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Daytona - Rider Comments

Daytona - Rider Comments

Mar 2

  • News

Take a look at what some of the heavy hitters thought of their performances this morning in Daytona as Cooper Webb continued to build points and ride smart. Ken Roczen gets a well deserved Daytona victory and Max Anstie struggled, but still holds the red plate.

Ken Roczen: “I honestly still can’t believe it… I had some really good lines. When you make those passes you have to put your head down or else they’ll retaliate and come back. I was just charging the whole time, trying to get a gap. Coming out of these turns it was really rutty, and very easy to make a mistake, but I just kept my head down and charged the whole way. I seriously cannot believe that this finally happened... This is a dream come true.”

Cooper Webb: “You can’t make mistakes, as many as I did, and expect to win. I’m a little bit bummed. Kenny rode great. He was charging through, he got around me, he made the pass stick on AP, and he pulled away. That put the urgency on me and I just made too many mistakes after that. So I’m a bit bummed, but overall from a points perspective it was a great night. Yeah, another second place here… We’ll regroup, try to get it going again in Indy, and not be so complacent this next weekend..”

Aaron Plessinger: “I’m pretty satisfied [with this podium], after the start of the season. First off, I want to dedicate this to my buddy who just got diagnosed with cancer. Jessie Waters, he’s back at home watching, this one’s for you… After two 22nd place finishes, a 7th, 8th, 9th, it’s been a ride. But we pulled it off. I love this track, I love this place, and you know we’re always doing it for Dale [points to his Dale Earnhardt #3 shirt he threw over his jersey]. It’s a good night..” –

RJ Hampshire: “It’s special. I lost my dad a few months ago and this was his race. Growing up as a kid, this is where I came with him. It was the only Supercross I came to. And he was with us today. Some guy came up to me in the pits and had his old jersey that he raced with back in the day, that was something I never had. He gifted me that and – it just felt different today, man, like my dad was definitely here… Finally got to burn one [a victory burnout on the banked track] down here in Daytona, that was for my dad, for sure.”

Tom Vialle: “I was leading for a couple laps and [Hampshire] passed me in the race [before the re-start]. It was hard. The track is really tough and tricky here. We were pretty much the same speed, for the entire moto I was not far [behind], but I couldn’t make a move, to be honest… I made a few mistakes on the rhythm… and maybe that cost me the win tonight. But I’m happy to be on the podium. It’s still a long championship and we are right there.”

Seth Hammaker: “I’m really pumped to get back up here on the podium. It’s two years in a row I’m here on the podium in Daytona. This track never lets you down; it’s a fight out there, and I fought hard all the way until the end. I feel really good about that one. We’ll keep the momentum rolling into the East/West Showdown next weekend.”

Chase Sexton: “Daytona was up and down. I qualified fastest, but crashed in my Heat, forcing me to qualify through to the Main via the LCQ, so it definitely was not my best night. In the end, I did what I could tonight, but just didn’t have enough in the tank.”

Malcolm Stewart: "Daytona is always fun, a crazy event for me. First Heat Race win of the year was awesome and a special moment, especially in front of the hometown fans. I rode well in the Main for P6, we charged hard, although I want to be on the box, so moving forward that’s what we’re aiming at. I’m having so much fun right now, probably the most fun I've ever had in my career, and am keen to keep it rolling. Congrats to RJ [Hampshire] on his win – the Husqvarna boys are doing well right now!"

Justin Barcia: "Daytona is always tough, no matter where you finish. I wasn’t able to find comfort today, we were searching a little bit, which is a bit frustrating given I rode super-good last weekend. Daytona is a different beast altogether, so I am keen to get back indoors, get to Indy, and put the bike back up front.”

Austin Forkner: I qualified seventh, which was the best that I have qualified so far. I lined up pretty far inside in the main and did not come out too bad. It was just chaos in the first turn and somehow my front brake lever got bent up among the chaos. I was trying to figure that out and settle in a little bit, but then we got another red flag. I went down after that restart. It was super slick, but I was trying to make a quick pass and slid out. I then went down in the sand and my bars were buried – it took me forever to get my bike up. That was kind of the end of it for me. The positive thing is that we are leaving healthy. We have some things to work on, so on to the next race."

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