Image: Octopi Media.

Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger has admitted that he ‘can’t be mad’ at 450SX rival Justin Barcia after late-race contact during the Indianapolis main event on Saturday night left the number seven on the ground.

Both riders got off to strong starts in the main event, with Plessinger steadily eating into the gap Barcia held throughout the race. The two would eventually cross paths as four minutes remained on the clock, with Plessinger attempting a pass for fourth.

A bold move around the outside of the notoriously aggressive Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing rider Barcia resulted in Plessinger clipping his rear tire, and falling down in the process.

“I should have been more aware,” Plessinger reflected post-race. “I knew he was on the inside of me and… it’s Justin [Barcia], that’s just the way he rides, and no shame to him for that. I should have been more aware, should’ve ridden the turn a little bit more higher, and I can’t be mad at that.”

The duo spend their weekdays training together at the Aldon Baker-led Baker’s Factory program, with Plessinger declaring that they’ll squash any awkwardness from the clash before moving on.

“We practice together during the week, so we’ll go back and hash it out, but I can’t be mad at that,” he added. In the end, Barcia took the checkered flag in P4, with ‘The Cowboy’ managing to hold on for a fifth-place result in a continuation of his mid-season turnaround.

Monster Energy Supercross riders now have one weekend off, before the season recommences for the second half in Birmingham, Alabama, on March 22.