The Scouting Moto Combine at the Ironman round of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross
(Updated August 31, 2021) – A new concept in rider development was introduced on Friday, August 27, as MX Sports Pro Racing held its first of two Scouting Moto Combines at the Ironman round of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross. The Combine, sponsored by U.S. Air Force – Special Warfare, offered a full day of instruction and seminars for A and B-level amateurs who might have an eye on someday turning pro, as well as two 25-minutes-plus-two-lap motos on the full Ironman National circuit. Among the instructors and coaches there were former superstars Chad Reed, Damon Bradshaw and Broc Glover; trainers like Gareth Swanepoel of Star Racing Yamaha; as well as media folks such as television’s Jason Weigandt, social-media specialist Samantha Nicolini, race announcer Rob Buydos and more.
VIDEO | 2021 Ironman National – Moto Combine East
The schedule of the Combine mimicked the format utilized at every round of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, with the idea being that it would provide a sense of the professional atmosphere each rider will experience as they move up to the sport’s highest level. And with much of the pro paddock there to watch the motos on Friday, the motos helped give the professional teams a chance to preview these top prospects on an actual national track like Ironman, or Fox Raceway at Pala, where the West Scouting Moto Combine will take place this coming Friday.
The whole idea for the concept came in large part from Kawasaki Team Green manager Ryan Holliday, who brought several of his program’s top young stars out to Ironman to participate. Among them were California’s Ryder DiFrancesco, Idaho’s Chance Hymas, Pennsylvania’s Gavin Towers and Minnesota’s Jayden Clough, all of whom wanted to get a feel for what being a professional rider will be like in their near future.
In addition, Combine participants got to watch Sunday’s pro motos from the infield alongside coaches Bradshaw and Glover. (Reed would have been there, as well, but he was helping his kids race.)
In the first moto, it was Hymas who led the way, passing DiFrancesco after nine of 17 laps in what turned out to be a nearly 31-minutes long moto. Clough finished third, with Red Bull KTM’s Daxton Bennick fourth.
The second time out, Hymas went down on the first lap while Bennick and DiFrancesco led from the front. Hymas did his best to work his way back up through the pack, reaching second after going past Bennick, but even with the half-hour moto, he ran out of time to try and catch overall winner DiFrancesco, who has been out most of the summer after breaking his femur. Bennick held on for third to take third overall.
“It was great to be back at the track today! I’ve really missed racing over the last few months, so I loved having everything from the early morning wake-up call to the heart-pounding moments throughout the day,” said DiFrancesco. “I had a ton of fun today on the track and I know that racing on a national-caliber track like this will help me leading into the pro ranks.”
“I had some really good battles out there,” said Hymas, who was impressive in both motos, despite taking second overall. “I feel good with where I’m at right now but there are a few things I’ll work on going into next weekend’s Combine to help secure the top spot. My biggest takeaway from this weekend is definitely how strong I felt on the bike in the second moto, I had a great flow for the whole 30 minutes and that’s what I’ll be looking to carry forward.”
“Our team, the riders and their families really enjoyed the entire experience of the event,” said Ryan Holliday afterwards. “We all believe in the concept and feel fortunate that MX Sports has provided this platform for our athletes to learn and get a better understanding of what they will experience in the next step of their careers. We look forward to more successful events and hope to continue the on-track success as well.” CN
2021 Ironman National – Moto Combine East Results
August 27, 2021
Overall Results (Moto Finish)
- Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Kawasaki (2-1)
- Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Kawasaki (1-2)
- Daxton Bennick, Morganton, N.C., KTM (4-3)
- Jayden Clough, Elko New Market, Minn., KTM (3-5)
- Gavin Towers, Venetia, Pa., Kawasaki (5-4)
- Mark Fineis, Westfield, Ind., KTM (7-6)
- Patrick Murphy, Clinton, Iowa, Kawasaki (6-7)
- Larry Reyes, Houston, Texas, Yamaha (8-8)
- Logan Best, North Port, Fla., Yamaha (10-10)
- Cameron Campbell, Coal Valley, Ill., KTM (14-9)
- Kimble Jett, Norwood, La., KTM (11-12)
- Gavin Brough, Kaysville, Utah, Yamaha (13-13)
- Judson Wisdom, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., Yamaha (9-17)
- Trevor Colip,Bowling Green Ind., Husqvarna (17-11)
- Ethan Day, Twin Lake, Mich., Kawasaki (12-16)
- Noah Schuring, Portage, Mich., Yamaha (16-14)
- Lucas Geistler, Newark, Ill., KTM (15-15)
- Chase Prince, Petersburg, Tenn., Honda (18-18)
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Preparing the Future Stars of the Sport for Professional Competition
Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Scouting Combine Set to Unfold with East Region Gathering at Ironman National
Morgantown, WV – (August 26, 2021) – A collection of American motocross’ most promising amateur racers are set to converge at Crawfordsville, Indiana’s Ironman Raceway on Friday, August 27, for the inaugural gathering of the new MX Sports Pro Racing Scouting Moto Combine. The East Region portion of the new program will serve as a precursor to the Guaranteed Rate Ironman National, the 10th round of the 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, on Saturday, August 28.
