The track here in San Diego has a long start followed by a 180-degree righthander that funnels into a short rhythm before looping back into another long rhythm that runs the length of the stadium. There are a couple more short rhythms, an over/under bridge, and the whoops lead right into a small tabletop. There doesn’t to be anything too crazy out there. Right now the dirt is wet and very sticky. It’s the kind that cakes to your shoes when you walk through it, but that won’t last. Temperatures are expected to hover around the mid-70s today, and the sun will dry the top layer of dirt out pretty quickly. 

Qualifying is set to begin shortly, so check back soon to see who’s throwing down heaters in San Diego.

Qualifying – Session One

The first set of qualifiers is in the books here in San Diego and the immediate takeaway is, the track is going to see a lot of wear tonight. Lap times hovered around the 55-second mark, which means the track will have to withstand more laps all day and night.

When the 250s went out Chance Hymas was fast initially but Haiden Deegan took over the top spot fairly quickly with a 54.343. Deegan would improve that to 54.011, but Levi Kitchen snuck in a 53.647 at the end. Afterward Kitchen said he was going to focus on looking for alternate lines in the next session because he believes the track will break down quite a bit.

The whoops lead into a tabletop, which has a set of five small singles after it. Most riders were blitzing through them like whoops, but Max Vohland was wheel tapping through them in a wheelie. It looked awesome. Deegan also had a unique approach here. Instead of wheel tapping or blitzing he was preloading and somehow heaving his bike over the entire set. We didn’t see anyone else doing that until the 450s came out and Chase Sexton pulled it off.

When the 450s rolled out it was Eli Tomac who was immediately fast with a 54.595. Usually the first few fast laps don’t hold up for very long, but in this case Tomac’s time stood for nearly the entire session. Guys didn’t seem like they were in a hurry to set heaters out there, and a lot of them seemed like they were searching for lines. Malcolm Stewart, who dislocated his shoulder last week in Anaheim, put in a charge on his last lap to displace Tomac with a 53.869. That’s impressive considering that just a few days ago we weren’t even sure if he’d be able to line up today!

There have been a few variations in the long rhythm lane. The most common is to go three-three-three-two-two, but some guys were experimenting with a three-three-three-three-one combination. A few others opted to jump onto the table at the beginning instead of tripling in, but it wasn’t clear what the fastest line was. We’ll see what the guys settle on when the came back for the second session after studying image overlay footage.

[Update] - Steve Matthes has learned a power surge knocked out the timing and scoring system during the 450 A qualifier and the recorded times aren't completely accurate.

[Update] - Malcolm Stewart was initially credited with having the fastest lap, but the times have been updated and Tomac now holds the top spot. Stewart is now slotted in third. This is likely due to the power surge mentioned above.

Qualifying – Session Two

Michael Mosiman came out swinging in this one with a 54.775, but Ryder DiFrancesco bested him a lap later with a 53.353. At this point the times really started falling, with Levi Kitchen, DiFrancesco, and Haiden Deegan shaving times lap after lap. Kitchen busted out a 53.335, only to see DiFrancesco take it back with a 53.327. Undeterred, Kitchen fired back with a 52.979. Although Deegan was turning super fast times, it seemed that either Kitchen or DiFrancesco would turn a fast time right before he did, and the lap Deegan would turn would be just a tick off the newest fast lap. Finally Deegan was able to climb to the top on his tenth lap with a 52.927, just a hair faster than Kitchen. Seriously, look how close Deegan and Kitchen’s times are!

In 450SX action the session was three minutes longer to help make up for the timing and scoring problems from their first session. The fast laps started coming in at around the 53-second mark, with Ken Roczen and Justin Cooper both dipping into the 52-second range early. It held for multiple laps, but Tomac lit the burners on his eighth lap and came in hot with a 52.181.

