Ryan Nitzen | March 11, 2023
Round nine of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series in underway in Indianapolis, Indiana. The track is soft and rutted but the intensity is high inside Lucas Oil Stadium. After a close night of racing, fans saw Ken Roczen and Hunter Lawrence take top honors.
Main Event
450SX
What. A. Race. Fans got treated to another insane night of racing in the 450SX division. Ken Roczen grabbed the early lead over Adam Cianciarulo and Cooper Webb. Chase Sexton quickly moved into third and challenged Roczen for the lead early on.
Sexton was closing on the lead, but fell. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Sexton eventually suffered a big crash which cushioned Roczen’s lead. The Suzuki rider continued to hold the top spot as Justin Barcia found himself in second place and closing in on the lead.
Barcia and Roczen went toe to toe for the final few laps, each making their own big mistakes. Eventually, Roczen held on for the win, just 0.7 seconds over Barcia. This marks his first win with the HEP Suzuki Team.
Roczen claimed took the holeshot and never relinquished.
Cooper Webb ran second for most of the race but gave up the spot to Barcia around the half-way point. He stuck to the back wheel of the GasGas rider for a few laps but eventually cruised it in for a safe third. Webb now takes control of the points by one over Eli Tomac who finished eighth.
Roczen held on for the win.
450 Podium.
450SX Final Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
27 Laps |
| 2. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
+0.739 |
| 3. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
+08.852 |
| 4. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
+19.436 |
| 5. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
+27.754 |
| 6. |
Adam Cianciarulo |
(Kaw) |
+38.914 |
| 7. |
Christian Craig |
(Hus) |
+39.027 |
| 8. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
+44.426 |
| 9. |
Justin Hill |
(KTM) |
26 Laps |
| 10. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
+03.093 |
250SX
The 250SX main event was all about Hunter Lawrence. Despite the track breaking down tremendously over the course of the main, Lawrence got the holeshot and led every lap of the race. He had a close run in with a lapper but still set the fastest lap of race. Lawrence now sits 22 points up on second place in the overall championship.
Another big win for Hunter Lawrence. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Nate Thrasher rode a great race to finish second place. He made a few key passes in the early stages of the race and got fairly close to Lawrence at one point. Thrasher held strong for the entire main event and cruise it in 7.9 seconds behind the leader. He’s now third in the overall championship.
Nate Thrasher grabbed second.
Jordon Smith rounded out the podium in Indy. He started up front with the rest of his Star Racing teammates but lost a spot to Nate Thrasher early on. Smith racks up another consistent podium on the season and is fourth (-1 point) back from his teammate Thrasher.
Jordon Smith claimed third place.
250 Podium.
250SX Final Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
21 Laps |
| 2. |
Nate Thrasher |
(Yam) |
+07.970 |
| 3. |
Jordon Smith |
(Yam) |
+15.288 |
| 4. |
Jeremy Martin |
(Yam) |
+22.218 |
| 5. |
Max Anstie |
(Hon) |
+32.338 |
| 6. |
Chris Blose |
(Kaw) |
+41.489 |
| 7. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
+43.900 |
| 8. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
+46.286 |
| 9. |
Cullin Park |
(Hon) |
20 Laps |
| 10. |
Coty Schock |
(Hon) |
+06.080 |
Qualifying
450SX
The track is a different kind of tough this weekend. The ruts and soft dirt are adding another layer of difficulty to the already demanding conditions of Supercross.
Chase Sexton put in the best practice time with a 45.215. This is technically Chase’s home race so no surprise that he excels in these conditions. Ken Roczen and Jason Anderson went second and third fastest this morning.
Sexton claimed pole position in the 450’s. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Anderson rounded out the top three.
Full Results
450SX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
45.215 |
| 2. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
45.335 |
| 3. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
45.623 |
| 4. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
45.665 |
| 5. |
Ei Tomac |
(Yam) |
45.802 |
| 6. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
45.804 |
| 7. |
Christian Craig |
(Hus) |
45.928 |
| 8. |
Adam Cianciarulo |
(Kaw) |
46.087 |
| 9. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
46.380 |
| 10. |
Justin Hill |
(KTM) |
46.494 |
250SX East
The usual suspects found themselves at the front of the 250SX qualifying times. Hunter Lawrence topped the charts with a 46 flat. Jordon Smith was second, just over half a second back from Lawrence. Nate Thrasher rounded out the tip three with a 46.758.
Lawrence topped the 250’s. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
Thrasher clocked third.
250SX East Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
46.060 |
| 2. |
Jordon Smith |
(Yam) |
46.605 |
| 3. |
Nate Thrasher |
(Yam) |
46.758 |
| 4. |
Chris Blose |
(GG) |
46.821 |
| 5. |
Jeremy Martin |
(Hon) |
46.907 |
| 6. |
Haiden Deegan |
(KTM) |
47.106 |
| 7. |
Tom Vialle |
(Yam) |
47.140 |
| 8. |
Devin Simonson |
(Yam) |
47.152 |
| 9. |
A J Catanzaro |
(Hon) |
47.189 |
| 10. |
Max Anstie |
(Kaw) |
47.572 |
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