race recap
CHASE SEXTON | GRIT-219 | 450SX
May 9, 2023 · Chase Sexton
CHASE SEXTON | GRIT-219 | SX 450
Honda's Chase Sexton had persevered through the entire season, to arrive at the sixteenth round of the Supercross series still within championship contention. Although it appeared as if Chase were a bit too far out of reach (on behalf of Eli Tomac's lead), it was now a two-man race between he and the Yamaha rider with Cooper Webb now out for the rest of the tour. Nevertheless, the Illinois native would push into the Colorado atmosphere with aspirations of victory; which was showcased in practice, where he was a mainstay at the top of the leaderboard. However the antics and narrative of a championship battle would begin, with a duel of their own in the divisional round; where both title contenders were competing underneath the banner of heat two. It was Tomac who took an early lead, with Sexton in second and looking to move around the red-plate holder as quickly as possible - though the veteran was using a few sly tactics in attempt to fluster the Honda rider as they were in tandem for nearly half of the moto. But it was prior to the fifth lap concluding when Sexton would work his way around and solidify his placement ahead of Tomac...with little rebuttal from the Colorado native. Now with a subtle gap established, it would be Sexton's race to lose; and the world-renowned competitor would hold his pace en route to the finish line, where a win would be accrued prior to embarking on the main event. Sexton's initial standing as the first lap would be completed, (for the finalé) would be that of sixth, just behind his teammate Colt Nichols. But in the laps that followed, it would be Chase who had moved to fourth as the third lap came to a close. However in the moments thereafter, the plot to the entire championship would change...as Eli Tomac would suffer a torn achilles (without crashing) and immediately rush off the racetrack; seemingly unbeknownst to Sexton who was in a battle of his own. Throughout the laps that followed, it would be Sexton who arrived at the conclusion of lap four in second; pursuing only Adam Cianciarulo who currently occupied the lead. And with steady pressure, Sexton would make the move on the native Floridian prior to finishing lap seven, with seemingly at an open racetrack at his disposal. From that point forward, the race would be declared the initiation to Sexton's championship reign; with flawless laps conducted on behalf of the number twenty-three, while charging forward to the checkered flag (and race win)! He would be informed of Tomac's departure from the series upon heading to the top step of the podium, and as expected, Sexton would be overcome with a number of emotions, when seemingly declared the champion of the series...with many in the industry curious as to what will transpire in Salt Lake City next week.