Joel Hetrick Faces Pressure to Make It Two-in-a-Row

Courtesy of ATV Motocross

Joel Hetrick Faces Pressure to Make It Two-in-a-RowWienen Controls Points Lead Heading Into Round Five 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 31, 2017) - Maxxis/Elka/Liquid Wrench/Honda's Joel Hetrick travels to the Muddy Creek ATVMX National this weekend, June 3 and 4, fresh off his first overall win of the 2017 season. Hetrick and the rest of the AMA Pro field is set to put on another great show at the fifth round of the Wiseco ATV Motocross National Championship (ATVMX) presented by CST Tires, an AMA National Championship.

Just three weeks ago fans witnessed Hetrick take his first overall win of the year in Crawfordsville, Indiana after an intense Moto 1 battle with Wienen Motorsports/SSi Decals/Walsh Racecraft/Yamaha/Maxxis/7240's Chad Wienen. Moto 2 was a different story where Hetrick was able to run his own race to go 2-1 for the victory. 

Joel Hetrick heads to the Muddy Creek ATVMX National fresh off his first overall win of the 2017 season.

- Ken Hill

Hetrick is also credited with last year's Muddy Creek National win. The iconic venue is known for its tight racing, meaning fast lap times need to be accompanied with holeshots in order to get the job done. Neither Hetrick or Wienen were successful with the SSi Decals Holeshot Award at last year's event, but they will both be looking to get out front early and battle for the win this weekend.

Another rider looking to engage in the battle is Root River Racing/CST Tires/Pro Motorsports-backed Thomas Brown who continues the champion chase. Brown comes into this round with back-to-back fifth place finishes, and will be charging to return to the box.

Nick Gennusa remains on the hunt for a podium finish.

- Ken Hill

JB Racing/Root River Racing's Jeffrey Rastrelli and GennUSA Racing's Nick Gennusa move into the halfway point of the season tied for fourth, just 44 points out of the lead. Between crashes and injury, Rastrelli has shown the heart of an aspiring champion. Gennusa's impressive consistency continues to keep him a podium contender as the season progresses.

Baldwin Motorsports/Ford Brother's Racing/Root River Racing's Ronnie Higgerson continues his quest for a podium this season. The Honda rider was plagued with some bad luck at last year's Muddy Creek event, and will be looking for redemption this Saturday. Root River Racing's Josh Upperman follows Higgerson in the ranks, just six points behind.

Josh Upperman will be a rider to keep an eye on this weekend as he looks to break back into the top-five.

- Ken Hill

Walsh Racecraft/Honda's Parker Wewerka continues to hold onto the eighth-place points championship, while Ford Brother's Racing/Solo Pilot's Westley Wolfe now trails him in ninth. Brett Musick rounds out the top ten in the standings as the series travels to Tennessee.

Saturday's race schedule is as follows: practice at 10 a.m. followed by a timed qualifying session at 11:30a.m. Pro motos are at 2 and 4 p.m. with an autograph session taking place at 4:30 p.m.

Saturday spectator passes run $20 for adults and $10 for children (6-11), with kids five and under getting in for free. Each pass includes pro pit access and pro autographs at no additional charge.

Brett Musick will be looking for a single-digit finish at his home race.

- Ken Hill

Amateur racing will take place throughout the weekend alongside the AMA Pro class, and local riders are invited and encouraged to compete in the event, as ATVMX offers classes for riders of all skill and experience levels. The amateur race entry fee is only $50 and riders can sign up at the event. To learn more about ATVMX racing, please refer to the ATVMX101 webpage.

Local racers expected to compete this weekend will be: Tyler Powers (450 A/College 16-24), Eli Elswick (450 B/Production B), Dalton Lipford (450 C/Production C), Chris Nixon (Pro Sport/PJunior 25+), brothers Silas (Pro) and Lucas Lamons (Junior 25+ and Pro Sport), Daniel Davis (Open B/450 B), Kenneth Payne (Open B/450 B), Chris Furches (Open C/450 C), Garrik Kelley (Open C), Ezra Sheldon (Open C), siblings Lilly (Girls 8-13) and Alex Huckabey (College 16-24), Darrin Huckabey (College 16-24), Phillip Oppen (Junior 25+), brothers Waylon (50 Open 4-8/50 CVT 4-8) and Lincoln Tummel (70 Automatic 6-11/50 Open 4-8/50 CVT 4-8), Rocky Heupel (Veteran 30+), Bryson Slagle (90 Open Sr. 12-15/90 Automatic 8-13/90 Shifter 12-15), Patrick Gordon (125 8-15/90 Automatic 8-13) and Braden Lollis (Youth All Star 13-15).

