450 Storylines: Unadilla Recap
JETT LAWRENCE: Clinched his second 450 Class title with a 1-1 sweep at Unadilla. It was his eighth overall win of the season, 23rd of his 450 Class career (fifth all-time), and 63rd of his SMX League* career (eighth all-time). He ties Ryan Dungey for fourth all-time with a ninth SMX League title (250SX – 2; 250MX – 2; 450SX – 1; 450MX – 2; 450SMX – 2) and moves within one of tying Ryan Villopoto and Jeremy McGrath for the second-most all-time.
SEEING RED: With Jett’s second 450 Class title, Honda now has 23 premier class championships and 40 total Pro Motocross titles (250 Class – 17; 450 Class – 15; 500cc – 8) for the series record. Honda’s 15th 450 Class title breaks a tie with Kawasaki for the most in division history. Honda also has the most 250 Class and 500cc titles. Lawrence was already the first Honda athlete to win a title in each class and now has 2 apiece. He is now tied with Rick Johnson for the most Pro Motocross titles by a Honda rider. Honda is on pace to finish 1-2 in the championship, which also happened in 1986 (Johnson/Bailey), 1991 (Bayle/Stanton), & 2003 (Carmichael/Windham), which would signify the first-ever sibling 1-2 finish in the history of the sport.
HUNTER LAWRENCE: Another 2-2 effort moved Hunter within a handful of points from clinching runner-up in the championship in each of his first 2 seasons in the division. He has 16 podiums in 21 starts in the 450 Class and 64 SMX League podiums in 128 starts, placing him 36th all-time on both respective lists. He is a perfect 21 for 21 in top 5 finishes to begin his 450 Class career, making him the only athlete with a 100% top 5 percentage (of athletes with more than 1 start).
NOTES: Eli Tomac (3rd): A third consecutive third-place finish for Tomac, which signified the 79th 450 Class podium and 228th SMX League podium of his career. He also made his 365th 450 Class start.
RJ Hampshire (4th): A fifth straight top 5 result that helped him clinch a top 5 finish in the standings for his rookie 450 Class season.
Marshall Weltin (20th): Made his landmark 70th career SMX League start (32nd in 450 Class career).Jeremy Hand (25th): Reached a milestone 100th career SMX League start (52nd in 450 Class career)
450 Class: Budds Creek Facts
- HISTORY LESSON: The first 450 Class race at Budds Creek was on May 22, 1994, when Mike LaRocco (Kawasaki) swept the motos during his championship-winning season. LaRocco also won the first moto in 1995 before Jeremy McGrath (Honda) won the second moto and the overall. In 1995, Budds Creek was the site of the infamous moment when Doug Henry soared through the Maryland sky and landed in a heap at the bottom of a large hill in one of the most famous moments in the sport’s history. The jump became known as Henry Hill has served as an iconic symbol of Budds Creek for the past 30 years.
- 3+ DECADES OF HISTORY: The 2025 event will be the 31st 450 Class race at Budds Creek, which was a 125cc/500cc round from 1989-1992. The series returned to Southern Maryland in 1994 with the 250cc class, which has remained as the premier division ever since. Jeff Ward (1989), Jeff Stanton (1990 & 1992), and Jean Michel-Bayle (1991) were the 4 winners of the 500cc races at Budds Creek from 1989-1992.
- THE MXON RETURNS: The FIM Motocross of Nations debuted in 1947 but didn’t take place on American soil until 1987 at Unadilla. Then, 20 years later in 2007, the U.S. was awarded a second host venue at Budds Creek. A formidable lineup of Ricky Carmichael, Ryan Villopoto, and Tim Ferry dominated the field to give Team USA a third-straight and 18th total MXoN victory, beating runner-up France by 25 points. America hosted again in 2010, 2018, and 2022, with wins at 2 of those 3 events, including a record 23rd MXoN victory in 2022. Ironman Raceway will host the sixth MXoN in the U.S. this October.
- CHAMPIONSHIP %: The winner of the 450 Class at Budds Creek has won the 450 Class title 20 times in 30 seasons (67%), including 5 of the past 6 seasons. Budds Creek hosted the season finale in 1992 for the 250cc and 500cc campaigns, but will be the site of the 450 Class finale for the first time ever this season.
250 Storylines: Unadilla Recap
JO SHIMODA: Captured the 10th SMX League victory of his career and his sixth 250 Class win (38th all-time), which signified a personal best third victory this season. Shimoda is still in championship contention going into the last round (-43 to Deegan). His 41st SMX League podium moves him inside the top 60 all-time and his 26th 250 Class podium ties him with Blake Baggett for 16th all-time
HAIDEN DEEGAN: Did not clinch a second-consecutive 250 Class title, but will need to score just 7 points at the finale to complete his title defense. He earned his 24th 250 Class podium (ties Ryan Hughes for 20th all-time) and 47th SMX League podium (53rd all-time). Will make his 70th SMX League start and 35th 250 Class start at the finale
TOM VIALLE: Earned his fifth overall podium of the season and 14th of his 250 Class career. He has 29 SMX League podiums in his 66 starts and currently sits fifth in the 250 Class Championship and fourth in the 250SMX regular season standings. Has an average moto finish of 3.0 the past 2 races, versus an average of 17.5 in the 2 races prior to sitting out Washougal
NOTES: Seth Hammaker (4th): Equaled a career-best 250 Class result, the second 250 Class top 5 finish of his career in 30 starts. He now has 20 top 5s and 45 top 10s in his first 61 SMX League starts.
Levi Kitchen (10th): Made his 75th career SMX League start (45 in 250 Class career).
Caden Dudney (11th): Made his 250 Class and SMX League debut one week removed from winning a moto at the SMX Next Ironman Combine.Cole Davies (26th): Returned from injury to make his 250 Class debut, following up a breakout Supercross season where he captured 2 Main Event wins
250 Class: Budds Creek Facts
- HISTORY LESSON: The first 250 Class race at Budds Creek was on October 8, 1989, when Mike Kiedrowski (Honda) won en route to his first of 2 division titles (then 125cc). It was the penultimate round of the 125cc season and Damon Bradshaw’s eighth-place finish propelled Kiedrowski into the points lead, clinching shortly thereafter.
- 3+ DECADES OF HISTORY: The 250 Class has a longer history at Budds Creek than the 450 Class, separated by 5 years. This year’s race will be the 35th 250 Class round held at Budds Creek.
- DEEGAN DAYS OF SUMMER:
- With a Moto 1 win last season at the penultimate round from Budds Creek, Deegan was able to clinch the championship over Levi Kitchen. He returns to Budds Creek in a similar position, albeit at the season finale. A finish of 17th or better in the first moto would allow Deegan to once again hoist the championship trophy at Budds Creek.
- CHAMPIONSHIP %: The 250 Class winner at Budds Creek has won the title 15 times in 34 seasons (44%), but only twice during the previous 15 years (Blake Baggett in 2012 & Hunter Lawrence in 2024). Combined with the other 2 classes (450cc & 500cc) Budds Creek has an overall championship percentage of 54% (37 times in 68 opportunities).
