Monday Morning Coffee

It’s time for another Monday Morning Coffee column where we talk about some of what happened in the sport of motocross and usually a lot more

By Billy Rainford

It was another weekend where I wasn’t at the races myself. I’ll tell you what, it’s interesting and challenging to let go of the reins completely while someone else is representing Direct Motocross at the races. As we grow, it’ll happen more often and I’m sure get easier, but right now it’s an interesting psychological study for me.

We had Jordan Wilsey from RussOgraphy on site at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia this week. He was there on Friday for Press Day as well as all day on Saturday.

The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series made it’s first stop in Philly since 1980. That’s 44 years ago! I know that my Reflex video game stopped in Philly, so it didn’t feel like it was that long ago to me, but wow.

The winners at the 1980 double-header were (Huge thank you to the Racer X Vault):

250SX Results:

Night 1:

	Rider	Hometown	Bike
1	Mike Bell	Lakewood, CA	Yamaha
2	Jim Gibson	Orange, CA	Honda
3	Steve Wise	Mcallen, TX	Honda
4	Mark Barnett	Bridgeview, IL	Suzuki
5	Broc Glover	El Cajon, CA	Yamaha
6	Chuck Sun	Sherwood, OR	Honda
7	Kent Howerton	San Antonio, TX	Suzuki
8	Donnie Cantaloupi	Stockton, CA	Yamaha
9	Donnie Hansen	Simi Valley, CA	Honda
10	David Bailey	Sugar Tree, VA	Kawasaki
11	Warren Reid	Westminster, CA	Kawasaki
12	Marty Tripes	Santee, CA	Yamaha
13	Arlo Englund	Colorado Springs, CO	Yamaha
14	Kris Bigelow	Rochester, MI	Yamaha
15	Dan Conway	Houston, TX	Honda
16	Boo Stichter	Thornton, CO	KTM
17	Marty Moates	San Diego, CA	Yamaha
18	David Hollis	Oxford, MI	Yamaha
19	Pat Moroney	Newburgh, NY	Yamaha
20	Jeff Hicks	Atwater, OH	Yamaha

Night 2:

1	Broc Glover	El Cajon, CA	Yamaha
2	Kent Howerton	San Antonio, TX	Suzuki
3	Mike Bell	Lakewood, CA	Yamaha
4	Marty Tripes	Santee, CA	Yamaha
5	Steve Wise	Mcallen, TX	Honda
6	Danny Laporte	Yucca Valley, CA	Suzuki
7	Darrell Shultz	Orangevale, CA	Suzuki
8	Mickey Kessler	Farmingdale, NJ	Yamaha
9	Mark Barnett	Bridgeview, IL	Suzuki
10	Donnie Hansen	Simi Valley, CA	Honda
11	Arlo Englund	Colorado Springs, CO	Yamaha
12	David Bailey	Sugar Tree, VA	Kawasaki
13	Chuck Sun	Sherwood, OR	Honda
14	Jim Gibson	Orange, CA	Honda
15	Jeff Ward	Mission Viejo, CA	Kawasaki
16	Donnie Cantaloupi	Stockton, CA	Yamaha
17	Steve Martin	Saint Petersburg, FL	Yamaha
18	Dan Conway	Houston, TX	Honda
19	Jimmy Ellis	Cobalt, CT	Yamaha
20	Warren Reid	Westminster, CA	Kawasaki

While we’re at it, let’s have a look at the final championship standings from 1980:

250SX Points Standings

	Rider	Hometown	Points
1	Mike Bell	Lakewood, CA	348
2	Kent Howerton	San Antonio, TX	301
3	Chuck Sun	Sherwood, OR	284
4	Broc Glover	El Cajon, CA	265
5	Mark Barnett	Bridgeview, IL	260
6	Jim Gibson	Orange, CA	208
7	Steve Wise	Mcallen, TX	184
8	Donnie Hansen	Simi Valley, CA	159
9	Marty Tripes	Santee, CA	138
10	Warren Reid	Westminster, CA	136
11	Darrell Shultz	Orangevale, CA	128
12	Donnie Cantaloupi	Stockton, CA	127
13	Brian Myerscough	Calimesa, CA	119
14	Jeff Ward	Mission Viejo, CA	109
15	Marty Smith	San Diego, CA	101
16	Danny Laporte	Yucca Valley, CA	94
17	Arlo Englund	Colorado Springs, CO	87
18	Rex Staten	Fontana, CA	82
19	Jimmy Ellis	Cobalt, CT	57
20	Rick Burgett	Sandy, OR	44
21	Larry Wosick	San Jose, CA	44
22	Jim Weinert	Middletown, NY	33
23	Billy Grossi	Santa Cruz, CA	33
24	Mickey Kessler	Farmingdale, NJ	33
25	Gary Semics	Lisbon, OH	32
26	Marty Moates	San Diego, CA	30
27	Mark Lawrence	Rosemead, CA	26
28	Kippy Pierce	Fort White, FL	24
29	Mark Gregson	Salem, OR	22
30	David Bailey	Sugar Tree, VA	22
31	Darren Rhoten	Dallas, TX	18
32	Mike Guerra	Bolton, CT	17
33	Steve Martin	Saint Petersburg, FL	16
34	Tommy Croft	San Diego, CA	13
35	Gaylon Mosier	Garden Grove, CA	13
36	Dan Turner	Placerville, CA	12
37	Dan Conway	Houston, TX	12
38	Steve Stackable	Austin, TX	9
39	John Day	Coweta, OK	9
40	Chappy Blose	Phoenix, AZ	8

If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself completely side-tracked looking at those names up there. It’s funny how it works: I got my first bike in 1981, so these names on this list were the superstars of the sport when I was a little kid and they mean a lot to me.

That’s just how it goes. The stars from your childhood stay with you forever. While I still enjoy the names of riders before this era, they just don’t hit me the same way. I’m sure if you’re younger than I am and reading this you would likely rather look at names like Damon Bradshaw, Doug Henry, Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, or maybe even Jett Lawrence. Nah, we all know kids today don’t read anything that is presented to them in PARAGRAPHS!

I feel lucky to have entered the sport back in these days. Bikes were changing so quickly that it was a thrill to see what new technology would appear every year in the fall (Yes, I said FALL unlike seeing next year’s bikes in April). In 1980, you’d see bikes with 2 shocks, 1 shock, no disc brakes, disc brakes up front, liquid cooled, air cooled, seat that went up the tank to the top, DG, DMC, JT (if it rhymed with E, it was there!)… it was such a time of change. You’d even hear someone out on the track on a 4-stroke! Sure, we’d laugh because we had no idea what was coming. Hugo Mascaant (sp), anyone?

If you’re young and sometimes catch yourself watching the Dunlop Track Walk with Broc Glover…ya, it’s this guy! I was tempted to just keep copy/pasting the overall standings because the familiar names just kept coming!

Big thanks to Jordan for getting the shots and the interview with #3 Eli Tomac on Friday where he says, “So far, I don’t see the end in sight.”

Here’s the interview:

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Eli gets whisked away to hit the track in the end, but thanks for grabbing him for a chat and getting him to say what everyone was wondering!

I feel like this is a set-up for a Jimmy Kimmel montage gag, but can you believe we only have 2 rounds of Supercross to go?! Denver and Salt Lake City and then it’s done.

I picked Tom Vialle to be the one to beat this summer, but didn’t think he’d catch on to SX quite this fast. Did you notice #511 Nick Romano and #38 Haiden Deegan lined up around him in the 250 Main and come together to box him out? Haiden will need some help in SLC to leapfrog Tom in 250 East points.

And did you hear James Stewart in the highlight video say that it was just the media saying things like that and not Haiden himself?

