This Week in Powersports Racing – The week of February 2, 2025

This week in US Powersports racing.

Chase Sexton Back On Top with Glendale Supercross Victory – Jordon Smith Gives Triumph Racing a Historic Win in 250SX Class

Glendale, Ariz., (February 2, 2025) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton took the overall win at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season’s first Triple Crown event with (3-3-2) Race scores inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. After winning the opener, Sexton took back the points lead at Round 4 of the Supercross Championship, which also serves as Round 4 of the SMX Word Championship™.

State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona provided the season’s first Triple Crown event. The racing was close throughout the 3-Race format on a track that provided huge jumps, rhythm lane options, and a high-speed sand section. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb grabbed his second podium of the season after starting the night with a win in Race 1. Webb’s Race scores of (1-5-3) were good for second overall. The red-plate holder coming into Glendale, Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen earned a victory in Race 2 and rounded off the podium with third place overall and (4-1-5) Race scores. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac won Race 3 and took fourth overall with (6-4-1) finishes. Defending Monster Energy Supercross Champion and Reigning SMX World Champion Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence was in a good position entering Race 3, but a dab on the ground ended his night at the second corner with a (2-2-DNF) for eighth overall. After the race his team reported that he’d felt a strong, unfamiliar pain in his knee and pulled off; it was unclear what this means, but there was optimism that he’ll be back on the track at the next round. In the Western Regional 250SX Class, the sport’s history books were opened up and Triumph added its name to the winner’s list thanks to Triumph Racing’s Jordon Smith’s fast and consistent (2-3-1) Race performances and the overall 250SX Class victory.

Second place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “It’s been a rough go here in this stadium… I’ve heard it all week how I suck here, so everyone can shut up now… Honestly, I had a lot of fun today. I turned the page. It was so close – one point from a win and I won a [Race], so I’m stoked with the night. We’ll keep the ball rolling as we head east. Those are my conditions that we’re headed to now, and I’m super stoked with everything.” – Cooper Webb, in reference to doubters and his sub-par past finishes at the Glendale round.

Third place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “I did know that I had to get [Justin] Barcia [in Race 3] for the [overall] podium, but I kept messing up the rhythm in the middle of the track. So I would yo-yo with Justin, and honestly almost didn’t think I was going to get him, but then with two laps to go I just left it all out there and absolutely went for it… I’m stoked to be back on the podium, and I guess it’s a breath of fresh air to be kind of bummed [with a podium], because I feel like I let a better spot slip away, along with the red plate. But overall, I gave 100% every Race, and there are a lot of positives to take away from here… we’re going to fight back next weekend and hopefully snag that red plate again from Chase.” – Ken Roczen

In Western Regional 250SX Class racing, Jordon Smith’s consistency earned himself and the Triumph Racing team the win. Smith becomes the fourth racer in four rounds to win, and Triumph becomes the fourth manufacturer to put their bike atop the 250SX podium this season. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan had speed enough for consistent (3-2-4) Race finishes and second overall. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies was having a break-out ride in his fourth professional Supercross. The young New Zealand rider earned wins in Race 1 and Race 2, but a big crash in Race 3 put him at the back of the pack. Davies charged through the pack and his (1-1-8) Race scores earned him the third spot on the podium. Points leader Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer had two crashes while leading the first two Races. He kept it on two wheels in Race 3 and used (4-7-2) scores to earn fourth overall in Glendale and retain the points lead.

First place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “It’s unbelievable to get the first win for the Triumph brand… It feels good to be up here and get the win. The track got very tricky. [The track crew] didn’t touch those whoops since this morning so they were treacherous, but it’s just unbelievable to get this win. The bike is amazing. I think a lot of people may have questioned me leaving Star, but I believed in these guys from day one and we worked our butts off all [during the] off-season and it really shows. I’m just so happy to be back up here on the top step.” – Jordon Smith

Second place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “It was a good ride today. I’m happy with it, P2 on the day. Obviously congrats to Smitty, that’s big for him and that’s super cool. Two week break now [for the 250SX West division] and we’ll come out swinging at the next round.” – Haiden Deegan

Third place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “I didn’t get off to a great start [in Race 3]. A rider landed on a Tuff Blox and it [moved] and landed in front of me. Then I landed on the Tuff Blox. There’s not much I could have done other than getting a better start. But I fought back, I did the best I could, so [I gained] a lot of confidence going to Arlington. I’m going to work hard during this break.” – Cole Davies, explaining his crash on the first rhythm section in Race 3.

