More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:
Suzuki’s Ken Roczen charges to victory at Detroit Supercross. Roczen Creates New Momentum and a Huge Points Swing in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.
Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan hosted Round 11 of the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. The dirt provided great traction on a track notable for its widely-spaced whoops. The challenging obstacle impacted nearly every race as riders balanced aggression and precision through the unforgiving section.
Race Highlights:
- Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
- 450 Class
- Ken Roczen grabbed his second main event victory of the season and cut a swath of points out of his pathway to the title.
- 450 Class
- Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
- 450 Class
- Colt Nichols flew through the pack in a brilliant heat race charge.
- Justin Bogle battled into another main event position in his second race back to AMA Supercross competition.
- 450 Class
Ken Roczen (94) was impressive from the moment the riders hit the track inside Ford Field. Roczen emerged from the first qualifying session with the fastest lap time and followed that by matching his season-best results in the second and overall qualifying spots. In his heat race, Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe outside of the top five then quickly advanced through the pack. While setting the fastest times in track Sectors 2, 4, 6, and 9, Roczen delivered a second-place heat race result. In the main event, Roczen launched off the gate, then used his Suzuki RM-Z450’s strong torque to earn a second-place start. With less than two minutes off the race clock, Roczen took over the lead and secured the position with a clean blitz through the whoops. Roczen quickly pulled a three second gap over the rest of the field then managed the race from the front. On his way to his second win of the season, Roczen again topped several track sections with the race’s fastest times through track Sectors 4, 5, and 9. Roczen was nearly flawless on a track that bit several of his competitors. When the dust settled, Roczen had gained 17 points toward the title chase lead with six rounds remaining.
“We knew what we had to do; it was obvious that being 31 points down we had to start to execute a little bit,” said Roczen after the win. “So, it was kind of fun to be in this little bit of a pressure position. And we made it happen tonight. We just had a really good day all day; I do have to say that [the track] was overall the trickiest in the main event. But we executed it; we got a good start and I just hung in there… I don’t feel like I was the fastest in the beginning necessarily, but it was tricky. The whoops got really beat up, it was rutty, it was kind of grabby, and certain sections were a bit technical. But we hung in there, 20 + 1, so it was an amazing win for us. And it’s just fun to keep these dreams alive and it’s fun to be in that position. I’m just trying to let it set in, sit down a little bit and, after the race/before the race, we’ll be excited to go again next weekend and have fun with it.”
Colt Nichols (45) was pinched off entering the first corner of his heat race and emerged in 15th place at the holeshot stripe. Nichols wasted no time and had his Suzuki in a qualifying position by the time the riders had reached the green flag. Nichols continued his march forward, gaining two more spots through the six-minute plus one lap race. In the main, Nichols delivered a steady ride and moved inside the top-fifteen just before the race’s midpoint. A crash late in the race, and an unintentional infraction, delivered results that don’t reflect Nichol’s impressive speed in the second half of the season.
“Detroit was a struggle. I felt a little off all day, to be honest,” admitted Nichols. “I don’t have any excuses. I just was kind of on the struggle bus. I crashed on the last lap of the main. I think I got docked as well for jumping on a red cross [flag], so [it was] just a really, really rough day. [I’ll just] wipe it from the memory and try again next week.”
Justin Bogle (891) re-joined the Suzuki team just one race prior to the Detroit Supercross, and his qualifying speed demonstrated that he’s getting back up to full race pace. In the heat race, Bogle leapt off the starting gate and nabbed a top-five start. On the opening lap two riders crashed directly ahead of him; Bogle landed on a downed motorcycle but kept his bike on two wheels. After missing a direct transfer by one position, Bogle earned his spot in the main event through the LCQ. In the main, Bogle set the second-fasted time through Sector 6, the track’s long rhythm section, and finished in the points to move up one spot in the season standings.
“I had a rough day myself [but I’m] still just enjoying my days here,” said Bogle. “I had a really long week this week so I’m going to recover a lot more this [next] week and come in, hopefully, with a little more energy for St. Louis.”
