Steve Cox | July 28, 2018
2018 Washougal 250cc National MX Results: Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger won four motos in a row as the series headed to Washougal, so expectations were high for him in the heat and dust of Washougal Motocross Park in Washington.
While Plessinger didn’t manage to even come close to winning a moto at Washougal, he still came away the winner. Sometimes, things are just going your way.
And sometimes, they simply aren’t.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy grabbed a massive holeshot to start the first moto and was joined up front by teammate Austin Forkner. TLD/Red Bull KTM’s Jordon Smith moved through a few racers to grab third before the end of the first lap, and points leader Plessinger passed three racers on lap two to grab fourth (gifted one of those spots by teammate Dylan Ferrandis, when he crashed out of fourth).
2018 Washougal 250cc National MX Results
Plessinger tried to make a couple moves on Smith for third early in the race, but Smith wouldn’t allow it. Out front, Forkner squared a corner to take the lead from Savatgy on lap six and held the spot until time had almost expired, when Savatgy shoved his way back by on the inside of a rutted left-hander to steal the lead back. Forkner tried to retaliate, but Savatgy held on to take the win over Forkner, Smith, Plessinger and GEICO Honda’s Chase Sexton. Behind them came fast qualifier Justin Cooper, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Michael Mosiman, Smith’s teammates Alex Martin and Shane McElrath, and Sexton’s teammate RJ Hampshire.
The Pro Circuit 1-2 was the best moto of the season for the team, but again, sometimes things just aren’t going your way…
2018 Washougal 250cc National MX Results
Plessinger got the holeshot in moto two, but was passed right away by McElrath, who immediately started pulling away. Plessinger had Forkner chasing him at the start of the second lap when Forkner went down extremely hard over the scrub jump at the base of Horsepower Hill, ending his day. Savatgy was stuck coming through the pack from the tail end of the top 30 after going down in the second turn. Plessinger’s teammates Ferrandis and Nichols were chasing him. Plessinger gave up the second spot near the end of the moto when he fell over in a corner, handing the spot to Ferrandis, and Nichols eventually gave way to Hampshire for fourth.
McElrath was absolutely dominant in the moto, winning by almost 13 seconds over Ferrandis, Plessinger, Hampshire, Nichols, Martin, Mosiman’s teammate Mitchell Harrison, Cooper, and Savatgy, who fought his way up to ninth place. Sexton was 10th. Smith, who was third in the opening moto, was involved in the same incident as Savatgy on the opening lap and ended up 13th.
2018 Washougal 250cc National MX Results
Plessinger ended up with the unlikely overall win with a 4-3 score over McElrath’s 1-9 and Savatgy’s 9-1, but in the big picture, Plessinger now leads Martin by 59 points in the championship chase with three rounds (six motos) still left to run.
Now, there’s a weekend off before the final three rounds kick off at Unadilla Valley Sports Center in New Berlin, New York, on August 11th.
2018 Washougal 250cc National MX Results
2018 Washougal 250cc National MX Results
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