Motocross Racers Tomac and Hymas Podium at Ironman MX National

With the 2024 Pro Motocross Championship’s 250 crown already in the bag for Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha), Saturday’s Ironman MX National in Crawfordsville, Ind., was a bit anticlimactic in terms of overall results, but no less entertaining as the rest of the Nationals run this season. And that goes for the Monster Energy racers contesting the 450 class as well.

Two podiums would arise from the dust in Crawfordsville with Eli Tomac (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) lodging his first 450 class podium (3rd) of his injury-abbreviated summer season, while Monster Energy’s Chance Hymas continued to haul the mail for Honda, placing 2nd on the 250s.

In the opening 250 moto Deegan got out to a bad start, tipped over in a berm, then got run up onto by his Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha teammate, Max Anstie. Closer to the front, Monster Energy’s Ty Masterpool was challenging for a podium spot, then lost his front end in the loam. As time ticked off toward the end of the opening moto, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen, in a battle for 2nd place overall in the season standings, caught and passed Hymas for 3rd, then Jordon Smith (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) on an uphill section for 2nd.

Kitchen, who placed 2nd in the opening moto (Smith 3rd), was poised in Moto 2 to step onto the overall season runner-up podium rung to Deegan, when a crash de-escalated his efforts with a 35th place in Moto 2 and 3rd place overall 250 class finish on the season.

Back on the track Deegan mounted a charge after race leader Tom Vialle (KTM) and went back and forth with the veteran MXGP MX2 class World Champion before passing him for good for the race lead – and win – Deegan’s 11-1 finish placing him just off the podium in 4th. Hymas would also get past Vialle for 2nd place in Moto 2 – his 6-2 finish being good enough for 2nd place overall. 

On the 450s the day opened with a tough crash at the start for Monster Energy’s Dylan Ferrandis (Phoenix Honda), while Tomac and Justin Anderson (Monster Energy/Kawasaki) fared much better, going 4th/5th, respectively, in the opening 450 moto.

450 Moto 2 would see Monster Energy’s Justin Cooper (Star Racing/Yamaha) jet out to the holeshot and brief race lead. Coming from a bit further back in the pack, Tomac was on a mission, passing Honda’s Hunter Lawrence and parlaying a 3rd place Moto 2 podium finish into a 3rd place overall (4-3) on the day at Crawfordsville. 

And in MX Combine racing at Crawfordsville, featuring the future stars of pro motocross, Monster Energy’s Cole Davies (Star Racing/Yamaha) took the overall at Ironman MX with an impressive 2-1 finish. Monster Energy/Team Green/Kawasaki’s Landen Gordon was also in the podium in 3rd place (4-3).

Ironman MX 250 class results                                       450 MX class results

2nd - Hymas (Monster/Honda)                                        3rd - Tomac (Monster/Star/Yamaha)

4th - Deegan (Monster/Star/Yamaha)                              5th - Cooper (Monster/Star/Yamaha)

5th - Smith (Monster/Star/Yamaha)                                  6th - Anderson (Monster/Kawasaki)

FINAL Overall Standings (11 of 11 rounds)

250 class                                                                      450 class             

1st - Deegan, 445 points (Overall Champion!)               4th - Cooper, 371 points

3rd - Kitchen, 405 points                                                 5th - Anderson, 362 points

4th - Hymas, 349 points                                                  7th - Ferrandis,  288 points

Notes & Quotes

• “You knew he was mad after that first moto getting 11th place.” – NBC announcer James Stewart on Deegan’s 250 Moto 2 winning effort at Crawfordsville.
• “Haiden Deegan had my jaw dropping,” added Stewart of Deegan’s second moto.
• “Not the way to start your day – and end it real quick.” – Stewart on Ferrandis’ opening moto first turn crash.
• “Couple bruises and a burn. Last half of the season has been rough for me. Nice to end the season with a podium.” – 250 runner-up Hymas on his crash at Budds Creek two weeks ago, and return to fast form this past Saturday in Indiana.
• “That was nice to have two good motos – and not just one. Overall I’m happy with two solid motos and getting back in the game.” – Tomac
• “No matter what you do at home, and how hard you train, you can never simulate a start and those first few laps at a National.” – Tomac on his return from injury.
• Good news this past week as Eli Tomac announced he’s returning with Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha for a third season. Tomac will contest Monster Energy SX, the MX Nationals and the SuperMotocross Playoffs.
• “I anticipate 2025 being my final full season of professional racing.” – Tomac
• “We will do everything in our power to have him go out on top.” Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha 450 Team Manager Jeremy Coker on Eli Tomac’s final full racing season.
• Shout out to Haiden Deegan’s mechanic, Brent Duffe, at Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha who was recently named the MX Nationals’ 250 Mechanic of the Year.
• And, congrats to the MX Nationals Truck Driver of the Year, Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Brian “Big B” Barnhart.

Up next: The 2024 SuperMotocross Playoffs Championship begins on Sept. 7th with the SMX opening round Charlotte Motor Speedway’s zMAX Dragway in Concord, N.C. For more information on SMX, link to www.supermotocross.com