News and stories about powersports racing this week.
Eli Tomac Takes Seattle Supercross Win and Ties Up Points Standings
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac won Round 11 of the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season and reached the record book milestone of tying for second most 450SX Class wins with 50.
Lumen Field brought clear skies and intense racing to the Seattle race fans.
Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb earned a second place finish to the cheers of 58,261 Seattle fans at Lumen Field. And Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia rounded out the podium, earning points for both the Supercross season and the inaugural 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. The Western Regional 250SX Class returned to racing with Round five after a five-week break and Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence grabbed his fourth win of the season.
Eli Tomac took his 50th career Supercross win in Seattle, pulling him into a tie for second for most race wins in the 450SX Class. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Tank Masters Red Line Oil Next Level KTM’s Kevin Moranz grabbed the 450SX Class Main Event Holeshot and held the lead ahead of Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton, Eli Tomac, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo, and Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen. Roczen was on the move early and got by Tomac for third place just as Sexton took Moranz wide in a bowl turn. Moranz went over the berm, got hung up on Tuff Blox, and was well behind the pack before he got back onto the track.
With Sexton out in the lead, Tomac pressured Roczen to earn back second place. But two minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap race it was Cianciarulo who made a move happen. Tomac gave up the spot to Cianciarulo, then lost another position when Cooper Webb got by him. Tomac found himself in fifth place and going the wrong direction down the leader board. He wasted no time re-grouping and striking back; within thirty seconds Tomac had the spot back from Webb and 30 more seconds later broke free of Webb’s re-pass attempts.
Sexton bobbled up front and Roczen closed the gap to under one second. The top five racers were still tightly bunched together. Four minutes into the race Tomac took back third and within two more laps was into second. Roczen momentarily took back the spot, but Tomac got around him again and set his sights on Sexton nearly three seconds up the track. Barcia was then the rider making headway, passing into fifth place and looking very fast on what was his 31st birthday.
Just before the race’s midpoint Sexton washed his front end entering a corner. When the front wheel caught on a rut Sexton’s off-balance momentum threw him off the bike. Tomac took over the lead with Roczen and Webb still close behind. With 9:45 showing on the race clock Webb got around Roczen for second and sat 2.3 seconds back from Tomac. In a race that did not start out well for Tomac and Webb, they’d each put themselves into position to win the night.
With 8:00 left on the race clock Barcia took over third. Sexton claimed fourth shortly after, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson snatched fifth with 5:30 on the clock. In the final few laps the top three, Tomac, Webb, and Barcia, pulled clear of the rest of the racers but never got close enough to one another to challenge for the position. Anderson earned fourth before the checkers flew. Tomac and Webb’s finishes brought the season’s points standing to a tie for the lead. So after a rare weekend-off from racing, Tomac and Webb will face off again with both the #1 Yamaha and #2 KTM running the red number plate that signifies the season’s points leader. Interestingly, Tomac’s milestone 50th Supercross win comes in the year Supercross celebrates its 50th year of racing since the inception of the sport.
Jett Lawrence took his fourth win of the season and stretched his points lead to 23.
Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
In Western Regional 250SX Class racing, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Stilez Robertson grabbed the Holeshot and led the aggressive pack of 250cc racers. Partzilla PR-MX Racing’s Hunter Yoder held second with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire, Jett Lawrence, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo and Smartop MotoConcepts Racing Honda’s Mitchell Oldenburg right behind. Just one minute into the 15-minute plus one lap race Lawrence was into second and started to reel in Robertson. One lap later Lawrence was in position to replicate his pass move and take the lead, but Robertson held strong. As Robertson commanded the race through speed and defensive lines, McAdoo reached third ahead of Hampshire. Soon McAdoo was up to the leaders and it looked like it would be a three-rider race for the win.
With 10:30 on the race clock Lawrence got around Robertson and into the lead. A half lap later Robertson crashed hard exiting the whoops and was out of the race. Hampshire attacked McAdoo and took over second with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Levi Kitchen close in fourth place. From there Hampshire and McAdoo battled and traded the second place spot. As the top three weaved through lappers the gap to Lawrence close at times but the lead was never in jeopardy. Hampshire got the final pass for the second place spot with the white flag in sight. At the checkered flag Lawrence took the win with Hampshire in second, McAdoo third, and Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Enzo Lopes reaching fourth place.
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross series takes a rare break next weekend when the racers face off again inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on April 8th. The event will mark Round 12 of the 17-round Supercross series as well as Round 12 of the brand-new 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. The new SuperMotocross League encompasses every Monster Energy AMA Supercross round and every AMA Pro Motocross round and culminates with two Playoff rounds and a Final all held at landmark sports venues in September. The SuperMotocross League pays a cool $1,000,000 to the 450 class champion and $500,000 to the 250 class champion.
All 31-rounds of the SuperMotocross World Championship are streamed live on Peacock with select rounds also broadcast on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC. Race fans outside of the U.S. can find coverage at SuperMotocross.tv. For the full schedule, video highlights, ticket sales, and more please go to SupercrossLIVE.com.
450SX Class podium (racers left to right) Cooper Webb, Eli Tomac, and Justin Barcia.
Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
450SX Class Results
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM
- Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS
- Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki
- Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
- Ken Roczen, Mattstedt, Ger., Suzuki
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM
- Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki
- Christian Craig, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM
450SX Class Championship Standings
- Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (248)
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (248)
- Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (226)
- Ken Roczen, Mattstedt, Ger., Suzuki (199)
- Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (199)
- Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (195)
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (180)
- Christian Craig, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna (150)
- Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (122)
- Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM (116)
250SX Class podium (racers left to right) RJ Hampshire, Jett Lawrence, and Cameron McAdoo.
Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Western Regional 250SX Class Results
- Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Aus., Honda
- RJ Hampshire, Minneola, Fla., Husqvarna
- Cameron McAdoo, Sioux City, Iowa, Kawasaki
- Enzo Lopes, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Yamaha
- Max Vohland, Granite Bay, Calif., KTM
- Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Yamaha
- Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS
- Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., Kawasaki
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Godley, Tex., Honda
- Cole Thompson, Brigden, Ont., Yamaha
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
- Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Aus., Honda (127)
- RJ Hampshire, Minneola, Fla., Husqvarna (104)
- Cameron McAdoo, Sioux City, Iowa, Kawasaki (101)
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Godley, Tex., Honda (83)
- Enzo Lopes, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Yamaha (82)
- Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Yamaha (80)
- Max Vohland, Granite Bay, Calif., KTM (70)
- Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS (67)
- Cole Thompson, Brigden, Ont., Yamaha (59)
- Stilez Robertson, Bakersfield, Calif., Yamaha (53)
SEATTLE RUNNER-UP RESULT KEEPS RED BULL KTM’S COOPER WEBB IN 450SX TITLE HUNT
SEATTLE, Wash. – A second-place finish by Cooper Webb in round 11 of the 2023 AMA Supercross Championship has kept the two-time champion right in 450SX title contention following Seattle, as teammate Aaron Plessinger claimed P7 and Maximus Vohland delivered a top-five result in the resumption of the 250SX West region.
Despite qualifying down the order in ninth, Webb starred in his Heat race to take take the checkered flag in P1, taking control from the outset on his way to the win onboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. He completed lap one of the Main Event in fifth position, and powered forward from there, making his way into second by lap 11 and that’s where he would finish. He’s now tied for the points lead with six rounds remaining.
Cooper Webb: “I didn’t gel very well with the track in practice at all, struggled to find a flow, and knew that for the night show, it was time to step up. The Heat race gave me a bit of a spark to know that we were in it, which was good to win that, and I knew the track was going to break down – that’s something that I excel at. It was definitely good to bounce back. This morning, if you were to tell me I was going to be on the podium I would have been quite happy, so to be able to fight like that to P2 and stay within the battle was awesome.”
Plessinger was also a big improver between qualifying – in which he stopped the clocks in P12 – and the night program, charging to second position in Heat 1 riding his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. Unfortunately, a bad start saw him complete the first lap of the Main Event in 10th position and he had to work his way up the order from there, eventually crossing the line with a seventh-place result. He’s also still ranked P7 in the 450SX standings.
Aaron Plessinger: “It was an okay day. Practice was tough, I’ve got a pretty good gash in my leg from last week that was hurting me pretty good, but I tried to push through it. The Heat race was better, I had a good battle with Christian [Craig] in that to end up second. I had a bad start in the Main Event, and ended up moving into seventh about halfway, but after that, it was pretty quiet. I stayed on two wheels though and now we get a week off, so hopefully I can let my body heal and come back swinging for the upcoming Triple Crown!”
Following an extended break for the western region, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250SX talent Vohland was back in action at Seattle and impressed with a fifth-place finish on return. Vohland rode his KTM 250 SX-F to ninth on the charts in qualifying, followed by P5 scores in both his Heat and the Main Event after working his way through the pack into his final fifth-place result.
Maximus Vohland: “It was a good night in Seattle! I started off the heat race with a top-five, which I was happy with, but felt I could be better with a few changes ahead of the Main Event. We changed the bike set-up and I felt a lot better, started around 10th and made my way up to fifth in the end. It was a tough track tonight, so I’m happy with a top-five finish and am now looking forward to improving on that at the Triple Crown in Glendale.”
Next Race: April 8 – Glendale, Arizona
Results 450SX Class – Seattle
1. Eli Tomac (USA), Yamaha, 23 laps
2. Cooper Webb (USA), KTM, +4.798
3. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS, +5.466
OTHER KTM
7. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
10. Justin Hill (USA), KTM
12. Josh Hill (USA), KTM
20. Kevin Moranz (USA), KTM
Standings 450SX Class 2023 after 11 of 17 rounds
1. Eli Tomac, 248 points
2. Cooper Webb, 248
3. Chase Sexton, 226
OTHER KTM
7. Aaron Plessinger, 180
10. Justin Hill, 116
14. Josh Hill, 78
20. Kevin Moranz, 43
29. Marvin Musquin, 11
Results 250SX West Class – Seattle
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda, 18 laps
2. RJ Hampshire (USA), Husqvarna, +2.712
3. Cameron McAdoo (USA), Kawasaki, +3.215
OTHER KTM
5. Maximus Vohland (USA), KTM
12. Joshua Varize (USA), KTM
15. Derek Kelley (USA), KTM
16. Max Miller (USA), KTM
20. Kaeden Amerine (USA), KTM
Standings 250SX West Class 2023 after 5 of 9 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 127 points
2. RJ Hampshire, 104
3. Cameron McAdoo, 101
OTHER KTM
7. Maximus Vohland, 70
11. Derek Kelley, 53
19. Joshua Varize, 24
25. Max Miller, 10
31. Hunter Cross, 4
34. Kaeden Amerine, 3
MAX WHALE RISES WITH RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING FOR SENOIA SHORT TRACK VICTORY
SENOIA, Georgia – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Max Whale captured his first AFT Singles victory of the 2023 American Flat Track Championship season in Saturday night’s Senoia Short Track, as defending champion and teammate Kody Kopp finished in fifth position to maintain his points lead following three rounds.
After winning the opening Heat of the round and then going on to earn P1 in the Dash-for-Cash, 21-year-old Whale controlled proceedings in the 22-lap Main Event onboard his KTM 450 SX-F with a wire-to-wire performance. His winning margin was eventually 1.483s, which sees him climb to third in the standings.
Max Whale: “What a day! We started off on the wrong foot with P7 in qualifying and we had to work hard from there. But, I worked my way through the field to win my Heat, then won the Dash-for-Cash as well. In the Main Event, I rode an awesome race and my 450 SX-F was working so good. I didn’t put a foot wrong, really, was able to check out by 1.4 seconds, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but it is in the slick conditions like this. I’m so pumped to get the win, it’s been a long time for me and a lot of hard work in between – I’m so happy and can’t thank my Red Bull KTM team enough!”
