This week in US Powersports racing.
SuperMotocross season wraps up for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna in Las Vegas
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing endured one of its toughest rounds of the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) at tonight’s final round in Las Vegas, where both Christian Craig and Malcolm Stewart were struck by misfortune in the 450SMX division.
Both qualified inside the top 10 with Stewart seventh and Craig 10th on combined times riding their Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition machinery, setting up what looked to be a promising night ahead on the hybrid race track located at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
A crash with another rider saw Stewart ease it home to 19th in Moto 1, but he wasn’t able to line up for the final race of the season, demoting him to 17th in the final 450SMX standings as a result of the triple points on offer in the Las Vegas SMX Final.
It was a similar story for Craig, finishing 17th in the first race, before having to pull out of Moto 2 and also spelling the end of his season early. That meant he had to settle for 20th in the post-season rankings, also impacted by the points structure at the finale.
“Tonight was a tough way end the season, but we have to focus on all the positives that we have achieved this year,” commented Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager, Nathan Ramsey. “It wasn’t our night in Las Vegas, so we will focus on regrouping during the off-season and come out swinging in 2025. I’m happy and honored to be a part of an amazing crew, we are all looking forward to next year, and will strive towards reaching greater heights as a team.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna also had Landon Gibson on track this weekend in the 250 World All-Stars category, qualifying a solid fifth position and then racing forward to P7 in the Main Event.
Download hi-res images from the 2024 SMX Final here
Results 450SMX Class – SMX Final
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
3. Eli Tomac (USA), Yamaha
4. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
8. Justin Barcia (USA), GASGAS
22. Christian Craig (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
23. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
24. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
Standings 450SMX Class 2024 after 3 of 3 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 156 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 156
3. Eli Tomac, 129
4. Aaron Plessinger, 116
7. Chase Sexton, 89
9. Justin Barcia, 75
17. Malcolm Stewart, 48
20. Christian Craig, 34
TROY LEE DESIGNS/RED BULL/GASGAS FACTORY RACING’S PIERCE BROWN WINS LAS VEGAS SMX FINAL
Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing and Pierce Brown saved their best for the last round at the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Final in Las Vegas, as PB delivered a breakout victory to earn third position in the 250SMX standings overall.
- PB breaks through for first-career 250SMX victory!
- Team livery inspired by Venom: The Last Dance film this weekend
- Justin Barcia completes 450SMX season ninth overall
After qualifying in seventh position this afternoon at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Brown was immediately in contention during the night show after convincingly charging to second place in 250SMX Moto 1 onboard his GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition.
Pierce fought his way through from P5 to the lead in the second moto of the evening and once he got there on Lap 7, took control of the race for a commanding 6.891s win. His combined 2-1 scorecard sealed him the overall, also elevating him to P3 in the 250SMX World Championship.
Pierce Brown: “Wow, what a night! All I can say is that I’m speechless. First career win is just surreal, I’m so stoked to do it for the team and here in Las Vegas this weekend to finish off the season together.”
250SMX teammate Ryder DiFrancesco impressed in qualifying third on combined times, before pushing forward to P7 in the first outing. Moto 2 saw him take the checkered flag in 16th, which placed him 11th overall for the SMX Final and he was also credited P11 in the series.
Ryder DiFrancesco: “This was a good weekend for me. Qualifying was good and so was the first moto, but it was just the last moto that wasn’t the way we wanted to end it. This year was a good building year, so I am looking forward to seeing what we can do next season!”
Las Vegas was another step in the right direction for Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing 450SMX entry Justin Barcia, equipped with the GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition and making his second SMX start of the post-season.
Bam Bam proved consistent on the high-speed, hybrid-type track, recording a ninth-place result in the first race and then going one better for P8 in Moto 2 to round out the year. Barcia’s results at the finale also saw him climb to ninth in the championship.
Justin Barcia: “Vegas, not where we wanted to be, but I’m glad we were better than the week before. It was a shame I had that crash in Charlotte, because it was a challenging season, and I appreciate my whole crew for putting in 100% behind me and am super-proud of this team. It was really cool to see Pierce get the win tonight also! I’m excited for a healthy off-season and will see everybody at Anaheim.”
Download hi-res images from the 2024 SMX Final here
Results 450SMX Class – SMX Final
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda
3. Eli Tomac (USA), Yamaha
4. Aaron Plessinger (USA), KTM
8. Justin Barcia (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
22. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Husqvarna
23. Christian Craig (USA), Husqvarna
24. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
Standings 450SMX Class 2024 after 3 of 3 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 156 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 156
3. Eli Tomac, 129
4. Aaron Plessinger, 116
7. Chase Sexton, 89
9. Justin Barcia, 75
17. Malcolm Stewart, 48
20. Christian Craig, 34
Results 250SMX Class – SMX Final
1. Pierce Brown (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
2. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
3. Jordon Smith (USA), Yamaha
5. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
9. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
11. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
Standings 250SMX Class 2024 after 3 of 3 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 166 points
2. Tom Vialle, 132
3. Pierce Brown, 131
7. Julien Beaumer, 108
11. Ryder DiFrancesco, 72
16. RJ Hampshire, 36
28. Casey Cochran, 4
KTM JR. SUPERCROSS TEAMS UP WITH FLY RACING AHEAD OF LAS VEGAS SMX FINAL
KTM Jr. Supercross, presented by Wells Fargo and Powered by Ford Lightning, and FLY Racing are proud to announce a new multi-year partnership that will commence at this weekend’s SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Final in Las Vegas.
