It’s time to go racing in East Rutherford! The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series takes to MetLife Stadium for round 14 of this year’s title chase and the points are close in both championships tonight. In the 450’s, just 12 points separate Cooper Webb and Chase Sexton, while the 250SX East division sees two riders hold the red plate.
After two main events, fans saw Chase Sexton and Seth Hammaker race to clear victories in their respective main events.
MAIN EVENTS
450SX
Chase Sexton dominated the 450SX main event. The KTM rider took over the lead on the first lap, just slightly ahead of his title rival Cooper Webb. Sexton’s sprint speed was apparent as he unlocked a new rhythm lane in the opening laps and clocked the fastest lap time of the day. A series of fast laps saw him open up a double-digit gap over Webb as he went on to lap up to eighth place. Another clutch win sees Sexton cut the points gap to just nine.
Cooper Webb held on for second. The points leader looked to battle Sexton off the start but he slowly lost the tow to the leader as the laps wore on. Webb lost the majority of his time in the whoops as he continued to jump through while Sexton blitzed. He crossed the line 14 seconds behind Sexton but still holds the points lead going into the final three rounds.
Aaron Plessinger grabbed another podium in third. He battled with his training partner Justin Barcia for the majority of the race and finally made the pass once Barcia crashed through the whoops. Plessinger held off a hard-charging Justin Cooper and kept his spot on the podium.
Justin Cooper put in a charge towards the end and got close to Plessinger but still finished fourth. Dylan Ferrandis rode great and rounded out the top five.
450SX Main Event (Top 10)
| 1. | Chase Sexton | (KTM) | 24 Laps |
| 2. | Cooper Webb | (Yam) | 14.645 |
| 3. | Aaron Plessinger | (KTM) | 29.143 |
| 4. | Justin Cooper | (Yam) | 31.635 |
| 5. | Dylan Ferrandis | (Hon) | 37.765 |
| 6. | Malcolm Stewart | (Hus) | 42.620 |
| 7. | Ken Roczen | (Suz) | 58.874 |
| 8. | Shane McElrath | (Hon) | 1 Lap |
| 9. | Dean Wilson | (Hon) | 1 Lap |
| 10. | Justin Hill | (KTM) | 1 Lap |
250SX
Seth Hammaker became the first repeat winner in the 250SX East Division with his victory in East Rutherford. The Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider passed for the lead on lap one and led every lap from there on out. He kept the gap right around four seconds over RJ Hampshire and now solely controls the points lead by three over Hampshire.
RJ Hampshire crossed the line in second place. He moved into third in the opening laps but couldn’t get close enough to make a run at Hammaker at the front. Hampshire passed Nate Thrasher for second once Thrasher fell after the triple jump. The Husqvarna rider lost three points to Hammaker and is now second in overall points.
Tom Vialle finished third at the checkers. The defending champion started outside the top five but moved his way into podium territory near the halfway mark of the main event. Vialle looked fast all night and got close to Hampshire but never managed to make a pass stick. He settled for third place, his fourth podium in eight races, and is now seven points back from Hammaker in the championship.
Nate Thrasher crossed the line in fourth but received a penalty after the race, pushing him to fifth. Cullin Park is credited with fourth overall.
250SX Main Event (Top 10)
| 1. | Seth Hammaker | (Kaw) | 19 Laps |
| 2. | RJ Hampshire | (Hus) | 4.885 |
| 3. | Tom Vialle | (KTM) | 6.719 |
| 4. | Cullin Park | (Hon) | 47.985 |
| 5. | Nate Thrasher | (Yam) | 10.432 |
| 6. | Max Vohland | (Yam) | 52.695 |
| 7. | Austin Forkner | (Tri) | 1 Lap |
| 8. | Henry Miller | (Hon) | 1 Lap |
| 9. | Devin Simonson | (Yam) | 1 Lap |
| 10. | Luke Neese | (Hon) | 1 Lap |
QUALIFYING
450SX
450 Qualifying has been an absolute nail biter this year! Cooper Webb and Chase Sexton traded fast laps back and forth all morning but Justin Cooper snuck to the top of the board late in the final session. Cooper’s 51.443 earned him the best lap and makes him the fastest rider of the day. Chase Sexton’s time held up for second with Webb just under two-tenths back. Ken Roczen and Malcolm Stewart rounded out the top five.
450SX Overall Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. | Justin Cooper | (Yam) | 51.443 |
| 2. | Chase Sexton | (KTM) | 51.554 |
| 3. | Cooper Webb | (Yam) | 51.593 |
| 4. | Ken Roczen | (Suz) | 51.938 |
| 5. | Malcolm Stewart | (Hus) | 52.013 |
| 6. | Justin Hill | (KTM) | 52.755 |
| 7. | Joey Savatgy | (Hon) | 52.782 |
| 8. | Justin Barcia | (GG) | 52.787 |
| 9. | Dylan Ferrandis | (Hon) | 52.916 |
| 10. | Mitchell Oldenburg | (Bet) | 52.990 |
250SX
The points are tied in the 250SX East Coast division with Seth Hammaker and RJ Hampshire sharing the red plate today. Even the defending champ, Tom Vialle, is only two points back in third. All three of these riders were on top in qualifying but Hammaker came out swinging and set the best lap, a full second faster than Hampshire in second. Vialle was third, one tenth off of Hampshire’s time. Austin Forkner and Nate Thrasher rounded out the top five.
250SX East Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. | Seth Hammaker | (Kaw) | 51.521 |
| 2. | RJ Hampshire | (Hus) | 52.595 |
| 3. | Tom Vialle | (KTM) | 52.655 |
| 4. | Austin Forkner | (Tri) | 52.691 |
| 5. | Nate Thrasher | (Yam) | 52.810 |
| 6. | Cullin Park | (Hon) | 53.010 |
| 7. | Max Vohland | (Yam) | 53.158 |
| 8. | Chance Hymas | (Hon) | 53.691 |
| 9. | Henry Miller | (Hon) | 53.732 |
| 10. | Luke Neese | (Hon) | 54.312 |
