RD5 is Back

Ryan Dungey finished 5-5 for fifth overall in his first Pro Motocross race in nearly six years. Solid ride for someone who retired in May 2017 and has not been on the bike for that long heading into this season!

#23’s first 1-1

In the premier class, Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton went 1-1 for the first time in his career, as he claimed his third 450 Class overall win. Just like the 250 Class, Honda HRC finished 2-2 in the premier class as Ken Roczen finished behind Sexton both motos. The two battled back and forth both races, but eventually Sexton came out on top. And to make it even better for Honda, they were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1973 CR250M Elsinore—Honda's original motocross machine, and they had some awesome throwback gear. It was Honda’s world on Saturday.

CC’s First Podium

Finishing in third place behind the Honda HRC duo in the 450 Class was Christian Craig. Craig’s consistent 3-3 day gave him his first overall podium in either class in Pro Motocross. The California native has several moto podium finishes and over a handful of 450 Overall top five finishes to his name, but had yet to claim an overall podium.

“I’m pumped. My first 450 podium,” he said after the race. “To do it at my home track, hometown. I’ve gotten so close so many times, but especially coming off the supercross championship it’s all about just keeping the momentum and the confidence I have. Comfortable with the bike. Just happy with the whole setup. It’s something I’ve worked for my whole life. I checked that one off the list.”

Will Craig click off more overall podium finishes this summer?

Other Random Stats

Jett Sits 35th

No, not in the standings: in the all-time 125/250 Class Pro Motocross overall wins list as he has six overalls to his name to date. If the Australian can earn four more overalls this year, he could become the 16th different rider with at least double digit overall Pro Motocross wins in the class and by doing so would pass some riders who went on to become legends of the sport (Bob Hannah, Ryan Dungey, Johnny O’Mara, Marty Smith, Grant Langston). Where will Jettson land on the wins list at the end of this season? Let us know in the comments below!

We’ll just leave this tweet from Grant Harlan here...

Honda’s Extra Red

Honda HRC led all laps in the 450 Class (9 from Sexton and 7 from Roczen in moto one and 7 from Sexton and 9 from Roczen in moto two) and led all but five laps in the 250 Class (Yamaha’s Justin Cooper led the first 4 but Jett Lawrence led the last 12 laps in moto one, and Yamaha’s Nick Romano led the first lap of moto two before Jettson led the final 14). The last time the Honda HRC team had both red plates was in 2021 after the second round at Thunder Valley National after Ken Roczen’s 1-1 day where he reclaimed the points lead by a single point over Dylan Ferrandis and Jett Lawrence finished 4-1 for second overall to retain his points lead. How long will the HRC team keep the extra red in both classes?

Yamaha’s #1 Troubles Again

In 2007, Grant Langston claimed the 450 Pro Motocross title, but, as Jason Weigandt wrote in our 2007 recap of our 50-year Pro Motocross history countdown, Langston never made it to the gate in 2008 with his #1 plate, as a mysterious eye injury knocked him out of supercross. After much searching, it turned out he had contracted eye cancer. Sadly, he would never fully recover the vision needed to race again at his old level.

Unfortunately, Yamaha’s #1 450 rider Dylan Ferrandis suffered a thumb injury only days before the opener and needed surgery. He flew to France for surgery earlier this week and a return to racing has yet to be announced publicly. Hopefully we will see Ferrandis racing with the #1 plate soon.

Jarvis Races Again

Female Jordan Jarvis has been building her own story in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Jarvis did not qualify for the first moto but was selected as an alternate for moto two and after finishing 34th, Jarvis has now competed in at least one moto at four different Pro Motocross events since making a run at qualifying for the first time back in 2019. She was on Kawasaki’s in 2020 and 2021 but she is back on a Yamaha Y250F just as she was in 2019.

Awards

FMF Privateer Power Award:Fredrik Noren

RC Battery Hard Charger Award:Fredrik Noren

Noren finished 14-11 for 12th overall.

Rookie Debuts

The following 250 Class riders made their first Pro Motocross national over the weekend:

Nick Romano—first pro race

16-for for 15th overall

Josiah Natzke—first U.S. race

19-15 for 17th overall

Matthew LeBlanc—first pro race

20-17 for 20th overall

Romain Pape—first U.S. race

25-25 for 25th overall

Noah Viney—first pro race

35-39 for 36th overall

Rider Vlogs

Christian Craig

Garrett Marchbanks

Alex Martin

Jason Anderson/Team Fried

Raw Moto

Check out our guy Tim Journet’s Infield Access video below to watch nearly 20 minutes of raw footage from the opener.

250 Class

450 Class