2024 Glendale Supercross | Kickstart Recap & Photo Gallery

You can always count on something cool from Troy Lee. To make the most of the WM Arizona Open going on in nearby Scottsdale, the artist and gear brand worked on a special collaboration with pro golfer and motocross enthusiast Rickie Fowler through mutual sponsor Puma Golf. TLD used patterns from the Puma/PTC collection on the helmets and gear for Barcia and DiFrancesco at State Farm Stadium, while Fowler teed off at TPC with a GASGAS-logoed race jersey on over his polo. Palm Tree Crew is one of Fowler’s side projects, and is both a golf inspired clothing company and an investment firm that aims to be, “a next generation platform at the nexus of live entertainment, tropical lifestyle, and flexible capital solutions.”

We finally got the chance to chat with Robert Hailey during Press Day. The Team Faith rider has quite the story, including plenty to say about his stature, which he shared in the Pre-Race News Break. “I started riding when I was two and a half on a TT-R50 with training wheels, then ended up going to the Cobra 50 and 65,” said the now 20-year-old. “Once I got on 85s, I stopped riding for six years and I played football and basketball. I’m not very good at basketball, so it was back to racing. I tried all those different sports and one day wanted to get back into riding. It started out for fun and went from there, and now we’re racing Supercross, a dream of mine since I started.” Hailey knows his way around a bike, as he was a mechanic at Rock River last year, but now his sole focus is his own racing efforts. “Last year I did Supercross only and didn’t do outdoors, so I wanted to find something to do that was within the industry because I wanted to be around dirt bikes. I reached out to Bobby Fisher at Rock River Yamaha and ended up with Luca Marsalisi for the whole outdoor season and Cade Johnson for Loretta’s and the Mini Os. In September I started training again for Supercross, and still went to Mini Os, but after that I was full into training.”

Spot the similarities and differences in body position and technique between Toyota of Redlands/BARX/Suzuki rider Max Miller…

And Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing rider Ryder DiFrancesco.

“I was 100% crashing I slide all the way into @colethompson16 😂 an it saved me” - @carsonmumford

Mitchell Oldenburg is moving up the all-time list in a few categories, including 82 250 SX starts that put him fifth in the historical rankings. It’s an accomplishment for the career racer, and Freckle shared a very personal take we discussed it on Friday. “When I saw this on Twitter yesterday, I thought, ‘Hmm I don’t know if this is cool or embarrassing. I still don’t know,” stated the MCR rider. “From 2017 to 2020 I was the guy who was always hurt. I take that into consideration, because my turnaround from 2020 to now, I’ve raced a lot of races and haven’t missed many, knock on wood. I’m still making a living and doing enough to put a roof over my head and cover my bills, so I get it, but I’m going to have to do what I have to survive. Would I like to be in the 450 Class? Absolutely, I have fun on it, but I have to do what I make money doing, and that’s the 250 Class.” Again, this is another interview that’s best watched in the News Break video.

脚の盗品 Ashi no tōhin.

It’s always cool when teammates have similar numbers, and even more so when it’s been earned year-to-year through the AMA assignment system. That’s the way it worked out for Team PRMX riders Mitchell Harrison (82) and Cade Clason (81) in 2024.

Derek Drake is five for six in 450 Main Events this year. The Toyota of Redlands/BARX/Suzuki rider was part of a four-man fight for position in Glendale with Fredrik Noren, Kyle Chisholm, and Devin Simonson, and a 21st place result earned him the last point offered through the new scoring system. Drake is currently 18th overall in the 450 Class championship standings.

Word of Chase Sexton’s hand injury was kept under wraps until race day. The Red Bull KTM rider went while practicing earlier in the week and had initial fears of a break, but was assured by doctors that it was just extensive bruising. The defending champion and incoming point leader’s plan of attack in Arizona shifted more to damage control, as he and the team limited fast laps in the afternoon practice and saved any sort of AMA-approved pain killer until the Main Event.

Troy Lee’s relationship with Puma Golf helped get designs straight from the sportswear company’s TPC line onto the pants and jerseys, but don’t expect this look to be added to the TLD catalog anytime soon. The same prints are available on polos and jackets, though, and the race team swapped their usual red uniforms for the tropical tops.

Gasoline Alley. The area behind the starting line was basically a cart show, with every team showing off how much they could fit into their customized Foldit all-purpose carriers. The more we think of it, the more we should reach out to Tipke Manufacturing for a story on these haulers, because the simple piece has multiple purposes, can be towed behind a bicycle/lawnmower/UTV, and has somehow become the standard for race crews in Supercross. They retail for $350.

