Monster Energy’s dirt bikers take ‘er outdoors with the start of the ’24 Pro Motocross Championship
U.S. motocross marks the return of Tomac, Deegan, Kitchen & crew as the series’ opening start gate’s set to drop this Saturday
It’s the sport from which Monster Energy AMA Supercross was born. The original seed. The foundation. American motocross. And it all gets underway this weekend just a short drive from Monster Energy’s global headquarters in Corona, Calif.
Since Edison Dye first introduced the sport of motocross racing on U.S. soil when he brought the top European MX racers to the States in the late 1960s, the MX Nationals, officially known as the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by the AMA, has been the proving ground for not only up-and-coming and established American racers, but also for the stars of the European-based MXGP Series.
This year marks the 53rd year of the MX Nationals, and Monster Energy is pleased to announce the teams and racers it’s backing beginning with the opening round set for Saturday, May 25th, at Fox Raceway in Pala, Calif.
Beginning with the 250cc class, here’s a look at the teams/racers running the M-claw logo throughout the summer at America’s premier motocross racing facilities.
250s
Team: Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha
Racers: Haiden Deegan, Jordan Smith, Michael Mosiman, Nate Thrasher, Daxton Bennick, Nick Romano, Enzo Lopes and Stilez Robertson
Outlook: Deegan is one of the preseason favorites to win the 250 class having placed 4th overall in 2023 with 371 points. Justin Cooper, who’s graduated to the 450 class, led the Monster/Star/Yamaha 250 program last year with a runner-up finish and Deegan looks to be the one that’ll take his top spot. Thrasher has proven speed and, provided he remains healthy, will challenge for podiums and top five finishes. Mosiman was injured last year, but in the three previous seasons placed in the top ten overall. Mosiman is (reportedly) out for the Pala opener with an injury. Bennick finished 14th overall (116 points) in his freshman season, while Smith looks to return to his top ten (10th overall) speed he enjoyed in 2018. Romano missed last season due to injury, but has three career MX Nationals top ten finishes to his name, having only raced outdoors since 2022. The Brazilian Lopes has nine career top 20 MX Nationals finishes and is looking to return to top form following a supercross injury. Robertson injured his wrist and missed the entire SX season, and will look to return to MX once it’s healed.
Team: Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki
Racers: Levi Kitchen, Cameron McAdoo, Seth Hammaker, Austin Forkner and Max Vohland
Outlook: Kitchen is the top returning points scorer for the Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki squad, placing 5th in 2023 with 322 points. He, along with former teammate Deegan, are two of the four to five racers with the best shot at this year’s 250 MX Nationals title. Hammaker showed he had the speed to compete in the top five, but a couple setbacks would have him in 11th at season’s end. He banged himself up in a preseason practice crash and will, reportedly, not be in the gate at Pala. McAdoo missed the ’23 MX Nationals season due to injury, but has 14 career top 10 finishes. He will also be on the sidelines to start the MX Nationals season due to a practice crash. Both Forkner and Vohland are out for the foreseeable future and working to return at some point this summer from their injuries.
Team: Honda HRC
Monster Energy-backed racers: Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas
Outlook: Shimoda, coming off a big 250 class win at the East/West Shootout at Monster Energy AMA Supercross’ final round in Salt Lake City earlier this month, has the speed to rank him in the 4-5 racers (along with Monster Energy’s Deegan and Kitchen) that can win the MX Nationals’ 250 championship. Shimoda finished on the MX Nationals’ podium in 3rd place overall last season with 393 points – just six points back of Monster Energy’s Cooper for 2nd. Hymas, along with Monster Energy’s Bennick, were two of the top young racers in their first year on the MX Nationals tour. Hymas would make the top 20 (18th) with 92 points and has the skills to improve upon that this season.
450s
Team: Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha
Racers: Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb and Justin Cooper
Outlook: After a grueling ’24 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season that took its toll on veteran racers Tomac (’22 MX Nationals champion) and Webb, the two Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha 450 class veterans will start the 2024 MX Nationals season on the sidelines. Carrying the 450 class torch for the Star Racing program will be last year’s 250 class runner-up, 450 class rookie Justin Cooper. The New York native had a commendable ’24 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, placing 6th in his first time aboard the 450. And with four career pro motocross wins to his credit, along with a great deal of experience on the U.S. tracks, look for Cooper to make an impact in his first year racing the 450 class outdoors.
Team: Monster Energy/Kawasaki
Racer: Jason Anderon
Outlook: With the recent retirement of Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo it’ll be “El Hombre,” as Anderson’s affectionately known, who’ll look to put the M-claw shod KX450SR up on the box as Kawasaki’s lone entry (as of Pala) in the premier 450 class. Anderson, who placed 3rd overall (behind champion Tomac) in the 2022 MX Nationals 450 class championship, has two career outdoor wins and should be in the hunt outdoors as he continued to show signs of excellent speed throughout the 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season.
2024 Pro Motocross Championship schedule
Round Date Venue City/State
1 May 25 Fox Raceway Pala, Calif.
2 June 1 Hangtown Rancho Cordova, Calif.
3 June 8 Thunder Valley Lakewood, Colo.
4 June 15 High Point Mt. Morris, Pa.
5 June 29 Southwick Southwick, Mass.
6 July 6 RedBud Buchanan, Mich.
7 July 13 Spring Creek Millville, Minn.
8 July 20 Washougal Washougal, Wash.
9 August 10 Unadilla Unadilla, N.Y.
10 August 17 Budds Creek Budds Creek, Md.
11 August 24 Ironman Crawfordsville, Ind.