This Week in Powersports Racing – The week of November 17, 2024

This week in US Powersports racing.

Colton Haaker claims runner-up in final 2024 AMA EnduroCross standings

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Colton Haaker has finished second position in the 2024 AMA EnduroCross Series after taking the title race down to the wire at Everett’s final round in Washington.

Five-time EX Pro Champion Haaker was fifth in the opening round and then delivered four consecutive podiums to keep himself in contention, including a sole overall victory in Idaho at Round 3.

A fifth-place result in the final round came courtesy of a 2-8-5 scorecard onboard his Husqvarna FX 350, solidifying what has been a consistently strong season for Haaker in 2024.

“We finished second in the championship and it was a solid season,” Haaker commented. “There were ups and downs, as usual, but it’s been a good ride and I’m happy with what we’ve achieved this year.”

Fourth position at the final round of the AMA EnduroCross season was a fine way to finish the year for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Ryder LeBlond with 5-5-3 results, which came in as a season-best on his way to P6 in the final standings.

“Tonight was a good end to the season!” LeBlond said. “It’s been a tough one, but I’m stoked with how we went this weekend and I know what I need to work on for next year. I’m excited to get to work already!”

EX Pro Class Results – Round 6
1. Trystan Hart, KTM
2. Max Gerston, Beta
3. Cooper Abbott, Sherco
4. Ryder LeBlond, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
5. Colton Haaker, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 1-2 in National Hare & Hound finale

A 1-2 result from Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammates Dalton Shirey and Austin Walton was a strong way to finish the 2024 AMA National Hare & Hound Series in Lucerne Valley, with Walton earning the runner-up result in the final Pro Class point standings.

It was a remarkable way for three-time, defending champion Shirey to continue his return from a major back injury that saw him sit out the middle stages of the season, managing to bookend the series with victories after he had won the opening round at Lucerne Valley in January. Riding the Husqvarna FX 450, he was able to salvage a top-five result in the championship with fifth position.

“It’s been a very tough year for me and hard on me physically, so I’m stoked to pull this win off and prove to myself that I can do this,” Shirey commented. “I didn’t expect it yet since I’m still rebuilding from my injury, but I was able to keep going and we’re getting stronger with every race now.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Walton took his fifth podium in six rounds with second position at the finale to wrap up his professional racing career in style. He led the opening lap on Sunday before Shirey took charge, bringing his Husqvarna FX 450 home in P2 and finishing just seven points short of the 2024 National Hare & Hound Series title.

“It was a good season,” Walton reflected. “I ended up with the holeshot today and was able to lead lap one, so that was the best way to start the day off. I had two crashes on the second loop and made a couple of mistakes that cost me, but it was a solid day. I’m grateful for the opportunities that I’ve had with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing and I’m very happy with my career, so am excited to see what the future holds.”

Pro Class Results
1. Dalton Shirey, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
2. Austin Walton, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
3. Preston Campbell, Honda

TRYSTAN HART AND FMF KTM FACTORY RACING SUCCESSFULLY DEFEND AMA ENDUROCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Trystan Hart clinched his second-consecutive AMA EnduroCross Championship on Saturday night in Everett, Washington, earning a fourth overall victory in six rounds to secure the 2024 EX Pro Class title.

Hart had already claimed a fourth-straight AMA U.S. Hard Enduro title earlier this year and has now made it back-to-back EnduroCross crowns, producing what was a dominant campaign on his KTM 350 XC-F indoors.

After setting the second-quickest time in the Hot Lap session, Hart managed to win the opening race of the finale, and then placed second in Moto 2. The Canadian completed his title defense with P1 in the final encounter, taking home the round and championship victories in commanding fashion.

Trystan Hart: “I was a little nervous coming into tonight, but I only needed 14 points to clinch the title – you just know anything can happen in EnduroCross. The goal was to win the Hot Lap, but I got second in that because I made a mistake, and then I went on to win the first moto. In Moto 2, I was trying to win and fell in that one, before in the final moto I went on to win it, so got the overall and the championship! What more can you ask for? A perfect way to wrap up the season for me.”

