Image: Octopi Media.

Lightning in the area and heavy rain pushed back the start of the first 250SX East/West Showdown of the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross season for over an hour and set up a triumphant victory for Max Anstie and Fire Power Honda.

The riders and bikes that qualified for the East/West Showdown returned to the stadium floor as fans returned to their seats once it was deemed safe and final preparations were made for a shortened main event on the treacherous, muddy track.

Anstie left the soaked first turn in the lead and never relinquished it, leading all 14 laps en route to his first Supercross victory.

Despite a last-turn attack by RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) that briefly put him on the ground, Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) secured second, finishing 0.733s ahead of his brother and teammate Hunter, who completed the podium.

A strong outing in the problematic conditions became a fourth-place result for Max Vohland (Red Bull KTM). Vohland finished roughly 3s ahead of Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha representative Enzo Lopes.

Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), Carson Mumford (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), Cullin Park (Phoenix Racing Honda), and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jo Shimoda and Chris Blose completed the top 10.

Hampshire was stuck in the final turn as the race finished and is listed 13th on the results.

With the grueling New Jersey mud race in the books, Supercross heads next to Nashville for the season’s 15th round. The 250SX East region will pick up at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, April 29, with Hunter Lawrence carrying a 49-point lead over Deegan and able to clinch the title.

Detailed results