In Quotebook, a selection of riders detail how their races played out at the fourth round of the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship at High Point.

450MX

Image: Octopi Media.

Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – First: 
I was a little uncomfortable all day. To have a track like this be covered in mud makes it hard to even ride, let alone race. Honestly, it was really humbling all day, having to battle and break up the routine. I almost feel like that crash was needed just to stay focused and keep the perspective that it won’t always be holeshots and checking off laps. I’m learning how to push through when I don’t have my best stuff, which I know I’ll need as we go on. I’m excited to have a little bit of time off this week, and I can’t wait to head to RedBud.

Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Fourth: 
In the first moto, I made a mistake in the first turn and lost pretty much every position. I was kind of dead last and had to come back through the field to finish sixth. In the second moto, I got a better start. We changed some stuff on the bike, and it was way better. I think we finally found something that I really like, so yeah, the feeling was great. It took me a little bit to understand the new setup, but then I got going pretty fast. So that was good. I finally had a good moto. I just had a little crash on lap two. I didn’t lose much time, but enough to maybe cost me the moto win or the overall podium today.

Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Third: 
Two weekends in a row with brutal tracks that I have to be fully focused on, not only physically, but mentally as well. I am grateful for the progress we are making and to bring home an overall podium, I’d say it was a successful weekend with my Monster Energy Kawasaki team.

Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) – Fifth: 
It was an up-and-down day here at High Point. The second qualifier was good with a P2, before in the first moto I got a great start, rode consistent, solid, and got third, which was a good step. Second moto, just got an average start and didn’t do much with it and ended up sixth. Fifth overall on the day – not our best day, not our worst day – but we’ll enjoy this off weekend and come back strong at RedBud.

Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM) – Eighth: 
High Point started off very muddy! I didn’t ride great in practice and then tried a couple of changes for the first moto, which didn’t work in my favor – I didn’t ride too good at all. Second moto, I made some better changes and was in third, but went down, unfortunately. Charged back, was riding good, but yeah, we’ve got some homework to do before RedBud.

Ken Roczen (Progressive Ecstar Suzuki) – Second: 
High Point was an absolute success, I’m not going to lie. There’s so much to talk about with such little motocross riding that we did this week in testing. But we showed up and it was honestly a super muddy mess. This was probably the most brutal track we could’ve possibly come back to for a one-off. But we were P1 in qualifying and also put up a fight in the first moto. We were leading laps and I was battling with the leaders. With a lap and a half to go I tried passing a lapper and to cut out of the rut I was in. I tucked the front and went over the bars. I was on an uphill and in between ruts; it was really difficult to find neutral and took me a while to get going again, but we finished that off in seventh. I was ready to go all-out in the second moto; we ripped a holeshot and I went as long as possible. I led almost all the way to the end, but I was stuck in some bad lines. But once another rider passed me I caught some of his lines and I held on for second. So, I went seventh and second for second overall, which felt amazing. Man, I couldn’t have done it without the team, the work that we’ve put in, and my mechanic Travis who’s doing an amazing job. It was a great, great, great weekend putting it on the podium, and winning qualifying, and leading laps. It could not have gone any better.

Derek Drake (BarX Suzuki) – 10th: 
The day was going in the right direction for me,” told Drake. I had a solid race coming through the pack in the first moto. Then in the second moto, I had some issues that held me back, which was unfortunate, but on to the next race!

Freddie Noren (Twisted Tea Suzuki) – 12th: 
A few corners into the first moto I stalled the bike. So I went from dead last to 14th. So considering that, the moto went well. I went 14-10 for 12th overall. Anything outside the top ten is not really a good day. 12th overall is my worst finish this year. But we’re sitting well in points and we’ll keep working. The team’s doing awesome, so I’m pumped to be with these guys. I’m looking forward to a weekend off to practice and ride and continue to improve, and then Red Bud is my jelly, as in peanut butter and jelly. I’m excited to go to RedBud.

250MX

Image: Octopi Media.

Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – First:
Apart from the penalty, it was a great day. We got the overall, so we couldn’t ask for more there. The track was wild. There were so many soft spots and sinkholes that you didn’t really know what to do; it was all throttle control and finesse. From first practice on, my goal was just to not crash. I took what I could in the first moto without getting too aggressive, and just focused on hitting my lines in the second. It was a really good day for us, and I’m looking forward to a little break.

Chance Hymas (Team Honda HRC) – Sixth: 
Today was a big learning day. I kind of struggled in qualifying and the first moto, trying to find my groove. It was a great experience leading some laps in the second moto; I just need to focus on finding more lines as the race goes on and keeping the tempo up. Overall, it was a good day and one I can take some positives from.

Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – DNF:
The last 24 hours have been pretty scary, but thankfully I’m okay. I crashed yesterday in the second round of qualifying and got hit in the chest and neck by the handlebars. My throat started to close up in the Alpinestars medical unit, and I was immediately transported to the nearest hospital. I spent the night there and am headed back home to Florida now to start on my recovery.

Jordon Smith (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – 13th: 
It was a tough day. The track was really gnarly. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a track like that, so I was kind of struggling all day. I went down in the second turn in the first moto and then went down again pretty hard, so I was struggling through that first moto. The second moto was a little better. I got a better start and just tried to hit some lines the best I could. We were struggling, but I held it together for a top 10. We’ve got a little break now, so we will get rested up and also do some work and try to do better at RedBud.

Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Third: 
It was a good day. I was the fastest qualifier and got a good start. I was happy with the first moto, even though RJ (Hampshire) got by me there in the end. I was riding smooth, and it was a good moto. The second moto was crazy. I crashed after the start, got run over, and got up in last. My mindset was just, I’m going to crash, or I’m going to get on the podium today. I just sent it so hard and made my way up to sixth to get third overall.

Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Ninth: 
It was pretty rough. I qualified 32nd overall, which is pretty bad, and I need to work on that. In the first moto, I fell a few times in a pileup and then worked my way to 12th. In the second moto, I turned it around and got the holeshot. I didn’t really have a great pace to run with the leaders, and then Jo (Shimoda) got me in the last turn, so I fell back to fourth. For the way the day was going, it was a good turnaround. So I’m happy with that and looking forward to the weekend off and then on to RedBud, which is one of my favorites.

Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Fourth: 
Lots of positives to come out of this weekend. The practice starts throughout the week helped tremendously. The track was tough and the ruts were deep, but being able to secure another moto podium show’s consistency and I am hungry to get on the box for an overall.

Ryder DiFrancesco (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Seventh: 
The track was a challenge for everyone with the soft conditions, but my KX 250 handled it great. Both motos were fun battling for that podium finish, but a seventh overall is my career best and we are coming back for more.

Max Vohland (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – 10th: 
First moto, I started decently and pushed as hard as I could, but was struggling a little with the conditions and finished in sixth place. In the second moto, I was in the first turn carnage and was toward the back, then had another big crash on lap one. Remounted and battled back to 12th for 10th overall. Not what we wanted, but I’m healthy and looking forward to RedBud.

Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – Fifth: 
It was very muddy here at High Point at the beginning of the day. First moto, unfortunately, I fell in the first corner with another rider – I had nowhere to go, so I charged through the field for 11th. Second moto was a better start, which was important for vision, and then I got in behind Hunter [Lawrence] and was on him for a lot of the race, and finished in P2 which was good. Two weeks before the next one, my wrist was okay here as we taped it up very good, so the rest will be good.

RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – Second: 
I felt really awesome on the bike today and my FC250 was working unreal. In the first moto I got out with the holeshot, led a lot of laps, had a mistake, and came through the pack again for the win. In the second moto I got another good start and made a mistake. I came in too hot into the second turn and ended up taking my teammate out. Of course, that was a bummer for me, him, and the whole team. We recovered… I was able to get back up to seventh for second overall on the day. I’m just going to enjoy this weekend off and I look forward to these next couple of races. I’m feeling awesome on this bike and excited to go racing.

Talon Hawkins (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – 15th: 
I’m happy with the improvement I’ve gained over this past week in the ruts. I feel a lot more planted and calculated. I’m just more calculated every time I come to a corner so that’s definitely a positive to take away from it. I ended up the day with a 13-14. I should have been better in the second moto but I just made some dumb mistakes when I was in the top ten. I know what to work on, and we’re going to get inside that top ten here real soon.

Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – Eighth: 
I had some steps in the right direction compared to weekends past. We’re on the right path and coming forward. I got good starts and I’m riding decent. I feel like my starts are too good to not be up fighting for wins and positions on the box. In moto one I held third for literally the whole moto, but a little mistake, a little bit of lappers, in the last couple laps cost me. That one stung. In moto two I had a good start, but went down in the second turn and was down for a while. But I came back to 11th. All-in-all, it was an okay day and steps in the right direction, so that’s all we can ask for.

Caden Braswell (TLD Red Bull GasGas) – 11th: 
I got my first racing in on the pro side at High Point. It was an eventful day. We had some highs, we had some lows. I got my first top ten, and couldn’t be more grateful to the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing team. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to come here and race. I really enjoyed my day, and I’m striving to be better every week.