Strong showing from the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team at round 10

Round 10 of the 2020 AMA Supercross World Championship Series made its way to the world-renown Daytona International Speedway on Saturday for perhaps the roughest and most enduring stop on the 17-round circuit. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team rose to the challenge with 450SX rider Jason Anderson finishing just off the podium in fourth, while Florida native RJ Hampshire fought his way to a fourth-place finish in the 250SX East division in front of a home-state crowd.

450SX

Anderson kept himself in the mix all day, beginning with a solid top-five qualifying position. He got off to a great start in 450SX Heat 2 where he made his way into second early on the opening lap. He put forth a great ride to ultimately secure a second-place transfer in the Main Event. In the main, Anderson shot off the line to capture the holeshot as he battled for the lead early on the opening lap. He continued to charge from the second-place spot early on, dicing for a podium position in the first half of the race. He dropped to fourth on lap 11 and from there he put on a charge to finish less than one second off the podium in fourth.

“My weekend went alright,” Anderson said. “The heat race went well, I almost got into the lead there but I ended up finishing second. In the main, I got the holeshot and fell back to fourth but I pushed forward and almost had third. All-in-all it, was a good race for me and I just have to keep racing out there with the boys.”

It was a good night for Dean Wilson, who secured his second-best finish of the season at Round 10. Wilson, the seventh-place qualifier, grabbed a good start in 450SX Heat 2 but he unfortunately landed on another rider in an unavoidable collision, which forced him to come from behind early on. Wilson was able to salvage the race as he battled his way to a sixth-place transfer. In the Main Event, he got off to a seventh-place start and he maintained a steady seventh throughout the 18-lap Main Event. After 10 rounds, Wilson has climbed up one spot to ninth in the 450SX Championship Standings.

“In the Main Event, I knew the start was very crucial so I put a lot of focus into that and I had a decent start but I got a little tight at the beginning,” Wilson said. “About midway through, I started finding lines and getting close to the top-five but I just wasn’t able to make it happen. I’m frustrated with not being in the top-five but I’m happy with my riding progress and I feel like my confidence is coming back so every weekend I’m getting a lot better.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Zach Osborne missed Round 10 due to injuries sustained during a practice crash before the Atlanta SX. Osborne’s return to racing is yet to be determined as he assesses the proper recovery time for his injuries.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's MXGP ace posts 3-3 results to climb onto the podium at round two of the 2020 Motocross World Championship

Putting a challenging opening round of the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship behind him, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Arminas Jasikonis has raced to a pair of third-place results at a sodden Valkenswaard circuit in The Netherlands, claiming third overall in the MXGP class. Teammate Pauls Jonass posted two strong rides from the back of the field to earn 12th overall. In the MX2 division, Jed Beaton continued his early season form to record a second consecutive fourth-overall result while Thomas Kjer Olsen ended a challenging weekend in seventh place.

Winning Saturday's qualifying race at Valkenswaard, Arminas Jasikonis confidently lined up as the first rider to take to the start of the opening MXGP moto. Rounding the first corner just outside the top five, he made a number of passes to slot into third by lap three. Shadowing early MXGP World Championship leader Jeffrey Herlings for much of the race, the Lithuanian settled into a comfortable rhythm and at the end of a largely untroubled moto secured a well-deserved third position.

For Jasikonis, moto two was very much the same as race one. A strong fifth at the start saw him move into third position by the end of the opening lap. With persistent rain falling and while holding a comfortable margin over the fourth-placed rider, Arminas fell before making a swift pitstop for clean goggles. Quickly rejoining the race, he went on to record another third-place finish, earning third overall in the MXGP class. His superb weekend propels the Lithuanian from 12th in the MXGP World Championship standings to seventh.

Pauls Jonass made a great start in race one at the MXGP of The Netherlands before coming together with Arnaud Tonus on the opening lap. Remounting at the back of the field, Jonass quickly went to work and put together an inspiring ride. After a race-long charge, he crossed the finish line with a hard-earned 13th place finish.

Race two saw Jonass round the first turn in third place. Frustratingly, shortly afterwards he cross rutted on the take-off of a jump and fell. Remounting to end lap one in 27th, Pauls was again forced to battle past his rivals, and through the rain, to cross the finish line in 12th, earning 12th overall for the GP.

In the MX2 class, Jed Beaton got off to a great start in the opening 250cc race. Running as high as second in the early stages of the moto, the FC 250 mounted rider found himself in a battle for position with championship leader Jago Geerts, with the two riders exchanging places multiple times during the opening laps of the race. Beaton then made a small mistake, running off the side of the heavily-rutted circuit and was relegated down the field. The Australian regrouped and put in a late-race charge to record a sixth-place finish.

Race two was much more fruitful for Beaton. Managing to take avoiding action in turn one when Jago Geerts crashed ahead of him, the 22-year-old then methodically moved his way forwards, staying smooth and light on his FC 250 to progress into second place by the midway stage of the moto. Despite some vision issues, Jed maintained his pace to record his second runner-up moto finish of the season, claiming his second-consecutive fourth-place overall result in as many GPs. Jed now sits third in the MX2 series standings ahead of round three in Argentina, in two weeks' time.

The opening MX2 race was a tough one for Thomas Kjer Olsen. A victim of a first-turn crash, a race-long battle from the back of the field saw Kjer Olsen fight to the end of the 17-lap moto in 11th place.

The second moto was an improvement for TKO. A mid-pack start as rain continued to fall saw the Dane in 14th at the end of lap one. Using his experience he was able to charge through the field to record a sixth-place finish and earn seventh overall in the MX2 class.

Kay de Wolf made his FIM Motocross European Championship debut in the EMX250 class for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing at Valkenswaard. The 15-year-old powered his FC 250 to 4-11 results to claim eighth overall at the opening event of the nine-round series.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing will next be in FIM Motocross World Championship action on March 22, at the MXGP of Patagonia Argentina.

Arminas Jasikonis: “It feels great to finish on the podium, especially so early in the season and after things didn’t go so well at Matterley last week. To bounce back with a top-three result is a real boost for myself and the whole team. We all knew how important a good qualifying result would be here, because being on the outside of the start isn’t a good place to be at Valkenswaard. I rode a smart qualifying race and things came together perfectly. It was a great feeling being the first rider to roll onto the start for today’s opening moto, but I also realised that I needed to put everything together again and get another good result. I got an ok start in that first race and managed to complete a safe first lap and was sat in third. I felt good but it was so easy to make mistakes, especially later in the race when visibility wasn’t so good and there were a lot of lapped riders to pass. I took things a little steadier towards the end, but it was great to get third. Race two was strange because when I was behind Tim, I knew I was in a good place for an overall podium result. I wanted to push harder but knew I couldn’t afford any mistakes. I did crash, and some laps later changed my goggles, but everything worked out perfectly and I got third again. We didn’t change anything for this GP, we just kept working hard, so we’ll just keep on working as we have been and try and back this result up with another strong result in Argentina.”

Pauls Jonass: “It’s been another frustrating weekend for me because I know my speed is good, but I don’t have too much to show for it. The conditions were really tough, but it’s been like this a lot during the winter, so it wasn’t like I was struggling or uncomfortable or anything like that – I just didn’t stay upright. Crashing together with Tonus in the first race was frustrating, finishing outside the top 10 certainly wasn’t what I wanted. In the second race I was really focused on being calm in the opening laps and letting things settle down before pushing hard. My crash was just one of those things, I got the front wheel into one rut, the rear in another, and went down. You drop so many positions with a crash early in a race like that. Getting back to 12th was good but I really feel I can do much better. My speed is good, I just need to remove the mistakes.”

