In Quotebook, a selection of riders detail how their races played out at the fourth round of the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross Championship at Anaheim.

450SX

Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) – Eighth: 
Extremely tough night tonight at A2. I didn’t get a great start and I was pretty buried in the pack early on. I was able to make some passes and get up to around seventh, and then ended up falling backwards a few spots. I was able to get back up, make some more passes and ended up eighth. Definitely not a great night at all, but the only thing we can do now is regroup and try to get better for next weekend in Arizona.

Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM) – Sixth:
I wanted to rebound this weekend and not do what I did last weekend. I was in a decent position off the start and made a mistake, missed a rhythm and lost one or two spots, but I ended up sixth tonight. I had the potential to do a little better but man, it was difficult for me through the whoops, I was losing time there, but the rest of the track I was doing great. Overall, a little bit more consistent Main Event, a little better fight and we move forward to the next round.

Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM) – DNF:
I actually started off pretty good. I felt really good on the bike, had the best qualifying and just felt the most comfortable I have so far. After a solid heat race, I was en route to having a really great night but I didn’t get the greatest jump on the start of the Main and it kind of all went downhill from there. I was in the back battling and then I tried to go for one of the outside passes and ended up smashing a hay bale and landed on the ground. It ended the night for me but nothing is broken or injured too bad, so we’ll be back and ready to rumble in Phoenix

Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Second:
To come away with second tonight was solid. I felt a bit off all day and that led to a few mistakes in the heat race which set me back as far as gate pick. When it came time for the main event, I knew I could put it all together aboard my KX450SR and fight for a win on this track. I made the most of the start and came out of the first turn about fifth. I executed a few really quick passes to get out front and was leading the race until I mistimed that triple-triple line after the finish. I was able to get the rhythm clean the rest of the race and my speed was strong throughout. It’s nice to have a podium finish tonight, I just have a few things to clean up to improve for next weekend.

Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) – Seventh:
All in all, it was a good day. We were having a lot of fun in practice! I felt like it was one of my better practices of the year so far and I was getting comfortable on the bike. I got a really bad start in the Main Event and with how the field is so fast right now, I wasn’t able to get where I wanted to be so seventh was the best finish I could pull off tonight. I’m going to go back to the drawing board, get my starts dialed and we’ll be back in Phoenix and ready to be back on the podium!

Dean Wilson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – Ninth:
My night was definitely an improvement. I just have to keep trying to improve each week and work on my riding, especially my starts. I wouldn’t say I’m totally happy with the result, but it was a solid main event and I’m looking forward to the Triple Crown next weekend!

Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – Fifth:
We were struggling a little bit in practice but we really turned the night around once the gate dropped for racing. In the main event, I got a really good start – we’re slowly starting to get these starts now and I’m really excited about that. I know that we’re P5 but we’re still in the fight and we’ll be ready to go for Phoenix – it’s the Triple Crown baby! I’m excited for this one, it’s one of my favorite races and it’s always a good time. I love the stadium and just love the vibes there, so I’m really looking forward to it.

Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing) – Fourth:
We had a really challenging track, but I was feeling good on the bike, and the lap times were great all day. I finally got a good start in the heat race, which I was really happy about, and finished third. In the main event, I went on the outside, which wasn’t ideal, but I didn’t really have a nice spot on the inside. It was an okay start, but I got pinched in the first turn and was pretty far back in position. Then I just charged the best I could, made many passes, and finished fourth. The bike is good, and I felt strong in the whoops, so there are a lot of positives from today, but after the podium last week, I wish I would have finished on the box again. This season, the competition is tough, so it’s not always easy. I just gave everything I had, and fourth was my position today.

Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing) – First:
It feels great to get this win. It also feels good to get this win for everyone behind me. The team has been working so hard, and what we’ve been able to do and how we’ve been able to improve each weekend is awesome. We’ve just been inching our way forward and fine-tuning every week, so it feels so good to get everyone that result that we all work for. The track was so cool, with really technical rhythm sections, and my motorcycle was so good tonight. I could put it wherever I wanted to – inside, outside – and it was good for the distance, so that’s exciting for us.

Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC) – 13th:
Our weekend was a nightmare. I’ve been struggling lately with my bike setup, just not really getting comfortable. It was a tough one for us but we did decent; when nighttime comes, it seems like we always get our stuff together. I got second in the heat race, and we got the holeshot in the main event. Things were going pretty decent. I struggled with the whoops so that was definitely not my strong point; I almost went down there once, and the same lap I got taken down by Anderson – unfortunately left the door open. Probably not the right turn for him to put on a pass, but obviously it got me and I crashed pretty hard right there. I had to make a stop after that to get all the sand out of my goggles, and our night was pretty much over after that; I could only salvage 13th place, but we never gave up. We’re quite a few points down. It’s a bummer, but I’m looking forward to next weekend to get some consistency in and do some training and riding; I couldn’t really do that last week. Hopefully we’ll head to Phoenix with a bit more confidence and more riding time under my belt.

Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) – Third:
I felt really good tonight. This weekend the whoops section of the track was unpredictable and had a lot of edges, but I feel like I managed them well. The track was good though. I had fun all day. It was a pretty technical track especially with a long set of whoops and a long rhythm section that was pretty tough. It was nice to have a long lap time and not so many laps in the main event though. My bike felt good all day but it’s an ongoing process; I just have to be better. I stalled my bike once but only lost a second or so. Eli and Jason were riding really good, but I expect to be in the mix with the frontrunners this year. Last year I learned a lot so I’m trying not to make those mistakes I made last year. I want to be on the podium every weekend and racing with these guys. I just have to get better for next weekend.

250SX

Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Seventh:
I had an okay start and quickly moved my way to fifth. Most of the race I was in fifth position and just slowly catching up until late in the race when I could see the podium position right there ahead of me. With only a couple of laps left I was really close to third and then Friese crashed in the whoops and I collided with him. It’s unfortunate that we both fell, but my riding is improving and I think we made small improvements overall tonight so I’m looking forward to Glendale next weekend.

Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – Third:
We had a tough day at Anaheim 2, as we just didn’t have the pace. We were kind of struggling from the get-go – a little behind the eightball from the start; we had our work cut out for us. The track was tough during the main event, and everyone was similar in regards to pace. It wasn’t a track that people got fatigued on at all; it felt like the distance was easy on the track tonight, but the track was rough. It was a tough one, but we’re looking to rebound, come back strong and kick Phoenix off with a bang.

Michael Mosiman (TLD Red Bull GasGas) – Second:
I’m stoked to be here! It’s not too often that these things happen and when they do, I’m just going to enjoy it. Such a good race with Christian, he’s riding so good – I learned a thing or two from him and I think he learned a thing or two from me. We had clean racing out there and it was an absolute blast! I’m going to enjoy it tonight and work on some things. I look forward to challenging him all year and see if we can get some more wins.

Christian Craig (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) – First:
The day started out pretty good. The track was tricky and slippery, but I kept the ball rolling. I qualified well and then went into the heat race, had a good start, and battled with my teammate a little bit. I had a good ride in that one and was able to take the win. In the main event, I just focused on myself and clicked off my laps. I had a good battle with another rider and ended up passing him. I’m stoked to get my third win of the season and extend my points lead. We’re going to try and keep it going and not change anything; just keep doing what I’m doing

Nate Thrasher (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) – Fourth:
It was a good day overall. We had a good qualifying and a good heat race; I just made a couple of mistakes that kind of cost me the win. I didn’t get the best start in the main event and had to come from behind. I just didn’t get around people fast enough and got a little tight there at the end. It wasn’t my best ride, but I felt like I had the speed tonight for a podium and was maybe even able to fight for a win. It was a tough race, and I did the best I could, but it’s not where I want to be. We’re going to keep fighting and keep working, and maybe next weekend, go for a podium.

Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – Fifth
It was a what-could-have-been night for me but it was still a step in the right direction. I felt really good but a freak accident happened and I was getting covered in gas, which is not ideal. It is what it is. I’m going to put it behind me, take the positives and carry it into the week of training and we should be back ready to compete for one of those top-three spots next weekend.