After an action-packed Triple Crown event in Glendale, the SMX series heads to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa for Round 5, marking the start of the Eastern Regional 250SX Championship. The event promises compelling storylines in both classes as the 2025 season continues to unfold.

450 Class: Sexton Surges with Triple Crown Victory

Chase Sexton arrives in Tampa with momentum after securing his 11th career 450SX victory at the Glendale Triple Crown. The performance, achieved without winning any of the individual races, pushed him to 31st on the all-time SMX victory list. Now holding the red plate, Sexton joins an elite group as only the third rider to claim multiple 450SX Triple Crown victories.

Cooper Webb continues to demonstrate his consistency, adding another podium to his impressive tally. His 65th career podium positions him just one shy of Jeff Ward’s top-10 all-time mark. Meanwhile, Ken Roczen made history for Suzuki, claiming their first-ever Triple Crown race win in the second main event at Glendale.

Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, hosting its fifth Supercross event, has proven to be a challenging predictor of championship outcomes. Only 43% of Tampa winners have gone on to claim the title, with just one achieving the feat at the current venue.

250 Class: Historic Eastern Regional Championship Launch

The Eastern Regional Championship opener features a unique scenario as two reigning champions, Tom Vialle and RJ Hampshire, line up together. This marks only the third time in Supercross history that defending champions will compete head-to-head in the same region.

Vialle enters as KTM’s defending Eastern Regional Champion, looking to make history as the first rider to secure back-to-back titles for the manufacturer. His impressive 2024 campaign included two wins and seven podiums, showing significant progress from his rookie season.

The field is stacked with talent, including Levi Kitchen, who narrowly missed the Western Regional title last season. After illness forced a schedule change, Kitchen brings his impressive record of four wins and 11 podiums to the Eastern Region. The Pro-Circuit Kawasaki rider will be joined by teammates Cameron McAdoo and Seth Hammaker in a formidable lineup.

Austin Forkner, now with Triumph, adds intrigue as the second-winningest 250SX rider in history with 13 victories. Despite facing setbacks from injuries, his recent victory last season suggests he remains a threat. Rising stars like Daxton Bennick, Max Vohland, Pierce Brown, and Chance Hymas round out a competitive field of title contenders.

Tampa’s relationship with the 250SX class has been noteworthy, with 50% of race winners going on to claim the championship. As the fourth Eastern Regional opener hosted at Raymond James Stadium, this weekend’s race could set the tone for an unprecedented championship battle.

The gate drops this weekend at Raymond James Stadium, marking the 15th time Tampa Bay has hosted Supercross racing, continuing a rich tradition that dates back to 1987.