Second Race of 2025 Pro Motocross Championship Brings World’s Best to Northern California for the Oldest Race in American Motocross

MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc., in conjunction with event organizer the Dirt Diggers North Motorcycle Club, has announced the return of Michael’s Reno Powersports as title sponsor of the second race of the 2025 Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The 56th Michael’s Reno Powersports Hangtown Motocross Classic Presented by Seven MX will bring the fastest racers on the planet to Northern California, where the iconic venue situated inside Rancho Cordova’s Prairie City SVRA will provide another tough early season challenge this Saturday, May 31, for Round 19 of the SMX World Championship.
 
The Hangtown Classic is the oldest event in American motocross and predates the Pro Motocross Championship, with a legacy that began in 1969 and the town of Placerville, from which the event gleaned its name. Since 1974 the race has been held within the confines of a California State Park and has served as one of the foundational pillars of the 54-year championship, with a track that has a lot of retro characteristics relying on dynamic natural terrain and less “big air” jumps than what fans may be accustomed to. Those traits result in a demanding and often brutal racetrack that, when combined with the heat of the summer, will provide one of the toughest tests on the calendar.
 
“The Hangtown Motocross Classic became synonymous with the Pro Motocross Championship because it epitomizes why this is one of the toughest racing series in all motorsports. It takes a lot of grit, determination, and peak physical conditioning to stand atop the podium here,” said Bob Messer of the Dirt Diggers North Motorcycle Club. “We’re proud to continue this rich tradition that now spans well over 50 years and look forward to another memorable weekend. We are grateful for the support and partnership with Michael’s Reno Powersports and wish them luck as they embark on their own racing journey this season.”
 
Michael’s Reno Powersports joined as title partner of Hangtown last season and serves as the largest marine and powersports dealership in Northern Nevada, offering vehicles from seven manufacturers, including Pro Motocross competitors GASGAS, Husqvarna, KTM, and Yamaha. It also boasts Northern Nevada’s largest OEM parts department, with a wide-reaching service area that crosses state lines to include the greater Sacramento area. With its growing presence in Northern California, the Hangtown Motocross Classic provides an ideal platform to bring national exposure to one of the region’s foremost dealerships. Enhancing this year’s support from Michael’s Reno is a new race team operated in partnership with Stan Benson Racing, known as MRPSBR Husqvarna Racing. Its eight-rider lineup of 450 Class and 250 Class racers is anchored by Estonian racer Harri Kullas, who finished 20th in the Pro Motocross 450 Class standings last season and 13th in the SMX Playoffs. 
 
“Our passion for motorcycles and racing is the driving force for elevating Michael’s Reno Powersports into the premier dealership in the region,” said Maya Keller, General Manager of Michael’s Reno Powersports. “Our partnership with the Hangtown Motocross Classic has been a tremendous asset to our continued growth and ultimately helped inspire our racing endeavor. We’re proud to deepen our roots within the powersports community by not only supporting one of the sport’s most iconic events, but by also providing a platform for racers to pursue their dreams on the racetrack.”

The opening race of the 2025 season lived up to the anticipation that preceded it with captivating competition amongst arguably the most talented field to ever assemble for the Pro Motocross Championship. The long-awaited battle between Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac provided a memorable first chapter between the two past champions, while Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan began his 250 Class title defense with a patient yet determined performance in which he outlasted several fierce challenges from his rivals.
 
One year ago, Deegan took hold of the 250 Class at Hangtown and overcame a memorable get-off to post 1-2 finishes and claim the overall win. In the 450 Class, one of the most epic rides in Pro Motocross history saw defending champion Chase Sexton rebound from a first-lap tip-over with a last-to-first ride aboard his Red Bull KTM that ultimately defined his title-winning campaign and will forever be enshrined in the legacy of the sport.
 
Kicking off the weekend festivities for the 2025 Hangtown Classic on Friday, May 30, is the first combine gathering for SMX Next – Motocross and the second round of the Women’s Motocross Championship, an AMA National Championship.
 
The Michael’s Reno Powersports Hangtown Motocross Classic will get underway this Saturday, May 31, with free practice at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET, followed by opening ceremonies at 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET. Comprehensive live broadcast coverage can be seen exclusively on Peacock, beginning at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by moto coverage at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET.