Martin Fights Hill, Davalos, and Stewart For Daytona 250SX Victory
Although the Ricky Carmichael-designed Daytona Supercross track had limited passing opportunities, it didn’t mean the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX class lacked close racing. In a four-way battle through most of the 15-lap Main, Yamalube/GYTR/Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin came out on top in the second of nine 250SX East rounds.
GEICO Honda’s Malcolm Stewart, who seemed shaken up before the start due to his brother James’ night-ending crash in the first 450SX Heat race, dedicated the race to his sibling and took the holeshot. Leading for 12 laps, Stewart was battling hard to ward off a persistent Martin, who looked to be held up by Stewart.
Martin’s inability to pass Stewart early allowed Rockstar Energy/Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Martin Davalos to join the fray, which soon included Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Justin Hill.
When Martin was able to finally blast past Stewart on Lap 13 when Stewart made a minor error, Martin quickly built a nearly three-second gap when the white flag was waved. Hill and Davalos played cat and mouse until Hill passed Davalos for good at the halfway point in the Monster Energy Supercross 250SX Main.
After Martin took Stewart, Hill pounced and passed Stewart on Lap 14, running away from the fading Stewart.
Stewart looked to have the podium wrapped up, but Davalos put in a last ditch pass attempt just prior to the final chicane before the finish. Stewart warded Davalos off, as Davalos nearly went off the track, but then Stewart stalled his Honda CRF250R in the first turn of the chicane, allowing Davalos to make an easy pass. Stewart kickstarted the bike and took a disappointing 4th.
Yamalube/GYTR/Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger had a mid-pack start, but worked his way through the field to take 5th. The top 5 riders in Atlanta repeated the top 5 in Daytona, though all finished in a different position from the previous week.
Davalos, the winner in Atlanta and his Daytona Heat race, retains the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East series lead by two points over Martin, who leads Stewart by three points. GEICO Honda’s RJ Hampshire, who won his Heat Race, finished 7th in the Main behind Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Arnaud Tonus.
Photography by Simon Cudby
RESULTS: Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Round 2. Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach.
| 1. | Jeremy Martin (Yamaha YZ250F) |
| 2. | Justin Hill (KTM 250 SX-F Factory Edition) |
| 3. | Martin Davalos (Husqvarna FC 250) |
| 4. | Malcolm Stewart (Honda CRF250R) |
| 5. | Aaron Plessinger (Yamaha YZ250F) |
| 6. | Arnaud Tonus (Kawasaki KX250F) |
| 7. | RJ Hampshire (Honda CRF250R) |
| 8. | Jesse Wentland (Honda CRF250R) |
| 9. | Tyler Bowers (Kawasaki KX250F) |
| 10. | Shane McElrath (KTM 250 SX-F Factory Edition) |
| 11. | Benny Bloss (Yamaha YZ250F) |
| 12. | Cedric Soubeyras (Kawasaki KX250F) |
| 13. | Anthony Rodriguez (Kawasaki KX250F) |
| 14. | Dakota Alix (KTM 250 SX-F Factory Edition) |
| 15. | Gannon Audette (Kawasaki KX250F) |
| 16. | Jimmy Albertson (Suzuki RM-Z250) |
| 17. | Vann Martin (Honda CRF250R) |
| 18. | Joshua Cartwright (Yamaha YZ250F) |
| 19. | Matthew Bisceglia (Suzuki RM-Z250) |
| 20. | Paul Coates (Honda CRF250R) |
| 21. | Justin Starling (Kawasaki KX250F) |
| 22. | Alexander Frye (KTM 250 SX-F Factory Edition) |
Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Standings (after 2 of 9 rounds)
| 1. | Martin Davalos, 45 (1 win) |
| 2. | Jeremy Martin, 43 (1 win) |
| 3. | Malcolm Stewart, 40 |
| 4. | Justin Hill, 38 |
| 5. | Aaron Plessinger, 36 |
| 6. | RJ Hampshire, 29 |
| 7. | Tyler Bowers, 25 |
| 8. | Benny Bloss, 18 |
| 9. | Arnaud Tonus, 17 |
| 10. | Jimmy Albertson, 16 |
| 11. | Dakota Alix, 16 |
| 12. | Darryn Durham, 14 |
| 13. | Jess Wentland, 14 |
| 14. | Alexander Frye, 13 |
| 15. | Gannon Audette, 13 |
| 16. | Shane McElrath, 12 |
| 17. | Matt Bisceglia, 12 |
| 18. | Anthony Rodriguez, 12 |
| 19. | Cedric Soubeyras, 9 |
| 20. | Marshal Weltin, 6 |
Next Round: March 12, Rogers Centre, Toronto. Round 10.
TV Schedule: March 12, 7pm (EST); Fox Sports 1