Jed Beaton: “It’s been another good GP for me but like at Matterley I’m a little disappointed not to be on the podium. But that’s on me as I made a mistake in the first moto. Overall, my riding’s good, I just have to keep it on two wheels to get it on the podium. The sand is so soft and heavy here at Valkenswaard that a small mistake can quickly become a big mistake, but it’s been good to show that my speed in the sand is good. I gated really well and felt good in the first race and went from third to second in a couple of corners and started to chase Vialle. I then made a small mistake and ran off track slightly, hitting a sign and tipping over. I dropped some places, but I was pleased enough to finish with a decent result. In the second race there was a crash right in front of me, but I still got a decent start. I really focused on not making any mistakes and although it was tough with vision near the end of the race, I got a great second place result, which was a positive way to end the GP.”

Thomas Kjer Olsen: “It’s been a tough GP for me, but seventh overall isn’t too bad. I got a rough start in both races and after my crash in qualifying yesterday I felt a little banged up today. From starting on the outside, I knew I had to be careful going into the first corner. I got a good jump, but everyone just pushed wide, pushed into me, and I was left with nowhere to go and crashed. That first race was pretty hard, but I was happy to get back to 11th. I tried to be extra careful at the start in the second race, but again there was nowhere to go, and I was pretty much last at the start. I was riding well and happy to get sixth in the second moto. The first two GPs haven’t been easy, but my speed has been good. Now I have some time to ride more ahead of the next GP, it will allow me to sharpen things up and get in some good training motos ahead of going to Argentina.”

Results – 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 2

MXGP - Overall
1. Jeffery Herlings (KTM) 47pts; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 47; 3. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 40; 11. Evgeny Bobryshev (Husqvarna) 17; 12. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 17; 17. Lars van Berkel (Husqvarna) 9; 22. Brent Van doninck (Husqvarna) 5; 23. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 3

MXGP - Race 1
1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 35:32:235, 17 laps; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 35:53:437; 3. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 36:16:633… 13. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 35:35:042, 16 laps; 16. Evgeny Bobryshev (Husqvarna) 35:50:211; 19. Lars van Berkel (Husqvarna) 36:29:537; 20. Brent Van doninck (Husqvarna) 36:36:319

MXGP - Race 2
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 34:37:958, 16 laps; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 35:00:804; 3. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 36:13:326… 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (Husqvarna) 34:57:232, 15 laps; 12. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 35:16:615; 14. Lars van Berkel (Husqvarna) 36:02:710; 17. Brent Van doninck (Husqvarna) 36:22:326; 18. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 34:18:904

MX2 - Overall
1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 47pts; 2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 40; 3. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 39… 4. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 37… 7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 25; 21. Josh Gilbert (Husqvarna) 8; 23. Roland Edelbacher (Husqvarna) 5

MX2 - Race 1
1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 35:04:291, 17 laps; 2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 35:18:160; 3. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 35:38:188… 6. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 36:04:720; 11. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 37:02:066; 13. Josh Gilbert (Husqvarna) 37:19:223; 22. Roland Edelbacher (Husqvarna) 36:09:777; 26: James Carpenter (Husqvarna) 37:00:096, 16 laps; 27. Tom Grimshaw (Husqvarna) 37:02:753; 29. Enzo Toriani (Husqvarna) 35:16:574, 15 laps

MX2 - Race 2
1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 36:15:446, 16 laps; 2. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 37:11:973; 3. Maxime Renaux 37:21:973… 6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 37:30:675; 16. Roland Edelbacher (Husqvarna) 36:35:732, 15 laps; 23: James Carpenter 37:32:676; 24. Josh Gilbert (Husqvarna) 37:55:707; 25. Tom Grimshaw (Husqvarna) 37:57:664

Championship Standings – After Round 2

MXGP
1. Jeffery Herlings (KTM) 94pts; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 85; 3. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 68… 7. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 53; 13. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 26; 19. Evgeny Bobryshev 17; 21. Lars van Berkel (Husqvarna) 9; 26. Brent Van doninck (Husqvarna) 5

MX2
1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 87pts; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 82; 3. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 74… 7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 51; 13. Alberto Forato (Husqvarna) 28; 18. Mattia Guadagnini (Husqvarna) 15; 22. Josh Gilbert (Husqvarna) 11; 28. Roland Edelbacher (Husqvarna) 5

Romano Fenati and Alonso Lopez kicking off at QNB Grand Prix of Qatar this Weekend

Husqvarna Motorcycles is proud to see the new FR 250 GP machine in the colours of the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team for the re-introduction to the intensely competitive Moto3™ contest. The brand was last present in this category in 2015 and scored two podium results in 2014.

24-year old Fenati has won 11 Moto3™ Grands Prix. The Italian has eight campaigns under his belt and is one of the most experienced riders on the grid. He celebrated a rostrum finish at the Losail International Circuit in 2012, which was his very first FIM World Championship appearance. Lopez, from Madrid, has one podium trophy from his two years of Moto3™. The 18-year old Spaniard grabbed 3rd position at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand last summer and has recorded fastest laps in both 2018 and 2019 as he continues his education at the highest level. Both riders will be supervised by Team Manager Peter Öttl.

The fast, floodlit corners of the Losail International Circuit is a stage that has opened MotoGP™ for fourteen successive years.

Global health situation and complications with travel has led to alteration of the race programme. Moto3™ (14.20 CET) races will go ahead after the teams and riders were already based in Doha for the recent final test of the pre-season. Due to the postponed OR Thailand Grand Prix, the second round will take place on 5th of April at the Grand Prix of the Americas in the USA.

Pit Beirer - Motorsports Director at KTM / Husqvarna Motorcycles: “It will be a big pleasure to see those white Husqvarna Motorcycles again on the Moto3™ grid. Having this presence at the highest level of road racing is part of an important strategy for the street bike expansion of the brand and a busy future for the company. Thanks to Peter, Max, Romano and Alonso and all the guys we have a strong team. There is a good mix of experience and competitiveness and young character that is vital for the class.”

Max Biaggi – Sterilgarda Max Racing Team Principal: “After a good debut with 2nd place in the World Championship last year, in 2020 we are very excited to start the new collaboration with Husqvarna Motorcycles and our main sponsor. We have two talented riders. We expect Romano to be doing a good job from the beginning because of his experience and with Alonso we have a very young rider with a lot of potential. We’re looking forward to our first race at Qatar, which is a good track and one that the riders like a lot. Let’s see what we can do on Sunday.”

2020 MotoGP™ Provisional calendar
Round 1: 8 March, Qatar – Losail International Circuit (MotoGP class cancelled)
Round 2: 5 April, Americas – Circuit of the Americas
Round 3: 19 April, Argentina – Termas de Rio Hondo
Round 4: 3 May, Spain – Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto
Round 5: 17 May, France – Le Mans
Round 6: 31 May, Italy – Autodromo del Mugello
Round 7: 7 June, Catalunya – Barcelona-Cataluyna
Round 8: 21 June, Germany - Sachsenring
Round 9: 28 June, Netherlands – TT Circuit Assen
Round 10: 12 July, Finland - KymiRing
Round 11: 9 August, Czech Republic – Automotodrom Brno
Round 12: 16 August, Austria - Red Bull Ring-Spielberg
Round 13: 30 August, Great Britain - Silverstone
Round 14: 13 September, San Marino – Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
Round 15: 27 September, Aragón – Motorland Aragón
Round 16: 4 October, Thailand – Chang International Circuit
Round 17: 18 October, Japan – Twin Ring Motegi
Round 18: 25 October, Australia - Phillip Island
Round 19: 1 November, Malaysia - Sepang International Circuit
Round 20: 15 November: Comunitat Valencia – Circuito de Ricardo Tormo

Husqvarna Motorcycles steps into Moto3^TM World Championship supported by distinctive Italian denim brand

Bouncing back from injury in the best possible way, Billy Bolt claimed this year’s FIM SuperEnduro World Championship to deliver Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing back-to-back indoor titles. Ending his rookie campaign as runner-up in 2018, a serious leg injury shortly after clinching the World Enduro Super Series title saw one of the enduro’s most-promising riders forced to sit out the 2019 SuperEnduro season. 

For 2020 Bolt was determined to finally show what he was capable of. With the Husqvarna FE 350 mounted rider securing seven race wins from 12 starts, Billy clinched the title in style, proving himself a World Champion indoors and out. 

After sitting out the 2019 series due to injury, where did your expectations lie entering round one? Did you believe you could immediately become a serious title contender? 

Billy Bolt: “When I was testing and training with other riders, I got a feeling of where I was at and I was happy with my speed going into round one, based on their speed. Of course, once you get inside the stadium things do change. Also, Poland was still only my sixth SuperEnduro race and I had missed a full season racing indoors, too. I was nervous about things, but confident in how I had prepared.” 

You talked a lot about consistency throughout the season. How difficult is it to find that in SuperEnduro, especially in the heat of the battle? 

“It’s incredibly difficult to stay consistent in SuperEnduro. With the start order reversed for race two, it can really shake things up with a lot of overtaking to be done. Also, the intensity of each race means it’s difficult to stay consistent. So much changes which makes it such an exciting sport. I worked a lot on improving my consistency in Spain and Hungary and as a result managed to win five of the six races. Overall, I won seven races from 12 starts.” 

Topping superpole on three out of four occasions is quite the contrast to your 2018 season. What have you learned to become so fast over one qualifying lap? 

“Superpole was something I was keen to improve on from my first season. I was dreadful at it during 2018. Back then I struggled to commit to what I believed was the fastest line around the course. I spent too much time watching what others were doing. Even on the sighting lap I was still questioning myself and that’s the time to have it dialled and pieced together in your head. So often I crashed because I wasn’t committed enough. Now I’ve put that behind me. I’ve gained trust more in myself and the process. Superpole performances were probably one of the biggest improvements I made this year.” 

Germany was a technical track where many felt that you would dominate on, but it was arguably your toughest round. Was it simply a case of pushing too hard, trying too hard to win? 

“Germany was a tough track to get right. I felt good in training and I had different lines to most people. My rhythm in the matrix and rock corner was a lot faster than everyone else, but unfortunately there’s no points for practice. I just didn’t put it together on the night. I was upset with how I rode superpole and then fell and got my handlebars stuck in my boot while leading the opening race. It wasn’t until after the event that I watched the video of the race and saw I had about a 15-second lead, before those mistakes. After that I learned to manage my races better and pay attention to who is around me if I’m leading.” 

Arguably the most difficult part of SuperEnduro racing are the tracks themselves - conditions change throughout the night and from round to round. How important is it having a team like Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in your corner? 

“The Prestige class don’t get to ride the track when it’s fresh. A lot of categories have already laid down some lines, so it doesn’t change too drastically for us. Practice and timed training can be quite hectic though because we don’t get that much setup time on the track. So, having a team like Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in my corner is critical. They are spotting new lines as they develop and are giving feedback after each session so we can be at our best for when the start gate drops.” 

Despite you being a ‘bigger’ rider, you raced the FE 350 for SuperEnduro. Does it offer the right balance of power, speed and agility for you? 

“I prefer the FE 350 for SuperEnduro. You can be super aggressive on it and that suits my style indoors. It’s also lighter than the FE 450, which means I can muscle it around better through the sections, like you would the FE 250. It’s got the best of both worlds and is now the bike of choice indoors.” 

Now a two-time World Champion - indoors and out - has it taken you by surprise how far you’ve come in such a short space of time? 

“Yeah, it’s a crazy feeling. I’m now a two-time World Champion at 22 years of age. And I’m also relatively new to this sport, too - I only started riding an enduro bike four years ago. I feel proud of how far I’ve come, but at the same time I still feel like I’m only getting started and have a lot more to prove to myself." 

Although we currently face a challenging outdoor season due to COVID-19, are both body and mind now in a good place to carry this winning momentum into the WESS Enduro World Championship and fight for the World title you won in 2018? 

“The situation we’re in is frustrating, but people’s health is more important than race results at this time. I’m in good form and eager to race when we get the call. I feel good even though my leg is not yet 100 per cent. If we do face an extended break in racing, I’ll use that to my advantage to keep rehabbing and building on what I’ve achieved with it so far.” 

Social media is an important part of being a professional athlete and you certainly bring fire to the game. Do you enjoy making those video clips and do they help you push the limits of what’s possible on a bike? 

“I enjoy it a lot and I hope that comes across on screen. Like anything social media has its positives and negatives, but it’s good to share these videos and show that we have a fun side to our riding, too. It’s not always about putting in the motos. I like to get creative too and it’s cool that people seem to enjoy that. If it brightens up someone’s day, I’m happy.” 

Finally, what will it mean to return to SuperEnduro in December as World Champion with the #1 plate? 

“At the moment it does feel strange being the SuperEnduro World Champion because I didn’t get those end-of-season podium celebrations. But returning to Poland in December with the #1 plate on my Husqvarna will definitely cement what’s been achieved this year. When I think about what has happened during the last 12 months, it hits home. Last year I was sat in hospital wondering if my foot would ever work again, while watching the racing go on without me. So, to come back in such a dominant way is great for myself and the whole team. We’ve finally got to show what we were capable of all along.” 

2020 SuperEnduro World Championship - Final Standings 
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 227 points 
2. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 209pts 
3. Jonny Walker (KTM) 192pts 
4. Alfredo Gómez (Husqvarna) 161pts 
5. Blake Gutzeit (Husqvarna) 112pts

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing star on winning his first indoor Enduro World Title

Bouncing back from injury in the best possible way, Billy Bolt claimed this year’s FIM SuperEnduro World Championship to deliver Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing back-to-back indoor titles. Ending his rookie campaign as runner-up in 2018, a serious leg injury shortly after clinching the World Enduro Super Series title saw one of the enduro’s most-promising riders forced to sit out the 2019 SuperEnduro season. 

For 2020 Bolt was determined to finally show what he was capable of. With the Husqvarna FE 350 mounted rider securing seven race wins from 12 starts, Billy clinched the title in style, proving himself a World Champion indoors and out. 

After sitting out the 2019 series due to injury, where did your expectations lie entering round one? Did you believe you could immediately become a serious title contender? 

Billy Bolt: “When I was testing and training with other riders, I got a feeling of where I was at and I was happy with my speed going into round one, based on their speed. Of course, once you get inside the stadium things do change. Also, Poland was still only my sixth SuperEnduro race and I had missed a full season racing indoors, too. I was nervous about things, but confident in how I had prepared.” 

You talked a lot about consistency throughout the season. How difficult is it to find that in SuperEnduro, especially in the heat of the battle? 

“It’s incredibly difficult to stay consistent in SuperEnduro. With the start order reversed for race two, it can really shake things up with a lot of overtaking to be done. Also, the intensity of each race means it’s difficult to stay consistent. So much changes which makes it such an exciting sport. I worked a lot on improving my consistency in Spain and Hungary and as a result managed to win five of the six races. Overall, I won seven races from 12 starts.” 

Topping superpole on three out of four occasions is quite the contrast to your 2018 season. What have you learned to become so fast over one qualifying lap? 

“Superpole was something I was keen to improve on from my first season. I was dreadful at it during 2018. Back then I struggled to commit to what I believed was the fastest line around the course. I spent too much time watching what others were doing. Even on the sighting lap I was still questioning myself and that’s the time to have it dialled and pieced together in your head. So often I crashed because I wasn’t committed enough. Now I’ve put that behind me. I’ve gained trust more in myself and the process. Superpole performances were probably one of the biggest improvements I made this year.” 

Germany was a technical track where many felt that you would dominate on, but it was arguably your toughest round. Was it simply a case of pushing too hard, trying too hard to win? 

“Germany was a tough track to get right. I felt good in training and I had different lines to most people. My rhythm in the matrix and rock corner was a lot faster than everyone else, but unfortunately there’s no points for practice. I just didn’t put it together on the night. I was upset with how I rode superpole and then fell and got my handlebars stuck in my boot while leading the opening race. It wasn’t until after the event that I watched the video of the race and saw I had about a 15-second lead, before those mistakes. After that I learned to manage my races better and pay attention to who is around me if I’m leading.” 

Arguably the most difficult part of SuperEnduro racing are the tracks themselves - conditions change throughout the night and from round to round. How important is it having a team like Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in your corner? 

“The Prestige class don’t get to ride the track when it’s fresh. A lot of categories have already laid down some lines, so it doesn’t change too drastically for us. Practice and timed training can be quite hectic though because we don’t get that much setup time on the track. So, having a team like Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in my corner is critical. They are spotting new lines as they develop and are giving feedback after each session so we can be at our best for when the start gate drops.” 

Despite you being a ‘bigger’ rider, you raced the FE 350 for SuperEnduro. Does it offer the right balance of power, speed and agility for you? 

“I prefer the FE 350 for SuperEnduro. You can be super aggressive on it and that suits my style indoors. It’s also lighter than the FE 450, which means I can muscle it around better through the sections, like you would the FE 250. It’s got the best of both worlds and is now the bike of choice indoors.” 

Now a two-time World Champion - indoors and out - has it taken you by surprise how far you’ve come in such a short space of time? 

“Yeah, it’s a crazy feeling. I’m now a two-time World Champion at 22 years of age. And I’m also relatively new to this sport, too - I only started riding an enduro bike four years ago. I feel proud of how far I’ve come, but at the same time I still feel like I’m only getting started and have a lot more to prove to myself." 

Although we currently face a challenging outdoor season due to COVID-19, are both body and mind now in a good place to carry this winning momentum into the WESS Enduro World Championship and fight for the World title you won in 2018? 

“The situation we’re in is frustrating, but people’s health is more important than race results at this time. I’m in good form and eager to race when we get the call. I feel good even though my leg is not yet 100 per cent. If we do face an extended break in racing, I’ll use that to my advantage to keep rehabbing and building on what I’ve achieved with it so far.” 

Social media is an important part of being a professional athlete and you certainly bring fire to the game. Do you enjoy making those video clips and do they help you push the limits of what’s possible on a bike? 

“I enjoy it a lot and I hope that comes across on screen. Like anything social media has its positives and negatives, but it’s good to share these videos and show that we have a fun side to our riding, too. It’s not always about putting in the motos. I like to get creative too and it’s cool that people seem to enjoy that. If it brightens up someone’s day, I’m happy.” 

Finally, what will it mean to return to SuperEnduro in December as World Champion with the #1 plate? 

“At the moment it does feel strange being the SuperEnduro World Champion because I didn’t get those end-of-season podium celebrations. But returning to Poland in December with the #1 plate on my Husqvarna will definitely cement what’s been achieved this year. When I think about what has happened during the last 12 months, it hits home. Last year I was sat in hospital wondering if my foot would ever work again, while watching the racing go on without me. So, to come back in such a dominant way is great for myself and the whole team. We’ve finally got to show what we were capable of all along.” 

2020 SuperEnduro World Championship - Final Standings 
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 227 points 
2. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 209pts 
3. Jonny Walker (KTM) 192pts 
4. Alfredo Gómez (Husqvarna) 161pts 
5. Blake Gutzeit (Husqvarna) 112pts

Osborne leads the way with a podium finish in 450sx class

Just three days after the previous round, the 2020 AMA Supercross World Championship Series returned to racing on Wednesday with Round 12 taking place once again inside Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team had a stellar day all around as Zach Osborne led the 450SX charge with his first podium finish of the season, while teammate Jason Anderson finished close behind in fourth and Dean Wilson capped it off in sixth.

450SX

Anderson, the second-place qualifier, got a fourth-place start in 450SX Heat 1 and quickly moved into third. He charged his way up to the rear tire of the second-place rider, where he finished less than one-second back for third in the heat race. In the Main Event, Anderson grabbed a top-five start and worked his way up to third early on. He held a podium position through the first half of the race before dropping back to fourth for the remainder of the 27-lap Main Event.

“My day was not bad,” Anderson said. “I ended up second in practice and in the heat race I had a decent little battle and ended up third. In the Main Event, I got a good start and got tangled in the first corner. I came up to third for a minute and then fell back to fourth and just kind of rode around in fourth.” 

Following a top-10 qualifying position, Osborne powered his way off the line in 450SX Heat 2, settling into third on the opening lap. He jumped into second early on and battled from there for a majority of the race, ultimately securing a third-place transfer. In the Main Event, Osborne shot off the line once again to capture the holeshot and early lead. He led the first 20 laps before engaging in a three-way battle for the top spot. With about five laps to go, he settled into third where he ultimately secured his first podium finish of the season. 

“My Main Event ride was really good – I maybe let a win slip away but in the end it’s a good building block. I felt good all day, the team vibe was unreal and we had a really good, fun time today,” Osborne said. “To get all three of the bikes inside the top six was incredible. I’m really proud of what I accomplished and what the team accomplished tonight.”

Dean Wilson qualified fourth overall on the day, setting himself up for a positive night in Salt Lake City. He got off to a seventh-place start in 450SX Heat 1 and he slowly worked his way into a top-five position. He kept charging to ultimately secure a fourth-place finish behind his teammate, Anderson. In the Main Event, Wilson got a great start as he began the opening lap in fifth. He dropped back to seventh midway through the race and he fought hard to bring himself back up to sixth, where he matched his best finish of the season. 

“Everything felt so much better today. I was in a really good mood all day, everyone on the team was just in a good vibe and the bike was awesome,” Wilson said. Qualifying went really good and I felt like I was riding really well all day. It was a demanding race and the elevation was definitely hitting me but I finished off with a sixth. I’m happy with that, it was a good fight.”

250SX East

Jalek Swoll got off to a top-five start in 250SX East Heat 2 and he battled his way up to fourth just before the halfway point. After a hard-fought battle, he ultimately secured a fifth-place transfer spot. In the Main, Swoll got off to a good start in seventh and quickly charged his way into fifth by lap three. He kept charging all the way up to fourth where he continued to battle just outside the podium. On lap nine, Swoll got passed by the reigning champion and from there he diced back-and-forth to ultimately secure a seventh-place finish in the Main Event.  

