2020 Spring Creek Motocross | Kickstart

Parked for the summer. Last week Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing announced that Dean Wilson will miss the remaining Nationals due to a torn meniscus in his knee, an issue that required surgery and about a month of rest. It’s a bummer to see Deano out, but the good news is that he will be able to recovery in time to get back on the bike and put in a full offseason of work for his return to the team in 2021.

When a race mod becomes a production part. For years, KTM and Husqvarna teams drilled holes in the left side panels-airbox covers, an attempt to draw more air into the intake and change the power output. After the public started to do the same in their garages, KTM and Husqvarna decided to make it a free accessory with the purchase of a new bike.

If you use it comes down to a personal preference; the slotted piece is used by Stilez Robertson and Dean Wilson, but not Jason Anderson or Zach Osborne.

Tuesday morning’s GASGAS announcement brought confirmation to something that’s been talked about all summer: Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS. Although there were no announcements of riders, we know that the plan is to have two riders in the 250 Class and at least one rider in the 450 Class. Pierce Brown is said to be promised one of the small-bore bikes while Derek Drake and Brandon Hartranft are dueling for the other, a decision that will be made soon. As for the big bike, we’ve been told by multiple sources that the team upped their offer to Justin Barcia last week and he will race the red bike, not Yamaha, in 2021. More to come.

Rider and mechanic. Carter Stephenson dialed in his Rock River Yamaha YZ450F on Friday…

Then ripped it around the track on Saturday.

A race-ready bike and freshly painted helmet. Welcome to the big leagues, Jarrett Frye.

It’s very, very common to see riders go through a quick exercise routine before their session on the track. Alex Martin’s warmup includes push-ups at the truck, then jumping jacks and stretches at the starting line. Search “Moto Tip | Alex Martin’s At-Home Workout” at the top of the page when you get done with Kickstart. Written by AMart’s trainer John Wessling, they are quick activities you can do in lieu of a trip to the gym.

"Two pieces by apdesigns commissioned by Monster Energy and Bell Helmets.” Like how we made helmets sound like high-brow art? There are a lot of people that gripe about the energy drink logos on helmets, but if not for the caffeine money, there’d be fewer one-off lids on the starting line. Remember that in the early 2000s gear and helmet companies decided that putting their high-profile athletes in production designs would increase consumer demand, a business decision that practically killed custom painted helmets.

The Prospect is SCOTT’s premier goggle, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook the Fury. Built around the same massive TruView lens (single-pane, impact resistant, UV and fog treatedm four-pin tearoff mounts), it has a frame and strap that have been slightly scaled-down to fit faces and helmets differently than the big Prospect. We’ve let a few friends at the track try our SCOTT stuff lately and all have been impressed by the latest releases from the sporting good giant.

Saturday morning at Spring Creek. As we’ve said multiple times in recent Kickstart write-ups, these late summer/early autumn races are badass and we sort of wish this move to a later part of the calendar was a permanent thing.

We don’t know if FLY Racing was going for a “hunting season camouflage” look when they put all of their riders in khaki-colored gear for the Minnesota race, but it definitely looked good when guys flew next to the changing trees that lined the hills. Bonus points for the red gloves and goggles…

Olé

At Loretta’s Isaac Teasdale that things were moving forward with the JGRMX-Cherokee sponsorship and that if everything lined up, he’d be on the line for the last rounds of the Nationals.

True to his word, Teasdale was the team’s third rider in the 450 Class at Spring Creek, an appearance that seems very timely considering the reported progress JGRMX has made for 2021.

Technically, he’s not out of it. Spring Creek was another top-five day for Eli Tomac, a stellar result for most but something strange to say about the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider, and the issues that other riders in the points chase experienced in Moto Two boosted the defending champion’s 6-5 finishes. There’s no need for any sort panic at the Kawasaki truck right now, thanks to Tomac’s SX title and Cianciarulo’s recent results, two things the green team really wanted to accomplish in 2020.

While we’re talking about Tomac, let’s look at a couple of things on his Monster Energy Kawasaki. When most riders opted for a paddle-scoop tire during the first morning practice, Eli went with the standard knobby on his rear wheel.

Tomac’s preferred fork tube height/triple clamp-mounts/handlebar bend leaves little room for KYB suspension tech Kaipo Chung to make adjustments, so they’ve fabricated a special hose and valve that tucks in closely to the pad of the FatBar. The CRM Karbotank is a standard part for Kawasaki outdoors, as it ups the fuel capacity to run the longer motos with Tomac’s heavy throttle hand. As always, we’re impressed by the full waffle grips.

