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Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing Team Shreds the Goat Farm

Ferrandis, Deegan, Thrasher, Kitchen, Romano, and Farres training for 2023.

November 3, 2022

When a manufacturer launches an all-new model, it’s not uncommon for there to be a flyaway event for the media to test the highly anticipated motorcycle. Such was the case with the 2023 Yamaha YZ450F, as the Tuning Fork brand recently hosted an intro at Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s facility (formerly known as Ricky Carmichael’s Goat Farm) in Cairo, Georgia. The day before we put the completely revamped machine through its paces, we snapped some shots of the team’s riders preparing for the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series. Keep scrolling to see the bLU cRU riders in action.

While attending the 2023 Yamaha YZ450F intro at Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s facility in Cairo, Georgia, we snapped photos of most of the team’s riders practicing supercross.Mason Owens

Many of the bLU cRU rippers were sporting their new numbers for 2023. Nate Thrasher scored enough points in the 2022 season to earn the No. 13, but turned down the known-to-be-unlucky number for the next lowest digit of 29.Mason Owens

Nick Romano made his pro debut in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship this past summer and traded in his 411 plates for No. 54.Mason Owens

Many are excited to see amateur phenom Haiden Deegan turn pro full-time, which could happen sometime in 2023. Note the electric water pump just behind the right-side radiator.Mason Owens

Konner Croushorn sets tire pressure for his rider Levi Kitchen in the morning light.Mason Owens

Even though Christian Craig moved to the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Racing team for 2023 and 2024, Deegan still reps his friend’s merch.Mason Owens

Thrasher heads out after his mechanic Christian Kauffman puts the finishing touches on his YZ250F.Mason Owens

Red clay and dense forest in the background? Definitely not your typical SoCal supercross test track.Mason Owens

Romano will enter his first full season as a pro in 2023. The New York native finished 16th in the 2022 AMA Pro Motocross 250MX Championship standings after missing four rounds later in the series.Mason Owens

Flannel season. Most of the riders wore some sort of overgarment during early laps on the chilly October morning.Mason Owens

Guillem Farres hails from Spain and is one of the team’s newest pro riders.Mason Owens

How do you tell a Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing amateur and pro bike apart? Amateurs run a blue front number plate and rear fender, while the pros use black.Mason Owens

Speaking of amateurs, that’s Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s latest recruit, Daxton Bennick. The North Carolina native recently made the switch to bLU cRU after several years with Orange Brigade KTM.Mason Owens

Team meeting.Mason Owens

Dylan Ferrandis getting acquainted with the 2023 Yamaha YZ450F on supercross.Mason Owens

According to photographer Mason Owens, the Frenchman looked extremely comfortable on the all-new bike and was hitting lines nobody else was.Mason Owens

Ferrandis blitzes whoops under the watchful eye of his mechanic, Alex Campbell.Mason Owens

Another Owens observation: Deegan looked the best and fastest of all the 250 riders.Mason Owens