BUCHANAN, Mich. — The first gathering of the 2024 MX Sports Pro Racing Scouting Moto Combine Presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare took place on the eve of the Bob The Cooler Co. RedBud National as a precursor to Round 6 of the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The summer component of the SMX Next initiative welcomed 24 of the top A & B class prospects in amateur motocross to legendary RedBud MX, where Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green rider Drew Adams captured his first Moto Combine victory and led a sweep of the podium for the Team Green squad following the cancellation of Moto 2 due to heavy afternoon rain.
Prior to the lone 25-minute, plus two-lap moto of the day, the invited group of racers partook in classroom-style sessions that provided insights into various aspects of the sport, including training, nutrition, and media engagement. Additionally, the prospects were divided into four groups, with each rider assigned to one of four championship-winning Rider Coaches – Broc Glover, Ezra Lusk, Zach Osborne, and Chad Reed – who provided guidance and mentorship to the aspiring young athletes.
The lone moto on Friday got underway with Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Landen Gordon at the head of the pack with the holeshot and was pursued by his teammate Krystian Janik and KTM Orange Brigade rider Luke Fauser. A blitzing opening lap from Gordon allowed the California rider to establish a comfortable, multi-second lead on the field that he was able to manage from the outset of the moto. Meanwhile, Adams endured a mid-pack start and completed the first lap just outside the top 10 in 11th place.
With Gordon well ahead, Janik and Fauser settled into second and third, respectively, as the field started to spread out through the opening laps. KTM Orange Brigade rider Jeremy Fappani started fourth, but experienced misfortune that dropped him deep in the top 10. That allowed newly announced Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider and Supercross Futures Champion Cole Davies to slot into fourth, until he too suffered misfortune and dropped behind Fappani in ninth.
As riders traded positions through the top half of the running order, Adams was mounting his charge through the field. The Tennessee native wasted little time moving into the top 10, and after just a few laps, had managed to battle his way into the top five just behind NSA Factory Yamaha’s Avery Long. At the halfway point of the moto, Adams was by far the fastest rider on the track, posting times several seconds quicker than the rest of the field. That allowed him to continue to gain positions, as he made quick work of Long to move into fourth and then tracked down Fauser to initiate a battle for third. Adams moved into the top three with a little less than half the moto to go.
With Adams taking chunks out of the deficit to his fellow Team Green riders, both Gordon and Janik responded and were also able to drop their lap times. Janik then experienced a bobble that cost him valuable time and allowed Adams to close in as time ran out on the moto clock. Janik and Adams battled for second, which helped them close in on Gordon. As they took the white flag, all three Kawasaki’s were within striking distance of one another.
Gordon managed the lead and appeared poised to have the win in hand as Janik’s and Adam’s fight for second continued. As they navigated LaRocco’s leap for the final time, Adams was able to make the pass on Janik entering the sand rollers. He appeared to run out of time to pressure Gordon, but the leader got off balance entering the final corner and tipped over, one hundred feet or so from the finish line. Adams slipped past and took home a surprise victory.
Janik followed through for second, 1.4 seconds back, while Gordon remounted in third to secure the final spot on the podium after leading 12 of 13 laps. NSA Factory Yamaha’s Leum Oehlhof enjoyed a come-from-behind effort of his own to finish fourth, while Long rounded out the top five.
Adam’s victory meant his coach, Broc Glover, was the recipient of the Combine Coach’s Cup as the gathering’s winning coach.