“I thought I turned the day around compared to how we started,” Swoll said. “I ran up there in fourth or fifth for a while and the rhythm took me out of the race a little bit but I feel good and I’m riding good so I’m just going to keep trekking through the next few races.”

Next Event (Round 13): Sunday, June 7 – Rice-Eccles Stadium – Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City SX (Round 12) Results

450SX Results 
1. Cooper Webb (KTM)

2. Eli Tomac (KAW) 

3. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

4. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

…

6. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

450SX Rider Point Standings
1. Eli Tomac – 275 points

2. Ken Roczen – 262 points

3. Cooper Webb –246 points
…

5. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 208 points

8. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 159 points

11. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 144 points

250SX East Results
1. Shane McElrath (YAM) 

2. Colt Nichols (YAM)

3. Jeremy Martin (HON)

…

7. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 

250SX East Rider Point Standings
1. Shane McElrath – 140 points

2. Chase Sexton – 140 points

3. Garrett Marchbanks – 118 points

…

5. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 80 points

7. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 74 points

Jalek Swoll earns career-best 250SX finish

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team continues to build momentum in the 2020 AMA Supercross World Championship Series with another solid day in Salt Lake City, Utah for Round 13. In the 450SX class, teammates Jason Anderson and Zach Osborne once again battled it out for a podium position with Anderson claiming third and Osborne close behind in fourth. In the 250SX East class, Jalek Swoll raced his way to a season-best sixth-place finish where he now moves into the top-five in overall championship standings. 

With the final seven rounds taking place at Rice-Eccles Stadium, rainfall made for a much different experience the third time around as track conditions went from extremely dry and dusty, to wet and slick in just four days since the last round. 

450SX

Anderson excelled from the beginning of the day, where he qualified third overall in the only session of the day. He went on to capture a great start in 450SX Heat 2 as he settled into second-place early on. He chased down his teammate, Osborne, out front and blitzed his way through the whoops to overtake the lead on lap five. He held strong to ultimately capture his first heat race win of the season. In the Main Event, Anderson got a fourth-place start and battled inside the top five early on. On lap six he moved into the fourth spot and he quickly set his sights on Osborne in third, making the pass by the eighth lap. From there, he maintained his pace to earn his fourth podium finish of the season.

“I’m happy to be up here,” Anderson said. “I feel like I’m getting closer to old form and my headspace is a little better so I’m just trying to keep building. I feel like I’ve had some good speed the last two races so I’m going to work on some stuff and come back at the next round and hopefully try to make it a little less easy on the championship guys.”

Osborne, the fifth-place qualifier, shot off the line to capture the 450SX Heat 2 holeshot. He led the first five laps before his teammate, Anderson, got by for the lead. Despite a crash, Osborne went on to secure a solid second-place finish in the heat. In the Main Event, he captured a big holeshot as he assumed the early lead. He battled a hard-charging group of riders early on and eventually settled into fourth behind Anderson, where he ultimately secured a top-four finish.

“It was a decent day, I felt really good in the one qualifying session that we got and the heat race was good with the holeshot even though I had a good little spill,” Osborne said. “I came out with a holeshot in the Main but I rode kind of tight and the track was a little sketchy for me. I didn’t really find the flow right off the bat so it was a tough Main but it was a fourth-place, so we’ll take it. I’ve got a little bit of consistency to build with so I’m happy with it.”

Dean Wilson had a great start to the day with a second-place qualifying position in the single 450SX session. In 450SX Heat 1, he battled his way from ninth on the opening lap to ultimately finish fourth in the heat race. In the Main Event, Wilson experienced some wheel spin due to the rain and he was delayed in getting off the line as he began well outside the top-10. He put his head down and charged up to sixth, where he matched his best finish of the season in sixth overall. 

“It was a little bit different of a day with the weather and having only one qualifier, which went really well with a second,” Wilson said.“Unfortunately, with the rain I spun really hard on the gate and was pretty much dead last going down the start straight. I knew it was important to stay on two wheels and just try to click people off every lap, so that’s what I did. I don’t think it was my best riding but I managed to get a sixth, which is not too bad considering I came through the pack with a bad start.” 

250SX East

Jalek Swoll got off to a top-five start in 250SX East Heat 2 but he got off-balance in the whoops and lost a few positions early on. He worked his way back up to eighth, where he secured a transfer into the Main Event. Swoll got off to a sixth-place start in the Main Event and he battled just outside the top five before a Red Flag came out to indicate a full restart. Upon the restart, Swoll got off to a great start in third, where he mixed it up inside the top three for the first three laps. He continued to battle inside the top-five through the first half of the race before settling in the sixth-place spot. He rode hard and smart to ultimately secure his best finish in sixth.   

“Honestly, results-wise it was one of my best days but it wasn’t up to what I felt like I could do out there,” Swoll said. “I got a pretty good start in the Main Event, ran up front for a little bit and faded back to sixth. The track was pretty brutal out there but I was all about just staying up on two wheels and I’m happy I was able to do that to take home a career-best finish.”

Next Event (Round 14): Wednesday, June 10 – Rice-Eccles Stadium – Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City SX (Round 13) Results

450SX Results 
1. Eli Tomac (KAW) 

2. Cooper Webb (KTM)

3. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

4. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

…

6. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

450SX Rider Point Standings
1. Eli Tomac – 301 points

2. Ken Roczen – 275 points

3. Cooper Webb –269 points
…

5. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 229 points

7. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 176 points

10. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 163 points

250SX East Results
1. Chase Sexton (HON)

2. Shane McElrath (YAM) 

3. Colt Nichols (YAM)

…

6. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 

250SX East Rider Point Standings
1. Chase Sexton – 166 points

2. Shane McElrath – 163 points

3. Garrett Marchbanks – 119 points

…

5. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 91 points

8. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 80 points

Anderson and Osborne battle their way to top-five finishes

The 2020 AMA Supercross World Championship Series returned to racing on Sunday with Round 11 taking place inside a fan-less Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kicking off the first of seven final rounds, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammates Jason Anderson and Zach Osborne battled their way to fourth and fifth-place finishes, respectively, in the 450SX class; while 250SX East rider Jalek Swoll earned his best finish of the season with seventh.

450SX

Qualifying seventh earlier in the day, Anderson lined up in 450SX Heat 2 where he began just outside the top-10. He diligently worked his way through the field to secure a fourth-place transfer position. In the Main Event, Anderson didn’t get off to the best start as he rounded the opening lap in 13th. He put his head down and charged early on to bring himself inside the top-five by the halfway point. He continued to push in the final laps to ultimately secure a fourth-place finish in the first race back.

“My day went pretty decent,” Anderson said. “I got a bad start in the Main and ended up fourth but all-in-all, I feel like I rode pretty well all day and was able to make some headway as we work our way into the next six rounds here in Salt Lake City.”

Osborne, who utilized the break in racing to continue healing injuries sustained earlier this season, had a solid performance in his first race back from injury. In 450SX Heat 1, he got off to a sixth-place start and worked his way into fifth by lap three. He fought through the checkers to earn a fourth-place transfer spot. In the Main Event, Osborne grabbed a top-10 start and he chipped away at the competition to bring himself inside the top five halfway through. He clicked it up a notch and moved into fourth with 10 laps to go and after battling his teammate, Anderson, in the final laps Osborne was able to secure a fifth-place finish.

“It was a positive weekend overall,” Osborne said. “It was my first race back from injury so it was really good for me to go out there and get comfortable in practice. I feel really comfortable on the dirt here in Salt Lake, which is something that’s not typically my forte but it’s coming around for me. I’m happy with where I’m at fitness-wise and with my bike, so I’m looking forward to the next few races here – onwards and upwards.”

Dean Wilson had a great start to the weekend, where he qualified fastest in the first timed session and secured fifth overall in combined qualifying times. He grabbed a fourth-place start in 450SX Heat 2 and battled for a top-five position throughout the 10-lap race, ultimately finishing sixth. In the Main, Wilson began in 14th and worked his way up to 10th by lap 12. From there, he maintained a solid pace to secure a 10th place finish in the Main Event. 

“I’m not super pumped with how the day went but definitely taking a few positives from it including pole position in the first qualifier,” Wilson said. “I rode a bit tight in all my races and made some little mistakes that cost me. I didn’t get a great start in the Main so I was in the middle of the chaos but I’m happy to get that one out of the way, bring home 10th and hopefully get better from here on out.”

250SX East

Jalek Swoll got off to a top-five start in 250SX Heat 1 and he maintained a solid top-five running to secure a fifth-place transfer into the Main Event. In the Main, Swoll grabbed another great start as he positioned himself inside the top-five on the opening lap. He made a couple of mistakes that dropped him back to seventh and he fought hard to finish strong and secure his best finish of the season with seventh.

“This was the best finish for me and that was the goal – to come back better than I was before the break in racing,” Swoll said. “Riding-wise I actually felt good, I just missed a couple things on the track that cost me some time but if I polish those things up I’d be right up there with those guys.”

The newly modified 2020 AMA Supercross World Championship schedule will resume this Wednesday, June 3 with Round 12 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Next Event: June 3 – Rice-Eccles Stadium – Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City SX Results

450SX Results 
1. Eli Tomac (KAW) 

2. Cooper Webb (KTM)

3. Ken Roczen (HON)

4. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

5. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

…

10. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

450SX Rider Point Standings
1. Eli Tomac – 252 points

2. Ken Roczen – 244 points

3. Cooper Webb – 220 points 
…

5. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 189 points 

9. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 142 points 

13. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 123 points 

250SX East Results
1. Shane McElrath (YAM) 

2. Chase Sexton (HON)

3. Garrett Marchbanks (KAW) 

…

7. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 

250SX East Rider Point Standings
1. Chase Sexton – 121 points 

2. Shane McElrath – 114 points

3. Garrett Marchbanks – 100 points

…

5. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 80 points

8. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 58 points 

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING’S MICHAEL MOSIMAN SECURES TOP 5 FINISH IN 250SX WEST

OSBORNE JUST MISSES THE 450SX PODIUM IN FOURTH, WHILE MOSIMAN RALLIES FOR FIFTH IN 250SX WEST

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team’s Zach Osborne continues to make big strides in the 2020 AMA Supercross World Championship Series as he led a career-best 22 laps in Wednesday’s 450SX Main Event to ultimately secure a third-place podium finish inside Rice-Eccles Stadium. Additionally, his teammates Jason Anderson and Dean Wilson gave the brand a heat-race sweep in the 450SX division as they each topped their respective heat races at Round 16 in Salt Lake City.

450SX

Osborne didn’t have the most favorable start to the day as he experienced some struggles in 450SX Heat 2 that ultimately led him to a sixth-place transfer into the Main Event. However, he quickly turned things around in the Main Event as he captured the holeshot and early lead in the highly-competitive class. With a championship battle taking place just behind him, Osborne held his composure out front and led the first 22 laps of the Main Event. The championship hopefuls got past Osborne on lap 23 and from there he held strong to secure his third podium finish of the Salt Lake series.

“The whole time I was in the lead, I was just trying to set a new personal best on laps led. I was doing something I’ve never done before, so I’m happy with my ride,” Osborne said. “I tightened up a little bit at the end, this was one of the harder Main Events I’ve ever done with the altitude and just the intensity was way up there.”

Following a tough night on Sunday, 2018 450SX Champion Jason Anderson bounced back with vengeance as he claimed the fastest 450SX lap time in qualifying. He kept the momentum rolling into 450SX Heat 2, where he shot off the line to grab a favorable position off the start. He assumed the early lead and never looked back, leading all 10 laps to claim the heat race victory. In the Main Event, Anderson got a top-10 start and he worked his way into the top-five by lap four. He diced back-and-forth with the lead group for a majority of the race, where he finished only 2.45 seconds off the podium in fifth.

“It felt really good to start the day off with P1 in practice and get a heat race win,” Anderson said. “In the Main, the difference between me and the leader was seven seconds and there were like five guys within that battle, so it was good. All-in-all, I felt good all day and we’re ready to get up there and battle for a win.”

Dean Wilson, the fourth-place qualifier, got a top-five start in 450SX Heat 2 and he battled his way up to second by lap three. He passed his teammate, Osborne, for the lead on lap four and from there he put forth an impressive performance to hold off 450SX points leader, Eli Tomac, and secure his first heat race victory of the season. In the Main Event, Wilson didn’t get the most favorable start as he rounded the opening lap in 15th. He put his head down and battled just outside the top-10 for the remainder of the race, ultimately finishing 13th for the night. 

“There were some good parts and some bad parts of today,” Wilson said. “I’m stoked on the heat race win but I made an adjustment that I felt would be a benefit for the Main Event and I just really struggled out there. We’re healthy and taking away a lot of positives into the last round on Sunday.”

250SX East

The 250SX Eastern division returned on Wednesday with team rider Jalek Swoll at the forefront. Swoll got off to a third-place start in 250SX East Heat 1 and he rode a consistent pace to ultimately secure a third-place finish. In the Main Event, Swoll had a rough start as he got tangled with another rider and dropped to dead last on the opening lap. He began making a charge through the pack but he got caught up again and went down in the corner after hitting false neutral. He put his head down and rallied his way back to a 14th place finish.

“The day started out good – my speed felt good and I got everything down early,” Swoll said. “The Main Event was chaotic but I’m head-up right now, looking forward to putting in a good result on Sunday and ending the SX season on a good note.”

Next Event (Round 17 - Finale): Sunday, June 21 – Rice-Eccles Stadium – Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City SX (Round 16) Results

450SX Results 
1. Cooper Webb (KTM)

2. Eli Tomac (KAW) 

3. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

…

5. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

13. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

450SX Rider Point Standings
1. Eli Tomac – 366 points

2. Cooper Webb – 344 points

3. Ken Roczen – 338 points

…

5. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 264 points

7. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 226 points

8. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 218 points

250SX East Results
1. Chase Sexton (HON)

2. Shane McElrath (YAM) 

3. Colt Nichols (YAM)

…

14. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 

250SX East Rider Point Standings
1. Chase Sexton – 192 points

2. Shane McElrath – 186 points

3. Garrett Marchbanks – 119 points

…

6. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 100 points

10. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 80 points

Osborne earns first-career 450SX win; Anderson and Wilson round out the podium

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Now Heads West to Vie for 450MX Title

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team’s Zach Osborne came into Saturday’s WW Ranch National with vengeance after a tough go last weekend, and he made the most of his championship opportunity as he picked up the daily maximum of 50 points toward the 2020 AMA 450MX Championship with a flawless 1-1 performance in Jacksonville, Florida.

