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Monster Energy Rider Cameron McAdoo Earns a Podium Finish

By General Posts

Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Rider Cameron McAdoo Earns a Podium Finish at Seattle SX

March 25, 2023 | Lumen Field | Seattle, Wash.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (March 26, 2023) – The Monster Energy® Supercross Championship traversed the United States to the reach the west coast for Round 12 from Seattle, Washington where Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Cameron McAdoo kept his closest rivals in check by securing another podium finish while Carson Mumford showed great potential en route to an eighth-place result in his season debut. In the 450SX Class, Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Jason Anderson overtook several of the world’s elite to claim fourth place and Adam Cianciarulo settled for eighth place after challenging the leaders early in the race.

A week of steady rain showers in the pacific northwest bore out fear of a notorious mud plagued Seattle SX, but the hard work of the DirtWurx track crew, and a bit of help from mother nature, ultimately delivered a well-manicured racecourse for the best supercross racers in the world to compete on. When the 250SX riders took the track, the speed and precision of Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Carson Mumford quickly drew attention. Making his debut for the 2023 season, Mumford asserted himself as a top contender by finding his rhythm and logging the fourth fastest lap (52.286) of the 250SX Class. Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Cameron McAdoo too rivaled near the top of the leaderboard throughout qualifying and logged the fifth fastest lap (52.309).

When the gate dropped for 250SX Heat 1, Mumford rocketed his KX™250 toward the first turn and secured the official holeshot before being edged out of the lead entering Turn 2. Mumford applied pressure to the leader for the opening lap before taking control of the lead position on Lap 2. The new addition to the Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team showed promise as he led the next several laps in commanding fashion until he eventually settled for a second-place finish.

In 250SX Heat 2, McAdoo made quick moves in the opening lap to pass his way into second position. By Lap 3, however, McAdoo found himself in a hotly contested battle with the current championship points leader. McAdoo thrilled the crowd as he raced hard and refused to surrender the position. On Lap 4, the two riders came together and both crashed in spectacular fashion. After swiftly remounting and pressing on to the finish, McAdoo salvaged a fourth-place result.

The Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki duo of McAdoo and Mumford launched out of the gate in the 250SX Main Event and while McAdoo emerged from the first turn in fourth, Mumford was shuffled to outside the top-10. McAdoo moved his way into third place on the opening lap and set his sights toward the lead. Meanwhile, Mumford began a steady climb up the running order from 11th at the end of Lap 1. As the race progressed beyond the halfway mark, McAdoo overtook second and maintained pressure on the leader. The front three riders separated themselves from the rest of the class, but never split from one another by more than a few seconds. With only two laps remaining, a costly mistake from McAdoo caused him to relinquish second position and, although he challenged to take it back, he ultimately finished the race in third. All the while, the No.52 KX™250 of Mumford continued to log steady laps as he made clean passes to earn himself a respectable eighth place finish.

“As a racer you can never be too upset with a podium result but, I know I can be up there fighting for wins and I feel like we were just so close again this weekend. I had a strong Main Event battle with RJ and we kept Jett honest the whole race, but we were a small tick from really getting into the lead position. It’s a game of small gains right now and I’m not settling so the whole team will keep striving this week with the focus on taking the top step of the podium.” – Cameron McAdoo

“Overall, it was a positive first race for me with the Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team. I’ve dreamed of riding for this team since I was a kid, so there was a conscious effort for me to manage expectations throughout the day and to not try to go for too much too soon. That said, I was able to qualify fourth out of the B practice session and battled for the win in my heat race. I’m happy with where my speed was and how the bike handled on such a torn-up track. In the Main Event, I ended up riding pretty tight after mid-way, which is not ideal, but is a bit to be expected with all things considered. I focused on continuing to hit my marks and came through the checkered in eighth. The speed I had early was definitely promising and it was good to bring home a steady result inside the top-10 to get the ball rolling.” – Carson Mumford

The Monster Energy® Kawasaki duo of Cianciarulo and Anderson continued their recent tear through the morning qualifying sessions as both riders urgently mastered the rutted track. After studying the ideal lines with the team, Cianciarulo logged an impressive 51.191 lap time in the final session; the second fastest lap of the day. Anderson was only fractions of a second behind as his 51.621 lap time earned him third in qualification.

A mid-pack start in 450SX Heat 1 meant that Cianciarulo would have his work cut out for him in the short six-minute qualification race. The No.9 KX™450SR rider executed with tact and precision through the opening lap to overtake the competition in rapid succession. By the completion of the first full lap, Cianciarulo was already up to third position. The front four riders matched qualification pace as they remained in tight lockstep for the remainder of the race. When the checkered flag flew, Cianciarulo crossed the line in third.

In 450SX Heat 2, Anderson launched out to a strong start and was only narrowly edged out for the holsehot. Anderson challenged for the lead through the opening laps until he was on the receiving end of contact with another rider on Lap 4 and consequently crashed. After rushing back to his bike and regaining his pace, Anderson finished out the race in fifth place.

The Monster Energy Kawasaki riders raced out to another strong start in the 450SX Main Event with Cianciarulo running in fourth on the opening lap and Anderson pursuing in sixth. In an impressive display of speed, Cianciarulo surged forward into a multi-lap battle for third which would see him overtake the defending champion Eli Tomac and challenge Ken Roczen before a couple of minor miscues shuffled him back to fourth. Cianciarulo maintained a high pace to defend his fourth-place position, keeping the current championship leader at bay behind him until Lap 8. As Cianciarulo dropped back, Anderson charged forward to meet him on the track and the two Monster Energy Kawasaki riders rivaled over sixth and seventh for several laps in the middle of the race. Anderson prevailed in the battle and went on to track down two more positions for a fourth-place result at the checkered flag. Meanwhile, Cianciarulo settled into a consistent pace through to the finish for eighth place.

“During the Main Event, the track was really tricky with a ton of deep ruts, but I felt like my KX™450SR still gave me the ability to push the pace. While a better start would have certainly improved my race, it wasn’t a bad night as we made good progress and I kept the fight going all the way to the checkered flag. I definitely want to be finishing on the podium and, ultimately, challenging for wins again so, I’m still focusing forward on making gains in supercross.” – Jason Anderson

“I felt comfortable during qualifying and was able to attack the track to put together the second fastest time. It was nice to show that pace again and rival at the top of the board. In the heat race, I was a little back from the start but worked my way into the top-three before the finish. In the Main Event, I started up front and managed to pass my way into the top-three again. The race felt similar to last weekend with all of the top guys contending for those first few positions, so it was encouraging to move my way forward through that group in the early stages. The end result is similar to what I’ve had recently, but there are a lot of positives to take away from the weekend.” – Adam Cianciarulo

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H-D Factory Team Set to Open King of the Baggers at Daytona

By General Posts


HARLEY-DAVIDSON FACTORY TEAM SET TO OPEN 2023 MOTOAMERICA KING OF THE BAGGERS SEASON AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Factory Team Riders, Kyle Wyman and Travis Wyman, Ready to Chase a Championship

MILWAUKEE (March 6, 2023) – The Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory racing team is prepared to open the 2023 racing season March 9-11 at Daytona International Speedway, site of the first two rounds of the MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers roadracing series. Kyle Wyman and his brother Travis Wyman return to ride the team’s race-prepared Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® motorcycles powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engines. The Harley-Davidson factory team will leave nothing on the track as they fight to bring the championship title back to Milwaukee.

“In our 120th Anniversary year, we’re coming at it bigger and better than ever before, as we compete to win the championship and bring back the #1 plate to Milwaukee where it belongs,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson. “Our Screamin’ Eagle factory racing team is ready for the season – and with Kyle and Travis on the track, I’m excited for what is set to be a great season of racing for our community of racers and fans alike.”

The King of the Baggers series offers exciting competition between American V-Twin touring motorcycles prepared for competition and equipped with a fairing/windscreen and saddlebags. The 2023 season will see the King of the Baggers series expanded from seven to 14 races over seven double-header weekends held in conjunction with the MotoAmerica Superbike Series.

A fan feature for the 2023 season is the Harley-Davidson® 120th Anniversary VIP Ticket Package. Offered as a three-day or one-day package, these special VIP passes include admission with fan zone and paddock access, all the MotoAmerica races including the Mission King of the Baggers practice sessions, qualifying and racing action. Each pass also includes access to premium parking reserved for Harley-Davidson motorcycles on all three days of the race weekend, and participation in Harley-Davidson parade laps around the track on Friday and Saturday.

For the 2023 season, the Harley-Davidson factory team will be sporting custom designed livery, honoring Harley-Davidson’s 120th anniversary aboard their race-modified Road Glide motorcycles, Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engine. The team bikes also feature upgraded suspension components, including Screamin’ Eagle/Öhlins Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks, plus competition exhaust, race tires and lightweight bodywork.

Harley-Davidson invites you to kick off the 2023 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers season with some adrenaline pumping action. Today, Harley-Davidson is premiering ‘Push the Limit,’ a film that shares the story of defending champion Kyle Wyman, teammate Travis Wyman and the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle race team’s 2022 championship pursuit. Check it out on Harley-Davidson’s YouTube channel.

The Wyman Brothers
Travis Wyman, the owner of Travis Wyman Racing based in Las Vegas, finished second in points during the 2022 King of the Baggers season, with one race win (Road America) and three second-place finishes. The 31-year-old racer returns for his second full season with the Harley-Davidson factory team.

“I am excited about my second season on the factory H-D team and ready for the expanded schedule this year,” said Travis. “My consistent finishes last year put me in contention for the title going into the last round. With the two-race format, if Saturday does not go well, you get another shot on Sunday rather than waiting for the next race weekend. As other teams get these bikes figured out, I expect the level of competition to be tougher this season. Our Harley team is going to need to be on its game at every race.”

Kyle Wyman, 33, won three 2022 King of the Baggers races (Atlanta, Monterey and New Jersey) and had two other podium appearances to finish third in season points. Wyman began racing professionally in flat track aboard a Harley-Davidson® XR750 and formed Kyle Wyman Racing at the age of 21 to compete at the highest level of professional road racing in the United States. Kyle Wyman is the 2019 Daytona 200 winner. He was King of the Baggers champion in 2021, riding for the Harley-Davidson factory team.

“It will be an honor to represent the Harley-Davidson brand during this 120th Anniversary season,” said Kyle Wyman. “It is incredible to be a part of the enduring history of Harley-Davidson. I’ve spent much of the off season working with the team to further develop our Road Glide race bikes, and I have a lot of confidence going into 2023. We will continue to see lap records fall this season, and everyone on the grid will be quicker.”

Available Support
In addition to competing in the series, the H-D Screamin’ Eagle team continues to work directly with MotoAmerica to promote the series by supporting all Harley-Davison competitors. Select performance products developed for the 2022 factory team bikes are available to all qualified racers. Teams should reach out directly to their local Harley-Davidson® dealership for availability and pricing.

Top squads expected to run Harley-Davidson® bikes at the front of the field include the four-rider Team Saddlemen effort with returning veteran racers Cory West and Patricia Fernandez-West along with Frankie Garcia and class newcomer Jake Lewis, all competing on race-modified Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® motorcycles, prepared with the assistance of Hoban Brothers Racing. The Vance & Hines Racing team returns to the King of the Baggers series with proven series front runners James Rispoli and Hayden Gillim, also campaigning race-prepared Road Glide motorcycles.

MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers Contingency
Harley-Davidson will offer more than $185,000 in cash contingency for qualified Harley-Davidson racers competing in the Mission King of the Baggers series, with a contingency payout from first to 10th place in all 14 races and a $35,000 series championship bonus. Terms and conditions apply; please see www.MotoAmerica.com for full details, eligibility requirements and deadlines.

About the Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engine:
The Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight 131 is a powerful street-compliant performance engine offered by Harley-Davidson. Built from the bottom up in Milwaukee, this 131-cubic-inch (2147cc) Screamin’ Eagle® crate engine delivers 131 ft-lb of torque to the rear wheel, and may be installed in 2017-later Harley-Davidson Touring models.

2023 Mission King of the Baggers Schedule
(Two full races each weekend)

  • March 9-11: Daytona International Raceway – Daytona Beach, Fla.
  • April 21-23: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta – Braselton, Ga.
  • June 2-4: Road America – Elkhart Lake, Wis.
  • July 7-9: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca – Monterey, Calif.
  • July 28-30: Brainerd International Raceway – Brainerd, Minn.
  • September 8-10: Circuit of the Americas – Austin, Texas
  • September 22-24: New Jersey Motorsports Park – Millville, N.J.

Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure and freedom for the soul. Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of 2023 Harley-Davidson® Grand American Touring, Sport, Adventure Touring, Cruiser and Trike motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Certified™ pre-owned motorcycles, Harley-Davidson® Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories, Harley-Davidson® MotorClothes® apparel and gear, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.

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Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing Ready for 450SX Title Run

By General Posts

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 team aims to keep its premier class championship streak rolling with returning champions and an all-new YZ450F

MARIETTA, Ga. – December 12, 2022 – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing heads into the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season armed with returning champions and an all-new YZ450F looking to take a fourth-consecutive premier class title for the team. Reigning 450SX and 450MX Champion Eli Tomac and 2021 450MX Champion Dylan Ferrandis lead the charge, with 2021 250SX West Champion Justin Cooper joining the duo for select rounds before switching to the 250 class for the outdoor season.

Following a stellar debut season with the team, Tomac returns looking to defend his crown in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship. 2022 was a landmark year for the multi-time champion who lays claim to the winningest rider currently active in the premier class. He notched seven wins, including a record-breaking sixth victory at the legendary Daytona International Speedway, to seal the deal on his second 450SX title a weekend early in his home state of Colorado. Tomac tasted triumph again in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross 450MX Championship, coming out on top in a thrilling down-to-the-wire title fight with 14 moto wins and five overall victories en route to his fourth title in the class. He was also the captain of the victorious Team USA at the Motocross of Nations, took some more supercross wins overseas during the off-season, and was honored with his first ESPY Award in the Best Athlete, Men’s Action Sports Category.

Ferrandis returns for his seventh season with the team. The Frenchman has enjoyed a  successful tenure with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing squad, earning back-to-back 250SX West Championships in 2019 and 2020, the 2020 250MX Championship, and the 2021 450MX Championship. He won his first premier class title in dominant fashion, putting himself in elite company by clinching the crown during his rookie season. In 2022, Ferrandis showed speed during his Sophomore season in supercross, scoring a podium finish with his teammate in San Diego. Unfortunately, he was sidelined with injuries and did not get the opportunity to defend his number-one plate in Pro Motocross. Back to full fitness, Ferrandis is hungrier than ever and eager to return to the top aboard the new YZ450F.

Stepping up to the premier class to race select rounds on the calendar, Cooper returns for his sixth season with the team and is eager to get some seat time on the YZ450F and battle with the best in the sport. Although 2022 got off to a tough start with an injury that ended his supercross season before it started, the New Yorker finished the year on a high note. He played an important role in Team USA’s Motocross of Nations victory and scored the overall win in the MX2 class. When it’s time to go racing outdoors in the Summer, Cooper will move over to the 250 team to make a run at the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross 250MX Championship aboard the YZ250F.

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The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 team would like to thank its partners for their support: Yamaha Racing, Monster Energy, Yamaha Financial Services (YMFUS), Yamalube, GYTR, bLU cRU, Parts Unlimited, CWI, Rekluse, FMF, Dunlop, Works Connection, VP Fuels, Kite, Twin Air, KYB, Cycra, ProTaper, Excel, Vortex, DID Chain, Vortex ECU, D’Cor, Braking, ARC Levers, Mettec Titanium, Motion Pro, Lightspeed, G2 Ergonomics, Antigravity Batteries, and Matrix Concepts. 

Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager

“It was a phenomenal year for our team, and we’re looking to carry that momentum into 2023. We’ve got an all-new bike, which the guys were really happy with straight away. The entire team has been working hard to get everything ready, and we’re excited to start the season at A1. Both Eli and Dylan are looking great, and we’re looking forward to seeing Justin on the 450 for some rounds. We’ve got the riders, the bike, and a great team behind us, and we’re looking to win races and bring home another championship.”

Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing

“We’re into the first week of December now, and it’s been a good off-season. We’ve been going to work on the new motorcycle – the 2023 YZ450F – and so far, it’s been good. When I first jumped on this bike, the first thing I noticed was the weight savings. That’s one thing I really love about it, and for supercross, that’s really good to have for the change of direction. It’s been awesome to start with that, and then now we’ve just been fine-tuning the bike with some suspension settings. We are also well into our training, and so far, so good. We’re staying healthy and should have a good chance at defending this number one plate.”

Dylan Ferrandis – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing

“The off-season’s been going well. We have this new Yamaha YZ450F in 2023, which was a big change. From week one, we already felt much better on the new bike. It was a big change, and for me, it was very good, especially in supercross, where I struggled a little bit. We had a lot of testing to do with the new bike and all the new parts, but it’s been going well. It feels really good, and I think we are in a way better spot than last year. We have big expectations for the new season, and everybody’s ready; everybody wants to win, and we are going to do everything for that.”

Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing

“It’s been a good off-season. We took some time off after RedBud (Motocross of Nations) before getting back to grinding away. I got on the 450 a few weeks ago to try and get my feet wet there and learn the bike. There’s a lot to adapt to, but the process has been fun. I enjoy riding the 450. I’ve always felt like I’ve been a better 450 rider, and I’m looking forward to racing it. It’s a new group of guys, and obviously, the power delivery is different from a 250, so there are going to be a lot of things to get used to, but I’m ready for it. I’m just looking to get my feet wet and learn the bike, learn the class, and get the experience. I think that’s the most valuable thing right now.”

 

XDA Champions Win Battle with Mother Nature

By General Posts

The 30th annual DME Racing Fall Nationals concluded the 2022 motorcycle drag racing season at Maryland International Raceway. XDA’s fifth season crowned thirteen champions as the MIROCK-IDBL-XDA legacy continues to evolve and grow.

This season featured the best showing of motorcycle drag racing action in fifteen different classes, with over $500,000 paid out in cash purse and $131,000 in contingency offerings.

Despite another season finale having rain forecasted for the weekend, the XDA staff did the job they are known for as they hustled to complete the race. “It’s never a great feeling when you see the chance of rain on top of your event, but it never deters the race because we have learned how to quickly adapt and push harder to get the job done,” said Jason Miller. “When you come to XDA we are always going to do what’s best for the racers and the event.”

XDA has released its 2023 motorcycle drag racing schedule featuring five events. XDA continues to adapt to the changing markets by reducing the season by one event and spreading them out, giving racers five weeks between events to recharge, rebuild, spend time with their families, and attend other events. Get these dates on your calendar now because 2023 will be bigger and better.

April 21-23 / Platinum General Services Spring Nationals / MIR

June 2-4 / MTC Summer Nationals / VMP

July 14-16 / WPGC Bike Fest / MIR

August 25-27 / FuelTech Bike Bash / VMP

Sept 29 – Oct 1 / DME Racing Fall Nationals / MIR

Orient Express Racing Pro Street

Winner – Rodney Williford

Runner-up – Greg Wallace

Champion – Rodney Williford

For the first time this season Rodney Williford was not the number one qualifier of the Orient Express Racing Pro Street class. Jason Dunigan came out of the shadows and blasted a 6.395 at 233.40 in the last round of qualifying, taking the number one qualifying spot. Jamie Lopes improved on his personal best in qualifying with a 6.491 and Ricky Wood with a 6.657. Kenny Brewer returned to racing action after taking a few races off to attend to family matters. Unfortunately, his return was dashed by mechanical failures that took him out of competition on Friday night.

In round one, Rudy Sanzottera, Jamie Lopes, Jason Dunigan, Greg Wallace, Rodney Williford, Darion Payne, Jordan Haase, and Curtis Brown all took wins. Since Williford already clinched the championship before the season finale, racers focused on making the top ten to qualify for the 26th annual Haltech World Cup Finals presented by Wiseco on November 2-6, 2022.

In round two Dunigan, Wallace, Williford, and Lopes all turned on win lights. Lopes ran a personal best of 6.455 at 228 mph, however, when Lopes rolled over the scales in tech, he was too light, and his run was DQ’d to reinstate Sanzottera back into the race.

In the semi-final, Wallace took out Dunigan while Williford took out Sanzottera. Wallace is no stranger to a final round, and he was looking for his first win of the season. Williford cut a .032 reaction time and blasted straight down the track; Wallace cut a slower .067 and was unable to catch Williford as they approached the finish line. Williford took his fifth win this season and the 2022 championship.

With the season complete, the top ten racers will look towards the November Pro Street Shootout sponsored by Platinum General Services where they will compete for $5,000 in cash purse at the 26th annual Haltech World Cup Finals presented by Wiseco on November 2-6, 2022. Racer qualified are: Rodney Williford, Jason Dunigan, Greg Wallace, Justin Shakir, Darion Payne, Gaige Herrera, James Waugh, Curtis Brown, Jordan Haase, and Ricky Wood.

DME Racing Real Street

Winner – David Stewart

Runner-up – Ralphie Navarro

Champion – David Stewart

The DME Racing Real Street class delivered the drama this past weekend as we watched all top three championship contenders struggle at some point. Rickey Gadson started out the weekend breaking the beams in qualifying because his motor was hurt, and he didn’t want to take the chance of not getting on the ladder if rain ended qualifying early. They worked all night and into Saturday to get ready for eliminations on Saturday night. Stewart also had mechanical struggles working through Friday night until the early hours of Saturday to get his bike ready for Saturday qualifying. Class champion Mark Hylton who sat third in points took the number one qualifying position with a 7.496 giving him the best footing going into eliminations.

Gadson, Stewart, and Hylton all took wins in round one and continued to battle in round two. Unfortunately for Gadson, he cut a -.005 red light against Drae Taylor, ending his season. Stewart took a win over Caleb Holt and Hylton took a win over Brittany Bohne. But at this point it was mathematically impossible for Hylton to take the championship and Stewart locked up the 2022 DME Racing Real Street championship before heading to the semi-final.

In the semi-final Hylton had mechanical troubles giving an easy win to Ralphie Navarro. On the other side of the ladder Stewart faced Drae Taylor who he was able to defeat with a 7.551 to a 7.641.

In the final Stewart would get the starting line advantage cutting a .091 light to Navarro’s .116, as they raced to the finish Stewart pulled ahead of Navarro to win the final event of the XDA season with a 7.607 to his 7.713.

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MaxxECU Pro Xtreme

Winner – Ronald Procopio

Runner-up – Tommy Saxton

Champion – Ronald Procopio

Ronald Procopio’s reign in MaxxECU Pro Xtreme continued at the season finale, but the competition didn’t make it easy. Tommy Saxon took the number one qualifying spot with a 3.905 for the only three-second run of qualifying. In round one of eliminations, the crowd witnessed three 3 second passes for wins to Saxon 3.915, Procopio 3.898, and Collins a 3.988. Procopio came into the event with only a three-point lead over John Collins. Collins and Procopio met in the semi-final where the winner of the round would be crowned the champion. Collins cut a -.008 red light against Procopio who ran a 3.886 to solidify his championship. Chris Cutsinger also red-lit in the semi-final to Tommy Saxton. And then Procopio was announced as the 2022 Champion before heading to the final. Procopio’s win makes four different champions in the last four years that Pro Xtreme has been contested at XDA.

Onto the final Procopio cut a .043 light on Saxon’s .054, but the starting line advantage would not come into play as Procopio’s rocket lit the board up with a 3.875 for a record run in the class! Procopio end the year with a record and championship to take into the off-season.

MaxxECU Pro Xtreme is presented by Billy Vose Racing, Fast by Gast, Dunigan Racing, DME Racing, Grothus Dragbikes, Harley Haul, Rob Bush Motorsports, Robinson Industries, Schnitz Racing, Timblin Chassis, and Worldwide Bearings.

