More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:

Suzuki’s Ken Roczen dominates St. Louis Supercross. Ken Roczen’s Third Win Tightens Points Toward the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.

Round 12 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season delivered exciting action at the annual Love Moto Stop Cancer race in St. Louis, Missouri. Unique bike graphics and riding gear designs represented the continuing partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The dirt inside The Dome at America’s Center was softer and tackier than anticipated. The soil initially provided great traction, but track conditions deteriorated dramatically throughout the racing.

Race Highlights:

• Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
  • 450 Class
    • Ken Roczen captured his third win of the season with a tour de force performance at the St. Louis Supercross.
• Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
  • 450 Class
    • Colt Nichols gained positions throughout the main as the track grew increasingly more treacherous.
    • Justin Bogle posted his best overall qualifying result before withdrawing due to a crash.

Ken Roczen (94) continued to display career-best speed with the fastest lap time in the second qualifying session; it was good for the top overall qualifying spot. In his heat race, Roczen launched to a third-place start. He blitzed into second then leapt into first place just two minutes into the race. Roczen set the fastest lap time as well as fastest times through track Sectors 1, 3 (whoop section), 4, and 8 en route to his sixth heat win of the season. In the main event, Roczen again found himself in third place at the holeshot stripe. Less than a minute into the main, Roczen used his Suzuki RM-Z450’s precise turning to cut under two other racers in two consecutive corners. Roczen then set the race’s fastest lap time and gapped the field by two seconds in a single lap. Roczen looked picture perfect even as the track deteriorated; he set the race’s fastest times through Sectors 2 and 3 and steadily stretched his lead to over twelve seconds. Roczen took the checkered flag with a 13.2 second margin over the next racer. This performance extended Roczen’s season-topping statistics as the 450SX Class rider with the most main event laps led and the highest-ranking average for fastest lap times. Roczen remains in third place in the standings, but the St. Louis win chopped the gap to the championship lead from 14 down to just five points. 

“St. Louis, you were good to us,” said Roczen. “It was a brutal day. The track was unexpectedly soft compared to when we were here during [the] SMX [Playoff]. It made for some crazy racing because it was built really tall, we had some really tricky rhythm lanes, and I just knew that the track, in 20 minutes, was going to get really torn up. But man, we won qualifying, won our heat race, and then it was just such a dream ride in the main event to bring home first place again. [These are the first] back-to-back [Supercross wins] for me since 2021. I’m just really on a high right now with that. I’m really trying to take this in, enjoy this, because I haven’t been in this position, really ever, in Supercross. So, I’m enjoying every bit of it but at the same time I know I need to stay focused and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Colt Nichols (45) started the night’s racing with a top-five start in his heat race. Nichols held onto the position for half of the race and crossed the checkered flag with a direct transfer into the main. At the start of the main, Nichols charged to a mid-pack start. After losing some positions on the chaotic opening laps, Nichols put his head down and steadily gained spots. Nichols set a top-three Sector 6 (short rhythm lane) time during the early laps of the 23-lap race. 

“It was kind of an uneventful day,” reported Nichols. “It started off not good at all, to be honest. I felt really off all day. But we kept making changes to the bike and as the day went it got better and better and better. [I was] just a little too slow at the beginning of that main event; not the best start, but I rode up to 13th. So, I’ve been better, been worse. [We’ve] got a lot of work to do to get to where we need to be. We’ll try again next weekend.” 

Justin Bogle (891) matched his season-best qualifying session result and topped his season-best overall qualifying position. Unfortunately, Bogle crashed in the second qualifying outing and it was determined that he should sit out the event. 

“St. Louis started out good for me, with improvements from last week; P-15 overall [after] Q1 was a big step forward,” said Bogle. “In Q2 I had a big get off right away and am going to be heading home to get checked out and sorted on a timeline for me to return. The track was one of the sketchiest tracks I’ve ridden in a long time, and it caught me out. It’s unfortunate, as I’ve been loving being back on the gate. I’ll do my best to get healthy and get back.”