He started the day off fast by claiming the second-place qualifying position to set himself up for a great start in Moto 1, where he battled inside the top-three early on. With five laps to go, Osborne clicked it up a few notches to charge from third to first with two statement passes on the same lap and he finished strong with the moto-win. In Moto 2, he got off to a sixth-place start but in true fashion he continued to generate momentum climbing from fourth to first by the halfway mark. Osborne dug deep to fend off two hard-charging riders in the final laps to put an exclamation point on an unrivaled performance at Round 7. With two rounds remaining, Osborne now extends his lead to 29 points as he continues to fight for a career-first 450MX title this season.

“It was a solid weekend going 1-1 for the overall,” Osborne said. “I was able to extend my cushion again in the points so it was exactly what we needed for the stretch run of this championship. I’m looking forward to the last two rounds and finishing it off.”

Teammates Jason Anderson and Dean Wilson will miss the remainder of the 2020 AMA Pro Motocross Championship as both riders continue to recover from recent injuries.

250MX

RJ Hampshire got off to a great start in Moto 1, where he battled from the second-place position early on. He mixed it up with the front-runners for a majority of the race, swapping positions inside the top-four several times in the first 13 laps. With three laps to go, Hampshire engaged in a late charge for second-place but he caught a rock off the face of a jump and it took him down hard, leaving him unable to finish the final few laps of the race. Bruised and battered, Hampshire bounced back in Moto 2 to salvage a sixth-place finish after battling for a top-five position most of the race. With 35-6 moto scores, he ultimately took home 12th overall for the day.

“Today was tough,” Hampshire said. “I was coming in injured [hip] and I didn’t ride all week so I tightened up in the first moto. I was able to put a late-race charge but I caught a rock off the biggest jump out there and it really scared me. I’m lucky enough to walk away with pretty much minor aches and pains but I’m sure I’ll be feeling it later. I salvaged what I could in the second moto and I’m ready to re-group and get back on the box next weekend.”

Team rider Jalek Swoll had an early ending to his day after separating his shoulder while battling for a top-10 position during the first 250MX moto. Now an ongoing occurrence, Swoll and the team made the decision for him to sit out the second moto.

Stilez Robertson was sidelined once again this weekend after hitting his head during qualifying at the previous round. The team will continue to assess his condition for the remaining two rounds.

Next Race: October 3 – Thunder Valley National – Lakewood, Colorado

WW Ranch National – Results 

450MX Results

1. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (1-1)

2. Marvin Musquin, KTM (3-3)

3. Eli Tomac, Kawasaki (6-2)

250MX Results
1. Dylan Ferrandis, Yamaha (1-1)

2. Justin Cooper, Yamaha (4-2)

3. Jeremy Martin, Honda (3-3)

…

12. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (35-6)

20. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (17-DNS)

450MX Rider Point Standings – After 7 of 9 rounds
1. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 285 points

2. Adam Cianciarulo, 256 points

3. Marvin Musquin, 255 points

… 

13. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 97 points

17. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 58 points

250MX Rider Point Standings – After 7 of 9 rounds
1. Dylan Ferrandis, 307 points

2. Jeremy Martin, 294 points

3. Alex Martin, 224 points

…

5. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 217 points

16. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 70 points

25. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 19 points

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Rider Holds a 24-Point Lead With One Round Remaining

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team’s Zach Osborne took another step closer toward earning his first-career 450MX Championship on Saturday with a solid 4-2 performance for third overall at the penultimate round of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship in Lakewood, Colorado. With two motos remaining, Osborne heads into the final round with a 24-point lead in the highly-competitive 450MX championship battle.

In Moto 1, Osborne got off to a great start but his momentum was somewhat hindered from the beginning as he took the brunt of another rider smashing into him from behind in the second turn. He pushed through the pain and discomfort to maintain a top-three position for most of the race, where he ultimately finished fourth in the moto. In Moto 2, Osborne shot off the line to immediately inject himself into the lead battle on lap one. Eventually settling into third in the middle part of the race, Osborne made a late charge to put pressure on the second-place rider of Adam Cianciarulo, his biggest rival in the championship title fight. Osborne’s tenacity paid off when he was able to capitalize on a mistake by Cianciarulo to overtake second with four laps to go, thus picking up two additional points with a second-place finish in the moto.

“It was a decent weekend,” Osborne said. “I had some decent riding there in the second moto, I kind of found my feet a little bit and did some points racing today, so I feel good about my chances going into Pala next weekend. Our focus now is on this championship and wrapping it up, so that’s what we’re going to go there and do.”

Teammates Jason Anderson and Dean Wilson will miss the remainder of the 2020 AMA Pro Motocross Championship as both riders continue to recover from recent injuries.

250MX

It was a tough round for RJ Hampshire, who came into the weekend with a slight disadvantage after suffering a big crash during Moto 1 of the previous round. That, compounded with the effects of a previous injury, ultimately forced him to end his day early after experiencing a couple more crashes in Moto 1. Hampshire confirmed that he has sustained a couple of broken bones in his right hand and will sit out the season finale next weekend.

“It’s a disappointing way to end my season,” Hampshire said. “I hit the ground hard the past couple weekends and today finished it off. It’s a pain riding injured and always seems to lead to more. I have a couple broken bones in my right hand but everything is in place so surgery shouldn’t be needed. My body needs a few weeks to recover. I’m bummed for myself and the team but we have a lot more to look forward to!”

Team riders Jalek Swoll and Stilez Robertson will miss the remainder of the 2020 AMA Pro Motocross Championship due to injuries sustained at previous rounds of the series. 

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team continues its journey west to Pala, California for the final round of the 2020 season on Saturday, October 10.

Thunder Valley National – Results 

450MX Results

1. Eli Tomac, Kawasaki (3-1)

2. Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki (1-3)

3. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (4-2)

250MX Results
1. Justin Cooper, Yamaha (2-1)

2. Dylan Ferrandis, Yamaha (1-3)

3. Jeremy Martin, Honda (4-2)

…

RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (DNF)

450MX Rider Point Standings – After 8 of 9 rounds
1. Zach Osborne – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 325 points

2. Adam Cianciarulo, 301 points

3. Marvin Musquin, 283 points

… 

13. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 97 points

19. Jason Anderson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 58 points

250MX Rider Point Standings – After 8 of 9 rounds
1. Dylan Ferrandis, 352 points

2. Jeremy Martin, 334 points

3. Shane McElrath, 254 points

…

7. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 217 points

16. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 70 points

26. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 19 points

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen has secured his maiden 450cc race win with victory at round two of the Internazionali d’Italia series in Alghero, Sardinia. Following an impressive runner-up finish in the day’s opening MX1 moto, Kjer Olsen then charged to a stunning victory in the mixed capacity Supercampione race, claiming his first international win on FC 450 machinery.

Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the sandy hillside venue provided TKO with further races to sharpen his skills while competing on another rough and technical circuit ahead of the MXGP World Championship start in May.

Enjoying a great start in the day’s MX1 moto, a confident Kjer Olsen quickly made a number of passes to move into fourth place during the opening lap. As the race unfolded, the Dane charged past Alessandro Lupino on lap five to secure third before moving into second just a few laps later. While giving chase to the race leader, Thomas momentarily stalled his FC 450 machine and then opted to settle for a safe, yet well-earned, runner-up finish.

