News 18 Feb 2023

Honda's Sexton and Lawrence top Oakland qualifying

Leading red riders pace all four timed sessions in Oakland.

Chase Sexton qualifies for the postponed 2023 Supercross race in Oakland's RingCentral Coliseum.

Image: Octopi Media.

Maintaining a streak that dates back to January’s San Diego round, Chase Sexton was the fastest 450SX qualifier for the Oakland Monster Energy Supercross round in 2023, while Jett Lawrence led upon the return of 250SX West.

Sexton lapped the RingCentral Coliseum track aboard his Team Honda HRC-prepared Honda CRF450R in 1:05.771s during the second timed qualifying outing of the postponed Oakland event to secure the top spot.

Seeking redemption after a controversial race last time out in Tampa, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson set the second-fastest time, 0.439s off the pace of Sexton, who was the only rider to lap within the 65s range.

Monster Energy Yamaha rider Eli Tomac was fifth in the first session and third the second time out, 0.822s back from Sexton but 0.691s clear of Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) in fourth.

Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) landed fifth on the combined qualifying results as he looks to back up his Tampa win from a week ago. Christian Craig (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), Colt Nichols (Team Honda HRC), Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas), Benny Bloss, and Dean Wilson (Fire Power Honda) comprised the remainder of the top 10, with Ken Roczen next in 11th aboard his Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki.

Jett Lawrence laps the 2023 Oakland Supercross track.

Image: Octopi Media.

The return to action for the western regional 250SX group saw Lawrence claim the fastest laps in both timed qualifying sessions, once over Enzo Lopes (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha) and later above RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna).

While 0.741s off Lawrence, Hampshire’s best lap was good enough for second on the combined results, with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo quick enough for third.

The most recent 250SX West winner Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) was fourth quickest over TLD Red Bull GasGas rider Pierce Brown, who completed the top five.

Participating in his first Supercross since 2014, Australian Matt Moss took his BarX Suzuki to the sixth overall position in qualifying, benefitting from a fresher racetrack as a member of the B group.

Lopes was next in seventh ahead of Derek Kelley (AEO Powersports), Mitchell Oldenburg (Smartop MotoConcepts Racing Honda), and Cole Thompson (Team Solitaire Heartbeat Hot Sauce Yamaha) in the top 10. Robbie Wageman (BarX Suzuki) and Maximus Vohland (Red Bull KTM) were next in 11th and 12th.

After leading a significant portion of one of the Triple Crown races at Anaheim 2, ClubMX’s Phil Nicoletti crashed in the opening timed qualifying and did not participate in the second. As a result, the veteran rider failed to qualify for the night show but will sit out regardless due to injury.

Detailed results

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