The 2024 Red Bud national recap

The 2024 Pro Motocross season has reached its halfway point and entered Red Bud for the Fourth of July weekend for its annual pilgrimage. This combination is a regular occurrence on the outdoor season and is always a favorite round with fans and riders and draws the biggest crowds all decked out in Red, White, and Blue in honor of America. This year would not disappoint as we have been enjoying a marvelous battle in the 250MX class and the 450MX class was a close three-way battle that dropped down to just two with Jett Lawrence getting hurt during the week.

250MX Class

In the first 250 moto, we saw Ty Masterpool grab the holeshot narrowly from Tom Vialle only to lose the lead shortly after to Chance Hymas. Chance was able to open up a small cushion over second place fairly quickly and give himself a little breathing space. Haiden Deegan did not get the best start but was running fourth early in the first moto. We saw Vialle have a small tipover that allowed Deegan to get past sending him back to fourth place. Around the eight-minute mark into the moto, we saw Masterpool caught Hymas and was able to make the pass for the lead over the finish line. By this point, Deegan has also caught up to the back of the lead pack and is able to make the pass for second place soon after. Vialle was able to get past Hymas into third place just before time expired. Deegan pressured Masterpool for the last part of the moto and he handled it perfectly, this first moto was exciting right down to the checkered flag.

In the second moto we see Hymas grab the holeshot again and Ryder D. and Shimoda are just behind. Masterpool did not get a good start and was running in eighth early. We also saw Vialle and Deegan deeper in the pack than normal, running 10th and 11th in the opening laps. At around eight minuetes into the moto we was Masterpool get pass Kitchen and pressuring Shimoda already. At the halfway point of the moto Hymas has already built up an impressive eight-second lead and is riding flawlessly.

The battle for the overall remained in flux over the final two laps as Shimoda closed in on Hymas to set up a head-to-head showdown for the moto win with his teammate. A total of 1.2 seconds separated the Honda duo as they took the white flag. A lapped rider worked in Hymas’ favor and allowed him to inch away over the second half of the racetrack. Hymas secured his second career moto win by three seconds over Shimoda, with Kitchen a distant third. Vialle battled back for fourth, with Masterpool holding on for fifth. Deegan went down after he was caught up in a crash by another rider, but held on for sixth.

250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)

Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda (4-1 // 43)
Ty Masterpool, Paradise, Texas, Kawasaki (1-5 // 42)
Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda (5-2 // 39)
Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM (3-4 // 38)
Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (2-6 // 38)

450MX Class

In the first moto we saw Hunter Lawrence grab the holeshot with Plessinger right on him at the line with Chase Sexton close behind in third place. Through the first ten minutes of the moto the top of the running order stayed the same. Soon after we saw Sexton close up the gap to Plessinger and able to make the pass into second soon after. He continued his charge forward and was not far behind the leader. By the midway point of the moto Sexton has closed the gap to Lawrence and was starting to pressure for the lead. Late in the moto Lawarence crashes on a rough downhill section and turn the lead over to Sexton, but is able to mount the bike and get going again to stay in second place where he finished the moto.

The second moto opened with Jason Anderson grabbing the holeshot only to loose the lead early to Webster. Sexton did not get the best start but was pressuring Stewart in the opening laps for fourth place, while Hunter was running back in seventh. Chase was able to move into second place fairly easily and began to pressure Plessinger for the lead. He was able to grab the lead and build a comfortable leader over Aaron and maintained the lead the rest of the way for the moto win.

Sexton’s most dominant outing of the season gave him the fourth 1-1 sweep of his career and his eighth victory in the premier class. Plessinger’s strong second moto and season-best runner-up finish (4-2) capped off a 1-2 outing for Red Bull KTM, while Lawrence extended his six-round podium streak in third (2-4).

The win vaulted Sexton to the top of the championship standings, as the third different rider to carry the red plate this season. He sits seven points ahead of Lawrence, who entered the day with a three-point lead. With Jett Lawrence sidelined, Cooper moved into third following a fifth-place effort (3-6) and sits 48 points out of the lead.

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish // Points)