450SX Class Recap: Birmingham
Jett Lawrence: Supercross visited Alabama for the first time in 40 years, only a short ride away from where the original Alabama Supercross was held in Talladega. Rookie Jett Lawrence gave the fans a show with a wire-to-wire victory holding off a hard charging group of veterans. His fourth 450SX Class win moves him into a tie with Donnie Hansen, Doug Henry, Darrell Shultz, and Jimmy Weinert for 36th on the all-time 450SX Class wins list. Lawrence continues his rapid ascension through the all-time AMA wins list with his 44th, sitting 14th all-time and one behind Broc Glover for 13th at 45.
Cooper Webb: Cooper Webb had no choice but to settle for a runner-up ride after Lawrence’s near flawless performance. Webb kept the Rookie phenom within a controllable distance but was unable to bridge the gap, losing three more Championship points. It was Webb’s fourth podium of the season and 58th of his 450SX Class career and sixth on a Yamaha.
Ken Roczen: Ken Roczen made his 142nd 450SX Class start, tying Andrew Short for 15th on the all-time list. He would score his 67th career 450SX Class podium moving him into ninth passed Jeff Ward on that list. With his 93rd top-five finish, Roczen is only four from tying Ricky Carmichael for seventh on the top fives list. He will be attempting to score a top three spot in the Championship as he is sitting fifth right now.
Notes: Chase Sexton (4th) Scored his 40th career 450SX Class top five finish. He is tied with David Bailey, Kent Howerton, and Trey Canard for 34th on the all-time list. Justin Cooper (5th) Became the 163rd different rider to score a 450SX Class top-five finish. Cooper sits eighth in the points after his first top five. Jason Anderson (6th) Moved into 14th by himself with his 143rd 450SX Class start. He is one ahead of Roczen and eight behind Davi Millsaps in 13th. Justin Barcia (9th) Nailed down his 275th AMA top 10 finish in 334 starts. Colt Nichols (13th) and Benny Bloss (14th) Put two BETA’s in the Main Event for the first time in Supercross history. Anthony Bourdon (16th) and Aaron Tanti (19th) Made their first career 450SX Class starts.
450SX Class: Indianapolis Historical Facts
History Lesson: The first 450SX Class round held in Indianapolis was on March 21, 1992 in the RCA Dome, and Jeff Stanton won on a Honda. It was the ninth of 16 rounds in what was turning into an exciting title chase. Going into Indy, Damon Bradshaw comfortably led the Honda duo of J.M. Bayle (-16) and Stanton (-19) in the points, but disaster struck Bradshaw late in the Main Event. Running in podium position, Bradshaw landed on a lapper causing him to finish 19th. Stanton and Bayle left Indy tied for the points lead with Bradshaw in third. Stanton would eventually take the Championship by only three points over Bradshaw with his third win in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum finale.
“MC”A Dome: Jeremy McGrath would win Indianapolis during his Rookie season title run in 1993 aboard a Honda. He would win Indy and the title from 1993-1996 and again in 1998 and 2000. 1999 is the only season he didn’t win Indy and the title during his seven Championships in eight seasons. The Hall of Fame trio of Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, and Chad Reed would finish out racing in the RCA Dome from 2001-2008 with victories in six of the last eight rounds. David Vuillemin and local hero/ironman Mike LaRocco each tacked on victories before the location was demolished.
Lucas Oil: The Indianapolis Supercross was held in the RCA Dome 17 times from 1992-2008. Lucas Oil Stadium took over hosting the Indy Supercross in 2009 and has only missed one season since (2020). Indy made up for that by hosting three rounds in 2021. 2024 will be the 34th Indianapolis Supercross and 17th in Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indy’s Champ: The winner of the Indy Supercross has won the 450SX title in 20/31 seasons (65%). In the RCA Dome the winner of the Indy SX won the title an incredible 14/17 (82%) times. Eli Tomac won Indy and the title in 2022, but Ken Roczen did not win the title after an incredible 2023 Indy win.
