May 30, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Lands Two Riders in the Top-10 at Fox Raceway

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Austin Forkner and Jo Shimoda put their Kawasaki KX250s in the top-10 at a rough and challenging Fox Raceway to open the Pro Motocross season. The riders got their first taste of heat with temperatures in the mid-80s, making for a long day under the sun. Forkner was able to find consistency going 7-8, while Shimoda went 14-11. Teammates Seth Hammaker and Cameron McAdoo had decent first motos, but had trouble in the second, going 16th and 20th overall, respectively.

In his first motocross race in two years, Forkner was finding his groove more and more as the day went on. He also hadn't seen a gate drop since January, so it was good to see him finally put two good starts under his belt. In Moto 1, he was in the top-10 but had an issue on the second lap, dropping to 16th. He thoughtfully worked his way forward trying to avoid mistakes as the ruts changed nearly every lap. Forkner was able to make it up to seventh by the end of the moto.

The second moto didn't see as good of a start, but Forkner was able to move quickly towards the front runners. He wasn't able to do much after he moved into eighth and settled there until the end, claiming eighth overall.

"It was nice to finally get in a round of motocross after so long watching from my living room," said Forkner. "While I wanted to be able to run more at the front with those guys, we also wanted to make sure we got through the race learning some things and keeping in mind that this season is long. I feel good about starting to head east. We'll be rady for next weekend."

For Shimoda, the return to Pala was a welcomed one as it was the sight of his first motocross moto podium in 2020. Similar to Forkner, Shimoda got a decent Moto 1 start but had an issue on Lap 2 that sent him back to 19th. He used the whole race to make up time, finishing 14th. Moto 2 was much more consistent as he worked his way through the pack from a 15th-place start to finish 11th, and 10th overall on the day.

"It was great coming back to Pala, but I wasn't able to find the pace right away," said Shimoda. "I know we learned from the race, which makes me excited about getting to the next round. It can't come soon enough."

Round 1 of the Pro Motocross championship was not just the season opener, but another milestone for Hammaker, who was lining up for his first professional motocross race. The rookie came out swinging in the opening moto, starting the race in fourth. He was keeping pace for much of the moto but fell back and finished just outside the top 10 in 11th. Moto 2 wasn't as friendly as he started 16th, but quickly found himself in 29th. He charged as much as he could, making it up to 23rd. His 11-23 placed him 16th.

"It was great to get my first professional motocross race out of the way," said Hammaker. "Fox Raceway is never easy and I'm just glad to get out with some lessons learned. I'm ready to do it again next weekend."

The day started out with positivity for McAdoo, but he quickly had to use that positive energy to help him come back from a 33rd-place start on the opening lap of Moto 1. Determined not to quit, he was up to 23rd by the next lap and picked off as many riders as he could, finishing 15th. His second moto ended sooner than he had hoped, going down and unable to continue while running 11th. His 15-37 scores placed him 20th overall.

250MX Class Overall Results

1. Jett Lawrence, Honda, 2-1
2. Jeremy Martin, Yamaha, 1-2
3. Justin Cooper, Yamaha, 5-3
4. Michael Mosiman, GasGas, 4-4
5. RJ Hampshire, Husqvarna, 3-9
6. Hunter Lawrence, Honda, 6-5
7. Garrett Marchbanks, Yamaha, 8-6
8. Austin Forkner, Kawasaki, 7-8
9. Colt Nichols, Yamaha, 9-12
10. Jo Shimoda, Kawasaki, 14-11

 

16. Seth Hammaker, Kawasaki, 11-23
20. Cameron McAdoo, Kawasaki, 15-37

250MX Class Points Standings

1. Jett Lawrence, Honda, 47
2. Jeremy Martin, Yamaha, 47
3. Justin Cooper, Yamaha, 36
4. Michael Mosiman, GasGas, 36
5. RJ Hampshire, Husqvarna, 32
6. Hunter Lawrence, Honda, 31
7. Garrett Marchbanks, Yamaha, 28
8. Austin Forkner, Kawasaki, 27
9. Colt Nichols, Yamaha, 21
10. Jo Shimoda, Kawasaki, 17

 

16. Seth Hammaker, Kawasaki, 10
20. Cameron McAdoo, Kawasaki, 6

 

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May 2, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Seth Hammaker Chosen as AMA Rookie of the Year at Season Finale

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Seth Hammaker was awarded the AMA Rookie of the Year for the 250 Class as Monster Energy Supercross closed out its season with the highly anticipated East/West Shootout at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The rookie had a solid night, finishing the main event in fifth. Just ahead of him in the results was Western Region teammate Cameron McAdoo who finished just off the podium in fourth, while last week's Eastern Region winner Jo Shimoda closed out the season finishing sixth.

McAdoo took full advantage of the two weeks he had off from racing to focus on rehabbing injuries he sustained in Atlanta. With a partially torn groin, McAdoo endured the pain and won his heat race. In the main event, he got a great start to come around in fifth. He would eventually climb as high as third but would settle for fourth when the checkered flag came out. McAdoo ended up third in the Western Regional 250SX championship points.

"It's been a crazy year filled with so many emotions," said McAdoo. "I haven't been able to ride much over the past two weeks as I've focused on my rehab to get through this final race and be ready for outdoors, so all things considered it was a decent night. I'm so thankful to everyone who has helped me out this year. It was a memorable year with the first win and being in the championship hunt. I can't wait to take what we've learned and build off of it."

Newly crowned Rookie of the Year showcased his young talent all season long and once again placed himself in good position in the main event. Hammaker came around the first turn in second and maintained the position for six laps before going back to fourth. His teammate would eventually get by him, placing him fifth on the night and fourth overall in the Western Regional 250SX Class.

