Engines running, traffic lights off, off we go. The new 2023 season of the MotoGP World Championship started today, with the Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimao.
A race in recovery for Italtrans Racing Team, with Joe Roberts called to confirm himself in this third year with the team from Bergamo and rookie Dennis Foggia making his debut in Moto2.
Starting from 19th on the grid after qualifying penalized by the wind, Joe Roberts led a good comeback race finishing 14th at the end of 21 laps. A not brilliant result, due to a problem with his right arm during braking, but which gives him 2 world championship points in a championship that is only just beginning.
Positive debut in Moto2 for Dennis Foggia, who today faced his first GP in the intermediate class. 23rd on the grid, he ran a good race in recovery until finishing 18th, with the points zone within reach.
Now no break: from the Portuguese Grand Prix we fly to Argentina, to the Thermas de Rio Hondo circuit, for the second round of the season.
Dennis Foggia #71 | 18th
“As the first day of school, it didn’t go badly. The goal was to finish in the points and we narrowly missed it. We need to improve the feeling with the bike and get to know each other well with the team. From here we can only take steps forward. See you in Argentina!”.
Joe Roberts #16 | 14th
“I’m quite disappointed with today’s race. I had a problem with my right arm. We have to understand what happened, it’s not a normal thing for me. However it is a long season, we will regroup and come back stronger in the next one!”.
John Sandi | TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
“Going back we knew it wouldn’t be an easy race. However, I’m not satisfied because in his third season with us I expect more from Joe. Dennis made a good debut: we gathered important ideas to continue working. We move to Argentina confident of doing well”.
Pecco Bagnaia powers to another superb win at Portimao. Two Ducatis on the podium in Sunday’s Portuguese GP with Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Racing Team) in third
After winning the first sprint race in MotoGP history yesterday, Francesco Bagnaia dominated once again the Portugal GP, the opening round of the 2023 season held this afternoon at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão.
Starting from second on the grid, the World Champion could impose himself from the opening stages, as he managed to gain the race lead already on the second lap. Thanks to an impressive pace and good tyre management, Bagnaia could fend off Maverick Viñales, who stayed close behind him throughout the race. Pecco secured his second win of the season, crossing the line with a 687-thousandths advantage over the Spaniard. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider scored his 12th MotoGP victory, bringing his lead in the standings to 12 points. The Ducati of Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 Racing Team rider, also finished on the podium today, with the Italian protagonist of a remarkable comeback after starting from eighth on the grid.
After the first round of the 2023 season, Ducati and the Ducati Lenovo Team also occupy the first position in the constructors’ and teams’ standings.
Francesco Bagnaia (#1, Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1st
“This is definitely the best start to the season I have ever had in my career, so I can only be happy. My team and I did a great job during testing, so the bike setup was already pretty much defined at the beginning of the weekend. In Argentina, the situation will definitely be different. Still, my feeling with the new bike is incredible, so I think we will be ready to face any condition.”
Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager)
“Being the World Champion and having the number 1 on your fairing gives you the awareness that you have the means to be able to win, and since Pecco got his first win two years ago, he has continued to do extraordinary things, and today was yet another demonstration of that. However, the Championship is only at the beginning and is really long, so we must keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard. Congratulations also to Marco Bezzecchi, who also did a beautiful race!”
With Bastianini also forced to sit out the GP of Argentina after suffering a fracture in his right shoulder in the Sprint Race yesterday, it will be only Bagnaia to take part in the next round, scheduled next week, from 31st March to 2nd April, at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit.
Developing the Advanced Motorcycle Stabilization Assist System (AMSAS)
Controlling drive and steering forces for rider–machine unity and peace of mind for all motorcyclists
Last year, Yamaha Motor announced its Jin-Ki Kanno x Jin-Ki Anzen Safety Vision, which aims to create a world free of accidents together with our customers. The three pillars of the approach are: 1) Technology that assists with rider recognition, judgment, operation, and damage mitigation, 2) Skills, in which we encourage improvement of users’ riding skills, and Connectivity, where the Cloud is used to provide feedback for safety initiatives. To highlight the Technology pillar in this issue, we spoke with the developers of the Advanced Motorcycle Stabilization Assist System (AMSAS). As it is naturally linked to Jin-Ki Anzen, we asked about its aims and the value it offers.
A Rider Aid to Enhance Stability with Starts and at Low Speeds
Accidents involving motorcycles have been attributed primarily to recognition errors (10%), decision errors (17%), and operation errors (5%) on the part of the rider. Data also indicates that approximately 70% of motorcycle accidents occur within two seconds of the trigger leading to the accident. Based on these analyses of accident causes, Yamaha Motor’s development of rider aids is underway according to four vectors: assisted danger prediction, damage prevention and assisted defensive riding, assisted evasive riding maneuvers, and damage mitigation.
Yamaha’s Advanced Motorcycle Stabilization Assist System (AMSAS) YZF-R25 test mule has a drive actuator on the front wheel. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Unveiled last year, AMSAS stabilizes a vehicle’s attitude at low speeds by controlling drive forces and steering forces. “[Its most distinctive feature is] its approach to use an arrangement highly applicable to existing vehicles since it does not require any modifications to the frame,” says Project Leader Akitoshi Suzuki. The prototype system under development uses a production YZF-R25 for its platform and is equipped with a 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) along with drive and steering actuators.
