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Morning Report

Good morning, race fans! After two straight weekends off, we are back as the AMA Pro Motocross Championship resumes in Indiana. Only three more rounds remain—and just two after today—as we are in the final stretch of the season.

We are set for a hot one today, with temperatures around 90°F and 71 percent humidity. However, we should be in for good racing here at Ironman Raceway.

Haiden Deegan (250 Class) and Jett Lawrence (450 Class) come in as the respective points leaders. Both were bested by their competition at the previous round at the Washougal National—Jo Shimoda (250 Class) and Chase Sexton (450 Class) won in the PNW—so as the championship leaders look to rebound, Shimoda and Sexton look to keep the ball rolling.

There are a number of riders returning to action today after injuries, including Julien Beaumer, Tom Vialle, and Michael Mosiman as well as Dylan Ferrandis, Pierce Brown, Daxton Bennick, and more.

Check out the full injury report for today.

With the upcoming Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations set here at Ironman Raceway in October, we will get some exciting news today as Team USA's three-rider roster will be announced this morning during opening ceremonies. Stay tuned for that release.

Remember, we will also get our second Women’s Motocross (WMX) Championship moto today, following their first moto yesterday. Moto two will be broadcast live on Peacock, which will be good to get the fast WMX field in front of the audience again, like we did at the Thunder Valley National back in June.

One more thing to note that is pretty cool: the four Honda riders who won their respective championships in 2024—Kyle Webster (MX1), Brodie Connolly (MX2), Kayd Kingsford (MX3), and Charli Cannon (MXW)—not only repeated as champions this year, but the entire crew is here racing this weekend under the Quad Lock Honda truck. Kingsford finished 12-12 for 11th overall yesterday in the SMX Next – Motocross Scouting Moto Combine event, and Cannon will have her second WMX moto today. Connolly will be #788 in the 250 Class today; Webster returns for the final three rounds with #69, his national number earned in 2024: #69. So, there are lots of storylines to follow today!

Lastly, there have been some changes to the track since last year’s national. The Godzilla jump and top section have been changed, as well as the section before the finish line, which is different from last year. Yesterday’s amateur, SMX Next, and WMX racing mixed up the mulch that was added, and then the track underwent full prep last night. Expect it to be tilled deep and moist this morning.

The riders' meeting starts at 7:15 a.m. local time, and before we know it, bikes will be on track.

First Qualifying Sessions

250 Class

In the first 250 Class group B session, it was French rider Mathys Boisrame who topped the field over SMX Next debutant Kade Johnson and Austrailian MX2 Champion Brodie Connolly.

Maximus Vohland led the 250 Class group A field as they took the green flag and began their first qualifying session. Vohland was also the first rider to bust out the "Deegan Double" jump as he launched the finish line jump down to the single roller before the wall jump next to the announcers’ tower. Vohland was fast but Drew Adams had the fastest time early on. Then it was Adams’ Kawasaki teammate Seth Hammaker that took over the top time. But then, Haiden Deegan put in a heater to take over the top spot in the session. Deegan’s 2:04.769 topped the field. I was standing over near the finish line and watching the riders hit the finish line jump and scrub the mulch wall jump that follows. It was a ton of fun to watch here as guys got lose. Ryder DiFrancesco had one of the best scrubs of the session as he sent it farther than anyone and really tossed his #25 GasGas machine sideways. Watching specific sections of the track is a great reminder just how impressive all these guys are—and this is one of those sections! The track is deep as expected but it's shaping up as riders work in some fast line.

450 Class

Coty Schock led the field as veterans Justin Barcia, Eli Tomac, and the rest of the field followed. Chase Sexton had the early fast lap over Eli Tomac, RJ Hampshire, Schock, and Dylan Ferrandis, who is back after an injury suffered late in Monster Energy AMA Supercross. Jett Lawrence put in a heater and dropped a 2:02.657, which became the top time of the session. Sexton was second with a 2:03.257, followed by Tomac’s 2:03.676. Justin Cooper (2:04.871) and RJ Hampshire (2:05.229) rounded out the top five. Hunter Lawrence’s 2:05.266 was sixth, Jorge Prado’s 2:06.786 was seventh, Ferrandis’ 2:07.617 was 11th, and Barcia’s 2:08.898 was 17th.

Second Qualifying Sessions

250 Class

Seth Hammaker was fastest in the second session with a 2:03.447. Hammaker’s time of 2:03.447 will take the top qualifying spot for the day as Haiden Deegan went 2:04.769 in the first session. Garrett Marchbanks was second in the session, followed by Deegan, then Drew Adams and Tom Vialle. Jalek Swoll pulled off early, picked his mechanic up, and rode off back to the pits. Gage Linville broke a chain in the first few laps in, which ended his session. Jo Shimoda and Avery Long were both penalized for cutting the track in sector four, giving up their fastest lap this session. Shimoda qualified tenth overall, Long 23rd overall.

450 Class

Jett Lawrence improved his time from the first session to remain the overall 450 Class top qualifier. The #18 pulled of a blazing 2:01.059. RJ Hampshire was second fastest with a 2:01.415, followed by Chase Sexton (201.807) and Jorge Prado (2:01.923) as the three other riders under the 2:02 mark. Hunter Lawrence was fifth fastest with a 2:02.236, then Eli Tomac with a 202.619. Other notes include Justin Cooper seventh overall, Valentin Guillod eighth overall, Dylan Ferrandis ninth overall in his return to racing, Australian MX1 Champion Kyle Webster 12th overall, and Justin Barcia 13th overall.

Breaking News: MXoN Team USA Announced

Right before the motos started, it was announced that Eli Tomac, Chase Sexton, and Haiden Deegan would be the three Team USA riders for the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations in October at this very raceway here in Indiana.

