This Week in Powersports Racing – The week of November 2, 2025

This week in United States Powersports racing.

---

Gaige Herrera Wins in Las Vegas to Set Up Dramatic Championship Finale At Pomona

Gaige Herrera kept his hopes of winning a third straight Pro Stock Motorcycle championship alive by racing his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa to his seventh victory of the season at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV, on Sunday.

Race Highlights: 

• Gaige Herrera qualified first, won his seventh race of the season and closed to within 21 points of the championship lead with one race remaining in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship
• Richard Gadson qualified fourth, advanced to the semi-final round and maintained a narrow points advantage heading into the season finale in Pomona

Gaige Herrera powered his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa to victory in Las Vegas, earning his seventh win of the season and closing the championship gap to just 21 points.

Unlike in his past two championship-winning campaigns, Herrera arrived at the penultimate race of the season in the unusual position of chasing a third Pro Stock Motorcycle title from behind. The rabbit he’s chasing is his own RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki teammate, Richard Gadson, who built a commanding points lead by winning two of first four races in the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Facing a 72-point deficit to Gadson and needing a strong performance to maintain any hope of a three-peat, Herrera qualified first for the eighth time this season and 31st time in his career with a 6.800-second/199.17 mph run in Friday afternoon’s qualifying session.

Herrera opened Sunday eliminations with a 6.809-second/199.29 mph victory in round one over Karen Stoffer (7.043 seconds/188.12 mph), then defeated newcomer Clayton Howey (6.913 seconds/195.87 mph) with a 6.820-second/198.64 mph run in round two.

In a matchup with huge championship implications, Herrera faced off against Gadson in a semi-final round battle that played out dramatically after the points leader left the starting line with a perfect .000-second reaction time. But Herrera countered with his own razor-sharp skills on the tree, cutting a near-equal .005-second light and outgunning Gadson’s 6.857-second/197.48 mph run with a 6.825-second/198.26 mph pass to advance to his eighth final round appearance of the season.

Herrera claimed his 28th career victory and seventh this season with a 6.809-second/198.17 mph win over Angie Smith (6.813 seconds/199.37 mph) in the final round that narrowed his deficit to Gadson to 21 points ahead of the season’s final race in Pomona, California, in two weeks.

With 30 points per elimination round available in the points-and-a-half format of the finale, the 2025 championship is set to come down to a winner-takes-all shootout between the Vance & Hines teammates.

“He got me on the light there, but luckily I had a better bike in that round, and it saved my butt. If I didn’t have a little bit faster bike, he would have had me,” Herrera said. “I love having Richard on the team because we push each other so hard every round. We’ve made each other betters riders. This season has set me back to reality after two great seasons where I kind of ran away with it. It’s been going back and forth all year long, and I feel like the toughest competition out here is under my tent,” Herrera said. “There’s nothing better than going into the last race of the season with a winner-takes-all scenario. I would honestly love for both of us to get to the final round and whoever wins takes it home. It’s going to be fun.”

Championship leader Richard Gadson advanced to the semi-final round aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa to maintain a narrow points advantage heading into the Pomona finale.

Defending world champion Gaige Herrera qualified second a tick behind his teammate with a 6.752-second/200.71 mph run in the Friday evening qualifying session.

Richard Gadson qualified fourth with a 6.834-second/198.06 mph run on Saturday that put him on the same side of the elimination bracket as Herrera, a development that would take on greater significance for both of their championship hopes later in the weekend.

In the first round of eliminations, Gadson defeated Chris Bostick (foul) with a 6.842-second/198.67 mph pass, then ran 6.876 seconds at 196.99 mph in round two against John Hall (6.895 seconds/197.13 mph).

Given the dominant performance of the squad’s two Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusas, an eventual clash with Herrera in Vegas was inevitable, but the semi-final round matchup between the Vance & Hines teammates came a round earlier than Gadson would have hoped. Despite posting a perfect .000-second reaction time, Gadson was left watching from the rear as Herrera’s Hayabusa crossed the finish line first and his championship lead shrank by 51 points.

“I knew at some point during this Countdown that I’d run into Gaige, and it would be mano-a-mano. It happened today and it’s likely going to happen again in Pomona. There’s no way around it. To be the champion, you need to beat the champion. That cliché is true. We both want to win it and we’re both willing to lay it all on the line,” Gadson said. “I’m racing for an NHRA championship against someone who is regarded as the best in the world and I’m in the fight. I’m a fighter to my core and I’m going to fight with every ounce in me to win it. This is how championship drag racing is supposed to be. We’re going to let it all hang out in Pomona and see what happens. You couldn’t write a better story.”

RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki crew chief Andrew Hines acknowledged that even he was caught up in the excitement of the showdown between the team’s riders and its championship implications.

“My heart was pounding when I left the trailer before that round because it was a make-or-break session for how the rest of this season would play out. Either Richard would have a commanding lead, or it would be going down to the wire in Pomona. Those guys were fired up to go do whatever they could do to makes themselves a winner. A triple-zero and a double-oh five, it doesn’t get much better than that,” Hines said. “Richard is still the leader, but Gaige’s gap is less than one round, so it may come down to the final round on Sunday. We’ll give each rider our best tuning effort and whatever happens, happens. The best package will win.”

With one race remaining in the Countdown to the Championship, Gadson and Herrera sit first and second in the standings, with 2,584 and 2,563 points, respectively.

The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki team will close out the 2025 season November 13-16 at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, CA.

Please visit suzukicycles.com/racing/drag-racing/revzilla-motul-vance-and-hines-suzuki for more updates and be sure to support our riders as they embark on this exciting journey.

Monster Energy Kawasaki Announces 2026 SMX World Championship Roster

Monster Energy® Kawasaki and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki are ready to take on another thrilling year of SuperMotocross in 2026. The Kawasaki racing teams will go head-to-head with the world’s best supercross and motocross teams as they battle for the 250 and 450 Class titles in the 2026 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross Championship, the Pro Motocross Championship, and the SMX World Championship™.

Monster Energy Kawasaki is excited to announce a brand-new lineup, featuring 2023 Monster Energy Supercross and 2024 Pro Motocross Champion Chase Sexton aboard the KX™450SR. Making the exciting step up and joining Sexton in the 450 Class will be former Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Garrett Marchbanks.

In the 250 Class, Drew Adams, Seth Hammaker, Levi Kitchen, and Cameron McAdoo will return to make up the powerful four-rider team of Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki aboard the KX™250.

Sexton joins the team with a winning resume and renewed energy for the season ahead. The two-time champion’s impressive track record includes 30 combined 450 Class victories across supercross and motocross, including eight wins in the 2025 season. The No. 4 is set to make an immediate impact as he begins his next chapter with Monster Energy Kawasaki.

Garrett Marchbanks enters the 450 Class with fresh energy and determination. Marchbanks will rely on his previous experience in the Pro Motocross series in the 450 class, where he consistently scored Top-10 finishes. The No. 36 comes off a standout season, earning a career-best third overall in the 250 Pro Motocross Championship. His step up in the ranks marks a significant milestone in his career. Once an amateur Kawasaki Team Green™ rider who graduated to the pro ranks in 2019 with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki, Marchbanks now comes full circle as he prepares to join the 450 Class full-time with Monster Energy Kawasaki.

“Joining Monster Energy Kawasaki is an amazing opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to this new chapter in my career,” said Chase Sexton. “The team has already made me feel very supported with anything I need, and they’re here to give me all the tools I need to win. I believe this is the next step I need to compete for championships, and I am motivated for the 2026 season.”

“I’m super pumped to be moving up to the 450 Class full-time with Monster Energy Kawasaki,” said Garrett Marchbanks. “This is an incredible opportunity, and I’m honored that they see the potential in me to move up. I’m looking forward to the new challenge and showing everyone what I am capable of. I’ve been wanting to show my skills on a 450, and I can’t picture a better team to do it with. Kawasaki has always been family for me since mini bikes, and I’m glad I get to continue my career with such an amazing crew.”

“We have great confidence in our 2026 team roster, and we are excited to see how Chase and Garrett perform aboard the KX™450SR,” said Dan Fahie, Kawasaki Racing Senior Manager. “Both Chase and Garrett are very dedicated and determined riders, making them a strong duo entering the 2026 SMX World Championship.”

Backed by an impressive 33-year legacy of professional racing excellence, the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team is set to compete in the 2026 SMX World Championship™ with a familiar lineup. With an unrivaled record of 306 combined SuperMotocross wins and 31 championships, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki is ready to build on its winning legacy, fielding riders Adams, Hammaker, Kitchen, and McAdoo.

