Racing the Gnarliest Sand GP in the USA

#motocross
This Week in MXA, episode 204, is all about the 2024 Lake Havasu NGPC Off-Road race in Arizona. MXA sent Josh Mosiman, Dennis Stapleton, Shawn Bushnell, Josh Fout, Ezra Lewis, Cameron Purcynzski, and Trevor Nelson out to experience the sand whoops of Havasu this past weekend for the final round of the West Coast's "National Grand Prix Championship." Lake Havasu is known for being one of the roughest and toughest tracks on the West Coast, with half of the track featuring deep sand sections by the lake and the other half being hard-packed motocross sections with lots of rocks. MXA's YZ450F, YZ250, 450XCF, KX450X, and CRF450 were all put to the off-road test this weekend and this video documents the highs and lows of Josh's racing in the 450 Pro class.

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[Craiglife]

This track is not what it appears on video. It's a lot harder than what it looks. It's basically sand with baseballs, softballs, and some footballs mixed in like land mines. It looks really fast and flowy, guy's make it look fast and

[RobNaughton]

On a sidenote and speaking of Moto guys doing that race. Back in 2003 or maybe it was 2004, Eli Tomac showed up and raced the amateur class I think on 125 but I don’t remember. I thought it was cool that his dad would take him to different type of events as part of his training program, or maybe just to break up the monotony of moto after moto.
A couple years ago I actually ran into him in the Arizona desert on a mountain bike ride and brought that up, he said that was one of the funnest races he had done and looking back said, I wish we had done more off-road races like that. Anyway, the point is Moto guys training on off-road and off-road guy training on Moto is a good thing for both.

[motoxmatt]

Nice to have the whole MXA gang together. Great video! Thanks Josh!

[jeffwixon]

One of the coolest yz’s I like the gray graphics, Good job Josh

[abpob]

I'm old and have used Flexx bars for years. I use the softest elastomers and they flap up and down like a bird but I never notice it. I do notice that I never get arm or hand fatigue or arm pump when I race long offroad events. They let me ride all day. Love em

[DirtBikeCashy]

dude on the gasgas had it out for mosi lol 🤣

[theshootindutchman]

Dude 😄🙏!! I LOVE that shirt you were wearing in the end wrap up part of the video😁! Makes me sooo happy you know the Lord too🤗!!

[raymondsiewert]

1 lap at that intensity, on that twisty, deep whooped out sand would be toast ! 😆

[jamesonnoorda]

ya killed it ! its tuff but really really fun, huh ?! nothin like it anywhere. Come try Mesquite, you will love it .

[Velocity_]

I had to stop to regain my breathe in the 45 minute novice race cant even imagine 90 minutes. Much respect

[RobNaughton]

Josh you got off easy with only 90 minutes. 😂
Back in my WORCS days we had to do 2 hours on that track at the end of the weekend after 2 days of racing. And it’s one of the roughest beat to death most brutal tracks I or most have ever raced. But for some reason I always did pretty good there.
The WORCS Series back then was pretty stacked with every factory having 3-5 guys and then a bunch of fast support and privateer racers like myself.
Anyway short story long, in 04 I went down in the first turn so was basically last. Put my head down for 2 hours and pushed towards the front securing a 3rd place podium spot on the last lap. Top 6 were Nathan Woods, Russ Pearson, Robert Naughton, Lance Smail, Kurt Caselli and Bobby Bonds.
It was my best ride of the year in what was my final year of professional motorcycle racing. So looking back, I’m pretty stoked to have worked through a 40 rider field from last to 3rd on one of the most hated track on the planet.
It’s cool to see this race still going on and moto guys giving it a shot. They almost always come back saying that’s one of the hardest races I’ve ever done.

[trailandmxenthusiasts]

They should put this on the next MX vs ATV:Legends update 😅

[sethcormier]

My uncle used to say that if you can race havasu and finish your setup for a lot of other races and can be competitive

[oldproracing]

Try Havasu when you are pushing 70 years old, as I am. It is brutal fun and my favorite race of the year. Going from Boise where it was 20 degrees when I left Thursday morning to racing in 73 degrees is a treat too! The WORCS race is in March…. Counting the days!

[gicedrat]

looks like a lot of fun. sand can be grueling 🙃

[fazeobamaballs]

havasu is such a fun location lagoon jump is one of a kind and always a good spot to watch. But lets not forget page/grinding stone

[marksmith]

I would have endo'd into the lake on my first lap...Track kinda reminds me of Arizona Cycle Park on be a total BLAST to race!!!! I'm guessing no Vintage or 60+ class? 😅😂

[michaelsaltarelli]

Would love to try the flex bars on my yz that will vibrate ur teeth loose but man 600$ is just extortion

[briansessions]

Think mesquite is a gnarlier/hard off-road race but Havasu way more fun

[scotto_]

Jmosi chose to race the Yamaha in 2 gnarly races now. World vets and this race. But Mxa chose the ktm for 450 shootout out 🤔