This week in US Powersports racing.
TOP 10 SCORE FOR JUSTIN BARCIA AT ANAHEIM 2 SUPERCROSS
A hard-fought top 10 result saw Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing and Justin Barcia complete Anaheim 2 with a solid haul of points today, marking Round 3 of the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship.
- Justin Barcia races to 10th position at Anaheim 2
- Bam Bam holds down ninth in the 450SX standings
- Ryder DiFrancesco sat out the round after a mid-week crash
Onboard the GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition, Bam Bam posted the ninth-fastest lap-time within Angel Stadium during qualifying. In his Heat Race, Barcia was able to work his way from outside the top 10 into P7 before the checkered flag fell.
Come the Main Event and with rain falling to make for technical track conditions, the 32-year-old found himself buried mid-pack exiting the first turn, but he was able to make enough passes on a slick surface to finish with a well-earned result in 10th position. After four rounds, Bam Bam sits ninth in the standings.
Justin Barcia: “I came into A2 feeling strong on the bike, but I struggled with my flow in my Heat Race and got a bit tight. I thought we’d worked it out for the Main Event, but unfortunately, I got mixed up at the beginning then rode extremely tight the whole race. It was a disappointing night, because I didn’t perform the way I wanted to or ride the way I should, so we’ll regroup for Phoenix! I’m a good sprinter, so I’m looking forward to the Triple Crown format.”
After two impressive top-five results at the opening two rounds with Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing, 250SX West contender Ryder DiFrancesco sat out Anaheim 2 as a result of a practice crash on Thursday.
Next Race: February 1 – Glendale, Arizona
Results 450SX Class – Anaheim 2
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
3. Jason Anderson (Kawasaki)
4. Chase Sexton (KTM)
9. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
10. Justin Barcia (Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing)
22. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
Standings 450SX Class 2025 after 3 of 17 rounds
1. Ken Roczen, 62 points
2. Chase Sexton, 59
3. Jett Lawrence, 57
9. Justin Barcia, 42
10. Malcolm Stewart, 40
19. Aaron Plessinger, 13
Standings 250SX West Class 2025 after 3 of 10 rounds
1. Julien Beaumer, 69 points
2. Haiden Deegan, 62
3. Jordon Smith, 60
8. Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing), 35
Promise there as Malcolm Stewart claims ninth-place result at A2
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Malcolm Stewart is beginning to build added confidence and momentum after showcasing his speed and later racing to ninth position at Anaheim 2’s third round of the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship.
Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, Stewart powered to the fourth-fastest time in qualifying during the afternoon in an impressive start to his weekend at Angel Stadium.
The 32-year-old unfortunately went down in the first turn of his Heat Race, but remounted and worked his way through to field to an impressive P5 result.
Faced with a slick track after rain fell just before the 450SX Main Event, Stewart came out of the first turn just outside of the top 10. The Floridian made some early moves up to seventh, before losing two places late in the race and finishing ninth. With three rounds in the books, he’s placed 10th in the point standings.
“I actually felt good all day long. I was P4 in qualifying, but then went down at the start of my Heat race,” Stewart reflected. “After I went down I had to come back through the pack with a really good ride and qualified for the Main. It rained before the Main Event, but we went out there and I felt pretty decent the whole time. At the end of the day, I feel like we’re making gains as a team. I felt a lot more comfortable today, we’re heading in the right direction, and I’m riding better.”
Next Race: February 1 – Glendale, Arizona
Results 450SX Class – Anaheim 2
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
3. Jason Anderson (Kawasaki)
4. Chase Sexton (KTM)
9. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)
10. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
22. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
Standings 450SX Class 2025 after 3 of 17 rounds
1. Ken Roczen, 62 points
2. Chase Sexton, 59
3. Jett Lawrence, 57
9. Justin Barcia, 42
10. Malcolm Stewart, 40
19. Aaron Plessinger, 13
JULIEN BEAUMER EXTENDS 250SX WEST POINTS LEAD WITH ANAHEIM 2 PODIUM
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer extended his 250SX West advantage at Anaheim 2’s third round of the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship, while in the 450SX Class, teammate Chase Sexton charged to fourth position to maintain his title challenge.
