00:02At number three of Eli Tomac last week in Glendale, it was definitely one that got away.
00:08He had a crash, but it took him from a really strong day to off the podium at the end.
00:14But he said he was uninjured, and it definitely looked like it in qualifying today in the second qualifier.
00:20He was the fastest man there, so he's lined up to try and take another win here in Seattle.
00:27When you've overcome the adversity that Ken Rockson has and you still find ways to win, you're going to create
00:32a fan base.
00:34And I want to show you something.
00:35This kid, Rockson Fountain.
00:37Yes, Rockson Fountain.
00:38He goes by Rocky.
00:39This was his Valentine's box that he built for Hayes Elementary in Kennesaw, Georgia.
00:44Just shows you the power of Monster E. Supercross.
00:47Great job, Rockson.
00:49That's a heck of a Valentine's box to get out there.
00:52And what's crazy is that's not the first kid that I've heard of named Rockson as a first name.
00:58I'm going to shout out one other rider on this gate, Justin Hill, who is an Oregon native.
01:02So this is a home race for him.
01:03Last week, 10th in the main.
01:05That was a season best.
01:06Started the year with some rib injuries, getting better each week.
01:10And we'll see if he can keep this Pacific Northwest crowd going the way Kitchen did in the first 250
01:16heat.
01:17And this is amazing.
01:18These heat races, darn, you look at this lineup.
01:21Yeah.
01:21And it's only half of the 450 field.
01:24Yeah, I mean, there's some heat in here for sure.
01:27Prelude to what we're going to see a little later on for the main event field.
01:32Uh-oh, Ken's bike stopped.
01:33Uh-oh.
01:34He's got to get that thing started again as the court is sideways.
01:37The revs are up.
01:40Gates down.
01:44Well, good recovery from Rockson, in fact.
01:47A hole shot and a big crash.
01:51Anderson and Craig.
01:55Oh, you think about Mike Craig or Christian Craig last week in the main event.
02:02Now he goes down.
02:04Jason Anderson going down.
02:07What about Ken Rockson, though?
02:10His bike stalls.
02:12He's kick-starting the thing.
02:14Gets it back fired up.
02:17Throws the thing in gear.
02:18And comes out.
02:20He's P1.
02:21Unbelievable.
02:21I want to talk about mental astuteness.
02:25That is locked in and absolutely incredible.
02:29Wow.
02:31A normal person panic, I would imagine, would set in there.
02:34Oh, I mean, yeah.
02:35I don't know that there is panic.
02:37I think it just...
02:37Not for him.
02:38Yeah, no.
02:38It's just like, all right, this is what I got to do.
02:40I got to get going.
02:41Got to get the bike cranked.
02:42Put it in gear.
02:44Get focused on the gate.
02:45Boom.
02:46Go.
02:46So, I mean, you talk about not panicking.
02:49Yes.
02:49I think if he panics, he does...
02:51That process doesn't happen as fast.
02:52Yeah, it really shows the mental strength of these riders to just go with the process.
02:57Look at Hill running strong in second over Justin Cooper.
03:04I mentioned Craig and Anderson, see if they can get back into this one.
03:07I don't know if they'll be able to make it all the way through into a transfer spot.
03:12And then Malcolm Stewart is fourth.
03:15And then Tomac, not a good start.
03:16Back in fifth.
03:18Here's the start again.
03:22And first, we're going to show you the 94 refiring the Suzuki.
03:27Right there is Kenny.
03:29Look, throws his arms up like, what's going on here?
03:31Gets a bike cranked.
03:33Look it over.
03:34Puts it in gear.
03:36Comes out of the gate.
03:39Not ideal, but somehow gets to third gear quick.
03:43And then here's the trouble.
03:46Wow.
03:47I just, I think that was a racing incident.
03:50Looked like Christian Craig was leaning in.
03:53Really what, I think that he got crossed up on someone's rear tire there.
03:59And then, obviously, Jason Anderson going down there with him as well.
04:03You know, these first corners at times, the apex narrows up so fast.
04:09Some apexes are tighter than others.
04:12Craig has ridden up the tunnel.
04:14He is at least out of this heat race.
04:15Battle is on between Cooper and Hill.
04:21You never know.
04:23Oh, there's Anderson down again in the sand.
04:26And here's a move from Cooper.
04:31He's going to be up the inside and have the advantage.
04:34A great shot.
04:35And that rhythm lane is going to be very fun to watch, JT, all night long.
04:41But what you got for 32?
04:43Well, you saw him kind of make a breakthrough last weekend in Glendale.
04:46The best finish.
04:47And he was so excited.
04:48He was kind of catching Cooper Webb there.
04:50He wasn't able to quite get on the podium.
04:52But it was a step forward.
04:53And they've been struggling so much with the starts, which is so abnormal for Justin Cooper
04:57because that's been his calling card is putting himself in good positions.
05:02The riding has actually been pretty solid.
