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AEO Powersports KTM Racing Team Race Recap – SMX Round 3 – Las Vegas
he last and final round of the SuperMotocross series came to a conclusion in Las Vegas under the lights of The Strip International Raceway. AEO Powersports KTM riders Lux Turner and Cole Thompson rolled into the final round with triple points on the line, ready to leave it all out on the track in hopes of finishing the season strong and that’s exactly what they did and the AEO Team is very proud of how the last race of the season ended. Both riders were equipped aboard their KTM 250s, fully decked out in special tribute graphics honoring the late Peter “Sonic” Patterson, a beloved friend, coworker, and one of the biggest supporters of the AEO Powersports Race Team.
This weekend’s track was demanding featuring high-speed straights, lippy take-offs, and a tight, technical Supercross-style infield that challenged even the most seasoned riders. Turner and Thompson made it through the 250 Wildcard race to earn their spots in the night show, each demonstrating grit and determination. Lux Turner, in particular, stood out by ranking #1 in the Hard Charge Wild Card standings after making up six positions in the short LCQ race, going from 8th to 4th. Cole also showed strength by locking in his Main Event spot with a solid 6th-place finish.
Qualifying:
Lux: 16th – 1:33.721
Cole: 20th – 1:34.743
Lux Turner
Moto 1:
Lux came into the first moto determined to make a statement, and he did just that. After a mid-pack start, he rounded lap one in 14th position but wasted no time moving through the field. By lap two, Lux had already raced his way into 9th and continued his charge into 8th on lap three. His momentum kept building as he pushed up to 6th by lap six, eventually making a brief appearance in 5th, where he held strong for four impressive laps marking his best running position of the entire season. Though he ultimately dropped back to 8th in the final laps, it was a breakthrough performance that highlighted his growth and speed.
Moto 2:
In the second moto, Lux backed up his earlier performance with a phenomenal start, coming around lap one in 6th. He quickly moved into 5th by lap two and was once again looking poised for another top finish. However, the race took an unfortunate turn on lap six when he dropped to 8th and suffered a tip-over that pushed him back to 16th. Refusing to give in, Lux remounted quickly and charged through the field once more, salvaging a 13th-place finish to cap off a gritty and commendable ride.
Cole Thompson
Moto 1:
Cole started his first moto just outside the top 15, crossing lap one in 16th. By lap two, he had moved into 11th, knocking on the door of the top 10. Midway through the race, he shuffled between 13th and 14th, holding steady for several laps. A late-race drop to 18th didn’t deter him, and he was able to recover two more positions before the checkered flag, ending Moto 1 in 16th.
Moto 2:
Moto 2 presented another tough start for Cole, once again coming around lap one in 16th. As the race settled in, he fell back to 19th but showed resilience by digging deep and climbing back to finish 16th by the end of the moto. While the final results didn’t reflect the effort he put in, Cole’s tenacity and professionalism stood tall throughout the weekend.
With the curtain closing on the 31-round SuperMotocross season, the AEO Powersports KTM Team wrapped up the year on a high note. Lux Turner secured his best overall finish of the season with an impressive 8th overall, marking his second top-10 finish of the year. His performances in Vegas were a testament to his hard work, progression, and determination. We also want to extend a sincere thank you to Cole Thompson for joining the AEO Powersports team this season and contributing his experience and effort to the program. Lastly, a huge thank you goes out to all our sponsors and supporters who made it possible for us to go racing in 2025.
Results
Lux Turner – 8th
Race Results: 8 | 13
Cole Thompson – 19th
Race Results: 16 | 16
