Ryan Nitzen | January 22, 2022
Round three of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series either sets the tone for the season or blows it wide open. Tonight in San Diego was no different. After drama-filled heat races and LCQ’s we dropped the gates in Petco Park. Chase Sexton and Michael Mosiman made it a night of first as they both claimed their first career main event wins.
450SX – Big news at the main event gate drop was the absence of Adam Cianciarulo and Joey Savatgy. Both riders openly spoke about riding with injuries and we imagine crashes in their heat races re-aggravated them. AC is dealing with a grade-three AC shoulder separation and Savatgy suffered a torn ACL earlier last week.
The 450SX continued its cut throat nature with a neck and neck start. Chase Sexton (Honda HRC), Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM), Eli Tomac (Star Racing Yamaha) and the rest of the field’s heaviest hitters started up front in tonight’s main event. Marvin Musquin was credited with the holeshot and lead the pack through the line on lap one.
Chase Sexton clinched his first career 450SX win. Photo Brown Dog Wilson
Chase Sexton made it another night to remember as he took the lead early from Marvin Musquin and proceeded to check out. The 450 sophomore convincingly set the fastest lap of the race and led 23 of the 26 laps to take the win. This win is something we all saw coming and could be dangerous for the rest of the pack if Chase starts to gain momentum. Sexton now jumps to second in points, only one back from the lead.
Eli Tomac again put in his best ride aboard his new Yamaha. Tomac looked to have pace at the beginning of the race but ultimately settled into a comfortable second place for the duration of the race. He rode solid and finished six seconds back from Sexton. Tomac now holds the red plate, just one point over Sexton.
Eli Tomac put in his best ride yet aboard his new Yamaha. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
Dylan Ferrandis (Star Racing Yamaha) rounded out the podium with his best finish of the year. The French rider put in the second-best time in qualifying and proved to have some very fast lines on the course. After a 10th place start, Ferrandis made a number of key passes and brought it home for the final podium spot.
Dylan Ferrandis rounded out the podium. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
A quiet night for the number-one of Cooper Webb. He started up front and ran with the leaders for the opening laps but never was able to make anything stick. He cruised it in for fourth place and is now tied for second in the overall points.
It was a night of what-ifs for Ken Roczen and Jason Anderson. Both riders had serious pace at the start of the night but suffered mishaps along the way. Roczen was running third for the early part of the main, but a charging Anderson took his wheel away just after the whoop section. He hit the deck and never fully recovered, finishing seventh on the night.
San Diego 450SX podium.
Anderson on the other hand was the man on the move. He worked his way up to second place at one time, making the same pass on both Ken Roczen and Eli Tomac in the matter of a few laps. Shortly after, his bike began smoking and he was forced to roll jumps and rhythm sections. He rode visibly frustrated and nursed his bike home for a ninth.
(FINAL RESULTS)
450SX Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
26 Laps |
| 2. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
06.001 |
| 3. |
Delan Ferrandis |
(Yam) |
07.758 |
| 4. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
09.133 |
| 5. |
Malcom Stewart |
(Hus) |
12.438 |
| 6. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
16.124 |
| 7. |
Ken Roczen |
(Hon) |
16.775 |
| 8. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
18.089 |
| 9. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
32.936 |
| 10. |
Marvin Musquin |
(KTM) |
35.727 |
250SX
The 250SX main event began with a huge huge pile up in the first turn. Points leader Christian Craig (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) got collected in the carnage and crossed the first lap at the very back of the pack. Up front it was TLD Red Bull GasGas’s Michael Mosiman and Hunter Lawrence (Honda HRC) who benefitted the most and led the way.
Michael Mosiman finally claimed his first main event win.
Michael Mosiman put on the ride of his career tonight leading every lap of the 250SX main event. He rode a mistake-free race despite a ton of lap traffic. That first turn crash shuffled the pack and many new faces were racing at the front of the pack. This caused more and more riders to become lappers as the leaders continued with a blistering pace. Mosiman fended off multiple charges from Hunter Lawrence and took the checkers, the first main event win of his career.
Hunter Lawrence finished second for the second week in a row.
Hunter Lawrence crossed the line second, but not from a lack of trying. The Honda rider stalked Mosiman for the first three-quarters of the main event and searched for a place to make a pass stick. He was visibly faster in the whoops and picked that as the place to pass. With only a few laps to go, Lawrence went for the pass but got sideways and crashed. He remounted a strong charge late in the race but it was too little too late. The number-96 earns another second at round three.
Christian Craig rode a championship-worthy race, going from last to third.
Christian Craig put on a championship-worthy ride tonight. The red-plate holder went down in a nasty first turn pileup and crossed the opening lap in 20th place. He fought every lap and eventually worked his way up to fourth place behind Vince Friese (MotoConcepts Honda). The two exchanged a number of over-the-top block passes with Craig ultimately getting the position. After that it was smooth sailing for the 28 machine as he nabbed the last spot in the podium and maintained his points lead.
