Supercross Oakland
Una notte da dimenticare per la Tabella Rossa Ken Roczen. Una violenta caduta avvenuta nella fasi preliminari della gara, nel tratto delle whoops, lo ha costretto a terra ed il suo compagno di squadra Chase Sextoon lo ha colpito sulla spalla e sul casco. Gli esiti dell’impatto ed un altro errore accaduto dopo qualche minuto dallo start del main event, lo hanno relegato ad una gara da comprimario conclusa al tredicesimo posto. Jason Anderson è salito sul gradino piu alto del podio dominando la finale. L’ufficiale Kawasaki, subito tra i protagonisti fin dallo start, ha lasciato il comando al temmate Adam Cianciarulo, autore dell’holeshot, per qualche minuto prima di effettuare il sorpasso decisivo. Con la pista libera Jason ha impresso un ritmo altissimo alla gara, suo il giro veloce, e dopo diciassette passaggi, ha tagliato il finish line con ampio margine sull’altra sorpresa della notte di Oakland; Aaron Plessinger. Il nuovo acquisto del Team Red Bull KTM, dopo una partenza quasi perfetta, ha atteso il calo fisiologico di Cianciarulo (fuori allenamento per il recente infortunio alla spalla) per effettuare il sorpasso che lo ha portato alle spalle di Anderson. Terzo posto per il concreto Justin Barcia che, grazie alla regolarità dei piazzamenti mostrata fino ad oggi, è il nuovo detentore dell’ambita Tabella Rossa. 
Hanno completato le prime sei posizioni Eli Tomac, quarto, Malcolm Stewart e Dylan Ferrandis. Prestazione farraginosa per il campione in carica Cooper webb che ha corso una gara incolore conclusa al settimo posto. Al termine della seconda prova guida la classifica generale Justin Barcia a 42 punti seguito dal vincitore del main event Jason Anderson, e Cooper Webb, entrambi a 39 punti.
Risultati
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AMA 450 Championship Points (After two rounds)
1. Justin Barcia 42 points
2. Jason Anderson 39 points
3. Cooper Webb 39 points
4. Aaron Plessinger 37 points
5. Ken Roczen 36 points
6. Eli Tomac 36 points
7. Malcolm Stewart 34 points
8. Marvin Musquin 34 points
9. Chase Sexton 32 points
10. Joey Savatgy 27 points
Jason Anderson, Monster Energy Kawasaki: “You know, since I won that championship in 2018, it’s been a roller coaster for me mentally. Last year was a tough one for me. I just wasn’t performing, and I was thankful that Kawasaki signed me up and they gave me a breath of fresh air and they gave me an opportunity. But most of all, last year I lost my grandma, and she was there for my last win. For me, last year was really tough for me because she’s been at all of my races, and I’m bummed that my grandpa Buster isn’t here with me right now, but this is for him. I know he’s at home watching proudly and my grandma’s looking down on me. So, it’s been a minute, it’s been tough. It’s tested me and as much as I don’t show it, this one feels so damn good, and I’m so excited. I want to keep the ball rolling, so let’s go!”
Aaron Plessinger, Red Bull KTM: “I don’t know where I was last week. I was in a different mindset. I regrouped this week, and it was a good week. We did some testing and the whole crew and I spent some time at the track and man did it turn it around. I’m stoked. My second podium ever in the 450SX class and I can’t thank these guys enough.”
Justin Barcia Try Lee GasGas: “I had no idea (I would be the points leader). I was just riding my own race. I got a little tight in the middle and I was able to regroup well. I saw Eli coming and I knew I needed to put the hammer down. I really wanted those two in front of me, but they rode awesome. I want to dedicate this race to Fed (Ryan Fedorow). He unfortunately passed away last week. I feel like he would be proud of me tonight. He worked hard and was a good dude, and it was a great race.”
TRADUZIONE
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Seconda vittoria consecutiva per Christian Craig. Allo start l’ufficiale Star Racing Yamaha si è inserito nel gruppo di testa portando immediatamente pressione all’autore dell’holeshot Shimoda. Dopo pochi istanti il pilota del Team Pro Circuit ha commesso un errore facendo spegnere per un attimo la moto facilitando cosi a Craig il sorpasso. Come era lecito attendersi, dopo questo sorpasso, la lotta per la vittoria si è immediatamente conclusa. Troppo consistente l’azione e la velocità di Craig per qualsiasi altro pilota in pista. Con un considerevole gap, ha concluso al secondo posto Hunter Lawrence, autore di una pregevole recupero. Ultimo gradino del podio per Seth Hammaker. Hanno completato la top five il velocissimo e altrettanto impreciso Michael Mosiman e Nate Thrasher. Solo sesto Jo Shimoda nonostante l’ottima velocità mostrata, fortemente penalizzato da banali errori. In classifica generale Tabella Rossa a punteggio pieno per Christian Craig seguito, con otto lunghezze di ritardo, da Hunter Lawrence e Seth Hammaker.
Risultati 250SX Main Event
1 Christian Craig 26
2 Hunter Lawrence 23
3 Seth Hammaker 21
4 Michael Mosiman 19
5 Nate Thrasher 18
6 Vince Fries 17
7 Jo Shimoda 16
8 Garrett Marchbanks 15
9 Chris Blose 14
10 Robbie Wageman 13
AMA West Coast 250 Championship Points (After two rounds)
1. Christian Craig 52
2. Hunter Lawrence 44
3. Seth Hammaker 44
4. Michael Mosiman 36
5. Vince Friese 35
6. Garrett Marchbanks 34
7. Jo Shimoda 32
8. Nate Thrasher 29
9. Robbie Wageman 28
10. Chris Blose 26
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Christian Craig Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha: “It’s always cool to win and to do it two weeks in a row is something special and something I’m very thankful for. It’s cool to start off the season like this. I couldn’t do it without my family and my kids back at home. I know Jagger’s watching. My wife here and my mechanic and my whole team. I have a good support group and people that push me every day to get me to where I am. But yeah, it was a great race. I got a good start in the main and got in behind Jo Shimoda and then he stalled it here before the whoops and man after that I just clicked off my laps. The track got really tricky. I had a couple sketchy moments in the rhythm sections, but other than that I just managed the race.”
Seth Hammaker, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki: “It was a solid night here in Oakland. I’m going to take it and learn from it. I’m not like super pumped with how I rode tonight, but I’m glad to be back on the box and honestly just being up on the box each weekend and putting myself in a good position. But yeah, we definitely need to start clicking off those wins and I’m going to work hard to try to get it done next weekend in San Diego.”
Hunter Lawrence, Honda HRC: “I’m not stoked. I rode great but just took myself out of it with the start. I just didn’t get a good enough start so it’s all on me. We’ll go back and keep working and hopefully give ourselves a better chance from the get-go next weekend.”
TRADUZIONE
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(Image courtesy Supercrosslive.com, Star Yamaha, Monster Energy, Kawasaki, Swapmotolivem Foxmoto, Amasupercross)
