SMX Playoffs Round One: Key Highlights from Charlotte
The opening round of the SMX Playoffs in Charlotte was marked by severe weather, leading to the cancellation of the second moto and the closure of the pits for media interviews.
Red Bull KTM’s Tom Vialle finished seventh in the first moto after an early top-five battle. With the second moto canceled due to ongoing lightning strikes, Vialle’s seventh-place result stands, positioning him fourth in the 250SMX standings.
Vialle commented on his performance: “I had a great start in Moto 1…but I was struggling a little bit with getting comfortable on the track. The second moto was unfortunate, but we’ll get back to training for next weekend.”
Chase Sexton, riding the #4 machine, secured a second-place finish, capitalizing on an opportunity when Jett Lawrence, his primary competitor, went down. Sexton finished 3.865 seconds behind Lawrence.
Reflecting on the day, Sexton stated: “Round one was a good day. I qualified first and finished second in Moto 1 after getting a good start. The track was really sketchy, but I’m happy to leave healthy. We go into the next race nine points down, with double and triple points upcoming.”
As the series progresses, competitors will be vying for critical points in the upcoming races, emphasizing the importance of performance consistency.