Vince Friese rode a solid race and collected fourth on the night. He was in podium contention for most of the race after Yamaha’s Nate Thrasher crashed off the track around the half-way mark. Friese gave Christian Craig a run for his money trying to hold third place but Craig eventually made a pass stick. Still a strong performance for the veteran Friese.
San Diego 250SX podium.
Jo Shimoda (Pro Circuit Kawasaki) also found himself collected in the first turn crash. The number-30 just can’t seem to catch a break this season and again was forced to fight his way through the field. He came home fifth on the night, his season best but surely not a ride that lives up to his expectations.
250SX West (Top 10)
| 1. |
Michael Mosiman |
(GG) |
20 Laps |
| 2. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
01.361 |
| 3. |
Christian Craig |
(Yam) |
25.109 |
| 4. |
Vince Friese |
(Hon) |
27.058 |
| 5. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Kaw) |
44.178 |
| 6. |
Carson Mumford |
(Suz) |
52.302 |
| 7. |
Jalek Swoll |
(Hus) |
19 Laps |
| 8. |
Nate Thrasher |
(Yam) |
02.854 |
| 9. |
Cole Thompson |
(Yam) |
05.416 |
| 10. |
Carson Brown |
(KTM) |
08.076 |
Qualifying
Today is round three of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series and we’re live from Petco Park in San Diego, California to bring you all the action. Practice just wrapped up and the riders are getting ready for another exciting night show.
The San Diego round is again serving as Military Appreciation night. This is one of our favorite rounds as most of the riders and teams are participating with custom graphics and gear. Be sure to check out our pit photos down below.
A few more notes include not having Seth Hammaker (Pro Circuit Kawasaki) on the line tonight. A mid-week practice crash left him with a grade three spleen laceration along with compression fractures in his back. Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Husqvarna) is back this week after a big crash at the season opener forced him to sit out round two.
450SX – Jason Anderson topped the 450 class today with a heater on the last lap of qualifying. Anderson and Ferrandis were the only two riders to crack the 47-second mark. Chase Sexton, Marvin Musquin, and Malcom Stewart rounded out the top five.
Last week’s winner Jason Anderson topped the charts in qualifying. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Dylan Ferrandis was the only other rider to crack the 47-second mark. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
Chase Sexton clocked the third fastest lap. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
250SX – Christian Craig continues his qualifying dominance. The number-28 again put down the fastest lap in timed qualifying, three-tenths ahead of Hunter Lawrence in second. Michael Mosiman rounded out the top three with Marchbanks and Shimoda completing the top five.
Christian Craig is three-for-three in qualifying. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
Hunter Lawrence nabbed second late in the session. Photo Brown Dog Wilson
Michael Mosiman is in the mix again tonight. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
QUALIFYING
450SX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
47.896 |
| 2. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Yam) |
47.966 |
| 3. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
48.141 |
| 4. |
Marvin Musquin |
(KTM) |
48.346 |
| 5. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
48.352 |
| 6. |
Ken Roczen |
(Hon) |
48.382 |
| 7. |
Adam Cianciarulo |
(Kaw) |
48.509 |
| 8. |
Justin Brayton |
(Hon) |
48.672 |
| 9. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
48.857 |
| 10. |
Max Anstie |
(KTM) |
49.089 |
250SX West Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Christian Craig |
(Yam) |
48.216 |
| 2. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
48.216 |
| 3. |
Michael Mosiman |
(GG) |
48.985 |
| 4. |
Garrett Marchbanks |
(Yam) |
49.464 |
| 5. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Kaw) |
49.613 |
| 6. |
Chris Blose |
(GG) |
49.900 |
| 7. |
Jalek Swoll |
(Hus) |
50.054 |
| 8. |
Nate Thrasher |
(GG) |
50.141 |
| 9. |
Vince Friese |
(Hon) |
50.220 |
| 10. |
Derek Kelley |
(KTM) |
50.555 |
Pit Pics
Justin Barcia’s GasGas is all red tonight with the red plate. Photo: Ryan Nitzen
The Kawasaki crew is sporting a cool camo kit. Photo: Ryan Nitzen
Cooper Webb’s KTM has some red, white, and blue. Photo: Ryan Nitzen
The Factory Honda team has this red and white livery. Photo: Ryan Nitzen
Team Solitaire Yamaha did up these really cool Army Ranger themed bikes. This is Robbie Wageman’s #69. Photo: Ryan Nitzen
Rocky Mountain KTM is rocking these patriotic kits tonight. Check out the Seat Concepts seat cover. Photo: Ryan Nitzen
Jerry Robin is doing themed graphics for each stop on the schedule. This is his San Diego Padres inspired look. Photo: Ryan Nitzen
“Stank Dog” Gered Steinke qualified for the 250SX main event last weekend on a 125 two-stroke. He’s rocking this army-green getup. Photo: Ryan Nitzen
The SGB Honda team went all out with the red and silver warthog. Photo: Ryan Nitzen
Kyle Chisholm is pitting with the Rock River Yamaha crew. They’re all sporting an American flag theme on their YZ’s. Photo: Ryan Nitzen
Cheyenne Harmon got the memo on full camo. Photo: Ryan Nitzen
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