Motocross never slows down, and neither does the news surrounding it. This week’s Mid-Week Report covers everything from the latest action of the current season to stories from the past, along with the riders, bikes, products and moments that keep the sport moving forward. Whether it happened last weekend, years ago or somewhere in between, there is always something worth talking about in the world of motocross.

#WHIPITWEDNESDAY

Rider: Jeremy McGrath

Would we consider this a whip? In the early ’90s, there wasn’t much knowledge about scrubbing speed; it was more about compressing the bike beneath the rider to stay lower over the jumps. Riders began throwing the rear end sideways partly for style, but also as a way to control the motorcycle in the air and set up for the landing. As suspension, bike geometry and riding technique evolved, so did the whip. What started as a subtle flick eventually became a full-blown aerial maneuver, with riders turning the bike nearly horizontal before bringing it back in line. Today’s riders have taken it even further, blending the old-school whip with modern scrub techniques to stay low, carry speed and make it all look effortless.

HUNTER LAWRENCE REGAINS THE POINTS LEAD

Hunter Lawrence did it again and claimed another win this season at Spring Creek.

Hunter Lawrence took the red plate back at Millville with a dominant 1-1 sweep, turning a one-point deficit into a 10-point championship lead over his younger brother. Hunter controlled the opening moto, and when Jett crashed while leading late in moto two, Hunter was there to capitalize and complete the perfect afternoon. The Lawrence brothers have been playing hot potato with the red plate all season, with one mistake or moto win repeatedly swinging the advantage from one side of the Honda HRC Progressive truck to the other. Hunter now leads Jett 320 points to 310, but with the brothers this evenly matched, the red plate may not stay on the same bike for long.

HAIDEN DEEGAN ON ANOTHER LEVEL

Haiden Deegan (38) after passing his teammate Cooper Webb (2) midway through the first moto.

Haiden Deegan may not have grabbed a 450 moto win yet, but his pace has been on another level. At Millville, Deegan hit the ground while fighting for the lead at the start of moto one and was forced to charge from the back of the pack. Instead of settling, he sliced through the field all the way to fourth, salvaging enough points to keep his day alive. He backed that ride up with a strong second in moto two, giving him 4-2 scores and second overall. His best 450 result of the season. The Lawrence brothers may still own the wins, but Deegan continues to prove that he has the raw speed, aggression, and fitness to make them work for every one.

LEVI KITCHEN CATCHES A BREAK

Levi Kitchen is now in control of the points lead and just needs to stay consistent in the remaining weeks.

Levi Kitchen caught a major break at Millville when championship rival Cole Davies suffered a disastrous moto-one DNF. Both riders were collected in the massive first-turn pileup and started their charges from outside the top 30, but Davies’ crash punctured his fuel tank. He eventually ran out of gas and was forced out of the race, leaving him credited with 38th while Kitchen fought his way back to eighth. Kitchen followed that with a second in moto two for third overall, turning a two-point deficit into a 25-point advantage over Davies and taking the red plate into his home race at Washougal. It was not the way Kitchen would have chosen to regain the championship lead, but in motocross, you have to capitalize when your competition runs into trouble.

BREAKING NEWS! SECOND ANNUAL BIG BEAR GRAND PRIX REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Motocross history is being made! The second annual Big Bear MX Grand Prix (BBMXGP) is happening again August 19th-23rd at Bear Mountain Resort in Big Bear Lake, California. After a successful inaugural year, the team at Swapmoto Race Series is back with updated sections on the track, concerts, access to the chairlift, and the ability to get on the mountain and watch the action up close and personal! For more info, click here!

THE TRACK

This year’s track will see some updates for the racers and spectators alike. You can expect another half mile added to “Fout’s Forest”, a slowed-down start for safety, and big updates to the base area with a shipping container riders will go over, as well as a trickier pro section for you spectators to watch. Like last year, the course will get plenty of water as there is snowmaking equipment every 100′ so visibility will be prime.  Races will be timed around 40 minutes, and custom trophies will be awarded to top finishers, and there will be unique collector apparel merchandise for the event made by O’Neal.

Check out the racing action from last year to see for yourself!

EVENT INFO & REGISTRATION

• Online Registration Opens: Wednesday July 22nd at 12PM PST
  Click here to register

• Rider Limit: 700 riders max – event sold out in 48 hours last year

• MYLAPS Transponders Required (available for rent or purchase)

IMPORTANT NOTES

• No on-site camping or overnight parking

• No pit vehicles, e-bikes, or non-race motorcycles

• Youth riders under 18 must register online – no on-site signups

• Waivers required for all racers – youth waivers must be signed by BOTH parents

HOTEL PARTNERS (DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE)

• Chateau: (909) 866-6666 (Use code “SWAP”)

• Sessions Retreat: (858) 879-8805

• Marina Riviera: Use this link

BIG BEAR EVENT PARKING

• Arrive together to park together
• All vehicles should be parked parallel and in line to one another. There will be no “circling of the wagons.
• Parking staff will instruct you on where to park. To save space do not bring any trailers or campers to the event.
• Each vehicle will be allowed a small space behind for a pit area of approximately 10’x10′.  All vehicles will be in rows so that you can leave the venue if you choose before it is complete.
• There is no overnight parking or camping on site at Bear Mountain or at the spectator lot. Any vehicles left in these lots will be subject to being towed.

EVENT PRICING

• Facility Wristband: $25, after August 1st $30

• Parking Pass: $20

• Practice Fee: $50

• Race Entry: $150 (per class/rider)

• Transponder Rental: $20

If you’re looking for any more information, we have all the details for you here.

MXA PHOTO TRIVIA

Who is this rider? The answer can be found at the bottom of this article.

MX-TECH EXTERNAL HUCKVALVE KIT

The HuckValve has been part of MX-Tech’s unique design since 2008. Both the Blackjack and Raven closed cartridges utilize our HuckValve, which is a speed and position-sensitive bottoming control system. Ongoing research & development in conjunction with precision engineering, dyno testing, and rider feedback have made the newest external HuckValve a reality.

Greater bottoming control: External HuckValves have a larger work volume that allows for a larger piston and cylinder size. This produces a stronger and more consistent damping rate, improving the feel in both low and high-speed bottoming loads.

Better stability: External HuckValves allow for an optimized internal pressure. With lower shear, fluid lasts longer, which increases fork consistency over time, and sensitive valving parts experience less strain so components work more reliably and last longer in the most demanding conditions.

Faster regeneration: MXT closed cartridges with an external HuckValve operates with more consistent internal fluid volume, regenerating 4 to 5 times faster. The external HuckValve update is compatible with all previous versions of the Blackjack (12.5mm rod) and Raven (10mm rod) cartridges. Sold as a kit with updated base valves included. The new base valve optimizes pressure balance in a cartridge.

This update is available now and requires factory installation or by an authorized MX-Tech dealer.

PRICE: $275
PHONE: 815-936-6277
EMAIL: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

MXA FANTASY LEAGUE: THE WINNER OF THE MILLVILLE NATIONAL SCORED 243 POINTS

Millville delivered another demanding round of racing as the hills, ruts, and constantly changing lines at Spring Creek challenged riders throughout the day. Mistakes proved costly, the running order shifted quickly, and several unexpected results made setting an MXA Fantasy lineup especially difficult.

This week’s MXA Fantasy winner was Khopkins, who put together the strongest picks of the round and came away with the overall victory. Khopkins also earned a $500 FXR shopping spree, making the Millville win even sweeter.

Rounds like Millville are exactly what make MXA Fantasy so much fun. The technical track, unpredictable racing, and late-moto changes kept players guessing all weekend. Congratulations again to Khopkins on the win, and a big thank you to FXR for providing this week’s prize.

WEEKLY TOP TEN

Haiden Deegan went down in the first moto. He was still able to finish second overall on the day.

POS USERNAME POINTS

1	Khopkins	243
2	Tomcat61350	243
3	aj.kinetic1	243
4	coachbrad	238
5	andym99	237
6	SCOldman	235
7	waldow21	233
8	PappyHoleshot	233
9	ichap	233
10	Tober	233

250 CLASS PREDICTIONS

Levi Kitchen has taken over the points lead after finishing third overall on the weekend.

TWO-STROKE SPOTLIGHT: CHRISTIAN LOVENFELDT 1996 CR 125 BUILD

By Christian Lovenfeldt

I built this 1996 Honda CR125 a few years ago, and no detail was overlooked. The engine was completely rebuilt by VHS in Holland, giving the bike the performance to match its factory-inspired appearance.

The wheels retain the original OEM hubs, which were relaced by Haan Wheels. For the suspension, I found a brand-new Öhlins rear shock and paired it with a brand-new WP 4057 “Factory” front fork.

The custom triple clamps were made by my good friend Willy in Italy. Danger UK supplied the graphics and seat cover, completing the bike’s clean, period-correct look.

The icing on the cake is the Kevlar-carbon silencer from J.D.P. in the UK. It is a rare finishing touch that makes the bike look and sound even more special. This may be a 1996 CR125, but it is far from outdated. With the engine, suspension, and carefully selected components, this bike will smoke a 2026 125.

Editors Note: Please keep those submissions coming. If you would like your bike to be featured on the MXA website, please email Justin Lee at  [email protected]. All we ask is that you give a breakdown of your bike and a detailed description of the build. Please also send a few photos of your steed. By submitting your bike for the “Two-Stroke Spotlight,” you agree to release all ownership rights to the images and copy to MXA. 

MOOSE OFFROAD LAUNCH CONTROL HOLESHOT DEVICE

Moose Offroad is proud to introduce our Launch Control Holeshot Device, engineered to give you the edge when the gate drops. By compressing and locking your front suspension at the start, it lowers the bike’s front end and center of gravity to minimize wheelies and maximize forward drive. The result? Harder launches, better traction, and a clear advantage off the line. Each kit includes both the ring and mechanical button, precision CNC-machined from 6061-T6 aluminum for exceptional strength and reliability. Finished with a durable black anodized coating to resist corrosion and detailed with the iconic Bullet M Moose logo, this device is built to perform and built to last.
MSRP: $64.95
Head on over to your local dealer or www.moose-offroad.com to check these out.

CLASSIC MXA PHOTO

Ernesto Fonseca during the press day for the 2002 season opener at Anaheim.

MXA Photo trivia: Micky Dymond who was one of the smoothest and most stylish riders of the 1980s. After working his way through Southern California’s competitive motocross scene, Dymond earned a factory Honda ride for 1986 and immediately delivered back-to-back AMA 125 National Championships in 1986 and 1987, winning eight 125 Nationals during his career. He later raced for Yamaha and competed in Europe before stepping away from top-level motocross. Years later, Dymond successfully reinvented himself in Supermoto, winning another AMA championship in 2005—18 years after his second motocross title.