It’s been a remarkable season for Hart in the AMA EnduroCross Series, winning the opening two rounds of the season, and then finishing runner-up in rounds three and four. Victory in Round 5 put the FMF KTM Factory Racing rider firmly in control with a single round remaining, able to stand on top of the podium again in the championship round to maintain the number 1 plate.

EX Pro Class Results – Round 6
1. Trystan Hart, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Max Gerston, Beta
3. Cooper Abbott, Sherco
4. Ryder LeBlond, Husqvarna
5. Colton Haaker, Husqvarna

AMA Pro Racing Announces Provisional 2025 Progressive American Flat Track Schedule

AMA Pro Racing has announced a 16-round schedule for the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, promising an exciting new era with a fresh, all-production ruleset and the #1 plate up for grabs following Jared Mees’ retirement.

That battle for supremacy will open with five consecutive bar-banging Short Tracks, starting with the series’ traditional Daytona Beach double opener during the 84th annual Daytona Bike Week. The schedule then transitions to a run through the Midwest, including a doubleheader in Lima, Ohio, and a high-speed showdown at the “Magic Mile” in DuQuoin, Illinois.

The Sturgis TT will serve as a highlight of the schedule again in ‘25, and this time around it will be joined by an all-new doubleheader – the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I & II – which will also take place in Sturgis during the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, just days ahead of Sunday’s TT.

 The season’s stretch run will feature its two most iconic events – the world-famous 78th Peoria TT and a doubleheader at the legendary Springfield Mile – before returning to Lake Ozark Speedway for a season finale set during the 19th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest.

The AFT AdventureTrackers™ will return with an expanded schedule in ’25. Building on the class’ highly successful 2024 debut, it will be featured at all three Sturgis events, along with the Peoria TT.

The upcoming season will feature further innovation via the introduction of the Triple Challenge format that will be utilized at the Lima Half-Mile I, Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I and Springfield Mile I, in which the overall winner and final points payout will be determined by three races of increasing distance and importance.

 Adding to the excitement along the way will be the inclusion of Royal Enfield’s Build. Train. Race. program at select events. 

Tickets for the DAYTONA Short Track I & II are already on sale, while the remainder of the season’s slate will be made available for purchase in the weeks ahead.

The provisional 2025 Progressive American Flat Track schedule follows:

March 6, 2025 – DAYTONA Short Track I, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
March 7, 2025 – DAYTONA Short Track II, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
March 29, 2025 – Senoia Short Track, Senoia Raceway, Senoia, GA
April 26, 2025 – Ventura Short Track, Ventura Raceway, Ventura, CA 
May 3, 2025 – Silver Dollar Short Track, Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico, CA
June 7, 2025 – TBA
June 27, 2025 – Lima Half-Mile I, Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, OH
June 28, 2025 – Lima Half-Mile II, Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, OH
July 5, 2025 – DuQuoin Mile, DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, DuQuoin, IL
August 4, 2025 – Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I, Sturgis, SD
August 5, 2025 – Jackpine Gypsies Short Track II, Sturgis, SD
August 10, 2025 – Sturgis TT, Streets of Downtown Sturgis, SD
August 16, 2025 – Peoria TT, Peoria Motorcycle Club, Peoria, IL
August 30, 2025 – Springfield Mile I, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL
August 31, 2025 – Springfield Mile II, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL
September 13, 2025 – Lake Ozark Short Track, Lake Ozark Speedway, Eldon, MO

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com. 

KEN ROCZEN RE-SIGNS WITH PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE ECSTAR SUZUKI FOR 2025 SUPERMOTOCROSS SEASON

Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. and H.E.P. Motorsports are excited to announce that Ken Roczen will return for 2025 to compete in the SuperMotocross World Championship aboard the Suzuki RM-Z450. Roczen who has had strong results with the team over the past couple years will once again compete at the highest level.

“I am very excited to continue my relationship with Suzuki and the team,” said Roczen. “We have had a pretty successful last couple of years and we are eager to continue chasing our dreams of wins and podiums.”

“We’re very proud to have Ken Roczen once again choose Suzuki and H.E.P. Motorsports for his championship quest,” said Chris Wheeler, Motorsports Manager at Suzuki Motor USA. “Ken’s talent, dedication, and presence continues to elevate everyone in the program, and provides a unified confidence as we strive for success together. We love the challenge of SMX, and we’re thrilled to have Ken leading the charge on his RM-Z450.”

2025 will be Ken’s third year with the Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki Team competing on the Suzuki RM-Z450. With the time he’s had on the bike and the familiarity with the team, he looks to put in some strong racing and contend for wins.

“Very happy to have Ken back for another year with the team.” Dustin Pipes, Team Principal at H.E.P. Motorsports, added, “He is the ultimate professional on-and-off the racetrack. Ken is an exceptional talent, capable of winning any race he shows up to and keeping him on the very capable RM-Z450 brings a sense of excitement to every race day for the team. We will be working hard to once again reach the top step of the podium.”

“As the title sponsor for the team the past two seasons, it’s been exciting to watch Ken not only compete, but also represent the sport well,” said Eric Doubler, Progressive Recreational Lines Business Leader. “As the country’s leading motorcycle insurer, we share the same passion, enthusiasm and commitment to the sport that Ken does and are looking forward to seeing what he does in the season ahead.”

Roczen and Suzuki fans alike eagerly await the first gate drop set for January 11th in Anaheim, where the season kicks off.

For the latest team updates, news, and race insights, visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross or HEPMotorsports.com.

Polaris Factory Racing’s Brock Heger Triumphs, Capturing First SCORE Baja 1000 Victory and Securing 2024 SCORE UTV Pro Open Class Series Championship

Polaris Factory Racing’s Brock Heger delivered a historic performance, going solo behind the wheel of his Polaris RZR Pro R Factory and dominating the field this past weekend at the 57th running of the prestigious SCORE Baja 1000. Heger’s first Baja 1000 victory was made all the more impressive by not only dominating the entire UTV field, but finishing seventh amongst all four-wheeled vehicles, including the elite Trophy Truck classes – the highest finish by a UTV since the UTV classes were introduced to the race in 2007. Heger’s victory secured the necessary points to come from behind and clinch the 2024 SCORE UTV Pro Open Class Series Championship for the second consecutive year. Heger won the race by 45 minutes over Polaris-supported racer Branden Sims, who finished second in a race-modified Polaris RZR Pro R. This Baja 1000 triumph capped off a second consecutive undefeated season for Polaris Factory Racing, with UTV overall wins at all four SCORE series events, and marked Polaris’ third straight Baja 1000 victory.

“After a pretty rough run at the first three events this season, I entered this final race with nothing to lose and a hell of a lot to gain, and it felt like the best move was to take matters into my own hands and run the entire race on my own,” said Heger. “To win my first Baja 1000 and turn my entire season around in such a dramatic fashion is pretty special, but it comes with a ton of mixed feelings. I feel terrible for Cayden. He’s been spectacular this entire season, and to have it all slip away so close to the finish is absolutely terrible. I’m incredibly grateful to the entire RZR Factory Racing team, our dedicated support crew and everyone back at Polaris engineering who work tirelessly to make the RZR Pro R Factory the most dominant UTV in the sport and put me in the best position to win at every race.”

Heger owned the race from start to finish, leading nearly every mile of the grueling 864.13-mile course. The race began just outside of Ensenada, where Heger quickly surged to the front, establishing a strong pace early. By mile 77, he held the lead, followed by teammates Cayden MacCachren in 6th. It’s worth noting that MacCachren had opted to start at the back of the field, making his impressive climb through the ranks all the more notable. Heger and MacCachren continued to impress, with Heger still leading by mile 167 while MacCachren advanced to third. Heger’s RZR Pro R Factory showcased its unmatched combination of power, strength and control, performing flawlessly throughout the unrelenting Baja terrain.

As the race approached mile marker 211, Heger extended his lead to four minutes, while MacCachren slipped back to fifth. Near the halfway point, Heger remained the first UTV, skillfully extending his lead after briefly getting stuck in a bottleneck. By this stage, he had climbed to an impressive 13th overall among all four-wheel vehicles, with his RZR Pro R Factory continuing to deliver exceptional performance across the punishing desert landscape.

During the second half of the race, Heger continued to dominate while MacCachren sliced and diced through the field, working his way into second and closing the gap by mile 720. Over the final 100 miles, Heger never relented, powering ahead to secure the UTV Overall and UTV Pro Open class victory. Unfortunately, with only 78 miles remaining, MacCachren’s race ended in heartbreaking fashion, as unforeseen challenges forced him to retire, dashing his hopes for the championship.

“Another incredible season for Polaris Factory Racing is in the books, and going undefeated again in the SCORE series, capped off with another prestigious Baja 1000 win and the UTV Pro Open Championship, is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Alex Scheuerell, Polaris Factory Racing Technical Director. “It’s kind of appropriate that we currently have a ‘Tough Doesn’t Quit’ marketing campaign, because that is exactly what Brock demonstrated with his incredible performance. The toughness, grit and determination that he showcased today – not only racing the 864 miles on his own, but absolutely dominating the field, is remarkable. This victory, and the entire season, highlight the strength of our Polaris Factory Racing program, the expertise and dedication of our design and engineering teams and the incredible capabilities of the RZR Pro R platform.”

To learn more, please visit Polaris.com/RZR or join the conversation and follow on Facebook^sm, Instagram^sm, YouTube^sm and Twitter^sm.

Zane Roberts Crowned 2024 National Hare & Hound Champion
Lucerne Valley, California was the scene for the sixth and final round of the National Hare & Hound season. Coming into the race Zane Roberts was leading the points chase by a small margin. He would need to come in fifth place to hoist up the trophy. It wasn’t an easy race as a bad start and a small crash at the beginning had him in ninth place after the first loop. Roberts settled in and was able to climb up the leaderboard until he got into fifth place and held on until the finish to earn the title of 2024 National Hare & Hound Champion. His teammate Joe Wasson had a solid race of his own. He overcame the dust in his second lap to finish in fourth place on the round and third place on the season.

Results:

Zane Roberts » 5th Place » Pro Class2024 National Hare and Hound Champion
Joe Wasson » 4th Place » Pro Class

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Photos: Kato Foto

Gerston Takes Moto Win, and Second Place at Round SixThe Endurocross series wrapped up in Everett, Washington for the sixth and final round. The energy in the stadium was buzzing creating an electric environment for the riders. The track was a challenge as always and proved to be a formidable test for the field. Max Gerston, on his Beta 300 RR Race Edition was feeling it. His speed carried him to a win in the second moto, the first Endurocross moto win of his career! By finishing third and seventh in the other motos, Gerston clinched second overall on the night, achieving this for the first time as well. Beta support rider, Tim Apolle also rode well at the round. He just missed the podium in the second moto but finished the night in seventh overall. On the season points chase, Gerston finished in fifth and Apolle came in eighth.

Results:

Max Gerston » 2nd Place – Motos: 3rd | 1st | 7th » EX ProTim Apolle » 7th Place – Motos: 9th | 4th | 6th » EX Pro

“I am still coming down from the successes last weekend at the final round of Endurocross in Everett. It was my first moto win and my first 2nd overall. Things were clicking with my Beta 300 RR on the challenging track with deep ruts and chunky obstacles. I stayed consistent and kept my head down all night. I am stoked to end the season with a career best and I am already looking forward to 2025. I wanted to extend a massive thanks to the team for the support and always believing in me. We are just getting started!”

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“I’m very grateful to have raced in such a great environment. It felt really good. I had my best round of the year here in Seattle and was very happy with how I rode and how the bike performed. I’m looking forward to next year.“

Photos: Jenny Keller

RacerTV Set to Host Live Broadcast of 53rd Annual Thor Mini O’s from Gatorback Cycle Park

The 53rd Annual Thor Mini O’s presented by Pro Circuit kicks off on Sunday, November 24 at the iconic Gatorback Cycle Park in Gainesville, Florida. This year Dunlop Motorcycle Tires brings you a week of FREE racing action LIVE on RacerTV.com. Whether you’ll be watching from in your living room, garage or camper it doesn’t matter just head over to RacerTV.com to catch it all.

Mini O’s is one of the oldest and most well-known amateur motocross races in America, as well as a long-time Thanksgiving tradition for motocross riders and their families. RacerTV is set to bring high quality, extensive racing coverage of the world’s best riders racing at the 2024 Mini O’s. The live broadcast will start the day off at 7:15 am each day and go until the end of racing.

