Skip to main content
search
Tag

Jason Anderson

Mar 20

A Breakthrough Top-Five Finish for Monster Energy rider Chris Blose

By General Posts

A Breakthrough Top-Five Finish for Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Chris Blose

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (March 19, 2023) – The Motown music echoed through snowy streets as Monster Energy® Supercross raced into the Motor City for Detroit SX, Round 10 of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship. In the 250SX Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Chris Blose led the Team Green® charge with his first top-five result of the season. In the 450SX Class, Adam Cianciarulo led laps early in the Main Event until mid-race adversity relegated him and his Monster Energy Kawasaki teammate Jason Anderson to eighth and ninth place at the checkered flag.

The opening laps of the first free practice session revealed that the Detroit SX track was set to give the top riders in the world all they could handle. The sharp whoop section and abundance of tight switchback turns proved further complicated by the unique terrain of deep ruts and a hard packed base layer. Blose was quick to assert his competence in the whoops as he mastered the most challenging section of the track and began to rival near the top of the leaderboard. In the final qualification session, Blose executed the track with precision and strung together several race simulated laps to log the seventh fastest lap time of the morning (53.393).

At the start of 250SX Heat 2, Blose emerged from the first turn in fifth with his sight set forward until an early-race mistake shuffled him back to eighth place. Blose regrouped by the end of Lap 2 and began to work his way up the running order. With superior whoop speed and consistent laps, the No.57 Kawasaki KX™250 rider overtook his rivals in rapid succession. Blose advanced through the field to challenge for fourth on the final lap before securing a fifth-place place result and earning a direct transfer to the Main Event.

When the gate dropped for the 250SX Main Event, Blose again launched out to a fifth-place start and quickly found his rhythm. With the championship points leaders ahead, Blose latched onto the pace of the front group and began to separate himself from the rest of the class. The veteran rider logged steady laps and was one of the few competitors continuing to blitz through the increasingly challenging whoop section in the late stages. With just four laps remaining, a near collision with a lapped rider forced Blose to get hard on his brakes and allowed former two-time MX2 World Champion Tom Vialle to close the distance between them. Blose proved his determination in the closing laps of the race as he fended off the world class pressure and earned his first top-five finish of the 2023 season in impressive fashion.

“The support of the Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team has been awesome as we’ve focused on building with each week of racing. I’ve improved my main event finish by one position at each of the last three races, so I’d say that process has been going really well. It was great to break into the top-five and show the hard work of this whole squad. Now, with a few weeks to prepare for Atlanta, we should be even more ready to challenge at the front of the pack.” – Chris Blose

Gear up to ride to your favorite Motorcycling Events – Click Here to view the all-new 5-Ball Racing Shop

* * * *

The Monster Energy® Kawasaki duo of Anderson and Cianciarulo took to the track with a clear purpose for the opening 450SX Free Practice as they quickly dialed in the course and began experimenting with alternate rhythms. As the qualification sessions progressed, both Kawasaki KX™450SR riders honed in on the ideal racing line and ramped up their intensity. Anderson, the second fastest qualifier of the morning (51.491), was edged out for pole position by less than a tenth of a second, and Cianciarulo followed close on his heels with the fourth fastest lap (51.927).

When the gate dropped for 450SX Heat 1, Anderson rocketed out to the holeshot and immediately extended a gap from the field by tripling through the opening section. Cianciarulo emerged from the first turn in ninth but thrilled the crowd as he made quick work of the competition and passed his way into third before the end of the second lap. While Cianciarulo continued his pursuit of second place, Anderson set sail out front to lead every lap of the race and secure a commanding heat race win; the 33rd 450SX Heat Win of his career. Cianciarulo’s charge through the pack earned him third at the finish.