In addition to a talented collection of A & B class riders, who received invitations from the sport’s participating manufacturers, a star-studded group of former national champions and race winners will serve as the East Region coaching staff. Six-time AMA Pro Motocross National Champion Broc Glover will be joined by two-time AMA Pro Motocross National Champion Grant Langston, 2009 AMA Pro Motocross 450 Class Champion Chad Reed, and 10-time Pro Motocross National event winner Damon Bradshaw as coaches and mentors for the contingent of East Region competitors.
The combine will be highlighted by a pair of 25-minute-plus-two-lap motos, which will provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity for these budding stars to showcase their talents under the watchful eye of the pro paddock, featuring the most storied factory race teams and highly regarded team managers in American motocross. The motos will mimic the format utilized at every round of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, with the intention of providing a sense of the professional atmosphere each rider will experience upon graduation to the sport’s highest level, including podium interviews at the conclusion of each moto.
In addition to the excitement on the track, the East Region competitors will participate in classroom-style education sessions that will provide invaluable insight into other aspects of the professional level, including fitness, nutrition, and media engagement. The combine weekend will conclude with a ceremonial parade lap during opening ceremonies of the Ironman National to provide well-deserved recognition to the thousands of fans in attendance.
East Region Rider Invite List:
Daxton Bennick / Morganton, North Carolina / KTM
Logan Best / North Port, Florida / Yamaha
Gavin Brough / Kaysville, Utah / Kawasaki
Cameron Campbell / Coal Valley, Illinois / KTM
Jayden Clough / Elko New Market, Minnesota / Kawasaki
Trevor Colip / Bowling Green, Indiana / KTM
Ethan Day / Twin Lake, Michigan / Kawasaki
Ryder DiFrancesco / Bakersfield, California / Kawasaki
Chance Hymas / Pocatello, Idaho / Kawasaki
Kimble Jett / Norwood, Louisiana / KTM
Pat Murphy / Clinton, Iowa / Kawasaki
Eddie Norred Jr. / Rockford, Illinois / Kawasaki
Chase Prince / Petersburg, Tennessee / Honda
Larry Reyes Jr. / Houston, Texas / Yamaha
Noah Schuring / Portage, Michigan / Yamaha
Gavin Towers / Venetia, Pennsylvania / Kawasaki
Judson Wisdom / Lawrenceburg, Tennessee / Yamaha
Chase Yentzer / Carlisle, Pennsylvania / Suzuki
This is a press release from MX Sports…
Morgantown, WV (July 30, 2021) – MX Sports Pro Racing has announced a significant initiative to further the continued development of the next generation of talent in American motocross. The MX Sports Pro Racing Scouting Moto Combine will serve as a critical tool in preparing racers for the transition from the amateur to professional level of the sport in both the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship and AMA Supercross.
Developed in partnership with all of the sport’s competing manufacturers, the program will debut in conjunction with the 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, with a East region gathering at the Guaranteed Rate Ironman National on Friday, August 27, and a West region gathering at the Fox Raceway II National on Friday, September 3.
A total of 50 elite A & B class riders, 25 per region, will be invited by the amateur race team manager from each manufacturer, where an all-day combine of classroom-style racing education will help provide a framework for the expectations and demands of the sport’s professional level. The elements of the combine are wide-ranging and will emphasize some of the most important aspects of the sport–competition, media, fitness and nutrition. Key figures from these areas, from National and World Championship-winning coaches to Pro Motocross broadcast host Jason Weigandt, will lead the various classroom sessions.
“As the demands on our athletes continue to grow in concert with the ongoing expansion of the sport, it has become increasingly important to bridge the gap between the amateur and professional levels,” said Tim Cotter, MX Sports Pro Racing Event Director. “The scouting combine is a proven concept in major team sports and given the level of investment each of our competing manufacturers have in amateur motocross, it is vitally important that we do our part as the competitive organizers to develop a structure that serves to benefit our sport and, more importantly, our athletes. This is arguably the most critical transition in the career of any competitor and we are committed to do our part to give them the support they need.”
In addition to the educational component of the combine, riders will also take to the track at each respective National. A pair of 25-minute-plus-two-lap motos will be contested on the same layout as the pros at both Ironman Raceway and Fox Raceway, providing an opportunity to gauge the potential of this collection of riders who aspire to embark on a successful career at the professional level. These racers will also be recognized with a ceremonial parade lap during opening ceremonies at each event, along with two half-hour highlight shows on MAVTV Motorsports Network.
The invited participants for the inaugural MX Sports Pro Racing Scouting Moto Combine will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information about the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com
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