2024 Detroit Supercross | Kickstart Recap & Gallery

Rolling through the city with the red plate. Consistent finishes helped Aaron Plessinger carry the points lead into Detroit, and in fitting redemption to last year’s Detroit crash, his Jade Dungey-tuned Red Bull KTM was outfitted with the red backgrounds for the visit to Ford Field. Because AP finished off the podium, he’s now third in the standings, down two points to teammate Sexton.

We knew during the offseason that Travis Soules had stepped away from his role as Ken Roczen’s mechanic at Progressive/ECSTAR/Suzuki but didn’t know it was for a move to Georgia and the new Triumph Factory Racing operation. Soules said plenty about the team change, the motorcycle, and working with Jalek Swoll in our Pre-Race News Break video. “Putting it together was different than what I’m used to,” he said of the switch. “There’s going to be learning for all of us, but the package is good, we’re excited to be here, and we’ll take it one race at a time.”

A practice crash in December pulled Cameron McAdoo’s collarbone from his sternum and damaged his scapula, a complex injury that kept him off the bike for six weeks and limited some upper body strength and mobility. With how tricky shoulders can be, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki racer added a rubber band to his stretching routine to his pre-ride warm-up. Press play on the Kickstart Podcast to hear McAdoo explain the injury in detail, why riders hide problems, and, of course, the first-turn incident.

It’s PIERER Mobility AG, not the KTM Group. The company portfolio includes the KTM-Husqvarna-GASGAS motorcycle brands, the GASGAS and Husqvarna e-bicycle lines (Felt Bicycles and R Raymond were sold as part of a divestment of the non e-bike category in December), WP suspension and components, the KISKA design firm, technology programs Avocodo and PIERER Innovation, and substantial stakes of iconic Italian on-road brand MV Agusta and Chinese manufacturer CFMoto. The more you know.

Loose is fast. Haiden Deegan put that theory to use during Friday’s media riding session when he revved the Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha through the rhythm lane and sand, then whipped over the finish line double and triple jump. Watch the RAW and News Break videos to see and hear the YZ250F.

If you get to walk through the pits at an East Coast race, be sure to visit the Triumph pit and see the race bikes in-person. During the pre-race press conference, Zach Laurie explained that scope of the motorcycle’s development since its 2019 inception, stating that 45 engineers ran the project, there’d been 1000-plus hours of on-track testing with 20 riders in the UK-Europe-the US, how 981 new parts were fabricated for R&D and that 708 of them made it through to production on the TF 250-X, which will be in dealers later this spring.

The sand turn before the finish line double was a great element of the Detroit track, as it made for excellent inside-outside battles and endless shots like this one of Tom Vialle.

Preston Boespflug went from Supercross Futures to the 250 East Region in a week. The Toyota of Redlands/BARX/Suzuki rider ended his amateur tenure with a fourth place at A2 and started his pro career with a second place run in the LCQ and a 13th finish in the Main Event.

We’ve got a few pieces from past Pak X EMH drops in our wardrobe, including an old khaki dad hat with a Disney font, the ethika collab boxers, and the homage to Ralph Lauren with Dirt Studios, but the bomber jackets that were custom made for Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s 250 riders are one grail we won’t get. Good job, Frace.

Michigan CAT provided the Dirt Wurx crew with the tools needed to build and maintain the course at Ford Field, a fleet that included three excavators, two dozers, four skidsteers, and some more machinery not shown here, including a massive front loader. The series-appointed track crew has a longstanding relationship with the Illinois equipment maker.

Triumph Racing was clear in their goals for Detroit: get both riders into the Main Event and log as much information as possible about the new motorcycles in race conditions. Members of the US team, which is based in Georgia, were joined by engineers and technicians from the Hinckley HQ, and any moment when a bike wasn’t on the track was spent discussing how it could be better.

If the chatter about Eli Tomac’s Detroit performance tell us anything, get ready for a looming internet topic that’s got plenty of YouTube potential: “Who Really Is The A Rider At Star Racing?” You've been warned.

It’s all in the hips. RIP, Carl Weathers.

