Page 34 - Issue_sixtyfive

CHASE SEXTON
250 SX / 3RD
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Chase Sexton has established himself as one of the best up and coming riders we have in this sport. So far in his rookie season in Supercross, Sexton has shown us on various occasions that he can throw down blistering fast lap times and he is not afraid to run with the top guys in the class. After missing all of what was supposed to be his rookie season last year due to a broken femur, he is making up for it and then some with his performances. He already has a podium and has flirted with a few more during the first five rounds. Poor starts have hurt him from having even more success. Many times, during the middle of the main events, he’ll set some of the fastest lap times of the class while coming from behind. So, once he starts nailing his starts consistently, the championship contenders better watch out for him.
The Geico Honda rookie looked solid per usual in the timed qualifying practice sessions at PetCo Park. He didn’t have a flashy, blistering fast time but he qualified smoothly in seventh place and was more than ready to up the ante come race time.
Sexton kicked off his racing for the evening by getting out of lap one in his heat race in fifth posi- tion. It was a decent start and he improved upon it by passing Justin Hoeft on lap two to take
over fourth. There he locked in behind his friend and teammate Christian Craig. The two riders remained linked up for the remainder of the heat race as Sexton could not get close enough to attempt a pass. They would be able to each pick up one more spot due to Alex Martin crashing so Sexton would finish in third. A start like this heat race in the main event would be great and give him the best chances for a similar result.
Sexton bettered his start in the main event and actually came around lap one in fourth position. He started right behind the trio of Justin Hill, Adam Cianciarulo, and Joey Savatgy. He settled in behind them and just kind of lingered there and watched their battles unfold. This allowed him to slowly start to creep into the picture and then a handful of laps into the race, he got close enough to Savatgy to make his move. Savatgy did his best to try and fend him off but Sexton would prevail and take the third-place position away from the rider sitting second in points. Sexton would set
his sights on Cianciarulo next and would use the same tactic as before. He settled in and slowly dwindled away Cianciarulo’s lead towards the end of the race but a few costly mistakes down the stretch would keep him far enough away Cianciarulo to make any pass attempts. A few laps later the dust would settle, and Sexton had finished in third place. The result tied his career best and marked his second podium of the year. He proved to everyone heading into the break that he is not a flash in the pan type of guy and that he is here to stay.
34 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 11, 2018