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Consistent Indianapolis Triple Crown results in ninth for Malcolm Stewart

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An encouraging run of consistent finishes saw Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Malcolm Stewart claim eighth place overall in Indianapolis at the second Triple Crown round of the year.

Stewart continues to build momentum in the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship after missing the majority of last season through injury, racing to 9-8-8 results across the three 450SX races onboard his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition in Indy.

In navigating some of the most technical track conditions of the year, Stewart managed to keep charging throughout the night and improved with each gate drop, which now has him positioned 11th in the championship standings following Round 10 of 17. He's also excited to head to Seattle next weekend, where he's had strong results in the past during his professional career.

"Indy was tough for everybody with the track conditions, but we went 9-8-8 to end up ninth overall," said Stewart. "It was not too bad, I felt like we got better as the mains went on – the intensity is always so high at these Triple Crown races. Obviously, it could have been a better night or a worse night, and we're leaving here healthy again, ready to keep pushing ahead. It will be good to get to Seattle, I always ride well there, and I'm really looking forward to that one."

Next Saturday night in Seattle will also see the return of the 250SX West category, where Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's RJ Hampshire is currently positioned third in the standings on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition, only five points outside of the lead.

Next Event (Round 11): March 23, 2024 – Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington

450SX – Indianapolis Results
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
3. Chase Sexton (KTM)

9. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

450SX Rider Point Standings after Round 10
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 210 points
2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) – 189 points
3. Chase Sexton (KTM) - 185 points
...
11. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 104 points

Strong Main Event sees Malcolm Stewart land 10th in Birmingham Supercross

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Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Malcolm Stewart pushed on for a well-earned 10th-place finish at Birmingham's ninth round of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, continuing to gain strength as 450SX reached its halfway point tonight.

Supercross made a welcome debut at Protective Stadium in Alabama and Stewart was in the mix from the outset on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition, qualifying in sixth as the track conditions began to dry and improve.

Stewart then impressed on his way to third in his Heat race once the night program commenced, before an early crash in the Main Event while running inside the top 10 saw him bumped toward the rear of the pack. From there he put on a charge, climbing all the way back to 10th position and taking confidence from his effort in technical conditions.

"Birmingham actually treated me well, we had a good round in its own weird way," Stewart reflected. "The track was a little muddy in practice and qualifying, but I ended up P6 this afternoon and then the Heat was really good, so ended up third in that one. The Main Event wasn't terrible and it wasn't a bad start inside the top 10. I tried to make a pass on one of the outsides of the turns though and went down, it was just one of those things – I just lost the front.

"I got back up, rode strong and we ended up P10, so overall everything has been going well. It's heading the way that we want it to go on the motorcycle, but we're just having a few issues with the racing side of it and making these little mistakes. Onto Indy now and we're looking forward to that, I think the Triple Crown will be good for us! I'm stoked as a team, we live and learn, and everybody's trying their best including myself, so it is just a matter of time until we are where we want to be."

Next Event (Round 10): March 16, 2024 – Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana

450SX – Birmingham Results
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)
3. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)

10. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

450SX Rider Point Standings after Round 9
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 185 points
2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) – 172 points
3. Chase Sexton (KTM) - 165 points
...
11. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 91 points
18. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 39 points

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's Malcolm Stewart races into top 10 at Daytona

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A season-best seventh position continued Malcolm Stewart's mid-season uplift at Daytona's eighth round of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider taking his third top-10 result in a row.

Stewart has been gaining race fitness and comfort as the 450SX season approaches its middle stages, powering his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition to fourth place in the Heat Race. The Main Event was just as promising, overcoming grueling track conditions to claim P7 and make further inroads on the front-runners after missing much of last season through injury.

"Being the closest race to a hometown weekend for me, Daytona treated me okay," Stewart said"The Heat wasn't too bad, vision was kind of tough being where I was, but we made some passes and ended up fourth in that one. Main Event, the track went away really fast and it was a typical, really hard Daytona. At the end of the day, we ended up P7 – it could have been better, could have been worse. My headspace is okay, we're going to look forward to Alabama, get back to regular Supercross, and get back up front."

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's Casey Cochran impressed in his first 250SX Futures appearance of the season, qualifying on top of the charts this afternoon to take first gate pick for the Main Event. He recovered from a bad start to make his way to third position, opening his campaign with a podium result on the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250.

"I felt pretty solid all day, really comfortable, and was super-excited for the Main Event," Cochran said. "It was a tough start for me, I was buried pretty far back and was struggling to get into a flow out there. It was one of those nights where you couldn't really get into the rhythm you wanted to – the track was like a minefield getting around – so I'm happy to still get a podium finish."

The weekend also marked the first showing for new recruit Landon Gibson in the 250SX Futures, the talented young rider on debut gaining immense experience on his way to 11th place. He ran as high as sixth at around halfway, only for a mistake to drop him down the order and to eventually take the checkered flag just outside the top 10.

"It was definitely a learning curve," reflected Gibson. "I was far inside on the gate and got swarmed off the start in the Main Event, then later on, after the whoops I went down pretty hard. That was that and I know what I need to work on from here – I'm looking forward to lining up again now."

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX regular Christian Craig is scheduled to undergo surgery next week on his ongoing elbow injury, which will extend his time on the sidelines. We look forward to welcoming him back to racing once he is healed and healthy to line up again.

Next Event (Round 9): March 9, 2024 – Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama

Round 8 Results: Daytona

450SX – Daytona Results

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)

2. Eli Tomac (Yamaha)

3. Chase Sexton (KTM)

7. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

250SX Futures – Daytona Results

1. Drew Adams (Kawasaki)

2. Cole Davies (GASGAS)

3. Casey Cochran – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna

11. Landon Gibson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna

450SX Rider Point Standings

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 160 points

2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) – 150 points

3. Chase Sexton (KTM) - 147 points

...

12. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 79 points

17. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 39 points

250SX Futures Rider Point Standings

1. Cole Davies (GASGAS) – 47 points

2. Drew Adams (Kawasaki) – 41 points

3. Parker Ross (Honda) – 36 points

8. Casey Cochran – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna - 20 points

18. Landon Gibson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna - 11 points

Consistent results from Malcolm Stewart and Guillem Farres in Texas

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Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing pair Malcolm Stewart and Guillem Farres both managed ninth-place results at Arlington's seventh round of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, with both displaying front-running pace throughout the program.

While Christian Craig was unfortunately ruled out of the Millitary Appreciation Round with a re-aggravated elbow injury following press day at AT&T Stadium, it was Stewart who flew the flag solo in the 450SX division on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition.

Stewart was seventh on the charts at the conclusion of qualifying and then battled for the victory in Heat 2 on his way to second position. A troubled Main Event saw him go down early and recover to ninth, marking his third top 10 of the season in an inspired performance. Importantly, his confidence is on the rise in the mid-stages of the season.

"Arlington always treats me okay and all day I felt really good on the bike," explained Stewart. "I was gelling with everything and it was good to lead in the Heat. I enjoy being on the East Coast, we've all been putting in the work, and it's beginning to click. In the Main Event, we made some passes really quickly but came together with another rider and went down. I got back up and felt like it was one of the best rides I've had all year long. I know the results aren't what everyone wants to see on paper, but we've been moving in the right direction and it's just a matter of time before we're heading for the box or a win."

The resumption of 250SX East was a welcome one for Farres as he continued to gain Supercross experience during his rookie campaign, qualifying in an encouraging sixth position and then claiming fourth in his Heat. The Main Event saw him ride to ninth place, banking his second top 10 result in a row onboard the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition.

"My day started pretty good, felt good in practice, and then in qualifying I was sixth," Farres said. "The Heat was positive with fourth and then I felt good coming into the Main Event. The start was decent, around top-five, and then I made a mistake and got passed by a couple of riders. I ended up ninth and felt better towards the end, so overall I am happy because we made a big step from Detroit in the past few weeks."

Next Event (Round 8): March 2, 2024 – Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida

Round 7 Results: Arlington

450SX – Arlington Results
1. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)
2. Eli Tomac (Yamaha)
3. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)

9. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

250SX East – Arlington Results
1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
2. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki)
3. Tom Vialle (KTM)

9. Guillem Farres – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

450SX Rider Point Standings
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 135 points
2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) – 132 points
3. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) - 128 points
...
12. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 64 points
16. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 39 points

250SX East Rider Point Standings
1. Max Anstie (Honda) – 38 points
2. Pierce Brown (GASGAS) – 34 points
3. Daxton Bennick (Yamaha) – 32 points

9. Guillem Farres – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing - 27 points

GUADAGNINI TO MISS MXGP SEASON OPENER IN ARGENTINA FOLLOWING TRAINING INCIDENT

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Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team rider and MXGP talent Mattia Guadagnini will not participate in the opening round of the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship in Patagonia-Argentina, due to injuries sustained in a crash during pre-season training in the South of France.

Guadagnini was promptly transferred to the nearest local hospital for check ups, where he was diagnosed with a fractured shoulder blade, and soft tissue injuries to his lower arm. The latter required minor surgery, which was successfully carried out this morning. The medical team has conducted comprehensive functionality tests, revealing no damage to nerves or tendons, with positive forecasts for a full recovery of the arm. However, the timeline for this recovery remains undetermined at this stage.

Guadagnini is expected to be discharged from the hospital within 48 hours, with plans to return to Belgium for further assessments and a second opinion on his injuries to establish a clearer recovery timeframe. As a result, participation in the MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina has been ruled out, with further examinations required to provide an indication of when he might return to racing.

Rasmus Jorgensen, Team Manager of Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing, stated: "This is a setback for Mattia and the team, but we are relieved that his injuries are not as severe as initially feared. Our focus now is on his recovery and ensuring he receives the best possible care. We appreciate the concern and support from the MXGP community and will provide updates as we learn more about Mattia's condition and expected return to racing."

Further information regarding Guadagnini's recovery progress and expected return to competition will be shared in due course. The team wishes Mattia a swift and full recovery and looks forward to his return to the MXGP circuit.

RJ Hampshire back on top as 250SX West series resumes in Glendale

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Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire has returned to the top step of the 250SX West Class podium at Round 6 of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship in Glendale, Arizona, on a night where 450SX teammates Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig both raced to season-best results.

Hampshire resumed his quest for the western regional championship by posting the third-fastest qualifying time onboard his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition, which he would follow up with P3 in his Heat Race.

A top-three start in the Main Event saw the number 24 exercise patience as the battle unfolded at the front, with a decisive move for the lead allowing Hampshire to move into clean air, as he extended his winning margin to over two seconds as the checkered flag flew. He's now within five points of the red plates entering a six-week break in the 250SX West schedule.

“Glendale was awesome,” recalled Hampshire. “The ending was especially awesome, but I felt really good at the beginning of the day, and then had a big case in the first timed qualifying. I was in a lot of pain from that, although I knew I needed to pull it together for the Main, and that was when I rode my best. I made a couple of quick passes, then saw I had a bit of a gap after the others made mistakes, and just managed it from there. Really stoked and am looking forward to some time off before Seattle.”

450SX contender Stewart was ranked P6 in qualifying inside the sizable State Farm Stadium, before racing to a convincing second-place finish in his Heat Race, and taking his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition into the Main Event.

Starting outside the top 10, Stewart charged all race long as he progressively made his way up the leaderboard, putting in a spirited ride that would last the entire Main Event to land him eighth place for the night and his best finish of the season so far.

“Glendale went fairly well for me,” said Stewart. “Qualifying was decent with P6, then we finished with P2 in the Heat Race, which felt really good to be up there. Main Event, not a great start, so I just had to pick my way through the field and got all the way back up to P8. My riding was great, although you need to get the start in this class, so we’ll work on those heading into Arlington.”

Craig, meanwhile, found comfort early in Arizona as he qualified in ninth position, which he converted into a P7 score in his Heat Race. In posting a calculated ride on a highly-technical circuit, Craig would seal P12 in the Main Event, which was also his best result of the year.

“Glendale started off well, I felt comfortable right away with the layout and big rhythm sections,” Craig commented. “I struggled a little with arm strength today for some reason, which was frustrating, so this week off comes at a good time. Feeling more comfortable, had more fun, so I feel the improvements are coming over the break.”

Next Event (Round 7): February 24, 2024 – AT&T Stadium, Arlington Texas.

Round 6 Results: Glendale

250SX West – Glendale Results

1. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

2. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)

3. Jo Shimoda (Honda)

450SX – Glendale Results

1. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)

2. Jason Anderson (Kawasaki)

3. Jett Lawrence (Honda)

8. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

12. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

250SX West Rider Point Standings

1. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) – 106 points

2. Jordon Smith (Yamaha) – 102 points

3. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 101 points

450SX Rider Point Standings

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 117 points

2. Chase Sexton (KTM) – 111 points

3. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) – 108 points

...

12. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 51 points

15. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 39 points

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing keeps pushing forward in Detroit

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Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing experienced a mixed day at Round 5 of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship in Detroit, with 450SX contenders Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig racing to P11 and P13 results, while 250SX East Class rookie Guillem Farres claimed a solid eighth place finish on debut.

Stewart opened race day by registering the ninth-fastest qualifying time aboard his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition, adjusting to the softer, rutty conditions that the East Coast dirt served, before powering his way to fifth place in his Heat Race.
A top 10 start saw Stewart battling forward in the premier class Main Event, before an untimely fall while making further passes ultimately cost him a stronger result. Tumbling down the running order, the fan favorite would eventually climb into 11th position by race's end.

“Detroit, I was P1 in Free Practice, which meant I felt pretty good all day,” recalled Stewart. “Ninth overall in qualifying, then fifth in the Heat, and felt really good at that point. I tried to get by [Jason] Anderson in the whoops after a good start, and then just dropped it at the end of the set there. It really sucks to crash like that, but I fought hard for 11th – the riding has been improving, so we’ll keep fighting.”

450SX teammate Craig started the day with consistency, posting a time good enough for P13 in qualifying, before improving to seventh place in his Heat Race. In struggling for track position on the technical track surface, he would salvage a 13th place finish to complete his day inside Ford Field.

As the Eastern Region made its anticipated first showing of the year, Guillem Farres made his Supercross debut, with the talented Spaniard piecing together a confidence-inspiring day across the variety of sessions. Ninth place in 250SX East qualifying, followed by P7 in his Heat Race set the rookie up well entering the Main Event, where he went on to finish in eighth position on the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition.

“Detroit was pretty good, especially for my first Supercross ever!” Farres commented. “Luckily, I got the track pretty dialed on press day, which was helpful. I felt good in my qualifiers today and then was super nervous heading into the Heat Race, but got a decent start and finished seventh. Then, in the Main there was a massive pile-up that I was lucky to avoid... I was running sixth until the last lap before a small tip-over, so I am a little mad about the fall, but happy with my first Supercross.”

Next Event (Round 6): February 10, 2024 – State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona

Round 5 Results: Detroit

250SX East – Detroit Results

1. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki)

2. Max Anstie (Honda)

3. Daxton Bennick (Yamaha)

8. Guillem Farres – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

450SX – Detroit Results

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)

2. Chase Sexton (KTM)

3. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)

11. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

13. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

250SX East Rider Point Standings

1. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki) – 25 points

2. Max Anstie (Honda) – 22 points

3. Daxton Bennick (Yamaha) – 20 points

8. Guillem Farres – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing - 13 points

450SX Rider Point Standings

1. Chase Sexton (KTM) – 98 points

2. Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 97 points

3. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) - 96 points

...

14. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 37 points

17. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 29 points

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's RJ Hampshire finishes second in A2 Triple Crown

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Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider RJ Hampshire rebounded to a well-deserved second-place finish in the 250SX West Class at Round 4 of AMA Supercross action in Anaheim, California, on a night where 450SX contenders Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig finished the Triple Crown event with P10 and P14 results, respectively.

Hampshire charged to pole position onboard his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition in the Anaheim 2 round, before carrying that momentum into the opening Race of the Triple Crown format, in which he would go on to register a P2 result.

Race 2 saw Hampshire jump out of the gates to a strong start as he sat inside the top three, biding his time in P2 before making a decisive pass for the race lead. Managing the race comfortably at the front, he would collect a popular Race 2 win.

A small mishap in Race 3 saw Hampshire briefly on the ground, however, the number 24 would recover for seventh position, which was enough for second overall on the night and he is currently third in the 250SX West standings.

“It was a solid night at A2 and I was fast all day,” recalled Hampshire. “We topped all three practices, and the first two Races were awesome – I had so much fun battling with Levi [Kitchen], we put on a good show, which was sick. Third Race, not a great start, and then just a bit of a mishap. Still made up a lot of points, cut the deficit in half, so I’m stoked on that.”

Stewart would start his Anaheim 2 race day by sealing the fourth-fastest qualifying time in 450SX overall, which the Floridian would follow up with a strong start in Race 1. An unfortunate fall while battling inside the top 10 would result in 11th place for the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition pilot.

Races 2 and 3 saw the number 27 improve his position on each occasion despite being hampered by mid-field starts, collecting P10 and P9 results across the remaining races, which meant a 10th-place finish on the night and his best of the season upon return from injury.

“A2 for me, there are positives to take,” said Stewart"I was P1 in the first qualifier and then was affected by some tough starts in the Races for the Triple Crown. Went down in Race 1 with Hunter [Lawrence], came back to 11th. Then the others, just struggled with starts again, but I’m getting back into the swing of things – I haven't raced for a long time, so this one really felt like A1 to me. We’re heading in the right direction and it’s going to come, so we’ll keep on trucking into Detroit.”

450SX challenger Craig collected the 15th-fastest qualifying time, before going down on the opening lap in Race 1 and recovering to P17. A 12th place in Race 2, coupled with 13th in the third Race earned him 14th overall for the weekend.

“My day started decently and qualifying went okay,” Craig commented“It was nice to be on a dry track after the last couple of weeks, but yeah, I went down in the second corner in Race 1 and was way, way back. Inched up, did what I could, then in the second one I think I got 12th. Race 3, not enough intensity at the start, got passed a bunch, and then had to try to make those passes back. It has been a frustrating start to the season, but we’ll keep trying.”

Next Event (Round 5): February 3, 2024 – Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.

Round 4 Results: Anaheim 2

250SX West – Triple Crown Results

1. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)

2. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

3. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha)

450SX – Triple Crown Results

1. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)

2. Eli Tomac (Yamaha)

3. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)

10. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

14. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

250SX West Rider Point Standings

1. Jordon Smith (Yamaha) – 84 points

2. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) – 84 points

3. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 76 points

450SX Rider Point Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) – 80 points

2. Chase Sexton (KTM) – 76 points

3. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) - 74 points

...

15. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 26 points

17. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 20 points

RJ Hampshire takes sixth-place finish in challenging San Diego Supercross

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Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing endured a challenging night of racing at Round 3 of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship in San Diego, California, with RJ Hampshire taking a sixth-place result in the 250SX West division, while Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig encountered their share of adversity in 450SX.

Hampshire opened the day by posting the third-fastest qualifying time, before rocketing out of the gates onboard his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition in the Heat Race. Despite a troubled affair, he eventually claimed P6 to transfer into the Main Event.

In mixed conditions with rain beginning to fall once again, Hampshire launched to the holeshot in the 250SX West Main Event, extending his lead to a two-second margin throughout the opening stages of the race. An all-out battle ensued for first place throughout the entirety of the race, with a late race mishap demoting him to sixth place.

“Just another mudder here in SD and another tough night,” recalled Hampshire“I got off to an awesome start and then led a lot of laps in the Main, but threw away a podium with two corners to go. Super-frustrating, but nothing I can do about it now. Time to go home, regroup, and we need a win next week in Anaheim.”

Tenth place for Stewart in 450SX qualifying translated into a strong Heat Race ride, as the number 27 charged the entire duration of the race and fell short of the victory by a small margin, claiming second place. An opening lap fall for Stewart made for a tough premier class Main Event, with a race impacted by errors resulting in a 19th-place score.

“San Diego was another mud race,” said Stewart“We qualified 10th in the dry, then got off to a great start in the Heat Race and finished with second, which pulled me out of a bit of a slump I felt I was in. Then in the Main Event, I spun off the gate – no big deal – and then I came together with another rider and went down in the first lane, which pretty much summed my race up. The bars were tweaked, so I visited the mechanic's area, but again my speed was super-good. We're off to a Triple Crown next weekend and my starts have been good, so I’m confident of a good night of racing in Anaheim to turn things around.”

450SX challenger Craig posted the 11th-fastest qualifying time, before improving to a fifth-place finish in his Heat Race and a direct transfer into the Main Event for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider.

Jumping out of the gates to a good start, Craig ran inside the top 10 before cross-rutting in the muddy terrain, which resulted in him coming together with another ride. A visit to the mechanics area meant that the Californian was buried deep in the field and was credited with P20.

“The day started pretty good with qualifying in P11,” Craig commented. “I was riding good and felt really strong, but then the rain came down, unfortunately. Got off to a sweet start to the Heat and was running up front for a while, then made a couple of mistakes in the mud, which shifted me back to fifth. I got another good start in the Main, but just cross-rutted in the mud and another rider completely landed on me from behind. It's racing, unfortunately, it took me a while to get going, took a trip to the pits, put my head down and did what I could. Another bad result, but we’ll put our heads down for A2.”

Next Event (Round 4): January 27, 2024 – Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.

Round 3 Results: San Diego

250SX West – Main Event

1. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha) 

2. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha)

3. Jordon Smith (Yamaha)

6. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

450SX – Main Event

1. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)

2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)

3. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)

19. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

20. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

250SX West Rider Point Standings

1. Jordon Smith (Yamaha) – 67 points

2. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) – 59 points 

3. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha) – 57 points

4. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 54 points

450SX Rider Point Standings

1. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) – 60 points

2. Chase Sexton (KTM) – 59 points

3. Jett Lawrence (Honda) - 56 points
...
17. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 14 points

18. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 12 points

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team braves rain-soaked San Francisco

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It was a challenging evening for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing at the second round of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship in San Francisco, California, with RJ Hampshire salvaging a ninth-place finish in the 250SX West division, as Christian Craig and Malcolm Stewart battled hard against the elements in 450SX.

Entering with the points lead, Hampshire continued his impressive form in the San Francisco mud by topping the qualifying timesheets amidst the chaotic conditions. A consistent ride on his Husqvarna FC 250 Rockstar Edition resulted in a second-place finish for his Heat Race.

As the conditions worsened for the Main Event, Hampshire got off to a mid-field start, which created an eventful race of being caught up with other downed riders. Despite those challenges, Hampshire salvaged a P9 result and a solid bag of points toward the championship.

“Man, that was just a really, really, long and tough day for us,” recalled Hampshire“Start was decent, got up to fourth, I think… but stuff happens with this type of racing with a guy cross-rutting and falling into me. I was in a really bad spot to go down in, hard to get back going, but managed what I could and knew I needed to get some points, so now headed to San Diego and hoping it’ll be a lot better than this weekend.”

450SX racer Craig posted the 15th-fastest qualifying time, before improving to a seventh-place finish in his Heat Race and a direct transfer into the Main Event for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing pilot.

A high-speed fall on the start straight meant that Craig would be playing catch-up for the remainder of the race, which the Californian would do, and claw his way back to a 14th-place finish as the checkered flag flew.

“The day started off as a mud race and that’s obviously chaos,” Craig commented. “Qualified decent, then went to the Heat Race just wanting to make it through to the Main, which we did. In the Main I went down 100 feet off the start, was lying in the mud with some others for a while, but just charged from the back and did what we could do. I'm excited for some dry conditions next weekend.”

For teammate Stewart, he navigated the challenging conditions onboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition to the ninth-quickest 450SX qualifying time, before crossing the finish line in sixth place for his Heat Race. A difficult night of racing, combined with a trip to the mechanic's area, saw the number 27 credited 22nd.

“SF was a muddy one for us,” said Stewart“Went down off the start, then the vision was blind for a bit, pulled a tear-off and I was in the tuff blocks. It got stuck in around the shifter, and someone had to go get a razor blade to cut it, so that’s how I got back on the track! Didn’t do very well, it was survival mode, and in these conditions, it’s hard to predict where you’ll end up. I'm disappointed as the team and I made great progress through the week, but we're looking forward to San Diego where I got my first Heat Race win last year.”

Next Event (Round 3): January 20, 2024 – Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, Calif.

Round 2 Results: San Francisco

250SX West – Main Event

1. Jordon Smith (Yamaha)

2. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) 

3. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha)

9. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

450SX – Main Event

1. Chase Sexton (KTM)

2. Eli Tomac (Yamaha)

3. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)

14. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

22. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

250SX West Rider Point Standings

1. Jordon Smith (Yamaha) – 47 points

3. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) – 42 points 

3. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 38 points

450SX Rider Point Standings

1. Chase Sexton (KTM) – 45 points

2. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 38 points

3. Eli Tomac (Yamaha) 35 points

17. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 11 points

18. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 10 points

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's RJ Hampshire earns Anaheim 1 250SX West victory

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Victory for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire in the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship season-opener at Anaheim 1 marked an exceptional start to his season in 250SX West, as 450SX teammates Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig each experienced their share of adversity at the opening round.

Hampshire was fast as soon as bikes were on-track at Angel Stadium, with the title contender rocketing his Husqvarna FC 250 Rockstar Edition to second position during the afternoon’s qualifying sessions.

That momentum continued for Hampshire into his Heat Race, where he pieced together a ride that very nearly earned him the win, before crossing the line in second place and setting the stage for a strong Main Event.

Launching out of the gates for a top three-start, Hampshire exercised patience in the opening laps and allowing the race to unfold, before making his way into the lead and taking control from there, eventually capturing the victory and taking hold of the series leader's red plate heading into Round 2.

“A1 was awesome for me and it was a dream of mine to win Anaheim 1 and leave with the red plate,” commented Hampshire. “Super-happy with the day, felt awesome on my Husqvarna and am thankful for the whole team, they’ve been crushing it for me and it shows tonight. I took what the night gave me and it gave me a win, so I'm happy with where we are at, there's a lot of good things going right now, and we’ll stay level-headed heading into San Fran next week.”

Stewart made his welcome return to competition at Anaheim 1 after spending the majority of last year on the sidelines due to injury, with the number 27 looking fit and ready to attack 2024. He opened proceedings by posting the 10th-fastest qualifying time, before charging to an impressive third position in his Heat Race.

An unfortunate fall on the opening lap of the Main Event for Stewart after being collected in a pile-up made for a difficult outing, as the Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition pilot was tasked with a come-from-behind ride as he remounted toward the rear of the field. He showed immense heart and fought until the final lap, where he recovered to an inspired 11th-place finish.

“I got the first one out the way and it’s been a whole year since I’ve raced,” noted Stewart. “We ended up 11th after going down on the first lap, got back up and then went down again. But honestly, I’m just glad to be back racing, I rode good in the Main Event, but the results weren’t there. We have something to build off now, the team’s been working really hard and we had a great off-season. The results don’t show that, but I have 16 rounds left to show what we can do. I started like this in 2022 and came back for third in the championship, so tonight was just unfortunate, but these races happen, and now we’ll start stacking up top fives and podiums to get right back up in the mix.”

Premier class teammate Craig entered this season after a grueling off-season in Florida by recording a time that landed him P14 in qualifying, converting that into a seventh-place finish in the first Heat Race of the night, which would transfer him directly into the Main Event. Unfortunately, it would not go as planned for Craig, who withdrew during the early stages and was credited with 20th position.

Next Event (Round 2): January 13, 2024 – Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif.

Round 1 Results: Anaheim

250SX West – Main Event

1. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

2. Jordon Smith (Yamaha)

3. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)

450SX – Main Event

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)

2. Jason Anderson (Kawasaki)

3. Chase Sexton (KTM)

11. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

20. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

250SX West Rider Point Standings

1. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 25 points

2. Jordon Smith (Yamaha) – 22 points

3. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) – 20 points

450SX Rider Point Standings

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 25 points

2. Jason Anderson (Kawasaki) 22 points

3. Chase Sexton (KTM) 20 points

11. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 11 points

20. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 2 points

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team targets 2024 SMX World Championship success

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An expanded five-rider Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team will take centerstage when the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) season commences with the AMA Supercross Championship season-opener at Anaheim on Saturday, January 6, led by 450SX duo Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig, alongside 250SX contenders RJ Hampshire, Guillem Farres and Casey Cochran.

The Nathan Ramsey-managed official Husqvarna Motorcycles U.S. team will be equipped with the Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition and the Husqvarna FC 250 Rockstar Edition, forming a strong foundation for all five riders to build upon as the gates drop on what is a highly anticipated new season.

In addition to the on-track action, Rockstar Energy Drink has renewed its commitment as title sponsor of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team in a multi-year commitment, which will span the entire 31-race SMX series. The team will contest 17 rounds of AMA Supercross, 11 rounds in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, and a three-round, post-season SMX Finals series.

“We’re incredibly excited to extend our partnership with Husqvarna Motorcycles. Over the past 10 years, the relationship with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team has been more than just a sponsorship and we’re looking forward to continuing to grow together, said Jennifer Kalban, Senior Motorsports Marketing Manager, PepsiCo North America. “The team is as strong as it’s ever been and the 2024 season should be an exciting one.”

Each step of that journey will be documented in Season 3 of the Grit and Grind docuseries, which will continue to be broadcast on the Husqvarna Motorcycles YouTube channel in 2024. A collaboration between Rockstar Energy and Husqvarna Motorcycles, it will once again provide an all-access insight into the season of Stewart, Craig, Hampshire, Farres, and Cochran.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager, Nathan Ramsey, is confident that all five riders will be competitive across next year's SMX series, determined to iron out any kinks that have proven costly in the past and to ensure that all riders can consistently deliver strong results in 2024.

"2024 is looking good for us, the guys are having a really good off-season, and we are working hard to be ready for the season," explained Ramsey. "I think that ultimately, were going to come out swinging and avoid the major ups and downs and ride it out as steady as possible and put our Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team riders up front. We have looked a lot at things that have cost us or possibly pushed us out of championship hopes in the past, and I think we have highlighted a few of those areas and we are all – the team, the crew, the riders, everyone – committed to correcting those areas and hopefully it works and pays off, because if they are corrected, I think were in the hunt, for sure."

Making a welcome return to Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing will be Stewart, the 31-year-old who was unfortunately sidelined in the early stages of last season and is in line to pick up where he left off almost 12 months ago. The fan favorite finished a career-high third in the 450SX standings in 2022, now excited to get back behind the gates in a bid to rebuild his form in a competitive environment.

"The focus for 2024 is honestly just to get back out there and get my feet wet again," said Stewart. "2023 was a pretty short-lived year for me, it was kind of more for me to get back going and to finish what I started last year. I was looking really good, A1 was going very well, we had one little incident and we won a heat race, so we had some big flashes, but it just ended too quickly. This is part of racing and things happen, but I have had a really good recovery so far, and training has been going well this off-season with a good group of guys that Im surrounded with. Everyone has been positive through the whole recovery and Im glad I locked myself in for another two more years! I really want to win next year and Im looking forward to getting back into the bunch with the team for the upcoming season.”

Entering his second year with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, Craig was also affected by injury in 2023 but was able to return and represent Team USA at the FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in September. At 32, Craig has the desire to establish himself toward the front of the premier class and has been enjoying the pre-season to date.

"Im feeling pretty good entering another year with the team, so Im more comfortable, learning everyone around me, and obviously learning the bike more with more seat time," commented Craig. "I'm coming off a pretty serious injury, so just trying to build back up from that and were kind of in the middle of boot camp right now. I am excited for the new year, I need to put in some results, so am very focused and driven for this one. This past season was a big learning year for me, so this time I know what to expect with the training program, riding program, and what the team brings – I need to step up and try to be upfront as much as possible."

As one of the most experienced riders in the 250 Class, RJ Hampshire has his sights firmly set on achieving title success in the new year. He was runner-up in 250SX West last year and raced to third position in the inaugural 250SMX standings, now motivated to capture a first-career championship with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing.

"My goal is to definitely try and get a championship," Hampshire stated. "Weve been close the last two years in a row, so I'll just come into the season, take it race-by-race, and build from where were last year. The team has worked really hard to make the bike as good as possible, and there are a lot of improvements already. We were in a good spot last season, so if we can be a bit better this year, I definitely think we can get it done. Supercross was massive for me because I had seven podiums in seven years and then last year I had eight in total, so that was a really big step in my career. The next step is to get the red plate, so that is the goal going into the season. The team has been awesome, there is nowhere else I would rather be, and I just renewed my deal for two more years – it just goes to show how much I believe in this team and how much I believe in myself, because weve grown a lot together. They believe in me a lot to go out there and perform also, and I definitely think that this year will be another big step in our relationship."

For Farres, the chance to join Rockstar Energy Husqvarna sees him preparing for his maiden 250SX campaign, in which the 20-year-old Spanish revelation is looking to develop important Supercross experience during the upcoming season, before turning his attention outdoors.

"The transition to the Husqvarna FC 250 and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team has been really good," Farres said. "This is my first time ever here in Clermont, Florida, training and first time in California. So far, so good. Everyone has been really welcoming on the team, Ive been having a good time, and Im excited for the 2024 season. Its going to be my rookie season in Supercross, so I am going to focus on staying healthy, being at every round, and improving every day with every lap. Ive never raced in a stadium before, so Im sure it's going to be something new and Im going to be a little nervous, but hopefully it gets better after the first round."

Exciting teenage prospect Cochran has graduated to the professional ranks with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna full-time for 2024, the 17-year-old looking to build upon the Supercross Futures AMA National Championship that he won in 2023, while learning his craft as a professional in the sport.

"It's my first official pro season, so I'm looking forward to getting out there with the big guys and mixing it up, getting good results," Cochran commented. "Nothing too extravagant so far, but my goal is to get used to the whole program. Its a super-cool opportunity because we have worked our whole lives for this deal, this contract, to be on a factory team, so I am super-excited to be here and have a great team around me and ready to get to work. I have always personally liked Supercross better than outdoors, so I am excited to race indoors. I raced Futures last year and that was a good experience, so the more indoors, the better!"

Guillem Farres joins Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing for 2024

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Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing has welcomed Guillem Farres for the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) season, joining RJ Hampshire and rookie Casey Cochran within the three-rider 250 Class program.

The 20-year-old Spaniard will be onboard the FC 250 leading into next year, committed to the AMA Supercross Championship, in addition to the AMA Pro Motocross Championship and SMX Finals Series.

Farres first arrived in U.S. competition during the late stages of the 2022 outdoor season, immediately displaying front-running potential with a series of top-10 results. He continued that trend in the opening part of the 2023 series and scored a top-five moto finish at the beginning of Pro Motocross, however, was unfortunately injured in round three and didn’t return to action.

An opportunity to join Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing is an exciting one for Farres, set to make his 250SX debut in 2024, before continuing to build upon his promise in 250MX, while training as part of the Baker’s Factory program in Florida.

“I am really happy to be joining the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team for this upcoming season,” Farres said. “I am also super-excited to start this new chapter of my career after a tough year due to injuries. Now, I am fully healed and ready to get on the new bike. I can’t wait to get started at the Baker’s Factory – it is an honor to be part of such a legendary program with Aldon [Baker] and all the guys.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager, Nathan Ramsey, said that Farres has been on the team’s radar since his first appearance in AMA Pro Motocross and is confident that his capabilities will translate into strong results as experience continues to grow.

“Guillem caught our eye in 2022 when he came to the US for a couple of races,” explained Ramsey. “Then when he started the 2023 MX series, he once again showed signs of great speed and potential. He has a great attitude and work ethic, which I believe will lead to great things in the future. The sky is the limit for Guillem and we are happy to welcome him to the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing to take Casey Cochran pro in 2024

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Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing will take Casey Cochran into the professional ranks full-time in 2024, scheduled to contest the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) onboard the FC 250.

Cochran, 17, has enjoyed an outstanding final year in amateur competition, in which he clinched the Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C class title in the 2023 AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn's, as well as the Supercross Futures AMA National Championship in Salt Lake City and the Moto Combine overall at RedBud.

The teenage Virginia native gained immense experience in his first pro-level appearances across the final two rounds of this year's AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Budds Creek and the Ironman National, which will also help in setting him up for a full-time transition next year with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing.

