Last week we heard from Nick Romano on his switch to Phoenix Racing Honda from Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing. During the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) media days in Anaheim, California, we also heard from two of Romano’s teammates, Gavin Towers and Evan Ferry. Phoenix Racing Honda has undertaken a fairly green squad of riders with both Ferry and Romano starting their second seasons in the pro ranks, while Towers will be lining up for the first time as pro in Monster Energy AMA Supercross (he raced SX Futures in 2024. Rounding out the four rider 250SX squad for a supercross-only deal will be Cullin Park, who has ridden for the team since his rookie season in 2022.
Gavin Towers started the 2024 season on Yamahas for Star Racing. He nearly won a few of SX Futures events, but couldn't grab that elusive victory. Instead, then, he was off for Europe and a Yamaha ride in the FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP) for the EMX and MX2 classes over the summer. His time with Star and Yamaha eventually ran out, and now the Pennsylvania native is back in the U.S.
“It's been a crazy year," he recounted. "I started out here in January, pretty good night, ended up second [in Anaheim 2 SX Futures] and then had a few up and downs but took everything and tried to learn as much as I could. And then after Salt Lake, whether you can call it good or bad, we were off to Europe so that kind of deal happened really quickly. I mean, it was Salt Lake [Supercross] and May 22nd I was on a flight to Paris. So, it has been a wild ride. Raced a lot which helped me. So, when I got back and we kind of had this deal worked out after I pretty much made my mind up that I wasn't gonna stay [in Europe]. I always wanted to come back and race supercross and they kind of knew that over there. It was just kind of a deal that was gonna be quick and just take the experience. I'm happy I did it. I learned a lot as a person, learned a lot as a rider and just took everything I could out of it. And I didn't really see how much it would help me until I got back here, and I started riding again. So, once I started riding outdoors, it really showed through.”
![Gavin Towers]()
Gavin Towers Courtesy of Phoenix Honda ![Gavin Towers]()
Gavin Towers Courtesy of Phoenix Honda
At 20 years old it has been a slow build for Towers moving into the pro ranks, which can be a smart move as others jump up before they are fully ready and suffer because of it. Now armed with invaluable experience from a summer in Europe, Towers is enjoying his new bike and team and feels now is the time, as he spoke of his plans for 2025.
“It's full supercross, full motocross, full SMX," he said. "So, it's the whole deal. It's time to go up. Luckily, I have the Futures experience. I kind of know what to expect, but at the end of the day it's still racing your first supercross race and to be at Anaheim 1 [if he races West] it would be really cool, but it would also be cool to race on the East Coast. I have a home race in Pittsburgh.”
The third and final newcomer to the team, Evan Ferry also had a wild 2024 season. Ferry started the year out on Triumph and made his pro debut at Detroit where he never made it through the first turn, caught up in that infamous first turn crash. He collided with the stadium wall and never lined up again in supercross in 2024. Before the AMA Pro Motocross Championship started he and Triumph had parted ways, and he rode outdoors for Wildcat Racing. After a turbulent year, Ferry also is happy to find a home with Phoenix Racing.
“Yeah, I think from a physical standpoint I'm at such a better point than I was last year," Ferry says. "Last year, I thought I felt good and then I came in and I'm like, “Man, I don't feel good.” I did have a lot of time on the bike, but I had a long time where I didn't actually race. Basically after ‘22 and Ironman [I didn't race.] I'm like, 'Man, I forgot how to race!' So, there towards the end of the outdoor season, I had a few like flashy moments, nothing crazy. I mean, it was a pretty quiet outdoor season for me. I got some points or whatever, I was pretty stoked with that. But yeah, just getting the racing under my belt and I guess you could say being mid pack every single race, like it definitely taught me how to race again. Mentally too, I'm in a lot better spot. I'm super happy right now, life is good right now for sure.”
![Evan Ferry]()
Evan Ferry Courtesy of Phoenix Honda ![Evan Ferry]()
Evan Ferry Courtesy of Phoenix Honda
After trying out many different bike brands in the last few years, Ferry is happy with the Honda.
“Honestly, it's been awesome. Like I actually rode my dad’s Kawi, which is an aluminum frame and I, for whatever reason, ever since I switched over to an aluminum frame, I just felt really comfortable. I hopped on the new [2025] Honda, it’s really good. The frame is awesome, super predictable. It's been perfect kind of ever since I got on it. I've had like little to no complaints at all. Like we're really still in the base setting that I started on a few weeks ago. And, honestly, I don't even really know what I really wanna fix on it because there isn't really much to fix right now.”
For Towers and Ferry, 2024 created a roller coaster ride of multiple teams, bikes, and even continents. Might a full year with Phoenix Honda provide the stability they need to finally reach their potential?
