A season-best performance from Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing duo Ryder DiFrancesco and Pierce Brown saw both 250MX team riders finish inside the top five overall at Saturday’s Washougal National, completing Round 8 of the 2024 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in style.
- A double top-five from Ryder D and PB highlights season so far
- Fourth in Moto 1 and the round DiFrancesco’s best-ever professional result
- Confidence on the up leading into two-week break in the series
Despite qualifying down the order in 16th position, Ryder D was able to capitalize on strong starts inside the top three during both races and made it count. He raced hard to fourth position in Moto 1 on his GASGAS MC 250F Factory Edition to seal a career-best score, then produced a sixth-place finish in Moto 2 for P4 overall.
Ryder DiFrancesco: «That was my best finish that I’ve had and we’re happy with that achievement. I had two good starts today, so I was able to learn the speed up front more, and I keep getting better in terms of overall finishes. I’m excited to keep improving and the goal is to get on the podium by the end of the year. I’m looking forward to these couple of off weekends now.»
Brown was on the pace from the outset among the woods of Washougal, slotting into fourth as qualifying wrapped up, and then racing forward from outside the top 10 to sixth in the opening race. He was further toward the front in the final encounter, eventually making his way to P5 at the checkered flag, which placed him fifth overall.
Pierce Brown: «Washougal was a much better day for me after the last two weeks didn’t go to plan. It was refreshing to get a solid overall result today, which is tied with my best result of the season, and I’m looking forward to putting in the work over the break before Unadilla!»
The Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing teammates continue to improve in terms of the championship standings as well, with PB currently placed seventh and DiFrancesco ninth. The team will take two weekends off now before action resumes at Unadilla.
Next Race: August 10 – Unadilla, New York
Standings 450MX Class 2024 after 8 of 11 rounds
1. Chase Sexton, 360 points
2. Hunter Lawrence, 332
3. Justin Cooper, 284
4. Aaron Plessinger, 281
7. Malcolm Stewart, 213
9. Christian Craig, 161
10. Justin Barcia (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing, 148
Results 250MX Class – Washougal National
1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha
2. Tom Vialle (FRA), KTM
3. Jo Shimoda (JPN), Honda
4. Ryder DiFrancesco (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
5. Pierce Brown (USA), Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing
11. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM
15. Casey Cochran (USA), Husqvarna
Standings 250MX Class 2024 after 8 of 11 rounds
1. Haiden Deegan, 361 points
2. Tom Vialle, 307
3. Levi Kitchen, 291
7. Pierce Brown, 195
9. Ryder DiFrancesco, 181
11. Casey Cochran, 153
13. Julien Beaumer, 148