The shores of Lake Erie didn’t offer any favors this past weekend as Huntington Bank Field hosted Round 14 of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship. Between the heavy winds and the relentless rain, the Triple Crown format turned the night into a test of survival and precision. With the top 18 riders transferring directly to the main events, the stakes for qualifying were higher than usual.
After securing the best results of the season yet in Nashville, Dirt Legal DBDRacing WMR KTM faced an uphill battle before the gate even dropped. The roster was lean with Jaxen Driskell still sidelined from his Arlington crash and Anthony Rodriguez forced out due to a midweek incident. This left the heavy lifting to Jace Kessler and Marcus Phelps.
Jace Kessler: Resilience Under Pressure
Coming off a high in Nashville, Kessler arrived in Cleveland ready to keep the wheels turning. The track was technical and unforgiving, and Kessler spent the first qualifying session searching for the right lines to settle into a rhythm.
He found his pace in the second session. Kessler charged early and clocked a lap time that briefly sat within the top 18, but a violent crash cut his momentum short and sent him to the LCQ.
Despite the physical toll of the wreck, Kessler lined up for the RMATV Privateer Challenge with a $1,000 prize on the line. He jumped out to a solid start, but the adrenaline couldn’t quite mask the pain from his earlier fall. He crossed the line in 7th, showing massive heart but finishing just shy of a transfer spot.
- Qualifying: 21st
- LCQ: 7th
Marcus Phelps: Finding the Flow
Marcus Phelps spent the weekend proving that consistency is the best tool in the box. He took advantage of the fresh track in the opening qualifying session, putting down a heater that earned him 13th. He shaved even more time off in the second session, comfortably securing his spot in the Triple Crown mains without the stress of an LCQ.
The main events were a rollercoaster. Phelps finished 20th in the first Main after battling arm pump. He shook it off for Main 2, ripping a top-10 start and fighting for every inch of dirt to finish 13th.
In the final Main, Phelps was flying in 6th place and chasing the leaders before a jump face bit back. Wheel spin sent him into an endo that ended his charge for a top-10 overall. He remounted to finish the race, proving that the Dirt Legal spirit doesn’t quit when the bike is upside down.
- Qualifying: 14th
- Main 1: 20th
- Main 2: 13th
- Main 3: 19th
- Overall: 18th
Moving Forward
Cleveland was a reminder that racing is rarely easy and never predictable. The team dealt with a shortened roster and weather that would make most people stay in the garage, yet Phelps walked away with his best qualifying effort of the year, and Kessler proved he’s as tough as they come.
The trailers are packed and the tools are stowed. We are heading to Philadelphia to do it all over again.
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.
