This Week in Powersports Racing – The week of July 21, 2024

This week in US Powersports racing.

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Cooper Finishes Fifth at Washougal National

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper scored another top-five overall finish in the tricky conditions at the Washougal MX Park. After scoring his sixth moto podium of the season, the New Yorker came back to finish seventh in Moto 2, scoring valuable points for the overall result and maintaining third in the Pro Motocross 450MX Championship.

Despite all of the chaos with travel interruptions brought about by the global IT outage, it was a smooth start on race day for Cooper at the eighth round of the championship in Washougal, Washington. He qualified third and then got a great start in the opening 450 moto and rode a strong pace in the runner-up position. Before the halfway point on the clock, he was passed and then shuffled to fourth shortly after. The New Yorker continued to ride his own race in the tricky conditions and when a rider ahead went down, he advanced back into third, where he would finish to score his sixth premier class podium. 

In the second moto, Cooper got another great start to take his fifth holeshot of the season. He was shuffled to third on the opening lap and then to fourth in the heat of the multi-rider battle. Unfortunately on the second lap, he had a big crash and rejoined in 13th. Undeterred, he put his head down and made his way to seventh. The rookie did what he could to close the sizeable gap to sixth, but ultimately would have to settle for seventh to secure a top-five overall finish and maintain third in the points standings with his 3-7 score

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team returns to action on August 10 as racing resumes at the Unadilla National, Round 9 of Pro Motocross and Round 26 of the SuperMotocross World Series, at Unadilla MX in New Berlin, New York. 

Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“All in all, it was a good day, especially with how the weekend started with all the crazy travel delays. Justin had a good first moto and two amazing starts, we’ve just got to work a little bit on a few things. It’s a learning year for the rookie. We’ll have a little bit of a recovery these next couple of weeks, and come back stronger at Unadilla.”

Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“The day started out well. I was third in qualifying and had a really good first moto. I started second and eventually finished third, but rode pretty strong in that whole first moto. In the second moto, I got off to another good start and then crashed on the second or third lap, and just kind of rode it on home from there. It was definitely a hard day and I ran out of steam once I got going again. So yeah, it was a tough day overall but we’ll build and learn from it.”

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DOUBLE TOP-FIVE AT WASHOUGAL NATIONAL THE BEST YET FROM RYDER DIFRANCESCO AND PIERCE BROWN

A season-best performance from Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing duo Ryder DiFrancesco and Pierce Brown saw both 250MX team riders finish inside the top five overall at Saturday’s Washougal National, completing Round 8 of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in style.

• A double top-five from Ryder D and PB highlights season so far
• Fourth in Moto 1 and the round DiFrancesco’s best-ever professional result
• Confidence on the up leading into two-week break in the series

Despite qualifying down the order in 16th position, Ryder D was able to capitalize on strong starts inside the top three during both races and made it count. He raced hard to fourth position in Moto 1 on his GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition to seal a career-best score, then produced a sixth-place finish in Moto 2 for P4 overall.

Ryder DiFrancesco: “That was my best finish that I’ve had and we’re happy with that achievement. I had two good starts today, so I was able to learn the speed up front more, and I keep getting better in terms of overall finishes. I’m excited to keep improving and the goal is to get on the podium by the end of the year. I’m looking forward to these couple of off weekends now.”

Brown was on the pace from the outset among the woods of Washougal, slotting into fourth as qualifying wrapped up, and then racing forward from outside the top 10 to sixth in the opening race. He was further toward the front in the final encounter, eventually making his way to P5 at the checkered flag, which placed him fifth overall.

Pierce Brown: “Washougal was a much better day for me after the last two weeks didn’t go to plan. It was refreshing to get a solid overall result today, which is tied with my best result of the season, and I’m looking forward to putting in the work over the break before Unadilla!”

The Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing teammates continue to improve in terms of the championship standings as well, with PB currently placed seventh and DiFrancesco ninth. The team will take two weekends off now before action resumes at Unadilla.

