With the Detroit round of Monster Energy Supercross 2025 set for this Saturday, key storylines are beginning to take shape across the series. In this edition of Countdown, MotoOnline breaks down the emerging trends following the first five rounds of the season.

Image: Octopi Media.

8. 450SX front-runners out:
We’re five rounds into the new season and the dynamic of the 450SX championship has already shifted. Entering the season, a lot of the chatter was about a Jett Lawrence versus Eli Tomac battle for the title, but now, following Tampa, both are out injured. That’s two of the top-five guys already done in terms of this series, and that’s without mentioning Jorge Prado bowing out with a shoulder injury at Anaheim 2. On top of that, you can’t go without mentioning the 250SX West injury toll so far, including the likes of Ryder DiFrancesco, Ty Masterpool, Stilez Roberston and Garrett Marchbanks (who returned in Glendale, plus 250SX East has already lost Pierce Brown one round into its season.

7. The rise of Julien Beaumer:
Entering his second term of 250SX West competition, we were all aware of Beaumer’s talent and he was on the radar. But few were expecting him to be this impressive through four rounds. Glendale was the first real troubled round we’ve seen from the Red Bull KTM rider, where a few unforced errors lead to P4 overall. The result on paper is far from bad, that’s for sure, but it’s more or less ‘what could’ve been’. Other than that, three podiums – including a victory in San Diego – to start 2025 proves that he’s the real deal. He’s stepped up to the plate in a big way in his sophomore year and looks like a polished and experienced veteran in the category. Regardless of whether he gets the job done in the championship hunt, he’s proved already that he’s one to watch.

6. KTM’s redemption:
Amidst the financial trouble that Pierer Mobility has faced in 2025, the Austrian group’s Monster Energy Supercross campaign so far must be more than satisfying. KTM currently holds the 450SX and 250SX red plates thanks to Chase Sexton and Julien Beaumer, and the number one plate is bolted to Tom Vialle’s bike as the defending 250SX East champion. Sexton has a five-point cushion in the premier class standings ahead of Cooper Webb, while Beaumer is two points clear of Jordon Smith. Vialle had a quiet opening round in Tampa to finish fifth, but if you’ve kept up with the Frenchman over the last few seasons, you’ll see that he generally starts off a little slower than others. So what do we put Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s success down to? They have figured something out with Sexton this year and he’s looked a lot better than he did last year, whether that is down to setting improvements, figuring out the chassis, or generally finding more comfort – it’s working.

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5. Struggling to get going:
While there have been some epic storylines to come out of this season, there are a few guys that have had a slow start to 2025 – the first that comes to mind is Aaron Plessinger. So far this season, the fan favorite’s best finish has been an eighth place last time out in Tampa, placing him 13th in the standings. Others include Justin Barcia and Dylan Ferrandis. Barcia – currently ninth in the championship – has two sixth-place finishes to his credit, but expect to see more from him in the rounds to come, especially with a few of the front runners out injured. Ferrandis’ season has been somewhat of a mystery, he’s 16th in points right now with a best finish of ninth in San Diego and he sat out Tampa this past weekend, so there is more to come.

4. The standout rookie Cole Davies:
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies has been spectacular in his rookie season. The New Zealander is currently fourth in the 250SX West standings, 15 points back from the series lead. As a rookie, winning the championship seems unlikely, but with how he’s progressed already – only four rounds in – he can’t be underestimated. Davies has shown the speed to contend right from the outset, winning his first-career heat race in San Diego, and then A2 marked his first main event podium. Following that, Glendale included two wins out of the three races in the Triple Crown format, with an early crash in race three crushing his hopes of a clean-sweep or the overall. Results aside, the 17-year-old has shown the style, technique and poise of someone who has spent many years in the professional ranks.

3. 250SX East is stacked:
The title of this topic says it all… it was difficult to predict a winner ahead of Tampa and it still is hard to suggest who will set the tone as the series rolls on. For starters, the category features reigning champion Tom Vialle, alongside last year’s 250SX West champion RJ Hampshire. It was Max Anstie who struck first though, ahead of teammate Daxton Bennick and an injured Cameron McAdoo. So far we’ve named five riders that you would absolutely never rule out of winning races, but who else is there? There are two more at Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki that are capable of winning, in Levi Kitchen and Seth Hammaker. Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas is also capable of making an impact, since he was sixth in Tampa despite riding only a handful of days prior to the opener. Triumph Factory Racing has added a 13-time 250SX winner to their team this season in Austin Forkner, while Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher – who himself is a multi-time winner in the class – started the season with a P8 result.

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2. Four 450SX winners in five rounds:
Through five rounds in 2025 we’ve seen Chase Sexton become the lone two-time winner, while Tomac, Jett Lawrence and Malcolm Stewart have etched their names onto the winners’ trophies also. With the series starting to take shape and the field becoming depleted, the opportunity for more winners is starting to thin out, but who’s next in line? At this point, Cooper Webb, Ken Roczen and Jason Anderson have each been in the mix with multiple podiums and are on the brink of breaking through for victory.

1. Sexton versus Webb:
As we stated earlier, most predicted a Lawrence and Tomac showdown this season, but with those two now out, the focus switches to 2023 champion Sexton and Webb, who earned the 450SX crown in 2019 and 2021. Five rounds in, Anaheim 1 and Glendale winner Sexton sits atop the standings with the red plate, followed by Webb in P2, only five markers back. Webb has yet to stand atop the podium this year, but he’s the epitome of consistency and we know that he’s freakishly good when it comes to ending the season strong in the clutch moments.