2021 Pala Pro Motocross 2 Results

Dylan Ferrandis became the first Frenchman in 30 years (since Jean-Michele Bayle) to win an AMA Motocross Championship in the premier class after clinching the 2021 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross with one round still left on the championship calendar. Ferrandis did what he had to do at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, to seal the deal and that was to finish ahead of Ken Roczen, the only rider who had a chance of prolonging the championship to the end. Ferrandis’ 1-2, which gave him second overall on the day, was more than enough to beat out Roczen’s 3-6 (fourth overall) and give Ferrandis the AMA number-one plate, which he was handed at the end of the day.

“I dreamed as a kind of winning the 250cc Championship but never thought of the 450cc Championship,” a thrilled Ferrandis said. “I’ve run out of emotions.”

Ferrandis won the title in his rookie year in the 450cc class, as did his Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha Team. “This is unreal,” Ferrandis said. “[And to] win before the end of the season, it’s crazy!”

Roczen obviously struggled in the 100-degree heat. After finishing third in the first moto, Roczen skipped the after-race podium interviews and headed straight back to the Honda pits to start his recovery for moto two as soon as possible. With the championship on the line, Roczen came out swinging in the second moto and was running second behind Ferrandis after the first lap, but Roczen could not maintain the lead pace and eventually slipped back to sixth in the heat, getting passed by Max Anstie three laps from the finish. Roczen congratulated Ferrandis right after the race then headed back to the pits to cool off.

Eli Tomac was the day’s overall winner for the second week in a row. The Monster Energy Kawasaki Team rider, who will be Ferrandis’ teammate next year at Star Yamaha, went 2-1, dominating the second moto after passing into the lead and riding off with the win, which was his fifth moto win of the season. Tomac’s late-season charge has brought him up to Roczen and is threatening the Honda rider for second in the championship. Tomac is now just nine points behind Roczen with two motos left at Hangtown next week.

Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb got on the podium in third with another strong ride, going 4-3 on the day.

Christian Craig (Yamaha) rounded out the top five with a 5-4, and Max Anstie, who sat out the last round after testing positive for Covid-19, had his best ride of the season with sixth overall on the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports Suzuki.

Coty Schock, Brandon Hartranft, Joey Savatgy, and Fredrik Noren completed the top 10 overall.

Honda’s Chase Sexton sat out the Pala 2 round after being diagnosed with an enlarged spleen earlier in the week.

In the 250cc class, Jett Lawrence went 1-1 for the second time in a row and his late-season charge has put his one hand on the title after Justin Cooper went 5-2 on the day for third overall.

Cooper, the closest rider to Lawrence in the championship, said he gave it his all in both motos but did not have the speed to fight Lawrence. With two motos left in the championship, Cooper now trails Lawrence by 23 points.

Michael Mosiman, on the TLD/Red Bull GasGas, had a strong day going 2-4 for second overall, while Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) put in another solid ride, especially in the second moto after passing Mosiman for third, went 4-3 for fourth overall.

Hunter Lawrence made it two factory-back Hondas in the top five with 6-6 motos.

RJ Hampshire, Dilan Schwartz, Josh Varize, Levi Kitchen, and Austin Forkner rounded out the top 10.

The top four riders in the championship, Jett Lawrence, Cooper, Hunter Lawrence, and Hampshire, all but have a lock on their respective positions in the championship going into the final round next week at Hangtown. Shimoda will most likely move up to fifth next week and overtake the injured Jeremy Martin. CN

2021 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship

Round 11 of 12

Maxxis Fox Raceway 2 National

Fox Raceway

Pala, California

RESULTS (September 4, 2021)

450MX Overall (Top 10)

450MX POINT STANDINGS (After 11 of 12 rounds)

250MX Overall (Top 10)

250MX POINT STANDINGs (After 11 of 12 rounds)