This Week in Powersports Racing – The week of April 28, 2024

This week in US powersports racing.

AMSOIL Hoosier: Motorcycle Race Report
Baylor Earns Second-Straight Win of the Season

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. (April 29, 2024) – Round Six, AMSOIL Hoosier, of the 2024 Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, concluded on Sunday, April 28. The world’s fastest off-road racers were put to the test at Ironman Raceway as track conditions became rutted and tacky after the Saturday rainfall. When the XC1 Open Pro class saw the green flag waving, it was FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnathan Girroir jumping off the line first to earn the $250 Steel City Medical Center Holeshot Award. Girroir would head into the woods first and hold the lead position for the first five laps of the race. While Girroir was out front, Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Steward Baylor was making his way through the pack. Baylor would make the pass right as the white flag came out indicating one more lap to go.

Baylor would lead over Girroir by just 2.9 seconds as they came through and headed out for their last lap. Baylor put his head down and pushed, coming through to cross the finish line in first, and earning his second-straight win of the season. Girroir would come through second, but he would be penalized one position for pitting outside of his designated pro pit area, ultimately scoring him as third overall on the day. Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Craig Delong would be up in the mix battling for a top three position throughout the duration of the race. Delong came through in the third place position, but he would be bumped up to second after Girroir’s penalty was assessed. Delong was charging all day, making the necessary passes from his fifth place start to secure his podium finish at round six. Coming through to earn fourth overall on the day was Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn. After mixing it up at the front of the pack for the first couple of laps, Ashburn would fall back to fifth, but eventually make the pass for fourth to conclude his day in Indiana.

Phoenix Racing Honda’s Mike Witkowski would have another great ride in his home state of Indiana as he came through to round out the top five overall finishers. Witkowski would start his day running in third, but he would be unable to hold off some hard chargers for the three-hour duration. Coming through sixth in XC1 and ninth overall was Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Trevor Bollinger as he had a back-and-forth day coming back from eighth place at the halfway point of the race. Active Air/Max Motorsports/FXR/Husqvarna’s Evan Smith put in a good ride battling for the entire length of the race. Smith would finish seventh in the XC2 class, and 10th overall on the day. Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green’s Grant Baylor battled back from a 12th place start to finish eighth at Ironman Raceway, while Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing’s Ryder Lafferty crossed the line ninth in class and 14th overall. JS Sherco Racing’s Josh Strang rounded out the top 10 finishers in the XC1 class after a hard-fought day of racing.

As the XC2 250 Pro class took off it was Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cody Barnes grabbing the $250 Steel City Medical Center Holeshot Award and headed into the woods first. As the XC2 class raced towards the scoring area, the first four riders were separated by just one second each. The FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s duo of Angus Riordan and Grant Davis would swap the lead position throughout the duration of the race, along with AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper battling between the two. Riordan would continue to hold the lead the second half of the race, but Davis and Draper would continue to hold on and push for the remaining laps as well. Riordan would cross the line first earning the win in Indiana. Davis and Draper would round out the top three in the XC2 class at round six.

In the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class it was Destructo Racing/Dixie Fuel/Total Control Suspension’s Dustin Simpson grabbing himself the $100 Lojak Cycle Sales XC3 Holeshot Award to start off the day. But soon enough Liqui Moly Factory Beta Racing’s Jhak Walker would emerge through the trees and into the timing and scoring holding the lead position on the opening lap. As the race wore on, Devore/KTMFXR/SRS Suspension’s Dakoda Devore would make the pass of Walker and begin to push forward. Devore would continue to hold the lead until the checkered flag flew, earning his third FMF XC3 class win of the season. After earning the holeshot Simpson would continue to push at the front of the pack and would ultimately cross the line in second. After suffering a crash during the race Walker would be forced to make a pit stop to work on the bike. Walker would still be able to get back on track and round out the top three FMF XC3 finishers. Taking the AMSOIL Hoosier Top Amateur honors was Husqvarna-backed Jason Tino as he came through to finish 8th overall on the day and earning the 250 A class win. Kawasaki Team Green’s Nicholas DeFeo would be second atop the Top Amateur podium as he came through 16th overall and second in 250 A. KTM-backed Cooper Jones rounded out the Top Amateur podium as he finished 17th overall and third in the 250 A class.

As the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class took off it was Kibuk Cycle/Steel City Medical Center/Josh Lojak’s House of Speed’s Sawyer Carratura earning himself the Lojak Cycle Sales Holeshot Award and leading the way into the woods. Carratura would hold the lead for the first three laps of the race, but soon after that Devore Racing/KTM/FXR/SRS Suspension’s Dakoda Devore would begin to apply the pressure and make a pass for the lead. Devore and Carratura would battle for the next lap, but Devore would be able to begin to place a gap between them on the last two laps of the race. Devore would earn the FMF XC3 class win while Carratura held on for second in the class. Liqui Moly Factory Beta Racing’s Jhak Walker would have a consistent race as he remained in the third place position for the duration of the race. Earning The Old Gray top amateur honors was 250 A competitor, Jason Tino as he came through to finish 9th overall on the day, while also earning his second class win of the season. Nick DeFeo would be second up on the top amateur podium as he came through to finish 12th overall and second in the 250 A class. Joseph Cunningham rounded out the top amateur podium with an 18th overall finishing position and third in the 250 A class.

The WXC race saw some intense battles throughout the morning, as Enduro Engineering/GASGAS/FXR’s Shelby Turner got the jump off the line and grabbed herself the $100 Kanati Tires WXC Holeshot Award. However, Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki’s Rachael Archer was ready to battle and made the pass for the lead early on. Archer would continue to lead unbothered for the first two laps, but by the time the white flag flew Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Korie Steede was just five seconds behind her. Unfortunately for Steede that momentum was short lived as she Archer emerged from the woods first into timing and scoring to earn her third win of the season. Enduro Engineering/GASGAS/FXR’s Shelby Turner would also make a couple of last lap passes to overtake second place in the WXC class, and Sherco USA/Moose/Rachel Gutish Racing’s Rachel Gutish would battle at the front of the pack throughout the race to round out the top three WXC class finishers in Indiana. Steede would cross the line fourth on the day. Charlie Mullins threw his leg over a motorcycle once again and went GNCC Racing as he competed in the Sportsman A class. Mullins would win the overall as he came through five minutes ahead of Archer who finished second overall. Sportsman A competitor, Cody Groves would come through to earn third overall in the morning race.

On Sunday morning in the Youth Bike race, it would be Caleb Wood battling through to take over the lead from Brody Amos after the opening lap. Wood made his way into the lead and would not look back as he continued to push for the remainder of the race. Wood came through to earn his fourth youth overall and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. class win of the season. Amos would hold onto the second overall finishing position as well as second in the YXC1 class. Brayden Baisley battled his way up to third and would try to push for the lead, but ultimately crossed the line third overall and in the YXC1 class. Travis Lentz remains undefeated in the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. class as he earned his sixth straight win of the season in Indiana. Colby Goodman would work his way up to second in the class after starting back in the fifth place position, and Phillip Arnold would round out the top three in the YXC2 class at round six. Colton McQuarrie would earn the 85 Big Wheel (11-15) class win, while Hunter Hawkinberry took home the 85 (12-13) class win. Deegan Caplinger earned the 85 (11) class win and Ryder White won the 85 (7-10) class in Indiana. Trason Landrum would come through first in the 65 (10-11) class, Tripp Lewis would earn the 65 (9) class win and Daxton Mullins took home the 65 (7-8) class win at round six. Madison Kazmir earned herself the Girls Super Mini (12-16) class win, Sahara Robinson took home another Girls 85 (7-13) class win and Vaida Lavergne won the Girls 65 (7-11) class. Hudson Charles would come through first in the Trail Rider (7-15) class at the conclusion of the youth bike race.

