Underdogs From Spring Creek National

The FXR Spring Creek National for Round #8 of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship featured another great day of racing at the front of the pack. Again, the spotlight shouldn’t only be on the frontrunners. Several standout riders, including notable international talents, also deserve recognition. With the SuperMotocross World Championship starting in early September, some riders are trying to claim that top 20 and top 30 (for the LCQ) in combined points, leading in, so they can have a chance to participate in the SMX playoff rounds.

450MX

Dylan Ferrandis #14

Back in the mix this past Saturday, Phoenix Racing Hondas’ Dylan Ferrandis put in two 6th place finishes to a sixth overall on the day one weekend after his first outside the top 10 this summer for the Frenchmen. The 2021 450MX Pro Motocross Champion is currently sitting 7th in this outdoor season and 9th in the combined SMX standings and is the best of the “non-factory”/privateer efforts in the 450 class from Spring Creek.

Phillip Nicoletti #36

As you might have seen on the broadcast, during the lightning delay before 250MX moto 2, Ole Filthy was drinking a Coors Light and riding around the facility after his motos were complete. He had another great day, with an 8th overall. The Muc-Off/ClubMx/FXR rider grabbed his third top 10 this summer and tied his best OA this season from Southwick a couple of weeks ago despite a lingering knee injury from Hangtown Round #2. Phil currently sits 16th in the SMX point standings and will do everything and anything to keep himself out of the LCQs this September.

Harri Kullas #79

Kullas keeps impressing us each round, with another 9th overall this summer at Spring Creek. With this trajectory, the Ponsse/Annkriss KTM, veteran MXGP Estonia rider, looks to put himself into the top 20 for the SMX playoffs. Currently sitting 21st in points, leaving Minnesota only six points back from Gizmo Mods/Rock River Yamaha’s Grant Harlan, he could potentially be in that top 20 with another top 10 overall finish this weekend at Washougal.

Marshall Weltin #75

Gizmo Mods/Rock River Yamaha’s Marshall Weltin put in a solid ride, finishing 12th overall on the day, tying his best finish from Round #1 at Fox Raceway. He is tied with Beta USA’s Benny Bloss (currently out with injury) for 23rd/24th in the SMX point standings. He looks to move into the 22nd position this weekend at Washougal, with newly retired Adam Ciancirulo in that current position, not racing.

Romain Pape #68

Another Frenchman, TPJ Racing’s Romain Pape, had a fantastic start in moto 1 (5th crossing the line) and finished an impressive 11th. Pape did not get the same great start as moto 1 in moto 2 and was in the back of the pack early (31st), but he worked his way up to a 17th-place finish for his best overall finish this summer with a 14th. He would walk away from Spring Creek with the Privateer Power Award for his performance. Romain is currently 27th in the SMX point standings.

Freddie Noren #22

The Swed, Madparts.com Kawasaki rider Noren, climbs back inside the top 15 after two top 20ish finishes. 15th overall for Noren on the day and back inside the top 10 in the second moto. Freddie was near the top 10 for overall finishes at the beginning of the summer and will look to get back on track for the remaining four rounds. He is currently sitting 15th in the SMX point standings.

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Anthony Rodriguez #84

Coming off his best summer result at RedBud last weekend, Rides Unlimited KTM’s and Venezuela’s Rodriguez betters that at Spring Creek with a 16th overall, resulting in 15-14 moto scores. Rodriguez is one of those riders sitting outside the top 30 in SMX points (34th) and will need some help and more tremendous rides in the final four Pro Motocross rounds to get into the SMX playoff’s LCQ.

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Derek Kelly #53

AEO Powersprts KTM’s rider Kelly is back inside the top 20 after two rounds of being on the outside. In the second moto, Kelly put in a fantastic race with 11th place to an overall of 17th on the day. Derek currently sits 30th in SMX points and will need to keep these good points-paying positions to solidify himself into the LCQ for the playoffs.

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Cullin Park #58

The second rider on that Phoenix Racing Honda team, Florida’s Park, had a good first moto, finishing 14th, but the second moto hurt his overall finish. He crashed multiple times and was, at one point, tangled under the bike to climb only to 27th. Cullin is in 29th overall in the SMX point standings. He will need more of those 14ths or better to keep him inside the top 30 for the playoffs.

Trevin Nelson #112

The rookie for the Muc-Off/ClubMx/FXR Yamaha team, 20-year-old Trevin Nelson for North Carolina, put in his best Pro Motocross result at Spring Creek with an impressive 19th overall and gained points. His pro debut was in the final round of Pro Motocross last year at Ironman in the 250MX division, where he finished 24th overall. So far, in 2024, racing two 250SX Futures events earlier this year with a best finish of 5th in St. Louis. Starting at High Point was Nelson’s first appearance this summer. While missing Southwick, he has finished around the top 30 at High Point and RedBud. This weekend for the Spring Creek National, he showed promise with an excellent result for the rookie and in the 450 class!

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Henry Miller #65

Storm Lake Honda’s Henry Miller put in his first top-20 summer result at his home race of Spring Creek. While the first moto was good for Miller, finishing 17th, the second moto wasn’t too kind, with a flat tire for a DNF/39th placing. Miller will be sitting out this weekend for Washougal and will see him back for the final three rounds of the summer, starting at Unadilla in a couple of weeks.

250MX

Dilan Schwartz #40

Toyota of Redlands/BarX Suzuki’s Dilan Schwartz grabs his career-best 5th overall at Spring Creek. Schwartz has been on an upward trend this outdoor season and is rewarded with a fantastic 2nd moto start, staying out of the chaos in the first turn and running up near the front for a 6th place finish. We can’t forget the awesome ride in the first moto, starting 15th and climbing to a solid 10th position. Currently 22nd place in the SMX point standings, and with these good rides continuing, he will close the gap to that top 20, leaving Washougal.

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Jett Reynolds #99

The lone man in the motos for the Muc-Off/ClubMx/FXR 250 team, Jett Reynolds, tied his best overall placing for 12th with 14-11 moto scores. His teammate Mark Fineis had a crash early in timed qualifying and sat out for the motos. Two weekends in a row are best placings for Jett, and looks to be closer to that top 10 overall moving forward. Jett is in 31st for SMX points and one point behind 30th-place rider Hunter Yoder, who will not be at Washougal, so that will put him in the top 30 for the LCQs at the playoffs in September with another good weekend.

Jorgen-Matthias Talviku #108

Rides Unlimted KTM’s and Estonia’s Talviku grabs his second top 20 summer result at Spring Creek with 17-19 moto scores. Jorgen is way outside the top 30 bubble for the SMX playoff rounds, but that won’t stop him from hunting to better his career-best overall 15th from Ironman in 2022, moving forward here in 2024.

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Talon Hawkins #35

Hawkins, AEO Powersports KTM, put another good day in the top 20 for 19th overall with 16-20 moto scores. The second moto was impressive, starting 35th from the first turn pile up, crossing the holeshot line, and working his way up to 20th. Talon is 25th in the SMX point standings and looks to continue climbing the ladder closer to that top 20 to potentially not be in the LCQs at the playoffs.