​RJ HAMPSHIRE WINS 250SX WEST CHAMPIONSHIP!

RJ Hampshire always dreamed of being a Monster Energy Supercross Champion. The long and winding road that RJ traversed saw every high and low that racing can offer up. Glimpses of white hot success were often followed by injuries and adversity. RJ never lost hope, though, never stopped believing. His resilience was the backbone that he would lean on as he steadily rose through the ranks into championship contention. As he matured, he would graduate from a bright-eyed hopeful into a year-in, year-out race winner. The writing was on the wall; RJ was ready to fight for a championship. Then, ten years after he arrived, on a May night in Salt Lake City, that dream would come to fruition. All of the tears, doubt, and hard work would culminate into the 2024 250 west coast championship.

In true RJ fashion, this championship didn’t come the easy way. He had to fight for every point and claw himself out of a deficit. The middle of the season was a gut check. He was down double digits to Levi Kitchen and had lost the momentum he had earned with his opening round win. It would have been easy for RJ to lose confidence and spiral into a disappointing season. That’s not who RJ is, though. He fought back, winning the Nashville round of the series and vaulting his Rockstar Husqvarna back into the fight. The points were tight and the lights were brighter as everything came down to one night in Utah. The final round, even steven in the points column, fifteen minutes to settle the score. That, as they say, is how history is written. RJ’s runner-up finish was enough to secure the title as Levi Kitchen came across the checkers in fifth. A true showdown between the best two 250 riders. The ultimate test with both winner and loser likely leaving the track in tears. This time, for the first time, RJ passed the test and got to feel the joy he dreamed of so long ago. Everyone’s journey is different and RJ’s is a story of grit, determination and refusing to stand down.

FLY Racing is proud and humbled to be a part of RJ’s journey. His success on the racetrack is only bested by the human being he is off it. It is truly our pleasure to witness the story being written and play a small part in the success. The most exciting chapters are yet to be written and FLY Racing will be there, hand in hand, as RJ realizes his true potential.