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It's the first round of Pro Motocross, LET'S GO!
Star Racing's 250 riders were a little all over the place on the front end of their bikes. While all their guys run PSF1 air forks indoors, in outdoors a few go to spring forks, like Thrasher here.
Max Anstie chose to stick it out with air forks.
While Davies went to spring forks and switched from X-Trig ROCS Pro clamps to ROCS Tech clamps. What's the difference? The pro clamp uses an adjustable stem that bolts into the lower clamp, while the Tech uses the OEM-style stem pressed in. Yes, it creates a feel difference.
Jett is back, back again.
Chase Sexton's Monster Energy Kawasaki KX450SR had a few changes for Pro Motocross.
The most notable was the move to a set of production Showa forks from a stock KX450. What makes them different than the works Showa units he was on? The production one uses a 25mm cartridge instead of a 27mm cartridge in the works set. Also, the upper tubes have a smaller clamping diameter at the top of the fork, using a smaller ID triple clamp bore to hold it. The works fork is bigger in diameter right at the top, with the taper to that point being different (different flex character).
A look at Garrett's works forks.
Sexton's forks also use the production lower legs (no coatings) and stock cast lugs. He also arrived at the opening round with aftermarket hubs and spokes (Haan hubs, with a different gauging of spokes via Dubya USA) but still tied to DID rims.
Marchbanks was still using works forks with billet lugs and the works KHI magnesium hubs.
The Red Bull Troy Lee Designs Ducati team also utilizes the stock 25mm cartridges in their Showa forks.
Ferrandis had a standard tank but Barcia had an oversized carbon fuel tank. We all know Barcia loves to rev it.
Haiden Deegan arrived at Fox Raceway with spring forks and stock upper triple clamps aboard his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing YZ450F.
All the Triumph guys were on spring forks for the opening round, after there was some back-and-forth in Supercross between KYB PSF1 air forks and spring.
Aaron Plessinger returned to WP's works air fork, which is very similar to the production AER48 air fork.
Some of the Husky 250 boys were on WP air forks as well.
Chance Hymas' machine had a works 27mm cartridge Showa fork with an air assist option, which he's been on all year.
After running the production 25mm cartridge from a Works Edition CRF450R for most of Supercross, the Lawrences (namely Hunter) went back to a 27mm works cartridge for Pro Motocross. If you peek at the compression adjuster, you'll see a small adjuster inside that. One controls compression adjustment, while the other is pressure spring preload.
Jo Shimoda jumped ship from the 27mm works cartridge he used in Supercross, taking over the 25 WE cartridges from Hunter. They've added a schrader valve in place of the air bleed screw, as Shimoda commonly runs a small amount of PSI in his fork as air assist.
Speaking of the HRC Honda Progressive machines, here's their new look via SKDA. This was brought out as Honda moves towards the red, blue, and white theme of their 2027 off-road model lineup
A cleaner, more tasteful look than the MXGP bikes.
The RS-12 EVO, a new exhaust from Yoshimura that we'll get into next weekend.
#1
Yup, don't forget, Jett Lawrence was our 2025 Pro Motocross 450 champion.
Jett Lawrence's Team Honda HRC Progressive CRF450R Works Edition.
Like last season, Jett and Hunter's bike features a stock 16mm shock shaft for Pro Motocross.
They also have stock linkages onboard (the 250s of Hymas and Shimoda have works linkages).
Interestingly, the Lawrence's machines feature the big compression adjuster works shock, which were developed around a 20mm shock shaft.
Jo Shimoda's Team Honda HRC Progressive CRF250R Works Edition.
That is not a stock shroud, nor a Cycra one. That's a R-Tech shroud which has a curve in the front to keep the radiator shroud out of Hymas' boot.
Shimoda and Hymas' machines feature the stock Works Edition shock bodies and adjusters, that's new.
Shimoda's machine features a set of titanium upper engine hangers.
Ben was easy to spot at Fox.
Aden Keefer had a rookie debut to forget. After qualifying 16th in the combined results from session one, a clutch issue in session two kept him from setting a fast time. With the second session being much drier and faster, his first qualifier time only kept up to 38th when everything was said and done. He was off to the LCQ, where a first turn crash resulted in him rejoining the race in last place and passing over 20 riders in four laps. He missed the cut but should easily be in the show at Hangtown. Head up, Lil Keefer.
Phoenix Honda also joined the new look for Pro Motocross, leaning towards a blue rear and more HONDA branding.
Gavin Towers is team Steg Pegz.
The man, the myth, the legend...John Tomac.
Chase Sexton's rig on the weekends.
Look at Lux, helpful guy right here.
Austin, you've been spending too much time with Duffe, getting "personal" deals now, ha.
Rough way to start the morning...
That's a lot of goggles...
Levi Kitchen's Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki KX250.
Steg Pegz have also returned to Kitchen's machine, who's been running them in outdoors for three or four seasons now.
Kitchen's Showa A-kit shock features a bladder extender and had a shock sock on just in case. We noticed some engine mount differences between himself and Hammaker, as Kitchen ran stock uppers but titanium front mounts.
While Seth's bike featured carved-down stock upper engine mounts, paired with stock front mounts.
Yes, Kitchen had the cable clutch at Fox Raceway.
PC has moved back to using oversized CRM Karbotanks for Pro Motocross, after using stockers the past season or two.
Levi was hyped after his moto one victory.
We are SPEED.
Last min change for Mikkel Haarup, who swapped from Canvas to FXR right before the season opener.
Daniel "Mohead" Castloo was Jason Anderson's practice mechanic this year and still is. He mentioned to us that he's still working for Jason and to expect him back sometime soon.
Brock Bennett recently had a cancer scare, beat it, and is back racing! He's also rocking 6D's MAX goggle.
Best dog in the pits? That's got to go to Russ.
Deegan with the cable clutch on his YZ450F.
J-Coop is sticking it out with the hydro, albeit the ARC version.
And Webb, who has been a hydro guy since his time with KTM, went back to a cable for outdoors this year. This surprised us.
Hmmm...
Nick Romano was FIRED up after his first moto.
5.11 marks one of the more unique but cool brands to jump into team title sponsorship.
For Pro Motocross, the Star team lowers and reinforces the chain roller on the subframe...we need to check on this one a bit more.
Great job Seth.
Hammaker went from not even having an overall podium in Pro Motocross to a win.
Off-road guys are fast. Dante Oliveira came out and passed more riders than anyone all weekend and finished 16th overall.
Benny Bloss Canvas' gear was a nod to the late Kyle Busch.
Julien Beaumer made his return to racing after a huge back injury in SMX last year.
When your guys hits the podium but you're running behind.
You could say this man had some fun at Fox.
Welcome back, Jett.
Caden Dudney now holds the record for the worst moto scores to get a second overall at a National with a 6-4. Hey, it's still a podium at 16 years old.
Proffesional.
Talking about every sketchy moment.
That's nice, Jett.
See you all at Hangtown!
Pit Bits 2019
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