241121 RacerTV Set to Host Live Broadcast of 53rd Annual Thor Mini O’s from Gatorback Cycle Park

Supercross practice starts on Saturday, November 23rd at 7:00 am EST, followed by live streaming racing coverage starting Sunday, November 24th at 7:15 am EST on RacerTV.com.

Sunday through Tuesday will feature Supercross heats and main events with Motocross racing to follow on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The new practice schedule will allow for an extended allotment of time for Supercross mains and Motocross motos, creating the opportunity for the 250 A, 250 and 450 Pro Sport, and B classes to race longer motos. Be sure to tune in for all of the racing action throughout the week to catch about 1,500 riders arriving from all over the world to take to the iconic track.

For more information on the event, visit unlimitedsportsmx.com and follow us on social media @unlimitedsportsmx and online at www.racertv.com.

NBC Sports, Peacock and The SMX League Announce 2025 SMX World Championship Media Schedule

NBC Sports, Peacock, and the SMX League announced today the 2025 SMX World Championship^TM broadcast and streaming schedule, including the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. 28 regular season races plus the postseason playoffs across the series, including exclusive live coverage of Main Event races, qualifiers, and heats, will be presented across NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital platforms.

Peacock is the home of the SMX World Championship Series in 2025, presenting live coverage of all races, qualifying, and heats across both Supercross and Pro Motocross spanning all rounds from January to September 2025. 16 races will livestream exclusively on Peacock. The platform will also provide on-demand replays of every race. Qualifiers and heats will be available exclusively on Peacock for every race throughout the season. Additionally, 11 races (live and encore) will be presented on NBC, with five more on USA Network.

2025 marks the third year of the SMX World Championship which unifies Supercross and Pro Motocross and presents the season-ending SMX World Championship Playoffs with the top racers in the world competing for the sport’s ultimate title in a style of racing that features the best that both indoor stadium Supercross and outdoor Pro Motocross seasons have to offer.

The much-anticipated SMX World Championship Playoffs will culminate with two Playoff rounds and the SMX World Championship Final. Playoff 1 will begin with an SMX Insider Pre-race show on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 2:30 p.m. ET on Peacock followed by live racing at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Playoff 2 will also begin with an SMX Insider Pre-race show on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 2:30 p.m. ET on Peacock, followed by live racing at 3 p.m. ET. An encore presentation will be presented on NBC at Noon ET the next day.

The SMX World Championship Final will begin with a pre-race show on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 9:30 p.m. ET on Peacock followed by live racing at 10 p.m. ET on USA Network and Peacock. Locations for all postseason playoffs will be announced in January.

NBC Sports’ 2025 SMX World Championship season opener begins with the SMX Insider Pre-race Show live from Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 p.m. ET on Peacock, followed by racing on the USA Network and Peacock at 8 p.m. ET. An encore presentation will air the following day on Sunday, Jan. 12, on NBC at 2 p.m. ET.

The outdoor Pro Motocross season of the SMX World Championship begins with the Fox Raceway National in Pala, Calif., on Saturday, May 24, at 4 p.m. ET exclusively on Peacock.

NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2024 SMX World Championship Series averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 502,000 viewers for coverage on NBC, USA Network, and streaming simulcasts across Peacock and NBC Sports Digital, up 26% vs. 2023. Additionally, Peacock delivered the most-streamed season on record for the sport. Across the full series, viewers streamed more than 1.9 billion total minutes of the 2024 SMX World Championship for Peacock exclusive races, up 24% from last year and marking a significant growth in the popularity of the sport. For more information, click here.

The 2025 SMX commentary team will consist of Leigh Diffey and Jason Weigandt as play-by-play, 15-time AMA champion Ricky Carmichael and five-time AMA champion James Stewart as analysts and Will Christien and former veteran racer Jason Thomasas reporters.

Race Day Live will cover all regular and postseason races of the SMX World Championship Series exclusively on Peacock. Former racers Justin Brayton and Adam Cianciarulo will serve as hosts of the pre-race program while Steven “Lurch” Scott and Haley Shanley join as reporters.

A one-hour SMX World Championship preview special airs Sunday, Dec. 29, at 5 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, headlined by appearances from defending Supercross and SMX World Champion Jett Lawrence, two-time defending SMX 250 Class World Champion Haiden Deegan, 2024 SMX runner-up Hunter Lawrence, two-time Supercross Champions Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb, 2024 Pro Motocross Champion Chase Sexton, and more.

All televised rounds of the SMX World Championship Series on NBC and USA Network will also stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app via authentication, giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

Below is the 2025 SMX World Championship Regular Season and Playoffs broadcast and streaming schedule:

241121 2025 SMX World Championship Regular Season and Playoffs broadcast and streaming schedule

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

Get Ready to Triple the Thrills: Progressive AFT Unveils Exciting New Race Format for Select Rounds in 2025!

Buckle up, race fans! The 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season is bringing a new level of excitement with the Triple Challenge. It’s a fresh, fast-paced format that’s ready to shake up the dirt, put riders’ skills to the test, and keep you on the edge of your seat!

What’s the Triple Challenge, you ask? Think of it as three times the action, strategy, and drama—packed into one epic night of racing. This electrifying new format will debut at select doubleheader events:

Lima Half-Mile I
Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I
Springfield Mile I

Here’s How It Works

The Triple Challenge turns up the heat with three races where every lap matters.

Race 1: A fast and furious 10-lap sprint where riders race for points (23 for 1st, 19 for 2nd, and so on). The results? Not just bragging rights—they also set the stage (aka the starting grid) for Race 2.

Race 2: Fifteen laps of adrenaline-packed action where the stakes are doubled. Riders earn twice as many points as in Race 1 (46 for 1st, 38 for 2nd, and so on). With twice the reward and grid positions for the final race on the line, the tension is sky-high.

Race 3: The grand finale! Twenty laps of high-octane action with triple the points of Race 1 up for grabs (69 for 1st, 57 for 2nd, and so on). The stakes couldn’t be higher as riders battle for ultimate glory.

At the end of Race 3, all points are tallied to crown the night’s overall top three in each class. And if there’s a tie? It all boils down to who came in clutch and delivered the best finishing position in Race 3.

Why It’s a Game-Changer

The Triple Challenge isn’t just about shaking up the format—it’s about creating heart-pounding, can’t-look-away moments for fans. Riders will need to adapt, strategize, and push their limits to come out on top. It’s a test of endurance, skill, and pure grit.

Mark your calendars: The Triple Challenge kicks off Friday, June 27, at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio. Don’t miss this historic debut—Round 7 of the 2025 Progressive AFT season is set to be a game-changer!

Gaige Herrera Wins His Second Straight Pro Stock Motorcycle World Championship at NHRA Finals

Gaige Herrera piloted his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa to his second consecutive NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship during the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at the Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, CA, on Sunday.

Race Highlights:

Gaige Herrera qualified third and won his second consecutive Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship at the NHRA Finals
• Richard Gadson qualified fourth, advanced to the second round of eliminations, and ended the season third in the championship standings

Herrera qualified third with a 6.765-second/201.22 mph pass in a truncated qualifying format that was reduced to two sessions on Saturday after rain showers forced the cancelation of Friday’s sessions. Herrera’s 123-point pre-race lead over Matt Smith, the only other competitor in championship contention, was reduced to 119 points after qualifying bonus points were factored in, leaving him one point shy of clinching the championship. With a maximum of 120 points available in the elimination rounds, Herrera entered race day needing only a win in the first round to clinch the championship.

Herrera’s win in round one secured him the win of the World Championship by giving him a points lead that none of the riders in the field would be able to close.

With an emphatic 6.779-second/200.00 mph victory over Clayton Howey (7.014 seconds/184.04 mph) in round one, Herrera earned the 2024 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship and become a two-time champion in only his second full season in the class.

In round two, Herrera defeated Chase Van Sant (6.815 seconds/197.77 mph) with a 6.779-second/200.08 mph run. Herrera picked up his 100th career round win by defeating Angie Smith (6.762 seconds/201.31 mph) on a holeshot in the semi-finals, running 6.765 seconds at 199.86 mph to advance to his 12th final round of the season and 24th of his career.

Herrera left the starting line first in his final round matchup against Matt Smith (6.705 seconds/202.12 mph), but his 6.722-second/201.91 mph run wasn’t quick enough to overcome the championship runner-up. Herrera ended his championship season with 10 wins in 12 final-round appearances and a remarkable 50-5 round-win record.

