Image: Octopi Media.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire has indicated that his podium at Ironman’s 2024 Pro Motocross Championship finals was ‘likely’ his last 250MX start, all but certain to step up to the premier class outdoors next year.

Hampshire, 28, who was crowned the 250SX West champion earlier this year, saw his outdoor campaign over before it started after suffering a wrist injury during press day at Fox Raceway’s season-opener that sidelined him until Budds Creek.

Speaking at the post-race conference, Hampshire declared that he would defend his 250SX title in next year’s Monster Energy Supercross Championship with the potential for select 450SX appearances before transitioning full-time to the 450 class in the 2025 season.

“Honestly, I didn’t even think about it, [but that was] most likely my last 250 pro outdoor race,” he revealed. “I said at the end of Supercross what I wanted to do, most likely that’s what’s going to be happening – I’ll be defending on the west coast on the 250, and if I’m up for it, select 450 rounds on the opposite coast, and then hopefully making my full-time debut outdoors in 450MX next year.”

Hampshire’s return to racing in the last two weeks was intended to gain seat time ahead of the upcoming SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX), with his 4-3 moto results for third overall at Ironman catching him off-guard.

“I’m stoked on today – I was not supposed to do that,” he added. “Literally, I was here to get gate drops in and try to be better for Charlotte in a couple of weeks. To pull that off and suffer through it, it was a huge win for our team.”

The first of two SMX Finals series is due to take off on 7 September within the zMAX Dragway complex at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina.