This week in US powersports racing.
GRANT DAVIS EXTENDS WITH THIRD-STRAIGHT NE PRO2 VICTORY AT BLACK BUFFALO NATIONAL
FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers rider Grant Davis extended his NE Pro2 win-streak in the 2024 AMA National Enduro Series with a class victory and overall podium at the Black Buffalo National in Kingston, Arkansas.
After winning the Sumter National season-opening round in February and then Round 2 at the Cajun Classic last month, Davis has is unbeaten across the first three rounds onboard his KTM 250 XC-F to hold down the points lead as the season approaches its middle stages.
Davis started in convincing fashion at the Black Buffalo race by topping the first test both in class and overall. He continued to set the benchmark in class – leading all but one test across the day – despite the technical, wet conditions that riders faced this weekend.
In the end, and despite some late mistakes in the final tests as the conditions further deteriorated, it was a comfortable win for Davis and FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers in the NE Pro2 Class, also ranking third overall in a standout performance.
Grant Davis: “It was a good day. I won the first test overall, which I’ve never done before, and I was around third or fourth overall all day long. In those last two tests, I couldn’t stay off the ground, but it was a fun round with all the rain and rocks – that’s what I like!”
NE Pro2 Class Results
1. Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
2. Hunter Bush, GAS
3. Will Sievenpiper, KAW
UPCOMING OFFROAD RACES – MAY 2024
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
CHASE SEXTON FIGHTS HARD FOR EIGHTH IN PENULTIMATE ROUND OF SUPERCROSS
DENVER, Colo. – Reigning AMA Supercross Champion Chase Sexton fought hard to finish eighth in the penultimate round of the 2024 season in Denver tonight, recovering from a first turn incident for position, as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Julien Beaumer took a top 10 result in the 250SX West Main Event.
Sexton set the third-fastest lap in qualifying and placed second in Heat 2 onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, but his night came unstuck with an early crash in the premier class 450SX Main Event. He clawed his way back to as high as fifth until another fall bumped him back down the order, before he went on to finish P8 – a result that has him tied on points for third in the standings with a single round remaining.
Chase Sexton: “Denver, not a great Main Event, but we had a pretty solid day up until that point. I fell in the first turn, came from pretty much last to fifth and then fell again, so I rode it in from there for eighth. I pretty much have every piece of the puzzle, so I just have to put them together now, and that’s encouraging for us at least heading into the final round next weekend.”
250SX West rookie Beaumer continued to build experience in Round 9 of the 250SX West division. He was fifth on combined times at the conclusion of qualifying and then raced to third position in Heat 2 of the afternoon, before clawing his way to 10th in the Main Event riding the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION.
The teenager was comfortably inside the top 10 across the opening laps before a mishap dropped him to the rear of the pack, but he managed to make his way back to P10 by the time the checkered flag flew. As a result, he retains sixth in the championship standings, now within three points of the top five.
Julien Beaumer: “It was a good day overall, probably my best riding of the season, and I’m happy with that. Unfortunately I got landed on early in the Main Event and started from way back at that point, but came back to 10th. I’m happy with my riding, even if the result doesn’t show, so we will go back to work this week and be ready for Salt Lake.”
Next Race: May 11 – Salt Lake City, Utah
FOURTH IN DENVER SUPERCROSS A CONTINUATION OF JUSTIN BARCIA TURNAROUND
A fourth-place finish from Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing rider Justin Barcia at Denver’s penultimate stop of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship saw him continue his rapid run of late-season form, making further progression that he’s been building upon in recent weeks.
- P4 result Bam Bam’s best finish since San Diego podium
- Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing makes further gains
- Ryder D returns in an inspired ride to 11th position
Barcia qualified ninth on his GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition, before racing to fourth in the second 450SX Heat race of the round. After completing the opening lap in P6, a consistent effort in the Main Event saw him move forward to a fourth-place finish, which has in turn elevated him to ninth in the championship standings following 16 of 17 rounds.
Justin Barcia: “Practice and Qualifying were good today, and then the Heat race was okay, even if fourth wasn’t exactly what I wanted. Going into the Main, I knew the track had deteriorated and that my bike would work good on that in the hard-pack. I got a pretty good start, had a lot of intensity in the race, and we were just off the podium in fourth. All in all, it’s been a positive couple of weekends, and we’ve got one more to go in Salt Lake City – podium or bust!”
The resumption of 250SX West saw Ryder DiFrancesco back on track tonight inside the Empower Field at Mile High stadium equipped with the GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition, where he qualified in P9 and then was fourth position in Heat 2 after leading initially.
Trouble at the beginning of the Main Event saw him wedged at the back of the pack, however, from there he climbed all the way back to 11th by race’s end in a well-earned result. He continues to sit 12th in the series with one round left to run.
Ryder DiFrancesco: “Denver was okay, but not the result we wanted. In the Heat race I got a holeshot and led a few laps, which was good. In the Main Event I went down on the opening lap and ended up 11th, but came back even if I didn’t ride very well. I’m excited to try and finish up good next weekend before we head outdoors!”
Next Race: May 11 – Salt Lake City, Utah
POSITIVE SIGNS FOR TREVOR BOLLINGER IN BLACK BUFFALO NATIONAL ENDURO
Trevor Bollinger flew the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing flag solo for seventh position in class at the weekend’s Black Buffalo National, marking Round 3 of the 2024 AMA National Enduro Series.
Bollinger was able to get his National Enduro season back on track last month at the Cajun Classic and continued to build momentum this weekend in Kingston, Arkansas, despite rain-affected conditions making for a challenging day out on the technical single-track trail.
A P2 effort in the second test of the day marked the highlight for Bollinger onboard his Husqvarna Motorcycles FX 350, before the rain came and he settled in for seventh in the NE Pro1 Class and 10th overall – finishing within a minute of the top-five on combined times.
“The day started off pretty good,” Bollinger said. “It was foggy this morning and I thought the track was going to be slicker than it was, so I was pretty timid in that first test. The second test was absolutely perfect, my kind of track, and I got second in that one. And then the rain came down, so I was back trying to figure it out again! We had some good times and there were a few of us battling down to the very end. I had a good day, although I wish the rain would have held off, but I enjoyed it.”
NE Pro1 Class Results
1. Josh Toth, GAS
2. Grant Baylor, KAW
3. Steward Baylor, KAW
7. Trevor Bollinger, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
Upcoming Offroad Races – May 2024
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
DENVER PODIUM HAS RJ HAMPSHIRE TIED FOR POINTS LEAD IN 250SX WEST TITLE RACE
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire finished third at the penultimate round of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship in Denver, positioning him tied on points with a single round remaining in the 250SX West title race.
After carrying the 250SX West red plate into Denver with a two-point advantage in the standings, Hampshire managed to qualify on top of the timesheets and then finished second in Heat 2 of the night program. The Main Event saw Hampshire caught in the pack in the early stages, before he raced into clear air and set his sights on the podium.
An eventual third-place result for Hampshire on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition – just 2.163s outside of the victory – will see him enter next Saturday’s AMA Supercross Finals in Salt Lake City as the joint points leader, tied with Levi Kitchen in a winner takes all scenario that will also double as the second 250SX East/West Showdown of the season.
“We’re leaving with the red plate still and it’s all tied up heading into the final round,” Hampshire recalled. “It’s awesome to be in this position and going for a championship. We had really good speed all day and I needed some things to go my way in the Main Event, but they didn’t. I need to focus on getting out of the gate better, put myself in a better position, and we can win this championship next weekend. I’ll be ready to go in Salt Lake.”
Denver started in exceptional fashion for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SX teammate Malcolm Stewart, taking his best qualifying result of the year with second position on combined times riding the Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition.
Stewart finished third in Heat 1, but was caught up in a first turn incident, which put him on the back foot for the remainder of the Main Event. In the end, he managed to race his way back to seventh place in one of his best rides of the year, and continues to sit 11th in points.
“I had a really good time here – for some reason, I always ride really good here in Denver,” Stewart said. “Practice was amazing, the track was hard-pack and a little technical. We got third in the Heat, which was actually okay, and then in the Main Event unfortunately we were in a first turn pile-up. I went down again with a lap or two to go, then finished strong and ended up seventh. The result wasn’t what we wanted, but the riding was really good and keeps the motivation up going into Salt Lake City. We’ll try to finish this season off on a high note! We’ve had some flashes, which is what I need and what the team needed, so I’m excited.”