As for current AFT Singles number one Kopp, after sweeping Daytona’s opening double-header rounds, he finished fourth in Heat 2 and then was in podium contention during the Main Event. It was a determined ride for the 18-year-old, however, he took the checkered flag in fifth place and continues to hold the series lead with a five-point advantage.
Kody Kopp: “I felt like I faced a little more adversity than I probably have in six or seven rounds, including last year. It’s hard to push through that when everybody’s so competitive. We ended up P5 in the Main Event, so there are positives and negatives to take from Senoia – a lot of positives in the end. In practice, I was 17th, so it was pretty gnarly to end up where we did with a top-five result. We’ve gotta be stronger to start on tracks like this that are new to everybody, so we will learn from that. Thanks to the Red Bull KTM team, we still have the points lead going into Arizona next weekend.”
Next Race: Arizona Super TT – Chandler, Arizona – April 1, 2023
Round 3 Results – Senoia Short Track
AFT Singles Main Event
1. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2. James Ott, Husqvarna
3. Dalton Gauthier, KTM
OTHER KTM
5. Kody Kopp, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
9. Shayna Texter-Bauman, KTM
14. Tanner Dean, KTM
17. Travis Petton IV, KTM
19. Justin Jones, KTM
2023 AFT Singles Point Standings
1. Kody Kopp, 65 points
2. Dalton Gauthier, 60
3. Max Whale, 53
OTHER KTM
11. Justin Jones, 24
12. Logan Eisenhard, 22
16. Travis Petton IV, 12
17. Shayna Texter-Bauman, 11
18. Hunter Bauer, 11
19. Tanner Dean, 9
23. Clarke Morian V, 5
SOLID AND STRONG: RED BULL KTM ROAM THE TOP MOTOGP™ POSITIONS AT PORTUGUESE GRAND PRIX
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing depart the Grande Premio TISSOT de Portugal with well-earned top seven positions for Brad Binder and Jack Miller respectively as MotoGP scorched into life under glaring Algarve sunshine and watched by a large noisy crowd at the International Circuit. In the other classes KTM machinery celebrated victory in both Moto3™ and Moto2™.
- Brad Binder surges to prominence and 10 points for 6th place despite a neck and shoulder injury
- Strong KTM RC16 debut for Jack Miller with 4th place in Saturday’s inaugural Sprint followed by 7th position in Sunday’s Grand Prix affair
- Daniel Holgado takes his – and Red Bull KTM Tech3’s – first Moto3 Grand Prix victory in the class as KTM lockout the podium
- Pedro Acosta in a class of his own to win Moto2 for Red Bull KTM Ajo
- MotoGP moves directly to Termas de Rio Hondo for the Gran Premio de la Republica Argentina next weekend.
The Portuguese Grand Prix got down to business once more with the full-length 25 lap distance on Sunday. The Red Bull KTM racers started from 5th and 15th positions on the grid.
Jack Miller is still new to the team and had logged less than eight full days on his race-bike before lining up for the second time for round one. The Australian extended his education in finding the precious tenths on the ragged edge by competing for the top five and then taking part in a five-rider slugfest for 4th. One of those rivals was Brad Binder. The South African somehow ignored neck and shoulder pain to enter his most exciting phase of the weekend. Less than one second covered the quintet at the flag and Brad was just ahead of Jack in 6th. The duo swap positions in the early championship rankings however: Miller is 5th and Binder 8th.
The team quickly disassembled the RC16s post-race for the freight and the long trip across the Atlantic to Argentina, in time for round two next weekend.
Brad Binder, 6th: “Today was pretty good. It has been a hard weekend because it was very tough for me to get comfortable on the bike. I was suffering a lot but today my team made a big step forward with my RC16 and I was much more confident in the end. The last five laps were really demanding physically but the step forwards we made was very satisfying and I’m hoping for more in Argentina. I just need to figure out how to be 100% fit there.”
Jack Miller, 7th: “I was pushing a lot towards the end and into unknown territory with the tires. The bike was really stable but I made a small mistake with my gearing and it was hectic there. I was trying everything I could to make the pass and get it done but it was impossible. We learnt a lot about our strengths and weaknesses today. The tire conservation was really good as was the feedback I was getting from the bike through the duration. I’m happy with where we are and I know we can work to be stronger. We are having fun building this project.”
Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Team Manager: “We had a very busy winter test and made a lot more work than we expected. We had some issues and some curiosity to go deeper and deeper with the technical package and we waited until the last moment to put everything together. The riders were only able to push at the first race and, honestly, it was a little bit late but it was not a big problem. Jack has a lot of experience and as soon as he feels good then he is ready to push and since Friday he was on the charge! Today he did great, to match what he did on Friday and Saturday. He still needs to understand the full possibilities of the bike’s behavior but he is ready to go. Brad was struggling with his neck but the bike setup was much more in the direction he wanted. He had a super-good race. Yesterday his distance to the winner was eight seconds and today it was the same but at double the laps, so this was significant. A massive improvement. Let’s go to Argentina. A blank page again, and we’ll see.”
Grande Premio TISSOT de Portugal photographs can be found HERE
Results MotoGPGrande Premio TISSOT de Portugal
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati 41:25.401
2. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Aprilia +0.687
3. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati +2.726
6. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +8.247
7. Jack Miller (AUS) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +8.381
World championship standings MotoGP
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 37 points
2. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Aprilia, 25
3. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati, 16
5. Jack Miller (AUS) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 15
8. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 10
HERLINGS BACK ON TOP AT GRAND PRIX OF SARDEGNA FOR VICTORY #100
MXGP dropped into the demanding sand track of Riola Sardo for round two of nineteen and the circuit was the setting for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings to earn his first victory of the season with his KTM 450 SX-F, his first since the final round of the title-winning 2021 campaign and the 100th of a glittering career.
- Back to Europe for the FIM World Championship and the first of two Italian dates in 2023
- Herlings logs a 2-2 scorecard for victory, a second consecutive podium finish and is 2nd in the championship table
- Andrea Adamo rides to 6th in MX2 and with the KTM 250 SX-F while Liam Everts makes the top ten
- MXGP moves next to Switzerland on Easter weekend
Riola Sardo was tough but familiar ground for MXGP: the venue is a regular pre-season testing site and has hosted rounds of the series for the last two years. The climate was stable, providing pleasant spring temperatures. Herlings grabbed championship points for classifying 3rd in the Saturday RAM Qualification race.
