Image: Octopi Media.

Steady progress for Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas culminated in a career-best fourth-place finish at Daytona, with the 250SX East contender racing his way back to full fitness and labeling his ride ‘another step in the right direction’ after undergoing knee surgery late last year.

Time off the motorcycle following the repair of his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) left the Idaho native in a race against time for the eastern regional opener in Tampa, with just one week on the bike in the build-up being the extent of his on-bike off-season preparations.

As a result, Hymas is taking this Monster Energy Supercross season race-by-race, building progressively back into shape while developing the updated new CRF250R Works Edition alongside western division teammate Jo Shimoda.

“Daytona was another step in the right direction,” commented Hymas post-race. “Qualifying was a little bit better, I ended up fifth overall. The track was pretty rutty and super-gnarly, but honestly, I was having a good time on the bike – it was a lot of fun.

“My heat race was good with P3, just some little mistakes here and there, and same thing with the main. I got a good start, but overall, I need to clean some stuff up, as I was close to a podium. With two laps to go, I made a couple of mistakes and dropped back to fourth. We’ll keep building from here and hopefully get back up front and on the box in Indy.”

With two sixth-place finishes and a fourth to open his 2025 campaign, Hymas is positioned third overall in the 250SX East standings as the championship is set for the first 250SX East/West Showdown in Indianapolis this weekend.

“We’re really happy about Chance’s progress, and it feels like it’s only a matter of time until he can get on the podium,” added Honda HRC Progressive team manager Lars Lindstrom. “We’re looking forward to having both 250 riders next week in Indy and continuing our forward progress.”