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You are here: Home / All Posts / This Week in Powersports Racing – The week of February 5, 2023

This Week in Powersports Racing – The week of February 5, 2023

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News and stories about powersports racing this week.

Tomac Shows Nerves of Steel in Houston Supercross Victory

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac returned to his winning ways, holding firm through a dramatic Round 5 of the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross. Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton had the lead in his sights but had to settle for second inside NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Houston has hosted a round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series for 46 years

Houston has hosted a round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series for 46 years. NRG Stadium lights up during opening ceremonies. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson took the final podium position in the event that paid points to both the 17-round Supercross season as well as the inaugural 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. In the opening round of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence earned the win with a performance that should have his competition worried.

Eli Tomac

Eli Tomac looked to be in trouble early in the Houston Main Event but found more speed to earn his third win of the 2023 season. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

When the gate dropped for the 450SX Class Main Event, defending champion Eli Tomac jumped out into the lead with Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger pressuring him from the start. But 3:25 into the 20-minute plus one lap race, a crashed rider necessitated a red flag and a temporary stop to the action. The rules called for a unique staggered re-start. The racers were lined up, one after the other according to their race order, then thrown back into battle with the wave of a green flag. The starting position order was Tomac, Plessinger, Anderson, Sexton, and Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb, but once back underway Anderson quickly took over second place. Sexton was around Plessinger shortly after and with 13:05 remaining on the race clock Sexton got into the second-place spot.

Premiere class athletes staged for the staggered start after a red flag

Premiere class athletes staged for the staggered start after a red flag stopped the race due to a downed racer. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

After Sexton had demonstrated his speed on the Houston track by qualifying first by over a full second, and also catching and beating Tomac in their Heat Race, it looked like the Texas crowd would see a fight for the lead. But Tomac found some extra speed; he put in laps fast enough to stave off Sexton’s early charge. The gap between the two was 1.6 seconds, but soon Sexton was putting in the fastest laps of any rider on the track. When the clock ticked past 6:30 remaining, Sexton had whittled the lead down to just half a second and appeared to be looking for a line around Tomac.

But Tomac held tough. The two-time and defending Supercross champion didn’t falter under the pressure. After about one lap with Sexton right on him, Tomac pulled back out enough breathing room to ride his own lines. Behind them, Anderson and Plessinger held steady while Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia found a way around Cooper Webb for fifth, yet Webb took the spot back before the checkered flag. Tomac scored his third win of 2023 and stretched out his points lead. Sexton nearly backed up his win from the previous round; he kept the bike on two wheels and earned second place points, securing second in the 17-round championship standings.

Hunter Lawrence (96), the favorite going into the opening Eastern Regional 250SX Class round, established himself as the racer to beat with a convincing win. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

In Eastern Regional 250SX Class racing Hunter Lawrence grabbed the Holeshot but within a few turns Frenchman Red Bull KTM’s Tom Vialle slid from third into the lead. Vialle, the two-time and reigning MXGP MX2 class Motocross World Champion, found himself leading not only his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross, but his first race ever in America. Hunter fought back on the opening lap but misjudged his launch off a triple jump and sent his Honda off the track. Lawrence made an incredible high-speed save through the track-lining Tuff Blox and rejoined the race only losing one position.

Team Honda HRC’s Chance Hymas found himself in second place. The Rookie put immediate pressure on Vialle. But before two minutes had run off the clock in the 15-minute plus one lap Main Event Lawrence had re-taken second from Hymas. Shortly after that pass Hymas had trouble and Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie took over the third place spot with Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith, and rookie Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan right behind. Deegan was in his first pro race after competing in the SX Futures class just one week prior.

Smith reeled in Anstie and pressured for the position until he crashed in the sand. With five minutes left on the race clock the top three seemed comfortably in their spots. It was an Australian, Brit, and a Frenchman looking to make the opening Eastern Regional race an international podium. But in the final laps Smith put on a charge, getting around Martin right before Vialle crashed in one of the track’s bowl turns. Martin then crashed on the final lap, and the opening round of the Eastern Regional Series ended with Lawrence crossing the finish line in first, Anstie in second, Smith earning a hard-fought third place, and Haiden Deegan grabbing fourth in his first professional race.

The racers face off again next weekend at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida for Round 6 of the 450SX Class and the second round of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class. The event pays points to each class for both the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season as well as towards the ultimate title, the 2023 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship series which combines Supercross, Pro Motocross, and two SMX Playoffs and Final for an all-new title with a $10 million-dollar total purse.

All 2023 Monster Energy Supercross and SuperMotocross World Championship series rounds are available to watch live on Peacock. Select races are also broadcast on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC. For highlight videos and more information on the racers, results, and tickets to upcoming rounds please visit SupercrossLIVE.com.

450SX Podium - Houston

450SX Class podium (racers left to right) Chase Sexton, Eli Tomac, and Jason Anderson.
Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

450SX Class Results

  1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha
  2. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
  3. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki
  4. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM
  5. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM
  6. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS
  7. Justin Cooper, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha
  8. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
  9. Joey Savatgy, Clermont, Fla., Kawasaki
  10. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki

450SX Class Championship Standings

  1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (95)
  2. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (88)
  3. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (83)
  4. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (76)
  5. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki (73)
  6. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (65)
  7. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (64)
  8. Dylan Ferrandis, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (56)
  9. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (56)
  10. Joey Savatgy, Clermont, Fla., Kawasaki (53)
250SX Podium - Houston

250SX Class podium (riders left to right) Jordon Smith, Hunter Lawrence, and Max Anstie.
Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results

