A dramatic end to the 2025 NHRA season crowns a new king in Pro Stock Motorcycle racing.
In a season defined by tenacity, precision, and a final twist of fate, 2025 Champion Richard Gadson is now a title that echoes through NHRA history. The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines rider clinched the 2025 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle World Championship under extraordinary circumstances after torrential rain wiped out the final eliminations at Pomona. What was set to be a winner-take-all shootout between Gadson and teammate Gaige Herrera instead ended in a weather-forced cancellation that solidified Gadson’s lead—and handed him his first championship title.
The story of Richard Gadson is one of earned ascension. After years of grinding and sharpening his craft, 2025 marked a breakout campaign with four national event wins, including two clutch victories during the high-stakes Countdown to the Championship. Entering Pomona with a slim 21-point lead, Gadson had positioned himself perfectly. And though no one in racing dreams of a championship decided by cancellation, few could deny that Gadson’s ride to the top was anything but legitimate. His season was defined by near-flawless execution, consistent reaction times, and an iron-willed mindset forged alongside crew chief and former champion Eddie Krawiec.
Champion Richard Gadson: A Season of Dominance and Determination
The 2025 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle season will be remembered as the year Gadson’s title wasn’t just earned—it was forged. From the season opener to the rain-soaked finale in Pomona, Gadson rode with purpose and poise. Each round was a showcase of his evolution from potential to performance, from student to frontrunner.
After a strong regular season, Gadson surged during the Countdown. Two key wins propelled him past his teammate and primary rival, Gaige Herrera, a rider who had defined dominance in the class since 2023. While Herrera racked up an impressive eight number one qualifiers and seven wins during the season, early-round losses in Reading and Charlotte created an opening—one that Gadson seized with both hands and never let go. His mental toughness, as much as his technical skill, became the defining element of his title run.
“I always knew that if I could find my groove, I had the capability to be a champion,” Gadson said. “I was hungry and determined… I raced with a chip on my shoulder and something to prove.” His work with Krawiec, himself a four-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champ, was the glue that held it all together.
Champion Richard Gadson: Final Round Drama at Pomona
The 2025 NHRA season finale at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip was supposed to be the scene of an epic showdown: Gadson versus Herrera, separated by just 21 points, with everything on the line. But as relentless rain blanketed the Southern California venue from Friday through Sunday, the drama took a turn.
With all qualifying sessions canceled and elimination brackets set by existing points standings, Gadson held the provisional number one spot. Yet, anticipation for a definitive championship face-off was extinguished when officials were forced to cancel Sunday’s race entirely. NHRA rules awarded the championship to the points leader, Richard Gadson, by right, by effort, and now, by the record books.
Herrera, who finished just 21 points behind with 2,563 to Gadson’s 2,584, accepted the result with class, stating, “He had one heck of a year… he deserves it.”
Champion Richard Gadson: Vance & Hines Legacy, Future Showdown Ahead
For the RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki team, the outcome reflects more than a title—it represents the culmination of one of the most competitive internal team rivalries in recent NHRA memory. Crew chief Andrew Hines, himself a multi-time champion, summed it up best: “We’re super proud. The performance of our two Hayabusas was neck and neck all through the Countdown. Richard was darned near flawless all season long. Now he’s a world champion.”
With Gadson and Herrera finishing one-two, the Vance & Hines camp has redefined what a true team rivalry can be—respectful, fierce, and wildly productive. Looking ahead to 2026, both riders return with unfinished business and even sharper edges.
The NHRA 75th Anniversary Season kicks off at Gainesville Raceway on March 5–6, 2026, and Champion Richard Gadson now enters that stage not as an underdog, but as the man to beat.
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