Welcome back to Pit Bits and the remainder of our coverage from the opening round of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship from the Fox Raceway National. If you missed out on our pre-race and part one from the post-race Pit Bits, you can find them here:
If you've already enjoyed those features, then scroll down and dive into the remaining 60 or so photos and information from Fox.
Chance Hymas and mechanic Tommy Harris showing their respect prior to the opening moto of the season. Octopi MediaContrary to some rumors, yes, Dylan Ferrandis and the Phoenix Honda team were set to race Pro Motocross season and were at Fox Raceway. Michael LindsayDylan Ferrandis' #14 Phoenix Racing Honda CRF450R. Michael LindsayLeft side. Michael LindsayHRC has loaned the Phoenix Honda team about four of the braced frames found on the Lawrence brother's machines for the summer. Ferrandis commented that the bracing does calm the bike down and was a noticeable improvement for motocross. Michael LindsayDylan Ferrandis has raced with HRC Works clamps and Ride Engineering clamps this season. So what are these? They're sort of a HRC copy out of Europe, but with solid bar mounts. As even the HRC ones are rubber-mounted and Ferrandis has had trouble with twisting everything up when he crashes. On top of that, Ferrandis likes a very solid feel from the front end with little-to-no-flex in certain areas. Michael LindsayShiny... Michael LindsayThe team mounts their AIM data logger/GPS on top of the triple clamp. Michael LindsayThe Phoenix team made their own grip wings for their frames earlier this year but now they just use the supplied mounts on the HRC fame. Michael LindsayA Pro Circuit shifter? It's a half-spline different than stock, as the standard Honda shifter has a pretty big jump between positions. Michael LindsayFerrandis has gone back and forth between the stock CRF linkage, the consumer Factory Connection linkage, and a prototype that FC made for him. Michael LindsayASV has made a big push this year, working with multiple new teams and slowly breaking the strangle hold that ARC had on the pro paddock. Michael LindsayThe HRC duo of Jett and Hunter run a longer wheelbase on their CRFs, in comparison to the short rear wheel base that Ferrandis has chosen to go with. Michael LindsayFJ Faast makes these nice brake pedal pivots. Michael LindsayThe HRC team uses a Japan supplied oversized titanium fuel tank, while the Phoenix crew uses an aftermarket carbon fiber version. Michael LindsayA modified lever is used to tighten and loosen the flush-mounted gas cap. Michael LindsayFerrandis had laptimes on par with Jett, Hunter, and Sexton...but crashes and bad starts kept him away from the battle at the front. We'll see how he progresses over the early rounds of the season. Michael LindsayThe TLD team, like KTM and Husky, lay down a tarp before their plastic flooring. Michael LindsayFrankie Latham told us his position as the GasGas Factory Team Manager is a somewhat a temporary one, as they're unsure what the future holds with the program. Michael LindsayProduction fork lugs? Michael LindsayProduction fork tubes and adjuster? Michael LindsayThat's because Pierce Brown has opted to run a modified production air fork for outdoors, similar to Aaron Plessinger. Michael LindsayHis works WP rear shock had a temperature strip in place. Michael LindsayBillet lugs with the production sized axle for Justin Barica. Michael LindsayWhile Ryder DiFrancesco opted for the older billet lugs with a larger than production front axle. Michael LindsayHeat shield under the tank of the GasGas factory 250s. Michael LindsayAn extra starter button in plain sight. Michael LindsayDiFrancesco also had a WP steering damper equipped. Michael LindsayAmerican Made. Michael LindsayThe AEO Powersports KTM team upgraded semis this year and have a larger presence. Michael LindsayDerek Kelly has stepped up to the 450 class this Summer with the AEO team. Michael LindsayFork bleeders? Naw, REP took a set of CV 48mm forks and basically made them air assist. Running controlled amounts of air in the outer chamber to help with hold up, while not having to run a heavily valved setting. Most times we've asked teams what their air assist forks have for PSI onboard, it's in the 1-4 PSI range...Kelley's is over 10 PSI...that's getting into hybrid fork territory. Michael LindsayCanadian 250 Champion, Ryder McNabb, is racing for the AEO team this outdoor season and chose to run a modified production air fork. Michael LindsayWhile the team's other 250 riders, Lux Turner and Talon Hawkins, chose the 48mm CV Pro Components spring fork. Michael LindsayMcNabb is also on a REP modified production shock. Michael LindsayWhile Hawkins, Turner, and Kelley all chose Pro Component shocks tuned by REP. Michael LindsayDid you notice a difference in the Akrapovic cans in the last two shots? Well the headers are also different. Hawkins here has a factory spec headpipe, that's shorter. Michael LindsayWhile Turner here is on the longer, production version. Why the stock clutch cover? Well, Hawkins, Kelley, and McNabb all receive engine assistance from in-house KTM sources...while Turner is on an XPR prepped motor. Michael LindsayA winged GUTS seat for Hawkins. Michael LindsayThe team runs a slightly modified 6D helmet graphic, to highlight their supporting sponsor, Synchrony Bank. Michael LindsayEvan Ferry made the opening round with the support of the Wildcat GasGas team. Michael LindsaySome final race bike prep underway on Friday. Michael LindsayEvan Ferry has long worked with Matt Andruk of Active Ride, who also tunes for the HEP Suzuki team and Ken Roczen. He converted Ferry's WP forks with KYB internals. Michael LindsayActive Ride also converted his WP shock from a floating piston reservoir to a bladder. Michael LindsayHGS exhaust paired to a Twisted Development engine package. Michael LindsayMichael LindsayThe BarX Suzuki team is co-owner by Myron Short, who is also the promoter for the Fox Raceway National through 2X Promotions. Michael LindsayMax Miller moved up to the 450 class for the Summer with the BarX squad. He was set to join Derek Drake in the class with the team, but Drake is sitting out the opening rounds due to a back issue. Miller was using a set of production Showa forks and a Showa A-kit shock... Michael LindsayWhile the 250s were primarily using the production KYB components now. Michael LindsayHowever, Bourdon was still using Showa A-kit shock and forks, but without the Showa stickers... Michael LindsayWhile Derek Drake's 450 machine was set to race with KYB front and rear. Michael LindsayVP Lubricants has replaced GRO (Global Racing Oils) as their oil sponsor mid-season. Michael LindsayHawaii's Brian Mederios attempted to qualify aboard this RM-Z250, he's his own suspension technician and does testing for MXA. Michael LindsayRetro Suzuki theme. Michael LindsayXPR took care of his engine duties. Michael LindsayHis bike was also equipped with Billet calipers from MotoMaster, front and rear. Michael LindsayHusqvarna had some Rockstar branded E-bikes on display in their pit areas. Michael LindsayChristian Craig's return to racing was quiet but his kit was on point thanks to Fox. Yes, he was in the Speedsuit onesie. Michael LindsayOptima Batteries enters their second year as a sponsor of the Star Yamaha program. Michael LindsayReven Gordon made his pro debut at the opening round of Pro Motocross. Michael LindsayThe HOST/Grindstone Kawasaki team was setup around Dylan Walsh...but due to injuries, Walsh has decided to forgo racing in the USA for now and return to the British racing scene (even though he's from New Zealand). With that, the small program is now supporting Gordon and Max Sanford for the remainder of 2024. Michael LindsayThe team modifies the stock engine mounts. Suspension duties are handled by Enzo Racing and engines by Twisted Development. Michael LindsayTyler Moody was a long-time Enzo Racing employee but recently moved over to Showa USA. He's now one of the technicians assisting with the HRC Honda team. Congrats Tyler. Michael LindsaySee you all in Hangtown! Michael Lindsay
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