This week in US powersports racing.
Top of Pro Motocross Championship at Hangtown Motocross Classic
The second round of the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, traveled to Northern California, in the shadow of the state capital of Sacramento, for the landmark 55th running of the Michael’s Reno Powersports Hangtown Motocross Classic Presented by Yamaha Power Assist Bicycles. Abundant sunshine and temperatures approaching 90 degrees greeted racers and fans at Prairie City SVRA in what became an instant classic of the 53-year championship. While one major storyline centered around the end of Australian phenom Jett Lawrence’s perfect record in 450 Class competition, it was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton who left a lasting impression with a captivating victory that resulted in a dramatic shakeup of the early title fight. In the 250 Class, points leader and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider Haiden Deegan overcame misfortune in the second moto to prevail with back-to-back wins to open the season.
Moto 1
The first moto began with the Australian siblings of Jett and Hunter Lawrence leading the field through the first turn side-by-side. Hunter edged out his younger brother for the MotoSport.com Holeshot, but ultimately conceded the lead to Jett. The defending champion and entering points leader looked to sprint away, but a misjudgment on one of the downhills resulted in a hard crash. Jett was slow to get up and was forced to visit the mechanics area to attend to his Honda, which effectively ended his 24-moto winning streak in Pro Motocross. Hunter inherited the lead, followed by Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson in second and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper in third.
Lawrence and Anderson were able to establish themselves at the front of the field while Sexton, who started fifth, made the pass on Cooper to take over third. Sexton then put his head down to close in on the lead duo. As he looked to pressure Anderson for third Sexton had a miscue that caused him to lose ground and from there the KTM rider settled into a slower pace. The gap between each of the top three stabilized until Anderson tipped over with less than 10 minutes to go, which handed second to Sexton while Anderson remounted in third.
Sexton bided his time and mounted an attack in the closing minutes of the moto, which saw him close onto the rear fender of Lawrence’s Honda. Sexton made a tactful pass for the lead to edge by Lawrence, but the Aussie battled back to keep the fight going for the next half lap. Sexton eventually solidified what would be the winning pass and distanced himself from the field over the final two laps.
Sexton earned his first moto win in 10 races and his first with KTM to maximize the opportunity presented by Jett Lawrence’s misfortune. Hunter Lawrence finished second, 7.9 seconds behind, while Anderson held on to finish a distant third. Cooper followed in fourth, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger in fifth. After the crash dropped him to the tail end of the field in 40th, Jett Lawrence battled his way up to 24th, but finished three positions shy of the final points-paying position of 21st place.
Chase Sexton made an emphatic statement with a memorable 1-1 performance.
Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Moto 2
The final moto kicked off with the Yamaha of Cooper out front for the MotoSport.comHoleshot, followed closely by Plessinger who soon made the move to take the lead while Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX Yamaha’s Phil Nicoletti moved into third. Behind them, Hunter Lawrence slotted into fourth, Anderson in fifth, and Jett Lawrence in sixth. Sexton, meanwhile, fell and was forced to start his journey from the tail end of the field.
As the jockeying for position continued near the front, Nicoletti crashed out of third, which allowed Hunter Lawrence to move into the top three. His time in podium position was short lived as Jett made the move on his brother. As the top half of the field started to settle in through the opening 10 minutes of the moto, Sexton was on a torrid charge through the field and had climbed his way up into seventh with the majority of the moto still remaining.
As Plessinger strengthened his hold on the top spot, the attention shifted to what turned into a tight battle in the overall classification. Jett Lawrence fought his way up to second, but started to fade in the late stages of the moto, which allowed Cooper to reclaim the position as Hunter Lawrence moved back into third. Sexton remained a man on a mission and kept his forward charge going into the top five, with a two-for-one pass on a slowing Jett Lawrence and Anderson to claw his way into fourth. Sexton’s resurgence wasn’t over yet as he hounded Hunter Lawrence and made an assertive pass for third with four minutes to go. Sexton was more patient as he closed in on Cooper for second, but still was able to make the pass with time for one final push to try and catch his teammate out front.
Sexton got Plessinger within striking distance on the final lap and with three turns to go completed one of the most impressive single motos in the history of American motocross with a 40th to first charge that put the finishing touches on a thrilling 1-1 performance. The margin of victory at the finish was 0.999 between the KTM teammates. Cooper finished in third.
Hunter Lawrence earned a second straight runner-up finish (2-4).
Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Overall
Sexton’s seventh career win was his first since the 2022 season and his maiden KTM triumph outdoors ended a 49-race winless drought for the Austrian brand, who last won at the 2019 Spring Creek National with Cooper Webb. The last-lap pass on Plessinger altered the final two spots on the podium and moved Hunter Lawrence into second (2-4), while Plessinger settled for third (5-2). A difficult afternoon for Jett Lawrence saw the No. 1 earn a resilient 12th-place finish (24-6).
The victory vaulted Sexton to the top of the 450 Class standings, where he now holds an eight-point lead over Hunter Lawrence in second and a 21-point lead over Plessinger in third. Jett Lawrence, who entered Hangtown with an eight-point advantage, dropped to sixth, 24 points out of the lead.
Aaron Plessinger (7) led almost the entirety of Moto 2 en route to third overall (5-2).
Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Chase Sexton, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
“That was a year and a half of pent-up frustration. I spun off the start [in Moto 2 and went down] and was dead last. I knew it was going to be a long moto. I don’t know what to say. That was the best moto of my life. I’m just happy to get the win and become the new points leader.”
Hunter Lawrence, Team Honda HRC
“Today was one of the tough days at the office. That’s about it, to be honest. I’m happy for the team and all the work they put into making this happen.”
Aaron Plessinger, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
“My teammate is riding great. I got out front and put on a charge. I figured I could back it down a little bit but these guys were riding amazing. Chase was just on another level. I was bummed I missed out on being up here [on the podium] last weekend, so I’m really glad to rebound with a day like today.”