He’s right. I’ve had nothing but positive interactions with Haiden over the years. He’s always ben very respectful and polite that I’ve seen. His YouTube fame can either get people on board or rub them the wrong way. I think it’s pretty safe to say that it’s the older generation that finds it all a little off-putting while the younger crowd is all in on Haiden.

I always pay attention to who gets the biggest cheer during opening ceremonies and the top 3 are always Haiden and Eli Tomac, then Aaron Plessinger, with Ken Roczen a very close 4th.

And looking at the 450 class, I’m sure you’ve all noticed just how subdued #18 Jett Lawrence is now in his interviews? He’s not the same kid as he was just last season. It all proves the old adage that “It’s lonely at the top.” If he acts too excited or says too much about how he’s doing, there will be backlash and fallout, so he’s got to settle down and stick a bit more to a script.

I know that’s not what most people want to hear, but he and his team are trying to manage his “likability” at the races.

In the film industry, likeability is something they always test. That’s why you’ll normally only see an irritating character for a couple episodes (unless they’re supposed to be that way) or for one season before they get “killed off.”

Anyway, it seems like they’ve got Jett acting differently in his interviews. He seems like he’s aged about 5 years when you listen to him now.

Here’s a look at the results and standings as we head to Denver:

And in Off-Road news…

TRYSTAN HART BACK ON TOP AS U.S. HARD ENDURO RESUMES AT BATTLE OF THE GOATS

It was a weekend filled with offroad podium results for FMF KTM Factory Racing riders, headlined by defending U.S. Hard Enduro Series Champion Trystan Hart‘s return to the top step of the podium at the Battle of the Goats event in North Carolina.

U.S. HARD ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 3

The U.S. Hard Enduro Series continued with Round 3 of the 2024 season at the Battle of the Goats in North Carolina, where FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart took his first victory of the year.

Defending champion Hart was supremely strong on his KTM 300 XC-W, winning the Prologue on Saturday and then going on to control Sunday’s proceedings from the front of the pack in drier conditions than usually experienced at the Taylorsville race.

Following a consistent start to the season, Hart’s Battle of the Goats win has now enabled him to move to within five points of the Pro Class series lead behind Cody Webb.

Trystan Hart: “It was a long race, despite how dry it was, and we did an extra lap than normal – around four hours in duration this weekend. I had some sick battles on lap one, and made some mistakes as well, but cleaned it up on lap two and was able to get my first win of the year. It’s a good feeling, so I want to keep moving forward from here!“

Pro Class Results
1. Trystan Hart, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Cody Webb, SHR
3. Ryder LeBlond, HQV
4. Will Riordan, GAS
5. Colton Haaker, HQV

Next Premier round:

EHE 3/Premier 4: 5/25-5/26
Tough like RORR (Tamaqua, PA)

Shelby Turner 2nd at Ironman GNCC – Moves into 2nd in Points

Results and points from Round 6 of the 2024 Progressive GNCC Racing Series at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana – The Hoosier.

WXC – Bike – Class Results
Place	Nbr	Name	Hometown	Brand	Laps	Elapsed
1	001	RACHAEL ARCHER	NEW ZEALAND, //	KAW	4	02:05:40.998
2	550	SHELBY A TURNER	CANADA, //	GAS	4	02:07:55.290
3	417	RACHEL L GUTISH	TERRE HAUTE, IN	SHR	4	02:09:23.455
4	444	KORIE STEEDE	BELOIT, OH	HQV	4	02:15:21.977
5	301	JORDAN JARVIS	LEESBURG, FL	YAM	4	02:15:52.375
6	090	PRESTIN I RAINES	TRAVELERS REST, SC	SHR	4	02:17:28.110
7	198	BRANDY RICHARDS	LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ	KTM	4	02:18:49.279
8	777	JOCELYN BARNES	HONESDALE, PA	HQV	4	02:19:22.835
9	924	ADDISON J ELLIOTT	LASCASSAS, TN	KTM	4	02:31:50.395
10	555	RUBY FUSTINI	NORTH STONINGTON, CT	KTM	4	02:34:20.179
11	879	KAITLYN LINDSEY	BEAVER DAM, KY	HQV	4	02:36:22.379
12	310	KAYLA ONEILL	GREENWOOD LAKE, NY	YAM	4	02:39:56.738
13	482	CARLY LEE	MILLVILLE, NJ	KTM	4	02:40:37.614
14	389	ASHLEE M GAGE	SHOSHONE, ID	KTM	3	02:03:38.100

