This week in US powersports racing.
Jett Lawrence Sweeps Indianapolis Triple Crown Supercross
With the overall win at Indianapolis, which hosted the season’s second Triple Crown of the season, Jett Lawrence notched three wins in a row and five on the year—half of the races that have been run to this point, growing his lead in the title chase to 21 points. As if that weren’t enough, this most recent success was really three wins in one, as the CRF450RWE-mounted Team Honda HRC rider topped all three of the 450SX races, making him only the second rider to accomplish the feat (the first having been Ken Roczen, when he rode a Honda to a trio of wins at the 2020 Glendale round).
For Jett, the three 450SX races were remarkably similar to one another, as each saw him running second to Ken Roczen on lap 1, and then making a pass for the lead before riding to the win. The last victory was the hardest-fought, with the winning pass coming on lap 11 of 16 (as opposed to lap 7 in the first two races). Meanwhile, after Hunter Lawrence missed just a single round with a fractured scapula, the tough 24-year-old returned to action in Indianapolis, where he tallied 10-10-12 finishes for 11th overall.
In the 250SX East class, Chance Hymas showed good speed, including a fourth place in daytime qualifying and a solid showing in the second race, but he was hurt by poor starts in the first and third races (the latter made worse by a first-turn pileup). The Idaho native notched 9-5-11 results for eighth overall.
NOTES
- Indianapolis dealership Tom Wood Powersports staffed a pop-up activation booth in the Team Honda HRC pits, where they chatted with fans and displayed Honda powersports products.
- Team Honda HRC rider Chance Hymas participated in media day on Friday, getting time on the track and being interviewed by journalists.
- To celebrate Indianapolis’s motorsports heritage, Fly Racing set Hymas up with gear mimicking the race suit of the Will Ferrell character Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights.
- A sizeable group of Honda associates made the 170-mile drive from the company’s R&D facility in Raymond, Ohio, to attend the Indianapolis Supercross.
- Raquel Drew, a Sports Management student at University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana, worked as a PR intern at the Indianapolis round, assisting Team Honda HRC with Friday’s media day, as well as Saturday’s autograph session, podium appearances and more. Raquel is the daughter of Shane Drew, the squad’s Chassis R&D specialist.
- Jett Lawrence set the fastest lap time in daytime qualifying for the 450SX class. Hunter Lawrence was ninth-best in his first race back from a fractured scapula. In the 250SX East ranks, Chance Hymas was a respectable fourth-fastest, while Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie topped the class.
- Following daytime qualifying, Team Honda HRC riders Jett and Hunter Lawrence and Chance Hymas had a meet-and-greet with a group of IndyCar racers, including Marcus Ericsson (Andretti Global), Christian Lundgaard (Rahal Letterman Lannigan Racing), Nolan Siegel Dale Coyne Racing), Christian Rasmussen (Ed Carpenter Racing) and Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren).
- Jett set the fastest lap times in the first two 450SX races.
- With his win this weekend, Jett joins past Honda-mounted riders to have topped the premier class in Indianapolis, including Jeff Stanton, Jeremy McGrath (four times), Ezra Lusk, Ricky Carmichael, Mike LaRocco and Ken Roczen (three times). Honda is the event’s winningest manufacturer, with 12 premier-class victories.
- Jett also moves into a tie with Broc Glover for 13th on the all-time AMA win list, with 45 victories across all classes.
- The Indianapolis win grew Jett’s 450SX points lead substantially, from 13 to 21, with seven rounds remaining.
- For round 11, AMA Supercross heads back to the 250SX West region, with Jo Shimoda set to return to action at the Seattle stop on Saturday.