On Saturday the Micro Bike overall win went to Tripp Lewis, he would also earn the MXC1 class win in Indiana. Ellis Austin would have a consistent day as he ran second for the duration of the race, crossing the line second overall and in MXC1. Daxton Mullins would battle back to finish third overall and round out the top three in the MXC1 class. In the MXC2 class it would be Kane Morrison earning the win, while finishing fourth overall on the day. Maura Tsakanikas would battle her way back up to second after starting back in fifth on the opening lap, and Weston Ford rounded out the top three MXC2 class finishers at round six. Other Micro Bike winners included Peyton Austin in the 50 Sr. 1 (7) class, Carson Zink in the 50 Sr. 2 (6), while Hunter Siegel earned the 50 Jr. 1 (6-7) class win and Jacobi Duvall took home the 50 Jr. 2 (4-5) class win. Jayce Young earned the Micro-E (4-7) class win, Carson Propst came through to take the Micro Shaft Drive (4-6) class win and Easton Weaver would win the Trail Rider (7-9) class. 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.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

AMSOIL Hoosier Results and Points Standings
Crawfordsville, Indiana
Round 6 of 13
Sunday, April 28, 2024XC1 Pro Event Results:Steward Baylor (KAW)Craig Delong (HQV)Jonathan Girroir (KTM)Jordan Ashburn (GAS)Michael Witkowski (HON)Trevor Bollinger (HQV)Evan Smith (HQV)Grant Baylor (KAW)Ryder Lafferty (GAS)Josh Strang (SHR)Lyndon Snodgrass (KAW)Layne Michael (YAM)*Overall National Championship Standings:Jonathan Girroir (152)Steward Baylor (142)Jordan Ashburn (109)Grant Davis (93)Angus Riordan (76)Craig Delong (74)Grant Baylor (71)Michael Witkowski (62)Liam Draper (54)Trevor Bollinger (52)*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2024 National Champion.XC2 250 Pro Event Results:Angus Riordan (KTM)Grant Davis (KTM)Liam Draper (YAM)Cody Barnes (HON)Brody Johnson (BET)Jason Lipscomb (BET)Ruy Barbosa (HON)Layton Smail (SHR)Thad Duvall (KAW)Jesse Ansley (KAW)XC2 250 Pro Series Standings:Grant Davis (156)Angus Riordan (147)Liam Draper (112)Josh Toth (93)Cody Barnes (84)Ruy Barbosa (81)Jesse Ansley (78)Thad Duvall (77)Brody Johnson (71)Jason Lipscomb (66)

Jett Lawrence Stretches Advantage With Philadelphia SX Win

With the AMA Supercross series winding down, Team Honda HRC rider Jett Lawrence continues to perform under pressure. At the Philadelphia stop, which was round 15 of 17, the 20-year-old led the 450SX main event from start to finish, notching his second-consecutive victory and stretching his title-fight advantage to 12. Hunter Lawrence finished seventh in the same class, while Chance Hymas turned in the best result of his career, overcoming a poor start to finish fifth in the 250SX East main event.

Starting the 450SX main event just outside the starter’s box, Jett pulled a high-pressure holeshot and simply never looked back, ultimately winning by over five seconds. Title-rival Cooper Webb sat second for most of the race but was passed late by Chase Sexton and Jason Anderson. Meanwhile, Hunter rode almost the entire race in seventh place. He put a pass on Justin Barcia for sixth with just over a lap remaining, but Barcia got back by shortly after.

The tricky first turn was unkind to Hymas on the 250SX East main-event start, with the Idaho native sitting back in 17^th at the end of lap 1. From there, however, Hymas turned in a strong performance, advancing to the top 10 before the midway point and hitting seventh with two laps remaining. He passed two more riders on the final lap to notch his first-ever top-five result. Meanwhile, Fire Power Honda rider Max Anstie put in an impressive ride to tally the second 250SX win of his career.

NOTES

Team Honda HRC participated in media-day activities on Friday, giving the riders an opportunity to try out the track and be interviewed by the press.
Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis made a return to racing in Philadelphia, following a five-race absence due to a lung infection. The Frenchman finished ninth in the 450SX class.
Also racing in Philadelphia was Ferrandis’s Phoenix teammate, newly recrowned AMA Arenacross Champion Kyle Peters. Peters finished 12^th in the 250SX East main event.
For the first time in his premier-class career, Hunter Lawrence was the top rider in combined qualifying times. Jett Lawrence was fourth after falling on a hot lap. In the 250SX East class, Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie was best, while Chance Hymas was eighth.
Jett went down in turn 1 during the first 450SX heat race, rejoining the race at the very back of the pack. Knowing that a good main-event start would be vital, the Australian marched through the pack, making his way up to fourth by the finish. In the second heat race, Hunter Lawrence exited turn 1 just behind Jason Anderson and followed him throughout the race to notch a second-place result—one ahead of Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis. Fire Power Honda’s Dean Wilson was eighth.
Chance Hymas suffered a poor start in 250SX East heat-race 1, completing lap 1 in 13^th, but he was able to climb to sixth by the finish—one ahead of Phoenix Racing Honda’s Kyle Peters, with TiLube Honda’s Henry Miller also making it through. Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie and privateer Red Rider Ryder Floyd advanced through heat 2 (third and sixth, respectively), and Luhovey Racing-backed CRF250R rider Vinny Luhovey made it through from the last-chance qualifier.
Jett’s Philadelphia victory was his seventh of the year, and his second in a row. Only one other rider has more than a single victory this season—Cooper Webb, with four.
Only two rounds remain in AMA Supercross, with Denver this coming weekend and then Salt Lake City next week. Jett carries a 12-point 450SX title-chase lead into the penultimate round, while Hunter sits in 10^th place, four points behind Justin Barcia. Hymas is ninth in the 250SX East ranks.

MOMENTUM BUILDS FOR MALCOLM STEWART IN PHILADELPHIA WITH EIGHTH IN 450SX

An eighth-place finish marked another step forward for Malcolm Stewart and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in Philadelphia for Round 15 of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, continuing to gain momentum in the final stages of the season.

Stewart has been improving from week to week onboard his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition, qualifying in ninth position – within a second of the fastest lap-time following Qualifying 2 – and then racing to fifth in Heat 2. The Main Event saw him fight hard to P8 for a fourth-straight top-10 score and he’s still ranked 11th in the standings.

“Philly was definitely new for everybody, very challenging dirt, but I enjoyed it,” said Stewart. “The fans were awesome this weekend and we actually did alright. The Main Event was okay, because I made some mistakes, but pulled it back around and we ended up P8. It’s not the result we want exactly, but I rode good and that’s all that we can ask for at the end of the day. There are some things we could clean up, so I look forward to the next races and the whole Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing crew have done a phenomenal job – we’ll keep giving it everything we’ve got.”

Teenage teammate Casey Cochran made his third professional AMA Supercross start in 250SX East, once again displaying his speed for ninth overall in Qualifying and then claiming seventh in his Heat race. Equipped with the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition, he had an early mishap in the Main Event, before going on to claim five points in 17th position.

“It was another day of learning for me overall,” Cochran reflected. “It wasn’t the best day for me, but we’ll push on and move forward. I’m taking it all in with each race, so we’ll use this to keep being able to learn and apply it for next year.”

Next Race: May 4 – Denver, Colorado

Download hi-res images from the 2024 Philadelphia Supercross here

Results 450SX Class – Philadelphia
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
3. Jason Anderson (USA), Kawasaki
6. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
8. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 450SX Class 2024 after 15 of 17 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 311 points
2. Cooper Webb, 299
3. Eli Tomac, 270
4. Chase Sexton, 268
7. Aaron Plessinger, 198
9. Justin Barcia, 182
11. Malcolm Stewart, 169

Results 250SX East Class – Philadelphia
1. Max Anstie (GBR), Honda
2. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
3. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
14. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS
17. Casey Cochran (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 250SX East Class 2024 after 8 of 9 rounds
1. Tom Vialle, 158 points
2. Haiden Deegan, 143
3. Pierce Brown, 124
22. Casey Cochran, 19

DEFENDING GNCC CHAMPION CRAIG DELONG MAKES PODIUM RETURN AT THE HOOSIER

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing achieved podium results across the Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC) with Craig DeLong and in the U.S. Hard Enduro Series courtesy of Ryder LeBlond this weekend, being the highlights at the end of a packed weekend of offroad competition.

Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC) – Round 6

The Hoosier marked Round 6 of the Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC) at Ironman Raceway in Indiana, where Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Craig DeLong earned his first podium result of the 2024 season.

DeLong has been on the rise in recent weeks onboard his Husqvarna Motorcycles FX 350 and after crossing the finish line third on Sunday, he was elevated to second position post-race and that’s moved the defending champion to P4 in the XC1 Open Pro Class standings.

“This is definitely a step in the right direction for how the season has gone,” DeLong said. “I’m just happy to be up front and to be in the battle again! We’re getting there and I’m happy with that, to be on the podium, and I want to keep this going into the next round now.”

