The heat is on at Fox Raceway, as sunny skies and high desert temperatures have greeted the world's fastest riders for the penultimate Maxxis Fox Raceway II National. Weather will become a focal point of the afternoon in Southern California, where practice and qualifying has completed with the Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha duo of Dylan Ferrandis and Justin Cooper atop the time sheets.

Ferrandis enters the second visit to Fox Raceway with the 450 Class title in reach. His 50-point margin of Team Honda HRC's Ken Roczen has him within the threshold of clinching the championship a round early, and he's given himself a head start on the pursuit of the Edison Dye Cup by posting the quickest time of the morning sessions. The Frenchman's time of 2:04.861 put him several tenths clear of Roczen (2:05.207), with Ferrandis' flying lap coming just as the second and final qualifying session came to a close.

One week removed from losing his hold of the 250 Class points lead, Cooper responded to his position as the rider giving chase by dominating both qualifying sessions. After ending the first session nearly two seconds clear of the rest of the field, Cooper wrapped up yet another top qualifier with a time of 2:06.989, which edge out points leader and Team Honda HRC rider Jett Lawrence by a few tenths (2:07.296).