Motorsports News

Teenage rookie Casey Cochran has claimed a spectacular first-career podium finish at the Spring Creek National, leading the majority of 250MX Moto 2 this afternoon on his way to a P2 finish, which resulted in third position overall in a breakout ride at Round 7 of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship. After qualifying in ninth position, 18-year-old Cochran matched that result in the opening encounter on his Husqvarna FC 250 Rockstar Edition. It was another encouraging effort well inside the top 10, but his best was yet to come in Moto 2.
Following a serious amount of rainfall before gate-drop, it was the second outing that Cochran really made his mark in, leading for more than half race distance and eventually bringing it home in P2. That placed the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing revelation a well-earned third overall and he's now 11th in the point standings.
"I can't even explain the feelings right now!"   Cochran said.   "I got a great start, amazing first laps, got a good lead, and I was just shocked... I'm looking back, like, 'Where did everyone go?'. To cross the finish second, I was stoked, and then to come in third overall, it's an unreal feeling. All the hard work is paying off, so I'm ready to keep building and to keep progressing."
Both Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450MX riders, Christian Craig and Malcolm Stewart, raced to top 10 finishes on their Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition machinery in Millville, led by Craig in P7 and Stewart in 10th place overall.
Craig was impressive throughout the weekend at the Spring Creek National, setting the sixth-fastest lap-time in qualifying. He started strongly in the races and managed seventh-place results across both motos, which placed him seventh overall. Craig is currently 10th in the premier class standings.
"Today started off good with my best qualifying all season,"   commented Craig.   "All-in-all, I got better starts, was riding better all-round, and stayed off the ground. We put in two solid motos for my best finish of the season so far – I can't be mad, but we're always striving for more."
As for Stewart, he qualified eighth and then scored P8 in Moto 1, before having to settle for a 15th-place finish in the final race, which saw heavy rain arrive in the closing stages. The end result was 10th overall in his full-time return to the outdoors, still ranked eighth in the series with four rounds remaining.
"I actually had fun today,"   Stewart recalled.   "First moto, I went down, but made a lot of passes for eighth and that was great. Second moto, not a terrible start, and then I got together with another rider. I put a hard charge on, went down again, and – I'll be honest – I kind of gassed myself out at that point. It's part of racing when you're on the edge and getting going again. We'll take what we got and learn, so I'm looking forward to getting back to Washougal next." Next Race:  July 20 – Washougal, Washington

Results 450MX Class – Spring Creek National
1. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
2. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
3. Justin Cooper (USA), Yamaha
4. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
7. Christian Craig (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
10. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 450MX Class 2024 after 7 of 11 rounds
1. Chase Sexton, 310 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 297
3. Justin Cooper, 249
4. Aaron Plessinger, 239
8. Malcolm Stewart, 185
9. Justin Barcia, 148
10. Christian Craig, 136

Results 250MX Class – Spring Creek National
1. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki
2. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
3. Casey Cochran (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
6. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS
7. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
10. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
14. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS

Standings 250MX Class 2024 after 7 of 11 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 314 points
2. Levi Kitchen, 263
3. Tom Vialle, 260
7. Pierce Brown, 162
10. Ryder DiFrancesco, 147
11. Casey Cochran, 137
12. Julien Beaumer, 128

All three Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing riders took season-best finishes at the RedBud National, marking Round 6 of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Malcolm Stewart charged to sixth and Christian Craig 10th in 450MX, while newcomer Casey Cochran raced to the highest finish of his 250MX career in P7. Stewart qualified a convincing sixth on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition – complete with a USA-themed appearance this weekend – before battling hard to 6-7 scores in the pair of premier-class motos. He was challenging inside the top-five until falling during the middle stages of Moto 2, but left satisfied with sixth overall, and now sits P8 in the title race.
"For another track I haven't been back to in 10 years, I can say one thing – the fans were awesome this weekend!"   Stewart said.   "It's pretty cool and I had a really, really great time out there. Moto 1 was good for me, and then Moto 2 was better again in a lot of ways. I made a mistake, went down, and got back up to charge to seventh. We were sixth overall, but I am really happy because I rode good and we're learning a lot as a team. We're just going to take this same momentum into Millville, and I'm glad we're leaving here on a good note, so we'll keep the ball rolling."
RedBud also started convincingly for 450MX teammate Christian Craig, qualifying inside the top 10 with ninth position, and then he raced forward to a solid eighth-place score in Moto 1. His second moto result was 13th after struggling for track position, however, it was still enough to match his best result of the year in 10th overall – equalling his finishes from Hangtown and Thunder Valley.
"The day started off pretty well, qualified inside the top 10 and felt confident going into the motos,"   Craig reflected.   "Moto 1, I got a mid-pack start and was able to work my way up into eighth, so that was decent. Second moto, I had a bad start and then started to make my way through, before some big mistakes cost me a lot of time. I was pretty frustrated, but I did what I could for 10th overall. My speed is still coming around and I'm just lacking some strength still, so we will keep working on that and come back better for next week."
At one of the few tracks so far that he's been to before, teenage rookie Cochran stopped the clocks in eighth position at the end of 250MX qualifying, and then made even further progress on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition to claim P7 in the first race. He backed that up with ninth in the final outing, which resulted in seventh overall to retain 13th in the point standings.
"RedBud was good for me,"   Cochran commented.   "I've had some success here in the past, so today I felt comfortable and I was able to get my best pair of moto finishes with a 7-9 for seventh overall. We're making progress each week, so we'll keep on building and hopefully get up there into the top five soon."
Next Race:  July 13 – Spring Creek, Minnesota

Results 450MX Class – RedBud National
1. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
2. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
3. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
6. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
10. Christian Craig (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 450MX Class 2024 after 6 of 11 rounds
1. Chase Sexton, 260 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 253
3. Justin Cooper, 212
5. Aaron Plessinger, 202
8. Malcolm Stewart, 164
9. Justin Barcia, 148
10. Christian Craig, 106

Results 250MX Class – RedBud National
1. Chance Hymas (USA), Honda
2. Ty Masterpool (USA), Kawasaki
3. Jo Shimoda (JPN), Honda
4. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
7. Casey Cochran (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
8. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS
17. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS

Standings 250MX Class 2024 after 6 of 11 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 276 points
2. Chance Hymas, 239
3. Tom Vialle, 233
7. Pierce Brown, 145
10. Ryder DiFrancesco, 120
12. Julien Beaumer, 107
13. Casey Cochran, 102

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. Robertson had a great start in the first moto, charging his way into third on the opening lap. He battled up front in fifth before getting passed halfway into the race. Putting up a good fight late in the race, Robertson attempted to break into the top-five but ultimately finished sixth. In Moto 2, he found himself just inside the top-10 off the start and he climbed into seventh early on. Racing steadily to the finish, Robertson rounded out the day with a solid seventh, giving him sixth overall on the day. “Today was pretty good,” Robertson said. “I went 6-7 in the motos, so it was the best day ever in outdoors for me. Six motos down and 18 to go, so let’s keep it going! I’m having fun and the team is killing it, so I’m looking forward to the rest.” Fill-in rider Shane McElrath had a season-best performance at Round 3, finishing the day off strong with fifth in Moto 2. McElrath had a 12^th place start in the first moto and he battled just outside the top-10 all race to lock in a 12^th place finish. In Moto 2, he charged off the line to put himself into sixth early on and he battled up to fifth by the sixth lap. From there, he kept a strong pace into the final moments to secure a season-best finish of fifth in the second moto. “Much better today and a much better week all-around,” McElrath said. “We had a couple good riding days this week – actually my best ones yet – and we made really good progress on the bike. I think I’m just growing confidence every time I’m on the bike. It took me a while to get going today, so I need to work on that, but we’re taking big steps and I’m happy.” Team rider Jalek Swoll grabbed an eighth-place start in Moto 1 and he fought his way up to seventh heading into the midway point of the race. While running eight, Swoll experienced a big crash with a few laps to go and wasn’t able to continue racing for the rest of the day. Next Event (Round 4): June 18 – High Point National – Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania Round 3 Results: Thunder Valley National 450MX Results 1. Ken Roczen (HON) 2-1 2. Eli Tomac (KAW) 1-3 3. Chase Sexton (HON) 4-2 … 8. Shane McElrath – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 12-5 250MX Results
1. Jett Lawrence (HON) 2. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 3. Levi Kitchen (YAM) … 6. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 6-7 41. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 36-DNS 450MX Rider Point Standings 1. Chase Sexton – 134 points 2. Ken Roczen – 129 points 3. Eli Tomac – 120 points … 10. Shane McElrath – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 65 points 250MX Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 139 points 2. Hunter Lawrence – 127 points 3. Jo Shimoda – 101 points … 8. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 74 points 16. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 37 points

The Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing was on blistering form for the MXGP of Lombok, with Lucas Coenen securing a perfect 1-1 victory, and Kay de Wolf maintaining his championship lead despite finishing P5. Mattia Guadagnini secured a top-ten overall finish, moving up in the championship standings.

Tatsuki Suzuki and the FR 250 GP showed race-leading speed at the curving Sachsenring for round nine of 2024 MotoGP™ by scoring 9th position in Saxony.

Round eight of 2024 MotoGP™ took place at the revered TT Assen circuit and Husqvarna Motorcycles and Collin Veijer almost added to the folklore, missing out on P1 by 0.012 of a second.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing newcomer Casey Cochran delivered his best 250MX moto finishes of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship season on his way to 10th overall at Southwick, as teammates Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig also featured inside the top 10 across Saturday's pair of 450MX motos. Like most tracks on the outdoor schedule, the sands of Southwick were entirely new to Cochran when practice commenced this morning. He went on to finish 11th in Moto 1 on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition and then improved further to 10th in Moto 2, which secured him P10 overall. As a result, he has climbed to 13th in the standings.
"First time here again, but it was actually a pretty good day!"   Cochran commented.   "I struggled to figure out the track, but started coming around and got some pretty good finishes – my best two results that I've had so far. Overall, it was a pretty good weekend, we're going to keep taking baby steps and moving forward, so I'm excited for RedBud next weekend."
Round 5 was also promising for Stewart in 450MX, riding his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition to 11th position in qualifying, and then going on to register 8-16 moto scores. His second moto was impacted by a first-turn crash, but he pressed on for points, which placed him 11th overall and he's ninth in the championship as it approaches halfway.
"I actually had a good time here at Southwick,"   Stewart said.   "It's been 11 years since I raced this race and the number one coolest thing for me today was the fans. Practice was good, I forgot how fast this track can be early on, and that's important to get a good lap in. First moto was okay, got off to an okay start, and fought my way up to eighth. In the second one, my start was actually better than the first one, but we went down in the first corner and I was able to keep going for 16th. It obviously wasn't the best ride we've had, but we'll take this thing to RedBud and I'm excited for that... I'm going to give it everything I've got!"
After qualifying directly behind his teammate in P12, Craig was also competitive in his return to Southwick, but had to settle for a lowly 20th in the opening encounter. Still working his way back to full fitness, he reverted to a base setting for this afternoon's final race and quickly found added comfort on the deteriorating track surface to improve for a season-best eighth-place score. Craig was 14th overall and is currently placed 11th in the points following five rounds.
"Southwick was tough, just struggled with the setting on this track in the morning, and then went in the wrong direction for the first moto,"   Craig recalled.   "In the second moto, we went back to my base settings, got a better start, felt more comfortable, and it was an improvement. Today wasn't great overall, but my second moto finish in P8 was the best of the year so far. That was better, but there was still some inconsistency, so we'll move onto RedBud and try to keep building." Next Race:  July 6 – RedBud, Michigan

Results 450MX Class – Southwick National
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
3. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
6. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
7. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
11. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
14. Christian Craig (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 450MX Class 2024 after 5 of 11 rounds
1. Hunter Lawrence, 213 points
2. Jett Lawrence, 210
3. Chase Sexton, 210
5. Aaron Plessinger, 162
8. Justin Barcia, 148
9. Malcolm Stewart, 133
11. Christian Craig, 83

Results 250MX Class – Southwick National
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
2. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
3. Jo Shimoda (JPN), Honda
9. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS
10. Casey Cochran (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
11. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS
24. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM

Standings 250MX Class 2024 after 5 of 11 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 238 points
2. Chance Hymas, 196
3. Tom Vialle, 193
7. Pierce Brown, 133
11. Julien Beaumer, 107
12. Ryder DiFrancesco, 96
13. Casey Cochran, 74

Kay de Wolf dominated a hot and challenging opening weekend in Indonesia, claiming a perfect 1-1 score in MX2, with Lucas Coenen finishing P3. Mattia Guadagnini battled the conditions and delivered a solid P7.

The iconic Maggiora track, which has hosted GP action since 1966 in northwest Italy, provided the perfect venue for the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Team to reach the halfway point of the season. The team has so far claimed six overall wins and 11 individual race wins in MX2 alone.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Malcolm Stewart went 9-9 for ninth overall at today's High Point National, marking Round 4 of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Rutted, technical conditions were on the agenda, but it was consistency that was once again the story of Stewart's day. Despite qualifying a lowly 17th in relatively muddy conditions, the track began to form up for the motos, where Stewart guided his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition to P9 in Moto 1 after gaining track position throughout the race. He once again featured inside the top 10 for ninth at the conclusion of Moto 2, placing him in that same spot overall and he's also ninth in the title race.
"Today was okay, the track was very, very tough after the rain on Friday night, and it got really rutty out there,"   said Stewart.   "All-in-all, I had a really good time. We did the best we could, and 9-9 finishes aren't the results we want, but sometimes when you're a little bit off this track can work you! We're safe and we'll enjoy this weekend off before Southwick – I think I'm going to shine at that one and am looking forward to getting out there in the sand!"
High Point started strongly for 450MX teammate Christian Craig as he was fourth in the first session and then qualified in P9, but unfortunately crashed out of the first in the middle stages. He was able to return to action for this afternoon, salvaging points in 13th place, but will benefit from the scheduled weekend off before Southwick. Craig sits 11th in the championship following the fourth round of the season.
"It was a tough day at High Point,"   Craig commented.   "I actually felt really good in practice, qualifying went well, and then in the first moto I had two tip-overs and had to keep building through the pack, but unfortunately had a pretty big crash about halfway through and that ended my moto. I hit the ground pretty hard and was shaken up a little bit, but the guys did a good job of getting the bike ready again, and I did what I could in Moto 2. It was a rough day, but we're healthy, and I feel like my speed is coming along. As long as we can keep these little mistakes away, we'll have some good results soon."
It was a similar story for 250MX newcomer Casey Cochran today, starting inside the top 10 until he crashed out of Moto 1 in spectacular fashion, but was thankfully able to remount his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition for the final race. He was impressive in charging from 17th on lap one to claim a career-best race result of 11th, which put him P17 overall, and he is 15th in the standings.
"This was my first time here at High Point and overall it wasn't a bad day,"   recalled Cochran.   "I felt like I had some pretty good pace and endurance this weekend, we're making steps in the right direction, and I got my best moto finish yet in Moto 2 even though I crashed out of the first one. We have positives to take away and now we have an off weekend, I will keep working, and come back swinging in Southwick." Next Race:  June 29 – Southwick, Massachusetts

Results 450MX Class – High Point National
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
3. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
4. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
8. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
9. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
18. Christian Craig (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 450MX Class 2024 after 4 of 11 rounds
1. Hunter Lawrence, 171 points
2. Chase Sexton, 165
3. Jett Lawrence, 163
5. Aaron Plessinger, 134
7. Justin Barcia, 121
9. Malcolm Stewart, 113
11. Christian Craig, 67

Results 250MX Class – High Point National
1. Ty Masterpool (USA), Kawasaki
2. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
3. Chance Hymas (USA), Honda
5. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
6. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
7. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS
8. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS
17. Casey Cochran (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 250MX Class 2024 after 4 of 11 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 191 points
2. Chance Hymas, 159
3. Tom Vialle, 153
8. Pierce Brown, 109
9. Julien Beaumer, 103
12. Ryder DiFrancesco, 73

Top-Five Finishes Podium Glory and Championship points Highlight Round Nine at Kegums.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammates Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig have further established themselves among the top 10 of 450MX in the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, with Stewart a picture of consistency for P8 and Craig gaining strength on his way to 10th at Thunder Valley, Colorado. Stewart continues to impress in his full-time return to the outdoors, charging hard to 7-7 moto finishes at Round 3 and earning eighth overall. He's drawing closer toward the front of the field on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition, benefiting from increasing confidence and making the most of being at the races, now ranked ninth in the standings.
"Thunder Valley treated me well,"   commented Stewart.   "Practice was okay considering it's been 10 years since I've been here – I'm probably going to keep saying that for my next few quotes until we get to Unadilla! – and I'm having a good time so far. We went 7-7 for eighth overall, so at the end of the day, all we can do is keep moving forward. I felt like I was in some good battles between sixth to eighth, so we'll try to be in with those guys and moving forward. I honestly feel like we're in a good spot and I'm stoked with the team – we made some changes for that second moto and they made the right decisions to help me feel more comfortable again. We're here to race hard and have fun, then we'll see where the results are towards the end of the season."
As for Craig, still working his way back to 100 percent fitness following an extended stint on the sidelines, he raced to his second top 10 result in a row. With his speed elevating and strength in his elbow improving, Craig went 9-10 for P10 overall, which he will be able to further build upon into the middle stages of the season, and he's currently positioned 11th in the series.
"Today was a positive day,"   Craig recalled.   "I didn't have the best qualifying result, but felt pretty confident with my bike and set-up. First moto, I made some quick passes into the top 10 and was battling with my teammate for much of the moto to finish ninth – my best of the season so far. Second moto was similar, I was in ninth for most of it until I was passed toward the end, but overall my speed was better and strength is slowly coming around in my elbow. We'll keep doing this and improving each week."
In his first appearance at Thunder Valley, 250MX newcomer Casey Cochran faced added challenges this weekend on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition, while learning the circuit in technical conditions. After qualifying 15th and then being caught up in a first turn pile-up at the beginning of Moto 1, the teenager registered 16-16 scores for 16th overall, and he also sits P16 in the championship.
"I struggled all day, really, and never got too comfortable with the track,"   said Cochran.   "Never being here before and learning it, that kind of showed, so we're going to keep our heads high and get ready for next weekend at High Point. We'll make some progress and come out swinging."
Next Race:  June 15 – High Point, Pennsylvania

Results 450MX Class – Thunder Valley National
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
3. Justin Cooper (USA), Yamaha
4. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
5. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
6. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
8. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
10. Christian Craig (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 450MX Class 2024 after 3 of 11 rounds
1. Hunter Lawrence, 129 points
2. Chase Sexton, 123
3. Jett Lawrence, 113
5. Aaron Plessinger, 100
7. Justin Barcia, 95
9. Malcolm Stewart, 87
11. Christian Craig, 58

Results 250MX Class – Thunder Valley National
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
2. Chance Hymas (USA), Honda
3. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
8. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS
9. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
15. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS
16. Casey Cochran (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 250MX Class 2024 after 3 of 11 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 144 points
2. Chance Hymas, 121
3. Tom Vialle, 121
7. Pierce Brown, 84
8. Julien Beaumer, 73
12. Ryder DiFrancesco, 47
16. Casey Cochran, 40

Stage one crash rules Husqvarna Factory Racing star out of home race

Lucas Coenen secured his third consecutive MX2 win, with Kay de Wolf finishing a close second. In MXGP, Mattia Guadagnini raced to a Fox Holeshot award on Saturday and a top ten overall finish on Sunday.

Husqvarna Motorcycles maintain its status as a central Moto3 protagonist as Collin Veijer guides his FR 250 GP to 2nd place at a warm and busy Autodromo del Mugello for round seven of ’24 MotoGP™.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing has been able to draw from the positives following an encouraging Hangtown National that saw all three riders – Casey Cochran, Malcolm Stewart, and Christian Craig – finish inside the top 10. For 250MX rookie Cochran, he started the day in convincing fashion by qualifying quickest overall in class. At 17 years of age and in his first full season of AMA Pro Motocross Championship competition, Cochran qualified in P1 this morning riding his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition, and then went on to claim a consistent scorecard of 12-12 for a deserved 10th overall. With speed on his side and experience increasing, his early progression has been evident this weekend. "It was definitely a good day,"   reflected Cochran.   "I surprised myself and I think a lot of people this morning by qualifying fastest, then ended up 10th overall for the weekend. To finish inside the top 10 at the second round, we can keep building and building off of that result, and I'm happy with the day overall." In the 450MX Class, Stewart made a welcome return to the Hangtown Motocross Classic for the first time in a decade, and he too delivered a consistent performance. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider qualified in P7 and then went 7-9 across the two premier class motos for eighth overall, improving upon his result at the opening round one week prior, and he remains ninth in the standings.
"Hangtown was fun for me!"   Stewart said.   "It's been 10 years since I've been here and the track's changed, but the people haven't. I've always had some really solid fans here and there's nothing better than the fans welcoming me back. Practice was good, then first moto I rode a solid race, before in the second moto I had a rough start, went down, and made a lot of passes right until the very end! I was enjoying the moment, so we'll take what we learned here, regroup, and come back out swinging in Colorado."
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Craig placed his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition inside the top 10 as well, both in qualifying and the overall results. Craig was 10th in qualifying and went 12-11 in the races, which handed him P10 for the weekend and saw him climb to 12th position in the 450MX championship standings two rounds into his return to racing.
"Today was a better day and in qualifying my speed's starting to come around,"   commented Craig.   "I'm still lacking strength, but that's going to take time and will eventually come. We were better today, I had two mid-pack starts and stayed out of the chaos, so ended up going 11-12 for 10th overall – we'll take that luck on our side with the overall. I'm getting more comfortable on the bike again with more seat time, so we'll just keep building each week from here."
Next Race:  June 8 – Thunder Valley, Colorado

Results 450MX Class – Hangtown National
1. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
2. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
3. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
7. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
8. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
10. Christian Craig (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 450MX Class 2024 after 2 of 11 rounds
1. Chase Sexton, 90 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 82
3. Aaron Plessinger, 69
8. Justin Barcia, 61
9. Malcolm Stewart, 57
12. Christian Craig, 33

Results 250MX Class – Hangtown National
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
2. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
3. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki
6. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS
9. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
10. Casey Cochran (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
15. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS

Standings 250MX Class 2024 after 2 of 11 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 97 points
2. Levi Kitchen, 84
3. Tom Vialle, 81
7. Pierce Brown, 55
8. Julien Beaumer, 48
13. Ryder DiFrancesco, 35
16. Casey Cochran, 28

Round six of 2024 MotoGP™ took place at the sun-kissed Circuit de Barcelona-Cataluyna and Dutch star Collin Veijer and his FR 250 GP were protagonists in the Moto3 class once more. The IntactGP team also reached a personal best with 5th in Moto2™.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Malcolm Stewart's return to the AMA Pro Motocross Championship resulted in an encouraging top 10 result overall at the Fox Raceway National, as teammates Christian Craig and Casey Cochran formed foundations to build upon in the 2024 season. Stewart hasn't lined up at the beginning of an outdoor series in a full decade, but quickly established himself inside the top 10 of the 450MX field on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition. He was eighth in Moto 1 and went one better on his way to seventh in the final outing, placing him ninth overall for the weekend.
"For being 10 years of not racing a season opener for outdoors, it treated me well,"   Stewart reflected.   "We said we'd be happy with a top eight, or to be around there, and we were. When you have a season-ending injury like I had last year, it makes you miss the little things, and so far I'm just having a heck of a time here! Overall, I'm happy, we made a lot of improvements event from Moto 1 to Moto 2, and we're enjoying the moment."
Alongside Stewart in the premier class was Christian Craig, making his welcome return to competition after an extended time on the sidelines with an elbow injury. He finished 15th in his first race back and backed that up with P17 in Moto 2, despite enduring his share of adversity early on in both motos. Those results placed him 15th overall at Round 1, which he will be able to further improve upon in the coming rounds.
"I didn't know what to expect coming in, but just wanted to get some gate drops, and to put my best effort in,"  commented Craig.   "I had a couple of crashes, a first turn pile-up in the first moto, and then in the second moto I fell on the first lap, so I made it hard on myself but I was able to come through the pack, and score some points. I am happy to be at the races again, to be back with the team, and it's a good vibe being around everybody. We'll go back to work this week and get ready for Hangtown." The anticipated full-time debut of 250MX rookie Casey Cochran was impacted by early falls in both races on Saturday afternoon, but he gained important experience that will count as the season progresses. Moto 1 saw him finish 15th and then he was 21st in the second one, placing him 19th overall for the round onboard the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition. "It was a tough day with going down on both starts, so I had to fight from the back in the motos and ate a lot of roost today,"   Cochran said.   "It ended up alright, we rode pretty decent, and if we can get a good start we'll be up there in the top 10 with those guys. I will work on some starts and come out swinging again next week!" Next Race:  June 1 – Hangtown, California

Results 450MX Class – Fox Raceway National
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
3. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
5. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
7. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
9. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
15. Christian Craig (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 450MX Class 2024 after 1 of 11 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 50 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 42
3. Chase Sexton, 40
5. Justin Barcia, 32
7. Aaron Plessinger, 30
9. Malcolm Stewart, 29
15. Christian Craig, 12

Results 250MX Class – Fox Raceway National
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
2. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki
3. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
8. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS
10. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS
11. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
19. Casey Cochran (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 250MX Class 2024 after 1 of 11 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 50 points
2. Levi Kitchen, 44
3. Tom Vialle, 38
8. Pierce Brown, 26
10. Ryder DiFrancesco, 23
11. Julien Beaumer, 22
19. Casey Cochran, 8

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider RJ Hampshire has unfortunately been sidelined ahead of Round 1 of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in Pala, California, after injuring his wrist during media day on Thursday afternoon. The 28-year-old, fresh from capturing the 250SX West Championship in AMA Supercross two weeks ago, underwent immediate surgery yesterday evening, but it remains unclear when he will be fit to return to the 11-round outdoor series.
Nathan Ramsey, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager:   "The highs and the lows of this sport are sometimes tough to swallow, but unfortunately with RJ taking a spill on press day here at Pala, he has injured his wrist. It's a setback, but we can all get through this – I know that RJ and the crew will stay positive. RJ's tough and he's mentally strong, so he'll be back as soon as possible."
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing looks forward to welcoming RJ back once he is back to 100 percent health. The team will field Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig in 450MX, as well as rookie Casey Cochran in 250MX, at this Saturday's season-opening Fox Raceway National.

The 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship beckons for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, fresh from RJ Hampshire's title-winning achievements in the 250SX West division of AMA Supercross and with the motivation to maintain that momentum into the great outdoors. Round 1 will take place in Pala, California, this Saturday. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing will arrive at the Fox Raceway National with Hampshire to be joined by newcomer Casey Cochran in the 250MX category, while Spaniard Guillem Farres continues to recover from a broken femur sustained in February. The 450MX ranks will see Malcolm Stewart rejoined by Christian Craig in time for the Pro Motocross season.
Hampshire lines up as a legitimate title threat in the 250MX category with experience on his side at 28 years of age, certain to benefit from his knowledge gained in the stadiums on his way to a first-career professional championship victory. He has claimed four overall wins during his career, now aiming to deliver in a similar fashion to what he managed during the Supercross series.
"We're super excited leading into the outdoors,"   explained Hampshire.   "Coming off the west coast championship in Supercross, we all want to carry that momentum into the new season and we have a lot to look forward to. We have a really good base, and I feel like we're going to be in a good position right off the bat this season, so I look forward to getting back racing at Pala for the opener."
Still only at the age of 17, Cochran is a multiple-time AMA Amateur National Motocross Champion as a result of his success at Loretta Lynn's prior to turning pro full-time for 2024. After lining up at two rounds last season, it's expected that he will gain a wealth of experience throughout the 11 rounds this year, and has the potential to make an impact as the season progresses equipped with the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition.
"Coming into my first season outdoors, I'm super excited for the full 11 rounds this year,"   Cochran commented.   "Hopefully we can be in there racing with some good guys, while getting some good experience and results along the way. I've got a good team behind me and am feeling good on the bike, so I'm looking forward to getting out there and competing, showing everyone what we can do in my rookie year. Let's go!"
While Hampshire and Cochran will fly to flag in the 250 Class to commence the 2024 series, a vast amount of attention will be directed Stewart's way in 450MX. Injuries have meant that he's only made minimal appearances outdoors in recent years, but that's not causing him to lower his outlook on the eve of the upcoming season ahead. Instead, he's looking to keep improving his results, as he did in the closing stages of the 450SX.
"I'm very excited, very motivated, after having all of last season off of racing,"   Stewart said.   "For me, I'm thankful to continue being able to race, and to build on what we did in Supercross. I'm looking forward to the outdoors and also building into SMX later this year – all racing is good racing over here! I'm ready to line up, enjoy it, and see what we can do."
California native Christian Craig – who previously resided in the Temecula region during the majority of his career – is back on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition following issues with a re-aggravated elbow injury that sidelined him toward the end of February. Like teammate Stewart, Craig missed the entire outdoor season last year, but is excited to be returning in time for the season-opener.
"I'm excited to get this outdoor season started,"   Craig explained.   "Unfortunately, we won't be coming in with a lot of time on the bike after dealing with this elbow injury for a while, but nonetheless I'm looking forward to getting some gate drops and building throughout the season. The bike is in a good spot already, so let's get the season going!"
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager, Nathan Ramsey, added:   "Making the transition from Supercross into Pro Motocross with the one weekend off in between is pretty tight, but obviously we have some good momentum, and we've squeezed in some motocross testing along the way. I feel really good about the season ahead and I think it will be one of those things, if we can start the season on a high note, hopefully we can keep that up and be consistent through the long season to fight for the championship in the end. RJ is in a good spot, Malcolm is excited too, Casey as our rookie coming in has been riding good as well, plus we're excited to have Christian back, coming off an injury. The goal for him is to get started and build as the series goes on into the middle stages of the season, which is also when we are hoping to see Guillem back at the races."
The first round of 11 scheduled will begin this Saturday, May 25th, in Southern California, before travelling the country and arriving in Indiana at the end of August, where champions will be crowned in the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship across the 450MX and 250MX categories.

Husqvarna Factory Racing ace gears up for five-stage home race in Argentina

Watch Episode 1 now Husqvarna Motorcycles and Rockstar Energy are excited to introduce Season 3 of the immensely popular Grit and Grind: A Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Series, documenting the team's remarkable journey throughout all 17 rounds of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship.  It's a raw behind-the-scenes docuseries featuring 450SX team riders Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig, alongside newly-crowned 250SX West Champion RJ Hampshire, Spanish recruit Guillem Farres, and highly-rated teenage rookie Casey Cochran. Come along with us for a captivating ride all season long, showcasing the highs and owning the lows with ultimate authenticity.
Season 3 of Grit and Grind follows 250 class mainstay Hampshire every step of the way en route to claiming three Main Event victories and a breakout championship victory on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition. At 28 years of age, see how he finally managed to execute when it counted for a first-career professional title, delivering on the promise that has been evident since signing with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing five full seasons ago. Tune in to watch where determination meets destiny. This year has also seen fan favorite Stewart back on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition after missing the majority of last season, gradually elevating his match fitness again, while enduring the challenges that are naturally faced following an extended period on the sidelines. And the fortunes of Craig and Farres are turned upside down early on, with injuries unfortunately putting the pair out of action before having a proper chance to put their pre-season preparation to work over the course of a full season. From mid-week motos at the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing training grounds, to weekends at the races on the biggest stage of all in AMA Supercross, this is your in-depth all-access ticket to chronologically witness the sport in its realest of forms with Husqvarna Motorcycles and Rockstar Energy. New episodes of Grit and Grind: A Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Series will be released bi-weekly over the next seven weeks as the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) enters its second phase in the great outdoors for the 11-round AMA Pro Motocross Championship, commencing this Saturday in Pala, California. Exclusively catch each episode on the  Husqvarna Motorcycles YouTube channel , with Episode 1 of Grit and Grind Season 3 premiering today and  available to watch now ! Grit and Grind Season 3 Release Dates
Episode 1 – Tuesday, May 21st 2024
Episode 2 – Tuesday, June 4th 2024
Episode 3 – Tuesday, June 18th 2024
Episode 4 – Wednesday, July 3rd 2024

The Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Team shone at the 2024 MXGP of France, with Lucas Coenen taking the overall MX2 win, and Kay de Wolf securing second place to maintain his championship lead. Mattia Guadagnini earned valuable points in MXGP, finishing 14th to move up in the world standings.

The 2024 MXGP of Galicia in northwest Spain provided perfect sunny conditions for the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Team to shine. Lucas Coenen clinched a thrilling victory in the MX2 category, while Mattia Guadagnini secured valuable points with a P10 finish in the MXGP class.

Collin Veijer continues his bright 2024 Grand Prix campaign by tussling for the win and taking 3rd position at the French Grand Prix and round five of the world championship. MotoGP welcomed summer air at the full and atmospheric Bugatti Circuit for the Grand Prix de France and round five of twenty-one in 2024. Hot sunshine coated the massive crowd at the sold-out famous layout for motorsport. Collin Veijer, in just his second Grand Prix season, was right at the top of the time sheets once more; earning P2 at the end of the second practice session on Saturday and headed confidently into Q2. Tatsuki Suzuki was also just a second away as the track grouped the lap-times close together. The duo negotiated qualification through the hottest part of the weekend and Veijer held Pole Position by a slender 0.001 of a second with one minute remaining. In the final rush he ended with 5th and a decent slot on the second row. Suzuki was 4th in Q1 and rode to 14th in Q2 for the same spot on the grid. The climate turned on Sunday as the clouds rolled in and the threat of light showers hovered. The Moto3 Grand Prix distance involved 20 laps of the Bugatti trajectory and Veijer was able to launch straight into the leading pack as Suzuki rallied to the top fourteen. Collin kept pace with Daniel Holgado, David Muñoz and David Alonso; some of his main rivals for the title. He attacked on the last lap but could not barge his way into the top two and was a solid 3rd at the line. Tatsuki set the fastest lap of the race in the formative stages and the freight train of riders meant he was on the edge of the top ten but was circulating less than two seconds from the leader! In the second half of the distance the Japanese strived to 9th and was just a second adrift from P1: one of the closest finales ever in Moto3 at Le Mans. Collin has consolidated 3rd in the world championship standings while Tatsuki is 11th. The team are 3rd from 13 and the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya beckons next with round six in a fortnight. Collin Veijer, 3rd: “My start wasn’t perfect and I tried to be steady in the beginning of the race. I then tried to keep the pace and not be too crazy. The last lap was a bit difficult for me on the right side and I struggled on corner entry; maybe we have to manage the tyre better in the last laps and stand the bike up earlier. Overall, the feeling was good and happy to be back on the podium.” Tatsuki Suzuki, 9th: “Quite happy. Unfortunately I made a huge mistake at the start which stopped me going with the leaders. It was difficult on the first five laps to gain positions but once I broke free from the second group then I was quite fast to catch the others. I was strong. Overall, a positive weekend. I still need to improve qualifying but we are coming.”   Senna Agius rode well on Saturday in Le Mans to earn one of the four slots through Q1 and into Q2 for the Moto2 Grand Prix. The Australian rookie then concentrated on registering the best possible lap-time and starting position. His quickest effort resulted in 6th place, just shy of a second from Pole: his personal best in the category to-date. Darryn Binder missed out on Q2 by a miniscule two hundredths of a second and therefore accepted 19th on the grid for the 22-lap on Sunday. Senna had the more advanced position for the 22-lapper on Sunday. He pushed hard, reaching a lower top ten slot at one stage. Darryn was also making positive progress and by the end of the race the teammates were circulating together. Agius was able to get to the chequered flag only a tenth of a second ahead of Binder as the pair filled 13th and 14th respectively in the final standings: points for both and a sign of forward progress. Senna Agius, 13th: “Things were going well until about halfway through but then I made a mistake and had to make a hard reset to again charge and get where I could for the last ten laps or so. We took home two points but we went the wrong way in the race. I was quite fast this weekend but was also missing something at a crucial point and we didn’t really realise that until we were into the 22-laps! I also think we took a bit of a tyre gamble that didn’t’ pay off and we need to analyse why. We’re missing some rhythm so we’ll attack Barcelona with some changes.” Darryn Binder, 14th : “Getting better. Probably the best race so far this season. Starting 19th wasn’t ideal but I got away well, made some good passes and had semi-decent pace. We’re heading in the right direction but I just didn’t have the feeling I needed to fight for the top eleven. It was a bit of a struggle. It was the first time I used this type of tyre but we have positives to take away this weekend after we made progress with the bike at Jerez. I felt comfortable. We have to fine-tune now and find some speed. I have some of my best memories of racing in Barcelona so I’m really keen to get there.”   Results Moto3 French Grand Prix   1. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO 34:00.058, 2. Daniel Holgado (ESP) GASGAS +0.105, 3. Collin Veijer (NED) Husqvarna IntactGP +0.242 , 4. Joel Esteban (ESP) CFMOTO +0.234, 8. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) KTM +1.035, 9. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Husqvarna IntactGP +1.101 , 12. Jacob Roulstone (AUS) GASGAS +6.903, 16. Xabi Zurutuza (ESP) KTM +13.275   World championship standings Moto3   1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM, 94 points, 2. David Alonso (COL) CFMOTO, 93, 3. Collin Veijer (NED) Husqvarna IntactGP, 62, 8. Joel Esteban (ESP) CFMOTO, 33, 11. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Husqvarna IntactGP, 30 , 12. Jose Antonio Rueda (ESP) KTM, 28, 13. Jacob Roulstone (AUS) GASGAS, 27, 22. Xabi Zurutuza (ESP) KTM, 3   Results Moto2 French Grand Prix   1. Sergio Garcia (ESP) 35:20.709, 2. Ai Ogura (JPN) +3.174, 3. Alonso Lopez (ESP) +3.704, 10. Izan Guevara (ESP) +14.215, 13. Senna Agius (AUS) Husqvarna IntactGP +18.191 , 14. Darryn Binder (RSA) Husqvarna IntactGP +18.349 , 17. Jake Dixon (GBR) +26.939, 18. Deniz Öncü (TUR) +30.633   World championship standings Moto2   1. Sergio Garcia (ESP), 89 points, 2. Joe Roberts (USA), 82, 3. Fermin Aldeguer (ESP), 63 , 11. Celestino Vietti (ITA), 29, 16. Izan Guevara (ESP), 10, 19. Senna Agius (AUS) Husqvarna IntactGP, 5, 20. Darryn Binder (RSA) Husqvarna IntactGP, 3, 21. Deniz Öncü (TUR), 3, 28. Jake Dixon (GBR), 0

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's RJ Hampshire is the new AMA Supercross 250SX West Champion after clinching the 2024 title at tonight's final round of the season in Salt Lake City, Utah. Hampshire came into Round 10 of the western region tied on points in the standings, where a second-place result at Rice-Eccles Stadium was enough for RJ to capture his first-career Supercross crown following the second 250SX East/West Showdown of the year.

The year opened in convincing style at the beginning of January when Hampshire won Anaheim 1's season-opener, which he has since backed up with additional wins in Glendale and the Nashville 250SX East/West Showdown. Two more second-place podiums were achieved at Anaheim 2 and in Seattle, while last weekend in Denver he placed third on the podium.

At 28 years of age, Hampshire is firmly established as one of the 250SX category's most decorated riders, previously finishing runner-up in the standings on two occasions – P2 in the western region in 2023 and also in the eastern region in 2022. He was ranked third in the inaugural SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) last year within the 250SMX division.

"It's so special,"   Hampshire reflected.   "Everybody has their own story and I was determined to write my own. To have an opportunity to win a championship, just to be a part of that, is truly special. I've had so many ups, so many downs, and still people who just believed in me. My group, I would not change, and a massive thanks to everybody who has been involved and a part of the story. I was the fastest guy all day today, had a decent start in the Main Event, and did what I needed to do – in the end, we finally did it and it was a good race to clinch the championship!"

The championship is Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s first in AMA Supercross since Jason Anderson won the 2018 450SX Championship and Zach Osborne claimed back-to-back 250SX East Championships in 2017-2018. Osborne also went on to earn the 2020 450MX national championship, which was the team’s most recent professional MX/SX title in the United States prior to Hampshire’s success.

"There's nobody who deserves it more than RJ,"   commented Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager, Nathan Ramsey.   "He works so hard, he's a warrior, and never, ever gives up. I'm so happy for the team, the crew, and everybody that's a part of this. We pulled this thing together and RJ brought it home for us! RJ's been working at this and dreaming of this forever, so to have him be able to finally wrap his head around it and learn how to piece it all together, here we are – champions."

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX teammate Malcolm Stewart also put forward a strong performance to complete the Supercross season. He was fourth fastest in combined Qualifying onboard the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition, which set the tone for the night program when he raced to P6 in the Main Event and secured 10th in the point standings.

"Final round, at the end of the day, it was a great Supercross season,"   Stewart said.   "We had some ups and downs, but finished every single round, and ended this one with a better result in P6. I felt great all day and am very, very happy for everybody at Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing. A huge shoutout to my teammate, RJ, for clinching the 250 championship tonight! I'm really looking forward to the outdoors and we're going to keep digging to improve ourselves."

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team will now turn their attention to the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship when it begins in Pala, California, on May 25, which doubles as the second stage of the combined SMX hybrid series.

Next Race:  May 25 – Pala, California (AMA Pro Motocross)

Results 450SX Class – Salt Lake City
1. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
2. Justin Cooper (USA), Yamaha
3. Cooper Webb (USA), Yamaha
5. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
6. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 450SX Class 2024 after 17 of 17 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 351 points
2. Cooper Webb, 336
3. Chase Sexton, 307
8. Justin Barcia, 217
10. Malcolm Stewart, 200
11. Aaron Plessinger, 198

Results 250SX East/West Showdown Class – Salt Lake City
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
2. RJ Hampshire (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
3. Jordon Smith (USA), Yamaha
8. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
12. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS
13. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS
22. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM

Standings 250SX West Class 2024 after 10 of 10 rounds
1. RJ Hampshire, 208 points
2. Levi Kitchen, 203
3. Jordon Smith, 185
7. Julien Beaumer, 118
12. Ryder DiFrancesco, 88

Standings 250SX East Class 2024 after 9 of 9 rounds
1. Tom Vialle, 172 points
2. Haiden Deegan, 168
3. Coty Schock, 132
4. Pierce Brown, 131

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing raced through a challenging weekend at the MXGP of Portugal; highlighted by Mattia Guadagnini's return and solid performances from Kay de Wolf and Lucas Coenen.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's RJ Hampshire finished third at the penultimate round of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship in Denver, positioning him tied on points with a single round remaining in the 250SX West title race. After carrying the 250SX West red plate into Denver with a two-point advantage in the standings, Hampshire managed to qualify on top of the timesheets and then finished second in Heat 2 of the night program. The Main Event saw Hampshire caught in the pack in the early stages, before he raced into clear air and set his sights on the podium.

An eventual third-place result for Hampshire on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition – just 2.163s outside of the victory – will see him enter next Saturday's AMA Supercross Finals in Salt Lake City as the joint points leader, tied with Levi Kitchen in a winner takes all scenario that will also double as the second 250SX East/West Showdown of the season.

"We're leaving with the red plate still and it's all tied up heading into the final round,"   Hampshire recalled.   "It's awesome to be in this position and going for a championship. We had really good speed all day and I needed some things to go my way in the Main Event, but they didn't. I need to focus on getting out of the gate better, put myself in a better position, and we can win this championship next weekend. I'll be ready to go in Salt Lake."

Denver started in exceptional fashion for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX teammate Malcolm Stewart, taking his best qualifying result of the year with second position on combined times riding the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition.

Stewart finished third in Heat 1, but was caught up in a first turn incident, which put him on the back foot for the remainder of the Main Event. In the end, he managed to race his way back to seventh place in one of his best rides of the year, and continues to sit 11th in points.

"I had a really good time here – for some reason, I always ride really good here in Denver,"   Stewart said.   "Practice was amazing, the track was hard-pack and a little technical. We got third in the Heat, which was actually okay, and then in the Main Event unfortunately we were in a first turn pile-up. I went down again with a lap or two to go, then finished strong and ended up seventh. The result wasn't what we wanted, but the riding was really good and keeps the motivation up going into Salt Lake City. We'll try to finish this season off on a high note! We've had some flashes, which is what I need and what the team needed, so I'm excited."

Next Race:  May 11 – Salt Lake City, Utah

Results 450SX Class – Denver
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
3. Jason Anderson (USA), Kawasaki
4. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
7. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
8. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM

Standings 450SX Class 2024 after 16 of 17 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 336 points
2. Cooper Webb, 316
3. Chase Sexton, 282
9. Justin Barcia, 200
10. Aaron Plessinger, 198
11. Malcolm Stewart, 184

Results 250SX West Class – Denver
1. Jo Shimoda (JPN), Honda
2. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki
3. RJ Hampshire (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
10. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
11. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS

Standings 250SX West Class 2024 after 9 of 10 rounds
1. RJ Hampshire, 186 points
2. Levi Kitchen, 186
3. Jordon Smith, 165
6. Julien Beaumer, 118

Husqvarna Motorcycles earned the first ‘P1’ and 25 points of the season at warm Circuit de Jerez-Angel Nieto and round four of 2024 MotoGP™ today.

An eighth-place finish marked another step forward for Malcolm Stewart and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in Philadelphia for Round 15 of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, continuing to gain momentum in the final stages of the season. Stewart has been improving from week to week onboard his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition, qualifying in ninth position – within a second of the fastest lap-time following Qualifying 2 – and then racing to fifth in Heat 2. The Main Event saw him fight hard to P8 for a fourth-straight top-10 score and he's still ranked 11th in the standings.
"Philly was definitely new for everybody, very challenging dirt, but I enjoyed it,"   said Stewart.   "The fans were awesome this weekend and we actually did alright. The Main Event was okay, because I made some mistakes, but pulled it back around and we ended up P8. It's not the result we want exactly, but I rode good and that's all that we can ask for at the end of the day. There are some things we could clean up, so I look forward to the next races and the whole Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing crew have done a phenomenal job – we'll keep giving it everything we've got."
Teenage teammate Casey Cochran made his third professional AMA Supercross start in 250SX East, once again displaying his speed for ninth overall in Qualifying and then claiming seventh in his Heat race. Equipped with the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition, he had an early mishap in the Main Event, before going on to claim five points in 17th position.
"It was another day of learning for me overall,"   Cochran reflected.   "It wasn't the best day for me, but we'll push on and move forward. I'm taking it all in with each race, so we'll use this to keep being able to learn and apply it for next year."
Next Race:  May 4 – Denver, Colorado

Results 450SX Class – Philadelphia
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
3. Jason Anderson (USA), Kawasaki
6. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
8. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 450SX Class 2024 after 15 of 17 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 311 points
2. Cooper Webb, 299
3. Eli Tomac, 270
4. Chase Sexton, 268
7. Aaron Plessinger, 198
9. Justin Barcia, 182
11. Malcolm Stewart, 169

Results 250SX East Class – Philadelphia
1. Max Anstie (GBR), Honda
2. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
3. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
14. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS
17. Casey Cochran (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 250SX East Class 2024 after 8 of 9 rounds
1. Tom Vialle, 158 points
2. Haiden Deegan, 143
3. Pierce Brown, 124
22. Casey Cochran, 19

A third victory of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship saw Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider RJ Hampshire take over the 250SX West points lead in Nashville's 250SX East/West Showdown tonight, setting him up to contend for the western regional title into its closing stages. Hampshire was at his very best onboard the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition inside Nissan Stadium, qualifying quickest in class and then going on to win his Heat race. From there he managed to deliver a commanding Main Event win after leading the entire race, which sees him reclaim the red plate with a two-point advantage and just two rounds remaining in the 250SX West series. "First off, I'm so proud of this team,"  said Hampshire.  "I had that feeling from the beginning – Practice went awesome with P1, then in the Heat race I came from the back to win that, followed by a holeshot in the Main Event to lead every lap for the win! That's the first time that's ever happened in my career and it came at a really good time to do it. Tonight I executed the start in that Main Event, and felt like that was what I really needed. I had the speed, so it was just giving myself a chance, and it was an awesome race from there. I had a couple of moments in the beginning, then settled in and it's a big weight off my shoulders. I knew I could close the points lead tonight, but didn't expect to get the red plate back – I'm so happy for my whole team and all of our supporters! This Nashville crowd is awesome, I love this state, and it's pretty cool to come away with the win here tonight."
Alongside Hampshire in the Showdown was 250SX East newcomer Casey Cochran, the teenager impressing early on today by clocking the sixth-quickest time in Qualifying and finishing fourth in his Heat race. The Main Event was tougher on his way to an eventual P15 result, but it was another positive step in these initial stages of his professional career.
"First Showdown of my career, so a new experience and I'm just learning, building each weekend, so I'm stoked to come back again next weekend,"   Cochran commented.   "Overall, a pretty good day in Qualifying and the Heat race again... gotta clean up a few mistakes, but I'm happy with my riding and want to continue in this direction."
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX entry Malcolm Stewart also displayed promise in his first visit to Nashville, powering his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition to ninth on the time-sheets in Qualifying and then surging to P4 in Heat 2. The Main Event saw him earn his ninth top 10 finish of the year in P9, despite an early fall, and is motivated to keep climbing the order in the upcoming final races of the season.
"Nashville, I honestly felt like overall I was riding alright,"   Stewart reflected.   "It was definitely a pretty crazy, notchy track, and we made a few mistakes. I didn't get off to a good start, wasn't sure when I was, and then went down after the finish line, but was able to salvage a ninth. We're trying, doing everything we can to get back up there where we should be, but it's a matter of time, so we're just going to take the momentum that we have and fight all the way to the end because we're not giving up."
Next Race:  April 27 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Results 450SX Class – Nashville
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Eli Tomac (USA), Yamaha
3. Cooper Webb (USA), Yamaha
5. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
9. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
DNF. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM

Standings 450SX Class 2024 after 14 of 17 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 286 points
2. Cooper Webb, 281
3. Eli Tomac, 253
4. Chase Sexton, 246
7. Aaron Plessinger, 198
9. Justin Barcia, 166
11. Malcolm Stewart, 155

Results 250SX East/West Showdown Class – Nashville
1. RJ Hampshire (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
2. Jo Shimoda (JPN), Honda
3. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
9. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
11. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS
15. Casey Cochran (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
19. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS

Standings 250SX East Class 2024 after 7 of 9 rounds
1. Tom Vialle, 136 points
2. Haiden Deegan, 123
3. Cameron McAdoo, 120
4. Pierce Brown, 116
24. Casey Cochran, 14

Standings 250SX West Class 2024 after 8 of 10 rounds
1. RJ Hampshire, 166 points
2. Levi Kitchen, 164
3. Jordon Smith, 148
6. Julien Beaumer, 106
12. Ryder DiFrancesco, 68

Vital Points for de Wolf as Coenen fights back at the MXGP of Trentino

Round three of 2024 MotoGP™ rounded the complex Circuit of the Americas in Texas and Husqvarna Motorcycles’ Tatsuki Suzuki scored 6th in Moto3™.

A 10th-place finish was the outcome for Malcolm Stewart in the 450SX Main Event at Foxborough, marking Round 13 of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship. Tonight also marked the anticipated debut in 250SX East for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Casey Cochran. Stewart has been gaining strength throughout the series since his return to competition on the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition this year, recording his eighth top-10 result and continuing to take the positives out of each weekend completed. He was P9 in qualifying today and surged to fifth in his Heat, before racing hard in the Main Event for 10th, which sees him ranked 11th in the championship with four rounds left on the schedule.
"Foxborough was decent, even though of course the result isn't where we wanted it to be,"   Stewart commented.   "The track was definitely pretty gnarly. I went down in the Main Event in the final couple of laps, but at the end of the day, we've just gotta keep digging and keep moving forward. I rode hard, made some passes, and there are some positives to take – we'll get them next weekend! I've never raced in Nashville, so I'm excited for that one."
Foxborough saw the professional AMA Supercross debut of Cochran onboard his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition in the eastern region of 250SX, the 17-year-old impressing from the outset by qualifying in third position on combined times. He then raced to P5 in Heat 2 of the night program, before clawing his way back from an early crash to 15th in a hard-fought first Main Event appearance.
"First pro Supercross race at Foxborough, it was tough,"   recalled Cochran.   "I mean, I had a pretty good day until the Main Event, went down on the first lap, and was basically dead last... I started to click a few laps together, but it's a whole new experience out there with these guys. Unfortunately, I had a second crash as well, then just did what I could from there. We get another go at it next weekend, so I learned a lot, and we'll take what we have and continue from here."
Following his breakout podium result in St. Louis, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna amateur newcomer Landon Gibson was back in action as part of the Supercross Futures category, but was unable to start the Main Event after sustaining a broken collarbone during the afternoon's practice session.

Next Race:  April 20 – Nashville, Tennessee

Results 450SX Class – Foxborough 1. Cooper Webb (USA), Yamaha 2. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM 3. Ken Roczen (GER), Suzuki 10. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 11. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS

Standings 450SX Class 2024 after 13 of 17 rounds 1. Jett Lawrence, 261 points 2. Cooper Webb, 261 3. Chase Sexton, 246 7. Aaron Plessinger, 198 9. Justin Barcia, 149 11. Malcolm Stewart, 142

Results 250SX East Class – Foxborough 1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha 2. Cameron McAdoo (USA), Kawasaki 3. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM 4. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS 15. Casey Cochran (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 250SX East Class 2024 after 6 of 9 rounds 1. Cameron McAdoo, 120 points 2. Tom Vialle, 116 3. Haiden Deegan, 107 4. Pierce Brown, 105 29. Casey Cochran, 7

As the temperatures soared in Sardegna, so too did the results for the The Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, with Kay de Wolf delivering an incredible overall third Grand Prix victory in a row, and Lucas Coenen winning Sunday’s opening moto.

Join the Husqvarna Factory Racing star for a feature-length look at his hard-fought and triumphant 2024 SuperEnduro campaign

A fourth-place result saw Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider RJ Hampshire only marginally finish outside of the 250SX West podium in St. Louis' final Triple Crown round of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, as Malcolm Stewart equaled his best finish of the year with seventh overall in 450SX. The afternoon saw Hampshire qualify on top of the timesheets, setting the tone for what would be another competitive night on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition. He recovered from an average start in the opening encounter for fourth and then repeated that result in Race 2, before P2 in Race 3 saw him credited fourth overall to retain second in the championship, just 15 points outside of the red plates.
"My riding was pretty good all day, but not my starts,"   Hampshire commented.   "4-4-2 is not going to get it done, so we will have a couple of weeks off and focus on the three rounds left [in the western region]. Get out of the gate better and I feel like I could have won tonight, but I didn't execute when it was time to go, and we will be better at Nashville."
Stewart, meanwhile, continued his fight in the 450SX division equipped with the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition, qualifying ninth and then registering 7-9 finishes across the first two races of the evening. An eighth-place score in the final encounter resulted in him claiming seventh overall, in line with his best finish of the 2024 season to date.
"St. Louis was okay for me,"   said Stewart.   "We struggled a little bit on the starts, just trying to get up there to run with those guys. I'm going to enjoy this upcoming weekend off, clear my head in the outdoors, and come back swinging for the last five rounds. I know we keep saying it, but we're here in the fight and ain't ever gonna give up."
Round 12 of the season also saw the Supercross Futures back on track, where Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing newcomer Landon Gibson impressed on his way to second position on the podium, as Casey Cochran took the checkered flag in seventh place.
"It was such a great experience,"   Gibson reflected.   "I was tense the first two laps, but after that I got into a groove and I feel like I deserve this, so I'm really happy with the result and to finish on the podium."
Next Event (Round 13):  April 13, 2024 – Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts

450SX – St. Louis Results
1. Eli Tomac (Yamaha)
2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)
3. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
4. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
5. Chase Sexton (KTM)
6. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
7. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

450SX Rider Point Standings after Round 12
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 244 points
2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) – 236 points
3. Chase Sexton (KTM) – 224 points
6. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) – 198 points
9. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) – 138 points
11. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 130 points

250SX West – St. Louis Results
1. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)
2. Jo Shimoda (Honda)
3. Jordon Smith (Yamaha)
4. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
7. Julien Beaumer (KTM)
8. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS)

250SX West Rider Point Standings after Round 7
1. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) – 156 points
2. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 141 points
3. Jordon Smith (Yamaha) – 130 points
6. Julien Beaumer (KTM) – 93 points
13. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS) – 65 points

Decent points and pace for LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna IntactGP at the second round of 2024 MotoGP™ as Collin Veijer logs his second top six result of the season with the FR 250 GP.

A solid second-place finish signaled a convincing return to action for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's RJ Hampshire as the 250SX West division resumed in Seattle, marking Round 11 of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship. In what was the sixth race of the western regional series, Hampshire rode his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition to P6 in qualifying and built momentum from there. He improved to second in his Heat and then repeated that result in the Main Event despite a difficult start, continuing to challenge for the title in its middle stages and only sitting eight points outside of the red plate. "I was second in the Heat race and then I settled down for the Main Event, but I'm not sure what happened off the start – I must have spun or something and those first couple of laps were hectic,"   recalled Hampshire.   "I made some good passes, but this track was brutal tonight, and we're happy to be on the podium in the end. We said we wanted to be solid tonight and that's all we had, so we will take second and look forward to St. Louis."
Tonight was also a promising one for Malcolm Stewart at Lumen Field in the 450SX category, taking an encouraging fourth-place result in Heat 2 equipped with his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition. After featuring inside the top 10 early on, Stewart eventually claimed 11th position and is determined to keep gaining form in the final stages of the season.
"Seattle was definitely muddy in practice, but the track actually turned out okay for the night show,"   Stewart commented.   "I was P4 in the Heat, which was okay, and then in the Main Event we were running okay again to begin with, but I got a little tight and the track started going away. When you start riding the track like that you start making a lot of mistakes, so we ended up 11th and that's not the result we were looking for, but we'll live to fight another day."
Next Event (Round 12):  March 30, 2024 – The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri

450SX – Seattle Results
1. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)
2. Chase Sexton (KTM)
3. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
4. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
9. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
11. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

450SX Rider Point Standings after Round 11
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 230 points
2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) – 214 points
3. Chase Sexton (KTM) - 207 points
6. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) – 162 points
9. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) – 122 points
11. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 115 points

250SX West – Seattle Results
1. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)
2. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
3. Jo Shimoda (Honda)
7. Julien Beaumer (KTM)
13. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS)

250SX West Rider Point Standings
1. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) – 131 points
2. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 123 points
3. Jordon Smith (Yamaha) – 110 points
7. Julien Beaumer (KTM) – 78 points
14. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS) – 51 points

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

Kay de Wolf Raises the bar for the 2024 MX2 Season - Taking a Win and the Red Plate at the Season Opener.

Promising speed and performances by the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna IntactGP team at the Lusail International Circuit and the first episodes of Moto3™ and Moto2™ competition this season.

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

Testing is complete and the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna IntactGP team are now set-up and ready inside the paddock of the Lusail International Circuit anticipating the beginning of 2024 MotoGP™. Husqvarna Motorcycles enters the 21-round campaign with sights narrowed on the Moto3 crown and significant evolution for only its second term in the Moto2 category.

Husqvarna Factory Racing star to miss first half of 2024 Hard Enduro season

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

Husqvarna Factory Racing enduro start secures fourth world indoor title in a row with victory in United Kingdom

Spanish rookie undergoes surgery on broken femur following training crash in Florida

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

Husqvarna Factory Racing star edges closer to fourth consecutive indoor world title with a clean sweep of wins at penultimate round in Sofia

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.

Register today to secure a place on the start line for the 2024 edition of the pioneering e-motorsport series

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 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

Husqvarna Factory Racing star delivers a masterclass inside the MVM Dome in Budapest to claim the overall win at round five

With just over a month to go until the start of the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship season, the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Team has unveiled their rider lineup; boasting an exciting mix of raw talent and experience.

Guadagnini, de Wolf, and Coenen prepare for 2024 MXGP and MX2 campaigns

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

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

Husqvarna Factory Racing ace puts in a spirited ride to take the overall win at round four and extend his SuperEnduro championship lead

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider delivers commendable performance over demanding two-week event to secure top-10 result

Excellent performance on penultimate day of racing maintains Husqvarna Factory Racing rider's seventh place overall

Argentinian rally star retains seventh in the overall standings with two days left to race

Strong performance sees Husqvarna Factory Racing rider move up to seventh in the overall standings

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider brings his FR 450 Rally home to complete tough day as runner-up

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

Week two at the Dakar begins with another excellent result for the Husqvarna Factory Racing star

Argentinian lies eighth overall on his Husqvarna Factory Racing machine after demanding first week of racing

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider delivers excellent performance on demanding two-day special

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider reaches penultimate rest point in fifth place after physically demanding sixth day in Saudi Arabia

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider posts ninth-fastest time on fast and demanding special

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider continues strong run of form to lie sixth overall

Husqvarna Factory Racing ace now lies in provisional ninth place overall

Husqvarna Factory Racing star delivers strong performance on second stage in Saudi Arabia

Luciano Benavides places 15th after a demanding opening stage in the Saudi Arabian Desert

Husqvarna Factory Racing ace claims the top step of the podium for the third time in the 2024 SuperEnduro series with a winning ride in Riesa

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

Reigning FIM Rally-Raid World Champion Luciano Benavides set to take on 46th edition of world’s toughest rally-raid.

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt extends his championship lead with two race wins and a runner-up finish at SuperEnduro round two

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, we ’ re 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 we ’ re 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 I ’ m surrounded with. Everyone has been positive through the whole recovery and I ’ m glad I locked myself in for another two more years! I really want to win next year and I ’ m 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. "I ’ m feeling pretty good entering another year with the team, so I ’ m 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 we ’ re 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.   "We ’ ve 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 we ’ ve 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, I ’ ve been having a good time, and I ’ m excited for the 2024 season. It ’ s 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. I ’ ve never raced in a stadium before, so I ’ m sure it's going to be something new and I ’ m 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. It ’ s 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!"

Ayumu Sasaki has confirmed 2nd position in the 2023 Moto3 World Championship after ranking 1st at the Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana and the MotoGP season closer.

Husqvarna Factory Racing ace kicks off the indoor enduro season in style securing three wins from three starts at round one

Top six for Husqvarna Motorcycles at the Lusail International Circuit and round 19 of 20 in MotoGP means the world championship is decided but Ayumu Sasaki has a great chance of P2 in 2023.

Coenen signs lengthy extension to race aboard the FC 250

Reigning world champion is aiming for fourth consecutive indoor enduro title

2023 MotoGP™ entered a final run with round eighteen of twenty at the Sepang International Circuit and Collin Veijer lifted his very first winners’ trophy with Ayumu Sasaki finishing 2nd.

Husqvarna Factory Racing hard enduro ace races to second at GetzenRodeo to finish out the year second overall

Collin Veijer rode his FR 250 GP to 3rd position at a hot Buriram and Ayumu Sasaki suffers a blameless DNF as MotoGP™ ends a hectic triple-header and round 17 of 20.

Renewed agreement will see the prestigious exhaust manufacturer supply the team with its performance-enhancing products through 2025

Husqvarna Motorcycles were protagonists for victory in a wet and windy Australia for round sixteen of 2023 MotoGP™ as Ayumu Sasaki guided his FR 250 GP to 2nd position and Collin Veijer finished 4th.

Mattia Guadagnini leads the FC 450 push in motocross grands prix

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider clinches first ever world title with runner-up result at the Rallye du Maroc

FR 450 rally racer now lies third overall at the close of the penultimate stage

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.”

Argentinian star moves up to fourth overall in the standings as rally passes its halfway point

Husqvarna Factory Racing ace finishes third overall at penultimate round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in Spain

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider lies fifth overall with three days of racing to go

Collin Veijer throttled the potential of his FR 250 GP to 4th place in a hot pursuit of the Moto3 podium at round fifteen of 2023 MotoGP™ in Lombok as Ayumu Sasaki classified 18th.

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider places fourth on long stage one in Morocco

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider enters the final round of the year as FIM World Rally-Raid Championship leader

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."

Motegi was a happy hunting ground for Husqvarna Motorcycles as Ayumu Sasaki kept his 2023 world title plight on course with 2nd position in Japan

A positive ‘debut’ on Indian asphalt as Ayumu Sasaki races to 3rd place at the first ever MotoGP visit to the Buddh International Circuit.

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

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing at full strength at round eighteen

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

Round twelve of 2023 MotoGP™ sees another positive outing for the FR 250 GP as Collin Veijer finishes 5th and Ayumu Sasaki, 7th, closes to within 4 points to the top of the standings.

Ayumu Sasaki delivered his eighth top-four result of 2023 after another riveting Moto3™ contest at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and narrowed the margin to P1 in the standings.

Husqvarna Factory Racing star places as top FIM World Rally-Raid Championship rider, securing the lead in the series standings

Husqvarna Factory Racing star claims his first stage win of his home event and narrows the gap to the overall leader

Delivering another consistent ride in Argentina, the Husqvarna Factory Racing rider further solidifies his second place in the standings

Husqvarna Factory Racing star gets home race off to a strong start on his FR 450 Rally

Husqvarna Factory Racing ace continues strong run of form at FIM World Rally-Raid Championship round four

Husqvarna Factory Racing enduro ace places second at FIM Hard Enduro World Championship round four in Canada

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

Husqvarna factory racing rider focused on success at five-stage event in Argentina

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

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

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 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.

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

Ayumu Sasaki classified as runner-up around the long, fast and technical layout of the historic Silverstone circuit as 2023 MotoGP™ resumed with the British Grand Prix and round nine of twenty.

Husqvarna Factory Racing Hard Enduro ace charges through round three of FIM Hard Enduro World Championship

De Wolf set to miss the upcoming Grand Prix of Finland

2-2 scorecard puts Lucas Coenen in second at Grand Prix of Flanders

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

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing star to miss rounds in Belgium and Finland

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

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

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing trio get solid points in Lombok.

Nestaan-MX to continue as Husqvarna Factory Racing's official MXGP squad.

American racer parts company with Husqvarna Factory Racing with immediate effect

Coenen makes big statement aboard FC 250 with perfect scorecard.

Husqvarna Motorcycles continues to move up the Moto3 world championship as Ayumu Sasaki scored 2nd position in the Netherlands for round eight of 2023 MotoGP™ and Collin Veijer aced a top ten result at his first home GP.

Round seven of 2023 MotoGP™ captivated a capacity crowd in Germany as Husqvarna Motorcycles takes more Moto3™ plaudits around the Sachsenring.

Husqvarna Factory Racing hard enduro star takes second overall at round two of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship

Ayumu Sasaki fulfilled another starring role in a fantastically close Moto3 Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley at Mugello by taking his FR 250 GP to 3rd position for round six of 2023 MotoGP™.

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

Kay de Wolf storms to 1-1 scores in Latvia and claims red plate on FC 250.

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

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

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Hard Enduro ace endures tough championship opener in Serbia with 10th place finish

MotoGP™ journeyed to France for round five of twenty and Husqvarna Motorcycles watched Ayumu Sasaki finish runner-up with his FR 250 GP around a sunny and busy Le Mans.

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider fit and focused on success at seven-round series

Kay de Wolf posts 4-4 scores at the MXGP of Spain.

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

Kay de Wolf and Roan van de Moosdijk claim trophies in Portugal.

MotoGP™ landed back in Europe for the fourth date of the twenty round 2023 campaign and Ayumu Sasaki was one of the stars of a gripping Moto3 affair at Jerez in southern Spain as the Japanese captured 4th position, less than half a second from victory.

FR 450 Rally rider claims hard-fought podium result at five-stage event in Mexico

FR 450 Rally racer provisionally lies third overall as event passes halfway stage

Luciano Benavides completes stage two as eighth fastest as Skyler Howes crashes out

Skyler Howes places sixth while Luciano Benavides finishes eighth on demanding day one in Mexico

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing post solid points at round four.

A pulsating Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas was the stage for Ayumu Sasaki and Husqvarna Motorcycles to again star in the Moto3 category but the Japanese did not reach the flag in Texas.

Kay de Wolf and Roan van de Moosdijk fantastic at Frauenfeld.

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider delivers two solid performances on his FE 350 to finish well inside the top eight on both days of competition in Italy

Husqvarna Motorcycles again fills the role of protagonist in the opening stages of 2023 MotoGP™ by challenging for top points and places in both Moto3 and Moto2 at a busy and wet Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina.

Newly crowned SuperEnduro Champion to take on GP of Italy this weekend

1-2 scores elevate Kay de Wolf to second in the championship.

Points and presence in both Moto3™ and Moto2™ categories for the first time for Husqvarna Motorcycles as the MotoGP™ World Championship launches in the Algarve sunshine.

The Grande Premio de Portugal at the Algarve International Circuit hosts the first of 21 rounds in the 2023 MotoGP World Championship this weekend. Husqvarna Motorcycles is set for participation in both Moto3™ and Moto2™ classes for the very first time thanks to the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP team.

New 2023 indoor enduro victory edit now live

Husqvarna Factory Racing ace takes his third consecutive indoor title with dominant showing in Gliwice, Poland

FC 250 trio exit the Grand Prix of Patagonia-Argentina with solid points.

Kay de Wolf wins in The Netherlands, Lucas Coenen wins in France.

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider delivers strong final stage to secure runner-up result

Husqvarna Factory Racing enduro ace secures decisive victory in 2023 SuperEnduro title hunt

Argentinian takes second stage win of the 2023 event to move up to second overall

Second consecutive top-three stage result for the American rider as event passes halfway point

Skyler Howes places third, less than two minutes behind his teammate

Skyler Howes opens the stage to place sixth with Luciano Benavides two places behind in eighth

Skyler Howes and Luciano Benavides head to the ADDC one month on from a highly successful Dakar

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing continue to progress ahead of 2023 MXGP.

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing log race laps ahead of 2023 MXGP.

Husqvarna Factory Racing star extends FIM SuperEnduro points lead with stunning show in Hungary

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing set to chase MX2 title with three-man team.

Husqvarna Motorcycles and Rekluse set to launch into new racing season.

Husqvarna Factory Racing FR 450 Rally rider places third at world’s toughest rally-raid

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Skyler Howes completes penultimate stage in seventh and lies third overall with one stage left to race

Skyler Howes brings his FR 450 Rally home in an excellent sixth position with Luciano Benavides opening the special to place 12th

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider takes his third stage victory of the event as teammate Skyler Howes regains the race lead

Husqvarna Factory Racing riders Benavides and Howes complete dune-filled special in 13th and 17th respectively

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider claims his second stage win of the event as Skyler Howes continues to lead the overall

Brisk spark plugs to support Husqvarna Factory Racing in MXGP and Enduro.

Husqvarna Factory Racing enjoy rest day today before resuming racing tomorrow with stage nine

Tough day while opening the stage sees Howes and Benavides minimise mistakes to now lie second and 11th in the provisional overall standings

Husqvarna Factory Racing star hangs tough for dramatic and hard-fought victory in Riesa

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

FR 450 Rally rider leads home a Husqvarna Factory Racing one-two as Skyler Howes finishes as runner-up and increases his lead at the top of the event standings

Husqvarna Factory Racing rider completes tough fifth day in fifth place to move to the top of the provisional rally standings

Strong performance sees Husqvarna Factory Racing rider move up to second overall in the provisional rally standings

Challenging third day in Saudi Arabia sees both Husqvarna Factory Racing riders finish inside the top 10

Husqvarna Factory Racing riders deliver strong performances on physical second day in Saudi Arabia

Skyler Howes and Luciano Benavides place eighth and 15th respectively on tough opening day in Saudi Arabia

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Skyler Howes and Luciano Benavides are excited to get their 2023 Dakar Rally campaigns underway. Following their stellar 2022 season, both FR 450 Rally riders are motivated and confident ahead of the start of the opening round of the 2023 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, held in Saudi Arabia. Coming into the 2023 Dakar Rally, Skyler Howes has shown incredible pace over the past 12 months, including a win at the tough Rallye du Maroc – Howes’ first world championship victory. The speed and results are due in part to the hard work put in by the whole team in developing the latest 2023 model FR 450 Rally.

Feeling fit and better prepared than ever to take on the gruelling 8,500 kilometres of the 2023 Dakar, the American is fully focused on delivering his best ever performance at the iconic event. With 14 full stages to cover and over 4,700 kilometres raced against the clock, Howes feels the long nature of the rally, as well as the increased value placed on accurate navigation, should suit his skills and style.

Having also enjoyed a stand-out 2022 season in which he claimed podium results in Morocco and Andalucia, Luciano Benavides is on top form and hungry for success at the Dakar. The 2022 event didn’t go as planned for the Argentinian as he suffered from the same first day navigational issue that caught out many of the front runners. However, quickly regrouping and fighting back up the order gave Benavides the confidence he needed to attack the remainder of the season.

Finding the changes and development made to the FR 450 Rally perfectly suited to his riding style, Luciano feels comfortable to push hard over all varied terrain while also being able to focus on his navigation – something that could prove key over the course the long, upcoming race. With added rule changes that reward riders who open stages coming into effect in 2023, strategy and the ability to read the terrain, and the road book, will be more important than ever.

The 2023 Dakar Rally starts with a short 11-kilometre prologue on December 31 to decide the start order for stage one. The event then covers 14 full days of racing with riders covering a total distance of 8,549 kilometres, 4,706 of which will be timed special stages raced against the clock. The rally comes to a close on Sunday, January 15 in Dammam.

Skyler Howes:   “I’m really looking forward to beginning the 2023 Dakar Rally adventure that awaits us. I’m super excited to get started actually, this year I feel a lot more relaxed than at previous Dakars, and that is great for my confidence. Of course, there is still a lot of riding and racing that faces us over the next two weeks or so, and it’s definitely going to be a tough Dakar. But it’s these longer, more challenging events that seem to suit my riding and my mindset. There are going to be a lot of changes this year with new the rules and that means different strategies, but I think it’s good. It’s always tricky when they bring in these rule changes, but we’re all in the same boat here and we’ll have to figure it out as best we can. At the end of the day, all I can do is my best, and that’s what I plan to do – have a cool, fun time racing my Husqvarna through Saudi Arabia.”

Luciano Benavides:   “We’re almost ready for the start of the race now. I have prepared more than ever for the 2023 race, and I’m in a really good place to give the event my absolute best. It’s going to be a really long race this year – the longest for around eight years – it means it’s going to be a really tough Dakar, especially the second week through the dunes of the Empty Quarter. Mentally and physically I’m feeling good, and my pace has been really competitive over the course of 2022. I truly feel I have a good shot at securing a top result, I just need to remain focused each day and not make any mistakes as I think they will have a huge impact this year.”

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt got his FIM SuperEnduro World Championship title defence off to a perfect start with victory at round one in Poland. In what was his first return to racing following a five-month injury, Bolt won all three Prestige races in Krakow, along with topping the SuperPole hot lap, to make it a clean sweep at the season opener. Dominating the SuperPole hot lap by nearly one and a half seconds, Billy earned himself the first gate pick for the opening Prestige race of the night. Despite it marking his first competitive outing in over five months, the FE 350 mounted rider was quick to show everyone that he’d lost none of his race craft. Taking control of the lead, the Husqvarna rider checked out to secure the first race win of the night in Krakow.

With the grid order reversed for the second Prestige race, Billy opted for a steady start from row two before carefully cutting his way through the field with rapid precision. Working safe, clean overtakes, he quickly moved to the front of the field. Once past leader Taddy Blazusiak, he upped his pace during the midway point to pull clear of his rivals for an eventual 30-second margin of victory.

As the gate dropped on the third and final Prestige race in Krakow, Billy set his sights on making it a clean sweep of wins at round one and he didn’t disappoint. Although getting a little boxed in during the first few corners of lap one, the Brit remained calm and composed as he moved up to second. After a couple of laps battling with early leader Jonny Walker, Bolt soon put his Husqvarna out front and wasn’t headed.

Claiming three wins from three starts at round one in Poland, the defending world champion has bounced back from injury in perfect style to establish himself as the rider to beat in the new SuperEnduro season.

The FIM SuperEnduro World Championship continues with round two’s GP of Germany on January 7, 2023.

Billy Bolt:   “I’m so pleased to be back racing, but to make my comeback with a clean sweep of wins and taking SuperPole is the dream start to the championship I had hoped for. It’s felt like a long and tough five months off the bike, but I’m chuffed to be back on the bike and racing hard again. It’s what I love to do. Although tonight went to plan, I feel like I’ve some work to do to get back to my very best. We’ve a couple of weeks until round two in Germany, so I’ll keep working hard to be even stronger there.”

Results: FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 1

Prestige Overall
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts;  2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 51pts; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 43pts; 4. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 43pts; 5. Cooper Abbott (Sherco) 31pts…

Prestige Race 1
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:41.953;  2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 10 laps, 7:58.900; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 10 laps, 8:14.278…

Prestige Race 2
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:25.807;  2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 10 laps, 7:55.102; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 10 laps, 8:05.578…

Prestige Race 3
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:19.638;  2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 10 laps, 7:41.718; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 10 laps, 7:49.157…

Championship Standings (After round 1)
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts;  2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 51pts; 3. Cody Webb (Sherco) 43pts; 4. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 43pts; 5. Cooper Abbott (Sherco) 31pts…

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Skyler Howes and Luciano Benavides are in the final stages of their preparations ahead of January’s Dakar Rally. With both riders enjoying a stand-out 2022 season, the FR 450 Rally mounted teammates will be looking to carry their excellent form into the 14-stage rally, which starts in less than one month’s time. The 2023 event promises to be one of the toughest ever with long, timed specials and several new-for-2023 rule changes that will test the riders, and the team, to the maximum. The 2022 season didn’t start in the best way for either Benavides or Howes, with both riders enduring disappointing Dakars for different reasons. While Luciano spent the rally fighting back from a tough first day where he fell foul of some unpredictable navigation, Skyler crashed out of the event on day five. Both riders returned to action at round two of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship however, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, and claimed top-10 results after putting in strong performances while racing through the UAE desert.

After a long summer break where the duo raced in several local events as well as spending weeks with the team developing and testing their FR 450 Rally machines, they resumed their world championship campaigns at round three in Morocco. It was during this second half of the season that all the hard work paid off, as Howes went on to claim his first ever world championship victory with a win at the Rallye du Maroc, leading Benavides home for a Husqvarna Factory Racing one-two. Then at the Andalucia Rally in Spain, Luciano secured a second consecutive world championship podium result with an excellent ride to third place.

More than happy with the feel and performance of their machines, and both in top form physically, both Howes and Benavides now look ahead to the first round of the 2023 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, namely the Dakar Rally, which starts on December 31st in Saudi Arabia. The 14-stage event promises to throw up several new challenges to all competitors in terms of long timed specials and even more technically demanding navigation. With just weeks to go before the event starts, Husqvarna Factory Racing are definitely up for the challenge.

Skyler Howes:   “I’m super excited for Dakar 2023. The rule changes we’ll have, the longer format, and the tough navigation they are promising, that all suits me and my style well. It’s going to be tough, that’s for sure, but I’m ready to give it everything I have. It’s all in the past now, but I guess things started out pretty rough for me this season – having to withdraw from the Dakar on stage five was obviously a big blow and it took a long time to recover. I went into Abu Dhabi way less than 100% but was able to finish the event. After that things started to turn around – I took the win at the Silver State 300 and the Vegas to Reno races, which was great. But then the victory at the Rallye du Maroc was on another level. It was my first world championship win, and something I had dreamed about my whole career. Those results, along with all the testing I’ve done with the team and the development to the bike, man I’m going into the 2023 Dakar full of confidence. My own personal training has been going really well, too. We still have another team test to go in December, and then more work in the gym, but I’m really excited for Dakar 2023.”

Luciano Benavides:   “The 2022 season has been the best year of my career so far. I finished fourth in the world championship and had two consecutive podiums in Morocco and Andalucia. That, as well as a stage win in Abu Dhabi while also opening three stages there has really raised my confidence. My Dakar back in January was good, too. Although the first day was tough, I was able to fight back from that time lost to secure a good finish. In terms of performance, I think I did a really good year and want to take that into the 2023 Dakar. Right now, I’m in the best form I’ve ever been in both mentally and physically. And my feeling on the bike is great, due to all the testing and development the team has done this year. Just a few weeks to go now and we’re in for the big one. I can’t wait to get started.”

Norbert Stadlbauer – Rally Team Manager:   “The Husqvarna Factory Racing team have gone from strength to strength this season, both in terms of their outright speed in the world championship and in other national events where they have secured wins and podium results. The form that both Luciano and Skyler are in right now comes down to a lot of hard work and dedication, and I truly believe that the team will be right up there at the sharp end of the results when the 2023 Dakar comes to a close.”

Robert Jonas – Head of Motorsports Offroad:   “We are really pleased with the progress of the Husqvarna Factory Racing team this year. In the latter half of the season, Skyler and Luciano have shown time and time again that they are to be counted with the world’s best. With another year of experience and strong results behind them, I have every faith that the team can look forward to delivering strong results at the upcoming Dakar Rally and throughout the 2023 FIM World Rally-Raid season.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing is proud to introduce its four-rider SuperMotocross World Championship roster entering the new season, consisting of newly signed Christian Craig and the returning Malcolm Stewart aboard the 2023 Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition, as well as RJ Hampshire and Jalek Swoll equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250. Officially launched on Tuesday at RD Field, where the team’s practice facility is based in Murrieta, Calif., all four Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team riders are eager for the gates to drop on the 2023 AMA Supercross season in Anaheim on January 7. From there, inclusive of Pro Motocross beginning in May, the newly introduced series will feature 31 events combined.
As the current 250SX Western Regional Champion, 31-year-old Craig will transition to the 450SX division full-time in the upcoming season with momentum on his side. He has swiftly adapted to the FC 450 Rockstar Edition upon training with Aldon Baker at the Baker’s Factory and carries high hopes into both supercross and motocross.
Malcolm Stewart, meanwhile, is set to continue his upward trajectory in what will be his second year with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing. After finishing a career-high third in the 450SX standings this past season, complete with three podiums to his credit, expectations for the entire SuperMotocross World Championship are high for the 30-year-old rider.
Christian Craig:  “This is year one on the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team and it's been good so far this pre-season. I moved the whole family to Clermont and started fresh with Aldon. We went straight into bootcamp, and it's been good so far. I’m just learning the bike, learning the program and just trying to build each day and get better. I’m getting more familiar with the bike every day and just keep grinding. Other than that, just doing the laps and getting ready for A1, trying to be as ready as possible.”
Malcolm Stewart:  “I feel great going into the 2023 season with the team. I had a really good year last year for supercross and I felt like we were just getting the ball rolling. I just feel like, for me, it's all about being consistent, as I've always said. I’ve got better goals for myself and I think I got some personal stuff that I know I needed to do done. Being with the team again for another year on this bike, I feel like it's going to be a really good year, so I'm excited. I got a new teammate, Christian Craig, and I feel like he's going hold me accountable just like everybody else that's out there, so I can't wait to see how we do and I think it's going to be a great year for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team.”
It will be RJ Hampshire and Jalek Swoll who lead the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250 class program into the SuperMotocross World Championship series, both continuing with the team and with the goal of competing for victory in the new year aboard their 2023 Husqvarna FC 250 race bikes.
As for RJ Hampshire, this year also marks his fourth with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing and it is shaping up to be his best yet. The 26-year-old finished runner-up in the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship with a breakout Main Event win, followed by finishing fifth in 250MX, where he also managed to stand on top of the podium. Now, he is firmly targeting to contend for championships.
At 22 years of age, Jalek Swoll enters his fourth term with the team in the professional ranks and is looking to put his experience into practice throughout both indoors and the outdoors. In 2022, he displayed top-five form in supercross and has hopes of building on those results in the 250SX and 250MX series.
RJ Hampshire:  “We've had a really solid off-season so far since the beginning of December and I feel like we're about ready to go. We made a lot of progress with the bike and my comfort, so looking back on last year, I know we're in a good spot. Getting second in the championship was huge and I definitely feel like we can make a big jump forward. These guys have been working really hard ever since last year and we're in a really good spot, so I’m excited to go racing with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team.”
Jalek Swoll : “I’m really looking forward to this upcoming season with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team. We've gotten a lot more time on the bike and have had some really good days back in Florida training with Aldon and I’m feeling good about this season. I’m eager to get back into racing with the whole team and look forward to the fun of that whole deal. I’m excited for us riders to come out swinging hard and try to re-brand ourselves this year.”
Nathan Ramsey , Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager:  “I’m very excited about the 2023 season. We’ve got a new addition to the team with Christian Craig, and three hard-working riders returning this year with Malcolm, RJ and Jalek back with us. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing is looking good, and the guys have been putting in a lot of work at the Baker’s Factory during the off-season. We’re excited to have Josh Hansen on-board doing some testing with the bikes. We’re feeling confident coming into the year and looking forward to getting it started.”

In the swift wake of its most successful season as part of the Moto3™ world championship series, Husqvarna Motorcycles has unveiled the colours for 2023 and the scale of the project to enter two Grand Prix categories next year. The LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP team welcomed guests, staff and riders to their base in Memmingen, Germany last week and threw away the covers from the FR 250 GP technology that will contest the Moto3 class (in the hands of racers Ayumu Sasaki and Collin Veijer) and the machinery that will front Husqvarna Motorcycles’ debut in the Moto2™ division (Darryn Binder and Lukas Tulovic on board). The brand has doubled down on their presence in the MotoGP series for 2023, encouraged by the results and progress of the Moto3 wing this year; notably the three wins in the Netherlands, Austria and Malaysia by Sasaki and John McPhee and a total of ten GP podium appearances. The meeting at Sepang, Malaysia, in particular, was a highlight thanks to the 1-2 classification by the Briton and the Japanese. Sasaki showed world championship form in the second half of the 2022 campaign and was one of the star draws during the gathering in Germany. Together with fresh team management the riders presented the new-look race bikes for the first time and the shade of Husqvarna Motorcycles white, blue and yellow that will be seen in winter testing and throughout the 21 dates of the 2023 calendar. Ayumu Sasaki : "2022 has been a lot of ups and downs for me, I had some injuries at the beginning of the year but luckily in the second part of the season, we had some fantastic races: we achieved nine podiums, and two wins and it turned out to be the best season in my career so far. Next year I am aiming to be within the top 3, if possible to fight for the championship, and I will do everything I can to achieve that." Collin Veijer: "I had an incredible season, especially at the start of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup as I got my first podiums in the first couple of races. In FIM JuniorGP, I sustained an injury in the first race but in the summer break, we trained a lot and tried to fix everything which resulted in two victories in the category and three wins in the Rookies. I am super happy with 2022 and can't wait to start this new adventure. I hope to learn a lot from Ayumu next year but I need to make my own experiences and learn to improve myself from them." Darryn Binder : "It was a great opportunity to go straight to MotoGP in 2022 but I am very happy to be coming to Moto2 for the very first time. It will be another new adventure for me and I am hoping to make the most of it. I am really happy to join this team as there have been talks before and so it's great to finally come together. I am super-excited to get the 2023 season started and I hope that I can put all the experience I've gained in MotoGP this year into Moto2 and make the most of it and hope to secure some good results. When I first tested the Moto2 bike, it felt really good. I felt comfortable really quickly and after three days I already started to build up a good feeling. Step-by-step I understood what the Moto2 bikes needs and it's cool not to worry about too much electronics because you can just go out, ride and work on the setup. focus on your riding and improve with every exit. The testing was really positive which is why I can't wait to get the season started.” Lukas Tulovic : "I love the new colours of the bikes and I am sure we will stand out from the crowd. In the European Championship we were already at world championship level on some tracks and based on the riders who have entered Moto2 in 2022, I think you can also expect us to be in the top third of the pack. Of course we have to make steps and improve over the season but my goal is the top 10."

Ayumu Sasaki takes his FR 250 GP to 5th at the MotoGP™ finale in Spain to finish 2022 with 4th place in the Moto3 world championship standings. The Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana represented the 25th time that MotoGP has descended into the circular ‘speedbowl’ setting of the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, a short distance west of the city of Valencia. World championship riders and teams were competing in front of a largely Spanish audience (but a full attendance) for the fourth time this term but Valencia has long been a customary venue to bring the racing season to a close and counted on sunshine and warm temperatures for the twentieth and final fixture of 2022. The Sterilgarda Max Racing Team approached the last GP of their three-year tenure in ‘white and blue’ with Ayumu Sasaki chasing a top three championship ranking and John McPhee motivated for his final outing in the Moto3 division after his thrilling victory two weeks ago in Malaysia. Qualification went smoothly for the crew around the 4km layout with 14 corners and many of those tight and narrow: Sasaki ranked 5th to sit on the second row of the grid while McPhee was only fractions of a second away in 10th for a slot on the fourth line. Moto3 opened the race card at Valencia with 23 laps and the promise of a very close group vying for the right to the final chequered flag of 2022. Sasaki and McPhee slotted into the fourteen-rider third gaggle with hopes of 4th position. The Japanese had to constantly attack and defend but rode decently once more to obtain 5th; behind Dennis Foggia by four tenths of a second to accept a top four championship berth. McPhee had a busy run trying to elbow his way into the top ten and the Scot made it to the line in 11th for five points. In the wake of twenty Grands Prix with the expected highs (victories in the Netherlands, Austria and Malaysia and a total of ten podium appearances) and lows (injuries to both riders) Husqvarna Motorcycles was able to see both of its racers place 4th and 11th in the standings and the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team toast 3rd in the Teams’ contest. After the winter period, that will combine both private and official IRTA tests, Husqvarna Motorcycles will reappear in Moto3 and Moto2™ competition for the season-opening Grand Prix of Portugal in Portimao on March 26th 2023. Ayumu Sasaki : “It was a very good season and I want to thank all my team and the sponsors. It’s been my best championship so far. We went through some difficulties with injuries and we had some bad luck as well but the second part of the season was incredible with nine podiums and two wins. I struggled here but improved all weekend and finished P5. We collected a lot of data and learning this season for next year and I will have the same crew and same people and we will only have one target. We will start in our best way.” John McPhee : “An emotional race for me; my last in Moto3. It was nice to be fast and consistent all weekend. I felt competitive which is the best way to complete my final GP. A big thanks to the team and to everyone that supported me and stuck with me in the hard moments. I pushed 100% as always. I look forward to the next chapter of my career.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Final round   1. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 38:10.406, 2. Deniz Öncü (KTM) +0.062, 3. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) +6.557, 5. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) +14.574, 11. John McPhee (Husqvarna) +15.533   Final Moto3 world championship standings   1. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 319pts, 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 257, 3. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 246, 4. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 238, 11. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 102

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing are excited to announce that Lucas Coenen has joined the squad ahead of the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship. Coenen, who hails from Belgium, is set to compete in the MX2 class aboard the proven FC 250. Coenen is one of the brightest talents to emerge from Europe in some time. Racing in the EMX250 class at fifteen years of age, he won seven of the final eight motos and secured second in the final classification. It was an impressive term aboard his FC 250 and such potential will be nurtured under the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing awning. With Lucas Coenen added to their line-up, Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing will run a rather exciting trio in the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship. Kay de Wolf and Roan van de Moosdijk will enter the new term, which begins with the Grand Prix of Patagonia-Argentina on March 12, with title aspirations. Lucas Coenen:  "I am really excited to join Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing for the 2023 season! To start my MX2 career with a brand as prestigious as Husqvarna is an honour and I cannot wait to see what I can do on my FC 250." Rasmus Jorgensen (Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager):  "Adding Lucas Coenen to Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing is exciting for all of us; he was so impressive in the EMX250 class earlier this year and already on a Husqvarna. I'm very proud of the Husqvarna brand, and it makes a lot of sense to continue writing this story together! 2023 is shaping up to be a great year for the team. Kay and Roan are extremely motivated to put the unlucky 2022 season behind them and have set their sights on 2023. We are counting down to round one!"

Luciano Benavides has finished the 2022 Andalucia Rally in third place overall. A strong ride on the short, final stage of the Spanish event saw the Husqvarna Factory Racing rider secure his second consecutive event podium, claiming fourth overall in the final 2022 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship standings.

Despite being short at just over 100 kilometres, the timed special on stage four of the Andalucia Rally delivered challenging terrain and navigation to all competitors for their final charge to the finish line. Due to his third-place result from Saturday’s stage three, Luciano Benavides entered the special with two riders ahead of him. With a three-minute deficit to the provisional leader of the rally coming into the final day, Benavides knew it would be tough to make up the time required, but nevertheless gave his all over the opening half of the stage.

With the times extremely close between the top three, a small mistake by Luciano later in the special cost him several valuable seconds, and with a sizeable advantage to the fourth-placed competitor, Benavides decided to ease his pace slightly over the final kilometres to ensure a safe podium finish. Bringing his FR 450 Rally home just one and a half minutes behind the stage winner, the young Argentinian secured third place in the event, and with it, his second consecutive world championship podium.

Following a tough start to the season, where he placed 13th at the Dakar Rally, Luciano delivered superb performances over the three subsequent rounds to ensure his top-four result in the championship rankings. A stage win at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge was followed by a podium in Morocco and third place in Spain. On top form, Benavides now looks forward to the Dakar Rally next January. Joining his teammate in Saudi Arabia, Skyler Howes will also be aiming to carry the speed that took him to victory at the Rallye du Maroc into the first round of the 2023 season.

Luciano Benavides:   “I’m happy to complete the last day of the rally – it was another crazy stage of hard navigation and really tough tracks. It was shorter than the previous days, but it was still quite challenging due to the tricky navigation and less visible pistes. There were also many, many rocks and stones, so it was hard to find a good rhythm. I made a little mistake near the end, but I knew if I stayed at a solid pace, my third place would be safe, so I eased off a little in the final kilometres to bring it home safely. To get back-to-back podiums from here and Morocco and to be able to share the podium with my brother feels great, and the result has moved me up to fourth in the world championship, so I’m really pleased with that, too. It’s important to finish the season strong, with good speed and no injuries, so the plan now is to carry this form to Dakar.”

2022 Andalucia Rally – Stage 4 Provisional Classification

1. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 1:22:53
2. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 1:23:09
3. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 1:24:24
4. Tosha Schareina (KTM) 1:24:36
5. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 1:24:53
6. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 1:25:00

2022 Andalucia Rally – Provisional Overall Classification (after stage 4)

1. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 9:58:48
2. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 10:02:02 +3:14
3. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 10:05:25
4. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 10:11:43
5. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 10:14:10
6. Tosha Schareina (KTM) 10:17:22

Victory for John McPhee and 2nd place for Ayumu Sasaki as MotoGP™ rushes through the stifling humidity of the Sepang International Circuit. The nineteenth and second-to-last Grand Prix of the 2022 MotoGP world championship campaign brought the eastern global stint of the series to an end as Malaysia and the Sepang International Circuit made a popular and overdue return to the schedule. The Moto3 teams and riders had to reacquaint themselves with the oppressive heat of the site close to Kuala Lumpur and the ever-present threat of heavy rain spells. Comprehensive set-up work to deal with the two long straights and diversity of the 15 corners was also in order as the Sepang offered contrasting flow and demands compared to Phillip Island in Australia the previous weekend. The Sterilgarda Max Racing team watched Ayumu Sasaki get down to business as the Japanese again worked with the FR 250 GP to lodge his name and number near the top of the time sheets throughout Free Practice as the Moto3 field avoided the worst of the showery climate on Friday. Sasaki ended-up with 7th place on the start grid after Q2 on Saturday while John McPhee dealt with a few issues to labour to the eighth row. Moto3 was run through 17 gripping laps at midday on Sunday. The onus on slipstreaming and keeping a slot in the leading group through consistency and tyre preservation were vital skills. Sasaki started conservatively, especially considering rain in the morning has left the track damp in places. He soon found another gear to shift from the edge of the top ten into contention for the lead with six laps to go. McPhee was able to regain ground to slot in the second gaggle. The experience Scot then rode hard to break free and join the leaders, staring at a very small gap to 7th position. Riccardo Rossi’s crash then allowed him to merge with the group. The final Moto3 push was chaotic and unpredictable as always but McPhee’s sensational inside line to gain four places with two corners to go was the difference. He held onto P1 despite a last-gasp attack from his teammate into Turn 15 and sealed his fourth career victory and the first in Husqvarna Motorcycles colours by four hundredths of a second. The result marked the third triumph for the team this season. Sasaki’s 2nd place was his ninth podium of 2022. With 227 points Sasaki still has a chance of reaching 2nd place in the world championship standings as the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana will represent the last chance and final sprint of the term in two weeks. The Circuito Ricardo Tormo in Spain will offer a maximum of 25 points and the opportunity for the Japanese to add to his tally. McPhee had risen to 16th prior to the outing in Malaysia and is now 10th. The Husqvarna Motorcycles squad have classified 3rd in the Teams’ contest for 2022. John McPhee : “I’m proud of myself, I dug so deep. It has been such a tough season and weekend here. It was a tough day yesterday but now I’m so happy for the guys who have been supporting me. One last win in Moto3 but we still have another chance in Valencia.” Ayumu Sasaki : “Today I gave everything. I heard that Dietrich [Mateschitz] had passed away and I just wanted to give this race to him. I pushed for all I could and will always give my wings for the championship! At least it was John who beat me today! I know it hasn’t been the easiest season for him. I tried to pass at the end but was a bit too hot into the last corner. I’m happy anyway!”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 19   1. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 38:04.589, 2. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) +0.048 , 3. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) +0.146   Moto3 world championship standings   1. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 294pts, 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 241, 3. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 233, 4. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 227, 10. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 97

Luciano Benavides has put in a solid ride on the long stage three of the Andalucia Rally to place third overall. Despite a crash in the second half of the timed special, the Husqvarna Factory Racing rider was able to complete the day inside the top three, finishing just over three minutes down on the winner.   Luciano Benavides has put in a solid ride on the long stage three of the Andalucia Rally to place third overall. Despite a crash in the second half of the timed special, the Husqvarna Factory Racing rider was able to complete the day inside the top three, finishing just over three minutes down on the winner.

The longest stage of the event started well for Benavides. After a short delay due to the weather, the FR 450 Rally rider was the third competitor to enter the 284-kilometre timed special and immediately delivered a pace that secured his position inside the top three. Feeling comfortable, despite the unpredictable and slippery tracks that made up the first half of the stage, Luciano reached the refuelling point as third fastest.

Setting off again and looking to improve his position, a small crash resulted in the young Argentinian losing several minutes to his rivals. Thankfully, despite being in some discomfort, Benavides was able to safely complete the stage in an excellent third place.

With one day of the event left to contest, Luciano lies third overall, just over five minutes down on the provisional leader. Sunday’s 400-kilometre stage includes a short 100-kilometre timed special, where Benavides will be aiming to give his all in the hope of securing himself a podium finish.

Luciano Benavides:   “It was a really, really long day again – more than three hours on the bike and tough, slippery tracks where you are sliding around all the time. Navigation was quite easy, but you had to take extra care about all the notes in your road book. It wasn’t so easy to get completely lost, but it was possible to miss a turn or another track, and that could cost you quite a few seconds each time. Honestly, in the first half of the stage I thought I was doing well. Times were tight but I was holding on to about third place, around 30 seconds down. Then, after the refuelling, I had a crash which cost me a few minutes. I was in a little pain but carried on ok. Towards the end, my brother caught me, so it was cool to finish the stage going full gas on the sand with him. I’m happy with my pace on the whole and looking forward to the finish tomorrow.”

2022 Andalucia Rally – Stage 3 Provisional Classification

1. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 3:46:32
2. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 3:48:22
3. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:49:35
4. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 3:51:12
5. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 3:50:30
6. Sebastian Buhler (Hero) 3:52:26

2022 Andalucia Rally – Provisional Overall Classification (after stage 3)

1. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 8:33:55
2. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 8:36:53
3. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 8:39:01
4. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 8:44:50
5. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 8:45:27
6. Ross Branch (Hero) 8:50:09

Luciano Benavides has placed third fastest on the opening stage of the 2022 Andalucia Rally. Excelling over the demanding Spanish tracks and terrain, the Argentinian completed the gruelling 315-kilometre timed special in just short of four hours, three and a half minutes behind the leader. Showing impressive speed over yesterday’s short but fast prologue stage, a small mistake in the closing kilometres cost Benavides several seconds, resulting in the FR 450 Rally rider clocking in sixth fastest. With the prologue deciding the start positions for today’s stage one, Benavides was the seventh rider to enter the timed special, where he immediately set about chasing down his rivals ahead.

Maintaining a strong pace over the broken tracks and riverbeds seen in the early part of the special, Luciano soon caught a pair of riders ahead of him. Initially finding it difficult to make a safe pass due to the dust, Benavides eventually got ahead and was able to push onwards, towards the refuelling stop.

As the stage continued, Luciano fought his way past several other riders as he steadily climbed the leaderboard. By the 200-kilometre mark, the 26-year-old was less than two minutes down on the stage leader. Unfortunately, a small mistake in the closing kilometres cost the Husqvarna rider some time, but he was still able to secure a solid third-place result for the day, and now looks forward to a strong start position into Friday’s 568-kilometre stage two.

Luciano Benavides:   “That was a crazy stage one of the Andalucia Rally. It was really slippery out there today, with many tracks and pistes, so you really had to take notice of your notes and navigation. I caught the two guys ahead of me early on, so that meant riding in their dust for quite a while before I could get past them. I put in a good section up to the refuelling, and then after that I caught another two riders, who I was able to get past quite quickly. Later on, I did make a small mistake where I was unsure about the timings after the neutralisation, and that cost me some time. We ended up riding in a group to the finish, so that was good fun. I’m really happy with my riding today and the way the bike handled this tough terrain. Thanks to my team for their hard work and we’ll go again tomorrow.”

2022 Andalucia Rally – Stage 1 Provisional Classification

1. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 3:39:25
2. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 3:42:39
3. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:42:54
4. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 3:44:29
5. Tosha Schareina (KTM) 3:46:30
6. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 3:46:42

2022 Andalucia Rally – Provisional Overall Classification (after stage 1)

1. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 4:45:33
2. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 4:48:07
3. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 4:49:26
4. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 4:50:21
5. Tosha Schareina (KTM) 4:52:46
6. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 4:53:38

Husqvarna Motorcycles is set to become a protagonist in yet another sphere of MotoGP™ next year after forging a union with the resourceful and competitive Moto2 team Intact GP to form ‘LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP’. The name of the squad will cover racing wings in both the intermediate category and in Moto3, where Husqvarna Motorcycles has been winning Grands Prix each season since their reintroduction to world championship action in 2020. LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 will be managed by overseer of the current GP crew, Peter Öttl, and will retain the services of Ayumu Sasaki, together with the promise of young Dutchman Collin Veijer. Sasaki, 22 years old, has had a stellar 2022 campaign on the FR 250 GP so far, claiming events in the Netherlands and Austria and with an additional six podium finishes. The Japanese is pushing for the top three in the Moto3 championship standings. Veijer, 17, has won three races in the ’22 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and is still in contention for the title. The Dutch youngster will be a Grand Prix rookie in 2023. The experience and expertise of Team Manager Jürgen Lingg will be a big asset for Husqvarna Motorcycles’ first thrust into Moto2 and the standardised formula of the final ‘stepping stone’ to the MotoGP class. The new look outfit will be able to count on the pace and character of Darryn Binder as well as Lukas Tulovic. Binder, just 24, has won in Moto3 and is on the verge of completing a decent first term in MotoGP after an unexpected vault between the divisions at the end of 2021. The South African is renowned for his determination and dedication and although he will again be a debutant when it comes to Moto2 he will be able to harness copious lessons from his eight-year career to-date. Tulovic is the newly crowned Moto2 European champion for the LIQUI MOLY Intact GP Junior Team   and has made Moto2 GP appearances, the 22-year-old German has also turned his head to recent MotoE competition and is regarded as ‘one to watch’ by the team. 2023 will mark a milestone for Husqvarna Motorcycles thanks to this wider structure and increased awareness at the peak of motorcycle sport. Peter Öttl, LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto3 Team Manager: “For three seasons we have been able to carry the Husqvarna Motorcycles name highly in Moto3 and it is very satisfying to continue the story together with Jürgen and a bigger programme now in Moto2. Ayumu stays with us and after some excellent results in 2022 we hope we can go for even more in 2023. Collin, on the other hand, is a rider with a lot of potential and we trust that he will carry on learning and building his career. I want to thank Husqvarna Motorcycles for the trust and the confidence. We will work hard to keep the Husqvarna name at the front of Moto3.”   Jürgen Lingg, LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Moto2 Team Manager: "We are very grateful to Husqvarna Motorcycles for the trust they have placed in us. This merger is a new and an exciting step for our team, ushering in a new era. We have a new brand, new riders and a new direction. In 2023 the bikes will change colour and we are all motivated and convinced that this change will take us forward." Jens Hainbach, Head of Sports Management Road Racing:: “Finally we have been able to grow the white and blue from Moto3 to Moto2 and I cannot be happier with our new partners to take Husqvarna Motorcycles into the next era. 2022 has been a breakthrough in Moto3 and it’s fantastic that we will continue on a solid foundation with Peter’s expertise. Jürgen knows Moto2 better than most and, overall, we believe our mix of riders for the brand combine a lot of potential and youth. It’s a strong group package and I want to thank everyone involved for bringing this all together.”

Signing off on a terrific 2022 EnduroGP World Championship campaign, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Mikael Persson has ended his fight for the Enduro3 World Championship title as runner-up. With the outcome of the championship going down to the wire at the seventh and final round in Germany, Persson arrived in Zschopau eager to claim a debut world crown.

Although not getting off to the best start on Saturday, the Swede soon settled into his rhythm on his TE 300. Fighting hard, he ended the day as runner-up to rival Brad Freeman. The result meant both riders were level on points at the top of the class, meaning all was to play for on the final day of the championship

Feeling motivated and knowing that he’d need to deliver he very best, Persson threw all he had at the final day title fight. Putting in arguably one of his best performances of the season at a time when it mattered most, Mikael fought hard for victory. Midway through the day, Persson lay fourth in the overall EnduroGP classification and was charging hard. Frustratingly, he just couldn’t quite bridge the gap to title rival Freeman and despite maintaining the pressure throughout the final lap, the Husqvarna Factory Racing rider ultimately finished the day second.

The strong result ensured Persson ended the 2022 Enduro3 World Championship as runner-up. In what’s been a stellar year for the quiet Swede, Mikael has claimed two race wins and secured no fewer than 11 podium results aboard his TE 300 in the hotly contested Enduro3 category. Additionally, he also won the Enduro3 class of the FIM International Six Days Enduro in September.

Mikael Persson:   “Of course it’s frustrating knowing that I wasn’t quite able to win the E3 title, but I gave it absolutely everything I had today. On day one, I started off a bit slower than I hoped I would. Maybe the championship pressure was in the back of my mind. I came strong in the afternoon and ended the day with more confidence. Tied on points for the championship coming into the today meant there was nothing to lose and everything to go for, so I gave it my all. I think I rode my best and I know I gave it my best. Unfortunately, I came up short, which is tough. But to only just lose out against a rider like Brad (Freeman) is something I can be proud of. It’s been a great year. Bringing the title fight right down to the wire shows just how strong we were.”

Results: Rnd7, GP of Germany

EnduroGP - Day 1
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:05:59.24; 2. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:06:43.15; 3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:06:56.65; 4. Wil Ruprecht (TM Racing) 1:07:14.91; 5. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:07:18.40…  8. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:09:09.76…

EnduroGP - Day 2
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:03:46.07; 2. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:04:01.88; 3. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:04:29.55; 4. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:04:29.94;  5. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:04:41.73…

Enduro3 - Day 1
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:06:43.15;  2. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:09:09.76;  3. Daniel McCanney (Sherco) 1:09:38.87…

Enduro3 - Day 2
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:04:01.88;  2. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:04:41.73;  3. Daniel McCanney (Sherco) 1:06:14.92…

Final Championship Standings EnduroGP
1. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 219pts; 2. Josep Garcia (KTM) 195pts; 3. Wil Ruprecht (TM) 180pts; 4. Nathan Watson (Honda) 170pts; 5. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 127pts…  8. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 87pts…

Enduro3
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 229pts;  2. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 226pts;  3. Matteo Pavoni (TM) 178pts…

MotoGP™ headed south in the latest swing of the transcontinental stage of the 2022 season and with the quick, sweeping and majestic Phillip Island circuit, close to the city of Melbourne staging the first Australian Grand Prix since 2019. Short, narrow but also technical and spectacular; Phillip Island is an eagerly anticipated oddity on the world championship schedule thanks to the demands of the layout that emphasises corner speed, slipstreaming and very few hard braking points. The Sterilgarda Max Racing team came into the event with Ayumu Sasaki having taken five podium finishes in the last seven events with his FR 250 GP motorcycle. The Grand Prix got underway in positive style as Sasaki topped FP2 and then FP3 by a lengthy three quarters of a second and looked in flying form for qualification. The Japanese continued his lap-record breaking pace (having shattered the eight-year distinction) to seal his second Pole Position of the season. John McPhee was down on the sixth row in 16th. Moto3 was played out across 23-laps on a sunny but breezy Sunday morning. Sasaki was part of a gripping dice with three riders in the lead group. The show saw numerous position changes for the win. The tussle went all the way to the chequered flag with only half a second dividing the quartet at the line and Sasaki was 4th, pipped to yet another trophy by a tenth of a second. McPhee rode to 6th. The experienced Scot was just seven hundredths of a second away from heading the second group and the classification marked the second-best of the season. Two rounds and a maximum of 50 points remain in the 2022 Moto3 contest. Sasaki is still 4th and 16 points from the top three. Sterilgarda Max Racing hold 3rd in the teams championship while McPhee is 16th and can still reach the top ten in the races remaining. The penultimate Grand Prix of the season will be staged by the Sepang International Circuit for the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia next weekend. The frequent MotoGP testing venue is a short distance south from Kuala Lumpur and is typically a busy and popular stop on the world championship trail. Ayumu Sasaki : “It was a crazily difficult race! It was a bit damp in the beginning so we kept it steady but then the front guys started to push and I could go as well. It was a good pace and we made a small group. It was an incredible fight and unfortunately I ended up 4th when the podium was so close. It was tricky because the positions changed every lap but I gave my best. I’m satisfied with the weekend; we were strong and fast.” John McPhee : “I think 6th was a positive step in the right direction and I was able to enjoy riding the bike again. It had been a tough weekend and one of the hardest of the year in terms of finding my feeling here. I wasn’t making too much progress until qualification and then had a lot of moments in the race…but I was determined to push until my absolute maximum for a good result here. I gave it everything so I hope we can be in much better shape from FP1 in Malaysia.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 18 1. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 37:38.762, 2. Deniz Öncü (KTM) +0.345, 3. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) +0.460, 4. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) +0.560 , 6. John McPhee (Husqvarna) +7.496   Moto3 world championship standings 1. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 290pts, 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 225, 3. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 223, 4. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 207, 16. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 72

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Skyler Howes has stormed to second place on the fifth and final stage of the 2022 Rallye du Maroc to secure his first ever FIM World Rally-Raid Championship win. The American completed five incredible days of rally racing in the Moroccan desert to ultimately finish just over seven minutes ahead of second-placed Luciano Benavides.

Right from the start of this year’s Rallye du Maroc, both Skyler Howes and Luciano Benavides were able to deliver solid stage results day after day as they fought for the overall honours in Morocco. A one-two finish on day three saw the FR 450 Rally-mounted racers rise to the top of the event standings, and despite losing a little time while opening stage four, the pair reclaimed the top two positions on Thursday’s stage five with an excellent display of speed and navigation over the 290-kilometre timed special.

As the sixth rider into today’s stage, Skyler knew he would have an excellent opportunity to chase down and catch the riders ahead and in turn make up the valuable minutes he needed to finish on the podium. Remaining focussed, despite the added pressure, Howes delivered an impressive ride on the route back to Agadir, making the absolute minimum of errors to place second on the stage, just six seconds behind the leader. The result was enough to top the final rally timesheets by seven minutes and 13 seconds and secure a memorable overall victory in Morocco.

Howes’ victory marks the 30-year-old’s first world championship race win, an impressive achievement that comes down to not only the commitment put in by himself and the team over the year developing the FR 450 Rally, but also Skyler’s focus and work ethic. Now, with his confidence high, the likeable American will shift his attention to the Sonora Rally in Mexico later this month.

Finishing stage five in third, a mere nine seconds behind teammate Howes, Luciano Benavides cemented himself into second place in the overall results. Including Benavides’ impressive stage win on day three, the young Argentinian displayed immense skill and pace over the course of the five-day event to claim a well-deserved podium. Feeling hugely comfortable on his FR 450 Rally following a summer of training and testing with the team, Luciano’s confidence and pace is now at an all-time high. Benavides now looks forward to carrying his momentum through to the final round of the season, and on to the Dakar Rally, beginning late December.

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides will return to FIM World Rally-Raid Championship action at the final round of the season, the Andalucia Rally in Spain, from October 18-23. Skyler Howes will be absent from Spain while he competes at the Sonora Rally in Mexico.

Skyler Howes:   “We’re at the finish of the Morocco Rally and I finished first, which is super cool! The final stage was quite technical actually, it wasn’t a walk in the park. The navigation was tricky, and I did a couple of circles out there which slowed me down a little bit. I was still able to finish second on the stage, which was enough to win the overall, and I have to admit it’s the coolest thing of my whole life! Honestly, I’m over the moon. It’s a dream come true to take the win here in Morocco, and the plan is to carry this momentum on to the Dakar Rally.”

Luciano Benavides:   “We’ve finished stage five, the last day of the rally. I really wanted to go for the stage win today but made a small mistake that ended up costing me some time. Nevertheless, I finished third on the stage, really close to the winner and second overall, which is amazing. I can’t describe this moment – I have worked so hard since last year to be in this position right now, and to have such a good feeling on the bike. It’s not only me, but the whole team have also done an incredible job on the bike and have worked so hard here in Morocco. This result is a big thank you to them. I can’t wait for Andalucia now, the next round, and of course the Dakar in January.”

2022 Rallye du Maroc – Stage 5 Provisional Classification

1. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 1:37:30
2. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 1:37:36
3. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 1:37:47
4. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 1:39:00
5. Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 1:40:05
6. Ross Branch (Hero) 1:41:14

2022 Rallye du Maroc – Provisional Overall Classification (after final stage)

1. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 16:30:29
2. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 16:37:42
3. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 16:41:17
4. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 16:42:36
5. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 16:45:20
6. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 16:50:40

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Skyler Howes and Luciano Benavides have safely completed stage four of the Rallye du Maroc in sixth and eighth places respectively. Following his stage win on day three, Benavides did an incredible job of opening the first 300 kilometres of today’s 350-kilometre stage, losing the absolute minimum of time to the chasing pack.

With the two Husqvarna Factory Racing riders setting off first and second into today’s special – the longest of the event at an exhausting 346 kilometres – the FR 450 Rally riders planned to work together to share the navigation and opening duties from the front.

Pushing right from the start with the goal of catching his teammate, Skyler Howes was able to stick to a strong pace and was lying fifth on time one-third of the way through the stage. However, with teammate Benavides almost matching him for speed and navigating well over the fast terrain of the special, Howes didn’t catch the Argentinian until after kilometre 300.

Taking the lead for the final 50 kilometres, Skyler reached the finish line having secured a sixth-place result, eight and a half minutes down on the eventual stage winner. Despite losing time, Howes still lies second in the standings and will enjoy an advantageous start position for Thursday’s final stage of the event.

Completing the special just under four minutes down on his teammate, Benavides was nevertheless pleased with his performance throughout the gruelling stage. Navigating almost the whole timed special on his own from the front, without making any major errors, demonstrates the quality and form of the young Argentinian. Luciano now lies fourth overall, and will also be aiming to deliver a solid ride on the Rallye du Maroc’s final stage to put himself in contention for an overall podium position.

Stage five of the Rallye du Maroc, the final day of the event, leads riders north again from Tan-Tan back to Agadir. Totalling 379 kilometres, the stage includes a timed special of 290 kilometres.

Skyler Howes:   “Today was tough, because when you set out near the front, you’re almost always guaranteed to lose a bit of time. But with Luciano and myself starting first and second, we had this game plan to ride together and share the opening of the stage. The problem was Luciano’s pace from the front was so fast it took me most of the stage to catch up to him. I was able to lead the final 50 kilometres or so and that helped, I think. It’s frustrating to lose the overall lead in the rally, but we have a good starting position for tomorrow, so I’ll give it everything I have and hopefully come out with a good result.”

Luciano Benavides:   “Today was a really nice day for me in this rally. I didn’t think I would open so much, I think I led for the first 300 kilometres, so I did a pretty good job I’d say. I felt really good and was able to focus on my navigation while keeping up a good speed and I didn’t think about the others behind. The stage was really fast in some sections, but I think those sort of tracks suit me and my style. Also, the navigation was quite tricky, but I was able to get through without making any big mistakes. Overall, the race so far has been really positive for the team, it has shown we have the pace and are well in the fight for the podium. I’ll try my best tomorrow on the final stage and see where we end up.”

2022 Rallye du Maroc – Stage 4 Provisional Classification

1. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 3:21:35
2. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 3:25:51
3. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 3:27:46
4. Ross Branch (Hero) 3:29:04
5. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 3:29:21
6. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 3:30:02
…
8. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:33:47

2022 Rallye du Maroc – Provisional Overall Classification (after stage 4)

1. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 14:51:42
2. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 14:52:53
3. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 14:58:31
4. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 14:59:55
5. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 15:05:06
6. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 15:07:11

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has won stage three of the 2022 Rallye du Maroc – the third round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship. Bringing his FR 450 Rally home just 25 seconds ahead of teammate Skyler Howes, Benavides moves up to second in the provisional overall standings, one place behind Howes who maintains his lead at the top.

Stage three of the Rallye du Maroc was a hugely positive one for the Husqvarna Factory Racing team. Completing the 299-kilometre timed special in just over three hours, Luciano Benavides secured his second career world championship stage victory with an excellent ride through some of the toughest terrain seen at the event so far.

Taking advantage of his ninth-place start position, Benavides was second on time to the checkpoint at kilometre 30, just one second down on the early leader. Continuing to push, the Argentinian soon moved into the lead, slowly increasing his advantage over teammate Howes to the finish. Moving up to second overall, Luciano will now open Wednesday’s stage four – a difficult challenge, but one the young racer is ready to embrace.

Almost matching Benavides for pace throughout the stage, Skyler Howes put in an excellent ride from his fourth-place start position to lose the minimum of time, despite catching the leaders and opening several kilometres of the special. The result extended Howes’ lead at the top of the rankings to over three minutes. The American star will now set off behind his teammate tomorrow with the hope of catching him and then working together to ensure another strong result for the team.

Stage four of the Rallye du Maroc leads riders north again from Laayoune to Tan-Tan. Totalling 665 kilometres, the stage represents the longest of the event and includes a demanding timed special of 346 kilometres.

Luciano Benavides:   “I’m really happy to take the stage win here in Morocco. It’s great for my confidence and it comes down to all the hard work the whole team put in earlier this year. The day went well for me – I navigated well and was able to keep a good pace. It’s great to finish first and second with my teammate Skyler and we are sitting at the top of the overall, too. We still have two more days left to race, so I’ll stay focused and can hopefully do a good job of opening tomorrow.”

Skyler Howes:   “Another hard day here in Morocco. Me and Luciano went one-two on the stage, which is super, super cool for us and cool for Husqvarna. It was quite tricky at first because the dunes were so soft and then the back sides of them were broken, which means it’s straight down to the desert floor. Not only is it difficult to navigate and choose a good line, but it’s really easy to get stuck and lose time. Thankfully it looks like everyone had the same issues, so it wasn’t too much of a problem. Later on the route opened up into much faster tracks, but with the wind and weather here, it has made finding the tracks really tough. After catching up to the leading group I just kept my head down to finish the stage safely. Second place on the stage and I’m still leading the rally, so things are good and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

2022 Rallye du Maroc – Stage 3 Provisional Classification

1. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:09:42
2. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 3:10:07
3. Ross Branch (Hero) 3:12:20
4. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 3:12:45
5. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 3:13:01
6. Toby Price (KTM) 3:13:12

2022 Rallye du Maroc – Provisional Overall Classification (after stage 3)

1. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 11:22:51
2. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 11:26:08
3. Toby Price (KTM) 11:27:36
4. Ross Branch (Hero) 11:29:37
5. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 11:30:07
6. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 11:32:40

Skyler Howes has placed fourth on today’s second stage of the 2022 Rallye du Maroc. Finishing just over three minutes behind the day’s winner, Howes’ result moves him into the provisional lead of the third round of the 2022 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship. Luciano Benavides also impressed on today’s 435-kilometre stage, completing the timed special in ninth, just over nine minutes down.

With today’s stage leading riders south from Tan-Tan to Laayoune, organisers delivered a long, 315-kilometre timed special that included some very demanding navigation, as well as the familiar mixture of terrain seen at the Moroccan event.

Early on in the day, Skyler Howes made the best use of his start position to make up time and catch the riders ahead. With the timed special consisting of a number of varied terrains with very tricky navigation, and with times across the top-10 riders proving to be very close, even just a small mistake could prove costly. Skyler moved into the stage lead on time at around kilometre 87 and maintained that position for much of the day. Falling foul of a particularly difficult to find waypoint, Skyler, and the group he was riding with, ended up losing several minutes to the chasing pack. However, with many riders suffering the same fate, Howes was able to regroup to finish his stage in a strong fourth place.

With his teammate taking over the rally lead, Luciano Benavides also showed excellent pace on today’s stage. After being caught by Skyler around one third of the way into the special, Benavides was able to match the pace of those around him and indeed opened a good section of the route. Completing the day in ninth place, nine minutes and 13 seconds behind the stage winner, Luciano now lies in third place overall, three minutes and forty-two seconds behind his teammate and provisional rally leader, Howes.

Tuesday's stage three of the Rallye du Maroc, a looped stage based around the city of Laayoune, totals 322 kilometres with a timed special of 299 kilometres.

Skyler Howes:   “I’m pleased with how I rode today – the bike is excellent and I’m happy with my navigation the whole way through the stage. The organisers really challenged us all today with some difficult to find waypoints and I think it was a tough day for everyone on the whole. There were some tracks with a waypoint at the end that were especially hard to find. The wind had hidden the tracks so much that it was really tricky to know if you were in the right place. After that we hit the dunes and that was also a real challenge. They were super soft, but there had been some rain too that made them extra difficult to ride. We were in a group of four when we got there and each of us took it in turns to open. With all the challenges, I’m happy to complete the stage with a good result, so now we’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

Luciano Benavides:   “Day two is in the books. A really good day, but a tough one for sure. I started off second and caught Ross (Branch) after a little while and ended up opening the faster pistes myself. After the refuelling we were in a group of four, including Skyler, and all of us led out a little. At one point one of the waypoints didn’t validate for me, so I had to turn around to get it. I was able to push and catch up with the others soon after in the dunes. Having the chance to open and still make up good time is really important for my confidence, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow now and hopefully I can keep this momentum.”

2022 Rallye du Maroc – Stage 2 Provisional Classification

1. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 3:18:44
2. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 3:21:38
3. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 3:21:45
4. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 3:21:56
5. Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 3:23:57
6. Toby Price (KTM) 3:24:49
...
9. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:27:57

2022 Rallye du Maroc – Provisional Overall Classification (after stage 2)

1. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 8:12:44
2. Toby Price (KTM) 8:14:24
3. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 8:16:26
4. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 8:16:43
5. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 8:17:06
6. Ross Branch (Hero) 8:17:17

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has made an excellent start to his 2022 Rallye du Maroc campaign, posting the second-fastest time on the 557-kilometre first stage. Completing the special just over two minutes behind his teammate, Skyler Howes also impressed across the technically demanding terrain to finish in fourth place.

Covering ground fast, right from the start line and then to chase down the riders ahead, Benavides was quickest to the first checkpoint at kilometre 40. With times tight among the top five, Luciano dropped down to fourth around the midway point of the special, but was able to maintain his safe, solid pace to the finish where he ultimately placed second.

Skyler Howes' journey through the stage differed slightly to that of his teammate. The American star set off one place ahead Benavides but slowly built his pace as he progressed through the special. Choosing to focus on his navigation early on paid off for Skyler and with the terrain becoming more predictable in the latter stages of the day, the FR 450 Rally rider was able to push and make up time on those ahead. Securing a strong fourth-place result, just over three minutes down on the eventual stage winner, means that Howes has three riders to chase down on tomorrow’s day two.

Stage two of the Rallye du Maroc, from Tan-Tan to Laayoune, totals 435 kilometres with a timed special of 315 kilometres.

Luciano Benavides:   “It was a really good first stage for me. I started off well, focussing on my navigation and the terrain and found I soon started to catch some of the riders in front. It was a really technical stage with many rocks and stone on the pistes, so it was tricky to keep an eye on your road book while having to look ahead and judge the terrain all the time. I think I did a good job and was able to stay consistent for the whole stage. Towards the end we were able to ride across the beach for around 20 kilometres, which was good fun. I’m really happy with my result from today, but tomorrow will be a different challenge starting near the front. I’ll give my best as always.”

Skyler Howes:   “Stage one went quite well for me. I had a few tracks to follow, which made the job a little easier, but it was still quite tricky, and navigation was definitely key today. The terrain really suited me, so I felt right at home on the bike. I made a couple of smaller mistakes, and then one really big one that ended up costing me a few minutes, so it has been a bit of an up and down day, but I’m here, safe at the finish and ready to go again tomorrow.”

2022 Rallye du Maroc – Stage 1 Provisional Classification

1. Ross Branch (Hero) 3:44:56
2. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:46:05
3. Toby Price (KTM) 3:47:27
4. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 3:48:16
5. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 3:49:29
6. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 3:50:33

2022 Rallye du Maroc – Provisional Overall Classification (after stage 1)

1. Ross Branch (Hero) 4:46:24
2. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 4:48:29
3. Toby Price (KTM) 4:49:35
4. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 4:50:48
5. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 4:55:05
6. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 4:55:21

The third Grand Prix in a row in 2022 and in the middle of a hectic flyaway stint of the current MotoGP calendar pulled the teams and riders to another busy venue that has been devoid of world championship action for the last two years. Husqvarna Motorcycles and the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team landed in Bangkok and then transferred to Buriram – the home of the modern and flowing Chang International Circuit – for the OR Thailand Grand Prix. The paddock was met by high temperatures, humidity and rainy skies and the unstable climate continued into Free Practice on Friday where the Moto3 sessions were the only periods affected by the damp. The wet tarmac was not enough to deter Ayumu Sasaki, who was still riding on a high after a podium finish at his home event in Motegi the previous weekend. The Japanese took his FR 250 GP to the top spot on combined times and was primed for Q2 on Saturday. Ayumu eventually came through qualification – run in overdue dry weather – with 3rd place and a berth on the front row of the grid. John McPhee set the 8th swiftest lap-time to fill a slot on the third row. On Sunday morning the 22-lap race began under a grey ceiling but the Buriram area containing the 4.6km course was mercifully dry. Sasaki was into contention from the beginning and although he had little for the pace of eventual winner Dennis Foggia, he was able to deter Riccardo Rossi and seal 2nd position on the final corner. The result meant a eighth podium of the season for the team and the third in a row after trophies in Spain and Japan. McPhee crashed in the formative stages through the left-handed Turn 5. The Scot remounted but was forced out of the running. Sasaki is still 4th in the world championship standings and is just 15 points from the top three. McPhee is 17^th and 14 points away from the top fifteen as the experienced Brit counts the cost of his training injury and the small chunk of the season spent on the sidelines. The team are 3rd from 15 in the teams’ league. MotoGP can finally breathe for a week before another double-header approaches with Grands Prix in Australia (Phillip Island) and Malaysia (Sepang International Circuit) to close activities for October and then bring the series back to Europe. Ayumu Sasaki : “Today I did my best. I felt comfortable in the race but towards the end the tyre dropped and I was losing out to Dennis on the straight. The last few laps were hard but I’m happy to take 2nd place. We’re climbing up the championship which is good and hopefully we can be even a bit better in the last races.” John McPhee : “I felt strong and good on the bike and I could attack pretty well but the crash was my mistake and it’s disappointing to end the race like that. It’s only the second time I’ve crashed this season but I’ll have to take it on the chin and just move onto the next one.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 17   1. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 37:52.331, 2. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) +1.524, 3. Riccardo Rossi (Honda) +2.804, DNF. John McPhee (Husqvarna)   Moto3 world championship standings   1. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 265pts, 2. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 216, 3. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 209, 4. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 194, 17. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 62  

Returning to FIM World Rally-Raid Championship action after a break of around seven months, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides and Skyler Howes have made strong starts to their 2022 Rallye du Maroc campaigns, recording top-four times on today’s opening timed prologue.

Marking round three of the world championship, this year’s Rallye du Maroc is set to challenge riders with five full stages of mixed-terrain racing near the west coast of Morocco. Today’s short prologue results decide the start order for Sunday’s stage one, where riders will leave the host city of Agadir and head south to Tan-Tan.

With the RallyGP class starting in reverse order to their race numbers, it was Luciano Benavides – bike #77 – that took to the 8.97-kilometre prologue stage first. Making light work of the sandy tracks that made up the special, Benavides was able to maintain a fast but safe pace throughout the stage. Completing the prologue in third, Luciano will benefit from a choice of start positions for Sunday’s stage.

Also enjoying good speed on the fast, sandy prologue, Skyler Howes placed one position behind his teammate and as fourth-fastest on his FR 450 Rally. Despite a couple of small mistakes while pushing hard on the nine-kilometre timed section, the American star arrived safely at the finish, happy with his riding, and eager to make a strong start to the rally proper, tomorrow on stage one.

Totalling over 2,200 kilometres, and with over 1,500 kilometres of timed special stages, the 2022 Rallye du Maroc promises to provide a sizeable challenge to all riders on their return to world championship competition.

With the opening prologue completed, competitors will now face five days of intense rally action as they leave Agadir and head south down the Moroccan coast. Stage four of the event, the longest at 665 kilometres, will see riders leave Laayoune and head back further inland, through the mountains, to the finish at Agadir. Sunday’s stage one from Agadir to Tan-Tan totals 557 kilometres with a timed special of 316 kilometres.

Luciano Benavides:   “It’s great to be back racing in the world championship. It’s been a busy summer with training, testing and then racing Atacama, but this is where it matters now – Morocco, Andalucia, and then preparing for the Dakar. Today’s prologue was really short at just under nine kilometres and there were a lot of lines in the sand from the previous classes, so I didn’t have to check my road book too much. I’m pleased with third, it means I can choose my start position for tomorrow and hopefully take advantage of that to get a really good start. I’m really happy with my first impressions of the rally – my bike is working well, I feel good, and I can’t wait to get started tomorrow on the ‘real’ race.”

Skyler Howes:   “The prologue today went well. It was super fun and more like a motocross sand track through the trees than a rally stage. It wasn’t perfect, I made some small bobbles out there and a couple of small mistakes, but other than that I’m happy with how it all went. It feels great to be back racing the world championship again and I’m feeling really fired-up now – I can’t wait for tomorrow to get this show on the road!”

2022 Rallye du Maroc – Stage 1A provisional Classification

1. Ross Branch (Hero) 1:01:28
2. Toby Price (KTM) 1:02:08
3. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 1:02:24
4. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 1:02:32
5. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 1:02:48
6. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 1:03:52

Husqvarna Factory Racing riders race at the 2022 Motocross of Nations.

A first trip to Japan for MotoGP in three years ends with Husqvarna Motorcycles on the rostrum at Motegi in 3rd place. MotoGP travelled swiftly east across the time zones from Spain to Japan for round sixteen of twenty in 2022. For the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team the second consecutive weekend of action took place on a vastly different ‘platform’, with the Mobility Resort Motegi circuit flat, fast and with tough demands on braking and hard acceleration. The team were optimistic of more podium prizes, particularly with Ayumu Sasaki feeling the warmth of home support for the first time since 2019. The 21-year-old had finished runner-up in Aragon last week and carried the hopes and gaze of the Japanese public who braved wet and humid conditions at Motegi on Friday and Saturday. Both Ayumu and teammate John McPhee used their FR 250 GP motorcycles to slot into the top five of the opening (and extended) Free Practice session and were separated from provisional Pole Position by just three tenths of a second. After a wet set of FP periods and the Q2 run on Saturday, the pair gained 4th and 12th on the grid and were set for the 20-lap distance. Sunday dawned warm, sunny and with bright blue skies. Sasaki and McPhee both started inside the top ten and the former was at the front of the pack with Izan Guevara for company from the outset. The battle for the lead was formed by a quartet with Sasaki often setting the pace. By the final stages of the race Ayumu was feeling the effects of rear tyre wear and was not able to threaten Guevara or Dennis Foggia. He became the first Japanese on a home podium for almost fifteen years in 3rd spot. It was Sasaki’s seventh rostrum appearance of the season. McPhee was in the second gaggle and eventually crossed the finish line in 7th for 9 points. After rising to 4th place in the championship table in the wake of the Grand Prix at MotorLand Aragon, Sasaki banked 16 points in Japan and keeps the same slot; 17 points from the top three. McPhee is 17th. Sterilgarda Max Racing Team are 4th in the teams’ contest. MotoGP ploughs ahead with its continent-hopping trajectory. The third Grand Prix in a row will take the championship to the hot climes of Buriram and the Chang International Circuit for the OR Thailand Grand Prix. Ayumu Sasaki : “Yeah, I’m happy to finish on the podium but I expected a bit more, especially as I was leading quite a lot of laps. Near the end I started to feel the rear tyre drop and then it was difficult to fight. Anyway, the podium is good and we have to try and improve for Thailand. I’m happy I could give this third place to all the Japanese fans here.” John McPhee : “Today I was able to fight well in the race; this has been a weak point for me so far this season because I’ve had the speed but not been able to battle. We ticked this box today but I think I was against the three hardest brakers in the category. I did what I could and I’m happy with how I am riding. This was a step in the right direction.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 16   1. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 39:26.526, 2. Dennis Foggia (Honda) +0.593, 3. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) +1.741, 7. John McPhee (Husqvarna) +9.815   Moto3 world championship standings   1. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 254pts, 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 209, 3. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 191. 4. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 174, 18. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 62

Husqvarna Motorcycles emerge from the fifteenth MotoGP fixture of the year with a strong podium result at MotorLand. After a busy week in San Marino, 2022 MotoGP moved west across Europe and to the modern and scenic MotorLand Aragon circuit for the penultimate European date on the current calendar. Two weeks earlier than usual – and benefitting from warmer late summer weather – the ‘Gran Premio Animoca Brands de Aragón’ saw Moto3 hustle around the 5.1km layout that involves a wide mix of fast, slow, open, tight and technical corners. Determined to bounce back from his DNF in Italy, Ayumu Sasaki was in a competitive mood from the outset in Spain and narrowly missed out on Pole Position in Q2 on Saturday. John McPhee was also up to speed quickly and qualified in 5th place, in the middle of the second row of the grid with his FR 250 GP machine. Sunday morning was overcast in Aragon and cooler compared to the two previous days but Sasaki was hot to bounce from the lights and into the small lead group of three with Izan Guevara and Daniel Holgado for company. McPhee was part of the second posse and challenging for the top five. Sasaki stalked Guevara as the pair dropped Holgado in the final stages of the chase but the Spaniard remained error-free and the Japanese was not able to strike. The gap was less than a second at the chequered flag and Sasaki laid his hands on a sixth trophy of the season as runner-up. McPhee ran wide at almost mid-race distance into Turn 1 and lost almost ten places but stretched the throttle cable to get back into the thick of the second group. He was able to finish fractions of a second ahead of Xavi Artigas in the charge to the line and salvaged a top ten ranking. Sasaki is eying the top three of the world championship. He continues to hold 4th position but is only 13 points away from Dennis Foggia. McPhee gained 6 points and is 18th in the Riders’ list. Ayumu can now look forward to his first home event in three years. The Motul Grand Prix of Japan will occur at the Mobility Resort Motegi circuit in just seven days time. Ayumu Sasaki : “Today I gave my best. Izan was just a bit faster. I was following him and trying to save tyres but he was quicker in the last three laps. So I stayed calm and took 2nd, which I though was better after a disappoint last race. A good result, I’m happy to be on the podium again and now we go to Japan: I cannot wait for my home Grand Prix.” John McPhee : “I felt really strong but we had a couple of issues. The first three were a bit too strong but I felt I could have been better in the second group. I jumped out of gear and lost positions but recovered. I couldn’t quite be there on the last lap. I had speed and I could overtake so I’ll take the positives from today into Motegi.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 15   1. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 37:29.944, 2. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) +0.957, 3. Daniel Holgado (KTM) +6.536 , 10. John McPhee (Husqvarna) +17.071   Moto3 world championship standings   1. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 229pts, 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 196, 3. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 171. 4. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 158, 18. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 53

The fourteenth appointment for 2022 MotoGP™ rounded the flat curves of the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli and John McPhee rode to the top ten in San Marino. The Italian seaside resort of Misano Adriatico welcome MotoGP for the second date of the 2022 schedule on the mainland and for the 28th Grand Prix at the site. The event, officially titled ‘Gran Premio Gryfyn di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini’, saw fans flock to the flat, fast and familiar Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Misano holds good memories for the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team. The squad celebrated victory in 2020, which was the first Grand Prix win for Husqvarna Motorcycles in the Moto3 division. The crew were also leading a damp race in 2021. Ayumu Sasaki arrived in San Marino on the wave of decent form thanks to triumphs in two of the previous three meetings. The Japanese, along with teammate John McPhee on the FR 250 GP motorcycles, were consistently around the top positions of the Free Practice sessions and were only unsettled by a light bout of rain on Saturday that created a mixed damp/dry track surface and made Q2 a tricky prospect. McPhee ended up with 8th place and a spot in the centre of the third row of the start grid while Sasaki had to accept the 17th best lap-time. Moto3 opened a dry and sunny Sunday with a 23-lap distance. The lead group was quickly formed by eleven riders but Sasaki’s efforts were clipped almost immediately when he was hit entering Turn 4. The Japanese was thankfully unhurt but he was out of the running. The onus was left on McPhee. The Scot was mired in the thick of the second pack and secured 9th – for the second race in a row - and was just over 11 seconds away from the winner. He was in a melee with seven riders split by just one second at the flag. Sasaki is still closely implicated in the battle for the championship top three. He holds 6th position and is just 31 points from Dennis Foggia. McPhee continues to make progress in the rankings and is 17th. In a fortnight’s time MotoGP will again get fast. The Gran Premio Animoca Brands de Aragón will take the series back to Spain and to the swirling MotorLand Aragon circuit for round fifteen. John McPhee : “A little underwhelmed by the result because it doesn’t represent all the hard work we are doing throughout the weekend. I’m still riding in a little bit of a different way to what I know and how I can ride. I can manage the race and we can be fast and on certain points of the track I am so strong. On other parts the guys can pass me too easily and this is what we need to improve. Anyway, we have very good speed, and I really want to thank all the guys in the team. We will achieve the results we deserve very soon.” Ayumu Sasaki : “Very disappointing today. In Warm-up we were P1 and we had great pace but I was hit on the first lap. That was it. These things can happen in racing. There was nothing I could do. We just have to look ahead and we have six more GPs to go. It’s been up and down this season but we just have to accept today and look for better luck in Aragon.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 14   1. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 39:21.864, 2. Jaume Masia (KTM) +0.289, 3. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) +0.334 , 9. John McPhee (Husqvarna) +11.383, DNF. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna)   Moto3 world championship standings   1. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 193pts, 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 204, 3. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 169. 6. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 138, 17. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 47

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Mikael Persson has won the Enduro3 class at the 2022 FIM International Six Days Enduro. Riding his TE 300 at the historic event, the Swede topped his class on each day of competition in France before placing a solid fourth on the final motocross race.

Following his breakthrough ride at the 2021 ISDE, where he placed third overall, Persson came into this year’s 96th edition with the goal of emulating that success and to carry the same speed that has taken him to the lead of the Enduro3 World Championship.

A strong start on day one saw Persson complete the opening five tests in third overall, opening up a near 20-second advantage at the top of the Enduro3 category. With day two following the same route, Mikael was able to maintain his strong pace across the increasingly rough terrain to complete the day inside the top five overall, further extending his advantage in E3.

Top-six overall results on days three and four helped to increase Mikael’s advantage in the E3 class as he carried a 30-second lead into the final day of special tests. Once again giving his maximum effort on the fresh tests of day five, and despite rain falling at times, the Husqvarna Factory Racing rider was able to maintain his position at the top of his class.

With just Saturday’s motocross test separating him from the top step of the Enduro3 podium, Persson delivered a solid but safe ride on the final day to finish the event off on a high and secure his class win.

Mikael Persson:   “I’m pretty happy with my performance over the week. Obviously, it feels great to take the win in E3, and I think I had good consistent speed in all the tests, in the different types of terrain. I know there is a little work to do to get on terms with the guys right at the front – a couple of seconds here and there can mean a bit of a gap at the end of six days. For me, I know I tried my best throughout the whole race. The top 10 in the results is near enough the same as in EnduroGP, so I’m where I should be you could say, but I know I made a couple of mistakes that cost me some time. On day five especially, I really pushed as hard as I could, and it meant I went into the final motocross test nearly one minute ahead of the others in my class. As we know anything can happen on the way to that final chequered flag, so I stayed safe and got a solid finish. It felt great to be riding for the Swedish World Trophy team again this year. Everyone gave their best and we came away with sixth place in the end, not far behind the USA. My focus now switches back to the world championship and the final round where I hope to fight for the E3 title.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Austin Walton finished fifth in the Junior World Trophy class, while another Husqvarna rider of note was Jamie McCanney who finished ninth overall as he helped Team Great Britain to victory in the World Trophy competition.

Results – FIM International Six Days Enduro 2022

Enduro 3
1. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 3:12:34.13
2. Jaume Betriu (KTM) 3:13:19.88
3. Leo Le Quere (Sherco) 3:13:58.12
4. Max Ahlin (Beta) 3:16:25.13
5. Marc Sans (Husqvarna) 3:16:52.57
6. Andrew Wilksch (Husqvarna) 3:19:05.01...

World Trophy Team
1. Team Great Britain – 12:49:54.60
Steve Holcombe (Beta), Nathan Watson (Honda), Jed Etchells (Fantic), Jamie McCanney (Husqvarna)
2. Team Italy – 12:54:40.30
Andrea Verona (GASGAS), Thomas Oldrati (Honda), Alex Salvini (Husqvarna), Samuele Bernadini (Honda)
3. Team Spain – 12:54:40.83
Marc Sans (Husqvarna), Jaume Betriu (KTM), Josep Garcia (KTM), Bernat Cortes (GASGAS)
6. Team Sweden - 13:09:18.17
Mikael Persson (Husqvarna), Albin Elowson (Husqvarna), Joakim Grelsson (KTM), Oskar Ljungstrom (Honda)

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has successfully crossed the finish line at the 2022 Atacama Rally to complete the five-day event in second overall. Forming part of what was a small but competitive line-up, Luciano was in contention for overall victory from day one and would end the rally on a high by claiming the final stage win to secure his runner-up finish.

Using the event as part of his preparation for the upcoming rounds of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, Luciano was eager to put recent developments to his FR 450 to the test in a real racing environment. With the Atacama Rally comprising five stages and taking riders across 1258 kilometres of technical terrain, the race proved to be the perfect testing ground.

From day one, Luciano was in the fight for the lead before losing a little time on the penultimate stage. Undeterred, the Argentine regrouped to take a commanding victory on the final special of the event to advance from fourth to second in the standings. Finishing as runner-up and exactly two minutes from overall victory underlined what was an encouraging result for Luciano at the Atacama Rally. Skyler Howes was absent from competing at the Atacama Rally but will return to action with Luciano at the Rallye du Maroc on October 1-6, the penultimate round of the 2022 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship.

Luciano Benavides:   “I’m really happy with my performance this week and it was great to end with a stage win and finish second overall. I really pushed for the win but with everyone being so close it was difficult to make up time. With the team we tested a lot prior to this race and what we have worked on has made a huge difference. The bike was perfect all week so the hard work has paid off. This race has been great for preparation ahead of the next world championship rounds and I’m feeling really confident ahead of the Rallye du Maroc next month.”

2022 Atacama Rally – Provisional Overall Classification

1. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 17:35:35
2. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 17:37:35
3. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 17:40:02 
4. Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 17:42:00
5. Daniel Nosiglia (KTM) 19:20:39

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire put on a strong showing in Crawfordsville, Indiana, delivering 2-4 moto results to finish fourth overall in 250MX at the penultimate round of the 2022 AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Hampshire entered Ironman full of enthusiasm after claiming his first 250MX victory of the year at the prior round. With a solid qualifying result in eighth, he was positioned well for Moto 1 and he powered his FC 250 into podium contention right out of the gate. A battle ensued to maintain third and he swapped positions several times before reclaiming the spot mid-race. It wasn’t long before he climbed into second, where he finished with a strong runner-up performance. With a top-10 start in Moto 2, Hampshire battled alongside his teammate, Swoll, for the first couple laps before making the jump to sixth near the halfway point. Determined to break into the top-five, Hampshire continued to press on as he powered his way into fourth with a few laps to go, finishing just outside the podium with fourth in the moto and fourth overall for the weekend. “Another solid weekend,” Hampshire said. “We were good all day and had good speed. Once I got my flow in both motos, I felt like I clicked off really good laps and was fast, battling at the front. I’m stoked to be back in this thing. We were not there for a while, and it's so draining whenever you show up and you're not at the level you know you can be at. I’m stoked on the things that we have going on and hope to be better next weekend.” In Moto 1, Swoll got off to a strong start just outside of the top-10. However, bad luck struck within a few laps when he had a tip-over, dropping him back to 19th. Motivated to regain as many positions as he could, he went to work navigating the loamy midwest soil and chasing down his competition. He was able to climb to 13th by mid-race and with a few laps to go, he made a final push to ultimately finish 11th. In the second moto, Swoll sat 10th after the first lap and he settled into ninth for a majority of the race. Making a late-race pass for eighth, he held steady in the final moments to secure eighth in the moto and eighth overall with combined scores of 11-8 in Indiana. “I got a decent start in the first moto,” Swoll said. “We were running up there, and I had to tip over. I was pretty deep [in the field], and came back to 11th. Moto 2 was an okay start but I lost pace a little bit. I'm just going to put all my focus into that last round and try to give somebody something to look forward to for the next year.” Coming off a successful week at the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn's, Talon Hawkins made his second Pro Motocross appearance, collecting 21-29 moto finishes. Even though a crash on the last lap of the second moto set him back a bit, the young rider was able to remount and finish the race. “It started off a little rough but I was able to turn it around,” Hawkins said. “It was my second Pro National and I'm just looking to keep improving every time. Obviously, I had a pretty bad get-off in my second moto on the last lap - another rider came into me and I ended up front-flipping. We're going to get back out there and get back to training this week.” Still trying to find their rhythm after returning late in the season from injury, 450MX teammates Malcolm Stewart and Dean Wilson showed signs of improvement at Round 11, each capturing their best moto finishes of the year in Moto 2. Stewart, the ninth-place qualifier, came into the first moto with high hopes as he blasted off the line and into a top-10 battle. Shuffling between 10th and 11th throughout the race, he eventually settled into a comfortable 11th. With an unwavering performance in the second moto, Stewart maintained eighth wire-to-wire, notching his best moto-finish this season and eighth overall at the Ironman National. “I think the day was overall better for me,” Stewart said. “Qualifying was much, much better. Getting these races under my belt, it’s starting to kind of come back to me. I feel like we're going in the right direction. Our team made a few adjustments for that second moto, and we ended up eighth. I'm really happy just the way that I performed, but the results aren't quite there.” A tough start had Wilson sitting 18th on the opening lap of Moto 1 but he quickly made passes to reach 14th within a few laps. Around the middle of the race, he picked up another position and crossed the line in 13th. In Moto 2, a start inside of the top-10 would propel Wilson’s performance as he sat in seventh by the end of the first lap. Unfortunately, near the middle of the race, Wilson found himself off the track while battling with his teammate and he lost a few positions before he could re-enter. Focused on improving his result, he rallied back up to ninth later in the race to score his best moto-finish of the season. With 13-9 finishes, Wilson secured 10th overall. “Another weekend of improvements,” Wilson said. “First moto, I had a really bad start. I got up to 13th and had a decent pace at the end. I pushed hard and that gave me good confidence. I got a decent start in the second moto and I was hanging in there for a bit. Malcolm and I had a good battle. He got around me and I kind of ran his pace until I came around the corner and the berm went off the track. I lost a few positions but I got back on, made a good couple charges and ended up ninth. The goal is to be top-10 in both motos.” Next Event (Round 12): September 3 – Fox Raceway II National – Pala, California Round 11 Results: Ironman National 250MX Results 1. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 1-3 2. Jo Shimoda (KAW) 5-1 3. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 3-2 4. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 2-4 … 8. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 11-8 27. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 21-29   450MX Results 1. Chase Sexton (HON) 2-1 2. Eli Tomac (KAW) 1-2 3. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) 3-3 … 8. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 11-8 10. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 13-9   250MX Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 478 points 2. Jo Shimoda – 437 points 3. Hunter Lawrence – 430 points … 5. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 314 points 12. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 169 points 15. Jalek Swoll  – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 131 points 39. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 7 points   450MX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 496 points 2. Chase Sexton – 495 points 3. Jason Anderson – 402 points … 18. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 55 points 22. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 43 points

Mikael Persson is all-set to take on the 96th edition of the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), held in France. With shakedown complete and all special tests walked, the three-time Swedish Enduro Champion is looking forward to riding for his national World Trophy team while also aiming to repeat the individual podium success he achieved at the 2021 event.

Representing Husqvarna Motorcycles on its return to EnduroGP competition in 2022, Mikael Persson has impressed over the course of the season, claiming nine Enduro3-class podiums from 12 days of racing, including a double win at the GP of Italy. The 27-year-old currently leads the E3 standings going into the final round in Germany in just over six weeks’ time.

Winner of the Enduro Youth Cup in 2015, Persson then spent several years contesting his national championship where he enjoyed considerable success, claiming the Swedish title in 2018, 2019, and 2021. However, it was his performance at the 2021 ISDE that secured his return to the world championship paddock.

Riding as a privateer in the 2021 ISDE, Persson immediately felt comfortable on the hard Italian dirt and began to turn heads, delivering multiple top-six results as well as going fastest on day three. Completing the tough event in third overall, he also placed a highly creditable runner-up in the hotly contested Enduro1 category.

Now, with full factory backing behind him and riding his proven TE 300, Mikael hopes to equal his podium success of last year and help push his Swedish national team into contention for the top places in the coveted World Trophy competition.

The 2022 FIM International Six Days Enduro takes place in Le Puy-en-Velay, France, from August 29 – September 3. The historic event comprises five full days of special test racing in the hills and mountains of south-central France before the final motocross test on Saturday. In total, riders will cover more than 1,300km over six tough days before reaching the finish.

Mikael Persson:   “I’m really looking forward to racing the ISDE, it’s definitely going to be tough to repeat the results from last year, but I’m fully focused on doing so. It’s been a pretty hectic season so far for me, from joining the factory team and getting to know the bike to fighting for the Enduro3 title. I’ve been really pleased with my performance to be honest – I’ve just been taking things step-by-step, and the speed has been there. Recently I’ve been able to get back home for a small break which has helped a little ahead of the Six Days. My plan is to push as hard as I can and hopefully win the E3 category. On scratch, even a top-five would be a dream come true for me – there are so many riders who will be fighting for the podium, I definitely think it’s going to be a tough one this year. I feel that Sweden has a good Trophy team this year and if everything goes well for sure we can fight for the podium.”

Well-rested and focussed on success, Luciano Benavides will soon return to competitive action at the 2022 Atacama Rally. In strong form last time out at round two of the FIM Rally-Raid World Championship, the Husqvarna Factory Racing rider hopes to secure a strong result at the Chilean event before heading back to Europe for more testing ahead of the Rally du Maroc on October 1.

Showing good pace at both the Dakar Rally in January and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in March, Benavides is arguably in the best form of his career. By securing a stage win in Abu Dhabi, and successfully overcoming the challenge of opening three of the five stages, the Argentinian racer proved he is able to mix impressive speed with accurate navigation – key skills in the hunt for rally success.

Now, despite the Atacama Rally not featuring in the FIM Rally-Raid World Championship for this year, Luciano still plans to deliver a strong result at the event and build on his speed and confidence ahead of the final two rounds of the championship in October. The race in Chile is ideal for both training and set-up purposes due to the barren nature of the Atacama Desert, which provides the perfect testing ground for the updated FR 450 Rally.

Starting Sunday, August 28, and based around the Chilean city of Iquique, the 2022 Atacama Rally comprises five full days of racing, covering over 1,700 kilometres, set out in looped stages all starting and finishing at a single bivouac. Known as one of the driest deserts on the planet, the Atacama will provide plenty of challenges for Luciano due to its mixture of barren tracks and steep, sandy dunes.

Luciano Benavides:   “I’m really excited to do the Atacama Rally. I think it’s a really good one for training because we’ve only done the Dakar and Abu Dhabi so far this year, so it will be good to do some racing before heading to Morocco in just over a month’s time. Although I’ve been able to do a lot of training, both at home in Argentina and with the team, it’s always different when you are in an actual race situation. It will feel good to be back in the desert racing again, but I also want to keep working on my navigation as well. Although I will definitely try my best to fight for the win, the main focus will be to train for the next two races of the world championship and for the Dakar next January. Since the last race in Abu Dhabi, we’ve done some good testing with the team, so I’m really happy with the bike and looking forward to seeing how it performs in Chile. While we have had a break from racing, I’ve been able to work on my fitness and strength, and build my weight a little, too. Starting with the Rallye du Maroc in October, we then have the Andalucia Rally soon afterwards, which is then followed by the Dakar – it’s a lot of tough races in quite a short time, so it really takes it out of you physically. It’s going to be a tough end to the year with a lot of races and training, but I’m really looking forward to it and can’t wait to get started.”

The hills of St. Jean d'Angely were alive earlier today, as thousands of fans packed into the historic track to see the penultimate round of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship take place in humid conditions. Tackling the event with momentum after a positive outing in Finland one week ago, the Standing Construct Husqvarna Factory Racing and Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing riders put some solid points on the board.
Continuing to make progress, following a turbulent campaign, Pauls Jonass added a solid number of points to his total at the Grand Prix of Charente Maritime. Involved in the most furious battles in moto one, Jonass charged until the very end to take eleventh. Three measly seconds separated him from the guy ahead. The second moto was an extremely positive exercise, as '41' raced to a comfortable sixth place and was not too far from the top five. It was a step forward and one that helped him take eighth in the overall classification.   Brian Bogers raced to 13-14 scores on the fast-paced layout. Glued to his teammate's rear wheel for much of the opening moto, he struggled to make moves on the slick surface and eventually settled for thirteenth place. A mediocre start left him facing an even tougher challenge in moto two; he was forced to move from eighteenth to fourteenth at the chequered flag. Thirteenth was his final ranking in the overall classification. The Grand Prix of Charente Maritime was a luckless affair for the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing squad, but there were bright spots. Roan van de Moosdijk impressed in the second MX2 moto, in particular, as he raced to fourth quite comfortably and showed off his pace aboard the FC 250. Unfortunately, a fall in moto one meant that he could only recover to thirteenth. 13-4 scores put him ninth in the overall classification. Much like his teammate, Kay de Wolf was halted by a crash in moto one and could only salvage a fourteenth. The second moto was a much better stint for '74' though; he made positive progress whilst others struggled and reached the chequered flag in eighth. 14-8 scores left de Wolf eleventh in the overall classification. A lot of valuable information was gathered on the unique surface and that will serve him well in the future.  There is a small break in the schedule now, but the Husqvarna Factory Racing riders will be knuckling down to ensure that they end the Grand Prix term with a bang. The grand finale, the Grand Prix of Turkey, is set to be run on September 04.  Pauls Jonass:  "The second race was a big step forward for me. I have been working really hard with the team to get closer to the front, so to follow the top five for a lot of the race felt really nice. There is only one round to go, but I am still pushing hard to get good results. I was really comfortable in Turkey last year." Brian Bogers:  "Saturday was not too good for me, for some reason, but I made some steps forward today. My starts let me down, but I was still happy with my riding at different points. It was obviously not the best weekend, compared to what we have been doing recently, but we learnt a lot. I am looking forward to ending on a high in Turkey." Roan van de Moosdijk:  "The first moto was not too good. I was running fifth or sixth and felt good, but I crashed in a turn. I struggled to get back into a rhythm after that. I did everything that I could to get ready for the second moto. I took fourth early on in that one and stayed there for the whole moto. I was happy to end the weekend on a good note!" Kay de Wolf:  "I was really struggling in the first moto and just could not find a rhythm. It did not click for me, but the second moto was better. I did not have the best start, yet I came from tenth to eighth on a track that most guys struggled to pass on. It was a tough weekend. We made the best out of it and will take what we have learnt into next year."
Results – 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round Seventeen MXGP – Overall 1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 47pts; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 45pts; 3. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 40pts…  8. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 25pts; 13. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 15pts MXGP – Moto One 1. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 35:29.204; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 35:30.187; 3. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 36:00.074…  11. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 36:46.188; 13. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 36:48.484 MXGP – Moto Two 1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 35:33.882; 2. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 35:34.835; 3. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 35:35.873…  6. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 36:01.506; 14. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 36:48.230 MXGP – Standings 1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 721pts; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 615pts; 3. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 557pts…  6. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 406pts; 9. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 350pts MX2 – Overall 1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 47pts; 2. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 47pts; 3. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 34pts…  9. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 26pts; 11. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 20pts MX2 – Moto One 1. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 34:13.423; 2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 34:15.283; 3. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 34:18.204…  13. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 35:50.830; 14. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 35:55.605 MX2 – Moto Two 1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 34:10.603; 2. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 34:16.039; 3. Tom Guyon (KTM)…  4. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 34:21.912; 8. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 35:09.593 MX2 – Standings 1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 710pts; 2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 708pts; 3. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 564pts…  7. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 410pts; 14. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 176pts

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
After battling through the ups and downs of a long outdoor season, Hampshire was more than determined to put his FC 250 into the center of the podium late in the year. He set himself up for success in Moto 1 with a second-place start, pressuring the race leader early on before making his move out front halfway through. With a big charge late in the race, Hampshire posted a dominant five-second victory at the end of 17 laps. He put himself into another good position off the start of Moto 2, working his way from fifth to second later in the race. He maintained a solid pace to finish runner-up in the moto, which was good enough to seal the overall win in the 250MX class. “This is so special!” Hampshire said. “We were fast from the beginning and we just took a gamble there and stuck with this paddle tire all day and that really helped. We got two good starts, rode well and got our first overall this season. I’m stoked for myself and for this whole team, we’ve been through a lot already just this outdoor season, so I’m just stoked to be able to give the team our first overall of the season. Let’s keep this going, I’m not just settled in here, I want more!” Jalek Swoll put forth a season-best performance at Budds Creek, despite having to come back from a pair of crashes in the first moto. After re-mounting back in 28th on the opening lap, Swoll climbed through the pack up to 13th before suffering another big crash that ultimately pushed him back to 23rd. He bounced back with a top-three start in Moto 2, battling between third and fourth for most of the race. He got passed by the defending champion with a few laps to go and he capped off the day on a positive note with a best finish of fifth in the moto. “All-in-all, it was a good day for me,” Swoll said. “I got off to a good start around P3/4 and got tangled up with Justin Cooper early in the first one, so I came from pretty much dead last to around 13th. But I had no tear-offs and couldn’t see and ended up having a really big one on the straightaway. I re-grouped and got a good start in Moto 2, ran the pace for a while, but I was a little hurt at the end. I finished fifth – the best finish of the year for me – so I’m going to take the positives, try to heal up and better that score next week.” It was the second race back from injury for 450MX teammates Malcolm Stewart and Dean Wilson, who each have their sights set on making progression with only four motos left in the series. Stewart scored a top-10 overall finish in the class, putting in consistent 12-10 moto scores throughout the day. “I think the day was good,” Stewart said. “Overall, I got ninth, but I think that was a lot better start than it was for Unadilla. The whole team is working hard, so I’m just glad to get some gate drops – I think just getting that race-mode back in me is definitely helping a lot. Let’s just keep digging, we’ve got two rounds to go and we’re getting close to that top-10 so let’s just keep moving.” Wilson also scored some points in both motos, finishing the day 15th overall with 18-11 results in the class. “It was a challenging day for me,” Wilson said. “Unfortunately, I got collected in a pileup off the start in the first moto and came from last to 18th. I didn’t ride great but it was good to come through the pack and learn different lines. In the second moto, I got a better start and made some pretty good passes at the beginning. Mookie and I had our own battle the whole moto – he got around me and I tried to get around him again but just couldn’t make it happen. It was good for me, just building my speed and fitness.” Next Event (Round 11): August 27 – Ironman National – Crawfordsville, Indiana Round 10 Results: Budds Creek National 250MX Results 1. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 1-2 2. Jo Shimoda (KAW) 3-1 3. Jett Lawrence (HON) 2-3 … 11. Jalek Swoll  – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 23-5   450MX Results 1. Jason Anderson (KAW) 2-2 2. Eli Tomac (KAW) 1-5 3. Ken Roczen (HON) 3-3 … 9. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 12-10 15. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 18-11   250MX Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 433 points 2. Jo Shimoda – 396 points 3. Hunter Lawrence – 390 points … 5. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 274 points 12. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 169 points 16. Jalek Swoll  – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 108 points   450MX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 449 points 2. Chase Sexton – 448 points 3. Jason Anderson – 369 points

MotoGP™ flies around the Red Bull Ring for the thirteenth round of twenty in 2022 and Husqvarna Motorcycles capture a second Moto3™ win of the season 23 intense and hard-fought laps in Austria marked another gripping episode of the 2022 Moto3 Grand Prix term and both the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team and Husqvarna Motorcycles were once more key protagonists in what has been a satisfying and competitive campaign so far for the partnership. The Red Bull Ring provided a swift but demanding layout of 11 corners at almost 4.5km in length but the new chicane – marked Turns 2a and 2b – was a fresh challenge for the eighth Grand Prix to run at the site since its remodelling and reopening.  The section was installed to slow the speed through the long uphill section before the distinctive Turn 3 but became a prime overtaking zone and a tactical spot for the typically large Moto3 pack dispute. 2022 Grand Prix winner Ayumu Sasaki had taken his FR 250 GP motorcycle to 2nd place on the grid after a dry qualification session on Saturday but the Japanese’s crash and contact with another rider from the British round two weeks previously meant he had to serve a double Long Lap penalty during the race. Sasaki initially led but then lost ground for both sanctions and had to battle back into contention from a low as 24th. Ayumu posted repeated fastest laps to cut though the field. He reached the front again and then his last circulation was quicker than his qualification effort to ensure a second triumph and fifth podium of the year as well as his eighth top six classification. Meanwhile teammate John McPhee started the Grand Prix from the sixth row and managed his pace, tyres and slot. He was on the tip of the second group as Moto3 dispersed in the final stages and took 9th. In the Moto3 world championship standings, Sasaki’s 25 points from Austria helped him regain 4th place in the table; 6 points from further promotion and 55 from the leader. McPhee, who is still trying to surge up the list after missing Grands Prix due to a training injury earlier in the year, is 17th. The Sterilgarda Max Racing Team will be eying their chances of closing on the top three of the Teams’ contest when MotoGP next reforms for the Gran Premio Gryfyn di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini in Italy in two weeks when the Misano World Circuit – Marco Simoncelli entertains the fourteenth stop of the current calendar. Ayumu Sasaki : “I never gave up! In Silverstone I made a mistake, it was my fault and it meant another hard moment of a tough season with the penalty but I’m overcoming the obstacles. I came here knowing I had the penalty and I had to be better than anyone else. I had a good attitude to the job all weekend and had incredible pace. The race was dry fortunately and I didn’t do any mistakes. My last lap was amazing. Thanks to everyone. I hope we can catch the front guys in the championship in the coming GPs.” John McPhee : “My pace was decent. I had good rhythm as soon as I could break the group but I struggled to overtake and was pretty vulnerable going into the corners. I had to line-up the exits. I finally got my head down but missed a few more laps to make the front group. I dug-deep today and pushed 100% but missed a bit. We have work to do but I’m sure the results will come.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 13   1. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 39:03.516, 2. Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda) +0.064, 3. David Muñoz (KTM) +0.292 , 9. John McPhee (Husqvarna) +7.474   Moto3 world championship standings   1. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 193pts, 2. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 188, 3. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 144. 4. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 138, 17. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 40

Skyler Howes has won the prestigious Vegas to Reno desert race held in Nevada, USA. Riding his Husqvarna Factory Racing FR 450 Rally in the event, Howes fought back from a difficult qualifying session to take the win on what was an especially tough 2022 edition of the race.

Starting just outside of Las Vegas and covering nearly 500 miles on its way to the finish near Reno, the event is famous for being America’s longest and fastest single-day offroad race. With rain and flooding in the area causing the organisers to alter much of this year’s route, riders faced an extra-technical, but shortened race due to detours around some of the worst hit sections of the traditional course.

To add extra interest to this year’s race, organisers included the Open Pro class in Thursday’s time trial qualification. However, the added challenge didn’t work out well for Howes as a crash on the short three-mile loop resulted in the Husqvarna rider starting as the very last pro competitor in Friday’s main race.

Using both his skill and judgement to battle his way through the dust raised by the racers ahead of him, Howes steadily made progress through the course of the event. With his pit crew delivering a faultless and fast service throughout the day, Skyler was able to keep his head down and focus on the task, and riders ahead.

Fighting his way through to a strong position, Howes found himself in cleaner air in the final 100 miles of the race and was able to push to make up time on his rivals. Ultimately delivering an impressively consistent and near mistake-free ride from start to finish, the FR 450 Rally rider was able to take the win – his second career victory at the event – by just over four minutes from second-placed, FX 450-mounted Dalton Shirey.

Skyler Howes:   “I’m super-stoked to get the win! Especially as a solo rider versus the other teams. The organisers did an incredible job of managing the difficult conditions – so many of the dry lake beds were full of water and a lot of the rest of the course was destroyed by flooding. Qualifying wasn’t so good, I had a little tip off that cost me a little time, and on such a short course it meant I set off last of all the pro class on the main race. The dust out there was incredible, thankfully riding the rally bike, I was able to carry on for longer without stopping for fuel and so that helped to make up time on the guys ahead. I just rode my own race and ticked off the miles. With a bit more clear air towards the end, I was able to make up those last few minutes I needed. Dalton crossed the line first, but on corrected time, I managed to take the win by about four minutes. It’s back to training and testing now – we’re working on the roadbook a lot and I want to be at my absolute best in time for Morocco. It's still a little way off, but I’m feeling good and can’t wait to get back to some world championship racing now.”

Skyler Howes and the Husqvarna Factory Racing team will next be in action at round three of the FIM Rally-Raid World Championship, the Rallye du Maroc, held October 1-6 in Morocco.

Results – 2022 Vegas to Reno

1. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 6:33:30.442
2. Dalton Shirey (Husqvarna) 6:37:34.732
3. Joseph Wasson/Zane Roberts (Beta) 6:38:42.025
4. Jeremy Newton/Tuffy Pearson (KTM) 6:49:05.772
5. Hayden Hintz/Trevor Hunter (KTM) 6:58:44.161
6. Russell Tonjum (Honda) 7:08:48.370

With a memorable Grand Prix of Sweden in the rear-view mirror, the Husqvarna Factory Racing riders leapt across to Finland for round sixteen of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship. Hyvinkää, a track that has not appeared on the calendar in eight seasons, played host to even more Husqvarna success, as Brian Bogers ripped to a moto victory in MXGP and Kay de Wolf claimed another podium finish in MX2.