HTP Performance Super Stock

Winner – Richard Gadson

Runner-up – Marquise Blake

Champion – Curtis McDougald

Curtis McDougald is your new 2022 HTP Performance Super Stock Championship. McDougald was leading the points coming into the event and officially clinched the championship when Darion Payne, who was right behind him in points, lost in round two. McDougald qualified number one with an 8.818 and looked to be on the path to another win, that was until he met Richard Gadson in round three. On a holeshot, Gadson took the win over McDougald, and then went on to win against Caleb Holt in the semi-final before going to the final. Gadson would meet Marquise Blake in the final, and it was both riders first final round appearance of the year in HTP Performance Super Stock. With close reaction times, both riders left side-by-side, but Gadson’s ZX-14 would pull away from Blake to take the stripe first and win with an 8.872 to Blake’s slower 9.027.

Boosted Bulls

Winner – Craig Elliot / Cotton Mouth

Runner-up – Geoff Godfrey / Minion

Champion – Frankie Stotz / Reddi-Wip

Malcolm Phillips came into the DME Racing Fall Nationals leading the Boosted Bulls class with a two point lead over Frankie Stotz. When Phillips failed to enter the class, he handed the championship to Reddi-Wip’s pilot.

In event eliminations Geoff Godfrey on ‘Minion’ drew a first-round bye that would put him in the final against Craig Elliot on ‘Cotton Mouth’. They both had a good start to the round, but there wasn’t enough minion power to keep up with Elliot as his win light lit up the boards.

APE Nitrous Bulls

Winner – Malcolm Phillips / Striptease

Runner-up – Lavar Delee / High Roller

Champion – Desmond Spalding

Desmond Spalding started the 2022 XDA season with a win in APE Nitrous Bulls and continued to win enough rounds to clinch the championship before the season finale. Spalding aboard ‘Show Nuff’ took a loss in round two to Lavar Delee on ‘High Roller’. Delee went on to win in the semi-final over Ken Grate on ‘In Too Deep’ to earn a spot in the finals against Malcolm Phillips.

Phillips aboard ‘Strip Tease’ knocked out Antonio Patton/FTW, Caleb Holt/Apocalypse, and Garnell Claudle/Mama Lia on his way to Saturday’s final round under the lights. Delee was blowing on the dice off the starting line, but his numbers would not hold as Phillips took it all off to turn that win light on for the win of the night.

3 Sixty 5 Monster Bulls

Winner – Josh Eubanks / Belmont

Runner-up – Antonio Williams / Flawless Victory

Champion – Spencer Claycomb

Spencer Claycomb held a twenty-four-point lead over Antonio Williams coming into the final event for the 3 Sixty 5 Monster Bulls class. Williams aboard ‘Flawless Victory’ was on a mission to take the championship from Claycomb as he won every round on his way to the finals, including taking out Claycomb in the semi-finals. Josh Eubanks on ‘Belmont’ was doing his job on the other side of the ladder, taking wins over Howard Gerken/Son of Sam and John James/Dope Sick to meet Williams in the final.

If Williams could win the final round he would also win the championship. But we aren’t writing fairy tale endings, and ‘Belmont’ blasted down the eighth-mile taking the win and crushing Williams hopes for a championship. Claycomb on ‘Under the influence’ held the points lead by eleven points for his first 3 Sixty 5 Monster Bulls championship.

Tommie’s Motorsports DMV Bulls

Winner – Malcolm Phillips / No Cap

Runner-up – Brysen Bender / Dime Piece

Champion – Malcolm Phillips / No Cap

Malcolm Phillips may have lost the championship in Boosted Bulls, but he took a win in APE Nitrous Bulls and then snatched the DMV Bulls championship for himself Saturday night. Going into the DME Racing Fall Nationals Aubrey Valentine led the points with John Carter and Malcom Phillips right behind him.

While Valentine was focused on staying in front of Carter, and Carter was focused on beating Valentine, Phillips Tip-Toe-Burglared his way to the championship. Valentine and Carter took losses in rounds one and two while Phillips on ‘No Cap’ kept winning to a fourth-round final. There Phillips faced Brycen Bender on ‘Dime Piece.’ Phillips was tucked and rolling and there was no way for Bender to overtake his performance as Phillips made a straight hard pull pass to the finish line for the event win and the championship.

Tommie’s Motorsports All Motor Bulls

Winner – David Fondon / Bad Bitch

Runner-up – Deshaun Jones / Dr Jekyll Mr Hyde

The Friday night Tommie’s Motorsports All Motor Bulls class was once again dominated by David Fondon on ‘Bad Bitch.’ Edward Thomas on ‘Da Setup’ won the first two events of the season, and Fondon has won the last four. Deshaun Jones on ‘Dr Jekyll Mr Hyde’ was Fondon’s latest victim as he easily turned the win light on for his fourth straight win this season.

Vance & Hines 4.60

Winner – Wes Hawkins

Runner-up – Ron Bonitatis

Champion – Ronald Procopio

Going into the final event of the 2022 season, Ronald Procopio clinched the Vance & Hines 4.60 championship and could not be dethroned. So, when Procopio lost in round four, while disappointing, he was still smiling as the class champion three years running. We have a feeling we will see bounties placed on him next season.

On Saturday, Steven Shriver Sr secured the number one qualifying spot with the only perfect 4.600 pass over forty-six other competitors. Shriver didn’t make it past round three when he broke out, taking a loss to Rick Bunting. Wes Hawkins and Ron Bonitatis were both on their ‘A-Games’ as they rolled into the beams for the season’s final round. Hawkins cut a .007 reaction time that would give him a big advantage over Bonitatis’s slower .074. As they both raced to the eighth-mile finish, Bonitatis would be run a quicker 4.627 over Hawkins 4.631, however, Hawkins better reaction allowed him to get to the finish first and turned on his win light.

1 Stop Speed 5.60

Winner – Mike Sweeney

Runner-up – Dustin Lee

Champion – Dustin Lee

In 1 Stop Speed 5.60 Nick Noble held on to the points lead all season and went into the final with a thirty-one points over Dustin Lee. In round one of eliminations, Noble opened the door for Lee to overtake the lead when he lost to Mike Schulz. Lee didn’t let the opportunity pass him by as he went on to win all his rounds to make it to the final. And with a final round appearance, he sealed the championship despite what the final round would produce.

With the championship secured, Lee had looked to end the weekend with a winner circle finish, but first, he would have to take down Mike Sweeney. Unfortunately for Lee, Sweeney wasn’t prepared to let him have his way. Lee did cut the better light with a .054 to Sweeney’s .067. But when it came to passing that eighth-mile flag, Sweeney would get there quicker running a 5.637 to Lee’s slower 5.638 and taking the event win.

Mickey Thompson Tires Top Sportsman

Winner – Kevin Adams

Runner-up – Boo Brown

Champion – Jimmie Miller

Jimmie Miller went into Mickey Thompson Tires Top Sportsman with a nineteen point lead over Robin Procopio and George Shriver. Both Shriver and Procopio lost the first round making Miller’s only focus now on Dustin Lee, who was forty points behind him. Miller took a loss in round three, and lucky for him, so did Dustin Lee. With Lee losing the same round Miller’s championship status was announced over the PA for him to start celebrating.

Only thirty-two riders can qualify for the quickest bracket class in XDA. Ben Knight would take the top qualifying spot with a 7.532, while Delaware racer James Farmer would round out the field in the thirty-second position with an 8.167 ET. Farmer would take out Knight in round one when Knight went red on the tree. In round two Boo Brown would put Farmer on the trailer as he made his way to the final round to take on Kevin Adams. Brown would create his own demise as he went -.001 red to give Adams the event win at the starting line.

MPS Racing Pro ET

Winner – Louis Green

Runner-up – Derrick Milbourne

Champion – Dustin Lee

Going into the DME Racing Fall Nationals Dustin Lee had a forty-point lead in MPS Racing Pro ET, with Jimmie Miller hot on his trail. On Sunday Lee took a fourth-round loss, and luckily for Lee, Miller lost that same round and secured his position for another Pro ET championship.

Louis Green Jr and Derrick Milbourne made it past the fourth round and landed themselves in the eighth round final after defeating the other 118 competitors in the class. Green was running deadly close to his dial-in round after round, but he was going up against champion racer Derrick Milbourne and there could be no room for errors. Green dialed a 9.11, Milbourne a 8.82. Green with a slower dial-in left the tree first and cut a better light, .018 to Milbourne’s slower but still capable .032 reaction. When they got down to the finish line Milbourne gave up the stripe running an 8.875 while Green ran a closer 9.133 to take the win.

