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.

The quickness with which a rider's fortunes can change from good to bad in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship can be shocking. Case in point was Monster Energy Kawasaki's Jason Anderson in the first 450 Class moto at the MB Tractor & Equipment Southwick National. Known as one of the sport's best starters, Anderson positioned himself with what seemed like a clear inside path through the first turn. However, after contact with another rider Anderson quickly fell to the ground in a multi-rider incident that left him as one of the last riders to begin his race. From the moment he remounted Anderson gave it his all and it helped him make several passed before completing the opening lap in 33rd place. For the rest of his 30-minute-plus-two-lap journey Anderson pushed the limits of his Kawasaki, solely focused on overcoming his hard luck and minimizing the points lost as a result of it. When the checkered flag flew, Anderson had surpassed 25 riders to capture an unlikely eighth-place finish. He followed that up with a sixth in Moto 2 to earn eighth overall on the afternoon. By virtue of his resilient ride in the opening moto, Anderson earned the INTENSE RC HARD CHARGER AWARD for Southwick.

Southwick National: 
#21 Jason Anderson / Edgewood, New Mexico / Kawasaki
+25 positions in 450 Moto 1 (33rd to 8th)

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)

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