Image: Octopi Media.

Being able to rebound and win the final race at Glendale’s Triple Crown will serve as a timely boost for Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton, overcoming a disastrous start to the night and salvaging a podium overall.

Sexton suffered multiple crashes in the first race at round five, finishing a lowly P11 before a stronger second outing saw him cross the line in third position to get his evening back on track.

The 23-year-old then went on to lead from start to finish in the third and final race, putting forward a commanding performance where he displayed the mental fortitude to recover after a difficult beginning to the night program.

“The first race was definitely not pretty,” Sexton explained. “I actually did the exact same thing when I was a rookie in the 250 class in my first Triple Crown – got a good start and I think I crashed like three times. I was hoping not to replicate that, but I was having a hard time with the track and all day I was pretty much off.

“The second race I felt like I had a little bit more of a flow and then, the third race, I pulled the holeshot and tried to sprint away. I was actually having fun again – it was nice being out front, able to control it. Obviously Eli [Tomac] didn’t have to win, so I knew that going in, but I just wanted to go out there and put my best foot forward, and I feel like that’s what I did.

“Any time you cross the finish line first, it gives you a bit of confidence. I felt like tonight I proved to myself that I can rebound and get back in it. It gave me a little boost of confidence and now going into next week, it just makes everything easier.”

Sexton now sits second in the 450SX points standings, 11 points outside of championship leader and round five winner Tomac as the Monster Energy Supercross Championship heads to Anaheim 3 this Saturday for round six.