MOTOCROSS ACTION MID-WEEK REPORT
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#WHIPITWEDNESDAY
Rider: Cole Seely
Cole Seely was another Southern California star rider but did not have the most successful amateur career. His best finish at the Loretta Lynns Ranch was a fourth in the 65 7-9 age group stock class. His career took a dramatic change when going pro. Racing his first year on a Suzuki Cole started during the Supercross season rather than joining outdoors after Lorettas like a lot of riders do. He grabbed a top ten within that first year which sparked the interest of Troy Lee Designs Honda which hed ride for until 2015. In the first couple years, he would grab a pair of fourth overalls in the 250 West division. In 2014 he would finish in the runner-up position behind Jason Anderson. In 2015 he moved to the 450 class riding for Factory HRC Honda. Overall in the following seasons, he would grab multiple top-five overall finishes. Eventually, he would hang up the boots professionally to focus on other aspects of his life. He did make a slight return to racing, but in the last couple of years has been riding for fun.
RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING CHARGING INTO 2025 SMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
A returning four-rider Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team will feature Chase Sexton and Aaron Plessinger in the 450 Class alongside 250 Class duo Tom Vialle and Julien Beaumer in the 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX), inclusive of the AMA Supercross, Pro Motocross and SMX Finals series.
Alongside Sexton, Plessinger, 28, is entering his fourth term with Red Bull KTM and is coming off the strongest season of his career in winning a Supercross Main Event in San Diego. ‘The Cowboy’ finished third overall in Pro Motocross, before racing to P4 at the conclusion of the SMX season. Those results mean that Plessinger will enter Anaheim 1 with confidence on his side and with even larger targets to achieve.
Aaron Plessinger: “I’m super-stoked for the 2025 season! I’m ready to start where we left off in Supercross last year, where I won my first Main Event, and I only think we’re going to get better this year. The bike’s good, I’m feeling strong both physically and mentally, so I’m ready to show these guys that I’m here to stick around and that it ain’t no game. I’m ready to see the fans and have a good time doing it!”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s 250 line-up will once again be headlined by the exciting combination of 24-year-old Vialle – the reigning 250SX East Champion – and talented young American prospect Beaumer, each competing aboard the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION.
Already a two-time MX2 World Champion prior to his arrival in the United States, French standout Vialle will enter 2025 in search of a second 250SX title, while also firmly targeting his maiden American outdoor championship in 250MX. The Red Bull KTM rider placed runner-up in both Pro Motocross and SMX this year, showcasing his capabilities across the board during his second year being based in the U.S.
Tom Vialle: “Everything has been going good this off-season, I was able to win the Paris Supercross, and we have done a lot of testing with the team already. I’m really happy with the bike, the suspension, and also, we have some engine upgrades, so everything so far is working good together. I’m going into my third year of Supercross and was able to win the 250SX East Championship this year, and now I am working hard to try and defend it in 2025. I’m really happy to win my first title indoors and the goal is to win another one next season. It’s a little bit of extra pressure, but I wouldn’t say a lot.”
At 18 years of age, Beaumer is preparing to enter his second full season of professional competition after debuting with Red Bull KTM one year ago. He finished as Rookie of the Year in both 250SX and 250MX, before going on to capture a breakout 250SMX podium result during the SMX Playoffs. Added experience will be instrumental for ‘JuJu’ when the racing commences next season.
Julien Beaumer: “The off-season’s been going really good for me, I’m excited to get going, and the goal this year is to win. I’m in a spot right now where I’m confident that I have the fitness and speed to do that, because I’ve been feeling good on the bike and we’ve made a lot of progress. Last year I had speed, but I made quite a few rookie mistakes, so I have been learning to eliminate those and I’m confident that this upcoming season will be a lot better for me.”
KX450SR RACE BIKE VS. KLX230 TRAIL BIKE: LAP TIME BATTLE
MXA PHOTO TRIVIA
Who is this rider? The answer will be at the bottom of the article.
EVS SPORTS CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF INNOVATION
EVS Sports a leading innovator in high performance motocross and offroad protection is proud to celebrate 40 years of innovation and excellence. Since 1985, EVS has been at the forefront of motocross and off-road protection, revolutionizing the industry with game-changing products that empower riders to push their limits. EVS is driven by Passion, Performance, and Innovation — values that continue to shape the future of rider safety.
To mark this milestone, EVS is introducing an exclusive 40th anniversary collection of their top-selling products, all in a striking red colorway. Red is more than just their brand color — it symbolizes 40 years of passion they share with riders and their relentless pursuit to provide the best protection the sport has to offer.
Trusted for its superior impact protection and unmatched comfort.
Engineered to shield riders from debris and ensure optimal performance.
The perfect blend of compression, support, and protection.
Built for performance and comfort.
A staple in rider protection, now in a bold new look.
FELD TALKS E-BIKES IN SUPERCROSS, 9-WHOOPS & MORE
We’re gearing up for a second season of MXA Fantasy League with all new prizes up for grabs. Currently, we have a new update out that helps revolutionize the gameplay from last year. However, you can still play seamlessly with the current version you may have. Last year we were able to give away a Triumph TF 250-X to the winner of the full SMX season. We were able to get some awesome prizes from our amazing sponsors and supporters. You can download the app today in both app stores and get set up for racing to come on Jan 11th at Angel Stadium for Anaheim 1. See you at the races!
TEN THINGS ABOUT GETTING THE PERFECT START
(1) Homework. Study the gate in the race before yours. Try to learn not only how fast the gate drops but when the starter is most likely to pull the trigger. This will make you more alert and better prepared for the start of your moto. Pay careful attention to how long the 30-second board is up until the gate drops. A good 30-second board tip is to watch how fast the person holding the board scurries off the track, because the gate isn’t going to drop until that person is safely on the sidelines. For the best reaction time, you want to look at what part of the gate moves first. If you can see the pin that holds the gate up, that will give you a split-second edge.
(2) Mental preparation. The mental aspect is huge in racing. The track changes throughout the day, and that means that the first turn changes also. Study the dirt conditions in the first turn and note the lines the riders getting holeshots are using. This will give you a game plan as you stampede towards the first turn. The worst thing you can do is to start a race without knowing exactly what you are going to do. Don’t make it up on the fly. Is there a big bump on the exit of the first turn? Is the inside rut getting deeper as the day wears on? Can you take the outside line and pull off a holeshot. Ask yourself these questions, and the answers will help you get a good start.
(3) Gate pick. When picking your gate, it is best to choose condition over position. The condition of the dirt behind and in front of the gate matters more than where your gate is relative to the first corner. Of course, there are lots of poorly designed first turns that favor nothing but the inside starting spots. If the start is short and the turn is narrow, then choosing the outside gate may not be the best decision. Watch the motos before yours to see where the holeshots are coming from. Normally, a pattern develops. The best gate has good traction and a straight rut without any bumps.
(4) Holeshot device. On dirt starts we always recommend a holeshot device, but not on concrete starts. In the dirt, your holeshot device helps you keep the front end on the ground. Every rider’s sweet spot for mounting his holeshot device is different. Top pros tend to run them really low to be able to explode out of the gate without any front-wheel lift. The downside of a low holeshot device is that it takes much more effort to set it as well as to get it released. Holeshot devices that offer two different-set heights are great, as not all dirt start conditions are the same. On dirt that is dry or hard-packed, it’s best to use the higher setting. The tackier the dirt, the lower the holeshot device should be set.
(5) Gear. Choosing the right gear to start in depends on what bike you are on and the condition of the starting gate; however, 9 times out of 10, second gear is the gear of choice. Being able to do practice starts before your race will help you get a feel for the grip of the contact patch, what gear to choose and when to shift into the next gear. Your first shift is critically important. Knowing when your engine has peaked and being able to power shift into the next gear (meaning using little clutch and full throttle) will make the upshift seamless. The Quick Shift option on the three Austrian bikes means you never have to use the clutch on the land rush to the first turn.
(6) Foot position. Always start with your feet in front of the pegs. When you let out the clutch, it’s natural for your body to slide backwards. Having your feet in front of the pegs gives you something to grip onto and keeps you in the right position. It is best to start with both feet down instead of one foot on the pegs and one down. With both feet down, it is easier to keep the bike balanced and less likely that your weight will be thrown to one side.
(7) Body position. Spending a lot of time doing practice starts will teach you where the best position is to put your butt. Most riders keep their bodies centered on the seat—not too far forward and not too far back. They adjust their upper bodies and heads according to how much traction there is behind the gate. More traction will require more weight on the front wheel, meaning that you lean forward with your torso. For gates with less traction, you’ll need to sit more upright. On concrete, it depends on your throttle control and the surface of the concrete. If it is coarse concrete that was brushed or grooved before it set, sitting up straight usually does the trick. On concrete that is very smooth, you might need to slide back on the seat a few inches. You can test the tackiness of the concrete by chirping the rear wheel to see how much grip there is. By “chirping,” we mean doing a false start. Do everything you would in a regular start situation, but when you let out the clutch and it grabs, pull it back in and make sure to have your finger over the front brake so you don’t hit or jump the gate. This chirping will allow you to gauge how much traction you have so you can rotate your torso forward or backward to find the prime position.
(8) Squeeze. Squeezing with your legs can help improve your starts dramatically. The reason to squeeze your bike on the starts is the same reason you squeeze it while you’re racing—to keep control of the bike. For the perfect start, you want to come out of the gate in a straight line, with the front tire on the ground, and never let off. To help you squeeze the bike, point your toes inward as soon as you get your feet on the pegs. Pointing your toes towards each other gives you more leverage to squeeze harder.
(9) Where to look. The best strategy is to turn your head slightly to the side, because your brain responds quicker when you see something in your peripheral vision. Looking down at your gate is not as good as looking at the gate next to you.
(10) Getting the holeshot. Once you’ve executed the perfect jump off the gate, continue to squeeze with your legs and look up at the first turn. Try not to get intimidated by the bikes next to you. Looking ahead will help you see that the first turn is yours for the taking.
SEAN COLLIER’S KX500 VERSUS KX450 WITH MOTOCROSS ACTION MAGAZINE
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: JUSTIN BARCIA ON HIS NEW FACTORY GAS GAS
“I’m pumped to start the new season as part of this refreshed Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing Team. Anaheim 1 always brings that extra excitement and I’ve had some great results there in the past! We put in the hard work during the off-season and we’re going to be ready to go when the gates drop.”
MXA PHOTO OF THE WEEK
MXA Test Rider, Shawn Bushnell riding our 2025 Husqvarna TC-450 at our most recent 450 shootout.
CLASSIC MXA PHOTO
James Stewart Sr. (Left) Jeremy Albrecht (Center) and James Stewart Jr. (Right) celebrating a win back in 2002.
MXA Photo Trivia Answer: Kent Howerton In 1973 he began competing in the AMA motocross national championship series, and by 1974 he had won his first national race in the 250cc class. For the 1975 season, he was offered a job to ride for the Husqvarna factory racing team and finished the season in second place behind Tony DiStefano. Howerton would win the 500cc AMA Motocross National Championship in 1976 for Husqvarna.
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