MX Sports Pro Racing, in partnership with NBC Sports, has announced a 12-round schedule for the upcoming 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. As the sport continues to navigate the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic this summer’s racing calendar will welcome the return of some of the most iconic venues in American motocross, with spectator attendance anticipated at every event.
“The 2021 schedule has been developed through a collective effort alongside all of our event organizers, and we’re thrilled to see such legendary venues back on the calendar,” said Roy Janson, Managing Director at MX Sports Pro Racing. “The outlook surrounding the fight to eradicate COVID-19 has provided a sense of optimism amongst our group, which has us hopeful to welcome spectators at all the races while also allowing nearly every one of our events to remain on their traditional dates.
“Safety remains paramount in our efforts to host a successful season and we will continuously monitor all national, state, and local guidelines in an effort to ensure the well-being of our fans, competitors, and series personnel,” continued Janson. “While that may require some level of restriction or limited capacity, it will be in the best interest of all parties.”
The world’s most prestigious off-road motorcycle racing series will visit 10 different states on the journey to crown a pair of national champions, kicking things off on Memorial Day Weekend in the heart of the motocross industry, Southern California. By moving the start of the season to the holiday festivities, competitors will receive a full three weeks of preparation from the conclusion of the AMA Supercross season, which will help ensure that all riders are healthy and at the top of their game for the first gate drop of the summer.
After the opening round the championship will crisscross the country, making highly anticipated returns to venues like High Point Raceway, The Wick 338, Washougal MX Park, Unadilla MX, and Budds Creek Motocross Park before culminating with the season finale on September 11 at Hangtown, the oldest event in American motocross. Along the way, the series will observe four off weekends, further reducing the physical demands of the racers over the course of 29 total events between January and September.
“This is the most prestigious championship in all of motocross and we want to make sure our competitors have the opportunity to be at their best each and every weekend,” explained Davey Coombs, President of MX Sports Pro Racing. “We’ve listened to the challenges they face over the course of a season and have determined that expanding the overall breadth of the 2021 schedule will ultimately benefit the competitiveness on the racetrack, to which our audience will hopefully be rewarded with compelling title fights in both the 450 Class and 250 Class.”
Defending titleholders Zach Osborne and Dylan Ferrandis will headline a decorated contingent of international talent that will go bar-to-bar over the course of 24 motos across both the 450 Class and 250 Class, battling one another as well as Mother Nature in one of motorsports’ most challenging championships. The most coveted titles in motocross await, as the Edison Dye Cup (450 Class) and Gary Jones Cup (250 Class) carry a legacy that spans five decades.
“Passion has and continues to define the legacy of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. From our incredibly loyal fan base to the fearless racers who lay it all on the line in pursuit of victory, there is something truly special about a summer of American motocross,” added Coombs. “On the heels of a difficult year, the return of our most beloved venues and the expectation to welcome fans back to the race means the 2021 season is poised to rejuvenate that passion that has made this the most storied motocross series on the planet.”
Click HERE for the full 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Schedule.
The 43rd annual Kawasaki Race of Champions took place at Raceway Park on October 4-6, 2019.
There were two full days of racing on Friday and Saturday for youth and amateur racing and vet classes. Sunday’s racing was for the Pro Expert classes (250 and Open) as well as intermission races for amateur and mini bike riders. Below you will find results and links to media coverage from the event.
Head on over to NJMotocross.com to see all of the event coverage we put together.
The Kawasaki Race of Champions, or KROC, is only a couple of weeks away and its shaping up to be quite an event. The race is held at Raceway Park in Old Bridge Twp, New Jersey, and 2019 marks the 43rd annual event.
Taking place over 3 days, October 4th thru 6th, the race features classes for all levels and ages of racers and always produces great racing action.
As you’ll probably already know, two of the side projects that I am a part of include Lukaitis Photo and NJ Motocross. And by involved with I mean 100% posts are written by yours truly. For 2019, in an effort to expand the content on NJ Motocross, I’ve begun to put together complete weekend wrap-ups. You can find the wrap-up for the Area Qualifier held on April 6&7 below.
On the weekend of April 6-7, 2019 Raceway Park hosted the Northeast Area Qualifier for the AMA Amateur National Championships that will be held in Tennessee later this summer. The area qualifier is the first step in qualifying for the event. The riders that made the cut will go on to the Regional qualifier and then the big show at Loretta Lynn’s in July.
Following is a wrap-up of the weekend.
PHOTOS BY SCOTT LUKAITIS – LUKAITIS PHOTO
See all of the photos by Scott Lukaitis from both days are HERE
New Jersey (95), New York (77), Pennsylvania (30), Massachusetts (27), Connecticut (9), Maryland (7), Ohio (7), Maine (3), Ontario-Canada (2), West Virginia (1), Georgia (1), North Carolina (1), and Vermont (1).
Sunday.
New Jersey (115), New York (94), Pennsylvania (31), Massachusetts (14), Connecticut (9), Maryland (4), Delaware (4), Florida (2), North Carolina (2), Georgia (2), Ohio (2), Ontario-Canada (2), Rhode Island (2), and Nevada (1).
Bryton Carroll was on the gas both days. He won the 250 Pro Sport and was 5th overall in the Open Pro Sport. Look for Bryton to do well at Loretta Lynn’s later this summer.
