MOTO catches up with Ricky Carmichael in Barcelona, Ricky’s here for the Fox Europe launch and 2013 X Games.

So much to talk about including tonights Hangtown, RCU back in the UK and his team RCH Suzuki.

The countdown to the world’s greatest live action sports show is officially on, with the announcement that Nitro Circus Live will bring a brand new, death defying, spectacular back to Europe in 2013.

Action sports icon, Travis Pastrana, will lead the crew as they perform the biggest tricks in FMX, BMX and skate on Nitro Circus Live’s incredible, multi-million dollar set.

Also joining the crew is Nitro Circus star, Streetbike Tommy from the hit MTV show and Nitro Circus 3D Movie. Check him out here for an exclusive behind the scenes look at life on tour with Nitro Circus.

www.nitrocircuslive.com

It’s been a busy weekend in the world of off-road sport here in Europe and across the pond in the US of A. Here’s what the riders had to say about their racing at various events around the world.

Steven Lenoir – French Championship: “It’s been a great day for me. Two 35-minute motos on a difficult, rutted track is just what I needed in preparation for the next round of the British Championship at Milton Park. I’ve been working hard on improving my starts and it paid off today, I nearly holeshotted the super-final against the 450′s! A big thanks to my team, they’ve been working really hard to produce me a fantastic bike.

Danny McCanney – National Off Road Championship: “That was a very good, enjoyable, event. I made it difficult for myself by crashing on a tight off-camber corner in the very first run. My back brake was bent backwards so I had no brake for the rest of the run and lost 30 seconds on David straight away. After that my pace was good and I was unlucky to just miss out on the runner-up. On day two I was on average just 5-seconds behind David on each lap, except one where I overshot a corner. So again I was very happy with my speed.

“The event was great training for the coming three weeks as well, as the going was hard pack, dry and dusty so with the upcoming Spanish championship this weekend and then the two EWC rounds in Spain and Portugal I’m well prepared.”

Broc Tickle - Salt Lake City Supercross: “It was a solid start in the Main until I went down,” said Tickle. “I was riding ninth and about to pass Andrew Short but skipped over a couple of the whoops and crashed pretty good. So I got up, got in behind Trey Canard and just started picking guys off that I had lost positions to earlier.”

Josh Hill - Salt Lake City Supercross: “I got a decent start in the Main and made a few quick passes to gain some spots. I got up into the top-10 early and that helped. The race start was so hard if you were starting outside of the first few gates because it was such a short straightaway and tight left-hand turn. Guys would just bang into each other. Riders with the first eight gate picks chose the inside. It was a battle.”

Jake Weimer – Salt Lake City Supercross: “It was not the result I wanted,” said Weimer. “I have a big fanbase at this race, growing up pretty close to here, and I felt good for the main event. I got a great jump but that all went away when we all came together in the first turn. I did my best to come through, but it wasn’t how I wanted to end the night.”

Tyla Rattray – Salt Lake City Supercross: “The day started off good,” said Rattray. “But I tangled with guys off the start and came around last. It was really hard to pass on the track because the dirt was slippery due to all the pebbles and rocks. Eighth was as far as I could get. I’m looking forward to Vegas.”

Martin Davalos – Salt Lake City Supercross: “I was really excited for the main event because I felt good all day,” said Davalos. “The bike was working really good and I charged to the end to get on the podium. I’m happy but I feel like I could have been battling for the win had I got a better start. The whoops were super tricky this week and really separated guys.”

Zach Osborne – Salt Lake City Supercross: “I had a great day, actually,” Osborne said. “Up until I fell in the main everything was going really well. That kind of turned the whole deal. I just need to soldier-up and fight for a great finish in Vegas. I have nothing to lose and I plan to just go for it and try to get up on the podium.”

Eli Tomac – Salt Lake City Supercross: “I started the race second but just blew the race in the whoops,” said Tomac, who leads the category with four victories this year. “It was a section that just got me almost every time around. There were a couple of passes where I got through them ok, but there were others where I got wild and out of control. I was like, ‘I can’t completely throw this thing away,’” he said. “I just started doubling and hopping and skipping.”

Jason Anderson - Salt City Lake Supercross: ”My win tonight was good. I got a good start and led the whole Main Event, which is something I’ve never done. I was stoked to do it here in Salt Lake. It was a good race for me. I got my first podium here last year, which was my first time here. To get my first win this year, I’m happy and super excited. I usually just go crazy. Just being calm and putting in my laps made the difference. The whoops were gnarly tonight, I definitely didn’t ‘wanna crash the last lap in them, but once I made it through them, it was like sigh of relief. It was a good night.”

Ryan Sipes – Salt City Lake Supercross: ”The weekend was rough. I’m a little disappointed in myself. It’s taking me a while to get back in the racing mode. I get out there and I ‘kinda just lock up. I’m not flowing and I’m not riding nearly as good as I do at the practice track. If I could ride like I practice, I feel like I could be in the hunt for wins. It’s not happening right now. Hopefully I can work on some stuff this week and make it better in Vegas.”

Davi Millsaps – Salt Lake City Supercross: “I gave it everything I had. I seriously had nothing left in me when I crossed that finish line. I was so happy to see the ‘checkers.’ Ryan Villopoto ran a good last half-of-the-season and I ran a bad one. It was a great run and it was fun racing against those guys. Definitely congratulations to Villopoto. He rode like a champion. It was a learning year for me as I’ve never been in the front, never had the points lead, let alone having this many podiums. All-in-all it’s been a good season so far and I’m definitely looking forward to next year.”

Ryan Villopoto – Salt Lake City Supercross: “Every lap of that race was intense. I knew for those guys (Dungey and Millsaps) it was all or nothing when I was out front and I had to be smart. At the beginning of the season, we had a bit of a deficit to make up, and we had to chip away as the season went on. I have a great support system behind me, with Thor being a big part of my program, and we never wanted to seem defeated but go at it one race at a time, hoping things would turn around and it did. I am so grateful to have Thor on my side as a great sponsor and happy I was able to bring them another championship.”

Luke Norris – British Masters: “Fortunately I did enough to finish 6th overall and I’m now lying 3rd in the championship which was a bonus. Not the weekend I was hoping for but I learnt a lot and I’m looking forward to the first European 250 Championship race this weekend in Portugal.”

Special advance ticket offer for a limited time only for the British Maxxis Championship at Milton MX Park.

We have put together an online purchase discount. Ensure you don’t miss out on the Europe’s Premier Domestic Championship.

Buy online until Wed 8th May RIGHT HERE

Max races to second overall in the ADAC series in Germany.

Europe was packed with national championship races this past weekend. Germany, France and Holland showcased their national talent with a sprinkling of GP stars thrown in for good measure including Britain’s Max Anstie and Shaun Simpson.

Max raced in the ADAC championship in Germany where he finished second behind Honda’s Max Nagl who dominated with two impressive wins. It was good to see Anstie race domestically in Europe as some say he doesn’t race enough outside the GP’s – maybe it was team orders and hopefully this will continue with a possible showing at a British round later in the year?

Buildbase Honda’s Nico Aubin continued his success in the French championship with two impressive wins. Nico is now holding third in the MX1 championship.

In Holland Jeffrey Herlings once again ripped to two race victories in the Dutch championship ahead of team mate Jordi Tixier and Glenn Coldenhoff. Shaun Simpson did the business on his factory TM with an overall MX1 victory ahead of Mike Kras.

Dutch championship video

Images by MotoX Magazine 

It is a bitter blow for the young Belgian and his factory-backed team. Lieber had caught his foot and twisted the leg during practice for the Grand Prix of Bulgaria – round five of 17 in the 2013 schedule – and withdrew from the meeting after experiencing some pain and discomfort around the knee joint. Initially there was hope that the damage was not too extensive due to the lack of inflammation but the unfortunate news that surgery would be required was confirmed on Monday after scans at the Ortema medical facility in Germany.

Obviously it is disappointing for Julien and also for us because we saw that he had excellent potential to be a top-10 regular in the MX2 class and on the RM-Z250,” commented Team Manager Thomas Ramsbacher. “The important thing now is that he gets healthy and strong again and then we can think about the bike once more.

Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe will travel to Portugal next week with lead rider Max Anstie drawing closer to his first podium finish since signing for the team at the end of 2012. The Brit could soon be joined by another rider to replenish the riding roster of the German crew.

Checkout these great videos from the X-Games Brazil featuring Taka Higashino, Twitch, Wes Agee and loads more. The good news is the tour heads to Europe in May with X-Games Barcelona and X-Games Munich in June with all events covered by us.

Enjoy the vids…

Youthstream sees the European Championship as the base of our sport’s pyramid and it’s fantastic to see the number and quality of riders increase with each year.
The format will consist of 2 groups for the free practices, 2 groups for the timed practices, 2 semi-final races and a last-chance race on the Saturday, then the final will be held on Sunday and broadcasted live on MX-LIFE.TV.

Points for these Championships will be given for the results of the final on Sunday.

We text the ACU office on the way back from Europe and the reply we got is the event is ON – great news for all involved.

Here’s the preview video for round 3.

MPORA presents the Weekly RUSH, the best of action sports videos on a weekly basis. Surf, Snowboard, Skate, BMX, FMX, Motocross, MTB, Outdoor and all the best Action Sports videos!

This week in the Weekly RUSH:
Element Europe: Hold It Down – trailer 1
http://mpora.com/videos/AAdfmsvze395

Red Bull: Daniel Bodin’s Jump 2013
http://mpora.com/videos/AAdflmrudwuh

Creative Shorts – episode 2
http://mpora.com/videos/AAdfm7deosb3

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach 2013 trailer
http://mpora.com/videos/AAdflrm2ibmo

See you in a week’s time!