Jett Lawrence, Team Honda HRC
“I kind of used all my upper body strength in the first part [of Moto 2]. I was feeling ok but then I got tired and had to use my legs and the strength just wasn’t there. I’ve got a chunk taken out of my leg, so that affected things. It’s a bummer, but we’ll go back and recover and try to come back stronger next weekend.”
450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish // Points)
- Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., KTM (1-1 // 50)
- Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda (2-4 // 40)
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (5-2 // 39)
- Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (4-3 // 38)
- Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki (3-5 // 37)
- Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Honda (6-8 // 30)
- Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., GASGAS (8-7 // 29)
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Husqvarna (7-9 // 28)
- Freddie Noren, Lidkoping, Sweden, Kawasaki (9-10 // 25)
- Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Husqvarna (12-11 // 21)
450 Class Championship Standings (Round 2 of 11)
- Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., KTM – 90
- Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 82
- Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM – 69
- Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 69
- Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki – 67
- Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 66
- Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Honda – 62
- Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., GASGAS – 61
- Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Husqvarna – 57
- Freddie Noren, Lidkoping, Sweden, Kawasaki – 46
450 Class Highlights – Michael’s Reno Powersports Hangtown Motocross Classic
Moto 1
The first moto of the afternoon saw the Team Honda HRC machine of Chance Hymas emerge from the first turn with the lead and the MotoSport.com Holeshot, followed by Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer. Deegan started eighth and quickly made a march towards the front.
With his first opportunity to lead a Pro Motocross moto Hymas seized the moment and set an impressive early pace that allowed him to establish a multi-second lead over Kitchen, who settled into a firm hold of second. Behind the lead duo, Beaumer was forced to contend with a determined Deegan. Their battle ensued for several laps before Deegan made the move with a savvy pass. Once into position, the red plate holder faced a double-digit deficit to the leaders with a little less than 20 minutes remaining.
As the moto entered the final 10 minutes the top three were within six seconds of one another as Deegan methodically chipped away at the deficit. Soon enough, Deegan pressured Kitchen for second. The budding rivals reignited their battle from the opening round and inched back towards Hymas with their increased pace. Deegan made the pass on Kitchen for second and put on a charge to catch Hymas with three minutes to go. An outside-to-inside line within the final minute allowed Deegan to slip past Hymas on one of Hangtown’s many uphill climbs, from which the Yamaha rider never looked back.
Deegan raced to his third straight moto win, 1.7 seconds ahead of Hymas, who secured a career-best moto result in second, followed by Kitchen in third. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle and Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing’s Pierce Brown rounded out the top five.
Haiden Deegan has opened the season with back-to-back wins (1-2).
Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Moto 2
The second moto got underway with an assertive start by Deegan, who easily raced to the MotoSport.com Holeshot and seized control of the early lead as the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki duo of Ty Masterpool and Kitchen gave chase, just ahead of Hymas in fourth. The top four in the running order remained unchanged through the opening 10 minutes of the moto, as Deegan managed a gap of about 2.5 seconds. Kitchen then picked up his intensity and pounced on his teammate to take over second. Not long after that, Vialle made the move on Hymas for fourth and then closed in on Masterpool for third, moving into the top three on the same lap.
Just under three seconds separated Deegan and Kitchen at the halfway point of the moto as the two riders traded momentum. Deegan then picked up the pace to add to his advantage and push it to almost four seconds. Like Deegan, Vialle also showed an uptick in pace and made easy work of closing in and passing Kitchen to take control of second. With a little less than half a moto to go, Vialle and Deegan were separated by just under five seconds.
Vialle was able to chop the deficit in half as the moto entered the final 10 minutes. Deegan responded to the surge and built his advantage back up to almost four seconds, but then crashed out of the lead as he navigated the ruts on a downhill section of the track. Vialle assumed the lead as Deegan remounted in second, just ahead of Kitchen in third.
Vialle carried on to his second career moto win by 4.9 seconds over Deegan, while Kitchen finished in third.
Tom Vialle’s second moto win vaulted him to a runner-up finish (4-1).
Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Overall
Despite his misfortune in the second moto, Deegan still prevailed with the overall win by virtue of his 1-2 finishes for the fourth victory of his career. Vialle’s impressive performance in Moto 2 vaulted him into the runner-up spot with a 4-1 effort, while Kitchen rounded out the overall podium in third (3-3). The same three riders comprised the overall podium at the opening round.
Deegan became the sixth different 250 Class rider to win at Hangtown over the past six years and added to his early season points lead, which now sits at 13 points over Kitchen. Vialle solidified his hold of third, 16 points out of the lead.
Levi Kitchen enjoyed a solid 3-3 effort for third overall.
Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Haiden Deegan, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing
“We made a suspension change [for Moto 2] and I went for a helicopter ride. It is what it is. We came, we rode, and we got the win. We’ll move on from here.”
Tom Vialle, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
“I knew I could do it. I struggled the first three motos [of the season] but this one I felt great. I could push and I was confident that I could challenge for the win. I’m happy to be back on the podium.”
Levi Kitchen, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki
“It was a comfortability thing [on the bike] today. Honestly, to get third feels like a win to me. I tried to make a run at second [in Moto 2] but that was a little uncomfortable for me. We’ll go back to work and look ahead to next week.”
250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)
- Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (1-1 // 50)
- Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM (4-1 // 43)
- Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki (3-3 // 40)
- Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda (2-4 // 40)
- Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda (7-5 // 32)
- Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS (5-10 // 29)
- Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Triumph (8-8 // 28)
- Ty Masterpool, Fallon, Nev., Kawasaki (6-11 // 27)
- Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM (9-9 // 26)
- Casey Cochran, Portsmouth, Va., Husqvarna (12-12 // 20)
250 Class Championship Standings (Round 2 of 11)
- Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 97
- Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 84
- Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM – 81
- Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda – 78
- Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Kawasaki – 62
- Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Triumph – 61
- Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS – 55
- Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM – 48
- Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha – 46
- Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Triumph – 41
PIERCE BROWN BATTLES TO SEASON-BEST WITH P6 OVERALL IN 250MX AT HANGTOWN
A top-five moto score and sixth overall in 250MX signaled a step forward for Pierce Brown at today’s Hangtown Motocross Classic, the second round of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship. And for Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing teammate Justin Barcia, seventh overall in the 450MX Class was another sign of consistency.
- PB takes confidence from finishing fifth in opening 250MX moto
- Second moto improvements in Hangtown conditions evident for Barcia
- More testing planned as Bam Bam gets back down to business
Brown finished a low-key eighth overall at Pala’s first round of the season one week ago, but was better from the outset at the historic Prairie City venue to qualify in P7. Moto 1 saw him ride his GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition to fifth position, and then he wrapped up the weekend with a 10th-place ride in Moto 2, which resulted in P6 overall for the weekend. He has moved forward to seventh in the championship.
Pierce Brown: “Today was better than the first round with sixth overall and we made some improvements that I’m happy about. I think we’re in a good spot, trending in the right direction, and I’m excited for Colorado next week.”
Hangtown was an opportunity for Ryder DiFrancesco to gain added experience in 250MX, beginning with ninth in qualifying, and then registering 14-18 finishes for 15th overall. He will be determined to turn things around results-wise in Colorado next weekend, currently 13th in the points following Round 2 of 11.
Ryder DiFrancesco: “It was a better weekend with two good qualifying sessions this morning. We had two good starts, but I just didn’t have the speed to run up front, so made it hard on myself. I’m looking forward to Thunder Valley.”
After finishing fifth at the opener, Barcia came into Hangtown with confidence on his side and qualified his GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition in position nine. He gradually made improvements from there, placing eighth in a chaotic first moto, and then going another position better for P7 in Moto 2 for seventh overall. Those results have him ranked eighth in the standings in these early stages of the outdoors.
Justin Barcia: “Hangtown was a challenging day, for sure. I felt okay in the first practice when it was a little bit smoother, but then second practice I struggled a little. We made a change for the first moto and it wasn’t what I needed, before in Moto 2 we made a good step and it was a lot better. Hopefully we can do some testing this week to improve a little bit, because we haven’t been able to ride too much, so it will be good to get on track and catch up a little bit. All-in-all, not the results we want, but we will definitely keep at it, never give up, and the results should be coming soon.”
Next Race: June 8 – Thunder Valley, Colorado
Download hi-res images from the 2024 Hangtown National here
Results 450MX Class – Hangtown National
1. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
2. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
3. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
7. Justin Barcia (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
8. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Husqvarna
10. Christian Craig (USA), Husqvarna
Standings 450MX Class 2024 after 2 of 11 rounds
1. Chase Sexton, 90 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 82
3. Aaron Plessinger, 69
8. Justin Barcia, 61
9. Malcolm Stewart, 57
12. Christian Craig, 33
Results 250MX Class – Hangtown National
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
2. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
3. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki
6. Pierce Brown (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
9. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
10. Casey Cochran (USA), Husqvarna
15. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
Standings 250MX Class 2024 after 2 of 11 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 97 points
2. Levi Kitchen, 84
3. Tom Vialle, 81
7. Pierce Brown, 55
8. Julien Beaumer, 48
13. Ryder DiFrancesco, 35
16. Casey Cochran, 28
JOHNNY GIRROIR BACK ON TOP OF THE GNCC PODIUM WITH MASON-DIXON VICTORY
FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir earned his third victory of the 2024 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series at today’s Mason-Dixon round, while over in Austria, Trystan Hart stood tall on the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo podium with a spectacular runner-up finish at the Iron Giant.
GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES – ROUND 8
There was no denying Johnny Girroir of a third win and eighth-consecutive podium in Round 8 of the GNCC Series, making the Mount Morris weekend count with the XC1 Open Pro Class and overall victories. The weekend also saw Grant Davis win the XC2 250 Pro Class, landing on the podium overall in P3.
Girroir started the 2024 season with a bang by winning the opening two rounds and consistency has kept him at the top of the GNCC points table since. However, the Mason-Dixon GNCC was his time to shine once again in technical conditions, charging hard all race long to edge title rival Steward Baylor Jr for P1. As a result, he’s increased his XC1 Open Pro lead to 34 points.
Johnny Girroir: “Everyone around the track was cheering, we were battling the whole last mile and came together down a downhill – it was hectic! That was cool, that’s what racing’s all about. I’ve never had the best of luck here in the past, but today was good and it went my way.”
Round 8 saw FMF KTM Factory Racing bring Dante Oliveira back into GNCC competition for his first appearance since winning the Camp Coker Bullet in March. After completing the opening lap in 10th, he moved forward on his KTM 350 XC-F to an eventual fourth-place result in the XC1 Open Pro Class.
Dante Oliveira: “Fun day on the bike! I rode nervous on the first lap, then started flowing. I’m not stoked on fourth, but glad to be in the battle.”
It was a strong day out for Grant Davis in the XC2 250 Pro Class, the FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers rider taking back-to-back wins – his fourth of the year – directly ahead of teammate Gus Riordan, and that was good enough to land third on the podium overall.
Grant Davis: “I got into the lead early and we were up front from there. Gus caught me and I went down, so he passed me, but I got back in my groove again and was able to get him back. We went back and forth a bunch of times over the last lap – he was riding really good!”
Davis was up front early while Riordan raced his way to the head of the pack following a mistake at the beginning, but it wasn’t enough as Davis held on as the checkered flag flew. The pair – both racing KTM 250 XC-F machinery – are now separated by 23 points in the championship standings with five rounds remaining on the schedule.
Angus Riordan: “It’s always good battling your teammate, like another training day out there. The race started off a bit rough, I was dead-last off the start and crashed in the third turn, then went down again on lap one and wasted my energy again. I caught Grant and took the lead with two to go, but he ended up getting the best of me in the end.”
FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers also had Brandy Richards on the WXC Class podium for the fifth time in eight rounds, racing to a second-place finish this weekend. Brandy gained confidence in the conditions as the race progressed onboard her KTM 250 XC-F, currently ranked third in the title race.
Brandy Richards: “I had a pretty decent start, around third, and then I was able to stay consistent. The first lap was super slick, but I tried to put a charge on in the second lap and slowly caught Korie [Steede], but wasn’t quite close enough. It was a good battle and a great time!”
XC1 Open Pro Class Results
1. Johnny Girroir, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki
3. Jordan Ashburn, GASGAS
4. Dante Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
5. Craig DeLong, Husqvarna
XC2 250 Pro Class Results
1. Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
2. Angus Riordan, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
3. Cody Barnes, Honda
WXC Class Results
1. Korie Steede, Husqvarna
2. Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
3. Tayla Jones, Husqvarna
FIM HARD ENDURO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – ERZBERGRODEO
Reigning U.S. Hard Enduro Champion Trystan Hart made his anticipated return to the Iron Giant for the weekend’s 2024 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, where the FMF KTM Factory Racing rider finished in second position behind current World Champion Manuel Lettenbichler.
Round 2 of the 2024 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship saw Hart join over 1300 riders – narrowed down to 500 for Sunday – in taking on the grueling event, qualifying on the front row in ninth position following the Iron Road Prologue’s qualification process, and setting him up strongly for Sunday’s Main Race.
Hart eventually earned a career-best runner-up result behind Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team rider Lettenbichler, making for a KTM 1-2 result and further establishing the Canadian as one of the most capable Hard Enduro riders on the planet.
Trystan Hart: “I’m so happy to have finished second and on the podium again! The first corner threw me off initially and, because of that, it felt like I was in a warzone for the first 30 minutes of the race. It was a lot of fun though and when I got to Carl’s Dinner, I felt really good and managed to get up into second place. There were some really tough sections, but I put my all in and held on to that position. This is my third podium in a row at Erzberg and this place really does feel like home to me now. I’ll definitely be fighting for the win next year!”
Overall Results
1. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2. Trystan Hart (CAN), FMF KTM Factory Racing
3. Mario Roman (ESP), Sherco
4. Graham Jarvis (GBR), KTM
5. Wade Young (RSA), GASGAS
UPCOMING OFFROAD RACES – JUNE 2024
6/9: National Enduro Series – Round 4
6/16: U.S. Sprint Enduro Series – Round 6
6/16: U.S. Hard Enduro Series – Round 6
6/23: Grand National Country Series – Round 9
6/29: Silver Kings Hard Enduro
CHASE SEXTON SWEEPS HANGTOWN IN EXCEPTIONAL SATURDAY FOR RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton charged to a spectacular 1-1 result to capture his first AMA Pro Motocross Championship round victory of 2024 at the Hangtown National, in a day that also saw teammates Aaron Plessinger and Tom Vialle – winner of 250MX Moto 2 – stand on the podium overall.
Sexton managed to break through for the first moto win onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before falling on the opening lap of the second encounter later this afternoon. The 24-year-old remounted at the rear of the field in 40th position and stormed back into contention by the closing stages of the race, ultimately making a last lap pass on Plessinger in the finest moto victory of his career to date.
It was a pivotal result for Chase in what is his first year with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team, taking over the red plate as series leader in the 450MX title race following 2 of 11 rounds, and importantly signaling his intentions to fight for a maiden Pro Motocross Championship this season.
Chase Sexton: “First race, it definitely felt good to win my first moto in a while, although not the way I wanted to with Jett [Lawrence] going down, but I had a good flow going and was able to win that one. In that second moto, I slid out at the start and I was dead-last, so I knew it was going to be a hard moto! That was wide-open from the start to the end. I don’t even know what to say – that was the best ride, I think, of my life. Thanks to the team, they put in so much hard work, and these fans are awesome. They were cheering me on the whole way around the track and this one means a lot. This has been one of my best races and wins so far!”
After finishing fifth in Moto 1, Plessinger was also exceptional in the second race, taking control at the front of the pack on lap one and then leading the duration. He eventually followed Sexton across the finish in a 1-2 result for the team in terms of the moto, which in turn placed him third overall for the weekend. His first podium of the 2024 outdoors has resulted in him climbing to third position in the standings.
Aaron Plessinger: “I got out front and I pushed as hard as I could, and then I figured I could back it down just a little bit, but no, these guys were riding so good – Chase was riding unreal – and I couldn’t seal the deal. But we’re back up here on the podium, I missed out on it last weekend, and we’ve bounced back! It’s third place, but we’ll take it and move on to the next round. I’ve gotta give it up to the whole team, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and everybody who has helped me get here.”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing also picked up a moto win in the 250MX Class, where two-time MX2 World Champion Vialle asserted himself as a title threat by delivering a commanding performance in race two. Earlier, the Frenchman finished P4 in the opening moto, which placed him second on the podium for the round, and he is currently positioned third in the points following back-to-back podium finishes.
Tom Vialle: “I knew I could do it and the second moto was way better! I want to thank the team, we changed a lot for the second moto and I felt great, so I am pretty happy. That’s the first moto where I could push to my full potential and now I’m really excited for the next races with that setting on the bike. The track was awesome today, so I’m really happy to be on the podium.”
