The second round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series in San Francisco turned into a mudder showdown, separating the men from the boys under treacherous conditions. As the mud flew and the rain poured, Red Bull KTM’s Chase Sexton emerged victorious, while Jordon Smith conquered the Western Regional 250SX Class in a rain-soaked Oracle Park.

First place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Sexton’s Dominance in the Mud

Chase Sexton showcased masterful skills in navigating the brutal San Francisco mud, earning a well-deserved victory and catapulting himself into the points lead. The relentless rain not only shortened Main Events but also prompted significant track alterations, creating a challenging battleground for riders.

Eli Tomac of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing battled the deteriorating track to claim the second spot, making a remarkable leap from ninth to tie for third in the overall standings. Ken Roczen of Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki overcame an early mishap to secure third place, all in the spirit of kicking off the season-long Love Moto Stop Cancer text-to-donate campaign.

Second place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Third place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Riders Share Their Struggles

Championing through the relentless downpour, Sexton reflected on the difficulties, stating, "Leading the race in a mud situation, it’s obviously where you want to be because you’re not getting roosted, but it also seems like it lasts forever."

Tomac, describing the conditions as among the toughest in supercross, highlighted the track's thickness and the challenge of deep ruts. Roczen, after a setback early in the race, expressed his mindset of pushing forward, emphasizing the struggle of catching up in a field filled with challenges.

Smith's Triumph in Western Regional 250SX Class

In the Western Regional 250SX Class, Jordon Smith, riding for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing, conquered the elements to clinch the top spot, building on his second-place finish from the previous week. The challenging conditions didn't deter Smith, who now holds the red plate and a five-point lead in the 10-round championship.

First place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Jordon Smith, who admitted his previous struggles in mud races, surprised everyone with a stellar performance. "I do feel like I’ve gotten better in the mud… I think riding outdoors last year helped me," Smith shared, showcasing his determination to overcome past setbacks.

Kitchen's Adaptation to Rain

In the 250SX Class, Levi Kitchen of Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki, who recently switched teams, revealed his strategy in adapting to the rain. "After practice I just basically stiffened my fork as much as it would go, dropped it in the clamps, just kinda made the front end light so I could kinda ride around that way and yeah, it felt really good."

Second place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Marchbanks Battles from the Back

Garrett Marchbanks of Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha faced adversity as he fought his way to a third-place finish. Starting the race from the back after an early fall, Marchbanks showcased resilience and excitement for his podium finish.

Third place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Key Highlights and Memorable Quotes

Sexton's Dominance in the Mud

• Dominant Victory: Chase Sexton's exceptional performance in the challenging San Francisco mud secured a dominant victory, catapulting him into the points lead.
  

  "Leading the race in a mud situation, it’s obviously where you want to be because you’re not getting roosted, but it also seems like it lasts forever."
  – Chase Sexton

• Treacherous Conditions: The race witnessed brutal conditions with heavy rain, shortened Main Events, and significant track changes, posing a severe test for riders.

Smith's Triumph in Western Regional 250SX Class

• Weathering Adversity: Jordon Smith navigated adverse weather conditions to claim victory in the Western Regional 250SX Class, earning the top spot in the standings.
  

  "I’ve been pretty bad in mud races in my pro career, especially lately. At the mudder in New Jersey last year, I did terrible... I do feel like I’ve gotten better in the mud."
  – Jordon Smith

Riders Confronting Challenges

• Tomac's Resilience: Eli Tomac showcased resilience, maneuvering through the deteriorating track to secure a second-place finish and climb in the overall standings.
  

  "It was tough... this was one of the tougher ones."
  – Eli Tomac

• Roczen's Comeback: Ken Roczen's comeback from an early mistake highlighted the demanding nature of the race, emphasizing his determination to overcome challenges.
  

  "My mindset was [focused on] getting going... I just wanted to go and go and kinda try to have fun with it."
  – Ken Roczen

Redemption and Adaptation in 250SX Class

• Smith's Redemption: Jordon Smith surprised critics with a strong mud performance, reflecting on personal growth and improvement in challenging conditions.
• Kitchen's Adaptation: Levi Kitchen adapted strategically to the rain-soaked track, making adjustments for optimal performance and showcasing his versatility.
  

  "The bike felt pretty good... I did really well."
  – Levi Kitchen

• Marchbanks' Resilience: Garrett Marchbanks exhibited resilience after an early fall, pushing through the mud to secure a third-place finish and maintain his points position.
  

  "I was pretty happy for the third and yeah, it was exciting."
  – Garrett Marchbanks

Looking Ahead

• San Diego Showdown: The series heads to San Diego for Round 3, promising new challenges and continued high-stakes battles among riders. Find tickets!
• Philanthropic Initiatives: The Love Moto Stop Cancer text-to-donate campaign continues, showcasing the sport's commitment to supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.