The Kawasaki duo lined up for the 450SX Main Event with first gate pick for the No. 21 of Anderson. When the gate dropped, the KX™450SR was out to the early lead, but this time it was Cianciarulo at the tip of the spear. The No.9 Kawasaki rider commanded the start of the race with the championship contenders all hot on his trail. Anderson, racing ahead from an eighth-place start, was pushing the pack forward while Cianciarulo fought to defend his lead. The intensity of the front battle increased and Cianciarulo was shuffled to sixth on Lap 4. Cianciarulo and Anderson matched pace for several laps in sixth and seventh until Anderson crashed exiting the whoop section and dropped back to 10th. Meanwhile, Cianciarulo was pushing his way forward and inching back into contention for the top-five battle until he too made a mistake and crashed over the rutted step-on-step-off section. The Monster Energy® Kawasaki teammates both continued to charge to the finish and reclaimed positions late in the race for respective eighth and ninth place finishes at the checkered flag.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m a little frustrated about my fall in the Main Event, but there are so many positives to focus on from the day that I know we’re making progress. This dirt was tricky to find comfort on, but I had a solid run in qualifying this morning and backed it up with a good ride in the Heat Race. In the Main, I led some laps early and, once I settled in behind Kenny (Roczen), I was able to stay right there with those guys. Unfortunately, that one mistake cost me a few positions, but we’ll focus forward to Seattle and aim to tie it at all together.” – Adam Cianciarulo

“My day started out strong with good times in qualifying and I knew my KX™450SR was in a good spot to be competitive on this track. I grabbed the holeshot in my Heat Race and led start to finish, so the goal was to carry that into the Main Event. I started a little further back in the top 10 and then, while trying to battle my way forward, I got close with Adam in the whoops and just lost it. After I got up from the crash everything was pretty tweaked, so I focused on making the most of it and salvaged what I could for a top-10.” – Jason Anderson

* * * *

Get inspired by World’s Fastest Panhead book for upcoming Bonneville Salt Flats Land Speed records this season !!! Click to view the all-new 5-Ball Racing Shop.

Jul 26

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

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Gear up to ride to your favorite Motorcycling Events – Click Here to checkout the all-new 5-Ball Racing Shop.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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

Apr 19

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

Sign up for Free Weekly Newsletter from Bikernet.com to stay updated on latest Motorcycle news, events, products, tech, tips, reviews, fun & more
Click Here to Join – it’s Free – you can unsubscribe anytime

Mar 21

Update: Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki at AMA Supercross Championship

By General Posts

Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo Finishes Second in Indianapolis

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (March 20, 2022) – Round 11 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship brought the series to Indianapolis where a tight and technical track layout greeted the world’s finest supercross racers and resulted in an action-packed night that saw Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Cameron McAdoo secure his second consecutive runner-up finish of the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship. In the 450SX Class, Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Jason Anderson bounced back from adversity to finish the race in sixth.

McAdoo, who currently sits second in the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship points standings, entered the weekend action at Lucas Oil Stadium hoping to place more pressure on the current points leader and keep his championship fight alive. McAdoo started the day on the top of the leaderboard in the first 250SX qualifying session after recording a 44.786 lap time. In the final 250SX qualifying session, the Iowa-native utilized the power of his Kawasaki KX™250 to uncork a massive quad after the finish line jump and improve his overall time to 44.060 and qualify second overall heading into the night show.

McAdoo started the first 250SX heat race of the night by grabbing the holeshot and establishing himself at the front of the pack early. The No.48 KX250 rider used his experience to control the lead and develop a sizeable gap from the competition behind during the opening laps. From then on, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider rode a flawless race as he went on to collect his first heat race win of the 2022 supercross season.

At the start of the 250SX Main Event, McAdoo emerged from the first turn in second place and within striking distance of the leader. As the top two quickly broke away from the rest of the field, McAdoo used the opportunity to study his opponent’s line choice and plan his attack. The front two momentarily jockeyed for first place early in the race before the Kawasaki rider took full control of the lead with 11 minutes remaining. Halfway through the main event, the 250SX veteran used his cunning race skills to maneuver past lapped riders, however, he would surrender the lead after a few close calls racing through traffic. Despite his best effort to reclaim first place, McAdoo finished the race in second and maintains second overall in the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship points standings.

McAdoo’s stellar performance in Indiana places the Iowa native just 11 points back from the lead in the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship as the series prepares a return to the West Coast next weekend.

“Overall, we had another solid weekend. I was feeling really good in practice and enjoyed the track a lot all day. It felt nice getting my first heat race win of the season and battling for the main event lead. The track was super tight and developed deep ruts as the night went on, which I think was a benefit for me as I was able to use my experience on rough tracks to make the pass for the lead. Unfortunately, I missed my line going through the whoops one too many times while trying to cut through lapped traffic and got passed back. The good news is we still finished second and are in the title fight. Now it’s time to let the west coast guys race next weekend before we come out swinging in full force at St. Louis.”
– Cameron McAdoo

The 450SX qualifying action on Saturday morning saw Anderson start the day by recording the fastest lap time (44.842) in the first 450SX qualifying session.

Pleased with how his Kawasaki KX™450SR was performing, Anderson elected to make no bike changes before the second timed qualifying practice and instead focused on improving his line choices. At the end of timed qualifying, Anderson clocked an improved lap time of 43.124 to qualify second overall.

The beginning of 450SX Heat 1 saw Anderson launch out to a top-three start and use the impressive handling of his KX450SR to jump into second place by the second turn. With his sights set on the lead, Anderson used his impressive corner speed to move into first place with just two turns remaining before the end of Lap 1. The No.21 Kawasaki rider wasted no time gapping the competition as he proceeded to build a six-second lead on his way to winning the first 450SX heat race of the night.

When the gate dropped on the 450SX Main Event, Anderson again emerged from the first turn inside the top three. The excellent start allowed the No.21 Kawasaki rider to advance into second early in the race and keep the leader within reach. Facing serious pressure from behind, Anderson proved his resilience by refusing to surrender second place and ultimately shutting down every pass attempt made from the competition behind. With three 450SX wins under his belt this season, Anderson was in search of more and mounted a charge for the lead with 13 minutes remaining. The New Mexico native capitalized on a mistake from the leader in the whoop section and used his sly race craft to take control of first place momentarily before contact from the rider behind dropped Anderson to seventh place. With little time remaining in the race, Anderson continued to race forward and finished in sixth.

With another top-10 finish, Anderson maintains his second-place ranking in the 450SX championship points standing.

“I came into the weekend feeling ready to fight for a win and had a solid day going, especially after the heat race win and first gate pick. Come main event time, I had to do some serious defending early to stay in second and have a chance at the win. We lost some points this weekend but there’s still plenty of fight left in me. I’m here to win and that’s going to remain my main goal for the rest of the season.”
– Jason Anderson

Subscribe to Bikernet FREE Weekly Newsletter to get updates on Motorcycle industry, events, products, news, tech & fun – CLICK HERE To Subscribe.

Mar 15

AMA Supercross Championship: Cameron McAdoo Secures Fourth Consecutive Podium

By General Posts

Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo Secures Fourth Consecutive Podium in Detroit

March 12, 2022 | Ford Field | Detroit, Michigan

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (March 13, 2022) – Round 10 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship brought the series to the famous Motor City of Detroit, Michigan, where Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Cameron McAdoo secured his fourth consecutive podium result with a second-place finish. In the 450SX Class, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson was involved in an exciting battle for the lead before a late-race crash ended his race.

McAdoo entered Saturday’s morning qualifying session keen on closing in on the championship lead. From the first timed qualifying session, it was clear McAdoo had the pace to win as he used the power of his Kawasaki KX™250 to uncork a massive quad down the rhythm section and record the fastest lap of session one. At the end of the timed qualifying sessions, Team Green’s McAdoo recorded the third-fastest time overall with a 44.480.

In 250SX Heat 2, McAdoo started the race in seventh place. With his sights set forward, the No.48 quickly began planning his attack towards the front during the opening laps. McAdoo’s superior speed through the whoop section made all the difference in the short race as he was able to utilize this advantage to make his way up to second place before the end of the race.

