#WHIPITWEDNESDAY

Rider: Kevin Windham

Cooper Webb said this season would be his last for motocross but will continue racing Supercross the next few years.

Cooper Webb confirmed that the 2026 motocross season will be his last full run outdoors, but he isn’t calling it a full retirement just yet. Webb said he still has plans to race in 2027 and 2028, but it sounds like his focus will shift more toward Supercross and SMX after this summer. That makes the 2026 Pro Motocross season a bit of a farewell tour for Webb, giving fans one more chance to watch the multi-time Supercross champion line up outdoors before he moves into the next chapter of his career.

HAIDEN DEEGAN TO RACE HIS FIRST 450 SEASON STARTING AT FOX RACEWAY

Haiden Deegan set to make his 450 debut.

Haiden Deegan will start his first 450 season at Fox Raceway, marking the next big step in his career with Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha. After proving himself in the 250 class, Deegan now moves into the premier class where he will line up against the best 450 riders in motocross. It is a big jump, but Deegan has never had a problem handling pressure, and all eyes will be on him when the gate drops at Pala.

HUNTER LAWRENCE SWITCHES FOCUS FOR MOTOCROSS

Hunter Lawrence to focus on motocross season.

Hunter Lawrence came up just short of the 450 Supercross championship, but he handled it the way you would expect and is already shifting his focus toward motocross. After a season where he proved he could win races and fight for a title indoors, the outdoor season gives him a chance to reset, move forward and go after another championship run. With Pro Motocross starting at Fox Raceway, Hunter now turns the page from Supercross and puts all of his attention into the long, rough summer ahead.

MXA PHOTO TRIVIA

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

A statement from Dunlop: Dunlop Tires is proud to introduce the all-new Geomax MX54, the next evolution in intermediate to hard terrain motocross performance. Building on the proven foundation of the Geomax MX53 with updates from the Geomax MX34, the MX54 is engineered to deliver optimized performance across a broader range of track conditions, with a focus on consistency, control, and durability as terrain evolves from intermediate to hard-packed.

Dennis Stapleton is testing on the Honda CRF 450R Works Edition.

Designed for where most riders compete, the MX54 bridges the gap between soft-intermediate terrain and hard terrain stability. The result is a tire that performs at a high level across changing track conditions, maintaining predictable feel from morning moisture to late-day hard-pack. At the core of the MX54 rear tire is a tread pattern derived directly from Dunlop’s Geomax Factory Spec tire, delivering enhanced drive grip, improved slide control, and increased traction under acceleration. This proven design allows riders to maximize forward drive while maintaining confidence in demanding conditions.
Dunlop has allowed us to be the first to test the new design.

The MX54 front tire features an all-new tread pattern engineered to improve turn-in precision, cornering stability, and braking performance. By refining block placement and optimizing knob stiffness, Dunlop has created a front tire that offers more consistent feedback and improved line-holding ability, especially as tracks become slick and hard-packed. Dunlop’s patented Progressive Cornering Block Technology Advanced is utilized to enhance flexibility and increase the number of biting edges. This results in improved grip, better compliance, and more predictable handling across a wide range of terrain conditions. In addition to tread design advancements, the MX54 incorporates an updated compound and carcass construction to improve durability and maintain performance over longer motos. Enhanced wear resistance ensures that riders experience consistent performance throughout the life of the tire, even in abrasive track conditions.

Josh Mosiman spun a few laps on the MX34 to establish a baseline before swapping tires.

The Geomax MX54 is a direct replacement for the MX53, offering riders a clear step forward in performance with expanded capability in harder terrain while retaining the versatility expected from an intermediate-hard terrain tire. “The MX54 represents the next step in our motocross tire evolution,” said Chad Geer, Director of Motorcycle Marketing & Motorsports. “We’ve taken everything we learned from the success of the MX53 and applied it to a tire that delivers more consistency, more control, and more confidence for today’s riders and racing conditions.” The Geomax MX54 lineup will be available through authorized Dunlop Motorcycle Tires dealers nationwide

FXR RACING & SPRING CREEK MX PARK EXTEND MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP

FXR Racing and Spring Creek MX Park have agreed to extend the strategic partnership between the two organizations for an additional three years, which will include the title sponsorship of the Pro Motocross Championship round as the FXR Racing Spring Creek MX Park National in Millville, MN. The 2026 FXR Racing Spring Creek National will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026. 

“We’re proud to continue our partnership with FXR Racing—it’s a brand with deep roots in the Minnesota moto community. A multi-year relationship like this brings stability and a shared vision, and we’re excited to keep building and growing together both on and off the track,” said Alex Martin, Director of Operations of Spring Creek MX Park.

“FXR Racing has had an office in Forest Lake, MN for six years now, which has given Spring Creek a special place in our hearts as one of our favorite local tracks. It is the California of the North, it’s the epicenter for motocross racing in this part of the country,” said Milt Reimer, President of FXR Racing. “The Martin family has a long history in motocross and off-road racing and are a pleasure to work with, we are excited to continue to grow together.”

FXR Racing will be there to own the moment at the Spring Creek MX National, from the iconic hills of Mount Martin to the sand rollers by the creek. Onsite, FXR Racing will also be hosting a retail booth that can be found on the vendor row throughout the course of the weekend.

To learn more about FXR Racing, Spring Creek MX Park or the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, please visit: https://fxrracing.com/, www.springcreekmx.com or https://promotocross.com/.

MXA’S TWO-STROKE SPOTLIGHT: THE NAKED 2005 YAMAHA YZ250

In 2005, Yamaha unveiled the aluminum framed YZ250 (and we stripped it down to its naked aluminum for our photo shoot. With two-stroke sales in the dumps, this bike was going to be either Yamaha’s crowing jewel or ultimate folly. Yamaha spent millions of dollars on the development of the most advanced two-stroke motocross bike of its time. Was it worth it?

Yamaha had rolled the dice. They hoped there were enough loyal two-stroke fans to appreciate the revolutionary development that produced the all-new smoker. Hoping die-hards would appreciate the machine enough to buy the smoker rather than the popular four-strokes.

In the end, the results weren’t what they wanted them to be, although it is safe to say they aren’t heart broken about it. Two-stroke sales continued to plummet and the diehards had betrayed the smokers for the appealing thumpers.

Over a decade later, the 2005 YZ250 is still virtually the same bike that is produced in 2016. A few small things have changed, but the chassis, engine and suspension components have remained the same, and we aren’t complaining. To this day we still adore the YZ250. It may not be the ultimate race bike that it once was, but it is a bike that was ahead of its time. It has good handling, great suspension and an easy to ride fun engine. It wasn’t until this year that a better 250 two-stroke was put into production, the 2016 KTM 250SX.

CLASSIC MXA PHOTO

A rookie photo of Josh Grant in 2004.

MXA Photo Trivia Answer: Rick Burgett had the honor of wearing the number-one plate after winning the AMA 500 National Championship in 1978.