquen
Sat 13 Nov – Sun 14 Nov
2021 Yamaha AORC presented by MXStore calendar
Round
Location
Date
Rounds 1 & 2
Nowra, NSW
March 27-28
Rounds 3 & 4
TBA, VIC
April 17-18
Rounds 5 & 6
Kyogle, NSW
July 17-18
Rounds 7 & 8
TBA, QLD
August 6-7
Rounds 9 & 10
Kingston SE, SA
September 18-19
Rounds 11 & 12
Omeo, VIC
October 16-17
2021 Australian Pro MX calendar
Rnd
Date
Location
1
Apr-11
Wonthaggi, Victoria
2
May-02
Canberra, ACT
3
May-30
Gilman, South Australia
4
Jun-27
Maitland, NSW
5
Jul-25
Wodonga, Victoria
6
Aug-08
TBC, Queensland
7/8
August 14-15
Coolum, Queensland
2021 Speedway GP Calendar
Date
Round
Location
Apr-24
2021 FIM Speedway Grand Prix
TBC
May-15
2021 PZM Warsaw FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland
PGE Narodowy
May-22
2021 German FIM Speedway Grand Prix
Bergring Arena
Jun-05
2021 Czech Republic FIM Speedway Grand Prix
Marketa Stadium
Jun-19
2021 FIM Speedway Grand Prix
TBC
Jul-17
2021 Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix
Principality Stadium
Jul-31
2021 Betard Wroclaw FIM Speedway Grand Prix OF POLAND
Olympic Stadium
Aug-14
2021 Swedish FIM Speedway Grand Prix
G&B Arena
Aug-28
2021 Russian FIM Speedway Grand Prix
Anatoly Stepanov Stadium
Sep-11
2021 Danish FIM Speedway Grand Prix Sponsored by ECCO
Vojens Speedway Center
Oct-02
2021 Torun FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland
Marian Rose MotoArena
2021 Australian Senior Speedway Solo calendar
Round
Location
Date
Round 1
Gillman Speedway, SA
3 January, 2021
Round 2
Olympic Park, VIC
5 January, 2021
Round 3
Diamond Park, Albury Wodonga, VIC
7 January, 2021
Round 4
Loxford Park, NSW
9 January, 2021
Round 5
Mick Doohan Raceway, QLD
13 January, 2021
2021 Australian Speedway events
Championship
Location
Date
2021 Australian Under 21’s Speedway Championship
Gillman Speedway, SA
16 January, 2021
2021 Australian Junior Speedway Sidecar Championship
Pinjar Park, WA
3-4 April, 2021
2021 Australian Senior Speedway Sidecar Championship
Pinjar Park, WA
3-4 April, 2021
2021 Speedway FIM Oceania Speedway Championship
Gillman Speedway, SA
30 January, 2021
2021 Speedway FIM Oceania Speedway Sidecar Championship
Gillman Speedway, SA
17 April, 2021
2021 Provisional Australian Supercross dates
25 September – Further information TBA
9 October – Further information TBA
16 October – Further information TBA
23 October – Further information TBA
30 October – Further information TBA
6 November – Further information TBA
20 November – Further information TBA
27 November – Further information TBA
2021 Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE) May 19-22 – Harvey, WA
2021 Enduro Australian Three Day Vintage Enduro (A3VE) 7-9 May – Blackwood, VIC
2021 Finke Desert Race 11-14 June – Northern Territory
2021 Hattah Desert Race 3-4 July – Hattah, Victoria
2021 Motocross Australian Classic Motocross Championship 9-11 July – Nowra, NSW
2021 Motocross Australian Post Classic Motocross 16-18 July – Nowra, NSW
2021 International Six Day Enduro (ISDE) 30 August – 4 September – Italy
Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship unveil 2021 calendar
The AORC Management Team have revealed the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC), presented by MXStore 2021 Calendar. The Calendar will feature 12 action packed rounds across six tantalising venues in 2021, visiting four states across the country as the championship kicks back into gear.
The 2021 AORC will continue the double-header format, kicking off the season at Nowra, NSW, on March 27 and 28 for Rounds 1 and 2. Nowra was set to run in 2020 and we know it is now more than ready to provide sensational racing and will be a Championship highlight to start off the year in style.
Daniel Milner
Rounds 3 and 4 on April 17 and 18, will be held in Victoria at a yet to be finalised venue. For the fourth time in six years, the Championship then returns to the picturesque Kyogle, NSW, for rounds 5 and 6 on July 17 and 18, before heading north to Queensland for a yet to be determined venue for Rounds 7 and 8 on August 6 and 7.
AORC returns to the sand of Kingston SE, South Australia, on September 18 and 19 for the penultimate weekend as the venue plays host to Rounds 9 and 10.
Josh Green
The Championship Grand Finale Rounds 11 and 12 is set to take place at Omeo, Victoria on October 16 and 17. This Championship finished spectacularly in 2018 and in 2021 it will do the same as the AORC will be able to crown all of its champions.
With all 14 Championship classes set to continue in 2021 there will be something for all types of riders, from the smallest of Juniors to the World’s best off-road riders. Keep your eyes peeled as we reveal the classes in the coming weeks.
Mason Semmens
Peter Doyle – Motorcycling Australia CEO
“The AORC management team have worked together to bring the championship back in 2021, we are sure both riders and fans are eager to get back to the track in the new year for some sensational racing. With large fields expected across all classes, so many different opportunities to go racing and with the backing of all our industry partners and host clubs we can’t wait to get the show back on the road to the see the world best riders go head to head out in the bush.”
AORC can also reveal the championship will return to Tasmania in 2022.
2021 AORC calendar
Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship & ProMX to collide in Queensland in 2021
Motorcycle fans will get the best of both worlds in 2021, with a three-day two-wheel extravaganza announced to feature both the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) presented by MXStore, and the ProMX Championship, at Queensland Moto Park (QMP) from August 6-8, 2021.
Luke Styke – 2020 Yamaha AORC Round 1 – Toowoomba
The three-day weekend will feature rounds 7 and 8 of the AORC (August 6-7) and round 6 of the ProMX Championship (August 8). With large fields across all classes, this will be a tantalising event not to be missed for two-wheel fans.
In what is a first for the sport with two of the largest disciplines in AORC and PromMX coming together as one, Queensland Moto Park is set to be a spectacular venue for what will be an iconic event.
With all 14 AORC Championship classes and MX1, MX2, and MX3 ProMX Championship classes competing, there will be plenty of action from the smallest juniors to the World’s best riders for the fans to watch.
Peter Doyle – Motorcycling Australia CEO
“Motorcycling Australia is ecstatic to announce the final pieces of both the AORC and ProMX Championship calendars for 2021. This event will be the ultimate off-road and motocross weekend and must attend event in 2021 for Australian off-road and motocross fans. Significant work by both the AORC and ProMX Management Teams have secured this sensational event at QMP which will provide spectacular racing from Australia’s best enduro and motocross riders.”
Australian Off-Road Championship
Kim Rowcliffe – Motorcycling Queensland General Manager
“We are very excited to be able to host the first event with two major Australian Championships events running alongside one another in the AORC and the ProMX and we have a venue here at Queensland Moto Park that will set up a perfect three days. We know fans will be salivating at the chance to get to Queensland Moto Park for an ultimate weekend of action and we can’t wait to see them there.”
Further event details, race schedules and ticketing will be announced over the coming months.
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Rohan Tungate joins Slangerup SGP team for 2021
Former Australian champion Rohan Tungate is set to race for Danish team Slangerup in 2021 – putting his Peterborough future in serious doubt. The Kurri Kurri-born star has been unveiled by Polish First Division club Tarnow and Swedish side Lejonen as part of their sides for next year.
With riders competing in Poland’s second tier now limited to racing in just two other national leagues, this would appear to rule Tungate out of a return to the East of England Showground, where he was due to race in 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic cancelled the British league season.
Rohan Tungate
“I’m really happy to stay in Slangerup and was really looking forward to racing and fighting for the team in 2020, but unfortunately it couldn’t happen because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The team looks strong, and with a skilled team leader, I’m sure we’re going to have a fun and successful season. I can’t wait to get into action and see a lot of fans on the terraces.”
Rohan Tungate
Tungate teams up with the likes of Andreas Lyager, Dawid Lampart, Jonas Seifert-Salk, Daniel Henderson and Emil Portner at the club. They are yet to name an A rider to spearhead the side, with former SGP star Mikkel Michelsen usually a regular in their colours.
The loss of Tungate would be another blow to the British leagues, with more top riders expected to be forced out by the Polish restrictions, which limit PGE Ekstraliga riders to competing in just one other league.
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2021 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing AMA Teams revealed
With “off-season” preparations underway for the 2021 race season, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team has announced its three-rider line-up alongside a press event held today at the company’s North American test track facility “RD Field” in Southern California.
The 2021 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team – Marvin Musquin, Cooper Webb, Maximus Vohland
Featuring two of the sport’s top contenders – Marvin Musquin and Cooper Webb – in the 450 cc division, the team is also proud to welcome rising star Maximus Vohland to its in-house 250 cc effort as the orange bleeder is set to make his professional debut in 2021.
450SX/MX
Marvin Musquin, a decade-long veteran of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team, will return to the 450 cc lineup in 2021 as he dives into the upcoming AMA Supercross Championship with vengeance after missing last year’s series due to a major knee injury.
Marvin Musquin
Missing nearly one-year of racing in total, the French rider returned to the dirt for the 2020 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, where he eased his way back into action with a series of promising performances to claim fourth overall in the series. Musquin will continue to put in the work during the offseason to come back even stronger and ready to contest the 450SX title aboard the KTM 450 SX-Factory Edition come January.
Webb, the 2019 450SX Champion, followed up his ground-breaking year with a strong title defense last season as he brought the 2020 championship down to the final race, ultimately finishing runner-up with four race-wins and nine podiums. An ongoing back injury kept him sidelined for this past AMA Pro Motocross Championship but the North Carolina native has been hard at work and is ready to do battle in 2021. On the heels of inking another two-year deal with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team, Webb will look to return the number one plate to his KTM 450 SX-Factory Edition for the next two seasons.
Cooper Webb
Ian Harrison – Team Manager
“We are very confident in Marvin and Cooper for the 2021 season. Marvin has been with KTM North America for a decade now and has always competed at the highest level. Having missed the 2020 season, he is eager to get back to racing SX and being healthy is a big part of the puzzle. We plan to start testing this week to fine tune our 2021 machine – we have a few new components to test and work with that should help Marvin improve his bike setup. We are looking forward to what Marvin can do in 2021, him being with long-time mechanic Frank Latham puts him in good hands. Cooper has a lot of experience coming into 2021 and we are very excited to see how things progress now that he has been with us for two years. Along with his mechanic, Carlos Rivera, I feel we are all at a point where we understand each other’s strengths and that leads to better bike setup and race day changes. Cooper also has a clean bill of health, so we are confident that he will be ready to keep the momentum rolling into 2021.”
250SX/MX
For the first time since 2015, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team will bring its 250 cc effort back in-house with a one-rider lineup in 2021. Maximus Vohland, a Northern California native with strong motocross heritage in his blood, comes in with many years under the guidance of KTM’s Orange Brigade Amateur Motocross program. The five-time Loretta Lynn’s AMA National Champion, and most recently crowned 2019 AMA Youth Rider of the Year, has proven his merit at the highest level of amateur racing where he now begins the next chapter with his professional supercross debut aboard the KTM 250 SX-F.
Ian Harrison – Team Manager
“Max has had a long and successful journey as an amateur with KTM and we are happy to be involved in the start of his young career. I met him years ago and have seen his progress through the amateur ranks – he is young but has a lot of potential. Time will tell how he manages the ups and downs of professional racing and we will be here to help support him in every way we can. Our goal is to have Max and KTM up front.”
The 2021 AMA Supercross Championship is set to kick off on Saturday, January 16 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
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Mattia Guadagnini joins KTM MX2 efforts
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will field three racers in the MX2 category of the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship after signing Italian Mattia Guadagnini for next season.
Mattia Guadagnini
“For me this is a dream come true to join the KTM family, especially the De Carli team as I grew up watching Tony’s races. I always said ‘one day I want to be there also and fight in the world championship’ so the day has come and I’m so happy. I like how they work as a big family, spending lots of time together. Also having Tony and Jorge as direct teammates will be awesome. I can learn a lot and I think I have all I need to work on my goals for the future!”
Claudio De Carli and Mattia Guadagnini
Guadagnini is the 2020 EMX250 European Championship runner-up after owning nine motos in his first season on a 250cc four-stroke machine. He adds the silver medal to the gold he won in 2019 as the FIM World and EMX125 #1 for what was his first major step onto the international stage.
Guadagnini will slot into Claudio de Carli’s side of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing set-up where he will join the training program around Tony Cairoli and Jorge Prado and their Roman base. The Grand Prix rookie can count MX2 World Champion Tom Vialle and Rene Hofer as teammates in MX2 next year.
Red Bull KTM will continue to field Cairoli, Jeffrey Herlings and Prado on the KTM 450 SX-Fs in the MXGP division.
Claudio De Carli
“Mattia is one of the most interesting young riders in international motocross, he has already reached important milestones and he must continue in his growth to fight with the best riders in the world championship. We are happy to have him in our team and, as always, we will try to give him the best from a technical and training point of view. He gives me the impression of a boy with solid principles and great motivation and I want him to face this first year with us by working with his teammates, without pressure and with the aim of improving in every aspect in his first full season of MX2.”
2021 Racing schedule
2021 AMA SX calendar
Date
Event
Venue
Location
E/W
Jan 16
Houston 1
NRG Stadium
Houston, TX
East
Jan 19
Houston 2
NRG Stadium
Houston, TX
East
Jan 23
Houston 3
NRG Stadium
Houston, TX
East
Jan 30
Indianapolis 1
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, IN
East
Feb 2
Indianapolis 2
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, IN
East
Feb 6
Indianapolis 3
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, IN
East
Feb20
Glendale 1
State Farm Stadium
Glendale, AZ
West
Feb 23
Glendale 2
State Farm Stadium
Glendale, AZ
West
Feb 27
Glendale 3
State Farm Stadium
Glendale, AZ
West
Mar 6
Daytona*
Daytona Int. Speedway
Daytona Beach, FL
East
Mar 13
Arlington 1
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, TX
West
Mar 16
Arlington 2
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, TX
West
Mar 20
Arlington 3
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, TX
West
Round 14
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Round 15
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Round 16
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Round 17
Salt Lake City
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Salt Lake City, UT
TBD
2021 Provisional MXGP Calendar
Rnd
Grand Prix
Date
1
MXGP of Oman, Muscat
Fri 2 Apr – Sat 3 Apr
2
MXGP of Italy, TBA
Sat 24 Apr – Sun 25 Apr
3
MXGP of Portugal, Agueda
Sat 8 May – Sun 9 May
4
MXGP of The Netherlands, Oss
Sat 22 May – Sun 23 May
5
MXGP of Germany, Teutschenthal
Sat 29 May – Sun 30 May
6
MXGP of Russia, Orlyonok
Sat 12 Jun – Sun 13 Jun
7
MXGP of Latvia, Kegums
Sat 19 Jun – Sun 20 Jun
8
MXGP of Jakarta (INA), Jakarta
Sat 3 Jul – Sun 4 Jul
9
MXGP of Indonesia, Semarang
Sat 10 Jul – Sun 11 Jul
10
MXGP of Czech Replublic, Loket
Sat 24 Jul – Sun 25 Jul
11
MXGP of Belgium, Lommel
Sat 31 Jul – Sun 1 Aug
12
MXGP of Sweden, Uddevalla
Sat 7 Aug – Sun 8 Aug
13
MXGP of Finland, Iitti-KimiRing
Sat 21 Aug – Sun 22 Aug
14
MXGP of Igora Drive (RUS), Igora Drive
Sat 28 Aug – Sun 29 Aug
15
MXGP of Turkey, Afyonkarahisar
Sat 11 Sep – Sun 12 Sep
16
MXGP of China, TBA
Sat 18 Sep – Sun 19 Sep
17
MXGP of France, St Jean d’Angely
Sat 9 Oct – Sun 10 Oct
18
MXGP of Spain, intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos
Sat 16 Oct – Sun 17 Oct
19
TBA
Sat 30 Oct – Sun 31 Oct
20
MXGP of Patagonia Argentina, Neuquen
Sat 13 Nov – Sun 14 Nov
2021 Australian Pro MX calendar
Rnd
Date
Location
1
Apr-11
Wonthaggi, Victoria
2
May-02
Canberra, ACT
3
May-30
Gilman, South Australia
4
Jun-27
Maitland, NSW
5
Jul-25
Wodonga, Victoria
6
Aug-08
TBC, Queensland
7/8
August 14-15
Coolum, Queensland
2021 Speedway GP Calendar
Date
Round
Location
Apr-24
2021 FIM Speedway Grand Prix
TBC
May-15
2021 PZM Warsaw FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Poland
PGE Narodowy
May-22
2021 German FIM Speedway Grand Prix
Bergring Arena
Jun-05
2021 Czech Republic FIM Speedway Grand Prix
Marketa Stadium
Jun-19
2021 FIM Speedway Grand Prix
TBC
Jul-17
2021 Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix
Principality Stadium
Jul-31
2021 Betard Wroclaw FIM Speedway Grand Prix OF POLAND
Olympic Stadium
Aug-14
2021 Swedish FIM Speedway Grand Prix
G&B Arena
Aug-28
2021 Russian FIM Speedway Grand Prix
Anatoly Stepanov Stadium
Sep-11
2021 Danish FIM Speedway Grand Prix Sponsored by ECCO
Casey Stoner Cup kicks off this weekend at Loxford Park
Kurri Kurri Junior Motor Cycle Club will again honour its former member Casey Stoner who went on to become MotoGP world champion at Loxford Park Raceway, situated in Dickson Road, Loxford, (Kurri Kurri, New South Wales) this Saturday, November 21.
Casey Stoner Cup rolls into Luxton Park this weekend
The Tradecore Industries Casey Stoner Cup dirt track meeting has been staged for over a decade and already has an impressive list of previous winners.
A classy line-up of riders in both senior and junior classes will be keen to get in to action this Saturday after months of inactivity. Practice gets underway at 8.30am with the Cup finals wrapping up the programme in the afternoon. For fans it is a cheap day out on Saturday with just a $5.00 per car entry fee with full canteen facilities available.
While Australian Championship racing for track and dirt track all fell victim to COVID and its restrictions, New South Wales has been able to get this discipline of the sport up and running this month. This Saturday’s meeting comes in between several state championship meetings.
Kempsey hosted the senior and junior dirt track titles, along with the Akubra Classic events before Quirindi Showground hosted motorcycle racing for the first time when it hosted the senior track titles. The Junior Track title at Tamworth is still to come on November 28.
Yamaha Junior Racing display strong talent in Tas, NSW & WA
Despite it being late in the year, Yamaha Junior Racing continues to bring the heat and enthusiasm to each event and again achieved significant results as racing winds down for the season. The racing continues around the national with state based events in Western Australia, Tasmania and New South Wales all taking centre stage in recent weeks.
Western Australia
The final round of the Western Australian Motocross Championship ripped through the coastal town of Bunbury with good numbers in attendance and all desperate to finish their season on a positive note. The YJR crew were in full force with Jake Rumens back from injury and joining Jake Turner while Yamaha support rider, Deegan Fort, was also on hand and all three ready to grab some silverware.
Jake Rumens
Rumens return to the track was a successful one taking a second place finish in the 12-15 years 85cc class on the back of his 2-1-2 results for the day. It was a good return to form for Rumens, who had been sidelined with a hand/ wrist injury and missed a round leaving him out of contention for the series.
Jake Turner was right in the middle of a championship fight in both the 13-15 years 125 and 250cc classes. He had consistently been on the podium at the previous rounds and wanted a round win before the year was out.
In the 250cc class, Jake charged to a third place finish for the round and as a result, locked up third for the championship. He raced strongly at Bunbury to finish with 3-3-3 results and keep his consistency intact. He could only manage a fourth place result on the day in the 13-15 years 125cc class, but still managed to take third in the championship, making it a dual championship podium for Turner.
He then turned senior the next day and instantly went into the MX2 ranks and showed he wasn’t there to make up the numbers. He led two and out the three races and only a crash in race two kept him from a round podium in his first senior outing.
But the star of the YJR show in WA was Deegan Fort. The young gun charged his way to victory in the 7-9 years 65cc class in both the day and the championship, adding another championship to the quickly expanding YZ65 list of achievements.
Deegan Fort
WA Round Results 7-9 years 65cc
Deegan Fort – 102 (Yamaha Junior Racing)
Nate Tomerini – 93
Ollie Birkitt – 90
12-15 years 85cc
Deacon Paice – 102
Jake Rumens – 99 (Yamaha Junior Racing)
Patrick Butler – 90
13-15 years 250cc
Kayden Minear – 105
Brock Flynn -94
Jake Turner – 90 (Yamaha Junior Racing)
13-15 years 125cc
Brock Flynn – 105
Kayden Minear – 96
Dylan Walsh – 85
Jake Turner – 84 (Yamaha Junior Racing)
WA Championship Standings 7-9 years 65cc
Deegan Fort – 284 (Yamaha YZ65)
Ollie Birkitt – 277
Nate Tomerini – 273
13-15 years 250cc
Kayden Minear – 295
Brock Flynn – 285
Jake Turner – 270 (Yamaha YZ250F)
13-15 years 125cc
Brock Flynn – 265
Kayden Minear – 253
Jake Turner – 234 (Yamaha YZ125)
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Tasmania
The penultimate round of the Tasmania Motocross Championship was conducted over the weekend at the Penguin Circuit with Jay Jennings and Angus Pearce in action. Jennings is in championship contention in his 65 and 85cc classes and was desperate for a good round, while Pearce is getting back to his best form and determined to climb back on top of the podium.
Jake Jennings
Jennings indeed showed plenty of spirit as he took the round win in the 9-11 years 85ccc class. He finished with two race wins and a second to claim the day and claw back a few points on his rival, Cooper Ford.
The tables were turned in the 65cc class, with Ford taking the win on the day and Jennings in tow. Jennings sits in second place in both divisions and will need to pull out all the stops at the final round to win the either championship in 2020.
In the 12-15 years 125cc class, it was all Angus Pearce as he showed a clean pair of heels all day to take three wins from three starts and be the dominant rider in the class. Unfortunately, he still a way back in the championship points after missing rounds due to injury but his goal is to continue to win races as the season draws to a close.
Tasmania MX Round Results 10-12 years 65
Cooper Ford – 105
Jay Jennings – 96 (Yamaha Junior Racing)
Angus Barber – 30
9-11 years 85cc
Jay Jennings – 102 (Yamaha Junior Racing)
Cooper Ford – 97
Jed Grey – 92
13-15 years 125cc
Angus Pearce – 105 (Yamaha Junior Racing)
Zack Buxton – 94
Will Schuuring – 92
Tasmanian Championship Standings 10-12 years 65cc
Cooper Ford – 516
Jay Jennings – 489 (Yamaha YZ65)
Angus Barber – 376
9-11 years 85cc
Cooper Ford – 514
Jay Jennings – 483 (Yamaha YZ85)
Luca Wright – 403
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New South Wales
The popular East Coast Motocross Series was concluded over the weekend with good rider numbers turning up for the final round in Wollongong. Yamaha Junior Racing were well represented with the Kingsford brothers back in action and out to make every post a winner.
The day got off to a rough start for Ryder Kingsford when he had a huge fall during practice that saw both himself and his bike cartwheeling down the track. After laying motionless on the side of the track, Ryder was able to get to his feet, dust himself off and prepare for the first of his six races for the day.
Ryder Kingsford
The talented 14 year old shrugged off the crash and went on a rampage. He took the perfect three wins from three starts in the 13-15 years 250cc class and backed that up with 1-2-2 results in the 13-15 years 125cc division to win both classes on the day in an outstanding effort.
The dominant performance at the final round lifted Kingsford to second in the final standings on his YZ125 and third on his YZ250F.
Kayd Kingsford is back on track after a broken wrist and still returning to top speed but made good improvements since the last round. He finished fourth on the day in the hotly contested 12-15 years 85cc class with 5-4-4 results and closed the gap on the riders at the front of the field.
In the senior divisions, Rhys Budd took the win the 250cc Pro division for both the round and the championship. He dominated the day to win all four motos in that class and back that up with a third place finish for the round in the Pro Open group. That was enough to make it two series victories for the Sydney based rider.
Rhys Budd
East Coast MX – Round Five 13-15 years 250cc
Ryder Kingsford – 105 (Yamaha Junior Racing)
Rory Fairbrother – 88
Connor Rossandich – 80
13-15 years 125cc
Ryder Kingsford – 99 (Yamaha Junior Racing)
Hunter Collins – 98
Connor Towill – 90
12-15 years 85cc
Jyle Campbell – 102
Mason Hills – 95
Koby Hantis – 92
Kayd Kingsford – 82 (Yamaha Junior Racing)
East Coast MX Final Series Standings 13-15 years 250cc
Connor Rossandich – 439
Rory Fairbrother – 388
Ryder Kingsford – 367 (Yamaha YZ250F)
13-15 years 125cc
Connor Rossandich – 430
Ryder Kingsford – 386 (Yamaha YZ125)
Hunter Collins – 372
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SX4 confirms Cody Cooper as first signing
SX4 is a new format of Motocross launched by NZ motocross star, Ben Townley, combining four riders, four laps, four corners and four obstacles into two-minutes of action-packed racing, with tickets now on sale via Eventbrite. Now Cody Cooper, nine-time NZ MX1 motocross champion, has officially confirmed he will be the first signing for the inaugural SX4 event set to be staged in Taupo on 9 January 2021.
Cody Cooper
“What Ben has created will not only have fans on the edge of the seat, but, it will change the future of our sport for the better. I’m just stoked to get involved to help bring the event to life! The tightness of the track combined with quick fire racing gives spectators an experience they haven’t seen before in our sport. It was great to race alongside some of the best in the business over Labour Weekend and I can’t wait to take them to the slaughter in the New Year.”
Cody Cooper at the SX4 demo at MXFest
Cody Cooper was one of riders that competed in the SX4 demo event over Labour Weekend at MXFest. The inaugural event will see 12 of NZ’s top riders compete of 15 races in a two-hour window on 9 January 2021 at Digger McEwan Motorsport Park, Taupo. Individuals will compete for prize money. A Manufacturers Championship is also in development and will be another NZ first in the sport of motocross.
For more information and to buy tickets head to www.sx4.co.nz.
Duncan and Archer to headline KawiGirls Kings & Queens MX event
The inaugural Kawasaki KawiGirls Kings & Queens Motocross event will see double Women’s World MXChampion Courtney Duncan and GNCC WXC Championship (GNCC) runner-up Rachael Archer headlining the event. The December 12 meet celebrates New Zealand’s motocross women and the country’s top female riders will ensure the racing at the Rotorua Motorcycle Club is action-packed.
Courtney Duncan
“It’s awesome to see so many girls riding. When I started racing there were very few girls in the sport. It has been cool for me to show that you can be a girl but still be successful in motocross.”
Courtney Duncan
They include Hamilton riders KawiGirls ambassador Mikayla Rowe, who was fifth in the 2020 New Zealand Women’s Motocross Championship and second at the TT Nationals, plus current national women’s motocross champion Amie Roberts.
A foot injury sustained in her final GNCC round also won’t stop Archer turning up to race in December.
Rachael Archer
“I’ve flown home and will be spending the next two weeks in isolation, so by the time that’s done I’m hoping my foot will be all healed, as that will be six weeks since breaking it. Yamaha will give me a brand new 2021 YZ250FX to train on, so I’ll be riding that at the KawiGirls event.”
Rachael Archer – Image by Ken Hill
Eight-round ProMX Championship slated for 2021
Australia’s 2021 national motocross season is ready to fire into action with the announcement the 2021 ProMX Championship will see eight rounds of jam-packed action across seven weekends, launching a new era for the Australian Motocross Championship.
2021 ProMX Championship promises an eight round season
The ProMX Management Team have announce the 2021 ProMX Championship will explode into action April 11th and running through until mid-August. ProMX, the new name of the Australian Motocross Championship will see Australia’s best motocross riders go head to head as they battle to take victory as the 2021 Champion.
Race fans in attendance trackside will see Australia’s fastest riders on dirt compete and fight it out in MX1, MX2, the newly created MX3 and MXW class along with a host of exciting support classes for the 2021 ProMX Championship.
Peter Doyle – Motorcycling Australia CEO
“There has been significant work undertaken by the ProMX Management Team over many months to secure the right locations and venues, to create the best possible ProMX Championship calendar for 2021. Locking in the 2021 Calendar is a critical step forward in the preparation for a not to be missed ProMX Championship. We know teams are eager to go racing, and motocross fans are eager to see the fierce action on track that the ProMX Championship will deliver.”
As the final preparations take place The ProMX Management Team are busily working to create new event formats and schedules and are on track to announce the calendar at the end of next week. ProMX has worked with industry partners and host clubs and all look forward to go racing in 2021.
Nominations open For Gillman Speedway two-day extravaganza
Motorcycling Australia (MA) are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for FIM Oceania Speedway Championship, Australian Speedway U21 Championship, and Australian Speedway U16 250cc Championship, to be held at Gillman Speedway, South Australia between, January 29 and 30.
This two-day speedway extravaganza is guaranteed to showcase the best speedway riders in the Oceania region as well as Australia’s future champions.
The highest placed Australian rider in the FIM Oceania Speedway Championship on Saturday, January 30, will gain automatic entry into the 2021 Australian Speedway Senior Solo Championship.
FIM Oceania Speedway Championship
Last won by Australian ace Jack Holder who had a blistering year in Europe this year, this championship is destined to provide close handlebar to handlebar action for race fans.
The Australian Under 16 250cc Championship, to be held on Friday, January 29, will also be the qualifier for the 2021 FIM Speedway Youth World Championship to be held in Cloppenburg, Germany, on July 23 and 24, 2021.
There is expected to be some fierce competition in this class with the growing numbers of junior riders coming through.
The Australian Speedway Under21 Championship to be held on Friday January 29, 2021, will also have spectators on the edge of their seats to see if it can produce another World Champion.
Current Australian Under 21 Champion Jaimon Lidsey, went on to win the World Under21 Speedway Championship title earlier this year.
The provisional 2021 FIM Speedway Grand Prix and Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations calendars have been released. Next year’s SGP world individual champion is set to be crowned over 11 rounds, across at least seven different countries, including Russia which is staging its first-ever SGP event.
Bartosz Zmarzlik – 2020 SGP
Next season also marks the 20th Adrian Flux British SGP at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. Prague’s Marketa Stadium will extend its run as the longest-serving SGP venue when it stages the Czech SGP on June 5 – the 26th SGP round to take place in the Czech capital which first hosted the event in 1997.
The Monster Energy SON returns on September 17 and 18, in Latvia, where the top three countries in each event will qualify for the Final. The 2021 calendars are subject to change due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Paul Bellamy – Senior Vice President of Motorsports Events at IMG
“We are hopeful we will deliver an unforgettable year of world championship action after what has been a tough 2020 for everyone. Given that restrictions continue to change, the 2021 calendars remain subject to alteration. But despite all the challenges we faced, we were still able to stage some fantastic speedway this season and whatever 2021 brings, we are determined to bring our fans around the world more incredible racing. We look forward to returning to the nations that were unable to stage racing this year and I am particularly pleased to see Togliatti host SGP action for the first time. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made our 2020 events possible, including our partners at the FIM. We look forward to seeing you all again in 2021.”
2021 FIM Speedway Grand Prix calendar
April 24 – TBA
May 15 – PZM Warsaw SGP of Poland (Warsaw, Poland)
May 22 – German SGP (Teterow, Germany)
June 5 – Czech Republic SGP (Prague, Czech Republic)
June 19 – TBA
July 17 – Adrian Flux British SGP (Cardiff, GB)
July 31 – Betard Wroclaw SGP of Poland (Wroclaw, Poland)
August 14 – Swedish SGP (Malilla, Sweden)
August 28 – Russian SGP (Togliatti, Russia)
September 11 – Danish SGP sponsored by Ecco (Vojens, Denmark)
October 2 – Torun SGP of Poland (Torun, Poland)
2021 Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations calendar
September 17 – Semi-Final 1 (Daugavpils, Latvia)
September 18 – Semi-Final 2 (Daugavpils, Latvia)
October 16 – Final Day 1 (Manchester, GB)
October 17 – Final Day 2 (Manchester, GB)
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Yamaha Europe 2021 EMX250 line-up confirmed
Yamaha Motor Europe and the Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 Team have confirmed a three-rider line-up for the 2021 EMX250 Championship. The team have retained 15-year-old Dutch talent Dave Kooiker and welcomed two new riders, reigning EMX125 Champion Andrea Bonacorsi and EMX250 podium finisher Jeremy Sydow, to the team.