Yamaha’s Advanced Motorcycle Stabilization Assist System (AMSAS) YZF-R25 test mule has steering actuators for minute steering inputs to help maintain balance at low speeds. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
AMSAS is a rider aid that focuses on the instability a motorcycle experiences when starting off or when riding at low speeds, and works to enhance the stability of the vehicle during these moments. “When starting or stopping, the drive actuator fitted to the front wheel aids with stability, and from there up to about 5 km/h (3 mph), the steering actuator attached to the handlebars takes over,” explains Suzuki. Through the coordination of the two, the mid-development AMSAS prototype vehicle can move at walking speeds without falling over, regardless of the skill level of the rider aboard.
A Technology Platform Adaptable to Various Mobility Applications
Yamaha Motor once made headlines when it unveiled the MOTOBOT—an autonomous motorcycle-riding humanoid robot—and MOTOROiD, a proof-of-concept experimental motorcycle equipped with AI and self-balancing technology. “The R&D for AMSAS began with the idea of bringing the technologies and know-how acquired through developing these two models to customers around the world,” says Suzuki.
Jun Sakamoto, who handles safety strategy at Yamaha, explains the value AMSAS aims to offer: “It’s to create conditions where the rider can focus more on operating their bike, so that everyone can enjoy that sense of being one with your machine. By providing an assist when the bike is more unstable and requires skill to operate, we want to deliver fun rooted in peace of mind to a wide range of riders.”
Yamaha has set a target of reducing the number of fatal motorcycle accidents to zero by 2050 and is ramping up efforts according to the three aforementioned pillars of Technology, Skills, and Connectivity. AMSAS is one technology with the potential to become a pivotal rider aid if used in conjunction with other technologies, like the radar-linked Unified Brake System—the first of its kind in the world—already deployed on the TRACER 9 GT+.
Yamaha’s MOTOROiD, a proof-of-concept experimental motorcycle equipped with AI and self-balancing technology. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“With the base technologies in place now, we’re halfway to our goal of bringing AMSAS’ value to customers,” asserts Suzuki. He and the team have high aspirations for the technology: “From here on, we’ll be working to downscale the sizes of the various components and so on, as we want to develop it into a platform not just for motorcycles, but one also adaptable to a wide range of other personal mobility applications, like bicycles.”
Message from the Editor
As the developers explained, AMSAS uses drive and steering actuators to stabilize the vehicle’s attitude. The motor on the front wheel enables the bike to remain upright at a standstill by using the dynamics of an inverted pendulum, like balancing a broom upside down in your palm.
The actuator mounted on the handlebars, on the other hand, increases the vehicle’s stability with minute steering inputs, like when standing still on a bicycle without pedaling. If you imagine these two scenes working at the same time, you might get a clearer idea of how AMSAS and its principles work with a motorcycle.
– Ayuko Kobayashi
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana).
Westby Racing Continues March To Atlanta With Preseason Test At Buttonwillow
Tulsa, OK – March 27, 2023 – With round one of the MotoAmerica Superbike season coming up on April 21-23 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Westby Racing and its rider Mathew Scholtz completed its third of four planned preseason tests this past Wednesday and Thursday at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in Buttonwillow, California.
Weather has been a factor at each of the Buttonwillow tests thus far, but crew chief Ed Sullivan and his experienced crew were determined to continue dialing in the firmware update that they made to the Marelli ECU on the #11 Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. With Mathew in the saddle, the team made judicious use of the track time and extracted maximum value from the laps available.
“I was very happy with the progress we made last week,” Mathew said. “Similar to our last test, the weather really didn’t play into our hands, and it kind of limited our track time, but I think we made some very good progress with the new firmware upgrade. I’m getting really good feeling with the bike again, and we managed to figure out a few things. We’ve gotten to the point where we have a really good base setup with the bike’s electronics. We’ll have one more two-day test at Buttonwillow, which will be our final test before our first race weekend at Road Atlanta. The plan at the next test is to fine-tune a few things and also try a couple of things with the chassis. My Westby Racing crew has been working hard, and we’ve made a lot of really good progress. We’re closing in on having a very good feeling with the bike for the first race weekend.”
Mathew and the Westby Racing team will be at Buttonwillow again on April 4 and 5 for their final preseason test. For more updates about Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit http://www.WestbyRacing.com
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
After surgery to repair the broken first metacarpal in his right hand, Marc Marquez will miss the second round of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship.
Upon returning to Spain for further checks, Marc Marquez was diagnosed with a displaced intrarticular fracture of the base of the first metacarpal of the thumb of the right hand. The #93 immediately underwent surgery at the Ruber Internacional Hospital in Madrid with Dr. Ignacio Roger de Oña leading a team consisting of Dr. Samuel Antuña and Dr. Andrea Garcia Villanueva.
The surgery consisted of a closed reduction of the fracture and internal fixation of the same with two screws and passed without incident.
Marc Marquez and the Repsol Honda Team have elected for the eight-time World Champion to miss the next round of the World Championship to fully focus on recovery and arrive at the forthcoming rounds in the best possible condition.
Early in the MotoGP race Sunday at Algarve International Circuit, Marc Marquez lost control of his Honda and rammed into Miguel Oliveira from behind, causing both riders to crash out of the battle for the lead.
According to Oliveira, he suffered extensive bruising on his right side, where Marquez hit him.
“Today was a shame, obviously to end my home Grand Prix in just two laps was not something I expected,” said Oliveira. “However, we can still be proud on the progress we made throughout this week. We had a difficult day on Friday and then to do Qualifying like how we did it yesterday and to almost have the podium in hand on the last lap in the Sprint Race was amazing. We had a good start today, to lead and then coming second, I think there was a clear opportunity for us to score a podium. I’m still very bruised on the right side of my hip from the crash, hopefully I can do everything I can [to] be fully fit for Argentina next weekend.”
Marquez, who may have broken a bone in his right hand in the incident, explained himself in a statement that read: “First of all I want to say that I am very sorry to Oliveira, his team and the Portuguese fans because it was his race. I did a really big mistake today, of course it was not my intention to have this happen, my intention was not even to overtake Martin at that point, but I had a massive lock with the front. Maybe the hard front was not fully up to temperature, I released the brakes and the bike went inside. I avoided Martin but made contact with Oliveira. I straight away went over to Miguel and then in the medical centre I went to check on him – fortunately it looks like he is OK and this is the most important thing. On my side I have some pain in my right hand and with my knee but this is not so important at the minute. I fully accept and respect the penalty of the double long-lap during the Argentina GP because I did a mistake.”
For his actions, Marquez received a double-long-lap penalty to be served in his next Grand Prix.
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia kept his cool in the opening chaotic laps of the MotoGP race, kept his nerve with Maverick Vinales stalking him the entire race and kept his perfect record intact by winning his second race in a row in Portugal.
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia (1) led Maverick Vinales (12) and Marco Bezzecchi (72) across the finish line after a fraught MotoGP race saw several of the front-runners on the ground and out of the race. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Bagnaia added the Sunday race win to his equally measured victory in Saturday’s sprint race and came away from the weekend with a perfect 37 points.
Surprise sprint race podium finisher Marc Marquez clipped Jorge Martin and plowed into local hero Miguel Oliveira, taking himself and Oliveira out of the race. Marquez suffered a suspected broken metacarpal bone, was given a double long lap penalty at the next round, and was jeered by Portuguese fans with extended middle fingers and boos as he got a scooter ride back to the pits. Oliveira was diagnosed with a contusion to his leg. Martin dropped several positions and later crashed.
Maverick Vinales took a close second for the Aprilia factory team, with Marco Bezzecchi claiming his second MotoGP podium on his Mooney VR46 Racing Team Desmosedici. Johann Zarco took fourth on the Prima Pramac satellite Ducati, while Alex Marquez finished fifth after running near the front for much of the weekend.
(Above) Pedro Acosta (37) took the lead on the second lap and was never headed as he pulled away from Aron Canet for a clean win in the Moto2 race in Portugal. Photo by Michael Gougis.
(Above) American Sean Dylan Kelly (4) battled throughout the Moto2 race in Portugal, finishing 20th. Photo by Michael Gougis.
(Above) American Joe Roberts (16) finished 14th in the Moto2 race on his Italtrans Kalex. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Pedro Acosta took a clean win in the Moto2 race, Daniel Holgado held off the field to take the Moto3 victory and Angel Piqueras won both Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup races.
(Above) Daniel Holgado (96) led Ayumu Sasaki (71) and Ivan Ortola (48) at the beginning of the Moto3 race in Portugal. Holgado won, with Sasaki sixth and Ortola a lap down. Photo by Michael Gougis.(Above) Rookies Cup: Máximo Quiles (28) leads eventual race winner Angel Piqueras (18) in the second Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race in Portugal. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia used his Ducati to beat Maverick Vinales and his Aprilia and won the MotoGP race at Portimao by 0.687-second. Marco Bezzecchi finished third on another Ducati, followed by Johann Zarco and Alex Marquez, making it four Ducati riders in the top five!
KTM’s Brad Binder and Jack Miller finished sixth and seventh with Yamaha’s Fabio Qartararo eighth, the first rider on a Japanese machine. Aleix Espargaro was ninth on his Aprilia and Alex Rins was 10th on his Honda.
Mark Marquez crashed his Honda and knocked down home-country hero Miguel Oliveira and his Aprilia early-on, taking both of them out of the race; Marquez broke a bone in one hand and was also handed a long-lap penalty to be served in the next round.
Eli Tomac Takes Seattle Supercross Win and Ties Up Points Standings
Jett Lawrence Takes Fourth 250SX Class Victory in 2023
Seattle, Wash. – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac won Round 11 of the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season and reached the record book milestone of tying for second most 450SX Class wins with 50.
Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb earned a second place finish to the cheers of 58,261 Seattle fans at Lumen Field. And Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia rounded out the podium, earning points for both the Supercross season and the inaugural 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. The Western Regional 250SX Class returned to racing with Round five after a five-week break and Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence grabbed his fourth win of the season.
Eli Tomac (1) took his 50th career Supercross win, pulling him into a tie for second for most race wins in the 450SX Class. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Tank Masters Red Line Oil Next Level KTM’s Kevin Moranz grabbed the 450SX Class Main Event Holeshot and held the lead ahead of Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton, Eli Tomac, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo, and Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen. Roczen was on the move early and got by Tomac for third place just as Sexton took Moranz wide in a bowl turn. Moranz went over the berm, got hung up on Tuff Blox, and was well behind the pack before he got back onto the track.
With Sexton out in the lead, Tomac pressured Roczen to earn back second place. But two minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap race it was Cianciarulo who made a move happen. Tomac gave up the spot to Cianciarulo, then lost another position when Cooper Webb got by him. Tomac found himself in fifth place and going the wrong direction down the leader board. He wasted no time re-grouping and striking back; within thirty seconds Tomac had the spot back from Webb and 30 more seconds later broke free of Webb’s re-pass attempts.
Sexton bobbled up front and Roczen closed the gap to under one second. The top five racers were still tightly bunched together. Four minutes into the race Tomac took back third and within two more laps was into second. Roczen momentarily took back the spot, but Tomac got around him again and set his sights on Sexton nearly three seconds up the track. Barcia was then the rider making headway, passing into fifth place and looking very fast on what was his 31st birthday.
Just before the race’s midpoint Sexton washed his front end entering a corner. When the front wheel caught on a rut Sexton’s off-balance momentum threw him off the bike. Tomac took over the lead with Roczen and Webb still close behind. With 9:45 showing on the race clock Webb got around Roczen for second and sat 2.3 seconds back from Tomac. In a race that did not start out well for Tomac and Webb, they’d each put themselves into position to win the night.
With 8:00 left on the race clock Barcia took over third. Sexton claimed fourth shortly after, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson snatched fifth with 5:30 on the clock. In the final few laps the top three, Tomac, Webb, and Barcia, pulled clear of the rest of the racers but never got close enough to one another to challenge for the position. Anderson earned fourth before the checkers flew. Tomac and Webb’s finishes brought the season’s points standing to a tie for the lead. So after a rare weekend-off from racing, Tomac and Webb will face off again with both the #1 Yamaha and #2 KTM running the red number plate that signifies the season’s points leader. Interestingly, Tomac’s milestone 50th Supercross win comes in the year Supercross celebrates its 50th year of racing since the inception of the sport.
Jett Lawrence (18) took his fourth win of the season and stretched his points lead to 23. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
In Western Regional 250SX Class racing, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Stilez Robertson grabbed the Holeshot and led the aggressive pack of 250cc racers. Partzilla PR-MX Racing’s Hunter Yoder held second with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire, Jett Lawrence, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo and Smartop MotoConcepts Racing Honda’s Mitchell Oldenburg right behind. Just one minute into the 15-minute plus one lap race Lawrence was into second and started to reel in Robertson. One lap later Lawrence was in position to replicate his pass move and take the lead, but Robertson held strong. As Robertson commanded the race through speed and defensive lines, McAdoo reached third ahead of Hampshire. Soon McAdoo was up to the leaders and it looked like it would be a three-rider race for the win.
With 10:30 on the race clock Lawrence got around Robertson and into the lead. A half lap later Robertson crashed hard exiting the whoops and was out of the race. Hampshire attacked McAdoo and took over second with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Levi Kitchen close in fourth place. From there Hampshire and McAdoo battled and traded the second place spot. As the top three weaved through lappers the gap to Lawrence close at times but the lead was never in jeopardy. Hampshire got the final pass for the second place spot with the white flag in sight. At the checkered flag Lawrence took the win with Hampshire in second, McAdoo third, and Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Enzo Lopes reaching fourth place.
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross series takes a rare break next weekend when the racers face off again inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on April 8th. The event will mark Round 12 of the 17-round Supercross series as well as Round 12 of the brand-new 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. The new SuperMotocross League encompasses every Monster Energy AMA Supercross round and every AMA Pro Motocross round and culminates with two Playoff rounds and a Final all held at landmark sports venues in September. The SuperMotocross League pays a cool $1,000,000 to the 450 class champion and $500,000 to the 250 class champion.
All 31-rounds of the SuperMotocross World Championship are streamed live on Peacock with select rounds also broadcast on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC. Race fans outside of the U.S. can find coverage at SuperMotocross.tv. For the full schedule, video highlights, ticket sales, and more please go to SupercrossLIVE.com.
450SX Class podium (racers from left) Cooper Webb, Eli Tomac, and Justin Barcia. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
450SX Class Results
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha
2. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM
3. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS
4. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki
5. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
6. Ken Roczen, Mattstedt, Ger., Suzuki
7. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM
8. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki
9. Christian Craig, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna
10. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM
450SX Class Championship Standings
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (248)
2. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (248)
3. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (226)
4. Ken Roczen, Mattstedt, Ger., Suzuki (199)
5. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (199)
6. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (195)
7. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (180)
8. Christian Craig, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna (150)
9. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (122)
10. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM (116)
250SX Class podium (racers from left) RJ Hampshire, Jett Lawrence, and Cameron McAdoo. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Western Regional 250SX Class Results
1. Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Aus., Honda
2. RJ Hampshire, Minneola, Fla., Husqvarna
3. Cameron McAdoo, Sioux City, Iowa, Kawasaki
4. Enzo Lopes, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Yamaha
5. Max Vohland, Granite Bay, Calif., KTM
6. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Yamaha
7. Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS
8. Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., Kawasaki
9. Mitchell Oldenburg, Godley, Tex., Honda
10. Cole Thompson, Brigden, Ont., Yamaha
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
1. Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Aus., Honda (127)
2. RJ Hampshire, Minneola, Fla., Husqvarna (104)
3. Cameron McAdoo, Sioux City, Iowa, Kawasaki (101)
4. Mitchell Oldenburg, Godley, Tex., Honda (83)
5. Enzo Lopes, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Yamaha (82)
American Joe Roberts (16) in action in Portugal. Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing.
Race in recovery for Joe Roberts in Portimao.
First GP experience in Moto2 for Dennis Foggia.
Engines running, traffic lights off, off we go. The new 2023 season of the MotoGP World Championship started today, with the Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimao.
A race in recovery for Italtrans Racing Team, with Joe Roberts called to confirm himself in this third year with the team from Bergamo and rookie Dennis Foggia making his debut in Moto2.
Starting from 19th on the grid after qualifying penalized by the wind, Joe Roberts led a good comeback race finishing 14th at the end of 21 laps. A not brilliant result, due to a problem with his right arm during braking, but which gives him 2 world championship points in a championship that is only just beginning.
Positive debut in Moto2 for Dennis Foggia, who today faced his first GP in the intermediate class. 23rd on the grid, he ran a good race in recovery until finishing 18th, with the points zone within reach.
Now no break: from the Portuguese Grand Prix we fly to Argentina, to the Thermas de Rio Hondo circuit, for the second round of the season.
Dennis Foggia #71 | 18th
“As the first day of school, it didn’t go badly. The goal was to finish in the points and we narrowly missed it. We need to improve the feeling with the bike and get to know each other well with the team. From here we can only take steps forward. See you in Argentina!”.
Joe Roberts #16 | 14th
“I’m quite disappointed with today’s race. I had a problem with my right arm. We have to understand what happened, it’s not a normal thing for me. However it is a long season, we will regroup and come back stronger in the next one!”.
John Sandi | TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
“Going back we knew it wouldn’t be an easy race. However, I’m not satisfied because in his third season with us I expect more from Joe. Dennis made a good debut: we gathered important ideas to continue working. We move to Argentina confident of doing well”.
Pecco Bagnaia powers to another superb win at Portimao. Two Ducatis on the podium in Sunday’s Portuguese GP with Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Racing Team) in third
After winning the first sprint race in MotoGP history yesterday, Francesco Bagnaia dominated once again the Portugal GP, the opening round of the 2023 season held this afternoon at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão.
Starting from second on the grid, the World Champion could impose himself from the opening stages, as he managed to gain the race lead already on the second lap. Thanks to an impressive pace and good tyre management, Bagnaia could fend off Maverick Viñales, who stayed close behind him throughout the race. Pecco secured his second win of the season, crossing the line with a 687-thousandths advantage over the Spaniard. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider scored his 12th MotoGP victory, bringing his lead in the standings to 12 points. The Ducati of Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 Racing Team rider, also finished on the podium today, with the Italian protagonist of a remarkable comeback after starting from eighth on the grid.
After the first round of the 2023 season, Ducati and the Ducati Lenovo Team also occupy the first position in the constructors’ and teams’ standings.
Francesco Bagnaia (#1, Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1st
“This is definitely the best start to the season I have ever had in my career, so I can only be happy. My team and I did a great job during testing, so the bike setup was already pretty much defined at the beginning of the weekend. In Argentina, the situation will definitely be different. Still, my feeling with the new bike is incredible, so I think we will be ready to face any condition.”
Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager)
“Being the World Champion and having the number 1 on your fairing gives you the awareness that you have the means to be able to win, and since Pecco got his first win two years ago, he has continued to do extraordinary things, and today was yet another demonstration of that. However, the Championship is only at the beginning and is really long, so we must keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard. Congratulations also to Marco Bezzecchi, who also did a beautiful race!”
With Bastianini also forced to sit out the GP of Argentina after suffering a fracture in his right shoulder in the Sprint Race yesterday, it will be only Bagnaia to take part in the next round, scheduled next week, from 31st March to 2nd April, at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit.
Yamaha's Advanced Motorcycle Stabilization Assist System (AMSAS) test mule - a YZF-R25 sportbike. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Developing the Advanced Motorcycle Stabilization Assist System (AMSAS)
Controlling drive and steering forces for rider–machine unity and peace of mind for all motorcyclists
Last year, Yamaha Motor announced its Jin-Ki Kanno x Jin-Ki Anzen Safety Vision, which aims to create a world free of accidents together with our customers. The three pillars of the approach are: 1) Technology that assists with rider recognition, judgment, operation, and damage mitigation, 2) Skills, in which we encourage improvement of users’ riding skills, and Connectivity, where the Cloud is used to provide feedback for safety initiatives. To highlight the Technology pillar in this issue, we spoke with the developers of the Advanced Motorcycle Stabilization Assist System (AMSAS). As it is naturally linked to Jin-Ki Anzen, we asked about its aims and the value it offers.
A Rider Aid to Enhance Stability with Starts and at Low Speeds
Accidents involving motorcycles have been attributed primarily to recognition errors (10%), decision errors (17%), and operation errors (5%) on the part of the rider. Data also indicates that approximately 70% of motorcycle accidents occur within two seconds of the trigger leading to the accident. Based on these analyses of accident causes, Yamaha Motor’s development of rider aids is underway according to four vectors: assisted danger prediction, damage prevention and assisted defensive riding, assisted evasive riding maneuvers, and damage mitigation.
Yamaha’s Advanced Motorcycle Stabilization Assist System (AMSAS) YZF-R25 test mule has a drive actuator on the front wheel. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Unveiled last year, AMSAS stabilizes a vehicle’s attitude at low speeds by controlling drive forces and steering forces. “[Its most distinctive feature is] its approach to use an arrangement highly applicable to existing vehicles since it does not require any modifications to the frame,” says Project Leader Akitoshi Suzuki. The prototype system under development uses a production YZF-R25 for its platform and is equipped with a 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) along with drive and steering actuators.
Yamaha’s Advanced Motorcycle Stabilization Assist System (AMSAS) YZF-R25 test mule has steering actuators for minute steering inputs to help maintain balance at low speeds. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
AMSAS is a rider aid that focuses on the instability a motorcycle experiences when starting off or when riding at low speeds, and works to enhance the stability of the vehicle during these moments. “When starting or stopping, the drive actuator fitted to the front wheel aids with stability, and from there up to about 5 km/h (3 mph), the steering actuator attached to the handlebars takes over,” explains Suzuki. Through the coordination of the two, the mid-development AMSAS prototype vehicle can move at walking speeds without falling over, regardless of the skill level of the rider aboard.
