Atlanta, GA (March 2, 2019) – For the first time in 2019, the entire pack of Monster Energy Supercross 250SX riders met together on the same race track on the same night. Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, recent Super Bowl host, provided the battle ground for an East/West Showdown, with riders from both points-paying regional divisions fighting for positions and bragging rights.

GEICO Honda sent three riders into battle via RJ Hampshire and Cameron McAdoo (West) and Chase Sexton (East). Hampshire and McAdoo dealt with some adversity throughout the weekend, but Sexton was on his game and spent the first half of the race challenging for the win. A few small mistakes dropped him to fourth, but he still believes it was his best race yet.

“Atlanta was the best I’ve felt on the bike so far, after being sick all week and only riding one and a half days I was glad I had that comfy feeling on the bike,” said Sexton. “I qualified second in east and fourth overall, but I wanted the top bad. In the heat race I got a third place start and was riding well. I wanted to win it, I got into the lead and I told myself [Austin] Forkner wasn’t getting around me. Then I saw the red flag. Unfortunately on the restart I got passed in the first rhythm lane and basically just hung on Forkner’s rear tire the whole race. In the main event I got another third place start and but got myself into second! I felt solid but I made one slip up which allowed Adam [Cianciarulo] and then [Dylan] Ferrandis to get by. A couple laps later I ended up going down so I had to settle for fourth. Not a podium but I’m happy with my riding, just inching towards that top step. I’m testing with the team this week and I’m coming out hungry in Daytona!”

RJ Hampshire wasn’t quite 100 percent after a crash the day before the race. He finished 12th.

“Had a big crash on Friday during press,” said Hampshire. “Was pretty beat up after that and then ran into some more problems in timed qualifying. Then in the main event I ran into Alex Martin around half way and it dropped me back to 21st. Honestly the day reminded me a lot of my rookie season—too many mistakes. I’ll take a few days off to heal up and be ready for Seattle.”

Cameron McAdoo didn’t have a good one either, and he took 16th.

“Atlanta was a bit of a struggle all day for me just struggling to find comfort with the track and my bike,” said McAdoo. “I had a rough heat race which put me in the last chance qualifier for the first time ever. That was a bit stressful and then I didn’t get a good start so I had to come through–we got through that, though. In the main I had a decent pace going but I went for a pass that wasn’t there resulting in myself and another rider going down. I ended up 16th. I’ve got some work to do in these next couple weeks to get ready for Seattle.”

Sexton now sits third in the 250SX East standings, and he and the rest of that pack will meet again this coming weekend in Daytona, Florida. The 250SX West division races again March 23rd in Seattle.

GEICO Honda Results
250SX East/West Showdown
Atlanta, GA
4. Chase Sexton
12. RJ Hampshire
16. Cameron McAdoo

Author

Dan Lamb is a 12+ year journalist and the owner of MotoXAddicts.