Image: Octopi Media.

Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen has captured his first 450SX victory in three years at St. Louis’ second round of 2020 Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship.

Roczen worked his way into the lead on lap two and was never headed, putting forward a commanding performance to win by 4.794s in the main event.

It was Zach Osborne (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) who initially led, before Roczen stormed to the front and extended his advantage from there. Behind him, Anaheim winner Justin Barcia (Monster Energy Yamaha) did enough to maintain the points-lead in second position.

Former champion Jason Anderson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) scored his first podium of the season in third, followed by Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) and Osborne. Sixth came Malcolm Stewart (SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts Honda), with Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) seventh.

Cianciarulo was in the frame for another top five until he went down and lost positions in the closing stages, but did score a first-career 450SX heat race win earlier on tonight.

The top 10 was completed by Justin Brayton (Team Honda HRC) via the LCQ due to bike problems, Blake Baggett (Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM) and Aaron Plessinger (Monster Energy Yamaha). Number one plate-holder Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) struggled to P12 behind Justin Hill (SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts Honda).

Australian icon Chad Reed (Mountain Motorsports cbdMD CR22 Honda) was one of two notable non-finishers at round two, exiting early as did Martin Davalos (Team Tedder Monster Energy KTM).

Second tonight enabled Barcia to extend his advantage in the championship to six points now ahead of Roczen, with Anderson’s podium elevating him to third overall entering Anaheim 2.

Image: Octopi Media.

Title-favorite Austin Forkner rebounded for a controlled 250SX West victory in the second round of 2020 Monster Energy Supercross at St. Louis.

It was a chaotic main event that saw defending champion Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Yamaha) crash heavily on the opening lap, as Forkner jumped out front early.

While Forkner had his hands full with newcomer Jett Lawrence (Geico Honda), Ferrandis was forced to pit and Michael Mosiman (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) was forced to recover from that same incident. They wound up 12th and 20th respectively.

Drama struck Geico Honda teammates Lawrence and Christian Craig with three minutes remaining as they had been positioned third and fourth at the time – Craig crashing out of the race and Lawrence pitting for bike repairs. The latter eventually made it home for fifth.

Leading the way, however, there was no denying Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Forkner for victory in his home race, taking the checkered flag 1.639s ahead of red plate-holder Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Star Yamaha), with Brandon Hartranft (TLD Red Bull KTM) third.

Hartranft was narrowly ahead of Alex Martin (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki), followed by Lawrence in P5, who in turn led Jacob Hayes (Gas Monkey AJE Motorsports Husqvarna), Luke Clout (Penrite Honda Racing), his teammate Mitchell Oldenburg, Carson Brown (JMC Motorsports Racing Husqvarna) and Derek Drake (TLD Red Bull KTM).

Serco Yamaha’s Aaron Tanti made it through to the 250SX final this weekend, delivering a consistent effort score points in 13th position. Countryman Jay Wilson (Yamaha) opted not to travel to St. Louis as he’s still in search of full fitness following a pre-season fall.

The 250SX West championship now returns to Anaheim next Saturday night on 18 January, where Cooper will take a five-point advantage over Forkner in the standings two rounds into the season.