Daytona Supercross is known for being the longest and most demanding tracks on the schedule, and this year was no exception. With his off-road background in the GNCC series, it’s the kind of conditions that Plessinger looks forward to, and it showed as he earned his best qualifying result so far this season in eighth and then followed it up with a strong runner-up performance in his heat race. In the Main Event, Plessinger got off to another great start in third and then made his move for second on Lap 3. He exchanged positions with the competition and ultimately came out on top. The 2018 250SX West Champion then threw down some fast laps and was sitting comfortably in second for most of the race. In the final laps, the competition closed back in but Plessinger kept focus, keeping it on two wheels and securing a podium position, crossing the line third for a career-best finish.
Stewart also got off to a good start on a track he typically struggles on, qualifying ninth and finishing second in his heat race. After the gate drop, the Florida rider was in sixth and battled for position. He moved into the top five before the halfway mark and advanced to fourth four laps later. Stewart kept pushing but ultimately was passed by the series’ points leader in the final laps and crossed the line fifth to move into the top-five in the championship standings.
Ferrandis showed speed straight away, qualifying second. In his heat race, the Frenchman did not get the start he was aiming for and had to work his way from 11th to fifth. Unfortunately, he found himself back in 11th again after the start of the Main Event. Ferrandis was looking to repeat his charge through the pack, but on Lap 3 he went down in the exit of the sand section. He rejoined in 15th and fought his way back to salvage some points in 11th.
The Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing 450 team heads to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for the first round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross tripleheader on Saturday, March 13.
