The dirt in Birmingham, AL, is notoriously fickle, and Round 10 of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship proved just as unpredictable for the Dirt Legal DBDRacing WMR KTM team.
Coming off a high-intensity Triple Crown in Indianapolis, the squad rolled into Birmingham ready to tackle the season’s first East/West Shootout, a format that cuts the field down to only the top 20 riders from each coast for the night show.
The team was also thrilled to introduce their newest signing, Anthony Rodriguez. Stepping into the Dirt Legal colors just days before the gate drop, Rodriguez joined teammates Kessler and Phelps to scout the lines during Friday’s press session.
His arrival coincided with a massive milestone for the program: the team’s official debut in the 450 class. While jumping into the deep end of the displacement pool adds a new level of pressure, the squad is leaning into the challenge as they look toward the future.
Supporting the effort this weekend was the CEC Motor & Utility family, stepping in as the Birmingham title sponsor to keep the bikes spinning.
The Roster Breakdown
Marcus Phelps #105
Phelps arrived in Birmingham with a point to prove after a rough outing the week prior. He found his flow early during the Friday sessions, showing the kind of corner speed that usually translates to a night show ticket. He ended the day 25th overall among East Coast riders.
While he narrowly missed the qualifying cutoff, the performance was one of his most consistent of the year.
Result: DNQ
Jace Kessler #511
Every rider has those days where the rhythm just feels an inch out of reach. Kessler struggled to find his flow state in the Birmingham clay, failing to put together the heater laps needed to crack the top 20 in a combined-coast field. With his home race in Detroit up next, expect a much more aggressive Kessler on the gate.
Result: DNQ
Anthony Rodriguez #123
Making a debut is hard enough without fighting a fever. Rodriguez joined the squad and looked immediately at home on the KTM during Friday’s press day. By Saturday morning, he was battling a sudden illness that threatened to keep him off the gate. He chose to white-knuckle it instead.
After a P26 qualifying effort, Rodriguez fought into a transfer spot during Heat One. A small mistake during a pass attempt sent him into the dirt, leading him to save his remaining energy for the LCQ.
He launched to a strong start in the final qualifier, ultimately crossing the line in 10th. It wasn’t the podium he wanted, but finishing that high while sick is a testament to his talent.
Qualifying: P26
Heat: DNF
LCQ: P10
Looking Toward the Motor City
The East/West Shootout is an unforgiving gauntlet with zero margin for error. While the Birmingham results weren’t what the team aimed for, the move into the 450 class and the addition of Rodriguez represent a massive step forward for the program.
The team now turns its focus to Detroit, returning to a standard race format where the goal remains simple: find the flow early and stay on the gas.
Dirt Legal is proud to be the title sponsor of The Dirt Legal DBDRacing WMR KTM team. Our grassroots are in the dirt bike world, which is what initially motivated us to start Dirt Legal, as we wanted fellow dirt bikers to have the freedom to enjoy their bikes on the trail and on the roads.
For Dirt Legal, this renewed presence in the dirt bike racing world represents a strategic expansion of the motorsports family. The partnership aligns with Dirt Legal’s audience and provides additional resources within the ecosystem, offering opportunities to expand relationships with other team sponsors and provide resources to the community.
As experts who can make almost anything with a motor street-legal, including a favorite dirt bike, this move reinforces Dirt Legal’s role in fueling the culture of motorsports, building upon the existing support for the Dirt Legal Velocity Offshore Racing Team.