We noticed a lot of riders with hand guards on their bikes in the morning practice sessions, something you see only at rocky courses like Thunder Valley or Unadilla. Since Spring Creek is really a sand track, one has to assume this was to keep the cold air from freezing a rider’s fingers, because many were back to bare bars by the afternoon motos.

Locked in. There’s something about the front-end on the Team Honda HRC bikes that always catches our eye and this time we happened to get all of the cool details, from the coated forks to the billet hubs to the holeshot device to the logos, of Chase Sexton’s CRF in one shot.

Team Tickle. Travis Soules has spent the better part of the year working with Broc Tickle, first at JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing and now at Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing. It’s clear that the rider-wrench pairing get along very well (Tickle was personally paying Soules during part of his stint at JGR), have the trust of the teams, and know how to dial in a bike to the rider’s liking.

Paddle. This will certainly be the tread of choice when we get to Jacksonville for this weekend’s race on the sands of WW Ranch.

Further proof that Justin Barcia is trying to get absolutely everything from his YZ450F on the start. Acing the gate drop is something that the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing rider has focused on all year with things like the tall steps that he used on the grid during Supercross, a compact body position outdoors, and the setup of the motorcycle.

Solid day for Chase Sexton. The Team Honda HRC rider was again one of the faster riders in the field, evident in his qualifying pace and time near the front of the pack in both motos, but a get-off and eighth-place finish in Moto One kept him from stepping onto the overall podium. Can Sexton win a Moto before the season ends? That’s what the rookie and team are hoping for and the next race on the schedule, WW, just happens to be the only outdoor track that Sexton has won at the checkered flag at (250 Moto One in 2019).

Here’s hoping a quick recovery for Henry Miller after that hard slam at Spring Creek. The Minnesota privateer came into his home race (the track is less than an hour from home) on a run of top-15 finishes but went down during practice and dislocated his wrist, an injury that will require season-ending surgery.

$100 for every point scored.

What race team/career-defining accomplishments do these three riders have in common? Comment below and boost your self-esteem.

Privateer style with Josh Greco.

It was good to see Curren Thurman back at the track. We got to know the Texan during a day at Blake Baggett’s property pre-COVID and yeah, he’s one of the many fast privateers that’s living the dream in a van. Thurman hasn’t raced the full series and just missed scoring points in the 250 Class at Spring Creek with 33-21 results.

There was certainly some home track advantage for Jeremy Martin. The GEICO Honda rider has spent a lot of time at home in Minnesota this year and during the break he lined up for some local races at Spring Creek. After the race, Martin explained to us that the track shapes up much differently at the National than it does for any amateur race, that a shock change he made was a mistake, and that he should have stayed with his RedBud setting instead.

We started to pay attention to Mathias Jorgensen a few rounds ago, all thanks to the vlogs that the privateer from Denmark films at the races. Spring Creek ended on a high note, thanks to the single point scored by his 20th place finish, but an Instagram post by Jorgensen indicates that his season could be coming to an end soon. With COVID cases on the rise, his insurance has stated that he needs to return to his homeland or risk not being covered.

Two angles of the hairpin sand turn, courtesy of Jalek Swoll.

Credit to the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider for going the distance at Spring Creek. A mechanical issue broke his forks during 250 Moto One and forced him to DNF while his shoulder dislocated and went back into place during 250 Moto Two. Swoll finished the race in 18th and 20th overall.

Dylan Ferrandis told us he had to work for his 1-1 at Spring Creek, due to the Martin brother’s speed, mistakes, and his still sore shoulder. “This one, I had to fight for it. We were on the Martin brother’s home track and for sure they were really strong today. JMart gave me a hell of a ride in Moto Two and I think I handled the pressure and the fight really well to take the win. He was really strong and I think we made a good show on TV, for sure. I can’t wait to watch the race because I’m sure it was really intense and really fun to watch,” he said after the race. “I wasn’t my best today because of my shoulder. I didn’t ride between the races, took some rest. I made a small step back on my speed and strength, so I knew it would be a hard day… At some point I had a 2.5 second, made one mistake, and he came back. I grew the gap again, made another big mistake where I almost crashed before the Chadapault jump, so it was me making mistakes and not being on top of my game.” Ferrandis also said that he and the team have made changes to the bike to help him at the start and that it felt like it was an improvement. You can hear the full interview by clicking the How Was Your Weekend video.

Okay, here me out: Motocross of Nations at Spring Creek. The course is one of the best in the country, the sand and jumps would make for very interesting matchup between the Europeans and Americans, MSP is an hour drive and has lots of international flights daily when the world is normal, the nearby fields look like they could hold plenty of campers, and autumn in Minnesota is excellent. Just something to think about.

NYK & MAC. It’s been good to watch Nick Wey work with Adam Cianciarulo and Cameron McAdoo, two guys that have bright futures at Kawasaki. It’s no secret that Adam and Cameron are known for aggressive riding styles that get them into some tricky situations, so Nick’s controlled outlook and analytical approach is a nice counterbalance. McAdoo was riding well at Spring Creek, right in the middle of the top-10, until a crash and handlebar to the stomach caused him to vomit uncontrollably in Moto Two. You can see the crash on his Instagram and let’s just say it’ll make you consider getting a chest protector…

“What’s the blue hose on the helmet?” We know that many of you know the answer to this question, but there are lots of people that are unaware of the Eject safety device that is mandatory for every AMA Pro racer. A small air bladder goes between the EPS foam and liner of a rider’s helmet and is attached to a small hose that pokes out at the bottom. Should a rider crash and be unable to remove their helmet on their own due to a serious injury, an Alpinestars medic can inflate the bladder and get the helmet off without moving the rider’s neck.

Trax North is one of the places that we hope to spin laps at in the near future. Located in the middle of Minnesota, the track runs up and down a grassy hillside and looks like it would be a blast to ride. The track took Kevin Moranz up on his privateer sponsorship program at Spring Creek and branded his helmet with a wrap. Always good to see Moto people support each other.

Custom rubber. Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha is known for taking a hot blade to the center knobs of the Dunlop tires, as the cuts will change the flex and feel of the tire.

Unlike Supercross, the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship rulebook prohibits riders from bringing any sort of starting block or step with them to the grate. However, it allows riders to make use of items that they find near the line, like manmade dirt mounds or even rocks. Jpey Crown picked up these two big boulders while waiting for his gate pick before 250 Moto One.

RJ Hampshire had a hell of a day. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider had a hard crash on the uphill triple during the second Timed Qualifying session and tweaked his hip, then went all-out to lead laps and finish second in 250 Moto One. The second race proved to be too much for Hampshire, and he admittedly labored to an 11th place finish, but the points scored keep him third overall in the standings.

Generation Next. Jo Shimoda and Jarrett Frye are very early in their careers (one full season for Shimoda, one race for Frye) but are expected to be front-runners in the very near future. Podium picks in 2021?

We always happen to get a handful of photos of Gared Steinke every weekend. The Lonesome Camel Farms-backed privateer is impossible to miss on the track, thanks to gear that looks like it came from the 1970s and a loose riding style. Here’s this week’s haul.

Have you added The Troll Train vlogs to your weekly viewing list? Alex Martin's videos are a very accurate look at what it's like to be around the JGR rig and with the Martin brothers, plus there is plenty of riding footage from the motos. We knew that AMart was into the science of being an athlete and you can see how he studies the data collected by his heart rate monitor, the benefits of the food he eats, and the proper product placement of the Split nut butter and jelly packs.

Jeremy getting on the podium at the home track is great, but you can tell that a lot of people are excited for Alex and his third-place result. The older brother has been at this for a while, from struggling privateer to factory rider, and he's been very quick and consistent through 2020. After the race, Alex told us that he planned to have a beer and a burger to celebrate.

Cody Williams was back for another pro race on his Husqvarna TC 125. When you consider how engine dependent the 250 Class is, especially at a track like Spring Creek, it makes Williams’ two-stroke skill even more impressive. He qualified 34th from the morning sessions and went 27-37 in the Motos.

Obligatory Whoop Monster photo. The man in the gully suit is a superfan of moto and cheers on every rider when they go through the treacherous sand rollers of the Minnesota track.

Spotter's Hill

With all the “Ryan Dungey is coming back to race a Honda” talk we’ve been hearing lately we admittedly did a double-take when we saw a guy in a team jacket next to the track on Saturday. No, it was not RD5, but instead JB10. Justin Brayton spent a good part of the summer back home in Iowa and made the trip to Minnesota to watch the National with the rest of the red riders.

Marvin Musquin’s difficulties at Spring Creek had a big influence on the point standings. The Red Bull KTM rider was on the gas all weekend and ran in second during 450 Moto One until he came under fire from Blake Baggett, stalled the bike in a turn, gave up the spot, and finished the race in third. Again near the front in 450 Moto Two, Musquin made a mistake coming out of the turn at the top of one of the hills and had a hard crash. He eventually remounted his bike and finished the race in 10th place, and sixth overall on the day, but the problems allowed Adam Cianciarulo to hop into second place in the standings. Keep an eye on Musquin at WW, because he’s put in a few practice motos at the track lately.

Adam Cianciarulo had every reason to be ecstatic after Spring Creek. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider was unmatched in the two motos, as he aced both starts and led every lap to score 1-1 finishes, the first MX sweep of his pro career. Our post-race interview with AC was very insightful and he explained that he felt rather comfortable in the front thanks to the many laps his led in his life, that he kept an eye on Blake Baggett in both races, and that this is slightly ahead of the progress he and the team had hoped for through the summer. But don’t think that AC and Co are already thinking about the 450 title, because he was quick to downplay the importance of the points scored. “I came into the day 40 points down. I’ve just been trying to go out there and win motos, that’s my only focus. I still don’t know what the points are and I really don’t care. I want to keep doing my best and everything else will come.” For the record, the difference between he and Osborne is 15 points with six motos to go.

Second generation pro racer. Richard Taylor spent the first part of the summer racing in Canada and will finish out the US Nationals with the Rock River Yamaha crew. We’ve known LRT since he was on mini bikes and it was cool to see him run with the pros at Spring Creek.

Zach Osborne’s 450 Moto Two is proof of how fast things can go awry in racing. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider was on his way to what would have been a solid 4-4 day, results that were good considering his admitted inability to match the pace of the lead pack, until the front tire on his bike started to go flat with roughly 10 minutes left in the race. Unsure of how the tube popped, Osborne struggled with the ill-handling bike, dropped through the field, and had to consider a mid-race pit stop. He ultimately opted against pulling in, a decision he said was to keep him within the points and because he couldn’t see the team in the work area and altered his riding style to keep the tire on the rim. A 16th place finish in the Moto took a toll on his championship lead, but the five points salvaged by staying on the track allowed Osborne to keep a 15-point cushion over Cianciarulo with three rounds to go.

Weekly reminder of how talented this year's 450 Class is.

Looks like Blake Baggett really is going to be the X Factor for the rest of the season. The Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS/KTM rider's Moto win at RedBud Two was cool to see, one of those fast days we've come to expect from Baggett, but he was arguably better at Spring Creek. The passes he made on Sexton and Musquin in Moto One were creative and impressive, while his pursuit of Cianciarulo came up short both times. What's the secret? We knew that Baggett went back to an old setting on his bike at RedBud, something he later confirmed to be a part in the clutch, and he's pretty much in peak physical condition (no injuries or ongoing health issues like years past). Can he steal away an overall before it's over? We wouldn't be surprised.

We might have let out a “Woah” when we saw Broc Tickle walk back from the Alpinestars medical rig. The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing rider had a vicious endo in 450 Moto Two, went head-first into the ground, and was tagged by the bike. Laid out on the track for a few moments, Tickle eventually got to the medics and was checked out on-site, to the fortunate news of no concussion or serious injury. That’s astounding, especially considering the massive mark that was on Tickle’s forehead after the crash. Glad you’re good, BT.

12 Motos to go. Enjoy it.

New safety lights were introduced at Spring Creek. Intended to replace the red-white no jumping flag, the LED signals were placed at the base of some of the bigger obstacles on the track.

When turned on, the bright lights seemed like they’d be impossible to miss, unlike the flaggers that have to stay off to the side of the track.

Close racing in 250 Moto Two.

Spring Creek is home race for a lot of pros, including Jerry Robin. An independent racer with backing from the MMGA program, Robin has lined up for every round in the 250 Class and has scored points in eight of the Motos, including his 16-19 finishes in Minnesota.

The last lap of 250 Moto Two was badass.

Ferrandis and Martin were bar-to-bar from the bottom of Mount Martin to the finish line, a battle that put them on the limit in hopes of the win and top spot in the standings. Both riders told us that they were "in the zone" but made mistakes that allowed the gap to stay as close as it did.

Ferrandis held on to take the checkered flag and red plate, while Martin’s surge showed that he’s getting better and willing to take this fight to final round. There are three-points between the two with six motos left in the season.

After the high tension caused by RedBud Two's run-in, it was cool to see the two congratulate each other at Spring Creek. In our post-race chats, both were highly complimentary of the other and said how much fun they had during the clean, heads-up battle.

See you in Florida.