Monster Energy Riders Charge Through Detroit Supercross at Ford Field

Monster Energy racers dominated the 250 Eastern Regional (ESX) and 450 class podiums on Saturday at Detroit’s Ford Field, with Cole Davies (Star Racing/Yamaha) winning his third straight 250 class main event, followed 2^nd position by Seth Hammaker (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki). The event also marked the return of Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Chase Sexton, who blazed back from injury to a 2^nd place finish in the 450 class.

Opening with Davies, the New Zealander was fast all day – placing 2^nd in his heat race behind Hammaker and winning his heat race. That said, Davies’ starts haven’t been the greatest this season, and he found himself in 15^th place off the first turn in the main event.

But that’s where it all ends as the 250 ESX points leader came railing back through the field, making up some 14 positions to earn the race’s “Hard Charger” award, and winning by an impressive 12.196 seconds over 2^nd place Hammaker.

“I would say it’s a good day today, all around,” said Davies. “I didn’t get off to a good start, which I feel we need to work on a little bit. I inched my way through the pack and, yeah, it was a good race.”

In 2^nd position was the fastest qualifier, Hammaker (51.762 to 51.837 ahead of Davies). The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider had a good lead on Davies in the main, but one section of the track – the whoops – would be Hammaker’s undoing as that’s where Davies made most of his time.

“The worse they (whoops) are I feel the better he (Davies) gets in them,” said Hammaker.

Rounding out the top ten in the 250 ESX class at Detroit for Monster Energy was rookie Nick Romano (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki), who placed a season-best 7^th in just his second pro main event.

On the 450s Monster Energy enjoyed one of its better nights on the season with five racers making the top ten, highlighted by Sexton’s return to action following a practice injury that kept him out of the last three rounds.

“If anyone’s seen my season, it’s been very unlike me,” said Sexton. “Just haven’t had good speed. Haven’t had good starts. Really haven’t been up front, minus one race (1^st @ Anaheim 2). Feel like I came back from zero. Built back up. Hopefully, this is what we need to get back on track.”

Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Justin Cooper and Cooper Webb also had good runs in the 450 main with Cooper, currently 5^th in the overall standings (176 points), placing 4^th and Webb, 4^th in the overall standings (203 points), brining ‘er home 6^th. Monster Energy’s lone 450 class privateer, Justin Hill (Tedder/KTM), raced to a season-best 8^th place finish (after starting 18^th), while Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Garrett Marchbanks rounded out the top ten in 10^th position.

Overall Standings (11 of 17 rounds)

Notes & Quotes

• “At the start I was pretty far back there. I mean, Seth (Hammaker) was two rhythms (sections) ahead of me. So I slowly started catching him, didn’t rush anything. Just rode to my ability and didn’t push over that.” – Davies on his 15^th place start.
• “Had to reset. Stay calm. And glad we bounced back the way we did.” – Hammaker on his gnarly get-off in his heat race.
• Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Nate Thrasher was having a heck of a night, winning the second 250 heat race, then pulling the holeshot in the main. Unfortunately for Thrasher a massive ejection in the whoops section would end would looked to be a podium nigh in Detroit.
• Another impressive ride on the 250s was put in my Romano. The New Yorker, who’d placed 18^th in his first pro start (18^th at Birmingham, Ala.), rocketed out to a 3^rd place start in the main and brought ‘er home in a personal-best 7^th place at the checkers.
• “That time on the couch really started to come at me about ten minutes into that race.” – Sexton
• “I’ve rode a dirt bike since I was two-and-a-half, and when you don’t have fun on your dirt bike it kind of blends into your everyday life. And when I crashed I knew I was going to have to make a mental turnaround. I’m back at the races and get to do what I love for a living.” – Sexton
• “Great ride for Chase Sexton. All night long.” – NBC announcer Ricky Carmichale
• The 450 class Hard Charger award went to Monster Energy’s Hill, who railed his KTM from 18^th to 8^th for his best finish of the season, which also moved him into the top ten overall (10^th) in the 450 class standings.

Up next: Monster Energy AMA Supercross stays east of the Mississippi (barley) with the running of the St. Louis Supercross at the Dome at America’s Center on Saturday, April 4.