Cody Janssen's results continue to improve as the season reaches its halfway point.

- Ken Hill

To get to the track from I-81 take exit 63 toward the airport. Continue on TN-357 until exiting onto Highway 75. Stay on Highway 75 for about a half a mile and turn right onto Muddy Creek Road. Follow the ATVMX direction signs onto Hawley Road and the Ridgeway Drive. The track entrance will be on the left. 

For more information on the Wiseco ATV Motocross National Championship, visit the official series website at www.atvmotocross.com. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #ATVMX.

Previous Round Results and Points Standings

Ironman Raceway
Crawfordsville, Indiana
Round 4 of 10
Saturday, May 13 

2017 AMA Pro Class Event Results:

1. Joel Hetrick (2-1)
2. Chad Wienen (1-2)
3. Jeffrey Rastrelli (3-3)
4. Nick Gennusa (5-4)
5. Thomas Brown (4-5)
6. Josh Upperman (7-6)
7. Ronnie Higgerson (6-7)
8. Parker Wewerka (8-8)
9. Zach Kaczmarzyk (11-10)
10. Dylan Tremellen (12-12)

Overall National Championship Standings:

1. Chad Wienen (166)
2. Joel Hetrick (151)
3. Thomas Brown (131)
4. Nick Gennusa (122)
5. Jeffrey Rastrelli (122)
6. Ronnie Higgerson (106)
7. Josh Upperman (100)
8. Parker Wewerka (94)
9. Westley Wolfe (68)
10. Brett Musick (65)

SSi Decals Holeshot Award Standings:

1. Joel Hetrick (7)
2. Cole Sepesi (2)
3. Chad Wienen (1)

ATVriders.com Top Qualifier Award Standings:

1. Joel Hetrick (2)
2. Chad Wienen (2)

About the Wiseco ATV Motocross National Championship: 

The Wiseco ATV Motocross National Championship presented by CST Tires, an AMA National Championship, is the nation's premier amateur and professional ATV motocross series, hosted at top motocross facilities nationwide. The 10-round series features the Nation's best racers, teams and sponsors, and is America's largest and longest-running ATV national motocross program. Since 1985, the series continues to expand and produce top talent from the amateur ranks, while premiering the professional class. For more information, please visit www.atvmotocross.com. 

About the American Motorcyclist Association:

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com. Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join. 

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THUNDER VALLEY 2017 HISTORICAL NOTES PACKAGE

Courtesy of MX Sports







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HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES’ ALL-NEW 2018 ENDURO RANGE UNVEILED

Courtesy of Husqvarna Motorcycles

REVOLUTIONARY TE 250I/300I FUEL-INJECTED MACHINES HEADLINE SEVEN MODEL MY18 ENDURO LINE-UP

TE 250i 2018

TE 300i 2018

Adding a significant benchmark to their timeline for model year 2018, Husqvarna Motorcycles introduce the next generation of 2-stroke machines – the all-new, fuel-injected TE 250i and TE 300i. Offering unprecedented advantages in terms of performance, rideability, fuel consumption and ease of use, the introduction of fuel-injection by Husqvarna Motorcycles is a bold new step into the future of offroad motorcycling.

Together with the fuel-injected 2-strokes, Husqvarna Motorcycles present a heavily updated range of TE and FE machines for model year 2018. Collecting feedback from top-level competition and combining it with extensive research, the brand’s engineers ensured that the 2018 TX 125, FE 250, FE 350, FE 450 and FE 501 remain true to Husqvarna Motorcycles’ commitment to offer premium motorcycles across their enduro range.

NEW GENERATION 2-STROKES
Perfectly embodying Husqvarna’s pioneering spirit, the new from the ground up fuel-injected TE 250i and TE 300i machines feature engine technology that revolutionises the field of 2-stroke enduro motorcycles.