“It was a great night in St. Louis,” reported Dustin Pipes, Team Principal for the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team. “Ken Roczen executed well all day, through qualifying, his heat, and the main event en route to another main event win. I’m really amazed at how in-tune he is with his motorcycle and his team around him. Colt Nichols had a solid 13th in the main event. He belongs in the top 10, but it was a good bounce back after a not so good qualifying and heat. The only drawback would be Justin Bogle’s crash in qualifying. It was a scary crash that ended his night early and put him in concussion protocol. We’re really hoping the best for Justin, and we’ll update as more information becomes available. Now it’s on to Nashville!”

Plastics and graphics from Ken Roczen’s race-winning RM-Z450, along with other great donated items, will be available to fans through an Auction to raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on April 27th. Also, Roczen’s RM-Z450 race bike will be raffled off via the Kick Start for a Cause Sweepstakes; fans can purchase a chance to win by texting “SUZUKI” to 99126. The Supercross series now heads to Nissan Stadium in Nashville Tennessee; the event will run one hour ahead of the standard race day schedule. The Suzuki riders and team members are excited with the team’s late-season speed and momentum. Only five rounds remain and only five points separate the top three riders.

For the latest team updates, news, and race insights, visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross or pipesmotorsportsgroup.com.

More from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Justin Cooper Scores Runner-Up Finish in St. Louis. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper earns a runner-up finish while Webb continues to chip away in the 450SX title fight. 

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper has been steadily building, working his way to the top in the premier class of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. On Saturday night in St. Louis, the New Yorker put in a great ride in challenging conditions at The Dome at America’s Center to earn season-best results.

At the previous round in Detroit, after three consecutive fourth-place finishes, Cooper made it clear that starts would be key – and he delivered. He qualified fourth, grabbed the holeshot in his heat race, and rode a flawless race to secure his first heat race win of the season.

In the main event, Cooper got another good start and battled with championship contenders, passing Hunter Lawrence on Lap 5. After the halfway mark, he made the pass on Jorge Prado to move into second. With the leader too far ahead to challenge, Cooper built a comfortable gap to secure the runner-up finish, matching his best result in the 450SX class.

“It was a good day, even though it started out not the best,” said Cooper. “This track is really tough, so we had tricky conditions all day. I felt better and better each time out on the track, and started with a pretty big change in the heat race. I got the holeshot and was able to run my laps clean, and felt really good and took that to the main. I think we started about sixth, so not as good as the heat, but I was able to make some good passes and get up to second. By the time I got there, Ken (Roczen) was way gone, and the track was pretty bad. With each lap that went by, we just had to hit our marks – doing the rhythms and really focusing, and that was key. I felt really good on the bike. I feel like my riding has been good lately, so we will keep this going.”

It was also a good ride from Cooper Webb in the tricky conditions, but still frustrating for the three-time 450SX Champion. After qualifying sixth, he had a good start to his heat race and finished second, securing a 1-2 finish for the team. In the main event, he found himself back in 12th after the start but quickly worked his way forward to ninth on the opening lap. Webb continued to push and, by the halfway mark, had broken into the top five, where he would finish to gain another point in the 450SX championship chase.

“St. Louis, overall, it was a decent day across the board,” said Webb. “I qualified sixth, got second in the heat race, and set myself up to do well in the main. My starts have been really good, but they weren’t for the main event, so that stunk. I made a lot of mistakes the first few laps trying to get by some guys, but then I definitely rode well, got my flow going, and made some passes. I felt like I was catching the lead group in front of me. I just started way too far behind, honestly, which was a bit of a bummer. I feel like we’ve been working hard during the week, and the results haven’t shown. So that’s pretty frustrating, but we’ll keep our heads up and keep plugging away.”

With five rounds remaining, Webb sits 25 points behind the leader in one of the most tightly contested 450SX title fights in recent memory.

“It was a pretty good day,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “The track was really rutted all day, so we were trying to anticipate that for the main event. It was a great heat race – 1-2 for the team. Justin executed well in the main, rode consistently, and pushed his way forward. We’re really proud of him and looking to take that next step to the top of the box. Webb, I think he salvaged a good night. I know it’s not where he wants to be, and it’s not where we know he can be, but we’ll just keep going and keep fighting in this championship.”

Next up, the series returns to Nashville, Tennessee, for Round 13 of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship at Nissan Stadium on April 11.

Haiden Deegan Crowned Back-to-Back 250SX West Champion in St. Louis.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan adds a sixth title to his stellar 250 career, securing the crown early with a dominant win at St. Louis Supercross.

There was one more box for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan to check off before moving on to the 450 class – defending his 250SX West title in dominant fashion. Well, it was mission accomplished for the 20-year-old Californian in St. Louis.

“That was sick,” said Deegan. “Seven in a row, too. That was a fat lead. It’s just heart, baby.”

It was another masterclass performance from Deegan at The Dome at America’s Center. He opened the night by winning the nine-lap 250SX West Heat Race by an impressive 13-second margin. In the East-West Showdown Main Event, he quickly worked his way into second in the opening laps, passed teammate Cole Davies on Lap 7, and rode on to claim another commanding victory, and by doing so, secured the championship a rare three rounds early.

“We’ve been digging, but we’re just getting started,” said Deegan. “I’m going to go to Nashville and have some fun. We’re still going to stay in line because we have a whole other goal to chase – 450 outdoors. But for now, we’ll celebrate this 250 title. Man, it feels good!”

The second Monster Energy AMA Supercross East-West Showdown of the season was also another display of strength from the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team as a whole. The 250 team extended its win tally to 11 victories in 12 rounds, swept both divisional heat races, and once again finished 1-2 in the combined main event.

Leading the way in the East was red plate holder Cole Davies, who continues to impress during his sophomore season. Entering the round on a three-race win streak, the young New Zealander won his divisional heat race and grabbed the holeshot in the main event, leading the first six laps. After being passed by Deegan, Davies ran a calculated race to secure second, extending his 250SX East Championship lead to 11 points with four rounds remaining.

“That track was so gnarly tonight,” said Davies. “It was by far the most challenging conditions I’ve ever ridden on. I pulled the holeshot and led early, but a couple of mistakes let Haiden capitalize, and he was on a mission. At that point, I locked in and focused on the championship. We extended our lead, and that’s the main goal. The bike was handling really well. I’m bummed to see Jo (Shimoda) go out the way he did, and I hope he’s all good. Congratulations to Haiden and the team on the West Coast title. Now we focus on locking up the East.”

Nate Thrasher continued to build momentum, earning his best result of the season. After charging back to fourth in the 250SX East Heat Race, the Tennessee rider got a strong start in the main event and ran fourth on the opening lap. Thrasher battled for position, reclaiming fourth in the latter half of the main event, crossing the line fourth to earn his best result so far this season.

“I felt really good in the main,” said Thrasher. “I just fell a little short of the podium. I’m going to keep pushing and come out swinging at my home race in Nashville.”

Max Anstie faced a challenging night in the demanding conditions. After recovering to finish seventh in the 250SX West Heat Race, he got a better start in the main event and ran eighth early. Unfortunately, he got stuck on a tough block, dropping him back to 15th, where he would finish to salvage some points. Anstie heads into the Western Divisional break third in the standings, just three points shy of second with two rounds remaining.

“It was a rough night in St Louis,” said Anstie. “I was around eighth in the main and went down on a tough block and got stuck, so that set me way back. It is what it is. We will rebound in Denver.”

Caden Dudney continued to gain valuable experience in his sixth pro Supercross start. After transferring through the heat race with an eighth-place finish, the rookie started 17th in the main event and charged forward to 12th in the opening laps. As the race wore on in the challenging conditions, he ultimately finished 16th.

“I felt alright in qualifying and had a good heat race,” said Dudney. “I was making good passes in the main, and got a little tired, but I need to get better starts and get some laps up front.”

“It was a good night for the whole team from 450 to 250″, said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “Haiden got the win and the championship, Cole extended his points lead, and Nate getting back in the fight was fantastic. Max and Caden had a struggle of a night, but we’ll keep working. We’ll see you in Nashville.”

With the 250SX West title secured, the focus now shifts to the East Championship. Next up, the team heads to Nashville, Tennessee, for Round 7 of the 250SX East Championship and Round 13 of the Monster Energy SuperMotocross World Championship at Nissan Stadium on April 11.

More from a press release issued by Honda:

Lawrence reclaims Red Plate with St. Louis podium.

• Australian finishes third and is tied for first in the 450SX standings
• Shimoda injured during heat race ahead of 250SX East/West Showdown

Round 12 of AMA Supercross in St. Louis brought a mix of positive results and setbacks for the Honda HRC Progressive team, as Hunter Lawrence secured a premier-class podium finish to reclaim a share of the championship lead, while Jo Shimoda was forced out of the 250SX East/West Showdown before the main event, due to injury incurred in his heat race.

The 450SX main event saw Lawrence grab his second holeshot of the night. He engaged in early battles with Jorge Prado and Ken Roczen before settling into third on lap 2. As the race developed and the track conditions became more challenging, the Australian spent laps 5 through 14 outside the podium positions, while managing wrist discomfort from a crash at the previous round. He mounted a signature late-race surge to retake third and secured that position at the finish. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath completed the night in seventh, 11^th and 12^th, respectively.

NOTES

• Honda HRC Progressive 250SX West Region rider Chance Hymas (currently out, recovering from a shoulder injury) recently returned to riding, as he trains in Florida at The Dog Pound in preparation for the approaching AMA Pro Motocross series.

• Ahead of the season’s second 250SX East/West Showdown, Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda participated in media-day interviews and riding sessions on Friday. 

• Phoenix Racing Honda fielded a reduced lineup in St. Louis, with Cullin Park out for the remainder of the series to recover from a shoulder injury sustained in Birmingham.

• Shimoda placed third in 250SX combined qualifying, which included the East and West regions. Phoenix Racing Honda riders Evan Ferry and Gavin Towers qualified 10^th and 16^th, respectively. Ryder Floyd (Ti Lube Honda) was 20^th, and Storm Lake Honda riders Izaih Clark and Luke Neese were 32^nd and 33^rd, respectively. Next Level-backed privateer Hunter Schlosser was 38^th, SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell qualified in 40^th, and Lasting Impressions-supported privateer Ronnie Orres was 45^th. 

• Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence posted the ninth-best time in 450SX combined qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath qualified close behind in 10^th, 13^th and 14^th, respectively. Other Red Riders included Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports), John Short IV (Short Racing), and Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic), who qualified 22^nd, 26^th and 30^th, respectively.

• Shimoda’s night was cut short soon after he got a mid-pack start in the 250SX East Region heat race. Congestion forced him to roll a jump and maneuver around a downed rider, resulting in him being landed on by another racer. Shimoda immediately felt pain in his lower left leg, and the medical crew transported him to the Alpinestars medical unit. An initial assessment indicated no bone fractures, and Shimoda will undergo further evaluation this week.

• Lawrence grabbed the holeshot in the second 450SX heat race before being passed by Ken Roczen on the second lap. Lawrence remained in second until the checkered flag, giving him a decent gate pick for the main event, while Craig finished in seventh. In the other heat race, Savatgy and McElrath crossed the line in fourth and fifth, respectively.

• Lawrence’s eighth podium of the season put him in a tie with Eli Tomac for the points lead, five ahead of Roczen.