Western Regional championship leader Beaumer – who debuted the red plate on his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION this weekend – built upon his points lead after a composed P2 ride in increasingly challenging conditions.
The 18-year-old sensation topped qualifying by more than half a second, before finishing P5 in his Heat Race after going down and then later being penalized two positions.
Beaumer made a strong start to the Main Event and quickly settled into P2, then stayed calm throughout the race, as rainfall made the track increasingly slick. His calculated ride to second now sees him with a seven-point lead in the standings heading to Glendale’s fourth round next Saturday.
Julien Beaumer: “Qualifying was good this morning, and then I went down in the Heat after leading. It wasn’t anything to worry about – that’s racing. I got off to a solid start in the Main Event and we finished second tonight, so another podium, and more points on the board. We’ll go back to work this week and we’ll aim to be better again next weekend.”
In 450SX, Sexton stayed within striking distance of the leaders all day onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, setting the third-fastest qualifying time, before going on to finishing third in his Heat.
During a rain-affected Main Event, the 25-year-old reigning Pro Motocross Champion steadily worked his way up the ranks from a P7 start, pushing hard for a podium position in the closing laps on his way to fourth. Sexton continues to hold down second in the standings, just three points outside of the series lead.
Chase Sexton: “Anaheim 2 was a bit of a struggle. I had to rest from Tuesday until yesterday as I’ve been sick this week, but I was able to come out and ride as well as I could today. I didn’t feel 100 percent, so it was good that I was able to push through. I rode pretty well in the Main Event – it obviously wasn’t the result we wanted, but fourth was okay to salvage what I could. I’ll continue to work on getting healthy again and get ready for the Triple Crown next week.”
It was a more difficult day for 450SX teammate Aaron Plessinger. After recording the 10th-fastest qualifying time, the fan favorite was caught in a first-turn incident in his Heat, but charged hard to finish an impressive P4 aboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION.
Plessinger started the Main Event inside the top-five, until making an error in the early laps, which damaged his throttle and he was unable to complete the race. The Cowboy – who was celebrating his 29th birthday at A2 – is positioned 19th in the standings after the opening three rounds.
Aaron Plessinger: “Anaheim 2 was going good all day, right up until the Main Event. I got a decent start, but I think I tried to force the issue a little too soon and ended up missing the rear brake jumping into a turn. My throttle got caught in his rear wheel and caused some damage, unfortunately ending my night. We’ve made some improvements to my bike settings, I’m healthy, and looking forward to the next round now.”
Next Race: February 1 – Glendale, Arizona
Results 450SX Class – Anaheim 2
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
3. Jason Anderson (Kawasaki)
4. Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
9. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
10. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
22. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Standings 450SX Class 2025 after 3 of 17 rounds
1. Ken Roczen, 62 points
2. Chase Sexton, 59
3. Jett Lawrence, 57
9. Justin Barcia, 42
10. Malcolm Stewart, 40
19. Aaron Plessinger, 13
Results 250SX West Class – Anaheim 2
1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
2. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
3. Cole Davies (Yamaha)
Standings 250SX West Class 2025 after 3 of 10 rounds
1. Julien Beaumer, 69 points
2. Haiden Deegan, 62
3. Jordon Smith, 60
8. Ryder DiFrancesco, 35
Cooper Rebounds at Anaheim 2 Supercross
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper overcame adversity to finish sixth at the Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, earning his best result thus far in the 2025 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. With rain changing the conditions before the start of the 450SX Main Event, Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb did not get off the gate as they had hoped but came back to finish seventh and eighth, respectively. Three rounds into the 17-round 450SX Championship and 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship, both riders are inside the top five, with Tomac sitting tied for third and Webb in fifth.
After a tough start to the night and his sophomore season in the premier class, Cooper rebounded and finished strong at Anaheim 2. He qualified sixth and then unfortunately, got a bad start in his heat race and finished 10th. In the LCQ, the New Yorker got a much better start to take the holeshot and the win. Despite having a less-than-ideal gate pick on the outside, Cooper got an amazing start to the main event. He grabbed the holeshot and led the first six laps of the race before ultimately getting shuffled to sixth, where he would finish for his best result so far this season.