Next Race: August 10 – Unadilla, New York

Standings 450MX Class 2024 after 8 of 11 rounds
1. Chase Sexton, 360 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 332
3. Justin Cooper, 284
4. Aaron Plessinger, 281
7. Malcolm Stewart, 213
9. Christian Craig, 161
10. Justin Barcia (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing, 148

Results 250MX Class – Washougal National
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
2. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
3. Jo Shimoda (JPN), Honda
4. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
5. Pierce Brown (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
11. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
15. Casey Cochran (USA), Husqvarna

Standings 250MX Class 2024 after 8 of 11 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 361 points
2. Tom Vialle, 307
3. Levi Kitchen, 291
7. Pierce Brown, 195
9. Ryder DiFrancesco, 181
11. Casey Cochran, 153
13. Julien Beaumer, 148

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CONSISTENT RESULTS CONTINUE FOR MALCOLM STEWART AND CHRISTIAN CRAIG AT WASHOUGAL NATIONAL

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Malcolm Stewart finished seventh and Christian Craig ninth overall in Washougal’s eighth round of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, continuing their consistent top-10 form in the 450MX division during the Military Appreciation weekend of the series.

Stewart placed his Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition into seventh position at the conclusion of qualifying and then he charged through the pack to 10th in the opening moto. This afternoon’s second outing went far more smoothly, impressing on his way to a sixth-place finish and taking home P7 overall. Malcolm is also seventh in the championship standings.

“Washougal was good and practice was actually really strong for me,” Stewart said. “I actually got off to an okay start in Moto 1, but came together with another rider and both went down, so I had to get up and charge from the back of the pack. In the next moto, my start was way better and I rode really hard all the way towards the end. I’m happy with everything, we rode good all day, and we’ll enjoy this two-week break – maybe do some fishing and hang out with the family before we get into the last three!”

Directly behind his teammate in qualifying, Craig had the eighth gate pick for the premier class races, in which he managed a 7-12 scorecard. Sitting ninth in points, it was another important step in his return to competition during the outdoors and he will take advantage of the next two weekends off to make further gains.

“Qualifying was good, I was comfortable straight away, and always enjoy coming here,” Craig reflected. “Moto 1, I made my way up to seventh and was able to stay there, so was pretty stoked with that. In the second moto I damaged my shifter on a rut or something about midway through, and was stuck in second gear following that. I salvaged what I could, so look forward to getting my arm a little stronger in the break, and we’ll come out swinging for the last three.”

In his first appearance at Washougal – known for its technical, shady nature – Casey Cochran endured a more challenging day out in 250MX. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider rode his Husqvarna FC 250 Rockstar Edition to 12th in qualifying, followed by 15th in Moto 1 and 13th in Moto 2. As a result, he was 15th overall and is ranked 11th in points.

“It was a tough day for me today,” Cochran commented. “I struggled to get comfortable with the track, which showed in my results. I didn’t make great starts today either, but we know what we need to work on, and we will come out stronger following the break.”

Next Race: August 10 – Unadilla, New York

Download hi-res images from the 2024 Washougal National here

Results 450MX Class – Washougal National
1. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
2. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
3. Jason Anderson (USA), Kawasaki
7. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
9. Christian Craig (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 450MX Class 2024 after 8 of 11 rounds
1. Chase Sexton, 360 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 332
3. Justin Cooper, 284
4. Aaron Plessinger, 281
7. Malcolm Stewart, 213
9. Christian Craig, 161
10. Justin Barcia, 148

Results 250MX Class – Washougal National
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
2. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
3. Jo Shimoda (JPN), Honda
4. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS
5. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS
11. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
15. Casey Cochran (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Standings 250MX Class 2024 after 8 of 11 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 361 points
2. Tom Vialle, 307
3. Levi Kitchen, 291
7. Pierce Brown, 195
9. Ryder DiFrancesco, 181
11. Casey Cochran, 153
13. Julien Beaumer, 148

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CHASE SEXTON MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW AS AARON PLESSINGER AND TOM VIALLE LAND WASHOUGAL PODIUMS

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton swept to his third-straight AMA Pro Motocross Championship round victory at Washougal to extend his advantage in 450MX, as Aaron Plessinger joined him on the podium in second overall, and Tom Vialle raced to the opening moto win on his way to second overall in 250MX.

Sexton has been the class of the field during the middle stages of the 2024 season on his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, winning the past seven motos in succession. He put forward a measured performance amidst the tree-lined shadows of Washougal to go 1-1 once again on Saturday, building a 28-point lead in the championship with three rounds remaining.

Chase Sexton: “It feels nice, because I wanted to get this win before the break, and to go into that with some momentum. We’ve got two weekends off, so I plan to go back and rest, because I haven’t been feeling the greatest these last few days. I felt really good on the bike, was able to push through and find a flow, which got me to the end. This crowd’s awesome and I love coming to this track every year. We’ll keep the hammer down from here and go for it!”

While Sexton had to make his way through the field in both motos, teammate Plessinger started up front and managed to lead the majority of Moto 1, until a late stall allowed a charging Sexton – who had gone down earlier in the race – to power by. Plessinger was just as strong in the final encounter, slicing his way to a P3 finish to secure second overall. He’s currently ranked fourth in the title race.

Aaron Plessinger: “These fans at Washougal are unreal! It’s cool to see this same support country-wide and that these people have the same passion for dirt bikes that I do. I’m still achieving the goals that I set for myself, even if unfortunately last week I had a crash that kept me off the podium in fourth, but we’re back here now and I’m happy. We’ll take some weeks off for now and do some things I don’t usually get to do with the family!”

After qualifying fastest in 250MX this morning, Vialle rode his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a commanding victory in Moto 1, and then backed that effort up by leading his share of Moto 2. A fast-starting Vialle eventually took the checkered flag in second position, which placed him P2 on the podium. The Frenchman has now climbed to second in the standings.

Tom Vialle: “Today was a good day! We were able to go fastest in qualifying and won the first moto, and then Haiden [Deegan] beat me in the second moto. The track was tough and I did my best – it’s nice to finish on the podium before the break. We’ll keep training and hopefully we can come back and win these last three races.”

250MX rookie Julien Beaumer started his day in convincing fashion by qualifying in fifth place, but could only manage a 16th-place result in Moto 1. The teenager bounced back in the second moto to finish in eighth position, which put him 11th overall for the weekend, and Beaumer sits 13th in the championship following Round 8, which was the Military Appreciation Round of the outdoor season.

Julien Beaumer: “It was a decent day at Washougal. I was good in practice, and then struggled in that first moto – I don’t really know what happened there. In Moto 2, I was able to come back with better riding, so in this break we will look to make further improvements and come out swinging in Unadilla.”

Next Race: August 10 – Unadilla, New York

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Third Straight Moto Sweep Puts Chase Sexton on Top at Washougal for Fourth Pro Motocross Championship Victory

WASHOUGAL, Wash. (July 20, 2024) – The 2024 Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, made its final trip to the West Coast for Round 8 of the summer campaign, where the scenic surroundings of Washougal MX Park challenged riders under some of the hottest temperatures of the season. The MotoSport.com Washougal National Presented by Peterson CAT also served as the series’ Military Appreciation Race, which provided an enhanced atmosphere of passion and excitement around the action on the track, which saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton dominate with his third straight 1-1 effort to capture his fourth 450 Class victory of the season and add to his championship points lead. In the 250 Class, points leader Haiden Deegan edged out Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle via tiebreaker for the fifth win of the season for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider.

450 Class

Moto 1

The opening moto of the afternoon got underway with a massive MotoSport.com Holeshot for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger, who had a lead of several bike lengths exiting the first turn with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing machine of Justin Cooper in second and Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence in third. Sexton started outside the top 10 but made quick passes to slot himself into sixth by the completion of the opening lap. Back up front, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson made the pass on Lawrence for third.

As the moto progressed through its midway point the field settled in, but Sexton was mounting a charge. After a pass on Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis for fifth, Sexton began to lay down the fastest laps of the moto, which allowed him to close in on the lead group. He caught and passed Anderson for fourth with ease and then set his sights on Lawrence and Cooper, who were in a battle for second. Lawrence made the move on Cooper to take second, then Sexton followed through into third with a little more than 10 minutes to go.