• Next up, Honda HRC Progressive heads to round 13 of AMA Supercross, this Saturday in Nashville.

Hunter Lawrence: “From what happened last week and how my wrist is feeling, I’m pretty happy. I think this track was arguably one of our gnarliest tracks, more so than Daytona or Indy. It was wild how the bumps were, how kicky the jumps were, and how deep the ruts were. I had to ride more governed. A lot of it was just due to the strength loss in my wrist; it would give out on some of the stuff where normally I could kind of muscle up and continue on and make the next rhythm. Nothing’s broken—it’s just really sore and swollen in the joint, but it was good enough to do what I could do today. I’ve got a great team behind me, and we’re in a great spot. How cool is it? Three of us, so close, and two tied for the red plate! I’m going to get healthier again and be back ready to fight next weekend in Nashville.”

Jo Shimoda: “Not much to say about my weekend—I wasn’t able to finish a lap in the heat race. I was trying to avoid a rider crashing in front of me and ended up getting landed on. Alpinestars medical told me that there were no broken bones, but possible ligament damage. We’ll know more when I get an MRI.”

Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager: “A bittersweet night, which is common in racing when you have two riders that are championship contenders. Jo never got a chance to show what he had, and we’re doing everything we can to help him get back to being on the bike. Initially, it looked really serious, but now I’m more hopeful that it’s only a minor setback. Hopefully, we’ll know more after an MRI, but weight on the foot seems to be okay. I’m happy with Hunter’s race; if you’re going to race banged up, especially with a sore wrist, this is not the track you want to be racing at. It was absolutely brutal; Hutch and I had to walk the track afterwards, and that’s when they should have the fans walking the track. It blows my mind that the top guys are able to continue to do the rhythms and jump things out of turns when the track is that soft, rutted and destroyed. We’re satisfied with the result, happy to make up points and be tied for the red plate, but we definitely want more and look forward to battling for this championship to the end!”

More from another press release issued by Honda:

Shimoda Diagnosed with Fibula Fracture Following St. Louis Crash.

• No surgery required for the reigning 250 SuperMotocross Champion
• Shimoda expected to be ready in time for AMA Pro Motocross opener

Following a crash during Saturday’s AMA Supercross round in St. Louis, Honda HRC Progressive rider Jo Shimoda will miss the remainder of the series.

Initial evaluation at the track did not indicate a fracture, but imaging conducted Tuesday in Clermont, Florida, confirmed a small fracture of Shimoda’s left fibula. The injury is non-displaced and will not require surgery; however, Shimoda will wear an orthopedic boot for two to three weeks. The Japanese racer is expected to return in time for the May 30 AMA Pro Motocross season opener at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, where Honda HRC Progressive expects to have its full rider roster in action.

“Jo is a resilient competitor, and we’re confident he’ll make a full recovery,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing & Experiential at American Honda. “We fully expect him to be a contender for the 250 AMA Pro Motocross crown, and to fight hard in defense of his SuperMotocross Championship. Our team will provide all the support he needs during his rehab to ensure he’s ready to compete at the highest level.”

More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM:

Jorge Prado claims P4 result with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in St. Louis.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado claimed a well-earned fourth-place result at Round 12 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in St. Louis, on a night where 450SX teammate Eli Tomac finished sixth to remain firmly in title contention with the red plate.

The St. Jude Love Moto Stop Cancer race headlined the 12th Round of the SMX World Championship in Missouri, where the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team ran special one-off graphics in support of the cause.

Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Prado posted the fifth-fastest combined qualifying time inside The Dome at America’s Center – highlighted by P1 in the opening session – with the four-time world champion then powering to fourth in his Heat Race.

Completing the opening lap of the Main Event in second position, the 25-year-old would then make a pass for the race lead before settling back into P2 after a heated exchange at the front of the field. Battling for the podium on a deteriorating circuit, Prado eventually took an impressive P4 finish, which marks his third top-five score of the 2026 season.

