This Week in Powersports Racing – The week of August 24, 2025

This week in US Powersports racing.

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MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Transitions To Superbike Cup For 2026

MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, has announced that its Stock 1000 class will no longer be a standalone race as it will be merged into the MotoAmerica Superbike class in 2026 and renamed the MotoAmerica Superbike Cup.

MotoAmerica has announced that the Stock 1000 class will be merged into the premier Superbike class in the 2026 championship. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

The reason for the change is two-fold: It will help grow the premier MotoAmerica Superbike grid while also bringing more attention and opportunities to riders competing in the Superbike Cup.

Racers in the Superbike Cup will earn points for both championships, and the class will also get podium recognition. Having the Superbike Cup in the Superbike class also provides a scenario where a Superbike Cup rider could end up standing on both the Superbike and Superbike Cup podiums.

Balancing rules will also be in effect for the Superbike Cup with lower-performing motorcycles given more allowances than the higher-performing motorcycles.

“We know that this change will be a good one as it will not only give us more motorcycles on our Superbike grids but also create a more competitive, tightly packed field thanks to the allowances granted to the Stock machines,” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “With the level of the current production motorcycles, there will be tracks where the Superbike Cup racers could run close to the front of the Superbike class. Having the Superbike Cup class in the Superbike class also gives the Cup racers the opportunity to compete at all nine of our venues and in all 20 of our Superbike races.”

MotoAmerica has also announced that its current Superbike rules package will remain in effect through the 2027 season.

Provisional rules for the 2026 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship can be found HERE

Chad Wienen Closes Legendary 22-Year Career with Storybook Victory 67 Career Wins, Countless Podiums, and an Unmatched Legacy in AMA ATV MX Pro Championship

The win was more than just another notch in Wienen’s record, it was the perfect ending to a career that has spanned over two decades. Known for his relentless drive, unmatched consistency, and unwavering sportsmanship, Wienen’s final race victory was the ultimate exclamation point on a 22-year professional journey.

“Ending my career with a win is something I could only dream about,” Wienen said. “It’s been an incredible ride filled with challenges, victories, and memories I’ll carry forever. I’m grateful for my family, friends, team, sponsors, and the fans who have supported me every step of the way.”

Over his career, Wienen has built a reputation as one of the sport’s most respected and accomplished riders, earning eight AMA ATV MX Pro National Championships, and leaving an enduring impact on the sport both on and off the track. His determination, work ethic, and professionalism have inspired generations of riders.

While Wienen won’t be lining up at the gate as a competitor for AMA ATV MX Pro Racing, he’s not stepping away from the sport. He will continue to be involved in ATV motocross through training riders, offering parts and builds, and sharing his knowledge and passion with the next generation all the while continuing to do one off events and bucket list races next year.

“Motocross has given me so much, and now it’s my turn to give back,” Wienen added. “I’m excited for what’s next and to help others chase their dreams just like I chased mine.”

Dunlop Celebrates Lachlan “Lala” Turner’s Championship Victory in the 2025 Women’s Motocross Championship

 The 2025 Women’s Motocross Championship (WMX) treated fans to six rounds of fierce competition at some of the nation’s premier motocross venues. Packed crowds witnessed incredible talent on display as the best women in the sport battled for supremacy, round after round.

This year, it was Dunlop-backed and Team Dunlop Elite alumni racer Lachlan “Lala” Turner who rose to the top. Piloting her Altus Blu Cru Yamaha equipped with Dunlop tires, Turner delivered a season of consistency, speed, and skill, ultimately capturing the WMX Championship by an impressive 31-point margin.

“Watching Lala’s growth from her time as a Team Dunlop Elite rider to now standing on top of the WMX Championship is a moment of pride for everyone at Dunlop,” said Rob Fox, Dunlop’s Amateur Motocross Support Manager. “Her championship run showcases not only her determination and talent, but also the performance advantage that Dunlop riders trust at every level of the sport.”

The 2025 WMX series highlighted the progression of women’s motocross and reaffirmed Dunlop’s commitment to supporting riders across all classes. From local amateurs to professional champions, Dunlop continues to fuel the next generation of motocross athletes through programs like Team Dunlop.

With Turner’s victory, Dunlop strengthens its legacy in motocross championships while celebrating the growth of women’s racing on the national stage.

Deegan Wraps Up Back-to-Back 250 Class Titles with Dominant Outing at Pro Motocross Championship Finale from Budds Creek

The 2025 Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, came to a captivating conclusion on a balmy afternoon in Southern Maryland, as Budds Creek Motocross Park hosted the 11th race of the summer campaign and the 28th and final round of the SMX World Championship regular season. The Yamaha Racing Budds Creek National Finals locked in the field of athletes that will contest the upcoming SMX Playoffs, but more importantly crowned a 250 Class Champion as Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan captured the Gary Jones Cup for the second consecutive season in a dominant effort. With the championship already decided in the 450 Class, Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence enjoyed another solid afternoon to wrap up his second title-winning summer with a ninth victory.

Moto 1

The first moto of the afternoon began with newly crowned champion Lawrence leading the field to the Pro Motocross Holeshot however Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper was able to briefly move out front before Lawrence asserted his hold of the position. The lead duo was then able to put some distance over the rest of the field as riders jockeyed for positions early, with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire slotting into third.

The top three ran unchanged throughout the first 20 minutes of the moto, with Lawrence able to establish a lead of around five seconds, while Cooper looked to fend off a hard-charging Hampshire. Behind them, Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence lurked from fourth, slowly closing the gap as the final 10 minutes unfolded. A persistent Hampshire was able to close to within a second of Cooper with just over three minutes to go as the leaders navigated heavy lapped traffic. That allowed Lawrence to close in to make it a three-rider battle for second with under a minute remaining in the moto. Lawrence made a quick strike to pass Hampshire and then looked to take advantage of lappers to make a move on Cooper. The battle for second went down to the final lap.

Back out front, Jett Lawrence took an uneventful moto win, his 16th of the season and 42nd of his career, by 2.9 seconds over Cooper, who fended off Hunter Lawrence for the Yamaha rider’s first moto podium since the sixth race of the season at RedBud. Hampshire followed in fourth, with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac in fifth.

Jett Lawrence wrapped up his championship-winning season with a ninth victory.
Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Moto 2

The final premier class moto of the season kicked off with Hunter Lawrence leading Jett Lawrence to the Pro Motocross Holeshot, with Cooper able to slot into third. The lead trio wasted little in distancing themselves from the rest of the field and then settled into their respective positions through the opening 10 minutes.

While Jett was able to close in on Hunter through the middle of the moto, the elder Lawrence responded and soon stabilized his lead at just over three seconds. Cooper slowly lost touch and soon dropped more than 10 seconds back, with Hampshire closing in from fourth. As the moto entered the final five minutes, Hunter Lawrence added to his advantage, which approached nearly 10 seconds, while Hampshire caught and passed Cooper for third.

Hunter Lawrence ended the summer with his second moto win, 12.9 seconds ahead of Jett Lawrence. Hampshire wrapped up his rookie season with a third moto podium.

Hunter Lawrence ended the summer with a moto win and his sixth runner-up finish.
Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Overall

Jett Lawrence’s 1-2 effort was enough to secure his ninth win of the season and the 24th win of his career, solidifying his hold of fifth all-time in the 450 Class. Hunter Lawrence’s sixth runner-up finish of the season (3-1) completed the sixth 1-2 finish for the siblings this summer. Lawrence also added to his all-time record of consecutive top five finishes to begin a 450 Class career with 22 in-a-row. Cooper landed on the overall podium for the third time this season and fifth time in his career (2-4).

The final standings saw history made by the Lawrences, who became the first siblings to finish 1-2 in the championship. Tomac, who finished eighth (5-8), rounded out the championship podium in third.

Cooper’s podium result put the finishing touch on an impressive regular season. He contested all 28 motos to earn the top seed for the SMX Playoffs. Jett Lawrence, who missed the final 13 races of Monster Energy Supercross with a torn ACL, surged to the second seed as he chases a third consecutive World Championship. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart moved up to the third seed on the final day of the regular season following a sixth-place finish (7-6).

Justin Cooper solidified his top seed for the SMX Playoffs with a podium result.
Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

1st Place: Jett Lawrence, Honda HRC Progressive (1-2)
“It feels good [to end with a win]. I’m super happy. Hunter [Lawrence] rode really well in Moto 2. I’m really happy with the season. I’d love to be a three-time champion, but injuries are a part of the sport. Nevertheless, it’s another 1-2 finish for Honda, which is awesome.”

2nd Place: Hunter Lawrence, Honda HRC Progressive (3-1)
“That was cool. What a good way to end the season. I’m happy with that. It took a true team effort this weekend to make all this happen, so I’m grateful to have such an amazing group of people around me.”

3rd Place: Justin Cooper, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing (2-4)
“I felt really good today. Had a great battle with the boys [Lawrence brothers] and it felt awesome to be in the lead group. I made a mistake in Moto 2 and went down and kind of lost my flow after that. But all in all it was a good day.”

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish // Points)

1. Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Queensland, Australia, Honda (1-2 // 47)
2. Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Queensland, Australia, Honda (3-1 // 45)
3. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (2-4 // 40)
4. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna (4-3 // 38)
5. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., GASGAS (8-5 // 31)
6. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Husqvarna (7-6 // 31)
7. Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Honda (6-7 // 31)
8. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (5-8 // 31)
9. Valentin Guillod, Môtier, Switzerland, Yamaha (12-10 // 22)
10. Jorge Prado, Lugo, Galicia, Spain, Kawasaki (11-12 // 21)

450 Class Championship Final Standings (Race 11 of 11)

1. Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Queensland, Australia, Honda – 509
2. Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Queensland, Australia, Honda – 454
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha – 395
4. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 389
5. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna – 366
6. Jorge Prado, Lugo, Galicia, Spain, Kawasaki – 262
7. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Husqvarna – 240
8. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM – 204
9. Valentin Guillod, Môtier, Switzerland, Yamaha – 201
10. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., GASGAS – 196

450SMX Regular Season Final Standings (Round 28 of 28)

1. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 670
2. Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Queensland, Australia, Honda – 580
3. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Husqvarna – 517
4. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha – 516
5. Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Queensland, Australia, Honda – 516
6. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., KTM – 510
7. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha – 475
8. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM – 459
9. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., GASGAS – 381
10. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna – 366

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Moto 1

The first pivotal moto in the smaller displacement started with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle leading the field to the Pro Motocross Holeshot, with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker and Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda in tow. However, a red flag before the completion of the opening lap necessitated a restart. When the gate dropped for the second time, it was once again Vialle at the head of the pack, followed by the rookie duo of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Drew Adams. Title combatants Deegan and Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda started fourth and sixth, respectively. Vialle then crashed out of the lead, which allowed Davies, Adams, and Deegan to move into the top three while Vialle remounted just ahead of Shimoda in fifth.

In his first opportunity to lead a Pro Motocross moto, Davies sprinted out to a lead of nearly three seconds over the field as Deegan made the pass on Adams for second and Shimoda moved by Vialle for fourth. Shimoda continued his push forward and passed Adams for third. Meanwhile, Deegan erased his deficit to Davies and began to apply pressure on the lead 10 minutes into the moto. Deegan showed patience and made his move count just a few minutes before the halfway point. Not long after, Shimoda caught Davies and made quick work of the rookie to move into second. With 15 minutes left in the moto, the top two riders in the championship were separated by 3.5 seconds. While Shimoda closed initially, Deegan responded and was able to stabilize the lead at nearly six seconds.

The Yamaha rider added to his advantage in the closing stages of the moto and went on to take the win by 9.3 seconds over Shimoda, while Davies captured his first career moto podium result in third. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen finished fourth, with Adams in fifth.

At the conclusion of the moto, race officials determined that multiple riders violated the procedures surrounding a red cross flag for a downed rider, which precipitated the red flag at the beginning of the moto [Section 3.1.8, E. 1st Offense*]. The riders penalized included Deegan and Shimoda, with an implemented penalty of one deducted position apiece and the subtraction of 5 championship points for each rider. As a result, Davies was awarded the moto win as Deegan dropped to second and Shimoda dropped to third.

*3.1.8 At-Track & On-Track Violations; E. On-Track Violations & Penalty Table, 1st Offense: Red Cross Violation in a Moto, Advantage Gained – Position Gained Penalty + 5 Championship Points & Purse (2 positions).

Haiden Deegan is now a back-to-back 250 Class Champion.
Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Moto 2

The final moto of the summer saw Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher grab the Pro Motocross Holeshot just ahead of Deegan, while Shimoda started third. A spirited opening lap saw the lead trio in an all-out sprint. While Thrasher held on to complete the opening lap in the lead, Deegan applied heavy pressure and soon seized control of the moto. Shimoda made the move for second not long after that to set up a head-to-head battle between the class’ top two racers. As the field settled in through the opening 10 minutes, a second red flag brought the race to a halt to tend to a downed rider.

A staggered restart continued the action with a little more than 23 minutes left in the moto as Deegan and Shimoda reasserted their positions at the head of the field, while Kitchen went on the attack to pass Thrasher for third. Deegan picked up where he left off and pulled away from Shimoda to establish a multi-second lead.

The front of the field went unchanged the rest of the way as Deegan cruised to his 13th moto win of the season by 13.5 seconds over Shimoda. Kitchen finished third.

Jo Shimoda finished the summer with six straight podium finishes.
Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Overall

With the Moto 1 penalty, Deegan’s 2-1 finishes were enough to not only wrap up his seventh win of the season but also back-to-back 250 Class titles. He completed his 250 Class career with 14 career victories, which places him in a four-way tie for eighth all-time with Blake Baggett, Broc Glover, and Jett Lawrence. Shimoda earned his eighth podium finish with a runner-up effort (3-2), while Kitchen landed on the overall podium for the first time since the fifth race of the season at Southwick (4-3).

