Just when we thought it was going to be Foxboro all over again, it was just a soft/mushy race and not a full on mudder. Here is what I learned and some thoughts from Phily. Forgive me for the short list but I was busy spending half of my bank account on Loretta Lynn qualifier races.
Chase Sexton: So you’re saying there’s a chance? Chase wasn’t to be denied on this day. He made a huge recovery from a start that locked him and AP together in the first corner. Not only did he work through the pack pretty methodical, his line choices were so much better than they have been in quite sometime. I went back and studied a little of his mid to late race line choices through corners and in Philly his cut under/or low line through corners were much lower than they have been in the past. With four rounds to go and 12 points down, there is a chance for this to happen. Chase will have to run the table but if he can do this, this will be such a huge accomplishment in his career. Not just the championship, but fighting off Cooper Webb down the stretch would be an almost impossible feat.
Ken Roczen: An ankle and shoulder injury and the dude leads half the main. WHAT? Imagine what this guy could be doing if he was healthy. I understand all of the riders are dealing with something but having one of each limb injured can’t be easy to ride these last two tracks with. I also spoke with Mark Johnson (REP) and he said that there has been minimal suspension changes the past month or so. Kenny is happy, he just needs to get healthy. I also heard that if he can stay healthy we will see him sometime this summer for a round or two of outdoor motocross.
Joey Savatgy: A fifth place is huge for Joey. No one can say that Joey doesn’t try and with him working with Zach Osborne, I think Joey will only get stronger. Hopefully he can stay on a team long enough to get used to the bike so that we can see what his potential really is. He is one of the most sound/technical riders we have in the 450 class and I think his technique is underrated.
Justin Barcia: I dunno man…
Cole Davies: I can’t believe I am going to say this. Cole is the best 250 rider in SX right now. I know, I know, it’s crazy but holy hell man, this kid has confidence now and he has a setting that he likes as well as stuck with for some time now. I heard that he got into a stiffer setting recently and it unlocked another level for him that he didn’t have with his previous stuff. I mean he won a east/west showdown, so saying he is the fastest 250 rider isn’t far fetched.
RJ Hampshire: Finally RJ got some luck. No one wants to see a red flag but with Bennick crashing it helped RJ get into the co-points lead he shares with Hammaker. RJ getting a third is like a win on the east coast so putting RJ as the title favorite is what I am going to do. I think Hammaker might have more speed right now but RJ is a tough SOB and will pull through for the title. His first is worse than we think it is and I think this is why we haven’t seen the raw speed from 24 just yet. The lingering pain has RJ riding a little different than what we are normally accustomed to and from what some of the people closest to him say, he isn’t 100%
Tom Vialle: The last two rounds is what I would have called Vialle weather but for whatever reason it hasn’t transpired. This is just what I heard, but I have heard he may be in the driver spot for the second 450 spot in 2026 (that’s if this Chase to Kawasaki is true, which I heard it may be). Vialle is only two points back from the points lead and (to me) this is nuts because in my eyes, he hasn’t exactly had a great year.
