Image: Octopi Media.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s RJ Hampshire has won his second main event of the 250SX West season after delivering a pivotal performance in Glendale.

Hampshire added the victory to his result at Anaheim 1, while second position for Levi Kitchen was enough for him to take sole possession of the title lead heading into the mid-season break.

With dual red plate-holders leading into the weekend – Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Kitchen and Jordon Smith (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – the main event was hard fought. It was Kitchen who led first, before Smith took charge, only to go down in an unforced error.

With Hampshire already making his way by Kitchen, he inherited the lead and sprinted away at the front of the pack, while Smith went down again after making contact with Kitchen under yellows. While Hampshire won by 2.993s ahead of Kitchen and with Jo Shimoda (Team Honda HRC) third, Smith recovered for P4.

Fifth was Garrett Marchbanks (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha), followed by Mitchell Oldenburg (MCR Honda), Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM), Phil Nicoletti (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha), Robbie Wageman (Team Solitaire Yamaha) and Hunter Yoder (Partzilla PRMX Kawasaki) the top 10.

Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas newcomer Ryder DiFrancesco crashed out of the main event, while Nate Thrasher (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) was ruled out earlier in the evening after crashing out of his heat race.

The 250SX West category will now take a six-week break with Kitchen in the championship lead, four points ahead of Smith, with Hampshire one more back. They will next appear at the Seattle round on March 23, which will be round 11 of the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross Championship.

Detailed results