This week in US powersports racing.
RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING SET TO LAUNCH INTO 2024 SUPERMOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE
MURRIETA, Calif. – A refreshed four-rider combination will lead Red Bull KTM Factory Racing into the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX), beginning with the AMA Supercross Championship season-opener at Anaheim 1 on January 6, and with firm intentions of competing for title wins when the gates drop on the upcoming 31-round season.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will field the all-star line-up of Chase Sexton and Aaron Plessinger on the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in 2024, alongside Tom Vialle and Julien Beaumer, who will each be READY TO RACE with the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION under the guidance of Team Manager Ian Harrison.
All four riders were presented this afternoon and into the evening during a special 2024 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team media introduction under lights at RD Field, the organization’s official testing and training facility based in Murrieta, California, as they enter the important final stages of the pre-season together.
Bringing the red number one plate to defend his 450SX championship is Chase Sexton, the 24-year-old who clinched a first-career premier class crown last May. Also ranked fourth in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship after a share of misfortune, as well as the third-place finisher in the inaugural SMX post-season, Sexton has the credentials and form to enter season 2024 as a legitimate title contender across the board once again.
Chase Sexton: “I’m excited and feeling refreshed for the start of the 2024 Supercross series. Testing is going well and I’ve enjoyed getting to know everyone more and more on the team, and feel like I’m gelling well with the crew and my new teammates. There’s obviously a level of expectation that comes with heading into 2024 carrying the red plate and I welcome the challenge, especially with the full support of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing behind me.”
Fan favorite Aaron Plessinger is back for his third term at Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, determined to build upon his 2023 campaign that saw him claim seventh overall in 450SX despite missing multiple rounds, a convincing third in 450MX, and fifth in the combined SMX standings. Those results will form a strong foundation for the 27-year-old to work from in the upcoming season, motivated to establish himself at the front of the pack year-round.
Aaron Plessinger: “I’m totally ready to get this show on the road and go racing! Preparation for the 2024 Supercross season is going to plan and I’m just eager to get back to the races to see all my friends and fans again. I’m hoping I can finally bag some of those elusive wins this season, that’s the goal for the team and I, and I think it’s achievable with the encouragement and support I receive from everyone in the Red Bull KTM family.”
Two-time MX2 World Champion Tom Vialle built immense experience this year in what was his first season of competition in the United States, with the 23-year-old Frenchman now looking to benefit from the lessons learned over the past 12 months. Vialle was eighth in the 250SX East points, sixth in 250MX with a single victory to his credit at Southwick, and P8 in SMX, which sets him up for a strong sophomore season ahead.
Tom Vialle: “The idea of getting to race at venues and on tracks that I’ve been to before is exciting and something I am really looking forward to next year. I feel like I learned a lot in my rookie season in the U.S., but it’s definitely tougher racing a brand new track every week when almost everyone in your class has already raced on them before. It’s really going to help my confidence a lot knowing the tracks I’m going to – it makes a big difference. 2024 should be a good year for me and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team!”
As for 17-year-old newcomer Julien Beaumer, he will open his full-time professional career as the youngest member of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team and is in line to make his mark while his knowledge climbs on a week-by-week basis. Already a SX Futures Main Event winner, Beaumer is debuting in 250SX and will carry that rookie tag into Pro Motocross, as well as the SMX Finals series when it commences in September.
Julien Beaumer: “Making my debut in the 250 Supercross class next year is a dream come true and I’m super-grateful to everyone at Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for giving me this opportunity. My goal is to go out there and learn as much as I can this season, all the while giving it my all. The team and I have put in a lot of laps at the practice track to build a good base and gain as much experience as I can before the start of the 2024 season. I just want to do my best and make both the team and myself proud in my rookie season.”
Ian Harrison – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “Our 2024 team is excited to start the new race season. Two of our team members are new, so getting to know one another and developing their bikes specific to their needs and riding style can be a challenge, but so far it has gone very well. The team has spent many days at the test track working on fine-tuning the bikes and I am now looking forward to seeing how we stack up against our competition on January 6th. It is exciting for me as the Team Manager to see our four riders working together so cohesively while motivating and challenging each other to be better. Behind all this effort is always a group of people who are diligent at putting the hours in to get us ready for the start gate at Anaheim 1, and for them, I am very grateful. See you at the races.”
Roger De Coster – Director of Motorsports, North America: “I am very impressed with the dynamic amongst the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team and I’m looking forward to the start of the new season. With fresh blood in the team, it’s great to see the level of positivity amongst the group as a whole, working together and motivating one another. Watching them at the test track each day, there is good forward momentum amongst the group and I think we are in a strong position to challenge up front in all classes each weekend. Austria has been working extremely hard and has shown great support, which is really encouraging and I’m excited for 2024.”
