Illness intensified for 450MX contender during the opening moto.
A depleted Aaron Plessinger has explained his absence from 450MX moto two at RedBud, left ‘empty’ during the middle stages of the opening race while battling illness, and ultimately opting out of the final moto altogether.
Plessinger was up front during the early stages of moto one, on the rear tire of race leaders Hunter and Jett Lawrence (Honda HRC Progressive), before losing touch and battling RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) for the final step on the race podium.
With six minutes plus one lap remaining on the clock, it was then that the 29-year-old would begin to labor, conceding positions to Hampshire, Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing), and teammate Chase Sexton in the closing stages for P6.
“Obviously I didn’t make the second moto at RedBud and that sucked,” recounted Plessinger. “I was doing really well in the first moto, keeping up with Hunter and Jett, and then about 15 to 20 minutes in, my energy levels were just gone.
“I think I have been dealing with a sickness that I tried to keep telling myself wasn’t happening, and it finally caught up to me. I came off the first moto and couldn’t recover. I was sitting there, and my body was just empty – I felt like I would’ve been a danger out on the track if I went back out there, I just had nothing.”
Despite the challenge, Plessinger said that both he and the team will take time to determine the prognosis during the week, however, the number seven confirmed he intends to be back behind the gates at this weekend’s Spring Creek National at Millville.
“Like I said, I think I have been dealing with something that I didn’t want to believe, and I think it’s just caught up to me,” he added. “I don’t know what it is, but we are going to get it figured out, and I will be back on track in Minnesota.”