Chase Sexton delivered a commanding performance at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium on Saturday night, winning the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Triple Crown event and significantly closing the gap in the championship standings. With impressive (1-1-2) race finishes, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider claimed both the overall victory and the Triple Crown championship.

The win couldn’t have come at a better time for Sexton, who trimmed Cooper Webb’s championship lead from 15 points down to just 8 with seven rounds remaining in the season.

“Triple Crowns are tough because even if you win the first two Races, just like what happened to RJ [Hampshire in the 250SX Class], something can go wrong in the first turn,” Sexton said after his victory. “Thank God my starts were good tonight; I got the holeshot. I rode pretty solid.”

The Birmingham event marked the third and final Triple Crown format of the season, featuring three shorter main events rather than the traditional single-race format. Points leader Cooper Webb saw his podium streak end after a first-lap crash in Race 1 resulted in a seventh-place finish. Despite rebounding to win Race 3, Webb’s (7-4-1) scores were only good enough for fourth overall.

“You just can’t make that mistake like I did in the first Race. That pretty much dictates your night,” Webb explained. “I had luck at Dallas, and tonight [I didn’t]. You just can’t put yourself in that position.”

Perhaps the most inspiring performance came from Malcolm Stewart, who rode through severe hip pain after a crash in qualifying to finish second overall with (3-2-3) race results.

“I just made a mistake in practice and caught Justin Hill’s front wheel [in mid-air]. I hit my hip pretty good,” Stewart said. “Huge shout out to Doctor G for getting me back in [shape] to go out there and do these three Races.”

Aaron Plessinger rounded out the podium in third place with (2-3-5) finishes, leading laps and continuing his recent resurgence.

“I just feel like I’m on a roll, like I’ve found another gear, found a good groove,” Plessinger said. “The boys at the practice track, they’re keeping me on my toes. The Baker’s Factory [Training Facility] is a riot right now; we’re going off.”

In the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher became the fifth different winner in five races this season, something that hasn’t happened in the class since 2016. Thrasher’s consistent (3-3-2) race scores earned him the overall victory over Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire (1-2-5) and points leader Tom Vialle (2-5-3).

“I really felt coming into this season that this was going to be my year,” Thrasher said. “Tampa went okay, I ended up crashing on the first lap. But then we just kept fighting every round. I just knew that I’m tough enough to be out there.”

Despite the strong rides from Hampshire and Seth Hammaker, who won Races 2 and 3, both riders had first-race challenges that cost them better overall positions. Hampshire was slowed by another rider’s crash in Race 3, finishing fifth when a fourth-place finish would have given him the overall victory. Hammaker crashed on the opening lap of Race 1 and could only recover to ninth place, resulting in a fourth-place overall finish despite his two race wins.

Vialle extended his points lead in the 250SX East standings after previous contender Max Anstie crashed out during qualifying and was unable to compete in the night program.

The SMX Next class, featuring top amateur racers, saw Enzo Temmerman take the win after three different race leaders crashed out of the top spot. Luke Fauser finished second, with Tiger Wood rounding out the podium.

The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship continues next Saturday, March 29, at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, with racing beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Photo by Feld Entertainment