Round 15 of Monster Energy Supercross featured close racing throughout the field with several different points battles come down to the wire. Quotebook features compiled comments from riders over the weekend.

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Image: Octopi Media.

Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – First:
My start in the heat wasn’t ideal. I had to charge from behind, but I was able to find some pretty good passing spots. We didn’t want to start the same in the main, so we made sure we executed off the start. My Honda hooked up and made my life a lot easier at the end.

Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM) – Second:
Philadelphia was a good round for me, we’re happy with second and I felt like it was a strong ride in the end. I didn’t get a good start but was able to make my way through the pack and had some really good laps. Tonight, I had a little bit more of my normal speed, and I haven’t really had that all year, so I feel like I’m coming into form in these final races of the series. There’s been a lot of learning this year, I feel like I’ve grown a lot, and it’s made me better – we’ll keep clicking these things off and keep getting better with the team.

Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Third:
This weekend the Monster Energy Kawasaki team and I took huge steps forward. We have been grinding and testing to get myself and my KX450SR better suited for me, and I feel like it’s showing. From grabbing my first heat race win of the season and lead wire to wire, to finding lines during the main event and capitalizing on that to grab a podium feels so good. Overall it was a good weekend and I’ll keep making progress to make my way to the top step.

Cooper Webb (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Fourth:
It was a tough main event in Philly. The day was going pretty well. I qualified second and got second in the heat. In the main, I got a great start with Eli, in third and was able to move into second. I was riding really well, but unfortunately, I got really bad arm pump again. Then it was unfortunate in the last turn, losing that spot to Jason (Anderson). So I’m pretty bummed, but we’ll regroup this week and come back swinging. This is racing, so it’s not over until it’s over.

Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Fifth:
It was an okay day. I had a really good heat race and some good starts out there as a whole. I started well in the main event and was in a really good position there for most of the race, and then I made a mistake or two and was passed and off the podium. I was happy with my speed but not with my overall performance in the 20-minute main event.

Justin Barcia (Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas) – Sixth:
We had a good practice today, qualified P10 and I was quite happy with that because we were within a second of the leader, so that was cool. Heat race, it was good, but nothing spectacular. In the Main Event, I came out top-five on the start and rode really well, then got a little tight in the middle. At the end – or really from the mid-stages of the race – Hunter [Lawrence] was on me and we had a really good battle – it was like the hardest fought sixth-place battle ever! I’m really happy with my ride, even if not so much the result. We’re on the up and up, the bike was extremely good today, and I’m looking forward to the last two races in Supercross and onto the outdoors.

Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – Seventh:
It was a pretty good day—my riding was really good all day. It’s our third seventh-place finish in a row—I’m definitely sick of that number! I was a lot closer in the conversation up front all day, which was good. We’re just logging the data, taking steps forward. Like Rocky said, ‘Keep moving forward.

Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – Eighth:
Philly was definitely new for everybody, very challenging dirt, but I enjoyed it. The fans were awesome this weekend and we actually did alright. The Main Event was okay, because I made some mistakes, but pulled it back around and we ended up P8. It’s not the result we want exactly, but I rode good and that’s all that we can ask for at the end of the day. There are some things we could clean up, so I look forward to the next races and the whole Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing crew have done a phenomenal job – we’ll keep giving it everything we’ve got.

Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – 10^th:
Practice went well, and I felt really comfortable all day. I had some bad luck with people going down around me, and I had to go to the last-chance qualifier. I feel like I rode the best I did all day in the LCQ, but I had a terrible gate pick for the main. I tried to go outside, but it didn’t work, and I had to wait for everyone. From there, it was a really hard track to pass on. I would get close and then just couldn’t make anything stick. I had to take my time and make my way up to 10th. I have to get good starts in order to be battling up front, so we’ll be working on that.

Dean Wilson (Firepower Honda) – 11^th:
This is a fantastic achievement for our team. Everyone puts in tremendous effort, our sponsors are phenomenal, and our staff members are incredibly selfless. Max delivered a flawless performance, and our program is unified in its dedication. Dean’s comeback has been impressive, and we’re thrilled with his results.

Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – 14^th:
Philly is awesome. The track was great all night and the fans were incredible. After the track walk, I knew that we would end up with a rutted track which doesn’t help my hand situation, but I was prepared to try my best either way. I didn’t have a great start in the heat race, but I felt good about how I came back and charged. The main event was tough, I have still been dealing with this ankle injury and with the rough track it was hard to hang on. However, we made it to the end safely and that’s all I can ask for. Huge thank you to my Monster Energy Kawasaki team. 2 more to go.

