A second moto crash couldn’t keep Sexton off the top of the podium.
Red Bull KTM’s Chase Sexton charged to victory at the Budds Creek National after overcoming a crash in the second moto to still come back and win. The result generated Sexton’s fifth straight overall victory as he inches closer to the title.
Just like at Unadilla last week, Sexton watched as Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence got away to win the first moto after Sexton caught him and made a mistake. Lawrence led much of the second moto again but could not keep the charging Sexton behind him in the final five minutes as he slipped to second. That meant that Lawrence still didn’t lose any point to Sexton on the day for the second straight week but was left to settle with the second step of the podium.
Third overall on the day would go to Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger who finished third in both motos. Plessinger was in the fight with both Sexton and Lawrence all day, but just fell short of pushing them to the end for victory.
It was a strong day for Rockstar Husqvarna’s Malcolm Stewart who collected his first top five overall of the season with 6-5 scores for P4. Rounding out the top five then was Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson who reversed moto scores with Stewart and just couldn’t quite pass him in the second moto.
Behind them, it was Rockstar Husqvarna’s Christian Craig in sixth, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac in seventh, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Broc Tickle in eighth, Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Phil Nicoletti in ninth, and Star Racing Yamaha’s Justin Cooper in 10th.
Sexton controls his own destiny next week at Ironman as just 22 points on the day will earn him his first ever 450MX title. He could even clinch in the first moto next week with a P2 finish or better.