It’s so, so, so gnarly to be good enough on a dirt bike to score points consistently (top 21) in AMA Pro Motocross Championship motos, but in sports, the drop off in attention is quick. All sports are defined by the stars, be it LeBron James or Patrick Mahomes or Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan. This sport is actually no different. How many people know Mahomes? How many people can name the 15th-best guy on the Chiefs? Or, outside, of quarterbacks, the 15th-best guy at any other position? The drop off is huge.
While the Haiden Deegan and Chase Sexton types will gather the majority of the attention at the races, here’s some tales beyond, from 10-20 in the final Pro Motocross standings in the 450 class.
| Position | Rider | Hometown | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 |  Fredrik Noren | Lidköping, Sweden  | 204 |
| 11 |  Phil Nicoletti | Cochecton, NY  | 193 |
| 12 |  Harri Kullas | Estonia  | 163 |
| 13 |  Marshal Weltin | Ubly, MI | 162 |
| 14 |  Justin Barcia | Monroe, NY | 148 |
| 15 |  Grant Harlan | Justin, TX | 144 |
| 16 |  Shane McElrath | Canton, NC | 118 |
| 17 |  Romain Pape | Morlaix, France  | 106 |
| 18 |  Derek Kelley | Riverside, CA | 94 |
| 19 |  Cullin Park | Clermont, FL | 91 |
| 20 |  Kyle Chisholm | Clearwater, FL | 74 |
10. Freddie Noren
It’s not that crazy for Freddie to finish 10th overall in the final 450MX standings, because he was actually eighth last year, and eighth in 2019, 10th in 2014 and 2015… Freddie has finished in the top 12 of the 450MX standings eight times in his career! That’s impressive but probably not noticed enough. His outdoor prowess pulled the MaddParts.com Kawasaki into Pro Motocross full time for the first time, and later the team signed Shane McElrath. Good moves all around.
11. Phil Nicoletti
Phil is one man in this group not lacking in media attention. If you want to know more about him just read his column on this site on Fridays. Or listen to every episode of the PulpMX Show. Or his multiple send-off press conferences. He was really good this summer, ending his Pro Motocross career with a rock-solid 8-8 at Ironman. Good job, Phil. We’ll hear about this in 100 different places.
12. Harri Kullas
The friendly Estonian (or is it Finnish?) rider showed up to some races last year and rode well, so then he doubled his efforts this year in hopes of making the SMX Playoffs. He did just that as his 12th in Pro Motocross left him 17th in the combined SX and MX standings. Harri got a bike deal from Michael’s Reno Powersports (title sponsor of the Hangtown National) but only planned to race a few races, and all in between his contracted other deal to race arenacross in Brazil. But he was doing so well, and the playoffs looked doable so he kept racing, to the point where he had to source another bike from Michael’s Reno Powersports and put it together at Unadilla! Harri scored points in all but one moto he competed in. That’s how you get this done.
13. Marshal Weltin
Marsh was rock solid with Gizmo Mods Rock River Yamaha, as he often is, but he’s in this group here that doesn’t get noticed. He was consistently in the 11-13 range all summer, including the Ironman finale where he, fittingly, went 11-13. Marsh raced 250 Supercross but gets into the 450 class of SMX based on his Pro Motocross strength. Marsh had 14 finishes in the top 15.
14. Justin Barcia
Okay well Barcia doesn’t apply with the privateer hero vibes here. He finished 14th in the standings after missing a lot of time and he’s likely not pumped on this.
15. Grant Harlan
Harlan and Weltin are teammates and battled a lot this summer. They explain that Weltin usually starts better but Harlan closes in late and then the fight to the finish begins. Harlan had a couple of bad motos late in the year that cost him some points, but at least he’s feeling fresh. A year ago, he was an eye-opener in both Monster Energy AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross but by the time the playoffs arrived, he was fried, so he didn’t get the finishes needed to really cash in. He could be better this time.
16. Shane McElrath
One strange summer for McElrath, who, by the way, has two 250 MX overall wins in his career, which is two more than Chase Sexton. But 450MX has been a struggle for Shane, big time. Weird, right? Shane was getting lapped in motos (often on the very last lap by Sexton!) and after going 21-21 at Washougal the Twisted Tea/HEP Suzuki team asked him to take the final three nationals off. Shane refused so instead they just parted ways. Then he grabbed a spot with Maddparts.com Kawasaki so he could finish out the season and ended with a decent 13-10 at Ironman. He’s also not getting lapped. It’s some progress for him and his new team.
17. Dean Wilson
Dean’s a former 250 National Motocross Champion and spent years as a factory rider, he’s not in the Weltin/Harlan group. It was fun to see him grind through a few outdoor motos in search of SMX points, even though his knees hate him for it.
18. Derek Kelley
Two years ago, Kelley was awesome in the 250 class outdoors, taking 13th in points as the top non-factory rider, aboard an AEO Powersports KTM. He’s been hurt a bunch since and tried a 450 this year. He was good but less consistent than those veteran-style guys up ahead of him. Kelley is a good rider in search of that last step. He, like Noren, throws some big scrubs mid-race which sure are fun to watch.
19. Cullin Park
Park is kind of like Kelley, definitely talented but just looking for that last percent to really break through. He was returning in Pro Motocross after dislocating his wrist in supercross and had moments where he was right there battling the top guys on this list, but he had bad days, too, so that’s why he ended up 19th. His 12-15 at the opener at Fox Raceway made top ten seem like a realistic goal, but then the Phoenix Racing Honda rider had a mid-season slump. He ended the year with 11-18-16-19 scores, and that 11th at Budds was his season best.
20. Kyle Chisholm
Chiz gonna Chiz. You want to know the very last rider to take the checkered flag in a Pro Motocross moto this year? This guy, of course. He was the last man to not get lapped at Ironman in moto two. That’s Chiz Chizing.