Teammate Trevor Bollinger also claimed his best finish of the year in sixth position at the conclusion of the XC1 Open Pro Class race, while in the WXC encounter Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede took the checkered flag in fourth place, equipped with her Husqvarna Motorcycles FX 250.

XC1 Open Pro Class Results

1. Steward Baylor Jr, KAW

2. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

3. Johnny Girroir, KTM

6. Trevor Bollinger, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

WXC Class Results

1. Rachael Archer, KAW

2. Shelby Turner, GAS

3. Rachel Gutish, SHR

4. Korie Steede, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

7. Brandy Richards, KTM

U.S. Hard Enduro Series – Round 3

Three rounds into the U.S. Hard Enduro Series and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder LeBlond has a trio of podium scores to his credit after taking home another third-place finish at the Battle of the Goats in Taylorsville, North Carolina.

LeBlond powered his Husqvarna Motorcycles TE 300 to P3 in spectacular fashion, featuring among the front of the pack through Saturday’s Prologue and into Sunday on his way to the podium. Despite the race’s duration of three laps and over four hours on the bike, there was a lot to celebrate at race’s end with a well-earned result.

“I ended up third and had some good battles throughout the day,” LeBlond said. “I kept Trystan [Hart] in sight for a while and then was with Cody [Webb]. I kept a pretty consistent pace and we were all pretty close when it came to the finish – we’ll aim to get them at the next one.”

Battle of the Goats saw Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing place both entries inside the top five by virtue of Colton Haaker’s fifth-place score, marking what was his best performance of the year. It was another inspired ride that will serve him well in upcoming races.

“A fifth-place finish and around six hours of riding, so a lot of good things to take away!” reflected Haaker. “We felt really comfortable after working out some arm-pump… I felt like myself from the second lap and it was solid from there. I didn’t make as many mistakes and felt a lot more flow, so it was sick. Everything came together pretty good after that first lap.”

Pro Class Results

1. Trystan Hart, KTM

2. Cody Webb, SHR

3. Ryder LeBlond, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

4. Will Riordan, GAS

5. Colton Haaker, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) – Round 5

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Austin Walton arrived in Pala, California, with momentum on his side and pushed hard on his way to seventh place at Fox Raceway on Sunday, adapting to the tight track layout and taking a lot from the weekend.

Walton sprinted early and ran as high as third in the early stages of the race onboard his Husqvarna Motorcycles FX 450, before settling into a rhythm and eventually taking the checkered flag in P7. He’s currently ranked fourth in the point standings following Round 5.

“It was a super-challenging weekend, so much different to a usual GP-style event, and really tight,” Walton commented. “That was different to what I’ve been working on, so we will keep our heads down following a race like this, because there’s a lot to learn from it. I’m sure everybody was struggling with the track today, so it was all about managing those mistakes and hitting your marks. Where we finished isn’t where I expect myself to be and I’m going to keep preparing for the tight stuff coming up.”

Pro Class Results

1. Cole Martinez, HON

2. Dante Oliveira, KTM

3. Dare Demartile, BET

5. Mateo Oliveira, KTM

7. Austin Walton, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Upcoming Offroad Races – May 2024
5/5: National Enduro Series – Round 3
5/12: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 7
5/26: National Grand Prix Championship – Round 6
5/26: U.S. Sprint Enduro Series – Round 5
5/26: U.S. Hard Enduro Series – Round 4

HARD-FOUGHT SIXTH-PLACE RESULT FROM JUSTIN BARCIA IN PHILADELPHIA

Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia’s run of late-season form continued in the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship at Philadelphia with a sixth-place result in the 450SX Main Event, while teammate Pierce Brown was denied a shot at the 250SX East podium following a final lap mishap.

Bam Bam puts up a fight for sixth position in 450SX Main Event
Pierce Brown in 250SX East podium fight until late crash
Just one race remains in eastern region and PB sits third!

Barcia was only a second outside of P1 at the end of Qualifying on his GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition and stopped the clocks in 10th position, before recording a P3 result in the opening premier class Heat race of Round 15. He was consistent on his way to P6 in the Main Event, withstanding pressure from behind, and maintains ninth in the series points table.