WXC – Bike – Class Points	RND 1	RND 1	RND 2	RND 3	RND 4	RND 5	RND 6
Place	Make	Nbr	Name	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Total Points
1	KAW	001	RACHAEL ARCHER		1	4	2	2	1	1	158
2	GAS	550	SHELBY A TURNER		4	5	1	4	2	2	132
3	KTM	198	BRANDY RICHARDS		3	1	5	1	4	7	129
4	HQV	444	KORIE STEEDE		2	2	3	9	3	4	122
5	SHR	417	RACHEL L GUTISH		5	3	4	3		3	97
6	YAM	415	JORDAN JARVIS		11	14	8	5	6	5	77
7	HQV	777	JOCELYN BARNES		6	6	6	6	DNF	8	73
8	SHR	090	PRESTIN I RAINES		DNF	7	7	8	5	6	72
9	HQV	879	KAITLYN LINDSEY		8	8	12	11	10	11	66
10	KTM	924	ADDISON J ELLIOTT		10	9	11	12	11	9	64

YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) – Bike – Class Results
Place	Nbr	Name	Hometown	Brand	Laps	Elapsed
1	171	TRAVIS LENTZ	WALSHVILLE, IL	GAS	5	01:32:35.980
2	151	COLBY GOODMAN	OLIN, NC	KAW	5	01:34:52.536
3	107	PHILLIP T ARNOLD	ALABASTER, AL	HQV	5	01:36:26.499
4	016	NASH PEERSON	FAIRVIEW, NC	KTM	5	01:36:55.919
5	455	COOPER DUFF	DONNELLSON, IL	HQV	5	01:40:31.599
6	212	KALE KIRKMAN	GREENCASTLE, IN	HQV	5	01:44:20.550
7	137	AIDAN PROCTOR	KOUTS, IN	GAS	4	01:28:19.603
8	352	LIAM CAPODICE	BLOOMINGTON, IL	HQV	4	01:30:57.199
9	050	WILL BERRY	SPARTANBURG, SC	GAS	4	01:36:00.322
10	417	COOPER LAIR	ALEXIS, IL	GAS	4	01:36:12.839
11	214	ROSCOE A HOOVER	DENVER, IN	KAW	4	01:50:03.149
12	015	HAYDEN DUPUIS	CALGARY, AB	HQV	3	00:56:32.239

YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) – Bike – Class Points	RND 1	RND 2	RND 3	RND 4	RND 5	RND 6
Place	Make	Nbr	Name	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Total Points
1	GAS	171	TRAVIS LENTZ	1	1	1	1	1	1	120
2	KTM	016	NASH PEERSON	4	3	3	4	4	4	104
3	HQV	107	PHILLIP T ARNOLD	6	7	2	3	5	3	100
4	KAW	151	COLBY GOODMAN	3	11	10	2	2	2	96
5	GAS	334	CARLO C CLARY	5	4	11	5	16	13	72
6	HQV	015	HAYDEN DUPUIS	2	2	DNF		3	12	65
7	GAS	108	GABRIEL S JIMENEZ	8	13	7	6	14	DNF	57
8	KTM	157	JACK WHALEN	13	12	4	9	11		56
9	KTM	407	COLT LACKEY	7	5	6		10		56
10	KTM	021	GRANT MEACHAM	23	8	5	11	6		54