"I'm super excited to awarded the rookie of the year," said Hammaker. "It means a lot to me and I put in a lot of hard work this season. I'm happy to see it pay off. It has been an awesome rookie season and I can say that I've learned a lot. Whether it was good or bad, I'll take my experience into next year to fight for the championship."

Coming off an incredible win last weekend in Salt Lake City, Shimoda had the confidence to know he was capable of racing at the front. He had a great heat race but wasn't able to get his usual good start in the main, coming around the first lap in 10th. He wasn't going to be counted out and made great passes to eventually get up to just a few seconds behind his teammate Hammaker for sixth on the night. Shimoda closed out the Eastern Regional 250SX as the runner up in second.

"It was a great season for me," said Shimoda. "I got my very first podium and then was able to get the first win. I'm so thankful to the team for giving me this opportunity. I came on a little later in the off-season, so to turn out a good year is a good feeling. I can't wait to make the transition to the outdoors."

250SX Class Shootout Main Event Results - Salt Lake City 2

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. Colt Nichols (Yamaha)
3. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
4. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki)
5. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)
6. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki)
7. Pierce Brown (GasGas)
8. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna)
9. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
10. Kyle Peters (Honda)

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 210
2. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 181
3. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 177
4. Christian Craig (Yamaha), 158
5. Michael Mosiman (GasGas), 124
6. Joshua Osby (Honda), 111
7. Joshua Varize (KTM), 104
8. Thomas Do (KTM), 101
9. Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda), 91
10. Logan Karnow (Kawasaki), 80

250SX Class Western Region Points Standings

1. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 194
2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 181
3. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki), 177
4. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki), 160
5. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna), 153
6. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha), 137
7. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha), 127
8. Kyle Peters (Honda), 124
9. Coty Schock (Honda), 104
10. Mitchell Harrison (Honda), 90

 

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April 25, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Shimoda Takes Wire-to-Wire Win in Salt Lake City

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Jo Shimoda rode to his first professional win during the return of the Eastern Regional 250SX class at the series' penultimate round inside Rice-Eccles Stadium. The wire-to-wire win was the third career-first victory the team has enjoyed this season (Cameron McAdoo - Daytona, Seth Hammaker - Arlington). The win also pushed him up to second place in the championship standings.

There was no rust that Shimoda needed to shake off after 10 weeks away from racing, looking comfortable on the tricky track right away. He grabbed second in his heat race and earned a great gate pick for the main event. When the gate dropped, it was Shimoda's green Kawasaki KX250 that led the field around the first turn as he earned his first holeshot and started to pull away from the rest of the field. Throughout the race, Shimoda held off challenges from multiple riders and crossed the finish line as a supercross winner.

"This is a dream come true for me," said Shimoda. "When I came to the U.S. I had to leave some of my family back in Japan and it was really hard at first. To be standing on top of the podium is awesome. I'm so thankful for all the people that helped me in my journey. I still can't believe it."

250SX Class Eastern Regional Main Event Results - Salt Lake City 1

1. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki)
2. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
3. Colt Nichols (Yamaha)
4. Michael Mosiman (GasGas)
5. Thomas Do (KTM)
6. Joshua Varize (KTM)
7. Logan Karnow (Kawasaki)
8. Geran Stapleton (Honda)
9. Hunter Schlosser (Yamaha)
10. John Short (Suzuki)

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 187
2. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 164
3. Christian Craig (Yamaha), 158
4. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 151
5. Michael Mosiman (GasGas), 116
6. Joshua Osby (Honda), 104
7. Joshua Varize (KTM), 98
8. Thomas Do (KTM), 92
9. Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda), 91
10. Logan Karnow (Kawasaki), 77

 

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April 18, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Hammaker Scores Third Podium of the Season at Atlanta 3

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Seth Hammaker raced to his third podium of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class at the final race on the red clay at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hammaker's third-place finish didn't come easy as the riders had to perform another full restart, but in the end he showcased progress throughout the residency in Atlanta. Teammate Cameron McAdoo continued to display his never-quit spirit on Saturday night, remounting after going down and riding to the end of the race to finish 13th. The Eastern Region takes a week break before returning on May 1 for the season finale East/West Shootout.

The final track configuration in Atlanta was demanding and challenging, but thankfully the temperatures subsided from Tuesday's heatwave. To start the night, Hammaker grabbed a third in his heat race. He got a good jump off the line in the main event and was in the top 5, but a red flag came out on the opening lap and forced a full restart. Once again, Hammaker was with the front runners on the start and was in fourth for the first few laps. He made his way to third on Lap 3, where he stayed until the checkered flag.

"I have been pretty happy with the progress we've made so far this season," said Hammaker. "I'm learning every round, making it a priority to hit my marks and put in good laps. The tracks here were tough and I'm looking forward to a small break before the final round. I'd love to close out this rookie season strong and healthy."

Atlanta has been the location where fans have come to find out what kind of racer McAdoo really is. The Iowan has been tested to the brink and while the end result isn't what he had hoped for, there is no doubt he gave 100 percent. After going down hard in practice, McAdoo lined up for the heat race where he finished seventh.

On the first start of the main event, McAdoo got pushed out a few turns in and was involved in a crash that red-flagged the race. He got a good second start and was just behind his teammate when he had to check up in the whoops and went down. He remounted in 11th and ready to push forward when he was taken out by another rider, pushing him back to 17th. He never quit and made it up to 13th at the end of 15 minutes plus one lap.

"I'm disappointed obviously with how things turned out in Atlanta," said McAdoo. "The race on Tuesday was tough after the crash, but today was probably harder. We were on the ground too many times in the main to even have a shot. We're not going to feel sorry for ourselves but be proud of how we got up each time we were faced with a challenge. We've got one more race to fight in Salt Lake City. I'll always fight to the end and we're going to keep digging at that final race."

