Chase Sexton swept both Pro Motocross races in Washougal, Washington, extending his overall points lead and proving his skill on the racetrack as the season’s end looms.
Despite less than stellar starts in both Round 8 events Saturday, the 24-year-old racer won both races from behind.
In the first 450 race, Aaron Plessinger won the first hole shot of the day, with Justin Cooper and Hunter Lawrence racing behind in second and third. After a difficult start, Sexton started the race in 13th.
Plessinger fell into a comfortable lead early on, while Sexton passed his fellow competitors to quickly move into sixth place.
Hunter, who raced in second around the 10-minute mark, crashed with Sexton hot on his heels, allowing his competitor to move into second place to chase down Plessinger.
With two laps remaining, Sexton was still five seconds behind Plessinger. Without warning, Plessinger’s bike stalled, allowing Sexton to make the pass, take the lead and win the first race by a comfortable margin.
This win marked Sexton’s sixth straight Motocross win. Plessinger placed second.
In the second race, Cooper claimed the hole shot, followed by Lawrence, Anderson and Plessinger. While Sexton had a better start than the first race, he settled into fifth place after going slightly too far outside.
Lawrence was racing well, with commentators saying, “That’s the Hunter Lawrence we’ve seen the majority of the year.”
After a series of “extremely aggressive” passes from the racers, Anderson moved to first with Lawrence in second. Sexton chased Lawrence from behind.
Sexton attempted to pass Lawrence multiple times, but Lawrence was able to hold him off. Finally, Sexton charged from the outside, passing Lawrence and going after Anderson for the win.
After passing Anderson, Sexton extended the lead to eight seconds over second-place Anderson with two laps to go. By the time he passed the finish line, he was leading by 11 seconds.
Anderson placed second, Plessinger third and Lawrence fourth.
Sexton now leads in overall points with 360, and Lawrence trails behind in second with 332.
Round 9 of the 2024 season is Saturday, Aug. 10, at Unadilla MX in Berlin, New York.
Racing fans eagerly anticipate the return of Star Racing Yamaha racer and Cortez native Eli Tomac, who is slated to return to racing during Round 9 or Round 10. Tomac was forced to sit out the end of the Supercross season and majority of the Motocross season because of a thumb surgery.
The last race, Round 11, is Aug. 24.
