Image: Octopi Media.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger rebounded to finish P3 in the second 450MX moto at Southwick and land his first overall podium in the 2022 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.

Plessinger, 26, qualified a lowly P19 during the sixth round of the series, indicating that he didn’t like riding on the smoother track conditions in line with 450MX taking place before 250MX in the program.

He was eighth after the first lap of moto one in Massachusetts and finished P7, before a much better start in moto two saw him maintain a place within the top-three for the entirety of the race to secure third for the day.

“First moto I didn’t get the greatest of starts, I was still up there but got stuck behind a few people,” Plessinger recalled. “I was ripping through tear-offs like no other, and eventually, I ran out behind Kenny, and the last three laps I had very, very limited vision.

“That was a little scary, but I got a tune-up from the mechanic after that moto [laughs], it but me in the mood to get a good start and go chase these guys.

“I felt really good in the second moto, just starting up there is a plus and makes you get the pace down a lot quicker than if you were to come through the pack. I just felt good, I knew this was going to be a good day, so yeah, pumped.”

Plessinger sits eighth in the 450MX standings at the halfway point of the series, with his best moto result prior to Southwick coming in the opening race of the season at Fox Raceway where he was sixth. He is the only Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider to score a podium in 2022 Pro Motocross thus far.