  1. Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda
  2. Max Anstie, Cairo, Ga., Honda
  3. Jordon Smith, Ochlocknee, Ga., Yamaha
  4. Haiden Deegan, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha
  5. Jeremy Martin, Rochester, Minn., Yamaha
  6. Michael Mosiman, Minneaola, Fla., GASGAS
  7. Tom Vialle, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
  8. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda
  9. Cullin Park, Clermont, Fla., Honda
  10. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Kawasaki

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings

  1. Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (26)
  2. Max Anstie, Cairo, Ga., Honda (23)
  3. Jordon Smith, Ochlocknee, Ga., Yamaha (21)
  4. Haiden Deegan, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (19)
  5. Jeremy Martin, Rochester, Minn., Yamaha (18)
  6. Michael Mosiman, Minneaola, Fla., GASGAS (17)
  7. Tom Vialle, Murrieta, Calif., KTM (16)
  8. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda (15)
  9. Cullin Park, Clermont, Fla., Honda (14)
  10. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Kawasaki (13)

BILLY BOLT TAKES DOMINANT VICTORY AT SUPERENDURO ROUND THREE

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt put in a commanding showing at round three of the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship in Hungary to secure the overall victory. Topping the SuperPole hot lap, before going on to win all three Prestige class races, the defending world champion further extended his championship lead in Budapest.

Dominating the evening’s SuperPole by almost one and a half seconds on his FE 350, Billy was keen to make good on that momentum when the start gate dropped for race one. Exiting the first corner in second position, a hectic lap one saw him slip back to third. Recomposing himself, he went on the attack and by the end of lap two had taken over the lead. Once out front, Bolt pulled clear to eventually claim victory by three seconds.

With the start order reversed for race two, Billy cut his way through the field to reach third position on lap one. After a couple of exchanges, he took the lead on lap three and quickly opened up a healthy advantage. Looking set to claim a convincing win, drama unfolded when he got his front wheel lodged in the rock garden with three laps to go. Dropping to second, he put in maximum effort to reel leader Cody Webb back in and take his second victory of the night.

Setting his sights on a clean sweep in Budapest, Bolt emerged from the second corner of race three in third. Quickly moving into the lead, Billy was determined to do no wrong this time and set about checking out. Executing precision laps on his FE 350 saw the Brit build a commanding lead to cross the chequered flag over 20 seconds clear of his rivals.

With maximum points gained on the night thanks to his three race wins and SuperPole victory, Billy now heads to round four in Israel on March 2 with a 26-point championship lead.

Billy Bolt: “With three wins and topping SuperPole, it was a great night at the office. I knew my speed was good from the off, but in the first two races I seemed to keep tripping myself up. I would get into the lead and then just make a mistake or judge the lapped traffic wrong. Thankfully I was able to recover each time, but I really wanted to do better. I feel like race three was my best of the night. Mistakes were minimal and I was able to ride my lines with confidence. It was a great way to end the night!”

Overall Classification
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 51pts; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 42pts…

Prestige Race 1
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 6 laps, 4:44.087; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 6 laps, 4:45.815; 3. Cooper Abbott (Sherco) 6 laps, 5:02.030…

Prestige Race 2
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:35.071; 2. Cody Webb (Sherco) 9 laps, 7:38.798; 3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:43.281…

Prestige Race 3
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 6:58.254; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:18.193; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 9 laps, 7:33.496…

Championship Standings (After round 3)
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 184pts; 2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 158pts; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 124pts…

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING’S CHRISTIAN CRAIG MAKES THE BEST OF A TOUGH NIGHT

It has been a rough couple of weeks for The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, with a season-ending knee injury to Malcolm Stewart; and another injury that put Jalek Swoll on the sidelines before the start of the AMA Supercross 250 East series. While Christian Craig soldiers on as the lone 450 rider, Talon Hawkins got the call earlier in the week to make his professional debut in Swoll’s place aboard an FC 250 at Houston.

250SX East
While Talon Hawkins had raced the Supercross Futures the week in Anaheim the week before, he found the action in Houston a bit frenzied. He didn’t get the start he was looking for in the main event, but kept pushing, moving up to 11th at the finish.

“There’s not much downtime, so it’s very different from anything I’ve ever done before,” Talon said. “At all the amateur races you have so much time in between each race. So it was definitely a change of pace to be out there. It’s crazy, the intensity is just so high, right off the gate. So now I know what to work on, I’m ready to get back out there next weekend.”

450SX
Christian Craig continued his forward progress during qualifying, clocking in with the seventh-fastest time aboard his FC 450 Rockstar Edition. Unfortunately, a crash early in the main event dropped him to the back of the pack, but after remounting he put his head down and worked his way back to 11th position.

“I was spunky in practice and I felt super-confident in my bike from the changes we made during the week,” said Craig. “In my heat race I just rode super-cautious early and kind of rode around. In the main event I crashed in the second turn and it got red-flagged so we had a staggered restart. I did what I could from last place and just put my head down. It wasn’t a good result but we’re healthy and just need to figure this out.”

Next Event (Round 6): February 11, 2023 – Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL

TOP-FIVE RESULTS FOR RED BULL KTM DUO PLESSINGER AND WEBB AT HOUSTON SUPERCROSS

HOUSTON, Texas – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team-mates Aaron Plessinger and Cooper Webb have both put in strong performances to finish inside the top-five at tonight’s latest round of the 2023 AMA Supercross Championship in Houston, Texas. In addition, the opening stop of the 250SX East season saw two-time MX2 World Champion Tom Vialle impress on his way to a seventh-place result in his first-career American Supercross appearance.

A season-best result of P4 in the 450SX Main Event for Plessinger sees him move into seventh place in the standings. After setting the 12th-fastest qualifying time, he surged off the gate and into third in the first 450SX Heat race during the early stages, then climbed into second to claim a satisfying runner-up result on his 2023 KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION.

Come the Main Event, Plessinger got a strong start and set out after the leader, but the race was red-flagged just before he could set up a move. A staggered restart saw the hard-charging 27-year-old lose two positions in quick succession, but he was able to regroup and finish fourth in what was his best performance of the year to date.

Aaron Plessinger: “I came into this weekend feeling confident in my starts I had a lot of fun out there. In the Heat race, I got a good start and had a great battle with Cooper and another rider, where I ended up second. I rode really well in that race. I got another unreal start in the Main and I was duking it out for the lead when the race was unfortunately red-flagged. Off the staggered start, I slid out a little in the first turn and lost a position, then another rider got around me soon afterward. I got my bearings back and started charging, then despite a couple of little mistakes, I finished the race at a good pace in a P4 position.”

Webb remains third in the championship standings after a hard-fought fifth-place result at NRG Stadium. Despite qualifying eighth, Webb and his 2023 KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION launched to the front of the opening 450SX Heat, with the two-time champion going on to claim third position.

Pinched off the start of the Main Event, Webb was able to cut inside as the field pushed wide and emerged from the first turn in P6. A quick pass saw him move into fifth before the race was red-flagged. After the restart, he traded places multiple times throughout the remainder of the race, before taking control and finishing with fifth position.

Cooper Webb: “I ended up fifth tonight and it was a bit of a struggle, to be honest. I felt off all day, from practice and through the heats, but we made the most of it and came away with a top five in the Main Event. We’re still in a good points situation and we’ll keep the ball rolling, regroup this week in Florida and come back swinging at Tampa!”

In the 250SX East season-opener, well-credentialed Frenchman Vialle is taking plenty of positives from his first-ever AMA Supercross start, where he enjoyed valuable track position and led the opening laps on his way to an eventual result of seventh in the Main Event.

After qualifying ninth, the 22-year-old opened his 250SX account with an impressive third place in his Heat. A fast start aboard the 2023 KTM 250 SX-F saw Vialle complete the opening lap inside the top three, before he withstood early pressure from behind to finish P3 and progress directly to his first-ever Main Event.

Another precise launch off the gate in the Main Event saw Vialle in P1 and he managed to lead the first two laps. After dropping two positions early on, he looked comfortable and appeared to be on track for a memorable podium. Unfortunately, a couple of late mistakes saw him cross the finish-line in seventh place, gaining valuable race experience in the process.

Tom Vialle: “I was a little nervous in the first practice, but I felt more comfortable as the day went on. In my Heat I was again a bit nervous as it was my first-ever Supercross in a stadium at night, but I had a good start and finished P3, so I was happy with that. In the Main Event, I had a great start again and got to lead for two laps. Then with five laps to go, while in third, I had a small crash when I missed the rear brake and went over the corner. I’m disappointed as we could’ve finished on the podium, but I learned a lot and it was a good day overall.”

Next Race: February 11 – Tampa, Florida

Results 450SX Class – Houston
1. Eli Tomac (USA), Yamaha, 23 laps
2. Chase Sexton (USA), Honda, +3.253
3. Jason Anderson (USA), Kawasaki, +12.408
4. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM, +17.357
5. Cooper Webb (USA), KTM, +24.593
OTHER KTM
14. Kevin Moranz (USA), KTM
20. Justin Hill (USA), KTM

Standings 450SX Class 2023 after 4 of 17 rounds
1. Eli Tomac, 95 points
2. Chase Sexton, 88
3. Cooper Webb, 83
OTHER KTM
7. Aaron Plessinger, 64
14. Justin Hill, 30
20. Kevin Moranz, 13
22. Marvin Musquin, 11
28. Josh Hill, 5

Results 250SX East Class – Houston
1. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda, 18 laps
2. Max Anstie (GBR), Honda, +7.403
3. Jordon Smith (USA), Yamaha, +10.171
OTHER KTM
7. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM

Standings 250SX East Class 2023 after 1 of 9 rounds
1. Hunter Lawrence, 26 points
2. Max Anstie, 23
3. Jordon Smith, 21
OTHER KTM
7. Tom Vialle, 16

BLAZUSIAK BATTLES THROUGH MISFORTUNE AT SUPERENDURO HUNGARY

A bumpy start to his night saw Taddy set the third-fastest time in the SuperPole hot lap, despite a crash on finish line jump. In true Blazusiak spirit he brushed the incident off and focused on race one. A multi-rider crash on the opening lap put him on the back foot. In full damage limitation mode, Taddy pushed on to climb the leaderboard on his EC 350F. From 10th place, he reached as high as fourth, before being awarded fifth when the race was cut short due a red flag incident.

Misfortune continued for Blazusiak in race two. Always a dramatic part of the night’s racing with the start order reversed, Taddy became stuck in traffic following a row two start. Battling from 11th position to an eventual eighth, the Polish star was eager to turn fortunes around for race three.

In the early stages of the third and final race, Taddy appeared to have luck back on his side. Riding well and hitting his lines with confidence, the multiple world champion was comfortably lying inside the top three. However, a clash with another rider put paid to his high hopes of a solid result. A broken clutch lever forced him to retire and end his night early.

Finishing seventh overall on the night, Blazusiak leaves Budapest a close fourth overall in the championship chase and will look to bounce back in true Taddy style at round four in Israel on March 2.

