This week in US Powersports racing.
Beaubier Wins, But Herrin Still Controls Championship Chase
Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier kept his slender championship hopes alive with a win in the first of three Steel Commander Superbike races at Circuit of The Americas on Saturday, with the five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion catching and passing runaway championship leader Josh Herrin in the closing laps of the 12-lap race on a brutally hot Saturday in Austin.
The win was the fifth of the season for Beaubier and the 64th of his Superbike career, and it moved him into second in the 2024 Steel Commander Superbike Championship – 55 points behind Herrin with four races left in the series (two tomorrow at COTA and the final two in a few weeks at New Jersey Motorsports Park).
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Herrin did most of the leading, putting his Fast By Ferracci liveried Panigale V4 R out front for 10 of the 12 laps, but it was Beaubier leading the two that counted most to take five points away from Herrin.
In the early going, it looked to be fairly smooth sailing for Herrin as he led EasyHealthPlans.com/TopProRacing’s Sean Dylan Kelly and Beaubier. It got a bit easier when Beaubier nearly ran into the back of Kelly.
Beaubier was right behind Kelly when the Floridian’s BMW gave up the ghost and the Californian was fortunate to not rear-end him. That gave Herrin a bit of a gap that Beaubier was able to whittle away at. He was helped by Herrin losing the front and almost crashing, a moment that caused Herrin to re-think things and ease up, if only by a little.
Beaubier crossed the line 1.8 seconds ahead of Herrin, who in turn was 4.3 seconds ahead of Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante with the Mexican fighting back from a poor start. Escalante was in just his second race back from the serious injuries he suffered in the season opener at Road Atlanta.
Fourth place went to Herrin’s teammate Loris Baz, the Frenchman also recovering from a bad start. He was some 10 seconds behind Escalante and 1.3 seconds ahead of Beaubier’s teammate JD Beach, who rounded out the top five.
Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong was sixth, well clear of Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Brandon Paasch with Jones Honda’s Ashton Yates, Team Brazil’s Danilo Lewis and FLO4LAW Racing’s Benjamin Smith filling the top 10.
Notable non-finishers included Kelly (mechanical), and Xavi Forés, who crashed his Attack Performance/Progressive/Yamaha Racing YZF-R1.
Superbike Race 1
- Cameron Beaubier (BMW)
- Josh Herrin (Ducati)
- Richie Escalante (Suzuki)
- Loris Baz (Ducati)
- JD Beach (BMW)
- Bobby Fong (Yamaha)
- Brandon Paasch (Suzuki)
- Ashton Yates (Honda)
- Danilo Lewis (BMW)
- Benjamin Smith (Yamaha)
Quotes
Richie Escalante – Third
“Yes, I’m really happy to finish on the podium. This year my goal is just back to finish the season, race Ohio, this weekend, and New Jersey, then thinking for next year. I feel really good here. For some reason, the Suzuki is working very well in this track. I like it. So today, I forgot to press the button to the launch control, so my start is very bad. I think in turn one maybe P9, P10. Then I just recovered positions. After that, I just maintained my pace. I’m really happy to finish in the podium, especially behind Cam Beaubier and Josh Herrin, super champs. Really, really happy.”
Josh Herrin – Second
After the front tuck, I just kind of reevaluated a little bit. Obviously, I still was trying to win the race. It’s not like I just gave up. I just was like, ‘all right, maybe I’m pushing a little too hard.’ So, I started kind of easing up a little bit on the brakes. Probably wasn’t the best idea. I probably was just off-line or had a little bit too much brake pressure or too much lean angle and just had a moment and let it kind of spook me for the rest of the race, which isn’t good. To come out here with a second place, I’m happy. It’s hard to be happy because I’ve had such a good run of race wins and fighting for the lead and stuff, that now you want to win. Once you get a taste of not just one but two or three, it starts to eat at you when you can’t win. It was a difficult race. It’s super-hot out there. When Cam (Beaubier) came by me, I saw him make a couple mistakes. It seemed like he was having the same issues I was, just lack of grip and it was hot, everything was greasy. I thought about it for a sec, trying to cut back under him. I think he ran wide off the back straight or somewhere. I just started thinking a little too much, but I think it was probably a good thing because we have a healthy lead, and I don’t want to be dumb out there. I looked bummed on the podium but was really happy. Just super-hot and wanted to get out of the sun and prepare for tomorrow. Thank you to my whole team. Excited to come back out tomorrow.”
Cameron Beaubier – Winner
“I was really close to SDK. I almost ran right into the back of him. Even before that, the first couple laps when I had first passed (Josh) Herrin, I was going before the long right-hander. I must have barely touched my shifter. It wasn’t a false neutral. I just clicked it into second on the side of the tire and just had nothing. Luckily, they didn’t run into me there. So, Josh and SDK got by me there. Then after that, I just tried to kind of settle in and build into the race and not go too crazy at the beginning. I think for all of us, it was pretty greasy out there. The track temperature… I don’t know exactly what it was, but it was super-hot, super greasy. Sliding around front, rear. I definitely felt better in practice yesterday and this morning, grip-wise. The race kind of came to me a little bit. Josh had a good pace going there in the middle after I almost ran into SDK. It was pretty tough to close in on him without doing anything too crazy. Then there at the end, I wanted to make a good pass on him and put my head down and see if I could pull something and we were able to do it today. But honestly, I think obviously he settled. It would have been maybe a different story if he kept his head down. But he’s got a lot to lose right now. He’s 55, 60 points out in the lead, points-wise. He’s had a great year. It’s good. Going to go back and see what we can improve tomorrow. Tomorrow is going to be tough. It was hot and sticky today.”
Josh Herrin (2) leads Cameron Beaubier (6), Sean Dylan Kelly (40), Xavi Forés (34), JD Beach (95) and the rest of the Steel Commander Superbike class into turn one on Saturday at Circuit of The Americas. Photo by Brian J. Nelson
Herrin led Kelly and Beaubier early in the race before Kelly suffered a mechanical problem that forced him out of the race. Photo by Brian J. Nelson
Cameron Beaubier (6) topped Josh Herrin (2) for his fifth win of the season and the 64th of his Superbike career. Photo by Brian J. Nelson
Saturday photos available HERE
Saturday results:
Complete practice, qualifying and race results are available HERE.
A Day of MotoAmerica Drama on Saturday a Circuit Of The Americas
Roughly 30 minutes after taking his first-career MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers victory, it all went horribly wrong for Rocco Landers when he crashed out of the Bellissi Moto Twins Cup race twice – one he could remount from, the other terminal. And, just like that, his 19-point lead had turned into a six-point deficit with only tomorrow’s final round at Circuit of The Americas left in the Twins Cup season.
The high drama started right away when championship points leader Landers crashed his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki on the second lap while giving chase to Rodio Racing – Powered by Robem Engineering’s Alessandro Di Mario. Fortunately, Landers was able to remount and knife his way through the pack to climb to 13th after three laps. Then came the ultimate reprieve as Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Rossi Moor crashed out in a vicious highside that brought out the red flag, thus gifting Landers another crack at it.
But it was more of the same in the five-lap restart as Di Mario took off out front, leading Giaccmoto Yamaha Racing’s Dominic Doyle and Landers in the five-lap restart. Then it all went wrong for Landers – again – as he crashed out of third with three laps to go.
The win was 15-year-old Di Mario’s second victory of the year, and his sixth consecutive podium finish… and he’s now in the catbird seat heading into tomorrow’s season-ender for the Twins class.
Di Mario’s teammate Gus Rodio finished fourth with BARTCON Racing’s Mathew Chapin rounding out the top five.
“First of all, I hope Rossi (Moor) is all right,” Di Mario said. “I saw the crash on TV, and it was bad. Rocco (Landers), too. That was a gnarly highside. i just hope they’re all right. I crashed at Barber, and I lost many points, and today was the day I made them up. So, I’m really happy. I just want to thank everybody, the whole team, Kevin, Freddy from home. I didn’t forget you. I love you. My parents. They’ve done everything for me. Thank you. Matt, Chad, Mike, and all my sponsors. HJC, Dainese, Moto Liberty, just everybody. Thank you so much.”
Supersport – More Drama
With everything on the line for Supersport Championship leader Mathew Scholtz and his closest challenger PJ Jacobsen, it was all change in the results of Saturday’s race one at Circuit of The Americas as neither of the two combatants finished on the podium.
The action was hot and heavy from the start as the field of 30 riders funneled into the tricky turn one hairpin. Jacobsen’s Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2 got a little too up-close and personal with Scholtz’s Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R6, which resulted in Scholtz and EasyHealthPlans.com/TopPro Racing’s Martin Cardenas coming together and causing both Scholtz and Cardenas to crash. Cardenas was unable to continue, but Scholtz remounted his bike in 30th place and spent the remainder of the 11-lap race trying to move into a points-paying position, which he just missed out on by one position at the checkers.
Meanwhile, at the front, Altus Motorsports Suzuki’s Jake Lewis took the lead and held it all the way to the finish line where he notched his first-ever MotoAmerica-era Supersport race win by nearly three seconds over N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto Yamaha rider Blake Davis in second place. Third place went to Jacobsen’s Rahal Ducati Moto teammate Corey Alexander, who overcame a problem with his bike’s gearshift to complete the podium.
Speaking of Jacobsen, he finished fifth, which enabled him to reduce Scholtz’s Championship lead from 25 points to just 14 with three races left in the season.
“I feel like I could have run with Matthew (Scholtz) or PJ (Jacobsen),” Lewis said. “I don’t know if PJ went down or what. I had good pace in practice. I could do the lap time by myself. I was finally good enough on the brakes. We’ve made a lot of progress the past two weekends. I can really feel the front-end underneath of me. That’s the main thing for me is riding on that front tire. I had good pace and it kind of showed in that race. Once I got to the front, I just kind of put my head down but was riding kind of smart and just plugging laps away. Then, with four to go, I don’t know if they were showing me on the TV or not, but I had a huge moment in the stadium section. The rear just came around. I was modulating the throttle, and the rear snapped around and both feet came off. I scared myself a little bit, and then I kind of looked over to the side and realized I had a big gap. I hadn’t won a Supersport race in a long time, and this was huge for the Altus Motorsports team. So, I just kind of backed it off and hit my lines. Honestly, kind of cruised around the last four laps. This track, I have really good pace, and I didn’t want to do anything stupid. So, I’m just really happy with that ride and proved some people wrong.”
Mission Super Hooligan National Championship – West Gets Closer
Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson’s Cory West came out the best in the two-rider battle for the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship on Saturday at COTA, but he didn’t pull away from S&S/Indian Motorcycle’s Tyler O’Hara as much as originally thought.
West led from the start and had O’Hara with him, but O’Hara didn’t waste any time in going to the lead. Then the race changed completely when O’Hara crashed in turn one. The crash altered the complexity of the race as West was wise enough to not put up too much of a fight with both O’Hara’s teammate Troy Herfoss and his own teammate, Jake Lewis. Herfoss and Lewis, meanwhile, went at it at the front with O’Hara up and racing again and making big strides into the top 10.
At the finish it was Herfoss beating Lewis by just .434 of a second with West third, by 1.659 of a second. It was Herfoss second win of the season and the first since Daytona back in March.
Then came a pair of S&S/Indian Motorcycle FTR1200s ridden by Jeremy McWilliams and O’Hara, who had somehow fought his way up to fifth to score 11 points and keep his championship hopes alive.
With just tomorrow’s race remaining in the championship, West leads O’Hara by nine points.
“It was such a good race, and to hear that Tyler (O’Hara) somehow picked that bike up and finished fifth in a completely dry race, that’s scary for tomorrow,” Herfoss said. “I don’t want to be racing against him. Anyway, it’s still alive. When he went down, I thought it (the championship) was all over. Then I had to try and catch Cory (West) rather than letting that race happen. Cory was going so fast. I didn’t understand how to catch him. I had to use Jake (Lewis) to learn a bit about how and use that slipstream once we got there. Jake is such an old-school rider. He definitely understands that the fastest guy doesn’t always win. It’s about staying in front. There were some fun moves there. I hope he enjoyed it. I really enjoyed it. I’ve been wanting to race him all year and he’s been too fast on me. I’m really happy to be here. Thanks to Indian Motorcycle. It’s my second win on the FTR1200 and we’re here. Mission Foods, Progressive, S&S Cycle. There’s so many great supporters of ours. I owe them a few more wins on this bike, so I’m happy to get one. I’m extra happy that Tyler is still in the championship fight.”
Mission King Of The Baggers – Landers Gets His First
RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson’s Rocco Landers has showed flashes of brilliance in his rookie season of Mission King Of The Baggers racing. On Saturday at COTA, Landers was able to coral that speed and talent and turn it into his first victory on the big V-twin.
Earlier in the year, Herfoss reaped praise on the 19-year-old, calling Landers “an ambitious young fellow.” Fittingly, it was Herfoss who lost out in a race-long battle with Landers.
Although Herfoss doesn’t enjoy losing, he did enjoy cutting Harley-Davidson Factory Racing rider Kyle Wyman’s championship points lead in half, from 14 points to just seven. Herfoss goes into tomorrow’s race two trailing Wyman, 295-288.
Third place went to Herfoss’ teammate Tyler O’Hara who rode hard to help his fellow S&S/Indian Motorcycle squad mate by keeping Wyman and RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson’s Hayden Gillim, who rounded out the top five finishers.
Rocco Landers (97) beat Troy Herfoss (17) to win the first Mission King Of The Baggers race of his career. Photo by Brian J. Nelson
Jake Lewis (85) battled early with Corey Alexander (23), but eventually pulled away to victory, his first of the year. Photo by Brian J. Nelson
Cory West extended his points lead with a third-place finish over Troy Herfoss (17) and Jake Lewis (hidden). Photo by Brian J. Nelson
Alessandro Di Mario dominated the BellissiMoto Twins Cup race. Photo by Brian J. Nelson
Saturday photos available HERE
Saturday results:
Supersport
Mission King Of The Baggers
BellissiMoto Twins Cup
Mission Super Hooligan National Championship
Complete practice, qualifying and race results are available HERE.
JUSTIN BARCIA MAKES SOLID RETURN TO SMX COMPETITION AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing welcomed Justin Barcia back for Texas Motor Speedway and the second stop of the SMX Playoffs, where the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) finals series continued in Forth Worth. It was also a largely positive day for teammate Pierce Brown in charging to P7 in 250SMX, despite going down off the start in both motos!
- Bam Bam makes his welcome return to competition in Texas
- Seventh for PB after crashing at the start of both 250SMX motos!
- Ryder D looks ahead to Las Vegas and finishing on a high
Barcia was due to return in Charlotte last weekend, but was ruled out following a crash on Friday. This time around he was on track for both gate-drops on his GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition, and will build on his results from this point. Bam Bam eased into things through Practice and Qualifying, then managed a brave performance when it counted to deliver 12-13 scores for 12th overall.
Justin Barcia: “Texas Motor Speedway was good, always good to be back at the races with the fans! It was a challenging day for me, just because I’m far from being my best self right now with where my body is at. I’m just glad to be here, able to ride, and doing my best. First moto, I rode as hard as I could, and then in the second moto, I had used up a lot of my energy, so nothing to write home about! I’m looking forward to Las Vegas and trying to get that little bit better for next weekend.”
