This Week in Powersports Racing – The week of August 25, 2024

This week in US Powersports racing.

Chase Sexton Captures 2024 Pro Motocross 450 Class Championship at Ironman with Sixth Straight Victory on Banner Day for KTM

A summer of intense and exciting competition culminated in the racing capital of the greater Indianapolis area as the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship Finals, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton emerge with the Edison Dye Cup at the Tucker Freight Lines Ironman National to become the prestigious series’ newest 450 Class Champion with a dominant 1-1 performance that encapsulated his title campaign. In the 250 Class, Frenchman Tom Vialle ended his season on a high note as the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider captured his second career victory with a 1-4 performance. It was a banner afternoon for the Austrian brand, which not only went 1-2 in the 450 Class but also completed its first sweep of the overall wins since the inaugural Ironman National during the 2014 season. The milestone achievement capped off KTM’s Team of the Year honors as the top manufacturer in the championship, while fourth Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider, Julien Beaumer, captured Rookie of the Year honors.

450 Class

Moto 1

The first moto saw Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX Yamaha’s Phil Nicoletti grab the MotoSport.com Holeshot in the final Pro Motocross race of his career, but he soon gave way to Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger. By the completion of the opening lap, Sexton had moved into third, closely pursued by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac. Out front, Plessinger made his way around Lawrence to take the lead. Not long after that, Sexton was able to make his way around Lawrence for second in what proved to be a championship-winning pass. As the moto surpassed its opening 10 minutes, just three seconds separated the top four.

Sexton was able to close in on the rear fender of his teammate and needed a couple pass attempts to eventually seize control of the moto. While Plessinger was able to keep Sexton honest for a few laps, the championship leader was able to put a little breathing room over his rivals halfway through the moto with a margin of 2.5 seconds. Plessinger, meanwhile, was forced to contend with a resurgent Lawrence in third, while Tomac continued to lurk in fourth. The top four tightened up once again inside the final 10 minutes, but Sexton responded to establish his largest lead of the moto.

Sexton continued to pull away in the closing stages and captured his 12th moto win of the season by a margin of 4.8 seconds over Plessinger. Lawrence finished third, just ahead of Tomac, while Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson finished in a distant fifth. The victory was enough for Sexton to clinch his first 450 Class title with one moto to go.

Moto 2

The final moto of the 2024 season started with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing machine of Justin Cooper edging out Lawrence and Plessinger for the MotoSport.com Holeshot. Plessinger had the momentum to grab the lead while Cooper, Lawrence, and Sexton engaged in a three-wide battle for second. Sexton came out on top and continued his push past Plessinger to go from about fifth to first on the opening lap. Cooper settled into third, with Lawrence and Tomac in pursuit.

The KTM teammates looked to sprint away from the field as Lawrence was able to assert himself into third and bring Tomac along into fourth. A few laps later, Tomac made his way around Lawrence for third and faced about a six-second deficit to the lead with less than 20 minutes to go. Back up front, Sexton briefly stalled his motorcycle, which allowed Plessinger to close in and go on the attack. Plessinger made a couple attempts to slip past, but Sexton fended him off and reestablished a gap that continued to grow as the moto continued.

Sexton didn’t put a wheel wrong the rest of the way and wrapped up a baker’s dozen of moto wins by 26.1 seconds over Plessinger. Tomac grabbed a moto podium in third in just his second race back from injury. Lawrence faded late to finish sixth.

Overall

Sexton’s fifth 1-1 effort of the season capped off an impressive six-race win streak that carried him to the title. He now has 13 career victories, which moves him into a tie for 11th on the all-time 450 Class wins list. Plessinger finished in the runner-up spot (2-2) for his sixth podium result of the season and his fourth in-a-row. Tomac’s strong second moto landed him third overall (4-3), for his 72nd career podium, the second most in 450 Class history.

Sexton became the 28th different rider to capture a 450 Class title in 53 seasons and is also the 17th racer to win both a Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and Pro Motocross Championship. Lawrence, who finished fourth (3-6), finished second in the standings, 42 points behind Sexton, while Plessinger finished third, 101 points behind his teammate.

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

“Last summer was tough for me, not being fully healthy. Then this supercross season, to build up, come down, build up, and come down…to come out here outdoors and have such an awesome season, I don’t know what to say. This is the best I’ve ever ridden. It’s such an amazing feeling. This one is special to me. Now I just want more.”

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

“I put it all out there [today]. I was trying, giving it my all. Those last few laps were tough, but I left it all on the track. It was a long, hot day, but it always feels good to be up here [on the podium].”

3rd: Eli Tomac, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing (4-3)

“I was just flowing in both motos. It’s good to be up here [on the podium]. It’s easy to think you can just jump right back into this, but it’s tough. The bike was working great today and it’s good to be back.”

Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager

“It’s a privilege to work with riders like this and for a company that supports off-road racing the way KTM does. We have a great group of riders and an amazing team, so it makes my job easy.”

Roger DeCoster, Director of Racing, KTM North America

“It’s our first championship since 2015 with Ryan Dungey. It’s an awesome feeling. Not only are these great riders, but they’re awesome people. This is such an amazing group to work with and everyone is fully committed to winning.”

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish // Points)

Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., KTM (1-1 // 50)
Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (2-2 // 44)
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (4-3 // 38)
Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda (3-6 // 36)
Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (6-4 // 34)
Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki (5-5 // 34)
Phil Nicoletti, Cochecton, N.Y., Yamaha (8-8 // 28)
Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Husqvarna (10-7 // 27)
Fredrik Noren, Lidköping, Sweden, Kawasaki (9-9 // 26)
Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Husqvarna (7-11 // 26)

450 Class Championship Standings (Round 11 of 11)

Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., KTM – 504
Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 462
Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM – 403
Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 371
Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki – 362
Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Husqvarna – 297
Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Honda – 288
Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Husqvarna – 244
Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 210
Fredrik Noren, Lidköping, Sweden, Kawasaki – 204

250 Class

Moto 1

The first moto kicked off with Vialle at the head of the pack to open Moto 1 with the MotoSport.com Holeshot, ahead of Team Honda HRC’s Chance Hymas and the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing ride of Jordon Smith. Newly crowned champion Haiden Deegan started his first race carrying the No. 1 plate on the ground after a tip-over on the opening lap, forcing him to start outside the top 30 in the 40-rider field.