"I've really enjoyed this past year working with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing and getting to know everyone, so I’m super-excited to extend what we have going on and progress into the pro ranks with such a good team behind me," Cochran commented. "Couldn’t be more stoked for the future!"

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager, Nathan Ramsey, welcomed Cochran to the factory program and is excited to see him progress throughout the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship and Pro Motocross Championship, leading into the SMX Finals series.

"Casey put together an amazing final year as our elite Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing amateur athlete and he absolutely hit all the marks that we put together for him to earn his first pro contract," explained Ramsey.

"I am both happy and proud to have Casey join our pro team. He's a very hard worker and is full of potential for a great future with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team. Now, I am looking forward to spending some time with him during the off-season as he builds into 2024."

RJ Hampshire finishes third overall in 250SMX World Championship

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It was a pressure-packed final round of the SuperMotocross Playoffs at the historic Los Angeles Coliseum, and thanks to a third-place finish, RJ Hampshire jumped up two spots in the final SMX 250 class standings to take the bronze and lead the way for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team.

250 SuperMotocross

RJ Hampshire was eighth early in the first moto on his FC250, but quickly went to work and started to pick off riders ahead of him. He moved into third with seven laps to go, into second with five to go, and was challenging for the lead on the last lap…but had to settle for second. In moto two, he was eighth off the gate, and could only work his way to sixth before the finish. His 2-8 score netted him a third overall for the night and for the series overall. His next stop? The Motocross of Nations as the 250 rider for Team USA.

“The last round was pretty solid. I felt good all day and had good qualifying (2nd). The first moto start was good, and I gave myself a chance to win it there at the end. I charged hard and felt really good on the bike. In the second moto, I didn't get a great start and was just flat. I couldn't really get going. But I'm stoked to end it on the podium for the race and the SMX Playoff overall,” said Hampshire. “I'm really looking forward to the Motocross of Nations in France in a couple of weeks. I'll go back home, recover a bit, do a couple of days of riding, and head over there and represent the USA. I can't wait.”

Jalek Swoll showed what a mix of FC250 power and great start skills can do as he grabbed the holeshot in the first moto. While the championship battles raged around him, he slipped to sixth at the finish. In the second moto, a bit too much aggression with the throttle resulted in a mid-pack start, though he did recover quite a few spots to finish eighth for the moto, and also eighth overall for the season.

“Honestly, this being the last round is a bit frustrating because I feel like I'm starting to find the groove and know what I can do. My starts were on point today, reaction-wise, and just getting off the gate with the bike. I ran third for a while in the first moto and finished sixth. In the second one, I felt I rode a lot better, but didn't have the start to match. I just lit the rear tire up a bit on the super-dry stuff and it kind of messed me up. I just got a really bad start and came from the back,” said Swoll. “I have some things to work on for sure, but I'm a lot closer than I've been. I feel good but need a little bit of intensity. But all in all, it was decent. I was in the mix a little bit and left healthy...anytime you leave the track healthy you can put a smile on your face.”

Talon Hawkins showed improvement through the three SMX rounds, and an 11-9 score for the day only shows part of the story. He advanced forward four positions in the first moto and ran in the top five for the first few laps of the second moto. He just missed out on a top ten overall, and was 14th overall for the series.

“I was stoked to end it on a good note. I got my first top ten out of the three races. I'm looking forward to a little time off and then getting back on the bike,” said Hawkins. “I'm so thankful for the whole Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Team for giving me the shot this year. I turned pro early, but I made the most of it and did the best I could all year long. I've learned a lot this year, and have a lot of good memories. Thank you guys.”

SuperMotocross Playoffs: Los Angeles Coliseum

250 SuperMotocross Results

1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha), 5-2
2. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 4-4
3. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 2-6

8. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 6-8
11. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 11-9

450 SuperMotocross Results

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 1-1
2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki), 2-2
3. Cooper Webb (Yamaha), 5-3

250 SuperMotocross Rider Final Point Standings
1. Haiden Deegan – 157 points
2. Jo Shimoda – 152 points
3. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 122 points

10. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 88 points
14. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 58 points

450 SuperMotocross Rider Final Point Standings
1. Jett Lawrence – 163 points
2. Ken Roczen – 146 points
3. Chase Sexton – 120 points

    RJ Hampshire rebounds for fourth overall at round two of SuperMotocross Playoffs

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    After a rough start to the SuperMotocross playoffs in Charlotte, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team came to Chicagoland with renewed focus and hunger for results. The long, flowing track provided ample opportunity to show the true speed of their FC250s, with high speeds, and nearly two-minute lap times.

    250 SuperMotocross

    RJ Hampshire’s day got off to a great start as he grabbed the top spot in qualifying among the 250 competitors. When the gate dropped for the first 250 moto, he was in the sixth spot as they crossed the stripe. He moved to fourth spot for three laps before settling into fifth for the rest of the moto. He currently sits in fifth overall in the playoff standings, with one round to go.

    “This was much improved from last weekend. Last weekend was such a struggle I was just looking for any type of positive from this weekend, and I came out and was P1 in practice...I believe that's one of my first poles of the season, and then just two solid motos. I didn't get great starts, but I didn't get terrible starts, so fourth overall on the day.,” said Hampshire. “I'm not stoked on it, but it's a huge improvement so we'll take that into L.A. next weekend where it's a more Supercross track. Hopefully, my back heals from this track today, and then I'll be ready to go next weekend.”

    Jalek Swoll was eighth out of the gate in moto one, and was ninth for a good portion of the race before moving to seventh at the checkers. In moto two, a poor start had him near the back of the 22-rider field, but he rebounded to 11th before a late-race crash dropped him to 13th at the finish.

    “Moto one was okay, but I would've liked to get more comfortable earlier on. That was P7. In the second moto, it was not a good start and I wasn't riding too well and had a big crash at the end, so it wasn't the best day but I still feel good and feel like I can run up there. I just need that start,” said Swoll. “All in all, I'm not broken up, so we'll be good and continue to fight in L.A.”

    Getting to the end of his rookie season, Talon Hawkins is still learning the ins and outs of the pro scene. But in a new playoff format where even veterans struggle to make the right setup choices, the playoffs have been a challenge. His 15-15 moto scores resulted in a 16th overall.

    “It was a rough one, but there are positives to take away from it. It's been hard to get the bike set up for these types of races. This is a brand-new thing this year, so I think everyone is struggling with bike setup. I think we're getting there, we just need a few things,” said Hawkins. “I'm looking forward to next weekend, and I want to thank the team for believing in me for these last couple rounds.”

    Next Event (SuperMotocross Round 3): September 23, 2023 – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif.

    SuperMotocross Playoffs: Chicagoland Speedway

    250 SuperMotocross Results

    1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 1-1
    2. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 2-2
    3. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha), 3-3

    4. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 5-4
    10. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 7-13
    16. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 15-15

    450 SuperMotocross Results

    1. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 1-2
    2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki), 3-1
    3. Chase Sexton (Honda), 2-3

    250 SuperMotocross Rider Point Standings

    1. Hunter Lawrence – 89 points
    2. Jo Shimoda – 86 points
    3. Haiden Deegan – 82 points

    5. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 62 points
    12. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 46 points
    16. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 25 points

    450 SuperMotocross Rider Point Standings
    1. Chase Sexton – 90 points
    2. Jett Lawrence – 88 points
    3. Ken Roczen – 80 points

    Jalek Swoll leads the way for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna with 7th-place overall

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    The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team finished up their 2023 Pro Motocross campaign at Ironman Raceway, with Jalek Swoll leading the charge, as RJ Hampshire opted to sit out another round ahead of the upcoming SuperMotocross playoffs.

    250 MX

    After starting inside the top 15 of moto one on his FC250, Jalek Swoll fought his way to an 11th-place finish. Jalek got off to a much better start in moto two, and battled to a fifth-place score, giving him seventh overall for the day, and cementing a ninth-overall tally for the season. He also goes into the SuperMotocross season in the 11th overall spot in the 250 class standings.


    “It could have been a lot better with a start in the first moto, but it was an okay day. I feel like I kind of struggled with the flow of the track all day. It came around a bit in moto two, and I'm happy with it. P5, so not bad. It’s something to end the season on and carry into SMX.,” 
    said Swoll. “I feel like I need to get my starts dialed in and I can't keep messing up the first motos. We'll come out swinging for SMX and try to end the year on a good note.”

    Talon Hawkins matched his best-ever moto finish in moto one, finishing in tenth. But a crash early in moto two made for a long slog to a 19th-place score. But he did finish in 12th overall for the series in his rookie campaign.

    “Wow. I definitely like to make it hard on myself in the second moto. But I got a top ten in the first one, and I was riding well all day. I had my best overall qualifying of the year, so that's a positive to take away. I also matched my best moto finish, I just needed to put it together for the second one. Unfortunately, I had a crash on the second lap and pretty much came from dead last up to 19th,” said Hawkins.“This is a tough game, but I'm ready to get back on the track in the next couple of weeks for SuperMotocross.”

    The second Pro Motocross National was a tough one for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team newcomer Casey Cochran, but he’ll use to experience to learn and build toward future events.

    “It was a rough weekend as far as the racing. I had too many crashes, but we'll bounce back and learn from the situations that we put ourselves in,” said Cochran.

    Next Event (SuperMotocross Round 1): September 9, 2023 – zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C.

    Round 11 Results: Ironman

    250 MX Results

    1. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 1-1
    2. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha), 2-3
    3. Tom Vialle (KTM), 3-4

    7. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 11-5
    16. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 10-19
    19. Jorgen Talviku (Husqvarna), 19-16
    37. Casey Cochran – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 28-39
    39. Peyton Jackson (Husqvarna), 38-34


    450 MX Results

    1. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 1-1
    2. Chase Sexton (Honda), 2-2
    3. Aaron Plessinger (KTM), 5-3

    27. Justin Rodbell (Husqvarna), 20-28
    29. John Adamson (Husqvarna), 26-23
    37. Scott Meshey (Husqvarna), 32-40


    250 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Hunter Lawrence – 419 points
    2. Justin Cooper – 399 points
    3. Jo Shimoda – 393 points

    8. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 288 points
    9. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
    , 221 points
    12. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
    , 129 points
    29. Jorgen Talviku (Husqvarna) - 
    26 points
    47. Casey Cochran - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
    , 2 points
    49. Kai Aiello
     (Husqvarna)- 2 points


    450 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Jett Lawrence – 550 points
    2. Dylan Ferrandis – 399 points
    3. Aaron Plessinger – 386 points

    29. Anton Gole - 29 points
    54. Luke Renzland
     - 4 points
    55. John Adamson - 4 points
    59. Tanel Leok - 3 points
    63. Scott Meshey
     - 3 points
    64. Justin Rodbell - 3 points

    Sasaki continues Moto3™ championship charge after 3rd position in Austrian showdown

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    Husqvarna Motorcycles is firmly in play for the 2023 Moto3 world title after Ayumu Sasaki took his FR 250 GP to a sixth podium in a row at a sunny Red Bull Ring. MotoGP™ exchanged the flat, flowing and exposed scope of Silverstone in the UK for the wonderfully scenic mountain wind of the Red Bull Ring for the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich to bring the 2023 Grand Prix campaign to t

    Jalek Swoll scores podium finish in moto one at Budds Creek

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    The Budds Creek round of the Pro Motocross series had some highs and lows in store for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team. After a tough crash as Unadilla, RJ Hampshire was forced to miss round ten. But it also provided Casey Cochrane his first opportunity in Pro Motocross, and for Jalek Swoll, he scored his best moto finish of the season.

    250 MX

    Jalek Swoll was in seventh and in the midst of a great three-way battle midway through the first 250 moto aboard his FC250, but a rare red flag for a downed rider caused a full restart. When the gate dropped again, Jalek took full advantage of it by grabbing the lead and showing everyone the way for five laps. While two of the championship contenders managed to slip by, he was still left with his best moto score of the season so far, a third-place finish. Jalek also moved back into ninth overall in the season standings.

    “I'd say this was a positive for me. I got back on the box, but I couldn't secure it for the overall. I had a tough second moto and not the best start. I was buried, but I fought as hard as I could and got to 12th. I felt like I could have been on the box for the overall today,” said Swoll. “We're taking this confidence and the momentum to the last round and getting excited for the playoffs.”

    For Talon Hawkins, 17-21 moto scores led to a 20th overall for the day on his first-ever crack at Budds Creek.

