Supercross Denver 2025 Main Event Coverage – Heat Races, LCQs, and Opening Ceremony Highlights

Written by Kenedy Rae | KRX Media | June 2025

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The Night Ignites: From Ceremony to Cutthroat Qualifiers

Denver, Colorado: There’s something about Supercross under stadium lights that feels holy.

At Supercross Denver 2025 on May 4th, it starts long before the gate drops—the atmosphere was already charged. You could feel it in the screams and gasps echoing through the grandstands, the sharp scent of race gas cutting through the cold mountain air, the quiet focus in the eyes of riders pacing behind the gates. Fans packed the stadium in layers of team merch, waving flags and wearing worn-out jerseys like armor.

It’s loud, chaotic, overstimulating — but somehow, it brings me peace. There’s no other place I’d rather be.

This wasn’t just another stop on the 2025 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship tour. It was Round 16. Championship implications hung heavy in the air—every point mattered, every gate drop meant something, and everyone knew what was on the line.

This wasn’t just another Saturday night. It was Supercross in Denver. And the stories started long before the checkered flag. The air was thin, but the electricity was thick.

Flames lit up the mile-high sky as opening ceremonies roared to life. Engines screamed, fireworks erupted, and 35,000 fans rose to their feet—not out of obligation, but because their hearts told them to. The stadium didn’t just glow—it burned. And for those of us on the floor, camera in hand, it felt like standing in the heart of a living, breathing storm.

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Opening Ceremony: Fire, Flight, and Fists to the Sky

Before the first gate dropped, the stadium was already a war drum. Pyro cannons burst into the sky. Spotlights painted the dirt battlefield with blue and green streaks. The riders rolled in one by one, introduced like warriors, saluting the crowd and soaking in the final stretch of a long and brutal season.

I stood trackside, camera tight to my face, barely aware that my hands were shaking—not from the chill in the air, but from the weight of it all. The smell of race gas, the rumble of the engines jumping past, the stadium seats full and LOUD. It felt like a dream you don’t want to wake up from.

But no one lit up the stadium quite like Aaron Plessinger. If you want to know who the fan favorite is, you can read the answer on the face of the crowd. When his name was called, it was as if every fan in the building rose at once. The cheers weren’t just loud—they were personal. Plessinger stood tall, cowboy hat in hand, that unmistakable grin on his face as he soaks it all in. He threw a fist to the sky as the crowd roared back like he’d just won the whole night. There was heart in that moment—raw and real. He’s more than a racer here; he’s a fan favorite, a folk hero in full gear.

And now we’re off to the races.

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The Heat Races: Where the Fire Starts

Before riders can line up for the main event, they’ve got to earn their spot—and that means surviving the heat races. Each class, 250cc and 450cc, is split into two heats, where only the top nine finishers advance directly to the main event race. The rest are sent to the high-stakes, heart-pounding Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), where only the top four make it to the main event. Heat races may be short, but the intensity is anything but. It’s where chaos meets strategy, and one mistake can cost everything. In Denver, under the glow of stadium lights, the heat races were dramatic and defining of the big race that was brewing in the background.

And the 250’s were up first.

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250SX Heat Races: The Path to the Main

250 Heat 1: Deegan Dominates, Shimoda Surges

The gate dropped and Garrett Marchbanks came out swinging, grabbing the holeshot and setting the tone early.

But the lead didn’t last—just a few laps in, Marchbanks went down in a sloppy, wet corner, opening the door for Haiden Deegan to take control, and pushing himself off of the podium. Deegan capitalized immediately, riding smooth and aggressive to claim the win in front of a roaring Denver crowd. He immediately put a gap on the second place rider, Enzo Lopes.

Meanwhile, Jo Shimoda’s night nearly unraveled when he hit the deck in the opening lap, putting himself in the back of the pack. But in true gritty fashion, Shimoda regrouped, found his flow, and charged through the field to finish a hard-earned fifth. It was a race that showed how fast fortunes can flip—and how much grit it takes to recover.

Top 9 250cc Heat Race #1 Results:

1. Haiden Deegan – #38
2. Enzo Lopes – #166
3. Drew Adams – #98
4. Garrett Marchbanks – #36 (holeshot)
5. Jo Shimoda – #30
6. Max Sanford – #85
7. Gavin Towers – #115
8. Derek Kelley – #58
9. Brad West – #334

250 Heat 2: Cole Davies Delivers from the Front

In the second heat, New Zealand’s Cole Davies made a name for himself in a big way. Wearing the number 100, Davies rocketed off the line to claim the holeshot and never looked back. He led wire to wire with veteran composure, while his teammate Michael Mosiman kept the pressure on just a bike length behind. The two teammates delivered a clinic in clean racing, locking in their main event spots with confidence. For Davies, it wasn’t just a heat race win—it was a statement for the night race.

Top 9 250 Heat Race #2 Results:

1. Cole Davies – #100 (Holeshot)
2. Michael Mosiman – #93
3. Coty Schock – #37
4. Robbie Wageman – #64
5. Hunter Yoder – #63
6. Julien Beaumer – #23
7. Dylan Walsh – #101
8. Avery Long – #134
9. Jordon Smith – #29

Now it is time for the 450’s to shine.

