Smarty's Moto Wrap, July 8

With Smarty away camping somewhere in the boonies away from internerd coverage, this week the column becomes Hedgey’s Moto Wrap! So strap yourselves in for a re-cap in to the week that was…

The week that saw KTM win pretty much everything worth winning!

On Australian soil, the irrepressible Toby Price backed up his recent Finke Desert Race win with victory at the Hattah Desert Race. Price has had to bounce back again this year from yet another major injury and as they say, you can’t keep a good man down. Price actually ran out of fuel at one stage and had to tip the bike on its side to get enough go-juice in the pump pick up to make the final 2km home.

A little tidbit about Price that some MCNews.com.au regulars might not be aware of, is that Price, and (now) road racer Bryan Staring went bar-to-bar for the Australian Junior Motocross Championship in the 15-years bracket many moons ago. That junior title went down to the wire but Price, on a Kawasaki at the time, pipped Staring (Honda) for that crown. Bryan already had his sights set on going road racing and went on to win a couple of Australian Road Race Titles before venturing overseas, he is currently racing a privateer level bike in the Superbike World Championship after a troublesome season in MotoGP aboard an uncompetitive CRT machine. Anyways, back to Hattah….

Yamaha’s Josh Green took second place after leading Hattah early on. A one-minute penalty for speeding in a caution area brought the two back together until a tree stump caught Green out, literally. Green salvaged second place after the heavy knock.

Surprise third place finisher was relatively inexperienced enduro competitor Louis Calvin. A long-time regular and winner in the WA Motocross Championships, Calvin was called in as a late replacement for the injured Ben Grabham. If his early outback form is anything to go by, it’s safe to say this won’t be the last bush sojourn for Calvin. I think Calvin was on a 65cc in juniors when our paths first crossed almost 15 years again, so it’s fantastic to see him still out there getting amongst it and now venturing into new areas of off-road competition.

Now off to Europe….. Sweden’s Uddevalla circuit played host to round 12 of the FIM Motocross World Championship and it was Red Bull Factory KTM riders Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings that took victory in the two major classes to extend their significant championship leads.

Cairoli’s double victory marked the 70th Grand Prix win of his career and despite recovering from a recent illness, the Italian still managed to frustrate Yamaha’s Jeremy Van Horebeek who despite finishing on the podium in 11 of the 12 rounds staged this year, has still not managed to climb the top step of the rostrum.

Dean Ferris returned to the World Motocross Championship as stand-in for the injured Tyla Rattray. Ferris ran as high as seventh before a few stumbles pushed him down to 13th in the opening bout; problems in race two saw him finish a disappointing 23rd.

In the MX2 category Jeffrey Herlings once again stamped his dominance, winning both motos by more than 40-seconds. Herlings now enjoys a 135-point lead over fellow KTM rider Jordi Tixier.

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Luke Styke reported that bike problems left him feeling uncomfortable as the races wore on, eventually slipping to 24th and 19th place finishes.

Across the other side of the Atlantic…. Ken Roczen wrapped up the double at Red Bud ahead of Eli Tomac and Ryan Dungey.

Despite Roczen’s recent run of victories things are still tight at the top of the AMA Motocross Championship, with KTM teammate Ryan Dungey only 26-points behind the young German.

It’s fantastic to see this exciting young European bring more colour and diversity to the top level of American racing. It’s hard not to like his attitude; Roczen’s twitter feed is endlessly amusing with numerous small anecdotes providing a little more insight into what makes Roczen tick. Some of the more insular Americans don’t mind pouring the hate on when Roczen does anything slightly outside the boundaries of what their little minds consider normal. Roczen doesn’t seem to care and just keeps on having fun and winning races. Obviously, I am a fan.

The Mexico round of the FIM World Enduro series was cancelled due to various issues around the organising of the event. However, there was still some important Enduro news with Mathias Bellino ruled out for the remainder of the season. While unfortunate, Bellino’s injury certainly strengthens the chances of Matt Phillips taking out the the Enduro 3 World Championship. Phillips currently leads the E3 category on 174 points from Ivan Cervantes on 155 points. Bellino was ranked third with 148 points. There are two FIM Enduro World Championship events remaining for 2014, the GP of Italy on the first weekend in August, and the GP of France on September 13-14.

Victorians have an opportunity to get out and amongst it with the likes of Jeff Emig, Bilko Williams and Cam Sinclair down at Sale this weekend. If you get out for a look, or a ride, with these boys over the weekend drop us a line and let us know how it went.

This weekend marks round seven of the ten-round Monster Energy sponsored MX Nationals series and things are tight at the top with less than 20 points separating first and second in all the major categories. Matt Moss (Suzuki) currently leads MX1 while Luke Clout (Yamaha) heads MX2. The series visits Conondale this weekend, the fastest circuit on the calendar which also features the largest jump, ‘Dunks Hill’. A beautiful venue situated around some of the best riding roads to be found north of Brisbane. If you road riders never generally make it out to a motocross event, then make this the one you do make it to as the Conondale circuit provides easy access, great viewing and good racing amongst a spectacular backdrop of rolling hills and ranges.

Ben Townley is returning to Australia to ride at Conondale, “It’s an awesome track; the natural undulation is something I enjoy racing on. I am racing again because I am enjoying my riding; it’s that simple; I have no unrealistic expectations and am just looking forward to being around the fans and the team.”

Motorcycling Australia recently advised that the 2014 Australian Supercross Championship will run over five rounds, staged across three weekends in October and November.

