Plessinger Wrangles First-Career 450SX Class Win in San Diego
Thrasher sweats out victory in 250SX West class
The sold-out crowd at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego was treated to an intense night of bar-banging action and career-defining wins, while — for the second-consecutive week — the racers battled through a mud-soaked track during the third round of the 2024 AMA Supercross season.
After taking control of the lead late in the first lap of the main event, Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger cruised to his first-career win in the 450SX class and into the top of the class standings through three rounds of the season.
“It feels really, really good.” Plessinger said. “It was a really good race, I just got a good lead and rode my own race, and stayed up. It seemed like we were lapping a lot of people, so it feels good and I’m ready to do it again next weekend.”
Two-time AMA Supercross champion and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb finished second, while Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia rounded out the podium.
With the win, Plessinger surged to 60 total points on the season and captured the No. 1 spot in the 450SX overall standings. Red Bull KTM’s Chase Sexton — the defending AMA Supercross champion — and rookie up-and-comer Jett Lawrence of Team Honda HRC, follow Plessinger in the standings with 59 and 56 points, respectively.
While Plessinger had little trouble en route to the biggest win of his career, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher slugged out a win in the 250SX West class in a back-and-forth affair which saw several riders jockey for the lead throughout the race.
Despite leading just four laps during the race, Thrasher claimed his first victory of the season — and the fifth of his career — by holding off a spirited effort from Muc-Off FXR Club MX Yamaha’s Garrett Marchbanks and class leader Jordon Smith of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing, who extended his overall lead with a podium finish.
As Thrasher battled wet conditions throughout the day at Snapdragon Stadium, he noted that the track fell into place prior to the 250 West SX Main Event, which allowed him to ride more freely during the race.
“[The track] was kind of coming around throughout the night; the dirt was starting to grip back up… I was just trying to do everything, like, ride it like it was dry,” Thrasher said. “That was kind of my goal going into the main event. It was tougher to ride cautious than it was to go out there and ride all-out. So that was my goal for the night: in the main, just go out there and ride all-out and whatever happens, happens, and it was good.”
Thrasher’s win lifted him to 12th in the overall 250SX West standings, while Smith remained atop the leaderboard with 67 total points. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen remained in second place with 59 points, while Marchbanks surged into the top three with his podium finish, capturing 57 points through three rounds.
The 2024 AMA Supercross season returns to Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday, with opening ceremonies set for 8 p.m. The event will be streamed live on Peacock.