We’ve said it for a while: Ford Field is one of the better stadiums and Detroit is one of the underrated rounds in the SX schedule. The look and layout of the venue is very modern, thanks to the brick and bridge walkways in the concourses and the well-lit suites that give photos a unique background. Admittedly, we don’t see as much of the city as we’d like given the long days at the track amid the trip’s 36-hour duration, but the area is coming back and a few of the food and coffee spots (NYC Halal Eats, BERUIT Restaurant, Qahwah House, Tim Horton’s) are some of our favorites.

Pick a rut. Are you going high like Fire Power Honda’s Dean Wilson…

Carving through the middle like Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis…

Or catfishing the low line like Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Cooper Webb?

Okay one more style check, this time to show Jason Anderson’s seated position and far right line choice over the finish line…

Compared to Jett Lawrence, who also went to the edge of the jump but crouched instead of seat bounced…

And Eli Tomac, who carved hard as he crested the lip.

WildCat Racing and Lorenzo Locurcio will compete on the 250 East Region before running the full Pro Motocross Championship this summer. The Venezuelan hasn’t done SX in a few years, but time at MotoSandbox in Florida and work with Powerband Racing got the rider and bike up to speed for Detroit. Locurcio was 28th in Timed Qualifying’s Combined Results, but an energy-draining illness prompted the rider to scratch for the opening round, take a few weeks to get healthy, and regroup for Arlington.

Seeing Mackenzie Engel wear the same SML hoody every Saturday while he looks after racer Logan Boye has us thinking: we should come up with a specialty brand just for mechanics to wear. The catalog could be endless too, with everything from apparel like pit shirts/aprons/gloves to must-have accessories like backpacks/signal boards/safety glasses/markers. This could be a multi-million-dollar idea. Now, what to call it? WrenchWear? MechanicsClothes? On the real, if you are looking to have your suspension or bike serviced and live in the Southeast, contact Mackenzie through @vivasuspension on Instagram

The coordination of Benny Bloss’s Arai/FXR /Oakley/Alpinestars setup was excellent. Who said you’re not supposed to wear white after Labor Day?

Gage Linville is another young up and comer that’s taking on the 250 East Region. The Georgia rider has quite the program put together, as he’s riding at the Dawgpound, working with Ezra Lusk on training and technique, and paired with the Dirt Bike Depot Racing group at the races. Linville was among the many caught up in the turn one carnage and finished the 250 Main Event in 17th.

Having the top riders of the 250 Class in opening ceremonies is a nice way to start the evening. Max Anstie sure was excited about having a short video and some time in the spotlight, as the Fire Power Honda rider high-fived everyone in reach while running up and down the concourse, including the Aaron Plessinger SuperFan on the aisle.

Speaking of AP, the man got a ROAR of applause when introduced. The Michigan crowd remembered what had happened a year ago, and with his rank at the top of the standings and the Kid Rock background music, his quick lap around the track was by far the loudest. Aaron is certainly enjoying the well-earned attention and, if used right, his enthusiasm could be just as big of an angle to lure in the masses as Haiden’s last name or the Lawrences’ ongoing rise.

Haiden Deegan’s inclusion as one of the headliners in opening ceremonies got the expected hate online, but judging from the looks of the people in the stands, there’s nothing wrong with Dangerboy in a Jared Goff jersey coming out after Roczen-Tomac-Plessinger but before Lawrence-Sexton. Zoom in on this photo if you can. Like a Where’s Waldo page, there’s plenty to see in the seats, including multiple kids in DIY AP cowboy hats and lots of fully grown men throwing horns to the second-year pro.

What boos? The crowd’s reaction to Jett Lawrence was much different at Detroit than it was in Anaheim. We’ve heard louder cheers for him, sure, but the one-handed one-footed wheelie moments after this snap and a pair of wins in the Heat Race and Main Event showed that the last few weeks hadn’t sent the Team Honda HRC rider into the tailspin that many MX-psychoanalysts were declaring online.

