Jeremy On A1

There is no doubt, the King of Supercross is still Jeremy McGrath, and that crown won’t be passed for some years yet, if it ever is. Of course, Jett Lawrence wants that crown, but he will need to put together a handful of years that he totally dominates.

For a season, the record for most wins is 14, shared by Jeremy McGrath (1996) and Ricky Carmichael (2001) and as a rookie in 2024, Lawrence won 8 of 17 races. So, he will need to pick that up and win a lot more than 8 a year if he wants to get to the magical 72 or McGrath.

Interesting comments from McGrath about how he saw A1 and also how he feels about the 2025 version of A1. Some time ago he also spoke about Jett Lawrence trying to get more main event wins than himself. As always, the King was in fine form and his input in our sport, at any level is like gold.

Being a Fan of SX

I have been a fan of the sport my whole life, even before I was on the starting gate at the races. For a while, even after I retired, I would still get those adrenaline juices when A1 was coming around. I was like, oh man, this is the week. Now, I am pretty relaxed and really excited to see the racing. I am excited and thinking about the competition, seems like everyone is pretty healthy, so, we should see some great racing on Saturday.

How He dealt with A1

First of all, I was always jacked up for A1 and I embraced that feeling. I had wild gear and a brand-new helmet pain job, and I looked to show off and A1 was for me, like, here is Jeremy and as I said, I embraced that. And racing in front of your home crowd, you get a little more energy and thinks like that, so I always like to say in my career, I embraced those high-pressure moments. It worked well, when it needed to matter. For rounds one and the beginning of supercross and even in my later years, when Carmichael was starting to take over, even in those years, Anaheim still gave me enough to give me victory.

On Lawrence Wanting 72 Main Wins

I think its pretty funny. I am a fan, and I think Jett is an amazing rider and already done amazing things on the 450 and the 250. It is a bit strange hearing he wants my records. I didn’t look at Ricky Johnsons number at 28 and thinking it was doable. Obviously, he is young enough and the possibilities are there, but it’s a lot of races.

Kevin Benavides retires from 2025 Dakar Rally

Rest day and half way through the 47th Dakar Rally and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team is riding high in all classes but two-time winner, Kevin Benavides, has thrown in the towel after struggling in week one.

Daniel Sanders leading the overall standings by just over 15 minutes after winning three of the five stages plus the prologue. Dakar rookie Edgar Canet leading Rally 2 category and 10th overall. Luciano Benavides seventh overall and finding his mojo with runner-up on stage five.

Despite all the turmoil elsewhere in KTM world, the rally team is back battling for the Dakar trophies against the might of Honda, despite just three riders in the GP class this year.

Three became two today as two-time winner Kevin Benavides has taken the decision to retire from the race at the midway point. After a tough 2024 riddled with injuries, from which he hadn’t fully recovered before starting the Dakar a week ago, the Argentinian says it has been physically but also mentally tough to see his rivals running away from him, knowing he can ride like that but not having the physical condition to match them.  

“The first week was definitely tough with over 30 hours of racing. I’m not in my best physical condition so it has been a fight every day, but I’m really proud to have finished the first week of the toughest rally in the world. That alone is a great achievement!

“It’s been frustrating as my mind knows how to race fast and stay with the top guys – I’ve proved that in previous years – my body just isn’t capable of maintaining that sort of pace at the moment.

“It’s because of this feeling that I have made the decision to withdraw for the rally – the risk of further injury is too great. I want to thank the team and the fans for all the support they have given, and I hope to be back racing again soon.”

Supercross tuner joins AMA Racing as technical manager

The American Motorcyclist Association has added acclaimed racing tuner Jeremy Albrecht to the AMA Racing department’s ranks as the technical manager.

Jeremy Albrecht joins the AMA’s racing staff with a wealth of experience in motorcycle competition and is one of the most successful tuners in the history of AMA Racing. (Photo: AMA Racing)

“We’re pleased to add the talented Jeremy Albrecht to our racing staff as our technical manager,” says Mike Pelletier, AMA director of racing. “Jeremy’s extensive experience and successful career at the highest levels of AMA Supercross and motocross competition will undoubtedly strengthen our racing team.”

Albrecht joins the AMA’s racing staff with a wealth of experience in motorcycle competition. Getting his start as an amateur racer, Albrecht used his racing background to become one of the most successful tuners in the history of AMA Supercross and pro motocross.

Starting as a mechanic for his brother, Joel, in 1991, Albrecht quickly made a name for himself as a tuner. In 1995, Albrecht paired with AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Jeff Emig, aiding the legendary racer to four titles — including the 1997 AMA Supercross championship.

After his time with Emig, Albrecht became the tuner for another AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer — James Stewart. From 2002-2007, the duo captured seven professional motocross championships — including the 2006 and 2007 AMA Supercross titles.

Following his dominant stretch with Stewart, Albrecht spent 13 years at Joe Gibbs Racing MX — spanning the team’s entire run from 2007-2020.