Deegan completed the championship with a winning margin of 48 points over Shimoda and will enter the SMX Playoffs as the top seed, where he’ll chase a third straight World Championship. Shimoda finished as a championship runner-up spot for the second time in his career, while Marchbanks, who finished fourth (8-4), completed the best season of his career with third in the final standings.

The lead trio from Pro Motocross will also serve as the top three seeds for the postseason.

Levi Kitchen made his anticipated return to the overall podium.
Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

1st Place: Haiden Deegan, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing (2-1)
“I wanted to go out there and make a statement, which is what I did. I wanted to wrap up the title on top of the box, so I was determined to go out there and make it happen. It feels awesome and I’m looking forward to the playoffs.”

2nd Place: Jo Shimoda, Honda HRC Progressive (3-2)
“I hope I can keep this momentum going into the playoffs. I don’t think I’ve ever felt better riding a motorcycle than I do now. Congrats to Haiden [Deegan] on a great season, he deserves [the championship].”

3rd Place: Levi Kitchen, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki (4-3)
“I’ve been trying my best every weekend, but I’ve hit the ground a lot and starting in the back. We found something on the bike, and it helped with the starts. Today felt like a win because it’s been a tough few weeks.”

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)

1. Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (2-1 // 47)
2. Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda (3-2 // 42)
3. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki (4-3 // 38)
4. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Kawasaki (8-4 // 32)
5. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha (7-5 // 32)
6. Ty Masterpool, Fallon, Nev., Kawasaki (6-6 // 32)
7. Cole Davies, Waitoki, Auckland, New Zealand, Yamaha (1-17 // 30)
8. Drew Adams, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Kawasaki (5-10 // 29)
9. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., GASGAS (10-8 // 26)
10. Dilan Schwartz, Alpine, Calif., Yamaha (13-9 // 22)

250 Class Championship Final Standings (Race 11 of 11)

1. Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 502
2. Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda – 454
3. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Kawasaki – 352
4. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 327
5. Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM – 288
6. Mikkel Haarup, Silkeborg, Denmark, Triumph – 239
7. Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki – 231
8. Maximus Vohland, Sacramento, Calif., Yamaha – 230
9. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Triumph – 211
10. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., GASGAS – 191

250SMX Regular Season Final Standings (Round 28 of 28)

1. Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 723
2. Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda – 617
3. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Kawasaki – 497
4. Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM – 468
5. Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki – 408
6. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 366
7. Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM – 355
8. Maximus Vohland, Sacramento, Calif., Yamaha – 350
9. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Triumph – 337
10. Michael Mosiman, Sebastopol, Calif., Yamaha – 311

Deegan Crowned Back-to-Back 250MX Champ

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan secured the 250MX Championship for the second year running at the Budds Creek Motocross Park. The Californian also capped off his stellar 250MX career, earning his seventh overall win of the season with a 2-1 moto score at the Pro Motocross season finale in Mechanicsville, Maryland. The team as a whole enjoyed a strong finish to the season at the Budds Creek National with Nate Thrasher securing a season-best fifth overall finish (7-5) and Cole Davies scoring his first moto win and finishing seventh overall (1-17). At his third round back to racing, Daxton Bennick improved to 12th overall (16-12), while Caden Dudney finished 14th (17-13) in just his second outdoor national.

After a tough second qualifying session that saw him seventh in the combined times, Deegan came back swinging in the motos. He got a good start to Moto 1, which was red-flagged on the opening lap. After the restart, he found himself fourth and fought his way forward, passing his teammate on Lap 7, and then riding on to cross the line first and securing the 250MX championship a moto early. Unfortunately, both he and his title rival were penalized one position and five championship points for jumping on a red cross flag before the restart, officially placing him second. In Moto 2, Deegan got a great start and slotted into the runner-up spot. He took over the lead on Lap 2 and maintained control through another red flag and restart to win by 13.5 seconds. It was an empathic end to his final campaign in the 250MX Championship, with Deegan earning seven overall wins and 13 moto victories en route to his back-to-back 250MX titles. 

Thrasher continued to make forward progress during his first full outdoor season. After qualifying 12th, he had a good start around the top 10 and continued to push, making his way to sixth with four laps to go, ultimately finishing seventh. In Moto 2, he came out swinging, grabbing the holeshot and leading the first lap. Passed by the series frontrunners on Lap 2, Thrasher continued to ride a strong pace in third before the red flag. After the restart, he found himself fourth and ultimately dropped back to fifth with five laps to go, where he would finish to earn his best moto and overall result of the season in fifth. 

After a tough Unadilla National last weekend, Davies had a strong second outing outdoors. He qualified 11th in the combined times and got two great starts to the twice-started Moto 1. Davies claimed the lead on Lap 2 and ran a strong pace up front before getting passed by his teammate on Lap 7, and then back to third on the following lap, where he would finish. After post-race penalties to the front two riders, Davies was promoted to first, which marked a career-first for the young New Zealander who has already enjoyed early success with multiple race wins as a rookie in Supercross. In Moto 2, he did not get the start he was hoping for and found himself 16th, making his way to 15th before the red flag. After the restart, he had a tipover and dropped back to 24th, but fought his way through to finish 17th, securing seventh overall. 

Bennick also continued to make improvements in his third race back and had a better qualifying result in 16th. He then had a good start to the first moto and was sixth on the opening lap, battling in the top 10 during the first four laps. The young rider from North Carolina eventually was shuffled to 18th by the halfway point, but continued to push, making his way back to 16th. In Moto 2, he got another good start and was in eighth when the red flag was drawn. After the restart, he dropped back to 19th and continued to fight, charging back to 12th to end the day 12th overall. 

Dudney, who also recently made his Pro Motocross debut at the previous round at Unadilla, had a solid qualifying effort in 15th. A good initial start in Moto 1 was nullified by the red flag, and he found himself at the back of the field after the restart. Undeterred, the young Texan fought his way through to 17th. In Moto 2, Dudney got a better start and was 14th after the opening lap, moving to 13th before the red flag. After the restart, he was once again 14th and continued to battle, crossing the line 13th to end the day 14th overall. 

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team now turns its attention to the SuperMotocross World Championship – the SMX Playoffs 1, which takes place at zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, on September 6.

Wil Hahn – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team General Manager
“I’m really stoked to end the season on a high and with how Haiden started and ended it on top. We really had a great day as a team, with all the guys seeing personal bests for the season in motos and some overalls.”

Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing  #1 
“I’m stoked to win my fifth 250 title. I’m also stoked to finish with a win and another overall win. All I can say is this sport can be gnarly, so when you come out on top, it’s sick.” 