Scouting Moto Combine to Return to RedBud and Ironman for 2024 Pro Motocross Championship
MX Sports Pro Racing has announced the venues that will host the pair of gatherings for the 2024 Scouting Moto Combine, presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare, which will feature a return to Michigan’s RedBudMX and Indiana’s Ironman Raceway during next summer’s Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The first invitational gathering will coincide with July’s Independence Day tradition at the RedBud National, while the final gathering will be a part of the festivities at the season-ending Ironman National in August.
The confirmation of locations for the 2024 Scouting Moto Combine follows the landmark announcement from the SuperMotocross (SMX) League, which includes MX Sports Pro Racing, regarding the formation of SMX Next, the collective of SuperMotocross World Championship initiatives focused on providing amateur racers with a clear, defined path to professional racing. SMX Next combines the Scouting Moto Combine with Feld Motor Sports’ Supercross Futures AMA National Championship and the SMX World All-Stars showcase into one, season-long collaborative effort to cultivate the development of top prospects from the talent-laden amateur level of the sport.
“SMX Next represents the natural progression of the respective efforts of Feld Motor Sports and MX Sports Pro Racing to develop the next generation of professional racers with a strategic, hands-on approach focused on ensuring a seamless transition into the sport’s highest level,” said Tim Cotter, Event Director, MX Sports Pro Racing. “Establishing a synergy between Supercross Futures, the Scouting Moto Combine, and SMX World All-Stars will allow for both series organizers and competing manufacturers to further strengthen the cohesive and collaborative effort that has defined the immediate success of each respective initiative.”
“Never before in the 50-plus year history of the sport has there been a greater emphasis to engage in the strategic and purposeful development of amateur racers, for which the Scouting Moto Combine takes a hands-on approach,” said Jim Perry, Program Director for the Scouting Moto Combine. “By enlisting the mentorship of highly decorated and highly regarded rider coaches and implementing a classroom-style environment to accompany the racing, we’ve been able to facilitate promising and successful transitions into the pro ranks for a large number of young athletes. We look forward to welcoming a new crop of prospects next summer.”
The RedBud Scouting Moto Combine will take place on
the eve of the RedBud National, on Friday, July 5.
Photo Courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Dozens of riders from the upper echelon of the A & B classes have taken part in the Scouting Moto Combine since its inception during the 2021 season and continues to serve as a who’s who of the sport’s most highly touted prospects, many of whom bring a decorated résumés filled with AMA Amateur National Championships. These gifted young athletes are aligned with rider coaches that include the likes of AMA Hall of Famers Broc Glover and Jeff Stanton, international icon and multi-time champion Chad Reed, as well as highly regarded racers like Buddy Antunez, Michael Byrne, and Broc Tickle. All rider coaches assume a mentorship role and offer invaluable insight through their vast experience competing for wins and championships at the sport’s highest level. Additionally, educational discourse around health, fitness and nutrition with the likes of Alex Martin, Seth Rarick, Gareth Swanepoel, and John Wessling along with tips for media and fan engagement from Jason Weigandt, the voice of American motocross, provide an added layer to the overall development of amateur prospects.
“Being a part of the Scouting Moto Combine since its inception has been an honor and I look forward to continuing my service as a riding coach,” said Broc Glover, AMA Hall of Famer and Senior Manager/Off-Road at Dunlop Motorcycle Tires. “The opportunity to share my decades of knowledge and experience with the next generation of racers in an impactful and meaningful way is something I’ve embraced to the fullest and it’s been rewarding to see the continued progression of so many young athletes the past few years. It’s a privilege to be a part of this commitment to the development of the sport’s most elite amateur prospects and I look forward to another successful season of Combine competition.”
The Ironman Moto Combine will take place on the eve of
the season-ending Ironman National, on Friday, August 23.
Photo Courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Each Scouting Moto Combine gathering for 2024 will take place on the eve of both RedBud (Friday, July 5) and Ironman (Friday, August 23), where the classroom-style sessions are intertwined with on-track practice and a pair of 25-minute, plus two-lap motos. Each gathering will feature a hand-picked group of the sport’s most elite amateur prospects, done in collaboration with American motocross’ competing manufacturers in GASGAS, Honda, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha. While the Combine takes center stage on Friday, it’s also an integral part of the fanfare of Saturday’s National with a commemorative parade lap in front of the thousands of fans in attendance to kick-off the action.
