Pro Motocross Championship
Pala, CA
Fox Raceway National
Seth Hammaker Takes Career-First Pro Motocross Victory at Season Opener
Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker stole the show at Round 1 of Pro Motocross with a historic moto victory to take the 250 class overall win. Teammate Levi Kitchen put on an impressive race win in Moto 1 to add to his score for fourth overall (1-13), while Nick Romano put on an outstanding Top 5 performance in Moto 1 for ninth overall (5-11). Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton put in a solid day of racing to claim sixth overall (7-5), and teammate Garrett Marchbanks rebounded for a strong finish in Moto 2 for 14th overall (28-8).
MX Results
Seth Hammaker
250MX
“Being the first outdoor national of the year and my first Pro Motocross overall win, it feels amazing for it all to happen on the same day. Practice went pretty well, and we made a few bike adjustments to get more comfortable with the track conditions. In Moto 1, I grabbed the holeshot and led for a while, but made a mistake and lost the lead. In Moto 2, I got another good start, made a couple quick passes, and got into the lead. From there, I just focused on hitting my marks and being consistent. It feels great to get the first overall win, and hopefully we can keep this momentum rolling.”
Levi Kitchen
250MX
“The team has been working really hard, and we feel really good about the progress we've made. Honestly, I'm frustrated because I know what we're capable of. This sport has its highs and lows, and today was one of those days. I put myself in a tough position in Moto 2 and had to fight back from way behind, which made things difficult. At the same time, there are a lot of positives to take away. My Moto 1 victory showed that the speed is there, and the bike is great. We'll keep building, keep working, and come back ready for Hangtown.”
Nick Romano
250MX
“Round 1 was a fun day for me. Going 5-11 for ninth overall isn't too bad, especially considering I haven't raced outdoors in two years. I accomplished my goal for the weekend and learned a lot. I feel like Top 5 consistency is right there in front of me, and we're going to keep working until we get there. I'm excited for the rest of the season.”
Chase Sexton
450MX
“Today wasn’t where I was hoping to be, but I put myself in a tough position being on the ground twice. I felt good in Moto 1 and was running in a good spot before a small mistake cost me a few spots late in the race. In Moto 2, I got a decent start and was battling up front, but another small tipover set me back. I was able to salvage sixth overall, but I expect myself on the podium. We’ll regroup this week to get ready for Hangtown, as I’ll be staying out in California to do some testing with the team.”
Garrett Marchbanks
450MX
“I thought today went really well with starting out fifth overall in qualifying. Went into Moto 1, felt like we had some things really going with the bike, and practice starts were going really well this week. I was super pumped to rip a Top 10 start. Three-quarters of the way through the first lap Eli [Tomac] and I were sprinting. He made a pass on me, and I went to make a pass back, and we got together in a racing incident. Neither of us let off the gas and just ended up coming together. I feel bad for what happened and hope he’s doing alright. My bike was a bit bent up after that, so it needed some work after the race. I went from 28th in Moto 1 to eighth in Moto 2, so to be able to move through the field against this level of competition was a solid effort.”
