​Visiting rider Sacha Coenen posted the fastest time in qualification at The Wick 338 in Southwick, Massachusetts, clocking 1:56.691. He led by almost two seconds over the field in the first session, a commanding performance that set the tone for the day. Cole Davies emerged as one of the few riders to improve in the second session, trimming 1.7 seconds off his Qualification 1 time and closing the gap to Coenen. Davies was the fastest in that second session, which more closely mirrors the track conditions riders will face in the motos.
Coenen and Davies were competing in the sandbox for the first time in their careers, making qualification at The Wick 338 a uniquely challenging experience. The sandy surface rutting quickly contributed to the varied results, with Group B in the 250 session benefiting from the best conditions in Round 23 of the SuperMotocross World Championship and helping introduce several new faces into the top five.
MXM star Christi Cannon’s brother, Jake Cannon, posted the third-fastest time overall at 1:58.445, narrowly edging out Larry Fortin, who recorded 1:58.446. Levi Kitchen rounded out the top five with a 1:58.530 after a rough patch in the previous rounds. He needs a strong bounce-back performance.
Kayden Minear claimed sixth overall with a 1:58.667, followed by Julien Beaumer at 1:58.739. Both riders are poised to challenge for top positions once track conditions stabilize. Beaumer had a crash in the second session but remounted and continued riding. Levi Kitchen and Jake Cannon were among those who looked strong as conditions started to normalize.
Jo Shimoda suffered a significant off in the second qualification session, requiring assistance to remount after an awkward impact on a jump. He rode cautiously for a few laps before returning to the hauler, but his crash highlighted the volatility of the track. The second session itself was interrupted by a red flag for Nick Romano, who logged a 1:59.972 and finished 12th overall.
In Group A Qualification 1, Group A Qualification 2, and the Combined Qualification, riders faced the challenge of a track that evolves as sand shifts and ruts deepen. These sessions determine seeding for the main events and set the stage for a competitive day of racing as riders adapt to The Wick 338’s distinctive conditions. With the track likely to continue to evolve as more laps are logged, expectations are high for additional shifts in the top times as the motos approach.