Now that the résumés have been finalized, the debate can begin in earnest. And that debate, of course, is in regards to the rightful ownership of the title as the G.O.A.T., i.e.. Greatest of All Time, i.e.:

Despite making the case for Mees as the best the sport has ever seen, it can also be rationally argued that he wasn’t even the best rider in the series this past season.

The path to Mees’ tenth title was in part paved by the misfortune of his ascending rival, Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT).  Read More.

A Mees-free Daniels has two primary and obvious foils remaining in the field: Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke).

Robinson is coming off the best season of a Hall-of-Fame worthy career in which he finished second in the Grand National Championship to Mees. Read More.

Robinson headlines a sizable contingent of major league talent facing their own new challenge to tackle. The all-production based regs that go into effect in 2025 will result in numerous frontrunning riders, tuners, and teams that previously geared their efforts around the Indian FTR750 in need of a reset.

Meanwhile, Bauman headlines a sizable contingent that had already moved on from Indian to KTM-based racebikes. While a promising platform – and one that has proved itself a race winner multiple times over in relatively short order – the Duke has also proven a bit trickier to tame and fully adapt to dirt track racing than was perhaps initially anticipated.

It’ll be fascinating to see what shape the field takes in terms of team and race package composition in 2025.  Read More.

Next year’s rules revision marks the end of an era, closing the book on an entire category of racebikes, one that includes some of the most decorated and dominant machines in the history of professional motorsport, full stop.

The Indian FTR750 leaves with an incredible record – eight for eight in Grand National and Manufacturer Championships, winning all available titles from 2017-2024. Read More.

You can count triple Parts Unlimited AFT Singles champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) as among that long list of riders whose ‘25 plans are yet to be fully sorted and/or revealed.

He did, however, make known his desire to at last graduate to the premier Mission AFT SuperTwins class. After earning his third consecutive 450cc title, Kopp said, “This is the third championship, but we’re just getting started. We’ll see what next year brings… see you in 2025. If I had plans, I would talk about them, but I don’t have any at the moment. I want to be going in circles, and I want to be on the big bikes.” Read More.

If he steps us, Kopp will leave the class in a good place. There isn’t a worthy successor to his throne, rather there are two in Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R).

Even better, Drane and Saathoff have developed something of a brewing rivalry that should only intensify as their weekly clashes play out in a struggle for the #1 plate rather than second and third in the championship. Read More.

Really, a potential Kopp’s exit might actually leave the class in an even better place, just as his entrance onto the premier-class stage would put that class in a better place.

Besides the brighter spotlight placed on Drane vs. Saathoff, there would also be more opportunity for others to shine. And that’s not just the category’s established next group, but also the youngsters with the potential to blossom into the sport’s new generation of stars – riders such as Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F), Bradon Pfanders (No. 288 Pfanders Racing/Scott Powersports KTM 450 SX-F) and Evan Kelleher (No. 131 Schaeffer’s Motorsports/South Shore Design KTM 450 SX-F). Read More.