Austin Forkner Fifth in Fabulous Washougal Ride
For the Triumph Factory Racing team, the picturesque venue of Washougal proved to be a happy hunting ground. The potent TF 250-X starred near the front of the 250MX class in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship once more.
Millville was already a step forward for Austin Forkner, and he carried that into Washougal – he was brilliant as soon as the event started. After qualifying seventh, he started moto one in the same position and immediately put in some impressive lap times. It took him just two laps to take fifth and he held that position until the finish. The second moto was another consistent affair, as he moved from 10th to fifth to clinch the same result in the 250MX overall classification.
In his first foray into Washougal's woodland, Mikkel Haarup capitalised on a solid scorecard to jump into the top five in the 250MX championship standings. Classified in 10th in moto one, he was much improved in the last stint as he utilised the TF 250-X's power to start inside the top three. It was a position that he almost held until the end, but an untimely fall meant that he was scored in seventh in both the individual moto and the overall classification.
Jordon Smith made more passes than most on Washougal's hard-pack surface, but the hard work was worthwhile as he secured eighth in the 250MX overall classification. Impressive pace in moto one helped him climb up from 11th on lap one to sixth at the chequered flag and identify areas for passes, something that proved to be useful in moto two. Unfortunately, after a start inside the top 10, he crashed on lap two and had to claw his way forwards from the back of the pack to 14th. Smith’s 6-14 scores put him 12th in the overall classification.
Jalek Swoll's remarkable connection with the TF 250-X helped him pull yet another holeshot in the first 250MX moto; he led a complete lap before a small fall ended his day. Swoll, who is 19th in the championship, will look forward to redemption at round nine.
The ninth round of Pro Motocross, Ironman, will be run after a two-week break. Triumph's athletes will launch into action on the weekend of August 9.
Austin Forkner
"Millville was a step in the right direction and I had confidence coming here, because of that. I was fourth off the start in the first moto and around ninth in the second moto. I went 5-5 for fifth overall – it is crazy what a couple of starts will do! I am really happy with my riding and day. My speed was not blazing fast, but I put clean and consistent laps together. We will go back to work now."
Mikkel Haarup
"What started as a challenging day, where I struggled to hit my marks on this track, ended in a positive way, as I was battling in the top three in that second moto. The results were solid! I was in the top 10 with a seventh overall. I am happy with the way that everything is going and look forward to improving in the break."
Jordon Smith
"It was another frustrating result. We are getting better every weekend, both with my pace and starts. It is just on me. There is one moto a weekend where I have a stupid fall, it seems, and I need to clean that up. I am not having those falls in practice – I feel solid until something happens. I am going to keep working on it and fighting. I am not a quitter."
Jalek Swoll
"The day started positively. I went down early in moto one, unfortunately, and could not capitalise on my great start. It was a weird day – there was some confusion after my fall. It was not ideal, of course, but I put myself in that situation. I will be back at Ironman and try to move back to the front."
Steve Westfall – Team Manager, Triumph Factory Racing
"It was a good weekend! The qualification times were positive. Jalek pulled the holeshot in moto one, then crashed on the second lap and was stuck under his bike. That created a controversy that will be addressed, where he was not allowed to race the second moto. Mikkel was his normal self, showing great speed. Jordon rode well in the first moto, but a small mistake hurt him in the second moto. Austin just had his best finish of the year and, truthfully, his riding has come on leaps and bounds. It is exciting to think how he will evolve in the break."
250MX Results: 2025 AMA Pro Motocross, Round Eight – Washougal
1. Jo Shimoda (Honda) 2-1
2. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 1-2
3. Garrett Marchbanks (Kawasaki) 3-4
4. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki) 7-3
5. Austin Forkner (Triumph) 5-5
7. Mikkel Haarup (Triumph) 10-7
12. Jordon Smith (Triumph) 6-14
250MX Standings: 2025 AMA Pro Motocross, Round Eight – Washougal
1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 368pts
2. Jo Shimoda (Honda) 323pts
3. Garrett Marchbanks (Kawasaki) 252pts
4. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) 239pts
5. Mikkel Haarup (Triumph) 209pts
10. Jordon Smith (Triumph) 152pts
17. Austin Forkner (Triumph) 109pts
19. Jalek Swoll (Triumph) 103pts
