The 11^th round of Monster Energy Supercross in Seattle saw damp conditions create a challenging racetrack that tested the riders lap after lap. Quotebook features compiled comments from riders over the weekend.

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Image: Octopi Media.

Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM) – Second:
Overall, minus a few mistakes, I rode a really good race and came back towards the end – I had really good speed tonight in these gnarly conditions. This weekend definitely showed signs of improvement. These last two weekends I’ve built back some of that confidence I’ve needed, we made some bike changes before the heat race, and it was a direction I’ve been chasing for a while. I’m thankful for the team I have behind me, and we’ll keep grinding. We’re climbing that ladder.

Jett Lawrence (Honda HRC) – Third:
It was a bit of an up-and-down day—good qualifying, good heat race, not that good of a start in the main. I had a really good flow for the first 10 minutes and started catching the guys in front of me. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t checkup when I caught second in the sand and took the fall. I still got away with a third. I lost some points overall, but I’m excited to get them back in St. Louis.

Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM) – Fourth:
Seattle was the best race I’ve had in a month and probably one of the better races I’ve had this year. In my mind, I should have gotten on the podium. My start was decent, and I went backward in the first couple of laps but started riding well around lap three or four. I got within a second of Jett [Lawrence] at the end but couldn’t quite seal the deal for third. It was good, I needed that result to get back into the flow, and everything’s positive, so I’m looking forward to St. Louis and another Triple Crown!

Ken Roczen (Progressive Ecstar Suzuki) – Fifth:
Seattle was a really, really tough one. We had a bunch of rain again and it made for an extremely gnarly track everywhere. I didn’t start my day off well at all. I had a crash in qualifying and some sketchy moments. I was 14th in the first session. In the second session I didn’t feel much better. So, it was a tough start to the day, and it turned even worse when I went down in my heat. I wasn’t feeling comfortable on this track at all. I went to the LCQ, and we really excelled. I’m super stoked about us salvaging a fifth place in the main, because I look at that like a win. I made the most out of today so I’m happy about that.

Hunter Lawrence (Honda HRC) – Seventh:
It was awesome to get my first career heat-race win; I wish we had the same kind of start in the main! I struggled the first 10 minutes, but I felt like I caught fire in the last half of the race and caught a bunch of guys, so that was epic. Thanks to the team because we put in a ton of work lately, and I can feel it paying off.

Justin Barcia (Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas) – Ninth:
I had a good practice today and the track was tough all day. In the Heat race, I got off to a bad start, but charged through the pack really well and was P4, so I was happy with that, and I felt really good going into the Main Event. It was a good start in the Main, I was riding well and was battling with the guys even though I rode a little bit tight in the beginning. I loosened up in the middle, but unfortunately had a crash and didn’t ride to my ability after that. We’re getting there, getting better every weekend and our time will come, but until then we’ll keep working and get after it!

Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – 10^th:
In the slippery qualifying sessions I finished fifth overall. During the heat races, I did not feel comfortable on that gnarly track. During my main event, I was trying to run up front with the guys, but ultimately dropped down to 10th. Overall, not my best day of racing, but the entire Monster Energy Kawasaki team kept me dialed in all day and we will turn this around next weekend on a normal supercross track that won’t be impacted by weather.

Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – 11^th:
Seattle was definitely muddy in practice, but the track actually turned out okay for the night show. I was P4 in the Heat, which was okay, and then in the Main Event we were running okay again to begin with, but I got a little tight and the track started going away. When you start riding the track like that you start making a lot of mistakes, so we ended up 11th and that’s not the result we were looking for, but we’ll live to fight another day.

Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – 14^th:
This weekend was a challenge for me. The muddy qualifying sessions went pretty well for me, and my Monster Energy Kawasaki team had the bike dialed all day, adapting to the track. I had a pretty good heat race and finished fifth. In the main, I had a great start, but the track was so difficult out there. Overall, I put my best effort forward and we ended up where we ended up. I always love coming to Seattle because the fans are great, and the energy is great. We will take it this weekend and move onto St. Louis.

Shane McElrath (Twisted Tea Progressive Suzuki) – 16^th:
It’s always nice coming here, but I think we get a little bit of ahead of ourselves with how gnarly these conditions are. I think as far as racing goes it was a surprisingly good day for me. My finishing result wasn’t that strong, but I’m really happy with my effort. I put myself in a good position for the heat race and the main, I just need a little bit more when it comes to racing. I feel well physically and I’m excited to continue working. We still have some room to grow and some people to pass, so I’m excited about our momentum.

Derek Drake (Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki) – 18^th:
Seattle was gnarly. I crashed in the whoops in my heat race then came back up to eighth, so I’m glad I got that done. The main event went well, I was fighting for positions, then about halfway through my back started to lock up. I couldn’t do anything about it so I dropped back a few spots and finished where I could. I’m looking forward to St. Louis and working to improve my back.

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Image: Octopi Media.

Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – First:
Today was a solid day for me and my Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team from start to finish. I woke up feeling good this morning and went out there and qualified second. In my heat race, I holeshotted that and won that one. In my main, I did the exact same thing. It was a picture-perfect day, and it was awesome to get this done in front of my home crowd. I am going to enjoy this one, but I am ready for more racing next weekend in St. Louis.

RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – Second:
I was second in the Heat race and then I settled down for the Main Event, but I’m not sure what happened off the start – I must have spun or something and those first couple of laps were hectic. I made some good passes, but this track was brutal tonight, and we’re happy to be on the podium in the end. We said we wanted to be solid tonight and that’s all we had, so we will take second and look forward to St. Louis.

Jo Shimoda (Honda HRC) – Third:
My riding has been pretty good, I’d say; I just feel like I haven’t got one decent start in the mains. It felt good to get one in the heat race, but I need to figure it out when it counts. It wasn’t fun to crash multiple times tonight, but I somehow still got on the podium. I’m pretty stoked on this one.

Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM) – Seventh:
It was a good day here in Seattle. The morning started out a little rough, just didn’t feel like myself, and then I managed to turn it around for the night show. I felt better each time out and then really figured the track out for the Main. I’m not satisfied yet though, I definitely have more in the tank, so we’ll get back to work this week and come out swinging in St. Louis.

Anthony Bourdon (Toyota Redlands BarX Suzuki) – Eighth:
I am very happy about my night in Seattle. I had a big crash earlier this week. On Tuesday, I didn’t know if I would be able to race this weekend. Another top ten, with an eighth position finish, is particularly good for me. I fight as hard as I can every weekend and to put my Suzuki into the top ten again is special for me.

Ryder DiFrancesco (Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas) – 13^th:
It was a decent night and I feel like I rode better than what the results obviously show. The track was tough, but it was a good day, and I was able to improve with stuff that I worked on during the break. Unfortunately, I went down on the last lap and lost around five positions, but St. Louis should be good and I’m excited to head into the Triple Crown round there.