News and stories from Powersports racing in the United States.
BRASWELL AND THE TROY LEE DESIGNS/RED BULL/GASGAS FACTORY RACING TEAM TAKE ON REDBUD
Caden Braswell continued his summer motocross tour, playing the headlining role as the lone healthy rider for the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing Team, as well as learning all he can as a rookie in the 250 class.
- The Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing continues to battle in the very stacked 250 class
- Caden Braswell moved up a spot in the overall 250 standings to 14th
- Justin Barcia is back to cycling training after a surgery re-do
250 MX
Race day at RedBud was definitely a mixed bag for Caden and the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing Team. A crash in the first moto resulted in a DNF. But he bounced back in moto two aboard his MC 250F Factory Edition, and carded a
Caden Braswell: “It was a good day at RedBud. I’m super-excited to continue and improve. There are a lot of positives to take away from the experience. I had a lot of fun with the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Team. I’m looking forward to Southwick and the sand and the heat. I’m going to put my head down and continue to push. “
Next Event (Round 6): July 8, 2023 – The Wick 338 in Southwick, Mass.
Results – 2023 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, Round Five
250 MX
1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 2-3; 2. Levi Kitchen (Yamaha) 7-1; 3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha) 7-1 … 11. Mitchell Harrison (GASGAS) 12-11; 17. Tyson Johnson (GASGAS) 16-16; 18. Caden Braswell (GASGAS) 36-12; 31. Rody Schroyer (GASGAS) 30-29; 36. Charles Tolleson (GASGAS) 34-32
450 MX
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 1-1; 2. Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha) 3-2; 3. Chase Sexton (Honda) 2-3… 9. Jose Butron (GASGAS) 11-10; 16. Lorenzo Locurcio (GASGAS) 8-29; 33. Cody Groves (GASGAS) 34-26; 38. Romain Pape (GASGAS) 40-36
Championship Standings – After Five Rounds
250 MX
1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 200 points; 2. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 189 points; 3. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 167 points… 13. Caden Braswell (GASGAS) 58 points; 23. Michael Mosiman (GASGAS) 20 points; 29. Tyson Johnson (GASGAS) 10 points; 30. Joel Rizzi (GASGAS) 2 points
450 MX
1. Jett Lawrence (GASGAS) 250 points; 2. Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha) 193 points; 3. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) 174 points … 8. Lorenzo Locurcio (GASGAS) 98 points; 13. Jose Butron (GASGAS) 71 points; 14. Romain Pape (GASGAS) 57 points; 40. Cody Groves (GASGAS) 3 points
KODY KOPP SPRINTS TO SECOND-STRAIGHT AFT SINGLES VICTORY AT WEST VIRGINIA HALF-MILE
MINERAL WELLS, W. Va. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Kody Kopp has taken his second AFT Singles victory in a row at Round 11 of the 2023 American Flat Track Championship, with Max Whale racing to a sixth-place finish in the West Virginia Half-Mile Main Event.
This latest win marks 18-year-old Kopp’s fifth of the season, as he extends his AFT Singles Championship advantage to 40 points over teammate Whale, who is currently sitting in second position.
In what was a dominant day for the defending champion, Kopp opened the round by posting the fastest time in the combined qualifying sessions, before powering his KTM 450 SX-F to P1 in the opening Heat race. Further success was then found in the Dash-For-Cash, where he finished P2, before charging to another instrumental win in the 21-lap Main Event.
Kody Kopp: “It was a great weekend of racing for us here in West Virginia! I went P1 in qualifying for the first time since Daytona, so that was a good feeling, and just kept the ball rolling from Lima. Won the heat race, ended second in the Dash by a tiny margin, and then in the Main Event, I got the holeshot, led the first couple laps and… pretty much the same story as Lima. Stayed back until about lap eight, got close enough and made the move, clicked off my laps and controlled things from there. So, a huge night for points, huge night for confidence, and we’ll keep it rolling into New York.”
Red Bull Factory Racing KTM teammate Whale posted the fourth-fastest time in qualifying, before second place in his Heat race also saw him earn his way into the Dash-For-Cash. The Australian would finish fourth in that, before going on to score a hard-fought sixth-place result in the Main Event.
Max Whale: “I consider this race one of my strong ones, so I was looking forward to coming here. Started off the day strong with P4 in qualifying, and I was just up there in every session, had good pace. I finished second in my heat, got into the Dash, then when it came down to crunch time I just didn’t really have the speed… struggled a bit, ended the night in sixth, and actually for the first time this year, I’ve gone backwards. We’ll keep pushing hard, it’s racing, so we’ll knuckle down for the remaining rounds.”
Next Race: Orange County Half-Mile – Middletown, NY – July 8, 2023
Round 11 Results
AFT Singles Main Event
1. Kody Kopp, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2. Trevor Brunner, Yamaha
3. James Ott, Husqvarna
OTHER KTM
6. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
9. Dalton Gauthier, KTM
12. Logan Eisenhard, KTM
14. Travis Petton IV, KTM
18. Shayna Texter-Bauman, KTM
2023 AFT Singles Point Standings
1. Kody Kopp, 216 points
2. Max Whale, 176
3. Chase Saathoff, 173
OTHER KTM
5. Dalton Gauthier, 166
11. Travis Petton IV, 59
12. Justin Jones, 52
13. Shayna Texter-Bauman, 51
18. Hunter Bauer, 38
20. Logan Eisenhard, 36
23. Declan Bender, 18
24. Hayden Gillim, 14
25. Landen Smith, 13
26. Clarke Morian V, 12
28. Tanner Dean, 9
34. Olin Kissler, 4
CONSISTENT REDBUD NATIONAL RESULTS FOR RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING TEAM
BUCHANAN, Mich. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger raced his way to fourth overall in the 450MX Class at Round 5 of the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship at RedBud, with 250MX contenders Tom Vialle and Maximus Vohland securing P4 and P6 finishes for the weekend.