250SX Class Western Regional Main Event Results - Atlanta 3

1. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha)
2. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
3. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)
4. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
5. Kyle Peters (Honda)
6. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna)
7. Enzo Lopes (Honda)
8. Mitchell Harrison (Honda)
9. Dilan Schwartz (Suzuki)
10. Coty Schock (Honda)

 

13. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki)

250SX Class Western Region Points Standings

1. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 180
2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 160
3. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki), 158
4. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki), 142
5. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna), 138
6. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha), 127
7. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha), 125
8. Kyle Peters (Honda), 111
9. Coty Schock (Honda), 99
10. Mitchell Harrison (Honda), 90

 

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April 14, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's McAdoo Showcases Championship Grit with Podium Finish in Atlanta

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Cameron McAdoo rode the race of his life on Tuesday night under the lights of Atlanta Motor Speedway, finishing on the podium in third after a scary crash that brought the race to a halt. McAdoo was thankfully well enough to line up for the restart and put on a heroic performance, keeping the championship points gap to single digits now sitting nine points back. Teammate Seth Hammaker made the most of a good restart to finish out the night in ninth.

The conditions were much different than that of Saturday's race at the speedway, with heat challenging the riders throughout the day. McAdoo qualified second and was able to grab his fifth heat race win of the season. At the start of the main event, McAdoo was squeezed out on the first turn, shuffling back to sixth. He was working his way forward on the second lap when he went down in extravagant fashion on top of the tunnel jump. Because of where the crash was, a red flag was thrown.

Luckily McAdoo's injuries from the crash were minor and he was able to line back up for the full restart. He launched out of the gate and nearly grabbed the holeshot, settling into fourth. McAdoo rode like he had never been in a crash, passing up to second where he stayed for much of the race. He ultimately was pushed back to third where he held on for his third-straight podium finish.

"When I first landed, my leg hurt pretty good," said McAdoo. "I had a contusion on my thigh and I couldn't really move it, which is why it was hard to get down off the tunnel. After walking on it, I finally got it moving. I can't believe the guys got my bike in good enough shape to ride. I am so thankful and happy to have been able to ride to a podium finish. I'll be taking a few days to recoup but looking forward to getting back out here on Saturday."

Hammaker had a tougher than usual night, but he's always ready to take the positives out of the day. After going down in his heat race, Hammaker was forced to line up for the LCQ, where he took second. With the additional track time, hot conditions, and then a full restart, Hammaker endured a lot of track time. His first start wasn't ideal in 15th, but he made the restart count where he settled into seventh most of the race, eventually crossing the line in ninth.

"It wasn't a great day overall, though I did experience my first LCQ," said Hammaker. "It probably was the worst day to have to ride more laps with the heat and long track times, but we made it work. My goal this year is to learn something each race and I have a lot I can take away to be better next time. I'll enjoy a few days off before getting back out on track this weekend."

250SX Class Western Regional Main Event Results - Atlanta 2

1. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
3. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki)
4. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha)
5. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha)
6. Mitchell Harrison (Honda)
7. Coty Schock (Honda)
8. Pierce Brown (GasGas)
9. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)
10. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna)

250SX Class Western Region Points Standings

1. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 157
2. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki), 148
3. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 141
4. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki), 121
5. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna), 121
6. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha), 120
7. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha), 101
8. Kyle Peters (Honda), 93
9. Chris Blose (GasGas), 86
10. Coty Schock (Honda), 86

 

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April 11, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's McAdoo on the Podium in Atlanta

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Cameron McAdoo earned his fifth podium of the season at the inaugural race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. His third-place finish was hard-fought as he overcame a few mistakes on an extremely tough track to come through the pack, keeping him in the championship hunt at only four points back with three races remaining. Teammate Seth Hammaker took the heat race win but was forced to come through the field in the main event to finish just behind McAdoo in fourth.

Even with time on the track being cut short because of rain during qualifying, the day started out well for McAdoo who claimed his first top qualifier of the season. He overcame a tough heat race but put himself in good position for the main event. A solid jump off the line helped him settle into third on the start but he went down, quickly getting back up in sixth. He pushed the remainder of the race to get into podium position, helping him gain as many championship points as possible.

"It was very important to charge as far up as I could with the points battle so close," said McAdoo. "I wasn't patient enough today and with the tough conditions it cost me. In the main event I got a great start, but got shuffled back and didn't let the race come to me. We are still so close in points with three races left and you bet we will be coming out swinging."

Hammaker had a solid qualifying that ended up resulting in a heat race win for the rookie. Out of the gate he looked like he was going to get the holeshot in the main event but got pushed out and settled in midpack. After getting more comfortable with the track he was able to make up positions and push his way up to fourth where he finished.

"The race was pretty good overall," said Hammaker. "I had an okay start and was actually in the lead going into the first corner, but then ran wide and got passed by a lot of people. I felt good at the second half of the race so I'm happy about that. The track was super tough especially in the heat race, but was able to get the win! Overall it was a solid day. I'll take it and keep it rolling into Tuesday."

