Unadilla National Heats Up Pro Motocross Championship Chase

In a dramatic day of racing under sunny skies at the iconic Unadilla MX, the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship saw thrilling battles and championship implications unfold across both the 250 and 450 classes.

Sexton Extends Win Streak in Tight 450 Class Battle

Chase Sexton – 450 Class Winner – Unadilla National

Chase Sexton’s Moto 2 victory proved to be the difference maker in capturing his fourth straight victory. Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Chase Sexton continued his dominance in the premier class, edging out Team Honda HRC's Hunter Lawrence for his fourth consecutive win. The day started with a close Moto 1, where Lawrence initially took the lead before Sexton battled back for the victory. Moto 2 saw Sexton grab the holeshot and lead wire-to-wire, with Lawrence again finishing second. Despite identical moto scores, Sexton claimed the overall win thanks to the second-moto tiebreaker. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) rounded out the podium in third.

Hunter Lawrence – 450 Class Second Place – Unadilla National

Hunter Lawrence earned a moto victory aboard his new 2025 Honda and finished in the runner-up spot. Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Aaron Plessinger – 450 Class Third Place – Unadilla National

Aaron Plessinger battled hard in the second moto to secure his fourth podium finish of the season. Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Kitchen Emerges Victorious in 250 Class Thriller

Levi Kitchen – 250 Class Winner – Unadilla National

Levi Kitchen’s Moto 2 win gave him the tiebreaker to earn his second career victory. Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

The 250 class saw a nail-biting finish with Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) taking home his second career victory. Kitchen and Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) traded the lead throughout the day, ultimately ending with identical moto scores. However, Kitchen secured the win via the second-moto tiebreaker. Jalek Swoll (Triumph Racing) made history by grabbing the first-ever podium finish for Triumph in third place. This sets the stage for a thrilling final two rounds, with Deegan still holding a comfortable lead in the championship standings.

Haiden Deegan – 250 Class Second Place – Unadilla National

Haiden Deegan saw his points lead grow once again in a runner-up effort. Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Jalek Swoll – 250 Class Third Place – Unadilla National

Jalek Swoll’s second career podium finish was a historic one for Triumph Racing. Photo Credit: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Quotes from the Top Performers:

Chase Sexton (1st, 450 Class): "I knew I had to get off to a good start. The holeshot was huge, and I was able to manage the lead from there. This win feels great, and I'm happy with my riding overall."

Hunter Lawrence (2nd, 450 Class): "It was a tough track to pass on, but I felt good on my new bike. A second-place finish is a good day for me, and I'm excited to keep pushing for the championship."

Levi Kitchen (1st, 250 Class): "This feels amazing! The break definitely helped me come back refreshed. Two holeshots and a win - I couldn't ask for more."

Haiden Deegan (2nd, 250 Class): "Even though I didn't win, I'm happy with my points lead. Levi was on fire today, so congratulations to him."

Jalek Swoll (3rd, 250 Class): "I'm ecstatic! This podium finish has been a long time coming, and it feels great to achieve it on a big stage like Unadilla."

Looking Ahead: Championship Nears Completion

The Pro Motocross Championship now heads to Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland for Round 10 on August 17th. With only two rounds remaining, the championship battle in both classes is sure to heat up even further. Get your tickets at www.MOTO.events.

Jalek Swoll Undergoes Successful Arm Surgery

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACER WILL MISS THE START OF 250SX EASTERN SERIES

MATTIGHOFEN, AUSTRIA – January 28, 2023 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team rider Jalek Swoll has successfully undergone surgery this morning (Saturday) to repair a broken bone in his arm, which he sustained during a practice crash on Friday in Clermont, Florida.

Swoll, who was slated to compete in the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship aboard the FC 250, will miss the opening round next Saturday, February 4 in Houston, Texas. Details of his recovery time have not yet been determined.

The news comes on the heels of another unfortunate announcement from 450SX rider Malcolm Stewart, who also suffered a practice crash earlier this week. Stewart will remain sidelined until further evaluation from doctors. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team wishes both riders a speedy recovery.

Teammates RJ Hampshire and Christian Craig will return to the starting gate today in Anaheim, California for Round 4 of the AMA Supercross Championship.

Husqvarna Motorcycles.

Husqvarna Motorcycles is widely known for leading innovation and providing exceptional performance across its street and offroad products, as well as being present in all top-level racing disciplines. With the brand originally founded in Sweden in 1903, Husqvarna Motorcycles’ machines have been designed and manufactured in Mattighofen, Austria since 2013.