Brock’s Performance Street ET

Winner – Ashawn Hopkins

Runner-up – Donta Yates

Champion – Mark Blake

In Brock’s Performance Street ET, over 150 racers have entered the class this year making it another tough season. Mark Blake was winning many rounds this season, and with one event win he kept himself out in front of the competition to earn himself the 2022 Championship.

In weekend racing Ashawn Hopkins and Donta Yates didn’t let the weather affect their mindset as they stayed focused to turn on six-win lights before they met in the finals. Hopkins dialed a 9.41 and Yates a 9.14. They raced their Suzukis to the quarter-mile finish line with virtually identical reaction times. Hopkins turned on his win light with a closer 9.434 ET to Yates’s 9.178.

The 2023 will begin XDA season will begin on April 21-23 at MIR, mark your 2023 calendar now and don’t miss a weekend of racing with the quickest and fastest sanction in the country.

Visit xdaracing.com for event information, class rules, payouts, entry fees, schedule, and more.

About XDA Racing : The Xtreme Dragbike Association (XDA) is an east coast motorcycle drag racing series with 700+ motorcycle racers competing at each event. Every XDA event hosts professional classes, sportsman classes, grudge racing and a vendor midway. Lifestyle activities such as bike shows, bikini contests, DJ and live bands are also held at select events. For more information on the XDA, please visit xdaracing.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @xdaracing

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XDA Racers Aim for Titles at Fall Nationals

By General Posts

XDA Competitors Laser Focused on the Championship Title

On September 23-25, the XDA concludes its 2022 motorcycle drag racing season at Maryland International Raceway with the 30th annual DME Racing Fall Nationals.

The sixth and final battle of the 2022 XDA season will feature 6-second, 230+mph Pro Street Motorcycles, 7-second, 190mph Real Street bikes, 3-second 1/8 mile Pro Xtreme class, lethal clutch hand Super Stock, the “Running of the Bulls” Grudge Shootouts, and 700+ Sportsman motorcycle racers competing for over the final $500,000 in season cash purse and $130,000 in season contingency!

Orient Express Racing Pro Street

Points Leader – Rodney Williford

Next weekend the Orient Express Pro Street class will turn up the heat with the country’s quickest and fastest 650+ horsepower Pro Street motorcycles. For the second year in a row, Rodney Williford locked up the championship before the season finale. He currently holds 176 points lead over #2 Jason Dunigan. Justin Shakir, Greg Wallace, and Darion Payne round out the top five in points and have all locked in spots for the 26th annual Haltech World Cup Finals presented by Wiseco on November 2-6, 2022.

Next weekend the battle will rage on as Pro Street racers will be fighting for the last 5 spots to compete in front of 52,000+ fans in the crisp November air. The exclusive Platinum General Services Pro Street Shootout at WCF offers a $5,000 to win purse. Make plans to come out and watch these gladiators dominate the quarter mile at speeds that can’t be seen anywhere else.

DME Racing Real Street

Points Leader – David Stewart

DME Racing Real Street will be serving up 7-second, 190mph passes as the battle for the championship comes down the wire. David Stewart leads the points chase with forty-six points over Rickey Gadson, and 111 points over class champion Mark Hylton. All three riders have the potential to take the crown, and every point will make the difference.

MaxxECU Pro Xtreme

Points Leader – Ronald Procopio

The eighth-mile heads-up class of MaxxECU Pro Xtreme features Turbocharged, Supercharged, and Nitrous Injected wheelie-bar monsters. Ronald Procopio only holds a five-point lead over #2 John Collins and sixty-seven points over #3 Chris Cutsinger. These three-second riders are the only ones in contention for the championship title next weekend.

MaxxECU Pro Xtreme is presented by Billy Vose Racing, Fast by Gast, Dunigan Racing, DME Racing, Grothus Dragbikes, Harley Haul, Rob Bush Motorsports, Robinson Industries, Schnitz Racing, Timblin Chassis, and Worldwide Bearings.

HTP Performance Super Stock

Points Leader – Curtis McDougald

The stock wheelbase HTP Performance Super Stock class will see a new champion crowned this season. Curtis McDougald holds eight points over Darion Payne, and Mike Davis trails right behind. These are the only two riders that could knock McDougald off the throne and claim the title next weekend. You won’t want to miss the action on Sunday!

HTP Performance Afterdark

Saturday night, the starting line will be the place to be with the HTP Performance Afterdark Underground Grudge Program. Going into the season final, the Bulls still have a lot of action to show us if they want those championship titles. Malcolm Phillips leads Boosted Bulls, Desmond Spalding leads APE Nitrous Bulls, Spencer Claycomb leads 3 Sixty 5 Monster Bulls and Aubrey Vantine leads Tommie’s Motorsports DMV Bulls. The #KillerMillerSpiller will have the track on point next weekend, eliminating traction from the ‘Rider’s Excuse’ handbook.

Vance & Hines 4.60

Points Leader – Ronald Procopio

The Vance & Hines 4.60 eighth-mile class showcases the fiercest Sportsman around. And in a rarity, the championship title has already been clinched by Ronald Procopio heading into next weekend’s event. This will be three straight championships in a row for Procopio, and fourth overall. Over thirty riders will give the fans a spectacular show round after round as they battle for the $5,000 cash prize to the winner.

The XDA will also hold competition in six additional sportsman classes where the championship titles are still up for grabs. 1 Stop Speed 5.60 Index, Mickey Thompson Tires Top Sportsman, MPS Racing Pro ET, and Brock’s Performance Street ET, VooDoo Bracket Bash, and the Hard Times Parts & Service Gambler’s classes will award $28,000 in cash payouts for our sportsman classes.

It may be the end of the XDA season, but there is still time to start a drag racing career with the best motorcycle drag racing sanction on the east coast. Come out next weekend, and for only $65 you could be racing down the track!

For an exciting weekend of two-wheel racing action, head to Maryland International Raceway next weekend, September 23-25, for the 30th annual DME Racing Fall Nationals because XDA is always the place to be!

Visit xdaracing.com for event information, class rules, payouts, entry fees, schedule, and more.

About XDA Racing: The Xtreme Dragbike Association (XDA) is an east coast motorcycle drag racing series with 700+ motorcycle racers competing at each event. Every XDA event hosts professional classes, sportsman classes, grudge racing and a vendor midway. Lifestyle activities such as bike shows, bikini contests, DJ and live bands are also held at select events.

For more information on the XDA, please visit xdaracing.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @xdaracing

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Kawasaki Rider Jason Anderson Secures Consecutive Podium Finish

By General Posts

Monster Energy® Kawasaki Rider Jason Anderson Secures Consecutive Podium Finish at Washougal

July 23, 2022 | Washougal MX Park | Washougal, Wash.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (July 24, 2022) – Round 8 of the 2022 AMA Pro Motocross Championship headed to the Pacific Northwest in Washougal, Washington, where Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson claimed his fourth overall podium finish with a third-place result. Fellow Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Joey Savatgy capitalized on two superb starts to earn seventh overall with 7-7 moto scores. In the 250 Class, Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Jo Shimoda mastered the forests of Washougal to claim third overall (3-3), while teammate Seth Hammaker battled to respectable 5-8 moto finishes for sixth overall.

The evergreens of the Pacific Northwest provided a picturesque background for the 41st running of the Washougal MX National as a sea of fans cheered on the world’s elite motocross racers. Drastic changes in elevation, dark shadows and mixed soil conditions offered unique challenges for all riders from the start of qualifying. The 450 Class qualifying sessions began with both Anderson and Savatgy recording lap times inside the top-10 before electing to make slight bike adjustments to better suit the slick track conditions. As the second qualifying session began winding down, Anderson recorded a 2:11.361 lap time to qualify third overall. An accident towards the end of the second session cost Savatgy the opportunity to better his 2:14.155 time from the first session but was still fast enough to rank the No.17 ninth fastest heading into Moto 1.

The start of 450 Moto 1 would see both Monster Energy Kawasaki riders emerge from the first turn inside the top-5. Anderson and Savatgy utilized the power of their KX™450SR motorcycles to keep the leaders within reach early on. A mistake by Anderson on Lap 2 would drop the No.21 back to seventh however, a quick recovery allowed the New Mexico native to maneuver past his competitors and back into fourth place within one lap. Running 15 seconds behind his closest championship points rival, Anderson steadily chipped away at the deficit as the race progressed. With less than 10 minutes left in the moto, Anderson placed heavy pressure on the rider in third before lighting up the roars of the crowd by making the pass for the podium. Meanwhile, the No.17 was engrossed in a three-rider battle for sixth nearly the entire duration of the race. When the checkered flag flew, Anderson crossed the line in third and Savatgy finished seventh.

The second 450 Class moto began with both Monster Energy Kawasaki riders again crossing the holeshot line inside the top-5. The No.21 established himself in third from the start of the race and briefly latched onto the leaders pace, but slick conditions and deep ruts made it difficult for Anderson to match the pace. Savatgy settled into fifth early in the race but came under heavy pressure around Lap 4. Unwilling to concede the position, Savatgy raised the pace and focused forward. This pressure forced a mistake by the rider ahead, allowing Savatgy to capitalize and secure fourth for a couple laps before a mistake of his own dropped him three positions. At the finish, Anderson secured his second consecutive podium result with a third overall (3-3), while Savatgy brought home a respectable seventh overall with 7-7 finishes.

“Being the third best guy out there is hard to accept. I expect to be up front every round and I’ve proven I have the speed to do it, but we just didn’t have it today. The guys up front were running a crazy pace. All in all, it was still a good day for us and we made up points in the race for third in the championship. We’ll try to keep this podium streak going as we head into the final four rounds.” – Jason Anderson

“I had a scary moment in practice after I caught my foot in a rut coming off the face of a tabletop. It could’ve been really bad but I’m happy I was able to save that one. Overall, seventh is right around where I expect to be right now. Obviously, I’d like to be up front with the leaders, but we’re making progress. If I can keep fighting for the fourths, fifths and sixths until the end of the season I’ll be proud.” – Joey Savatgy

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Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker was poised to improve on his seventh-place result from last weekend as he set the fourth fastest time in 250 Class qualifying (2:13.741).

Meanwhile, Shimoda clocked in the seventh fastest lap (2:14.252) overall.

At the start of Moto 1, Shimoda launched his KX™250 out the gate to claim the holeshot and the lead. Teammate Hammaker was also out to a great start, emerging from the first turn in fourth. With a clear track ahead, the Japanese-born sensation tried to break away from the pack but was instantly met with heavy pressure from the rider in second. The No.30 had the crowd on their feet as he defended attack after attack from his opponent for four laps before conceding the position. The pressure didn’t stop there, however, as Shimoda was again faced with pressure from another competitor behind. The roars of the crowd followed Shimoda around the track as he used a combination of raw speed and optimal line selection to maintain second position. The intense battle reached its climax when the No.30 dropped to third. Fellow Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Hammaker was sitting comfortably in fourth most of the race before a former 250 Class Championship began creeping up behind him. Unphased by his opponent, Hammaker upped his pace and fended off his attacker for six laps before settling for fifth. When the checkered flag came out, Shimoda crossed the line in third and Hammaker was not far behind in fifth.

The second 250 Class moto hosted green out front again as Shimoda came across the holeshot line in third and Hammaker close behind in fifth. A quick pass by the No.30 moved him into second before the end of the opening lap. With only one rider in front, Shimoda began to slowly chip at the leader’s advantage until he was caught in a battle of his own to maintain second place. Shimoda did all he could to hold last year’s 250 Class champion at bay but a slight bobble down the backside of Horsepower Hill saw the No.30 move into third. The battles for Shimoda continued down to the checkered flag as he put on a heroic effort to hold off the Moto 1 winner for the last two laps of the race and cross the finish line in third. Hammaker, comfortably in fifth for much of the race, faced a mid-moto push by the riders behind who caught up to the No.47 and moved him back to eighth by the time the checkered flag flew. Despite Shimoda’s brilliant 3-3 performances, the swapping of positions from the top four riders awarded the No.30 fourth overall with his teammate Hammaker securing sixth (5-8).

“Overall, it was a good day with me getting the holeshot and leading in Moto 1. I was able to stick with the leaders for a long time and win some hard battles which is nice because I think my speed was off today. Next week we’re going to do some more practicing before taking a little break to recharge during the off weekend so we can finish the season strong.” – Jo Shimoda

“It felt good to mix it up with the guys inside the top-five for as long as I did in both motos. My goal is to keep progressing with each week and hopefully, after the two-week break, we’ll come back recharged and ready to battle for podiums.” – Seth Hammake

AFT FTR750: Indian Motorcycle crushes competition at Port Royal

By General Posts

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE RACING CRUSHES THE COMPETITION AT THE PORT ROYAL HALF-MILE
WITH BAUMAN, VANDERKOOI AND MEES SWEEPING THE PODIUM FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE WEEKEND

Win Marks Briar Bauman’s Third of the Season and Closes Championship Chase to 8-points

Jarod Vanderkooi Continues to Impress with Back-to-Back Second-Place Finishes

Minneapolis, MN. (July 18, 2022) – Indian Motorcycle Racing, presented by Progressive Motorcycle Insurance, had another outstanding night of racing at the Port Royal Half-Mile in Port Royal, Pennsylvania, with Briar Bauman riding unchallenged throughout the 26-lap Mission SuperTwins Main Event to claim his second consecutive victory. In another FTR750 podium sweep, Bauman was joined by privateer Jarod Vanderkooi in second and current points leader, Jared Mees, taking third.

In the main event, Bauman was swift off the starting line, getting the hole shot and an immediate lead over Mees, running close behind in second. Despite early attempts by Mees to overtake him, Bauman remained unphased, opening up a gap on Mees and the rest of the field. Bauman led wire-to-wire, ultimately taking the checkered flag for his third win of the season. Meanwhile, Mees was entangled in a heated battle with Vanderkooi for second. With less than a minute and two-laps remaining, Vanderkooi made a bold move, taking the higher outside line to pass Mees and secure his second-place spot on the podium.

“Tonight was another incredible night of racing and a testament to the talent and grit of our riders. Considering the restrictions that have recently been imposed on the FTR750, it’s all the more gratifying to sweep the podium for the second consecutive weekend,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing, Service & Technology for Indian Motorcycle. “Briar’s [Bauman] incredible will has been on display at these past two events, and as a result, he’s back in the hunt as the battle for the championship tightens. It’s looking to be an absolute dogfight over the remainder of the season.”

Mees continues to lead the championship with 173 points, while Bauman now sits solidly in second place trailing by a mere eight points.

In addition to the incredible racing action, the night was filled with emotion for Bauman and the entire paddock, following the tragic loss of a fellow racer, Ryan Varnes, at the recent New York Short Track. Bauman paid tribute to Varnes throughout his winning night, memorializing Varnes’ by donning his number 68 and including Varnes’ girlfriend, Jennifer Hoshauer, with him on his victory lap.

The 2022 AFT season will continue on Saturday, July 30 at the Peoria TT in Peoria, IL.

Sponsors for Indian Motorcycle Racing’s American Flat Track efforts include Progressive Insurance, S&S®, Indian Motorcycle Oil, Mission Foods, Bell Helmets, Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited.

For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE® : Indian Motorcycle is America’s First Motorcycle Company®. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com

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Jo Shimoda Makes History with First Pro Motocross Overall Win at RedBud

By General Posts

Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jo Shimoda Makes History with First Pro Motocross Overall Win at RedBud

July 2, 2022 | RedBud MX | Buchanan, Mich.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (July 3, 2022) – The AMA Pro Motocross Championship headed north to Buchanan, Michigan for Round 5, ‘America’s National’ at the iconic RedBud MX. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Jo Shimoda proved himself to be a fan favorite by animating the notoriously lively crowd with 1-3 moto scores en route to carving his name in the history books as the first Japanese rider to earn an AMA Pro Motocross overall win. Fellow Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker overcame second moto adversity for 11th overall (5-15), while Ryder DiFrancesco scored 14-12 for 13th overall in his Pro Motocross debut. In the 450 Class, Jason Anderson secured fourth overall (7-4) and Joey Savatgy finished sixth overall after a personal best third place in Moto 1 (3-9).

The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team quickly set the tone for the day as all three riders charged through the opening qualification sessions. Shimoda was clearly in tune with both track and machine as he logged the fastest lap (2:03.742) of the 250 Class to claim his first pole qualification. Meanwhile, Hammaker ranked ninth with a 2:06.226 and DiFrancesco showed his readiness to compete with the Pro Motocross elite by qualifying 11th (2:06.297).

At the start of 250 Moto 1, the rising Team Green star DiFrancesco was narrowly edged out for the holeshot with both of his teammates close in flank. A push of the front end in Turn 2, however, placed DiFrancesco on the ground and shuffled him to the bottom of the running order; the young rider had his work cut out for him in the race ahead. Meanwhile, Shimoda and Hammaker established themselves inside the top five with decisive moves on the opening lap. Shimoda raised the intensity to a fever pitch as he swiftly became the driving force in a three-way battle for the lead position. The No.30 KX™250 rider kept his main championship rivals under heavy pressure for the lion’s share of the race until he finally took command of the top spot with six laps remaining. Shimoda held true to form by maintaining his pace through the finish to claim his first moto win with more than a 20-second margin over second place. Hammaker logged consistent laps to hold onto a fifth-place finish while DiFrancesco turned heads with an impressive race from 32nd on the opening lap to 14th at the checkered flag.

The second 250 Class moto hosted green at the front again when DiFrancesco grabbed his first Pro Motocross holeshot in just his second start. A quick pass by Hammaker in the opening section of Lap 1 allowed the No.47 rider to take control of the lead from DiFrancesco before he lost traction accelerating out of Turn 4 and crashed. Further back, Shimoda found himself in 25th at the end of the first lap after a non-optimal start was worsened by a collision with another rider. DiFrancesco persisted with his sights on the leaders as the rookie held his own in the top five for more than half the race. While DiFrancesco gained vital experience at the front of the field, the crowd’s attention turned to Shimoda who was racing his way back into overall contention. The roars of the crowd followed Shimoda around the track while he passed multiple riders per lap, using creative line selection and relentlessly carrying his momentum through the pack. Despite his early race adversity, Shimoda clawed his way up to a heroic third place position to secure his first career overall win and made his mark in the history books as the first Japanese rider to grace the top step of the AMA Pro Motocross podium. After visiting the mechanic’s area to regroup from his crash, Hammaker made his way to 15th to salvage 11th overall (5-15) on the day and DiFrancesco finished the race with a respectable 12th place finish for 13th overall (14-12).

“In the first moto, I started up front and had a fast pace going as I pressured the Lawrence brothers for the top-two positions. I was able to make a good pass into the lead and finished strong for the moto win. In Moto 2, my start wasn’t great and then I got caught up with some riders on the first lap which put me outside the top 20. I pushed hard the whole race to fight my way to third and earned my first overall victory. I had to race really hard in both motos, and it paid off for a great day.”
– Jo Shimoda

“I made it a little tougher on myself than I needed to today but, my starts are improving and I just need to clean up a few things. In Moto 1, I had a pretty steady race all the way through to come away with a fifth but, I was looking to better that and get into the podium battle in Moto 2. Unfortunately, I lost traction at the bottom of the hill and fell just after passing into the lead so, I had to race forward from the back of the pack. It’s frustrating of course but, I will keep putting myself up there in the mix and keep improving to iron out those small mistakes.”
– Seth Hammaker

“I had a great start in the first moto but, a crash in the second corner put me way down the running order. I raced forward and made a bunch of passes to finish 14th. In Moto 2, I grabbed the holeshot which felt awesome, and I did my best to keep pace with the leaders for as long as I could. My goal for the day was to do exactly what I did for the first half of that second moto, I matched the speed of the guys at the front for as long as I could before getting tight and settling back a bit. I’m looking forward to Millville where I’ll try my best to stay up there even longer.”
– Ryder DiFrancesco



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The RedBud National featured the second reverse moto schedule of the season which meant a smoother track and higher speeds for the 450 Class qualifying sessions as they took to the course first. Never shying away from a high speeds, the Monster Energy Kawasaki duo of Anderson and Savatgy put the power of their KX™450SR machines on display by qualifying at the front in both timed sessions. When qualification concluded, Anderson had the second-fastest lap of the morning (2:03.505) and Savatgy was hot on his tail with the third-best lap time (2:03.698).

In 450 Class Moto 1, Savatgy was narrowly beaten out for the holeshot as he jockeyed for position with several of the top championship contenders. At the completion of Lap 1, Savatgy had taken a firm hold on second place with his pace in lockstep with the race leader. Unfortunately, Anderson was collected in a first turn crash and the No.21 KX™450SR rider crossed the green flag in 31st position. As the race progressed, Savatgy fortified his spot at the front by extending a gap over the riders behind and keeping in close tow of the rider out front. Unphased by the pressure of battling among several premier class champions while maintaining a smooth intensity to his speed, Savatgy held onto second place until Lap 14 when he was overtaken. A brief battle ensued when Savatgy launched himself back into second by skying out Larocco’s Leap but, he soon settled into third for the final laps of the moto. Savatgy crossed the checkered in third to secure his first 450 Class podium result and proved his recent progress with the Monster Energy Kawasaki team is affirming his place among the best in the world. Not to be overshadowed, Anderson thrilled fans as he charged through the field for the full 30-minute plus two lap race, passing over 25 riders, to secure eighth place at the finish.

The second 450 Class moto saw both Monster Energy Kawasaki KX™450SR riders emerge from Turn 1 inside the top-10. Anderson looked to fight toward a podium position as he moved forward from fifth on the opening lap to take control of fourth on Lap 4. A brief crash in the turn prior to the mechanic’s area, however, set the New Mexican back to eighth place and forced him to race his way up the running order again. A benefactor of Anderson’s crash, Savatgy moved into contention for the overall podium as he pressed forward to sixth by Lap 5. Savatgy continued to push himself forward until a swap through the sand turn after Larocco’s Leap caused him to crash and drop to ninth place on Lap 6. Anderson quickly found his form again as he maneuvered through the competition to reach fifth place by the checkered flag; his 7-5 moto scores earned him fourth overall. Savatgy finished out Moto 2 in ninth to earn sixth overall (3-9) and, more importantly, proved himself as a legitimate podium contender.

“Minor crashes in each moto cost me valuable time and positions early so, I felt like I was playing catch up all day. My speed was solid, and the bike felt great but, a couple of miscues are all it takes to put the podium out of reach. Overall, I made a lot of passes out there and managed to salvage a fourth overall so, we’ll just keep moving forward with the goal of getting another win here soon.”
– Jason Anderson

“It’s been almost four years since the last time I was on the podium and there have been plenty of highs and lows along the way. Finally getting myself back up on the box in the first moto felt amazing. Thank you to the Monster Energy Kawasaki team for this opportunity to be racing and improving each weekend. I was set back a bit overall by the crash in Moto 2 but, we took major steps in the right direction today and look forward to more progress ahead.”
– Joey Savatgy

Victory in Atlanta for Monster Energy Kawasaki Rider Jason Anderson

By General Posts

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (April 17, 2022) – Round 14 of the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross Championship brought riders from across the country to Atlanta Motor Speedway for a unique racetrack in the infield of the iconic racing venue. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Jason Anderson claimed his fourth win of the season with a commanding performance in the 450SX Main Event. Meanwhile, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jo Shimoda and Austin Forkner earned fourth place and seventh place respectively in the 250SX East/West Showdown.

Anderson and the rest of the Monster Energy Kawasaki team arrived to Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday morning to find the grounds flooded from overnight rainfall. As the rain continued through the morning hours, scheduling adjustments were made to preserve the track. The revised schedule granted the riders in each classification a single 13-minute timed qualifying session prior to the start of the racing program. Adding to the challenge of learning a track in such short time, the specially designed Atlanta circuit hosted one of the longest starts in Supercross history, multiple whoop sections and over twelve turns, altogether producing the longest lap times so far this season. Knowing his time on the track was limited, Anderson launched straight out to a high pace on lap one of the timed session. The No.21 KX™450SR rider battled at the top of the leader board for the entire session as he made the most of the slick conditions. When the session concluded, Anderson recorded the second fastest time of the morning with a 1:25.286.

