CHASE SEXTON - GRIT 245 450SX

GRIT-245 |450 SX

May 20, 2024 9:45 am

Following an extraordinary practice run where the Illinois native contended for the pole position in both sessions, Chase Sexton sought to storm away from the field for heat one as well while alongside opponents such as Hunter Lawrence, Ken Roczen, and Eli Tomac. The KTM rider appeared to thrive under pressure, shifting through the transmission to ultimately push ahead of the aforementioned Honda athlete, creating a gap over the rest of the field that was difficult for his opponents to overcome. However, an unforeseen stalling circumstance arose just after the sand section in the earliest of moments...forcing the racer aboard the number one machine to continuously try to reignite the engine via the electric start mechanism. It would finally turn-on per se, and Sexton would now reside fourth, just behind Eli Tomac. He then made the move on both, Mitchell Oldenburg and Tomac in the moments that followed - immediately regaining the speed that was previously presented! Now into the runner-up standing, Sexton was once again engaged in battle with the Yamaha rider (who trailed) as well as Hunter Lawrence (who led). The train would be as condensed as one could imagine with two laps to go as they sped through the whoop section, and the unfortunate mistake which was presented by Chase (amid the moguls) would cost him the runner-up standing. Now third, he would eventually reside here behind both "ET3" and Hunter Lawrence. For the main event, he claimed the hole-shot designation and put forth a brilliant pace that would result in a more than three-second gap (over Cooper Webb) when nearing the halfway point of the main event. However, with just under eleven minutes remaining, the first mistake (via cross-rutting in the multi-single rhythm lane) would have Sexton nearly leaping off the right side of the racetrack and clipping the tuff-blocks as a result! Somehow managing to stay upright, he kept the lead until just under six minutes remained...despite being absolutely hounded by Yamaha's Cooper Webb. The gap was re-established, with the aforementioned fourteenth-minute concluded...until Sexton stalled the motorcycle just before the mechanic's area! Webb had now taken the lead, with Chase presenting a valiant effort to retake the number one position in the laps that followed. The Illinois native as efficient through the inside of the sand, doubling his way into the pocket, that enabled him to pass for the number one spot with four and half minutes left on the clock! Though that was short lived, with Webb countering and retaking the lead in the corners thereafter. A small error with only a few laps left caused him to roll the largest "SX" double on the track, which amplified the gap between he and the North Carolina native once more. Though leaving it all on the line per se, he dashed to the checkered flag with his sights set on overtaking the Yamaha rider...nearly doing so, via an outside attempt in the last corner! Though just milliseconds sort from victory, the garnering of points (ahead of Jett Lawrence) was substantial in the fight for the championship, via second at this event.

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