Starts continued to be difficult for the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing Team duo but once again, both riders showed speed and moved through pack for a solid finish. In the first Main Event, Barcia found himself in seventh and was able to advance to sixth a couple laps later. He and his competitor battled for it, but he was able make it stick and chase after the top five. As the laps wore on he moved into fifth and shortly after, fourth, after another rider got caught out by the technical track. Barcia held on to cross the line inside the top five. As for Plessinger, he had his work cut out for him starting back in 14th. Undeterred he put his head down and was able to move up to ninth in the final moments of the race.
Unfortunately, the start in the second Main Event didn’t go better for either rider. Barcia was 11th, but quickly went to work and made the pass into ninth. As the track continued to deteriorate many riders were caught out by the challenging conditions, but the 28-year-old was able to keep moving forward and stay on two wheels to finish the 12-minute-plus-one-lap race in fifth. His teammate was also able to recover from his start and work his way from 17th to 10th at the checkered flag.
The final Main Event of the night saw Barcia once again in seventh at the start. By lap 6, he battled his way into fifth, but still had his work cut out for him as the front four had amassed a healthy lead. The Florida resident kept knocking down the laps and ate away at that gap and ultimately was able to capitalize on a rider error to take fourth, ending the night fourth overall with a 4-5-4 tally. While the Anaheim 1 winner is eager to get back on top again, he has been able to put together a string of top five results in a stacked 450SX Championship. He currently sits fourth in the standings, 27 points behind the leader with nine rounds remaining.
His younger teammate continued to make strides forward on the night, getting his best start of the night in 11th. After a couple laps, Plessinger found his flow on the technical track, and like his teammate steadily worked his way forward. He settled into seventh to end the night with a 9-10-7 tally and earn his best result of his sophomore season with an eighth-overall finish.
The team heads back east to Atlanta, Georgia, for Round 9 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season on Saturday, February 28, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
