Image: Octopi Media.

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Austin Forkner has won the opening round of 250SX East in the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross Championship, earning redemption after going wire-to-wire in Detroit.

One year on from crashing out of round one, Forkner fought back to control the main event with a winning margin of 2.557s ahead of Max Anstie (Fire Power Honda) and rookie Daxton Bennick (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing).

Carnage in the first turn took down the likes of Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), top qualifier Pierce Brown (TLD Red Bull GasGas), Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM), Cameron McAdoo and his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate Seth Hammaker – who was forced out altogether.

It was eventually Coty Schock (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha) who finished fourth, with Brown recovering to fifth, while Triumph Racing’s debut resulted in P6 for Jalek Swoll. The top 10 was completed by newcomer Guillem Farres (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), Marshal Weltin (Gizmo Mods Rock River Yamaha) and Chance Hymas (Team Honda HRC), who went down while in podium contention.

Further back, McAdoo made his way back to 15th, one position clear of Deegan, with Vialle a full three laps down to be credited 18th. Alongside Hammaker in registering a DNF was second of the factory Triumphs, debutant Evan Ferry who was also caught up in the first turn impact.

The eastern region will now take a single weekend off as the series travels back west to Glendale next Saturday, 10 February, marking round six of the 2024 season.

Detailed results