Read what a host of 450 riders had to say about their weekends in Birmingham.
Chase Sexton: “It’s really nice to get the monkey off my back tonight – it feels like I haven’t won in forever! Getting good starts and the first two race wins was super-important, but it reminded me quickly when RJ [Hampshire] got caught up at the start in Race 3 that anything can happen, so I locked in on executing that start as well. From there, I rode my own race in the last one, tried not to do anything stupid and learn from previous mistakes, but I always thrive in these last eight races, so I’m stoked to kick things off this way.”
Aaron Plessinger: “These last couple of races have given me a lot more confidence, and that’s showing in my starts, which put me in a really good position tonight. Ever since Daytona I feel like we’ve been rolling, it gave me the belief that I can run with the boys at the front, and that’s everything to me. So, that combined with the work we’re doing at the Baker’s Factory, means we’re in a really good spot right now!”
Malcolm Stewart: “I’m really stiff right now after the hit to my hip. Aside from that, I felt really good today and connected with the whole track. My Team Manager Nate Ramsey mentioned that I looked really good today in practice, and we made a game plan of going out there and giving it our all to see where we ended up, and second place was our spot for tonight!”
Cooper Webb: “It was a tough night at the Triple Crown. I made a mistake in the first one that really cost me, but I was able to get it going after that. I got a main event win at the end, which was awesome, but yeah, it was a bummer of a night not to end up on the podium, for sure. We’ll regroup and come back at Seattle, and try to get back up front.”
Justin Cooper: “It was a pretty good day. Qualifying went really well, but I felt like once this dirt dried out, it kind of never formed back the way I thought it was going to. My starts weren’t too great tonight, so I need to work on those a little bit. It was a pretty quiet night for me – sixth overall, and pretty much sixth the whole night. It was a decent night, but obviously, I’m looking for more. We’re going to come back next weekend and try to be better.”
Justin Barcia: “Birmingham should’ve been better than it was! I was feeling really good, first race would’ve been a top five before an endo, and then I flew off into the nets, which was a bummer. The second race, I was top-five and I was happy with that, and then the third race was unfolding in the same way before another endo knocked the wind out of me for a second. Everything was going well tonight, just a few too many mistakes cost me. I like Seattle, I got my second 450SX win there, so I’m aiming for a podium next weekend!”
Chrisitan Craig: “It felt good to be back behind the gate! The results weren’t the greatest, but I know what I’m capable of. We’re going to push hard to improve each weekend!”
Image: KTM
