2020 Atlanta Supercross | Race Report

250 Heat One

The first start in Atlanta went to GEICO Honda’s Jeremy Martin, with teammate Jo Shimoda and Jimmy Decotis right alongside. Shane McElrath quickly began making passes but got caught up with Decotis and nearly went down. That allowed rookie Pierce Brown to get in the mix and the TLD KTM racer went from outside the top-5 into second place position in just a lap. Decotis had some problems and was forced to race defensively as he had some bent hand controls and had dropped into the last transfer position. With just over a minute left on the clock, Shane Mcelrath caught the rear wheel of Brown and was able to execute a nice pass for second place. Club MX racer Enzo Lopes moved into the fourth place position toward the end of the heat race.  When the checkered flag flew, it was Jeremy Martin who took the first heat race win of the night. 

250 Heat Two

The second heat race start of the night went to Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s RJ Hampshire, with Chase Sexton right behind him. After a few laps, RJ made a slight mistake which allowed Chase Sexton to make the pass for the lead. Following the pass for the lead, Jordon Smith began pressuring RJ for second place and was able to make the pass a lap later. However, RJ Hampshire managed to get back around the Kawasaki rider and re-enter second place. Back in the pack, Josh Hill began making passes inside the top-10, as he got around Jordan Bailey for sixth. With just two laps to go, Jordon Smith made another jab at RJ for second place and was able to execute the pass for the final time. As the checkered flag came out, Chase Sexton took the 250cc heat race win.

250 LCQ

The upper hand in the 250cc LCQ went to Grant Harlan, as he snagged the holeshot just ahead of Lance Kobush. Meanwhile, Jimmy Decotis sat in sixth place at the end of the first lap, outside of a transfer position. A few laps later, Decotis made the pass into fourth place and secured a ticket into the main event. With two laps to go, Soubeyras began pressuring Kobush for second place, but Lance Kobush was able to hold onto the position. After a great start and flawless race, Grant Harlan took the LCQ win.

250 Main Event

The upper hand in the 250cc main event went to RJ Hampshire, as he snagged the holeshot just in front of Chase Sexton and Shane McElrath. Sexton and Mcelrath immediately began pressuring Hampshire for the lead, as Jeremy Martin sat behind the top-three in fourth. After just two laps, Shane Mcelrath made the pass on Sexton for second, but Sexton was able to respond almost immediately and take the position back. RJ Hampshire missed a rhythm lane when Sexton did not, allowing Sexton to close up significantly and the battle for the lead was on. A few laps later, RJ made a minor mistake by casing a triple which gave Chase just enough to take a jab for the lead, Sexton took Hampshire wide and the two made contact. Chase Sexton walked away with the lead and RJ had to settle with second place. Just a few laps later, RJ made a mistake exiting the sand but was able to hold on and ride it out. Unfortunately, Jeremy Martin hit the same exact line just behind RJ, got kicked, and was unable to save it. Shane McElrath caught up to the rear wheel of RJ and began pressuring for second place. Meanwhile, Jeremy Martin was in the pits as the team worked on the rear of his Honda following his crash. Jo Shimoda and Garrett Marchbanks were battling for fifth place when Jo took Garrett wide to execute the pass. As the checkered flag waved, Chase Sexton took the win in Atlanta and took the points lead. 

450 Heat One

The first 450cc start of the night went to HRC Honda’s Ken Roczen, with Jason Anderson just behind him. Justin Brayton quickly made the move into third place, with the Monster Energy Yamaha duo behind him. Just outside of the top-5, Malcolm Stewart started pressuring Ryan Breece for sixth place. Further back in the pack, Tyler Bowers and Cunningham were trading lines and battling over the final transfer position for a few laps, but Bowers was able to secure the position. And another Honda crossed the checkers first, as Ken Roczen took the first 450cc heat race win. 

450 Heat Two

The final heat race start of the night went to Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac, with Martin Davalos and Justin Hill just behind. Davalos got a little sideways in the sand, allowing Hill to make the pass for second place. With a few minutes left on the clock, Cooper Webb closed in on Martin Davalos and third place. It took a lap or so of pressuring Martin, but Cooper Webb was ultimately able to make the pass for third place. Meanwhile, Eli Tomac sat nearly 10-seconds ahead of Justin Hill and the rest of the field and was able to grab the heat race win. 

450 LCQ

The 450cc LCQ holeshot went to James Weeks, with Lesher just behind him in second. Kyle Cunningham immediately began making passes in hopes of entering a transfer position. The H.E.P Suzuki teammates of Enticknap and Cunningham began battling for the final transfer position, while also trying to get around Herrlein for third. Both Suzuki’s were able to move past both Herrlein and Lesher, securing them transfer positions into the main event. Weeks was able to lead the LCQ race from beginning to end and take the win.

450 Main Event

The 450cc main event start in Atlanta went to HRC Honda’s Ken Roczen, just ahead of Martin Davalos. Eli Tomac, Jason Anderson, and Cooper Webb all sat outside of the top-5 and had some work to do. While Jason Anderon and Eli Tomac battle for position, the two also have to deal with Justin Barcia. Both Anderson and Barcia pass Eli Tomac but Tomac immediately fires back and took eighth place from Bam Bam. Tomac went to make a pass on Blake Baggett but took both of them down, sending Tomac from eighth to fifteenth. Meanwhile, Ken Roczen sat comfortably in the lead, over 5-seconds ahead of Davalos in second and the rest of the field. Jason Anderson began making moves inside of the top-5 when he made a mistake and hung-up both himself and his teammate. Cooper Webb made the pass on Aaron Plessinger for eighth place and then began working on Dean Wilson. Back up front, MCR’s Justin Hill and Vince Friese remained in third and fourth, just ahead of Justin Barcia. Barcia began pressuring Friese for fourth, just as Friese began challenging his teammate Justin Hill for third. As it began to look like a three-rider battle, Jason Anderson made his way into the battle as well. Justin Barcia made the pass on Friese, and just a lap later launched past Hill off of the wall for third place. Jason Anderson checked up in a corner and stalled, causing Friese and Wilson to go down, also allowing Cooper Webb to pass them all. A lap later, Anderson was able to take Webb wide and make the pass for fifth place. Justin Barcia caught up to the rear wheel of Davalos and the battle for second place was on. Barcia rocketed by Davalos and made the pass for second look easy.  Further back in the pack, Jason Anderson and Justin Hill were trading lines in a battle for fourth, just as Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb began to battle for sixth. Hill took Anderson wide, allowing both Webb and Tomac to get by Anderson. Half of a lap later, Cooper Webb made the pass on Hill for fourth and Tomac followed. Webb and Tomac then set their eyes on Martin Davalos ahead. With one lap to go, Webb and Tomac caught Davalos and began taking jabs at the position. Cooper Webb crossed under Davalos and took away the position, as did Eli Tomac. Ken Roczen crossed the finish line first with a quiet but dominating victory!