This week in US Powersports racing.

Suzuki’s Ken Roczen Delivers Top-Five Result at Seattle Supercross

Round 11 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship delivered clear skies and excellent track conditions despite heavy rains prior to the event. A rain schedule curtailed the daytime practice and qualifying program, giving the riders less time to learn the track and its obstacles. When the night racing began, the track was in excellent condition yet still developed the treacherous ruts that the riders expect from the dirt at Lumen Field.

Race Highlights:

Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
  - Ken Roczen, with an injured shoulder, led nine of 26 laps and earned his ninth top-five result of the season.
Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
  - Colt Nichols delivered his season-best heat race result.
  - Kyle Chisholm brought home his season-best result in the main event.

Ken Roczen (94), still healing from a significant shoulder injury incurred two weeks prior, got off to a third-place start in the Seattle Supercross main event. Roczen charged into the lead on lap six and the Seattle crowd jumped to its feet. Shortly after the race’s midpoint, Roczen lost a few track positions but kept up a strong pace as the ruts deepened and taxed his compromised shoulder. His strong result showcased Roczen’s determination and grit, and the points from Seattle kept him and his Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki solidly in third place in the championship standings.

“Seattle was great. For whatever reason when the main event comes around I hone in and become really focused,” said Roczen. “With the injury, I don’t want to aggravate it during practice, so I have a hard time being honed in, but when race time comes it’s different. With a track like this, you need to be extremely in tune. Honestly, it was just one lap where I lost a bit. I made a bunch of mistakes when several riders were right behind me, and they went by. I am still holding my head high, but it’s hard. My shoulder needs a lot of rest. My ligaments are almost torn in the AC joint, so if I fall, I will likely make it worse. So right now I am picking my battles; I wanted to make through this weekend. I am going to keep doing what I’m doing, and hopefully we can get back to 100% before the season is over.”

Colt Nichols (45) adapted brilliantly to the abbreviated qualifying schedule and quickly posted his best A-group qualifying and overall qualifying result. Nichols used that pace to turn a mid-pack start into a fourth-place heat race performance, his best yet of the season. Nichols battled inside the top ten for half of the main and missed out on matching his season-best result by only one spot.

“It was a better weekend for me: better direction with the bike, I felt like I rode a lot better, and I qualified better,” Nichols reflected. “It was definitely a better heat race, and then put myself in a better position in the main. I fell off the pace a little bit at the end, so I was a little disappointed in that. But overall, I felt much more like myself on the motorcycle.”

Kyle Chisholm (11) crossed the holeshot stripe inside the top-five in his heat race, then tangled in a four-rider pile-up that dashed his chances of a direct transfer. In the LCQ Chisholm gave a master class on composure and patience. Chisholm avoided a two-rider crash on the last lap to earn his 13th win and sole ownership of the record for most LCQ wins. Chisholm kept that momentum rolling into the main event. He battled inside the top ten and used his RM-Z450’s nimble handling to cross the checkers with his season-best result.

“I made a little mistake and couldn’t double into the first rhythm section. Another rider doubled and clipped my arm and, man, I went for a ride,” Chisolm explained of his heat race crash. “The impact and from all the other bikes landing on me and the bike, it was just completely mangled. Andrew, my mechanic, and Joe, Colt’s mechanic, and Billy, Ken’s mechanic – definitely a team effort – they did a great job with a quick turnaround. We still had few things that we didn’t have time to do, but I went out in the LCQ and ripped an awesome start. The guy who was leading made a mistake and I got the win. I think that gives me the most LCQ wins, so that’s a little bittersweet. In the main I got out to an okay start and kind of worked my way up. I was up in the fight for the top ten, and running in the top ten for a bit, so I’m happy with that and happy with my riding.”

“We had a lot of rain leading up to the race, and the track crew did an awesome job. They saved the day, honestly,” said Larry Brooks, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager. “Ken Roczen rode well. He’s still struggling with his shoulder, but he gave it everything he had in the main. He finished fourth. He was battling for the lead for a long time and his shoulder just – he used everything he had and, yeah, fourth was as good as he had tonight. I’m super proud of him. I think he did really good…. Colt finished 12th and Kyle finished 13th. I think it was a little step forward for both of those guys. They rode really well. It was a good night for Suzuki and for the HEP team. I think Ken will be able to ride a little bit this week, so I’m thinking next week in Boston might be a little bit better. But we’re going to take it day by day. Shoulder injuries are tricky, so you need to be careful with them.”

The Supercross series now heads off on a four-city sweep through the Northeast. The Suzuki riders are getting stronger, their RM-Z450 race bikes are ready for more wins, and the team members are excited about more opportunities to put their riders and machines up on the podium.

Davies Scores Career-First 250SX Win

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies scored a career-first 250SX victory in dominant fashion, taking the win by a healthy 7.5-second margin at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Haiden Deegan once again put in a determined ride to finish third, expanding his points lead and giving the team another double podium at Round 7 of the 250SX West Championship. Michael Mosiman overcame adversity to finish sixth. In just his second race back, Christian Craig salvaged points in the challenging conditions, scoring 15th in the 450SX Main Event.

With the characteristic rainy weather of the Pacific Northwest leading up to Round 11 of the SuperMotocross World Championship, there was a delayed start and an abbreviated schedule with only two qualifying sessions. Although Davies didn’t get the start to the day he was looking for and qualified 11th, he came out swinging once racing got underway. The rookie got a great start to his heat race, claimed the lead early, and kept cool under pressure to score his first win of the evening. In the main event, Davies got another great start and grabbed the holeshot. Although he was passed on that opening lap, he reclaimed the lead on Lap 2 and set the pace up front, building a comfortable gap to score a convincing victory. The young New Zealander continues to hold third in the 250SX West standings, 20 points from his teammate at the top and six from the runner-up spot.

Deegan showed strength from the start in Seattle, topping both sessions of qualifying to earn fastest qualifier honors in the 250 class and then grabbing the holeshot in his heat race. The red plate holder was passed by his teammate shortly after and tried to reclaim the lead but unfortunately went down before the finish line. Deegan quickly went to work and charged his way back to third by the finish. In the main event, he didn’t get the start he was looking for but made his way to fifth on the opening lap and then unfortunately had a tip-over in the tricky conditions. Back in eighth on Lap 2, Deegan put in another charge through to fourth and passed his championship rival on the final lap to score his sixth podium of the season, expanding his championship lead to 14 points.

Mosiman also had a strong start to the day and was third in qualifying. Like his teammates, he got a good start to the 250SX Heat Race 2 but unfortunately crashed on the opening lap and rejoined towards the back of the field. The Californian put in a determined ride to make his way to seventh but unfortunately was penalized two positions for jumping on a red cross flag section. With a less-than-ideal-gate pick, Mosiman was 14th after the opening lap of the main event but steadily made his way through the field to sixth, where he would finish.

