CHASE SEXTON

Illinois’ Chase Sexton was willing to excel at his highest level in order to obtain a top-tier standing at the High Point MX circuit. The KTM rider had shown flashes of brilliance thus far in the series, and aspired to do much the same for this showcase in the Northeastern United States. He was rather vocal in interviews leading up to Saturday’s events, about being glad to return to the East Coast — where his prowess among the ruts was destined to shine. Therefore as practice began on Saturday, thousands of fans on the side-line were eager to watch the former SX champion acquire a remarkable lap-time and gate choice...which set the stage for the opening moto. When that moment in time came to fruition, Sexton charged into the opening corners with all of his might — occupying a position of sixth, before moving into fourth by lap four — making passes on Justin Barcia, Dylan Ferrandis, and then Justin Cooper, as the Yamaha rider nearly spun out, in the second turn on the racetrack. Once ahead of the Yamaha rider, Sexton would do his best to lessen the gap between he and the Lawrence brother — hitting his marks with precision, before a few mistakes would cost him a significant amount of time. One instance, saw him stall his momentum before entering into the wooded area around the halfway point...and was forced to regain all of the RPM’s and speed imaginable, before diving into the ruts to follow yet again. From that point onward, it was a process of attrition and staying composed amongst the grooved canvas — accelerating to third, as he eventually passed the checkered flag. For the second moto, Sexton began the quest in fifth...but was surpassed by Aaron Plessinger just after the rollers in the early stages, to be deterred to sixth. He quickly retook the position, along with surpassing Phil Nicoletti, to earn a fourth-place residency before the fifth minute of action. And then, a mistake by Hunter Lawrence near the mechanic’s area was enough to enable Sexton a pathway around the outside...granting the third place position, to the number four machine! Shortly thereafter, Sexton was an in an optimal position when Jason Anderson would run Jett Lawrence to the outside of the racetrack before the wooded area...swooping to the inside, while passing both athletes simultaneously! But by the ten and a half minute mark of the moto, a mistake when entering into the section preceding the finish line, was enough for Jett Lawrence to propel his way to the inside (and around) the KTM rider. However, he remained engaged in the second-place position —which enabled him to regain the lead once more, just before the SMX Flyaway jump on the far side of the track, where Jett drifted to the outside of the raceway. Now into the first place position, a multitude of strenuous battles were portrayed by both racers. And the lead was contested for, on a number of occasions by each rival. A mistake (off of the race-track, on the uphill before the finish-line) nearly cost Sexton the lead as twenty-four minutes of competition would pass...but he managed to maintain the lead role, until a crash before the aforementioned flyaway jump, was enough to deter him to second! Less than five minutes were on the clock at that point, and there wasn’t much time available, in order for him to truly regain the ground he had lost. Therefore that incident, along with another substantial mistake (which nearly cost him the second-place ride, to Hunter Lawrence), was enough to force him to a silver medal registry once and for all...claiming the runner-up overall, as well, on the final podium.