It's been a long time coming for
Plessinger. The "KTM Cowboy"
nearly won his first race last year
in Detroit and the heartbreak of
a last-lap crash has haunted him
ever since. Plessinger excels in the
soft and muddy conditions, and his
hopes only go up as the rain comes
down. Track conditions were at
their best for the 450SX main
event, and Plessinger's start put
him up front from the get-go.
"This mud was very similar to
the mud we have in Ohio," Plessing
-
er said. "My dad always told me to
keep my feet on the pegs and that
it gets easier the faster you go."
The number-seven trailed the
early leader Roczen for the open
-
ing seven laps before a crash
dropped Roczen out of the top
spot and back to 12th. Plessinger
slid through to the lead and the
race quickly became his to lose.
Despite the trying conditions and a
closing Cooper Webb, "AP" kept it
consistent and never relinquished
the lead position. The roaring
sold-out crowd (though, because
of the weather, many obviously
chose to stay home and watch
the race on television) voiced its
approval as Plessinger rounded the
final corners en route to his first-
ever 450SX main event win. With
the victory, he also takes over the
championship points lead.
"I was definitely having flash
-
backs [to Detroit]," Plessinger said.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't repeat-
ing 'Don't crash' in my helmet for
that last lap. And I almost did in the
whoops. I was definitely nervous,
and it was going through my head,
but I knew I had to keep it on two
wheels and I'd be good."
VOLUME ISSUE JANUARY , P63
good spot to go with that lead pack. I'm
not saying I would've beaten them, but
I just wanted to be there in the fight,
and that's where I was. If we could've
stayed up in that position, I think we
could've gone away with those guys.
MYOWNRACE
1 CHASE SEXTON
8TH 450SX
Chase Sexton found himself caught
up on the first lap and went a lap
down before crossing eighth. He's
now second in the points champion-
ship. "I struggled in the heat race, and
then in the main I actually felt like I
was riding pretty good, although just a
long way back. I did the best damage
control that I could do and that got me
eighth place."
3 ELI TOMAC
9TH 450SX
Eli Tomac found himself on the
ground early in the 450 main event
and finished just inside the top 10. "It
was a tough weekend. I got tangled
up with [Christian] Craig down a
rhythm section, and that set me way
back early in the race. I had a decent
recovery, though, and I look forward
to racing on a dry surface sooner
rather than later."