Nate Thrasher – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #41 
“It was a good day, a good way to finish off the outdoors. I feel like these last few rounds were a lot better for me. We worked on a lot during the three-week break that we had. The bike wasn’t really working for me at the beginning of the season. It doesn’t work the same for everybody, and I haven’t raced outdoors in so long. I just had to find my setup, and we finally found that and were able to get a little bit better each weekend. I’m happy with this result. We have SMX coming up, and we’ve been good at the speedways before. I feel really good on the track at home, so I’m ready to go and to battle up front.” 

Cole Davies – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #100
“I’m a Pro Motocross winner. It’s not the way you’d expect to get your first win, after Haiden and Jo were penalized, but that first moto was good overall. It’s definitely a step in the right direction after coming in at Unadilla. Honestly, what a start can do is pretty crazy. I got off to a good one in Moto 1 and led for about half the race, which was very cool. In Moto 2, I had nothing left to give. A bad start set me back. I made a couple of passes but went down again. For my third Pro Motocross race, I’ll take it. After 12 weeks off after my surgery, it’s a solid bounce back. We know what we need to work on. The weekend was definitely a step in the right direction.”

Daxton Bennick – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #34
“It was good. Today was a lot better all around. My only goal heading into these three rounds after my injury was to improve each round, and that’s exactly what I did. We made steady improvements and ended today with a 12th overall, so we’ll take that.”

Caden Dudney – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #400
“It was a good day overall. The first moto was a little rough. I didn’t get that good of a start. Actually, the first start was good in that one. I was up there, but then they red-flagged it, and I ended up dead last after the restart and finished 17th. The second moto was decent. I got a better start, and then they red-flagged it again, which was kind of crazy – two red flags in one day. It was good, though. I fought my way up to 13th and ended up 14th overall. I need to be better in qualifying for the starts, and I should have a better moto. It was another good learning experience, so I’m happy with the day.”
 
2025 Pro Motocross Budds Creek National 250MX Results 
2025 Pro Motocross 250MX Championship Standings 
2025 SuperMotocross World Championship 250SMX Combined Points Standings

Cooper Finishes Strong with Podium at Pro Motocross Finale

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper returned to the podium with a third overall finish (2-4) at the final round of the Pro Motocross 450MX Championship and Round 28 of the SuperMotocross World Championship, held at the Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland. Teammate Eli Tomac salvaged valuable points with a 5-8 moto score, ending the day eighth overall. 

Cooper showed speed from the start, qualifying in the runner-up spot. He grabbed a great start in Moto 1, quickly slotting into second and battling for the lead early. The New Yorker maintained a strong pace throughout the moto to earn his fourth runner-up finish of the season. In Moto 2, Cooper started fourth and moved into third on the opening lap. After a mistake in the latter half of the moto, he was passed with around five laps to go, but rode on to secure fourth for third overall. Cooper wrapped up the season with three overall podiums, five moto podiums, and fourth in the 450MX standings. His strong results in both supercross and motocross earned the top seed in the 450SMX combined points, putting him in a great position heading into the SMX Playoffs. 

Tomac also had a strong start to the day at Budds Creek Motocross Park, qualifying fourth. In Moto 1, he was inside the top 10 after the start and was locked in a multi-rider battle. The Colorado rider made his way to fourth in the opening laps and continued to fight, but ultimately lost some ground as the race wore on and finished fifth. In Moto 2, Tomac did not get off the gate as he had hoped and found himself towards the back of the field. He quickly went to work and made an impressive charge back from 31st to eighth, ending the day eighth overall. Tomac finished third in the 450MX Championship, earning two moto wins and 12 moto podiums. Despite missing most of the Supercross season, he heads into the SMX Playoffs with the seventh seed. 

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team now sets its sights on the SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs, which kick off with the first round on September 6 at zMax Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

Rich Simmons – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“It was a bit of a bittersweet day for us at Budds Creek, with a tough day for Eli but a podium for Justin. After qualifying, we felt like Eli was in a good spot. In the first moto, he just never got into a great flow, but still came away with a fifth. Then the second moto, he got off balance out of the gate and was around 30th on Lap 1 and finished eighth. So it was just a tough day for Eli, but we will switch our focus to SMX and come back stronger. 

“Justin was a bit off in Q1 but put in a good qualifying effort in Q2 and kept that momentum going all day. He had two good starts, which helps on this track, and put in some really good laps in both motos to get on the overall podium. Justin’s put himself in a great position heading into SMX with the overall points lead, so I’m happy for him and proud of the effort he’s put in all year.”

Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“I honestly felt great all day. Qualifying went really well, and I was second. It was a battle all day out there – everyone was riding really well. I was second in the first moto, and I got another good start in Moto 2 around third. I felt unreal behind those guys for about 15 minutes, but then I made a big mistake, tucked the front, and basically came to a stop. I lost my flow, hit lappers, and RJ (Hampshire) was all over me – it kind of hit all at the same time. So I got a little flustered, and RJ got around me and some lappers. I closed back on him and followed him around, and from there, it was to get to the finish. I wish that I hadn’t made that mistake and tried to battle with those guys at the front, but I did my best, and that’s what matters.”

Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“It was a tough day at Budds. We’ll regroup, get back to work, and look forward to SMX.”

2025 Pro Motocross Budds Creek National 450MX Results

2025 Pro Motocross 450MX Championship Standings

2025 SuperMotocross World Championship 450SMX Combined Points Standings

MONSTER ENERGY® PRO CIRCUIT KAWASAKI RIDER LEVI KITCHEN SECURES PODIUM FINISH AT BUDDS CREEK FINALE

Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen charged through the field at Round 11 of the Pro Motocross Championship at Budds Creek, earning third overall with a solid (4-3) finish to finish the series. Garrett Marchbanks continued his consistent season, going (8-3) for fourth overall and holding third in the championship standings. Ty Masterpool delivered a strong (6-6) performance for sixth overall, while Drew Adams found his rhythm with a (5-10) result for eighth and was also awarded Rookie of the Year. Seth Hammaker battled back from a Moto 1 mechanical issue to finish 13th overall (36-7). Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Jorge Prado showed his trademark starting speed but settled for 10th overall (11-12) in the 450 class.

Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders kicked off Saturday with strong qualifying performances, all placing inside the Top 10. Hammaker topped qualifying aboard his KX™250, posting the fastest time followed closely by Adams qualifying in second and Marchbanks in third. Kitchen was within a second with the sixth fastest lap time and Masterpool in ninth. 

In Moto 1, Hammaker launched out of the gate in second and immediately challenged for the lead. His four teammates started outside the Top 10 and began working their way forward. During the opening lap, a red flag brought the race to a full restart, where Adams rebounded with a strong fourth-place start, while Hammaker and Kitchen slotted into 12th and 13th. Masterpool and Marchbanks were forced mid-pack after getting pinched off in the tight first corner. Adams quickly battled for third and took advantage of a competitor’s mistake to move into second. Hammaker charged with strategic passes to break into the Top 10 in eighth, with Kitchen close behind in ninth. Masterpool pushed into the Top 10 after 10 minutes, while Marchbanks built momentum with calculated passes to climb to 15th by the halfway point. Midway through the moto, Adams cased the triple step-up and dropped back to third. Hammaker continued to fight in sixth and made his way into fifth, but a late mechanical issue forced the No. 56 to retire with three laps remaining, finishing 36th. Kitchen made a strong late push for the podium before crossing the line in fourth. Adams, chasing his first career moto podium, fell victim to a few mistakes in the final laps to secure fifth. Masterpool closed out the moto strong in sixth, with Marchbanks following in eighth.