Next Race: May 11 – Salt Lake City, Utah
Download hi-res images from the 2024 Denver Supercross here
Results 450SX Class – Denver
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
3. Jason Anderson (USA), Kawasaki
4. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
7. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
8. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
Standings 450SX Class 2024 after 16 of 17 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 336 points
2. Cooper Webb, 316
3. Chase Sexton, 282
9. Justin Barcia, 200
10. Aaron Plessinger, 198
11. Malcolm Stewart, 184
Results 250SX West Class – Denver
1. Jo Shimoda (JPN), Honda
2. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki
3. RJ Hampshire (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
10. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
11. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS
Standings 250SX West Class 2024 after 9 of 10 rounds
1. RJ Hampshire, 186 points
2. Levi Kitchen, 186
3. Jordon Smith, 165
6. Julien Beaumer, 118
12. Ryder DiFrancesco, 79
Team Honda HRC Sweeps Denver Supercross
Team Honda HRC achieved a near-perfect performance in Denver, at the penultimate round of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship. Jett and Hunter Lawrence made Supercross history as the first brothers to stand on the premier-class podium together, after they finished first and second, respectively. Jett’s win enabled him to pad his lead in the 450SX standings ahead of the season finale. In the 250SX West division, Jo Shimoda led wire-to-wire, earning his first win of the season, the second of his career and his first with Team Honda HRC.
The factory Honda CRF450RWE machines were quick out of the gate in the 450SX main event, with Hunter Lawrence grabbing the holeshot and Jett close in tow. Hunter led the first half of the race, showing impressive speed and poise. At about the midway point, Jett made the pass for the lead, and from there, the Australian duo logged consistent laps and crossed the finish line just under two seconds apart. It was Jett’s eighth win of the season, putting himself in a strong position in the title fight. Hunter’s career-best second-place finish comes on the heels of several strong showings in recent weeks, including a heat-race win and pole-position qualifying result.
Team Honda HRC’s Jo Shimoda executed a flawless start in the 250SX West main event and never looked back. The Japanese rider pulled away from his competition in the early stages of the race, establishing a comfortable gap ahead of second place. Despite a last-lap charge from Levi Kitchen, Shimoda maintained his composure and brought home the second 250SX win of his career.
NOTES
- Littleton, Colorado, dealership Peak Honda World staffed a pop-up activation booth in the Team Honda HRC pits, where they displayed powersports products and engaged with fans and customers.
- Jett and Hunter Lawrence both participated in media-day activities on Friday in Denver, trying out the track and speaking with the journalists on hand.
- For the ninth time this season, Jett Lawrence was the top rider in combined 450SX qualifying times, and Hunter Lawrence was fourth. Jo Shimoda notched the sixth-best time in the 250SX West division.
- In the first 450SX heat race, Hunter Lawrence led the first lap before being passed by Cooper Webb. Hunter pushed Webb hard throughout and eventually finished just over one second back. Jett Lawrence then took a wire-to-wire win in the second heat, with Fire Power Honda’s Dean Wilson and SmarTop Spas/MotoConcepts Honda’s Vince Friese also making it straight through to the main event. After a heat-race crash, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis worked his way through the pack in the last-chance qualifier to take the win.
- Jo Shimoda used an excellent start to get an early lead in the first 250SX West heat race, and he led all the way to the finish for an 8.686-second win.
- On his way to the 450SX main-event win, Jett Lawrence turned in the fastest lap time of the race.
- Team Honda HRC riders secured the holeshot in every race that they lined up in, including heat races and main events.
- With Jett’s victory this weekend, Honda has surpassed Kawasaki for most premier-class wins in Denver, with three (Jeremy McGrath in 1996 and Chase Sexton in 2023). With Shimoda’s 250SX victory, Honda now has the most support-class wins in Denver, with two (the other was with Hunter Lawrence in 2022).
- With his eighth victory of the year, Jett now has double the 2024 season win tally of his next-closest competitor.
- The 2024 AMA Supercross season finale takes place this coming weekend, in Salt Lake City. Jett Lawrence now has a 20-point lead in the 450SX standings, while Hunter climbed two positions, to eighth. Salt Lake is a 250SX East-West Showdown, which means Chance Hymas and Jo Shimoda will both be in action.
Jett Lawrence
“It’s an awesome accomplishment to get my eighth win in my rookie season, but the bigger story of tonight is Hunter and I going first and second, for the first brothers to ever do that! Hunter was holding a really good pace all race, but I knew I had to get those extra of couple points for next weekend. But it did feel like we were home at the Dog Pound [practice facility] all race, just Hunter and me following each other.”
Hunter Lawrence
“Tonight would’ve been awesome to get a win, but the championship isn’t about me right now; I’ll have my time next year, and maybe even next weekend. It felt amazing to get the holeshot I’d been waiting on, and to lead some laps. It’s crazy to think back to earlier this season, when I got three seventh-place finishes in a row, and now to see where I’m at. I just have to learn more, gain more confidence on the bike, and keep working.”
Jo Shimoda
“I’m super pumped to get a win for me and my new team; it feels like I’m rewarding the whole team for all of their work. I’ve been putting in a lot of work on the starts, and I think my recent finishes have shown that it’s paying off. I’m hoping to keep building off of this.”
Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager
“Tonight is a night that I won’t ever forget. It kind of gave me feelings of last year, when we won both classes many times. Congrats to Jo for his first win on our team and getting a holeshot at altitude says something about the performance of the CRF250R. Winning a 450 SX is so difficult and going 1-2 is something that hasn’t happened that many times. To do it with brothers is not only a record, but something so special that I feel incredibly lucky just to be a part of. I can’t imagine how happy and proud Darren and Emma Lawrence are of their boys, it’s truly an honor to have them on Team Honda HRC.”
450SX Results
- Jett Lawrence (Hon)
- Hunter Lawrence (Hon)
- Jason Anderson (Kaw)
- Justin Barcia (Gas)
- Cooper Webb (Yam)
- Justin Cooper (Yam)
- Malcolm Stewart (Hus)
- Chase Sexton (KTM)
- Dylan Ferrandis (Hon)
- Eli Tomac (Yam)
—
11. Dean Wilson (Hon)
12. Mitchell Oldenburg (Hon)
16. Vince Friese (Hon)
20. Jeremy Hand (Hon)
450SX Championship Points (after 16 of 17 rounds)
- Jett Lawrence: 336
- Cooper Webb: 316
- Eli Tomac: 282
- Chase Sexton: 282
- Jason Anderson: 264
- Ken Roczen: 223
- Justin Cooper: 205
- Hunter Lawrence: 200
- Justin Barcia: 200
- Aaron Plessinger: 198
—
12. Dylan Ferrandis: 133
16. Dean Wilson: 79
19. Vince Friese: 54
250SX West Region Results
- Jo Shimoda (Hon)
- Levi Kitchen (Kaw)
- R.J. Hampshire (Hus)
- Nate Thrasher (Yam)
- Jordan Smith (Yam)
- Phil Nicoletti (Yam)
- Cole Thompson (Yam)
- Robbie Wageman (Yam)
- Talon Hawkins (KTM)
- Julien Beaumer (KTM)
250SX West Region Championship Points (after 9 of 10 rounds)
- Levi Kitchen: 186
- R.J. Hampshire: 186
- Jordon Smith: 165
- Jo Shimoda: 163
- Garrett Marchbanks: 121
- Julien Beaumer: 118
- Nate Thrasher: 107
- Anthony Bourdon: 102
- Phil Nicoletti: 93
- Carson Mumford: 88
—
15. Mitchell Oldenburg: 67
DOUBLE PODIUM IN DENVER FOR MONSTER ENERGY® KAWASAKI RIDERS
Foothill Ranch, Calif. (May 5, 2024) – Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Levi Kitchen secured second place in Denver and leaves Round 16 tied for the points lead in the 250SX Western Regional Championship, heading into the final round of Monster Energy AMA Supercross. Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Jason Anderson, achieved a second-consecutive podium finish, taking third place. Teammate Adam Cianciarulo battled hard to secure 15th place in the 450SX Main Event.
