Usually it’s the 250 West that has the deepest talent pool but in 2024 the East surely wins that battle!
The field is stacked. Just look at the names:
Defending 250 Class SuperMotocross World Champion Haiden Deegan & teammate Daxton Bennick, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing; Tom Vialle, Red Bull KTM; Austin Forkner, Cameron McAdoo & Seth Hammaker, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki; Pierce Brown, Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS; Chance Hymas, Team Honda HRC; Jalek Swoll & Evan Ferry, Triumph Racing; Guillem Farres, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna; Preston Boespflug, Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki; Jeremy Martin, Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Race Team; Max Anstie, FirePower Froth Honda Racing, and others.
Haiden Deegan is the headline and the probable favourite but he is coming in not long back on the bike after a broken wrist so will we see his real speed? Expect his determination to win to overpower any lingering effects of his injury or lack of bike time!
The man who is reportedly FLYING in testing is Britain’s latest world champ, Max Anstie, and with the WSX title to his name and confidence sky high, Anstie may just have his best chance so far of an AMA title!
Austin Forkner is working with Ryan Hughes and, by all accounts, is back to his best but can the fiery American stay off the deck to really challenge for the title? It is, amazingly, now his ninth, yes, ninth (thanks for the statement Rotomoto) in the 250 class. It’s time to make it happen!
Tom Vialle showed supercross potential last year but the whoops and a bike not known to be good in the whoops appeared to be his Achilles heel. Now in his second year with more experience and a much improved KTM 250f, will Vialle be able to run up front more consistently? Only the whoops have the answer.
Cameron McAdoo and Seth Hammaker are proven indoors but, like teammate Forkner, they need to stay healthy. It could be a nail-biting season for Mitch Payton!
Pierce Brown always shows speed on the Gas Gas but he needs results now, let’s see if he can produce.
Chance Hymas and Daxton Bennick are the exciting rookie additions, proven speed outdoors but how will their supercross ability be in a class that has a lot of depth?
A brand new addition to the sport is Triumph and they have a rookie rider themselves in Evan Ferry (initially wrote Tim – anyone else feel old?). He is alongside side the fast but often erratic Jalek Swoll, who knows how it will go with Triumph!
Guillem Farres will make his supercross debut and his debut for Rockstar Husqvarna which is an exciting experience for the Spaniard that didn’t seem likely when he was EMX250! In contrast feisty veteran Jeremy Martin is coming back for his umpteenth attempt at an indoor title.
The field is deep, the riders are ready, let’s hope for some great battles and no injuries in what could be the race to beat Deegan.
Article: Jonathan McCready
Image: Yamaha
