Qualifying / LCQ Report: Charlotte SMX Playoffs 1

250SMX Qualifying 1

The top spot was swapped several times throughout this first qualifying session between Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ty Masterpool, the reigning 250SMX Champion on the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan. But it was Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Gas Gas’s Pierce Brown who claimed the top of the leader board with a 1:43.3. Rockstar Husquvarna’s Casey Cochran had a gnarly crash in the long rhythm lane and headed to the Alpinestar Medical Rig for evaluation. Nate Thrasher, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing, had a tough crash in the sand section but was able to get back going.

450SMX Qualifying 1

The track has started to develop with three qualifying sessions hitting the track as the 450SMX class hits the track and the times were faster. It was a back-and-forth battle between Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s and the new 450MX Champion, Chase Sexton. But once again, just like in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series, Team Honda HRC’s defending 450SMX Champion Jett Lawrence claims the top spot dropping down to the 1:39’s and a full second over Sexton. During this session, we were informed by the Troy Lee Design Red Bull Gas Gas team via Instagram that Justin Barcia will be out for this first SMX round from a free practice crash yesterday.

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65cc World All-Stars Qualifying 1

The first qualifying session for the top 65cc racers hit the track and Cobra’s Gavin McCoy was on the top of the board in the #1 spot then Joey Vicari on his KTM after a handful of laps claimed that spot up front. KTM’s Anderson Waldele jumps to the 2nd position late over McCoy but not before another Cobra rider Gray moves up to the second place spot. Viacari 2:11.6, Gray 2:15.7 and Waldele 2:15.9.

250SMX Qualifying 2 / Combined Times

Now that the track has started to form with the lines leading into this second qualifying session, times have lowered from the first qualifying round. Deegan was at the top first early, then Monster Energy Pro Circuits Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen jumped for a split second before Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s RJ Hampshire took that spot away with a 1:41.6, Deegan second at a 1:42.1 and at the last second Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s rookie Julien Beaumer took that 3rd spot with a 1:42.1. That will be your top three in combined times ahead of the first moto.

450SMX Qualifying 2 / Combined Times

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac was off to a quick start jumping up to the front after the first lap, then Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Malcolm Stewart threw down a 1:41.9 to claim the top spot early in this session. At this moment, the track starts to break down for the times to start lowering. Tomac then put in a 1:40.7 and seconds later Sexton speeds up to a 1:39.7 to the top of the leaderboard. But as that happens, here comes your reining champion Jett Lawrence tops that with a couple of tenths of a second with a 1:39.7. Sexton tried to put in one more heater lap with time remaining in the sand section and hit the ground. No issues for him as he was able to get back going. Big surprise as the rookie on the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team, Justin Cooper, late in the session takes the top spot and fastest qualifer with a 1:39.5, J. Lawrence, and Sexton top 3. We learned after the qualifying sessions that Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson will sit out today’s racing due to crashes from free practice yesterday, even though he did ride during qualifying today.

65cc World All-Stars Qualifying 2 / Combined Times

The second and final qualifying session for these young rippers on the 65cc’s, Cobra’s Jaydin Smart went to the front early, then Chase Brennan on the KTM took the top spot with a 2:10.2 over Smart’s 2:11.3. Vicari was the fast qualifier from the first session and sits 3rd here in this session and some time off his first session. Brennan’s time will top the leaderboard in combined times ahead of their moto this evening.

250SMX LCQ

Lux Turner on the AEO Powersports KTM grabs the early holeshot as FirePower Honda’s Carson Mumford sits in second as they come across the finish line but makes the moves heading into the sand. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo starts in 4th, which is the last position taken to the motos this afternoon. McAdoo then takes that 3rd place position away from AEO Powersports KTM’s Talon Hawkins and he now holds that final transfer spot. Muc-Off/ClubMx/FXR’s Jett Reynolds gets around Hawkins leading up to the finish line but Talon is still putting pressure on Reynolds for that final spot with two laps to go. Turner drops back to 3rd as McAdoo gets around him in the back portion of the race track. Last lap to the checkered flat it will be the top 4 transferring of Mumford, McAdoo, Turner, and Reynolds to the motos later.

450SMX LCQ