05:04But he's had to move from the back.
05:05As you see Malcolm Stewart, who's finally healthy, making a charge there.
05:09But if Justin Cooper can get the starts and put himself back at the front,
05:12he will finish at the front.
05:15It's literally been that simple for Jakub, no doubt.
05:19Then behind this battle is Tomac, who is sixth early
05:22and not able to make up much ground right now.
05:25He's fifth.
05:25That was a nice rhythm that Justin Cooper did through there.
05:28Changed up his line compared to the lap before.
05:32Eli looking like he's struggling a little bit.
05:35He's kind of been in this position the whole race.
05:39Hasn't been able to make any moves.
05:41He's working on Justin Hill right here.
05:42He's going to have the inside.
05:47Got it.
05:50That is only fourth.
05:52And Hill fighting him.
05:55It's tough with these guys.
05:56I mean, you never know, like, what's going on.
05:59Are they totally comfortable?
06:00Are they feeling 100%?
06:02And maybe the bike's not working right.
06:05But I tell you this, he'll probably get it sorted out for that main event.
06:12Yeah, that's usually where he does his best work.
06:15Right.
06:16That's a tricky jump right there.
06:18That's a really difficult track.
06:19I mean, like Hayden talked about when he was talking to JT on the podium.
06:23I mean, it's difficult with all these runs.
06:26JT.
06:27Yeah, Ricky, you know, we watched Eli Tomek.
06:29He's looked so great on all these hard-packed racetracks we've had so far in 2026.
06:34This one's completely different, similar to the question I asked Hayden Deegan.
06:38Do you think maybe we're going back the other direction where the perceived flex of the KTM
06:44has been so good on the hard-pack that maybe it's working a little bit against them here in Seattle?
06:48Yeah, I mean, the thought of that is always in the back of my mind.
06:52But I think a guy like Eli, and then you talk about that team personnel in the Red Bull KTM
06:57program,
06:58I mean, they have phenomenal guys, plenty winnable.
07:04And, you know, I just think that he's maybe not feeling 100% comfortable.
07:08And I don't think it's all the bike.
07:10But, like you said, JT, yes, it is in the back of my mind.
07:14This battle back here, riders fighting for the final transfer spot.
07:17Moran's on the 78 is 10.
07:22Harrison trying to get around him.
07:23Harrison has made the main in every race this year on the 41,
07:26but out of the last chance qualifier every time.
07:29Now, looking for a direct spot through the heat.
07:35No, it's not going to be easy.
07:37Got to pass Freezy here on the 719.
07:43Harrison on the Partzilla Blaster PRMX Kawasaki.
07:46Boy, he loves to not line up in the LCQ for once.
07:49And he's in ninth right now.
07:52He's in position to do it.
07:54Yeah, Mitchell Harrison, too.
07:55He knows who he's racing, so he's going to have to be very methodical of what he's doing.
08:04It's crazy.
08:04He knows how to ride a wide bike.
08:07Uh-oh.
08:07Malcolm Stewart is down.
08:09Oh, is that that rhythm lane after the first corner, the first rhythm lane?
08:13And he's not rushing back to the bike.
08:15Meanwhile, this two out of three of these riders will get in,
08:18or maybe all three, depending on Stewart.
08:20Let's see what happens.
08:24So, he's coming to the outside.
08:25There you go.
08:26Top of the screen.
08:27He goes over, and he's going to try to triple here.
08:30And he comes up way short.
08:32Just gets body slammed by the motorcycle.
08:36He wasn't able to escape.
08:38And that was a really hard impact.
08:40I hope that Malcolm's all right.
08:42And remember, he has had a banged-up shoulder since the first day of this championship.
08:47So, hopefully, he didn't aggravate that.
08:49I talked to Big James' dad earlier today, and he's like,
08:52yeah, it's not going to get better.
08:53The only way it's going to get better is not riding.
08:55And that's not an option either.
08:56So, hopefully, Malcolm didn't make it worse.
08:58Meanwhile, checkered flag in sight.
09:00Ken Rocks in.
09:0354th heat race win of his career.
09:05And it looks like Stewart is going to gut this one out.
09:10Wow.
09:10He had a massive lead on the guys in transfer position.
09:16Wow.
09:17What an effort by Malcolm.
09:19Way to get back up.
09:22Oh, he's got to be in some serious pain.
09:24Yeah.
09:24And you talked about it.
09:25I mean, he already had some lingering issues from the season opener.
09:29So, man, that battle for the transfer is right there.
09:33Freezy.
09:33Oh, Harrison launches a triple.
09:36He's got to hold off that orange 78 of the Rants.
09:38Here's the checkers.
09:39Freezy's in.
09:41Harrison's in.
09:42Moran's headed to the LCQ.
09:44They almost caught Stewart.
09:47Finally, a heat race transfer for Harrison out of Michigan.
09:49Kent Rockson now third all-time in recorded heat race history.
09:54Freezy's in.
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