250SX Class Western Regional Main Event Results - Atlanta 1

1. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha)
2. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
3. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki)
4. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)
5. Kyle Peters (Honda)
6. Mitchell Harrison (Honda)
7. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
8. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna)
9. Pierce Brown (GasGas)
10. Coty Schock (Honda)

250SX Class Western Region Points Standings

1. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 131
2. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki), 127
3. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 118
4. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna), 108
5. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki), 107
6. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha), 102
7. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha), 82
8. Kyle Peters (Honda), 81
9. Chris Blose (GasGas), 78
10. Coty Schock (Honda), 70

 

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March 21, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's McAdoo and Hammaker End Arlington Stint with Double Podium

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Cameron McAdoo and Seth Hammaker raced to another double podium inside AT&T Stadium, with McAdoo earning his fourth podium finish this season in second and Hammaker with his second podium in third. As the series takes a short two week break, McAdoo sits second in the championship standings two points out of first and Hammaker in sixth. Teammate Jordon Smith went down in his heat and was unable to continue for the main event.

After a tough night on Tuesday, McAdoo was ready to prove he was capable of being at the front challenging for the win. He earned his fourth heat race win in five races, setting him up for a good main event. McAdoo shot out to a great start and settled into second. He pushed the entire race, coming across the line as the runner-up. His fourth podium put him in a good position in the championship, sitting just two points out of the lead.

"It's good to get a good result, but every point counts and we need to win," said McAdoo. "There are plenty of positives to take away from the race and we'll take advantage of these two weeks off to come back out fighting for this championship in Atlanta."

Like McAdoo, Hammaker wanted to use the final round in Arlington to redeem his Tuesday showing and he made it count. He got a decent start in the main event, but after coming together with another rider he had a little bit of damage to the bike. Hammaker wasn't going to let that stop him from pushing towards the front and he went from sixth to third during the 15 minutes plus one lap race.

"It was a hectic first few laps and I was mostly just trying to find a good flow," said Hammaker. "It was a tough track and with all things considered, I'm happy that we were able to make it back on the podium. I'm looking forward to finishing out the season strong after our break."

250SX Class Western Regional Main Event Results - Arlington 3

1. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
2. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki)
3. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)
4. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna)
5. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
6. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha)
7. Chris Blose (GasGas)
8. Kyle Peters (Honda)
9. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha)
10. Jared Frye (Yamaha)

250SX Class Western Region Points Standings

1. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 108
2. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki), 106
3. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 102
4. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna), 93
5. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha), 93
6. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki), 88
7. Chris Blose (GasGas), 68
8. Kyle Peters (Honda), 63
9. Coty Schock (Honda), 57
10. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha), 56

 

15. Jordon Smith (Kawasaki), 33

 

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March 17, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Battle Through Tough Weeknight Race in Arlington

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Western Regional 250SX riders experienced their first weeknight night race of the year, earning results that left them all hungry for more to end their stint inside AT&T Stadium this weekend. Jordon Smith bounced back from a tough race on Saturday to earn seventh at Round 4, while Cameron McAdoo rounded out the top-10. Rookie Seth Hammaker had a few challenges throughout the race to end the night in 11th.

Smith used the short break between races to rest up from Saturday's race, hoping Tuesday's round would be a turning point. The North Carolina native got out to a solid start in the main event in fifth and focused on hitting his lines. He did just that and eventually crossed the finish line in seventh, Smith's top finish of the season.

"It's been a tough go to start things off this year," said Smith. "I've had a lot of good moments, but haven't had the results to show for it. I'm glad this was a bit of a turning point for me and hopefully we can keep moving in this direction with another good race on Saturday."

Overall, McAdoo's day in Arlington was filled with positive moments, including qualifying third and taking another heat race win. When the gate dropped for the main event, he didn't get the jump he was looking for and found himself in seventh. With not many places to pass, McAdoo worked to move forward and eventually made it up to fourth. He ended up going down, which pushed him back to 10th. He made his way up to seventh at the end of the race, but race officials took away three positions, arguing he gained positions when reentering the track from his crash. McAdoo now sits second in the championship, just one point out of the lead.

"Obviously we didn't want to see those positions taken away," said McAdoo. "At the end of the day, they (the AMA) made their decision and we have to focus on what's ahead and not what is behind us. I have to put my head down and keep aiming towards the goal of another win and taking back the red plate. Thankfully we won't have to wait too long."

Hammaker was coming off his very first win and continued to show speed throughout the night, claiming his second heat-race victory. He got a similar start to McAdoo around eighth and had his work cut out for him during the 15 minutes plus one lap race. A few laps in, he went down and got back up in 15th. As he worked his way forward he had another issue, charging from 15th again. He would keep it on two wheels until the end and finish just outside the top-10 in 11th.

"I'm definitely bummed with how the race went tonight because I felt good and rode well all day," said Hammaker. "I had the speed, I just needed to prevent rookie mistakes and be patient at the beginning of the race. All I can do is keep learning and put into practice what I learned at the next round."

250SX Class Western Regional Main Event Results - Arlington 2

1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
2. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna)
3. Kyle Peters (Honda)
4. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha)
5. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
6. Mitchell Harrison (Honda)
7. Jordon Smith (Kawasaki)
8. Chris Blose (GasGas)
9. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha)
10. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki)
11. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)

250SX Class Western Region Points Standings

1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 84
2. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki), 83
3. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 82
4. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha), 76
5. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna), 74
6. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki), 67
7. Chris Blose (GasGas), 52
8. Kyle Peters (Honda), 48
9. Coty Schock (Honda), 48
10. Stilez Robertson (Husqvarna), 45

 

13. Jordon Smith (Kawasaki), 33

 

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March 14, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Hammaker Gets His First Win in Rookie Season in Arlington

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki earned back-to-back wins thanks to the breakout ride from Seth Hammaker, who captured his very first win during his rookie season inside AT&T Stadium. The win from Hammaker marked the second straight race for first-time winners, including teammate Cameron McAdoo's first win last weekend in Daytona. McAdoo joined his teammate on the podium with a hard-fought third-place finish and extended his points lead, while Jordon Smith ended the night early and was credited 22nd.

