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Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team photo

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 team heads into the 2024 season primed for a SuperMotocross League title fight with the all-new Yamaha YZ250F and a talented eight-rider line-up. Reigning 250SMX Champion Haiden Deegan, Jordon Smith, Nate Thrasher, Stilez Robertson, Nick Romano, and new addition Enzo Lopes are eager to launch their title runs as the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season approaches. Leading the campaign for the team’s amateur program in Supercross Futures is Gavin Towers.

Founded in 1999 by entrepreneur Bobby Reagan, Star Racing built a reputation as one of the top privateer teams in the sport of Supercross and Motocross. In 2005, that reputation ultimately secured the support of Factory Yamaha.

Together with Yamaha’s superior YZ250F, Star Racing is one of the most sought-after teams for the sport’s top up-and-coming riders. The team has a history of success, claiming 14 support class titles in the professional ranks, including six Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250 divisional championships over the past five seasons.

Cooper Webb took home back-to-back Monster Energy Supercross 250SX West titles for the team in 2015 and 2016, followed by Aaron Plessinger in 2018. The Ohio native also went on to take the AMA 250MX Championship that season before graduating to the premier class. Dylan Ferrandis carried on that winning momentum and took home back-to-back 250SX West Championships in 2019 and 2020, and was also crowned the 2020 250MX AMA Pro Motocross Champion.

In 2021, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing squad became the first team in nearly a decade to claim both 250 class titles in Monster Energy AMA Supercross, with Justin Cooper taking the 250SX West Championship and Colt Nichols the 250SX East Championship. The following year, Christian Craig kept the team’s title streak rolling by securing the 2022 250SX West Championship at the season finale in Salt Lake City, Utah.

2023 marked the arrival of Haiden Deegan to the pro ranks, and the 17-year-old rookie enjoyed success from the start, securing the 250SMX title in a thrilling final round at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Californian was also a title contender in Monster Energy AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross, earning Rookie of the Year honors in both series and finishing runner-up in the 250SX East points standings. The team now looks to defend the 250SMX World Championship and launch title campaigns in supercross and motocross with its talented eight-rider lineup for the 2024 SMX League.

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 team would like to thank its partners for their support: Monster Energy, Yamaha Racing, Yamaha Financial Services (YMFUS), Yamalube, GYTR, Yamaha Bicycles, bLU cRU, Thor, Parts Unlimited, Alpinestars, 100%, FMF, Dunlop, Toyota of Escondido, KYB, Rekluse, VP Racing Fuels, Cycra, Kite, Twin Air, Light Speed, ARC Levers, Mechanix Wear, Boxo Tools, CWI, D’cor Graphics, Vortex ECU, Braking, Matrix Concepts, Pro Taper, Optima Batteries, G2 Ergonomics, DID, AFAM, Mettec, and Works Connection.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Sponsors
Robertson banner

Stilez Robertson #40

Stilez Robertson returns with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing for his second year with the team and is one of the sport’s top up-and-coming riders. Although it’s been a roller coaster start since his pro debut in 2020, with injuries that have sidelined him from a complete season, the Californian has shown speed up front. He notched a pair of runner-up finishes at the challenging Daytona Supercross and earned his first outdoor overall podium at the 2022 RedBud National.

Robertson continued to make progress in 2023 during his debut season with the team, returning to the podium in Monster Energy AMA Supercross at the Anaheim 2 Triple Crown event. Unfortunately, his season ended early with a broken leg at the final Triple Crown of the year in Glendale, Arizona. He ultimately finished 13th overall in the 250SX West Championship and returned to action for the final three rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship. Robertson is eager to get the 2024 season rolling and looks to battle for top honors aboard the all-new YZ250F.

Age:
2024
Place of Birth:
Bakersfield, CA
Nationality:
United States
Height:
5' 9
Weight:
155 lbs
Hobbies:
Drag Racing
Thrasher banner

Nate Thrasher #49

Nate Thrasher returns for his fourth year with the team and is hungrier than ever. He joined the Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing Team in the Fall of 2020 and raced the final two rounds of the Pro Motocross 250MX Championship. The Tennessee rider made his Monster Energy AMA Supercross debut in 2021 and turned a lot of heads by scoring two convincing 250SX wins on a very physically demanding track at the Atlanta Motor Speedway tripleheader. He ultimately ended the season seventh in the points standings but, unfortunately was sidelined during the outdoor season with an injury.

2022 was a building year for Thrasher as he continued to make forward progress and ended the supercross season on a high note. He won the East-West 250 Showdown at the final round in Salt Lake City, Utah, securing a top-five finish in the 250SX West points standings.

Despite a tough start to the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, Thrasher was a title contender. He returned to the top step of the podium at the Arlington Supercross and notched a total of four podiums before being sidelined with an injury after a big crash at the Atlanta Supercross. Back to full fitness, Thrasher has his sights set on taking the crown in 2024.

Age:
22
Place of Birth:
Livingston, Tennessee
Nationality:
United States
Height:
5' 9"
Weight:
145 lbs
Hobbies:
Playing golf, going to the lake, watching American football and Xbox
Smith banner

Jordon Smith #58

Returning for a second season with the team in 2024 is Jordon Smith. The North Carolina rider got off to a great start in 2023, earning a spot on the podium in his first race with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team. He made four more trips to the podium during the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season and was fourth in the 250SX East Championship.

Although Smith was sidelined with injury for most of the outdoor season, he came back swinging for the inaugural SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs. He took home a win in the first 250 moto at the finale in Los Angeles, California, and ultimately finished the three-round series with a top-five finish in the 250SMX points standings. With a year under his belt, Smith heads into the new season eager to build on the momentum from 2023 and has his sights set on returning to the top step of the podium aboard the all-new YZ250F.