On Sunday the Dutchman did not make the best of starts but rallied in his preferred terrain to take 2nd place behind Jorge Prado in the first moto. The second outing saw the #84 needing to recover from an early race setback that put him down to 9th. A typically barreling performance dragged him by Maxime Renaux and into the runner-up slot with two laps to go: the pass meant overall victory.
Jeffrey is now just one career win away from equaling the all-time record. His first came in 2010 while 15-years-old at the Grand Prix of the Netherlands at Valkenswaard. All 100 have been earned while in Red Bull KTM colors and with either KTM 250 SX-F or 450 SX-F machinery.
In MX2 Andrea Adamo rued some so-so starts to take two top six results and 6th overall on the day. The classification keeps the Italian 4th in the championship. Teammate Liam Everts had a crash in the first MX2 moto that lowered him to 9th. He started brightly but dropped to 8th in the second dash for 9th overall.
MXGP makes a welcome return to Frauenfeld for the first Grand Prix of Switzerland since 2018 as round three of the calendar will take place on Easter Monday.
Jeffrey Herlings, 2nd and 2nd for 1st overall in MXGP: “A 100th GP! Amazing. It was tough because the track was fast and it wasn’t easy to pass, the nearer you got to the front the harder it was! When the other riders were getting a bit tired I was still in good shape and could keep pushing. I need to work on my starts. I have been focusing on my motos but I know it’s a weak point and it needs to be improved. Once we can get that dialled in then life will be easier. I’m excited to see how the track will be in Switzerland.”
Andrea Adamo, 5th and 6th for 6th overall in MX2: “A bit of an up-and-down day but in the end quite a solid result. We are here to make the podium at every GP but this is one of the toughest tracks on the calendar. I didn’t make any mistakes and my riding wasn’t bad although we need better starts. I’m sure we’ll do better in Switzerland.”
Liam Everts, 9th and 8th for 9th overall in MX2: “A very difficult weekend for me. My feeling was a bit better on Sunday to be honest and that showed when I ran in 4th and then 5th. I was comfortable until I had a pretty big one a few laps before the end. I was lucky to rescue P9. My start was better in the second moto but I’m not sure why I went back to 8th. I wasn’t tired on the bike and didn’t feel any fatigue but I could not get any flow on the track. We’ll need to anaylyze why. The moto just ended with P8. A difficult day. I want to regroup and come back better in Switzerland.”
Download photos from the Grand Prix of Sardegna HERE
Results MXGP Sardegna 2023
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 2-2
2. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED), Yamaha, 5-1
3. Jorge Prado (ESP), GASGAS, 1-6
4. Maxime Renaux (FRA), Yamaha, 4-3
5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED), Yamaha, 3-5
Standings MXGP 2023 after 2 of 19 rounds
1. Jorge Prado (ESP), GASGAS, 100 points
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 93
3. Maxime Renaux (FRA), Yamaha, 78
4. Romain Febvre (FRA), Kawasaki, 78
5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED), Yamaha, 75
Results MX2 Sardegna 2023
1. Jago Geerts (BEL), Yamaha, 2-1
2. Kay de Wolf (NED), Husqvarna, 1-2
3. Thibault Benistant (FRA), Yamaha, 4-3
4. Simon Laengenfelder (GER) GASGAS 3-7
5. Lucas Coenen (BEL), Husqvarna 6-4
6. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 5-6
9. Liam Everts (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 9-8
Standings MX2 2023 after 2 of 19 rounds
1. Jago Geerts (BEL), Yamaha, 117 points
2. Kay de Wolf (NED), Husqvarna, 87
3. Thibault Benistant (FRA), Yamaha, 86
4. Andrea Adamo (ITA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 83
5. Simon Laegenfelder (GER), GASGAS, 79
8. Liam Everts (BEL) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 61
KEVIN HORGMO STAYS TOP-SIX IN MX2
F&H Kawasaki Racing Team’s Kevin Horgmo maintained his top-six ranking in the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship with eighth overall in round two of the series at Riola Sardo on Sardinia.
The Norwegian gambled on taking a central gate in race one to ensure a clean run to turn one, away from the bar-banging amongst the other favorites, and it seemed to be paying dividends as he approached the turn with his nose in front, but a rival from the inside ran to the outside of the turn, taking the Kawasaki rider with him, to negate the tactic. The F&H teamster was quickly back into the top-eight leaderboard runners but the hot pace offered few opportunities to pass and, despite his persistence, it was only during the final four laps that he was able to advance further to his eventual seventh. Lining up at the gate amongst the other front-runners for race two Horgmo rounded turn one ninth and stayed there all moto as a single fast line developed in the sand. Eighth overall on the day, he retained his top-six ranking in the series heading to the next round at Frauenfeld in Switzerland over the Easter weekend.
Kevin Horgmo: “Not my best day; in fact I’m a little disappointed. My Quali was OK but I just couldn’t replicate it on race day. To be honest I would have prefered it to be rougher. The track was just so fast today; if it had been bumpier I could have ground it out and relied on my physical fitness.”
Horgmo’s Spanish teammate David Braceras continues to establish himself in his rookie GP season and was running a solid twelfth after twenty-five minutes of the first moto until a rude attack by a rival sent them both sprawling on the ground. He remounted to finish eighteenth. An incident on the first lap of race two left the youngster last but he responded bravely to advance to fourteenth after twenty minutes before the exertions of two tough races began to tell and he surrendered two places during the closing laps. Fifteenth overall on the day he is now also fifteenth in the series rankings.
David Braceras: “I earn a good gate from twelfth yesterday in Qualifying and was running tenth-eleventh-twelfth for a long time until another rider blocked me and we crashed. I crashed in the second corner in race two; I came back to fourteenth but then I started to have some trouble with my legs. We will continue to work and I know what I need to work on.”
