Champions have been crowned and the outdoors are complete for another year, as Ironman Raceway marked the 11th and final round of the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship. Quotebook features compiled comments from riders over the weekend.

450MX

Image: Octopi Media.

Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM) – First:
I felt the safest out front in moto one, they were all riding really good, and the pace was high, so that was a dream ride for me to wrap it up in that one with no mistakes. The championship’s what we came for and we accomplished that, so I appreciate it and we’re excited! To come out here in the outdoors and have a really awesome season, I don’t know how to put it into words… This is the best form I’ve had to date in my career, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team is awesome, and it means a lot. I’m stoked – I just want to keep doing this, because every title you get makes you want to win more. Thank you!

Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM) – Second:
I put it all out there, I was trying and giving it my all to keep with Chase. Those last few laps were tough – I left it all on the track today. It’s all of these people who kept me going because it was a long, hot day, but I have to give it up for my family, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and everybody behind me! It has been such a good season and I’m really proud of Chase and the whole team.

Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – Fourth:
I’m super proud of how this motocross season went – I rode my heart out all summer. I can’t thank the team enough for all the support they gave me. Now, to have a weekend off before the SMX playoffs start, and hopefully lead into having the best weekend of the year in Vegas.

Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Sixth:
It was a hot race today. Being able to ride consistently and move forward late in moto two was key. Finishing fifth in both motos continues the momentum into the SMX playoffs, and I need to keep pushing as we head to Charlotte.

Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Fifth:
The last national of the year at Ironman went okay. We were fifth overall. I don’t really gel with this track. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always struggled here a little bit. The track was definitely tough today, but all in all, it was a good first season outdoors on the 450 and definitely something to build on. We’re going into SMX now. We’ll get ready for that and get back on supercross.

Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Third:
We got back on the podium. That was definitely the goal coming into here – to have two solid motos — and we were able to do that. I got good starts today and was in the mix with the lead group, which was also nice. Overall these were two important races to get under our belt and to get back into the groove. We learned a lot for next year. Now we’ll get ready for these SMX races.

Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – 10th:
Ironman, we had a good first moto and the fans were awesome, which I’m always really thankful for. I’m more so happy with finishing the whole season of supercross and Pro Motocross without any injuries or missing any races. We have to think of all the positives and, no matter how you look at it, gate drops are the best thing you can get. In the second moto today I had a bad start, had to ride hard, and then kind of faded a little bit, and was cramping up, but it was a really good season for us overall. I’ll enjoy this next weekend off and then head into SMX excited for what’s to come!

Christian Craig (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – Eighth:
Last round of the outdoors, I was pumped to make it through the whole season and with just one DNF. We scored points in every moto we finished though and built throughout the season. I struggled a little bit today with the track, just couldn’t get comfortable, and had a couple of big crashes in practice, but in the races I did what I could. The second moto was better and we ended up eighth overall, so riding is good, and I’m excited for my first time in SMX now. We’ll keep trying to put in the good results.

Colt Nichols (Twisted Tea Suzuki) – DNF:
In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have tried to race after practice, but wanted to give it a go anyway. I hit my head a little harder than I thought last weekend, so I decided to pull out [of moto one] instead of risking further injury. I’m going to take some time off to rest and I’ll be back soon.

Kyle Chisholm (Twisted Tea Suzuki) – 20th:
Overall, it was a good day. The main goal going in was to secure the last playoff spot and we did it. I had good starts in both motos, and I was up there in the battle. I’m happy to not have to race the LCQs every week in the playoffs. I’m going to take a few days off, rest up, and then be ready. We’ll work on some bike set-up because those races are very unique. They’re a little bit of both Supercross and Motocross, so bike set-up will be key. We’ll come in ready. I’m looking forward to it.

Max Miller (BarX Suzuki) – 34th:
I had an awesome year racing the Suzuki 250 and 450! Today was a tough day, but I had great speed in moto two. I was running inside the top 15 before falling down. I’m grateful to have such an awesome team and an incredible bike under me for the whole season!

250MX

Image: Octopi Media.

Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM) – First:
I was really trying to get that overall and we were able to today! The start is so important, it makes it so much easier, and I had a good moto in the first one. I had a gap and it was really amazing, I felt so good on the track. And then I was able to make it happen for the overall in that second moto – I’m really happy.

Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM) – 14th:
It was a decent day for me at Ironman. My riding in moto two was really good until I had a crash late in the race, but overall – mentally and physically – we’re in a good spot, ready to head into SMX and finish this year with a bang.

Chance Hymas (Team Honda HRC) – Second:
I’m happy with the way I finished outdoors. I’m pretty stoked about finishing second overall in the race – it’s been a minute since I’ve been on the podium. I’m trying to get some consistency and confidence back before SMX.

Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – 11th:
I’m really happy with how I’m riding right now, I felt good in the first moto and I believe I was stronger than the rest of the guys. In the second moto, I got a bad start and as I was trying to make up ground, I ended up getting my leg caught up under my bike and twisting it. I’m looking forward to resting the next couple of days and coming out strong in the SMX playoffs.

Ty Masterpool (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Sixth:
I felt really good on my Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki KX250 in the first moto. I got a strong start and I felt like I was able to ride for the win until I had a tip over. In the second moto I felt good and rode well but just couldn’t make anything happen. I have a lot of confidence heading into the SMX playoffs.

Drew Adams (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – 12th:
Making my debut had its ups and downs and it is definitely different racing with the big dogs. I had a good start in moto one but had a pretty big crash, but I got up and fought to get 15th. In the second moto I didn’t get the start I wanted but I made some passes on my Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki KX250 and finished okay. Now that I have a little experience I know I will come back strong.

Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Fourth:
That’s a wrap on the outdoor season. It was a really good season overall. We won the championship, had lots of wins, lots of moto wins, and definitely made a big progression this year in my riding in general. Today was quite a wild one. I didn’t get a great start in the first moto, and I fell on the first lap and came from around 34th to 11th. I just struggled with the setup, so we went back and changed it for the second moto, and it was a lot better. We ripped a start and made our way into the lead with about six laps to go. That was awesome, and now we’re moving on to SMX to defend that title.

Max Anstie (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Eighth:
We gathered some good information for next season throughout the few rounds of outdoors I did with the team this year. I ended with an eight overall at Ironman. After my crash last weekend, I was happy enough with that. I’m looking forward to SMX.

Jordon Smith (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Fifth:
It was an awesome day, the best day of the season. It was good to finish the outdoor season with a bang. I made a little bit of a risky decision lining up all the way on the outside in the first moto, but it paid off. Then I put in a really good ride and ended up third. I probably should have made the same decision for the second moto with the outside gate, but I felt like the inside was better. It just didn’t work out, but I kept battling and finished eighth. In the end, it was not a bad day, and I’m happy with it. I’m ready for SMX.

Nick Romano (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – 16th:
It was an up-and-down day. I was fifth in the first session, which I was super stoked about. Then in the first moto, I started in the top 10, but then kind of just hit a wall. I wasn’t really ready for that pace in the beginning. In the second moto, I started around 10th again. I fought hard and had a group of six in front of me that I was faster than, but I just couldn’t get by them. Like I said, it was an up-and-down day, but I’m happy to finish the season off healthy, which was my main goal at the beginning of the year. It’s on to SMX now.

RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – Third:
It was awesome to be back at the races again. We were here for the gate drops and to get some intensity back, and somehow pulled off a podium. I felt pretty good on the bike, definitely still not even close to 100 percent, but it was nice to grind it out and suffer a bit today. I’m happy to be rewarded with a podium and look forward to Charlotte here in a couple of weeks.

Ryder DiFrancesco (Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas) – Seventh:
Ironman was my best weekend and it’s always been my favorite track ever since I first raced here. Good vibes all day, just felt like I wasn’t behind the eight ball at all, and back to myself. It was good to finish the season with P5 in that final moto, it’s nice to have some momentum and good for the confidence going into Charlotte and the SMX series!

Pierce Brown (Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas) – 17th:
It wasn’t the best day for me at Ironman. First moto, I had a mid-pack start and ended up 10th, in the next moto I had a better start, but collided with some guys in the first turn and got run over a couple of times. My leg was hurting pretty bad and unfortunately went numb in my boot, so I couldn’t finish, and had to get it checked out – we will hear more soon. That’s a wrap for the outdoor season, so hopefully we’ll be healthy and ready to go for SMX in a couple of weeks.

Jalek Swoll (Triumph Racing) – 10th:
It was not my best day, but not my worst either. The day was going okay and I felt good on the track in practice. I reaggravated a niggling issue and so it was just survival from then on. I am looking forward to the SuperMotocross World Championship playoffs – I really think that we have the potential to land on the podium there.

Joey Savatgy (Triumph Racing) – 15th:
It was a tough weekend. It was unfortunate to have an issue so early in moto one, but the second moto was a bit better. I had a decent start, made a mistake and still pushed to ninth. I kept fighting and am proud of that effort.

Ken Roczen (Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki) – Ninth:
Wow. What a fun day stepping down to the lites class for this past weekend in Ironman. I always knew it was going to be a tough transition but I was happy with qualifying in second place. I showed speed in the motos, but ultimately wanted to stay safe on the track as I prepare for the SuperMotocross finals. I learned a lot, which will help me in a few short weeks in Charlotte.

Dilan Schwartz (BarX Suzuki) – 13th:
It was a tough weekend for me. The track was really rough, and the weather was very hot, so it made for some hard racing. I got some decent results on the day, but they could have been better.

Preston Boespflug (BarX Suzuki) – DNF:
It was a tough first outdoor season, but we live to fight another fight. I want to give a huge thanks to Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki for their support during my first professional season.