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Morning Report

This is it. After 16 rounds of incredible racing, which have yielded results that’ve made this one of the most unpredictable and gripping championship battles of all time, it ends tonight. Separated by just one point, Ken Roczen and Hunter Lawrence are in for the race of their lives—whoever beats the other will emerge as the 2027 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Champion. On the outside, both riders seem to be handling the pressure well. At yesterday’s press conference both of them expressed that they were trying to treat the situation like a normal race weekend. Easier said than done, no doubt, but as Roczen mentioned yesterday, the relentless work put in during the week is what helps with confidence in these pressure cooker scenarios.

As serious as this championship situation is for those directly involved, it’s equally as exciting for everyone else. For fans of the sport, could there be anything better than a championship going down to the final race in a winner-take-all situation?! Even Lawrence mentioned it in the press conference yesterday, saying this is the type of scenario he used to dream of as a kid. When asked to sum it all up his words were, “So sick!”

In the 250 Class there is literally zero pressure. Both championships have been decided, with Cole Davies taking top honors in the 250SX East Division, and Haiden Deegan winning the title in the 250SX West Division. Even so, it’s going to be exciting to see the East/West Showdown, and to watch Deegan in his final race aboard a 250.

The track is fairly basic, except for the whoops. They’re huge, and in yesterday’s riding sessions they were giving riders fits, with plenty of riders getting sketchy in them. Counting the smaller starter whoop, there are twelve, which is more than we’ve seen this season. The whoops are followed by a long, sweeping righthand sand section, which, depending on how it shapes up, could be a difference maker later tonight. It's hot here and the sun is beating down, so expect the track to get pretty dry and slick.

Qualifying is set to begin shortly, so check back soon for a report on who’s cooking in Salt Lake City.

Qualifying – First Sessions

The 250SX qualifiers are separated between the East and West riders, with the West Division going first. Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but it was all Deegan in the first qualifier. He initially set a fast time of 50.313, but he would lower that a few times, eventually closing out at 49.113. He looked like he was having fun out there, and he even pulled a nac-nac out of nowhere.

In the first 250SX East qualifier Seth Hammaker was fast early, posting a 50.423, but he quickly lowered that to 49.831. By the end of the session he’d turned a 49.830. Hammaker was up top in this one the whole time and was never challenged, even by Cole Davies, whose fastest lap ended up being a 51.045

When the 450s came out Justin Hill spent some time up top with a 50.393, but Eli Tomac quickly took over with a 49.941. Hunter Lawrence was fastest briefly with a 49.631, but Tomac retaliated with a 49.494.

Tomac had a really cool line where he was wheelieing over a single and launching off the next jump over a long gap, then landing one jump deep into the next set of jumps. It looked impressive, and we didn’t see any other riders doing it. Ken Roczen never looked like he was pushing it out there. In fact, his fastest lap, a 50.111, came on a lap when it looked like he’d made multiple mistakes!

There’s a single jump right before a 180-degree bowl turn that some riders are using to jump deep into the berm. They’re setting up for the berm in the air and are already turning as they land. It’s nothing crazy, skill-wise, but it sure looks cool! The whoops look like they’re starting to get chewed up, and a bunch of the 450 guys opted to go around them when they weren’t on hot laps.

Qualifying – Second Sessions

The 250SX East Division went out first for the second round of qualifiers and once again, it was the Seth Hammaker show. He turned a 49.284 early, then closed the session out with a 48.871. He was absolutely ripping out there and he looked good everywhere, especially the sand. He was jumping out of the whoops into the sand section, jumping again, and ripping out. It looked clean and super-fast. Cole Davies was third fastest, posting a 50.134.

In 250SX West action it was once again all Deegan. 49.249. He was fast everywhere on the track and never looked like anything was giving him any trouble. He closed the session out with a 49.249. It’s going to be interesting to see how he and Hammaker stack up against each other later tonight. Levi Kitchen looked great, but the stopwatch doesn’t care how fast you look. Kitchen’s best lap was a 50.025.

When the 450s came out Justin Hill was once again fastest, posting a 49.188. In one section he was staying low on a small double, wheel tapping the top of the landing, and flying through the next set of jumps. We saw a few other riders try that line, including Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb, but nobody looked quite as good as Hill did there. Hill’s time was fast enough that nobody topped it until the end, when Tomac busted out a 49.065. Ken Roczen didn't have the best outing, turning a 49.864 for ninth-fastest. He didn't look horrible, but he didn't look razor sharp, either.

250SX – Heat One

Landen Gordon nailed the holeshot with Nick Romano in tow. Seth Hammaker ran third, with Cole Davies close behind in fourth. Hammaker took about a lap to get by Romano, but he blew right by him in the whoops. He then immediately went to work reeling in Gordon. He got up to Gordon quickly, but had a difficult time making a move stick. Time and time again he was side-by-side with Gordon, but Gordon found a way to hold onto the spot. Finally Hammaker initiated a pass in the whoops, and finished it in the sand section right after. A lap later Davies was able to get around Gordon too, and with two laps left he trailed Hammaker by about two seconds. That was enough of a gap for Hammaker, who took the win with Davies, Gordon, Nate Thrasher, Devin Simonson, Romano, Derek Kelly, Coty Schock, and Luke Clout filling the transfer spots. Gavin Towers almost zapped Clout in the last turn of the last lap for ninth, but Clout managed to fight him off.

250SX – Heat Two

If you wanted a close battle for the lead in this one, too bad. The holeshot went to Haiden Deegan, who proceeded to check out and win by a mile. There was plenty happening behind him though. Kayden Minear held second, but he had Cameron McAdoo all over him. Finally Minear made a mistake and slid out right before the finish line. He didn’t crash, but it was enough for McAdoo to set up a pass in the next turn. Kitchen went by a couple laps later, then made a run on McAdoo with two laps remaining. He pulled up alongside McAdoo in the whoops, but couldn’t make it stick. Kitchen stayed on him, and one lap later Kitchen used a great drive through the whoops to close on McAdoo, then go around him in the sand section to make the pass on the final lap. Deegan won, with Kitchen, McAdoo, Minear, Lux Turner, Max Vohland, Max Anstie, Parker Ross, and Hunter Yoder filling the transfer spots.

450SX – Heat One

Jorge Prado kicked off the first 450SX heat race with a holeshot, followed by Chase Sexton, Justin Cooper, and Justin Hill. For several laps not much happened, but as the race progressed Cooper started losing touch with Prado and Sexton, and briefly came under fire from Hill. Cooper was able to get back away from Hill, but he was out of the race for the win.

Up front Sexton was patiently biding his time behind Prado, and with just under two minutes left he cut inside Prado and made the pass. Sexton then hit the burners and checked out for the win.

Elsewhere Colt Nichols was on the outside looking in, running tenth behind Cole Thompson and Mitchell Harrison. He was right on them but wasn’t making a move. Finally an opportunity presented itself, and Nichols was able to motor by Thompson for the final spot. Sexton won, with Prado, Cooper, Hill, Dylan Ferrandis, Dean Wilson, Christian Craig, Harrison, and Nichols transferring to the main.

450SX – Heat Two

Both Hunter Lawrence and Ken Roczen got out of the gate well, but Roczen got shuffled back a few spots while Lawrence took the holeshot. Tomac went down in the second corner, it looked like he came up short on a jump, and he looked hurt. He didn’t get up for a couple minutes and was clutching his leg. He got up eventually and was able to walk of under his own power, but he was in obvious pain.

Up front Lawrence had about four seconds on Justin Barcia and Roczen, while Roczen was working on getting around Barcia. Roczen eventually did get by, but he had a ways to go to catch Lawrence. At this point they both set their fastest laps, with Roczen’s lap being about half a second faster, but then Roczen went down all by himself in a righthander. When he went to pick up the bike the rear wheel was still spinning and the bike did a donut with Roczen hanging on! When he got going again he’d dropped spots to Barcia and Malcolm Stewart.

Lawrence won, and Barcia, Stewart, Roczen, Cooper Webb, Garrett Marchbanks, Vince Friese, Shane McElrath, and Jordon Smith filled the remaining transfer spots.

250SX – LCQ

Ryder DiFrancesco snuck up the inside to take the holeshot, but he had Justin Rodbell all over him. You read that right, Rodbell was all over DiFrancesco, and as the race progressed Rodbell wasn’t giving Francesco an inch. Unfortunately the race was red flagged due to Brandon Ray going down and needing medical attention. The put him on a stretcher with his neck in a brace, but he was moving his legs, so that’s a good sign. He also gave a thumbs up as he was leaving the stadium in the back of the Alpinestars Medical Mule.

On the restart Gage Linville had a good start going but he overcooked the corner just a little bit and slid out. Up front it was DiFrancesco and Rodbell again, although this time DiFrancesco had some breathing room. Rodbell didn’t however, as he had Henry Miller all over him. As the race progressed Miller continued to harass Rodbell, and the two started catching DiFrancesco. Miller finally threw a block pass on Rodbell to take over second. In fourth was Gavin Towers with a decent gap over Crockett Myers. The top four seemed content to stay in their positions, and that’s where they’d finish—DiFrancesco, Miller, Rodbell and Towers to the main. Daxton Bennick was in this but he finished eighth, just ahead of Linville.

