Seth Hammaker nearly secured a historic SuperMotocross World Championship finish during the 2025 campaign, driven by his solid Supercross results but hindered by inconsistency. As he gears up for the next season, the Seth Hammaker SuperMotocross 2025 story remains one of seeking redemption and capitalizing on lessons from last year’s dramatic championship battle.
Hammaker’s 2025 Season: Soaring Starts, Challenging Transitions
Hammaker’s early momentum came thanks to two victories and a strong overall second-place result in the Monster Energy Supercross series. These performances gave him an advantageous position as he chased the title, just narrowly missing the distinction of becoming the second 250 rider in the history of the SuperMotocross World Championship. He expressed gratitude to a two-time champion who played a key role in affording him that opportunity.
Despite stadium triumphs, Hammaker faced challenges when the Pro Motocross outdoor season began. His average finish was 11.1, which kept him ahead of fellow competitors such as Jordon Smith, Drew Adams, Julien Beaumer, Michael Mosiman, and Cole Davies. However, this average relegated him to the fifth seed for the SuperMotocross Playoffs, as riders like Haiden Deegan, Jo Shimoda, and others performed strongly throughout the season.
Regular Season Peaks and Pitfalls
Hammaker’s journey was marked by highs and lows. While he captured wins at high-profile events like Indianapolis, he also suffered setbacks, including a 17th-place finish in Detroit and ninth at Foxborough. These fluctuations ultimately proved costly, as Hammaker narrowly lost the Eastern Division crown to Tom Vialle—finishing just three points shy despite having a nearly identical Supercross average to Vialle.
On outdoor tracks, Hammaker continued to struggle, winding up seventh in Pro Motocross, a distant 271 points behind Haiden Deegan. His highlights included two strong fourth-place rides, at Washougal and Unadilla, but the gap to the front remained daunting.
Playoff Drama and a Contested Title Battle
The reset of the playoffs offered a fresh chance for Hammaker, where seeding mattered less and each race became critical. Entering the SMX Playoffs as the fifth seed, he had the opportunity to steer his own fate.
At zMax Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, Hammaker finished second in Moto 1. However, with weather shortening the event, he left with a small points deficit to Haiden Deegan. The intensity increased in Round 2, held in St. Louis, Missouri, where Hammaker delivered third place in both motos, finishing second overall behind Jo Shimoda. This allowed him to close the gap to Deegan, who had a challenging weekend after being involved in a collision with Levi Kitchen, dropping Deegan out of title control.
The season finale brought even more tension as Deegan adopted an aggressive strategy to thwart Shimoda’s chances at the championship. Deegan finished second in the opening moto, while Hammaker crossed the line in third, keeping his hopes alive heading into the deciding race.
Controversy and Heartbreak in the Final Race
The final moto of the playoffs became one of the most controversial moments in series history. Deegan rode Shimoda aggressively, intentionally steering into his rival, pushing him wide, and at times slowing to force Shimoda into dangerous positions. Ultimately, both riders crashed—giving Hammaker the lead and a shot at the championship. Despite Hammaker taking the moto win, Shimoda recovered to finish second, securing enough points to deny Hammaker the overall crown for the third consecutive race.
Evaluating Hammaker’s 2025 Season Performance
Hammaker closed the season with impressive consistency when it mattered most. The following are highlights from his year:
SuperMotocross League standings: Second
Seeding for SMX Round 1: Fifth
Starts: 23
Best finish: Win (Indianapolis, New Jersey Supercross)
Wins: 2
Podiums: 6
Top-fives: 13
Top-10s: 19
Supercross average finish: 5.20
Motocross average finish: 11.10
SMX Playoffs average finish: 2.00
Overall average finish: 7.35
Key Rivals in the SuperMotocross Countdown
In the 450 division, Cooper Webb, RJ Hampshire, Justin Cooper, Ken Roczen, Aaron Plessinger, Justin Barcia, Malcolm Stewart, Dylan Ferrandis, Justin Hill, Joey Savatgy, and Jason Anderson all featured among the main playoff contenders.
For the 250 class, Hammaker’s competition included Cole Davies, Julien Beaumer, Garrett Marchbanks, Jordon Smith, Michael Mosiman, Chance Hymas, Drew Adams, and Levi Kitchen. These riders shaped the playoff dynamics and pushed Hammaker throughout the year.
Looking Forward to the 2025 Redemption Tour
Seth Hammaker now turns his focus to the upcoming season, determined to put lessons learned and the heartbreak of near-misses behind him. With contenders like haiden deegan, Michael Mosiman, Jason Anderson, and others still in the field, the Seth Hammaker SuperMotocross 2025 campaign promises more fierce battles and another opportunity for Hammaker to solidify his place within SMX history. Each playoff and season event will again see destinies reshaped, with every rider aiming for the sport’s ultimate prize.