It didn’t take long for the lead trio to settle into their respective positions, with Vialle managing a lead of just over a second on Hymas. As the moto surpassed its opening 10 minutes Vialle was able to withstand a brief challenge from his Honda rival and move back out to a margin of two seconds. That lead continued to grow as the moto reached the halfway point and soon Hymas found himself under pressure from Smith, who made the pass for second. Not far behind was Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ty Masterpool, who soon made the move on Hymas for third. Masterpool continued to push and closed in on Smith to establish a battle for second. However, as he looked to find a way around, Masterpool went down and lost several positions, remounting in sixth. His misfortune saw Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen move into third, with Hymas fourth and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire in fifth.

While Vialle moved out to a seven-second lead the battle for second intensified between Smith and Kitchen, with the Kawasaki rider able to make the pass with two laps to go. Back out front, Vialle went wire-to-wire for his third moto win of the season, 4.4 seconds ahead of Kitchen. Smith earned his best moto result of the season in third, with Hampshire fourth and Masterpool fifth.

Moto 2

The final moto in the 250 Class started the same as Moto 1, with Vialle out front to sweep the MotoSport.com Holeshots, just ahead of Hymas. Both Kitchen and Smith found themselves mired outside the top 10, with Kitchen eventually crashing out of the moto. Back up front, Vialle and Hymas engaged in a spirited battle for the lead, with the Honda rider showing a wheel in several spots, only to have Vialle close him off. That allowed Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco to close in from third, along with Deegan and Hampshire. Deegan made the move on DiFrancesco to take over third.

Despite the heavy pressure from Hymas in the opening laps, Vialle withstood the challenge and stabilized his lead right around a second. Meanwhile, Deegan made the move past Hymas for second. Just past the halfway mark, Deegan closed in and attempted a pass on Vialle, initiating some contact between the two in the track’s tightest corner. Deegan slipped ahead briefly, but Vialle countered to reclaim the position. This battle allowed Hymas to close back in from third. The battle for the lead continued, with more physical racing from the lead duo, while Hymas bided his time in third. Deegan went after Vialle once more and successfully completed the pass with a little less than 10 minutes to go. Hymas also got around Vialle for second and looked to track down Deegan. A couple laps later, Vialle gave up third to Hampshire.

Deegan withstood Hymas’ initial challenge and was able to pull away in the closing stages of the moto to finish off his championship-winning campaign the way he started it, with a moto win, his 10th of the season. Hymas finished in second, 6.6 seconds behind Deegan, with Hampshire in third and Vialle fourth.

Overall

Vialle’s 1-4 effort easily secured his first overall win of the season and the second of his career. He became the fifth different rider to claim victory in the 250 Class this summer, which is the most since the 2021 season. Hymas made an anticipated return to the podium in second (6-2) for his fourth on-the-box result of the season, which ended a four-race drought dating back to his win at RedBud. Hampshire rounded out the podium in third (4-3) in just his second start of the season. It was the 12th podium result of his career.

Despite his Moto 2 win, Deegan failed to finish on the overall podium for just the second time in 2024 and completed the season with a championship-winning margin of 69 points over Vialle, who moved into second with his victory. Kitchen wrapped up third in the final standings, 76 points behind Deegan.

1st: Tom Vialle, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (1-4)

“I was super tired in the second moto. Haiden was pushing me hard, but I couldn’t hold him [off]. I knew I didn’t need the win for the overall, but I really wanted it. I’m still really happy to finish the season with a win. I felt really good on the bike all day.”

2nd: Chance Hymas, Team Honda HRC (6-2)

“I definitely need a little rest after this summer. It was a good way to cap off the season with a battle with those boys. We’re stoked right now. I’ll take a little time off and then get ready for SMX [playoffs].”

3rd: RJ Hampshire, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (4-3)

“To even show up here, I just came to get gate drops in. [But] it’s not in me to go out there and cruise around. I just kept thinking get him, get him, that whole moto. I was just born different, I guess. I can’t wait for the playoffs in a couple weeks.”

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)

Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM (1-4 // 43)
Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda (6-2 // 38)
RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna (4-3 // 38)
Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (11-1 // 36)
Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Yamaha (3-8 // 34)
Ty Masterpool, Paradise, Texas, Kawasaki (5-6 // 33)
Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., GASGAS (7-5 // 32)
Max Anstie, Newbury, England, Yamaha (13-7 // 24)
Ken Roczen, Mattstedt, Germany, Suzuki (9-12 // 23)
Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Triumph (12-10 // 22)

250 Class Championship Standings (Round 11 of 11)

Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 481
Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM – 412
Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 405
Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda – 349
Ty Masterpool, Paradise, Texas, Kawasaki – 316
Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda – 289
Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Triumph – 277
Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS – 269
Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Yamaha – 253
Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., GASGAS – 250

With the regular season of the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship Series now complete, the industry now looks ahead to the postseason and the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals. The three-race playoffs will begin on Saturday, September 7, from zMax Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Each of the newly crowned Pro Motocross Champions, Sexton and Deegan, will enter the SMX Finals as the top seeds in the combined Supercross/Pro Motocross standings. Broadcast coverage from the opening playoff round will stream live, exclusively on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live at 6:30 a.m. PT / 9:30 a.m. ET, followed by uninterrupted moto coverage at 11:30 a.m. PT / 2:30 p.m. ET. A special major network re-air will be featured on NBC on Sunday, September 8, at 1:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 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

Available for download for both Apple and Android devices is the official Pro Motocross App. Fans of American motocross can have access to the world’s most prestigious off-road motorcycle racing series right at their fingertips on their mobile devices. Developed by AMA Pro Racing, the Pro Motocross App provides users with the most important information surrounding the Pro Motocross Championship, from series news to schedule and ticket information, as well as broadcast schedule details and live timing & scoring. Download it now via the App Store or Google Play.

