TOMAC AND WEBB MAKE IT A DOUBLE PODIUM IN NASHVILLE
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb finish second and third to keep the championship battle close
MARIETTA, Ga. – April 21, 2024 – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb graced the podium together for the fourth time this season, finishing second and third, respectively, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Webb’s podium result kept him close in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship, only five points down with three rounds remaining. Tomac finished the night with the race’s fastest lap time and advanced to third overall in the standings. Justin Cooper started the main event outside the top 15 and raced to an inspired sixth-place finish in the challenging conditions.
The outdoor stadium sustained rain on Friday, which led to a shortened schedule with no free practice. Despite the tricky conditions, Tomac found a good pace to qualify fifth. The Colorado rider had a good start in the heat race to start third and kept cool under pressure to finish third. Tomac learned from the heat race and got an impressive start in the main event, grabbing the holeshot and leading the opening half of the race. Just after the halfway mark, there were some downed riders on track, and he found himself in a less-than-ideal line choice to hold off the competition and was shuffled to second. From there, he tried to keep up the pace but ultimately settled for the runner-up spot, his fifth of the season.
As riders faced the challenge of an ever-changing track, Webb struggled to find a good flow. Despite those challenges, he was third overall in qualifying and finished second in his heat. The North Carolina rider started the main event with a good jump out of the gate, which helped him settle into fourth. He advanced to third after a rider went down, and as the race went on, Webb kept his laps consistent to collect another podium and earn valuable championship points in the title chase. The two-time 450SX Champion sits just five points out of the lead with three rounds remaining in the series.
Cooper had the same sentiment about the tricky track, but in his usual style, the New Yorker was fast in the qualifying sessions to finish second overall. The heat race proved to be a challenge for the class rookie, still scoring fourth to set himself up with a good gate pick for the main event. Cooper’s night would continue to be one of adversity after starting 17th in the main event. Not one to back down from a challenge, he made it all the way back up to sixth by the time the checkered flag flew.
Next weekend, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to Lincoln Financial Field for a day race in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Round 15 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Series on April 27.
Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“All in all, it was a really good night for the team. It was a gnarly track, for sure, with a lot of people crashing and getting hurt. We stuck it out and got through it. Eli was riding great, and Coop rode a smart race with the big picture in mind. Justin had a really good ride through the pack. He was behind (Justin) Barcia a little too long, otherwise I think he could have gotten (Jason) Anderson, but he rode a really good race. So, all in all, it was a good points night for the team, and we’re looking to come out swinging next weekend in Philly.”
Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“Nashville was an up and down day and night. Qualifying went pretty well. I was second in the heat. Then in the main event, I started third and ended up third, so it seemed like a third-place kind of day. The track was super tough, and I didn’t really seem to gel with it, but we made the most of it, and we’re on the podium again. That’s what needs to happen at this point in the year, so we’ll go back to work this week and come out swinging in Philly.”
Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“I gave it my all, that’s for sure. I was really good at the beginning of the race after an awesome start. I was able to come into the turn from the outside, which gave me a great angle for the first turn. I led some laps and had a few good lines. I wish I could have fought Jett a little bit harder when he passed me, but unfortunately, I got a little caught up from some downed riders. Overall, I’m happy with the second, but I just need to be a little bit better to get the win.”
Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“Overall it was a good day. The track conditions were tough all day. It was dry and slick, so it made for a tough race track that could catch you off-guard. I would have liked to have a little less mistakes in the heat race, and the start just wasn’t there in the main event, so I had to get to work to get that sixth.”
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Nashville Results
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship Standings
SMITH MAKES UP GROUND AT THE EAST/WEST SHOWDOWN IN NASHVILLE
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith gained valuable points in the West with a fourth-place finish at Nashville Supercross
MARIETTA, Ga. – April 21, 2024 – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith made up important points in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX West Championship, cutting his deficit by eight points with a fourth-place finish inside Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Teammate Haiden Deegan rode with heart at the first of two East/West Showdown races, coming all the way up to sixth after starting 18th to stay within 13 points of the lead in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship. Nate Thrasher finished 13th on a tough night, while rookie Daxton Bennick endured his fair share of adversity as he made it to the main through the LCQ and finished 20th. Unfortunately, Nick Romano had a crash in his heat race that also had him in the LCQ and did not transfer to the main.
Smith showcased his prowess on the track, despite facing some challenges. Starting strong with a second-place finish in the 250SX West qualifying, he continued his impressive performance by securing second in his heat race. In the main event, Smith displayed remarkable resilience, climbing from a fourth-place start to briefly hold third position before a tip-over dropped him to sixth. Undeterred, he pushed forward, ultimately crossing the finish line in fourth and collecting valuable points to sit 18 points from the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX West Championship lead.
Like Smith, Deegan exhibited remarkable tenacity and skill as he battled through adversity to secure a commendable sixth-place finish. Despite a solid fourth-place performance in 250SX East qualifying, the Californian faced a setback in his heat race, where a tip-over in the sand relegated him to eighth place, narrowly securing his spot in the main event. With a less-than-ideal gate pick, he was pinched on the start of the main event and found himself 18th. Deegan refused to yield, showcasing his determination and resilience on the track. With unwavering focus and grit, he steadily worked his way through the pack, ultimately crossing the finish line in an impressive sixth place.
Despite facing numerous challenges throughout the race, Thrasher showcased his resilience and skill at the East/West Showdown in front of the home crowd. He started the day on a positive note with a seventh-place qualifying spot in the 250SX West category but then encountered difficulties in his heat race and finished seventh. Then in the main event, there was an early-race crash, and with nowhere to go, he went off track and found himself 20th. Undeterred, he climbed through the field to secure a respectable 13th-place finish.
The rookies, Bennick and Romano, faced a challenging evening at the East/West Showdown in the tricky conditions. While Bennick qualified seventh and Romano ninth in the 250SX East qualifying, both riders crashed in their 250SX Heat Race, necessitating a trip to the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). Bennick managed to salvage his night with a strong performance in the LCQ, securing a second-place finish and earning a spot in the main event. However, Romano's night came to an early end in the LCQ. Despite Bennick's efforts in the main event, the race proved to be another uphill battle with a tough start, and he ultimately finished in 20th.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing heads to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, next weekend for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross East Region’s penultimate round and Round 15 of the SuperMotocross World Series at Lincoln Financial Field on April 27.
Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“Today, as a whole, we made some steps in the right direction, and the guys made some headway with this being an east/west shootout. Jordon made up some ground and had a good race, even with a mistake that pushed him off the podium. Haiden had his challenges. He was the very first gate on the inside and tried to fight for position but started way back. It wasn’t easy, but he put his head down and rode an awesome race. With some unfortunate things that happened to some other guys in the same coast, he made up some points as well. As we saw, anything could happen, and the whole outlook of the season changed in one race. We somewhat know what to expect at the next two rounds, but it could be chaos again in Salt Lake. Nate rode well but seemed to find himself in unfortunate situations. Nick had his share of trouble overall, and I know Dax is frustrated, but we’ll get him turned around this week. We’ll regroup with our rookies to make sure they are where they belong.”
Jordon Smith – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #31
“It was a pretty good day. The track conditions were tough. It kept changing. At first it was muddy, then it was dry, so it made it tough to get used to the track. Overall though, I had some good starts and was running well. I just had that one little mistake in the main event that cost me a podium. We’ll keep working and come back in Denver.”
Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38
“The day started out pretty good, and I haven’t been at the top of qualifying before, so that was pretty lit. In the heat race, I was in second but crashed and was in 11th when I got up. I barely made it into the main, which was a little scary. In the main event, I got the first gate, and got pinched off on the start and came out last. Then I got stuck a little bit in that second turn crash. I just charged forward and made my way up to sixth. So now we just have to come out swinging in Philly.”
Nate Thrasher – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #57
“It was a tough night in Nashville. We were in an unfortunate situation on the first lap, which put me in a bad spot at the beginning of the main. I feel like my riding was decent. I’ve just got to figure out my starts. We’ll put this one behind us and get ready for Denver.”
Daxton Bennick – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #59
“The day as a whole was tough, but knowing that there were a lot of guys out there who crashed and got hurt, I’m thankful we get to head back and get ready for Philly. We’ll put in the work we need to get back on track.”
Nick Romano – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #511
“It was a tough night with some bad luck during the night show. I was running fourth in the heat race and fell in the sand, then I got tangled up in the LCQ. No excuses; it was just a rough weekend. There’s no quit in me, and we will end these last two races on a high. The track tonight was good considering the rain and mud, Dirt Works did a great job.”
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Nashville Results
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship Standings
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX West Championship Standings
DEEGAN GOES WIRE-TO-WIRE AT FOXBOROUGH!
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan scores second 250SX victory with a flawless performance in challenging conditions at Foxborough Supercross
MARIETTA, Ga. – April 15, 2024 – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan returned to the top step of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East podium with a wire-to-wire race victory at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Daxton Bennick fought his way up to seventh, and fellow rookie Nick Romano salvaged an 11th-place finish in the tricky conditions. In Supercross Futures, Gavin Towers returned to the podium with a strong runner-up finish aboard his YZ250F.
Riders once again were dealt with tricky conditions as it rained leading up to the race and on and off throughout the day at Round 6 of the 250SX East Championship at Gillette Stadium. Deegan got the day off to a solid start and qualified sixth. He then got a good start in his heat race in third and advanced to the runner-up spot with two laps remaining. He was chasing down the leader and went to make the pass but made a mistake and ultimately crossed the line fifth. Despite a less-than-ideal gate pick for the main event, the Californian grabbed his third holeshot of the season and set a strong pace to lead wire-to-wire for his second 250SX victory. Deegan maintains third in the Eastern Regional 250 class points standings and after his win, moved to within 13 points of the leader with three rounds remaining, two of which are East-West Showdowns.
Bennick qualified seventh and had a good start in his heat race in third, ultimately finishing fourth. He did not get off the gate as he had hoped in the main event and found himself 12th after the first lap. Undeterred, the 18-year-old put his head down and made his way to seventh in the challenging conditions.
His fellow rookie teammate Romano worked to make progress in the changing track conditions and qualified 12th. Despite a less-than-ideal gate pick, the New Yorker finished sixth in his heat race and had a solid start in the main event in seventh. He maintained the position for the first half of the race but was riding tight and ultimately was shuffled to 11th.
Towers rebounded from a rollercoaster start to the day that saw him off track and qualified fourth for the Supercross Futures Main Event. The Pennsylvania rider then got a great start after the gate drop and was in the runner-up spot. He ran a smart race and crossed the line second to return to the podium for the second time this season.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing heads to Nashville, Tennessee, next weekend for the Monster Energy AMA Supercross East/West Showdown and Round 14 of the SuperMotocross World Series at Nissan Stadium on April 20.
Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“It was a great night in Foxborough. Haiden ended up with the win, which was awesome. He got a great start, rode his own race, and led the thing all the way to the finish. We worked on some things during the last two weeks, and he just implemented what we were working on. So I’m super proud of him and just excited to see him get another win. We’ve got these two East/West Shootouts coming up, and Phili, so we’re looking forward to it.
“Daxton started buried in the main event. I think he was 15th or 16th and ended up crawling his way back up to seventh, which was good, and his lap times were decent. Romano had a pretty good start inside the top 10 and ran seventh for most of the race but got shuffled back a bit and finished 11th. It’s their rookie season, and we’ll just keep working with them and making progress.
“Gavin had a tough start to the day but got a great start in the Futures main and finished second, which is a great rebound from the last two races. We’ve got a bunch of young guys here, and we’re just going to keep working.”
Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38
“Tonight went pretty well in Foxborough. The heat race wasn’t the greatest. I had the speed and went to pass for the lead, but I stalled it. So I ended up getting fifth, but then the main event was ideal. That was a perfect race. I got the holeshot and just managed it from there and got the win. I’m super grateful and excited for the next round.”
Daxton Bennick – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #59
“It was an alright day. I qualified seventh, and the heat race went alright too. I got fourth, but that isn’t going to cut it for the main. You’ve got to be in the top two or three to have a good gate. So that’s what I’m going to do next weekend – try to finish in the top three so that it puts me in a good spot for the main. I rode well. I just need a good start. It was not a bad night but not a great night either - just average.”
Nick Romano – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #511
“It was not the day we wanted. My speed was flat all day, and I just rode tight. The track was tricky, and you had to be patient with how slick it was, but it was still better than the mud. It wasn’t my night, but we’ll keep working and keep building to finish strong in these last three rounds.”
Gavin Towers – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #15
“The day started out a little bit funky. I didn’t feel that great in Free Practice 1, but I felt better in Free Practice 2 and then had a little moment in Qualifying 1. So it was a little bit of an up-and-down day. I got a good start in the main event but just didn’t have a lot of pace in the beginning, which let him (Drew Adams) get a gap, and then it was hard to find that pace from the back. Drew was pretty quick all day.
“For the most part, it was a good step in the right direction from the last two - Daytona and St. Louis - where we were on the ground. So all in all, it was a good day. I’m looking forward to Salt Lake City; that will be the big one.”
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Futures Foxborough Results
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Foxborough Results
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship Standings
WEBB SCORES EMPHATIC VICTORY TO HEAT UP SUPERCROSS TITLE CHASE
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb takes a wire-to-wire victory at Foxborough Supercross to tie for the lead in the hotly contested 450SX Championship
MARIETTA, Ga. – April 15, 2024 – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb scored an emphatic victory at Gillette Stadium, leading from start to finish to secure his fourth win of the season and leave Foxborough, Massachusetts, tied at the top of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship. Eli Tomac fought his way back from a less-than-ideal start and an early race tip-over to finish sixth. Justin Cooper also overcame adversity, rebounding after a big get-off in his heat race to finish eighth at Round 13 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.
Mother Nature made for another round of tricky conditions, as it rained leading up to the event and on and off during the day. Despite those challenges, Webb showed strength from the start, taking fastest qualifier honors in the 450 class, and then grabbed the holeshot in his heat race. The North Carolina rider was running a strong race up front but ultimately was passed by his championship rival in the final laps and finished second. In the main event, he claimed his second holeshot of the evening and put in a strong pace up front to lead every lap and claim his fourth victory of the season. Webb’s stellar outing at Gillette Stadium also made valuable gains in the title chase, moving him to a tie at the top of the 450SX Championship and putting a red plate on his YZ450F.
Tomac also hit the ground running and qualified right behind his teammate in the runner-up spot. The Colorado rider then grabbed the holeshot in the first 450 heat race and set a blistering pace to lead wire-to-wire and head into the main event with the number-one gate pick. He did not get off the gate as he had hoped and found himself eighth after the first lap, and then unfortunately had a tip-over in the tricky conditions and rejoined in 11th. Undeterred, he put his head down and charged his way to fifth before the halfway point but was shuffled to sixth a lap later, where he would finish. Tomac sits fourth in the championship standings, trailing by 30 points.
Their rookie teammate Cooper also had a strong start to the day, qualifying fourth. He then got a great start behind Tomac in the first heat race and was running a strong second before, unfortunately having a big get-off around the halfway mark. The New Yorker had to go to the LCQ, where he fought his way back from fourth to second. Despite a less-than-ideal gate pick, Cooper had a solid start in the top 10 and made his way to eighth for his 10th top-10 finish this season.
Next weekend, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, for Round 14 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Series on April 20.
Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“It was an amazing night. Cooper rode a heck of a race from start to finish. He managed that race really well. Unfortunately, Eli had a little tip-over, but he rode really well and did a good job keeping the pressure on some other riders. Justin was riding well. Unfortunately, he had a big get-off in the heat race, but he didn’t give up and got another top-10 finish. To go into Nashville with the red plate is pretty awesome, and I think we are in a good spot. We’ll go back to Florida, go to work, and keep fighting.”
Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“Foxborough was amazing! We were able to get a pole position, my second one of the year, which was awesome. I had a great heat race, and the main event was awesome. I was able to pull the holeshot and lead every lap. I made one big mistake that cost me a little bit of the lead that I had and made it a closer finish than I liked. But yeah, it was an unbelievable night to get another win and to be tied for the points lead; it’s an amazing feeling. We’re going to give it all we can in these last four.”
Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“It was a tough main event with an average start and a tip-over that put me back early in the race. We'll do our best to be mistake-free next week.”
Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“I felt really good all day. Then I had a big crash in the heat race that kind of hindered me the rest of the night, but I’m just thankful to walk away bruised and battered and nothing more. It felt like it was shaping up to be a good night for me, but that changed quickly!”
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Foxborough Results
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship Standings
TOMAC & WEBB GET 1ST AND SECOND AT ST. LOUIS!
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac wins St. Louis Triple Crown, and Cooper Webb finishes second overall to be crowned the overall winner of the three-round series
MARIETTA, Ga. – March 31, 2024 – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 team enjoyed another 1-2 finish, with Eli Tomac leading the way to score his first win of the season by sweeping all three main events at last night’s final Triple Crown of the season in St. Louis, Missouri. His teammate Cooper Webb joined him on the podium with a runner-up finish (5-6-2) and was crowned this year’s Triple Crown Champion with his overall score from all three rounds. Looking at the bigger picture, the North Carolina rider’s second-place finish also made gains in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship as he closed the gap to eight points from the leader. Their rookie teammate Justin Cooper joined them in the top 10 with a ninth overall finish (9-10-9) in the tricky conditions at The Dome at America’s Center.
Tomac had a strong start to the day and qualified fourth in the combined times. In the first race of the night, he got a great start in the runner-up spot and claimed the lead after the front-runner went down on Lap 2. The multi-time champion kept cool under pressure and rode to his first victory of the evening. In race two, he got another good start in third and made his way to the runner-up spot by Lap 3. Tomac continued to run a strong pace and crossed the line second, but ultimately was credited with the win after the race leader was assessed with a penalty for jumping the finish line while a red cross flag was waving at the end of the race. In the final main event, Tomac grabbed the holeshot to lead wire-to-wire and secure the overall victory with his third win of the evening. His first win of the season and 52nd premier class supercross victory moved him back up to fourth in the 450SX points standings.
Webb also had a strong start to the day, qualifying third. Unfortunately, he did not get off the gate as he had hoped in the first main event and found himself 11th after the first lap. The North Carolina rider put his head down and fought his way up to a top-five finish. In the second main event, Webb got a much better start in the top five and advanced to third, but unfortunately went down just after the halfway mark and rejoined in eighth. Undeterred, the two-time 450SX Champion fought his way back forward to fifth but, along with other riders, was assessed a penalty for jumping the finish line while a red cross flag was waving and he was credited with sixth. Webb got an even better start in the final race of the evening in third and made the pass for second after the halfway mark. He started to close the gap on his teammate but would cross the line second for another stellar 1-2 finish for the team. It was also a top night for Webb, who earned the overall points lead in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross three-event Triple Crown series and an important points haul in the 450SX Championship. He moved to within eight points of the championship leader with five rounds remaining.
Their rookie teammate Justin Cooper also showed speed early and was second in qualifying. The New Yorker didn’t get off the gate as he had hoped in the first race and also ended up on the ground, but he kept pushing to break the top 10 and cross the line ninth. In the second main event, he got a great start to claim the lead. Cooper led the first lap and was trying to maintain a podium position but was ultimately shuffled to fifth. After the halfway mark, he went down in front of the mechanics’ area, rejoined in 11th, and then made his way back to 10th. With a less-than-ideal-gate pick, Cooper was 11th after the start of race three and would cross the line ninth to end the night ninth overall and remain eighth in the points standings with his eighth top-10 finish.
After the series’ break, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team returns to action on April 13 for Round 13 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Series at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“It was an unbelievable night! It was a beautiful scene to see Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing go 1-2, not only in that final race but in the overall. It was unfortunate that Jett (Lawrence) went down, but that’s part of racing. I’m so proud of our team. It was an incredible effort, and we’re looking to keep it rolling.”
Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“It was an outstanding weekend for us here in St. Louis. We were finally able to get an overall win. I just felt really good the whole day - from qualifying to all three main events. Our starts were on point tonight, the riding was on point, and I was just back to my old self. So I’m just really happy to deliver a win for the team. I was getting in a bit of a slump or a rough patch, or whatever you want to call it. I feel like I’m back now, and I’m excited for the end of this series.”
Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“It was an insane triple crown today; they always are. The first main event, I just didn't get a good start and made a lot of mistakes. I charged hard, but it wasn’t a great result. In the second one, I put myself in a good spot and then had a fall. I was super frustrated but got back up, made a pass, and got another fifth. We had an incident with the red cross flag, so I don’t know what I actually got. I just knew in the last one that I had to execute a start and honestly just win; that was my goal. I got a great start, rode behind Chase (Sexton) for a while, and was able to get around him. I was catching Eli in the end, but it was just a solid second place. Obviously, it was a huge night for the points, and for the team to go 1-2 is really special. It will be great to go into this break and come back swinging.”
Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“It was an up-and-down day. Qualifying went pretty well, and I felt good on the bike. My starts were kind of hit-and-miss. My speed was good, and I was able to lead a few laps in the second main, but I was on the ground in the first two mains, and that didn’t help things. So yeah, it was just an up-and-down night. We’ll keep working and look to come back after the break.”
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX St. Louis Results
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship Standings
SMITH RETURNS TO THE PODIUM AT ST. LOUIS!
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith finished third overall in challenging conditions at the final Triple Crown of the season
MARIETTA, Ga. – March 31, 2024 –Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith finished third overall (3-2-4) at last night’s final Triple Crown of the season and Round 7 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX West Championship in St. Louis, Missouri. Nate Thrasher finished fifth overall with a 5-5-6 score despite challenging conditions at the Dome at America’s Center. Unfortunately, Michael Mosiman’s night ended early after a crash with another rider in the second main event. Gavin Towers also had a crash in the Supercross Futures main event but rode on to finish 10th.
After qualifying fourth, Smith had a solid start in the first main event in sixth and quickly made his way into the top five. He kept pushing and advanced another two positions after the halfway point to finish third. In race two, the North Carolina rider got a better start in the runner-up spot where he would finish and would head into the final race of the evening tied for second overall. Smith was fourth after the start of the third main event and tried to make his way forward in the challenging conditions but finished fourth to secure third overall for his fourth podium of the season. He heads into the break maintaining third in the 250SX West Championship.
Thrasher struggled to find his flow all day on the changing track and qualified ninth. He got a good start in the first main event in fourth from the less-than-ideal gate pick and would ultimately cross the line fifth. The Tennessee rider got another fourth-place start in the second race and maintained the position until after the halfway point. Thrasher continued to ride fifth to the finish line for his second top-five finish in the challenging conditions. In the final race of the night, he was seventh after the start. Thrasher advanced to fifth on Lap 2 but was ultimately shuffled to sixth and would end the day fifth overall.
In just his second race with the team, Mosiman had a solid qualifying in sixth. He did not get off the gate as he had hoped in the first main event and found himself 12th after the first lap. The Californian kept pushing and advanced to eighth. Unfortunately in the second main event, he had another less-than-ideal start and was involved in a big crash with another rider and withdrew from the event. He was evaluated on-site by the Alpinestars Mobile Medical Unit and sought further evaluation, but thankfully is okay.
It was also the third Supercross Futures event of the season, with Towers returning to action. The young rider struggled to find his flow in the changing conditions and qualified eighth. Towers got a good start in the main event in fourth and advanced to third on that first lap. Unfortunately, he had a big crash on the second lap, and he rejoined in 12th. He tried to make his way through the field but lost too much time in the eight-minute-plus-one-lap race and had to settle for 10th. After the series break, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250SX East team returns to action on April 13 for Round 6 of the Eastern Regional 250 class and Round 13 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Series at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager“The day ended pretty well, with Jordon ending up on the podium. These Triple Crowns are all about being consistent, we just got beat by someone who was more consistent. In the end, third was pretty good, especially after last weekend, so we’re pretty happy with that. We have two east-west shootouts and Denver and Salt Lake City are high-altitude races, which can work in our favor. Anything can happen in racing and we are going to keep fighting.
“Thrasher had decent starts and had speed early but struggled a little bit with setup today. It’s better than last weekend and we’ll keep working with him and progressing. Mosiman, unfortunately in the second race, didn’t get the best of starts and a bunch of guys were doubling into the triple, and he doubled into the triple. Someone behind him decided to do the triple and they ended up landing on him. It was also a tough night for Gavin, but we’ll keep working with him. We’ll come back swinging and give it a go at these last three for the West Coast.”
Jordon Smith – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #31“It was a tough day. The track was really tough. It was hard to find a flow out there. They would groom this and not groom that, so the track was constantly changing. I didn’t ride the best today. I had some decent starts and put in solid rides, but not great rides, and came away with a third. I’m happy to be back on the podium, but third is not where we want to be. We’ll go back, keep working for a couple of weeks and come back in Nashville for the East-West Shootout and see what we can do.”
Nate Thrasher – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #57“It was a tough day in St. Louis. I was just struggling to get comfortable on the track, but we had some good starts. We just need to keep working, get back on top of the podium, and finish the season strong.”
Michael Mosiman – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #76“The day was going pretty good. Then in the second main, I was landed on. It was just outside of my control. Thankfully, I’m doing alright. I’m very sore but I will be okay. It was an unfortunate situation, but I plan to be back strong very soon.”
Gavin Towers – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #15“It was a tough weekend and I’m pretty bummed, to say the least. I just made a slight mistake in the rhythm section and ended up hitting neutral from the tuff block. The track was pretty tricky all day. We’ll get back to work and rebound in two weeks.”
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Supercross Futures St. Louis Results2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX St. Louis Results2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX West Championship Standings
Tomac Earns Hard-Fought Runner-Up Finish at Daytona
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac took home a runner-up finish despite challenging conditions at Daytona Supercross
MARIETTA, Ga. – March 3, 2024 – On one of the most challenging Daytona Supercross tracks in recent memory, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac earned a hard-fought runner-up finish last night in front of a record crowd for the event in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Colorado rider enjoys an impressive legacy at the iconic Daytona International Speedway, with seven victories and three runner-up finishes in the last decade. Cooper Webb put in a championship ride at the eighth round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship, battling his way to a fourth-place finish and maintaining the runner-up spot in the hotly contested title chase. Rookie Justin Cooper also had a good night, making his way to sixth on the deeply rutted track for his best result so far this season.
