2025 Las Vegas SuperMotocross Photo Gallery

2025 Las Vegas SuperMotocross Recap

All the drama - and then some - happened in the 250 class.

The 2025 racing season concluded with the final round of the three-round 2025 SuperMotocross playoff series on Saturday in Las Vegas. Triple points on the board opened the door for several riders to take the $1 million prize in the 450 class and $500,000 in the 250 class. A three-time winner resulted in the 450 class but the 250s got a fresh face, one who enjoyed a movie like ending.

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Entering the finale, Jo Shimoda needed second overall to claim the 250 SMX title even if his primary rival took first - the very one who took a regional 250 class Supercross title and the 250 Motocross title this year, as well as holding two SMX Championships. As such, Shimoda grabbed the Holeshot in Moto 1 and few had a chance to catch him. He raced out front and crossed the checkers fairly easy, his rival second. Now Shimoda needed only third in the second race to complete his title run.

The ensuing drama almost didn't happen when the primary rival's front wheel landed on the helmet of Ryder DiFrancesco, who slipped at the beginning of the sand section. This collision knocked DiFrancesco to the ground and out of the race. The wheel hit to the helmet popped primary rival into a wheelie position and on to the ground. Unscathed, he returned to the race.

Now the good stuff.

A bad start dropped Shimoda to eighth in Moto 2. Instead, Seth Hammaker grabbed the Holeshot and all things remaining the same, Hammaker claims the title. The primary rival of Shimoda (and who we kidding, pretty much everyone else, too) worked his way from fourth and into the lead in eight minutes. With Shimoda trailing now in fourth, everyone's primary rival enjoys a three-peat at this point if the race ends.

Levi Kitchen in third, remember he knocked the primary rival off the track last week enabling such a scenario as this, had some type of hick-up or maybe a "hick-up" which put Shimoda third and, alas, in title position. Quickly thereafter, Shimoda passed Hammaker for second.

It all begins with about nine minutes on the clock.

The primary rival, now Desperation boy, inexplicably (or maybe not) slows down and lets Shimoda into the lead. Then hunts Shimoda down. No, not to re-pass but to knock him into next week in an obscene attempt to drop Shimoda to fourth or worse. The first hit merely a sideswipe that only let Hammaker catch up. Another cut off attempt with five minutes remaining drops Shimoda to second. Again, the desperate leader slows down allowing Shimoda to pass and set up for a berm smash which only bobbles the two riders.

The race resumes.

Think the movie Duel on dirt bikes.

Now the hit.

Desperation boy careens into Shimoda knocking both to the ground with four minutes left. Hammaker skates into first, Shimoda gets back on his dirt bike and Desperation boy walks off with an injured left shoulder - the part of his body that stopped his fall when he tried wrecking Shimoda. A broken collarbone and no second-place for you! And likely no representing America in the Motocross of Nations.

"I kind of slipped out on the start. I was a little nervous," Shimoda said post-race. "We made a good pass first few laps. Caught Seth to pass him. I caught to (Desperation boy) but he slowed down to let me pass. I kind of knew already something's going to happen and he might attack. Pretty crazy which he did.

"It's only a three-round series (but) for me I think getting this title and finishing off this year good with the plate, that's what I needed. Confidence booster for sure."

Shimoda, who said his leg ached a little from the demolition derby, also made a final turn pass on Tom Vialle just before the finish line to finish second and the overall. Desperation boy was assessed a five point penalty for his actions which dropped him from fourth to fifth overall in the series.

Jett Lawrence won the 450 class title and teared up at the end. Not because he won, but because his brother didn't. Second year in a row the two battled for SMX supremacy and two years in a row Jett proves the victor. Maybe he could have held up there at the end of Moto 2 instead of passing Eli Tomac?

It was Tomac though that kept Hunter Lawrence from passing into second in the first Moto which also kept the elder Lawrence, i.e, Hunter from taking the title.

"I'm a little confused in the mind right now. Battling emotions. Obviously wanting to win this as well but then also, today (Hunter) deserved that. He executed two really good starts and the guy's battling with a cold right now. It's bummed to see him sad about it because he worked really hard. We both worked hard. But I'm happy. Halfway through had some doubts that I could even catch those guys. I had to dig deep - sending it or crashing it."

Elsewhere, Chase Sexton endured a brutal crash in Moto 2 that ended his race and possibly his inclusion in the Motocross of Nations. Sexton announced a banged up shoulder and slight concussion postrace. The crash in the final Moto marked three straight years of crashing in the final race for Sexton preventing him from fully finishing the SMX series. As a result, he dropped from fourth to eighth in the standings and lost out on a lot of cash. Ken Roczen gladly took fourth.

The silly season begins.