The Indianapolis Supercross is always known for it’s notoriously soft and rutty dirt, and this year was no different, with the track inside Lucas Oil Stadium setting the stage for one of the most technical races of the season. We’ve gathered the direct takes from riders for this Reaction feature from round nine of the 2025 Monster Energy Supercross Championship.

450SX

Image: Octopi Media.

Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – Third:
Back on the podium and tonight was good early on, with the heat race win. In the main, the line I was taking in the sand rollers just went away and I lost the front, which is pretty easy to do especially when you get down into that clay dirt. It took me four or five laps to get back into my groove, which I did, but by the time I did there were only two laps to go. It’s unfortunate, but it’s racing. Now we have a week off to regroup and come out in Birmingham strong. Typically, when I come back from the break in the supercross season I tend to be better, so hopefully I can do that again and get some good momentum back on my side.

Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – Fifth:
That was a really, really good ride – the bike’s feeling awesome and a fifth place on this type of night where I hit the ground, I cannot be mad at that. Especially with how the season has been going… it’s been a wild ride, but we are getting through it and getting better and better. Shoutout to Aldon Baker, we’re doing a lot of laps down at the Baker’s Factory, but it’s paying off, plus a big thanks to the whole team and everyone behind me.

Justin Barcia (Rockstar Energy GasGas Factory Racing) – Fourth:
We’ve been grinding down at the Baker’s Factory and I have a new baby now, so it’s been a lot, for sure! I can’t thank my whole Rockstar Energy GasGas Factory Racing Team enough, it’s been challenging at times, but they keep believing in me – I have grit and heart, so this was a big step tonight. I wanted that podium, but we’ve got a weekend off, so we’ll grit our teeth and work hard. We tried a few things on the bike at Daytona and went the wrong way, but today we went back to our base and changed barely anything, so that’s where we need to stay at. It’s more about me riding hard with the boys during the week now, they’re great riders and it’s really elevating me, so I’m excited for what’s to come!

Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – 11th:
My day started off good, in qualifying I ended up fifth and in the heat I was fifth. In the main event I had a crash in the first corner and another crash early on. I came through the pack and ended up P11. The track was difficult with how tacky it was and how it broke down, it felt like it was pulling my bike around as I rode. I’m frustrated with how the night went, but I did the best I could after going down. We look to make some improvements and I’m aiming for better results after the break.

Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – Sixth:
Indy fans always show me love. Back-to-back heat race wins were good from Daytona and Indy, and then in the main event, I didn’t get a great start and tried to pick my way through. But with the track being rutty and technical, if you’re not 100 percent on, it can be difficult. I felt a little off in the main, got a bit tight, and that’s just racing. We live and learn, because we know we’re capable of more, but we’ll get some rest and come back stronger at the next one.

Cooper Webb (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – First:
It was an up-and-down race day. I had a pretty good practice crash that left me a little sore. In the heat race, I was out front and had another mistake that cost me, so I was pretty ticked off. Then in the main event, I got a great start and made a quick move to first. I led every lap and kind of put it on cruise control. I felt great tonight and had a great flow. It was just a dream ride. We’ve extended the points lead going into the break. I’m excited for what’s to come.

Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Second:
The day started out pretty slow. I made a call with the team and made a big suspension change for me, and it paid off tonight. I felt comfortable with all the big rhythms and the tough track, so I have to give it up to the team on this one. We’ll keep working. It’s been going well, and we’re looking to keep the ball rolling.

Ken Roczen (Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki) – Seventh:
It was tough day for me, going in a little under the weather. We were the fastest qualifier and followed that up with a good heat race. Unfortunately, I was caught in a wreck in the first corner and was only able to fight my way back up to seventh. The team will reset and attack this off-weekend so we can give our best effort in Birmingham.

Colt Nichols (Twisted Tea Suzuki) – 14th:
Indy 2025 was not that great for me. But I’m looking forward to having the week off, then coming back swinging in Birmingham in two weeks.

Kyle Chisolm (Twisted Tea Suzuki) – 15th:
Indy is aways a tough track. You’ve got to change up your rhythm sometimes because the ruts get so bad; it keeps you on your toes all day, for sure. The bike worked really well all weekend. The team did a great job but, for me, I struggled putting it all together and connecting the sections and all the ruts. In the heat race, I rode pretty well and made some passes. I got up to 7th but ultimately, I wasn’t able to push – I rode a little bit tight, lost a couple of spots, and just missed out a direct transfer to the main… In the main event I came from pretty much last back up to 15th… I still want to do better, but the riding was better this week, so I was happy with that.

250SX

Image: Octopi Media.

Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – Second:
Overall, today was a pretty good day. I started slow in Tampa and Detroit, then Daytona was a good turning point last weekend – I got close to the win and then the same this weekend. I spent the main event behind Seth [Hammaker], and I was trying to catch him, but he was riding good. The track was very tricky tonight, so I am pretty happy with second and we’re right in the championship, which is where we want to be.