Source: Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH

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Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Introduces ahead of 2023 SuperMotocross World Championship Season

TEWART AND CRAIG HIGHLIGHT 450 CLASS ROSTER; HAMPSHIRE AND SWOLL BACK FOR 2023

MATTIGHOFEN, AUSTRIA – December 6, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing is proud to introduce its four-rider SuperMotocross World Championship roster entering the new season, consisting of newly signed Christian Craig and the returning Malcolm Stewart aboard the 2023 Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition, as well as RJ Hampshire and Jalek Swoll equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250.

Officially launched on Tuesday at RD Field, where the team’s practice facility is based in Murrieta, Calif., all four Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team riders are eager for the gates to drop on the 2023 AMA Supercross season in Anaheim on January 7. From there, inclusive of Pro Motocross beginning in May, the newly introduced series will feature 31 events combined.

As the current 250SX Western Regional Champion, 31-year-old Craig will transition to the 450SX division full-time in the upcoming season with momentum on his side. He has swiftly adapted to the FC 450 Rockstar Edition upon training with Aldon Baker at the Baker’s Factory and carries high hopes into both supercross and motocross.

Malcolm Stewart, meanwhile, is set to continue his upward trajectory in what will be his second year with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing. After finishing a career-high third in the 450SX standings this past season, complete with three podiums to his credit, expectations for the entire SuperMotocross World Championship are high for the 30-year-old rider.

Christian Craig: “This is year one on the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team and it’s been good so far this pre-season. I moved the whole family to Clermont and started fresh with Aldon. We went straight into bootcamp, and it’s been good so far. I’m just learning the bike, learning the program and just trying to build each day and get better. I’m getting more familiar with the bike every day and just keep grinding. Other than that, just doing the laps and getting ready for A1, trying to be as ready as possible.”

Malcolm Stewart: “I feel great going into the 2023 season with the team. I had a really good year last year for supercross and I felt like we were just getting the ball rolling. I just feel like, for me, it’s all about being consistent, as I’ve always said. I’ve got better goals for myself and I think I got some personal stuff that I know I needed to do done. Being with the team again for another year on this bike, I feel like it’s going to be a really good year, so I’m excited. I got a new teammate, Christian Craig, and I feel like he’s going hold me accountable just like everybody else that’s out there, so I can’t wait to see how we do and I think it’s going to be a great year for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team.”

It will be RJ Hampshire and Jalek Swoll who lead the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250 class program into the SuperMotocross World Championship series, both continuing with the team and with the goal of competing for victory in the new year aboard their 2023 Husqvarna FC 250 race bikes.

As for RJ Hampshire, this year also marks his fourth with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing and it is shaping up to be his best yet. The 26-year-old finished runner-up in the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship with a breakout Main Event win, followed by finishing fifth in 250MX, where he also managed to stand on top of the podium. Now, he is firmly targeting to contend for championships.

At 22 years of age, Jalek Swoll enters his fourth term with the team in the professional ranks and is looking to put his experience into practice throughout both indoors and the outdoors. In 2022, he displayed top-five form in supercross and has hopes of building on those results in the 250SX and 250MX series.

RJ Hampshire: “We’ve had a really solid off-season so far since the beginning of December and I feel like we’re about ready to go. We made a lot of progress with the bike and my comfort, so looking back on last year, I know we’re in a good spot. Getting second in the championship was huge and I definitely feel like we can make a big jump forward. These guys have been working really hard ever since last year and we’re in a really good spot, so I’m excited to go racing with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team.”

Jalek Swoll: “I’m really looking forward to this upcoming season with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team. We’ve gotten a lot more time on the bike and have had some really good days back in Florida training with Aldon and I’m feeling good about this season. I’m eager to get back into racing with the whole team and look forward to the fun of that whole deal. I’m excited for us riders to come out swinging hard and try to re-brand ourselves this year.”

Nathan Ramsey, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team Manager: “I’m very excited about the 2023 season. We’ve got a new addition to the team with Christian Craig, and three hard-working riders returning this year with Malcolm, RJ and Jalek back with us. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing is looking good, and the guys have been putting in a lot of work at the Baker’s Factory during the off-season. We’re excited to have Josh Hansen on-board doing some testing with the bikes. We’re feeling confident coming into the year and looking forward to getting it started.”

Husqvarna Motorcycles.

Husqvarna Motorcycles is widely known for leading innovation and providing exceptional performance across its street and offroad products, as well as being present in all top-level racing disciplines. With the brand originally founded in Sweden in 1903, Husqvarna Motorcycles’ machines have been designed and manufactured in Mattighofen, Austria since 2013.

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Rockstar Energy Drink is designed for those who lead active lifestyles – from Athletes to Rockstars. Available in over 20 flavors at convenience and grocery outlets in over 30 countries, Rockstar supports the Rockstar lifestyle across the globe through Action Sports, Motor Sports, and Live Music. For more information visit: www.RockstarEnergy.com

Source: Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH

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