Not a wheelie in sight. Much has been made this week about the evolution of starts in Supercross, which now includes metal grates, pre-programmed ignition maps, fender-mounted “tachometers,” and suspension locking holeshot devices, but we’ve been on this path since Yamaha showed up with a hook around the fork leg and a notch in the plastic guard. Once teams see how to gain an advantage, they’ll work it every chance they get (holeshot devices are the new rage in MotoGP), and consumers encourage the trends by buying the same products when they’re added to aftermarket catalogs or production motorcycles. Also, on a separate note, 450 Heat One was stacked.

No one had the rear wheel sand spray dialed in Detroit like Aaron Plessinger. The Red Bull KTM rider would brake tap and rev his 450 SX-F just right over the big double, and it added some more flair to this shot of the whip he did after winning 450 Heat Race One.

Team Honda HRC certainly “found something” off the start, as we saw Chance Hymas and both Lawrence brothers rocket out of the gate and to the front of the pack at round five. After rewatching the broadcast, we noticed how Jett’s Heat Race launch was very good, but he carried a little too much speed going over the first table and went long into the rhythm, which let Jason Anderson draw even. Scroll down for a breakdown of the Main Event start…

We’ve been added to the MADD Parts/Kawasaki’s mailing list and are impressed by the facts and figures that Theodore Pauli adds to the race team press release. Staples like results from Qualifying, the Heat Race, LCQ, and Main Event are included for Fredrik Noren/Josh Cartwright/Pauli, and it goes deeper with the team’s coverage totals in the TV broadcast (4:10 minutes on-screen in Detroit) and the amount of social interactions over the weekend (just shy of 10K accounts reached on IG, 11.2 Reel views on IG & FB). Add to the number by following @maddpartskawasaki

Turn one chaos. The 250 Main Event melee took down about half of the field, a massive curveball for both the opening round and championship chase, and it’s sparked plenty of debate about track designs, first turns, and staggered grids. Our take? Yeah, it’s unfortunate, but all of that is part of motocross. Guys used to lock bars when dropping the gate meant snapping a rubber band. Also, if you can design angled gate for 22 riders that drops consistently, transports and sets up easily, and doesn’t take up most of the stadium floor, you should be at teaching at MIT.

As for the hot takes about why no red flag, that’s another situation that’s clearly explained through past protocol: no riders blocking the track needed medical attention. Resetting the field would have created more problems, as getting everyone back to the gate is a hectic procedure, and things like swapping bars or changing pants would be next to impossible in the few minutes mandated by the rules for restarts. And then there’s the to-the-second schedule of a live broadcast on network television…

Love or hate Haiden Deegan, you have to admire the determination at Detroit. The wrist injury was real and merited a Mobius brace on his left arm, his time on the bike had been limited, and his raw speed was a little off (eighth in Timed Qualifying, more than a second off Pierce Brown), but he remounted a bent bike, didn’t waste time in the work area, and scored seven points, all of which could be key later in the championship.

We’re eager to do a Brand Breakdown, as it seems like there are more apparel companies than ever being represented at Supercross. Pete Fox’s RENEN is making a push through sponsorship of Triumph Factory Racing and TiLube Honda and five riders in the 250 Main Event were wearing the American-made pants and jerseys.

It’d been 535 days since Nick Romano’s last race, an injury-caused pause the Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider said felt like turning pro all over again. “There are a lot of things to take in, but I’m doing what I can do,” he told us Friday. “I had a pretty good base from all the training I did off the bike in the past year. Me, Smitty, and Thrasher were all recovering at the same time and were putting in serious miles, and it was good to have a base before I started riding… I’ve never ridden in a stadium or never ridden a track with Tuff Blocks, a few things to take into consideration, but yeah, it feels like I’m going pro for the first time… I’m excited to be here, to race, and to learn as much as I can racing heavy hitters, young guns, and old dudes in the class.” Another one caught up in turn one, Romano finished the Main Event in 14th.

Austin Forkner’s wins were massive. Round one was a show of force for the once reckless prodigy, as the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider was third fastest in Timed Qualifying, then led every lap of his Heat Race and the Main Event, a situation that he said all came down to the start. “Going into the first turn I heard bikes clanking and tires grinding behind me, so I knew there was a crash. I’ve been there. I was there last year, blew my knee out in the first turn. The same perspective I had last year, ‘Maybe that wouldn’t have happened if I had a better start,’ that flipped and I’m saying, ‘That could have been me if I hadn’t gotten the start.’ It’s come full circle in that way, and as happy as I am to win, to do it like that with a holeshot in both the Heat Race and Main Event, lead wire to wire, the redemption of that and hoping to carry these starts into the rest of the season was special.”

