Denver Supercross round 16 recap
As the 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season nears its end the 16th round of racing took place in Denver. This is Eli Tomac’s home race and the scene of where his season-ending injury also took place. The fans would be looking for much better results this year as many probably feared that might be the last time they got to see him race. Both the 450SX and the 250SX West championship points races remain close and are likely to go down to the final round in Salt Lake next week. Coming into the weekend Hampshire had a slim two-point lead over Kitchen for the title.
250 Heat 1
In heat race one we saw Jo Shimoda get the badly needed start and secures the holeshot and the lead that he would not relinquish all race. Early in the moto we saw Hawkins in second place his best start of the season. Levi did not get the start that he needed running in seventh early in the race. He was running fourth into the first corner on the start but got pushed wide and cost him several positions. Smith was running good early but unfortunately slipped out in turn and killed the bike has a hard time starting it again and lost several positions. Late in the moto, we saw Levi make the pass for second place but Shimoda was long ahead with an 8-second lead. This was the third career heat race win for Shimoda.
250 Heat 2
Moto starts off with a great start by Ryder D. grabbing the holeshot with Thrasher running close behind him. There was a three rider pile up on the start that include Phil Nicoletti. Hampshire did not get the best start and was running in fourth place on the first lap. Ryder was not able to hang to lead for long as he messed up a rhythm section and Thrasher capitalized and passes him for the lead only to lose second place to Hampshire shortly later. Late in the moto Hampshire catches THrash and starts pressuring him for the lead. He got right next to him but Thrasher was able to block the inside in the next turn and protects the lead and secure the heat race win.
450 Heat 1
We saw Hunter get a great start and nab the holeshot with Webb trailing just behind him. The start claimed Ferrandis and Oldenburg sending them to the ground and the back of the field. Webb did catch Hunter and make the pass for the lead after Hunter missed a jump and lost momentum. Tomac reached fourth place in the heat and was unable to move further forward. Hunter was able to catch Webb late in the moto and attempt a pass for the lead only to lose it a jump later.
450 Heat 2
jett gets good start pursued by friese and barcia and sexton in fourth place on first lap
chase into second barcia fallen back to 5th with anderson upto 3rd at 4:00 left
jett comfortable 5sec lead
sexton has fastest lap time but could only close to within 3 secs of him
250SX Main Event
In the Western Regional 250SX Class, Jo Shimoda grabbed the Holeshot and led every lap to take the second Main Event win of his career. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Levi Kitchen nabbed a top-three start, moved into second, and closed in on the lead on the final lap. His second place finish moved him into a tie for the title going into the final round – the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Showdown. After a fifth-place start, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's RJ Hampshire was aggressive early and finished in third place, not far from Kitchen. Hampshire sits tied with Kitchen with one race remaining to determine the championship.
250SX Denver Results
Jo Shimoda
Levi Kitchen
RJ Hampshire
“Honestly, I didn’t know where he was catching me so I kind of had no idea where to push a little bit farther. But, oh my God. I mean, switching teams from last year, we fought some struggles earlier. But we never gave up. And I know it’s late in the season, I get it, but I’m just stoked to win. Let’s go! Thanks to all the HRC guys, my mechanic Ben, trainer Nick, Jordan, my family back home, well, actually a couple of them is here, but thank you so much.”
450SX Main Event
Team Honda HRC's Hunter Lawrence Holeshot and led the first half of the race; Hunter finished second, marking the first time in Supercross history that brothers finished 1-2 in the premier class. Monster Energy Kawasaki's Jason Anderson was close in third but was never in a position to challenge for the lead. Second-in-points, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Cooper Webb, struggled with a left thumb injury and finished fifth; Webb lost eight more points to Jett Lawrence. In the final standard-format Western Regional 250SX Class race prior to the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Showdown finale, Team Honda HRC's Jo Shimoda took first place to become the fifth winner of the year in only nine races so far in the regional championship.
Jett now has a comfortable 20 point lead over Webb in the 450 championship and barring any catastrophe he should secure his first 450SX title next week in Utah. Anderson and Barcia were sneaky good with third and fourth-place finishes. After going down on the start Sexton was in last place but steadily worked his way up through the field. He made the pass over Webb for fifth place with around 5:30 left in the race only to loose traction and go down shortly after and fall back to eighth place and never mount a charge forward again.
450SX Denver Results
Jett Lawrence
Hunter Lawrence
Jason Anderson
“I was screaming in my helmet the first lap when it was [Hunter] and I out front. I was so pumped and he was riding awesome that one, and it’s so awesome to go 1-2 in the 450 class. I mean, it’s the top of the class, it’s an awesome feeling, awesome accomplishment for our family… super pumped and excited to go to the last round. Hopefully we can repeat it.”
All photo credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc