Monday Morning Coffee

By Billy Rainford

Well, this is the first Monday Morning Coffee after being at a local track for the first time of the 2023 season, and it feels great. Winter came back and kicked us in the ass pretty hard here in Southwestern Ontario. “In like a lamb, out like a lion” is what they say about March, and they nailed it this year. I live in London, ON and we are notorious for higher snow levels than most places in the area due to the “Lake Effect” storms we get off of Lake Huron. For whatever reason, we don’t get hit like we used to when I was a kid, but you can still usually count on seeing more snow on the ground when you drive past London on the 401.

Anyway, all of our snow is gone and Gopher Dunes opened up for their first day of the season.

It was my birthday on Sunday so I was able to do whatever I wanted, so I decided to drag poor Emily with me to the track to check out some very early season riding at the famous sand track in Courtland, Ontario.

The sun was shining and the van’s dashboard was telling us it was 8C as we made the right turn onto the property and I was happy to drive into a bee’s nest of activity. It was obvious people were hungry to get out and ride – the place was swarming!

I pulled in behind a line-up of trucks and trailers and waited a few seconds before realizing these vehicles were parked and the occupants were inside the shop signing in. Oops. I drove around them, parked in front of the shop and went in to say hello to everyone for the first time of the year.

Derek Schuster was sitting at his desk so that’s where I wandered. It sounds like they had a bit of a fire drill getting the place working smoothly that morning as the area suffered some service interruptions after a freak wind storm passed through the night before. Fortunately, they were able to get up-and-running and people could sign in without any problem.

Derek said there were over 250 people riding out on the various tracks that were open and it definitely looked like it! The main track, the pee-wee track, and the beginner tracks were all hopping busy with shiny new bikes, no graphics, and flannel shirts. That recipe never makes for good photos, but I pressed on regardless.

Hey, before I forget, whoever the Honda rider was, what was with going wide, cutting down before the corner and filling me with sand? I was holding some pretty expensive gear and that was not the hot line! Not a good way to start the season if you’re hoping to see yourself on DMX, I can tell you that. LOL

I shot a bunch of photos and will have to just put them up in some sort of gallery, because I had no idea who anyone was except for a couple numbers that I could see and styles I recognized – Derek Hamm, Duncan MacLeod, and Hayden Halstead, to name 3.

ON the way out, I did a pretty long video interview with Derek Schuster in Justin Petker‘s bay in the back of the shop. We talked about a whole lot of different things from over his years as a team owner, so check that out once I get it uploaded to our YouTube page. I’ll upload it as a podcast too because it’s 30-minutes long and that may be how some would prefer to listen to it.

We headed home at around 3:30 where Emily presented me with a delicious chocolate cake and a beer in the hot tub (we ate the cake in the house).

Seattle Supercross

I sure was expecting a mud race in Seattle, but the crew and Mother Nature took care of us and we had a normal Supercross. The track ended up tricky with ruts and difficult rhythms though. In fact, I made a note in on my pad during the racing that it as really strange to see so many top riders jumping front-end high while over or under-jumping sections. Did you notice that?

Eli Tomac in particular didn’t look like himself early in the 450 Main where he was doing what I just described in more than one spot on the track. It was difficult to watch at times and I thought someone had thrown a tape of me racing at Hully Gully in 1986 into the VCR by accident!

We had Jessica Longname from Tree Three Media shooting photos and grabbing interviews for us in Seattle. This was her first Monster Energy AMA Supercross with a photo bib and she did a fantastic job!

She wasn’t allowed on the track with her particular credential but she somehow found herself in just the right place at the right time whenever something dramatic took place on the track. It was uncanny…almost Cudby-like!

I really appreciated her enthusiasm and we’ll gladly ask her to help us out again in the future for events out west that we aren’t able to get to ourselves. You up for that, Jessica???

Here are a couple examples of her Johnny-on-the-spot…edness…

She was also up to the task as far as interviewing the Canadians racing the event:

She even grabbed former Canadian WMX racer and now Lucas Stabilizer Monster Jam Truck driver Cynthia Gauthier for an interview. She was on fire!

Someone asked me just before the gate dropped for the 450 Main to pick the winner. Without hesitation I replied, “Eli.” As I’ve said before, It was the same back when Colton Facciotti was racing in Canada – I picked him every time until he showed me I shouldn’t. That never happened and I don’t see it happening with Eli until he retires either.