Rain that drenched the circuit on and off during the day made what has long been one of the more demanding tracks on the calendar even more challenging. The weather also resulted in one qualifying session, where Tomac qualified third. He then got a great start in his heat race and finished second. In the main event, the Colorado rider got another great start in the runner-up spot. He was shuffled to third on Lap 5 but kept charging on the deeply rutted track and made the pass for second with two laps to go. Tomac started to close the gap on the leader but ran out of time, crossing the line second to keep a 10-year run of finishing no worse than second at the iconic Daytona International Speedway. He also moved up to fourth in the championship rankings and is 16 points behind the leader.
Webb hit the ground running and was the fastest 450SX qualifier. Unfortunately, he didn’t get a good start in the heat race but charged back from near the back of the pack to fifth. The North Carolina rider got a better start in the main event and was seventh after the first lap. Once again, he put his head down and advanced to fourth despite the challenging conditions and salvaged points to maintain his position in the runner-up spot in the championship. As the series approaches the halfway mark, Webb sits 10 points from the top spot.
With just one session, Cooper qualified seventh. He got a great start in the heat race, led the first two laps, and went on to finish third. In the main event, he didn’t get the start he was hoping for and was ninth after the first lap. Cooper kept pushing to try and take a top-five finish but ultimately crossed the line sixth for his best result so far this season. The New Yorker also continued his climb up the championship standings and moved up to ninth.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to Birmingham, Alabama, next weekend as the series makes its debut at Protective Stadium on March 9 for Round 9 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Series.
Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“It was a good day. The track was extremely tough. It was probably one of the toughest Daytona races we’ve ever had, and all the guys rode awesome. I think we lacked a little bit of fire in the opening laps for Cooper, but he started finding his flow and started clicking off the laps, so we’ve just got to be better in the beginning. For Eli, it was one rhythm lane that I think cost him the win. Justin also had a good night and came short of a top-five. So overall, it was a great night. Eli gained some points, and Cooper’s still second. I think we’ll rebound even better next week. We’ll keep fighting.”
Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“Tonight was a hard-fought second place. I was close to the front the entire race. What it really came down to was one jump and one rhythm section on the track. It was a big quad jump that I didn’t do in the first half, and that was where Jett (Lawrence) was making up a lot of time on us. I ended up catching on to that line, but it was a little too late. Overall, I’m happy I was able to get second place but bummed not to get the win. We’ll keep fighting and keep pushing on from here.”
Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“Daytona was a brutal day, for sure. The track was super gnarly with all the rain and all the ruts. Qualifying went great, and I got a pole position, my first one of the year, so that was awesome. Then it was a tough heat race. I struggled in that one and didn’t get off to a great start. In the main event, I got off to a mediocre start and lost touch with that front-pack. I made some good passes late in the race, especially the one on Kenny (Roczen), but I just didn’t ride too great at the beginning of the race and lost a lot of time. Overall, I’m happy with collecting the most points that I could and walking out of here ready for the rest of the year.”
Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“It was tough. The conditions were the main thing today. We got a lot of rain, so it was soft conditions and the track was deteriorating really badly, especially in the main event. People were taking the same lines inside, and the track got really chewed up, so it was pretty much survival out there.
“I got a really good start in the heat and was able to lead some laps, which was cool. In the main event, I got a good start and then got shuffled around a bit the first couple of turns. We followed Cooper through the pack, made a run for the top five, and almost got it. That would have been nice. I tried everything and threw everything at it but came up a little short. It was a really good day though, P6. We’ll take that. It was the best result of the year so far. I want to get in the top five and eventually get on the podium; that’s the main goal."
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Daytona Results
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship Standings
DEEGAN STRENGTHENS CHAMPIONSHIP BID WITH 4TH AT DAYTONA.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan overcame adversity to finish fourth and move within three points of the 250SX Championship lead
MARIETTA, Ga. – March 4, 2024 – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan finished fourth to move within striking distance of the championship lead at last night's Round 3 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida. His rookie teammates Daxton Bennick and Nick Romano were 10th and 13th, respectively, on one of the toughest Supercross tracks in recent memory at the Daytona International Speedway. In the Supercross Futures race, Gavin Towers soldiered on after a couple of crashes to finish 18th.
Deegan had a tough start to the day with a big get-off in the first qualifying session. He was thankfully okay, but with rain arriving and drenching the track, the first qualifying session was the one that set the stage for the heat races, and he qualified 20th. Despite a less-than-ideal gate pick for his heat race, he took a runner-up finish and then grabbed the holeshot in the main event. As the track continued to deteriorate, Deegan rode a smart race and kept it on two wheels, ultimately crossing the line fourth and scoring valuable points in the championship. The title chase in the Eastern Regional 250 class continues to heat up with five riders separated by three points. Deegan is tied for fourth and within three points of the top spot.
Bennick got the day off to a great start, earning fastest qualifier honors in the 250SX East class. He got a good start in his heat race and was battling up front in the runner-up spot, but unfortunately crashed and finished fifth. In the main event, he found himself at the back of the field after the start. Undeterred, the rookie put in an impressive charge to seventh but unfortunately had a crash in the final laps and finished 10th. Bennick is also in the hunt for the title with eight points from the top spot and seventh in the standings.
Fellow rookie Romano had a tough start to his day with some crashes. He struggled to find his flow on the tricky track and ended up qualifying 18th, but regrouped for the night show and finished sixth in his heat race. The New Yorker had a solid start in the main event and was battling inside the top 10, but unfortunately came together with another rider and finished 13th.
In his second Supercross Futures race of the season, Towers had a solid start to the day and qualified second. He then grabbed the holeshot in the main event and was battling up front until a big get-off on the opening lap. He quickly rejoined the race but unfortunately had another crash in the challenging conditions and soldiered on to finish the race in 18th.
