Can we get a REDDD BUDDD! It’s the Fourth of July Weekend in Buchanan, Michigan and nothing says American Motocross like RedBud. Bikes are on track for round six of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship and we’re here to bring you all the action from race day.
Video Highlights
450 Moto 1
The first 450MX moto kicked off the day’s racing with Hunter Lawrence grabbing the holeshot and the early lead. The number-96 led the first four laps as the running order slotted into position behind him.
Jett Lawrence started inside the top five and stalked his brother Hunter in the early laps after making his way around RJ Hampshire. The two Lawrences put in a series of heater laps at the 10 minute mark which allowed them to break away and gap third place. Jett eventually made the pass for the lead and set sail en route to the win with Hunter finishing second.
Eli Tomac marched his way to third after starting outside the top 10. The former champ looked to have a strong pace as his bike began smoking. He tried to keep the bike running but the Yamaha eventually gave way and forced Tomac out of the race.
RJ Hampshire started up front but dropped into fifth as the race settled in. He stayed in the fight and passed Aaron Plessinger for fourth before gaining another spot once Tomac’s bike expired. A third for Hampshire marks his first moto podium in the 450MX division.
450 Moto 2
450 Moto 2 saw Jorge Prado up front early after starting second to Coty Schock. Prado looked the best he has all season as the Kawasaki rider quickly gapped the field and led the first six laps. After being passed by Justin Cooper for the lead, Prado dropped back to fifth.
Justin Cooper stalked Prado in the opening laps and made the move for the lead just before the halfway mark. The Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha rider had a point to prove and rode with aggression as he sprinted away for the next four laps. Eventually Jett caught Cooper but the Yamaha rider still salvaged second in the moto and third overall.
With shake ups going on up front, Jett Lawrence found himself on the ground on lap one. The first moto winner remounted after a small slide out way back in 18th place. From there it was game on for the points leader as he continued to pick off riders on his way to the front. Jett was at least one second faster every lap and eventually found himself second with a big pass around Cooper for the lead on lap 11. This was one of Jett’s best rides and saw him sweep a perfect 1-1 day.
Chase Sexton rode great in moto two and pressured Jett Lawrence as they moved to the front. Sexton found himself as far up as second but just as soon as he passed for the lead, he fell in a soft berm and dropped back to fourth.
450MX OVERALL RESULTS (Top 10)
| 1. | Jett Lawrence | (Hon) | 1-1 |
| 2. | Hunter Lawrence | (Hon) | 2-3 |
| 3. | Justin Cooper | (Yam) | 4-2 |
| 4. | RJ Hampshire | (Hus) | 3-6 |
| 5. | Chase Sexton | (KTM) | 5-4 |
| 6. | Jorge Prado | (Kaw) | 7-5 |
| 7. | Justin Barcia | (GG) | 8-9 |
| 8. | Malcolm Stewart | (Hus) | 11-10 |
| 9. | Cooper Webb | (Yam) | 15-8 |
| 10. | Harri Kullas | (Hus) | 12-11 |
250 Moto 1
Jo Shimoda grabbed the holeshot in the first 250 moto and led for the first half-lap before Tom Vialle overtook him for the top spot. Shimoda quickly slotted into second but maintained sight of Vialle at the front.
At the half-way mark Shimoda caught the leader and made a decisive pass to reclaim first place. After the pass it was smooth sailing for the Honda HRC rider who maintained the lead to the finish.
Levi Kitchen marched his way to the podium after rounding lap one outside the top 10. The Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider fell twice on the first lap but laid down strong laps as the race wore on. He laid down his fastest lap of the race with two to go and passed Vialle for second on the final lap. This puts Kitchen in a good spot for the day’s overall.
Vialle finished third after leading most of the first moto. Things came unraveled for the KTM rider after the halfway mark when Shimoda passed for the lead and later when Kitchen caught and passed for second. This race still marks Vialle’s first laps led of the season and shows he’s ready to fight again in the second moto.
Trouble for Haiden Deegan as the points leader crashed multiple times in the first moto. Despite multiple hard charges, the Star Racing Yamaha machine began to smoke and Deegan looked to be in survival mode as he eventually crossed the line in 14th position.
250 Moto 2
Triumph’s Jalek Swoll started up front with the holeshot in race two. Swoll is freshly back after an Achilles injury and looked comfortable up front as he led the first four laps. He eventually crossed the line in third but claimed second overall with 6-3 results.
Jo Shimoda started second and stalked Swoll for the early laps. The moto one winner passed for the lead on lap five and never looked back. Shimoda cruised to the race win, gapping the field by 17 seconds and sweeping the day with 1-1 results.
Haiden Deegan finished second in moto two after falling early in race two. He started fourth but the fall dropped him to sixth and has his work cut out for him. The number-one continued to charge and passed Swoll for second with two laps to go. Unfortunately, the mishaps in race one dropped him to fifth overall.
Michael Mosiman put in some solid laps in moto two and used a pair of fourth place finishes to take third overall. This is his best result of the season.
250MX OVERALL RESULTS (Top 10)
| 1. | Jo Shimoda | (Hon) | 1-1 |
| 2. | Jalek Swoll | (Tri) | 6-3 |
| 3. | Michael Mosiman | (Yam) | 4-4 |
| 4. | Mikkel Haarup | (Tri) | 8-5 |
| 5. | Haiden Deegan | (Yam) | 14-2 |
| 6. | Ryder Difrancesco | (GG) | 12-6 |
| 7. | Levi Kitchen | (Kaw) | 2-19 |
| 8. | Parker Ross | (Yam) | 11-10 |
| 9. | Seth Hammaker | (Kaw) | 5-16 |
| 10. | Garrett Marchbanks | (Kaw) | 10-12 |
QUALIFYING
450MX
Jett Lawrence topped the time charts once again this morning by setting the fastest times in both qualifying sessions. Somehow his best lap was a full second quicker than second place. Hunter Lawrence was second overall after a strong lap in the second qualifying session.
Justin Cooper was a close third, 0.04 behind Hunter, with Eli Tomac and RJ Hampshire rounding out the top five. The defending champ, Chase Sexton returned to the gate today and clocked the eighth best time. Worth noting, Tony Cairoli qualified 10th overall today as he debuts the new Ducati Desmo 450MX.
450MX OVERALL QUALIFYING (Top 10)
| 1. | Jett Lawrence | (Hon) | 2:04.022 |
| 2. | Hunter Lawrence | (Hon) | 2:05.212 |
| 3. | Justin Cooper | (Yam) | 2:05.252 |
| 4. | Eli Tomac | (Yam) | 2:05.554 |
| 5. | RJ Hampshire | (Hus) | 2:05.801 |
| 6. | Aaron Plessinger | (KTM) | 2:06.049 |
| 7. | Jorge Prado | (Kaw) | 2:06.215 |
| 8. | Chase Sexton | (KTM) | 2:06.676 |
| 9. | Cooper Webb | (Yam) | 2:07.157 |
| 10. | Tony Cairoli | (Duc) | 2:07.871 |
250MX
Ryder Difrancesco is the fastest 250 rider today as the Rockstar Energy GasGas rider clocked the fastest lap time in both qualifying sessions. This is the first time Difrancesco has ever qualified in the top three and he jumped to the top by sweeping both sessions. In fact, his second best time was still better than anyone else on track.
Haiden Deegan qualified second overall but had a big crash in the second session. He remounted and logged another fast lap but it wasn’t enough to beat Difrancesco’s best time. Dilan Schwartz looked fast all morning and grabbed the third best overall time.
250MX OVERALL QUALIFYING (Top 10)
| 1. | Ryder Difrancesco | (GG) | 2:08.015 |
| 2. | Haiden Deegan | (Yam) | 2:08.563 |
| 3. | Dilan Schwartz | (Yam) | 2:10.015 |
| 4. | Jo Shimoda | (Hon) | 2:10.757 |
| 5. | Julien Beaumer | (KTM) | 2:10.814 |
| 6. | Tom Vialle | (KTM) | 2:11.010 |
| 7. | Michael Mosiman | (Yam) | 2:11.132 |
| 8. | Seth Hammaker | (Kaw) | 2:11.424 |
| 9. | Nate Thrasher | (Yam) | 2:11.497 |
| 10. | Drew Adams | (Kaw) | 2:11.643 |
RedBud notes:
- Defending 450MX champion Chase Sexton returns to action today. He’s only raced one moto this season – moto one at Fox Raceway.
- Tony Carioli is debuting the new Ducati Desmo 450MX in America today in the 450MX class.
- Drew Adams is back on the gate today for the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team.
- Ty Masterpool will sit out this weekend due to an injury sustained during a mid-week practice crash.
- Casey Cochran is out for the remaining rounds of Pro Motocross after suffering a shoulder injury last weekend at Southwick.
