2024 High Point Motocross | Kickstart Recap & Photo Gallery

From dry and dusty on the last lap of Friday’s media demonstrations…

To muddy and heavy for the first laps of Saturday’s Timed Qualifying sessions. Over an inch of rain rolled through on Friday evening and completely changed the composition of the track, a situation that the track crew and teams had to contend with through the rest of race day. This was from the 250 B Group.

Poor bastards.

Pre-built brake systems, complete levers, are hung on the Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX/Yamaha pit cart next to spare wheelsets and back-up exhaust pipes. How timely would this repair be done the work area, enough to make this worthwhile?

The Dunlop truck will be stocked with plenty of MX14 tires during the next leg of the Pro Motocross Championship. The previous scoop’s popularity among pros had a large part in the development of the new scoop, which is designed to have improved grip on the start or acceleration out of corners, better bump absorption, and carcass flex for braking.

Chest protectors are very much in vogue, especially if they have CE certification. Coty Schock runs the R-Pro by RXR under his jersey, as the EVA foam chassis, flexible plastic shell, and proprietary ASA airbags absorb energy from roost or crashes. RXR recommends replacing the airbags every 16 to 24 months, depending on use or damage (check after every crash), and two models are offered: an always-inflated option that comes from the factory ready for use or one that includes a pump for a fine-tuned fit.

Wings, stars, carbon, metal flake, pinstriping, and block letting. Pierce Brown’s helmet-goggle from Troy Lee Designs had it all.

A beautiful start to a Saturday at the track. The only request we have is a simple one: can we turn down the music, if not off, for a portion of the morning? The speakers were turned up to eleven at High Point, from the morning’s playing of “Kickstart My Heart” to the six-minute Skrillex meltdown on the keyboard, and it was louder than the 40-man gate.

A tumble down a muddy hill is a tough way to start the day. This was one moment to Mark Fineis’ first pro race at High Point.

Julien Beaumer was very, very excited to get to High Point. The Red Bull KTM rider told us at Thunder Valley that it was one track that he’s watched for years, and his initial impression was very positive. “It looks amazing. I’ve looked forward to racing this track and now that we’ve pulled in, it’s one of the sickest tracks I’ve ever seen,” the rookie said during Friday’s media interviews. The positivity certainly paid off, as he logged 6-8 results for sixth overall, his best finish of the summer so far.

Support your local flagger.

The track crew’s efforts were well intended, but the deck was stacked against them, as the usual Mount Morris rain oversaturated the topsoil. The wet dirt mixed with High Point’s big hill was a bit more than the heavy equipment to contend with. We’re interested to see what the weather and each track’s plans for prep will be this summer, as a Friday chat with Davey Coombs that’s at the end of the News Break explained that every facility knows the terrain they’re working with and are open to make the most of it.

Hi, Fred! The speedy Swede was joined by his MADD Parts Kawasaki team this week at ClubMX for an extended test session. Coincidentally, Monster Energy Kawasaki also made the trip to the Carolina compound for days of practice with Jason Anderson and Broc Tickle. Wonder if this could be the start of something more for the small team…

Knobby to scoop. Christien Ducharme swapped the rear rubber on Jett Lawrence’s CRF450R before the first lap of Session One in Timed Qualifying.

Take a cue from the pros: a properly adjusted torque wrench and a rag in the rear sprocket make wheel changes a breeze.

Christian Craig had another Speed Suit RS from Fox Racing in his wardrobe at High Point. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider told us the plan is to wear it at multiple races through the summer, but if the weather is really warm, he’ll wear traditional two-piece vented gearsets. The helmet’s bare carbon fiber shell was the perfect place for Father’s Day messages from his kids.

Outdoor motos means oversized tanks. Luca Marsalisi picked up this high-capacity unit for his CRF450R from RedMoto, which can hold up to two gallons while being one inch narrower than the stocker. The tank uses OEM mounts and hardware and retails for $400.

Quick moment to share our condolences with Haan Wheels after founder Arie Den Haan passed away suddenly in late May. The Dutch company’s hubs are used by HEP Suzuki and the factory efforts for Husqvarna and Triumph.

Happy Father’s Day to the many moto dads out there.

Like any good pair of boots, Aaron Plessinger’s custom cowboy Tech 10s look even better broken in. Think of the chipped paint as creases and wrinkles.

How heavy was the track in the morning? Cullin Park’s landing on this infield jump caused a visible splash of mud. This was in Session One of Timed Qualifying for the 450 Class, and surprisingly, most riders went faster in the sloppy morning laps than they did in the slightly drier Session Two.

This is why gear guys bring multiple sets each weekend and why savvy pros like Dylan Ferrandis keep plenty of spare jerseys, pants, and gloves hidden away in their rigs.

Getting a dedicated medical crew to assist racers week in and week out is one of the biggest improvements pro MX has seen in the past two decades. Doc Bodnar’s crew was at Phil Nicoletti’s side when he went down on the opening lap of Moto Two at Hangtown and they were there to check in on him and his knee after a return to action at High Point.

The pits were poppin’ at High Point. Idea: why not open things up at the end of the day? Yes, we know there are some rabid fans that want to hoard every plastic or jersey they can get their hands on, but most would just love a chance to chat with the dudes they just watched do battle or see the bikes up close after laps of abuse. Hell, take it one step further and let fans onto the track like they do in F1 so people could really see the bumps, ruts, and jumps. If they steal a banner, bitch them out. If they pick up tearoffs and trash, give them a reward.

Sections of High Point resemble an archeological dig, as bikes doing lap after lap through the same lines cut deep ruts and reveal the different layers of dirt. This deep corner shows everything from the dark topsoil to the mixed-in mulch all the way down to the original Pennsylvania hard clay.

Jim Perry’s job at the races is a little different these days, as the former team manager now serves as the on-track coordinator in charge of safety and operations for Supercross and Pro Motocross.

High Point’s hills are certainly a challenge. The significant changes that were made to the layout are almost a decade old now, but we’re still a bit in awe of how different the place is compared to what it used to be and how much it changes from spot to spot. Take this downhill, which is nothing but deep loam from top to bottom…

And compare it with the two-jump climb up a hard-packed hill that riders face immediately after. And we mean “immediately,” because the two lanes are connected by the same corner.

How high is high enough?

The PIERIER Mobility Group is best known for their high-performance models, but the company and its many brands offer a variety of two-wheeled machines and some of them are being used by officials at the races this year. The AMA can get around the track with their fleet of KTM Freeride electric motorcycles…

A little goes a long way. The foam pad at the top of Levi Kitchen’s Moto10 Spherical helped keep heavy mud from sticking to the top of the lid and weighing down the rider’s head lap after lap.

Top-off and a new tire.

While the Alpinestars Mobile Medical team has a few MOTO e-bikes to pedal. Life on two wheels, indeed.

Did Chance come over? Or did the lines just converge? Scroll down and make your call.

Opening lap bar-banging over the tunnel.

You can always count on Haiden Deegan going the long way around. The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider was the first to push the edge in this corner during Moto One, and we noticed it took others a few laps to venture away from the tight inside rut and to this high-speed line that he helped cut in.

1st through 3rd, separated by only a few bike lengths. The 250 Class is all-time this summer.

As Dommer mentioned in the Kickstart Podcast, the Carmichael Double seemed a little more do-able this year, as dozens of riders in both divisions were able to launch from the top of the tunnel to the first roller of the downhill section. Ryder McNabb demonstrates.

The East Coast Eagle. Bill Dill’s 3D Racing effort continues with Massachusetts rider Russell Buccheri and the KTM-mounted rider finished 30-33 for 33rd overall.

You can tell who’s been coming to High Point for years based on their wardrobe. No other race brings out as many retro event t-shirts as the visit to the Country Club. Someone in the MotoTees trailer should go through some past prints for 2025 inspiration. They’d sell.

Hey, Ezra! The Budds Creek promoter was in the thick of things at High Point and got on the mic to hype up the penultimate round that’ll happen in Maryland. Start hydrating now, because August in that basin is a different sort of hot.

Close battles in the closing laps. Ty Masterpool’s effort to hold the lead while Haiden Deegan went all-out to reel him in had our undivided attention during 250 Moto One and we snapped a half-dozen frames of the battle from our spot by the finish. Scroll to the bottom to see more shots in the gallery.

Deegan’s last lap pit board message: “Run Away.” Masterpool’s pit board message: “GO!!!”

Maybe it’s recency bias, but Haiden’s fifth moto win of the season might be his most impressive yet. According to the official AMA results, the 38 passed 13 riders on his way to the front, posted the fastest lap on the last lap (2:14.093), and added two more laps led to his season total, which now stands at 46. Even with that stunning heater at the finish, a look at the segment times shows that Deegan didn’t link every portion of the track together that time around, and an ideal lap of perfect sectors would have been even quicker (his potential best would have been a 2:11.853).

Another big charge means another roost-covered motorcycle. Look how the mud stuck to the fork leg was packed and smoothed by the lower guard. Haven’t seen that before.

An internet search on “X-Static” pulls a few different results, including everything from a Hall & Oates’ album from 1979, a Foo Fighters’ song, a supplement that’s added to water for poultry, and finally, a technology made by Arc-Com that uses a layer of pure metallic silver to offer antimicrobial protection for fabrics like this liner in the Fox Racing V3 RS helmet.

High Point’s hard pack prompted a few teams to hit their knobby tires with the hot knife. Like we’ve mentioned before, the extra slits improve the flex of the blocks, and the extra edges gives the tire a slightly better contact patch.

It was good to see Justin Cokinos on the starting line at High Point. We met the Massachusetts rider at Loretta’s a few years ago when he was contending for the College (18-24) division title, but couldn’t remember the last time we saw him on the track. Cokinos went 33-35 for 36th.

