The Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing Team had to wait out a lightning delay and deal with a downpour, but the results were worth it as Justin Barcia took the 450 main event win in extremely muddy conditions.
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Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing Team records its first main event win of the 2023 AMA Supercross season
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Justin Barcia was fast in his home race, whether in wet or dry conditions
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Pierce Brown finished 11th in the 250 East/West Showdown
450SX
Judging by the third place and second-place finishes at the previous rounds in Glendale and Atlanta, Justin and the team had high hopes heading into East Rutherford, NJ, located just outside New York City. Thunderstorms caused a delay for the scheduled start of the main events, and a steady downpour made a quagmire of the track. But after getting a strong start out of the gate, and sizing up the leader for the first six laps, Justin Barcia and his MC 450F Factory Edition took over the lead and stretched it to a 14-second advantage at the finish.
Justin Barcia: «I don’t remember practice. I don’t remember the heat race. But I remember that main event! I got out there and was battling with the boys, took the lead, rode away, and took the win. It was very special. The team crushed it, mud-prepped quick, and it was an awesome race. I don’t really know what else to say because I’m very happy!”
250SX East/West
For Pierce Brown and his MC 250F Factory Edition, the night was a bit more challenging. After qualifying fifth, and finishing fourth in his 250 West heat race in the dry conditions, things were looking good. Unfortunately, a midpack start, followed by a crash, resulted in an 11th-place finish.
Pierce Brown: “It wasn’t an ideal night in New York. I did all right in the heat, with a fourth-place finish. We had a couple of hour delay before the main event. It rained hard, so the track was pretty wet when we got out there. I got off to an okay start…midpack. I was trying to go through the pack and collided with a rider about three or four laps into the race and fell. That set me back pretty far. I think I got up in last or second-to-last. After that I put a charge on and did all I could do and ended up 11th.”
Next Event (Round 15): April 29, 2023 – Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.
Results – 2023 AMA Supercross Championship, Round 14
250SX East/West Showdown – Main Event Results
1. Max Anstie (Honda) 14 laps; 2. Jett Lawrence (Honda) +10.091; 3. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) +10.824… 11. Pierce Brown (GASGAS)
450SX – Main Event Results
1. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) 18 laps; 2. Eli Tomac (Yamaha) +14.742; 3. Ken Roczen (Suzuki) +25.396… 14. Justin Starling (GASGAS); 20. Tristan Lane (GASGAS)
Championship Standings – After 14 Rounds
250SX East
1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 198 points; 2. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 149 points; 3. Max Anstie (Honda) 148 points … 16. Michael Mosiman (GASGAS) 51
250SX West
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 176 points; 2. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 137 points; 3. Enzo Lopes (Yamaha) 118 points … 8. Pierce Brown (GASGAS) 98
450SX
1. Eli Tomac (Yamaha) 315 points; 2. Cooper Webb 304; 3. Chase Sexton (Honda) 294 … 4. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) 265; 23. Justin Starling (GASGAS) 54; 32. Tristan Lane (GASGAS)