A Technology Platform Adaptable to Various Mobility Applications
Yamaha Motor once made headlines when it unveiled the MOTOBOT—an autonomous motorcycle-riding humanoid robot—and MOTOROiD, a proof-of-concept experimental motorcycle equipped with AI and self-balancing technology. “The R&D for AMSAS began with the idea of bringing the technologies and know-how acquired through developing these two models to customers around the world,” says Suzuki.
Jun Sakamoto, who handles safety strategy at Yamaha, explains the value AMSAS aims to offer: “It’s to create conditions where the rider can focus more on operating their bike, so that everyone can enjoy that sense of being one with your machine. By providing an assist when the bike is more unstable and requires skill to operate, we want to deliver fun rooted in peace of mind to a wide range of riders.”
Yamaha has set a target of reducing the number of fatal motorcycle accidents to zero by 2050 and is ramping up efforts according to the three aforementioned pillars of Technology, Skills, and Connectivity. AMSAS is one technology with the potential to become a pivotal rider aid if used in conjunction with other technologies, like the radar-linked Unified Brake System—the first of its kind in the world—already deployed on the TRACER 9 GT+.
Yamaha’s MOTOROiD, a proof-of-concept experimental motorcycle equipped with AI and self-balancing technology. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“With the base technologies in place now, we’re halfway to our goal of bringing AMSAS’ value to customers,” asserts Suzuki. He and the team have high aspirations for the technology: “From here on, we’ll be working to downscale the sizes of the various components and so on, as we want to develop it into a platform not just for motorcycles, but one also adaptable to a wide range of other personal mobility applications, like bicycles.”
Message from the Editor
As the developers explained, AMSAS uses drive and steering actuators to stabilize the vehicle’s attitude. The motor on the front wheel enables the bike to remain upright at a standstill by using the dynamics of an inverted pendulum, like balancing a broom upside down in your palm.
The actuator mounted on the handlebars, on the other hand, increases the vehicle’s stability with minute steering inputs, like when standing still on a bicycle without pedaling. If you imagine these two scenes working at the same time, you might get a clearer idea of how AMSAS and its principles work with a motorcycle.
– Ayuko Kobayashi
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
YMUS has a corporate office in California, two corporate offices in Georgia, facilities in Wisconsin and Alabama, and factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. Additional U.S.-based subsidiaries include Yamaha Marine Systems Company (YMSC) with divisions Bennett Marine (Florida), Kracor Systems (Wisconsin) and Siren Marine, Inc. (Rhode Island), Skeeter Boats (Texas), with division G3 Boats (Missouri), and Yamaha Precision Propeller (Indiana).
Mathew Scholtz (11). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Westby Racing.
Westby Racing Continues March To Atlanta With Preseason Test At Buttonwillow
Tulsa, OK – March 27, 2023 – With round one of the MotoAmerica Superbike season coming up on April 21-23 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Westby Racing and its rider Mathew Scholtz completed its third of four planned preseason tests this past Wednesday and Thursday at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in Buttonwillow, California.
Weather has been a factor at each of the Buttonwillow tests thus far, but crew chief Ed Sullivan and his experienced crew were determined to continue dialing in the firmware update that they made to the Marelli ECU on the #11 Westby Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. With Mathew in the saddle, the team made judicious use of the track time and extracted maximum value from the laps available.
“I was very happy with the progress we made last week,” Mathew said. “Similar to our last test, the weather really didn’t play into our hands, and it kind of limited our track time, but I think we made some very good progress with the new firmware upgrade. I’m getting really good feeling with the bike again, and we managed to figure out a few things. We’ve gotten to the point where we have a really good base setup with the bike’s electronics. We’ll have one more two-day test at Buttonwillow, which will be our final test before our first race weekend at Road Atlanta. The plan at the next test is to fine-tune a few things and also try a couple of things with the chassis. My Westby Racing crew has been working hard, and we’ve made a lot of really good progress. We’re closing in on having a very good feeling with the bike for the first race weekend.”
Mathew and the Westby Racing team will be at Buttonwillow again on April 4 and 5 for their final preseason test. For more updates about Westby Racing, including news, photos, and videos, visit http://www.WestbyRacing.com
Also, follow “Westby Racing” on your favorite social media sites.
After surgery to repair the broken first metacarpal in his right hand, Marc Marquez will miss the second round of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship.
Upon returning to Spain for further checks, Marc Marquez was diagnosed with a displaced intrarticular fracture of the base of the first metacarpal of the thumb of the right hand. The #93 immediately underwent surgery at the Ruber Internacional Hospital in Madrid with Dr. Ignacio Roger de Oña leading a team consisting of Dr. Samuel Antuña and Dr. Andrea Garcia Villanueva.
The surgery consisted of a closed reduction of the fracture and internal fixation of the same with two screws and passed without incident.
Marc Marquez and the Repsol Honda Team have elected for the eight-time World Champion to miss the next round of the World Championship to fully focus on recovery and arrive at the forthcoming rounds in the best possible condition.
Miguel Oliveira, after getting taken out by Marc Marquez. Photo courtesy RNF MotoGP Team.
Early in the MotoGP race Sunday at Algarve International Circuit, Marc Marquez lost control of his Honda and rammed into Miguel Oliveira from behind, causing both riders to crash out of the battle for the lead.
According to Oliveira, he suffered extensive bruising on his right side, where Marquez hit him.
