Image: Octopi Media.

Following a fourth place finish in Houston one week prior, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger rode his way onto the podium for the first time in over a year by finishing a confidence-inspiring third at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.

Plessinger labelled a good start as the key to being closer to the front after crossing the finish line only 13 seconds behind eventual winner and teammate Cooper Webb.

“It’s a big confidence booster for sure, I’ve been working on my starts and it’s definitely showing,” said Plessinger. “It felt good to get out there and run with the front boys, it’s a shame I made a couple of mistakes to keep me from really latching onto these guys, but third place is the best I’ve had in a while.

“I got hurt early in the season last year, so yeah I’m pumped on this, it just gives me more confidence to come out in Oakland and do it again.”

The last two weekends have marked positive steps forward for Plessinger, who showed podium potential at the previous round in Houston and ultimately finished one place shy of the rostrum in what was a restarted outing.

“I think if it wasn’t for the red flag in Houston, it might’ve been a bit of a different story,” he commented. “Me and Eli [Tomac] had a really good pace going there, we weren’t too far ahead of everyone else, but we were working on it, we had good speed in the whoops and I just had a good flow, so if it wasn’t for the red flag I think we could’ve landed up here a little earlier.”

Prior to Tampa, the last time Plessinger stood the Supercross podium was Oakland last year, with the series returning to the venue for what will be the sixth race of the season this Saturday. The number seven enters RingCentral Coliseum sixth in the 450SX title race, 28 points from red plate-holder Tomac.