This week in US powersports racing.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA’S MALCOLM STEWART RACES INTO TOP 10 AT DAYTONA

A season-best seventh position continued Malcolm Stewart’s mid-season uplift at Daytona’s eighth round of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider taking his third top-10 result in a row.

Stewart has been gaining race fitness and comfort as the 450SX season approaches its middle stages, powering his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition to fourth place in the Heat Race. The Main Event was just as promising, overcoming grueling track conditions to claim P7 and make further inroads on the front-runners after missing much of last season through injury.

“Being the closest race to a hometown weekend for me, Daytona treated me okay,” Stewart said. “The Heat wasn’t too bad, vision was kind of tough being where I was, but we made some passes and ended up fourth in that one. Main Event, the track went away really fast and it was a typical, really hard Daytona. At the end of the day, we ended up P7 – it could have been better, could have been worse. My headspace is okay, we’re going to look forward to Alabama, get back to regular Supercross, and get back up front.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Casey Cochran impressed in his first 250SX Futures appearance of the season, qualifying on top of the charts this afternoon to take first gate pick for the Main Event. He recovered from a bad start to make his way to third position, opening his campaign with a podium result on the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250.

“I felt pretty solid all day, really comfortable, and was super-excited for the Main Event,” Cochran said. “It was a tough start for me, I was buried pretty far back and was struggling to get into a flow out there. It was one of those nights where you couldn’t really get into the rhythm you wanted to – the track was like a minefield getting around – so I’m happy to still get a podium finish.”

The weekend also marked the first showing for new recruit Landon Gibson in the 250SX Futures, the talented young rider on debut gaining immense experience on his way to 11th place. He ran as high as sixth at around halfway, only for a mistake to drop him down the order and to eventually take the checkered flag just outside the top 10.

“It was definitely a learning curve,” reflected Gibson. “I was far inside on the gate and got swarmed off the start in the Main Event, then later on, after the whoops I went down pretty hard. That was that and I know what I need to work on from here – I’m looking forward to lining up again now.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX regular Christian Craig is scheduled to undergo surgery next week on his ongoing elbow injury, which will extend his time on the sidelines. We look forward to welcoming him back to racing once he is healed and healthy to line up again.

Next Event (Round 9): March 9, 2024 – Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama

Round 8 Results: Daytona

450SX – Daytona Results

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)

2. Eli Tomac (Yamaha)

3. Chase Sexton (KTM)

…

7. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

250SX Futures – Daytona Results

1. Drew Adams (Kawasaki)

2. Cole Davies (GASGAS)

3. Casey Cochran – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna

…

11. Landon Gibson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna

450SX Rider Point Standings

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) – 160 points

2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) – 150 points

3. Chase Sexton (KTM) – 147 points

…

12. Malcolm Stewart – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 79 points

17. Christian Craig – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 39 points

250SX Futures Rider Point Standings

1. Cole Davies (GASGAS) – 47 points

2. Drew Adams (Kawasaki) – 41 points

3. Parker Ross (Honda) – 36 points

…

8. Casey Cochran – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna – 20 points

18. Landon Gibson – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna – 11 points

AUSTIN WALTON CHARGES TO GLEN HELEN NGPC ROUND PODIUM WITH RUNNER-UP RESULT

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING’S KORIE STEEDE P2 AGAIN AT WILD BOAR GNCC

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing was out in force this weekend in the Grand National Cross Country Championship (GNCC) and National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC), where Korie Steede and Austin Walton both managed convincing podium results in their respective categories across the two series.

National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) – Round 3

Round 3 of the NGPC series at Glen Helen in Southern California saw Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Austin Walton rocket to a spectacular second-place finish, keeping the pressure on aboard his Husqvarna Motorcycles FX 450.

Walton was hampered by a slow start in muddy conditions, completing the opening lap in fifth, and then working his way forward from there. As the checkered flag flew, he claimed a close runner-up result for his first podium this season.

“I messed up the start, but we were able to rebound well from there,” said Walton. “I charged hard and was smart – the track was brutal in those early stages. We got into a groove, I kept getting faster and faster, and finding points on the track where we could make passes. I’m definitely happy with my performance, even if it was frustrating knowing that I was that close to winning, but we are satisfied and now we’ll get ready for the next one.”

It was a stronger start to the day for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Dalton Shirey as he was positioned second at the end of lap one, eventually picking up an eighth-place finish at race’s end and logging more Pro Class points for the weekend.

Pro Class Results

1. Dante Oliveira (KTM)

2. Austin Walton – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

3. Cole Martinez (Honda)

…

8. Dalton Shirey – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Grand National Cross Country Championship (GNCC) – Round 2

The GNCC Series continued with Round 2 at the Wild Boar in Palatka, Florida, where deep, sandy conditions made for a challenging day of competition. In the end, it was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede who claimed her second WXC runner-up finish in a row.

Steede was exceptional onboard the Husqvarna Motorcycles FX 250 and led her share of the race, including the opening lap, eventually taking the checkered flag just over a minute shy of victory following almost two hours of racing. She’s now only a single point outside of the championship lead.

“This is a really important race to get the start and I pulled the holeshot, so it started off for a great day,”Steede said.“I was out front with Brandy [Richards], so knew it was going to be a good battle. We got into lappers and it didn’t work out for me, but I know what we have to work on for next weekend. I feel really good this year and the bike was working flawlessly, so I’m excited to keep this going.”

A late rain shower caused havoc in the XC1 Open Pro division, where Trevor Bollinger brought his Husqvarna Motorcycles FX 350 home in eighth position. Unfortunately for defending champion Craig DeLong, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider crashed out of contention early on, in what ended up being a fiery end to his day.

“I got off to a good start today and went in the woods about fourth or so,”commented Bollinger.“Kinda got shuffled back in the first mud hole there, but I was able to regroup and made my way to fifth on the second lap. The conditions were tough and we had the rear brake go out, but the team did a fast pit stop and I was able to salvage what I could. I want to thank them for their hard work because these first two rounds have been a little rough, but I’m healthy and ready to rebound in Georgia.”

“I had a bad start, put myself in the back, and then lost my goggles,”DeLong reflected.“I got close to this one tree and before I knew it, I had nowhere to go and crashed. When I picked my bike up, I realized I had broken a part and wasn’t able to keep moving forward. I went to go get help, and when we came back the bike was on fire from the exhaust touching some dry vegetation. It’s unfortunate, the last two races have obviously not gone to plan – last year I felt like I could do no wrong and this year it’s just been one thing after another. It’s been tough. I’m fine though, honestly just hit the tree and it was a slow crash, so we will take a step back and figure out how to not do that again next weekend.”

XC1 Open Pro Class Results

1. Johnny Girroir (KTM)

2. Steward Baylor Jr (Kawasaki)

3. Lyndon Snodgrass (Kawasaki)

…

8. Trevor Bollinger – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

DNF. Craig DeLong – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

WXC Class Results

1. Brandy Richards (KTM)

2. Korie Steede – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

3. Rachel Gutish (Sherco)

Upcoming Offroad Races – March 2024

3/11: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 3

3/25: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 4

3/25: National Hare & Hound Series – Round 2

3/25: U.S. Hard Enduro Series – Round 2

FIFTH AT DAYTONA SUPERCROSS KEEPS PIERCE BROWN IN 250SX EAST TITLE CONTENTION

Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing’s Pierce Brown made it a third-straight fifth-place result to open the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship in 250SX East, delivering another solid performance at the famed Daytona International Speedway.

Third-straight top-five result for PB in 250SX East
Improvements evident as Justin Barcia climbs 450SX order
Both riders qualify strong at the world-famous venue

Brown has been a picture of consistency this year equipped with the GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition, going 5-5-5 across the opening three rounds of the eastern region and is now tied for P2 in the standings, only a single point behind the series leader. He qualified fourth and then replicated that finish in his Heat Race, before scoring P5 in the Main Event.

Pierce Brown: “Another fifth was okay on paper, but a disappointing night. I didn’t get the start that I needed and it was hard to make passes, so we’ll regroup and pick some stuff up for next week. Overall, the bike is good and the team is also, I just need to get a start and put myself into position sooner.”

The weekend was a step forward for Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing rider Justin Barcia in 450SX, qualifying in sixth place and then storming to P5 in the opening Heat Race. He was affected by an average start in the Main Event, completing lap one in P18, before putting on a charge to claim 11th position on his GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition.

Justin Barcia: “Daytona definitely wasn’t the result we wanted, but we had some positives in practice, qualified a lot better today and there’s some light at the tunnel, which was cool. Led a little bit in the Heat, like half a lap, and then got a bit tight and ended up going down once, but it was okay. In the Main Event, I didn’t get off the start the best, had a couple of bobbles, crashed and really just struggled to hold on – I had some bad arm-pump tonight. We’ll regroup again and be back at it next week!”

Daytona also saw the 250SX Futures on track for the second time this season, where GASGAS amateur racer Cole Davies charged to second position in the Main Event and currently sits on top of the point standings following his 1-2 results to date on the GASGAS MC 250F.

Results – 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, Round 8

450SX Results – Daytona SX

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)

2. Eli Tomac (Yamaha)

3. Chase Sexton (KTM)

11. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)

450SX Championship Standings (After Round 8)

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 160pts

2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha) 150pts

3. Chase Sexton (KTM) 147pts

11. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) 82pts

250SX East Results – Daytona

1. Tom Vialle (KTM)

2. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki)

3. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)

5. Pierce Brown (GASGAS)

250SX East Championship Standings (After Round 3)

1. Max Anstie (Honda) 52pts

2. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki) 51pts

3. Pierce Brown (GASGAS) 51pts

TOM VIALLE AND RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING WIN DAYTONA 250SX MAIN EVENT

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A spectacular first win in the AMA Supercross Championship was earned by Tom Vialle at Daytona International Speedway tonight, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250SX East contender breaking through in challenging conditions at the world-famous venue. Round 8 also saw Chase Sexton finish on the podium, claiming third position in the 450SX Main Event.

Two-time MX2 World Champion Vialle moved to the U.S. full-time last season and raced to a first Supercross podium just one week ago in Arlington, now becoming a race winner onboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION.

The 23-year-old Frenchman qualified third fastest this afternoon and then was second in his Heat Race to keep the momentum going into the night program. Vialle was third at the conclusion of the opening lap of the Main Event and then took charge on lap five, going on to win by 4.997 seconds. As a result, he’s moved to within three points of the series lead.

Tom Vialle: “It was nice to grab the win after having my first podium last week and now my first victory here in Daytona. The track was tough, but I actually feel good. I didn’t have a great start, but I passed a lot of guys and it feels so good – it’s amazing to win. I want to thank my team and everybody who works with me and supports me. It’s amazing to race at Daytona and to get this result!”

Daytona was also a positive outing for defending 450SX Champion Sexton, qualifying second in the single session held during the afternoon and then racing to second in his Heat despite a crash while challenging for the lead. He factored at the front once again in the Main Event, leading the opening four laps until eventually taking the checkered flag in third position aboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. Sexton has climbed to P3 in the standings, currently 13 points outside of the red plate.

Chase Sexton: “This is definitely a step in the right direction. I’ve had a rough couple of weeks with my hand being hurt, but tonight was good. Overall, this is another building block and we’ll go back to work this week. I finally got to ride between races this past week with my hand and we’re not done yet, just gotta keep building and keep moving forward.”

This weekend marked the most difficult of the season for teammate Aaron Plessinger after he crashed heavily in the Main Event. His day started with promise, setting the eighth quickest lap in qualifying and then scoring P3 in his Heat, however, a crash while running sixth in the Main Event ended his hopes of a strong result, eventually salvaging four points for 18th position.

Aaron Plessinger: “Daytona was an interesting one. I was feeling good all day and then the rain came, got a little muddy, and the track was already soft, so that added to it. The Heat was good, caught a flow on my way to third, and then the Main Event was going well also, until it wasn’t. I was running around fifth or sixth, hit a soft spot on the face of a jump, and had to bail over the bars. I got up, the bike was all twisted so I pulled in, went back out, and then rolled around to save some points. Overall, we’re going into next weekend to race and we’re going to push on. I’m looking forward to Birmingham, it’s gonna be a good one.”