MONSTER ENERGY®/PRO CIRCUIT/KAWASAKI RIDER CAMERON MCADOO TAKES HOME THE FIRST TRIPLE CROWN WIN OF THE 250SX EASTERN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
Foothill Ranch, Calif. (March 17, 2024) – Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Cameron McAdoo secured the overall Triple Crown win (1-2-3) and points lead in the 250SX Eastern Region this weekend at Monster Energy AMA Supercross in Indianapolis. Teammate Seth Hammaker would suffer multiple mishaps on the challenging track, finishing ninth overall (3-14-9). Monster Energy® Kawasaki riders Jason Anderson and Adam Cianciarulo claimed fourth (5-6-5) and 15th (12-20-15) overall in the 450SX class, respectively.
Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, inaugurated in 2008, has become a hub for sports and entertainment. Home to the NFL’s Colts, it hosts various events, including Monster Energy Supercross. This weekend, the stadium welcomed back the Monster Energy Supercross series, promising fans another year of exhilarating races and high-flying action. With its top-notch facilities and devoted fan base, Lucas Oil Stadium remains a prime venue for thrilling sports entertainment and a fan favorite stop along the circuit.
Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki riders kicked off qualifying strong, Hammaker and McAdoo securing fifth and seventh, respectively, to line up for the three-race Triple Crown race format. In Race 1, both teammates were quick out of the gate, McAdoo securing a position in the Top 3 and Hammaker in the Top 10. The No. 43 began charging from mid-pack, making his way into third place where he would finish. McAdoo quickly made his way into the lead and held his ground to take home the first race win of the night on his KX™250. In Race 2, both teammates quickly saw themselves into the Top 5. While trying to make a pass for third, Hammaker made a mistake causing him to crash. He quickly remounted his machine, and continued the race, finishing 14th. McAdoo held a consistent pace throughout the race, finishing second. In Race 3, McAdoo secured a front running start position but Hammaker was caught in a first turn pile up. Hammaker recovered quickly and began charging in the final race of the night. McAdoo quickly found himself in a battle for second, but soon realized if he maintained his current position, he would secure the Triple Crown win. Hammaker battled his way up into ninth after a nearly last place start and McAdoo maintained his third place position, landing his second career Triple Crown win, first win of the 2024 season and overtaking the points lead in the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship.
In the 450SX class, Anderson and Cianciarulo secured sixth and 10th place qualifying times with Anderson only two tenths of a second off of the fastest time and Cianciarulo another eight tenths back from that. In Race 1, Anderson claimed a second-place start, while Cianciarulo was in the Top 10. The No. 21 continued to charge on his KX™450SR, maintaining his position in the Top 3 until multiple mistakes sent him to fifth where he would finish. Cianciarulo would stay in the Top 10 until a few mistakes on the soft track would send him back to the 12th position where he would finish. As Race 2 began, Anderson quickly found himself in the Top 5, and started making his way to the front on the rutted track. The No. 9 started in the Top 10 and maintained speed until a crash sent him back to the 20th position where he would finish. Anderson would engage in intense battles for the remainder of the race, finishing in the sixth position. In Race 3, Anderson and Cianciarulo were shuffled to the mid pack at the start, and both began charging. Anderson quickly began to make his way into the front until an on track collision with another rider hindering his momentum. He would maintain a fifth place position in the third race, and fourth overall for the Triple Crown. Cianciarulo persevered through the rough conditions, making a few mistakes along the way and finishing 15th in the last race and in the overall.
“All I can say is ‘Wow.’ My first Triple Crown win since 2022 and my first win of the season has finally come. The track was extremely beat going into the last race, and with Haiden (Deegan) and I being tied, it came down to the last race. I felt really good on my KX250 all day, and starting off the races with a win gave me the confidence I needed to know I could do this. Indy has always been one of my favorite cities, so to take the overall here is awesome. Thank you to my team and everyone behind me. We have a few weekends off and then we’re back to it!”
– Cameron McAdoo
“Today was a rough one. We had a decent qualifying session and a great comeback in the first race, and then after that I just made mistakes that didn’t need to happen that put me on the ground. We definitely have the speed to be up front, I just have to work on starts and minimizing mistakes. We are leaving Indy healthy with a little bit of a break, so I’m ready to rest up and get back to training. Thanks to my team for the support.”
– Seth Hammaker
“I consistently ran in the Top 5 and had a few battles with the leaders, I just have to work on making fewer mistakes and staying up in the front where we have the speed to be. Thank you to the team for making race weekends the best it can be for me. Fourth overall isn’t bad, but I’m ready for a win.”
– Jason Anderson
“After the track walk I knew the track was going to get beat up and really rutted, which is still an issue for my injured hand. I felt decent in the first race but the second race I have no excuse for. I made a mistake that sent me to the ground and finished way in the back, but I just tried to be consistent and smooth the whole time. We’re back on the west coast next weekend, let’s put in some work and make it happen there!”
– Adam Cianciarulo
SUZUKI POWERS TO SECOND AT INDIANAPOLIS SUPERCROSS
Brea, CA – (March 18, 2024) – The Indianapolis Supercross presented another rough, rutted, and challenging track for Round Ten of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana hosted the second Triple Crown format of the year, which pits the top 22 riders from each class against one another in three races throughout the night; the overall winners are determined by the combined finishes of all three races.
Race Highlights:
- Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
- Ken Roczen earned another podium result and moved up into fourth place in the championship point standings.
- 450 Class
- Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
- Shane McElrath put in three strong rides on the rapidly deteriorating track.
- Kyle Chisholm grabbed an impressive wire-to-wire win in the LCQ.
- 450 Class
- Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki
- 450 Class
- Derek Drake moved his RM-Z up two positions in the championship point standings. .
- 250 Class
- Preston Boespflug qualified in dramatic fashion and moved up one position in the championship point standings.
- 450 Class
Ken Roczen (94) led laps in every Triple Crown race and backed up last week’s performance with another podium result.
Ken Roczen (94) earned his fifth podium of the 2024 season. In Indy, Roczen laid his RM-Z450’s power into the soft soil and earned three great starts. Roczen led laps in each race of the three-race Triple Crown format, and used three podium results to earn a second place overall on the night.
“We had an incredible night at Indy,” said Roczen. “We were on the board all day. The track was absolutely tricky; it was extremely rutty and technical. I had three awesome starts, and got either the holeshot or second [at the stripe]. I led a bunch of laps and fought for the win in every single main event. It was great to go 2-2-3 for second overall. It’s nice to have back-to-back weekends with good rides; we really needed it. We’ve been working really hard on starts to get those dialed, and it was just a really good weekend overall.”
Shane McElrath (12) ran up front in Race 1 and earned his season-best Triple Crown race result in Race 3.
Shane McElrath (12) used speed and consistency, even as the track broke down over the night’s racing, to deliver a strong finish and earn good points in Indianapolis.
“It was a pretty crazy race,” reported McElrath. “The track was really just about ‘survival’ to try to sprint – it was definitely a tough track to do that on. It was a decent day for me. I ended up 12th overall with 13-12-11 scores. I made good passes, had good speed, and we’re making steady progress every week. This week was not as big of a step as I have been taking, but it was still a good step forward. I’m excited to continue working because we’re learning every weekend, we’re getting faster, and we’re getting closer to the group ahead of me.”
Kyle Chisholm (11) earned his first win of the season with an LCQ victory, then delivered his season-best Triple Crown race result.
Kyle Chisholm (11) took over the lead in the LCQ on the opening lap and took off with the win. It was Chisholm’s fourth LCQ of his career at a Triple Crown and he continued his record of qualifying into the main event from every Triple Crown LCQ. Chisholm’s performances in the races earned him enough points to advance in the point standings.
“I felt really good with my Suzuki and on the track, the team did great, and everything felt good,” said Chisholm. “I just missed out on qualifying straight to the main races; with the Triple Crown format they just take the top eighteen in lap times. I missed it by a few hundredths of a second, so I had to race the LCQ. I went out and ripped the holeshot and won that, so that was good.”
Derek Drake (52) was back in action and used Indy points to move his BarX Suzuki up two spots in the Championship standings.
Derek Drake (52) returned from injury. Drake was strong and fast from the first time the riders took to the Indianapolis track. After qualifying directly into the main, Drake put himself in position to maximize his points on the night.
“Indianapolis was tough!” exclaimed Drake. “I’m glad to put it in the main event through qualifying. I’m still struggling with a lingering issue, so it’s frustrating to not ride to my full potential. Hopefully, this gets better, and I can be back to 100%.”
Preston Boespflug (128) competed in his career-first Triple Crown event.
Preston Boespflug (128), in his rookie pro season, took on Round Five of the 250 East series and that championship’s first Triple Crown of 2024. Boespflug delivered one of the most exciting rides of the night when he charged from tenth place on the opening lap into a qualifying position in the seven-lap LCQ.
“We’re collecting all the pieces,” said Boespflug. “We just need to start putting them together and execute a night.”
“Ken Roczen’s starts were on point all weekend,” stated Larry Brooks, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager. “Starting up front allowed Ken to run up front much easier. He challenged for the lead the whole night. It was awesome racing. I appreciate the effort he gave; it was a stellar event. Shane McElrath rode well, too; his starts were much better this weekend. I think he’s going to give this last bit of the series a run. Kyle had to come out of the last chance qualifier and that kind of started his day off rough; but you put Kyle under pressure and he’s going to succeed, he’s that type of guy. The whole team did really well. The track was demanding; it was super rutty and difficult, so to get out of here with maximum points and be healthy, that is a win within itself.”
“Our results do not represent how good we really were,” said James Coy, Team Manager of Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki. “The track was extremely rutted, and our Suzukis were working great. Derek did a great job trying to race tonight with an injury sustained earlier in the year, and Preston was having his best race this year until a crash ended his night. There were a lot of positives tonight.”
The series travels across the country to Seattle, Washington, for Round 11 of the 17-round Supercross season. The Suzuki racers are riding strong and looking forward to pushing their RM-Z race bikes higher up in the championship standings.
Please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross and HEPMotorsports.com for more team news.
Photos by BrownDogWilson Photography
CHASE SEXTON AND TOM VIALLE CLAIM TRIPLE CROWN PODIUMS IN INDIANAPOLIS
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton and Tom Vialle both earned podium results in tonight’s 10th round of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship at the Indianapolis Triple Crown, with Sexton racing to third overall in 450SX and Vialle finishing second in the 250SX East Main Event.
Sexton continues to regain complete fitness following his recent hand injury, delivering a trio of consistent performances onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in technical track conditions. The defending champion was third in the opening two races and then finished strongly with P2 in the final encounter, landing him third on the podium, and he retains third in the point standings.
Chase Sexton: “Indy was definitely an improvement again. Qualifying wasn’t the hottest for me, but we showed up tonight and overall we’re trying to build every weekend. I feel like we’re getting better and I’m able to do motos during the week now, so kind of getting back to how I would normally train. We still have some room for improvement, for sure, but we’re on the right path and we’re going to try to keep inching closer over these coming rounds, give it my best every weekend.”
450SX teammate Aaron Plessinger was solid all night on his way to sixth overall riding his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, going 6-4-9 across the three races. His best ride came in the second moto after running up front early on, and that fourth position was decisive in his final result. Despite going down in the final outing on his way to ninth, Plessinger is positioned seventh in points with seven rounds remaining.
Aaron Plessinger: “Indianapolis was alright, I was happy with my riding, but the results didn’t show. The first one, I got off to a mediocre start and rode around in 11th, but then I started clicking off laps and got up to sixth. Race 2, my start was really good and I went backward, then started riding good around halfway and came back to fourth. The third one was decent early on again, before I tried passing [Jason] Anderson in the whoops, we came together and I went down. I salvaged what I could from there. Overall, it was a decent night, and we’ll go back to work to get better in the first few laps!”
Another standout ride from two-time MX2 World Champion Vialle saw the Frenchman claim his fourth-consecutive podium in 250SX East wearing the red plates this weekend, piecing together 4-3-1 results and second place on the podium. A crash in the first race dented his chances overall, but he managed to rebound with the final race win of the night on his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. He is second in the series, just two points outside of the lead.
Tom Vialle: “I actually felt really good in the first moto and I had the crash in the whoops, so I was really frustrated. In the second one, I didn’t ride the best, and then in the third race I feel like I rode the best that I was able to all day. I’m pretty happy – the track was tough tonight, that’s for sure. I really wanted to win the last one, which I did in the end, and we’re still in the fight, so that’s what matters.”
Next Race: March 23 – Seattle, Washington
Results 450SX Class – Indianapolis
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Ken Roczen (GER), Suzuki
3. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
OTHER KTM
6. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
Standings 450SX Class 2024 after 10 of 17 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 210 points
2. Cooper Webb, 189
3. Chase Sexton, 185
OTHER KTM
7. Aaron Plessinger, 162
Results 250SX East Class – Indianapolis
1. Cameron McAdoo (USA), Kawasaki
2. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
3. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
Standings 250SX East Class 2024 after 5 of 9 rounds
1. Cameron McAdoo, 98 points
2. Tom Vialle, 96
3. Pierce Brown, 87
OLIVEIRA BROTHERS DELIVER 1-2 RESULTS IN DOYLE WHS SEASON OPENER
FMF KTM Factory Racing pair Dante Oliveira and Mateo Oliveira have delivered a 1-2 finish at the opening round of the 2024 AMA West Hare Scrambles Series (WHS) in Doyle, California.
After clinching the WHS Pro Class title last season, the elder of the Oliveira brothers began his defense in commanding fashion around the narrow, high-speed course as he rode his KTM 350 XC-F to an eventual 45-second victory.
The opening lap saw Dante circulating in third position after an early fall, and then he moved his way into second position on lap two. By the time the halfway mark of the eight-lap duration arrived, he had taken charge of P1 and extended his advantage from there.
It was Mateo Oliveira – also equipped with a KTM 350 XC-F in the WHS series this year – who took the holeshot and sprinted away at the front of the pack in the early laps, however, before settling into second on lap four once Dante took control of the race.
Dante Oliveira: “I’m really excited with the result and to be on the KTM 350 XC-F in WHS this year. I actually went down on the first lap and then had to catch back up, which we did in the end – they were going fast! I had my spots where I was quicker and I pushed in those areas, but it was tricky to make the pass on this track, flowing up over the ridges and stuff. We will keep building from here and I’m looking forward to getting more races in.”
Mateo Oliveira: “Today was really good, finishing second on the podium. I made a solid start, got to lead the first three laps, and then Dante got me. I tried to make a pass back, but he was a little better than me for the overall today. This is where I expect myself to be, up toward the front, and obviously I want to be as close as possible to Dante and to contest for the wins, but we are happy with the 1-2 today.”
Pro Class Results
1. Dante Oliveira, KTM
2. Mateo Oliveira, KTM
3. Giacomo Redondi, GAS
Upcoming Offroad Races – March 2024
3/25: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 4
3/25: U.S. Hard Enduro Series – Round 2
PIERCE BROWN KEEPS CHARGING WITH P4 FINISH AT INDY TRIPLE CROWN
Fourth place overall marked another convincing performance from Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing rider Pierce Brown in 250SX East at the Indianapolis Triple Crown round of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, remaining in the title race over halfway through the season. 450SX teammate Justin Barcia is trending in the right direction after taking P8 overall tonight.
