MOTOCROSS ACTION MID-WEEK REPORT

03/26/2025 06:00 PM

#WHIPITWEDNESDAY

Rider: Ryan Villopoto scrubbing during the Red Bull Straight rhythm.

Ryan Villopooto competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 2005 to 2014; a four-time 450cc AMA Supercross Champion, a two-time 450cc AMA Motocross Champion, a three-time 250cc AMA Motocross Champion & a one-time 250cc West Supercross Champion. He was also a member of the winning USA team at the 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2011 Motocross Des Nations.
In 2014 Villipoto wrapped up his 4th straight Monster Energy Supercross championship with one round remaining in the series.

On March 8, 2014, Villopoto won the 450cc Final at Daytona International Speedway. It was his 4th career win at Daytona, moving him within one win of Ricky Carmichael’s all-time record of five Daytona wins. He had previously won races in Phoenix and Oakland during the Supercross season. On April 5, 2014, Villopoto won the 450cc Main Event at Houston’s Reliant Stadium, bringing his total career Supercross All-Time Wins number to 38, making him 5th place overall behind Chad Reed. On April 26, 2014, Villopoto dominated the highly competitive Supercross race at round 16 in New York, Metlife stadium, collecting his 6th win of the season (40th of his career). Ryan Villopoto will always be known as one of the most dominant riders in the sport and can be seen today helping his kids race local events.

NATE THRASHER FINALLY BACK ON TOP

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher returned to the top step of the podium, securing his sixth career 250SX victory with a 3-3-2 score at the final Triple Crown event of the season at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.

Thrasher led the way for the team in qualifying with fourth in the combined times. He then had a good start in the first main event and managed to avoid getting caught up in the multi-rider pile-up on the opening lap, slotting into third, where he would finish. In the second main event, he was sixth after the opening lap but kept pushing and made the pass for third on the final lap to return to the podium. In the final race, Thrasher got a better start in the runner-up spot, riding a smart race in the position to finish second, securing the overall victory and his first win of the season. The Tennessee rider, who has shown grit and determination by pushing on despite feeling less than 100% with a broken finger, sits tied for fourth in the 250SX East standings and 21 points from the championship leader.

Nate Thrasher – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing said:“It was a good day. I was finally able to ride like myself. I felt really good all off-season, we were putting in the laps and putting in the motos. At the season opener in Tampa, I felt really good all day, I just got unlucky and was cleaned out in the first lap but charged back to eighth from last, which was actually a good ride. Then I’ve just been battling injuries, and we were just trying to fight and stay in it. This week, I was finally able to practice after about a month and a half, so I felt like I was more like myself this weekend. I actually came out and qualified well. Before that, I was outside the top 10 and just trying to get through it. So this weekend, I was finally back to what I can do and proved it tonight. It feels great to get the win. I knew I had the speed this year and knew I could do it. It was just a matter of trying to get healthy and put it all together. We’ve got a lot of rounds to go, and we’re 21 points back, so we’re not out of it.”

R.J. HAMPSHIRE CATCHING UP

For 250SX East Class contender Hampshire, starting the day with the second-fastest qualifying time was quickly converted to the opening Triple Crown Race victory. Second place in Race 2 had the Florida native lined up in position for the overall, before being caught up a first-turn fall in Race 3, which saw him fight back to a fifth-place score.

With his 1-2-5 results riding the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, Hampshire claimed second overall on the night and he is currently P2 in the standings following five rounds, 10 points outside of the lead.

R.J. Hampshire said: “Overall, I can’t be too bummed with walking away second tonight. The first two Main Events were good, and then I just got caught up in the last one there – not a lot I could’ve done, but I’m happy to have clawed back some championship points. We’ve got a weekend off now, so I’m looking forward to Boston and hopefully knocking off a win there.”

2025 BIRMINGHAM SUPERCROSS BEST IN THE PITS

MXA PHOTO TRIVIA

Who is this rider? The answer is at the bottom of the article.

SUPPORTING TRACK CREWS

Each week the SMX track crew is out supporting riders and making sure the event of Supercross runs smoothly. Every once in a while that crew is an MXA supported. Recently this weekend James Stuart was working the track keeping our favorite riders safe and he just happens to be an avid MXA reader!

At the Birmingham Supercross James Stuart plays a pivotal role in making sure the event runs smoothly. Without the track support the Supercross events we know and love would not be able to function and also talk about risk. These guys put their bodies on the line and run into traffic to help downed riders, grab tough blocks from the track, and overall make sure the track is safe for riders to be able to race without issue. We thank James for being a reader of the magazine but most of all, helping run the sport we know and love.

2025 BIRMINGHAM SUPERCROSS RAW PRACTICE

MXA FANTASY LEAGUE – THE WINNER OF THE BIRMINGHAM SUPERCROSS SCORED 308 POINTS

Another great weekend of racing took place for the Birmingham Supercross. Chase Sexton was able to put himself on the top step of the podium while Cooper Webb ended in fourth, keeping Chase in the championship points hunt. In the 250 class, Nate Thrasher was able to take the overall without winning a single main event, but his consistency in each moto helped him towards victory. RJ Hampshire was also able to get second overall putting him even closer to the points leader, Tom Vialle.

The MXA Fantasy League is partnered with On X Offroad, players can enjoy  20% off their subscription by using promo code MXA20 at checkout.

THE WINNER OF THE INDIANAPOLIS FANTASY LEAGUE  “JHILL419”

Jhill419 grabbed the best picks for this weekend, let’s take a look to see how he was able to get the job done.

450 CLASS PREDICTIONS

Triple crown picks are never easy but Jhill419 was pretty close. In first he chose Chase Sexton who did take the win in the race giving 36 fantasy points which included a ten-point bonus for the correct prediction. In second he chose Cooper Webb who ended up fourth on the night giving 19 fantasy points with no bonus. In he chose Aaron Plessinger who made a correct prediction and gave 31 fantasy points including the ten-point bonus. In fourth Ken Roczen was chosen and he ended up finishing fifth which only gave 18 fantasy points. In fifth he chose Justin Cooper who was sixth on the night only giving 17 fantasy points and in sixth he chose Malcolm Stewart who gave 23 fantasy points for his second-place finish and again no bonus was rewarded.

250 CLASS PREDICTIONS

In first for the 250 class, he chose Tom Vialle who finished third on the night which gave 21 fantasy points but no bonus. In second he chose R.J. Hampshire which was a correct prediction giving 33 fantasy points which included a ten-point bonus for the correct pick. In third, he chose Nate Thrasher who was the winner of the race giving 26 fantasy points with no bonus. In fourth Seth Hammaker was chosen and this was a correct pic and gave 29 points including the ten-point bonus. In fifth Daxton Bennick was chosen which was another correct prediction and gave 28 fantasy points which again includes the ten-point bonus for the prediction. In sixth Max Vohland was chosen and this too was correct giving 27 fantasy points with the bonus.

WEEKLY TOP TEN

KTM JRSX FANTASY RESULTS

KTM Fantasy League winner was MOTO431 with 112 points collected in Birmingham. They will receive selected products from Leatte.

COPPERSMITH RACING TICN BRIGHT COPPER UPPER FORK TUBES

Due to New; Manufacturing Regulations the Original Coppersmith Racing TiCN Bright Copper Upper Fork Tubes are back and ready to go. The Bright Copper Fork Tubes offer a harder surface coating and are enhanced with a Lower Coefficient of Friction making these some of the industry-leading Upper Tube Coatings available today. For more details contact Coppersmith Racing at @www.coppersmithracing.com or call 330-724-2900

MXA PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Haiden Deegan may have had a little too much fun in his V10 Audi R8 over the weekend and found himself being arrested in Florida. It has been rumored that he was doing donuts in an open parking lot when he go in trouble. What kid hasn’t tried that?

CLASSIC MXA PHOTO

MXA Photo Trivia Answer: Doug Henry who is a three-time AMA motocross national champion and was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2005.

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