It’s been a troubled start to Monster Energy Supercross 2025 for Aaron Plessinger, the Red Bull KTM rider unable to even find his way into the top-five prior to a turnaround result of P3 in Daytona. ‘The Cowboy’ led the 450SX title-race early on one year ago, but this time around, it’s been far tougher from the outset – currently positioned ninth in the standings near halfway. Check In with Plessinger to learn more about his season so far and to hear about Saturday night from his point of view from the podium.

Aaron, how fun was that 450SX main event? It looked incredible from the outside and a lot of fun.

I had a lot of fun! Just being up front – I haven’t really been up front this year. So yeah, just being up front and battling with these guys and getting laps out there was really fun. And this track is always fun. So to get a podium here was pretty dang cool. Hell yeah.

Image: Octopi Media.

The last few rounds haven’t been the best for you. You’ve been around seventh, eighth, but today was obviously much better for you. Great start, looking good all day. What changes are attributed to that? And is it maybe just the speedway that you like better, or even the crowd being so loud for everyone?

To be honest, I’ve just had really bad luck. I was sick and I mean, I know everybody was sick, but I just had unfortunate circumstances that kept me in the back. Tonight I just got a good start and was able to execute. That’s what I haven’t been doing, is executing. I’ve just been, the last couple of starts I’ve had in the mains have been good, but I’ve just kind of fallen back. This week, I just felt good. I felt a little different and I haven’t changed too much on the bike and I just felt good tonight.

You donned a Dale Earnhardt shirt on the podium. And, of course, Daytona fans love that. Can you speak to what type of connection you feel with him?

Just coming here reminds me of him, I guess. I don’t know. Just speedway tracks have a different vibe. And I feel like every time we come to a speedway track, I feel kind of a Dale vibe. So I don’t know. It’s just in the heart, I guess.

Image: Octopi Media.

That first move for the lead tonight, just talk me through it. Rating-wise, how was that crowd for you?

Yeah, it was sick. It was along the wall, I think. I feel like any time we made a pass out there, any time anybody made a pass out there, it was so loud. It got really, really loud. And that’s one thing about here, it gets crazy. Even though the fans are spread out and there’s kind of a far gap between them, you always hear them. And they get super, super loud here. And that’s one thing I like about Daytona.

As much as you like this place, one of the low points of your career happened here when you hurt your heel in your season with Yamaha. How was it to find a balance where you know, you can really like some place, but also a life-changing thing happened here. And then put that into perspective, before going out and racing?

Yeah, my rookie year in ’19, I shattered my heel here. And that kind of ruined that year for me. But to come back, I think I had one of my best finishes here, that next year. And then the year after that, I had my first 450 podium ever, so to rebound like that is pretty cool. And it went from my least favorite place to one of my favorite places to race. So it’s pretty cool that I can rebound like that, for sure.

Image: Octopi Media.