Photos by: Feld Motor Sports
RJ Hampshire Earns Win in 250SX Class
Daytona, Fla., (March 2, 2025) Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken
Roczen became the sixth different Monster Energy AMA Supercross winner
of the season in just the first eight rounds of racing. Roczen put in a
strong charge just before the race’s midpoint to push from fourth
place into the lead and earn his career-first Daytona Supercross victory
in his 11th attempt. The win also marked Suzuki’s first since 2009 at
the iconic speedway.
Daytona International Speedway delivered a thrilling and dramatic night
of racing at its 52nd running of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross. The
legendary speedway has held a Supercross round during every season of
the championship since the sports’ inception.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb challenged for the lead
in the later laps but after a small mistake, settled for second place.
His fifth runner-up finish inside the Daytona international Speedway
Trioval helped him retain the title points lead. After leading laps
early, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger grabbed his first
podium of the season when he crossed the checkered flag in third place.
In the Eastern Divisional 250SX Class, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory
Racing’s RJ Hampshire took the win at Round 3 of that Championship to
also claim his first victory at the storied venue.
First place 450SX Class
“I honestly still can’t believe it… I had some really good lines.
When you make those passes you have to put your head down or else
they’ll retaliate and come back. I was just charging the whole time,
trying to get a gap. Coming out of these turns it was really rutty, and
very easy to make a mistake, but I just kept my head down and charged
the whole way. I seriously cannot believe that this finally happened…
This is a dream come true.” – Ken Roczen
Second place 450SX Class
“You can’t make mistakes, as many as I did, and expect to win. I’m
a little bit bummed. Kenny rode great. He was charging through, he got
around me, he made the pass stick on AP, and he pulled away. That put
the urgency on me and I just made too many mistakes after that. So I’m
a bit bummed, but overall from a points perspective it was a great
night. Yeah, another second place here… We’ll regroup, try to get it
going again in Indy, and not be so complacent this next weekend..”
–Cooper Webb, who’s championship lead grew from 5 points to 10
points with his Daytona finish.
Third place 450SX Class
“I’m pretty satisfied [with this podium], after the start of the
season. First off, I want to dedicate this to my buddy who just got
diagnosed with cancer. Jessie Waters, he’s back at home watching, this
one’s for you… After two 22nd place finishes, a 7th, 8th, 9th,
it’s been a ride. But we pulled it off. I love this track, I love this
place, and you know we’re always doing it for Dale [points to his Dale
Earnhardt #3 shirt he threw over his jersey]. It’s a good night..”
– Aaron Plessinger
In 250SX Class racing, RJ Hampshire fought hard to capture an emotional
first win at Daytona. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle captured
the Holeshot and set the pace for the early laps. He relinquished the
lead to Hampshire shortly before a red flag re-start tightened up the
pack with under eight minutes left on the race clock. Monster Energy Pro
Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker rounded out the 250SX Class podium
after a pass late in the race with less than two laps remaining.
First place 250SX Class
“It’s special. I lost my dad a few months ago and this was his race.
Growing up as a kid, this is where I came with him. It was the only
Supercross I came to. And he was with us today. Some guy came up to me
in the pits and had his old jersey that he raced with back in the day,
that was something I never had. He gifted me that and – it just felt
different today, man, like my dad was definitely here… Finally got to
burn one [a victory burnout on the banked track] down here in Daytona,
that was for my dad, for sure.” – RJ Hampshire, alternatingly
poignant and joyous on the podium.
Second place 250SX Class
“I was leading for a couple laps and [Hampshire] passed me in the race
[before the re-start]. It was hard. The track is really tough and tricky
here. We were pretty much the same speed, for the entire moto I was not
far [behind], but I couldn’t make a move, to be honest… I made a few
mistakes on the rhythm… and maybe that cost me the win tonight. But
I’m happy to be on the podium. It’s still a long championship and we
are right there.” – Tom Vialle (#1 in photo)
Third place 250SX Class
“I’m really pumped to get back up here on the podium. It’s two
years in a row I’m here on the podium in Daytona. This track never
lets you down; it’s a fight out there, and I fought hard all the way
until the end. I feel really good about that one. We’ll keep the
momentum rolling into the East/West Showdown next weekend.” – Seth
Hammaker
The SMX Next series raced its second round of 2025 and Kawasaki Team
Green’s Landen Gordon took the win in an action-filled race, repeating
his win from the first SMX Next event earlier this season at the
Glendale round. Nabbing second was Kawasaki Team Green’s Enzo
Temmerman, who locked handlebars with another rider at the start and
fought his way all the way to second place; Like Gordon, the result
duplicated Temmerman’s Glendale finish. Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s
Jesson Turner rounded out the podium after clawing his way to third in
the closing laps.
First place SMX Next Class
“The fans are – it’s insane and I truly have no words. I’m just
trying to soak it all in. I was a little fortunate there that
Fedortsov’s bike malfunctioned [with what appeared to be a flat rear
tire while Fedortsov was leading], but I’ll take it how I can get it.
I’m super pumped on my bike and my team. All the hard work we’ve put
in, my dad, my mom, my family watching back home. Yeah, I’m just going
to soak it in, that was awesome.” – Landen Gordon
The Daytona Supercross pays points toward both the 17-round Monster
Energy AMA Supercross season as well as toward the SMX World
Championship post-season, which seeds racers from Supercross and the AMA
Pro Motocross championships into two Playoffs and the SMX World
ChampionshipTM.
For fans awaiting the Supercross season to come to their city, live and
on-demand viewing is available on Peacock. Select events are also
broadcast or streamed on NBC, CNBC, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital
platforms. Telemundo Deportes’ Facebook and YouTube channels provide
Spanish-language coverage in the US, while live international coverage
can be accessed through the SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv
[4]) with English, Spanish and French language broadcasts. Each round
can also be heard live on NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85.
The series returns to a domed stadium on Saturday, March 8th, inside
Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Round 9 will also serve as
the series’ annual Love Moto Stop Cancer race, honoring patients of St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The first gate drops at 7:00 p.m. ET
next Saturday. The Indy Supercross will host the season’s first of
three 250SX Class East/West Showdowns in which racers from each division
compete for single-event points. For more information, race results,
live timing, video highlights, and ticket sales to attend an event
please visit SupercrossLIVE.com [5].
* Facebook: facebook.com/supercrosslive [9]
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* Instagram: instagram.com/supercrosslive [11]
* YouTube: youtube.com/supercrosslive [12]
* TikTok: tiktok.com/supercrossliveofficial [13]
* Official Merch: SupercrossSuperstore.com [14]