Ryan Nitzen | August 10, 2024
We are SO back! After a two week hiatus the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship returns for the Unadilla National, round nine of the series in New Berlin, New York. Heavy rains soaked the area overnight which made for tough conditions in the morning’s practice sessions but the track looks good to go for today’s racing.
After four motos it’s Levi Kitchen and Chase Sexton standing atop their respective podiums.
Welcome to Una-friggin-Dilla! Photos: Alex Kelley
450MX
Moto 1
The first 450 moto set the tone for some close racing action at Unadilla. Hunter Lawrence put his new Honda 450 at the front of the pack by the end of lap one and technically led every one of the 15 laps.
Hunter Lawrence led every lap of the first 450 moto. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
It looked a lot easier on paper though as Chase Sexton kept him honest for the entire second half of the moto. The former teammates were never more than 2 seconds apart but Lawrence held on for the moto win. Sexton’s efforts rewared him with a close second place finish.
Sexton was a close second.
Aaron Plessinger grabbed the holeshot early on and led most of the first lap. He ran up front for the first half of the race but eventually lost the tow and finished a distant third.
Plessinger’s third set him up for an overall podium.
Moto 2
The second moto turned out to be the Chase Sexton show. The points leader took his first holeshot of the year and opened up a lead of six seconds on the opening lap. Sexton sprinted away with the lead and found himself 15 seconds up at the halfway point of the moto. He cruised to an easy victory and claimed the overall win with 2-1 finishes.
Sexton dominated moto two.
Hunter Lawrence suffered a poor start in moto two and came out 10th on the opening lap. He continued to charge for the duration of the race and passed Dylan Ferrandis for second with just two laps to go. His 1-2 scores gave him second on the day.
Aaron Plessinger’s fourth place performance in the second moto bumped him to third overall despite Ferrandis’ third place in the moto
450 Podium.
450MX Overall Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Chase Sexton |
(KTM) |
2-1 |
| 2. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon ) |
1-2 |
| 3. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
3-4 |
| 4. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Hon) |
6-3 |
| 5. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
5-5 |
| 6. |
Justin Cooper |
(Yam) |
4-7 |
| 7. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
7-6 |
| 8. |
Christian Craig |
(Hus) |
9-8 |
| 9. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
10-9 |
| 10. |
Grant Harlan |
(Yam) |
11-10 |
250MX
Moto 1
Chance Hymas was undeniably the fastest 250 qualifier and pushed his way to the lead on the first lap of the first 250 moto. The Honda rider opened up a huge eight second lead before hitting the deck in spectacular fashion. He managed to remount and crossed the line 22nd.
Kitchen led the way on lap one.
Hymas quickly took over the lead before later falling.
With Hymas out of the lead, Levi Kitchen and Haiden Deegan found themselves duking it out for the lead. Deegan made his way around but Kitchen kept things close and the two crossed the line just 1.5 seconds apart.
Deegan battled his way past Kitchen.
Deegan’s Star Racing Yamaha teammate, Max Anstie, held on for third in the moto.
Anstie battled with Deegan early on and held on for third in the moto.
Moto 2
Kitchen rebounded in moto two with a big holeshot while Deegan crossed the line outside of the podium contention. The Kawasaki rider held the lead while Honda’s Jo Shimoda stayed in a close second. Shimoda later hit the deck just before the Sky Shot and did not finish the race. With Shimoda out of the moto, Kitchen cruised to victory and the overall win with 2-1 scores.
Kitchen cruised to the win and the overall in moto two.
Shimoda stayed in a close second before crashing out of the race.
Deegan crossed the line second but finished 15 seconds back. After watching others crash out of the race, he said he’d rather back it down than go down and subject his points lead. 1-2 finished put him second on the day.
Deegan played it safe for second overall.
Swoll’s 6-4 gav him third overall.
Tom Vialle crashed in moto one but bounced back to take third in the second moto. He finished a distant 30 seconds off the leader but still scored a moto podium on the day. After taking 22nd in the first moto he takes 11th on the day. Jalek Swoll’s 6-4 earned him third overall.
250 Podium.
250MX Overall Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Kaw) |
2-1 |
| 2. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
1-2 |
| 3. |
Jalek Swoll |
(Tri) |
6-4 |
| 4. |
Garrett Marchbanks |
(Kaw) |
5-5 |
| 5. |
Max Anstie |
(Yam) |
3-8 |
| 6. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
7-7 |
| 7. |
Jordon Smith |
(Yam) |
12-6 |
| 8. |
Ty Masterpool |
(Kaw) |
9-9 |
| 9. |
Julien Beaumer |
(KTM) |
8-10 |
| 10. |
Ryder DiFrancesco |
(GG) |
10-11 |
– – – – –
Unadilla Notes
- Chase Sexton continues to lead the points by 28 over Hunter Lawrence.
- Hunter Lawrence has made the full-time switch to the 2025 CRF450R. He’ll debut on the new bike today.
- Ken Roczen returns to Pro Motocross for his first race back since getting injured at the Nashville Supercross.
- Cooper Webb is back after injuring his thumb during Supercross.
- Colt Nichols joins the Twisted Tea HEP Suzuki.
- Shane Mcelrath is now racing with the Maddparts Kawasaki team.
Ken Roczen makes his return to action today.
QUALIFYING
Chase Sexton continues to defends the red place as he set the pace with the fastest lap of the day at a 2:11.9, the only rider to go sub-2:12. Justin Cooper was a few tenths off in second at a 2:12.1 with Jason Anderson clocking third with a 2:14. Hunter Lawrence is still in the fight in fourth just ahead of Ken Roczen who rounded out the top five.
Sexton was the fastest rider of the morning with his sub-2:12 lap time.
Justin Cooper was a close second.
Anderson’s time held up for third.
Hunter Lawrence rode his new 2025 CRF450R to fourth place.
450MX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Chase Sexton |
(KTM) |
2:11.943 |
| 2. |
Justin Cooper |
(Yam) |
2:12.191 |
| 3. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
2:14.237 |
| 4. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
2:14.420 |
| 5. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
2:14.433 |
| 6. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Hon) |
2:15.162 |
| 7. |
Christian Craig |
(Hus) |
2:15.639 |
| 8. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
2:15.701 |
| 9. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
2:15.963 |
| 10. |
Cooper Webb |
(Yam) |
2:16.836 |
250MX
Chance Hymas returned from the break with a vengeance as he set the fastest lap time in both 250 class sessions. His 2:13.7 was nearly two full seconds faster than Ty Masterpool’s 2:15.6. Joey Savatgy put down a heater lap to qualify third with Haiden Deegan and Tom Vialle rounding out the top five.
Hymas was by far the fastest 250 rider.
Ty Masterpool grabbed the second spot.
250MX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Chance Hymas |
(Hon) |
2:13.773 |
| 2. |
Ty Masterpool |
(Kaw) |
2:15.654 |
| 3. |
Joey Savatgy |
(Tri) |
2:15.876 |
| 4. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
2:16.382 |
| 5. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
2:16.867 |
| 6. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Hon) |
2:17.448 |
| 7. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
2:17.547 |
| 8. |
Max Anstie |
(Yam) |
2:17.687 |
| 9. |
Ryder DiFrancesco |
(GG) |
2:17.862 |
| 10. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Kaw) |
2:18.634 |