The 250SMX round saw Brown quickest of all in Friday Practice, before he qualified in ninth position. Equipped with the GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition, PB went down at the beginning of both motos, but pushed on for impressive 9-5 results. That saw him salvage P7 overall, which has him sitting seventh in points with only the SMX Final remaining.
Pierce Brown: “It was a better day for me. I struggled to keep it on two wheels in the first turn – I fell in both starts – but my jumps off the gate were getting better. I came from last to ninth in the first moto and then last to fifth in Moto 2, so that was good. I’m happy with my fitness right now and I’m excited to see what we can do in Vegas for the Final!”
Texas was much the same for teammate Ryder D, the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing rider affected by troubles in Moto 1 when he went down twice, eventually reaching the checkered flag in P17. The final outing was an improvement with an 11th-place finish, resulting in 13th for the weekend. DiFrancesco is ranked 12th in the 250SMX title race with one round left to run.
Ryder DiFrancesco: “Today was okay. My qualifying sessions were better and then I ended up going down twice in the first one, then in the second one, I moved forward to ninth, but finished 11th. I’m excited to end the season on a good note in Vegas!”
Next Race: September 21 – Las Vegas, Nevada (SMX Final)
Download hi-res images from the 2024 SMX Playoff 2 here
Results 450SMX Class – SMX Playoff 2
1. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
3. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
7. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
12. Justin Barcia (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
13. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Husqvarna
14. Christian Craig (USA), Husqvarna
Standings 450SMX Class 2024 after 2 of 3 rounds
1. Hunter Lawrence, 90 points
2. Chase Sexton, 89
3. Jett Lawrence, 81
5. Aaron Plessinger, 62
9. Malcolm Stewart, 48
12. Christian Craig, 34
14. Justin Barcia, 33
Results 250SMX Class – SMX Playoff 2
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
2. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
3. Jo Shimoda (JPN), Honda
5. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
7. Pierce Brown (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
13. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
15. RJ Hampshire (USA), Husqvarna
Standings 250SMX Class 2024 after 2 of 3 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 100 points
2. Tom Vialle, 81
3. Levi Kitchen, 78
5. Julien Beaumer, 69
7. Pierce Brown, 56
12. Ryder DiFrancesco, 39
13. RJ Hampshire, 36
26. Casey Cochran, 4
Playoff 2 in Texas sets Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing up for SMX Final
It wasn’t Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s day at Texas Motor Speedway in Playoff 2 of the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX), but the countdown is on for the Las Vegas SMX Final next weekend, where the team hopes to finish season 2024 on a strong note.
450SMX saw Malcolm Stewart ride his Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition to P9 in qualifying and then he was 11th in Moto 1 after recovering from a bad start. Improved track position in the early stages of the second moto was short-lived when he was caught up in an incident, going on to claw his way back to 17th. That placed him 13th overall in Fort Worth and he’s now ninth in the standings.
“Fort Worth was definitely a warm one!” Stewart said. “We tried everything we could to be up there with the guys this weekend. First one, I had a bad start and that was on me, so by the time you recover it’s tough. In the second moto, it was a really good start, but I locked handlebars with another rider – just a racing incident. I need to take what I learned with that start and try to apply it in Vegas. With triple points on the line, there’s a lot to be made up yet. We’ll dig deep and try to get this bike up there toward the front! We’ll have a really great week and end this thing on a good note.”
Texas was also up-and-down for teammate Christian Craig, racing forward to 10th in the first race, but he was caught up in early drama at the start of Moto 2, and then went down in the latter stages. That meant he had to settle for 18th at the finish, which resulted in 14th overall. Craig sits 12th in points, well within reach of the top 10 with the SMX Final to pay triple points next Saturday evening.
“Today was challenging, for sure,” Craig explained. “The track was super-basic, but the dirt made it tough. Qualifying was decent and then the first moto was alright as well, but in the second moto, I got caught up in the second turn, so had to come from behind. I made some passes, but then went down pretty hard, and my elbow did not feel good after that. I did what I could from there, so it was frustrating – we’ll see what we can do next week.”
A sixth-place score in 250SMX Moto 1 marked a solid start for RJ Hampshire at Texas Motor Speedway, before he was able to challenge inside the top three during the second outing. Unfortunately, the Husqvarna FC 250 Rockstar Edition rider crashed out soon afterward, ending his weekend prematurely. After being credited 15th overall, Hampshire is now ranked 13th in the championship.
“It was a tough weekend,” Hampshire commented. “First moto, I felt pretty good, and it was decent. Second moto, I was running third, but slid off the face of the triple and went too far right into the tuff blocks. It was disappointing to end the weekend like that obviously, but my pace was good again today and that is a positive to take out of Texas.”
Next Race: September 21 – Las Vegas, Nevada (SMX Final)
Results 450SMX Class – SMX Playoff 2
1. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
3. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
7. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
12. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
13. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
14. Christian Craig (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
Standings 450SMX Class 2024 after 2 of 3 rounds
1. Hunter Lawrence, 90 points
2. Chase Sexton, 89
3. Jett Lawrence, 81
5. Aaron Plessinger, 62
9. Malcolm Stewart, 48
12. Christian Craig, 34
14. Justin Barcia, 33
Results 250SMX Class – SMX Playoff 2
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
2. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
3. Jo Shimoda (JPN), Honda
5. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
7. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS
13. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS
15. RJ Hampshire (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
Standings 250SMX Class 2024 after 2 of 3 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 100 points
2. Tom Vialle, 81
3. Levi Kitchen, 78
5. Julien Beaumer, 69
7. Pierce Brown, 56
12. Ryder DiFrancesco, 39
13. RJ Hampshire, 36
26. Casey Cochran, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 4
CHASE SEXTON AND TOM VIALLE IN SMX TITLE CONTENTION AFTER TEXAS PLAYOFF 2 PODIUMS
FORT WORTH, Tex. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton won the second 450SMX moto and claimed P2 overall in Playoff 2 of the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) post-season at Texas Motor Speedway, as teammate Tom Vialle finished second in the 250SMX Class. Both are in title contention entering next weekend’s SMX Final.
After setting the pace in Free Practice on Friday, Sexton qualified his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION fourth in Fort Worth. Moto 1 saw the reigning Pro Motocross Champion sprint to P4, but he was saving his best until last when he took a commanding second moto victory with a winning margin of 9.897s. That placed him second on the podium, and with triple points on offer in Las Vegas, Sexton sits one point outside of the series lead in what will be a winner-takes-all scenario next Saturday night.
Chase Sexton: “Getting a start is one of the key factors, but we actually made a change right before Moto 1 and I felt like I rode pretty well, but was just way back. In Moto 2, I got a good start and was able to ride my own laps – I felt like I did back in Pro Motocross. It was a good race, we ended up second overall, so we will try to keep building and come out swinging for Vegas!”
Still managing the effects of his crash from Charlotte one week ago, 450SMX teammate Aaron Plessinger was eighth in combined qualifying, and then went on to record 9-7 scores for seventh overall in a gritty performance from ‘The Cowboy’. Plessinger is currently ranked fifth in the premier class title race with one round to go, motivated to finish on a strong note at the SMX Final.
Aaron Plessinger: “Second playoff of SMX went okay – I rode my outdoor suspension on this one and it was a little soft. I got off to a pretty bad start in the first one, was working my way up, and jumped off the track, so finished ninth. In the second one, I got a really good start, was running up front and my shoulder started feeling it, and I ended up dropping back to seventh. Not where we want to be, but we will try to improve a little bit for Vegas and the final round.”
