The 450SX class enters the third round this evening the closest it’s ever been at this point. There are only seven points separating the top eight in points with only 14 points back to 10^th place Dylan Ferrandis. Eli Tomac leads the points with 6-4-2 scores, but Jason Anderson was voted first place in the power rankings this week and very likely could have been in the points lead if he hadn’t been put on the ground at Anaheim 1 and had a radiator issue last week in San Diego.

Cooper Webb sits just one point back of Tomac in a tie with last week’s winner Chase Sexton as seemingly nobody has really established any semblance of momentum yet in this championship.

The 250SX class is still being led by Christian Craig but his gap to Hunter Lawrence is down to just six points after his wild ride to third last week. Michael Mosiman won his first career main event last week and has now moved up to third in the standings just 11 points back of Craig. Moving forward, these three guys seem to be the main ones who will contend for this 250SX West championship.

Be sure to follow along all day with us here at Racer X and keep up with qualifying via the Race Day Live broadcast on Peacock. A full broadcast schedule can be viewed below. Time to go racing again!

FREE PRACTICE

As the free practice sessions began on the day, they were kicked off by the 250SX Futures program that ran their final free practice following two sessions on Friday. Ryder DiFrancesco topped the times again like in Oakland, but he has a few more challengers today in the likes of Gavin Towers, Brad West, Luke Kalaitzian, and more. Futures will be a bit more lively throughout the day.

As for the 250SX class, they hit the track right after and there are actually C practices again this week. The C group ended up seeing rather damp track as the track crew worked hard to keep water down early on in the day.

By the time the A group hit the track, it had worn in nicely but was still a little wet in some places. Christian Craig set the early pace at a 1:07.705 as he and Jo Shimoda traded the top spot a few times early in the session. Derek Kelley had a fall in the whoops, but he would continue on.

Vince Friese had a fall in a bowl corner as he adapted to the slick conditions and appeared to be a little sore from the crash. Dilan Schwartz tried to avoid Friese’s upside-down bike in the corner and tucked his front wheel as well causing them to both end up in a little pileup. Both would be fine.

Michael Mosiman then went to the top of the board with a 1:07.009 and Shimoda followed him through into second just two tenths back. Mosiman’s time would hold over Shimoda and Craig who would end up in third with a 1:07.391.

In the 450SX class, Shane McElrath jumped out in front of everyone early on trying to get some clear track. Jason Anderson followed him with Chase Sexton has they began putting in hot laps.

Eli Tomac set the early pace with a 1:07.198 as Malcolm Stewart and Cooper Webb would settle in behind him in second and third. Alex Martin crashed on the tricky wall jump into the rhythm section and ended up off the side of the track, but he would remount and continue.

Max Anstie crashed after getting sideways at the exit of the whoops and he slid to a stop in the next corner. After rubbing his arm for a moment, he would remount and head to the mechanics area to ride back to the pits.

The times kept dropping as Eli Tomac would dip his toes into the 1:05’s with a 1:05.754. Ken Roczen leapt into second place as he put down a 1:06.296 but his teammate Chase Sexton went a tenth faster moments later to move into second place.

Right at the end, Dylan Ferrandis became the first person into the 1:04’s as he laid down a 1:04.694. Eli Tomac also got into the 1:04’s but just missed topping his teammate as he put in a 1:04.821. So, Ferrandis topped free practice with Tomac second and Jason Anderson sliding into third right at the end.

FIRST QUALIFYING SESSIONS

The first qualifying sessions of the day for the premier riders was preceded by the lone qualifying session for the 250SX Futures. Once again, Ryder DiFrancesco was fastest overall and his time at the end of his session would have put him sixth overall in the main 250SX class at the time. The Futures class will race later on today after qualifying is over.

In the 250SX class first qualifying session, it was Vince Friese and Carson Mumford who got out front early and were pushing each other a bit looking for an early hot lap. Craig, like a week ago in San Diego, let the field go in this first session and found some free track behind everyone. He did, however, have a small tip over in the berm before the first corner as he pushed the limits of the track.

He would pick himself back up and quickly run the fastest lap of the day at a 1:04.800. Mosiman was the first to get close to Craig as he put in a 1:05.163, but Jo Shimoda narrowly missed knocking Craig off the top after the Kawasaki rider put in a 1:04.933.

Craig then lowered his time right at the same time as Mosiman also went faster, but Craig’s 1:04.255 was enough to keep him nearly a half second ahead of the GasGas rider. In the end, Craig’s time would hold at the top as he led home Mosiman, Shimoda, Garrett Marchbanks, and Nate Thrasher at the end of Q1.