TROY LEE DESIGNS/RED BULL/GASGAS FACTORY RACING FINISHES 250MX SEASON INSIDE TOP 10

An encouraging fifth-place finish in the final 250MX moto of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship on his way to P7 overall will come as a confidence boost for Ryder DiFrancesco. As a result, both he and Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing teammate Pierce Brown completed the series inside the top 10 following the Ironman National.

Ryder D seventh overall after finishing strong with P5 in Moto 2
Both Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing riders inside the top 10
Final moto crash costly for PB in final round of the outdoors

DiFrancesco enjoyed a consistent run in the 11th and final round of the season, racing forward to seventh position in Moto 1 and then featuring toward the front of the pack in Moto 2 on his way to P5. Those scores placed him P7 overall on his GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition, which also saw him finish 10th in the final standings.

Ryder DiFrancesco: “Ironman was my best weekend and it’s always been my favorite track ever since I first raced here. Good vibes all day, just felt like I wasn’t behind the eight ball at all, and back to myself. It was good to finish the season with P5 in that final moto, it’s nice to have some momentum and good for the confidence going into Charlotte and the SMX series!”

It was a mixed final round for Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing teammate Brown. He recovered from an average start in the opening race to work his way back inside the top 10, before an unfortunate crash at the beginning of the final moto of the outdoor season ended his day early. Still, he claimed eighth in the 250MX championship.

Pierce Brown: “It wasn’t the best day for me at Ironman. First moto, I had a mid-pack start and ended up 10th, before in the next moto I had a better start, but collided with some guys in the first turn and got run over a couple of times. My leg was hurting pretty bad and unfortunately went numb in my boot, so I couldn’t finish, and had to get it checked out – we will hear more soon. That’s a wrap for the outdoor season, so hopefully we’ll be healthy and ready to go for SMX in a couple of weeks.”

Next Race: September 7 – Concord, North Carolina (SMX Playoff 1)

Download hi-res images from the 2024 Ironman National here

Standings 450MX Class 2024 after 11 of 11 rounds
1. Chase Sexton, 504 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 462
3. Aaron Plessinger, 403
6. Malcolm Stewart, 297
8. Christian Craig, 244
14. Justin Barcia, Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing, 148

Results 250MX Class – Ironman National
1. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
2. Chance Hymas (USA), Honda
3. RJ Hampshire (USA), Husqvarna
7. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
14. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
17. Pierce Brown (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing

Standings 250MX Class 2024 after 11 of 11 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 481 points
2. Tom Vialle, 412
3. Levi Kitchen, 405
8. Pierce Brown, 269
10. Ryder DiFrancesco, 250
11. Julien Beaumer, 221
13. Casey Cochran, 164
22. RJ Hampshire, 65

RJ HAMPSHIRE PUTS ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING ON 250MX PODIUM AT IRONMAN

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire finished a rewarding third overall in today’s final round of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, standing on the 250MX podium in only his second outdoor appearance of the 2024 season. The series also ended in a picture of consistency for 450MX duo Christian Craig and Malcolm Stewart.

After clinching the 250SX West title in May, Hampshire was injured on the eve of the Pro Motocross season, but managed to return last time out at Budds Creek. The Husqvarna FC 250 Rockstar Edition pilot started strongly at the finale by finishing fourth in Moto 1, and then charged to third in the final race of the series to place him P3 overall.

“It was awesome to be back at the races again,” Hampshire said. “We were here for the gate drops and to get some intensity back, and somehow pulled off a podium. I felt pretty good on the bike, definitely still not even close to 100 percent, but it was nice to grind it out and suffer a bit today. I’m happy to be rewarded with a podium and look forward to Charlotte here in a couple of weeks.”

It’s been an impressive year of rebuilding for both Craig and Stewart in 450MX onboard their Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition machinery, with Craig getting the upper hand at Ironman via 10-7 scores for eighth overall – his eighth top 10 result of the series – and also finishing P8 in points.

“Last round of the outdoors, I was pumped to make it through the whole season and with just one DNF,” Craig recalled. “We scored points in every moto we finished though and built throughout the season. I struggled a little bit today with the track, just couldn’t get comfortable, and had a couple of big crashes in practice, but in the races I did what I could. The second moto was better and we ended up eighth overall, so riding is good, and I’m excited for my first time in SMX now. We’ll keep trying to put in the good results.”

While the final round saw Stewart go 7-11 for 10th overall, impressively only finishing outside of the top 10 overall once all season, he can celebrate earning sixth in the 450MX championship on return to the outdoors. Like Craig alongside him, Stewart has been gaining momentum after missing a lot of racing through injury, and will carry increased confidence into the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) playoffs.

“Ironman, we had a good first moto and the fans were awesome, which I’m always really thankful for,” Stewart commented. “I’m more so happy with finishing the whole season of Supercross and Pro Motocross without any injuries or missing any races. We have to think of all the positives and, no matter how you look at it, gate drops are the best thing you can get. In the second moto today I had a bad start, had to ride hard, and then kind of faded a little bit, and was cramping up, but it was a really good season for us overall. I’ll enjoy this next weekend off and then head into SMX excited for what’s to come!”

Ironman Raceway also hosted the Scouting Moto Combine event on Friday prior to this weekend’s final National of the 2024 season, where Rockstar Energy Husqvarna amateur Landon Gibson rode his Husqvarna FC 250 to 5-7 moto results for fourth overall.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING’S RYDER LEBLOND P3 IN 2024 U.S. HARD ENDURO SERIES

This weekend saw the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team out in force across the final round of the 2024 U.S. Hard Enduro Series, where Colton Haaker and Ryder LeBlond lined up with a distinctive Heritage livery, while Craig DeLong and Korie Steede continued their charge in the U.S. Sprint Enduro Series.

U.S. Hard Enduro Series – Round 7

The Tennessee Knockout (TKO) festivities started with a bang for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammates Colton Haaker and Ryder LeBlond to open the 2024 AMA U.S. Hard Enduro Series finale, finishing second and third on the podium in Downtown Nashville’s Straight Rhythm Prologue under lights on Thursday night on debut with a special Heritage livery.

Sunday saw Haaker inside the top 10 through both Knockout races, before battling hard for seventh position in the Final Knockout onboard his Husqvarna TE 300. As for LeBlond, he was sixth in TKO Race #1 and second in TKO Race #2, before eventually reaching the checkered flag ninth among the international field in the Final Knockout.

“We had a blast this weekend, beginning with the Straight Rhythm and our results Downtown, followed by the Knockout,” commented Haaker. “TKO is always a super-competitive race and the result was a good one on Sunday.”

It was a strong performance from both Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing riders in Sequatchie, Tennessee, with the event also doubling as Round 5 of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship and featuring the world’s best on American soil. LeBlond ended the U.S. Hard Enduro Series third in the final standings, with Haaker finishing fifth overall.

“It was a fun weekend,” LeBlond reflected. “I was able to put it on the podium in Nashville for the Straight Rhythm, so that was a really good event and result. The weekend didn’t go too well, I made some mistakes on the first lap and then came back through around the top five, before making another mistake in the closing stages. Still, it was a good weekend, I enjoyed racing the internationals and look forward to doing it again at the next one!”

Pro Class Results:
1. Manuel Lettenbichler, KTM
2. Trystan Hart, KTM
3. Wade Young, GASGAS
7. Colton Haaker, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
9. Ryder LeBlond, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
11. Will Riordan, GASGAS

U.S. Sprint Enduro Series – Round 7

A pair of fourth-place results at Round 7 of the 2024 AMA U.S. Sprint Enduro Series saw Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Craig DeLong take home fourth on the combined scores this weekend, as teammate Korie Steede landed on the Pro Women podium once again.

DeLong was frustrated with some of his mistakes come Sunday afternoon in Masontown, West Virginia, riding the Husqvarna FX 350, but he did manage to feature inside the top three on a number of occasions through the series of tests. He’s currently third in the title race with a single round left to run.

Craig DeLong: “It was an okay weekend, but I struggled with some crashes and had a big one on Saturday. I was able to get moving again and went down again on Sunday, so it was disappointing to end up on the ground like that a couple of times. It was an off weekend for me, so we’ll regroup and look to come back stronger at the next one.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Steede was able to continue her podium form in the Pro Women class, finishing second on both Saturday and Sunday riding her Husqvarna FX 250. Despite feeling the effects of a mid-week crash and falling again during the race, she pressed on for second overall at Marvin’s Mountain and maintains P2 in the standings.

Korie Steede: “I had some really good tests and found myself on the ground a couple of times in the others, so it was a rough weekend in some ways, but we had a good time and to finish on the podium is always good. We’re improving every race and that’s the goal.”

Pro 1 Class Results:
1. Johnny Girroir, KTM
2. Liam Draper, Yamaha
3. Cody Barnes, Honda
4. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Pro Women Class Results:
1. Brandy Richards, KTM
2. Korie Steede, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
3. Jocelyn Barnes, Husqvarna

Upcoming Offroad Races – September 2024
9/1: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 10
9/8: National Enduro Series – Round 8
9/14: National Hare and Hound Championship – Round 5
9/15: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 11
9/22: National Enduro Series – Round 9
9/29: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 12
9/29: National Grand Prix Championship – Round 7

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING’S CHASE SEXTON CROWNED AMA PRO MOTOCROSS 450 CLASS CHAMPION

Victory in the final round of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship saw Chase Sexton and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing clinch the 450MX title with a clean sweep at the Ironman National, completing a spectacular first outdoor season together with a total of seven overall wins in 11 rounds.

The finale saw Aaron Plessinger finish second on the 450 Class podium to secure third in the final standings, while P1 in Indiana for Tom Vialle elevated him to second position in the 250MX title race. In addition, KTM earned the Pro Motocross Manufacturer Championship and Julien Beaumer was awarded the 250 Class Rookie of the Year honors.

Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Sexton qualified fastest this morning and fittingly sealed the title by winning Moto 1 in commanding fashion. The 24-year-old Illinois native then picked up his 13th moto win of the series in the final outing, capping off his campaign in style to lift the coveted #1 plate.

Sexton took his first Pro Motocross win of the year in Round 2 at Hangtown and then won the last six rounds in succession at RedBud, Spring Creek, Washougal, Unadilla, Budds Creek, and Ironman on his way to a first-career Pro Motocross crown. The result marks KTM’s first 450MX title since Ryan Dungey won in 2015.

Chase Sexton: “I felt the safest out front in Moto 1, they were all riding really good, and the pace was high, so that was a dream ride for me to wrap it up in that one with no mistakes. The championship’s what we came for and we accomplished that, so I appreciate it and we’re excited! To come out here in the outdoors and have a really awesome season, I don’t know how to put it into words… This is the best form I’ve had to date in my career, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team is awesome, and it means a lot. I’m stoked – I just want to keep doing this, because every title you get makes you want to win more. Thank you!”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Plessinger finished second on the 450MX podium at the Ironman National with 2-2 results, making it six podiums this season, including the past four in a row. As a result, The Cowboy matched his final position of one year ago with third in the championship, and also carries career form into the upcoming SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Finals series.

Aaron Plessinger: “I put it all out there, I was trying and giving it my all to keep with Chase. Those last few laps were tough – I left it all on the track today. It’s all of these people who kept me going because it was a long, hot day, but I have to give it up for my family, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and everybody behind me! It has been such a good season and I’m really proud of Chase and the whole team.”

A wire-to-wire opening moto win riding the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION saw Vialle set himself up for a chance at his maiden 250MX overall victory in 2024, which he managed to achieve courtesy of a hard-fought fourth-place finish in Moto 2. With seven overall podiums to his credit, the Frenchman climbed to second in the final standings to complete his second season of AMA Pro Motocross competition.

Tom Vialle: “I was really trying to get that overall and we were able to today! The start is so important, it makes it so much easier, and I had a good moto in the first one. I had a gap and it was really amazing, I felt so good on the track. And then I was able to make it happen for the overall in that second moto – I’m really happy.”

The 250MX Rookie of the Year award belonged to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team newcomer Beaumer, who finished 11th in the championship. It’s been a positive first full season of Pro Motocross for the 18-year-old, gaining immense experience throughout the series, and building important foundations for his career. An 8-30 scorecard at Round 11 after crashing out of the final race landed him 14th overall.