Justin Barcia: “We had a good practice today, qualified P10 and I was quite happy with that because we were within a second of the leader, so that was cool. Heat race, it was good, but nothing spectacular. In the Main Event, I came out top-five on the start and rode really well, then got a little tight in the middle. At the end – or really from the mid-stages of the race – Hunter [Lawrence] was on me and we had a really good battle – it was like the hardest fought sixth-place battle ever! I’m really happy with my ride, even if not so much the result. We’re on the up and up, the bike was extremely good today, and I’m looking forward to the last two races in Supercross and onto the outdoors.”

250SX East teammate Brown was also on the gas in Philly, despite qualifying in seventh position. He rode his GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition to fourth in Heat 2 and then factored up front in the Main Event until a crash entering the final lap while positioned in P3 unfortunately saw him drop down the order to a 14th-place finish.

Brown has moved to third place in the eastern regional point standings with just one race remaining in the series, while next week we’ll see the return of Ryder DiFrancesco in 250SX West at Denver. Both will be on track in Salt Lake City’s 250SX East/West Showdown for the Supercross Finals.

Next Race: May 4 – Denver, Colorado

CHASE SEXTON AND TOM VIALLE CHARGE TO SECOND IN PHILADELPHIA SUPERCROSS

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammates Chase Sexton and Tom Vialle both delivered important second-place finishes in Philadelphia’s 15th round of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship. For Vialle, his result enabled him to extend his advantage in the 250SX East standings with a single round remaining in the eastern region.

Sexton was back on track aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION this weekend, fifth on the time sheets at the conclusion of Qualifying and then racing through the pack to claim sixth in Heat 2. The defending 450SX Champion also put on a charge in the Main Event from fifth after lap one for an eventual P2 result, currently positioned fourth in the point standings.

Chase Sexton: “Philadelphia was a good round for me, we’re happy with second and I felt like it was a strong ride in the end. I didn’t get a good start, but was able to make my way through the pack and had some really good laps. Tonight, I had a little bit more of my normal speed, and I haven’t really had that all year, so I feel like I’m coming into form in these final races of the series. There’s been a lot of learning this year, I feel like I’ve grown a lot and it’s made me better – we’ll keep clicking these things off and keep getting better with the team.”

Philadelphia saw Vialle reunited with the 250SX East red plate as the series leader and he was instantly on the pace this morning, setting the benchmark in Qualifying 1 on his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. The Frenchman ended up third on combined times and then scored second in Heat 2, setting him up strongly for the Main Event.

Two-time MX2 World Champion Vialle was buried in 10th position at the end of the opening lap, but was spectacular on his way to second position as the checkered flag flew – climbing to within 1.111s at race’s end. As a result of his seventh-consecutive podium, he will carry a 15-point lead into the Supercross Finals at Salt Lake City in two weeks’ time.

Tom Vialle: “It was a good race tonight. I saw Haiden [Deegan] right behind me and trying to push – together we actually came back from pretty far and to the front. The track was pretty gnarly again, we passed a lot of guys in that Main Event, and it was stressful at times, but I pushed to the very end and it was a good result to finish second here in Philadelphia. Now we will look ahead to Salt Lake City and I am excited to get to the final round of the season.”

Next Race: May 4 – Denver, Colorado

TRYSTAN HART BACK ON TOP AS U.S. HARD ENDURO RESUMES AT BATTLE OF THE GOATS

It was a weekend filled with offroad podium results for FMF KTM Factory Racing riders, headlined by defending U.S. Hard Enduro Series Champion Trystan Hart’s return to the top step of the podium at the Battle of the Goats event in North Carolina. Johnny Girroir continues to lead XC1 Open Pro overall and Gus Riordan won XC2 250 Pro at the Hoosier’s seventh round of the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series, while Dante Oliveira was runner-up in Round 5 of the National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) at Fox Raceway.

U.S. HARD ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 3

The U.S. Hard Enduro Series continued with Round 3 of the 2024 season at the Battle of the Goats in North Carolina, where FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart took his first victory of the year.

Defending champion Hart was supremely strong on his KTM 300 XC-W, winning the Prologue on Saturday and then going on to control Sunday’s proceedings from the front of the pack in drier conditions than usually experienced at the Taylorsville race.

