Monster Energy backed Honda/SLR Team’s tearing up the NGPC & WORCS

As the western States hit the midway point of the AMA National Grand Prix (NGPC) and World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS), Monster Energy’s Honda/SLR Team – aka “Slam Life Racing” – has been lighting up the podiums in both series, as well as expanding on their successes in Monster Energy AMA Supercross’ SX Futures events at the amateur MX Nationals.
 

On the 450s in both the NGPC and WORCS are Monster Energy Honda/SLR’s Cole Martinez and Talon LaFontaine. Martinez won a NGPC round (Rd. 6), finished on the podium in three more (Rounds 2,3 & 5), and currently sits in 4th place overall – just ten points off the podium with four NGPC rounds remaining when the series gets back underway on Aug. 18-20 in Preston, Idaho.

Coming off one of the more remarkable performances in the history of the Monster Energy AMA National Amateur Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. (aka “Loretta’s”) in 2022 where Martinez equaled a feat that only happened once before – winning the Open Pro Sport class AND the +25 class – Martinez was poised for a big off-road season. But some injuries have kept him off the podium, and he’s looking forward to this several-month break to get healed and back up to his world-class off-road speed.

“Cole’s had quite a few podiums, but also some issues,” explained Monster Energy Honda/SLR team owner Mark Samuels. “He had a knee injury early on (NGPC Rd. 4) that he’s had to deal with, then a back injury he suffered at the Loretta’s qualifier. So he’s fallen back a bit, been out for the last couple rounds.”

Samuels continued: “But Cole’s back on the bike now, slowly getting ready. Team USA ISDE (International Six Days Enduro) is looking at him for their team, so he’ll be testing for them on Tuesday (June 13).”

LaFountaine is just outside the top ten (11th) in the NGPC’s premier Pro 450 class, scoring a podium finish at Rd. 3 to go along with four top ten finishes in his rookie year on the 450s. And on the WORCS side, LaFontaine got his first career 450 win at Rd. 2, and has run in the top five in that series and currently sits in 4th place overall with 111 points, well within striking distance of first place (128 points). Martinez is in 6th place with 85 points in the WORCS, which picks up Sept. 15-17 in Vernal, Utah, with the series’ seventh – and penultimate – round.

On the Pro 250s, the big story this season has been the results put up by Monster Energy Honda/SLR newcomer Kade Walker. Walker’s been tearing things up in the NGPC, winning four of the seven rounds he’s contested (after missing the opening round) and sits in 2nd place with 156 points, just five points back of Pro II leader Jack Simpson.

“He’d (Walker) have won a fifth pretty easily, but got a hole in his radiator and locked it (his bike) up,” said Samuels. “He’s really been coming on, fun to watch him being just as dominant as he has. We knew he already had the skill set from racing over in Europe for a decade. And he brought that over here. Amazing what he could do, seeing courses for the first time at each race – and he’s winning everything.”

Walker’s also in 2nd place in the WORCS, reeling off three victories in five races after missing the opening round of that season as well.

Also in the top ten in both the NGPC and WORCS is Collier Martinez, younger brother of Cole Martinez. Collier, who, like his brother, has been battling a tweaked back, opened with his first career Pro class podium at the WORCS’ opening round, and since has put up consistent top ten finishes for 7th overall in the standings. And on the NGPC tour, Collier is in a solid 8th place with five top ten finishes in the six races he’s contested.

Monster Energy Honda/SLC has also been holding it down on the amateur motocross scene. Parker Ross got things rolling during Monster Energy AMA Supercross with a 3rd place podium finish in the SX Futures event at Salt Lake City. And since then, Ross has scored class podium finishes at the Spring A Ding (Texas) National, along with top five finishes at the Freestone National (Texas).

Joining Ross in Monster Energy Honda/SLC’s amateur MX racing program this summer has been Jackson Pascal, who was a top ten SX Futures finisher at SLC, Noah Viney, who was injured for much of the supercross season, Alvin Hillian, who’s back east and training with Shannon Niday, and Collier Martinez. All five racers have qualified for Loretta’s (’23) with Ross contesting 250 Pro Sport and Open Pro Sport, Pascal in Open Pro Sport and College Boy, Viney in 250 Pro Sport and Open Pro Sport, Collier Martinez in 450 B and College Boy and Hillian in 250 B Ltd and 450 B Ltd. All five are also set to contest the long-running Monster Energy Mammoth Motocross event, set for Aug. 25 to Sept. 3.