Fourth place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “I’m frustrated for sure. Both of those mistakes were on me; I got two perfect starts and ruined them. I went down, it’s all on me. I made the mistakes tonight and had to fight from the back. I’m happy with my salvage, happy with how I rode, I just can’t make those mistakes anymore.” – Julien Beaumer

The Glendale Supercross kicked off the SMX Next season, which gives the sport’s superstars of tomorrow an opportunity to compete on a professional Supercross track in front of a stadium of enthusiastic fans. Kawasaki Team Green’s Landen Gordon came out on top after an incredible battle that saw three lead changes in one lap. Kawasaki Team Green’s Enzo Temmerman battled into the runner up spot late in the race that was interrupted by a red flag. EBR Altus Yamaha’s Landon Hartz was a threat for the win but had to settle for a third-place finish at the checkered.

First place SMX Next Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. “I wouldn’t say I had the whoops quite dialed in, but everything else was great. I rode really consistently; I’m proud of myself for that and I’m proud of how far I’ve come.” – Landen Gordon, in response to a podium comment that he looked great in the whoops.

The Glendale Supercross launched the 2025 Love Moto Stop Cancer campaign, part of an ongoing partnership between St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. Race fans can support this great cause, and also help spread the message with a t-shirt offer through this text-to-donate campaign. In 2024 the Supercross community raised over $500,000 for the St. Jude mission. To get involved please text “SUPER” to 785-833 or go to the St. Jude Donation Page.

The Monster Energy AMA Supercross streaming and broadcast coverage has been setting new records. The early rounds of the 2025 season delivered three straight weeks of record-setting viewership. Helping that is the expansive availability of the racing action. Every race is available live and on-demand on Peacock. NBC, CNBC, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital platforms will also broadcast events, with CNBC airing an encore presentation on the Monday following each race at 1:00a.m. ET. Telemundo Deportes’ Facebook and YouTube channels provide coverage with Spanish-language commentators. Fans outside of the US can find International coverage through the SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv); it delivers live coverage of each round in English, Spanish and French languages. NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85 bring live audio coverage for fans on to go but still looking for a taste of that live-action experience.

The Supercross season continues east to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida next weekend. The racing starts at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 8^th for Round 5, which also marks the start of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship. Video highlights, a live qualifying display, race results, and ticket sales are available at SupercrossLIVE.com. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoffs and Final are on pre-sale now and will be on-sale to the public on Tuesday, February 4^th. For more information and ticket sales please go to SupercrossLIVE.com.

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING’S CHASE SEXTON RECLAIMS 450SX RED PLATE WITH GLENDALE WIN

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Chase Sexton has climbed back to the top of the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship 450SX standings with a winning performance at Glendale’s State Farm Stadium to complete the first Triple Crown event of the season.

Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Sexton became the first two-time winner of the year by securing victory tonight, using consistent 3-3-2 results across the trio of Main Events to stand on top of the premier class podium.

After qualifying second fastest, the 25-year-old worked his way forward in the first two races to finish with a pair of P3 results. A strong start in the final encounter saw Sexton take the early lead, before he ultimately took the checkered flag in second position to earn the overall.

In terms of the championship standings, Sexton now holds a two-point advantage as the Supercross series heads east to Tampa for Round 5 next weekend.

Chase Sexton: “The track was really gnarly and dry, but I had fun racing with the guys tonight. In the first two races, I really made it hard on myself with terrible starts, and that made my life difficult – especially with the short races. I finally got a start in the last final when I needed it and finished that one in second. I feel like I rode really well tonight apart from a mistake in the final race, but other than that, it was solid. I’m pumped to get the overall and to get the red plate back!”

Also in the 450SX Class, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Aaron Plessinger equaled his best finish of the season with ninth overall after three intense finals.

Plessinger recorded the 12th-fastest qualifying time, before finishing with 10-7-9 scores in the Triple Crown races to claim ninth overall, moving to P15 in the point standings as a result.

Aaron Plessinger: “Glendale was a step in the right direction. I was struggling in practice, but in qualifying I figured a little something out. I got a decent jump off the gate to the first race, but went off the track on the first lap and had to come back from last up to 10th. In the second final, I was up there battling with everyone for seventh, which was better. In the last one, I got a decent start, but I didn’t really capitalize on it and got shuffled back early on. Overall, I finished the night, but I’ve got some more work to do before Tampa and we’ll come out swinging.”

At his home race on the schedule, 250SX West red plate-holder Julien Beaumer finished fourth overall at State Farm Stadium and held onto the points lead entering a short break for the Western Region.

Onboard the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, the spectacular teenager qualified first and launched to the holeshot of the first two Triple Crown races. Errors on the opening lap of both races forced him to work his way forward to instrumental P4 and P7 results.

Race three saw Beaumer charge his way from a top-eight start to cross the finish line with a P2 result. When the three race results were combined, ‘JuJu’ left Glendale with P4 and continues to lead the championship by two points.

Julien Beaumer: “It was a tough night. I made too many mistakes at the start of the first two finals and found myself on the ground. I’m frustrated to say the least, but we salvaged a lot of points tonight and we still have the red plate. I’m happy to still have the series lead coming out of this one and to salvage as many points as I did.”

Next Race: February 8 – Tampa, Florida

Results 450SX Class – Glendale
1. Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)
3. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
7. Justin Hill (KTM)
9. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
10. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
12. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
19. Anthony Rodriguez (KTM)

Standings 450SX Class 2025 after 4 of 17 rounds
1. Chase Sexton, 84 points
2. Ken Roczen, 82
3. Eli Tomac, 75
8. Justin Barcia, 52
9. Malcolm Stewart, 52
11. Justin Hill, 45
15. Aaron Plessinger, 26

Results 250SX West Class – Glendale
1. Jordon Smith (Triumph)
2. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
3. Cole Davies (Yamaha)
4. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
11. Lux Turner (KTM)
16. Joshua Varize (KTM)

Standings 250SX West Class 2025 after 4 of 10 rounds
1. Julien Beaumer, 87 points
2. Jordon Smith, 85
3. Haiden Deegan, 84
11. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS), 35
13. Lux Turner, 33
20. Joshua Varize, 12

SMX Next Class – Glendale
1. Landen Gordon (Kawasaki)
2. Enzo Temmerman (Kawasaki)
3. Landon Hartz (Yamaha)
7. Luke Fauser (KTM)
11. Wyatt Thurman (KTM)
16. Jeremy Fappani (KTM)

JUSTIN BARCIA RIDES THE TRIPLE CROWN ROLLERCOASTER AT GLENDALE SUPERCROSS

Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia showed flashes of his true colors at the Glendale round of the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship, charging to a P6 result in one of the three Triple Crown races.

Justin Barcia surges from the back of the field in first race
Sixth-place finish in the final 450SX race saw him finish 12th overall
Bam Bam currently sits eighth in the series standings

A troubled qualifying session gave Barcia an outside gate pick for the three Triple Crown finals, and a tough start to the first race saw him round the first turn at the back of the field.

Racing the GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition, Bam Bam went on a trademark charge up to 12th, then replicated that result again in the second final. The 32-year-old saved his best for last in the final outing, where he ran as high as P2, then held his own to finish sixth.

Those combined results saw him finish the round in 12th overall, and he’s now holding down eighth place on the 450SX points ladder following Round 4 inside State Farm Stadium.

Justin Barcia: “Glendale was a rollercoaster and I don’t like rollercoasters [laughs]! I actually felt really good in qualifying, but was slower than I was hoping, and that set me up for a bad gate-pick in the first race. I got an average start and had to charge through the pack from last up to 12th. The second race I got a better start, but rode a little tight and finished 12th again. That wasn’t much fun, but I almost holeshot the last race and mixed it up with the guys I belong with, so came home with a sixth. It definitely wasn’t the weekend we wanted, but we’re moving forward and know what we need to work on before we head to the East Coast.”

Next Race: February 8 – Tampa, Florida

Results 450SX Class – Glendale

1. Chase Sexton (KTM)

2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)

3. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)

9. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)

10. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)

12. Justin Barcia (Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing)

Standings 450SX Class 2025 after 4 of 17 rounds

1. Chase Sexton, 84 points

2. Ken Roczen, 82

3. Eli Tomac, 75

8. Justin Barcia, 52

9. Malcolm Stewart, 52

15. Aaron Plessinger, 26

Standings 250SX West Class 2025 after 4 of 10 rounds

1. Julien Beaumer, 87 points

2. Jordon Smith, 85

3. Haiden Deegan, 84

11. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS), 35

Top 10 form continues for Malcolm Stewart in Glendale Triple Crown

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart completed the first of the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship Triple Crown rounds with a hard-fought 10th position overall tonight in Glendale, Arizona.

Stewart started the day strongly in qualifying, putting his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition in sixth place on combined times.

The 32-year-old took a pair of strong starts in the opening races, crossing the holeshot line in P2 on both occasions. He finished the first of three finals in P7, but mishaps in the remaining two races around an increasingly demanding, technical circuit saw him cross the line with two P11 finishes.

When the results were tallied, Stewart wrapped up Glendale in 10th overall – his fourth top 10 result of the series so far – and now sits ninth in the 450SX standings as the championship heads to his home round in Tampa, Florida, next Saturday.

“Glendale has always treated me well and I had a really good qualifying session,” reflected Stewart. “I got off to a great start to the first race and I just tried to hang with those guys, but got shuffled back, and ended up seventh. I got another start in the second final, but it was a tougher one for me. The intensity was really high and if you’re not feeling it, things can happen really quick. I didn’t get the best start to the last one, but I was trying to come through the pack before I went down. I got back up and just tried to salvage what I could, so ended up 11th. I learned a lot in that race and we’re going to bring that energy to my home round at Tampa – let’s get this 27 back up on the podium.”

Honda Unveils Record-Breaking Red Rider Rewards Program

American Honda is proud to announce its updated Red Rider Rewards program for the 2025 season, with an industry-leading available contingency. This generous package is available to racers of a variety of disciplines, demonstrating Honda’s dedication to supporting competitors at all levels.

Honda supports over 190 race series across the U.S., with more than 1,425 events spanning 11 disciplines, including AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross, AMA Arenacross, amateur motocross, various forms of off-road racing, flat track, road racing, and side-by-side racing. In total, there are nearly $16.5 million in possible payouts offered.

Covered Honda models include the CRF Performance line, the CBR family of sport bikes, Talon sport side-by-sides and more.

For 2025, Honda has transitioned the Red Rider Rewards program to the industry-proven Brandecation race-contingency platform. The new platform delivers a smooth user experience to help with checking and using race earnings, whether using a computer, smartphone or tablet. All participants must register with the new platform by logging on to HondaRideRed.com and clicking “enroll.”

“We’re excited to continue to grow the Red Rider Rewards program each year, as we want to reward our customers for their efforts,” said Jeff Weiner, Assistant Manager of Racing at American Honda. “Honda has a tradition of success in all facets of racing, and we want to encourage racers to Ride Red. We look forward to seeing how our Red Riders perform this season, and to rewarding them for their efforts.”

In addition to the Red Rider Rewards contingency program, Honda offers trackside support at many races, through partnerships with JCR Honda, SLR Honda, Phoenix Racing Honda, Honda Talon Factory Racing and DR Powersports.

For more information, visit the updated Red Rider Rewards page.

MONSTER ENERGY® KAWASAKI RIDERS FIGHT HARD AT TRIPLE CROWN OPENER AS TEAM GREEN™ DOMINATES SMX NEXT

CONSECUTIVE SUPERCROSS PODIUMS FOR TRIUMPH FACTORY RACING

Glendale, Arizona, hosted the fourth round and the first Triple Crown of the 2025 season. Smith started the three-race format with 2-3 scores and was positioned to capitalise when the final stint launched into life. Starting second, thanks to the competitive power of his TF 250-X, he quickly moved into the lead and controlled the race to win.

It was a terrific ride and one that underlined the leap forward that Triumph Factory Racing has made in its sophomore AMA Supercross season. Now a supercross winner in Triumph colours, Smith’s moved to second in the 250SX West championship standings. Just two points separate him from the red plate.

With a break in the 250SX West calendar, Austin Forkner is set to make his Triumph Factory Racing debut and launch his own title bid as 250SX East kicks off next weekend at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on February 8. Austin Forkner will make his Triumph Factory Racing debut at the Raymond James Stadium and strive to launch his own title bid.

Jordon Smith: “This is unbelievable, man. Huge thanks to the whole team – everyone – as we made great decisions all day. Everything was just perfect. It was a flawless day. It feels incredible to get the first win for Triumph and we are only just getting started. The only way is up from here.”

