The American Motorcyclist Association awarded No. 1 plates to champions in three AMA Supercross lessons on Saturday, May 11, on the finale of the 2024 AMA Supercross season in Salt Lake City.
Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence grew to become the third rookie in AMA Supercross historical past to assert the 450SX championship, becoming a member of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers Ryan Dungey and Jeremy McGrath. Lawrence’s title is Honda HRC’s second 450SX victory in as a few years.
After coming into the ultimate spherical of the 2024 AMA Supercross season deadlocked at 186 factors, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing R.J. Hampshire prevailed over Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki Levi Kitchen in Salt Lake City to earn the 250SX West title. In the Eastern regional, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle captured his first AMA Supercross title to go together with his pair of MX2 World Championships in 2020 and 2022 after accumulating two wins on the season.
“After another exciting season of racing, with down-to-wire title races, all of us at the AMA congratulate the 2024 AMA Supercross champions and their respective teams for a stellar campaign,” AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman stated. “Jett Lawrence, R.J. Hampshire and Tom Vialle are exemplary individuals that have shown incredible grit and determination, and of course, fantastic racing skills, on their journey to their respective championships.”
After main the 450SX class for a lot of the season, Lawrence discovered himself locked right into a tie with Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb after the thirteenth spherical of the season in Foxborough, Mass. But, Lawrence landed on the highest of the rostrum every of the subsequent three rounds to depart little doubt relating to his title pursuit.
Lawrence’s eight wins are the second-most all-time by a 450SX racer of their rookie season, trailing solely Jeremy McGrath (10) in 1993.
“I think it hasn’t fully sunk in yet,” Lawrence stated post-race, “but, I mean, we had times when we sucked really bad this year then also times when we weren’t too bad, so, [I’m] super happy for the team and doing it for them. They’ve been awesome. They’re family now and to give them another title is just the biggest ‘thank you’ to them… I couldn’t do it without the team around me. [There’ve been] so many hard moments that we’ve had that you can’t even put it in an interview, it’s just so long. I’m just super happy just for my family and the team and yeah, I’m just going to leave it at that because it’s too much.”
The 250SX West title race got here right down to the ultimate spherical in Salt Lake City, with Kitchen and Hampshire twisted up coming into the East-West Showdown at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Needing to complete forward of Kitchen to win the championship, Hampshire produced a second-place end — clearing Kitchen in fifth-place — to earn his first-ever AMA Supercross title.
After a runner-up end within the 250SX West class final season, Hampshire notched a trio of wins, whereas touchdown on the rostrum in seven races, en path to his elusive title.
“[I’m] just so thankful,” Hampshire stated from the rostrum. “From the beginning, like my dad, the Grondahls, Kevin Keen, just so many people have helped me get to this point right here and just believed in me. So [I’m] thankful to my wife, my daughters, it’s truly special. This whole Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna Racing team from Nate to Murph to my mechanic Amos, Aldon, Throttle, all the guys back home. They know how much I put into this, so it’s truly special. Just a massive thank you to Salt Lake. Man, you guys are going to be one I’m always going to remember. It’s truly special tonight. Thank you.”
In the 250SX Eastern Regional, Vialle outdueled Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan for the category crown. Vialle ended the marketing campaign with 172 factors, holding off Deegan by 4 general factors.
“I’m really happy,” Vialle stated post-race. “You know, coming from Europe, moving here to the U.S., and I’ve already got the [AMA] Supercross title in my second year. It’s amazing, so I’m very happy. I want to thank everyone on the team who believed in me, my family, and I’m really happy about the day. Thank you.”
The Supercross Futures AMA National Championship additionally wrapped up in Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium, with Troy Lee Designs GASGAS’ Cole Davies successful in Utah and taking the title for the season.
“It’s definitely cool to win this race,” Davies stated after claming the win. “The track is gnarly at the moment. I was able to get a pretty good start. I made some mistakes at the start there, but Drew [Adams] made a mistake, and I was able to capitalize on that and yeah, I’m stoked.”
The AMA additionally congratulates Jett Lawrence for incomes Rookie of the Year within the 450SX class, in addition to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer who was named Rookie of the Year within the 250SX class.
Results 450SX Class – Salt Lake City
1. Chase Sexton (USA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2. Justin Cooper (USA), Yamaha
3. Cooper Webb (USA), Yamaha
Standings 450SX Class 2024 after 17 of 17 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 351 factors
2. Cooper Webb, 336
3. Chase Sexton, 307
Results 250SX East/West Showdown Class – Salt Lake City
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
2. RJ Hampshire (USA), Husqvarna
3. Jordon Smith (USA), Yamaha
Standings 250SX East Class 2024 after 9 of 9 rounds
1. Tom Vialle, 172 factors
2. Haiden Deegan, 168
3. Coty Schock, 132
Standings 250SX West Class 2024 after 10 of 10 rounds
1. RJ Hampshire, 208 factors
2. Levi Kitchen, 203
3. Jordon Smith, 185