Hammaker looked impressive all day and started with a second in qualifying. That was the confidence-booster he needed as Hammaker went out and won his first heat race. With another great start in the main event, Hammaker led the field at the start of the race and was able to hold off any pressure from behind to take his very first win in only his third professional race.

"That was the longest race of my life," said Hammaker. "I was just trying to think about hitting my lines clean and getting to the end. I'm so stoked on this. To start the season, my first goal was to get into the top five and I have felt like I've had the speed but circumstances kept me from hitting that goal. But now we checked off a win and it's hard to not want more. Getting that start really helped and hopefully we can do it again on Tuesday."

After securing his first win and the points lead last weekend in Daytona, McAdoo was looking for a good showing to keep the momentum going. He finished second in his heat race, but his main event start pushed him outside the top 10. He made quick work and was into fourth by Lap 3. McAdoo inherited third after his teammate went down and pushed his way towards the front runners. He held off pressure from behind and was able to finish with his third consecutive podium and extend his points lead to six.

"That was a hard fought one," said McAdoo. "I made a mistake on the start and I was buried. I was happy with parts of how I rode and not really happy with others. I got to third and couldn't make anything happen beyond that. Everyone was riding really good, but super happy with the points lead. There is so much work that goes into being in this place and we won't take a solid finish for granted."

Smith had a good start to the day in Arlington with a fourth-place result in qualifying. He finished just behind his teammate Hammaker in second during his heat race. Smith got a great start in the main event and was running in second in the opening laps. He fell back to third but was holding steady until he slid out on Lap 7 and was unable to continue.

250SX Class Western Regional Main Event Results - Arlington 1

1. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)
2. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
3. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki)
4. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
5. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha)
6. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna)
7. Stilez Robertson (Husqvarna)
8. Mitchell Harrison (Honda)
9. Chris Blose (GasGas)
10. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha)

 

22. Jordon Smith (Kawasaki)

250SX Class Western Region Points Standings

1. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki), 70
2. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 64
3. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 58
4. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha), 57
5. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki), 55
6. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna), 51
7. Stilez Robertson (Husqvarna), 44
8. Chris Blose (GasGas), 37
9. Coty Schock (Honda), 37
10. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha), 28

 

19. Jordon Smith (Kawasaki), 17

 

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March 7, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's McAdoo Captures First Career Win at Daytona and Takes Over Points Lead

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Cameron McAdoo made the stop at Daytona International Speedway a memorable one, claiming his first career victory aboard his Kawasaki KX250 and taking over the championship points lead. The team has won at Daytona four of the last five years, with the one non-winning year going to now-teammate Jordon Smith. After a tough start to the day going down in practice, Smith was able to put in a good ride and finish 10th, while teammate Seth Hammaker showed bright moments on his way to finishing 11th.

From the moment McAdoo put feet to pavement at Daytona International Speedway, he was determined to make this round special. With fond memories racing the venue as an amateur, it was evident that McAdoo was the man to beat.

He quickly showed he was there to win after a dominating heat race victory where he finished over four seconds ahead of his teammate. On the main event start, McAdoo got pinched off in the first turn and was forced to come through the pack. He started picking off riders and was into second by Lap 4. It took patience and a few more laps, but he was able to get by for the lead on Lap 9 and ride to his first victory.

"That is what we worked for," said McAdoo. "When I got the win, I instantly started to think about how many people have stood behind me since I was an amateur and believed I could be up here. I have an amazing support group that consistently pushed me to be better and now we've got a win. It's an unbelievable feeling and I don't want it to end. We're ready for more."

Smith was ready to make a big comeback in Daytona after a tough season opener. He had to overcome some adversity going down in qualifying, but Smith didn't let it stop him and lined up for the evening. He got a similar jump out of the gate as McAdoo and came around the first lap in 10th. Smith was moving forward but went down and was forced to work his way back up to take a top-10.

"It's obviously not the result I was hoping for having done well at this event before, but we were able to make the most of a tough day," said Smith. "We're about to run our first time doing three races in one venue and I think we can adjust and get back up to the top of the results."

Like McAdoo, Hammaker had raced the famed track as an amateur. He started the night running well in the lead for some of his heat race before his teammate McAdoo got by, giving him some experience being out front. In the main, he was in the top five but went down in the sand section on the second lap. He got up in 21st and put his full effort to pass as many people as possible. Hammaker was able to utilize the whole race to come back to 11th.

"The result doesn't show how I felt on the track but that's racing sometimes," said Hammaker. "I can take away a lot from this weekend that will hopefully help me as we head to Texas. I ran up front in the heat race and overall felt good. I'm learning every week and ready to check off my first goal of a top five."

250SX Class Western Regional Main Event Results - Daytona

1. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki)
2. Stilez Robertson (Husqvarna)
3. Pierce Brown (GasGas)
4. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
5. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha)
6. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
7. Alex Martin (Yamaha)
8. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna)
9. Coty Schock (Honda)
10. Jordon Smith (Kawasaki)
11. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)

250SX Class Western Region Points Standings

1. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki), 49
2. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 45
3. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha), 39
4. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 35
5. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna), 34
6. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki), 29
7. Stilez Robertson (Husqvarna), 28
8. Coty Schock (Honda), 25
9. Chris Blose (GasGas), 23
10. Pierce Brown (GasGas), 21

 

13. Jordon Smith (Kawasaki), 16

 

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February 21, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's McAdoo Kicks Off West Championship with Runner-Up Finish

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Cameron McAdoo had a great day inside Camping World Stadium to start the Western Regional 250SX Championship, scoring a heat race win and a second-place finish aboard his Kawasaki KX250. Rookie Seth Hammaker impressed in his first-ever professional race, grabbing second in his heat and riding strong in the main to start the season off with a sixth-place finish. Teammate Jordon Smith took away several positives from the day, despite retiring early from the main event following a crash, scoring him 20th.

