There were many questions and absences going into the opening round of the 2022 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Series. Not lining up were Supercross stars Malcolm Stewart, Marvin Musquin, Cooper Webb, Dean Wilson, and defending 450MX champion Dylan Ferrandis. The questions swirled around Ryan Dungey coming out of retirement, nine-time World Champion Antonio Cairoli racing in the US Nationals for the first time, freshly minted 250SX West Champion Christian Craig moving up to race 450MX, Ken Roczen returning to racing, and Tomac’s recovery from a Supercross knee injury. Although none of the questions are answered definitively, Chase Sexton dominated the proceedings with an unassailable 1-1 performance at Fox Raceway in Pala, California.Chase SextonHonda celebrated 50 years of selling motocross bikes the night before at Peltzer Winery in nearby Temecula, and popped more champagne with Ken Roczen finishing in P2 in both motos behind his Team Honda HRC teammate Sexton—both mounted on CRF450RWE racebikes with Honda’s 2023 CRF450R 50th Anniversary Edition livery.Ken Roczen
Christian Craig’s foray into the 450MX class got off to an impressive start, as he went 3-3 to round out the Fox Raceway 1 podium. However, Craig was far off Sexton’s pace, finishing over 30 seconds behind Sexton in each moto.Christian CraigAfter running in podium position early in each moto, Ryan Dungey’s first race in five years resulted in P5 overall, courtesy of two P5 finishes. Cairoli’s P10 in Moto 1 was followed up with a P6 in the second moto, giving the MXGP superstar a P7 overall. Eli Tomac got off to a strong start in Moto 1 before fading to P7. Tomac rebounded with a P4 finish in Moto 2 for a P4 overall.Ryan DungeyThe series resumes on Saturday with the Hangtown Motocross Classic at Prairie City OHV Park in Rancho Cordova, Calif. Check out our 2022 Pro Motocross TV Schedule for viewing times and outlets.Exclusive photography by Will Embree / SMX Pictures2022 Fox Raceway 1 Results, Fox Raceway, Pala, CA
Ducati Scrambler Icon Dark + Chip Doherty with Neale Bayly
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
The Motos & Friends Podcast is brought to you by the Yamaha YZF-R7. The R7 is a brilliant supersport machine that is also comfortable. Now there’s an idea! Check it out at YamahaMotorsports.com, or you can see it for yourself at your local Yamaha dealer.
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This week, in the first segment Senior Editor Nic de Sena talks to us about the new Ducati Scrambler Icon Dark. This somewhat entry-level machine still comes with all the great Ducati hallmarks of excellent low down torque and impeccable handling. If you like to hear about fun motorcycles, then you’ll enjoy this one.
In the second segment, Editor-at-Large Neale Bayly brings us another of his interviews, this time it’s with Chip Doherty.
Chip’s amazing resume includes motorcycle racer, restorer and collector. Back in the early 2000s he used his engineering background to start motorcycle clothing manufacturer Motophoria.
After selling that company in 2007, Chip’s resume gained him entry to NASA where for 7 years he was responsible for launching the space shuttle! Since moving on from NASA, Chip expanded his collection of classic British bikes. Eventually Neale persuaded him to ride to Peru and help Neale’s Wellspring Foundation raise money for the orphanage there.
So, from all of us here at Ultimate Motorcycling, we hope you enjoy this episode!
Neale Bayly’s Wellspring Foundation always appreciates donations. Just $5 will help feed an orphan.