    “This was a rough one. It was the first time ever here, and it's a gnarly track. I didn't really gel with it all day. We got better and better, and I put a lot of solid laps together and had the speed, I just dug a hole for myself on the starts and then had too many lulls,” said Hawkins. “I know what to work on. We'll be back next weekend.”

    Casey Cochrane has had excellent results in the 250SX Futures races throughout 2023 but had some tough going in his first crack at the Pro Motocross series. He shadowed Hawkins in the results with a 19-23 day, and 22nd overall.

    “Budds Creek was all right. It was a learning experience for sure. There are definitely things to go back and work on so that I can come out next weekend and show up where I believe I should be,” said Cochrane. “I ran pretty good in the second moto, but I just hit a wall. That's what we need to work on and we'll be better next weekend.”

    Next Event (Round 11): August 26, 2023 - Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Ind.

    Round Ten Results: Budds Creek

    250 MX Results

    1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 2-1
    2. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 1-2
    3. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 7-3

    6. Jalek Swoll - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 3-12

    19. Jorgen Talviku (Husqvarna), 24-17
    20. Talon Hawkins - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 17-21
    22. Casey Cochrane - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 19-23

    450 MX Results

    1. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 1-1
    2. Aaron Plessinger (KTM), 4-3
    3. Jason Anderson (Kawasaki), 2-5

    15. Anton Gole (Husqvarna), 15-15
    27. Charlie Putnam (Husqvarna), 29-29
    30. Luke Renzland (Husqvarna), 23-38
    32. Scott Meshey (Husqvarna)
    , 33-32

    250 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Hunter Lawrence - 391 points
    2. Justin Cooper - 369 points
    3. Jo Shimoda - 343 points

    6. RJ Hampshire - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing - 288 points
    9. Jalek Swoll - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 
    - 195 points
    12. Talon Hawkins - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
     - 116 points
    31. Jorgen Talviku (Husqvarna)
     - 19 points
    47. Casey Cochrane - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
     - 2 points
    48. Kai Aiello
     (Husqvarna) - 2 points

    450 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Jett Lawrence - 500 points
    2. Dylan Ferrandis - 379 points
    3. Aaron Plessinger - 350 points

    27. Anton Gole - 29 points
    51. Luke Renzland
     - 4 points
    52. John Adamson - 4 points
    56. Tanel Leok - 3 points
    59. Scott Meshey
     - 3 points

    Casey Cochran to make Pro Motocross debut at Budds Creek National

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    Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing is pleased to welcome amateur standout Casey Cochran to its 250MX lineup for the final two rounds of the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

    Making his debut pro appearance this Saturday at the Budds Creek National, Cochran will race the Ironman MX finale before switching gears back to the SMX World All-Stars (amateur race) at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

    "Casey has had an unbelievable season so far this year," commented Nathan Ramsey, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager. "He has checked all the boxes and I feel like it’s time for him to get his feet wet in the professional ranks – what better way to do it than at a Pro Motocross event."

    The highly-rated 17-year-old is fresh from a title-winning performance in the 2023 AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn's earlier this month, where he claimed victory in the Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C class and also won the opening 250 B moto equipped with the FC 250.

    "I've had a pretty good year on the 250, so I'm stoked to get the opportunity to line up against the best in the business at the last two rounds of Pro Motocross," Cochran said, who will also contest the final round at Ironman Raceway on August 26.

    Cochran joined Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's amateur program ahead of this season and clinched the Supercross Futures AMA National Championship with a Main Event win at Salt Lake City's final round in May. He also won the Moto Combine overall at RedBud in July and his first step into the professional ranks comes as a welcome opportunity following what has been an outstanding year to-date.

    Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's RJ Hampshire sidelined for Budds Creek

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    Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider RJ Hampshire will sit out this weekend's penultimate round of the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Budds Creek while he continues to recover from his second moto crash at Unadilla.

    The 27-year-old went down heavily at the beginning of Moto 2 last Saturday afternoon and was unable to remount and complete the race.

    As a result, the decision has been made for Hampshire to remain on the sidelines for Budds Creek this weekend, with the 10th round of the season scheduled for August 19. A decision will be made next week on whether he will be fit to return for Ironman Raceway's final round of the outdoor season.

    Hampshire currently sits sixth in the 250MX standings onboard his FC 250 Rockstar Edition, only two points outside of the top five, and is also positioned third in the combined SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) 250 Class points.

    Jalek Swoll leads the way at Unadilla for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

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    Unadilla always provides its share of thrills, with big elevation changes and huge jumps, as well as extremely long ruts. Fortunately, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team is always up for a challenge.

    250 MX

    RJ Hampshire made one of the charges through the pack that he’s well-known for on his FC250 in moto one, jumping from 14th at the end of the first lap to sixth at the finish. Unfortunately, a crash by RJ shortly after the start of moto two brought out the red flag, and he was unable to continue. He’ll be evaluated this week regarding participation in upcoming races.

    Jalek Swoll was the top scorer for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team at Unadilla, with a 6-14 score in the two motos, and a seventh overall for the day.

    “Starts were okay. Moto one was okay. I came in with a sixth and felt like I had some more in the tank to ride a little better and get a little further up,” said Swoll. “In moto two I came together with another rider. I don't feel like it was my fault and I felt like there was nowhere to go and was stuck in his bike for what felt like forever. From dead last I don't know what I came back to...maybe 12th or 13th. It sucks. It feels like a lot of work is being put in but it doesn't show. It's all good. We'll use the fire and try to come out firing at the next two rounds.”

    For the third member of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna squad, Talon Hawkins, felt a bit unfulfilled with his 19th overall and a 17-15 day.

    “The final placement may not show it, but I feel like I rode great today and rode a lot better than I have been. I had a mishap in the first moto,” said Hawkins. “I came with a clear head into the second moto and ripped a good start. I was in the top five, but unfortunately, my teammate went down and it got red-flagged. My second start after that was not up to par so I had to play catch-up the whole second race. But I ended with a 17th in the first and a 15th in the second for somehow 19th overall. But it's okay. There's a lot to improve on, but I've been improving every week. I'm ready to get to the Baker's Factory to keep grinding.”

    Next Event (Round 10): August 19, 2023 – Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Md.

    Round Nine Results: Unadilla MX

    250 MX Results

    1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 2-2
    2. Levi Kitchen (Yamaha), 1-4
    3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 5-1

    7. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 6-14

    13. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 7-38

    19. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 17-15
    26. Jorgen Talviku (Husqvarna), 23-21
    34. Cody Williams (Husqvarna), 34-30

    450 MX Results

    1. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 1-1
    2. Chase Sexton (Honda), 3-2
    3. Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha), 2-3

    22. Anton Gole (Husqvarna), 16-21
    23. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna), 22-18
    25. Luke Renzland (Husqvarna), 21-22
    31. John Adamson (Husqvarna), 27-31
    32. Justin Rodbell (Husqvarna), 31-30
    41. Scott Meshey (Husqvarna), 36-DNS

    250 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Hunter Lawrence – 344 points
    2. Justin Cooper – 322 points
    3. Jo Shimoda – 309 points

    6. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 288 points
    10. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 166 points
    11. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 112 points
    30. Jorgen Talviku - 
    15 points
    46. Kai Aiello
     - 2 points

    450 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Jett Lawrence – 450 points
    2. Dylan Ferrandis – 347 points
    3. Aaron Plessinger – 312 points

    35. Anton Gole - 17 points
    51. Luke Renzland
     - 4 points
    52. John Adamson - 4 points
    56. Tanel Leok - 3 points
    59. Scott Meshey
     - 3 points

    RJ Hampshire delivers fourth place overall at Washougal

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    The trio of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team riders lined up to do battle in the beautiful forested hills above the Columbia River for round eight of the Pro Motocross season, with RJ Hampshire leading the way.

    250 MX

    RJ Hampshire got to show off his relentless pursuit skills in both motos at Washougal as he moved forward in each race. In the first moto, he was in eighth place aboard his FC250 after the drop of the gate, and one by one, he picked off the riders in front of him on the way to an eventual fourth-place finish.

    Early in moto two RJ was challenging for the fourth position, but he went down before the whoops and lost several spots. Though he had a huge time deficit to the riders in front of him, he put his head down and charged back to a strong fifth at the finish.

    “In the first moto, I felt I rode well; I just didn't get a great start. In the second moto, I had a better start and was going for a pass, but the line wasn't there and I lost my front end,” said Hampshire. “I got a fourth and that's getting old right now. I'm definitely going to use this break to kind of recover a bit and give it the best we've got here for the last three rounds.”

    Talon Hawkins has shown improved speed all season on his FC 250 and has spent more frequent time inside the top ten. He finished the day with an 11-14 score, and knows more to be gained.

    “We've got a lot to work on, but I'm excited I matched my best overall finish with an 11th. It's something to build off of. I got good starts, and there's a lot to take away that's good. But in the second moto, I was smoked. I need more,” said Hawkins. “But we're going to work on that and I'm ready to get back to these next races. I'm ready for this two-week break. I've been building all year, getting better at every race, so let's keep it rolling.”

    The final member of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, Jalek Swoll, finished in 13th overall with a 10-18 score in his motos.

    “Today was frustrating. I feel good and feel like I can ride good, but I'm still dealing with whatever happened at Millville and unfortunately, I can't shake it right now,” said Swoll. “I'm looking forward to these two weeks off and getting myself back in fine form. I'll come back with a chip on my shoulder. I feel like I was gaining momentum, but I'll be back and keep chipping away and figure it out.”

    Next Event (Round 9): August 12, 2023 – Unadilla MX in New Berlin, N.Y.

    Round Eight Results: Washougal

    250 MX Results

    1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha), 1-1
    2. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 3-2
    3. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 2-4

    4. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 4-5

    11. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 11-14

    13. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 10-18

    450 MX Results

    1. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 1-1
    2. Chase Sexton (Honda), 2-2
    3. Jason Anderson (Kawasaki), 4-4

    20. Anton Gole (Husqvarna), 20-19
    24. Harmish Harwood (Husqvarna), 24-22
    30. Gared Steinke (Husqvarna), 37-24
    37. Scott Meshey (Husqvarna), 36-32
    38. Brandon Ray (Husqvarna), 39-34

    250 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Hunter Lawrence – 300 points
    2. Haiden Deegan – 297 points
    3. Justin Cooper – 281 points

    4. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 274 points
    10. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 144 points
    12. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 102 points
    29. Jorgen Talviku - 
    15 points
    43. Kai Aiello
     - 2 points

    450 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Jett Lawrence – 400 points
    2. Dylan Ferrandis – 305 points
    3. Aaron Plessinger – 280 points

    37. Anton Gole - 12 points
    47. Luke Renzland
     - 4 points
    48. John Adamson - 3 points
    54. Scott Meshey - 3 points

    Hampshire just missed scoring a Spring Creek podium

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    This week’s Pro Motocross stop at Spring Creek MX in Millville, Minnesota, is a rider favorite, offering up everything from sand to hardpack, and an excellent challenge for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team trio of RJ Hampshire, Jalek Swoll, and Talon Hawkins.

    250 MX

    As usual, it was exciting to spot where RJ Hampshire was as he launches out of the gate, and then watch him go to work slicing through the pack. When he completed the first lap of moto one at Spring Creek, he was in sixth place. By the finish, he’d carved his way to third on his FC250, working past some very tough 250-class competition. In moto two, the story was much the same for RJ, except that he was 12th, and came back to finish in sixth spot despite a crash. He picked up a fourth overall score for the weekend and currently sits in third overall in the 250 title chase.

    “It was just another grind of a weekend. I feel like my riding has been really good. The first moto was decent, pretty solid. In the second moto, I got hung up on the start. I ended up going down about halfway. I got another fourth overall, but I just need to try and turn it around a bit in these second motos,” said Hampshire. “We have one more race, and then a bit of a break that I'm looking forward to. I'll try to get some points back next weekend, then a break coming up.”

    For Jalek Swoll, the day at Spring Creek ended with an eighth and a 14th in the two motos, after a bit of a biomechanical issue. That gave him a tenth overall for the day.

    “Today was a 'whatever' day for me. I felt good on the bike, so that was good. I didn't get the best start in moto one, but my riding was decent. I feel like if I'd had a better start, I would have had a much better day. In moto two I had a weird incident and did something kind of funky to my arm...which gave me a weird feeling. So that was survival,” said Swoll. “For now, the plan is to get some normalcy back. Kind of figure out what's going on, and what happened, and try to be more under control and ready to go for next time if this happens. All-in-all, I survived the day.”

    For the third member of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, Talon Hawkins, he spent the first third of the first moto inside the top ten hanging with some of the fastest 250-class competitors before sliding back to 15th. In moto two he finished 12th, good enough for a 13th overall finish.

    “Today was another step in the right direction. It was cool to be coming back here to this race… it's a good track. It's tough, though, very tiring and taxing on the body. I ended up with a 13th overall. I'm happy with my second moto performance. I just need to improve on the first moto,” said Hawkins. “I'm looking forward to getting back to work. We're heading back home to Cali, my hometown, and put some more work in.”

    Next Event (Round Eight): July 22, 2023 – Washougal MX Park in Washougal, Wash.

    Round Seven Results: Spring Creek

    250 MX Results

    1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 1-2
    2. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 4-1

    3. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 2-3

    4. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 3-6

    10. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 8-14

    13. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 15-12

    20. Jorgen Talviku (GASGAS) 18-40

    450 MX Results

    1. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 1-1
    2. Chase Sexton (Honda), 2-2
    3. Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha), 5-3

    18. Anton Gole (Husqvarna), 17-17
    22. John Adamson (Husqvarna), 22-19
    31. Charlie Putnam (Husqvarna), 31-27
    32. Scott Meshey (Husqvarna), 21-29


    250 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Hunter Lawrence – 260 points
    2. Haiden Deegan – 247 points
    3. RJ Hampshire - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 240 points

    10. Jalek Swoll - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 130 points
    13. Talon Hawkins - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 85 points
    29. Jorgen Talviku - 
    15 points
    43. Kai Aiello
     - 2 points

    450 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Jett Lawrence – 350 points
    2. Dylan Ferrandis – 269 points
    3. Aaron Plessinger – 246 points

    38. Anton Gole - 9 point
    44. Luke Renzland
     - 4 points
    45. John Adamson - 3 points
    50. Scott Meshey - 3 points

    Hampshire headlines for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team in the sand of Southwick

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    Everything about Southwick is tough, with the sand, heat and humidity…and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, who were ready to take on the roughest track on the AMA Pro Motocross series.

    250 MX

    It was Jalek Swoll who led the charge for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team at the start of moto one, as he rounded the first turn in second spot on his FC250. He was closely pursued by RJ Hampshire in seventh, and Talon Hawkins was lurking just outside the top ten in 11th place.

    As usual, Hampshire was clawing his way forward from his starting position, moving up to third at the finish. In moto two, he once was near the front, working his way from just outside the top five to fourth at the finish, and was closing on the overall winner as they raced to the checkers. His moto scores were good for fourth overall. He maintains his third overall spot in the championship standings, but has moved back to within 15 points of the lead over the last two races.

    “Overall, it was just a really solid weekend. Nothing special, but I made up a lot of points. I had two decent starts and salvaged what I could. It was 3-4 on the day and I'll just keep plugging away. We're at the halfway mark and I'm still in the championship hunt.,” said Hampshire. “I'll go back, recover, and Millville is another fun one for me. I'm just looking to get these starts figured out to give me a little bit more of a shot at these wins.”

    After an excellent start in moto one, Jalek Swoll suffered a couple of crashes that dropped him to 11th, but he rebounded on moto two with a seventh-place finish, and a ninth-place overall score. He has also steadily climbed in the 250 championship standings, moving from 21st at Fox Raceway and cracking the top ten at Southwick by moving into ninth overall.

    “Qualifying was good for me, and it was nice to finally find some speed in practice and carry it into the motos. In the first moto I had a good start and was riding okay but I went down early and that was kind of tough. I had two falls in that one and it put me pretty deep and I only got back to 11th. In moto two I had a good start, in the middle of the top ten, and it was okay...nothing crazy. I started to feel better at the end but just a little too late. I had sixth right in front of me but I ran out of time,” said Swoll. “I'm looking forward to next weekend and build off the momentum that I got today, despite the crashes.”

    Talon Hawkins cracked the top ten barrier in moto one, and backed it up with a 14th in moto two to score an 11th overall, the best of his pro career. He sit just outside the top ten overall in 11th spot.

    “We got a top ten, and that's been a goal of mine ever since coming into this. I have a lot to improve and a lot to work on, but it's definitely something good to take away from today. I came into today without the highest level of confidence, but I turned it around and put a smile on my face,” said Hawkins. “I'm glad I was able to almost break the top ten overall...I got 11th, my best finish so far. We're looking to keep on improving every race.”

    Next Event (Round 7): July 15, 2023 – Spring Creek Motocross in Millville, Minn.

    Round Six Results: Southwick

    250 MX Results

    1. Tom Vialle (KTM), 1-3

    2. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 2-2

    3. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 6-1

    4. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 3-4

    9. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 11-7

    11. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 10-14

    14. Jorgen Talviku (Husqvarna), 14-16

    34. Travis Mecking (Husqvarna) 31-32

     

    450 MX Results

    1. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 1-1

    2. Chase Sexton (Honda), 2-2

    3. Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha), 3-3

    19. Luke Renzland (Husqvarna), 18-20

    22. John Adamson (Husqvarna), 19-24

    24. Anton Gole (Husqvarna), 20-DNS

    36. Scott Meshey (Husqvarna), 37-35

     

    250 MX Rider Point Standings

    1. Haiden Deegan - 218 points

    2. Hunter Lawrence - 213 points

    3. RJ Hampshire - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 203 points

    10. Jalek Swoll - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 110 points

    14. Talon Hawkins - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 70 points

    30. Jorgen Talviku - 12 points

    41. Kai Aiello - 2 points

     

    450 MX Rider Point Standings

    1. Jett Lawrence – 300 points

    2. Dylan Ferrandis – 233 points

    3. Aaron Plessinger – 210 points

    40. Luke Renzland - 4 points

    45. Scott Meshey - 3 points

    47. John Adamson - 2 points

    48. Anton Gole - 1 point

    Hampshire and Swoll bring home top ten results at Thunder Valley

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    The Thunder Valley course always challenges riders on the Pro Motocross series, with the high Colorado elevation and rolling hills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains. Then there are tough ruts, and an uphill start, all of which make a great challenge for the trio of riders competing for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team on their FC250s.

    250 MX

    RJ Hampshire got taken down as the pack got to the top of the start hill in moto one, but per usual, he was quickly back on his bike and charging. Scored as 19th at the end of lap one, he put in a moto-long charge back to the front and finished in the eighth spot. Though he got a somewhat better start in moto two, the story was nearly the same, as he battled all moto long to get back inside the top ten, with an eventual seventh-place finish, and a ninth overall for the day.


    RJ Hampshire:
     "It was a really frustrating day. I feel awesome on my bike, I just need to get out of the gate. It's so frustrating having to charge like that and have a couple of crashes and still have a shot there at the end. I'm heading back to Florida, and we'll be able to practice some starts this week. I'll figure some things out and we should be better at High Point."

    Jalek Swoll’s day featured more time inside the top ten during each moto, but an eventual tenth at the checkers of each race, resulting in a tenth overall.


    Jalek Swoll:
     "It was kind of a tough day. I lacked a little bit but we'll have a good week and come back at Mount Morris. I've got a few things to focus on and try and be better with next weekend. I don't feel like speed wise I'm very far off. I've just got to get a little better endurance and a little of that sprint pace in the beginning and we'll be good. Other than results not looking so good I feel like I'm on the right progression."


    Talon Hawkins showed improved speed and consistency in Lakewood, finishing 14th in each moto. That also netted him his best overall finish to date (motocross or Supercross), with a 13th.


    Talon Hawkins:
     "Colorado definitely was an insane one and not what I expected. This place is super-deep and has a lot of deep ruts. It was cool to get my feet wet and ride some ruts again. I ended up with my best finish of the year. I'm pretty happy about that. There's a lot of good to take away from it. I just need to be better next week and throughout this season. I ended up with a 14-14 for 13th overall. I'm ready to move on and get a little better every weekend."


    Next Event (Round 4): June 17, 2023 – High Point Raceway in Mount Morris, Penn.


    Round Three Results: Thunder Valley


    250 MX Results

    1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 2-1
    2. Justin Cooper (Yamaha) 1-4
    3. Levi Kitchen (Yamaha) 5-2

    9. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 8-7

    10. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 10-10

    13. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 14-14

     

    450 MX Results

    1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 1-1
    2. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) 4-2
    3. Cooper Webb (KTM) 2-5


    250 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Hunter Lawrence – 137 points
    2. Justin Cooper – 121 points
    3. Haiden Deegan – 110 points

    5. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 94 points
    13. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 45 points
    16. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 25 points


    450 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Jett Lawrence – 150 points
    2. Dylan Ferrandis – 116 points
    3. Cooper Webb – 112 points

    33. Scott Meshey – 2 points

    RJ Hampshire leads Hangtown charge for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

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    Round two of the Pro Motocross series turned up the heat on the riders as they headed for their annual visit to the rolling foothills of California’s Eastern Sierra Nevada at Hangtown.

    250 MX

    RJ Hampshire led the way for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, with his best qualifying effort of the season (2nd), and a pair of fifth-place moto finishes. He made the best of a pair of tough starts, and put together huge charges from near midpack in each moto aboard his FC250 to eventual 5-5 finishes for fifth overall.

    RJ Hampshire: “I felt really good on the bike, I just had two terrible starts that kept us off the box. My riding was really good all day, from qualifying through both motos I felt awesome. But you can't do much when you start outside the top 15. It was probably the hardest 5-5 I've ever had in my life. We'll go back home to Florida after this weekend and we'll look forward to getting some better starts in Colorado and being where we should be.”

    Jalek Swoll continues to build speed and confidence after returning to racing following off-season injuries and carded a ninth and eleventh in his two motos that weren’t really indicative of where he raced most of the day. After finishing ninth in moto one, he ran third for much of the second moto before a pair of costly mistakes dropped him just outside of the top ten. But a top ten overall was his best result of the season and added optimism for the races ahead.

    Jalek Swoll: “I'd say it was a step in the right direction. I wish I could have gotten a good start in the first moto and learned more of that pace, but I had a mid-pack start and got ninth. It's something to build off. In the second moto, I felt pretty good in the beginning. I got a really good start and ran third about half the moto. I had a pretty close call where I went off the track and lost a few positions. After that it was survival. But I hung around fifth for a while and had a tip-over and it put me back to tenth and that's where I finished. It sucks to fall and have a little mishap off the track, but it's good to see some light at the end of the tunnel and some progression. All is well and we'll keep the building blocks going.”

    Talon Hawkins is still learning the ropes of the Pro Motocross series but saved his best result for the tough and hot second moto, where he finished 15th.

    Talon Hawkins: “It was pretty good. There's definitely a lot to work on. I need to be doing more motos and the cardio needs to be a little better, so I'm ready to get back out to the Baker's Factory this week and work on that. There's a lot to work on, but it was a step in the right direction. I did better than last weekend, and that's all I can ask for is to do better every weekend. I'm looking forward to this next weekend out in Colorado with the high elevation. We'll be ready to go.”

    Next Event (Round 3): June 10, 2023 – Thunder Valley Motocross in Lakewood, Colo.

    Round X Results: Hangtown

    250 MX Results

    1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 3-1
    2. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 2-2
    3. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha), 1-4

    5. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 5-5

    9. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 9-11

    18. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 21-15
    29. Kai Aiello (Husqvarna) 31-26
    39. Jaret Finch (Husqvarna)40-34
    40. Brantley Schnell (Husqvarna) 38-37

    450 MX Results

    1. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 1-1
    2. Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha), 2-3
    3. Cooper Webb (KTM), 4-22

    23. Scott Meshey (Husqvarna) 40-19

    250 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Hunter Lawrence – 90 points
    2. Haiden Deegan – 80 points
    3. Justin Cooper – 78 points

    5. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 67 points
    14. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 23 points
    19. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 11 points

    450 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Jett Lawrence – 100 points
    2. Dylan Ferrandis – 82 points
    3. Cooper Webb – 74 points

    RJ Hampshire takes 250 moto win in Pro Motocross season opener

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    With both 450 riders on the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team still on the mend, it was an all-250cc effort for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team as the series headed to Pala, California, for round one of the AMA Pro Motocross series. Fortunately, it was a three-rider effort, as Jalek Swoll returned to action after sitting out the Supercross season due to injury.

