Round 4 of the AMA Pro Motocross series–the first of two events held this holiday weekend at Buchanan, Michigan’s RedBud MX–featured a solid performance by Team Honda HRC, with Chase Sexton turning in the first overall podium result of his young 450 career, via 3-4 moto scores, while teammate Christian Craig posted a creditable seventh overall with a 7-8 moto tally.
Sexton started in fourth in the first moto, then took over third on lap one, and that’s where he stayed for the remainder of the race, establishing a comfortable margin along the way. The Illinois native then completed lap one of moto two in fifth place, moved up a spot four laps in and stayed there until the 17th and final lap. Craig enjoyed improved starts, and after running fourth for the majority of the first moto, he was thwarted by a tip-over, dropping him to seventh place. The second moto saw him finish in complete lap one sixth before slipping to eighth by the finish.
NOTES
- The RedBud schedule is quite unorthodox for AMA Pro Motocross, with this race taking place Friday and round five scheduled for Monday. It is the first time two races have been scheduled at the same venue on the same weekend, and the first time two races have been scheduled with only two days between races.
- Round four was also the first AMA Pro Motocross national scheduled on a Friday since 1973 and the first national held in the month of September since 2012. It was also the 46th time that RedBud has hosted a national and the first time in 40 years (and only the fourth time overall) that the RedBud round hasn’t been held on or around Independence Day Weekend.
- Unlike the Loretta Lynn’s and Ironman events, fans are not allowed at the RedBud nationals.
- The State of Michigan did not require all event attendees to be tested for COVID-19, although everyone needed to pass a health screening prior to entering or reentering the paddock. Teams were asked to practice social distancing, wear masks properly and only permit essential personnel in the team pods.
- Chase Sexton posted the fourth-fastest lap of qualifying, at 2’03.982”. Christian Craig had an eighth-best time of 2’04.760”
- For the third consecutive time, the 250 class saw GEICO Honda’s Jeremy Martin notch the overall win, and he also took his second moto victory of the season, notching a 4-1 tally. The Minnesota rider also took over the number-one spot in the points standings, and sits 12 ahead of Dylan Ferrandis. Martin’s teammate Jett Lawrence was also competitive, earning sixth overall, with Hunter Lawrence, Jo Shimoda and Carson Mumford taking 12th, 15th and 16th overall, respectively.
- With Team Manager Erik Kehoe under the weather, Technical Director Assistant Lars Lindstrom filled his role at RedBud I. Kehoe is expected to be in Michigan for round five.
- The top three overall finishers from each class, including Sexton and Martin, participated in a virtual post-race press conference via Zoom on Friday evening.
Media contact:
Kayla Mead // Jonnum Media // kayla@jonnummedia.com // +1 (760) 822-4786
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