- PB rebounds from opening race to land on 250SX East podium
- Second in the final race the highlight for Brown in tricky conditions
- Encouraging eighth overall continues Bam Bam’s 450SX climb
A tough opening race saw Brown recover from an early crash for 12th and then he managed to salvage fourth despite going down again in Race 2, before his best ride of the night was saved for last when he charged to second position riding the GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition. That 12-4-2 scorecard placed him fourth overall for the second week in a row, continuing his perfect stretch of top-five finishes and he’s still third in points – only 11 outside of the red plate.
Pierce Brown: “Fourth overall, I’m not stoked, but not mad about it after a rough first main. The second two were better with a fourth and a second, so I just need to eliminate those mistakes and we will get there. It was a good way to finish the night in P2, and we will keep pushing from here!”
Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing teammate Barcia was also impressive tonight, ripping his GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition to 7-9-6 results. After qualifying P8 during the afternoon and then consistently factoring inside the top 10 tonight, his results are on the up and Bam Bam has also now worked his way to ninth in the championship order.
Justin Barcia: “I qualified P8, so I was happy with that today and the bike was working really well. First race was a bit of a blur – I don’t really quite remember! – but in the second one I was riding well even though I made a few too many little mistakes. Third race, I was all over the guys at the end for a top five and pulled up in sixth. All in all, it was a positive weekend and we’re gonna keep pushing hard to have better results and get back on that podium soon.”
Results – 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, Round 10
450SX Results – Indianapolis SX
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
3. Chase Sexton (KTM)
8. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
450SX Championship Standings (After Round 10)
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 210pts
2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) 189pts
3. Chase Sexton (KTM) 185pts
9. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) 109pts
250SX East Results – Indianapolis SX
1. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki)
2. Tom Vialle (KTM)
3. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
4. Pierce Brown (GASGAS)
250SX East Championship Standings (After Round 5)
1. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki) 98pts
2. Tom Vialle (KTM) 96pts
3. Pierce Brown (GASGAS) 87pts
CONSISTENT INDIANAPOLIS TRIPLE CROWN RESULTS IN NINTH FOR MALCOLM STEWART
An encouraging run of consistent finishes saw Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart claim eighth place overall in Indianapolis at the second Triple Crown round of the year.
Stewart continues to build momentum in the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship after missing the majority of last season through injury, racing to 9-8-8 results across the three 450SX races onboard his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition in Indy.
In navigating some of the most technical track conditions of the year, Stewart managed to keep charging throughout the night and improved with each gate drop, which now has him positioned 11th in the championship standings following Round 10 of 17. He’s also excited to head to Seattle next weekend, where he’s had strong results in the past during his professional career.
“Indy was tough for everybody with the track conditions, but we went 9-8-8 to end up ninth overall,” said Stewart. “It was not too bad, I felt like we got better as the mains went on – the intensity is always so high at these Triple Crown races. Obviously, it could have been a better night or a worse night, and we’re leaving here healthy again, ready to keep pushing ahead. It will be good to get to Seattle, I always ride well there, and I’m really looking forward to that one.”
Next Saturday night in Seattle will also see the return of the 250SX West category, where Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire is currently positioned third in the standings on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition, only five points outside of the lead.
Next Event (Round 11): March 23, 2024 – Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington
450SX – Indianapolis Results
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
3. Chase Sexton (KTM)
…
9. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
450SX Rider Point Standings after Round 10
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 210 points
2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) – 189 points
3. Chase Sexton (KTM) – 185 points
…
11. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 104 points
Webb Scores Top-Five Finish at Indianapolis Supercross
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb overcame adversity to secure a top-five finish (8-5-4) at last night’s second Triple Crown event of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. Teammates Eli Tomac and Justin Cooper joined him in the top 10, finishing seventh (4-7-10) and ninth (11-11-7) respectively, in tricky conditions at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Webb had a strong start to the day, qualifying third, and had a solid start to the first main event in sixth. He kept pushing and advanced to third on Lap 11, but unfortunately went down a couple of laps later after an incident with a lapped rider and finished eighth. In the second race, the North Carolina rider was seventh after the first lap. He charged his way to fourth but was ultimately shuffled to fifth. In the final race of the night, Webb got a better start in fourth where he would finish to end a tough night fifth overall. He continues to lay claim to the runner-up spot in the championship, 21 points behind the red-plate holder.
