450SX
After notching five podiums this season, four of
those coming in the last five rounds, TLD/Red Bull
Factory GasGas's Justin Barcia has done every-
thing but win in 2023. That changed in the wet
conditions as the New York native showed his
stuff in front of his home crowd.
After a near two-hour delay between the heats
and the main event due to lightning in the area,
the number-51, Barcia, started up front on the
saturated track and quickly moved to second
with a decisive pass that left Chase Sexton on
the ground. Barcia then went after the leader, Ken
Roczen, who also happens to be Barcia's main
rival in the championship for fourth in points.
(Left) Justin Barcia celebrates his first win
since 2021. (Below) Ken Roczen led the first
six laps before going down. He ended up on
the podium for the second week in a row.
VOLUME ISSUE APRIL , P63
race," he said." When the weather
came through it was apparent the
start was going to be a critical aspect
of the race and unfortunately, I spun a
little bit when leaving the gate. I was
in the middle of the pack going down
the start straight so immediately the
mud and water just completely show-
ers over you. From there it was an
uphill battle and a crash through the
whoops on lap two put me clear out
in last place. I kept my focus forward
for the rest of the race, but it's really
tough to come through the field and
get back in touch with the front group
when the conditions are that severe."
58 JORDON SMITH
18TH 250SX
Monster Energy Star Racing Yama-
ha's Jordon Smith was another rider
who started off strong but struggled in
the end. "It was a disappointing day
overall because it started off well,"
Smith said. "I was fastest in the first
qualifying and then had a couple
of crashes in the second one, but I
was still second. I had a good heat
race, so I was so bummed when they
pulled us off the gate [of the main
event due to the incoming lightning
storm]. When we came out from the
tunnel, the track was underwater. I
got splashed with a bunch of water
off the start and fell back a little bit. I
was kind of making some passes and
then went off the track. It was like ice.
It was so slick, and it took me some
time to get back on the track. It wasn't
the night we wanted by any means."
MYOWNRACE