Custom carbon fiber guards, XTRIG clamps, Factory Connection tuned suspension, ODI bars, Works Connection reservoir caps and clutch perch, a 3D printed killswitch guard, and OVO/Mechanixwear gloves. And those are just a few of the special pieces Nathan Alexander has that we can see in this shot. We’ll get more shots of Narco’s bike and the other 250 East Region machines at Arlington.

Daxton Bennick is Star Racing’s next work in progress. The rider joined the squad as an amateur prospect last year, did Supercross Futures, Loretta’s, and even a few Nationals before getting promoted to the pro team full-time for 2024. A podium finish at his SX debut is massive and gives credence to the “Bennick is flying at the Florida-Georgia practice tracks” buzz we heard in recent weeks. “My day didn’t start that good, I struggled a bit in Qualifying, but I turned it around in the Heat Race by finishing second. I matched Austin every lap and felt that was a good pace for me,” he said in HWYW. “In the Main Event I knew I needed to get a start and get in a groove, and that’s what I did. I didn’t have a great start, but I picked guys off early. I’m stoked… Being in the stadium, I wasn’t too nervous about that because of Supercross Futures, but I was more nervous about racing. It’s a lot more intense racing the top guys, and the intensity is high from the first lap.”

How many different riders step onto the podium in the 250 East Region this season? Four to six? Five to seven? Eight or more?

Pop a top. Bennick got some help and advice from guys who have shot their share of champagne corks over the years.

Alright, here’s our two-frame analysis of the 450 Main Event Start: Jett perfectly downsided the tabletop this time around, and the extra momentum gave him a boost as he blasted through the rhythm lane. Chase Sexton’s bobble on top of the plateau was another major moment, as the split-second mistake disrupted his flow and anyone behind him in the pack, including Eli Tomac. What’s up with Jason Anderson’s right leg?

Despite momentary traffic and high chance for carnage, the experienced field made it up and over the first obstacle with no serious issues, and the 28-lap feature was plenty of time for riders to sort out places in the pack.

From the concussion protocol list to the Main Event. Tristan Lane is one of 30 guys that’s lined up for a 450 Main Event in 2024, and a 19th place finish in Detroit puts him 28th in the championship standing. The Florida rider is once again part of the Next Level Racing team with mechanic-supporter Donald Davis.

One big takeaway from the weekend: everyone expected the Detroit dirt to be much firmer than it was. Even the Dirt Wurx guys were caught off-guard by how soft the material was during load-in and shaping, and they knew that 43-46 second times would mean high lap counts during the races. Multiple riders told us the track was more like Indianapolis than past visits to Ford Field, and that their bike setups, line choices, and techniques all had to adapt as the course broke down.

Jett’s gesture over the finish line can be interpreted many ways. A few people tried to get him to open up about the difficulties of recent weeks, but the rider didn’t give much away during the podium interview and press conference, and instead simply downplayed the situation as a whole by saying, “Been a rough couple of weeks, on the riding side of things and obviously off the bike, but no, it helps make these wins even sweeter. And it's a good bit of motivation, you know,” and “a lot of people have had it before and I mean, it's not like it's the first time it's ever happened in the sport. So, I mean, it is what it is just. Just helps like a little motivational stuff, kind of wanting to go out and do good. And obviously the past few weeks haven't been quite the best with the results, making silly, silly decisions and wanting to win so bad. So, this kind of caused me a few mistakes.” The neon goggles/gloves/boots look good with the black gear.

Hammered.

A word of advice to some of the competition and a sponsor plug for Progressive Insurance.

What do the top seven in the 450 Class standings have in common? All of them have a trophy from 2024. Dylan Ferrandis, who is tied with Justin Barcia at 77 points but ranked eighth overall, does not have any hardware to show for his efforts through five rounds.

The defending champion is back at the top of the point standings. Onto Glendale, and then a break.