Featuring a pair of fuel injectors positioned at the transfer ports, the new system delivers the perfect amount of fuel into the engine at all times, across all conditions. Offering a significant reduction in fuel consumption and emissions, it also provides a smooth and clean power delivery on both machines.

With the injectors delivering the fuel mixture downwards into the transfer port, the system ensures a much more efficient combustion. Carefully placed at the rear of the cylinder, a special tube relays intake pressure data to the new ECU.

Gathering information from the throttle position sensor, the air and intake pressure sensors, together with the crankcase pressure and water temperature sensors, the ECU automatically compensates for temperature and altitude changes eliminating the need to modify carburettor jetting.

Vital for internal engine lubrication, the 2-stroke oil is stored in a separate tank thus eliminating the need for pre-mixing. With its filler tube running through the frame, the 0.7 lt tank contains oil for five full tanks of fuel depending on conditions. Controlled by the EMS the oil pump delivers the ideal amount of oil reducing waste as well as excessive smoke.

TE 250i/300i FUEL INJECTION HIGHLIGHTS

• Fuel injectors at the transfer ports → Ideal amount of fuel in all conditions
• Oil pump & oil tank → Convenient, eliminates pre-mix
• 39 mm throttle body → Regulates air flow, TPS relays airflow data
• New EMS → Modern engine management, no need for jetting changes
• Standard map select → Customise power characteristics
• Frame integrated oil filler cap → Simple refills
• Translucent fuel tank → Large capacity, fuel pump integrated
• New intake snorkel → Adapted to throttle body

A COMPLETE LINE-UP
Combining the most advanced engine technology with a series of dynamic upgrades, all Husqvarna Motorcycles 2-stroke and 4-stroke machines set the benchmark in terms of handling, power, weight and aesthetics.

Developed by WP Performance System the front forks are specifically designed for enduro riding. For MY18, the forks feature new outer tubes offering improved flex characteristics and reduced friction. A stiffer setting also provides extra sensitivity and improved bottoming resistance.

Also new for MY18 are the Magura front and rear brake systems. Featuring a similar layout to the design used on previous model Husqvarna enduro bikes, each system features optimal sensitivity and a progressive feel while retaining the highest level of performance.

Second to none in terms of functionality and style, the new ProTaper handlebars feature class-leading fatigue resistance while adding minimal weight.

MY18 ENDURO HIGHLIGHTS (ALL MODELS)

• WP Xplor 48 front fork → new fork tubes & setting for  added sensitivity & bottoming resistance
• Magura brake callipers & GSK discs → Excellent sensitivity & progression
• New ProTaper handlebar → Class-leading function & style

The new Husqvarna MY18 enduro range will be available worldwide from July 2017 onwards at all authorised Husqvarna Motorcycles Dealers.

 

ADAM CIANCIARULO MOVES INTO SECOND PLACE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Courtesy of Kawasaki

Following a great start to the AMA Pro Motocross Championship for Eli Tomac and Josh Grant, both Monster Energy® Kawasaki riders finished short of the podium at the Glen Helen Raceway on Saturday.

The crowd lined the fences and cheered on hometown hero Grant as the gate fell for 450MX Moto 1. Grant got off to a great start in fourth, while Tomac sat 11^th. Tomac began picking off riders like they were standing still with lap times that were three seconds a lap faster than the race leader. Tomac swiftly caught and passed his teammate Grant for second place, but would eventually run out of time in the moto to catch the leader. Tomac finished second place with Grant in third, putting both Kawasaki riders on the podium for the third straight moto.

During the opening laps of 450MX Moto 2, both Tomac and Grant ran into problems forcing Tomac to pull into the mechanics area before rejoining the race a lap down. As the race heated up, Grant would go down for a second time, forcing him to exit the track and retire early from the competition. Tomac made up as much ground as he could to finish 19^th, going 1-19 for ninth overall. Tomac moves to second in the Championship Standings, with Grant in fourth.

"It just wasn't in the cards for us today," said Tomac. "The team and I were in a good spot today and my bike felt great during qualifying, but just had some bad luck when the gate dropped. It's a long season and we'll be back next weekend."

"Today could have gone better," said Grant. "I started the day off with great qualifying times right behind Eli and followed it up with another podium finish in the first moto. I ran into some issues in Moto 2 and had to call it quits. We're still in this as a team and I'm looking forward to bouncing back."

