This week in powersports - the week of July 7, 2024
Scott Lukaitis
Powersports, Motorsports & Racer Marketing, Management, and Media - Director of Sales and Marketing with Engine Ice at KOST USA, Inc.
Drew Adams Leads Kawasaki Podium Sweep for Scouting Moto Combine Gathering at RedBud MX
The first gathering of the 2024 MX Sports Pro Racing Scouting Moto Combine Presented by?U.S. Air Force Special Warfare?took place on the eve of the Bob The Cooler Co. RedBud National as a precursor to Round 6 of the?Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The summer component of the SMX Next initiative welcomed 24 of the top A & B class prospects in amateur motocross to legendary RedBud MX, where Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green rider Drew Adams captured his first Moto Combine victory and led a sweep of the podium for the Team Green squad following the cancellation of Moto 2 due to heavy afternoon rain.
Prior to the lone 25-minute, plus two-lap moto of the day, the invited group of racers partook in classroom-style sessions that provided insights into various aspects of the sport, including training, nutrition, and media engagement. Additionally, the prospects were divided into four groups, with each rider assigned to one of four championship-winning Rider Coaches – Broc Glover, Ezra Lusk, Zach Osborne, and Chad Reed – who provided guidance and mentorship to the aspiring young athletes.
The lone moto on Friday got underway with Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Landen Gordon at the head of the pack with the holeshot and was pursued by his teammate Krystian Janik and KTM Orange Brigade rider Luke Fauser. A blitzing opening lap from Gordon allowed the California rider to establish a comfortable, multi-second lead on the field that he was able to manage from the outset of the moto. Meanwhile, Adams endured a mid-pack start and completed the first lap just outside the top 10 in 11th place.
With Gordon well ahead, Janik and Fauser settled into second and third, respectively, as the field started to spread out through the opening laps. KTM Orange Brigade rider Jeremy Fappani started fourth, but experienced misfortune that dropped him deep in the top 10. That allowed newly announced Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider and Supercross Futures Champion Cole Davies to slot into fourth, until he too suffered misfortune and dropped behind Fappani in ninth.
As riders traded positions through the top half of the running order, Adams was mounting his charge through the field. The Tennessee native wasted little time moving into the top 10 and after just a few laps had managed to battle his way into the top five, just behind NSA Factory Yamaha’s Avery Long. At the halfway point of the moto Adams was by far the fastest rider on the track, posting times several seconds quicker than the rest of the field. That allowed him to continue to gain positions, as he made quick work of Long to move into fourth and then tracked down Fauser to initiate a battle for third. Adams moved into the top three with a little less than half the moto to go.
With Adams taking chunks out of the deficit to his fellow Team Green riders, both Gordon and Janik responded and were also able to drop their lap times. Janik then experienced a bobble that cost him valuable time and allowed Adams to close in as time ran out on the moto clock. Janik and Adams battled for second, which helped them close in on Gordon. As they took the white flag, all three Kawasaki’s were within striking distance of one another.
Gordon managed the lead and appeared poised to have the win in hand as Janik’s and Adam’s fight for second continued. As they navigated LaRocco’s leap for the final time Adams was able to make the pass on Janik entering the sand rollers. He appeared to run out of time to pressure Gordon, but the leader got off balance entering the final corner and tipped over, one hundred feet or so from the finish line. Adams slipped past and took home a surprise victory. Janik followed through for second, 1.4 seconds back, while Gordon remounted in third to secure the final spot on the podium after leading 12 of 13 laps. NSA Factory Yamaha’s Leum Oehlhof enjoyed a come-from-behind effort of his own to finish fourth, while Long rounded out the top five.
Adam’s victory meant his coach, Broc Glover, was the recipient of the Combine Coach’s Cup as the gathering’s winning coach.
The second and final Scouting Moto Combine gathering of the 2024 season will take place as the precursor to the season ending Tucker Freight Lines Ironman National Finals, on Friday, August 23.
RedBud Moto Combine Results
REDBUD NATIONAL THE BEST YET FOR ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING IN 2024
All three Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing riders took season-best finishes at the RedBud National, marking Round 6 of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Malcolm Stewart charged to sixth and Christian Craig 10th in 450MX, while newcomer Casey Cochran raced to the highest finish of his 250MX career in P7.
Stewart qualified a convincing sixth on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition – complete with a USA-themed appearance this weekend – before battling hard to 6-7 scores in the pair of premier-class motos. He was challenging inside the top-five until falling during the middle stages of Moto 2, but left satisfied with sixth overall, and now sits P8 in the title race.
"For another track I haven't been back to in 10 years, I can say one thing –?the fans were awesome this weekend!" Stewart said. "It's pretty cool and I had a really, really great time out there. Moto 1 was good for me, and then Moto 2 was better again in a lot of ways. I made a mistake, went down, and got back up to charge to seventh. We were sixth overall, but I am really happy because I rode good and we're learning a lot as a team. We're just going to take this same momentum into Millville, and I'm glad we're leaving here on a good note, so we'll keep the ball rolling."
RedBud also started convincingly for 450MX teammate Christian Craig, qualifying inside the top 10 with ninth position, and then he raced forward to a solid eighth-place score in Moto 1. His second moto result was 13th after struggling for track position, however, it was still enough to match his best result of the year in 10th overall – equalling his finishes from Hangtown and Thunder Valley.
"The day started off pretty well, qualified inside the top 10 and felt confident going into the motos," Craig reflected. "Moto 1, I got a mid-pack start and was able to work my way up into eighth, so that was decent. Second moto, I had a bad start and then started to make my way through, before some big mistakes cost me a lot of time. I was pretty frustrated, but I did what I could for 10th overall. My speed is still coming around and I'm just lacking some strength still, so we will keep working on that and come back better for next week."
At one of the few tracks so far that he's been to before, teenage rookie Cochran stopped the clocks in eighth position at the end of 250MX qualifying, and then made even further progress on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition to claim P7 in the first race. He backed that up with ninth in the final outing, which resulted in seventh overall to retain 13th in the point standings.
"RedBud was good for me," Cochran commented. "I've had some success here in the past, so today I felt comfortable and I was able to get my best pair of moto finishes with a 7-9 for seventh overall. We're making progress each week, so we'll keep on building and hopefully get up there into the top five soon."
Next Race: July 13 – Spring Creek, Minnesota
RYDER DIFRANCESCO RACES TO EIGHTH OVERALL IN 250MX AT REDBUD NATIONAL
Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing's Ryder DiFrancesco continues to rise in the middle stages of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship after claiming eighth overall at today's RedBud National, spending his time in the spotlight during the final 250MX moto of Round 6.
With the team's 450MX Class entry, Justin Barcia, sidelined while allowing his knees time to recover, all attention was placed upon Ryder D and Pierce Brown on their GASGAS MC 250F Factory Editions, and the pair qualified in 11th and 12th positions following this morning's opening sessions of the weekend.
For DiFrancesco, a crash on the opening lap of Moto 1 saw him claw his way back from outside of the top 30 to eventually find points in 13th place. The final race was far better in running as high as third early on and then maintaining a top-five position for over half of the race distance. He eventually took the checkered flag in P7, which placed him eighth for the round, and he is now 10th in the championship.
Ryder DiFrancesco: "RedBud was a better weekend for me. Qualifying was decent and then in the first moto my start was okay, but I ended up going down and fought back to 13th. Second moto, I was in P2 off the start and ran up front for a long time, before I went back to seventh. We're ready for Millville and we'll keep building!"
