Cole Davies: “It’s not the way you’d expect to get your first win, after Haiden and Jo were penalized, but that first moto was good overall”

Cole Davies is now a moto winner in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship. The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider had a breakout year as a rookie in Monster Energy AMA Supercross, earning four total 250SX podiums and two main event wins (one of which was a 250SX East/West Showdown) while finishing second in the 250SX West Division Championship to teammate Haiden Deegan. Unfortunately, he missed the finale gate drop after a collision with Jordon Smith in qualifying. The incident left him with a broken arm and broken nose, which delayed his debut in Pro Motocross.

The #100 returned for the Unadilla Naitonal, where he finished 23rd in both motos for 26th overall. Davies said after the Unadilla National:

“First weekend back is done and dusted. It’s not the result we wanted, but it's good to get some gate drops and leave Unadilla healthy. We’ll keep progressing and set our sights on Budds Creek.”

At his second Pro Motocross race, and his first go at Budds Creek Motocross Park, Davies was running in the top ten when the race was red flagged before one full lap was complete. When the red AND red cross flags were both out, several riders jumped the big uphill double after the mechanics’ area, which resulted in penalties, most importantly to Haiden Deegan and Jo Shimoda. Davies was second off the restart behind Tom Vialle, but Vialle tipped over and Davies started to lead. He was eventually bested by Deegan and Shimoda but came through the checkered flag third in just his third career MX moto. Then, the penalties were given to both Shimoda and Deegan, crediting Davies as the moto winner. First, Shimoda’s penalty bumped him from second to third, then Deegan’s penalty bumped him from first to second, thus giving Davies first place.