Wire-to-wire victory for the 18-year-old rookie.
Image: Octopi Media.
After being forced to go to the last chance qualifier, rookie Nate Thrasher (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) took a wire-to-wire victory in the main event for his career-first win in Monster Energy Supercross in Atlanta.
Rain swept through the Atlanta area, soaking the track at Atlanta Motor Speedway and canceling all but one of the timed qualifying sessions for the day, riders prepared for a muddy night in the red Georgia clay.
When the gate dropped on the main event, it was LCQ winner Thrasher emerging at the front and never looking back, eventually taking the win by over 11 seconds.
Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) worked his way through the pack to finish second, securing the runner-up spot after Garrett Marchbanks (Club MX Yamaha) crashed out of the podium chances. Cooper’s night was marred by a massive crash in the heat race, which resulted in some minor injuries for him to deal with in the main.
Cooper’s title rival Cameron McAdoo had a solid day that ended with a third-place finish. The Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider took the top spot in qualifying for the first time this season and leaves round 13 just four points back from Cooper in the championship standings.
Seth Hammaker (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) continued his solid rookie season with a fourth-place on the night, while 2021 Kicker Arenacross champion Kyle Peters put his Phoenix Honda in the top five.
Mitchell Harrison (Muc-Off Honda) ran inside the top five for much of the race and was eventually shuffled back to sixth late in the race.
Championship hopeful Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) found himself on the ground in turn one of the main event creating a mountain of work for himself early on. He salvaged seventh place on the night after winning his heat race.
A crash-filled afternoon for Jalek Swoll ended with an eighth on the night with Pierce Brown (TLD Red Bull GasGas) making his return to action for ninth on the day. The final spot inside the top 10 went to Coty Schock (FXR Chaparral Honda).
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