In the morning’s qualifying sessions, Plessinger powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to the eighth-fastest time, before he gained momentum come time for the pair of premier class motos this afternoon.
Two top 10 starts resulted in consistent moto finishes for the number 7, with Plessinger navigating the rough, high-speed circuit to a 4-4 moto scorecard, which resulted in fourth overall at RedBud as he moves to third in the point-standings.
Aaron Plessinger: “Practice and qualifying were pretty rough for me, but I sent it in the opening moto! I got a pretty good start and battled my way up to fourth, then second moto, pretty much the same deal… Got a good start, was third for a little bit, and then rode a pretty lonely fourth for 30 minutes – that was crazy. I was a little sore out there, but 4-4 on the day, fairly happy with it, and now we’ll go home and do some homework before Southwick.”
In 250MX, current world champion Vialle marched his way into the top-five in the opening moto, before a collision with another rider saw him tumble down the order. A late race charge had the Frenchman recover to finish in ninth, before another good start in moto two resulted in a hard-fought second place, which would land him P4 overall for his RedBud weekend.
Tom Vialle: “Another weekend finished here at RedBud, where I had some difficulties in the first moto with a couple of crashes and could only finish in ninth. Second moto was again way better, I finished second in that moto after some good fights, so lots of positives again, and now we’ll go back to Florida this week to get as prepared as possible for the next race in the sand at Southwick.”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250 SX-F teammate Vohland posted a consistent scorecard at Round 5, delivering two mistake-free sixth-place finishes for sixth overall, maintaining seventh in the season standings with six rounds remaining.
Maximus Vohland: “It was a good day today for me at RedBud. I started outside the top 10 in both motos, but was able to work my way forward for sixth in each moto. I feel strong, the bike is working really well, though I will shift focus to starts this week. I’m looking forward to carrying good momentum into Southwick.”
450MX regular Cooper Webb – previously third in the points – suffered an unfortunate mid-week fall while training ahead of the Pro Motocross Championship round at RedBud, which would see him sidelined for the weekend altogether.
Next Race: July 8 – Southwick, Massachusetts
Results 450MX Class – Red Bud National
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda, 1-1
2. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA), Yamaha, 3-2
3. Chase Sexton (USA), Honda, 2-3
4. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM, 4-4
OTHER KTM
19. Brandon Scharer (USA), KTM
28. Trevor Schmidt (USA), KTM
34. Christopher Prebula (USA), KTM
42. Jeffrey Walker (USA), KTM
Results 250MX Class – Red Bud National
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha, 2-3
2. Levi Kitchen (USA), Yamaha, 8-1
3. Justin Cooper (USA), Yamaha, 4-4
4. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM, 9-2
OTHER KTM
6. Maximus Vohland (USA), KTM, 6-6
19. Slade Smith (RSA), KTM
20. Matti Jorgensen (DEN), KTM
21. Lux Turner (USA), KTM
22. Derek Kelley (USA), KTM
25. Marcus Phelps (USA), KTM
26. Ethan Lane (GBR), KTM
27. Blaze Cremaldi (USA), KTM
30. Bryson Raymond (USA), KTM
33. Hunter Cross (USA), KTM
37. Bailey Kroone, (USA), KTM
39. Nicholas Inman, (USA), KTM
40. Cameron Skaalerud, (USA), KTM
Standings 450MX Class 2023 after 5 of 11 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 250 points
2. Dylan Ferrandis, 193
3. Aaron Plessinger, 174
OTHER KTM
5. Cooper Webb, 147
29. Dante Oliveira, 15
30. Max Miller, 13
31. Christopher Prebula, 12
32. Tyler Stepek, 11
34. Brandon Scharer, 7
36. Trevor Schmidt, 4
43. Jeffrey Walker, 1
Standings 250MX Class 2023 after 5 of 11 rounds
1. Hunter Lawrence, 200 points
2. Haiden Deegan, 189
3. RJ Hampshire, 168
OTHER KTM
7. Maximus Vohland, 137
8. Tom Vialle, 134
19. Derek Kelley, 28
25. Slade Smith, 17
32. Matti Jorgensen, 5
34. Lux Turner, 5
35. Josh Varize, 4
38. Marcus Phelps, 2
RJ HAMPSHIRE MUSCLES TO FIFTH OVERALL AT REDBUD MX
With the Independence Day weekend festivities, the always excellent track, and wildly enthusiastic fans on hand, the RedBud Pro Motocross National is one that the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team always looks forward to.
250 MX
RJ Hampshire was third at the start of the first 250 moto and showed his standard always-forward charge by climbing to third at the checkers aboard his FC250. In moto two, RJ started well, but after lap a first-lap mishap he dropped to 21st. But once again he throttled his way through the field to finish an eventual seventh, good for fifth overall for this round.
RJ is currently third in the 250 MX Pro Motocross standings and third in the combined (Supercross and Motocross) 250 SMX point standings.
“In the first moto, I got out to a decent start and used to the whole moto to climb up to third. In the second moto, I got another decent start and was inside the top ten, but I ended up getting caught up in my teammate and went down early,” said Hampshire. “It’s really tough to keep having these weekends where we don’t figure out these second motos. We did have a big points break in the championship today, and I need to be better next weekend to get back into this thing.”
For Jalek Swoll, this round was a tough one, as a crash in the third turn in the first moto left him unable to finish. He bounced back with a strong top-ten performance in moto two, where he finished eighth, giving him 14th overall for the day.
“I felt good but had certain things holding me back a little bit. I had a bike mishap in the first moto that was a freak accident. I brushed the P40 off and in the second moto, I got a pretty good start from the outside…maybe around the top ten. I moved up to sixth for a while and made a couple of mistakes which cost me a couple of positions,” said Swoll. “Considering how the day started I’ll take it. It could have gone a lot worse. We’ll take the positives out of it. I feel like I’ve been doing a lot better this year mentally and just maybe maturing with these kinds of things. We’re trending in the right direction. It was kind of a tough weekend, but I’m motivated for next weekend, so it’ll be good.”
Talon Hawkins continues his rookie tour season through the 250 series, and he’s been working on improved speed and consistency. A pair of 15th-place moto finishes gave him 15th overall for round five of the series.
“It was very bittersweet. We showed some speed and I’m really grateful for that. I had a good start in the second moto after a not-so-good start in the first moto, but I fell both motos on the first lap and was back in about 30th in both. I worked my way back up to two 15th-place finishes,” said Hawkins. “There’s a lot to build on. I’m happy with my riding, I need to get up there early, stay there, and keep pushing. We’re going to get up there in these upcoming races. I’m looking forward to it.”
Next Event (Round 6): July 8, 2023 – The Wick 338 in Southwick, Mass.
Round Five Results: RedBud
250 MX Results
1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha), 2-3
2. Levi Kitchen (Yamaha), 7-1
3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 4-4
…
5. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 3-7
14. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 39-8
15. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 15-15
41. William Crete (Husqvarna) 37-0
42. Brantley Schnell (Husqvarna) 0-38
450 MX Results
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 1-1
2. Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha), 3-2
3. Chase Sexton (Honda), 2-3
…
25. Scott Meshey (Husqvarna), 20-38
32. Felix Lopez (Husqvarna), 22-37
250 MX Rider Point Standings
1. Hunter Lawrence – 200 points
2. Haiden Deegan – 189 points
3. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 167 points
…
11. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 86 points
16. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 52 points
38. Kai Aiello (Husqvarna), 2 points
450 MX Rider Point Standings
1. Jett Lawrence – 250 points
2. Dylan Ferrandis – 193 points
3. Aaron Plessinger – 174 points
…
41. Scott Meshey – 3 points
Casey Cochran Sweeps Motos for Dominant Victory at RedBud Scouting Moto Combine
The 2023 MX Sports Pro Racing Scouting Moto Combine, presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare, commenced on the eve of the FMF RedBud National, presented by INTENSE Cycles, as a precursor to Round 5 of the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The development program established to mentor the sport’s top amateur prospects served as an integral part of RedBud MX’s 50th anniversary celebration, where a dominant sweep of the motos by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Casey Cochran helped the Tennessee native add to an already successful year with his first Combine victory.
Prior to hitting the track for a pair of 25-minute-plus-two laps motos, the invited group of 24 top A & B Class prospects were provided with insight and tutelage regarding training, nutrition, and media engagement in a classroom-style setting. Additionally, riders were divided into four groups and assigned one of four combine coaches – Buddy Antunez, Broc Glover, Alex Martin, and Broc Tickle – for mentorship from some of the sport’s most respected and successful former pros.
RedBud hosted the first Scouting Moto Combine of the 2023 season.
Photo: Align Media
Moto 1
The key to Cochran’s success on Friday was his prowess out of the starting gate. In Moto 1, he stormed out to the holeshot and early lead over Orange Brigade KTM’s Julien Beaumer and quickly built a multi-second advantage over the field. Behind him Beaumer and Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Drew Adams soon settled into second and third, respectively. However, Beaumer came up short on RedBud’s famed LaRocco’s Leap and damaged the spokes on his wheel, which would hinder his progress as the race continued. The top three in the running order remained unchanged leading up to the midway point of the moto.
Cochran continued to build on his lead while Beaumer maintained his hold on second, despite the damage. Behind them, Adams was forced to deal with pressure from Orange Brigade KTM’s Ryder McNabb. The Canadian started fifth but methodically worked his way into podium contention and made the pass on Adams for third right at the halfway mark. As Beaumer’s pace continued to be hampered from his damaged wheel he lost ground to McNabb and was eventually passed for second. Not long after he pulled out of the moto. That moved Adams back into third.
Out front Cochran led every lap and took the checkered flag 16.6 seconds ahead of McNabb, followed by Adams in third. Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Enzo Temmerman was fourth, while Orange Brigade KTM’s Preston Boespflug rounded out the top five.
Husqvarna rider Casey Cochran dominated at RedBud with a 1-1 moto sweep.
Photo: Align Media
Moto 2
As the field roared out the gate for the final moto of the day Cochran once again positioned his Husqvarna at the head of the pack with the holeshot while New Zealander Cole Davies slotted into second aboard his Yamaha ahead of Boespflug. Adams started in fourth, with Beaumer in fifth. McNabb started all the way back in 10th.
Much like the first moto, the clear track proved advantageous for Cochran as he once again opened a multi-second lead over his rivals. Davies and Boespflug engaged in a spirited battle for second through the opening laps, from which the KTM rider eventually got the upper hand and made the pass. Their battle also allowed Beaumer to stay in the hunt from fourth and he was able to drop Davies out of the top three with a pass for third just before the halfway point.
Beaumer continued his push forward and pressured his Orange Brigade teammate for several laps before making the pass on Boespflug for second. A three-rider battle amongst KTM teammates emerged in the waning laps as McNabb clawed his way into the top five and then into a fight for the podium. The Canadian made his way around Boespflug for third and closed in on Beaumer in his hunt for second.
Cochran once again enjoyed a drama-free moto and led every lap to put the finishing touches on a dominant afternoon. He took the win 7.9 seconds ahead of Beaumer, who rebounded from his Moto 1 misfortune and fended off late pressure to secure second, while McNabb settled for third, passing seven riders along the way.
With six minutes to go Lawrence was within striking distance of Roczen and went on the attack as soon as the opportunity presented itself. An outside line on an uphill off-camber gave Lawrence the momentum he needed to surge past Roczen and put another moto win within reach. Roczen kept him honest for a while, but Lawrence closed out the moto strong to keep his undefeated record intact by 2.4 seconds over Roczen, with Ferrandis in third.
Ryder McNabb impressed with a runner-up finish (2-3) in his U.S. debut.