Herrera’s second championship capped a record-setting season in which he also broke long-standing NHRA records for most consecutive race wins (11, spanning the 2023 and 2024 seasons) and most consecutive elimination round wins (46) and became the fastest racer to win 20 national events, accomplishing the feat in only his 34th start.

“Going into that first round was the most nervous I’ve been and felt like the most pressure I’ve had on my shoulders in these last two seasons. It felt like it was do or die. I was so excited when I saw the green start light because I was worried about going red and throwing it away,” Herrera said. “It feels awesome to win this championship. Winning it last year felt surreal. To win it back-to-back proves to myself that last year wasn’t a fluke. It’s hard to explain, but I’m feeling relief and excitement and some disbelief in how much has been accomplished so quickly in my career. It’s amazing.”

Herrera credits much of his success as a rider to mental discipline that helps him remain calm under pressure, combined with an ability to relax and have fun in between the stressful moments.

“My motto is, if you’re not having fun, it’s not worth doing. Racing with Richard and all the guys on our Vance & Hines team this season has been fun, and I think that’s a big part of why I’ve been able to do so well,” Herrera said. “I’m already excited about next year. We’ll see what happens with the rules going into next season, but my goal is to try to rinse and repeat and go for a third one.”

Richard Gadson ran 6.767 seconds at 199.82 mph on Saturday to qualify in the fourth starting position.

In round one, Gadson defeated Ryan Oehler (foul) with a 6.839-second/198.26 mph run. Gadson posted a 6.873-second/197.02 mph run in a second-round loss to Steve Johnson (6.831 seconds/195.11 mph), ending his rookie season with three runner-up finishes and third place in the overall championship standings.

“The 22 light I cut today in the second round should be able to win a lot of rounds, but I just wasn’t able to pin the tail on the donkey,” Gadson said. “I got off to a slow start at the beginning of the season and didn’t really hit my stride until the U.S. Nationals in Indy, which put us in a good spot for the Countdown to the Championship. We started off hot in the countdown but started to struggle more towards the end. But that’s racing. I want to win, and I feel like I’m capable of doing it. That’s what I’m here to compete for.”

Gadson’s strong season performance puts him high on the list of contenders to win the NHRA Rookie of the Year award, which is awarded to a first-year racer in any of the four professional classes by voting based on a combination of on-track performance, fan engagement and social media presence. As the highest finishing rookie in any of the pro classes, Gadson hopes his overall season performance will be enough to seal the coveted award, which will be announced at the NHRA award banquet Monday evening.

“There are people who have been out here for 20 years who would do anything to be in the position I’m in. It’s something I never thought was possible. It’s a dream come true and I’m ecstatic to be here,” Gadson said. “I learned a lot this season and feel like I’m better equipped now for what it will take to win next year and for us collectively as a team to have two strong bikes in contention for the entire season.”

RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki crew chief Andrew Hines admitted that missing Friday’s qualifying sessions caused him to be over-aggressive in his tuning on Saturday, which in turn put extra pressure on the team Sunday.

“I messed up the first qualifying run, which put us behind the eight ball for the second run. I got greedy trying to get all the bonus points and almost got none, which meant we couldn’t lock up the championship Saturday,” Hines said. “We really wanted to leave this race with double hardware for the championship and the win, but I got gun-shy in the final and went too soft with the tune-up because I was worried about spinning the tire.”

Hines credited the championship to a combination of talent, performance, and teamwork.

“Last year we turned the class on its head, brought in new talent with Gaige, and showed what a world-class rider and machine are truly capable of when combined with performance and perseverance,” Hines said. “The competition this season was tough, with Matt Smith and his team bringing their A game all year long. We faced some adversity with rules changes, which we were able to overcome, and still found a way to bring home the championship for Suzuki, RevZilla, Motul and everybody at Vance & Hines who worked so hard for it.”

At the conclusion of the 2024 NHRA season, Herrera and Gadson finished first and third in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings with 2,804 and 2,511 points, respectively.

The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines team will return to action for the 2025 Pro Stock Motorcycle season March 6-9, 2025, at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, FL.

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