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.

One week after he captured his first podium result for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing at Southwick, Aaron Plessinger found himself on the more challenging end of the spectrum at the following round from Spring Creek. The start of the second 450 Class moto left Plessinger mired deep in the field at the Frescados Tortillas Spring Creek National. The veteran racer made a charge on the opening lap to officially begin his moto in 18th place and continued to make passes through the field for the next 30 minutes plus two laps. When all was said and done, Plessinger had managed to claw his way into the top 10, passing 11 riders for a hard-fought seventh-place result. That effort, combined with his seventh from Moto 1 landed Plessinger seventh overall and earned him the Ricky Carmichael Hard Charger Award for Spring Creek.

Spring Creek National: 
#7 Aaron Plessinger / Hamilton, Ohio / KTM
+11 positions in 450 Moto 2 (18th to 7th)

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)

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