Thrasher: "I’m feeling pretty sore, but we’re all good for next weekend."
Tough break for expected 250SX West Region Championship contender Nate Thrasher, who went down hard on a hip jump at Anaheim and did not finish the main event. Tonight's Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing press release indicates he will be okay to return to action at this weekend's round two in San Francisco.
The PR also includes info on Jordon Smith's runner-up ride at Anaheim.
Smith Kicks Off 2024 Season with Runner-Up Finish at Anaheim 1
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith got his 2024 250SX West title campaign off to a great start with a strong runner-up finish aboard the all-new YZ250F
MARIETTA, Ga. – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith launched his 2024 250SX West title campaign with a second-place finish at yesterday's Monster Energy AMA Supercross season opener in Anaheim, California. Unfortunately, his teammate Nate Thrasher crashed in the main event and withdrew from the race.
It was 2016 since Smith last raced a 250SX West season opener at Angel Stadium, and it was a welcome return as the North Carolina rider topped the time sheets in the first qualifying session. He ultimately qualified eighth in the combined times but then got a flying start to grab the holeshot in the heat race. Smith rode on to take the first race victory of the season aboard the all-new 2024 YZ250F and got another good start in the main event. Although he was shuffled to fifth in the first few turns, he made his way forward on a track that was difficult to pass on and was second after the halfway mark, where he would finish.
Thrasher had a solid qualifying in sixth and finished third in that first heat race of the evening. In the main event, he was fourth after the start but found himself sixth a couple of laps later. Thrasher kept pushing but unfortunately crashed around the halfway point and withdrew from the race.
Next weekend, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads north to San Francisco, California, for Round 2 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Series at Oracle Park on January 13.
Jensen Hendler – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager
“Overall, it was a good start to the season at A1. Jordon was fastest in the first qualifier, but we struggled a little bit in the second one. Our guys went to work, and we felt good going into the night show. Jordon put in a great ride. He got some great starts, won his heat race, and finished second in the main. Nate had a solid ride and was third in his heat, but unfortunately, he crashed in the main and did not finish. He’s okay, though. We’ll go back to work this week and come back stronger next weekend.”
Jordon Smith – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #31
“It was a good start to the year at A1. There’s always a lot of nerves coming into here, but I felt really good all off-season. I really feel like I’ve been riding the best that I have in my life, but you can still get nervous. The coast is stacked. There are a lot of fast guys, and you just never know. We worked a lot on starts this year, and it paid off today. I got the holeshot in the heat and came out with a good start in the main. I got shuffled back a little bit in the first two turns, but yeah, it was a good first race. Overall, I’m really happy with my day, happy with the bike, and happy with everything. I’m ready to go home and keep building off of this.”
Nate Thrasher – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #57
“It was a tough Anaheim 1. We were just struggling a bit in practice, but I felt pretty good going into the night show. We finished third in the heat and got a decent start in the main, but unfortunately, I crashed about halfway through the race. I hit a kicker on the hip jump and went down pretty hard. I’m feeling pretty sore, but we’re all good for next weekend. It’s not how we wanted to start the season, but that’s racing. We’ll come back stronger in San Francisco.”
