Top-five score for RJ Hampshire in Charlotte SMX Playoff opener.
450SMX teammate Malcolm Stewart ruled out following practice.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire raced to a solid top-five score at the opening 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Playoff event in Concord, North Carolina, on Saturday, with a hard-fought fifth position in the first 450SMX moto yielding P5 overall for the weekend.
Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, Hampshire set the seventh-fastest qualifying time on what was a high-speed layout at zMAX Dragway, before a rapid climb through the pack in the first race saw him take a convincing fifth-place result.
Major storms then rolled into the Charlotte area directly after the conclusion of the opening premier class moto, which drew an early end to the day’s proceedings due to a lengthy lightning delay. Those Moto 1 results then determined for the overall in the first of three post-season events, with Hampshire elevating himself to P7 in the standings as a result.
“Charlotte was pretty good, I just felt as though I kept growing every time I hit the track,”commented Hampshire.“We were just steadily building, and today was even better than yesterday. The moto was solid, too. I didn’t get a great start, but I stuck to my game plan and clicked off consistent laps to earn a top-five – I’m stoked! That was the goal coming in, so I’m happy to be leaving here with a fifth place and looking forward to St Louis next weekend.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Malcolm Stewart withdrew from racing at SMX Playoff 1 due to an incident on Friday that resulted in lower back pain, keeping him out of the remainder of the weekend. With a week in between rounds, the 32-year-old is aiming to lineup for Playoff 2 in St. Louis next weekend.
Next Race: September 13 – St. Louis, Missouri
Results 450SMX Class – SMX Playoff 1
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
2. Chase Sexton (KTM)
3. Eli Tomac (Yamaha)
5. RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)
10. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
Standings 450SMX Class 2025 after 1 of 3 rounds
1. Jett Lawrence, 47 points
2. Chase Sexton, 38
3. Justin Cooper, 36
7. RJ Hampshire, 29
9. Justin Barcia, 25
12. Malcolm Stewart, 20
13. Aaron Plessinger, 14
Text/Bild: Husqvarna