This Week in Powersports Racing – The week of August 17, 2025

This week in US Powersports racing.

Dunlop Motorcycle Tires Named Title Sponsor of Motoplayground’s Dirty 100 Amateur Motocross Ranking System

Dunlop Motorcycle Tires is proud to announce its new role as the Title Sponsor of Motoplayground’s Dirty 100—the premier amateur motocross ranking system that recognizes and celebrates the sport’s rising talent.

The Dirty 100 ranks the nation’s top amateur motocross racers across all popular classes, providing a year-long leaderboard that showcases the next generation of champions. As part of this exciting partnership, Dunlop will reward the best of the best with exclusive tire support programs designed to help these riders push their limits.

All Class Winners will receive a Factory Direct Free Tire Sponsorship for the following year, giving them the same top-tier support enjoyed by many of the sport’s elite racers.
All Racers Finishing 2nd–10th in each class will receive Special Dirty 100 Racer Discount Support for the following year, helping them stay competitive with proven performance from Dunlop tires.

“Dunlop has been dedicated to supporting amateur motocross for decades,” said Rob Fox, Amateur Motocross Support Manager for Dunlop Motorcycle Tires. “The Dirty 100 is one of the most exciting ranking systems in the sport today, and it’s the perfect platform to recognize hard work, talent, and dedication. We’re proud to help fuel the dreams of these young racers by giving them access to the same performance and quality trusted by champions.”

The partnership between Dunlop and Motoplayground reinforces both brands’ commitment to the growth of amateur motocross and ensures that standout riders receive the tools they need to take their racing to the next level.

For more information on the Dirty 100 rankings and see where YOU stand, visit www.dirty100.com.

To learn more about Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, visit www.dunlopmotorcycletires.com.

Bauman Takes Clutch Victory, Bromley Earns AdventureTrackers Crown at 78th Peoria TT

Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) claimed his third victory at the Peoria Motorcycle Club Race Park in this year’s 78th World Famous Peoria TT to add to his incredible 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.

Bauman now hopes this triumph will pave the way to a third Grand National Championship as he extended his Mission AFT SuperTwins title advantage over rival Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) with just three rounds remaining.

The opening lap of the Main Event actually played out in favor of Daniels with the partisan fans in Peoria, Illinois, cheering on the home state hero. While the holeshot went to Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), Daniels crucially edged Bauman as they negotiated Turn 1. Daniels then immediately looked to place Whale between him and his adversary to gain some early separation. 

Instead, Bauman executed off a pair of clutch maneuvers in rapid succession, diving under Daniels and then soaring past Whale over the jump as they powered down the subsequent straight. 

While Daniels followed Bauman through on Whale, he was unable to work out a way to reel the Rick Ware Racing star back in. Instead, the gap slowly stacked up to almost two seconds before Daniels finally made a late run to make it somewhat interesting in the end. However, Bauman’s lead was never put in serious jeopardy, and he took the race by 1.204 seconds at the checkered flag.

The victory was Bauman’s seventh of the season and puts Daniels up against the wall in their championship battle. Bauman now leads 266-255, meaning the Estenson Racing ace needs to win out to assure himself the crown.

Bauman said, “I felt really good all day. Once again, huge thanks to Dave (Zanotti) and Michelle (Disalvo). They worked their tails off. I’ve been (tough on them). We have a high standard because Dallas and his team are so darn good. We didn’t really think we’d be here at this stage, so now all the sudden, I’m like, ‘We’ve got to figure this out.’”

After previously finishing inside the top five on five separate occasions at Peoria, Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) at last got his first podium in the fabled TT by finishing a lonely third.

He was followed home by wild card and Peoria resident Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Mike Butler Racing Mission Foods Yamaha MT-07), who worked his way past Whale to snatch away fourth.

Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) finished sixth, one spot ahead of Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), who had been the story of the race outside of Bauman and Daniels until a mechanical issue spoiled what had been a stirring charge.

Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), and Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha MT-07) completed the top ten.

AFT AdventureTrackers™

Dan Bromley (No. 62 Big Momma and Daddy Deep Pockets Suzuki V-Strom 1050) added yet another accolade to his already decorated flat track career by securing the 2025 AFT AdventureTrackers championship.

Bromley came into Peoria with a healthy points advantage after collecting two wins and a runner-up finish during the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. As a result, he only had to keep it smart, safe, and on two wheels to successfully close out his title campaign on Saturday.

And that’s exactly what he did. After rival Jesse Janisch (No. 33 WFOracingonline.com/Öhlins Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250) grabbed the holeshot, Bromley momentarily tussled with Danny Eslick (No. 164 Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250) for second before thinking better of it. 

Instead, he chose to sit safe in third and watch the showdown for the win transpire in front of him. 

There, Janisch did everything he could to keep it neat and tidy, while Eslick was happy to do the opposite, sending it over the jump with major air while bucking and sliding his way around the corners in hot pursuit.

Eslick’s aggression put him in position to attempt a last-corner, last-lap pass on Janisch. However, it also saw him run off into the grass in that attempt. Janisch powered to the win while Bromley inherited second. Despite the mishap, Eslick recovered quickly enough to round out the podium.

The victory was Janisch’s fifth overall at Peoria and in his third class (AFT Singles in 2015, 2016, and 2018, Mission Production Twins in 2022, and AFT AdventureTrackers in 2025). 

Janisch said, “It was a lot of fun. The track was a little bit nervous after the track prep. I was trying to ride really cautiously, and then I got way too cautious with two to go. Danny decided to send her, but luckily I heard him and saw it coming. I was able to square him up and get the win. Congrats to Dan. It was a little bit of a coulda-woulda-shoulda, but he won it. He was so good in Sturgis, and we just had that little fault.”

Meanwhile, the championship is the second of his Progressive AFT career, adding to his 2017 AFT Singles title.

Dan Bromley (62) clearing the jump during the World Famous Peoria TT Saturday. [Photo: American Flat Track/Tim Lester]

“It feels good,” Bromley said. “We had a lot of success (in Sturgis). Me and Jesse were going to come here and fight tooth-and-nail, but unfortunately, he had an issue at the last race. That’s a bummer, but I know he gave it everything he had and he won today. But to be able to win this championship is pretty cool. It’s going to go up on the wall next to my Singles championship. And hopefully, there’s more to come.”

Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Triumph Racing Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro) finished fourth with Henry Wiles (No. 911 Walter Bros. Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250) rounding out the top five.

AFT Singles presented by KICKER

AFT Singles presented by KICKER title leader Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) closed out a monster day at the Peoria TT with an eight-second-plus blowout victory. 

The win checked off a handful of achievements for the Australian, including becoming just the sixth rider in class history to complete the Grand Slam while also equaling his own AFT Singles record for most consecutive podiums at nine.

A huge twist in the fight for today’s checkered flag – as well as the 2025 championship – occurred well before the riders ever gridded up for the Main. ‘24 Peoria TT winner Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) suffered a big crash during qualifying, landing the jump awkwardly and being thrown over the high side of his machine just moments after claiming the top spot on the charts. The RWR star hit the ground hard in the fall and was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation, bringing his day at the track to an early conclusion.

Drane’s path was further cleared when triple champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Bob Lanphere/KTM/Fastrack Racing KTM 450 SX-F) – who had consistently ranked among the three fastest riders along with Drane and Saathoff throughout practice and qualifying – lost a chain landing the jump on the opening lap of his heat race. That forced him to the back row of the LCQ where he had to claw his way to a similarly disadvantageous starting slot in the Main Event.

In the Main, Drane was momentarily dropped to second by ‘23 Peoria winner Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R). But the Estenson Racing ace had an answer entering Turn 1 on Lap 2. Once back into the lead, Drane immediately stretched open a gap and continued to rip it open ever wider for the remainder of the contest.

Drane later admitted that his 8.148-second margin of victory could have been even more lopsided if he hadn’t called off the dogs. He said, “Towards the end of that one, I looked back and saw I had a huge gap so I rolled it off a little. I didn’t need to do anything stupid at the end. I can’t thank my whole team enough with all the effort they put in. They had the bike working great all day. It’s been so easy for me just to get on and ride it because they had it set up so good. I hope Chase is doing all right. You don’t like to see that happen to anyone.” 

Despite starting from the back row, Kopp made himself a factor with an awesome start that saw him rail around the outside of the pack and slot into sixth coming out of Turn 2.

From there, he quickly made his way up to third but was then stymied by Brunner in his repeated bids to steal away second. Their duel became a three-way scrap with the arrival of Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R), who established himself as the master of the jump.

Kopp and Santero then went back and forth while simultaneously looking for a way into second that never opened up. A bevy of inside and outside moves were executed (including one run through the grass by Santero) in the action-packed melee. In the end, Brunner held on for the runner-up position with Santero third and Kopp fourth.

Just behind, the rolling Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F) closed in and nearly made it a four-way fight before accepting a strong fifth.

Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Parts Bros Worldwide/D&D Cycles KTM 450 SX-F), Kage Tadman (No. 288 1st Impressions Racing Husqvarna FC450), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Thomas Herrick (No. 314 Davies Motorcycles Husqvarna FC450), and Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) finished sixth through tenth, respectively.

As a result of his fifth win of 2025 combined with Saathoff’s DNS, Drane now boasts a commanding championship advantage of 39 points (253-214) with just three rounds remaining. Brunner is third at 195.

UNADILLA PRO MOTOCROSS PODIUM FOR TOM VIALLE AND RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING

After posting the seventh-fastest time in qualifying, two-time MX2 World Champion and reigning 250SX East title-holder Vialle powered to the holeshot onboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in Moto 1, racing to a measured P4 finish on the technical Unadilla layout.

