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/1504322
ROUND 8 / JULY 22, 2023 WASHOUGAL MX PARK, WASHOUGAL, WASHINGTON MOTOCROSS I PRO MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP / SUPERMOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP P70 as he set the fastest lap of any racer with just three laps left in moto two. The kid is showing veteran experience as he cut the championship to just three behind Hunter Lawrence. "To go 1-1 feels good," Deegan said. "It's nice being a rookie, there's no pressure, you more of that race fitness to be able to hook on and be closer to these guys [Sexton and Law- rence] towards the end of the motos. With the break, it's more time to get some work done rather than enjoy it." Ferrandis continued to show improvements, as he led laps in the first moto and grabbed a moto podium en route to fourth overall. Plessinger also led his first laps of the season, taking 7-3 for fifth overall. Cianciarulo, Garrett March - banks, Ty Masterpool, Phil Nico- letti and Colt Nichols rounded out the top 10. 250MX The 250MX title is still up for grabs and Haiden Deegan just made things more interesting after posting his first-ever 1-1 overall sweep. It's also the first time anyone has done that all season in the 250MX class. Deegan led every lap of moto one but somehow found an - other gear in the second moto since return to the series at Red- Bud. He's finish in second place in nine of the 10 motos he's raced this year. He's fifth in the championship, 18 points behind Adam Cianciarulo. Jason Anderson is also get - ting back up to speed since his return at RedBud. The Mon- ster Energy Kawasaki Team rider bounced back from his big crash last week and got back on the box with two consistent fourth-place finishes. Anderson was in the mix all day, fighting right on the heels of Ferran - dis and Red Bull KTM's Aaron Plessinger. His consistency paid off. While Ferrandis and Plessinger flip-flopped finishes, Anderson played it cool with a pair of fourths, as he still works his way back from a neck injury. He will certainly benefit from the upcoming two-week break in the series. "I feel like I have the speed, but I'm just managing my mo - tos," Anderson said. "I feel like where I start, I can make a few passes. But I just need a little featured a mix of graphics and coloring from the early '90s YZs, which were primarily white at the time. A few past factory Yamaha Team riders were on hand to commemorate the YZ, including Damon Bradshaw, Doug Dubach and Broc Glover. ANOTHER TOUGH ONE FOR FORKNER Austin Forkner survived another hard get-off but soldiered on at Washougal. He went down in the first moto. "That crash was definitely scary and I'm thankful that there wasn't anything else other than some bruises," he said. He got up and finished out the race 21st. After a 19th-place start in moto two, Forkner managed to crack the top 10. WELCOME TO WASHOUGAL Ryder DiFrancesco was visiting the Washougal track for the first time and things didn't start of well for the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Team rider after crashing on the first lap of the first 250MX moto; his bike was too damaged to continue. A last gate pick for moto two resulted in a horrendous start but was able to finish 12th. Briefly... 2023 Washougal Pro Motocross Highlights