Swapmoto Live Podcast

Ricky Johnson and Jeff Ward have been busier than ever lately, but the two legends of motocross were finally both in California long enough to return to the Swapmoto Live studios to get together for a couple of episodes of Podium to Present! This week, the guys invited legendary motocross designer Kenny Safford to join them to talk about his early days, starting with AXO Sport, where he and Jim Hale changed the way motocross brands looked and advertised. Enjoy part one...then stay tuned for part two in the coming weeks!

After 31 races, the 2025 Monster Energy Supermotocross World Championship has finally come to a close. In the 450 class, Jett Lawrence handily wrapped up his third consecutive title and remains the only racer to carry the number-one plate since the series' inception. In the 250 class, Jo Shimoda endured a barrage of attacks to earn the 250 SMX Championship and became the first Japanese racer to earn an American championship. Somehow, we survived the weekend to talk about it all!

Presented by 6D Racing A couple of weeks ago, we were able to get in touch with John Gregory of the legendary JT Racing motocross apparel company from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, but we were cut short when his neighbor dropped in for a surprise visit. In this episode, we were able to track John down again and complete his memoirs about the glory years of JT Racing, the transition into JT Paintball, and ultimately selling the brand to retire.

The St. Louis round of the Monster Energy Supermotocross World Championship Playoffs yielded two boring motos and two motos that had us on the edge of our seats! Having two new winners in both the 250 and 450 classes was also a breath of fresh air, and it gave us plenty to talk about in this week's Kickstart Podcast by Maxxis Tires and Outhouse Coffee Co.!

Presented by Maxxis and Outhouse Coffee Co. Last weekend, the Monster Energy Supermotocross World Championship Playoffs got underway in Concord, North Carolina, at xMAX Dragway, and severe weather forced the cancellation of the event after the first 250 and 450 motos were run. Four lightning strikes in the area initially halted the event, but the ongoing threat of lightning, plus steady rain and impending nightfall, finally did the race in. For the most part, racers were relieved, but the fans on hand were upset, demanding refunds and the like. There is no debating the fact that the race could not have run with the lack of lighting in the motocross section of the course outside of the stadium, and the course was challenging enough without throwing in mud and poor visibility into the mix. Eli Tomac told us after Friday's practice sessions that it was "The sketchiest track I have ever ridden on." Throughout the weekend, the track claimed many victims, including top riders like Malcolm Stewart, Seth Hammaker, Julien Beaumer, and Garrett Marchbanks. Jett Lawrence said after the race that the track had a limit that could not be pushed, and that you had "to take your medicine out there," in the rough conditions. We talk about that, and a lot more, in this week's Kickstart Podcast, presented by Maxxis and Outhouse Coffee Co.!

Presented by 6D Helmets Last weekend at the Big Bear MX Grand Prix, I spotted a guy walking through the pits in a matching T-shirt and short pants, adorned with the JT Racing Bad Bones graphics that were made famous by Ron Lechien in the late 80s. Of course, the outfit was a modern offering from the licensing holders, but it got my mind reeling with memories of the glory days of JT Racing. That said, I shot a text and a photo I snapped of the guy to John Gregory, the man who founded JT Racing in 1968. Before I knew it, I had John on the phone for this podcast, which will eventually be part one with the man. Gregory lives on an isolated ranch in Idaho these days, and an unexpected visit from his neighbor ended up cutting our time short. Still, it was an entertaining chat and should be a great listen for anyone eld enough to remember the iconic brand. Enjoy!

Presented by Maxxis and Outhouse Coffee Co. The 2025 SMX Playoffs get underway this weekend at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, and on this week's Kickstart Podcast presented by Maxxis Tires and Outhouse Coffee Co., we are joined by Sean Brennan from Feld to talk about some of the cool things to look forward to this weekend. What do you think of Justin Cooper being the number-one-seeded rider entering the three playoffs? Does a 25-point advantage matter with the double- and triple-points being awarded at rounds two and three? We had a good time on this week's show...enjoy!

Presented by Maxxis and Outhouse Coffee Co. What a wild weekend we had, on both sides of the United States! The Pro Motocross Championships came to a close in Budds Creek, Maryland, with Haiden Deegan wrapping up his second consecutive 250 National Championship and closing out his small-bore racing career with a win. Jett Lawrence bookended the series with yet another victory in the 450 class. In Big Bear, California, meanwhile, the Swapmoto Race Series team put together the inaugural Big Bear MX Grand Prix by O'Neal, and 700 racers and thousands of spectators took over the Bear Mountain Ski Resort for one hell of a good time.

Presented by Maxxis and Outhouse Coffee Co.Last weekend's penultimate Pro Motocross National at Unadilla MX challenged racers with a rough, fast, and somewhat dry track, and even Eli Tomac admitted that the high speeds were intimidating. Chase Curtis, Alex Ray, and Donn Maeda go over everything they saw, learned, and heard at Una-freakin'-dilla!

Presented by Maxxis Tires and Outhouse Coffee Co. The Ironman Raceway National was jam-packed with action, drama, and everything that makes bench racing afterwards so much fun! From Haiden Deegan's perfect 1-1 showing, to Jett Lawrence's one-lap penalty for "jumping the gate," to Chase Sexton's bizarre crash and DNF...we cover it all, and lots more!

Presented by 6D Helmets Today, Stark Future announced its Varg 1.2 electric motocross bike, which features improved handling, better suspension, and, most excitingly, greater battery life and range. We were able to get Anton Wass, the CEO and Founder of Stark Future, on the line for this installment of the 6D Helmets Midweek Podcast, to talk about the new machine, the growth of Stark Future, challenges faced with the original bike, and more!

On this week's Kickstart Podcast by Maxxis and Outhouse Coffee Co. Dominic Gaytan joins Alex Ray and Chase Curtis to reflect on Loretta Lynn's Ranch and some highlights from this year's event. They also touch on some topics heading into the Ironman MX National, as the 2025 Pro Motocross Championship resumes this weekend following it's two weekend break.

Presented by 6D Helmets In 2007, Adam Jones was at the top of Freestyle Motocross with a X Games Gold Medal in MTX Freestyle and was also named TransWorld Motocross Freestyle MX Rider of the Year. His decorated competition career carried on for over a decade after that, and these days at age 41, he still makes a living on his dirt bike. Jones owns FMX Ramp-Age, a freestyle demo team that puts on family-friendly FMX shows at fairs and events on the West Coast, and he's also partnered with another freestyle legend - Levi Sherwood - to create FMX Legends, a resoource to help guide up-and-coming FMX riders not only with trick and riding tips, but with career guidance as well. We were pumped to catch up with our buddy Yadum in this fun installment of the 6D Helmets Midweek Podcast!

Presented by Maxxis Tires and Outhouse Coffee Co. Round eight of the 2025 Pro Motocross Championship Series visited the Pacific Northwest last weekend, and Washougal Motocross Park always provides an excellent track that challenges the racers. The racing this summer has been excellent, and even though the results have been repetitive, the action has made up for it. This weekend, though, we got to see different riders atop the podium, as Honda HRC Progressive's Jo Shimoda earned his second win of the year in the 250 class, and Chase Sexton chalked up the win in the 450 class. We talk about that, and a lot more in this installment of the Kickstart Podcast.

Presented by 6D Helmets California was once the hotbed of motocross activity. With five of the major manufacturers based in SoCal and a place to ride motocross every day of the week, the sport was alive and well for decades. Recently, the loss of tracks like Milestone MX, State Fair MX, Lake Elsinore MX, and Los Angeles County Raceway has led to a decrease in the number of places to ride in the Golden State. Cory Redenius, a former professional racer from Tehachapi, California, has acquired 150 acres of land and plans to create 517 Motorsports, which will feature both a motocross track and an aftermarket parts store. The 517 Motosports track has been under construction for some time now, and it caught our eye a while ago when we happened across the @517motorsports Instagram account on our explore page. Laid out over rolling hills, the track boasts lap times in the two-minute range and has already hosted several private riding sessions and motocross schools. We caught up with Redenius today to get the scoop on his new motocross facility, and make plans to visit sooner rather than later!

The 2025 Spring Creek Motocross National was one for the books; thanks to epic track conditions, entertaining battles, and an unforgettable final Moto victory by Jeremy Martin. For this week's Kickstart Podcast, Chase Curtis and Alex Ray break down the race, while Donn Maeda and Jeremy Martin discuss his dream exit from professional racing. More on that, and more, on this installment of the Kickstart Podcast, presented by Maxxis and Outhouse Coffee Co!

Red Buuudddd! Ricky Johnson and Jeff Ward do some amazing bench racing and reflecting on America's favorite MX National of the year. This episode has some real gold inside - "A big dick move: I got your starting blocks taken away..." RJ to Wardy. Enjoy!

Presented by Maxxis For motocross fans, Independence Day means one thing in particular: the Red Bud Pro Motocross National in Buchanan, Michigan! In the 450 class we saw the same Jett Lawrence sweep that we have seen countless times before, but this one was extra special as the Honda HRC Progressive rider came from 18th to win moto two. While some would argue that the Australian is making racing boring, we disagree! Jettson's ability to find unique lines, combine bumps to make jumps, and work past his competitors is something truly special that we are all fortunate to witness. Bookending Honda's great weekend at Red Bud was a 1-1 moto sweep in the 250 class by Japanese rider Jo Shimoda, who turned in a pair of stellar performances. But what of Haiden Deegan? The series points leader had multiple mishaps, crashes, and mechanical woes and suffered his worst overall finish of the year. More on that, and more, on this installment of the Kickstart Podcast, presented by Maxxis!

Round five of the Pro Motocross Championship took place last weekend at MX 338, and yes, the results were the same in both classes, but all four motos were anything but boring! The stranglehold that Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan have on the 450 and 250 classes, respectively, is amazing, and we should all consider ourselves fortunate to be witnessing the performances that these two riders are putting on. On this week's podcast we recap everything that went down at Southwick, as well as at the Mini Monsters Lincoln Trail race.

The X Games have always been about the progression of the sport: greater heights, longer distances, bigger tricks, higher speeds... Ironically, after Patrick Evans earned the Moto-X Best Whip Gold Medal at the 2024 Summer X Games aboard a Stark Future Varg, an electric motocross bike from Barcelona, Spain, that seems to have gone out the window. Evans was notified a few months ago that electric motorcycles were no longer allowed to compete, but that he could defend his title aboard a gas-powered machine. Similarly, Colby Raha, who earned a silver medal in Moto-X Quarterpipe in 2024, was told the same. As most of the best free riders in the sport assemble in Salt Lake City, Utah, this weekend for the Summer X Games, Patrick Evans will be flying elsewhere to participate in a freeride demo aboard - you guessed it - his Stark Future Varg. We caught up with Evans this morning to see what his thoughts and feelings are about sitting this one out...