Image: Octopi Media.

Aboard their Team Honda HRC machines, Chase Sexton and Hunter Lawrence proved fastest in their classes as track action began for this year’s edition of the Daytona Supercross.

After succumbing to chart-topping speed by Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) a week ago in Arlington to end his streak, Sexton was fastest in the first Daytona 450SX session by 0.431s.

Later, the young American was 0.409s clear of his closest competition, which happened to be Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki’s Ken Roczen in both sessions.

With a 1:11.990s lap early in the second timed qualifying session, Sexton secured the top spot in the class and was the only rider to lap under 1:12s heading into the night show.

Even Sexton’s second-best time, a 1:12.240s, was better than the best from any other rider.

After Roczen in second, Anderson landed third aboard his Kawasaki KX450SR ahead of championship leader Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s 450SX debutant RJ Hampshire, who was competitive in both timed sessions.

Justin Barcia of TLD Red Bull GasGas was the final rider within 1.5s of Sexton in the second session and the first rider outside the top five. Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM), Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), Christian Craig (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), and Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM) filled positions seven through 10.

Image: Octopi Media.

Extending his streak of consecutive qualifying sessions led to six, Lawrence set the pace in the 250SX East division with a 1:13.286 in the second qualifying go-around.

Closest to Lawrence throughout both sessions, Nate Thrasher and Jordon Smith of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing placed second and third ahead of Michael Mosiman (TLD Red Bull GasGas) and Max Anstie (Fire Power Honda) in the top five.

Tom Vialle qualified sixth aboard his Red Bull KTM for his first Daytona Supercross, just ahead of Jeremy Martin (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha), who won the concluding race of the Arlington Triple Crown last weekend.

Rookies Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) and Chance Hymas (Team Honda HRC) were next, 2.377s and 2.683s off Lawrence’s pace. Chris Blose completed the top 10 as the lone Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki representative.

Detailed results