“It was great night for the team,” stated Dustin Pipes, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Principal. “Ken rode a complete race: great start, he got into the lead [early], and it was smooth sailing from there. I know [two other riders] closed up on him a bit, but he changed his line about midway through the race and everything kind of settled down and he extended the gap to just under seven seconds. It was a great win by Ken. Colt and Justin had a little bit of an off night, so they’re going to have to re-regroup and get back to it in St. Louis. But I don’t want those results to hinder a great team win. We’re all going in the right direction Justin is two weeks into a four-year retirement [return], and Colt’s coming off of an eighth place. So, it was a down night for those guys, but Ken really rode a great race. It was a very good win for the team, the bike is in a great window, and we’re very excited to move on to St. Louis.”
The series lines the races up again on Saturday, April 4th inside The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The Suzuki riders and team members are invigorated by Roczen’s Detroit win and the stride in points toward another Supercross championship for Suzuki.
For the latest team updates, news, and race insights, visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross or pipesmotorsportsgroup.com.
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Kawasaki:
Chase Sexton and Seth Hammaker match podium finishes in Detroit.
Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton returned to racing in strong form at Round 11 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in Detroit, finishing second in the 450SX Main Event. Teammate Garrett Marchbanks overcame early setbacks to charge through the field in the main event, securing a 10th-place finish. In the 250SX Class, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker delivered a standout performance, matching Sexton to finish second in the main event. Teammate Nick Romano capitalized on the previous round’s results with a hard-fought seventh-place finish in the main event.
Detroit’s Ford Field hosted Round 11 with a technical and slick layout that demanded precision and consistency, challenging riders throughout the day. Kawasaki riders established themselves early in qualifying and carried that momentum into the night show.
In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton showed front-running speed aboard his KX™450SR, finishing second in the opening session before placing fourth overall after losing a fast lap due to failing post qualifying sound control. Marchbanks continued to build throughout the day, qualifying 16th overall.
In 450 Heat 1, Sexton launched to the front and controlled the race from start to finish to capture the win and show the competition that he has returned to form. Marchbanks faced adversity early after being pushed wide on the opening lap, resulting in a crash. He was forced to recover from the back of the field and came across the line in 11th, sending him to the last chance qualifier.
In the 450 LCQ, Marchbanks delivered a determined ride, charging through the field and making a decisive pass for the lead just before the white flag to secure the win and transfer to the main event.
In the 450 Main Event, Sexton powered into the lead off the start and remained in contention throughout the race. After briefly dropping back, he capitalized on late-race incidents ahead to move back into second, securing a podium finish in his return to racing. Marchbanks worked his way forward from a mid-pack start, steadily climbing through the field to finish 10th, showcasing his ability to overcome adversity through a tough day. Sexton and Marchbanks leave Detroit sixth and 17th in the points standings, respectively.
Chase Sexton: “Detroit was my first round back from being injured. I got first in the heat race and second in the main event. It was a better night for me, and I’m glad to be back on the podium. It’s been a bit of a struggle, so we’ll take what we can get and turn this season around. I feel good; my riding feels good, and I think this is just the start. I’m excited for the future, and we’ll look ahead to St. Louis now.”
Garrett Marchbanks: “Overall, it was a solid day. We made some changes in qualifying that didn’t quite go in the right direction, so we went back to our base setup for the night show. I got a great start in the heat race, but got pushed wide and had a pretty big crash early on, which made things tough. In the LCQ, I felt a lot better with the bike, rode my way through the field, and was able to take the first transfer spot. In the main event, I came from way back and worked up to the Top 10, so I’m happy with the progress, and we’ll keep building from here.”
In 250SX Qualifying, Hammaker set the pace aboard his KX™250, topping the overall timesheets after finishing second in the opening session and first in the second. Hammaker was originally second overall, but was granted fastest qualifier when the original leader failed the post qualifying sound test. Romano remained consistent across both sessions to qualify 16th overall. MX6 Racing Kawasaki riders Derek Kelly and Henry Miller also put their KX™250 machines in the Top 10 with a sixth and eighth-place, respectively.
In 250 Heat 1, Romano delivered an impressive ride, battling neck and neck for the lead and maintaining a strong pace to finish second and transfer directly to the main event. In Heat 2, Hammaker ran up front off the start before a mistake in the rhythm section dropped him back to fifth. Quickly regrouping, he worked his way forward to secure third at the checkered flag.
In the 250 Main Event, Hammaker positioned himself near the front from the start, rounding the first turn in second place. He capitalized when the leader went down, taking over the lead through the opening laps. A late charge from the competition behind him moved him back to second, where he held on to secure the podium finish. Teammate Romano started inside the Top 10 and advanced to sixth before a late-race shuffle placed him seventh at the finish. Half of the Top 10 was composed of Kawasaki riders with a career-best finish for Miller finishing in fifth-place, Kyle Peters eighth, and Kelley in ninth. Hammaker currently sits second in the points standings, with Romano in 18th, going into Round 12 at St. Louis.
Seth Hammaker: “Detroit was a good weekend; I qualified fastest and felt solid. In the heat race, I got off to a bad start and went into second. Immediately after I passed for second, I over-jumped a triple in the rhythm and banged up my hip and knee a little bit. Other than that, I salvaged third in the heat race and got a good start in the main event, running second for the first couple of laps. [Nate] Thrasher went down in front of me, then I was leading until about halfway when [Cole] Davies put on his charge and got around me, so I finished second. I’m happy with being consistent, but definitely want to get some wins here soon.”
Nick Romano: “Today was a good day. Qualifying wasn’t great, and then I showed up for the night show, ended up second in the heat race, and then seventh in the main event. I’m happy with the night, a lot of positives, and back to work this week for the next round.”
More from a press release issued by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna:
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart lands Detroit 450SX podium. Another season-best in Round 11 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship series.
Stewart recorded the third-fastest time in 450SX qualifying with a 51.894s lap, quickly finding comfort aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition and converting that pace into a P4 finish in 450SX Heat 2.
Completing the opening lap of the Main Event in fifth position, the 33-year-old maintained a consistent pace throughout the race, successfully negotiating the technical, deteriorating race-track to secure his first podium of the year. Stewart retains eighth in the 450SX Championship standings with six rounds remaining.
“It’s been tough after we had that unfortunate situation in Anaheim to start the season,”reflected Stewart. “After that, I was like, ‘I don’t know if I am going to get on the podium,’ and that’s just part of not believing in yourself. But I had to pull myself out of that and I want to give it up to Nathan Ramsey and the team – they’ve been in my ear all year long saying, ‘Hey, you can do this!’ So, a huge shoutout to the whole Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team, and just everyone who is behind me… I’m stoked with this result! The track was really tough tonight and it could bite you if you weren’t paying attention. I had a lot of trust in my motorcycle, which made a huge difference, and having now popped some champagne again, we want more.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250SX East teammates Daxton Bennick and Casey Cochran were both in action at Detroit, with Cochran making his first start of the 2026 SMX World Championship following a pre-season collarbone injury.
Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, the pair each recorded P5 finishes in their respective Heat Races, securing direct transfer positions to the Main Event inside Ford Field.
Bennick went on to claim sixth in the Main Event, rebounding from a slow start and mid-race incident, which sees him maintain fourth position in the 250SX Eastern Division standings entering next weekend’s 250SX East/West Showdown in St. Louis.
“It was a rough day, all day, honestly,” Bennick reflected. “I didn’t really ride like myself and didn’t do anything great, so was never really able to turn it around. I was just off all day, but we’ll go back to work this week. It was frustrating, although we’ve had really good rides so far this year because my speed is good and so is my training, so we’ll get back to how I know I can ride and we should be fine.”
For Cochran, he started the Main Event outside the top 10, making early progress through the field before a crash ultimately forced him to retire at the halfway mark – he will undergo further evaluations this week. Still, he was excited to be back at the races with his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team.
“The Heat Race and qualifying were decent in Detroit, for not having had too much time on the bike,” commented Cochran. “Then, unfortunately, I slid out in the Main Event and landed on my injured collarbone. We weren’t able to finish the race, but we’ll get it checked out – hopefully everything is all good – and we’ll be back.”
More from a press release issued by Yamaha:
It was another night of intense racing in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross premier class at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, with a shake-up in the 450SX title fight as the championship continues to take shape. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper delivered another impressive charge through the field to finish fourth, while Cooper Webb fought back to sixth after an early-race crash.
Qualifying fifth, Cooper got a strong start in his heat race, battling up front and finishing third. In the main event, he didn’t get off the gate as he had hoped and found himself back in 14th on the opening lap. The New Yorker quickly went to work, breaking into the top five before the halfway mark. Cooper kept pushing and closed the gap to Eli Tomac, making the pass with around six laps to go. With too much time lost to advance further, Cooper rode on to secure his third consecutive fourth-place finish and his sixth top-five of the season, which has him maintaining a strong fifth in the championship standings.
“The race day went well,” said Cooper. “The only thing I can really think back on is the start in the Main. I wasn’t ready for the gate drop, so I was a little off-balance and way back. I rode really well, and I came from 14th to 4th, but I needed the start tonight. I had really good speed in the beginning. I felt like, until halfway, I had a really good pace, and then it just caught up to me a little bit. I started slowing down and getting a little bit winded. I was able to catch Eli and pass him there, but yeah, fourth is what we had tonight. We needed to start up in at least the top five to finish better, but overall, the bike felt awesome all day, and I was just riding really well. We’ll take it to next weekend. I’ve got to get that start in the Main and get on the podium.”
For Webb, it was also a strong start to the day, with the reigning champion setting his sights on the win. He got a great start in his heat race, made the pass on his teammate on the opening lap, and held the runner-up spot to the checkered flag. In the main event, Webb quickly worked his way into third and looked poised to challenge for the lead. However, while attempting a pass on Jorge Prado, the pair made contact and went down. Webb remounted in 11th and charged forward, climbing back to sixth by the halfway mark, where he would finish.
“It was an okay day,” said Webb. “I qualified seventh overall, and then had a decent heat race. In the main event, that was just a really dumb move on my end. I thought I saw an opening and obviously didn’t, and took myself and Prado both down, which was a bummer. I went and apologized to him. So, I’m really bummed about it because I rode so well in that main event. I felt like I had the speed to win tonight. We’ll keep plugging away. It’s been a tough year, but it is what it is, and you’ve got to move on.”
Although it was not the result he was looking for, his efforts scored valuable points to make some championship gains – an eight-point swing to move within 26 points of the leader with six rounds remaining.
“I think it was a pretty decent day overall,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “Both guys had good qualifying sessions and strong heat races. In the main, Justin got a bad start, and Webb got a good start and put himself in a good position, but unfortunately went down trying to pass (Jorge) Prado early. It was a good recovery by him to come back to sixth, and Justin came from 14th to get Eli (Tomac) for fourth. We want to be on the podium and missed that opportunity tonight, but you can’t be upset when the guy’s going for a win. We’ll take the positives, move on to St. Louis, and look to get back on the podium.”
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team now heads to St. Louis, Missouri, for Round 12 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship at The Dome at America’s Center on April 4.
Cole Davies Storms to Third-Consecutive Victory
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies extends his win streak and championship lead with an impressive ride at Detroit Supercross.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies continued to lead the way in the 250SX East Championship, delivering a thrilling come-from-behind victory at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. It was a statement ride from the young New Zealander, who continues to build momentum in his Monster Energy AMA Supercross title campaign.
It was a near-perfect day for Davies in Detroit. He showed speed from the start, ultimately qualifying second after a sound penalty. Then in his heat race, he got a good start and quickly made his way to third on the opening lap. Davies rode a calculated race in the slick conditions, keeping the leaders in sight and making his move in the closing laps to take the win.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies continued to lead the way in the 250SX East Championship, delivering a thrilling come-from-behind victory at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. It was a statement ride from the young New Zealander, who continues to build momentum in his Monster Energy AMA Supercross title campaign.
It was a near-perfect day for Davies in Detroit. He showed speed from the start, ultimately qualifying second after a sound penalty. Then in his heat race, he got a good start and quickly made his way to third on the opening lap. Davies rode a calculated race in the slick conditions, keeping the leaders in sight and making his move in the closing laps to take the win.
In the main event, Davies found himself back around 14th off the start but quickly charged to third within four laps. He made the pass on Jo Shimoda the following lap and, after a brief battle, set his sights on the leader. Davies put his head down and closed the four-second gap, setting the fastest lap of the race on Lap 8. Just past the halfway mark, he made a decisive move on Seth Hammaker after the whoops to take control and never looked back, stretching his lead to 12 seconds for a dominant victory. The win marked Davies’ third consecutive victory and extended his championship lead to nine points.
