See what a wide range of racers had to say at the end of the 2020 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Fox Raceway on Saturday.

450MX

Image: Octopi Media.

Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Second:
Man, first off I want to say thank you to MX Sports for making this season happen, it was really cool to see everyone come together to make it through all nine rounds and it sure beats sitting at home on the couch. Next, I’d like to congratulate Zach on a hard-fought and well-earned championship this season. The competition was tough all year long and I’d like to think we put on a good show each and every weekend for the fans. We fell short of the goal this year of winning another championship, but we finished third overall in the series and I am proud of how my Monster Energy Kawasaki team never gave up. We’ll take about two weeks off and start getting ready for Supercross.

Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Third:
What a year! My rookie year of racing was one I will never forget, not just because of the global pandemic and unique racing schedule, but more importantly, it has shown me that I belong in this class. I love this sport and as a kid dreamed of one day being up here competing against the best in the world. If you told me I’d be fighting for the championship in my rookie season and finishing second overall a couple of years ago, I would not have believed you. This sport has a way of kicking you when you’re down, but it’s about how you get back up and the people you surround yourself with. I truly believe that I have the best support system around me and a team and company in Kawasaki that has never stopped believing in me. I can’t thank them enough for that. My Monster Energy Kawasaki KX450 was a rocketship all season long and always put me at the front of the pack each moto to fight for the championship. I am already fired up and ready to get this sophomore season of racing started!

Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – Fifth:
It’s good to be here and to see that the season happened. For me, I got lucky that we started the season later in the year because I had a big knee surgery done in December and it took me a very long time to come back. It was a tough season, I ended up fourth overall, so I’m disappointed on my last three rounds, but I gave my best and at least I was behind the gate and trying to battle. It was definitely a big challenge for the last three rounds after having two big crashes but I’m glad I finished the season. I’m ready for a break, but I’m looking forward to coming back healthier for Supercross.

Zach Osborne (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – Sixth:
I considered actually retiring in March after I broke my back and my wife gave me a pep talk and we decided against it, went to Salt Lake and that went well and it just carried into this outdoor season. I came out swinging and was able to take home a national championship which is something I never ever dreamed of doing, I felt it was way out of my league – so dream big is the moral of the story and don’t ever give up. Find people that believe in you even when you don’t and keep pressing on. It’s such a relief to win this today. What an incredible day. Thank you to everyone who has been behind me.

Broc Tickle (Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing) – Ninth:
Summing up the season after Pala, I would say it wasn’t what I was hoping for. I had a couple of bad motos this season and missed, honestly, four motos. That being said, it was a solid effort after not having raced in three years, and in the end, we were able to finish the championship inside of the top 10. I’m grateful for this opportunity with the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing team and thankful that I was able to come out and race and enjoy being with the team I was around. I’m hoping I can get things in line for next year and give myself another shot to accomplish some of the things I haven’t yet.

Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) – First:
Final round here in Pala, California, I’d say it went pretty well! I qualified fastest and finished third in the first moto. I didn’t feel that great, so I told myself we have one 30-plus-two-laps, and I put it all out there and came out with the win I’ve been searching for all season. I waited until the last moto to do it, so it feels good and is a good way to go into the off-season and start testing on the new bike. I’m super happy with how everything went this season. I feel like it was pretty successful and I’m looking forward to the future and getting on this new bike and testing with the team.

Christian Craig (Team Honda HRC) – Fourth:
This weekend was great. Pala is my home track, so I knew I was going to be up front and be comfortable. I started off qualifying third, which was my best all season. In the first moto I made my way up to fourth and then third at one point. After that Chase got me with two laps to go, so I was pretty frustrated with that one; I almost got that moto podium and ended with fourth. In the second moto I came out second, which was my best start all season, so that was nice. I followed Cianciarulo around for a while and got close, but Chase was on a mission. He caught us both, passed me and then was on Cianciarulo; then Cianciarulo fell, so me and Chase just rode it in for first and second. I ended 4-2 for fourth overall, unfortunately, but got my first moto podium ever in an outdoors series, especially in the 450 class, so we’ll take it. It was a super fun season and I’m looking forward to next year.

Isaac Teasdale (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki) – 12th:
After learning I was the lone JGR Suzuki rider, I was ready to get my best result. In moto one I had a great start but got pushed wide. I had a fast pace but rode tight and finished 13th. In my second Moto, I felt better throughout and was close to the top 10, but finished 11th, which is my best finish to date. I really wanted to be in the top 10 this weekend; I was right there, but I’m content and happy with the progress I made in these last four races! It was so awesome to be with JGR and Suzuki and I grew a lot. I’m excited for the future.

Max Anstie (Twisted Tea HEP Motorsports Suzuki) – Seventh:
It was nice to round out the motocross series with a ninth in the championship and seventh on the day. The whole team and I grew and learned at each event. We stayed solid and we were in the race each week. My whole crew did a great job for our first season of outdoors! I’m looking forward to whatever the future holds and making more steps towards the podium.

Justin Bogle (Team Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS) – Eighth:
This was a good ride to end the season. I’m happy with how I rode today, my speed was there and I was having fun out there. It feels good to end this season on a high note. I want to thank the team for all their hard work and believing in me through this season.

250MX

Image: Octopi Media.

Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) – Third:
Winning this US motocross championship is another dream goal accomplished. I really put a lot of work to get it and it was not easy at all. To finish my 250 career with the supercross and motocross championship the same year is so big that I never imagined myself to do it. It’s so awesome. I’m feeling in paradise right now. It was good to race in California close to home. Unfortunately, the track was really tough to ride. I felt strong in moto one and got P2 to put myself in a safe position for the championship. In the second moto, I had a small tip over and was ninth. I came back then rode easy at the end to enjoy those last laps in my 250 career.

Shane McElrath (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) – Fourth:
I’m glad to be finished racing for the year. It’s been a very long year, but it’s also been the best year of my career. I’ve loved my Yamaha all year long and I’m looking forward to what’s next!

Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) – 11th:
It was a really good day for me. I just wish I could have given it my all for the last race of the season. It’s definitely not how I wanted to end it, but that’s racing. We will just have to wait for the Supercross season to roll around so we can get back to where we want to be.

Jarrett Frye (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) – Sixth:
It was a good way to end the season with my best race of the year. I felt good all day qualifying sixth and finishing 8-6 in the motos for sixth Overall. I had a lot of fun these last four races, and I’m pumped with the progress I made each race.

Nate Thrasher (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) – 12th:
My day went pretty good overall. I had top 10 starts in both motos. Unfortunately, in my first moto, I got a flat front tire and salvaged what I could to end up 12th! In the second moto, I broke the top 10 to end the day 11th. These past two races have been awesome. I’m looking forward to this offseason with the team and putting in the work to come out swinging next year.

Cameron McAdoo (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – 10th:
The final round is done and dusted. It was a tough race for me out there today as I didn’t even know if I was going to line up until today. We did everything we could with a pretty mangled hand and fought for 10th overall. I really feel like we made great strides this season with earning some of my best career moto and overall finishes. We will take some time to get healed up with the hand and then start testing for the 2021 season on our all-new 2021 KX250. We have heard nothing but amazing things about this new bike, so I am looking forward to the off-season.

Mitchell Harrison (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Eighth:
Overall it was an alright day for me with an eighth overall. Getting to be a fill-in rider for one of the most elite teams in the paddock and racing under the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki awning was a dream come true. I can’t thank Mitch, my mechanic Colter and the entire team enough for taking a chance on me and giving me top-notch support from start to finish.

Jeremy Martin (Geico Honda) – Second:
I knew that I could be competitive for a championship, I knew that I could win races, I knew Dylan was probably going to be my hardest guy to try to crack and beat, which ended up proving to be so. He beat me in the championship and I was second, but I felt like for what I’ve been through, I knew that the fight that I have, I feel like a lot of the guys that are out there are really fast. They’re really talented, especially the guys coming up like my teammate, Jett. But I feel like for what I’ve been through, I got a resurgence of fire and motivation to be able to try to come back and try to win. So, I felt like I was probably more motivated than a lot of guys on the line and I was willing to suffer and fight. Obviously we didn’t win it, but I think I showed that motivation throughout the entire summer.

Jett Lawrence (Geico Honda) – First:
It definitely feels good. That’s what we work up to, is to be on top of the box. This year I was shooting to be on the podium as much as I can, just to get on the podium. It’s funny that my first-ever podium is an overall win. It definitely feels great to finally get this done and under my belt. Everyone has told me the first one is always the hardest. The next one is a lot easier because you mentally know it. It puts you on a very good mentality for next season. Definitely my progress from the start of the year to now is a big difference. I’m glad that we improved. If we didn’t we would be scratching our heads.

Jo Shimoda (Geico Honda) – Fifth:
Podium in the moto felt so good!. In qualifying I felt good. I was running around top four for awhile but some guys passed me on last lap in both practices. I was eighth overall which I was okay with. First moto, I crashed in the first corner from hitting someone and went from 38th to 8th which was good, kept me pushing. I got a sixth-place start and made pass on Shane and Frye for third and again kept good speed. I had a mistake on three lap before the end, stalled my bike and had to repass Shane for my first podium. Really happy to end the year with the podium!

Carson Mumford (Geico Honda) – Ninth:
I made a mistake in qualifying and jumped during the first lap, with the wheels on the ground flag, so they took away my fast lap and I was 28th after the first session. I knew I just had to put in solid laps in the second session, and then on the first lap, they had put some water down and I got wheelspin and endoed so hard on the step up. I popped my jaw out of place and my hearing in one ear was messed up, sounded like I was underwater. It really hurt bad. I was sitting there just trying to regroup and get a lap in, I got 17th overall in qualifying. There was no way I wasn’t going to race. I’ve pushed things aside before. First moto was good, it was tough with the bad gate pick but I charged really hard, I think that’s why I just had a little low energy in mid-way through moto one, but I felt better at the end and made some passes. Second moto, I gave it everything I had. I wanted to hold off the 14 and I did my best to hold him off. I think I used a little too much energy riding that pace, that’s why [Brandon] Hartranft got me late in the race. I just tried as hard as I could. I really wish we had three more races, I feel like I was learning and progressing every weekend and maybe I could have been around the podium with a few more.