First Motos

250 Class

After the Team Australia and USA Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations team announcements, opening ceremonies, the national anthem, and the sight lap, it was time to go racing. The gates dropped and it was Jo Shimoda and Jalek Swoll out front as we got underway. Shimoda shuffled into the lead by the second turn. A few laps in, Levi Kitchen down, dropping out of third. Pierce Brown also had a crash, one where he went down hard, which ended his race. Deegan charged by Swoll and made his way up to the rear wheel of Shimoda. Deegan made a pass before the finish line on the end of the 12th lap, taking over the race lead. Tom Vialle made his way past a few Triumph riders to take over third. Deegan took the race win the race win by nearly eight seconds. Garrett Marchbanks charged uo to fourth as Mikkep Haarup landed fifth in a strong ride. 

450 Class

The first 450 Clas moto got underway and it was Eli Tomac with the holeshot. Tomac led the first handful of laps until Hunter Lawrence made a pass for the lead. He started to gap the field as his younger brother Jett had to charge through the field after starting about 21st. It looked like Lawrence might have hit/went over the gate when it dropped. Chase Sexton made a pass on Tomac that moved the #1 machine into second place. And Eventually, Jett Lawrence made his way up to fourth behind his brother, Sexton, and Tomac. Sexton fended off the #18 machine in a good battle and then charged up to the rear of the #96. With two laps to go, Hunter Lawrence made a mistake, then another mistake! This allowed Sexton to take over the lead. The #1 machine brought it home the last two laps to take the moto win. Hunter and Jett Lawrence rounded out the podium.  Tomac went from first to finish seventh.

Second Motos

WMX

After Friday’s first moto, the second WMX moto was set for the break in between today’s first and second motos. The gates dropped and Kyleigh Stallings got a huge jump off the line, easily landing the holeshot. However, Shelby Rollen and Carrie Killebrew collided. Killebrew was stuck under her bike momentarily and then needed medical attention. By the time the leaders got to the finish line jump to start their first full lap, the red flag was out. Killebrew was taken off on a backboard.

The red flag called for a full gated restart. In order to keep the racing on schedule, the moto was shortened. Once again, Stallings got an extraordinary jump out of the gate and had the early lead. But by the time the field came out of the woods and up and down Godzilla hill, Lachlan Turner and Charli Cannon had both made moves past the #21 machine. Mikayla Nielsen also made a move on Stallings, this one for third. But late in the race, Nielsen had a crash at the top section of the track that dropped her a few positions. Stallings got back into third. Turner took the race win, going 1-1 for the overall win. Cannon landed 2-2 for second overall as Stallings rounded out the overall podium with 4-3 moto finishes. Jordan Jarvis was fourth overall with 5-4 finishes, then Nielsen rounded out the top five with 3-6 finishes.

Breaking News: Jett Lawrence Moto One Penalty

Jett Lawrence was penalized one lap for jumping the gate, per the AMA, which resulted in 13 total positions, after he hit the gate. So, instead of finishing third, the #18 is credited with finishing in 17th place, receiving only five points in the moto. 

The penalty now credits RJ Hampshire third place in the moto.

250 Class

The second moto began, and it was Haiden Deegan with the holeshot! Jo Shimoda kept him honest, but Deegan really rode well to pull away with the win by 12.331 seconds. Tom Vialle charged to third. Garrett Marchbanks and Ryder DiFrancesco battled for fourth overall but, eventually, Levi Kitchen and Drew Adams would both get by Marchbanks and DiFrancesco. Marchbanks was sixth, DiFrancesco came through 15th. Deegan hit the Deegan double jump with a huge fist pump as he took the race win! His 1-1 finishes will give him the overall win over Shimoda’s 2-2 finishes as Vialle brought home 3-3 finishes for third overall.

450 Class

Tomac holeshots the second 450 Class moto start! But Hunter Lawrence quickly gets into the race lead though as they head back into the woods section! Jett Lawrence also quickly made a pass on Tomac, who went from holeshot to third. then, Jett made a pass on his brother Hunter to take over the race lead! Chase Sexton was 11th early on but began charging forward. Then, he had a tip over on the top of Godzilla hill. With Sexton behind him, Hunter Lawrence was set up for the overall win while running in third…but then he made a mistake and went down a few laps later! Sexton had caught up to the rear wheel of the #96 and as the Australian remounted, Sexton barely went by!

But not even a second later, Sexton had an unusual crash! It looked like his bike had an issue, because he got kicked weird off the mulchy wall jump by the announcers’ tower. Then, he went to get going again and his front wheel was not spinning, causing another crash since he was gassing it as he remounted. He got up again and went to ride to his mechanic after his wheel finally starting turning but then his bike locked up yet again. About midway coming backwards down the starting straight as he was about to exit the track, the #1 machine was done, and the 2024 450 Pro Motocross Champion dropped his bike right there. He crossed the track, took his helmet off, and walked back to the pits, leaving his Red Bull KTM 450 SX-F behind on the track.

On the track, Jett Lawrence continued to roll away with the moto win as Tomac had some pressure from Hunter Lawrence. Tomac had a few seconds on the #96 machine but with three laps to go, Tomac stalled, giving up second place to Hunter Lawrence! Jett Lawrence took the race win over his brother Hunter, then Tomac, Hampshire, and Justin Cooper rounded out the top five.

In terms of the overall, Hunter Lawrence’s 2-2 finishes landed the #96 his maiden 450 Pro Motocross overall win. RJ Hampshire’s 3-4 scored second overall and Tomac’s 6-3 scored third overall.