The gate dropped on the final round of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship over the weekend, and just like all ten previous rounds, the action did not disappoint. To gain further insight into what happened at the finale, we fired off questions to former pro, and NBC pit reporter, Jason Thomas.
There were some significant track changes. Take us through the differences, and how it altered personality, if at all, of Ironman.
The big two were the start and the addition of “The Woods.” The start was a big improvement versus the fast right hander of old. Anytime you ask riders to pivot at speed with confines so close, you’re also asking for trouble. With a defined 180 and speeds slowing, instead of rising at the first bend, the risk of a spectacular first-turn crash comes down.
The Woods was a little less well received by the riders. The section is an homage to the GNCC roots that Ironman was founded upon. The challenge is that the trees create shadows that wreak havoc on depth perception and optic focus. The dirt in said section is pitch black, adding to the visual difficulties. My hope is that they will remove more trees in future outings, which would allow sunlight to pierce through and give riders more visibility.
How did Jordon Smith get such a great start in the first moto from the outside gate? And what was he doing differently at Ironman? He was on fire in that first moto!
The middle gates were incredibly wet during the morning qualifying sessions, and even with extensive prep, still soft for a good 20-30 yard stretch in the middle of the start straight. The very inside and the very outside routes were much drier. With everyone clamoring for those gates, piling all of the talent on one side, the outside gates represented opportunity for those with the fortitude to drive it deep and carry momentum all the way around that outside berm. The inside gates were arguably better, but with so many riders stacked there, it was inevitable that some would get pinched (Deegan in moto one, for example).
The effectiveness of the outside move was proven in the LCQs, and visually, it was easy to see why. The middle mud was simply too sloppy to overlook. Forward drive and top speed were crippled by the depth of that softer middle. For Jordon, he went for it and pulled it off. Note, Haiden Deegan and Coty Schock made this work in the second 250 moto while Eli Tomac went for the outside slingshot in second 450 moto as well.
RJ Hampshire was riding like he never missed any time at all, and even got on the box with third overall. How hard is it for a rider to come back from injury and get back to form almost instantly? Is this just RJ doing RJ things?
This is a remarkable return. I believe RJ was bolstered by the heat and humidity at Ironman but the speed he has already regained is surprising. He has been training in the punishing Florida climate his entire life and the more difficult the ask, the more he is able to utilize his tolerance for heat. Further, this return to form bodes well for his SMX Playoff chances. He has another two weeks to prepare for Charlotte and could be a real factor if his starts cooperate. The Charlotte dirt is similar to the Florida tracks he would be practicing on daily, so watch for him to come out swinging. He was caught off guard by last year’s hybrid tracks but this year they’ll be more familiar for all.
Tom Vialle finally got an overall win. Was he doing anything better at Ironman, or was this simply a case of the inevitable happening sooner or later?
His first moto was incredible but as far as the overall goes, he definitely took advantage of circumstance. Deegan’s first moto fall and Levi Kitchen’s DNF certainly helped Vialle in that second moto. It takes two motos to win the overall and Vialle had the best score, but make no mistake, he was suffering badly in the second one. The humidity was much higher than most expected and Vialle was feeling it. It’s a little surprising that he was so much stronger than everyone in moto one, but had nothing to offer for the top few in moto two. The record books won’t show that or care though, just that he was the winner.
Ken Roczen dropped down to the 250 Class and went 9-12 for ninth overall. What were some of the challenges he faced in racing a completely different motorcycle with so much less power?
I think he proved he could race with the lead group. His pace was sufficient. Had it been 70 degrees and overcast, I think the results would look much different. Remember, his first race back at Unadilla was very conducive in that regard. Roczen is not back to 100 percent with his fitness yet and even then he suffers in the harshest conditions. His primary focus between now and Charlotte will likely be finding himself in the last 5-10 minutes. If he can, he will once again be a factor in SMX. His talent is undeniable, he just needs conditions to cooperate to be the best in the world. His body went through unimaginable trauma with surgery after surgery post 2017. It’s always going to be a complex equation for him to be his best self because of that lingering damage.
Eli Tomac had another good first moto, but this time he followed it up with a tremendous second moto. Is there something you can put your finger on as to why he was so much better at Ironman?
His body is responding and regaining fitness. For someone who has spent so much time at an elite level of fitness, his body will bounce back much more quickly than the average Joe. The muscle memory aspect can’t be overstated. He’s not 100 percent yet but one week made a big difference. I would expect to see even more improvement come Charlotte. The key to his success, though, will be first-lap positioning. If he starts top three-five, expect fireworks.
Chase Sexton wrapped up the championship in the first moto, but still charged hard in the second. Were you surprised at the sustained intensity from Sexton?
I was curious to see how he would handle it. Plain and simple, though, he knows he’s the best guy right now. Will that change when others rejoin the fray? Time will tell. He had zero intimidation from those at Ironman, especially when considering Tomac is not 100 percent. The question of whether or not he can maintain this confidence level in September and arguably more importantly, when everyone is back to full strength in January. That’s the real question.