Photo: Align Media
Overall
Cochran’s wire-to-wire 1-1 performance provided an emphatic maiden victory in the Scouting Moto Combine and makes him the fifth different winner in the history of the program. It also complements the Supercross Futures title he secured earlier this season and has made him one of amateur motocross’ most promising prospects. McNabb impressed in his U.S. debut with a strong runner-up effort (2-3), while Boespflug made it an overall podium sweep for the KTM Group in third (5-4).
Preston Boespflug’s consistent 5-4 finishes landed him third overall.
Photo: Align Media
RedBud Moto Combine Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)
- Casey Cochran, Arlington, Tenn., Husqvarna (1-1 // 50)
- Ryder McNabb, Minnedosa, MB, Canada, KTM (2-3 // 42)
- Preston Boespflug, Battle Ground, Washington, KTM (5-4 // 34)
- Enzo Temmerman, Visalia, Calif., Kawasaki (4-6 // 33)
- Drew Adams, Chattanooga, Tenn., Kawasaki (3-8 // 33)
- Mark Fineis, Westfield, Indiana, GASGAS (9-5 // 28)
- Leum Oehlhof, Oak Hills, Calif., Yamaha (7-7 // 28)
- Parker Ross, Elk Grove, Calif., Honda (8-9 // 25)
- Trevin Nelson, Eyota, Minn., Yamaha (6-12 // 24)
- Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM (21-2 // 22)
RedBud Combine overall podium finishers (left to right):
Ryder McNabb, Casey Cochran, and Preston Boespflug
Photo: Align Media
The 2023 MX Sports Pro Racing Scouting Moto Combine will conclude in August, with a return to Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana, for the second gathering of the season. The action from Ironman will take place on Friday, August 25.
Jett Lawrence Remains Perfect in 2023 Pro Motocross Championship with Fifth Straight Victory at RedBud’s 50th Anniversary Event
Following its first break in action of the summer American motocross returned to the track for Round 5 of the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, with the sport’s own Independence Day tradition as legendary RedBud MX celebrated its 50th anniversary at the FMF RedBud National, presented by INTENSE Cycles. An overcast morning with some light, intermittent showers gave way to abundant sunshine for the motos as the reign of 450 Class dominance by Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence continued with another perfect outing in which he led every lap to go 1-1 in the motos and capture his fifth straight victory. In the 250 Class, an unpredictable afternoon in which heartbreak befell the championship leader opened the door for a breakthrough performance for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rookie Haiden Deegan as the second-generation racer emerged with the first win of his promising career.
Moto 1
The first premier class moto of the day saw a familiar trend as Lawrence prevailed with his seventh MotoSport.com Holeshot of the season ahead of Sport Clips/Beachview Treatment/HBI Racing Kawasaki’s Ty Masterpool and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis. The clear track allowed Lawrence to drop the hammer on the opening lap and establish a lead of more than two seconds from the outset of the moto. He continued to add to that margin through the opening stages of the race.
As the moto completed its initial 10 minutes four different riders sat within striking distance of second as Masterpool had to fend off pressure from Ferrandis, Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo. The Yamaha-mounted Frenchman was relentless in his pursuit of Masterpool but couldn’t find a clean enough line to make a pass happen. That ultimately allowed Sexton, making his first start since the opening round, to take advantage of the opportunity to grab third. Sexton then took his turn in battling Masterpool and was able to take control of second just before the halfway point.
The battle for third saw a renewed fight between Masterpool and Ferrandis, while Cianciarulo lurked in fifth. A bobble by Ferrandis briefly halted his momentum and allowed Cianciarulo to slip past for fourth. The front-runners then settled into their respective positions through the heart of the moto.
The final five minutes saw the action ramp up once again as Ferrandis picked up the pace and was able to find a way around both Cianciarulo and Masterpool to fight his way from fifth to third and inch away from his rivals. Cianciarulo looked to get around Masterpool for fourth and as he attempted to make the pass he slid out and went down, contacting Masterpool whose bike flipped over and launched the rider onto his back. The incident allowed both Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson to get by.
Back out front, Lawrence’s dominance over the division continued with his seventh wire-to-wire outing of the season and his ninth straight moto win. He took the checkered flag 17.9 seconds ahead of Sexton, with Ferrandis completing the moto podium in third. Plessinger followed in fourth while Anderson, in his first start of the summer, rounded out the top five.
Jett Lawrence has now amassed the most successful start to a class career in Pro Motocross history with a perfect 10-0 record to open his first 450 Class season.
Photo: Align Media
Moto 2
The final race of the afternoon started with a sweep of the MotoSport.com Holeshots for Lawrence, once again ahead of Masterpool and Ferrandis, who made quick work in making the pass on Masterpool for second and brought both Plessinger and Sexton along with him into third and fourth, respectively. As has been the case all season, the clear track paid big dividends for Lawrence as he completed the opening lap with a 2.5 second advantage on the field.
As Lawrence’s lead continued to grow Sexton looked to put the pressure on Ferrandis, but he lost traction with his front tire and slid out. He remounted quickly but resumed in fourth behind Plessinger, who assumed third. The pressure from Sexton was a spark for Ferrandis who found himself within striking distance of Lawrence. The point leader responded with his fastest lap of the moto to open the lead back up and establish an even larger margin.
Sexton’s recovery from his misfortune saw him reclaim third from Plessinger and set his sights on trying to track down a six-second deficit to Ferrandis. As the moto surpassed the halfway point the top three had settled in and the margins stabilized. When time on the clock ran out the battle for second was on between Ferrandis and Sexton as a showdown between the two headlined the final two laps.
Lawrence’s lead was never in doubt as he wrapped up another wire-to-wire ride to complete the sweep of the motos, finishing 4.8 seconds ahead of Ferrandis, who dug deep to keep his Honda rival at bay and hold on for second. Sexton finished strong in third.
A strong final moto allowed Dylan Ferrandis to secure the runner-up spot (3-2).
