2024 Fort Worth SuperMotocross | Kickstart Recap & Gallery

One thing about the pre-race press that always cracks us up is the difference in footwear worn by pro riders. The 250 Class kids are all about sneakers, be it from staples like Nike and adidas to upscale brands like Golden Goose or Louis Vuitton, but as you can see here, the 450 Class is a little more diverse, with everything from Hugo Boss kicks to Justin cowboy boots to flip flops and classic Vans.

Teammates for now, but not for long. Nick Romano and Jordon Smith are slated to part ways with Star Racing in a few weeks, which is a big move for both, as Romano has been with them since he was on SuperMinis and Smith joined two years ago. Anstie will be a full-time racer for the team in 2025 after joining midway through the summer.

Stars and stripes were big in Texas. Troy Lee Designs brought back the Oakley collab kit they ran at RedBud while FLY Racing made RJ Hampshire a special red-white-blue setup.

We’ve noticed that partners Levi Kitchen and Tom Vialle are never too far from one another during Free Practice or Timed Qualifying. If pushing each other to run a quick pace works during the week, keeping it up on the weekend makes perfect sense.

If you really want to know what the weekend’s racetrack will be like, then you need to follow DirtWurx on Instagram. The crew post frequent updates during the week while at the helm of the heavy equipment, and their Texas previews showed lots of tilling and watering to get moisture into the soil.

Home race hero. Grant Harlan’s home is less than an hour from the front gate at the speedway, and his proximity and personality made him one of the go-to guys for pre-race interviews with local media and news outlets. Harlan is ranked 19th in the point standings going into Vegas and has a shot at $28,000 from the payout.

SCOTT Sports debuted the updated Prospect 2.0 last week. The four-clip Lens Lock retention system has been revised for quicker changes, the frame has been made slightly slimmer so that it’s closer to the face, and the lens has been curved for increased peripheral vision. The American-made specs are now available in a variety of colors and tints, including a light sensitive option and SCOTT’s Amplifier treatment for increased contrast.

Heavily watering the track in the morning is the only way to ensure dirt like what was used at the Speedway stays somewhat racy, but that makes for muddy bikes in the early sessions. Check out how the build-up under RJ Hampshire’s rear fender made it flex upon landing…

Things will be the same, but different for Justin Cooper in 2025; he’ll continue his time with Star Racing in the 450 Class but will switch from Alpinestars threads and lids to gear from O’Neal Racing and helmets from HJC.

Eli Tomac’s tire choice was one of the first things we looked for our Saturday morning. Everything about the track conditions made the Dunlop MX14 seem like a crazy decision, but rewatch the start of 450 Moto One and see his launch out of the gate compared to the others. The general consciences we get from people at Star Racing and Dunlop is that the tread pattern is really, really good off the grate, but Tomac is coy when questioned about the how and why.

Honda has a long history of supporting the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The organization’s Imaginary Friend Society is a program that aims to reduce fear of medical procedures in the young patients, and their characters were included in the graphics and gear worn by Team Honda HRC riders in Texas. The riders also paid a visit to a local hospital ahead of the weekend and sent back autographed plastics, gear, and parts after the race was finished.

This rubber-down spot behind the gate was our first indicator on Saturday morning of what the track was going to look like in the afternoon.

Only Fox Racing could balance the modern look of exposed carbon fiber with Rockstar Energy branding to retro themed gear through a special partnership with Cherry, a California clothing company that’s big on the timeless Americana aesthetic.

Check back next week for a Brand Breakdown of the SuperMotocross World Championship. We can already say that Dunlop has the tire segment on lock in both divisions, but Maxxis is making their presence known with two riders in the 450 Class.

Crouching tiger…

Quick glance at the scoring tower while getting on the gas through a slick, shallow rut. Must be nice to be that good.

Like we’ve mentioned multiple times in recent weeks, all three rounds of the SuperMotocross World Championship are happening at venues owned by Speedway Motorsports, a property management group with a portfolio that includes nine of the country’s largest auto racing facilities. Having Playoff Two in Texas makes sense, as the DFW metro is one of the biggest in the US, but the state is still very hot and dry in September. This is purely speculation, but since that Nissan Stadium in Tennessee is not part of the 2025 SX schedule, we wouldn’t be surprised if an SMX race happened at the Nashville Superspeedway next year, as it’s also an SMI venue.

Creative riders will use every inch of track for a fast lap and a handful of guys, including Ken Roczen, banked their bikes off the side of a jump landing from another lane to get their desired line through the middle of the track.

