Seeking to obtain the highest finish possible, Spain’s Jose Butron would be on an evident ascending trajectory to the top-ten from the moment the green flag waved in qualification. Though combatting a sweltering climate along with one of the roughest tracks on the circuit, Butron knew he possessed the necessary traits in order to succeed while stationed in California. His effortless style when flying over the tabletop just after the starting sequence would be incredible, which generated applause from the fans long before the grid was aligned for the first moto. Once here, there was little to refute in regard to his effort; as he dove into the initial left-handed corner pulling tear-off’s while simultaneously twisting the throttle as hard as possible in order to reside in an optimal position when launching over the finish line jump. The first lap was a chaotic traffic-jam of sorts, with riders weaving in and out of the far-side split lane section of jumps, while skating upon their knobbies on the glass-like Northern California terrain. It had been watered to prevent dust from flying around the facility, but for these first few laps, the lack of traction (in places) would resemble that of a skating rink! Luckily he would conform to the ever changing surface while maintaining a position inside the top-twenty. Nonetheless, Butron (who was an MXGP standout at one time) would be rather quick when moving through the mechanic’s area while passing the halfway point of the moto...riding just off the midline of the race track in order to spare energy while knowing that that extremely difficult “thirty minute mark” was quite the ways away. Butron would persevere, hanging onto his handlebars with the utmost intensity as he stockpiled laps of knowledge and confidence...which would lead to an eventual sixteenth in the first moto standing(s) being obtained. The second race was just around the corner, and he and his GasGas engine would explode from the starting grate(s) to arrive near a phenomenal sixth-place position in the early going. He was defending his spot on the racetrack rather well, though the off-cambered section (which was just after the first few corners of action) would be extremely difficult to navigate — as the once manicured slope had now been decimated to jagged soil and rock, where the smallest of miscalculations could result in a loss of time or crash. He managed to stay afloat and in-tune with the pace of the top-five, where he and Ty Masterpool eventually latched onto one another and paced themselves through consecutive laps of this 450cc contest. The air-horns would never cease in their sound(s), and the accompanying applause could nearly subdue the decibel(s) of his barking 450cc exhaust; and as sixth place seemed to be his for the taking, the narrative of his second moto run would then suddenly change. It was when Aaron Plessinger had fallen (with around three minutes left on the clock), in the corner after the finish-line, that Butron would inherit fifth! He then took that position and sprinted forward as fast as possible; hanging onto this accolade as all was finalized, to obtain tenth overall as well!