Aaron Plessinger got out front early of the first 450SX qualifying session with Jason Anderson tailing him. Cooper Webb set the early pace from his teammate Marvin Musquin as the track was certainly getting faster as it wore in more throughout each session.

Ken Roczen then eclipsed the defending champion’s time as Webb pulled into the mechanics area to make a few adjustments with his mechanic Carlos Rivera. Jason Anderson was next to fire his shot as the #21 machine went to the top of the board with a 1:04.549.

Webb’s changes in the pits seemed to work right away as he went fastest again for a brief moment on a 1:04.216 but Chase Sexton suddenly became the first person into the 1:03’s with a massive leap at a 1:03.518. The time put last week’s winner nearly seven tenths clear of the field with his time.

Jason Anderson responded with a 1:03.675 of his own but Sexton remained on top. It didn’t last for long though as Eli Tomac then jumped down to a 1:03.208 as the points leader is really starting to feel at home on his Yamaha.

Tomac’s time would hold up to claim the top spot in Q1 with Sexton setting in for second, Anderson third, Cooper Webb in fourth, and Dylan Ferrandis rounding out the top five.

SECOND QUALIFYING SESSIONS

Christian Craig ripped the holeshot on the fake start for the final 250SX qualifying session of the day. True to form in the past few weeks, Craig has taken each session exactly the same in terms of getting out front or starting way behind everyone.

Craig then set the early pace at a 1:04.421 as times started coming in. Dylan Walsh had a small tip over in the raised corner, but he continued on fine. Vince Friese then laid it down in the sand but he too would continue on no problem.

Michael Mosiman was the closest to Craig’s pace through the mid-point of the session, but he was still about eight tenths of a second behind the Yamaha rider who had reset fastest lap at a 1:04.242. Craig did have a small problem moments after lowering his time though as he slid out coming across the start straight. He would be fine and get back going.

Devin Harriman had a crash in the whoops and appeared to knock the wind out of himself a little bit. He spent a few moments collecting himself alongside the track before he remounted. Dilan Schwartz also fell in the corner before the second SX triple and did some damage to his handlebars which forced him to pull into the mechanics area.

Mosiman was able to lower his time right at the flag to a 1:04.281 which just narrowly missed knocking Craig’s 1:04.242 off the top. So, Craig qualifies P1 here at Anaheim 2 with Mosiman, Nate Thrasher, Jo Shimoda, and Hunter Lawrence inside the top five.

It was Cooper Webb ripping the holeshot on the start of the final qualifying session, though Jason Anderson was quick to shoot around him and get the clean air out front. Marvin Musquin crashed at the end of the long rhythm lane on the first lap but would get back up and going just fine.

Anderson also set the early pace with a 1:04.302 but Chase Sexton once again found his way into the top spot early with a 1:03.967. Some guys were starting to go 3-3 after the finish line into the raised corner and it was interesting to see which worked as some would still go 2-3-1 or 3-2-1 comparatively and it didn’t appear like any one option was better than the other.

Ken Roczen put his name on the top of the board with a 1:03.886 next but Eli Tomac had actually slotted into second as well with a 1:03.926 of his own just edging ahead of Sexton. Sexton responded though and put down a 1:03.529 of his own to move back into the top spot.

He then lowered his time again to lay a blistering 1:03.046 down which ultimately would be enough to top qualifying on the day by three tenths. Marvin Musquin would jump up to second overall right at the end with a 1:03.385 as the Frenchman put together a late burner. Eli Tomac, Dylan Ferrandis, and Ken Roczen rounded out the top five.

250SX FUTURES MAIN EVENT

Chase Yentzer took the holeshot in the Futures main event, but Ryder DiFrancesco quickly shot into the lead by the second corner. Yentzer then went over the bars while still in second place in the whoops a few moments later which promoted Luke Kalaitzian into second place.

Kalaitzian was caught by Gavin Towers and Towers made the move into second place on the third lap of the race. Manuel Moreno held down fourth place in the early running’s but was dealing with pressure from Australian Brad West from behind.

West got close to Moreno in the whoops but would bobble and end up in the Tuff Blocks. He stalled his bike as well and it took him a little bit to get going which allowed Luis Macias through into fifth momentarily. West made it back around him and put his head down to try and catch Moreno ahead of him.

Ryder DiFrancesco checked out the rest of the way and easily cruised to his second straight 250SX Futures victory. Towers and Kalaitzian would follow him home to round out the podium with Manuel Moreno finishing in fourth place behind them.

250SX HEAT 1

Vince Friese holeshot the first heat race of the night as he squeezed Michael Mosiman into Dilan Schwartz up the inside. The resulting contact caused Schwartz to go down and he would not finish the race as he gingerly held his arm on the side of the track.

Friese continued to lead early with Mosiman right on his tail as the duo polled away from Carson Brown who was running in third place early on. Mosiman got close a couple times but Friese made sure to keep shutting the door each lap. Carson Mumford tipped over in the sand and slipped back to eighth.

Jalek Swoll moved into third place around Carson Brown and began distancing himself as he tried to catch the two leaders. Friese then high-sided and went down with the lead handing it over to Mosiman. Swoll also was able to get by for second place after the crash.

Friese was able to make it back around Swoll for second place. Meanwhile, Jerry Robin went down trying to get around Mitchell Harrison for ninth and Harrison made it through the heat race. Michael Mosiman would take the race victory away from Friese, Swoll, Jo Shimoda, and Carson Brown.

250SX HEAT 2

Nate Thrasher grabbed the holeshot in the second 250SX heat race ahead of his teammate Christian Craig. Hunter Lawrence moved into third place early on after Dylan Walsh went down in the long rhythm section.

Craig tried to get Thrasher right at the end of the first lap but the supercross sophomore was able to get back around his elder teammate. Then Thrasher bobbled after the long rhythm section on the second lap and that was just enough to allow Craig through into the lead.

Behind Lawrence in fourth, it was Justin Rodbell ahead of Cole Thompson, Derek Kelley, Dylan Woodcock, Kaeden Amerine, and Logan Karnow in transfer spots. Garrett Marchbanks appeared to get involved in some early drama and he would not finish the heat race.

Derek Kelley went over the bars while running sixth and would take a while to get his bike unstuck from being perched awkwardly atop a bowl berm. He would be fine though and continued on down in 16^th.

The rest of the race stayed fairly status quo aside from Dylan Walsh taking himself and Dylan Woodcock down as they battled for ninth spot. McClellan Hile made it through to the main event as a result. Christian Craig took the race victory ahead of Nate Thrasher and Hunter Lawrence.

450SX HEAT 1

Aaron Plessinger grabbed the holeshot in the first 450SX heat race of the night ahead of Eli Tomac and Dylan Ferrandis. Justin Brayton got around Ferrandis early on to move into third place, but the Frenchman would not be denied as he got back round Brayton before the finish line jump.

Plessinger and Tomac began to battle out front as they pulled slightly away from Ferrandis behind them in third. Brayton was dealing with pressure from behind in the form of Malcolm Stewart and Cooper Webb as the top six had pulled away from Brandon Hartranft in seventh.

Alex Martin fell while he was running in 11^th and would slip back to 14^th losing touch with the battle for the final transfer spot. Back to the battle out front, Plessinger continued to hold strong, but Tomac just kept trying to make the pass happen for the lead.

Eventually, Tomac made the pass for the lead stick on the #7 machine and quickly put a little gap between himself and Plessinger. AP wasn’t done just yet though, he got a great drive in the whoops and closed right back up to the rear tire of the championship leader.

Plessinger got close in the end, but Tomac held on for the heat race victory when the checkered flag waved. Plessinger followed him through in second with Ferrandis, Brayton, and Stewart rounding out the top five.

450SX HEAT 2

Chase Sexton got the holeshot in the second 450SX heat race of the night ahead of Shane McElrath and Ken Roczen. Roczen moved around McElrath for second place in the whoops at the start of the second lap as the Honda HRC teammates then ran 1-2 early on.

McElrath remained in third place ahead of Jason Anderson, Marvin Musquin, and Justin Barcia in a little four rider train from third to sixth. Dean Wilson was just behind them with Ryan Breece and Mitchell Oldenburg rounding out the transfer spots.

Barcia then made a pass on Marvin Musquin for fifth and Marvin was unable to jump the double over the first turn area after the pass which allowed Wilson to close up behind him. Anderson then shot around McElrath into third place and instantly opening up a gap on the battle behind him. That is, until he got the rhythm section wrong out of turn one and went off the track around the bowl berm. He would rejoin behind Wilson in seventh.