Blast off. The AMA has started to do a one-by-one send-off during one session of Timed Qualifying, then switches to the full gate drop for the next go around.

Red Plate Style Check with Levi Kitchen…

Red Plate Style Check with Levi Kitchen…

And Jordon Smith.

Bling bling. The sliver machined hub/neon yellow wheetsets run on Ken Roczen’s Progressive/ECSTAR/Suzuki done by Dubya USA; the California wheel builder uses hubs from Haan and hoops from DID.

Gloss gray paint, gradient stripes, gold details, and exposed carbon fiber. apdesigns hit this Moto10 Spherical with all of the special effects for Eli Tomac.

Steps, Benny? Anything goes on the starting line these days.

Kyle Chisholm is heating up. The Twisted Tea/Progressive/Suzuki rider has scored points at the last three rounds and the 17-16-19 finishes have him ranked 20th overall in the championship standings. This is the number 11’s 20th year as a pro.

Jason Anderson, rolling through the middle…

El Hombre, blasting off the berm.

250 Start style check. This was from Session Two of Timed Qualifying, the “gate drop” practice.

Nine loader whoops. Mike Muye of Feld Entertainment and Ross Blakenship of Dirt Wurx have been very forthcoming about the measures being implemented into track design and construction at the races, with safety for the riders and a more competitive championship cited as the main reasons.

Since Dixxon Flannel is based in nearby Tempe, both divisions of HEP Motorsports added plaid prints to their SKDA graphic sets. Here’s the Twisted Tea/Progressive/Suzuki look…

And the one done for Progressive/ECSTAR/Suzuki.

Art.

Tour Chaud

Malcolm Stewart put in his best day of the season so-far at round six. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider was sixth quick in Timed Qualifying (0.849 seconds off pace setter Anderson), ran second in every lap of 450 Heat Race One, and climbed from thirteenth to eighth in the 450 Main Event. Now twelfth in the championship standings, Stewart trails Justin Cooper by nine points and Justin Barcia by 12. BTW, this was a good look, Roger.

Kevin Moranz was cleared to race after spending a few weeks on the concussion protocol. The independent rider took us through the early ups and downs of setting up Kevin Moranz Racing, an effort supported by Champion Tool Storage, by saying, “This was a massive investment for me, so I’m investing in myself and my program. Having a close one at A1, I was happy to get out of it safe, and then two mudders took it out of us. Then the injury… It was a lot of an investment to make and then not be at the races. It was crushing in that sense, but it’s racing.”

We’re gonna do the Brand Breakdown during the weekend off. Categories include helmets/goggles/gear/boots/neckbraces if applicable worn by riders, handlebars/exhausts/tires/suspension bolted on to each motorcycle, and assorted sponsors like energy drinks. Any requests?

Hell of a battle for a Heat Race, and even wilder when you know it was for third-fourth-fifth.

Aaron Plessinger’s stellar season continues. The Red Bull KTM rider was unmatched on his way to the win in 450 Heat Race Two, as he did seven laps in the 1:04 range, with a personal best of 1:04.058 on Lap Six. According to the AMA’s segment time page, AP’s average lap was a 1:04.462 while a theoretical best of perfect sectors would have been a 1:03.658.

Michael Hicks wrapped up his fifth consecutive title with the GT Arena Motocross Nationals in Missouri the first weekend in February and joined the Monster Energy Supercross Championship the next. The Missouri racer will be part of the Rock River Yamaha squad for the rest of the SX series and will compete in the 450 Class.

Do you think Phil did the three-out in the first rhythm?

Nate Thrasher is built different. The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider has had his share of big crashes over the years, with Saturday night’s nose pick to front flip while leading the Heat Race being the latest in the reel. Thrasher was taken to a nearby hospital for overnight evaluation and was released with a concussion and bone bruise. He’ll have ample time to heal up before Seattle.

Freight Train.

You never know who you’ll see on the starting line of the KTM JR SX Challenge. Former Kawasaki factory mechanic Dana Wiggins joined his son, Maddox, for the three-lap exhibition in Arizona. Wiggins doesn’t spin wrenches on race bikes anymore, as he now works at TRD, but he’s been part of the pits at West Coast rounds through a technical position with the AMA.

31 & 30

Something new from FCP. From what we’ve heard in the pits, the part is modeled after the headset races that factory teams use to adjust the angle of the front-end and will allow everyday riders another way to fine-tune the handling of their motorcycle.