Brown's opening moto was somewhat smoother, finishing 10th despite a fall of his own, and then he faced added adversity in Moto 2. Unfortunately, contact with another rider on the opening lap forced PB out of contention before it even really began, which placed him 17th overall. Still, he is P7 in the points and is determined to turn his luck around as we enter the series' second half.
Pierce Brown: "It was a tough day at RedBud. I'm disappointed because I've been feeling really good on the bike lately, but the results just haven't shown it. Moto 1, I was battling around seventh or eighth and fell, so ended up 10th. The second moto, I got together with another rider and fell on the first lap, which damaged my bike and I had to DNF. That's tough, but onto the next round!"
Next Race: July 13 – Spring Creek, Minnesota
CHASE SEXTON AND AARON PLESSINGER DELIVER RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING 1-2 AT REDBUD
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Chase Sexton raced to his second clean sweep of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship season to take charge of the red plate at Saturday's RedBud National, joined on the podium by 450MX teammate Aaron Plessinger in delivering a spectacular 1-2 result for the team.
In what is his home race on the schedule and with the team sporting a special look for the 4th of July weekend, Sexton qualified fastest and then went on to win both motos on his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. His Moto 2 winning margin was a commanding 21.179 seconds, which marked his fifth moto victory of the year, and saw him gain a seven-point advantage in the series.
Chase Sexton: "It feels so good, I don't even know what to say! I have chills right now, this is something special, and the best crowd I've seen here at RedBud – they got me through here today. In that second moto, I had such a good flow, and so much fun out there. I just want to thank my whole team and the group of people behind me. Let's keep this thing going!"
Plessinger's performance was also impressive this weekend, qualifying in P4 and mirroring that result in Moto 1. With further improvements made between motos, the second encounter saw him charge into P2 behind Sexton, earning his second podium of the year –?adding to his third-place result from Hangtown – and he is currently positioned fifth in the standings.
Aaron Plessinger: "This is crazy! I've never seen RedBud like this – these fans are unbelievable. After finishing fourth in Moto 1, I had a great start in that second moto and kind of put it on cruise control, but they started catching me for position and I had to kick it up! They were riding good, I just sat in second place there, and the bike was working awesome... We made some changes after the first moto and it was so good. I've got to give it up to the whole Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team, everybody around me, and all the fans out here. I could hear them every lap, it was almost hard to hear my bike or even what gear I was in! It's unbelievable how much enthusiasm these fans have for the sport, and it makes me so happy to come out here every weekend. We'll keep charging!"
The 250MX Class saw Tom Vialle lining up as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's sole representative in the category at RedBud on his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, also qualifying on top of the charts. He made a quick start in the first race and sat in P2 until going down on lap four, but made his way back to third. Vialle fought his way through the top 10 on his way to fourth position in race two, which also resulted in P4 overall, and he remains third in the championship.
Tom Vialle: "I went 3-4 today, which was okay. First moto, I had the holeshot and had a small tip-over, so finished third in the end. Second moto, it was a bad start and I was around 10th or 12th, and I tried to come back, but the track was tough to pass on. I was one of the fastest at the end of the moto, but only made it back to fourth. That was the best I could do today, I have no regrets, and we're looking forward to next weekend now."
Next Race: July 13 – Spring Creek, Minnesota
Chase Sexton Captures Hometown Win at RedBud with Sweep of Motos as Pro Motocross Championship Reaches Halfway Point
The 2024 Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, reached its halfway point with the annual Independence Day tradition from legendary RedBud MX for Round 6 of the summer campaign. The first race following the recent news that defending champion Jett Lawrence will miss the rest of the season with injury, the Bob The Cooler Co. RedBud National featured near-perfect weather conditions, where one of the biggest crowds in RedBud history was on hand to cheer on hometown racer Chase Sexton to victory. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider swept the motos for his second win of the season, and the first at the track where he grew up racing, which also allowed him to take control of the 450 Class points lead. In the 250 Class, Team Honda HRC’s Chance Hymas kept his breakout season going with the first victory of his professional career.
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450 Class
Moto 1
The first premier class race of the afternoon saw the red plate of entering point leader Hunter Lawrence lead the field through the first turn aboard his Team Honda HRC machine for the MotoSport.com Holeshot. Early on, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger pressured from second with teammate Sexton starting third. Lawrence fended off an initial attack from Plessinger and soon the top three settled into their respective positions.
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The lead trio remained unchanged through the first 10 minutes of the moto, but Sexton picked up the pace and was able to make the pass on Plessinger for second. At that point just a couple seconds separated Lawrence from Sexton as the moto reached the halfway point. Sexton bided his time behind Lawrence and did get close enough at point to attempt a pass, but Lawrence held him off and stretched the lead back out entering the final 10 minutes. Behind them, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper was able to catch and pass Plessinger for third.
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As they approached the final five minutes of the moto Sexton had once again reeled Lawrence back in, partially aided by heavy lapped traffic. The lead stabilized once more as Sexton made slight contact passing slower riders, which slowed his momentum, but then lappers became a factor again in the final two minutes, which allowed Sexton to close onto the rear fender of the Honda. Less than a second sat between the leaders entering the final two laps. As they navigated one of the track’s slow, bumpy downhills, Lawrence’s bike went sideways and caused him to lose grip of the motorcycle, which then slammed him into the ground. Sexton inherited the lead while Lawrence was able to remount in second, just ahead of Cooper in third.
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Sexton cruised to his fourth moto win of the season, 15.5 seconds ahead of Lawrence, who recovered to minimize the damage and finish second. Cooper followed in third, with Plessinger fourth and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson fifth.
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Moto 2
The final moto of the day saw Anderson emerge with the MotoSport.com Holeshot, only to be passed by Fire Power Honda’s Michael Webster. Anderson battled back to reclaim the lead while Sexton made a charge on Webster from third. Lawrence started the moto just outside the top five in seventh.
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Sensing the moment, Sexton went on the attack in the opening laps. He made the pass on Webster for second and then set his sights on Anderson out front. Sexton closed in, awaited his opportunity, and made the pass to seize control of the moto inside the opening 10 minutes. Further back, Lawrence ran sixth and looked to challenge Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart for fifth. The point leader closed in and made the pass.
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Back up front, Sexton’s lead stabilized at around seven seconds, but it was Plessinger who gave pursuit from second after he made the pass on Anderson. A couple positions behind, Lawrence was able to pass Webster to move into fourth place.
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Sexton remained in firm control during the second half of the moto and extended his lead to more than 20 seconds in the end, as he completed the sweep of the motos with the largest margin of victory of the season, 21.1 seconds over Plessinger, with Anderson in third. Lawrence missed out on a moto podium for just the second time this season in fourth.
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Overall
Sexton’s most dominant outing of the season gave him the fourth 1-1 sweep of his career and his eighth victory in the premier class. Plessinger’s strong second moto and season-best runner-up finish (4-2) capped off a 1-2 outing for Red Bull KTM, while Lawrence extended his six-round podium streak in third (2-4).
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The win vaulted Sexton to the top of the championship standings, as the third different rider to carry the red plate this season. He sits seven points ahead of Lawrence, who entered the day with a three-point lead. With Jett Lawrence sidelined, Cooper moved into third following a fifth-place effort (3-6) and sits 48 points out of the lead.
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1st: Chase Sexton, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (1-1)
“It feels so good [to win at RedBud]. I don’t even know what to say. This is something special. I had so much fun in that second moto. I had such a good flow. The track was amazing. This is unreal.”
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2nd: Aaron Plessinger, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (4-2)
“This is crazy. I’ve never seen [RedBud] look like this in my life. I got a great start [in Moto 2], got by Anderson and then put it on cruise control a bit. They [Anderson and Lawrence] closed in a bit, so I picked it back up to hold onto second. The bike was working awesome today. I’m so pumped.”
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3rd: Hunter Lawrence, Team Honda HRC (2-4)
“I’m thankful to not be hurt after the first moto. I struggled a bit in the second moto. I think I maybe hit my head a bit harder than I thought and struggled with my vision a bit. I felt like I had a rev limiter on. I just couldn’t really go any faster than I did.”
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450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish // Points)
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450 Class Championship Standings (Round 6 of 11)
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250 Class
Moto 1
The first moto of the afternoon began with the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki of Ty Masterpool inching ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle for the MotoSport.com Holeshot, but it was the Frenchman who moved into the early lead while Masterpool dropped to third following a pass by Hymas for second. Behind them, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider and point leader Haiden Deegan started fourth, with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen fifth.
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Hymas was aggressive on the opening lap and after his pass on Masterpool he went after Vialle, successfully making a pass for the lead. From there, Hymas put the hammer down to establish a lead of 2.5 seconds on the field, while Vialle and Masterpool settled into second and third, respectively.
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Hymas continued to build on his lead, which grew to nearly six seconds 10 minutes into the moto. As Vialle gave pursuit he went down and lost his hold of second. Masterpool assumed the position while Deegan followed in third. Vialle remounted in fourth.
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As the moto reached the halfway point Masterpool was able to carve into Hymas’ lead and closed to within two seconds. Deegan also gained ground and lurked in third. Entering the final 10 minutes of the moto, just three seconds separated the top three. Masterpool went on the attack and the pair went side-by-side across the finish line jump, after which Masterpool completed the pass for the lead. He then pulled away as Deegan began to pressure Hymas. Deegan was relentless and made the pass, then set his sights on Masterpool.
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As they came to take the white flag Masterpool and Deegan were separated by mere bike lengths. Over the final circuit they took different lines, with Deegan searching for enough momentum to attempt a pass. They raced side-by-side across the sand rollers, but Masterpool inched ahead enough to take Deegan’s line and carry on to the moto win by 0.3 over the Yamaha rider. Vialle was able to make a late pass on Hymas to capture third, while Team Honda HRC’s Jo Shimoda rounded out the top five.
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Moto 2
The second and deciding moto saw Hymas lead the field through the first turn for the MotoSport.com Holeshot ahead of Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing’s Pierce Brown and Shimoda. A little further back, Masterpool started deep in the top 10, just ahead of Vialle, while Deegan found himself outside the top 10.
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Hymas mirrored his leading effort from Moto 1 to open a comfortable margin over Shimoda, who passed DiFrancesco for second. Kitchen then moved into the top three after a pass around DiFrancesco. Behind the leaders, Masterpool was able to move into the top four, while Vialle and Deegan looked to climb through the pack together at the tail end of the top 10.
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As the opening 10 minutes of the moto passed, Hymas had moved out to a lead of more than seven seconds on Shimoda, who looked to hold off a hard-charging Masterpool, who made the pass on Kitchen for third. Meanwhile, both Vialle and Deegan stalled out in their forward progression and ran sixth and eighth, respectively.
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While the Honda teammates continued to pull away from the field the attention shifted to Masterpool, who was in control of the overall classification, as he started to lose ground to his teammate Kitchen. With less than five minutes to go Kitchen reclaimed third. Shortly thereafter, Masterpool lost fourth to Vialle and settled into fifth, one position ahead of Deegan.
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The battle for the overall remained in flux over the final two laps as Shimoda closed in on Hymas to set up a head-to-head showdown for the moto win with his teammate. A total of 1.2 seconds separated the Honda duo as they took the white flag. A lapped rider worked in Hymas’ favor and allowed him to inch away over the second half of the racetrack. Hymas secured his second career moto win by three seconds over Shimoda, with Kitchen a distant third. Vialle battled back for fourth, with Masterpool holding on for fifth. Deegan went down after he was caught up in a crash by another rider, but held on for sixth.
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Overall
Hymas’ moto victory, combined with Masterpool’s late fade, allowed the Honda rider to emerge with his first career win in professional competition (4-1) and become the 93rd different winner in 250 Class history. Masterpool earned his second career podium result with a runner-up effort (1-5), while Shimoda parlayed another strong outing in Moto 2 to secure the final spot on the podium in third (5-2).
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Hymas’ victory, and points gain in the championship standings, was negated by a penalty that was assessed to him in Moto 1 for jumping on a red cross flag (Rule 1.6.14, Section F, Item 4). The punishment for the violation was a deduction of five championship points (Penalty Section 3.1.8, Item E.2).
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With Hymas’ penalty assessed, Deegan, who missed the overall podium for the first time this season in fifth (2-6), maintained his 42-point lead over Hymas at the halfway point of the season. Vialle, who finished in a tie with Deegan for fourth (3-4) but earned the Moto 2 tiebreaker, remains one additional point back, 43 behind the championship lead.
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1st: Chance Hymas, Team Honda HRC (4-1)
“It’s about time. To do it on America’s birthday is incredible. I’m so glad I finally put it together. None of this would be possible without the support of everyone around me, from my team, to my teammates, to my parents. This is the first of many, but I’m proud to do it here (at RedBud).”
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2nd: Ty Masterpool, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki (1-5)
“That first 20 minutes of Moto 2 I felt good. I got a bad start but was able to make some passes. Then I just hit a wall. I didn't get to train before the season [due to injury] and it caught up to me there. I’m still so happy with the moto win and another podium finish.”
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3rd: Jo Shimoda, Team Honda HRC (5-2)
“I had a good start and Chance [Hymas] and I were up front. The last couple laps you’re tired, but you try to push through it. I tried, but it didn’t work out. I’m really proud of my teammate to get his first win.”
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250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)
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250 Class Championship Standings (Round 6 of 11)
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The 2024 Pro Motocross Championship will continue next Saturday, July 13, with its annual visit to the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” and Minnesota’s Spring Creek MX Park. The FXR Spring Creek National Presented by Frescados Tortillas will be highlighted by a one-hour network showcase of 450 Class Moto 1 on NBC at 10:30 a.m. PT / 1:30 p.m. ET, while Peacock will provide start-to-finish live streaming coverage. The action on Peacock will kick off with Race Day Live Presented by MotoSport.com at 7:30 a.m. PT / 10:30 a.m. ET., followed by uninterrupted moto coverage starting at 10:30 a.m. PT / 1:30 p.m. ET.
For information about the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
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●????? Facebook: @americanmotocross
●????? Instagram: @promotocross
●????? Twitter: @ProMotocross
●????? YouTube: AmericanMotocross
S&S Cycle is excited to announce that Charlie Hadayia Jr. has returned as our new Director of Business Development!
S&S Cycle, the leader in the v-twin aftermarket space, is excited to announce that Charlie Hadayia Jr. has returned to the Wisconsin-based company as their Director of Business Development. Hadayia returns to S&S, most recently from APG, where he was Senior Vice President of Supply Chain. Prior to that, he was with Tucker Rocky/Biker’s Choice and was first with S&S from 1998 – 2010, where he worked his way from a Tech position to Senior Manager of Racing and Customer Service before finally becoming the Director of Product Line.
Charlie brings with him a proven track record of driving growth and expansion, a quality that will undoubtedly contribute to S&S Cycle’s future success. During his tenure at Tucker/Biker’s Choice, Hadayia spearheaded numerous initiatives that significantly bolstered the company’s market presence and profitability. His strategic vision and keen understanding of market dynamics enabled Biker’s Choice to expand its product lines, improve customer satisfaction, and achieve remarkable growth.
“We are excited to welcome Charlie back to S&S Cycle,” said Paul Skarie, President & CEO of S&S Cycle. “His exceptional leadership and industry expertise are exactly what we need as we embark on the next chapter of our growth. Charlie’s track record speaks for itself, and we are confident that his return will bring new opportunities and innovations to our company.”
Hadayia’s return to S&S Cycle marks a significant milestone as the company aims to strengthen its position in the V-Twin market and expand its Off-Road efforts. With a focus on cutting-edge product development, enhanced customer experiences, and strategic market expansion, S&S Cycle is poised to continue its legacy of excellence and innovation.
“I am excited to rejoin S&S Cycle and contribute to its future success,” said Hadayia. “The motorcycle industry is evolving rapidly, and I look forward to leveraging my experience to drive growth and innovation at S&S. Together with the talented team here, we will explore new opportunities and build on the company’s strong foundation.”
With Hadayia back on board, S&S Cycle is set to accelerate its growth trajectory and continue providing top-tier products and services to motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide. The company remains committed to pushing the boundaries of performance and quality, ensuring that its customers enjoy the ultimate riding experience.
Engine Ice Launches Refreshed Website to Enhance User Experience
Engine Ice, the industry leader in high-performance coolants and antifreeze, is thrilled to announce the launch of its newly refreshed website. Designed with a focus on user experience, technical details, and an intuitive interface, the revamped site is set to make accessing Engine Ice’s products and information easier than ever.
Key Features of the Refreshed Website:
About Engine Ice:
Engine Ice is renowned for its innovative cooling solutions, which keep engines running at optimal temperatures. Used by top powersports professionals, Engine Ice products are trusted for superior performance and reliability.
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Career-First Overall Win for Chance Hymas at RedBud MX
As the AMA Pro Motocross series cleared its midway point with the traditional Independence Day Weekend race at RedBud MX in Buchanan, Michigan, Team Honda HRC sophomore rider Chance Hymas seized the occasion to notch the first overall victory of his career in the 250 division, with a masterful moto 2 win following a fourth-place finish in moto 1. Following him across the finish line in moto 2 (and taking his second overall podium in a row) was Jo Shimoda, whose 5-2 tally was good for third overall. Meanwhile, Hunter Lawrence showed impressive speed in the 450 class, leading most of moto 1 before a late crash dropped him to second. In the second moto, the Australian rode to a fourth-place finish, good enough to keep his unblemished premier-class podium streak alive.
For the fourth time this season, Lawrence took the holeshot in the first 450 moto, and he rode strong at the front until there were less than two laps remaining, when he suffered a hard fall on a rough descent. The Australian recovered in time to finish second. Lawrence was fifth off the start in moto 2 and completed lap 1 in seventh, but he went to work and was into the top five by lap 6. He took over fourth a lap later, and that’s where he would spend the remainder of the race—sufficient for an overall podium.
The first 250 moto saw Hymas start third and get around two riders on lap 1 to take over the lead. He built up a lead of over 5 seconds, but his line selections eventually led to a loss of flow and riding tight. He held on to finish the moto in fourth. Meanwhile, Shimoda spent most of the moto recovering after being knocked down in turn 1, as he climbed from eighth on lap 1 to fifth at the finish. Hymas started off moto 2 with a holeshot, and he stayed at front for the duration, initially establishing a comfortable margin but eventually having to fend off the advances of his teammate, who had started third.
NOTES
Cooper Battles Back to Fifth Overall Finish at RedBud National
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper overcame adversity to secure a top-five overall finish at Round 6 of the Pro Motocross Championship at RedBud MX in Buchannan, Michigan. The premier class rookie’s 3-6 moto score in the tricky conditions advanced his position to third in the 450MX Championship.?
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Cooper got the day off to a great start, qualifying in the runner-up spot. In Moto 1, he was third into the first turn and ultimately shuffled to fourth on the opening lap. Undeterred, the rookie kept pushing in the tricky conditions and closed the gap to third around the halfway point. Cooper made the pass at LaRocco’s Leap and had the runner-up spot in reach in the final laps, but would secure third for his fourth 450SX moto podium during his rookie season.
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The New Yorker got another great start in Moto 2, coming just shy of the holeshot. In the chaos of that opening lap, Cooper was shuffled to fourth and then, unfortunately had a couple of tip-overs in the rutted track. In 10th on the second lap, he went back to work and fought his way to a sixth-place finish to secure fifth overall. As the series heads into the second half of the season, Cooper holds a commendable third in the points standings and trails the leader by 48 points.?
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Next up for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team is the Spring Creek National, Round 7 of Pro Motocross, and Round 24 of the SuperMotocross World Series on July 13 at Spring Creek MX Park in Millville, Minnesota.?
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Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager “All in all, it was a pretty good day at RedBud. Justin had a good first moto and was in a good spot for the overall podium. He had a great start in the second moto and was right up there with the holeshot but got shuffled back too quickly. I think from there, it took him about 15 minutes to kind of figure it out, but from the 15-minute mark on, he was one of the fastest guys on the track. So it was unfortunate that we missed being on the podium, but we’ll regroup for next week.”
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Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32 “I felt really good all day. In the first moto, I had a good start and just charged to the end and finished on the podium. In the second moto, I got another good start, but I kind of got pinched off. I went back pretty quickly, and I was back to fourth or fifth, then I ended up going down in the same turn twice, which I’m bummed about. I just had my work cut out for me, and I was only able to get back to sixth. I made a lot of passes at the end, though, and my riding was really good. So there were a lot of positives to take away, and we’ll fight for the podium next weekend.”?
Deegan Maintains 42-Point Championship Lead with Top-Five Finish at RedBud
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan put in a championship ride to secure a top-five overall finish on a tough afternoon at Round 6 of Pro Motocross at RedBud MX in Buchanan, Michigan. After narrowly missing his sixth moto victory in Moto 1, he fought his way back after an unlucky crash with a fallen rider to cross the line sixth in Moto 2, maintaining his lead in the 250MX Championship. Max Anstie continued to make progress in his second outing with the team, finishing ninth overall with a 9-13 score. Daxton Bennick and Nick Romano also made improvements, finishing 11th (16-8) and 13th overall (12-14), respectively. Jordon Smith overcame adversity from a first moto crash to finish 16th overall (38-10) in the tricky conditions. At Friday’s first Scouting Moto Combine of the season, the young Cole Davies had a solid debut with the team and finished eighth at the rain-shortened event.
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Deegan qualified fourth in the combined times and was fourth after the start of the first moto. The red plate holder rode a smart race in the tricky conditions and made forward strides as the track conditions deteriorated. After his championship rival went down on Lap 4, he advanced to third and then made the pass for second on Lap 11. Deegan put his head down and closed the gap to the leader for another thrilling battle to the finish, coming just three-tenths shy of victory. In the second moto, Deegan did not get off the gate as he had hoped and found himself 10th after the first lap. The Californian made his way to eighth a couple of laps later and tried to make his way to the front but unfortunately crashed due to an unseen rider on the landing of a jump. He rejoined and would ride on to a sixth-place finish for fifth overall, scoring valuable points to maintain his gap at the top of the 250MX Championship.
