Image: Octopi Media.

Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton has topped 450SX qualifying for the third time this season in Houston, as Fire Power Honda rider Max Anstie led the way in the first 250SX East round of the year.

After going fastest in Q1 earlier, Sexton went 0.161s quicker than his best lap from the first session with a 50.320s to lead the way again in the second outing.

Similar to the earlier session, Sexton’s second-fastest lap was faster than any other rider’s fastest, and he was the only rider to lap quicker than 51s heading into the night show. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing riders Dylan Ferrandis and Eli Tomac were second and third, over a full second off Sexton’s top time.

A trio of Kawasaki KX450SR machines from Monster Energy Kawasaki and Rick Ware Racing were next, due to the session’s best laps from Jason Anderson, Adam Cianciarulo, and Joey Savatgy. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Christian Craig placed seventh, ahead of Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM), Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) and Roczen.

On debut in the premier class this weekend, Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) qualified in 14th position.

Image: Octopi Media.

Also as he did in qualifying one, Max Anstie recorded a 52.128s lap-time in session two to maintain his place at the head of the time-sheets.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing signing Jordon Smith of darted out to be first on track as the final 250 qualifying session began, and Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) set the early pace at 54.765s, but it was again Anstie who topped the field.

Going eight-tenths of a second quicker than his class-leading pace from the first session, Anstie was 0.31s clear of Smith’s Star Yamaha stablemate Nate Thrasher, who was just 0.026s faster than Smith who placed third.

Lawrence, meanwhile, improved one position from the first session with the fourth-fastest lap overall, which was 0.391s back from Anstie. Jeremy Martin (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha) rounded out the top five.

Positions six through 10 on combined times were filled by Michael Mosiman (TLD Red Bull GasGas), high profile rookie Haiden Deegan (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), Chance Hymas (Team Honda HRC) also from group B, MX2 world champion Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM) in his 250SX debut and Chris Blose, who is standing in at Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki.

Detailed results