Kickstart | 2020 Pro Motocross Chatter & Trans Am Vet Classic
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We should have been at Southwick last weekend, five rounds into the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. But like everything this year, obstacles and scenarios far out of our control have kept the normal 12-round run around the country and instead, we’re a little more than two weeks away from the potential start date. MX Sports has only confirmed two dates for the summer series, the 2020 Ironman Motocross on July 18 in Indiana and the 2020 WW Motocross on July 25 in Florida, but there is intent to hold races at High Point, Loretta Lynn’s, Spring Creek, Thunder Valley at some time between August and October. It’s nothing that we could have expected at the start of the year, but nothing has been normal since the middle of March, so riding out this uncertainty seems to be the only option.
The Ironman and WW races were announced in early June, while we were in Utah for Supercross, so forgive us for not talking much about it in recent weeks. Cramming two months of racing into three-weeks and all that came with that took our full attention. But that’s not to say we weren’t following the story, as it was a topic of discussion practically every day that we were in SLC. The earliest details were that the races would run on back-to-back weekends in front of fans, thanks to the “progress” that the two states had made in their efforts against COVID-19, but this positive news came with some restrictions.
As we’ve noted earlier in the year, having fans attend an outdoor race is crucial to the event’s financial success. The money from ticket sales is used by the track owner-promoter to cover necessary elements like permits, staffing, concessions, sanitation, utilities, and the pro purse. Yes, Feld Entertainment was able to hold Supercross races without fans present, but it lost them a substantial amount of money (holding the seven rounds in an empty Rice-Eccles Stadium was the only option the series had so they could fulfill their contract requirements with sponsors and NBC Sports in order to get paid) and that’s a luxury that individual event promoters like Washougal/Budds Creek/Spring Creek won’t have.
Getting fans to the track hasn’t been an issue for MX Sports. They’ve held multiple GNCC events with spectators over the last month and helped organize Super Regional Qualifiers to seed amateur racers into classes for this summer’s Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s. The website states that fans will be encouraged to social distance from different groups, that masks and facial coverings are recommended but not required, and that they’ll be free to roam the grounds like usual to see the on-track action. Tickets have been on sale for weeks and we know there are fans that will be at the side of the fence to see the first gate drops of the summer. If all this happens, best believe we’re going to be right there with them.
If you’re a diehard fan that wants a moment with your moto hero, sorry, but that won’t be an option this summer. Limited interaction will be permitted between the race teams and the public, autographs signing sessions are forbidden, the pit area will be closed to the public at all times, and there will be no post-race podium celebrations or interviews.
We’ve been told that media access will be different than year’s past and we wouldn’t be surprised to see teams restrict us from hanging out to their rigs the way we once did. After seeing the lengths that Monster Energy Kawasaki went through in Utah, hand sanitizing stations at every entrance and large signs that excluded anyone from coming inside, we have to think that things like this will remain in place to reduce potential transmission.
With a good chunk of the fans won over, the next challenge will be with teams and health officials, and this is where things get very tricky. MX Sports and the Race Leadership Team have done everything that they could to get to this point of two confirmed races and high hopes of holding others. Their current plan is to announce more races as states enter new stages of re-opening, but the teams have reportedly been vocal in their concerns about the uncertainty of this gradual rollout and unnecessary cross-country trips. For clarity, the teams and OEMs expressed their displeasure when Feld Entertainment would propose new details or scenarios during the SX Restart talks.
Every team is doing as much preseason testing as possible into this three-week break between the last Supercross and first Pro Motocross, but they want to know that their efforts will be reciprocated with a proper race series. They know that a full 12-round tour is out of the question, which is a good thing to some, but the big teams want to run at least six-eight events, to know when and where those races will be weeks ahead of time, and to have a route that’s cost-effective considering the current economic crisis. A recently proposed journey of Ironman-Florida-Washougal-High Point-Loretta’s was not well received, but it might not be an option now (Washougal’s window of holding a race is limited due to permitting with authorities and it closes slightly every day).
If tracks are even allowed to hold events with a large number of spectators will come down to the state authorities and health officials. States like Indiana and Florida have given events the go-ahead, the roll-out plans places for Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Minnesota are ever-changing, and while New York, Michigan, and California have openly opposed anything of this sort in the near future. This is without a doubt the biggest factor that will decide the fate of the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. Once a state approves a crowd size that will accommodate something of this sort, it’s then on the promoter to commit to holding the race, and MX Sports to slot it into the schedule.
The months of work that MX Sports has put in is now up against another challenge as a rise in positive tests has caused multiple states to reinstate restrictions from their COVID-19 containment plans. Florida’s increase in cases is something to watch closely as we wait for our trip to Jacksonville.
Hope to see you on the starting line at Ironman…
2020 TRANS AM VET CLASSIC
Old guys want to go fast, too. Some of the biggest and most competitive motos at the Swapmoto Race series are with riders that are 25 years old and up, so a while back we decided that it was time to retool the Trans Am into a Vet event for the first part of the race season. Race Series directors Craig Davis and Aaron Cooke were in the planning stages of this year’s race when the shutdown struck, which forced the race to be a TBD on our calendars. As soon as California cleared events to happen and Glen Helen Raceway gave our staff the go-ahead, it was a month-long effort to get sponsors sorted, an all-new course laid out, and riders excited to return to racing.
Our weekend at the track for the 2020 Trans Am Vet Classic will be another unforgettable time, as hundreds of riders signed up for the two days of racing. Eager to put in laps at Glen Helen Raceway and get competitive after the long quarantine, the entry list was a mix of the usual locals in every age division with many of our friends from the industry. It was great to see everyone out and about during the race weekend, which was made even better by the weather change from Saturday to Sunday.
Thanks to everyone for attending and supporting the 2020 Trans Am Vet Classic! Check back for more interviews and photos from the weekend in the next few days…
The Clydesdale class was a big hit again - literally and figuratively- at the TransAm. With a minimum weight requirement of 220 lbs., the class is always popular with the Vet crowd. Here, our very own Dominic Gaytan leads the field into turn one in Saturday's second moto Travis Cory (74) swept both motos with impressive speed. Note the sprinkled donut corner marker...
Rod Tapia - father of Supercross racer Tevin Tapia - brought out one of his son's old Yamaha YZ250F race machines and finished third in the 250cc Expert class. Rumor has it that Rod will try to qualify for the Washougal MX National, making the day a true father-son affair. Pretty cool!
The TransAm Vet Classic is that one race a year that lures riders back to the starting line. Our very own General Manager Don Wilson made a rare competition appearance. We'll not discuss his results, but he did look the part aboard our 2020 Husqvarna FC 450 test bike in his Fly Racing kit!
One of the coolest things about the TransAm Vet Classic is getting to see good friends and bench race in between motos. David O'Connor worked as the KTM Media Relations guy for several years and is easily one of our favorite industry guys, and it was great to see his smiling face at the race track. O'Connor raced to second in Saturday's Clydesdale division, and he returned on Sunday to sweep the 40 Novice class on his KTM 350 SX-F.
One of the coolest things about the Swapmoto Race Series in general is that CMXRS owners Aaron Cooke and Craig Davis are both quick racers themselves and can use their first-hand knowledge of the track and its conditions to make changes accordingly to ensure racers get the best-possible experience. Cooke raced to fifth in the 40 Intermediate class.
Bell Helmets was out in full force at the TransAm. Kyle Vara showed great speed in the 25 Pro class as he raced to sixth overall aboard his Kawasaki KX450.
Bell Helmets' Benny Tozzi trained for weeks at Glen Helen in preparation for the TransAm. Training paid off.
Brittany Marcotte earned the win in the 25+ Women's class aboard her Suzuki RM-Z250. When she's not racing, Marcotte works as a professional stunt woman and Monster Jam driver. She also has a pretty gnarly six-pack.
It was good to see Jackie Ives at one of our events again! One of our original She Rides profiled riders back at TransWorld Motocross, Ives primarily races off-road these days.
TM USA's Ralf Schmidt looked great aboard his two-stroke TM250 all weekend long. It was a pleasant surprise to see him at the TransAm Vet Classic.
Longtime Dirt Bike Magazine tester Pete Murray came out and laid waste to the 60 Expert class on both days aboard his Yamaha YZ450F test bike. Looking good, Champa!
Pro Taper Brand Manager Randy Valade raced the pro and expert classes aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Energy Edition with great success. We got to watch him use the Pro Taper Self Engaged Launch Assist starting device before a moto and immediately requested one for testing. The product allows you to set your starting device solo, with your front brake. Amazing!
We were absolutely stoked to see Dirt Bike Magazine's Ron Lawson on the starting line. One of the veterans of motocross journalism, Lawson's humerous words in the pages of DB always crack us up.
Super-tall Jeff Loop finished second in the 30 Pro class. Last year's defending class champion, Loop was blazing fast and only bettered by...
...Dirt Bike Magazine tester and Little Ladies of LA star Sean Lipanovich, who rode two flawless motos to walk away with the lion's share of the pro purse with 1-1 scores.
Dirt Bike Magazine's Mark Tilley has been a semi-regular site at Swapmoto Race Series events, and he was very impressive at the TransAm Vet Classic. Tilley spent the weekend camping with his boys at Glen Helen, and the mobbed the mini track all weekend long. Thanks for the support, Mark!
Travis Cory was the thoroughbred in the class of the Clydesdale division, as he swept Saturday's motos with comfortable margins both times out.
The TransAm Vet Classic allows racers to compete at the age they will be at the year's end. That said, Mike Sleeter was able to contest the 40 Pro class for the first time.
Racer X/Keefer Testing's Kris Keefer was another industry mogul to throw his hat into the ring at Glen Helen. Keefer traded 40 Pro moto wins with Mike Sleeter on Saturday aboard his Yamaha YZ450F. Unfortunately, his moto win came in. the first moto, and he left with runner-up money. Thanks for coming out, Queef!
Our very own Mike Sleeter came out and run up front in the Wiseco Two-Stroke, 25 Pro, 30 Pro and 40 Pro classes aboard his Simi Valley Cycles-backed Yamahas. Sleeter also hosted the Pinnacle Nutrition Group booth in vendors' row, and it was a big hit with racers who wanted to properly hydrate.
Kenny "Taco" Bell made a name for himself originally as an Arenacross pro, then as a member of the Metal Mulisha jump team. These days, he is a professional event announcer and has a regular gig with Monster Energy. It was great to see Bell out in action, where he contested for the win in the 40 Expert class. Obviously, there was no shortage of friends and fans for the vet racer with the glorious mane of hair.
It was great to see Throttle Syndicate on vendors' row, and even better to see president Ryan Pursley in action. Big Red won the 45 Novice class on Sunday - a big birthday win for him!
Former Western Regional 125 Supercross Champion Jeff Matiasevich was one of the legends of motocross who turned out to race. Chicken contested the 40 Pro and 50 Expert classes aboard his Kawasaki KX450, and still has that same riding style.
A rare photo of our buddy Benny Tozzi from Bell Helmets in action on a race track Well, it seems those numbers on the bike are no longer mere decorations. Thank for coming out, Raffaele!
Pat Lopez was on hand to host the OGIO Powersports booth on vendors' row, and also to bring his patented stand-up Jet Ski style to racetrack. P-Lo was a contender in the 40 Intermediate class aboard his O'Neal Racing-backed KTM 250 SX-F.
