hard and didn't know what posi-
tion I was in for the whole race.
I
think on the first lap, I fell over
and was dead last, just covered
in mud. I basically just pushed
the whole way and saw Phil on
the last lap. I didn't know what
position we were in, but I just
went to get another guy to stay
in the points hunt for a title.
Once I went over the finish line, I
saw I was third and pushed Phil
right out of it."
That was a tough one to swal
-
low for Nicoletti, who was eying
his
first career podium when he
got passed by Marchbanks just
before the finish line.
France's Anthony Bourdon
etched his best finish with a sixth
Garrett Marchbanks grabbed
his first podium since 2021
with a third place. The ClubMX
Yamaha rider has proven to be a
contender and is back in the 250
class this season after trying the
450s. He started outside the top
five but capitalized as other rid
-
ers dropped out of the race with
falls
and mechanical failures.
Late in the race, Marchbanks
cleaned a tricky rhythm section
and passed his ClubMX team
-
mate Phil Nicoletti for the final
spot on
the box. He's now fourth
in the standings.
"I was definitely not taking
it easy on the bike midway
through the race," Marchbanks
said. "I was trying to push super
ROUND 2 / JANUARY 13, 2024
ORACLE PARK / SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
SUPERCROSS I MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES / SUPERMOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
P56
Smith went on to win the 250SX
West main event.
after crashing out of second
place. Josh Varize and Hunter
Yoder also logged top 10s in
seventh and eighth. It was a
tough night for points leader RJ
Hampshire who ran into Bourdon
and fell while running third.
"Stuff happens with this
type of racing with a guy cross-
rutting and falling into me," said
Hampshire. "I was in a really bad
spot to go down in, hard to get
back going, but managed what I
could and knew I needed to get
some points."
Hampshire's now third in
points, nine back from Smith.
