BLUCRU

MATERLEY BASIN (United Kingdom) 7 October 2024 – After victories for two overseas riders (Australia’s Blake Bohannon and America’s Tayce Morgan) in the YZ65 and YZ85 races on Saturday, it was the turn of home rider Jamie Keith to take the spoils in the YZ125 SuperFinale at Matterley Basin on Sunday.

In 2024 the Yamaha YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale opened up to riders from across the globe, allowing new talents to be discovered and making for some exciting racing around the tough Matterley Basin track. This was particularly evident in the YZ125 SuperFinale when New Zealand’s Levi Townley went head-to-head with Britain’s Keith, a battle that went right down to the chequered flag.

Light rain in the morning made the already churned up track tougher to manage for the young riders, but the 35 contenders were keen and ready to show their skills in front of the huge Motocross of Nations crowd. Townley rocketed off the gate to lead into the first corners, a position he looked set to hold in the early part of the race. Meanwhile, Latvia’s Jekubs Kubulins - one of the main contenders at last year’s SuperFinale - was up into second. Keith quickly charged through, putting space between himself and the chasing Kubulins, Tyla Van de Poel (NED) and Ollie Bubb (GBR). Van de Poel would eventually drop back to 28th, leaving Emile De Baere (BEL) to move ahead of Bubb.

Talented Townley had managed to stretch the lead to over two and a half seconds, but Keith began closing with around seven minutes plus two laps left. Setting his sights on victory, the young Brit was roared on by the home crowd to overtake Townley with a brilliant move, and as the clock ticked down it looked as though he had the win wrapped up. However, a final thrilling fight back by the New Zealander made the last two laps incredibly tight between the pair. Keith held on for an emotional home victory while Townley and Kubulins completed the final podium of the 2024 SuperFinale.

YZ125 SUPERFINALE RACE RESULTS

The top three European finishers plus two wildcards in each class of the YZ bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale will receive an invite to the bLU cRU Masterclass that will take place on the 12th and 13th November. There, one YZ125 rider will win a place in a Yamaha-supported EMX125 team for 2025, while the top-performing YZ65 and YZ85 youngsters will earn added support from Yamaha Motor Europe for next season.

Jamie Keith, YZ125 SuperFinale Winner: “I’m absolutely buzzing and I don’t really know what to say, that was the craziest race I’ve ridden in my entire life – it was nonstop! The crowd were incredible, they were cheering me on and I had no choice but to win for them. I’m over the moon."

YZ125 Race – Classification: 1. Jamie Keith (GBR, Yamaha), 29:16.039; 2. Levi Townley (NZL, Yamaha), +0:00.659; 3. Jekabs Kubulins (LAT, Yamaha), +0:42.586; 4. Emile De Baere (BEL, Yamaha), +0:49.246; 5. Oliver Bubb (GBR, Yamaha), +0:57.585; 6. Oskar Luis Romberg (GER, Yamaha), +1:00.749; 7. Dawid Zaremba (POL, Yamaha), +1:07.447; 8. Juan felipe Garcia (ARG, Yamaha), +1:19.786; 9. Frederik Rahn Stampe (DEN, Yamaha), +1:39.790; 10. Chace Lawton (USA, Yamaha), +1:47.096

Main Photo: YZ125 Podium (Left to Right) Levi Townley, Jamie Keith, Jekabs Kubulins

Top photo: Yamaha Motor Europe President and CEO Olivier Prevost, Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo, YZ125 Podium, FIM Europe Motocross Commission Chariman Andrea Barbieri

Bottom Photo: 1. YZ125 Start; 2. Jamie Keith

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM Europe

MXoN Matterley Basin

Yamaha Racing
 

MATTERLEY BASIN (United Kingdom) 6 October 2024 – The 2024 YZ bLU cRU Europe Cup SuperFinale got underway on Saturday October 5th at the legendary Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) with the YZ65 and YZ85 races on the world famous Matterley Basin circuit. Australia’s Blake Bohannon and the USA’s Tayce Morgan took the spoils in the respective races. 

Next to take to the track was the YZ85 class, a total of 36 riders. Here the holeshot was taken by the USA’s Tayce Morgan. The SuperFinale first-timer seemed to have everything under control as he maintained the lead over the first lap, but as Davie Dürr gave chase Morgan took a rough landing over one of Matterley’s huge jumps and went down. The American remounted quickly and was ready to retaliate as Dürr attempted to break away. With five minutes left in the 15 minutes plus three lap race, Morgan was on the back tyre of his rival, and with just a few minutes left on the clock he regained the lead of the race, leaving a disappointed Dürr to settle for second. Meanwhile, Kay Zijlstra (NED), Talon Medaglia (CAN) and Willads Gordon (DEN) all had their sights set on completing the podium, but it was the Dutch rider who proved strongest of the three. 

Tayce Morgan, YZ85 Winner: “It feels really good to win, I got the holeshot but it was a really tough race because I had a crash and I had to push hard to come back to the front, but I did it and the feeling is awesome. Thanks to Yamaha and everyone who supports me.”

YZ85  Race – Classification: 1. Tayce Morgan (USA, Yamaha), 22:19.471; 2. Davie Duer (AUT, Yamaha), +0:06.240; 3. Kay Zijlstra (NED, Yamaha), +0:08.900; 4. Talon Medaglia (CAN, Yamaha), +0:21.486; 5. Willads Gordon (DEN, Yamaha), +0:42.416; 6. Shoma Nagasawa (JPN, Yamaha), +0:52.772; 7. Nixon Coppins (GBR, Yamaha), +0:57.908; 8. Louis Boutet (FRA, Yamaha), +1:20.310; 9. Tylan Lagain (FRA, Yamaha), +1:26.810; 10. Theo Degvold (NOR, Yamaha), +1:31.118

Main Photo: Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo, YZ85 Champions, FIM Europe Motocross Commission Vice Chairman Peter Goris

Top Photo: YZ85 Superfinale Start

Bottom Photos: 1.YZ85 Champions; 2. Tayce Morgan

A total of 40 aspiring young riders lined up on the start gate for the YZ65 race, a 12 minute plus two-lap duel across the tricky new layout at the track near Winchester in the U.K. Jann Huisman was quickest at the gate drop and he grabbed the holeshot, but Australia’s Bohannon was quick to get into the lead, feeling confident after topping timed practice. When Huisman dropped back after a save and Kade Nightingale suffered a fall there were no challengers for the Australian debutant. With seven minutes remaining in the race, he had already built up an impressive seven-second lead, and by the chequered flag he had an incredible 38 second gap. Austria’s Maurice Heidegger rode to a strong second place, while a tight battle broke out between Nightingale (USA) and Tommy Wood (GBR) for the final spot on the podium, this was eventually taken by the American. The top 14 places were filled by 14 different nationalities. 

Blake Bohannon, YZ65 Winner: “This is all so exciting, I never thought I could even be here in front of all these people and representing Australia. The feeling is so cool and I’m so happy to take a win here at the SuperFinale. Thanks to everyone who has given me this opportunity.”

YZ65 Race – Classification:  Blake Bohannon (AUS, Yamaha), 18:47.615; 2. Maurice Heidegger (AUT, Yamaha), +0:38.739; 3. Kade Nightingale (USA, Yamaha), +0:49.511; 4. Tommy Wood (GBR, Yamaha), +0:53.237; 5. Conrad Pinchon (FRA, Yamaha), +0:58.976; 6. Lucas Taylor (DEN, Yamaha), +1:02.473; 7. Jann Huisman (NED, Yamaha), +1:04.386; 8. Alvaro Dominguez (ESP, Yamaha), +1:33.307; 9. Francesco Vitale (ITA, Yamaha), +1:43.555; 10. Aron dagur Júlíusson (ISL, Yamaha), +1:45.109

Top Photo: Yamaha Motor Europe Marketing and Motorsport Director's Paolo Pavesio, Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo, Blake Bohannon, FIM Europe Motocross Commission Chaiman Andrea Barbieri

Bottom Photos: 1. YZ65 Start; 2. YZ65 Superfinale Champions

Find all the bLUcRU Results HERE

The YZ125 SuperFinale race will take place at 09:20 local time (10:20 CET) and you can follow all the action live on our MXGP-TV.com
 

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM Europe

MXoN Matterley Basin

Yamaha Racing