450SX – LCQ

Grant Harlan shot out to the holeshot with Tristan Lane right on him. Cade Clason, in his final day of racing supercross, held third, with Cole Thompson in fourth. Kyle Chisholm Lurked in fifth early, but he was dealing with heavy pressure from Kevin Moranz. Chisholm fought him off for a little while but finally Moranz had the line and jumped to the inside. One turn later Moranz crashed all by himself. His bike was in the way and Scott Meshy was able to get by Chisholm. It didn’t matter much though because the top four of Harlan, Lane, Clason, and Thompson were motoring away. Just like in the 250SX LCQ, the top four weren’t battling and they seemed happy to just finish out the race in qualifying position. That’s what they did, too, with Harlan, Lane, Clason, and Thompson wrapping up the final transfer spots of the year.

250SX – Main Event

Haiden Deegan looked like he was going to holeshot, but it was Max Anstie who came out on top. Deegan looked like he was going to slice by in the sand section, but he made a tiny mistake that prevented him from making a move. Right behind Deegan was Cole Davies, and the crowd erupted when Davies looked like he was going to go by Deegan in the whoops. Deegan held him off though, then went on the attack on Max. It didn’t take long either, as Deegan jumped by Anstie, then blasted through the whoops and immediately started pulling away. Davies wasn’t able to pass Anstie as easily, but after a couple laps Davies knifed past on the inside.

Behind Anstie were Cameron McAdoo and Seth Hammaker. McAdoo had a good pace, but Hammaker was itching to get by. Try as he might he couldn’t make a move on McAdoo, but then McAdoo crashed all by himself in the whoops. It looked like the opening Hammaker needed, but then Hammaker crashed all by himself in the whoops!

Up front Davies had caught Deegan and the crowd was going crazy. Then they exploded when Davies blasted past him through the whoops. But Deegan then cut inside in the ensuing sand section and cut Davies off to retake the lead. It then turned into a game of cat and mouse, with Deegan anticipating Davies’ moves and blocking him. Then Davies ran it up the inside of Deegan and hit him, causing Deegan to nearly go down. Davies took off with the lead and the crowd responded, roaring their approval.

There was a lot of time left in the race though, and Deegan regrouped and started reeling Davies back in. He was taking big chunks out of Davies’ lead, but he got impatient and went for a block pass too soon when he didn’t have the line and went down. Davies stayed upright and took off, while Deegan crashed again all by himself a few turns later. The whole sequence of events had the crowd going insane!

Davies took the win, with Levi Kitchen, Anstie, Deegan, and Ryder DiFrancesco rounding out the top five. As Deegan was leaving the stadium floor he stopped by Davies and the two fist bumped.

450SX – Main Event

Hunter Lawrence got a great jump out of the gate, but Ken Roczen got a great start too and muscled his way into the lead in the second turn. It was on at this point, and Roczen proceeded to lay down some extremely fast laps. After about three laps he had about a second-and-a-half on Lawrence, but Lawrence wasn’t going away and he ever so slowly started taking chunks back out of Roczen’s lead.

After five minutes Lawrence had closed to within two bike lengths of Roczen. For everything that was on the line, Roczen sure looked relaxed and didn’t look like he was pushing ultrahard. Meanwhile, Jorge Prado was starting to sneak up on them! Soon Prado was somehow all over Lawrence, forcing him to have to ride defensively. Roczen was able to get away just a little, but Prado stayed in touch. Lawrence then caught back up to Roczen’s rear wheel, but then Roczen squirted back away with a great drive through the whoops! Suddenly Roczen looked like he started riding with some urgency and dropped the hammer and started getting away. Lawrence then made a mistake and went off the track, but he barely lost any time. Half a lap later Lawrence made a mistake when he washed out going into a righthand bowl turn. Just like that, this championship was over.

Behind Roczen Prado held second, about three seconds back, but with about five minutes left Chase Sexton was pressuring him hard. As the two sailed over the finish line jump Sexton cut to the inside and put a beautiful pass on the inside of Prado. Sexton’s lap times were lower than Roczen’s at this point, and he started inching toward Roczen. With about a minute left he’d closed on Roczen and you could tell he was itching to make a pass. He didn’t want to do anything that would result in Roczen going down though, and he waited until he could be sure he could do it cleanly. Then Roczen found himself in the middle of Prado, Justin Cooper, and Cooper Webb! After a few tense moments that group went by, leaving Roczen unscathed. Sexton took the win, with Cooper, Prado, Webb, and Roczen rounding out the top five. Lawrence finished seventh.