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host the SMX title decider this Saturday, September 21st, where the KTM Jr. SMX Championship will also take centerstage with 15 emerging young racers on-track aboard KTM’s all-electric mini-supercrosser, the KTM SX E-5.
Las Vegas will feature the top-12 finishers from this year’s Micro-E (4-7) Limited class at Loretta Lynn’s AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, in addition to the top-three finishers from the Electric Open Class in Eastern Canadian National Amateur Championship at Deschambault.
Christy Hall – Vice President of Marketing, KTM North America: “For over 25 years KJSX has curated a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience for its participants and families with the support of our sponsors and partners. We are thrilled to have FLY Racing onboard for the upcoming years and to be part of the FLY family. FLY Racing’s commitment and focus on developing youth product and supporting youth racing further complements our mission to grow the sport of motorcycling.”
Anthony Armbsy – WPS Sr. Director of Marketing: “FLY Racing is proud to announce a new multi-year partnership with the historic KTM Junior Supercross program. Growing alongside the next generation of the sport is a privilege that FLY Racing couldn’t be more excited about. This weekend’s debut at the SMX World Championship Finals is a landmark moment in FLY Racing’s storied progression.”
American brand FLY Racing is regarded as a leader in the sport on a global scale, inspired by racing, driven by adventure, and crafted for performance. Committed to developing the highest quality apparel, FLY Racing has constantly been evolving since its introduction in 1998 – one year following the inaugural season of the KTM Jr. Supercross program.
Participants of the KTM Jr. Supercross program receive a once-in-a-lifetime experience filled with track viewing like the pros, participation in Opening Ceremonies and a three-lap race on the very same tracks as their Supercross heroes. That experience will feature on the biggest stage of all in Las Vegas for the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Final.
For more information on KTM Jr. Supercross, presented by Wells Fargo and Powered by Ford Lightning, please visit www.ktmjrsx.com.
TOM VIALLE AND RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING FINISH SECOND IN 250SMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle has finished runner-up in the 250SMX Class of the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) following the final round at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Vialle qualified fifth on the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION and put himself in good position during Moto 1, taking the checkered flag in third position. The two-time MX2 World Champion and this year’s AMA Supercross 250SX East Champion was challenging for the lead in the final encounter when he went down, managing to remount for a P8 result.
Those finishes positioned the Frenchman fifth overall for the round, which in turn saw him captured second in the 250SMX World Championship for season 2024.
Tom Vialle: “I’m pretty happy, the result was good this year, and we were strong across each series. I had a bad start in the first moto and then the second one was better, but I was really frustrated after the second moto because I was feeling really good before the crash. It was a little bit up and down this season, so now I look forward to the Nations and that will be a lot of fun next.”
Las Vegas started strongly for rookie teammate Julien Beaumer in qualifying second on the combined timesheets, but he was affected by poor track position across the two motos. After completing Lap 1 on 17th, he climbed to 11th in Moto 1, and then finished Moto 2 in ninth for P9 overall. He was seventh in the final 250SMX standings.
Julien Beaumer: “Tough night! My riding was really good, I just didn’t execute the starts, and on a track like this you need that track position early because it’s hard to pass. It’s been a good year, we made some big steps as a rookie, and the plan is to be up front next year.”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Aaron Plessinger was a picture of consistency tonight in the 450SMX class. After qualifying his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in P9, The Cowboy went 4-4 for fourth overall in Las Vegas, which also placed him P4 in the SuperMotocross World Championship for 2024.
Aaron Plessinger: “Vegas was a really good. I was comfortable on the bike from the start and I had a really good start in the first one, ended up getting fourth in that, so I was pumped. Second moto, I rode really good again, and went fourth again, so after the last two weeks I will take that, for sure. We also moved to fourth in the points, so it was a good way to end the season like that.”
After entering the SMX Final in contention for the 450SMX title, reigning AMA Pro Motocross 450MX Champion Chase Sexton’s chances unfortunately ended prematurely on the opening lap of Moto 1 tonight. The Red Bull KTM rider came together with another rider and injured his right hand, which ruled him out for the remainder of the evening.
After finishing third in the AMA Supercross 450SX Championship and dominating the outdoors, Chase was placed seventh in the final SMX standings. An update on the extent of his injury will be made available after he undergoes further medical evaluations.
