Las Vegas SMX Recap: The Champs Repeat! Eli Tomac Going to Des Nations! First Win for Pierce Brown!

The Las Vegas SuperMotocross finale on Saturday saw two champs repeat and have a new winner in the 250cc class.

The Las Vegas SMX saw Star Yamaha's Haiden Deegan successfully defend his 250cc Championship. Also, Troy Lee Designs GasGas' Pierce Brown won his first professional race with a 2-1 to Deegan's 1-2 finishes.

Deegan would win moto 1 easily, but moto 2 was a different story. Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Ty Masterpool got the early lead with KTM's Tom Vialle on his tailpipe. Vialle then went down battling for the lead with Masterpool. Brown got around Masterpool and rode away to the moto 2 win and the overall.

The 450cc class saw a major heartbreak as KTM's Chase Sexton was knocked out early in the first moto. A replay showed GasGas' Justin Barcia landed on Sexton as Sexton was moving to his right.

Chase Sexton, who was supposed to represent Team USA at the Motocross of Nations at Matterly Basin in two weeks, later pulled out and favored his right hand. Team Manager Ian Harrison later announced Sexton would not race the second moto.

Moto 1 turned into a fight between Honda's Jett Lawrence and Yamaha's Eli Tomac. Tomac, who actually got the holeshot, had led until the closing stages when Jett Lawrence executed a pass on Tomac before returning into the stadium.

Lawrence went unchallenged to the moto 1 win with Eli Tomac a distant 2nd and Hunter Lawrence a distant 3rd.

Moto 2 saw both Lawrence Bros. running 1 and 2, and that's the way it stayed. Jett Lawrence would successfully defend his 450cc SuperMotocross title (like Deegan in the 250s).

As for Chase Sexton, he later took to social media saying he has a bone contusion in his right hand. After that, Team USA's participation in the MXDN was in major jeopardy, but Eli Tomac announced he will take Sexton's spot for Team USA at the MXDN.

For now, 2024 is officially over, and we await Anaheim 1 2025 in under 3 months.