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki kicked off Round 2 of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship with Adam Cianciarulo setting the fastest lap in qualifying to take pole position. As the gate fell on 250MX Moto 1, the field came roaring down the hills of Glen Helen with Joey Savatgy in second place, Austin Forkner in fourth, Hill 24^th and Cianciarulo 26^th after tipping over at the top of the hill. Cianciarulo put his head down and began his charge through the pack at an incredible pace. When the checkered flag flew, he had passed 19 racers to finish seventh place. Savatgy held on to grab his first podium finish in second, while teammates Hill and Forkner were forced to retire early from the competition.

In Moto 2, it was Cianciarulo with a much better start in third place with Forkner in fifth, Savatgy 17^th and Hill 21^st. After starting outside the top-20, Hill showcased his true racing talent and managed to put his KX™250F up into 12^th place by the end of the moto, finishing 18^th overall. Forkner finished sixth place for 13^th overall and Cianciarulo rounded out the podium in third place, going 7-3 for fourth overall. Unfortunately, Savatgy was unable to finish the second moto. Cianciarulo moves up into second place in the 250MX Championship Standings, Savatgy seventh, Forkner eighth and Hill 14^th.

"It was a good day for us," said Cianciarulo. "My starts weren't quite on point today but in Moto 1 I managed to come back pretty well through the pack and finish strong. I carried that momentum into Moto 2 and made my way into third on the first lap and just rode consistent to finish on the box. I'm glad to leave California and head into Colorado second in points."

"Not the day we wanted," said Savatgy. "It started off great after finishing second in the first moto, but after a poor start in Moto 2, I struggled to find smooth lines to pass and ended up not being able to finish the race. I'm looking forward to rebounding next weekend."

"Today went well," said Forkner. "I was happy with how I rode on such a rough track and made a lot of passes late in Moto 2 which gave me confidence in my fitness. I just need to start out front and I believe I can reach that top spot."

"Lots of positives to take out of today," said Hill. "Overall, I think our team had some tough luck today, but we're all in one piece, healthy and moving on to Round 3 together. Glad we all made it through the California rounds and can move on to Colorado."

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Race Report - Team MicroBilt PRBC San Bernardino, CA

Courtesy of MicroBilt PRBC

KENNESAW, GA., May 30, 2017, / Glen Helen Raceway – famous for its rugged terrain, unforgiving hills, and gnarly ruts, did not disappoint as we descended upon the San Bernardino, CA Raceway for Round 2 of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. Because of it’s location and proximity to the central nervous system of all that is the motocross industry, you often find yourself battling with a higher number of entries on the rider list – making it all the more challenging to qualify for the Main Events. To qualify is an accomplishment in and of itself, but to qualify against the odds and then have a fantastic day of racing, that’s something that shouldn’t go unmentioned. Remember, it is only the top 40 qualifying positions – with 36 riders qualifying directly from practice, and the remaining 4 places being distributed to riders who battle it out in the Consolation Race – who earn a gate pick for the Main Event. 

It’s been said throughout the Monster Energy Supercross season, and now in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross season that competition, especially in the 450 class, is tougher and more stacked than ever. That means that more guys are “fast factory guys” and that there is less separation between the top dog and 20th place, making competition fierce week in and week out. This week, MicroBilt PRBC Yoshimura Suzuki Racing was up against a 63-rider entry list on our quest to earn starting positions for the Main Event for both Ronnie Stewart and Cheyenne Harmon. Of the 63 riders on the line for practice, Ronnie Stewart qualified in 27th place, with a time of 2:29.820 and Cheyenne Harmon qualified in 33rd place, with a time of 2:33.633. This marked a huge milestone on the season for both Stewart and Harmon having both qualified inside the top 36 and avoiding the dreaded 450 Consolation Race. For Cheyenne, it was even more momentous as it marked the first time in his career that he has qualified for a Lucas Oil Pro Motocross National. Only 13.458 seconds separated the fastest qualifier, Eli Tomac, from the 33rd place of Cheyenne Harmon – impressive for MicroBilt PRBC Yoshimura Suzuki Racing, considering that during the Monster Energy Supercross season, there were many times that more than 13 seconds was often the gap between only first and second place when Tomac got a good jump on a Main Event. 

In 450 Moto 1, Ronnie Stewart would get a great mid-pack start, being scored in 20th after the first lap. As time elapsed, Ronnie would find himself battling his way through the entire 30-minute + 2 lap moto and ultimately finish in 26th place. In his first ever outdoor national moto, Cheyenne Harmon would be scored in 32nd place off the start and finish the moto in 36th place, mentioning to team manager, Brooke Stewart, how excited he was to finally have the monkey off his back and so stoked to finally have the chance to line up for his first Pro Motocross Main Event. Moto 2 allowed both Cheyenne and Ronnie to improve upon their finishing positions, with Ronnie breaking into the Top 20, finishing 18th for 23rd overall and Cheyenne finishing 30th for a 37th overall. Each week the riders continue to improve and we look forward to seeing what they can do this upcoming weekend in Colorado.

Keep up with Team MicroBilt/PRBC Suzuki via social media via:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram 
And by using and searching for the hashtag #teammicrobiltprbc. 

About MicroBilt: MicroBilt is the single source and preferred provider of decision-critical information for over 35 years that responsibly assists businesses in reducing risk and managing their business. MicroBilt offers the business owner simple, cost-effective solutions and a wide selection of data products for fraud prevention, consumer financing, debt collection and background screening. 

About PRBC: PRBC is the world's largest non-traditional credit bureau and allows users to prove their financial responsibility and gives members credit for their utilities, phone/cable, rent, insurance and other bills. The payment histories for these are utilized to create a free PRBC Score. 

Thanks to Our Sponsors: MicroBilt, PRBC, Yoshimura R&D, Suzuki Motor of America, Liberty Elevator Corporation, H&S Enterprises, Ecstar (Suzuki Genuine Oil), ISC Racers Tape, RG3, Strikt Gear, Hinson Clutch Components, DeCal Works, Hellbound Racing, 6D Helmets, Novik Gloves, Motostuff.com, Sunstar, DT1 Filters, Dubya, Kite, Works Connection, VP Racing Fuels, VonZipper and Matrix Concepts. 

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AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will celebrate Riders of Kawasaki

Courtesy of American Motorcyclist Association

Kawasaki history, riders, and Hall of Famers will take center stage July 7-9 at Lexington's Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

 

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- On July 7-9 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring Riders of Kawasaki, will showcase the riders and machines that have made Kawasaki motorcycles famous for more than five decades in America.

"Since 1966, Kawasaki has delivered on its promise to provide American motorcyclists high-performance fun, sensible transportation, the keys to two-wheeled adventure and everything in between," said AMA Chief Operations Officer Jeff Massey. "AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring Riders of Kawasaki, will tell the stories of the men and women who have enjoyed Kawasaki's incredible machines, from the 1966 Samurai to the breathtaking 2017 Ninja H2R, and in the off-road arena, we've seen bikes like the legendary Bighorn and the championship-winning KX250F and KX450F motocross bikes.

"In addition, this partnership allows us to highlight some of the benefits of the AMA affinity program, including ROK, Powered by the AMA, designed for AMA members who are fans of Kawasaki motorcycles," Massey added.

Kawasaki has a rich heritage of performance, exemplified by the launch of the Mach III 500cc two-stroke triple in 1969 and then the legendary four-cylinder 900cc Z1 just four years later. Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA will have on display several historic machines from the company's private collection at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days to celebrate that history.

Information about ROK, Powered by the AMA, also will be front and center throughout the event. ROK, Powered by the AMA, is an affinity membership of the association (see www.americanmotorcyclist.com/for-members/ROK/join). It is intended for members who are loyal to the Kawasaki brand and, as with all AMA affinity groups, it is available at no additional charge to AMA members. ROK, Powered by the AMA, members receive special benefits from Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA, such as a 10 percent discount on all purchases at www.kawasaki.com.

"Kawasaki and ROK, Powered by the AMA, are proud to be a part of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, which draws tens of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts each year," said Greg Lasiewski, Senior Brand Communications/Sponsorships, and ROK Specialist. "We encourage all Kawasaki riders to make the trip to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course to experience this great event firsthand."

For more information about ROK, Powered by the AMA, see www.kawasaki.com/rok/whoweare.

AMA members will have the opportunity to join the ROK, Powered by the AMA, affinity group at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days and receive special incentives directly from Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA.

The grand marshal for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring Riders of Kawasaki, will be announced soon.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring Riders of Kawasaki, is an annual fundraiser for the nonprofit AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The event features vintage motorcycle racing, bike shows, seminars, demo rides, live music, the American Motor Drome Wall of Death, the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Swap Meet, brought to you by Federal Motorcycle Shipping, with nearly 1,000 independent vendors and much more. Moto Armory is sponsoring the off-road racing portion of the AMA Vintage Grand Championship.

The Old Bike Barn is sponsoring the Old Bike Barn Crossroads, which includes live music, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Bike Show, club displays, a craft beer garden, vendors and more.

The full schedule of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days events is available at www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com.

Tickets are available for purchase at www.midohio.com or at the gate. A weekend pass is $60, a single-day admission for Friday or Saturday is $40 and a single-day admission for Sunday is $35. Kids 12 and under get in free.

AMA members get a $15 ticket discount through June 5. To take advantage of the member discount, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Events/AMA-Vintage-Motorcycle-Days-Tickets.

Stay in the know. Check often at www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com and www.facebook.com/AMAVintageMotorcycleDays for new information. And look for #AMAVMD on Twitter and Instagram.

 

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.

Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join 

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GAUTIER PAULIN THIRD OVERALL AT MXGP OF FRANCE

Courtesy of Husqvarna Motorcycles

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING RIDER CLIMBS TO SECOND IN THE MXGP CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Gautier Paulin – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Max Nagl – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Max Anstie – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Thomas Kjer-Olsen – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Thomas Covington – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Conrad Mewse - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Continuing his impressive run of form in the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin wrapped up his home round of the MXGP series in France with a strong third overall, moving to second in the MXGP class’ championship standings. Winning the opening MXGP moto Max Nagl earned fourth overall in the 450cc class. 

With round nine of the championship taking place at the famous Ernée track in northern France, competitors were faced with deep ruts and slippery off-camber corners in proved to be a demanding MXGP of France. Racing on home soil, Paulin worked hard and managed to overcome a few minor issues he faced during Saturday’s qualifying session. 

Despite not getting the best of starts in MXGP moto one, Paulin quickly found himself battling for a spot inside the top five. Involved in a late battle with Jeffrey Herlings, he eventually crossed the line in sixth place. 

Coming back stronger in moto two, Paulin got a better start and moved up to second before the end of the fifth lap. Battling for victory until the last corners of the race, the Frenchman brought his FC 450 home in second to earn third overall at the GP. Moving up to second in the MXGP championship standings, Paulin is now 50 points behind series leader Antonio Cairoli. 

Getting an impressive holeshot before quickly opening up a sizeable lead and going on to secure victory in moto one, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl secured a well-deserved winning result. Getting a great start in moto two the German suffered a crash late in the race before crossing the line in ninth place. 

Putting in another solid performance, MXGP class rookie Max Anstie collected 10th overall at the MXGP of France. Battling through a crash he suffered on Saturday, the Brit managed to collect 9/11 results during the two final motos on Sunday. 

In the MX2 category, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer-Olsen was faced with a mountain to climb after a bad start in moto one and a crash in the opening laps of moto two. Pushing hard and making a series of crucial passes, the young Dane collected 7/8 results for seventh overall at the GP of France. 

Battling his way through the pack after two bad starts in MX2’s final motos, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Covington got 11/7 results for eighth overall at the GP of France. 

Getting good starts and showing great speed in both motos, Conrad Mewse collected two top 10 results for ninth overall in France. 

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team will return to action at round ten of the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship in Russia on June 9/10. 

Gautier Paulin: “I’m really happy with getting on the podium in front of my home fans. The weekend didn’t start in the best possible way for us, but we managed to make some great progress and find a setup that worked very well on Sunday. I can’t thank my team enough for all their hard work and dedication. In the opening moto I didn’t get a good start and had to push hard for sixth. Max Nagl did a great job taking the holeshot and going on to claim victory and I’d like to congratulate him for that. In moto two my start wasn’t perfect but I made a good come back for second. I showed that victory was within my reach and I’m happy with that. Second in the championship is great but obviously the goal now is to remain consistent and to be on the podium in each of the following GPs.” 