Jeremy Coker – General Manager, Triumph Racing America: “What an amazing night! To be a part of this history is something special. To get the first win in the way that we did – and as fast as we did – is amazing. People do not understand that we have not even raced this bike for a whole year nor have we scratched the surface. There will be many more of these in the future. I want to thank Triumph for putting their trust in me and assembling such a fantastic team.”

Ian Kimber – Head of Global Racing Programmes: “What an incredible night! Jordon and the team have made history in the sport for Triumph! We’ve accomplished a lot in the short time we’ve been competing with the TF 250-X in SuperMotocross – from building a worldclass facility, putting together a race team, to developing bikes in a new segment for our company that can compete with the best at the highest level of Supercross competition. Tonight saw everything that we have been working towards come together, and I know that everyone in the factory is going to be immensely proud of this achievement. We’d like to say a huge thank you to our partners and everyone that’s been involved with this project; let’s enjoy this moment to celebrate this huge success.”

Nick Bloor – CEO, Triumph Motorcycles: “What a great moment for Triumph! Jordon standing on the top step is testament to the dedication of all our staff who work on our off-road projects. The team has worked incredibly hard to get to this point, and this victory is the result of all of their efforts. Congratulations to the whole Triumph team!”

250SX West Results: 2025 AMA Supercross, Round Four – Glendale

1. Jordon Smith (Triumph) 2-3-1

2. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 3-2-4

3. Cole Davies (Yamaha) 1-1-8

4. Julien Beaumer (KTM) 4-7-2

5. Michael Mosiman (Yamaha) 6-4-3

250SX West Standings: 2025 AMA Supercross, Round Four – Glendale

1. Julien Beaumer (KTM) 87pts

2. Jordon Smith (Triumph) 85pts

3. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 84pts

4. Cole Davies (Yamaha) 72pts

5. Jo Shimoda (Honda) 68pts

Webb Earns Runner-Up Finish in Glendale

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb scored a career-best Glendale Supercross 450SX result, earning a race win and a runner-up overall finish (1-5-3) at the first Monster Energy AMA Supercross Triple Crown event of the season. His teammate Eli Tomac also scored a main event win at State Farm Stadium but ultimately was one point shy of the final podium spot, ending the night fourth overall (6-4-1). The duo leaves Round 4 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship in the thick of the title fight, with Tomac sitting third and Webb fourth. Justin Cooper salvaged points on a challenging night in Glendale, Arizona, finishing 13th (13-13-10).

Webb qualified ninth and then came out swinging for the night show, grabbing the holeshot in the first main event and leading from start to finish. Unfortunately, he did not get off the gate as he had hoped in the second main event and was 11th after the first lap, but he went to work and crossed the line fifth. In the final race of the night, the North Carolina rider was sixth after the first lap and made his way to third on Lap 4, where he would finish to secure second overall. Webb also moved up in the championship rankings to fourth and is within 10 points of the leader.

Tomac topped the timesheets in the first practice session and qualified third. Unfortunately, he did not get the starts he was hoping for in the first two main events and found himself towards the back of the field. Undeterred, he ran a quick pace in the 12-minute-plus-one-lap main events, charging to a sixth and fourth-place finish. In the final main event of the night, Tomac got a much better start, claimed the lead on the second lap, and rode on to victory. The Colorado rider ultimately was just shy of the overall podium but scored valuable points in fourth and advanced to third in the championship, trailing the top spot by nine points.

It was a tough day for Cooper in Glendale. He qualified 10th in the tricky conditions and then didn’t get off the gate as he had hoped and was back in 17th after the first lap. He put his head down and did what he could, but ultimately finished 13th. It was another difficult start to the 450SX Main Event 2, with the New Yorker coming from the back to 13th. In the final race of the night, Cooper improved to a 10th-place finish to score 13th overall.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads east to Tampa, Florida, for Round 5 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Championship Series at Raymond James Stadium on February 8.

Rich Simmons – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“Coming into Glendale, we knew there was going to be a lot of talk about Webb’s not-so-good stats there, so the goal was to put that to rest, and he did just that with a win in race one and second overall. Eli had great speed again but was plagued by bad starts in the first two races. I am proud of him and the team for staying positive and getting the start and the win in the third race. Unfortunately, we just missed the podium by one point. With Justin starting in the back in all three races, he never got to show his speed that we see during the week, but we’ll work on that before Tampa and get him in the mix. A big thanks to the team, as these triple crowns are a lot of work, especially for the mechanics, and we can’t get the results without a full team effort!”

Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“It was a great night. We were able to get a main event win and I was able to get on the podium in second place, which was amazing. I just rode great all night. Although qualifying wasn’t great, it was good to get some laps in and get some mojo here. This place historically has been a rough time for me, so I’m stoked with second on the night. We’re right in the points and heading to Florida, which is home for me.”

Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“We had a very strong finish. It’s just unfortunate that I had two bad starts on the day. I made a ton of passes and had some really good riding once again; I just have to fix these starts. That’s all it comes down to. Otherwise, I’m super comfortable. I’ve been making a lot of great passes, and my speed is outstanding. So I’m just moving forward to next weekend and going to get these starts dialed in.”

Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“The day was tough. I kind of hovered around 10th and didn’t get the starts tonight. I made a lot of passes, but I literally started from around last in all of them. That’s how it goes sometimes. All we can do is keep our heads up and move on to next weekend.”

SUZUKI’S ROCZEN WINS RACE 2 AND TAKES THIRD OVERALL AT GLENDALE SUPERCROSS TRIPLE CROWN EVENT

Round 4 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship provided the first of three Triple Crown races of 2025. The Triple Crown format combines overall results from three 12-minute plus one lap Races to pay single-event points for the night’s overall rankings. State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona provided a hard pack track full of spectacular jumps under the domed stadium roof.

Race Highlights:

Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
  - Ken Roczen dominated Race 2 en route to a third-place overall result. He sits just two points out of the championship lead.
Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
  - Colt Nichols was strong and steady and moved up in the point standings.
  - Kyle Chisholm brought home his season-best finish at the Glendale Supercross.

Ken Roczen (94) was fast from the first laps on the track, posting his season-best qualifying sessions and overall qualifying result. In Race 1 Roczen moved forward from a sixth-place start. He battled up to third, but ultimately settled for a fourth-place result. In Race 2 Roczen had a scary moment on the start when his foot caught the inside track marker; Roczen recovered without losing time and grabbed the holeshot. Roczen led every lap, pulling out a cushion of over 4 seconds at one point and later responding to pressure in the final laps to take the win. In Race 3, Roczen had to climb forward from a mid-pack start. With a lap and a half remaining, Roczen used an outside line to launch a quadruple jump and rocket his RM-Z450 into fifth spot. The pass earned Roczen this third event podium of the season.

“Last night was some good racing,” reflected Roczen the day after the event. “The track was awesome. It got more and more difficult toward the end of the night. I made the pass on (Justin) Barcia in the third race for the podium. I am stoked to be back on the box and am looking forward to Tampa this weekend.”

Colt Nichols (45) earned his season-best result in the daytime-run LCQ for a transfer into the night show; he delivered his impressive LCQ ride shortly after a big crash in qualifying. In the first Race, Nichols crossed the holeshot stripe mid-pack then battled for position throughout the Race. Nichols seemed to pick up speed as the track broke down; in the final Race, Nichols turned his worst start into his strongest Race finish.

“Glendale was a tough weekend for me,” admitted Nichols. “I had a big crash in the last qualifying session, so it was a little bit of just playing survival, but it happens like that sometimes. I fought hard in all three – races just need to get out of the gate better. I’m excited for Tampa.”

Kyle Chisholm (11) and his Twisted Tea Suzuki found the fast way around the Glendale track; he earned his best qualifying position so far in the 2025 season. Chisholm used that track speed to recover from a poor start and move forward during Race 1. Chisholm was on pace in Race 2 and 3 and put together matching finishes across all three Races and his overall result.

“With the Triple Crown format, getting into the races comes down to doing one fast lap in qualifying,” said Chisholm. “I got out there, I felt really good, and I threw down – for me – a really good time. I qualified 15th and straight to the night show. I might be 37 years old but I’m always trying to get better, and you can always be better at anything. I was happy, kind of proud of myself on that one. After my big crash last weekend in Anaheim, I was sore and didn’t get to ride very much this week. So just to qualify straight out of the daytime qualifying, be healthy, and not aggravating any of my current injuries was a win. We’re in a good place, and we’ve got my hometown race of Tampa coming up this weekend.”

“Progressive Suzuki rider Ken Roczen finished third on the night. For the Twisted Tea Suzuki riders, Colt Nichols finished sixteenth and Kyle Chisholm finished eighteenth,” reported Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager Larry Brooks. “It was a good night. Roczen is sitting second in the Supercross championship points. He rode good and winning that second race was really good. His starts weren’t great in the first and third race, so we need to work on that a little bit, but overall, it was a good weekend for the team.”

Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida will host Round 5 of the 17-round Supercross season. The Suzuki teams are ready for the next race battles and are excited to continue putting the Suzuki RM-Z450 on the podium.

Honda HRC Progressive Faces Adversity at Glendale Triple Crown SX, Hunter Lawrence Fifth Overall

Honda HRC Progressive faced a challenging night at the first Triple Crown event of the 2025 season, held in Glendale, Arizona. Jett Lawrence showed strong form with a pair of runner-up finishes before an early exit from the final race left him in eighth overall, while Hunter Lawrence was consistent with 5-9-4 results, securing fifth overall. In the 250SX West class, Jo Shimoda fought through adversity to salvage a top-10 overall finish.

Jett showed impressive speed in the first two 450SX races, starting well in both and putting in strong rides for a pair of second-place finishes. In the final race, however, he jammed his knee in the second turn and pulled off the track, in pain. A visit to the Alpinestars Medical Unit didn’t reveal any significant injuries, but the reigning champion will undergo further evaluation in the coming days. Hunter delivered a steady performance, trading positions several times and securing a top-five overall result. Meanwhile, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis finished 11^th overall, with Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Shane McElrath and Joey Savatgy placing 14^th and 15^th, respectively.

Still recovering from broken fingers, Shimoda endured a tough start to the night, as he was taken down in the opening 250SX West race, resulting in a 21^st-place finish. Despite the setback and lingering injury, he rebounded with sixth- and fifth-place results in the remaining races, earning 10^th overall. SLR Honda’s Parker Ross had a solid and consistent night for ninth overall—the best result of his young career.

NOTES

This weekend’s race in Glendale marked the first Triple Crown event of the season.
Jo Shimoda once again stayed off the bike during the week before Glendale, but he maintained his training program, as well as PEMF therapy sessions to help with inflammation. Jo again ran a left Cycra handguard to protect his still-healing fingers.
Shimoda’s mechanic, Ben Griffith, was absent at Glendale, expecting the birth of his first child. In his place was Tommy Harris (Chance Hymas’s mechanic).
Western Honda Powersports, a popular Powerhouse dealer from Scottsdale, Arizona, set up a pop-up activation booth in the Honda HRC Progressive pits, where they displayed a couple of CRF110Fs, and engaged with fans and customers.
Jett Lawrence topped the charts in 450SX qualifying, with a best time that was more than half a second faster than the next-best rider, while Hunter Lawrence secured seventh. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis was 11^th in 450SX qualifying, and Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Joey Savatgy and Shane McElrath also secured spots in the Triple Crown.
In 250SX West, Jo Shimoda posted the seventh-fastest time. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers also qualified for the night show, as did SLR Honda’s Parker Ross, while his teammate Billy Laninovich secured his place via a second-place finish in the LCQ.
At 41 years old, Laninovich surpassed his own previous record, as oldest rider in a Supercross main event.
NFL free agent Kalen Ballage and his brother Mitchell stopped by to see Jett and Hunter. Kalen has the most touchdowns ever scored in an NCAA game, and he also releases music under the name LENAGÈ.
The Glendale round featured an SMX Next category, and several Red Riders notched respectable results. Leum Oehlhof finished fourth, while Brock Walker and Grayson Townsend finished in 10^th and 17^th, respectively.
Next up, Honda HRC Progressive heads to Tampa, Florida, for round 5 of AMA Supercross. The event marks the start of the 250SX East Region, but Chance Hymas will likely make a late decision as to whether or not to participate, as he continues to recover from knee surgery that he underwent last September.

Jett Lawrence to Undergo Surgery to Repair Torn ACL

Following an injury incurred during Saturday’s Glendale, Arizona, round of AMA Supercross, Honda HRC Progressive rider Jett Lawrence was diagnosed today with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, and he will undergo surgery tomorrow.

Early in the third race at the Glendale Triple Crown, Lawrence dabbed his right foot in a corner to maintain his balance, and immediate pulled off the track in pain. An initial visit to the Alpinestars Mobile Medical unit didn’t reveal any serious injury, but an MRI scan today revealed that Lawrence had suffered a torn ACL, as well as a small tear to his meniscus. He is scheduled to undergo an operation tomorrow morning in Orange County, California.

