Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson rallied from a sixth-place start to meet Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen in a battle for the lead on the last lap, which ended with Anderson taking the win by less than a second.
“This was a big night for me,” Anderson said on the podium. “I didn’t start off too well … that’s one of the best races of my life. I just want to keep it going. Everyone’s getting good. I’m excited to be up here.”
Last week’s winner Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac started seventh and crashed, dropping outside of the top 20. He remounted but struggled to a 13th place finish. The Rocky Mountain ATV/MC/KTM/WPS Team ride of Blake Baggett started fourth and found his way to third for his first podium of the season.
In the 250SX Class Main Event, Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha Aaron Plessinger worked his way to the front after starting sixth to capture his second straight win, leading eight of the 19 laps. Plessinger is the only rider to maintain the points lead for two consecutive weeks.
“I got off to a great start,” Plessinger said on the podium. “‘I’ve been sick since Thursday; I thought I had the flu. I had to work through it; it was probably the hardest race I’ve ever done in my life, but the guys tell me never quit.”
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy earned his third podium of the season after a tight battle with Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing’s JustinHill who earned his first podium of 2018 with a third-place finish.
450SX Class Results
1. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna
2. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrance, Calif., KTM
4. Marvin Musquin, Clermont, Fla., KTM
5. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha
6. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda
7. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
8. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., KTM
9. Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., Honda
10. Joshua Grant, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki
450SX Class Championship Standings
1. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna (115)
2. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda (100)
3. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha (98)
4. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda (87)
5. Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., Honda (82)
6. Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki (82)
7. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrance, Calif., KTM (78)
8. Marvin Musquin, Clermont, Fla., KTM (73)
9. Joshua Grant, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki (71)
10. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha (68)
Western Regional 250SX Class Results
1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha
2. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki
3. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki
4. Christian Craig, Orange, Calif. Honda
5. Alex Martin, Millville, Minne., KTM
6. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
7. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna, Fla., Kawasaki
8. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha
9. Mitchell Harrison, Tallahassee, Fla., Husqvarna
10. Hayden Mellross, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (118)
2. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki (110)
3. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM (99)
4. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna, Fla., Kawasaki (93)
5. Christian Craig, Orange, Calif. Honda (89)
6. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (86)
7. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki (79)
8. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha (68)
9. Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, Yamaha (58)
10. Mitchell Harrison, Tallahassee, Fla., Husqvarna (58)