“As our gear says, this was the last dance, so we ended on top, so I'm stoked.”
That is what Pierce Brown said on the podium at the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Final in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kitted in Troy Lee Designs gear themed from the upcoming release of the film Venom: The Last Dance, Brown acknowledged it was his final ride with the team, which will no longer function as the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GasGas team moving forward (expect the factory GasGas effort to move away from TLD in 2025 and become an in-house operation next season, similar to the way the KTM and Husqvarna squads function). The TLD team could return with another brand at sometime in the future, as there are rumors it could resurface with Ducati, but for now, the team is grounded. So in what could be the final race as a team (the 31st race of this year), Brown delivered a damn win. Better late than never!
Pierce Brown is now a race winner in professional motocross racing in the U.S. The Utah native pulled two good starts that set up the Venom-themed #39 machine finish second in the first 250SMX moto. Then, a risky block pass in the second moto allowed him to pass into first, turn on his leader lights, and pull away, taking his first moto win and securing his first career overall win.
“It was kind of like a dream day,” Brown said in the post-race press conference. “I mean, this is TLD GasGas’ last race as a team and I've been with the team my whole career. I haven't been able to knock off a win for him [Troy Lee] and [to] wait till the last race with them. So, it feels good. It feels great. But, yeah, just for myself, I needed that really bad. It's been a mediocre year for me. I've been putting in the work week in week out, but it just hasn't really showed on the weekends because starts haven't been there and we finally had two decent starts. And I just felt really good all day. I think for next year it's gonna be really good.”
For 2025, we expect Brown to be competing on a Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing YZ250F, as he has been rumored to have signed with that team. Expect an announcement soon. For now though, Brown is taking it all in.
Brown knows not to take success at the highest level for granted. Since turning pro in 2020, the he has had only stood on the podium four times entering the weekend. His last time on the podium? The 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross finale in his home state in Salt Lake City, Utah—his fourth career third-place 250SX finish. We have seen glimpses here and there, but in Las Vegas he was on another level. Better starts helped a bunch. Not taking this win for granted, the humble 22-year-old started every answer in the post-race press conference with a “Thank you.” What a big night for Brown and Troy Lee’s entire team.
Plus, with his win at the finale, which paid triple points, the #39 jumped to third in the 250SMX championship. With the 250SMX championship payout alone, Brown earned $150,000 dollars. He was ranked seventh coming into the race, and his move to third bumped his pay by $132,000. Plus he earned $50,000 for the race win. That is some serious cash!
So, which was bigger, the SMX championship purse or getting that first career win?
“I'd say the win for sure,” he replied. “I mean, the money is cool. Yeah, the money is cool but that win, it's been long overdue. It just feels like a monkey off my back. So, yeah, obviously it's been a goal for a while, but we made it happen. So, yeah, now it's expected.”
![Pierce Brown]()
Pierce Brown Align Media ![Wil Hahn with Pierce Brown.]()
Wil Hahn with Pierce Brown. Align Media ![The Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GasGas team posing at their final race as a team.]()
The Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GasGas team posing at their final race as a team. Align Media
Was there anything specific about the track that gelled well with Brown?
“I don't know, I think a lot of things, I don't think it was just a track,” he said. “I think the work that I've been putting in on starts, I mean, it's crazy what a start could do! I mean, I feel like nothing's really changed, bike wise. I mean, I've been putting in the work week in week out, but it hasn't been able to show because I've been starting seventh or tenth. And, yeah, these guys are so fast so it's hard to run through them like I want to, but no, it's cool. Thank you again. Yeah, I'm just trying to let it sink in right now.”
Getting through the full calendar season of AMA Supercross and Motocross—and now throw in the three SMX Playoff rounds as well—has not been an easy feat. Brown knows this too well.
“Yeah, I think this is my first full season,” he said. “I made every single round and finally got it done the last race. It feels good. But for next year, it just elevates my expectation for myself. But, yeah, this is definitely gonna jump start some belief and I can't wait for next year.”
You might have missed it, but last weekend in Texas Brown rode his butt off in arguably one of the more underrated rides of the year, going from dead last in turn one in both motos to inside the top ten. In the second moto, he came through the checkered flag fifth! So, which was harder: going through the pack on a tough-to-pass track in Texas last weekend or winning his first race?
“Going back to last week, I think, yes, for sure,” Brown said. “The second moto, and it was hot in Texas too, but the second moto I had to dig. Came back to fifth and looking back on my lap times and segment times, I was like, ‘Dang, I'm actually pretty close.’ Like it's been a while since I've felt like I had winning speed and after last week and I'm like, ‘Dude, I could win one of these things.’ So, I came into this week. I'm like, ‘I'm gonna just give it my all,’ and if it happens, it happens, if not. But, yeah, we put all our chips on the table this week and came out with the win.”
“Back to your question, I think last week it was harder than this weekend,” he continued. “I mean, getting a start makes it so much easier on you and you're out of the roost and out of just like carnage, you know.”
More importantly, Brown himself knows. If he can dial more starts like this next year on his new bike, expect more finishes like this.
