Heartbreak for Plessinger: Supercross Rd 10
450
Credit: Feld Motor Sports Inc
Last night in Detroit was another fantastic 450 main event race. Last week the race ended in ultimate triumphant for Roczen, while this week’s race ended in ultimate disappointment for Aaron Plessinger. Adam Cianciarulo got the holeshot in the main event and was out front for a lap or two until Aaron Plessinger got around him and checked out on the rest of the field. Aaron Plessinger increased his lead to over 7 seconds about midway through the race while Tomac, Sexton, Webb and Barcia battled it out behind, which was some incredible racing by the way. Sexton eventually made his way through this group to 2nd and then started his chase of Plessinger with about 10 mins to go in the main event. Sexton was slightly cutting into Plessinger’s lead but ultimately had no chance of running him down, unless that is that Plessinger made a mistake. And boy did Plessinger make the most the most heartbreaking, regrettable mistake on his way to what would have been his first 450 main event win.
Aaron Plessinger had led 20 of 23 laps in the main event. He was putting in a dominant performance. Then on the final lap with a comfortably 3.5 second lead, Plessinger threw it all away. I still don’t really understand what happened after watching the clip numerous times, but according to Plessinger in his post race interview he took the turn standing up on his bike, which was different that he took the turn all night long, and apparently lost control and got tossed from the bike. Just like last week when everybody was so happy and rooting for Roczen to get the win, Plessinger was definitely in the same spot with the fans. At the time of the wreck the broadcast was showing Sexton on the screen and you could hear a huge gasp from the crowd and you just knew in your gut that something happened to Plessinger.
With Chase Sexton going on to take the win, it seemed like what would be a huge night in his championship fight as he was followed up by Cooper Webb in 2nd and Eli Tomac in 3rd. Webb looked solid all night long but struggled some in the whoops. In the end a good result for Webb in his fight for the championship as he continues to show consistency is key. Tomac also with a solid 3rd place result, but something still seems off with Tomac as of late. Maybe I’m just thinking of the dominate form he was in all of last year and to start off this year, but he’s definitely fallen off some in the last 4-5 races barring the Daytona race.
Lastly, some big news in the championship fight that came out after the race. I noticed during Cooper Webb’s podium interview he mentioned that Sexton had gotten so far away from him in the race due to Sexton jumping while the red cross flag was out, and sure enough about an hour after the race it was announced that Sexton was penalized for this. Now Sexton gets to keep his win in Detroit, but he was docked 7 points for the infraction. After the race win, Sexton had pulled within 10 points of Cooper Webb but now he’ll fall to 17 points back. So Sexton who came into the weekend 13 points back, gets the win but ultimately falls another 4 points in the championship standings. A big swing and what could be a very costly penalty for Sexton.
450 Heat 1 Top 5
1. Jason Anderson
2. Justin Barcia
3. Adam Cianciarulo
4. Cooper Webb
5. Justin Hill
450 Heat 2 Top 5
1. Chase Sexton
2. Aaron Plessinger
3. Ken Roczen
4. Eli Tomac
5. Christian Craig
450 Main Event Top 10
1. Chase Sexton
2. Cooper Webb +6.335
3. Eli Tomac +15.405
4. Justin Barcia +18.265
5. Ken Roczen+24.842
6. Christian Craig +35.775
7. Justin Hill +1 Lap
8. Adam Cianciarulo +1 Lap
9. Jason Anderson +1 Lap
10. Josh Hill +1 Lap
250 East
Credit: Feld Motor Sports Inc.
Once again, Hunter Lawrence domination. Well Hunter Lawrence didn’t win his heat race this week but he was lights out in the main event when it counted. Lawrence took the lead from the start and led the whole race. The steps forward that Hunter Lawrence has made this year have been incredibly impressive. His younger brother Jett Lawrence is obviously the prodigy but Hunter Lawrence is no slouch himself. He’s walking away with the 250 East championship title and he’s surely earning himself a 450 call up next year.
Nate Thrasher had another solid 2nd place performance and continues to be the best rider in the 250 East not named Hunter Lawrence. Haiden Deegan took home the last spot on the podium and made some nice moves to get around Jeremy Martin for third in the main event. The real story of the 250 night wasn’t in the main event but the first heat race. Deegan had some very questionable defensive moves on his teammate Jordon Smith. It was about as blatant as you could get, just see the video below. Smith then wrecked again in the first heat race trying to get back positions to qualify for the main event. Then in the last chance qualifier Smith went down again missing out on the main event. Smith was 1 point out of 2nd place in the championship standings going into tonight and now falls all the way to 6th with tonight’s results. I’m sure there was some very heated exchanges in the Yamaha team area last night.
Heat 1 Top 5
1. Jeremy Martin
2. Haiden Deegan
3. Coty Schock
4. Brock Papi
5. Jace Owen
250 Heat 2 Top 5
1. Nate Thrasher
2. Hunter Lawrence
3. Tom Vialle
4. Chris Blose
5. Cullin Park
250 Main Event Top 10
1. Hunter Lawrence
2. Nate Thrasher +7.685
3. Haiden Deegan +11.215
4. Jeremy Martin +14.192
5. Chris Blose +39.953
6. Tom Vialle +40.356
7. Cullin Park +49.252
8. Coty Schock +52.561
9. Henry Miller +55.472
10. Michael Hicks +1 Lap