ROMAIN FEBVRE STAYS TOP-THREE IN THE MXGP TITLE CHASE
Romain Febvre of Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP bounced back from a difficult first moto at Riola Sardo on Sardinia to maintain his top-three ranking in the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship.
The Frenchman suffered a frustrating first moto after gating well in fourth position as a momentary slip towards the end of lap two pushed him back to twelfth. He had pulled back into the top-ten before half-distance but could not advance further and a surprise move from his immediate chaser on the final lap saw him relegated to eleventh at the chequered flag. Regrouping well during the two-hour interval between motos the Kawasaki ace took the holeshot award in race two but had to surrender the lead to a couple of riders who had a more advantageous line through turn two. He quickly responded to regain second place by lap three and, closing to within one-and-a-half seconds of the runaway leader, looked a potential moto winner until the final minutes of the moto when the recent break in his training schedule took its toll and he had to accept fourth on a rugged track which had challenged the entire world elite. Febvre is now joint-third in the series standings, just twenty-two points shy of the leader, heading to round three at Frauenfeld in Switzerland on Easter Monday.
Romain Febvre: “I got good starts in both races and that’s positive, but unfortunately I crashed early in the first race and after that I couldn’t find my rhythm so it was difficult to pass and gain positions. The second race was better; I got the holeshot and then was second, not far from Coldenhoff, but I wasn’t quite close enough to try to pass him. I must also say that physically I’m not yet where I would like to be due to the fact that I was one month off the bike, but it’s coming. I was happy with the bike; I could do what I wanted with it in this deep sand and now I have two more weeks to work before the next GP.”
DOUBLE PODIUM FOR THE KAWASAKI GIRLS AT WMX ROUND ONE
Lotte van Drunen and Courtney Duncan made it a double podium for Kawasaki in the opening round of the FIM World WMX Women’s Motocross Championship at Riola Sardo on the island of Sardinia.
Following her sensational start-finish victory in Saturday’s first moto the fifteen-year-old Dutch girl had to fight hard in race two after rounding turn one mid-pack but she was already into the top-ten on the opening lap and continued the forward momentum all moto with a series of exhilerating passes and the fastest laps in the field throughout the second half of the race. When she moved into third after thirteen minutes the leaders were already eight seconds down the track but her speed and commitment took the teenager to within less than a second of runner-up in the moto at the end of the twenty-minute-plus-two-laps race and secured second overall on the weekend.
Lotte van Drunen: “Saturday was perfect; fastest all day and leading the first moto all the way for the win. I didn’t get such a good start in the second moto but I came back to third for the podium. Of course I would have liked to win the GP but this is my rookie season so it was a good start to take second. Big thanks to my dad, my brother, my mom and all my sponsors for getting me here.”
Big Van World MTX Kawasaki’s Courtney Duncan, already a three-times world champion in Green, knew that this series opener would be tough against the Dutch sand experts but her commitment and resilience paid dividends as she battled her way to the twenty-seventh GP podium of her career. She followed up a first moto third after a collision at the start with another determined ride to fourth in race two; seventh after two laps she gritted her teeth to grind down the opposition, sweeping into her eventual fourth place just over one lap from the finish to clinch third overall over the weekend.
Courtney Duncan: “I’m pretty proud of this weekend’s performance to have taken the podium with two solid results in the sand. We know sand is not my strength so to come away with 4-3 motos and a podium is like a win. I just didn’t have my rhythm at the start of the second race this morning but we pulled it back to take fourth on the second-last lap. It’s a solid start to the season and has put us on the front foot for Switzerland in two weeks’ time; it’s all looking upwards from here on in.”
The series resumes over the Easter weekend at Frauenfeld in Switzerland.
RJ HAMPSHIRE BATTLES TO ANOTHER SECOND-PLACE FINISH IN SEATTLE
The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team had one of its best outings of the 2023 AMA Supercross season in Seattle, showing impressive speed both early and late on the wickedly rutted course.
250SX
RJ Hampshire has been both impressive and consistent on his FC 250 this season, and the streak continued in Seattle. After starting mid-pack in his heat race, he was able to battle back to a third-place finish. In the main event, he got off to a much better start, was battling back and forth in the top three, and was able to wrestle his way into second with two laps to go. That keeps him in the second spot in the 250 West standings.
“The day was pretty solid…well, the main event was solid,” said Hampshire. “I qualified second but was quite a way back. The heat race did not go to plan at all. I got a terrible start and just kind of picked off riders to get the best kind of gate pick I could. In the main event, I got a really good start, and I had an awesome battle going. We went back and forth and closed the gap to the lead a little bit. Then I had two laps that cost me a shot to battle for the lead which was disappointing. But again, I don’t take these second-place finishes for granted.”
450SX
Christian Craig has shown improving speed throughout the season, and a heat race win early in the night highlighted what the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team has been seeing as Christian continues to pick up the pace on his FC 450 Rockstar Edition.
While the final result of ninth in the main event bucks the trend of improved results, it came after a crash early in the main, and Christian was able to battle back from last to finish inside the top ten on a particularly tough track.
“Seattle was all-around a pretty good day,” Craig said. “I felt good on the bike in practice and in the heat race I got a holeshot and led from start to finish, so that felt good to get my first heat race win of the season. It also felt good to lead some laps. In the main event I got off to a pretty good start, but I got shuffled back a little bit early, and during the second lap I went for a ride in the whoops and ended up cross-rutting right at the end and ejecting off. I was able to get up quickly but was dead last by then. I put my head down and got into the top ten with a couple of laps to go. Then I passed for ninth in the last corner. I think that shows my riding is improving. I just need to stay off the ground in the main and we’ll be up front.”
Next Event (Round 12): April 8, 2023 – State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Round 11 Results: Seattle
250SX West – Main Event
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
3. Cameron Mcadoo (Kawasaki)
450SX – Main Event
1. Eli Tomac (Yamaha)
2. Cooper Webb (KTM)
3. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
…
9. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
250SX West Rider Point Standings
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 127 points
2. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) – 104 points
3. Cameron Mcadoo (Kawasaki) – 101 points
450SX Rider Point Standings
1. Eli Tomac – 248 points
2. Cooper Webb – 248 points
3. Chase Sexton – 226 points
…
8. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 150 points
KAY DE WOLF RACES TO SECOND OVERALL AT GRAND PRIX OF SARDEGNA
Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing just concluded a thrilling weekend of on-track action in the power-sapping sand of Riola Sardo in Sardinia. The historic sand track hosted the second round of the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship, an event that left the Husqvarna trio in good spirits. Kay de Wolf, Lucas Coenen and Roan van de Moosdijk performed well at the gruelling Grand Prix.
Kay de Wolf made his intentions quite clear in the first moto of the day, as he made some quick moves in the early stages to put himself in a commanding position. ’74’ tore to his first moto win of the term and had a comfortable advantage to boot, so could save some energy for the pivotal second stint. It was needed, as a thrilling battle for the win ensued on lap one. De Wolf came up just short when the chequered flag was waved, as less than two seconds separated him from the eventual race winner. 1-2 scores meant that he was ranked in second overall at the Grand Prix of Sardegna and rocketed into the same position in the championship standings.
The Grand Prix of Sardegna was a significant step forward for Lucas Coenen, who made it rather clear just how competitive he is aboard that FC 250. A mediocre start threatened to hinder him in the first moto, but he sliced past those in the lower half of the top ten to finish sixth. The second moto was a thrilling race for those in the Coenen camp – he was locked into a duel for third place for the duration. Ultimately, he came up just short and crossed the line in fourth. 6-4 scores meant that he was classified in fifth overall and climbed to ninth in the championship standings.
Roan van de Moosdijk made further progress today, after a difficult off-season, as he recorded a fairly consistent eighth in moto one and was even better when the circuit was at its roughest. Moosdijk was methodical in the second stint and progressed to fifth place with some impressive speed. ’39’ has his sights set on the podium, of course, but has stacked a good number of points via his consistent start to the season. 8-5 scores placed him in seventh overall at the round and caused him to fall to the same ranking in the championship standings.
Kay de Wolf: “There were a few mistakes at the end, which did not make it easy. It is difficult to be so close to the winner and finish second, especially after winning the first moto. We came here for a podium and that is good. We will fight every single weekend now. I am ready to go to the hard-pack races, because I have improved over the winter.”
Lucas Coenen: “I did not get good starts all weekend. I battled a lot in the first moto and came back to sixth. I almost passed two guys, but I was not aggressive enough. I had a better start in moto two, but it still was not good. I got to fourth quite quickly. I tried to pass for third, but I was just stuck there. We are improving every weekend, so we will get back to training now.“
Roan van de Moosdijk: “I have been ill all week and I could feel that. I did not get the best start in the first moto and could not make passes for sixth or seventh, so I finished eighth. I fought through in the second moto and ended up fifth – I used all of my energy. It was a positive end to the Grand Prix and we will keep building.“
Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing will recover from the gruelling Grand Prix of Sardegna now, before turning attention to the third round of the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship that will be run in Switzerland on April 10.
Results – 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round Two
MX2 – Overall
1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 47pts; 2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 47pts; 3. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 38pts… 5. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna) 33pts; 7. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 29pts
MX2 – Moto One
1. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 34:13.404; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 34:15.877; 3. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 34:28.983…6. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna) 35:07.574; 8. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 35:11.686
MX2 – Moto Two
1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 33:46.970; 2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna)33:48.284; 3. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 34:28.443; 4. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna) 34:30.751; 5. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 34:46.723
MX2 – Championship Standings
1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 117pts; 2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 87pts; 3. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 86pts… 7. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 67pts; 9. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna) 52pts
JUSTIN BARCIA CELEBRATES HIS BIRTHDAY WITH A PODIUM FINISH IN SEATTLE
When the AMA Supercross series moves to Seattle, you can nearly always expect soft and extremely rutted conditions. That’s just the sort of added challenge that the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing Team loves.
- With the series moving back to the West, Justin Barcia wasn’t the lone rider in the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing Teamrig for the first time since Daytona
- Justin tallied another podium finish to help celebrate his 31st birthday
- Pierce Brown grabbed a heat race win in 250 West action
450SX
With the momentum that Justin Barcia had displayed over the last few rounds of the AMA Supercross series, expectations were high coming into Seattle, and the team didn’t go home disappointed. After being scored in the seventh spot on the first lap of the main event, Justin went to work on his MC 450F Factory Edition, picking off four riders on the extremely rutted course on the way to a third-place finish.
Justin Barcia:“I felt good and qualified fourth. In the heat race, I finished fourth. I didn’t get the greatest start but I rode really well. In the main event, it was the same. I didn’t get off to the best start, then had a lot of battles and charged all the way up to third. I closed in on second but didn’t have quite enough time. The bike was really good. I had a lot of fun and the team crushed it. We are on the gas and going forward, going for that win.”
250SX West
The first 250 heat race of the night was a great showcase for Pierce Brown as he and his MC 250F Factory Edition sped through the pack to score a strong heat race win. That boosted expectations for a good result in the main event, but unfortunately, a first-turn crash dropped Pierce to 20th place. Over the remaining 18 laps he was able to charge back to an impressive seventh on the soft and rutted track.
Pierce Brown:“Tough day. It started off great. Something about today, I was fired up. I was P1 in free practice, and decent in qualifying. Not the best. I won the heat race, and in the main event, I collided with a rider in the first corner and fell. But after the fall I was able to put some really good laps together. Not good enough to be where I want to be…I ended up P7. I’m not a seventh-place guy and I need to prove that I’m not. So we’re going to use the next weekend off to smooth some things out and focus on eliminating our weaknesses.”
