From ISRT Kawasaki
The 2026 Pro Motocross Championship kicked off this past weekend at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, as ISRT Kawasaki riders Vince Friese and Cornelius Tøndel took on one of the deepest 450MX fields in the world.
Making his Pro Motocross debut with the team, Tøndel turned heads early by qualifying an impressive 11th overall, just one-tenth of a second behind multi-time champion Eli Tomac. In Moto 1, the Norwegian rider ran as high as 13th before first-race jitters and the demanding conditions saw him slip back to 18th at the finish while continuing to race hard throughout the moto.
A poor start in Moto 2 left Tøndel with work to do, but he charged his way into 18th position before a mechanical issue slowed his pace late in the race. Despite his efforts, he would ultimately finish 26th, earning 23rd overall on the day.
For Friese, the day was highlighted by grit and determination. The veteran rider entered Fox Raceway having focused exclusively on Supercross for over a decade and had not competed in a professional outdoor motocross event since 2015. Despite the lengthy absence from outdoor competition, Friese showed impressive speed throughout the day. While battling inside the final points-paying position during Moto 1, he suffered a big crash on the final lap that dropped him back to 24th at the finish. He rebounded in Moto 2 with a strong ride to 18th, securing 21st overall on the day.
The team now turns its attention to Round 2 of the Pro Motocross Championship at Hangtown as both riders look to continue building momentum throughout the summer. ISRT Kawasaki would like to thank all of its sponsors, partners, and fans for their continued support
as the team embarks on the 2026 Pro Motocross Championship.