Next up for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 team is Round 4 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship and Round 9 of the SuperMotocross World Series at the Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 9.
Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“The night actually went really well, considering how it could have gone. This track was so gnarly. Haiden rode smart and ended up fourth, and he’s three points out of the lead, which is great. There are five guys right there, but we’re in this thing, and we’re going to focus on that.
“Dax had a great start to the day and qualified first but struggled a bit in the night show. He went from dead last in the main and clawed his way up to seventh, but made one small mistake on the last lap and ended up 10th. He’s frustrated with it, but this is his third race. We’ll keep working with him to get him back up front.
“Romano and Gavin, it was the same thing – small mistakes will cost you a lot at this track. We’re just happy to leave here healthy with our guys and Haiden within three points of the lead. We’re here to fight for this championship and will keep chipping away at it.”
Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38
“I’m happy with where we finished at Daytona, after that gnarly get-off in qualifying. We are in the fight and ready to get back in a stadium in Alabama!”
Daxton Bennick – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #59
“I never rode a track that gnarly for sure. It was a really good day. I was first in qualifying and felt good on the bike. I was riding my butt off, but things happen. I crashed in my heat when I was in second, and then I made it all the way to sixth or seventh in main from a dead-last start and then crashed again. So there was some good and bad from today. I was trying super hard, but this track’s gnarly and it got me a few times tonight. I’m not going to stress. It’s my rookie year, and I shouldn’t be beating these guys, but I know I can. I’m looking forward to the race next weekend.”
Nick Romano – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #511
“Honestly for my first Daytona, I was pretty gassed up. I felt really good yesterday (during press day) when it was dry, and today the rain got the better of us. I just struggled all day. I couldn’t find my flow, and I hit the deck a few times, but we fought through it. The track was gnarly. I think the gnarliest, roughest track that I’ve ridden in my life. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but it was a good day of learning, and we’re healthy and going to move on to Alabama. It’s my birthday weekend, so maybe we’ll do something special.”
Gavin Towers – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #15
“We made progress all day, and I felt a lot better than I did at A2, but the track was so gnarly. I got the holeshot and was battling up front in the main. I just tried a different line on the triple, and it cost me. I went down again, and from there, I just did what I could do. I’m bummed, to say the least, but happy I’m leaving here healthy. Now we’re on to some outdoor races and then back to Supercross Futures in St. Louis.”
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Supercross Futures Daytona Results
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Daytona Results
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship Standings
DEEGAN SCORES FIRST CAREER WIN IN ARLINGTON!
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan tops the 250 podium at Arlington Supercross to strengthen his 250SX East Championship bid
MARIETTA, Ga. – February 25, 2024 –Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan bounced back from an unlucky opening round in Detroit to secure his first career Monster Energy AMA Supercross win last night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The reigning 250SMX Champion also made gains in the 250SX East title chase with his victory at Round 2, advancing him to fifth in the points standings and within reach of the leader. Daxton Bennick overcame adversity to notch a top-10 finish and maintain third in the points standings. Fellow rookie Nick Romano continued to make progress and finished 12th.
After qualifying eighth, Deegan got the night show off to a flying start, grabbed the holeshot in his heat race, and ultimately crossed the line third. The Californian got another holeshot in the main event, and although he was shuffled to the runner-up spot on the opening lap, he rode patiently in the challenging conditions. In the final laps, Deegan advanced to the lead after the frontrunner crashed out of the race and rode on to score his first victory in Monster Energy AMA Supercross. The win also advanced him to fifth in the 250SX East Championship standings and within seven points of the leader.
With his first supercross podium earned at the opening round in Detroit, Bennick was looking to build on that at his second pro supercross race. He qualified 11th and then, unfortunately had a couple of crashes in his heat race and finished 14th. The rookie went on to win his LCQ, and despite very little time between the LCQ and the main event, he fought his way back to a top-10 finish and salvaged points on a tough night in Texas. Bennick heads into Round 3 of the Eastern Regional 250 class, tied for third and trailing the leader by six points.
Romano continued to make progress and qualified 13th. The New Yorker came out swinging in the night show and grabbed the holeshot in his heat race. He led for over half the race, ultimately crossing the line second. In the main event, he got another great start in second behind his teammate Deegan but rode tight and was shuffled back. Romano tried to maintain a top-10 result but unfortunately had a tip-over in the final laps and crossed the line 12th.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to Daytona Beach, Florida, on March 2 for the 54th running of Daytona Supercross and Round 8 of the SuperMotocross World Series at the legendary Daytona International Speedway. Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager“It was a great night for the team. Haiden had a great comeback from Detroit and got his first Supercross win. It was definitely tough out there and easy to get caught out, but he rode smart, kept the pressure on, and was able to get the win. He’s now back in the title fight and is only seven points down. Nick got two great starts but just rode tight and ended up having a tip-over at the end of the race and was 12th. It was a tough night for Dax with a couple of crashes and having to go through the LCQ, but he didn’t give up and fought his way back to 10th and is still third in the championship. We’ll get back to work this week and keep fighting for that red plate.”
Haiden Deegan – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #38“It was a good day in Arlington. Qualifying wasn’t that great, and the heat race was alright. I got passed, so I was pretty mad, but I’m not really a qualifying guy. I’m more of a race guy. So we went into the main event, and I got a perfect start. I just ran my own race, trailed behind, waited for a mistake, and was able to capitalize on it. It was awesome to get that first Supercross win. I’m only seven points out of the lead now. It’s going to be a fight to the finish, and I’m not going to let these guys have the red plate easily.”