Having said that…

I also keep saying that we’re entering the Lawrence Brothers Era of AMA Motocross, so after the first time I see them lining up on a 450 against Eli, Chase Sexton and the rest of the established 450 riders, I may have to rethink my strategy. It’s coming, folks…

We now take a week off to regroup and lick some wounds before the series gets going again in Glendale, Arizona.

#500 Julien Benek will need this time to assess what’s going on with the thumb he injured in the crash with #85 Dilan Schwartz. I haven’t seen the incident but have heard and read some Canadian responses to what happened and it sounds like poor Julien was just along for the ride on this one. Depending on how his thumb broke, he could be back in a couple weeks or he could be out for at least 6.

I’ve suffered a “gamekeeper’s” thumb break myself and it required surgery, a pin, and a full 6 weeks away from sports, so we’ll wait and see what the prognosis is for Julien. It doesn’t sound like this is what he’s dealing with though, so that’s good.

#83 Cole Thompson dealt with some excitement before first qualifying when both of the Heartbeat Hot Sauce Team Solitaire bikes suffered a mechanical that forced them both to sit out Q1 while the mechanics went to work.

They made it out for the second and final session where Cole qualified 18th and headed to the night show.

#518 Parker Eales lined up in the 450 class and qualified 37th to head to the night show. He was 16th in the LCQ and watched this one from the stands.

We’ll have a more detailed recount of how our Canadians did in a separate column this afternoon.

Jeffrey Herlings Wins 100th MXGP

From MXGP.com:

The 3^rd edition of the MXGP of Sardegna hold all its promises with an amazing fight for the podium in both MXGP and MX2. In the end it was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings who celebrated his 100^th win in MXGP in spectacular fashion in front of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Glenn Coldenhoff and Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado.

In MX2, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team’s Jago Geerts won a back-to-back GP after his victory in Argentina while Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Kay de Wolf clinched the second place of the podium in front of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team’s Thibault Benistant.

In the first MXGP race in Sardinia, the FOX Holeshot was taken by Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Jeremy Seewer after a great start although Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado quickly took the lead. Prado would go on to dominate the race pushing his lead to 10 seconds at time giving him some nice cushion until the end of the race.

Team Gebben Van Venroy Yamaha Racing’s Calvin Vlaanderen who was 8^th on lap 1 made a charge early on to see the back Herlings on lap 4. Herlings 4^th and Vlaanderen 5^th at that time would follow each other until the end. They both capitalised on Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Glenn Coldenhoff who was 3^rd until lap 9 when he made a mistake to move down behind them to 5^th.

Few laps later it was the turn of another Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team rider Jeremy Seewer who was 2^nd since lap 1 to crash on lap 11 and move down to 6th until the end. Herlings and Vlaanderen would go on to 2^nd and 3^rd to keep those places until the end as Herlings managed to keep Vlaanderen attacks unsuccessful.
Coldenhoff down in 5^th position on lap 9 found himself just in front of his teammate Maxime Renaux who was 6^th since lap 5. With Seewer’s crash on lap 11 the three Monster Energy Yamaha riders stuck together with Coldenhoff 4^th, Renaux 5^th and Seewer 6^th.  This didn’t stop Renaux to make a clever move on Coldenhoff over 3 turns. Renaux and Coldenhoff, 4^th and 5^th respectively would keep this order until the end.

Standing Construct Honda MXGP’s Brian Bogers made a solid race going from 9^th on lap 1 to 7^th without being overtaken along the way. SM Action Racing Team Yuasa Battery’s Alberto Forato was another rider oscillating around the 10^th place until lap 12, but got to 8^th when JM Honda Racing’s Brent Van Doninck 7^th at the time made a mistake to lose few places down to 9^th. Forato and Van Doninck would settle for 8^th and 9^th respectively.

Red Bull GASGASG Factory Racing’s Mattia Guadagnini was 9^th on lap 1 and moved down just outside the top 10 from lap 10 until the very last lap when passed Romain Febvre (11^th in the end) for the 10^th position.

MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina winner Team HRC’s Ruben Fernandez unfortunately crashed and would not finish the race.

Race 2 was one of the most eventful races so far. While Febvre took the FOX Holeshot, it was Coldenhoff who made a magnificent first lap to get himself in front and would never let the second too close to him.

