Image: Octopi Media.

Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton has broken through for his maiden 450SX main event win in San Diego, executing a flawless performance to signal his intentions for 2022 as Michael Mosiman won his first in 250SX West.

Sexton wasn’t to be denied this time around at round three of the season, starting up-front, passing into the lead by lap four and he was never headed in going on to a 6.001s win.

Behind him, heartbreak for Oakland winner Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki), who had made his way into second – unlikely to challenge Sexton – from as far back as P8 at the conclusion of the first lap, only to experience a bike problem just past halfway that slowly dropped him back down to order to eventually finish in ninth position.

That enabled the Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha duo to climb into podium positions, both Eli Tomac and Dylan Ferrandis benefiting from improved starts this week with 2-3 results, keeping both Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) and Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) at bay in the closing laps.

Sixth was the end result from Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM) as he worked forward from outside the top 10, while Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC) ended up seventh after crashing out of podium contention, red plate-holder Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) eighth after he also went down mid-race. Initial leader Musquin completed the top 10.

In the point-standings, it’s now Tomac who holds the red plate despite not yet winning a main event, one clear of Sexton and defending champion Webb, with Barcia dropping to fourth and Plessinger fifth. Anderson, meanwhile, is only six points down in P6 leading into Anaheim 2’s fourth round of Monster Energy Supercross.

Image: Octopi Media.

A first-career 250SX victory was captured by Mosiman in a San Diego thriller, the TLD Red Bull GasGas rider holding on to edge Hunter Lawrence after Christian Craig crashed in a first turn pile-up.

The winning streak of Craig was broken in a thriller at Petco Park, with Mosiman holding on to fend off a determined Lawrence for position in a remarkable first main event victory.

With the likes of Craig, Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), Garrett Marchbanks (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha) and more down in the first corner, it quickly became evident that the opportunity was there to strike, but just how far could Craig climb back up the order?

The answer was third. And it was another defining ride in his bid for the title – into the top 10 by halfway and picking off positions from there. His final pass into podium position came by Vince Friese (Smartop Bullfrog Spas MCR Honda), known to be relentless in his challenge for position, let alone the podium, but Craig made it successful.

Up front, Mosiman was under all kinds of pressure from Team Honda HRC charger Lawrence in the closing stages, until the latter went down in the whoops while trying to make a move amongst lapped riders with a minute and a half to run, remounting and then getting back onto the rear of Mosiman.

He didn’t quite get there though, finishing in that order and split by only 1.361s as the checkers flew, with Craig over 20 seconds back in his gritty podium effort. Fourth was Friese, with Shimoda rebounding to fifth – also impressive.

Shimoda was ahead of the fast-starting Carson Mumford (BarX Suzuki), Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) on return, Nate Thrasher (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) after crashing out of podium position midway, Cole Thompson (Yamaha) and Carson Brown (AEO Powersports KTM).

Meanwhile, Marchbanks didn’t end up finishing following his involvement in the first turn incident, going out after 10 laps. Craig now leads the points by a margin of six points over Lawrence, with Mosiman a further five back heading into Anaheim 2’s fourth round of 2022 Monster Energy Supercross next weekend.

Detailed results