In rocketing to another holeshot at the start of Moto 2, the number 16 was in the mix throughout the race, charging hard for the duration of the moto to claim a solid second-place result, and earning him third overall for the weekend.

Following the Unadilla National, Vialle is currently classified fifth in the 250MX point-standings with a single round remaining.

Tom Vialle:“The goal is to finish this year’s Pro Motocross season strong, and this was another good step towards that. We made some good bike changes for Moto 2 this weekend and I was riding much faster in that race with more comfort and confidence to push the speed. The goal is to keep improving next weekend and be prepared to fight for the SMX title in September.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Beaumer made a convincing return to front-running form at Unadilla, with the 19-year-old qualifying third quickest at the conclusion of this morning’s qualifying sessions. Two fast starts and a hard charge in both races yielded Beaumer 6-4 moto scores and fifth overall.

Julien Beaumer:“I made some progress today! Two good starts were nice and in the last 15 minutes of each race, my riding was really good. I finished with 6-4 results for fifth overall, and both myself and the bike are improving, so we’re headed in the right direction and I am excited for Budds Creek.”

Next Race: August 23 – Mechanicsville, Maryland

CONSISTENCY THERE AT UNADILLA NATIONAL FOR JUSTIN BARCIA AND RYDER D

A pair of eighth-place results for Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia (450MX) and Ryder DiFrancesco (250MX) in Round 10 of the 2025 Pro Motocross Championship marked a consistent outing for the teammates at Unadilla this weekend.

• Ryder D finishes with 11-8 scores for eighth overall in 250MX

• BAMBAM also P8 overall at home round of the outdoor season!

• One round remains for Pro Motocross in 2025

Equipped with his GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition, New York native Barcia recorded the 13th-fastest time in qualifying at Unadilla, before fighting hard all race long in Moto 1 for a hard-fought P9 finish. Improving to eighth in Moto 2, Barcia took eighth overall and has now climbed to 10th in the 450MX standings.

Justin Barcia:“Unadilla was gnarly! It was a wild day. We made a lot of positive adjustments, and I felt better each time I went on the track. The first moto was super tricky, because the track was one of the more gnarly Unadillas that I have raced – it was very busy out there and I didn’t get the greatest of starts today as I wasn’t on the paddle tire. I ate a lot of roost, but all-in-all we charged hard, made improvements, and I am extremely excited for Budds Creek after the changes we made this weekend.”

DiFrancesco powered his GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition to 11th in 250MX qualifying, before taking a well-earned 11th-place finish in Moto 1. Race two displayed his front-running speed once more, posting a P8 result for eighth overall.

With his Unadilla result, Ryder D moves to 11th overall in the 250MX series with one round left to run in 2025.

Ryder DiFrancesco: “This round was another step in the right direction. My qualifying speed was good, and I had two good starts for the motos, so I’m happy to be getting off the gate better and better. I had two solid races today, the first moto I had a lot of ground to make up, which we did, and then second moto I was in a fight with a couple of riders for the whole race inside the top 10. We’re getting better, and I’m excited to have a bit of momentum building on my side!”

Solid results continue for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing at Unadilla National

RJ Hampshire took another top-five finish in Round 10 round of the 2025 Pro Motocross Championship at Unadilla, with his fourth position complemented by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450MX teammate Malcom Stewart’s seventh overall.

Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, Hampshire posted the sixth-fastest time during the morning’s 450MX qualifying sessions, acclimatizing to what was a high-speed Unadilla layout this year.

Upon charging to the race lead in Moto 1, the 29-year-old would hold position throughout the early stages, once again demonstrating immense speed during his first full season in the premier category. He would ultimately finish the race in fourth, while a P5 in Moto 2 earned him fourth overall for the weekend in what was another impressive showing.

Hampshire continues to hold a fifth position in the 450MX championship standings as one round remains in this year’s Pro Motocross Championship.

“Another solid weekend in Unadilla, leading my first 450 Class laps, which was cool,” commented Hampshire. “I wish I would have felt a little better up front, but that’s all part of the learning, and I’ve always struggled at this track so all-in-all P4 was a solid day. We keep learning a lot each weekend, and my speed is continuing to get better, which we are tuning the bike toward as we go along. I’m stoked on the season so far and ready to finish it off strong at Budds Creek.”

450MX teammate Stewart and his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition raced to P10 in the opening moto at Unadilla, before another spirited ride in Moto 2 saw him finish seventh, which sealed him P7 overall on the day. Malcolm’s seventh-place finish at the 10th round sees him move forward in the 450MX standings, currently sitting in seventh overall.

“Unadilla is always a tough track for me!” reflected Stewart. “It’s one of those tracks where it’ll make or break you, and today, I was on the good side of it. I finished up seventh overall, and I’m leaving on two wheels and healthy, which is awesome. I’m really looking forward to Budds Creek, it’s always a favorite of mine on the circuit, so we’ll come out swinging for the final race of the season next weekend.”

