FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Cody Webb has won the 2018 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship. In an action-packed final round in Sweden, Webb’s fifth place overall result was enough to clinch his first ever world title. Jonny Walker finished as runner-up on the night with Taddy Blazusiak taking third.
The four previous rounds of the 2018 SuperEnduro Championship have all delivered exciting, close racing and the final held at the Sparbanken Arena in Lidköping, Sweden was no different. Coming into the fifth and final round with a 17-point advantage over team-mate Blazusiak, Cody Webb had the championship in his sights.
The tight and technical Swedish circuit proved tricky even for the top-class field. But it was Taddy Blazusiak who tamed it best on the Akrapovic SuperPole lap, posting the fastest time ahead of team-mates Jonny Walker and Cody Webb. In race one it was Taddy who excelled again, controlling the race from the front. Behind him, mistakes by Webb and Walker cost them valuable time, relegating the pair to fourth and fifth respectively.
The reverse-grid of race two threw up its usual surprises with KTM mounted Manni Lettenbichler taking the early lead. Taddy fought his way past Webb and up into second before an unfortunate technical issue forced the six-time SuperEnduro Champion to retire. Webb completed the race in third, giving the American enough points to claim the World Championship title.
With the title decided, race three would determine the further championship placings. Blazusiak again got off to a good start, chasing down Billy Bolt but eventually settled for the runner-up position. Jonny Walker rode an excellent race finishing third, enough to give the Brit second overall on the night.
Adding the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship to his 2017 AMA Endurocross title, Cody Webb is undisputedly the man to beat in indoor enduro. Despite a tough final round, the American was overjoyed with his first ever World title.
Cody Webb:“I am so happy, I can’t tell you what this means to me. Of course, I feel bad for Taddy, he was riding really well tonight. The championship has been great and for it to come down to the wire shows how high the quality really is – I have so much respect for every single rider in this series. I was riding really tight tonight – I think because of my nerves – and Taddy was pushing so hard. He had some bad luck tonight, but I’ve had a couple of bad rounds too. After having a year out of racing in Europe, to come back and be World Champion is amazing – this is definitely the most important title I have won so far. After my riding tonight, I know there are still some things I have to work on so I’ll go away now, regroup and prepare for the WESS this summer.”
To come back from such disappointment and challenge for the win in the final race shows the spirit of Taddy Blazusiak. Just months after announcing his return to competitive competition, Taddy was incredibly close to taking a seventh world title. The multiple world champion has vowed to come back and try again come 2019.
Taddy Blazusiak:“I am so disappointed. Words can’t describe how I feel right now. On the positive side, I know I was fast tonight, I was riding really well. I was feeling good on the bike, practice and SuperPole went well and then in the first race, I was able to set a good, fast pace at the front. Going into the second race, I was only eight points down on Cody in the championship and I knew he had made a couple of mistakes in the first race. To be forced to retire like that is bad at any time, but to lose the championship like that is heart-breaking. I got back for the third race, but my heart wasn’t quite in it. To come back to racing and be so close to taking another world title is definitely encouraging though. I think my pace towards the end of the season was the best. I might have missed out this time, but I’ll be back next year to take my seventh championship.”
Riding consistently throughout the evening, Jonny Walker finished as runner-up and also claimed the overall Akrapovic SuperPole title for the season. The former Erzbergrodeo winner will now look ahead to the outdoor season and the World Enduro Super Series.
Jonny Walker:“It was a tough night tonight - second overall with a 5-4-3 result shows just how tricky the track was and I think everyone found it hard. My pace definitely got better as the night went on and to finish as runner-up on the night is great. I won the SuperPole award for the season, which shows my speed is definitely good enough, I just need to work a little on my consistency. With the WESS not far away now, I’ll start working on the outdoor races and the different challenges for the rest of the year.”
Results — FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 5
ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING ROOKIE WINS SUPERENDURO GP OF SWEDEN TO END THE CHAMPIONSHIP AS RUNNER-UP
Claiming a career-first overall victory, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt has ended the 2018 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship as runner-up in the final championship standings. Delivering arguably the best performance of his career, series rookie Bolt raced his way to two wins from three starts at the final round of the championship in Sweden to secure the top step of the podium.
Entering the fifth and final stop of this year’s SuperEnduro series in Lidköping on top form following a victory at last weekend’s British Extreme Enduro Championship, the Husqvarna rider was determined to end his first season of indoor enduro racing on a high.
Proving fast from the off, the 19-year-old put in a fantastic opening heat race to place a close second behind rival Taddy Blazusiak. Making the best of the reversed start order for heat two, Bolt put his FE 350 out front at the end of lap one. Despite slipping back to second on lap three, he continued to apply pressure on race leader Manuel Lettenbichler before retaking the lead with four laps to go. Upping his pace, he broke clear of the chasing pack to win by almost eight seconds.
Knowing the chance of winning his first overall podium was within his grasp entering the third heat of the night, Bolt kept his composure and remained focused on the job in hand. Making a near-perfect start, the Husqvarna rider took control on lap one and was never headed, despite early pressure from Blazusiak. Going on to secure a comfortable margin of victory, Bolt claimed the top step of the podium while also ending the 2018 series as runner-up.
For out-going champion Colton Haaker, the final round of the championship in Sweden was another difficult outing. Starting things off positively with a third-place result in heat one, Haaker finished fourth in heat two. In contention for a possible podium result, numerous mistakes in heat three saw him finish seventh, dropping him back to sixth overall on the night.
With the 2018 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship complete, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team now look forward to the opening round of the World Enduro Super Series in Portugal May 11-13.
Billy Bolt:“It’s been the perfect end to the series — winning my first round overall and then ending the championship as runner-up. I couldn’t ask for more than that, especially in my rookie season. Tonight was a great night and I felt my riding really came together to take the overall victory. We’ve worked tirelessly as a team to improve little by little and the end result has paid off with the top step of the podium here in Sweden. My speed wasn’t any better or worse than previous rounds, but my mistakes were fewer and that’s made the difference. I felt much more consistent in my riding and was able to handle the intensity better, taking two race wins tonight. Regards the final championship standings it was a shame for Taddy Blazusiak to have an issue like he did and it definitely swayed the end result in my favour, but I guess that’s the luck of racing sometimes. Finally, I just wanted to say a huge thanks to the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team for their support and belief in me to get this result.”
Colton Haaker:“Overall, it’s just been a strange season for me in SuperEnduro. Finishing sixth overall tonight and fifth in the final standings is not the results I wanted to end my second consecutive title defence on. I need to take stock of how things went this season, of course they weren’t what I wanted but I need to look at why. Definitely starting the season coming off an injury wasn’t ideal but I don’t want to use that as an excuse. At every round I felt fast and my lap times were always strong. But through a combination of bad luck and situations out of my control, the results weren’t there to put together an overall result that I know I’m capable of.”
Results — FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 5
MAVTV Television Schedule Announced for 2018 ATV Motocross National Championship
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (March 30, 2018) – The ATV Motocross National Championship (ATVMX) presented by CST Tires, an AMA National Championship is pleased to announce the 2018 MAVTV cable television broadcast schedule.
Daytona Beach, Florida’s Daytona ATV Supercross played host to round one of the 2018 ATV Motocross National Championship season and will also kick off the 2018 broadcast season airing on Saturday, May 19th at 9:30 a.m. ET. One week later, round two of the 2018 season from South of the Border MX in Hamer, South Carolina will be broadcast on May 26th at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Click HERE to check out the full 2018 ATV Motocross National Championship Series broadcast schedule.Ken Hill
Each episode of ATV Motocross racing showcases the top AMA ATV Pro class racers battle on some of the most iconic motocross tracks throughout the United States. The 2018 season promises to be exciting, as defending champion, Joel Hetrick, will be gunning for his second championship. At the same time, five-time ATV Motocross National Champion, Chad Wienen, will be looking to dethrone Hetrick and claim the 2018 championship.
