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 next Saturday, 18 January.