Racers and their teams had to wait out a lightning delay and deal with a downpour, before battling extremely muddy conditions at round 14 of the AMA Supercross Championships.
But, in the end, it was the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing Team and their 450cc rider Justin Barcia who made the most of the racing in the premier open class.
Judging by the third place and second-place finishes at the previous rounds in Glendale and Atlanta, Barcia and the team had high hopes heading into East Rutherford, NJ, located just outside New York City.
Thunderstorms caused a delay for the scheduled start of the main events, and a steady downpour made a quagmire of the track.
But, after getting a strong start out of the gate, and sizing up the leader for the first six laps, Barcia and his MC450F Factory Edition bike took over the lead and stretched it to a 14-second advantage at the finish.
Colorado’s Eli Tomac (Yamaha) finished second on the rain-drenched night, while Germany’s Ken Roczen (Suzuki) found enough track through the standing puddles to take home third place in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Britain’s Max Anstie (Honda) took his career-first win over the top racers from both regional divisions in the 250 class.
Justin Barcia: “I don’t remember practice. I don’t remember the heat race. But I remember that main event! I got out there and was battling with the boys, took the lead, rode away, and took the win.
“It was very special. The team crushed it, mud-prepped quick, and it was an awesome race. I don’t really know what else to say because I’m very happy!”
The next event, round 15, is set for April 29 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
450SX Class Results:
1 Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS
2 Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha
3 Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
4 Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
5 Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM
6 Shane McElrath, Oakland, Fla., Suzuki
7 Kevin Moranz, Topeka, Kans., KTM
8 Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., Yamaha
9 Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM
10 Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Honda
450SX Class Championship Standings:
1 Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (315)
2 Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (304)
3 Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (294)
4 Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (265)
5 Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki (259)
6 Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (225)
7 Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (213)
8 Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (155)
9 Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM (154)
10 Christian Craig, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna (150)
East/West Showdown Results:
1 Max Anstie, Cairo, Ga., Honda (East)
2 Jett Lawrence, Zephyrhills, Fla., Honda (West)
3 Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (East)
4 Max Vohland, Granite Bay, Calif., KTM (West)
5 Enzo Lopes, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha (West)
6 Haiden Deegan, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (East)
7 Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., Kawasaki (West)
8 Cullin Park, Clermont, Fla., Honda (East)
9 Jo Shimoda, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki (East)
10 Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Kawasaki (East)
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings:
1 Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (198)
2 Haiden Deegan, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (149)
3 Max Anstie, Cairo, Ga., Honda (148)
4 Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha (120)
5 Jordon Smith, Ochlocknee, Ga., Yamaha (120)
6 Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Kawasaki (117)
7 Jeremy Martin, Rochester, Minn., Yamaha (111)
8 Cullin Park, Clermont, Fla., Honda (96)
9 Tom Vialle, Murrieta, Calif., KTM (95)
10 Coty Schock, Dover, Del., Honda (83)
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings:
1 Jett Lawrence, Zephyrhills, Fla., Honda (176)
2 RJ Hampshire, Minneola, Fla., Husqvarna (137)
3 Enzo Lopes, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha (118)
4 Levi Kitchen, Havana, Fla., Yamaha (112)
5 Max Vohland, Granite Bay, Calif., KTM (104)
6 Cameron McAdoo, Sioux City, Iowa, Kawasaki (101)
7 Mitchell Oldenburg, Godley, Tex., Honda (99)
8 Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS (98)
9 Cole Thompson, Brigden, Ont., Yamaha (73)
10 Derek Kelley, Riverside, Calif., KTM (70)
Photo courtesy GasGas
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