Another first-time winner in 2024, and a changing of the 450SX red plate holder again, there were a lot of storylines to take away from round six of the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross Championship in Glendale and we’ve compiled a number of comments from different riders for this week’s Quotebook feature.

450SX

Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – Ninth:
I did what I could tonight to salvage points toward the championship after hurting my hand this week. The week was rough and I wasn’t even sure that I’d be able to race this weekend, but we got through the day and I’m just grateful that we have a scheduled weekend off coming up next week, so that should really help the healing process a lot. The way the results went tonight, I didn’t lose too many points, so I’m still right in the title fight.

Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – 10th:
I’m just really annoyed about dropping it in the main event! I was riding good all day, holeshotted the heat and then went wire-to-wire for the win. Entered the main feeling good, got a good start there too and was right behind Kenny [Roczen], putting the pressure on, and then had a bonehead move where I tucked the front. The field was still bunched up at that time, so I went back to P22 and came back to 10th. This one stings, but we’re still in the championship hunt heading into Arlington.

Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – Eighth:
Glendale went fairly well for me. Qualifying was decent with P6, then we finished with P2 in the heat race, which felt really good to be up there. Main event, not a great start, so I just had to pick my way through the field and got all the way back up to P8. My riding was great, although you need to get the start in this class, so we’ll work on those heading into Arlington.

Christian Craig (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – 12th:
Glendale started off well, I felt comfortable right away with the layout and big rhythm sections. I struggled a little with arm strength today for some reason, which was frustrating, so this week off comes at a good time. Feeling more comfortable, had more fun, so I feel the improvements are coming over the break.

Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – Third:
We had a couple of times tonight where my brain turned off, but I just focused on hitting my marks and keeping my lap times consistent down the stretch. I know I’m not the fastest at this type of conditions, so I kind of just take it as it is. I think coming into the race with the attitude of being patient and understanding where my limits were helped me get into a calm mindset for the night.

Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – Fifth:
Really good weekend overall—a lot of pros and positives to take away. We’ve been working really hard during the week, so it’s cool to see that stuff pay off. I’m really looking forward to this small pause in the race schedule, to continue building and getting stronger.

Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Second:
This weekend went well for me! I was able to qualify my KX450SR on the pole which was nice. That definitely helped with my confidence heading into the night show. My heat race was decent, but I was able to get up to second which was nice for a gate pick in the main. In the main I was riding really well and then I got up to second, was by myself, and was just able to put in my laps and get on the podium, so overall a solid weekend here in Glendale. Huge thank you to all of the Monster Energy Kawasaki team for this success.

Ken Roczen (Progressive Ecstar Suzuki) – First:
We finally did it! I struggled a little throughout the day with how hard the track was, and I didn’t feel that ready for the races. But the heat race was unreal, we had awesome speed. And then having the first gate position for the main was good, I hooked up off the start really well. I may have shut off the throttle just a tiny bit too early, but I could sneak around the inside, and I was leading front to finish. I still can’t believe we pulled it off. We did almost perfect laps and were able to put a comfortable gap on second place and just brought it home. This is an amazing night for us and the team. We rode amazingly, felt good in the main, and it was finally awesome to put the bad luck in the first turn to the side, get it done, and also close up a little bit in the championship.

Shane McElrath (Twisted Tea Suzuki) – 14th:
Overall it was a good race day for me today. In the heat race, I had a really good start, but was just kind of sleeping for the first little bit, I just didn’t have the intensity everybody else had. Ended up having to go to the LCQ and rode a lot better there. I felt good on the bike and ended up getting the LCQ win. In the main, I didn’t have a very good start, it was a bummer because my starts have been good. I had to get to work from the beginning. I felt good the whole race on the bike and my Suzuki was working well. I ended up making my way back to 14th and had some good passes. Yeah, it was a good main through to the end.

Kyle Chisholm (Twisted Tea Suzuki) – 19th:
Going to the night show I felt pretty confident. I didn’t have the best start in my heat race, but I made some really good passes. I ended up tenth, but I am happy with the riding. The LCQ is always nerve-wracking, but I ripped the holeshot. My teammate Shane McElrath ended up getting by me two or three laps into it. We went 1-2, which was awesome. So I had a good couple of races and then in the main event, I just didn’t ride that well. My Suzuki was great, everything was good, I just couldn’t get into a groove. But as always, we’ll take the positives. And we have a week off, so I’ll let my body rest up and recover a little bit, get over this little sickness I’ve had for a couple of weeks, and then we’ll get back to work. I have a few ideas to work on the bike’s setup and keep making it even better.

Derek Drake (BarX Suzuki) – 21st:
I had a decent heat race at Glendale and got through to the main event. Unfortunately, in the main, I tweaked my back pretty bad; I was in some pain and was unable to push forward. I’m looking forward to a weekend off and to come back strong and healthy.

250SX

Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – Seventh:
It was a good day for me here in Glendale, qualifying fourth and then fighting my way into fourth for the heat race also. The main event was good also, started in 10th and charged my way to fourth, before a couple of small mistakes with my timing on this big track put me back to seventh in the end. I’m happy with my day and am ready to get back to work during the break!

RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – First:
Glendale was awesome. The ending was especially awesome, but I felt really good at the beginning of the day, and then had a big case in the first timed qualifying. I was in a lot of pain from that, although I knew I needed to pull it together for the main, and that was when I rode my best. I made a couple of quick passes, then saw I had a bit of a gap after the others made mistakes, and just managed it from there. Really stoked and am looking forward to some time off before Seattle.

Jo Shimoda (Team Honda HRC) – Third:
I wasn’t super-sharp in the first four rounds with a new bike and a new team. Even though it wasn’t showing, everyone behind me was working hard at the test track. It sucks when you don’t have the result, but I’m sure we’ll get back there. I’m just looking forward to getting back to work over the break.

Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Second:
All in all, it was a strong day for me. Qualifying went well, securing the second spot, and I clinched the win in my heat race. In the main event, I faced a bit of sluggishness in the initial five minutes, likely due to some crazy stuff within the top three. Fortunately, I made my way through the chaos unscathed and ultimately secured the second position. So, it turned out to be a successful night for me and the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team and I’m thrilled to leave with the red plate.

Jordon Smith (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) – Fourth:
It was a great start to the day. I qualified first and won my heat race. I got a good start in the main, made the pass on Levi (Kitchen), and then made a mistake and went off track. He got me back, and I passed him back again. Then I tucked the front in the sweeper after the sand; it was super hard-packed and slick. I got back up and was coming behind Levi after that triple. There was a rider down in the rhythm section, and the yellow lights were flashing, but there was nothing red – no red lights, no red flag, no red cross. It looked like he was committed to jumping it, and at the last second, he backed off and then he also rolled the tabletop. I was already committed to three-on, and there was really nothing that I could do. It was just a bummer deal. I felt like I had that race won. I felt like I was the fastest guy on track tonight, but I’ve got to clean up my mistakes. We’ve got a lot of time now to get ready.

Anthony Bourdon (BarX Suzuki) – 12th:
I was not feeling comfortable on the track. It was very technical, and I am not used to that. I am still learning every weekend and yesterday’s ‘learning’ was what I did. I finished 12th in the main after starting last because I broke my fork guard just before the start. I am incredibly happy to finish these first five races with a P7 in the championship and with no injuries. I’ll return to France for a few weeks before coming back more motivated than ever for the last races of the season. I want to say a big thank you to BarX Suzuki for believing in me every time.

Max Miller (BarX Suzuki) – 15th:
I was happy to get into the main through the heat race. The main was pretty uneventful for me. I ran smooth laps and finished 15th.