Adams’ pro debut began earlier than expected this year at Round 3 of Monster Energy Supercross, where he delivered a strong Top-10 performance. He went on to achieve his career-best finish with fifth overall at Ironman Raceway and earned the Rookie of the Year award. Adams’ resilience and determination mark him as a young talent to watch as he progresses in the 250 Class.

Following a breakout season in the 2025 Monster Energy Supercross Championship, Hammaker is back for 2026 and ready to pick up where he left off. After claiming two wins and finishing second in the standings, Hammaker is determined to claim the supercross title this upcoming year.

Coming off a strong Pro Motocross season, Kitchen enters his third year with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki. Ready to show the speed he unlocked over the summer, Kitchen is determined to make his mark heading into the 2026 season and prove he is a championship contender.

While fighting an ACL injury, McAdoo earned his 23rd Monster Energy Supercross podium in 2025. At Round 8 in Daytona, McAdoo and the team decided it would be in the best interest to forgo the rest of the season for him to get surgery. The Iowa native continues to show his grit and determination every time he swings his leg over a bike, and the upcoming season will be no different as he embarks on a successful year.

“For 2026, we have all familiar faces returning to the team, and we look to build on their success from this past season,” said Mitch Payton, Team Owner Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki. “Seth’s breakout season in supercross marked a significant step forward, and we’ll look for him to carry that momentum into next year. Levi is very hungry for his first championship, and we know he is capable of it. We look forward to having Cameron back healthy and fighting for wins again. After finishing his rookie season, Drew is eager to continue improving and battling with the top guys. This upcoming year feels very promising for the team, and we’re eager to show the capabilities of the KX™250.”

KTM LAUNCHES HIGH-PROFILE 2026 SMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING ROSTER

A reenergized Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team has formally been launched at RD Field – the official testing grounds of KTM North America, Inc. – today, where returning riders Aaron Plessinger and Julien Beaumer were introduced alongside newcomers Eli Tomac and Jorge Prado, who will collectively form the lineup for the 2026 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) season.

Plessinger (#7), Tomac (#3) and Prado (#26) will each be equipped with the latest generation KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION – also officially presented to media this morning – in the 450 Class across AMA Supercross, Pro Motocross and the SMX post-season, while Beaumer (#13) has the new KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION at his disposal in the 250 division.

Previously confirmed in May, fan favorite Plessinger, 29, is remaining with Red Bull KTM through 2026, entering a fifth-straight term together and it’s one that the Ohio native is eager to make count. After achieving five podiums in 450SX this season, including a second-career Main Event victory in Foxborough, ‘The Cowboy’ continues to excel on SMX’s biggest stage.

Joining Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for 2026 will be legendary 32-year-old Tomac, who arrives as one of the most decorated athletes in the sport’s history with four 450MX championships and two 450SX crowns to his name. Based out of Cortez, Colorado, he ranks second on the all-time Supercross premier class career wins list (53) and fourth outdoors (32), firmly establishing himself among the greats of SMX. He stood on top of the 450SX podium in San Diego this year prior to having his indoor campaign cut short, before recovering to finish third overall in both 450MX and 450SMX to complete the 2025 season. Notably, Tomac was also a graduate of the KTM Junior Supercross program at Phoenix in 2001.

Making a welcome homecoming to KTM in 2026 is four-time FIM Motocross World Champion Prado, the internationally credentialed Spaniard that previously made his mark with the group by winning a pair of championships in both MXGP (2023-2024) and MX2 (2018-2019). After first debuting in Supercross during 2024 with four 450SX appearances and claiming a career-high of P7, the 24-year-old enters the new year motivated to further define his career in the U.S. with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

Headlining the team’s 250 Class program as the sole representative next season is Beaumer, the teenager preparing for his third year with Red Bull KTM. At 19, Arizona prospect ‘JuJu’ claimed the AMA 250SX Rookie of the Year honors in 2024 and recorded a breakout first Supercross victory in San Diego on his way to second in the 250SX West standings this year but was injured during the SMX post-season. He remains fully focused on his ongoing recovery and will return to competition upon regaining 100 percent fitness.

