Troy Dog
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Each week, Slaw, Troy, and sometimes Cade Clason will come up with some topics and then list the riders most likely to accomplish those feats. Hence the title “Most Likely”. Most would call us brilliant.
This week, Cade was caught up in the hurricane and Slaw somehow found service on his trip to the Bahamas. Enjoy.
Did the 2025 SuperMotocross Championship most likely live up to your expectations?
T-Dog: Yes, it truly did. In a year that I figured Jett Lawrence would somehow go 31-0, he ended up not doing so. I’m kidding of course, I really didn’t think Jettson would do that. We saw a lot of different winners this season, especially in the 250 class, with the emergence of some new stars as well. The only rider who didn’t live up to my expectations would be Tom Vialle in the Pro Motocross Championship. I thought he would truly give a run to Haiden Deegan and possibly win the title.
Slaw: Sure, yeah I give it a resounding Slaw Dog approval rating. Unfortunately, Jett’s injury made it manageable to watch the entire summer.
Which rider would you most likely vote for a ‘Rider of the Year’ award?
T-Dog: I’m going to pick Eli Tomac for this one. I know what you’re thinking, but I can pick whoever I want. I honestly think that had Tomac clinched the 2023 SX title that he would have ridden off in the sunset and he’d probably be sipping Limoncello Supremes off the coast of Italy in his yacht right about meow. Now the Mac is back after the Achillies injury, he won a Supercross, and then came back to try his hand at the Motocross of Nations. He’s the dad that stepped up to bring home another championship for America. (Actually props to AP and Coop as well, this is the daddiest Team USA of all-time and I don’t mean that in a weird way. They are literally all dads.)
Slaw: CoRider of the Years, Haiden Deegan and Jett Lawrence
Which rider should most likely win a “Privateer of the Year” award?
T-Dog: It has to go to Marshal Weltin. He just put in his best year of his life both indoors and out and now has national #35 heading into the 2025 season. Marsh Dog earned everything this year and proved a lot of people wrong. He was also a member of the T-Dog Squad, which keeps our program’s success at 100% improvement rate.
Slaw: Marshal Weltin what a year. Didn’t know he still had that in him.
Which rider that is coming in as a rookie in 2025 are you most likely looking forward to watching the most?
T-Dog: Slaw will say Drew Adams and that’s what I want to say, however I think that gavin Towers is about to announce a deal here in America as well and Cole Davies has kept me entertained this year as well. I’ll say any of these three.
Slaw: Drew Adams, he’s the next great redhead in the sport and I called it first.
Which privateer most likely needs a shot with a team in 2025?
T-Dog: What level of a team and what level of privateer are we talking? I’d like to see Nick Romano get another shot at a factory ride. I want to see him continue to progress as he’s only had one season to prove himself. He will get a support ride, on a decent bike, but it’s not going to be what he’s on now.
Slaw: Talon Hawkins, he never really had a chance.
How many more years do we most likely see guys like Jason Anderson, Justin Barcia, Ken Roczen, and Cooper Webb race for?
T-Dog: I hope we see them until they are 40. Honestly if we can get these guys until they are 35 then lets do that. I think that puts most of them around 3-4 more years in the sport.
Slaw: 2-3 years
What would you most likely change to help grow the sport of SMX?
T-Dog: I’d like to change the minds of advertisers and companies out there. We have big corporations that will never look our way and I think that is the worst part about all of this. Imagine if Amazon could sponsor a team. You wouldn’t even need parts on your semi. You’d just roll up. IF your clutch goes out, it doesn’t matter because you’ve got Prime. Just order one and have the truck deliver it in ten minutes or less.
Slaw: Finish the racing before college football starts…and less round, which means ending it before college football starts.
Which rider either announced or rumored will most likely benefit the most from changing teams in 2025?
T-Dog: Jordon Smith. He’s going to Triumph and I’m starting to drive the hype train. I think we can win a 250SX title in the next two years. Look man, RJ Hampshire got one, Christian Craig got one, and now it’s Smith’s turn. I dig what I’m seeing out of Smitty here in his ‘veteran’ years.
Slaw: Ty Masterpool, we’re going to finally see what he’s made of in Supercross.
Main Image: Octopi Media
