Image: Octopi Media.

‘A super-tough day’ for Chase Sexton saw him fourth overall at Budds Creek, but to the Team Honda HRC rider’s credit, he was able to charge to near-victory in the final moto.

Determined to notch his first Pro Motocross win of the season, the current 450SX champion qualified second behind teammate and 450MX title-winner Jett Lawrence in Maryland.

Early mistakes in moto one saw Sexton outside of the top 20, but the number 23 was able to mount a charge through the pack and reach P9.

In the final race at the penultimate round, Sexton moved up to second but tipped over while challenging for the lead. He remounted and once again caught Lawrence, coming up less than a second short of victory at the checkered flag.

“I’m leaving Budds Creek with a 9-2 for fourth overall and some mixed feelings,” Sexton recalled. “Even though I never crashed hard, I definitely fell a lot today.

“I feel like in the second moto, I found another gear, and if I can bring that into Ironman, it would be a huge positive. Super-tough day overall, but I’m happy to end it on a good note.”

Entering the final round of the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship this Saturday at Ironman Raceway, Sexton is fifth in the 450MX standings, despite missing Hangtown, Thunder Valley and High Point. Additionally, he holds the number 450SMX seed ahead of the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) post-season.