Haiden Deegan wasn’t afraid to bury his bike in the berms and twist the throttle in Texas. Scroll to the gallery at the bottom of the page to see more shots like this from the 250 Class title favorite.

29 & 30

Max Anstie and Haiden Deegan took cues from Eli Tomac and went with the paddle tire in Moto One, but both quickly found out that the rear rubber requires a special riding style, especially on hard pack.

Crossed up.

Full mesh jerseys are the current warm weather must-have for racers, and we can attest that they flow plenty of air, but nothing looks as cool as a razor-cut top on a hot day.

Uncanny similarities

For all the issues the Texas SMX had, spectator turnout was not one of them. Thousands of fans spent a weekend in the DFW to see the action and we talked to people that flew in from nearby states to see Playoff Two in-person. How many will show up to Vegas?

Harri Kullas stands to make a lot of money from the SMX series. Excellent results in the Pro Motocross Championship helped the Estonian-Finnish racer earn a spot on the gate for all three rounds of the finals, and through four motos, he’s put himself 13th in the point standings. Unfortunately, the $1 USD to 89 cent Euro exchange rate is gonna cost Kullas about four grand (34,000 equals 30,419.)

Insane

Fredrik Noren’s early crash in Moto One twisted his handlebars into a precarious bend, but the MADD Parts/Galaxy Cloaking/MX4Christ/Kawasaki rider was undeterred and, despite being very far down the running order and off the pace, managed to make it to the checkered flag.

The flat, slick turn before the rhythm lane was an interesting place to watch. Riders had to manage the throttle to keep the rear tire from lighting up and losing traction, but had to build momentum to make it through the jumps. Zoom in to see the squish of Justin Barcia’s rear rubber.

Epic. 450 Moto One was another instant classic that we’ll watch a time or two in the offseason.

Scroll to the gallery below for more action images from the three-way fight for the win between the Lawrence Brothers and Tomac.

Eli’s rear tire choice sent him searching for traction in the soft, loose berms, which opened the tighter inside lines for Jett to chop him off at the exit. Respect to both riders for their racecraft and trust in the other.

Hunter’s pivotal playoff win has set up the title fight for Las Vegas, as the rookie is at the top of the four-rider, winner take all scenario.

Did the layout play a part in the conditions? Certain areas of the track funneled into one line, like you can see here over the moguls into the tunnel, and riders would have rather followed the best-known path than risk getting passed with a venture out into the looser loam.

Cornerman.

Texas was without question the hottest race of the year, and even a known badass like Tomac showed signs of physical strain after the Moto One battle.

A team rep’s role has many responsibilities. Yeah, that’s Eli’s mouthpiece in Courtney Campbell’s hand.

The rhythm lane claimed many riders on Saturday afternoon, including Carson Mumford, RJ Hampshire, and Derek Kelley. This instruction sheet for a first aid wrap and split was spotted on the ground by the side of the jumps.

Locker room.

Haiden Deegan got squeezed by the pack going into turn one, and for a moment we thought he’d be pushed deeper into the running order through the opening laps of Moto Two…

But by the time riders reached the over-under bridge, literally no more than 15 seconds later, the title favorite was in the lead and pulling away. When it’s your year it’s your year.

The KTM-Husqvarna-GASGAS group has a good list of talent on their 250 bikes for the next few years, as both Julien Beaumer and Ryder DiFrancesco showed progress through 2024 and will be better in their second seasons as full-time pros.

RJ Hampshire’s get-off happened right in front of us. Safety workers were by his side as soon as the bike and rider came to a stop on the top of the jump, a quick response that helped get him out of harm’s way and into the care of the Alpinestars Medical Team. Unsurprisingly, Hampshire will sit out the finale.

4 for 4

The scoop tire was a ballsy choice, but not one that Deegan wanted to make twice. He told the team to mount a standard knobby on the rear as soon as he came off the track in Moto One.

A few extra teeth.

Did you know that DID is in the wheel business now? Red Bull KTM has run these Dirt Star hubs all season, and we expect to see more from the Japanese company in the coming months.

Dad’s Club.

Go free. Chase Sexton’s Moto Two ride was as dominant of an effort as we’ve ever seen from the Red Bull KTM rider, but his post-race comments made it clear that he expects that and more from himself every weekend.

Who will leave Vegas with a million dollars and the new trophy?

What would an ammonia towelette do on the starting line? According to Doc G, it’s the same as a smelling salt, a last-minute sudden alert to the senses that would help a rider be focused for the gate drop and opening laps.

Insane.

Thirty down, one to go.