Sexton Finishes AMA Pro Motocross Season With First Premier-Class Victory, results and standings 12.10.2020: Fox Raceway National AMA Pro Motocross 2020 Round 9 Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton ended the dramatic 2020 racing season with a stirring career-first overall win in the AMA Pro Motocross series finale at Southern California’s Fox Raceway

 Fox Raceway National
AMA Pro Motocross 2020   Round 9

Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton ended the dramatic 2020 racing season with a stirring career-first overall win in the AMA Pro Motocross series finale at Southern California’s Fox Raceway, while teammate Christian Craig also had a season-best showing, finishing runner-up in moto two and taking fourth overall. Sexton was also the top qualifier and took fifth in the championship standings, while Craig–serving as a reliable fill-in for the entire series–was sixth in the final points.
 


The first 450 moto at Fox Raceway, located in North San Diego County, saw Sexton in fourth off the start, pressured early by his teammate. Sexton advanced to second at the midway point of the 18-lapper, with Eli Tomac following closely for several laps before making the pass. Craig did likewise, but with two laps to go, Sexton got back by, and the Red Riders finished third and fourth.
 


The final gate drop of the season saw Craig and Sexton charging in second and third, respectively. Sexton made a push just past the halfway point and passed Craig for second, then latched onto the leading Adam Cianciarulo’s rear fender, the trio separated by less than two seconds, with a healthy margin on the rest of the field. When the leader crashed over a jump, Sexton moved to the front, with Craig close behind.



Sexton put his head down and earned his first career moto win, by 5.2 seconds over Craig, for a 1-2 moto-two showing by Team Honda HRC. Sexton’s second-moto win placed him atop the day’s classification, while Craig finished just off the overall podium.
 



•    Similar to the weather the series experienced in Colorado last weekend, Fox Raceway featured comfortable Southern California temperatures, making for ideal conditions at the final round.


•    The State of California did not require all event attendees to be tested for COVID-19, although everyone needed to pass a health screening prior to entering or reentering the paddock. Teams continued practicing social distancing, wearing masks properly and only permitting essential personnel in the team pods.


•    This was only the third time that the Pro Motocross finale has been held at Fox Raceway.


•    The spectator limit was originally set at 5,000 tickets, but series organizer MX Sports raised it to 6,000. Fans were not permitted in the pro paddock, and though autograph sessions were still prohibited, teams provided pre-signed posters for fans.


•    In the days since the last race, the Team Honda HRC crew spent time testing and preparing in Southern California with both Chase Sexton and Christian Craig.


•    Sexton posted the fastest lap time during 450 qualifying, with a 1’53.682” lap in the final session. Craig finished the session with a third-best time of 1’54.932”.


•    The entire Team Honda HRC crew and everyone at American Honda congratulates Zach Osborne and his Rockstar Husqvarna team for earning the 450 crown. Many at Honda know Osborne from when he raced with Factory Connection from in 2013 and ‘14.



•    After 19 years of running American Honda’s satellite 125/250 effort, Factory Connection competed in its final race. Operating most recently as GEICO Honda, Factory Connection has been racing for 23 seasons and has earned 12 championships–including 10 in the last 10 years. The team went out on top at Fox Raceway, as the final moto featured a GEICO Honda podium sweep, and Jett Lawrence netted his career-first overall win, as well as Rookie of the Year honors. Teammate Jeremy Martin also earned his fifth moto win of the season, by 18.3 seconds, posting a 4-1 moto tally for second overall. Rookie Jo Shimoda also enjoyed a solid ride, notching a career-best overall result of fifth, while Carson Mumford matched his best pro finish at ninth overall. Unfortunately, Hunter Lawrence was unable to finish the day after reinjuring his shoulder, which he previously dislocated earlier in the season. American Honda thanks Factory Connection for their valuable collaboration and extends best wishes to the team principals, crew and riders.


•    With the strange and challenging 2020 season now complete, Team Honda HRC will now begin testing and prepping for 2021 with Ken Roczen and teammate Sexton aboard their new 2021 CRF450R race machines.
 

    

       
Chase Sexton  23


“Final round here in Pala, California--I’d say it went pretty well! I qualified fastest and finished third in the first moto. I didn’t feel that great, so I told myself we have one 30-plus-two-laps, and I put it all out there and came out with the win I’ve been searching for all season.


I waited until the last moto to do it, so it feels good and is a good way to go into the off-season and start testing on the new bike. I’m super happy with how everything went this season. I feel like it was pretty successful and I’m looking forward to the future and getting on this new bike and testing with the team.”         

    
       
    
Christian Craig  62


“This weekend was great. Pala is my home track, so I knew I was going to be up front and be comfortable. I started off qualifying third, which was my best all season. In the first moto I made my way up to fourth and then third at one point. After that Chase [Sexton] got me with two laps to go, so I was pretty frustrated with that one; I almost got that moto podium and ended with fourth.



In the second moto I came out second, which was my best start all season, so that was nice. I followed [Adam] Cianciarulo around for a while and got close, but Chase was on a mission. He caught us both, passed me and then was on Cianciarulo; then Cianciarulo fell, so me and Chase just rode it in for first and second. I ended 4-2 for fourth overall, unfortunately, but got my first moto podium ever in an outdoors series, especially in the 450 class, so we’ll take it. It was a super fun season and I'm looking forward to next year.”         

    
       
    
Erik Kehoe
Team Manager


“This was an amazing day and finish to the MX season for the entire team! Chase starting off the day as the fastest qualifier, winning his first 450 event overall, and finishing with a strong fifth overall in the series as a 450 rookie was a perfect way to finish his season!


And Christian qualifying third and ending the final moto of the season second, proving he belongs on the podium. We’re very grateful that Christian helped the team by filling in for KR [Ken Roczen] and finished a strong sixth place overall in the series. The Team Honda HRC riders and crew all worked hard throughout the uncertainty of the season and it paid off.”         

    


       
    
Jade Dungey
Mechanic (Chase Sexton)


“It was an unbelievable day for Chase and the team. We had a great couple of days testing suspension this past week and I think that showed in how confident Chase looked on the track today. It was a team effort and it was nice to see him get his first overall win in the 450 class.


I’m very proud of what Chase accomplished in his rookie 450 season and am also very proud and lucky to be part of such a great team and company. Now it's time to shift our focus into supercross testing and look forward to riding the all-new 2021 CRF450R!”         

    
       
    
Jordan Troxell
Mechanic (Christian Craig)


“What an amazing day for Christian and Honda to end on. I’m really proud of Christian for showing what he’s capable of and believing in himself all day. Battling for the lead and running the pace all day proves that he belongs up there. I’m bummed that 4-2 moto scores didn’t give him an overall podium so he could hold that trophy up to show his hard work all year. It was still a great day, and I wish he and his family the best in whatever is next for them!”         

    
       



    
    450MX Moto 1 Results


1    TOMAC Eli     3    USA    25    Monster Energy Kawasaki    Kawasaki   
2    CIANCIARULO Adam     9    USA    22    Monster Energy Kawasaki    Kawasaki   
3    SEXTON Chase     23    USA    20    Team Honda HRC    Honda   
4    CRAIG Christian     62    USA    18    Team Honda HRC    Honda   
5    OSBORNE Zach     16    USA    16    Rockstar Husqvarna    Husqvarna   
6    MUSQUIN Marvin     25    FRA    15    Red Bull KTM     KTM   
7    BOGLE Justin     19    USA    14    Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS    KTM   
8    TICKLE Broc     20    USA    13    Red Bull KTM     KTM   
9    ANSTIE Max     103    GBR    12    HEP Motorsports Suzuki    Suzuki   
10    MASTERPOOL Jake     146    USA    11    None    Yamaha   
11    HOEFT Justin     244    USA    10    None    Yamaha   
12    SCHOCK Coty     319    USA    9    None    KTM   
13    TEASDALE Isaac     921    USA    8    Team Babbitts    KTM   
14    HUBERT Matthew     647    USA    7    TPJ/Fly Racing    Husqvarna   
15    RODBELL Justin     258    USA    6    SGB Racing/Maxxis/Babbitt's Kawasaki    Kawasaki   
16    WAGEMAN Robbie         USA    5    Nuclear Blast Rockwell Yamaha Racing    Yamaha   
17    HILE McClellan     503    USA    4    None    KTM   
18    GARDNER Carlen     805    USA    3    None    Honda   
19    TAYLOR Richard     141    USA    2    Rock River Racing    Yamaha   
20    CLASON Cade     92    USA    1    K1 Speed/ BWR Engines    Honda   
    
    
       
    
    450MX Moto 2 Results


1    SEXTON Chase     23    USA    25    Team Honda HRC    Honda   
2    CRAIG Christian     62    USA    22    Team Honda HRC    Honda   
3    CIANCIARULO Adam     9    USA    20    Monster Energy Kawasaki    Kawasaki   
4    TOMAC Eli     3    USA    18    Monster Energy Kawasaki    Kawasaki   
5    MUSQUIN Marvin     25    FRA    16    Red Bull KTM     KTM   
6    ANSTIE Max     103    GBR    15    HEP Motorsports Suzuki    Suzuki   
7    OSBORNE Zach     16    USA    14    Rockstar Husqvarna    Husqvarna   
8    BOGLE Justin     19    USA    13    Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS    KTM   
9    TICKLE Broc     20    USA    12    Red Bull KTM     KTM   
10    SCHOCK Coty     319    USA    11    None    KTM   
11    TEASDALE Isaac     921    USA    10    Team Babbitts    KTM   
12    RODBELL Justin     258    USA    9    SGB Racing/Maxxis/Babbitt's Kawasaki    Kawasaki   
13    MASTERPOOL Jake     146    USA    8    None    Yamaha   
14    HUBERT Matthew     647    USA    7    TPJ/Fly Racing    Husqvarna   
15    WAGEMAN Robbie         USA    6    Nuclear Blast Rockwell Yamaha Racing    Yamaha   
16    BOWERS Tyler     69    USA    5    Bowers Racing    Kawasaki   
17    HOEFT Justin     244    USA    4    None    Yamaha   
18    RAY Alex         USA    3    Cycle Trader Rock River Yamaha    Yamaha   
19    LANE Tristan     711    USA    2    None    KTM   
20    SMITH Jeremy         USA    1    Smith Racing    Honda   
    
    
       
    
    Rider Standings


1    OSBORNE Zach     16    USA    355    Rockstar Husqvarna    Husqvarna
2    CIANCIARULO Adam     9    USA    343    Monster Energy Kawasaki    Kawasaki
3    TOMAC Eli     3    USA    321    Monster Energy Kawasaki    Kawasaki
4    MUSQUIN Marvin     25    FRA    314    Red Bull KTM     KTM
5    SEXTON Chase     23    USA    290    Team Honda HRC    Honda
6    CRAIG Christian     62    USA    235    Team Honda HRC    Honda
7    BARCIA Justin     51    USA    234    Monster Energy Factory Yamaha Racing    Yamaha
8    BAGGETT Blake     4    USA    232    Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS    KTM
9    ANSTIE Max     103    GBR    193    HEP Motorsports Suzuki    Suzuki
10    TICKLE Broc     20    USA    170    Red Bull KTM     KTM
11    SAVATGY Joey     17    USA    147    Monster Energy Kawasaki    Kawasaki
12    NOREN Fredrik     40    SWE    125    Autotrader/ JGR/ Yoshimura/ Suzuki Factory Racing    Suzuki
13    BOGLE Justin     19    USA    120    Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS    KTM
14    MASTERPOOL Jake     146    USA    101    None    Yamaha
15    WILSON Dean     15    GBR    97    Rockstar Husqvarna    Husqvarna
16    RODBELL Justin     258    USA    77    SGB Racing/Maxxis/Babbitt's Kawasaki    Kawasaki
17    BLOSS Benny     60    USA    68    Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS    KTM
18    MILLER Henry     81    USA    59    Trigger Racing    Yamaha
19    ANDERSON Jason     21    USA    58    Rockstar Husqvarna    Husqvarna
20    TEASDALE Isaac     921    USA    54    Team Babbitts    KTM
21    SCHOCK Coty     319    USA    51    None    KTM
22    SHORT John     253    USA    34    ACM Services/ Short racing    Yamaha
23    BOWERS Tyler     69    USA    33    Bowers Racing    Kawasaki
24    LAMAY Ben     907    USA    32    TPJ/Fly Racing    Honda
25    HOEFT Justin     244    USA    31    None    Yamaha
26    WEBB Cooper     2    USA    29    Red Bull KTM     KTM
27    HARLAN Grant     349    USA    29    Team Harlan    Honda
28    HUBERT Matthew     647    USA    25    TPJ/Fly Racing    Husqvarna
29    SMITH Jeremy         USA    23    Smith Racing    Honda
30    CHISHOLM Kyle     11    USA    15    Chisholm Racing    Kawasaki
    
    
    
 
 

    
    
       
    
 Team Honda HRC - AMA SX/MX,  photos Honda