Chase Sexton looked good in this one, but he wasn't consistently completing entire laps at a fast pace. He'd go fast for a section, then cruise through the next. He later had an unfortunate moment when another rider, who was reentering the track from the mechanic’s area, rode right in front of him as Sexton was coming into a berm. With nowhere to go, Sexton T-boned the other rider and they went down in a heap. Fortunately both were okay, although Sexton looked a bit perturbed. Shortly after that Mitchell Oldenburg went down and a red flag came out, pausing the session with just under six minutes remaining. Unfortunately Oldenburg would leave the stadium on a stretcher in the back of the Alpinestars Medical Mule. We’ll update you on his condition once we learn more.

When the session got back underway the guys got were able to get about a lap or so in before another red flag came out. This time it was Austin Forkner, but fortunately this time there was no stretcher involved. It wasn’t clear what he’d injured, but he was able to stand up under his own power and left the stadium sitting on the back of the Alpinestars Medical Mule. We're hearing now he's out for the rest of the day.

When this qualifier got going again for the second time there was enough time for maybe two more fast laps. Sexton tried to get a fast one in, and it was a good lap, but he made a small mistake and went just a little long in a rhythm lane. That probably cost him a few tenths of a second, ruining his shot at setting a top time.

Updates on Mitchell Oldenburg and Austin Forkner
We spoke with Liqui Moly Beta and Triumph Factory Racing after the second set of qualifiers, in which Oldenburg and Forkner both crashed and prompted red flags. Oldenburg was unconscious after his crash and left the stadium on a stretcher. Fortunately he didn't sustain any spinal injuries, although the extent of any other injures isn't known quite yet. 

Forkner took a trip to the hospital after his crash for evaluation, and everything came out fine. Forkner is now doing everything he can to get out of the hospital in time to get back to the stadium and race. It's late in the day though, so he might not make it.

250SX – Heat Race One

For the second weekend in a row Hunter Yoder kicked things off with a holeshot. His teammate Max Vohland, was behind him. Levi Kitchen got a bad start in this one and was running about tenth early, but he started making moves quickly. Chance Hymas ran third, but he had a ways to go to catch Yoder and Vohland, who’d gapped the field in the opening laps. At roughly the halfway point Vohland went by Yoder, but Yoder fought back, pulling alongside him on the over/under bridge. When he did, he reached out his hand in such a way it looked like he was trying to give his teammate a high five. After that, Vohland pulled away a bit from Yoder. When the white flag came out Hymas was closing on Yoder, but a lapper got in Hymas’ way and he was forced to check up. Vohland took the win, followed by Yoder, Hymas, Kitchen, Robbie Wageman, Anthony Bourdon, Lux Turner, Carson Mumford, and Ayden Shive in the remaining transfer spots.

250SX – Heat Race Two

Max Anstie shot out to the early lead in this one but he had Haiden Deegan and Michael Mosiman in hot pursuit. As the race started to unfold Anstie started getting away from Deegan, who’d put a little distance on Mosiman. Behind Mosiman was Cameron McAdoo, then Ryder DiFrancesco and Parker Ross.

Deegan made a small mistake that caused him to go off the track in a short rhythm lane, but he recovered quickly and started closing the gap on Anstie. With just over two minutes on the race clock Deegan was about two bike lengths back of Anstie, and the crowd could sense something was coming. Deegan ran it in on Anstie in a 180-degree lefthander, but he didn’t make any contact and Anstie squirted away, lead intact. But then Anstie made a mistake in the ensuing rhythm lane and Deegan flew right by.

Just before the final lap, DiFrancesco tried putting an aggressive block pass on McAdoo for fourth, but he wasn’t quite close enough and he smacked into McAdoo. Neither rider went down though, and McAdoo held onto the spot. Deegan won, with Anstie, Mosiman, McAdoo, DiFrancesco, Ross, Josh Varize, Avery Long, and Hunter Schlosser filling the final transfer spots.