Jo Shimoda (Honda HRC Progressive) – Sixth:
Well, first of all, my hand is feeling much better, so I’m pretty happy with the healing process. Overall, I’m still struggling with decision-making with the motorcycle, and I think I couldn’t really perform like myself, so we’re going to work on that. Four more rounds, and the goal is to win again – we have to keep working as a team, and hopefully it will get better.

Chance Hymas (Honda HRC Progressive) – DNF:
The East/West showdown was a DNF for me, unfortunately. Honestly, the heat race was pretty bad on my part. I got a decent start, crashed, and then ended up eighth, so I had a bad gate pick for the main. I was around 10th, crashed in the whoops, and then worked my way up to 11th from dead last. Then I hit a tuff block on the top of the over-under, which caused me to fall from the top of it onto the ground. I knocked the wind out of myself, and that was the end of my night. Not a good night here in Indy – I need to bounce back in Birmingham, so I’m focused on recovering for that.

Seth Hammaker (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – First:
It feels really unreal to get this win at the East/West Showdown. It has been a while since I’ve stood on the top step of the podium, so it feels amazing to finally do it again. I got myself off to an excellent start and tried to sprint away in those first couple of laps. It was a tough track out there, you had to be really focused, and I feel like I did a pretty good job with that. When you’re out there in the lead with a little bit of a gap, it’s a little challenging to stay focused. I’ve made a lot of changes and sacrifices this year with moving to Florida and training at the Dogg Pound. I’m very grateful that I have people around me that have stuck with me from Mitch Payton and the whole Kawasaki crew to my family. This one feels really good and I’m super excited.

Garrett Marchbanks (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Ninth:
The day started off a little slow in free practice and the first qualifier, I was trying to get used to the track and struggled a little bit. I found a good setting for qualifying two and put a good lap time in to get P5. I started to feel a little more comfortable as the day went on and in the heat race, I had a good battle with Jo [Shimoda] and started to feel more comfortable again getting P4. I went into the main and was feeling good, but I struggled a little bit, I didn’t get the best start and I’m still just trying to figure things out with arm pump on my right arm. The East/West Showdown is difficult because the competition is stacked, and the heat races are basically a full main event for six minutes and the intensity is very high. I need to work on some things with myself and the bike, the team has been great so I can’t thank them enough, just moving forward I have more things to work on.

RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – Fourth:
Overall, we got a couple of points back toward the championship, which is positive. I had a pretty big crash there in the last qualifier on the last lap, which definitely didn’t help the night. I felt good in the heat, then had a terrible start in the main – I think I was around 17th – but passed some good guys and fought my way up to fourth. It was a good charge, but probably should’ve been better. We have a weekend off now, then we’ll come out swinging in Birmingham.

Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Third:
Yeah, today was good. I qualified 1-1, which was perfect for me, and then won the heat race with a pretty good lead, which was cool. In the main event, I got to third place pretty quickly. I was reeling in those guys at the front and then made a pretty crucial mistake where I ended up going over the berm and into the net. From there, I just had to be smart and ride it in for third because the guy that’s second in points on my coast was pretty far back. I just wanted to make some good points, and we did that tonight.

Cole Davies (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Fifth:
Man, it could have been a really good night for me. I ended up going down early in the main event and was way back, but I reset and made my way through the pack the best I could and came back from 17th to fifth. I’m really happy with my riding tonight, but I need to limit the mistakes. I rode one time at The Farm since Arlington because I was super sick the last couple of weeks, so all in all, it was still a really good night for me, but I’m always wanting more. I’m looking forward to Seattle.

Max Anstie (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Seventh:
I won my heat race but did not have a great main in Indy. I’m happy to have a two-week break before the next round and will come back stronger in Alabama.

Daxton Bennick (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – 11th:
It was a tough night in Indy. I’m excited for the break to keep building and be better in Birmingham.

Nate Thrasher (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – 14th:
It was a tough night for me in Indy. I struggled all day. We’re going to try and get healthy in the next two weeks and come out swinging in Alabama.

Michael Mosiman (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – 15tth:
We’re going to put Indianapolis behind us. It was not the East-West Showdown I was hoping for. I had a good heat race and wish I could’ve replicated a similar start for the main event, but I have a lot to take away from this race and a lot to learn from. Sometimes things go sideways, but that’s a part of racing. I’m still building, and tonight’s experience is going to help that cause.

Austin Forkner (Triumph Racing) – 12th:
I qualified a lot better in the timed sessions – I was happy with that. I got a really good start in the main event, despite my bad gate pick, but I got pushed into the tuff blocks. I rode too timid whilst at the back – the track was so sticky with a lot of ruts. I settled in around the halfway mark and started riding decent. I went from last to 12th and that is not terrible, especially in the 250SX East/West Showdown. We have things to work on, but we will come out swinging at the next one.