3DP Moto is a Northern California project that specializes in, you guessed it, 3D printed parts. Team Solitaire/Heartbeat Hot Sauce/Yamaha swapped the stock airbox lid on their YZ250Fs for the Flow Forward Intake Scoop, a high-flow cover made from flexible material that comes pre-assembled and ready for install. Mechanic Eric Angelski told us the team found the company during weekly internet part searches, saying, “We found them through social media. We wanted to see a different design, something to accommodate this package and improve it, and we reached out to them… We are looking to get more air into the intake. He brought the design a little lower to original airbox and rounded out the edges so it doesn’t affect rider movement.” It’s a new era for moto parts and as Angelski told us, there is something for almost every make and model. “Once a week I go to Google, search a brand, and look at parts to see what’s out there,” he shared. “There’s something different every week and there are a ton of smaller companies out there that don’t get exposure, but just need a shot.” 3dpmoto.com

Shoutout to the 250 LCQ riders like Max Sanford that transferred out of the red flagged and restarted race, then immediately went to the gate for the 250 Main Event. There was some sort of break, sure, but it was a stressful period with little time for rest or serious repairs. RJ Hampshire made it a point to speak about the issue in the press conference, stating that it was unfair to the competitors and that it should not happen.

Hard pack.

Tied title contenders, racing for the lead. Does it get better than that?

How about third place running third place?

Five points separate the top three with five rounds left in the 250 West Coast Region. The next race is in Seattle at the end of March.

“The person you want to beat most is your teammate.”

Although Max Miller made this pass, Anthony Bourdon ultimately came out ahead, as the number 100 finished 12th in the 250 Main Event and the 87 placed 15th.

This is what a four second gap looked like on the long straightaways of the Arizona track. Hampshire’s pace in the closing laps and Kitchen’s late push brought the margin of victory down to just 2.993 seconds.

RJ’s third trophy of the season. The rider has two wins and a second-place finish on his five-race record in 2024.

Ken Roczen was practically flawless in the 450 Main Event. The rider was credited with the holeshot, did the fastest single lap of the race (1:04.172 on Lap Six), was largely unpressured as he led all 20 laps, and crossed the line 4.781 seconds ahead of second place. Roczen’s stat line for the season is impressive, as he’s got an average qualifying rank of 2.8, has taken two holeshots in nine gate drops (somehow this is the one Triple Crown figure included by the AMA), led 27 total laps, and has an average finish of 6th. By comparison, point leader Lawrence has an average qualifying rank of 5.6, the same amount of holeshots, 21 more laps led, and an average finish of 4th.

Hunter Lawrence’s Alpinestars kit was made with Enchanté, the clothing brand run by F1 racer Daniel Ricciardo. The milkshakes and flower bouquets were part of the “Affection Collection,” a Valentine’s Day release of Ts/sweatshirts/candles that is mostly sold out online. enchante.co

A former cop in jailbird stripes.

Props to Dean Wilson for once again being open and honest about what he’s facing in his career. The Fire Power Honda rider made it clear that 2024 is just the end of his days racing 17 AMA SX races in a row, and that instead he’d like to pursue an international schedule with select races in the US to extend his career, and that anxiety about staying safe through the farewell tour is taking a toll on his finishes. Watch the Choob to hear all the details straight from DW.

Career win 22 for Ken Roczen. An interesting footnote about the finish: the victory re-ties Roczen with longtime rival Cooper Webb for tenth in the all-time list. Who comes out ahead in 2024: a recharged Roczen and the proven RM-Z or Webb on the latest iteration of the YZF?

Hunter Lawrence and Dylan Ferrandis finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 450 Main Event. It was the Team Honda HRC rider’s best result of the season so far and the Pheonix Racing Honda rider’s third sixth place finish and sixth top-ten.

“I did what I could tonight to salvage points toward the championship after hurting my hand this week. The week was rough and I wasn't even sure that I'd be able to race this weekend, but we got through the day and I'm just grateful that we have a scheduled weekend off coming up next week, so that should really help the healing process a lot. The way the results went tonight, I didn't lose too many points, so I'm still right in the title fight."

The Arizona dirt was unique in many ways. Some spots of the track looked lush, like this bowl turn after the finish line, but just beneath the loose top layer was a rock-hard base that offered deceiving levels of traction. The next few races will be interesting, with Arlington’s tendency to be both rutted and slick, Daytona’s always rough terrain, Birmingham’s open-air dome and red southern clay, and Indianapolis’ high probability of ruts and holes.

Three different bike brands, three different nationalities, three championship contenders.

That’s it for Arizona. Time for a weekend off, then a long haul around the country that will run until early April.