Lawrence Brothers Battle for $1,000,000 SuperMotocross World Championship: Jett Takes Title
Haiden Deegan Repeats as Champ in 250 SMX World Championship in Las Vegas
| Las Vegas, Nev., (September 22, 2024) The 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship came down to one final moto where two brothers, also teammates, battled for the sport’s premier championship and the one million dollar payday that comes with it. Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence emerged with the championship crown for the second year after winning the inaugural title last year; the new series encapsulates the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross indoor season, the 11-round AMA Pro Motocross outdoor season, as well as the two postseason Playoffs and World Championship with escalating points payouts. |
 |
| The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway delivered a thrilling night of racing to cap off the 31-round premier off-road motorcycle racing series, the SuperMotocross World Championship. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence challenged his younger brother right to the final checkered flag of 2024. Hunter earned the runner-up position in the championship and a $500,000 check via (3-2) moto finishes; the race format determines the event’s overall results with Olympic-scoring of two 20-minute plus one lap motos. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac earned third place at the Las Vegas event, as well as the cool $250,000 championship payout that comes with it. Tomac put together strong (2-3) rides on the hybrid Supercross-motocross track at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton, along with the Lawrence brothers, entered the Las Vegas World Championship with enough points that a win would earn him the title. Unfortunately, Sexton’s night ended on the first lap of the first moto when he tangled with another athlete and pulled out of the racing. In the 250SMX Class, Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Pierce Brown grabbed his first professional win with (2-1) moto scores, but the title went to Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan. Haiden is also repeating his crown as a SuperMotocross World Champion and will take home his second $500,000 prize for the feat. |
 |
| First place 450SMX Class (1-1) – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “I want to start off by saying it’s sucked that we didn’t have Chase out there. I don’t know what happened, but I hope you have a speedy recovery. I’ve seen the video [and it] looked like it was just a bummer of a racing incident, so I want to send my prayers to him and hope he has a speedy recovery, or nothing too bad. And, I mean, it feels good [to win]. I sat out the Outdoors with injury, and it sucked, so it’s… good to come back and start where I left off. [I’m] super pumped. I’m happy but also it still sucks again because it’s against Hunter, so it’s a little harder to swallow but I’m just super happy with the team. This new bike is unreal, as you can see… Thanks everyone. I had to show up because the Australians came out, so I had to make sure I put Australia on top, either it was me or Hunter, so thanks to them.” – Jett Lawrence |
 |
| Second place 450SMX Class (3-2)- Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “Hopefully we gave the fans what they wanted to come and see, in a good battle all the way down to the wire. So, it was a fun race, regardless of the outcome I still had fun. That was a really good moto, and a huge thank you to the team. You know, they’ve been working their butts off all year, so thanks so much to everyone that makes it possible.” – Hunter Lawrence |
 |
| Third place 450SMX Class (2-3) – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “I gave it my best. I just started behind them there, and did what I could, but we were all really fast tonight. They maybe had a couple little sections at the beginning [where] they were kind of sneaking away from me. So overall, [it was a] pretty good SMX series here [for me], and glad I was fighting towards the front of the races for this comeback. And just thank you to the team, all the fans, everyone… it’s good to be back.” – Eli Tomac In the 250SMX class, surprise winner Pierce Brown jumped quickly into second place in the opening moto, then followed that up with a strong moto 2 ride that saw him take the lead just before the midpoint. Brown’s overall event win catapulted him from seventh into third in the final championship standings. Haiden Deegan entered the event with a 19-point lead, but with a triple point payout he still needed to earn at least third overall to guarantee the title. Deegan won the first moto and charged up to second in the final moto to grab the championship with a total of five post-season moto wins. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith earned third place on the night with (5-3) moto scores. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle started the night’s racing in second place in points, but a disappointing final moto ended his title hopes. His (3-8) moto finishes were enough to land him second in the championship. |
 |
| First place 250SMX Class (2-1) – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “I’m speechless right now. I mean, I feel like this win has been long overdue. We’ve been working really hard the last couple of years, and I’m just so stoked we got it done. I can’t thank my team enough; everybody behind me, Will, the whole TLD GASGAS team, I mean everybody. It’s just been a fun run. As our [“Venom: The Last Dance”-themed] gear says, this was the last dance so we ended on top, so I’m stoked.” – Pierce Brown, referencing the GASGAS team that is not returning in 2025. |
 |
| Second place 250SMX Class (1-2) – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “It feels good. Back-to-back is definitely a dream come true. I worked my butt off ever since I was a kid to get here, so thank you to my family, my team Star Racing Yamaha, my trainer Swaney, just everyone in my circle. Man, it takes a big team to do this, and a lot of hard work, so thank you, guys.” – Haiden Deegan |
 |
| Third place 250SMX Class (5-3) – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “It’s been a great year; [I] stayed healthy all year. I’ve got to give it up to the whole Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha team. They’ve given me an opportunity whenever I didn’t have one and it’s been a heck of a run the last two years. Man, it feels good to be back up here. [I] put in some solid rides, I’m really happy with my riding throughout this SMX [post-season]. We finally figured out the starts on the last start of the year, so that was a bummer to take that long, but we’ll take it.” – Jordon Smith |
 |
| Fifth place 250SMX Class (3-8) – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “The track is really tough to pass. Unfortunately, I had contact with Ty [Masterpool]; I didn’t mean to, and I think he crashed, so that was my bad and I’m really sorry for that. I had a little bit of arm pump at the end of the moto and I’m really excited. One more [moto] to go and I really want to fight with Haiden [Deegan] up front.” – Tom Vialle Prior to the 450SMX and 250SMX motos, the 250 World All-Stars took to the track for a single 10-minute plus one lap Main Event. At the checkered flag it was a Yamaha sweep for the podium. Cole Davies earned the win ahead of Avery Long and Alexander Fedortsov. |
 |
| First place 250 World All-Stars Main Event – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “Yeah, I’ve made some huge gains in 2024. From the first race at RedBud [motocross], that was not great. I crashed four times in one race… but then [at this Las Vegas race] I got off to a pretty good start there, made a pretty quick pass on Landen [Gordon] and just tried to ride it home from there. [I had] a few sketchy moments and stuff like that, but yeah, we got it done.” – Cole Davies, when asked if he’s felt the improvements that the broadcasters had noticed throughout the year’s amateur events. The SuperMotocross World Championship event wrapped up nine incredible months of racing. The 31-round SMX World Championship crossed and re-crossed the United States to challenge the best Supercross and motocross racers inside the top sports stadiums and at the most storied motocross venues. The series’ successful second year already has racers, teams, and fans looking forward to the 2025 race season. The schedule for both the 2025 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season and the AMA Pro Motocross season will be teased beginning on Monday on the SuperMotocross World Championship social channels. The complete SX and MX schedules will be presented on Thursday, September 26, on the SMX Insiders Show on the SuperMotocross World Championship YouTube channel and other social platforms. The Final, as well as each preceding round of the 2024 SMX World Championship, was streamed live on Peacock; and each round is still available for on-demand viewing. Coverage through 2024 was also streamed and broadcast domestically on NBC, USA Network, CNBC, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app. CNBC aired next-day encore presentations of all 31 rounds of 2024 racing. Live audio coverage for each Supercross race was made available via NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85. The final round of the Supercross, Motocross, and SuperMotocross championships were also broadcast domestically in Spanish language on Telemudo Deportes’ social channels as well as on the NBC Sports app. For international race fans, the racing was available through the SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv) live and on-demand, in both English and Spanish. |
Jett Lawrence Repeats as SuperMotocross World Champion
oday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Team Honda HRC Progressive rider Jett Lawrence successfully defended his premier-class SuperMotocross World Championship by racing his 2025 CRF450RWE to 1-1 moto tally and a first-overall result in the SMX Final. Last year saw the Australian earn the first-ever SMX crown by topping two of the three rounds, and he did likewise in the series’ sophomore year. (His teammate and older brother, Hunter Lawrence, topped round 2 and finished second this evening and in the series; the two actually tied on points, but Jett got the nod by virtue of winning two rounds to Hunter’s one.) It was a lucrative day for the Lawrence family; for winning the SuperMotocross crown, Jett earned $1 million, while Hunter took home $500,000 for second place.
Just 21 years old, Lawrence has raced for Honda’s factory team since 2021 (a year after he turned pro with the Honda-supported Factory Connection squad). In that brief four-year period, he has already collected eight professional championships, including this year’s 450 AMA Supercross title. An injury prevented him from successfully defending his 2023 AMA Pro Motocross Championship this year, but he returned for the first SMX round and picked up right where he left off.
“It means a lot to the team and my family,” said Jett, a native of Landsborough, in Queensland, Australia. “It makes it extra special with Hunter getting second—I always want to see him do good. I got a good start, and he was right there—I couldn’t make any mistakes. The injury in the outdoor season wasn’t ideal, but I think I actually needed it for a little break. It’s great to get the ’25 bike its first championship; I think this just shows how much input we had in developing the bike and how good it is to race.”
Since the SMX Playoffs launched last year, Honda has dominated the series, taking all six overall wins thus far.
“Honestly, it’s becoming difficult to find superlatives to describe Jett’s success, but it’s important to recognize the importance of each new accomplishment as it is added to his rapidly growing list,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing and Advertising at American Honda. “With its unique format, the SuperMotocross World Championship is proving to be an exciting series with a winner-take-all final. It seems to suit our riders and bike, and we’re pleased to end the regular season on a high note.”
Although the long 2024 regular season is now complete, Jett will have an active off-season, as he and Hunter will race for Team Australia in the October 6 Motocross of Nations at Matterley Basin in England, and in the November 16-17 Paris Supercross.
Krämer Motorcycles USA Partners with REV’IT! for the MotoAmerica Talent Cup
Krämer Motorcycles USA is excited to announce a technical partnership with REV’IT! for the new MotoAmerica Talent Cup.
The partnership sees REV’IT! supporting Krämer Motorcycles USA’s development of the Krämer APX-350 MA motorcycle, and also providing MotoAmerica Talent Cup riders with special discounts and offers on REV’IT! racing gear during the 2025 season.
“REV’IT! is proud to be a technical partner with Krämer Motorcycles USA for the inaugural Talent Cup season and to return to the MotoAmerica paddock with our trackside support staff,” said Paolo Bacchiarello, President of REV’IT Sport USA. “We will be supporting the Talent Cup riders with our REV’IT! TAILORTECH quality, innovation, and meticulous craftsmanship. Together, REV’IT! and Krämer Motorcycles aim to elevate the riding experience by delivering unparalleled engineering excellence.”
The first benefit for future Talent Cup riders will come this weekend at the MotoAmerica round at New Jersey Motorsports Park, where all riders in the MotoAmerica paddock are welcomed and encouraged to get a free measurement for a custom-made REV’IT! TAILORTECH racing suit.
Riders participating in the 2025 MotoAmerica Talent Cup season will receive a 20% discount on any custom REV’IT! TAILORTECH suit purchase, and they will also benefit from the trackside support that REV’IT! will offer throughout the 2025 season.
The measuring event will take place during the following times at the Krämer/REV’IT! paddock space at New Jersey Motorsports Park:
| Date | Time |
| Friday, September 27, 2024 | 9am – 5pm |
| Saturday, September 28, 2024 | 9am – 5pm |
| Sunday, September 29, 2024 | 9am – 5pm |
MotoAmerica Talent Cup riders who race in REV’IT! suits will also be eligible for a $5,000 contingency program from REV’IT! that will run during the 2025 season, which will culminate with the opportunity to earn a factory contract with the brand, with more details on these offers being released in the coming weeks.
“The MotoAmerica Talent Cup is all about investing early in the careers of our fastest young racers, by providing them with purpose-built racing motorcycles and a clear ‘Road to MotoGP’ pathway,” said Jensen Beeler, CEO of Krämer Motorcycles USA.
“This means that we also have to protect that investment by giving Talent Cup racers the best riding gear available on the market, with the latest technology. Therefore, having the support of REV’IT! in the Talent Cup is critical to the success of this program, and helps ensure that these young racers stay healthy and have long successful careers, which is a core goal of Krämer Motorcycles.”
Eli Tomac Replaces Injured Chase Sexton on Team USA for Motocross of Nations
Destiny took a second shot at Team USA’s Motocross of Nations prospects on Saturday, sidelining team captain and MXGP rider Chase Sexton with an injury, but another former AMA champion is joining the fight. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac will replace Red Bull KTM’s Sexton to keep America’s 2024 world title hopes alive.
Sexton’s injury, sustained at the final round of SuperMotocross in Las Vegas, came only three days after previous team member Chance Hymas confirmed he would be out with a tweaked knee. Following that stroke of bad luck, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb volunteered to race the MX2 class.
This leaves Open Class rider Aaron Plessinger with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing as the only original member on the 2024 roster. Team USA is managed by AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend and five-time Motocross World Champion Roger Decoster.
“Due to the unfortunate racing incident Chase was involved in at the final round of SMX, I was the next one in line to take his place for Team USA,” Tomac said. “Aaron, Cooper and I are ready to give it our best effort at Matterely Basin. This is very short notice for my team, but we are going to make it happen!”
AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier thanked Tomac for joining the 2024 effort at the last minute.
“Yet again, a proud American motocross racer is stepping up to meet fate’s call,” Pelletier said. “Eli Tomac is one of the sport’s great champions, and it’s our honor to welcome him back to Team USA for the 2024 MXON. On behalf of the AMA and all U.S. motocross fans, I want to thank Eli for rising to the occasion and of course to wish Chase a speedy and complete recovery. I also want to acknowledge Star Racing’s commitment to scramble and thank them for providing another rider.”
The 31-year-old Tomac is a four-time AMA Pro Motocross Champion and a two-time AMA Supercross Champion. He raced the MXGP class in 2022 when Team USA won the MXON at Red Bud MX in Buchanan, Mich. This year will be Tomac’s fifth time on Team USA.
The 2024 Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme MXON will be Oct. 4-6 in Matterley Basin, U.K.
To help support the 2024 U.S. Motocross of Nations team, visit www.raiseit4usa.com/.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Trevor Bollinger sixth in National Enduro
Today’s ninth round of the 2024 AMA National Enduro Series saw Trevor Bollinger finish sixth in the NE Pro1 Class at the Zink Ranch National Enduro.
Bollinger completed the opening test inside the top five – P4 in class – on his Husqvarna FX 350, before settling into a rhythm and completing the remaining tests in sixth place. He was also eighth overall for the weekend in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
“I gave it my all out there today, just didn’t have the speed in those conditions,” Bollinger reflected. “My bike and team worked amazing, so thanks to everyone and we’ll keep pushing for the next one.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Bollinger is also ranked sixth in the standings with one round to go in National Enduro, only six points away from fifth overall.
NE Pro1 Class Results:
1. Josh Toth, GASGAS
2. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki
3. Ricky Russell, Yamaha
4. Johnny Girroir, KTM
6. Trevor Bollinger, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
Upcoming Offroad Races – September 2024
9/29: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 12
9/29: National Grand Prix Championship – Round 7
JOHNNY GIRROIR AND GRANT DAVIS JUST OUTSIDE PODIUM IN KTM ZINK RANCH NATIONAL ENDURO
FMF KTM Factory Racing rider Johnny Girroir finished fourth overall in the KTM Zink Ranch National Enduro, as did FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers rider Grant Davis in the NE Pro2 Class to maintain the points lead with a single round remaining.
Girroir rode his KTM 350 XC-F to P4 for the weekend and in the NE Pro1 Class, starting strongly in podium contention before bringing it home in fourth place, and he currently holds third in the standings following Round 9 of the 2024 AMA National Enduro Series.
Johnny Girroir: “It was an alright day. Five corners into the first test I crashed and then I felt a little off the pace all day, made too many mistakes, and didn’t find the good lines. I need to look ahead more to find those, so even though it didn’t go my way today, the result was good and we look forward to the next one.”
NE Pro2 Class leader Davis managed to win three out of the five tests in class at the Sand Springs, Oklahoma, race, eventually credited P4 overall onboard his KTM 250 XC-F when the checkered flag flew. He will carry a 14-point advantage into the final race of the National Enduro season in November.
Grant Davis: “It was a good day and we were able to win a lot of the tests today. The track was fun and I flowed good all day long. I came up short in the end, but other than that it was fun out there.”
