In the first Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event, GEICO Honda's Cameron McAdoo grabbed the holeshot but immediately jumped off the track,
This handed the lead to Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo. Dylan Ferrandis came out of the first corner in sixteenth but made his way to eighth by the end of the first lap. Cianciarulo was challenged early by JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki’s Jimmy Decotis, but pulled out to a nearly eight second lead by the end. Ferrandis was busy and picked his way up to second to salvage a great finish after a terrible start in the ten minute plus one lap race.
The second 250SX Class Main Event was a reversal of fortune for the two points leaders. Cianciarulo pushed too hard to get the holeshot and it took him right off the track. Gas Monkey Energy/AJE Motorsports’ Chris Blose came out with the lead with GEICO Honda’s RJ Hampshire on his rear wheel. Within a few turns Ferrandis was into second while Cianciarulo had re-entered the track and sat in ninth. After less than two minutes had ticked off of the race clock Ferrandis took over the lead with an aggressive move that put Blose on the ground and tangled with a Tuff Blox. Seconds later Cianciarulo went down in a blind spot. Other riders bumped him and his bike and the delay had him remounting in eighteenth. It was smooth sailing for Ferrandis to the checkers while Cianciarulo worked his way up to tenth at the end.
Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Colt Nichols holeshot the final 250SX Main Event. Cianciarulo avoided getting caught up with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate Garrett Marchbanks’ first turn crash only to run into a downed rider one section later in the whoops. Up front Ferrandis put on an early pass and took the lead, but his teammate Nichols grabbed it immediately back and held it until the checkered flag. Behind them Cianciarulo moved steadily from thirteenth to third, but with his troubles in the second Main Event that was only good enough for fourth overall. Ferrandis won the night, his second ever 250SX Class win, coming just one week after his very first win; it also pulled him to only five points down on Cianciarulo for the title with two rounds of racing left to go for the Western Regional 250SX Class title.
Ferrandis was happy with his second win, but more focused on the title and the next Western Regional 250SX Class race, which is off for one weekend while the Eastern Regional 250SX Class races, “It’s crazy. I knew I didn’t have to win this Main Event to win overall. My teammate was pushing really hard at the beginning and I guess [I decided to], not give up, but it’s no risk to take for nothing [to gain]. So I was just doing my race and I made it two wins in a row. I’m so happy. It’s a different feeling than last weekend because last weekend was the first win, but now I’m really looking for the championship and only the championship can give me the full satisfaction. So I’m really happy but it’s back to work Monday and see what we can do in two weeks in Denver.”
When Colt Nichols was asked to comment about his third Main Event win compared to his results in the first two races of the night he said, “It was literally all about the start. First Main, horrible start, second Main, horrible start. I was really happy with the riding in the second main, I felt like I charged up really well, [but on the] last lap hit neutral while I was behind RJ and went over the bars and ended up salvaging a fourth, which was great. Then finally got off to a good start, I holeshotted that last one and I was able to win, so it was great; it just felt good to lead a race again. It’s been a while, I was in the lead last weekend and had a big get off. I’m just real happy I’m here racing. It was a blessing. I’m glad last weekend wasn’t worse. [I’m] just taking it race by race, it feels great to be back on the podium… Hats off to Dylan with another win, that’s great, it tightens up the championship a little more, which makes it interesting. I wish it was me, but that’s all right. I’m taking it race by race and can’t wait for the next one.”
RJ Hampshire was happy to be back on the podium, something he hadn’t done since his rookie year, “It’s been a long road. Like I said my rookie year my first podium and four years later just got another one. I’m just stoked on my team. We’ve been working hard, trying to find the right setting, and changed clutches this week, tested a lot on my starts, and you could tell my starts were better all night; I think that helped quite a bit. I was pretty strong in the whoops until that last moto, it was ugly… I’m just so stoked to be up here and really looking forward to Denver now. I’m kind of an outdoor guy but I really want to prove myself in Supercross, so I’ve got two more chances at it, and [I’m] just stoked to be up here tonight.”
Adam Cianciarulo said about his two tough races, “As much as I’d love to sit down and tell you, [just] sit here and just say, man, this guy crashed in front of me, this guy cross jumped me, really it comes down to my fault because I didn’t get the start in the second Main, I put myself in a bad position. I locked bars with somebody in the first corner of the second Main, it forced me to go off the track, from there you’re just trying to do your best to get to the front and it’s tough. Those guys are racing you and I unfortunately just came together with Sean [Cantrell] after the finish line there. And that’s the way it goes sometimes, but guess what? I mean, there’s nothing more I love than a good battle, especially a battle for the championship. I think it’s five points now and I felt so good today. My bike’s so good, I rode really well, so I’m super happy with where I’m at. Unfortunately, it didn’t go my way tonight, but we have two races to make it happen and I couldn’t be more confident in myself. So [we’ll] pick ourselves up, come out swinging; yeah let’s do this thing.”
With four more Monster Energy Supercross rounds left the battles on the track and in the points are far from over. The series goes next weekend to Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Western Regional 250SX Class Results
1. Dylan Ferrandis, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
2. RJ Hampshire, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda
3. Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha
4. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki
5. Jimmy Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Suzuki
6. Cameron McAdoo, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda
7. Justin Starling, Deland, Fla., Husqvarna
8. Sean Cantrell, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
9. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Kawasaki
10. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Husqvarna
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
1. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (182)
2. Dylan Ferrandis, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha (177)
3. Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha (142)
4. RJ Hampshire, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (126)
5. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM (123)
6. Jimmy Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Suzuki (112)
7. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Husqvarna (111)
8. Cameron McAdoo, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda (111)
9. Michael Mosiman, Menifee, Calif., Husqvarna (110)
10. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Kawasaki (99)