Julien Beaumer: “It was a decent day for me at Ironman. My riding in Moto 2 was really good until I had a crash late in the race, but overall – mentally and physically – we’re in a good spot, ready to head into SMX and finish this year with a bang.”

Next Race: September 7 – Concord, North Carolina (SMX Playoff 1)

TRYSTAN HART AND JOHNNY GIRROIR CLINCH FIRST TITLES OF 2024 WITH FMF KTM FACTORY RACING

FMF KTM Factory Racing picked up a pair of championships this past weekend, courtesy of Trystan Hart making it four-straight titles in the AMA U.S. Hard Enduro Series at the Red Bull Tennessee Knockout (TKO), while Johnny Girroir made it back-to-back AMA U.S. Sprint Enduro Series titles at Marvin’s Mountain in West Virginia.

U.S. HARD ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 7

A high-profile final round of the 2024 AMA U.S. Hard Enduro Series saw FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart finish in second position, locking in a fourth-consecutive Pro Class Championship at the Red Bull Tennessee Knockout (TKO) event in Sequatchie, Tennessee.

Doubling as Round 5 of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, TKO attracted a world-class rider line-up for this year’s edition, which commenced with the Straight Rhythm Prologue in Downtown Nashville on Thursday evening, where Hart was bumped out in the early rounds.

TKO action officially commenced with the Pro Hot Lap qualification session on Saturday, where Hart was third overall to set him up for Sunday morning’s pair of Knockout races. He completed both of those with 3-4 results – and first in his group – onboard the KTM 300 XC-W, before ripping to the holeshot in the Final Knockout.

After leading his share of the action early on, the Canadian was engaged in a battle with reigning world champion Lettenbichler, eventually taking the checkered flag in second position just 5.13 seconds outside of the victory to importantly capture the U.S. Hard Enduro Championship with a podium result at the international event.

Trystan Hart: “After being third in Hot Laps, then third in TKO 1, and fourth in TKO 2 but first in my group, it wasn’t an ideal start for me. It was okay, I reset for the main event, pulled the holeshot, and on lap two I made a mistake, so Mani got around me and kind of got away. But I came around and he had made a mistake himself, so I got back around and we went back and forth four or five times. Near the end of the race, I had a pretty good lead of about 10 seconds or so, but made a tiny mistake and he caught me. We went up the hillclimb together and he got ahead of me, so was able to hold it from there to the end. I finished second and still made it four U.S. championships, which was a really good result for myself and the FMF KTM Factory Racing Team, but it was also that little bit disappointing to miss out on my third TKO win in a row!”

Pro Class Results:
1. Manuel Lettenbichler, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2. Trystan Hart, FMF KTM Factory Racing
3. Wade Young, GASGAS
7. Colton Haaker, Husqvarna
9. Ryder LeBlond, Husqvarna
11. Will Riordan, GASGAS

U.S. SPRINT ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 7

A winning weekend across both Saturday and Sunday in Round 7 of the U.S. Sprint Enduro Series saw FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Johnny Girroir clinch the championship with a round to spare, as FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers riders Gus Riordan and Brandy Richards also won in class.

Girroir continued his perfect Pro 1 season equipped with the KTM 350 XC-F at Marvin’s Mountain in Masontown, West Virginia, which was enough for him to take him a second-consecutive Sprint Enduro crown. He claimed maximum points on both days, gaining strength as the weekend progressed.

Johnny Girroir: “The weekend was good. Saturday, we came out good in the first three tests, and then I crushed the last tests to win Day 1. I felt a lot better on Sunday for Day 2, and we were able to wrap up the 2024 championship as a result. That’s always good to bring home the title and we’re stoked to go back-to-back here in the Sprint Enduro Series.”

Pro 2 saw defending class champion Riordan tame the technical conditions with a win onboard his KTM 250 XC-F with FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers, continuing his recent dominance to stretch out a 55-point advantage in the series with a single round remaining.

Gus Riordan: “It was a fun weekend, definitely dry and dusty, so quite sketchy. I was able to get the class win both days and I was able to get a good lead on Saturday, so managed it from there. I had to come from behind on Sunday and got the win in that last test, so it was a good result for us in the end.”

It was a similar story in the Pro Women category for FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ Brandy Richards, who remains unbeaten in the U.S. Sprint Enduro Series on her KTM 250 XC-F this year after winning again at Marvin’s Mountain – dominant through all 12 tests this weekend.

Brandy Richards: “This weekend was really good. The Cross Test was super-slippery at first and tight, plus the Enduro Test in the woods was pretty gnarly with the rocks and silt. We had no major issues on Day 1 and Day 2 was just as good, so we’re really happy with the results!”

Pro 1 Class Results:
1. Johnny Girroir, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Liam Draper, Yamaha
3. Cody Barnes, Honda
4. Craig DeLong, Husqvarna

Pro 2 Class Results:
1. Gus Riordan, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
2. Jason Tino, Husqvarna
3. Dominick Morse, Husqvarna

Pro Women Class Results:
1. Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
2. Korie Steede, Husqvarna
3. Jocelyn Barnes, Husqvarna

UPCOMING OFFROAD RACES – SEPTEMBER 2024
9/1: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 10
9/8: National Enduro Series – Round 8
9/8: West Hare Scramble – Round 5
9/15: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 11
9/22: National Enduro Series – Round 9
9/29: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 12
9/29: National Grand Prix Championship – Round 7
9/29: West Hare Scramble – Round 6

Dunlop Sweeps 2024 250 MX and 450 MX Pro Motocross Champships

The Tucker Freight Lines National at Ironman Raceway, located just outside of Indianapolis, Indiana, marked the eleventh and final round of the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. Continuing a streak that dates back to 2010, Dunlop riders once again swept both the 2024 250 MX and 450 MX Pro Motocross Championships, extending their reign to an impressive 15 consecutive years. The dominance of Dunlop was evident across the championship standings, with Dunlop riders securing the top nine positions in the premier 450 MX class and the top twenty-nine spots in the 250 MX class. With victories in all AMA Pro titles in 2024, Dunlop riders have achieved a remarkable total of 183 AMA Pro Motocross and Supercross Championships.

While the 450 title battle we were all hoping for between Chase Sexton, Jett Lawrence, and Eli Tomac didn’t quite happen due to injuries, we were still presented with a fantastic championship battle that came down to the last race. Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton just needed to beat Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence by one point in the first moto to secure the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship. The Team Dunlop Elite alum rose to the occasion and grabbed his first premier-class motocross championship!

The 250 title was wrapped up at the penultimate round in Budds Creek, Maryland. The seven-time Loretta Lynn Amateur National Champion, Haiden Deegan, started the series on a hot streak with three consecutive overall wins and secured the championship with one race remaining in the series. Haiden, on his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing machine, consistently finished in the top three with only a few motos outside the top five. This Team Dunlop Elite alum is one to look out for in the future!

“The 2024 AMA Pro Motocross season has proven that the new generation is here to stay! For an incredible fifteenth consecutive year, Dunlop riders dominated the field, taking home both the 250 MX and 450 MX titles and locking in every podium finish across all eleven rounds of the series.,” stated Broc Glover, Senior Manager of Off-Road Motorcycles at Dunlop. “This isn’t just a streak; it’s a testament to the brand’s resilience, our products’ excellence, and the Dunlop team’s unwavering commitment. In addition to our well-regarded MX14 soft terrain “scoop” tire, the Geomax MX34 soft/intermediate tire showcased its true potential, providing excellent options for these top-level riders. Tires make a difference in motocross, and we extend our profound appreciation to all the teams and riders who entrusted Dunlop for their racing endeavors.”

For the first time in MX history, both champions worked their way through the amateur ranks, being supported as Team Dunlop Elite members. Chase and Haiden join the ranks of Team Dunlop Elite alums such as Eli Tomac, Blake Baggett, Justin Barcia, Adam Cianciarulo, Aaron Plessinger, Ashley Fiolek, Justin Hill, Colt Nichols, and Justin Bogle, all of whom have won pro championships. This proves Dunlop’s unwavering support of amateurs and pros alike to help grow the sport of motocross is a success!

“We’ve watched Chase and Haiden progress as amateurs, then hit the pro ranks at full speed,” said Rob Fox, Amateur Motocross Support Manager. “We are extremely proud of them and all the other Team Dunlop Elite riders who chased their dream of winning a professional championship. For Dunlop, supporting that dream is what it’s all about.”

Dunlop is proud to have each Dunlop rider as a part of the Dunlop Family. Now it’s time to regroup and focus on the SuperMotocross World Championship finals!

Tomac Returns to Podium at Ironman National

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac returned to the podium at the 2024 Pro Motocross season finale at the Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana. In just his second race back from injury, the multi-time champion earned a 4-3 moto score in the punishing conditions to end the day third overall. Justin Cooper added another top-five overall finish during his 450MX rookie season with his 6-4 moto score.

Tomac had a strong start to the day, qualifying sixth. He then got a good start in the first moto and was fourth after the first lap, where he would finish. In Moto 2, the Colorado rider got another good start in the top five and made his way to third on the fourth lap. Tomac continued to ride a strong pace to earn his first moto podium of the outdoor season and first overall podium in two tries. Despite being sidelined for 10 rounds of the SuperMotocross World Championship, Tomac heads into the three-round post-season playoffs 11th in the combined points.

Cooper qualified fourth for his first Ironman National aboard the 450. He didn’t get the start he had been hoping for in the first moto and was eighth after the opening lap. Undeterred, the New Yorker kept pushing and made his way to sixth on Lap 3, where he would finish. In the second moto, he got a much better start and grabbed his sixth holeshot of the season. Although he was shuffled to fifth in the opening laps, he kept pushing and made his way to fourth to secure fifth overall. Cooper enjoyed a strong debut season in the 450MX Championship, finishing fourth in the points standings with two overall podiums and eight top-five overall finishes. His combined efforts in both Monster Energy AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross have him heading into the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals fifth in the 450SMX points.

Cooper Webb, who continues to prepare for the SMX Finals after spraining his thumb at the penultimate Pro Motocross round at the Budds Creek Motocross Park, heads into the SMX playoffs with the 10th seed.

Next up for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team is Round 1 of the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals at the zMax Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, on September 7.

Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“All in all, it was a good day and a great finish to the season. Eli rode phenomenally and got back on the podium in his second race back. Justin had a good ride and had a good first year outdoors on the 450. It’s definitely something to build on. Now it’s on to SMX. We’re going to go to work and look to come out swinging in the finals.”

Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“We got back on the podium. That was definitely the goal coming into here – to have two solid motos — and we were able to do that. I got good starts today and was in the mix with the lead group, which was also nice. Overall these were two important races to get under our belt and to get back into the groove. We learned a lot for next year. Now we’ll get ready for these SMX races.”

Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“The last National of the year at Ironman went okay. We were fifth overall. I don’t really gel with this track. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always struggled here a little bit. The track was definitely tough today, but all in all, it was a good first season outdoors on the 450 and definitely something to build on. We’re going into SMX now. We’ll get ready for that and get back on supercross.”

Deegan Scores 10th 250MX Moto Win at Pro Motocross Season Finale

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan concluded his championship-winning Pro Motocross season with an emphatic victory in 250MX Moto 2, finishing fourth overall (11-1) at the Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Jordon Smith finished on a high note with his first moto podium of the outdoor season, ending the day fifth overall (3-8). Max Anstie joined his teammates in the top 10, finishing eighth overall with his 13-7 score. Nick Romano was 16th overall (17-14) in the challenging conditions, while rookie Daxton Bennick sat out the final round. The team’s newest addition, Cole Davies, kicked off the weekend in style with an overall victory (2-1) in the Scouting Moto Combine.

Deegan came out swinging at the season finale, topping the timesheets in both sessions. Unfortunately, he did not get off the gate as he had hoped in the first moto and had an early race tip-over as well. Sitting 29th after the first lap, he kept pushing even though he was outside of his comfort zone and crossed the line 11th. Deegan got a much better start in Moto 2 and was sixth after the first lap. The newly crowned 250MX champ quickly went to work and made his way to third on the second lap and then to the runner-up spot a couple of laps later. It was a thrilling battle for top honors, with Deegan making the pass for the lead after the halfway point. After claiming the lead, he rode on to secure his 10th moto win of the season and ended the day just shy of the overall podium in fourth. The Californian heads into the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals in a good position to defend his 250SMX crown, holding the number one spot with an impressive 640 combined points in Monster Energy AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross.

After qualifying 11th, Smith got a great start in the first moto from an outside gate pick and was third after the first lap. He rode a strong pace and advanced to the runner-up spot on Lap 10, ultimately finishing third for his best result of the season. In the second moto, the North Carolina rider didn’t get the start he was hoping for and found himself 12th after the first lap but kept pushing in the punishing conditions to finish eighth and secure fifth overall. It was a strong end to his first full outdoor season since 2018, finishing ninth in the 250MX Championship. Smith’s combined efforts in the indoor and outdoor season puts him sixth in the 250SMX points.

Anstie qualified 13th and had a solid start to hold 11th after the opening lap, ultimately crossing the line 13th in the challenging conditions. Despite the less-than-ideal gate pick, the British rider got a great start to the second moto and narrowly missed the holeshot. In fourth after the first lap, he did what he could to maintain the position but would cross the line seventh to end the day eighth overall. Making his debut aboard the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing YZ250F at Round 5, Anstie had a solid return to the Pro Motocross 250MX Championship after a long absence. He heads into the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals 12th in the 250 SMX combined points.

Romano had a strong start to the day with a top-five result in the first qualifying session but ultimately was 17th in the combined times. The 19-year-old got a good start in the first moto despite the less-than-ideal gate pick and was eighth after the first lap. He tried to maintain a top-10 result but was shuffled to 17th in the punishing conditions. In the second moto, he had another solid start and was 14th after the first lap, where he would ultimately finish to end the day 16th overall. The New Yorker sits 16th in the 250SMX combined points. His rookie teammate Bennick qualified 22nd and sat out of the final round of the outdoor season. The 18-year-old from North Carolina heads into the post-season 14th in the 250SMX combined points.

After a strong qualifying for the Scouting Moto Combine in third, Davies didn’t get the start he was hoping for in the first moto and found himself at the back of the field. The young New Zealand rider put his head down and made an impressive charge to a runner-up finish. In the second moto, he got a much better start and quickly moved to second on the opening lap. Davies then claimed the lead on Lap 5 and rode on to secure the overall victory with his 2-1 moto score.

Next up for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team is Round 1 of the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals at the zMax Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, on September 7.

Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
”It was a good finish to the outdoor season. Haiden was the fastest qualifier. He didn’t get a good start and even had a tip-over, but he fought his way back and finished 11th. We made changes to the bike for the second moto, and it was fantastic. It was a commanding win and was actually a really cool race to watch with him and (Tom) Vialle battling back and forth. I’m just proud of the whole team. We’ll enjoy this championship. They are hard to come by. We’re going into SMX with the number one plate and looking to defend that title. We’ll get back to work and look to come out swinging with all of our guys at Charlotte.”

Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38
“That’s a wrap on the outdoor season. It was a really good season overall. We won the championship, had lots of wins, lots of moto wins, and definitely made a big progression this year in my riding in general. Today was quite a wild one. I didn’t get a great start in the first moto, and I fell on the first lap and came from around 34th to 11th. I just struggled with the setup, so we went back and changed it for the second moto, and it was a lot better. We ripped a start and made our way into the lead with about six laps to go. That was awesome, and now we’re moving on to SMX to defend that title.”

Jordon Smith – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #31
“It was an awesome day, the best day of the season. It was good to finish the outdoor season with a bang. I made a little bit of a risky decision lining up all the way on the outside in the first moto, but it paid off. Then I put in a really good ride and ended up third. I probably should have made the same decision for the second moto with the outside gate, but I felt like the inside was better. It just didn’t work out, but I kept battling and finished eighth. In the end, it was not a bad day, and I’m happy with it. I’m ready for SMX.”

Max Anstie – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #37
“We gathered some good information for next season throughout the few rounds of outdoors I did with the team this year. I ended with an eight overall at Ironman. After my crash last weekend, I was happy enough with that. I’m looking forward to SMX.”

Nick Romano – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #511
“It was an up-and-down day. I was fifth in the first session, which I was super stoked about. Then in the first moto, I started in the top 10, but then kind of just hit a wall. I wasn’t really ready for that pace in the beginning. In the second moto, I started around 10th again. I fought hard and had a group of six in front of me that I was faster than, but I just couldn’t get by them. Like I said, it was an up-and-down day, but I’m happy to finish the season off healthy, which was my main goal at the beginning of the year. It’s on to SMX now.”

Cole Davies – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #17
“It was a good day at Ironman. I was fastest in second qualifying, and I felt good going into the motos. The gates dropped super early in the first one, and I wasn’t ready for it. So I was dead last, but I was able to salvage second in that one and made my way through the pack. In the second moto, I got a decent start, made some quick passes early, and put myself in second. Then I made the pass for first and rode it home from there.”

KEN ROCZEN TAKES ON 250 CLASS AT IRONMAN NATIONAL

The 2024 AMA Pro Motocross season concluded under sweltering conditions at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Riders battled it out in the final opportunity to secure points, both for the Motocross season and to qualify for the SuperMotocross World Championship. Competitors in the top 20 in combined Supercross and Motocross points earned guaranteed spots on the gate, while those ranked 21-30 will face LCQ rounds at each SMX event.

Race Highlights:

Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
- 250 Class
  - Ken Roczen ran inside the top five for the majority of the opening 250 Class moto and earned a top ten overall result.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
  - Kyle Chisholm locked down a guaranteed spot on the gate at each SMX race.
  - Colt Nichols continued to gain valuable seat time on his new RM-Z450.
Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki
- 450 Class
  - Max Miller put in a great performance in the second moto following a top-15 start.
- 250 Class
  - Dilan Schwartz delivered his seventh top-15 result of the Motocross season.
  - Preston Boespflug wrapped up his rookie season with a strong ride.
  - Leo Tucker completed his first full Pro Motocross season.