Vet A (30+) – Bike – Class Results
Place	Nbr	Name	Hometown	Brand	Laps	Elapsed
1	093	ROBBY NORWOOD	CREEDMOOR, NC	HON	6	02:58:11.219
2	683	GREGORY FUNK	CLINTON, OH	KAW	6	02:58:12.911
3	837	SHANE OBANION	BOWLING GREEN, KY	KAW	6	03:02:46.497
4	468	DANIEL B SIMS	GREENCASTLE, IN	YAM	6	03:10:01.022
5	103	KEVIN DUPUIS	CALGARY, AB	HQV	6	03:10:21.339
6	642	RYAN M KASEMEYER	LAFAYETTE, IN	HQV	5	03:04:01.970
7	442	BENJAMIN LORENZ	DENVER, IA	OTH	5	03:12:57.768
8	439	RAYMOND MOREHOUSE	INDEPENDENCE, IA	HQV	5	03:39:55.259
9	492	KEAGAN J SCHMIDT	EVANSVILLE, IN	KTM	4	02:47:46.978
10	790	JOSEPH D MARBURGER	MESQUITE, TX	HQV	3	01:53:10.390

Vet A (30+) – Bike – Class Points	RND 1	RND 2	RND 3	RND 4	RND 5	RND 6
Place	Make	Nbr	Name	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Total Points
1	KAW	683	GREGORY FUNK	2	2	1	2	2	2	115
2	HON	093	ROBBY NORWOOD	1	1		1	1	1	100
3	HQV	103	KEVIN DUPUIS	5	4	4	5	5	5	98
4	KAW	837	SHANE OBANION		3	2	3	3	3	91
5	YAM	468	DANIEL B SIMS	4	10	3	7	7	4	91
6	YAM	417	DANNY HAFTL	17		6	8	4		49
7	HON	669	JESSE C KILDOW		8	5	10			40
8	KTM	326	JOSHUA D WINKLER		13	8	14			28
9	KTM	223	SCOTT HOPPER	19	9	10	DNF			25
10	HQV	642	RYAN M KASEMEYER		11				6	25

XC1 Open Pro – Bike – Class Results
Place	Nbr	Name	Hometown	Brand	Laps	Elapsed
1	514	STEWARD BAYLOR JR	HODGES, SC	KAW	7	03:00:24.179
2	001	CRAIG B DELONG	MORGANTOWN, PA	HQV	7	03:02:41.433
3	969	JONATHAN S GIRROIR	YADKINVILLE,, NC	KTM	7	03:02:42.617
4	003	JORDAN P ASHBURN	LIVINGSTON, TN	GAS	7	03:03:25.898
5	282	MICHAEL WITKOWSKI	CATAWBA, NC	HON	7	03:03:45.010
6	739	TREVOR A BOLLINGER	MORGANTON, NC	HQV	7	03:06:45.271
7	347	EVAN SMITH	JEFFERSON, GA	HQV	7	03:06:47.491
8	314	GRANT R BAYLOR	HONEA PATH, SC	KAW	7	03:08:35.095
9	336	RYDER LAFFERTY	ELKIN, NC	GAS	7	03:10:51.757
10	007	JOSH V STRANG	AUSTRALIA, //	SHR	7	03:17:28.197
11	178	LYNDON SNODGRASS	AUSTRALIA, //	KAW	4	01:45:32.804
12	523	LAYNE C MICHAEL	BOONVILLE, NC	YAM	4	01:52:33.499

XC1 Open Pro – Bike – Class Points	RND 1	RND 2	RND 3	RND 4	RND 5	RND 6
Place	Make	Nbr	Name	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Total Points
1	KTM	969	JONATHAN S GIRROIR	1	1	1	2	3	3	152
2	KAW	514	STEWARD BAYLOR JR	2	2	3	4	1	1	142
3	GAS	003	JORDAN P ASHBURN	4	4	2	7	2	4	109
4	HQV	001	CRAIG B DELONG	11	DNF	5	9	4	2	74
5	KAW	314	GRANT R BAYLOR	3	10	8	3	6	8	71
6	HON	282	MICHAEL WITKOWSKI	10	7	10	11	5	5	62
7	HQV	739	TREVOR A BOLLINGER	7	8	7	15	7	6	52
8	KTM	356	DANTE A OLIVEIRA	8		6	1			49
9	HQV	347	EVAN SMITH	5	6	13	13	8	7	47
10	YAM	212	RICKY A RUSSELL	6	11	4	8	13		39
11	KAW	178	LYNDON SNODGRASS	13	3	11	5	DNF	11	37
12	SHR	007	JOSH V STRANG	9	5	9	10	9	10	36
13	GAS	336	RYDER LAFFERTY	12	9	12	6	11	9	35

