Cycle News Staff | July 13, 2024
Spring Creek in Millville, Minnesota plays host to round seven of the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship. It’s still anyone’s race and we’re here to bring you all the action from today’s gate drops. After a wild day of racing which included weather delays, both Chase Sexton and Levi Kitchen swept their respective motos with 1-1 scores.
Welcome to Spring Creek, round seven of the Pro Motocross Championship. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
450MX
Moto 1
Hunter Lawrence kicked off the day’s racing with a holeshot over Aaron Plessinger and Chase Sexton. The lone Honda rider led the first half of the race but later fell back to second after Sexton worked his way around for the top spot.
Hunter Lawrence led early on while Sexton stalked.
Sexton started third but slowly chipped away at the leaders. He found a way around Lawrence near the halfway mark and then laid down two heater laps to sprint away with the lead and later the win. Sexton added another moto win to his tally and crossed the line 10 seconds clear of Lawrence.
Sexton made the move for the lead and never looked back.
Aaron Plessinger held on for third moto one. The KTM rider ran second early on but eventually fell victim to his teammate Sexton. Plessinger stayed close to the leaders but rode it in for a strong podium performance.
Aaron Plessinger held on for third.
Moto 2
Justin Cooper grabbed the coveted holeshot in race two while the rest of the championship leaders charged behind him. The Yamaha rider led the first six laps before surrendering the lead to Hunter Lawrence. He was also passed by Chase Sexton and later finished third in the moto. 5-3 scores put Cooper third overall and keep him third in the championship points.
Justin Cooper took the holeshot and led the opening six laps.
Hunter Lawrence sensed the pressure from Sexton and moved to the lead on lap seven. The Honda rider held the top spot for three laps but eventually lost the lead to Sexton as he became wore out in the waning stages of the race. 2-2 results for Lawrence put him second overall for the day. He’s now 13 points back from Sexton in the championship.
Hunter Lawrence eventually took the lead but later finished second.
Chase Sexton couldn’t be stopped at Spring Creek. The KTM rider didn’t get the best start in moto two but he continued to chip away at the leaders as the laps wore on. By the halfway point he found his way around Lawrence for the lead and took control for the remaining laps. Rains soaked the track with two to go but Sexton held on for his fifth straight moto victory and his sexond back-to-back overall win.
No one could beat Chase Sexton as he claimed another 1-1 sweep.
450MX Overall Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Chase Sexton |
(KTM) |
1-1 |
| 2. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
2-2 |
| 3. |
Justin Cooper |
(Yam) |
5-3 |
| 4. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
3-5 |
| 5. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
4-4 |
| 6. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Hon) |
6-6 |
| 7. |
Christian Craig |
(Hus) |
7-7 |
| 8. |
Phillip Nicoletti |
(Yam) |
9-8 |
| 9. |
Harri Kullas |
(KTM) |
10-12 |
| 10. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
8-15 |
250MX
Moto 1
Haiden Deegan started the first 250 moto with a decisive holeshot and the early lead. Just a few laps later he fell before the finish line and dropped back to third. After battling for the rest of the moto he eventually came home in third.
250 Start.
Levi Kitchen took over the lead after Deegan hit the dirt. The Kawasaki rider fought hard with pressure from Tom Vialle and later Jo Shimoda but never surrendered the top spot. Chalk up a win for Kitchen as he crossed the line just over a second clear of Vialle in second.
Kitchen took over after Deegan’s fall.
Jo Shimoda rode a strong race in moto one and worked his way up to the back of Kitchen. The Honda rider looked to make multiple moves to the lead but was held up with lappers each time. He dropped to back fourth at the checkers.
Vialle held on for a close second.
Moto 2
After rain and lightning delayed the second 250 moto, it was Casey Cochran who found himself up front off the start while Deegan, Shimoda and others hit the ground in turn one. The rookie, Cochran, ran away with the lead for the opening half of the race before eventually finishing second. With it he scored his first overall podium, going 9-2 for second.
