This Week in Powersports Racing – The week of August 18, 2024

This week in US Powersports racing.

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Haiden Deegan Captures Gary Jones Cup at Budds Creek as 2024 Pro Motocross 250 Class Champion

MECHANICSVILLE, Md. (August 17, 2024) – American motocross’ newest champion was crowned at the penultimate round of the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, as Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan captured the 250 Class title and the coveted Gary Jones Cup at the Yamaha Budds Creek National Presented by Call 855 Treeman. A morning of rain gave way to partly sunny skies with high temperatures and high humidity for a challenging afternoon at Southern Maryland’s Budds Creek Motocross Park, where the 10th round of the summer saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider and points leader Chase Sexton secure his fifth straight 450 Class victory to move one step closer to the Edison Dye Cup, while Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen grabbed his third 250 Class win of the season amidst Deegan’s title clinch.

450 Class

Moto 1

The opening moto got underway with Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper side by side exiting the first turn, with Lawrence edging ahead for the MotoSport.com Holeshot. As they cleared the first jump, Cooper made contact with Lawrence and crashed hard. The incident pushed Lawrence off the track and allowed Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger to move out front as Lawrence rejoined in second. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Christian Craig started third, with Sexton in fourth. After a couple laps, Sexton was able to get around Craig for third.

Back up front, a battle for the lead was brewing as Lawrence closed back in and applied pressure on Plessinger. The Honda rider was patient and waited for his opportunity to attack. He then made the move with relative ease a little less than 10 minutes into the moto. Once out front, Lawrence posted his fastest lap of the moto to establish a 2.5 second lead. On the following lap, Sexton dropped his pace to pass Plessinger for second. At that point, 13 minutes into the moto, 3.9 seconds separated the title combatants.

The margin stabilized at just over three seconds for most of the moto, but Sexton picked up the pace approaching the final five minutes. The KTM rider moved to within 1.8 seconds of the lead as they navigated lapped riders, but Sexton tipped over and remounted in second, eight seconds back.

Lawrence went unchallenged the rest of the way and brought home his third moto win of the season by seven seconds over Sexton. Plessinger finished in a distant third, followed by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac in fourth in his debut moto of the season, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson in fifth.

Moto 2

The final moto started the same way as Moto 1, with Lawrence leading the field out of the first turn and sprinting towards the MotoSport.com Holeshot. Plessinger tucked into second with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart in third. Sexton started fifth but made passes to quickly close in on Stewart. Plessinger went on the attack on the opening lap and made the pass on Lawrence briefly, but the Honda rider responded to reclaim the position and solidify his hold of the lead. Sexton, meanwhile, passed Stewart for third.

Lawrence, Plessinger, and Sexton were able to distance themselves from the rest of the field in the opening laps and set the stage for a three-rider battle. Just over 10 minutes into the moto, Plessinger mounted another challenge for the lead and showed a wheel to Lawrence at several parts of the track. However, Lawrence held him off to stay out front. That allowed Sexton to apply pressure on Plessinger for second but was unable to make a move. The points leader bided his time and then pulled the trigger on a pass that allowed him to move into second. However, he gave the position up with a tip over a quarter lap later, remounting in fourth before quickly making the pass on Stewart to move back up third.

With the final 10 minutes approaching, Sexton closed back in on Plessinger and made another quick pass on his teammate to once again grab second. The leaders were separated by 4.5 seconds as the race clock continued to count down. Sexton laid down lap times more than a second quicker than Lawrence to begin taking chunks out of his deficit. Soon enough, Sexton had closed to within striking distance of Lawrence as a battle for the win took shape with a little more than six minutes remaining.

Sexton closed in and jumped at his first opportunity to make a pass, storming by Lawrence to move out front with five minutes to go. With the lead in hand, Sexton quickly gapped Lawrence and moved out to a margin of more than two seconds.

Sexton never looked back and stormed to his 11th moto win of the season, and his ninth over the last 11 motos. He took the checkered flag 9.4 seconds ahead of Lawrence, with Plessinger a distant third.

Overall

For the second week in a row a tiebreaker was needed to determine the overall winner, as Sexton’s 2-1 effort continued his dominant run with his fifth straight victory and his sixth win of the season. Lawrence was forced to settle for his sixth runner-up result of the summer (1-2), which has included back-to-back tiebreakers. Lawrence led 25 laps over the course of the afternoon, compared to Sexton’s five, all in the second moto. Plessinger rounded out the podium (3-3) to extend his streak to three.

Sexton’s lead over Lawrence in the championship standings sits at 28 points entering the final round, with Lawrence the only rider mathematically eligible for the title. Plessinger sits third, 95 points behind Sexton.

