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/1493698
VOLUME ISSUE FEBRUARY , P119 the final stretch—lapper or none, Sexton was as good as done. Could the three-way champi - onship battle turn into a four- way fight? Well, perhaps it could have if Jason Anderson had his wake-up call a few rounds earlier: Quit messing with Justin Barcia and just race. Now that he's on probation for his puz - zling and pointless tangle with Barcia in Tampa, the 2018 champ seems to have set aside his beef, and his lap times are finally being reflected in his results. With a triple-crown race win in Arlington, Ando now has the taste of victory back in his mouth. At 30 points down in the championship, it seems unlikely that he will vault himself back into the mix, but anything can happen with 10 rounds still to play for. Either way, the top- three will probably have to worry about a four-way battle for valu - able race wins going forward. As for the 250SX ranks, there aren't as many wake-up calls, but we know this much is true. The entertainment factor in the East is undeniably bet - ter—look no further than the Tampa 250SX main event to see the Hunter Lawrence show. Unlike his brother, Hunter keeps us watching by getting out to a lackluster start and clawing and fighting his way through the pack. The Tampa thriller was a race Hunter will likely never forget, and neither will Nate Thrasher as the duo knocked each other around in the last laps before crossing the line in a photo finish. It's exactly what we come to see—an aggressive down-to-the-wire fight, of course, stopping just short of dirty. "It's all fair game," James Stewart said of the Tampa 250 main. "If Grandma's out there for race wins, she's gonna get knocked down." No one got knocked down, but the battle is just warming up. In Arlington, Hunter was up against the full might of Yamaha—not only the fac - tory Star team, but Muc-Off, as well. Watching Hunter get sandwiched in the second race between Haiden Deegan and Thrasher, or watching him clamor for the holeshot in the third race before getting de - voured by a wave of blue bikes that left him buried under a pile of Hondas, you couldn't help but root for him. You also couldn't help but root for Thrasher after watching him get snake-bit in Tampa. He had to fight and claw his way through the triple crown even harder, and finally got his win, ironically with no race wins on the night (his 2-2-3 finishes were enough to secure the over - all). Hunter might be dominating the leaderboard nearly as much as his brother, Jett, in the 250SX West championship, but at least the action in the East is deliver - ing the wheel-to-wheel brawls we love to see. There's still much to unfold in the 250SX ranks, such as MXGP star Tom Vialle. The French - man is still finding his way in his rookie Supercross season, getting his feet wet and so far staying out of trouble. Perhaps that's literally his only job right now, ahead of the Pro Moto - cross Championship. While it's hard to count out the French when it comes to adapting to Supercross, the reigning 250MX World Champion will no doubt shine in the outdoors. As long as he arrives at Fox Raceway healthy. Along with marking "the beginning" of the championship, Daytona Supercross also the first flash of what the outdoors will bring, which makes it even more exciting. Even more so now that we know Tomac plans to defend his title. Will Tomac reassert his dominance in Day - tona? Will Vialle shine in the first outdoor-style track of the year? Will we have another Thrasher/ Lawrence battle royale? We're already seven rounds in, yet barely getting started in the 2023 season. One more thing we now know, it's a good time to be a fan. CN "I don't know that you get more of a wake-up call than throwing away the lead by crashing into the 'Leader' sign."