This Week in Powersports Racing – The week of May 25, 2025

PROMISE THERE FOR ROCKSTAR ENERGY GASGAS FACTORY RACING IN PRO MOTOCROSS OPENER

Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing’s Casey Cochran and Ryder DiFrancesco raced to consistent results at Round 1 of the 2025 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Fox Raceway on Saturday, setting a promising foundation to build upon for the remainder of the summer.

GASGAS debutant Casey Cochran claims 12th overall in 250MX
13th overall score for Ryder D in his return to competition
Both riders back on track in opening round at Fox Raceway!

Equipped with the GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition, Cochran was seventh fastest on the 250MX combined qualifying timesheets, before racing to a P14 result in the opening Moto of the season. An 11th position in Moto 2 gave the 18-year-old 12th overall, and plenty of momentum entering Hangtown next weekend.

Casey Cochran: “It was a decent day for me. I felt good in the morning, and overall I have a good feeling on the bike, so getting the first race nerves out of the way is good. I’m happy with how our day went, there are still plenty of improvements to be made, but I’m stoked to be back racing and charging for the next 10 rounds.”

250MX teammate DiFranceso concluded the first Moto with a P17 result, before a strong rebound in Moto 2 had the GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition rider climb into ninth place, scoring a top 10 Moto finish in his return from an early-season injury.

Ryder DiFrancesco: “It’s good to be back! Just to get a day under my belt is something I have been missing, so it was nice to be back. Moto 2 was a positive for us, running up front for a while and being able to see the pace, then ultimately ending up in ninth. I’m glad to be back at the races, and looking forward to next week.”

Next Race: May 31 – Hangtown, California

Results 250MX Class – Fox Raceway National

Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
Jo Shimoda (Honda)
Tom Vialle (KTM)
Julien Beaumer (KTM)
Casey Cochran (Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing)
Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing)

Standings 250MX Class 2025 after 1 of 11 rounds

Haiden Deegan, 50 points
Jo Shimoda, 44
Tom Vialle, 38
Julien Beaumer, 35
Casey Cochran, 19
Ryder DiFrancesco, 18

TRYSTAN HART CLAIMS TOUGH LIKE RORR U.S. HARD ENDURO VICTORY

Defending AMA U.S. Hard Enduro Champion Trystan Hart returned to the top step of the podium for Round 7 of the 2025 season at the Tough Like RORR event in Pennsylvania, on a weekend where FMF KTM Factory Racing teammate Mateo Oliveira powered to the Pro Class win at Round 4 of the West Hare Scrambles (WHS) series in California.

U.S. HARD ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 7

Four-time U.S. Hard Enduro Champion Hart found difficulties during the last two years at the Tough Like RORR, however, this time around he was able to convert what was a convincing race victory onboard his KTM 300 XC-W with over 13 minutes between himself and second place.

After qualifying in third position on Saturday, Hart was all class on Sunday in a winning time of 3:41:14 to open one of the most important events on the U.S. Hard Enduro schedule as part of the annual Keystone Challenge event.

With his result, the Canadian makes his way to the top of the 2025 Pro Class standings, and will gear up for the Locked & Loaded Hard Scramble on Monday, which marks the second half of the Keystone Challenge double-header weekend.

Trystan Hart: “I tried to be consistent today, because this is the one race that I think we all really want to win for the year! It’s like the American Erzberg with the big rocks and tough sections, so I’m super grateful to be able to do this race and get the win. A big thank you to my FMF KTM Factory Racing Team – we’ll go again tomorrow.”

Pro Class Results
1. Trystan Hart, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Cody Webb, Yamaha
3. Will Riordan, Sherco
4. Ryder LeBlond, Husqvarna

WEST HARE SCRAMBLES – ROUND 4

It was a wire-to-wire win for FMF KTM Factory Racing talent Mateo Oliveria at the fourth round of the 2025 AMA West Hare Scrambles (WHS) Series, who completed an impressive return from a hand injury sustained earlier in the season.

After powering his KTM 450 XC-F to the holeshot at the famed Glen Helen facility, Oliveira wouldn’t look back for the remainder of the nine-lap encounter, claiming his second victory of the year and increasing his series lead to 15 points with two rounds remaining.

Mateo Oliveira: “It was a good weekend back at the races after missing last Grand Prix. I knew this race was crucial to get points back and limit the damage from suffering a broken hand right before the third round. I crushed the holeshot and led start to finish with pressure from behind all race! Very happy with my performance and fitness, it’s good to have a little cushion going into the final two rounds.”

Pro Class Results
1. Mateo Oliveria, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Zane Roberts, Beta
3. Dustyn Davis, GASGAS

NATIONAL ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 2

FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ Angus Riordan charged to second position in the NE Pro2 Class during Round 2 of the 2025 AMA National Enduro Series (NEPG) at the Cherokee National in Greensboro, Georgia, battling challenging conditions to secure a podium finish.

The Australian racer was in the fight for the duration of the encounter, holding firm at the front of the field as he battled with the leaders onboard his KTM 250 XC-F. Ultimately, a P2 finish was the end result for Riordan in the technical track conditions.

