Nitrocross Rounds 3 and 4 Coverage
The series that combines SxS with freestyle.
The 2024-25 Nitrocross season continued at the place where it all began, with Utah Motorsports Campus hosting the second stop of the season for Rounds 3 and 4. Encompassing 1.732 miles of mixed pavement and dirt, along with huge, banked turns and the series’ signature 100-foot gap jump, the course at UMC is arguably the most challenging track of the entire season.
Travis Pastrana (USA) overcame a poor start in the Round 3 Side-by-Sides final to win ahead of Cash LeCroy (USA). Pastrana was challenged by Kainan Baker (USA) early in the race, but a messy run through the Joker for Baker on the opening lap – and a clean run through for Pastrana on the next tour – sealed the deal for Pastrana. Jacob Geisendorff (USA) rounded out the SxS podium, with Baker fading late on after sustaining suspension damage.
Travis Pastrana:
“It felt really good on the track, we had a lot of passing opportunities. I took the Joker early and there was a lot of great competition, but on the merge, we went three wide – was very lucky to make it through and unfortunately a couple of the other guys did not.
“It felt like the track that had the most passing opportunities, but instead of being two-wide, we tended to be three- and four-wide. You can only put so many vehicles into a corner at one time. We had a fun time the whole way.”
Kainan Baker (USA) returned to the top of the tree in the Side-by-Sides Final, leaving his Joker late to undercut early race leader Kory Willis (USA). Banks Hovey (USA) also got by to finish second, while Gray Leadbetter (USA) completed the podium. Like Banks, the result was her first top three of the season. The win moves Baker into first in the SxS Championship standings, ahead of Travis Pastrana (USA) who didn’t compete on Sunday. Willis moves up to third, swapping places with Cash LeCry (USA), who finished Sunday’s Final fifth behind Willis.
Kainan Baker:
“I feel really great, it was definitely a wild weekend. I think it had the ups and downs and everything, but overall, a great weekend.”
