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AEO Powersports KTM Racing Team Race Recap – SMX Round 2 – St Louis
Round 2 of the SuperMotocross Playoffs took place inside The Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. With double points up for grabs and added pressure following the cancellation of the second motos in Charlotte, the stakes were significantly raised for all riders. The indoor setting featured a tough and hard-to-pass track that made every position count, and lap times remained close throughout qualifying. AEO Powersports KTM riders Lux Turner and Cole Thompson advanced to the night show via the 250 Wildcard race and were prepared to leave it all on the track.
For Cole Thompson, this event marked only his second appearance aboard the AEO Powersports KTM machine. While still adapting to the new setup, Cole showed early intensity in both motos and continues to make progress as he gels with the bike and the team.
Qualifying:
Lux: 14th – 1:13.735
Cole: 19th – 1:14.285
Lux Turner
Moto 1:
Lux found himself just outside the mid-pack off the start and rounded the opening lap in 16th. Through the early laps, he battled forward and made his way into 14th by lap three. He maintained that position for a few laps before sliding back to 17th at the halfway mark, where he ultimately finished the moto.
Moto 2:
Saw a stronger start for Lux as he came around the first lap in 12th. Despite an aggressive effort to maintain his position, he lost two spots by lap four. With passing at a premium, Lux found it difficult to regain momentum and slipped to 16th with three laps remaining, holding that spot to the checkered flag.
Cole Thompson
Moto 1:
Cole had a promising launch off the gate in Moto 1, running 13th on the opening lap. Some early race chaos saw him shuffled back to 17th by lap three, and then to 20th on lap four. Despite the setback, he regained a position later in the moto to finish 19th.
Moto 2:
Moto 2 presented a greater challenge for Cole. After completing the first lap in 17th, he remained steady in the early going but gradually lost ground as the race wore on. By lap nine, he had dropped to 21st and would finish the moto in that same position.
With two rounds now complete in the SMX Playoffs, the AEO Powersports KTM team continues to build momentum and experience under the high-pressure playoff format. Both Lux and Cole are committed to making improvements and will look to close out the final round strong as the series heads into its final showdown. We head to the SuperMotocross Finale under the lights in Las Vagas.
Results
Lux Turner – 17th
Race Results: 17 | 16
Cole Thompson – 20th
Race Results: 19 | 21
