After two weekends off, the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship was back in action at the Elf Fuels and Lubricants Unadilla National. There was plenty to dissect after the checkered flag flew on the final moto of the day too, so we tapped former pro and NBC pit reporter, Jason Thomas, to break it all down for us.
A ton of rain fell the day before the race. How did that affect the track on race day?
Remarkably, it was the best thing that happened to the track. Unadilla is notoriously hard-based and on a sunny day like Saturday, it would have been uber tricky by the end of the day. The track was sealed, but even still, it soaked down into the base somewhat, adding traction through multiple layers of topsoil. It was rutty, sure, but that variation is much better than the harder Unadilla that often occurs. What could have been a catastrophic turn of events (Hurricane Debby) was a huge benefit in the end.
It seemed as though the riders were having a tough time consistently putting the bike where they wanted it in some sections. Was there something about this version of Unadilla that was causing guys to miss their preferred lines?
The camber in most sections of the track has this effect. Riders are always on the edge of the tire and fighting for traction. They are also fighting via body positioning, but it’s always a battle to feel planted at Unadilla. Precision at Unadilla is more in shades of grey than black and white.
There were two weekends with no racing between Washougal and Unadilla. Who were some of the riders who stood out most, in regards to benefitting from the break?
Both of the Honda boys (Shimoda held his same pace mostly) of Hunter Lawrence and Chance Hymas really bounced back. It didn’t end well for Hymas, but there’s no doubt he was on a different level than he was even prior to the ankle injury. For Lawrence, he visibly looked worn out at Spring Creek and Washougal. Surely the RedBud crash didn’t help things, but the long season seemed to be taking a toll on Hunter in his rookie 450 season. It’s very important for riders to find time to rest and recover during the season and even more so with the advent of the SuperMotocross playoffs. The most important part of the season comes last and there are millions of dollars up for grabs. Stumbling through the playoffs due to fatigue would be frustrating, but the only way to avoid it is through dedicated rest.
Walk us through Hymas’ huge crash in the first moto. How did it get started, and was there anything he could have done to save it once it was happening?
Coming down that hill, there were ruts galore. Unfortunately, he just caught a bump wrong and the rear tire kicked outside of the rut. The front tire caught the edge of another rut (literally a cross-rut) and when that happens, there is a huge slowing of momentum due to the sides of the tire catching traction. When momentum drastically slows, the rider flies forward into the handlebars and things spiral quickly. Once the rider’s hands come off the grips it’s game over and all you’re hoping for is to avoid the motorcycle and injury. This was a big crash and could have been much, much worse.
Garrett Marchbanks was back in action, on a different bike, with a different team, and in the 250 Class. But even with all those changes he went 5-5 for fourth overall! How tough is it to come out and perform that well with all those changes so close in the rearview?
I was very impressed. I had him penciled in for a top ten finish but I thought it would be closer to eighth-tenth. Switching classes and brands is not an easy thing to do at the top level. I think it’s fair to say they made the right choice by rushing him into action. He will likely lock up a spot in the playoffs with performances like that, and then who knows what’s possible. Further, this bodes very well for 2025 possibilities, too.
Levi Kitchen was back on point at Unadilla, going 2-1 for the overall win. What was it about this track that allowed him to excel?
He’s had success here in the past and I believe his style leans into what Unadilla rewards. The off-camber corners and lack of traction work well for Kitchen’s strengths. He likes to stand up through many corners and doesn’t override conditions. He allows the bike to float across bumps instead of slamming into them. Keep in mind, this style doesn’t work as well in conditions that favor aggression. It will be interesting to see if he is this same guy at Budds Creek, a track where riders can really push the limits. Last year, he struggled after a strong Unadilla and I believe there might be a stylistic pattern behind it. Time will tell.
Haiden Deegan was fantastic in the first moto, but he didn’t seem to have the same speed in the second, finishing 15 seconds back of Kitchen. Was there something you noticed he wasn’t doing quite as well in the second moto as the first?
It seemed like he could match pace with them and he even closed it down to five seconds at one point. To get to the front, though, I think he was going to have to take chances he didn’t warrant necessary. He has a championship to win and Unadilla is not a track to trifle with. Taking big chances on that track in those conditions had to be weighed carefully and as much as it likely frustrated him to lay up, it was also likely the right decision. Big picture, few will remember that second moto but they will surely remember him clinching the title with a round to go. Riders are constantly weighing risk/reward in every moto. Sometimes caution is the better part of valor, even if it goes against every ounce of your makeup.
Jalek Swoll took third overall to put Triumph on the box for the first time. How big of a milestone is that for this team?
It had to be a huge vindication after what’s been a very challenging summer. Things had gone so smoothly during supercross and they really didn’t face many of the first year blunders that most brands will. This summer took a nasty turn for the worse, though. To get that podium and reward was a sunny day in an otherwise stormy stretch. Savatgy’s time is coming, too.
Ken Roczen and Cooper Webb were both back for Unadilla. What’d you think of their respective performances?
I thought Roczen would be a little better but Webb was right about where I expected. Kenny is so incredibly talented, it seems like a short preparation period doesn’t bother him too much. Further, he rides Unadilla very well (even if he doesn’t love the conditions). Roczen showed great pace early on, but the lack of seat time showed up in the later laps. It will be interesting to see how much progress he makes between now and Ironman. The 250 variable is a wildcard but I think he will be much more prepared even with just two weeks to do it.
For Webb, Unadilla is not a track that I would expect him to shine on. I understood the big picture approach for Webb. He needs to get race laps logged and work toward being 100 percent for Charlotte. Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound good for Webb’s thumb but let’s hope against hope that he’s okay.
Hunter Lawrence was demolishing Chase Sexton by taking the inside line at the bottom of The Wall, but Sexton continued to try different lines until late in the moto. Why didn’t he start taking Lawrence’s line there earlier?
I was puzzled at this as well. It was likely one of two things. He either didn’t want to follow Hunter up the wall and get roosted (which also hurts your vision up the climb) or he was trying to sort out the line on the right side of the hill. In any case, it’s true that he was losing a ton of time there and if you wanted to point to a reason why he lost the moto, that’s as good as any. Instead of being right on Lawrence’s rear wheel for the entire lap, he would spend half a lap closing that distance back down. The dynamic of the race changes a bit with relentless pressure versus only half of the track.
Lawrence rode the 2025 CRF450R at Unadilla. What’d you like and dislike about his performance on the new machine?
I liked everything about it! The only real shot you could take at it is the second moto start but that was more the long hold time on the gate than the bike itself. That hold time threw off several riders. When everyone starts creeping and flinching, it’s pure chaos. But, to the question, the motorcycle was a huge success as far as a debut goes.
Dylan Ferrandis was been pretty much a fifth to sixth place guy all season but he flipped a switch in the second moto and ran as high as second before taking third for his best result of the season. Where did all that extra speed suddenly come from?
I believe it was track related. He gave Jett Lawrence all he wanted last year so it makes sense he was good again. Losing out on the podium was a bummer, for sure, but sometimes just big picture improvement is enough. Sentiment is a huge part of racing for everyone involved. The mechanics and personnel put in an incredible amount of work. To see their efforts rewarded with improvement can make all of the difference.
