Jean Turner | April 23, 2016
Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots was host to round seven of the Monster Energy 250SX East Supercross, where Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Martin Davalos celebrated the win. Jeremy Martin joined him on the Foxboro Supercross podium in second while Malcolm Stewart stretched his championship lead with his third place finish.
Davalos took control of the 250SX main at the Foxboro Supercross after an exciting three-way (and at one point four-way) battle for the lead involving Shane McElrath, Martin and Stewart. In the early going, it was Stewart who had clear track ahead while Davalos was working his way forward through the pack with Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Martin in tow.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Martin Davalos (center) celebrates the 250SX East win at the Foxboro Supercross flanked by Malcolm Stewart (left) and Jeremy Martin (right). Photography by Hoppenworld
By the halfway point, Davalos had closed in on the leaders, and gotten around McElrath to take over second. Stewart made a small mistake in the whoops that allowed Davalos to close in and eventually make a pass, but Stewart kept his cool. The GEICO Honda rider also kept his cool when Martin made an aggressive block pass that left Stewart in third place. Stewart held on for third, admitting from the podium that he had the championship—not the race—on his mind. His third-place finish allowed him to not only retain the points lead, but extend it over Aaron Plessinger.
“I didn’t ride my best, but I don’t want to throw this championship away like that,” Stewart said, commenting on his eighth-place finish at the previous round in St. Louis after crashing three times in the main. “Overall, those guys were going faster than me so hats off to those guys. Tonight wasn’t our night, but I’m not letting it go away like that. We’re going to fight all the way to the end.”
Conversely, Davalos maintains he’s taking each race on its own. After missing the Toronto round, and likely forfeiting any chance at the championship, Davalos is out to rack up race wins.
“My main goal each race is just to attack each race and not worry about anything else,” said Davalos. “I’ve had a rough couple of weeks but the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team worked really hard to make improvements to the bike and I can’t thank them enough.”
Aaron Plessinger came into the Foxboro Supercross only trailing points leader Stewart by one point, but he gave up a little ground with his fifth-place finish behind McElrath, who edged him out for fourth place during a last-lap battle to the checkers. Plessinger is still second in the championship, but now five points behind Stewart with two rounds remaining.
Foxboro Supercross 250SX East Results
- Martin Davalos (Hus)
- Jeremy Martin (Yam)
- Malcolm Stewart (Hon)
- Shane McElrath (KTM)
- Aaron Plessinger (Yam)
- Tyler Bowers (Kaw)
- Gannon Audette (Kaw)
- RJ Hampshire (Hon)
- Anthony Rodriguez (Kaw)
- Luke Rezland (Yam)
- Justin Starling (Kaw)
- Henry Miller (Hon)
- Dakota Alix (KTM)
- Paul Coates (Hon)
- Daniel Herrlein (Hon)
- Vann Martin (Hon)
- Jimmy Albertson (Suz)
- Jacob Williamson (Kaw)
- Alexander Frye (KTM)
- Tyler Bereman (Kaw)
- Cody Church (Kaw)
- Darryn Durham (Yam)
250SX East Championship Standings
- Malcolm Stewart (135)
- Aaron Plessinger (130)
- Jeremy Martin (121)
- Martin Davalos (108)
- Tyler Bowers (93)
- Shane McElrath (91)
- Gannon Audette (91)
- RJ Hampshire (90)
- Anthony Rodriguez (70)
- Justin Hill (63)