Dakota Kessler had a busy weekend racing his car on Saturday night at New Egypt Speedway and his bike on Sunday at Raceway Park. Kessler was 17th in the 40 lap modified final on Saturday and the winner of the Open Pro Sport class on Sunday.
51cc Class Results
LL 20 – 51cc (4-6) Special Lim: 1. Leland Jones (Ktm); 2. Lahna Macneil (Cob); 3. Grayson Porco (Yam); 4. Hunter Clayton (Ktm); 5. Cameron Martin (Yam);
LL 10 – 450 C: 1. Travis Randanella (Ktm); 2. Charlie Mohn (Kaw); 3. Albert Haberle Iv (Ktm); 4. Ashton Kreiger (Yam); 5. Sam Northrop (Yam);
Vet Class Results
LL 13 – Junior 25+: 1. Jesse Pierce (Hus); 2. Hunter Stempel (Hon); 3. Kevin Uebrick (Yam); 4. Jason Astudillo (Hon); 5. Max Gomez (Ktm);
LL 14 – Vet 30+ Sportsman: 1. Anthony Roth (Yam); 2. Keith Rose (Ktm); 3. Robert Kirchhofer (Hon); 4. Nicholas Peccarelli (Kaw); 5. Derek Sorenson (Ktm);
LL 15.- Senior 40+: 1. Barry Carsten (Suz); 2. Wayne Powers (Yam); 3. Michael Biondo (Kaw); 4. Nathan Greiner (Suz); 5. Darren Edsall (Hus);
LL 16.- Senior 45+ Sportsman: 1. James Mcilvaine (Kaw); 2. Scott Phelps (Ktm); 3. Wayne Powers (Yam); 4. Derek Sorenson (Ktm); 5. Steve Nickerson (Hon);
LL 17 – Masters 50+: 1. Barry Carsten (Suz); 2. Brian Carroll Jr (Hon); 3. James Mcilvaine (Kaw); 4. Steve Nickerson (Hon); 5. Gary Giacchetto (Kaw);
What more can be said about Barry Carsten. He just keeps on going. This time winning the 40+ and 50+ classes.
Womens and Girls Class Results
LL 36 – Girls (11-16): 1. Bella Kozlowski (Hus); 2. Julia Lord (Kaw); 3. Danielle Ehlermann (Ktm);
LL 18. – Women: 1. Emily Post (Yam); 2. Sarah Post (Yam); 3. Erica Hamilton (Hon); 4. Heather Moore (Hon); 5. Kallie Kohnow (Ktm);
Non-Qualifying Class Results
LL Sat Non-Qual 25/30+: 1. Anthony Roth (Yam); 2. Kevin Quigley (Kaw); 3. Peter Cook (Hus); 4. Ralph Roccisano (Kaw);
LL Sat Non-Qual College 16-24: 1. Nicholas Burgess (Suz); 2. Alexander Infurna (Hus);
LL Sat Non-Qual Jr. Mini 9-13: 1. Cody Beckwith (Ktm); 2. Blake Shaver (Kaw); 3. Noah Willis (Ktm); 4. Tyler Kirby (Ktm); 5. Joseph Oconnell (Yam);
LL Sat Non-Qual Schoolboy 2: 1. Taylor Beckwith (Ktm); 2. Chris Sweeney (Kaw);
LL Sat Non-Qualifier Open C: 1. Chase Waddington (Kaw); 2. Tyler Schmidt (Hon); 3. Jacob Cortigiano (Ktm);
LL Sun Non-Qual 51cc (4-6): 1. Leland Jones (Ktm); 2. Lahna Macneil (Cob);
LL Sun Non Qual 51cc (7-8): 1. Wayne Powers Jr (Cob); 2. Anthony Pacella (Cob); 3. Justin Kirchhofer (Ktm); 4. James Gleason (Cob); 5. Tyler Sztancsik (Ktm);
LL Sun Non-Qual Jr. Mini 9-13: 1. Klark Robbins (Ktm); 2. Cody Beckwith (Ktm); 3. Landon Bissonnette (Yam); 4. Blake Shaver (Kaw); 5. Chase Eglentowicz (Ktm);
The next race at Raceway Park will be May 18 & 19, 2019. May 18th will be the first round of the Saturday Night Lights Youth MX – Quad and Adult Pit Bike Series and Sunday will be round number 5 of the D2MX Championship Series. Stay tuned to njmotocross.com for event details as they get closer.
One of my favorite things about the powersports business is the great friends I’ve made over the years. The talented photographers, writers, racers and team members never cease to amaze me with the work they produce. I’m making an effort to spread the word about their work in this series so that my network can see their work.
In this post, I’d like to share an article in the Canadian motocross magazine Motocross Performance (MXP) by Krystyn Slack. Krystyn was the 1st-ever female photographer and writer to Cover all 29 AMA professional supercross and motocross races in a season. She did it in 2017. This particular article is a look behind the scenes at the wives of some of the top racers in the sport. She provides an interesting look at their family life and the week in and week out struggles of a professional motocross racing family.
Click the link to see the complete issue. MXP Magazine
Here is a look back to 2006 and some coverage I provided to ATV Sport Magazine. The coverage was of the WPSA Quad Championship event held at Raceway Park in August 2006. The coverage ran in their December 2006 issue and I provided images and text for the 6-page spread.