While he looked to keep Sexton at bay, Lawrence went down, which caused him to lose three positions and remount in fifth. Sexton inherited second and looked to erase a near five-second deficit to his teammate with just under 10 minutes remaining. Cooper moved into third, with Anderson fifth.

With two minutes to go Sexton had cut the deficit in half, but Plessinger responded with his quickest laps of the moto. Sexton didn’t relent and continued to increase his pace to inch closer to Plessinger. With three laps to go less than a second separated the teammates. Plessinger then stalled his KTM briefly, which allowed Sexton to get alongside as Plessinger restarted. The momentum allowed Sexton to slip past and pull away from Plessinger.

The championship leader stayed solid through the final laps to capture his sixth straight moto win by 5.3 seconds over Plessinger. Cooper followed in a distant third, with Anderson fourth and Lawrence fifth.

Moto 2

The deciding moto started with Cooper leading the field to the MotoSport.com Holeshot, but he gave way to Lawrence briefly until Anderson made a charge to go from third to first in just a few hundred feet. Sexton followed in fourth, while Plessinger started fifth. While Anderson looked to sprint out to a lead, Lawrence strengthened his hold of second as Sexton made his way around Cooper for third.

Five minutes into the moto, Anderson had established a 3.3 second lead on the field, while Lawrence, Sexton, and Plessinger settled into their respective positions. Cooper, meanwhile, encountered misfortune and dropped outside the top 10. As the opening 10 minutes passed, Sexton started to apply pressure on Lawrence for second. The championship rivals battled briefly, but Sexton made the pass stick and set his sights on Anderson, who sat 4.6 seconds ahead. Lawrence then faced pressure from Plessinger in fourth, as the KTM rider was eventually able to make his move into the top three.

As the second half of the moto unfolded, Sexton was able to chip away at Anderson’s advantage, running the fastest laps on the track. With a little more than 10 minutes to go, Sexton closed to within 1.2 seconds of the lead. An outside line opened the door for Sexton to attempt a pass, as he edged ahead on the exit to secure the lead with a little more than eight minutes remaining.

Anderson kept Sexton honest for several laps, but the KTM rider pulled away at the end to cap off another perfect afternoon by 13 seconds over Anderson, who wrapped up his best moto result of the season. Plessinger finished solidly in third.

Overall

Sexton’s third consecutive 1-1 performance, and his fourth of the season, resulted in a milestone 10th career win. Plessinger equaled his career-best result in second (2-3) to complete KTM’s second 1-2 sweep in three races. Anderson’s strong second moto landed him on the overall podium for the first time this season in third (4-2).

With seven straight moto wins in tow, Sexton has built a 28-point lead in the 450 Class standings over Lawrence, who finished fourth (5-4) and missed the podium for the first time in his premier class career. Cooper, who finished fifth (3-7), sits third, 76 points behind Sexton.

1st: Chase Sexton, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (1-1)

“It feels nice [to get another 1-1 win]. I wanted to get another win before the break [in the schedule] to get some momentum. I haven’t been feeling the greatest the past few days, so it’s time for a rest. I was able to find a flow today and ride my own lines and it worked out well, even though I wasn’t feeling my best.”

2nd: Aaron Plessinger, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (2-3)

“I just got out there [in Moto 2] and knew I had to get by JCoop [Cooper]. I saw him go down and hope he’s ok. I got to Hunter [Lawrence] and had to make a move because I knew he’d come on strong at the end. Chase [Sexton] and Jason [Anderson] were on another level. I’m achieving the goals I’ve set for myself this season and it feels amazing.”

3rd: Jason Anderson, Monster Energy Kawasaki (4-2)

“It feels nice. I’ve just been outside the podium so many times this season, so to be up here coming off a good moto feels good. I’ve been putting in the work and it’s paid off.”

