This Week in Powersports Racing – The week of June 29, 2025

This week in US Powersports racing.

Sixth overall at Southwick another step forward for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s RJ Hampshire

A sixth-place finish overall signaled another step forward for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire during Round 5 of the 2025 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Southwick, with 450MX teammate Malcom Stewart ultimately salvaging 10th overall.

Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, Hampshire posted the eighth-fastest qualifying time during the morning sessions, before climbing through the field after a first turn pile-up in Moto 1 to an impressive eighth-place result.

In Moto 2, the 29-year-old toughed out the deteriorating track conditions, racing to a season-high moto finish of fourth position following an inpspired late-race charge. Hampshire would complete the weekend in sixth overall and maintains P6 in the 450MX standings.

“Pretty solid day here in Southwick,” reflected Hampshire. “I felt good in qualifying, and then a first turn pile-up in Moto 1 had me in pretty much last place. We were strong all race to come back to eighth, and I knew all I needed was a better start for the second one. We got that, and plugged away from there on a tough track, and it feels good to get my first top-five moto score with P4 in that one. We’ll take it and look forward to RedBud next weekend.”

Stewart and his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition returned to action for a top 10 finish overall in Massachusetts, with a 12-10 race scorecard despite facing his share of adversity this afternoon seeing him climb to 11th in the championship standings.

“Southwick was a battle, for sure!” Stewart said. “Went down first moto in the turn, and my starts were killing me all day. Rode strong, but was buried in the pack, and this isn’t the track where you wanna come from behind. Still made a lot of great passes, learned a ton, and I’m taking that momentum into RedBud. Let’s keep building!”

Next Race: July 5 – RedBud, Michigan

Results 450MX Class – Southwick National

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)

2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)

3. Eli Tomac (Yamaha)

6. RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

7. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)

9. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)

10. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 450MX Class 2025 after 5 of 11 rounds

1. Jett Lawrence, 240 points

2. Eli Tomac, 202

3. Hunter Lawrence, 197

4. Aaron Plessinger, 188

6. RJ Hampshire, 149

11. Malcolm Stewart, 82

21. Justin Barcia, 21

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing and ETS Racing Fuels Extend Multi-Year Partnership to Fuel Future Success in U.S. Supercross and Motocross

Husqvarna Mobility North America, Inc is proud to announce the extension of a successful partnership between its U.S.-based Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team and ETS Racing Fuels, a trusted supplier of high-performance racing fuel.

The multi-year agreement continues their collaboration across the AMA Supercross Championship, as well as the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, where Rockstar Energy Husqvarna is fielding Malcolm Stewart and RJ Hampshire in the 450MX Class.

ETS Racing Fuels has been a key supporter of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team since 2016, playing a pivotal role in powering team riders to countless podiums and championships. Over the years, ETS has continued to develop new fuel blends in tandem with Husqvarna’s ongoing bike development efforts, ensuring optimal synergy between fuel and machine. This collaboration has resulted in custom-blended fuel solutions engineered to maximize engine performance and reliability.

This renewed commitment solidifies ETS’s position as the official fuel partner for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team. As both brands look ahead to new challenges and victories, this extended partnership underscores a shared vision of pushing the limits of performance – both on and off the track.

Dr. Bruno Philippon – Senior Vice President, Business Unit Mobility, ETS Racing Fuels: “Our partnership with the KTM Group is rooted in performance and innovation. It started in 2007 with testing alongside Roger DeCoster and officially began in 2012. Since then, we’ve proudly supported 19 AMA Supercross and Motocross titles across KTM, Husqvarna, and GASGAS. We’ve developed over 20 specialized fuels for the KTM Group, with five becoming trusted choices over the last decade. A key part of this success has been the excellent relationship and open communication between our two companies with our mutual dedicated technical and commercial teams in USA and in Europe. With experienced people recruited during the last four years, ETS Racing Fuels has strengthened its ties within the pro paddock.”

Roger De Coster, Director of Racing SX/MX: “It will soon be 20 years since my first contact with ETS and Bruno Philippon. The reason that we have developed so much trust in ETS Fuels is because they really stand behind their product, and if there is an issue, Bruno will get involved and make sure the problem is solved – I don’t believe there is any other fuel company that can match this, and we value that type of support.”

