A motivated Chase Sexton left it all on-track in Tampa, with his charge towards victory undone by a costly mistake through the whoops while trailed by eventual race winner Cooper Webb.

In the 450SX main event at Raymond James Stadium, Sexton launched to the lead early and maintained position at the front of the field for the majority of the race while the gap fluctuated to Webb in tow.

However, disaster struck in the closing stages for the Team Honda HRC rider, falling through the whoops and relinquishing the lead to the former 450SX champion. Despite the error, Sexton was able to remount and finish P2, but it was a disappointing case of what could have been for the number 23.

“I got off the track and my dad was ripping me because I didn’t go to the left side, that’s where Hunter [Lawrence] was going, but I went over there after I fell and I got sideways again,” Sexton recalled. “The whoops were slick and when we lose traction that’s where I feel like we still struggle a little bit.

“I honestly thought he [Cooper Webb] was jumping them, I didn’t know he was skimming them the whole time so I was just trying to get down that main line and be consistent. I had some really good passes, and some really bad ones. They were tough whoops and now going back and looking – I went and walked over there – I probably should have moved to the left. They were bigger, but even. Like I said, it’s a learning game and it’s over and done with now, so all we can do is focus on the future.”

It was not the first mistake Sexton has made in the crucial stages of a main event, with such moments throughout his 450SX career costing him opportunities for wins and top-three finishes. That said, this has been his strongest start to a premier-class Supercross campaign to date, and the CRF450R rider has been able to minimize points lost in the instances he has fallen or been brought down this year.

“It’s unfortunately been a bit of an ongoing thing, but like I said, I’m going to put my best self out there for the whole main event and not let him go by me,” he added. “I had a few close moments in the whoops prior to that one, which obviously bit me, so yeah, I was giving it my all and that’s all I can do. I was really locked in and focused on what was going on in front of me, had a few bad runs in the sand, I think he [Webb] did too.

“Other than that I was really hitting my marks, I was doing the dragon’s back well, linking corners together, overall just wasn’t meant to be. We have 12 more races, so we have got a lot more tries at it and we are in a good spot, I’m going to put myself out there and give it everything I have, every time.”

Just two points separate Sexton from red plate-holder Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – who was fifth on the night –  as Monster Energy Supercross moves to Oakland for its next round this Saturday.