KTM rider Chase Sexton swept both AMA Motocross races Saturday at the Spring Creek National in Milville, Minnesota, lengthening his overall points lead over Honda racer Hunter Lawrence.
After Round 7 of 11 races, Sexton leads Lawrence in the series, 310 points to 297. Justin Cooper is third with 249.
In the first race, Lawrence claimed the hole shot. Aaron Plessinger followed closely behind, and Sexton trailed in third.
After Sexton passed Plessinger for second, Lawrence and Sexton rode side by side before Sexton took the lead.
Lawrence attempted to reclaim the lead on the downhill, but came up short.
Sexton crossed the finish line in first place, with Lawrence in second and Plessinger in third.
In the second 450 race, Cooper prevented Lawrence from another hole shot. Sexton nearly crashed after clipping the rear of Dylan Ferrandis’ bike, but he maintained his balance.
The near-crash set him back, however, putting him in sixth in the first lap of the race.
Meanwhile, Lawrence and Cooper dueled for first place as Plessinger’s bike slid out from behind him.
By the 15-minute mark, Sexton had moved from sixth place to third as Lawrence and Cooper battled in front.
Sexton passed Cooper and set his sights on Lawrence while commentators praised Sexton’s handling on the rough track. About the 10-minute mark, Sexton and Lawrence raced side by side, but a mistake by Lawrence allowed Sexton to take the inside line and first place.
By the final lap, Sexton was 13 seconds ahead of Lawrence, his closest competitor.
It was Sexton’s fifth motocross win this season and his ninth career 450 overall win. Lawrence was second, and Cooper third.
The next race is Saturday, July 20 at Washougal MX Park in Washougal, Washington.
Cortez’s Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb continue to recover from thumb surgery. Tomac’s team said that he plans to return to racing in the final rounds.
Jett Lawrence is out for the season after thumb surgery.
