It was a hard-earned and emotional 250SX victory for Adam Cianciarulo at the Daytona round of the 2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.

After bursting onto the professional scene in 2014 with three 250SX main event victories, the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider missed both the 2015 and 2016 supercross seasons due to multiple injuries.

Doubting his chances of returning to the top of the sport, it was a pivotal win for the Floridian racer who topped teammate Joey Savatgy for the victory in a race-long battle to the finish line.

“Getting hurt a few times in a row can make you have those doubts,” said Cianciarulo. “It’s hard to come from the bottom and get back to the top.

“It’s the accumulation of so many people, so many hours of work that have pushed me to get here. It’s hard to describe but it’s an incredible feeling to be back on the podium.”

Cianciarulo’s Daytona victory puts him within striking distance of the East Coast 250SX points lead as he now sits in third place just nine points behind series leader Zach Osborne and three behind Savatgy in second.