    250 MX

    When the gate dropped for the first moto, Jalek Swoll and RJ Hampshire quickly showed off their starting prowess, as well as the power of their Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing TeamFC250s, as they rounded the first turn in the top two spots. After running in second position for the first two laps, Hampshire took over the lead, which he held to the finish for the win.

    Unfortunately, in moto two a pair of crashes early in the race had him at the very tail end of the field. But never being one to give up, RJ charged all the way to 11th, which combined with his win in the first moto win, gave him third overall on the day.

    "For the first round of the outdoors, I was so excited to come here and race,” said Hampshire. “It started off with a great start in the first moto. I've never felt like that out front where things felt that easy and I didn't really have to get out of my comfort zone. Coming into the second moto I was going to try and do the same thing and it's on me. I botched that start and was still kind of decent, but the second turn was mayhem and I ended up going down. I made up a bunch of passes right away, and then someone else got a little whiskey throttle and I clipped their rear tire going up the steep hill in the back. Then I had my work cut out for me. I was in last by quite a bit. I knew I had to put my head down and I was charging hard. I didn't know if I had a shot at the podium. I had another little crash near the end, but I'm pretty stoked on the whole day. I'm really happy with the bike, where we're at, our mentality. It's going to be a good year and I'm so damn proud of this team.”

    After his first moto holeshot, Jalek Swoll had a crash that force him out of moto one, but despite he was able to return to score his first points of the season with a 20th-place finish in moto two.

    “This was my first race back in pretty much a year, and it just felt good to get gate drops,” said Swoll. “Watching from the couch was not fun. Just being out here, 100 percent or not was the goal. The starts were pretty good. I was stoked about that and other than the first moto fall I feel today could have been really good. We'll get healed up, come back a little bit stronger, get some good motos under my belt, and start clicking off some goals this year. My confidence is still there. I feel like I can compete at the top level, so we'll take the starts and the little bit of momentum that was caught today to Hangtown.”

    For rookie Talon Hawkins, this was his first crack at a Pro Motocross National, and he finished the day with a 20-17 score, and 19th overall.

    “Round one was pretty good, and there's a lot of good to take from it,” said Hawkins. “I needed a better start in that first moto. I got the better start in the second moto, I just didn't ride the way I know how. We're going to work on that this next week and hopefully make something happen next weekend. I'm excited, and this was a good race for me to build off of as we head into the next rounds.“

    Next Event (Round 2): June 3, 2023 – Prairie City SVRA in Rancho Cordova, Calif.

    Round 1 Results: Fox Raceway

    250 MX Results

    1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 3-1
    2. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha), 6-2
    3. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 1-11 

    20. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 20-17

    21. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 40-20

     

    450 MX Results

    1. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 1-1
    2. Chase Sexton (Honda), 2-2
    3. Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha), 3-3

    35. Scott Meshey (Husqvarna) 28-37

    250 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Hunter Lawrence – 45 points
    2. Haiden Deegan – 37 points
    3. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 35 points

    20. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 5 points

    21. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 1 point  

     

    450 MX Rider Point Standings
    1. Jett Lawrence – 50 points
    2. Chase Sexton – 44 points
    3. Dylan Ferrandis – 40 points

    RJ Hampshire scores Mile High win in Denver Supercross

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    The last time we saw RJ Hampshire in action, he was coated in mud from head to toe after a last-ditch effort to make a final corner pass in New Jersey. Heading into the penultimate round of the 2023 AMA Supercross season in Denver, RJ and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team were looking for the win that had been oh-so-close but had proven elusive thus far.

    250 SX

    When the gate dropped for the main event, RJ Hampshire got a great start on his FC250 and was in the top three. He quickly moved into second place and began reeling in the leader. Near the midway point, he made a move for the lead and was there briefly before running out of room on the edge of the track. Once returning to the racing surface he was several seconds behind the lead, but was the fastest rider on the track. His never say die attitude paid off, and with a pair of laps left in the main, he moved back into the lead for good, scoring his first win of the season.

    “It was an awesome day. I'm super-stoked for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, and to knock one of these wins off before the season is over was huge. We've built a lot of momentum; man; I don't take these for granted. I know how much work goes into this from the team side and myself, this motorcycle, and all our supporters. It's just really nice to give them a win... a little payback for all they do for us,” said Hampshire. “I wasn't that fast in qualifying and didn't win my heat race. But I just had that feeling today that I would get it done. I had that big mistake about midway through the main event, but I really put a charge on there at the end and at least gave myself an opportunity to have a shot at the win. Sure enough, we pulled it off.”

    450 SX

    It’s been more evident than ever during the last couple of weeks that part of the challenge of the AMA Supercross season is making it to the end unscathed.  The 450 side of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team is working hard to be back on track with their FC 450 Rockstar Editions as soon as possible.

    Next Event (Round 17): May 13, 2023 – Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah

    Round 16 Results: Denver

    250 SX West Results

    1. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
    2. Levi Kitchen (Yamaha)
    3. Jett Lawrence (Honda)  

    250 SX West Rider Point Standings

    1. Jett Lawrence – 197 points
    2. RJ Hampshire – 163 points
    3. Enzo Lopes – 137 points

    450 SX Rider Point Standings

    1. Chase Sexton – 346 points
    2. Eli Tomac – 339 points
    3. Cooper Webb – 304 points

    11. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 150 points
    29. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 15 points
    31. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 15 points

    RJ HAMPSHIRE DELIVERS RUNNER-UP FINISH AT ANAHEIM 1 SX

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    Making the trek to Angel Stadium is an annual tradition for the AMA Supercross Championship, but this year added a new layer of intrigue, as it was also the kickoff of the new SuperMotocross era, where the Supercross and Pro Motocross seasons link together for the first time. RJ Hampshire topped the results for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, where tough track conditions brought on by an unusual string of rainy days in Southern California made it extremely challenging for all the riders.

    250SX

    Part of the mystery of any season-opener is to see how all the riders stack up, and the night started off in the best way possible for RJ Hampshire, with a win in his heat race packed with talented title contenders. When the gate dropped for the 250SX Main Event, Hampshire started off in the fourth position, but methodically moved forward. With less than two minutes left to go, he moved into the second spot and finished slightly over five seconds behind the top spot.

    "Man, we had an awesome day," Hampshire said. "From start to finish we were solid. I felt like my riding was really good. My starts were decent, and it was a solid start to the season with a P2. We'll take it and lead into Oakland. Hopefully, we can do it again."

    450SX

    Malcolm Stewart experienced a little bit of everything during the 450SX Main Event. Nearing the halfway point, he took advantage of a bobble by last season’s champion and took over the lead for several laps. Later, contact with another rider forced him off the track. In the closing stages of the main, he had a crash that dropped him to the back of the pack. But even with the tough finish, he was left with a positive impression at the start of the season.

    "The day started out pretty slow. I didn't really ride that well in practice and the track was pretty tough, but I got to a point where I was like, 'You know what? I just need to turn this dayaround,' because I felt like I work too hard to get to this point," Stewart said. "I  got a decent start in the main event, and just did the best I could. I started riding, clicking off laps, making some good passes, and smart choices. I was leading the main for a while, which was amazing. I don't think I've done that in my whole entire career. Just having all that pressure and dealing with it, if anything brings confidence to me because I know where I belong. I'm very proud of myself. Unfortunately, we did have a crash with three laps to go. It was a big crash for sure. I'm glad that I'm healthy and walked away from it, so we live to fight another day and I'm more proud of myself because of how my day was going and me turning it around and going like that, and doing what I'm supposed to do just brings more confidence for me. I'm looking forward to Oakland."

    For the newest member of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team, Christian Craig, it was a tough way to start the season, finishing 13th on the night in the 450 class.

    "A1's done and it was a rough day for me," Craig said. "I started off good in practice and then had a pretty big crash in the whoops and from there on out it was a struggle. I rode tight and not like myself. I’m pretty frustrated with the night, but we're healthy, we're moving on, and only up from here. I've just got to work on starting up front and putting myself in a good position to battle more next week."

    Next Event (Round 2): 1/14/23 – RingCentral Coliseum

    Round 1 Results: Anaheim, California

    250SX West – Main Event

    1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
    2. RJ Hampshire - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
    3. Cameron Mcadoo (Kawasaki)

    450SX – Main Event

    1. Eli Tomac (Yamaha)
    2. Cooper Webb (KTM)
    3. Chase Sexton (Honda)
     
    13. Christian Craig - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
    22. Malcolm Stewart - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

    450SX Championship Standings – After Round 1

    1. Eli Tomac (Yamaha) 26 pts
    2. Cooper Webb (KTM) 23 pts
    3. Chase Sexton (Honda) 21 pts
    … 
    13. Christian Craig - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 10 pts
    22. Malcolm Stewart - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 1 pts

    250SX West Championship Standings – After Round 1

    1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 26 pts
    2. RJ Hampshire - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 23 pts
    3. Cameron Mcadoo (Kawasaki) 21 pts

    RJ HAMPSHIRE WINS BUDDS CREEK NATIONAL

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    Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire has secured his first 250MX victory of the season at the Budds Creek National, delivering an outstanding performance with 1-2 moto scores at the 10th round of the 2022 AMA Pro Motocross in Mechanicsville, Maryland.

    HAMPSHIRE CAPTURES TOP-FIVE FINISH AT PRO MOTOCROSS ROUND 9

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    It was a steep return to the AMA Pro Motocross Championship for the entire Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, who lined up with a nearly-complete four-rider roster for the first time in New Berlin, New York. For the team’s 250MX riders, the Unadilla National served as the first race back after a two-week break from racing, while 450MX riders Malcolm Stewart and Dean Wilson ...

    HAMPSHIRE CLAIMS SEVENTH OVERALL AT WASHOUGAL

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    Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team riders experienced a day of holeshot challenges at Washougal MX Park, the site of AMA Pro Motocross Championship Round 8, because despite its picturesque views, the track conditions proved to

    FIRST-CAREER 250MX PODIUM FOR STILEZ ROBERTSON AT REDBUD NATIONAL

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    It was a career-best 250MX performance for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Stilez Robertson, who put in an astounding ride for third overall at the RedBud National in Buchanan, Michigan. With 3-5 moto scores, Robertson earned both his first moto-podium and overall-podium in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, edging out his teammate, RJ Hampshire, who finished fourth overall.

    ROBERTSON DELIVERS A CAREER-BEST RIDE AT THUNDER VALLEY NATIONAL

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    Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Stilez Robertson secured a career-best finish in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship on Saturday, racing to sixth overall in the 250MX class with 6-7 moto finishes at the Thunder Valley National. In the 450MX class, fill-in rider Shane McElrath claimed a season-best eighth overall with 12-5 scores at Round 3.

    Moto3™ bounty for Sasaki with runner-up finish at the French Grand Prix

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    A strong performance for Husqvarna Motorcycles in front of passionate French fans at Le Mans as Ayumu Sasaki rides to 2nd place at round seven of the 2022 MotoGP™ series.

    The Le Mans Bugatti circuit is one of the most distinctive layouts on the MotoGP world championship trail at 4.2km and with fourteen varied turns that make tough demands of the riders for braking and acceleration but also test their bravery for corner entry and slipstreaming. These qualities were of particular importance for the Moto3 Grand Prix at a dry but cloudy seventh round of twenty-one this year.

    Sterilgarda Max Racing approached the weekend with Ayumu Sasaki in fiercely competitive form and hunting his third podium result of the season. The team were able to count on their full line-up for the first time since the opening round in Qatar. John McPhee had recovered sufficiently from the back injury he’d sustained in training to be able to wheel out the FR 250 GP from the pitbox.

    Le Mans witnessed busy attendances throughout Friday and Saturday when the sunshine beamed down onto the venue in northeast France. Sasaki was the best qualifier after Saturday’s Q2 and occupied 12th place on the grid. McPhee, getting back in the flow of Moto3, was on the sixth row in 15th.

    Sunday saw the climate shift to clouds and a light shower in the first laps caused a considerable shift for the grip and feeling on the French asphalt. The Moto3 class was the first to lay down rubber trails and the 22-laps was soon halted due to rain in the first two circulations. Sasaki was one of several fallers at Turn 14 but the red flag allowed the Japanese to restart after some great work by the team to get the FR 250 GP repaired in less than 15 minutes.

    STEWART SECURES THIRD OVERALL IN 450SX CHAMPIONSHIP

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    Consistency was key this season for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart, who topped off a career-best season of third overall in the AMA 450 Supercross Championship with a fighting fourth in Salt Lake City, Utah. Teammate RJ Hampshire also

    STEWART FINISHES JUST OFF THE PODIUM AT ROUND 15 OF AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES

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    Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart is back on a roll late in the AMA Supercross Championship season, securing a hard-fought fourth-place at Round 15 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. With two rounds remaining in 2022, Stewart holds 11 top-five finishes in the stacked 450SX division and he continues to vie for the illustrious number one spot.

    SEASON-BEST PODIUM PERFORMANCE FOR RJ HAMPSHIRE IN INDIANAPOLIS

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    Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire made his first overall-podium appearance of the 2022 AMA Supercross Championship season on Saturday with a solid third-place performance inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. His 450SX teammate, Dean Wilson, also had a break-through night as he scored a season-best Main Event finish with seventh at Round 11.

    MALCOLM STEWART DELIVERS FOURTH-PLACE RESULT AT ANAHEIM 3 SX

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    The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team rounded out the west coast stretch of the 2022 AMA Supercross Championship on Saturday and the third time was a charm for Malcolm Stewart, who delivered his best Anaheim SX result with a fourth-place finish at Round 6 in Anaheim, California.

    MALCOLM STEWART CLAIMS SECOND OVERALL AT GLENDALE SX TRIPLE CROWN

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    Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart made his first podium appearance of the season on Saturday with an impressive performance at Round 5 of the AMA Supercross Championship in Glendale, Arizona. Scoring 3-2-4 finishes, Stewart maintained a consistent pace through all three Main Events to secure second overall at the first Triple Crown of the year.

    ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING CLAIM A PAIR OF TOP-FIVES IN ANAHEIM

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    Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart is on a roll in 2022 after capturing his third-consecutive top-five finish in the 450SX class at Round 4 of the AMA Supercross Championship in Anaheim, California. Teammate Jalek Swoll had a break-through ride on Saturday, delivering another top-five result for the team in the 250SX Western division.

    SOLID TOP-FIVE RESULT FROM MALCOLM STEWART

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    The 2022 AMA Supercross Championship made its way back to Southern California for round three of racing in San Diego and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart had another steady performance in the 450SX class, finishing inside the top-five for the second-straight week.

    MALCOLM STEWART DELIVERS A TOP-FIVE FINISH AT OAKLAND SX

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    Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart delivered a top-five result at Round 2 of the 2022 AMA Supercross Championship in Oakland, California. Building off a seventh-place finish at the opening round, Stewart continues to build momentum in a favorable start to the new season. Teammate Dean Wilson followed up with a top-10 finish in the 450SX division.

    STRONG OPENING PERFORMANCE FROM MALCOLM STEWART

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    Malcolm Stewart had a strong start to his racing debut with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team on Saturday where he claimed a seventh-place finish at the opening round of the 2022 AMA Supercross Championship in Anaheim, California.

    Watch Now: The Rise Of De Wolf

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    One of the hottest prospects in world motocross, Kay de Wolf is working hard to reach the top of the MX2 class. Enjoying an incredible rookie season in 2021, the Dutchman claimed a race win and four overall podium results, all on his way to securing an impressive seventh overall in the MX2 World Championship. In this enlightening episode of Drop The Gate, we sat down with Kay just a few days after he returned home from the final round of the series, where he shared the full story of his life and career to date.

    Possessing a loose and fluid riding style, Kay is always an exciting rider to watch. With his youthful exuberance allowing him to ride hard from the drop of the gate to the chequered flag falling, he’d already delivered two successful seasons of racing in the FIM European Motocross Championships before the 17-year-old progressed to the MX2 World Championship in 2021. Maintaining his remarkable upward trajectory, Kay claimed his first ever overall podium result in just his fourth ever GP, a hugely pivotal career milestone enjoyed at his home race in the Netherlands.

    Off track, de Wolf is humble, intelligent, and fully embraces all that comes with racing success – in many ways a shining example of a modern-day racer. With a clear plan for the future, Kay remains grounded, knowing that every sacrifice he’s made to date has helped shaped who he is today.

    Head over to the Husqvarna Motorcycles YouTube channel today to discover all the previous editions of Drop The Gate.

    HAMPSHIRE ENDS 250MX SEASON WITH A STRONG PODIUM RESULT AT HANGTOWN

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    The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team concluded a long summer of AMA Pro Motocross racing on Saturday with the 12th and final round taking place in Rancho Cordova, California. RJ Hampshire pushed through adversity all day long to come away with 2-6 moto scores and third overall in the 250MX class, while his teammate Joshua Varize made the most of his fill-in ride.

    FOURTH-OVERALL FOR RJ HAMPSHIRE AT UNADILLA MX NATIONAL

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    Following a two-week break from racing in the 2021 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team returned to racing on Saturday for Round 8 at the Unadilla National in New Berlin, New York. RJ Hampshire posted solid 4-3 moto scores to claim fourth overall in the 250MX class.

    RJ HAMPSHIRE CLAIMS SECOND OVERALL AT ROUND 7

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    Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire put all the pieces together to claim second overall at Saturday’s Washougal National, scoring impressive 2-3 finishes at Round 7 of the 2021 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in Washougal, Washington.

    DEAN WILSON CAPTURES ANOTHER TOP-10 FINISH AT SPRING CREEK NATIONAL

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    It was a solid day all-around for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Dean Wilson, who raced his way to a second-straight top-10 finish at Saturday’s Spring Creek National in Millville, Minnesota for Round 6 of the 2021 AMA Pro Motocross Championship. His teammate, Jalek Swoll, also secured a top-10 in the 250MX division with combined 12-10 scores on the day.

    Second 2021 Moto3™ podium finish for Fenati at the Dutch Grand Prix

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    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.

    HAMPSHIRE SHINES BRIGHT AT THUNDER VALLEY

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    The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team had a mixed day in Colorado for Round 2 of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Known for its high altitude and rough track conditions, the Thunder Valley National delivered its fair share of obstacles on Saturday but that didn’t stop RJ Hampshire from assembling a stellar podium performance in 250MX Moto 1.

    HAMPSHIRE ROUNDS OUT THE TOP FIVE AT PRO MOTOCROSS OPENER

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    The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team returned to action on Saturday with the opening round of the 2021 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in Pala, California. RJ Hampshire made his first racing appearance back since injury, earning a solid third-place moto finish en route to a fifth overall in the 250MX class.

    JALEK SWOLL CLAIMS EIGHTH IN THE 250SX E/W SHOWDOWN FINALE

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    The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team concluded a solid season in the 2021 AMA Supercross World Championship on Saturday with the final round of racing at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. Team rider Jalek Swoll finished eighth in the stacked 250SX East/West Showdown Main Event, where he came away from the 250SX West Championship season with a top-five in points.

    ANDERSON BATTLES FROM THE LCQ TO THE PODIUM AT ATLANTA 2 SX

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    Tuesday proved to be an eventful day of racing for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson, who came away with a third-place podium finish at Round 14 of the AMA Supercross World Championship after being forced to battle his way through the last chance qualifier due to a bad luck situation in his heat race.

    Fenati captures five points after eventful Moto3™ Qatar GP

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    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.

     

    Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing claim a pair of top-five finishes at Arlington 3 SX

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    The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team closed out a successful week of racing in Arlington, Texas on Saturday with a pair of top-five finishes at Round 12 of the 2021 AMA Supercross World Championship. Jason Anderson secured a fifth-place finish in the premier 450SX class, while teammate Jalek Swoll landed just outside the 250SX West podium with a solid fourth-place finish.

    SWOLL EARNS FIRST-CAREER PODIUM IN 250SX WEST DIVISION

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    Round 11 of the 2021 AMA Supercross World Championship took place in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday serving as the second of three races to take place inside AT&T Stadium this week. It was a memorable day for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, who witnessed a break-through performance by Jalek Swoll as he earned his first-career podium with a strong second-place finish in the 250SX We

    Thomas Kjer Olsen claims debut 450 victory in Italy

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    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

      ROBERTSON EARNS CAREER-FIRST 250SX PODIUM AT DAYTONA SX

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      After a weekend off from racing, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team made their way to Daytona International Speedway on Saturday for Round 9 of the 2021 AMA Supercross World Championship. It was a monumental day for rookie Stilez Robertson, who earned a career-first podium finish in the 250SX West Main Event with an explosive performance in Daytona, Florida.

      ANDERSON FINISHES INSIDE THE TOP-FIVE AT ROUND 8 OF AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

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      Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson made big strides on Saturday for Round 8 of the 2021 AMA Supercross World Championship, earning pole position, a heat-race win and a season-best fifth-place finish in the 450SX Main Event. Additionally, team rider Jalek Swoll secured an impressive fourth-place finish at the opening round of the 250SX Regional Championship in Orlando, Florid

      Anderson Returns To Racing With Season-Best Sixth at Round 6

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      The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team wrapped up another jam-packed week of racing in Indianapolis with Round 6 of the 2021 AMA Supercross World Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium. Jason Anderson, who missed the last round due to a finger injury, returned to the 450SX lineup on Saturday where he claimed a season-best finish of sixth in the premier class.

      Osborne Rallies to a Hard Fought Top 5 Finish at Indianapolis SX

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      Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Zach Osborne overcame the challenges of a tough night in Indianapolis where he rallied from a last-place start to a top-five finish in the 450SX class with an impressive Main Event charge at Round 4 of the 2021 AMA Supercross World Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium.

      Husqvarna Motorcycles thank Thomas Kjer Olsen

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      Husqvarna Motorcycles and the Nestaan-MX managed Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team would like to thank Thomas Kjer Olsen for his dedication and many successes throughout the past four seasons in the FIM Motocross World Championship.

      Osborne Stacks Championship Points With Podium Finish at MX Round 8

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      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

      Luciano Benavides set to race Andalucia Rally

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      Luciano Benavides has arrived in Europe ahead of his first official competition for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, the 2020 Andalucía Rally held in and around the town of Villamartin in the south of the Spain. Running from October 6 to 10, the event comprises a short Super Special Stage followed by four days of tough rally racing.

      Arminas Jasikonis Injury Update

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      Following Arminas Jasikonis’ admittance to hospital on Sunday afternoon, September 27, during the second MXGP race at the MXGP of Lombardia, Mantova, Italy, Husqvarna Motorcycles would like to issue the following update on AJ’s condition.

      Osborne Extends Championship Lead With 1-1 Sweep

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      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

      Jed Beaton charges to fifth overall at MXGP of Italy

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      Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton has earned a strong fifth-place overall MX2 class result after claiming a pair of sixth-place moto finishes at the MXGP of Italy. Riding two calculated races at what was the first of three visits to the hardpack Faenza circuit, Beaton’s performances move him up to fourth place in the MX2 World Championship standings.

      Zach Osborne claims first-career 450MX overall

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      Coming off a 450-class podium sweep at the AMA Supercross World Championship finale in June, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team kept their momentum rolling into the 2020 AMA Pro Motocross Championship opener as Zach Osborne earned a career-first 450MX overall victory, while teammate Jason Anderson scored a moto-win and second overall for the day.

      BIG STRIDES FOR OSBORNE AND THE ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING TEAM

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      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

      Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Jason Anderson podiums at Salt Lake City SX #3

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      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

      Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team excels in Salt Lake City

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      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

      Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team returns to AMA Supercross world championship in Utah

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      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 

      Billy Bolt Interview - 2020 SuperEnduro World Champion

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      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

      Husqvarna Motorcycles and Replay form collaborative partnership

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      Husqvarna Motorcycles steps into Moto3TM 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

      Anderson and Hampshire claim top-four finishes at Daytona Supercross

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      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.

      Arminas Jasikonis places third overall at MXGP of the Netherlands

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      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

      Husqvarna Motorcycles and Sterilgarda Max Racing Team set for exciting Moto3 season

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      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