The second place looked promised to Febvre as he overtook Seewer on lap 2 to keep this position for 14 laps. However Jeffrey Herlings had other plans. The ‘bullet’ made a heroic race. After a bad start, he was 14^th after few turns but he was on a mission overtaking nearly everyone in front of him. He quickly found himself 7^th behind Prado 6th on lap 3 and finally found an opportunity on lap 9 to overtake the Red Plate holder.

No one could resist Herlings as lap after lap he overtook Vlaanderen on lap 9 to get 5^th, on lap 11 he got the better of Seewer for 4^th. This is when things spiced up with 2 laps to go as Herlings closed on Renaux in 3^rd and Febvre 2^nd.

A three-way battle ensued when in turn the three riders tried to make a charge on the other two with Renaux passing Febvre and Herlings passing Renaux for few turns to see Febvre not giving up easily and took back the 2^nd place. All of this in a matter of one lap. Eventually Herlings got the better of the two Frenchmen and even push for the 1^st place but it was too late and settled for 2^nd.

Renaux got also the better of Febvre at the same time of Herlings and finished 3^rd while Febvre ende up 4^th.

Vlaanderen made another solid race and was constantly into the top 6 to finally finishing 5^th just in front of Prado and Seewer, 6^th and 7^th respectively. While Prado hovered over the 6^th place throughout the race, Seewer was 4^th between lap 3 and 11 and after few mistakes moved down the leaderbord to finished 7^th.

Van Doninck was similarly to the first race did manage to stay in the top 10 throughout the whole race and got to 8^th on lap 3 to ride in this position until the finish line. Forato, stayed also consistent to end up 9^th while Standing Construct Honda MXGP’s Pauls Jonass managed to stay in the top 10.

Ruben Fernandez was one rider that didn’t capitalise on his first win in Argentina as the Team HRC’s rider crashed few times and could not get his flow over the weekend, and finished 16^th overall.

In the end, Jeffrey Herlings with his showing in race 2 grabbed his first GP win since 2021 reaching his 100^th GP win. Glenn Coldenhoff on the second march of the podium with his win on race 2 while Prado maintains his Red Plate with 100 points thanks to his 3^rd place on the podium coupled with his RAM Qualifying Race win. Herlings second in the Championship with 93 points while Maxime Renaux is 3^rd level with Febvre on 78 points.  

Jeffrey Herlings: “I’m very happy with this win! I didn’t have the best starts but I push myself and it was tough because the track was very fast but I was feeling good and I kept pushing. I managed to get up to second in race 2. I want to improve on my starts as well to be even better for the next round”

Glenn Coldenhoff: “Since the moment I went on the new bike I felt so good. The bike is fast and rides well over the whole track. I’m happy with getting the podium after a rough start in Argentina. I felt very good here the whole weekend. The second race went well as I pushed at the start to get in front and then I felt comfortable. 2^nd in the GP overall and 1^st podium so I’m very happy how it went”

Jorge Prado: “I am happy with this weekend. Winning the RAM Qualifying Race and the first race is really good, and of course I would have liked to win the second race too but I’m very happy to have the Red Plate. Hopefully I will hopefully get a good result in Switzerland.”

MXGP – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), 34:20.164; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:01.706; 3. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:02.831; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:03.784; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +0:27.257; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:36.901; 7. Brian Bogers (NED, Honda), +0:37.947; 8. Alberto Forato (ITA, KTM), +0:41.731; 9. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Honda), +0:44.403; 10. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, GASGAS), +0:45.384; 

MXGP- Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), 34:44.339; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:01.965; 3. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:04.293; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:13.048; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:14.860; 6. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:20.500; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:26.569; 8. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Honda), +0:54.079; 9. Alberto Forato (ITA, KTM), +1:02.813; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Honda), +1:08.066;

MXGP – GP Top 10 Classification: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 44 points; 2. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 41 p.; 3. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 40 p.; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 38 p.; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 36 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 29 p.; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 28 p.; 8. Brent Van doninck (BEL, HON), 25 p.; 9. Alberto Forato (ITA, KTM), 25 p.; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 20 p.; 

MXGP – World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 100 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 93 p.; 3. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 78 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 78 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 75 p.; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 65 p.; 7. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 63 p.; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 57 p.; 9. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 56 p.; 10. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, GAS), 55 p.