“When I don’t perform the way I know I’m capable of, I’m pretty hard on myself,” said Davies. “Myself, my family, and the team put in so much work – that main event was how I know I can ride, and I’m proud of that. I put everything together, except for the start, and still made it happen. The bike was incredible through the whoops, which is where I made most of my passes. Going from 14th to first and extending our championship lead to nine points feels amazing.”
It was a rollercoaster day for Caden Dudney. The rookie had another strong qualifying effort in fourth, and when the gate dropped for the heat race, he grabbed the holeshot and led for most of the race. Unfortunately, with two laps remaining, Dudney crashed in the whoops but quickly rejoined to finish fourth. In the main event, he found himself back in 21st on the opening laps and ultimately crossed the line 18th.
“It was a rough day today,” said Dudney. “Just mistake after mistake, but there were a lot of positives to take away from it as well, with the heat race and leading laps. Qualifying was pretty decent, too. I just need to learn from my mistakes and be better for next weekend.”
Nate Thrasher also looked back to form after dealing with shoulder issues early in the season. He qualified fifth and delivered a commanding heat race win, grabbing the holeshot and leading every lap to take his first heat race victory of the season by over five seconds. In the main event, he secured another holeshot and led before an unfortunate crash in the whoops ended his night early.
“It was a better weekend for me,” said Thrasher. “It didn’t end how we wanted it to, but I finally felt like myself. I’ve been dealing with some nerve problems in my left shoulder, so it was good to feel healthy again. I just can’t make that mistake in the whoops in the main. I need to be better. We’ll keep working and move on to St. Louis.”
It was another strong night overall for the team, highlighted by two heat race wins, three holeshots, and Davies’ main event victory—giving the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 team 10 overall/main event wins in 11 rounds.
“Honestly, it was a great night for all of us,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team General Manager. “A win in both heats was cool with Nate and Cole. It was a shame in the main for Nate and Caden after showing the speed they had all day, but for Cole to come through the pack like that, it was definitely a statement ride.”
Next up, the team heads to St. Louis, Missouri, for the second East-West Showdown of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season at The Dome at America’s Center on April 4.
More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM:
Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM reclaim 450SX red plate after Detroit top-five.
A measured top-five finish at Round 11 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac reclaim the 450SX red plate tonight in Detroit, opening a four-point advantage exiting Ford Field.
Tomac qualified ninth on the 450SX combined timesheets as he familiarized himself with the technical track layout, before racing his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a third-place result in the opening premier class Heat Race.
The 33-year-old then completed the first lap of the Main Event in eighth position, before steadily climbing into the top-five. Maintaining consistency on the deteriorating surface, Tomac secured fifth place and a valuable haul of championship points.
Former two-time champion Tomac now leads the 450SX standings on 229 points, as the SMX World Championship series heads to The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri, next weekend.
Eli Tomac: “I knew I was going to take advantage of [Hunter Lawrence’s crash] once I saw that he was a lap down, but overall it was a bit of a frustrating day here. I have actually struggled here with my last couple of rides, so I don’t know what it is – I just haven’t had the best success at Detroit lately and maybe I’ve been in a bit of a mid-season slump. So, we’ll do what we can to get better and improve, and try to get back to winning some races and getting closer to the front.”
Spanish four-time world champion Jorge Prado recorded the 11th-fastest qualifying time in Detroit aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before earning a direct transfer to the Main Event with a P5 score in his Heat Race.
In holeshotting the Main Event, the 25-year-old ran strongly at the front of the field during the opening laps, before unfortunately going down in an incident with another rider. Prado recovered to 13th position by race’s end, again demonstrating front-running potential in the Motor City.