NE Pro1 Class Results:
1. Josh Toth, GASGAS
2. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki
3. Ricky Russell, Yamaha
4. Johnny Girroir, FMF KTM Factory Racing
6. Trevor Bollinger, Husqvarna
NE Pro2 Class Results:
1. Will Sievenpiper, Kawasaki
2. Nicholas Defeo, Kawasaki
3. Nathaniel Tasha, Yamaha
4. Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
UPCOMING OFFROAD RACES – SEPTEMBER 2024
9/29: Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 12
9/29: National Grand Prix Championship – Round 7
9/29: West Hare Scramble – Round 6
Tomac Earns 450SMX Bronze Medal at Season Finale in Las Vegas
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac returned to the podium at the SuperMotocross World Championship Final at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, earning a 2-3 moto score for third overall and third in the 450SMX standings. Cooper Webb secured a top-five finish in the championship, finishing fifth overall (6-5) for the second weekend in a row. Justin Cooper put in a gritty ride to finish sixth overall (5-7), making his way back up the championship standings to eighth.
As the sport made its long-awaited return to Las Vegas, Nevada, Tomac showed strength at the final round of the 31-round season. He qualified third and then grabbed the holeshot in Moto 1. The Colorado rider ran a strong pace up front, but ultimately was passed in the final laps and crossed the line second. In Moto 2, Tomac was third after the start and rode on to secure that final podium spot for third overall. His efforts also secured third in the 450SMX Championship, making for a great postseason comeback in the points after being sidelined for 10 rounds.
Webb also had a strong qualifying in fourth and was sixth after the opening lap but unfortunately fell and found himself back in eighth. The North Carolina rider put his head down and moved to seventh on the following lap and then up to sixth on the final lap. Webb got another good start to Moto 2 in fifth, where he would finish to end the day fifth overall. It was a strong conclusion to the season, which secured a top-five finish in the 450SMX Championship despite being sidelined for 10 rounds of the 31-round series.
Coming into the weekend with a hairline fracture to his collarbone from a crash in Moto 1 at the previous round, Cooper sat out Friday’s practice session to focus his efforts on race day. The New Yorker quickly got up to speed on the hybrid-style track and had a solid qualifying effort in eighth. He then got a good start to the first moto in seventh and made his way to sixth by the second lap, riding a calculated race and advancing to fifth on the final lap. In Moto 2, he got another top-10 start and made his way from eighth to seventh for sixth overall. It was a strong debut season aboard the YZ450F, with Cooper ending the year eighth in the SuperMotocross World Championship.
Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“It could have been better, but it could have been a lot worse. All three of our guys are leaving here healthy, or reasonably healthy with Justin cracking his collarbone last week. Eli finished third in the championship and put in some great motos. Coop did as well as he could, going into the finals with not a lot of preparation due to his thumb injury, and finished the year fifth. Honestly, after his crash last week and missing out on a double-point round, Justin finished better than we thought in eighth. All in all, it was a good weekend. We are going to work to be better in Supercross and try to get back on top.”
Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“I finished third overall and gave it my best. I had a really good first moto. I led most of the race and got passed on the last couple of laps. Then in Moto 2, I started a little further back and didn’t get the holeshot like I did in Moto 1, but I rode pretty well. Hunter (Lawrence) and Jett (Lawrence) were riding at a really good pace. They kind of slowly went away from me, but overall we all were really close. It was good to get third, and a good comeback in the last rounds of outdoors and SMX. I think we’ll have some good momentum going into 2025.”
Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“Overall it was a great day. I qualified fourth, which was a good sign. I had two solid motos. In the first one, I fell on the first lap and lost that fifth-place position. I made my way up to sixth but just couldn’t quite get my teammate. In the second one, I got a pretty good start in fifth and was right there with that lead group for a while. Then Eli, myself, AP (Aaron Plessinger), and Kenny (Roczen) were all together, and I ended up fifth for fifth overall on the day and fifth in the series. Obviously, we wanted a little more, but we’ll take it. I didn’t come into the series super prepared, so I’m very happy to get two back-to-back fifths and have a solid result here at SMX. Now we’ll get ready for MXON.”
Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“It was a tough one coming in with a cracked collarbone, but we made it to every round this season and didn’t want to miss the finale. I was able to get the track figured out pretty quickly in qualifying, even though I didn’t get the track time yesterday. It was a really smooth day. I didn’t fall, which was really good, and I just tried to do what I could. I rode two pretty flawless races and tried to minimize the mistakes and eliminate the risk. It was a painful day, but we came away with sixth overall and eighth in the playoffs, so it was worth it. I’m pretty proud of the full season aboard the 450 and am excited for some time off before getting ready for 2025.”
Deegan Crowned Back-to-Back 250SMX Champion
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan’s reign continued as he sealed the deal on his second-consecutive 250SMX title with a runner-up overall finish (1-2) at the SuperMotocross World Championship Final in Las Vegas, Nevada. Teammate Jordon Smith joined him on the podium, finishing third overall (5-3) at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Max Anstie finished sixth overall with a 10-4 moto score. Nick Romano had a crash in the second moto and ended the day 18th overall (16-19). In the 250 World All-Stars, the bLU cRU enjoyed a stellar outing with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies heading an all-Yamaha podium and earning the class championship.
