In Quotebook, a selection of riders detail how their races played out in the ninth round of the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross Championship at Daytona.

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Image: Octopi Media.

Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM) – Sixth:
The feeling was good on the bike today, so thanks to the team for that! I qualified third, so that was amazing, but the heat race wasn’t that great. I really wanted to put it all together and do a consistent main event. I passed Roczen at some point and tried to chase down Ferrandis and Barcia – I wasn’t too far behind them but I couldn’t get quite make it happen. My speed was decent, the same as the top guys in front, so I’m going to keep working hard and trying to be better every weekend.

Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) – Second:
Man, I was so close to getting the win, I could taste it. I rode great the whole time and I felt like I rode strong, I knew Eli was coming because he’s so good here. I should have maybe anticipated a little bit better but it’s definitely a bummer when a race is decided – or goes that close – and a lapper gets involved but it’s racing. Overall, I’m happy but it sucks. I knew how hard I needed to push to go the distance but it happens, I guess. We’ll come back next week and try to get that first win of the season.

Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Ninth:
I felt really good today leading into the night show and showed I had the pace to be upfront. The results weren’t there tonight but I know I am way better than what they show and I’m going to keep getting better as the season goes on. I’m never one to give up when things get tough, and I think I showed that tonight. There were some moments where I think being a little more patient on my end would have been the better move, but I did my best in terms of damage control tonight. I have a lot of fight left in me and we’re only 18-points behind, this championship isn’t over yet.

Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) – Fifth:
I was feeling good on the track, got a good flow and got the bike feeling really good today, the team did a great job during the week to get me what I needed so I’m super stoked on that! In the main, we were just battling hard – we were all really close from first through fifth – so it was really good racing. Around halfway, I got really tight and I was only able to bring it home to fifth. I definitely was looking for a bit more but we’ll take it. We’re healthy and back to work but looking forward to next week.

Dean Wilson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – 10th:
My night started off pretty good. I was in sixth for a few laps and Malcolm was behind me but I figured I didn’t want to hold him up so I kind of let him by and I think he grabbed the front brake on the turn in the tuff block or something and he fell, then I fell. I almost saved it and then Jason [Anderson] hit me from behind. I was the last guy to get up and I had to make a bunch of passes and lost a bunch of time. It was a bummer but we’ll keep plugging away and moving forward.

Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – Eighth:
I got P1 in practice and I won my heat race, so it was a really good start to the night. I had a little mishap in the main event – I didn’t have the best start and then I got into it with Anderson and Tomac and I got knocked off the track, and then Anderson and I went down in the next turn and we got back up and we fought. We felt good tonight and it was a good ride for us despite what happened, but that’s part of racing. We’re going to take what we learned and keep moving forward.

Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) – Fourth:
For sure, it was better than the last couple of weeks. It’s cool to fight up front and be back in the battle. The track was pretty gnarly tonight. We got a good start in the heat race and better than usual in the main, so it was a good step in the right direction. Again, it was good to be back in the top-five with the guys fighting for a podium position, and that’s better than the last few weeks.

Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) – First:
It’s unbelievable to get win number six, and it was everything I wished for! It was a tough day, though. I was having a little bit of a tough time with the track earlier in the day, but once the lights came on, it was like I flipped a switch, and it was game on. Me and Cooper (Webb) rode wire-to-wire for most of the race. We were going back and forth around the different parts of the track on being the better guy, and I was able to capitalize on him being stuck behind a guy and made the move. I put myself in the position for that move, though, and just went on from there. It was such a cool night for us.

Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC) – Seventh:
Daytona is always one of the most fun races to go to. The track is brutal, and overall the vibe of the place is just always very special. I just love the venue, and I love coming here. I had a really good day throughout the day. I was somewhat up front with the other guys in practice and qualifying, and I was enjoying my riding. Nothing different on the result board, but it was fun.

Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) – Third:
That’s the gnarliest track I’ve raced at since I went to the big class – definitely a different animal! I didn’t really have that great of a start, but I kind of made my way to where I needed to be. I felt like I was going good at the beginning, and then the track broke down. [Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb] kind of stayed the same, and I got a little bit worse; I just wasn’t really flowing. Eli got by me and then [Justin] Barcia was behind me. In the middle of the race I started riding a little bit better; I started finding a little bit of a flow and started clicking off decent laps. I’m happy to be back on the podium after a few rougher weeks.

Brandon Hartranft (Twisted Tea Suzuki) – 17th:
I rode pretty well all day until the main event. My heat race went smooth. I came out seventh. But in the main event I just was not gelling with the track or with the bike. We’re going to be testing this week in Florida. I’m looking forward to that and hopefully we’ll continue to make some progress and kick some butt next weekend.

Justin Bogle (Twisted Tea Suzuki) – 11th:
Luckily I had an uneventful LCQ. I got the win there and a little extra track time; it didn’t hurt, to be honest. In the main I was in the fight this weekend. Just outside the top 10, we ended up 11th. That’s something to hang onto and move forward with now. I’m excited for what’s to come and I’ll just try to keep improving and being in the fight. At this race we showed a lot of progress. I’m happy with that and I felt a lot better with the result.

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Image: Octopi Media.

Cameron McAdoo (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Third:
We had a tough start today. I was struggling throughout qualifying, but I regrouped with the team and was ready to get out there for the main event. I got out to a decent start in the main and had some intense battles with RJ [Hampshire] and Pierce [Brown] throughout the race. Those two were running at a fast pace so I really had to fight to get by them and make it on the podium. There’s still some work I need to do to close the points gap but we’ve got a solid plan in place that we believe in and will put me in the best position to win. I’m already looking forward to next weekend and lining up on a normal supercross track again.

Pierce Brown (TLD Red Bull GasGas) – Fourth:
Today was really good! I felt like I built all day, it was kind of a slow start but by the main event we got a charge for the podium. I had some pretty fast guys behind me but I gave it my all and my all was fourth tonight. We’re building, so we still have some more to go. We’re going to go back and do our homework and come out swinging for Detroit.

Stilez Robertson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – Second:
After the heat race, I came back and talked to the team and they really had my back and gave me some good motivation for the main event. I got a good start and Jett [Lawrence] got me through the first turn and I just tried to stay with him as long as I could and ended up really good. I’m super excited and can’t wait to keep it going!

Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – First:
Even apart from winning, I think the first time here at Daytona is just a great experience to have, with the fans being right there. It’s as close as we get to feeling like a NASCAR race; it’s even in the same area, although we might not be going as fast. I can say that as a kid, I was always dreaming of riding the Daytona track, and today topped it off with a win. The bike’s been feeling very forgiving and wanting to go fast, which is nice. Stilez [Robertson] was right there for a long time in the main; I could see him out of the corner of my eye, and it was keeping me focused. I’m pretty pumped to get the win. It was definitely a nice, calm weekend – a lot better than last weekend; at least I can go to sleep easier tonight.

Derek Drake (BarX/ Chaparral Suzuki) – 19th:
It was a tough day, that’s all there is to it. But we have to continue working on our weaknesses.