Jorge Prado: “St. Louis was a very good day for me and I saw a lot of improvements. Qualifying was really good to be P5 overall entering the night show, and then I had a solid Heat Race, also. We didn’t have the best start, but my flow was good, and I felt fast at the end. I was able to brake late off the start in the Main Event as I lined up a little more outside, which helped me a lot, and we were P2 out of the first corner. It was a hectic couple of laps from there with a lot of passes – I even got in the lead at one stage – and it was nice to be up there and showing my wheel. I lost some rhythm when we hit lapped riders and the track went away a lot – the sections I was doing in the first 10 minutes were completely different from what I was doing in the last 10 minutes, which was gnarly. We finished P4 and I think we can be very happy with that as a team.”

Two-time 450SX champion Tomac entered the 12th round with the series leader’s red plate, qualifying seventh aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION before recording a P5 finish in his Heat Race, and a direct entry to the night’s Main Event.

The 33-year-old completed the opening lap of the Main Event in the top-five and maintained a consistent pace throughout, ultimately crossing the finish line in P6 and scoring an important haul of points. Tonight’s result keeps Tomac on top of the standings, now the joint red plate-holder with five rounds remaining in Supercross.

Eli Tomac: “It was a tougher day for us at St. Louis, but the good thing is that we didn’t lose too many points and we are still tied for the lead. I’m looking forward to the last five races, and doing what we can to get back up on top.”

Next Race: April 11 – Nashville, Tennessee

More from a press release issued by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna:

Top-five for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Ryder DiFrancesco at St. Louis 250SX Showdown. Daxton Bennick finishes in sixth position as Malcolm Stewart races to top 10 in 450SX.

 

In 250SX Qualifying, Hammaker consistently recorded the top time in both Eastern Divisional sessions to give him second overall. Meanwhile, Romano focused on adapting to the challenging track, finishing 24th overall. Kitchen was knocking on the door of the top qualifying spot in the Western Division, posting second-place in both sessions before ultimately placing sixth overall.

As the gate dropped in the 250 West Heat Race, Kitchen got off to a midpack start, fighting his way towards the front. Kitchen clicked off consistent laps and made strategic passes to advance through the field. In the final two laps of the race, Kitchen found himself in a tight battle. The No. 47 Kawasaki was able to make the pass for fourth in the turn exiting the switchback section and continued to push for third but came up just shy across the line, settling for fourth in the heat race.

In the 250 East Heat Race, Hammaker pulled a strong start, placing himself towards the front of the field with his teammate Romano close behind. On the opening lap, another rider went down, causing a red flag and a full restart for the field. On the following gate drop, Hammaker pulled a commanding holeshot aboard his KX™250, while Romano came through just inside the Top 10. Halfway through the race, the second-place rider began pressuring Hammaker for the lead. The No. 10 Kawasaki closed the door on an attempted pass and pushed to hold onto the lead, but slipped back to second in the treacherous whoops section and held his position through the checkered flag. Romano made strategic passes throughout the race to move himself into fifth place, where he ultimately finished. 

In the 250 Main Event, Hammaker and Romano got impressive jumps off the gate, running nearly side by side inside the Top 5. Kitchen had a less-than-ideal start as he came out midpack through the first turn but made quick work of the field as he moved into sixth by Lap 2. Romano ran in second place through the opening laps, with Hammaker right behind in third. Romano eventually began slipping back as he continues to work on his race pace after a year away from racing, ultimately finishing ninth. Hammaker held onto third place throughout the race, earning his spot on the box once again. Teammate Kitchen put in his best effort on the night as he continues recovering from his back injury, moving up as high as fourth at the midway point before slipping back and ultimately crossing the line in seventh.