Coming off of his big win in San Diego, Tomac qualified second and showed strength at the start of the night show, grabbing the holeshot and scoring his second-consecutive heat race win of 2025. Unfortunately, an increase in rain right before the start of the 450 Main Event made for challenging conditions, and the Colorado rider found himself near the back of the field. He quickly went to work and broke the top 10 five laps into the race and kept pushing to gain more positions. With five laps remaining, he passed his teammate and another rider to move into seventh, where he would finish, salvaging points on a tough night to tie for third in the standings and be within five points of the leader.
It was an up-and-down day for Webb, who qualified 12th but had a strong heat race. The North Carolina rider got a great start, slotting into second despite a less-than-ideal gate pick, and finished in the runner-up spot behind Tomac. In the main event, the conditions made for a challenging start, and he found himself 13th after the first lap. Webb put his head down and made his way to eighth by Lap 3. Although he was shuffled to ninth in the heat of battle with his teammate and another rider, he reclaimed eighth in the final laps to score valuable points and leave Southern California fifth in the standings and 10 points from the top spot.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to Glendale, Arizona, next weekend for the first Triple Crown of the season and Round 4 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Championship Series at the State Farm Stadium on February 1.
Rich Simmons – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“It was an up-and-down day here in Anaheim. We had a good heat race from Eli and Webb but a tough one for Justin. Then it was kind of a reverse story in the main event, with bad starts by Eli and Webb, and Justin rebounding and having an awesome main event. Looking at the big picture, we’re still in a good spot in the championship. Everybody at the top has had a bad race, and we can’t ride the highs and lows too much. We’ll regroup and rebound next week.”
Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“It was a rollercoaster of emotions tonight. I was pretty down after the heat race and I straight up couldn’t get my mind right. All the way up to the main, I was just dwelling on everything too much, but I was able to lock in for the main and somehow get the holeshot, which felt great. It was a great rebound. Everything was going downhill pretty fast, so to turn it around, I’m happy with that.
“It was a crazy race. We got a lot of rain heading to the start. I got out front and definitely was testing the limits because I wanted to run up front. I made a few mistakes and almost slid out a few times and then chilled out. I definitely tightened up a little bit. The track was tricky with the conditions, but overall, it was a good night.”
Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“It really came down to just a bad start tonight. We had rain before the main, and I ended up just spinning my rear tire really badly. I was almost dead last after the start, and I just did what I could to come back and was seventh. In the big picture for the series, we’re still going to be fine. So we’ll move on from this and keep our heads up.”
Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“It was a rough day here at A2. I just struggled all day, and our riding wasn’t quite there. In the main event, the rain came and I got a lot of wheel spin off the start. I didn’t ride too badly, but I was just buried and didn’t make my way forward that much. Eli and I made our way through there towards the end, and that’s kind of where we both ended up. We’ll regroup and get ready for the triple crown next week.”
Deegan and Davies Shine at Anaheim 2
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan returned to the top with a dominant performance at Anaheim 2, scoring his first win of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season and making championship gains in the 250SX West title fight. Joining him on the podium was rookie Cole Davies, who rode to a third-place finish in the tricky conditions from the rain that arrived during the main event at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. Their teammate Michael Mosiman continued his upward momentum at Round 3, also earning his best result of the season thus far in seventh.
Deegan qualified third and was third after the start of his heat race. The back-to-back 250SMX Champion threw down some fast laps and went on to score his second heat race win of the season. In the main event, he grabbed the holeshot, set a fast pace despite the challenging conditions, and built a gap up front to earn his first win of the season by a 4.5-second margin. The 19-year-old also made championship gains with his victory, advancing him to second in the 250SX West point standings and seven points from the top spot.
It was another strong performance from Davies, who qualified fourth and scored a runner-up finish in his heat race. In the main event, he was seventh after the first lap but kept pushing and made his way to fourth on Lap 6. The 17-year-old New Zealander continued to ride a strong race and would advance to third on the final lap after a rider ahead crashed. The rookie’s first career podium has him leaving Southern California fifth in the point standings and trailing the leader by 17 points.