Andrea Bonacorsi will join Yamaha in 2021
Already a proven talent following his EMX125 title success, Bonacorsi in an exciting addition to the highly acclaimed Dutch team. The 17-year-old Italian celebrated seven EMX125 race wins, four overall victories and five podium finishes on his way to the 2020 EMX125 crown and will enter his first EMX250 season as a rider to watch.
Completing Yamaha’s bid for EMX250 success, Sydow celebrated an EMX250 podium finish on his way to sixth overall in the 2019 EMX250 Championship. Following a successful year inside the EMX250 class where he proved he was a top-three contender, the 20-year-old made the jump up to MX2 and instantly impressed with a top-10 race finish at the Grand Prix of Italy, in Imola. After a 2020 season hampered by health issues, Sydow will return to the EMX250 Championship next season, determined to fight for a top-three finish in the series standings.
All three riders will be racing a GYTR kitted YZ250F. The 2021 EMX250 Championship is provisionally scheduled to take place over 10 rounds and is set to start in Agueda, Portugal on May 8th.
Wim Hutten – Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 Team Owner
“This year was fantastic. We are very happy that we have become European Champions in the EMX250 class. It was our goal and we made it happen! I would like to thank Yamaha and my entire team for this. We have needed each other to achieve this. Teamwork makes the dreamwork! Going into next year we will continue with Dave Kooiker. He is only 15 years old, but we expect a lot from him in the future. He is a very talented rider. We are also happy that we have contracted Italian rider Andrea Bonacorsi for next season. This year he became European Champion in the EMX125 class, and we think he could be a surprise inside the EMX250 Championship. As the third rider, we welcome the German Jeremy Sydow to our team. He is an experienced rider on the bike. We think we have a nice mix of riders with him. Our goal remains the same, we want to become European champions in the EMX250 class again. We are looking forward to 2021!”
Thorsten Lentink – Yamaha Motor Europe MX Racing Coordinator
“We are very happy with the rider selection for next year. Hutten Metaal have already proven they are a very professional and serious team, which is really important for Yamaha to have a solid base to our Yamaha Racing pyramid, that is used to promote and develop the next generation of racing talent in a safe and professional manner. Our pyramid structure has already proven to be successful with the success of Thibault Benistant securing both the EMX125 title and this year’s EMX250 title within our Official Yamaha teams. With that said, we believe in the Hutten Metaal team and we are really looking forward to continuing with them in 2021 with a new line up. Starting with Dave Kooiker, Dave is young talent and has already shown that he is very capable, although he is very young, and we understand that this will take time to develop. This will be the same for the newly crowned EMX125 Champion Andrea Bonacorsi. Andrea will also need some time to adapt to the bigger bike, the 250cc, and for the two young riders Dave and Andrea our main goal will be consistency. Our German rider Jeremy Sydow has already shown some good things on the 250cc and is already experienced, so we hope that he can follow the same path as our 2020 EMX250 Champion Thibault. It is an exciting line up, and we look forward to adding to the Yamaha story in 2021.”
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FIM World Under 21 Speedway Champion Jaimon Lidsey returns to Oz
Recently crowned FIM World Under 21 Speedway Champion Jaimon Lidsey, has returned home from Europe to celebrate a phenomenal speedway season. Lidsey is currently in hotel quarantine and when released it will be the first time he has seen his son Eddie, born earlier this year, and will get to celebrate his World Championship win with family and friends in his home town of Red Cliffs, Victoria.
Jaimon Lidsey
“To be back in Australia is a relief as it looked like I would not be able to get back into Australia with what’s going on (COVID-19). Eddie is definitely the best highlight of my year. I’m still in the hotel at the moment and the weeks have been going slow and I’m very keen to go home and see him and my partner. Winning the World Under 21 Championship was definitely a highlight. I dreamt of it and worked hard over the years, so deep down I expected it within myself. I rode well this year and luck was on my side that night. I didn’t feel like I had won a World title until a few days later with people messaging me and when I looked back on the replay it sunk in. Now I know I’m a World Champion so it’s a pretty good feeling. Having that on your resume can’t get much better, it gives you a bit more negotiating power, but you can’t expect everything from it. I still have to race hard next year, and I haven’t finished yet, I still have more goals I want to achieve and want to keep improving.”
Jaimon Lidsey – 2020 FIM World Under 21 Speedway Champion
Lidsey, his partner and son, will relocate to Poland next year where he will again ride for Unia Leszno as well as Vastervik in Sweden. While his off-season will be spent with son Eddie and family, Lidsey will still keep fit in preparation for 2021 with plenty of cycling and practice days at Mildura Speedway as well as some events in January. Lidsey puts a large part of his success to the people that have helped him over many years.
Jaimon Lidsey
“I want to be fit for next year and ready to race, so I will keep training and maybe have a little holiday some time. I want to keep improving and not go backwards. I’ve got good equipment around me, under me and good people by my side, good mechanics and it’s all down to me at the end of the day. As long as I feel good, I know I can keep improving and race as much as I can… There is so many people I want to thank, from people that have helped back when I was a junior to those that help me now, my mum and dad, my grandparents, uncle and auntie, my partner and son for supporting me all the way. I want to thank everyone for waking up to watch every meeting, and particularly my family who didn’t miss a meeting this year. Everyone that has sponsored me over the years to help me win this World Championship title, I can’t thank them enough.”
Jaimon LidseyMoto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
MA release 2020-2023 “whole of motorcycling” strategic plan
Earlier this year the Motorcycling Australia (MA) Alliance set about developing the 2020-2023 “whole of motorcycling” strategic plan – “MOTORCYCLING UNLEASHED”, which was released earlier this month.
The strategic plan outlines the future direction of the MA Alliance by building on the significant achievements of the motorcycling community throughout the last five years. Due to the improved systems and processes adopted, the MA Alliance is in a sound collective financial position. Their strong financial position coupled with the growing popularity of recreational motorcycling offers the MA Alliance a solid platform from which to grow motorcycling into the future.
The strategic priorities that were identified in the strategic plan include
One-Motorcycling – Consolidating national systems has been identified as the first strategic priority for the future. Following a positive cost benefit analysis, the adoption (of where it makes sense) of licensing, national finance, human resource, legal, commercial and communications processes and procedures will ensure efficiency across the MA Alliance whilst creating a united Motorcycling Australia Alliance brand to communicate and engage through.
Connecting Communities with Motorcycling – The MA Alliance identified the second strategic priority to significantly grow the number and diversity of people enjoying and benefitting from regular motorcycling experiences, either as participants, volunteers, or via the myriad of other engagement opportunities that motorcycling offers.
Performance Pathways – The further development of performance pathways was identified as the third strategic priority by the MA Alliance, to ensure that Australia continues to produce and support elite athletes.
The strategic plan will be delivered by working as one motorcycling community and by effectively fulfilling respective roles and responsibilities. Over the next three years, the MA Alliance will be using a range of internal and external measurements to ensure the monitoring and progress.
The MA Alliance will also measure the satisfaction levels across a range of areas, including membership, education, events, club support, and other service areas. This monitoring will ensure members, participants, volunteers, and workforce are well supported and are being provided value.
MXGP rolled into Pietramurata over the weekend for the 2020 MXGP of Trentino, the first of the final three rounds to be held in Italy, with plenty of surprises in store, including a new race winner in the MXGP class.
Antonio Cairoli claimed his 92nd GP victory on home soil, while championship rival, Tim Gajser, was forced to settle for second, after taking a comfortable race win in the first heat but struggling to get a good start in the second race which made things tough. But it was Clement Desalle of Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team who was the man of the day, as he made his first podium appearance since the MXGP of the Netherlands in 2019. The Belgian took an incredible race win in the second race, to confirm his spot in third on the box.
Antonio Cairoli – P1
“I’m really happy to win the overall and to ride with Clement in the second moto; it was like a few years ago when we used to fight for the title! We were riding fast today. It’s always good to win in Italy but it’s not the same without any public so thanks to all those who were supporting from home. We’ll try to do our best for the rest of the championship. Tim is far ahead but we’ll try to enjoy the last two races and see what happens.”
Antonio Cairoli
Gajser (626) currently leads the MXGP standings from Cairoli (553) and Jeremy Seewer (535), with Romain Febvre fourth on 487, and Jorge Prado fifth on 476.
2020 MXGP of Trentino Overall
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
R1
R2
Total
1
Cairoli, Antonio
ITA
KTM
22
22
44
2
Gajser, Tim
SLO
HON
25
18
43
3
Desalle, Clement
BEL
KAW
15
25
40
4
Paulin, Gautier
FRA
YAM
18
20
38
5
Seewer, Jeremy
SUI
YAM
20
16
36
6
Lupino, Alessandro
ITA
YAM
14
14
28
7
Monticelli, Ivo
ITA
GAS
12
13
25
8
Tonus, Arnaud
SUI
YAM
16
8
24
9
Febvre, Romain
FRA
KAW
7
15
22
10
Tixier, Jordi
FRA
KTM
13
9
22
11
Bogers, Brian
NED
KTM
9
12
21
12
Van Horebeek, Jeremy
BEL
HON
8
10
18
13
Van doninck, Brent
BEL
YAM
5
11
16
14
Cervellin, Michele
ITA
YAM
10
6
16
15
Guillod, Valentin
SUI
HON
11
2
13
16
Petrov, Petar
BUL
KTM
6
4
10
17
Leok, Tanel
EST
HUS
4
5
9
18
Pichon, Zachary
FRA
HON
1
7
8
19
Sterry, Adam
GBR
KTM
0
3
3
20
Butron, Jose
ESP
KTM
2
1
3
21
Bernardini, Samuele
ITA
YAM
3
0
3
2020 MXGP Standings – Top 20
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Total
1
Gajser, Tim
SLO
HON
626
2
Cairoli, A.
ITA
KTM
553
3
Seewer, Jeremy
SUI
YAM
535
4
Febvre, Romain
FRA
KAW
487
5
Prado, Jorge
ESP
KTM
476
6
Paulin, G.
FRA
YAM
441
7
Desalle, C.
BEL
KAW
402
8
Coldenhoff, G.
NED
GAS
375
9
Van Horebeek, J.
BEL
HON
307
10
Herlings, J.
NED
KTM
263
11
Bogers, Brian
NED
KTM
254
12
Jasikonis, A.
LTU
HUS
248
13
Tixier, Jordi
FRA
KTM
234
14
Evans, M.
AUS
HON
228
15
Vlaanderen, C.
NED
YAM
206
16
Monticelli, I.
ITA
GAS
186
17
Tonus, Arnaud
SUI
YAM
146
18
Jacobi, Henry
GER
YAM
134
19
Lupino, A.
ITA
YAM
110
20
Cervellin, M.
ITA
YAM
100
MX2
In MX2, Jago Geerts made his return to the top step of the podium, following some tough races during his home rounds in Lommel. Geerts took a fourth in race one, and a race win in the second heat which gave him the advantage for the overall.
Jago Geerts
Jago Geerts – P1
“I’m really happy with how the day went. In the first heat I made a small mistake, but I still finished fourth and then in the second race I was feeling really good on the track. I think the championship is far away, but I don’t think about it, I just want to finish the season strong and we will see and focus on next year.”
Joining him was Thomas Kjer Olsen, who proved that he has the speed to win races in Pietramurata, as he claimed the victory in the opening heat and then a fourth in race two, for second overall on the day. The last rider to take to the podium was the championship leader, Tom Vialle who finished the races second and third, after a couple of small mistakes, including the crash in the second heat, which cost him the race win.
Thomas Kjer Olsen
Australian Beaton held strong to claim a solid third place in moto one after an impressive turn of speed during the early stages of the race. Coming together with another rider in the first turn resulted in a poor start for Beaton in race two, and he had to fight back into 10th by the end of lap two, before advancing to eighth by the halfway stage of the race. Unfortunate to lose a position in the closing stages of the moto, Jed’s ninth-place finish rewarded him with fourth overall.
Jed Beaton – P4
“It’s been a decent day for me. Overall, I feel really good on the bike, it was just a shame that I clipped someone at the start of race two. I felt great in race one, really comfortable and was on the pace, but third was the best that I could do in that one. I was looking forward to another good result in race two but it wasn’t to be. Two more rounds here though and I’m ready to get in the battle again.”
Jed Beaton
Fellow Australian Bailey Malkiewicz had a mixed weekend, with a strong Race 1 result, finishing in 12th for nine championship points, however 24th in Race 2 meant he had to settle for 18th overall.
Vialle now leads the MX2 standings on 693, with Geerts on 620 and Maxime Renaux third on 505. Thomas Kjer Olsen is fourth, a point ahead of teammate Jed Beaton, the duo on 489 and 488 respectively. Malkiewicz now holds 16th.
MX2 Overall Results
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
R1
R2
Total
1
Geerts, Jago
BEL
YAM
18
25
43
2
Olsen, Thomas Kjer
DEN
HUS
25
18
43
3
Vialle, Tom
FRA
KTM
22
20
42
4
Beaton, Jed
AUS
HUS
20
12
32
5
Renaux, Maxime
FRA
YAM
13
16
29
6
Benistant, Thibault
FRA
YAM
6
22
28
7
Gifting, Isak
SWE
GAS
14
14
28
8
Watson, Ben
GBR
YAM
11
15
26
9
Van De Moosdijk, Roan
NED
KAW
12
13
25
10
Fernandez, Ruben
ESP
YAM
16
9
25
11
Mewse, Conrad
GBR
KTM
15
5
20
12
Sandner, Michael
AUT
GAS
7
8
15
13
Horgmo, Kevin
NOR
KTM
3
11
14
14
Lesiardo, Morgan
ITA
HON
10
4
14
15
Vaessen, Bas
NED
KTM
2
10
12
16
Gilbert, Josh
GBR
HUS
5
6
11
17
Pancar, Jan
SLO
KTM
8
3
11
18
Malkiewicz, Bailey
AUS
HON
9
0
9
19
Rubini, Stephen
FRA
HON
0
7
7
20
Östlund, Alvin
SWE
HON
4
2
6
21
Polak, Petr
CZE
YAM
0
1
1
22
Sikyna, Richard
SVK
KTM
1
0
1
MX2 Standings
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Total
1
Vialle, Tom
FRA
KTM
693
2
Geerts, Jago
BEL
YAM
620
3
Renaux, Maxime
FRA
YAM
505
4
Olsen, T.
DEN
HUS
489
5
Beaton, Jed
AUS
HUS
488
6
Watson, Ben
GBR
YAM
466
7
Van De Moosdijk, R.
NED
KAW
442
8
Mewse, Conrad
GBR
KTM
327
9
Fernandez, R.
ESP
YAM
304
10
Rubini, S.
FRA
HON
235
11
Boisrame, M.
FRA
KAW
234
12
Östlund, Alvin
SWE
HON
221
13
Gifting, Isak
SWE
GAS
207
14
Forato, A.
ITA
HUS
156
15
Vaessen, Bas
NED
KTM
148
16
Malkiewicz, B.
AUS
HON
128
17
Haarup, Mikkel
DEN
KAW
118
18
Horgmo, Kevin
NOR
KTM
118
19
Lesiardo, M.
ITA
HON
104
20
Pancar, Jan
SLO
KTM
99
21
Gilbert, Josh
GBR
HUS
98
22
Renkens, N.
BEL
KTM
97
23
Crawford, N.
AUS
HON
91
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EMX Open
The EMX Open Championship made its much-awaited return in Italy for the round of Trentino, which is the fourth instalment of this year’s series. Action saw a brand-new winner in the category, as Frenchman, Jimmy Clochet took two strong race wins, on his wildcard appearance, to claim his first ever European podium as he placed first overall.
Joining him on the podium was Italian rider, Davide De Bortoli who had two solid second place finishes, ahead of Toms Macuks who made his third podium appearance of the year for third overall, following two fourths’ in the races.
Race 1
The opening race saw Dan Thornhill of Cab Screens Deos Group Honda take the holeshot, though Clochet wasted no time to get around the early leader, to move into the top spot. The Frenchman then checked out of the race, as he pulled a comfortable lead early on, which he maintained until the chequered flag.
EMX Open Start
Though in the early stages of the race Thornhill came under pressure from De Bortoli and eventually Macuks, with the pair getting around the Brit, before he dropped down a further few positions to finish 7th.
Clochet led every lap of the race, with De Bortoli behind him. Though it was the battle behind them that was heating up as Cornelius Toendel of JWR Racing pushed for his best result of the season, as he was eventually able to pass Macuks for third.
Championship leader, Karel Kutsar had a tough race, as he started down in and around 16th position, to eventually pull his way through to 9th, for vital championship points.
Race 2
The second race saw Clochet out in the lead once again, as he claimed the holeshot that time around. De Bortoli got another good start and so did Kutsar who was in third. In terms of the top three riders, there was no change in positions as the three maintained their spots and that’s how they would eventually finish.
