Preview: 2024 250SX WestCoast Championship
With the departure of Jett Lawrence, the title fight for the upcoming season in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship 250SX West Coast appears to be over. Will Jo Shimoda manage to keep the title with Honda or will Star Racing-Yamaha return to power after Christian Craig won this title in 2022? For the last title of Team Pro Circuit-Kawasaki-Monster Energy we have to go back to 2017 when Justin Hill became the champion. We look ahead to the championship that starts this weekend in Anaheim.
Yamaha:
There was nothing to do against Jett Lawrence last season, causing Monster Energy-Star Racing-Yamaha to lose the title. they have a title to defend. Only two of the many riders will be fielded on the West Coast, Jordon Smith and Nate Thrasher will try to regain the title. After a difficult season in 2023, Garrett Marchbanks is back and he will once again compete for Team Club MX, his teammate in this championship will be Phillip Nicoletti. He will start on a YZ450F during the East Coast races.
Sling:
Due to Lawrence's switch to the toughest class, it was important for Honda to use heavy artillery to defend the title. That worked because after three seasons with Pro Circuit-Kawasaki, Jo Shimoda returns to Honda. The 21-year-old rider won the Prince of Paris title in the French capital last year and immediately made an impression on the CR250F. The Japanese is undoubtedly a contender for the title, can he make history in 2024? In addition to this HRC rider, Honda also has Carson Mumford and Mitchell Oldenburg behind the starting gate, but in the colors of Team SmartTop-MotoConcepts-Honda.
Kawasaki:
Mitch Payton's team has won titles, but in recent years the harvest has been disappointing again and again for the Team Pro Circuit-Kawasaki-Monster Energy. After three difficult seasons at KTM, Maximus Vohland has switched to Kawasaki. The American is very talented but expectations were higher than performance, hopefully he can make a definitive breakthrough this season. Levi Kitchen is also new to the team, he can undoubtedly compete for victories but is he consistent enough to be a title contender? Cameron McAdoo was also going to ride in the West Coast, but an injury has meant that he will be active in the East Coast, just like Austin Forkner.
GasGas-Husqvarna-KTM:
No new contract for Michael Mosiman at GasGas, in fact the American still has no employer for the coming season. Ryder DiFrancesco comes over from Kawasaki and he will compete for Team TLD. The partnership with RJ Hampshire and Husqvarna has been extended again, we think the 27-year-old is certainly a favorite for the title together with Shimoda, Kitchen and Smith. However, the pressure is increasing on Hampshire to perform given his age, as this will be his tenth season as a professional. Vohland has been replaced at KTM by Julien Beaumer, an American with French parents who achieved success at 'SX Futures' last year! Talon Hawkins has had to make way at Husqvarna, he now competes for AEO Powersports KTM Racing together with rookie Lux Turner.
Suzuki:
It seemed that Suzuki would disappear from motocross, but thanks to Ken Roczen the brand is revived. Frenchman Anthony Bourdon and American Max Miller will be in action for Toyota Redlands Bar X Suzuki. We will see the other riders appear behind the starting gate later this year.
Calendar:
The calendar will consist of seventeen matches, with the West Coast playing nine times, including two East-West Shoot Outs. The East Coast starts next month.
By: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Gallery: To notice
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