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After a long absence from racing 250MX, Anstie continued to make progress in his second race weekend with the team in 2024. He qualified ninth and had a solid top-10 start. The British rider was shuffled to 12th on that opening lap but kept fighting and crossed the line ninth. In Moto 2, he had another strong start in the top 10 but got shuffled back to 18th and made his way to 13th to join Deegan inside the top 10 with a ninth overall finish.
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Bennick made forward strides with his best qualifying result so far this outdoor season in 10th. Unfortunately, he did not get the start he was looking for and found himself 30th after the first lap. The young rider fought his way up to 16th, and in the second moto, he got a much better start from a less-than-ideal gate pick to sixth. From there, the rookie continued to battle inside the top 10 and earned a season-best result with an eighth-place finish and 11th overall.?
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Romano also continued to make forward progress, earning his best qualifying result so far this season in sixth. Although he didn’t get off the gate as he had hoped in both motos, he kept pushing in the challenging conditions to cross the line 12th and 14th, ending the day 13th overall.?
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It was a tough day for Smith at RedBud MX as he struggled to find his comfort early in the tricky conditions and qualified 13th. He got a good start in the first moto in sixth and was shuffled to eighth after the opening lap. Unfortunately, on Lap 5, he came together with another rider, crashed on the downhill, and ultimately withdrew from the race. In Moto 2, Smith got a good start from the 38th gate pick and was 17th after the first lap. The North Carolina rider put his head down and charged up to a top-10 finish to score 16th overall.?
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Davies had a solid first outing aboard the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing YZ250F at Friday’s Scouting Moto Combine, qualifying fourth. Riders were met with challenging conditions after the morning rain, and Davies went down while battling for a top result. Trying to make his way to the front, he had more crashes but kept fighting and finished eighth. Unfortunately, the second moto was canceled due to weather, and Davies was unable to build on the experience from the first moto with the team.?
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Next up for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team is the Spring Creek National, Round 7 of Pro Motocross, and Round 24 of the SuperMotocross World Series on July 13 at Spring Creek MX Park in Millville, Minnesota.?
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Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager “It was a pretty good weekend overall. Qualifying went well for the team as a whole. Going into the moto, Haiden had the fourth gate pick, and starts were coming from the inside, so we lined up over there. He got a good start, started picking guys off, and ended up second. Haiden was literally right behind (Ty) Masterpool at the finish, which had us in a good spot. He didn’t get a good jump in the second moto and got swallowed up early, but he was in the top 10 and started trying to make his way forward. A lapper ended up going down on the landing of a tabletop, and Haiden crashed. It wasn’t great, but he got back up and finished sixth for fifth overall. We still have the points lead and didn’t lose any points in the championship, which is good considering how it could’ve gone. It was also a tough one for Jordon in Moto 1, but he had a good comeback in Moto 2. We made steps in the right direction with the rest of our guys, so there are some positives to take away from it. We’ll go back to work, and we’ll keep fighting next weekend in Millville.”
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Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38 “It was a little bit of a slower day for me. I qualified fourth and in the first moto, I was riding really well. I got a decent start, made my way up to Masterpool, and we had another photo finish. He ended up getting a win, but it was super close. Then in the second moto, I got pinched off really hard on the start, so it made it a little hard on me, but I got going. I started setting some of the fastest laps, and then a rider crashed on a landing and there were no flags, and I crashed. So, 2-6 for fifth overall on the day, and no points lost, that’s good. We’ve got a 42-point gap still, so we’re in a comfortable position. We’ll go back to work this week, though, so we can come back swinging next weekend.”
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Max Anstie – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #37 “I ended up ninth overall at RedBud, but we’re making some steps forward and figuring out the 250MX class. I’m happy to be logging laps, and I’m looking forward to Millville next weekend.”
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Daxton Bennick – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #59 “It was a pretty good weekend for me at RedBud. I started 36th in the first moto and was riding tight, but I was able to make my way back to 16th. In the second moto, I got to a really good start, and finally, I’m really happy with that moto. I was in eighth, and fourth through seventh were not very far at all, so I’m happy with that. It shows that I can still do it. I’m looking forward to next weekend.”
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Nick Romano – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #511 “It was a good day. Qualifying went well for me, and I ended up sixth, which I was stoked about. I rode well all day in the motos, but I just got terrible starts, which was on me. That’s not like me, but I felt strong today, and we made progress, so I can't be mad about that. We’ll go back, regroup, figure some things out, and come back at Millville.”
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Jordon Smith – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #31 “It rained a lot yesterday, so the track was really deep, and the ruts were never-ending. I didn't qualify the best, and then I got together with Joey (Savatgy) in the first moto and went down very hard, but I was lucky to be okay in that one. I had the 38th gate for the second moto, so it wasn’t a great start, and I just battled back to a top-10 finish. I’m not pumped with how it all went today, but we’ll be back for Millville and ready to fight.”
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Cole Davies – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #17 “It was not the weekend I was looking for, but we’ll take away the positives and work up from here. I’m bummed there wasn’t a second moto due to weather. I was looking forward to some redemption from Moto 1. The team was super helpful, and I’m excited to show everyone what I can do in the future!”
SUZUKI RACERS TAKE ON LEGENDARY REDBUD
The RedBud National delivered great track and weather conditions for the popular round that marks the midpoint of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross season. Traditionally taking place on the Fourth of July Holiday weekend, this year’s event lived up to the expectations of the enthusiastic crowd.??
Race Highlights:
Shane McElrath (12) earned a great gate pick for the first moto after earning a top-ten overall result in morning qualifying. McElrath put that gate position to good use, crossing the holeshot stripe in ninth place. McElrath battled inside the top ten for the first half of the moto. In the second moto a mid-pack start made things tougher, but McElrath charged and earned good points to hold his spot in the championship standings.? “It was a productive day,” reported McElrath. “We made some progress, just not necessarily in the areas we needed to as far as the results go. We're definitely learning, and we have a good plan going into this week. The track was really rough, and that's really what highlighted our issues; we need to take everything we learned today and use that to make changes this week. So, back to work, and see you all in Millville.”??
Kyle Chisholm (11) used good starts and consistency to deliver strong rides on the rough and rutted Michigan track. Chisholm, who does double-duty as a team test rider, continues to perform strong at RedBud, as the 11-round summer season passes its mid-point.? “Fourth of July weekend, the crowd is always great here, awesome facility, and I like the track,” summarized Chisholm. “I want to be in that 12th to 15th place range every moto. I think that’s where I should be, and I was just a little outside of that. My starts were good, that's a positive, and we’ll get ready for Millville. I really like that track, so we’ll come there and try to have a better weekend.”?
Max Miller (87) showed strong speed in morning qualifying, and also in the final moto when the track was at its roughest.? “It was a fun day of racing at RedBud,” said Miller. “I had some issues in Moto 1, but made it to 29th place. In Moto 2, I started deep in the pack and made my way to 25th. Those are not the results we were looking for, but we’re healthy and excited for Millville!”
Dilan Schwartz (40) was on point in morning qualifying and carried strong lap times into the 250 motos. Schwartz ended his day with a season-best result, for the fourth time. Schwartz has scored inside the top fifteen in four events so far this summer.? “It was an average day for me at RedBud,” said Schwartz. “In the first moto I didn’t get a great start and had to come from way back. In the second moto, I had a little better start, but I tipped over in the opening laps and had to come from the back again. We’re hoping for a better result next weekend.”
Leo Tucker (154) topped his season-best moto results in Moto 1. Tucker got an even stronger result in the second moto to build momentum for the second half of the motocross season.? “The day started off solid in the first qualifying session, but unfortunately I just missed the ball in the second session when the track was faster,” admitted Tucker. “I raced my way into the motos from the LCQ. In Moto 1, had a big get off, but I got up and just pushed the whole time. Moto 2 also started solid. I was running right with the pack. Unfortunately, I had a couple bad laps in the middle of the race and lost the draft. Overall, it was a promising day on my Suzuki!” “We didn't finish as well as we wanted to this weekend,” said Larry Brooks, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager. “Shane McElrath finished 16th overall and Kyle Chisholm finished 22nd. We made headway this weekend; the bike’s set up was quite a bit better, but the results don't really reflect that. We will go to Millville next weekend and we're going to show them we are a top team. See you there.” “RedBud is always a great race, and this year was no exception,” said James Coy, Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki Team Manager. “The team had another strong showing, with Leo making the national motos and Dilan fighting near the front. We’re excited to carry this momentum into Millville next weekend and continue to see our guys improve.” The Suzuki teams look forward to another strong week of preparation as they find more speed to take to the next round. Round 7 visits another popular track with the riders: Spring Creek MX in Millville, Minnesota.??
Please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross and HEPMotorsports.com for more team news.?
Photos by BrownDogWilson Photography
MONSTER ENERGY? KAWASAKI RIDERS SECURE PODIUMS AT REDBUD
Monster Energy? Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders Ty Masterpool and Levi Kitchen both claimed moto podiums, finishing second (1-5) and sixth (6-3) overall, respectively. Monster Energy? Kawasaki rider Jason Anderson found redemption, securing his second moto podium of the season and finishing fourth (5-3) overall, and Kawasaki test rider Broc Tickle finished 13th (12-15) overall at his return to racing. Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green? riders dominated the podium with a clean sweep of the top three positions at the Moto Combine on Friday, with Drew Adams finishing first, Krystian Janik in second and Landen Gordon in third.?
?Over the 4th of July weekend, the Pro Motocross Championship roared into action at RedBud MX in Buchanan, MI. The iconic track has hosted events since the 1970s, and is known for its patriotic and exuberant fans. Spectators, draped in red, white, and blue, cheered wildly as top riders tackled the challenging track. The atmosphere was electric, blending thrilling races with a festive spirit that only the 4th of July could bring.
The Moto Combine kicked off the weekend with an early qualifying session, where Janik secured second, Gordon fifth and Adams ninth. Heading into the first moto, Gordon secured the holeshot, followed closely by his teammate, Janik, in second. Adams didn’t see the same luck, and was shuffled out of the Top 5 at the start. Gordon began to establish a solid lead over Janik, and Janik began to set a gap on third place. Adams slowly started to make his way through the pack, and after the halfway mark, began charging hard. The No. 300 of Adams quickly made his way into a podium position, where on the last lap he passed his teammate Janik for second, and was set for the finish. Coming into the last turn, Gordon made a crucial error, tipping his bike over which let Adams and Janik by. Gordon quickly remounted his KX?250 and salvaged a third place finish in Moto 1. Heavy rainfalls swept through RedBud MX an hour before Moto 2, causing the cancellation of the moto and solidifying the overall results from Moto 1 with Team Green sweeping the podium for the first Moto Combine of the season.??
After heavy rain swept through Friday afternoon, the morning muddy qualifying sessions saw Masterpool in third and Kitchen in seventh. In Moto 1 of the 250MX Class, Masterpool secured the holeshot but fell to third by the second turn, and Kitchen in fifth. Masterpool began to charge, quickly passing second and running down the leader. A few laps later, Masterpool began to battle for the lead with Chance Hymas, quickly maneuvering past him and establishing a gap. Masterpool maintained his lead and began a last lap heated battle with Haiden Deegan The No. 29 made a few mistakes and was side by side heading into the last few turns, but never backed down, claiming his second moto win of his career. Kitchen would maintain a steady pace throughout the moto, finishing sixth. In Moto 2, Kitchen shot out of the gate securing third at the start, while Masterpool was shuffled to the ninth position. Kitchen maintained a steady pace, establishing his third place position. Masterpool began making passes early into the moto, making his way into the Top 5 by Lap 2. Masterpool ensued in a battle with Kitchen for a few laps until eventually passing him, and began making his way to second. Kitchen stayed within striking distance of Masterpool, who’s pursuit forward stalled out 20 minutes into the moto. The No. 47 capitalized on his teammate, overtaking third once again. Masterpool began to make mistakes, losing a few positions, but would finish fifth in the moto and second overall, claiming his second career podium of the season. Kitchen would fight to the finish, and return to the podium once again, claiming third in the moto and sixth overall.
In the 450MX Class, Anderson began his weekend by securing fifth place in qualifying, and Tickle 14th. In Moto 1, Anderson headed into Turn 2 in eighth, quickly moving up to sixth by the end of Lap 1. The No. 938 of Tickle started in 22nd, and made his way up to 16th by Lap 1. Anderson maintained a steady pace, moving up to the fifth position where he would finish. Tickle continued to charge, securing 10 positions by the end of the moto finishing 12th. In Moto 2, Anderson secured the holeshot but immediately began battling for the lead. The No. 21 KX450?SR retook the lead launching down one of the first hills.Tickle had a less than ideal start in the 27th position. Anderson led the first two laps before dropping to second and held? a steady gap on third until he made a mistake that sent him off of the track, but quickly re-entered in third. Tickle began maneuvering through the pack, making crucial passes throughout the remainder of the moto. Anderson would charge through the brutal track, finishing third in the moto and fourth overall. Tickle put on a late moto charge, finishing 15th in the moto and 13th overall.?
Mees Works His Magic at Memphis Shades DuQuoin Mile
Reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) demonstrated his Mile mastery yet again with a victory in Saturday night’s Memphis Shades DuQuoin Mile, Round 10 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track?season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
The Mission AFT SuperTwins?Main Event at the “Magic Mile” was a race-long struggle of nerves and consistency. Mees attempted throughout to shake loose at the front while a three-rider pack of pursuers consisting of Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Sody Ent/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) did everything in their collective power to prevent that eventuality from playing out.
Daniels’ early strategy was to keep Mees corralled the best he could, continually running underneath him on corner entrance in hopes of limiting the Indian star’s opportunity to run with clear air in front of him.
Ultimately, the Estenson Racing ace was riding a tightrope in those efforts, and once Mees finally managed to maintain the lead for a full lap, he stretched open those crucial couple of tenths he needed to grasp a firm grip on the race. While he was unable to make an escape, the trio of contenders behind were also unable to draw back near enough to make any further assaults from that point forward.
That nearly changed when Dalton Gauthier’s (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) bike broke with less than a minute remaining, resulting in a thick cloud of smoke that settled in across the track. The lack of visibility forced Mees to check up ever so slightly, allowing Daniels to close from more than a half-second back to just 0.234 seconds with only two laps remaining to decide the winner.