TOM VIALLE AND RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING LAND SOUTHWICK NATIONAL PODIUM

Round 5 – AMA Motocross Championship

Dual MX2 World Champion Vialle posted a strong performance at the fifth round of the season in Massachusetts, guiding his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to second position on the combined qualifying timesheets.

An early fall in Moto 1 saw the Frenchman rebound to an impressive third-place result after charging his way forward, before another P3 ride in Moto 2 sealed second overall for the day. With his result, the 24-year-old climbs to third in the 250MX standings after his third podium of the year outdoors.

Tom Vialle:”I made it tough on myself in Moto 1. I was in third and then tried to make a quick pass on the first lap, but I fell. Crashing on the first lap loses you a lot of positions, so I think I remounted in 12th or 13th. I had a tough race from there, came back to P3, and I felt like my speed was really good, but I used a lot of energy. Second moto, good start and I passed a couple of guys, but I was tired from the first moto using all that energy. Overall, the speed was good, but we’ve still got work to do.”

250MX teammate Julien Beaumer began his weekend with P7 in qualifying, before two challenging races with 18-22 scores onboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION marked a trying weekend in the sand. He’s currently ranked 13th in the championship.

Julien Beaumer:“That was a really bad day at Southwick. I struggled in the sand, even with the work that we’ve been doing to improve in those conditions – I just need to be better on softer surfaces, but we’ll be better at RedBud.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450MX contender Aaron Plessinger’s Southwick National began with him setting the 10th fastest time in qualifying, before taking his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a fourth place finish in Moto 1.

A strong start in Moto 2 saw Plessinger in the mix with the front-runners, holding strong in P4 before a fall cost him energy in the latter stages of the race, with ‘The Cowboy’ finishing in eighth position and being credited P7 overall for the round. With five rounds completed, AP sits fourth in the 450MX standings.

Aaron Plessinger:“I struggled at Southwick from the beginning today, but I did get off to an awesome start in Moto 1. I was right toward the front and then I started losing the tow, so finished P4 in that one. In the second moto, I was in a good spot again, but then a small mistake ended with me on the ground. My energy went away with that crash, so I did what I could for eighth. We finished seventh overall, with this being my first time out of the top-five this season. We’ll regroup, rest up, do our homework, and come out swinging at RedBud!”

Next Race: July 5 – RedBud, Michigan

Results 450MX Class – Southwick National

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

Standings 450MX Class 2025 after 5 of 11 rounds

Jett Lawrence, 240 points
Eli Tomac, 202
Hunter Lawrence, 197
Aaron Plessinger, 188
RJ Hampshire, 149
Malcolm Stewart, 82
Justin Barcia, 21

Results 250MX Class – Southwick National

Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)
Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS)
Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)

Standings 250MX Class 2025 after 5 of 11 rounds

Haiden Deegan, 244 points
Jo Shimoda, 186
Tom Vialle, 165
Julien Beaumer, 91
Casey Cochran, 88
Ryder DiFrancesco, 65

FMF KTM FACTORY RACING’S MATEO OLIVEIRA CROWNED 2025 WHS CHAMPION

An overall podium result and class victory at the AMA West Hare Scrambles (WHS) finale in Bellingham saw FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Mateo Oliveira crowned the 2025 series champion on Sunday, completing what has been a standout campaign onboard his KTM 450 XC-F.

WEST HARE SCRAMBLES – ROUND 6

Following a largely consistent opening five rounds, Mateo Oliveira entered the final round in position to take home the WHS title in Washington this weekend, and put himself in a strong position early on by leading The Great Escape Hare Scramble in its opening stages.

For the remainder of the seven lap, two-and-a-half-hour duration, the 23-year-old Oliveira would battle for the top position, eventually claiming P2 as the checkered flag flew – enough to take home the championship in convincing fashion. He was first of the Pro Class finishers, however, on his KTM 450 XC-F.

In overcoming a hand injury that required surgery during the middle stages of the season, Oliveira remained resiliant in his approach, demonstrating both patience and outright speed when each was required in his exceptional 2025 title run.

Across the six-round AMA West Hare Scrambles (WHS) series, Oliveira’s final title-winning tally included three wins – four in the Pro Class – and an additional two podium results, which saw him clinch both the overall and Pro Class championships at season’s end.

Mateo Oliveira: “This one feels good! I wasn’t too nervous entering this one knowing that all I needed to do was to finish, but I really wanted to win the race overall, and I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t, actually… I was a little too conservative at the beginning, but obviously the focus today was the championship. And it feels awesome to walk away with that one – a massive thank you to the FMF KTM Factory Racing Team and all those who support me, it’s unreal.”

This season also saw FMF RPM KTM Racing Team rider Rachel Stout take home the Pro Women’s title in the WHS series following a third-place result in Bellingham, maintaining a perfect podium score including two wins on her way to the 2025 championship.

Pro Class Results
1. Mateo Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing Team
2. Zane Roberts, Beta
3. Ethan Pacak, KTM

NATIONAL ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 5

A fifth-place finish in the NE Pro1 Class marked a consistent day of racing for FMF KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley in Round 5 of the 2025 AMA National Enduro Series at the Little Raccoon National Enduro in Wellston, Ohio.

Equipped with his KTM 350-XC-F, Kelley battled inside the top-five throughout the two-hour-long race, holding a podium position in class at various stages. In navigating his way across the technical terrain and conditions, the Connecticut native eventually captured a P5 result.

Ben Kelley: “It was a mediocre day today. The trails were tight, hardpack, and slick, with lots of hills and off-cambers, which made it a technical day of riding. I had some good sections and some that were tougher on me. Not happy with the result, but I’ll keep working and try to be better at the next one. Thank you as always to the team!”

Four rounds remain in the 2025 series, with the Rattlesnake National taking place as Round 6 from July 26-27 in Cross Fork, Pennsylvania.

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

KTM JR. SUPERCROSS SET TO IGNITE LAS VEGAS STAGE AT 2025 SMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

KTM North America, Inc. is proud to announce the return of the KTM Jr. Supercross, presented by Wells Fargo and Powered by Ford Lightning, to the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Final in Las Vegas this September. Bringing together the best-qualifying Micro-E amateur riders from both Canada and the United States, the top young athletes from across North America are set to face off on the sport’s biggest stage.

Following a landmark 2024 season that for the first time opened qualifying to not only U.S. riders but also top Canadian talents, the 2025 SMX World Championship Final will spotlight a group of young racers who have earned their places through two of the most prestigious amateur racing events.

The field will be made up of the top-12 finishers from the Micro-E (4-7) Limited class at the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, as well as the top-three finishers at the Eastern Canadian National Amateur Championship (ECAN) in Deschambault, Quebec.

Now entering its 28th year alongside the AMA Supercross Championship, the KTM Jr. Supercross program continues to serve as a launchpad for aspiring riders. Participants are given an exclusive opportunity to experience the world of professional Supercross first-hand. From walking the track like the pros to taking part in Opening Ceremonies and lining up behind the gate for a three-lap race aboard KTM’s electric SX-E 5, each rider is immersed in a race-day experience unlike any other.

In its second year at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, this year’s finale promises to be the most exciting yet, with the KTM Jr. Supercross program once again showcasing the sport’s future in a high-energy environment filled with family, fans, and fierce competition.

To learn more about the KTM Jr. Supercross program details on the qualification process for the 2025 KTM Jr. SMX Championship, please visit www.ktmjrsx.com.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and ETS Racing Fuels Extend Multi-Year Partnership to Fuel Future Success in U.S. Supercross and Motocross

KTM North America, Inc. is proud to announce the extension of a successful partnership between its U.S.-based Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team and ETS Racing Fuels, a trusted supplier of high-performance racing fuel.

The multi-year agreement continues their collaboration across the AMA Supercross Championship, as well as the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, where Red Bull KTM racers have already seen podium success through the first five rounds of racing.

ETS Racing Fuels has been a key supporter of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team since 2008, playing a pivotal role in powering team riders to countless podiums and championships. Over the years, ETS has continued to develop new fuel blends in tandem with KTM’s ongoing bike development efforts, ensuring optimal synergy between fuel and machine. This collaboration has resulted in custom-blended fuel solutions engineered to maximize engine performance and reliability.

This renewed commitment solidifies ETS’s position as the official fuel partner for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team. As both brands look ahead to new challenges and victories, this extended partnership underscores a shared vision of pushing the limits of performance – both on and off the track.

Dr. Bruno Philippon – Senior Vice President, Business Unit Mobility, ETS Racing Fuels: “Our partnership with the KTM Group is rooted in performance and innovation. It started in 2007 with testing alongside Roger De Coster and officially began in 2012, when ETS Racing Fuels helped power KTM to its first championship with Ryan Dungey. Since then, we’ve proudly supported 19 AMA Supercross and Motocross titles across KTM, Husqvarna, and GASGAS. We’ve developed over 20 specialized fuels for the KTM Group, with five becoming trusted choices over the last decade. A key part of this success has been the excellent relationship and open communication between our two companies with our mutual dedicated technical and commercial teams in USA and in Europe. With experienced people recruited during the last four years, ETS Racing Fuels has strengthened its ties within the pro paddock and helped KTM to secure another championship.”

IMPRESSIVE TOP 10 ON RETURN AT SOUTHWICK NATIONAL FOR JUSTIN BARCIA

ROCKSTAR ENERGY GASGAS FACTORY RACING RIDER RACES TO P9 RESULT IN 450MX

Justin Barcia returns to competition at Southwick!
BAMBAM immediately back inside the top 10 at Round 5
Casey Cochran unfortunately sidelined for the weekend

Equipped with the RED-hot GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition, BAMBAM returned to the sandy Massachusetts venue following an extended time on the sidelines due to a knee injury sustained late in the Supercross series.

In displaying his ever-consistent front-running potential, Barcia powered to a hard-fought P10 in Moto 1, before running inside the top-five during the early stages of Moto 2. Still building endurance after his time out injured, the number 51 would finish P9 in the race and overall.

Justin Barcia: “Today was challenging! It was good to be back with the crew and the team. I wouldn’t say it was a fun day because Southwick is pretty brutal! The fans are awesome, so that was a positive, and a top 10 is not too bad after coming straight from therapy. We’ll take it, and we’ve got some things to build on, so that is good. I ripped a good start in Moto 2, so I was happy with that, I showed some grit, and now onto RedBud!”

In 250MX, Ryder DiFrancesco posted the 11th fastest qualifying time onboard his GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition, before a tough opening encounter left him in 22nd position at race’s end. Rebounding in Moto 2, DiFrancesco would be in the fight for the top 10, eventually claiming a P13 moto score for 15th overall.

Ryder DiFrancesco: “Qualifying was better here, but I need to be better with racing on the weekends, taking what I learn during the week and applying it to the weekend. I finally got a good start in the second Moto, and we’ll carry that into RedBud.”

Southwick unfortunately resulted in 250MX talent Casey Cochran missing both motos after suffering a dislocated shoulder in an incident during the second qualifying session. He had earlier posted the ninth-quickest time this morning, and is now scheduled to undergo further evaluation on his injury this week.

Sean Murphy, Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing Team Manager: “It was very unfortunate that Casey crashed during qualifying, resulting in a dislocated shoulder. He’s shown great potential so far this motocross season, and it’s tough to see him have to sit out at Southwick. We’re grateful to the Alpinestars medical crew for doing their best to get his shoulder back in safely. Casey will undergo an MRI next week and we’re hoping to have a clearer picture of the injury by the middle of the week.”

Next Race: July 5 – Red Bud, Michigan

Results 450MX Class – Southwick National

Jett Lawrence (Honda)
Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
Eli Tomac (Yamaha)
RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
Justin Barcia (Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing)
Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)

Standings 450MX Class 2025 after 5 of 11 rounds

Jett Lawrence, 240 points
Eli Tomac, 202
Hunter Lawrence, 197
Aaron Plessinger, 188
RJ Hampshire, 149
Malcolm Stewart, 82
Justin Barcia, 21

Results 250MX Class – Southwick National

Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
Tom Vialle (KTM)
Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)
Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing)
Julien Beaumer (KTM)

Standings 250MX Class 2025 after 5 of 11 rounds

Haiden Deegan, 244 points
Jo Shimoda, 186
Tom Vialle, 165
Julien Beaumer, 91
Casey Cochran, 88
Ryder DiFrancesco, 65

Gagne Returns to the Podium at The Ridge

Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne returned to the podium, scoring a third-place finish in the opening race of MotoAmerica Superbike Round 4 at the Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington. His teammate Bobby Fong rebounded from a challenging start to the weekend to finish just off the podium in fourth.

Gagne hit the ground running at the 2.47-mile track in the Pacific Northwest. The three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion was back in form, topping every session and earning his first pole position of the season. He slotted into third after the start and maintained a strong pace, keeping the leaders in sight. As the race wore on, he started to lose some ground but rode on to secure the third-place finish. Gagne’s fourth podium of the season moved him into a tie for third in the standings with his teammate, both trailing the championship leader by 25 points.

Fong, meanwhile, had a more difficult start to the weekend and qualified eighth as he worked to find his comfort zone at The Ridge. He and the team continued to make improvements, which proved key for Race 1. The Californian got a good start from the third row of the grid to sixth and laid down some consistently fast laps, closing the gap to the riders ahead. At the halfway mark, he made the pass for fifth and then to fourth with five laps remaining. Fong continued to push, but ran out of time to progress further and crossed the line fourth.

The Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing team will be back on track this afternoon for MotoAmerica Superbike Race 2 at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington.

Richard Stanboli – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing Team Manager
“We started the weekend well with Jake leading all the sessions. Unfortunately, he came up a bit short in the race, but we were happy to see him racing at the front. Bobby struggled to get comfortable on the bike, so we made a big setup change before the race, which gave him the confidence to push forward and finish fourth. We look forward to improving another step and racing for the win in Race 2.”

Jake Gagne – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #32
“Race 1 went well. Starting from pole position was a good improvement, but I struggled with tire wear more than I anticipated. I ended up bringing it home in third, but we learned some things to hopefully improve tomorrow. Overall, we’ve made some speed improvements this weekend. I just have to translate that to the race.”

Bobby Fong – Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing #50
“Overall, I’ve been struggling this weekend at The Ridge, but we made a big step for Race 1. I’m looking to continue our forward progress tomorrow and fight up front.”

Tomac Finishes Third in Southwick Return

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac battled to another podium finish, scoring third overall (3-3) at Round 5 of the Pro Motocross 450MX Championship at The Wick 338 in Southwick, Massachusetts. Justin Cooper charged through the pack to secure fourth overall (6-5), while Cooper Webb put in a consistent effort to finish eighth with a pair of seventh-place finishes.

After a couple of seasons away from lining up for the Southwick National, Tomac was eager to return to the only sand track on the Pro Motocross calendar. He qualified sixth and then found himself outside of the top 10 at the start of the first moto. The four-time 450MX Champion quickly moved into sixth in the opening laps, then passed his teammate to break into the top five. He continued to push, joining a three-rider battle for third. Tomac made the pass for fourth at the halfway mark and then set his sights on the final podium spot. With the rider ahead going down in the sand, he advanced to third and rode it home from there. In Moto 2, Tomac got a much better start in fifth and quickly made his way to third. Although he was passed on Lap 6, he reclaimed the position when a rider ahead went down mid-moto, and rode on to another third-place finish, securing third overall and his fourth overall podium of the season. Tomac maintains the runner-up spot in the 450MX championship, 38 points behind the leader.

Cooper topped the timesheets in the first session and earned his third consecutive 450MX fastest qualifier honor. A tough start in Moto 1 saw him around 19th after the opening lap, but the New Yorker quickly went to work. He broke into the top 10 on Lap 7, where he set his fastest lap of the race, and continued advancing, passing his teammate with two laps to go to finish sixth. In the second moto, Cooper once again had to make his way through the roost, putting in some fast laps to come from 12th to seventh by the halfway mark and ultimately finishing fifth to secure fourth overall.

Despite a less-than-ideal 15th gate pick, Webb got a great start to Moto 1 and slotted into fourth. It was a multi-rider fight, with the North Carolina rider getting passed by another rider and his teammate on Lap 3. He maintained a good pace in sixth, but ultimately was passed by Cooper in the final laps. Moto 2 saw him eighth after the start, but Webb continued to fight and ran a strong pace, making a couple of passes in the final laps to secure another seventh-place finish and end the day eighth overall. As the 2025 450SX Champion continues to make progress outdoors, he maintains his spot at the top of the 450SMX combined points with a 33-point lead over his teammate Cooper.

Next weekend, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to Buchanan, Michigan, for the RedBud National – Round 6 of Pro Motocross and Round 23 of the SuperMotocross World Championship on July 5 at RedBudMX.

Rich Simmons – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“It was a solid weekend for all three riders. Eli getting an overall podium was good, but he wants to get back on that top step of the podium, so we will keep working and do whatever it takes to get him there. Justin got his third-straight top qualifier but unfortunately struggled with starts, and Webb put in another consistent ride and continues to make progress in closing the gap to the top five. As always, a big thanks to the whole team. We’ll move on to Red Bud.”

Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“A pair of threes for third overall on the day, so that’s a lot of threes. In the first moto, I had to make quite a few passes to get up to third place and did my best to really just get to that podium position. In the second moto, I got a better start and was closer to the lead early on, and then unfortunately, I got passed by Hunter (Lawrence) in the middle of the race, and I ended up third. Overall, it was an okay day. I wanted a little bit more, but we’ll take the podium from here and try to improve ourselves.”

Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“It was a good day for me, overall. I felt like I rode really well all day, even though I definitely didn’t get off the gate today. I had to come through the pack in both motos. So I was eating a lot of roost and had my work cut out for me. I ran out of tear-offs in Moto 2, so I had to do a little bit of goggle wiping, but the day went well. My riding was good. I just needed to be closer to the front, obviously to be in the battle for the podium. I can’t complain with 6-5 and fourth overall, especially with how the starts were. I set the fastest qualifier again, so that was pretty cool. We’ll take it into next weekend, and hopefully we can get off the gate better at RedBud.”

Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“Today at Southwick was a good day of racing for me. I was able to get a good start in Moto 1 and run up front, and ended up getting seventh. Then in Moto 2, I didn’t get as good of a start, but I charged my way through and made some good passes, especially late in the moto. I was happy with that. I’m excited for RedBud.”

SUZUKI RIDERS ATTACK THE DEEP SAND OF THE SOUTHWICK NATIONAL

The legendary track, The Wick 338, hosted Round 5 of the AMA Pro Motocross season in Southwick, Massachusetts. The weather cooperated on the days leading up to the race; prior years saw rains wash away much of the sand that is brought in to make the track deeper and tougher. This year, the Massachusetts track again lived up to its brutal reputation of never-ending bumps and deep, unpredictable sand berms.

Race Highlights:

Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
  - Benoit Paturel delivered his season-best qualifying session result in the rougher, second session.
  - Colt Nichols also achieved season-bests, in both the first qualifying session as well as with his overall qualifying result.

Benoit Paturel (102) and his Suzuki RM-Z450 showed impressive speed throughout the day, achieving a season-best qualifying result in the second qualifying session. Paturel got top-ten starts on the deep, sandy start straight in both motos. In the second moto, Paturel stalled the engine just before the midpoint and had to battle forward on the unforgiving sand track. Paturel grabbed back four positions before the checkered flag came out and earned enough points to move up into a tie with the rider who was previously ahead of him in the point standings.

“It was an average day,” said Paturel. “In the first moto I was running in the top 10, but then I had a clutch problem that started on the second lap. In the second moto I was also riding in the top 10 early, but I stalled the bike, so I needed fight back. 13th overall was not what we wanted, but we’ll take it and we’re looking forward to RedBud.”

Colt Nichols (45) was flowing in the deep sand from the start of the day. Nichols delivered his season-best qualifying position in the opening session that also earned him his season-best overall standing after qualifying. In the opening moto, Nichols got off to a strong start and crossed the holeshot stripe just outside of the top ten. Nichols battled up front until an unfortunate crash took him out of the points positions. A poor gate pick in the second moto resulted in a bad start, which unfortunately compounded into another crash, and Nichols was not able to put his strong pace to good use at Southwick.

“It was not a good day,” commented Nichols. “I crashed in both motos and couldn’t re-start the bike either time. That gave me two DNFs. I’m looking forward to rebounding at RedBud.

“In qualifying, Colt Nichols was 18th overall. For Benoit, this is this first time for all these tracks that he’s seeing them, so it takes him a little bit to get used to them,” said Dave Dye, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance’s in-house engine builder. “Overall, qualifying went well. We had a little bit of weather, but other than that it was good. In the race, Benoit went 14-14 for 13th overall. He rode well, was consistent, and he did all that he could do. Colt had a rough day. It started out bad in the first moto; he crashed, couldn’t get the bike started, and had a rough time. The second moto didn’t get much better. We’ll probably do some testing this week and then get back after it at RedBud.”

The series now heads to Buchanan, Michigan, for the RedBud National. The crowd-favorite event once again falls on the Fourth of July Holiday weekend. The Suzuki riders and crew members are ready to continue their season’s progress and excited to put more strong results up on the board.

Bauman Strikes Back in Lima Half-Mile Rematch

Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) immediately stole the initiative back from Mission AFT SuperTwins title rival Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) in the tense rematch that was Saturday evening’s Lima Half-Mile II, Round 7 of the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.

While the opening lap featured a four-wide charge down the Allen County Fairgrounds backstretch, it wasn’t long before Bauman blasted away at the front. Meanwhile, Daniels was headed in the opposite direction, falling back to third and looking incapable of matching the torrid pace required to fight for victory.

As the two-time Grand National Champion Bauman steadily built up a two-second-plus advantage in first, Daniels eventually found his groove and worked his way around Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) to take control of second.

Daniels continued his charge forward, picking up a tenth here and there on the leader, gradually reducing that gap until it was back under a second with a minute remaining on the clock.

Despite the Estenson Racing star further ratcheting up the pressure and closing in nearly to within striking distance on the final lap, Bauman stayed steady and streaked past the checkered flag 0.383 seconds before his rival.

Besides taking the momentum back from Daniels, the victory also saw Bauman complete the remarkable feat of securing four Lima Half-Mile wins on four different makes of equipment (Kawasaki, Indian, KTM, and Harley-Davidson).

After scoring his 30th premier-class victory, Bauman said, “That was a battle. Well, it wasn’t a battle. I got clean air, and I didn’t really want to do that tonight. I think it was harder to lead than it was to follow in the second half of the race because you could see what the guy in front of you was doing and maybe inch up a little bit. Dallas did that quick. If he would have had a few more laps, he probably would have had me, but he didn’t.

“Man, I was going to win last night – I know I was – but the clutch went out. I was pretty bitter. I wanted to win tonight really bad, and the Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus/Latus Motors team did such a good job with this thing.”

What figured to be a lonely ride to third proved anything but for Robinson. Late in the race, he was hounded by the Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTB Racing Yamaha MT-07), who earlier escaped a battle with James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) and Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) to give Robinson fits for the final spot on the podium.

Bender momentarily fought past into third on more than one occasion but couldn’t quite make the pass stick, having to accept (a still highly impressive) fourth in what was a memorable debut weekend with On the Box Racing.

Ott carried on to fifth while VDK was dropped to seventh by Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp).

Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) completed the top ten.

Bauman now leads Daniels 149-139 in what’s shaping up to be a spectacular duel. Robinson is once again up third at 102, following a difficult weekend for Fisher, who has dropped back to fourth at 93.

AFT Singles presented by KICKER

With two victories in two days, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) has at last unlocked the form so many expected from him in 2025. That’s a scary prospect indeed for the opposition, considering the ‘locked’ version was already leading the AFT Singles presented by KICKER title chase.

On Friday, Drane built upon the impressive 2024 Lima performance that saw him defeat Kody Kopp here a year ago, running strong all day and claiming two of the three Mission Triple Challenge Main Events to secure the overall victory.

He elevated his game to yet another level on Saturday. Before the race, chief rival Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) said he had to get the holeshot to have a shot. He accomplished that goal but could still do nothing but watch as Drane shot through in the race’s third corner. The Estenson Racing pilot then proceeded to ride off into the distance to the tune of a 5.419-second margin of victory.

Afterward, Drane said, “That was a really good race. I just put my head down from the very start. I knew I had the pace to do it. I just had to get a break and get away as fast as I could. I didn’t want to get into any battles. I wanted to get out front, have my clear air, and pull away.”

Saathoff was forced to turn his attention behind instead of ahead just to hold down second. That proved a stout challenge in itself with heralded rookie Walker Porter (No. 100 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) scrapping for second in the early going while clocking the fastest lap of the race.

Porter’s more experienced teammate, Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), then took the baton and pressured Saathoff to the flag, finishing just 0.184 seconds behind in third.

Porter found himself caught up in a spirited three-way fight for fourth with fellow rookie sensation Kage Tadman (No. 288 Roof Systems/Old Oak Ranch KTM 450 SX-F) and the rolling Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F).

Two-time winner Tadman ultimately claimed the spot, while Porter worked back past RoosEvans to collect a debut weekend top five.

Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) fought his way from the LCQ to seventh while Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) and couple more rookies in Ryder Reese (No. 244 Mission Foods/Roof Systems KTM 450 SX-F) and Skylar Sentell (No. 249 Hoffer Performance/Stauffer Motors KTM 450 SX-F) provided even more evidence that the future of the sport is bright indeed by finishing eighth through tenth, respectively.

As a result of his huge weekend, Drane now leads Saathoff by 16 points (130-114). Brunner remains third at 98.

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