Monster Energy’s Jason Anderson wins a supercross 450 main event thriller in Minnesota!

Monster’s Chase Sexton looked to have the 450 win in the bag, crashes out @ white flag; Monster 250 racers capture three out of four top spots

CORONA, CA – February 21, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – With just over a lap to go in Saturday’s premier 450cc class Monster Energy AMA Supercross main event at Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium Monster Energy’s Chase Sexton (Honda) was out front, poised to take the checkers. But instead it’d be wreckers for the 21-year-old second year pro when he, literally, buckled his front wheel coming out of a turn and was launched from his bike – unable to finish the race (due to a severely bent front rim). 2^nd place Jason Anderson (Monster Energy/Kawasaki) was 3.4 second back at the time, content on 2^nd place this evening. Instead Anderson found himself atop the podium for his third win of the season, pulling him to within three points of 450 class point leader Eli Tomac (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha).

“I had bitten the bullet and decided Chase was riding fast and he was going to win tonight,” said Anderson from the podium. “Bummer to see him go down, but I’ve been there in the past… and that’s racing.”

And in 250cc Eastern Supercross class action in Minneapolis Monster Energy racers Austin Forkner (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki), Cameron McAdoo (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) and Jeremy Martin (Star Racing/Yamaha) would capture three of the top four positions – 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th, respectively, in that class’ main event.

Monster 450 Podium – Center: Jason Anderson

450 class qualifying and heats

Monster Energy’s Chase Sexton

• In his opening timed qualifier contest Tomac was involved in an accident caused by Aaron Plessinger (KTM), which collected defending series champion Cooper Webb (KTM) and then Tomac. Tomac went down hard, but was uninjured in the accident and able to make his heat race and subsequent 450 main event.
• Sexton and Tomac got out in 1^st and 2^nd in the first 450 heat race, clearing themselves from the rest of the pack and running in those positions through the checkers to transfer easily to the main event.
• Said Sexton: “It was tough knowing Eli (Tomac) was right behind me. I could hear him. So I knew I couldn’t make any mistakes. … I’m happy to be back East and I think we’re in for a good night.”
• The second 450 heat race featured Anderson and Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha), who was the day’s fastest qualifier.
• Both Ferrandis and Anderson would start cautiously, Ferrandis coming around the first lap in 7^th and Anderson in 10^th.
• Halfway through the heat Ferrandis had moved up to 5^th, and Anderson to 7^th – each in solid transferring positions (top eight make the main).
• A Justin Barcia (Gas-Gas) crash would put both Monster Energy racers up a spot, with Ferrandis eventually moving up to 3^rd and Anderson 4^th.

450 Main Event

Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson

Sexton and Anderson would blitz the start, coming out in 2^nd (Sexton) and 3^rd (Anderson) behind defending Monster Energy AMA Supercross series 450 champ Webb. … And no sooner did the announcers get settled in when TV announcer Ricky Carmichael blew his top – “Tomac’s down on the face of the triple!” … Ferrandis would lose control of his YZ450F at the end of the whoops and crossed into the series point leader (Tomac’s) path. Ferrandis would regain control, at the peak of the face of a triple jump, while Tomas, who was on the steep face, was forced to drop his bike. … The situation put Tomac into Dead Last place. … As Sexton and Anderson worked up front to separate themselves (with Webb) from the rest of the field, Tomac began his charge back into the top ten. … At the 14:00 minute mark Sexton would make his move on Webb for the lead, diving deep into a corner out of a rhythm section and past the defending champ for the lead. … Soon thereafter Anderson would catch Webb and nudge him out of the way for 2^nd place, setting his sights on Sexton. … During all this Tomac was flying, recording some hyper-fast lap times while picking off some of the world’s best supercross racers – including Honda’s Ken Roczen and KTM’s Aaron Plessinger – to move up to 7^th place. … Literally a couple turns before the white flag (signaling the final lap) Sexton went down, Anderson took the lead and that was it. … Tomac would place 6^th and Ferrandis 9^th.

Said Anderson: “For me I was really struggling all day. Even during the main event I wasn’t riding my best. …  Hope Chase (Sexton) is OK.”

250 class qualifying

Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin

• Local racer Martin (Millville, Minn.) would get the better start out of the Monster Energy racers in the opening heat race, shooting out to 6^th place early. He’d move to 5^th, then was quickly bounced back to 6^th by a charging Jett Lawrence (Honda).
• Martin would get back into 5^th and McAdoo got close, but settled on the 6^th transfer spot at the checkers.
• Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha), in his first-ever pro supercross race, pulled the 250 heat 2 holeshot and led for a bit, dropping to 2^nd after sketching in a rhythm section.
• Forkner moved quickly through the pack, and was onto 3^rd place Kitchen, before colliding with Phil Nicoletti (Yamaha) and leaving the track.
• Kitchen would hold onto 3^rd place, giving him a podium finish in his very first supercross heat race. Forkner would rally back to the 4^th transfer spot.

250 Main Event

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Austin Forkner

Forkner pulled the holeshot and was up front early, with McAdoo in 3^rd and Martin in 5^th. … Kitchen would start mid-pack, move up into the top ten (9^th) briefly, then settled in around 11^th/12^th. … Martin worked hard and was up on McAdoo for the 3^rd podium spot, but a couple slight miscues would keep him just back in 4^th. … “He’s strong and tenacious.  He’s a bulldog and just goes for it,” said Carmichael on Martin. … With Forkner, McAdoo and Martin occupying 2^nd through 4^th, Kitchen wicked it up later in the contest, rode consistently, and was able to break back into the top ten (9^th). … At the checkers the Monster Energy riders held their positions, capturing three of the top four spots (Forkner 2^nd, McAdoo 3^rd and Martin 4^th).

Said Forkner: “I had some sketchy moments in the heat, but had a pretty solid ride in the main. There was a little bit of yo-yoing early with me and Jett (Lawrence), but overall it was a good race. I got out and didn’t see anybody to the side (Re. his holeshot) – and that was the highlight of the night. More races like this all season long and I’ll be happy with it.”

Said McAdoo: “Things didn’t get started off on the right foot, so I didn’t have the greatest gate pick after a 6^th in my heat. I was definitely in the moment (in the main) and not the result. Some areas where I could do better, but overall it’s a good start.”

Overall 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Points (through four rounds)

450 class

Jason Anderson

1^st – Tomac

2^nd – Anderson (-3)

6^th – Sexton (-28)

9^th – Ferrandis (-49)

250 class (SX East)

Austin Forkner

2^nd – Forkner (-3)

3^rd – McAdoo (-5)

4^th – Martin (-7)

9^th – Kitchen (-12)

Up Next

Round eight of 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross will be at Arlington, Texas’ AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, on Saturday, February 26^th. More information on times, along with tickets, can be found at www.supercrosslive.com

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