How’s that Honda looking off the start?

Derek Kelley has been on the gas lately. The AEO Powersports KTM rider crashed out in Colorado, went through the proper protocols to get cleared for High Point, did a day of practice to find his legs, and posted some very fast laps in Timed Qualifying (2:30.740 for 12th overall) and 16-15 scores for 15th overall in the 450 Class.

Twisted Teas from the beer stand and new knobbies from Jeff Cernic.

Chase Sexton Cheering Section

Have to commended Fredrik Noren and the others on the track for being aware of the blue flag in 450 Moto One, as they took notice of where the leading Lawrence brothers were and how quickly they were approaching…

Jett lapped all the way up to 11th, by the way.

Red-white-blue and bleu-blanc-rouge.

Technique check with Jett…

And Hunter. See how similar the sibling’s riding styles really are.

The last lap of 450 Moto One was one of the best battles we’ve seen this summer, as Hunter pressured Jett to the checkered flag. Oddly enough, the vibe of the commentating crew at the track made it seem like Jett’s victory was a formality, almost like Hunter was never a factor and that Jett was towing his brother around the track. IDK, it didn’t look anything like that to us, because Hunter’s last lap was all-out and loaded with pass attempts like this one.

0.724 seconds

The Monster Beverage Corporation continues to grow its portfolio. We’ve hyped up the official addition of Tour Water to their offerings and mentioned the expansion into booze with the acquisition of CanARCHY Brewery Collective, which has been rebranded to Monster Brewing Company, and the group’s current push of rapid hydration drink Revitalyte shows their plans to diversify away from pure caffeine.

We could hear Mark Fines’ yell of frustration over the bikes as he came down the hill. The Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX/Yamaha rider made his mark in the early laps of 250 Moto Two and battled with the leaders in what’s sure to be the standout moment of his rookie season so far, but a dead engine forced him to pull off early. Watch Marky Mark’s HWYW interview; the boy has a personality and is determined to be good.

Daxton Bennick got the shaft going into turn one in 250 Moto Two, but things could have been much worse than just getting stuck under his bike. We were told the Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider’s footpeg went into the lower foam portion on the back of his helmet, missing his actual head and spinal cord by inches. Yikes.

Shoutout to Ricci Randanella for turning a heater when the track was hammered in Timed Qualifying. The New Jersey rider clocked a 2:27.449 in Session One for the B Group, which put him ninth overall in the results.

Thanks to everyone that stops us along the fence at the races. We appreciate your support of SML and enjoy the few minutes of bench racing that get squeezed in before the bikes come back around.

Jerry Masterpool has likely watched every single lap that son Ty has done over the years, and as you can imagine, he closely followed his boy around the track during the closing moments of 250 Moto Two.

Two laps to go in 250 Moto Two. Will we see many battles like this in the next portion of the Pro Motocross Championship, or will there be a larger separation in the pack? We can’t wait for Southwick.

0.387 seconds.

Pro Circuit’s 300th win couldn’t have been much sweeter, as it showed Ty Masterpool’s true potential and came shortly after team owner Mitch Payton’s father passed away. Congrats to the PC crew, hope the pizza was good on Monday.

Mother & Son.

Scroll down to see the wear and tear on Chance Hymas’ CRF250R after 250 Moto Two.

Can Ty Masterpool add a few more trophies to the collection and will he land a full-time factory-backed ride in 2025? This could be one of the summer’s biggest storylines and could carry over into the offseason.

We’ve got to give Phil Nicoletti props for getting back on the track at High Point and going for it at the start of both motos, a determination that earned him the holeshot in 450 Moto Two. Nicoletti’s knee is far from full strength, but years of experience and wise people around him should help Phil make it to the finish of his pro career and out of the LCQs in SMX.

Hey, Rick!

Add 450 Moto Two to our list of “must watch again” races from 2024. Jett Lawrence and Chase Sexton have had a few heads-up battles over the years, but Lawrence’s quest to make up points and Sexton’s determination on the orange bike are factors that made the action even more compelling. Fingers crossed for many more skirmishes as the summer continues…

Don’t forget Hunter Lawrence’s addition to the mix.

A knobby on hardpack…

Compared to the paddle.

Another bump and run that both riders added to the memory bank. We love it.

Is it the bike or the rider? Only a few people really know, and how the situation plays out through the summer and the rest of the rider and team’s contracted time together makes racing so fascinating. We also have to give Chase lots of respect for doing interviews at the end of the day, because most riders would have been in their rental car and on the way to the airport.

Did you know every round of Pro Motocross has its own checkered flag? The six white blocks are not an accident; it’s so the podium finishers of both classes have a place to sign the silk when the step off the podium.

If you thought individually cut decals were trick, check out the perfectly cut grip tape around the bottom of the 9…

Another Alpinestars sweep. New gear will be rolled out in the next month or so.

That’s it for this one. Enjoy the first weekend of the summer, see you at the ‘Wick.