There are always unknowns about where you stack up when showing up to Round 1, but McAdoo was confident he was capable of turning out a podium finish. He battled with his teammate Hammaker in his heat, where he would take the win.

In the main event, McAdoo got out to a great start in second, but a red flag forced a full restart. On the second start, he was pushed back to fifth after the first turn and quickly pushed his way up to second by Lap 3. He tried to make a push for the leader but was a little too far back by the time he got to second and had to settle for runner-up.

"Tonight was a great way to start the season and we are in a good position going forward," said McAdoo. "It feels good to see all our hard work pay off. We'll keep at it over the next two weeks and come out swinging in Daytona."

In his professional debut, Hammaker was turning heads as he showed both speed and composure on the track. That speed was highlighted when he led the first few laps of his heat race where he would finish second behind his teammate McAdoo.

Even with all the chaos in the opening laps of the main event, Hammaker was right there with the front runners and putting in good laps. On the restart he was seventh and used the race to find a good rhythm to keep. He went down on Lap 4 due to another rider, but managed to get up and keep pushing to race to a sixth-place finish in his debut.

"I can't say I wasn't nervous with it being my first supercross race, but I felt like I handled it well," said Hammaker. "I felt good all day and qualified second which I was happy about. It was nice to be able to get the holeshot and lead some laps in my heat race where I got second. The main event was wild and I already had to do my first restart. I got a decent start in the main and then got taken out on Lap 4. I got up and never gave up to get back up to sixth. Not bad for a fall and working my way up. Definitely something to build off of."

The opening round was going to be a test for Smith who had hurt his wrist in the off-season. He felt good all day and finished his heat race in fifth. Smith's first start wasn't what he hoped for and nearly escaped the carnage after the first turn. Smith's second start was perfect, almost grabbing the holeshot and sliding into second. He was running with the leader but on Lap 3 went down in the whoops and was unable to return, scoring him 20th in the night.

"The end result wasn't what I was looking to accomplish in this first round, but thankfully I'm okay and just a little banged up," said Smith. "The whole day was going great and I just lost some of the needed strength for the whoops. I have a lot of positives to build on and I'm thankful I was able to walk away okay."

250SX Class Western Regional Main Event Results - Orlando West

1. Justin Cooper (Yamaha)
2. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki)
3. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha)
4. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna)
5. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
6. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)
7. Kyle Peters (Honda)
8. Chris Blose (GasGas)
9. Robbie Wageman (Yamaha)
10. Jace Owen (Yamaha)

250SX Class Western Region Points Standings

1. Justin Cooper (Yamaha), 26
2. Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki), 23
3. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha), 21
4. Jalek Swoll (Husqvarna), 19
5. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 18
6. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki), 17
7. Kyle Peters (Honda), 16
8. Chris Blose (GasGas), 15
9. Robbie Wageman (Yamaha), 14
10. Jace Owen (Yamaha), 13

 

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February 14, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Shimoda Heads Into Break with Solid Fourth-Place Finish

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Jo Shimoda closed out the opening rounds of the Eastern Regional 250SX class with a solid ride to fourth-place at Camping World Stadium. While torrential rains in the area looked to bring a mud race, the track dried out nicely for the evening. Shimoda's consistency over the past seven rounds helped him enter the break sitting third in the championship standings with two rounds remaining for the east coast riders.

In his last effort before the 10-week break, Shimoda started the evening with a second in his heat race. When the gate dropped for the main, Shimoda wasn't able to put his Kawasaki KX250 up at the front and was forced to make his way through the pack from 10th at the holeshot line. He made quick work of his competition and was into fourth just a few minutes later. Shimoda put in clean laps and finished 14 seconds ahead of fifth place.

"It would have been nice to land on the podium one more time before the break, but I am still happy with how I rode," said Shimoda. "Just needed a little bit better start. At the start of the day, we didn't really know what kind of track we were going to get after all that rain so to leave healthy and third in the points is good."

250SX Class Eastern Regional Main Event Results - Orlando East

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. Colt Nichols (Yamaha)
3. Christian Craig (Yamaha)
4. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki)
5. Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda)
6. Joshua Varize (KTM)
7. Kevin Moranz (KTM)
8. Joshua Osby (Honda)
9. Hunter Schlosser (Yamaha)
10. Logan Karnow (Kawasaki)

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 166
2. Christian Craig (Yamaha), 158
3. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 138
4. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 128
5. Joshua Osby (Honda), 103
6. Michael Mosiman (GasGas), 97
7. Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda), 91
8. Joshua Varize (KTM), 81
9. Thomas Do (KTM), 74
10. Grant Harlan (Honda), 71

 

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February 7, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Shimoda Back on Podium With Career-Best Finish of Second

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Jo Shimoda earned his second podium of the season, this time one step higher on the podium in second at the final round hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium. The finish was a career-best and he rose in the championship standings to third.

Shimoda started the day feeling comfortable with the track, qualifying fourth. He took that comfort and showed confidence in his heat where he caught and tried to pass for the lead, but got pushed too far over on the rhythm lane and hit a tough block. Shimoda still finished third in the heat and was ready to put in a great effort in the main event.

When the gate dropped, Shimoda shot out to a fourth-place start and quickly made it up to third on the second lap. He was patient for a few laps before passing into second, maintaining that position for the remainder of the race with a seven-second gap over third.

"My last podium didn't really feel like I deserved it because of the circumstances, but this time I passed into second and rode a good race," said Shimoda. "I can't control what goes on in front of me or behind me. I just have to ride my race and put in my best effort. I'm really happy to be back up here and hope we can do it again in Orlando."

