With more than 57,000 fans looking on, Colorado’s Eli Tomac claimed his third win of the 2018 Monster Energy Supercross Championship with a dominating performance at round seven of the series in Arlington, Texas, at the weekend.

Kawasaki rider Tomac set the tone early in the day qualifying fastest before going on to dominate his heat race, then did likewise in the night’s main event, grabbing the holeshot before riding away from the field to win comfortably.

Behind Tomac, championship points leader Jason Anderson moved quickly into second position aboard his Factory Rockstar Husqvarna and it looked as though the crowed was set for an all out duel between himself and Tomac.

However a small crash, left Anderson back in 7th position, allowing the KTM pairing of Marvin Musquin and Blake Bagget to move into second and third places respectively where they would finish.

Anderson was able to move up to fourth position by the finish, passing JGR Suzuki’s Weston Peick, Monster Energy Yamaha’s Cooper Webb and Factory Honda’s Cole Seely.

The fourth place finish for Anderson was enough to once again extend his points lead after Monster Energy Yamaha’s Justin Barcia was forced to the sidelines with a suspected broken hand after a heat race incident.

Anderson now holds a massive 36 point lead over Seely with Bagget a further 4 points further back in 3rd.

For Australia’s Chad Reed it was a record equalling night when he lined up for this 227th main event start after qualifying directly from his heat with a ninth place finish.

When the gates dropped on the night’s main event, Reed officially tied Mike Larocco’s 450 SX start record and will likely break the record next weekend.

In the opening round of the 2018 250 East Coast Championship it was 2017 champion, Zach Osborne who got his title defence off to the perfect start.

The 250 main event started in dramatic style with a huge first turn pile up that took down a number of the pre season favourites including Martin Davalos who retired from the race after being collected by numerous bikes.

While Osborne was able to avoid the carnage, he was left buried just inside the top 10, then made life even harder for himself with a small crash. However the Rockstar Husqvarna rider put on a charge through the field to take the win ahead of Monster Energy Yamaha’s Colt Nichols and JGR Suzuki’s James Decotis.

Photo by Simon Cudby

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450SX Class Results

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki
2. Marvin Musquin, Clermont, Fla., KTM
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrance, Calif., KTM
4. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna
5. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda
6. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
7. Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki
8. Dean Wilson, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna
9. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., KTM
10. Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., Honda

450SX Class Championship Standings

1. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna (160)
2. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda (124)
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrance, Calif., KTM (120)
4. Marvin Musquin, Clermont, Fla., KTM (119)
5. Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki (114)
6. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha (113)
7. Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., Honda (112)
8. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda (102)
9. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., KTM (96)
10. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (90)

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results

1. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Husqvarna
2. Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha
3. James Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Suzuki
4. RJ Hampshire, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda
5. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda
6. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., KTM
7. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki
8. Brandon Hartranft, Brick, N.J., Yamaha
9. Sean Cantrell, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
10. Luke Renzland, Hewitt, N.J., Yamaha

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings

1. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Husqvarna (26)
2. Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha (23)
3. James Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Suzuki (21)
4. RJ Hampshire, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (19)
5. Jeremy Martin, Millville, Minn., Honda (18)
6. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., KTM (17)
7. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki (16)
8. Brandon Hartranft, Brick, N.J., Yamaha (15)
9. Sean Cantrell, Murrieta, Calif., KTM (14)
10. Luke Renzland, Hewitt, N.J., Yamaha (13)

The 2018 Monster Energy Supercross season continues next Saturday, February 24, with Round 8 inside Raymond James Stadium. It will mark the championship’s return to Tampa for the first time since 1998.