2023 Houston Supercross Photo Gallery

2023 Houston Supercross Recap

We now return to the Eli Tomac and Chase Sexton Show which resumes its regularly scheduled programming.

It took a few rounds but Tomac and Sexton picked up right where they left off from the 2022 Motocross season as the two battled it out for 450 class supremacy at Round 4 (scheduled Round 5 as Round 2 in Oakland was postponed because of weather) of the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross season on Saturday at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.

And like the Outdoor season Tomac took the checkers...this time.

Returning to Championship form after a gnarly crash the week earlier in Anaheim that easily could have put an end to Tomac's season, the 2-time Supercross Champ shrugged off Sexton's statement-making Heat race win by grabbing the Holeshot and leading all 23 laps to get his third victory of the year. Sexton came close several times to getting a wheel out front as Tomac appeared to slow-up in the sand when he took the outside line but managed to fend off Sexton who opted to take the inside line preventing the needed momentum to shoot him out front. Finally, around the 7-minute mark Tomac's lead crept forward then Sexton bobbled around the 2-minute mark and it was easy-peasy from there.

"That was just a tough race, and honestly, I was pretty beat down after that Heat race. I was just losing a little bit of speed everywhere. I just rode better, straight up, in the main. Felt better. Just kept my head down and rode better. This is a great way to bounce back from last week's crash," Tomac said in the post-race press conference.

Sexton was fastest all day, qualifying first while elegantly passing then beating Tomac in their Heat qualifier by nearly eight seconds. But Tomac proved victorious when it counts, extending his lead in the standings to seven over Sexton who won Anaheim 2's Triple Crown race the week prior. Sexton moves into sole possession for second breaking a tie with Cooper Webb who rolled up in a season worst fifth. Jason Anderson finished third for his second straight podium appearance putting him into fourth-place in the standings ahead of Ken Roczen, who finished a season worst eighth after a third-place at Anaheim 2.

Officials red-flagged the 450 race at the 16:35 mark when Dylan Ferrandis was knocked unconscious after hitting the back of Roczen's bike crashed. He was seen awake and responsive, later reporting on his social media account he was OK.

2023 450 Class Supercross Season Standings

Eli Tomac (95)
Chase Sexton (88)
Cooper Webb (83)
Jason Anderson (76)
Ken Roczen (73)

In the opening round for the 250 East class, no rider had much in the tank for Hunter Lawrence who grabbed the Holeshot then the lead after two laps and won by more than seven seconds. Max Anstie who hails from Great Britain and hasn't raced Supercross in more than a decade finished second. Tom Vialle, the 2-time MXGP MX2 (250) class Champion from France and racing Supercross for the first time, held the lead briefly, was passed by Anstie midway and looked good for a podium until he fell in a corner with less than two minutes remaining and dropped to seventh.

Jordon Smith, looking for an injury free season, went down in the sand fighting for third, dropped to sixth but worked his way to fourth and got his spot on the podium after Vaille went down. Jeremy Martin, 2-time 250 class Motocross Champion also looking for an injury free season, rode quite well fighting for a podium with Smith near the end but stalled right before the checkers while in fourth which allowed rookie Haiden Deegan to notch an impressive fourth-place finish. Martin held on for fifth.

Elsewhere, rookies Chance Hymas and Talon Hawkins finished eighth and 11th, respectively.

2023 250 East Class Supercross Season Standings

Hunter Lawrence (26)
Max Anstie (23)
Jordon Smith (21)
Haiden Deegan (19)
Jeremy Martin (18)

Supercross continues the trek east with Round 5 (scheduled as Round 6) on Saturday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. The 450 class then travels cross-country to make-up Round 2 in Oakland the week after.