MXGP – Manufacturers Classification: 1. Yamaha, 102 points; 2. GASGAS, 100 p.; 3. KTM, 93 p.; 4. Honda, 82 p.; 5. Kawasaki, 78 p.; 6. Beta, 30 p.;

MX2

In MX2, Jago Geerts took the FOX Holeshot and took the lead quickly. The top three riders, Geerts, Laengenfelder and De Wolf took off to increase the gap behind them.

On lap 2 Geerts made a mistake and found himself 3^rd as Laengenfelder took the lead in front of De Wolf for 4 laps. However, De Wolf as a sand specialist did manage to take the lead on lap 5 as Laengenfelder made a mistake and he kept it until the end to win the race.

Laegenfelder went down to 3^rd after his mistake with Geerts 2^nd. But Another mistake on lap 6 from Geerts meant that Laengenfelder could sit 2^nd. But Geerts picked up the pace and made a move on lap 11 and kept his advantage until the end with Laengengfelder staying 3^rd.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team’s Thibault Benistant displayed a solid racing throughout the whole race after turning lap 1 in 6^th. He never got overtaken and continuously pushed forward behind Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Liam Everts. They both overtook on lap 7 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Andrea Adamo who was 4^th. Benistant 5^th passed Everts too on lap 11 to finish 4^th.

Everts was unfortunate to crash on lap 13 while he was 5^th and ended up 9^th. Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Lucas Coenen also went up the leaderboard after getting to 9^th over the first two laps. He made his way up to an encouraging 6^th place for the rookie.

Behind him F&H Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team’s Kevin Horgmo and Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Roan Van de Moosdijk found themselves 7^th and 8^th respectively on lap 1 and would oscillate to finish the race at the same place.

Finally WZ Racing’s Oriol Oliver kept his 10^th position the whole way through.

In Race 2, was actually Oriol Oliver who took the FOX Holeshot, then Jago Geerts made his way to the top on lap 1 passing Kay De wolf and showed great control to keep De Wolf 2^nd the whole race too at bay.

Benistant also managed to grab the 3^rd spot during the whole race although he had to battle with Lucas Coenen towards the end. However, several mistakes from Coenen meant that Benistant could ride away without much trouble over the last part of the race. Coenen kept his 4^th place until the end too.

The 5th place was completely open with Van de Moosdijk, Adamo and Laengenfelder fighting for the spot over the full race. Everts who finished 8^th in the end was also involved in that battle until lap 5 when he moved down to 8^th and stayed in that place until the end.
Laengenfelder took an option on the 5^th place between lap 5 and 13 but it was the determination of Van de Moosdijk that paid off in the end as he put pressure on Laengenfelder who stalled on a turn on lap 14. Van de Moosdijk and Adamo would pass the German to finish 5^th and 6^th respectively while Laengenfelder had to settle for 7^th.

Horgmo had another good race and showed that he can compete in the top 10 as he only had to battle with Oriol over the laps 3 and 4 and kept his 9^th place until the end. Oriol ended up 11^th after TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team’s Jan Pancar overtook him on lap 10 and kept the 10^th position until the end.

Jago Geerts: “It was a good start again and after the first lap I moved up to the lead and De Wolf was pushing me the whole race but I managed to keep my lines the whole race. It is now 2 GP wins now so it I’m happy.”

Kay de Wolf: “We came here to get a podium, and I felt very good. In the first race it was great to get the win. In the second I kept pushing until the end so it was a shame to finish behind Jago as we came for the podium, I am second so overall I am very happy.”

Thibault Benistant: “Today was good even if the riding was not easy on this sand. I tried to follow the guys upfront but they were very quick but I tried to push and in the end I’m satisfied to be on the podium.”

MX2 – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), 34:13.404; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:02.473; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:15.579; 4. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:42.062; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:51.410; 6. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:54.170; 7. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Kawasaki), +0:55.123; 8. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Husqvarna), +0:58.282; 9. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +1:23.188; 10. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +2:13.058.

MX2 – Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), 33:46.970; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:01.314; 3. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:41.473; 4. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:43.781; 5. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Husqvarna), +0:59.753; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +1:06.498; 7. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +1:10.510; 8. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +1:17.513; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Kawasaki), +1:21.210; 10. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), -1 lap(s).

MX2 – GP Top 10 Classification: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 47 points; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 47 p.; 3. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 38 p.; 4. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 34 p.; 5. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 33 p.; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 31 p.; 7. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, HUS), 29 p.; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KAW), 26 p.; 9. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 25 p.; 10. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 21 p.

