Image: Octopi Media.

Commanding performances by Chase Sexton and Nate Thrasher earned them top qualifying honors for the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross visit to Atlanta Motor Speedway, but it wasn’t without challenges from their closest competitors.

Fourth fastest and two-tenths of a second from the top in the opening timed qualifying, Sexton improved 3.414s to set the high mark in the second session.

Executing a 1:28.064s revolution of the unique Atlanta track, the Honda rider could only put 0.092s between himself and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo, who turned in a late flyer to land second.

The second factory-prepared Kawasaki KX450SR from Jason Anderson was third, as Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) and Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) completed the top five, with just 0.618s splitting Barcia from Sexton.

Ken Roczen (Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki) edged out points leader Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) by 0.347s to place sixth and earn the third gate pick in the first 450SX heat race.

After Tomac in seventh, Dean Wilson (Fire Power Honda), Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM), and Benny Bloss completed the top 10.

Image: Octopi Media.

Thrasher set the pace in the returning 250SX East division with a 1:29.944s time, making Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing the fastest team entering the 3 p.m. local time racing program.

Points leader Hunter Lawrence was just 0.045s slower aboard his Team Honda HRC-prepared Honda CRF250R, with a second Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing entry landing third at the hands of Jordon Smith.

Returning to competition for the first time since a preseason injury, Jo Shimoda gave Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki representation in the top five with the fourth-fastest lap, just 0.793 off Thrasher’s pace.

Jeremy Martin completed the top five representing Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha, while Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), Max Anstie (Fire Power Honda), Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM), Chris Blose (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), and Coty Schock (Phoenix Racing Honda) rounded out the top 10.

The first gate will drop at 3:06 p.m. EDT to begin the year’s first speedway race, with coverage on NBC and Peacock set to start at 3 p.m.

Detailed results