SUZUKI’S KEN ROCZEN GRABS TOP-FIVE MOTO FINISH AT UNADILLA NATIONAL

The legendary Unadilla MX, a staple venue on the professional motocross circuit since 1972, hosted Round 10 of the 11-Round AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The New Berlin, New York track, known for high speeds, natural-terrain obstacles, and long ruts, delivered challenging conditions under nearly ideal weather conditions.

Race Highlights:

Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
  - Ken Roczen delivered a top-five moto result in his first motocross race of the season.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
  - Benoit Paturel charged forward in both motos to move up another position in the championship standings.

Ken Roczen (94) opted five days prior to the event to race the Unadilla National to evaluate his bike speed, confirm the progress of his ankle surgery recovery, and pick up points toward the post-season seeding. Roczen immediately showed top form, earning a fourth-place qualifying position in the first session; the lap time held for a fourth-place overall qualifying spot. When the gate dropped for moto one, Roczen and his Suzuki RM-Z450 rocketed to a fourth-place start. Roczen held strong with the front runners to tally a top-five moto result in his return to racing. In the second moto, Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe in 13th but went immediately to work slicing through the pack. His trademark opening lap-intensity put him up to sixth place before three minutes had ticked from the race clock. Roczen held sixth until just past the midpoint, when he eased back on his charge. With three laps remaining, Roczen retired from the moto rather than overstress his recovering body. The Unadilla performance proved that Roczen, a three-time winner at Unadilla including a 2016 victory on an RM-Z450, is on-track to challenge for the title of SMX World Champion in September. A secondary benefit of the crucible was that Roczen moved his Suzuki up one position in the SMX standings, which is good for an additional point heading into the Playoffs and Final.

“Unadilla was definitely worth a try. I am not mad that I went. It was good for me to blow myself out a little bit and see where I’m at before going into Charlotte,” said Roczen. “We knew that this was early coming in [to resume racing], but at the same time, we said, ‘Screw it,’ and just wanted to give it a shot, because racing is the best practice you can get. So, now we know. It was fun riding another motocross race, and my ankle actually felt pretty strong for the most part. It still feels slightly different than my left [ankle], but it was good to know that it’s pretty solid and ready to race. I’m going to go back home, obviously we still have a lot of work to do, but we’re going to get ready for Charlotte and try to improve as much as we can. I’m excited to get back to trying some SMX.”

Benoit Paturel (102) was fast in qualifying but not able to match his top-ten qualifying result from the previous weekend. In moto one, Paturel crossed the holeshot stripe just outside of a points-paying position. He put his head down and gained seven spots through the 30-minute plus two lap race. Paturel’s second moto start was slightly better than his first, and another strong charge earned him a top-15 moto finish.

“My day was okay, but I’m a little bit disappointed about the race results,” commented Paturel. “The way I rode was okay, actually it was good, but I got a bad start in both of the motos so I had to come from far back in the pack. I gave it my best. I want to be in the top 10, but it was not happening this week. So, we’ll try again to [earn another top ten overall result] at the final round next weekend. I hope to get this done. Thank you to the team for the great work and everything they do.”

Please visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross and HEPMotorsports.com for more team news.

MONSTER ENERGY® KAWASAKI RIDERS BRAVE THE DRY AND HOT CONDITIONS AT UNADILLA

Monster Energy® Kawasaki riders braved the dry and tough conditions at Round 10 of the Pro Motocross Championship in Upstate New York. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider, Seth Hammaker, scored a hard-fought podium finish in Moto 1 to earn fourth overall (3-6). Garrett Marchbanks executed another one of his signature charge from behind rides to finish sixth overall (5-5). Teammate Levi Kitchen dug deep in Moto 1 and rebounded for Moto 2, securing 10th overall (10-10). Ty Masterpool made his exciting return to racing this weekend, after an injury in June had sidelined him the week before RedBud, finishing 13th overall (9-20). Drew Adams flew through qualifying and claimed the 250 fastest qualifier for the first time in his career, and finished 15th overall (18-12). Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Jorge Prado got off to a great start before battling the elements of the track and his competitors to secure 12th overall (15-12).

Unadilla, a normally very rutted and hard-packed track, brought unfamiliar conditions this weekend as dry conditions plagued the area that had not experienced rain since June, creating a very dry and one-lined track. In qualifying, the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders started out the day strong, consistently filling the top of the rankings in both qualifying sessions. Hammaker topped the charts, taking fastest qualifier in the first session. Adams put down a fast lap in the second session to overtake the top spot, with almost half a second improvement on the previous fastest time. Adams, Hammaker, and Marchbanks claimed first, second, and fourth overall in qualifying, respectively. Masterpool and Kitchen secured spots just outside the Top 10 in 12th and 13th overall, respectively. Prado immediately pushed to set his fastest time in the first session, securing a respectable fifth overall and earning a preferred gate pick for Moto 1.

In 250 Moto 1, Hammaker and Masterpool pulled commanding starts aboard their KX™250 machines, placing themselves in optimal positions within the Top 5. Adams started just outside the Top 10, while Marchbanks and Kitchen had less-than-ideal starts, being shuffled back to mid-pack. Hammaker held a strong pace up front, while in a tight battle with the Top 3 throughout the moto, dropping his fastest lap time over halfway through the moto. Hammaker held off the pressure from the field and ended the moto with a podium finish in third place. At his first race back since injury, Masterpool started off the race day strong by coming out of the first turn in fifth place. After a few laps, Masterpool slid out on the slick track and remounted his bike in 13th place. He charged to get back to the front, ultimately finishing in ninth. After securing fastest qualifier, Adams had an ideal gate pick for Moto 1, but a poor jump off the gate put him back in 16th across the line. Adams started moving forward until he went down after a few laps and dropped back to 23rd. Adams remounted his bike and fought through the field and lapped traffic to ultimately finish 19th. Kitchen and Marchbanks topped the hard charger list for passing the most amount of riders in the moto. Kitchen passed 23 riders to secure 10th place, while Marchbanks passed 18 riders to claim an impressive fifth-place finish and recorded the fastest time in Sector 3, towards the back of the track.

In 450 Moto 1, Prado pulled an exceptional start aboard his KX™450SR by grabbing the holeshot and holding the lead for a moment. Prado found himself in intense battles throughout the moto, and was able to hold off his competition until pressure from behind caused him to slip back to 15th place to finish the moto.

In 250 Moto 2, Hammaker continued his run of impressive starts, positioning himself in fourth place off the gate. Kitchen rebounded in Moto 2, with a much stronger start, rounding the first turn in eighth place. Masterpool started just outside the Top 10, while Marchbanks and Adams found themselves towards the back of the pack. Hammaker quickly moved himself into third place and battled to claim another podium finish. As the day progressed, the heat became more brutal on the riders. Hammaker fought to stay towards the front of the pack, but would slip to sixth by the end of the moto, securing fourth overall to tie his best finish at Washougal this year. Kitchen was clicking off laps and moving through the field until he lost the front end in Turn 22 and slid out while battling side-by-side with his teammate Hammaker. Kitchen remounted his bike in ninth, but with little time left in the moto, Kitchen was forced to settle for 10th place in the moto and 10th overall. While still recovering from his injury, Masterpool pushed through his first race back to secure 20th in Moto 2 and 13th overall. Adams charged through the field in Moto 2 and showed his strength and raw speed by passing 15 riders to take 12th in the moto and 15th overall. Marchbanks sat on top of the hard charger rankings for the fourth time this season. Marchbanks passed 18 riders and claimed the fastest time in Sector 7, under the bridge before the finish line. He ended the day fifth in the moto and sixth overall.

In 450 Moto 2, Prado lined up with a preferred inside gate pick, but was shuffled back off the start to 14th. Battling the rocky roost and tough competition, he settled into his pace clicking off consistent laps to climb into 12th place and finish the day 12th overall.

“I had a good day here at Unadilla. I had to work hard all day, though to make my way through the field, but I pulled out good results. I started the day up top again with fourth in qualifying, which is always a good feeling. Still working on starts during the week because that’s what is holding me back the most. I know I am capable of running up front when I have a good start, but I need to prove that. For the conditions of the track today and where I started, I’m happy with sixth overall. Looking forward to closing out the season next weekend.”

– Garrett Marchbanks

“The day started off solid, getting fastest qualifier was pretty cool—first one of my career. Moto 1 wasn’t the best. I got an okay start, but unfortunately went down early and had to fight my way back. In Moto 2, I still didn’t get the start I needed, but I was able to work my way forward and salvage 12th. I’m looking forward to finishing out outdoors at Budds Creek next week.”

– Drew Adams

“My day here at Unadilla was definitely tough. I qualified okay, around 13th place. In Moto 1, I went off into the banners off the start, so I was towards the back but worked up to 10th. In Moto 2, I had a better start and was riding pretty good, but while trying to get by Seth [Hammaker], I crashed and hit my head a little. It was another tough day, but I’m going to keep trying.”

– Levi Kitchen

“Today was a big step in the right direction. I really want an overall podium outdoors, but I’m happy to stand on the box in Moto 1. It was my best outdoor day as a whole in my career, which was a good feeling. Qualifying went really well. I had two clean, strong starts for the motos. Moto 1 I felt really competitive and could push the pace, but Moto 2 is where I tend to struggle with my health issues and how much energy I have left at the end of the day. Overall, I’m happy though with my results today, and we’ll look to next week now.

– Seth Hammaker

“It was good to be back behind the gate, but definitely not the results I was hoping for. I’m still putting the pieces together. In Moto 1, I felt strong and was running a solid pace, but slid out and had to fight my way back. Moto 2 didn’t go as planned. I didn’t get a good start and pushed forward as best I could, but having it be my first race back, I was a bit off the pace and finished the race in 20th. We’ll keep working, build from this, and come back stronger at Budds Creek.”

– Ty Masterpool

“Not the weekend I was hoping for, but we have some positive results to take away. I got fifth in qualifying, which helped set me up with a good gate pick for Moto 1. I was able to get the holeshot in the first moto and ran up front for a bit, but the track was very dry and hard-packed, making it difficult to ride and I dropped back to 15th. In the second moto, I got shuffled back off the start and had to work my way up to finish 12th. We’ll focus on the next race and closing out the motocross season strong.”

– Jorge Prado

Deegan Scores Runner-Up Overall Finish at Unadilla

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan earned a second-overall finish (2-3) at the Unadilla National to head to next weekend’s Pro Motocross season finale with a 43-point lead in the 250MX Championship. Nate Thrasher joined him in the top-10, finishing ninth overall on a technical track at Unadilla MX in New Berlin, New York. Caden Dudney impressed in his Pro Motocross debut, with a 7-13 moto score for 11th overall. Daxton Bennick and Cole Davies finished 22nd (28-19) and 26th (23-23), respectively, as both riders work on getting back up to speed after being sidelined with injury. Unfortunately, Michael Mosiman’s day ended early with a big crash in Moto 1.

Deegan qualified fifth and then had a good start to Moto 1 in fourth. Although briefly shuffled to fifth, he quickly rebounded—taking third on Lap 2 and then second on Lap 3, where he would finish. In Moto 2, Deegan was outside the top 10 in 12th off the start but charged to seventh on the opening lap. He continued to push, closing the gap to third and making the pass just after the halfway mark. Without enough time to chase down the front two, he rode it in for third, securing second overall—his ninth overall podium of the season. The reigning 250MX and 250SMX Champion now heads into his final outdoor round in the 250 class with a 43-point lead. He also clinched the top seed for the SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs, holding a 101-point advantage in the 250SMX Combined Points.

After qualifying 21st, Thrasher had a good start to the first moto in sixth and battled for a top-10 result. Although he dropped back to 14th four laps into the moto, the Tennessee rider kept pushing and made his way back to 13th. In Moto 2, he had another good start in sixth, but was passed by a couple of riders on the opening lap, one of those riders being his teammate Deegan. Once again, Thrasher continued to fight, crossing the line seventh to secure ninth overall.

Dudney enjoyed a strong start to his first Pro Motocross round. After qualifying 15th, he got a top-10 start and made his way to sixth on the opening lap, battling throughout the moto to finish seventh. In Moto 2, he got an even better start in third. Although he dropped back to fourth on that opening lap as riders jockeyed for position, he ran a strong pace in the top five. With five laps to go, he had a tip-over and rejoined in seventh, and then a few mistakes in the slick conditions saw him ultimately finish 13th, ending the day 11th overall.

It was a tough start to the day for Bennick, who qualified 25th and then finished 28th in the first moto with a technical issue. In Moto 2, he had another less-than-ideal gate pick and was 26th after the opening lap. Undeterred, the young rider from North Carolina put his head down and made his way through to 19th, finishing 22nd overall in his second round back from injury.

Davies made his Pro Motocross debut at Unadilla after being sidelined with a broken humerus sustained at the Supercross season finale. The young New Zealander qualified 17th, and then unfortunately found himself 30th on the opening lap of Moto 1, but continued to fight and crossed the line 23rd. Although he had a solid start to Moto 2 and was 16th after the opening lap, it was another tough moto that saw him once again finish 23rd for 26th overall.

Mosiman had a promising start to the day, qualifying 10th, but unfortunately had a big crash on Lap 2 of the first moto before the Skyshot jump. The Californian withdrew from the race and received stitches for a cut above his eye. An update on his status will follow at a later date.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to the Budds Creek Motocross Park next weekend for a championship-deciding Pro Motocross season finale in Mechanicsville, Maryland, on August 23.

Wil Hahn – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team General Manager
“It was a solid day for us. Haiden got another podium finish and managed his points lead going into the final race next weekend. Caden really made a big splash in his debut, and Nate showed some great improvements throughout the day after a tough qualifying. Cole and Dax had some struggles, but we will regroup during the week and improve where we need to. Unfortunately, Mosiman had a big crash in Moto 1 and had to call it a day after needing stitches for a big cut above his eye.”

Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #1
“I kind of struggled a little bit to get comfortable today. Second overall on the day, and we’ve got one more round to go and a 43-point lead. The plan is to wrap it up at the next round, do some SMX testing this week, and get to it.”

Nate Thrasher – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #41
“It was another step in the right direction this weekend. I’m ready to finish the outdoor season strong.”

Caden Dudney – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #400
“Overall, it was a really good day. It was a big learning experience. Qualifying went well, and the first moto was good. I got a decent start, kind of snuck up the inside, and managed to get seventh. In Moto 2, I had a better gate pick and was right there on the start with Jo (Shimoda) and Deegs (Haiden Deegan). I made a few small mistakes and ended up 13th in the moto, but it was still a really good day and I’m happy with it.”

Daxton Bennick – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #34
“It was an alright day. Qualifying was a bit rough for me, and then I had some issues with the bike in the first moto. The second moto was better. Even though I had a pretty bad start – I think I was around 28th or 29th on that first lap – I made my way to 19th. I’m just trying to be better each weekend. It’s really hard to just jump back in after being off the bike for so long, but there are no real expectations. It’s just to see where we are at and keep building.”

Cole Davies – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #100
“First weekend back is done and dusted. It’s not the result we wanted, but it’s good to get some gate drops and leave Unadilla healthy. We’ll keep progressing and set our sights on Budds Creek.”

Tomac’s Podium Streak Continues with Third Overall at Unadilla

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac continued his run of podium finishes with a third overall (3-3) at the penultimate round of the Pro Motocross 450MX Championship at Unadilla MX in New Berlin, New York. Teammate Justin Cooper also delivered a strong performance in his home state, ending the day fifth overall (6-4).

The Unadilla National track proved especially technical this year, with hard-packed and slick conditions. Tomac qualified third and was sixth after the start of Moto 1. He briefly dropped to seventh in a heated multi-rider battle but made some passes to complete the opening lap in fifth. Tomac advanced to fourth by Lap 6, then moved into third when the rider ahead crashed. The Colorado rider closed the gap to second but eventually settled into a strong third-place finish. In Moto 2, he once again started sixth, made it to fifth by the opening lap, and moved into fourth on Lap 6. On the following lap, he passed his teammate for third, where he would finish to secure his seventh overall podium of the season. With two moto wins and 12 moto podiums this year, Tomac remains third in the championship heading into the season finale.

Cooper got off to a great start to the day in front of the home crowd, qualifying second. Although he didn’t get the start he was looking for in Moto 1 and found himself back around 20th, he made an impressive charge to 12th on the opening lap. The New Yorker continued to push, making his way to seventh before mid-moto and advanced to sixth on the final lap. In Moto 2, Cooper narrowly missed the holeshot and slotted into third on the opening lap. He maintained a strong pace but was passed by Tomac around the halfway mark, riding on to finish fourth and secure fifth-place overall. With his consistently strong results in both Supercross and Motocross, Cooper clinched the No. 1 seed for the SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs in the 450SMX class with a 97-point lead in the combined points.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to Budds Creek Motocross Park next weekend for the Pro Motocross season finale and Round 28 of the SuperMotocross World Championship in Mechanicsville, Maryland, on August 28.

Rich Simmons – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“I’m happy with the day. I think it was a step in the right direction with both guys. Eli made a fork change that he was happy with. He could ride it better for longer and be more aggressive, and it was good to see him up front and in the fight with those guys. Same with Justin. He rode a little SMX this week as kind of a refresher for him mentally. He looked more aggressive and had more intensity this weekend. I was happy with the bikes. The crew did a great job getting ready for this race. We’re looking forward to next weekend.”

Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“It was a solid day for us here at Unadilla. As a whole, I rode really well and found a really good flow in both motos – specifically in Moto 1. I was comfortable and felt really good. I just wasn’t quite as fast as the two brothers (Jett and Hunter Lawrence) and missed out a little bit on the starts. This place can be my Achilles heel, so really, third was solid for us.”

Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“Practice went really well, and we qualified second. The track was really technical today – hard-packed and sketchy in some areas, so throttle control was important. I messed up my start in Moto 1 and came back from around 20th to sixth. In the second moto, I had a really good start, almost got the holeshot, and was third on the first lap. I ran there for quite a while, then Eli got around me and kind of towed me around, and I finished right behind him in fourth. It was a good day overall – better than last weekend – and my riding’s been good. We’ve got one more round to go.”

Storybook Weekend for Honda HRC Progressive at Unadilla

Round 10 of AMA Pro Motocross at Unadilla MX in New Berlin, New York, saw Honda HRC Progressive celebrate a milestone achievement as Jett Lawrence clinched the 450 championship one round early with a perfect 1-1 performance. Brother and teammate Hunter Lawrence joined him on the podium with consistent runner-up finishes for second overall, while Jo Shimoda delivered a flawless ride in the 250 class to capture his third overall win of the season.

Hunter and Jett started the first 450 moto in second and seventh, respectively. By lap 3, Jett had taken over the lead, and although he briefly traded positions with RJ Hampshire, he solidified the front spot on lap 5. Hunter moved from third to second a lap later, and the brothers comfortably held those positions to the finish.

Hunter rode his CRF450RWE to the moto 2 holeshot, with Jett two positions behind. In order to clinch the championship at this round, Jett needed to finish ahead of Hunter and secure a lead of 50 or more points before the finale. Jett quickly moved into the lead but was pushed hard by his older brother, as the two rode in 1-2 formation for much of the moto, with Jett’s sweep sealing the crown.