Tomac led the way for the team in qualifying, securing the runner-up spot in the combined times. Unfortunately, he did not get off the gate as he had hoped in all three main events, making for a tough night on the rutted track. In the first main, he found himself eighth after the first lap but put his head down and made his way to fourth. In the second main, he was 11th after the first lap and would finish seventh. He continued to battle in the tricky conditions but ultimately finished 10th in the final race of the evening, salvaging points with seventh overall and leaving Indianapolis fifth in the championship standings.
Their rookie teammate, Cooper topped the timesheets in the first qualifying session and ultimately was fifth in combined times. He also struggled with starts in the three main events, making for a challenging night. The New Yorker was 13th after the start and advanced to eighth, but ultimately finished 11th after a crash in the first main event. He got a better start in the top 10 in the second main but went off track in the tricky conditions and finished 11th. In the final race of the night, Cooper got a much better start in sixth and would finish seventh to secure a top-10 overall result and remain eighth in the points standings.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads back west to Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on March 23 for Round 11 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Series.Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“All three riders were riding great in qualifying and were happy going into the mains. We had an unfortunate incident with Cooper and a lapper in the first main. He was going to be on the podium, and the lapper came over, and he went down; it was just an unfortunate event. Justin and Eli both struggled off the gate and that kind of made for a struggle in the first two races. Fortunately, we all got off the gate better in the last main, and all of the guys rode better. We definitely struggled tonight, but we will rebound next weekend in Seattle.””Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“Not a whole lot to say, really. We finished fifth overall at the Indy Triple Crown. That lapper incident in the first main set us back early, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. We’ll regroup and be better for Seattle.”Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“”It was a tough weekend in Indianapolis. We will do our best to rebound in Seattle.””Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“Indy was a tough one. I made a lot of mistakes throughout the night, going off the track and falling down. It was definitely an up-and-down day, but one to learn from. We’re looking forward to racing again next weekend in Seattle.”
MORE POSITIVES FOR TRIUMPH AT INDIANAPOLIS SUPERCROSS
The first Triple Crown event for the 2024 Monster Energy AMA 250SX East championship started strong for Triumph Racing in Indianapolis with amazing starts and laps led in one of the races, although an unfortunate issue culminated in a frustrating 11th overall for Jalek Swoll.
Once again it was down to Swoll to represent the team on the Triumph TF 250-X in its first season of this intensely competitive championship as rookie rider, Evan Ferry, waits to return from injury. The Triple Crown format at the ‘motorsport capital of the world’ replaces the single Main Event with the riders getting the overall result after three separate 10-minute plus one lap races. The format adds extra excitement for fans and a lot more intensity for the riders and teams on what was a demanding track for the evening.
A steady start in qualifying getting up to speed in the Lucas Oil Stadium, Swoll started the night show in the best possible way with the ‘Ghostbusters’ holeshot in Race 1; the Triumph TF 250-X once again demonstrating how incredible it is out of the gate. A hectic first lap would see the #33 pushed down to fifth to then become embroiled in an intense battle with Coty Schock to grab sixth at the flag.
In Race 2, Swoll clinched the holeshot once again and a strong opening performance saw the first laps led by Triumph in Supercross. Hunted down by championship contenders Haiden Deegan and Cameron Mcadoo, the 22-year old was sitting in a comfortable third. A small mistake at just over half race distance saw Swoll come up short on a jump, although he would ultimately place seventh at the chequered flag.
With both the 250s and 450s pounding the track, the dirt conditions had deteriorated going into the third race of the night. Heading into the final running, Swoll was sitting in fourth overall with all hopes on another holeshot. Out of the gate Jalek was able to avoid the chaos at the first turn, but unfortunately due to a small technical issue with a proprietary sensor Swoll wasn’t able to continue his momentum and was forced to retire.
Despite the disappointment, the strong rides in the earlier two races was enough to place Swoll 11th overall for the event and maintain his 10th in the standings. The 250SX east Championship enjoys a four week break now, and the Triumph Racing team will return with both riders in action on April 13 at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Jalek Swoll (#33): “Honestly,I’m proud of what I had to ride through today – I gritted it out and rode as hard as I could, although I’m still dealing with some injuries from my crash in Arlington. There’s a lot of positives to take again from tonight, but everyone has worked their asses off and to finish up how we did is disappointing. It’s just one of those things and we have to move on. We are hungrier than ever and now we have time to work over the next few weeks to come back strong in Foxborough.”
Bobby Hewitt – Triumph Racing Team Principal (US): “Again we have a lot of positives from tonight, but we’re really disappointed, and we can’t hide that. I don’t want the headlines to be about a single proprietary sensor issue as the progress we as a team, Jalek as a rider, and Triumph have made in just five rounds is incredible. Earlier in the night we led laps and had holeshots. The technical issue in the third race is our first black eye and, it’s of course unacceptable. Everyone is working incredibly hard and we have a few weeks now to prepare for the next one.”
Results 250 Supercross East Main Event – Round 5, Indianapolis
1st Cameron Mcadoo (Kawasaki)
2nd Tom Vialle (KTM)
3rd Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
11th Jalek Swoll (Triumph)
250 Supercross East Championship after Round 5 of 9
1st Cameron Mcadoo (Kawasaki) – 98
2nd Tom Vialle (KTM) – 96
3rd Pierce Brown (GasGas) – 87
10th Jalek Swoll (Triumph) – 58
$48,000 Dunlop Dollars Up for Grabs in ASRA!
Dunlop Motorcycle Tires is proud to announce nearly $50,000 in contingency for the American Superbike Racing Association (ASRA) National Endurance/Team Challenge Series. Racers using Dunlop tires who finish tenth or better in the heavy and middle weight classes are eligible to earn Dunlop Dollars! *Dunlop sponsored racers are eligible for contingency.
“ASRA is excited to partner with Dunlop for the 2024 season for the ASRA Endurance and Team Challenge Series. Having Dunlop step up and provide contingency for our endurance series will be a welcomed incentive for our racers and program.” stated Alex Spellman, Partner at ASRA.
The 2024 ASRA National Endurance/Team Challenge Series will commence April 6-7 at Carolina Motorsports Park, then head to Summit Point on May 25-27, take a brief summer break, then be back on July 6-7 at NCBIKE, followed by Pittsburgh International Raceway on August 16-18, then head to New Jersey Motorsports Park on August 31-Sept 1 and then conclude on the banks of Daytona International Speedway October 17-19.
“We are grateful for the partnership with ASRA and the opportunity to give back to the riders who choose Dunlop in an increasingly competitive market.” said Cori Maynard, Amateur Road Race Support Manager and Motorsports Logistics Coordinator for Dunlop Motorcycle Tires.
To be eligible, competitors simply must use the approved Dunlop tires both front and rear, display a minimum ten-inch Dunlop decal on each side of the motorcycle (fairing) and a vertical Dunlop decal on each side of the front fender. In addition, competitors must wear Dunlop patches on their leathers, one on each side of their shoulder and one large patch on their lower back.
All awards will be paid as Dunlop Tire Certificates to be used for the purchase of Dunlop Motorcycle Tires. Certificates will only be issued when races have a minimum of eight starters. Certificates will be issued by Dunlop only on receipt of official results from ASRA. *Expired or lost certificates will not be honored or replaced.
The new Sportmax Slick is available now in multiple sizes and compounds from dunlopracing.com or from your local trusted Dunlop trackside vendor.
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