YAMAHA LAUNCH 2025 250 & 450 SMX CAMPAIGNS

It comes as no surprise that the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team has, for better words, a dog in the fight, for the 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship. Gearing up a huge 10-rider lineup across the 250 and 450 class – including the three championship proven riders of Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb and Justin Cooper – the bLU cRU is undoubtedly covering all their bases. 

Two-time 450SX and four-time 450MX champion, Tomac, is looking to keep the momentum rolling following a successful off-season which saw him claim the World Supercross Championship in Abu Dhabi only weeks ago. Next year will mark the riders’ fourth season with Yamaha, and his final full season of racing SMX where he will aim to keep adding tallies to his name. 

Eli Tomac:
“I’m excited for 2025. For me the most important thing was to do my best to come in healthy, and as of now, I am a lot stronger than I was the year before. In 2024, I felt like I had a rushed preparation time, so I’ve done a lot of racing leading up to this point, and it should keep me sharp. To be sharp, coming into Anaheim is going to be very important. As usual, it’s going to be a very packed gate with a lot of guys that can win. I believe I am in a better position than the year before. I’ve had good results with the off-season racing and will try and continue that in the New Year.”

Webb heads into his second season with the team aboard the YZ450F, coming off an also successful off season. Webb has previously seen a lot of triumph with the team in the 250 class – back-to-back 250SX West Championships in 2015 and 2016, and a 250MX Championship in 2016 again. This past 2024 season saw the 29-year-old finish runner-up in the 450SX which was built from four wins and a total of nine podiums, and finished the SMX season with a top five finish despite being sidelined for 10 of the 31 rounds following injury. He most recently was crowned the “King of Paris” Championship after dethroning Honda’s Jett Lawrence. 

Cooper Webb:
“So far, the off-season’s been great. We’ve been able to do some racing this year, which is awesome. I was able to win King of Paris, and then in Australia, I won the first main event. I had a crash in the second one and was a little banged up after that, but I haven’t missed any days. We’re back to riding, testing, and training for the upcoming year. So far, it’s been good. Everything is very similar for me in 2025 – same trainer, same bike, same team, and same program, so it’s just kind of building off of what we did last year. I’m feeling really good. We had a great 2024 and hopefully can improve off of that.” 

Cooper returns for his eighth season with the Star Racing squad with a solid first season on the YZ450F. Cooper has previously claimed a 250SX West title with the team, and now with a year of premier-class experience, the New Yorker is eager to continue his upward trend into 2025. This past season saw the 27-year-old claim his first 450SX podium and a sixth place finish in the 450SX standings. Cooper went on to finish fourth outdoors in the 450MX with two podiums and eight top five overall finishes, and his combined efforts resulted in an eighth place overall SMX finish. 

Justin Cooper:
“First of all, I’m just really proud of myself for making it through the 31 rounds last season. That was important for me, as far as learning. It was a really good year for me. I hit the podium multiple times and, overall, just had a solid year. We have the same bike this year and kind of have a good starting point going into next season. It’s kind of a quick turnaround, I feel. We’ve only had a few months off, but I’m already looking forward to the next 31 races. I can’t wait to come into the new season and see what I can improve on. That’s going to be the fun part, seeing the progression, and hopefully it all pays off.” 

Brad Hoffman – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing Team Principal:
“It’s been a productive off-season. In addition to all the work the team’s been putting in here at The Farm, we’ve been able to get some gate drops in overseas, which has been good for both Eli and Coop. Justin continues to build, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do this year. After all the hard work that’s been put in to prepare for the season, we’re looking forward to getting back to racing and battling for the championship.”

Now, the 250 class is where Yamaha’s rider quantity really stands out. The seven-rider lineup for 2025 includes Haiden Deegan, Daxton Bennick, Nate Thrasher, Pierce Brown, Max Anstie, Michael Mosiman, Cole Davies and Christian Craig – the team’s 2022 250SX West Champion – who returns to race the YZ450F and help with the development of these 250 riders across the year. 

Reigning 250MX Champion and two-time consecutive 250SMX Champion Deegan enters 2025 with sights set on adding more titles and victories to his name. 2024 saw a second place finish in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship and claimed the Pro Motocross 250MX Championship a weekend early after an impressive 10 moto wins and 18 podiums. He went on to then set the bar even higher postseason, winning five out of six motos to snatch the 250SMX Championship title. 

Haiden Deegan:
“It’s been a good off-season. 2024 was a great year, but I still have some things to check off the list on the 250. We’ve been putting in the work, and we can’t wait to go racing.”

Bennick returns for his third year with the team and enters his second season at a pro level. Bennick made an impressive debut in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross in 2024, scoring a podium finish at the opening round and ultimately finishing the year inside the top 10. Health issues saw a tough outdoor season, and the North Carolina rider ultimately sat out of the SMX World Championship to focus on returning to 100%. Now back in a better position physically, Bennick is looking to build off his rookie season and return to the top. 

Daxton Bennick:
“We’ve had a good off-season. We’re still honestly building each day, each week. It’s an exciting time right now. We have three brand new tracks at The Farm, so you really can’t get bored out here. It’s been really fun, switching up with all the tracks and different dirt. I think we’ll be coming into this year really prepared.”

Thrasher returns for his fifth year after a tough season with injuries. The Tennessee rider has five 250SX victories to his name, and is eager to put his east-west coast experience to use. Brown will make his debut with Yamaha, being fresh off his first 250SMX victory which he earned at the 2024 season finale in Las Vegas. Mosiman joins Brown as another rider entering their first full season with the team, and another rider with a 250SX win after standing on top at the 2022 San Diego Supercross. 

Nate Thrasher:
“We’ve had a good off-season so far, a good training block, so I’m excited to get started on the new season. I feel good and hopefully can put a good season together.”

Pierce Brown
“The off-season’s been going really well. It’s been a good change of pace for sure, moving here to Florida and the new bike and new team. I’ve been trying to get used to everything as a whole, but it’s been really easy so far. We’ve been getting the bike dialed in, and just having a good, solid group of guys to work with has made the transition easy. I’m excited to go racing, whether it’s East or West, but I’m hoping sooner than later, as I’m chomping at the bit to get behind the gate. I’m stoked for 2025.”

Michael Mosiman:
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to go racing in 2025 with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing. Last season was a bit of a rollercoaster with injuries, and I was not able to show what I could do. I’m healthy now, and I’m looking forward to getting back on the gate in front of the fans soon!”

Anstie became acquainted with the team and the bike in the latter half of 2024, priming him for the 2025 season ahead. Making his debut at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross with the team back in 2010, Anstie brings with him a wealth of experience. Experience that no doubt Davies will appreciate, with the New Zealander returning for his first full season. Making his U.S. debut in 2023, he turned a lot of heads by winning the opening qualifying round of Supercross Futures at Anaheim 2 and securing his second 250SX Futures victory at the championship-deciding round in Salt Lake City. The 2024 Supercross Futures AMA National Champion made his debut with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team at the Moto Scouting Combine at RedBud. Davies went on to take the final Moto Scouting Combine overall win at Ironman Raceway and score a commanding 250 World All-Stars victory at the SMX World Championship Finals in Las Vegas. The 17-year-old has been putting in the work during the off-season and is eager to make his pro debut.  

Max Anstie:
“I’m looking forward to 2025. It’s been nice to be fully on the program with Swanie (Gareth Swanepoel) and the guys. Since the Motocross of Nations, I was able to do another supercross kind of race (Vancouver WSX) to feel things out with the bike, and now I’ve just been getting the laps in and finalizing our testing. West Coast or East Coast, we’re not sure yet, but I definitely feel like I’m in a pretty good spot, and I’m excited to see what comes.”

Cole Davies
“I’m ready to step it up with the big dogs. The off-season has been good to me, and I’m feeling confident that I can go ride to my potential and get some good results.”

Craig, one of the team’s former champions, returns in 2025 to race the premier class for his first full season aboard the YZ450F. In 2021, he kicked off his debut with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing claiming a win at the 250SX East season opener. The Californian went on to add another five victories to his tally and a total of nine podiums during his two-year tenure with the team aboard the YZ250F in Supercross. For the outdoor season in 2021 and 2022, Craig shifted gears to the Pro Motocross 450MX Championship aboard the YZ450F and secured five moto podiums in 2022 to earn a top-five finish in the point standings. Although he is still working on returning to full fitness from a knee injury incurred at the end of last season, Craig is feeling quite at home with the team and is eager to get back on track. In addition to racing, he will also be helping the team with the development of their 250 riders. 

Christian Craig
“The off-season’s been tough because I got hurt at the last round and tore some stuff in my knee. I had to get that fixed and have just been doing some physical therapy, so I’m coming in a little behind, but I’m excited to be back with the team where I won my championship. I’m looking forward to getting going with this whole new crew, and this bike looks awesome. As of now, it’s just building my strength back up and getting my speed going again. I’m not sure which round I’m going to come back at, but when I’m 100%, I’ll be ready to line up.”  

Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“It’s been a short but productive off-season, and we can’t wait to go racing. Everyone on the team has been putting in the hours to prepare for the 2025 SMX season, and we feel we’ve got the guys to go out there and get wins and fight for the championship. We’re excited for that first gate drop!”

The 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship kicks off on January 11, as the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season gets underway at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.