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AEO Powersports KTM Racing Team Race Recap – SMX Round 1 – Charlotte
The 2025 SuperMotocross Playoffs kicked off this past weekend at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina, and true to form, the opening round was unpredictable. With CJ Bernard and Avery Long sidelined, the AEO KTM Racing Team brought in Cole Thompson to join Lux Turner for the final three rounds of SMX. Cole stepped in with limited prep time but high motivation to represent the AEO brand and finish the season strong, including upcoming rounds in St. Louis and Las Vegas.
Qualifying:
Lux: 19th – 2:00.677
Cole: 22nd – 2:01.873
Lux Turner:
Coming into Charlotte unseeded and sitting just outside the points bubble, Lux Turner had something to prove in the first round of the SMX Playoffs. He started the day strong, finishing seventh in unseeded practice and ultimately landing 19th overall after combined sessions. Though he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the unique layout of the Charlotte track, Lux adapted quickly and found enough speed to advance through the Wildcard LCQ with a solid fifth-place finish, earning a spot in the Main Event. Once the gate dropped, he came through the first lap in 16th, then made a quick push to 14th in the opening laps. However, after a mid-race shuffle, he settled into 18th by lap 8 and held that position through to the finish. It was a meaningful step forward for Lux, who not only qualified for the Main Event but also improved on his overall performance from last year’s SMX efforts.
Cole Thompson:
This weekend marked the debut of Cole Thompson with the AEO KTM Racing Team, stepping in as a fill-in rider for the final three rounds of SMX. Despite having minimal seat time on the KTM machine and being thrust into a high-pressure situation, Cole showed strong determination and a professional approach to the challenge. He qualified 22nd and headed into the Wildcard LCQ eager to secure a spot in the Main. Unfortunately, a crash during the LCQ ended his race early, and he was unable to advance. While the result wasn’t what he hoped for, the team is confident in Cole’s potential with more time on the bike. With additional preparation ahead of the next round in St. Louis, both Cole and the team are optimistic about what’s to come in the remaining rounds of the SMX Playoffs.
Due to extreme weather conditions, Moto 2 was canceled, and overall points were determined solely by Moto 1 results. This unexpected change added another twist to an already intense evening of racing.
All eyes now turn to St. Louis for SMX Round 2, where points are doubled and the stakes are higher than ever. The AEO Powersports KTM Racing Team is regrouping and reloading with Lux continuing to chase improved results and Cole preparing for redemption with more bike time and confidence. Let’s keep the momentum rolling into Gateway City!
Results
Lux Turner – 18th
Race Results: 18th | N/A
Cole Thompson – N/A
Race Results: N/A | N/A