250SX Class Eastern Regional Main Event Results - Indianapolis 3

1. Christian Craig (Yamaha)
2. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki)
3. Colt Nichols (Yamaha)
4. Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda)
5. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
6. Joshua Osby (Honda)
7. Hunter Sayles (KTM)
8. Devin Simonson (Kawasaki)
9. Thomas Do (KTM)
10. Luke Neese (Kawasaki)

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 143
2. Christian Craig (Yamaha), 137
3. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 119
4. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 102
5. Michael Mosiman (GasGas), 97
6. Joshua Osby (Honda), 88
7. Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda), 73
8. Thomas Do (KTM), 65
9. Grant Harlan (Honda), 64
10. Joshua Varize (KTM), 64

 

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February 3, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Shimoda Salvages Fourth After First Turn Carnage in Indianapolis

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Jo Shimoda overcame being caught up in a first turn crash to come back and finish fourth at the second round inside Lucas Oil Stadium. The fifth round of the season proved that Shimoda was able to overcome adversity and helped him maintain his fourth place in the points standings.

Coming off his first podium finish, Shimoda was determined to keep up the momentum in Indianapolis and started off well with a third in his heat race. In the main event, he got a good jump but a rider in front of him went down and collected Shimoda along with him. Thankfully he bounced back up quickly and started to make up ground.

He came through on Lap 1 in 15th and was into the top 10 just a few laps later. Each lap he picked off another rider and another, passing for fourth on Lap 10. At this point in the race the front runners had already opened up a gap, forcing Shimoda to settle for fourth.

"I have been able to avoid being involved in any crashes so far on the start, but it got me this time," said Shimoda. "All I could think was to get up as fast as I could and just start putting in solid laps. The track was tough in spots and I just did my best to not make any mistakes. I won't know if I would have been up there able to pass for the podium, but we get another chance in Indy this weekend. I definitley want another podium so we'll be working to get back up there."

250SX Class Eastern Regional Main Event Results - Indianapolis 2

1. Colt Nichols (Yamaha)
2. Christian Craig (Yamaha)
3. Michael Mosiman (GasGas)
4. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki)
5. Grant Harlan (Honda)
6. Jeremy Hand (Honda)
7. Joshua Varize (KTM)
8. Joshua Osby (Honda)
9. Logan Karnow (Kawasaki)
10. Kevin Moranz (KTM)

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 122
2. Christian Craig (Yamaha), 111
3. Michael Mosiman (GasGas), 97
4. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 96
5. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 83
6. Joshua Osby (Honda), 71
7. Joshua Varize (KTM), 57
8. Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda), 54
9. John Short (Suzuki), 54
10. Grant Harlan (Honda), 52

 

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January 31, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Shimoda Grabs First Career Supercross Podium in Indianapolis

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Jo Shimoda started the stint of rounds inside Lucas Oil Stadium with a memorable moment, earning his first career supercross podium. His third place was well deserved as he put himself in position to capitalize on others' mistakes and took home third. Teammate Austin Forkner opted to sit out the rounds in Indiana to focus on recovering from his injury.

The track was technical and slippery, forcing the riders to stay at the top of their game. Shimoda found himself in the top five at the start and kept it steady for the majority of the race. His speed allowed him to keep pace and see the riders in front of him and it paid off when two riders got tangled before the finish, handing Shimoda his very first podium with his third place.

"This wasn't really how I wanted to earn my first podium, but I'm still thankful we made it here," said Shimoda. "I eventually want to earn it on my own and prove to myself that I am capable of being up here with these guys. I have a lot of positives to take away from this and hope to be in the running for the podium on Tuesday."

250SX Class Eastern Regional Main Event Results - Indianapolis 1

1. Colt Nichols (Yamaha)
2. Michael Mosiman (GasGas)
3. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki)
4. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
5. Christian Craig (Yamaha)
6. Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda)
7. Thomas Do (KTM)
8. John Short (Suzuki)
9. Joshua Osby (Honda)
10. Grant Harlan (Honda)

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 96
2. Christian Craig (Yamaha), 88
3. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 83
4. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 77
5. Michael Mosiman (GasGas), 76
6. Joshua Osby (Honda), 56
7. John Short (Suzuki), 54
8. Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda), 51
9. Thomas Do (KTM), 47
10. Max Vohland (KTM), 46

 

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January 25, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Shimoda Ties Best Finish of Fourth in Houston

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Jo Shimoda continued his string of consistent results in Houston, tying his season-best of fourth to close out the events held inside NRG Stadium. With his consistency, Shimoda sits fourth in the championship points standings. Teammate Austin Forkner sat out of the racing on Saturday due to injuries he suffered during a crash in qualifying. He will be evaluated this week to find out a possible return date.

It was another day of Shimoda riding quietly into the top five. His consistency is paying off for the young rider, who has now finished either fourth or fifth in the first three races. Shimoda had been having trouble finding his groove early in the race, but in Saturday's main event he made quick work of his competition and moved from his sixth-place start up to fifth on Lap 2. He moved up to fourth, and after moving back to fifth at one point, found his way back into the top four to close out a great week of racing in Houston.

"My main event start was better than the first two rounds, but I should have made a few better decisions on the first two corners because it cost me a few spots," said Shimoda. "I did feel much better this race from the start, but I couldn't get comfortable in the whoops and it was causing a little arm pump. It takes a lot of energy out of you so that will be something I need to fix for the next race."

