Monday Morning Coffee

By Billy Rainford

Grab yourself another cup and let’s talk about some stuff. It was round 1 of the SMX Playoffs at zMAX Drag Strip in Concord, NC. My plan was to be able to hit one but not both of the first 2 rounds. I chose to go to St Louis and I have to say I’m pretty happy with that decision now.

The stadium is an 11-hour drive from my place and The Dome at America’s Center in St Louis is “only” 10 hours. The difference in distance didn’t make the biggest difference, but I’m glad things all came together that will see me at round 2 in the dry confines of a dome rather than taking my chances at an outdoor event after such a long drive.

I went to the first-ever SMX Playoffs round in North Carolina and it was great event, I thought. It was a little more difficult to cover than a standard Supercross but not as difficult as an AMA Pro Motocross national.

Also, at the time I made my choice, I wasn’t sure if we were going to have Cole Thompson on the line. He was riding his Bud’s Kawasaki getting ready for the World Supercross and then he said he was in for Round 1 on it. The all of a sudden he got the call from the AEO Powersports KTM team and he was switching it up again.

He went in ranked 32nd in the point structure and had to race the LCQ to make it into the motos. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it into this one and will have to regroup and try again this week.

We got photos from Brown Dog Wilson again for this race. He sent me a message saying that maybe he’s bad luck because we did the same for Budds Creek where Dylan Wright broke his back and Cole Pranger broke his femur!

In the 250 class, it looked like it was going to be #30 Jo Shimoda‘s day when #1 Haiden Deegan was back in around 15th off the start in moto 1. However, in the post-race interview, Haiden said he “had no doubt” he was going to the front.

#56 Seth Hammaker grabbed the holeshot and stretched out to a nice 12-13 second lead over #83 Austin Forkner who was having a great day and would end up 5th at the flag after running up in 2nd for a while.

At the halfway mark, Deegan had passed his was up to 2nd place and was just over 10 seconds behind Hammaker but moving up fast. You could see Seth start looking over his shoulder to see how fast his lead was disappearing.

With less than 2:00 remaining, Deegan was in the lead and and puling away. He crossed the line for what he thought was the first of 2 motos. After he rolled around the berm, he looked back for what looked like a mental game star-down at Hammaker to let him know he was beaten.

You can say what you want, but when someone passes you and then gives you that look after the flag, you don’t soon forget that they absolutely did put it to you both on the track and in your head.

250 Moto 1 Main Event Results

Notes: #56 Penalized 5 championship points for jumping on a red cross

#47 Penalized 5 championship points for jumping on a red cross and 1 position for passing on a red cross

POS	#	BIKE	RIDER	INTERVAL	BEST LAP (LAP #)	TOTAL TIME	HOMETOWN	TEAM
1	1		HAIDEN DEEGAN	12 Laps	1:58.776 (6)	12/23:38.200	Temecula, CA	Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
2	56		SETH HAMMAKER Holeshot	3.368	1:57.222 (2)	12/23:41.567	Bainbridge, PA	Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
3	30		JO SHIMODA	6.767	1:56.381 (2)	12/23:44.967	Suzuka, Japan	Honda HRC Progressive
4	47		LEVI KITCHEN	5.064	56.750 (12)	12/23:43.264	Washougal, WA	Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
5	83		AUSTIN FORKNER	22.989	1:58.596 (2)	12/24:01.189	Richards, MO	Triumph Factory Racing
6	25		RYDER DIFRANCESCO	24.485	1:59.818 (2)	12/24:02.685	Bakersfield, CA	Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing
7	16		TOM VIALLE	25.550	1:59.978 (2)	12/24:03.751	Avignon, France	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
8	100		COLE DAVIES	26.691	1:58.840 (2)	12/24:04.891	Waitoki, New Zealand	Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
9	41		NATE THRASHER	27.665	2:00.727 (6)	12/24:05.865	Livingston, TN	Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
10	26		TY MASTERPOOL	31.199	1:59.262 (3)	12/24:09.399	Paradise, TX	Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
11	98		DREW ADAMS	33.848	2:00.434 (3)	12/24:12.048	Chattanooga Tennessee	Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki
12	92		MAXIMUS VOHLAND	37.126	2:01.078 (3)	12/24:15.326	Temecula, CA	Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX Yamaha
13	31		MAX ANSTIE	42.511	2:02.426 (7)	12/24:20.710	United Kingdom	Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
14	44		DILAN SCHWARTZ	50.516	2:01.771 (7)	12/24:28.716	Alpine, CA	Toyota Redlands BarX Yamaha
15	34		DAXTON BENNICK	53.604	2:01.352 (3)	12/24:31.804	Morganton, NC	Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
16	59		CULLIN PARK	59.339	2:01.026 (2)	12/24:37.538	Clermont, FL	Phoenix Racing Honda
17	19		JORDON SMITH	1:11.305	2:00.039 (8)	12/24:49.505	Belmont, NC	Triumph Racing Factory Team
18	65		LUX TURNER	1:16.237	2:02.510 (2)	12/24:54.437	Gardnerville, NV	AEO Powersports KTM Racing Team
19	75		GAGE LINVILLE	1:19.172	2:03.611 (3)	12/24:57.372	Lake Park, GA	The Dirt Bike Depot
20	302		PARKER ROSS	1:46.015	2:02.858 (3)	12/25:24.215	Herald, CA	Toyota Redlands BarX Yamaha
21	55		HENRY MILLER	10 Laps	2:03.100 (2)	2/3:40.319	Rochester, MN	MX6 Racing
22	36		GARRETT MARCHBANKS	10 Laps	2:02.419 (2)	2/3:43.093	Coalville, UT

IN the 450 class, #1 Jett Lawrence grabbed the holeshot and never looked back. On a track as rutted and soft as part of this one were, you knew nobody was going to have anything for him unless #3 Eli Tomac put on one of his wild, edge-of-your seat rides, but it didn’t happen.

ON lap 1 it was Lawrence, Tomac, #94 Ken Roczen, #4 Chase Sexton, and then #96 Hunter Lawrence closing in. #32 Justin Cooper had the red plate but was dead last off the start.

Tomac messed up in a rut at the 5:00 mark of the race and Sexton moved into 2nd place, anout 5 down on Lawrence out front.

You could see the weather start to make a turn for the worse as the wind picked up and things started to get tossed around.

At the flag it was Lawrence, Sexton, Tomac and H. Lawrence.

The day was stopped there as there was lightning in the sky and it lasted until they started losing light. If you scan the comment section of just about any post on the subject, the fans were none too impressed with this decision.

450 Moto 1 Main Event Results

POS	#	BIKE	RIDER	INTERVAL	BEST LAP (LAP #)	TOTAL TIME	HOMETOWN	TEAM
1	1		JETT LAWRENCE Holeshot	12 Laps	1:58.868 (6)	12/23:31.477	Landsborough, Australia	Honda HRC Progressive
2	4		CHASE SEXTON	3.865	1:58.778 (6)	12/23:35.342	La Moille, IL	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
3	3		ELI TOMAC	7.531	1:58.767 (6)	12/23:39.008	Cortez, CO	Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing
4	96		HUNTER LAWRENCE	9.868	1:58.439 (6)	12/23:41.344	Landsborough, Australia	Honda HRC Progressive
5	24		R.J. HAMPSHIRE	25.590	2:00.228 (6)	12/23:57.067	Hudson, FL	Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
6	94		KEN ROCZEN	31.054	2:00.358 (5)	12/24:02.530	Mattstedt, Germany	Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
7	2		COOPER WEBB	52.072	2:02.235 (5)	12/24:23.549	Newport, NC	Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
8	14		DYLAN FERRANDIS	57.003	2:02.443 (3)	12/24:28.480	Avignon, France	Phoenix Racing Honda
9	17		JOEY SAVATGY	1:02.075	2:02.589 (3)	12/24:33.552	Clermont, FL	Quadlock Honda Racing
10	51		JUSTIN BARCIA	1:13.131	2:03.279 (6)	12/24:44.608	Monroe NY	Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing
11	32		JUSTIN COOPER	1:15.979	2:02.870 (3)	12/24:47.456	Cold Spring Harbor, NY	Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing
12	57		BENNY BLOSS	1:31.685	2:05.137 (2)	12/25:03.162	Oak Grove, MO	Factory Liqui Moly Beta Racing
13	46		JUSTIN HILL	1:33.900	2:04.955 (4)	12/25:05.377	Yoncalla, OR	Team Tedder Racing
14	992		VALENTIN GUILLOD	1:41.913	2:03.919 (5)	12/25:13.390	Motier, Switzerland	Gizmo Mods Rock River Yamaha Racing
15	12		SHANE MCELRATH	1:42.828	2:05.639 (4)	12/25:14.305	Oakland, FL	Quadlock Honda Racing
16	15		DEAN WILSON	1:48.161	2:05.793 (3)	12/25:19.637	Glasgow, Scotland	Honda HRC Progressive
17	49		MITCHELL OLDENBURG	1:49.579	2:05.459 (3)	12/25:21.056	Alvord, TX	Liqui Moly Beta Factory Racing
18	37		COTY SCHOCK	1:52.404	2:05.539 (2)	12/25:23.880	Dover, DE	Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX Yamaha
19	42		HARRI KULLAS	1:54.339	2:06.746 (5)	12/25:25.816	Tallinn, Estonia	MRPSBR Husqvarna Racing
20	86		MITCHELL HARRISON	1 Lap	2:08.598 (7)	11/23:33.348	Brighton, MI	Partzilla Blaster PRMX Racing
21	68		JEREMY HAND	1 Lap	2:07.530 (2)	11/23:40.059	Mantua, OH	Valley Motorsports
22	53		ROMAIN PAPE	1 Lap	2:07.763 (7)	11/24:17.794	Morlaix, France	The McGinley Clinic Privateer Support Program

We now move to St Louis where the overall points will be doubled before they are tripled at the final round in Las Vegas the following week.

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MONACO (Principailty of Monaco) 8 September 2025 – Infront Moto Racing is delighted to share the provisional entry list for the 2025 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations, scheduled at the legendary Ironman Raceway from October 3 to 5, has been unveiled. A total of 38 nations is set to compete, delivering some of the sport’s most accomplished athletes on a truly global stage.

Team USA will take full advantage of the home turf advantage with a powerhouse lineup. Eli Tomac, making his sixth MXoN appearance, brings his wealth of experience. He will be joined by Chase Sexton, the reigning AMA Pro Motocross Champion, and the highly anticipated debutant Haiden Deegan who is highly regarded as one of the most talented rider of his generation.

Team Australia, the defending champions, return with an all-star team composed of the unstoppable Lawrence brothers, Jett and Hunter, alongside Kyle Webster, looking to repeat their 2024 success.

Europe’s representation is both robust and competitive: Team France has already named their team with current MXGP red plate Romain Febvre, Maxime Renaux and Mathis Valin. Team Belgium will be another serious contender with Lucas and Sacha Coenen and Liam Everts. Team Netherlands is poised to field a strong squad with Glenn Coldenhoff, Kay de Wolf and Calvin Vlaanderen.

Team Spain with Rubén Fernández, Guillem Farrés, and Francisco García filling out the team while Team Germany has finalizsd a formidable lineup with Ken Roczen, Simon Längenfelder and Maximilian Spies, blending star power with rising talent.

Meanwhile, Team Italy will lean into its rich motocross heritage with the legendary Tony Cairoli expected to lead the charge along with Andrea Bonacorsi and Andrea Adamo while five-time World Champion Tim Gajser will be leading Team Slovenia.

This edition of the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations is shaping up to be truly exceptional with stellar lineups, deep cross-continental participation, and the added drama of defending champions and legendary names all converging at Ironman Raceway.

It’s going to have to be short and sweet this week. I did a 6-hour MTB relay with Greg Poisson Sunday and I had planned on talking about that here, but I’m way out of time. I shot GoPro video of the race agin this time but I heard the tell-tale *beep* mid lap a couple times that told me there was a problem. It turned out I was suffering the old SD Card Error, so I’ll pop them in the computer now and see if anything is still there.

Have a great week, everyone.

See you at the races…