Coming into the final round with a 19-point lead, Deegan showed no signs of slowing down and once again topped the timesheets in 250SMX qualifying. From there, he got a flying start to grab his third-consecutive holeshot and scored his fifth-consecutive moto win in the SMX postseason. In Moto 2, he didn’t get the start he was looking for and found himself sixth on the opening lap. The reigning 250SMX champ went to work and made his way to second, where he would cross the line. His 1-2 moto score secured a runner-up overall finish and kept the number-one plate firmly planted on his YZ250F. It was a stellar sophomore season for Deegan, which saw him claim both the Pro Motocross 250MX and 250SMX SuperMotocross World Championship, as well as a runner-up finish in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship.
After qualifying eighth, Smith had a good start to the first moto in fourth and was sixth after the opening lap. He kept pushing and gained a position, riding on to cross the line fifth. Smith got another good start in Moto 2, this time slotting into third, which he held until Lap 4. The North Carolina rider continued to ride a strong pace in fourth and moved back to third with four laps remaining. Smith’s 5-3 score secured third overall and earned a top-five finish in the250SMX Championship.
Anstie continued to work on finding his comfort zone on the hybrid-track format during the practice and qualifying sessions and was 13th in the combined times. He found himself 13th after the opening lap and was shuffled to 15th at the halfway point, but the British rider fought his way forward to 10th. In Moto 2, Anstie got a great start in fourth and continued to battle for position, making his way back to fourth to end the day sixth overall and finish the season eighth in the points standings.
Romano qualified 11th and found himself in the same position after the start of the first moto. The SMX rookie put his head down and made his way to eighth on the opening lap, but ultimately finished 16th. With a less-than-ideal gate pick for Moto 2, Romano found himself 18th after the start and made his way to 12th on the opening lap. Unfortunately, the New Yorker crashed before the halfway mark and rejoined the moto at the back of the field, crossing the line 19th and ending the day 18th overall.
Davies hit the ground running in Las Vegas, topping the timesheets in the 250 World All-Stars class, which showcases the top amateur riders at the SMX World Championship Finals. In the main event, he got a great start in second and quickly claimed the lead. From there, the young rider from New Zealand set a blistering pace to build a comfortable gap up front and take the win by a 5.8-second margin.
Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“The day went awesome. Haiden rode phenomenally and won the first moto, which set us up even better for clinching the championship. Going into the second moto, we knew we needed third overall to get the job done and he finished second overall and won it. We’ve won both of them and are the reigning back-to-back champs, which means a lot to us. Haiden’s been working really hard, so to see it all pay off is great. I’m happy for him and the whole team. Without everyone here, we wouldn’t be able to do this.
“It was great to see Jordon on the podium as well, and to have him finish the season fifth in the championship. Max also had a strong final moto and was eighth in the championship, which is a great start in just a short time with the team. We’re going to celebrate and enjoy this title, and then get back to work to stay on top next season.”
Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #1
“I’m pretty hyped to get back-to-back SMX Championships. I wanted to go six for six with the motos, but the championship was the main goal. I got the holeshot in the first moto and won it. In the second moto, I didn’t get a great start. I just got a little cautious. I made my way to second, and I tried to make a push for Pierce (Brown), but then thought, ‘Maybe I’ve got to chill out. We’ve got a championship to win.’ So I backed it off with four laps to go, and got the title.”
Jordon Smith – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #31
“It’s been a great year. We stayed healthy all year, which was one of my goals. I can’t thank the whole Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team enough. It feels good to be back on the podium and to put in some solid rides. We finally figured out the starts in the last race of the year, which I wish happened sooner, but overall I’m really happy with my riding throughout SMX and to end the season with a top-five in the championship.”
Max Anstie – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #37
“I’m happy to have had the opportunity to race SMX this year and end up eighth overall. Only racing some of the outdoor rounds with the team, it was always going to be a challenge to get the settings dialed. We learned so much and finished up in Vegas with a solid fourth in Moto 2, and sixth overall on the night. I’m looking forward to MXON, which is coming up next.”
Nick Romano – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #511
“It’s not how we wanted to finish the season. It was tough out there today, and I just wasn’t gelling with the track, but we’ll take what we learned from this season and build on it.”
Cole Davies – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #17
“I got off to a good start, made a quick pass on Landen (Gordon), and then pretty much just rode it home from there. I had a few sketchy moments. There were some gnarly shadows so it was difficult to read the jumps, but it was a good race. We’ve made a lot of progress in 2024 and are happy to add the win in SMX.”
SuperMotocross League Unveils 2025 Regular Season Schedule with Monster Energy Supercross and Pro Motocross Championships
Feld Motor Sports, Inc., and MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc. announced today the 2025 schedules for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The indoor and outdoor seasons of the SuperMotocross World Championship Series consists of 17 Supercross races and 11 Pro Motocross races, providing 28 rounds of regular season competition building towards the postseason and the 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship Finals, fueled by Monster Energy.
Supercross and Pro Motocross pre-sale begins Tuesday, October 1 at 10 a.m. ET for preferred customers and will run through the following Monday, October 7. Tickets for all Supercross and Pro Motocross races will then become available to the public starting on Tuesday, October 8, at 10 a.m. ET and then at 10 a.m. local time in each subsequent time zone. Fans can sign up for preferred access or make ticket purchases online at SupercrossLIVE.com and promotocross.com.