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish // Points)

1. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., KTM (1-1 // 50)
2. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (2-3 // 42)
3. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki (4-2 // 40)
4. Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda (5-4 // 35)
5. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (3-7 // 35)
6. Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Honda (6-5 // 33)
7. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Husqvarna (10-6 // 28)
8. Fredrik Noren, Lidköping, Sweden, Kawasaki (8-8 // 28)
9. Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Husqvarna (7-12 // 25)
10. Marshal Weltin, Ubly, Mich., Yamaha (11-9 // 24)

450 Class Championship Standings (Round 8 of 11)

1. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., KTM – 360
2. Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 332
3. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 284
4. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM – 281
5. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki – 261
6. Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Honda – 237
7. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Husqvarna – 213
8. Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 210
9. Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Husqvarna – 161
10. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., GASGAS – 148

250 Class

Moto 1

The first 250 Class moto began with Vialle and Deegan side-by-side, with Vialle narrowly earning the MotoSport.com Holeshot. The rivals remained alongside one another until Vialle gained a slight edge going up Horsepower Hill to secure the lead. Behind them, Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco slotted into third.

The leaders settled in until Deegan tipped over and gave up second to DiFrancesco. Despite the miscue, Deegan remounted in third. The point leader bided his time and reclaimed the position from DiFrancesco on the following lap. Deegan’s deficit to Vialle was four seconds with 23 minutes to go.

The lead pair mirrored times through the heart of the moto, which saw the lead stabilize at about 3.5 seconds. Behind them, DiFrancesco continued to run third but was forced to fend off Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith, who made the pass briefly before crashing, and then Team Honda HRC’s Jo Shimoda, who applied pressure in the closing minutes and successfully made the pass for third.

Back up front, Deegan attempted to make a late charge, but Vialle responded and effectively ended any threat. The Frenchman raced to just his second moto win of the season, his first since Round 2, by a margin of 11.3 seconds over Deegan. Shimoda finished in third, followed by a career-best moto result for DiFrancesco in fourth, with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Max Anstie rounding out the top five.

Moto 2

The final moto of the afternoon saw Vialle keep the momentum going with a sweep of the MotoSport.com Holeshots as Deegan got another run alongside to try and take the lead in what was a mirror image of the start of Moto 1. Once again, the KTM rider got a better run up Horsepower Hill to fend off Deegan and maintain his hold of the top spot. Behind them, DiFrancesco got another stellar start in third while hometown hero Levi Kitchen was able to make his way into fourth aboard his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki. Despite the opening lap flurry, Vialle was able to move out to a lead of more than a second over Deegan.

A torrid opening 10 minutes saw several passes unfold, but soon the top five settled with Vialle and Deegan inching away from DiFrancesco as Shimoda made the pass on Kitchen for fourth. Deegan then decided to go on the attack and seemingly caught Vialle off guard. The points leader used an alternate line to get alongside Vialle and completed the pass at the next corner. Behind them, Shimoda made the pass on DiFrancesco for third.

The top three remained unchanged over the second half of the moto as Deegan continued to build his lead into the double digits. He easily secured his seventh moto victory of the season, which also ended a run of six winless motos, by a margin of 14 seconds over Vialle, who went unchallenged in second. Shimoda finished in a distant third.

Overall

After two rounds without a victory, Deegan (2-1) returned to the top step of the podium with identical moto scores to Vialle (1-2), as the second moto tiebreaker gave the second-generation racer his fifth overall win of the season and the seventh of his young career. It also signified Vialle’s first podium result in two rounds and equaled his season-best effort. Shimoda (3-3) captured his third podium result in the past four races.

Deegan’s lead in the championship standings grew to 53 points over Vialle, who moved from third to second, while Kitchen sits third, 70 points behind Deegan.

1st: Haiden Deegan, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing (2-1)

“We made a little different bike setup [for Moto 2] and it made a world of difference. Got a good start, made the pass, and just rode my own race. It’s nice to keep the Washougal [win] streak going [after last year] and put it back on top of the box.”

2nd: Tom Vialle, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (1-2)

“It was a good day. P1 in qualifying and we won the first moto. The track was really tough in the second moto, and I did my best, but Haiden was just faster. We’re going to try hard for the final three races.”

3rd: Jo Shimoda, Team Honda HRC (3-3)

“Those two in the front [Deegand and Vialle] are going pretty quick right now. It’s not just one thing I need to work on. It’s a little bit of everything, but we’ll keep trying our best.”