Yarrive Konsky will once again be the promoter of the series which kicks off in Bathurst on V8 Supercar weekend, October 10-11, before moving to Phillip Island for the MotoGP round on October 17-19. The series will conclude in Brisbane on November 8-9.

Smarty will be back next week, unless he is taken out by drop bears or something in the mean time. Braaaappppp.

Links

Results

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship – Red Bull RedBud National
RedBud MX – Buchanan, Michigan – July 5, 2014 – Round 6 of 12

450 Class (Moto Finish)

Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM (1-1)
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (4-2)
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (3-3)
Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (2-4)
Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM (5-5)
Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha (6-6)
Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki (8-7)
Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Kawasaki (7-8)
Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha (10-9)
Kyle Chisholm, Clearwater, Fla., Yamaha (13-13)

450 Class Championship Standings

Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM, 280
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM, 254
Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 226
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 196
Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Kawasaki, 168
Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 159
Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., KTM, 134
Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki, 132
Weston Peick, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki, 131
Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki, 120

250 Class (Moto Finish)

Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha (1-2)
Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (4-3)
Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., KTM (3-4)
Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki (2-7)
Cooper Webb, Morehead City, N.C., Yamaha (14-1)
Dean Wilson, Scotland, Kawasaki (9-5)
Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda (8-6)
Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha (6-9)
Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda (5-12)
1Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki (10-8)

250 Class Championship Standings

Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 250
Cooper Webb, Morehead City, N.C., Yamaha, 227
Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Kawasaki, 222
Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Honda, 191
Marvin Musquin, France, KTM, 181
Christophe Pourcel, France, Yamaha, 176
Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., KTM, 167
Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda, 143
Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki, 127
Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., Honda, 125

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: Roczen celebrates with the RedBud fans. (Photo: George Crosland)

FIM Motocross World Championship 2014 – MXGP of Sweden – Uddevalla

It was a crazy yet entertaining day of racing at MXGP of Sweden, round twelve of the FIM Motocross World Championship where unique conditions put each and every rider to the ultimate test. While the chewed up circuit was less rutty than we have come to expect from the FIM Motocross World Championship, it was fantastic to see a circuit that allowed the riders to embrace their creativity, race craft and challenged them to challenge themselves to choose lines that are less obvious.

Ultimate physical and mental condition is crucial to the making of a champion and both of our FIM Motocross World Champions, both Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders, Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings authenticated that today with their dominating performances on the tricky and demanding circuit in both races to extend their championship leads.

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: Antonio Cairoli, impressive double race victory for the 70th Grand Prix win of his career.

MXGP Race 1 top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 35:22.421; 2. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:03.481; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:07.712; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:11.653; 5. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:15.019; 6. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:37.196; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:39.063; 8. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:42.436; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Honda), +0:50.853; 10. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +1:03.013

MXGP Race 2 top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 33:52.052; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:04.201; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Honda), +0:09.408; 4. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:14.361; 5. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:22.638; 6. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), +0:38.631; 7. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:40.791; 8. Matiss Karro (LAT, KTM), +0:42.619; 9. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:44.496; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:46.857.

MXGP Overall top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 42 p.; 3. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 40 p.; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HON), 32 p.; 5. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 31 p.; 6. Steven Frossard (FRA, KAW), 28 p.; 7. David Philippaerts (ITA, YAM), 25 p.; 8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 25 p.; 9. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), 24 p.; 10. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 22 p.

MXGP World Championship Classification Top Ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 527 points; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 482 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 470 p.; 4. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 390 p.; 5. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 267 p.; 6. Steven Frossard (FRA, KAW), 265 p.; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HON), 237 p.; 8. David Philippaerts (ITA, YAM), 210 p.; 9. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), 207 p.; 10. Gautier Paulin (FRA, KAW), 205 p.

MXGP Manufacturer: 1. KTM, 527 points; 2. Suzuki, 508 p.; 3. Yamaha, 482 p.; 4. Kawasaki, 437 p.; 5. Honda, 372 p.; 6. TM, 235 p.; 7. Husqvarna, 230 p.

MX2 Race 1 top ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:00.721; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:43.692; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:50.859; 4. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +0:53.496; 5. Valentin Guillod (SUI, KTM), +0:54.640; 6. Julien Lieber (BEL, Suzuki), +0:55.972; 7. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), +0:58.803; 8. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +1:00.791; 9. Max Anstie (GBR, Yamaha), +1:01.535; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +1:07.030.

MX2 Race 2 top ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:06.319; 2. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +0:42.354; 3. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:45.082; 4. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Husqvarna), +0:46.541; 5. Valentin Guillod (SUI, KTM), +0:49.060; 6. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:49.830; 7. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +0:50.272; 8. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), +1:01.822; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +1:15.003; 10. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, Honda), +1:18.202.

MX2 Overall top ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 40 p.; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 37 p.; 4. Valentin Guillod (SUI, KTM), 32 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, HUS), 30 p.; 6. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 29 p.; 7. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, HUS), 28 p.; 8. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 27 p.; 9. Christophe Charlier (FRA, YAM), 27 p.; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 23 p.

MX2 World Championship Classification Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 544 points; 2. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 409 p.; 3. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, KAW), 389 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, HUS), 388 p.; 5. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 372 p.; 6. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 350 p.; 7. Valentin Guillod (SUI, KTM), 288 p.; 8. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, HUS), 284 p.; 9. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 265 p.; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 234 p.

MX2 Manufacturer: 1. KTM, 574 points; 2. Kawasaki, 477 p.; 3. Husqvarna, 404 p.; 4. Honda, 360 p.; 5. Suzuki, 354 p.; 6. Yamaha, 317 p.; 7. TM, 6 p.

KTM Hattah Desert Race Provisional Results: