The determination to regain winning form was evident from Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton following RedBud, conceding ‘I’ve gotta be better than what I was today’ as he looks to build on third overall in his return to competition.

Following 2-2 results to commence the Pro Motocross season at Fox Raceway, the 450SX champion was sidelined from rounds two through four after sustaining a concussion and being diagnosed with mono in the week following Pala.

Sexton made his return at the fifth stop on this year’s outdoor calendar and qualified second fastest behind teammate and red plate-holder Jett Lawrence, later working his way forward to finish P2 in moto one, 18s from the number 18. He completed the day with P3 in moto two, behind second-placed Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing).

“It’s definitely good to be back,” Sexton reflected. “This race is super-special for me, only being two hours from this place. The fans, they were yelling the whole track, no matter what position I was in. That was awesome.

“Obviously, it wasn’t the result that I wanted today, I didn’t get great starts and I ended up falling over the second moto which is on me – I’ve just gotta be better than what I was today.

“I knew coming in that I have got to build back to where I was in Supercross and try and get back to that point. That’s the reason I came back, and hopefully, we can get there by the end of the year.”

With his absence from Hangtown, Thunder Valley and High Point, Sexton is 10th in the 450MX standings. However, he crucially regained the lead in the SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) from Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who did not line up at RedBud.