Manufacturer Wins in Indianapolis/Lucas Oil Stadium (Last Win)
- Honda: 11/3 (2021)
- Kawasaki: 8/5 (2017)
- KTM: 5/5 (2019)
- Yamaha: 5/1 (2022)
- Suzuki: 4/2 (2023)
Top Winners in Indianapolis
- 1) Jeremy McGrath: 6 (‘93-’96, ’98, ’00)
- 2) Ricky Carmichael: 4 (’01, ’03, ’05-’06)
- 2) Ryan Villopoto: 4 (’10-’13)*
- 2) Ken Roczen: 4 (’21 x3 & ‘23)*
- 5) Ryan Dungey: 3 (’14-’16)
- *Winningest riders in Lucas Oil Stadium
450SX Class: First Time Winners in Indianapolis
- (none)
250SX Class Recap: Birmingham
Tom Vialle: Tom Vialle came to America and qualified for all 10 Eastern Regional Main Events last season, scoring seventh in the final point standings. He improved on that with a sixth in the points and scoring a win in the sandy conditions of Southwick during the 250 Motocross season. Vialle competed in all three SuperMotocross Playoff rounds before attending the MXoN where he helped Team France take Gold. He has now made all four Eastern Regional Supercross Main Events In 2024 including another sand aided victory in Daytona Beach. As everyone was writing him off as a sand specialist with top 10 abilities, Vialle dominated the field in Birmingham’s Protective Stadium that included no sand. After an 18th in the first round, Vialle has catapulted to the top of the standings and will have the red-plate in Indy.
Cameron McAdoo: Cameron McAdoo is only one point off the red-plate after a runner-up ride in Birmingham. After a 15th in the opener McAdoo has strung three straight runner-up rides together culminating in his 20th career 250SX Class podium. He is now 17th on the all-time 250SX Class podiums list and only one away from entering the top 15.
Seth Hammaker: Seth Hammaker also enjoyed his third straight solid finish after the Opener melee in Detroit knocked him out of the race, and in a worse position than the other athletes in the Championship battle. Hammaker now has seven podiums in 15 250SX Class starts and sits 15 points off the red plate. Seven podiums is good for 102nd all-time on the 250SX Class podiums list.
Notes: Pierce Brown (4th) Has quietly positioned himself as a Championship contender with three fifth place finishes and a fourth. He is only five points off Vialle. Brown made his 30th start and nabbed his 16th top five finish in Birmingham. Jeremy Martin (5th) Returning from injury Martin found himself inside the top five, a familiar spot for him. He is only five top fives away from tying Martin Davalos for the all-time record of 46. It was his 150th AMA start and 100th top five. Bryce Shelly (17th), Logan Leitzel (19th), and Marcus Phelps (20th) Each made their first 250SX Class starts.
250SX Class: Indianapolis Facts
History Lesson: The first 250SX Class race held in Indianapolis was on March 21, 1992 in the RCA Dome, and Jimmy Button won on a Yamaha. He would eventually lose the Eastern Regional title to Brian Swink but was the only Eastern Regional athlete to beat Swink and finished second in the points. In 1993 Indy was the Eastern Regional finale and Doug Henry, already having wrapped up the title, took his seventh win.
Same History: 250SX Class racing shares the same history in Indy as the 450SX Class. Ryan Dungey won the last 250SX Class race in the RCA Dome in 2007 and Trey Canard won Lucas Oil Stadium’s first the following season. 2024 will be the 34th time 250SX Class racing will take off in Indianapolis, 17th time in Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indy’s Champ: The winner of the 250SX Class Indianapolis Supercross has gone onto win their 250SX Class Regional Championship in 18/34 races. This includes Jett and Hunter Lawrence the previous two seasons.
199 and 22 in Indy: Travis Pastrana made his professional racing debut in Indianapolis on February 12, 2000 finishing fourth in the 250SX Class. Pastrana would go on to earn one of his 14 career professional victories in Indianapolis on February 10th, 2001 (250SX Class). The next season in Indy Pastrana would finish eighth in the 450SX Class for one of his eight career 450SX Class top-10 finishes. Chad Reed began his historic career of victories in 2002 with his first 250SX Class win.