“Welcoming the world’s top amateur racers for the Moto Combine is a perfect addition to the RedBud National festivities. Amateur racing is not only a big part of the pro weekend event, but also part of the RedBud legacy,” said Amy Ritchie, Partner, RedBud MX. “The Combine allows us to showcase motocross at every level, from beginners to professional champions. It gives racers and fans a glimpse of the future of pro racing and shows aspiring riders hoping to one day line up for a pro national where they need to be.”
Additional details of the 2024 MX Sports Pro Racing Scouting Moto Combine, presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare, will be announced in the coming months, including which amateur prospects will represent their respective manufacturer next summer.
General admission tickets to all 11 rounds of the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship are now on sale. Tickets for each event can be purchased by visiting ProMotocross.com.
SuperMotocross League Announces Formation of SMX Next for Continued Development of Amateur Prospects
The SuperMotocross (SMX) League, comprised of Feld Motor Sports and MX Sports Pro Racing, has announced the formation of SMX Next, the collective of SuperMotocross World Championship initiatives focused on providing amateur racers with a clear, defined path to professional racing. SMX Next combines the Supercross Futures AMA National Championship, the Pro Motocross Scouting Moto Combine, and SMX World All-Stars into one, season-long collaborative effort to cultivate the development of top prospects in the talent-laden amateur level of the sport.
“SMX Next represents the natural progression of the respective efforts of Feld Motor Sports and MX Sports Pro Racing to develop the next generation of professional racers with a strategic, hands-on approach focused on ensuring a seamless transition into the sport’s highest level,” said Tim Cotter of MX Sports Pro Racing. “Establishing a synergy between Supercross Futures, the Scouting Moto Combine, and SMX World All-Stars will allow for both series organizers and competing manufacturers to further strengthen the cohesive and collaborative effort that has defined the immediate success of each respective initiative.”
The amateur development programs were established with an intention to develop the next stars of SuperMotocross. With a focus on nurturing the most talented and promising A & B class prospects from around the world, both Supercross Futures and the Scouting Moto Combine have fostered highly anticipated and successful promotions into the professional ranks. Headlined by inaugural SuperMotocross World Champions Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan, this exceptional group of young talent also includes Team Honda HRC’s Chance Hymas and Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco, as well as an impressive incoming rookie class for 2024 consisting of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Daxton Bennick, Toyota of Redlands/BarX/Suzuki’s Preston Boespflug, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Casey Cochran, and Muc-Off/ClubMX/Yamaha’s Mark Fineis.
Consisting of four invitational rounds and a season-ending AMA National Championship round hosted in conjunction with select events of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, Supercross Futures provides a race oriented platform for riders to develop their skills under the bright lights of premier stadiums, competing against their peers on a professional stage. The 2024 Supercross Futures Championship will consist of Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California, Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
The Scouting Moto Combine is hosted in conjunction with two rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, and takes a coaching-first approach to provide mentorship for the on- and off-track demands of the world’s premier off-road motorcycle racing championships. While racing remains a focal point with a pair of 25-minute, plus two-lap motos, classroom-style seminars provide invaluable insight and education into riding techniques and mental awareness, health and fitness, as well as media engagement from past champions and legends like Broc Glover and Chad Reed, who provide guidance as rider coaches, along with industry leaders and experts like Gareth Swanepoel and Jason Weigandt. The 2024 Scouting Moto Combine gatherings will take place at Buchanan, Michigan’s RedBud MX as part of the RedBud National and Crawfordsville, Indiana’s Ironman Raceway as part of the season-ending Ironman National.
The SMX World All-Stars provides a platform for top amateur prospects to engage in postseason competition alongside their professional counterparts. The best of the best come together in a one-race showcase on the sport’s biggest stage at the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals, aligning the skills and experience learned throughout Supercross Futures and Scouting Moto Combines to see who prevails on the most unique and challenging track ever conceived, combining the most exciting elements of Supercross and Pro Motocross for a hybrid design. The SMX 250 World All-Stars will take place on September 21, while the unique nature of the SMX Playoffs also features World All-Star showcases for younger amateur talent at the first two postseason races.
ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING TEAM TARGETS 2024 SMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SUCCESS
An expanded five-rider Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team will take centerstage when the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) season commences with the AMA Supercross Championship season-opener at Anaheim on Saturday, January 6, led by 450SX duo Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig, alongside 250SX contenders RJ Hampshire, Guillem Farres and Casey Cochran.
The Nathan Ramsey-managed official Husqvarna Motorcycles U.S. team will be equipped with the Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition and the Husqvarna FC 250 Rockstar Edition, forming a strong foundation for all five riders to build upon as the gates drop on what is a highly anticipated new season.
In addition to the on-track action, Rockstar Energy Drink has renewed its commitment as title sponsor of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team in a multi-year commitment, which will span the entire 31-race SMX series. The team will contest 17 rounds of AMA Supercross, 11 rounds in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, and a three-round, post-season SMX Finals series.
“We’re incredibly excited to extend our partnership with Husqvarna Motorcycles. Over the past 10 years, the relationship with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team has been more than just a sponsorship and we’re looking forward to continuing to grow together, said Jennifer Kalban, Senior Motorsports Marketing Manager, PepsiCo North America. “The team is as strong as it’s ever been and the 2024 season should be an exciting one.”
Each step of that journey will be documented in Season 3 of the Grit and Grind docuseries, which will continue to be broadcast on the Husqvarna Motorcycles YouTube channel in 2024. A collaboration between Rockstar Energy and Husqvarna Motorcycles, it will once again provide an all-access insight into the season of Stewart, Craig, Hampshire, Farres, and Cochran.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager, Nathan Ramsey, is confident that all five riders will be competitive across next year’s SMX series, determined to iron out any kinks that have proven costly in the past and to ensure that all riders can consistently deliver strong results in 2024.
“2024 is looking good for us, the guys are having a really good off-season, and we are working hard to be ready for the season,” explained Ramsey. “I think that ultimately, we’re going to come out swinging and avoid the major ups and downs and ride it out as steady as possible and put our Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team riders up front. We have looked a lot at things that have cost us or possibly pushed us out of championship hopes in the past, and I think we have highlighted a few of those areas and we are all – the team, the crew, the riders, everyone – committed to correcting those areas and hopefully it works and pays off, because if they are corrected, I think we’re in the hunt, for sure.”
Making a welcome return to Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing will be Stewart, the 31-year-old who was unfortunately sidelined in the early stages of last season and is in line to pick up where he left off almost 12 months ago. The fan favorite finished a career-high third in the 450SX standings in 2022, now excited to get back behind the gates in a bid to rebuild his form in a competitive environment.
“The focus for 2024 is honestly just to get back out there and get my feet wet again,”said Stewart.“2023 was a pretty short-lived year for me, it was kind of more for me to get back going and to finish what I started last year. I was looking really good, A1 was going very well, we had one little incident and we won a heat race, so we had some big flashes, but it just ended too quickly. This is part of racing and things happen, but I have had a really good recovery so far, and training has been going well this off-season with a good group of guys that I’m surrounded with. Everyone has been positive through the whole recovery and I’m glad I locked myself in for another two more years! I really want to win next year and I’m looking forward to getting back into the bunch with the team for the upcoming season.”
Entering his second year with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, Craig was also affected by injury in 2023 but was able to return and represent Team USA at the FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in September. At 32, Craig has the desire to establish himself toward the front of the premier class and has been enjoying the pre-season to date.
“I’m feeling pretty good entering another year with the team, so I’m more comfortable, learning everyone around me, and obviously learning the bike more with more seat time,” commented Craig. “I’m coming off a pretty serious injury, so just trying to build back up from that and we’re kind of in the middle of boot camp right now. I am excited for the new year, I need to put in some results, so am very focused and driven for this one. This past season was a big learning year for me, so this time I know what to expect with the training program, riding program, and what the team brings – I need to step up and try to be upfront as much as possible.”
As one of the most experienced riders in the 250 Class, RJ Hampshire has his sights firmly set on achieving title success in the new year. He was runner-up in 250SX West last year and raced to third position in the inaugural 250SMX standings, now motivated to capture a first-career championship with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing.
“My goal is to definitely try and get a championship,”Hampshire stated.“We’ve been close the last two years in a row, so I’ll just come into the season, take it race-by-race, and build from where were last year. The team has worked really hard to make the bike as good as possible, and there are a lot of improvements already. We were in a good spot last season, so if we can be a bit better this year, I definitely think we can get it done. Supercross was massive for me because I had seven podiums in seven years and then last year I had eight in total, so that was a really big step in my career. The next step is to get the red plate, so that is the goal going into the season. The team has been awesome, there is nowhere else I would rather be, and I just renewed my deal for two more years – it just goes to show how much I believe in this team and how much I believe in myself, because we’ve grown a lot together. They believe in me a lot to go out there and perform also, and I definitely think that this year will be another big step in our relationship.”
For Farres, the chance to join Rockstar Energy Husqvarna sees him preparing for his maiden 250SX campaign, in which the 20-year-old Spanish revelation is looking to develop important Supercross experience during the upcoming season, before turning his attention outdoors.
