The air in Music City was thick with anticipation as Monster Energy Nashville Supercross took over the home of the Tennessee Titans for Round 13. With the neon lights of Broadway glowing just across the river, the Dirt Legal DBDRacing WMR KTM team rolled into Nissan Stadium ready to tackle the first day race of the season.
After weeks of coming close, the pieces finally fell into place in Tennessee, as the riders faced a track that evolved rapidly from a technical challenge into a high-speed sprint. The weekend also served as a prime opportunity to host the crew from GUTS Racing, who stepped up as the weekend’s title sponsor.
Phelps Finds His Flow
Marcus Phelps delivered a career-best performance that was a long time coming. While qualifying saw him land in 29th as the track sped up, his composure during the night show told a different story.
A strong start in Heat 2 put him in the mix early, though a late-race mishap relegated him to the LCQ. Taking a calculated risk with an outside gate pick, Phelps launched his KTM to the front and rode a clean, disciplined race to finish 2nd.
In the Main Event, on a surface that was punishing riders for the smallest mistakes, Phelps stayed upright and consistent, carving his way to a 14th-place finish—his best result of the year.
- Qualifying: 29th
- Heat: 15th
- LCQ: 2nd
- Main: 14th
Kessler Overcomes the Odds
For Jace Kessler, Nashville was the culmination of a grueling recovery process. After being sidelined by injuries last year, securing a spot in the Main Event was a significant personal and professional victory.
Kessler turned up the heat in the LCQ, grabbing a massive holeshot and holding his ground under intense pressure. He crossed the line in 3rd, punching his ticket to the big show. Despite the physical toll of the LCQ, he fought through the Main Event to finish 18th, marking a major turning point for the #511.
- Qualifying: 27th
- Heat: 12th
- LCQ: 3rd
- Main: 18th
Rodriguez Shows Grit
Anthony Rodriguez continued his trend toward peak fitness, looking more at home on the bike than he has all season. While a difficult start in his Heat and a mid-pack shuffle in the LCQ kept him out of the Main Event, his speed was undeniable. Rodriguez climbed from 17th to 8th in the LCQ, showcasing a pace that suggests a breakthrough is imminent as the series heads to Ohio.
Building Momentum
Nashville wasn’t just another round; it was the moment the hard work finally translated into results. Putting two riders in the Main Event is a massive win for the mechanics, the riders, and the sponsors who have supported the team through a demanding season.
The Dirt Legal DBDRacing WMR KTM crew now shifts its focus to the fresh dirt of Cleveland, Ohio, looking to carry this energy into the final stretch of the calendar.
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.