Shimoda started the first 250 moto in eighth place but ripped to the front of the pack on the first lap! From there, the Japanese native never looked back, riding to a wire-to-wire win with a remarkable margin of nearly 40 seconds over second place. Shimoda started fifth in moto 2, but once again put in an aggressive early push, leaping into the lead on lap 2. He steadily pulled away, finishing over 13 seconds clear of the field. The result marked his third overall victory of the season.

NOTES

Amsterdam, New York, dealership Outdoor Motor Sports joined Honda HRC Progressive in the team pits at Unadilla, showcasing a CRF300L, a TRX90X and a Dax 125, while engaging with fans throughout the day.
Jett Lawrence was fastest by over a second in 450 combined qualifying, with Hunter Lawrence seventh. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis was eighth, while Quad Lock Honda Racing teammates Kyle Webster and Shane McElrath were 10th and 14th, respectively. Valley Motorsports’ Jeremy Hand was 18th, followed by Rodbell Racing’s Justin Rodbell in 27th, Raylentless Racing’s Brandon Ray 28th, The McGinley Clinic Privateer Support Program’s John Short 29th, and Ace Motorcycles’ Brad Todd 31st. Williams Racing’s Zack Williams earned his spot in the motos with a second-place finish in the 450 LCQ.
Jo Shimoda was eighth overall in 250 combined qualifying. Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Brodie Connolly was 20th, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cullin Park 27th and TiLube Honda Racing’s Izaih Clark 29th.
The WMX series returned for its penultimate round at Unadilla, with Red Riders again well represented. Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Charli Cannon went 1-2 for second overall, while SLR Honda Racing’s Mikayla Nielsen finished third overall with consistent 3-3 results. Jaylie Gallacher (MotoSport Hillsboro) tallied 9-9 finishes for ninth, followed by Kaitlyn Jacobs in 10th (11-10), Joanne Fake in 15th (15-15), Sydney Plath in 16th (16-16), Kayla Alexander in 17th (18-17) and Addie Clouse in 19th (19-19).
Jett once again recorded the fastest lap times in both 450 motos, underscoring his pace on the way to the overall win and championship clinch. Shimoda matched the feat by posting the quickest lap in both 250 motos during his dominant 1-1 performance.
With this weekend’s 450 success, Honda moves into a tie with Kawasaki for most premier-class overall wins at Unadilla, with 10.
This was Jett’s second premier-class overall win at Unadilla. Other Red Riders to win at the venue include Mike LaRocco, Ricky Carmichael (twice), Kevin Windham (twice), Ken Roczen (twice) and Chase Sexton.
With his 250 win this weekend, Shimoda joins other Red Riders to have scored the support-class overall win at Unadilla, including Steve Lamson, Trey Canard, Eli Tomac, Jeremy Martin, Jett Lawrence and Hunter Lawrence.
Next, AMA Pro Motocross heads to Budds Creek MX in Mechanicsville, Maryland, for round 11—the final stop of the AMA Pro Motocross season—set to take place August 23.

Jett Lawrence
“I think the biggest moment in this championship was round 1. Leading up to it, I was dealing with my knee injury. It was my first one, so mentally it felt horrible, and I was originally told I’d be out four months. I didn’t think I was going to make the opener at all. Just making it to the first round had me stoked, and to go there and win made it one of my best races ever. To wrap up the title one round early makes it even more rewarding.”

Hunter Lawrence
“Another 2-2, and I’m riding well. We’ve got some momentum going, and that should carry over nicely into SMX. I feel like things are coming together at the right time. I’m looking forward to carrying this form into the playoffs.”

Jo Shimoda
“It was a good day. I think we made a massive improvement with the motorcycle. I’ve been struggling a little bit at the end of the motos with the bike’s character changing, so today was a big step forward. It was really good for the team, and it put me in a much better position. I’m happy and proud of everyone.”

Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager
“I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of some incredible moments in our team’s history, and today was another one of those moments. When you show up to these races with three riders, and they take the top spots possible, it’s something special. Jo was absolutely unreal today. For some reason his riding style and dominance reminded me of James Stewart back in 2002-2003 125 MX; it was awesome to watch, and his new nickname might need to be Jo ‘Bubba’ Shimoda! I literally don’t have enough good things to say about the Lawrence brothers, and I feel so fortunate to have them both on the team. Hunter is awesome in all ways, and I’m so happy and proud to see him climb his way to becoming one of the top 450 racers in the world. I’ve said this before, but when someone like Jett wins as much as he has, it starts feeling normal, and that’s something that I really don’t like. Winning a race in 450 MX is incredibly difficult, but winning a championship is a whole other level. Jett has made it look relatively easy, and it’s something that I just have to sit back and marvel at. Everyone on the race team, American Honda, HRC, and Honda Japan are extremely proud to have him be a part of Honda history.”

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