1st: Chase Sexton, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (2-1)

“The first motos have been tough on me, but second motos I come around. Even though I couldn’t keep it on two wheels today, it was a good race. That second moto was awesome. I found a good flow and I’m excited to be back on top.”

2nd: Hunter Lawrence, Team Honda HRC (1-2)

“It was tough. I was starting to feel it [physically] at the end. Traction was getting away from me and I kept having to find different lines for the scoop tire to get traction. Those second motos keep getting me, but we’ll continue to fight. Keep knocking on that door and it’ll open eventually.”

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

“I just need to look at some tape and see where they’re [Sexton and Lawrence] better than me. I thought I had them today, but they’re the best riders in the world for a reason. I feel so fortunate to be able to race alongside them. I couldn’t be happier with how I’ve been riding the past few weeks.”

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish // Points)

1. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., KTM (2-1 // 47)
2. Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda (1-2 // 47)
3. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (3-3 // 40)
4. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Husqvarna (6-5 // 33)
5. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki (5-6 // 33)
6. Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Husqvarna (7-8 // 29)
7. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (4-11 // 29)
8. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Kawasaki (9-10 // 25)
9. Phil Nicoletti, Cochecton, N.Y., Yamaha (8-12 // 24)
10. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (4-7 // 33)

450 Class Championship Standings (Round 10 of 11)

1. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., KTM – 454
2. Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 426
3. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM – 359
4. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 337
5. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki – 328
6. Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Honda – 288
7. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Husqvarna – 271
8. Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Husqvarna – 217
9. Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 210
10. Fredrik Noren, Lidköping, Sweden, Kawasaki – 178

250 Class

Moto 1

The first moto began with Deegan leading the field out of the first turn for the MotoSport.com Holeshot, while Kitchen gave chase from second ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer in third. With drying track conditions, the opportunity to be out front was advantageous for Deegan, who quickly built a multi-second lead on the field. That allowed Kitchen and Beaumer to settle into second and third, respectively.

As the moto approached the halfway mark Deegan had moved out more than 10 seconds ahead of Kitchen, while Beaumer came under fire from Team Honda HRC’s Chance Hymas. The Honda rider closed in and made a quick pass on the rookie to move into podium position. Not long after that, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle got by his teammate for fourth.

Deegan’s lead surpassed 20 seconds entering the final five minutes of the moto as Kitchen’s pace dropped and caused him to get passed by both Hymas and Vialle on the same lap. From there, the battle for second intensified between Hymas and Vialle. Back up front, Deegan tipped over in the closing laps, but it did little to impact his significant advantage. Meanwhile, Hymas went down on the final lap and dropped outside the top five.

Deegan cruised home to his ninth moto win of the season by 12 seconds over Vialle, with Kitchen in third. Beaumer followed in fourth, while Triumph Racing’s Joey Savatgy finished fifth. The win was enough for Deegan to clinch the title ahead of the second moto.

Moto 2

As the field stormed into the first turn to open Moto 2 it was Kitchen who emerged out front for the MotoSport.com Holeshot, followed by Triumph Racing’s Jalek Swoll and Beaumer. Fresh off clinching the class title, Deegan started in 15th place. As the first lap unfolded Kitchen was able to put some distance on the field, while Hymas made a charge up to second, with Swoll third and Beaumer fourth.

Hymas pushed in the opening laps to close in on Kitchen and apply pressure for the lead. The Kawasaki rider rode tactfully to fend off any pass attempts, but Hymas persisted. Kitchen then went on a run and forced Hymas to settle 10 minutes into the moto. Deegan, meanwhile, stalled out in 10th place in his effort to climb through the field.

Kitchen was able to build on his lead through the middle of the moto and managed a margin hovering around 2.5 seconds. However, Hymas closed in once more entering the final 10 minutes of the moto, as lapped riders added another layer of complexity. Behind them, a battle for third took shape between Swoll and Vialle, with the KTM rider able to take the position.

Kitchen withstood the threat and sprinted away in the late stages to take his fourth moto win of the season by 3.7 seconds over Hymas, with Vialle in third. Deegan remained in 10th place for his single-worst moto finish of the season.

Overall

Kitchen’s 3-1 finishes secured his third career victory and now gives him three wins in the last four races, including back-to-back wins the past two rounds. Vialle earned his third runner-up finish of the season (2-3), while Deegan still managed to grab the final spot on the overall podium in third (1-10).

Deegan became the 35th different rider in 53 seasons of Pro Motocross to capture the Gary Jones Cup for the 250 Class title and did so in his second season of full-time competition. He’s amassed five victories through 10 rounds, with podium finishes at all but one race. He’s also earned nine moto wins through the first 20 motos of the season.

While Deegan has wrapped up the season crown, the battle for second in the championship continues between Kitchen and Vialle, who are separated by 14 points heading into the final round.

1st: Levi Kitchen, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki (3-1)

“That was all heart for me [in Moto 2]. It’s late in the season and I’m just trying to get on a roll. Better late than never, I guess. I’m starting to get that feeling back that I had Supercross [winning races] and I want to be that guy. I’m really looking forward to what’s ahead.”

2nd: Tom Vialle, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (2-3)

“My starts were not very good today. I had to come from way back in both motos. I still had a lot of speed today and was able to make some passes. I’m happy with the result.”

3rd: Haiden Deegan, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing (1-10) // 2024 Champion

“It takes a lot of sacrifice by my team and my family to get here [the championship]. It’s unreal to win a championship again [after the 2023 SMX title]. It’s just starting to kick in and I’m so happy right now. All I wanted to do was get to the finish line and hold this number one plate.”

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)

1. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki (3-1 // 45)
2. Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM (2-3 // 42)
3. Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (1-10 // 37)
4. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda (8-2 // 36)
5. Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Triumph (6-4 // 34)
6. Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM (4-7 // 33)
7. Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS (7-5 // 32)
8. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Yamaha (10-6 // 28)
9. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna (9-8 // 27)
10. Ty Masterpool, Paradise, Texas, Kawasaki (11-9 // 24)

250 Class Championship Standings (Round 10 of 11)

1. Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 445
2. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 383
3. Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM – 369
4. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda – 311
5. Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Kawasaki – 289
6. Ty Masterpool, Paradise, Texas, Kawasaki – 283
7. Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS – 257
8. Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Triumph – 255
9. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Yamaha – 219
10. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., GASGAS – 218

The 2024 Pro Motocross Championship will come to an exciting conclusion next Saturday, August 24, from the motorsports capital of the greater Indianapolis area, where a 450 Class champion will be crowned at the Tucker Freight Lines Ironman National Finals from Crawfordsville, Indiana’s Ironman Raceway. The 11th and final round will feature 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. The race will also be simulcast domestically in Spanish via the Telemundo Deportes YouTube Channel.

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

Hunter Lawrence Scores 2-1 Second-Overall Result at Budds Creek

For the second week in a row—this time at Maryland’s Budds Creek MX—Team Honda HRC rider Hunter Lawrence won a moto and finished second in the other, and while again the performance wasn’t quite enough to earn the Australian his first premier-class overall win, it confirmed that it’s only a matter of time. In the 250 class, Chance Hymas tallied 8-2 moto finishes for fourth overall, and he surely would have been on the overall podium were it not for a last-lap miscue in the first moto.

The first 450 moto saw Lawrence nail the holeshot aboard his 2025 CRF450R, but early contact with Justin Cooper slowed him momentarily, resulting in a couple of lost positions. The Australian was quickly back up to second, and on lap 4 he moved by Aaron Plessinger to retake the lead. From there, Lawrence was never headed, winning by seven seconds.

Moto 2 saw Lawrence take yet another holeshot, and he ran at the front until Chase Sexton moved by with five laps remaining. Lawrence rode it in for second in the moto and the same position overall.

An inside line helped Hymas avoid a turn 1 pileup after the first 250 moto start, and he came out in sixth place. He was up to fourth by the end of lap 1, moved up another spot on lap 7, and took over second with five laps remaining, only for an unfortunate last-lap fall to put him in eighth at the checkered flag.

Hymas got an eighth-place start in moto 2, but the Idaho native surged forward to second place on the first lap. He pressured Levi Kitchen for the lead throughout most of the moto but ultimately settled for a runner-up result, good for fourth overall.

NOTES

• With Jo Shimoda having broken his collarbone at the previous round, and Jett Lawrence still recovering from a thumb injury, Team Honda HRC was down to just two riders at Budds Creek—Hunter Lawrence in the 450 class and Chance Hymas in the 250 division.
• Both active Team Honda HRC riders attended the Budds Creek Media Day on Friday, getting some track time and participating in media interviews.
• Virginia, dealership Fredericksburg Motor Sports staffed a pop-up activation booth in the Team Honda HRC pits at Budds Creek.
• Honda Vietnam brought its top dealers to attend the Budds Creek race, and after the first moto, the group posed for a photo with Hunter Lawrence. The large, animated Vietnamese contingent was thrilled to spend time in the Team Honda HRC pits.
• Hunter Lawrence notched the second-best time in 450 qualifying, while Chance Hymas was seventh-best in the 250 class.
• Everyone at American Honda and Team Honda HRC extends their congratulations to Yamaha and Star Racing Yamaha upon Haiden Deegan clinching the 250 Championship at Budds Creek.
• Hymas turned the fastest lap time during the second 250 moto.
• Next up for Team Honda HRC is the final round of AMA Pro Motocross, held in Crawfordsville, Indiana, on Saturday.

