You can tell that the 2015 AMA Pro Motocross Championship Series is just around the corner by the many pro racers that showed up today at Glen Helen Raceway to get a head start on their outdoor testing. Many of them were pounding out the laps on what was a cool and overcast day at the track.
One of those riders getting in some laps in today was Christophe Pourcel. The Frenchman is getting familiar with his new ride on the Rockstar Energy Racing Husqvarna Team. Pourcel competed in the 250 class last year on a Yamaha but will move up to the 450 class on the FC450 Husky. Pourcel looked comfortable on the bike but was hardly going at race speed, which isn’t anything unusual for him when he’s testing on open practice days. (Photography by Kit Palmer)
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo, who is coming off an injury after sitting out the entire Supercross series, put in a few laps. He says that he’s been riding for a couple of weeks now and feels healthy. His main focus now, he says, is “getting back up to speed.” He plans on being on the starting line when the outdoors series gets underway at Hangtown (Sacramento, California) May 16.
Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Baggett was hammering out laps all day. This will be his first full season outdoors on a 450 and many are anticipating that the former 250 National MX Champion will be a title contender. Baggett’s teammate James Stewart is hoping to be racing at Hangtown. He’s still waiting on a decision regarding his appeal of his suspension by the FIM. If it’s a favorable one for him, he’ll be racing come May.
SmarTop/MotoConcepts’ Mike Alessi is back on the bike and nearly fully recovered from his injuries suffered at the Daytona Supercross, where he broke a couple of vertebrae and tore ligaments in rib cage, the worst of the two injuries he says. He’s feeling good on the bike but isn’t exactly sure what his future plans are yet. Right now, he says, everything is up to his team, which is expected to make an announcement soon regarding what direction the team will go during the summer.
RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory Racing Team’s Ken Roczen was busy fulfilling certain obligations in New York during this weekend’s New Jersey Supercross (he is not racing), but that didn’t prevent him from testing, or at least not his bike. Test rider Ivan Tedesco filled in for the defending 450 MX Champion today at Glen Helen, putting in a number of laps on Roczen’s factory RM-Z450.
Recently crowned 250 West Supercross Champion Cooper Webb got in some laps—this is him disguised as his trainer, Gareth Swanepoel.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Chris Alldredge might’ve put in more laps than anyone today.
Even former MX Champion and GEICO Honda team manager Mike LaRocco got in on the act. He made many laps on Malcolm Stewart’s bike while still looking plenty fast.
RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory Racing Team’s Brock Tickle made full use of the day. He was another one who got in many laps.
GEICO Honda’s Matt Bisceglia hopes to have a breakout year in the upcoming nationals. He looked fast at Glen Helen.