Empower Field at Mile High is famous for hosting the NFL’s Denver Broncos and it particularly shines as the epicenter of action during the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. The stadium’s sprawling layout and state-of-the-art facilities provide the perfect backdrop for this electrifying sport, drawing thousands of fans each year. Its significance lies not only in its capacity to accommodate the roaring engines and the world’s best riders, but also in the atmosphere it fosters—a blend of excitement, competition, and pure thrill.
In the 250SX Class, Kitchen started his weekend strong by securing the second-best overall time during the morning qualifying sessions. Representing Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki with the No. 47, he was focused and prepared for the night’s events. In the 250SX Heat 1, Kitchen shot out of the gate, though he drifted wide in the first turn, momentarily straying off track. However, he swiftly regained composure, maintaining a top 10 position. With determination, he pushed forward and as the checkered flag waved, he secured a second-place finish. In the Main Event, Kitchen burst from the gate, initially grabbing third position but quickly advancing to second in the early laps. Despite encountering a setback halfway through with an apparel malfunction, Kitchen persevered, ultimately securing second place and tied for the points lead heading into the final round next weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah.
In the 450SX Class, Anderson and Cianciarulo kicked off their weekend by securing the fifth and 11th qualifying positions, respectively. In 450SX Heat 2, both riders started strong within the top 10 but swiftly adapted to the challenging track conditions. The No. 21 of Anderson wasted no time in making strategic moves, steadily advancing through the field. Despite a formidable charge towards the front, he settled for a third-place finish. Cianciarulo encountered minor setbacks early in the race, finishing in seventh-place as a result. In the 450SX Main Event, Anderson burst out of the gate and rounded the first corner in fifth position, while Cianciarulo faced adversity after getting caught in the pack. Engaging in intense battles in the opening laps, Anderson showcased his tenacity, remaining in contention for the top spots throughout the race, ultimately securing third place. Meanwhile, Cianciarulo displayed resilience on the demanding track and finished in 15th position.
SUZUKI RIDERS SHOW SEASON-BEST SPEED AT DENVER
Empower Field at Mile High hosted the penultimate round of the 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. The track’s sand section was eliminated, and the sand spread across the hardpack track to help the dry soil retain moisture through the night’s racing.
Race Highlights:
- Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
- Shane McElrath delivered his season-best heat race performance with a top-five result.
- Kyle Chisholm had great track speed on the high-altitude track.
- 450 Class
- Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki
- 250 Class
- Anthony Bourdon matched his career-best heat race result.
- Max Miller earned a season-best heat race outcome.
- 250 Class
Shane McElrath (12) topped his best 2024 heat race result on the challenging Denver soil.
Shane McElrath (12) used a top-three start in his heat race to earn a direct transfer, and a strong gate pick for the main event. In the main, McElrath put his Suzuki RM-Z450 inside the top ten for the first ten laps. McElrath was one spot outside the top ten in the closing laps when a small mistake cost him a few positions.
“I had a decent night going with a good heat race and a reasonably good main up until the last few laps,” said McElrath. “I made a mistake, jumped into the Tuff Blox, and stalled it. It took me a little bit to get going again, I was in 11th when that happened, so it was definitely frustrating and definitely a bummer. I’m happy with my effort though. When it was time to race, I felt good. We made good changes to my RM-Z today, and continue to learn. It’s bittersweet. It’s been a long season; with a lot of learning, a lot of growth. I’m excited for outdoors, but I’m also not ready to be done with Supercross,” added McElrath.
Kyle Chisholm (11) had good starts and fast speed on his Twisted Tea Suzuki RM-Z450 in the high altitude.
Kyle Chisholm (11) was one of several riders stacked up in tight formation on the final lap of the LCQ. After his challenging start, Chisholm unfortunately ran out of time in the race and missed a qualifying spot by just one place.
“Honestly it was a disappointing night for me,” admitted Chisholm. “I actually felt well. The team did a great job, my Suzuki was really good, I had mostly good starts, and yeah, I was happy with the RM-Z. I just didn’t ride my best in the heat race and the LCQ and I missed the main by one position. I didn’t make it happen when it counted. We’ll keep working and try to finish strong next weekend.”
Anthony Bourdon (100) used a great start to earn a fifth-place result in his heat race aboard his Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki RM-Z250.
Anthony Bourdon (100), with his career-best heat race finish, earned a good gate pick for the main event. Unfortunately crashes in the main prevented Bourdon from bringing home another top-ten result in his rookie SX season.
“I’m disappointed about my race,” said Bourdon. “The day began well with a P7 in qualifying. I had an amazing start, P2 in the heat, and I finished fifth. Unfortunately, the main wasn’t the same; I crashed in the start. I made a good comeback ride though. I was feeling good, and with ten minutes to go I was 12th. Then I crashed a second time and had to do it all over again. I came back to P16. I am disappointed, but I will give everything for the last race.”
Max Miller (87) showed impressive speed in the thin air and on the challenging track.
Max Miller (87) and his RM-Z250 were fast from the start of the event, earning his season-best qualifying result in an A-group session. Miller carried that momentum into the heat race where he ran inside the top five. Even with a crash, Miller topped his best heat race result of the year.
“The track was tricky all day,” reported Miller. “I had a great start in the heat race but fell down while running fourth. I was able to quickly get up, and worked my way to seventh. In the main event I was caught up in the carnage and ended my race early, but there were many positives to take away from the day.”
“Shane McElrath qualified out of his heat, finishing fifth, and rode well,” reported Larry Books, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager. “In the main event, he was in eleventh place with two laps to go when he made a mistake and stalled, finishing 18th. It’s not the result we wanted, but he did ride well. Kyle Chisholm had another weekend in which he didn’t qualify. It was a bit of a surprise to both the team and himself. Chisholm needs to work out a few things, but he definitely has the speed and the potential to be in the main event every weekend.”
“Tonight we did not end up with the results we are capable of delivering. However, there are surely positives,” said James Coy, Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki Team Manager. “We made the right call with the high-altitude setup, and both of our riders qualified great, and both were competitive in the heat races. Unfortunately, crashes ruined any chance of getting the results the riders were capable of. Our Suzuki RM-Zs are really good right now and the results will come.”
This week the Suzuki teams travel to Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah for the final Supercross of 2024 on May 11th. The Suzuki teams have delivered great performances; and now aim to wrap up the season with more strong showings with their Suzuki RM-Z race bikes.
Please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross and HEPMotorsports.com for more team news.
Photos by BrownDogWilson Photography
Top-Five Finishes for Thrasher and Smith at Denver Supercross
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher finished fourth yesterday in challenging conditions at the penultimate round of Monster Energy AMA Supercross in Denver, Colorado. Jordon Smith joined him in the top five to salvage points on a tough night at the Empower Field at Mile High and remain in the title chase for the 250SX West Championship.
Thrasher got the day off to a good start, qualifying third in the tricky conditions. The Tennessee rider got a good start in his heat race, and after claiming the lead a couple of laps later, he rode on to take the win. He didn’t get the start he was looking for in the main event, but he was in the top five and advanced to fourth, where he would finish.
Smith qualified right behind his teammate in fourth and got a good start in his heat race in the runner-up spot. Unfortunately, he had a tip-over in the slick conditions and made his way back to fourth. In the main event, Smith got another good start in third but went off track and once again lost the front in the tricky conditions and would cross the line fifth. His top-five finish salvaged points to keep him in contention for the championship, trailing 21 points from a two-way tie at the top of the 250SX West standings.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing heads to Salt Lake City, Utah, next weekend for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship season finale and a title-deciding East/West Showdown for both regional 250 classes at Rice-Eccles Stadium on May 11.
Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“The night started out pretty well. Nate won his heat and had the first gate pick, which was awesome. He didn’t have as good of a start in the main event but made his way to fourth. Jordon was running up front in both races, but a small mistake cost him a win or at least a top-two finish in his heat race. He finished fourth, so the gate pick wasn’t all that fantastic for the main, but he got a good start in second, which was awesome. Unfortunately, he made a small mistake that put him off the track. He got back on pretty quick and was running third or fourth, and then made another mistake that put him on the ground. They ended the night fourth and fifth, which is not ideal in the championship hunt, but Jordon’s not completely out of it. It’s going to be tough going into the East/West shoot-out in Salt Lake, but we’ll keep fighting.”
