RedBud proved a breakout weekend for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco, who raced to his first-career Pro Motocross overall podium. The only American to stand on the podium across both classes, DiFrancesco reflects on his milestone result in this Fast Thoughts feature.

Image: Octopi Media.

First Pro Motocross podium…

Yeah, that’s correct. It was a good weekend. I felt like I had good speed here last year and then good speed again today. I kind of threw it away the first moto. I came up, passing for fourth, and then ended up going down and went back to sixth. With this class, nobody really has consistent motos until Cole [Davies] had one last weekend and then today. But I knew that if I could get myself in a good position and finish the second moto on the podium, it would give me a good overall.

Career to this point…

I expected my pro career to go to a little bit different, but it’s taught me a lot of things in my life, not only just racing but life in general. Honestly, I wouldn’t really trade it for anything else. And if it’s going to get me to this point now and help me not only for my career, I’m fine with it.

Comparing A1 and RedBud podiums…

I would say A1, RedBud. I think both these events are like crown jewels of our sport, and these are [the] ones that I have marked off on my calendar every year that I look forward to. This one was special. First podium at RedBud. I was the only American to get on the podium in both classes today. If I can do it for America, that’s all that matters.

Image: Octopi Media.

That tough second moto…

It’s tough. I spent the last two weeks in Florida, and I feel like it helped a little bit, but Bakersfield, it gets 110, 115, but it’s dry heat, obviously, and you don’t sweat. It’s a little bit different, but then the heat never really got to me. I didn’t really have a problem with it today. I know other people did.

Only American on the podium…

That’s really a dream as an American. It was going through my head there with a couple laps to go that Jo [Shimoda] was in front of me, and then I had Cole up there and then seeing how the 450 turned out, if I’m the only guy on the podium that’s American, that’s amazing to me and especially on America’s birthday and the 250th anniversary is really special to me. You can’t draw it up any better.

Added belief…

It’s a reassurance. I’ve always believed in myself, but as you said, I’d have really good qualifying times, and last year I qualified first here and then finished 12th in the first moto. You have to connect the whole day, and I think that’s what experience helps with. It’s just reassurance. Looking forward to Southwick. I’m not the greatest there, but I’ve gotten better in the sand.