Next Race: March 9 – Birmingham, Alabama

Results 450SX Class – Daytona
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Eli Tomac (USA), Yamaha
3. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
OTHER KTM
18. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM

Standings 450SX Class 2024 after 8 of 17 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 160 points
2. Cooper Webb, 150
3. Chase Sexton, 147
OTHER KTM
6. Aaron Plessinger, 132

Results 250SX East Class – Daytona
1. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
2. Cameron McAdoo (USA), Kawasaki
3. Seth Hammaker (USA), Kawasaki

Standings 250SX East Class 2024 after 3 of 9 rounds
1. Max Anstie, 52 points
2. Cameron McAdoo, 51
3. Pierce Brown, 51
4. Tom Vialle, 49

WINNING WEEKEND FOR FMF KTM FACTORY RACING ACROSS GNCC AND NGPC SERIES

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir made it two from two to open the 2024 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series at the Wild Boar round, as Dante Oliveira won his third-straight National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) race of the year at Glen Helen this weekend. The success extended to FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers, with Grant Davis and Angus Riordan going 1-2 in the GNCC XC2 250 Pro Class, and Brandy Richards picking up her first GNCC victory in WXC.

GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP (GNCC) – ROUND 2

It was once again Johnny Girroir who mastered the conditions at Round 2 of the GNCC Series in the Wild Boar event, overcoming a first-turn crash and then climbing back past the best of the XC1 Open Pro pack for a second-straight overall victory.

Girroir was outstanding once again on his KTM 350 XC-F, this time in the technical, sandy terrain of Palatka, Florida, which was further impacted by rain late in the race. For FMF KTM Factory Racing rider Girroir, the win sees him stretch out a 14-point advantage in class.

Johnny Girroir: “I went down in the first corner, started at the back of the pack, and kind of just picked my way through those guys. I got in a battle with Stu [Baylor], we were going at it for a while there and he tucked the front-end a couple of times, so I found myself in the lead and said to myself, ‘It’s time to go’. This course was brutal, three-quarters of it was made up of sand-whoops and this last part was like survival with holes everywhere… And then the rain came, which made it even worse! It was gnarly.”

FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers trio Grant Davis, Angus Riordan, and Brandy Richards also delivered at Wild Boar, continuing to make their mark across XC2 250 Pro and WXC.

A 1-2 result from Davis and Riordan saw them celebrate together atop the XC2 250 Pro Class podium, with Davis also putting his KTM 250 XC-F second overall for the weekend in a breakout performance. Riordan continues to lead the standings, now four points ahead of Davis.

Grant Davis: “It was a tough one, especially when it started raining. It’s insane, to get my first XC2 win and to be on the overall podium, I don’t even know what to say right now – it feels like a dream! I have confidence heading into next week and hopefully we can keep up these results.”

Angus Riordan: “It was a tough, but fun weekend in the Florida wet sand. I had a bad start and then I was able to keep my head down and get back to P2. We will keep working and be ready to go again next weekend!”

Earlier, Richards rose to the occasion for her first GNCC victory in the WXC category also equipped with the KTM 250 XC-F. It was a rewarding result for her as she continues to adapt to East Coast competition, taking charge of the points lead in the process.

Brandy Richards: “It was brutal out there! I was second off the start behind Korie [Steede], she tipped over and I got around into the lead, but then I did a front-flip into the mud soon afterwards. After that, I calmed down, tried to stay smooth, and caught back up, which was a super-fun battle. I saw an opening, got by, and pushed to the end to come home with the win. It feels great to get my first in GNCC, I have been training with Kailub Russell close by here, riding a lot of sand, and it’s really nice to see that work pay off.”

XC1 Open Pro Class Results
1. Johnny Girroir, KTM
2. Steward Baylor Jr, KAW
3. Lyndon Snodgrass, KAW

XC2 250 Pro Class Results
1. Grant Davis, KTM
2. Angus Riordan, KTM
3. Tyler Medaglia, HON

WXC Class Results
1. Brandy Richards, KTM
2. Korie Steede, HQV
3. Rachel Gutish, SHR

NATIONAL GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP (NGPC) – ROUND 3

There was no denying Dante Oliveira another victory in NGPC at Glen Helen on Sunday, the FMF KTM Factory Racing rider maintaining his perfect start to the 2024 season as defending Pro Class Champion.

The elder Oliveira brother – who is splitting his time with select GNCC appearances this year – was back onboard his KTM 450 XC-F on the West Coast and managed the rain-soaked conditions to bring home his third win in as many rounds.

Dante Oliveira: “I was able to get the holeshot and put myself in clean air, then I had a couple of people catch me at times – I even think Mateo at one stage – and I just tried to play it smart. There were a couple of creeks that we went through and I didn’t want to push it too much in the conditions, so it ended up playing out really well for me. I’ve been doing a lot of more technical riding lately, training for GNCC, which also helps me here when we’re back in the more high-speed stuff, too. I’m looking forward to keeping things going this year.”

FMF KTM Factory Racing teammate Mateo Oliveira finished just outside the Pro Class podium in fourth position for his best race of the year so far, running as high as second position in the first half of the race before settling into a P4 result.

Mateo Oliveira: “My start wasn’t the best and it was chaos on that first lap. It was cool chasing down my brother, which I hadn’t done in a while, and I made a little charge there in the beginning. Austin [Walton] and Cole [Martinez] got by me, then I made a little mistake. Either way, I think fourth was where I was going to be anyway today, so we’ll keep working and pushing forward.”

Pro Class Results
1. Dante Oliveira, KTM
2. Austin Walton, HQV
3. Cole Martinez, HON
4. Mateo Oliveira, KTM

Upcoming Offroad Races – March 2024
3/11: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 3
3/17: West Hare Scrambles – Round 1
3/25: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 4
3/25: U.S. Hard Enduro Series – Round 2

Trio of Speedways Set to Host Second Year of SuperMotocross World Championship^TM Playoffs

Charlotte, Fort Worth and Las Vegas Named as Host Cities

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 2, 2024) – During tonight’s television broadcast of the DAYTONA Supercross, Round 8 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and SuperMotocross World Championship, lead analysts Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart revealed that zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and The Strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final in September.

Last year’s landmark inaugural season saw two of the sport’s youngest and brightest stars cement their place in the history books. At just 17, Haiden Deegan earned Rookie of the Year and captured the 250cc World Championship while Australian sensation Jett Lawrence, at 20, became the first-ever 450cc World Champion in the premier class, also as a rookie.

Showing the world this was no fluke, both Deegan and Lawrence are off to impressive starts in their 2024 campaigns. Deegan just earned his first win of the season (and his career) this past weekend at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and sits a mere seven points back in the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship after two rounds. Lawrence, on the other hand is the current points leader in the very deep 450SX premier class and has two wins already in a year that has witnessed five different race winners in the first seven rounds.

SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff 1 will take place on Saturday, September 7 at zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C. and Playoff 2 will take place on Saturday, September 14 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. The SMX World Championship Final will take place on Saturday, September 21 at The Strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, marking a long-anticipated return to a city that has hosted many memorable final Championship rounds in Supercross’ rich history.

Download Schedule Announcement Video

“Last year, we created a completely new off-road motorcycle racing playoff series that combined both disciplines of indoor stadium racing (Supercross) and outdoor motocross racing (Pro Motocross) that was fully embraced by the teams, athletes, industry and fans,” said Dave Prater, Vice President of Supercross, Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “Collectively, more than 110,000 fans from all over the world made their way here to attend the inaugural three round SMX World Championship Playoffs and Final and for the first time in the sport’s history witnessed the crowning of a true World Champion. The SuperMotocross World Championship is where the world comes to race.”

zMAX Dragway is situated adjacent to Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. and its world famous four-lane dragstrip and dual grandstands provided the perfect backdrop to host last year’s first-ever SMX World Championship Playoff. The Charlotte area is a hotbed for fans of the sport and is an easy city to get to from most points in the Eastern region. Last year’s playoff became the “must see” event of the year and is a primary reason for our return. zMAX Dragway proved to be a world-class facility in every way where the SMX experience was fully brought to life with a full day of fan activities on Friday, an industry packed FanFest on Saturday and a multitude of prime camping options for every budget. The “Bellagio of Dragstrips” also provided the perfect amount of width and depth to create a truly unique, world-class SMX track that surprised the teams and caught many of the sport’s star athletes off guard which led to dramatic racing and unpredictable results.

“Last year, we transformed a four-lane drag strip into the ultimate off-road playground and fans were treated to a full day of action-packed racing at the opening round of the inaugural SMX World Championships,” said Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Building on that experience, we’re excited to once again partner with Feld Motor Sports to bring together the top Supercross and Motocross riders from around the world at zMAX Dragway to put on a high-flying, white-knuckled show for the fans.”

The dual-lane split start was one of a number of unique features of the SMX World Championship Playoff track design held last fall at zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. Texas Motor Speedway, located in Fort Worth is easily accessible for fans traveling by car or plane with its central location and proximity to multiple international airports. The 1.5-mile quad-oval superspeedway sits on over 1400 acres of land and is one of the largest sports facilities in the country. Being a world-class venue, Texas Motor Speedway is no stranger to marquee events as they are a regular stop on the NASCAR Cup Series and provide all the modern amenities motorsports fans expect when purchasing an event ticket. Last week’s Supercross round (7) in Arlington, Texas broke attendance records and this Playoff round could prove to be an even bigger spectacle with a planned Friday FanFest, and fan camping options being made available.

“All of us at Texas Motor Speedway are thrilled to have been chosen to host Round 2 of the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs and we look forward to welcoming an entirely new and energetic group of race fans, from across the country and around the world, to our world-class facility,” said Texas Motor Speedway Executive Vice President & General Manager Mark Faber. “Supercross and motocross fans in the Fort Worth/Dallas metroplex have proven for years how much they love their sport so we look forward to proving to them how much we appreciate them coming to Texas Motor Speedway.”

Aptly named, The Strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is conveniently located just twenty minutes away from the world-famous Las Vegas strip and was a major deciding factor in bringing the SMX World Championship Final to Las Vegas.

“The Strip” is one of the most iconic dragstrips in the country and joins zMAX Dragway as being one of just two dragstrips in the nation to feature four-wide racing. This expansive footprint will allow our master track builders to get very imaginative in creating the final SMX World Championship track of the season. Situated right across the street from the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Strip is home to more than 50 events a year and provides an intimate viewing experience from the grandstands and suites while also offering fans the ability to “line the fence”, similar to what is done at a Pro Motocross event.

“The pinnacle of two-wheel racing is making its return to Las Vegas, and we’re thrilled to crown the ultimate champion at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, surrounded by the passionate fans of Supercross and Motocross,” said Chris Powell, Las Vegas Motor Speedway President. “In recent years, Las Vegas has emerged as the ultimate sports hub, making it fitting to include the SuperMotocross World Championship Final on the list of prestigious events hosted here.”

Fans “lining the fence” and having access to areas that are more in line with a Pro Motocross event are a big part of the SMX Playoff experience that can be provided in a Speedway setting. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
The SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs and Final will feature the best athletes in the world as the top 20 in combined Supercross and Pro Motocross points are automatically seeded into the playoff rounds. As in other sport playoffs, athletes will be competing for the sport’s ultimate World Championship title, and the prestige that comes from overcoming adversity through a 28-round, dual-discipline (indoor and outdoor) season, plus two SMX Playoffs and a Final.

The SMX World Championship is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series in the world and as such pays out more total prize money than any off-road motorcycle racing series on the planet.

All 17 rounds of the 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final will go on pre-sale, Tuesday, April 2, followed by public on-sale Tuesday, April 9. Friday FanFest, Saturday FanFest and camping options for each round and venue will be announced later in the season.

Jett Lawrence Wins Daytona Supercross and Extends Points Lead

Tom Vialle Earns Career-First Supercross Victory on Challenging Track

Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence took an impressive win, his third of the season, at Round 8 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship inside the Daytona International Speedway. Daytime rain and the soft soil of the track built into the speedway Trioval made for one of the most challenging Daytona Supercross tracks ever.

In perfect celebration of the 50th anniversary season of AMA Supercross racing, the Daytona International Speedway is the only venue to host a Supercross race every season, uninterrupted, since the start of the series. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac scored a strong second place finish, ending his streak of five straight wins at the venue. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton led the pack at the start and finished up with a third-place finish in front of record-high attendance for Daytona Supercross. This marks four races in a row this season where record highs for attendance were set. In the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle earned his first Supercross victory in the United States.

First place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

“It felt great. I felt good all day, but like I said, we came here for business… I’m just happy to come out of here with a win. Now I only hope we can keep clicking them off. I improved on my mistakes from last weekend, so I’m pumped about that and I’m ready to go on to the next few… [This win] means the world. The first time coming here and already winning a Daytona, it’s awesome. It’s like a home race for me. I gotta thank the crowd, they’re wild.” – Jett Lawrence

Second place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

“No, to be totally honest I didn’t look over at my pit board so I didn’t see anything, I didn’t feel anything, the motorcycle’s fine. There are treacherous conditions out there. For me, I’m on the clutch a lot and with the ruts that deep, obviously [those conditions] make the bike hot. But I powered through there. Thinking back to the race, [I’m] frustrated I didn’t do the quad; [that] cost me. So gotta take more risks next time. That’s that. So, yeah, second place.” [When asked more about not jumping the quad jump] “Yeah, that’s all what it came down to. And then I moved over to the right side and… the depth of the rut was a lot smaller, and [I’m] just bummed that I didn’t take that [line] earlier. But, ah, try to live and learn and go to the next one.” – Eli Tomac, when asked if he was aware of the smoke coming from his motorcycle during the second half of the race.

Third place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

“It’s definitely a step in right direction. I’ve had a rough couple weeks with my hand being hurt… It was a good first couple laps. I was doing this section next to the tunnel jump pretty good. Then I started getting a little sketchy and stopped doing it, and I paid the price for it [with slower lap times]. So overall this is a building block, and we’ll go back to work this week. I finally got to ride this week with my [injured but healing] hand, and yeah, we’re not done yet. Just gotta keep building and keep moving forward.” – Chase Sexton

The Eastern Regional 250SX Class held its third round and Tom Vialle fought forward to earn his career-first Monster Energy AMA Supercross win. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo led early but a mistake sent him off track and into second place. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker rode strong on the challenging track to nab a third-place finish.

First place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

“It’s nice to grab that win. I had my first podium last weekend and first win today in Daytona. Track was tough. I actually feel good, I could have [ridden] like 30 minutes, I think. So, it’s pretty nice, bike was nice. I didn’t have a great start, but I passed a lot of guys and just feel so good. It’s amazing to win and I want to thank everyone – my team, everyone who works with me during the week, my trainer – really everyone who supports me; and all those fans, it’s amazing to ride here in Daytona, so thank you everyone.” – Tom Vialle

Second place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

“Yeah, it was really about patience, and I think I did run out of a little bit of patience a couple times, and maybe [that] cost me that lead; but gosh, this was awesome. I love coming to Daytona… And just for the opportunity to be here and do what I love to do is awesome. I had a great time out there and we’re just going to keep plugging away…. This is a dream life that I get and I’m just so grateful for it. If you would’ve told Cameron McAdoo, even five years ago, that this would be his life, he would’ve laughed. So this is my dream, it’s coming true. I love what I get to do, and yeah, shout out to everyone, my family back home, my mom and dad, they didn’t get to make it out. Without them none of this is possible… I’m just grateful for the position I’m in and I’m excited to keep working at this.” – Cameron McAdoo, when asked if the Daytona race strategy was about patience.

Third place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

“[I’m] stoked on that ride. Like you said, I got off to a pretty good start and me and Haiden were going at it for the first couple laps. He bobbled in the sand, got around him, and I was actually able to pull a gap on them, so that felt nice. I just kind of failed to hit my lines consistently, but yeah, [overall I’m] stoked on that ride here at Daytona.” – Seth Hammaker

The second Supercross Futures race of 2024 lined up the future stars of the sport. Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Drew Adams fought hard for the win. Troy Lee Designs GASGAS’s Cole Davies challenged for the top spot and crossed the line in a very close second place. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Casey Cochran fought forward from a poor start to grab the final spot on the SX Futures podium at Daytona.

First place Supercross Futures Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

“My arms got pumped up, [and then] it’s hard to pull the clutch in. Yeah, I had a few mishaps, and I was worried for the last two laps there. But I just rode solid the whole time, got a good start this time and had a great race. You know, it’s awesome to get [a win] here at Daytona. A little bit of wet dirt, something different this year, and it was a great time. And thank you to all the fans, I love you guys!” – Drew Adams when asked if he was having clutch issues after stalling his bike a couple times.

During the Daytona race, the dates and venues for the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs and Final were announced. After 28 rounds of Monster Energy AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross conclude, the top 20 riders in combined points for both series will be seeded into the post-season racing. Riders who finish in positions 21-30 will compete in an LCQ at each event to round out the 22-rider field. Before post-season racing begins the points will be reset, with each rider retaining points for one round of racing based on their seeded position. Two Playoff races and one Final, each with increasing points payouts, will determine a SuperMotocross World Champion in both the 450cc and 250cc classes. The dates and venues are:

Next Saturday the series takes the Supercross racing to a new venue, Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. The event will pay points as Round 9 of both the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship.

Moose Racing Wild Boar: Motorcycle Race Report

PALATKA, Fla. (March 4, 2024) – The Moose Racing Wild Boar, round two of the 2024 Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, concluded racing on Sunday, March 3. After a sunny and warm start to the day, the clouds started to roll in and a downpour of rain later in the afternoon race would make it one of the gnarliest Florida GNCC finishes.

As the race got underway it was Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn getting the jump off the line to earn the $250 Steel City Medical Center’s XC1 Open Pro Holeshot award. After overcoming a first-turn crash, FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Jonathan Girroir would continue to push his way towards the front of the pack.Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Steward Baylor would make his way into the lead on the second lap of the race but would have Girroir just seconds behind him waiting to make a move into the lead. On the fourth lap, Girroir would do just that and make the pass stick on Baylor for the lead. As conditions worsened, Girroir put his head down and pushed on towards the finish. Girroir would cross the finish line with over a two-minute lead to earn his second-straight win of the season.Baylor would hold on to finish second in the XC1 class and third overall as FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers’ Grant Davis finished second overall from the XC2 250 Pro class. Babbitts Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green’s Lyndon Snodgrass would battle back from an eighth place start to round out the top three XC1 finishers, and fourth overall on the day in Florida.

After earning the holeshot Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn would have a consistent race as he maintained a top five position throughout, and ultimately crossing the line fourth in XC1 and sixth overall on the day. JS Sherco Racing’s Josh Strang steadily climbed his way back up past his competitors as he started his day back in the tenth place position. Strang would come back to make a last lap pass to finish fifth in XC1, and seventh overall at round two.Active Air/Max Motorsports/FXR/Husqvarna’s Evan Smith would cross the line eighth overall, sixth in XC1, after starting his day at the back of the pack on the opening lap and having to work his way back. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Michael Witkowski came through to earn seventh in XC1, while finishing ninth overall.After getting off to a good start, Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Trevor Bollinger would find himself having to regroup and push his way back towards the front after the second lap. Bollinger would then have to make a fast pit stop after his rear brake went out. As he got back out on the track, he would come through to earn eleventh overall, and eighth in XC1. Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing’s Ryder Lafferty made his way to ninth in XC1 after having to come back from the back of the pack mid-way through the race.Unfortunately for Babbitts Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green’s Grant Baylor he would be running third after five laps of racing but would have his bike lock up during the last lap and was unable to finish out the lap. AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell would complete four out of six laps, while Morgantown Powersports/Tely Energy KTM’s Layne Michael was only able to complete three laps of the race.A big upset for Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Craig DeLong happened during lap one after a bad start to the race. DeLong would crash on the opening lap, and after realizing he had broken part of the bike, he went to get help. Upon returning DeLong realized his bike was on fire from the exhaust touching some dry grass, ultimately ending his day.

As the XC2 250 Pro class took off it was Bells Electric Race Team’s Toby Cleveland earning himself the $250 Steel City Medical Center XC2 Holeshot award. However, it would not take long for FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers’ Grant Davis to make a pass into the lead on the opening lap. For the first couple of laps Davis and Team Enduro Engineering’s Josh Toth would battle back-and-forth, but as the race wore on Davis would hold the lead position and make a mad dash towards to the front of the pack.Davis would come through to earn his first-ever XC2 class win, but he would also have another huge accomplishment of finishing second overall on the day.FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers’ Angus Riordan, who is the current XC2 points leader, would make his way up to second in the class after battling back from a fourth place start to the day, while also finishing fifth overall. Making a GNCC appearance this season was Honda Canada/GDR/Fox Racing’s Tyler Medaglia as he battled his way from the back of the pack up to third in the XC2 class to close out his day at round two. Unfortunately for the XC2 250 Pro defending champion, AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper he would only be able to complete four out of the six laps after running in the third place position.

In the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class it was TCO Off-Road KTM Canada’s Philippe Chaine grabbing the Lojak Cycle Sales XC3 Holeshot award to start the day, however Devore/KTM/FXR/SRS Suspension made his way into the lead not long after the start. Devore would hold the lead for the first three laps of the race before Liqui Moly Factory Beta Racing’s Jhak Walker made the pass for the lead stick on Devore. Walker remained in the lead for the remainder of the race crossing the line six minutes ahead of his competition.Devore would ultimately be unable to finish the race, as he only completed four out of the six laps. After grabbing the hoelshot, TCO Off-Road KTM Canada’s Philippe Chaine would continue to push for the duration of the race, coming through to earn a podium position in the FMF XC3 class as he crossed the finish line in second. Destructo Racing/Dixie Fuel/Prescription Tune Suspension’s Dustin Simpson made his way into a podium position on the last lap as he battled through the conditions in Florida.Earning the Top Amateur honors at the Wild Boar was Team Green Kawasaki’s Nick DeFeo as he came through to earn an impressive 10th overall finishing position on the day, and the 250 A class win. Jason Tino came through to earn second on the Top Amateur podium with a 15th overall and second in 250 A. Zack Hayes rounded out the Top Amateur podium with a 19th overall and a first place finish in the Open A class.

As the morning race got underway, it was Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Korie Steede jumping off the line first and earning herself the $100 Kanati Performance Tires WXC Holeshot award. Steede would hold the lead position for the first lap of the race, but FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers’ Brandy Richards was right behind her looking for a chance to make a pass stick.Richards would have that opportunity on the second lap, making her way into the WXC lead as they came around. Richards would continue to hold the lead for the rest of the race, coming through to earn her first-ever WXC class win in GNCC and by over a minute. Steede would continue to push but would be unable to battle back against Richards. She would come across the finish line second in WXC. Sherco USA/Moose/Rachel Gutish Racing’s Rachel Gutish made her way into third on the second lap, and she would continue to push for the remaining laps of the race, crossing the finish line third in her class at round two.Kailub Russell would race the morning race in the Sportsman A class, coming through to earn the overall win, while Tom Mason from Australia would also race in Sportsman A coming through second overall in the race.

In the 8 a.m. youth bike race it was your defending overall youth racer, Caleb Wood, battling it out with fellow YXC1 Super Mini Sr. (14-15) competitor, Brayden Baisley for majority of the race. Wood made his way back into the lead position, pushing for the last three laps and ultimately crossing the finish line with over a minute lead. Baisley would hold on to her second overall and in the YXC1 class. Travis Lentz battled back to come through first in the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) class and rounded out the top three youth overall finishers in Florida.Kole Parlin made his way through earning third in YXC1, which would also be his first podium in the class. Hayden Dupuis and Nash Peerson came through in second and third to round out the top three in the YXC2 class. Other winners on the day were Hunter Carey in the 85 Big Wheel (11-15) class and Ace Tokar in the 85 (12-13) class. Wyatt Johnson would earn the 85 (11) class win, while Gage Lane took home the 85 (7-10) class win. In the 65 (10-11) class it was Trason Landrum earning the win and Tripp Lewis earned himself the 65 (9) class win, while Krue Russell earned his first 65 (7-8) class win. Madison Kazimir of the Girls Super Mini (12-16) would battle back to earn her class win, Sahara Robinson took home the Girls 85 (7-13) class win and Vaida Lavergne earned the Girls 65 (7-11) class win at round two. Brysun Scott came to race and earned himself the Trail Rider (7-15) class win.

