Countdown: Supercross finale storylines

 Kane Taylor - motoonline

Seven key aspects to follow at this weekend's finals in Salt Lake City.

Following 16 rounds of the 2025 Monster Energy Supercross Championship, all is set to be decided at this weekend’s Salt Lake City finale inside Rice-Eccles Stadium. In this Countdown feature, we review the primary storylines that are yet to be resolved as we enter the final round of action.

Image: Octopi Media.

7. 250SX Showdown:
The 250SX Showdowns are always highly anticipated. A diverse group, including wily veterans, explosive rookies, riders who may have underdelivered, and those who want to carry momentum into Pro Motocross, all meet one last time this year in Supercross, with bragging rights of the fastest racer from either coast on the line. There’s no shortage of motivation, either, as Cole Davies will no doubt be fired up after Denver, and a pressure-free Haiden Deegan will want to put a stamp on the 250SX class that he is indeed the top dog. The top three 250SX East contenders – Tom Vialle, Seth Hammaker and RJ Hampshire – will need to balance a title, but think of riders like Nate Thrasher, Austin Forkner, Jordon Smith and Michael Mosiman, for example, who would love to come out and send a statement that they are indeed not to be slept on in 250SX for future results.

6. JCoop’s last chance:
Justin Cooper’s 2025 Supercross season no longer has him on the bubble of ‘will he get a ride or won’t he get a ride?’ moving forward. This was a little unfair considering his credentials, however, given the loaded 450 rostrum at the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team between Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb, he was more a victim of circumstance. Having seen out the entirety of the season, Cooper is now 10 points shy of the absent Ken Roczen, so P3 in the standings is entirely possible, which is a huge win for both Cooper and the team. That being said, he’s been knocking on the door for that elusive 450SX main event win, and if he wants to check that off the list this year, Salt Lake City is his last chance to do so.

5. Ferrandis and Hill duke it out for P8 overall:
It’s maybe a left-field topic, however, rarely have we witnessed a more silent championship season than Dylan Ferrandis’ 450SX campaign this year. Someone could tell us that he’d been missing since Glendale, and honestly, you could believe it. Yet, the Frenchman sits eighth in the premier class standings and is two markers ahead of the equally quiet – at least in recent weeks – Justin Hill, with a fight here apparently raging on despite having not appeared on the broadcast. Maybe we’ll hire a spotter for this final round, just to confirm that there are indeed motorcycles with the numbers 14 and 46 circulating. Anyway, props for these two for having made it until the end, and for those wondering, Ferrandis has a high score of fifth place on two occasions this year, while P5 in Arlington marks Hill’s best performance.

4. Davies versus Deegan:
It’s unclear how the relationship is now between teammates Davies and Deegan. The once jovial pair experienced adversity last weekend when Deegan effectively put Davies over the berm in a bid to capture the 250SX West class title. Little has since indicated that the friendship has been rekindled, with Deegan notoriously finding the friendship/competition dynamic a difficult one to balance. It now seems that each has a point to prove as we enter the finale here, and maybe it’s the nail in the coffin as to who the alpha-male on the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 squad will be moving forward? Yes, Deegan claimed the number one plate, but Cole is only in his rookie season. For whatever reason, it just feels like this race will bring with it bragging rights that will extend back to the Goat Farm and beyond.

3. The pressure of leading:
It may be counterintuitive to say given his customary mental astuteness, but it could be said that this title chase is getting beneath Cooper Webb’s skin. As far as championships go, it seems like the pressure only mounts as one ticks them off. The first one is met with an air of surprise and joviality – like a ‘You did it!’ type of response. Number two is, ‘Well, you’ve done it before, so it would be cool to do it again,’ and then three and beyond is ‘Yeah, you’re expected to do this now.’ If this is anywhere near correct, then we’re likely seeing this unfold with Webb. Was the weekend sickness stress-induced? Coupled with the ‘not easy’ and ‘you wouldn’t want to bear this type of pressure’ comments, this title seems to be weighing on the two-time 450SX champ. If he seals it this weekend, look for a huge sigh of relief more than anything from Webb this time around.

2. The East is wide-open:
Literally, wide-open – anyone’s game, and may the best man win. We’ve viewed it as no one wanting to grab this series by the scruff of the neck on multiple occasions this year, however, what if the answer lies in just how close these riders are, across the board? Between Hammaker, Hampshire and Vialle, it’s tough to point out a separating factor, which is probably why they’re separated by three points entering Salt Lake City this weekend. They each have great teams, are great riders, and have a great chance of securing what will be a well-earned 250SX East crown. Both Vialle and Hampshire have wrapped up titles before, but Seth is the only multi-time winner this season. Ultimately, all that is left to do is line ‘em up and drop the gates in Rice-Eccles Stadium, and again, may the best man win!

1. 450SX comes down to the wire:
After 16 grueling rounds of Monster Energy Supercross competition, the time has finally arrived – we will crown a 450SX champion this weekend. What an absolute dogfight it’s been all season, and a huge hats off to both Webb and Chase Sexton, as well as their respective teams and camps. It’s been a barn burner of a season, with these two swapping momentum – especially after the break – on a round-by-round basis. These two have given us one of the best title battles in recent memory, and whoever walks away as the champion has well and truly earned this one. Sexton needs help to shrink the nine-point deficit he faces, but it is Supercross, and nothing is guaranteed. However the cookie crumbles, though, it has to be said that we have watched two of the very best go head-to-head in 2025, with anyone who tuned in this season as the real winners.