Nate Thrasher – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #57
“It was definitely a step in the right direction. I just didn’t execute the start like I needed to, and we’ve got to clean up mistakes, but all in all, it was a good day. I’ve been feeling good on the bike. I was up there and won the heat, so we’ll take it and move on and try to be better in Salt Lake. It’s not where we want to be, but it’s a good building weekend.”
Jordon Smith – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #31
“I just kind of struggled all day with the track conditions. The dirt was really hard-packed, and there weren’t really any ruts out there, so I struggled with traction. I lost the front in the heat and the main while running up front, so it was a bummer and not how we wanted to finish tonight. We’ll go back and try to be better for the last round in Salt Lake.”
Webb Stays in Title Fight with Top-Five Finish in Denver
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb showed grit and determination to score a top-five finish at yesterday’s penultimate round at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. The North Carolina rider overcame adversity to score valuable points and remain in contention for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship. Rookie Justin Cooper put in a strong ride to finish sixth in the tricky conditions. Eli Tomac also overcame adversity to secure a top-10 finish and leave his home state of Colorado tied for third in the points standings.
Riders were met with tricky, slick conditions inside Empower Field at Mile High, but despite the challenges, Webb had a solid qualifying in sixth. The North Carolina rider got a great start in his heat race, claimed the lead on the second lap, and rode his YZ450F to victory. Although he didn’t get off the gate as he had hoped in the main event, he put his head down and made his way from seventh to fifth by Lap 4. Towards the end of the race, the competition was on his heels, but Webb kept cool under pressure and rode his own race to secure a top-five finish and remain in the title fight. It was another gritty performance from the two-time 450SX Champion, who has been dealing with a thumb injury from a heat-race crash at Birmingham Supercross. He heads into next weekend’s season finale 20 points back from the points leader.
Cooper had a solid start to the day in the slick conditions, qualifying seventh and finishing sixth in his heat race. Despite a less-than-ideal gate pick for the main event, the New Yorker got a great start in third. He was passed by Tomac on the second lap and then shuffled to sixth on Lap 4. Riding behind his other teammate Webb, Cooper continued to run a strong race to finish sixth and advance to seventh in the points standings.
Unfortunately, it was a tough start to the day for Tomac in his home state of Colorado. He had a crash in the first practice session and tweaked his thumb, but qualified eighth despite feeling less than 100% and was fourth in his heat race. Tomac got a good start in the main event in the top five and moved to third on the second lap, but unfortunately had a tip-over on the following lap and rejoined in eighth. He rode on to cross the line 10th, salvaging points on a challenging night to head to the season finale tied for third in the 450SX Championship.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing heads to Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, next weekend for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship season finale and Round 17 of the SuperMotocross World Series on May 11.
Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“Unfortunately, it was a rough night for us here in Denver, but we’ll recover. We never give up. The team will keep pushing. Justin Cooper had a really good main event and was a great teammate for us out there. Eli was riding phenomenally in the opening laps of the main event but, unfortunately had a little crash. Otherwise, I think he had the potential to win the race. We’ll go back and put our heads down this week and give it one last effort in Salt Lake.”
Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“I gave it my best tonight, but it was a really challenging main event. I’ve been struggling with grip strength these past few weekends from a thumb injury sustained in my Birmingham heat-race crash. Despite the challenges, we’re not out of this yet and will continue to fight until the checkered flag waves in Salt Lake City.”
Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“All in all, it was a good turnaround from how the day was. I started third in the main, which was really nice, and then I got shuffled back pretty quickly from third to fifth. I heard the Star Yamaha behind me and knew Coop was behind me, so my first instinct was to get out of the way. I feel like if I could’ve gotten away with the front two and not dropped back from third to fifth, I could’ve definitely hung in there with them. The pace wasn’t too hot tonight. It felt like it was pretty manageable, and that’s exactly what I think they were doing out front, just going as fast as they needed. It was a tough track. You couldn’t really go as fast as you’d like to with the conditions. It was pretty slippery.”
Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“The main event started out well. I was in a good position off the start. I got up to third place, and then, unfortunately my hand came off the bars. Earlier in the day, I had a crash in practice, and I tweaked my thumb. I hate making excuses, but it did affect me tonight. Although it was enough to affect me tonight, I don’t think it’s going to be a problem for next week. We’ll do our best to recover and be stronger for Salt Lake. It was unfortunate, though, because I had good speed early in the main there.”
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