MX2 – World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 117 points; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 87 p.; 3. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 86 p.; 4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 83 p.; 5. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 79 p.; 6. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KAW), 68 p.; 7. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, HUS), 67 p.; 8. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 61 p.; 9. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 52 p.; 10. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 40 p.

MX2 – Manufacturers Classification: 1. Yamaha, 117 points; 2. Husqvarna, 93 p.; 3. KTM, 85 p.; 4. GASGAS, 79 p.; 5. Kawasaki, 68 p.; 6. Honda, 36 p.; 7. Fantic, 12 p.

MX2 – GP Classification

Pos Nr Rider Nat. Fed. Bike Race 1 Race 2 Total 1 93 Geerts, Jago BEL FMB YAM 22 25 47 2 74 de Wolf, Kay NED KNMV HUS 25 22 47 3 198 Benistant, Thibault FRA FFM YAM 18 20 38 4 516 Laengenfelder, Simon GER DMSB GAS 20 14 34 5 96 Coenen, Lucas BEL FMB HUS 15 18 33 6 80 Adamo, Andrea ITA FMI KTM 16 15 31 7 39 Van De Moosdijk, Roan NED KNMV HUS 13 16 29 8 24 Horgmo, Kevin NOR NMF KAW 14 12 26 9 72 Everts, Liam BEL FMB KTM 12 13 25 10 51 Oliver, Oriol ESP RFME KTM 11 10 21 11 253 Pancar, Jan SLO AMZS KTM 9 11 20 12 125 Weckman, Emil FIN SML HON 10 9 19 13 17 Toendel, Cornelius NOR NMF KTM 5 7 12 14 912 Rizzi, Joel GBR ACU YAM 6 4 10 15 22 Braceras, David ESP RFME KAW 4 5 9 16 67 Martinez, Yago ESP RFME KTM 7 2 9 17 64 Ciabatti, Lorenzo ITA FMI KTM 0 8 8 18 505 Lüning, Arvid SWE SVEMO GAS 2 6 8 19 338 Olsson, Filip SWE SVEMO HUS 8 0 8 20 180 Ambjörnson, Leopold SWE SVEMO HUS 3 3 6 21 18 Voxen Kleemann, William DEN DMU KTM 1 1 2 22 44 Elzinga, Rick NED KNMV YAM 0 0 0

MX2 – World Championship Classification

Pos Nr Rider Nat. Bike Total ARG SAR SUI TRE POR ESP FRA LAT GER INA INA CZE BEL FIN SWE NED TUR VIE GBR 1 93 Geerts, Jago BEL YAM 117 10 25-25 10 22-25 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 74 de Wolf, Kay NED HUS 87 5 15-11 9 25-22 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 3 198 Benistant, T. FRA YAM 86 6 22-13 7 18-20 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 4 80 Adamo, Andrea ITA KTM 83 9 20-20 3 16-15 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 5 516 Laengenfelder, S. GER GAS 79 8 13-16 8 20-14 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 6 24 Horgmo, Kevin NOR KAW 68 2 12-22 6 14-12 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 7 39 Van De Moosdijk, R. NED HUS 67 4 18-14 2 13-16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 8 72 Everts, Liam BEL KTM 61 7 16-8 5 12-13 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 9 96 Coenen, Lucas BEL HUS 52 3 0-12 4 15-18 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 10 253 Pancar, Jan SLO KTM 40 0 11-9 0 9-11 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

MXGP – GP Classification

Pos Nr Rider Nat. Fed. Bike Race 1 Race 2 Total 1 84 Herlings, Jeffrey NED KNMV KTM 22 22 44 2 259 Coldenhoff, Glenn NED KNMV YAM 16 25 41 3 61 Prado, Jorge ESP RFME GAS 25 15 40 4 959 Renaux, Maxime FRA FFM YAM 18 20 38 5 10 Vlaanderen, Calvin NED KNMV YAM 20 16 36 6 91 Seewer, Jeremy SUI FMS YAM 15 14 29 7 3 Febvre, Romain FRA FFM KAW 10 18 28 8 32 Van doninck, Brent BEL FMB HON 12 13 25 9 303 Forato, Alberto ITA FMI KTM 13 12 25 10 41 Jonass, Pauls LAT LAMSF HON 9 11 20 11 101 Guadagnini, Mattia ITA FMI GAS 11 9 20 12 919 Watson, Ben GBR ACU BET 7 8 15 13 6 Paturel, Benoit FRA FFM YAM 8 7 15 14 189 Bogers, Brian NED KNMV HON 14 1 15 15 226 Koch, Tom GER DMSB KTM 6 5 11 16 70 Fernandez, Ruben ESP RFME HON 0 10 10 17 161 Östlund, Alvin SWE SVEMO HON 5 4 9 18 77 Lupino, Alessandro ITA FMI BET 2 6 8 19 92 Guillod, Valentin SUI FFM HON 4 3 7 20 71 Spies, Maximilian GER DMSB KTM 3 2 5 21 87 Brumann, Kevin SUI FMS YAM 1 0 1 22 2 Jasikonis, Arminas LTU LMSF GAS 0 0 0 23 75 Roosiorg, Hardi EST EMF HON 0 0 0

MXGP – World Championship Classification

Pos Nr Rider Nat. Bike Total ARG SAR SUI TRE POR ESP FRA LAT GER INA INA CZE BEL FIN SWE NED TUR VIE GBR 1 61 Prado, Jorge ESP GAS 100 10 25-15 10 25-15 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 84 Herlings, J. NED KTM 93 1 18-22 8 22-22 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 3 959 Renaux, Maxime FRA YAM 78 8 20-12 0 18-20 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 4 3 Febvre, Romain FRA KAW 78 6 22-16 6 10-18 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 5 259 Coldenhoff, G. NED YAM 75 4 14-7 9 16-25 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 6 10 Vlaanderen, C. NED YAM 65 5 10-11 3 20-16 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 7 70 Fernandez, R. ESP HON 63 7 16-25 5 0-10 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 8 91 Seewer, Jeremy SUI YAM 57 0 4-20 4 15-14 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 9 41 Jonass, Pauls LAT HON 56 3 15-18 0 9-11 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 10 101 Guadagnini, M. ITA GAS 55 9 11-13 2 11-9 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Next Round: April 10 – MXGP of Switzerland presented by iXS Frauenfeld

TRYSTAN HART AND FMF KTM FACTORY RACING ON TOP AGAIN AT GRINDING STONE HARD ENDURO

Round 3 – AMA U.S. Hard Enduro Series

PAGE, Arizona – FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart continued his winning ways in the third round of the 2023 AMA U.S. Hard Enduro Series at the Grinding Stone Hard Enduro.

After winning the opening two rounds, defending champion Hart was once again exceptional onboard his KTM 300 XC-W in Page, Arizona, taking control as difficulty increased in the knockout-style two-day format and finishing with a total time of 2:03:17.

Hart was P2 in Saturday’s race and then went 1-1 on Sunday across both the morning’s action and the Feature after successfully navigating the extreme nature of the rocky, sandy terrain. Combined, that was enough to maintain his perfect start to the season and he delivered once again in a convincing fashion.

The weekend marked Hart and FMF KTM Factory Racing’s second year in succession in winning the Grinding Stone Hard Enduro event together.

Trystan Hart: “The Grinding Stone was a really good weekend for me! Cody [Webb] kept me honest pretty much the whole time, but I ended up getting the win in the end, and I’m really happy with that. It was absolute carnage out there – I think everyone would agree. This place never lets up, you have to keep going and every time you wander off, you’re cartwheeling down a hill. But overall, it was a super-good day, and I’m excited to win another round.”

For more information on the U.S. Hard Enduro Series, visit the official series website at www.ushardenduro.com.

Pro Results – Grinding Stone
1. Trystan Hart, KTM, 2:03:17
2. Cody Webb, Sherco, 2:14:00
3. Ryder LeBlond, Husqvarna, 2:22:01
4. Will Riordan, KTM, 2:04:55

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Brett Lee from the WLTN Kawasaki Seven team sent over this shot of 3/4 of his team in Georgia getting ready for the season. #20 Jeremy McKie and #84 Tanner Ward are going to be fast in the 450 class. #891 Justin Bogle is training out in California and I joked with Brett that Bogle is the Gonzaga of Canadian MX – it doesn’t exist!

Have a great week, everyone. We’ll be hanging out at the Toronto Spring Motorcycle Show at the international Centre by Pearson Airport on Saturday and Sunday, so be sure to swing by for a sticker and a chocolate!