In his second race back, Craig worked to find his comfort zone during the abbreviated schedule and ultimately qualified ninth. In seventh on the opening lap of the heat race, he continued to fight but ultimately crossed the line seventh. In the main event, Craig was ninth after the first lap and tried to make his way forward but struggled to find his flow on the rough and rutted track and finished 15th.

Next weekend, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads back East for Round 12 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship and Round 6 of the 250SX East Championship at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on April 5.

Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“It was a good night in Seattle. All three guys got a great start to the heat race. Haiden was fast all day and was the fastest qualifier. Unfortunately, a couple of mistakes cost him in the heat and main, but he was able to score some good points and finish on the podium. Cole didn’t do as well in qualifying but came out for the night show, got great starts, and won his heat and the main event. Michael was fast all day, too. It was just an uphill battle after that heat race crash. Christian struggled to find his flow on this track, so it was a tough day for him, but we’ll keep working. So all in all, it was a good day with another double podium and good points. We have some things to work on and will keep fighting for this championship.”

Cole Davies – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #100 YZ250F
“I’m stoked to get my first win here in Seattle. It’s a huge accomplishment to get a win in my rookie season and a lifelong dream of mine, but we’ll get back to work now. Let’s keep this going.”

Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38 YZ250F
“Today was pretty solid, besides crashing in the main event. I qualified first in both sessions and then ended up falling in the heat race, which wasn’t great. In the main event, I just messed up my start and then crashed. So third on the day and gained some points, which is good, but we need to win. We’ve got some things to work on. We’ll get back to work.”

Michael Mosiman – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #93 YZ250F
“It was a chaotic night in Seattle. I felt good in qualifying and felt strong on my starts. We got a good start in the heat race, but that didn’t last long with an early crash. A bad gate pick for the main made sure that I had to come through the pack twice. I’m pleased with my fight early on to come through the pack, but after I got into sixth, it was a long way to fifth, and I just brought it home. It was a disappointing night, but I’m happy to be healthy and pushing on to the next race. We will work hard to make progress towards the front.”

Chrisitan Craig – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #28 YZ450F
“The day started out really good, and then the track got super rutted and rough, and I struggled a bit. The main event was tough. I was riding around, and I couldn’t get a good feel, a good flow, and I didn’t ride like myself. We’ve got to be better and have some work to do.”

Webb With Another Seattle Showdown Victory

For the second year running, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb came out on top in a heavyweight battle to enjoy another victory at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. The red-plate holder’s fourth win of the season also helped strengthen his Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship lead, giving him an 11-point advantage with six rounds remaining. Teammate Justin Cooper also showed strength in the tricky conditions, battling for a podium position but ultimately finishing sixth after a tip-over in the latter half of the race.

With rain leading up to Round 11 of the championship in the Pacific Northwest, the schedule was delayed and reduced to two sessions of qualifying. Webb got off to a good start, topping the first session and ultimately qualifying third. From there, he got a great start to the heat race, passing his teammate on the opening lap and ultimately crossing the line second to complete a stellar 1-2 finish for the team. Things heated up for the main event, which was an absolute dog fight, with four to five riders in the mix, including his teammate Cooper. After the gate drop, Webb grabbed the holeshot and led the first five laps. He continued to run a strong pace and kept the frontrunner in his sights. On Lap 15, the duo was passed by another title contender, with Webb in third for a lap before reclaiming the runner-up spot. As the clock wound down, he closed the gap and then made his move to the lead right before time ran out. From there, Webb held off advances, scoring his 29th-career win and second-consecutive Seattle Supercross victory to expand his lead in the championship to 11 points.

Cooper hit the ground running in Seattle, earning the fastest 450 qualifying honors and then grabbing the holeshot in his heat race. Although he was passed by his teammate on that opening lap, the New Yorker reclaimed the lead on Lap 3 and rode on to his first 450SX heat race victory. Cooper got another great start to the main event and rode a strong pace in third. In the multi-rider fight, he was shuffled to fourth before the halfway point, but continued to push and made his way back to third with around 10 laps remaining. Unfortunately, three laps later, the New Yorker crashed and rejoined to battle for a top-five finish, ultimately crossing the line sixth. Cooper sits fifth in the point standings and one point from fourth.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads back east for Round 12 of Monster Energy AMA Supercross and the SuperMotocross World Championship at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on April 5.

Rich Simmons – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“This track was tough all day with the deep ruts, so bike setup was important. The whole team did a great job communicating and making adjustments to allow Cooper and Justin to ride at a level to win tonight. Both guys had good speed all day, with Justin getting the heat win. It was another impressive main event win for Cooper, showing that late-race grit. Unfortunately, Justin’s crash knocked him off the podium, but he leaves here with a lot of positives. We’re looking forward to next weekend in Foxborough.”

Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“Seattle was an amazing day. Qualifying went well. I ended up third and got second in the heat. It was a crazy main event. I led at the beginning, and then Kenny (Roczen) got by me. We were battling, and Chase (Sexton) got us both, so it was a three-way battle, and then Justin was in there. It was just crazy. It was mano a mano with Chase and me at the end, and I was able to get him late. It was gnarly conditions out there. I’m just stoked that I could rebound the way I did after last weekend.”

Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“It was a really good day. I qualified first and got my first heat win of my career in this class, so that was special. I really just felt like I clicked with the track. I don’t know if that was just me progressing or if I just felt that good on this track, but it was definitely working well for me. I was in a good spot in the main – third and fourth for most of it. I got around Kenny and got into the podium spot with around four minutes left, and that’s pretty much when I crashed. I definitely felt like I could have at least gotten the podium tonight, but I felt like I had another push in me to fight with the top two. I was really waiting for mistakes, and that’s what I did myself. That was unfortunate, but that’s how it goes. It was a tough track tonight, and I was hoping for more, but there was a lot to take away from it.”

Jo Shimoda Secures Top-Five 250SX West Result in Seattle

Honda HRC Progressive continued its 2025 AMA Supercross campaign this weekend in Seattle, where Jo Shimoda represented the team in the 250SX West division. Despite some tough competition, Shimoda had a steady night, finishing fifth in the main event. With Honda’s satellite teams continuing to lead the brand’s efforts in the premier class, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis rode to a solid fifth-place result.

Shimoda positioned himself within the top 10 early in the 250SX main event, then set about finding a rhythm on the deteriorating, rutted track. The Japanese rider quickly moved his CRF250RWE into the top five but lost a spot just before the midway point. He regained the position five laps later and maintained it through the rest of the race. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers rode consistently to finish 10^th, while SLR Honda’s Parker Ross crossed the line in 14^th.

