R.J. Hampshire Bio
R.J. Hampshire, born on 26 January 1996, is an American professional Motocross and Supercross racer. He has competed professionally in the AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Motocross Championship since 2014, building a reputation as one of the most determined riders in the sport. In 2024, he claimed the AMA Supercross 250cc West Championship, the first major title of his decade-long career. He currently rides for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team and has represented the United States twice at the Motocross des Nations.
Early Life and Background
R.J. Hampshire was born and raised in Hudson, Florida, where he continues to live and train today. He is the son of Ricky and Robin Hampshire, and he grew up alongside one sister. As a young boy, Hampshire spent much of his time playing baseball before eventually choosing to focus on motorcycle racing.
His early years in Hudson gave him the freedom to train and ride year-round in Florida’s warm climate, which became a strong foundation for his development. Hampshire worked his way up through the amateur ranks, and his breakthrough amateur moment came when he won the Amateur All-Stars race at the 2013 Monster Energy Cup supercross. That performance earned him national attention and set the stage for his professional career.
Path to Professional Racing
Following his amateur success, Hampshire was signed by the Amsoil Factory Connection Honda team for 2014, where he captured two titles at the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship. These amateur titles confirmed his potential and quickly opened the door to the professional ranks.
Midway through 2014, Hampshire was given the opportunity to race the final three rounds of the AMA National Motocross Championship in the 250 class for the factory GEICO Honda team. At the final round in Utah, he placed tenth overall, with a best result of ninth in the opening moto. The late-season debut marked the true beginning of his professional journey.
R.J. Hampshire Career
Early Career (2014-2017)
Hampshire made his professional Supercross debut in the 2015 AMA Supercross Championship in the 250SX East class. He was a top-ten finisher in the opening round before earning his first podium in Indianapolis, ultimately finishing fifth in the final standings. That same year, he completed a full AMA National Motocross season in the 250 class, finishing tenth overall with a best result of fourth at the final round.
In 2016, Hampshire placed eighth in the 250SX East standings with a best finish of fourth and finished eleventh in the 250 class of the AMA National Motocross Championship. His 2017 Supercross season was cut short after the third round due to a fractured tibia and fibula in a crash. Despite the injury, he returned to racing and competed in the MX2 class of the MXGP of USA in Florida as a wildcard, where he pulled off a breakout ride by winning both motos and taking the Grand Prix overall.
GEICO Honda Years (2018-2019)
Hampshire’s 2018 Supercross season was again cut short after the third round, this time due to a fractured back. He recovered in time to contest the full AMA Motocross Championship, where he picked up his first professional motocross race and overall wins at the penultimate round. These results confirmed his speed and marked him as a future title contender.
In 2019, Hampshire raced the 250SX West class for the first time, finishing fourth overall with two podiums. He matched that position in the 2019 AMA National Motocross Championship, picking up three top-three race finishes without securing an overall podium. This was his final year as a Honda rider.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Era (2020-Present)
After five and a half years aboard Honda motorcycles, Hampshire signed with the Husqvarna factory team for the 2020 season. He earned two podium finishes across the first four rounds of the 2020 AMA Supercross Championship in the 250SX East class before missing the remaining rounds due to knee surgery. He returned for the 2020 AMA National Motocross Championship, winning a moto at the second round and the overall at Red Bud before a broken hand at the penultimate round ended his title bid, finishing seventh overall.
In 2022, Hampshire finished runner-up in the 250SX East class standings and recorded his first professional Supercross win in St. Louis. The following year, racing in the 250SX West class, he earned his second professional Supercross win in Denver and finished runner-up again, this time to Jett Lawrence. He also made his 450SX debut at Daytona, finishing eighth, and won the opening race of the 2023 AMA National Motocross Championship.
Hampshire’s defining season came in 2024, when he won the 250SX West Championship after a dramatic title fight with Levi Kitchen that was settled at the final round. He followed that with a partial 2024 AMA National Motocross season due to a wrist injury, but still managed a podium at the final round.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hampshire is widely regarded as a gritty and resilient racer whose strengths show on rough, technical tracks. He has built a reputation for late-race comebacks, sharp race craft, and the ability to manage injuries while still competing at a high level. His partnership with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team has helped him stay consistent across both Supercross and Motocross formats.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among his signature wins are the 2017 MXGP of USA in Florida, his first Supercross victory in St. Louis in 2022, the Denver Supercross in 2023, and the 2024 250SX West title-clinching performance. Red Bud has been a particularly strong track for Hampshire, where he has earned multiple overall wins in the AMA National Motocross Championship.
R.J. Hampshire Career Wins
R.J. Hampshire’s career has been highlighted by steady progression, with notable breakthroughs in both Supercross and Motocross. His biggest achievement came in 2024 when he captured the AMA Supercross 250cc West Championship. He also earned a Grand Prix win at the 2017 MXGP of USA while riding as a wildcard in the MX2 class.
AMA Supercross Championship Highlights
Hampshire has recorded multiple Supercross wins across the 250SX East and 250SX West classes, including victories in St. Louis (2022), Denver (2023), and multiple rounds during his 2024 title run. He added a 250SX East win at Daytona in 2025 and finished third in that year’s standings after a controversial final-round incident with Seth Hammaker.
AMA Motocross Championship Highlights
In the AMA National Motocross Championship, Hampshire has earned multiple overall wins, including standout performances at Red Bud in 2020 and 2021. He finished fourth overall in 2021, fifth in 2022, and fifth in his first full 450 class season in 2025.
R.J. Hampshire Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
R.J. Hampshire was raised in Hudson, Florida, by his parents Ricky and Robin Hampshire. He grew up with one sister and spent his early childhood playing baseball before shifting his focus to motorcycle racing.
Personal Life
Hampshire married his wife, Ashley Murphy, in 2018. The couple has two daughters, Ivy, born in 2019, and Navy, born in 2022. The family continues to make their home in Hudson, Florida, where R.J. lives and trains throughout the year.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Hampshire’s transition from the 250 class to a full-time campaign in the 450 class for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing. Despite undergoing further wrist surgery just two weeks before the opening round of the 2025 AMA National Motocross Championship, he impressed the paddock with strong and improving performances. He earned his first 450 class podium at Ironman and finished fifth in the final standings.
In the 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship playoff rounds, Hampshire backed up his motocross form with a seventh-place overall finish. Following injuries to two teammates, he was drafted into the United States team for the 2025 Motocross des Nations, held on home soil. The American team finished second overall, with Hampshire placing fourth in his qualifying race before crashing out of his second main race on Sunday.
After narrowly missing the 250SX East title in 2025, Hampshire now turns his full focus to the premier 450 class, where his progress and podium pace suggest he is poised to become a regular contender in the seasons ahead.