Results: SuperEnduro, Round 3

Overall
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts
2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 51pts
3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 42pts
…
7. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 21pts

Prestige Race 1
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna)
2. Jonny Walker (Beta)
3. Cooper Abbott (Sherco)
…
5. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS)

Prestige Race 2
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna)
2. Cody Webb (Sherco)
3. Jonny Walker (Beta)
…
7. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS)

Prestige Race 3
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna)
2. Jonny Walker (Beta)
3. Cody Webb (Sherco)
…
DNF. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS)

Championship Standings (After round 3)
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 184pts
2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 158pts
3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 124pts
4. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 105pts

JUSTIN BARCIA NARROWLY MISSES OUT ON A TOP-FIVE IN HOUSTON

450SX

With a stacked field and tight competition, it was another solid week for Justin Barcia aboard his GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition. Scoring a third in his heat race gave Justin a good gate pick for the main, which he used to round the first turn among the leaders. Shuffling into the sixth spot, he quickly moved to fifth for the majority of the main. Unfortunately, a crash in the whoops on the last lap cost him a position, and he ended the night in P6.

Justin Barcia: “I had a decent practice, and a good charge through the pack in the heat race had me feeling super-good. The main event was quite wild. I was running about sixth and we had a staggered restart. I moved up a couple of positions, and then I had a little crash in the whoops and ended up sixth. I’m really happy with the motorcycle. It’s feeling really good and I’m comfortable. The competition is so close, and everyone’s so fast…we’re right there and the podium is inches away. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. We just need to get after it.”

250SX West
Coming into the season as one of the veterans, and with legitimate championship aspirations, Michael Mosiman was speedy in his heat race, charging from eighth to fourth at the checkers. The story was similar to the main event, where he was 14th at the end of lap one but sixth at the finish.

Michael Mosiman: “For the first round of the east coast, I had an all-right day. My pace and fitness are good. I thought I had a lot of strengths, but I just need to clean up the starts and I can do that. It’s unfortunate. P6 is not where we want to be starting out, but I warm up quick. I’m looking forward to Tampa.”

Next Event (Round 6): February 11, 2023 – Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

Results – 2023 AMA Supercross Championship, Round 5

250SX East – Main Event Results

1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 18 laps; 2. Max Anstie (Honda) +07.403; 3. Jordon Smith (Yamaha) +10.171 … 6. Michael Mosiman (GASGAS) +21.694

450SX – Main Event Results

1. Eli Tomac (Yamaha) 23 laps; 2. Chase Sexton (Honda) +03.253; 3. Jason Anderson (Kawasaki) +12.408 … 6. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) +31.236; 16. Justin Starling (GASGAS) +1:02.446

Championship Standings – After Round 4

250SX East

1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 26 points; 2. Max Anstie (Honda) 23;  3. Jordon Smith (Yamaha) 21 … 6. Michael Mosiman (GASGAS) 12

450SX

1. Eli Tomac (Yamaha) 95 points; 2. Chase Sexton (Honda) 88; 3. Cooper Webb (KTM) 83 … 6. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) 65; 16. Justin Starling (GASGAS) 18

Smith Fights Back to Podium Finish at Opening Round

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith fought his way back to a third-place finish at last night’s opening round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship in Houston, Texas. It was a great outing for the team as a whole, which also saw rookie Haiden Deegan ride to an impressive fourth-place finish at the NRG Stadium. Nate Thrasher also showed strength early on, but unfortunately, a couple of tip-overs in the sand section had him finishing 15th.

Smith’s debut race with the team got off to a good start. He qualified third behind his teammate Thrasher and then took his first win aboard the YZ250F in his heat race. Although he was unable to repeat his great starts earlier in the day, the North Carolina rider kept pushing. He was battling for the runner-up spot and around the halfway point, he went down in the tricky sand section. Smith quickly rejoined ahead of Deegan and then, once again, worked his way forward to third for his first podium since 2019.

Making his pro debut at the opening round, Deegan showed speed straight away. He topped the Group B practice and qualifying sessions and was seventh overall in the combined times. The rookie backed that up with a solid heat race result in fourth. Although he didn’t get the start he was looking for either, the 17-year-old rode a smart race and made his way from ninth to fourth by the end of the 15-minute-plus-one-lap race.

Thrasher also got the day off to a good start, leading the way for the team in qualifying with second on the timesheets. He had a good heat race, taking a runner-up finish to give him a decent gate pick for the main event. Like his teammates, he didn’t get off the gate as he hoped and was outside the top 10 in 11th. Thrasher put his head down and was up to sixth before an error in the sand section had him going down. He rejoined in 13th and made another forward charge to eighth, but unfortunately went down again in the sand section and ultimately crossed the line 15th.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 team heads to Tampa, Florida, next weekend for Round 2 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship and the fifth round of the SuperMotocross World Championship at the Raymond James Stadium on February 11.

Jordan Smith
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing
“It was a good day. I felt really comfortable today on the dirt bike, and on the track. It’s really the most comfortable I’ve ever felt in a supercross, so I’m really excited and stoked about that. I got some killer starts – the practice start and in the heat race – and then kind of botched it in the main event. Hunter (Lawrence) is really good. It’s going to take a good start to be able to get up there and battle with him, and obviously, you can’t have a little fall in the sand. So, we’re going to go back, keep working, and come back to Tampa ready to go.”


Haiden Deegan
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing
“It was a good day. We started off with some solid times and we were first in Group B practice and qualifying. Then for the heat race, I was fourth, so I was happy with that. I got into a good pace and was able to lay down some good laps, and see the track well. Then in the main event, I was pretty nervous on the line, but I got a decent start and then just fought and never gave up. I kept pushing through the pack. I had a lot of people to prove wrong and I ended up fourth in my first pro supercross race. It was a crazy night! I am so happy with how it went.”