In the 450SX main event, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis put in a decent ride to finish fifth. Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Shane McElrath had a more challenging race but climbed through the pack, ultimately crossing the line in 14^th.

NOTES

Although the weather held off on race day, Friday’s rain led to the cancellation of press riding and Saturday-morning free practice. As a result, riders went directly into qualifying.
South Bound Motorsports, a popular Washington Powerhouse dealer with locations in Lakewood and Bremerton, staffed a pop-up activation booth in the Honda HRC Progressive pits, where they displayed a CRF125F Big Wheel and a CRF450RWE, and engaged with fans and customers.
Local enthusiast Chris Taylor brought a beautiful replica of Jeremy McGrath’s 1992 Peak Honda Pro Circuit CR125R, along with a 1996 CR250R and other classic bikes, displaying them in the Honda HRC Progressive pit area.
Jett and Hunter Lawrence missed the Supercross race to support the Honda HRC Castrol riders at the Austin MotoGP round.
Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda placed sixth overall in 250SX West combined qualifying. Other Red Riders to advance into the heat races included Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers, Raylentless Racing’s Brandon Ray and SLR Honda’s Parker Ross.
In 450SX combined qualifying, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis was seventh overall, with Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Shane McElrath qualifying in 13^th. Other Red Riders to make it into the night program included Next Level racers Hunter Schlosser and Justin Rodbell, as well as RSR’s Zack Williams.
Shimoda got a strong jump off the gate in 250SX West heat 1 and stayed in the top three throughout the heat, finishing in third. Towers finished fifth, Ross was eighth, and Ray was ninth. All four riders secured spots in the main event.
McElrath finished fifth in 450SX heat 2, with Ferrandis following in sixth, both earning spots in the main event. Schlosser secured his main event spot with a fourth-place result in the LCQ.
Next up, the series heads back east to Foxborough, Massachusetts, for round 12, where Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas will resume racing in 250SX East.

FMF Camp Coker Bullet: Motorcycle Race Report
Ben Kelley Back on Top at Round Four

Day two of the FMF Camp Coker Bullet GNCC, round four of the 2025 Progressive Grand National Cross Country (GNCC Racing) Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, saw similar conditions to day one as sunshine peaked through the clouds and warm temperatures filled the air.As the afternoon race got underway, it would be the Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Craig Delong grabbing himself the $250 Landers KTM XC1 Holeshot Award to start the day, likewise from the second row it was Bells Electric/Beaver Creek Cycle/FXR’s Toby Cleveland earning the $150 Landers KTM XC2 Holeshot Award.

Throughout the rest of the race, both XC1 Open Pro and XC2 250 Pro competitors would battle for their spot at the top, and within the top 10 overall. It was a tough, competitive race atmosphere in Society Hil, South Carolina and multiple riders swapped positions during the three-hour race period.Coming out on top, fending off the competition and stepping up to the challenge was FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley. After getting a good start to the day, Kelley would find himself running third on the opening lap. Kelley would continue to push himself and once in the physical lead on lap three he would look to put himself even farther ahead to help his chances on earning the overall win. As the checkered flag flew after six rough laps, Kelley’s hard work paid off as he earned the overall win.AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper held the early lead coming through first on the opening lap, but he would be unable to hold off Kelley a couple of laps later. Draper would find himself in second, but he still had to push himself as XC2 National Champion, FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Grant Davis was physically up to third overall and coming for a better overall finishing position. Draper would be able to come through to finish second overall on the day.Davis, who continued to try and chase down the XC1 competitors, would find himself leading majority of the race on adjusted time. However, after the top two turned up the pace on the last lap and Davis suffered a few crashes on the last lap, he would come through to grab third overall on the day and his third-straight XC2 250 Pro class win of the season.

Rocky Mountain Red Bear Team Green Kawasaki’s Steward Baylor had his work cut out for him as he started back in the ninth place position on lap one. Baylor though can never be counted out as he started clicking off the positions and found himself third in XC1 and fourth overall by the fourth lap of the race. He continued to push himself but would ultimately cross the line rounding out the top three XC1 finishers, and fourth overall on the day.Coming through to earn second in the XC2 250 Pro class was FMF KTM Factory Racing Lander’s Angus Riordan after a hard fought battle throughout the day. Riordan would find himself following closely to Davis at the beginning of the race, but he would soon feel the pressure from Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cody Barnes. Riordan would be able to hold off Barnes and come through fifth overall on the day. Barnes would also put in a great race as he came through to earn third in the XC2 class and sixth overall on the day after battling through the rough terrain.Phoenix Racing Honda’s Mike Witkowski put in the work at round four as he battled inside the top five in XC1 throughout the day. Witkowski would cross the finish line taking fourth in the XC1 class and seventh overall on the day.After starting his day up in second place, AmPro Yamaha’s Kailub Russell fall back to seventh at the halfway point of the race. Russell would continue to push himself making his way up to fifth in XC1 and eighth overall on the day.

Rocky Mountain Red Bear Team Green Kawasaki’s Josh Toth would find himself running inside the top 10 trough the majority of the race. Toth would come through to earn fourth in the XC2 class and ninth overall on the day. Rounding out the top 10 overall was Flatrock Motorclub GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jason Tino as he came through fifth in the XC2 class and tenth overall on the day in South Carolina.When the XC3 125 Pro-Am class took off it was Marionville Powersports/Hinson/Fly Racing’s James Jenkins grabbing the early lead and earning himself the $100 Lojak Cycle Sales XC3 Holeshot Award. J. Jenkins would continue to maintain the lead from the start of the race until the checkered flag flew, earning him his third win of the season.Returning from an injury earlier in the season was Marionville Powersports/XC Gear/Moose Racing’s Huck Jenkins who would try to push himself to battle with his brother for the top spot, but H. Jenkins would maintain the second place position for the duration of the race. Beta Off-Road/Estes Motorsports/Wossner Pistons’ Raley Messer would also have a consistent race as he came through third on the opening lap and held that spot until the completion of the race.Top Amateur honors went to Joseph Cunningham who finished 15th overall on the day, while also earning the 250 A class win. Lane Whitmer was second on the top amateur podium with a 16th overall finishing position and a second place in the 250 A class. Rounding out the Top Amateur podium was Hunter Smith who finished 17th overall on the day and third in the 250 A class.

As the morning race got underway and the WXC class took off, it was AmPro Yamaha’s Danielle McDonald jumping out to grab her first $100 Landers KTM WXC Holeshot Award. However, she would have a freight train of women behind her eager to take over the lead position. As they emerged from the woods, FMF KTM Factory Racing Landers’ Brandy Richards would lead the way, as she would on lap two as well. Unfortunately, while out on the third lap of the race, Richards would sustain injuries in a fall that ruled her out for the rest of the race. The team will have additional information on her condition available in due time.Rocky Mountain Red Bear Team Green Kawasaki’s Rachael Archer would take over the lead on lap three as the white flag flew, but Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing’s Korie Steede had her mind made up that she was pushing to get this win in South Carolina. Steede would make the pass on Archer after battling back and forth throughout the entire race.Steede would come through the finish to earn her first win of the 2025 season with a seven second gap over Archer who came through to earn second on the day. After earning the holeshot award, McDonald continued to push herself inside the top five and on the last lap of the race she would find the drive to get herself into the final podium position. This is McDonald’s first-ever WXC podium finish as she earned third overall on the day and in the WXC class.

In the Youth Bike race it was Travis Lentz coming around to take the overall win and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. (14-15) class win. Lentz continues his win streak as he has earned four out of four wins. Cooper Duff would come through to earn second overall on the day and second in the YXC1 class. Hayden Dupuis rounded out the top three overall youth bike finishers, but he would also take the win in the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. (12-13) class.Lucas Skelton would take third in the YXC1 class, while Ace Tokar and Gavin Harwell rounded out the top three YXC2 class finishers. Hunter Carey earned the 85 Big Wheel (14-15) class win, while Caleb Johnson took home the 85 Big Wheel (11-13) class win at round four. Evan Porter took home the 85 (12-13) class win, Trason Landrum earned the 85 (11) class win, while Brinn Buly earned the 85 (7-10) class win. Kade Dupuis earned the 65 (10-11) class win, Matthew Simoneaux took the 65 (9) class win and Hudson Bott earned the 65 (7-8) class win. In the Girls Super Mini (12-16) class it was Sahara Robinson earning the win, with Vaida Lavergne earning the Girls 85 (7-13) class win and Aubrey Tsakanikas earned the Girls 65 (7-11) class win. Camden Phillips would earn the Trail Rider (7-15) class win.

On Saturday in the Micro Bike race it was Kane Morrison coming through to take home the overall and MXC1 class win. Peyton Austin would finish second overall and in MXC1, followed by Hudson Bott who finished third overall and in the MXC1 bike class. In the MXC2 class it was Ryder Baricska earning the class win followed by Tank Laws and Moises Pita rounding out the top three finishers.Carson Zink would battle through the race and earn the 50 Sr. 1 (7) class win, while Kolt Morrison earned the 50 Sr. 2 (6) class win. Jacobi Duvall would come through to take the 50 Jr. 1 (6-7) class win at round four, while Brody Bowen would come through to take the 50 Jr. 2 (4-5) class win. In the Micro-E1 (7-8) class it was Maverick Novak earning the class win while Nathan Zhang earned the Micro-E2 (4-6) class win. Liam Cox would come through to earn the Micro (4-6) Shaft Drive class win, Braxton Waller would come through first in the Trail Rider (7-9) class, and Alec Hoffman earned the Trail Rider (4-6) class win.The AMSOIL Moto Hero award was received by Austin Craven at the FMF Camp Coker Bullet GNCC. Austin has been in the United States Air Force for 15 years and is a Staff Sergeant. One of Austin’s main jobs is a military working dog handler, and he has been doing that for 10.5 years. He is currently stationed in. Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina. He has been deployed four times in his career with the USAF as he has gone to Afghanistan, Curacao and Kuwait (twice). Austin will receive an AMSOIL shopping spree, commemorative American flag from Columbia flag and sign co. Plus $200 gift certificate for their online store and a $250 KANATI gift certificate.

After a week break the GNCC Racing Series will head to Tennessee for the Specialized Old Gray GNCC in Monterey, Tennessee at The Old Gray entertainment venue on April 11-13. This event will also host the first round of racing for the Specialized Turbo eMTB GNCC National Championship on Friday, April 11. For more event information and a full schedule, click HERE.For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #GNCC. Facebook: @gnccracingInstagram: @gncc_racingYouTube: @racertv X: @gnccracing

FMF Camp Coker Bullet GNCC Results and Points Standings
Society Hill, South Carolina
Round 4 of 13
Sunday, March 30, 2025 Overall Event Results:Benjamin Kelley (KTM)Liam Draper (YAM)Grant Davis (KTM)Steward Baylor (KAW)Angus Riordan (KTM)Cody Barnes (HON)Michael Witkowski (HON)Kailub Russell (YAM)Joshua Toth (KAW)Jason Tino (GAS)*Overall National Championship Standings:Benjamin Kelley (83)Grant Davis (77)Angus Riordan (68)Michael Witkowski (57)Kailub Russell (56)Cody Barnes (55)Steward Baylor (54)Liam Draper (52)Joshua Toth (45)Jonathan Girroir (40)
Nicholas DeFeo (40)*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2025 National Champion. XC1 Open Pro Event Results:Benjamin Kelley (KTM)Liam Draper (YAM)Steward Baylor (KAW)Michael Witkowski (HON)Kailub Russell (YAM)Josh Strang (BET)Evan Smith (YAM)Craig Delong (HQV)Ricky Russell (TRI)Lyndon Snodgrass (HQV)XC2 250 Pro Event Results:Grant Davis (KTM)Angus Riordan (KTM)Cody Barnes (HON)Josh Toth (KAW)Jason Tino (GAS)Brody Johnson (HON)Nicholas DeFeo (KAW)Dakoda Devore (HQV)Michael Delosa (YAM)Zachary Davidson (HQV)

FMF KTM FACTORY RACING’S BEN KELLEY TAKES CONTROL WITH CAMP COKER BULLET GNCC WIN

FMF KTM Factory Racing Team’s Ben Kelley has returned to the top step of the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series podium at the Camp Coker Bullet event, claiming a hard-fought overall victory, while FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ Grant Davis topped the XC2 250 Pro Class in South Carolina.

GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES – ROUND 4

In what was an ultra-competitive round of GNCC racing, Kelley worked hard at the front of the field to keep the contenders behind him at bay, with the former GNCC and XC1 Open Pro Class Champion acknowledging the pace of the current competition.

Successfully fending off the challenge, Kelley would power his KTM 350 XC-F to the Camp Coker Bullet round victory and took control of the 2025 championship lead leaving the fourth round.

Ben Kelley: “I don’t think a comfortable win is going to happen anymore. This is probably the best I have ever rode here, and in the past if I rode like that, I could win by a few minutes. Not a chance anymore! The guys behind me were ripping, but I felt so good and the bike felt so good. I made some aggressive passes at the start there, which were really important. We earned this one, myself and the team, and I am so stoked for everyone that supports me.”

FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ defending XC2 250 Pro Champion Davis kept the riders at the front of the field on their toes throughout the six-lap, three-hour encounter, bringing his KTM 250 XC-F home for the XC2 Pro 250 Class win and P3 on the podium overall.

Grant Davis: “I got off to a decent start and just tried to go as fast as I could, honestly. I got in tow with the XC1 boys there, tried to chase them down and got close, and ended up third overall. I crashed a few times on the last lap, but overall, I’m pumped on my ride and keen to keep the ball rolling and try to get the overall victory at the next one.”

Following closely behind Davis was XC2 250 Pro Class teammate Angus Riordan, who shadowed his teammate onboard his KTM 250 XC-F, coming home in second place in class.

Angus Riordan: “I had Cody [Barnes] breathing down my neck the whole race – I just couldn’t shake him! He got around me on the last lap, right in front of my brother and family, which was a bit embarrassing, so I thought, ‘I’d better get going,’ and managed to make a move, but otherwise for me it was a pretty smooth race.”

Defending GNCC Series Champion and Round 2 winner Johnny Girroir encountered a challenging day out at the Camp Coker GNCC, recording a DNF result in the XC1 Open Pro Class, retiring his KTM 350 XC-F after unfortunately crashing in the early stages of the race.

Additionally, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ Brandy Richards experienced a heavy fall at the Camp Coker round, with the WXC Class contender sustaining injuries that ruled her out for the remainder of the weekend. Additional information on Brandy’s condition will be made available in due course.

XC1 Open Pro Class Results
1. Ben Kelley, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Liam Draper, Yamaha
3. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki
8. Craig DeLong, Husqvarna
13. Johnny Girroir, FMF KTM Factory Racing

XC2 250 Pro Class Results
1. Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
2. Angus Riordan, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
3. Cody Barnes, Honda
5. Jason Tino, GASGAS

CHASE SEXTON AND AARON PLESSINGER RACE TO SEATTLE SUPERCROSS PODIUMS

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton and Aaron Plessinger raced to a pair of podium finishes at Round 11 of the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship in Seattle tonight, with Sexton claiming a hard-fought second position and Plessinger taking third place in a lively 450SX Main Event.

Sexton powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to the second-fastest qualifying time inside Lumen Field, posting a lap time of 47.121s on a circuit recognized for its technical, rutty conditions.

That momentum would continue into his Heat Race, overcoming an average start to steadily slice his way through the field. A spirited ride for the number 4 saw him reach the rear wheel of his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Plessinger by the race’s end, with the team scoring a 1-2 finish.

In the Main Event, Sexton entered the lead of the race after clawing his way from a sixth-place start as the difficulty of the Lumen Field conditions intensified. Following a spectacular performance at the front of the field, Sexton ultimately finished in P2 following a final lap showdown for victory. Chase is positioned second in the standings, just 11 points outside of the lead following Round 11.

Chase Sexton: “Tonight was gnarly and I think the pace this year was even higher than last year, which is crazy. We were pushing the limit – I was getting that long rhythm, which helped me, and then Coop [Cooper Webb] was faster in the tight stuff. There was a lot of cat and mouse out there, but it was a balance of pushing the pace, while also keeping your balance, because you had to hit your marks and try not to make mistakes, which was almost impossible on that track.”

‘The Cowboy’ claimed the holeshot in 450SX Heat 1, which continued his run of form throughout the recent rounds. Managing the pace at the front, the always-popular Plessinger charged to first position onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, setting himself up well for the upcoming Main Event.

Once the gates dropped on the Main Event, Plessinger posted a measured ride on a soft, rutty surface, steadily climbing his way up into a calculated third place finish by the conclusion of the night when the checkered flag flew.

Aaron Plessinger: “I got the best jump out of the gates I got all day for the Main Event, then coming into the first corner, I guess I hit the brakes too quickly and stalled the bike. I was trying to bump start it for about 50 feet and smacked right into Malcolm [Stewart], which I feel so bad about as he might’ve been up on the box with us. It happens. I had to ride hard, and it was not an easy track… The ruts here are like no others, it’s like a sponge, which makes it super-wild. Huge thanks to the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team for keeping me comfortable on track – let’s keep this going!”

The 250SX West Class returned to action in Seattle following a three-week hiatus, with Julien Beaumer recommencing his hunt for this year’s championship. Equipped with his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Beaumer collected the second-fastest qualifying time before finishing P2 in his Heat Race.

Upon delivering a solid ride throughout the Main Event, Beaumer battled inside the podium placings for the entirety of the race before eventually landing a fourth-place result in Seattle to remain well in title contention.

Julien Beaumer: “Fourth place in Seattle, just a bad line choice in the Main cost me a lot. I should have been blitzing the whoops, then I got stuck behind the lapped riders, too, and didn’t make good choices there. I became frustrated, which ultimately cost me a lot of time. Overall, it was a step in the right direction with my riding, as my shoulder is improving, and we’re on an upward trajectory. I’m ready to get back to work and come out swinging in Philly.”

ROCKSTAR ENERGY GASGAS FACTORY RACING AND JUSTIN BARCIA LAND P8 IN SEATTLE

Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia charged to a hard-fought eighth-place finish in Round 11 of the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship at Seattle’s Lumen Field, piecing together a calculated performance on a technical, rutted race track.

• Justin Barcia scores an eighth-place finish in Seattle

• 450SX contender was in the lead group before a small mistake set him backward

• BAMBAM climbs to P6 in overall championship standings

In the 450SX qualifying sessions, Barcia set the fifth-fastest time equipped with the GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition, quickly up to speed and navigating the ultra-rutty circuit layout this afternoon.

BAMBAM was then in the mix throughout his Heat Race, climbing from a start just inside the top 10 to third place during the outing after a string of decisive moves toward the front.

In the premier class Main Event, Barcia launched to a seventh-place start as the gates dropped, in tow with the leaders during the early stages of the race. A big case at the midway point set the number 51 back to 10th, with Barcia able to climb back to eighth by the time the checkered flag flew tonight.

Justin Barcia: “Practice was really good in Seattle, the Heat Race was also good, and then in the Main Event, I was dicing with the front-runners and cross-rutted a little bit, casing a jump really hard, which made me lose a lot of positions and put me well back. It was a really disapointing night for me in the end as I was in a good position to score a solid result, so it was really frustrating. I’m already excited for next weekend to redeem myself – I’m a bit sick of these small mistakes holding me back! I know I have the speed and capabilities for a podium, so we’ll keep fighting for that.”

Impressive Malcolm Stewart salvages top 10 finish in eventful Seattle Supercross

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Malcolm Stewart managed to salvage a seventh-place finish at Round 11 of the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship, with come-from-behind rides on the cards for the 450SX contender throughout the evening.

Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, Stewart posted the fourth-fastest time in qualifying during the afternoon, continuing his impressive mid-season form inside Seattle’s Lumen Field.

The 32-year-old was then caught up in a fall during the opening lap of his Heat Race, placing him toward the rear of the field as he remounted. Despite the setback, the number 27 charged all race, making his way back to a commendable P3 by the finish.

Faced with a challenging, rutted circuit layout for the 450SX Main Event, Stewart was bumped off-track at the first turn after a strong jump out of the gate and would then play catch-up for the remainder of the race. The Floridian displayed a fighting spirit for its entirety, eventually claiming a hard-fought seventh-place result at the end of the encounter.

“Starting with the Heat Race, it was unfortunate to go down early there, but I put my head down and came back to third, which was awesome,” Stewart reflected. “In the Main Event, I had a great start, but AP [Aaron Plessinger] made a slight mistake and bumped me off the track. I know he’s not the type of person to do that on purpose or anything, so it was a racing mistake, and it is what it is. But on this track, this isn’t the one you want to be starting from dead-last! I was around a lot of riders who were all over the place – myself included – and seventh place was the best result we had for tonight. We’ll aim to get back up on that podium next weekend.”

Korie Steede captures season-first victory at Camp Coker Bullet GNCC

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Korie Steede captured her first victory of season 2025 at Round 4 of the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series in South Carolina, charging for the entire duration of the race to claim a well-earned WXC Class win.

Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series – Round 4

Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250, Steede entered the Camp Coker Bullet round looking to keep her podium streak alive, which stretches back to the opening round of GNCC this year. In emphatic fashion, the WXC Class contender would do just that, capturing her first win of 2025 after making a decisive pass in the closing stages of the race. As a result, Steede moves to within six points of the series lead after four rounds.

“Man, this one feels good!” commented Steede. “I started super-strong and then I slowly started to fade back once we got into lapped riders… I’m not sure what it was, but I was struggling a lot in the beginning getting around them. I finally reset and started riding well toward the end and closed the gap on [Rachael] Archer. With about one mile to go, I ended up making the pass! I absolutely sent it on the last lap and it paid off, so I an super-stoked on the day.”

For former GNCC Series Champion Craig DeLong, an eighth-place position in the XC1 Open Pro Class for Round 4 marked a consistent top 10 performance at Camp Coker equipped with the Husqvarna FX 350, with the 28-year-old looking for more in Round 5 next time out.

“Disappointing results after a long day of racing on a rough track,” said Delong. “I’m ready to regroup, get my mind right and get back to being up front in Tennessee.”

XC1 Open Pro Class Results

1. Ben Kelley, KTM

2. Liam Draper, Yamaha

3. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki

8. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

WXC Class Results

1. Korie Steede, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

2. Rachael Archer, Kawasaki

3. Danielle McDonald, Yamaha

Bauman Headlines Historic Harley-Davidson 1-2 at Senoia Short Track

History was made in Saturday night’s Yamaha Senoia Short Track when Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) hustled the Harley-Davidson XG750R to its maiden Mission AFT SuperTwins victory.

Bauman twice teased that possibility earlier this month at the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track double season opener, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, but he still somehow managed to pull it off in stunning fashion at Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia.

In fact, Bauman appeared out of sorts prior to the Main Event, finishing an uncharacteristic fifth in his heat race, while title leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and fast qualifier Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) stole away the pre-race the momentum.

But as it played out, the Main delivered non-stop drama that actually started prior the race itself. VanDerKooi went from pole position to the back of the grid – along with Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), Henry Wiles (No. 911 J&M Logging/Ray C’s Harley-Davidson Kawasaki Ninja 650), and Billy Ross (No. 29 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Kawasaki Ninja 650) – after arriving late to the staging area.

That development resulted in a frantic opening several laps in which Daniels, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) ran three wide in their clash for the lead, followed closely by an on-form James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07)… and soon enough, a charging VanDerKooi.

Right around the time the race hit the halfway point, Robinson took command. And then with three minutes to go, Bauman made his move. Lurking just behind the leaders to that point, the two-time Grand National Champion snaked his way up to second before making a strike for first with less than two laps remaining.

Robinson reactively countered but Bauman was better positioned and reasserted his claim. All the while, Daniels was in their immediate wake, desperately seeking a way around both Harleys at Yamaha’s home round.

Ultimately, Bauman edged Robinson at the stripe to take the XG750R – which originally debuted back in 2016 – to its first-ever premier class victory with an emphatic 1-2 finish.

Bauman was understandably ecstatic afterward. He said, “It’s so much, right? It means the world to me, to my Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus/Latus Motors team. It means so much to Dave (Zanotti) and Michelle (Disalvo) and everyone behind us. I struggled in our heat race pretty badly, but the whole group came together and said, ‘Hey, what do we need to do to make this thing better?’

“This means so much to me, and it means so much to my family. And, like I said, I have a phenomenal team.”

Daniels came up 0.028 seconds short of breaking up the Harley first and second but still managed to up his record-breaking podium streak to 16 in the attempt. Fisher finished fourth another half-second behind Daniels, while VanDerKooi ended his blitz up through the field in fifth.

Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp) continued his rather seamless transition to Mission AFT SuperTwins competition and the Honda Transalp with a fine sixth only two seconds removed from the win.

Ott followed him home in seventh with Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), Price, and Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) completing the top ten.

Daniels continues to lead the early-season championship chase but only by a single point over Bauman (62-61). Robinson and Fisher are tied for third at 44.

AFT Singles presented by KICKER

While the season opener in Daytona effectively served as a recap of the past three years of AFT Singles presented by KICKER domination by triple champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Bob Lanphere/KTM/Fastrack Racing KTM 450 SX-F), the Senoia Short Track properly set the stage for the season ahead.

What it delivered was what was widely expected – a showdown featuring preseason title favorites Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) – but it took the entire day and a portion of the Main to arrive at that inevitability.

The front row was held down by just two riders – Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F) and Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio/Sluggo/Unsettled Racing KTM 450 SX-F) – after heat race winners Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Certified Racing KTM 450 SX-F) and Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) were unable to participate after colliding while running 1st and 2nd in the AFT Singles 1st Impressions Challenge.

RoosEvans and Raggio shot off into the lead and took full advantage of their turn in the spotlight, at least until Drane and Saathoff finally came good when it mattered the most.

Saathoff utilized a high line to work his way from Row 3 and into the lead less than two minutes into the Main. Aussie Drane forced his way through to prevent his rival from executing his planned escape. The Estenson Racing star then spent the remainder of the race showing the Rick Ware Racing ace his front wheel, but he could never quite make the inside angle stick.

