Justin Barcia | Photo credits: Yamaha Racing
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing Team‘s Justin Barcia managed to secure runner-up in St Louis, Missouri over the weekend. Barcia took on his 450SX to a stellar finish at the second round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. Teammate Aaron Plessinger also made some improvements to the race to come in top 10, bouncing back from his challenging run at Anaheim I.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing Team heads back West to Southern California for Round 3 at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim, on Saturday, January 18.
Photo credits: Yamaha Racing
“It was a pretty tough day for me. I was really sick all week, and I just had to be mentally tough and push through the difficulties I was having today. My heat race went really well. I got a bad start, but I fought through the pack and got up to third. I made some really great passes, so that was awesome. In the Main Event, I got a much better start and quickly moved into second,” says Justin Barcia as quoted from Yamaha Racing.
“I was pushing really hard, but tonight the best I had was second. I rode really well, considering. Also, I felt like I rode better today than I did in Anaheim. I just unfortunately was a little under the weather. So, all in all, a really good day. The team did a great job with the motorcycle and setting it up. I’m really looking to get better this week and feeling better for Anaheim.”
Photo credits: Yamaha Racing
“Today was a little bit better than last weekend. I kind of struggled in the Heat race. I didn’t get the greatest start, but I still qualified pretty good. A 14th gate pick in the Main was tough. Then, getting a bad start and trying to work my way back up into the top 10, it was really gnarly. The track conditions were pretty challenging. It was slick in some spots and really rutted.”
“So, you had to be on your toes at all times or the track was going to take you down. It took a lot of people down, and I’m glad I wasn’t one of them. It was tough day, but we’re making progress. We’ll go back this week, put some more work in and work a little bit more on the starts and sprint laps so I can get a better gate pick. I want to try and get up on the podium or at least in the top five.”