Main image by Mitch Kendra
Title Time
With Chase Sexton holding a 28-point lead over Hunter Lawrence heading into the final round of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, things are looking mighty good for the Red Bull KTM rider to claim the 450 national championship. In fact, there’s a pretty solid chance he’ll get it done in the first moto. Even if Lawrence wins the first moto, a second place for Sexton still gets it done, and Sexton hasn’t finished worse than second place since he was third in the first moto at Southwick. Expect Sexton to get this thing wrapped up quick on Saturday. – Aaron Hansel
Last Chance
Lawrence’s shot at this championship are all but gone, but he still has a very real shot of getting his first win on a 450 this weekend. He’s been close a bunch of times and has even tied Sexton at the last two nationals, he just hasn’t had his better finish in the second, tie-breaking moto. But with Sexton likely winning the title in the first moto at Ironman, this weekend will be as good a chance as Lawrence will have had all season to finally get the win. -Hansel
Back in the Grind
Eli Tomac was back in action at Budds Creek last week, and he looked pretty good in the first moto on his way to fourth place. He likely would have preferred to finish better than 11th in the second moto, but hey, it was his first race back and the track was extremely difficult to pass on. Now that he’s back and has a feel for the pace, can he get back on the box at Ironman? -Hansel
- Motocross
Ironman
Saturday, August 24- QualifyingLiveAugust 24 - 10:00 AM
- QualifyingLiveAugust 24 - 10:00 AM
- MotosLiveAugust 24 - 1:00 PM
- MotosLiveAugust 24 - 1:00 PM
- MotosLiveAugust 24 - 1:00 PM
- Motos (Re-Air)August 26 - 2:00 AM
Finishing Strong
After not racing a full season of Pro Motocross for over a decade, Malcolm Stewart is getting better and better each weekend. The Rockstar Husqvarna Racing rider was especially good at Budds Creek, where he went 6-5 for fourth overall. He’s only finished that high at a national once before, and that was way back in 2013, and was also at Budds Creek. If Stewart gets out of the gate well at Ironman, is there a chance he lands an overall podium for the first time in his career? -Hansel
The Last One
This isn’t the last professional dirt bike race of Phil Nicoletti’s career—he’s racing SMX—but it is the last national of the racing career he kicked off way back in 2006. So, if you’re going to Ironman pay a bit of extra attention to Nicoletti out on the track because it’s the last time you’ll see him racing professional motocross. Oh, and be sure to give him that hand gesture he loves so much, too. -Hansel
All Wrapped Up
Before Budds Creek, Haiden Deegan had a title to race for, but now that he's clinched the 250 national championship, that’s no longer a concern. Will that affect the way he rides at Ironman? Probably not—Deegan always seems to go hard in all situations, even during riding sessions on media days—but you never know. Will Deegan back off at the finale, or will he pin it to win it? -Hansel
Three-Peat
Levi Kitchen has been on an absolute roll at the last two nationals! He’s been especially strong in the second motos too—he’s led every single lap of the second motos at the last two nationals and has won the last two overalls. With such strong performances lately, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Kitchen make it three in a row at Ironman. -Hansel
Old Guy On A Little Bike
Ken Roczen will be back for Ironman, only in the 250MX class. He said it is just for fun since he is not in position to better his SMX points. However, we saw Marvin Musquin jump down to a 250 two years ago at Fox Raceway (he went 5-9 for 7th overall) to get some practice for team France at MXoN. Could Kenny be thinking ahead for October and representing team Germany? -Sarah Whitmore
Debut
Nicky Hayden AMA Horizon Award winner Drew Adams will be making his AMA Pro Motocross debut at Ironman. It has been quite the summer for Adams who won two AMA Amateur National Championships at Loretta Lynn’s, as well as finished second in the Canadian Pro Motocross series, with five race wins of six motos. How will the young rider out of Tennessee fare his first time out in Pro Motocross? -Whitmore
The Track
Ironman Raceway has made some updates to the track for this weekend. Including a new woods section and a new starting line. The MX Sports Pro Racing Scouting Moto Combine raced the new woods section last year, but this year the 250 and 450 pro Classes will also race it on Saturday. No more right-hand first turn, the new one turns left into a banked 180-degree left-hand turn. Will the changes make for better racing? -Whitmore