Having been credited with an eighth-overall result in Glendale, Lawrence currently now sits fifth in the AMA Supercross 450 title chase, but this setback will effectively end his chance of a successful title defense. His recovery prognosis isn’t yet known.

“I found out today that I tore my ACL and am having surgery tomorrow to repair it,” Jett said. “I’m not exactly sure when I’ll be able to return, but rehabbing will be my new fulltime job, so I hope to see you guys as soon as possible! I’m super-bummed to let the fans down, and I can’t wait to get back out there.”

“We’re all absolutely gutted for Jett, as we had high hopes for him winning another Supercross title this season,” added Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing and Advertising at American Honda. “After some misfortune at round 1, his speed has been very impressive, as he scored a main-event win at round 3 and sat in first overall after the first two races at the Glendale Triple Crown. Injuries are a part of racing though, and everyone at Honda is pulling for Jett to have a successful surgery and a good recovery. We know this is just a speedbump and that Jett will be back as strong as ever. In the meantime, we look forward to continuing to provide our full support to our active riders.”

Honda HRC Progressive is back in action this weekend at the Tampa, Florida, AMA Supercross round, with Hunter Lawrence campaigning the 450SX division. The event marks the opening round of the 250SX East series; Chance Hymas will make a late decision on whether to participate, as he continues to recover from his own ACL surgery.

Official MotoAmerica Dunlop Preseason Test Open To Spectators

MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, and the Podium Club racetrack in Casa Grande, Arizona, have announced that fans can purchase tickets to watch all the on-track action at the Podium Club during the official MotoAmerica Dunlop preseason test, February 22-23.

250404 Jake Gagne at speed at the Podium Club in Arizona

Jake Gagne at speed at the Podium Club in Arizona, the site of the upcoming MotoAmerica Dunlop preseason test, February 22-23. Photo by Phil Vietch/Podium Club

The test will feature sessions for Superbike, Motovation Supersport, SC-Project Twins Cup and Stock 1000 with each class allotted four 20- to 30-minute sessions per day. Superbike Cup/Stock 1000 riders will also have a shared session with Mission King Of The Baggers testers.

Spectators will be able to take in the action for just $15 per person.

Designed by Rose Design of Arizona and engineered by England’s Apex Circuit Design, the Podium Club’s racetrack was created to meet FIA and FIM safety standards. The course features up to 18 different configurations.

“We think it’s great that the Podium Club is going to open its doors to our fans who want to come out and watch some of our teams and racers test before the start of the 2025 season,” said MotoAmerica’s COO Chuck Aksland. “The atmosphere at our tests is normally laid back with the teams getting a lot of work done as they prepare for the opening rounds. It also allows our riders to test the latest Dunlop tires. Spectating at a test gives our fans an even closer look at the teams and riders in action.”

John Mabry, General Manager at the Podium Club, expressed his excitement about the upcoming event: “We are thrilled to be hosting the official MotoAmerica preseason test and its world-class riders as they prepare for the upcoming 2025 season. This event is a testament to the quality of our circuit and the growing reputation of the Podium Club as a destination for professional motorsports. We look forward to providing an ideal testing environment and hope this is the start of a lasting relationship with MotoAmerica.”

For tickets, visit: Podium Club MA Test Tickets

Progressive AFT Brings Fans Even Closer to the Action in ‘25 with Free Pit Access

Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is set to bring fans even closer to the adrenaline-fueled action in 2025.

Long known for its fan-friendly atmosphere, Progressive AFT is taking engagement to a whole new level by including paddock access with every event ticket purchase—an experience once reserved for those who opted for the Pit Pass Upgrade.

Now, every spectator can get an up-close look at the world’s premier motorcycle dirt track machines, watch as crews fine-tune these powerful bikes just a few feet away, and even rub elbows with the brightest stars of the sport. 

This extraordinary opportunity begins with the first event of the 2025 season with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7. Don’t miss your chance to witness the behind-the-scenes excitement that sets Progressive AFT apart from any other professional sporting event

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. 

For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, tickets and streaming options, visit AmericanFlatTrack.com.

Velocity Racing Group Announces Supercross 250SX East Roster: Hicks, Carroll, and Hudson

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