Next Event (Round 12): April 8, 2023 – State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Results – 2023 AMA Supercross Championship, Round 11
250SX West – Main Event Results
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 18 laps; 2. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) +02.712; 3. Cameron Mcadoo (Kawasaki) +03.215… 7. Pierce Brown (GASGAS) +34.975; 17. Austin Politelli (GASGAS); 19. Mitchell Harrison (GASGAS)
450SX – Main Event Results
1. Eli Tomac (Yamaha) 23 laps; 2. Cooper Webb (KTM) +04.798; 3. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) +05.466 … 19. Justin Starling (GASGAS)
Championship Standings – After 11 Rounds
250SX West
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 127 points; 2. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 104 points; 3. Cameron Mcadoo (Kawasaki) 101 points … 18. Mitchell Harrison (GASGAS) 24; 22. Jerry Robin 12 points; 24. Austin Politelli 12 points
450SX
1. Eli Tomac (Yamaha) 248 points; 2. Cooper Webb 248; 3. Chase Sexton (Honda) 226 … 6. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) 195; 23. Justin Starling (GASGAS) 40
FIRST MOTOGP™ STRIDES FOR FERNANDEZ AS 2023 BEGINS AT PACE!
GASGAS Factory Racing and Augusto Fernandez felt the adrenaline of MotoGP speed and action for the first time today as the Portuguese Grand Prix fired the world championship into life. Sunshine and a cool wind beat down on the Algarve International Circuit as the Spanish ‘combo’ bagged 13th position in round one of twenty-one.
- Fernandez makes MotoGP debut and flies with the GASGAS RC16 to the top thirteen
- GASGAS add Spanish ‘red’ to the MotoGP grid for the first GP dash of the season and the first ‘opener’ on European turf since 2006
- Pol Espargaro already homeward bound on Sunday after making positive progress from his crash on Friday
- Jake Dixon cuts through Moto2™ for 6th and Yamanaka just misses the points in Moto3
Twenty-four hours after Augusto Fernandez qualified in 19th position and then was struck out of the first-ever MotoGP Sprint due to some poor luck on the Sighting lap, the 2022 Moto2 World Champion at last earned his spurs in the premier class of the world championship. #37 was repping the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 pitbox by himself through the 25-lap affair – Pol Espargaro had made excellent progress in his recovery from a crash at Turn 10 on Friday and was already on his way home for more recuperation – but slid the RC16s into the fray around the first tight corners at the Algarve International Circuit.
Fernandez not only engaged in a dogfight with Franco Morbidelli but also learned the full extent of the Michelin tires, the myriad of rider controls, the weight and acceleration demands of MotoGP and other factors of racecraft that exist at the highest level.
When he roared past the first checkered flag of the season Augusto had registered 3 points for 13th and established a base of reference and performance for the next outing at Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina next weekend.
Augusto Fernandez, 19th: “I’m happy. Good to finally get a MotoGP race experience! I was really looking forward to today. I struggled a bit in the beginning but my pace was very good towards the end. I still have a lot to learn and managing the whole race distance is one of those areas but I’m pleased with this start.”
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “An emotional weekend, a first one of the season. It was intense with the new timetable. Augusto had a super-strong first race and the whole team would like to congratulate him for this smart rookie effort. He struggled a little at the beginning with the heavy bike but finished very well. A 1min 39.6 was his fastest lap and the same as he did in the test. Some points and valuable experience. Thanks also to the factory that brought us some important technical parts to improve our level. Pol is already back in Barcelona and we wish him a speedy recovery; we know he is already thinking about when he can be with us again. We are packing everything now to be ready for Argentina!”
Results MotoGPGrande Premio TISSOT de Portugal
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati 41:25.401
2. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Aprilia +0.687
3. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati +2.726
13. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +21.723
World Championship standings MotoGP
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 37 points
2. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Aprilia, 25
3. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati, 16
15. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 3
Moto3 and Moto2
The GASGAS Aspar Racing team cheered on Ryusei Yamanaka during the first Moto3 Grand Prix of the year. The Japanese was part of the 14-rider group pushing at the front of the pack in the opening phases of the 19 laps and would go on to seal 16th position after mistakenly enduring a Long Lap penalty. Teammate David Alonso was in eager form further forwards, but lost control entering Turn 1 after brief contact with another rider. He rejoined the race far behind the field; eventually pulling into the pitlane with six laps to go.
Ryusei Yamanaka: “The start of the race was quite good and I was in the top group. With six laps to go I saw what I thought was a Long Lap penalty and it was my mistake. The race was gone. A big shame but I need to learn from this. Argentina next and I have some experience there. Our weekend went well and we worked in the right way. I won’t make this mistake again.”
David Alonso: “I made a good start and was running a good rhythm until I touched another rider. I was enjoying myself and I was comfortable in the lead group, making some good moves. It was all too short. Argentina next. I’ll need to learn the circuit and be focused from the first moment. We’ll see how it goes.”
In Moto2 Jake Dixon rode a steady race after a challenging start. The Brit was systematic as he worked his way through from the middle of the field to reach a satisfying 6th position. JD was the picture of cool efficiency and produced a decent display of overtaking skill to earn his 10 points. Jordi Torres classified 23rd after his late call-up to the Grand Prix.
Jake Dixon: “Good. It was a difficult race but step-by-step I came back through the field. I didn’t feel too comfortable but fought my way back from 14th to 6th with a lot of overtaking. It was a big step and I didn’t expect to come back from that but I kept calm and kept breathing. All the hard work in the winter paid off because I could think calmly and clearly. This was the best we can do in the situation. I want to thank the team. I really like Argentina, so looking forward to it.”
