Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen became the sixth different Monster Energy AMA Supercross winner of the season in just eight rounds. Roczen delivered an incredible charge just before the race’s midpoint, moving from fourth into the lead to clinch his first-ever Daytona Supercross victory in his 11th attempt. This historic win also marked Suzuki’s first Daytona triumph since 2009.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb fiercely battled for the lead in the later laps, but a minor mistake saw him settle for second place. Despite this, Webb’s consistent performance helped him maintain the title points lead, growing his advantage to 10 points. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger, who led early laps, secured his first podium of the season by finishing third.
450SX Class Race Recap
Ken Roczen’s journey to victory was nothing short of spectacular.
“I honestly still can’t believe it… I had some really good lines. When you make those passes, you have to put your head down or else they’ll retaliate. I was just charging the whole time, trying to get a gap. It was really rutty and easy to make mistakes, but I kept my head down. This is a dream come true.”
Reflecting on his win, Roczen expressed disbelief and joy:
“You can’t make as many mistakes as I did and expect to win. Kenny rode great. He charged through, passed me and AP, and pulled away. That put the urgency on me, but I just made too many mistakes. Still, from a points perspective, it was a great night. Another second place here… We’ll regroup and come back stronger in Indy.”
Cooper Webb acknowledged his errors but remained positive about his overall performance:
“I’m pretty satisfied with this podium after the start of the season. I want to dedicate this to my buddy Jessie Waters, who just got diagnosed with cancer. After two 22nd-place finishes, a 7th, 8th, and 9th, it’s been a ride. We pulled it off, and I love this track!”
Aaron Plessinger, celebrating his podium, dedicated his performance to a close friend battling cancer:
250SX Class: RJ Hampshire Triumphs
In the Eastern Divisional 250SX Class, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire claimed a hard-fought victory at Round 3, marking his first win at Daytona. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle secured the Holeshot and led early, but Hampshire overtook him just before a red flag reset the field. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker rounded out the podium with a late-race pass.
“It’s special. I lost my dad a few months ago, and this was his race. Growing up, this was the only Supercross I came to with him. Today felt different—like he was here. Finally got to burn one down at Daytona for my dad.”
Hampshire dedicated his win to his late father:
“I was leading for a couple of laps before Hampshire passed me. The track was really tough and tricky. We were close in speed, but I made a few mistakes in the rhythm sections. Still, I’m happy to be on the podium. The championship is still long, and we’re right there.”
Vialle reflected on his runner-up finish:
“I’m pumped to be back on the podium! Daytona never lets you down—it’s always a battle out there. I fought hard all the way to the end, and I feel really good about this one. We’ll keep the momentum rolling into the East/West Showdown next weekend.”
Hammaker, excited about his podium finish, looked ahead to the next challenge:
SMX Next Series: Landen Gordon Dominates
The SMX Next series saw Kawasaki Team Green’s Landen Gordon claim another victory, repeating his success from Glendale. His teammate, Enzo Temmerman, fought back from an early incident to secure second place. Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Jesson Turner rounded out the podium after a strong late-race push.
“The fans are insane—I truly have no words. I was fortunate that Fedortsov’s bike malfunctioned, but I’ll take it. My team and family put in so much hard work, and this win means everything.”
Gordon was overwhelmed by the Daytona atmosphere:
Looking Ahead
The Daytona Supercross contributes points to both the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SMX World Championship. Next, the series heads to Indianapolis on 8th March for Round 9 inside Lucas Oil Stadium. The event will feature the season’s first 250SX East/West Showdown, where racers from both divisions will compete head-to-head for single-event points.
Stay tuned for more Supercross action as the season heats up!