Mees stayed calm and regrouped to eked back out to a 0.389-second margin of victory at the flag. While unable to pull off the upset, Daniels did execute his secondary mission of minimizing any damage done to his championship hopes by holding on for second.
The victory was the 75th of Mees’ record-breaking career, moving him to within three of second-placed Chris Carr. It also elevated his career Mile wins mark to 28, just one behind Carr for second in the discipline as well.
“It felt really good, just to feel good again, honestly,” Mees said. “The bike worked really good from the start, and we knew coming in here we were going to be a big player. The Rogers Racing/SDI Insulation/Progressive Insurance Indian Motorcycle was really strong tonight. Big thanks to everyone… So many great people are big contributors to our success. I had a lot of fun tonight, for sure.”
Price earned his second podium of the season in third, just 0.055 seconds back of Daniels, while Bauman finished fourth less than a quarter of a second further in arrears.
Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) edged rookies Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) and Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750) for fifth in a fight that took place approximately six seconds behind the lead group.
Meanwhile, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) suffered a blow to his title efforts in eighth, with Cameron Smith (No. 34 RVR/KTM/Schaefer’s Motorsport KTM 790 Duke) and Jarod Vanderkooi?(No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) rounding out the top ten.
The race served as a fitting conclusion the week-long celebration of motorcycle dirt track racing at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds?in DuQuoin, Illinois, that also saw the sport’s future stars crowned at the 2024 Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship,?sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association, before the greatest riders of today took centerstage to put on a show.
2018 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner Daniels now leads 2001 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner Mees 216 to 197 in the fight for the 2024 Grand National Championship. Robinson was relegated to third at 186.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Chase Saathoff?(No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) finally pulled it off. After finishing less than 0.1 seconds from victory in the most recent five Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER?Mile Main Events, the JPG Motorsports pilot took Saturday’s win by an official 0.001 seconds following ten minutes and two laps of epic pack-war action.
The high drama actually got underway even before the race itself did. Double defending champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) lost his chain during the sighting lap, threatening his participation in the race while promising to leave his hard-earned points lead in tatters.
While Kopp’s Rick Ware Racing crew frantically worked to fit a new chain in the Turn 4 area, the field blasted off and worked its way around to complete the opening lap.
Kopp was finally released into the fray one lap down, but his incredibly bad luck was swapped out for some incredibly good luck when a red flag was thrown as a result of debris on the racing line. That led to a complete restart, which put Kopp back in the fight and back on the lead lap, albeit forced to start from the back of the pack after failing to line up on the grid for the original start.
At the restart, Saathoff resumed his battle for first with the likes of Tom Drane?(No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), James Ott?(No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), among several others.
However, Kopp made the most of his second opportunity, powering his way all the way up from 18th and into the lead in the span of seven laps.
A 12-rider lead pack slowly whittled its way down to six by the time the clock hit zero. That was immediately reduced to five when race leader Lowe encountered a mechanical issue of his own moments after taking the two-to-go flags.
On the decisive final circulation, Kopp blew up pre-race favorite Drane’s last-lap strategy, pushing him up the track ever so slightly where the Aussie lost his drive and drifted back to fourth. Kopp then zeroed in on Saathoff, and the KTM-mounted champ very nearly pulled off the last-to-first win, coming up mere millimeters short of edging ahead of his opponent’s Honda as they stormed over the line.
While it was technically Saathoff’s second career victory, it was the first time he actually did so under live action with the checkered flag waving.
Afterward, he said, “The main thing for me was to focus on my job, and I had to have a gameplan the whole day. But that entire Main Event, I didn’t know what the heck was going on. I didn’t know if I should try to lead or make a pass at the finish. Towards the end, I came around Turn 3 and I was leading, and I thought, ‘I’m just gonna do it!’ It was a crazy race. I can’t thank everyone enough… I’m so happy I got to take the victory lap with Bryan (Bigelow). That meant the world to me.”
Third place went to Ott – his first podium of the season – just 0.044 seconds off the win and 0.044 seconds ahead of Drane. Fifth was taken by impressive rookie Evan Kelleher (No. 131 Schaefers Motorsports/South Shore Design KTM 450 SX-F), who slugged it out with the best riders in the class to finish just 0.204 seconds off the win.
Kopp’s potential championship catastrophe was not only avoided, he actually maintained his pre-race advantage of 32 points, only now with Saathoff back in second (225-193) and Drane falling to third at 188.
Triumph and Beeline Launch Second Collaboration Triumph Beeline Moto II Special Edition
Triumph Motorcycles and Beeline are launching a new Triumph Beeline Moto II Special Edition this summer; the perfect navigation accessory for the iconic Bonneville Modern Classic range.
Since the first collaboration in 2021, Triumph owners have valued the dedicated Triumph-branded Beeline system, adding the advantage of innovative navigation technology, with a minimal, elegant, easy to use device. With the introduction of the re-engineered Beeline II earlier this year, the new special edition Triumph Beeline II brings Triumph owners all the advantages of the new, intuitive system with premium laser etched Triumph branding, adding both style and state of the art functionality.
The new Triumph Beeline Moto II has a much bigger screen and seamless turn-by-turn navigation, giving riders greater visibility at a glance, enhanced clarity and effortless guidance while on the move.
It’s user-friendly interface, with worldwide mapping, mini-map feature and key junction instructions, helps riders enhance every aspect of their journey, from planning routes to navigating unfamiliar locations with ease. Riders can even customize their routes based on personal preferences, whether they prefer to travel direct or via a more scenic route. The new GPX import functionality means that riders can share routes from different providers in seconds.
Its high-quality machined case, with durable IP67 waterproof and shockproof construction, now has more mounting options included as standard, so the Beeline Moto II can fit any Triumph Motorcycle with ease. It is activated using the free Beeline app; simply pair it to the device, choose a destination and press ‘Go’ using the glove-friendly RockerTop buttons. The 14-hour battery life and USB-C charging cable make the Triumph Beeline durable and practical. It also comes with a 2-year warranty, free lifetime app and software updates.
Triumph’s Chief Commercial Officer, Paul Stroud said: “This new Triumph Beeline Moto II Special Edition gives Triumph customers the opportunity to add branded, revolutionary navigation functionality to their motorcycle, whenever they need it. Stylish, robust and now more advanced, this is a fantastic addition to our range of Genuine Triumph accessories.”
“We are delighted to be working with Triumph on a Special Edition Beeline Moto II, continuing to build on years of partnership. In Triumph, we have found a partner that aligns perfectly with our own love for iconic British design and engineering,”?added Beeline Co-Founder, Mark Jenner.
Triumph Beeline Moto II will be available in Triumph dealers from July 2024 and is priced at ￡199. More information can be found here.
Returning Models Comprise Latest Honda ATV Announcement
“The originals” continue to bolster their story, as Honda announced today three models from its venerable multipurpose ATV lineup for the 2025 model year. Thanks to Honda’s legendary four-wheel engineering, the Foreman Rubicon, Foreman 4×4 and Rancher are ready to prove their prowess and expand their popularity, as they retain the versatile and reliable characteristics that have made them so popular over the years. All three come in a variety of trim levels, and each is available in new colors, including TrueTimber? Atera Camo, thanks to an extensive, powersports-exclusive brand partnership between Honda and the popular camouflage brand. Honda multipurpose ATVs are known for their rugged reliability on the farm or jobsite, as well as their powerful performance and confident handling.”Honda is pleased to offer a solid lineup of returning ATVs for the 2025 model year,” said Colin Miller, Manager of Public Relations at American Honda. “Each of these models—the Foreman Rubicon, Foreman 4×4 and Rancher—is designed to appeal to the needs of a variety of Honda ATV owners. To that end, each is offered in multiple iterations to make it suitable for varying applications. The return of these three models demonstrates Honda’s commitment to ATV customers.”
These multipurpose ATV models are expected to be available in dealers this month.
2025 Honda Foreman Rubicon
Honda’s Foreman Rubicon ATV comes with enough muscle and versatility to deliver the goods, no matter the situation. Powered by a torquey 518cc engine, the Foreman Rubicon has more than 1,300 pounds of towing capability and can easily haul the most challenging loads. Yet its independent rear suspension still delivers an easy-handling, sporty ride. Available in three trim levels to help personalize performance and handling, the U.S.-manufactured Foreman Rubicon is at home on any jobsite, ranch or trail.
2025 Honda Foreman 4×4
When it comes to capturing the true spirit of a versatile ATV, Honda’s Foreman 4×4 is king. This multipurpose ATV is up to any challenge, passing muster doing chores on the farm or spending the day riding trails. With a towing capability of almost 850 pounds, the Foreman can haul just about anything and, thanks to a potent 518cc engine, it powers through muddy terrain, even when hauling a load. Made in the U.S., the Foreman 4×4 is offered in two trim levels: a standard version, and one with Electric Power Steering—perfect for whatever duties the day requires.
2025 Honda Rancher
Honda’s legendary Rancher ATV continues to be the bar against which all baseline rec/utility ATVs are measured. Its compact build and attractive MSRP make it ideal for a wide range of owners. Likewise, its available electric power steering and ergonomically engineered riding position—complemented by a wide, contoured saddle—make for a comfortable all-day ride. Add to that almost 850 pounds of towing capacity, plus available independent rear suspension, and the result is a versatile ATV that’s suitable for the most challenging chores or a full day of trail riding. Manufactured in the U.S., the Rancher platform is offered in four different trim levels to accommodate all possible needs.
Cycle Gear and RevZilla Promote Rider Safety with Airbags Save Campaign
With summer in full swing and as holiday road travel increases, motorcyclists are hitting the open road, driving further and longer than before. But with the fun and freedom of riding, also comes an inherent risk. To help motorcyclists stay safe this summer – and beyond – Cycle Gear? and RevZilla?, the nation’s leading retailers of motorcycle parts, apparel and accessories, have created the Airbags Save Campaign to educate people on wearable airbags, which offer a practical solution to ensure rider safety while also offering peace of mind to riders’ loved ones.
“Motorcyclists face extensive risks when on the road, and our priority is providing them with the best possible protection,” explained Stevan Popovich, President at Cycle Gear?. “These wearable airbags are a revolutionary addition to our extensive offering of motorcycle gear and have been used by professional riders for the last decade. They provide a reliable and effective solution to reducing injuries, and also offer incomparable peace of mind to motorcyclists’ loved ones.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), summer months see a significant increase in road travel, with millions of Americans hitting the highways for vacations and holiday celebrations. This uptick in travel also means more motorcyclists on the road, making safety a top priority. NHTSA reports there were 83,000 motorcycle riders injured in 2021, underscoring the need for enhanced safety measures.
In a separate Gitnux report, it was recorded that there were over 13 million registered motorcycles in the United States. Summer and nicer weather is causing more people to travel, with August being the most dangerous month for motorcycle riders (according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).
Wearable airbag apparel is a game-changer in motorcycle safety. Leveraging advanced AI technology, airbags deploy in a fraction of a second upon detecting a crash, providing critical protection for the vital organs, including the spine, ribcage and even the neck/collarbone area, reducing up to 93% of impact force and the risk of injury. These vests are equipped to last 30 hours on full charge, and even come with Bluetooth and app integration.
Popovich continued, “Summer is a time for adventure and exploration, but it’s also a time to prioritize safety. Wearable airbags offer motorcyclists an additional layer of protection, allowing them to enjoy the ride with greater confidence. We encourage all riders to gear up with the best safety technology available to fully enjoy this summer’s adventures.”
Visit one of over 165 Cycle Gear? store locations in 43 states and learn more about how airbags can save lives at https://www.cyclegear.com/airbags and https://www.revzilla.com/airbags.
Revolutionize Your Ride with Engine Ice Pure Performance Glycol-Free High-Performance Coolant
Engine Ice, the leader in high-performance coolants, proudly announces the launch of Engine Ice Pure Performance Glycol-Free High-Performance Coolant, a game-changer for enthusiasts who seek unparalleled performance without the need for freeze protection. Priced at a suggested retail of $22.99, this innovative coolant is designed to deliver winning results for a wide range of vehicles.
Product Details:
Why Choose Engine Ice Pure Performance?
Engine Ice Pure Performance is engineered to excel, reducing surface tension on aluminum surfaces and swiftly dissipating heat from the engine. This ensures your vehicle performs at its peak when it matters most. Whether you’re on the track or road, this coolant offers superior protection for engine parts, including iron, brass, steel, and rubber.
Key Features and Benefits:
Engine Ice Pure Performance Glycol-Free High-Performance Coolant is more than just a coolant—it’s a commitment to excellence, reliability, and peak performance. Elevate your ride with Engine Ice and experience the difference that comes with a product designed for champions.
For more information and to purchase, visit Engine Ice’s website or contact your local dealer.
TwinPower Launches Innovative Bag-in-a-Box Oil Program for Dealers
Twin Power, a leader in motorcycle parts and accessories, today announced the return of one of its most popular dealership support efforts, the 6-gallon Bag in a Box Dealer Oil Program. This program provides dealers with a free, heavy-duty metal dispenser rack when they purchase six boxes of Twin Power’s high-quality oil and lubricants. This innovative program offers numerous advantages over traditional 55-gallon drums, especially for dealers with limited space or a focus on service and repair.
“We are thrilled to bring this efficient and environmentally friendly program to our dealers,” said Twin Power’s Brand Manager James Simonelli. “The Bag in a Box system is compact, easy to use, and offers substantial savings, which makes it a great choice for shops looking to streamline their operations and reduce costs. And, it’s the same great oil that we offer in our quart containers, not a short service interval or break-in oil.”
The 6-Gallon Bag in a Box Dealer Oil Program offers numerous benefits to dealers. First, the free dispenser rack provides a practical solution for oil storage and dispensing. The system’s compact design requires no more space than a single 55-gallon drum, making it ideal for shops with limited storage. Additionally, the easy-to-use system simplifies oil dispensing and allows dealers to keep service quantities of several different weights of oil available to technicians.
Environmentally, the bag-in-a-box design eliminates containment and disposal issues associated with traditional drums, reducing waste and eliminating the challenge of handling drums of oil. The six-gallon bag saves dealers up to 30% compared to quart prices, providing significant financial benefits. The oil in the bag-in-a-box system is the same top-quality product found in quart bottles, ensuring reliable performance without the need for break-in or short service intervals.
“Our new program not only offers logistical and environmental benefits but supports dealers in providing the highest quality service to their customers,” continued Simonelli. “Whether it’s a conventional oil, synthetic oil, primary lube or semi-synthetic transmission oil, dealers can have it ‘on tap’ for their techs and customers.”
Dealers can take advantage of this program by contacting their Turn 14 Distribution sales rep to place their order.