A late crash while on target for his elusive first-career 450SX victory was a tough one to take for Aaron Plessinger in Detroit, going on to deliver an emotive recollection post-race.

Qualifying ninth quickest at Ford Field, Plessinger overcame Indianapolis winner Ken Roczen (Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki) to finish second in heat two behind Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton.

A fast start in the main event saw the number seven slot into second before swiftly taking the lead from Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki). Plessinger rode solid at the head of the pack until just before the final lap when his right foot got caught while standing through a rut, causing him to go down. He was classified 13th.

“That one hurts, that one hurts a lot,” Plessinger said. “I was riding so good and, man, I didn’t stand up in that rut the whole moto – I sat down and put my foot out… The one time I think it’s alright to stand up, it catches my foot and rips me right off the bike. I couldn’t believe it, flying through the air like that and I just tried to tuck, because it was a hard hit.

“I tried to get back up – I probably could have finished – but man, that hurts. You know, get back up on the saddle and I’ll get back up there in Seattle. I love it there, so don’t count me out, I’m not done yet. I was riding so good, I’m so proud of my riding and I love these fans. I could hear them the whole way!

“You know, it happens, I’d like to say a lot of other words but I can’t say them on TV. We’ll be back with a vengeance. My starts are good, I’m good, my fitness is good… I’ve just gotta stay on the bike next time. Thank you to the fans, I wish I could have won it, but we’ll get them next year!”

Plessinger will have the opportunity for redemption this Sunday at Seattle, with Lumen Field marking round 11 of the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross Championship.