Signs of Life
On paper Jorge Prado went 5-6 for fifth overall at Southwick, but there’s a lot more to the story than just results. Prado was absolutely ripping over the weekend and was contending for a podium, which is much, much better than he was at the first four rounds. Yeah, he went down in both motos, which hurt his overall result, but the speed was back. If he keeps this up things are going to be a lot more interesting inside the top five! -Aaron Hansel
Desmodromic Debut
Unless you’ve been living under a pile of old crankcases, you’re aware that Ducati has been developing a 450 motocross bike for quite some time. It’s also been competing in MXGP races but hasn’t made its debut yet in America. That’ll change this weekend at RedBud when Antonio Cairoli lines up aboard the new Italian machine to mark its very first pro gate drop in the United States. It probably won’t be a factor up front, but it’s still going to be fun to see how the bike, and Cairoli, perform at RedBud. -Hansel
Rebound and Rally
Aaron Plessinger has been great this summer, but at Southwick he had his worst finish of the season, a seventh, and finished off the podium for the second time in a row. This sets the stage perfectly for Plessinger to rebound and rally, and there’s no better place for the Cowboy to get it done than RedBud on Independence Day weekend in front of the wildest fans in the country. If Plessinger gets back on the podium, don’t expect to hear anything he says over the roar of the RedBud crowd! -Hansel
- Motocross
- Race Day Live (Qualifying)LiveJuly 5 - 10:00 AM
- Race Day Live (Qualifying)LiveJuly 5 - 10:00 AM
- All 4 Motos (450s first)LiveJuly 5 - 1:00 PM
- MotosLiveJuly 5 - 1:00 PM
- 450 Moto 2 OnlyLiveJuly 5 - 3:00 PM
J-Coop’s Starts
Good starts are one of Justin Cooper’s greatest weapons, and when he gets them, as he often does, he’s usually been able to hold his own in the fight for the podium. His starts weren’t there at Southwick though, and the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider was forced to fight his way through the pack in both motos. With that in mind, he did extremely well to go 6-5 for fourth. Hopefully his trademark starts are back at RedBud, because if they are, that’s just another rider to make it more exciting up front. -Hansel
Finding the Groove
Tom Vialle hasn’t won a moto yet this summer, but he sure looked good in the first moto at Southwick last week! Vialle didn’t get out of the gate well, but his charge forward was outstanding, and was probably the best riding he’s had all summer. If Vialle is able to ride with that speed and aggression, and get good starts at RedBud, we could see him in the fight for his first national win since last year at Ironman. -Hansel
Rock Solid
Michael Mosiman struggled at Thunder Valley and High Point due to a stomach bug, but he was back in a big way at Southwick, where he went 4-5 for fourth overall despite dealing with a bike problem late in the moto. Speed has never been an issue for Mosiman, so this finish isn’t a surprise, but he’s also struggled with consistency in the past. If Mosiman, who hasn’t raced Pro Motocross since 2023, can string together a few more of these solid performances it could mark the dawn of a new era for him. Fun Fact, Mosiman is locked in a three-way tie for seventh with Mikkel Haarup and Ty Masterpool. Masterpool is OUT for this weekend. So, between Harrup and Mosiman, who will own the spot after RedBud? -Hansel
Related: RedBud National Injury Report
Relentless Domination
Things couldn’t be going much better for Haiden Deegan this summer. He’s won every single moto except at Thunder Valley, where Chance Hymas (who is now out with a knee injury) went 1-1, and now holds a 58-point lead over Jo Shimoda. That lead is so big he could skip RedBud and still retain the red plate no matter what! Will the beatings continue at RedBud, or will someone like Vialle, Jo Shimoda, or Levi Kitchen figure out a way to mount some opposition? -Hansel
The Champ Is Back
After a hard get off at the opening round at Fox Raceway, Chase Sexton has been sitting out until he felt strong enough to return. Considering Chase considers RedBud to be his home race, it's no wonder he chose this race for his return. How will the 2024 Champ fair after a little R&R? -Sarah Whitmore
Pair of Deuces
Hunter Lawrence has been riding really good lately, going 2-2-2-2 in the last four motos and scoring second overall at both High Point and Southwick. While second is nice, he won't be satisfied to stay there forever. Is RedBud the weekend he knocks little bro off the top step of the podium? -Whitmore
SMX NEXT
If you are attending RedBud in person, be sure to show up on Friday for SMX Next - Motocross racing. Riders like Enzo Temmerman, Landon Gibson, Landen Gordon, Leum Oehlhof, and Tiger Wood are all on the entry list. The list also includes Vincent Wey, whose parents grew up in Michigan and raced at RedBud. These are the riders who will be racing in the 250MX class very soon so get used to seeing their names. -Whitmore
BONUS
Okay, as someone who has multiple trials bikes in my garage, I need to say that if you do go to RedBud in person, you are in for a treat as 37-time (no that is not a typo) World Trials Champion, Toni Bou will be in attendance as Grand Marshal. Bou will also be showcasing his trials skills with a demo that you won’t want to miss. This guy’s skills on a bike are unmatched. -Whitmore