It was yet another memorable Grand Prix for Bogers, who looked at one with his FC 450 on such a tricky surface. Starting moto one in third place, thanks to the power within his steed, it took him absolutely no time at all to move into the lead and he did not look back from that moment on. Lapping a second faster than his competition on a consistent basis, he eventually won the moto by nine seconds. Unfortunately, a couple of mistakes restricted him to sixth in the second moto and caused him to miss the overall podium by a single point. Such a strong showing helped him climb to sixth in the standings. Pauls Jonass endured a tricky day at Hyvinkää, as a hard fall in qualifying left him in some discomfort. Jonass put his head down on race day, despite a bad gate pick, and charged from the back of the pack to thirteenth at the chequered flag. Eight valuable points were claimed via the ranking. The second stint was a much stronger showing for Jonass, thanks in part to a better start, as he battled in the lower half of the top ten and crossed the finish line in tenth place. 13-10 scores put him in twelfth overall on the day. Putting his FC 250 on the MX2 podium in a rather convincing fashion, Kay de Wolf raced to impressive 3-2 scores in Finland. The first moto was a spectacular affair – he enjoyed a race-long battle with his teammate before taking control of third place. '74' was on the verge of claiming the Grand Prix victory in the last stint, as he battled for the victory until the very last corner before ultimately settling for second place in the moto and overall classification. It was a superb display that resulted in him taking his fourth podium of the term. De Wolf has progressed to seventh in the championship standings now. Roan van de Moosdijk continued to make impressive progress in just his third race back from injury. Podium pace was on show once again, as he held third for eight laps of moto one before giving way to his teammate. Still, '39' held on for his second fourth-place finish in succession and established some momentum before the second moto. Such pace was put to good use at the end of the day – he charged into the early lead and was en route to the moto win until a small fall caused him to drop to third. Unfortunately, the mistake cost him a spot on the overall podium too. 4-3 scores left him in fourth overall.
The final triple header of the year continues this coming weekend. The penultimate stop of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship, the Grand Prix of Charente Maritime, will be held at the historic circuit of St. Jean d'Angely on August 21. Brian Bogers:  "I am very happy with that first moto. It was just amazing and my FC 450 worked incredibly well. I felt so good on the track! I wanted to replicate that ride in the second moto, but I made a couple of errors. I pushed too hard at the beginning of the race and then made some mistakes. I wanted to be on the podium, of course, but I am happy with our progress." Pauls Jonass:  "I was quite lucky, after crashing hard in the qualifying race yesterday. I was left with a bad gate pick today, because of that, and had to fight from the back each time. I was trying to get in a rhythm today and I was happy to finish with a solid ride in the second moto. There are some good tracks ahead, so we will not stop pushing." Kay de Wolf:  "I ran out of time in that second moto. It was a difficult race; I really gave it my all and I just missed out in the end. I am happy with my riding and my feeling on my FC 250 though. I am looking forward to France next weekend. I just cannot thank the team enough – they are working so hard for us and I really appreciate it." Roan van de Moosdijk:  "I had a good gate pick today. My start was not too bad in the first moto and I made some good passes early on. I struggled in the middle of the moto, because I need to get used to the intensity. Where do I even begin with the second moto? I took the lead and just did my own thing. I led for more than half the moto, but hit an edge in a corner and crashed. I am angry with myself. This is a big improvement though." Results – 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round Sixteen MXGP – Overall 1. Glenn Coldenhoff (Yamaha) 47pts; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 40pts; 3. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 40pts…  4. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 40pts; 12. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 19pts MXGP – Moto One 1. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 35:42.121 ; 2. Glenn Coldenhoff (Yamaha) 35:51.744; 3. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 35:55.171…  13. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 36:50.753 MXGP – Moto Two 1. Glenn Coldenhoff (Yamaha) 33:56.062; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 34:01.196; 3. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 34:08.951… 6. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 34:29.046; 10. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 34:49.120 MXGP – Standings 1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 674pts; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 570pts; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (Yamaha) 525pts…  6. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 391pts; 9. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 325pts MX2 – Overall 1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 47pts;  2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 42pts ; 3. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 39pts…  4. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 39pts MX2 – Moto One 1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 35:36.173; 2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 35:50.156;  3. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 35:55.434… 4. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 36:02.491 MX2 – Moto Two 1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 33:57.862;  2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 33:59.175; 3. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 34:15.406 MX2 – Standings 1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 676pts; 2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 661pts; 3. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 535pts…  7. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 390pts; 15. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 150pts

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 each made their 2022 outdoor debut at Round 9. Once again showcasing his determination in the roughest of track conditions, RJ Hampshire was the team’s top finisher with 3-8 moto finishes and a top-five overall in the 250MX cl
After qualifying fourth, Hampshire grabbed a top-10 spot out of the gate in Moto 1. He sat in ninth for the first five laps before climbing his way up to fifth over the next few laps. Nearing the end of the race, he picked up two more positions to finish third, scoring his first podium since Round 1. In the second moto, Hampshire found himself buried in 13th after experiencing an issue on the opening lap. He gained a few spots up to 10th through the first half of racing but lapped traffic proved to be a challenge heading into the second half of the moto. Determined to excel, Hampshire continued to battle through the field, ultimately landing his FC 250 into an eighth-place finish. “We had positives today,” Hampshire said. “I was fast in qualifying, which I haven't been. First moto, I felt like I got into a really good flow early and was clicking good laps off and landed back on the podium for the first time since Round 1. Second moto, I got a decent start and then just split out right after the finish. Someone went into the line I was going for and I tried to get out of it and just swapped the front. It was a bummer but we'll definitely take the positives out of today.”
Jalek Swoll got off to a good start in Moto 1, positioning himself just outside of the top-10. Unfortunately, he struggled to stay upright throughout the race. After falling back to 16th on the second lap, Swoll made a strong push to climb into ninth but he lost a few spots to eventually finish in 12th. In Moto 2, Swoll charged to an eighth-place position on the first lap. He tried to maintain the spot, but a few mistakes dropped him back to ninth. Holding steady in ninth until just after the halfway mark, Swoll eventually slipped to 11th. Battling lapped traffic late in the race, he wasn’t able to make any moves and he ultimately finished 11th in the moto and 11th overall for the day. “My starts were good, I just kept finding myself on the ground,” Swoll said. “I was trying to push but every time I fell, it was just a huge gap – so I was kind of just in no man's land. I feel like my riding was okay, I just have to get those starts again and just be a little bit better and we'll be fine.” Lining up for his first AMA Pro Motocross race in eight years, team rider Malcolm Stewart also made his return to racing in New York after missing the first eight rounds due to injury. With a start just outside the top-10, Stewart ran in the 12th-place position early on, bouncing between 13th and 14th for the remainder of the race. Easing his way into the long motos, Stewart ultimately finished 14th. In Moto 2, he grabbed a 14th-place start and immediately went to work in chasing down his teammate, Wison, ahead. Hovering around the top-15 battle, Stewart dropped a couple spots later in the race, settling for 16th at the line. “First outdoor race back in eight years and I think it was a good day just being back,” Stewart said. “Of course, the results didn’t show it, but just having that race back there again was really good for me. I'm happy to be back, but we have some work to do. I'm really looking forward to Budd's Creek because that's obviously one of my favorite tracks. I learned a lot, and you can't replicate racing, so this is just a good race just to come back to – to get through it.” After several months off of competition due to injury, Dean Wilson was happy to make his debut alongside his teammate. However, with a less-than-ideal gate pick in Moto 1, Wilson struggled to get a good position off the start. Sitting around 23rd on lap one, he began picking off riders to get just inside the top-20 nearing the end of the race, earning his first point of the season with a 19th-place finish. In Moto 2, Wilson chased the top-10 battle with teammate Stewart on his heels, locking in 13th for the remainder of the moto. “On paper, it wasn't very good but it was a long time off,” Wilson said. “I think it was five months off total, so it's great to be back. I really struggled with the track, it was so choppy and I feel like I'm not quite in shape where I should be yet. I got arm-pump really bad in the first moto so I told myself to just get through it and the second race was a little bit better. I think I'm going to get better every moto, it's just tough coming back, especially when all these guys have been racing and they're in the flow. By the end of the summer, hopefully I’ll be where I should be.” Next Event (Round 10): August 20 – Budds Creek National – Mechanicsville, Maryland Round 9 Results: Unadilla National 250MX Results 1. Jo Shimoda (KAW) 1-3 2. Justin Cooper (YAM) 5-1 3. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 2-5 … 5. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 3-8 11. Jalek Swoll  – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 12-11   450MX Results 1. Chase Sexton (HON) 1-1 2. Eli Tomac (KAW) 2-2 3. Jason Anderson (KAW) 3-3 … 15. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 14-16 16. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 19-13   250MX Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 391 points 2. Hunter Lawrence – 365 points 3. Jo Shimoda – 351 points … 5. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 227 points 10. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 169 points 16. Jalek Swoll  – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 92 points   450MX Rider Point Standings 1. Chase Sexton – 409 points 2. Eli Tomac – 408 points 3. Jason Anderson – 325 points … 30. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 12 points 33. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 10 points

The penultimate round of the FIM Enduro3 World Championship proved a pivotal one for Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Mikael Persson with the Swede retaking control of the points lead on his TE 300. Delivering a super consistent weekend of racing at the GP of Hungary, Persson finished second both days in Zalaegerszeg.

After slipping to second in this year’s championship fight at round four, Persson has crucially gained momentum at the right time, putting himself back in the driving seat with just one round to go. Entering this weekend’s GP of Hungary 11 points behind rival Brad Freeman, Persson ended it three points in front thanks to a pair of hard-fought runner-up finishes.

With conditions in stark contrast to last weekend’s muddy GP of Slovakia, Persson took a little bit of time to get going on Saturday morning. A crash on the first enduro test hampered his rhythm. But once settled in he fought his way back to second in class, finishing just six seconds shy of victory.

Again up the sharp end of the results on Sunday, Mikael got off to a flying start by winning the opening two special tests. But with times proving super tight, the fight for victory was close. A couple of mistake in the latter half of the day hurt his chances of winning and he had to settle for second place.

The FIM EnduroGP World Championship concludes with the seventh and final round in Germany on October 14-16 where Persson will be looking to clinch the Enduro3 title. Before then, Mikael will compete in the FIM International Six Days Enduro in France on August 29 - September 3, where he aims to better his individual overall result of third from 2021 with Team Sweden.

Mikael Persson:   “It’s been a solid weekend with good results in Enduro3 for the championship fight. I had a few mistakes throughout each day, but overall I felt strong and consistent. Conditions were tricky in the dust and completely different from last weekend in Slovakia. I had a crash in the first enduro test on Saturday which took a little bit of time to get going from, so that might have cost me a chance of winning there. There’s a bit of a gap now until the final round in Germany in October, so I’ll try to manage that as best I can and give it my best shot there to be world champion.”

Results: Round 6, GP of Hungary

Day 1 - Enduro3
1. Jaume Betriu (KTM) 1:02:40.79;
2. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:02:47.14;
3. Matteo Pavoni (TM) 1:02:48.16;
4. Marc Sans (Husqvarna) 1:02:50.28;
5. Daniel McCanney (Sherco) 1:02:54.59…

Day 2 - Enduro3
1. Marc Sans (Husqvarna) 1:01:15.80;
2. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:02:28.83;
3. Leo Le Quere (Sherco) 1:01:17.34;
4. Jaume Betriu (KTM) 1:01:35.78;
5. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:02:05.87…

Enduro3 Championship Standings (After round 6)
1. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 192pts;
2. Brad Freeman (Beta) 189pts;
3. Matteo Pavoni (TM) 167pts;
4. Marc Sans (Husqvarna) 141pts;
5. Daniel McCanney (Sherco) 125pts…

The Sterilgarda Max Racing Team pushed out their FR 250 GP Husqvarna race machinery at Silverstone in the UK having conquered the previous round at Assen in the Netherlands and refreshed after the summer break. Silverstone, quick, long, flat and with a mix of flowing and elongated corners, benefitted from surprisingly good and stable British climate for the twelfth fixture of an intense Grand Prix season. Ayumu Sasaki was buoyant to get back into action after his success the previous month but his eagerness was matched by teammate John McPhee who carried sizeable hopes for his home Grand Prix. The pair were among the fastest during Free Practice and carried the momentum into Q2 where they were able to take 8th and 9th positions on the start grid for the 17-lap race Sunday morning. The FR 250 GP motorcycles were in the heart of a terrific, intense and large squabble for the podium that numbered up to 21 riders. The race was hectic with Sasaki and McPhee swapping positions within the top ten repeatedly and with nobody able to breakaway or create an advantage. With three laps to go Sasaki lost control going into Village corner and crashed. McPhee reached as high as third but in the dash to the finish line – when less than one second separated the first eight racers – he was bumped to 7th spot; equalling the Scot’s second-best result of the season.   Sasaki still maintains his total of 113 points and has slipped to 6th in the standings. He trails 1st place in the Moto3 championship table by 69 points. McPhee has pushed up to 16th. The Sterilgarda Max Racing Team are 4th in the Team’s rankings. More speed awaits Husqvarna Motorcycles at the Red Bull Ring in two weeks. The CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich takes the world championship to Spielberg in the depths of Austria. John McPhee : “The bike was working great but we geared it for a slightly faster race and for a higher speed compared to the pace we found. We were all tightly bunched and it was a bit frustrating. I felt really good but Moto3 is like that! I tried to make it to 3rd on the last lap but someone rode into the side of me and I lost some places. We had a sniff of the podium but it wasn’t to be. The positives are that we had the speed and on a track where the slipstream wasn’t so crucial I think we might have been able to pull away.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 12   1. Dennis Foggia (Honda) +37:30.120, 2. Jaume Masia (KTM) +0.252, 3. Deniz Öncü (KTM) +0.297 , 7. John McPhee (Husqvarna) +0.932, DNF. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna)   Moto3 world championship standings   1. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 182pts, 2. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 179, 3. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 140. 6. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 113, 16. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 33

The fifth stop of the FIM Enduro World Championship saw Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Mikael Persson shine in the wet and slippery conditions to take home a strong second-place result each day in Enduro3. Pushing hard in the mud, the Swede also took his TE 300 to two top-eight results in EnduroGP, equalling his best finishes of the season to date.

Back to business after a four-week break between round four in Portugal and five in Gelnica, Slovakia, the weather couldn’t have been any more contrasting for this weekend’s EnduroGP racing. Heat and dust were replaced by lingering rain and mud, while a 15-minute-long enduro test would also shake things up.

Rain on Saturday ensured the special tests were hard to predict early on. After a cautious start, Mikael began to get a feel for the conditions and upped his pace as his confidence grew. Fastest in the final extreme test, the Swede ended his day second in Enduro3, while also matching his season’s best result of seventh overall in EnduroGP.

Eager for more on Sunday, Persson was quick to adapt to the early morning rain and mud. Fastest on the opening cross test, he took the Enduro3 race lead by five seconds. Mistakes on the following enduro test worked against him and he slipped back to second. Chipping away, he clocked the fastest Enduro3 time on the final extreme test to close out the day with another Enduro3 runner-up result.

The FIM EnduroGP World Championship now heads to Hungary for round six on August 5-7.

Mikael Persson:   “It’s been a solid weekend finishing second both days in Enduro3. I’m not super happy with the result because I would like to be closer to Brad for the victory, but it’s been a good weekend. Saturday went well. I improved as the conditions dried, and I was able to finish seventh in the overall too. I was hoping for a little more on Sunday, but I lost some time in the morning and had to fight back. Overall it’s been a good challenging weekend and with the GP of Hungary next weekend I hope to get another strong result there.”

Results: Round 5 - GP of Slovakia

Day 1

Enduro3
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:05:00.63;
2. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:05:44.26;
3. Matteo Pavoni (TM) 1:05:53.49…

Day 2

Enduro3
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:05:44.38;
2. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:06:29.46;
3. Matteo Pavoni (TM) 1:06:54.98…

Enduro3 Championship Standings (After round 5)
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 169pts;
2. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 158pts;
3. Matteo Pavoni (TM) 142pts…

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 be anything but easy when you’re coming from behind for 30-minutes plus two-laps. As the team’s top-finisher of the day, RJ Hampshire persevered for seventh overall with 8-6 moto scores in the 250MX class. Struggling to get the positioning he needed off the line in Moto 1, Hampshire found himself back in 10th on the opening lap and he spent the early part of the race working to get through the traffic. Establishing himself in eighth through the second half of the race, Hampshire carried that through the checkers. In the second moto, he got off to an eighth-place start and once again had his work cut out. With a big push in the latter half of the race, he closed out strong with a sixth-place finish in Moto 2. “It was a long day for me, my starts were terrible,” Hampshire said. “First moto was a bit of a struggle and second moto, I felt like I found some comfort mid-way through. I felt like I rode decent for the second half of the moto but all-in-all, it was just kind of a struggle of a day. We’ve got two weekends to figure some things out and I’m hoping to come back at Unadilla with a fighting chance and hopefully we can knock out a couple podiums.” It was also a challenging day off the gate for teammate Jalek Swoll. The sixth-place qualifier found himself back in 14th at the start of Moto 1 and he maintained a steady charge throughout the race to ultimately secure a ninth-place finish. In Moto 2, Swoll started just outside the top-10 off the line but he got caught up in another rider’s crash and went down on the opening lap, sending him back to 27th early on. He quickly put his head down and climbed through the pack, making up a lot of ground to ultimately salvage 12th in the moto and 11th overall. “Qualifying was a lot better today, it’s nice to finally get in the mix and be there speed-wise,” Swoll said . “My riding was pretty good in Moto 1 but I’ve been struggling to get up there in the first few laps and on a track like this, you don’t want to find yourself in the back because it’s really hard to pass. I got a better start in Moto 2 but somebody else’s mistake costed me and I went down. I was at the back of the pack and only could get back to 12th. It’s not where we want to be but we’re going to keep plugging away and making improvements.” 450MX After eight rounds under the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing tent, fill-in rider Shane McElrath lined up for his final bout with the team at Washougal. In the first moto, McElrath found himself buried in the back of the pack on lap one and he fought to bring himself inside the top-20 within the first five laps. He kept the charge going into the final laps, capturing an impressive 14th-place finish in race one. With a much better start in Moto 2, McElrath battled for a top-10 position all race long and he held strong in the final laps to secure 10th in the race and 13th overall for the day. “Washougal was a tough race day,” McElrath said. “I had pretty good qualifying session but as the track developed more, I struggled on finding a flow out there. I’m happy with my effort and the progress that we’ve made. It’s not easy out there. I’m content with where we’re at but I know I have some more to give and I’m going to keep working regardless of what the future holds. I’m just happy for this opportunity and it’s definitely taught me a lot, so I’m excited.” Next Event (Round 9): August 13 – Unadilla National – New Berlin, New York Round 8 Results: Washougal National 250MX Results 1. Jett Lawrence (HON) 2-2 2. Justin Cooper (YAM) 4-1 3. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 1-4 … 7. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 8-6 11. Jalek Swoll  – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 9-12   450MX Results 1. Chase Sexton (HON) 2-1 2. Eli Tomac (KAW) 1-2 3. Jason Anderson (KAW) 3-3 … 13. Shane McElrath – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 14-10   250MX Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 355 points 2. Hunter Lawrence – 327 points 3. Jo Shimoda – 306 points … 6. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 194 points 10. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 169 points 16. Jalek Swoll  – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 73 points   450MX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 364 points 2. Chase Sexton – 359 points 3. Jason Anderson – 285 points … 10. Shane McElrath – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 157 points

Returning for a second year and once again attracting a truly global line-up of up-and-coming young riders, the 2022 European Junior e-Motocross Series was a resounding success for Husqvarna Motorcycles. With many talented youngsters competing on the pioneering EE 5 their skills, tenacity, and ability to race at the highest level has once again helped showcase the performance of these e-powered machines.

Proving to be incredibly popular throughout its maiden season in 2021, the European Junior e-Motocross Series was introduced to nurture talented young motocross riders and demonstrate the capabilities of e-mobility to a global audience. Bigger and better for 2022, the five-round series gained momentum throughout the year, culminating in a double-header event in the Czech Republic, which attracted a record line-up of 40 riders from no fewer than 16 countries.

With over a quarter of the riders in the final point standings mounted on Husqvarna Motorcycles’ pioneering EE 5, this fact alone underlines the performance and reliability of this all-electric motorcycle. The 2022 season proved to be highly competitive and saw multiple riders enjoy top-10 results on their EE 5 machines, with young Spaniard Ares Gil ending the year as the highest ranked Husqvarna Motorcycles finisher in eighth overall.

To view all of the exciting racing from this season, every moto is now free to watch on MXGP-TV.com with a simple sign-up required to access all of the 2022 action.

For more information, results, and photos from the 2022 European Junior e-Motocross Series, please visit junioremotocross.com

Federico Valentini – Vice President Global Motorcycle Marketing:   “Just over one year ago the series was created in partnership with Infront Moto Racing, adding another important step to the ladder for young riders who dream of reaching MXGP, all while demonstrating just how capable e-powered motorcycles can be. In only its second year, the European Junior e-Motocross Series has continued to grow, and has become more and more popular. This was highlighted even further at the final round in Loket where the full circuit was used, which was incredible to witness and a testament to the performance of the EE 5. The series was designed to introduce younger riders to the MXGP paddock and give them a head start on understanding top level racing, how the tracks develop, and experience racing in front of huge crowds. It’s been an exceptional season and I’d like to thank all those riders and their families who chose to compete with the EE 5 and prove just how capable this e-powered machine really is.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire fought his way to another top-five overall in the 250MX class with 5-4 moto finishes at Round 7 of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship in Millville, Minnesota. Hampshire got a top-10 start in the first moto and climbed up to seventh right away. Passing his teammate Robertson for sixth, he continued to plug away, reaching as far up as fourth. He got passed later in the race and dropped back to fifth, where he ultimately finished. In Moto 2, he got off to a sixth-place start and he quickly battled up to fourth early on. Fighting hard to make a late-race pass for third, Hampshire ended up going down just before the finish, but he was still able to salvage fourth in Moto 2. With combined scores of 5-4, Hampshire secured fifth overall on the day. “It was a dog fight all day but I felt like I rode pretty well,” Hampshire said. “Second moto, I felt more comfortable but I had to ride so hard. It’s a bit frustrating but I feel like we’re riding probably the best I ever have and in control, just need a little bit more speed. I’ll go home this week and have a pretty good setup coming into next week.”
It was a heartbreaking ending to the day for both Jalek Swoll and Stilez Robertson, who each started off the day positively. In the first moto, it was Robertson who found his footing early on with a seventh-place start, while Swoll sat back in 13th after coming together with another rider after the start. Robertson passed up to sixth early on and he bounced around inside the top-10 for the rest of the race, dealing with a minor bike issue that had him finishing 10th in the first moto. Swoll made a steady climb through the field, passing his teammate Robertson later in the race to ultimately secure ninth in Moto 1. In Moto 2, Swoll and Robertson got caught up in a multi-rider pileup through the sand whoops and both riders found themselves on the ground and dead last at the start of lap one. In an unrelated crash, the race was red flagged early on and despite a second-chance to line up in a restart, Robertson was unable to make it, due to an injured ankle. Swoll attempted to return to the gate for a restart but ultimately made the decision to sit out the second moto as well. “I didn’t have the best start in Moto 1 but I feel like the riding was pretty good and I finally felt like I was finding some comfort out there,” Swoll said. “Moto 2 was cut really short – just one of those racing incidents – and there’s nothing much I could have done. It is what it is, I had to sit that one out, but the positives are for sure in the right direction and I’m pretty excited to go racing next weekend.” “My day was eventful,” Robertson said. “I qualified almost the best I have all year, so I was excited. First moto, I think I had a little bike problem that hindered me a little bit. In the second moto, I saw the two riders crash in front of me and I tried to go left and unfortunately my teammate was there and I hit him. I folded my ankle pretty hard and that’s all she wrote. I’m going to go home and get it checked out and try to get back as quick as I can.” In his AMA Pro Motocross debut, Talon Hawkins had a steady performance to earn his first championship points in the 250MX class. He was mid-pack off the start of Moto 1 and he charged up to 19th early in the race, maintaining that position for a few laps. He later dropped back to 20th, where he ultimately finished. In Moto 2, Hawkins had a much better run after the red flag restart, sitting just inside the top-20 on lap one. He made a few passes up to 15th later in the race and from there, he rode strong to close out a solid debut in the professional ranks. Hawkins will return to the amateur circuit later this month to compete at the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s. “It was so sick!” Hawkins said. “I came into today looking to have some fun and I think I accomplished that goal. I didn’t do the best in qualifying but I tried to put it behind me and do as well as I could in the race. I had an awesome day, I ended up with a 20-15, so I’m pretty pumped on that for my first Pro National.” Fill-in rider Shane McElrath captured a top-10 overall finish at the seventh round, carrying 10-11 moto scores on the day. “It was a better day, I would say for the most part we were better and more consistent,” McElrath said. “First moto was probably my best first moto and in the second moto, I really struggled with the track and fighting with the bike pretty bad. Still trying to figure out how I can go faster and maintain that but we’re going to keep working.” Next Event (Round 8): July 23 – Washougal National – Washougal, Washington Round 7 Results: Spring Creek National 250MX Results 1. Jett Lawrence (HON) 1-1 2. Jo Shimoda (KAW) 3-2 3. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 2-5 … 5. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 5-4 15. Jalek Swoll  – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 9-38 16. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 10-39 19. Talon Hawkins  – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 20-15   450MX Results 1. Eli Tomac (KAW) 1-1 2.Chase Sexton (HON) 2-2 3. Jason Anderson (KAW) 3-4 … 9. Shane McElrath – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 10-11   250MX Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 311 points 2. Hunter Lawrence – 284 points 3. Jo Shimoda – 266 points … 8. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 169 points 9. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 166 points 18. Jalek Swoll  – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 52 points   450MX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 317 points 2. Chase Sexton – 312 points 3. Jason Anderson – 245 points … 10. Shane McElrath – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 139 points

Maintaining his championship lead, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt has put in a determined ride at the fourth stop of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in Italy to finish as runner-up. Winner of the newly-formed Red Bull Abestone in 2021, Bolt was excited to return to the Tuscany mountain peaks in Italy to do battle again.

Finishing fourth last time out at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, the TE 300 mounted rider knew he needed another strong result as the championship reached its halfway point. Staged over two days, Red Bull Abestone opened with a series of qualifications on Saturday, which saw Bolt on top form.

During the morning’s enduro special tests, Billy was setting the pace. Enjoying the fast-paced terrain, he pushed hard to put his name at the top of the standings. Fastest in each of the tests, he took a commanding 45-second margin of victory heading into the evening’s straight rhythm shootout. Fighting his way through a series of knockout heats, the Husqvarna rider easily reached the final, before winning that to end his day as the top qualifier.

For Sunday’s feature two-lap race, Bolt held prime position by starting first. And with riders flagged away in 30 second intervals, he was determined to use that leverage to his advantage. Feeling fresh, he pushed hard early on to open up a lead on his rivals. Knowing that his ongoing wrist injury would hinder him on the downhills, Billy used his trial skills to good effect on the technical rock gardens and held the race lead for over 45 minutes.

Slipping to second midway through lap one, he hung onto leader Manuel Lettenbichler for as long as possible, opening up a healthy margin over third place. Controlling that as best he could, Billy ultimately crossed the finish line as runner-up. The result sees him successfully maintain his lead at the top of the championship standings.

The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship continues with round five at Red Bull Romaniacs on July 26-31.

Billy Bolt:   “That was a hard race for sure. We knew the course would be difficult, but doing two laps made it even tougher. I’m pleased with second place though. Kicking things off by winning the qualification and straight rhythm was nice. I always enjoy those race formats and qualifying first put me in a strong position for Sunday. Starting out first I knew it was a good opportunity to make some time on a clear track. But with my wrist injury it was hard to hang on during the downhill sections and I just couldn’t push the pace I wanted. When Mani came past, I made a small mistake and lost touch with him. He pulled away a bit and I pulled a gap on third place, so the final lap was about trying to manage that and bring it home safe.”

Results - Round 4, Red Bull Abestone
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 2 laps, 4:13:29.553;  2. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 2 laps, 4:22:19.280;  3. Mario Roman (Sherco) 2 laps, 4:41:00.340; 4. Alfredo Gomez (GASGAS) 2 laps, 4:51:33.621; 5. Matthew Green (KTM) 1 lap, 2:37:23.413; 6. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 1 lap, 2:46:30.811…

FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Standings (After round 4)
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 62pts;  2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 60pts; 3. Mario Roman (Sherco) 58pts; 4. Alfredo Gomez (GASGAS) 47ts; 5. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 40pts…

Entering the second half of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship as the new Enduro3 class leader, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Mikael Persson arrived at round four in Portugal aiming for another successful weekend. Achieving a career best double E3 class win last time out in Italy, the spirits of the TE 300 mounted rider were understandably high.
While trying not to focus on being the E3 championship leader, Mikael was eager to keep building on the impressive speed he showed one week previously at the EnduroGP of Italy and consistently put himself in the fight for victory and podium results in Portugal.

Second fastest in Friday’s Super Test, Persson got his participation in round four off to a strong start. Pushing hard throughout Saturday morning he was locked in a fierce battle for the podium. Fastest in the final Cross Test set him up for a good run on the final lap of three, but a mistake on the following Extreme Test hurt his chances and he finished an eventual fourth.
Ready to redeem himself, the Swede again hit the ground running on Sunday morning. Showing impressive consistency, he kept himself in the fight for Enduro3 class victory by rarely dipping outside the top three fastest times. Although giving his best he had to settle for third, missing the win by less than 10 seconds.

The FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with round four in Slovakia on July 29-31.
Mikael Persson:   “It’s been a good weekend in terms of pace. I was close enough both days to be in the fight for the Enduro3 win but lacked a little speed at the end to make it happen. The times were tight and I made a couple of mistakes that I couldn’t afford when it’s close like that. On Saturday my rhythm was solid and I was riding good until a small mishap on the final Extreme Test dropped me to fourth. On Sunday I was in the hunt all day, but just missed that little extra on the final lap. But in the end to be just 10 seconds from winning shows how competitive things are. We’ve a short break now to regroup, charge the batteries, and fight again in Slovakia.”
Results: Round 4 GP of Portugal

Day 1

EnduroGP
1. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:00:21.68;
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:00:37.33;
3. Daniel Milner (Fantic) 1:01:02.96…
15. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:02:19.87…

Enduro3
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:01:53.63;
2. Antoine Basset (Beta) 1:01:53.90;
3. Matteo Pavoni (TM) 1:01:54.02;
4. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:02:19.87…

Day 2

EnduroGP 
1. Nathan Watson (Honda) 57:27.68;
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 57:48.40;
3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 57:53.55…
8. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 58:38.54…

Enduro3
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 58:25.65;
2. Marc Sans Soria (Husqvarna) 58:28.61;
3. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 58:38.54…

Championship Standings (After round 4)

EnduroGP
1. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 133pts;
2. Wil Ruprecht (TM) 110pts;
3. Nathan Watson (Honda) 107pts...
11. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 40pts...

Enduro3
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 129pts;
2. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 124pts;
3. Matteo Pavoni (TM) 112pts…

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 with 4-6 results at the fifth round. Robertson was smooth and steady throughout the day. In Moto 1, he powered his FC 250 off the line to immediately join the leaders up front. Robertson continued to push hard and trail the top-three for the first half of the moto and holding firm in fourth, he pushed hard for a podium spot. He seized the opportunity around the halfway mark and shifted up into third, where he eventually took the checkered flag. In Moto 2, he quickly grabbed fourth off the start and within another lap he made his way into third. It wasn’t long before he encountered intense pressure from behind and ended up shuffling back to fifth. While trying to regain spots, he lost traction and went down on the face of a jump, which dropped him even further back to eighth halfway through the race. Climbing back up to fifth, Robertson was able to secure a top-five moto finish to ultimately claim a career-best third overall at RedBud. “RedBud was a good day,” Robertson said. “I just wanted to have two good motos today and we did. We got two good starts as well, so I'm super stoked and just want to keep it going. It was a really fun day and can't wait to get to Southwick and do it again. Just keep trying to do my best and keep trying to ride like I do during the week, and I think we'll be okay.” In only his second race back since an injury at Round 2, Hampshire had a promising start to the day, qualifying seventh. However, with a mid-pack start in Moto 1, Hampshire had his work cut out for him early on. He was able to climb up to eighth within a few laps and he continued to pick off riders one-by-one, positioning himself in fourth late in the race. Attempting to go for a podium spot, Hampshire ultimately finished just behind his teammate in fourth. In Moto 2, he was running inside the top-10 early on before getting caught up in a crash with two other riders, which dropped him to the back of the field. He put his head down and gained nearly 10 spots by the next lap, once again surmounting an impressive comeback throughout the race. With another late-race charge, he took the checkered flag in a solid sixth, finishing the day with 4-6 results for fourth overall. “The riding was really good today, I felt like I was almost back to normal,” Hampshire said. “My starts were not good and in the first moto, I was beat. The second moto, I ended up going down with a group of guys on the first lap and was buried back in 30th or so. I felt much better on the bike this weekend and had pretty good strength, so I think we're just going to continue to get better now. We kind of got over that hump with injuries and we’re back having fun and still have a fight in us.” Jalek Swoll returned to the 250MX lineup after missing the last couple rounds due to injury. Qualifying eighth earlier in the day, Swoll didn’t get off to the best start in Moto 1 and he found himself shuffled back to around 20th for most of the race. He made moves to come through the pack halfway through but he ultimately finished 20th. In Moto 2, he was positioned in 12th after the first lap and he battled around that position before ultimately finishing 14th. “We've for sure had some better days but it is what it is,” Swoll said. “We got through two motos today, so we'll just build off that coming into Southwick and be ready to drop the hammer. I'm getting tired of just rolling around, so I'm really going to try to send it next weekend and put myself in a position where I feel like I need to be.” In the 450MX class, fill-in rider Shane McElrath had a good start to the day, qualifying 10th. Unfortunately, he went down with a few other riders in the first turn of Moto 1, which set him back from the rest of the field right away. He did his best to climb through the field, ultimately finishing 14th. In Moto 2, he was displaced to the back of the pack off the start but he put up a good fight to work his way to 16th by the end of the first lap. Still early in the race, he was able to advance to 12th and he made a big push into the final stretch, where he made a last-lap pass to secure 11th just before the checkers. “I felt like today was the first productive race day I've had,” McElrath said. “I actually passed some people, and the results don't really show what we went through today. It was a good step over the last two weeks being back in Florida and we made some pretty big bike changes, which I think is really starting to come around now. It's definitely progress. We've had a lot of work to do, but we've done a lot of work. So, I'm excited to keep it going.” Next Event (Round 6): July 9 – Southwick National – Southwick, Massachusetts Round 5 Results: RedBud National 250MX Results 1. Jo Shimoda (KAW) 1-3 2. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 2-2 3. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 3-5 4. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 4-6 … 17. Jalek Swoll  – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 20-14 450MX Results 1. Eli Tomac (KAW) 1-1 2. Chase Sexton (HON) 2-2 3. Justin Barcia (GAS) 8-3 … 11. Shane McElrath – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 14-11 250MX Rider Point Standings 1. Hunter Lawrence – 218 points 2. Jett Lawrence – 211 points 3. Jo Shimoda – 182 points … 8. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 130 points 10. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 98 points 21. Jalek Swoll  – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 20 points 450MX Rider Point Standings 1. Chase Sexton – 224 points 2. Eli Tomac – 217 points 3. Ken Roczen – 194 points … 10. Shane McElrath – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 102 points

The Husqvarna Factory Racing stars made the lengthy trip across the globe to Samota-Sumbawa, Indonesia, for round twelve of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship. The spectacular circuit, which had never been raced on before, played host to thousands of fans who were excited to see Pauls Jonass, Brian Bogers and Kay de Wolf in action. Pauls Jonass had the speed to fight for a position on the Grand Prix podium, but a minor error in moto one cost him dearly. Jonass was running in fifth quite comfortably in the early stages and desperately trying to make progress, when a misstep in a turn caused him to drop to ninth. '41' ultimately recovered to seventh. The second moto was eerily similar to the first – Jonass was fighting hard inside of the top five to start with and looked good as he diced with the frontrunners. Unfortunately, an error meant that he was forced to settle for another seventh place. 7-7 scores put him in seventh overall. Desperately trying to salvage some points, after picking up an illness at the beginning of the weekend, Brian Bogers put in a valiant effort to claim fifteenth in moto one and six valuable points. Bogers showed a lot of heart by returning to the start line for moto two, but could only salvage sixteenth. Sixteenth was his overall ranking too – eleven points were gained at the Grand Prix of Indonesia. Kay de Wolf claimed a respectable number of points on Indonesian soil, despite battling a sickness on race day. De Wolf actually showed more of that incredible pace aboard his FC 250; he was a clear contender for a spot on the podium in moto one. '74' ran as high as second place in that moto, but fell a couple of times and had to ultimately settle for eighth at the chequered flag. After giving it his all in that moto, in such tough conditions, the decision was made to miss moto two; the illness had simply taken too much out of him. There is a break in the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship schedule now. The next round, the Grand Prix of Czech Republic, will be run at the old-school circuit of Loket on July 17. Pauls Jonass:  "The speed was good at the beginning of the day and it is kind of the same old story. I just struggled a little as the track got rougher. The speed was really good and so was the feeling on my FC 450, but I was just missing something. I had small crashes in both motos too – that didn't help after some great starts! The good thing is that the speed is there." Brian Bogers:  "This weekend was a complete disaster. I got food poisoning, so we knew that it would be tough. We just did what we could to salvage some points today. We will get healthy and try to bounce back at the next round with some good results, because I can do better than this." Results – 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round Twelve MXGP – Overall 1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 50pts; 2. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 44pts; 3. Ruben Fernandez (Honda) 38pts…  7. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 28pts; 16. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 11pts MXGP – Moto One 1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 34:55.151; 2. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 35:00.082; 3. Ruben Fernandez (Honda) 35:02.823…  7. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 35:41.182; 15. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 34:57.449 MXGP – Moto Two 1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 35:12.673; 2. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 35:16.507; 3. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 35:18.678…  7. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 35:45.281; 16. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 37:24.408 MXGP – Championship Standings 1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 535pts; 2. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 410pts; 3. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 405pts…  7. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 278pts; 8. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 263pts MX2 – Overall 1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 50pts; 2. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 42pts; 3. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 38pts…  15. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 13pts MX2 – Moto One 1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 35:33.662; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 35:42.474; 3. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 35:52.610…  8. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 36:31.217 MX2 – Moto Two 1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 36:06.053; 2. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 36:13.848; 3. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 36:32.387 MX2 – Championship Standings 1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 502pts; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 498pts; 3. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 395pts…  10.   Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 244pts

It was a dream weekend at the office for Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Mikael Persson who claimed the Enduro3 class win on both days at round three of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Italy. Securing maximum points in Carpineti, the Swede took his TE 300 to the top of the championship standings. Jumping into the EnduroGP mix, Billy Bolt joined Persson in Italy and raced his way to a pair of top-10 placings in Enduro3.

Going from strength to strength in 2022, Mikael delivered his best form of the season to date in the hot, dry, and dusty conditions of Carpineti in northern Italy. Impressing all on the opening day of racing, the Swede powered his way to a debut win in Enduro3.

Feeling comfortable in the conditions, Persson topped the first three special tests on Saturday morning to build up an early E3 class lead. Opening up a comfortable advantage over his classmates, he continued to put in a relatively mistake free ride to secure a 30-second margin of victory. The win marked his first visit to the top step of a senior EnduroGP podium.

Clearly motivated by his ride on day one, Persson began day two in confident form on his TE 300. Fast starting, the Swede immediately put himself at the head of the Enduro3 category by winning the first five special tests of the day. A mistake on the penultimate extreme test cost him some time, but in regrouping quickly Mikael held his advantage to claim the win and with it move to the top of the Enduro3 standings.

Dusted off from his fourth place finish in last weekend’s Erzbergrodeo, Billy Bolt made a last minute decision to jump into EnduroGP competition. Arriving with no expectations and having had little time to walk any of the event’s special tests, Billy simply set about enjoying the change of scene. Fastest Enduro3 rider on the Friday Super Test saw him get off to a great start. Going on to set some competitive times, while also topping the penultimate extreme test, Billy ended his day 10th in Enduro3.

Starting day two with more familiarity of the special tests, Billy looked to improve on Sunday. Claiming multiple top four test times, along with topping another extreme test, Billy took his TE 300 to an improved ninth in Enduro3.

The FIM EnduroGP World Championship continues with round four in Portugal on July 1-3.

Mikael Persson:   “It’s been a long, dusty and tough weekend, but overall it’s been awesome! Taking my first ever Enduro3 win on Saturday I then managed to win again on Sunday, which was amazing. And now I’m leading the championship, so honestly I can’t really ask for more than that. I’m a little in shock! Each day I just kept pushing as hard as I could without going over my limit. My weak spot was the enduro test and I improved some speed there so that was a good positive. We roll on to Portugal next weekend, so the goal is just to keep this momentum going!”

Billy Bolt:   “Honestly, I really enjoyed coming here even though I didn't have the best preparation. I struggled a lot on Saturday as I arrived late from Erzberg and didn’t walk any tests. In a strange way I appreciate coming to race EnduroGP and getting beat. These guys are so fast at what they do and being put down a peg or two is humbling. All weekend I was riding against myself and just trying to better myself. And I think I did that with each special test.”

Results – 2022 FIM Enduro World Championship – Round 3, Italy

Day 1

Enduro3
1. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:13:05.05
2. Matteo Pavoni (TM) 1:13:35.94
3. Leo Le Quere (Sherco) 1:13:59.60
4. Antoine Criq (Beta) 1:13:59.60
5. Daniel McCanney (Sherco) 1:14:24.52
10. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 1:16:21.04…

EnduroGP
1. Josep Garcia (KTM) 1:10:24.16
2. Wil Ruprecht (TM Racing) 1:10:42.11
3. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:11:55.98
4. Nathan Watson (Honda) 1:12:16.84
5. Daniel Milner (Fantic) 1:12:29.22
8. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 1:13:05.05
29. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 1:16:21.04…

Day 2

Enduro3
1. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 58:14.19
2. Leo Le Quere (Sherco) 58:24.15
3. Marc Sans Soria (Husqvarna) 58:26.83
4. Brad Freeman (Beta) 58:34.68
5. Matteo Pavoni (TM Racing) 58:39.74
9. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 59:39.62…

EnduroGP

1. Wil Ruprecht (TM Racing) 56:50.65
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 57:06.87
3. Nathan Watson (Honda) 57:19.15
4. Thomas Oldrati (Honda) 58:00.75
5. Daniel Milner (Fantic) 58:00.80
7. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 58:14.19
23. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 59:39.62…

Championship Standings (After Round 3)

Enduro 3
1. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 96 pts
2. Brad Freeman (Beta) 89 pts
3. Matteo Pavoni (TM Racing) 84 pts
4. Davide Guarneri (Fantic) 71 pts
5. Daniel McCanney Sherco) 65 pts
11. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 13 pts

EnduroGP
1. Wil Ruprecht (TM) 105 points
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 99 pts
3. Josep Garcia (KTM) 87 pts
4. Thomas Oldrati (Honda) 68 pts
5. Nathan Watson (Honda) 67 pts
8. Mikael Persson (Husqvarna) 31 pts

For the second weekend in a row MotoGP got up to speed with another Grand Prix event at a historic and busy venue. The TT Circuit Assen – almost 75 years as a motorcycle world championship racing host – was significantly cooler than the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring and also provided a different riding test altogether with the 18 bends and curves sending the Moto3, Moto2™ and MotoGP™ classes flying around the flat course at a terrific rate. Ayumu Sasaki and John McPhee – both fit and gaining in speed with every passing lap – rolled out the FR 250 GPs in the northern Netherlands and had to deal with copious rainfall and some difficult conditions in the first Free Practice sessions on Friday. Both the Japanese and the Scot were able to use their experience to get a feeling for the Assen asphalt and for their first foray with Husqvarna Motorcycle technology on the surface. On Saturday the two riders entered the Q2 session and a close – and mercifully dry – outing saw the first six rows of the grid split by just over a second. Sasaki was in hot form and his flying effort in the final minute of Q2 gave him his second career Pole Position and his first in Husqvarna Motorcycles colours. McPhee was 11th and only eight tenths of a second slower. The Moto3 contest was formed by 22 rapid laps on Sunday morning as the rain stayed away and the fans flooded into the grandstands and around the shallow grass banking; so distinctive to this particular track. The Grand Prix was one of the most competitive for the team in recent years as both riders hunted podium results and remained ensconced in the leading troupe. Sasaki, who was so close to another podium result in Germany seven days previously on what was an early return to action from a shoulder injury, hunted the rear wheel of Izan Guevara for the majority of laps and make his move on the final circulation to record his first GP win and the first for the team since the summer of 2021. The luckless McPhee, who had clocked the fastest chrono in the race, crashed out of a potential 3rd place with only half a lap remaining. Sasaki holds 113 points and has risen to 4th in the standings. He is just two adrift of the top three in the Moto3 championship table. McPhee stays 19th. MotoGP now pauses for the month of July. The season will resume with the Monster Energy British Grand Prix at Silverstone on the first weekend of August – John McPhee’s home round - and where Husqvarna Motorcycles tasted Moto3 success in 2021. Ayumu Sasaki : “It took a long time, a lot of training and sacrifice and finally I could win! It’s amazing. This year so far has been difficult, with the injury, but we came back strong and the bike has been very good. It was a great race and I kept behind Izan [Guevara] and had the pace. To win is unbelievable and I want to thank everyone that’s supported me and all my family. Now into the summer break and hopefully the second half of the season will carry on like this and be better than the first.” John McPhee : “My initial reaction after the crash was one of frustration but having had a little time to reflect and by seeing how strong we were, setting the new lap record and coming through so well we could show we were in the fight for the podium. There were a lot of positives. Obviously huge congratulations to Ayumu and the team and hopefully next time we can both be on the podium together.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 11 1. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 37:28.371, 2. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) +0.314, 3. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) +0.392 , DNF. John McPhee (Husqvarna)   Moto3 world championship standings 1. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 182pts, 2. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 179, 3. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 115. 4. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 113, 19. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 24

Reigning FIM Hard Enduro World Champion Billy Bolt will compete in the third round of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship in Italy this weekend – June 24-26. Bolt will compete alongside Husqvarna Factory Racing’s regular series competitor Mikael Persson, and also ride the 2-stroke Husqvarna Motorcycles TE 300 machine in the Enduro3 category.

Just days on from completing the arduous Red Bull Erzbergrodeo extreme enduro in Austria, Billy has decided to temporarily switch disciplines to classic enduro this weekend and challenge the best in the world. Similarly to his wildcard ride in the 2021 EnduroGP World Championship, where he also raced at the Italian GP, the 24-year-old will face a Friday night Super Test, followed by two long days of special test racing in the hills close to the town of Carpineti on the Saturday and Sunday.

Hoping to lead the way in the hotly contested E3 category, Mikael Persson currently lies third overall in the class. Fresh from his double-podium performance at round two of the series, the Swedish star will be looking to take his first win of the season in Italy and narrow the deficit to the current series leader. With temperatures at the venue expected to reach close to 40 degrees over the weekend, the event will prove a tough challenge for all competitors, both technically and physically.

Billy Bolt: “I’m looking forward to racing another weekend of EnduroGP. Yeah, it’s definitely going to be a little different to Erzberg, but I enjoyed myself last year and I’m hoping for more of the same again. We only decided to give it a go on Wednesday, so I’ll turn up, ride the 300 and just have fun. I’ll be giving it my all of course, but this one is all about the enjoyment. The atmosphere in the EnduroGP paddock last year was great, and although I did well on the Saturday and Sunday, the Friday night Super Test was amazing, so I’m looking forward to having a good crack at that again. It’s great to ride different types of events and different locations, so I’m really happy to have the chance to ride some more classic enduro here in Italy.”

Pushing through the pain barrier, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt secured a career-best fourth at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo. The result sees the Brit extend his lead at the head of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship after round three.

Despite managing on-going wrist and ankle injuries, Billy arrived at Austria’s iconic Iron Giant at Eisernez eager to deliver his best during the three days of hard enduro racing. With the Iron Road Prologue qualification kicking things off, Billy powered his Husqvarna TE 300 up the high-speed quarry roads to set the fifth fastest time from over 1,500 competitors. Putting in another fast performance on Saturday’s second day of qualification, Billy secured himself a front-row start for Sunday’s all-important Red Bull Erzbergrodeo main race with sixth.

Knowing the 26th edition of the legendary hard enduro was set to become one of the toughest yet, Bolt put in a determined effort off the start to avoid as much trouble as possible. Riding well inside the top five he negotiated the early chaotic climbs of Waterpipe and Three Kings with relative ease.

Despite needing to remove some track marking lodged in his front wheel shortly afterwards, Billy was able to maintain his high rhythm as the sections like Udo’s Playground and Double Fault saw the race increase with difficulty. Focused on his own performance, he continued to battle his way through the treacherous Carl’s Dinner boulder garden, before clearing the technical forest section of Motorex Highway in a close sixth.

Feeling a little more energy left in the tank, Bolt pushed on with the final two daunting sections of Dynamite and Lazy Noon remaining. Clearing Dynamite to battle his way inside the top five, he then grabbed fourth at Lazy Noon, a position he held to the finish line. The result now sees Billy extend his lead in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship after round three.

For Husqvarna Motorcycles’ supported hard enduro legend Graham Jarvis, hopes of a record-breaking sixth Erzbergrodeo victory failed to materialise. After drowning his bike in water off the start line, it took over one hour before he could continue. However, what followed was a ride of heroic proportions, as Graham raced his way from 500th to an incredible 18th after four hours.

The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship continues with round four at Red Bull Abestone in Italy on July 8-10.

Billy Bolt:  “That was hard, probably the hardest Erzbergrodeo I've ever done so I’m happy with fourth considering my fitness and the injuries I’ve got. I was struggling a little at Machine, but I just kept plugging away and taking things section by section. I managed to pass two riders in the closing stages to get fourth, so I’m happy for that and to also extend my lead in the championship is sweet too.”

Results: Round 3 - Red Bull Erzbergrodeo

1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 2:58:51; 2. Mario Roman (Sherco) 3:02:17; 3. Trystan Hart (KTM) 3:11:53;  4. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 3:18:25;  5. Alfredo Gomez (GASGAS) 3:20:30…  18. Graham Jarvis, CP21

Championship Standings (After round three)

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 45pts;  2. Mario Roman (Sherco) 43pts; 3. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 40pts;  4. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 37pts;  5. Teodor Kabakchiev (KTM) 35pts…

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire made a valiant return to the 250MX lineup at Saturday’s High Point National, powering through a recent injury to secure 7-7 finishes and valuable points in the 2022 AMA Pro Motocross Championship
Hampshire returned to racing at Round 4 after having surgery just two weeks ago to repair injuries sustained in a crash at Round 2. With a top-10 start in the first moto, Hampshire raced up to eighth early on and he picked up another spot late in the race to secure a respectable seventh in Moto 1. In the second moto, he got off to a much better start around the top-three and he battled for podium contention for the first six laps. The remainder of the race took a toll on his still-recovering body and he ultimately dropped back to seventh but the competitor inside of him dug deep to maintain seventh through the checkers, salvaging seventh overall for the day. “Today was a tough day but we battled through it,” Hampshire said. “Did what we could, showed up and gave it all I had today. That was probably the hardest 7-7 I’ve ever had in my life. I’m glad we showed up and went racing today, though. We’ll have a good weekend off now and we’re headed to my favorite track. I’m looking forward to RedBud.” Coming off a season-best finish at the previous round, Stilez Robertson was ready to go at the start of Moto 1. Unfortunately, Robertson was involved in an early crash on the opening lap, forcing him to come through the pack from dead last. He put his head down and charged through the field to score an impressive 14th in the first moto. With an eighth-place start in Moto 2, Robertson put in a good charge to ultimately finish eighth in the moto and 11th overall. “The day was up and down for me,” Robertson said. “I went into the motos confident and really happy. I didn’t get a good jump and in the third-turn, I went down and hit someone’s back tire so I came from last up to 14th. Second moto, I got an okay start and stayed around that position. I battled the whole moto, it was fun, but definitely not where we want to be. We’ll take this weekend off and rest/recoup and come back to my favorite track swinging at RedBud.” In the 450MX class, fill-in rider Shane McElrath battled through challenging track conditions to come away with a top-10 overall finish. In Moto 1, McElrath found himself outside the top-15 on the opening lap and he climbed a few spots up to finish 13th. In the second moto, McElrath started off in ninth and he bounced between ninth and 10th for the rest of the race, ultimately securing ninth. “It was a little bit rough today, I just struggled with the track from the first time out,” McElrath said. “I felt pretty good in practice but it’s a tough track to flow on and I didn’t quite figure it out. I’m a little bit disappointed but I know that I can be better and we can make some good changes to continue making progress.” Next Event (Round 5): July 2 – RedBud National – Buchanan, Michigan Round 4 Results: High Point National 250MX Results 1. Jett Lawrence (HON) 2-1 2. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 1-2 3. Jo Shimoda (KAW) 3-5 … 7. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 7-7 11. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 14-8 450MX Results 1. Eli Tomac (KAW) 2-1 2. Chase Sexton (HON) 1-2 3. Jason Anderson (KAW) 3-5 … 10. Shane McElrath – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 13-9 250MX Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 186 points 2. Hunter Lawrence – 174 points 3. Jo Shimoda – 137 points … 8. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 94 points 12. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 65 points 450MX Rider Point Standings 1. Chase Sexton – 134 points 2. Ken Roczen – 129 points 3. Eli Tomac – 120 points … 10. Shane McElrath – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 65 points

MotoGP™ reached the halfway point of the season with a baking German Grand Prix at Sachsenring and Husqvarna Motorcycles counted on Ayumu Sasaki for top five honours. A positive late fitness test for Ayumu Sasaki meant that the Japanese joined teammate John McPhee in the hot and sunny paddock at Sachsenring for the tenth round of twenty in the 2022 season. Ayumu was able to ride his Husqvarna Motorcycle FR 250 GP after recovering sufficiently from his shoulder injury sustained in practice for the Italian round at Mugello last month. A capacity crowd in Germany filled the Sachsenring grandstands as the public returned to the compact facility situated close to the city of Chemnitz for the first time since 2019. With only 13 turns and a 3.7km layout, Sachsenring is an endlessly curving, technical trajectory and grouped many riders within the same second in terms of times. This created a condensed and frantic competitive bunch for the Grand Prix race that was spun for 27 laps on Sunday. Both Sasaki and John McPhee showed their experience and skills from the first circulations of Free Practice as the distinctive white and blue race machinery haunted the top of the time sheets. The duo moved through to Q2 and ended Saturday with Sasaki highest on the grid in 4th and McPhee in 13th. The gauge reached 33 degrees on Sunday and it was Sasaki who made the better getaway. McPhee was a victim of a falling rider in the first turn and ran off the track and into the gravel. The Scot spent the entire race fighting back from the time deficit to take 19th. Sasaki was an active part of the six-rider chase for the podium. Izan Guevara had escaped and claimed victory but the chase for the other two rostrum spots was furious and decided in the final corners. Sasaki passed the chequered flag in 4th place and less than a second from 3rd. McPhee remains 19th in the Moto3 championship standings. Sasaki’s return to action landed him 13 points and leaves him 6th in the table. MotoGP moves immediately northwest this week. The historic, flat and technical kinks of the TT Circuit Assen will be the site of the last Grand Prix outing prior to the 2022 summer break. Ayumu Sasaki : “I’m happy with the race and how we managed to be P4. Last week I wasn’t expecting to be back here in Germany! The podium was very close, so that was a bit disappointing, but at the same time – today especially – I cannot be too down. The left side of my tyre was completely finished in the last few laps. We are still at the front for the championship. The top three is a bit far but we’re only at the halfway point of the season. A lot can still happen.” John McPhee : “It was a real shame to be collected by some other riders’ crashes at Turn 1. It meant I was taken into the gravel and was more than twenty seconds from the guys in front once I re-joined. It was a long race but I’m happy because I got stick-in and pushed every single lap to try and remain consistent and fast and to get a better understand of the bike at this track. My rear wheel was slightly buckled from the impact, so it wasn’t easy. We can take the positives: the consistency and the work with the used tyres. We just need to improve in a few small areas and we can reach for the results that we are working towards.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 10   1. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 39:14.946, 2. Dennis Foggia (Honda) +4.853, 3. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) +4.964, 4. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) +5.941, 19. John McPhee (Husqvarna) +45.223   Moto3 world championship standings   1. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 166pts, 2. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 159, 3. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 115. 6. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 88, 19. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 24

Thousands of passionate fans charged into the Grand Prix of Germany, the eleventh round of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship, earlier today. The historic circuit of Teutschenthal played host to the race, which was a positive affair for the Husqvarna Factory Racing riders. The Standing Construct Husqvarna duo, Pauls Jonass and Brian Bogers, made progress after a difficult event in France and Kay de Wolf returned to racing for the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing effort. Using the power within his FC 450, Jonass rocketed out of turn one in second in the first premier-class stint. '41' was poised in the laps that followed; he held that runner-up spot to the chequered flag and trailed the eventual victor by just five seconds. Unfortunately, a great start to moto two was destroyed by a fall on lap one. Proving just how comfortable he is aboard his steed, he charged from the back of the pack to thirteenth on a track that most struggled to pass on. Jonass was classified in sixth overall via 2-13 moto scores. For Jonass' teammate beneath the Standing Construct Husqvarna Factory Racing tent, Brian Bogers, round eleven provided an opportunity to get back on track after missing the last event in France. Barely recovered from the illness that sidelined him, Bogers was classified in eighteenth overall via 17-16 moto scores. Seventh is where he currently sits in the championship standings.  Kay de Wolf returned to the MX2 division, after missing the last three stops with a fractured metacarpal in his hand, and strived to establish a base that he could build off of in the coming weeks. Although a crash in turn one threatened to ruin his first moto, he did well to charge back to eleventh at the chequered flag. De Wolf followed that up with another eleventh in moto two, despite a crash, and claimed a good haul of points in his return to racing. '74' was classified in eleventh in the overall classification as well. Keeping an eye on the future, Maxime Grau made a welcome return to EMX250 competition with Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing and placed his FC 250 on the podium for the first time. Grau sprinted to 3-2 moto scores, despite a crash early in the first moto, and climbed onto the overall podium in second overall. A long-haul flight awaits the Husqvarna Factory Racing riders now. The next stop of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship, round twelve, will be run in Indonesia on June 25/26.

Pauls Jonass:  "I am disappointed to miss the podium, of course. Getting on the podium is always the goal! I felt so good on my FC 450 all weekend. Even in the second moto, when I was coming through the field, my speed was really good. I am confident though. The speed is there, as is the feeling on the bike, and the team is working so hard."

Brian Bogers:  "My illness is over now, but I can just feel it in my fitness. It is good that I finished both motos and this weekend was just about survival for me. This is not what we want, of course, because things were going so well. I just had to be patient with it and now I'll keep building with the team to get back to full fitness."