Prado currently sits ninth in the 450SX championship standings as he continues to build experience and added confidence in Supercross during the 2026 season with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Jorge Prado: “Detroit Supercross was a bit of a rough day! The Heat Race was actually not too bad. At the end of it, I found a good rhythm and was feeling good. In the Main Event, I had a super-good start – I got the holeshot, which was my main goal – and then I wanted to stay up front for as long as possible. Kenny [Roczen] passed me on, I think Lap 3, and then once he passed me, I really tried to stick with him, but another rider ended up taking me out and we both crashed. That impacted my rhythm from there, so we have some work to do – as always – but I am putting in maximum effort with my training and racing, so hopefully it’ll pay off soon. We’re taking a lot of this year’s Supercross championship as experience for next year, so it’s good that these things happen now so when we’re fighting up front in the coming years, we can be prepared and ready. It’s part of the process – we’ll learn and continue to get faster.”
Next Race: April 4 – St. Louis, Missouri
More from a press release issued by Red Bull Ducati:
Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team Celebrates Strong Return and Best Finish of the Season for Dylan Ferrandis in Detroit.
Sunnyvale, Calif., March 28, 2026 — The Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team welcomed a highly anticipated return to racing this weekend in Detroit, Michigan, as Dylan Ferrandis made his comeback at Round 11 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship.
After sustaining an injury in Daytona that sidelined him for two rounds in Indianapolis and Birmingham, Ferrandis returned to racing with determination and focus. Despite limited seat time leading into the event, Ferrandis delivered his strongest performance of the season to date, an encouraging result that reflects both his resilience and the relentless efforts of the entire team.
Ferrandis approached the first qualifying session with a measured mindset, easing back into the intensity of race conditions and securing 11th place. He showed immediate improvement in the second session, posting a 52.405 lap time to finish 9th, placing him 10th overall in combined qualifying.
Competing in Heat Race 2, Ferrandis got off the line to an 8th place start before quickly advancing through the field. By lap two, he had moved into 6th position while also recording his fastest lap of the race. He maintained that pace to finish 6th, earning a direct transfer to the Main Event.
In the Main Event, Ferrandis continued to build momentum, finishing 7th overall, his best result of the season. After starting strong in 6th place on the opening lap, he engaged in a competitive battle between 6th and 7th positions throughout the early stages of the race. By lap five, he settled into 7th and maintained consistency to hold that position through to the checkered flag.
“I am happy for the team and all the sponsors, TLD, Red Bull Ducati, and everybody on the team, so that feels good,” said Ferrandis. “I got a good start, but I was lacking a little bit of pace for sure. I can do better than what I did tonight, but I need to get back into that racing mode a little more. Overall, I think it’s the best I could have done today with a 7th. I showed that during my time off, I didn’t just chill, I was pushing and training. So I’m happy about that and happy for the team.”
This performance represents a significant step forward for both Ferrandis and the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team. With limited preparation time following injury, the result highlights the rider’s determination and the team’s dedication behind the scenes.
The team now looks ahead with confidence, aiming to build on this momentum as the championship progresses.
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:
Shimoda takes podium finish during challenging Detroit SX for Honda HRC Progressive.
- Japanese rider earns third-place result in 250SX East main event
- Crash in 450SX main belies Hunter Lawrence’s impressive speed
- Australian still firmly in the premier-class title fight
Round 11 of AMA Supercross in Detroit presented several trials for Honda HRC Progressive, although there were positives for the team and riders to take away. Despite adversity, Jo Shimoda secured a podium finish as the 250SX East class reached its season’s midway point. Meanwhile, Hunter Lawrence was the fastest 450SX qualifier, won his heat race and set the fastest lap time of the main event, before a crash and subsequent visit to the mechanics’ area resulted in an 18th-place result. Although the misfortune resulted in the Australian slipping out of the points lead, he sits just four points behind the leader.
Lawrence did not get his usual stellar start in the 450SX main, but he quickly advanced from fifth place out of turn 1 to third place by lap 3. Unfortunately, while challenging Chase Sexton for second just before the halfway mark, he suffered a hard crash at the end of the whoop section. Although Lawrence remounted quickly, the fall had resulted in a bent handlebar and a jammed front brake. A stop by the mechanics’ area to remove dirt from the brake lever cost him even more time, and he finished in 18th place. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath turned in ninth-, 12th– and 14th-place results, respectively.