Ian Harrison, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “It’s that time of year again when we start preparing for the upcoming season with new riders and bikes. We are really excited to continue working with Aaron and Julien for another season, while we also welcome both Eli and Jorge into the team for 2026. This year started strongly for Aaron, and after spending an extended period on the sidelines, he is focused on getting back to where he was. We are all looking forward to having ‘The Cowboy’ back at the races with the team – he is chomping at the bit to get going. In addition, it is always interesting to bring in a rider such as Eli, who we have raced against over the last decade and we’ve always looked for ways to beat him, but now we are focusing on how we can support him to win. I am confident that our team and all of the riders will benefit from his experience and maturity. Jorge, on the other hand, had been in the KTM family for a long time with a lot of success in Europe prior to this past season. He trained alongside our team at the beginning of 2024, so for us it is an opportunity to have him back where he feels most at home, and to help him achieve his goals in the United States. ‘JuJu’ is doing all that he can in his recovery, so even though there is still a long way to go and we don’t expect him back until Pro Motocross, we know that he’ll be competitive once he’s in a position to do so, and we are supporting him every step of the way. Collectively, the team dynamic is really strong leading into the new year, everybody is quite familiar even if 50 percent of the rider lineup is new for next season. Right now, it’s time to keep our heads down and to keep progressing leading into Anaheim 1, and we will be ready to go racing together come January.”

Next year’s SMX World Championship is scheduled to commence on January 10, 2026, at Anaheim 1’s Supercross season-opener, with the series set to span 17 rounds. Featuring 11 rounds, Pro Motocross takes off with the Fox Raceway National in Pala, California, on May 30, while the three-race SMX Playoffs and Final will take centerstage throughout September.

2026 ATV Motocross National Championship Series Schedule Announced

MX Sports Pro Racing and the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) are excited to announce the 2026 ATV Motocross National Championship Series (ATVMX), an AMA National Championship schedule and 2026 National Classes. This year the ATVMX Series will feature 9 rounds for the AMA Pro class and 8 rounds for the Pro-Am, Pro Sport, WMX and all other amateur competitors.

The series will kick off racing with an AMA Pro points paying, Triple Crown event at Decker Training Facility in Fountain, Florida on March 14-15. This will serve as an amateur warm-up event with non-points paying amateur races taking place throughout the course of the weekend. More details to come at a later date about this event.

The 2026 schedule will once again fully kick off at Echeconnee MX in Lizella, Georgia on March 28 and 29, hosting round one for amateur, WMX, Pro Sport and Pro-Am classes and the second round of racing for the AMA Pro class. From there the series will head back to Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana on April 25 and 26. Exciting news for the ATVMX Series as it returns to Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, Tennessee on May 9-10 for the first time since the 2020 season.

The schedule will then feature some prominent rounds of racing at some of its most legendary venues, such as: Sunset Ridge MX, Budds Creek Motocross Park and Pleasure Valley Raceway. The Sunset Ridge MX ATVMX National is set to take place on May 23 and 24 in Walnut, Illinois. Next on June 20-21 the series will head over to Mechanicsville, Maryland for the Budds Creek MX Park ATVMX National. Then, Pleasure Valley Raceway in Seward, Pennsylvania will host the sixth round of racing for amateurs (7th for AMA Pro) on July 11-12.

The series will make a new stop on the schedule at Baja Acres in Millington, Michigan for its penultimate round of racing on July 25-26. The 2026 Season Finale for the ATV Motocross Series will once again take place at Briarcliff Motocross in Nashport, Ohio, over the weekend of August 15-16. More information will continue to be released closer to each event including special events and themes for the races.

The 2026 ATV Motocross National Championship schedule follows:

1. *March 14-15 – Rd 1: Decker Training Facility – Fountain, Florida
2. March 28-29 – Rd 2: Echeconnee MX – Lizella, Georgia
3. April 25-26 – Rd 3: Ironman Raceway – Crawfordsville, Indiana
4. May 9-10 – Rd 4: Muddy Creek Raceway – Blountville, Tennessee
5. May 23-24 – Rd 5: Sunset Ridge MX – Walnut, Illinois
6. June 20-21 – Rd 6: Budds Creek Motocross Park – Mechanicsville, Maryland
7. July 11-12 – Rd 7: Pleasure Valley Raceway – Seward, Pennsylvania
8. July 25-26 – Rd 8: Baja Acres – Millington, Michigan
9. August 15-16 – Rd 9: Briarcliff Motocross – Nashport, Ohio

*Pro Points Only/Triple Crown Event