Victory at the final round of the 2024 Pro Motocross Championships in the United States saw Chase Sexton clinch the 450MX title with a clean sweep at the Ironman National.
This completed a spectacular first outdoor season for Sexton racing for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, with a total of seven overall wins in 11 rounds.
The finale saw his team-mate Aaron Plessinger finish second on the 450 Class podium to secure third in the final standings, while an overall win in Indiana for Frenchman Tom Vialle elevated him to second position in the final 250MX class standings.
Sexton qualified fastest this morning and fittingly sealed the title by winning race one in commanding fashion.
The 24-year-old Illinois native then picked up his 13th moto win of the series in the final outing, capping off his campaign in style to lift the coveted No.1 number plate.
Sexton took his first Pro Motocross win of the year in round two at Hangtown and then won the last six rounds in succession at RedBud, Spring Creek, Washougal, Unadilla, Budds Creek and Ironman on his way to a first-career Pro Motocross crown.
The result marks KTM’s first 450MX title since Ryan Dungey won in 2015.
Chase Sexton: “I felt the safest out front in race one, they were all riding really good, and the pace was high, so that was a dream ride for me to wrap it up in that one with no mistakes.
“The championship’s what we came for and we accomplished that, so I appreciate it and we’re excited! To come out here in the outdoors and have a really awesome season, I don’t know how to put it into words.
“This is the best form I’ve had to date in my career, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team is awesome, and it means a lot. I’m stoked – I just want to keep doing this, because every title you get makes you want to win more. Thank you!”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team-mate Plessinger finished second on the 450MX podium at the Ironman National with 2-2 results, making it six podiums this season, including the past four in a row.
As a result, the man they call “The Cowboy” matched his final position of one year ago with third in the championship, and also carries career form into the upcoming SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Finals series.
Aaron Plessinger: “I put it all out there, I was trying and giving it my all to keep with Chase. Those last few laps were tough – I left it all on the track today. It’s all of these people who kept me going because it was a long, hot day, but I have to give it up for my family, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and everybody behind me! It has been such a good season and I’m really proud of Chase and the whole team.”
A wire-to-wire opening moto win saw Vialle set himself up for a chance at his maiden 250MX overall victory in 2024, which he managed to achieve courtesy of a hard-fought fourth-place finish in race two.
With seven overall podiums to his credit, the Frenchman climbed to second in the final standings, behind Yamaha’s Haiden Deegan, to complete his second season of AMA Pro Motocross competition.
Tom Vialle: “I was really trying to get that overall and we were able to today! The start is so important, it makes it so much easier, and I had a good moto in the first one. I had a gap and it was really amazing, I felt so good on the track. And then I was able to make it happen for the overall in that second moto – I’m really happy.”
The 250MX Rookie of the Year award belonged to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team newcomer Julien Beaumer, who finished 11th in the championship.
It’s been a positive first full season of Pro Motocross for the 18-year-old, gaining immense experience throughout the series, and building important foundations for his career. An 8-30 scorecard at Round 11 after crashing out of the final race landed him 14th overall.
Next Race: September 7 – Concord, North Carolina (SMX Playoff 1)
Photo courtesy KTM, Align Media
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450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish // Points):
1 Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., KTM (1-1 // 50)
2 Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (2-2 // 44)
3 Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (4-3 // 38)
4 Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda (3-6 // 36)
5 Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha (6-4 // 34)
6 Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki (5-5 // 34)
7 Phil Nicoletti, Cochecton, N.Y., Yamaha (8-8 // 28)
8 Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Husqvarna (10-7 // 27)
9 Fredrik Noren, Lidköping, Sweden, Kawasaki (9-9 // 26)
10 Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Husqvarna (7-11 // 26)
450 Class Championship Standings (Round 11 of 11):
1 Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., KTM – 504 Points
2 Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 462 Points
3 Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM – 403 Points
4 Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 371 Points
5 Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Kawasaki – 362 Points
6 Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Husqvarna – 297 Points
7 Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Honda – 288 Points
8 Christian Craig, El Cajon, Calif., Husqvarna – 244 Points
9 Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 210 Points
10 Fredrik Noren, Lidköping, Sweden, Kawasaki – 204 Points
250 Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points):
1 Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM (1-4 // 43)
2 Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda (6-2 // 38)
3 RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna (4-3 // 38)
4 Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (11-1 // 36)
5 Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Yamaha (3-8 // 34)
6 Ty Masterpool, Paradise, Texas, Kawasaki (5-6 // 33)
7 Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., GASGAS (7-5 // 32)
8 Max Anstie, Newbury, England, Yamaha (13-7 // 24)
9 Ken Roczen, Mattstedt, Germany, Suzuki (9-12 // 23)
10 Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Triumph (12-10 // 22)
250 Class Championship Standings (Round 11 of 11):
1 Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 481 Points
2 Tom Vialle, Avignon, France, KTM – 412 Points
3 Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 405 Points
4 Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda – 349 Points
5 Ty Masterpool, Paradise, Texas, Kawasaki – 316 Points
6 Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda – 289 Points
7 Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Triumph – 277 Points
8 Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS – 269 Points
9 Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Yamaha – 253
10 Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., GASGAS – 250 Points