Photo: Align Media
Overall
Lawrence’s unblemished record has him 10-0 in motos this summer, making for a historic start to a class career having surpassed the previous 8-0 mark established by David Bailey in the 500cc division during the 1984 season. Ferrandis’ stand in the final moto was a difference maker in the overall classification as it gave him the tiebreaker for the runner-up spot (3-2) and forced Sexton to settle for third (2-3).
With maximum points thus far through five rounds Lawrence’s lead in the championship standings has increased to 57 points over Ferrandis, giving the Australian a full race advantage over his competitors. Plessinger moved into third, 76 points out of the lead.
In his first start since the opening round Chase Sexton finished third (2-3).
Photo: Align Media
Jett Lawrence, Team Honda HRC
“Another good moto and another good start. That’s key. I didn’t know Dylan [Ferrandis] was there at first but then I saw my pit board. I looked behind and saw he was right there, so I picked it up. The lappers made it difficult, but it was another good day.”
Dylan Ferrandis, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing
“This is a good step in the right direction. We needed time with the new Yamaha to make it better and the time off helped. We’re improving and that’s good. I was hoping to keep pace with Jett [Lawrence] but he was just too good today.”
Chase Sexton, Team Honda HRC
“It’s nice to be back. That was not a good performance out of me. It was kind of embarrassing and I’ve got to be better. We’ve still got some work to do but I’m looking forward to getting back to the level I know I’m capable of. It’s going to be fun the rest of the season.”
450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish // Points)
- Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda (1-1 // 50)
- Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Yamaha (3-2 // 42)
- Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda (2-3, 42)
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (4-4 // 36)
- Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki (5-7 // 30)
- Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Yamaha (9-5 // 28)
- Fredrik Noren, Lidköping, Sweden, Suzuki (7-8 // 27)
- Phil Nicoletti, Cochecton, N.Y., Yamaha (10-9 // 23)
- Jose Butron, Cadiz, Spain, GASGAS (11-10 // 21)
- Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki (31-6 // 15)
450 Class Championship Standings (Round 5 of 11)
- Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 250
- Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Yamaha – 193
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM – 174
- Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki – 149
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM – 147
- Fredrik Noren, Lidköping, Sweden, Suzuki – 108
- Ty Masterpool, Fallon, Nev., Kawasaki – 107
- Lorenzo Locurcio, Valencia, Venezuela, GASGAS – 98
- Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Yamaha – 91
- Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Honda – 86
450 Class Highlights – FMF RedBud National
Moto 1
The first moto of the afternoon saw the 40-rider field in the small displacement storm out the starting gate under the first glimpse of pure sunshine. As they emerged from the first turn it was championship leader and Team Honda HRC rider Hunter Lawrence at the front of the pack for the first time in the opening moto with the MotoSport.com Holeshot ahead of Deegan and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Rider DiFrancesco.
The clear track allowed Lawrence to sprint out to an early lead over Deegan, who easily asserted himself into second, while DiFrancesco dealt with pressure from multiple riders, including Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle and his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammate Seth Hammaker, making his first start of the season. Vialle carried more pace in the opening laps and started to look for a way around his rookie counterpart. The two-time MX2 World Champion appeared to have the pass made, but as DiFrancesco looked to counter the two riders collided and went down together. That allowed Hammaker to move into second, just ahead of his teammate Jo Shimoda and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper.
Lawrence’s lead continued to grow incrementally and as the race surpassed its first 10 minutes the championship leader enjoyed an advantage of more than seven seconds on Deegan. Behind them, the battle for third intensified between Hammaker, Shimoda, and Cooper. Shimoda successfully got by for third, but Hammaker battled back to reclaim the spot off legendary LaRocco’s Leap. Shimoda regrouped and went on the attack again to reclaim the position, which was followed by a brief dismount by Cooper that saw him lose multiple positions in his pursuit of Hammaker. Shimoda then went down in third and lost multiple positions, which handed the spot back to Hammaker.
As the moto surpassed the halfway point both Lawrence and Deegan were able to check out on the rest of the field, while Hammaker’s hold on third remained tenuous. The next challenger to threaten Hammaker was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire. The Kawasaki rider withstood the pressure for several laps, but Hampshire’s persistence eventually paid off and he made the pass with about six minutes remaining.
Out front, Lawrence was in a class of his own and secured his first Moto 1 win of the season in a wire-to-wire effort, crossing the finish line 13.3 seconds ahead of Deegan, who was also never challenged. Hampshire finished in a distant third, while Cooper rebounded to finish fourth, followed by Hammaker in fifth.
Rookie Haiden Deegan is now a winner at the professional level following 2-3 moto scores.
Photo: Align Media
Moto 2
The second moto began with Deegan leading the field through the first turn for the MotoSport.com Holeshot, but he was surpassed by his teammate Levi Kitchen in the second turn. However, all attention was centered on the first turn where Lawrence was on the ground after being collected in a multi-rider incident. The point leader appeared injured and needed assistance from the Alpinestars Mobile Medical Unit to leave the track and receive medical attention, ending his afternoon.
Out front, Kitchen looked to take advantage of his best start of the season and rode strong in the early laps to solidify his lead over Deegan, which stabilized at around two seconds. Behind them Vialle settled into third, while Cooper and Shimoda battled it out in fourth and fifth, respectively. The top five then settled into their positions in the running order for the majority of the moto.
As time ran out on the 30-minute-plus-two-laps moto the battle for second heated up between Deegan and Vialle. Less than a second separated the two as they took the “2 Lap” board and Vialle pushed the pace to make the pass happen as soon as the opportunity presented itself.
Out front, Kitchen maintained firm control of the moto and led every lap to secure his second career moto win by 8.9 seconds over Vialle, while Deegan brought it home in third.
Levi Kitchen’s second career moto win helped him finish second overall (7-1).
Photo: Align Media
Overall
Even though he missed out on either moto win, Deegan’s unparalleled consistency allowed him to prevail with the overall victory with 2-3 moto finishes and break Lawrence’s unbeaten start to the season. Kitchen’s win in the final moto vaulted him into the runner-up spot (7-1), while Cooper made it a clean sweep of the podium for Star Racing in third (4-4).
At 17 years of age, Deegan’s maiden victory in his first full season of competition is the latest accolade for his prominent racing family as he joins his former Supercross and Pro Motocross racing father, Brian, and current NASCAR racing sister, Hailie, as winners at motorsports’ elite level. He’s the 90th different winner in the history of the 250 Class.
At the conclusion of the first moto, race officials reviewed footage to confirm that Cooper had violated Section 2.10, Item b.iii., 9.c.* of the AMA Pro Racing Pro Motocross Rulebook pertaining to the adherence of signal flags. As a result, Cooper was penalized five championship points. Event results were not affected and he retained his podium result.
Despite the DNF in the second moto, Lawrence, who finished ninth (1-40), still holds the top spot in the 250 Class standings after five rounds. He and Deegan are separated by 11 points, while Hampshire, who finished fourth (3-7), sits third, 33 points out of the lead.
A quiet afternoon for Justin Cooper saw him round out the podium in third (9-2).
Photo: Align Media
Haiden Deegan, Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing
“This is awesome. I knew that consistency would pay off. I’m glad to put America on top at least once this season. This team knows I have a shot at this championship, and they know I have the heart and determination and I can’t thank them enough for all the support they’ve given me.”
Levi Kitchen, Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing
“The first moto was bad on my part. I got a bad start, so I lined up on the far inside for Moto 2. It was a gamble and it paid off. I got by Haiden [Deegan] off the start and then was able to ride my own race. It feels awesome and I’m looking forward to the races coming up.”
Justin Cooper, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing
“I always want to win but I’ll take [the podium]. We rode hard from the back. I wasn’t able to get the starts I needed but I did my best to close the gap to the guys up front. I kind of hit a wall in that second moto, so I’m happy to be on the podium. We need to keep working and hopefully that win will come.”
250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)
- Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (2-3 // 42)
- Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Yamaha (7-1 // 39)
- Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM (9-2 // 34)
- RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna (3-7 // 34)
- Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (4-4 // 31)
- Max Vohland, Sacramento, Calif., KTM (6-6 // 30)
- Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Kawasaki (8-5 // 29)
- Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki (5-10 // 27)
- Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda (1-40 // 25)
- Daxton Bennick, Morganton, N.C., Yamaha (10-9 // 23)
250 Class Championship Standings (Round 5 of 11)
- Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 200
- Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 189
- RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna – 167
- Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Kawasaki – 158
- Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Yamaha – 154
- Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 152
- Max Vohland, Sacramento, Calif., KTM – 137
- Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM – 134
- Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Kawasaki – 106
- Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda – 92
Mees Outlasts Bauman, Equals Parker at West Virginia Half-Mile
Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) delivered a performance for the ages in Saturday night’s All Seasons Powersports West Virginia Half-Mile, in what proved to be a memorable return for Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, to Mineral Wells, West Virginia, after nearly two decades away.
Mees came to West Virginia Motor Speedway for the first time since 2006 with an opportunity to match fellow legend Scott Parker’s mark for most Half-Mile wins in the long history of the Grand National Championship.
But to do so, he understood that he was going to have to overcome the combined challenge of Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle title leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Lima Half-Mile conqueror Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke), and Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge winner Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) after the four went bar-to-bar minutes earlier in the four-lap dash for cash.
The potential adversaries whittled down almost immediately, however, as Fisher wheelied away his prime starting slot from pole and dropped to sixth. Meanwhile, Daniels was only one position further up the order and slotted in behind fellow Yamaha runners JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and Dan Bromley (No. 62 HRP Racing/Memphis Shades/Mike Vinson/Corbin Yamaha MT-07).
That left just Bauman alone to prevent Mees from escaping at the front. The Rick Ware Racing hero did well to demonstrate his recent success was down to more than simply capitalizing on a series of racetracks well suited to his bike’s strengths, tracking the factory Indian ace down to show him a wheel at half-distance.
However, Mees’ relentless excellence ultimately won the day, allowing him to stretch open some breathing space late. In the end, he secured his record-tying 35th-career HM win with a 0.609-second margin of victory.
Afterward, Mees said, “It feels really good – this is like my favorite one so far this year. I didn’t feel like we were the fastest guy lining up for that Main Event. We made some game-changing decisions after the dash with the Öhlins rear shock. With not trying something like that all day, you don’t know exactly what to expect, but I have a lot of faith in my team. It was a super finesse-y track – it was really easy to make a mistake and lose your momentum. I thought Briar and Davis were the guys to beat. But I hit my marks every lap, moved around to figure out where Briar was catching me, got my spot and felt the motorcycle hook up and move forward.”
Behind, Daniels’ season-long podium streak came under serious threat. He was pressed hard to work his way around Beach and Bromley before being forced to fight his way back up to third after Bromley contacted his rear wheel with four minutes remaining. Both riders came close to hitting the dirt following the incident, which allowed Beach to steal third and Fisher to close in to make for a four-way sprint for the final spot on the box.
Daniels ultimately rebounded to keep his perfect top-three run intact. In doing so, he also held on to his points lead, albeit by a slim five-point margin over reigning champion Mees (237-232). Beach followed his teammate home fourth. Fisher picked up fifth, while part-timer Bromley only had a sixth-place finish to show for his impressive outing.
Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750) charged the entire distance in an attempt to make it a five-way scrap for the podium before earning a relatively close seventh. Likewise, Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) slashed up to eighth, despite starting from the back of the pack after suffering a mechanical issue during his heat race.
Henry Wiles (No. 17 BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) and Jeffery Lowery (No. 223 Lowery Racing/Gray Hogs Yamaha MT-07) rounded out the top ten.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champ Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) once again showcased his Half-Mile mastery by scoring the seventh victory of his young career at the distance on Saturday night.
And like last week’s win, this one came with considerable effort. From the start, Kopp was embroiled in an evolving melee with Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450).
With multiple lines working, the three moved up and down the track as they exploited their preferred angles of attack while looking for any possible edge over one another.
Brunner pushed into the lead at mid-distance and held a half-second advantage at one point. However, the KTM star put his head down, reeled the Estenson Racing pilot back in, and kept up the momentum once he stormed past on the high line.
With a minute remaining on the clock, Kopp held a similar gap of his own, which he then managed to the checkered flag.
Kopp said, “The goal all day was to get a good start and try to split… we didn’t do that. Trevor got a great start, and he had a pace that was hard to keep up with. He had this line through 3 and 4 that had us skimming the Airfence every lap. I couldn’t figure that corner out, but I felt like we had him covered in 1 and 2. By the end of it, we kept digging and figured some things out and charged hard. This was a fun track and a fun race.”
Brunner finished as the race’s runner-up to earn his first podium since the season opener. He followed by Ott, who faded slightly late en route to his third top three of the season.
Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who joined the battle for the lead momentarily, took a lonely fourth. Meanwhile, his Turner Racing Honda teammate, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), won out in a scrap for fifth over Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).
With five wins to his name in ‘23, Kopp has rebuilt a commanding lead in his title defense, now leading by 40 points (216-176) over Whale. Brunner’s big night sees him move into a tie with Saathoff for third at 173 points.
Jett Lawrence Continues Perfect Season at RedBud National
Jett Lawrence’s incredible AMA Pro Motocross 450 rookie season continued at the Independence Day Weekend RedBud National, where the 19-year-old Australian led every lap of both motos aboard his CRF450RWE, keeping his unblemished record in the class intact. Five rounds in, Lawrence has yet to lose a moto in the big-bike class, and he has earned a maximum-possible 250 points, putting him over a full round in front of second place with more than half of the season still to be run. Returning to action at his home race following a three-round absence, Illinois native Chase Sexton notched a respectable third-overall result via 2-3 moto scores. In the 250 class, Hunter Lawrence enjoyed a commanding first-moto win aboard his CRF250R but—for the first time all season—wasn’t able to take the overall victory, due to a first-turn crash that put him out of moto 2.
The first 450 moto saw Jett snare an impressive holeshot and ride smoothly to an 18-second win. Sexton was fifth in the early going but moved into third on lap 5 of 17. The next lap saw him secure second place, which is where he ultimately finished. Moto 2 was a repeat performance for Jett, although Dylan Ferrandis gave him a challenge, as reflected by the five-second winning margin. Sexton, in turn, pushed Ferrandis hard from third, but a tip-over in a turn slowed his progress. In the end, he passed the checkered flag third, which was also his overall result.
Hunter was untouchable in the opening 250 moto, snaring a commanding holeshot and pulling ahead to win by 13 seconds. Unfortunately, he was caught up in the mayhem of the fast lefthand sweeper after the moto 2 start and was in enough pain to require a ride to the Alpinestars Medical Unit. Fortunately, a checkup didn’t reveal anything serious enough to cause him to miss further action, and Hunter looks forward to trying to get back on top at the next round.
NOTES
- Team Honda HRC was pleased to welcome back Chase Sexton following his three-round break to recover from a concussion suffered in practice just after the opener. Unfortunately, the squad was missing Chance Hymas, who tore the ACL in his left knee just after round 4. The Idaho native underwent successful reconstruction surgery but is expected to miss the remainder of the 2023 season while he recovers.
- On Friday, Sexton joined teammates Jett and Hunter Lawrence for press day, during which they participated in interviews and turned some laps on the track.
- With the RedBud round hosting a Scouting Moto Combine, SLR Honda was on hand, supporting riders Parker Ross and Noah Viney. Ross posted an eighth-overall result, with Viney taking 16th and fellow Red Rider Nate Freehill finishing 21st.
- RedBud MX is celebrating its 50th anniversary of racing this year, and Team Honda HRC participated with special retro graphics designed by Throttle Jockey. Also as part of the celebration, Team Honda HRC test rider Trey Canard participated with other former racers in a “Legends Lap.”
- Jett and Sexton were the top two riders during morning qualifying for the 450 class, while Hunter was third-best in the 250 division.
- On his way to winning both 450 motos, Jett also posted the fastest lap times, and Hunter did likewise in the first 250 moto.
- With Jett’s victory, Honda moved into a tie with Kawasaki for most RedBud overall wins in the 450 class (formerly 250 two-strokes), at 12 each. Other Red Rider winners at the venue include Marty Tripes, Steve Wise, David Bailey, Jeff Stanton, Jeremy McGrath, Kevin Windham, Sebastien Tortelli, Ricky Carmichael (three times) and Chad Reed. Jett’s win ended a drought for Honda, who had last topped RedBud’s 450 class in 2011.
- RedBud marked the fourth time in five rounds that Jett has led every lap in both 450 motos.
- With a best-possible total of 250 points in the 450-class standings, Jett now has a commanding lead of 57 points. Sexton moves up to 10th despite having missed three of five rounds. Although Hunter was docked seven points at High Point and didn’t finish the second moto at RedBud, he still leads the 250 class by 11 points.
- Jett Lawrence and Chase Sexton were both drug-tested following the second moto, after which they participated in the post-race press conference.
- Next up, Team Honda HRC heads to Massachusetts for the Southwick National on Saturday.
