Cycle News Staff | May 13, 2023
The final round of the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series is taking place today here in Salt Lake City, Utah. It all comes down to this as fans will see a 450SX champion crowned along with another 250SX showdown. Here’s how things shook down in the qualifying sessions.
At the end of the night, fans saw Chase Sexton and Jett Lawrence take their respective victories.
MAIN EVENT
450SX
Chase Sexton had a point to prove in the 450SX main event. He put a solid stamp to the end of his season with a wire-to-wire win, lapping all the way up to fifth place on the track. With this win, Sexton takes the 2023 450SX title, the first of his career.
Aaron Plessinger returned to action tonight in Salt Lake. He nearly won his heat race and later got off to a great start in the main event. A pass on Adam Cianciarulo put AP on the box in his first race back. He’ll end the season with his best result of the year.
Justin Hill grabbed the final spot on the podium, the best finish of his 450 career. The Team Tedder KTM rider continues his personal bests as he builds in the final stages of the year. He passed Cianciarulo late in the race and held off the number-nine for the duration of the main.
Heartbreak for Ken Roczen who retired from the race on lap one with a knee injury. He only needed two points to beat Cooper Webb in the championship, but he did not finish tonight’s race.
450SX Main Event Final Results (Top 10)
1. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
25 Laps |
2. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
+18.266 |
3. |
Justin Hill |
(KTM) |
+21.400 |
4. |
Adam Cianciarulo |
(Kaw) |
+24.998 |
5. |
Dean Wilson |
(Hon) |
+28.359 |
6. |
Josh Hill |
(KTM) |
24 Laps |
7. |
Shane McElrath |
(Suz) |
+04.410 |
8. |
Justin Starling |
(GG) |
+15.941 |
9. |
Devin Simonson |
(Kaw) |
+23.173 |
10. |
Grant Harlan |
(Yam) |
+28.816 |
250SX
After the east and west heat races, the top 250 racers from each coast came together for the final 250 showdown of the season. RJ Hampshire grabbed the holeshot over a stacked field and on a slippery race track. He led the first seven laps of the main event before Jett Lawrence made the deciding pass just after the whoop section. The two made contact but both stayed up. Hampshire held on for second place and therefore secures second in overall points.
Jett Lawrence put a stamp on his season with another big win. He already wrapped up the title coming into Salt Lake and played it safe during the opening stages of the main event. After the first five minutes, Lawrence made an aggressive pass on Hampshire after the whoops and took over the lead. With this win Lawrence caps off his dominant 250 career.
Levi Kitchen held on for third in the 250 showdown. The Yamaha rider took the win in the west coast heat race and looked to be a favorite in the main event. His laps were just a tick off the front two racers and Kitchen cruised it in for the final spot on the box. He takes third in the west coast points and makes it a west coast sweep on the podium tonight.
Jo Shimoda finished fourth, making him the top east coast rider tonight.
Hunter Lawrence got caught up in carnage off the start and rounded the first lap in the back of the field. He worked his way up to sixth by the end of the main.
Max Anstie and Haiden Deegan were locked in a points battle going into the main event. Anstie held off the rookie Deegan in the race, but it wasn’t good enough for to win the war. Deegan takes second in the east coast points by just one over Anstie.
250SX Showdown Final Results (Top 10)
1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
19 Laps |
2. |
RJ Hampshire |
(Hus) |
+04.760 |
3. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Yam) |
+07.223 |
4. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Kaw) |
+18.404 |
5. |
Jordon Smith |
(Yam) |
+26.194 |
6. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
+26.619 |
7. |
Max Anstie |
(Hon) |
+27.814 |
8. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
+32.118 |
9. |
Mitchell Oldenburg |
(Hon) |
+48.260 |
10. |
Carson Mumford |
(Kaw) |
+50.077 |
QUALIFYING
450SX
It’s Chase Sexton’s day here in Salt Lake City. The number-23 basically has to finish the race (not even that) in order to clinch the title. Obviously, Sexton is a competitor and wants to win any time he’s out on track. He set the best time of the 450’s ahead of Ken Roczen and Justin Hill.
450SX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
1. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
46.751 |
2. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
46.958 |
3. |
Justin Hill |
(KTM) |
47.403 |
4. |
Dean Wilson |
(Hon) |
47.538 |
5. |
Adam Cianciarulo |
(Kaw) |
47.805 |
6. |
Josh Hill |
(KTM) |
47.898 |
7. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
48.177 |
8. |
Shane McElrath |
(Suz) |
48.266 |
9. |
Grant Harlan |
(Yam) |
48.787 |
10. |
Kyle Chisholm |
(Suz) |
48.794 |
250SX West
Jett Lawrence made it a Lawrence brother duo as the two Honda champs put their number-ones at the front of the qualifying field. Jett’s time was slightly off Hunter’s as the East Coast riders hit the track first. Hampshire and Lopes rounded out the west qualifying podium.
250SX West Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
47.052 |
2. |
RJ Hampshire |
(Hus) |
47.340 |
3. |
Enzo Lopes |
(Yam) |
47.747 |
4. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Yam) |
47.751 |
5. |
Mitchell Oldenburg |
(Hon) |
48.229 |
6. |
Max Vohland |
(KTM) |
48.297 |
7. |
Carson Mumford |
(Kaw) |
48.337 |
8. |
Derek Kelley |
(KTM) |
48.353 |
9. |
Dilan Schwartz |
(Suz) |
48.586 |
10. |
Cole Thompson |
(Yam) |
48.797 |
250SX East
Hunter Lawrence came out sporting the big 1E as the East Coast champ topped the practice charts. He just edged Jordon Smith who was only 0.02 seconds off Lawrence’s best time. These two were the only 250 riders to touch the 46-second mark and were technically the fastest riders of the day. Jo Shimoda was third with Martin and Deegan both in the top five with 47’s.
250SX East Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
1. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
46.572 |
2. |
Jordon Smith |
(Yam) |
46.593 |
3. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Kaw) |
47.123 |
4. |
Jeremy Martin |
(Yam) |
47.139 |
5. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
47.387 |
6. |
Max Anstie |
(Hon) |
48.193 |
7. |
Chris Blose |
(Kaw) |
48.243 |
8. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
48.305 |
9. |
Jace Owen |
(Hon) |
48.632 |
10. |
Michael Hicks |
(Hon) |
48.638 |
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