Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing Team’s Justin Barcia rebounded in style following a spell with illness to claim a strong third-place finish in the 450SX Main Event in San Diego, as 250SX West Class contender Ryder DiFrancesco finished with a consistent P9 result.
Barcia collected the 12th fastest time in a tight 450SX qualifying session this afternoon, before racing his way to a solid fourth-place result in his Heat Race on the slick surface following constant rainfall in the area throughout the day.
Launching out of the gates on board his GASGAS MC 450F Factory Edition in the Main Event, Barcia was inside the top three immediately as he began battling for the lead, shadowing the leaders as the race progressed. In what was a grueling encounter, he posted a calculated ride as the race wore on, with the number 51 sealing the third position.
Justin Barcia: “San Diego was a crazy day! We only had two practices, as the weather came in, so I qualified decent, but not where I wanted to be. Although, I kept a cool head and got through the Heat Race with a solid result. Main Event, I knew it was going to be gnarly – the track broke down a lot! I got off to an okay start, found second behind Aaron [Plessinger], and then missed the triple one lap, which let Cooper [Webb] get by me. Came in with a lonely third place, but super-stoked after last week and knowing that my health is nearly back to 100 percent.”
DiFrancesco commenced Round 3 by posting the seventh-fastest qualifying time in 250SX West, which the youthful Californian would back up with fourth place in his Heat Race as he geared up for the night’s Main Event.
A mid-field start followed by a consistent ride on a brutal track surface saw DiFrancesco piece together a race that saw him take the checkered flag in P9, as he navigated the treacherous conditions inside Snapdragon Stadium.
Ryder DiFrancesco: “Good weekend overall! I need to fix little mistakes that are keeping me from being upfront, but lots of positives to take away as we head into Anaheim again next weekend.”
San Diego marked another consistent night of Supercross racing for defending MXGP World Champion Prado, whose third-career AMA Supercross event yielded the capable young Spaniard a sixth-place finish in his Heat Race for a direct transfer into the Main Event.
Prado would follow that up with an 11th-place finish in the premier class Main Event, and the good news is that he and the Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing Team have made the decision for him to remain in the U.S. and line up again at Anaheim 2 next Saturday.
Jorge Prado: “Today was another good experience. It was again not too easy after getting a bad start in the Main Event... I think the jump out of the gate was okay, but I got a lot of wheel spin, which sent me backward and meant I was one of the last to the first corner. My opening laps weren’t great, and then I got confused with the blue flags and let the riders who I was battling with by me, which was a pity. It is what it is, I can improve with my opening lap intensity, but I’m excited for three Main Events next weekend in the Triple Crown at A2 as I would like to at least be able to make one holeshot and enjoy that format of racing!”
Results – 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, Round 3
450SX Results – San Diego SX
1. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
2. Cooper Webb (Yamaha)
3. Justin Barcia (GASGAS)
11. Jorge Prado (GASGAS)
450SX Championship Standings (After Round 3)
1. Aaron Plessinger (KTM) 60pts
2. Chase Sexton (KTM) 59pts
3. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 56pts
9. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) 40pts
10. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 35pts
250SX West Results – San Diego SX
1. Nate Thrasher (Yamaha)
2. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha)
3. Jordon Smith (Yamaha)
9. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS)
250SX West Championship Standings (After Round 3)
1. Jordon Smith (Yamaha) 67pts
2. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) 59pts
3. Garrett Marchbanks (Yamaha) 57pts
13. Ryder DiFrancesco (GASGAS) 28pts