Chase Sexton Wins Nashville Supercross and Takes Over Second Place in Championship

The Supercross series returned to Nashville. Daytime opening ceremonies kicked off the second-ever Supercross race in the Music City. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac led early but earned second at the checkered flag at Nissan Stadium. Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen delivered another podium performance and earned third place points toward both the 17-round 2023 Supercross season as well as the inaugural 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. In the penultimate round of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class season, Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence was picture-perfect for the race win and the points needed to seal his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross championship.

Chase Sexton’s Nashville Supercross win moved him into second place in the championship standings. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Eli Tomac grabbed a clear Holeshot and sprinted early to establish some breathing room on the pack of Tank Masters Red Line Oil Next Level KTM’s Kevin Moranz, Team Honda HRC’s Colt Nichols, Chase Sexton, Twisted Tea Suzuki Progressive Insurance’s Kyle Chisholm and Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia. Team Tedder Monster Energy Mountain Motorsport’s Justin Hill got an incredible drive down the first rhythm lane and was into third place before the second corner. Absent was Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb, second in the championship points; Webb had been taken out of the event earlier by a tough crash in his Heat Race.

Tomac distanced himself from the pack as Sexton moved past Justin Hill to take over second just three minutes into the race. Sexton sat over four seconds back but set his sights on Tomac. A minute later Tomac had a near-crash in the whoops. The challenging track had created a lot of crashes through qualifying and racing. Tomac’s scare convinced him to lower his aggression, as he reported on the podium after the race.

Just over five minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap race Barcia moved forward into third place. Up front, Sexton steadily cut down the lead. The next few laps shook up the race as Sexton made it to Tomac’s rear fender just as Barcia crashed hard off the Dragon’s Back. Barcia was out just as Roczen nabbed third from Justin Hill. From there the race leaders held their spots on the slick, dry track. Sexton earned his fourth win of the season and moved into second in the championship standings. Tomac lost three points to Chase but extended his points lead to 18 due to Webb earning zero in Nashville.

Hunter Lawrence made it a Team HRC Honda sweep by taking the Nashville win and also the 2023 Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

When the gate dropped for the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, Hunter Lawrence grabbed the Holeshot but Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith quickly charged up to him. In the third corner Smith bumped his way past and into the lead ahead of Lawrence and Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin. A minute and a half into the 15-minute plus one lap race Smith held first ahead of Lawrence, Smith, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jo Shimoda, and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan. With a 49-point lead and only one Eastern Regional 250SX Class round remaining after Nashville, Lawrence could finish as low as 20^th and still claim the title. But Lawrence looked like he wanted to go out with a win, and hounded Smith up front. Shimoda moved into third behind them and Deegan fought to get past Martin for fourth.

With 9:30 remaining on the race clock Smith overcooked a turn in the sand section and went off the track and into the Tuff Blox. He didn’t fall, but the mistake and correction to get back on the track cost him two positions. Lawrence took over the lead but suddenly Shimoda was on a tear and looking like he might soon fight for the front spot. Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie, the winner at the previous round, had made his way into sixth and reached Deegan’s rear wheel just before Deegan made his own move and passed Martin for fourth place.

Late in the race Lawrence had built a comfortable lead while Shimoda, Smith, and Deegan ran close enough that each of their positions were in jeopardy. The riders circled the final laps without major mistakes. Lawrence brought home the race win and with it his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross title. Shimoda earned his first podium of the season after missing most of it due to injury, and Smith took the final podium spot.

Only two rounds remain in the season. The 450SX Class racers line up again inside Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado next Saturday, May 6^th before the 2023 Supercross Championship Final Presented by Utah Sports Commission at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 13^th. Two champions remain to be crowned, one in the 450SX Class and one in the Western Regional 250SX Class.

The two rounds will also pay points toward the all-new SuperMotocross World Championship which encompasses the Supercross season, the AMA Pro Motocross season, two Playoff races and a Final to determine the sport’s first SuperMotocross World Champion in September.

All 31-rounds of the SuperMotocross World Championship are streamed live on Peacock and select rounds are broadcast on NBC, USA Network, and CNBC. The 450 class racers battle for a one million dollar payout to the winner, and the 250 class racers all battle in a single class for a $500,000 prize to the winner in that class.

Tickets are available now alongside video highlights, race results, the complete SMX schedule, and more at SupercrossLIVE.com.

450SX Class podium (riders left to right) Eli Tomac, Chase Sexton, and Ken Roczen. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

450SX Class Results

1. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda

2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha

3. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki

4. Colt Nichols, Murrieta, Calif., Honda

5. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM

6. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki

7. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Honda

8. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki

9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Suzuki

10. Josh Hill, Huntersville, N.C., KTM

450SX Class Championship Standings

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (338)

2. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (320)

3. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (304)

4. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki (280)

5. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (267)

6. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (242)

7. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM (213)

8. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM (172)

9. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (170)

10. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Honda (165)

250SX Class podium (riders left to right) Jordon Smith, Hunter Lawrence, and Jo Shimoda. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results

1. Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda

2. Jo Shimoda, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki

3. Jordon Smith, Ochlocknee, Ga., Yamaha

4. Haiden Deegan, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha

5. Max Anstie, Cairo, Ga., Honda

6. Jeremy Martin, Rochester, Minn., Yamaha

7. Tom Vialle, Murrieta, Calif., KTM

8. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Kawasaki

9. Henry Miller, Rochester, Minn., Honda

10. Cullin Park, Clermont, Fla., Honda

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings

1. Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (224)

2. Haiden Deegan, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (168)

3. Max Anstie, Cairo, Ga., Honda (166)

4. Jordon Smith, Ochlocknee, Ga., Yamaha (141)

5. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Kawasaki (132)

6. Jeremy Martin, Rochester, Minn., Yamaha (128)

7. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha (120)

8. Tom Vialle, Murrieta, Calif., KTM (111)

9. Cullin Park, Clermont, Fla., Honda (109)

10. Coty Schock, Dover, Del., Honda (89)

Assets:

2023 Nashville Photo Gallery

450SX Class Highlights – Nashville

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Highlights – Nashville

Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

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Media Contacts:

Sean Brennen

Feld Motor Sports – Senior PR Manager – Supercross

[email protected]

About Feld Motor Sports:

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam^®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SuperMotocross World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.

About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship:

Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.

The SuperMotocross World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the SuperMotocross World Championship combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 31-event series that culminates in a season-ending two round playoff and SuperMotocross World Championship Final. Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.

About the American Motorcyclist Association:

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.