Pro Motocross Championship Summary: Budds Creek National
Budds Creek, MD—Tom Vialle of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing opened the show at the Budds Creek National, securing the Pro Motocross Holeshot in the first moto of the 250 Class, followed closely by Seth Hammaker (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) and Jo Shimoda (Honda HRC Progressive). However, a red flag for a downed rider disrupted the initial race, leading to a restart.
Upon the second start, Vialle resumed his lead but crashed shortly after, allowing rookie Cole Davies (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) and Drew Adams (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) to capitalize and take the top spots alongside Max Deegan, who started fourth. As the race unfolded, Davies built a nearly three-second lead before Deegan passed Adams for second, while Shimoda moved past Vialle into fourth.
Deegan applied pressure to Davies within the first ten minutes, ultimately taking the lead shortly before the halfway mark. Shimoda surpassed Davies, transforming the race into a showdown between the two championship contenders. Despite Shimoda’s efforts to close the gap, Deegan maintained and eventually extended his lead, crossing the finish line first by 9.3 seconds. Shimoda claimed second, marking an impressive finish for Davies in third.
Post-race penalties altered the podium standings due to violations concerning red cross flag procedures. Both Deegan and Shimoda were penalized one position and lost five championship points, allowing Davies to be credited with the moto win.
In the final moto of the season, Nate Thrasher (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) took the Holeshot, with Deegan and Shimoda also near the front. A second red flag halted the race momentarily, but the action resumed with Deegan taking control, pulling away from Shimoda. The final positions remained unchanged throughout the slate, with Deegan clinching victory by 13.5 seconds; Shimoda finished second, and Kitchen (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) rounded out the top three.
Deegan’s combined 2-1 finishes secured him his seventh win this season and back-to-back 250 Class titles, concluding his career in this category with 14 victories, tying him for eighth all-time with Blake Baggett, Broc Glover, and Jett Lawrence. Shimoda finished his campaign with an impressive eight podiums, while Kitchen’s results signified a strong return to form.
Deegan concluded the championship with a commanding 48-point lead over Shimoda, positioning himself as the top seed ahead of the SMX Playoffs in pursuit of a third consecutive World Championship. Marchbanks rounded out the top three in standings, completing a career-best season.
Key Results:
- Moto 1: 1. Davies, 2. Deegan (later penalized to 2nd), 3. Shimoda (later penalized to 3rd)
- Moto 2: 1. Deegan, 2. Shimoda, 3. Kitchen
Championship Standings:
- Deegan – 48 points ahead of Shimoda
- Shimoda
- Marchbanks
The season’s conclusion solidified the dominance of Deegan, Shimoda, and Kitchen, setting the stage for the upcoming postseason.