“Today was a shame, obviously to end my home Grand Prix in just two laps was not something I expected,” said Oliveira. “However, we can still be proud on the progress we made throughout this week. We had a difficult day on Friday and then to do Qualifying like how we did it yesterday and to almost have the podium in hand on the last lap in the Sprint Race was amazing. We had a good start today, to lead and then coming second, I think there was a clear opportunity for us to score a podium. I’m still very bruised on the right side of my hip from the crash, hopefully I can do everything I can [to] be fully fit for Argentina next weekend.”
Marquez, who may have broken a bone in his right hand in the incident, explained himself in a statement that read: “First of all I want to say that I am very sorry to Oliveira, his team and the Portuguese fans because it was his race. I did a really big mistake today, of course it was not my intention to have this happen, my intention was not even to overtake Martin at that point, but I had a massive lock with the front. Maybe the hard front was not fully up to temperature, I released the brakes and the bike went inside. I avoided Martin but made contact with Oliveira. I straight away went over to Miguel and then in the medical centre I went to check on him – fortunately it looks like he is OK and this is the most important thing. On my side I have some pain in my right hand and with my knee but this is not so important at the minute. I fully accept and respect the penalty of the double long-lap during the Argentina GP because I did a mistake.”
For his actions, Marquez received a double-long-lap penalty to be served in his next Grand Prix.
Autodromo Internacional do Algarve (a.k.a. Algarve International Circuit) in Portimão, Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
More From MotoGP In Portugal
By Michael Gougis
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia kept his cool in the opening chaotic laps of the MotoGP race, kept his nerve with Maverick Vinales stalking him the entire race and kept his perfect record intact by winning his second race in a row in Portugal.
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia (1) led Maverick Vinales (12) and Marco Bezzecchi (72) across the finish line after a fraught MotoGP race saw several of the front-runners on the ground and out of the race. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Bagnaia added the Sunday race win to his equally measured victory in Saturday’s sprint race and came away from the weekend with a perfect 37 points.
Surprise sprint race podium finisher Marc Marquez clipped Jorge Martin and plowed into local hero Miguel Oliveira, taking himself and Oliveira out of the race. Marquez suffered a suspected broken metacarpal bone, was given a double long lap penalty at the next round, and was jeered by Portuguese fans with extended middle fingers and boos as he got a scooter ride back to the pits. Oliveira was diagnosed with a contusion to his leg. Martin dropped several positions and later crashed.
Maverick Vinales took a close second for the Aprilia factory team, with Marco Bezzecchi claiming his second MotoGP podium on his Mooney VR46 Racing Team Desmosedici. Johann Zarco took fourth on the Prima Pramac satellite Ducati, while Alex Marquez finished fifth after running near the front for much of the weekend.
(Above) Pedro Acosta (37) took the lead on the second lap and was never headed as he pulled away from Aron Canet for a clean win in the Moto2 race in Portugal. Photo by Michael Gougis.
(Above) American Sean Dylan Kelly (4) battled throughout the Moto2 race in Portugal, finishing 20th. Photo by Michael Gougis.
(Above) American Joe Roberts (16) finished 14th in the Moto2 race on his Italtrans Kalex. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Pedro Acosta took a clean win in the Moto2 race, Daniel Holgado held off the field to take the Moto3 victory and Angel Piqueras won both Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup races.
(Above) Daniel Holgado (96) led Ayumu Sasaki (71) and Ivan Ortola (48) at the beginning of the Moto3 race in Portugal. Holgado won, with Sasaki sixth and Ortola a lap down. Photo by Michael Gougis.(Above) Rookies Cup: Máximo Quiles (28) leads eventual race winner Angel Piqueras (18) in the second Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race in Portugal. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Autodromo Internacional do Algarve (a.k.a. Algarve International Circuit) in Portimão, Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia used his Ducati to beat Maverick Vinales and his Aprilia and won the MotoGP race at Portimao by 0.687-second. Marco Bezzecchi finished third on another Ducati, followed by Johann Zarco and Alex Marquez, making it four Ducati riders in the top five!
KTM’s Brad Binder and Jack Miller finished sixth and seventh with Yamaha’s Fabio Qartararo eighth, the first rider on a Japanese machine. Aleix Espargaro was ninth on his Aprilia and Alex Rins was 10th on his Honda.
Mark Marquez crashed his Honda and knocked down home-country hero Miguel Oliveira and his Aprilia early-on, taking both of them out of the race; Marquez broke a bone in one hand and was also handed a long-lap penalty to be served in the next round.
Lumen Field brought clear skies and intense racing to the Seattle race fans. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Eli Tomac Takes Seattle Supercross Win and Ties Up Points Standings
Jett Lawrence Takes Fourth 250SX Class Victory in 2023
Seattle, Wash. – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac won Round 11 of the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season and reached the record book milestone of tying for second most 450SX Class wins with 50.
Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb earned a second place finish to the cheers of 58,261 Seattle fans at Lumen Field. And Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia rounded out the podium, earning points for both the Supercross season and the inaugural 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. The Western Regional 250SX Class returned to racing with Round five after a five-week break and Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence grabbed his fourth win of the season.
Eli Tomac (1) took his 50th career Supercross win, pulling him into a tie for second for most race wins in the 450SX Class. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Tank Masters Red Line Oil Next Level KTM’s Kevin Moranz grabbed the 450SX Class Main Event Holeshot and held the lead ahead of Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton, Eli Tomac, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo, and Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen. Roczen was on the move early and got by Tomac for third place just as Sexton took Moranz wide in a bowl turn. Moranz went over the berm, got hung up on Tuff Blox, and was well behind the pack before he got back onto the track.