Chase Sexton took the win rather easily out front ahead of Ken Roczen, Justin Barcia, Marvin Musquin, and Shane McElrath. Jason Anderson passed Dean Wilson right at the flag for sixth and then he and McElrath had some words after. The conversation seemed cordial though.

250SX LAST CHANCE QUALIFIER

A huge pileup started the 250SX Last Chance Qualifier as Derek Kelley grabbed the holeshot. Garrett Marchbanks fell coming out of the third corner and went from sixth back to 16^th. Then Gared Steinke went flipping over the berm before the finish and would be down for some time but fortunately he would be able to get back on his bike and return to the pits.

Kelley continued to lead from Richard Taylor, Hunter Schlosser, and Christopher Prebula inside of the transfer spots. Marchbanks was outing on a charge in an attempt to get to Prebula for the final transfer spot while chaos was starting to kick off ahead of him.

Dylan Walsh got around Prebula for fourth, but the battle continued. Then Prebula crashed trying to get the spot back and Walsh continued to get Schlosser and Richard Taylor in front of him. Marchbanks tried very hard to make it back to the transfer spot but after passing into sixth, he and Devin Harriman continued to battle for fifth and neither rider were able to make it up to Schlosser in fourth. Derek Kelley won from Dylan Walsh, Richard Taylor, and Hunter Schlosser going to the main event.

450SX LAST CHANCE QUALIFIER

Josh Hill grabbed the holeshot in the 450SX LCQ, but Kevin Moranz quickly moved around him into the second corner to take over the lead. Kyle Chisholm moved into third early on with Alex Martin settling in for fourth.

Chisholm was able to move around Hill for second before the end of the second lap as Alex Martin and Justin Bogle began closing up from behind. Alex Martin tried to make the pass around the outside of Hill but nearly jumped off the track doing do as Bogle continued to lurk behind him.

Kyle Chisholm then went to the lead around Kevin Moranz shuffling him back to second place. Martin was then able to make the pass around Hill to get into third place and nearly got Moranz for second a moment later.

Hill also got around Moranz and Bogle was next to make the pass on the KTM privateer to move into the final transfer spot. As the white flag waved, Chisholm continued to lead with Martin second, Hill third, and Bogle fourth. That’s how the positions would stay a lap later when the checkered flag waved on the 450SX LCQ.

250SX MAIN EVENT

In the 250SX Main Event, it was Vince Friese grabbing the holeshot from Michael Mosiman, but Christian Craig moved his way into second place quickly. Mosiman was able to pass Craig back before the end of the first lap and Jo Shimoda also used an outside line in the sand to get around Craig.

Mosiman made quick work of Friese out front to take over the lead and immediately worked on establishing a gap before Craig could get into second. It wouldn’t take long though as Craig immediately got onto the back of Friese and in the next run through the whoops, Craig was nearly through into second place.

Hunter Lawrence moved around Shimoda to get into fourth place as the Honda HRC man was trying to keep touch with Mosiman and Craig out front before they got away. Shimoda settled back into fifth ahead of Jalek Swoll and Nate Thrasher.

Craig made the move on Friese in the next run through the whoops and found himself in second place onto a couple seconds down on Mosiman out front. The gap slowly started to dwindle as Craig was making up chunks of time on Mosiman in the whoops every lap.

Chris Blose had a big fall while running 17^th and he would not finish the main event. Meanwhile, the battle out front was tightening up as we reach the halfway point of the main event. Mosiman and Craig had put about five seconds on Friese behind them as they began to battle it out for the lead.

Lapped traffic started getting into the mix and Craig was able to capitalize on a mistake out of Mosiman in the sand to take over the lead. He then blitzed the whoops just slightly better and opened up a small hap with just four minutes remaining in the race.

Mosiman wasn’t done just yet though as he closed right back in forcing Craig to take some more defensive lines. They were able to find some clear space beyond the lapped traffic at one point and the battle remained stagnant at right about a second between the two.

Hunter Lawrence then caught up to Vince Friese for third place and the battle for the final podium spot ensued. Jo Shimoda was right on them for that battle, and it was tightening up in a hurry as Lawrence couldn’t quite make a pass on Friese stick.,

It hit a boiling over point as Vince Friese crashed in the whoops and narrowly avoided getting hit by Lawrence passing by, but Jo Shimoda had nowhere to go and clipped Friese in the head which also sent Shimoda down into the dirt. Friese would not finish the race, but Shimoda would continue on and finish in seventh place behind Carson Brown.

Christian Craig held on for the race victory ahead of Michael Mosiman and Hunter Lawrence who would round out the podium.