Geico Honda Anaheim 2 Race Report

Courtesy of Geico Honda

Anaheim, CA (January 20, 2018) – Angel Stadium hosted Monster Energy Supercross’ first-ever TripleCrown event, using three unequal-length main events to create overall results for the race. GEICO Honda’s 250SX pilots Christian Craig and Chase Sexton were in the battle, with Craig landing third overall via 2-3-5 scores. Sexton overcame a crash and last-place start in race one to go 15-8-3 for eighth overall. Sexton also led half of the final 250SX race. In 450SX, Jeremy Martin dealt with plenty of bar-banging in the aggressive short-race 450SX format. He ended up 12th overall.

Craig’s podium followed a pair of fifth-place finishes to start the season. He wants more.

“Yeah, I’m not happy,” said Craig. “I’m not going to complain about fifth [place finishes to start the season], but with the off-season that I had, I was just so confident coming into this season and to get fifth I was pretty bummed. Third is good and something to build on, but obviously, I want to be where Joey [Savatgy] is and winning. I still have a lot to go. I need to make something click here.

“We’re going to Glendale which I got my first win there,” said Craig referencing next weekend’s race, the site of his 2016 triumph. “I’m excited. The class is wide open. Obviously, there’s a bunch of dudes that are flying right now. A lot of them obviously are on the podium. But you just never know. You literally have to bring it every Saturday night and just hang it out and hope for the best.”

Sexton, the rookie, started race one on the ground and in last place. He started the final race of the night in the lead.

“This was my first holeshot in probably two years,” said Sexton. “I think I also had the most crashes today—I think I fell six times including practice! I thought it wasn’t my night, but it’s good to turn it around and lead some laps and get a third in that final main event. Honestly, since I was thinking it wasn’t my night, when I got that start I just wanted to see how many laps I could lead, but after probably halfway I thought “Man, I have a legitimate shot to win this!” Then I made a mistake and hit a tough block, got a little tight, but it was fun to lead laps. I’ve never led laps in a pro race.”

Martin spent his three-race foray in 450SX battling for top tens. He was 12th at Anaheim, worked day and night to adjust to the hard, slippery dirt.

“I struggled in practice the entire time so the whole GEICO Honda crew and I were working hard to make the right adjustments for the slippery West Coast style track conditions,” said Martin. “I went down in the first main off the start and clipped a tough block in the first turn in the second main so I was stoked on the three-moto format to redeem myself with a 10th in the third moto. Really enjoyed my time on the 450 but I’m ready to get to work on what really matters, which is the 250.”

Martin will race his Honda CRF250R in the 250SX East opener in a month. Craig and Sexton return to action next weekend in Glendale, Arizona.

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