Daxton Bennick – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #59“It was a tough day in Arlington. We qualified 11th and then, unfortunately had a couple of crashes in the heat race and had to go through the LCQ. That didn’t give us the best gate pick, and I was way back after the start, but we kept pushing and finished 10th. We didn’t get the result we wanted, but we’re still third in the championship. We’ll go back to work and come out swinging in Daytona.”
Nick Romano – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #511“It was a way better weekend for me in my second go at it. I ripped a holeshot in the heat race, led for a while, and ended up finishing second. In the main event, I was second off the start but just rode really tight and ended up falling with a few laps to go. Overall, there were a lot of positives from Arlington, and I’m excited for Daytona.”
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Arlington Results2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship Standings
WEBB REIGNS SUPREME WITH 6TH SX VICTORY AT DALLAS!
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing shines in the Lone Star State with a Cooper Webb and Eli Tomac 1-2 finish at Arlington Supercross
MARIETTA, Ga. – February 25, 2024 – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb returned to the top step of the podium at AT&T Stadium last night, scoring his second win of the season and advancing his position in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX title chase. It also marked his sixth victory in Arlington, Texas, adding to his legacy as the winningest premier-class rider in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Eli Tomac made an impressive charge back through the pack after an early race tip-over, finishing second in a wild 450SX Main Event. Their rookie teammate Justin Cooper joined them in the top 10 with a seventh-place finish.
Although Webb struggled earlier in the day, he came out swinging in the main event. The North Carolina rider qualified 11th and had a solid fourth-place finish in his heat race. Despite having a less-than-ideal gate pick, Webb got a flying start and quickly made his way to second. He maintained the runner-up spot and started to close the gap to the leader towards the end of the race. With four laps to go, the frontrunner crashed, and Cooper claimed the lead. From there, he ran his own race and kept cool under pressure to take his second win of the season and his sixth 450SX win at the AT&T Stadium. The victory brought him back up the rankings of this year’s hotly contested title fight, moving Webb into the runner-up spot and just three points from the championship lead.
Tomac, who also loves racing at AT&T Stadium, showed strength from the start and qualified fourth. He carried that momentum into the night show and won a thrilling heat-race battle, taking the lead on the final lap. The Colorado rider didn’t get the start he was hoping for in the main event and found himself seventh after the first lap. He then unfortunately had a tip-over on Lap 2 and rejoined in 16th. Undeterred, Tomac put his head down and threw down some consistently fast laps to make his way to fourth with seven laps to go. He continued to battle and claimed second on the final lap to give the team another double podium and strengthen his position in the championship. Tomac heads to his favorite race on the calendar, Daytona Supercross, fifth in the point standings and trailing the leader by 13 points.
Cooper also had a strong start to the day. The New Yorker topped the timesheets in the first qualifying session and ultimately was third in the combined times. He did not get the start he was hoping for in his heat race but came back from seventh to fifth. In the main event, Cooper was 12th after the first lap but kept pushing and advanced to sixth on Lap 3. He made his way to fifth but ultimately crossed the line seventh for another top-10 finish in the stacked 450 class.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to Daytona Beach, Florida, on March 2 for the 54th running of Daytona Supercross and Round 8 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Series at the legendary Daytona International Speedway.
Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager“It was an amazing night and a good day too. Cooper struggled a little bit throughout the day, but Eli and Justin were great in practice and throughout the day. Justin had a great night, too. He wasn’t on the podium, but seventh place is pretty good.
“To finish 1-2 is a big accomplishment in the 450 class. Eli rode phenomally. He just unfortunately, had that tip-over early in the race, but what a ride to come back the way he did and finish second. Cooper maybe he wasn’t the fastest guy out there, but he got a great start and kept the pressure on Jett (Lawrence). We’ve got to keep the pressure on. We’re three points down in the championship with Cooper and 13 with Eli. We’ve got a good couple of races coming up for our guys. We’ll keep pushing.”
Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2“Dallas was awesome to me once again. It was a tough day, though. Qualifying and the heat race didn’t go very well, but we were able to turn it around in the main and take advantage of a little mistake. Man, it feels amazing to win here again and to get our second win of the year. I’m just on cloud nine. It feels unreal.”
Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3“It was a good podium for us. I had a really good pace there in the main, but unfortunately I made one mistake early in the race and tipped over. I overshot a triple just a little bit and tucked the front end. Thankfully, I was able to charge forward. It was one of those tracks where you could make up a lot of time on guys and could get to the front of the race if you had the right lines going. Tonight was just important for me because I’ve been struggling in some of these situations, and now I feel like we’ve fixed a lot of that. I’m ready for the rest of the races and to see what we have got.”
Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32“Overall, it was a good day. I felt good on the bike all day. I was really comfortable and just gelling with it, so that’s a plus. Practice went really well, and I was third in qualifying, but my starts could have been better. I was seventh in the main and had a few battles with Chase (Sexton) and Eli. Eli was riding really good. I was trying to follow him, but he just took off. He was on a charge to the front, but I was kind of just riding in sixth or seventh by myself and a little bit off that pack. With a little bit better start, I could have ran with those guys and been in that battle, but I was just right behind it. That part was frustrating, but it was a good ride overall.”
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Arlington Results2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship Standings