Nate Thrasher
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing
“The day started out well. I was feeling pretty good on the bike all day, but unfortunately had a bad start in the main, and then went down a couple of times in the sand. I’m pretty disappointed, but we’re going to put it behind us and keep putting in the work and get back on the podium where we know we belong.”


Jensen Hendler
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“Overall, it was a really good day and a really good start to the 250 East Championship. Jordon had a solid night. He won his heat race and fought his way back in the main. He was actually about to pass for second and made a mistake in the sand and dropped a couple of spots, but he came back to third. To leave here on the podium is awesome. He hasn’t been on the podium since 2019, so it was really good for Jordon. We’ll just continue to grow with him. He can be at the top step of the podium, and he knows that, so we’ll continue to fight for that.

“Haiden rode super smart and just let the race come to him. He ended up fourth, which was amazing. I think he proved a lot of people wrong tonight, which is awesome. We’re very pleased with his progress. I think he’s learning more and more every time he rides. For him, this season is part of the learning process, and he showed that tonight.

“Nate had a good qualifying and was riding well, but unfortunately made a mistake in the sand section and found himself off the track. He got back on the track, was actually moving forward, and then ended up having another mistake in the sand which put him pretty far back and he ended up 15th. He’s not happy with the result, but we know as a team that he’s capable of way more than that. So, we’ll just continue to work with him and keep fighting. We’re excited about the East Coast season.

“It was also great to see Justin (Cooper) have his first-ever race on a 450. He hasn’t raced supercross in well over a year. So, it was really good to get him out there and get his feet wet in the 450 class. There are so many things to learn in that 450 class and he’s still just a rookie, but he went into the main and just rode smart and kept picking dudes off. He was strong at the end and was catching people, and ended up seventh, which was amazing. We’ll continue to grow with Justin and keep fighting, and hopefully get him on the podium before we switch gears to the 250MX Championship.”

Tomac Brings the Heat in Houston

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac put on another masterclass performance to return to the top step of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX podium last night at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The reigning champ’s third victory this season in four tries also marked his 47th-career victory. Justin Cooper enjoyed a good premier-class debut, finishing seventh despite challenging conditions and a stacked 450 class. Unfortunately, Dylan Ferrandis crashed early in the main event, which drew out the red flag, and did not restart the race.

Tomac showed strength straight away, qualifying third and finishing second in his heat race. When the gate dropped for the main event, he came out swinging and grabbed the holeshot, but the race was red-flagged after his teammate Ferrandis went down. He continued to lead the way but was unable to break away after the staggered restart and found himself under pressure from a championship rival. Tomac put his head down and set a blistering pace to remain unchallenged en route to his third victory of the season and expanded his lead in the championship to seven points.

Making his premier class debut at the fourth round of the season, Cooper continued to make progress throughout the day. He qualified 14th and finished seventh in the first 450 heat race, giving him a less-than-ideal gate pick. Undeterred, the New Yorker was 13th after the first lap and broke into the top 10 by Lap 3. The 2021 250SX West Champion kept his cool and ran his own race, making a last-lap pass to cross the line seventh.

Ferrandis got the day off to a great start, leading the way for the team by taking the runner-up spot in qualifying. He finished fourth in the first heat race, making for a difficult start in the main event with the eighth gate pick. The Frenchman was battling inside the top 10 and unfortunately crashed hard early in the race, drawing out the red flag. Ferrandis was evaluated on-site by the Alpinestars Mobile Medical Unit and, thankfully, was okay. He will seek further evaluation, and an update on his return will follow at a later date.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to the Sunshine State for the fifth round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Championship Series at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on February 11.


Eli Tomac
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing
“It was a great rebound race for us. This was a huge deal to come back from last weekend’s crash and to take the win here. You really had to focus on the timing and line selection tonight. This was the highest-speed track that we’ve had all year, so I’m just really pumped to see this motorcycle work in all these different conditions. Tonight was pretty hard packed, really high speed, and the other rounds we had were basically the opposite, so we are off and running strong.”


Justin Cooper
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing
“Yeah, it was good. We got better and better throughout the day. There is a lot of learning going on right now, so it’s great to get the first one out of the way. The goal was to be around the top 10, and we achieved that. I finished seventh and even made a last-lap pass and felt good toward the end of the race. I just felt like I had a good flow and wasn’t pushing over my head, but I wasn’t riding too slow, either. Everything came a lot easier for me in the main event, even though the track so was messed up. For my first 450 race, I’m just glad to click my laps off like that and be that consistent, and work my way through the pack. I’m looking forward to Tampa next weekend.”


Jeremy Coker
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manage
“It was the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. The high was a phenomenal race for Eli. It was incredible. He had a lot of pressure in the beginning, and he did what he had to do to beat the competition. It was an awesome ride and a good way to come back from last weekend. It was also the lowest of lows. Unfortunately, it’s part of the sport, but to see one of your guys crash the way Dylan did and to see him lying there was pretty tough. Fortunately, when I got to him, he was able to open his eyes and looked at me and said my name, and it was a huge relief to see him stand up and walk away.”

Hunter Lawrence Kicks off 250SX East Battle With a Win in Houston

Having waited impatiently for his first race of the 2023 AMA Supercross season, Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence rode masterfully when given the chance at the 250SX East Region opener in Houston, handily topping his heat race and the main event. Meanwhile, Chase Sexton posted a second-place finish in the 450SX main event, taking sole possession of second place in the title chase.

