With an unprecedented 102 career wins and a record 10 career titles in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, Ricky Carmichael remains the standard bearer of success in American motocross, and it's why he's affectionately known as "The G.O.A.T." (Greatest of All Time). In honor of Carmichael's legacy, the Pro Motocross Championship has made an effort to recognized the most determined rider at each respective National for more than a decade with the Ricky Carmichael Hard Charger Award. This accolade rewards the one competitor at each of the 12 rounds on the schedule  who overtakes the highest number of his fellow racers in either 450 Class moto.

With a rich heritage of its own that now spans nearly three decades, INTENSE CYCLES has long been a standard bearer of its own in downhill mountain bike racing. The California company has long held a crossover connection to the sport of motocross, with a who's who of team athletes that also became familiar figures within motorcycle racing. Passion and ingenuity was the driving force behind INTENSE's ascension in mountain biking, and those same traits became integral to the brand's development of its first electric bike, the TAZER MX. When it debuted in 2018, the TAZER integrated the refinements of traditional downhill mountain bikes with emerging electric technology, and even some elements of motocross, for an innovative design that remained true to the man-powered nature of the experience. The seamless transition into the e-bike segment further cemented INTENSE's status as an elite manufacturer, much like how Carmichael's sustained decade of dominance competing aboard three different brands of motorcycles proved he's simply the best there's ever been.

Each recipient of the INTENSE RC HARD CHARGER AWARD is recognized during the riders meeting at the following National and is awarded with a custom-designed trophy.

After beginning the summer as a fill-in rider, Shane McElrath solid first season of 450 Class competition has allowed him to extend his role at Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing. As one of the best starters in the sport, it is rare for McElrath to find himself faced with adversity, but inevitably misfortune comes for every rider. The opening moto at RedBud proved to be McElrath's turn to be dealt the bad hand as he found himself on the ground to start the moto and completed the opening lap dead last on the field, in 40th place. In his first true test as a premier division rider, McElrath dug deep, stepped up and rebounded like the factory rider he is. He charged his way through the field and turned heads with his march into the top 20, where he ultimately fought back for a 14th-place finish, passing 26 riders along the way to earn the INTENSE RC HARD CHARGER AWARD for RedBud. 

RedBud National: 
#12 Shane McElrath / Canton, North Carolina / Husqvarna
+26 positions in 450 Moto 1 (40th to 14th)

2022 INTENSE RC HARD CHARGER AWARD Recipients

Fox Raceway I National:
#61 Fredrik Noren / Lidköping, Sweden / Suzuki
+26 positions in 450 Moto 1 (40th to 14th)

Hangtown Motocross Classic: 
#73 Benny Bloss / Oak Grove, Missouri / KTM
+18 positions in 450 Moto 1 (35th to 17th)

Thunder Valley National: 
#28 Christian Craig / El Cajon, California / Yamaha
+22 positions in 450 Moto 1 (32nd to 10th)

High Point National: 
#82 Chris Canning / Coventry, Connecticut / GASGAS
+17 positions in 450 Moto 2 (34th to 17th)