Sexton Shines Under the Sun in Atlanta
Chase Sexton snags his third win of the year, Hunter Lawrence makes it four straight 250SX East wins
April 17, 2023
By Keaton Maisano
Round 13 of the 2023 AMA Supercross season featured unusual daytime action, and in the end, the results were just as abnormal as the sport’s two title contenders both missed the 450SX podium for just the second time this year.
Despite not taking the holeshot, Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton led all 15 laps at Atlanta Motor Speedway to collect his third win of the year and cut his points deficit in the 450SX standings to 17. In the 250SX East bout, Team Honda HRC was victorious yet again when Hunter Lawrence notched his sixth victory of the year to tighten his hold on the title race.
Sexton, who sits in third place in the 450SX standings, fended off Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia and Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen for the top spot on the podium.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb — who are separated by just six points in the 450SX title struggle — were unable to take advantage of the other’s poorer performance, as both Tomac (fifth) and Webb (fourth) missed the podium.
In the 450SX standings, Tomac leads the way with 292 points. Webb (286) and Sexton (275) sit behind the 2022 AMA Supercross champion with four events remaining.
In the 250SX East main event, Hunter Lawrence lit the torches to extend his lead in the season standings to 45 points.
The action continues Saturday in East Rutherford, N.J., for the first East/West Showdown of the year.