Mosiman continued to make progress at the third round of the championship. He qualified fifth and got a good start to his heat race in second. The Californian battled to maintain the position and would cross the line second for a stellar 1-2 finish for the team. In the main event, he unfortunately got caught up in the chaos after the start and had an early crash. Mosiman rejoined at the back of the field and fought his way through the pack to earn his best result of the season in seventh.
Next weekend, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to Glendale, Arizona, for the first Triple Crown event of the season and Round 4 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX West Championship and the SuperMotocross World Championship Series at the State Farm Stadium on February 1.
Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“It was a great A2 for the team. All three guys qualified in the top five and had great heat races, with no one finishing worse than second, which was awesome. Haiden really came out swinging tonight. He rode great all day and won his heat race and the main. It’s great to leave here with 25 points and close some of the gap in the championship. It was also a great night for Cole, with his first podium in just his third pro race. It’s been great to see his progress this early. Michael made some more steps in the right direction. He had a good qualifying and heat race and had good speed, but unfortunately went down early in the race and came back to seventh. One more west coast round next week before we start with the east coast. We’ll keep working and look to have another good night in Glendale at the triple crown.”
Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38
“Today was solid. We had a pretty good qualifying and I felt really good on the bike. We worked hard this week to have the bike perfect and we got that. I finished first in the heat race and first in the main with a pretty big lead. That was the goal, and it feels good.”
Cole Davies – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #100
“I felt good today on the bike. The first qualifying wasn’t the greatest, but I reset and came out for the second qualifying and was fourth. I was second in the heat race and put up a bit of a battle in that one. Then I was seventh after the start of the main event, made a few passes for fourth, and then Smitty (Jordon Smith) went down on the last lap through the whoops. The track was gnarly. It was a good race and I got my first career podium, so I’m stoked about that.”
Michael Mosiman – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #93
“Anaheim 2 was another day of progress. I was second in free practice, and was closer to the top all day, and had pretty good speed. I had a good heat race and got a good start, but in the main, it unraveled a bit with chaos in the second turn. Davies was falling and I hit him and propped him back up. Then I started falling myself and a couple of guys ran into me. So I started from last and made it back to seventh. There were a lot of positives to take away. I was able to charge through the whole moto, so that felt good. I’m just happy to be healthy and continue to build. As long as we can stay healthy, I think we can be winning these things in no time.”
JORDON SMITH CHARGES HARD AT ANAHEIM 2
Triumph Racing Factory Team’s Jordon Smith has secured a hard-fought fourth-place result at round three of the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship, held in front of a near-capacity crowd at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium. Battling rain-soaked conditions aboard his TF 250-X, Smith’s strong performance sees him hold third in the 250SX West standings, just nine points off the championship lead.
Smith, riding a wave of momentum from rounds one and two, was quick to take control of third position in the 250SX main event. The race was a test of determination – consistent rainfall caused the slick surface to become more deceiving with each passing lap. Smith closed in on the runner-up spot as the race progressed and was poised to make a move on the final lap but made a costly error in the whoops section that put him on the ground.
Remounting to salvage fourth place, Smith has kept himself in title contention as the 250SX West halfway point looms. Classified third in the championship standings, he lies just two points from second and nine points adrift of the red plate.
Jordon Smith and the Triumph Racing Factory Team will strive to return to the 250SX West podium when AMA Supercross resumes in Glendale, Arizona, next weekend.
Jordon Smith:
“It was a pretty good day. I think that we made some really good progress as a team this week. It was unfortunate to go down whilst pushing for second, but luckily, we were able to get up in fourth and not lose too many points. It was a good day despite not being where we wanted to finish in the main. We will come back swinging for Glendale!”
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Jeremy Coker – General Manager, Triumph Racing America:
“Today was a good day from start to finish. Jordon was pushing hard for second with one lap to go and had an unfortunate crash but was able to get up and save fourth. We will go back to work this week and get back on the box next weekend.”