Kay de Wolf:  "I crashed in the first turn in moto one; I was dead last and came back to eleventh. You do a lot of physical training when you are injured, but there is nothing that compares to riding a bike. I had an okay start in the second moto and passed some people. I hit a stone in a turn, tucked the front wheel and went back to eleventh. I just did my own thing in the last ten minutes." Results – 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round Eleven
MXGP – Overall 1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 47pts; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 45pts; 3. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 34pts…  6. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 30pts; 18. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 9pts MXGP – Moto One 1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 34:12.430;  2. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna)  34:18.299; 3. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 34:25.705…  17. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 35:28.332 MXGP – Moto Two 1. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 34:34.232; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 34:39.644; 3. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 34:49.396…  13. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 35:30.660; 16. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 35:47.263 MXGP – Championship Standings 1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 485pts; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 384pts; 3. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 366pts…  7. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 252pts; 8. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 250pts MX2 – Overall 1. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 45pts; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 44pts; 3. Mikkel Haarup (Kawasaki) 38pts…  11. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 20pts MX2 – Moto One 1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 34:45.123; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 34:46.082; 3. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 35:00.754…  11. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 35:56.395 MX2 – Moto Two 1. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 34:48.513; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 34:59.169; 3. Mikkel Haarup (Kawasaki) 35:03.964… 11. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 36:03.436 MX2 – Championship Standings 1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 460pts; 2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 452pts; 3. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 353pts…  10. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 231pts

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 Roun
Robertson had a great start in the first moto, charging his way into third on the opening lap. He battled up front in fifth before getting passed halfway into the race. Putting up a good fight late in the race, Robertson attempted to break into the top-five but ultimately finished sixth. In Moto 2, he found himself just inside the top-10 off the start and he climbed into seventh early on. Racing steadily to the finish, Robertson rounded out the day with a solid seventh, giving him sixth overall on the day. “Today was pretty good,” Robertson said. “I went 6-7 in the motos, so it was the best day ever in outdoors for me. Six motos down and 18 to go, so let’s keep it going! I’m having fun and the team is killing it, so I’m looking forward to the rest.” Fill-in rider Shane McElrath had a season-best performance at Round 3, finishing the day off strong with fifth in Moto 2. McElrath had a 12^th place start in the first moto and he battled just outside the top-10 all race to lock in a 12^th place finish. In Moto 2, he charged off the line to put himself into sixth early on and he battled up to fifth by the sixth lap. From there, he kept a strong pace into the final moments to secure a season-best finish of fifth in the second moto. “Much better today and a much better week all-around,” McElrath said. “We had a couple good riding days this week – actually my best ones yet – and we made really good progress on the bike. I think I’m just growing confidence every time I’m on the bike. It took me a while to get going today, so I need to work on that, but we’re taking big steps and I’m happy.” Team rider Jalek Swoll grabbed an eighth-place start in Moto 1 and he fought his way up to seventh heading into the midway point of the race. While running eight, Swoll experienced a big crash with a few laps to go and wasn’t able to continue racing for the rest of the day. Next Event (Round 4): June 18 – High Point National – Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania Round 3 Results: Thunder Valley National 450MX Results 1. Ken Roczen (HON) 2-1 2. Eli Tomac (KAW) 1-3 3. Chase Sexton (HON) 4-2 … 8. Shane McElrath – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 12-5 250MX Results 1. Jett Lawrence (HON) 2. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 3. Levi Kitchen (YAM) … 6. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 6-7 41. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 36-DNS 450MX Rider Point Standings 1. Chase Sexton – 134 points 2. Ken Roczen – 129 points 3. Eli Tomac – 120 points … 10. Shane McElrath – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 65 points 250MX Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 139 points 2. Hunter Lawrence – 127 points 3. Jo Shimoda – 101 points … 8. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 74 points 16. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 37 points

Intense rainfall made round ten of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship, the Grand Prix of France, a spectacle, as the slick hillside of Ernee became quite tricky. Pauls Jonass was the sole star underneath the Standing Construct Husqvarna Factory Racing tent and salvaged a solid haul of points at the Grand Prix, as he placed his FC 450 in tenth overall. Pauls Jonass was luckless in the first premier-class moto – he was tangled up in a fall in turn one and jumped back onto his FC 450 in dead last. Such a significant deficit didn't deter him though, as he put his head down and sliced past as many stars as possible. Eleventh was his eventual ranking in the first moto, thanks to that very impressive charge. The second moto was a little kinder to Jonass, although a mediocre start left him with even more work to do. A chaotic first lap meant that '41' started in twelfth, yet he managed to climb up to seventh by the time that the moto concluded. 11-7 scores left him in tenth overall at the Grand Prix and helped him edge closer to the riders ahead of him in the championship standings. Brian Bogers, who raced to a terrific podium finish just last week, opted out of the Grand Prix of France, as he was struggling with an illness that was picked up in the days prior to the race. Bogers expects to be back on his FC 450 at the next event. The Grand Prix of Germany is the next appointment for the Husqvarna pilots – Teutschenthal will host that event on June 11/12. The fixture will mark round eleven of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship.

Pauls Jonass:  "I think that this is the best that I have ridden this year. I felt so much better from Saturday morning; I felt like I could push as much as I needed to. I could really enjoy it this weekend. I rode really, really well in the first moto and made some good passes." Results – 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round Ten
MXGP – Overall 1. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 47pts; 2. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 42pts; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (Yamaha) 34pts…  10. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 24pts MXGP – Moto One 1. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 34:57.531; 2. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 35:02.867; 3. Brent Van Doninck (Yamaha) 35:11.636…  11. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 35:51.350 MXGP – Moto Two 1. Glenn Coldenhoff (Yamaha) 34:11.133; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 34:12.919; 3. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 34:17.261…  7. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 34:42.6712 MXGP – Championship Standings 1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 438pts; 2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 365pts; 3. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 339pts…  8. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 220pts

Round nine of 2022 MotoGP™ brought the world championship to the hot and slippery Circuit de Barcelona – Cataluyna where the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team were able to score 7th place. The second trip to Spain in the 2022 MotoGP World Championship meant a hot and steamy ordeal around the challenging curves of the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya; a 4.7km layout that mixes a combination of slow, fast and demanding corners all with slick asphalt. The site in northeast Spain has been a regular part of the MotoGP calendar for more than three decades and since the facility was first built in the early 1990s While the track was a puzzle in terms of set-up and tyre choice for the best traction across the 21-lap race duration, the team were able to adapt quickly. John McPhee began only his fourth GP of the season after recovering from a back injury while David Salvador was drafted in once more as a replacement and took the FR 250 GP motorcycle left by Ayumu Sasaki as the Japanese star continues to recover from his practice crash last week in Italy that left him with a broken left collarbone. On Saturday McPhee was only tenths of a second from the top of the time screens while Salvador – competing at a place he knows well from Junior GP and other national events – was also quick to take 3rd spot in FP3 and go straight into Q2. By the end of play Saturday afternoon they were 11th and 16th on the grid respectively. The weather stayed consistent for Sunday: sunny with high temperatures. The Moto3 lead group was quickly formed by up to 20 riders as McPhee pushed to be part of the fray and Salvador was also making decent time. The Spaniard rode fantastically and entered the top five of the race until he was unseated by contact from another rider into Turn 10 on lap 13 and highsided out of action. Luckily he was unhurt. McPhee persisted and was engaged in a frantic fight in the midst of the top ten. He passed the chequered flag in 7th and just over three seconds from the winner, Izan Guevara. The Grand Prix points have helped the Scot rise two places in the world championship standings: from 19th to 17th. Sasaki is 6th despite his absence and could consider a racing return before the summer break. The Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland will bring MotoGP together again in two weeks time at the endless curving and distinctive Sachsenring circuit. John McPhee : “I felt good on the bike, strong and my pace was decent. As soon as there was any clear track then I was particularly fast but I struggled a bit in the group and with the late braking points today. I didn’t show our true potential speed-wise. P7 was a solid result. It is not where we want to be but we were just three seconds from the victory and we’re getting closer. The good thing is that we know where we can improve and we’re going in the right direction.” David Salvador : “This was a big step for me this weekend. I didn’t have the best starting position and it felt great to come through like I did. I passed riders in a calm way at the beginning because I was saving myself and the bike for the last stage of the race, which has been a weak point. Then, a rider crashed into me and that was it. I’m still pleased because it was a great experience to near the front. Thanks to the team again for giving me the chance to improve and make progress as a rider. Thanks to all the sponsors also for the backing.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 9   1. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 38:22.351, 2. David Muñoz (KTM) +1.975, 3. Tatsuzki Suzuki (Honda) +1.985, 7. John McPhee (Husqvarna) +3.341, DNF. David Salvador (Husqvarna)   Moto3 world championship standings   1. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 150pts, 2. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 134, 3. Jaume Masia (KTM) 103. 6. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 75, 17. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 24

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Stilez Robertson captured a top-10 overall finish at the Hangtown Motocross Classic, delivering consistent 11-7 moto scores in the 250MX division. The second round of the 2022 AMA Pro Motocross Championship proved to be a a challenging day for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammates at RJ Hampshire and Jalek Swoll, who both suffered premature endings to their day in Rancho Cordova, California. Despite the challenges, Robertson was able to keep it steady through both motos of the day. He got a mid-pack start in the first moto, forcing himself to come through the field early on. Halfway into the race, Robertson had worked his way up to 14th and he continued to push late in the race to finish just outside the top-10. In Moto 2, he got off to a top-10 start and he spent most of the race dicing between the seventh and eighth-place positions, ultimately solidifying seventh. “It started off a little rough, just not feeling where I should be,” Robertson said. “First moto was okay; I came through the pack after a bad start. Watching between motos, we figured out some things to tweak on the bike and we got it set right. It took me a little bit to get going but I finished seventh in the second moto, which is closer to where I want to be. The main goal is two good starts so we're going to keep building. There's 21 motos to go.” Teammate Jalek Swoll bounced back strong in the first moto after a tough opening round last week. He blasted his FC 250 into second off the start of Moto 1, racing at the rear wheel of the leader for the first several laps. Meanwhile, facing intense pressure from Michael Mosiman behind, Swoll managed to hold him off until just under the halfway point before dropping back to fifth. Late in the race, Swoll got cross-rutted and crashed, dropping him back to ninth. With a third-place start in the second moto, Swoll was off to a promising race. However, bad luck soon struck when he crashed within the first lap, leaving him unable to finish the race. “This was my first time riding this track and I had a really good start in Moto 1,” Swoll said. “I was running top-three for most of the race and my fitness and speed felt good but the crash that I had from Pala kind of just beat me down today. My shoulder wasn’t ready to go but we still showed up and put our best foot forward and it kind of gave up on me in the later stages of the day. Trying to get this thing fully 100 percent for Thunder Valley to do the same things. We're in a good spot, we just have to keep pushing away.” After just narrowly missing the overall podium at Round 1, Hampshire came into the weekend looking for redemption in the form of a top-three finish. Fifth in qualifying, Hampshire started off the day strong but he found himself battling just inside the top-10 for most of the first moto. He experienced an issue late in the race, setting him back to a 16th place finish, and later made the decision to not line up for Moto 2. Fill-in rider Shane McElrath battled through a challenging day in the 450MX class. With a start just outside the top-10 in Moto 1, McElrath shuffled between ninth and 12th over the 16-lap race, ultimately locking in 12th. In the second moto, he raced between 13th and 14th for several laps before settling into 14th for rest of the race. “It was a pretty tough day today for me,” McElrath said. “I kind of was struggling with the track every time I went out, it was a little bit deceiving, and I was off the pace all day. Every time I was out there, I was battling more with the track than I was with any of the guys around me. I think we still have a lot of room to grow and I think that we’re perfectly capable of doing that. I’m excited to get back to work this week and to continue making progress and rebound next weekend.” Next Event (Round 3): June 11 – Thunder Valley National – Lakewood, Colorado Round 2 Results: Hangtown Motocross Classic 450MX Results 1. Jason Anderson (KAW) 1-3 2. Chase Sexton (HON) 2-2 3. Eli Tomac (YAM) 4-1 … 14. Shane McElrath – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 12-14 250MX Results 1. Jett Lawrence (HON) 3-1 2. Justin Cooper (YAM) 2-3 3. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 4-2 … 9. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 11-7 15. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 9-40 21. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 16-DNS 450MX Rider Point Standings 1. Chase Sexton – 94 points 2. Ken Roczen – 82 points 3. Jason Anderson  – 76 points … 11. Shane McElrath – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 40 points 250MX Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 95 points 2. Hunter Lawrence – 84 points 3. Jo Shimoda – 72 points … 9. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 45 points 11. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 37 points    

MotoGP bathed in typically hot conditions in southern Spain and as the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto welcomed back a large and excitable crowd for the first time since 2019. The Sterilgarda Max Racing Team watched the progress of their star Moto3 rider Ayumu Sasaki as the Japanese pulled through from the last slot on the grid and a Long Lap penalty at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España to seize 10 points. The sixth fixture of the season took place directly after last weekend’s journey to Portimao, Portugal and to the 4.4km Jerez layout – that mixes three hard braking turns with several fast, flowing sequences. The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto is not only a consistent and popular Grand Prix host but also a regular testing venue for teams throughout the three classes. Therefore set-up and knowledge of the course was at a premium and pushed together the lap-times. Sasaki was quickly up to pace through Free Practice and Qualification but his front row grid position was punished by alleged slow-riding on Saturday and he faced a considerable handicap. Starting from last place and needing to fulfil a Long Lap, the youngster then pushed to the maximum to win positions. He did brilliantly to reach 6th and join the leading group with 8 of the 22 laps to go but then ran out of effective grip with his tyres in the final circulations. Ayumu secured 6th place but was only 0.8 of a second behind the winner after a thrilling conclusion to the GP. David Salvador was again deputising for the recovering John McPhee. The JuniorGP hopeful was able to continue his adaptation to the Moto3 GP machine and fought for points through the duration of the race until a double Long Lap penalty created a difficult time deficit. The Spaniard past the chequered flag in 19th. Sasaki is now 6th in the Riders’ standings. Sterilgarda Max Racing Team remain 6th in the Teams contest and Husqvarna Motorcycles is 4th in the Constructors championship. The SHARK Grand Prix de France represents the seventh stop on the 2022 MotoGP trail and the paddock will gather again in two weeks time within the iconic setting of Le Mans. Ayumu Sasaki: “I’m satisfied with today’s result. After yesterday’s penalties I was close to giving up but I knew I had good pace, and enough to win but I wasn’t sure if I could catch up. So, I was worried but the team did not give up and I could see and feel that. I went for it and was surprised by my speed. In the first ten laps I was perhaps 3-4 tenths [per lap] faster than what I expected. I felt great with the bike set-up and it was perfect but I used the soft tyres a bit too much early in the race to catch-up…but this was the target. I was struggling on the braking with the tyres in the last laps so I calmed down and knew today wasn’t the day to win. P6 was an amazing recovery so I’m happy and we can focus for the next race to start at the front and go for the victory.” David Salvador : “A beautiful race today to see all the fans here in Jerez, we made a step in Warm-up that gave me slightly better feeling with the front of the bike. I had a Long Lap penalty and I thought I had more time to do it but that meant I ended up having double! Anyway, like last time, I was able to learn a lot and gather information as well as work on some of my weak points that were allowing other riders to overtake me. Thanks to all of the team for all their work because I feel the improvements every time I am out there. It was a shame about the penalties because we would have taken points today.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 6 1. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 39:19.873, 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) +0.061, 3. Jaume Masia (KTM) +0.208, 6. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) +0.847, 19. David Salvador (Husqvarna) +23.338   Moto3 world championship standings 1. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 103pts, 2. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 82. 3. Izan Guevara (KTM) 73. 6. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 55, 20. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 11

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart came close to securing his first win of the 2022 AMA Supercross Championship on Saturday after delivering an impressive runner-up result at the penultimate round in Colorado. Track conditions were anything but easy at Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High but Stewart rose to the challenge with a powerful Main Event performance and he gained a valuable boost into third overall in the 450SX championship standings with one round remaining. With a daytime format for the second-straight week, timed qualifying got underway first thing in the morning and Stewart captured a strong P3 to kick off the day. In 450SX Heat 2, he got off to a top-five start and quickly pushed his way into fourth. Setting his sights on the top-three, he made a late-race charge to secure a top-three transfer finish. In the Main Event, Stewart positioned himself into fifth off the start and he mixed it up with the front-runners for the first few laps. Inheriting third early on, he chased after the championship contenders and it wasn’t long before he injected himself into the lead battle. Just before the halfway point, Stewart made a swift pass on newly-crowned champion Eli Tomac for second and he raced his way to his third runner-up finish of the season. “I’m excited, that was a really big finish for me,” Stewart said. “For some reason, I always ride tracks really good in altitude and I felt really good about it. Even though we didn’t win, we got second and I’m third overall in the points now, which the end-goal is to be third in points, so I'm excited about that.” The 250SX Western division returned to the gate for their final bout before heading into the East/West Showdown next week at the season finale. Team rider Jalek Swoll came away with a top-10 finish in the Main Event after battling through challenging conditions all day. With a fourth-place start in 250SX Heat 2, Swoll battled up front for the first two laps before getting shuffled back to sixth early on. He made a charge late in the race to secure a top-five transfer. In the Main Event, Swoll had a great jump off the line, almost capturing the holeshot, and he settled into third on lap one. Battling inside the top-five for the first half of the race, he dropped to sixth midway through and he fought hard after lappers held him back from making the triple on the last lap, ultimately finishing 10th. “Today was a step in the right direction in terms of comfort on the bike,” Swoll said. “I was towards the front way more than the back and I had some really good starts. In the Main Event, I hung in third for a little bit but just couldn't find that pace and lost a few positions to sixth. On the last lap, I got caught behind a couple of lappers and they went like they're going for the triple and backed out at the last second and I had nowhere to go, so I had to roll the triple and lost a ton of positions. That one stings, for sure, but we'll come back and try to be a little bit better in Salt Lake.” Final Round: May 7 – Salt Lake City, Utah Round 16 Results: Denver SX 450SX Results 1. Jason Anderson (KAW) 2. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 3. Marvin Musquin (KTM) 250SX West Results 1. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 2. Michael Mosiman (GAS) 3. Christian Craig (YAM) … 10. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 359 points 2. Jason Anderson – 324 points 3. Malcolm Stewart, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 295 points … 10. Dean Wilson, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 152 points 250SX West Rider Point Standings 1. Christian Craig – 215 points 2. Hunter Lawrence – 197 points 3. Michael Mosiman – 181 points … 10. Jalek Swoll, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 93 points

Husqvarna Motorcycles races to another podium finish with 3rd place as MotoGP™ arrives in Europe and tackles the technically challenging Algarve International Circuit. Round five of 2022 MotoGP landed in Portimao, Portugal. The 4.6km winding circuit and one of the newest venues on the world championship calendar provided a fast and flowing test for the riders in Moto3, Moto2™ and MotoGP categories. The Algarve International Circuit was the scene for the 17th Grand Prix in the country but only the fourth in Portimao, situated in the south and close to the coastline, after events in 2020 and then a double in 2021. Husqvarna Motorcycles principal star rider, Ayumu Sasaki, was joined by David Salvador in the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team pitbox for the second meeting in a row. The Spanish rookie was a late call-up after John McPhee was unable to pass a fitness test. The Scot had travelled to Portugal after pushing hard to recover from a training accident but will now aim to re-join the team and the series for the Grand Prix of France in three weeks. The rain poured down for Free Practice on Friday but both Sasaki and Salvador were able to hover in the top ten as the slimy conditions caught out many riders. On Saturday the skies remained grey. The best qualifier was Sasaki who rushed his FR 250 GP motorcycle to 10th on the damp surface. In contrast to the previous round at COTA in the USA, Moto3 opened race day in Portugal and was back to the usual first slot on the timetable. Sunshine finally beamed down on a busy circuit as the Moto3 field rushed around 21 laps. Sasaki started outside the top ten but by the third lap was already hunting the top five and then moved up to 3rd by mid-race distance as the rhythm and gaps of the leading group fluctuated. The Japanese was extremely competitive and eying victory all the way up until the last couple of corners where he was able to secure 3rd place for his fourth career podium and the second of the season. Salvador completed his second appearance for the team with 22nd place. Sasaki is now 7th in the Riders’ standings. Sterilgarda Max Racing Team sits 6th in the Teams table and Husqvarna Motorcycles is 4th best in the Constructors competition. The MotoGP World Championship only has a brief respite this week as the Gran Premio Red Bull de España will take place at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for the sixth fixture of the year on May 1st. Ayumu Sasaki: “Today I’m a bit disappointed because I was looking for the win. I was managing the tyre and not pushing much. I knew the pace was slower than what I could make. Two laps to go I planned to breakaway but could not get a gap and was then passed by [Jaume] Masia very aggressively and I lost some positions. I had to come back and made the ground so I was satisfied with the last lap but I wanted the win! The team did a great job and the bike was amazing so we will try again in Jerez.” David Salvador : “Thanks to the team and my sponsors because this was again another good opportunity for me to learn and apply the experience to my JuniorGP season. We are working quite well and I know we will get a bit better for Jerez. I think we can be a bit further ahead. We need to focus more on qualifying because it’s a weak point at the moment but I’m getting more and more confidence in the bike. My rhythm wasn’t that bad today but we can get tenths of a second better a lap. That’s the goal.” Max Biaggi, Team Principal: “Today was definitely a very solid performance for our team. Ayumu is doing a very good job and has been constantly in the top five for the last few races. He is realising that he can do it out there and can produce something big this season. I hope his first victory comes for him as soon as possible. David replaced John at the last moment and while we know his potential it was difficult to ask more from him this weekend. I hope he can make a better position at the next race in Jerez.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 5 1. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 38:17.725, 2. Jaume Masia (KTM) +0.069, 3. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) +0.110, 22. David Salvador (Husqvarna) +30.402   Moto3 world championship standings 1. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 83pts, 2. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 82. 3. Jaume Masia (KTM) 54. 7. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 45, 18. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 11

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. Stewart, a notoriously fast qualifier this season, grabbed another great qualifying position in third and he kept the ball rolling with a top-three start in 450SX Heat 2. He maintained a solid pace throughout the eight-lap heat race to secure a third-place transfer. In the Main Event, Stewart found himself back in sixth off the start, and he raced just outside the top-five for the first eight laps. Hitting his stride just before the halfway mark, Stewart really started to pick up his pace later in the race as he battled his way into podium contention. He put on a hard charge in the final stretch to get within striking distance of third-place, but it wasn’t enough to secure a spot on the podium in Foxborough. “We did a lot of testing with the team this week, and I feel like my whole bike setup was definitely in the right direction,” Stewart said. “This race was an early one, so it's always kind of different. In the Main Event, I started terribly and I kind of got pushed out wide and made a few mistakes. Marvin and I were kind of playing yo-yo and lapped riders on the track really came into play toward the end of the race. He got a little ahead of me, and I pretty much rode a quiet fourth.” 250SX East Hampshire, the third-place qualifier, had a tough start in his heat race as he found himself on the ground immediately off the start. Struggling to complete the first lap with a distorted front-end, Hampshire went down again before making his way to the mechanic’s area to straighten things out. He put in a hard charge for the rest of the race but didn’t have enough time to secure a transfer spot. In the LCQ, he got out front early on, and he clicked off smooth laps to earn himself a gate in the Main Event. Hampshire had a redeeming start in the Main Event as he jumped into third early on. Five laps in, he charged into second and immediately set his sights on the race leader of Pierce Brown. As the race wore on, Hampshire continued to close the gap on the leader. He was well within striking distance until he hit the back of Brown’s bike and went down. Re-mounting in sixth, Hampshire rode hard in the last seven laps but wasn’t able to make up any ground, ultimately finishing sixth. “Man, I had a really tough day,” Hampshire said. “I had good starts again. In the heat race, I crashed right off the start when someone hit me and went to the LCQ. I got some more laps in the LCQ and felt really good in the Main Event. We were clicking them off. I definitely had a shot at that win, and had good speed to do it, but just happened to come together with Pierce with about four or five to go and kind of threw it away tonight. I was happy with the riding in the Main Event.” Next Round: April 30 – Denver, Colorado Round 15 Results: Foxborough SX 450SX Results
1. Jason Anderson (KAW) 2. Chase Sexton (HON) 3. Marvin Musquin (KTM) 4. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250SX East Results 1. Austin Forkner (KAW) 2. Jett Lawrence (HON) 3. Pierce Brown (GAS) … 6. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 341 points 2. Jason Anderson – 298 points 3. Justin Barcia – 275 points 4. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 272 points … 8. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 152 points 250SX East Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 192 points 2. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 139 points 3. Pierce Brown – 128 points … 13. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 67 points

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart battled through the elements at Saturday’s Atlanta SX, where he captured a solid top-five finish amidst a hectic day of racing in the 450SX class. Only four points outside of third overall in the point standings, Stewart continues to solidify his presence in the premier class as he fights for his first win in 2022. Teammate RJ Hampshire managed a tough day in Atlanta, securing a top-10 finish in the stacked 250SX East/West Showdown and climbing up a notch to second overall in the Eastern Regional standings. Early morning rainfall created a muddled start to the day with one condensed practice and qualifying session for each class and super slick conditions as the gates dropped for the daytime schedule. In the 450SX division, Stewart put in a fast lap good enough for fifth overall and he settled into a top-five start in the heat. Climbing into third halfway through, he held a steady pace through the finish to secure third in the heat. In the Main Event, Stewart got off to a sixth-place start and he positioned himself inside the top-five battle early on. The slick track conditions lent themselves to riders shuffling around all over the top spots but Stewart kept himself steady and in the mix all race long to secure his eighth top-five finish of the season at Round 14. “The day was actually pretty good, even though it was a short day,” Stewart said. “ I feel like I rode pretty good in the main. I had a decent start and I kind of just made some things happen and we ended up fifth. I do feel like there was a lot more left in the tank but honestly, I’m happy to re-bound myself after the crash last weekend. I know it’s just a top-five but it’s something to build off of and I’m stoked to just be back racing again and we’ll be ready for next weekend.” In the 250SX class, the East/West Showdown brought together the top riders from each regional division, giving teammates RJ Hampshire and Jalek Swoll the opportunity to line up together in the combined Main Event. Hampshire, last weekend’s 250SX East winner, shot off the line in his heat but he lost footing coming into the first turn and rode off-track for a moment, returning in third. Racing in second for the majority of laps, Hampshire made a late-race charge to overtake the lead with one lap to go but he lost it on the final lap, ultimately finishing third after being docked one-position for a race infraction on lap one. In the Main Event, Hampshire got off to a great start up front but he went down in the slick conditions on the opening lap. Re-mounting in fifth, he kept himself in the top-five battle for the first few laps before shuffling back a few spots midway through the race. From there, Hampshire made the decision to ride a comfortable pace for the remaining laps, ultimately securing a solid eighth in the combined E/W Showdown. “This was my first time racing Atlanta and it was a tough day to try and get comfortable with only one practice,” Hampshire said. “My starts are still pretty solid but I just wasn’t comfortable in that Main Event. It got pretty hairy as the race went on and I just kind of went big-picture and backed it down, so I can live to fight another weekend. Hopefully we’ll be back on the podium in Boston, if not the top step.” Swoll, the team’s 250SX West rider, managed his day to come away with an 11th place finish in the Main Event. Battling through the rough conditions, he secured an eighth-place finish in the heat race, giving him an immediate transfer onto the East/West Showdown starting line. In the main, Swoll got a 12th-place start and he raced just outside the top-10 all day. “It wasn’t the best day for me but we got some better starts,” Swoll said. “I just need a little bit better riding and we’ll fix the issues. All good, just looking forward to the next round and we’ll try to end off supercross with some good results.” Next Round: April 23 – Foxborough, Massachusetts Round 14 Results: Atlanta SX 450SX Results 1. Jason Anderson (KAW) 2. Eli Tomac (YAM) 3. Chase Sexton (HON) … 5. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250SX East/West Showdown Results 1. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 2. Christian Craig (YAM) 3. Jett Lawrence (HON) … 8. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 11. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 325 points 2. Jason Anderson – 272 points 3. Justin Barcia – 257 points 4. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 253 points … 8. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 152 points 250SX East Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 169 points 2. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 122 points 3. Cameron Mcadoo – 114 points … 11. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 67 points 250SX West Rider Point Standings 1. Christian Craig – 194 points 2. Hunter Lawrence – 171 points 3. Michael Mosiman – 158 points … 11. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 80 points

The Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas brought MotoGP back to the long and demanding layout of ‘COTA’ and for the second round in the space of a week. The series had last visited Austin in October 2021 and found similarly hot conditions but this time with a blustery wind that added an extra technical edge to the open, sprawling 5.5km layout. The Sterilgarda Max Racing Team placed their FR 250 GP motorcycles into the paddock and into a state of readiness after last week’s race in Argentina where Ayumu Sasaki expertly seized the squad’s first trophy of the season. John McPhee had not recovered sufficiently from his back injury (sustained in a training accident) so his saddle was temporarily occupied by young Spaniard David Salvador who has excelled with strong results in Junior GP and the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. Both Sasaki and Salvador had to get in-tune with the demands of COTA. The 20 corners of the American course (hosting the U.S. round of MotoGP for the ninth time) blended speed, hard-stopping power and flow – a key factor for the Moto3 class. Sasaki obtained the 9th fastest lap-time in qualification and filled the final slot on the third row of the grid. Salvador was on the 8th row. The Grand Prix schedule pushed Moto3 to the third and final event of race day, compared to the usual opening slot. Temperatures were warmer and there were greater deposits of Moto2™/MotoGP™ rubber on the asphalt that had been re-laid over the winter and was far less bumpy. Sasaki was immediately in contention at the front of the field. The fast Japanese remained a constant presence for the podium as the group narrowed to seven runners in the final five laps. Entering the last few turns Sasaki was denied in his bid for a second consecutive piece of silverware by just a tenth of a second. The 21-year-old has been able to rise to 8th in the championship standings. Salvador brought the bike home in 22nd. After lengthy trips to Argentina and the United States MotoGP will defer to the European leg of the world championship calendar in the coming months. The Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal at the Algarve International Circuit will run round five on April 24th. Ayumu Sasaki: “I’m happy to be P4 and to be very competitive again. We started the weekend in bit more of a difficult way compared to the other three rounds. We kept working, we kept believing and the team did a fantastic job today. My bike was the best it could be. In these windy conditions it was very competitive. I’m very happy but then also a little disappointed we missed the podium. We did some good things today and now we go to Portimao where we were very strong in the test.” David Salvador : “A good race and a decent start. I passed riders quite quickly. My feeling was key on the FR 250 GP. The second half of the race was pretty tough to keep the rhythm and I think I was just lacking race mileage. It was great to work with the team here and I know it will benefit me in JuniorGP. Thanks to the team for the opportunity, all my sponsors and my family.” Max Biaggi, Team Principal: “I have to say that it was a good result by the whole team because we didn’t have the best start on Friday and we ended up with good points and Ayumu fought for the victory right up until the last corners. David was new to us, the bike and the level but he didn’t make mistakes. I think this experience will have been good for him. The team did a great job. Hopefully we can get even more performance in Portugal.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 4 1. Jaume Masia (KTM) 38:58.286, 2. Dennis Foggia (Honda) +0.172, 3. Andrea Migno (Honda) +0.394, 4. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) +0.490, 22. David Salvador (Husqvarna) +38.396   Moto3 world championship standings 1. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 74pts. 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 58, 3. Andrea Migno (Honda) 41. 8. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 29, 17. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 11

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire has secured his first-career 250SX win following a top-notch performance at Round 13 of the AMA Supercross Championship in St. Louis, Missouri. Putting together three solid Main Events with 2-2-1 finishes on the night, Hampshire left it all on the racetrack with an emotional culmination in the center of the Triple Crown’s overall podium. Hampshire’s remarkable performance began with him earning fastest-qualifier for the first time in his career and he carried that momentum into the night show with a powerful holeshot in the first Main Event. Pulling a gap early on, Hampshire led until the seventh lap when he got crossed up in the take-off of a jump and landed on a tough block. He re-mounted quickly, losing two positions, and he charged hard late in the race to reclaim second on the final lap. He shot off the line in Main Event 2 to secure a second-straight holeshot but a red flag came out on lap two, resulting in a complete restart. Hampshire didn’t let that faze him as he pulled yet another holeshot on the restart and led the first five laps of the race. Halfway through, he lost a position to the points leader but he held strong in second for the remainder of the race. In an impressive feat, Hampshire aced his fourth holeshot of the night in the last Main Event and he assumed the lead position for the first three laps. Swapping it back-and-forth for the next couple laps, Hampshire eventually walked away from the battle and he cruised into the finish to secure a career-best overall win. “This is unreal. This has haunted me for so long, I can’t even get words out,” Hampshire said. “I had good times in practice and felt a lot more comfortable on the bike. My starts tonight were unreal and you could tell we made a lot of progress because I holeshot every time I was on the track and led a lot of laps. I’m just so dang stoked for the team to finally get one of these. Big thanks to the guys that have been putting in the work behind the scenes. We put it together tonight, it was our night.” In the 450SX division, Malcolm Stewart experienced a night of highs and lows, while teammate Dean Wilson had an especially tough night, with a race-ending early in the first Main Event. Setting the fastest qualifying time for the fifth time this season, Stewart secured a great gate pick for Main Event 1. He blasted his FC 450 Rockstar Edition into the top five out of the gate, quickly moving into fourth. By the second lap, Stewart had moved into third and he held that spot all the way to the checkers. In the second Main Event, Stewart got off to a sixth-place start and he was on the move early on until he clipped a tough block and crashed. While pinned under his bike, Stewart’s handlebar got caught in his knee brace and the track crew had to assist him in getting the bike free. Eventually re-mounting in last place, Stewart pulled into the mechanic’s area and made an attempt to salvage his race but ultimately made the decision to pull off and prepare for race three. In Main Event 3, he grabbed a fourth-place start and worked his way into third early on. Still struggling through discomfort from his earlier crash, Stewart shuffled back to fifth and he rode steadily inside the top-five for most of the race before dropping back to sixth with a few laps to go. Wilson had a strong start to the day after securing a top-10 position in qualifying. However, things took a turn for him in the first Main Event of the night. With a top-10 start, Wilson was racing mid-pack early on but he experienced a hard crash that sent him off-track on lap three. He received trackside medical attention for quite a while before being transported out of the stadium. Next Round: April 16 – Atlanta, Georgia Round 13 Results: St. Louis SX Triple Crown 450SX Results 1. Marvin Musquin (KTM), 2-1-2 2. Chase Sexton (HON), 1-3-3 3. Eli Tomac (YAM), 4-4-1 … 9. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 3-19-6 22. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 22-22-22 250SX East Results 1. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 2-2-1 2. Jett Lawrence (HON), 1-1-5 3. Mitchell Oldenburg (HON), 3-3-4 450SX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 302 points 2. Jason Anderson – 246 points 3. Justin Barcia – 240 points 4. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 235 points … 8. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 152 points 250SX East Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 148 points 2. Cameron Mcadoo – 114 points 3. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 107 points … 10. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 67 points

The opening round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship got underway in Israel, with Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt putting in a solid ride across the three days to claim second. Making it a Husqvarna 2-3, hard enduro legend Graham Jarvis returned from injury to take third.

Hot on the heels of his winning SuperEnduro World Championship campaign, Billy Bolt was back outdoors and on two-stroke machinery for the Hard Enduro World Championship series-opener in Israel. As the defending world champion, Bolt eager to make good his start to the season. Despite the lack of test time with his TE 300i and carrying a niggling wrist injury from superenduro duty, Bolt was eager to get racing underway.

Faced with extreme heat in the Dead Sea region - temperatures rose to almost 50 degrees each day - Bolt got down to business on the opening day of racing. Favouring the SuperEnduro format, Billy was simply in a class of his own as he raced to a confident win.

A change of terrain for day two saw competitors tackle an 18-kilometre-long time-trial style prologue. Fast, dry, dusty, and incredibly hot, Bolt best managed the conditions to secure a comfortable third, knowing well to save energy for the third and final punishing day of racing.

Pushing riders to their max, a 75-kilometre-long course would see the Minus 400 decided on day three. A strong start put Billy at the sharp end of the results as he battled with rivals Mario Roman and Wade Young. With the second half of the race increasing in difficulty, Bolt made his bid for the win, but wasn’t able to make it stick and had to be content with the runner-up result.

After eight months on the injury bench, hard enduro legend Graham Jarvis made his return to racing in Israel. Campaigning his Husqvarna Motorcycles supported Jarvis Racing Team TE 300i, Graham made his custom ‘steady start’ to the event. Knowing day three was the decider, Jarvis came on strong right when it counted. Navigating the final key sections, he jumped from fifth to an impressive third, showing he’s lost none of his determination, race craft, or hunger for podium success.

The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship continues with round two at the Xross Hard Enduro Rally in Serbia on May 18-21.

Billy Bolt:   “It’s been a physical start to the season for sure. After a full superenduro season I was a little underprepared coming here. Considering how little time I’ve spent on the two-stroke prior to Israel I’m happy with second. At the service point I could see Mario and Wade’s tyres were in better condition, so I knew I just needed to hang on and manage a podium result. There’s a long road ahead in this championship with seven more races to come, so although today I wasn’t at my best, I came away with some solid points.”

Graham Jarvis:   “It feels brilliant to be back racing and even better to finish on the podium. It’s been a long road to recovery to get to this point. The initial part of today’s race was fast, and I wasn’t comfortable to go with the top guys straight away - I’m still thinking about my knee. But after the service point, I settled in and started to make progress. The rock section at the end was the decider and I made places there for third.”

Results - FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, Round 1: Minus 400

1. Mario Roman (Sherco) 3:48.24;  2. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 3:55:37; 3. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 3:58:00;  4. Alfredo Gomez (GASGAS) 4:03:08; 5. Wade Young (Sherco) 3:52:08…

Championship Standings (after round 1 of 8)

1. Mario Roman (Sherco) 20pts;  2. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 17pts; 3. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 15pts;  4. Alfredo Gomez (GASGAS) 13pts; 5. Wade Young (Sherco) 11pts...

Husqvarna Motorcycles was able to obtain their first trophy of the season at Termas de Rio Hondo thanks to Ayumu Sasaki’s 3rd position. MotoGP flew from one side of the world to the other with the Grand Prix of Indonesia followed by a boisterous return to Argentine soil and for the re-opening of the quick and varied Termas de Rio Hondo circuit. Round three of the 2022 world championship brought a cooler climate compared to the previous outing in Lombok but was equally challenging. Delays with freight caused the Grand Prix schedule to be delayed and condensed from three days to two. All three classes had to practice and qualify with a busy Saturday timetable. In the heat of the Moto3 sessions, the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team were trying to refine the set-up of the fast FR 250 GP for Ayumu Sasaki. The Japanese had showed excellent speed in a difficult climate in Indonesia but demonstrated enough speed to be in contention for trophies and was again searching for the same pace and potential in South America. The team were counting on the Japanese once more with John McPhee still not fit enough to compete after fracturing two vertebrae in a training accident prior to the Indonesian fixture. The Scot is pushing to return to the bike for round four. Sasaki sped to a time just a tenth of a second from Pole Position on Saturday, his 2nd place was good enough for the front row and the second time in three races he has begun a Grand Prix race from the first line. Moto3 entertained the bumper crowd for 21 laps on Sunday. Sasaki was in the midst of the melee for the podium and had to negotiate a Long Lap penalty for an altercation two weeks ago in Indonesia. The handicap dropped him outside of the top ten and he fought his way back to 4th and then produced a magical overtaking move on the final corner to snatch 3rd. The result gives the team their first silverware of the campaign and Sasaki the third podium appearance of his career. Sasaki collected 16 points for his efforts and properly launched his season with eighteen race weekends still to come. The next date is the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas in a matter of days. Ayumu Sasaki: “I’m happy I could finish on the podium. I knew I had the pace even though I had to do a Long Lap penalty. I lost just two seconds and then just focussed. In the last five laps I struggled with grip that cost me in the fight for the win. The first two races have been difficult but we are strong and I’m happy to be back.” John McPhee : “I worked every day with my physiotherapist with the aim of returning for the Argentine Grand Prix. Unfortunately after a thorough examination, the doctors informed me that the fracture needs more time, before it can be welded. We return to work with the intention of recovering for the grand prix that will take place in Texas the following weekend. Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 3 1. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 38:51.668, 2. Dennis Foggia (Honda) +0.146. 3. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) +0.375, DNS. John McPhee (Husqvarna) Moto3 world championship standings 1. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 58pts, 2. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 54. 3. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 28. 11. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 16, 16. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 11

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart finished just outside the 450SX podium with a solid performance at Round 12 of the AMA Supercross Championship in Seattle, Washington. With five rounds remaining, Stewart sits a mere six points away from second overall in the championship standings as he continues to fight for his first win in 2022.
Lining up in pole position for the fourth time this season, Stewart rolled into 450SX Heat 2 with high confidence and he captured the holeshot and early lead. He held onto the top spot for a majority of the race before engaging in an intense three-way battle during the final two laps. Stewart held his own in second going into the final lap but he ultimately finished third. In the Main Event, Stewart got off the line in sixth and quickly made his way into a top-five position. Maintaining a solid pace, he climbed into fourth and put a late-race charge on Marvin Musquin for the final podium position coming into the last lap of racing. Despite all efforts, Stewart wasn’t able to make anything stick and he finished just outside the podium with a hard-fought fourth-place. “I felt good all day,” Stewart said. “I didn’t get the best start in the Main Event and I was sitting in fourth and Marvin was right there for third, so the last lap I tried to make a little pass and one of the lapped riders ended up going inside and kind of screwed me up and I went down. Overall, I felt good, I just wasn’t fast enough to get on the podium tonight. I’m glad we ended on a better note than last weekend, so we’re going to take what we learned and go from there.” Dean Wilson, the sixth-place qualifier, grabbed a top-10 start in 450SX Heat 1 and he charged his way through the pack to reach the top-five a few laps in. From there, Wilson rode a strong race to secure a fifth-place transfer. In the Main Event, Wilson shot off the line to capture a top-five start and he battled around fifth for the first half of racing. He got shuffled back a couple spots later in the race but he maintained a good pace to match his season-best finish of seventh in the Main Event. "My riding was pretty good for the most part,” Wilson said. “In the main, I was in the top-five mix for a few laps, which was cool. I wasn’t too far away from top-five at the end but my arms got really tight in the last few minutes, just lack of good lines and flow on the track. It’s frustrating but I did some things well and I just have to learn from that and ride like I know how to and I can definitely be in that top-five.” The 250SX Western division returned this round after five weeks off from racing. Team rider Jalek Swoll had a great start to the night as he powered his way to a second-place start in 250SX Heat 1. Racing up front on the opening lap, Swoll made a mistake that dropped him back to seventh early on but he kept his focus ahead to climb back to a sixth-place finish in the heat. In the Main Event, Swoll didn’t get the best start as he rounded the first lap in 15th. He worked his way into the top-10 within the first five laps and he continued to push as far up as eighth before the checkered flag flew. “It was a tough one, I feel like it could have been a better night if I had a better start,” Swoll said. “I got into the back of the pack, somewhere around last, and could only make it up to eighth. It’s frustrating, so I’m going to go back to the practice track, put in some work on my starts and come back after the break and be better.” Next Round: April 9 – St. Louis, Missouri Round 12 Results: Seattle SX 450SX Results  1. Eli Tomac (YAM) 2. Jason Anderson (KAW) 3. Marvin Musquin (KTM) 4. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing … 7. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing   250SX West Results 1. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 2. Christian Craig (YAM) 3. Michael Mosiman (GAS) … 8. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 281 points 2. Jason Anderson – 227 points 3. Justin Barcia – 222 points 4. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 221 points … 8. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 151 points 250SX West Rider Point Standings 1. Christian Craig – 171 points 2. Hunter Lawrence – 145 points 3. Michael Mosiman – 141 points … 11. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 68 points

Just weeks after recovering from surgery, Pauls Jonass has logged a superb showing at the third stop of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship. The Standing Construct Husqvarna Factory Racing star raced to 6-5 moto scores to secure fourth overall at the Grand Prix of Patagonia-Argentina, a race that played host to thousands of fans from across South America.

Jonass was brilliant from the moment that the Grand Prix started, as he raced to a convincing pole position in the qualifying heat on Saturday and carried that fine form into the first moto on Sunday. Using the power within his FC 450 to leap out into the early lead in that stint, he led the field for five laps before an untimely mistake dropped him down the order. Jonass battled on and secured sixth in the first premier-class moto. Another strong start put Jonass in the thick of the fight at the front of the pack in the second moto; he was quick to make some progress and sliced his way into fourth after a handful of laps. Attention turned to the top three at that point, as he desperately tried to edge his way onto the podium. Jonass came up just short in the end – he reached the finish line in fifth. A 6-5 scorecard left him in fourth in the overall classification. Quite the step in the right direction for the former world champion!

Kay de Wolf possessed a lot of raw speed in his first trip across to Villa La Angostura, as he qualified in third and occupied the same position early in the first moto on Sunday. Unfortunately, de Wolf crashed hard just before the halfway point and was unable to continue. De Wolf watched the second moto from the sidelines and will undergo further examinations once he returns to Europe in the coming days. Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing's Roan van de Moosdijk was not active on race day at the Grand Prix of Patagonia-Argentina, after a fall late in the MX2 qualifying heat on Saturday. Standing Construct Husqvarna Factory Racing's Brian Bogers was also sidelined with an injury that he sustained on lap one of the MXGP qualifying heat. Both riders will return to Europe to meet with their respective specialists.

The Grand Prix of Portugal, held at the historic circuit of Agueda, is the next appointment for the Husqvarna Factory Racing riders. The fourth round of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship will be run on the first weekend in April.

Pauls Jonass:  "It has been a tough road, but to win the qualifying race on Saturday was crazy. I was feeling really good! I was feeling great once I got in a flow in the first moto today too, but I made that small mistake and crashed. My arms got pumped up at that point! The bike was working really well today. I am excited to get to work now and keep building for the future."

Brian Bogers:  "I felt really good in free practice yesterday, then time practice was really good as well! I got cross-jumped by another rider in the qualifying heat and hit the ground very hard. We will go to the hospital when we land in Europe, get a scan and go from there."

Rasmus Jorgensen (Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager):  "It was a difficult weekend for the team. The important thing now is getting the guys home. We will see the specialists later this week and then plan on how to get both riders back to their very best! We will be back."

Download high-res images from the MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina here.
Results – 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round Three
MXGP – Overall
1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 47pts; 2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 47pts; 3. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 36pts;  4. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 31pts
MXGP – Moto One
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 34:54.035; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 34:56.179; 3. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 35:16.567…  6. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 35:31.778
MXGP – Moto Two
1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 34:00.470; 2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 34:08.331; 3. Ruben Fernandez (Honda) 34:10.427…  5. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 34:18.269
MXGP – Championship Standings
1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 141pts; 2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 124pts; 3. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 118pts…  11. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 57pts; 15. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 42pts
MX2 – Overall
1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 47pts; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 47pts; 3. Mikkel Haarup (Kawasaki) 38pts…  17. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 4pts
MX2 – Moto One
1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 35:13.24; 2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 35:15.605; 3. Mattia Guadagnini (GASGAS) 35:44.369…  17. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 08:48.605
MX2 – Moto Two
1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 34:09.782; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 34:16.245; 3. Mikkel Haarup (Kawasaki) 34:20.693
MX2 – Championship Standings
1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 137pts; 2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 111pts; 3. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 110pts…  7. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 78pts; 13. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 55pts

Drawing his participation in the 2022 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship to a close at round five in Germany, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt has delivered another dominant display of riding, clinching the overall win in Riesa. Having secured the world title last night at the same venue, Bolt’s victory ensured a clean sweep of podium results across the five rounds. Fighting tooth and nail, teammate Colton Haaker ended his championship campaign in third overall.

Less than 24 hours after winning the 2022 SuperEnduro World Championship in Riesa, Bolt was back inside the stadium on Sunday afternoon for the fifth and final round of the season. A reversed course offered new motivation for Billy as he aimed for an unbeaten run of overall victories this season.

Posting the fastest time in SuperPole on his FE 350 set the tone for what was to follow. Immediately taking the lead on the opening lap of race one, the British rider soon checked out. Comfortably attacking all of the biggest obstacles, he eased away from the field to take a commanding 27-second margin of victory.

In race two with the start order reversed, Billy eased his way around the first corner before beginning his fight forward. Up to third on lap three, he put his Husqvarna into the lead on lap five and controlled proceedings from there to take his second win.

Determined to sign off his season on a high, Bolt gated third in race three but was leading by the end of lap one. Clocking in a series of near-perfect laps, he claimed the race win to end his championship campaign on the top step of the podium for the fifth time in as many rounds.

In what’s been an incredible year, Billy not only won the world title, but won all five SuperPole qualifications and took 14 race wins from a possible 15. He now sets his sights on successfully defending his FIM Hard Enduro World Championship crown, beginning with the season opener in Israel on April 5-7, in less than three weeks’ time.

Entering the final round of the championship tied on points for second, Haaker was focused on making it a Husqvarna 1-2 in SuperEnduro. However, things didn’t quite go to plan for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider with some small mistakes proving more costly than expected.

Third in SuperPole, he then raced to third in the opening race. Quickly getting to the front of the field in race two, Colton led until lap four before giving way to Bolt. With second looking likely, a small error saw him slip to third on the final lap. Putting in his best showing of the afternoon, Haaker raced hard in race three, hoping luck would fall his way. Battling with rival Jonny Walker, Colton eventually took second place. Although not quite enough to claim the championship runner-up position, the American nevertheless did enough to secure a well-deserved third overall in the final standings.

With the 2022 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship complete, Husqvarna Factory Racing now turn their attention outdoors to the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. Round one takes place in Israel on April 5-7.

Billy Bolt:   “It’s pretty much been the perfect season and to cap things off with a clean sweep here in Riesa is brilliant. I’ve really enjoyed things this weekend. Winning the title last night left me pretty relaxed coming into today and I felt like that showed in my riding and I delivered one of my best performances of the season. To win all but one race this year is pretty special too. It’s been an amazing championship, which has gone so well from the start. The races in Hungary weren’t easy, and I’m a little frustrated that I got beaten in that first heat there, which is my only loss all year. From my team, family, friends, and everyone around me that supports me, I can’t thank them enough. I’ll try to let this moment sink in as champion and then look to getting focused and back on the 2-stroke for Hard Enduro next month.”

Colton Haaker:  “Coming into the final night of the series tied on points with Jonny (Walker) I knew what I had to do. The track was really good, and I felt good, but I just made a silly mistake in the opening final, which put me a long way back. I tried as hard as I could to catch up, but it didn’t really happen. The second moto was going great, I was second into the final lap, ahead of Jonny, and I got into it with another rider. I didn’t want to take any risks, which meant that I basically meant that I needed to win the final round. And with Billy riding so well that’s not easy to do. I finished second in the race, third in the championship. It’s been a fun series. Husqvarna have done great, and congrats to Billy for an incredible championship.”

Andi Hölzl:   “We are so, so happy about Billy winning the SuperEnduro World Championship title. He has been incredible this season. It’s a very well-deserved championship. He’s been incredibly fast and consistent this season, only once not winning a heat race during five events and always being the fastest in qualification. Colton also did his very best to make it a Husqvarna 1-2 in the series, finishing in a strong third in the championship. It’s been a great season, now we look forward to the Hard Enduro World Championship.”

Results - FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 5

Prestige Event Classification
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts;  2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 51pts;  3. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 48pts…

Prestige Race 1
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 6:58.865;  2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:26.159;  3. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:39.039…

Prestige Race 2
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:06.884;  2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:17.514;  3. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:27.321…

Prestige Race 3
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:02.484; 2. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:20.357;  3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:27.154…

Final Championship Standings
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 321pts;  2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 232pts;  3. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 229pts;  4. Diogo Vieira (GAS GAS) 147pts; 5. Tim Apolle (Beta) 141pts…

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.
It has been a long time coming for Hampshire, who’s led plenty of laps already this season. The Florida native had an encouraging start to the day, qualifying inside the top-five once again. In 250SX Heat 1, he powered his FC 250 into third off the start, quickly making the pass into second. It was smooth sailing from there, as he trailed the leader for the remainder of the heat to secure his third heat-race podium this year. In the Main Event, Hampshire got buried mid-pack off the start but he quickly picked off riders to break into the top-five on the fifth lap. As the track deteriorated, Hampshire only got stronger as he gained two more positions to put himself into a podium position mid-way through the race. Hampshire did all the right things in the second half of the race to set himself up to secure his first (non-Triple Crown) Main Event podium of the season. “We made progress tonight,” Hampshire said. “It’s been a struggle and I haven’t been comfortable at all. When the Main Event came, I just kind of managed my race and didn’t try to push anything and we had our best result of the season so far. So, I can’t be too bummed on the night. It’s a good way to end this little stint and we’ll go into the break and get some time on the bike that I’ve been racing. Hopefully we will have a new guy when we come back in a couple weeks for St. Louis.” Team rider Stilez Robertson missed Round 5 of the 250SX East after injuring his wrist in a practice crash earlier in the week. 450SX Dean Wilson made huge strides tonight with season-best performances across the board in Indy. Stepping up right away with a sixth-place in qualifying, Wilson positioned himself well for the heat. He charged into fifth off the start in 450SX Heat 1 and he set his sights on a podium position early on. Pacing the top two riders in third, Wilson held that spot until the checkered flag, capturing his best heat-race finish of the season. In the 450SX Main Event, Wilson put in a commendable ride despite challenging track conditions throughout the race. With a ninth-place start, he rode inside the top-10 for the first few laps before settling into eighth for most of the race. He picked up another spot for seventh when his teammate crashed late in the race and he held strong to claim a season-best seventh on the night.  "Indianapolis was definitely a step in the right direction,” Wilson said. “I’m definitely getting closer to the guys up front but tonight was a very, very technical track. In the main, I just kind of struggled with the ruts and the whoops were really tricky. P7 is my best finish yet but I’m not real stoked on it because my riding wasn’t very good, but definitely some positives that we’ll take to Seattle next weekend.” A top-three qualifying position for Malcolm Stewart set him up well for 450SX Heat 2, where he pulled the holeshot and battled for the early lead. Settling into second, he made a few attempts on the leader throughout the nine-lap race but wasn’t able to make anything stick, ultimately finishing second in the heat. In the Main Event, Stewart secured another great start in third and he got shuffled back to fourth by the second lap. Riding in fourth for a majority of the race, Stewart kept himself within striking distance of the podium heading into the final stretch. After charging through the whoops, Stewart got cross-rutted in the next section and came up short, sending him over the bars and onto the ground. It took a while to remount his machine but he was able to cross the line in eighth and salvage valuable points in the championship chase. “I feel like Indy actually treated me well,” Stewart said. “I’ve always liked this track and the atmosphere here has always been good. In the Main Event, I was sitting in fourth and I didn’t feel bad at all. The track was tough for everybody and I made one big mistake that kind of cost me but honestly, I’m just thankful that I’m okay. I’m a little bummed and irritated but it actually motivates me a little bit more to get back up there and get ready for Seattle. Let’s go get ‘em!” Round 12: March 26 – Seattle SX – Seattle, Washington Round 11 Results: Indianapolis SX 450SX Results  1. Eli Tomac (YAM) 2. Justin Barcia (GAS) 3. Marvin Musquin (KTM) … 7. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 8. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing   250SX East Results 1. Jett Lawrence (HON) 2. Cameron Mcadoo (KAW) 3. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 255 points 2. Jason Anderson – 204 points 3. Justin Barcia – 204 points 4. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 202 points … 9. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 135 points 250SX East Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 125 points 2. Cameron Mcadoo – 114 points 3. Pierce Brown – 87 points 4. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 81 points … 8. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 67 points

An exciting second Grand Prix of the 2022 MotoGP™ schedule saw Husqvarna Motorcycles push for a trophy at the Mandalika circuit’s inauguration. MotoGP headed to the new Pertamina Mandalika Circuit on the island of Lombok for round two of 21 in the 2022 series. While the MotoGP class had discovered the curves and demands of Mandalika in a three-day test the previous month, the Moto3 class were learning the trajectory for the first time. The facility had only recently been completed and the track asphalt had largely been re-laid after the initial MotoGP visit. The first Grand Prix in Indonesia since 1997 was a challenge due to the unseen course but also the climate. The team and riders had to deal with high temperatures and showery conditions that created mixed grip and traction issues throughout practice and qualification. The Sterilgarda Max Racing Team were down to one-rider representation in Lombok as John McPhee sustained a back injury in a training accident the previous week and could not participate at Mandalika. This left Ayumu Sasaki as the main hope on the Husqvarna Motorcycles FR 250 GP. The Japanese quickly adapted to the circuit and headed the time sheets after Friday. His effort in Q2 qualification meant he lined-up 10th on the grid and heading the fourth row. Sunday morning dawned sunny and hot. Sasaki pushed his way into the running for the podium as eventual winner Dennis Foggia broke free. A hectic battle for the 2nd and 3rd rostrum places occurred for most of the 23 laps and Sasaki was in the thick of the action until the final lap when a small misjudgement caused him to lose control and have contact with Andrea Migno. The incident took both riders down and out of the race. Round three of 2022 MotoGP means a long trip west rather than east. The series will move to the flat and twisty Termas de Rio Hondo circuit for the Gran Premio Michelin de la Republic Argentina on the first Sunday of April. Ayumu Sasaki: “We struggled a bit in the group and I wasn’t that strong on hard braking, so it was very difficult for me to overtake which was a shame because I had good pace. On the last three laps I tried to gain positions but made a mistake. I feel very disappointed and I’m sorry for the other rider. I just wanted to try for the best. Unfortunately we didn’t get any point again. We know we have good pace and we are strong so we will try to reset and restart in Argentina.” Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 2 1. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 38:51.668, 2. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) +2.612. 3. Carlos Tatay (CFMOTO) +0.573. DNF. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna), DNS. John McPhee (Husqvarna) Moto3 world championship standings 1. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 34pts, 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 33. 3. Izan Guevara (GASGAS) 16. 10. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 11, 24. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 0

Delivering yet another showstopping performance, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt has successfully defended his FIM SuperEnduro World Championship crown thanks to a victorious result at the penultimate round of the season in Germany. Winning all three races, plus SuperPole qualification, he simply dominated the proceedings from start to finish. Rising to the fore in Riesa, teammate Colton Haaker made it a Husqvarna 1-2 on the night’s overall podium. Claiming three seconds place finishes, Haaker also moves to second overall in the championship chase.