Manufacturer Wins in Indianapolis/Lucas Oil Stadium (Last Win)
- Yamaha: 10/5 (2022)
- Kawasaki: 7/4 (2019)
- Honda: 7/3 (2023)
- Suzuki: 6/1 (2012)
- KTM: 2/2 (2015)
- Husqvarna: 1/1 (2017)
Top Winners in Indianapolis
- 1) Mickael Pichon: 2 (’95-’96)
- 1) Davi Millsaps: 2 (’05-’06)
- 1) Marvin Musquin: 2 (’13, ’15)
- 1) Colt Nichols: 2 (‘21 x2)
250SX Class: First Time Winners in Indianapolis
- Michael Brandes: 2000 (RCA Dome)
- Chad Reed: 2002 (RCA Dome)
- Josh Hansen: 2004 (RCA Dome)
- Davi Millsaps: 2005 (RCA Dome)
- Ryan Sipes: 2011 (Lucas Oil Stadium)
- Aaron Plessinger: 2016 (Lucas Oil Stadium)
Past Winners in Indianapolis
450:
- 1992: Jeff Stanton, Honda
- 1993: Jeremy McGrath, Honda
- 1994: Jeremy McGrath, Honda
- 1995: Jeremy McGrath, Honda
- 1996: Jeremy McGrath, Honda
- 1997: Jeff Emig, Kawasaki
- 1998: Jeremy McGrath, Yamaha
- 1999: Ezra Lusk, Honda
- 2000: Jeremy McGrath, Yamaha
- 2001: Ricky Carmichael, Kawasaki
- 2002: David Vuillemin, Yamaha
- 2003: Ricky Carmichael, Honda
- 2004: Mike LaRocco, Honda
- 2005: Ricky Carmichael, Suzuki
- 2006: Ricky Carmichael, Suzuki
- 2007: James Stewart, Kawasaki
- 2008: Chad Reed, Yamaha
- 2009: Chad Reed, Suzuki
- 2010: Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki
- 2011: Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki
- 2012: Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki
- 2013: Ryan Villopoto, Kawasaki
- 2014: Ryan Dungey, KTM
- 2015: Ryan Dungey, KTM
- 2016: Ryan Dungey, KTM
- 2017: Eli Tomac, Kawasaki
- 2018: Marvin Musquin, KTM
- 2019: Marvin Musquin, KTM
- 2021: Ken Roczen, Honda
- 2021: Ken Roczen, Honda
- 2021: Ken Roczen, Honda
- 2022: Eli Tomac, Yamaha
- 2023: Ken Roczen, Suzuki
250:
- 1992: Jimmy Button, Yamaha
- 1993: Doug Henry, Honda
- 1994: Ezra Lusk, Suzuki
- 1995: Mickael Pichon, Kawasaki
- 1996: Mickael Pichon, Kawasaki
- 1997: John Dowd, Yamaha
- 1998: Ricky Carmichael, Kawasaki
- 1999: Ernesto Fonesca, Yamaha
- 2000: Michael Brandes, Honda
- 2001: Travis Pastrana, Suzuki
- 2002: Chad Reed, Yamaha
- 2003: Branden Jesseman, Suzuki
- 2004: Josh Hansen, Yamaha
- 2005: Davi Millsaps, Suzuki
- 2006: Davi Millsaps, Honda
- 2007: Ryan Dungey, Suzuki
- 2008: Trey Canard, Honda
- 2009: Austin Stroupe, Kawasaki
- 2010: Christophe Pourcel, Kawasaki
- 2011: Ryan Sipes, Yamaha
- 2012: Blake Wharton, Suzuki
- 2013: Marvin Musquin, KTM
- 2014: Adam Cianciarulo, Kawasaki
- 2015: Marvin Musquin, KTM
- 2016: Aaron Plessinger, Yamaha
- 2017: Zach Osborne, Husqvarna
- 2018: Jeremy Martin, Honda
- 2019: Austin Forkner, Kawasaki
- 2021: Colt Nichols, Yamaha
- 2021: Colt Nichols, Yamaha
- 2021: Christian Craig, Yamaha
- 2022: Jett Lawrence, Honda
- 2023: Hunter Lawrence, Honda
