Ty Masterpool wins first ever 250 MX National

Huge day in the hills of southern Pennsylvania for Monster Energy’s Ty Masterpool (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) as the 2019 AMA Motocross Rookie of the Year and last-minute addition to Mitch Payton’s famed Pro Circuit program broke through and won his very first Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by the AMA, taking the top 250 class spot at Saturday’s High Point MX National in Mt. Morris.

Masterpool utilized a consistently fast 2nd-1st two-moto finish to top overall 250 class points leader, Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s white hot Haiden Deegan (1-2), and Chance Hymas (Honda), who went 4-3 for 3rd place – completing the Monster Energy sweep of the 250 class High Point podium.

“It’s been a rough three to four years and I just believed in the team I had around me,” said Masterpool. “Looking forward to getting back to work on Monday. I’ve never had a bike like this where I feel I have so much room to improve.”

With Deegan winning the opening moto and Masterpool taking 2nd, the battle was on between the two Monster Energy racers in Moto 2, only to have Deegan, while running in the top five early, crash and drop to 18th after the opening lap. This allowed Masterpool, who was running in 4th place at the time, to charge to the front. But it wouldn’t be easy for the Texan as he’d have to overcome a low speed crash near the finish line corner at one point, then battle with a very fast Hymas for the lead. In the end Masterpool would edge a charging Deegan by less than a second at the checkers.

“Someone said I was in like 27th in the first moto – then balls to the wall that whole race,” said Deegan. “Almost the same exact thing in the second moto. I fell and thought ‘At least I know I can make my way back up because I (already) did it once.’ So I got locked in, caught up to Ty, and yeah, he got the win.”

Just off the overall High Point 250 podium was Monster Energy’s Jo Shimoda (Honda), who continues to improve on his CRF350R, scoring a Moto 1 podium (3rd) and going 3-5 for a solid 4th place overall. Rounding out the 250 class top ten at High Point for Monster Energy were Star Racing/Yamaha’s Levi Kitchen and Jordon Smith in 9th and 10th places, respectively.

In 450 class racing action for Monster Energy at High Point it’d be the same order as the previous weekend’s results at Lakewood, Colo., with Justin Cooper (Star Racing/Yamaha) in 5th, Jason Anderson (Kawasaki) placing 6th and Dylan Ferrandis (Phoenix/Honda) in 7th.

Notes & Quotes

• Masterpool’s victory for the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team was the 300thof team owner Mitch Payton’s distinguished career. A celebratory #300 decal was slapped on Masterpool’s number plate for the podium festivities.
• “We started in ’91 and Brian Swink won our first race. And Ty, for him to come back, get here with a fill-in ride just two days before the (Pala, Calif.) National… to do that today was just really amazing.” – Mitch Payton
• “From coming up through the pack he (Deegan) got to notice all the different lines.” – NBC announcer James Stewart on Deegan’s mid-pack (14th) Moto 1 start to 1st place.
• “He made up ten seconds in the final two laps and comes up half a bike length short.” – NBC announcer Jason Weigandt on Deegan’s Moto 2 run from 18th to nearly the win.
• “These two (Masterpool & Deegan) were getting me pretty good. Overall I’m just happy to be back up on the box.” – Hymas on his second-straight 250 class podium.
• “There’s a lot of feet flying, Superman’s in this race.” – Stewart on the racers’ feet leaving the pegs and sailing above their seats – while still holding onto the handlebars. This included Hymas when giving up the Moto 2 lead to Masterpool.
• Tough day for Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Levi Kitchen who was battling with Deegan for the 250 class lead earlier in the season and rolled in with a 9th place (10-9) at High Point. Look for Kitchen to rebound in a big way in the coming weeks.
• Awesome start in the 450 Moto 2 for Anderson, leading the 450 pack for the first time this season and opening up a five-second gap before bringing ‘er home in a solid 4th place High Point overall second moto finish.
• ”Ferrandis showed some signs earlier in the day, but ends up 7th.” – Weigandt on Ferrandis’ run with the 450 Moto 1 race leaders.