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Image: Octopi Media.

250MX qualifying:
At the conclusion of this morning’s 250MX qualifying it was Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) who led the way with a 2m13.601s lap-time, debuting the red plate as new points-leader and stamping his authority early. Behind Cooper came teammate Jeremy Martin (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha), who had led the opening session, while Austin Forkner (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) was a season-best P3 – the final rider within the 2m13s. Fourth was Michael Mosiman (TLD Red Bull GasGas) ahead of Colt Nichols (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha), the Lawrence brothers Jett and Hunter of Team Honda HRC, Garrett Marchbanks (ClubMX Yamaha), Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) and Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki).

450MX qualifying:
Series leader Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) set the pace in 450MX qualifying with a 2m11.452s lap-time, edging Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM) after he had led the opening session, and with Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC) slotting into third position. His teammate Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) was fourth – each of those riders in the 2m11s – and followed by last week’s winner Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) in P5. The top 10 was completed by Christian Craig (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha), Justin Bogle (Rocky Mountain ATV/MC WPS KTM), Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki), Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) and Joey Savatgy (Rocky Mountain ATV/MC WPS KTM).

250MX moto one:
As the gates dropped on 250MX moto one, an opening turn crash involving Shimoda and Swoll saw the latter exit the race, while out front it was Carson Mumford (FXR Chaparral Honda) who captured the holeshot. A resurgent Mumford managed to hold onto the lead for the opening three laps in an inspired effort, however, it was new red plate-holder and top qualifier Cooper who would storm his way into the lead. He was followed almost immediately by Hampshire by Mumford into P2 and that’s the way it would remain, Cooper holding Hampshire out by 2.824s across the finish. Earning third was Martin, just five seconds outside of the winner and comfortably ahead of Mosiman in fourth. In P5 came Hunter Lawrence, as Pierce Brown (TLD Red Bull GasGas), Jett Lawrence, Nichols, Maximus Vohland (Red Bull KTM) and Marchbanks completed the top 10. Mumford, meanwhile, would eventually finish in 11th position, while Shimoda remounted and clawed his way back to 24th by the end of the moto.

450MX moto one:
The first win of the 2021 season belonged to Sexton in the opening moto, carrying forward his form from last weekend and delivering the win by 3.461s over Tomac. Sexton managed to get out front early with a decisive holeshot and then controlled the moto from there, first being chased by teammate Roczen, then Musquin and, finally, Tomac. It was Musquin who appeared to be on the charge mid-moto as he worked his way into P2, but a late mistake dropped him behind Tomac to third position. Directly behind him came Barcia, who in turn edged points-leader Ferrandis, with Roczen taking a distant sixth. The top 10 was filled by the fast-starting Webb, Craig, Max Anstie (Twisted Tea Suzuki) and Savatgy.

250MX moto two:
Victory from Martin in the second 250MX moto saw him claim back-to-back overall wins, but it wasn’t before a major shake-up in the closing laps that the result went Martin’s way. Early leader and also points-leader Cooper was in position to take second in the moto with two laps remaining, which would have handed him the round, but a heavy crash up Horsepower Hill bumped him way down the order to P8 and fortunate to finish altogether. What that did was enable Martin to cruise to a 11.837s advantage over Jett Lawrence, who himself had put on a brilliant charge through the pack into position to capitalize on Cooper’s incident. Another strong ride from Hampshire earned him P3, whole Brown was again impressive for fourth place and Shimoda rebounded to take fifth this afternoon. Sixth through 10th was Dilan Schwartz (BarX Chaparral Ecstar Suzuki), Mosiman, Cooper, Austin Forkner (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) and Hunter Lawrence, who had to recover from an early crash of his own. Nichols was a late casualty, crashing out in the closing laps on the moto. Overall, Martin made it two in a row from Hampshire and Cooper, who salvaged a podium despite his second moto struggles. In the standings, Cooper maintains the red plate ahead of Jett Lawrence, now eight points separating the pair.

450MX moto two:
The final outing of the day was a case of saving the best for last, as Ferrandis and Tomac went head-to-head in the fight for victory – a move that would have secured Tomac the round. It was Ferrandis who jumped out of the gates and controlled the moto from lap one, before a familiar late charge from Tomac saw him close to within striking distance with two laps to go. The stage was then set for a final lap battle for the win, Ferrandis putting in his quickest time of the moto to hold on and finish 4.512s clear by the end, as Tomac relented after losing ground in the closing moments. What that meant was that third position was enough for Sexton to hang onto the overall in his first of the year, with Plessinger and Musquin the top five. Holeshot winner Webb improved for sixth-place in the second outing, followed by Barcia, Savatgy and Roczen, who lost further ground in the title race. For the round it was Sexton who took victory ahead of Tomac and Ferrandis, who continued his perfect overall podium streak, while in the points, Ferrandis now leads Roczen by 47 points, with Tomac climbing to third and now within seven markers of Roczen.