Additionally, other top AMA ATV Pro class competitions will be looking to claim race wins of their own in hopes of challenging for the National Championship. Jeffrey Rastrelli, Thomas Brown and Ronnie Higgerson are three names currently at the forefront of the AMA ATV Pro class who are looking to breakthrough and topple both Hetrick and Wienen through the 2018 season.
All highlight shows will be archived on www.RacerTV.com for viewing. See below to view the current MAVTV television schedule.
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.
About the ATV Motocross National Championship:
The 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.
How to Watch:
Racer TV and MAVTV are the official homes for coverage of the ATV Motocross National Championship (ATVMX) events. All 10 rounds, from the season opening ATVSX inside the hallowed grounds of Daytona International Speedway, to the ATV Dirt Days finale at the historic Loretta Lynn Ranch in Tennessee, will air in 30-minue; taped-delayed telecasts on MAVTV, while Racer TV provides live streaming coverage of four differing events. Catch all the action at www.mavtv.com and www.racertv.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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2018 AMSOIL GNCC Season NBCSN Television Schedule AnnouncedAll 13 Rounds to be Broadcast Live on RacerTV
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (March 29, 2018) - Racer Productions, producer of the AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series, an AMA National Championship, is pleased to announce the 2018 NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) cable television broadcast schedule.
NBCSN coverage begins this Sunday April 1, 2018 with the VP Racing Fuels Big Buck GNCC in Union, South Carolina. Cable broadcasts will continue with highlight shows of all 13-rounds through November 25, 2018 with the season-finale AMSOIL Ironman GNCC airing at 5:30 p.m. EST. Repeat airings will play throughout the year and will be updated on the GNCC Broadcast Schedule.
Each highlight show will focus on the most intense racing action of the weekend, either pro ATV or bikes. An additional 13 full-length highlight episodes will be released separately on RacerTV.com showcasing the discipline that was not featured on NBCSN. This season will be the 18th consecutive year that GNCC has been broadcast on cable television and seventh partnering with NBCSN.
Additionally, #GNCCLIVE streaming will continue through the 2018 season with live coverage of all ATV and bike pro races, along with the UTV events as well. Race fans and family members can watch their favorite off-road racers compete live for the race wins and the coveted AMA National Championships all season.
All highlight and #GNCCLIVE shows will be archived on www.RacerTV.com for viewing. See below to view the full NBCSN television schedule.
For more information on the series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #GNCC.
About GNCC Racing
The AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis is America's premier off-road racing series. Founded in 1975, the 13-round championship is produced exclusively by Racer Productions. Cross-country racing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The grueling three-hour GNCC races lead as many as 2,400 riders through tracks ranging in length from eight to 12 miles. With varied terrain, including hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections, GNCC events are tests of both survival and speed. The series draws talent from all over the U.S., Central America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. GNCC Racing is televised weekly on NBC Sports and RacerTV.com. For more information, please visit www.gnccracing.com.
About RacerTV
RacerTV, LLC is a West Virginia based media production company and broadcast network specializing in the creation of original powersports programming for television and internet broadcast. Aired on NBCSN, MAVTV and RacerTV.com, RacerTV features coverage of motocross and off-road motorcycle, ATV and UTV events.
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Valencia, Calif. — Tag Metals, a brand division of Group 6 USA, LLC, is pleased to announce a new strategic alliance with SX and MX legend Ryan Villopoto.
Ryan will play an active advisory role working with the Tag Metals product development team and brand management marketing group.
After ten AMA Championships, Ryan retired from professional racing in 2015. Ryan is now actively riding and testing for a select number of high-profile brands of which Tag Metals is honored to be a part of.
Tag Metals has been absent from the marketplace for a few years, but Group 6 USA has acquired Tag Metals and relaunched the brand. Tag Metals has redesigned its product line from the ground up and has relaunched the iconic brand with a new line of handlebars, sprockets, chains, and grips.
Ryan stated, “ I am excited to be part of the 'new' Tag Metals team and the Group 6 USA family. It’s a great fit, as I have a longterm working relationship with Eddie Cole and his team going way back to my amateur career. I’m also involved in many of the Group 6 USA brands already, including Matrix Concepts and Atlas Brace. I’m looking forward to this new project and being part of the new Tag Metals journey.”