250SX West Results: 2025 AMA Supercross, Round Three – Anaheim 2
- Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
- Julien Beaumer (KTM)
- Cole Davies (Yamaha)
- Jordon Smith (Triumph)
- Coty Schock (Yamaha)
250SX West Standings: 2025 AMA Supercross, Round Three – Anaheim 2
- Julien Beaumer (KTM) 69ptsv
- Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 62pts
- Jordon Smith (Triumph) 60pts
- Jo Shimoda (Honda) 56pts
- Cole Davies (Yamaha) 52pts
SUZUKI’S KEN ROCZEN MOVES INTO SUPERCROSS POINTS LEAD
One rainy downpour and light drizzle inside Angel Stadium created low-traction conditions at the Anaheim 2 Supercross, Round 3 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. The track featured back-to-back whoop sections, and an especially steep tunnel jump in addition to the traditional Supercross jumps and bowl turns.
Race Highlights:
- Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
- Ken Roczen earned his second podium of the year with a second-place result; he climbed into the championship points lead.
- 450 Class
- Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
- Colt Nichols put in a strong charge late in the main to capture his season-best result.
- Kyle Chisholm earned his season-best overall qualifying position but a crash early in the racing unfortunately marred his race night.
- 450 Class
Ken Roczen (94) seemed to get better throughout the day at the Anaheim 2 Supercross even as track conditions worsened. The popular racer grabbed a top three start in his heat race and earned a good gate position for the main. As the racers prepared for the main event, a heavy rain shower turned the jump-filled track into a slick, treacherous racecourse. Roczen emerged from the first corner in eighth spot and instantly started his drive forward. Roczen put his Suzuki RM-Z450 into third place before the race’s midpoint and took over second place in the final laps. Roczen then gained on the leader but ran out of time to make a move for the win. His second-place result earned him enough points to jump from third to first in the title standings.
“The whole main event was really rad. I am beyond stoked to be on the podium,” said Roczen. “We’ve been putting in a lot of work. We tried a few things this week, and everything we did last night was a success. The work doesn’t stop, but I am going to enjoy the moment.”
Colt Nichols (45) charged forward in his heat race but missed reaching a direct transfer position by one spot. In the main event a rough opening lap put Nichols deep in the pack, but he expertly piloted his Suzuki to find traction on the slick track. Nichols gained positions until the checkered flag flew.
“A2 was a baby step, but nonetheless a step in the right direction for me,” reported Nichols. “It started off a little bit rough during the day and into the night program, having to go through the LCQ. We got through and into the main. But then I just kind of rode around; I could’ve executed some things better. But overall, it was a good step, so on to Glendale we go.”
Kyle Chisholm (11) put in a strong qualifying performance during the day. Chisholm emerged from the first corner of his heat race in fourth place, but a small miscalculation resulted in a big crash down the first lane of jumps. Chisholm recovered from the crash and lined up for the LCQ, but the minor injuries from the earlier crash prevented him from recapturing his earlier track speed.
“I stayed in California all week, so we got some good testing in with the team. We made some good improvements on the bike settings,” said Chisholm. “I qualified better, in practice I felt better, and in the heat race, man, I ripped a really good start. I was third or fourth, then from there it just went downhill. I clipped a Tuff Blox in the first rhythm section and went over the bars. I had to jump through the bars and bail off the bike. I was pretty banged up and beat up. I got some x-rays, everything was negative, but my heel had a pretty bad bruise. But looking at the positives: the bike’s in a good spot, I feel pretty good, we’ll try to get at least a day riding this week if my body feels up to it, and then we’ll come into Glendale and try to get back on track.”
“We raced Anaheim 2 this weekend, and the HEP team killed it,” exclaimed Larry Brooks, Team Manager of Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance. “Ken Roczen rode great. He finished second in the main event, which gave him the points lead. Didn’t really want to be leading the points this early in the season, but it is what it is, we’ll take it and try to work with it and keep the motivation going. Kyle Chisholm had a rough night. He fell in the heat race, stepped over the bars, and that was kind of the end of his night. Colt Nichols rode good. We’re just taking baby steps with him; he needs to get better starts but I think he did improve this week. He put it in the main event and rode well. He just needs to start off faster and sprint a little harder. So, it was a good night for the Suzuki team. We’re all happy. The whole team works their butts off and I can’t thank them enough.”
The 17-round Supercross season heads to Glendale, Arizona for Round 4 on Saturday, February 1st. The red number plate that marks the points leader will adorn Ken Roczen’s Suzuki RM-Z450. Roczen is no stranger to race wins and points leads, and he’s had the red plate on his Suzuki before. The Suzuki riders and team members are excited to return to the Arizona stadium where Roczen earned the race win in 2024.
