Free Spirit

Honda HRC Strengthens Its Lineup for the 2025 MXGP

The HRC Honda team is going to take some beating in the 2025 FIM Motocross World Championship as last year’s impressive trio of Tim Gajser (MXGP), Ruben Fernandez (MXGP) and Ferruccio Zanchi (MX2) will be joined by Valerio Lata (MX2). This well-rounded lineup has generated plenty of excitement as they prepare for what could be a highly successful season.

Of course, that shouldn’t come as a surprise when you consider the accolades of five-time world champion Gajser, who narrowly missed out on his sixth title at the final round of 2024. Despite that disappointment, he was able to rebound quickly and put in an incredible performance at the Motocross of Nations in Matterley Basin, going one-one and quickly reminding everyone that he’ll be the man to beat this coming season.

Fernandez is in a different situation, given how he missed a large portion of the 2024 campaign, but the Spaniard showed on his return that he is a force to be reckoned with, when he got back to full-fitness and with a complete off-season behind him, he’s ready to show the speed that saw him take victory at the opening round of the 2023 season. And while the track they visit in Argentina for round one this year is different than the one he won at, the #70 knows what he is capable of, and is excited at the prospect of starting afresh in ’25.

A rookie in the MX2 class last year, Zanchi made a solid debut in Honda HRC’s reintroduced 250cc programme. Despite the challenges, the young Italian delivered several strong performances, ultimately finishing 10th in the championship standings. Now, with a full season of experience and further development of the CRF250R, Zanchi is determined to take his performance to the next level. Relocating to Belgium over the winter demonstrates his commitment to improving, and he is eager to showcase his growth on the global stage.

Valerio Lata, the newest addition to the team, arrives with an impressive European motocross resume and the determination to continue his success in the world championships. Having already earned a podium as a wildcard rider in 2024, Lata has proven he has the speed necessary for the MX2 class. However, he understands the challenges of a full season and has used the winter to adapt to the bike while enhancing his fitness in preparation for the demanding 20-round schedule. Lata is eager to make his official debut with Honda HRC and is excited about the opportunity to prove himself on the world stage.

Before the season kicks off, the team will head to Mantova, Italy, for the Internazionali D’Italia on February 9, allowing the riders a chance to get in a few competitive races before the championship begins in earnest. Following that, the riders will choose from events in Montevarchi (Italy), Sommieres (France), and Cadiz (Spain) for additional preparation before traveling to Cordoba, Argentina, for the season opener. With a strong lineup and high expectations, the Honda HRC team is ready to showcase their capabilities in the 2025 World Motocross Championship.

Haiden Deegan will benefit from more Supercross experience

This is Lawrence

Jett Lawrence Sidelined, Torn ACL

Surgery today!

TORRANCE, Calif. (February 3, 2025) – Following an injury incurred during Saturday’s Glendale, Arizona, round of AMA Supercross, Honda HRC Progressive rider Jett Lawrence was diagnosed today with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, and he will undergo surgery tomorrow.

Early in the third race at the Glendale Triple Crown, Lawrence dabbed his right foot in a corner to maintain his balance, and immediate pulled off the track in pain. An initial visit to the Alpinestars Mobile Medical unit didn’t reveal any serious injury, but an MRI scan today revealed that Lawrence had suffered a torn ACL, as well as a small tear to his meniscus. He is scheduled to undergo an operation tomorrow morning in Orange County, California.

Having been credited with an eighth-overall result in Glendale, Lawrence currently now sits fifth in the AMA Supercross 450 title chase, but this setback will effectively end his chance of a successful title defense. His recovery prognosis isn’t yet known.

“I found out today that I tore my ACL and am having surgery tomorrow to repair it,” Jett said. “I’m not exactly sure when I’ll be able to return, but rehabbing will be my new fulltime job, so I hope to see you guys as soon as possible! I’m super-bummed to let the fans down, and I can’t wait to get back out there.”

“We’re all absolutely gutted for Jett, as we had high hopes for him winning another Supercross title this season,” added Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing and Advertising at American Honda. “After some misfortune at round 1, his speed has been very impressive, as he scored a main-event win at round 3 and sat in first overall after the first two races at the Glendale Triple Crown. Injuries are a part of racing though, and everyone at Honda is pulling for Jett to have a successful surgery and a good recovery. We know this is just a speedbump and that Jett will be back as strong as ever. In the meantime, we look forward to continuing to provide our full support to our active riders.”

Honda HRC Progressive is back in action this weekend at the Tampa, Florida, AMA Supercross round, with Hunter Lawrence campaigning the 450SX division. The event marks the opening round of the 250SX East series; Chance Hymas will make a late decision on whether to participate, as he continues to recover from his own ACL surgery.

International Vet MX

Supercross Round #4 450SX Highlights

Kawasaki ...Return of the 2 Stroke

Supercross Round #3 450SX Highlights

If True... Big Story!

BREAKING NEWS! KAWASAKI IS BRINGING BACK THE KX TWO-STROKE

On Jan 25, 2025 Last updated Jan 25, 2025

BREAKING NEWS! KAWASAKI IS BRINGING BACK THE KX TWO-STROKE

The Kawasaki KX two-stroke returns! Saturday, January 25th, just before everything kicks off at the Anaheim 2 Supercross, Kawasaki shares an abbreviated press release showing countless comments asking for a two-stroke model, and then Kawasaki replies, “We heard you” with a two-stroke revving up in the background.

Kawasaki last produced the KX125 in 2006, and the KX250 in 2007. Now, almost 20 years later, Kawasaki is developing another two-stroke. Does this mean they’ll have to change the name for their four-strokes back to KX250F and KX450F? We think so!

Currently, the details are slim, but we are pleasantly surprised by Kawasaki’s decisions here. In the world we live in now, we thought it would be more likely for Kawasaki to produce an electric bike, rather than a two-stroke.

This could be Kawasaki’s smartest move in a long time. The two-stroke market is alive and well. With prices going up everywhere due to inflation, consumers are craving tw0-strokes because they’re more affordable to maintain and more fun to ride. Since we don’t have photos of their new bike yet, let’s take a look back at Kawasaki’s two-strokes of the past. We don’t expect they’ll be resurrecting an old steel frame for their new two-stroke, it’s more likely they’ll go the platform-sharing route and fit a two-stroke engine into their current KX250/KX450 chassis