Grande Premio TISSOT de Portugal photographs can be found HERE
Results Moto3 Grande Premio TISSOT de Portugal
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM 34:27.061
2. David Muñoz (ESP) KTM +0.160
3. Diogo Moreira (BRA) KTM +0.175
16. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team +9.771
DNF. David Alonso (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team
World Championship standings Moto3
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM, 25 points
2. David Muñoz (ESP) KTM, 20
3. Diogo Moreira (BRA) KTM, 16
16. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team, 0
NC. David Alonso (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team, 0
Results Moto2 Grande Premio TISSOT de Portugal
1. Pedro Acosta (ESP) KTM 36:04.193
2. Aron Canet (ESP) +1.358
3. Tony Arbolino (ITA) +4.460
6. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team +9.146
23. Jordi Torres (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team +1:02.643
World Championship standings Moto2
1. Pedro Acosta (ESP) KTM, 25 points
2. Aron Canet (ESP), 20
3. Tony Arbolino (ITA), 16
6. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team, 10
JORGE PRADO EXTENDS HIS CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD IN SARDEGNA
Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing jumped into the bottomless sand of Riola Sardo earlier today, as the second round of the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship was run in the spectacular setting. It was yet another successful outing for Jorge Prado, who retained the red plate and extended his series lead aboard his MC 450F.
- Jorge Prado extends his championship lead in MXGP.
- Mattia Guadagnini charges hard on the rugged track.
- Simon Langenfelder shows potential aboard MC 250F.
Jorge Prado was on the gas for so much of the weekend, as he ripped to pole position via a clear win in the qualification heat and was just as dominant in the first moto earlier today. ’61’ slid into the lead on lap one and led for the duration to add even more points to that championship tally. Sixth was his ranking in the second moto, following a small mistake, which put him in third overall at the Grand Prix and ensured that he maintained his grip on the red plate. Seven points is his advantage – he extended his lead by five points.
Jorge Prado: “I think that the start of the year has been very good for me. I am quite happy! It was a pity to not have a good start in the second moto – I just lost my rhythm. I came back and regrouped a little bit at the end of the moto. It was not too bad. We have the red plate and I am very happy about that.“
Joining Prado in the premier division, Mattia Guadagnini had to work extremely hard in the very tricky conditions. The first stint was already quite eventful – he was involved in so many battles on the cusp of the top ten and eventually crossed the finish line in tenth place. Unfortunately, ‘101’ was caught in the melee on lap one of the second moto and had to charge through the field to salvage a twelfth. It was an incredible effort and one that will go unnoticed by most. 10-12 scores put him in eleventh on the day and helped him maintain a top-ten ranking in the championship standings.
Simon Langenfelder showed plenty of pace aboard his MC 250F at the Grand Prix of Sardegna, as he was locked into the race for the victory in moto one. ‘516’ led four laps of that stint before hitting the checkered flag in third place. The second stint was even more eventful for Langenfelder – he spent a lot of the race locked into battles for a position inside of the top five and was eventually classified in seventh. 3-7 rankings put him in fourth overall on the day, four points shy of the podium, and bumped him to fifth in the championship standings.
Mattia Guadagnini: “The riding was not good today – I could not find a rhythm. I did not ride my best in the first moto and lost some places, but I pushed at the end to get some positions back. I had a crash on the first lap of the second moto; I just tried to ride the best possible at that point. I made some good passes. Overall, I am not happy about the weekend. It is what it is though! There are many races to go.“
Simon Langenfelder: “I had a good start in the first race and was leading the race! I felt really good and that gave me some confidence for the second moto. I could not find the flow in the second race. I was riding too aggressive and finished seventh, so I was not happy with that. We have a hard-pack track next and I think that will be nice!“
Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s trio will take advantage of another small break in the calendar now, before continuing their respective title bids in Switzerland on the weekend of April 08. Frauenfeld will host the Grand Prix of Switzerland, round three of the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship.
Results – 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round Two
MXGP – Overall
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 44pts
2. Glenn Coldenhoff (Yamaha) 41pts
3. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 40pts
11. Mattia Guadagnini (GASGAS) 20pts
MXGP – Moto One
1. Jorge Prado (GASGAS)
2. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM)
3. Calvin Vlaanderen (Yamaha)
10. Mattia Guadagnini (GASGAS)
MXGP – Moto Two
1. Glenn Coldenhoff (Yamaha)
2. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM)
3. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha)
6. Jorge Prado (GASGAS)
12. Mattia Guadagnini (GASGAS)
MXGP – Standings
1. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 100pts
2. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 93pts
3. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 78pts
10. Mattia Guadagnini (GASGAS) 55pts
MX2 – Overall
1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 47pts
2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 47pts
3. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 38pts
4. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 34pts
MX2 – Moto One
1. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna)
2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha)
3. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS)
MX2 – Moto Two
1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha)
2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna)
3. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha)
7. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS)
MX2 – Standings
1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 117pts
2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 87pts
3. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 86pts
5. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 79pts
Indian Motorcycle Racing and Jared Mees Secure First Win of 2023 Season at Senoia Short Track
Indian Motorcycle Racing, presented by Progressive Motorcycle Insurance, secured its first win of the 2023 American Flat Tracksm season following a nail-biting performance by reigning SuperTwins Champion and Indian Motorcycle Wrecking Crew rider Jared Mees. Piloting the championship winning Indian FTR750, Mees and Dallas Daniels went head-to-head at the Senoia Short Track, as the exciting Main event ended with Mees passing the finish line mere .174 seconds before Daniels.
Having missed the podium at the season-opening doubleheader in Daytona, Mees arrived at Senoia Raceway seeking redemption. After securing the top qualifying position, Mees took advantage of his prime starting position and demonstrated his racing prowess during the Main event. Though he relinquished the lead to Daniels around the halfway point, the bar-to-bar battled continued into the final lap, where Mees ultimately took control and edged out Daniels and captured his first win of the 2023 season.
“This was the bounce-back performance Jared needed, and we all expected,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing, Service & Technology for Indian Motorcycle. “Though it’s early in the season, Jared came into the race with a must-win mentality, as he fully understands the importance of keeping the points close as he competes for his ninth career championship.”
Through three races, Mees’ win and two fourth place finishes rank him 14 points behind Daniels, who sits atop the season leaderboard. As a highly decorated veteran flat track racer, having won four of the last six SuperTwins championships aboard the Indian FTR750, Mees is now just one shy from his personal career goal to reach Scottie Parker’s record of nine championships. Mees has more than 60 career wins and multiple records.
The 2023 American Flat Track season continues April 1 for the Arizona Super TT at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, AZ. For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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