Progressive AFT Announces Multi-Year Partnership with Lincoln Electric
Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, announced that it has signed a five-year agreement with Lincoln Electric to remain as the Official Welder of Progressive AFT through the 2029 season.
Founded in 1895 by brothers John C. and James F. Lincoln in Cleveland, Ohio, with an initial $200 investment, Lincoln Electric invented and launched its first variable voltage arc welder in 1911. This innovation set the stage for more than a century of success to follow, and today Lincoln Electric is firmly established as the global leader in arc welding and cutting.
Lincoln Electric utilizes the most advanced welding processes to meet the precision, durability, and repeatability requirements necessary to excel in the most competitive arenas, including motorsports. The company offers a vast array of high-tech welding processes and automated solutions that are widely used across numerous industries, ranging from automotive/transportation to general and heavy fabrication, offshore, power generation, pipeline, and more.
2025 marks the third consecutive season Lincoln Electric has teamed with Progressive American Flat Track in a partnership that is now set to continue through the end of the decade.
For more information on Lincoln Electric visit LincolnElectric.com.
Progressive American Flat Track will kick off the Grand National Championship with the DAYTONA Short Track I & II 2025 double season opener on Thursday, March 6th, and Friday, March 7th, at Daytona International Speedway. Click HERE to secure your tickets today.
For more information on Progressive AFT visit AmericanFlatTrack.com.
Rekluse and Wiseco Continue as Official Partners of Progressive American Flat Track with Two-Year Renewal
Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is excited to announce two-year partnerships with Rekluse Motor Sports, Inc, and Wiseco Performance Products to continue as the Official Clutch and Official Piston of Progressive American Flat Track, respectively, for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Sister companies under the Race Winning Brands (RWB) umbrella, Rekluse and Wiseco boast a long tradition of involvement in the sport; Rekluse formally came on board as a partner of Progressive AFT an official capacity in 2017 with Wiseco following suit the following year. Both brands will up their support of the series this season with the introduction of two new awards that will feature at each round.
The Rekluse Clutch Move of the Race awards a $250 product certificate to the AFT Singles presented by KICKER rider who pulls off the best racing maneuver or save in any given Main Event.
And the Wiseco Warrior Award will see the Mission AFT SuperTwins pilot who overcomes the most adversity during the event rewarded with a $250 product certificate.
Founded in 2002, Rekluse changed the game in clutch performance technology. Known for its line of innovative clutch products engineered, developed, and manufactured in Boise, Idaho, Rekluse uses the highest-quality materials and sophisticated design technologies to provide remarkable performance and durability. Providing a difference in acceleration, drive, and control a rider can feel, Rekluse clutches are proven winners at the pinnacle of motorcycle dirt track racing competition.
Dating all the way back to 1940 and originally started in Clyde Wiseman’s garage, Wiseco was created with the specific intent of building performance pistons that could win races. More than eight decades later, Wiseco is still doing exactly that. Its long history in the Grand National Championship is equally impressive, powering Scott Parker to the first of his record 94 premier-class race wins at the DuQuoin Mile back in 1979. Utilizing state-of-the-art forging technology in its 150,000 sq. ft., ISO 9000-certified forging facility in Mentor, Ohio, Wiseco has continued its winning tradition ever since.
For more information on Rekluse, visit Rekluse.com.
For more information on Wiseco, visit Wiseco.com.
Progressive American Flat Track will kick off a new era of the Grand National Championship with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA double season opener on Thursday, March 6, and Friday, March 7, at Daytona International Speedway.
To purchase Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I tickets, click HERE.
To purchase Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II tickets, click HERE.
And to save $10 by purchasing Thursday and Friday tickets together via the Multi-Day Discount for the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II, click HERE.
To purchase the American Super Ticket, visit this site.
Jett Lawrence Earns His First Win of the Season, at Anaheim 2 SX
Honda HRC Progressive returned to Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, this weekend for the third round of AMA Supercross, where Jett Lawrence claimed his first 450SX main-event win of the season, while Hunter Lawrence put in a solid ride to secure fifth. Jo Shimoda continued to demonstrate resilience, battling through injury for a respectable sixth-place finish in the 250SX West main event.