In Moto 2, Kitchen, Hammaker, and Marchbanks launched inside the Top 10 in fourth, sixth, and eighth, respectively, with Adams and Masterpool were just outside the lead pack. The Pro Circuit squad quickly went to work. Kitchen moved into podium position early, Hammaker settled into the Top 5, and Marchbanks charged to sixth by Lap 2 before yet another red flag forced a restart. On the restart, Kitchen slotted into fourth, Hammaker fifth, Marchbanks seventh, Adams ninth, and Masterpool 14th. Kitchen regained third as the lead pack stretched their advantage. Marchbanks, with his best start of the season, strategically advanced and slipped past Hammaker for fifth. Adams climbed to eighth before an off-track moment set him back, while Masterpool built momentum and pushed into the Top 10. With just a few laps remaining, Masterpool surged to the checkered flag in sixth. Kitchen closed on second but was unable to make a move, securing a strong third in the moto and the overall. Marchbanks made a late move on a competitor to finish fourth, Hammaker held on for seventh, and Adams rounded out the Top 10.

In the 450 Class, Prado qualified 43^rd after multiple bike changes in both qualifying sessions but was seeded into the 41st gate pick as the No. 70 sits in the Top 10 of the championship points standings. At the start of Moto 1, Prado rocketed out from the far outside gate and was pushed wide but crossed the green flag in ninth. He quickly made key passes on the opening lap to move into fifth and climbed to fourth by the second lap. Prado battled to stay in the Top 5, but a few mistakes saw him fall back to sixth. Maintaining consistency around the halfway point, he slipped to seventh and ultimately finished 11th after fighting to stay in the Top 10.

In Moto 2, Prado once again showed his strong starting ability, launching into third off the gate. He was quickly pushed back to fifth but stayed competitive with the lead group. By the halfway mark, he had slipped to ninth and, despite consistent efforts, minor mistakes pushed him outside the Top 10, resulting in a 12th-place finish in the moto, but secured 10^th overall on the day and sixth in the Pro Motocross championship.

---

“It was a much better day for me. Practice went well, and in the first moto, I worked my way up to fourth. I wish I had a better start, but overall it was solid. The two red flags were a little weird, but I’m happy to finish the day on the podium. It definitely gives me a bit of a confidence boost heading into SMX, and I’m looking forward to finishing the season strong as we move into the Playoffs.”

• Levi Kitchen

“It was a solid day at Budds Creek today. I ended up with a career-best third overall in the points, which was awesome. Starting off the day, I was able to qualify P3, which was sick and a lot more consistent than I’ve been this outdoor season. In Moto 1, I had two terrible starts, even after the red flag restart, my launch control button popped off the clutch block right as I let it go, so I had to fight through the pack and ended up eighth. In Moto 2, I finally nailed a great start for the first time all season. I was running inside the Top 10, making some good moves, then another red flag came out and I got pushed back a couple of spots. That kind of sucked after doing all that work, but I just had to make the passes again. I had a hard-fought battle with Nate [Thrasher] for most of the moto, got around him, and tried to charge after Levi, but he was too far gone. I finished fourth on the day and third overall in the championship. I wish I could’ve grabbed the podium with Levi, but overall it was a solid day. To get my career best in points, I’m pretty happy with that.”

• Garrett Marchbanks

“Overall, it was a really good day, even if the results didn’t totally show it. I was charging all the way to the end in both motos and even made passes on the last lap. I went 6-6 for sixth overall. The biggest struggle was my starts; they were terrible, and on a track like this, if you don’t get a good start, it’s tough to run up front. Both motos I had to come from way back, but I kept pushing, and there’s a lot of good to take from it. My fitness is night-and-day better, and I’m really excited about where I’m at. It’s a bummer this is the last round of the season, but I’m looking forward to what’s next.”

• Ty Masterpool

“It was a fun season of outdoors. I had some ups and downs, but overall a good day. Qualified P2, and Seth just got me on the very last lap, so that was exciting. In Moto 1, I finished P5, not my best, but still solid, and in Moto 2 I finished P10. The highlight of the day was earning Rookie of the Year. That was my goal from the start of the season, so I’m really pumped to have achieved it. Now it’s time to take the next step into SMX.”

• Drew Adams

“It was a pretty good day here at Budds Creek for the last national of the year. I qualified P1, which was cool to grab another one of those, and it was awesome for the team to finish 1-2-3 in qualifying. In Moto 1, I got a second-place start, but we barely got a lap in before the red flag. On the restart, the gate was tilled a little differently, so I didn’t get as good of a jump. I was riding really well until about three laps to go when my chain came off. That was a bummer, but stuff happens, and you move forward. For Moto 2, I had an outside gate pick, but ripped a really good start and came around fourth or fifth, which felt great. After a few sprint laps, another red flag came out, and thankfully, it was a staggered restart because I wasn’t sure I could pull another start from that far outside. Honestly, after the restart, I felt a little flat and didn’t ride my best, finishing seventh. Not terrible, but not where I wanted to be. Overall, I’m glad to make it out healthy through the whole outdoor season. I had some minor setbacks here and there, but that’s part of racing. Now I’m focused on SMX and ready to go after wins there.”

• Seth Hammaker

“The Pro Motocross season has come to an end, and while it wasn’t the year I expected, I’m still thankful for the experience. Coming into the season, my goal was to battle for the championship, win races, and earn podiums, and even though things didn’t go as planned, I learned a lot along the way. It was a challenging season, but challenges make you stronger. Now I’m focused on taking those lessons, figuring things out with the team, and coming back ready to fight at the front again.”

• Jorge Prado

1-2 in the Final Standings for Honda HRC Progressive

AMA Pro Motocross wrapped up this weekend at Budds Creek MX in Mechanicsville, Maryland, with Honda HRC Progressive celebrating a dominant season finish. Having already clinched the premier-class title last weekend, Jett Lawrence closed out the series with another overall win thanks to a 1-2 moto tally, while brother and teammate Hunter Lawrence went 3-1 to lock up second overall on the day. Hunter also finalized second place in the 450 points chase, giving Honda a 1-2 series sweep in the 450 division—the first time a manufacturer has taken the top two premier-class spots since 2014. In the red-flag-affected 250 division, Jo Shimoda kept his strong form going with consistent podium results, ending the day second overall and the season second in the championship.

Jett delivered a wire-to-wire moto 1 performance, taking the holeshot aboard his CRF450RWE and leading every lap for a commanding victory. Hunter faced a tougher start from 13th out of turn 1, but he steadily charged forward, making 10 passes over the course of the moto to secure third. He rebounded with the moto 2 holeshot, just ahead of Jett. Hunter set a strong pace, pulling a 13-second gap over his younger brother by the finish.

