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Racing at elevation hasn’t been a problem so far for former Monster Energy Supercross champion Jason Anderson, who landed on the podium at Salt Lake City 3 on Sunday afternoon in trying track conditions.

Anderson has been known to experience altitude sickness during his career, but the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider said post-race in Utah that it hasn’t affected him this time around.

“Honestly, it hasn’t been too much of an issue,” explained Anderson. I went home to New Mexico for long enough to take it easy and work my way into acclimating and stuff like that. I think here is a little lower than even where I was at home or even where the Denver Supercross is, so I feel good.

“I think, just, no matter if we’re at sea level or whatever, we’re racing so close together we’re kind of more focused on recovery in between the races than trying to ride or anything right now.

“We have two days now until our next race, so I think we’re going to try and recover as much as possible and kind of take it easy, but I feel good. I just feel like I’ve been getting a little bit of arm-pump, which is kind of weird for me, but I’ve been able to work through it so I’ve got no excuses and we’ll go into these last four rounds.”

Anderson recorded a pair of fourth-place results in the opening two races at Rice-Eccles Stadium, then improved for a podium with third position on Sunday during the 13th round of the championship. He’s currently fifth in the standings, closing to within 10 points of Justin Barcia with four rounds to go.

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A lowly 10th-place finish at SLC3 saw Ken Roczen’s hopes for the 2020 Monster Energy Supercross championship fade further as red plate-holder Eli Tomac went on to record victory, ‘still trying’ in a bid to challenge for the crown.

Roczen went two laps down in trying conditions of Utah following morning rainfall, but the Team Honda HRC rider has declared that he will continue to give his all during the final four rounds.

Sunday saw Roczen lead his heat race before a flat tire cost him any chance of the victory, however, after circulating in fourth through the opening laps, he plummeted down the order to P10 by race’s end. As a result, he has fallen into the clutches of Cooper Webb, who had been a distant third in the standings.

“These past two races obviously haven’t been the results that we needed to be in the fight,” Roczen said. “That doesn’t mean that we aren’t still trying. Sometimes you’re dealt a hand of cards that are completely out of your control, but we’re trying to make the smartest and quickest decisions to get through some of the health issues that keep coming up.

“My heat went well and I led a handful of laps until I got a flat. The boulders started popping up and I think I know right where the rock got me in the whoops. With the weather changing, we tried to make a tire decision that would give me the best chances of not having that same thing happen in the main, but that obviously didn’t work well. I’m not the type of guy that likes to roll around or is satisfied with a fifth- or 10th-place finish, but sometimes if that’s the best you can do for the night, you just have to except it for what it is.

“I can’t thank my team enough for being patient with me and for never wavering in their support. I know the sacrifices they’re making to be up here and all of the work they’re putting in to give me the best equipment and support and I want to do better for them. I couldn’t be more grateful for them and I hope we can turn this around and be in a better position to put up a fight on Wednesday.”

While Tomac has now extended a 26-point advantage in the 450SX championship, Roczen has been able to retain second position and is now just six points ahead of Webb after the latter scored runner-up over the weekend. The series will continue on Wednesday, marking round 14 of the scheduled 17.

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Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Garrett Marchbanks is aiming to continue in 250SX East when the series resumes next Wednesday.

Marchbanks was the cause of a red flag when he crashed out of Sunday’s main event at SLC3, transported to hospital for evaluation where he stayed overnight.

It’s understood that the 18-year-old is recovering from a bruised lung due to the impact on his ribs and back, but the plan is for him to be on-track next week when the eastern region continues.

“Today was a rough day,” Marchbanks said. “Between the rainy weather and sloppy track conditions, I didn’t help myself with the bad start in the main event.

“My ribs and back are really sore from my crash so I will get checked out, take these 10 days to recover and go from there. I hope to be back out there a week from Wednesday and make up some points.”

Pro Circuit R&D manager Zach White added: “Garrett was riding well and had a good heat race, so it was tough to see him get hurt. He stayed overnight in the hospital for observation on a bruised lung and will hopefully have some good news soon.”

Despite exiting the weekend’s seventh round of the series, Marchbanks remains third in the 250SX East championship standings, which will add importance for him to continue racing from 17 June.

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Geico Honda’s Jeremy Martin has opted out of the final rounds of 2020 Monster Energy Supercrosss in order to retain his 250SX eligibility into next season.

After finishing third on Sunday, it’s been widely-speculated that Martin had departed Salt Lake City and wouldn’t be returning.

It’s now been officially confirmed that 27-year-old Martin won’t be completing the series despite currently sitting fourth in the 250SX East standings. If he were to score any more points this year he would be forced into the 450SX category from 2021.

“Unfortunately my season has come to an end for Supercross in 2020,” Martin explained. “I’ve given it a lot of thought about how to publicly announce not racing the last three races of SX this year and, instead of covering it up with an injury, the team and I decided to be completely honest about my current situation.

“I’ve reached the eligibility limit for points in the 250SX class and any additional points would force me into the 450 class for 2021. There isn’t any opportunities, nor openings, for me in 2021 for the 450 class – Geico Honda doesn’t campaign the 450SX class.

“I haven’t won a race yet this year and feel that before making the step to the premier class, I need an additional year to improve my performance and health in the quest to earn a factory 450 ride for 2022.

“I’m 27 years old and I’d love to be in the 450 class racing, but sometimes you have to take the longer path, which right now is licking my wounds and keep rebuilding myself in Supercross so I can win races and championships for Geico Honda next year!”

After sitting out all of last year while recovering from a serious back injury, Martin signed a two-year deal with Geico Honda for 2020-2021 and will return for the commencement of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross scheduled for July.