2024 RedBud Motocross Photo Gallery

2024 RedBud Motocross Recap

Lot Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Oh wait. Redbud. RedBud. Red Bud! Is it one or two words? No one knows.

The iconic racetrack that oozes the 4th of July marked the halfway point of the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship series on Saturday in Buchanan, MI and delivered epic racing to one of the most raucous crowds of the year.

Defending 450 class Champion Jett Lawrence, slowly recovering from a gnarly get-off at Hangtown that ended a historic win streak, injured his thumb in a practice crash last week leaving him sidelined for the rest of the season. A similar injury derailed Eli Tomac's and Cooper Webb's season as well. With Lawrence out, his brother Hunter - already leading in points - and Chase Sexton become the sole two front runners.

And Sexton appears ready for take-off.

The one-time prolific crasher stayed on two wheels for both Motos taking advantage of, of all things, Lawrence crashing hard on a downhill after leading much of the race. Both riders were nearly 20 seconds ahead of third-place Justin Cooper at the time so Lawrence held on to second-place (barely) as Sexton easily crossed the checkers.

In Moto 2 it was all Sexton as he took the early lead from Jason Anderson who grabbed the MotoSport.com Holeshot and tried checking out, but Sexton made the pass after about five minutes and pulled away for the Round 6 sweep thus extending his Moto win streak to three.

"I don't even know what to say, I have chills. This is something special," said an overwhelmed Sexton winning on his hometown track. "I had so much fun the second moto such a good flow, just had a lot of fun on the track. This is unreal."

Sexton takes the Red Plate from Lawrence (2-4) who finished third overall losing out for second to Aaron Plessinger on the tie-breaker. Plessinger finished a distant 21 seconds behind Sexton in the second race but his (4-2) Moto finishes marked his best outing of the season. Anderson (5-3) held on for third in the second Moto and claimed fourth overall. Cooper (3-6) rounded out the Top 5.

Elsewhere, veteran Broc Tickle (12-15) returned to racing action for the first time in years taking 13th overall and Kyle Webster (10-9), hailing from Australia, took eighth overall in just his second round racing in the states.

In the 250 class, Haiden Deegan's overall podium streak and at least a Moto win in every round this season ended but he still holds a commanding lead in the standings.

In Moto 1, Ty Masterpool grabbed the MotoSport.com Holeshot, quickly lost it to Chance Hymas, and then waited for chance. Riding second, Tom Vialle tipped over in soft soil turn after seven minutes and dropped to fourth letting Masterpool by. Near the midway point, Masterpool began his surge towards the front with third-place Deegan in tow. Hymas fended off the pair and pulled away until nine minutes remained when Masterpool caught Hymas and finally passed.

With eight minutes left, it was Masterpool, Hymas and Deegan 1-2-3. As Masterpool began to pull away, Deegan made an easy pass around Hymas with six minutes remaining and the race was on. Deegan pulled closer, made a mistake giving Masterpool some breathing room who then hit a rut on the last lap allowing Deegan to close in with the checkers in site.

Less than half a second between the two at the finish line and Masterpool held on for the win. More than 20 seconds behind them, it was Vialle who got around Hymas for third with less than a minute left on the clock.

In Moto 2, Hymas again grabbed the MotoSport.com Holeshot but this time it was different. He led wire to wire, fought off a late race charge from Jo Shimoda to take the win and his first career overall.

"It's about time. Doing it on America's birthday. I'm so proud to be an American," Hymas said. "It's about time, I finally put it together."

Deegan and Masterpool were mostly non factors in Moto 2, perhaps over exerting themselves in the first race. Masterpool started seventh and worked his way to third only to fade and drop to fifth where he'd finish. Deegan started 13th and made his way to sixth but never mounted a charge (stalled his bike at one point) to the front as he is wont to do. He finished a season worst fifth overall. Shimoda took third overall on a (5-2) day. Hymas was penalized five points (thereby tying him in points with Deegan for the day) for jumping on a Red Cross flag in Moto 1 but retains the overall win. He remains 42 points back of Deegan in the standings.