As winner of all three rounds of the 2022 season to date, Bolt arrived at the penultimate stop in Germany with a healthy 50-point lead in the championship and with the potential to wrap up the title one round early.

Quick to get going, the Brit set a blisteringly fast time in SuperPole to top the qualification by almost one-and-a-half seconds from Haaker. From the drop of the gate in race one, Bolt led the way on his FE 350. Gaining time on the highly technical rock climb, he pulled further and further from his rivals to win by 23 seconds.

Unfazed by the reversed start order for race two, Billy calmly set about his business. Ending lap one in seventh, he then moved his way into the top-four. Up to second, Bolt then found a way past Haaker with two laps to go to take the lead and ultimately the race win.

Knowing a win in race three could seal the world title, Billy set about doing exactly that. Quickly out front, he led all but one of the nine laps. A small mistake midway allowed those behind to close up, but with composure resumed, Bolt raced ahead to win the race and with it successfully defend his SuperEnduro crown.

For Haaker, the penultimate round of the series saw the American deliver his best result of the season to date. Up for the challenge, he hit the ground running in Riesa, taking second in SuperPole.

Enjoying the course, Colton put in a confident ride in race one, moving into second on lap two and holding it for the remainder of the race. Race two saw him lead the majority of proceedings. Holding station out front, he fought hard to keep teammate Bolt at bay. But with two laps to go Billy found a way through and Colton had to settle for second.

In the third and final race, Colton sat in third, but with his eyes focused on second place. Pushing for all his worth, he made a pass stick to take the position on the final lap and with it secure the runner-up place on the overall podium. With his strong performance, Colton now moves into second overall in the championship with just one round remaining in Riesa tomorrow night.

The 2022 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship concludes with round five in Riesa, Germany on March 20.

Billy Bolt:   “I’m lost for words. I didn’t get to have this winning moment the first time around, so it’s brilliant to have it here in Germany tonight. It makes it feel that much more real, you know. I knew it was possible to win the title one round early here in Germany, but I was trying not to think about that. I just wanted to enjoy my riding and see what would happen. I felt good on the track and didn’t push past where I felt my limits were. To be a two-time SuperEnduro World Champion is incredible, but it’s very much a team effort too within Husqvarna, my family, and friends. We’ve one more race tomorrow, so we can’t celebrate too much tonight!”

Colton Haaker:   “It’s been the best round of the season so far going 2-2-2 for second overall. Second in points now with one round to go, which is cool. But I’m finding it a bit tough to be honest. I’m fighting arm pump a lot and after about three laps I’m almost in survival mode. I feel like there’s more to give. I’m trying to stay positive and work to be better. Tomorrow is the last round so I want to give it my best shot and end it on a high.”

Results – FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Round 4

Prestige Event Classification
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts, 2. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 53pts;  3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 45pts…

Prestige Race 1
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:26.921; 2. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:49.865;  3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 8:12.759…

Prestige Race 2
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:28.730; 2. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:37.937;  3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 7:51.120…

Prestige Race 3
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:38.575; 2. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 9 laps, 7:45.317;  3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 9 laps, 7:46.502…

Championship Standings (After round 4)
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 249pts; 2. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 181pts;  3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 181pts…

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart had a near-perfect night at Round 10 of the AMA Supercross Championship, landing his FC 450 Rockstar Edition on the second step of the 450SX podium after claiming the top qualifying and heat race finishes earlier in the night. In the 250SX East division, teammate RJ Hampshire delivered a hard-fought performance to finish just off the podium with a season-best fourth in the Main Event.
Stewart set himself up for a positive night once again, claiming an impressive pole position in the 450SX class for the second-straight round. In 450SX Heat 2, Stewart continued to boost his own confidence as he grabbed the holeshot and led all nine laps en route to his third heat-win of the season. With a tough start in the Main Event, Stewart got pushed toward the back of the pack in 14th. Picking up five spots within a lap, he continued to pick up the pace to bring himself inside the top five around the halfway mark. As the track conditions became more challenging, Stewart only got stronger and he carried great momentum into the second half of racing. He passed on the inside of the finish-line turn to move into podium contention and he diced back-and-forth for third later in the race. With just a few laps remaining, Stewart was gifted a position when a crash occurred ahead of him and he capitalized all the way through the checkers, clinching a solid second overall at Round 10. “I felt good all day. P1 in practice and in the heat race, I knew we had a good ball rolling,” Stewart said. “In the Main Event, I didn’t get the best start but I just really had to ride because it’s one of those tracks where it’s going to bite you at any time. I just started clicking off laps and I didn’t really want to put too much thought into it, I just wanted to get up there. Once I started seeing riders crash – like top-tier riders going down – it was kind of crazy but we ended up second and I’m thankful. Let’s just keep the momentum going!” Top-10 out of the gate in 450SX Heat 1, teammate Dean Wilson made quick work of his competitors to jump into sixth early on. Continuing to charge further towards the front, Wilson was pushing the limits and lost the front-end in the corner after a triple. Dropping to 16th, he earned back several positions to ultimately land a sixth-place transfer position. In the 450SX Main Event, Wilson had a roller-coaster performance. He was shuffled to the back of the field after the start. Within two laps, he had scored five positions up to 11th but he crashed in the whoops and dropped back to 19th. He re-mounted and climbed to 16th before once again going down and falling to 19th near the middle of the race. Putting in a strong ride late in the race, Wilson was able to salvage 14th on the night. "The Main Event didn’t turn out very well for me,” Wilson said. “I was in a good position, top-five actually, but I crashed in the whoops. I got up from that and had another fall, so unfortunately, not a good night. The track caught a lot of riders tonight and unfortunately, I was one of them. But I am healthy, so we’ll be back next weekend.” 250SX East After qualifying fifth, RJ Hampshire had a strong gate pick for 250SX Heat 2 and he pulled a great holeshot, narrowly missing a first-turn pileup. Facing intense pressure from the series leader, Hampshire slid back to second early in the race. Halfway through, he lost his rhythm and missed a whoop, dropping him back to fifth, where he ultimately finished. Hampshire had a mid-pack start in the Main Event and he set his sights on chipping away at the positions ahead of him. He was up to seventh by the third lap, breaking into the top-five around the mid-way point. With only a couple laps remaining, he charged into fourth and held off a couple hard-charging riders to ultimately finish just off the podium in fourth. “Man, it was a tough day,” Hampshire said. “Lost in the shambles for about 90 percent of it but we managed to get out of here healthy. We did what we could in the Main Event and will try to be better for next weekend.” In 250SX Heat 1, Stilez Robertson blasted his FC 250 off of the line into sixth. Over the next six laps, he steadily worked his way up to second. Pushing toward the lead position, Robertson gave a good effort to ultimately secure a solid second. In the 250SX Main Event, he narrowly missed the holeshot but he immediately pushed into the lead. With the top riders racing wheel-to-wheel early on, Robertson wasn’t able to hold them all off and he slipped to second. Around the halfway point, the 19-year-old sat in sixth but a couple mistakes dropped him back to ultimately finish eighth on the night. Four rounds into the series, Robertson sits fourth overall in the championship standings. “Not much to say really, it wasn’t a great day for me,” Robertson said. “My starts were good but the riding was off all day. We’re going to put our head down this week and get to where we belong.” Round 11: March 19 – Indianapolis SX – Indianapolis, Indiana Round 10 Results: Detroit SX 450SX Results 1. Eli Tomac (YAM) 2. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 3. Justin Barcia (GAS) … 14. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing   250SX East Results 1. Jett Lawrence (HON) 2. Cameron Mcadoo (KAW) 3. Pierce Brown (GAS) 4. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing … 8. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing   450SX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 229 points 2. Jason Anderson – 187 points 3. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 187 points … 10. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 119 points   250SX East Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 99 points 2. Cameron Mcadoo – 91 points 3. Pierce Brown – 68 points 4. Stilez Robertson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 67 points … 7. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 60 points

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides and Skyler Howes have both successfully reached the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge finish line after five largely positive days of racing. With Luciano securing a stage win and commendably opening three of the event’s specials, Skyler improved day-by-day with both his pace and confidence returning after his injury earlier this year. In the overall classification, Benavides would place ninth overall with Howes just 15 seconds adrift in 10th.

Facing his toughest test of the entire ADDC on the final day of racing, Luciano Benavides opened the short, 209-kilometre special following his impressive stage win yesterday. With the relatively simple and fast special offering little to separate the riders, Luciano would lose only a minimal amount of time to the leaders and complete the stage as 14th fastest. In what proved to be a considerable learning experience for Luciano in Abu Dhabi, the Argentinian embraced all the challenges that fell his way and would ultimately secure ninth overall.

With little time aboard his FR 450 Rally prior to the ADDC due to injury, the Skyler Howes used the event to race himself back into shape with a third-place finish on stage three undoubtedly the highlight of his week. Improving with each passing day, the American completed the rally with a strong sixth-place finish on stage five and despite an understandably steady start to the ADDC, Skyler would place 10th overall in the final standings.

Luciano Benavides:   “I’m happy to have reached the finish line healthy and it was a challenging race for sure. I opened three of the stages, which was difficult but I embraced the challenge and learned a lot. It was a great experience opening each time that’s for sure. For the next race I need to be a little bit stronger early on so that I’m up front in the overall as once you lose time it’s so hard to make it up on the leaders. Winning yesterday’s stage was great for my confidence though and it shows that I have the speed. Overall, there has been a lot of positives that I’ll take away from here.”

Skyler Howes:   “The final stage was pretty simple and straightforward, and I rode alone for all of it, which does add a little bit of difficulty. But overall, throughout the rally I’ve improved, and my confidence has returned after my crash at the Dakar. I got stronger all week and by day three I was back to feeling like my normal self out there. It’s great to be back with the team and racing again and finishing this race in one piece, so I’m happy about that and now it’s onto the next one.”

2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Stage 5 Provisional Classification

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 2:20:57
2. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 2:21:31
3. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 2:22:08
4. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 2:24:12
5. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 2:24:30
6. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 2:25:22
…
14. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 2:30:33

2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Provisional Overall Classification [After Stage 5]

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 16:54:24
2. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 16:57:32
3. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 16:58:20
4. Toby Price (KTM) 17:02:41
5. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 17:02:55
6. Joaquim Rodrigues (Hero) 17:04:34
…
9. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 17:15:17
10. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 17:15:32

Following on from yesterday’s positive results for Husqvarna Factory Racing at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Luciano Benavides has raced to an impressive stage victory on the penultimate day of the rally. The Argentine was on form throughout the 243-kilometre special, delivering a faultless ride to claim a deserved debut stage win ahead of the final day of the event. Adding to the success for the team, Skyler Howes narrowly missed out on a top-five finish, ultimately posting the sixth-fastest time.

As the 11th rider to enter stage four, Luciano Benavides was poised for a strong result as he could utilise the lines left in the sand by the leading riders. Despite this known advantage, the Argentine opted to concentrate on his roadbook to avoid any potential deviations from the route and focused on riding his own race. Even at the day’s refuelling station when informed that the win was a strong possibility, Luciano applied the same strategy to the very end of the special, which rewarded him with the first stage win of his career in the FIM Rally-Raid World Championship.

Rounding out a positive day of racing for Husqvarna Factory Racing at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Skyler Howes, lifted by his third-place finish yesterday, completed the stage four special as the sixth fastest rider.

The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge draws to a close tomorrow with stage five leading all competitors to the event’s finish line at Yas Marina. With Luciano and Skyler moving up the provisional standings after posting strong results on stage four, both riders are on form and eager to advance even further up the leaderboard on the final day of racing.

Luciano Benavides:   “I really wanted a stage win and it feels really good to finally secure one for myself, but also the team as together we have been working really hard. From the start today I pushed really hard and I knew that I had a good opportunity to win after starting in 11th. At the refuelling stop I knew I was in with a good chance of winning but I kept focused on myself and my riding and relied on my roadbook to minimise mistakes, which paid off. I’m so happy to have finally won a stage! Tomorrow I look forward to the challenge of opening the final day of this race and my aim is for another strong result.”

Skyler Howes :  “Another positive day today. It took a while to get up to speed early on and then Toby Price caught me, so I rode with him to the end, which helped me to maintain a strong pace. There was some tricky terrain about halfway in but overall, it was a fun stage and a good day on the bike. I’m going to make a few small adjustments with my settings just to fine-tune things a little and then my focus is on a strong final day tomorrow.”

2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Stage 4 Provisional Classification

1. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:04:10
2. Toby Price (KTM) 3:04:42
3. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 3:05:14
4. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 3:06:02
5. Joaquim Rodrigues (Hero) 3:07:07
6. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 3:07:51

2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Provisional Overall Classification [After Stage 4]

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 14:33:27
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 14:33:50
3. Toby Price (KTM) 14:35:09
4. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 14:36:01
5. Joaquim Rodrigues (Hero) 14:38:36
6. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 14:40:47
…
9. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 14:44:44
10. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 14:50:10

Delivering a strong third-place finish on stage three of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Skyler Howes signalled his return to form with an impressive display of riding and navigation on what was another tough day in the desert. Luciano Benavides was faced with the arduous task of opening most of the 255-kilometre special and would ultimately post the 11th fastest time.

Returning to form on day three of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Skyler Howes posted the third quickest time after a solid day of racing through the mixed terrain special stage. Improving with every completed stage as he continues to rebuild after his early season injury, the American now aims to bring the same speed and form into the final two stages of the rally.

Second into stage three after his impressive runner-up result yesterday, Luciano Benavides quickly moved past the leading rider to open the special. In what was a highly commendable display of navigation, while also managing to maintain a strong pace, the FR 450 Rally mounted rider was never caught by the chasing pack, leading them home while only losing a minimal amount of time. Luciano would ultimately record the 11th fastest time.

The penultimate stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge takes place tomorrow and after an encouraging day in the desert for Husqvarna Factory Racing riders today, Skyler and Luciano look forward to another positive day of racing ahead of the final stage on Thursday.

Skyler Howes:   “I felt much more like myself today despite a small crash in the dunes. From the start things were much better. I got into a good rhythm early and maintained that pace all the way to the end. For most of it I was riding in a group, which was fun and overall it was just a much better day and a step in the right direction. I’m really happy after today and the goal is to carry this momentum into the final two days of the rally.”

Luciano Benavides:  “Today was a long day with lots of positives. I was able to catch and pass Ross Branch at around the 50-kilometre mark, so I knew my pace was good and then I opened the stage for the rest of the day pretty much. After refuelling I was riding with Kevin (Benavides) until he crashed so I stopped to make sure he was ok and then pushed on to the finish. There was some complicated navigation in the dunes near the end but I enjoyed the challenge and reached the finish without any issues. I’m happy and looking forward to tomorrow.”

2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Stage 3 Provisional Classification

1. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 3:24:13
2. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 3:25:14
3. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 3:26:43
4. Toby Price (KTM) 3:28:20
5. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 3:28:22
6. Joaquim Rodrigues (Hero) 3:28:55
…
11. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:38:38

2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Provisional Overall Classification [After Stage 3]

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 11:23:47
2. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 11:28:11
3. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 11:28:15
4. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 11:28:36
5. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 11:29:59
6. Toby Price (KTM) 11:30:27
…
10. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 11:40:34
11. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 11:42:19

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has continued his positive start to the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge with an impressive runner-up result on stage two. After narrowly missing out on taking the stage win, Luciano now advances to sixth in the provisional classification. For Skyler Howes, after nearly crashing twice early on, the American opted to focus on reaching the finish safely and with a strong pace, ultimately recording the 10th fastest time.

The second stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge proved to be a serious test of endurance for both riders and their machines. With all competitors racing for well over four hours, it was a long and physical day in the saddle with both Husqvarna Factory Racing riders completing the 316-kilometre stage safely and advancing up the overall leaderboard at the close of day two.

Luciano Benavides, despite taking a little while to find his rhythm across the rolling sand dunes, maintained a strong pace up until he reached the refuelling station. From there, and knowing that the stage win was a possibility, the Argentine upped his speed and navigated accurately. Ultimately securing a runner-up finish on the special, he placed just 39 seconds adrift of the overall stage winner.

Continuing to rebuild his strength and endurance, Skyler Howes rode with caution on stage two to reach the finish line without issue. The American’s strategy worked perfectly as he completed the stage without losing too much time to the leading riders. Howes now lies 11th overall in the provisional standings with three days of racing remaining.

Tomorrow brings stage three of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the second leg of the event’s marathon stage. With both Luciano and Skyler successfully completing the first leg with their FR 450 Rally machines running perfectly, only the necessary checks were needed ahead of day three.

Luciano Benavides:   “Second place for me today is a really good result. It took me a little while to get going on the stage but once I arrived at the refuelling station, I realised that I wasn’t too far from the lead. After that I pushed on to the end and felt great on the bike and everything came together really well. It was another tough stage physically and there was some tricky navigation as well, so I had to really focus and it paid off. It was a great day and we’ll build from here.”

Skyler Howes:   “Day two done and it was a long and demanding stage today. Early on I had a couple of close calls and then I saw that Michael Docherty had crashed pretty bad, so I hope he’s ok. From there on I rode a strong and steady pace. I knew it wasn’t enough to secure a decent result, but we have three more days and I know I have a lot more to give. I’m still rebuilding after some time off before this race but I feel good on the bike so it’s on me now. I’ll regroup and focus on tomorrow.”

2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Stage 2 Provisional Classification

1. Ross Branch (Hero) 4:10:28
2. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 4:11:07
3. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 4:11:09
4. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 4:11:17
5. Franco Caimi (Hero) 4:12:02
6. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 4:14:20
…
11. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 4:18:29 2022

Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Provisional Overall Classification [After Stage 2]

1. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 7:52:48
2. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 7:57:11
3. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 7:57:52
4. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 7:58:33
5. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 8:00:14
6. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 8:01:56
…
11. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 8:15:36

Kay de Wolf has raced to a sensational podium finish aboard his Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing FC 250 at the second stop of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship. De Wolf raced to 3-4 finishes on the Mantova circuit, which hosted the Grand Prix of Lombardia, and continued his strong run of form in the MX2 division. Roan van de Moosdijk, his teammate, had positives to take from his outing on Italian soil too, as did the Standing Construct Husqvarna Factory Racing duo of Brian Bogers and Pauls Jonass.

De Wolf entered the two motos today with the fifth gate pick, a position that he put to good use in the first stint. Completing lap one in fourth, after a strong start, de Wolf charged into third quite quickly and set his sights on the leaders. A race-long charge meant that he was attacking the rider in the runner-up spot in the closing stages, but he ultimately came up just short and settled for third. Six tenths separated him from the rider in second at the chequered flag. The second moto was extremely eventful for the MX2 sophomore, who engaged in a race-long battle for a podium spot. De Wolf shadowed the race leaders for much of the race, before eventually bursting into second place. A last-lap duel for that position ensued and, unfortunately, de Wolf crashed just three turns from the finish line. Refusing to give up, he climbed onto his FC 250 and salvaged a fourth in the moto to take third overall at the Grand Prix of Lombardia. De Wolf has now advanced to the same position in the championship standings.

For van de Moosdijk, the Grand Prix of Lombardia was an impressive display of both grit and determination. Fighting hard after a heavy impact in the qualifying heat, he battled from tenth to fifth in the first moto of the day and was just two seconds from the rider in fourth at the end. A crash in the first turn of moto two destroyed his chances of another top-five finish, but he charged hard to salvage a fifteenth. Tenth was his final ranking in the overall classification. Mantova has been kind to Brian Bogers in the past and today was no different – he showed impressive pace and narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the premier division. Bogers ran as high as fourth in moto one, before settling for seventh, and then challenged the top three in the second encounter. Bogers was second early on, before settling into a comfortable third place and holding that to the very end. Fourth was his overall ranking on what was a successful day at the Grand Prix of Lombardia.

Pauls Jonass was excited to make his first appearance on the Standing Construct Husqvarna Factory Racing FC 450, after recovering from a small surgery, and did remarkably well with a lack of seat time. Jonass took an impressive tenth in moto one, before turning his focus to the upcoming rounds of the current campaign. A weekend off will offer the Husqvarna Factory Racing riders an opportunity to regroup before tackling the Grand Prix of Patagonia-Argentina, run at the sandy track of Neuquén, on March 20. The race will mark the first time that the FIM Motocross World Championship has travelled overseas in more than two years.

Kay de Wolf:  "I did not have an easy Saturday at all, but we turned it around today. I had a good first moto and the riding was good in that second moto too, except for the fact that I made some small mistakes. I lost the focus a little bit. I got passed by [Simon] Langenfelder and wanted to pass him back, but we hit each other and I crashed. That dropped me from second overall to third. It was a tough pill to swallow, but I am happy to be on the podium."

Roan van de Moosdijk:  "The weekend actually started well, but then I hit my shoulder pretty hard in the qualifying heat and did not have a great gate pick for the races today. Somehow I started eighth or ninth in the first moto – the first half of that moto was really good. The pain got worse towards the end, but I still finished fifth. I crashed on the start in the second moto and came back to fifteenth. I just tried to salvage some points. I am looking forward to a weekend off before giving it my all in Argentina."

Brian Bogers:  "I was really motivated today! I had a good start in the first moto and moved to fourth, but then I started to struggle a little bit. I finished seventh. I felt a lot better in the second moto and had another good start. I settled into third quite quickly and stayed there for the whole moto. I was really happy with that third. I missed the overall podium by five points, but hopefully we can get on there in the future."

Pauls Jonass:  "The first moto was really quite okay! I struggled to get into a rhythm in the first couple of laps, but still passed some guys and finished in tenth. It was great to be back and I am looking forward to getting back onto the bike again." Results – 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round Two

MXGP – Overall

1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 47pts; 2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 42pts; 3. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 39pts…  4. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 34pts; 18. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 11pts

MXGP – Moto One

1. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 35:22.090; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 35:23.416; 3. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 35:38.194…  7. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 35:52.571; 10. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 36:08.816

MXGP – Moto Two

1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 35:46.428; 2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 35:53.443;  3. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 35:58.513 

MXGP – Championship Standings

1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 94pts; 2. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 82pts; 3. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 77pts…  5. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 57pts; 21. Pauls Jonass (Husqvarna) 11 pts

MX2 – Overall

1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 50pts; 2. Andrea Adamo (GASGAS) 38pts;  3. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 38pts… 10. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 22pts

MX2 – Moto One

1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 35:33.242; 2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 35:38.682;  3. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 35:39.283… 5. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 35:46.127

MX2 – Moto Two

1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 35:56.659; 2. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 36:00.726; 3. Andrea Adamo (GASGAS) 36:09.320…  4. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 36:10.068; 15. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 37:18.850

MX2 – Championship Standings

1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 90pts; 2. Simon Langenfelder (GASGAS) 86pts;  3. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 74pts… 6. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 55pts

A rapid period of pre-season preparation and testing led into the Grand Prix of Qatar and the first round of 21 in 2022 for the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team with their FR 250 GP machinery. The Lusail International Circuit was the traditional launch stage for MotoGP once more and has been the staple venue to kick-off the world’s fastest and most-watched motorcycle racing series for almost two decades. The Husqvarna Motorcycles team knew they would need a delicate blend of settings to master the 16 corners – most of which are right-handers – the kilometre straight and the warm and windy mid-afternoon conditions. Sterilgarda Max Racing Team were also embracing two new riders into the pitbox with the experience of John McPhee and Ayumu Sasaki giving the crew potentially their most competitive line-up for the last three years. Qualification saw Sasaki as one of the star performers. The Japanese couldn’t record a lap to enter Q2 directly but once he’d emerged from Q1 was able to vie for Pole Position and use his guile to secure a front row spot. He set off for the race from 2nd on the grid, only eight hundredths of a second from 1st. McPhee was less than a second away and lined-up in 7th, heading row three. The Grand Prix was formed of 18 laps on Sunday afternoon. Both Husqvarna Motorcycles riders slipped into the large lead group as 12 participants swapped positions and slipstreams in the fight but Sasaki swiftly leapt ahead by the second lap. He set a tremendous speed and soon built up an advantage of more than three seconds as McPhee battled hard in the mid top-ten. Sasaki seemed to be coasting to victory but a mistake into Turn 6 saw him become unseated and the impact broke his left fairing bracket. He then lost time with a technical issue and was eventually forced to retire. McPhee pushed on and was just outside the four-rider tussle for the podium. The Scot crossed the line in 5th for some decent championship points. The final race results constitute the young world championship standings (McPhee 5th and Sasaki 23rd) and now the Husqvarna Motorcycles crew head to Indonesia for their first encounter with the Pertamina Mandalika Circuit on the island of Lombok in a fortnight’s time. John McPhee : “P5 is a really solid way to start the year. I didn’t know how strong my pace would be across the race distance but we managed to compose ourselves well. It would have been perfect if I could have attacked a little bit more but I was feeling a bit on the limited. It was important to get these points on the board. A big thanks to the team because they worked so hard all weekend to help me adapt to the FR 250 GP and to understand the way to ride it. We’ll hope for better now in Indonesia.” Ayumu Sasaki: “I’m very disappointed. The team did a fantastic job and I rode well. I felt good on the bike and was really enjoying the race. The first ten laps went so quick. I was steady and calm but I had an issue on the bike. It was some bad luck. We will keep a positive mindset and still plenty of races to go. Max Biaggi, Team Principal : “We could have wished for a better end to the race but it was still a great performance from Ayumu and also by John. We have to investigate the issues but today was good proof and motivation that we are ready to win again. We will be looking for a very good result next time.”   Results – 2022 Moto3 World Championship, Round 1 1. Andrea Migno (Honda) 37:59.522, 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) +0.037. 3. Kaito Toba (KTM) +0.573. 5. John McPhee (Husqvarna) +1.064, DNF. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna)   Moto3 world championship standings 1. Andrea Migno (Honda) 25pts, 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 20. 3. Kaito Toba (KTM) 16. 5. John McPhee (Husqvarna) 11, 23. Ayumu Sasaki (Husqvarna) 0

Enjoying a positive start to the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, round two of the FIM Rally-Raid World Championship, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides and Skyler Howes have safely completed stage one just outside the top-10 overall with Luciano placing 11th and Skyler close behind in 14th.

As the seventh rider to enter the opening stage of the rally, Luciano Benavides was able to capitalise on the lines the leading riders left in the rolling sand dunes to quickly close the gap on his rivals. Shortly after refuelling, the Argentine moved to the head of the field, navigated with precision, and went on to complete the 262-kilometre timed special with the 11th fastest time. With four days of racing remaining, the 25-year-old will benefit from a favourable starting position tomorrow as he looks to begin fighting his way up the overall classification.

Returning to action after his unfortunate crash during the Dakar Rally in January, Skyler Howes enjoyed the opening stage at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. With Luciano catching up with him at the midway point of the special, the American was then able to ride alongside his teammate and focus on maintaining a strong pace to the end of the stage. Skyler would ultimately complete the special as the 14th fastest rider.

The second stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge takes place tomorrow and is set to be the longest of the event at 316 kilometres. Incorporating leg one of the rally’s marathon stage, once completed Skyler and Luciano will arrive at a temporary bivouac where they’ll prepare their FR 450 Rally machines without the support of the team before entering stage three.

Luciano Benavides:   “It’s been a good first day here in Abu Dhabi. It was a nice stage, quite fast and flowing, and quite a physical test also. From starting seventh I moved forwards and after refuelling I opened the stage. I was able to navigate really well from there and it was good for my confidence, knowing that I can ride with a good pace while navigating accurately. A great opening stage for me and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Skyler Howes:  “I really enjoyed today. It’s my first time racing here so everything is new for me but so far it’s been a great experience. Luciano caught up with me at the refuelling and then I was able to latch onto him for a while which was cool, having two Husqvarnas up front and opening the stage. He did a great job of opening and that made things a little easier for me. It’s great to be back on the bike and racing, and I felt better as the stage went on so I’m looking forward to tomorrow and seeing what else this desert has to offer.”

2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Stage 1 Provisional Classification

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 3:18:32
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 3:20:34
3. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 3:20:43
4. Michael Docherty (Husqvarna) 3:20:46
5. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 3:21:09
6. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 3:21:16
…
11. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:29:45
14. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 3:35:47

2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – Provisional Overall Classification [After Stage 1]

1. Michael Docherty (Husqvarna) 3:41:02
2. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 3:41:25
3. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 3:41:39
4. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 3:42:00
5. Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 3:43:08
6. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 3:43:54
…
11. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:50:49
14. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 3:57:07

Husqvarna Motorcycles will enter its third Grand Prix year as a prominent member of the Moto3 world championship and with high expectations as part of the alignment with the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team. The Grand Prix of Qatar will open MotoGP once again for the first round of twenty-one and the longest season in the history of the sport. The teams and riders will gather around the flat, quick and flowing Losail International Circuit course this week hoping to start their campaigns shining as bright as the Qatari lights themselves at MotoGP’s sole floodlit event and a staple part of the calendar since 2004. Husqvarna Motorcycles will wheel out the latest update of the FR 250 GP and a model that has won Moto3 Grands Prix in both 2020 and 2021. The machine will be steered by a brand-new line-up for the Sterilgarda squad – helmed by former world champion Max Biaggi and co-ordinated by Peter Öttl – with Britain’s John McPhee and Japan’s Ayumu Sasaki bringing both GP wins and podium finish pedigree to the package. The team have recently completed private and official testing. The last session involved three days of action at the Algarve International Circuit, Portimao; host to the Portuguese stop on the MotoGP trail and both riders were less than a second from the fastest time. Their shakedown work was completed and now just final refinements remain when the pitlane opens at Losail on Friday. Since the famous Husqvarna Motorcycles brand re-entered Grand Prix racing in 2020 it has gathered two victories and five podiums as well as a top-five championship finish in 2021. The Grand Prix of Qatar instigates a continental dash for the initial phase of 2022 MotoGP. After Losail the paddock will travel to the new Pertamina Mandalika Circuit – where the Moto3 class will discover the Indonesian asphalt for the first time – then to Argentina, the USA and the European segment of the schedule begins with the trip to Portimao on April 24th. John McPhee : “I’m really happy. The guys have been so welcoming, especially Peter. Working with the Husqvarna guys directly has been great because they bring so much knowledge to the group. Testing was quite exciting because I can see there is so much potential in the bike. I know we’ll be strong at the races because the FR 250 GP is so good for corner entry and also the engine package is really strong, stronger than what I’ve had in the past. We’re close to Qatar now and I’m excited to get going. I know we can do some more fine-tweaking in the Free Practice sessions we have ahead and I’m really looking forward to the season.” Ayumu Sasaki : “Riding in Qatar is always something special. I feel really motivated because we had an amazing test and I felt great on the bike and good with the team. I cannot wait to start racing and hopefully we’ll have a strong round one of the 2022 season.” Max Biaggi, Team Principal : “I am very excited to start the 2022 championship, which for Sterilgarda Max Racing represents the third consecutive year as the factory team for Husqvarna Motorcycles. It has been a very long winter, through which we have prepared the 2022 season in the best possible way with Ayumu Sasaki and John McPhee. It will be important to get off to a good start right from the first practice in Qatar.” Pit Beirer, Husqvarna Motorcycles Motorsport Director : “2022 is our third year with the FR 250 GP and those strong white colours in Moto3 and the third with Max, Peter and his crew. It is also another season where we know we will see the guys right at the front of the class and pushing for top results. For the first time the team have a new rider line-up but John and Ayumu are not new to us: they have experience and a lot of potential to give Husqvarna Motorcycles our best Moto3 championship so far.”

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. Stewart, the fifth-place qualifier, came together with another rider off the start of 450SX Heat 2 and he found himself back in 10th on the opening lap. He immediately began a charge through the field, placing his FC 450 Rockstar Edition into the top-five late in the race, ultimately securing a fifth-place transfer. In the Main Event, Stewart grabbed a top-five start and he battled in the front pack early on. Moving into fourth around the halfway point, Stewart set his sights on a podium position and he fought hard in the final laps to ultimately come away with fourth on the night. Six rounds in, Stewart holds fourth overall in the 450SX Championship standings. “I felt like the entire day was good,” Stewart said. “I already knew the track was going to be really dry and slick because we already did two races and this was the final round. I felt like the biggest factor of tonight was the whoops and I just tried to be smart – this was one of those races where you could gain some and lose a lot, so I’m happy with taking another top-five finish. We’re definitely keeping the ball rolling.” Team rider Dean Wilson fought his way through a challenging night. Qualifying a season-best seventh, Wilson found himself mid-pack off the start in 450SX Heat 2 and he made his way into a qualifying position by lap two. However, he went down just after the halfway point and dropped outside the top-nine, resulting in a trip to the last chance qualifier. With a solid performance in the LCQ, Wilson secured a second-place transfer into the Main Event. He got off to a 13th place start in the main and he climbed his way up to the top-10 battle. He continued to charge through the second half of the race, finishing 12th on the night. "My night was a little bit rough,” Wilson said. “I qualified well but I crashed in my heat race and had to go to the LCQ, which is never ideal. After that, I was far outside on the gate and was just kind of in traffic the whole time and the best I could do is 12th. I really struggled in the main with flow, I felt like I was kind of fighting my bike everywhere. Not my best night but we’ll work on trying to be better.” In the 250SX division, team rider Jalek Swoll started off with a fifth-place start in 250SX Heat 2 and he battled just outside the podium all race long. He passed into fourth on lap five and held that position until the final lap when a mistake ultimately dropped him back to fifth. In the Main Event, Swoll put himself into a great position off the start as he battled in podium contention on the opening lap. While running fourth, Swoll suffered a crash through the whoops that would ultimately end his night early. “It was a short night but I felt good and I’m thankful to be leaving from the crash healthy,” Swoll said. “I felt good – like I got back up to how I was feeling before the crash at A1. I made some good passes at the beginning and felt like I was on that forward charge and the whoops bit me and bit me quick. It’s all good, I’m going into this break with my head down and we’ll get back to being on one of these top-three steps.” Round 7: February 19 – Minneapolis SX – Minneapolis, Minnesota Round 6 Results: Anaheim 3 SX 450SX Results 1. Jason Anderson (KAW) 2, Eli Tomac (YAM) 3. Justin Barcia (GAS) 4. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing … 12. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250SX West Results 1. Christian Craig (YAM) 2. Vince Friese (HON) 3. Michael Mosiman (GAS) … 21. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 134 points 2. Jason Anderson – 122 points 3. Chase Sexton – 116 points 4. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 112 points … 11. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 72 points 250SX West Rider Point Standings 1. Christian Craig – 148 points 2. Michael Mosiman – 120 points 3. Hunter Lawrence – 119 points … 12. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 53 points

Husqvarna Motorcycles is pleased to announce an extension to its successful partnership with Rockstar Energy Drink for 2022 and 2023. The renewed agreement will see the energy drink giant exclusively direct its full support behind the North American sector of Husqvarna Factory Racing.

Beginning a highly successful collaboration in 2015 with the creation of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, the team has enjoyed a wealth of achievements across multiple disciplines. Headlined by Jason Anderson claiming the first AMA 450 Supercross Championship title for Husqvarna Motorcycles in 2018, Zach Osborne secured two 250SX East titles and two Pro Motocross crowns during his prosperous time racing with the squad.

Competing in enduro, Colton Haaker has claimed an incredible five AMA EnduroCross Championship titles alongside his three FIM SuperEnduro World Championship victories, all of which were achieved throughout the last six years as part of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing. Additionally, Billy Bolt recently became the first-ever FIM Hard Enduro World Champion.

To celebrate the continued partnership between Husqvarna Motorcycles and Rockstar Energy, two exciting and innovative motocross models - the FC 450 Rockstar Edition and FC 250 Rockstar Edition – have recently been released. Featuring cutting-edge technology and complete with race-tested components, the motorcycles underline the strength of the collaboration and form the basis of the machines being raced by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna in the 2022 AMA Supercross season.
Roger De Coster - Director of Motorsport in North America:  "Partnering with Rockstar Energy Drink seven years ago has led to many great milestones and achievements by the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team in supercross, motocross, and offroad. We’ve won many races and multiple championships along the way, and just this last weekend we saw our newest 450SX racer Malcolm Stewart score a career-best second-place result in Phoenix, so we look forward to continuing to build on this great partnership. With new Team Manager Nathan Ramsey and Crew Chief Tony Hall along with longstanding Team Coordinator Sean Murphy at the helm of the SX/MX team, and Offroad Team Manager Anthony DiBasilio in charge of our offroad program, we look forward to reaching even higher highs with the support of Rockstar Energy Drink throughout the upcoming racing seasons. ”

Robert Jonas - Vice President Motorsports Offroad:   “After many successful years together and on behalf of Husqvarna Motorcycles, I am really delighted to announce that our partnership with Rockstar Energy has been extended. The relationship has undergone some changes in recent months but ultimately, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing will continue to compete in North America in both AMA Supercross and Motocross, as well as in all offroad disciplines. Together with Rockstar Energy, we have achieved so much in recent years with multiple championships secured in both the USA and Europe. We now look forward to the coming seasons and achieving more success.”
Faby Torres -  GM and CEO of PepsiCo Energy:   “It’s been an incredible journey with Husqvarna Motorcycles the last six seasons. In shifting our focus to North American racing efforts, I have no doubt we’ll continue with our successful partnership. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing has been one of the best performing teams in the United States, giving our brand forward visibility. Looking ahead, with the riders and team personnel assembled for 2022, I’m confident we’ll continue to win more championship titles together.”

Husqvarna Motorcycles is pleased to announce that Standing Construct Husqvarna Factory Racing will officially represent the brand in the MXGP World Championship in 2022. Joining forces with the prestigious team will see both racers, Pauls Jonass and Brian Bogers, compete aboard proven FC 450 machinery with the highly talented duo excited for the new season to begin later this month on February 2022.

With Standing Construct Husqvarna retaining the services of former MX2 World Champion Pauls Jonass alongside the very capable Dutch racer Brian Bogers, the team looks to build upon its highly positive 2021 term in the MXGP World Championship which brought multiple podiums and top-five results for both riders.

Beginning with the MXGP of Great Britain on February 20, the 20-round MXGP series is scheduled to return to a traditional calendar with a two-day racing format and travel the globe to ensure a true world championship. With both Pauls and Brian excited for the new season after a positive pre-season period spent testing and training, the stage is set for both riders to accomplish their goals in 2022.

Pauls Jonass:   “We’re not far away from the new season which is really exciting and moving over to race on Husqvarna machinery again, I really feel that 2022 will be a great season for myself and the whole team. Being able to stay with the Standing Construct team is perfect for me as we put in a lot of hard work before last season, and I know that this will give us a solid foundation going into 2022. We have goals to achieve together and I think that what we have built up over the last year will make a big difference this year. This off season has been really short and a lot of hard work has been done in preparation for the first round. With the team we have been really busy adjusting to the new bike and so far, everything has been positive and I felt comfortable on the FC 450 right away. Overall, I’m super excited for 2022 and I can’t wait to get started.”

Brian Bogers:   “I’m really excited for the new season. The move over to Husqvarna machinery has not been a big change and the Standing Construct Husqvarna team has provided me with an amazing bike, just like they did last year. We’re going back to a two-day format for GP weekends in 2022 which is another positive change for me as there will be a lot more track time to really dial in the bike for each round. It’s not too long until the new season starts and I'm really excited for round one at Matterley Basin. The Standing Construct team is amazing and feels like a family to me, so this will for sure help me to achieve my goals. In 2021 I claimed many top-five results so my goal for 2022 will be to be up front and inside the top five more consistently. With this team and my new bike I’ve no doubt that I can achieve this.”

Tim Mathys – Standing Construct Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager:   “We are really proud that we have the confidence of Husqvarna Motorcycles to officially represent the brand in MXGP. As they are one of the pioneers of offroad bikes with such a great history and reputation, it’s a really exciting new chapter for the team. We have enjoyed a great two years running the GASGAS program in MXGP and I think we did a good job with winning an MXGP round and getting several podiums, but now being responsible to represent Husqvarna in the biggest motocross championship in the world is another huge honour. With Pauls Jonass and Brian Bogers, we have two riders who have proven to be able to ride inside top five in MXGP, and with their age I think the extra experience from the past season will make them even stronger in 2022. Both riders feel very comfortable within the team and we are very happy with their professionalism, so that’s a good base to keep working from. We will keep the same crew for the new season. Everyone is very experienced, and they have all been working together for many years. With Wim van Hoof overseeing the team I am convinced we have one of the most capable teams in the paddock so I look forward to 2022 with lots of confidence.”

Robert Jonas – VP Motorsports Offroad:   “Moving Husqvarna Motorcycles’ MXGP racing efforts over to the Standing Construct team was an easy decision because of their achievements on track, and their professionalism and work ethic away from it. They have done an incredible job to raise the profile of the GASGAS brand over the last two seasons in MXGP, and I strongly believe that they will do the same for Husqvarna Motorcycles in 2022. The team clearly has a great atmosphere and a really strong bond, which creates the perfect environment for both Pauls and Brian to achieve their goals. I wish them both, and the whole team, the greatest of success in 2022."

Calendar – 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship

Round 1: 20 Feb MXGP of Great Britain - Matterley Basin
Round 2: 6 Mar MXGP of Lombardia - Mantova
Round 3: 20 Mar MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina – Villa La Angostura
Round 4: 3 Apr MXGP of Portugal - Agueda
Round 5: 10 Apr MXGP of Trentino (ITA) - Pietramurata
Round 6: 24 Apr MXGP of Latvia - Kegums
Round 7: 1 May MXGP of MFR - Orlyonok
Round 8: 15 May MXGP of Sardinia (ITA) - Riola Sardo
Round 9: 29 May MXGP of Spain - intu Xanadú - Arroyomolinos
Round 10: 5 Jun MXGP of France - Ernee
Round 11: 12 Jun MXGP of Germany - Teutschenthal
Round 12: 26 Jun MXGP of Indonesia – Samota-Sumbawa
Round 13: 3 Jul MXGP of Jakarta (INA) - Jakarta
Round 14: 17 Jul MXGP of Czech Republic - Loket
Round 15: 24 Jul MXGP of Flanders (BEL) - Lommel
Round 16: 7 Aug MXGP of Sweden - Uddevalla
Round 17: 14 Aug MXGP of Finland - Iitti-KymiRing
Round 18: 21 Aug MXGP of Charente Maritime (FRA) - St Jean d'Angely
Round 19: 4 Sep MXGP of Turkey - Afyonkarahisar
Round 20: 18 Sep TBA

The complete Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing squad ventured south to LaCapelle-Marival, France, for their first appointment of the new term this past weekend. The technical layout provided Kay de Wolf and Roan Van De Moosdijk with a valuable opportunity to learn more about the FC 250 in a competitive setting. The duo experienced success in their first outing in new colorus.

Kay de Wolf utilised the power within his FC 250 to claim the holeshot in the first MX2 encounter and was unchallenged from there, winning the moto with an advantage of four seconds. De Wolf was just as brilliant in moto two, as he took another victory and topped the overall classification in the MX2 category. Racing against the 450F riders in the 'Super Final' at the end of the day, when the circuit was at its roughest, he battled for a podium spot before settling for fourth, a ranking that left him as the strongest MX2 rider.

The rider who trailed Kay de Wolf in the two motos was Roan Van De Moosdijk, who competed aboard the FC 250 for the very first time. Moosdijk chased de Wolf to the checkered flag in both motos to record a 2-2 scorecard in his debut. A similar scenario played out in the 'Super Final' race, as Moosdijk ended fifth and trailed his teammate by just six seconds. Securing a trophy in his Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing debut, momentum was gained after a productive winter period.

Standing Construct Husqvarna Factory Racing's Brian Bogers also secured a podium finish at LaCapelle-Marival, as a 4-4 scorecard left him in third overall in the competitive MX1 division.

The opening round of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship beckons now – the Grand Prix of Great Britain will open that campaign on February 20. The Husqvarna Factory Racing riders will finalise their pre-season preparation at another international event, Hawkstone Park in the United Kingdom, this weekend.

Kay de Wolf:   “It was a pretty good day! I had pole position and then got the holeshot in the first moto, so I just led the way from the beginning. I had a lot of fun on the track – it was really technical and grippy. I had another holeshot in the second moto and just did my own thing. I was third in the 'Super Final' against the MX1 riders and almost made the pass for second, but could not make a move against the 450F. I lost third two laps from the end, but finished fourth and was the best MX2 rider. A good day!”

Roan Van De Moosdijk:  “It was a really positive day – I felt comfortable on the bike and track straight away. The motos were great as well. It just felt like a normal practice day with Kay, like how we have been riding in Spain over the last month. We know that we are going in a good way and it was very nice to get a feel for the bike during a proper race day. We have one more pre-season race to go and then the MXGP series will begin!”

Results – LaCapelle-Marival, France

MX2 Overall
1. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 50pts; 2. Roan Van De Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 44pts;  3. Kevin Horgmo (Kawasaki) 38pts

MX2 Moto One
1. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 25:50.000; 2. Roan Van De Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 25:54.988;  3. Kevin Horgmo (Kawasaki) 26:11.641

MX2 Moto Two
1. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 25:39.430; 2. Roan Van De Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 25:40.538;  3. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 25:41.511

MX1 Overall
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 50pts; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 44pts;  3. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 36pts

MX1 Moto One
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 25:47.366; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 25:50.900; 3. Henry Jacobi (Honda) 26:16.351…  4. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 26:21.178

MX1 Moto Two
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 25:49.048; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 25:50.212; 3. Jed Beaton (Kawasaki) 26:17.451…  4. Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) 26:27.210

Super Final
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 24:15.496; 2. Ben Watson (Kawasaki) 24:18.541; 3. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 24:22.850…  4. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 24:37.743; 5. Roan Van De Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 24:43.403

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. Stewart, the eight-place qualifier, started off fourth aboard his FC 450 Rockstar Edition in 450SX Main Event 1 and he quickly moved into third by lap three. Midway through the race, he dropped back one spot but he was able to regain the position with four laps to go, making his first podium appearance of the night in third. In the second Main Event, Stewart snagged a top-five start and he charged into third by the second lap. He powered his way into second halfway into the race and from there, he maintained a strong pace to secure second in race two. In the third Main Event, Stewart got off to a great start in second and he battled up front for the first half of the race. He got passed on lap seven and lost his momentum, dropping outside of podium contention late in the race, where he ultimately finished fourth in the third race. With consistent finishes on the night, Stewart was able to secure his first overall podium of the season at Round 5. “This is my first-ever podium for a Triple Crown and I’m beyond stoked,” Stewart said .” I can’t thank the whole team enough. We’ve all been grinding and we’re starting to see things pay off and I think this only builds more momentum for everybody.” Team rider Dean Wilson had a tough start in 450SX Main Event 1, crossing the line in 11th on the first lap. He battled just outside the top-10 for the next few laps before charging his FC 450 Rockstar Edition into a top-10 position, ultimately finishing ninth. In the second main, Wilson started near the back of the pack and had to fight his way forward on the opening lap. Picking up a few positions late in the race, Wilson secured another ninth-place finish in the second main. With an 11th-place start in the third Main Event, Wilson quickly climbed into ninth a few laps in and he rode strong to round out the night with another top-10 finish. With 9-9-9 scores, Wilson came away with ninth overall on the night. "My night wasn’t too bad, I just need to work on my starts,” Wilson said. “I had some good rides coming through the pack and made some good passes but I need to give myself an opportunity to battle with these guys and see where I’m at off the start. I think my pace was pretty good, so I’m going to keep working and I’m looking forward to next weekend.” In the 250SX division, team rider Jalek Swoll put together three solid Main Events to finish just outside the top-five on the night. In the first Main Event, Swoll started in eighth and he quickly picked up positions to put himself into sixth on the second lap. He made his way up to fourth just after the halfway point and he diced back-and-forth for a top-five position heading into the final lap, where he was ultimately passed just before the checkers to finish sixth. In Main Event 2, Swoll had a great start, rounding the opening lap in the second-place position. He lost momentum halfway through the race and dropped a few positions near the end, ultimately finishing fifth in the second race. In the third Main Event, Swoll found himself just inside the top-10 off the start and he worked his way up to eighth a few laps in. He raced in eighth for most of the race before overtaking seventh, where he eventually finished in the last race. “I feel like this Triple Crown helped me catch up on a lot of time that I was missing,” Swoll said. “It could’ve been a lot better if I would have nailed the start when I needed to in the last one but it is what it is. I felt like I was making good progress throughout the races but I was just losing too much time in the whoops and obviously you can’t do that when you’re up front with these guys, they’ll take advantage of the weaknesses early. We’re going to work on the flaws this week and I’m going to try to end A3 on a banger.” Round 6: February 12 – Anaheim 3 SX – Anaheim, California Round 5 Results: Glendale SX Triple Crown 450SX Results 1. Eli Tomac (YAM), 1-1-3 2. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 3-2-4 3. Chase Sexton (HON), 11-3-1 … 9. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 9-9-9 250SX West Results 1. Hunter Lawrence (HON), 2-1-2 2. Christian Craig (YAM), 1-4-1 3. Jo Shimoda (KAW), 5-3-3 … 6. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 6-5-7 450SX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 111 points 2. Chase Sexton – 100 points 3. Jason Anderson – 96 points … 4. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 93 points 11. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 61 points 250SX West Rider Point Standings 1. Christian Craig – 122 points 2. Hunter Lawrence – 114 points 3. Michael Mosiman – 99 points … 11. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 51 points

Billy Bolt has taken the win at round two of the 2022 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, held in Hungary. The Husqvarna Factory Racing rider qualified fastest before claiming SuperPole and two race wins from three on his FE 350. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Colton Haaker enjoyed a solid night in Budapest, ultimately finishing a close fourth overall.

The night started off perfectly for Bolt, with the British racer continuing his unbeatable run of form to comfortably qualify fastest and take the SuperPole honours by over one second, earning himself three valuable championship points in the process. After a measured start in race one, Billy deftly picked his way through the course to take the lead with around three minutes to go. A small error while navigating a log section was just enough for him to lose his position, and with time running out it ultimately lead to Bolt settling for second.

Eager to make amends in race two, Billy made light work of the reverse-grid start to move into third place after only three corners. After calmly moving into second, Billy’s pass into first place was hampered when a competitor got caught up in his rear wheel. Despite losing a little time, the 24-year-old was able to quickly regain the lead and hold it to the chequered flag where he claimed his first race win of the night.

Prestige race three was all Bolt! After a strong start, the championship leader soon moved up to take the lead and from there he never looked back. Increasing his advantage lap-by-lap, Billy put on a masterful display of riding to take the victory by over 10 seconds. The result increases Bolt’s lead in the championship standings to an impressive 35 points with three rounds left to race.

Travelling across to Europe to contest SuperEnduro round two, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Colton Haaker enjoyed a strong performance on the tight and technical Hungarian track to secure a strong fourth overall.

Haaker opened the evening in style, placing second to teammate Bolt on the SuperPole hot lap. Fighting his way through the mayhem of races one and two, Colton placed fourth in both to put himself in a good position going into the third heat. Keen to finish the night on a high, Colton claimed the holeshot in race three and after being passed by his teammate was able to hold on to second, ultimately finishing as runner-up. Completing the evening on 45 points, the three-time world champion narrowly missed out on the event podium by just one point. After two rounds, Colton lies second overall in the prestige class standings.

Billy Bolt:   “It was a super difficult night, but I’m pleased to come away with another win and extend my lead in the championship. The track was really tight, and with not much traction it was easy to get arm pump and then make mistakes. Qualifying and SuperPole went well, but then in race one I struggled to find my rhythm and got caught up a few times. Race two went much better, and then race three was near enough perfect – I was able to manage my pace once I got to the front and held on to take the win and the overall.”

Colton Haaker:   “It’s really good to be here in Budapest racing SuperEnduro. I haven’t been able to get in much riding since the last event, but I’m happy with how I rode today going 4-4-2 on a tough track like this. It took me a little while to relax and get up to speed, but I gave it my all and had fun out there. From not being certain if I’d get here to race, to missing out on the podium by just one point, it’s been a good weekend and I’m looking forward to the next one.”

Results - SuperEnduro, Rnd2 Hungary

Overall Event Classification

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 60 pts;  2. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 50 pts; 3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 46 pts;  4. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 45 pts…

Prestige Race 1

1. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 10 laps, 6:56.233;  2. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 7:03.984;  3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 7:05.532;  4. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 7:38.243…

Prestige Race 2

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 6:48.249;  2. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 6:51.995; 3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 6:52.130;  4. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 7:28.168…

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 6:48.474; 2. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 6:58.673;  3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 7:04.079; 4. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 7:04.456…

Championship Standings (After Round 2 of 4)

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 123 pts; 2. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 88 pts;  3. Taddy Blazusiak 87 pts; 4. Jonny Walker (Beta) 87 pts…

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt is fit and raring to get back to FIM SuperEnduro World Championship action, with round two of the 2022 series getting underway this Saturday, February 5, in Budapest, Hungary. Bolt currently holds the championship points lead following his dominant performance at round one in Poland back in December.

Unstoppable in Lodz at the SuperEnduro opener, Billy comfortably went fastest in SuperPole, before going on to win all three Prestige class races to the delight of the enthusiastic fans. Now, carrying a healthy 15-point lead into Hungary, the FE 350 rider will be looking to increase that advantage with another display of indoor enduro mastery at the famous Papp Laszlo Sportarena in Budapest.

The win at the opening round of SuperEnduro capped off an incredible 2021 for Bolt where he also won the inaugural FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. A hard-fought championship victory, which went right down to the wire with the top two protagonists finishing the season on identical points, it was Billy’s grit and determination that ultimately secured him the title.

Including this weekend’s Hungarian event, four rounds of the 2022 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship remain, with Israel rescheduled to March 3 followed by back-to-back races in Germany on March 19 & 20. There are still plenty of points left to be won, but with Bolt on form and keen to take the lion’s share, things are looking good for the reigning world champion.

One rider hoping to take the challenge to Billy this weekend in Hungary is Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Colton Haaker. The three-time SuperEnduro World Champion placed a close third to his British teammate at round one of the 2022 series, and also finished third last time he raced in Budapest back in 2019. But the American will be aiming to take to the top step of the podium this Saturday to claw back some points on the number 57 and truly take the championship fight onto Israel in March.

Following the finale of the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, focus will then be fixed on the outdoor season and this year’s FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, where Bolt will be aiming to defend his title over the gruelling, tough, eight-round series. The 2022 calendar gets underway with the Minus 400, held in Israel from April 5-7.

Billy Bolt:   “I’m really looking forward to getting going this weekend, and I’m very excited to be back on SuperEnduro and racing in the stadiums. We raced in Budapest two years ago and I really enjoyed the track and the stadium and the atmosphere there was excellent with a really good crowd. I won there last time out, so hopefully I can repeat that this year and make it two overall wins from two rounds this season. In general I’ve been trying to stay fit and focused over the winter and just keeping the ball rolling from where we left off last year. Obviously, it was a pretty successful season for me, and the aim is to try and keep that momentum into 2022. So far it all looks to be going that way, so I’m happy. I’m happy with how I’m feeling and happy with the bike – it might be wearing new colours for this year, but it’s performing just as well, and I can’t wait to get it out on the track in Hungary.”

LaCapelle-Marival, France, will be the setting for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2's first competitive outing of the year. Kay de Wolf and Roan van de Moosdijk will race the annual pre-season international on their FC 250 machines this coming weekend, in an effort to gather more valuable information ahead of the opening round of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship on February 20.

Kay de Wolf returns to Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing for his sophomore year in the MX2 class; he will strive to build on a successful rookie season in which he stood up on the Grand Prix podium four times. A maiden moto victory at the Grand Prix of Flanders-Belgium was the highlight of his rookie term and helped him secure a final result of seventh in the championship. De Wolf has been with Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing since he first stepped onto the TC 125 three seasons ago.

Roan van de Moosdijk joins de Wolf beneath the awning in what will be his first season aboard the FC 250, an exciting change of scenery for the former EMX250 champion. Van de Moosdijk has fully recovered from the injury that sidelined him for a majority of the previous season and is excited to add more moto victories to his tally – he won a moto during his rookie season in the MX2 class, 2020, and has six career podiums to his name.

Kay de Wolf and Roan van de Moosdijk will race at LaCapelle-Marival on Sunday and then complete their preparation at another pre-season event, Hawkstone Park in the United Kingdom, one week later. The 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship will begin with the Grand Prix of Great Britain, held at Matterley Basin, on February 20.

Rasmus Jorgensen (Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager):   “It has been an extremely short and intense pre-season leading up to the start of this year. We are very much looking forward to going racing with our new bike and colours. The process of Roan joining the team has been very smooth, and both he and Kay are loving the new bike. They have both done excellent work – I am excited to see them in race action this coming Sunday at LaCapelle-Marival. Huge thanks to all of the Nestaan team members and to the hard-working people at the factory in Mattighofen. Let's go racing!”