Ken Roczen (94) competed in the 250 class for the first time in 11 years to thrill the fans, get fired up for post-season racing, and have a lot of fun on his Suzuki RM-Z250.

Ken Roczen (94) mixed things up by dropping down in class to battle with the younger 250 class racers. After qualifying in second position overall, Roczen pulled a strong start in the first 250 moto with a top-five position. Roczen ran as high as fourth place and brought home a top-ten moto result. In the second moto Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe in 15th and went to work. Roczen moved his Suzuki RM-Z250 past many of the top riders in the class. Roczen reached as high as sixth place, but having just returned to racing after an injury, he decided to ride conservatively and keep his focus on returning to the SMX championship on his RM-Z450. Ken’s foray into a different class has perhaps prepared him for the unexpected, as the racers look ahead to the hybrid Supercross-Motocross tracks of the SMX events. Roczen finished in the runner-up spot overall in last year’s inaugural SuperMotocross World Championship, and he looks to be in a strong position to fight for the title in the three-round season in September.

“Wow. What a fun day stepping down to the Lites class for this past weekend in Ironman,” said Roczen. “I always knew it was going to be a tough transition but I was happy with qualifying in second place. I showed speed in the motos, but ultimately wanted to stay safe on the track as I prepare for the SuperMotocross Finals. I learned a lot, which will help me in a few short weeks in Charlotte.”

Kyle Chisholm (11) capped his season with a top-20 moto and overall result, earning him a guaranteed spot in the post-season racing.

Kyle Chisholm (11), the team’s test rider, has put in an incredible year at the races. Chisholm used strong results from both the Supercross and Motocross seasons to put his Twisted Tea Suzuki RM-Z450 into the top twenty for the year.

“Overall, it was a good day,” reported Chisholm. “The main goal going in was to secure the last playoff spot and we did it. I had good starts in both motos, and I was up there in the battle. I’m happy to not have to race the LCQs every week in the playoffs. I’m going to take a few days off, rest up, and then be ready. We’ll work on some bike set-up because those races are very unique. They’re a little bit of both Supercross and Motocross, so bike set-up will be key. We’ll come in ready. I’m looking forward to it.”

Max Miller (87) put his BarX Suzuki RM-Z450 up into the top-15 at the start of the final moto of the year.

Max Miller (87) was consistent and quick in qualifying. Miller showed his top form in the second moto with a run up near the front pack.

“I had an awesome year racing the Suzuki 250 and 450!” said Miller, referring to both the Supercross and Motocross seasons with BarX Suzuki. “Today was a tough day, but I had great speed in moto two. I was running inside the top 15 before falling down. I’m grateful to have such an awesome team and incredible bike under me for the whole season!”

Colt Nichols (45) has already shown great speed since joining the Twisted Tea Suzuki team late into the Motocross season.

Colt Nichols (45) has adapted quickly to the RM-Z450, showing impressive speed at the previous round. Unfortunately, a crash at that round affected Nichols and he removed himself from competition mid-way through the opening moto. Even with an incomplete Motocross and Supercross season, Nichols earned a spot in the LCQ at each of the post-season races.

“In hindsight I probably shouldn’t have tried to race after practice, but wanted to give it a go anyway,” reported Nichols. “I [determined that I] hit my head a little harder than I thought last weekend, so I decided to pull out [of moto one] instead of risking further injury. I’m going to take some time off to rest and I’ll be back soon.”

Dilan Schwartz (40) delivered another strong result at the Ironman National and earned a top-15 overall spot in the final Motocross season standings.

Dilan Schwartz (40) pulled down another top-15 overall result at the Ironman National. Even after missing the entire Supercross season, Schwartz earned enough points in the 11 Motocross rounds to garner a spot in the SuperMotocross post-season LCQ races.

“It was a tough weekend for me,” admitted Schwartz. “The track was really rough, and the weather was very hot, so it made for some hard racing. I got some decent results on the day, but they could have been better.”

Preston Boespflug (128) capped off his rookie motocross season with strong speed on his BarX Suzuki RM-Z250.

Preston Boespflug (128) earned a spot as an alternate from his qualifying times. When an opportunity opened up to race the final 250 moto, Boespflug jumped into action to wrap up his season with a strong ride.

“It was a tough first outdoor season, but we live to fight another fight,” summed up Boespflug. “I want to give a huge thanks to Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki for their support during my first professional season.”

Leo Tucker (154) put in a strong rookie season through the 2024 racing.

Leo Tucker (154), in his first full year of professional racing, did have prior experience racing the Ironman National the previous summer. Tucker nabbed a spot on the line of the final 250 moto.

“The day was not good for me at all,” said Tucker. “I rode well in the first qualifying session but missed out on a spot by one second.”

“The HEP team had kind of a fun weekend,” said Larry Brooks, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager. “We had Ken Roczen racing a 250 in the 250 class. Ken started the day off well, getting second in timed practice; he was one second off the leader, and that is pretty good for someone who never rides a 250. I believe his last 250 race was more than 10 years ago. In the first moto he started off well. He moved up to fourth place; by the end of the moto, he had dropped back to the ninth. In the second moto he finished 12th, he just hasn’t raced that class in a while, plus after being injured [and not riding much] for a couple of months, he just didn’t have the stamina to go the whole distance. But it wasn’t about the overall result, it was more for the fun of the event and riding the class. It was a really fun weekend. Kyle Chisholm put himself into the SuperMotocross finals; on the day he went 21 -17 for 20th, but it wasn’t really about the moto scores, it was more about the overall points. So, the playoffs are set for Kyle Chisholm and Ken Roczen.”

“It was a challenging day for our team,” said BarX Motorsports team principal Myron Short. “Our rookies were having a hard time finding the flow of the track in qualifying and just missed out on direct transfers to the motos. Schwartz rode great and fought hard for 13th overall. He had top ten speed but didn’t get the starts needed. Max was riding well in the 450’s but you cannot fall in that class and expect to finish in the points. It’s been a fun year and the BarX Team wants to thank Suzuki and all of our partners for the strong support this season.”

For team news, please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing and HEPMotorsports.com.

Photos by BrownDogWilson

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