Also equipped with the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Hangtown was a step forward for 250MX rookie Julien Beaumer, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing newcomer once again displaying intensity early on and remaining consistent for a top 10 result. The teenager took the checkered flag ninth in both races at the Prairie City facility, earning him 10th overall and elevating him to an encouraging eighth place in the championship.
Julien Beaumer: “Hangtown was a good day for me. A lot of learning, happy to get two good starts – my bike was amazing! – and to run up front for a while in both motos. I’m going to keep learning that pace and keep getting better each weekend. That was a big step forward, so we’re going to keep improving and look to be up front soon.”
Next Race: June 8 – Thunder Valley, Colorado
Download photos from the Hangtown National HERE
Results 450MX Class – Hangtown National
1. Chase Sexton (USA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
3. Aaron Plessinger (USA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
7. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
8. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Husqvarna
10. Christian Craig (USA), Husqvarna
Standings 450MX Class 2024 after 2 of 11 rounds
1. Chase Sexton, 90 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 82
3. Aaron Plessinger, 69
8. Justin Barcia, 61
9. Malcolm Stewart, 57
12. Christian Craig, 33
Results 250MX Class – Hangtown National
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
2. Tom Vialle (FRA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
3. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki
6. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS
9. Julien Beaumer (USA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
10. Casey Cochran (USA), Husqvarna
15. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS
Standings 250MX Class 2024 after 2 of 11 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 97 points
2. Levi Kitchen, 84
3. Tom Vialle, 81
7. Pierce Brown, 55
8. Julien Beaumer, 48
13. Ryder DiFrancesco, 35
16. Casey Cochran, 28
ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING’S KORIE STEEDE MAKES IT TWO-STRAIGHT GNCC WXC WINS
Round 8 of the 2024 Grand National Country (GNCC) Series saw Korie Steede win her second-consecutive race in the WXC Class, continuing her mid-season surge with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, on a weekend where Craig DeLong placed fifth in the XC1 Open Pro Class.
The Mason-Dixon GNCC was a memorable one for Steede on the Husqvarna Motorcycles FX 250, leading all four laps at the Mount Morris, Pennsylvania, venue to deliver a commanding performance. Steede has now closed to within 13 points of the points lead after picking up a sixth podium of the year.
“I knew the start would be really important today, the track was narrow and slippery, so I tried to get out of the gate quickly,” said Steede. “Everybody kept me on my toes – I was battling hard with Tayla [Jones] early on – and then I was able to build up a gap before my pit stop. We’re just going to take this one race at a time, one lap at a time, and put in a good race from here.”
After winning last time out at Powerline Park GNCC, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider DeLong was once again in the mix on his Husqvarna Motorcycles FX 350, recording a top-five result in the XC1 Open Pro division when the checkered flag was waved. He was consistent in the early stages and then gained ground across the closing laps to finish P5, still placed fourth in the standings.
“It was a tough day at a track that was nearly impossible to pass at,” DeLong recalled. “No excuses from me – I’m going to put the work in to get back on the podium.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Trevor Bollinger was ruled out of the Mason-Dixon GNCC weekend as a result of a practice crash earlier in the week.
XC1 Open Pro Class Results
1. Johnny Girroir, KTM
2. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki
3. Jordan Ashburn, GASGAS
4. Dante Oliveira, KTM
5. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
WXC Class Results
1. Korie Steede, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
2. Brandy Richards, KTM
3. Tayla Jones, Husqvarna
ALL THREE ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA RIDERS RACE INTO HANGTOWN NATIONAL TOP 10
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing has been able to draw from the positives following an encouraging Hangtown National that saw all three riders – Casey Cochran, Malcolm Stewart, and Christian Craig – finish inside the top 10. For 250MX rookie Cochran, he started the day in convincing fashion by qualifying quickest overall in class.
At 17 years of age and in his first full season of AMA Pro Motocross Championship competition, Cochran qualified in P1 this morning riding his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 250 Rockstar Edition, and then went on to claim a consistent scorecard of 12-12 for a deserved 10th overall. With speed on his side and experience increasing, his early progression has been evident this weekend.
“It was definitely a good day,” reflected Cochran. “I surprised myself and I think a lot of people this morning by qualifying fastest, then ended up 10th overall for the weekend. To finish inside the top 10 at the second round, we can keep building and building off of that result, and I’m happy with the day overall.”
In the 450MX Class, Stewart made a welcome return to the Hangtown Motocross Classic for the first time in a decade, and he too delivered a consistent performance. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider qualified in P7 and then went 7-9 across the two premier class motos for eighth overall, improving upon his result at the opening round one week prior, and he remains ninth in the standings.
“Hangtown was fun for me!” Stewart said. “It’s been 10 years since I’ve been here and the track’s changed, but the people haven’t. I’ve always had some really solid fans here and there’s nothing better than the fans welcoming me back. Practice was good, then first moto I rode a solid race, before in the second moto I had a rough start, went down, and made a lot of passes right until the very end! I was enjoying the moment, so we’ll take what we learned here, regroup, and come back out swinging in Colorado.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Craig placed his Husqvarna Motorcycles FC 450 Rockstar Edition inside the top 10 as well, both in qualifying and the overall results. Craig was 10th in qualifying and went 12-11 in the races, which handed him P10 for the weekend and saw him climb to 12th position in the 450MX championship standings two rounds into his return to racing.
“Today was a better day and in qualifying my speed’s starting to come around,” commented Craig. “I’m still lacking strength, but that’s going to take time and will eventually come. We were better today, I had two mid-pack starts and stayed out of the chaos, so ended up going 11-12 for 10th overall – we’ll take that luck on our side with the overall. I’m getting more comfortable on the bike again with more seat time, so we’ll just keep building each week from here.”
Parts Unlimited Mason-Dixon: Motorcycle Race Report – Girroir and Baylor Battle for Overall Win
| MT. MORRIS, Pa. (June 3, 2024) – The Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship concluded its eighth round of racing, Parts Unlimited Mason-Dixon GNCC, on Sunday, June 2, 2024, in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania. Brief rain showers in the morning created some slick conditions for the first half of the day, but partly cloudy conditions made for some great afternoon battles throughout XC1 Open Pro and 250 Pro Sport classes. |
 Lyndon Snodgrass (Babbitts Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green) grabbed the $250 Steel City Medical Center XC1 Open Pro Holeshot on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Ken Hill |
| As the afternoon race got under way and the green flag flew for the XC1 Open Pro class it would be Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green’s Lyndon Snodgrass grabbing himself the $250 Steel City Medical Center’s XC1 Holeshot Award. However, as the pack of racers made their way around on the opening lap, Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jordan Ashburn would find himself holding the lead position.Snodgrass would battle back with Ashburn for the next couple of laps, swapping the lead position back-and-forth. Ashburn would hold the lead until the fifth lap of the race as Rocky Mountain RedBear Kawasaki’s Steward Baylor would apply the pressure after making his way up through the pack. Baylor made the pass on Ashburn to take over the lead as the white flag came out indicating one more lap. Nevertheless, the hard-charging FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir would apply the pressure on the last lap. Girroir would catch Baylor and battle for the last a little over a mile to the finish line. Girroir would come through to edge out Baylor for his third overall win of the season. Baylor would hold on and come through to earn second overall on the day. |
 Johnny Girroir (FMF KTM Factory Racing) earned his third overall win of the season, as he came through just 0.827 seconds ahead of Steward Baylor (Rocky Mountain RedBear Kawasaki). Photo: Mack Faint |
| Coming through to earn third overall from the XC2 250 Pro class was FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers Grant Davis. After grabbing the $250 Steel City Medical Center Holeshot Award, Davis would battle throughout the race with his teammate FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers Angus Riordan. Davis and Riordan would swap the lead position and hold the overall lead with adjusted times for the first half of the race. Davis would be able to make his way back around Riordan and push towards the front as he crossed the finish line first in his class, earning him third overall on the day. Riordan would be behind Davis as he came through to earn second in the XC2 class and fourth overall on the day. Ashburn would continue to push after leading the first couple of laps as he crossed the finish line third in the XC1 Open Pro class, while earning fifth overall on the day. FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Dante Oliveira returned from the West Coast in what would be his first appearance since winning the Camp Coker Bullet GNCC. Oliveira would work his way up to finish fourth in the XC1 class and sixth overall on the day. Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Craig Delong did not get off to the best start as he came through timing and scoring on the opening lap back in the ninth place position. Delong would continue to push throughout the day making his way up to fifth in the XC1 class and seventh overall on the day. |
 Grant Davis (FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers) finished third overall on the day, and earned the XC2 250 Pro class win. Photo: Ken Hill |
| After grabbing the holeshot and running at the front of the pack, Snodgrass would fall back to finish sixth in XC1 and eighth overall on the day. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Michael Witkowski had a good start to his day as he came through second on the opening lap of the race. Witkowski would fall back to tenth at one point, but he would make his way up back seventh in the XC1 results and ninth overall. Active Air/Max Motorsports/FXR/Husqvarna’s Evan Smith battled back from an eleventh place start to his day, to coming through the finish line eighth in the XC1 class and rounding out the top 10 overall finishers on the day. JS Sherco Racing’s Josh Strang found himself up at towards the front of the pack early on in the race, but he would cross the finish line after three-hours of battling ninth in XC1. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cody Barnes would round out the top three XC2 250 Pro class finishers as he worked his way back up from a fifth place start to his day in the XC2 class. Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green’s Grant Baylor would come through to round out the top 10 XC1 Open Pro finishers on the day. |
 Parts Unlimited Mason-Dixon XC1 Open Pro top three: Johnny Girroir (center), Steward Baylor (left) and Jordan Ashburn (right). Photo: Mack Faint |
| As the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class took off it was Liqui Moly Factory Beta Racing’s Jhak Walker earning himself the $100 Lojak Cycle Sales XC3 Holeshot Award to start off his day. Walker would find himself in the lead for the majority of the day, but as the race was winding down and the two-lap card was out, Devore Racing/KTM/FXR/SRS Suspension’s Dakoda Devore would close the gap and make a pass for the lead. Devore and Walker would battle it out for the remaining laps of the race, but Devore would emerge from the woods first as they made their way to the finish line. Devore would come across the line with a 10 second lead over Walker who came through to finish second on the day. Kibuk Cycle/Steel City Medical Center/Josh Lojak’s House of Speed’s Sawyer Carratura had a consistent day as he remained third for the duration of the race. Earning the Parts Unlimited Mason-Dixon Top Amateur honors was 250 A competitor, Nicholas DeFeo (Kawasaki) who came through to earn 15th overall and his fifth 250 A class win of the season. Jason Tino (Husqvarna) would come through to earn second top amateur as he came through second in 250 A and 16th overall on the day. Will Sievenpiper (Kawasaki) rounded out the top three top amateurs and 250 A class competitors as he came through to finish 17th overall on the day. |