Max Nagl: “Struggling with my confidence during the last few GPs, it felt great to get out there and get the victory in moto one. The weekend started well for us and I’m really satisfied that all my starts were good. In moto one I got the holeshot and kept my head down. Increasing the lead in every lap, I built a gap of almost seven seconds at the chequered flag. Then in moto two my start was good but I made a couple of mistakes in the opening laps losing a few spots. Then after the halfway mark I had a big crash, falling heavily. Luckily I didn’t get hurt and I resumed the race to earn ninth.” 

Max Anstie: “It was a solid GP for me. The track was challenging and it was just too easy to make a mistake. I had two strong motos for 10th overall and I’m happy about that. With this just being my first year in the class, I’m still learning and improving every time out. We’ll keep working as hard as we do hoping to get even higher next time out in Russia. Already during the last few races we’ve made some big improvements on my riding and with our bike, so I feel that we’re gradually putting all the pieces of the puzzle together.” 

Thomas Kjer-Olsen: “It was a tough weekend and I’m happy with seventh overall. To be honest I struggled with the track and my riding and had to ride a bit cautiously during the weekend. My starts were not good and I had to take risks and push hard to make passes. In moto one I came from outside the top 20 in the opening laps to finish seventh. Then in moto two I had a crash early on and that made it difficult to do anything better than eighth at the chequered flag. We take our seventh place in the overall and move on. There’s still a lot of racing to be done in this year’s championship.” 

Thomas Covington: “I did my best in what was a challenging weekend of racing in France. To be honest I didn’t feel comfortable on the track so had to struggle to get a good flow around it. In moto one I got a bad start and pushed hard for 11th at the finish. Then in moto two I saw Kjer-Olsen crashing in front of me right after the start and could do nothing to avoid him. Despite losing time there, I fought back to seventh at the flag. Considering this was a tough GP for me, to earn eighth overall is not a bad result at all. I’m now looking forward to the following GP in Russia.” 

Conrad Mewse: “It was a great weekend for me. I got two good starts in the final motos and spent most of them battling to retain a good position. We’ve worked hard during the last couple of months and that has helped me get a better feeling riding my bike. In moto one I pushed hard to finish inside the top 10 and in moto two I felt like I was running out of energy. Overall, I’m quite happy with my results here in France and I can’t wait for the following round in Russia.” 

Results – FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 9 

MXGP - Overall 
1. Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) 43pts; 2. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 42; 3. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 37; 4. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 37… 10. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 22… 15. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 10… 19. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 6 

MXGP - Race 1 
1. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 18 laps, 35:35.189; 2. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 35:41.922; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Yamaha) 35:43.649… 6. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 35:53.475… 9. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 36:16.817… 19. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 17 laps, 35:36.688… 21. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 35:39.739… 26. Nicolas Bender (Husqvarna) 36:57.387 

MXGP - Race 2 
1. Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) 18 laps, 35:08.044; 2. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 35:10.483; 3. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 35:16.213… 9. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 36:05.623… 11. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 36:19.790… 13. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 36:35.497… 15. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 36:38.369… 29. Nicolas Bender (Husqvarna) 36:16.061 

MX2 - Overall 
1. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 47pts; 2. Benoit Paturel (Yamaha) 45; 3. Jeremy Seewer (Suzuki) 42… 7. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 27; 8. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 27; 9. Conrad Mewse (Husqvarna) 23… 13. Brian Hsu (Husqvarna) 13… 17. Henry Jacobi (Husqvarna) 8… 21. Anton Gole (Husqvarna) 5 

MX2 - Race 1 
1. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 18 laps, 35:40.293; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Suzuki) 35:42.688; 3. Benoit Paturel (Yamaha) 35:43.617… 7. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 36:25.158; 8. Brian Hsu (Husqvarna) 36:35.321… 10. Conrad Mewse (Husqvarna) 36:41.880; 11. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 36:42.412… 17. Henry Jacobi (Husqvarna) 37:25.319… 19. Anton Gole (Husqvarna) 37:31.398 