250SX Class Eastern Regional Main Event Results - Houston 3

1. Colt Nichols (Yamaha)
2. Christian Craig (Yamaha)
3. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
4. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki)
5. Michael Mosiman (GasGas)
6. Max Vohland (KTM)
7. Joshua Osby (Honda)
8. John Short (Suzuki)
9. Kevin Moranz (KTM)
10. Thomas Do (KTM)

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Christian Craig (Yamaha), 70
2. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 70
3. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 64
4. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 56
5. Michael Mosiman (GasGas), 53
6. Max Vohland (KTM), 46
7. Joshua Osby (Honda), 42
8. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki), 40
9. John Short (Suzuki), 39
10. Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda), 34

 

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January 20, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Shimoda Scores Another Top-Five Finish in Houston

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Jo Shimoda and Austin Forkner finished fifth and sixth, respectively, at the second round of the Monster Energy Supercross at NRG Stadium. Shimoda put in another solid effort to grab his second straight top-five finish, while teammate Forkner overcame a fall to cross the finish line in sixth.

The track changes for Round 2 brought with it a very fast-paced track with lap times clocking in even faster than that of Saturday's opening round. With that the intensity was high and riders were tasked to make little to no mistakes to keep it at the front. After finishing fifth in his heat, Shimoda made the best of his gate pick and rounded the first lap of the main event in 10th. Once he settled in, he was able to put in solid laps and make his way towards the front runners. When the checkers flew, he was just three seconds back of fourth place, claiming fifth for the night.

"I wasn't able to find my pace the first few laps but once I settled in, I put in some good lap times and was able to make some passes," said Shimoda. "I know that I will get better with each gate drop and I'm thankful for the great team behind me pushing me to improve each round. It will be nice to have a few extra days off and we'll be back to see if we can keep up the good finishes."

The end result for Forkner wasn't what he had hoped for, but was still able to take some positives away from the day. He had good speed throughout the round and ultimately is in good position to fight for his first championship.

In the main event, he got a great start and was running second, but fell back to third after saving a near crash in the whoops right before the finish line triple. He steadily worked to get close enough for a pass on second, but as he made his move the rider collided with Forkner and both riders went down. He was able to remount quickly into sixth. With the pace still high in front of him, it was difficult to make up time, ultimately settling for sixth on the night.

"That wasn't how I wanted tonight to go, but I have to be thankful that I was able to get up quickly and still earn some solid points in the championship," said Forkner. "The track was really fast and if you didn't get up there right away, it was going to be hard to get close enough to pass. There wasn't a ton of opportunity to pass and when I saw my shot, I had to take it. There is still a lot of racing left and we'll see how the next round goes."

250SX Class Eastern Regional Main Event Results - Houston 2

1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. Colt Nichols (Yamaha)
3. Christian Craig (Yamaha)
4. Michael Mosiman (GasGas)
5. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki)
6. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki)
7. Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda)
8. Max Vohland (KTM)
9. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
10. Joshua Osby (Honda)

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Christian Craig (Yamaha), 47
2. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 44
3. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 43
4. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki), 40
5. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 37
6. Michael Mosiman (GasGas), 35
7. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna), 32
8. Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda), 31
9. Max Vohland (KTM), 29
10. Joshua Osby (Honda), 26

 

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January 17, 2021

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Forkner Starts Season On The Podium in Houston

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Austin Forkner kicked off the 2021 season with a great ride aboard his Kawasaki KX250, finishing runner-up inside NRG Stadium. His ride displayed both impressive speed and composure on the rough, challenging track, setting him up for another great ride on Tuesday for Round 2. Teammate Jo Shimoda enjoyed many great moments at the opening round and finished off the night just off the podium in fourth.

It was a big night for Forkner, who came into the season opener with a lot of eyes on him and how he would bounce back after over six months away from the start gate. He quickly proved he was back and a serious championship contender with a heat race win just ahead of his teammate. Forkner didn't get the great start he has become accustomed to, but that didn't seem to bother the multi-time race winner. He kept up a high, consistent pace, made solid passes and found himself in second just over halfway through the race.

"It's amazing how great I feel for getting second," said Forkner. "I overcame a lot this past year with my injury and letting a championship slip away. It was exciting to come back to a brand new bike and put in the work off the bike. My start wasn't what I was hoping for, but my goal was a podium. To work my way up to second, I had to make some solid passes and ride consistently, so all in all, I'm really happy with how the race went."

The young rider out of Japan wasted no time in showcasing the power under the KX250. He grabbed the heat race holeshot and led several laps before his teammate made the pass. In the main, Shimoda raced out to another good start but wasn't able to get into a rhythm like he did in the heat and it pushed him back a few spots. He still kept the pace high and was able to be in a good position when the riders in front of him started to make mistakes, eventually pushing him up to fourth by the checkered flag.

"The race started out pretty good and I ended up being really nervous for the first five laps or so, which cost me a few spots," said Shimoda. "Once I got looser and looser as the race went on, I put in solid laps and was able to get past some guys who were making mistakes in front of me. In the end, fourth is nice considering it was a tough start. Now that we have one race under our belts, I see Tuesday being even better."

250SX Class Eastern Regional Main Event Results - Houston 1

1. Christian Craig (Yamaha)
2. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki)
3. Colt Nichols (Yamaha)
4. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki)
5. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
6. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
7. Michael Mosiman (GasGas)
8. Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda)
9. Max Vohland (KTM)
10. Joshua Osby (Honda)

250SX Class Eastern Region Points Standings

1. Christian Craig (Yamaha), 26
2. Austin Forkner (Kawasaki), 23
3. Colt Nichols (Yamaha), 21
4. Jo Shimoda (Kawasaki), 19
5. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna), 18
6. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 17
7. Michael Mosiman (GasGas), 16
8. Mitchell Oldenburg (Honda), 15
9. Max Vohland (KTM), 14
10. Joshua Osby (Honda), 13