Deegan fell in turn one but rebounded for fourth in the race.
Levi Kitchen stayed upright in the first turn chaos and found himself a distant ways back early on in the race. The moto one winner continued to work his way forward on the difficult track and moved up with misfortune for Chance Hymas and Tom Vialle. Kitchen eventually caught Cochran for the lead and passed for the top spot with seven minutes left in the race. He held on for the win, going 1-1 on the day and taking his first career overall. Kitchen is now second in the championship points.
Kitchen’s 1-1 gave his his first career overall win.
Max Anstie crossed the line third in moto two. the British vet is the newest addition to the Star Racing Yamaha team and took his first podium with his new team. A seventh in race one dropped him to fourth in the overall rankings.
Max Anstie grabbed a moto podium, his first aboard the new Yamaha.
Haiden Deegan crashed in turn one but fought back to a fourth place finish. 3-4 results gave him second overall and kept his championship points alive, especially with disaster striking for Vialle and Hymas.
250 Podium.
250MX Overall Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Kaw) |
1-1 |
| 2. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
3-4 |
| 3. |
Casey Cochran |
(Hus) |
9-2 |
| 4. |
Max Anstie |
(Yam) |
7-3 |
| 5. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
2-15 |
| 6. |
Dilan Schwartz |
(Suz) |
10-6 |
| 7. |
Ryder Difrancesco |
(GG) |
12-5 |
| 8. |
Ty Masterpool |
(Kaw) |
8-10 |
| 9. |
Jordon Smith |
(Yam) |
6-13 |
| 10. |
Julien Beaumer |
(KTM) |
15-8 |
QUALIFYING
Jason Anderson came in hot late in the morning’s qualifying session and grabbed the fastest time in the 450 session. This is the first time since 2022 where Anderson has qualified first as his time was nearly a full second quicker than second place. Hunter Lawrence clocked a heater for second overall, about half a second faster than third place, Justin Cooper. Chase Sexton and Aaron Plessinger rounded out the top five.
Jason Anderson topped the 450MX class for the first time in over a year.
Hunter Lawrence grabbed second.
Justin Cooper is always a fast qualifier. He took third.
Last weeks winner and points leader, Chase Sexton, clocked the fourth fastest time of the day.
450MX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
2:06.566 |
| 2. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
2:07.437 |
| 3. |
Justin Cooper |
(Yam) |
2:07.827 |
| 4. |
Chase Sexton |
(KTM) |
2:07.935 |
| 5. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
2:08.581 |
| 6. |
Christian Craig |
(Hus) |
2:08.620 |
| 7. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Hon) |
2:09.573 |
| 8. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
2:09.573 |
| 9. |
Shane Mcelrath |
(Suz) |
2:09.993 |
| 10. |
Derek Kelley |
(KTM) |
2:10.676 |
250MX
Tom Vialle grabbed the best time of the 250MX field and was the only 250 rider in the 2:07 range. Levi Kitchen and Joey Savatgy clocked strong times and are set to take second and third gate picks. Last weeks winner, Chance Hymas, logged fourth just ahead of points leader, Haiden Deegan.
Tom Vialle set the best time of the 250MX riders.
Levi Kitchen clocked second.
Savatgy rounded out the top three.
250MX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
2:07.225 |
| 2. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Kaw) |
2:08.880 |
| 3. |
Joey Savatgy |
(Tri) |
2:08.956 |
| 4. |
Chance Hymas |
(Hon) |
2:09.416 |
| 5. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
2:09.582 |
| 6. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Hon) |
2:09.780 |
| 7. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
2:09.990 |
| 8. |
Julien Beaumer |
(KTM) |
2:10.004 |
| 9. |
Casey Cochran |
(Hus) |
2:10.677 |
| 10. |
Dilan Schwartz |
(Suz) |
2:10.756 |
