Image: Octopi Media.

Despite a challenging main event at Indianapolis that saw Chase Sexton finish a season-low P10, the Team Honda HRC rider is ‘still in the championship hunt’ with eight 450SX races remaining.

Sexton again qualified fastest for round nine and carried that form early into the night show to take a 4.495s victory in heat two ahead of Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

The track quickly deteriorated at Indy with riders battling immensely challenging ruts and rough conditions. Unfortunately for Sexton, after making a move on Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) for second in the main event, he was caught out by a rut on lap seven which caused him to fall and drop well down the order. Managing a damaged bike after the crash, the number 23 limped home to score a limited, yet crucial, 13 points.

“The day started off great for me,” Sexton explained. “We had figured some things out in testing earlier in the week, and I felt like I was riding well, even with the gnarly ruts. I topped qualifying and won my heat race, and I was feeling good in the main event.

“Unfortunately, I hit a rut that sent me to the ground, and the bike was bent up to where it was tough trying to make up time after that. It’s a bummer, but I know I have the speed and I’m still in the championship hunt. There’s no quit in me, and I’m going to keep swinging. I look forward to Detroit.”

Indy marked just the second time this season Sexton has finished off the podium and the first occasion he has been outside the top five in a main event. With title-rival and former red plate-holder Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) also suffering a tough night in P8, Webb now leads the standings by a single point, as Sexton is 13 points back in third.