Saathoff took the checkered flag by 0.312 seconds over Drane to earn his first career Short Track win and become just the fifth rider in AFT Singles history to complete the class Grand Slam.

He said, “I struggled all day long out here, and I told (Crew Chief) Bryan (Bigelow) before that Main Event, ‘Dude, I might be on the third row, but if you fix the problems that I’m having, it’s a guaranteed win.’ And I never think like that; I’m very humble about that type of stuff, but I definitely let the dog off the leash in the Main.”

Despite falling short of his bid to win, Drane took his ninth consecutive podium, most ever in the class.

Completing a podium stacked three deep with significance was Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who sailed his way from 12th to 3rd thanks to an adventurous high line to secure his first-career pro podium.

Meanwhile, RoosEvans equaled his career best AFT Singles finish in fourth, matching the result he claimed here one year ago.

Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) took fifth, followed by Declan Bender (No. 70 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who impressed mightily in last-minute substitute duty filling in for Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450).

Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R), Raggio, Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer’s Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F), and Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/Reel Medics Yamaha YZ450F) rounded out the top ten.

Drane now leads the championship with 54 points, followed by Senoia winner Saathoff. Kopp continues to hold down third at 46 despite making his roadracing debut in Texas today.

Di Mario And Paige Split Wins In Talent Cup Opener At COTA

Just when it seemed as though Warhorse Ducati/American Racing’s Alessandro Di Mario was going to dominate the all-new Parts Unlimited Talent Cup By Motul Championship after a crushing victory in Saturday morning’s race one, a 14-year-old Australian by the name of Bodie Paige put the skids on that with an equally impressive win in race two.
And the 2025 Parts Unlimited Talent Cup By Motul is off and running, with lots of promise with youngsters battling throughout the field in both races from start to finish.

Di Mario stormed to victory in race one, winning by over nine seconds after leading from start to finish in the eight-lap race. In race two, however, the 16-year-old botched the start and didn’t get to fourth place until the pack hit the back straight for the first time. Di Mario started to move forward and slipped into second place with a handful of laps remaining, but he couldn’t make a dent in Paige’s advantage.

At the finish line, it was CTR/D&D Cycles-backed Paige by 1.3 seconds over Di Mario, with the two leaving Texas and heading to round two at Barber Motorsports Park next weekend tied at the top of the championship point standings with 45 points apiece.

Third place in both races went to a second 14-year-old Australian in the form of Estenson Racing’s Sam Drane.

Race One – Di Mario Domination

Di Mario didn’t nail the holeshot in race one, but he led by the time they exited from the first corner. From there, he never put a wheel wrong in storming to a 9.442-second win.

With Di Mario disappearing into the distance, it was Paige emerging from the pack and racing to a rather lonely second place with almost 5.5 seconds over third place.

That spot ultimately fell to Paige’s fellow Australian Drane, who was just .169 of a second ahead of Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Hank Vossberg.

Drane and Vossberg ended up pulling a gap to what was once a six-rider battle for third, with Jones Honda’s Julian Correa besting San Marcos Iron Doors 316 Rossi Motorsports’ Rossi Garcia by a scant .200 of a second. MP13 Racing’s Ella Dreher crossed the line in seventh, just .202 of a second behind Garcia.

Envy Powered By Warhorse’s Derek Sanchez, Chase Black Racing’s Chase Black, and Ice Barn Racing’s Solly Mervis rounded out the top 10.

Race Two – Paige Flips The Order

Paige led from start to finish in race two on Saturday afternoon, ultimately beating Di Mario by 1.3 seconds to win his first career MotoAmerica race. Judging by his performance and the ability to hold off a charging Di Mario, it won’t be Paige’s last MotoAmerica victory.

Di Mario missed a little bit on setup for race two and said he had front-end chatter that forced him to run wide in several spots on the track. The defending MotoAmerica SC-Project Twins Cup Champion tried but couldn’t match Paige. Next week at Barber, Di Mario will be pulling double duty with both Talent Cup and Twins Cup on his plate.

While Drane had a battle on his hands in race one with Vossberg, the Estenson Racing rider was mostly alone in race two until Di Mario showed up. Once Di Mario made his pass, Drane had a lonely race and finished almost two seconds ahead of Jones Honda’s Julian Correa, who improved one spot from his fifth place in race one.

MP13 Racing’s Dreher showed her mettle in race two, finishing fifth after improving from her seventh-place finish in race one.

Sanchez also improved in race two, moving from eighth to sixth.

Three-time AFT Singles Champion Kody Kopp bounced back from his crash in race one to finish seventh in what was just his first day of road racing. Kopp was in a heated battle throughout, with just .266 of a second covering Sanchez in sixth to Garcia in ninth. King, meanwhile, was also in that pack and finished eighth.

Black rounded out the top 10, dropping a spot from his race-one ninth.

Vossberg, who was a fighting fourth in race one, was knocked out of the battle by a mechanical failure.

The Parts Unlimited Talent Cup By Motul has just a few days off before the series resumes with the opening round of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at Barber Motorsports Park, April 4-6.

Talent Cup Race One

Alessandro Di Mario
Bodie Paige
Sam Drane
Hank Vossberg
Julian Correa
Rossi Garcia
Ella Dreher
Derek Sanchez
Chase Black
Solly Mervis

Talent Cup Race Two

Bodie Paige
Alessandro Di Mario
Sam Drane
Julian Correa
Ella Dreher
Derek Sanchez
Kody Kopp
Carson King
Rossi Garcia
Chase Black

Quotes…

Alessandro Di Mario – First/Second

“They went a lot faster. The pace was insane that second race. We made some bike changes, and apparently it wasn’t really too good. Every time I would lean the bike over and then get on the gas, it was kind of chattering a lot. So, I didn’t really have much confidence. I couldn’t lean it a lot. But the pace was also higher, too. So that made the issue even bigger. Obviously, I got a really bad start. I’ve got to learn how to start these things better. I was fifth or sixth, I think, at turn one. I had to make my way up. So, I got to about third place and then at that point, I just tried to control my pace and finish the race and get as many points as possible. I could tell the pace was a lot higher, so I knew it was going to be hard. But I just wanted to get up to the front as quick as possible. I lost three or four seconds just in the pack the first couple laps. So, it made it a lot harder. I feel like if I had gotten a good start I could have been up there battling. But we just have to work on that.”

Bodie Paige – Second/First

“We had it planned earlier in the year, and we were all set. We just had to pay off the bike, but we came up late on that. We pulled the pin on it for this year, and we were maybe going to do it next year. But we got a ride from Wayne Rainey, and we said ‘yeah.’ It was on the way home from dirt track. So, it was late. We got all the stuff that we needed for the test, but it wasn’t quite everything we needed. So, we just focused on bike setup at the test and just trying to get me comfortable with it, then focus on getting all the stuff for this round. It’s been a good weekend for the start of the championship, so hopefully we can keep going.”

Sam Drane – Third/Third

“I did a lot of different riding (from race one to race two). I tried to lean off it more. It worked out better. I just had some struggles with the front end in race two that I dropped off a bit and slowed the pace down. Race one, we just didn’t really have the pace for the two in front of me. They were both good races, and it set me up nicely for the championship.

“From about December last year. Tim (Estenson, the team owner) really decided he wanted to do it and got all the stuff for it, and that’s about where we started. Yeah, we’re all in it together now because Tommy (his brother) is racing flat track and I’ll be doing that too this year. They built a house (in Kentucky) and we’re just going to be living there for most of the year now.”

250330 Alessandro Di Mario crosses the finish line

Alessandro Di Mario crosses the finish line in victory in the first of two MotoAmerica Parts Unlimited Talent Cup By Motul races at Circuit of The Americas on Saturday. Photo By Brian J. Nelson

250330 After finishing second to Di Mario in race one, Australian Bodie Paige (65) took the win over Di Mario (27) and Sam Drane (59) in race two

After finishing second to Di Mario in race one, Australian Bodie Paige (65) took the win over Di Mario (27) and Sam Drane (59) in race two. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

250330 Sam Drane (59) was third in both races. Here he leads Julian Correa (40) in race one

Sam Drane (59) was third in both races. Here he leads Julian Correa (40) in race one. Correa carded a fifth and a fourth in the two races. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

250330 MotoAmerica's first-ever Parts Unlimited Talent Cup

MotoAmerica’s first-ever Parts Unlimited Talent Cup By Motul arrives turn one for the first time on Saturday morning at COTA with Sam Drane nailing the holeshot. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

250330 Di Mario celebrates his race-one victory on the COTA podium

Di Mario celebrates his race-one victory on the COTA podium. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

250330 (From left to right) Di Mario, Paige, and Drane celebrate their podium finishes in race two.

(From left to right) Di Mario, Paige, and Drane celebrate their podium finishes in race two. The series heads to Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama for round two, April 4-6. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

Honda Ramps Up Participation in MotoAmerica

Ahead of MotoAmerica’s opening 2025 Superbike round in Birmingham, Alabama, this weekend, American Honda today announced their expanded involvement in the top U.S. road racing series. The program is headlined by a trio of racers aboard Honda’s flagship CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, competing in three classes: the premier Superbike division, the production-based Stock 1000 category, and the Superbike Cup (a class within the Superbike class, for Stock 1000 racers who wish to campaign their bikes in that division).

Leading the charge is the Real Steel Honda Racing team, which features direct backing from American Honda, along with additional support from Chattanooga, Tennessee, dealership Southern Honda Powersports. Jerry Nickell is the Team Principal, with Mark Junge serving as Technical Director and Robbie Petersen in the Team Coordinator role.

The squad earned last year’s Stock 1000 title at the hands of Hayden Gillim, who this year will campaign the Fireblade in the Superbike division. A 30-year-old native of Owensboro, Kentucky, Gillim is a racing veteran, having won his first Amateur Dirt Track Grand Championship at age 6. A cousin of the famous racing Hayden brothers (who he is named after), Gillim typically runs number 69 as an homage to the late Nicky Hayden. He also has past accomplishments with other brands, including the 2023 Stock 1000 and King of the Baggers crowns.

In addition, Real Steel will field JD Beach in Stock 1000 and the Superbike Cup. Another veteran racer (he is 33) with experience in both dirt track and road racing, Beach has titles including the 2008 Red Bull Rookies Cup, the 2010 AMA Pro Supersport East crown and two MotoAmerica Supersport Championships (2015 and 2018). Although he was born in Washington State, Beach grew up with the Hayden and Gillim families in Kentucky.

“A couple years ago, Jerry and Hayden had the vision of creating a national-level Superbike team, and Honda was in their sights,” Petersen said. “They really made a statement last year, and they’ve established a relationship with Southern Powersports and American Honda. We’re very proud to be in a position where the team is welcoming Honda back into Superbike. Expectations in Superbike are a bit of a building process; it’s a big step up, but we’ve got realistic goals. I think we’re going to be on the podium sooner than some might expect, as the bike has a huge amount of potential.”

Also of note is the private Jones Honda squad, which operates out of the Columbia, Missouri, dealership of the same name. The team is again supporting Georgia-native Ashton Yates, who earned the 2024 Superbike Cup crown aboard a CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. The son of former factory AMA Superbike racer Aaron Yates (who is the team’s lead mechanic), Ashton will campaign both Superbike and Stock 1000. Darrel Jones is the Team Principal, John Blike is the Team Coordinator and Cameron Jones heads up data management. CJR Performance handles dyno tuning and electronics, and backing comes from American Honda, Progressive and Pro Honda Oils & Chemicals.

“Last year, we were using the same bike for both classes, and it was amazing how well that Honda held up,” said Cameron Jones, who is a former MotoAmerica racer himself. “We ran the same clutch all year, and we never had a mechanical; that’s really what wins championships—getting points and staying on top of the box. This year we’re using two bikes, including a semi-stock bike in Superbike. We’d be ecstatic to get into the top five or six in that class, and for Stock 1000, the goal is to bring home the championship.”

The Jones Honda project is an example of what is possible with Honda’s generous MotoAmerica offering in the 2025 Red Rider Rewards contingency program. Available to riders of various Honda powersports models, the program offers a total of $1,425,500 in MotoAmerica alone, from $25,000 for a Superbike-class race win, to $50 for a third-place finish in a Mini Cup Stock 50 regional race.

“Honda has a proud heritage in U.S. road racing, so it’s exciting to be stepping up our representation in MotoAmerica for 2025,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing and Advertising at American Honda. “The Real Steel Honda Racing and Jones Honda teams are both very solid efforts headed by great people, and they’ve signed some talented riders. We’re looking forward to them showing what the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP is capable of.”

The Real Steel and Jones Honda teams are also both fielding efforts in MotoAmerica’s Talent Cup, the first round of which was held this past weekend in conjunction with the U.S. MotoGP stop in Austin, Texas. Intended to develop up-and-comers for eventual international-level racing, the division features young riders competing aboard Kramer motorcycles tuned by different teams. Real Steel is campaigning the class with 14-year-old Ian Fraley, while Jones Honda is entering 16-year old Julian Correa. In the two races at the opening doubleheader, Fraley and Correa posted results of 13-14 and 5-4, respectively.

Following this coming weekend’s race at Barber Motorsports Park, MotoAmerica goes on to visit eight more circuits before concluding at New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 28.

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