At the start of the 250SX Main Event, McAdoo found himself caught up in the middle of the pack as he navigated through the first rhythm section inside the top-10. Eager to make his way up the field, McAdoo used his creative line choice to move past the competition and run in third before the start of Lap 3. By the halfway mark, the Team Green™ rider was following close behind second place and again utilized his impressive speed through the whoop section to make the pass. After moving into second, McAdoo fended off immediate pressure from the rider behind and proceeded to build a comfortable gap between him and third in the following laps. The Iowa native continued his charge forward but limited time forced McAdoo to settle for a second-place finish.

McAdoo’s impressive charge through the field on his No.48 KX™250 secured a fourth consecutive podium finish of the 2022 season maintaining second place in the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship points standings.

“This is my first time racing here in Detroit and I’m happy with how the day went. We started on a strong note after finishing the first timed qualifying session with the fastest lap time and backed that up with a strong showing in my heat race. I really want to be battling for wins and know I have the speed to do so, I just need to work on getting better starts so I can be in the mix from early on. Overall, I’m proud of how I rode and am thankful I have such a strong team supporting me.”
– Cameron McAdoo

Coming into the day with the expectation of testing different bike setups, Anderson started his morning by closely examining the layout in Ford Field during riders’ track walk. Anderson and the team discussed the day’s game plan before qualifying, anticipating how the track would change throughout the day due to the unique Detroit dirt which was tackier than in years past. In the later stages of qualifying, Anderson consistently recorded lap times near the top of the timesheet before recording a 43.716 lap time for third-fastest heading into the night show.

The beginning of 450SX Heat 2 saw Anderson utilize the impressive handling of his KX™450SR to trade positions with the front runners during the opening laps. Combining fast laps with consistent whoop speed, the No.21 Kawasaki rider ran comfortably in second before the start of Lap 4. In the later stages of the race, Anderson found himself having to adapt to the track’s rapidly deteriorating surface but, like a true veteran, managed the situation with ease and finished the short qualification race in second.

The beginning of the 450SX Main Event saw Anderson off to another strong main event start and trading positions back and forth at the front of the pack before taking firm control over second place by the end of Lap 4. The No.21 KX450SR rider utilized his whoop speed to take the lead two laps later. As the race unfolded behind him, Anderson was running comfortably out front and in control of the race. Near the halfway mark, the New Mexico native began feeling immense pressure from behind but refused to hand over the position easily. Despite his best efforts, the rider behind was able to take over the lead with 10 minutes left in the race. Never one to give up, Anderson stuck close behind the leader’s wheel, studying his line choices and mounting charges to regain the lead. Unfortunately, while making a charge for the lead, Anderson suffered a late-race crash that ended his night early.

Anderson retains second place in the championship points standings with seven rounds of racing left to go.

“I was feeling really good today from the start of the first practice. Probably the best I’ve felt racing in Detroit, and I think my performance throughout the night showed I had what it took to win tonight. Unfortunately, I pushed a little too hard while challenging for the lead and had a crash that ended my race early. It’s unlucky, but these things happen. I’m just glad I feel fine right now and am planning on giving it my all in Indianapolis next weekend.”
– Jason Anderson

Feb 21

Back-to-Back Wins for Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson

By General Posts

February 19, 2022 | U.S. Bank Stadium | Minneapolis, Minnesota

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (January 20, 2022) – Round 7 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship turned a cold shoulder to the sunny skies of the California coast as race fans were met with snowy air and subzero temperatures in Minneapolis, where Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson earned the 450SX Class victory, making him the first three-time winner in the class this season. The 250SX Eastern Regional Championship kicked off with Team Green™ flanking the podium with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki riders Austin Forkner and Cameron McAdoo finishing in second and third place, respectively. Fellow Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Jett Reynolds sustained a wrist injury prior to the race that will postpone his pro debut indefinitely.