Jimmy Clochet
Martin Michek, Mike Bolink and Macuks were having a close battle for 3rd, though by the third lap, Macuks was able to pass both riders to get himself into fourth, where he also finished the race.
Domantas Jazdauskas was also pushing for the top 5, as he challenged inside the top 10, though he made a mistake, which caused him to crash out of 8th and finish the race in 15th.
Meanwhile, Toendel was on a charge in race two after starting the race in the top 15. He fought to make some passes on Stefan Ekerold, Jazdauskas and Kim Savaste of 137 KTM Motorsport, along with others, to finish the race in 6th, with Michek finishing just ahead of him in 5th.
In terms of the championship, despite missing out on a podium spot, Kutsar still leads in the standings by 12 points, with Savaste second, finishing 6th overall today, and Macuks third, a further 21 points behind.
There are now two rounds remaining of the EMX Open championship, with still plenty of points up for grabs, which will make for some interesting races as we reach the closing stages of the opening year of the brand-new series.
Jimmy Clochet
“Today was a really good day for me, before, the last year I was riding in the EMX250 with Bud Racing team, this year I got this news challenge and I jump on the EMXOpen class. I was feeling really good with the track and with the bike and I got two really good starts, so I’m really happy about my day and I’m ready for the next round.”
Davide De Bortoli
“I’m really happy to be here and for my first podium in the European Championship. Today I was feeling really good with my bike. I wanted to race in Latvia, but I got injured just some days before. Today I did my best and now I’m looking forward the next races here in Pietramurata.”
Davide De Bortoli
Toms Mackus
“I’m happy about the podium but the race wasn’t the best and not what I was expecting because I did bad start and I crashed. I’m ready for the next races and I’m really looking forward to get a good result on the next one.”
Karel Kutsar
“The most important thing is the Championship. In the first race I was quite nervous, so I did two little mistakes in the first corners of the first lap and because of that I lost many positions. Anyway, I tried to do my best and I finished 9th. In the second race, I took a better start and I tried to ride good and safe, finally I got a good result. Now I’m ready for the next race.”
EMX Open Overall – Trentino
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
R1
R2
Total
1
Clochet, Jimmy
FRA
KAW
25
25
50
2
De Bortoli, Davide
ITA
HON
22
22
44
3
Macuks, Toms
LAT
KTM
18
18
36
4
Toendel, Cornelius
NOR
HON
20
15
35
5
Kutsar, Karel
EST
KTM
12
20
32
6
Savaste, Kim
FIN
KTM
16
13
29
7
Michek, Martin
CZE
KTM
10
16
26
8
Ekerold, Stefan
GER
SUZ
11
14
25
9
Gryning, Mathias
DEN
YAM
13
10
23
10
Thornhill , Dan
GBR
HON
14
9
23
11
Bolink, Mike
NED
KTM
6
11
17
12
Sjoholm, Mads
DEN
KTM
4
12
16
13
Bartos, Petr
CZE
KTM
8
7
15
14
Adamson, John
GBR
KTM
15
0
15
15
Rathousky, Petr
CZE
KTM
7
3
10
16
Windt, Rob
NED
KTM
9
0
9
17
Haberland, Paul
GER
HON
0
8
8
18
Michalec, Petr
CZE
HON
3
5
8
19
Ubach, Simeo
ESP
HUS
5
2
7
20
Jazdauskas, Domantas
LTU
HUS
0
6
6
21
Malin, Wiljam
FIN
HUS
2
4
6
22
Wedage, Damian
NED
KTM
0
1
1
23
Tornau, Fynn-Niklas
GER
KTM
1
0
1
24
Pletka, Libor
CZE
KTM
0
0
0
25
Rossi, Andrea
ITA
KTM
0
0
0
EMX Open Standings – Top 15
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Total
1
Kutsar, Karel
EST
KTM
163
2
Savaste, Kim
FIN
KTM
151
3
Macuks, Toms
LAT
KTM
130
4
Ekerold, S.
GER
SUZ
118
5
Sihvonen, Miro
FIN
HUS
101
6
Lusbo, Andero
EST
HUS
93
7
Matikainen, J.
FIN
HUS
83
8
Kalejs, Karlis
LAT
HUS
75
9
Toendel, C.
NOR
HON
73
10
Jazdauskas, D.
LTU
HUS
73
11
Smets, Greg
BEL
KTM
67
12
Ubach, Simeo
ESP
HUS
58
13
Dixon, Nathan
GBR
HUS
54
14
Clochet, Jimmy
FRA
KAW
50
15
De Bortoli, D.
ITA
HON
44
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WMX
New Zealander, Courtney Duncan of DRT Kawasaki has made history once again, as she claimed her second world title in the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship at the final here in Pietramurata, Italy.
Courtney Duncan
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling right now! I dreamt of these days when I was a kid; I’ve worked fifteen years of my life for moments like this. This year has been so full of uncertainties with Covid and our own challenges. Like the crash in Mantova when I got back to my bike and the bars were snapped; it felt as though the championship was gone in the blink-of-an-eye and I’m so proud how we fought back, stayed positive and confident to come out on top for a second year. Massive thanks to the entire team – you can’t do it alone – but we got it done.
Courtney Duncan
There was so much pressure on each of us coming to the final round with the points so close; it was a matter of winner-takes-all and you have to rise to the occasion. I actually got more excited by the situation. These are the moments that count; I stood up and rose today and that’s why I’m champion. I fell down at the start of the first race but thankfully some more went down at turn two; I just never gave up, put it behind me and concentated on pulling back as many places as I could. Potentially I got a few gifts, particularly when Larissa fell on the last lap, but I gotta thank my crew for keeping me posted; I’m proud of the way I stayed composed and I was just in my zone all race. Such a crazy race and it put me in the right position before race two. I knew the points so I didn’t need to take any risks. I stayed out of the chaos and tried to stay focused through the last laps but I don’t want to take it away from the girls in front who were riding so good; I let it play out in front of me and took the overall today and the championship. It was so close in the end. We were all put under-the-pump knowing it was tight coming to the final round but thankfully I got that moto win in race one and that made the difference. I just want to enjoy this one this evening but 100% sure I want to make it a three-piece with Kawasaki next year!“
Courtney Duncan
The WMX championship came down to the final race, as four riders were all in contention of grabbing the title. With just 10 points separating Nancy Van de Ven of Ghidinelli Racing, who led the championship coming into the round of Trentino, Duncan, MXFonta Syneco’s Kiara Fontanesi and Larissa Papenmeier of Yamaha Racing 423, the action today was next level, as each one of the riders gave it their all for the chance to take home the gold plate.
Race 1
And there was plenty of drama in the races, starting with the opening heat which saw Duncan, Van De Ven and Fontanesi go down in the start, while Papenmeier grabbed the holeshot and led the way comfortably.
Duncan though was not looking to waste any time, as she pushed hard throughout the race, making some very quick passes, which saw her move into the top three on the fourth lap of the race. Meanwhile, Van De Ven and Fontanesi were also making good progress and were pushing inside the top 10.
The top 4 ladies didn’t let off, as they each pushed for vital championship points, though the closing stages of the race saw more drama and this time it was for the race leader, Papenmeier, who had a nice 10 second gap to Duncan in second, but a small mistake which resulted in a crash, in the corner before the finish jump, allowed the Kiwi to close in on Papenmeier and eventually pass her for the win.
Courtney Duncan
Papenmeier held on to second, with JK Racing Yamaha’s Lynn Valk having a fantastic ride to finish third ahead of Shana Van der Vlist and Van de Ven having to settle for fifth.
Race 2
The second race was the last opportunity for Duncan, Van De Ven, Papenmeier and Fontanesi to do something about the outcome of this championship. And for Van De Ven it was a complete turnaround of the opening heat, as she took the holeshot and led every lap of the race from start to flag. While she led the way, the battle was heating up behind her, as Fontanesi, Van der Vlist, Duncan and Papenmeier battle it out for top scoring positions.
WMX Start
All eyes were focused on the nice battle between Fontanesi and Duncan which carried on for 6 laps, before the Italian was eventually able to find her way through on the DRT Kawasaki rider. The pair then pushed their way onto the back of the race leader, though Van De Ven was able to handle the pressure and take the race win, but it was not enough for her to secure the title this time around. Fontanesi crossed the line to finish the race second, while Duncan was third.
By the end of the race, both Van De Ven and Duncan were tied on 207 points, with the championship being decided on race wins and it was those 5 race wins, in Matterley Basin, Mantova and Trentino today, which helped Duncan secure the gold plate for the second year in a row. Van De Ven was forced to settle for a silver medal this season, as she finished the year with her second race win and a fourth podium finish. While Papenmeier secured bronze with two overall victories in Valkenswaard and Mantova and four podiums this season.
The podium today was exactly the same as the championship standings, with Duncan celebrating her title on the top step of the podium, with Van De Ven second and Papenmeier finishing third on the box.
Nancy Van De Ven, Courtney Duncan and Larissa Papenmeier
Nancy Van De Ven
“The crash in the first race and mistakes in the beginning of the year made it really hard for me and what can I say, what’s worse than getting second in the championship with the same points”.
Larissa Papenmeier
“It was really close, anyone of us four could be world champion, so you had to fight until the last minute. I had a good first heat, unfortunately I tipped over, but it was my own mistake and I finished second. Nothing was lost by then, but my second heat wasn’t that good. The others were better, Courtney for sure deserved it, I think if she stays on the bike, she’s fastest on the track so she deserved it for sure. Congratulations to her. Being third overall in the world championship is not bad, for sure I’m fighting for first but I’m not giving up yet.”
WMX Overall – Trentino 2020
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
R1
R2
Total
1
Duncan, Courtney
NZL
KAW
25
20
45
2
Van De Ven, Nancy
NED
YAM
16
25
41
3
Papenmeier, Larissa
GER
YAM
22
18
40
4
Fontanesi, Kiara
ITA
KTM
15
22
37
5
Valk, Lynn
NED
YAM
20
16
36
6
van der Vlist, Shana
NED
KTM
18
15
33
7
Andersen, Sara
DEN
KTM
14
14
28
8
Astudillo, Jamie
USA
KTM
13
13
26
9
Nocera, Francesca
ITA
YAM
11
12
23
10
Keller, Sandra
SUI
KTM
12
9
21
11
Jakobsen, Malou
DEN
KTM
8
11
19
12
Borchers, Anne
GER
SUZ
9
8
17
13
O’Hare, Tahlia Jade
AUS
KTM
6
10
16
14
Germond, Virginie
SUI
KTM
7
5
12
15
Kapsamer , Elena
AUT
KTM
10
0
10
16
Viaud, Camille
FRA
YAM
3
6
9
17
Irmgartz, Kim
GER
HON
5
4
9
18
Berry, Avrie
USA
KTM
0
7
7
19
Hoppe, Fiona
GER
HUS
4
1
5
20
Reitze, Alicia
GER
YAM
1
3
4
21
Lehmann, Janina
GER
YAM
0
2
2
22
Galvagno, Elisa
ITA
YAM
2
0
2
WMX Final Standings
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Total
1
Duncan, C.
NZL
KAW
207
2
Van De Ven, N.
NED
YAM
207
3
Papenmeier, L.
GER
YAM
200
4
Fontanesi, K.
ITA
KTM
193
5
Valk, Lynn
NED
YAM
164
6
van der Vlist, S.
NED
KTM
135
7
Andersen, Sara
DEN
KTM
121
8
Dam, Line
DEN
YAM
114
9
Borchers, Anne
GER
SUZ
94
10
O’Hare, T.
AUS
KTM
91
11
Astudillo, J.
USA
KTM
77
12
Jakobsen, M.
DEN
KTM
54
13
Nocera, F.
ITA
YAM
49
14
Verstappen, A.
BEL
KAW
46
15
Martinez, M.
FRA
KTM
39
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Lettenbichler wins 2020 Red Bull Romaniacs
Rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 17th edition of Red Bull Romaniacs included the added challenge of the changeable autumnal weather conditions in the Carpathian Mountains.
Manuel Lettenbichler
With the traditional Prologue event on the streets of host city Sibiu cancelled, riders first faced a relatively short, time trial qualification stage to determine the opening day’s start order. Manuel Lettenbichler, making his international race debut for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, finished fifth-fastest, granting him an advantageous start position for Offroad Day 1.
Dry conditions greeted riders early in the morning for the first full day of offroad racing, but it was obvious right from the off that the organizers had plenty in store for the Gold Class competitors. Named ‘Vertical Madness’ for 2020, the race lived up to its name, delivering technically demanding, steep climbs and with a no-help rule for this year, riders had to fight their way to the top unaided.
Manuel Lettenbichler
Second on day one, Lettenbichler finished 41 seconds behind the leader but enjoyed an advantage of over three minutes over the third-placed rider. The top two, Lettenbichler and experienced extreme racer Graham Jarvis, would battle this way for the three remaining days. Victory on day two went to the Red Bull KTM rider who gapped his main rival by close to three minutes, giving him a two-minute advantage going into the third stage.
With Lettenbichler taking his KTM 300 EXC TPI to second on Offroad Day 3, the top two went into the final day separated by just 25 seconds following over 16 hours of racing. With conditions worsening and the already slippery hills made more treacherous following light rain, riders found Offroad Day 4 to be one of the toughest.
Manuel Lettenbichler
Putting in a champion’s performance, Lettenbichler did exactly what he needed to do on the final day and kept Jarvis behind him. Successfully completing the last stage of the event as third-fastest, Lettenbichler secured the win by close to two-and-a-half minutes. The result gives the 2019 WESS Champion back-to-back victories at Red Bull Romaniacs and confirms the 22-year-old as one of the top riders of the sport.
Manuel Lettenbichler – P1
“I’m over the moon, it really is amazing. It’s been such a tough year for everyone and it’s cool to get another win here at Romaniacs. I started well but couldn’t believe how fast Graham was going – he was riding so good over the whole four days so congratulations to him. We were riding together a lot over the event and that really kept me motivated. I’m stoked to come away with another win. It was hard coming into the race to know how you would fair compared to the other guys as there has been so little racing this year and you don’t know how you are skill or fitness-wise. I’m super happy to take the win!”
Fighting all the way to the finish, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Graham Jarvis narrowly finished as runner-up at Romaniacs 2020. Joining him on the podium, teammate Alfredo Gomez charged ahead on the final day of racing to secure third overall.
Graham Jarvis – P2
“It’s been different to race here in October, but it’s worked good. I felt like I was riding really strong all week, but today Mani just had the edge. Starting out the week with a win was perfect and put me into a strong position. I knew the other guys would be pushing hard too, so I tried to play the long game and wait for another attack. I won the penultimate day but only by enough to give me a 25-second lead. With one crash early on, that advantage was quickly gone. Overall, I’ve a lot to be happy about, but I guess I’ll have to wait a little bit longer for a seventh win.”
Graham Jarvis
Alfredo Gomez – P3
“I’m delighted to come back strong for third. After a bad start to my week I rode each day never giving up. Experience has taught me that everything can happen in this race and the most important thing you can do is be patient. I stuck to that and chipped away. I had a great ride yesterday and knew it was all-or-nothing today. I gave it my best and got third. I’m happy with that.”
Alfredo Gomez
Top Australian was Shane Moss in the Silver category, racing to sixth in his class, with a total time of 23h27m37s, 4h11m11s behind silver winner Peter Weiss.
2020 Red Bull Romaniacs Gold Results
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Total
Gap
1
Manuel Lettenbichler
DEU
20h27m11s
+0s
2
Graham Jarvis
GBR
20h29m37s
+2m26s
3
Alfredo Gomez Cantero
ESP
20h41m20s
+14m9s
4
Wade Young
ZAF
20h41m33s
+14m22s
5
Billy Bolt
GBR
20h58m29s
+31m18s
6
Mario Roman
ESP
22h11m39s
+1h44m28s
7
Michael Walkner
AUT
23h15m1s
+2h47m50s
8
Teodor Kabakchiev
BGR
24h57m25s
+4h30m14s
9
Michele Bosi
ITA
26h39m11s
+6h12m
10
Sonny Goggia
ITA
27h14m24s
+6h47m13s
11
Rienk Tuinstra
NLD
28h48m32s
+8h21m21s
12
Suff Sella
ISR
32h19m2s
+11h51m51s
13
Sandra Gomez Cantero
ESP
52h21m7s
+31h53m56s
14
Vasiu Nicolae
ROU
52h29m36s
+32h2m25s
2020 Red Bull Romaniacs Silver Results
Pos
Rider
Nat
Time
Gap
1
Peter Weiss
DNK
19h16m26s
+0s
2
Poirot Fabien
FRA
19h30m29s
+14m3s
3
Joe Deakin
GBR
20h57m13s
+1h40m47s
4
Guillot Yoann
FRA
21h11m34s
+1h55m8s
5
Tim Apolle
DEU
22h1m9s
+2h44m43s
6
Shane Moss
AUS
23h27m37s
+4h11m11s
7
Alex Tara
ROU
23h34m37s
+4h18m11s
8
Victor Shpalov
RUS
27h5m34s
+7h49m8s
9
Bayram Uysal
TUR
28h15m49s
+8h59m23s
10
Oleksiy Dobychin
UKR
29h50m38s
+10h34m12s
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Steve Holcombe wins 2020 Italian Enduro Championship
Beta Factory Racing’s Steve Holcombe has won this year’s Italian Enduro Championship delivering a debut national title for the Italian manufacturer on their Beta RR Racing 4T 350.