CHASE SEXTON MAKES IT FIVE IN A ROW WITH BUDDS CREEK NATIONAL VICTORY

MECHANICSVILLE, Md. – A fifth-consecutive victory in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Budds Creek saw Chase Sexton take another important step in his quest for the 2024 450MX crown at the penultimate round of the season, as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Aaron Plessinger finished third overall, and Tom Vialle returned to the podium with a runner-up result in 250MX.

Sexton qualified quickest onboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before going on to finish second in the opening moto of the weekend. He rebounded from an early crash in Moto 2 to storm into the lead during the closing laps, securing the overall – marking his ninth podium of the series – and maintaining a 28-point advantage in the standings with a single round remaining.

Chase Sexton: “Like I said last weekend, I feel like I made improvements over the break. First motos, I don’t know why, they’ve been tough for me and I just haven’t had the flow, and then by the second moto they come around. I didn’t make it easy on myself when I fell over, but it was a good race and that second moto was awesome with a really good flow and aggression. It was hard, but I had fun! Looking forward to next weekend.”

Plessinger has been in fine form throughout the outdoors and made it three-straight podiums at Round 10. The Cowboy qualified in P6 and then led his share of Moto 1, eventually taking the checkered flag in third position. He was once again up front in the final outing on his way to another P3 result, landing him third on the podium and he also sits in that same position in the championship.

Aaron Plessinger: “That’s three podiums in a row! You dream of this as a little kid and it always feels good – that one felt even better. In the first race, I felt like I was riding around in no man’s land, but in Moto 2 I fought for it and didn’t just roll over or let them go. It’s awesome to be up here and on the podium again!”

Frenchman Tom Vialle was in contention all day in the 250MX Class, qualifying fourth on the timesheets and then charging through the pack in both races to register 2-3 scores. Those finishes saw the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider take his sixth Pro Motocross podium of the year, currently ranked third in the point standings.

Tom Vialle: “My starts weren’t that good today, but I came back in both motos from pretty far back, and I was able to fight to the end. I think I was really fast in that second moto, so I’m happy with how I rode today, and the track was really good. One more to go!”

It was also a convincing day in the office for rookie teammate Julien Beaumer, matching his best career finish in sixth position at Budds Creek. The teenager rode his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to an outstanding fourth place in the first moto and then backed it up with seventh this afternoon for P6 overall. He is positioned 11th in the points with one round left to run next weekend.

Julien Beaumer: “It was a good day for me at Budds Creek, a step in the right direction with 4-7 results for sixth overall. I’m happy with my starts and my riding, it’s good to be trending forward, so we will keep putting in the work this week and come out swinging at Ironman.”

Next Race: August 24 – Ironman Raceway, Indiana

BUDDS CREEK THE BEST YET FOR ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING TEAM

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing riders Malcolm Stewart and Christian Craig continue to gain strength in the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, finishing fourth and sixth overall in the 450MX Class at today’s Budds Creek National. This weekend also saw the welcome return to competition of RJ Hampshire in 250MX.

After qualifying in eighth, Stewart managed to equal his best-career result of P4 overall – achieved over a decade ago at the same venue – with sixth in Moto 1 and then a fighting fifth in the final encounter, placing him just outside the podium in a well-earned P4 overall. Malcolm continues to sit seventh in the championship standings on his Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition.

“Budds Creek always treats me well!” Stewart reflected. “Every year that I’ve come here in the past, I’ve always had pretty good results and the track fits me well. The fans were awesome, it was a great day for me, and we needed this. We didn’t get a podium, but for everything that we’ve gone through, fourth place is like a podium. We’ll go out for Ironman and see if we can keep the same momentum!”

The penultimate round of the outdoors was also largely positive for premier class teammate Craig, who qualified in P9 and then delivered 7-8 finishes across the pair of motos. His opening race was particularly impressive, featuring inside the top-five early on, and he’s firmly established himself inside the top 10 upon return from multiple injuries this season. As a result, Christian is now positioned eighth in the title race.

“I felt pretty good all day,” Craig commented. “I qualified in ninth overall and then in the first moto I got a great start, was in the top five for quite a bit before I tightened up and ended up seventh. Second moto, I made some quick passes and got into eighth, just focused on myself, and rode it in for P8. One more round to go outdoors and then into SMX, so we’ll keep building from here.”

Budds Creek saw this year’s 250SX West Champion Hampshire return to action onboard the Husqvarna FC 250 Rockstar Edition, marking his first Pro Motocross start of the year. He impressed early by qualifying in P3 and then went on to record a consistent 9-8 scorecard for ninth overall, providing a platform to build upon leading into next week’s final round and the upcoming SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Finals series.

“It was so good to get some gate drops in,” Hampshire said. “I knew I wasn’t 100 percent to come out here and battle for the win or a podium, but there’s no practice like a race, so that’s what we came to do. It wasn’t too bad, I don’t think we’re far off, and I expect to be better in Indiana. The goal is to be the best I can be once we get to Charlotte for SMX, so all in all, I’m happy to be leaving here healthy and look forward to next week.”

Next Race: August 24 – Ironman Raceway, Indiana

PROMISE THERE FOR TROY LEE DESIGNS/RED BULL/GASGAS FACTORY RACING AT BUDDS CREEK

Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing endured a mixed 10th round of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship on paper, but there was plenty of promise on display from Pierce Brown and Ryder DiFrancesco at the Budds Creek National this weekend.

• A P5 score in the final moto a positive sign from PB
• Early laps hold Ryder D back in one of his tougher outings
• One more round to go before we set our sights on SMX!

Racing the GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition, Brown’s raw speed has been evident throughout the outdoors and there was more of the same to be witnessed on Saturday afternoon. He was ninth in qualifying and finished seventh in Moto 1, before putting on a charge in the final race to take home a fifth-place finish. Combined, PB was credited P7 and is also seventh in the championship.

Pierce Brown: “It was a positive day for me today. I went 7-5 for seventh, which wasn’t my best overall of the season, but I felt like my riding was good and I was excited about it! The last couple of rounds have been solid for me and I think we’re building some momentum coming into SMX. We’ll look to finish off the outdoors strong at Ironman.”

For DiFrancesco, his starts ultimately impacted his chance to fight closer toward the front of the field, climbing from 18th at the end of the opening lap to 13th in the first moto, and then recovering from an early crash in Moto 2 to salvage points in 17th. That placed him 16th overall, which sees him positioned 10th in the standings with one round to go.

Ryder DiFrancesco: “I just didn’t get off the gate today and this place is super-hard to pass, so a start would have helped. I fell in Moto 2 and was pretty buried, but we salvaged something and now we’ll move on to Ironman before SMX.”

Next Race: August 24 – Ironman Raceway, Indiana

Tomac Seventh Overall at Budds Creek

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac had a strong return to racing, finishing seventh overall with a 4-11 score at the Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland. His teammate Justin Cooper overcame adversity from a crash after the start of Moto 1 to secure 10th overall with his 20-4 score at the penultimate round of the Pro Motocross Championship. 

Tomac had a strong first race back since being sidelined with a thumb injury earlier this May and qualified fourth. He got a good start in the first moto and was in sixth after the first lap. The Colorado rider battled for position, and although he was shuffled to eighth, he kept pushing and made his way to fourth on Lap 5, where he would finish. In the second moto, he didn’t get the start he was hoping for and was 17th on the opening lap. The multi-time champion did what he could to make his way forward on a track that was difficult to pass on, and he crossed the line 11th to finish seventh overall.

Cooper qualified third and was off to a great start in the first moto, but unfortunately came together with another rider and had to rejoin toward the back of the field. The New Yorker found himself 38th after the first lap but kept fighting and made his way to 20th. Despite the less-than-ideal gate pick for Moto 2, Cooper got a great start and was fifth on the opening lap. He was shuffled to sixth on the following lap but kept pushing and made his way up to fourth, ending the day 10th overall. 

Next up for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team is the Pro Motocross season finale and Round 28 of the SuperMotocross World Series at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana, on August 24. 

Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“It was an up-and-down day. Unfortunately in the first moto, Justin and another rider crossed lines, and he went down, but Justin was able to come back and salvage a point. He gutted it out for the second moto, rode great, and ended up with fourth, so it was a good day for him. It was also a really good first moto back for Eli, but a tough second moto. We’ll get back to work this week.”

Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“Moto 1 was good. I had a pretty good start, and although I got passed early, I was able to make those passes back. I got into fourth place and had some good lines and a good flow going, so I went into Moto 2 with a good mindset, but I was really buried off the start. I only made it up to 11th and just kind of struggled overall in that second moto. It is something to build on. Yeah, I wanted it to be better, but we’ll try to build on it and improve next weekend in Indiana.” 

Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“It was a tough day for me. We had a good qualifying, but then I had a racing incident in the first moto right after the start. It definitely knocked the wind out of me and took the wind out of my sails, but I came home with one point in 20th. In the second moto, I got a pretty good start from the outside. I was in sixth or seventh and worked my way up to fourth and rode really well in that second moto. I nailed the start and was in a good position in the first moto, so it was a bummer of a day, but we’ll take the positives. We’re in one piece, so that’s the main goal.”

Deegan Crowned 250MX Champion at Budds Creek

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan sealed the deal on his first Pro Motocross 250MX Championship with a dominant victory in the first moto at the penultimate round in Mechanicsville, Maryland. After being crowned, the young Californian rode on to secure third overall with his 1-10 moto score at the Budds Creek Motocross Park. Jordon Smith came back from an early crash in the first moto to end the day eighth overall (10-6). Nick Romano finished 11th overall with a pair of 12th-place finishes, and rookie Daxton Bennick was 17th overall (17-14) in the challenging conditions. Unfortunately, Max Anstie was caught up in a first-turn pileup in Moto 1 and was sidelined from the event. 

Heading into the penultimate round with a 70-point lead in the championship, Deegan showed no signs of slowing down and topped both qualifying sessions. From there, he grabbed the holeshot and built a big lead up front. Although he had a tip-over late in the moto, he quickly rejoined and won the race by a healthy 12-second margin, securing the title three motos early. The newly crowned champ didn’t get the start he was hoping for in the second moto and found himself 11th after the first lap. Deegan rode on to score a top-10 finish and end the day third overall for his ninth overall podium this year. It’s been a stellar sophomore season for the 18-year-old, with five overall wins and nine moto wins en route to the title. Deegan also has a comfortable lead at the top of the 250SMX combined points with one round remaining in Pro Motocross.

With rain in the morning sessions, Smith had a solid qualifying in 10th. He had a good start in the first moto but unfortunately went down on the opening lap and found himself 14th. Undeterred, the North Carolina rider made his way to 10th on a track that was difficult to make passes on. In the second moto, Smith was eighth after the first lap and worked his way to sixth to end the day eighth overall. 

Qualifying 15th in the tricky conditions, Romano made progress in the motos. The 19-year-old got a solid start in the first moto and was 10th after the opening lap. He made his way to ninth and battled for a top 10 position, ultimately crossing the line 12th. In Moto 2, Romano was once again 10th after the first lap and moved up to ninth early in the moto. Before the halfway point, he was passed by a couple of riders, including his newly crowned teammate, and rode on to finish 12th for 11th overall. 

Their rookie teammate Bennick qualified 18th, giving him a less-than-ideal gate pick for the first moto. He was 17th after the first lap and tried to make his way forward, but would finish 17th in the challenging conditions. In the second moto, the North Carolina rider got a much better start inside the top 10 and was seventh for the opening laps but ultimately finished 14th, ending the day 17th overall. 

Anstie was on course for a strong day at the penultimate round of the championship, qualifying fifth. Unfortunately, his day ended early after getting caught up in a first-turn pile-up in Moto 1 and was sidelined from Moto 2 to undergo concussion protocol. The British rider looks ahead to his return at the final round at Ironman. 

Next up for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team is the Pro Motocross season finale and Round 28 of the SuperMotocross World Series at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana, on August 24. 

Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“We had a goal for today, and we achieved that. We wrapped up the championship early. I’m super proud of Haiden and the team. He and his family have put in a lot of work, as did everyone on our team. It’s definitely a whole team effort to do something like this, and seeing it come to fruition is awesome. We’re super happy with the year, but we’ll keep digging. We’re looking to continue to finish out the year strong at the final round of outdoors and then on to SMX to defend the title.”

Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38
“It was a good day. I qualified 1-1, which was perfect. I dominated the first moto and was able to win the championship, so that was nice. In the second moto, I was feeling the championship, so it was hard to push out there. I just wanted to get to the podium and hold the title. I’m hyped I got the Pro Motocross Championship. That’s good to check it off the list; now it’s onto defending the SMX title in three weeks.”

Jordon Smith – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #31
“It was a pretty solid day. I got two good starts. Unfortunately, I got cross-rutted and went down on the first lap of the first moto. That just seems to be the story of the year so far for me, but we had a lot better starts, and I rode great. If you’re in the top 10, everyone’s going so fast right now. Even outside of the top 10, if you’re just a little bit off and you’re not going forward, you’re going backward. I’m happy with the day, though, with a respectable 10-6. We’re just going to keep grinding, finish strong at Ironman, and move on to SMX.”