MX2 - Race 2 
1. Benoit Paturel (Yamaha) 17 laps, 34:00.096; 2. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 34:01.795; 3. Jeremy Seewer (Suzuki) 34:03.722… 7. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 35:22.681; 8. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 35:26.511; 9. Conrad Mewse (Husqvarna) 35:31.084… 17. Henry Jacobi (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 34:09.606; 18. Anton Gole (Husqvarna) 34:09.928… 21. Brian Hsu (Husqvarna) 34:38.009 

Championship Standings (After Round 9) 

MXGP 
1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 347pts; 2. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 297; 3. Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) 289… 9. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 200… 12. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 146… 15. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 101… 20. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 58… 23. Harri Kullas (Husqvarna) 21… 30. Yentel Martens (Husqvarna) 6 

MX2 
1. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 372pts; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Suzuki) 330; 3. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 291… 6. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 208… 17. Conrad Mewse (Husqvarna) 78; 21. Brian Hsu (Husqvarna) 60… 23. Anton Gole (Husqvarna) 54; 24. Iker Larranaga (Husqvarna) 43… 26. Henry Jacobi (Husqvarna) 41… 31. Caleb Ward (Husqvarna) 14; 32. Karel Kutsar (Husqvarna) 14… 40. Ivan Petrov (Husqvarna) 1… 43. Aaron Tanti (Husqvarna) 1

 

10th PLACE MOTO SCORE FOR JASIKONIS IN FRANCE

Courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office

Team Suzuki Press Office – May 28. 

Arminas Jasikonis – 10-17 for 12th 

Lithuanian Suzuki World MXGP rider Arminas Jasikonis put his RM-Z450WS inside the top-10 in the first moto, on his way to 12th overall at what was an extremely difficult MXGP of France today. The hillside track in Ernee provided the riders with a real challenge as slippery hard-pack was mixed in with some deep ruts which made sure the riders had no chance to relax in either of the two motos. 

Jasikonis had this to say about his performance: “It’s been a tough weekend with all the racing. I didn’t get a great start in the first moto and finished 10th. I couldn’t find anywhere to pass Max Anstie, but despite that, I was reasonably happy with the result. It would have been great if I could have got maybe one or two more places, but that was a struggle all weekend, finding good places to pass riders. In the second race, I got a good jump and was around the first corner in third I think, but I didn’t quite reach the holeshot line and crashed out. Lots of riders rode over me, so it changed from good to bad in a very short space of time. I fought through the field from near the back and felt I was doing ok, but then made another mistake to finish up in 17th position.” 

“AJ had a good Saturday, he was happy with his riding and I was as well,” said General Manager Stefan Everts. “However, in the first moto he had a bad start and although he was fighting, he finished in 10th position. I don’t think he could have done too much better than that, if you look how tough the competition was in the MXGP class. In the second moto, he had a really good start but lost the back wheel in the first turn and from then on it was really tough. He was a long way behind and in this heat, he could only do so much. It’s been a difficult couple of GPs for him, and perhaps Russia will be the same, but we will all keep fighting hard to get through it and I’m sure we will get to the next step soon.” 

Kevin Strijbos is unfortunately still recovering from his elbow injury and won’t be around for the next race, when the rest of the Suzuki World MXGP team heads to Orlyonok in Russia for the 10th round of the world motocross championships. 

MXGP Moto 1: 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), 35:35.189; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:06.733; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:08.460; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:09.028; 5. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:10.996; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:18.286; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:30.885; 8. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:35.172; 9. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:41.628; 10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), +0:46.421.

MXGP Moto 2: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), 35:08.044; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:02.439; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:08.169; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:11.832; 5. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:17.245; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:22.475; 7. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:42.570; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:48.221; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:57.579; 10. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +1:06.009; 17. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), +1:56.533. 

MXGP Overall: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 43 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 42 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 37 p.; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 37 p.; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 35 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 32 p.; 7. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 32 p.; 8. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 27 p.; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 23 p.; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 22 p.; 11. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 19 p.; 12. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), 15 p. 

MXGP Points Standings: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 347 points; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 297 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 289 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 261 p.; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 261 p.; 6. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 253 p.; 7. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 214 p.; 8. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 209 p.; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 200 p.; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 176 p.; 11. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 172 p.; 12. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 146 p.; 13. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), 143 p.; 16. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), 90 p.. 


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