Key Highlights
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112 Days: Just 112 days after tearing his ACL, Jett Lawrence returned and tore up the field. Fastest lap in both motos. In Moto 2, even Beast Mode couldn’t break him. His top lap was a full second faster than Tomac’s best.
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Too Dangerous: Nobody had anything for Haiden Deegan in either 250 moto. He didn’t even clock the fastest lap, but his lap-to-lap pace was relentless. While others fell off by 3 to 4 seconds, Deegan’s fastest was just 1.5 quicker than his median in Moto 2.
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Strong Start: The last time Eli Tomac opened a Pro Motocross season with a runner-up finish, he won six overalls on his way to the 2019 title. This year’s start was just as sharp. He posted a class-best 10-lap consistency of 94.6 in Moto 1.
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Absolutely Stacked: The 250 class is deep. Factory riders outside the top 10, and four guys setting Lap 99 times within half a second of each other. But until someone figures out how to break Deegan late in a race, he’s the one running the show.
450 Analysis
We came into the opening round of the 2025 Pro Motocross season with a list of burning questions. Where would the returning stars, Jett and Hunter Lawrence, Eli Tomac, and Jorge Prado, fit into the mix? How would Chase Sexton handle the pressure of defending his 2024 MX title? And would we finally get the long-awaited Jett vs. Tomac showdown?
Well… most of those questions got answered, but we probably left Fox Raceway with more new questions than we brought in. So let’s dive into everything that went down at Pala.
Track Breakdown:
The track maps above highlights which rider had the fastest average sector time in each moto. Here's what the numbers revealed: Jett Lawrence is superhuman. Just 112 days after tearing his ACL, he not only went 1-1, but he dominated both motos.
Each race showed a different side of the reigning champ. In Moto 1, Jett was fastest in 4 of the 5 sectors. Nobody even came close. Moto 2 brought pressure from Tomac, but Jett held strong and was fastest in 3 of the 5 sectors. He managed the race like a seasoned vet, and we might be in for a full season of fireworks between him and Tomac.
Chase Sexton unfortunately missed basically the entire day after a goggle mishap and an awkward crash in the opening minutes of Moto 1, we hope he returns and adds even more chaos next week in Hangtown. But starting 50 points down is not where Sexton wanted to be.
Unlike Supercross, where features like the whoops can separate riders quickly, Motocross doesn’t really have that one element to blow a race wide open. No one is doing a perfect lap here, its all about managing 30 minutes + 2 laps effectively. But with only five timing sectors spread across a two-and-a-half-minute lap, its difficult to say which part of the track was the hardest. Each section is equally grueling. Simply put, MX is brutal. (FYI: Hangtown is calling for 100 degree+ temps next Saturday).
450 Moto 1:
| SEG | Rider | Avg. Time |
Fastest Time (All) |
Sector Consistency (All) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. Lawrence | 27.71 | 27.26 | 83.1 |
| 2 | J. Lawrence | 26.47 | 25.49 | 83.4 |
| 3 | J. Lawrence | 30.68 | 30.02 | 86.6 |
| 4 | H. Lawrence | 32.10 | 31.24 | 81.4 |
| 5 | J. Lawrence | 23.93 | 23.14 | 87.2 |
450 Moto 2:
| SEG | Rider | Avg. Time |
Fastest Time (All) |
Sector Consistency (All) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J. Lawrence | 27.88 | 26.82 | 82.6 |
| 2 | E. Tomac | 26.21 | 25.12 | 82.0 |
| 3 | J. Lawrence | 30.09 | 28.94 | 83.8 |
| 4 | A. Plessinger | 31.70 | 30.68 | 80.0 |
| 5 | J. Lawrence | 24.05 | 23.27 | 84.7 |
Lap Time Breakdown:
The histogram above tells a clear story, Moto 2 was faster than Moto 1. The median lap time in the second moto was about a second quicker, largely thanks to the relentless pace set by Jett and Tomac. The two of them put nearly 30 seconds on Plessinger and Hunter, and were regularly clocking times 3 to 4 seconds faster than anyone else in the field.
There were 14 laps in Moto 1, here is who set the most fast laps:
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J. Lawrence: 10
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Tomac: 3
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Cooper: 1
Moto 1 Consistency:
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Class Average: 81.1
- Class Median: 89.9
Think your consistency stacks up? All June long, we're running our annual Consistency Challenge. Whether you ride the Pala Pro Track or your own local spot, track your data and see how you compare to the best in the world. More details here.
Moto 2 went one lap longer thanks to the leader's pace, totaling 15 laps. Here's who clocked the most fast laps:
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J. Lawrence: 8
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Tomac: 6
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A. Plessinger: 1
Moto 2 Consistency:
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Class Average: 70.7
- Class Median: 87.1
450 Moto 1 Analysis
| RIDER | Average Time |
Median Time |
Fastest Time |
Lap 99 | Consistency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Lawrence | 2:21.14 | 2.21.00 | 2.19.18 | 2.17.9 | 90.6 |
| J. Cooper | 2:21.92 | 2.21.56 | 2.20.03 | 2.20.6 | 92.8 |
| E. Tomac | 2.21.81 | 2.21.58 | 2.20.59 | 2.18.8 | 94.6 |
| H. Lawrence | 2.21.88 | 2.21.72 | 2.20.29 | 2.18.8 | 92.8 |
| A. Plessinger | 2.23.9 | 2.23.88 | 2.21.26 | 2.19.4 | 86.6 |
Rider's sorted by median lap time.
Top Performances:
We’ve got to give a proper shoutout to Justin Cooper. We knew he'd be solid heading into Outdoors after a strong Supercross season, but this debut was still impressive. While he never really threatened Jett, he kept him honest to make it interesting. That said, Cooper vanished in Moto 2.
LITPro 10-Lap Consistency:
Tomac was locked in the entire weekend. His 94.6 consistency score in Moto 1 was the best of the day and proof that he’s still got top-tier fitness. Over a 30-minute race, that kind of consistency is no joke. When the Consistency Challenge kicks off in June, we’ll show how these numbers compare to the global leaderboard.
Lap 99 Analysis:
Moto 1 wasn't nearly as fast as Moto 2. Perhaps it was track conditions, but even theoretical lap times weren't that quick. Both Jett and Tomac's best times in Moto 2 outpaced their theoretical best from Moto 1. Practically unheard of.
450 Moto 2 Analysis
| RIDER | Average Time |
Median Time |
Fastest Time |
Lap 99 | Consistency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Lawrence | 2.20.26 | 2.19.97 | 2.16.74 | 2.15.3 | 86.4 |
| E. Tomac | 2.20.96 | 2.20.44 | 2.17.77 | 2.16.7 | 89.3 |
| A. Plessinger | 2.21.89 | 2.21.75 | 2.20.82 | 2.19.6 | 96.1 |
| H. Lawrence | 2.22.15 | 2.21.92 | 2.20.70 | 2.19.3 | 94.4 |
| J. Anderson | 2.23.30 | 2.23.01 | 2.21.69 | 2.20.3 | 92.6 |
Rider's sorted by median lap time.
Top Performances:
If Moto 2 was any preview for the rest of the season, then buckle up. Jett answered just about every question and immediately sparked the "undefeated season?" debates across Moto Twitter. While that feels like a stretch, Jett was nearly half a second per lap quicker than Tomac on average. He knew exactly when and where to push, managed his weaker sectors smartly, and took full advantage of his strengths.
But don’t ignore Tomac's side of the story. These were the only two riders to dip into the 2:17s and 2:16s. Outdoors, that kind of pace difference is a lot closer than we think.
LITPro 10-Lap Consistency:
At that level of speed, we expect consistency to dip a bit, but Tomac still nearly cracked 90. Absolutely elite. And props go out to Plessinger here. His 96.1 was the best of Moto 2, and he earned it while locked in a battle with Hunter Lawrence, who also threw down a crazy consistent 94.4.
Lap 99 Analysis:
Perfection isn’t the goal, but Lap 99 shows us what’s possible. Jett’s best theoretical lap was nearly a second and a half faster than Tomac’s. That tells us one thing, Jett still has more speed in the tank. But the small mistakes he made throughout the race show that he was smart to manage the gap rather than try to run away with it early.
Final Thoughts:
We came in wondering. We left wanting more.
Sexton’s status is still a mystery. Prado was quiet. Cooper showed flashes. And Tomac vs. Jett might be the rivalry we knew we needed. More of this, please.
250 Analysis
If the 450s had you on edge, the 250s pushed you right over. Technically they raced first, but the storylines this class is setting up for the rest of the Pro Motocross season are already hitting full throttle. This field is deep. Factory riders regularly outside the top 10, unexpected names in the hunt for race wins, and a landmark 1–1 come-from-behind sweep by Haiden Deegan.
Track Breakdown:
Once again we show which rider set the fastest average sector time, and the sector maps don’t lie. While Deegan came out with the overall win, the data paints a different kind of picture than Jett’s 450 dominance. Just two sector wins in Moto 1 and one in Moto 2 means Deegan had to manage the rest of the track rather than control it. But still, he got it done when it mattered most. Bad starts, pressure from every angle, and he still handled business.
And who had Jo Shimoda pegged as a threat? You do now. Chance Hymas and Julien Beaumer gave us flashes of brilliance, while Tom Vialle continues to underwhelm considering his credentials, two-time SX and MX2 World Champion.