Following a consistent start to the season, Hart’s Battle of the Goats win has now enabled him to move to within five points of the Pro Class series lead behind Cody Webb.

Trystan Hart: “It was a long race, despite how dry it was, and we did an extra lap than normal – around four hours in duration this weekend. I had some sick battles on lap one, and made some mistakes as well, but cleaned it up on lap two and was able to get my first win of the year. It’s a good feeling, so I want to keep moving forward from here!”

Pro Class Results
1. Trystan Hart, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Cody Webb, SHR
3. Ryder LeBlond, HQV
4. Will Riordan, GAS
5. Colton Haaker, HQV

GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY (GNCC) SERIES – ROUND 6

A third-place result at the Hoosier’s sixth round of the 2024 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series extended Johnny Girroir’s perfect run of XC1 Open Pro Class podium finishes for this year, currently holding a 10-point advantage in the standings.

After claiming the holeshot, Girroir led much of the race in Crawfordsville, Indiana, aboard his KTM 350 XC-F, but eventually had to settle for P3 on the podium. He initially took the checkered flag in second on track, but was demoted by one position after making a rare error during a pit stop.

Johnny Girroir: “The race was going awesome and then it fell apart, unfortunately. I missed my pit, wasn’t that smart out there in the second half of the race and it bit me, so we’ll go back to the drawing board and be back for the next one.”

FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers delivered a 1-2 finish in the XC2 250 Pro Class at Ironman Raceway, after Gus Riordan and Grant Davis fought for the victory on their KTM 250 XC-F machinery. It’s still Davis who has the points lead, now nine ahead of Riordan after he picked up his third win of the season.

Gus Riordan: “It was another stressful race for us, but good for the fans! We kept on swapping for the lead up until that second pit stop and then I was able to put my head down to pull a bit of a gap, which made things a little easier on myself. It was a pretty smooth race and we’re really happy to win this one.”

Grant Davis: “The track was good this weekend, for sure. We were all battling and I got into the lead at one point, then went down, and then went back to third. I was able to get back into the lead and was feeling really good, but had some trouble with a lapped rider – after that, it was about bringing it to the finish.”

The WXC Class saw Brandy Richards continue to learn the ropes of GNCC competition, placing seventh at the Hoosier riding her KTM 250 XC-F. As a result, Richards is ranked third in the point standings, 29 points outside of the lead in the middle stages of the series.

XC1 Open Pro Class Results
1. Steward Baylor Jr, KAW
2. Craig DeLong, HQV
3. Johnny Girroir, FMF KTM Factory Racing
6. Trevor Bollinger, HQV

XC2 250 Pro Class Results
1. Angus Riordan, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
2. Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
3. Liam Draper, YAM

WXC Class Results
1. Rachael Archer, KAW
2. Shelby Turner, GAS
3. Rachel Gutish, SHR
4. Korie Steede, HQV
7. Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers

NATIONAL GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP (NGPC) – ROUND 5

A tight and technical fifth round of the 2024 National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) descended on Fox Raceway in Pala, California, where FMF KTM Factory Racing rider Dante Oliveira finished second overall after putting up a fight for victory to the end.

After winning the opening four races, Oliveira rode his KTM 450 XC-F to P2 in the unique track conditions, continuing to lead the Pro Class standings, while younger brother and teammate Mateo Oliveira charged to a convincing fifth-place finish.

Dante Oliveira: “It was an awesome race, to battle it out with Cole [Martinez] across the last three laps was sick! I put myself in a bad position off the start, actually got a great jump but came in a little too hot. Other than that, I put my head down – it was a brutal track, dusty and treacherous, but a lot of fun. I fell a little short, tipped over on the last lap coming into the last two miles, so it was Cole’s day today. We’ll fight on from here, the body’s strong and I’m ready to keep going!”

Mateo Oliveira: “Today wasn’t bad. I think it could have been quite a bit better, but I made a few mistakes and they cost me. It was a crazy race in some ways, a lot of rocks, but cool to have a technical round again, and I enjoyed it a lot. I’m capable of a podium though, so I need to execute at the Grand Prix races and that’s the goal.”

Pro Class Results
1. Cole Martinez, HON
2. Dante Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
3. Dare Demartile, BET
5. Mateo Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
7. Austin Walton, HQV

UPCOMING OFFROAD RACES – MAY 2024
5/5: National Enduro Series – Round 3
5/12: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 7
5/12: West Hare Scrambles Series – Round 3
5/26: National Grand Prix Championship – Round 6
5/26: U.S. Sprint Enduro Series – Round 5
5/26: U.S. Hard Enduro Series – Round 4

Mission Accomplished: Robinson Wins Texas Half-Mile

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 27, 2024) – Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) successfully defended his team’s home turf in a spectacular Mission SuperTwins Main Event to headline Saturday night’s Mission Texas Half-Mile presented by Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda and Roof Systems of Dallas, Round 4 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.

A victory at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, was always the dream result for the locally-based Mission Roof Systems outfit, but Robinson would have to go through both nine-time Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) and premier-class phenom Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) to do so.

Estenson ace Daniels blasted into the lead off the launch and Mees dove up the inside as the two threatened another 1-2 breakaway at the front. Robinson was having none of it, however, tracking the duo down to transform the lead pack into a three-piece before they could shake free.

For the next few minutes, the trio traded positions in a flurry of moves before Robinson grasped command as the contest approached half distance. His thoughts of making an escape were upended by brake issues and Mees – the greatest Half-Miler in the history of the series and the winner of the previous three Texas Half-Miles – stormed back alongside Robinson with two to go.

Mees attempted an around-the-outside bid to steal away the win on the race’s final corner, but Robinson held firm, edging the factory Indian pilot to the checkered flag by a narrow 0.120-second margin. Daniels came home in third another 0.676 seconds back.

“When we unloaded, I was definitely uncomfortable to start the day,” Robinson admitted. “Huge shout out to Ben Evans and Kayl Kolkman – they got me dialed-in. That race was epic. I’ve never really had a firm grasp on this place in the past, but tonight was awesome. I was able to use the high line in the beginning to make some moves and get around the guys. From there, I felt really good, but with about four minutes to go, I lost brakes, which was not fun. But we weathered that storm. It’s awesome to start the season the way we have. Big thanks to Mission Foods and Jerry Stinchfield at Roof Systems – they make our program happen.”

Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) came out on top of a two-rider fight for fourth that also included two-time Mission SuperTwins champ Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke).

Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) crossed the line clear in sixth, while Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R), Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), and Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) completed the top ten in that order.

After failing to win a race in 2023, Robinson became the first rider to claim a second Mission SuperTwins victory in 2024. He also took control of the championship lead in the process, as Robinson now leads Daniels by four points (86-82). Mees remains well within striking distance at 75 points in his quest to secure an unprecedented tenth GNC.

Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER

It turns out 13 was the lucky number for Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) in his protracted, often excruciating, pursuit of a maiden Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER win.

After having previously notched up 12 podiums – half of those runners-up – Saathoff at last secured that elusive win, even if it didn’t play out quite the way he had envisioned.

In fact, the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event felt as if it was actively attempting to derail Saathoff’s luck as opposed to indulging it.

After showcasing race-winning speed throughout the day, Saathoff’s bid was pushed until the end of the day when inclement weather forced a reshuffling of the schedule. And when it did finally take place, the Main was red-flagged no less than three times – each one with Saathoff in the lead – due to a combination of precipitation and crashes.

The race was ultimately called complete with just over one minute remaining on the clock. As a result, Saathoff was awarded the win despite being robbed of the satisfaction of crossing the finish line in first.

Saathoff said, “It was crazy for sure. Every time there was a red flag, I’d just try to go over and control my thoughts. I pulled through with like four holeshots and can’t be more stoked with this, I would say, ‘win.’ I got the holeshot and led all of the race, but I would have liked to have taken the checkered flag. But I’ll take it. I’m not ashamed of it. I’d like to thank everybody so much for all their support.”

Title fighters Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) were credited in second and third after charging their way forward – Kopp in particular after running as low as eighth in the early going.

Kopp still holds a commanding lead with 92 points, while Saathoff’s breakthrough win elevated him into second (75) followed by Drane in third (69).

Next Up:

The Progressive American Flat Track season continues next weekend with the inaugural Silver Dollar Short Track at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California, on Saturday, May 4. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/silver-dollar-short-track-89147 to secure your tickets today.

For those who can’t catch the 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 Mission Texas Half-Mile, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, May 5, at 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT).

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

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