Steve Holcombe – Image by Future7Media
Arriving to the final round of the Italian Enduro Championship in Arma di Taggia as series leader, Holcombe looked to clinch the title in what’s been a challenging pandemic hit year. Knowing he held a comfortable points gap over his nearest competitor Thomas Oldrati, Holcombe put his energy into racing for the championship, while remaining safe ahead of the EnduroGP double header.
Taking his time to adjust to the conditions on Saturday, Steve steadily worked his way up the leaderboard to finish a strong second behind teammate Brad Freeman. On day two, a small crash on the extreme test set him back. And with one less lap to ride than the previous day, he had to push hard to get back to sixth in order to seal the title. With the Italian Enduro Championship secured, Steve hands Beta Motorcycles their first national crown with their RR Racing 4T 350.
Steve Holcombe – Image by Future7Media
Steve now looks forward to defending his Enduro World Championship lead at the final two rounds in Portugal, beginning next weekend on November 7-8.
Steve Holcombe
“I’m made up to win the Italian Enduro Championship again. I know how much this means to Beta because it’s their national series and it’s become important to me on a personal and professional level, too. The focus for this weekend was to lock up the title as safely and cleanly as possible knowing that the final two rounds of EnduroGP are just days ahead. It can be hard to find that balance, instead of just racing to win, so there were a few mistakes this weekend. Thankfully, it all came good. I’m delighted to have won this championship back and doing it on the 350 four-stroke for the first time is the icing on the cake!”
Steve Holcombe – Image by Future7Media
2020 Italian Enduro Championship Standings
Pos
Rider
Man.
Points
1
Steve Holcombe
Beta
121
2
Thomas Oldrati
Honda
119
3
Brad Freeman
Honda
115
4
Andrea Verona
TM
95
5
Joe Wootton
Husqvarna
79
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Cheyne Boyd injury update
Cheyne Boyd has shared the following injury update on his Instagram page, after a life-threatening crash saw him rushed to hospital:
“So here is my progression update, 11 days ago I had a crash . I was rushed to emergency, life saving surgery to repair the artery I had ruptured next to my heart. I was internally bleeding to death, and needed 21 bags of blood. From there I was placed in an induced coma before another surgery on Saturday to fuse my spine after I fractured my thoracic and dislocated my lumbar spine. Thankfully both these surgeries were successful, and I am able to walk, talk and use my arms. I am beyond grateful for the ambulance and medical staff at The Royal Melbourne hospital that saved my life. I also have 17 broken ribs, and a fractured pelvis as well as collapsed lungs and fractured C4 and C5 vertebrae. Thankyou to everyone who has sent well wishes and thoughts and prayers, to myself and Caitlin and the kids. Thankyou to my friends, who have been such an amazing support system and really rallied around myself and my family when we needed them most. Thankyou to Caitlin, who I without a doubt, scared the most and is my biggest motivation, along with our kids, Brooklyn, Billie and Boston. I am busy making plans to reopen Park4MX so please sit tight and wait for further announcements. Thank you.”
Cheyne Boyd shared a picture of the aftermath of his surgery on Instagram
Motorcycling Australia welcome AMG Group
Motorcycling Australia (MA) have welcomed new industry body Australian Motocross Group (AMG) to the fold, with the two organisations to work closely and form part of the ProMX Management Team to help grow motocross in Australia.
AMG was recently launched by long time team owner and MA Motocross Commissioner Mark Luksich, Craig Dack MX legend and CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team owner, Gavin Eales from Serco Motorsport and Yarrive Konsky from Penrite Honda Racing. AMG will be a part of the seven member ProMX Management Team that will drive the strategic planning of ProMX for 2021 and beyond.
ProMX announced by Motorcycling Australia
MA CEO Peter Doyle said the inclusion of AMG into the ProMX Management Team was a key step in ensuring industry, professional and privateer riders and teams have a voice and are represented, giving all parties a channel of communication direct to the sport’s national controlling body.
Peter Doyle – MA CEO
“It’s great to have industry and teams represented as part of our management team to ensure we can collectively and collaboratively grow the sport of motocross in Australia, and with representation from AMG we have that wealth of knowledge and experience to draw upon. With the right support from industry, partners and sponsors we hope to be able to showcase the ProMX championship to a wider Australian and international audience through various media channels.”
Planning is well underway with a calendar set to be announced in November.
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Dubai International Baja cancelled
Despite the best efforts of all parties involved and due to ongoing health concerns and associated restrictions in light of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the FIM, the Emirates Motorsport Organisation (EMSO) and the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) have regretfully announced the cancellation of the Dubai International Baja that was rescheduled to take place on 26-28 November.
Dubai International Baja cancelled
The second and last event of the 2020 season will take place in Portalegre, Portugal on 05-07 November.
Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing sign Malcolm Stewart
Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing have announced the addition of Malcolm Stewart to their 450 team for the 2021 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. The 2016 250SX East Champion will line up alongside the 2018 250SX West Champion, Aaron Plessinger, and the back-to-back 250SX West Champion, Dylan Ferrandis, for a three-pronged threat in the highly competitive premier class.
Malcolm Stewart
Stewart is fresh off his best season in the 450 class. The Florida rider really started hitting his stride in the seven-race run in Salt Lake City, finishing fourth at the season finale to end the year seventh in the standings. Stewart looks to build on that momentum next season with the Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing team.
Malcolm Stewart – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing
“I’m really excited to join the team. I’ve known a lot of the guys before, when I was around the team back in 2011. Gareth Swanepoel is my trainer and he works with their guys, plus I have a few buddies there. So, it isn’t a big change for me. It just kind of adds another piece to the puzzle. I’m definitely happy. The team has had a lot of success and has dominated the 250 class. They have a phenomenal setup and to be a part of their first year in the 450 class, it makes it more exciting for all of us. I feel like we have some good heavy hitters. Myself, Dylan Ferrandis, and Aaron Plessinger, every single one of us has won a 250 title. It should be a really good year. It’s only Supercross right now, but hopefully it goes well, and we can turn it into something in the future.”
Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing 450 Team Manager
“Adding Malcolm to our already great line up excites me that much more for this upcoming season. He is an amazing rider, especially when it comes to the whoops. I can’t wait to see him on the track.”
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GasGas Factory Racing sign Pauls Jonas, Brian Bogers, Isak Gifting
Hard-charging former MX2 World Champion Pauls Jonass will team up with the highly-capable Brian Bogers to complete Standing Construct GasGas Factory Racing’s all-new MXGP rider line-up for 2020. Pauls will be the ideal match for the MC 450F as the Latvian looks forward to re-establishing himself as one of the world’s best. Delivering a strong run of results during 2020, Dutchman Bogers is also ready to mix it up with the heavy hitters of the MXGP class.
A proven MXGP racer, Jonass entered the grand prix scene in 2014, rapidly progressing to become MX2 World Champion just three years later. Placing as runner-up in 2018, the Latvian then moved to the MXGP class for the following season. In his debut 450cc campaign he was quick to find success, securing three overall podium visits and an impressive sixth place in the final standings.
2020 was set to be Jonass’ breakout year but an untimely training crash ended his season early. Following months of rehabilitation and with his desire for success stronger than ever, he’s now back to full fitness, ready to bang bars and fight for podiums when the gate drops for the start of the 2021 season.
Pauls Jonass
“I’m really excited for my future with GASGAS. I have to thank the Standing Construct team for believing in me while I have been injured but I will be back to 100% and then I can start testing with the team. It’s an exciting time for me and my rehabilitation is going very well. I’m looking forward to a great future together with GASGAS and I look forward to achieving some great results when the 2021 season starts.”
Pauls Jonass
Competing alongside Jonass, Brian Bogers also joins Standing Construct GASGAS Factory Racing for 2021. Currently ranked 12th in the 2020 MXGP World Championship, the Dutchman has been a constant threat for top-five results during recent GPs. Aiming for the top-10 in the final MXGP standings, Bogers, like his new teammate, will soon head into the off-season focused on testing and preparation ahead of the new MXGP season.
Brian Bogers
“It’s a great feeling to be on the Standing Construct GASGAS team for 2021. I’m really looking forward to next season as I know the team is very professional and the bike is great. They have had impressive results over recent years, so it gives me a lot of confidence. It’s an exciting opportunity. I’ve had a strong season in 2020 and I’m ready for the next step with GASGAS in 2021.”
Tim Mathys – Standing Construct GASGAS Factory Racing MXGP Team Manager
“We’re excited to have two very capable riders for 2021, that give us an exciting all-new line-up. As a former MX2 World Champion, Pauls Jonass has already achieved great results in MXGP and has proved to be a rider with top-three potential. I am convinced that with the approach we have already used in our team, we can get the very best out of him. He is hugely motivated, and I believe that we can push him to an even higher level, just like we have done with many riders in the past. Our second rider, Brian Bogers, has matured a lot during the past season. He has proven during the last races, with 10 top-10 finishes in a row, that he is ready to have a breakthrough in the MXGP class. He is physically and mentally stronger and ready to compete with the big boys. Both Pauls and Brian are still young, so we will have a young, robust team that we can work closely with. Together with GASGAS Factory Racing we are confident in their abilities, and as a team we look forward to great results from both riders next season.”
GasGas also welcomed Isak Gifting, with the young Swede to remain in red and take on his first full season of MX2 competition following his sensational performances as a stand-in rider during recent GPs. Joining the DIGA Procross GASGAS Factory Racing team for 2021, Isak will compete alongside the returning Simon Langenfelder with both racing on our proven MC 250F.
Isak Gifting
“It’s an amazing feeling to continue with the DIGA Procross GASGAS team in 2021 as a full factory rider. Riding Grands Prix has been a dream of mine since I was a little boy and now I’ve made it. Racing for a factory team, it’s just unbelievable. The bike is fantastic and having a solid team around me with a great manager, mechanics and a trainer gives me a lot of confidence. I have a great feeling going into 2021. I can’t wait to have a full winter of testing with the team and I’m sure that together we can achieve some great results.”
Isak Gifting
Simon Langenfelder will return to the team for 2021, his second term of MX2 World Championship action. Having shown flashes of speed throughout this season before an untimely leg injury, the young German is fully focused on his recovery and looking ahead to prepare for the new season.
Simon Langenfelder
“I’m really looking forward to 2021. I was just starting to put together decent results this season before my crash in Faenza. It was a disappointing way to end the season. Fortunately, I have a great team around me, and I’m almost fully recovered so we can begin our preparation for the new season really soon. I’m excited for the future. I know the bike is good so being able to continue with the DIGA Procross GASGAS team is a great feeling.”
Justin Amian – DIGA Procross GASGAS Factory Racing Team Manager
“We’re really excited for the 2021 season with Isak joining the team alongside Simon. Since Isak joined us as a fill-in rider he’s done nothing but impress me and the rest of the team. His results speak for themselves. Continual progression and he’s really made the best of the opportunity that we gave him. He is incredibly strong-minded, a real fighter on the track and his fitness is incredible so it was an easy decision to have him join our team. We believe in him and he believes in us. We also know that Simon can deliver great results, as he started to show this year. His injury was really unfortunate, but we know that he is fully focused on his preparations for 2021. We look forward to a great off-season of testing ahead of next year and we’re excited for the future with Isak and Simon.”
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GASGAS Factory Racing announce AMA SX & Pro Motocross line-up
GASGAS Motorcycles has announced the highly-anticipated Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing team line-up, as they prepare to compete in both the 250cc and 450cc divisions of the AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross Championships for the 2021 season and beyond.
Highlighting the team’s 450 effort is Justin Barcia, a seasoned front-runner who is looking to re-establish himself as a title contender in the premier class aboard the GASGAS MC 450F. In the 250 division, Pierce Brown will race aboard the MC 250F alongside teammate Michael Mosiman, who is eager to pick up where he left off last season as a 250 class front-runner.
Justin Barcia, Pierce Brown, Michael Mosiman
Barcia will lead GASGAS Motorcycles into their very first year of American racing. After claiming back-to-back 250SX titles in 2011-2012, Justin will celebrate his ninth season of 450cc racing in 2021. Claiming victory in his second ever 450SX race, he’s since gone on to enjoy multiple victories and podium finishes both indoors and out. With a new team and bike for 2021, Barcia’s busy preparing himself for what he believes can be his best season yet.
Taking to the start line in the 250 division, Pierce Brown and Michael Mosiman are young racers that each recorded strong 250SX results in 2020. Looking to unlock their full potential, they’ll be aiming for the podium when the gate drops for round one.
Roger De Coster – Director of Motorsports in North America
“Appointing Troy Lee Designs as the official GASGAS Factory Racing team for supercross and motocross not only further strengthens our longstanding partnership with Troy and his team, it also starts an important new chapter for TLD in the 450 class and for GASGAS in America, which is a hugely important step for GASGAS Motorcycles. As an energetic, new brand we’re excited to establish the MC 450F and MC 250F when we get back to racing and the start of the 2021 supercross series. We look forward to providing the technical support and guidance needed to allow Justin, Pierce and Michael to perform at their very best in 2021 and wish everyone at Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing all the best for the new season ahead.”
Jett Lawrence awarded 2020 Marty Smith Rookie of the Year
The first honoree of the newly named “Marty Smith Rookie of the Year” was GEICO Honda’s Jett Lawrence. On a bittersweet afternoon for the influential race team at the Fox Raceway National, the Australian capped off a stellar first full season of Pro Motocross competition by breaking through with the first win of what looks to be a promising career, which also helped him earn fourth in the final standings.
Jett Lawrence – Image by Align Media
The 17-year-old is the first Australian to earn the award and his victory, combined with the first career win for Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton in the 450 Class that same day, helped vault American Honda Motor Company to “Manufacturer of the Year”. The “Red Riders” amassed more points across both the 450 Class and 250 Class than any other OEM, wrapping up a banner afternoon and memorable season for the iconic Japanese brand.
2020 GNCC Yamaha Racing Ironman – Indiana
Round 12 of the 2020 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series concluded at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana on Sunday and coming through to take his second overall win of the season was Josh Strang.
Josh Strang – Image by Ken Hill
Strang steadily made his way through the pack after starting in the third place position. After moving into second Strang would set his sights on the lead position, and he would battle throughout the fourth lap to take over the number one spot. Strang would continue to lead the last four laps of racing, but not without pressure from AmPro Yamaha’s Steward Baylor Jr.
Strang and Baylor Jr. continued to battle on the last lap, but after an incident on Ironman hill Baylor Jr. would find himself falling behind Strang as they came through the motocross track to take the checkered flag. Baylor Jr. held the lead for the first three laps of racing before Strang made the stick, but even after a crash on the hill he would remain 1.5 seconds ahead of third overall.
Ben Kelley worked his way up after running seventh on the opening laps
Josh Strang – Image by Ken Hill
of racing. Kelley make the necessary passes to move up through the pack, and he would close the gap between him and Baylor Jr. as the white flag flew. Kelley moves into seventh overall in the points standings after missing the first half of the season.
Coming through to take fourth overall on the day was Kailub Russell. Russell found himself towards the front of the XC1 Open Pro riders at the beginning of the race but would make a mistake halfway through losing some valuable time with the leaders. Russell would continue to push on, ultimately coming through 7 seconds behind his teammate Kelley.
Steward Baylor Jr. – Image by Ken Hill
Another rider that found himself towards the front early on in the race was Layne Michael. On lap four, Michael came through timing and scoring holding onto third overall but as the race worse on he would find himself falling back two positions to take fifth overall on the day.
Grant Baylor was making moves throughout the duration of the race after coming through timing and scoring in eighth on the opening lap. Baylor would continue to push, as he made his way up to sixth overall after a hard-fought battle at this year’s Ironman event. Baylor continues to hold onto sixth in the XC1 Open Pro class standings.