Nick Romano – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #511
“We have some positives to take away from Budds Creek. My starts were okay, but my riding was solid. I fought in the top 10 for almost all of the first moto and had another good ride in the second moto. I was dealing with some health-related stuff all summer, but I’ve been feeling much more like myself lately. We still have a ways to go, but I’m happy and motivated and looking to keep building for the finale next weekend at Ironman.”

Daxton Bennick – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #59
“It was a rough day at Budds. We’re going to put it behind us and get back to work. I’m looking forward to Ironman next weekend.”

Max Anstie – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #37
“The day was progressing quite well with a fifth in qualifying, but it was short-lived as a first-turn pile-up in Moto 1 kept me from racing. We’ll heal up and be back next week.”

Gagne Finishes Ninth in Tough Opening Race at Mid-Ohio

Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne salvaged points with a ninth-place finish in MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Unfortunately, his teammate Cameron Petersen was sidelined for the opening race of the seventh round of the championship with an ankle injury. 

Superbikes made a long-awaited return to the 2.4-mile course in central Ohio, with Gagne qualifying fifth. After the race was delayed by rain, riders were met with tricky conditions. The reigning three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion had a solid start and made his way to fourth, but unfortunately went off track on the second lap and found himself 13th. Gagne did what he could to make his way through the field and would finish ninth to score valuable points on a tough day. 

Petersen’s weekend got off to a rough start with a big crash that injured his ankle during Thursday’s official Dunlop pre-race test. The South African soldiered on and was eighth in the first qualifying session, where he would also finish in the combined times. Unfortunately, he had another crash in the second qualifying session and was sidelined after being declared unfit to race by the medical staff. He will be re-evaluated this morning for this afternoon’s Race 2.

The Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing team looks to come back swinging for MotoAmerica Superbike Race 2 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

Richard Stanboli – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“Not a whole lot to say. It was a tough day. We’ll move on and try for better tomorrow.” 

Jake Gagne – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #1
“It was a really tricky track as it was drying out, but I got off to a good start. Unfortunately, I ran off into the grass early and wasn’t able to make up a lot of positions. I’ve got to do a better job tomorrow.”

SUZUKI RIDERS TACKLE BUDDS CREEK NATIONAL

The Budds Creek Motocross National delivered great racing at the penultimate round of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross season. Rain the day before and the morning of the race gave way to clear skies for the afternoon’s racing. Track conditions were excellent during the motos on the popular Mechanicsville, Maryland track.  

Race Highlights:

• Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
  • 450 Class
    • Kyle Chisholm earned additional points to remain seeded directly into each SuperMotocross World Championship round.
    • Colt Nichols battled to a top-ten overall qualifying spot in just his second Motocross event of the season.  
• Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki
  • 450 Class
    • Max Miller carded a win in the LCQ to earn a spot into the motos. 
  • 250 Class
    • Dilan Schwartz nailed down a top-ten qualifying result in the first 250 Group A session.
    • Preston Boespflug put in strong rides throughout qualifying and racing. 
    • Leo Tucker brought home his career-best moto finish. 

Kyle Chisholm (11) earned a top-20 overall spot via two top-twenty moto results.

Kyle Chisholm (11) rebounded well from a slow start to the day. As the track dried throughout the motos, Chisholm railed his Suzuki RM-Z450 around the Budds Creek track. Chisholm’s consistency matched his speed, and he earned strong points in each outing. Chisholm goes into the final Outdoor race with a strong opportunity to maintain his direct-transfer spot into the three post-season SuperMotocross events. 

“Overall, it was a decent day, but it started out a little tough,” said Chisholm after the final moto. “After a lot of rain in the morning and Friday night, the track was wet for practice and qualifying. I could not put it together this morning slopping around in the wet conditions. I got into the motos, but not with a very good gate pick. The start here definitely favors the inside gates, but I made it through and ended up 16th in the first moto. I rode a little tight and wasted some energy just fighting the track and not finding a good flow. It was warm and humid, and recovery between the motos wasn’t as easy as I would’ve liked. I used quite a bit of energy in that first moto. I knew it was going be tough, but I gave it my all in the second moto. At the end of the day we earned points, which is great, and I’m looking forward to the Ironman National next weekend; to finish strong and to secure a top 20 spot for the playoffs.”

Colt Nichols (45) was riding at a top-ten race pace in only his second race on the Twisted Tea Suzuki team.

Colt Nichols (45), while on a different team at the beginning of the year, missed much of the Supercross season. Nichols joined the Twisted Tea Suzuki team mid-way through the Motocross season, and made his race debut at round nine, just one week prior to Budds Creek. Nichols grabbed a top-ten start in Moto 2, and held a top-ten position until a crash ended his day early. 

“The day started off much better than my first weekend back, with me qualifying P10,” reported Nichols. “In the first moto I had a crash on the first lap, which buried me. After that I got a bit stuck in the pack. In Moto 2 I had an awesome start and was running eighth before I had a crash and was unable to finish. I’m all good, just a little beat up, but I will be ready to go for next weekend.”  

Max Miller (87) was one of three Suzuki racers inside the top-20 at Moto1’s holeshot stripe.

Max Miller (87) continued to show solid speed in the 450 class. MIller earned his way into the motos via a race win in the LCQ. 

“It was an up and down day at Budds Creek: from qualifying 37th, to winning the LCQ, to running in the top 20, to crashing,” summarized Miller. “I’m happy with my speed during the motos, but I just couldn’t stay off the ground today. I’m looking forward to finishing strong at the Ironman National!” 

 Dilan Schwartz (40) put in a strong charge in the second 250-class moto.

Dilan Schwartz (40) was incredibly strong in the muddy conditions at the start of the day; earning a top-ten spot in the first qualifying session. Schwartz ended the day equally fast, pushing through the pack to grab a top-20 result in both the moto and overall. Schwartz currently sits one position outside of a direct-seed spot for the SuperMotocross post-season rounds. With a strong result at the final Motocross race Schwarz could bypass the LCQ races at each post-season SMX event. 

“In the first moto I had an issue and in the second moto I struggled with my wrist,” said Schwartz. “It was a tough weekend.” 

Preston Boespflug (128) recovered brilliantly after being set back, but not taken out, in a large first-turn pile-up in the opening moto.

Preston Boespflug (128) had more speed at Budds Creek than his results show on paper. The young Suzuki racer looked great with one round remaining in the Motocross season. 

“The track was sick, and my Suzuki handled the soft track really well!” exclaimed Boespflug. “My starts were a lot better this weekend. Unfortunately, a few tip overs cost me better results.”

Leo Tucker (154) was faster each time he took to the track on his Suzuki RM-Z250.

Leo Tucker (154) was also held up by the pile-up in the first turn of the opening moto. Tucker rode strong in both motos, and took home the best finish of his career in the second moto. 

“In the first qualifying session I struggled with the track and just couldn’t get a flow going,” said Tucker. “Q2 came and I put in some solid laps and ended up qualifying P33. In the first moto, I struggled with severe arm pump, so I just rode to a 36th. In the second moto, I started in 37th and just charged the whole time. I ended up 27th, which I am happy about. We will keep working and come back strong for my favorite track at Ironman!”

“Kyle finished 16th the first moto and 19th in the second moto, giving him 18th overall. Colt Nichols finished 19th in the first moto after a tip over on the first lap, which really cost him a lot of time, and then had a crash in the second moto, knocking the wind out of him and not allowing him to finish. He ended up 23rd overall,” reported Larry Brooks, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager. “It was definitely a humid and hot day. Both riders were riding pretty well, but with Colt crashing that really took a toll on his finishes. We have one more round left, in Indiana, and Ken Roczen’s going to be riding the RM-Z250 at that event. Ken’s just wanting to have fun; it’s a special event for him and he just wants to do something different. So, we’re all excited and we’ll see what happens next weekend.”

“It was a bit of a rough day overall for the BarX boys, but Leo Tucker made strides,” said Myron Short, Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki Team Principal. “Leo qualified straight into the program. He had a couple crashes in the first moto but came back with a 27th in the second. He rode solid and the second moto was his best moto of the year. Preston is still suffering from a lingering thumb injury sustained at Hangtown. Dilan Schwartz had a setback in the first moto and had to pull off. In the second moto, he was struggling with his wrist. Max Miller had a crash in the qualifier in the rain, forcing him into the LCQ, which he won. We’re looking forward to finishing the year strong at the Ironman National.”

The racers compete in the final Motocross event of the season next Saturday, August 24th, in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Ken Roczen will race his second Motocross event of the season and has opted to race the RM-Z250 in the 250cc class. Roczen’s strong Supercross season, including his win in Glendale, Arizona secured his spot in the SuperMotocross World Championship’s 450-class events. Roczen’s one-time race in the 250 class will be a unique experience for Roczen and all Suzuki race fans. 

Please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross and HEPMotorsports.com for more team news. 

Photos by BrownDogWilson Photography

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