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CHASE SEXTON
250 MX / 13TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / COPELAND DESIGN / MPG
>> The long-anticipated debut of the youngest Geico Honda rider, Chase Sexton, was finally hear. After preparing all off season for his pro debut in Su- percross, the young phenom had a qualifying injury in his first ever outing. He was out for the remainder of Supercross and would need all the way until this weekend to recoup from the leg injury. Many people feel that Sexton has the same potential as his former amateur rival, Austin Forkner, so expectations were high for Sexton heading into the weekend’s round at the famous High Point National. The day would have an unimaginably tough start for the rookie. He would be involved in a first turn pile up that would leave him near the back of the pack if not dead last. That would force the Honda pilot to start from the bottom of the totem pole in his first ever gate drop. He didn’t let the early race pile up deter him from putting on a charge. He pushed the entire moto and made up enough time to finish 19th in his debut. Not necessarily where some had expected to see him finish but considering the circumstances, it showed that the young rider has guts and won’t let adversity bring him down. The second moto would go much smoother as he avoided any early race carnage. Sexton was somewhere inside the top 20 on the start and was placed in 13th after lap 1. He would then spend the rest of the moto battling with riders both in front and behind him, losing a spot here and gaining a spot there. At the
15 minutes remaining mark he was circulating in 12th sandwiched between Justin Hill and Mitchell Harrison. He would eventually find a way back past Hill and Harrison both on the last 2 laps and come home in 10th place for moto
2, combining his scores for a 13th overall finish. After an up and down day in his rookie debut, he finished the day strong and showed he will be a force in the class once he gets used to the early race intensity. Most importantly he is moving on to the next round healthy and ready to improve.
84 GRITMOTO • JUNE 18, 2017