Lawrence took his CRF250R to the main-event holeshot but was quickly passed by Tom Vialle. Lawrence sat in second, and when he and Vialle nearly touched in the air, the Australian went off-track and lost a spot to his rookie teammate, Chance Hymas. Lawrence quickly regrouped and moved to the front by lap 3, then stayed there to the finish, winning by 7.4 seconds over Max Anstie, who put in an impressive ride for the Fire Power Honda team. Hymas had a respectable showing in his debut indoor race, running in the top five for three laps and eventually finishing eighth.

After dominating qualifying and his heat race, Sexton suffered a poor main-event start and ran in seventh before completing lap 1 in fourth. A red flag several minutes in, and a subsequent single-file restart didn’t significantly affect the top positions, but Sexton dispatched Aaron Plessinger on lap 4 and Jason Anderson on lap 6, putting him in second behind Eli Tomac. Sexton made a run at Tomac but ultimately settled for second. His teammate Colt Nichols had been hampered by a poor start and completed lap 1 in 11th, then began working his way forward until he went down in the sand section. The Oklahoma native was 13th at the finish.

NOTES

  • On Friday, Hunter Lawrence and Chance Hymas both took part in media day, giving them time to familiarize themselves with the Houston track.
  • For the third time in four races, Chase Sexton topped daytime qualifying in the 450SX class, as the Illinois native’s best time was a whopping 1.1 seconds faster than the next-best rider. Nichols ended qualifying in 15th place. In qualifying for the 250SX East program, Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie raised eyebrows by posting the best time, with Lawrence fourth and Hymas eighth.
  • Sexton was absolutely dominant in the second 450SX heat race, completing lap 1 in second place and then passing Eli Tomac and pulling ahead to win by nearly eight seconds. Nichols ran strong in third for much of the race before slipping to fifth at the end. Also advancing from the heat was Fire Power Honda’s Dean Wilson, in seventh.
  • Lawrence won the first 250SX East heat race of the season after leading every lap. Hymas finished an impressive third, with TiLube/Storm Lake Honda’s Henry Miller sixth and Phoenix Racing Honda’s Jace Owen ninth. Heat 2 saw Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie finish second, with Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cullin Park sixth, TiLube/Storm Lake Honda’s Michael Hicks eighth and Honda of Lynchburg’s Luke Neese ninth. Three of the four riders to advance through the last-chance qualifier—Dean Hushon Insulation’s Jeremy Hand, Moto Academy’s AJ Catanzaro and Phoenix Racing Honda’s Coty Schock—were Honda-mounted.
  • No fewer than half of the riders—11 of 22—in the 250SX East main event were CRF250R-mounted.
  • Team Honda HRC riders turned the fastest lap times in both main events—Sexton in 450SX and Lawrence in 250SX East.
  • Lawrence’s 250SX success put him on the list of Honda riders to take Houston’s support-class win. Others include Willie Surratt, Andrew Short, Davi Millsaps, Justin Barcia and Jett Lawrence.
  • Sexton and Lawrence both took part in the post-race press conference.
  • Lawrence’s Houston victory was the sixth 250SX win of his career, and Sexton earned his 14th premier-class Supercross podium.
  • Lawrence’s win gives him a three-point lead on fellow Red Rider Max Anstie in the 250SX East title fight, while Sexton’s second-place result gives him sole possession of second place in the premier-class points battle—seven behind Eli Tomac and five ahead of Cooper Webb.


Colt Nichols 45
“Overall, it was a bit better for me today; I know the result in the main event was worse, but I felt good all day. Track position was key tonight, and I didn’t really have that. I was working my way up to the guys in front of me until I buried it in the sand. By the time I got up, it was pretty spread out. I’m a little bit frustrated with the end result, but I feel like my riding and the bike were in a better place. There are a lot of positives to take away from this weekend.”


Hunter Lawrence 96
“Qualifying was a little rough; I just could never get all my best segments on one lap. I’m happy to execute with two great starts and check all the boxes so far. I’m confident on the bike and I really worked hard to get here; I’m excited for the rest of the season.”


Chance Hymas 832
“That was quite the experience. Me and Hunter were 1-2 off the start, and for the first four laps, I was like, ‘I need to go!’ Then around the fifth or sixth lap, I ran out of breath. I got to about halfway and kind of regrouped, and then salvaged what I could. I qualified eighth, finished eighth, third in the heat race—I want to be better, but it could’ve been a lot worse. I’ll take it.”


Lars Lindstrom
Team Manager
“It was a pretty hectic day with four riders on the team, but it also made the truck full of good vibes. It was pretty exciting in the 250 races, with Chance getting really good starts and getting good experience up front. I’m sure he didn’t breathe those first couple of laps, so he’ll be a little stronger next weekend! Hunter was just in total control up front. Obviously, Chase was unbelievable with how fast he was today in qualifying and hunting down Eli during the heat race. It was frustrating watching Eli rise to the occasion and hold off Chase in the main, but at the same time, we still got a strong second place. Colt made some improvements with his intensity and definitely made strides all day.”

CLIMBS UP PRO CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP ORDER FOLLOWING CONVINCING PERFORMANCE

Riding the Husqvarna FX 450, Walton was eighth at the conclusion of the opening lap and dropped a place on lap two, however, from that point he was able to surge forward. He first made his way into fifth at halfway and, come the end of the race, that was where he would take the checkered flag in a spirited effort home. Walton now sits P6 in the championship standings.

