Round 31 of the 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship completed a successful 2024 season that included the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, the 11-round AMA Pro Motocross season, two Playoff races and the SuperMotocross World Championship event. The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway delivered a challenging and high-speed hybrid track that combined the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. A two-moto format required speed and consistency at the night race in Las Vegas.
Race Highlights:
- Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki
o 450 Class
Ken Roczen posted two strong moto performances to earn a top-ten overall result.
- Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
o 450 Class
Colt Nichols delivered a top-ten moto result in the final moto of 2024.
Kyle Chisholm wrapped up another strong season, battling until the final checkered flag of 2024.
Ken Roczen (94) showed great speed on the hybrid Las Vegas track. After recovering from an injury, Roczen returned to racing in the late summer. Roczen earned a top-ten result in every SMX World Championship moto and finished the year with sixth place overall in the SMX World Championship, in spite of entering the post-season down on points.
“We were feeling alright during qualifying. My times weren’t really there, but I wasn’t too worried about it just because I am more of a racer, so once the gate drops, I usually feel a lot better,” said Roczen. “In the first moto I got messed up a little bit in the first turn, so I had to come from about 15th. It was hard to pass on the track, but I was able to come back to eighth and was ready to finish out strong in the second moto. After the start [of moto 2] I was in about eighth. I made a couple of passes, found myself in sixth, and battled with another rider for the whole race, eventually coming in sixth place. Overall, I’m happy with my and the team’s effort and it was good to finish out strong.”
Colt Nichols (45) turned a tough gate pick into his best SMX World Championship moto result of 2024.
Colt Nichols (45) showed great speed in unseeded qualifying. Missing most of the motocross season prior to signing with Twisted Tea Suzuki, Nichols’ SX and MX points total put him into the LCQ at each SMX World Championship rounds. Nichols was not able to replicate his LCQ win at Playoff 2 and missed a direct transfer in Las Vegas by one position. Nichols was called off the alternate list to race moto two and delivered a great performance that put him into the top ten in the moto and nearly into the top fifteen overall on the day.
“It was an interesting day for me to say the least,” said Nichols. “Straight up I did not execute when I needed to in the LCQ, which left me off the gate for moto one. A few guys didn’t line up for moto two, which opened up the opportunity for me to race, and I was able to salvage a P-9. Overall, it was not the day I wanted, but there are a lot of positives to take away from these SMX races and some building blocks for the future. We’re looking ahead to 2025.”
Kyle Chisholm (11) recovered from a big crash in the first moto to post a good result in the second moto.
Kyle Chisholm (11) was riding well in the opening lap of the first moto when another clipped his front wheel and sent Chisholm to the ground. Chisholm remounted and finished the moto, then gutted out a strong performance in the final moto.
“We didn’t make very many changes from last week because the team, and Matt as well at Active Ride, did a great job getting the bike set up and working good for me,” said Chisholm. “On the first lap of the first moto I got taken out. It was just a racing incident. I was looking forward to Vegas and trying to get another good finish, trying to get closer to that top 10, and I felt like we had it. The bike was great, I was riding good, I felt really good… We’ll take a week or so off and rest up a little bit get ready for the World Supercross [FIM series].”
“Our team actually didn’t win, dang it,” said Larry Brooks, Team Manager of the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance team. “Ken Roczen finished seventh with an (8-6). Colt Nichols, it was actually a unique situation – he didn’t qualify for the night show, but he was a backup rider and was able to ride the second moto. He finished ninth [in that]. And Kyle Chisholm finished 20th on the day. So, the riders did pretty good, and we got through the series. Ken Roczen finished sixth in the series. Colt Nichols finished 14th and Kyle Chisholm finished 22nd. It was pretty productive. We learned a lot, that’s for sure. I think it was a good series, I think we showed speed, but we just didn’t make it happen, so there’s always the next year.”
The Suzuki teams had great showings through all 31-rounds of the SuperMotocross World Championship. Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen will next lead Team Germany in the upcoming Motocross of Nations at Matterley Basin in Winchester, UK on the first weekend of October. After that, Roczen and Chisholm will compete in the FIM World Supercross Championship series in which Ken Roczen is the reigning and two-time world champion. Then, as 2025 nears, preparations will begin for the 2025 SMX World Championship series that kicks off in January.
