Image: Octopi Media.

A clean-sweep to open the 2022 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship marked the perfect start for Chase Sexton ahead of HRC teammate Ken Roczen at Fox Raceway on a weekend where Honda celebrated its 50th anniversary in the sport.

After topping qualifying, Sexton continued his form by winning the opening moto, trailing Roczen for the first half of the race before making a move and going on to win by 15.877s.

Roczen was solid after setting the early pace and then settling into a podium result, while third was exceptional from Christian Craig (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) despite a tip-over early on, a battle with the returning Ryan Dungey (Red Bull KTM) and a late challenge from Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki).

The end result for Anderson was an impressive fourth after clawing his way back from 17th at the end of lap one, while Dungey starred upon coming back to the sport following six years away with a top-five finish in moto one.

Next up was Red Bull KTM teammate Plessinger in P6, followed by Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) after he gradually dropped down the order out of podium contention, Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) – like Anderson – also from well back in the opening laps, class rookie Garrett Marchbanks (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha) and Tony Cairoli (Red Bull KTM) in a quiet start to his time in the US.

It was an all-Honda duel at the front in 450MX moto two as earlier winner Sexton jumped out front on lap one, only for Roczen to strike with that added early intensity. Come the final 10 minutes, Sexton finally countered and made this move count, going on to seal a perfect score by just 4.587s over Roczen.

Third was yet again a remarkable result from Craig, keeping teammate Tomac at bay, as Dungey made it a pair of top-fives in his comeback ride for fifth. Next in line was Cairoli after making his share of progress between motos, with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna fill-in Shane McElrath seventh.

It was a case of what could have been for Anderson, recovering from a fall on the opening lap to claim P8, with Barcia and Plessinger in ninth and 10th.

The round podium saw Sexton stand on the middle step, joined by Team Honda HRC teammate Roczen and with Craig taking third position. Round two of the season will take place at Hangtown in Northern California next Saturday, 4 June.

Detailed results