Image: Octopi Media.

It was a bruising San Diego outing for Chase Sexton but the Team Honda HRC rider was able to overcome multiple adversities on the night and salvage P5 at Snapdragon Stadium.

Qualifying second fastest ahead of the night show, Sexton suffered a heavy impact during the opening lap of heat one when he fell at the end of the whoops, subsequently ruled out of the race with bike damage.

The number 23 earned his spot in the main with a dominant LCQ performance, and was running inside the top five in the 450SX final before a move from Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing) brought him down. Sexton was able to remount and work his way back to fifth, with the end result not indicative of the pace he displayed early in the event.

“San Diego was a little bit eventful for me,” said Sexton. “I qualified second but had a big crash in the heat race and had to DNF. I went to my first LCQ ever but was able to get through there.

“I made the main event and was riding good but got taken down by another rider and fell back to 10th. I made my way back to fifth, but it was definitely a mediocre night. At least we’re healthy and we can try to come out swinging for A2.”

With 3-5 results in the first two races of the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross Championship, Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) is third in the 450SX standings, 13 points from red plate-holder Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing).