VOLUME 57 ISSUE 2 JANUARY 14, 2020 P61
kner's home race, and he had
the 2019 250SX East title all but
wrapped up when he blew out his
knee with just a couple rounds
left on the schedule. He led at
A1 for a while before a bigtime
bobble led to a penalty and a fifth-
place finish, but in St. Louis, he
sorted it out in front of his home-
town fans and grabbed the win,
putting him right back into the
thick of the championship battle.
450SX
Zach Osborne (Rockstar Energy
Husqvarna) grabbed the holeshot
to start the 450SX main event,
but Roczen bullied his way by
right away and then took off,
sprinting away with what almost
seemed like an easy win, thanks
in part to being the only guy on
the track who was able to quad
his way through the track's lon-
gest rhythm section every lap.
Round-one winner Justin
Barcia (Monster Energy Yamaha)
quickly moved into second after a
couple laps, but that was enough
for Roczen to get away. By the
time Barcia snatched second
place, Roczen already had about
three and a half seconds on him,
and it only stretched from there.
Barcia hung on for a strong sec-
ond, despite an illness that had
him feeling out of sorts all day.
Unlike last year when he won the
opening round, Barcia will hang
on to the red plate after round
two as the series moves back to
Anaheim for round three.
The fastest daytime qualifier,
Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Ener-
is exceedingly rare. It's the stuff
legends are made of. And for him
to persevere through it all and get
back to the top of the toughest
motorsport in the world solidifies
his place in MX lore.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit
Kawasaki's Austin Forkner also
had a lot to race for inside The
Dome at America's Center in
downtown St. Louis. It was For-
REED OUT
At Anaheim 1, Mountain Motors-
ports/cbdMD Honda's Chad Reed
said it was the first time in his pro
career that he's suffered from arm-
pump. In St. Louis, where Reed has
won the 450SX class four times,
Reed again qualified for the main
event through the LCQ (marking his
record-extending 251st 450SX main
event), but this time he pulled out of
the race around halfway, seemingly
still struggling with arm-pump.
GUT CHECK
After a podium finish at round one,
Geico Honda's Christian Craig was
running fourth at St. Louis when
he clipped a tough block and went
down in the rhythm section, taking
a handlebar to the stomach late in
the race. He did not finish the race,
but he said he'll be good to go for
Anaheim 2.
DAVALOS DNF
There's little doubt that Team Ted-
der KTM's Martin Davalos is still
very fast. He finished a very solid
fourth place in his 450SX heat race,
just about a second behind points
leader Justin Barcia, but in the main
event, he went down hard on the
opening lap and was forced out of
the race. He is expected be back
for Anaheim 2.
Briefly...