With Sexton out in the lead, Tomac pressured Roczen to earn back second place. But two minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap race it was Cianciarulo who made a move happen. Tomac gave up the spot to Cianciarulo, then lost another position when Cooper Webb got by him. Tomac found himself in fifth place and going the wrong direction down the leader board. He wasted no time re-grouping and striking back; within thirty seconds Tomac had the spot back from Webb and 30 more seconds later broke free of Webb’s re-pass attempts.
Sexton bobbled up front and Roczen closed the gap to under one second. The top five racers were still tightly bunched together. Four minutes into the race Tomac took back third and within two more laps was into second. Roczen momentarily took back the spot, but Tomac got around him again and set his sights on Sexton nearly three seconds up the track. Barcia was then the rider making headway, passing into fifth place and looking very fast on what was his 31st birthday.
Just before the race’s midpoint Sexton washed his front end entering a corner. When the front wheel caught on a rut Sexton’s off-balance momentum threw him off the bike. Tomac took over the lead with Roczen and Webb still close behind. With 9:45 showing on the race clock Webb got around Roczen for second and sat 2.3 seconds back from Tomac. In a race that did not start out well for Tomac and Webb, they’d each put themselves into position to win the night.
With 8:00 left on the race clock Barcia took over third. Sexton claimed fourth shortly after, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson snatched fifth with 5:30 on the clock. In the final few laps the top three, Tomac, Webb, and Barcia, pulled clear of the rest of the racers but never got close enough to one another to challenge for the position. Anderson earned fourth before the checkers flew. Tomac and Webb’s finishes brought the season’s points standing to a tie for the lead. So after a rare weekend-off from racing, Tomac and Webb will face off again with both the #1 Yamaha and #2 KTM running the red number plate that signifies the season’s points leader. Interestingly, Tomac’s milestone 50th Supercross win comes in the year Supercross celebrates its 50th year of racing since the inception of the sport.
Jett Lawrence (18) took his fourth win of the season and stretched his points lead to 23. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
In Western Regional 250SX Class racing, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Stilez Robertson grabbed the Holeshot and led the aggressive pack of 250cc racers. Partzilla PR-MX Racing’s Hunter Yoder held second with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire, Jett Lawrence, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo and Smartop MotoConcepts Racing Honda’s Mitchell Oldenburg right behind. Just one minute into the 15-minute plus one lap race Lawrence was into second and started to reel in Robertson. One lap later Lawrence was in position to replicate his pass move and take the lead, but Robertson held strong. As Robertson commanded the race through speed and defensive lines, McAdoo reached third ahead of Hampshire. Soon McAdoo was up to the leaders and it looked like it would be a three-rider race for the win.
With 10:30 on the race clock Lawrence got around Robertson and into the lead. A half lap later Robertson crashed hard exiting the whoops and was out of the race. Hampshire attacked McAdoo and took over second with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Levi Kitchen close in fourth place. From there Hampshire and McAdoo battled and traded the second place spot. As the top three weaved through lappers the gap to Lawrence close at times but the lead was never in jeopardy. Hampshire got the final pass for the second place spot with the white flag in sight. At the checkered flag Lawrence took the win with Hampshire in second, McAdoo third, and Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Enzo Lopes reaching fourth place.
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross series takes a rare break next weekend when the racers face off again inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on April 8th. The event will mark Round 12 of the 17-round Supercross series as well as Round 12 of the brand-new 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. The new SuperMotocross League encompasses every Monster Energy AMA Supercross round and every AMA Pro Motocross round and culminates with two Playoff rounds and a Final all held at landmark sports venues in September. The SuperMotocross League pays a cool $1,000,000 to the 450 class champion and $500,000 to the 250 class champion.
All 31-rounds of the SuperMotocross World Championship are streamed live on Peacock with select rounds also broadcast on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC. Race fans outside of the U.S. can find coverage at SuperMotocross.tv. For the full schedule, video highlights, ticket sales, and more please go to SupercrossLIVE.com.
450SX Class podium (racers from left) Cooper Webb, Eli Tomac, and Justin Barcia. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
450SX Class Results
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha
2. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM
3. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS
4. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki
5. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
6. Ken Roczen, Mattstedt, Ger., Suzuki
7. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM
8. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki
9. Christian Craig, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna
10. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM
450SX Class Championship Standings
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (248)
2. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (248)
3. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (226)
4. Ken Roczen, Mattstedt, Ger., Suzuki (199)
5. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (199)
6. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (195)
7. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (180)
8. Christian Craig, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna (150)
9. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (122)
10. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM (116)
250SX Class podium (racers from left) RJ Hampshire, Jett Lawrence, and Cameron McAdoo. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Western Regional 250SX Class Results
1. Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Aus., Honda
2. RJ Hampshire, Minneola, Fla., Husqvarna
3. Cameron McAdoo, Sioux City, Iowa, Kawasaki
4. Enzo Lopes, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Yamaha
5. Max Vohland, Granite Bay, Calif., KTM
6. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Yamaha
7. Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS
8. Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., Kawasaki
9. Mitchell Oldenburg, Godley, Tex., Honda
10. Cole Thompson, Brigden, Ont., Yamaha
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
1. Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Aus., Honda (127)
2. RJ Hampshire, Minneola, Fla., Husqvarna (104)
3. Cameron McAdoo, Sioux City, Iowa, Kawasaki (101)
4. Mitchell Oldenburg, Godley, Tex., Honda (83)
5. Enzo Lopes, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Yamaha (82)
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