MONSTER ENERGY® KAWASAKI RETURNING RIDERS SHOW SUCCESS 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND AT ROUND 5 OF THE AMA PRO MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Foothill Ranch, Calif. (July 2, 2023) – Round 5 of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship was held at the legendary RedBud MX. Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Jason Anderson secured a fifth place (5-7) overall finish at his first AMA Pro Motocross race of the season after returning from an injury. Teammate Adam Cianciarulo displayed a commendable recovery after encountering an issue in Moto 1, ultimately securing a 10th place finish (31-6) overall and moving up to fourth in the points standings. After a prolonged absence, Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker demonstrated his talent by securing an impressive eighth place overall finish (5-10) upon his return to the start gate. Jo Shimoda, Ryder DiFrancesco, and Jett Reynolds finished seventh (8-5), 13th (14-14) and 16th (11-20), respectively. RedBud MX, also known as America’s Motocross Track, is widely known for its elevation changes, soft dirt and incredible fans. Celebrating its 50th Anniversary and Independence Day, RedBud continues to be a rider favorite each AMA Pro Motocross season. Despite earlier rain showers, wind gusts and increasing humidity, Anderson skillfully secured the third place position during qualifying while Cianciarulo qualified fourth, just three one-hundredths behind his teammate.  In Moto 1, Cianciarulo executed another one of his remarkable starts in fourth place, and Anderson just a few spots behind in seventh. Cianciarulo began putting pressure on fellow Kawasaki rider Ty Masterpool for the final podium spot. The two riders fiercely battled until a mistake by Cianciarulo caused him to lose a position to the No. 14 of Dylan Ferrandis, but his charge did not stop there. The two riders continued to battle as the No. 9 made an aggressive pass to overtake the fourth position, but quickly fell back to the fifth position once again. As deep ruts began to form, Cianciarulo continued to persevere and hold his fifth place position. Unfortunately a few laps from the finish, Cianciarulo’s race was cut short following a crash, and was credited the 31st position. Anderson maintained a solid pace, holding onto the seventh place position a majority of the race until his Monster Energy® Kawasaki teammate’s crash that swiftly moved him up to fifth place, where he would finish for the first moto.At the start of Moto 2, Cianciarulo and Anderson were nose-to-tail in the ninth and 10th position, piloting their KX™450SR machines. The two Monster Energy® Kawasaki riders stayed inline quickly making up positions on the first lap. Exhibiting remarkable consistency and unwavering perseverance, both riders ascended to the sixth and seventh positions and steadfastly maintained their places throughout Moto 2, concluding the race without encountering any issues. |
| “Not the weekend I was hoping for after our last few rounds, but I’ll take it. I’m leaving healthy and with a good mindset, and I’m ready to keep building on my KX™450SR and get ready for the rest of these east coast races.”– Adam Cianciarulo |
| “First round back was rough, but I’m stoked to be back on the bike. My Monster Energy® Kawasakiteam and I know what we need to do and we can improve from here and be ready for the remainder of the season.” – Jason Anderson |
   As rain began to fall in qualifying, MonsterEnergy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki riders would face challenging conditions as the track quickly changed. Hammaker was determined to make a comeback after a long five month recovery. His determination paid off with an eighth place qualifying time, less than 2 seconds off the top qualifier. Shimoda would take the ninth spot, DiFrancesco in 10th just half a second behind and Reynolds in 16th.  As the gate dropped in Moto 1, the top 10 spots were filled with MonsterEnergy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki riders. DiFrancesco would take the third position, followed by Hammaker in fifth, Shimoda in sixth and Reynolds in 10th at the end of Lap 1. On Lap 2, DiFrancesco collided with another rider, causing him to be sent off of his bike. The No. 75 quickly remounted his KX™250but fell back to the 21st position. Hammaker and Shimoda both began making their way towards the front, and by Lap 3, landing themselves in the third and fourth position. An intense battle between the two young riders commenced as they fought for the final podium spot. Shimoda held onto fourth place until he was pushed off track, causing him to drop back to eighth place. Reynolds maintained a steady and consistent pace in the top 10. DiFrancesco progressively made his way up through the pack, clicking himself into the top 15 by the halfway point. After a few mistakes, the No. 35 fell back to the fifth position but as braking bumps grew and the heat began to rise, the MonsterEnergy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki riders continued to navigate the treacherous terrain. Hammaker would come back to the Pro Motocross season with an impressive fifth place finish, Shimoda gained one position in the final laps finishing seventh, Reynolds remained steadfast throughout the moto finishing 11th and DiFrancesco clawed his way into 14th after his incident on Lap 2.  The beginning of Moto 2 in the 250 Class began with chaos as a crash ensued, resulting in both the points leader and Reynolds being taken down. However, Shimoda, Hammaker and DiFrancesco occupied the top 5 heading into the first few turns. Reynolds eventually recovered and began riding again in the 38th position. As cloud coverage and wind gusts began to cover the Michigan terrain, Hammaker made a vital mistake that sent him off the track. The No. 35 quickly recouped but had fallen back to the 20th position. After two laps, Hammaker had already seen himself to 12th place. Shimoda made an error sending him back to fifth place where he would remain for the entirety of the moto. Hammaker continued to finesse his way through riders and carnage, making his way back up to 11th by the end of the race. DiFrancesco made a mistake dropping him to the ninth position, and unfortunately continued to drop to the 14th position where he would finish. Reynolds lit a fire, making up 17 positions in a 30 minute time window, finishing in 21st for Moto 2. |
| “Bummed to say the least about this weekend. It’s never fun to be in the ground, but I am happy to see my speed is there. My KX™250 was on rails, I just have to minimize the mistakes. We’re getting there.”– Ryder DiFrancesco |
| “Overall, I’m happy with my results this first weekend back. I felt good all weekend mentally and physically but made a mistake that cost a lot of positions. Can’t thank my MonsterEnergy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team for their support, can’t wait to finish off the season strong.”– Seth Hammaker |
| “I always love coming to RedBud because of the fans and success we’ve had here. I’m disappointed I’m not where I know I can be, but I know my MonsterEnergy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team and I will get everything in order and ready for the rest of the season.”– Jo Shimoda |
| “Moto 1 went well and I felt consistent. Then Moto 2 came and the crash at the start made it hard to come back to the top 10 again. Therefore I tried my best to stay consistent and make as little mistakes as I could. We will reevaluate and be ready for next weekend.”– Jett Reynolds |
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