Hunter and Jett Lawrence both got off to excellent starts in the 450SX main, slotting into second and third, respectively, after the first turn. Both riders dropped positions early on, but Jett was in control of second by around the one-third mark, with Hunter sixth. Jett dogged the leading Jason Anderson until about two-thirds of race distance, when he drag-raced him through the whoops, setting up a block pass in the following turn. Once by, Jett quickly established a small cushion, eventually winning by two-and-a-half seconds. Meanwhile, Hunter maintained a steady pace despite challenging competition, finishing in fifth.
In the rain-affected 250SX main event, Jo Shimoda continued to showcase his determination, riding through the pain of his injured hand. After starting in eighth, the Japanese rider lost a couple of spots and then executed a pair of clean passes to finish sixth, earning valuable points and maintaining his consistency in the championship fight. SLR Honda’s Parker Ross had a solid performance, riding in the top 10 for much of the race before finishing 12th—the best result of his career.
NOTES
- After notching a respectable fifth-place finish last week despite suffering from illness, Hunter Lawrence continued to feel under the weather the next couple of days. However, with a combination of sauna time and red-light therapy, his condition improved considerably during the week, and he felt quite well coming into Anaheim 2.
- Having spent the week between the first two rounds in California testing, both Lawrence brothers spent the week before Anaheim 2 at home in Florida, although rain reduced riding time considerably.
- After suffering two broken fingers at the San Diego Supercross, Jo Shimoda stayed off the bike all week and instead focused on training, as well as undergoing PEMF therapy sessions to reduce the inflammation. As he did last week, Shimoda’s mechanic Ben Griffith installed a single Cycra handguard on his rider’s bike. Shimoda is expected to once again avoid riding during the week before round 4.
- Shimoda is expected to once again avoid riding during the week before round 4.
- Jett and Hunter Lawrence took part in Friday’s Media Day before joining other riders on an abbreviated version of the track, allowing them some time to familiarize themselves with it.
- Huntington Beach Honda, a popular Southern California Powerhouse dealer, set up a pop-up activation booth in the Honda HRC Progressive pits, where they displayed a CRF450RL and a CRF110F, and engaged with fans and customers.
- Jett Lawrence was fastest overall in the 450 qualifying sessions, while Hunter Lawrence was eighth. Jo Shimoda was 10th-quickest in 250SX West. Also of note was Phoenix Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis, who was 11th in 450SX.
- Hunter Lawrence met and exchanged jerseys with Landon Knack, a Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher who (like Hunter) wears number 96. Shortly after, Jett and Hunter met and bench-raced with Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson, who drives a Honda HRC-powered Red Bull F1 car.
- During the opening ceremonies, Hunter Lawrence was introduced with a new video, featuring him recreating Lightning McQueen’s intro from the movie Cars.
- Shimoda had a strong start in the first 250SX heat race, running second early on before finishing in fourth to secure a spot in the main event. Also advancing through the heats was SLR Honda rider Parker Ross. Phoenix Racing Honda rider Gavin Towers topped the last-chance qualifier, advancing to the main event.
- In the first 450SX heat race, Hunter Lawrence started in fourth before finishing third. Jett had a strong start in the second heat, settling into second and eventually finishing there, after pushing Jason Anderson for most of the race. Phoenix Honda Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis qualified through his heat race, as did Quadlock Honda Racing’s Shane McElrath and Joey Savatgy.
- Jett Lawrence had the fastest lap time of the 450SX main event. Also impressive was the reigning champ’s consistency, with 13 of his 22 laps falling in the 1’00” range.
- Following his victory, Jett participated in the post-race press conference. Anaheim 2 marked the ninth victory of his young 450SX career, and his 12th podium result in the class.
- Next up, Honda HRC Progressive heads to Glendale, Arizona, for AMA Supercross round 4 this Saturday. It will be the first Triple Crown event of the season.
- For the first three races, the Honda HRC Progressive trucks have been returning to the team’s Torrance, California, race shop between rounds. However, following round 3, the trucks spent Sunday in Anaheim while the mechanics rebuilt the race bikes, then the drivers hit the road directly to Glendale, Arizona, for round 4. The trucks will now stay on the road for the remainder of the AMA Supercross season.
