Read what a host of 450 riders had to say about their weekends at Southwick.
Jett Lawrence: “I’m focusing on each race as it comes – no point in thinking about championships this early. It was a good day, definitely not an easy one with how rough the track got, but I felt solid. Hunter going 2-2 for second made it even better for the team. Big thanks to everyone who stuck it out in the crowd today – it’s not easy out there – and to my team, Red Bull, 100% and all our partners for the support. And hey, tying James Stewart on the all-time win list? That’s pretty cool. I told him I’m coming for him on the golf course, too!”
Hunter Lawrence: “I’m just putting in work – always trying to get stronger and improve. The team has helped a lot with the bike setup; we’re in the best spot we’ve been, and I’m continuing to get the best out of myself, too. Honestly, I’m getting sick of seeing No. 18 up on top of the podium, so it’s time to fight back! I’ll give it another crack next Saturday at RedBud.”
Eli Tomac: “A pair of threes for third overall on the day, so that’s a lot of threes. In the first moto, I had to make quite a few passes to get up to third place and did my best to really just get to that podium position. In the second moto, I got a better start and was closer to the lead early on, and then unfortunately, I got passed by Hunter (Lawrence) in the middle of the race, and I ended up third. Overall, it was an okay day. I wanted a little bit more, but we’ll take the podium from here and try to improve ourselves.”
Justin Cooper: “It was a good day for me, overall. I felt like I rode really well all day, even though I definitely didn’t get off the gate today. I had to come through the pack in both motos. So I was eating a lot of roost and had my work cut out for me. I ran out of tear-offs in moto two, so I had to do a little bit of goggle wiping, but the day went well. My riding was good. I just needed to be closer to the front, obviously to be in the battle for the podium. I can’t complain with 6-5 and fourth overall, especially with how the starts were. I set the fastest qualifier again, so that was pretty cool. We’ll take it into next weekend, and hopefully we can get off the gate better at RedBud.”
Jorge Prado: “I try to be the best version of myself, and when you do that, you think you’re going to be satisfied with yourself. So it’s a pity that we are in this situation, and hopefully we make big steps. I’d rather take P5 than a P8 or P9,” he told Kellen Brauer of SwapMoto Live.
RJ Hampshire: “Pretty solid day here in Southwick. I felt good in qualifying, and then a first-turn pile-up in moto one had me in pretty much last place. We were strong all race to come back to eighth, and I knew all I needed was a better start for the second one. We got that, and plugged away from there on a tough track, and it feels good to get my first top-five moto score with P4 in that one. We’ll take it and look forward to RedBud next weekend.”
Aaron Plessinger: “I struggled at Southwick from the beginning today, but I did get off to an awesome start in moto one. I was right toward the front, and then I started losing the tow, so finished P4 in that one. In the second moto, I was in a good spot again, but then a small mistake ended with me on the ground. My energy went away with that crash, so I did what I could for eighth. We finished seventh overall, with this being my first time out of the top five this season. We’ll regroup, rest up, do our homework and come out swinging at RedBud!”
Cooper Webb: “Today at Southwick was a good day of racing for me. I was able to get a good start in Moto 1 and run up front, and ended up getting seventh. Then in moto two, I didn’t get as good of a start, but I charged my way through and made some good passes, especially late in the moto. I was happy with that. I’m excited for RedBud.”
Justin Barcia: “Today was challenging! It was good to be back with the crew and the team. I wouldn’t say it was a fun day because Southwick is pretty brutal! The fans are awesome, so that was a positive, and a top 10 is not too bad after coming straight from therapy. We’ll take it, and we’ve got some things to build on, so that is good. I ripped a good start in moto two, so I was happy with that. I showed some grit, and now onto RedBud!”
Malcolm Stewart: “Southwick was a battle, for sure!” Stewart said. “Went down in the first moto in the turn, and my starts were killing me all day. Rode strong, but was buried in the pack, and this isn’t the track where you want to come from behind. Still made a lot of great passes and learnt a tonne, and I’m taking that momentum into RedBud. Let’s keep building!”
Image: HRC