Shimoda started the first 250 race in third place and was battling at the front when an early red flag flew. He was eighth on the full restart and surged forward to second place before the midway point, then held the spot to the finish. He was later penalized one position for passing on a red-cross flag and five championship points for jumping on the red cross. The Japanese rider was fifth out of turn 1 in moto 2 and quickly advanced to third, then made the pass for second before another red flag came out on lap 4—deep enough into the race that the restart was staggered this time. Shimoda maintained second from that point to the finish, wrapping up the day with 3-2 scores.

NOTES

• Jett Lawrence, Hunter Lawrence and Jo Shimoda all participated in Budds Creek’s media day on Friday, taking part in interviews and riding sessions ahead of the weekend’s racing.
• EZ Performance Center, a Honda dealership from Orange, Virginia, was on hand at Budds Creek, manning a booth in the Honda HRC Progressive pit area and displaying a CRF110F trail bike, along with TRX250X and TRX90X sport ATVs.
• As they’ve done at several rounds this season, Jamie and Kayla Irvine, along with Jay Winter, were on hand at Budds Creek to cook for the Honda HRC Progressive crew. The longtime friends of the team, who own several popular restaurants in Pennsylvania, have been a welcome part of the squad’s program throughout the season.
• In combined qualifying for the 450 class, Jett topped the charts by over a second, with Hunter third. Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis was sixth, Valley Motorsports’ Jeremy Hand was 11th, Quad Lock Honda’s Shane McElrath was 13th, Honda Canada GDR Fox Racing’s Dylan Wright was 17th, Justin Rodbell (Rodbell Racing) qualified 23rd, Brandon Ray (Raylentless Racing) was 24th and John Short (The McGinley Clinic Privateer Support Program) was 27th.
• In 250 combined qualifying, Shimoda was fifth overall, while Quad Lock Honda’s Brodie Connolly was 19th, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cullin Park was 22nd and TiLube Honda Racing’s Izaih Clark was 25th.
• The WMX series wrapped up at Budds Creek with three motos of racing—two on Friday and one on Saturday. Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon secured second overall with 1-2-4 finishes, while SLR Honda’s Mikayla Nielsen rounded out the podium after consistent 4-4-2 results, and Jaylie Gallacher (MotoSport Hillsboro) was 13th overall with 13-12-13 scores. Other Red Riders included Kaitlyn Jacobs in 15th (15-15-16), Sydney Plath in 19th (19-19-19), Kayla Alexander in 20th (20-20-20) and Addi Clouse in 21st (21-21-21).
• With Jett and Hunter splitting holeshots at Budds Creek, the brothers ended the series tied with seven each—giving Honda HRC Progressive an impressive total of 14 holeshots out of 22 (an impressive 64 percent!).
• Jett’s flawless first moto at Budds Creek represented his ninth wire-to-wire win in 22 tries this season.
• Adding to Honda’s strong day at Budds Creek, Jett Lawrence clocked the fastest lap in the first 450 moto.
• With Jett’s success this weekend, Honda moves into a tie with Kawasaki for most premier-class overall wins at Budds Creek, at eight. Red Riders to have accomplished the feat include Jeremy McGrath (twice), Kevin Windham, Ricky Carmichael (twice), Chad Reed and Jett Lawrence (twice).
• Jett ended the series with nine out of 11 overall premier-class wins, boosting his career total to 24.
• Jett’s latest championship is his ninth crown in AMA professional racing, and it makes him the 14th rider to earn two or more premier-class AMA Pro Motocross crowns.
• Honda capped off the season in dominant fashion, earning the lion’s share of the year-end honors. During an extended podium ceremony at day’s end, American Honda Manager of Racing & Advertising Brandon Wilson accepted the Manufacturer of the Year Award, and he was joined by Honda HRC Progressive Team Manager Lars Lindstrom for the Team of the Year Award. Lindstrom was also recognized as Team Manager of the Year, while Tom Poage (driver of Honda’s hospitality truck) was named Truck Driver of the Year. On the technical side, Christien Ducharme was honored as Mechanic of the Year, with Jett Lawrence himself presenting the award to his tuner. On track, Jett earned the 450 crown at the previous round, and Budds Creek saw Hunter wrap up second in the series standings, giving Honda a commanding 1-2 final result in the premier class. Jo Shimoda claimed second in the 250 class.
• While it was impressive that Jett and Hunter locked in first and second in the AMA Pro Motocross premier-class final standings, it was not the first time that Honda has accomplished the feat. Ricky Johnson and David Bailey did it in 1986, Jean-Michel Bayle and Jeff Stanton did it in 1991, and Ricky Carmichael and Kevin Windham did it in 2003. That said, this was the first time in history that a pair of siblings have gone 1-2 in the final premier-class rankings.
• Hunter finished the season as the only rider to finish every moto in the top five. He has finished second in points in both of his seasons in the AMA Pro Motocross 450 class.
• With AMA Pro Motocross complete, the riders and teams now take a weekend off before shifting to the SuperMotocross Playoffs. The three-round postseason will kick off September 6 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina.

Jett Lawrence
“Once I got the holeshot in moto 1, I just wanted to enjoy it. That was my main goal this weekend, and once we had that, I could just take it race by race and have some fun. You don’t always get many of those moments, so it was cool just to go out and ride. Hunter rode really well in the second moto too, which made it fun to be out there together.”

Hunter Lawrence
“It was a good day. I felt like I was riding really well, and I really enjoyed Budds Creek—it’s a great racetrack. In the first moto, I didn’t get the result I was after, but I was happy with my riding. In the second moto, I got a better start and gave myself a better chance. I picked a different gate on a drier part of the track, and that positioned me better. I felt like I executed both my starts well, but that adjustment made a difference. Overall, I’m happy with the second moto, and it was a good way to end it.”

Jo Shimoda
“I’m really proud of the team. I think this was maybe the best I’ve ever felt on the bike, especially consistency-wise. Obviously, I wanted to end the season with a win, but going into next year, I think we have a great base to build from. With SMX still ahead, there’s a lot of motivation, and I’m happy with the progress we’ve made.”

Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager
“This year has really had an incredible amount of ups and downs. During Supercross, I felt that our luck couldn’t have gotten much worse, with Jo’s pit-board incident and both brothers getting injured. To look back now, after having an incredible motocross season, it almost seems a bit surreal. The end of this series felt a lot like 2023, when it seemed that we couldn’t do anything wrong; I’m really looking forward to the SMX series, because I know how happy our riders are with their bikes and the team. Being able to go 1-2 in the premier class, with brothers doing it for the first time ever, is a great achievement that I’m really proud to be a part of. I want to say thank you to all our great sponsors and everyone back at the headquarters in Torrance. To the development team in Kumamoto, Japan, and to our team at HRC in Tokyo, I would like to say ありがとうございます, お疲れ様でした !”