Shimoda launched to a strong second-place start in the 250SX East main event and ran third early on. He moved back up to second on lap 3 and then lost the position a couple of laps later, running at a good pace while managing arm pump. The Japanese rider slipped to fourth just past the halfway point, but a late-race crash by Coty Schock opened the door for Shimoda to secure a podium finish. He remains third in the standings, 14 points behind the leading Cole Davies. Additional Red Rider highlights included a strong ride from Luke Neese, who finished inside the top 10, while Phoenix Racing Honda’s Evan Ferry delivered a career-best performance with an 11th-place result.
NOTES
- Phoenix Racing Honda riders Evan Ferry and Gavin Towers took part in Friday’s Media Day activities.
- Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cullin Park suffered a dislocated shoulder injury during last week’s 250SX East/West Showdown main event in Birmingham. Further examination revealed a fracture, and Park underwent successful surgery on March 25. The Floridian will miss the remainder of the series.
- While Honda HRC Progressive riders Jett Lawrence and Chance Hymas continue to progress well in their recoveries from injury, both attended the U.S. MotoGP round in Austin, Texas.
- Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy made his return to racing in Detroit, having recovered from a March 7 foot injury sustained in Indianapolis.
- Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda placed 12th in 250SX combined qualifying. Phoenix Racing Honda riders Evan Ferry and Gavin Towers qualified seventh and 11th, respectively. Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) qualified in 20th, John Short IV (Short Racing) was 21st and Ryder Floyd (Ti Lube Honda) was 27th, while Storm Lake Honda riders Luke Neese and Izaih Clark were 23rd and 24th, respectively.
- Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence placed first in 450SX combined qualifying, followed by Quad Lock Honda riders Christian Craig, Joey Savatgy and Shane McElrath, who were 12th, 13th and 15th, respectively. Red Rider Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic) qualified in 27th.
- Shimoda got a rough start in the first 250SX East heat race, getting to the first corner in 10th. He steadily worked his way forward, moving to fourth toward the end of the race, before a crash by Caden Dudney allowed him to take third. Ferry, Towers and Neese advanced directly through the second heat race, while Hand secured his spot in the main event with a second-place finish in the LCQ.
- Lawrence dominated the second 450SX heat race with a holeshot and wire-to-wire victory, while Savatgy (seventh) and McElrath (eighth) also transferred directly to the main event. Earlier, Craig had grabbed the holeshot in his heat race before finishing fifth.
- Lawrence now sits second in the 450SX championship standings, four points behind Eli Tomac, with six rounds remaining.
- Honda HRC Progressive will look to rebound at round 12 of AMA Supercross this Saturday in St. Louis. The 250SX class will feature an East-West Showdown.
Hunter Lawrence: “My day was a bit of a bittersweet one. The qualifying race went really well, and I was happy with everything—the bike, the team, myself, everything felt great. I was feeling really good in the main event and was honestly feeling so comfortable. I was really happy with where I was, and I made a push to the front and was catching Kenny and Chase. I just got caught by surprise with the crash at the end of the whoops. I was okay, but the bike took some unfortunate damage. It’s just racing, sometimes that happens, and I had to pull into the mechanics’ area. I crashed two more times just due to the front brake locking on, so that was difficult to bring home but I think we managed two points. It was a difficult situation, but we’re still in it and can’t wait to bounce back next weekend.”
Jo Shimoda: “The track was pretty jumpy and had massive whoops, and I was just uncomfortable. It was a bit of chaos in the first lap. I had arm pump right away, so it got sketchy. Honestly, there’s nothing good about today. I was slow, and I just couldn’t figure it out; I didn’t make the smart decisions. We’re five rounds in now, so I need to step it up and for the wins. I think [next week’s] Showdown is the best opportunity for the situation I’m in right now, so next week we have to deliver.”
Lars Lindstrom: “We’ve had a great 450 season so far, with not a lot of difficulties, which is represented by our run of finishes inside the top four at every event so far this year up until now. It wouldn’t be very normal to have a season without some adversity, so although we gave up a lot of points tonight, we’re still in a great position for the championship. The way that Hunter has been riding gives me a lot of confidence that we’re still in the driver’s seat. Most important, he wasn’t injured and is more motivated than ever to win more races. Jo wasn’t himself tonight, which I think was a combination of the track, and him not feeling 100% physically. Hopefully he can get a good week of training in and come out swinging in St. Louis. Both Hunter and Jo won there in September for the SMX race, so we have good vibes going into this coming weekend.”