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)

1. Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (2-1 // 47)
2. Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM (1-2 // 47)
3. Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Kawasaki (3-3 // 40)
4. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., GASGAS (4-6 // 34)
5. Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS (6-5 // 33)
6. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki (12-4 // 28)
7. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Triumph (9-7 // 28)
8. Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Triumph (7-9 // 28)
9. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda (8-12 // 24)
10. Jett Reynolds, Bakersfield, Calif., Yamaha (13-10 // 21)

250 Class Championship Standings (Round 8 of 11)

1. Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 361
2. Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM – 307
3. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 291
4. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda – 275
5. Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Kawasaki – 271
6. Ty Masterpool, Paradise, Texas, Kawasaki – 233
7. Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS – 195
8. Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Triumph – 187
9. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., GASGAS – 181
10. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Yamaha – 165

The 2024 Pro Motocross Championship will observe a late summer break of two off weekends before a return to action for its stretch run of the final three rounds, which will begin on Saturday, August 10, from the hallowed grounds of Central New York’s Unadilla MX. The ELF Unadilla National will serve as Round 9 of the season with comprehensive live streaming coverage exclusively on Peacock, starting with Race Day Live Presented by MotoSport.com starting at 7:00 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET, followed by uninterrupted moto coverage starting at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET.

For information about the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:

• Facebook: @americanmotocross
• Instagram: @promotocross
• Twitter: @ProMotocross
• YouTube: AmericanMotocross

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Podium Result for Shimoda at Washougal MX

Jo Shimoda notched his third podium overall result of the 250 season at the Washougal Pro Motocross National in the Pacific Northwest, notching 3-3 moto finishes to take the same position on the day. In the same class, Chance Hymas toughed out a badly hurting right ankle to complete both motos, even charging forward in race 2 following a turn 1 crash, ultimately tallying an 8-12 showing for ninth overall. Despite qualifying on pole in the 450 division, Hunter Lawrence wasn’t able to find the pace he has shown for much of the season, finishing just off the overall podium for the first time in his young premier-class outdoor career.

Lawrence got a third-place start in the first 450 moto, but he lost a spot on the first lap. On a track that is notorious for making passing difficult, the Australian moved by two riders to capture second at the midway point, but he lost his front end in a corner on the next lap and went down, slipping back to fifth. That was his eventual finish position, one ahead of Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis. The second moto saw Lawrence start second and quickly assume the lead, but he wasn’t able to maintain the necessary pace on the slippery track and slipped back to fourth at moto’s end, for fourth overall. Ferrandis was fifth in the moto and sixth overall.

Shimoda was sixth out of turn 1 in the first 250 moto, and he quickly advanced to fifth, with Hymas a couple of positions back. Shimoda mounted a charge at the moto’s midway point, moving up to third (his eventual finishing position), while Hymas gritted his teeth to finish eighth. Shimoda was sixth off the moto 2 start, and although he lost a spot early on, he soon recovered that position. He advanced to fifth through the whoops on lap 2, then moved into fourth on lap 4 and third a lap later, and that’s where he finished for third overall. Meanwhile, Hymas was taken out in turn 1 and, after limping back to his downed bike, spent the moto recovering to finish 12^th.

