2024 Kawasaki Race of Champions Results

Cycle News Staff | October 8, 2024

Old Bridge Township’s Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, hosted its iconic Race of Champions, October 5-6. The Race of Champions presented by Kawasaki is now in its 48th consecutive year. While other events have come and gone, this longstanding tradition in the Northeast motocross scene remains a staple. Mother Nature has sometimes thrown curveballs in past years, but for 2024, she provided terrific weather, ensuring a thrilling weekend of racing action.

2024 Kawasaki Race of Champions. Photo: Scott Lukaitis — **Ricci Randanella at 2024 Kawasaki Race of Champions. Photo Scott Lukaitis**

The annual event consistently ranks high up on the must-race list for many riders each season, attracting top talent from around the USA. Title sponsor Kawasaki and local participating dealers have continued their longstanding support of the event, marking more than four decades of partnership. Local Kawasaki dealers—including Motorcycle Mall of Monmouth, Montgomeryville Cycle Center, Toms River Marine & Motorsports, and Crossroad Powersports—contributed to the weekend’s excitement with various motorcycle giveaways during Sunday’s festivities.

More than 1000 racers from 14 states competed throughout the weekend. The amateur portion took place on Friday and Saturday. The big winners during the amateur portion included Dakota Kessler, Michael Gurda Jr. and Colton Tubbs, each with impressive performances and double-class overall wins.

Sunday’s spotlight turned to the Pro Expert classes (250cc and Open) and special intermission races for amateur and minibike riders.

The Open A class took to the track first with a full gate of Expert and Pro riders. Kawasaki rider Ricci Randanella and Yamaha-mounted Bryton Carroll and put on a show out front, with Carroll taking the top spot for much of the moto. But it was not to be, as moto luck was not on his side, and on the last lap he came to a stop, running out of gas. Randanella won, followed by Tyler Stepek and Dakota Kessler. The second moto was nearly the same as Randanella, and Carroll again ran up front, but this time, a mechanical took Carroll out of the race. Randanella won the moto and overall. He was followed over the line in moto two by Josh Clark and Aidan Dickens. Clark would take the second spot on the podium for second overall, but a consistent James Harrington with 5-7 moto scores would claim the final step on the podium.

Jack Rogers at 2024 Kawasaki Race of Champions — **Jack Rogers was the top 250cc A-class rider at the Kawasaki Race of Champions MX at Englishtown. Photo Scott Lukaitis**

In the 250 A class, Kawasaki rider Jack Rogers put on a show for the fans, overcoming pressure from Gage Stine and Sebastian Balbuena to claim the overall victory with 1-2 moto scores. Behind him, in the first moto, were the hard-charging Stine and Balbuena. The second moto saw Rogers again out front, but Balbuena would get around him this time. Rogers settled into second, knowing he had the overall in hand as long as he finished ahead of Stine. The moto ended with Balbuena out front, followed by Rogers and Aidan Dickens. Rogers stood on the top step, followed by Balbuena in second and Stine’s (2-7) scores for third. In a nod to the tradition of this race, Dakota Kessler competed on a bike older than anyone on the starting line, including himself. The 1989 Kawasaki KX250 with number 61 on the plate was a tribute to the 1989 season when his dad, Mickey Kessler, competed on the national series on the same bike model.

Between the Pro motos, the crowd was treated to a series of special intermission races, which have long been a part of the Race of Champions weekend. In 2024, the prestigious Ironman Classic, sponsored by Motorcycle Mall of Monmouth, went to Jonathan Getz after early leader Canyon Richards ran into a lapped rider. Other winners included Forrest McPherson in the 65cc Kessler Cup, sponsored by Montgomeryville Cycle Center, Michael Gurda Jr in the 85cc Top Gun Mini Cycle Shootout, sponsored by Crossroad Powersports, Reed Brown in the Fast 50s and Osvaldo Neto in the 125cc All-Stars moto. CN