XC2 250 Pro – Bike – Class Results
Place	Nbr	Name	Hometown	Brand	Laps	Elapsed
1	035	ANGUS J RIORDAN	AUSTRALIA, //	KTM	7	03:05:39.557
2	922	GRANT W DAVIS	MESHOPPEN, PA	KTM	7	03:06:11.453
3	198	LIAM DRAPER	NEW ZEALAND, //	YAM	7	03:07:04.130
4	099	CODY J BARNES	STERLING, IL	HON	7	03:10:12.598
5	235	BRODY JOHNSON	LANDRUM, SC	BET	7	03:11:34.339
6	707	JASON C LIPSCOMB	PARKERSBURG, WV	BET	7	03:18:58.939
7	014	RUY BARBOSA	CHILE, //	HON	7	03:19:32.918
8	844	LAYTON J SMAIL	COVINGTON, WA	SHR	7	03:20:22.779
9	989	THADDEUS DUVALL	WILLIAMSTOWN, WV	KAW	7	03:20:49.634
10	328	JESSE ANSLEY	MYAKKA CITY, FL	KAW	7	03:22:55.271
11	213	TOBY D CLEVELAND	ERIN, NY	HQV	7	03:25:25.950
12	353	JADEN DAHNERS	ENUMCLAW, WA	KTM	4	01:55:51.218

XC2 250 Pro – Bike – Class Points	RND 1	RND 2	RND 3	RND 4	RND 5	RND 6
Place	Make	Nbr	Name	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Finish	Total Points
1	KTM	922	GRANT W DAVIS	3	1	2	2	1	2	156
2	KTM	035	ANGUS J RIORDAN	1	2	4	1	7	1	147
3	YAM	198	LIAM DRAPER	2	15	3	4	3	3	112
4	HON	206	JOSHUA M TOTH	4	10	1	12	2		93
5	HON	099	CODY J BARNES	14	9	6	5	5	4	84
6	HON	014	RUY BARBOSA	10	6	10	6	6	7	81
7	KAW	328	JESSE ANSLEY	8	4	9	7	11	10	78
8	KAW	989	THADDEUS DUVALL	6	18	13	3	4	9	77
9	BET	235	BRODY JOHNSON	9	13	5	15	8	5	71
10	BET	707	JASON C LIPSCOMB	12	11	7	14	10	6	66
11	HQV	213	TOBY D CLEVELAND	5	16	8	13	12	11	61
12	HQV	022	TYLER PALMER	11	7	11	8	9		59
13	BET	981	JONATHAN T JOHNSON	7	5					30
14	HON	515	TYLER D MEDAGLIA		3					21
15	KTM	401	LANDON LYNN		14		11			17
16	SHR	844	LAYTON J SMAIL						8	13
17	HON	404	MAX ERLANDSSON		8					13
18	HQV	886	ALEXANDRE GOUGEON				9			12
19	HQV	409	RYDER THOMASELLI				10			11
20	KTM	372	NICOLAS KUTULAS	15	17					10

Full results HERE.

Next Round:

RD 7 – POWERLINE PARK

Powerline Park – St Clairsville, OH

May 11, 2024 – May 12, 2024

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OK, I see that my noon Eastern deadline has come and gone, so let’s end things here. I’ll get to work on a report from Philadelphia, so watch for that later this afternoon.

Oh, and we’ll wait for the official announcement from Kevin Tyler over at MX101 before we say anything more about his new 450 rider…