Ryan also included, “I wanted to take this time to give a special mention and thank-you to the Renthal brand for all the past years of support. They were a huge part of my racing career and I wanted to sincerely thank them for the support and friendship”.
Tag Metals Managing Director Eddie Cole added, "Having Ryan join our effort is very exciting for us. We are so fortunate to have a resource and talent like Ryan join the Tag Metals team. Ryan’s endorsement, product knowledge, and product feedback will be invaluable to Tag Metals' internal team going forward.”
PAYSON, UT (March 27, 2018) – Rocky Mountain ATV/MC will continue to serve as the official online retailer sponsor of the FMF California Classic in 2018. A popular SoCal amateur motocross event, the California Classic will take place at Pala Raceway on April 11-15.
The FMF California Classic got its start in 2013 and has been scheduled during spring break every year since. Over 40 classes compete in the course of four days, utilizing a championship format with three motos. As an AMA-sanctioned amateur race, the event has always been about fun, family and – of course – great racing.
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC will continue its role as the official online retailer sponsor of the California Classic. Just as with last year, the Race Gas program will be in effect at the event. Every racer who competes in at least one class will receive one $20 credit to their personal Rocky Mountain ATV/MC account, redeemable toward any products on the website.
“We’re excited for the California Classic again this year, and we’re glad to have Rocky Mountain ATV/MC on board as the official online retailer sponsor again,” said Myron Short of 2XPromotions. “This year promises to be the best yet, and we couldn’t do it without our sponsors like RMATVMC.”
“Southern California is a hotspot for motocross, and we’re excited to be part of an event that means so much to the local community,” said Dan Thomas, CEO and Founder of Rocky Mountain ATV/MC. “It’s important to us to support amateur motocross, and the California Classic is a good example of how great an amateur MX event can be.”
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC is the trusted online source for high-quality riding gear, parts and accessories for dirt bikes, ATVs, UTVs, dual sport bikes and street motorcycles. Rocky Mountain ATV/MC has provided low prices and unparalleled customer service for over 33 years. With the RM Cash program, a fit-guarantee apparel exchange, free three-day shipping and a price match guarantee, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC continues to deliver a premier shopping experience for the off-road enthusiast. For more information, visit www.RockyMountainATVMC.com.
2XPromotions was founded in over a decade ago in California for action sport event management with a focus in amateur motocross. 2XPromotions operates major events such as the prestigious Mammoth Motocross, the FMF California Classic, the King of the West MX series, and several Loretta Lynn’s Area Qualifiers and Regional Championships.
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Courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office Team Suzuki Press Office – March 27.
Malcolm Stewart #27 – 450 Class – 6th Weston Peick #34 – 450 Class – 22nd Kyle Peters #76 – 250 Class – 8th Phil Nicoletti #54 – 250 Class - 9th
The Autotrader/ Yoshimura/ Suzuki Factory Racing team journeyed to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for round 12 of the 2018 Monster Energy AMA/ FIM World Supercross series at the weekend; and as a snowstorm raged outside, Malcolm Stewart wowed the 60,873 diehard fans inside by scoring his best premier class Supercross result of his career aboard the all-new Suzuki RM-Z450.
In the 250 class, Kyle Peters and Phil Nicoletti also posted strong results on their Suzuki RM-Z250s in securing top-ten finishes.
A banged-up shoulder didn’t hold Stewart back on a technical track that broke down over the 27-lap 450 main event. The Haines City, Fla. native powered through the field on his Suzuki RM-Z450 in effortless fashion. At one point he was positioned in fifth place, but a bout of late-race tightness held him to sixth on the evening. It was a smart and gutsy ride by the ever-popular Stewart, moving him up to 11th in the championship standings.
Indianapolis featured the first of two 250 East/ West Showdowns, which brought the best 250 class riders from each coast together. Peters was ready to face the deep field, rocketing out to the holeshot on his Suzuki RM-Z250 in the heat race. He brought that level of intensity to the Main Event, logging consistent laps and scoring eighth place. Peters sits sixth in the 250 East championship standings.
After a long hiatus, Nicoletti was back in action. The New Yorker looked sharp all evening long, mixing it up with the front-runners and giving no quarter. Early in the 250 East/ West Showdown he gained four positions in a single lap. Nicoletti’s efforts earned him ninth – which ties his best result of the series. “Filthy” is 11th in the 250 West championship standings.
Weston Peick was well on his way to another heroic ride after finishing fifth in his heat race. He worked up to seventh in the Main, but a crash ended his night early, but he is still within striking distance of fifth place in the overall championship standings.
Defending 250 West Supercross Champion, Justin Hill, came down with an illness earlier in the week that prevented him from racing in Indianapolis. Hill will undergo further evaluation, and an update on his health status will be released when more information becomes available.
Malcolm Stewart [450 Class, 6th Place]:
“I’m getting better every week. I still have to improve my fitness, but I am happy to finish the night in sixth place. It was my best career 450 result so far, so I’ll take the positives from that. I feel like I’m heading in the right direction. There are five more Supercross races to go, and I’m going to make the most of them.”
Kyle Peters [250 Class, 8th Place]:
“I felt good in practice, but I didn’t have the intensity when the night show came around. I was flat. I had a good start in the heat race and my shift points were good, but I rode tight in the heat race. For whatever reason I felt fatigued going into the Main Event. The team worked really hard, and we made progress. The shootout deal was cool, because I never get to race the West guys. As far as the points go, it could make for a big swing either way. I’m sixth in points and want to climb the ladder.”
Phil Nicoletti [250 Class, 9th Place]:
“I don’t know what happened with my start in the Main Event. There were a few bumps in front of my gate, and I lined up to the inside in the hope of getting a good jump and controlling from there. I saw quite a few riders going deep into the first turn, so I hit the brakes. Some of those riders got tangled up, and I went around them. I had my work cut out for me, but I made quick passes. I came up to ninth place, which was decent. I rode better in the Main Event than I did in practice.
“It was interesting racing other 250 class riders, but it doesn’t really matter. The track was really brutal, but my Suzuki RM-Z250 handled well and I got inside the top-10 for the shootout.”
Weston Peick [450 Class, 22nd Place]:
“The day was tough. I struggled, because the track was super tacky and rutted. I was trying to find comfort. We went into the heat race with a major change, and the track was very rutted. Then we went back to how we were in practice. I rode well in the Main but was making a lot of mistakes. I had a couple of close calls. I was hitting this quad in the centre of the track, and one lap I hit it from the opposite side. The face was a bit smaller, and I came up short on the landing and went into an endo. I got pretty banged-up, and that was my night. I’m sore, but I have some time off to get ready for Seattle.”
Jeremy Albrecht [Team Manager]:
“I was happy with Stewart, because he gave everything he had. He was moving through the pack well. He could have possibly earned a podium, but he tightened up with five laps to go. He will be able to work on that intensity throughout the week and finish off the series strong. Peick was riding better once we got into the night program. He made a mistake in a big rhythm and crashed. He is banged up, but that won’t stop him from coming back strong after the off-weekend.
“Peters rode great all day. He wasn’t flowing in the Main like he was earlier in the day. Regardless, he was steady. Nicoletti saved his best racing for the Main Event. It was a bummer that Hill couldn’t ride, because that track would have suited his style with being so technical and challenging. He was hoping to feel better all day, but we had to make the call that he wasn’t going to be able to race.
“In my years of racing I have seen snow on the ground in Indianapolis before, but it never fell all day long like it did on Saturday. Every time we came out of the truck there was another half of an inch of snow on the ground. Peick was doing donuts in the snow on his RM-Z450, and his mechanic did some in the Textron Stampede. Everyone made the best of the situation since the pits were closed to fans, which was a bummer.”
The Autotrader/ Yoshimura/ Suzuki Factory Racing Team will have next weekend off, before travelling to Centurylink Field in Seattle, on Saturday, April 7th, marking the 13th round of the 17-round series.
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