Media contact:
Tati Ziemer // Jonnum Media // tati@jonnummedia.com // +1 (707) 888-9418
 
450 Overall Results

1. Jett Lawrence (Hon)
2. Hunter Lawrence (Hon)
3. Justin Cooper (Yam)
4. R.J. Hampshire (Hus)
5. Justin Barcia (Gas)
6. Malcolm Stewart (Hus)
7. Dylan Ferrandis (Hon)
8. Eli Tomac (Yam)
9. Valentin Guillod (Yam)
10. Jorge Prado (Kaw)

—
13. Kyle Webster (Hon)
15. Shane Mcelrath (Hon)
17. John Short (Hon)
20. Jeremy Hand (Hon)
23. Justin Rodbell (Hon)
33. Brandon Ray (Hon)
35. Zach Williams (Hon)

450 Championship Points (after 11 of 11 rounds)

1. Jett Lawrence (509)
2. Hunter Lawrence (454)
3. Eli Tomac (395)
4. Justin Cooper (389)
5. R.J. Hampshire (366)
6. Jorge Prado (262)
7. Malcolm Stewart (240)
8. Aaron Plessinger (204)
9. Valentin Guillod (201)
10. Justin Barcia (196)

—

250 Overall Results

1. Haiden Deegan (Yam)
2. Jo Shimoda (Hon)
3. Levi Kitchen (Kaw)
4. Garrett Marchbanks Kaw)
5. Nate Thrasher (Yam)
6. Ty Masterpool (Kaw)
7. Cole Davies (Yam)
8. Drew Adams (Kaw)
9. Ryder Difrancesco (Gas)
10. Dilan Schwartz (Yam)

—
18. Cullin Park (Hon)
28. Izaih Clark (Hon)
35. Patrick Murphy (Hon)
40. Ashton Bloxom (Hon)
41. Brodie Connolly (Hon)

250 Championship Points (after 11 of 11 rounds)

1. Haiden Deegan (502)
2. Jo Shimoda (454)
3. Garrett Marchbanks (352)
4. Levi Kitchen (327)
5. Tom Vialle (288)
6. Mikkel Haarup (239)
7. Seth Hammaker (231)
8. Maximus Vohland (230)
9. Jordon Smith (211)
10. Ryder Difrancesco (191)

SUZUKI TEAM WRAPS UP AMA PRO MOTOCROSS SEASON

The 2025 AMA Pro Motocross Championship completed its 11th and final round under great racing conditions at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland. The legendary track’s elevation changes, challenging ruts, and excellent soil conditions capped off an outstanding summer of motocross racing.

Race Highlights:         

• Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
  • 450 Class
    • Benoit Paturel turned his MXGP experience into a top-fifteen overall result in his rookie year racing in the United States. 

Benoit Paturel (102) started the race day strong, grabbing a top-ten qualifying result in the opening qualifying session. It was his career-best Q1 result and matched his best Q2 and overall qualifying performances. When the gate dropped for moto one, Paturel emerged from the first corner outside of the points-paying positions. Paturel relied on his track speed, including a top-ten section time in the track’s Sector 7, to charge quickly into the points. He clawed his way up to 11th spot, but problems late in the race prevented a charge into the top-ten. In the second moto Paturel and his Suzuki RM-Z450 emerged from the first turn inside the top-fifteen. After a turbulent opening lap, Paturel started picking off riders as he again moved through the pack; this time he posted a top-ten fastest pass through Sector 6 of the track. Unfortunately, Paturel’s climb through the field ended with a race-ending crash on the Budds Creek track. 

“My day started well, with great speed in practice and qualifying. In the first moto I got a really bad start. Then I had some small issues and didn’t feel great,” said Paturel. “The second moto was good until it was not. I was fighting for a top 10 spot and my speed was feeling great. I changed my line to pass another rider and I got a bad kick [going down a hill]. I hit my head pretty hard. It’s a bummer because I really wanted to finish the moto in the top 10. Overall, it was a great year. We learned a lot, had some ups and downs, but it was amazing experience. A top 15 in the championship is not bad for a first year with a few DNFs. I wanted more but I’ll take it and hope to improve next year. Thank you to the team; every member worked really hard all season.”

“It wasn’t the day we wanted. In fact, in terms of the team results, it was one of the roughest days we’ve ever had,” stated Larry Brooks, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager. “We only came with one rider, Benoit Paturel, and he did not do well. [He never got into a strong position in the first moto.] In the second moto he was in about 12th place and then crashed and didn’t finish. Yeah, it was a horrible race day, but this motocross series is over and now we move on to the SuperMotocross Playoffs. Ken Roczen will be back, that’s a positive so we will just wait the next couple of weeks and then come back ready to dominate.”

Suzuki Motor USA, Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki, and Twisted Tea Suzuki will complete final preparations over the next two weeks and come out swinging at the 3-Round post-season events. The team members are excited to post strong results in post-season racing and end the 31-Round SMX World Championship with another 2025 victory.

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

BUDDS CREEK TOP-FIVE A STRONG END TO JUSTIN BARCIA’S 450MX SEASON

RYDER DIFRANCESCO EARNS HARD-FOUGHT P9 IN FINAL ROUND OF 250MX

• BAMBAM takes 8-5 scores for fifth overall in 450MX Class
• Ninth overall a solid finish for Ryder D in 250MX
• SMX Finals series next up through September!

Barcia recorded the seventh-fastest time onboard his GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition in qualifying at the flowing Budds Creek layout, before charging to an eighth-place finish during Moto 1. Fifth position in Moto 2 saw BAMBAM score P5 overall, which drew a successful end to his Pro Motocross series after returning from injury at the fifth round in Southwick.

Two fifth-place overall results marked the season-high finishes for the number 51, as he enters the SMX post-season ranked ninth overall.
 
Justin Barcia: “I qualified P7 this morning at Budds Creek, which was pretty good, and that was a solid way to start the day. First moto, I struggled a little bit in finding a flow – I ended up eighth, which I wasn’t too thrilled about. The second race, I got off to a good start and felt comfortable straight away, so that was a cool feeling to be up front and running the pace, knowing I still have what it takes. A top-five finish is a solid way to end the season, and now we’ll come out swinging for SMX.”

DiFrancesco on his GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition qualified eighth fastest, before racing to a 10-8 scorecard for ninth overall, and securing 10th in the 250MX point-standings after a solid season of competition. The 20-year-old showed significant progress throughout the 11-round series, and will enter SMX with a wave of momentum on his side.

Ryder DiFrancesco: “Budds Creek was good! I qualified well after feeling comfortable from the get-go, and then Moto 1, I shuffled around the eighth to 10th range, which I felt was good. My starts weren’t the greatest today, but I found my way inside the top 10 in both races, and overall, I’m happy to finish up outdoors with this result.”

