Champion Chase

Luckily for Chase Sexton, the championship chase was over in the first moto at Ironman Raceway, as he took the moto win and Hunter Lawrence, second in the championship, took third. While he would wait until after the second moto to officially receive the 2024 450 Class AMA Pro Motocross Championship #1 plate, Sexton would put a stamp on the championship in the second race, finishing 1-1 for the sixth time this season. In doing so, Sexton becomes the:

-First KTM rider to win the 450 Class Pro Motocross title since Ryan Dungey in 2015.

-Fifth different rider to win the 450 Class Pro Motocross title in the last five years.

Last 5 450 Class Pro Motocross Champions

Sexton led the class in moto wins (13), overall wins (7), overall podiums (10), moto podiums (19), moto top fives (18), and total laps led (101).

Congrats, champ!

Big Day for KTM

According to MX Sports Pro Racing’s Brandon Short it was KTM'S first sweep of the overall wins in MX since the first race at Ironman in 2014. At the first ever Pro Motocross race at Ironman Raceway, Marvin Musquin won the 250 Class overall with 3-1 moto finishes as Ken Roczen finished 1-2 for the 450 Class overall win.

KTM Pro Motocross overall wins have come few and far between the last handful of years in both classes. Add in Plessinger finishing second overall plus the team celebrating both Sexton’s title AND the manufacture’s award, it was quite a big day for the Red Bull KTM team and the KTM brand as a whole.

Head Up, Hunter

Despite coming up second in the points, it was still still a huge year for Hunter Lawrence. Behind Sexton, the #96 was second in most categories this summer and had a really strong debut 450 Pro Motocross season. Three moto wins, holding the red plate for multiple rounds, being a consistent moto and overall podium threat, it was impressive by the Australian. His mindset has proven to be "working towards the future" (especially since he debuted the '25 Honda CRF450R earlier than expected at the Unadilla National) and his championship run this summer really boosted his abilities for 2025. Keep your head up, Hunter!

Tomac and Hampshire Back on Podium

In impressive fashion for different reasons, both RJ Hampshire and Eli Tomac returned to the overall podium in their respective classes at the Pro Motocross finale. Hampshire picked up his 12th career 250 Class overall MX podium finish as Tomac picked up his 73rd career 450 Class overall MX podium. Both riders were racing just their second round of Pro Motocross after returning from injuries earlier this year and both finished with 4-3 motos. Hampshire gritted through his wrist injury to give a hint that he might have been a contender all season long, and the legendary Tomac showed some of that ET3 speed after limited time back at the races. Oh and yes, it was odd for Tomac to have a press conference alongside 250 Class podium finishers Hampshire and Chance Hymas, but that is probably something Hymas will remember later down his career. Hampshire might have the chance to race Tomac next summer in 450 Pro Motocross!

Back on a 250F

Ken Roczen made his return to racing a 250F for the first time since the Lake Elsinore National in August 2013! This means Roczen's last race was 4,018 days prior to him racing at the Ironman National. And the last time Roczen was on a Suzuki RM-Z250? Try 5,095 days! Roczen was last on a Suzuki RM-Z250 at the 2010 Motocross of Nations event October 2010! Roczen was up in the top five of the first moto before finishing 9-12 for ninth overall.

Awards

2024 Pro Motocross 250 Class Rookie of the Year: Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM, 11th in championship)
250 Class Champion Mechanic Award: Brent Duffe (mechanic for Deegan)
450 Class Champion Mechanic Award: Kyle Defoe (mechanic for Sexton)
2024 Manufacturer’s Cup: KTM
2024 Team of the Year: Red Bull KTM
2024 Team Manager of the Year: Ian Harrison (Red Bull KTM)
2024 Truck Driver of the Year Award: Brian Barnhart (Monster Energy Kawasaki)
2024 MX Sports Pro Racing Humanitarian Award: Ted Parks (TPJ Racing)

Post(s) of the Week

Jason Watkins said it all…

Photo of the Week

Shout-out to our guy Adam Merrow of Align Media for taking this epic shot of Sexton launching his bike after the second moto. 

SMX Points Update

Chase Sexton (450SMX) and Haiden Deegan (250SMX) end the Pro Motocross season with the lead in their respective classes in the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) qualifying system. The two will enter the first SMX playoff round with 25 points each, whereas Levi Kitchen and Hunter Lawrence (second in 250SMX and 450SMX, respectively) will both enter with 22 points and so on down through the top 20. Remember, round one will be single points for the overall scoring, round two will be double points, and the finale will be triple points.

Vlogs

Ironman Raceway National 2024 Best Post-Race Show Ever

Weege Show: The Ironman Burnout Party (And Chase Sexton)

Dean Wilson: MY LAST NATIONAL! THE LAST FIGHT FOR SMX POINTS!

Chase Sexton Wins the 2024 450 AMA Pro Motocross Championship | Alpinestars

Haiden Deegan: Ironman Pro Motocross Round 11 | Hit a Jump So Big They Took It Out!

Shane McElrath: Battling The Factory Boys - SM12 Motocross Vlog

Derek Kelley: Last Round of Pro Motocross for the Year (Ironman National Raceday Vlog 2024)

Kevin Moranz: FINAL MX ROUND | Kevin Moranz Ironman MX Vlog