Earning seventh on the day was Jordan Ashburn. After coming through fifth on lap one, Ashburn would have his work cut out for him as a hungry pack of riders were right behind him. Ashburn found himself as far back as eighth at one point in the race and would then move into seventh on the day continuing to stay in that position until the checkered flag flew.
Phoenix Honda Racing’s Andrew Delong made a last lap pass to move into eighth after running ninth for majority of the race. While Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thad Duvall suffered a crash on the fifth lap and found himself back to eighth after running up in fifth for the first half of the race. KLM Kawasaki’s Evan Earl rounded out the top 10 in the XC1 class after steadily holding onto that position throughout the race.
Andrew Delong – Image by Ken Hill
In the XC2 250 Pro class, it was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Craig Delong jumping out to grab the $100 Hot Cams XC2 Holeshot Award. Delong would then fall back to fifth in the class but would soon find himself picking off riders to make the pass for the lead on lap five. Delong would hold onto lead taking his fourth win of the season and regaining the class points lead as the series heads into its last round of racing.
Lyndon Snodgrass held the early lead but would soon face a battle with Jonathan Girroir. As the duo battle, Girroir would make the pass for the lead and hold onto it for one lap. Unfortunately, Girroir would crash towards the end of race and end up eleventh in his class. Snodgrass would regroup and continue to battle for a podium finish. Snodgrass would again make a last lap pass to regain second, landing himself his first podium finish in the XC2 class.
Rounding out the XC2 class podium in third was Mike Witkowski. Witkowski would battle throughout the three-hour race at the front of the pack, but he would be unable to hold the lead. Witkowski moved into second on the last lap, but with Snodgrass hot on his heels he would be unable to hold him off. Witkowski came through to take third in his class, and now sits second in the points standings.
Taking the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class win was Jason Raines. Coming through to earn second was the newly-crowned XC3 National Champion, Zack Hayes. Rounding out the podium in third was Jason Lipscomb.
Earning the top amateur honors was Joseph Cunningham after finishing 18th overall and first in the 250 A class. Dakoda Devore and Nathan Rector rounded out the top amateur podium with their 20th and 21st overall finishes.
Joseph Cunningham – Image by Ken Hill
In the 10 a.m. race it was Rachael Archer coming through to earn her fifth overall win of the season. Archer would take the win, even after an incident with a lapper left her with a possible broken ankle. Rachel Gutish came through to take second in the WXC class followed by Becca Sheets, who rounded out the WXC podium.
A new winner emerged in the youth ranks with Cole Forbes taking the youth overall win and the YXC1 Super Mini Sr. class win. Davis came through to earn second overall and in the YXC1 class, with Lane Whitmer crossing the line third overall in the 8 a.m. youth morning race.
$5,000 was awarded to the Montgomery County Community Foundation with donations coming from Yamaha Racing, KTM North America, HBD Moto Grafix, and the GNCC Racing Nation as they contributed in purchasing Pink Ironman stickers and partaking in the Mullets for Mammies by Bottleneck Live contest.
XC1 Pro Event Results
Josh Strang (KAW)
Steward Baylor Jr. (YAM)
Benjamin Kelley (KTM)
Kailub Russell (KTM)
Layne Michael (YAM)
Grant Baylor (SHR)
Jordan Ashburn (KAW)
Andrew Delong (HON)
Thad Duvall (HQV)
Evan Earl (KAW)
Overall National Championship Standings
Kailub Russell (295)
Josh Strang (246)
Jordan Ashburn (185)
Craig Delong (171)
Michael Witkowski (161)
Steward Baylor Jr. (158)
Benjamin Kelley (153)
Grant Baylor (152)
Jonathan Girroir (146)
Cody Barnes (122)
XC2 250 Pro Event Results
Craig Delong (HQV)
Lyndon Snodgrass (KAW)
Michael Witkowski (YAM)
Liam Draper (KTM)
Cody Barnes (BET)
Ryder Lafferty (HQV)
Jonathan Johnson (HON)
Jesse Ansley (KTM)
Ben Parsons (HQV)
Samuel Evans (KTM)
XC2 250 Pro Series Standings
Craig Delong (296)
Michael Witkowski (285)
Jonathan Girroir (280)
Cody Barnes (211)
Liam Draper (194)
Thorn Devlin (145)
Jonathan Johnson (141)
Ryder Lafferty (134)
Benjamin Nelko (111)
Jesse Ansley (103)
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2020 MXGP of Lommel – Round 15
The weekend saw the running of the 2020 MXGP of Lommel, as the final round of the Belgian triple-header, with a new track layout introduced to up the ante in sectors three and four, upping the tempo of the races, while adding an additional challenge for riders.
In MXGP it was Tim Gajser claiming top honours, winning both races, with Romain Febvre runner up in both races for second overall. Jeremy Seewer completed the overall podium, going 4-3.
Tim Gajser
Tim Gajser extended his standings lead as a result, now leading Tony Cairoli by 74-points, 583 to 509. Jeremy Seewer sits third on 499-points, while Jorge Prado was unable to compete in MX2 after testing positive for COVID-19 and was in self-isolation. The rest of his Red Bull KTM team had returned negative test results, however he dropped to fourth. Mitch Evans, still out with injury, sits 13th in the standings as the top Aussie.
MXGP Overall Results
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
R1
R2
Total
1
Gajser, Tim
SLO
HON
25
25
50
2
Febvre, Romain
FRA
KAW
22
22
44
3
Seewer, Jeremy
SUI
YAM
18
20
38
4
Paulin, Gautier
FRA
YAM
16
18
34
5
Cairoli, Antonio
ITA
KTM
20
11
31
6
Tonus, Arnaud
SUI
YAM
13
16
29
7
Bogers, Brian
NED
KTM
15
14
29
8
Desalle, Clement
BEL
KAW
11
15
26
9
Tixier, Jordi
FRA
KTM
14
12
26
10
Van Horebeek, Jeremy
BEL
HON
12
6
18
11
Vlaanderen, Calvin
NED
YAM
8
8
16
12
Van doninck, Brent
BEL
HUS
0
13
13
13
Bobryshev, Evgeny
RUS
HUS
3
10
13
14
Walsh, Dylan
GBR
HON
4
9
13
15
Monticelli, Ivo
ITA
GAS
7
4
11
16
Leok, Tanel
EST
HUS
5
5
10
17
Petrov, Petar
BUL
KTM
9
1
10
18
Watson, Nathan
GBR
HON
10
0
10
19
van der Vlist, Freek
NED
KTM
0
7
7
20
Potisek, Milko
FRA
YAM
6
0
6
21
Guillod, Valentin
SUI
HON
0
3
3
22
Sterry, Adam
GBR
KTM
0
2
2
23
Ebben, Kay
NED
KTM
2
0
2
24
Rannikko, Rene
FIN
HUS
1
0
1
MXGP Standings – Top 30
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Total
1
Gajser, Tim
SLO
HON
583
2
Cairoli, A.
ITA
KTM
509
3
Seewer, Jeremy
SUI
YAM
499
4
Prado, Jorge
ESP
KTM
476
5
Febvre, Romain
FRA
KAW
465
6
Paulin, G.
FRA
YAM
403
7
Coldenhoff, G.
NED
GAS
375
8
Desalle, C.
BEL
KAW
362
9
Van Horebeek, J.
BEL
HON
289
10
Herlings, J.
NED
KTM
263
11
Jasikonis, A.
LTU
HUS
248
12
Bogers, Brian
NED
KTM
233
13
Evans, M.
AUS
HON
228
14
Tixier, Jordi
FRA
KTM
212
15
Vlaanderen, C.
NED
YAM
206
16
Monticelli, I.
ITA
GAS
161
17
Jacobi, Henry
GER
YAM
134
18
Tonus, Arnaud
SUI
YAM
122
19
Cervellin, M.
ITA
YAM
84
20
Lupino, A.
ITA
YAM
82
21
Bobryshev, E.
RUS
HUS
75
22
Leok, Tanel
EST
HUS
72
23
Walsh, Dylan
GBR
HON
67
24
Petrov, Petar
BUL
KTM
66
25
Van doninck, B.
BEL
HUS
53
26
Guillod, V.
SUI
HON
52
27
Paturel, B.
FRA
HON
45
28
Sterry, Adam
GBR
KTM
44
29
Simpson, Shaun
GBR
KTM
31
30
Jonass, Pauls
LAT
HUS
26
MX2
The MX2 class was hard fought with Ben Watson and Roan Van De Moosdijk sharing the wins, with just eight-points separating the top six. Watson came out on top adding a fourth place result to his win for the overall on 43-points. Van De Moosdijk had to settle for second on 40-points, with Maxime Renaux third, ahead of Thomas Kjer Olsen, GasGas’s Isak Gifting and Tom Vialle.
Roan Van De Moosdijk
Jed Beaton was inside the top-10 in eighth, claiming 27 championship points. He had a consistent day, not getting the best jump from the start in race one, and moving up through the ranks throughout the race, before making the pass for seventh on lap 13, Jed then chased Roan Van De Moosdijk to the chequered flag to end his race in seventh.
Moto two saw a much better start for the FC 250 rider. Moving into ninth early in the race, Jed progressed into seventh at the halfway stage of the race as he found his rhythm around the demanding Lommel track. Losing just one position as the moto neared the end, he finished eighth.
Jed Beaton
“A disappointing day today. Not my greatest day of racing but I’m healthy, which is important with three rounds to go. I found my flow in both races but not until towards the end, which was frustrating. By then there was a big gap ahead of me in each race. Overall, I felt like my riding was good, it just took me a little while to get going. Looking forward to some hardpack next weekend in Italy.”
Jed Beaton
Bailey Malkiewicz took 13th overall for 12-points, racing to 16th in Race 1, and improving that result to 14th in Race 2.
In terms of the championship, Geerts has lost some ground on Vialle who now heads into the final three rounds with a 74-point advantage, with Renaux down in third with 476 points. Beaton now sits fourth on 456-points, with fellow Australian Bailey Malkiewicz 16th on 119.
The world series now heads to Pietramurata in the north Italian province of Trentino next weekend for the last of five triple-header GPs which will complete the eighteen-round series.
MX2 Overall Results
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
R1
R2
Total
1
Watson, Ben
GBR
YAM
25
18
43
2
Van De Moosdijk, Roan
NED
KAW
15
25
40
3
Renaux, Maxime
FRA
YAM
22
16
38
4
Olsen, Thomas Kjer
DEN
HUS
16
20
36
5
Gifting, Isak
SWE
GAS
13
22
35
6
Vialle, Tom
FRA
KTM
20
15
35
7
Benistant, Thibault
FRA
YAM
18
10
28
8
Beaton, Jed
AUS
HUS
14
13
27
9
Geerts, Jago
BEL
YAM
8
14
22
10
Östlund, Alvin
SWE
HON
9
12
21
11
Mewse, Conrad
GBR
KTM
12
8
20
12
Vaessen, Bas
NED
KTM
10
9
19
13
Malkiewicz, Bailey
AUS
HON
5
7
12
14
Renkens, Nathan
BEL
KTM
6
6
12
15
Horgmo, Kevin
NOR
KTM
7
5
12
16
Rubini, Stephen
FRA
HON
0
11
11
17
Genot, Cyril
BEL
YAM
11
0
11
18
Lesiardo, Morgan
ITA
HON
4
4
8
19
Polak, Petr
CZE
YAM
2
3
5
20
Nermann, Johannes
EST
HUS
3
2
5
21
Meier, Glen
DEN
YAM
1
1
2
MX2 Standings – Top 30
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Total
1
Vialle, Tom
FRA
KTM
651
2
Geerts, Jago
BEL
YAM
577
3
Renaux, Maxime
FRA
YAM
476
4
Beaton, Jed
AUS
HUS
456
5
Olsen, T.
DEN
HUS
446
6
Watson, Ben
GBR
YAM
440
7
Van De Moosdijk, R.
NED
KAW
417
8
Mewse, Conrad
GBR
KTM
307
9
Fernandez, R.
ESP
YAM
279
10
Boisrame, M.
FRA
KAW
234
11
Rubini, S.
FRA
HON
228
12
Östlund, Alvin
SWE
HON
215
13
Gifting, Isak
SWE
GAS
179
14
Forato, A.
ITA
HUS
156
15
Vaessen, Bas
NED
KTM
136
16
Malkiewicz, B.
AUS
HON
119
17
Haarup, Mikkel
DEN
KAW
118
18
Horgmo, Kevin
NOR
KTM
104
19
Renkens, N.
BEL
KTM
97
20
Crawford, N.
AUS
HON
91
21
Lesiardo, M.
ITA
HON
90
22
Pancar, Jan
SLO
KTM
88
23
Gilbert, Josh
GBR
HUS
87
24
Genot, Cyril
BEL
YAM
85
25
Hofer, Rene
AUT
KTM
73
26
Sikyna, R.
SVK
KTM
67
27
Guadagnini, M.
ITA
HUS
62
28
Laengenfelder, S.
GER
GAS
59
29
Sydow, Jeremy
GER
GAS
35
30
Roosiorg, H.
EST
KTM
33
Moto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
EMX125
Fantic Racing’s Andrea Bonacorsi secured the crown in the EMX125 class at the final round of the series in Lommel, as he became this year’s European Champion! The Italian entered today’s races with a 38-point advantage over David Braceras of RFME GasGas MX Junior Team and only needed to finish the races with a solid result in order to seal the deal. Bonacorsi finished the opening race of the day third, which was enough for him to claim the title in race one.
Andrea Bonacorsi
“It’s just amazing. I worked really hard for it [the title], with the team, with my family, with my trainer, the gold plate and European champion, so it’s amazing. For sure in Faenza, after the first win, then I had 6 race wins and I realised I could be champion.”
Andrea Bonacorsi claimed the EMX125 Championship
The Fantic Racing rider then had a much tougher second race after getting caught out in a first turn crash, which meant he had to start from way back and 11th was the best he could do. Unfortunately, he missed out on the podium, though the main focus was that he took home that all-important championship gold plate.
Despite a tough day, Braceras held enough of a gap to finish second in the championship with 282 points, ahead of Meico Vettik of TBS Conversions Racing Team who claimed the bronze medal after a solid day, which saw him also second overall on the podium.
EMX125 Race 1
The first race of the day saw WZ Racing’s Max Palsson lead the way as he was closely followed by Vettik and Scott Smulders of No Fear/Jumbo BT Racing Team on the opening lap. Meanwhile, the then championship leader, Bonacorsi, was down in 9th.
EMX125 Start
Guillem Farres of RFME GasGas MX Junior Team then crashed out of 6th and was down outside the top 20, as Smulders dropped out of 3rd as well and re-joined the race in 12th.
Bonacorsi though was wasting no time as by the first full lap he was already in 4th, looking to charge for the leaders as he was keen to wrap up the title in the first heat.
Palsson then extended his race lead over Vettik to 2.002 in the early stages of the race, and the gap remained pretty tight until the end of the race, as the two battled closely together.
Bonacorsi came under fire from the Creymert Racing pilot Haakon Osterhagen for 4th, though he was able to defend his position, before going after Pietro Razzini for third a few laps later.
It was a tough race for Braceras who had to start the race from outside the top 30 and fight his way through. Eventually the Spaniard finished the race in 16th, not a result he would have wanted after his previous success here in Lommel over the last couple of rounds.
Osterhagen then lost a bit of ground as he was getting caught by Romeo Karu and Ivano Van Erp of Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC team, though he was able to maintain his position until the end of the race, while Karu made a mistake and finished in 15th.
On lap 9, Bonacorsi moved himself in 3rd, as Vettik gave it another go at passing Palsson though was not successful. He then gave it one last push on the final 3 laps as the gap was just 0.666 seconds, but Palsson was able to keep control and claim his first race win of the season.
EMX125 Race 2
The second race started with a little bit of drama in the first turn, which caught out a couple of riders including Karu and the new EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing champion, Bonacorsi. Though it was Van Erp who led the way, with Palsson in second and Valerio Lata of Marchetti Racing Team KTM in third.
Andrea Bonacorsi
Vettik started the second heat outside the top 5, though he was on a charge and quickly caught out to the group as he passed Braceras for 5th on lap two.
By lap 5 there was a change in the lead, as Van Erp crashed out, which allowed Palsson to make the most of this opportunity to go after another race win.
Farres was then on a charge as he had a nice battle with Quentin Prugnieres of BUD Racing Kawasaki. Eventually, the GasGas rider was able to find a way through into fourth on lap 7.
With 5 minutes and 2 laps to go, Palsson led the way by an impressive 11.960 seconds, as Osterhagen passed Nikita Kucherov for 7th and then went after Braceras. Not long after, the Norwegian burst down the inside of Braceras for 6th, as Kucherov was able to do the same, with the Spaniard getting pushed down to 8th and then 9th where he would eventually finish.
With 2 of laps to go, Florian Miot of KTM Diga Junior Racing was pushing hard to pass Farres for third, though got caught out in a crash and did not finish the race.
In the end it was Palsson who was the race winner, with Vettik second once again and Farres having a much stronger ride that time around to cross the line third.
With two race wins, Palsson claimed his first overall victory of the season as he took to the top step of the podium, while Vettik occupied second with two solid second place finishes in the races and Guillem Farres of RFME GasGas MX Junior Team made his 5th podium of the 2020 season as he took to third.
David Braceras
“Today I had a crash in the first race and then I was last, and then managed to get to seventeenth. In the second race, I started well but then wanted to stay safe because in the first race I lost a lot of points. I had a little problem with the goggles and wanted to stay safe and finish second in the championship. I’m happy with my position as I worked really hard with my team and my family and trainer, so I’m really happy and would like to thank everyone for all the support and now it’s time to prepare for the 250s”
Meico Vettik
“I’m really happy about the third place in the championship. I had some bad races and some good races, but I’m still happy about my season. Today I had good speed, in the second race I had a small problem with my goggles but still second, so I am happy. Thanks to all my supporters and friends.”
Max Palsson
“I’m super happy for the team and for myself as well. We work really hard. My starts were on point today and it made it a lot easier. The season as a whole though could have been a bit better, at the start of the year I wasn’t fully prepared, but I came back strong.”
Guillem Farres
“Overall it was a good day. In the first race I was around fourth in the first lap then I had a little crash and had to come from the back and finished sixth. In the second race, I had to start from ninth, made my way to third and in the last lap I was battling with Meico [Vettik] for second place but finally I could finish third.”
EMX125 Overall
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
R1
R2
Total
1
Palsson, Max
SWE
KTM
25
25
50
2
Vettik, Meico
EST
KTM
22
22
44
3
Farres, Guillem
ESP
GAS
15
20
35
4
Osterhagen, Haakon
NOR
KTM
16
16
32
5
Bonacorsi, Andrea
ITA
FAN
20
10
30
6
Van Erp, Ivano
NED
YAM
14
15
29
7
Prugnieres, Quentin Marc
FRA
KTM
7
18
25
8
Razzini, Pietro
ITA
HUS
18
6
24
9
Kucherov, Nikita
RUS
KTM
8
14
22
10
Reisulis, Karlis Alberts
LAT
KTM
4
13
17
11
Braceras, David
ESP
GAS
5
12
17
12
Karu, Romeo
EST
HUS
9
7
16
13
Lata, Valerio
ITA
KTM
6
9
15
14
Rainio, Sampo
FIN
HUS
10
5
15
15
Miot, Florian
FRA
KTM
13
0
13
16
Smulders, Scott
NED
HUS
11
1
12
17
Soulimani, Saad
FRA
KTM
12
0
12
18
Cazal, Xavier
FRA
KTM
0
11
11
19
Valk, Cas
NED
KTM
2
8
10
20
Karssemakers, Kay
NED
YAM
0
4
4
21
Vetrovsky, Radek
CZE
KTM
0
3
3
22
Voxen Kleemann, William
DEN
HUS
3
0
3
23
Pedersen, Rasmus
DEN
KTM
0
2
2
24
Alonso Rodilla, Victor
ESP
YAM
1
0
1
EMX125 Standings
Pos
Rider
Nat.
Bike
Total
1
Bonacorsi, A.
ITA
FAN
333
2
Braceras, D.
ESP
GAS
282
3
Vettik, Meico
EST
KTM
268
4
Palsson, Max
SWE
KTM
263
5
Razzini, P.
ITA
HUS
240
6
Farres, G.
ESP
GAS
211
7
Roncoli, A.
ITA
HUS
194
8
Prugnieres, Q.
FRA
KTM
186
9
Lata, Valerio
ITA
KTM
171
10
Osterhagen, H.
NOR
KTM
167
11
Soulimani, S.
FRA
KTM
152
12
Miot, Florian
FRA
KTM
124
13
Brumann, Kevin
SUI
YAM
117
14
Smulders, S.
NED
HUS
92
15
Kucherov, N.
RUS
KTM
86
16
Reisulis, K.
LAT
KTM
81
17
Congost, G.
ESP
GAS
73
18
Everts, Liam
BEL
KTM
66
19
Valk, Cas
NED
KTM
66
20
Piller, C.
GER
KTM
64
21
Venhoda, M.
CZE
KTM
64
22
Van Erp, Ivano
NED
YAM
57
23
Pedersen, R.
DEN
KTM
56
24
Cazal, Xavier
FRA
KTM
53
25
Rossi, Andrea
ITA
KTM
51
26
Karssemakers, K.
NED
YAM
41
27
Rainio, Sampo
FIN
HUS
36
28
Russi, M.
ITA
KTM
34
29
Karu, Romeo
EST
HUS
33
30
Sanchez, Raul
ESP
YAM
30
Moto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
2020 MX Fest – Digger McEwen Motocross Park.
It was a jam-packed schedule of three days racing in Taupo, as the country’s riders had their first competitive hit-out for the season at Digger McEwen Motocross Park for MX Fest 2020.
In the MX1 class Cody Cooper took the overall win, despite tying on points with Hamish Harwood, both on 91-points. Kayne Lamont was third on 78-points, with Rhys Carter fourth, and Campbell King fifth.
Kayne Lamont – P3
“The weekend’s racing was a great time for me. I rode very calm and in control, which I was happy with. I have two months of prep now before SummerCross, so I will try do as much as possible with bike time and continue testing parts to finalise my set-up for the summer.”
Kayne Lamont – Image by CLMINTIEPIX
MX2 saw Josiah Natzke (93-points) take the overall win from Maximus Purvis (78), while Brodie Connolly was third (71). Seton Head and Jack Treloar completed the top five.
20-year-old defending MX2 national champion Maximus Purvis believed he “just lacked the fitness” to ride for the victories but vowed, “I’ll definitely be ready for SummerCross at the end of December.”
Maximus Purvis – Image by CLMINTIEPIX
Darren Capill took the MX3 overall from Keleb Livesey and Ryan Denby, while Jayden McAloon and Caleb Franklin completed the top five.
2020 Taupo MX Fest Results MX1 Overall Top 10
Pos
Rider
Points
1
Cody Cooper
91
2
Hamish Harwood
91
3
Kayne Lamont
78
4
Rhys Carter
73
5
Campbell King
52
6
Hayden Smith
45
7
Brad Groombridge
45
8
Hadleigh Knight
44
9
Tommy Watts
39
10
Richard Horne
37
MX2 Overall Top 10
Pos
Rider
Points
1
Josiah Natzke
93
2
Maximus Purvis
78
3
Brodie Connolly
71
4
Seton Head
54
5
Jack Treloar
46
6
James Scott
42
7
Donovan Ward
39
8
Oliver Ayre
38
9
Logan Kerrisk
34
10
James Rountree
33
MX3 Overall Top 10
Pos
Rider
Points
1
Darren Capill
72
2
Kaleb Livesey
65
3
Ryan Denby
55
4
Jayden McAloon
54
5
Caleb Franklin
49
6
Marty Axtens
45
7
Ben Lawson
39
8
Tristan Hall
38
9
Shane Robinson
37
10
Ben Wright
29
Bereman wins inaugural Red Bull Imagination
American Tyler Bereman added another big win to his freeride motocross résumé when he edged out compatriot Colby Raha to claim the inaugural Red Bull Imagination competition around the rolling hills of Kansas.
Tyler Bereman
“Everyone keeps saying it was the most fun stuff that they’ve ever ridden, so this is a good place to start. Hopefully we can build on it and bring it back, inviting more people and showcasing what we do and why we do it. I’m just stoked to see where this thing takes us. Everyone keeps saying it was the most fun stuff that they’ve ever ridden, so this is a good place to start. Hopefully we can build on it and bring it back, inviting more people and showcasing what we do and why we do it. I’m just stoked to see where this thing takes us.”
Tyler Bereman – Image by Chris Tedesco/Red Bull Content Pool
The new event, from the mind of Bereman himself and brought to life by course designer Jason Baker of Dream Traxx, marked a major step forward for the sport. A host of the sport’s top riders – including Cole Seely, Tom Parsons, Vicki Golden, Ryan Sipes and Darryn Durham – braved the massive jumps to showcase their own personal riding style on the innovative course.
Colby Raha – Image by Chris Tedesco/Red Bull Content Pool
Carved into the Midwestern landscape just outside Fort Scott, the 18-acre course took a crew of five moving 50,000 cubic yards of dirt just 19 days to build, including 5 features such as berms, a shipping container and a quarterpipe with some jumps launching the riders 140 feet across and 55 feet up into the air.
Three days of session riding led to a competition, where each rider had two five-minute windows to showcase their talent in crafting the perfect line.
Ryan Sipes, Colby Raha, Tyler Bereman – Image by Chris Tedesco/Red Bull Content Pool
Legends of the sport Ronnie Renner, Jeremy ‘Twitch’ Stenberg, Robbie Maddison and Steve Haughelstine judged the contest from a tower overlooking the entire course and scored riders on creativity, technical ability and adapting features to showcase personal style.
Red Bull Imagination 2020 result
Tyler Bereman USA 97.0
Colby Raha USA 96.0
Cole Seely USA 90.5
Ryan Sipes USA 85.0
Tyler Bereman – Image by Chris Tedesco/Red Bull Content PoolMoto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
WORCS Round 7 – Blythe, CA
FMF KTM Factory Racing Team’s Taylor Robert extended his points lead in the 2020 World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) with a pair of solid 1-2 finishes at this weekend’s double-header serving as rounds six and seven of the nine-race series.
Austin Walton took the overall win for Round 7, with Taylor Robert runner up and Dante Oliveira claiming the final Pro MC podium position. Tyler Lynn led the Pro 2 Lights, in fifth overall, while Tallon Lafountaine was top Pro 2 rider in sixth.
Taylor Robert leads the Pro MC standings on 169-points, with closest competitor Oliveira on 142, while Austin Walton is third overall on 131.
WORCS Round 6 Pro MC Results
Place
Name
Overall Fin.
Elap. Time
1
TAYLOR ROBERT – KTM
1
01:22:45.647
2
DANTE OLIVEIRA – KTM
2
01:24:19.435
3
TREVOR STEWART – HON
3
01:26:07.313
4
JUSTIN SEEDS – YAM
4
1:26:56.248
5
ZACH BELL – KAW
5
01:27:42.882
6
TRAVIS DAMON – HON
9
01:30:13.596
7
COLE MARTINEZ – HON
10
01:31:36.940
8
GIACOMO REDONDI – HQV
12
01:22:55.532
9
AUSTIN WALTON – HQV
17
01:25:06.297
10
RYAN SURRATT – HQV
20
01:26:32.702
WORCS Round 7 MC Results
Pos
Name
Class
Cls Pos
Brand
Last Scan
1
AUSTIN WALTON
Pro (MC)
1st
HQV
21:16.5
2
TAYLOR ROBERT
Pro (MC)
2nd
KTM
21:58.2
3
DANTE OLIVEIRA
Pro (MC)
3rd
KTM
24:36.6
4
COLE MARTINEZ
Pro (MC)
4th
HON
24:42.4
5
TYLER LYNN
Pro 2 Lights (MC)
1st
YAM
28:31.0
6
TALLON LAFOUNTAINE
Pro 2 (MC)
1st
HON
28:08.2
7
TREVOR STEWART
Pro (MC)
5th
HON
27:41.9
8
TODD SIBELL
Pro 2 (MC)
2nd
KAW
29:10.3
9
TRAVIS DAMON
Pro (MC)
6th
HON
28:47.6
10
KAI AIELLO
Pro 2 (MC)
3rd
HQV
29:24.6
11
MASON A OTTERSBERG
Pro 2 (MC)
4th
YAM
29:33.8
12
ANGUS RIORDAN
Pro 2 Lights (MC)
2nd
KTM
21:18.7
13
JUSTIN SEEDS
Pro (MC)
7th
YAM
21:26.1
14
JAKE ALVAREZ
Pro 2 Lights (MC)
3rd
KAW
22:55.8
15
RYAN SURRATT
Pro (MC)
8th
HQV
22:06.3
16
MASON OLSON
Pro 2 (MC)
5th
KTM
24:33.9
17
PALMER KING
Pro 2 (MC)
6th
KTM
25:35.4
18
MATEO OLIVEIRA
Pro 2 (MC)
7th
KTM
26:11.9
19
JT BAKER
Pro 2 (MC)
8th
SHR
26:15.5
20
BRANDY RICHARDS
Pro 2 Lights (MC)
4th
KTM
27:55.3
21
CLAYTON HENGEVELD
Pro 2 (MC)
9th
KAW
29:49.9
22
MATT MAPLE
Pro 2 (MC)
10th
HON
21:33.2
23
HAYDEN FLOREZ
Pro 2 (MC)
11th
YAM
22:42.4
24
ZACHARY CRAMER
Pro 2 (MC)
12th
KTM
31:30.7
25
GIACOMO REDONDI
Pro (MC)
9th
HQV
21:39.4
26
KAITLYN JACOBS
Pro 2 Lights (MC)
5th
KTM
25:28.9
27
ZACH BELL
Pro (MC)
10th
KAW
39:17.7
28
THOMAS DUNN
Pro 2 Lights (MC)
6th
YAM
16:10.7
29
COLTON AECK
Pro 2 (MC)
13th
HQV
08:18.9
WORCS PRO MC Standings
Pos
Rider
Rnd6 Fin.
Rnd7 Fin.
Total
1
TAYLOR ROBERT
1
2
169
2
DANTE OLIVEIRA
2
3
142
3
AUSTIN WALTON
9
1
131
4
COLE MARTINEZ
7
4
117
5
TREVOR STEWART
3
5
109
6
JUSTIN SEEDS
4
7
102
7
RYAN SURRATT
10
8
94
8
TRAVIS DAMON
6
6
92
9
ZACH BELL
5
10
61
10
GIACOMO REDONDI
8
9
45
11
DALTON SHIREY
–
–
29
12
MITCH ANDERSON
–
–
23
13
BLAYNE THOMPSON
–
–
19
14
GARY SUTHERLIN
–
–
18
15
BROC SHOEMAKER
–
–
13
16
MIKE ALESSI
–
–
13
17
BRYCE SHONDECK
–
–
8
18
JACOB SMITH
–
–
7
19
CHRIS CONWAY
–
–
6
Riders prepared for 2020 Red Bull Romaniacs
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler is ready to race the 2020 edition of Red Bull Romaniacs. The grueling five-day event consists of a time trial qualification, followed by four long days of racing in the Romanian Hills. Based once again around the town of Sibiu, the hard enduro takes place from October 27 to 31.
Manuel Lettenbichler
“I’m feeling pretty good right now. I’ve been trying to get as much riding in as possible over the last couple of weeks as I wasn’t able to do too much after injuring my thumb, back in August. I’m really excited to just go back racing again, this year has been so mixed up, just the fact that we can do an event like Romaniacs is great. I won it last year and I want to do well this year, it’s just so difficult to know what to expect. Having not raced so much, it’s not easy to gauge where you are in terms of form compared to the other riders. The move to October hopefully won’t change things too much – it looks like it will stay dry and it will be cold early in the mornings, but it’s the same for everyone. I think we’re going to have a good race and I can’t wait to get into battle with the boys once again.”
Manuel Lettenbichler
Two-time winner of the event Jonny Walker will be unable to compete at the 2020 Red Bull Romaniacs due to an injury sustained to his elbow at a recent round of the British Extreme Enduro Championship. Although Jonny received surgery for the break, doctors have advised the 29-year-old not to return to competition as yet in order for the injury to heal. Also absent from this year’s Romaniacs, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia will instead contest the final two rounds of the Italian Enduro Championship.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team members Billy Bolt, Alfredo Gomez and Graham Jarvis have also safely arrived in Romania and are ready to contest the 2020 Romaniacs Hard Enduro Rallye, and the man undoubtedly looking to claim his first Romaniacs victory is Billy Bolt.
The reigning Superenduro World Champion has shown impressive form over the season, despite the pandemic-induced lack of events. Bolt won the first three races of the recent Sea to Sky extreme enduro in Turkey, only to lose out on the final day when a navigation error saw him lose valuable minutes to his rivals. The young Brit finished sixth at the 2019 running of Romaniacs, despite being less than 100 per cent fit.
Billy Bolt
Runner-up at the 2019 Romaniacs Hard Enduro Rallye, Alfredo Gomez will be looking to go one better in 2020 and claim his first ever win at the event. Showing incredible pace and stamina last year, Gomez became stronger as the enduro evolved to take his fight for the win right down to the final section – the infamous Gusterita Hillclimb. Frustratingly, losing out by just minutes, the experienced Spaniard knows what is required this year as he chases success at the world’s toughest hard enduro rallye.