Kay de Wolf:   “This has been a short pre-season, of course, but it has also been really good. Roan and I have been doing a lot of motos together in Spain, which has made us both a lot stronger. I think that we are ready to show the world just how much work we have put in during the wintertime! I am excited to get back behind the gate at LaCapelle-Marival this weekend, then it is not long until the MXGP season begins.”

Roan van de Moosdijk:   “I can confidently say that this has been my best pre-season preparation ever. Everything clicked with Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing straight away; the bike is amazing and the people are so nice to work with. I have enjoyed the month that we spent in Spain a lot and cannot wait for the first pre-season race this weekend. I am really looking forward to getting behind the gate on my FC 250 for the first time!”

Husqvarna Motorcycles is pleased to announce an extension to its highly successful partnership with leading clutch component manufacturer, Rekluse. The renewed agreement will see Husqvarna Factory Racing continue to benefit from the US manufacturer’s high-quality products, which deliver improved performance and reliability, through to the end of the 2022 racing season.

Now entering its 20th year in the motorcycle industry, Rekluse is a brand well-known for its quality components and innovation. Using global offroad racing as a rigorous testing platform to develop its products, the Idaho-based company continues to be a pioneer for motorcycle clutch technology, with Husqvarna Factory Racing relying on the brand’s extensive range of components.

Rekluse develop their extensive product range to provide teams and riders with unmatched performance and reliability. The close working relationship between Husqvarna Factory Racing and Rekluse in recent years has resulted in several successes across the globe. In 2020, Zach Osborne claimed the 450 Class Pro Motocross title, a first for Husqvarna Motorcycles, while Billy Bolt secured the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship. Bolt enjoyed further success in 2021 with the Brit claiming the inaugural FIM Hard Enduro World Championship crown.

With an extension to this successful technical partnership, Husqvarna Factory Racing will continue to utilise Rekluse products in all forms of competition in 2022, enhancing the performance of the Husqvarna racing machines.

Robert Jonas – Vice President Motorsports Offroad:  “We are delighted to continue our close working relationship with Rekluse. The partnership has been incredibly successful across our motocross, enduro, and rally racing activities, with Husqvarna Factory Racing undoubtedly benefitting from Rekluse products. The last two seasons have been incredibly rewarding with titles in Pro Motocross, SuperEnduro, and Hard Enduro, thanks in part to the support of Rekluse. Looking ahead to 2022 we’re fully focused on achieving even more success together.”

Alison Kelsey, General Manager, Rekluse Motor Sports, Inc.:   “We’ve enjoyed a great relationship with Husqvarna Factory Racing for many years and it’s really exciting to be continuing with our partnership through 2022. Over the last few seasons, the team has delivered championships in many different disciplines, which is fantastic for us as it proves the versatility, durability, and performance of Rekluse products. Looking ahead to the new season, we’re behind the team 100% and we are sure that it will be another successful year of racing.”

Husqvarna Motorcycles is pleased to announce a new technical partnership with leading spark plug manufacturer, BRISK. The new agreement will see BRISK spark plugs fitted in all Husqvarna Factory Racing machines competing in world championship motocross and enduro competitions in 2022, with riders set to benefit from the improved performance BRISK products will provide to their motorcycles.

Possessing a rich history in spark plug manufacturing dating back to 1935, BRISK quickly became a key supplier to the automotive industry. More recently, the Czech Republic-based brand has concentrated on specialising in competition-focused products. Entering the 2022 season, BRISK will notably upscale its global motorsports involvement by offering its full support to Husqvarna Factory Racing.

The new technical partnership will see Husqvarna Factory Racing rely on BRISK spark plugs exclusively throughout 2022 on all 2-stroke and 4-stroke machinery used in the FIM Motocross World Championship, the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, and the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.

Robert Jonas – Vice President Motorsports Offroad:   “It’s an exciting step for Husqvarna Factory Racing to begin this new partnership with BRISK. Racing at the highest level of motocross and enduro, it is so important to use the very best products for enhanced performance and reliability, which is why we have partnered with BRISK. Their products have been thoroughly tested and are without a doubt an excellent component for the team to use. With the 2022 racing season just around the corner, BRISK will play a vital role in ensuring our riders can perform at their very best and I look forward to a successful season of racing.”

Florian Ebner - Head of Technology Offroad Motorsports:   “BRISK is the perfect partner for Husqvarna Factory Racing. We tested their products for over one year and saw notable improvements in engine performance. We have already established an excellent working relationship with them and their experienced technical staff. What is really important is that they have in-house production in Europe, close to our race shop, and the ability to offer customized solutions depending on our needs. All these attributes really make BRISK an excellent partner for Husqvarna Factory Racing.”

Hana Kajnarová – BRISK Commercial Director:   “Partnering with Husqvarna Factory Racing is really exciting for us. In recent years, BRISK has focused on producing a range of specialist motorsport products, so for the team to put their trust in BRISK, it gives us a lot of satisfaction as we know that our extensive research and development has been recognised. On behalf of BRISK, I would like to wish the team and its riders the best of luck for the 2022 season.”

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. Stewart was smooth and steady all night, keeping his FC 450 Rockstar Edition in the mix from start to finish. In 450SX Heat 1, Stewart grabbed a fifth-place start he maintained a good pace through the checkers to secure a fifth-place transfer into the Main Event. In the main, Stewart had a great jump off the start and he challenged the leader early on from the second-place position. He continued to fight up front for the first few laps before settling into fourth mid-way through the race. He kept the intensity high for all 20 laps of the Main Event, bringing it home for a strong fifth-place finish in Anaheim. “We were struggling a little bit in practice but we really turned the night around once the gate dropped for racing,” Stewart said. “In the Main Event, I got a really good start – we're slowly starting to get these starts now and I'm really excited about that. I know that we're P5 but we're still in the fight and we'll be ready to go for Phoenix – it's the Triple Crown baby! I'm excited for this one, it's one of my favorite races and it’s always a good time. I love the stadium and just love the vibes there, so I'm really looking forward to it.” It was a positive night for team rider Dean Wilson, who rode his way to a season-best finish in the 450SX Main Event. With a sixth-place start in 450SX Heat 2, Wilson sat just outside the top-five battle for most of the race. With two laps to go, he passed into sixth and maintained a steady pace into the final lap and he fought down to the final turns to ultimately finish seventh. In the Main Event, Wilson put himself into a great position off the start as he battled inside the top-five early on. He dropped back to eighth by the end of the first lap and from there he bounced around inside the top-10. Settling into ninth later in the race, Wilson kept a good pace through the checkers to secure his best finish of the season in ninth. "My night was definitely an improvement,” Wilson said. “I just have to keep trying to improve each week and work on my riding, especially my starts. I wouldn't say I'm totally happy with the result, but it was a solid Main Event and I’m looking forward to the Triple Crown next weekend!" In the 250SX division, Swoll got off to a fourth-place start in Heat 1 and he charged his way up to third by lap three. He overtook second-place on the second-to-last lap but he was passed back just before the finish, ultimately securing third in the heat. In the Main Event, Swoll had a great jump off the line and he immediately went to work battling for a top-five position. He experienced an issue that caused him to drop back to as far as seventh but he kept on charging to put himself in a favorable position late in the race. With two laps to go, he was able to capitalize on some mistakes and ultimately secure his first top-five finish of the season after being sidelined at the first two rounds due to injury.
“It was a what-could-have-been night for me but it was still a step in the right direction,” Swoll said. “I felt really good but a freak accident happened and I was getting covered in gas, which is not ideal. It is what it is. I’m going to put it behind me, take the positives and carry it into the week of training and we should be back ready to compete for one of those top-three spots next weekend.” Round 5: February 5 – Glendale SX – Glendale, Arizona Round 4 Results: Anaheim 2 SX 450SX Results 1. Eli Tomac (YAM) 2. Jason Anderson (KAW) 3. Chase Sexton (HON) … 5. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 9. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250SX West Results 1. Christian Craig (YAM) 2. Michael Mosiman 3. Hunter Lawrence (HON) … 5. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 85 points 2. Chase Sexton – 79 points 3. Jason Anderson – 77 points … 6. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 70 points 11. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 47 points 250SX West Rider Point Standings 1. Christian Craig – 73 points 2. Hunter Lawrence – 67 points 3. Michael Mosiman – 62 points

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. Qualifying fifth earlier in the day, Stewart got a decent jump in 450SX Heat 2 but he found himself outside the top-10 on the opening lap. He steadily climbed toward the front and with three laps to go, he powered his way into the top-five, finishing strong in fifth. In the Main Event, Stewart got pushed wide off the start and rounded the first lap in 10th. He put his head down and charged up to sixth by the halfway point, where he went to work battling for a top-five position. With the podium battle within reach later in the race, Stewart held strong to come away with a fifth-place finish in San Diego. "The night was great! Another P5 and moving in the right direction,” Stewart said. “We had a nice little battle going – I think it was Ferrandis, Cooper and myself. The box is right there – a little bit better of a start and we would've been in there but we're moving in the right direction and I'm really stoked on the way I've been riding. I can't thank the whole team enough, everyone's been putting the effort in. It's all about being consistent and just learning each and every race.” Dean Wilson didn’t get the best start in 450SX Heat 1 after being forced off-track to avoid carnage early on. After rounding the opening lap in 16th place, he slowly climbed into a transfer position just after the halfway point. He continued to charge in the final laps to ultimately secure an eighth-place finish. In the Main Event, Wilson grabbed a top-10 start but he had a mishap early on that dropped him back to 20th. With his work cut out for him, Wilson clawed his way back up to finish 14th on the night. "On paper my night doesn't look very good but I actually felt good with my riding,” Wilson said. “I actually got a pretty good start in the main but my clutch broke on the first lap and I stalled it. It took a minute to get the bike going and I was kind of riding without a clutch for the whole race. A little bit frustrating because I felt really good physically and I felt like I could have done the whole Main Event at a good pace but it is what it is and we'll come back next weekend." In the 250SX class, team rider Jalek Swoll returned to racing for his first Main Event of the 2022 season. Following a heat race crash at Anaheim that kept him sidelined for the first two rounds, Swoll came back on solid ground with a seventh-place qualifying position. He grabbed a 10th-place start in 250SX Heat 2, battling his way up to sixth halfway through. He made a mistake on the final lap and dropped a position to ultimately finish seventh in the heat. His Main Event performance was on par with the heat, beginning with a 10th-place start and resulting in a seventh on the night. “I know where I should be, so seventh-place kind of stings but it’s my first week back so I'll take it,” Swoll said. “I’ll get some laps in this week and work on getting my starts back and I'll honestly be just fine. I feel like I'm in a good spot speed-wise, so I feel really confident going into next week and I know I'm going to turn it up." Round 4: January 29 – Anaheim SX 2 – Anaheim, California Round 3 Results: San Diego SX 450SX Results 1. Chase Sexton (HON) 2. Eli Tomac (YAM) 3. Dylan Ferrandis (YAM) … 5. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 14. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250SX West Results 1. Michael Mosiman 2. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 3. Christian Craig (YAM) … 7. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX Rider Point Standings 1. Eli Tomac – 59 points 2. Chase Sexton – 58 points 3. Cooper Webb – 58 points … 8. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 52 points 11. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 33 points 250SX West Rider Point Standings 1. Christian Craig – 73 points 2. Hunter Lawrence – 67 points 3. Michael Mosiman – 62 points

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. Stewart came out of the gate strong in 450SX Heat 1, putting his FC 450 Rockstar Edition into a top-three position off the start. While pressuring for the second-place position, Stewart made a mistake that sent him off the track but he rebounded quickly to manage a fourth-place transfer into the Main Event. Stewart didn’t get off to a great start in the Main Event and he put his head down to climb into a 10th place position on the opening lap. Relentlessly charging, Stewart broke into the top-five halfway through the race and he rode strong in the second half of the race to maintain a fifth-place finish at the second round. "I think the night was actually kind of quiet for me,” Stewart said. “I’m stoked on the way I’ve been riding but starts are holding me back a little bit. It’s part of racing and we can take what we’ve learned from here and move forward. We’re still in a really good position for points so I’m stoked on that and just the whole program I’ve been on, I’ve never had this much fun! It’s only the second race and I feel like I’ve been racing for so long. The whole vibe and happiness has been great, so I’m looking forward to another great week.” With a solid top-10 in qualifying, Dean Wilson lined up in in 450SX Heat 1 where he grabbed a top-five start. Battling just behind his teammate Stewart in fourth for most of the race, Wilson made a late-race mistake and ultimately finished sixth. In the Main Event, Wilson got off to a 12th place start and he chipped away all race long to ultimately secure a top-10 finish. "Overall, tonight was better than the first round,” Wilson said. “I got a good start in the heat race but I rode tight out there. In the Main Event, I didn’t get a great start but I ended up getting 10th. It’s not what we want but only can keep striving to be better and fight with those guys to get to the next step I need to be.” Team rider Jalek Swoll sat out for the second round as he continues to recover from a heat race crash at last Saturday’s opening round in Anaheim. Round 3: January 22 – San Diego SX – San Diego, California Round 2 Results: Oakland SX 450SX Results 1. Jason Anderson (KAW) 2. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)  3. Justin Barcia (GAS) … 5. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 10. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250SX West Results 1. Christian Craig (YAM) 2. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 3. Seth Hammaker (KAW) 450SX Rider Point Standings 1. Justin Barcia – 42 points 2. Jason Anderson – 39 points 3. Cooper Webb – 39 points … 8. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 34 points 12. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 24 points 250SX West Rider Point Standings 1. Christian Craig – 52 points 2. Hunter Lawrence – 44 points 3. Seth Hammaker – 44 points

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has successfully completed the 2022 Dakar Rally with a strong performance on the 12th and final stage of the event, claiming sixth fastest on the short timed special. The result places the young Argentinian 13th in the overall rally standings.

Although the final stage of this year’s Dakar Rally was a long one, totalling 680 kilometres from Bisha to the finish in Jeddah, the special used to decide the final event placings was a relative sprint to the finish, totalling just 164 kilometres. As the 26th rider to enter the timed section, Benavides immediately got his head down and pushed hard right from the start.

With the special primarily made up of fast, sandy tracks, and navigation proving less of a challenge, times were extremely close at the sharp end of the timesheets. Coming in just less than three minutes behind the eventual stage winner, Luciano secured a strong result for the final stage and with it ended his 2022 Dakar on a high.

The impressive performance continued a strong run of form for Benavides who has gone from strength to strength in the second week of racing. Following a tricky start where he, like many of his rivals, lost time on the event’s opening stage, Luciano has delivered six top-10 stage results to fight his way back up the leaderboard. Completing the rally in 13th overall, the former FIM Cross-Country Rallies Junior World Champion is happy to finish a third Dakar Rally and now looks ahead to attacking the rest of the world championship.

Skyler Howes had also been showing incredible form at this year’s race when a crash on stage five forced him to withdraw from the event. After undergoing medical checks at the local hospital, the American was discharged and has since returned home where he will get some much-needed rest and recovery time before returning to competition later in the year.

Luciano Benavides:   “I’m really happy to complete this year’s Dakar, it’s been a really tough event both mentally and physically. It was hard to lose time on the first stage, but since then I have been giving my all to work my way back up the standings. The bike has been great and with a few changes as the race has gone on, I’ve found a setting I feel comfortable with and because of that the results have been improving throughout the rally. Getting to the finish of such a long and intense event feels amazing. It would have been good to get inside the top 10 by the finish, but I’m still happy with my performance. The result and the finish have really improved my confidence and now I’m looking forward to the rest of the year and seeing what we can do in the world championship, before preparing for Dakar 2023.”

2022 Dakar Rally – Stage 12 Provisional Classification

1. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 1:40:00
2. Toby Price (KTM) 1:40:18
3. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 1:40:29
4. Joan Barreda (Honda) 1:41:13
5. Mason Klein (KTM) 1:41:23
6. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 1:42:38

2022 Dakar Rally – Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 12)

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 38:47:30
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 38:50:57
3. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 38:54:17
4. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 39:06:11
5. Joan Barreda (Honda) 39:13:12
6. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 39:25:36
…
13. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 34:16:17

Luciano Benavides has impressively completed stage 10 of the Dakar Rally as the second-fastest rider. Continuing his exceptional run of form in this second week of racing, the young Argentinian immediately pushed hard from his seventh-place start position, focusing intently on his navigation throughout the special. Putting in a superb ride to complete the 375-kilometre route just over two minutes down on the eventual stage winner, Luciano moves into 13th in the provisional overall standings.

The terrain that the riders faced on stage 10 was a mixture of sandy tracks, dirt roads, and a section of dunes – all coming together on what was a fast stage in terms of average speed – that collectively posed a huge challenge to all riders. With temperatures high in the desert, fatigue and focus was also an issue, with many of the event’s top riders making mistakes and subsequently losing time over the course of the special.

Overcoming the difficulties on today’s stage, Luciano showed great maturity and skill to take maximum advantage of his seventh-place start position and pushed his way up through the field to ultimately challenge for the stage win on his FR 450 Rally. Completing the gruelling special just two minutes and nine seconds behind winner Toby Price, Benavides now moves up to 13th in the provisional overall standings.

Setting off second for tomorrow’s 346-kilometre special on stage 11, and aiming to chase down and catch Price ahead of him, Luciano will be keen to further improve his overall placing before going into the rally’s final day.

Luciano Benavides:   “I’m really pleased with my day today. It feels good to be right up there near the top and putting in the sort of results I know I’m capable of. I focused a lot on my navigation today, but there were still some tricky notes on the roadbook and some parts of the route were quite confusing. I made a couple of small mistakes, but the guys up front made mistakes too and it was possible for me to make up quite a lot of time over the whole stage. We have two days left now, so I’ll keep pushing and hopefully have a good, strong finish to the rally.”

2022 Dakar Rally – Stage 10 Provisional Classification

1. Toby Price (KTM) 3:05:32
2. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:07:41
3. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 3:09:07
4. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 3:11:12
5. Andrew Short (Yamaha) 3:12:01
6. Stefan Svitko (KTM) 3:12:01

2022 Dakar Rally – Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 10)

1. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 33:27:06
2. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 33:33:05
3. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 33:33:21
4. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 33:35:30
5. Joan Barreda (Honda) 33:37:53
6. Toby Price (KTM) 33:54:49
…
13. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 34:16:17

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has continued his run of top-10 stage results by placing seventh-fastest on day nine of the Dakar Rally. Equalling his result from day eight, Benavides completed today’s special just over four minutes behind the eventual winner. In the provisional rankings, the FR 450 Rally rider lies 14th overall.

The prescribed route for today’s 287-kilomtere stage nine was very fast, while also posing less of a challenge in terms of navigation. As such, the top competitors completed the stage with very little time to separate them. Setting off seventh into the special due to his strong performance from stage eight, Luciano Benevides used the first 100 kilometres to get comfortable and settle into the fast terrain before focusing on his speed from there to the end of the stage.

Completing the special four minutes and 21 seconds off the leading time, despite navigating through much of the stage on his own, Luciano’s pace shows the quality of his riding and the performance of his Husqvarna Factory Racing machine. With three days left to race, Luciano lies 14th overall, 54 minutes behind the provisional rally leader. However, with times between the riders extremely close, the 26-year-old is fully focused on delivering more strong results, and moving further up the order, to hopefully complete the event well inside the top 10.

Luciano Benavides:   “Stage nine was a short, fast stage, but I really enjoyed it. It was made up mostly of rocky valleys and canyons with a few sections of dunes, too. The route was really high speed, so it wasn’t the best day to make up time on everyone else. I tried to be as consistent as I could because I think even a small mistake could end up costing you a lot of time today with everything being so close. I think I did a good job – I’m pleased to get two seventh place finishes in a row now, and again it puts me in a good starting position for tomorrow. I’m feeling good, the bike is working well with no problems, physically I am ok too. The team have also been putting in a lot of good work, so I’m really happy with how everything is going. I’m looking forward to pushing once again tomorrow.”

2022 Dakar Rally – Stage 9 Provisional Classification

1. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 2:29:30
2. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 2:30:56
3. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 2:31:17
4. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 2:31:36
5. Joan Barreda (Honda) 2:31:40
6. Andrew Short (Yamaha) 2:33:26
7. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 2:33:51

2022 Dakar Rally – Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 9)

1. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 30:14:03
2. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 30:16:15
3. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 30:17:59
4. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 30:18:44
5. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 30:24:25
6. Joan Barreda (Honda) 30:25:00
…
14. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 31:08:36

Continuing to deliver solid results on the long and massively challenging days of the Dakar Rally, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has finished as seventh quickest on the long, 395-kilometre special on stage eight. Overcoming the usual yoyo effect, where riders starting near the front lose a considerable amount of time to their rivals before going on to earn an advantageous starting position for the following day, Benavides was able to maintain good speed on the stage with a minimum of mistakes. Ultimately, he completed the route just under 10 minutes behind the eventual stage winner.

After a steady start through the early kilometres of the stage where he focused on his navigation, Luciano was able to hold his position just inside the top 10 for the majority of the tough, mixed terrain timed special. Where some of his rivals faltered, Benavides was able to maintain his focus and bring his FR 450 Rally to the finish in an extremely commendable seventh place, nine and a half minutes down on the quickest time for the day. His result moves the 26-year-old up to 14th in the provisional overall standings.

Now, with his consistency paying off, and his 2022 Dakar Rally campaign going from strength to strength, the young Argentinian is looking to maximise the advantage he has for Tuesday’s 491-kilometre stage nine and make up more time on those starting ahead of him.

Luciano Benavides:   “Stage eight was a really long day. As usual it had some tricky navigation but also had a really big mix of terrain with big plateaus and dunes, rocky tracks and valleys, and some canyons too – it was really good fun to race through. The stage was fast, and conditions were windy too, but I was able to do a good job of my navigation and so I’m really happy with that. My speed was also good considering I was up near the front. Altogether I’m very happy with how the day went and now I’m looking forward to pushing once again tomorrow.”

2022 Dakar Rally – Stage 8 Provisional Classification

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 3:48:02
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 3:50:55
3. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 3:52:13
4. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 3:54:46
5. Mason Klein (KTM) 3:56:10
6. Toby Price (KTM) 3:56:41
7. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:57:34

2022 Dakar Rally – Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 8)

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 27:38:42
2. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 27:42:27
3. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 27:43:25
4. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 27:44:12
5. Joan Barreda (Honda) 27:53:20
6. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 27:53:29
…
14. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 28:34:45

Luciano Benavides has put in his best performance of the 2022 Dakar Rally to date with an excellent ride to finish in fourth place on the technically demanding 404-kilometre special on day seven. While others struggled with the navigation required to successfully complete the stage without issue, the Husqvarna Factory Racing rider skilfully worked his way through the route, maintaining a good pace and strong rhythm.

Fast right from his 15th place starting position as he headed into the stage, Benavides was able to work his way up to fifth place by the end of the sizeable dune section that dominated the opening half of today’s special. From there, the FR 450 Rally mounted racer maintained his top-five placing as he took on the rougher and more challenging second half of the special on the way to Al Dawadimi.

Holding his own right to the finish of the stage, Luciano was able to complete the special in fourth place, less than eight minutes down on the eventual winner. The result moves the Argentinian up a further two places to 15th overall, 52 minutes adrift of the provisional race leader. Luciano is now well-placed to mount another attack on Monday’s stage eight, where he will enjoy a fourth-place start position into the 395-kilometre special.

Luciano Benavides:   “I had a really good feeling with the bike today and because of that I felt really comfortable pushing hard all through the stage. For sure, it’s my best day of the rally so far. I did make some mistakes later in the stage with my navigation, but thankfully I was able to get back on track quickly and didn’t lose too much time on the others. After a difficult start to the race and being forced to try and make up time on every stage, getting a result like this is really good for my confidence. I’m looking forward to tomorrow now and a strong second week to the rally.”

2022 Dakar Rally – Stage 7 Provisional Classification

1. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 3:28:46
2. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 3:29:30
3. Joan Barreda (Honda) 3:31:37
4. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:36:36
5. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 3:37:15
6. Joaquim Rodrigues (Hero) 3:37:43

2022 Dakar Rally – Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 7)

1. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 23:45:02
2. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 23:50:14
3. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 23:50:25
4. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 23:50:40
5. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 23:51:36
6. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 23:53:17
…
15. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 24:37:11

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. Stewart came out blazing aboard the FC 450 Rockstar Edition, claiming his first-career pole position in the 450 class. He charged off the line in 450SX Heat 2 to capture a fourth-place start and he mixed it up just outside podium contention early on. After battling intensely for the fourth-place spot, Stewart put forth a late race charge to overtake third and secure a podium finish in the heat race. In the Main Event, Stewart got off to an eighth-place start and he battled with the premier class front-runners early on. Inching his way toward the top-five, Stewart found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time as he got taken down halfway through the race. Re-mounting in 12th place, Stewart was able to fight his way back to claim an impressive seventh-place finish in the Main Event. "I think this was actually one of the better season openers for me since I started in the 450 class,” Stewart said. “Going into the weekend, I wanted to execute a few things like having a good heat race, and I was able to do that. P1 for a qualifying, I've never done that before, so I feel like that was a big achievement for me and even though we went down in the Main Event, it was actually a good ride performance-wise but you know, the results weren't there. It was a good start but I definitely feel there are a few things that we need to work on but overall, I'm happy to leave here on a good note and looking forward to Oakland and to keep driving – we’ve got 16 more races to go!" Wilson got an 11th place start in 450SX Heat 2 and he worked his way into qualifying position early on. He battled up to eighth midway through the race, ultimately securing a ninth-place transfer. In the Main Event, Wilson got a 13th place start and he rode a solid pace just outside the top-10 all race long to secure 12th on the night. "My night was a struggle for sure, which is frustrating because I've had a really good off season,” Wilson said. “In the Main, I was pretty far outside on the gate and I came through and made some good passes. I was hovering around top-10 and then got passed and ended up 12th. It wasn't great but I believe we'll just get better from here on out." Team rider Jalek Swoll suffered a crash at the beginning of the second 250SX heat race and was unable to continue racing for the night. Round 2: January 15 – Oakland SX – Oakland, California Round 1 Results: Anaheim I 450SX Results 1. Ken Roczen (HON) 2. Cooper Webb (KTM)  3. Justin Barcia (GAS) … 7. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 12. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250SX West Results 1. Christian Craig (YAM) 2. Seth Hammaker (KAW) 3. Hunter Lawrence (HON) 450SX Rider Point Standings 1. Ken Roczen – 26 points 2. Cooper Webb – 23 points 3. Justin Barcia – 21 points … 7. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 16 points 12. Dean Wilson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 11 points 250SX West Rider Point Standings 1. Christian Craig – 26 points 2. Seth Hammaker – 23 points 3. Hunter Lawrence – 21 points

With week one of the 44th Dakar Rally completed in Saudi Arabia, Husqvarna Factory Racing now looks ahead to the second half of the 2022 event, and what are expected to be some of the toughest challenges yet. In what has been a mixed race in terms of results and fortunes, Luciano Benavides continues as the sole rider for the team following the unfortunate crash and subsequent withdrawal of Skyler Howes on stage five.

Luciano has delivered strong, consistent results with the minimum of mistakes to lie 17th overall heading into the second week of racing. Top-10 results on stages four and five show that Benavides is definitely on the pace and gelling well with the latest version of the FR 450 Rally.

With the six stages left to race looking like they will pose a huge test to all riders with more technical terrain, rocky pistes, riverbeds, and canyons, Luciano is keen to make full use of his experience to further close the gap on those ahead of him and challenge for a top result. The former FIM Cross-Country Rallies Junior World Champion will enjoy a well-deserved rest day in Riyadh today, Saturday, before continuing his 2022 Dakar Rally campaign with Sunday’s stage seven.

Lying eighth at the close of stage four, and still very much in the hunt for an overall podium result, Skyler Howes unfortunately suffered a crash on Thursday’s stage five. Although the American was able to make it to the end of the special, medics insisted he was taken to hospital for assessment, where thankfully no serious injuries were found. Although Skyler won’t play any further part in the 2022 Dakar, he is expected to make a fast and full recovery and be back riding soon.

Luciano Benavides:   “Looking back over my first week at this year’s Dakar gives me a mixture of feelings. On one hand, losing so much time on the first day, with that tricky note in the roadbook, really put me on the back foot straight away. On the other hand, I’m really happy with how I have been riding and navigating through the rest of the race – if it wasn’t for that first day I would be right up there with the leaders, and that’s really encouraging going into the second week. In terms of my feeling and riding, I think it’s my best Dakar ever, so far. The bike is working good and the team are doing a great job. I also believe I am better prepared mentally this year. It has meant I’m able to keep a good rhythm for the entire stage, and in turn that means there’s less chance of making a mistake. Looking ahead to week two, I think the navigation will be the biggest challenge. From previous years the rocky sections and the canyons have always been difficult to   navigate through accurately and a wrong turn can end up costing a huge amount of time. The goal for the second week is to treat it like a new race – forget about the times and put in six really strong days. Hopefully then I can get some strong stage results and prove that I am capable of fighting for the top places.”

Norbert Stadlbauer – Rally Team Manager:   “I’m really pleased with how things have been going up to now with the whole team. Obviously, it’s a great shame to lose Skyler from the race, but thankfully he is doing ok, and we hope to see him back with us soon. The race has been up and down every single day – but that’s Dakar! It definitely seemed to be extremely difficult straight away this year in terms of the navigation and the route – normally the challenge increases as the race goes on. Luciano has been riding well, his pace is there and mentally he seems very strong. It’s a shame he fell foul of the tricky note in the roadbook on day one, it’s tough to lose an hour so early in the race, but he has stayed focused and has done a great job of building his speed. Looking ahead to next week, Luciano is fit and really motivated, if he can continue putting in the sort of performances he’s delivered over the last few days, he should be set for a strong result.”

2022 Dakar Rally – Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 6)

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 19:55:59
2. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 19:58:38
3. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 20:01:34
4. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 20:03:42
5. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 20:13:43
6. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 20:14:21
…
17. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 20:59:35

Luciano Benavides has delivered a solid but cautious performance on the much-shortened timed special on day six of the 2022 Dakar Rally, to complete the stage in 11th place. With the planned route following that of the trucks and cars from the day before, the tracks were notably damaged with many new dangers appearing, which weren’t included on the riders’ roadbooks. Realising the situation, Benavides used his experience to carefully navigate his way through the stage, ensuring a safe finish.

Originally planned to cover 404 kilometres, stage six was ultimately cut short by the organisers after it was found that the terrain was far more treacherous than first anticipated, due to the passing of the four-wheeled competitors the day before. Reduced to a quarter of its length, stage times were taken from the first refuel point.

Showing especially strong form over the previous couple of stages, Luciano Benavides came into day six looking to move further up the overall ranking ahead of Saturday’s rest day. As the 10th rider into the special it was immediately obvious to him that the tracks were heavily damaged, and caution was required in order to minimise any mistakes or crashes on the unpredictable terrain.

A solid but safe ride saw the Argentinian arrive at the refuelling point in 11th place, where he learned that the stage would be cut short. Frustrated not to have been able to make up more time on his rivals, but happy to come away from the stage without damaging himself or his bike, Luciano now looks forward to the rest day, and ahead to the second week of racing at this year’s Dakar.

Luciano Benavides:   “Honestly, I think the organisers made the right decision today. We knew the stage would be cut up quite badly – it always is when we follow the trucks and cars. This one seemed quite bad, and it was very easy to make a mistake, especially as a lot of the dangers weren’t listed in the roadbook. I’m happy with how I rode the stage – I chose not to push too hard, to use my brain and bring the bike home safely. Finishing 11th is ok, and it gives me a good start position for Sunday. Now, I’m looking forward to having some rest tomorrow. I feel pretty good, I think I was definitely very well prepared for this year’s race physically, but the final week is always tough and I want to be as strong as I can be to do my best.”

2022 Dakar Rally – Stage 6 Provisional Classification

1. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 0:51:43
2. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 0:54:09
3. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 0:54:19
4. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 0:54:58
5. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 0:55:02
6. Mason Klein (KTM) 0:55:16
…
11. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 0:56:29

2022 Dakar Rally – Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 6)

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 19:55:59
2. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 19:58:38
3. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 20:01:34
4. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 20:03:42
5. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 20:13:43
6. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 20:14:21
…
17. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 20:59:35

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has delivered a strong performance on a demanding stage five of the 2022 Dakar Rally to claim a 10th place finish. Continuing to put in strong, consistent stage results, the young Argentinian moves himself further up the rally standings to sit 18th overall with just one day to go ahead of the mid-race rest day. Showing great speed on the 341-kilometre special, Skyler Howes unfortunately suffered a crash towards the end of the stage. Although able to complete the special as the ninth fastest rider, he was then taken to hospital for medical checks. Sadly, the American rider will take no further part in the race.

Stage five of the Dakar challenged riders with 341 kilometres of mixed terrain and some extremely tricky navigation. Setting off fifth into the special, thanks to his solid result on Wednesday’s stage four, Luciano Benavides was immediately able to chase down and pass the two rivals ahead of him. With the pace high, the FR 450 Rally rider continued to push while also focusing on not making any small errors on the rocky tracks that made up the majority of the stage.

Improving his position as the stage went on, Luciano was able to successfully navigate through a particularly tricky section that caught out many of the other competitors. From there he entered the final section of rolling dunes and raced on towards the finish. Ultimately claiming 10th place, Benavides moves up to 18th in the provisional overall standings, just over one hour behind the race leader.

Skyler Howes had put in a superb performance on stage five, fighting his way through the field to post a time inside the top 10. However, a crash in the closing kilometres resulted in the American requiring medical checks at the local hospital. Although suffering no serious injuries, Skyler will play no further part in this year’s event.

Luciano Benavides:   “I’ve finished stage five and it was a really tricky day on the whole with some difficult navigation and some small issues towards the end. I started in fifth position and soon managed to catch and pass the two Sherco riders in front. After that there were only two riders left in front of me, and with the sandstorm that blew up halfway through the special, it was difficult to make them out, so I think I did a good job of navigating through the stage. I’m really happy with how the rally is going so far, it is frustrating that I lost an hour on day one, but since then my pace and navigation have been good, so I’m pleased with my progress. I’ll give my best again tomorrow and then I can enjoy the rest day.”

2022 Dakar Rally – Stage 5 Provisional Classification

1. Danilo Petrucci (KTM) 3:23:46
2. Ross Branch (Yamaha) 3:23:48
3. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 3:23:51
4. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 3:25:18
5. Toby Price (KTM) 3:25:32
6. Mason Klein (KTM) 3:27:07
…
10. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:31:11

2022 Dakar Rally – Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 5)

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 19:01:50
2. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 19:04:19
3. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 19:07:49
4. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 19:09:51
5. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 19:17:17
6. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 19:18:45
…
18. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 20:06:06

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has put in an exceptionally strong performance on the long, 465-kilometre timed special on day four of the 2022 Dakar Rally to secure a fifth-place stage finish. The Argentinian moves up five places in the event standings to 20th. Teammate Skyler Howes, who set off as the fourth rider into the special due to his result from Tuesday’s stage three, placed 21st, successfully defending his top-10 placing in the overall standings.

An early start welcomed the riders for today’s fourth full stage of the rally, and with a long and more technically demanding route ahead of them than on previous days, all competitors had to stay fully focused and committed for the entirety of the special. Accomplishing just that, Luciano Benavides completed the 465 kilometres in just over four hours, making the minimum of mistakes while moving up through the field to ultimately claim fifth place. The number 77 continues to claw back the time he lost on the tough first stage of the rally and now sits 20th in the provisional overall standings. He will set off sixth on Thursday’s 341-kilometre special, looking to make up even more time on those in front.

Faced with the task of starting fourth into the longest stage of the event, Skyler Howes knew a consistent day of racing would be necessary to lose the minimum of time to his chasing rivals. The American star was able to not only do that but also maintain a speed that placed him a commendable 21st when he reached the stage finish. Although he dropped four places in the standings, Skyler still sits in an excellent eighth overall heading into stage five.

Luciano Benavides:   “Stage four was a really long stage – the longest of the rally, so I’m happy to finish well and inside the top 10. I kept focused on my navigation and it paid off, I was able to catch and pass some riders ahead of me, and I was able to keep a good speed for the whole stage without any big mistakes. The result is really encouraging, especially after such a tough day on stage one where a lot of us lost a lot of time. The bike is perfect and now I’m really looking forward to pushing hard for the rest of the race.”

Skyler Howes:   “Things went well for me today, and I’m pleased with how I rode the stage. After yesterday’s decent result, I started right near the front and the navigation was just tricky enough that we soon ended up in a group riding together. We all took it in turns to open and it meant although we didn’t make up too much time on those around us, we didn’t lose that much time to those behind. I made it to the finish line without having to correct too many mistakes, so I’m happy with that. I lost a bit of time, but that’s understandable, so I’ll regroup and push some more tomorrow.”

2022 Dakar Rally – Stage 4 Provisional Classification

1. Joan Barreda (Honda) 4:06:06
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 4:10:43
3. Rui Goncalves (Sherco) 4:14:05
4. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 4:15:02
5. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 4:16:01
6. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 4:16:21
…
21. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 4:27:42

2022 Dakar Rally – Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 4)

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 15:30:01
2. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 15:33:01
3. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 15:34:55
4. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 15:37:08
5. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 15:40:29
6. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 15:41:14
…
8. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 15:45:17
20. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 16:31:55

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Skyler Howes continues to put in strong and consistent results at the 2022 Dakar Rally, claiming his second fourth-place stage finish in a row to move himself up to fourth in the provisional overall standings. Skyler now trails the event leader by under four minutes. Teammate Luciano Benavides completed the shortened 255-kilometre special in 15th place.

Heavy rain in the area forced the organisers to cut short stage three, and with wet sand covering the tracks and dunes, the special delivered a fast-paced challenge to all competitors. Howes, who found the conditions very much to his liking, pushed hard from his fourth-place start position, making very few errors and catching the three riders ahead of him before the end of the stage. Opening the special from there on, the American was able to maintain his position on the time sheets, despite his rivals chasing him down. Another fourth-place stage result means that Howes now lies fourth in the overall standings and will also enjoy a strong start position for Wednesday’s long 465-kilometre timed special from Al Qaysumah to Riyadh.

Continuing to move himself up the overall order, Luciano Benavides put in a solid ride on stage three to claim 15th place, just over six minutes down on the winner. Completing the special without error or incident, Benavides moves up to 25th in the rankings. The young Argentinian is determined to make up for the time lost on stage one, but with nine days still left to race, he knows that a consistent pace without any mistakes is key to fulfilling that goal.

Skyler Howes:   “Today was really fun – fast like yesterday with plenty of tracks and some technical dunes. I started off fourth and stayed there till around kilometre 250 where there was a tricky-to-find waypoint and I managed to catch up with the three in front. From there to the finish I opened the whole way, which was really fun and good experience. I did ok on my navigation today, not perfect but it all went smoothly, and I was able to stay at a good pace even from the front. Fourth on the stage is really encouraging, so I’m stoked and already looking forward to tomorrow.”

Luciano Benavides:   “Stage three has definitely been the best day for me so far in the race in terms of my rhythm and navigation. I didn’t make any big mistakes and was able to set my own pace throughout the special. Tomorrow is the longest day of the rally, and it looks like it’s going to include some really tricky navigation, so I think I have a good start position to hopefully make up some time. My position in the overall is still not too great because of the time lost on day one, but there are still many days to go, and I’ll keep on giving my best.”

2022 Dakar Rally – Stage 3 Provisional Classification

1. Joaquim Rodrigues (Hero) 2:34:41
2. Toby Price (KTM) 2:35:44 
3. Mason Klein (KTM) 2:35:55 
4. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 2:36:07 
5. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 2:37:36
…
15. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 2:41:02

2022 Dakar Rally – Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 3)

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 11:13:40
2. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 11:13:44
3. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 11:15:10
4. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 11:17:35
5. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 11:22:34
…
25. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 12:15:54

Putting the challenging opening stage of the 2022 Dakar Rally firmly behind him, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Skyler Howes has claimed a solid fourth-place result on the 554-kilometre stage two from Al Ha’il to Artawiyah. The FR 450 Rally rider now lies an impressive fifth overall in the provisional rally standings. Luciano Benavides fought his way back from a 38th place start to claim a solid 17th at the finish of the stage.

Starting the special stage as the 10th rider to set off, Skyler was quickly up to speed and chasing down the riders ahead of him, once again pushing hard but not taking any unnecessary risks so early on in the event. Enjoying the fast tracks and wet sandy conditions, the American was soon knocking on the door of a top-three finish, eventually bringing his FR 450 Rally home in fourth and just over six minutes behind the day’s stage winner, Sam Sunderland.

One of a number of riders to lose a considerable amount of time during yesterday’s stage one, Luciano Benavides started today’s stage two way back in 38th position. With a large number of competitors ahead of him, the Argentinian worked his way up 20 places before the day’s first checkpoint. Maintaining a strong pace, a small navigational error cost Luciano another few minutes in the latter kilometres of the special, but the young Argentinian was able to hold on to ultimately claim 17th for the day.

Skyler Howes:   “The stage went well for me – I felt pretty comfortable riding on the wet sand. The dunes and the fast, sandy tracks were a lot of fun to ride, so today was really enjoyable, especially after some of the stresses of yesterday. I felt like I rode at a pretty good pace, and I’m happy with my result. It puts me in a good position for stage three, so I hope I can maximise on that. My focus is just to keep putting in solid rides, and make sure that I stay focused on the navigation. Overall, I’m really happy with how today went.”

Luciano Benavides:   “Day two is done. I started quite far back and thought I would be able to use that to my advantage to make up as much time as I could on the guys in front. But with the rain making the sand really wet, following the tracks in front became very difficult as the route became quite rutted in places and it was difficult to push. I felt good with my rhythm and was still making good time, but then I made a little mistake towards the end of the stage that cost me some minutes. Overall I feel good, and the bike is great – 10 more stages to go.”

2022 Dakar Rally – Stage 2 Provisional Classification

1. Joan Barreda (Honda) 3:31:20
2. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 3:36:53
3. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 3:37:14
4. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 3:37:36
5. Toby Price (KTM) 3:38:20
…
17. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:52:41

2022 Dakar Rally – Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 2)

1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 8:31:29
2. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 8:34:20
3. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 8:34:58
4. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 8:35:37
5. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 8:41:28
…
27. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 9:34:52

At the end of a demanding opening day of competition at the 2022 Dakar Rally it was Skyler Howes who claimed Husqvarna Factory Racing’s best result, the American completed the 546-kilometre stage as the 10th fastest rider despite a navigational issue hampering his performance. Teammate Luciano Benavides was less fortunate, ending the day in 38th position having been among the first riders to arrive at a troublesome section of the special stage, going on to lose valuable time trying to find the correct route through the stage.

Opting to ride cautiously during yesterday’s opening prologue so as to avoid being among the first riders into today’s special stage, Skyler was the 22nd rider to begin the first true special stage of the 2022 Dakar Rally. Steadily working his way forward while settling himself into the stage, the American improved to place just outside the top 10 as he arrived at the day’s most challenging navigational section. Thankfully, trusting his instincts, he lost little time and was able to ride on for an eventual 10th place result, earning a beneficial starting position for tomorrow’s second stage.

Unfortunately for Skyler’s teammate Luciano Benavides, the Argentinian saw what began as a positive day’s work come undone mid-way between the refuelling stop and the end of the special stage. One of the first rider to enter the stage, and a lead rider for much of the day, Luciano struggled to find the day’s decisive and all-important waypoint. Dropping more than one hour to the fastest rider by the time he reached the end of the special, Luciano eventually placed 38th.

Skyler Howes:   “Today’s stage was actually quite fun to ride. It was the first stage of this year’s Dakar so I wasn’t pushing too hard. There were a lot of tracks and a lot of camel grass, so it was easy to get caught out. I just used the stage to feel my way into things early on, but then made a pretty big navigational error and just got things really wrong, like a lot of riders did. Thankfully, I went with my gut instincts and rode over a hill, then another hill, met up with some other riders that were looking for the waypoint and from there managed to find the waypoint before riding together to the finish. Apart from that the day was fun and my bike was great, so onto tomorrow.”

Luciano Benavides:   “You always hope that when you are one of the first riders to start a special stage that there won’t be any big difficulties, but today there were. I ended up in all the drama with the one note that a lot of riders struggled with. After doing a good job opening the stage, at one point I was one of 10 or 12 riders all lost, which is really frustrating. Not the way I wanted the rally to start, but we will race hard during the remaining 11 stages.”

2022 Dakar Rally – Stage 1 Provisional Classification

1. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 4:38:40
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 4:41:47
3. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 4:49:46
4. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 4:51:26
5. Mason Klein (KTM) 4:53:14
…
10. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 5:03:52
38. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 5:42:11

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides and Skyler Howes are ready to take on the 2022 Dakar Rally, starting with stage 1A, tomorrow, January 1. The FR 450 Rally mounted pairing have successfully completed all shakedown tests and admin tasks and are both keen to get their race campaigns underway.

Luciano Benavides will be looking to make amends for his 2021 event where, after showing impressive speed on the Saudi dunes, he crashed out on stage nine. Taking much of the 2021 season to first recover from the injury he sustained, and then build his speed and confidence, the young Argentinian now has his sights set on securing his best ever Dakar result.

The 2022 event, and 44th edition of the Dakar, will be the first ridden by Skyler Howes in a factory team. Signing for Husqvarna Factory Racing early in 2021, the American star settled into his new surroundings extremely quickly, and that was reflected in his results, claiming multiple stage wins over the course of the season. Skyler finished the 2021 Dakar in fifth and as top privateer, and now with the added support of the factory Husqvarna team behind him, he’ll be gunning for the win.

Covering a total distance of over 8,000 kilometres and spanning two weeks of racing, the 2022 Dakar Rally looks set to be a true test of rider and machine. The 12 full stages will see riders set out from the bivouac in Ha’il, work their way around the east of the country ahead of the rest day in Riyadh on January 8, before looping around to the finish at Jeddah on Friday, January 14.

The first test for all competitors will be stage 1A – a long 609-kilometre transfer from Jeddah to Ha’il that includes a short 19-kilometre Prologue ridden against the clock. The top 15 finishers will then be able to choose their start position for the 333-kilometre timed special on stage 1B, when the true tough and technically demanding event really gets underway.

Luciano Benavides:   “The first feeling on the bike ahead of Dakar is always really important and it was nice to complete a positive shakedown, the bike was really good. I felt smooth, I felt fast, and with good confidence on the bike, so I am really happy with this. The team have already been working very hard to get the bike prepared for the race, so things are looking good. For sure, there is a long way to go, and we never really know exactly what to expect, we just have to take it day by day.”

Skyler Howes:   “With shakedown tests complete, I’m really happy with the bike. We were able to make some changes to the settings, so I think I have a really good set-up for the race. This is my first Dakar as a factory racer, so I’m really excited about that. Before, it was always a struggle just getting to the race, so this year I have had a lot more time to focus on my fitness and preparation. I’m definitely in a much better position. Looking ahead to the race, I’m aiming for the very best result possible – anything less than a win is simply not what we’re going for. As we know, the Dakar is a huge and unpredictable race – anything can happen. My plan is to give it my all and just have fun with it. Usually when I’m enjoying myself I deliver the best results. Hopefully at the end of the race I can put a Husqvarna on the top step of the podium.”

Blood, sweat, and tears. Watch the best highlights from Husqvarna Factory Racing’s unforgettable year in this captivating video. Showcasing every significant moment from Billy Bolt’s FIM Hard Enduro World Championship win, Romano Fenati toasting Moto3 victory at Silverstone, Kay de Wolf’s fantastic rookie season, all the way through to our fascinating Drop The Gate video series, it’s been a truly memorable 2021 for Husqvarna Motorcycles both on and off the race track.

As the season reached its conclusion, we said goodbye to former champions Zach Osborne and Jason Anderson and congratulated them both on their racing achievements. With the duo accumulating five championship wins between them, they made an incredibly valuable contribution to Husqvarna Motorcycles’ 107 world titles and our rich 118-year history.

And with a roster of talented young racers onboard for 2022, the future looks incredibly bright. Starting in January with the Dakar Rally, Skyler Howes and Luciano Benavides will fight for the top spots while Malcolm Stewart will make his AMA Supercross debut for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing shortly after on January 8. Then, at the turn of spring, our MXGP, enduro, and Moto3 teams will embark on their new racing seasons with a fresh new look and high hopes for championship success.

Enjoy the video and for more 2021 action this festive season, head over to our YouTube channel.

With the opening round of the AMA Supercross Championship just around the corner, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team is excited to announce its rider lineup for the 2022 race season, which includes a seasoned roster in both classes. Returning riders Dean Wilson, RJ Hampshire, Jalek Swoll and Stilez Robertson – along with newcomer Malcolm Stewart – are looking forward to piloting the all-new FC Rockstar Editions this season, beginning on Saturday, January 8 in Anaheim, California. Since the exciting announcement over the summer, fans across the globe have anticipated Malcolm Stewart’s debut aboard the FC 450 Rockstar Edition and the time is finally upon us. Coming off a successful supercross season in 2021, Stewart has proven himself as a contender in the premier 450 class with a podium finish and four top-five finishes last season. Now, with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team behind him, Stewart looks to keep the momentum rolling as he prepares to attack both Supercross and Motocross for the first time since 2014. Malcolm Stewart:   “I feel really good. We’ve been doing a lot of training and we’ve got the bike really dialed in, so we’re looking forward to going into A1 and the 2022 season. It’s going to be a good year for me. I know I ended really good last year for the last couple rounds but now obviously we’re on a new team and feeling better, I like the whole vibe here. All we can do is go out there, have fun and do what we can do!” Wilson, who first came to Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in 2017, will enter his sixth season with the team in 2022. Battling through an ongoing illness in 2021, Wilson missed quite a few races but he still managed to stay consistent and finish just outside the top-10 in the AMA Supercross Championship and he looks to build upon that foundation as he heads into 2022 healthy and ready to go. Dean Wilson:   “I’m really excited for the new season. I have another great opportunity with the team and I’m feeling really good. I’m looking for some good finishes, everything is kind of falling into place so it should be good.” 250SX The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team boasts an exciting lineup of seasoned 250 cc riders who are all set to contest the championship aboard the new generation FC 250 Rockstar Edition. At the helm for his third year with the team is multi-time race winner, RJ Hampshire. With an endless amount of speed and determination, Hampshire is a fierce competitor on the race track and he looks to refine his skills this season and finally land on top of the box with a number one plate. RJ Hampshire:   “I’m feeling good heading into the new season. We’ve had a good off-season so far and the bike is awesome, so we have a lot of things to look forward to. We’re starting fresh and just excited to be with the team for another year and build on what we’ve started the last couple years.” Jalek Swoll, who began his professional supercross career with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in 2020, now enters his third season in the class. The 21-year-old had a break-out season in 2021, claiming a strong second-place at Arlington SX before rounding out the series with a top-five overall in the championship standings. He also showed flashes of brilliance outdoors, securing his first-career overall win with 1-3 moto finishes at the High Point National. For 2022, Swoll will line up in the 250SX Western division where he looks forward to a new set of challenges on the west coast. Jalek Swoll:   “I’m excited to race, going to be on a different coast than usual so that will be a different and fun learning experience. I’m looking forward to that. I think we’re in for a pretty good year. I’m just going to do what I did last year and have fun all the way through and let the results come to me.” With one full year of professional racing under his belt, Stilez Robertson will return for his sophomore season with the team. Despite an up-and-down rookie season due to injury and illness, the 19-year-old came away with a few highlights in 2021, including an impressive second-place finish at Daytona SX. He missed three of the last five rounds but still managed a respectable 13th overall in the standings. Hoping for a strong push outdoors, Robertson got off to a decent start but illness prevented him from finishing out the season. Fully recovered heading into 2022, Robertson is confident that he will stack up when the gate drops in January. Stilez Robertson:   “It was a tough off-season with the sickness but I got over it and I’m really looking forward to going racing. I’ve been putting in the work and now I’m ready to go and show everybody what we’ve been working for. I’m excited to have a good season, be up front and try to put together some good results in both supercross and outdoors.” Stephen Westfall – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager:  “I feel really good heading into the 2022 season. The team is solid and we have an all-new bike for both the 450 and 250. We have a really solid base and I think we will continue to get better throughout the year. The team is working hard, we’ve got a good group down in Florida all training together and pushing each and every day. We’ll continue to improve and we’re looking forward to the results this year.” The 2022 AMA Supercross Championship kicks off on Saturday, January 8 in Anaheim, California. Follow the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team on Instagram for behind-the-scenes race day action: @rockstarhusky #RockstarHusky #ElevatingTheSport

Luciano Benavides and Skyler Howes will represent Husqvarna Factory Racing at the world’s toughest off-road motorcycle race – the Dakar Rally – with the two-man team set to compete on the new FR 450 Rally.

With just over two weeks to go before the biggest rally event of the year, Husqvarna Factory Racing are all set to take on the iconic event, held in Saudi Arabia for the third successive year. Armed with the latest edition of the Husqvarna FR 450 Rally, Benavides and Howes hope to start their 2022 seasons strongly with top results at the Dakar Rally.

Crashing out of the 2021 Dakar on stage nine, Luciano Benavides was forced to spend the start of his 2021 season recovering from an injury to his shoulder. Determined to get back on the bike and back racing as soon as possible, the young Argentinian returned to competition at the first round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship in Kazakhstan, where he claimed an impressive sixth place overall.

A solid seventh-place result at the Silk Way Rally further increased Benavides’ confidence and he was able to carry that momentum into the Rallye du Maroc where his consistency enabled him to secure another top-six finish. Now, heading into the 2022 Dakar, Luciano is back to full fitness and feels more motivated than ever to secure his best result at the legendary event.

Signing for the Husqvarna factory in April, Skyler Howes competed in his first international event for the team just over one month later at Rally Kazakhstan. The likeable American immediately impressed, converting his speed and enthusiasm into two stage wins.

Gelling well with the team and with the bike, Howes continued to deliver strong performances for the rest of the world championship season, mixing it with the more established racers while also gaining valuable experience along the way. Securing fifth place and finishing as the top privateer at the 2021 Dakar, Skyler is now looking forward to competing at the event for the first time as a fully supported factory rider and will be hoping to make the best use of his excellent navigational skills on the technical terrain while fighting for a top result.

Marking the first round of the 2022 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship and awarding extra points due to its classification as an FIM Marathon Rally, the 44th edition of the Dakar is building up to be more important than ever. Covering 12 stages from January 1 to January 14, and totalling close to 8,000 kilometres, the race promises to provide the ultimate test of endurance, speed, and navigation as it travels through the Saudi desert.

Luciano Benavides:   “2021 has been a long, tough year for me. It started well with the Dakar where I had good speed, but then my crash forced me out of the event. It took a lot of rest and training to get my shoulder up to strength, but thankfully I was able to get back on the bike quite early on and begin to build my pace again. The first couple of world championship rounds went ok at Kazakhstan and Silk Way, I was able to slowly build my confidence, but I knew I was a little bit off the pace. We spent a lot of time in the middle of the year developing the new bike and then when we rode it in Morocco it was definitely a big step forward for me. Not only did the bike perform really well, but it also helped me and my confidence – I felt comfortable straight away and from that the speed came more easily. The team have done an incredible job – many hours working and testing and I’m pleased with the result. Now, looking ahead to the next Dakar I’m happy with where I am both mentally and physically, and with my speed. The bike and the team are working really good right now, so I believe we have an excellent package for Dakar and will be able to fight for strong results. For sure, it’s going to be tough as always, but this will be my fifth Dakar and I think I’m better prepared than ever.”

Skyler Howes:   “The year has gone really well for me – it’s been my first season as a factory racer and that has made a huge difference, it’s been great to just focus on my racing, which I feel is reflected in my results. Going into the Dakar in January, I’m definitely more prepared than I ever have been, but at the same time my goals remain the same – give it my all, stay safe, but try to come out the other side with the very best result possible. The Dakar is tough, and you can pretty much guarantee you’re going to have difficult days. The key is to keep looking forward and focus on that final result – that’s what keeps me going and keeps me motivated. The new bike we have been developing throughout the year has been another massive improvement for me. In years past, I’ve just turned up at the Dakar and often ridden a bike for the first time at that event. Now, I’ve been given the chance to not only spend a lot more time on that bike, but also have a massive input into its development. That’s had the effect that I feel really at home on the new FR 450 Rally and I’m looking forward to taking it to Dakar. At the end of the day, I’ll be happy if I give it my all and have fun, hopefully the final result will reflect that too.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt came out swinging at the long-awaited FIM SuperEnduro World Championship opener in Lodz, Poland, earning a deserved overall win and a healthy early championship lead. Quickly reminding everyone why he is the defending world champion indoors, Bolt topped the night’s SuperPole hot lap before going on to win all three of the Prestige class finals and secure overall victory. Returning to the SuperEnduro series for the first time since winning the title in 2019, AMA EnduroCross champion Colton Haaker enjoyed a solid night, taking a close third overall.

On a technical track, which was made all the more tricky due to numerous sand sections, Bolt was instantly up to speed on his FE 350, eager to impress at the opening round of the SuperEnduro season. Easing his way through the first test of the night – the SuperPole hot lap – he blitzed the course to top the time sheets by almost two seconds.

When it came to the first gate drop of the championship Bolt wasted no time in muscling his way to the head of the field, going on to clinch victory by six seconds. With the start order reversed for race two, Bolt started last but was already into second position by lap two. A crash dropped him off the rear wheel of race leader Haaker, but within just a handful of laps he’d found his way to the front once more. However, a third crash knocked him back to second once again before a heroic final lap effort saw him wrestle victory from Haaker just a handful of corners from the finish line.

Determined to bring his night to a positive close, Bolt claimed the holeshot in the third and closing final. Well and truly mastering the tough conditions, he put in eight solid laps, easing away from the rest of the field to win by over 26 seconds. Claiming a clean sweep in Poland, Bolt now heads the championship standings by 15 points.

After winning the championship in 2019, Colton Haaker made a welcome return to the series in Poland. Knowing the soft and sandy conditions were much more unforgiving than what he’d raced in EnduroCross in the USA, the experienced indoor racer was determined to deliver a mistake-free night where possible.

A strong ride in the opening race saw him take a confidence-boosting fourth. Maximising his efforts on the reversed start for race two, Haaker carded his best performance of the night - going head-to-head with Bolt and fighting for victory right down to the final few corners, but ultimately placing second.

A bad start in race three forced Haaker to work hard to recover. From ninth on the opening lap, he knuckled down and began to move his way forward. Shadowing Taddy Blazusiak across the finish line for fifth, the American did enough to secure third overall in Poland.

The FIM SuperEnduro World Championship continues with round two in Jerusalem, Israel on January 20th.

Billy Bolt:   “It’s been a brilliant start to the championship. Winning all three races and taking SuperPole as well – it’s great to be back indoors. I hadn’t got as much bike time coming into this round as I would have liked, and it showed a little in the beginning of the night. My timing was a little off and I was making myself work for it out there. We got things dialled in better for race three. The track came a bit easier to me and I could hit my lines consistently. Winning tonight has definitely given me more motivation to push hard during this six week break until round two.”

Colton Haaker:   “I’m pretty pleased with third tonight. It was tough out there and I wasn’t 100 per cent sure where I was going to slot into things. For sure race two was the highlight of my night. When I got that good start and a clean track in front of me, I was riding more how I wanted too. It’s good to get a SuperEnduro race back under my belt again because I haven’t done one since 2019. Now I know where things are at, I’ll build on it for round two, for sure!”

Results - SuperEnduro, Rnd1 Poland

Event Classification
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts;  2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 48pts;  3. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 43pts…

Prestige Race 1
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 8 laps, 7:59.138;  2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 8 laps, 8:05.506; 3. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 8 laps, 8:05.506;  4. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 8:27:727…

Prestige Race 2
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 7 laps, 7:07.571; 2. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 7 laps, 7:11.008;  3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 7 laps, 7:13.970…

Prestige Race 3
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 8 laps, 7:42.958;  2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 8:09.108; 3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 8:19.583…  5. Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) 8:23.408…

Billy Bolt and Colton Haaker are set to represent Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing at this weekend’s opening round of the 2022 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship. The two former champions will form a strong Anglo-American line-up as they fight for the coveted indoor enduro title during the scheduled five-round series.

With the 2021 championship cancelled due to the global pandemic, SuperEnduro fires back into life for 2022 with five rounds, held in four different countries. Opening in Poland tomorrow, December 4, the series then travels to Israel in January, Hungary in early February, before closing in Germany in March with back-to-back events.

Winner of the last SuperEnduro championship to be held, in 2020, Billy Bolt comes into the 2022 SuperEnduro series just weeks after clinching the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship title and will undoubtedly be one of the main riders to beat on the tight and intense indoor tracks. On form throughout 2021, Bolt has shown incredible pace and skill, especially on terrains that suit his explosive style. Switching to the FE 350 4-stroke for SuperEnduro, the Brit is fired up to stamp his mark on the series.

Also looking for success is reigning AMA Endurocross Champion Colton Haaker. Riding as teammate to Bolt on his return to European action, the three-time world champion wrapped up the 2021 American championship just over one month ago, and is not only on form, but also fully dialled in to the unpredictable nature of indoor enduro. Haaker’s last FIM title came back in 2019, when he beat all comers in a championship that went down to the very last moto. Now, the American star is back in Europe and looking to ruffle some feathers.

The 2022 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship begins in Lodz, Poland on Saturday December 4, 2021.

Billy Bolt:   “I’m really looking forward to getting back to some SuperEnduro racing – it seems like ages since we raced the series. As soon as things calmed down after winning the Hard Enduro World Championship, I jumped back on my FE 350 and have been training on that ever since. I felt at home on it straight away to be honest, it suits my style and size. We have had a few SuperEnduro style races this year – namely at Lagares and TKO, but nothing is quite the same intensity as a proper SuperEnduro event. I think the competition is going to be tough – there are a lot of guys who could really mix things up, not least Colton who is coming over from America to race again. It’s going to be tough, but I’m really looking forward to racing in Poland. I’ll give it my best and hopefully come out of the event somewhere near the top."

Colton Haaker:   “I’m really excited to be coming back to Europe for SuperEnduro. Over the last couple of years Covid has put a dampener on things, so now I’ve got a chance to come back and race, I had to go for it. The team really wanted to get the fastest competitors together and try to make the racing as good as it could be. The ideal situation for the sport is to get the best U.S. riders together with the best European riders, all in one series. It’s the best things for the fans, and the best thing for us as riders to grow the sport as a whole. It’s been a really good year for me so far – in America we’re lucky that we’ve been able to run the indoor series for the past two years and I’ve been able to stay top dog. I’m looking forward to facing the same sort of competition in Europe, and I think there are maybe seven or eight guys there that have the ability to win, so it’s definitely going to be a tough championship. I’m looking forward to the challenge – there are going to be some good battles and it’s going to be a whole lot of fun.”

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.

Husqvarna Motorcycles would like to thank IceOne Racing for its dedication and professionalism throughout the highly rewarding eight-year partnership that delivered notable success in the FIM Motocross World Championship. With the 2021 racing season reaching its conclusion, the official relationship between Husqvarna Motorcycles and IceOne Racing now draws to a close.

Officially representing Husqvarna Motorcycles in the MXGP class since the 2014 season, IceOne Racing, run by former Grand Prix racer Antti Pyrhönen, has enjoyed many achievements on the world stage. In 2016, Max Nagl claimed third overall in the MXGP World Championship with Gautier Paulin replicating the same feat the following year as both riders clearly demonstrated the true capabilities of FC 450 machinery.

Undoubtedly, the team’s most prosperous season came in 2017. With Paulin placing third in the MXGP World Championship, Nagl claimed eighth with Max Anstie close behind in ninth. The year was underlined by further success at the FIM Motocross of Nations where Anstie dominated both races at the biggest motocross event in the world to round out a truly remarkable season for the team.

Since that highly memorable year, Pauls Jonass placed sixth overall in the 2019 MXGP World Championship while Arminas Jasikonis secured his debut moto win during the 2020 season.

Robert Jonas – Vice President Motorsports Offroad:   “Husqvarna Motorcycles has enjoyed a fantastic relationship with IceOne Racing since the brand returned to the FIM Motocross World Championship in 2014. Antti and his team have been an excellent partner, always showing incredible professionalism and commitment to everything they do. The team has really helped grow the Husqvarna Motorcycles brand thanks to the many notable achievements of its riders in MXGP, in turn also helping us develop our range of motocross machines. It has been a tremendous partnership throughout the last eight years, and on behalf of everyone at Husqvarna Motorcycles I would like to sincerely wish the whole team all the very best for the future.”

Antti Pyrhönen - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MXGP Team Manager:  “Personally, and on behalf of Kimi Räikkönen and IceOne Racing, I want to say a big thank you to Husqvarna Motorcycles, to Robert Jonas and Pit Beirer for the great years together, and the fantastic opportunity they gave us, which became an almost decade-long working relationship. We always pushed hard together, and we were always proud partners. I also want to say thank you to all great people who work so hard inside motorsports in Austria. Now is the time for a new chapter for IceOne Racing but, like we know, respect, friendship, and memories live forever.”

Husqvarna Motorcycles is pleased to confirm the signing of former EMX250 champion Roan Van De Moosdijk for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In joining the Nestaan MX2 run Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team, Van De Moosdijk will compete in the MX2 World Championship alongside fellow Dutchman Kay de Wolf. Forming a highly competitive line-up, the duo are set to race aboard proven FC 250 machinery.

Just one year after placing third in his debut season in the hotly contested EMX250 series in 2018, Roan claimed the title in 2019 after a season-long battle for the championship. Stepping up to the MX2 World Championship for 2020, the now 21-year-old immediately impressed with three overall podium results from the first five rounds. Two further top-three finishes followed later in the year, with the Dutchman securing a maiden race victory and claiming second overall at the MXGP of Lommel. Roan would ultimately place seventh in the final standings.

Bringing everything he learned in his rookie MX2 season into 2021, Roan enjoyed another promising campaign start, claiming three third-place moto finishes to lie fifth in the series standings after the first four rounds. Frustratingly, a broken scaphoid sustained following a crash at the MXGP of Czech Republic prevented him from delivering what was set to be his breakout season in the MX2 World Championship.

Fully healed and excited to begin riding his new FC 250, Roan, alongside new teammate Kay de Wolf, will soon begin testing in readiness for the opening round of the 2022 MX2 World Championship.

Roan Van De Moosdijk:   “I’m so pleased to be joining the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team, it’s really a very special moment in my career. This season has been tough, but I’m putting that behind me and looking forward to working with the team and having Kay as my new teammate. I have a really good feeling about things, and I know that at the start of this season things were going well, and that my speed and fitness was where it needed to be to challenge for the podium. I’ll have the best bike and the best support next year, so I just want to keep working and improving through the winter and get back to where I was and then give 2022 everything I have. Finally, it looks like the season will be back to normal, and I’m really looking forward to that. I want to say thanks to everyone that has made this happen – I can’t wait to get onto my new bike and to start our winter testing and training.”

Rasmus Jorgensen - Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 Team Manager:   “We’re thrilled to have Roan in our team and can’t wait to get him settled in, and then start working in preparation for 2022. Overall, this year was a very positive season for our team – we want to keep that momentum rolling into 2022 and with Roan racing alongside Kay we believe we have a very strong line-up. At the start of this year Roan was riding so well, he put in some really impressive motos, and really showed what he is capable of. We really believe he’ll be a great fit for our team and at 21 has the right mix of age and experience to excel in MX2. On our bike, with the full technical support we can offer him, he’ll have all that he needs to develop further as a racer. After a short break to rechange the batteries a little after the long season we’ve had, we’ll soon start building towards 2022. We can’t wait to get started.”

Robert Jonas – VP Motorsports Offroad:  “Husqvarna Motorcycles is very pleased to be welcoming Roan into the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team alongside Kay. The team did a fantastic job this season and is 100% focused on bigger and better results in 2022. Clearly the MX2 World Championship is hugely competitive but Roan, like Kay, has shown that he has the speed and skills to challenge for the podium. That, together with the support and guidance he will receive from both the team and everyone within Motorsports in Austria, will give him all he needs to further develop as a MX2 GP racer with Husqvarna Motorcycles.”

The 2021 Moto3 world championship reached a conclusion around the flat and winding Circuito Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain for the eighteenth and last round of the Grand Prix campaign. Husqvarna Motorcycles approached the end of its second season in Moto3 competition with Romano Fenati in the top four of the standings and with a victory and four podium appearances notched during 2021. After a rainy start to Free Practice the rest of the weekend was sunny and surprisingly mild in terms of temperatures. Fenati was the main pacesetter on the FR 250 GP and secured the 8th fastest lap-time in Q2 to occupy a slot on the third row of the grid. He was less than a second away from the Pole Position effort and all signs pointed to another close and intense Moto3 contest on Sunday. The red light went out at 11.00 on raceday to launch 23 laps of action. Fenati went on the prowl in the middle of the top ten and as part of the breakaway group of twelve riders. He survived numerous skirmishes that saw over half a dozen crash out if the running. Fenati crossed the line in 12th. He managed to bank eleven top ten results from the eighteen rounds of the season and finished 5th with 160 points: 11 behind Jaume Masia in 4th place. Adrian Fernandez negotiated a tricky weekend. The rookie had a fast crash during practice on Friday and then had to endure a double Long Lap penalty during the race for slow riding during Qualification on Saturday. Fernandez circulated mid-pack at one stage during the actual sprint on Sunday morning but then recovered strongly to reach the flag in 14th. The Spaniard ends the season with 22nd position and 30 points. The Sterilgarda Max Racing Team can anticipate the winter break and then two new recruits for the FR 250 GP in 2022 with Ayumu Sasaki and John McPhee stepping into the squad. Romano Fenati : “I’m happy to finish this year and it has been two amazing years with this team where I learnt a lot, more than with any other team. I’m not so happy with the result today but now I have to focus on our next goal. Thanks to everybody.” Adrian Fernandez: “A very difficult race for me with the two Long Laps but I had a good feeling on the bike and went step-by-step and lap-by-lap. I got back to 14th, which wasn’t too bad. I want to thank the team and my family. It’s been an incredible first year in GPs for me and I have learned a lot.” Max Biaggi, Team Principal : “The last race of the year and a bit of frustration. We had the chance to reach the top three of the championship but we couldn’t make it with Romano. It’s not the way we wanted to end the season. It has been two intense years with Romano but we had some nice moments. More points for Adrian and he fought back well to get into the top fifteen. I wish him well for 2022 and it has been good to see him progress. We’ll look to next season now.” Results – 2021 Moto3 World Championship, Round 18 1. Xavier Artigas (Honda) 38:30.302, 2. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) +0.043. 3. Jaume Masia (KTM) +0.232 12. Romano Fenati (Husqvarna) +2.461, 14. Adrian Fernandez (Husqvarna) +13.298 Final world championship standings 1. Pedro Acosta (KTM) 259pts; 2. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 216pts; 3. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 188pts; 5. Romano Fenati (Husqvarna) 160 pts; 22. Adrian Fernandez (Husqvarna) 20 pts.

Bringing to a close a highly successful rookie season in the MX2 World Championship, Kay de Wolf has claimed third overall at the final round of the series in Italy, the MXGP of Città di Mantova. The young Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider came out on top of an intense battle in both races to secure his 2-6 results and the final spot on the overall podium. Jed Beaton placed seventh overall following two consistent results in the MX2 class while Thomas Kjer Olsen and Arminas Jasikonis rounded out a positive day for the team with the MXGP class duo placing ninth and 14th overall respectively.
MX2 class rookie Kay de Wolf was in exceptional form at the season-ending MXGP of Città di Mantova to secure third overall aboard his FC 250. Capitalising on a great start in moto one, the Dutchman moved forwards from fourth and into second place just after the halfway stage, before coming under attack from 2021 MX2 World Champion, Maxime Renaux. A tense battle then ensued for the remaining laps with Kay fending off all the challenges from behind for a well-deserved second place finish. In race two, de Wolf completed the opening lap in 11th with a lot of work to do to claim his place on the overall podium. A race-long charge forwards then followed with the youngster making the crucial pass on Mikkel Haarup on the penultimate lap to secure sixth in the race for third overall. In what was a truly incredible debut season, Kay secured four overall podium results on his way to placing seventh in the MX2 World Championship. For Jed Beaton, it was a frustrating final round.  With high hopes of ending his MX2 career on the overall podium, the Australian didn’t quite secure the starts needed in either moto to challenge for the top three. In placing seventh overall, Beaton secured fifth in the final championship standings.
Enjoying a strong run of results during recent rounds of the MXGP World Championship, Thomas Kjer Olsen’s impressive form continued in Mantova with the Dane claiming a season-best race result of sixth in the opening moto. The FC 450 mounted racer would then place 13th in moto two to secure ninth overall on the day. With another impressive result to end the 2021 season, TKO advanced one spot in the series standings to claim ninth in his first season in the class.

Signing off the 2021 season with two solid point-scoring rides, Arminas Jasikonis ended the campaign with a consistent 14-15 result, rewarding the Lithuanian with 14th overall.

Kay de Wolf:  “I’m really happy with my rookie season. I learned a lot and it’s great to end the year with a podium for myself and the team. They have always believed in me and to finish the year like this is perfect. I had a couple of really fun battles in both motos today and I really enjoyed the track and racing with the guys. I’m looking forward to the winter now and after some rest, I’ll be working really hard to see what I can do in 2022.”

Jed Beaton:   “It’s been a pretty emotional day to say the least. As I’ve now aged out of MX2 it was my last race for the team which, after three great years, is really tough. It’s safe to say that the season didn’t end how I’d have liked due to a few issues and a crash in race one. That ruled me out of a chance of finishing on the podium but I really tried hard in moto two but it just wasn’t meant to be. I’ve had an incredible three seasons with Rasmus and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team and they’ve taken me under their wing and really shaped who I am today. I’m disappointed to not end our time together with a podium result but I gave it my best shot and finishing fifth in the series is a pretty decent result.”

Thomas Kjer Olsen:   “Today has been a great end to the season for me. I felt awesome on the bike in race one and finished sixth for my best result in the MXGP class. I also moved up to ninth in the final championship standings, so it’s been a great end to the year. At one point I dropped to 13th in the championship but then I really turned things around in the second half and improved my qualifying, my speed, and my feeling on the bike. I’ve been getting better and better and to finish ninth in the championship in my rookie year is a really great result. I couldn’t have done it without the great team behind me who have been so supportive throughout my first year in MXGP so it’s nice to repay their hard work with a strong end to the season.”

Arminas Jasikonis:   “It’s nice to complete the season with two solid rides. I was consistent in both motos and I felt much more comfortable out on the track. It’s been a difficult year trying to recover from my injury while also trying to race to my best ability, but there are plenty of positives. I know my speed is good and I had a great result in Lommel in the summer which is the toughest track on the calendar. I’m now looking forward to the winter to regroup and be even better prepared for next year.”

Results – 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 18

MXGP – Overall
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 50pts;2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 42; 3. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 42…  9. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 23; 14. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 13

MXGP - Race 1
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 35:20:709 18 laps; 2. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 35:53:174; 3. Tim Gajser (Honda) 35:23:533…  6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 36:18:080; 14. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 36:39:256

MXGP - Race 2
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 35:29:493, 18 laps; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 35:30:990; 3. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 36:11:307…  13. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 36:38:634; 15. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 36:57:183

MX2 - Overall
1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 47pts; 2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 45;  3. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 37… 7. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 27

MX2 - Race 1
1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 35:31:673, 18 laps;  2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 35:40:106;  3. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 35:42:731…  7. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 35:58:593

MX2 - Race 2
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 35:46:235, 18 laps; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 35:59:127; 3. Mattia Guadagnini (KTM) 36:08:322…  6. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 36:29:485; 8. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 36:31:457

Championship Standings – After Round 18

MXGP
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 708pts; 2. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 703; 3. Tim Gajser (Honda) 688… 9. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 332; 22. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 103 MX2
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 734pts; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 610; 3. Tom Vialle (KTM) 570. 5. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 540; 7. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 478

Competing at the penultimate round the 2021 MX2 World Championship, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s MX2 racers Jed Beaton and Kay de Wolf both delivered impressive form to place fourth and fifth overall respectively. The duo capitalised on great starts in both races to secure their positive results with Beaton now advancing to fourth in the series standings while de Wolf moves up to seventh, with just one round remaining. In the MXGP class, Thomas Kjer Olsen continues to impress, securing eighth overall. Carving a tight line through the treacherous first turn at Mantova contributed enormously to Jed Beaton’s great start in the opening MX2 race of the day. With the Australian then able to avoid the chaos that ensued through the following corners, the 23-year-old charged hard and moved into fifth place by the halfway stage of the moto, right behind Kay de Wolf. Despite numerous attempts to make the pass on his teammate and move into fourth, Beaton would ultimately secure fifth in the race and set himself up for a strong chance at the overall podium.
MX2 race two began with Jed making several passes during the early laps to quickly move into fifth place. As the race unfolded, the FC 250 mounted rider made two crucial passes during the second half of the moto to move into third, which secured his fourth-place overall result. Despite Beaton narrowly missing out on a visit to the overall podium, the points he scored move him up to fourth place in the series standings with one round to go.
Improving upon his strong seventh place overall result at the previous round of the MX2 World Championship, Kay de Wolf claimed an impressive fifth overall at the MXGP of Lombardia. A great start in race one saw the Dutchman battle up front for the duration of the moto as he held off teammate Jed Beaton while chasing after Tom Vialle in third. Ending the race just under two seconds behind the former MX2 World Champion was an outstanding result and an excellent start to the GP for de Wolf.
Another great start in race two once again placed Kay up front and amongst a tenacious battle for the top five positions. Frustratingly, two crashes restricted the youngster to a 10th-place finish in the moto but thanks to his strong performance in race one he secured fifth overall and now advances to seventh in the championship standings.
Earning a moto win at the FIM Motocross of Nations at Mantova just six weeks ago, Thomas Kjer Olsen clearly knows the fast way around the sandy Italian circuit, which the Dane illustrated in moto one when he claimed a strong eighth-place overall result at the MXGP of Lombardia. Boosted by an opening moto seventh-place finish, Thomas backed it up with a solid 10th in race two.
Returning to action after missing the previous three rounds, Arminas Jasikonis placed 18th in race one following a small fall before a sizable crash in moto two ended his day early.
Competing in the EMX250 class, Maxime Grau placed 13th overall and now lies 11th the championship standings with one round to go.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing return to Mantova on Wednesday November 10 for the final round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, the MXGP of Città di Mantova. Jed Beaton:  “A pretty good day today. I had good starts but still had to make a few passes to catch the leaders. I had a good charge going in race one and felt great on the bike in the second half of the race, but it wasn’t enough to do better than fifth. Race two was a lot better early on but the two guys up front made such a big gap that it just wasn’t possible to catch them despite having a solid pace.”
Kay de Wolf:  “My riding and my speed was really good today. In fact, the pace at the front was really high so for me to be battling up front in both races, it’s gives me a lot of confidence ahead of the last round on Wednesday. It’s a shame that I crashed twice in moto two but overall it’s been a solid day and I can’t wait for the final round.” Thomas Kjer Olsen:  “I’m really happy with how things are coming together for me as the season nears the end. I’m seeing really good things with my riding, and I was able to push forwards from 14th to eighth in race one. It’s quite difficult to pass on this track, but I was able to make things happen. I actually ended up seventh as Tim Gajser was docked some places. I had a great start in race two but didn’t quite have the same feeling on the bike compared to race one. I could ride with a good pace, I just didn’t feel so good on the track so pushing was difficult. Eighth overall, I will take that and I’m really pleased with another solid result.”
Arminas Jasikonis:   “It’s really nice to be back racing. I had a great feeling on the bike today and in race one I had a good pace and I was enjoying myself out there. I was in 14th and tried taking a different line to make a pass but I crashed, so that was frustrating. I was way down the field but battled through for 18th which wasn’t perfect, but I knew my speed was good. Unfortunately, in race two I had a big crash and took a big impact to my hip, so that ended my day early. I’m feeling ok now and I’m positive that Wednesday will be much better.” Results – 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 17
MXGP – Overall
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 47pts; 2. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 47; 3. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 38…  8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 25; 22. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 3
MXGP - Race 1 1. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 35:57:282, 18 laps; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 35:38:398; 3. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 35:41:006…  7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 35:32:415; 18. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 37:11:167
MXGP - Race 2 1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 35:41:191, 18 laps; 2. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 36:00:280; 3. Tim Gajser (Honda) 36:03:369…  10. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 36:45:197
MX2 - Overall 1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 47pts; 2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 47; 3. Tom Vialle (KTM) 38;  4. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 36; 5. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 29 MX2 - Race 1
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 35:52:5405, 18 laps; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 35:54:349; 3. Tom Vialle (KTM) 35:59:850;  4. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 36:01:470; 5. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 36:02:562 MX2 - Race 2
1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 35:57:115, 18 laps; 2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 35:59:765;  3. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 36:31:713… 10. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 37:03:065 Championship Standings – After Round 17
MXGP
1. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 661pts; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 658; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 646…  10. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 309; 22. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 87 MX2
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 689pts; 2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 570; 3. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 563;  4. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 513… 7. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 441

Romano Fenati scored his second consecutive 7th place finish for Husqvarna Motorcycles as the Italian rose to 4th place in the Moto3 World Championship standings after the second Grand Prix in Portugal in 2021. For the second time this year MotoGP ventured to sunny climes in the south of Portugal and to the coastal town of Portimao. The drops, climbs, blind-entry corners and technical challenge of the Algarve International Circuit was a familiar test for the teams and the Sterilgarda Max Racing crew at the Grande Prémio Brembo do Algarve. Romano Fenati immediately gone down to work and despite windy and chilly air in Portugal was the hottest rider in the first two Free Practice sessions to head the sheets after the first day of activity. Come Saturday though it was rookie Adrian Fernandez - benefitting from the visit seven months earlier and able to apply his settings and knowledge to the challenge during qualification – who excelled. The Spaniard shredly placed himself amidst a busy group in the final minute of Q2 to make the most of the tow and rocket to his best-ever qualification. 3rd place allowed Fernandez to roll his FR 250 GP onto the front row of the grid for the first time. On Sunday morning a large group formed at the front of the Moto3 contest as 21 laps of the 4.6km layout would decide the podium positions. Fernandez was initially running with the leaders but keep a consistent pace to circulate on the edge of the top ten. Less than three seconds split all the riders vying for championship points down to 15th. Fenati was also in the fray and increased his pace and track condition to classify 7th: less than two seconds away from race winner Pedro Acosta by the conclusion of the tense and exciting spectacle that witness some late crashes. Fernandez was satisfied with 11th. The results allowed Fenati to reassume 4th place in the world championship standings and sit just 12 points away from the top three. Fernandez is 23rd after pushing up his points tally to 28. The Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana will draw 2021 MotoGP to close in the traditional finale venue of the Ricardo Tormo Circuit. Romano Fenati : “I’m happy because we reduced the gap to 3rd in the championship and we were fast in the race. For sure 7th is not our target but we came back from 20th on the first lap! We want the podium, and we have one more chance to do it this season.” Adrian Fernandez: “I had a crash in warm-up but I tried to keep calm and managed the rear tyre in the race. It was great to run at the front for a while and experience that in Moto3. Five laps before the end I lost the chance to go for the win but we made progress this weekend so a big thanks to the team.” Max Biaggi, Team Principal : “The race was not the one we expected, and we hoped Adrian would be able to stay closer to the front but we had both riders in the points today and that was a positive thing. Romano took a long time to come back to the front and we had some fortune to end up with 7th. One more round to go and he can still fight for 3rd in the championship and this is very important. I hope he can make it with a strong race in Valencia. Overall today: good but could have been better."   Results – 2021 Moto3 World Championship, Round 17 1. Pedro Acosta (KTM) 38:04.339, 2. Andrea Migno (Honda) +0.354. 3. Niccolo Antontelli (KTM) +0.880 7. Romano Fenati (Husqvarna) +1.972, 13. Adrian Fernandez (Husqvarna) +18.050   World Championship standings 1. Pedro Acosta (KTM) 259pts; 2. Dennis Foggia (Honda) 213pts; 3. Sergio Garcia (GASGAS) 168pts; 4. Romano Fenati (Husqvarna) 156 pts; 23. Adrian Fernandez (Husqvarna) 28 pts.

THE FR 250 GP WILL REMAIN PART OF THE MotoGP™ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Moto3 GRID IN 2022 AS THE STERILGARDA MAX RACING TEAM SIGN 20-YEAR-OLD JAPANESE STAR AND 27-YEAR-OLD BRITON. Having achieved wins in Italy and the UK since a re-introduction to Moto3 in 2020, Husqvarna Motorcycles is currently chasing a top three championship ranking in the division thanks to the efforts of Romano Fenati. The Sterilgarda Max Racing Team leadership of Team Principal Max Biaggi and Team Manager Peter Öttl will overhaul their line-up and will welcome the sharp pace and potential of Ayumu Sasaki into the unit for 2022 as well as the Grand Prix winning experience of John McPhee. Sasaki made his Grand Prix debut in 2016 and has already appeared on the rostrum twice in four full terms of Moto3 and a comprehensive learning period. The rider from Yokosuka, 50km south of Tokyo, recently claimed a trophy – his first of 2021 – at the Gran Premio Tissot de Aragon, around MotorLand in Spain. The Japanese brings speed to the team and undoubted competitiveness. McPhee had his first taste of the world championship back in 2010 and pre-Moto3. He made four appearances in the old 125cc class before becoming a full-time member of the Moto3 grid from 2013. He has steered three different brands of motorcycle in his nine seasons to-date and boasts proven pedigree with 14 podiums and 3 wins.

Successfully completing the third of three FIM Motocross World Championship rounds to be held in Pietramurata, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Kay de Wolf has battled hard for an impressive seventh-place overall MX2 class result at the MXGP of Garda. Frustratingly for Kay’s teammate Jed Beaton, the Australian experienced a mixed day of racing with a strong fifth-place finish in moto one followed by an incident-filled race two, which resulted in a 14th place finish for ninth overall. With high hopes of delivering another strong performance in the MXGP class, Thomas Kjer Olsen claimed 11th overall after two challenging races.

As arguably one of the best sand riders in the MX2 World Championship, Kay de Wolf has continually made positive strides forward with his hardpack riding skills in recent weeks. At the MXGP of Garda, the Dutchman’s good form continued as he capitalised on strong starts in both motos to claim an impressive seventh overall result. Part of a race-long, four-rider battle for eighth place in race one, the Dutchman held his nerve, maintaining his fast pace to secure eighth.

With an improved start in race two, Kay worked his way forwards from seventh on lap one to third by the halfway stage of the moto. From here, the FC 250 racer gave chase to the leading two riders before nearly crashing spectacularly with four laps to go. Fortunate to remain upright, the near miss slowed his charge and resulted in the loss of a few positions before he finally claimed sixth in the moto. With the MX2 class rookie putting together a strong debut season and scoring points in every moto bar one so far in 2021, Kay now lies just one point from seventh in the series standings.

Jed Beaton enjoyed a promising first race at the MXGP of Garda with a strong fifth-place finish. Frustratingly, the Australian had a coming together with another rider in the tight and treacherous second turn after the start of moto two, which resulted in a race-long charge towards the front. With two further crashes adding to the challenge, Beaton secured 14th in the moto for ninth overall. Jed now sits just 10 points adrift of fourth in the MX2 World Championship.

In the MXGP class, Thomas Kjer Olsen was confident of another strong result in Italy having placed an exceptional sixth overall just four days ago. With his day beginning positively by posting the seventh-fastest time in qualifying, a collision in race one and a poor start in race two saw Thomas secure two 12th-place finishes for 11th overall.

The team’s EMX250 class racer, Maxime Grau, claimed 15th overall to maintain his 10th place ranking in the championship standings with two rounds to go.

Next weekend, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing travel to Mantova, Italy for the penultimate round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, round 17 of the 18-round series.

Kay de Wolf:   “Overall, it’s been a good day for me. Race one was pretty crazy, I was in a battle for the whole moto. It was just wide open with a few other riders, it was a fun race and finishing eighth was pretty decent. I had a much better start in race two and moved into third and felt really comfortable up front. Unfortunately, in the wave section I almost had a huge crash and that really pushed up my heart rate. It took a couple of laps to regain my focus but for the rest of the race I couldn’t find a good line through the waves, which cost me some time and I ended up sixth. Two rounds to go and I’m excited for Mantova. I’ve had a pretty good week here in Trentino so I’m looking to going there and being in some more battles.”

Jed Beaton:   “Today wasn’t quite how I wanted to finish this triple header. My first race was pretty solid though, I felt good and made passes all moto to place fifth, which was a good start to the day. Then in race two, it all went wrong really. My jump off the gate wasn’t good and then in turn two I got caught up in someone’s bike and I was dead last. I then crashed twice coming through the pack so that one was tough. I’m now looking forward to Mantova for the final two rounds. I’ve done well there in the past and I really want to end the season with positive results.”

Thomas Kjer Olsen:   “I’m a little disappointed with today after how well things went on Wednesday. It all came down to my starts not being the best – this class is so stacked that it’s difficult to be in the top 10 when you don’t start up front. I was actually in 10th briefly in race one until I collided with another rider and that pushed me back to 12th. One positive I can take from today is that I felt really good on the bike, really comfortable and I could push to the end of both races. It’s taken a while but I feel really confident now and if I can improve my starts, then I can be back inside the top-10 overall and battling with the top guys.”

Results – 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 16

MXGP – Overall
1. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 47pts; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 43; 3. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 42…  11. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 27

MXGP - Race 1
1. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 34:54:904, 20 laps; 2. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 35:15:222; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 35:122:264…  12. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 35:56:686

MXGP - Race 2
1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 35:09:036, 20 laps; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 35:14:997; 3. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 35:27:099…  12. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 35:57:922

MX2 - Overall
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 47pts; 2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 40; 3. Ruben Fernandez (Honda) 40…  7. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 22; 9. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 23

MX2 - Race 1
1. Rene Hofer (KTM) 33:39:546, 19 laps; 2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 33:44:512; 3. Ruben Fernandez (Honda) 33:49:547…  5. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 33:54:695; 8. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 34:04:179

MX2 - Race 2
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 33:51:075, 19 laps; 2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 33:54:180; 3. Ruben Fernandez (Honda) 33:56:296…  6. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 34:00:758; 14. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 34:31:838

Championship Standings – After Round 16

MXGP
1. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 614pts; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 613; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 611…  10. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 284; 22. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 87

MX2
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 642pts; 2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 532; 3. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 516;  5. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 477; 8. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 412

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt has made history by becoming the first ever FIM Hard Enduro World Champion. Attacking all the way during the final round of the season at Germany’s GetzenRodeo, Bolt placed second to put the finishing touches to what has been an incredible year of hard enduro racing for the Brit. Competing alongside Billy, Hixpania winner Alfredo Gomez ended his season in a close sixth in the series following a sixth place result.

With the outcome of this year’s FIM Hard Enduro World Championship boiling down to the final race of the season between Bolt and his closest rival Manuel Lettenbichler, TE 300i mounted Bolt knew what he had to do. Holding a three-point lead in the championship standings, he needed to either win, or finish second or better to clinch the title if Lettenbichler won.

A fast pace in the morning GetzenRace qualifier saw Billy lead the majority of the two-hour race, only to slip to second within sight of the finish line. With the focus on the all-important GetzenChamp race, 80-minutes plus one lap of racing stood between Bolt and the title. Starting second, the Brit quickly caught Lettenbichler on lap one. Overtaking him, he opened up a 10-second lead. But with the slippery rocks catching him out, a series of mistakes dropped him down to sixth.

Knowing the title had swung in Lettenbichler’s favour, Bolt regrouped and put his head down to make a charge back up the field. Picking off riders, he worked his way up to second at the midway point in the race. Now clearly enjoying the course, Bolt began chipping away at the race lead, bringing the gap down to less than one minute. But with time running out, he knew settling for second was exactly enough to become the FIM Hard Enduro World Champion.

For teammate Gomez, the focus was on the race win following his victory last time out at Hixpania. A steady ride in the morning qualifier saw him start fifth in the GetzenChamp race. Riding strong in the opening laps, Gomez reached as high as second early on. But with arm pump hampering the Spaniard, he was unable to maintain his fast pace, eventually slipping back to sixth.

With the 2021 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship concluded, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing now turn their attention to the opening round of the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, which takes place in Poland on December 4.

Billy Bolt:   “WORLD CHAMPIONS! What an amazing feeling it is. It’s going to take a while to process this one. I can’t believe I’m the FIM Hard Enduro World Champion. It was a heck of a race today. We all knew what we had to do, and we made it happen. I rode great this morning in the qualifier, but I hurt my finger. I was struggling a little with that in the beginning of the race and made a lot of mistakes early on. But I settled myself, regrouped and recovered. When I got back up to second, I closed the gap to Mani to one minute, but didn’t want to risk anything. Riding into the finish line as the world champion was such an amazing moment. It’s been a great year and I can’t thank all of the team enough for their support. We did it!”

Alfredo Gomez:   “Today didn’t quite go to plan. I was riding well, but right from the beginning I had arm pump and wasn’t able to push like I wanted to. I struggled to find a good rhythm and was making too many mistakes everywhere. The whole year has been difficult for me, I wasn’t able to train properly at the start because I had an infection in my knee and was off the bike for about four months. Slowly as the season went on, I was able to find my speed and obviously the highlight was my win at home at Hixpania Hard Enduro. I’m happy for Billy and the team for winning the championship and we’ll look ahead to next year now, get some good training done over the winter and keep fighting.”

Results: GetzenRodeo

1. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 11 laps, 1:29:20.433
2. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 11 laps, 1:30:16.852
3. Mario Roman (Sherco) 11 laps, 1:32:05.524
4. Wade Young (Sherco) 10 laps, 1:31:29.066
5. Jonny Walker (Beta) 10 laps, 1:31:52.822
6. Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 1:32:37.808

2021 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship (Final Standings)

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 104pts
2. Manuel Lettenbichler 104pts
3. Wade Young (Sherco) 83pts
4. Mario Roman (Sherco) 76pts
5. Jonny Walker (Beta) 66pts
6. Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna) 63pts
7. Michael Walkner (GASGAS) 46pts
8. Teodor Kabakchiev (Husqvarna) 36pts
9. Taddy Blazusiak (GASGAS) 29pts
10. Dominik Olszowy (KTM) 24pts

Delivering his breakout ride in the 2021 MXGP World Championship, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen has placed sixth overall at the MXGP of Pietramurata following two inspiring rides. Eighth in moto one before going one better for seventh in moto two, the Dane continued his strong run of consistent results in the best possible way. In the MX2 class, crashes for both Jed Beaton and Kay de Wolf proved costly, with Beaton eventually faring best to secure seventh overall while de Wolf placed 11th.

Since his impressive performances just one month ago at the FIM Motocross of Nations, Thomas Kjer Olsen has continually delivered strong overall finishes in the MXGP World Championship, delivering his best yet at round 15 of the 2021 MXGP series.

In the opening moto, Kjer Olsen was fortunate to stay upright after riding over a fallen rider’s machine in turn one and completed the opening lap down in 15th place. Despite the Pietramurata track offering limited passing opportunities, the FC 450 racer was able to work his way forwards throughout the moto and following an impressive charge through the field he secured an eighth-place finish.

Shortly after the start of race two, the Dane once again found himself just outside the top 10. But after using many of the same lines that he used to make passes in race one, he moved into seventh place on lap eight. With a sizable gap to the top six, Thomas maintained his impressive pace to secure seventh in the moto for sixth overall and is now tied for ninth in the series standings.

In the MX2 class, Jed Beaton is another Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider that has delivered solid round-by-round results in recent weeks. Frustratingly, a crash that was outside of his control early in moto one contributed to a disappointing 16th-place finish. Regrouping for race two, and following another great start, Beaton charged hard to place third in the moto, crossing the finish line just seven seconds behind the eventual race winner, Rene Hofer.

Unfortunate crashes in both races saw Kay de Wolf narrowly miss out on another top-10 finish with the Dutchman claiming 11th overall after two challenging motos. With the determined youngster collecting more vital points, Kay maintains his eighth-place ranking in the MX2 World Championship with just four rounds to go.

Competing in the EMX250 class, Maxime Grau secured his best overall result of the season with a strong seventh-place result. Now, with three rounds to go, the young Frenchman lies 10th in the series standings.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing return to the Pietramurata circuit for the third and final time on October 31, for round 16 of the FIM Motocross World Championship, the MXGP of Garda.

Thomas Kjer Olsen:   “Today was just awesome. From the moment I headed out onto the track in qualifying I felt great on the bike and that really showed in my performances. It’s a hard track to pass on but I came through in both motos from outside the top-10 and I was able to battle to the end, which is something I’ve really worked on improving recently. It’s been a great day and if I can improve my starts I’m excited to see if I can battle with the guys a bit further up the field.”

Jed Beaton:   “Another tough one today and it was just down to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was coming through the pack with Mattia Guadagnini and he slid out in a corner just a little bit, which clipped my front tyre and then a few of us went down in a heap. All my focus was then on moto two and I made it happen with a third-place finish, which made up for race one. But overall, today should have been better.”

Kay de Wolf:  “Not my best day today and certainly a learning one. My starts were not the best in either race which didn’t help and crashing in both motos made for a difficult day. I had a good second moto going but then I crashed out of ninth and ended up 12th for 11th overall. It’s now onto the next one here on Sunday and the goal is to put together two good rides and leave this track with a strong result.”

Results – 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 15

MXGP – Overall
1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 45pts; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 42; 3. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 41…  6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 27

MXGP - Race 1
1. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 34:48:910, 20 laps; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 34:49:918; 3. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 35:14:398…  8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 35:45:571

MXGP - Race 2
1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 35:08:916, 20 laps; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) 35:11:517; 3. Tim Gajser (Honda) 35:13:831…  7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 35:55:003

MX2 - Overall
1. Rene Hofer (KTM) 43pts; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 37; 3. Ruben Fernandez (Honda) 36…  7. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 25; 11. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 22

MX2 - Race 1
1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 34:41:767, 20 laps; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 34:44:897; 3. Ruben Fernandez (Honda) 35:06:070…  8. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 35:51:063; 16. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 36:17:569

MX2 - Race 2
1. Rene Hofer (KTM) 34:01:864, 19 laps; 2. Mattia Guadagnini (KTM) 34:05:658;  3. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 34:08:823… 12. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 34:59:287

Championship Standings – After Round 15

MXGP
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 573pts; 2. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 572; 3. Tim Gajser (Honda) 570…  10. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 266; 22. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 87

MX2
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 595pts; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 508; 3. Tom Vialle (KTM) 492;  5. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 454; 8. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 384

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt, together with his teammate Alfredo Gomez, are set to do battle in Germany this weekend at the all-important eighth and final round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship – GetzenRodeo. For Bolt it’s promising to be a huge occasion, as the Brit comes into the race as the series leader, three points ahead of his nearest rival, and looking to become the first ever FIM Hard Enduro World Champion. For the on-form Gomez, who won last time out at Hixpania Hard Enduro, the Spaniard is looking to deliver another race-winning performance and end his 2021 campaign on a high.

Finishing as runner-up to his teammate at Hixpania Hard Enduro, Billy Bolt increased his lead at the top of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship standings to three points. It’s a slender lead, but one that gives him a huge advantage going into the final round at GetzenRodeo. A win will grant the TE 300i racer the title, crowning him the first FIM Hard Enduro World Champion. A second-place finish to championship rival Manuel Lettenbichler would result in a tiebreaker, but the title would go to Bolt by virtue of his string of consistent performances throughout the year.

Over the six events raced so far in 2021, five have awarded championship points. Bolt has finished on the podium at all but one race, where he claimed fourth at Romaniacs. His run of strong results, including wins at Extreme XL Lagares, Abestone Hard Enduro, and the Tennessee Knock Out, show the young Brit is at the top of his game and more than capable of claiming victory at GetzenRodeo.

Another man on form is Alfredo Gomez. After a steady start to the season following a knee infection, the experienced Spaniard is now really showing his class. Gomez was untouchable in front of his local fans at Hixpania, and heads to the final round hoping to shake things up at the one-day event. Expect him to show the speed that took him to a runner-up finish there in 2019.

GetzenRodeo is a one-day Hard Enduro race held near Griessbach in the east of Germany. The morning’s two-hour GetzenRace qualifier will see 60 riders battle for a place in the GetzenChamp final. Here the top 15 qualifiers take on an 80-minute-plus-one-lap hard enduro, ridden in reverse to the morning’s race. At the close of competition, the 2021 FIM Hard Enduro World Champion will be crowned.

Billy Bolt:   “I’m looking forward to Getzen, obviously there is a fair amount of pressure going into the final round, but I’m feeling good and plan to just take it like any other race and give it my best. I’ve been spending the last few weeks mixing training with rehab on my knee, just trying to keep my mind and body occupied during the lead up to this final race. I rode GetzenRodeo back in 2019 and didn’t do too badly even though I was still recovering from some surgery on my leg back then. I think the race should suit me well – the final is quite short and covers the sort of terrain I do well at. I think it will be pretty similar to TKO, so hopefully I can take a similar result. The year up to now has been really good, me and Mani have battled pretty hard and now it’s all coming down to this final race. I’m going to go out there and give my all – hopefully that will be enough to get the job done. But it won’t be easy, Mani has been tough to beat all year and I’m sure he’ll be fired up at his local event and going even harder. I’ll try and enjoy the moment while I’m there, and hopefully go home happy.”

Alfredo Gomez:   “Obviously, after my win at Hixpania I’ve been feeling really good. And I’ve tried to keep my training at the same level to carry my speed into Germany. I’m really happy with how I feel on the bike at the moment, so everything has come together really nicely. The plan of course is to get another win and finish my season off on a high. It’s been a tough year – I came into the first few rounds on the back foot after having an infection in my knee and not being able to ride for four months. I knew it would take time to get back up to speed and full fitness, and my goal was to fight for the win at Getzen originally. To be competitive in Spain and take the Hixpania win has been a real boost. I’m very happy right now and hope I can fight for another win to finish off my championship on a high.”

Husqvarna Motorcycles is proud to have partnered with InFront Moto Racing for the highly successful 2021 European Junior E-Motocross Series. With the ultimate winner mounted aboard the pioneering EE 5 machine, it was the perfect end to the inaugural five-round series for the brand and underlines Husqvarna Motorcycles position as pioneers in electric mobility.
Opening up the chance for future motocross champions to compete at the same events as their MXGP heroes with events in Italy, Germany, France, and Spain, the youngsters were able to fully immerse themselves in the paddock and enjoy close proximity to their Grand Prix heroes.
The European-based series enjoyed a welcoming and positive response from enthusiastic trackside fans at each round and with all eyes on this exciting new format, everyone in attendance gained a better understanding of the innovation behind e-mobility. With the very first season of the European Junior E-Motocross Series now complete, it was undoubtedly a huge success for all involved.
Husqvarna Motorcycles was delighted to see many competitors mounted on EE 5 machinery including the overall series champion, Tobias Scharinger, in what was a truly historic moment for the brand. The young Austrian pieced together a strong season to secure the title and will now choose a brand-new machine from the Husqvarna Motorcycles range as his winning prize.
Additionally, three of the top five riders in the final standings were mounted on EE 5 machinery and every rider who competed in all five rounds will receive an exclusive invitation to attend a three-day training camp with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in the coming days.
Full results from the 2021 European Junior E-Motocross Series can be found here: https://results.mxgp.com/mxgp/livestandings.aspx
For more information on the series, please visit www.junioremotocross.com

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton has placed an impressive third overall at round 13 of the MX2 World Championship in Spain. Charging hard in both motos, the Australian moved forwards in each race to secure two fourth-place results for his third trip to the overall podium this season. For Kay de Wolf, the Dutchman secured sixth in race one before a big crash in moto two resulted in an 18th place finish and 12th overall. Competing in the MXGP class, Thomas Kjer Olsen enjoyed a consistent day to put together a pair of positive race results on his way to securing 11th overall. Continuing to post strong, consistent results as the season nears its conclusion, round 13 of the MX2 World Championship was no different for Jed Beaton as he placed an impressive third overall at the MXGP of Spain. In the opening moto of the day, the Australian carved a tight inside line around the first corner, before being pushed wide in turn two where he frustratingly lost a handful of positions. With Beaton feeling comfortable on the hard and rutted track, he quickly made a number of passes during the early laps of the moto to advance into fourth place where he would remain for the duration of the race. After the gate dropped for moto two, Beaton enjoyed an improved start and was well-placed inside the top five. On lap two he would make the pass on teammate Kay de Wolf for fourth but despite his very best efforts, Jed was unable to reel in the top three. Completing the moto in fourth secured his spot on the podium and with another solid points haul, Jed further extends his margin over sixth place in the series standings.

For Kay de Wolf, the youngster impressed in race one, pushing forwards from outside the top 10 and after coming out on top of an intense battle with Isak Gifting, secured sixth place in the moto. In race two, Kay once again found himself in sixth before a big crash three laps from the finish relegated him downfield. Remounting to end the race in 18th position, the Dutchman was rewarded with three vital championship points and 12th overall.

In the MXGP Class, Thomas Kjer Olsen posted a consistent 11-12 result for 11th overall. Following a mid-pack start in race one, the Dane progressed throughout the moto to complete the race just under two seconds behind Glenn Coldenhoff in 10th. For moto two, the FC 450 mounted racer backed up his race one result with a 12th place finish and now looks forward to the Italian triple-header starting next weekend.

For Arminas Jasikonis, it was a difficult day as crashes in both races kept the Lithuanian from scoring points in either moto.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing return to FIM Motocross World Championship action next weekend at the MXGP of Trentino, for the first of three consecutive rounds to take place at the Pietramurata circuit.

Jed Beaton:   “It’s been a good day but in both motos I was pushed wide in the second turn which cost me a few positions in both races. I had good starts, stayed tight around the first turn but then that set me up on the outside for turn two. I made things happen quickly in both races which I’m really happy with, but by the time I got into fourth the top three were just a little out of reach. It’s nice to be back on the podium, though, for myself and the team. We’ve all been working really hard so to get back on the box makes it all worthwhile.”

Kay de Wolf:   “I was putting together a pretty decent GP but in the second one I had a pretty big crash and broke my nose. It was a struggle for the last two laps, and I ended up 18th for three points which may prove to be really important at the end of the season. After finishing sixth in race one I was confident of doing the same in race two, but crashes happen and it’s frustrating. Overall, I’m ok and I’ll be doing everything I can to be ready for next weekend.”

Thomas Kjer Olsen:   “It was a tough GP but overall, I’m quite happy with the end result just because of the feeling I had on the bike. In the first race I was able to move forward and felt great, making passes and I found some good lines as well which really helped. I did actually exert myself a little but too much in that one as for race two I felt strong, I just didn’t have that last little bit to push like I did in race one. I would say it was a solid weekend and now it’s onto Arco next weekend. I know that track really well so I’m looking forward to three GPs there.”

Arminas Jasikonis:   “Today was disappointing. I crashed in both races and with everyone racing at such a similar speed, it makes things really difficult. In race two I had a bad start and then something damaged my rear brake and then I crashed so that was not good. Overall, not the weekend I expected but I’m healthy and looking forward to next weekend.”

Results – 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 13

MXGP – Overall
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 45pts; 2. Jorge Prado (KTM) 42; 3. Tim Gajser (Honda) 40…  11. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 19

MXGP - Race 1
1. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 35:26:873, 19 laps; 2. Jorge Prado (KTM) 35:28:614; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 35:29:678…  11. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 36:13:230; 24. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 36:57:915

MXGP - Race 2
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 35:16:305, 19 laps; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 35:20:586; 3. Jorge Prado (KTM) 35:28:022…  12. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 36:18:458; 25. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 35:39:689, 18 laps

MX2 - Overall
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 47pts; 2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 45;  3. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 36… 12. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 18

MX2 - Race 1
1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 35:43:418, 19 laps; 2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 35:50:390; 3. Mattia Guadagnini (KTM) 35:57:324;  4. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 36:00:923… 6. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 36:04:099

MX2 - Race 2
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 33:49:892, 18 laps; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 33:50:238; 3. Tom Vialle (KTM) 34:10:002;  4. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 34:12:491… 18. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 35:22:521

Championship Standings – After Round 13

MXGP
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 505pts; 2. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 493; 3. Tim Gajser (Honda) 490;  10. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 220; 21. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 87

MX2
1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 535pts; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 427; 3. Mattia Guadagnini (KTM) 426;  5. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 395; 8. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 331

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Skyler Howes has completed the shortened final stage of the Rallye du Maroc in fifth place, earning himself 12th overall. Luciano Benavides completed the stage 18th but was able to successfully defend his impressive sixth place overall in the rally standings.
With Wednesday’s timed special reduced to just 166 kilometres, it produced an effective sprint finish to the event, but still challenged all riders with a variety of terrain and some tricky navigation due to the tracks laid down on previous days of the race.

After travelling 142 kilometres of liaison, Skyler Howes was the seventh rider to enter the day’s timed special. Covering a lot of the same ground as on previous stages, navigation initially proved less of an issue, and with riders all putting in a similar pace on the shortened route, times were very close. Completing the special as seventh quickest, just less than two minutes down on the leader, Howes finished the rally in a provisional 12th place. Pleased with the performance of the new bike on the varied terrain of Morocco, the American now looks ahead to clocking up more distance on his 2022 FR 450 Rally in the desert of Abu Dhabi, come November.
Enjoying a strong Rallye du Maroc, Luciano Benavides gelled with the new version FR 450 Rally right away. Putting in a consistent performance throughout the event, the Argentinian was able to maintain his position inside the top 10 overall to ultimately finish in an impressive sixth place. Now, happy with his speed and machinery, and starting to feel more comfortable with his riding and navigation, Benavides hopes to build on his speed in Abu Dhabi before the Dakar Rally at the beginning of 2022. The next event for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing will be the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge on November 6-13. Skyler Howes:  “Today was good but quite uneventful. The first 80 kilometres were the same as we’ve raced before, so it was kind of like a big motocross track. We did a separate section in the dunes which was fun. I just went as fast as I could today and I’m happy with the result. It’s good to be back here at the finish safely after such a tough event – the navigation was really tricky over the whole race and the terrain here is pretty unforgiving.”
Luciano Benavides:   “The last day of the rally went ok for me, and to finish the event sixth overall is good. I’m pleased with how the whole race went, I had a really good feeling on the bike, my confidence is definitely back, and my navigation was good. I want to thank the team for their hard work, the new bike is working really well. Of course, we have some more improvements that can be made ahead of Dakar, but for the first race, I’m really pleased with how it went.”
2021 Rallye du Maroc – Stage 5 Provisional Classification
1. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 1:39:12 2. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 1:39:29 3. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 1:39:30 4. Toby Price (KTM) 1:39:49 5. Ross Branch (Yamaha) 1:39:49 6. Joan Barreda (Honda) 1:40:17 … 7. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 1:41:10 18. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 1:46:11
2021 Rally du Maroc – Provisional Overall Classification [After Stage 5]
1. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 16:26:51 2. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 16:28:50 3. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 16:32:18 4. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 16:34:05 5. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 16:44:52 6. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 17:00:54 … 13. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 17:19:41

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Skyler Howes and Luciano Benavides have both delivered solid performances on the fourth stage of the 2021 Rallye du Maroc. Putting in his best performance of the event to date, Howes completed the stage as seventh fastest. Benavides, having recovered from the bout of sickness that plagued him earlier in the event, maintained an excellent pace through the fast, stony tracks to finish 10th.

Continuing to make improvements to his 2022 FR 450 Rally, Skyler Howes rode an excellent stage four – on pace right from the start and battling inside the top three. Struggling to validate one particular waypoint, the American unfortunately lost several minutes to his rivals around the halfway point of the special but was able to skilfully get back on track to complete the remainder of the stage without issue. Ultimately posting the seventh quickest time, Howes was pleased with how he rode, and the adjustments made to his bike, and now looks forward to a strong finish to the event on Wednesday’s final stage five.

Also enjoying a good day in the desert, Luciano Benavides has regained some of the strength he had lost earlier in the week due to illness and was able to deliver another strong performance through the fast tracks of Morocco. Despite setting off as the sixth rider to enter the special, Luciano maintained an excellent pace, riding alone and navigating well though much of the stage. A few small mistakes set him back a couple of minutes, but overall, the young Argentinian was happy with his performance, and continues to build his speed and confidence as the rally progresses.

The fifth and final stage of the 2021 Rallye du Maroc will cover a total of 444 kilometres, 291 of which will be timed special stage.

Skyler Howes:   “Stage four was a much better day for me. We made a setting change yesterday and it was definitely positive – I felt much more like myself today. I did do a couple of donuts there out in the dunes looking for a waypoint and that cost me a couple of minutes, but on the whole I had a trouble-free day. We still have a couple of adjustments to make with the settings, but we’re definitely going in the right direction. I had a lot of fun on the stage today, so with one day left, I’m looking forward to it.”

Luciano Benavides:   “It was another really long day today. Thankfully, I’m feeling better from the illness I had earlier in the week, and I was able to stay focused and keep to a good pace. I was riding up near the front and did make a couple of mistakes that cost me some time, but overall I’m happy with my performance. The bike is feeling great, there are still a couple of things we can work on, but this is normal. I’m looking forward to the final day now and getting to the finish.”

2021 Rallye du Maroc – Stage 4 Provisional Classification

1. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 3:50:34
2. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 3:51:10
3. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 3:53:29
4. Joan Barreda (Honda) 3:56:21
5. Joaquim Rodrigues (Hero) 3:56:51
6. Toby Price (KTM) 3:57:26
…
7. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 3:58:05
10. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 4:03:39

2021 Rally du Maroc – Provisional Overall Classification [After Stage 4]

1. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 14:47:02
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 14:47:39
3. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 14:52:48
4. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 14:54:36
5. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 15:01:55
6. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 15:13:43
…
13. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 15:38:31