The third round of the 2024 Progressive GNCC Racing Series will take place on March 9 and 10 in Washington, Georgia with The Specialized General GNCC at Aonia Pass MX. ATVs and Micros race on Saturday and Motorcycles take to the course on Sunday. For more information on The Specialized General GNCC, click HERE. To purchase online admission tickets for the event, visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/gnccracing.Catch GNCC Pro ATV and Motorcycle Racing free via RacerTV.com all season long. Pro ATV Racing starts Saturday’s at 2pm ET, with the exception of Big Buck, Snowshoe and Ironman events where they will start at 1pm ET. GNCC Pro Motorcycle Racing will begin at 1pm ET on Sunday’s. Later in the year GNCC Racing will premiere on MAVTV with event highlight episodes.For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #GNCC.Facebook: @gnccracingInstagram: @gncc_racingTwitter: @gnccracingYouTube: @racertv

Moose Racing Wild Boar Results and Points Standings
Palatka, Florida
Round 2 of 13
Sunday, March 3, 2024XC1 Pro Event Results:Jonathan Girroir (KTM)Steward Baylor (KAW)Lyndon Snodgrass (KAW)Jordan Ashburn (GAS)Josh Strang (SHR)Evan Smith (HQV)Michael Witkowski (HON)Trevor Bollinger (HQV)Ryder Lafferty (GAS)Grant Baylor (KAW)*Overall National Championship Standings:Jonathan Girroir (60)Steward Baylor (46)Grant Davis (37)Jordan Ashburn (33)Angus Riordan (31)Evan Smith (29)Josh Strang (23)Grant Baylor (21)Trevor Bollinger (21)Michael Witkowski (20)*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2024 National Champion.XC2 250 Pro Event Results:Grant Davis (KTM)Angus Riordan (KTM)Tyler Medaglia (HON)Jesse Ansley (KAW)Jonathan Johnson (BET)Ruy Barbosa (HON)Tyler Palmer (HQV)Max Erlandsson (HON)Cody Barnes (HON)Joshua Toth (HON)XC2 250 Pro Series Standings:Angus Riordan (55)Grant Davis (51)Jesse Ansley (31)Jonathan Johnson (30)Joshua Toth (29)Ruy Barbosa (26)Liam Draper (25)Tyler Palmer (24)Toby Cleveland (21)Tyler Medaglia (21)

Jett Lawrence Adds His Name to Daytona SX Winners List

As the AMA Supercross series approached its midway point at the unique Daytona, Florida, round, Jett Lawrence put in a statement ride, making solid passes before pulling ahead to a convincing victory. Given the venue’s rich history and challenging track, Daytona wins are meaningful; this one was particularly impressive, as Jett earned it in his first year as a premier-class rider, indicating that he learned an important lesson following last week’s final-lap crash out of the lead in Arlington. The 20-year-old Australian also became the year’s first three-time winner, and he expanded his lead in the title chase to 10 points.

Following a tense moment before the start when there was a delay in the removal of his rear-tire cover, Jett was sixth out of turn 1, just behind brother and teammate Hunter Lawrence. When lap 1 was finished, Jett was up to third, where he stayed through lap 4. At that point, Lawrence used a quad jump through a rhythm section to move by Eli Tomac, then snuck by Chase Sexton in the following turn. From there, Jett went about establishing a cushion, running lap times a couple of seconds lower than his competitors. In the end, Jett won by nearly six seconds, though he led by more than 10 seconds at times. Phoenix Racing Honda rider Dylan Ferrandis ended the night eighth, while Hunter Lawrence suffered a hard fall early on and withdrew with a sore shoulder. (At the time this was published, Hunter was awaiting results of an MRI to determine the gravity of the injury.)

Hymas was just inside the top 10 off the 250SX East main-event start, then up to seventh by the end of lap 1. He moved up one position on each of the next two laps to assume fifth, but a fall and getting stuck on a Tuff Block dropped the Idaho native back in the pack, resulting in an eventual 15^th-place result. Meanwhile, Fire Power Honda rider Max Anstie recovered from 10^th after lap 1 to finish eighth, good enough to maintain a narrow lead in the championship battle.

NOTES

All three participating Team Honda HRC riders—Jett Lawrence, Hunter Lawrence and Chance Hymas—took part in Friday’s media-day activities, participating in interviews and getting in some laps on the challenging Daytona track.
Pro Honda sponsored a “Team Member of the Weekend” award for Daytona, with co-winners Mike Spraker and Tom Poage (the Team Honda HRC truck drivers) taking home JBL Flip 6 portable Bluetooth speakers.
With Daytona being a home race for the Lawrence family, Tate Lawrence (the middle brother, who is autistic) was on hand. Team Honda HRC manager Lars Lindstrom took the opportunity to re-sign Tate to a new two-year deal as a team ambassador, and Tate participated in the rider-autograph session at the team rig, signing his own custom posters. “I’m excited to have Tate back in our truck for another two years,” Lars said. “He was highly sought after by the other teams, but after intense negotiations, we were able to get the deal done.”
The second timed qualifying session was canceled due to rain, which meant only the times from the first session counted. Jett ended up fifth-fastest in the 450SX division, with Hunter 10^th. In the 250SX East ranks, Chance Hymas had the eighth-best time (one behind Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie).
Daytona was a 250SX Futures round, pitting top amateur racers against one another. The top-finishing Red Rider was SLR Honda’s Parker Ross, in sixth, with teammate Alvin Hillan taking 19^th
Chance Hymas was slotted in the first 250SX East heat race, and after sitting fourth off the start, he slipped to seventh before recovering a spot later on lap 1. He was fifth at the end of the following lap and third on lap 3. He maintained that position to the finish, and then Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie earned his first-ever heat-race win in the second heat. Other Red Riders to advance from heat 2 were TiLube Honda’s Henry Miller, RRG privateer Tyler Stepek and Lasting Impressions-backed Izaih Clark.
Hunter and Jett Lawrence were in 450SX heat races 1 and 2, respectively. Hunter was sixth after one lap and moved up to fifth on lap 3. A last-lap mistake dropped him to seventh at the finish.
Jett was fifth out of turn 1 in heat 2, and the first lap saw him move by Jason Anderson and Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis. Two laps later, he passed Justin Cooper and Eli Tomac on the same straightaway, and he then powered ahead to a 6.269-second win. Ferrandis held on for fourth, two ahead of Fire Power Honda’s Dean Wilson. Valley Automotive Group-backed Red Rider Jeremy Hand made it through the last-chance qualifier.
Jett notched the fastest lap time in the 450SX main event, 1.665 seconds quicker than the next-best rider’s top time.
The day after the race, Rick Johnson published an Instagram post about a text message he had received from fellow Team Honda legend David Bailey: “Young guy with talent and fight and bold confidence takes on an older guy who already won the title and Daytona and beats him in the heat and the main event and goes on to win the title!,” Bailey wrote. “Statement wins in ’86 and ’24.” (Johnson bested ’84 winner Bailey in ’86, then went on to take his first SX crown.)
Jett’s victory gave Honda sole ownership of the premier-class Daytona win record, at 18. Other Red Riders to have topped the top class at the venue include Marty Tripes, Darrell Shultz, Bob Hannah (twice), David Bailey, Rick Johnson (twice), Rick Ryan, Jeff Stanton (four times), Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael (twice), Kevin Windham and Justin Brayton (the previous Honda-mounted Daytona premier-class winner, in 2018).
This was actually Jett’s second win at Daytona, as he topped the 250SX East race in 2022. Hunter won that class at last year’s Daytona race.
Unfortunately, Fire Power Honda’s Dean Wilson suffered a broken scapula during a crash in the Daytona 450SX main event.
Jett Lawrence and Max Anstie both retained their red number plates, signifying their leads in the 450SX and 250SX East title chases leaving Daytona. Jett extended his lead from three to 10 points, while Anstie holds a one-point advantage.
AMA Supercross now proceeds to Birmingham, Alabama, this weekend, when round 9 will be held at Protective Stadium (a new venue on the schedule).

Daniels Increases Daytona Win Streak to Three in Dramatic Progressive AFT Opener

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 7, 2024) – The opening Mission SuperTwins victory of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, season went to Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) in a Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I that contained far more drama than Daniels’ final 3.769-second margin of victory would seem to indicate.

For much of the night – including the opening half of the Main Event – the fans that packed the Daytona International Speedway Flat Track grandstands thought they just might just witness Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Dodge Bros. Racing/Castrol Harley-Davidson XR750) give the iconic Harley-Davidson XR750 its 503rd Grand National Championship race win more than five decades after its first.

In fact, Halbert topped a session in both practice and qualifying, won his heat race, and then proved victorious in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge aboard the venerable machine. He followed that up by grabbing the holeshot in the Main Event and then stretching open more than a second’s worth of padding at the front.

That advantage was further aided by the stiff fight Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) provided all comers while running second despite the likes of Daniels, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) all seeking a way through.

Daniels finally managed to make a pass that stuck a little over six minutes remaining on the clock and immediately went about eating up the gap to Halbert. However, what promised to be a thrilling dogfight for victory was spoiled when Halbert’s machine began to smoke heavily with half of the race still remaining.

The Estenson Racing Yamaha ace dove through to steal away first. Moments later, the black flag was (first) shown to Halbert, who continued to push for several laps before finally heeding the instruction.

Halbert’s misfortune saw Price move back up into second with Bauman third, while Daniels weaved his way through traffic out front en route to victory.

After the contest, Daniels – who will now look to equal last year’s season-opening double victory at the venue – said, “This track was so technical. It was nothing like last year where you could just kinda go in and get it on. What a ride for the team. We kind of struggled all day, and I was just chipping away. I started catching up to Sammy, and he started to blow up and coolant was getting in my face. (Once in front), I started looking back a lot. For some reason I got nervous, but the last five laps, I really buckled down and those were my fastest laps of the race.

“After Springfield, we left a little bitter. It didn’t feel good. That whole offseason we worked hard. To get three in a row at Daytona feels good. That Main Event, I had so much fun plugging away. I would prefer to get the holeshot and be out front but being able to come through and dig my way to the front felt good.”

Price held on for a most welcome runner-up finish in his all-new team’s maiden outing, while Robinson moved through on a fading Bauman to earn the final spot on the podium.

In fact, Bauman’s tumble down the order wouldn’t end there, as he was also displaced by Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), nine-time Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750), and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) before finishing seventh in the end.

Cameron Smith (No. 34 RVR/KTM/Schaefer’s Motorsport KTM 790 Duke) picked up eighth, one spot ahead of Dan Bromley (No. 62 Big Red Super Twins/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp), who took ninth in the new Honda-powered effort’s debut. Mission SuperTwins rookie Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing KTM 790 Duke) completed the top ten.

Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER

Double defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) opened his quest for an unprecedented third class crown in near-perfect fashion, walking away with the Main Event after earlier winning both his heat and the Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Challenge.

It was a fine way to not just start his title defense but also an all-new partnership after joining the Rick Ware Racing outfit just days prior to the opener.

While Kopp claimed the checkered flag running alone in the end, it wasn’t quite that simple in the doing. Despite grabbing the holeshot, he was actually overhauled by former class champ Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) before completing the first lap.

Gauthier then pulled some space at the front while Kopp had his hands full with projected title rivals Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R).

But Kopp found his groove at mid-distance, putting in a charge that allowed him to reclaim the lead and power forward to secure the victory by 1.502 seconds over Gauthier.

“We just kept our heads on straight the whole offseason,” said Kopp. “I love this track, and I love Daytona. Huge shout out to Rick Ware for coming on the program a little over a week ago. We pulled it together, and we got a win tonight. Wally Brown built one heck of a KTM 450 – arguably even better than the factory bikes I might say.”

Meanwhile, the final spot on the box went to neither Drane – who crashed on the last lap and was ultimately credited in 15th – nor Saathoff. Rather it was Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who finished third by battling his way back through the pack after being pushed wide and well down the order in the early stages of the Main.

Saathoff finished fourth another 0.309 seconds back with Justin Jones (No. 91 J&H Racing Husqvarna FC 450) rounding out the top five.

Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions/Media HT Husqvarna FC450), Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F), Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R), and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F) finished sixth through tenth, respectively.

Earlier in the evening, Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) kicked off the Main Event program by winning the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. season opener in runaway fashion.

Next Up:

The world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series will return to action tomorrow night with the second half of the double opener, the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/daytona-short-track-ii-86992 to secure your tickets now.

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at http://flosports.link/aft.

FOX Sports coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, March 16, at 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. PT), while the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II will air the following day, Sunday, March 17, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT).
For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

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