 Dakoda Devore battled back to earn the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class win.Photo: Ken Hill |
| As the WXC class took off in the morning race it was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede grabbing the $100 Kanati WXC Holeshot Award and the early lead. Steede would continue to push herself at the front of the pack, and lead from start to finish as she crossed the finish line 4.1 seconds ahead of her competition.Battling her way up to second in the class was FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Brandy Richards. Richards started her day in third, but she would make a last lap push to take over the second place position as the checkered flag came out. Moose Racing/Husqvarna’s Tayla Jones made her way back to the GNCC starting line this weekend. Jones would get off to a great start as she sat second for the first half of the race, but with a hard-charging Richards behind her she would be unable to hold her off for the last lap. Jones would come through to round out the top three WXC finishers. |
 Korie Steede (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) earned her second-straight WXC class win. Photo: Ken Hill |
| In the Youth Bike race, it would be Doc Smith coming through to earn his first overall and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. (14-15) class win of the season. Brayden Baisley would steadily make his way up through the pack to cross the finish line second overall and in the YXC1 class. Rounding out the top three overall finishers was Brody Amos who battled back-and-forth at the front of the pack throughout the race. For the current points leader, Caleb Wood, he would lead the first half of the race but suffer a last lap crash putting him back to fourth overall on the day. Travis Lentz remains undefeated in the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) class as he’s earned eight straight wins this season. Nash Peerson and Jack Whalen would come through to finish second and third in the YXC2 class at round eight. Colton McQuarrie earned the 85 Big Wheel (11-15) class win, while Hunter Hawkinberry took home the 85 (12-13) class win. It was Deegan Caplinger earning the win in the 85 (11) class, and Gage Lane would earn the win in the 85 (7-10) class at the Mason-Dixon GNCC.In the 65 (10-11) class it was Hunter Jones coming through to earn the class win, while Tripp Lewis took the checkered flag first in the 65 (9) class and Kane Morrison would earn the 65 (7-8) class win. Jayden Shea came through first to earn the Girls Super Mini (12-16) class win, and Sahara Robinson remains in first in the Girls 85 (7-13) after earning seventh class wins this season. Paisley Harris earned her second-straight win in the Girls 65 (7-11) class and Caleb Woolf took home the Trail Rider (7-15) win. |
 Doc Smith earned the Bike Youth Overall win on Sunday morning. Photo: Ken Hill |
| On Saturday morning, Tripp Lewis would come through in the Bike Micro race to take the overall win and the MXC1 (8-9) class win. Daxton Mullins would battle back to finish second overall on the day and in the MXC1 class followed by Ellis Austin rounding out the top three overall Bike Micro finishers and MXC1 class finishers on the day. Kane Morrison came through to earn the MXC2 (6-8) class, while Ryder Bower and Weston Ford rounded out the top three MXC2 class finishers on the day. Ryder Baricska took home the 50 Sr. 1 (7) class win, while Carson Zink earned the 50 Sr. 2 (6) class win at round eight. Earning the 50 Jr. 1 (6-7) class win was Briary Treadway as Jacobi Duvall earned the 50 Jr. 2 (4-5) class win. Grace Renwick would come through to take the Micro-E (4-7) class win, while Carson Propst earned the Micro (4-6) Shaft Drive class win. Jamison Dodson from Pennsylvania would give GNCC Racing a shot as they earned the win in the Trail Rider (7-9) class. |
 Devon Hershman was honored as the AMSOIL Moto Hero at round eight. Photo: Ken Hill |
| Devon Hershman was honored as the round 8, Parts Unlimited Mason-Dixon, AMSOIL Moto Hero. Hershman is from Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, and served in the United States Army as a Sergeant E5. Hershman was deployed to Afghanistan back in 2017, and he continues to race to stay active and help him cope with his time served in the Army. Hershman received a $250 AMSOIL shopping spree, a $500 Kanati performance tires gift certificate as well as a commemorative American flag courtesy of Columbia flag and sign co along with a $200 gift certificate for their online store. 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 |
 Parts Unlimited Mason-Dixon GNCC Top Three Overall: Johnny Girroir (center), Steward Baylor (left) and Grant Davis (right). Photo: Mack Faint |
| Parts Unlimited Mason-Dixon GNCC Results and Points Standings Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania Round 8 of 13 Sunday, June 2, 2024XC1 Pro Event Results:Jonathan Girroir (KTM)Steward Baylor (KAW)Jordan Ashburn (GAS)Dante Oliveira (KTM)Craig Delong (HQV)Lyndon Snodgrass (KAW)Michael Witkowski (HON)Evan Smith (HQV)Josh Strang (SHR)Grant Baylor (KAW)*Overall National Championship Standings:Jonathan Girroir (207)Steward Baylor (173)Grant Davis (130)Jordan Ashburn (126)Craig Delong (118)Angus Riordan (105)Grant Baylor (100)Michael Witkowski (92)Liam Draper (69)Evan Smith (66)*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2024 National Champion.XC2 250 Pro Event Results:Grant Davis (KTM)Angus Riordan (KTM)Cody Barnes (HON)Toby Cleveland (HQV)Jason Lipscomb (BET)Thad Duvall (KAW)Liam Draper (YAM)Brody Johnson (BET)XC2 250 Pro Series Standings:Grant Davis (216)Angus Riordan (193)Liam Draper (151)Cody Barnes (121)Thad Duvall (110)Brody Johnson (99)Jason Lipscomb (96)Ruy Barbosa (94)Josh Toth (93)Toby Cleveland (91) |
Up-and-Down Weekend for Team Honda HRC at Hangtown MX
While the Hangtown round of the AMA Pro Motocross series in Rancho Cordova, California, didn’t go as hoped for Team Honda HRC, there were bright spots for the squad to be happy about as they left round 2. On the one hand, Jett Lawrence saw his undefeated streak in the 450 class ended following a hard crash in moto 1, resulting in a 24-6 12th-overall finish. On the other hand, the team’s other three riders had strong showings, with Hunter Lawrence notching his second runner-up overall result in two premier-class tries, Chance Hymas repeating his strong fourth-overall 250 finish from last week, and Jo Shimoda improving to tally a fifth-overall result.