Age:
28
Place of Birth:
Belmont, NC
Nationality:
United States
Height:
5' 10"
Weight:
165 lbs
Hobbies:
Golf and Cornhole
Romano banner

Nick Romano #54

Nick Romano also returns with the team in 2024. Named the 2021 Amateur Rider of the Year, the multi-time amateur champion is one of the sport’s rising stars. The New Yorker joined the pro ranks for the 2022 Pro Motocross Championship, and although he too sidelined with an injury, the young rider showed strength and earned a career-best fourth-place finish in the first moto at his home race at Unadilla.

Romano was eager to make his Monster Energy AMA Supercross debut in 2023 but unfortunately sat out the entire SuperMotocross World Championship season with a knee injury. Back to full fitness, he is more motivated than ever and looks to come back swinging.

Age:
19
Place of Birth:
Bayside, NY
Nationality:
United States
Height:
5' 8"
Weight:
150 lbs
Hobbies:
Golf
Deegan banner

Haiden Deegan #238

Reigning SuperMotocross World 250SMX Champion Haiden Deegan heads into his sophomore season in the pro ranks looking to add more number-one plates to his collection. At a young age, the Californian is already one of the most prominent riders in the sport, gaining a huge following on social media with the popular YouTube series – The Deegans. In addition to his engaging personality off-track, the teenager continues to impress on track with a host of milestones during his rookie season in 2023.

Deegan signed with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team as an amateur in the Fall of 2021. He immediately found success with the team in the amateur ranks, adding more national titles to his resume. Deegan made his pro debut in 2022 at the penultimate round of the Pro Motocross Championship at Ironman Raceway. He showed speed straight away and earned a top-10 finish despite scorching conditions at the season finale in Pala, California.

This year, Deegan made his Monster Energy AMA Supercross debut at the Eastern Regional season opener in Houston, Texas. He hit the ground running, ending the year second in the 250SX East Championship and with 250 Rookie of the Year honors. It was an impressive debut season for the young rider, who never finished outside of the top 10 and earned six top-five finishes, including three podiums.

That success carried over into the Pro Motocross Championship as Deegan continued to add more milestones to his checklist. It started with his first outdoor podium at the season opener at Fox Raceway, followed by his first moto win at the second round at Hangtown. His forward momentum continued, and he took home his first overall victory at RedBud, got his first red plate at the following round at Southwick, and swept both motos at the Washougal National. He ultimately finished the season fourth in the 250MX points standings and was also awarded Rookie of the Year honors for his stellar achievements.

Deegan finished his rookie season in style with the 250SMX Championship. He once again was a title contender from the start of the three-round playoff series and sealed the deal in front of the home crowd in a thrilling down-to-the-wire title fight at the SMX Finals at the LA Memorial Coliseum.

Age:
18
Place of Birth:
Temecula, California
Nationality:
United States
Height:
5'8
Weight:
145 lbs
Hobbies:
BMX, Skating and Shoes
Lopez banner

Enzo Lopez #50

New to the team for 2024 is Enzo Lopes. With a massive fan following in Brazil cheering him on, he looks to make a title run in Monster Energy AMA Supercross aboard the all-new YZ250F.

After a strong finish to his amatuer career, Lopes made his pro debut at the Pro Motocross Hangtown National in 2018. Since then, he’s shown strength and has consistently finished in the top five overall. The Yamaha rider earned a career-best result in the 250 class in 2023, finishing just shy of the podium with three fourth-place finishes and a total of five top-five finishes to end the year fourth overall in the 250SX West Championship. Lopes looks to take it to the next level in 2024 and battle for top honors.

Age:
25
Place of Birth:
Lajeado, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
Nationality:
Brazil
Height:
5' 9"
Weight:
175 lbs
Hobbies:
Playing with my dog Apollo, mountain biking
Bennick banner

Daxton Bennick #59

Daxton Bennick made the move to the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s amatuer program in the Fall of 2022. In 2023, he found early success and turned a lot of heads after winning the opening round of Supercross Futures at Anaheim 2. The young rider from Morganton, North Carolina, backed that up with a win at the following round in Arlington, Texas, band was a strong title contender throughout the season.

Bennick then made his Pro Motocross debut at RedBud, where he earned fastest qualifying honors in the 250 class and a pair of top-10 moto finishes. He raced two more rounds with solid results before switching gears back to the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch. Bennick enjoyed a stellar finish to his amateur career, dominating the Open Pro Class with three victories to secure the number-one plate. He was also awarded the coveted Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award. The North Carolina rider returned to the Pro Motocross Championship at Unadilla and earned a career-best moto finish in fourth place at Budds Creek.

Age:
2024
Place of Birth:
Morganton, North Carolina
Nationality:
United States
Height:
6'
Weight:
145 lbs
Hobbies:
BMX pump track, snowboarding and wake surfing
Towers banner

Gavin Towers #15

Gavin Towers heads the team's efforts in the amatuer ranks for 2024, racing Supercross Futures and campaigning for amateur national titles. The young rider from Pittsburgh made his debut with the team in the Fall of 2023 at the Scouting Moto Combine in advance of the Pro Motocross season finale at Ironman Raceway. Towers enjoyed a successful first outing aboard the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing YZ250F, dominating the competition with a win in both motos for the overall victory.

Before joining the team, Towers achieved a lifelong dream of taking home a Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship number-one plate in the stacked 250 Pro Sport class.

Age:
20
Place of Birth:
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Nationality:
United States
Height:
5' 7"
Weight:
145 lbs
Hobbies:
BMX and golf

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For those that dream in blue - this one is for you. bLU cRU membership is now open to ALL registered Yamaha owners and comes with exclusive free welcome merchandise, training opportunities, special events and more. Racers will receive the same benefits plus contingency through the bLU cRU program.