NOTES

• All three active Team Honda HRC riders took part in Friday’s Media Day activities on Friday at Washougal, getting track time and doing interviews with attending journalists.
• After suffering a severe sprain to his right ankle last week, Chance Hymas’s participation in the Washougal round was in doubt. The Idaho native took part in qualifying and determined that he was up to at least try to complete moto 1, and he ultimately completed both motos.
• Vancouver, Washington, dealership Pro Caliber Motorsports staffed a popup activation booth at Washougal, displaying powersports products and engaging with fans and customers.
• Washougal featured a Military Appreciation theme, and Team Honda HRC participated with special Throttle Jockey graphics featuring a Viper Urban Camouflage pattern from team apparel sponsor TrueTimber.
• After missing two races due to an injured back, Cameron Camera was back at work in the Team Honda HRC pits, spinning wrenches for Hunter Lawrence.
• During morning qualifying, Hunter Lawrence turned the fastest time of the 450 riders, giving him the first gate pick. In the 250 class, Chance Hymas and Jo Shimoda were seventh- and ninth-best, respectively.
• Washougal marked the first time that Lawrence hasn’t finished on the overall podium in his young 450MX career. It was also the first time that Honda didn’t finish on the 450 podium since the last round of the 2021 season.
• Nonetheless, Hunter retains second in the 450 title chase, 28 points behind Chase Sexton, with three rounds remaining. In the 250 ranks, Hymas and Shimoda sit fourth and fifth in the points, respectively.
• Team Honda HRC and the rest of the AMA Pro Motocross traveling circus get a much-needed two-weekend break, with round 9 scheduled for August 10 at Unadilla MX in Upstate New York.

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Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship Joins Love Moto Stop Cancer Campaign Benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

The SuperMotocross League, in partnership with MX Sports, is excited to announce that the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship will become an annual fundraising event that benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Supercross athletes, team members, and partners on the campus of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during a recent visit and Love Moto Stop Cancerpatient reception. Photo Courtesy of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

This year will mark the 43rd running of what is fondly referred to simply as Loretta Lynn’s, the amateur national championship that has become the single-largest motocross event in the United States, and arguably the world. More than 1,400 amateur racers will gather at Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, starting on Sunday, July 28, for a week of non-stop action across 36 classes of competition.  Each competitor will race in three separate races (motos) throughout the week, ending on Saturday, August 3, when each division champion will be crowned. All told, the 108 combined motos will accumulate to more than 36,000 laps raced and each of those laps will provide a huge opportunity to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

This year marks the 43rd running of the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship fondly referred to as Loretta Lynn’s, the single-largest motocross event in the United States. Photo Credit: Align Media

“I was able to visit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital back in April with the Supercross team and seeing the work they do firsthand really moved me,” said Tim Cotter, Director of Operations, MX Sports. “I knew immediately that we could make an impact through the Loretta Lynn’s amateur national championship, where our amateur racers and their families would want to get involved. At the end of the day its kids helping kids.”

Starting today, competitors can sign up to become a Love Moto Stop Cancer St. Jude fundraiser where they will be provided with campaign tools to have donors sponsor the number of laps they complete during the Loretta Lynn’s Lapathon Benefitting St. Jude Kids. Each athlete that signs on to become a fundraiser will be given a St. Jude sticker that will be affixed to their official Loretta Lynn’s number plate to signify they are racing for a bigger purpose – the St. Jude Mission: Finding Cures. Saving Children.

For the first time amateur athletes will be able to participate in the Love Moto Stop Cancer campaign and fundraise like their pro heroes on behalf of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Photo Credit: Align Media

Monster Energy AMA Supercross has been a primary partner of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for eight years and has raised more than $1.5M through various annual campaigns, including the Love Moto Stop Cancer text-to-donate campaign, the annual Supercross-St. Jude online auction, and the Love Moto Stop Cancer race completely dedicated to St. Jude. This past year, new programs were created with Ken Roczen and his Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki team in which he gave away his race bike through a national sweepstakes. Additionally, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC launched the first-ever golf tournament where all proceeds went towards the Love Moto Stop Cancer campaign.

MX Sports Pro Racing and the Pro Motocross Championship will join forces with the Monster Energy Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals in 2025 and beyond to further build on the Love Moto Stop Cancer campaign while maximizing fundraising opportunities across all 31 events.

Athletes wanting to participate in this year’s Loretta Lynn’s Lapathon Benefitting St. Jude Kids can find additional information at http://fundraising.stjude.org/lorettalynnlapathon.

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KTM ORANGE BRIGADE RETURNS WITH REVAMPED BRANDING FOR 2024 AMA AMATEUR NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

MURRIETA, Calif. – The KTM Orange Brigade, official amateur racing program of KTM North America Inc., has been reenergized in the lead-up to the 43rd Annual AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s. This exciting update marks a new chapter for the program that has nurtured and developed a deep field of motocross talent for decades.

The revamped KTM Orange Brigade program will now encompass all levels of racing from the top-tiered factory racing efforts to amateur racing’s Elite, Select and Dealer Supported riders. This holistic approach is designed to support and foster talent across all levels, from aspiring young riders to seasoned professionals.

Alongside the new branding and logo, the KTM Orange Brigade welcomes a brand-new level of racing support at the grassroots level. Introducing KTM’s Dealer Support Amateur Racing program, racers from all over the nation will have the opportunity to receive support from their local KTM dealership, including exclusive motorcycle and PG&A discounts, enhanced marketing support for team presence, and more. Racers interested in receiving support should contact their local KTM dealer for more information.

All KTM Orange Brigade riders, regardless of their level, will proudly wear the newly designed OB logo on their jerseys at the upcoming Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Motocross National, signifying their membership in the prestigious KTM Orange Brigade team. Additionally, every registered KTM rider competing at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch can stop by the KTM area to receive the new KTM OB iron-on logo for their national bib.

KTM is excited to have motocross legend Ryan Dungey return to offer invaluable support and mentorship to KTM Amateur riders. Dungey will be providing Trackside Tips on Monday following practice, sharing his expertise and insights to help young racers hone their skills.

KTM’s dedication to its riders at Loretta Lynn’s will continue with full Trackside Support, ensuring that all KTM competitors receive top-notch assistance and resources throughout the event.

Moreover, KTM is thrilled to announce that KJSX will once again provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Micro-E (4-7) Limited class at Loretta Lynn’s. The top-12 finishers from this year’s Micro-E Limited class, along with the top-three from the Deschambault Motocross ECAN 50 Electric Open class, will have the chance to qualify for the KTM Jr. Supercross, presented by Wells Fargo and powered by Ford Lightning. This world-class event will take place during the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Final in Las Vegas this September.

KTM remains dedicated to supporting and nurturing the next generation of motocross talent while celebrating and advancing the sport. After KTM-mounted riders earned a total of 13 national championships last year at the famed Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, KTM has high hopes for all KTM riders in 2024 and wish them the best of luck as they get READY TO RACE at the Ranch between July 29 – August 4.

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Husqvarna Mobility North America is proud to announce the introduction of its newly branded Team Husqvarna Amateur Racing program, a nod to the pioneering roots of the brand’s storied racing history. While Husqvarna is no stranger to motorcycle racing, this revamped program is designed to provide a clear pathway for riders of all ages and skill levels with the launch of a brand-new Dealer Support program providing a foundation of support at the grassroots level.

Launching officially this weekend at the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s, the Team Husqvarna initiative represents a comprehensive approach to racer development, reflecting Husqvarna’s commitment to nurturing talent at every stage of their racing journey. The program is set to include professional racers, amateur racing’s Elite, Select and Dealer-supported riders, covering all levels and series of racing.

Team Husqvarna’s vision is to provide extensive support to amateur riders as they transition into professional racing, exemplified by the success of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Casey Cochran, who is currently in his rookie year of Supercross and Motocross. This structure aims to replicate and build upon such success stories, offering a pathway from amateur to professional racing and support everywhere in between.

In addition to the proven path of amateur racing success, Team Husqvarna welcomes a brand-new level of racing support at the grassroots level with its Dealer Support Amateur Racing program. An exciting feature of Team Husqvarna’s Dealer Support program allows dealers to select and support a number of amateur riders by offering exclusive motorcycle and PG&A discounts, enhanced marketing support for team presence, and more. Racers interested in receiving support should contact their local Husqvarna dealer for more information.

For the latest updates to all things Team Husqvarna, be sure to follow the official Instagram account @_TeamHusqvarna.

Trackside Support will be another integral aspect of Husqvarna’s involvement at the Ranch, featuring the availability of emergency parts and service to assist all Husqvarna-mounted riders over the course of the entire week.

To celebrate the launch of Team Husqvarna and to connect with the racing community, the brand will host a bonfire and S’mores at The Beach on Monday, July 29, at 6:30 p.m. Racing and festivities will conclude through to Sunday, August 4, 2024.

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