Angus Riordan: “It was a fun day at the NEPG. I was able to grab second in class and be right there in the fight all day long. Solid result for us, and I’m looking forward to the next one!”

For NE Pro1 Class contender Ben Kelley, a sickness affected him throughout his race weekend, with the first round podium finisher acknowledging that it was a tough weekend out. Still, the FMF KTM Factory Racing rider raced his KTM 350 XC-F to fifth overall for the weekend.

Ben Kelley: “I came into the weekend under the weather, so I knew it would be a long day. Started pretty good, my times and speed were right there to battle for a podium spot, but I didn’t have the energy and faded off the pace in the last two tests. I made some mistakes and just wasn’t on point like I needed to be to stay in the fight. It was slick, rooty, and hard pack, but my bike worked well all day.”

Additionally, KTM Team Landers-supported Chase Landers put in a strong ride in the NE Pro2 Class, by claiming a solid third position at the second round.

NE Pro1 Class Results
1. Josh Toth, Kawasaki
2. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki
3. Grant Baylor, Kawasaki
5. Ben Kelley, FMF KTM Factory Racing

NE Pro2 Class Results
1. Nicholas Defeo, Kawasaki
2. Angus Riordan, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers
3. Chase Landers, KTM

TOM VIALLE AND RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING LAND FOX RACEWAY NATIONAL PODIUM

A convincing start to the 2025 AMA Pro Motocross Championship saw Tom Vialle finish third overall at Fox Raceway on Saturday afternoon, delivering 3-4 results across the pair of 250MX motos, while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammates Julien Beaumer (250MX) and Aaron Plessinger (450MX) also scored top-five results in their respective classes at the season-opening round.
A podium finish in the 250MX category saw two-time MX2 World Champion and current 250SX East title-holder Vialle finish P3 overall on his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. Vialle accelerated to the holeshot in Moto 2 and fought up front for the duration of the race, which complemented his fourth-place result in Moto 1.

Tom Vialle: “I had a great start in the second Moto, although the first one I started actually pretty far back. I passed a lot of riders in that one, and the track was very tricky – it’s not my favorite track of the year here, so it’s nice to be on the podium. Obviously, third place isn’t where we want to be, but it’s still nice to start the season on the podium.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250MX teammate Beaumer began his second full Pro Motocross campaign with a fifth-place finish in the opening encounter, before leading the field in Moto 2 as he made a quick pass on Vialle for the lead. Also equipped with the KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, a P4 ride would earn the number 23 fifth overall for the weekend.

Julien Beaumer: “Pala was a solid start to the season and 5-4 results have me excited for where I am at. We still have some work to do to increase comfort, but to leave here fifth overall shows where we are, speed-wise, and I think I can run up front and win races. I’m excited for the rest of the season.”

Fox Raceway marked a strong afternoon of racing for Plessinger in 450MX, with ‘The Cowboy’ racing his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to fifth in Moto 1, and then a hard-fought P3 in Moto 2 after spending the entirety of the race entrenched in a battle for the final podium position. Those results placed him P4 on combined scores at the opener.

Aaron Plessinger: “Pala was crazy! We put the scoop tire on for Moto 2 because I was lacking that thing in the first one, but it got me off to a great start in that last race. Then from there, it was literally me and Hunter [Lawrence], which was one of the hardest battles I’ve had in motocross, and I was able to get him on the last lap. I’ve just got to give it up to everyone who’s behind me, training down at the Baker’s Factory has been a good, good time, and I feel like this year’s my year. More good starts like that and I think we can be right up there going for wins!”

Defending 450MX Champion Chase Sexton opened the Fox Raceway round by posting the second fastest qualifying time onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before a costly early fall during Moto 1 ended his day, with both he and the team electing to sit out Moto 2. Additional information will be available once he undergoes further evaluation this week.

Next Race: May 31 – Hangtown, California

Results 450MX Class – Fox Raceway National

Jett Lawrence (Honda)
Eli Tomac (Yamaha)
Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)

Standings 450MX Class 2025 after 1 of 11 rounds

Jett Lawrence, 50 points
Eli Tomac, 40
Hunter Lawrence, 38
Aaron Plessinger, 37
RJ Hampshire, 26
Malcolm Stewart, 10

Results 250MX Class – Fox Raceway National

Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
Jo Shimoda (Honda)
Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Casey Cochran (GASGAS)
Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS)

Standings 250MX Class 2025 after 1 of 11 rounds

Haiden Deegan, 50 points
Jo Shimoda, 44
Tom Vialle, 38
Julien Beaumer, 35
Casey Cochran, 19
Ryder DiFrancesco, 18

P4 result earned by Ryder LeBlond in Tough Like RORR Hard Enduro

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder LeBlond took fourth place in Round 7 of the 2025 U.S. Hard Enduro Series at the Tough Like RORR event in Pennsylvania this weekend, with riders now set to contest the second leg of the annual Keystone Challenge on Monday.

U.S. Hard Enduro Series – Round 7

Equipped with the Husqvarna TE 300, LeBlond navigated the treacherous terrain, which is known to feature some of the most challenging sections on the schedule. From large rocks to technical switchbacks, the RORR event is notorious for throwing everything at riders, which it did again in 2025.

A fourth-place finish resulted in a consistent haul of championship points for LeBlond, however, he is aiming for more at the Locked & Loaded Hard Scramble in consecutive rounds, which makes up the second half of the Keystone Challenge.

“We took a fourth-place finish today, which is about three positions away from where we need to be!” reflected LeBlond. “On one hand, I’m happy that I got through it, because this event is so gnarly, and usually I’m in a heap by the end of it. My riding was actually pretty good, although they were just faster than me in a couple of key sections, so we know what we need to work on. We’ve got another race tomorrow, so it was good to get through today.”

Pro Class Results

1. Trystan Hart, KTM

2. Cody Webb, Yamaha

3. Will Riordan, Sherco

4. Ryder LeBlond, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Ninth on debut at Fox Raceway National for RJ Hampshire in 450MX Class

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire made a successful full-time 450MX debut in Round 1 of the 2025 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at the Fox Raceway National, charging to ninth overall and displaying front-running form throughout the opener alongside teammate Malcolm Stewart.

Hampshire and his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition posted the sixth-fastest qualifying time during the morning sessions, before racing to a hard-fought P6 finish in Moto 1 after being in the thick of battle for the duration of the race.

In Moto 2, the 29-year-old was once again inside the front group as the race commenced, however, an early fall relegated him down the order, and a comeback performance was required from there. Hampshire would claw his way back to P12 and earn ninth overall for the round, ticking the goal of a top 10 leaving the opener despite undergoing recent surgery on his wrist.

“Man, it was cool to be here and be competitive,” commented Hampshire. “I’m a man of my word, I said I would be here, and we qualified in sixth, then in the first Moto we were running in the top-five for a while. Pulled off P6 in that one, which was more than expected, then the second Moto I had another good start, but slid out and kind of mailed it in from there. Thankful to be here, top 10 was our goal, so ninth is a solid result to begin with.”

Alongside Hampshire in the premier class was teammate Stewart, who enters this year’s AMA Pro Motocross campaign after a successful Supercross season. Stewart would power his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition to 12th in Moto 1, and was running inside the top 10 in Moto 2, before a late-race crash impacted his result. He was credited P15 overall after an eventful first round.

“Fox Raceway is a tough track,” reflected Stewart. “It’s one of those places that’ll catch you out pretty quickly, which happened to me in Moto 1, where I fell and then came back to 12th place. Moto 2, I had a decent start, and then ended up making another mistake in the back section and went down pretty hard. I had to regroup, call it a day, and I’m just thankful that it wasn’t anything too crazy that will put me out, so we’ll just rest up and get ready for Hangtown.”

Next Race: May 31 – Hangtown, California

Results 450MX Class – Fox Raceway National

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)

2. Eli Tomac (Yamaha)

3. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)

4. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)

9. RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

15. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 450MX Class 2025 after 1 of 11 rounds

1. Jett Lawrence, 50 points

2. Eli Tomac, 40

3. Hunter Lawrence, 38

4. Aaron Plessinger, 37

9. RJ Hampshire, 26

15. Malcolm Stewart, 10

Powerful Return to Racing for Honda HRC Progressive at Fox Raceway

Just 112 days after exiting the AMA Supercross series with a torn ACL, Honda HRC Progressive rider Jett Lawrence returned to action for the opening AMA Pro Motocross round in Pala, California, where he extended his flawless overall-win record at Fox Raceway to eight (five in 250, three in 450), via an impressive premier-class moto sweep. Also returning from a layoff (his due to a shoulder injury) was Hunter Lawrence, who tallied a 3-4 score for third overall. Meanwhile, the 250 class saw Jo Shimoda turn in an impressive 2-2 ride for second overall, while Chance Hymas showed impressive speed all day and finished fourth overall.

On a track that developed deep ruts and technical lines throughout the day, the Lawrence brothers showed poise and composure in their return to racing. Jett and Hunter nailed their moto 1 starts aboard their CRF450RWE race machines, exiting turn 1 first and second, respectively. Jett went wire-to-wire to win by 11.482 seconds over Justin Cooper, with Hunter a solid third. Hunter went on to rip a huge moto 2 holeshot before Jett quickly took over. Eli Tomac moved into second early and engaged in a legendary battle with Jett, who held off the “Beast Mode” challenges the entire 37 minutes and 4 seconds to take an emotional win. Hunter defended third place from Aaron Plessinger for most of the race, only to relinquish the position when he made an error on the final lap, though his fourth place was good enough for third overall.

Hymas grabbed the 250 moto 1 holeshot board his CRF250RWE and, after briefly losing the lead, ran at the front until a lap-6 tip-over cost him a couple spots. Shimoda sat in fourth after lap 1 and then lost a position, but he came on strong in the second half of the race to notch a solid second-place result, one ahead of Hymas. Moto 2 saw the Japanese racer once again complete lap 1 in fourth place and mount a charge midway through, for a second-place result and second overall. Hymas suffered a terrible start but rode well and advanced steadily from 14^th on lap 1 to sixth at the finish, for fourth on the day.

NOTES

All four Honda HRC Progressive riders—Jett Lawrence, Hunter Lawrence, Jo Shimoda, and Chance Hymas—participated in Friday’s pre-season press conference at Pala Casino Spa Resort, followed by riding sessions on the Fox Raceway track.
This weekend marked the return to racing for both Lawrence brothers, with Jett back from an ACL injury and Hunter returning from a shoulder (labrum) injury sustained during the early rounds of the AMA Supercross season.
Temecula Motorsports, a powersports dealership based in Murrieta, California, staffed a pop-up activation booth in the Honda HRC Progressive pits, where they displayed a CRF450R and a CRF250R, and engaged with fans and customers.
In 250 timed qualifying, Hymas set the pace with the fastest lap time, topping the charts by 1.6 seconds over the next rider. Teammate Shimoda also rode well despite experiencing a tip-over in the first session, with another rider landing on his bike, preventing him from continuing the session. Shimoda rebounded in session 2 to qualify ninth overall. SPR’s Lance Kobusch was 27^th, with Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers 32^nd. TiLube Honda’s Ryder Floyd and Patrick Murphy qualified 34^th and 36^th, respectively, claiming the final direct-transfer positions.
In the 450 class, Jett posted the fastest time in both sessions, ending over a second faster than P2, signaling a strong return to Pro Motocross, while Hunter was fifth fastest. Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Joey Savatgy qualified in 11^th, with Raylentless Racing’s Brandon Ray 28^th and IQ Racing Team’s John Short IV 33^rd. In the consolation race, Next Level’s Hunter Schlosser earned the final transfer spot with a fourth-place finish.
Jett notched the best lap times in both 450 motos. Shimoda posted the fastest lap time of the second 250 moto, with Hymas posting the second-fastest time, despite coming through the pack.
Honda HRC Progressive took three of four holeshots at Fox Raceway.
Including this weekend’s success, Honda has the most overall 450 wins at Pala, with five (three ahead of the closest manufacturer). Red Riders to have scored 450-class overall wins at Pala are Jett Lawrence (three times) and Chase Sexton (twice).
As noted by Peacock commentator Jason Weigandt, Jett has led every lap at Fox Raceway since he moved up to the 450 class for the 2023 season.
Not only was this Jett’s third premier-class overall win at Pala, it was the 16^th of his career—an impressive accomplishment for the 21-year-old, who missed most of last year’s series with injury.
Among 250-class Red Riders not on the Honda HRC Progressive roster, SPR’s Lance Kobusch finished 27th overall, while TiLube Honda’s Ryder Floyd and Patrick Murphy were 30^th and 38^th, respectively. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers was 40^th.
Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Joey Savatgy was eighth overall with consistent rides in the 450 class, while Raylentless Racing’s Brandon Ray and IQ Racing Team’s John Short IV were 27^th and 34^th, respectively. Grassroots MX rider Gavin Brough rounded out the group in 36^th
The Fox Raceway event also hosted the opening round of the Women’s Motocross Championship, held on Friday. SLR Honda Racing’s Mikayla Nielsen earned the overall win, starting her title campaign on a high note. Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Charli Cannon rode to a fourth-place finish despite racing with a broken finger and stitches from an injury sustained earlier in the week, and Red Rider Jaylie Gallacher took 12^th The WMX series resumes next weekend at Hangtown.
At the Fox Raceway National, Honda kicked off a sweepstakes to give away a 2025 CRF450RWE. The sweepstakes will run through the final SMX round in Las Vegas, where the winner will be announced. Fans can sign up by scanning the QR code on popup banners located in the pits at the Honda race teams, including Honda HRC Progressive, Quad Lock Honda and Phoenix Racing Honda.
Next up, AMA Pro Motocross heads north to Rancho Cordova, California, for the Hangtown Motocross Classic.

450 Overall Results

Jett Lawrence (Hon)
Eli Tomac (Yam)
Hunter Lawrence (Hon)
Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
Justin Cooper (Yam)
Jorge Prado (Kaw)
Jason Anderson (Kaw)
Joey Savatgy (Hon)
R.J. Hampshire (Hus)
Benoit Paturel (Suz)

—

27. Brandon Ray (Hon)

34. John Short IV (Hon)

35. Hunter Schlosser (Hon)

36. Gavin Brough (Hon)

450 Championship Points (after 1 of 11 rounds)

Jett Lawrence (50)
Eli Tomac (40)
Hunter Lawrence (38)
Aaron Plessinger (37)
Justin Cooper (36)
Jorge Prado (31)
Jason Anderson (30)
Joey Savatgy (26)
R.J. Hampshire (26)
Benoit Paturel (24)

—

250 Overall Results

Haiden Deegan (Yam)
Jo Shimoda (Hon)
Tom Vialle (KTM)
Chance Hymas (Hon)
Julien Beaumer (KTM)
Garrett Marchbanks (Kaw)
Seth Hammaker (Kaw)
Michael Mosiman (Yam)
Maximus Vohland (Yam)
Ty Masterpool (Kaw)

—

27. Lance Kobusch (Hon)

30. Ryder Floyd (Hon)

38. Patrick Murphy (Hon)

40. Gavin Towers (Hon)

250 Championship Points (after 1 of 11 rounds)

Haiden Deegan (50)
Jo Shimoda (44)
Tom Vialle (38)
Chance Hymas (36)
Julien Beaumer (35)
Garrett Marchbanks (33)
Seth Hammaker (29)
Michael Mosiman (25)
Maximus Vohland (22)
Ty Masterpool (22)

Jett Lawrence ¹

“With everything we’ve gone through, with injuries and having to deal with the mental battle, and my body not handling the pain killers very well—I had all that emotion, and I was thinking, ‘I can’t wait for Pala—I want to win.’ I have a good circle of people around me, and they all backed me in difficult moments. This is a reward not just for me, but for them. It was good to be back out there again and get that adrenaline rush.”

Hunter Lawrence ⁹⁶

“Pretty average day. I’m happy, and we’ll take it. Coming back from an injury, you never really know. For sure I had more outdoor prep than in years prior, but it’s just a race-pace thing—it’s tough to just jump back in. Me and AP [Aaron Plessinger] battled the whole second moto, and then I made a small mistake on the last lap and he was right there to capitalize on it. That was a punch in the gut, but it was good—a lot to build on.”

Jo Shimoda ³⁰

“It was a good day with P2 overall. I think I needed this, after a rough Supercross season. It’s really nice to start my season in a positive direction. It gives me confidence going into next weekend. We still have a lot of work to do, but we’ll try to make steady progress.”

Chance Hymas ¹⁰

“Round 1 here at Pala was really good for me. Qualifying fastest was definitely the best way to start off the day—my confidence was really high. After that, I holeshot the first moto but had a little mistake and ended up third. In the second moto I had a bad start, but I rode really good and made my way back up to sixth for fourth overall. Everything was good; I just need to fine-tune the bike a little bit, and I’m looking forward to Hangtown.”

Lars Lindstrom

Team Manager

“What an incredible weekend for the team, and what a great way to come back with all our riders under the tent again! Supercross was rough, and it makes you appreciate days like this that much more, and not take them for granted. It was also satisfying to know that all the hard work we’ve been putting in was actually in the right direction. Until you go racing, you just never know where you’re going to stack up. This was the first time we have raced the 2025 CRF250RWE in motocross, and the kids rode incredible today. Between Chance’s holeshot, and Jo’s good starts, combined with the incredible holeshots in the 450 class, it prompted the AMA to tear engines down for inspection in the post-race impound. Of course we were all within regulation, but I understand their skepticism ;). I’m stoked for all of our riders, but it was especially sweet to see Jett and his reaction after the race. It was a very special day for the team.”

Jett Lawrence Opens Pro Motocross Championship Season with Continued Dominance of Fox Raceway National

PALA, Calif. (May 24, 2025) – The second half of the SuperMotocross World Championship regular season got underway on Saturday, with the start of the 54th season of the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. Southern California’s Fox Raceway at Pala was the site for Round 18, the Pala Casino Spa & Resort Fox Raceway National Presented by Fox Racing, where abundant sunshine and moderate temperatures set the stage for a compelling afternoon of racing that saw a pair of dominant performances from two of the sport’s rising stars. In the 450 Class, Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence made his return to action from a torn ACL and maintained his unbeaten record at Fox Raceway with a 1-1 sweep in which he led every lap. In the 250 Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan began his title defense with a second straight win at the season opener, his home race, also completing a sweep of the motos.

450 Class

Moto 1

A highly anticipated opening moto began with a familiar sight as the Team Honda HRC Progressive duo of Jett and Hunter Lawrence emerged from the first turn side-by-side and nearly came together, with the edge for the Pro Motocross Holeshot going to Jett. The younger sibling was able to inch away, as Hunter Lawrence was passed by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper. A couple spots back, defending champion Chase Sexton started fifth aboard his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine.

As the top three settled in, Sexton faced adversity while running fourth as he was forced to take off his goggles. He maintained his spot in the running order, despite pressure from Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac, but was directed to visit the mechanic’s area for a new set of goggles. On the ensuing lap, Sexton crashed. He was slow to remount and eventually rode back to the paddock for a DNF.

The top of the running order remained unchanged the rest of the way, as Jett Lawrence moved out to a double-digit advantage and went wire-to-wire to extend his unbeaten streak in the 450 Class at Fox Raceway to five motos. Cooper earned a career-best moto result in second, while Hunter Lawrence finished third. Tomac followed in fourth, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger rounding out the top five.

Moto 2

The final moto of the afternoon got underway with a big Pro Motocross Holeshot for Hunter Lawrence that put him a couple bike lengths ahead of the field. His lead was short lived, however, as both Jett Lawrence and Plessinger were able to get by, with Tomac lurking in fourth. As Jett inched away, the battle behind him continued with Hunter Lawrence reclaiming second and Tomac following through into third to drop Plessinger to fourth.

Less than five minutes into the moto, Tomac was able to make the pass on Hunter for second and looked to close in on Jett Lawrence for the first time in Pro Motocross competition. In a matter of a half lap, the top two were multiple seconds ahead of the field, effectively setting up a head-to-head battle for the moto win. Behind them, Hunter Lawrence and Plessinger duked it out for third.

Tomac was relentless in applying pressure on Jett Lawrence, but the young Australian was able to keep him at bay and pull away in certain parts of the track. Tomac found a way to inch closer, but Lawrence would counter a few moments later. In his pursuit, Tomac made minor miscues that allowed Lawrence to build a lead that soon grew to about 2.5 seconds as they approached the final 10 minutes.

The Yamaha rider bided his time and made another push with about eight minutes to go and was able to close the deficit to under a second. Despite being faster and having better lines, Tomac couldn’t get alongside to attempt a pass. Slowly, the distance between the leaders started to swing in Lawrence’s favor. The lead continued to grow in the closing stages of the moto as the Honda rider withstood one of the toughest tests of his young career to close out his sixth straight moto win 11.8 seconds over Tomac. A lengthy battle for third between Hunter Lawrence and Plessinger saw the KTM rider make a late pass to grab the position.

Overall

In three career 450 Class starts at Fox Raceway, Jett Lawrence has not only won all six motos but also every single lap. A third straight 1-1 performance resulted in his 16th win in 17 career starts. Tomac’s first season opener since the 2022 season resulted in a runner-up effort (4-2), while Hunter Lawrence rounded out the overall podium in third (3-4).

Jett Lawrence’s initial lead in the championship standings sits at 10 points over Tomac, with Hunter Lawrence 12 points behind.

Jett Lawrence, Team Honda HRC

“I had a few good beast mode attacks from [Tomac] and I had to do everything I could to fend him off. I knew I had a stronger section, so I made sure I nailed it every time. With about five laps to go I had to give it everything and I tried to use the lappers to my advantage. It was awesome to race against [Tomac] and feel that adrenaline again.”

Eli Tomac, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing

“I was trying my heart out and it was close for about 25 minutes. We both had our strong spots on the track, so we were constantly trading momentum. It was definitely a pleasure to race against Jett. I’m really excited to get this series going. I felt strong and back to full health, and I’m ready to keep going.”

Hunter Lawrence, Team Honda HRC

“It was a pretty average day, but I’ll take it. There’s a lot to build on. I had a great battle with [Plessinger] in Moto 2 and made a little mistake right at the end and he was there to capitalize. That’s frustrating to end the day like that, but happy to be on the podium.”

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish // Points)

Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda (1-1 // 50)
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (4-2 // 40)
Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda (3-4 // 38)
Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (5-3 // 37)
Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (2-8 // 36)
Jorge Prado, Lugo, Galicia, Spain, Kawasaki (7-6 // 31)
Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki (9-5 // 30)
Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Honda (8-10 // 26)
RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna (6-12 // 26)
Benoit Patruel, Lyon, France, Suzuki (11-9 // 24)

450 Class Championship Standings (Race 1 of 11)

Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 50
Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha – 40
Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 38
Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM – 37
Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 36
Jorge Prado, Lugo, Galicia, Spain, Kawasaki – 31
Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki – 30
Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Honda – 26
RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna – 26
Benoit Patruel, Lyon, France, Suzuki – 24

250 Class

Moto 1

The first moto of the season began with Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas emerging from the first corner with the Pro Motocross Holeshot. After an early challenge from Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ty Masterpool, who briefly held the lead, Hymas asserted his control of the moto and eventually opened a multi-second lead on the field.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer took advantage of a strong start to eventually slot into second, while Masterpool dropped back several positions after the 10-minute mark of the moto. Deegan then became the rider on the move, as the defending class champion started sixth but charged his way up to third.

Just before the halfway point of the moto Hymas went down navigating a deep rut, which allowed both Beaumer and Deegan to assume the top two positions as Hymas remounted in third. Not long after, Deegan put pressure on Beaumer for the lead and seized control of the moto. Beaumer was then forced to contend with a resurgent Hymas, who made the pass for second.

As the moto entered its final 10 minutes, the battle for the podium picked up again as Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda made his way up into second after passes on both Beaumer and his teammate.

Out front, Deegan sprinted away from his rivals and went unchallenged the rest of the way to grab the moto win by 6.6 seconds over Shimoda, with Hymas in third. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle was fourth, followed by Beaumer in fifth.

Moto 2

The second moto got underway with the KTM duo of Vialle and Beaumer out front, with Vialle securing the Pro Motocross Holeshot and early lead. Behind them Deegan slotted into third, with Shimoda right behind in fourth. As the leaders looked to settle in, a small miscue halted Vialle’s momentum enough to allow Beaumer to make the pass and forced the Frenchmen to fend off Deegan from third.

With the clear track ahead, Beaumer showed impressive pace to slip away by nearly three seconds 10 minutes into the moto. Behind him, the battle for second heated up between Vialle, Deegan and Shimoda. After fending off a persistent challenge from Shimoda, Deegan made quick work of an opening to get by Vialle for second and faced a 2.5 second deficit to Beaumer.

With just over 12 minutes remaining, Deegan had closed in on the lead and began to look for an opportunity to attempt a pass on Beaumer. On one of the track’s steep uphills Deegan made his move and grabbed the lead. He then sprinted away to a near two-second advantage. Shimoda, meanwhile, went to work on Beaumer and eventually made the pass for second in the same spot Deegan gained the lead. On the following lap, Vialle got by his teammate for third.

Deegan successfully kept Shimoda at bay in the closing stages to wrap up a sweep of the motos for the second consecutive season at the track he grew up riding at. The Honda rider from Japan finished 5.3 seconds back in second, with Vialle in third.

Overall

Deegan begins his title defense the same way he started his championship campaign from a year ago, with a 1-1 performance for the eighth win of his career. Shimoda recorded his best-ever opening round result in second (2-2), while Vialle rounded out the overall podium in third (4-3).

Deegan has established a six-point lead over Shimoda in the point standings after one round, with Vialle 12 points back in third.

Haiden Deegan, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing

“It was a good day, but we could still be better. This track is so gnarly, but it’s outdoors, you’ve got to dog it out. We went 1-1, same as last year, so I’m stoked.”

Jo Shimoda, Team Honda HRC Progressive

“Today had a lot of surprises. I wasn’t feeling that great coming in. I just told myself to get a good start and get a lap in and that’s what we did. It’s been a rough year, but it feels really good to be on the podium.”

Tom Vialle, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

“I want to be better (than third). This race was a tricky one and it’s good to be on the podium, but I’m working to be better than that. I’m looking forward to next weekend.”

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)

Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (1-1 // 50)
Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda (2-2 // 44)
Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM (4-3 // 38)
Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda (3-6 // 36)
Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM (5-4 // 35)
Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Kawasaki (6-5 // 33)
Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki (8-7 // 29)
Michael Mosiman, Sebastopol, Calif., Yamaha (11-8 // 25)
Maximus Vohland, Sacramento, Calif., Yamaha (12-10 // 22)
Ty Masterpool, Fallon, Nev., Kawasaki (7-15 // 22)

250 Class Championship Standings (Race 1 of 11)

Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 50
Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda – 44
Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM – 38
Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda – 36
Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM – 35
Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Kawasaki – 33
Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki – 29
Michael Mosiman, Sebastopol, Calif., Yamaha – 25
Maximus Vohland, Sacramento, Calif., Yamaha – 22
Ty Masterpool, Fallon, Nev., Kawasaki – 22

The 2025 Pro Motocross Championship will continue next Saturday, May 31, with Round 19 of the SMX regular season from Northern California’s Prairie City SVRA. The Michael’s Reno Powersports Hangtown Motocross Classic will be shown live in its entirety on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live Presented by MotoSport.com at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Coverage of the motos begins at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET.

For information about the Pro Motocross Championship sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:

Deegan Reigns Supreme at Pro Motocross Opener

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan began his 250MX title defense in dominant fashion, sweeping both motos at the Pro Motocross season opener in Pala, California. It marked the second consecutive year the Southern Californian has gone 1-1 at Fox Raceway, delivering a commanding start to the summer campaign in front of the home crowd. Teammate Michael Mosiman also had a strong showing in his return to outdoor racing, securing a top-10 overall result in eighth (11-8). In his first race back in over a year, Jeremy Martin worked to come back from crashes in both motos, ending the day 21st overall (20-20). After getting run over in a crash in the first moto, Nate Thrasher toughed it out to finish 32nd but did not line up for the second moto.

Deegan topped the first qualifying session and secured second in the combined times. In the first moto, he was fourth after the start, and although he dropped back to sixth on that opening lap, he quickly went to work and moved into third four laps into the moto. Around the halfway mark, he advanced to the runner-up spot after the leader went down and then made the pass to claim the lead shortly after. The newly crowned 250SX West Champion rode on to win the first moto of the season by a 6.6-second margin. In Moto 2, he was third after the start and made his way to the runner-up spot by Lap 5, ultimately claiming the lead around the halfway mark. The defending champ then threw down his fastest lap of the race, and once again crossed the line with another comfortable margin to score maximum points at the opening round with his perfect 1-1 score.

Mosiman had a solid return to Pro Motocross after nearly two years away from outdoor competition. The Californian qualified 14th and then had a good start to his first moto in the top 10. He advanced to ninth and battled for position, but ultimately crossed the line 11th. In the second moto, Mosiman was once again 10th after the opening lap and continued to push, improving to an eighth-place finish for eighth overall.

Lining up for his first outdoor race since the Hangtown Classic in 2023, Martin worked to get back up to speed. He qualified 23rd, then faced adversity with tough starts and crashes in both motos. The two-time 250MX Champion kept pushing and fought his way back to score a pair of 20th-place finishes for 21st overall.

Thrasher qualified 19th and then unfortunately crashed on the opening lap of the first moto and was run over multiple times. Showing grit and determination, the Tennessee rider rejoined the race and did what he could to earn the best result possible, finishing 32nd. In a lot of pain after the moto, he was evaluated on site at the Alpinestars Mobile Medical Unit, and as a precaution, he was transported to a local hospital to seek further evaluation. Thankfully, he avoided serious injury and will work towards returning next weekend.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to Northern California next weekend for the Hangtown Classic, Round 2 of Pro Motocross and Round 19 of the SuperMotocross World Championship at the Prairie City SVRA in Rancho Cordova on May 31.

Wil Hahn – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team General Manager
“It was a good first round. Obviously, Haiden going 1-1 was an awesome way to start defending his title. Michael was really strong in the second moto and was the fastest at the end of the day. Jeremy just kind of had a welcome back to outdoor racing. It’s just one of those deals with lots of crashes and being way behind, making for a not-so-fun day, but he was able to get back to the top 20 in both motos. Nate was checked out, and luckily everything was okay with just some contusions. It could have been a lot worse. We’ll go back to work at The Farm and look to keep the momentum rolling with Haiden and get our other guys closer to the front.”

Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #1
“That’s a wrap at Round 1! It was a great day. I went 1-1, so that’s always nice. Now we’ve got 10 more rounds to go. We’re just going to keep doing our thing.”

Michael Mosiman – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #93
“I’m just stoked to get out of this one healthy and put some points on the board. I had some decent finishes. It’s obviously not what we’re shooting for, but I haven’t raced outdoors for nearly two years, and it’s always a different animal. To come in here for the first round, I’m stoked to get out of here healthy, eighth overall, and will continue to move forward. I look forward to Hangtown next weekend.”

Jeremy Martin – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #6
“Well, I got a proper welcome back to Pro Motocross. I had two terrible starts, and then I was in a dog fight all day, just battling through the pack. I can definitely tell that I haven’t raced in over a year. The biggest thing is getting better at the starts, getting comfortable riding around the guys, and getting more seat time. My bike was phenomenal, and the whole crew was on it. I really enjoyed the experience today. I’m just obviously disappointed with my level and where I’m at right now. We’ll go back to work this week.”

Nate Thrasher – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #41
“It was a tough day for me. I had a crash on the first lap, which caused me to be run over several times. I did everything I could to finish the race, but once I pulled off, the adrenaline wore off, and the pain started to get a lot worse. The medics sent me to the hospital just to get checked out, and thankfully, it’s just some contusions. I’ll do everything I can to be ready for Hangtown!”

Tomac Returns with Runner-Up Finish at Fox Raceway

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac enjoyed a strong return to action with a runner-up overall finish at the opening round of the Pro Motocross Championship at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Justin Cooper also showed strength with a second-place finish in Moto 1 and a top-five overall finish (2-8). The newly crowned three-time 450SX Champion Cooper Webb faced adversity, but closed out the day with a strong second moto, scoring a seventh-place finish for 13th overall.

Lining up for the first time since his injury in February, Tomac was back to form, qualifying third. In the first moto, he did not get the start he was hoping for and charged his way from 10th to fourth, where he would finish. The four-time 450MX Champion got a much better start to Moto 2, claiming the runner-up spot by the second lap. From there, it was an epic battle between two heavyweight title contenders, with each rider having strengths in different areas. In the end, Tomac would finish second to secure second overall for a strong start to the summer’s campaign.

Qualifying fourth behind his teammate, Cooper got a great start to the first moto and quickly made his way to the runner-up spot, where he would cross the line to kick off his sophomore season in the 450MX Championship. In the second moto, he was sixth after the start and then dropped back to ninth on that opening lap. The New Yorker continued to battle for position and made his way to seventh, but ultimately crossed the line eighth to end the day fifth overall.

Securing his third 450SX title just two weeks ago, Webb made his first full-season start in the premier class in Pro Motocross with the team. The North Carolina rider qualified 12th and was running eighth before a technical issue unfortunately forced him to retire early from the first moto. With a less-than-ideal gate pick for Moto 2, he found himself 17th after the start but quickly made his way to 10th on that opening lap. Webb continued to fight and earned a seventh-place finish to secure 13th overall.

Rich Simmons – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“I’ll start with the unfortunate part, which was the mechanical in Coop’s first moto. I felt he had a good ride going, so that was a bummer there. It’s part of the sport, but it shouldn’t ever happen, so I apologize to him. Justin Cooper had an unbelievable first moto. With his first race back, Eli had a great second moto and charged hard, and Coop put in a really good ride in the second moto. So overall, it was a good day. I’m glad to have our full roster back and am looking forward to next weekend.”

Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“It was a pretty solid day, second overall. The good thing was that I improved my riding all day, and our strongest showing was in Moto 2. I got really close to Jett (Lawrence), and we were battling for basically thirty minutes. It was wide open for that whole time. It was a fun race, but unfortunately I was on the losing end of it. Obviously, I’m not happy with second, but for Round 1 and coming back from a recovery, it was an okay weekend.”

Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“It was a good day all around. I qualified fourth, then in the first moto, I got off to a good start and was able to battle my way to second, and had a strong race. In the second moto, I changed to a regular tire, and it kind of bit me on the start. I was in the top 10 and was trying hard, and those guys were fighting me back. Eventually, I settled in for eighth, which is not great. Going into Moto 2, the track got drier and rougher, so I think we missed the setup a little bit. We need to be smarter there, but overall, it was a really good day for me. We’ll move on to next weekend.”

Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“The first race of the year is done. It was an up-and-down day for me. I didn’t qualify great, but in the first moto, I was riding really well and then unfortunately had that bike issue. That was a bit of a bummer, but that happens in racing. In the second moto, I had a terrible outside gate, so I wasn’t able to get a good start, but I made my way through the pack and battled with the world champ – (Jorge) Prado – again all moto, and then Jason (Anderson) there at the end. I was happy with that. I finished seventh, which is good enough for now. We’ll hopefully get better each round. We’ll head back to Florida and maybe do some testing and try to improve our results.”

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