Ryan Nitzen | February 3, 2024
The Detroit Supercross from Ford Field marks round five of the 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series. We’ve seen four different winners in four different rounds and this is the first stop of “East Coast” racing as new faces of the 250SX division take to the track.
Jett Lawrence and Austin Forkner took their respective main event victories.
Main Events
450SX
Jett Lawrence grabbed the crucial holeshot in the 450SX main event. Once out front on the dry racetrack, the 450 rookie opened up a small gap that he was able to hold for the rest of the race. Lawrence managed the main event from the front and navigated the tricky ruts for all 28 laps. Lawrence is now the first repeat winner in 2024.
Jett Lawrence got the start and led every lap. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Chase Sexton crossed second on the night. He passed into second place on lap one and stayed there for the duration of the race. The number-one wasn’t able to catch Lawrence but still takes over the points lead with a runner-up spot.
Chase Sexton rode a strong second and takes the points lead.
Ken Roczen rode a quiet race to finish third. He made a big move around the outside of the sand turn to get Tomac for third and stayed in that spot for the rest of the main event.
Roczen came home third.
Cooper Webb salvaged a fourth after a poor start. Jason Anderson rounded out the top five.
450 Podium.
450SX Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
28 Laps |
| 2. |
Chase Sexton |
(KTM) |
+04.740 |
| 3. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
+14.709 |
| 4. |
Cooper Webb |
(Yam) |
+21.420 |
| 5. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
+27.501 |
| 6. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
+28.382 |
| 7. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Hon) |
+37.612 |
| 8. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
+41.143 |
| 9. |
Justin Cooper |
(Yam) |
+49.231 |
| 10. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
27 Laps |
250SX
A huge crash started off the 250SX Main Event with the likes of Deegan, Vialle, Ferry and Romano all hitting the deck. This shook up the order as Austin Forkner shot out with the early lead.
Austin Forkner led every lap of the 250 main event.
Forkner ran away with the win, leading every lap en route to the victory. It proved to be a perfect day for Forkner after he claimed the heat race win earlier in the day. Forkner rebounds hugely after last season and starts the East Coast with a dub.
Max Anstie held on for second.
Max Anstie grabbed second in the 250 main. He ran third behind Chance Hymas for most of the race but passed for second with five minutes remaining. The British vet used his experience to ride a smart race and claim an opening podium.
Daxton Bennick took third in his first professional Supercross.
Daxton Bennick landed third in his first professional Supercross race. The Star Racing Yamaha rookie rode inside the top five for the full main but bumped up a spot after Hymas’s crash late in the main. This is a great result for the number-59.
250 Podium.
The first-turn crash spelled chaos for a number of contenders as many of the early favorites finished outside the top 10.
250SX Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Austin Forkner |
(Kaw) |
21 Laps |
| 2. |
Max Anstie |
(Hon) |
+02.557 |
| 3. |
Daxton Bennick |
(Yam) |
+06.162 |
| 4. |
Coty Schock |
(Yam) |
+21.884 |
| 5. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
+24.562 |
| 6. |
Jalek Swoll |
(Tri) |
+39.979 |
| 7. |
Henry Miller |
(Hon) |
+45.324 |
| 8. |
Guillem Farres |
(Hus) |
+50.828 |
| 9. |
Marshall Weltin |
(Yam) |
20 Laps |
| 10. |
Chance Hymas |
(Hon) |
+08.911 |
Qualifying
450SX
With the updated schedule flipping the qualifying order, the 450 riders went first. Jett Lawrence jumped to the top of the charts with a 43.190 in the first session while also taking the top spot in Q2. Cooper Webb looked fast in both qualifiers and locked in second, just nine-thousandths back from Jett. Chase Sexton grabbed third ahead of Eli Tomac, and Ken Roczen. The top eight riders are all in the 43-second range.
Jett Lawrence topped both 450 qualifying sessions. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Cooper Webb looked fast, just 0.009 back from Lawrence.
Tomac was fourth behind Sexton.
Roczen rounded out the top five.
450SX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
43.190 |
| 2. |
Cooper Webb |
(Yam) |
43.199 |
| 3. |
Chase Sexton |
(KTM) |
43.285 |
| 4. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
43.331 |
| 5. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
43.350 |
| 6. |
Justin Cooper |
(Yam) |
43.742 |
| 7. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
43.769 |
| 8. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
43.915 |
| 9. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
44.047 |
| 10. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
44.066 |
250SX
Detroit marks the first round of the 250SX East Coast series. Pierce Brown topped the overall times, the first time in his career that he’s been the fastest qualifier. Max Anstie found himself second ahead of Austin Forkner in third. Forkner was fastest in the second session but clocked third overall. Tom Vialle and Seth Hammaker were fourth and fifth.
Pierce Brown was the fastest 250 qualifier.
Max Anstie is second going into the night show.
Austin Forkner grabbed third.
250SX East Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
44.116 |
| 2. |
Max Anstie |
(Hon) |
44.492 |
| 3. |
Austin Forkner |
(Kaw) |
44.571 |
| 4. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
45.058 |
| 5. |
Seth Hammaker |
(Kaw) |
45.149 |
| 6. |
Chance Hymas |
(Hon) |
45.170 |
| 7. |
Daxton Bennick |
(Yam) |
45.219 |
| 8. |
Haiden Deegan |
(Yam) |
45.226 |
| 9. |
Guillem Farres |
(Hus) |
45.738 |
| 10. |
Jeremy Martin |
(Yam) |
45.809 |
This is Triumph’s first Supercross race. Here’s Jalek Swoll on the #33 TX-250F
Jett Reynolds hit the deck hard and won’t race tonight.