With the track at its roughest, TKO was undoubtedly at his best in the Supercampione moto. Ending lap one in sixth place, the 23-year-old then picked off his rivals as he worked on reeling in the race leader, Romain Febvre. With Kjer Olsen displaying incredible speed around the Alghero circuit, he was soon onto the back wheel of Febvre and made the crucial pass for the lead on lap 13. Maintaining his strong pace for the rest of the moto he claimed an impressive first-ever 450cc race win.

Following a hugely positive time in Sardinia, Kjer Olsen will now return to his Belgian base and make his final preparations ahead of the 2021 MXGP World Championship.

Thomas Kjer Olsen: “It feels amazing but also a little unexpected to have won the Supercampione race today. After the first race I knew my speed was good, I just made a few mistakes and for the second moto I knew I had to clean those up. My start in the second race wasn’t the best but I felt great on the bike. We have such a good set up with the bike that it allows me to ride freely and with a lot of confidence. I was able to push to the end and enjoyed leading laps and taking the win. We learned a lot today. These races are important to test settings in a racing environment and to learn how my competitors race too, so this trip to Sardinia has been really productive. We now head back to Belgium and look ahead to the MXGP season.”

Results – 2021 Internazionali d’Italia, Round 2

MX1
1. Glenn Coldenhoff (Yamaha) 18 laps, 28:24:167; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 28:32:063; 3. Ben Watson (Yamaha) 28:41:184

Supercampione
1. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 18 laps, 28:39:336; 2. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 28:40:717; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (Yamaha) 28:55:904

2021 Moto3 began with Romano Fenati making an effective recovery performance for Husqvarna Motorcycles as he took his FR 250 GP to 11th position at a windy Losail International Circuit for the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar and the first of nineteen fixtures.

18 action-packed Moto3 laps of the flat, fast and dusty Losail International Circuit ensured that the new MotoGP season was launched in captivating fashion in Qatar today. Husqvarna Motorcycles was in the heart of the dispute for the first points of the campaign with the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team fielding Romano Fenati and rookie Adrian Fernandez on the fetching white FR 250 GPs machinery.

During practice and qualification both the Italian and the Spaniard showed impressive competitiveness; Fenati missed out on a qualification lap attempt that would have placed the #55 high on the starting grid for Sunday’s by just one second. The former GP winner just couldn’t get across the line fast enough on Saturday evening to make the time count.

Starting the race from 18th – and Fernandez in 22nd on his full-time world championship debut – the riders headed into windy and difficult conditions. The breeze not only affected the handling of all the Moto3 motorcycles but also blew sandy and dust across the track surface. Fenati latched onto the busy front-running cluster in the first minutes of the race but was adjudged to have jumped the start and was penalised with a double long lap penalty. Despite having to claw back from the time deficit twice, Fenati fought his way back into touch with the leaders on the final lap and bustled his way to 11th.

Fernandez completed an encouraging Grand Prix amidst the group that Fenati spent most of the race trying to catch. He also had to make a long lap penalty for exceeding track limits which cost valuable time. The youngster finally crossed the finish line just outside of the points in 17th.

The Sterilgarda Max Racing Team will have only a matter of days before they can attempt Losail once more: the Tissot Grand Prix of Doha takes place next Sunday.

Romano Fenati: “I’m happy with the speed of the bike: the FR 250 GP was incredible. I was not happy about the long lap penalty because, for me, I did not make the jump start. We have to check. Next weekend I think we will be very fast and we will try to work on this direction.”

Adrian Fernandez: “The start of the race was difficult but my feeling on the bike was really good. The conditions were tough and I couldn’t understand why the track felt so slippery sometimes. It was hard to get on the gas by the end. We improved from the test and step-by-step we will get closer to the first group.”

Max Biaggi, Team Principal: “The first race of the year was not where we hoped to start in terms of positions but in racing anything can happen. For Adrian Moto3 was a new experience. He is very young and we have just started to work with him and to get the best out of him. He has shown a good attitude and potential. With Romano we paid for that mistake during the quali but that cost us a better position in the race. Other than that, he made a very good comeback and was able to finish in the points which made us happy. Without the penalty it could have been much better but now we’ll work hard to make improvements, cut down the mistakes and hope for more in race two here.”  

Results – 2021 Moto3 FIM World Championship, Round 1

1. Jaume Masia (KTM) 38:29.620, 2. Pedro Acosta (KTM) +0.042, 3. Darryn Binder (Honda) +0.094, 11. Romano Fenati (Husqvarna) +2.316, 17. Adrian Fernandez (Husqvarna) +22.187

World Championship standings

1. Jaume Masia (KTM) 25pts; 2. Pedro Acosta (KTM) 20pts; 3. Darryn Binder (Honda) 16pts; 11. Romano Fenati (Husqvarna) 5 pts; 17. Alonso Lopez (Husqvarna) 0 pts.

Husqvarna Motorcycles reached the halfway marker of the 2021 MotoGP™ series with their second trophy as Romano Fenati classified 3rd around the historic curves of the TT Circuit Assen.

Round nine of the world championship took place at the oldest Grand Prix venue on the calendar and the technical layout of the TT Circuit Assen made a welcome return to MotoGP for the first time since 2019. The course had been newly resurfaced for a prime level of grip even if the unstable weather climate saw showers create dry and damp sessions in the build-up to race day.

As usual Romano Fenati was among the front-runners in Free Practice on Friday and Saturday, clocking the 5th fastest time on his FR 250 GP after the first combined sessions. Adrian Fernandez was learning the intricacies of Assen for the first time in Grand Prix but was also close to the pace-setters within the highly competitive category.

The Italian and the Spaniard filled 2nd and 21st positions on the start grid for the 22-lap race on Sunday morning. Due to an infringement on Friday both Fenati and Fernandez had to complete a double Long Lap penalty during the chase that got underway under bright skies. The situation meant Fenati had to cleverly negotiate the opening laps and install himself among the leaders. His corner speed was devastatingly effective and despite having to register the extra distance he kept in the hunt for podium places.

When the chequered flag fell Fenati was able to reach 3rd place – just two tenths of a second from victory - and secure 16 points for his world championship total that keeps him inside the top four of the standings. The former Grand Prix winner is 30 points from Sergio Garcia in 2nd position. Fernandez crashed out at Assen.

After four events in the last five weeks MotoGP now enters a summer break and a pause that extends well over a month due to the cancellation of the Grand Prix of Finland. The paddock joins up again at the picturesque and fast Red Bull Ring circuit for the Styrian and Austrian rounds on back-to-back weekends at the beginning of August.

Romano Fenati: “It’s amazing to make a podium here at this circuit, and an amazing race. After two Long Laps my feeling was still so strong with the bike. Lap by lap I was making ground. At the end of the race I was on the limit with the rear trye but I’m really happy. We were competitive all weekend and it was a joy to ride the bike.”

Max Biaggi, Team Principal: “A great performance from Romano who started leading the group from the first corner. The long lap penalties were a disadvantage but he could still come back to the front and was pushing like a lion. I saw him really motivated. It was very impressive and we could be in contention for the win. A crash for Adrian, which was too bad, but overall a good GP for the team.”

Results – 2021 Moto3 World Championship, Round 9

1. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 37:35.287, 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) +0.078, 3. Romano Fenati (Husqvarna) +0.207, DNF. Adrian Fernandez (Husqvarna)

World Championship standings

1. Pedro Acosta (KTM) 158pts; 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 110pts; 3. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 86pts; 4. Romano Fenati (Husqvarna) 80 pts; 24. Adrian Fernandez (Husqvarna) 10 pts.