Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Taddy Blazusiak has captured victory at round four of the 2019 FIM Maxxis SuperEnduro World Championship in Budapest, Hungary.

The Polish talent lodged a supremely consistent 2-2-1 scorecard to earn top honours, overcoming his woes from the previous round that damaged his title hopes.

Teammate and defending champion Cody Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was second for the round, earning victory in race one before collecting two third place finishes, while championship leader Colton Haaker (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) wound up third with a race win to his name.

The top five was rounded out Alfredo Gomez (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) and Pol Tarres (Husqvarna), as Haaker now leads the points standings by 12 markers over Webb. The next stop on the SuperEnduro calendar is scheduled for 9 March at Bilbao in Euskadi.

Detailed results

Team Suzuki Ecstar has launched its 2019 look at its official team presentation over the weekend, showcasing the two GSX-RRs to be piloted by Alex Rins and Joan Mir.

With two seasons aboard the GSX-RR already, Rins spearheads the team’s efforts as the experienced rider in the garage, having achieved five podiums during the 2018 season with the clear target of getting to the top step of the podium this year.

“Finally winter is over and I can go back riding,” said Rins. “This winter break has felt so long and I can’t wait to be back riding again. After the last test in November I left clear feedback for the engineers to work on, as far as I know the improvements we will try in Sepang will not be drastic but many small improvements in many areas, which is totally the Suzuki philosophy.

“We know what we were missing on the bike, so I believe the R&D in Japan will deliver a package which will help us to improve further. My winter has been very intense, with successful recovery and intense training programme. This is an important year, because in 2018 we were able to show that we can consistently fight for podium positions, and now it’s time to go for the bigger prize – the victory.”

Debutant Mir has already proven that he is not daunted by the top class, showing solid performances in the November tests in Valencia and Jerez, however he acknowledges his maiden MotoGP campaign will be focused on learning rather than results.

“Needless to say, I am very excited to get back on my bike,” Mir commented. “This winter has been very long without riding but I focused on my physical training, which has given positive results so far. Of course I still need many more hours on the bike, there are so many things I still need to understand to be even more effective.

“But I feel very supported by the team and I will rely on their wealth of experience to improve, and also to contribute my own improvements to my bike. It will be a whole package, me and the bike, that will hopefully develop step by step. I don’t have any pressure, but for sure my clear objective will be to end the season with a smaller gap to the winner when compared to the first race.”

The first pre-season test for the MotoGP class is scheduled for 6-8 February at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Colton Haaker has gained control of the 2019 FIM Maxxis SuperEnduro World Championship after claiming victory at Madrid’s third round at the weekend in Spain.

The American put on a thrilling performance with a 1-3-1 scorecard, granting him the overall win by 21 markers over former points leader Cody Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Alfredo Gomez (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) closed out the first three, just three points behind Webb, while top five was completed by Pol Tarres (Husqvarna) and Blake Gutzeit (Husqvarna).

Haaker now leads Webb by 13 points heading into the penultimate round at Budapest in Hungary on 9 February, while Taddy Blazusiak (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) holds down P3 in the standings after a damaging night in Spain.

Detailed results

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Cooper Webb has taken ahold of the 450SX points lead after securing back to back victories at Oakland’s fourth round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross and FIM World Championship.

The number two put on a stellar display to narrowly edge out teammate Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), just 0.760s separating the duo across the line.

Blake Baggett (Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM) was third followed by Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) and former points leader Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC), who now sits two points behind Webb. Australia’s Chad Reed (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing) wound up ninth in the main event.

In the 250SX West division, Adam Cianciarulo (Pro Circuit Monster Energy Kawasaki) claimed his second win of the season, boosting him to second in the championship standings.

Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha Star Racing dup Dylan Ferrandis and red-plate holder Colt Nichols closed out the podium, as Shane McElrath (TLD Red Bull KTM) and Jacob Hayes (CycleTrader Rock River Yamaha) were fourth and fifth respectively. The AMA Supercross series heads to San Diego next weekend round five.

Detailed results

A brutal fall at the beginning of the 10th and final stage of the 2019 Dakar Rally crushed Pablo Quintanilla’s hopes of earning a maiden title, although it wasn’t enough to completely rule him out of the competition.

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider sat a close second in the classification ahead of the day’s proceedings, granting him prime position for victory, however his plans came unstuck after over-jumping a broken dune, resulting in a heavy landing that momentarily sidelined the Chilean contender.

The incident pushed him down to fourth in the standings after finishing the stage in 22nd position, allowing an injured Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to somewhat comfortably ride home to a second Dakar Rally crown.

“Today I gave it all for the overall win, but things did not go as planned,” Quintanilla admitted. “A few kilometres into the stage there was a broken dune and it was hard to see it. I jumped it and landed heavily on my foot. Luckily the medical crew arrived a few seconds later and they helped me get back on the bike.

“The rest of the day it was just a struggle to get to the finish. If you want to win the Dakar you do need to take some risks and that’s what I tried to do today. I was really trying my best today for myself and for the team. It was a tough day but still I’m happy I’ve finished this Dakar.

“I take my fourth-place result and focus on the future. Overall, I’m happy I gave 100 percent at this Dakar and took some risks while battling for the win. I will come back even stronger next year.”

Quintanilla proved to be one of the most competitive racers in the event this year, leading the overall classification on numerous occasions and looked set to disrupt KTM’s now 18-year winning streak before his campaign came to a brief, yet abrupt, halt.

Australian Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has maintained his advantage at the top of the 2019 Dakar Rally standings on the penultimate day of racing, as top three newcomer Michael Metge (Sherco TVS Rally Factory) won the stage.

Stage nine of the rally saw another motocross style mass-start with riders setting off in waves of 10, determined by their finishing positions from the previous day’s stage. Heading into the dunes for the 313-kilometre timed special, the first group of riders stuck together for the majority of the stage.

Metge, starting in the second wave of riders off the line, lodged a time of 3h46m38s to edge out yet another top three newcomer Daniel Jager (MEC HRC), while Pablo Quintanilla (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) wound up in third.

Defending champion Matthias Walkner (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was fourth followed by Price, who leads Quintanilla in the classification by 1m2s, as the top five is rounded out by Walkner, Andrew Short (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) and Xavier de Soultrait (Yamalube Yamaha Rally).

Aussie Dakar rookie Ben Young (KTM) is now ranked 53rd, advancing two positions after finishing up 62nd in the stage, while compatriot James Ferguson (KTM) was able to re-enter the event for the second time, winding up 74th for a 68th ranking. Rodney Faggotter (Yamalube Yamaha Rally) was ruled out of the competition earlier in the event.

Stage 10, the final of the 2019 Dakar Rally will see competitors return to the host city of Lima, Peru. Covering a total of 359 kilometres, riders will face a short and intense 112-kilometre timed special.

Detailed results