With veteran understanding of the unique Minnesota dirt, Anderson started his day with a clear intention of letting the track come to him. While the riders’ morning track walk daunted many as they recognized peakier jump faces and softer dirt than have been faced so far in 2022, Anderson expressed to the team his game plan of patiently allowing the track to develop and the transitions to wear in before pushing to race pace. The qualifying sessions went according to plan as Anderson tactfully waited until the final laps of the final session to jump to the top of the leader board. When qualifying concluded, Anderson’s 47.94 lap time earned him third position heading into the race program.

When the second 450SX heat race got underway, Anderson emerged from the first turn in 10th position. The Monster Energy Kawasaki KX™450SR rider had his work cut out for him as the track proved to have few viable passing areas during the short heat races lasting only eight minutes plus one lap. On par with what has come to be expected of him, Anderson paired fast laps with quick passes to set the best lap time of the race (48.69) to charge his way up the running order. When the checkered flag flew, Anderson crossed the finish within a bike length of third position, securing a fourth-place result and a direct transfer to the Main Event.

The start of the 450SX Main Event saw Anderson jockey for position at the front of the pack, settling into third place by the time the green flag waved. The No.21 Monster Energy Kawasaki pilot matched the pace of the leaders while enduring pressure from behind and allowing the race to unfold around him. On Lap 10, Anderson made a pass through the flat corner neighboring the mechanic’s area to take control of second place. For the latter half of the race, Anderson held close in tow of the lead as the two riders ran at a speed that would separate them from the field. With only two laps remaining, Anderson’s tactful measure proved key when the leader crashed, and he took control of the lead. Anderson went on to claim his third win of the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross Championship and now stands only three points shy of the championship lead.

“The track broke down a lot by the Main Event tonight but, that’s something we kind of expect with some of the East Coast tracks. I’ve been doing my best to prepare for it while practicing in California by riding with the Pro Circuit team every Thursday to sort of simulate race conditions. That helped tonight but, this was still a tough track for pushing the pace, and you kind of just had to let the race come to you. It’s awesome to have three wins already in the season but, we will keep taking it one race at a time as we go forward from here.”
– Jason Anderson

After much anticipation, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki riders Forkner and McAdoo were eager to prove their place among the title contenders in the opening round of the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship. From the start of first practice, the Team Green duo quickly mastered the track and began fighting for the top qualification spots. At the end of the timed sessions, Forkner claimed the first pole position of the year with a fast time of 48.56, while McAdoo’s 48.81 lap time was quick enough to qualify him in sixth position.

In the first 250SX heat race, McAdoo found himself held up in the middle of the pack before coming through the first rhythm lane in 10th place. With his sights set forward, the No.48 KX™250 rider began quickly picking off the competition in the opening laps. Strong whoop speed and a readiness to alter his line choices lap-by-lap helped McAdoo make his way to sixth place by the end of the short qualification race.

In 250SX Heat 2, Forkner started the race in fourth place. Attempting to push his way to the front, Forkner made a few mistakes in the opening laps that shuffled him back several positions. The Missouri native was quick to regain his composure by the mid-point, however, and began to move forward once again. Matching his intensity with a respect for the technicality of an already deteriorating race track, Forkner secured fourth position when the heat race concluded.

The 250SX Main Event once again hosted green at the front with Forkner launching his KX250 out to the holeshot and leading the pack through the green flag lap, while McAdoo followed close behind in third. The No.33 of Forkner was overtaken on Lap 2 but held close in second place. The Team Green duo of Forkner and McAdoo proved themselves to be among the class of the field running in podium positions throughout the race. McAdoo fended off the pressure of several top contenders as he pressed forward, keeping Forkner in close company. In the late stages of the race, the distance between the top five grew even closer but, the front three never shifted position. The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki mounted Forkner secured second place and his teammate McAdoo was right on his tail in third, making it a double podium result for Team Green.

“A podium finish is always a nice way to start the season. I was the fastest qualifier in the timed sessions and had a decent heat race. I grabbed the holeshot in the Main Event, I’ve been focused on making sure my starts are on point this year, so I was happy with that, and I just tried to focus on putting together clean laps. There weren’t many obstacles to separate the front guys on this track, so it came down to minimizing mistakes. My laps were consistent and I’m glad to have come away with a second, we are still right there in the points.”
– Austin Forkner

“With the short lap times, we had to do a lot of laps on a technical track tonight, so I did my best to lock-in. When competing against a class as stacked as this 250SX East championship, it was important for me to just focus on hitting my marks and execute each lap. I’m happy to get through the opening round with a podium and I feel confident heading into Arlington next weekend.”
– Cameron McAdoo

CLICK HERE To Subscribe to Bikernet’s Free Weekly Newsletter – get a roundup of all things motorcycle

Feb 14

Monster Energy® Kawasaki and Jason Anderson excel at Anaheim

By General Posts

Monster Energy® Kawasaki and Jason Anderson Perfect in Anaheim

February 12, 2022 | Angel Stadium of Anaheim | Anaheim, California

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (February 13, 2022) – Round 6 of Monster Energy Supercross returned to Angel Stadium of Anaheim for the final time this season where Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Jason Anderson claimed a decisive win over the the 450SX field leading start to finish. In the 250SX Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Jo Shimoda qualified second and was battling for the win in Heat 1 when an untimely crash forced a premature end to his night. Shimoda will receive further medical evaluation and additional updates will follow.

The third stop in Anaheim, California presented a new set of challenges for Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Anderson and his competition, as the venue hosted several notably demanding obstacles. While the extended section of sand moguls served as the most readily detectable challenge on the track, the real separator was sure to be the peaky set of 14 whoops that headed toward home plate. From the outset of practice, Anderson capitalized on his prowess in the whoops by quickly mastering the section and jockeying for position at the top of the leaderboard. Building in intensity as the track wore in, Anderson rivaled for the fastest lap each time he took to the track. When the 450SX qualification sessions concluded, Anderson earned Pole Position with a fastest lap time of 56.700.

In 450SX Heat 2, Anderson placed his KX™450SR out front right from the drop of the gate. Leading into the first turn and through the green flag lap, Anderson took control of the six minute plus one lap race from the front. Anderson eluded pressure from the competition by setting the fastest times of the race in the opening laps and quickly established a comfortable lead. With clear track ahead, the No.21 Kawasaki rider extended his gap to five seconds over the competition and secured a commanding heat race victory, his second of the season.

The start of the 450SX Main Event was a carbon copy of his heat race with Anderson grabbing the holeshot and out to an early lead with the current championship point leader in close pursuit. The battle for the lead position drew roars from the fans in Anaheim as an exceptionally high pace met with a particularly challenging racecourse. As the track deteriorated and the front two racers separated themselves from the rest of the field, Anderson proved his mettle with each progressing lap. The New Mexico native overcame the trying conditions to steadily stretch the distance between him and his closest competitors.

In the latter half of the race, faced with arguably the most treacherous whoop section so far in the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross season, Anderson built his lead to over five seconds. Anderson blitzed across the whoops nearly every lap on his KX450SR and displayed his ability to charge forward with precision through the technical rhythm lanes. When the checkered flag flew, Anderson relished the heat from the Monster Energy fire cannons, having claimed a decisive win in the 450SX Main Event. Anderson’s win at Anaheim 3 marks his second win of the season and moves him to second in the overall point standings.

“From the fastest qualifying time to leading every lap of the heat race and the Main Event, we had a great day. In the Main, I grabbed my second holeshot of the night and immediately had pressure from Eli [Tomac]. The track was demanding and our speed was fast so I knew it would be a tough race but, my KX450SR took everything I threw at it and battles like that are what supercross is all about. While it was tough for us on the track, I had a blast fighting for the win and it sounded like the fans were absolutely loving the race. All things considered; I think that was one of my best main events ever.” – Jason Anderson