RMATVMC names Anstie in three-rider expansion

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 Post: Alex Gobert

KTM-backed program to field Anstie, McElrath and returning Savatgy.

An expanded Team Rocky Mountain ATV/MC roster will see three riders aboard KTM machinery in 2022, with Max Anstie formally announced alongside Shane McElrath and the returning Joey Savatgy.

It became evident during the final portion of the outdoors that Anstie was heading to the Florida-based effort after departing HEP Motorsports Suzuki.

Anstie’s return to the 450 SX-F sets up a familiar platform for him to continue his rise in Monster Energy AMA Supercross and Lucas Oil Pro Motocross following a strong MXGP career with the KTM Group.

“I did everything that I could to make this deal happen,” Anstie said. “Coming over from Europe, the last couple of years it’s been fine, but I didn’t come here to make up the numbers – I came here to race and perform.

“I feel like these guys with the set-up moving forward for next year is going to be great. Just being able to be around the best guys and on the championship-winning bike from last year in Supercross, for me, I just want to elevate myself and do whatever I could to put myself in a position to do that. I’m thankful for the opportunity.”

McElrath was confirmed to be joining Team RMATVMC in August for what will be his second term in 450SX, also returning to the outdoors, while Savatgy too has re-signed with the team. Justin Bogle has effectively switched with Anstie, joining Twisted Tea Suzuki.

MXGP...All On The Line Tomorrow!

Montova Italy

It all comes down to Wednesday! With just two motos remaining in the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP), three riders enter Wednesday’s MXGP of Citta di Mantova with a shot at walking away as champion. But this title fight looks a little differently than it was just two days ago when all three riders sat within three points of each other. Following Tim Gajser’s penalty for gaining an advantage off the track in MXGP race one of Sunday’s MXGP of Lombardia, the Slovenian now sits 15 points adrift of championship leader Romain Febvre.

Febvre was able to capture the first moto victory on Sunday and followed it up with a second-place finish in moto two. Yet that still wasn’t enough for Febvre to capture the overall win as Jeffrey Herlings came from 15th to second in the moto one and won the second moto to capture the Grand Prix victory. What the two-moto split left Febvre and Herlings at status quo with still a three-point advantage to Febvre entering the finale tomorrow.

With Febvre and Herlings both eyeing their second MXGP title as Gajser tries to pull his fourth out of a hat, there is a lot of tension and drama to focus on. After racing concluded on Sunday, each rider spoke about their days and how they view the championship picture with two gate drops remaining.

Herlings Crash at Lombardia

Insight: HRC on Penalty

Lewis PhillipsNovember 7, 20210

The title fight in the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship reached a turning point earlier today. Tim Gajser, the rider who has captured the last two titles in the premier division, got handed a five-place penalty at the end of the first moto. Gajser got bumped off of the track exiting turn one and entered the track after the exit to turn two. Although he slowed down, the FIM deemed that he did indeed gain an advantage (the penalty was for four spots that he gained plus an additional position). The official word on the penalty is below.

“Loss of 5 positions penalty for accidentally leaving the track and gaining an advantage.”

It was a significant blow for Gajser, who went from third in the moto to eighth (a difference of seven points). A third was then secured in the second stint as well. 15 points is the difference between him and the championship leader, Romain Febvre, with one round remaining. Gajser is 12 points down on Herlings in the runner-up spot. It is not impossible for him to leapfrog both riders and gain his third title in succession, but he’s going to need some help.

“I am very disappointed with how today turned out,” Gajser said in a statement from Team HRC. “In race one, I got hit by another rider and that caused me to go out of the track and, because of the way the track is designed, the safest place to get back on is where I went. I believed I was just outside the top five when I went out, and tried to re-join in the similar position, so as not to gain an advantage, but when I finished the race in third I was told that I had a five-position penalty. It is not nice to have to try and come back from that when the championship points are so tight.”

2021 Denver Endurocross Series

If you’re gonna come back, come back with a bang, right? Cody Webb has been absent from the 2021 AMA EnduroCross season due to an injury. But the former champion returned for the final two rounds in Denver on Friday and Saturday nights in some style by taking a double victory. Webb used 1-3-1 moto scores to beat Colton Haaker’s 2-1-2 scores in a tiebreaker for the round five win on Friday. But the night was still sweet for Rockstar Husqvarna’s Haaker as he clinched the 2021 championship with a round to spare. This makes five AMA EnduroCross championships for Haaker, equalling Taddy Blazusiak on the all-time list.

MARK BLACKWELL EDISON DYE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Every year for the past 24 years, the Edison Dye Lifetime achievement award has been presented to a deserving person whose accomplishments have made a difference to the sport of motocross. The ceremony is held in the Glen Helen Museum during halftime at the Dubya USA World Vet Motocross Championships. This year, the 25th recipient will be Mark Blackwell, the first-ever AMA National Motocross Champion, Grand Prix racer, 1972 Daytona winner, Suzuki team manager, vice president of Husqvarna and AMA Hall of Famer.

In addition to his impressive motocross credentials, Mark was a pioneer in the advent of motocross schools, team management and racers rising to the highest positions in the motorsports industry with management position at Suzuki, Husqvarna, Arctic Cat, Polaris and Victory Motorcycles. Mark continued to race in selected events in the USA through 1975, He also taught at the Suzuki School of Motocross at Carlsbad Raceway, and did product development for a number of companies including Fox, Scott goggles, Goodyear tires and Scott boots.

After racing, Mark transitioned into the business world while earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and a Master’s in Business Administration. Ever since then, he has continued to build his career and reputation helping organizations like KTM, Husqvarna, and Polaris achieve success. Congratulations, Mark, for being the newest member of the Glen Helen Walk of Fame, and recipient of the 2021 Edison Dye Motocross Lifetime Achievement Award!

"It's Game ON"....MXGP

Febvre on a big moto win in Mantova: I still don’t feel any pressure

Romain Febvre of the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team takes a three-point lead to the final round of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship on Wednesday after sharing top points at Mantova.

The Frenchman earnt second in Qualifying with an immaculate lap just one-third of a second off pole and utilised his smart gate-pick to round turn one second in the first moto before making a decisive pass for the lead halfway round the opening lap. He immediately raced clear to lead by six seconds after only ten minutes and coolly managed his lead perfectly to take the chequered flag first with an immaculate no-risk performance on the rugged track. His KX450-SR once again hooking up superbly out of the gate in race two Romain immediately established himself in the top three and after six minutes he executed a clever pass to move second. The leader was already several seconds in front; the Kawasaki gave chase to hold the gap for most of the race but in the end, with a huge advantage over the chasers, he sensibly rode home a secure second on the final lap to share top points on the day and take the series points-lead and the red plate into the final round at the same venue on Wednesday.

Romain Febvre: “That was definitely a big win in the first moto. I felt good on the track today though it’s really sketchy in places with the loose surface on a hard base. I took the lead pretty early in the first race but it was tough at the front to be sure of the best lines. It was a heavy race and I struggled a little mid-moto but picked it up again at the end for a strong finish. I again got a great start in race two but I didn’t want to take any risk of a collision to pass Prado and I lost some time to Jeffrey. I made some fast laps to close the gap a little but he was still three or four seconds clear so at one point I decided to settle for second and take the red plate to the final round. It may sound strange that I still don’t feel any pressure. We have really good starts with our KX450-SR here in the sand so I’m confident for Wednesday. We are really close and the best man will win. It’s game on!“

MXGP of Lombardia 2021