AARON PLESSINGER

The fan-favorite returned to the racetrack in New York with an elite-level accolade on his mind. He proved in practice that he was willing to compete at the highest speeds in order to strive for the pinnacle position, and Aaron Plessinger’s mentality when rolling to the line for moto-one appeared to be embodying an incredible amount of self-belief. The then, charging aspirations of “AP” couldn’t be denied as he blitzed through the opening sections of the course, taking the initial race lead while attempting to scurry away from the rest of the pack. However, before the first lap was completed (near the mechanic’s area), Plessinger would subsequently lose the lead to Honda’s Hunter Lawrence. Chase Sexton, would surpass him not long thereafter as well, deterring the Ohio native to third. His pace was still admirable, and remained intact as the fifteen, twenty, and twenty-five minute marks were surpassed. He was constantly receiving cues from his mechanic while hearing the roar(s) from the crowd, but Yamaha’s Justin Cooper couldn’t be ignored as they made their way to the checkered flag. Though only three-seconds would separate the rivals as they neared the finish line, Plessinger was strong enough to keep Cooper at bay to retain third place honors for the moto. Once shifting into gear for moto-two, Plessinger appeared to reside around the sixteenth-place position as action began. He was fighting roost while forced to take unorthodox lines, striving for a top-ten position as action progressed. That feat was eventually conquered, and athletes like Christian Craig and Cooper Webb were surpassed. It was then a pivotal point in the moto where he would attempt to zero-in on Hunter Lawrence, but the Honda rider was riding phenomenal in the fifth-place standing. This was at lap seven in the moto, and though the Australian would pull away, Plessinger’s surge of momentum was still enough to overtake Ken Roczen. And then on the fifteenth-circuit, Aaron would charge toward Jason Anderson...whom he made his way around as fatigue began to come into play. Nevertheless, the hard-charging effort of Plessinger was well worth it — and with the scenario in which Dylan Ferrandis would slide to third (via a last lap pass from Hunter Lawrence) the calculation of points then entailed that “AP,” was third overall for the ninth round of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship!