Off-Road Racers Head to the annual King of the Hammers Event

One of the toughest, if not the toughest off-roading events of the year – the 19^th annual running of the 2025 OPTIMA King of the Hammers, presented by Ford - is underway in the sand and surrounding boulders of the unforgiving Johnson Valley Desert near San Bernardino, Calif.

Kicking off this week’s KOH was Monster Energy’s own Jeremy “Showtime” McGrath with his inaugural KOH Jeremy McGrath “Holeshot King” contest. The Saturday (Jan. 25^th) race featured a head-to-head battle down a short straight away – with an MX gate standing start – to decide who’s the KOH’s King of the Motos Holeshot King.

McGrath’s Holeshot King competition, which showcased bracket style elimination racing, saw veteran motocross and off-road racer Ty Davis bring home the 1st place trophy, with McGrath himself snatching the No. 2 spot, followed by Davis’ son, Dustyn Davis, rounding out the first ever Jeremy McGrath Holeshot King podium at KOH in 3rd position.

The seven-time Monster Energy AMA Supercross Champion McGrath also added his name to KOH’s other new event, King of the Grand Prix, combining both desert and technical rock sections, and was backed by Monster Energy as well under the King of the Motos canopy, adding: “This is an opportunity to see who the best all-around moto racer is. The course was designed to be challenging, but raceable for all, so that both novices and pro riders can compete at the highest level. I’m excited to see how we can bring some energy and grow King of the Motos.”

Right in Monster Energy’s wheelhouse in terms of backing many of the world’s top off-road racing talent, the glowing green M-claw logo returns a slew of defending KOH champions and podium placers, along with former champions and podium placers under a ‘Who’s who’ list of legendary off-road racing talent in the four wheel arena.

Leading the Monster Energy charge at this year’s KOH is defending Toyo Tires Desert Challenge, presented by Monster Energy, race in the UTV Pro Stock class champion Rodrigo Ampudia. The longtime Monster Energy-backed off-road racer and former Baja 1000 champ, aka “RodAmp!,” brought his Can-Am Maverick X3 X RC Turbo RR back in 1^st place at the ’24 KOH and is eager to defend his desert division title.

Said Ampudia following last year’s contest: “I’m super excited to bring home a KOH win. Winning this race stacks up there with winning the Baja 1000. It’s one of the biggest races of the year.”

Joining Ampudia is a virtual Monster Energy cavalcade of racers at KOH, including defending Spec Truck T2 class winner Kyle Jergensen flying the Monster Energy “Beast” colors along with Luke McMillin (TT class), a four pack of Herbsts’ in TT podium placer (3^rd) Tim Herbst, Thor Herbst (4^th T2), Pierce Herbst (T2) and EJ Herbst (T2) and Top Monster Energy UTV pilot from last year in Phil Blurton (3^rd Can-Am UTV Championship).

Other Monster Energy-backed racers to keep an eye on at KOH here this week include: Cameron Steele, who’ll, in addition to announcing the KOH, will be racing everything from the premier Trophy Truck class on down to UTVs and 4800s/4600s, Loren Healy (2^nd in the 4600 class), multi-time UTV champ Dustin Jones (Desert & Rock), Midwest short course off-road greats CJ & pops Johnny Greaves (UTV Desert & Rock divisions), Monster Energy C-suite rep (and legit fast) Matt Burroughs in both UTV divisions, FMX great and MX dad Brian Deegan (UTV Desert & Rock), the always fast & friendly Casey Currie (UTV Rock & 4400), familiar names in Shannon Campbell and Vaughn Gittin Jr.(both in the 4400 class), and, from the world of MMA, “Cowboy” Rick Cerrone (UTV Desert & Rock).

The top female racer running the M-claw logo, and competing full-on vs. the men, will be Sara Price. Price, fresh out of Saudi Arabia’s Dakar Rally, won the ’24 “Best Rookie” with her best-ever KOH (for a woman) 4^th place run in UTV Pro Stock. In addition to the Monster Energy-backed racers, NOS Energy, part of the Monster Energy family, will feature past off-road champions RJ & Ronnie Anderson in the UTV Desert and Rock divisions.

And as we always do, Monster Energy would like to thank the Johnson Valley OHV Recreation Area’s management team – the region’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – for working with the KOH promoters, racers, fans and sponsors to pull off another epic event on the 81,000 acre parcel of land outside San Bernardino. All sorts of excellent synergy between the government and the private sector that will entertain some 100,000 people over two weeks in the barren region north of Highway 247 in the Mojave Desert. 

How to watch KOH

Check out all of the 2025 Optima King of the Hammers, presented by Ford, action on the event’s official YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@kingofthehammers_official

Link to race results https://kingofthehammers.com/competitors/race-results/

Link to schedule https://kingofthehammers.com/eventschedule/