At the start of the first 450SX Heat Race, Anderson emerged from the first turn in second position. With dryer track conditions and increased traction, Anderson quickly turned up the pace from his qualifying laps and took control of the lead before the end of Lap 1. The New Mexico native responded to pressure from the current points leader by improving his lap times as the race progressed. There was a brief exchange for the lead position on Lap 5 before a crowd animating pass while sliding around the inside of one of the track’s sweeping 180 turns moved Anderson back into the top spot. When the checkered flag flew, Anderson was over four seconds clear of the competition, claiming his fifth heat race win of the season.

When the gate dropped for the 450SX Main Event, Anderson once again launched his KX™450SR out to the front of the pack. The podium positions were tightly contested for the opening laps as Anderson tactfully moved passed his main championship rivals. On Lap 3, Anderson gained control of the lead by capitalizing on a mistake from the competition. The Atlanta crowd soon erupted again as Anderson took advantage of the clear track in front of him to start jumping an impressive triple-quad rhythm section before the finish line. Continuing to jump the rhythm lap after lap, igniting the crowd consistently, Anderson steadily built a sizeable lead over the riders behind. By Lap 11, the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider was more than eight seconds ahead of the closest competitor. With a nearly perfect race from start to finish, Anderson crossed the checkered flag first, lighting the Monster Energy fire cannons and securing his fourth Monster Energy Supercross win of 2022.

Anderson’s impressive win in Atlanta moves him three points closer to the 450SX Championship points lead as he stands firmly in second place with three rounds remaining.

“It seemed like we might have a mudder this morning but, the dirt came around after the sun showed up around mid-day. By the time my Main Event started, the track was gnarly but, we’re in a great spot with the bike so I was able to keep pushing the pace through the tough conditions. Even though the whoops were cupped out and edgy, the bike was consistent and predictable, so I kept charging across them every lap. The whole team has put in a lot of effort to have the KX™450SR working as good as it is right now so hopefully we can enjoy a few more of these wins before the season ends.”
– Jason Anderson

Returning to the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship, Forkner joined his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki 250SX Western Regional teammate Shimoda in Atlanta for the first East/West Showdown of the year. In one of the first groups to take to the wet track, Forkner proved he hasn’t missed a beat by jumping right to the top of the 250SX East qualifying leaderboard. When his qualifying session concluded, the Missouri native had the second fastest lap time with a 1:28.808. In the 250SX West qualifying, Shimoda made himself acquainted with the track by exploring a variety of different lines and setting the sixth fastest lap time with a 1:30.773.

When the 250SX East Heat Race rounded the first turn, Forkner found himself ahead of only one rider as he narrowly avoided a first turn crash. The No.33 KX™250 rider made quick moves through the opening lap, however, passing his way into seventh by the end of Lap 1. Despite racing through traffic on the wet track, Forkner began setting the fastest laps of the race. Forkner passed at least one rider each lap while rapidly closing the distance between himself and the leader. When the white flag waved, Forkner was up to third in the running order but, the tenacious rider wasn’t settled. On the final lap, the fans at Atlanta Motor Speedway roared with cheers as Forkner made two daring passes to claim the 250SX East Heat win by a thrillingly slim margin and establish himself as a contender to win the 250SX East/West Showdown.

At the start of the 250SX West Heat race, Shimoda proved he had made gains with his starts by launching out to the early lead. Shimoda led the opening lap before a couple minor mistakes on Lap 2 forced him to relinquish the position and settle into third place. The Japanese-born rider matched pace with the riders ahead as a battle for the top five positions ensued for the better portion of the qualifying race. On the final lap, Shimoda lost one more position before finishing out the race in fourth place with a direct transfer to the 250SX East/West Showdown.

When the gate dropped for the 250SX East/West Showdown Main Event, the No.30 KX™250 rider Shimoda rocketed out to the holeshot and early lead while Forkner quickly made his way forward from sixth. After a few swift passes by Forkner, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki duo occupied two of the three podium positions for the opening laps with Shimoda setting the pace out front and amassing a roughly two second gap over the rest of the field. On Lap 3, Forkner lost a position after the split sand section and settled into fourth until he eventually dropped back to seventh due to a small crash in a rutted corner a few laps later. Meanwhile, Shimoda proved his grit by battling for podium contention and withstanding pressure from the respective championship challengers of each regional series through the first 10 laps of the race. Shimoda balanced intensity with finesse on the non-traditional supercross track to maintain control of third position in the running order until he was overtaken through the whoops while approaching the white flag. Shimoda challenged back for a final lap battle over the last podium position but ultimately crossed the finish in fourth place. Forkner regained his momentum late in the race and finished with a respectable seventh place result.

Shimoda’s fourth place finish in Atlanta marks his fourth top-five of the season and moves him to only two points shy of fourth in the 250SX Western Regional Championship points standings.

Forkner’s seventh place finish secures his third top-ten result of the season as the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki rider had an impressive return to the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship.

“This weekend my starts were really good in the heat and the Main Event so that is nice progress on something I’ve been working to improve. At the beginning of the main I felt strong and was comfortable out front with the lead but, I think my speed was a little bit off this weekend, so I ended up being passed by a few riders. I want to be back on the podium, so I wouldn’t say that I’m satisfied with fourth place but, there are positives to take away from this weekend and we will keep trying to be better.”
– Jo Shimoda

“I’ve been eager to get back to racing and definitely wanted to show that I’m a contender for wins this year. In the Heat Race, I was really happy with my riding. To come through the whole field and get a win with a last lap pass on last weekend’s overall winner was a good way to get back into the swing of things. I’ve only been back on the bike about a week now, so I was really happy with my race craft and I think I was on track to have another strong performance in the Main Event until I crashed while running in third. Overall, it was great to be racing again and I’m ready to fight for some wins before the championship ends.”
– Austin Forkner

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Pirelli Announces 2022 #PirelliNation Road Race Community Program

By General Posts

For the second consecutive year, Paasch captured the victory and Rolex

Submit Your Application by April 15 for the Opportunity to Join Pirelli’s Road Racing Community

Join racers like two-time defending Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch as a part of the #pirellination road racing community.

ROME, Ga. (April 1, 2022) – Pirelli Tire North America is pleased to announce the launch of its new #pirellination road race community for the 2022 racing season. As the official tire of the MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship, Pirelli and its DIABLO™ Superbike lineup is the go-to tire by racers around the world. Pirelli remains dedicated to the grassroots part of the sport, continuing with its motto “we sell what we race, we race what we sell”, and all riders may purchase the same race compound tires found on the bikes of their favorite professional riders and World Champions like Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu.

The road race community program will ensure racers are the first to know about the latest brand news, be notified of Pirelli’s newest products, receive updates on national marketing opportunities within the brand, and be given access to technical advice and service at select races. Pirelli’s team will also be identifying and selecting several candidates who will have the opportunity to purchase race compound tires at preferred pricing and provided with Pirelli team-branded gear.

Residents of the United States and Canada are eligible for the program.

“Pirelli is extremely excited about building up its racer community with the all-new #PirelliNation program,” said Oscar Solis, road race manager, Pirelli. “Everything we do from the very top as a brand, including product development with World and National Championship racers, trickles down to the local, club level racer. Our goal remains to provide the everyday rider and racer with access to the latest technology and the very best products available on the market. With this new community, it will allow us to strengthen our bond with those racers, educate them on our products, and provide them with the knowledge and ingredients needed to succeed.”

Pirelli’s high-performance DIABLO Superbike lineup offers several different compounds including SC1, SC2, and SC3 on the front and SCX, SC0, SC1, SC2, and SC3 on the rear.

View the complete range of DIABLO Superbike tires on the Pirelli website.

CLICK HERE to submit your application for the 2022 #pirellination program. All applications must be submitted no later than April 15, 2022.

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