Continuing a trend started last week in Pala, Jett and Hunter Lawrence put their CRF450RWE race machines in front out of the first turn in 450 moto 1, but shortly after, Jett came up short on a tricky downhill double and went down hard, suffering a contusion to his right thigh in the fall. Hunter assumed the lead spot and retained it until three laps from the end, when eventual moto-winner Chase Sexton got by. While Hunter held on for second, Jett (after pausing to have his mechanic straighten his bike’s front end) attempted to come through the pack but was ultimately unable to advance to the points-paying positions. Hunter and Jett both started moto 2 in the top six, and they sat third and fourth, respectively, after one lap. Jett was up to second seven laps in, but his battered body began to fail him just past the halfway point, resulting in lost positions. He slipped to sixth at the finish, while Hunter rode a steady race for fourth in the moto and second overall.
Hymas nailed the 250 moto 1 holeshot aboard his CRF250R and led for the majority of the race, only succumbing to eventual moto-winner Haiden Deegan with three laps remaining. Hymas held on for a commendable second-place finish, while Jo Shimoda climbed steadily from 12th on lap 1 to seventh at the finish. Hymas and Shimoda both had decent starts in 250 moto 2, sitting fourth and seventh at the end of lap 1. Hymas lost a spot at about the one-third mark but regained it a few laps later (his eventual 2-4 showing being good enough for fourth overall), while Shimoda worked forward to post fifth-place moto and overall results.
NOTES
- This week’s pop-up dealer-activation booth in the Team Honda HRC pits was staffed by Roseville Honda Powersports, who engaged with customers and displayed Honda powersports products.
- On Friday, Saint Helena, California, dealership Parriott Motors Honda Montesa Motorcycles provided several Montesa Cota trials bikes for the Team Honda HRC riders to try out. After a brief demonstration by owner Brian Parriott, the riders faced off in two competitions, with Hunter Lawrence winning the slow race and Jett Lawrence topping the nose-wheelie contest.
- Jett Lawrence was the fastest 450 rider during timed qualifying, with Hunter Lawrence fifth-best. In the 250 class, Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas were fourth- and 10th-fastest, respectively.
- Chance Hymas notched the fastest lap time in the first 250 moto.
- Jett Lawrence’s crash proved costly, as he dropped from the 450 title-chase lead to sixth, 24 behind the leader. Hunter Lawrence’s consistent finishes so far this season have him in second, just 8 points back. In the 250 ranks, Chance Hymas and Jo Shimoda are fourth and fifth, respectively, 19 and 35 points back.
- Next on the AMA Pro Motocross schedule is the Thunder Valley National in Lakewood, Colorado, this Saturday.
2024 AMA Land Speed Grand Championship at the Bonneville Salt Flats Set for Aug. 24-29
After inclement weather forced the cancellation of the AMA Land Speed Grand Championship in 2022 and 2023, the event is set to make its triumphant return to the Bonneville Salt Flats on Aug. 24-29.
Despite the forced two-year hiatus, enthusiasm is high for the event’s return as the AMA Land Speed Grand Championship celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2024. With an emphasis on straight-line speed, the AMA Land Speed Grand Championship is undoubtedly the fastest form of motorcycle racing in the world.
“There’s nothing quite like the AMA Land Speed Grand Championship, and unfortunately we’ve missed out on this outstanding event the last two years,” AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant said. “We’re hopeful that Mother Nature cooperates with us this year, and we’ll be able to ring in the event’s 20th anniversary with some high-speed competition!”
As the annual site of the event, the Bonneville Salt Flats — located near Wendover, Utah — boasts breathtaking mountain views and a perfect racing surface for all racers to enjoy.
In addition to its iconic venue, the AMA Land Speed Grand Championship is officially recognized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, allowing racers to set AMA national records and FIM Land Speed World Records on machines that range from 50cc mini-bikes to 3,000cc streamliners.
“We’re really looking forward to the 2024 Bonneville Motorcycle this year,” said event director/owner Delvene Reber. “Going into our 20th year as the premier Land Speed racing event and AMA Grand Championship we are excited to welcome back our diverse group of motorcyclists to test their machines against two decades of motorcycle-only competition and the record books!”
Event classes are determined by engine displacement, modification levels and various degrees of streamlining, and competitors range from weekend enthusiasts to professional racing teams.
For more information, visit the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trails’ website at https://bonnevillemst.com/. To learn more about Land Speed racing, go to https://AmericanMotorcyclist.com/racing/track-racing/landspeed-record/.
AMA Adds Logan Densmore as Off-Road Racing Manager
The American Motorcyclist Association is pleased to announce the addition of its new Off-Road Racing Manager Logan Densmore, who brings a wealth of experience to the position.
A native of Charlotte, Mich., Densmore has been involved in off-road racing — both as a racer and promoter — since he was 3 years old. With lifelong experience in the off-road racing sphere, Densmore will lead the AMA’s off-road efforts and work directly with racers and promoters to ensure the continued growth of the sport.
“We are thrilled with the addition of Logan Densmore to the AMA Racing team,” said AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier. “Logan’s experience as a successful racer and promoter makes him a key addition to our staff and will bring great momentum to our off-road racing endeavors.”
During his racing career, Densmore earned a collection of local class wins and emerged victorious in the 2022 Jack Pine Enduro — which he notes as his favorite riding memory.
While Densmore has enjoyed a successful racing career, he’s also made a name for himself in the world of race promotion. Densmore created the Michigan Sprint Enduro Series in 2017, building it from the ground up. Under his command, the Michigan Sprint Enduro Series has hosted three ISDE East Qualifiers since its establishment. Additionally, Densmore worked as the promotions director of the National Enduro Promoters Group and the AMA National Enduro Series since 2018.
With years of experience on both sides of the off-road racing scene, Densmore plans to approach the off-road racing manager role by leaning on his skills as a racer and promoter.
“I want to approach the role with the racer, as well as the promoter/club, in mind as I have been in all of them in many races over the years. I feel I can see both sides of the events and offer insight from many different perspectives,” Densmore said. “I want everyone within the AMA to feel that they can approach me with anything, good or bad. That includes the racers, promoters, clubs and general members.”
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