Seth Hammaker: “Tonight’s race was tough with how the track shaped up throughout the day. I tried to stay consistent and be smart because of the challenging conditions. I just tried to hit my marks every lap to put myself in a good position. Cole [Davies] has been riding well, so I need to bring more speed the next couple of weekends and start taking some more risks as the season gets closer to an end. I am still happy with my performance tonight and the fact that I’ve been able to continue to stand on the box the last several races.“

Levi Kitchen: “It wasn’t a bad night, but it’s not where I want to be at this point in the season. I didn’t get the starts I needed, which made it tough right away. I’ve been trying different treatments for my back and had it worked on throughout the day, but it was still holding me back from being able to push how I wanted to in the race. I felt like the speed was there in spots, but I just wasn’t able to ride to my full potential and felt like I just had to manage the race. There are some positives to take, but I know I’ve got to be better. We’ll use this break from now until Denver to take some time to rest in order to finish off the season strong.

Nick Romano: “Overall, not a bad day. I had a pretty rough go in qualifying, but I wasn’t worried going into the night show. I ended up fifth in the heat race, which I was pretty happy about since it was essentially a shorter East Coast Main Event. The main event went well. I got off to a really good start and was pretty close to getting the holeshot. Cole [Davies] and I were up there off the jump. I went as long as I could with the front of the field. I needed a little more stamina at the end, but from where we were three weeks ago, it’s a big step forward. I had the third fastest time of the race, which tells me I have podium speed clearly, and I think that’s a great possibility for the end of the year. I’ll just keep trying to be better, go back to work this week with the team, and see where we end up next week in Nashville.”

In 450SX Qualifying, both Monster Energy Kawasaki riders posted consistent times. Sexton took second overall, just half a second off the top time, while Marchbanks secured eighth overall. 

In 450 Heat 1, both Sexton and Marchbanks got off to midpack starts. Contact from other riders caused Sexton to lose his balance and ultimately go down in the first turn. Marchbanks successfully navigated the tight first turn and settled into the race. After remounting in last place, Sexton put his head down and began charging through the field. The No. 4 Kawasaki picked off riders one by one, and by the midway point had already passed 15 riders to move into fifth while setting the fastest lap time. With one lap left, Sexton engaged in a tight battle to finish the race in third place. Marchbanks clicked off consistent laps as he moved into sixth early on and held his position through the checkered flag.

In the 450 Main Event, both riders came out mid-pack off the start, with Sexton running in seventh and Marchbanks close behind in 11th. Marchbanks maintained a steady pace while methodically working past his competitors, while Sexton was focused on moving towards the front, he suffered a crash in the rhythm section, forcing him to retire early from the race. Marchbanks pushed as high as seventh toward the end of the race, but a few minor mistakes in the final laps disrupted his rhythm, dropping him to ninth place at the checkered flag. This marks Marchbanks’ fourth Top 10 of the season, as he continues to grow and gain momentum as the year goes on. 

Garrett Marchbanks: “The day was really solid. I would say this has been one of my best days yet in the 450 Class. I qualified eighth in the first session and eighth in the second session. The heat race was pretty hectic, but I was able to stay on two wheels through the first turn and came out in sixth place at the end of it. Going into the main event, I felt really good. I put in some good laps in the beginning and was running seventh for quite a while, when I hit around 15 minutes in, I kind of lost my flow, had some mistakes, and missed my rhythm through the rhythm section after the start turn quite a few times. That really hurt me with Joey [Savatgy] and Malcom [Stewart] catching me. Once they got around me, I kind of put my head down and just pushed through until the end. Once we were about two laps to go, I made a little push, but didn’t quite have it, and ended the night in ninth.

Chase Sexton: “I had a bit of an up and down day here in St. Louis. My speed was good in qualifying. I was pushing for fastest qualifier, but just wasn’t able to get there. In the heat race, I had some issues off the start. I got run in on by a few guys, which caused me to go down. I just pushed until the race was over to get up to third for a better gate pick in the main event. I still didn’t get the start I was looking for in the main event and had some mistakes that set me back. I ultimately had to pull off the track early because I was pretty banged up after my crash and was unable to finish the race.”