2025 SMX Next – Motocross to Feature Scouting Moto Combine Events at Hangtown, RedBud, and Ironman
MX Sports Pro Racing, in conjunction with the SMX LeagueTM, has announced the details of SMX Next – Motocross for the 2025 season, which will consist of a trio of Scouting Moto Combine presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare events. The outdoor component of SMX Next will run in conjunction with three rounds of the upcoming Pro Motocross Championship sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The first Scouting Moto Combine event will take place at the Hangtown Motocross Classic on May 30, followed by the second at the RedBud National on July 4, and concluding with the Ironman National on August 8.
The SMX Next program combines the three Scouting Moto Combines with Feld Motor Sports’ five-race SMX Next – Supercross program and culminates with the SMX Next World All-Stars during the SMX World ChampionshipTM Playoffs for a season-long collaborative effort to cultivate the development of top prospects from the talent-laden amateur level of the sport. SMX Next will officially commence for the 2025 season this Saturday at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship round from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, which will host the first SMX Next – Supercross event of the year.
“SMX Next continues to be one of the most groundbreaking initiatives this sport has implemented in its illustrious history, as it has greatly benefited the ongoing development and skill progression of the sport’s most promising young athletes,” said Jim Perry, Program Director for the Scouting Moto Combine. “The Scouting Moto Combine has played an integral part in the success of the program and will expand to include three events for the 2025 season, with the focus on providing more opportunities for the next generation of racers to experience competition at the highest level. We’re eager to bring together a new collection of prospects this outdoor season and provide them with proven hands-on guidance that has fostered a wealth of success at the professional level.”
California’s Prairie City SVRA will host the top amateur prospects
in the world for the first time on May 30th.
Photo Courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Each Scouting Moto Combine event will take place on Friday, the eve of each respective National, bringing together 25 up-and-coming prospects from the highly competitive ranks of amateur motocross. Many of the racers boast a decorated résumé filled with success at various AMA Amateur Motocross Majors as well as the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, affectionately known as Loretta Lynn’s. At the Combine, athletes are aligned with a group of riders coaches who offer mentorship, insight, and guidance into professional racing. This esteemed collective of coaches includes the likes of AMA Hall of Famer Broc Glover, former multi-time champion Chad Reed, and other championship caliber stalwarts from years past. In addition to coaching, Combine participants receive education on other aspects of competition such as health, fitness, and nutrition, as well as media engagement.
Festivities for the 4th of July will feature a showcase of the most
elite amateur racers on the planet at Michigan’s RedBud MX.
Photo Courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
The group of prospects is determined through a collaborative effort with American motocross’ competing manufacturers in GASGAS, Honda, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha. While the Combine is a focal point each Friday at the selected events, its inclusion extends into the fanfare of Saturday’s National with a commemorative parade lap in front of the thousands of fans in attendance.
2025 SMX Next – Motocross // Scouting Moto Combine Events
| May 30 | Hangtown Motocross Classic | Rancho Cordova, CA |
| July 4 | RedBud National | Buchanan, MI |
| August 8 | Ironman National | Crawfordsville, IN |
The motorsports mecca of the greater Indianapolis area will welcome the best amateur athletes from across the globe to Indiana’s Ironman Raceway on August 8th.
Photo Courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
The growing list of graduates from the Scouting Moto Combine and SMX Next as a whole continue to make a significant impact at the professional level, led by its most successful alum in reigning back-to-back SMX World Champion and defending Pro Motocross 250 Class Champion Haiden Deegan. At the most recent round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in Anaheim, California, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider led a 250SX Class podium comprised of a trio of SMX Next graduates that also included Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer, in second, and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rookie Cole Davies, last year’s SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Champion, in third for his maiden podium result. Beaumer, who captured his first career victory just two weeks ago, currently sits atop the 250SX West Region standings in possession of the red plate.
SMX Next graduates (from L to R) Julien Beaumer, Haiden Deegan, and Cole Davies swept the 250SX Class podium at last weekend’s Supercross round in Anaheim, California.
Photo Courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