After Joe Gibbs Racing MX Team ceased operations in 2020, Albrecht remained with JGR in its new business development, working on the manufacturing side of the organization. During this time, Albrecht became involved with the AMA as a rider representative.

Now, Albrecht’s role with the AMA will expand as he will serve as the technical manager for the organization’s racing efforts.

“I’m excited to be back at the races full-time. Working with Mike Pelletier and the AMA crew the last few years has made me want to do more to help grow the sport,” Albrecht says. “I like the direction they are going and can’t wait to do my part.”

Sipes, Baylor Team Up

Ryan Sipes announced that he has joined Steward Baylor’s Rocky Mountain/Red Bear Racing Kawasaki Off-Road Team as the team’s manager.

Ryan Sipes is the new manager for Steward Baylor’s Rocky Mountain/Red Bear Racing Kawasaki Off-Road Team.

Known for his remarkable versatility, Sipes boasts an impressive professional Supercross and motocross career, and he has also excelled in off-road racing. Notably, he was the first American to achieve the individual overall title in the ISDE. His wealth of knowledge should be a significant asset to Baylor’s expanding GNCC and National Enduro program.

Sipes said, “I am proud to be managing the Rocky Mountain/Red Bear Racing Kawasaki Off-Road Team for 2025 and beyond. I am super grateful for the opportunity and excited to get back into GNCC and National Enduro racing. The atmosphere is just different in off-road, in a good way. And, although I won’t be racing, it’s going to be fun passing along my knowledge to our riders and helping them be their best and achieve their goals. Now that we aren’t competitors, I can finally share my secrets with him!

“I was a Team Green rider all throughout my amateur career. It feels good to be back with the brand. The new KXs are amazing bikes, we have great mechanics, [and] we have winning riders. We have an unbelievable practice facility at The Shoals MX. Our whole facility is top notch.” CN

Jett Lawrence talks ahead of Anaheim 1

Alcavi Bikes x TRIUMPH Racing 2025

Dakar Stage 5

Luciano Benavides has claimed an impressive stage win on the final day of week one at the 2025 Dakar Rally, his first stage victory, moving him up to seventh overall after five stages.

Intensity!!

Will we see this level of intensity at A1?

Brabec Crashes Out!

Results from stage three of the 2023 Dakar Rally where Daniel Sanders romped his GASGAS to a five-minute win on a long day in the Saudi Arabia desert to become the new race leader – Honda’s Ricky Brabec crashes out of the race.

Dakar ’23 Stage 3 in a nutshell:

• Riders faced 668km from Al Ula to Ha’il today on stage three. A tough 447km of special test was billed as one of the most spectacular days in the ’23 rally and riders were treated to some awesome scenery, if they were looking, some dunes and a bonus of a cold, wet ride to the bivouac.
• For the second day in a row Daniel Sanders was the fastest guy, running scratch leader most the day from his P9 start position. The Aussie was hanging the others out to dry (literally) with the exception of Ricky Brabec who was busy making amends for his stage one result.
• Sadly, it all ended shortly after refuelling for Brabec who crashed at kilometre 274 and exits the rally in a helicopter, following Sam Sunderland to the Saudi hospital. 
• Stage three was the first chance to see new time bonus system in play and at the 240km refuelling point the scores were in: Sanders led scratch but Mason Klein had opened the way all morning and was rewarded with 5'52’’ in bonuses. Skyler Howes did the same from P3 off the start to stack up 3’14’’ of bonus time and all three were within 10” of each other.
• The second half of the stage saw Sanders maintaining his lead in dunes and, taking no timeout today, took the stage and is now the new overall rally leader by over four minutes.
• Argentinian Kevin Benavides enjoys the dunes too and came stronger as this long day unfolded. The KTM rider was the only one to gain any time back on Sanders and was initally given P2 on stage but dropped to P4 after a two minute speed penalty.
• Training buddies Klein and Howes continued to open the track together in the afternoon and although the overnight leader Klein lost time scratch on Sanders, in the end he finished second in front of Howes and lies second overall.
• Howes has put in two very strong days now and his second place on stage means the Husqvarna rider lies fourth overall, eight minutes behind the leader but two minutes ahead of the highest placed Honda rider Joan Barreda in fifth.
• Mike Wiedemann took the stage win in the Original by Motul class today, beating Mario Patrao by just one minute. Charan Moore leads overall.
• It was all change in the Rally 2 class today as BAS KTM’s Paolo Lucci won the day after a scrap with ’22 runner up Romain Dumontier. Frenchman, Camille Chapeliere was third as overnight leader Charan Moore hit problems and lost 44 minutes.
• The stage was stopped at CP2 + CP3 for later bikes (only 43 made it back to the paddock as horrendous weather made life a nightmare on the course and they canned it for safety considerations – the lead riders results stand and those affected will have their result calculated based on their average across the rest of the stage. Tomorrow’s stage will not be affected.

A1 Returns Saturday

Will this man have an impact?