“The transition to the Husqvarna FC 250 and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team has been really good,” Farres said. “This is my first time ever here in Clermont, Florida, training and first time in California. So far, so good. Everyone has been really welcoming on the team, I’ve been having a good time, and I’m excited for the 2024 season. It’s going to be my rookie season in Supercross, so I am going to focus on staying healthy, being at every round, and improving every day with every lap. I’ve never raced in a stadium before, so I’m sure it’s going to be something new and I’m going to be a little nervous, but hopefully it gets better after the first round.”
Exciting teenage prospect Cochran has graduated to the professional ranks with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna full-time for 2024, the 17-year-old looking to build upon the Supercross Futures AMA National Championship that he won in 2023, while learning his craft as a professional in the sport.
“It’s my first official pro season, so I’m looking forward to getting out there with the big guys and mixing it up, getting good results,” Cochran commented. “Nothing too extravagant so far, but my goal is to get used to the whole program. It’s a super-cool opportunity because we have worked our whole lives for this deal, this contract, to be on a factory team, so I am super-excited to be here and have a great team around me and ready to get to work. I have always personally liked Supercross better than outdoors, so I am excited to race indoors. I raced Futures last year and that was a good experience, so the more indoors, the better!”
American Honda Presents Race Teams Ahead of 2024 Season
During a special event this evening, American Honda presented its race plans for the fast-approaching 2024 racing season. Held in the new Collection Hall and meeting space at the manufacturer’s Torrance, California, campus, the event was attended by team sponsors and members of the media, and was highlighted by the factory Team Honda HRC lineup, including riders, managers and technicians. The factory squad is coming off a record-setting 2023 season that saw it take a record six professional AMA championships. In addition, an impressive list of Honda-supported teams was presented, including SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts Honda, SLR Honda, JCR Honda, Turner Racing Honda, Honda Off-Road Factory Racing and Raceco-USA Honda. Also present was Phoenix Racing Honda, celebrating the recent signing of two-time AMA Pro Motocross Champion Dylan Ferrandis, to campaign the premier class in AMA Supercross.
Heading up Team Honda HRC is Jett Lawrence, who at 20 years old has already accumulated six AMA crowns, including three in 2023—the 250SX West title, the AMA Pro Motocross 450 championship and the inaugural SuperMotocross title. The 2024 season will be Jett’s first campaigning the premier class indoors. Joining Jett aboard another factory CRF450RWE is his brother Hunter Lawrence, who last season earned the 250SX East and AMA Pro Motocross 250 crowns. As previously announced, Jo Shimoda takes Hunter’s old spot aboard the team’s CRF250R, along with returning racer Chance Hymas. The four-rider lineup is among the strongest ever fielded by the squad, which is intent on carrying its success forward into the coming season.
That confidence is thanks also in part to the return of top members within the team and crew, including manager Lars Lindstrom and 450 and 250 crew chiefs Grant Hutcheson and Jordan Troxell, respectively. Christien Ducharme is Jett Lawrence’s mechanic, while Hunter’s technician is Cameron Camera. Ben Griffith and Thomas Harris will serve as mechanics for Shimoda and Hymas, respectively.
The 17-round 2024 AMA Supercross season commences on January 6 in Anaheim, California, followed by the 11-round AMA Pro Motocross series and the three-round SuperMotocross Championship.
Brandon Wilson: Manager of Racing and Experiential Marketing
“While it’s gratifying that we were able to get Team Honda HRC back on top where it belongs in 2023, this team’s proud legacy wasn’t built on a one-and-done philosophy; in fact, the recent success just makes us even more determined to keep it going in 2024. Fortunately, I think we have all the pieces needed to accomplish that: an incredibly talented rider roster, a capable crew, competitive machinery and valuable sponsors. And while of course the factory squad is the focus, I’m also very proud of the lineup of support teams we’re fielding in various disciplines. I can’t wait for the new season to get started.”
Lars Lindstrom: Team Manager
“We just finished our 2024 season introduction for Team Honda HRC and the support teams. We’ve had an incredibly rigorous off-season compared to normal, with a lot of different events and traveling. Now it feels like this was kind of the last thing on the agenda before Anaheim. Everyone worked extremely hard to make this event happen, but we planned well and it went off without a hitch. I’m really proud of the whole team, and the riders for being troopers—especially Jett and Hunter after coming from the Honda Racing Thanks Day in Japan. Now it’s all about dialing in the bikes, getting trucks ready and preparing for the first race. I’m super-excited for the season coming and really stoked to have these guys on the team right now. Our team atmosphere last year was great, and it’s even better now. I feel like we’re going to have an incredible vibe all year.”
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