Texas saw current 250SX East Champion Tom Vialle rebound for his first 250SMX podium of the year in second overall onboard the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. After qualifying in position six – within a second of the fastest lap time – Vialle finished third in Moto 1, then charged to a confidence-inspiring second as the checkered flag flew in the final encounter. He is now P2 in the standings, 19 points outside of the lead entering Las Vegas.
Tom Vialle: “We are happy with the result today. The track was not easy – the same for everyone, of course – but I kept pushing until the very end. In the final moto, I was catching Haiden [Deegan] a little bit, but came up short. It was nice to be in the fight and it was a good race to get us ready for next weekend.”
Last weekend saw rookie Julien Beaumer earn a first-career podium and he backed that up with P5 this weekend at SMX Playoff 2. While not entirely satisfied with his result, it was another promising performance from the teenager, as consistent 5-6 results placed him inside the top five overall. Beaumer is also positioned fifth in the championship tally, eager to finish strongly at next weekend’s decider.
Julien Beaumer: “It was a tough day for me. I never really had the feeling I was looking for on this track, but P5 was a good result. We got a little bit better in that second moto, so not my best day, but fifth on a weekend that I didn’t feel too good, we will take that and be ready to fight going into Vegas.”
Next Race: September 21 – Las Vegas, Nevada (SMX Final)
Results 450SMX Class – SMX Playoff 2
1. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Chase Sexton (USA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
3. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
7. Aaron Plessinger (USA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
12. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
13. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Husqvarna
14. Christian Craig (USA), Husqvarna
Standings 450SMX Class 2024 after 2 of 3 rounds
1. Hunter Lawrence, 90 points
2. Chase Sexton, 89
3. Jett Lawrence, 81
5. Aaron Plessinger, 62
9. Malcolm Stewart, 48
12. Christian Craig, 34
14. Justin Barcia, 33
Results 250SMX Class – SMX Playoff 2
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
2. Tom Vialle (FRA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
3. Jo Shimoda (JPN), Honda
5. Julien Beaumer (USA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
7. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS
13. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), GASGAS
15. RJ Hampshire (USA), Husqvarna
Standings 250SMX Class 2024 after 2 of 3 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 100 points
2. Tom Vialle, 81
3. Levi Kitchen, 78
5. Julien Beaumer, 69
7. Pierce Brown, 56
12. Ryder DiFrancesco, 39
13. RJ Hampshire, 36
26. Casey Cochran, 4
Unprecedented: Mees, Kopp Complete Bids for History at 2024 Progressive AFT Finale
Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) put the finishing touches on what may prove the final and most convincing argument in support of his claim as the greatest rider in the history of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing: an unprecedented tenth Grand National Championship.
Mees did exactly what he needed to – and then some – at Lake Ozark Speedway to secure this crowning achievement as the 2024 season came to its conclusion with the inaugural running of the Parts Plus Lake Ozark Short Track presented by Arrowhead Brass & Arby’s in Eldon, Missouri.
Racing before a packed house with some 125,000 motorcycle enthusiasts flooding the area for the 18th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest, the Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Event was loaded with talented riders motivated to end their respective ‘24 campaigns on a high note.
And yet still no one could compare to Mees on this night, just like so many other nights before it. Despite requiring just three points to clinch his record tenth title, the Indian Motorcycle hero grabbed the holeshot and battled it out over the race’s opening stages with second-ranked Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), the only rider retaining even the slimmest mathematical chance of stealing away the #1 plate.
But by the contest’s halfway point, Mees had shook free at the front, shifting the race’s epicenter of drama back to Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), whose season-long podium streak was in serious threat after the Estenson Racing ace found himself mired down in ninth.
However, Daniels systematically worked his way forward while Robinson duked it out with Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) for second. Daniels eventually made his way up to their scrap, displacing Robinson and then Vanderkooi, all the while drawing shockingly near to Mees as the contest reached its final circulation.
But that’s as far as Daniels’ charge would carry him. Mees held on to finish the season – and potentially his career – on top in practically every sense, winning the season finale by 0.423 seconds over his young rival.
Vanderkooi earned the final spot on the podium, with Robinson and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) rounding out the top five. Rookie Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) finished sixth, followed by Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Sammy Halbert (No. 69 OnlyFans/Castrol/Kings Kustoms/LZ Racing Harley-Davidson XR750), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750), and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing Mission Foods KTM 790 Duke) to complete the top ten.
Mees’ résumé is far too extensive to list here in full, but in brief, tonight’s championship triumph updates his Grand National Championship victory tally to now include 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. He also ranks first or second in the career wins rankings for Half-Miles, Short Tracks, Miles, and total GNC Main Event victories.
Mees, who elevated an already Hall-of-Fame-worthy career to stratospheric heights once he joined forces with Indian Motorcycle in 2017, sent the marque’s remarkable FTR750 out in appropriate fashion this season. Tonight’s championship secures the bike a perfect eight-for-eight record in Grand National Championship battles in what will go down as one of the most dominant eras the sport has ever witnessed from both man and machine.
In the end, Mees earned the 2024 Mission AFT SuperTwins title with 311 points, followed by Robinson at 280 and Daniels at 276.
After claiming an unprecedented tenth Grand National Championship, Mees said, “It was a goal. Everybody would say it was a dream, but it was a goal. I made my dream my goal and worked hard at it. It hasn’t even sunk in yet. I had a big points lead coming in here, but there was only one way to go out the way I want to go out, and that was by winning this damn race.
“I can’t say enough for my entire team. Kenny (Tolbert), Bubba (Bently), Jimmy (Wood), you guys have won me a lot of races and a lot of championships. I definitely wouldn’t be as successful without you three and all my sponsors. Indian Motorcycle – I took their very first win in 2017, I opened that book for them, and tonight I got to close it for them. I can’t say enough for that company…
“So many people contributed to my program over these years. I feel like I could have this microphone until tomorrow morning and talk about my career and all the people who were in it to make me successful. I just want to say thank you.”
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
As if Mees’ record-breaking achievement wasn’t enough to secure the ‘24 finale’s place in the sport’s annals, Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) closed out the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER season by securing the 450cc equivalent.
Needing to merely avoid catastrophe, Kopp actually jumped out into the lead to open the decisive final contest. However, once Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) and then Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) drove underneath him, Kopp seemed to reevaluate his strategy, dropping down to fifth before settling back in.
With Saathoff powering away out front, Kopp wicked his pace back up, pouncing on Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) in rapid succession to slot back into a podium position.
He then carried that momentum past Lowe and began the difficult task of closing the gap to Saathoff when a red flag flew as a result of a Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F) fall with less than a minute remaining on the clock.
That development changed the complexion of the race completely, transforming it into a wild bar-to-bar affair to the flag. Lowe led initially before Saathoff and Drane took their season-long rivalry to the front of the pack. Kopp was again shuffled back to fifth where he could have easily stayed to collect his third #1 plate, but instead he made a final push to claim third ahead of Renshaw and Lowe.
Meanwhile, the season’s final victory went to Drane over Saathoff by 0.061 seconds, handing the Australian bragging rights for most wins on the season at seven in the process.
Drane said, “I was able to bounce back (after a bad start). That restart really helped me there at the end. I was able to fight back and had a good battle with Chase. It was good to finally get something back on him after all the stuff he’s done to me this year. I can’t thank my team enough for all their effort all year.”
Kopp ultimately took the crown with a grand total of 339 points to Drane’s 324 and Saathoff’s 318. And like Mees in the premier class, he now stands alone in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles record books. Following the completion of his third successive title run, the Rick Ware Racing star now owns more championships (three) and more race victories (22) than anyone in the category’s history, while also holding either sole possession or a share of first place all-time in terms of Short Track, Half-Mile, and single-season victories.
The conquering Kopp said, “I couldn’t be more proud of my Rick Ware Racing team. It’s been a dream season. I would have loved to get a win there, but those guys at the front were riding a little over the top, and I wasn’t going to play that game. We had a championship to win, and that was way more important… It’s a dream come true. Who knows what will be after three?”
Finally, Shasta L’Heureux (No. 67 Royal Enfield) completed the 2024 season for Royal Enfield’s successful and popular Build. Train. Race. (BTR) program by claiming her first-career victory in the class with perpetual frontrunners Kenzie Luker (No. 17 Royal Enfield) and Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield) rounding out the podium.
Trevor Bollinger and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing return to GNCC podium
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Trevor Bollinger charged to his first Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series podium of the 2024 season at The Mountaineer this weekend, while over in the Caliente round of the National Hare and Hound Championship, Dalton Shirey and Austin Walton both scored top-five results.
Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 11
Round 11 of the GNCC Series saw Trevor Bollinger race to his first podium of the year onboard the Husqvarna FX 350, quickly adapting to the rocky, dusty environment and delivering a third-place result in the West Virginia mountains.
While defending champion teammate Craig DeLong was an unfortunate non-finisher on Sunday, Bollinger made it a race to remember and used consistency to his advantage in the challenging conditions. He now sits ninth in the standings with two rounds remaining.
“The dust and the rocks made it easier for me this weekend, like riding in South Carolina, and I felt really comfortable from the first lap,” Bollinger reflected. “After that, I knew we could do something today. I tried to keep as consistent as possible and put my head down all day, so a huge thanks to the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team.”
A fourth-place finish was another convincing effort from Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing WXC entry Korie Steede, working hard to find comfort throughout the race this weekend. She is currently third in the championship as the series enters its closing stages.
“I was in a decent position on the start, but the rocks were tough today,” Steede said. “I’ve still been nursing my shoulder injury, and we made some changes to the bike in the pit to soften it up for the conditions, which helped, but by then it was super-dusty and we brought it home fourth.”
XC1 Open Pro Class Results
1. Jordan Ashburn, GASGAS
2. Liam Draper, Yamaha
3. Trevor Bollinger, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
8. Johnny Girroir, KTM
9. Ben Kelley, KTM
DNF. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
WXC Class Results
1. Brandy Richards, KTM
2. Rachael Archer, Kawasaki
3. Prestin Raines, Sherco
4. Korie Steede, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
National Hare and Hound Championship – Round 5
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing welcomed Pro Class number one plate-holder Dalton Shirey back to the National Hare and Hound Championship this weekend in Caliente, Nevada, where he rode to a well-earned fourth-place result following an extended stint on the sidelines through injury.
“It was good to be back and I felt okay off the start,” Shirey commented. “I was there behind the lead group, but by the second loop my back was starting to tighten up on me, so I had to back off and regroup. I started charging again and am still rebuilding my fitness. Overall, I’m pretty satisfied with how things went on my return. I’ll keep doing my homework and keep training to hopefully finish the season strongly.”
Teammate Austin Walton finished directly behind Shirey on the results sheet in fifth position. He led the opening loop until an error saw him drop out of race contention, managing to salvage a top-five result on his Husqvarna FX 450, and will enter the final round 16 points outside of the series lead.
“To lead the opening lap was a good advantage in the dust,” Walton commented. “We led through the first pit, but had a mishap with the course marking, and that set the tone for the race. It was tough to make passes in the dust, but we were grinding and a top-five was okay on an unfortunate day. We’ll be there for the last race and see what we can do!”
Pro Class Results
1. Zane Roberts, Beta
2. Preston Campbell, Honda
3. Giacomo Redondi, GASGAS
4. Dalton Shirey, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
5. Austin Walton, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
Upcoming Offroad Races – September 2024
9/22: National Enduro Series – Round 9
9/29: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 12
9/29: National Grand Prix Championship – Round 7
FMF KTM FACTORY RACING’S JOHNNY GIRROIR CROWNED 2024 GNCC CHAMPION
FMF KTM Factory Racing and Johnny Girroir are celebrating the 2024 Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series victory after clinching the overall championship with two rounds to spare at The Mountaineer round in West Virginia.
Girroir rode his KTM 350 XC-F to a calculated 12th-place finish – eighth position in the XC1 Open Pro Class – at Round 11 to seal the most important title of his professional career in U.S. offroad competition.
This season has been a remarkable one for Girroir, consistently finishing on the podium through the opening 10 rounds, including four victories along the way. That control of the championship saw him manage the race today and do what was required to claim the GNCC crown, adding it to his XC2 250 Pro Class title from 2021.
Johnny Girroir: “This is my childhood dream and I took every path on the way to being here, took the hardest roads, and none of this has come easy. Anyone out there chasing their dreams, you can do it, keep on pushing and put your head down – keep fighting! Thank you to FMF KTM Factory Racing, the entire crew, my family, and everybody behind us for being part of this championship.”
In what was his second race back from injury, FMF KTM Factory Racing teammate Ben Kelley – the 2021 GNCC Champion – navigated the dusty conditions to ninth position in the XC1 Open Pro Class, continuing to build race fitness through these closing stages of the season.
Ben Kelley: “It was a tough day for me with the dust. I had a bad start and couldn’t work my way up through the field with the blinding dust… just didn’t have the comfort to be aggressive and make passes. We gained more seat time being back at the races though and we will keep pushing through the final rounds. Congratulations to Johnny and the team on bringing home the title this weekend.”
FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers took home a pair of round victories at The Mountaineer GNCC, with KTM 250 XC-F equipped Grant Davis making it five-straight XC2 250 Pro Class wins to extend his points lead to 54 ahead of teammate Gus Riordan, who was fourth today. Brandy Richards earned back-to-back WXC race victories and sits second in the standings.
Grant Davis: “I got the holeshot and was pumped going into the woods, because I knew that would be key today. We were rolling pretty fast today, aside from a pretty hard crash there in the late stages, but other than that it was a good day!”
Brandy Richards: “It was a great race today. I was second off the start, made a few mistakes, but I was able to sprint to the end and brought it home on the last lap.”
XC1 Open Pro Class Results
1. Jordan Ashburn, GASGAS
2. Liam Draper, Yamaha
3. Trevor Bollinger, Husqvarna
8. Johnny Girroir, FMF KTM Factory Racing
9. Ben Kelley, FMF KTM Factory Racing
DNF. Craig DeLong, Husqvarna
XC2 250 Pro Class Results
1. Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
2. Cody Barnes, Honda
3. Jonathan Johnson, Beta
4. Angus Riordan, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
WXC Class Results
1. Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
2. Rachael Archer, Kawasaki
3. Prestin Raines, Sherco
4. Korie Steede, Husqvarna
UPCOMING OFFROAD RACES – SEPTEMBER 2024
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
Johnny Walker Signs for Triumph Racing Enduro Team
The Triumph Racing Enduro Team has announced the signing of elite enduro racer Jonny Walker. The Red Bull athlete is set to take on the full upcoming 2025 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, as well as select hard enduro and EnduroGP events, and a wildcard ride in this year’s AMA EnduroCross series. After three consecutive runner-up finishes in SuperEnduro, the Brit is targeting the top step of the podium in 2025 under the guidance of newly appointed Team Manager, motorsport legend Paul Edmondson.
With a background in trials and over 15 years of enduro racing under his belt, Jonny brings a wealth of experience to Triumph Racing. As a three-time Red Bull Erzbergrodeo winner and multiple SuperEnduro race victor, he has proven his ability to win at the highest level. Under the leadership of former world champion Paul Edmondson, Jonny is focused on capturing his first world championship title with Triumph Racing.
![Johnny Walker Signs for Triumph Racing Enduro Team [2]](https://motorsportsnewswire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Johnny-Walker-Signs-for-Triumph-Racing-Enduro-Team-2.jpg)
Jonny is set to make his competitive debut on his TF 250 at the Indoor Enduro of Champions at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on 5 October, before getting stuck into the 2025 SuperEnduro season.
Jonny Walker: “I’m really excited to join Triumph! To be the first rider to represent Triumph Racing in enduro is special. It’s amazing to be part of the team, and I’m looking forward to working with Triumph going forward. My bike feels great already, which makes my job a lot easier! It’s great to have Paul Edmondson on board too, he has so much experience, not only in running successful teams in the past, but in racing himself, which will be invaluable. Having a British manager running a British team, with a British rider, is really exciting and something you don’t get very often. Hopefully we can make a strong start, put the bike on the top step, and claim some championships!”
Ian Kimber – Head of Global Racing Programmes, Triumph Motorcycles: “Signing Jonny is a massive step for us in building our enduro programme. As one of the top riders in the sport, we know that he will demonstrate the capability of our enduro bikes in the best possible way. Changing to a four-stroke will obviously require some adjustment for Jonny, but initial testing has been incredibly positive, and he is confident that the bike is already prepared for competition at the highest level. Giving Jonny the backing of our Triumph Racing Factory Team, and the help and guidance of Paul, will ensure that he has the best possibility of winning and challenging for titles.”
Paul Edmondson – Triumph Racing Enduro Team Manager: “The signing of Jonny is the icing on the cake! The fact we can offer a great bike with full factory support means, to me, that there’s only one way for him to go – fighting for race wins and championships. It is a great signing in many ways, and we as a team are very excited to work with such a great rider and person with so much potential!’
Jared Mees Rides Off into Sunset, Announces Retirement After Setting New Career Championship Record & Completing FTR750’s Perfect Championship Run
The 2024 American Flat Track season began with Jared Mees seeking an unprecedented 10th-career Grand National Championship. In a triumphant and emotional conclusion to an unparalleled career, Mees stood on top of the box one final time – closing out the most successful career in the sport of professional flat track racing. Mees’ final win not only secured his record-setting 10th-career championship but closed the book on the sport’s most dominant race bike, the Indian FTR750.
“This victory is more than just another championship—it’s the perfect way to honor everything we’ve achieved with the Indian FTR750,” said Mees, “We’ve had an incredible journey with this bike, and to go out on top, knowing it’s the last time, makes this win even more special.”
Racing for the final time aboard the FTR750, Mees showcased his relentless determination and elite skill, outpacing a field of talented riders, including fierce competitors Dallas Daniels and Brandon Robinson. Only needing three points to secure the historic title, Mees grabbed the holeshot and battled until the end – beating Robinson by a mere 0.423 seconds. The win is a testament to the historic partnership between Mees and Indian Motorcycle, who have dominated the American Flat Track series since 2017.
“In 2017, at the Daytona TT, Jared secured the FTR750’s first win, as he and Bryan Smith went 1-2 in our first race as a factory team,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “Back then, none of us knew it was the start of a historic run of eight consecutive championships. We’re extremely proud of our accomplishments and want to thank all our factory riders and privateers that contributed to the FTR750’s success.”
The 2024 AFT SuperTwins championship marks an end of an era for Indian Motorcycle, as new 2025 rules will render the flat track race bike ineligible. Since its debut, the FTR750 has not only revived the storied tradition of the original Indian Wrecking Crew, but it revolutionized the landscape of flat track racing – quickly earning a reputation as the most dominant machine in the AFT paddock. The FTR750 retires with 75%-win ratio, winning 104 of the 138 races it competed in. The FTR750 has a perfect championship record, winning all premier class titles since 2017.
For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
KEN ROCZEN AND COLT NICHOLS CHARGE TO TOP-TEN RESULTS AT
SUPERMOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF 2
Texas Motor Speedway hosted Round 30 of the SuperMotocross World Championship on a hybrid Supercross-motocross track inside the speedway’s tri-oval. The Texas heat and a dry, slick track challenged the riders at the second of two playoff rounds that use a two-moto format to determine the event’s final results. When the dust settled, all three Suzuki riders had moved up in the championship standings and now look ahead to the SuperMotocross World Championship, which takes place on Saturday and determines the riders’ final standings for 2024.
Race Highlights:
- Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
- Ken Roczen used another top-ten overall result to advance two positions in the SMX World Championship points standings.
- 450 Class
- Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
- Colt Nichols jumped up five spots in the points standings after earning another top-ten overall result.
- Kyle Chisholm put in a strong charge in moto 2 to move his RM-Z450 up two spots in the championship standings.
- 450 Class
Ken Roczen (94) grabbed a top-five start in the opening moto and used his excellent throttle control to battle up front as track conditions deteriorated. In the second moto, the shortest start straight of the year bit Roczen and he tipped over in the first corner. Roczen then set a blistering pace and charged through the 22-rider field. Roczen was passing riders right up until the end; he reached one spot shy of a top-five moto result. Roczen’s strong performance earned him points to move up two more positions in the championship standings with one round remaining.
“Today in Texas it was a funky one, honestly,” said Roczen. “I never really gelled with the track. We also tried some things on the bike. We’re on a different fork set-up and shock set-up, so it took us a little bit to figure out what works the best on the track. I think for the motos we had [the settings] the best. As the track got drier it became hard to ride, but I think it got better in the second moto, so I definitely felt more in tune with the bike. I unfortunately went down in the first turn [of moto 2] and had to come from last up to sixth. We definitely had a strong ride all the way to the end… We had a really good effort here, maybe not the results that we were hoping for, but it’s all about effort and good riding. I think if we put ourselves in good position on the start, we have a chance to get on the podium and fight with the front guys. I’m looking forward to Vegas.”
Colt Nichols (45) enters each Playoff round as an unseeded rider due to missing most of the motocross season. Nichols was the fastest rider in both of his timed qualify sessions, and he was inside the top-ten fastest in overall qualifying times. The structure of SMX World Championship events requires unseeded riders to transfer through the LCQ, and Nichols used his speed to win that race. Nichols was also fast in the motos and earned enough points to move up an impressive five positions in the championship standings.
“Texas Motor Speedway, Playoff 2, was pretty solid for me,” said Nichols. “I had to go through the LCQ again, which isn’t ideal, but I was able to win that. Then in the first moto [I had the] far outside gate and tried to just work my way through the pack slowly but steadily and not do anything crazy. I ended up 13th. Then in moto 2 I came back to a P-10, for P-10 overall, so it was a good weekend. The track was really, really hectic and I’m just glad I kept it on two wheels, and [now] on to next weekend.”
Kyle Chisholm (11) improved throughout the day, bettering his results in both qualifying and the motos. When the dust settled in Texas, Chisholm stood two positions higher in the points, tied with the rider one position above him.
“I struggled a little bit at the beginning of the day just getting comfortable on the track,” admitted Chisholm. “It was really hardpack and slippery, but [we] made some good bike changes. In the second moto I didn’t have a good start, but I rode much better. We made a couple little changes on the bike, kind of back to what I ran last week, and it was really good. I felt comfortable, made some good passes, and am really happy with my riding. We’ll take the momentum into next weekend in Vegas for that last round and triple points; we’ll try to just replicate what we did in that second moto there… These tracks are tricky with the Supercross portion and the motocross portion. It’s tough. The team did a really good job.”
“It was a good weekend for Suzuki,” said Larry Brooks, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager. “Ken Roczen finished sixth overall, Colt Nichols finished 10th overall, another top ten finish for Colt Nichols the newcomer to the team, and Kyle Chisholm finished 16th. So, all three riders were in the top sixteen overall for the day. The track was really tough; the dirt was clay and it real greasy and slippery in practice, and then as it dried out it just clumped up and broke up; it was probably one of the toughest tracks I’ve seen in a long time. But by the end of the day, it was blue grooved and pretty hard-packed so it honestly was a little bit better in the final moto. But it was a good weekend for us and now we go to Las Vegas for the final round next weekend.”
The racers line up again on Saturday night at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the SuperMotocross World Championship. The final standings in the 31-round series will be determined and the $5.5 million total purse paid out. With one final US race on the calendar, the Suzuki riders and teams are looking forward to more great performances and more strong results to cap off an excellent year of racing.
For team news, please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing and HEPMotorsports.com.
Petersen Concludes MotoAmerica Superbike Tripleheader at Texas with Pair of Top-10 Finishes
Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Cameron Petersen scored a pair of top-10 finishes, crossing the line seventh and 10th, respectively, in Sunday’s MotoAmerica Superbike Race 2 and Race 3 at the Circuit of The Americas. Fill-in rider Xavi Forés battled in the tricky conditions and finished eighth in the first race of the day, but unfortunately had to withdraw from the final race of the weekend.
It was another hot day making for challenging conditions on the newly resurfaced track in Austin, Texas. After a tough start to the tripleheader weekend, Petersen had a much better start from the fourth row of the grid in Race 2 and was ninth on the opening lap. He then passed his teammate on the following lap to move to eighth and gained another position when a rider ahead crashed. From there it was a four-rider battle for sixth, with riders jockeying for position. On the final lap, Petersen made the move to seventh, where he would finish.
In Race 3, Petersen got a great start in fifth, but unfortunately the race was redflagged after the opening lap with oil on track leading into the first turn. After the complete restart of the shortened 10-lap race, the South African was eighth and advanced to seventh, but was struggling with grip and shuffled to 13th on the following lap. Petersen continued to fight despite the challenges and made his way back to 10th, salvaging points on a tough weekend.
Forés had another good start in Race 2, slotting into the top five, but found himself eighth on that opening lap after running wide in the greasy track conditions. He then found himself further back in ninth, but the Spaniard regrouped and made his way to eighth before the halfway mark. In that four-rider battle for sixth, Forés exchanged positions and moved to sixth with two laps to go, but would ultimately cross the line eighth. After the complete restart of the final race of the weekend, Forés was ninth. He did what he could to maintain the position despite dealing with a technical issue but had to withdraw from the race with four laps remaining.
The Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing team heads to Millville, New Jersey, in two weeks’ time for the MotoAmerica season finale at the New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 27-29.
Richard Stanboli – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“It was an unfortunate situation at COTA. We did the best we could with the cards that we were dealt. We’re moving on to New Jersey and look to finish the season strong.”
Cameron Petersen – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #45
“It was a challenging weekend for the team. We did everything we could to make the most out of what we had, but just couldn’t make it work. We will bounce back for Jersey.”
Xavi Forés – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #34
“It was a pretty tough weekend for all the Yamahas out there. The maximum we could do is fight for a top six. We struggled a lot with grip, especially in Race 3 where we had an issue and had to retire. It wasn’t what we were expecting before the weekend, but it is what it is. I want to say thanks to the team because they worked so hard to give me the best bike possible today. I’m looking forward to New Jersey, which I think is a track that will suit our bike better, and I will try to make some improvements on myself now that I am more familiar with the bike.”
Deegan Remains Undefeated in 2024 250SMX Title Campaign
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan put on a masterclass performance at Playoff 2 of the SuperMotocross World Championship at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. The reigning 250SMX Champion won his fourth consecutive moto and secured a commanding overall victory for the second weekend in a row, strengthening his lead in the championship. Jordon Smith finished fourth in Moto 1 and charged back to ninth in Moto 2 to finish sixth overall. Nick Romano had a strong second outing in the SuperMotocross World Championship post-season, finishing ninth overall with his 13-8 result. Max Anstie rounded out the top 10 with an 11-10 score. Unfortunately, Nate Thrasher’s day ended early with a crash on the second lap of the first moto.
From the first session, Deegan led the way, topping both qualifying sessions to earn fastest qualifier honors in the 250 class. In the first moto, he grabbed the holeshot and built a comfortable lead en route to his third consecutive moto victory in the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals. The Californian’s top form continued in the second moto as he grabbed his second holeshot of the day and rode away from the competition despite the punishing heat and slick track conditions. Deegan’s perfect score in the postseason has him heading to the final round with a 19-point lead.
Smith qualified fourth and then had a solid start to Moto 1 inside the top 10. The North Carolina rider was seventh after the opening lap and made his way to fourth six laps in, maintaining the position to the checkered flag. In the second moto, he got caught up in the first turn chaos at the start and went down. Smith rejoined at the back, charged his way through to 12th, and made a final push with five laps remaining to cross the line ninth, securing sixth overall.
Romano continued to make forward progress in his second round of the SMX postseason. The rookie qualified 11th, and although he went down in the first turn after the gate drop, he fought his way back to 13th in the punishing conditions. In the second moto, he was 13th after the first lap but once again went to work and made his way through to eighth and ended the day ninth overall.
It was a tough start to the weekend for Anstie, who crashed on Friday during practice. The British rider qualified 12th and found himself in the same position after the opening lap of Moto 1. He continued to push, breaking the top 10 on the third lap, and ultimately crossed the line 11th. In the second moto, Anstie was 19th after the first lap but continued to fight his way forward to a top-10 finish, ending the day 10th overall.
Thrasher had a strong qualifying effort in eighth and a solid start in the first moto in the top 10. Unfortunately, on the second lap, the Tennessee rider crashed hard on the landing of the tabletop jump. Feeling beat up and sore, he withdrew from the event but aims to line up for the final round.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the SuperMotocross World Championship Final at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 21.
Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“The day went really well. Haiden was fastest in both sessions and qualified first, got both holeshots, and won both motos. So we’re super happy. We’ve got a great points lead going into Vegas, which is fantastic. It was pretty gnarly out there today. Our guys kept fighting, and we made some good steps in the right direction to finish the year strong. We’ll keep working this week and look to take home the number one plate.”
Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38
“It was a good day. We went 1-1 in qualifying, which was awesome. The goal coming in here was to pull the holeshot, and we pulled two of them. We made it a lot easier on ourselves today. Two holeshots and two wins, that was perfect. It was hot today. This one was pretty brutal, but we fought through and had some fun and got the ‘W.’”
Jordon Smith – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #31
“It was a pretty good day. I got a decent start in the first moto and made my way to fourth and had a good finish. In the second moto, I went down in the first turn and just fought my way back to ninth place. It was a tough track, so I’m glad to get out of here healthy and with a decent finish.”
Nick Romano – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #511
“It was quite a day, 13-8 for ninth overall. The track conditions were tough, and the insane heat made it an ongoing struggle. I was really happy with how I rode. In Moto 1, I had a good jump out of the gate but got caught up with a few riders. I ended up doing a 360 in the first turn and was dead last, but I charged hard and finished 13th. In the second moto, I was 13th but rode hard and finished eighth. After all that I’ve been through the last two years and the ups and downs that my first full pro year has been, it’d be easy to quit, but I’ve been making small gains week in and week out. I’m stoked to head into the season finale in Vegas and look to build on that.”
Max Anstie – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #37
“I got my laps in and got out of Texas in one piece. A crash on Friday took the wind out of my sails a little on race day. Our full focus is on to next weekend in Vegas.”
Tomac and Webb Score Top-Five Finishes at SMX Playoff 2
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac notched a 2-5 moto score at the Texas Motor Speedway, finishing fourth overall at Playoff 2 of the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals in Fort Worth, Texas. In his second race back from injury, Cooper Webb earned a 5-4 moto score, securing a top-five overall finish. Unfortunately, Justin Cooper’s day ended early with a crash in Moto 1.
Temperatures were high and the track conditions were tricky for the second round of the postseason. Tomac qualified third and had a good start to the first moto in fifth, then threw down the fastest lap of the moto on Lap 5 and made the pass for fourth. He continued to put in some fast laps, passing his teammate Webb a couple of laps later, and ultimately closed the gap to the leaders. It was a thrilling three-rider fight to the finish, with Tomac advancing to the runner-up spot with five laps remaining. He stayed on the heels of the leader all the way to the checkered flag, crossing the line second. In Moto 2, the Colorado rider did not get off the gate as he had hoped and found himself eighth. He steadily made his way forward to fifth by Lap 11, where he would finish to secure fourth overall. With triple the points on the line at the series finale, Tomac sits fourth in the championship and 21 points from the leader.
After a tough opening round last weekend, Webb bounced back in Texas. The North Carolina rider had a strong qualifying in sixth and got a great start to Moto 1 in third. He maintained the position for the first six laps but ultimately crossed the line fifth. In the second moto, Webb got another great start in fourth and quickly went to work, making his way to second by Lap 3. Although he was shuffled to fourth around the halfway point, he continued to ride a strong pace to finish shy of the podium, ending the day fifth overall and advancing to seventh in the points standings.
Their rookie teammate Cooper had a good start to the day, qualifying fifth. In the first moto, he got a good start in sixth and then was passed on Lap 6. Unfortunately, with seven laps remaining, the New Yorker crashed and withdrew from the race with a collarbone injury. Cooper looks to heal up during the week and aims to line up for the season finale.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to Las Vegas, Nevada, next weekend for the SuperMotocross World Championship Final at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 21.
Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“Eli had an amazing first moto and rode well. Cooper had a big improvement in the first moto and made another big improvement in Moto 2, so he’s turning in the right direction. We were a little bit off in the bike setup for Eli in the second moto, but we’ll be better next week and try to have two good motos for him. It was an unfortunate event for Justin Cooper in the first moto. He had a get-off and has a tiny fracture in his collarbone. We’ll get it healed up as good as we can this week and be ready for Vegas.”
Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“It was a roller coaster weekend. Our first moto was great. I made some great passes and was in the battle for the lead. Moto 2 was a bit of a struggle to move forward, and I didn’t have the same pace as the first one. Overall, the SMX racing has been pretty good for us, and I’m looking forward to the finals in Las Vegas.”
Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“Today was a step in the right direction. We were a lot better. I qualified sixth, which was great. In the first moto, I got an awesome start, ran up front, and ended up fifth. Then in that last moto, I got a great start again and made some early passes to second. I ended up fourth and was solid, right behind Hunter. I felt a lot better today and gained a little bit of confidence. I’m getting healthier each day I ride, so I’m excited for this last round in Vegas.”
Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“It was not how we wanted to end the weekend. The track was really slick and could definitely catch you out. Unfortunately, it did. We’re down but not out. We’ll see how this week goes, but will do everything we can to line up next weekend.”
Debut 450 Win for Hunter Lawrence at Fort Worth SMX
Team Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence cleared an important milestone this weekend at Fort Worth’s Texas Motor Speedway, taking the first victory of his young premier-class career via 1-3 moto scores. The Australian’s timing was impeccable, as the win came at SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff 2, which paid double points, putting him in first place in the title chase, with only the Final remaining. Meanwhile, younger brother and defending champion Jett Lawrence ended the day third overall via a 3-2 moto tally. In the 250 division, Jo Shimoda was a solid third on the day after he posted 2-3 finishes in the motos.
Hunter Lawrence snared the 450 moto 1 holeshot aboard his CRF450RWE, with Jett four positions back. By the end of lap 1, Jett was up to second, close on the heels of his brother and teammate. A mistake by Hunter just before the 8-minute mark allowed Jett into the lead, but a mistake by Jett a couple of laps later let both Hunter and Eli Tomac by. That kicked off an exciting battle for second between Jett and Tomac around the slippery track, and the moto ended with Hunter, Tomac and Jett in close formation.
While moto 2 once again saw a CRF rider take the holeshot, it was Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis, while both Lawrence brothers were out of the top 10, setting up a race marked by hard work in the withering heat. Hunter and Jett were up to fourth and fifth at the 15-minute mark, and then Jett got by for fourth a couple of minutes later. Jett and Hunter soon advanced to second and third, respectively, and that’s where they would finish, with Hunter earning the overall win (despite a last-lap off-track excursion) and Jett taking third.
All within the scope of the first lap of 250 moto 1, Shimoda exited turn 1 in third place, immediately moved up one position, briefly took over the lead, and then slipped back to second just before the finish line. That’s the position he held for the remainder of the race, crossing the finish line four-and-a-half seconds behind Haiden Deegan.
Shimoda was pinched off in turn 1 of moto 2 and crossed the holeshot line in eighth place, then spent the rest of the race working his way forward on a track where passing was difficult. He eventually made it to third, good for the same position overall.
NOTES
- The Fort Worth SMX round saw Team Honda HRC Progressive organize a fun collaboration with the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF), the only organization dedicated to meeting families’ needs along every step of their cancer journey. Thursday was a happy hour at Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda, and the next morning, all four riders and Team Manager Lars Lindstrom paid a visit to the infusion center at Cook Children’s Medical Center. For the on-track action, the riders ran special gear and Throttle Jockey graphics featuring characters from the “Imaginary Friend Society,” cartoon creatures who explain a wide range of complicated cancer topics in a way that kids can understand. In addition, PBTF patients, families and donors were hosted by the team and given the opportunity to meet the riders and do a truck tour. Keep an eye out for information on an auction for the autographed bodywork from all four bikes.
- All four Team Honda HRC Progressive riders participated in the Friday press conference in Fort Worth, before they each took part in a pair of free-practice sessions.
- On Friday evening, Chance Hymas and his team made the difficult decision to have him sit out the remainder of the SMX series. Hymas has been riding with a torn ACL all season, but he has been able to compete at a high level. However, he suffered a bone bruise in the second moto at Charlotte and experienced discomfort during Friday’s free-practice sessions. Based on past experience, the team is confident Hymas will be ready to compete at a high level in a matter of weeks. The focus is for him to be totally prepared to race for Team USA at the Motocross of Nations on October 6 at Matterley Basin in England.
- Team Honda HRC Progressive had a solid showing in morning qualifying at Fort Worth, with Jett and Hunter Lawrence first and second on the 450 time sheets, respectively, while Jo Shimoda was second in the 250 division.
- Jett Lawrence turned the fastest lap time in the second 450 moto, and Jo Shimoda had the fastest lap time in the second 250 moto.
- Honda’s perfect overall-win streak in the SMX series’ premier class remained intact at Fort Worth. In the series’ young life, Honda CRF450RWE riders have been victorious at all five rounds, with three wins going to Jett Lawrence. Chase Sexton took one victory last year (when he was with Honda), and Hunter Lawrence now has one win.
- Including AMA Supercross and SuperMotocross, Honda has the most premier-class wins in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex area, with Hunter’s win pushing the tally to 12. Premier-class Red Riders to win include Johnny O’Mara, David Bailey, Rick Johnson (twice), Jean-Michel Bayle, Jeremy McGrath (twice), Doug Henry, Ezra Lusk, Kevin Windham (twice), Ricky Carmichael, Trey Canard and now Hunter Lawrence.
- Following the Fort Worth round (which paid double points), the 450 title chase is very close heading into the finals next weekend. Hunter holds the lead with 90 points and will run the red plate in Las Vegas, with Chase Sexton at 89 and defending champion Jett Lawrence at 81. With triple points being paid at the finale, Las Vegas is very likely to be a winner-take-all situation.