450SX – Heat Race One

Jorge Prado shot out to the holeshot, but Jason Anderson looked determined to not allow Prado to lead this race for long. Behind Anderson were Joey Savatgy, Hunter Lawrence, and Chase Sexton, but Sexton was moving forward. Up front, Prado had gapped Anderson slightly, but Anderson was keeping in touch. Cooper Webb, meanwhile, hadn’t gotten a good start and was running tenth, about five seconds behind Colt Nichols.

With just over two minutes left on the clock Sexton was all over Anderson, who was proving to be a difficult racer to pass. Sexton attempted to go outside on Anderson as they came down the straightaway and into a lefthander, but Anderson ran him wide and shut the door. Sexton responded by slicing down, rocketing through the next rhythm section, and making the pass on Anderson in the next corner. With two laps remaining, Sexton was in attack mode and was giving Prado all he could handle. When Sexton dove inside and passed Prado, the crowd erupted. Prado didn’t try to fight back, and let Sexton get away. Sexton won, with Prado, Anderson, Savatgy, Lawrence, Shane McElrath, Nichols, Webb, and Vince Friese filling the transfer spots.

450SX – Heat Race Two

Ken Roczen blasted out of the gate to holeshot the second 450SX heat race. Aaron Plessinger ran second but made a small mistake in a rhythm that let RJ Hampshire go by. Behind them was Eli Tomac, but he wasn’t satisfied in fourth and was pushing forward. A few laps in he cut inside Plessinger in a lefthander and made the pass. He then went after Hampshire, who made it easy on Tomac by sliding out in a turn all by himself. With just under three minutes Tomac was now in second, but facing a six-second gap to Roczen in first. The margin was too large, and Tomac settled in for second. Plessinger, Dylan Ferrandis, Christian Craig, Malcolm Stewart, Hampshire, Justin Cooper, and Justin Hill filled the remaining transfer spots.

250SX – LCQ

Preston Masciangelo took the all important holeshot in the 250SX LCQ. Behind him a battle raged between Ty Freehill, Lorenzo Camporese, Colby Copp, and Dilan Schwartz. A few laps and Camporese had taken over second from Freehill, and Schwartz quickly also went by Freehill. That slid Freehill back to fourth, but he had a nice gap over Dominique Thury in fifth. Up front Schwartz was on a mission though, and had gotten by Camporese. Just before the white flag came out he zapped Masciangelo for he lead and checked out. Schwartz went on to win, with Masciangelo, Camporese, and Freehill filling the remaining transfer spots.

450SX – LCQ

Mitchell Harrison nabbed the holeshot, but he had Grant Harlan and Kevin Moranz hot on his tail. Max Miller joined the fray after about a half a lap too. Although Miller was in qualifying position, he had Tristan Lane, Freddie Noren, and Josh Cartwright not far behind and he couldn’t afford to take it easy. After a few laps Moranz went around Harlan and went after Harrison. Moranz was applying heavy pressure to Harrison, but was just out of striking range. Any mistake from Harrison would result in him getting passed, but he kept his cool and rode solidly. In fourth Miller had gotten away from Tristan Lane a little bit, making the situation less critical for him.

Up front Moranz was now absolutely hounding Harrison, even pulling alongside of him in a rhythm lane, but Harrison refused to give in to the onslaught. Harrison survived to take the win, with Moranz, Harlan, and Miller filling the final transfer spots of the night.

250SX – Main Event

Max Anstie kicked the 250SX main off with a holeshot, followed by Cameron McAdoo, Haiden Deegan, and Chance Hymas. Levi Kitchen got another horrible start and ran about fifteenth on the first lap. Ryder DiFrancesco also got a bad start and was even further back. Just over a lap in, Deegan jumped to the inside of McAdoo and block passed him for second place.

Roughly five minutes into this one Anstie was still leading, but Deegan was closing the gap. It wasn’t long before Deegan was right on Anstie’s rear wheel, but Anstie was riding really well and it took Deegan a while to actually try a move on Anstie. First he ran him high in a lefthander, but Anstie survived. A couple corners later Deegan came in hot on the inside and put a move on Anstie that ended with Deegan’s rear wheel taking out Anstie’s front wheel. Just like that, Anstie was on the ground and Deegan was all alone up front.

Behind Deegan McAdoo held second, but Hymas was all over him with about five minutes left in the race. Credit to McAdoo though—instead of getting passed he responded and got back away from Hymas, who now had Michael Mosiman on his rear fender. Now it was Hymas’ turn to respond, which he did by ramping things back up, getting away from Mosiman, and reeling McAdoo back in. Just when it seemed like he’d be able to put a move on McAdoo, Hymas made a huge mistake over a jump and almost went over the bars. He came down out of control and was barely able to stop himself before going over the ensuing berm. He saved it, but he dropped back to sixth.

The battle to keep an eye on was now between McAdoo and Mosiman, who were yo-yoing in second and third. On the last lap McAdoo had about two to three bike lengths on Mosiman, which Mosiman cut down to nothing several turns before the checkered flag. Mosiman probably could have tried to run it in on McAdoo, but it would have been super dirty and he may have taken himself out in the process. Kitchen had caught up to the rear fender of Mosiman too, and would have inherited second had those two taken each other out. Deegan hung on for the win, with McAdoo, Mosiman, Kitchen, and Anstie rounding out the top five. Afterward the crowed rained boo's down on Deegan so loudly it was difficult to hear his post race interview.

450SX – Main Event

Chase Sexton got stuck in the starting gate in this one and started in dead last. Up front, Hunter Lawrence had holeshot, but Ken Roczen and Eli Tomac were right on his tail. Roczen’s intensity in the opening lap was incredible, and he was putting insane pressure on Lawrence. Credit to Lawrence though: despite several pass attempts from Roczen, Lawrence hung in there and retained the lead. Half a lap later Roczen made a mistake in the whoops and went off the track. He didn’t lose a spot, but Lawrence got away and he now had Tomac all over him. Roczen was on point though, and motored away from Tomac and got right back up on Lawrence.

Behind the lead trio it was Joey Savatgy in fourth, then Jason Anderson, Cooper Webb, Aaron Plessinger, and Sexton, who was already up to eighth after just four minutes. Sexton continued to push forward and started making moves through this group. When he got up to Webb he put a block pass on him that ran Webb wide, causing Webb to get into the side of the track and go down.

Up front, Roczen was finally able to make a move stick on Lawrence in the whoops and the crowd went crazy. Tomac, knowing he needed to immediately follow, sliced by Lawrence a few turns later, staying with Roczen. The crowd loved it and was going crazy. They got even louder a few laps later when Tomac cut inside Roczen and took over the lead. Roczen wasn’t done though, and after the whoops he jumped a group of singles and ran Tomac high and took back over the lead. It didn’t seem possible for the crowd to get any louder at this point, but somehow it did. Lawrence, meanwhile hadn’t lost touch with them and was only about a second back.

At this point Sexton was up to fourth, and was somehow only about six seconds back of Lawrence with nine minutes to go. His pace was startling, and as the laps progressed he inched closer and closer to Lawrence.

Tomac seemed to have settled into Roczen’s pace for a few laps, but you knew he was going to make a push at some point. That came with six minutes to go. Tomac went around Roczen and this time, Roczen wouldn’t be able to respond. Tomac motored away and Roczen’s pace started slowing slightly, allowing Lawrence to get back by. Lawrence started surging at this point and was cutting into Tomac’s lead slightly. Tomac stabilized the gap though and the top three were separated by about two seconds each with a minute to go. On the last lap Lawrence put on a push that put him right on Tomac’s rear wheel, and he even tried to go inside on Tomac in a lefthander. Lawrence backed off last second and Tomac narrowly avoided the pass and took off, not allowing Lawrence to get close again, and took the win. Lawrence took second, with Roczen, Sexton, and Savatgy rounding out the top five.