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450SX Heat Races: Setting the Tone

450 Heat 1: Malcolm Stewart in Control

Malcolm Stewart came out flying in Heat 1, grabbing the holeshot and riding like a man on a mission. With clean starts being everything at this level, Stewart made his count—setting the pace and never looking back. Mitchell Oldenburg kept him honest early on, but by lap four, Aaron Plessinger had surged into second, turning up the pressure as the laps ticked by. Despite the battle behind him, Stewart was untouchable. By the checkered flag, he was gone—nearly in his own zip code—while Plessinger and Oldenburg went bar-to-bar in a gritty fight for second. It was a heat race win that looked effortless, but spoke volumes.

Top 9 450 Heat Race #1 Results:

1. Malcolm Stewart – #27 (Holeshot)
2. Aaron Plessinger – #7
3. Mitchell Oldenburg – #49
4. Justin Hill – #46
5. Shane McElrath– #12
6. Dean Wilson – #15
7. Benny Bloss – #57
8. Justin Starling – #122
9. Jeremy Hand – #68

450 Heat 2: Sexton Steps Up

Heat 2 started with Justin Cooper snapping up the holeshot and taking the early lead, but the calm didn’t last long. By lap three, Chase Sexton had found his rhythm, slicing his way into first with the precision and aggression that’s become his trademark. Cooper Webb held strong in second, while the top three riders quickly distanced themselves from the rest of the pack—putting a sizable gap on Dylan Ferrandis in fourth. It was a commanding performance from Sexton, who looked locked in and laser-focused, signaling that he was ready to go to war in the main.

Top 9 450 Heat Race #2 Results:

1. Chase Sexton – #4
2. Cooper Webb – #2
3. Justin Cooper – #32 (Holeshot)
4. Dylan Ferrandis – #14
5. Kyle Chisolm – #11
6. Christian Craig – #28
7. Freddie Noren – #33
8. Cade Clason – #78
9. Colt Nichols – #45

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The LCQs: Last Shot

If the heat races are intense, the LCQs are on another planet. LCQ stands for Last Chance Qualifier—and that’s exactly what it is. One last shot to make it into the main event. Riders who didn’t finish high enough in their heat races—either due to crashes, mistakes, or just getting outrun—are dropped into a short, brutal sprint where only the top four move on. The rest? Their night is over.

It’s not uncommon to see guys who flew across the country—or halfway across the world—gritting their teeth behind the gate, knowing this is their only chance to justify the trip. Some riders in the LCQ are up-and-comers. Some are veterans who got caught in carnage during the heat races. But no matter why you’re here, one thing’s true: you have to fight your way out. These races are usually packed tight, six to eight riders practically on top of each other all fighting for the top four finish. If you’re fifth off the line, you’re not going to make it. It’s chaos. It’s desperation. It’s some of the most heart-pounding racing of the night.

These weren’t just races—they were survival. Riders lined up with everything on the line: privateers scraping for visibility, veterans clawing to stay relevant, rookies praying for one more shot. The tension was different here—heavier, more desperate.

And the 250s were up first:

250SX LCQ – Lux Turner Turns It Up

CJ Bernard came out swinging, grabbing the holeshot and holding steady up front as the pack settled in behind him. But it didn’t take long before Lux Turner started closing the gap. Turner was riding more aggressively, scrubbing harder, and sending lines that Bernard wasn’t—including a clean quad that gave him a big edge. By lap four, Turner made the move and never looked back, taking the win with purpose. Bernard held on for second, followed by Cole Thompson and Parker Ross—four riders, four tickets to the main. It was a gritty fight for survival, and Turner made sure his night was far from over by making himself the winner of the 250 LCQ.

450SX LCQ – Savatgy Leads, Chaos Behind

You don’t usually expect to see Joey Savatgy in an LCQ. But when he showed up at the gate, there was zero hesitation in his performance. He ripped the holeshot and immediately checked out, laying down lap times that made it clear he didn’t plan to stay in this race any longer than he had to. Behind him, the real action was for second through fourth. Michael Hicks and Kevin Moranz traded spots and close calls in a tense battle, while Tristan Lane hung tough in fourth, fending off every challenge to secure the final transfer. In a race full of tension and tight racing, Savatgy reminded everyone why he’s usually in the show without the detour.

And just like that — the stage was set. The mains were coming, and you could feel the tension brewing.

Main Events: Where Legends Are Made

By the time the LCQs wrapped, the air inside Empower Field felt different—thicker somehow. The field was set. Twenty-two of the fastest, toughest, and most determined riders in each class were about to battle for everything they’d worked for all season. The lights dimmed, the crowd surged, and the gate dropped. This was the moment every rider and every fan had been waiting for. No more second chances. No more warmups. This was the Main Event—and in Denver, it was about to get wild.

Ready for more? Click here to read about The Main Events. (Coming soon)

Got thoughts on the heat races or LCQ madness?
Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear what moments stood out to you, who you were rooting for, or if you were there in the crowd! Let’s talk Supercross!

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