Shane McElrath (Twisted Tea Progressive Suzuki) – 15^th:
I felt good on my Suzuki all day. I was comfortable, and overall my day went pretty well. This track really favored track position and that is something I did not have today. I need to be better in qualifying; a second faster during qualifying would have set me up way better for the heat race and potentially not having to race the LCQ. I’m frustrated because come main event time, I’m starting with a deficit on gate position. I’m excited to get back to work today and I’m ready to turn it around for the last two races. I like being at and I’ve always rode well at altitude, so I’m excited to get to Denver next week.

Anthony Bourdon (Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki) – 21^st:
For me, any race here is a great opportunity to progress and get experience, so I was happy to ride in Philadelphia. I had a particularly good timed practice, P16 overall and only 1.4 seconds from the championship leader. I felt fast all day on my Suzuki and on the track. I finished ninth in the heat and went straight to the main, which was also good. I had strong first laps in the main, fighting with fast riders. Then I had a crash which cost me five positions. I know I can do better with more training, but I learned more tonight and that’s important.

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Image: Octopi Media.

Max Anstie (Firepower Honda) – First:
It’s an incredible night for me, my team, our sponsors, and especially my dad. The bike is amazing, and I’m truly grateful to Factory Connection for their support, we have the best chassis. We’ve transformed this bike from a production-based Honda 250, and I hope our results inspire other privateers. Tonight was truly unforgettable.

Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM) – Second:
It was a good race tonight. I saw Haiden [Deegan] right behind me and trying to push – together we actually came back from pretty far and to the front. The track was pretty gnarly again, we passed a lot of guys in that Main Event, and it was stressful at times, but I pushed to the very end, and it was a good result to finish second here in Philadelphia. Now we will look ahead to Salt Lake City, and I am excited to get to the final round of the season.

Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Third:
Today was a little bit of an eventful day. In the heat race, I got second, and it was a battle to the end. In the main event, I got pinched on the start even though I had a good jump, and I came from the back and made it up to third. It was a good battle the whole way through. It was a gnarly race, but it’s good to learn and build from it.

Daxton Bennick (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Fourth:
I needed a rebound after last weekend, so it was a good day. I rode really well in qualifying, rode well in the heat and carried that momentum throughout the day. I had a couple mistakes in the main, but even if I went home with sixth, I would have been really happy. I was able to feel the pace at the front. I did get a little arm pump, but I think it was a good weekend and a positive note to head into the final round.

Chance Hymas (Team Honda HRC) – Fifth:
Tonight was a really good night for me—a personal best, with a fifth-place finish. I had a terrible start in the main, but a really good ride to finish it off. I’m stoked going into the final race.

Seth Hammaker (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Seventh:
Man, what a weekend. It was great to come race in Philly for the first time and call this my home race since I only grew up an hour away from here. After taking the Nashville round off and working on regaining strength in my shoulder, I felt really confident coming into the weekend and motivated with my family and friends coming to support. We started off the day right running quick qualifying times, and then holeshot and won the heat race. It was so cool to hear the fans show their support for me. I also grabbed the holeshot in the main event and had great battles with (Max) Anstie. With a few laps to go, (Jalek) Swoll went inside in the sand, and I went outside like I had the whole race. He over jumped and lost control and ended up getting into the side of me taking us both down and out of podium spots. I was super bummed about the situation that could have changed our nights, but I’m happy to walk away healthy, have a weekend off and make it happen in Salt Lake.

Jalek Swoll (Triumph Racing) – Eighth:
Overall it was a good day. Just to be back winning anything is a big step as it’s been a long time since I won something! I had a good Main, sitting in a podium position the entire time and with two laps to go I went for a pass on second. The pass I feel was 50/50 and could have gone both ways. I didn’t think it was too rough and felt like he could have seen me. But hey, it’s just a racing thing. We’ve been in the mix all day and I’m proud of myself for that. We’ll keep grinding and try to bring it to Salt Lake!

Preston Boespflug (Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki) – Ninth:
The team and I had my Suzuki set up great in practice and I had a good race! I was really comfortable on the track all day, and I felt the track really fit my style well! I’m happy to get my first top ten!

Nick Romano (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – 10^th:
Tenth was definitely a better day for me overall. It’s been a rough couple of races, so I’m happy to be back in the top 10. A lot of riders seemed to go down at the end of the main event, so it was survival of the fittest. I’m happy to be back in the top 10 and looking to build on that at the final round and have a good finish to my rookie season.

Casey Cochran (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – 17^th:
It was another day of learning for me overall. It wasn’t the best day for me, but we’ll push on and move forward. I’m taking it all in with each race, so we’ll use this to keep being able to learn and apply it for next year.