Results 450MX Class – Budds Creek National

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
4. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
5. Justin Barcia (Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing)
6. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)

Standings 450MX Class 2025 after 11 of 11 rounds

1. Jett Lawrence, 509 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 454
3. Eli Tomac, 395
4. RJ Hampshire, 366
5. Malcolm Stewart, 240
6. Aaron Plessinger, 204
7. Justin Barcia, 196
8. Chase Sexton, 147

Results 250MX Class – Budds Creek National

1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
2. Jo Shimoda (Honda)
3. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)
4. Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing)
5. Tom Vialle (KTM)
6. Julien Beaumer (KTM)
7. Landon Gibson (Husqvarna)

Standings 250MX Class 2025 after 11 of 11 rounds

1. Haiden Deegan, 505 points
2. Jo Shimoda, 456
3. Garrett Marchbanks, 352
4. Tom Vialle, 293
5. Ryder DiFrancesco, 191
6. Julien Beaumer, 166
7. Casey Cochran, 88

P4 for RJ Hampshire at Budds Creek completes successful first 450MX season

P4 for RJ Hampshire at Budds Creek completes successful first 450MX season

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Malcolm Stewart claims sixth overall

Piloting the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, Hampshire charged to the fifth-fastest combined time during the morning’s 450MX qualifying sessions, maintaining his front-running pace that has been on display throughout his 2025 outdoor campaign.

Across the two-moto format, the 29-year-old posted a 4-3 scorecard, which earned him fourth overall for the weekend, and sealed P5 in the series standings after 11 events across the United States.

In what was a convincing first season in the 450MX division, Hampshire claimed six top-five finishes with his form increasing throughout the latter stages of the series. A P2 result at the Ironman National was his highlight amid spectacular consistency all season long.

“I feel like I rode the best I have all season at Budds Creek across both the motos,”commented Hampshire.”I got a good start in Moto 1, but just couldn’t make a pass on the rider in front of me for the whole 30 minutes, which was frustrating. Then in race two, I made a good push there at the end after another strong start, and both my bike and body are getting a lot more comfortable toward the end of these motos now. Overall, I’m happy with the day and my whole rookie 450MX season in general – that’s the best outdoors series I have had by far. Thank you to the team, we’ll take this form into SMX!”

450MX teammate Stewart and his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition powered to sixth at Budds Creek via 7-6 moto finishes, and earned seventh in the final 450MX standings with two P6 finishes as his season-high results.

Additionally, Stewart’s result on Saturday elevates him to third position in the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) points tally, entering with 20 markers once the post-season begins with SMX Playoff 1 in Concord, North Carolina, on September 6.

“It’s nice to get P6 overall to end the day here at Budds Creek!”reflected Stewart.”I’m stoked to climb up into third overall in points for SuperMotocross, too – that is really awesome. Overall, I felt really good today, Budds Creek always treats me well, and now we’ll take this weekend off and get ready for the final three races of 2025 and give it everything we’ve got.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Amateur Factory Elite prospect Landon Gibson was also on track with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, racing to a promising 23-14 scorecard and posting 20th overall. Lining up alongside the professionals was an invaluable experience for the 16-year-old, who will now revert his focus to SMX Next for the finals series.

“It was definitely a learning experience for me today,”commented Gibson.“Moto 1 was a big struggle, before I regrouped for race two and launched to a good start. I fought hard the whole moto, so all-in-all, it was a good way to see what the speed of the pro class is like, and it was awesome to do it alongside my team.”

Results 450MX Class – Budds Creek National1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)4. RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)5. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)6. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 450MX Class 2025 after 11 of 11 rounds1. Jett Lawrence, 509 points2. Hunter Lawrence, 4543. Eli Tomac, 3955. RJ Hampshire, 3667. Malcolm Stewart, 2408. Aaron Plessinger, 20410. Justin Barcia, 19614. Chase Sexton, 147

Results 250MX Class – Budds Creek National1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)2. Jo Shimoda (Honda)3. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)9. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS)17. Tom Vialle (KTM)19. Julien Beaumer (KTM)20. Landon Gibson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 250MX Class 2025 after 11 of 11 rounds1. Haiden Deegan, 505 points2. Jo Shimoda, 4563. Garrett Marchbanks, 3525. Tom Vialle, 293

CHALLENGING END TO PRO MOTOCROSS FOR RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING AT BUDDS CREEK

Round 11 – AMA Pro Motocross Championship

Two-time MX2 World Champion and reigning 250SX East title-holder Vialle set the 13th-fastest qualifying time onboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in what was a highly competitive session, before powering to the holeshot in Moto 1.

While Vialle was holding firm with the 250MX front-runners, a red flag saw riders line up behind the gates once more. Following another holeshot, the Frenchman enjoyed a clear track out front before an untimely front-end washout would see him finish in 11th. He would later decide to withdraw from Moto 2 altogether.

Following 11 rounds outdoors, Vialle completed the Pro Motocross Championship in fifth position, with five podium finishes to his credit in 2025.

For 250MX teammate Beaumer, he and his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION would qualify strongly in P4 during the morning’s sessions. The 19-year-old then raced forward to 12th in Moto 1, before an early second-race fall ended his day prematurely at the Mechanicsville venue.

Beaumer posted a total of three top-five results overall throughout the Pro Motocross season, overcoming mid-season difficulties as he began returning to front-running form, and eventually finishing 15th in the standings.

Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager”The morning qualifying started pretty well for us at Budds Creek. It was nice to see Julien maintain the pace he had at Unadilla, while Tom seemed to find a groove as the laptimes of the top 10 were super-close. Tom pulled two fantastic starts to Moto 1 after the first race was red-flagged, and was running out front before he made a mistake and fell down. From there, as the moto went on, he seemed to lose pace, while Julien was the opposite as he gained speed towards the end. After the race, Julien requested a couple of bike changes, while Tom decided he would sit out race two after lacking confidence in his setup, so he called it a day. In the second race, Julien ended up having a big wreck right in front of the mechanics’ area, and unfortunately was concussed. All-in-all, it wasn’t a great day for us, although at least everyone is in one piece and I am grateful for that.”

With the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) post-season commencing with Playoff 1 at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, on September 6, 450SMX duo Chase Sexton and Aaron Plessinger enter as the sixth and eighth seeds, respectively, while the 250SMX contingent of Vialle and Beaumer hold positions four and seven.

Standings 450MX Class 2025 after 11 of 11 rounds

1. Jett Lawrence, 509 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 454
3. Eli Tomac, 395
4. RJ Hampshire, 366
5. Malcolm Stewart, 240
6. Aaron Plessinger, 204
7. Justin Barcia, 196
8. Chase Sexton, 147

Results 250MX Class – Budds Creek National

1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
2. Jo Shimoda (Honda)
3. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)
4. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS)
5. Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
6. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
7. Landon Gibson (Husqvarna)

Standings 250MX Class 2025 after 11 of 11 rounds

1. Haiden Deegan, 505 points
2. Jo Shimoda, 456
3. Garrett Marchbanks, 352
4. Tom Vialle, 293
5. Ryder DiFrancesco, 191
6. Julien Beaumer, 166
7. Casey Cochran, 88