Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1469337
Cairoli, and with two-time AMA Supercross number-one Cooper Webb taking a hiatus from racing this summer, it worked out for Cairoli to take a spot under the Red Bull KTM tent for at least the first couple of rounds. He went 10-6 to finish seventh overall, one spot behind Monster Energy Kawasaki's Jason Anderson. The Fox Raceway track was fast and rough, but fortunately it remained relatively cool for most of the day, making the first round of outdoor motocross a little less strenuous than it could have been if it was a scorcher. The Brian Wallace-crafted track held what the watering crew was put- ting down all day long. Still, it was no easy day for anyone. A robust crowd was there to cheer the rid- ers on, as well as a considerable contingent of Honda employees and former champions who were participating in the Honda Elsinore's 50th birthday celebra- tion over the weekend. At times looking like a 1980s battle between the legendary Honda teammates David Bailey (Sexton) and Ricky Johnson (Roczen), the team's two 450 riders were superb from start to finish. While Sexton's perfor- mance was not that much of a surprise, given that he's won the 450 class here before, Roczen VOLUME 59 ISSUE 22 JUNE 1, 2022 P73 MYOWNRACE s ll wanted to be on the podium, but that was a decent way to end the day, making improvements from that first moto." 12 SHANE MCELRATH 10TH (11-7) 450MX Ever since moving up to the 450cc class two years ago, racing has been a struggle for Shane McElrath—not all of it his fault, however, with his former Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS KTM Team recently folding, leaving him without a ride. But he landed a fill-in opportunity on the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Team and is trying to make the best of it. He ran up front at mes at Pala and looked good on the bike. "It was hon- estly a good start to the season," McElrath said. "It was a quick deal that we put to- gether and for me, it's been a couple years since I've raced outdoors. I had a good feeling on the bike, but I've not been rac- ing in a couple months so there were a lot of ques ons I had for myself. I knew that once I got going, I could find a flow, I just had quite a bit of nerves today. First moto was tough, but we had some changes for the second moto and regrouped." 7 AARON PLESSINGER 8TH (6-10) 450MX "This was my first race back since Min- neapolis [Supercross] and I had a pre y good day overall," said Aaron Plessinger. Christian Craig was stoked to get on the 450MX podium for his Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha Team. Ryan Dungey was superb in his first race out of retirement. He met all expectations and then some.