The 17-round Supercross schedule is poised to visit 16 different cities spread across 13 states, from California and Arizona to Alabama and Pennsylvania, which includes four rounds in the Northeast as the SMX League continues to drive growth of the sport within the region.
As is tradition, the Monster Energy Supercross season will begin in Southern California at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Saturday, January 11. Angel Stadium and the city of Anaheim have become synonymous with the start of the Supercross season as the venue has hosted 33 season openers, the most of any venue in the sport. A second visit to Angel Stadium will come on Saturday, January 25, with a stop to Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego in between on Saturday, January 18. Glendale, Arizona will round out the initial West Coast run on Saturday, February 1 at State Farm Stadium.
Returning to the schedule in 2025 will be stops to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, February 8, Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, February 15, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, February 22 while the historic 55th running of the Daytona Supercross will take place in Daytona Beach, Florida on Saturday, March 1 at Daytona International Speedway.
Round 9 will see Supercross back in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, March 8, followed by a return to Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday, March 22 and a cross-country trek west to Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington on Saturday, March 29.
The month of April will play host to a Northeast swing that begins with a stop to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday, April 5, followed by visits to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, April 12, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday, April 19, and what will more than likely be the most anticipated market return in some time with a visit to Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Saturday, April 26.
With the amount of fandom the sport has in the region, Supercross has only been staged in Pittsburgh twice throughout its fifty plus year history, first in 1978, followed by a second visit five years later in 1983. Both events took place at the now defunct Three Rivers Stadium, which makes Acrisure Stadium, home to the 6-time Superbowl winning Pittsburgh Steelers, a first-time venue for the sport.
The Supercross season will conclude on Saturday, May 10, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City to once again crown a Supercross Champion. Utah – The State of Sport, has developed into a fitting destination for the final round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship as it has become home to many world-class sporting events.
Following a one-week break in action, the focus will shift to the summer outdoors, where the Pro Motocross Championship will host its 54th season of competition for the second half of the SMX regular season. The 11-round campaign will once again consist of the sport’s most iconic venues, which span across 10 different states and well-known regions, from Southern California and the Pacific Northwest, to New England and the Appalachians, as well as the Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes. With 22 grueling motos set to challenge the fastest and most talented racers on the planet, the Pro Motocross Championship remains arguably the most difficult test in all motorsports.
The season will begin, as it always does, over Memorial Day weekend, where Southern California’s Fox Raceway at Pala will kick off the summer on Saturday, May 24, with the Fox Raceway National. From there, the championship journey will travel to Northern California’s Prairie City SVRA for the storied Hangtown Motocross Classic on May 31, followed by the mile-high altitude of Colorado’s Thunder Valley Motocross Park for the Thunder Valley National on June 7, before heading east for the famed Father’s Day tradition of the High Point National on June 14 from Pennsylvania’s High Point Raceway.
After the first off-weekend of the summer the action will resume on June 28 from Massachusetts’ moto sand box at The Wick 338 for the Southwick National. The championship will then reach its halfway point over Independence Day weekend, on July 5, with the legendary holiday celebration that is the RedBud National from Michigan’s RedBud MX. The Land of 10,000 Lakes awaits on July 12 as Minnesota’s Spring Creek MX Park hosts the Spring Creek National, before the final stop in the Pacific Time Zone on July 19, where the Pacific Northwest and Washington’s scenic Washougal MX Park provide the setting for the Washougal National.
The in-season “summer break” will bring quiet for two weekends before kicking off the three-race stretch run to crown champions. The closing trio of races will provide a minor shift in traditional event dates, as the Ironman National will move from its usual placement as the season finale and will instead open the stretch run on August 9 from Indiana’s Ironman Raceway. Central New York’s iconic Unadilla MX will host the penultimate round on August 16 with the Unadilla National, before heading to the greater Washington D.C. area for the Pro Motocross Championship Final on August 23, where Southern Maryland’s Budds Creek Motocross Park will host the Budds Creek National.
Once the Edison Dye Cup (450 Class) and Gary Jones Cup (250 Class) have been awarded to bring the regular season to a close, the field of postseason racers will also be set for the impending SuperMotocross World Championship Finals, where three postseason races will once again determine the season’s ultimate champions.
All 17 rounds of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship will be streamed live domestically on Peacock, while broadcast coverage will be shared between NBC, USA Network, and CNBC. The complete television schedule and broadcast talent line up will be released closer to the start of the season.
Internationally, all 17 rounds of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship will be available to stream live and on-demand via the SuperMotocross Video Pass, available to fans everywhere outside the U.S. in both English and Spanish. Visit Peacock (Domestic) and SuperMotocross.tv (International) for additional details.
2024 has proven to be a historic year for Supercross and Motocross racing as the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals have added a new layer of intrigue and excitement to the sport. In just its second year, both Jett Lawrence and Haiden Deegan have both won back-to-back SMX World Championships and will continue to carry that momentum into the 2025 season.
Dates and venues for the 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship Finals, fueled by Monster Energy and subsequent ticketing information will be released in the coming months.
For information about the SuperMotocross World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
- Instagram: @supermotocross
- Facebook: @supermotocross
- Twitter: @supermotocross
- YouTube: @supermotocross
