Cycle News Staff | April 22, 2023
Welcome to MetLife Stadium for round 14 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series. We’re coming down to the wire as the 450SX title chase is still close between Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb, and Chase Sexton. This round is also an East West Showdown which means we’ll see Hunter and Jett Lawrence face off for the first time this season.
After a wild weather delay, the races went on in the mud. The fans who stuck it out saw two first time winners this year as Justin Barcia and Max Anstie claimed their main event victories.
Main Event
450SX
Chase Sexton took the holeshot at the start of a very wet 450SX main event. He held the lead for the first few corners before handing it over to Ken Roczen. Sexton hit the dirt after tangling with Justin Barcia and later finished fifth.
Roczen led Barcia early on. Photos: Alex Kelly
Justin Barcia made his way into the lead by lap seven of the shortened 450 main event. After taking over the top spot he never looked back and held strong in the muddy conditions. Barcia ended up taking the win by over 14 seconds. This is his first win since back in 2021.
Barcia took his first win in over two years.
Eli Tomac made his way to second after an eventful day. The number one went down hard in qualifying but rebounded well in the main event. Tomac moved his way through the pack and found himself in podium territory as he tracked Roczen. With Roczen falling, Tomac easily overtook second place. This result keeps his points lead in tact as Cooper Webb finished fifth.
After a big crash in qualifying, Tomac finished second.
Ken Roczen took over the lead on lap one and held it for a majority of the race. He led the charging Barcia until lap seven when the number-51 overtook the top spot. Roczen stayed close and later found himself battling with Eli Tomac. The Suzuki rider fell in the whoops and gave the spot up to Tomac. Roczen took the final podium spot.
Ken Roczen held on for third.
450SX Podium. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
450SX Final Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
18 Laps |
| 2. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
+14.742 |
| 3. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
+25.396 |
| 4. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
+42.642 |
| 5. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
17 Laps |
| 6. |
Shane Mcelrath |
(Suz) |
+29.191 |
| 7. |
Kevin Moranz |
(KTM) |
+36.104 |
| 8. |
Benny Bloss |
(Yam) |
+40.943 |
| 9. |
Justin Hill |
(KTM) |
+45.537 |
| 10. |
Dean Wilson |
(Hon) |
+52.256 |
250SX Showdown
What a race! Firepower Honda’s Max Anstie grabbed the holeshot at the start of a soaked 250SX main event. The Englishman was followed closely by Max Vohland but eventually opened up a six second lead as the race went on. Jett Lawrence got close to Anstie with two to go but Anstie held on for his first career main event.
Max Anstie held on for his first career win. Photos: Alex Kelly
Jett Lawrence started outside the top five but made a number of smooth, patient passes. He worked his way into second with only a few laps remaining and looked to challenge Anstie for the win. With two to go, Lawrence ditched his goggles and looked to settle for second place. Then in the final turn, RJ Hampshire dive bombed the inside for second place and took down both him and Jett. Lawrence managed to get up first and still crossed the line second while Hampshire is credited with 13th.
Jett Lawrence and RJ Hampshire battle for second.
Hampshire’s last lap pass attempt left him on the ground.
Hunter Lawrence crossed the line third in another last lap, last turn pass. He had the chance to win the title tonight but held it together in fifth for most of the race without forcing the issue in the treacherous conditions. Hunter capitalized on the Hampshire/Jett crash and also snuck past Vohland in the final turn. The number-96 crossed the line third with a two for one pass.
Hunter Lawrence grabbed the final podium spot.
250SX Podium. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
250SX Showdown (Top 10)
| 1. |
Max Anstie |
(Hon) |
14 Laps |
| 2. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
+10.091 |
| 3. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
+10.824 |
| 4. |
Max Vohland |
(KTM) |
+11.324 |
| 5. |
Enzo Lopes |
(Yam) |
+14.812 |
| 6. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
+15.832 |
| 7. |
Carson Mumford |
(Kaw) |
+17.575 |
| 8. |
Cullin Park |
(Hon) |
+32.124 |
| 9. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Kaw) |
+33.449 |
| 10. |
Chris Blose |
(Kaw) |
+34.778 |
Qualifying
450SX
Jason Anderson grabbed the top spot in the 450SX class and was the only rider in the 47-second range.. After an up and down season, this is great for Anderson’s momentum. Ken Roczen and Chase Sexton ran second and third respectively. Justin Hill ran a great time for fourth. Eli Tomac went down hard in the first qualifying session and salvaged seventh.
Jason Anderson topped the charts in the 450’s. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
Ken Roczen was second. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
Eli Tomac hit the deck during qualifying and clocked seventh. Photo: Alex Kelly
450SX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
47.707 |
| 2. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
48.080 |
| 3. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
48.168 |
| 4. |
Justin Hill |
(KTM) |
48.277 |
| 5. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
48.405 |
| 6. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
48.740 |
| 7. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
48.930 |
| 8. |
Adam Cianciarulo |
(Kaw) |
48.933 |
| 9. |
Josh Hill |
(KTM) |
49.356 |
| 10. |
Colt Nichols |
(Hon) |
49.433 |
250SX
This is the first time all year that we’ve seen both 250SX coasts together on track. The east and west coast riders will face off later tonight for the east-west showdown.
Jett Lawrence is the fastest 250 rider of the day, with the second fastest time of anyone 250 or 450. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
On the west coast, no real surprise as Jett Lawrence put in the fastest time of any 250 rider. RJ Hampshire and Max Vohland rounded out the podium, about a second back.
RJ Hampshire held on for second. Photo: Alex Kelly
Max Vohland came in third. Photo: Brown Dog Wilson
For the east, its Hunter Lawrence topping the charts leading into the night show. Jordon Smith was second fastest in the east despite two big crashes. Max Anstie grabbed the third fastest time.
Hunter Lawrence proved fastest in the east division. Photo: Alex Kelly
Jordon Smith was second despite crashing twice. Photo: Alex Kelly
250SX West Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
47.895 |
| 2. |
RJ Hampshire |
(Hus) |
48.563 |
| 3. |
Max Vohland |
(KTM) |
48.865 |
| 4. |
Carson Mumford |
(Kaw) |
48.895 |
| 5. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
48.959 |
| 6. |
Enzo Lopes |
(Yam) |
48.963 |
| 7. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Yam) |
49.007 |
| 8. |
Cole Thompson |
(Yam) |
50.068 |
| 9. |
Dilan Schwartz |
(Suz) |
50.508 |
| 10. |
Hunter Yoder |
(Kaw) |
50.574 |
250SX East Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
48.701 |
| 2. |
Jordon Smith |
(Yam) |
48.728 |
| 3. |
Max Anstie |
(Hon) |
49.331 |
| 4. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
49.430 |
| 5. |
Chris Blose |
(Kaw) |
49.434 |
| 6. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Kaw) |
49.452 |
| 7. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
49.524 |
| 8. |
Cullin Park |
(Hon) |
50.167 |
| 9. |
Michael Hicks |
(Hon) |
50.281 |
| 10. |
Henry Miller |
(Hon) |
50.709 |
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