Cycle News

ROUND 2 / JANUARY 13, 2024 ORACLE PARK / SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA SUPERCROSS I MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES / SUPERMOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP P52 evening and the main event. "Nothing too exciting to talk about after the main event," said Lawrence. "We're just happy to get out of here with some points. We aren't many points behind, so we're going to get some good races in before the break and hopefully get some wins." Hunter Lawrence made the main this week and rounded out the top 10. Finishing just outside the top 10 in 11th was a disappointed Cooper Webb. "It was a tough day," he said. "The conditions were definitely difficult. Qualify - ing went well. I ended up in the top five and then finished sec- ond in the heat race, which was great. In the main event, I didn't get the start we needed to get, and I rode around with the guys and just got passed. I had a little bit of goggle issues, but overall, or three seconds, I was riding blind, and I stepped on the brake and stalled it. I was in disbelief there for a second because I had no one in front of me. Once I got into third, I just wanted to keep it on the podium, and when I crossed the finish line, it was a huge monkey off my back." McElrath scored a career-best fourth place after battling with Suzuki-mounted Roczen. Red Bull KTM's Aaron Pless - inger put his off-road skills to the test in what he jokingly said was "a proper mud race" to round out the top five. European riders Dylan Ferrandis and Jorge Prado looked comfortable for sixth and seventh after winning their heat races earlier in the night. Adam Cianciarulo crossed eighth, ahead of round-one win - ner Jett Lawrence, who strug- gled with falls throughout the raced. Some of the ruts were so deep you could completely get stuck if you took the wrong lines!" Ken Roczen rounded out the podium. The Suzuki rider beat Sexton to the first turn and was credited with the holeshot, but he stalled his motorcycle shortly after crossing the line. This costly mistake dropped Roczen to nearly last on the first lap. He then put on a charge, passing into 10th on the open - ing lap alone. Roczen used his expert mud-riding technique to push into podium territory and later passed Suzuki teammate Shane McElrath for third place. A podium puts him tied for sixth in the championship. "He [Sexton] went in a little deep, and I think I could've had the lead after the first turn," Roc - zen said. "I couldn't pull a tear off, they were stuck. So, for two all day to make sure our bikes were running smooth. A huge pat on the back to the team overall in these conditions." "I'm grateful for our crew," said Tomac of his Ya- maha team. "They had their work cut out for them the whole day and kept the bike running in top shape." Winner Sexton said, "I have to give a huge shoutout to the team; they've put in so much effort and hard work." NO LUCK FOR STEWART, CRAIG Malcolm Stewart had a tough night, especially in the main when he slammed into downed rider, Jason Anderson, right off the start, setting the stage for a tough 15 laps. Stewart's Rockstar Energy Husqvarna teammate Christian Craig was also involved. "I went down off the start, then the vision was blind for a bit, pulled a tear- off, and I was in the Tuff Blocks," said Stewart. "It [the Tuff Block] got stuck in around the shifter, and someone had to go get a razor blade to cut it, so that's how I got back on the track! I didn't do very well; it was survival mode, and in these conditions, it's hard to pre- dict where you'll end up. I'm disap- pointed as the team and I made great progress through the week." Craig said, "I went down 100 feet off the start, was lying in the mud with some others for a while, but just charged from the back and did what we could do." Craig ended up 14th. BEAUMER BUMMED ON THE MUD Julian Beaumer, an Arizona native, isn't used to the mud but made the best of the conditions, finishing just outside the top 10 in 11th. "It was a mudder, that's for sure," the Red Bull KTM rider said. "The focus was on staying upright, but I ended up getting tired from having to pick up my bike so many times." Briefly...

• Cover