Monster Energy AMA Supercross is underway for 2025. Jason Thomas was on hand as a trackside reporter for NBC Sports, and we fired off some questions to him after the race.
Some A1 tracks are technical, and some are super basic. Where do you think this track landed on that scale?
The layout was really busy but on paper, it wasn’t overly technical. The technical aspect came from the changing soil and varying traction levels. Riders were losing the front end all day and night, the tire losing grip when riders needed it most. Much of that could be attributed to it being one of the driest Anaheim races we have seen in years.
The sand section was treacherous, and led to the undoing of more than a few riders, including Malcolm Stewart. What was it about that section that was so tricky?
I did a report on this for the broadcast and yes, it was tricky. The base was really hard underneath the sand. So, as riders hit the throttle hard to blast through the sand, the rear tire would get down to the base and then spin up far too quickly. That would break traction and create a lot of uncertainty as to where they were headed. That variance led to riders being out of position and unsure of what was happening next. The easy solution is to slow down and remain patient but that approach also meant losing time versus a perfect run through the section where that aggression was rewarded. Riders could also make passes in this section, and on a tight track, it’s hard to hold back when you see a rare opening. It was a slippery slope to get through there quickly without making a critical mistake.
Jo Shimoda started as good as one possibly can by winning the main event. Is this the step forward he needs to bring the heat in the first half of the season?This was a gigantic step forward. It doesn’t guarantee anything moving forward but at least it doesn’t disallow anything. That’s where he’s lived time after time. Usually, after few races most are already disregarding any chance for him to win a title. That’s not the case now.
Shimoda finally gets a start--to the race and the season. Align Media
During qualifying, in both the 250 and 450 classes, guys were going for it to get the fastest lap time. Was this a product of guys wanting to send a message at the opening round?
There is that, yes, but also the gate picks were critically important at this round. The split start wreaked havoc on the entire event and one way to help your odds was to get a better gate position. The ego side of qualifying will always be a thing but the gate pick aspect was more of a thing than it usually is.
Julien Beaumer was fantastic. He was fastest in qualifying, won his heat, and didn’t ride over his head to get the second in the main. What impressed you most about his Saturday night?
You nailed it. The speed, the maturity, and getting the little things right all came together to present a very impressive opener. I wasn’t sold on JuJu being a future title winner in this class but I’m coming around. He has the tools and is progressing quickly. Much more quickly than most, including myself, expected.
Haiden Deegan went down right away in the 250SX main event. What initiated that crash?
He didn’t get the jump he wanted and went into the first corner mid-pack. That opened the door to chaos. In the first rhythm, he rubbed tires with the rider in front of him and high sided over it. It was a very common crash and one I have had many times. Unfortunately for Haiden, it was in the main event of the opening round. He will bounce back and it could be argued he already did to get a 5th.
How big is Jordon Smith’s podium [third] for him, and for Triumph?
It was a milestone moment for the brand. They are taking steps in the right direction and have the talent on their equipment to win. It’s not a matter of if, only when, they win their first main event. I have been impressed from the jump with their performance and this only furthers that.
What’s up with Justin Hill? At one point he was battling with Tomac, and he ended the night in eighth place in a stacked field. Was this on your Bingo card?He was ripping! I will never pretend to understand when or why he will bring his best stuff. I don’t know how anyone ever could predict that. He has the talent, that’s a given. Displaying it regularly, though, that has been a tougher ask for the former 250 west champ. He marches to the beat of his own drum both on and off the bike. He is one of the more interesting characters that most know little about.
Coty Schock had an opportunity to blast Deegan in the final turn before the checkers, and it could be argued a move like that would have been justified after Deegan smashed Schock in Birmingham on the last lap last year. Were you surprised Schock didn’t capitalize?
He did try but he would have had to do something egregious to do it. Make no mistake, though, he did go in for a hard pass. Once Deegs committed to his line, though, it would have been nuclear had Schock gone through with it. With Deegan committed to going wide open around the outside, the only way to stop him was to create huge contact, and possibly injure himself, Haiden or both. Colliding with a motorcycle going wide open around the top of a berm is no joke. Had Haiden checked up, it would have been different, but this would have required a hard pass. Coty made a business/career decision to not finish that and honestly, it was the right one.
Jett Lawrence tangled with Jason Anderson on the start and got stuck on a Tuff Block. He later crashed in the sand section and never really recovered. He definitely wasn’t displaying the same speed we’re used to seeing from him and finished 12th, his worst career 450SX finish. Why do you think he wasn’t able to move forward very quickly?
He was fighting his bike like it was Conor MacGregor. It’s the most uncomfortable I have ever seen him look. Normally, Jett is very over the front of the bike, very sure of what’s about to happen. Saturday, he appeared to be more uncertain of how the bike would react to different obstacles or varying traction. That uncertainty is more than enough to take Jett from immortal to another elite rider. Honda and both Lawrence brothers have a lot to sort through this week. They will figure it out eventually, though. I am confident of that.
Chase Sexton was phenomenal. Is this what we should expect from him for the rest of the year, or do you think his ride was a product of not having to deal with pressure from Eli Tomac or Lawrence?
Great question, impossible to answer. Only Chase really knows the answer to that. Was he as comfortable as he wants to be? Or did he get the starts and just have an ideal night as far as the other riders go? The only way we get that answer is with time. Regardless, it had to be a big sigh of relief to start the season like that. Chase is a rider that feeds both positively and negatively from his internal thoughts and confidence. When things are going his way, he’s hard to take down.
Speaking of Tomac, what the heck happened on that first lap? How does someone like Tomac throw away the lead all by himself?
It was a pretty basic crash. It was very slippery in the spots where the soil had been blown off. Riders are sprinting on those opening laps. They are pushing the limits and Tomac’s adrenaline was probably surging. He wanted to nail that first lap and get out of Dodge. He just trusted the front tire and it didn’t hold. Simple, straight forward crash that every pro rider has had dozens of times. It just hurts badly in that spot with that much riding on it.
Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 2:08PM 
