Masterpool ready for a reset

Currently seventh in the 250cc classification of the 2025 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, this season has been a mixed bag for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Ty Masterpool.

While Masterpool’s opening motos this summer were solid – he went 7, 4, 4 and 8 in moto one at Pala, Hangtown, Thunder Valley and Mount Morris, respectively – his second motos at the same circuits have all been outside of the top 15. With finishes inside the top 11 at all four AMA 250cc rounds thus far, Masterpool is in the mix to fight for the 250cc title, and has been taking steps to place higher and more consistently in the remaining seven rounds.

Plagued by stubborn stomach issues and nutritional challenges thus far in the Pro Motocross Championship, the 23-year-old fromParadise, Texas has been hard at work.

“I made some pretty big changes and stuff this week," he said. "And with all of that, I’m still dealing with the sickness and the throwing up and all that I’ve been dealing with this season. However, it was a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, I thought I could have got it done this (past) weekend at High Point, but no, everything was still kind of new and we were trying out the new foods on race day and all that. At least we got answers for everything, so just looking forward to the next one at Southwick.

“We worked on quite a bit of stuff. I had to deal with a cold the first couple of rounds and I’ve also been throwing up and all of that. So, yes, I hired a different nutritionist and got answers for everything. It’s all good. I’m just trying to give my body more than a day or so to eat all of the nutrients for everything to work.

“All of this has definitely put me behind a little bit. Now I’m feeling good. The stamina is not too bad now. I had been throwing up every single weekend from the cold and I had to change my nutritionist and all that, so yes, I’ve really just been dealing with that stuff. It’s pretty hard to race whenever you’re throwing up and have no food in your system. But I’m going good now and I’m just ready to start racing.”

Heat, strength sapping humidity and fierce competition have all made Masterpool’s second motos extremely challenging – and frustrating.

“Yeah, obviously trying to race with no food in your system, it’s kind of like you’ve got no fuel in the tank,” Masterpool said. “Whenever you throw up on race day, its just kind of survival after that. It is definitely very frustrating, especially when I feel like I’ve got the speed and I’ve kind of got everything to be up there riding with the top guys and winning. Yes, pretty frustrating, I’d say. It’s the most frustrated I’ve been. But at least we’ve got answers and know what it is. I’ve just got to give the body some time to adjust to it. It has been pretty hard and it’s frustrating for Mitch and for me and for the team.”

Signed to Mitch Payton and the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team as a last second addition in 2024, Masterpool has settled in quite well with the Corona, California-based operation.

“I appreciate the team,” he said. “We’ve just been figuring it all out. I’m really grateful for Mitch and everyone, and it has been good. We made some good improvements on the bike after the first couple of rounds. The bike is getting better and better. I came back here to Texas last week, and the bike has been feeling pretty good here. I’m looking forward to everything we do this year. And all of my teammates are really cool. I actually just went to Levi Kitchen’s nutritionist. He’s the one who is helping me out now. It’s cool to work with him, and it is cool that Levi let me go over there. I really get along with all my teammates. There are good vibes over there. It’s really cool.” 

Next stop for Masterpool: The Wick 338 and the Southwick, Massachusetts sandbox on June 28.

"We will do some sand track testing this week," he said "Bring on the sand, I’m ready for it. Then a week later will be RedBud. I really like RedBud. I’ve had some good races there in the past and I’m really looking forward to it. RedBud is going to be a sweet one.

"I’m pretty happy with my riding. I feel like my speed has been there. Everything has kind of been there. Just been pretty frustrating dealing with the health and the throwing up. But like I said, at least we’ve got answers for that. With the circumstances, it has been tough. At Hangtown I was sick and had the fever on race day. I was throwing up all day. To be racing there under the weather and in that kind of heat and keeping my head screwed on and staying off the ground and all that, I was pretty happy with it. The results aren’t really showing it, but I’m pretty happy with it. I feel like my experience is showing. There is a lot of good to take away from all this.”