“I put in a really solid effort today after I got an edged out on the start,” recalled Walton. “I spent a lot of time just working my way up and making passes. Towards the end of the race, I put in a hard charge, was able to get into some clean air and made some ground up. All in all, it wasn’t my greatest performance, but it was better than round one, so we’re making some progress. We have to keep moving forward, stay positive with it and pretty soon we will be knocking on the top step of the podium. We know we’ve got a little bit more in the tank.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Dalton Shirey also delivered a convincing performance at round two in finishing seventh overall. Shirey started strongly inside the top-five and settled into a pace from there, eventually scoring a well-earned P7 result.

“Today was up and down, but I had a great time out there and know where I need to improve,” Shirey commented. “I had a pretty good start, but had some trouble early on, which set me back to 10th on lap three. I just focused on making up a few positions from there and charged to the finish. I am looking forward to the rest of the GP season and building on my momentum.”

Next Round (3): Blythe, California – February 19, 2023

CRAIG DELONG AND TREVOR BOLLINGER REGISTER SOLID FINISHES AT SUMTER NATIONAL ENDURO

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Craig DeLong kicked off the 2023 season with an impressive fourth overall performance at this weekend’s Sumter National Enduro, Round 1 of the AMA National Enduro Series in Sumter, South Carolina. Meanwhile, DeLong’s teammate Trevor Bollinger was a solid eighth in the NE Pro 1 division on the sandy, rutted course. 

DeLong started strong, finishing third in three of the six tests in the NE Pro 1 division on his FX 350, ultimately missing the podium by just over 16 seconds. 

“I’m a little frustrated and disappointed,” DeLong said. “We were pretty good in the morning and posted consistent test times. We were just kind of in that third place, fourth place spot. I had a crash during the last test, just kind of little stupid mistakes that I don’t normally make. But overall, it was a good day.”

Bollinger was just making his return to racing from injury and still getting used to being back on the bike. 

“I’m just glad to be here, really,” Bollinger said. “I think I started riding three weeks ago. I’m just happy to be here and get some points and get some time on the bike. I’m looking forward to the season. I started off slow I think because I just haven’t had much time on the bike, but I felt like I got better throughout the day. Hopefully I only get better from here.”

DeLong and Bollinger will have a chance to move up in the rankings when the series resumes in Turkey, Texas on March 19.


Round 1: February 5 – Sumter, South Carolina

NE Pro1 Results

1. Grant Baylor (KAW)

2. Ryder Lafferty (GAS)

3. Josh Toth (GAS)

4. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, +16.309

…

8. Trevor Bollinger, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, +11.707

NE Pro1 Championship Standings (After 1 of 9 rounds)

1. Grant Baylor, 30 points

2. Ryder Lafferty, 25 points

3. Josh Toth, 21 points

4. Craig DeLong – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing,18 points

…

8. Trevor Bollinger – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 13 points

FMF KTM FACTORY RACING’S NGPC CHAMPION DANTE OLIVEIRA CLAIMS FIRST VICTORY OF 2023 SEASON IN TAFT

Taft, Calif. – FMF KTM Factory Racing rider Dante Oliveira picked up his first victory of the 2023 AMA National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) season on Sunday, the defending champion putting forward a commanding performance for the Pro class overall. Teammate Mateo Oliveira claimed sixth position in what was round two of the series.

After finishing third at the opening round, Oliveira arrived in Taft with the aim of rebounding and that’s exactly what he managed to achieve, equipped with the KTM 450 XC-F. He completed the opening two laps in fourth, before taking charge on lap three and that’s where he would remain, crossing the finish with a six-second advantage over round one winner Ryan Surratt. Dante is now P2 in the series, four points outside the lead.

Dante Oliveira: “The conditions were great out there today. I always really look forward to Taft and the flowing track and awesome dirt. I didn’t get the jump on the start, but once I moved into the lead on lap three I settled in and started to build the gap. I rode it all the way to the finish for the win. I’m really happy with how the day went and can’t thank the team enough.”

More experience was gained by Pro class newcomer and brother Mateo Oliveira in his second NGPC appearance with FMF KTM Factory Racing, the Pro 2 champion from last year placing sixth overall on Sunday. After factoring in the podium race during the mid-stages – running as high as second following four laps – he would eventually claim a sixth-place result aboard his KTM 450 XC-F and that sees Mateo maintain fifth in the points.

Mateo Oliveira: “It wasn’t the best day, but I am still pretty happy with the progress we’re making. I had a decent start and thought I had a good grip on a podium position mid way. But Austin [Walton] was putting in solid laps and I gave him all I had. I’m looking forward to the next one.”

The Pro Women’s category was once again won by defending champion Brandy Richards, the KTM-supported rider earning a strong 21st overall for the weekend. She led a KTM 1-2 in class ahead of Mikayla Nielsen and now enjoys a 14-point lead in the championship standings.

Round 3: Blythe, California – February 19, 2023

Results: Round 2

Pro Results
1. Dante Oliveira, KTM
2. Ryan Surratt, HON
3. Cole Martinez, HON
OTHER KTM
6. Mateo Oliveira, KTM

Pro Women Results
1. Brandy Richards, KTM
2. Mikayla Nielsen, KTM
3. Ava Silvestri, GAS
4. Kaitlyn Jacobs, KTM

Pro Championship Standings
1. Ryan Surratt, 55 points
2. Dante Oliveira, 51
3. Cole Martinez, 39
OTHER KTM
5. Mateo Oliveira, 31

American Motorcyclist Association Adds Talent to its Racing Department

The American Motorcyclist Association has added two experienced racing managers to its full-time ranks — Jeff Canfield and Michael Jolly. The pair have been involved with the AMA and AMA-sanctioned pro and amateur racing for years as contractors but are now full-time employees.

AMA Racing Manager Jeff Canfield
AMA Racing Manager Jeff Canfield

Canfield will hold the position of Racing Manager and will be responsible for a wide range of duties on the AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross fronts.

Jolly will fill the Off-Road Racing Manager position and be involved in all aspects of the AMA’s substantial amateur racing activities, including transnational events such as the International Six Days Enduro.

“The AMA is excited to announce the full-time hiring of Jeff and Mike,” said AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier. “They not only possess significant experience in the world of motorcycle racing, but they also know the AMA and how it operates and will hit the ground running in their respective roles. I have worked with both of them over the years, and we’re looking forward to great things in 2023 and beyond.”

Canfield has been a motorcyclist from an early age.

“On my ninth birthday I got my first motorcycle, a Yamaha 60,” says Canfield, “and from that day on I was hooked. I started racing flat track, TT and hare scrambles locally in upstate New York and competed in the amateur national championship for dirt track in ’82, ’83 and ’86.

“I flagged a bunch of AMA Motocross Nationals in the late 1980s,” Canfield added, “and some AMA Supercross events, too, when they came to area venues. In 2000 I sold my house and traveled with both series, doing various jobs, and after several years ended up as Race Director of the Pro Motocross Championship, which I’ve done for the last 14 years in addition to working Race Control during AMA Supercross events. I have been truly blessed to work with and see many of the world’s best motocross and AMA Supercross riders, and I am very excited about this new opportunity with the AMA.”

Jolly got the motorcycling bug early in life, as well.

AMA Racing Manager Michael Jolly
AMA Racing Manager Michael Jolly

“My Dad was a founding member of the Appalachian Dirt Riders club,” says Jolly, “so I was involved pretty early; I actually started laying out and tacking arrows for National enduros at 10 years old! I have competed in all forms of off-road racing over the past 25 years, and have worked part-time for the AMA since 2015, primarily coordinating ISDE efforts. I’m excited for this new opportunity to help the AMA in all aspects of off-road racing.”

The AMA is currently hiring for multiple positions. To see these opportunities, check out AmericanMotorcyclist.com/careers/.

Royal Enfield North America Named Official OEM Partner of Progressive AFT Again in 2023

Progressive American Flat Track and Royal Enfield North America (RENA) today confirmed their multifaceted partnership has been renewed ahead of the upcoming 2023 Progressive AFT season.

The innovative collaboration between America’s Original Extreme Sport and the world’s oldest global motorcycle brand in continuous production is entering its fourth year of partnership. And as an Official OEM Partner, Royal Enfield will continue to engage and entertain Progressive American Flat Track fans with its line of modern classic motorcycles in multiple ways.

Royal Enfield has enjoyed an impressive degree of success on the racetrack as its racing effort continues to evolve. Since the Royal Enfield Twins FT made its debut in 2020, the team has celebrated multiple podiums in the Mission Production Twins class, including a historic win at the Lima Half Mile in 2021 – a first-ever feat for the historic brand. Royal Enfield is looking forward to continuing its venture into the competitive ranks of Progressive American Flat Track, as well as continuing the evolution of the Twins FT motorcycle with the versatile and accomplished Johnny Lewis once again leading the charge.

Throughout its partnership with the series, Royal Enfield has endeavored not just to expand its reach, but to actively grow the sport at a grassroots level and introduce it to new audiences. Chief among those efforts is the hugely popular Build. Train. Race. (BTR) program, which highlights, celebrates, and encourages the involvement of women in flat track racing. BTR has injected new talent into Progressive American Flat Track events across the nation, welcoming both experienced and beginner racers to compete aboard customized INT650 motorcycles. Royal Enfield aims to continue this innovative program in 2023 at select Progressive AFT rounds.

“Royal Enfield has already accomplished so much through our participation in Progressive American Flat Track, it was an easy decision to continue that relationship,” said Adrian Sellers, Royal Enfield Head – Custom Program & Motorsport. “Royal Enfield is a 120-year-old brand but still very young when it comes to competition. The development and success of the Twins FT motorcycle have brought a lot of excitement to the company, which is on course for a landmark year with all-new models, and the continuation of our groundbreaking programs that open doors to new riders and racers. We look forward to sharing another milestone year with Progressive AFT and its fans.”

Progressive AFT fans will also get to check out Royal Enfield’s street models first hand in the Progressive AFT Marketplace, with the historic marque’s stunning new models – the Scram 411 and all-new Super Meteor 650 mid-sized cruiser – taking center stage.

“Royal Enfield has established itself as one of the fastest growing brands in motorcycling and one of the most innovative partners of Progressive American Flat Track,” said Gene Crouch, COO of AMA Pro Racing. “Not content to rest on its storied past, Royal Enfield continues to make history through one-of-a-kind marketing activations and creative advertising campaigns. We look forward to partnering with them in 2023 and showcasing the Build. Train. Race program at select Progressive AFT events again this season.”

The 2023 Progressive American Flat Track season will launch with the hugely anticipated return of the DAYTONA Short Track I & II at the Flat Track at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, March 9 and Friday, March 10.

For more information on Royal Enfield North America, visit www.RoyalEnfieldNA.com,

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

How to Watch:

FOX Sports and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of Progressive American Flat Track. For the 2023 season, all races will premiere in one-hour telecasts on FS1 during highly desirable weekend time slots. The complete schedule can be viewed at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. FansChoice.tv provides livestreaming coverage of every Progressive AFT round at http://www.FansChoice.tv.

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