450 Storylines: Fox Raceway Recap
JETT LAWRENCE: Swept the motos in his first race back from missing the final 13 Supercross rounds. He also missed the last 6 Pro MX rounds in 2024. Moved into a tie with Jeff Ward for 10th all-time in SMX League* wins list with 56 and also moved inside the top 10 in 450 Class victories, tied with Jett Emig for ninth with 16. Only the second athlete to win 3 consecutive 450 Class openers (Ricky Carmichael, 2002-2005).
ELI TOMAC: After racing just the final 2 Pro MX rounds of 2024, Tomac is healthy and ready for a full season for the first time since his title-winning 2022 campaign. The opening round signified the first time Jett and Eli raced alongside one another in Pro MX. Tomac scored his 73rd career 450 Class podium (2nd all-time to Carmichael’s 84) and increased his SMX League podiums record to 222, which is 59 more than the closest active athlete (Ken Roczen- 163).
HUNTER LAWRENCE: Quietly captured his 10th 450 Class podium in his 12th career 450 Class start, which moved him into 50th on the all-time 450 Class podiums list.
NOTES: Aaron Plessinger (4th): 25th career 450 Class top-5 finish and 40th top-10 in 52 career 450 Class starts.
Justin Cooper (5th): Earned a career-best moto result with second in Moto 1 and recorded his ninth career 450 Class top-5 finish in his 12th 450 Class start.
Jorge Prado (6th): Made his first career Pro MX start and earned his first top-10 finish.
RJ Hampshire (9th): Made his anticipated 450 Class debut and recorded his 145th SMX League top-10 finish.
Benoit Paturel (10th): Earned a top-10 finish in his first career 450 Class and SMX League start.
Valentin Guillod (11th), Mason Semmens (17th), Nicholas Lapucci (25th) & Daniel Bortolin (34th): All made their first career SMX League start. Matti Jorgensen (33rd), Mitchell Harrison (39th), & Gavin Brough (40th): Eachmade their 450 Class debut.
450 Class: Hangtown Facts
- HISTORY LESSON: The first 450 Class race at Hangtown was on April 8, 1974, when Honda-mounted Billy Grossi went 1-1 for one of his 2 career SMX League victories. It was the season opener for all 3 divisions (125cc, 250cc, 500cc) and marked the first time in the history of the AMA that all 3 classes ran on the same day. Eventual 250cc champion Gary Jones went 3-3 aboard a Can-Am for third, while Mike Hartwig scored the 500cc victory.
- HANG 50: The series has raced at Hangtown every season, with the exception of 2020, with the 2024 race signifying the 50th 450 Class round in event history. Including all 3 divisions, there have been 104 rounds and 206 motos raced at the legendary venue. Ricky Carmichael’s 15 wins across all classes leads the way at Hangtown. James Stewart (10), Ken Roczen (9), Bob Hannah (8), Eli Tomac (8) & Rick Johnson (8) all trail “The GOAT.”
- 1991 MUDDER: The 1991 Hangtown Motocross Classic went down as one of the sloppiest races in SMX League history. While many of the factory stars complained about the horrible conditions, New Englanders John Dowd (250) and Doug Henry (125) pressed on to win their first career Nationals in the rain-shortened round. In the premier class, only 2 factory-supported athletes finished the race, Honda’s Jean-Michel Bayle & Suzuki’s Mike LaRocco. Dowd’s win was the first privateer victory in the premier class since Alan King in 1984. The round was shortened to one moto, scoring double points.
- CHAMPIONSHIP AND OPENER %: The winner of the 450 Class in Hangtown has won the title 21 times in 50 seasons (42%), including 8 of the last 10 races. Hangtown has been the season opener in 23 times in 53 premier class seasons (43%) but has hosted the second round since 2022.
250 Storylines: Fox Raceway Recap
HAIDEN DEEGAN: Went 1-1 for his 18th career SMX League* victory (42nd all-time) and eighth 250 Class victory (tied for 19th all-time). Made his 25th career 250 Class start and 60th career SMX League start. He now has 16 career podiums in 25 starts (36th all-time). It was his second straight 1-1 performance at his home race.
JO SHIMODA: Moved into a tie for 25th all-time in 250 Class podiums with his 20th, which was also his 35th SMX League podium. Also earned his 70th SMX League top-5 finish and 100th SMX League top-10 result. His 100 career SMX League top-10’s in 114 SMX League starts is good for a career top-10 percentage of 88%.
TOM VIALLE: Earned his 10th career podium and 20th top-10 finish in 23 career starts. He now has 25 SMX League podiums in 58 SMX League starts and is seeking his first Pro MX title after earning back-to-back 250SX Class Divisional Championships.
NOTES: Chance Hymas (4th): Ran up front for most of the day before scoring his 10th career top-5 finish.
Julien Beaumer (5th): Earned first career top-5 finish.
Mikkel Haarup (15th): Danish MXGP veteran made his American debut, scoring a top-15 finish.
Enzo Temmerman (17th): After finishing third in the SMX Next Championship – Supercross, Temmerman made professional debut with a top-20 finish.
Alexander Fedortsov (22nd): The SMX Next Champion – Supercross also made his professional debut.
Avery Long (23rd) & Hunter Yoder (34th): Both made their first career 250 Class start. Cole Timboe (32nd): Made first career 250 Class and SMX League start.
250 Class: Hangtown Facts
- FIRST EVER: The first 250 Class race at Hangtown was held on April 8, 1974, and coupled as the first ever 125cc round. Honda’s Marty Smith scored the overall with a 1-2-1 score. Yamaha’s Tim Hart won the second moto, but bike problems in the unconventional third moto ruined his day. Chuck Bower went 4-6-2 for second overall, while Bob Haag came out of retirement to steal a podium spot with 8-7-4 finishes on his Husqvarna.
- 1st AND 400th: Hangtown hosted the first 250 Class round in 1974 and then the 400th round during in the 2011 opener, with Blake Baggett scoring the overall victory. The 2025 Hangtown Classic will be the 564th 250 Class round ever.
- HANG (2)50: The 250 Class holds the same history as the 450 Class in Hangtown. The 2024 event was the 50th 250 Class round held at the historic venue, with Mark Barnett and Steve Lamson leading the way in wins at the track (4 each). The 1991 Hangtown Motocross was won by Doug Henry in the mud fest, becoming the first ever privateer to win a 250 Class National.
- CHAMPIONSHIP AND OPENER %: The winner at Hangtown has won the title 23 times in 50 seasons (46%) and in 8 of the previous 11. Just like the 450 Class, the 250 Class has held its opening race at Hangtown 23 times.