Graham Jarvis comes into the 17th running of Romaniacs as a six-time winner of the race, hoping to make it seven victories in 2020. With the event moved to the autumn, the climate in the mountains will be tougher than ever – the early morning starts will be cold for all riders and with the possibility of extended rain, the steep tracks could prove to be hugely challenging. Jarvis hopes the demanding conditions will be in his favour as the Brit aims to climb onto the top step of the podium once again next Saturday.
Taddy Blazusiak meanwhile will make his first official outing as a GASGAS Factory Racing rider tomorrow, when the Polish star takes to the start of the Red Bull Romaniacs extreme enduro. Despite the multiple world champion signing for GASGAS Motorcycles back in July, the rescheduled running of the infamous hard enduro rallye marks Taddy’s first outdoor competition of 2020, and his first for GASGAS.
Taddy Blazusiak
“It’s really weird to have the first race of the year in October, it also looks like it might be the only one we’re doing, so we’re lucky in that respect. My plan is to go as hard as I can and get a good result. I’m really motivated to start with GASGAS – it’s my first race in the new colors and I’m definitely looking forward to it. The bike is working well, we’ve done a lot of work over the year and I’m happy with the whole package. Hopefully qualifying will go well tomorrow and I’ll earn a good start position, after that, we head into the hills and it’s already looking like it’s going to be a tough four days of racing.”
Taddy BlazusiakMoto News Weekly proudly brought to you by Dunlop
MX Sports Pro Racing Recognizes Contributions to 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship
In the midst of a year filled with unpredictable challenges, the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, completed a successful campaign, personifying the notion that great things can happen when the motocross industry rallies together, In celebration of the many individuals and organizations that helped make the 2020 season a reality MX Sports Pro Racing recognized several of the most significant contributions with a season-ending awards presentation after the Fox Raceway National.
Arguably the most important awards were handed out to the pair of newly crowned AMA National Champions, both of whom captured their first respective class titles. In the 450 Class, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Zach Osborne hoisted the Edison Dye Cup on the heels of four wins and six podium finishes. The Virginia native became the 25th different rider to earn a 450 Class title, and the 12th rider to earn championships across both of Pro Motocross’ competitive divisions. In addition to giving Husqvarna its first premier class title in the series, Osborne also cemented his own unique place in the record books as the oldest champion in the history of the sport at 31 years of age.
Zach Osborne – Image by Jeff Kardas
By virtue of Osborne’s exceptional season veteran technician Dave Feeney earned the “450 Class Champion Mechanic Wrench” while newly appointed team manager “Scuba” Steve Westfall commemorated his debut at the helm of the program with “Team Manager of the Year” accolades. The team’s semi driver, industry veteran Paul Delaurier, added to Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s award haul as “Transport Driver of the Year.”
In the 250 Class, Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis erased decades of heartbreak for French riders by becoming the first racer from the nation to raise the Gary Jones Cup. Ferrandis’ journey to become a champion on U.S. soil had been steadily building since he made the move to compete in American motocross for the 2017 season. His championship-winning run was a result of unparalleled consistency in which he captured three wins and eight podium finishes in nine rounds. Ferrandis is the 32nd different rider to win the 250 Class title and ended his stay in the division by providing Star Racing with its fifth championship in seven seasons.
Dylan Ferrandis 250 Champ – Image by Jeff Kardas
Ferrandis’ title meant his mechanic, Alex Campbell, was the recipient of the “250 Class Champion Mechanic Wrench.” Additionally, after yet another impressive season by the Bobby Regan owned team, Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha Racing was also named “Team of the Year.” With Ferrandis leading the way, a trio of Star riders earned a top-five finish in the final 250 Class standings as Shane McElrath secured a pair of podium finishes en route to third in points and Justin Cooper grabbed a win and two podiums to finish fifth. The team also welcomed a pair of promising young talents to the professional ranks with Jarrett Frye and Nate Thrasher.
In addition to celebrating the season’s most notable contributors, MX Sports Pro Racing also paid tribute to members of the motocross family that passed away this year. Marty Smith, the sport’s first true superstar, and his wife, Nancy, tragically lost their lives in April, which sent shockwaves through the racing community. As a tribute to Smith, and a testament to his impact on American motocross, the aforementioned yearly rookie award was renamed in his honor. The community was also hit hard with the passing of longtime flagger and Dirt Diggers North Motorcycle Club member Mike Mars, who succumbed to COVID-19 just prior to the start of the 2020 season in August.
MX Sports Pro Racing also recognized the collection of race teams, manufacturers, and the hundreds of participants who committed to embark on the 2020 season, no matter what obstacles arose. Additionally, the championship would not have been possible without the unwavering support from the group of series partners and sponsors that made hosting a nine-round series feasible, notably the broadcast partners at NBC Sports Group and championship title sponsor Lucas Oil. Crucial support also came from Red Bull, WPS, FLY Racing, GEICO Motorcycle, MotoSport.com, FMF Racing, Thor, Parts Unlimited, KTM, Deltran Battery Tender, MX vs ATV All Out, 100%, Husqvarna, Dunlop, Guaranteed Rate, KMC Wheels, VP Racing Fuels, Alpinestars, GoPro, Vertex Pistons, Acerbis, and Road 2 Recovery.
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2021 AMA Supercross and Motocross numbers announced
The American Motorcyclist Association has announced the professional competition numbers for pro-licensed riders competing in Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, and the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship for the 2021 season.
Each rider uses the assigned professional number for competition. In addition, the current champion runs the No. 1 plate, instead of an assigned professional number, when competing in the class or region in which the No. 1 plate was earned.
When competing in a class other than the class in which the championship was earned, the rider must use the professional number assigned.
2021 Top 100 and Career Pro Numbers for AMA Supercross and Motocross * Career Numbers
1 — 450SX Eli Tomac 1 — 450MX Zach Osborne 1 — 250MX Dylan Ferrandis 1W Dylan Ferrandis 1E Chase Sexton 2* Cooper Webb 3* Eli Tomac 4* Blake Baggett 6* Jeremy Martin 7* Aaron Plessinger 9* Adam Cianciarulo 10* Justin Brayton 11* Kyle Chisholm 12* Shane McElrath 14* Dylan Ferrandis 15* Dean Wilson 16* Zach Osborne 17* Joey Savatgy 18 Jett Lawrence 19* Justin Bogle 20* Broc Tickle 21* Jason Anderson 22* Chad Reed 23* Chase Sexton 24* RJ Hampshire 25* Marvin Musquin 26* Alex Martin 27* Malcolm Stewart 28 Brandon Hartranft 29 Christian Craig 30 Jo Shimoda 31 Cameron McAdoo 32* Justin Cooper 33 Derek Drake 34 Max Anstie 35 Mitchell Harrison 36 Martin Davalos 37 Benny Bloss 38 Austin Forkner 39 Carson Mumford 40 Vince Friese 41 Hunter Lawrence 42 Michael Mosiman 43 Fredrik Noren 44 Tyler Bowers 45 Pierce Brown 46* Justin Hill 47 Jalek Swoll 48 Garrett Marchbanks 49 Mitchell Oldenburg 50 Enzo Lopes 51* Justin Barcia 52 Luke Clout 53 Jake Masterpool 54 Nick Gaines 55 John Short 56 Kyle Peters 57 Justin Rodbell 58 Jacob Hayes 59 Jarrett Frye 60 Chris Blose 61 Joey Crown 62 Mason Gonzales 63 Martin Castelo 64 Colt Nichols 65 Carson Brown 66 Jordan Bailey 67 Stilez Robertson 68 Jace Owen 69 Robbie Wageman 70 Henry Miller 71 Killian Auberson 72 Coty Schock 73 Derek Kelley 74 Mitchell Falk 75 Ty Masterpool 76 Grant Harlan 77 Jerry Robin 78 Kyle Cunningham 79 Isaac Teasdale 80 Jordon Smith 81 Justin Starling 82 Lorenzo Locurcio 83 Alex Ray 84 Josh Hill 85 Kevin Moranz 86 Darian Sanayei 87 Curren Thurman 88 Logan Karnow 89 Ryan Breece 90 Dilan Schwartz 91 Nate Thrasher 92 Chase Marquier 93 Hardy Munoz 94* Ken Roczen 95 Joshua Osby 96 Michael Leib 97 Ben LaMay 98 Justin Hoeft 99 Hunter Sayles
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Ben Townley re-imagines motorsport with SX4
“I want fans to love our sport, I want our industry to grow, but most importantly I want our sport to be mainstream. SX4 will give us the platform to achieve this,” says motocross superstar Ben Townley as he launches
SX4 starting blocks
.
Inspired by Ben’s innovative knowledge of the sport, SX4 combines four riders, four laps, four corners and four obstacles into two-minutes of action-packed racing. The best of the best will compete under immense pressure and fans will witness more crashes and more high-octane action than in the traditional formats familiar to motocross fans.
“I am super stoked with how things are starting to come together for our first ever SX4 event. The industry have been super supportive of my ideas and I’m looking forward to seeing spectators share the love as we build towards 9 January,” said Ben Townley as he prepares the track for this weekend’s demonstration event.
Ben Townley
Over the last few years a site at the Taupo Motorcycle Club has been a labour of love for Townley who has played an integral part in the development. The new track will be tested at a demonstration event this coming Labour Weekend as part of MXFest. The first standalone SX4 event is set to be staged at Digger McEwan Motocross Park, Taupo on 9 January 2021.
Nick Rowland, SX4’s Fan Engagement Director has enjoyed jumping into a sport that is followed with such passion sharing, “Putting fans first is our goal as we create a thrilling new spectacle. Whether it be at the event, through the innovative broadcast elements or the sheer intensity of the racing, SX4 is set to change the game globally for motorsport for years to come.”
The inaugural event will see 12 of NZ’s top riders compete of 15 races in a two-hour window on 9 January 2021 at Digger McEwan Motorsport Park, Taupo. Individuals will compete for prize money. A Manufacturers Championship is also in development and will be another NZ first in the sport of motocross.
For more information and to buy tickets head to www.sx4.co.nz.
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Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team welcome Ben Watson for 2021
Yamaha Motor Europe have announced that Ben Watson will take an exciting step up the Yamaha Racing pyramid and will join the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team for the 2021 MXGP season. The 23-year-old from Nottinghamshire, England joined Yamaha and the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team in 2018, where he celebrated his first podium finish and ranked fourth in the FIM MX2 World Championship in his first term on the YZ250F, the British rider has made great progress.
Ben Watson moves up to the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team in 2021
Proving his potential, Watson bounced back from an injury struck 2019 season to add five more podium successes to his credit, including a first-ever Grand Prix win at this weekend’s MXGP of Lommel. Immediately after celebrating his victory on the podium, the young Brit was delighted to learn that he would be drafted in the Factory MXGP team, where he will campaign a YZ450FM in his rookie MXGP season.
Part of a strong strategy to develop the next generation of MXGP champions, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team will remain a three-rider line-up in 2021. Watson will join Jeremy Seewer as the Swiss rider enters his fourth year with Yamaha and third year as Monster Energy Yamaha Factory rider, while the rider who will fill the third and final slot in the team will be announced in the very near future.
Ben Watson – Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP
“Firstly, I want to thank each and every member of staff in Kemea. The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team gave me everything and more every day for three years. I am so grateful to join the Factory MXGP team and stay with my Yamaha Family. It means so much to me and I cannot wait for this new challenge. I have been lucky enough to work closely and get to know Louis Vosters, Vitaliy Tonkov and some of the other Wilvo team members and I know I will be welcomed with open arms. I truly believe the YZ450FM will be a great bike for my riding style and I am really motivated to show everyone what I can do in MXGP. I know the category is at such a high level, so I am fortunate to join a team with a lot of experience, success and motivation. I really want to learn and show progression, it’s what I work towards every year and with the experience of my teammates in MXGP, I know I will be able to gain a lot of knowledge and continue my development. I am so excited to get started now and jump on this amazing bike to prepare for the new season.”
Thibault Benistant joins Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team for 2021
Yamaha Motor Europe have announced that Thibault Benistant will join the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team for the 2021 season. The recently crowned EMX250 Champion will race a YZ250FM in the FIM MX2 World Championship alongside Jago Geerts and Maxime Renaux.
Thibault Benistant
“I am really proud to move into the Yamaha Factory team. I have to thank Yamaha and Hans (Corvers) for making it happen, they have made it possible for me to enter my first year in MX2 with the best bike in the paddock. This is something I really look forward to and something I am really proud of.”
Thibault Benistant joins the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team in 2021
Working his way up the Yamaha Racing pyramid, Benistant has paved his way to the MX2 World Championship with titles in both EMX125 and EMX250. He won the EMX125 Championship in 2018 aboard a GYTR kitted YZ125 and was a contender for the EMX250 title the following year at his first attempt. During his rookie season, Benistant celebrated a podium finish at his home round in France and took his YZ250F to fifth overall.
Remaining on a GYTR kitted YZ250F in 2020, the 18-year-old from Avignon was drafted into the Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 team and moved to Holland in order to train close to the team’s base. Realising his obvious potential and proving that hard work pays dividends, Benistant celebrated eight EMX250 race wins, six round wins and seven podium finishes on his way to securing the 2020 EMX250 title.
As the freshly crowned European EMX250 Champion, Benistant will make his MX2 debut with the support of the Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 team in Lommel, Belgium on Sunday 25th October.
Alexandre Kowalski – Yamaha Motor Europe Off-Road Racing Manager
“Yamaha is really happy to have Thibault join the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team. Thibault is a pure product of Yamaha’s program and has a lot of potential. He has been with Yamaha for many years, since 2010. He entered the EMX125 class with Yamaha and our Official team, MJC Yamaha Official EMX125, where they nurtured him and helped him develop the foundation of a true champion. We have to thank MJC for that, and then he moved into the Hutten Metaal Yamaha Official EMX250 team where they also did an incredible job in improving his strength and race craft on a GYTR kitted YZ250F. Yesterday Thibault took another step up the Yamaha Racing pyramid and was crowned European Champion in the EMX250 class, and now he has been signed to the Factory team. For us, Thibault is a perfect example of how a rider can develop and progress within the Yamaha Family, and we look forward to celebrating even more championships with him.”
Hans Corvers – Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team Owner
“I am really happy to sign an 18-year-old talent like Thibault. He is still really young and is an exciting rider. We have had some good experience with French kids in the past, so it’s nice to another one along with Maxime (Renaux). We’ve been following Thibault for many years, even before he was EMX125 Champion and now he is EMX250 Champion, it is our goal to try to make him an MX2 Champion.”
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2021 Under-21 And Junior Speedway Date Changes
Gillman Speedway, South Australia, will kick off two nights of action with the Australian Speedway Under 21 Championship and the FIM Oceania Speedway Championship to be held January 29 and 30, 2021, respectively.
Originally scheduled for January 16, The Australian Speedway Under 21 Championship now moves to January 29, giving speedway fans two sensational nights of back to back racing action at Gillman Speedway.
The Australian Under-21 Speedway Championship has been held since 1986, with Australian speedway stars Leigh Adams, Chris Holder and Max Fricke, jointly holding the record for most wins in the Australian Under-21 Championship with four wins each, and current Champion Jaimon Lidsey a three-time winner.
The FIM Oceania Speedway Championship brings the best of the best in the region to Gillman Speedway on January 30.
Due to COVID-19 the Australian Under 16s 125cc Solo and Teams Championship will be moved from the traditional January date and will now be held at Sidewinders, South Australia on September 25 and 26, 2021 to ensure all riders from each State are able to attend.
The Under 16s 125cc Solo and Teams Championship showcases our up and coming talent which usually delivers nail biting race action on track.
Dates for the Australian Under 16s 250cc Championship to be held at Gillman Speedway is yet to be confirmed due to current State border restrictions and further information will be provided as soon as possible.
All events are subject to State Government COVID-19 restrictions.
Jonny Walker will make one of the most anticipated team debuts in Portugal with Vision Track Beta. After a decade on KTM machinery, Walker made a jump to Beta Motorcycles during the winter and Extreme XL Lagares will be his first serious outing in new colours. Vastly experienced and hungry to impress, Walker is an obvious threat for podium honours.
Jarvis Husqvarna Racing – managed by Graham Jarvis – is also a new team to watch for in 2021. The team’s five riders include Bulgaria’s Teodor Kabakchiev and Britain’s Will Hoare, Jonathan Richardson, Sam Winterburn and Grant Churchward. Featuring a real mix of raw, young talent under the guidance of Graham, expect fireworks!