250 Moto 1:
| SEG | Rider | Avg. Time |
Fastest Time (All) |
Sector Consistency (All) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | H. Deegan | 28.01 | 26.95 | 82.0 |
| 2 | H. Deegan | 26.86 | 26.00 | 84.0 |
| 3 | J. Shimoda | 31.12 | 30.38 | 84.0 |
| 4 | C. Hymas | 31.78 | 30.50 | 82.5 |
| 5 | T. Vialle | 23.90 | 23.45 | 86.1 |
250 Moto 2:
| SEG | Rider | Avg. Time |
Fastest Time (All) |
Sector Consistency (All) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | H. Deegan | 28.38 | 27.69 | 82.2 |
| 2 | J. Shimoda | 26.73 | 25.92 | 80.2 |
| 3 | J. Shimoda | 30.89 | 29.86 | 82.3 |
| 4 | J. Beaumer | 31.86 | 30.97 | 83.3 |
| 5 | T. Vialle | 24.04 | 23.34 | 85.6 |
Lap Time Breakdown:
Unlike the 450 class, the 250s slowed down slightly in Moto 2, nothing unusual, but still worth noting. The fastest laps weren’t quite as quick the second time out, but the overall pace was still pushing these 250s to their limits.
Moto 1 (14 Laps) Fast Laps:
- Deegan: 6
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Hymas, Marchbanks, Shimoda: 2
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Vialle, Beaumer: 1
Moto 1 Consistency:
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Class Average: 87.9
- Class Median: 89.3
Moto 2 (14 Laps) Fast Laps:
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Deegan, Marchbanks: 4
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Shimoda: 3
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Hymas: 2
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Beaumer: 1
Moto 2 Consistency:
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Class Average: 83.6
- Class Median: 89.3
250 Moto 1 Analysis
| RIDER | Average Time |
Median Time |
Fastest Time |
Lap 99 | Consistency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H. Deegan | 2.22.10 | 2.21.97 | 2.20.09 | 2.18.1 | 89.3 |
| J. Shimoda | 2.22.68 | 2.22.37 | 2.21.23 | 2.18.6 | 94.1 |
| C. Hymas | 2.23.19 | 2.22.77 | 2.19.48 | 2.17.7 | 81.5 |
| G. Marchbanks | 2.23.29 | 2.22.86 | 2.19.81 | 2.18.3 | 86.2 |
| T. Vialle | 2.23.09 | 2.23.20 | 2.21.05 | 2.19.3 | 89.7 |
Rider's sorted by median lap time.
Top Performances:
Two riders will wish for a do-over here: Hymas and Marchbanks. Both dipped into the 2:19s, and Hymas led for a handful of laps before washing the front-end. Marchbanks had one of the worst starts of the top riders but was still among the fastest.
Only a second separated Deegan from Marchbanks by median lap time. That’s four riders all capable of winning, plus several more just off the bubble.
LITPro 10-Lap Consistency:
Rookies or not, these riders are professionals. Jo Shimoda stood out big with a 94.1 in Moto 1. But the real surprise? SMX Next Champion Alex Fedortsov posted a best-in-class 95.0. That’s serious focus. Although the results were not what he wanted in his Pro MX debut, we have to remind ourselves Deegan wasn't Top 10 either and neither are most rookies in their first race.
Lap 99 Analysis:
Hymas not only had the fastest lap of the race, but his theoretical best time was knocking on the 450 class door. He’s set faster times than the 450s before, and based on this, he’ll do it again this year.
250 Moto 2 Analysis
| RIDER | Average Time |
Median Time |
Fastest Time |
Lap 99 | Consistency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H. Deegan | 2.22.30 | 2.21.86 | 2.20.18 | 2.18.1 | 91.6 |
| J. Shimoda | 2.22.63 | 2.22.86 | 2.19.93 | 2.18.6 | 89.0 |
| G. Marchbanks | 2.22.82 | 2.22.37 | 2.20.37 | 2.18.3 | 89.7 |
| T. Vialle | 2.22.92 | 2.22.45 | 2.21.17 | 2.19.3 | 93.2 |
| J. Beaumer | 2.23.04 | 2.23.18 | 2.20.85 | 2.18.0 | 88.4 |
Rider's sorted by median lap time.
Top Performances:
This one was all Deegan. A better start helped, but his race pace made the difference. One full second faster than Shimoda on median lap time. He didn’t even set the fastest lap of the race, but he didn’t need to. He was relentless and consistent.
LITPro 10-Lap Consistency:
Vialle might’ve looked flat in Moto 1, but he found his form in Moto 2. Best consistency of any top-10 rider at 93.2. But the real highlight? Dylan Schwartz, who finished 13th, laid down the best consistency score in the entire 250 class: 95.5. Quietly efficient for a solid privateer rider.
Lap 99 Analysis:
There’s speed across the board, but no one’s combining pace and poise like Deegan. Four riders had Lap 99 times within a half-second of each other, but until someone brings the fight to Deegan late in the race, he remains the guy to beat.
Final Thoughts:
The 250 class has no clear pecking order after Deegan, and that’s exactly why we love it. Deegan might be running the show for now, but the pack behind him is nasty. Shimoda is heating up. Hymas is due. Marchbanks and Beaumer both have speed. Vialle is close. This championship is just getting started.