Colorado’s Eli Tomac and Australian Jett Lawrence took the main event wins in front of more than 47,000 fans in Detroit at the weekend, the 10th round of 17 in the AMA Supercross Championships.
At Ford Field, Yamaha’s Tomac became the first rider in the 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship to win three races in a row and he has stretched his lead to 42 points over Kawasaki rider Jason Anderson.
Malcolm Stewart rode a smart race to bring home a second-place finish, matching his career and season-best result and moving into a tie for second place in the points. Justin Barcia finished in third after leading early.
After Cade Clason grabbed the holeshot, Justin Bogle jumped into the early lead in the 450SX main event with French KTM rider Marvin Musquin right behind. Bogle maintained the top spot through the early laps with Musquin close, Barcia sitting third, Cooper Webb holding fourth, and Anderson in fifth.
Just over two minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap race Barcia pushed his way past Bogle. Anderson and Webb were by soon after that while Tomac was up to sixth after a mid-pack start.
Less than five minutes in, Anderson got by Barcia in the whoops. A lap later it was Tomac passing in the whoops, this time blitzing past Webb for third place. One lap after that Tomac repeated the move on Barcia, putting him into second place.
At the race’s midpoint Tomac took over the lead, Anderson counterattacked from second, and Stewart rounded out the top three.
The tacky, rutted track had created plenty of drama and crashes in the heat races and LCQs, and at this point in the race, it began to dramatically impact the racing and title points standings.
Chase Sexton caught Webb. Then Webb shorted a jump out of a corner and Sexton landed on him. Both riders went down in a brutal tangle. Sexton was out, Webb slowly remounted and valiantly tried to ride laps with his left arm tucked against his chest. He was hurt but doing what he could to salvage points.
Shortly after, Anderson washed out his front end in a corner entrance. He remounted, then pulled off down the next straight after realizing he’d been too injured in the crash to continue.
Just a couple of laps later, Dylan Ferrandis ran into trouble and pulled out of the race. In the closing laps, Musquin made a charge for the final podium position, but the track got its final say in the results as Musquin washed out his front wheel in a bowl turn and lost his chance for a spot on the podium.
The chaotic race was a thriller, and one surely to be watched again and again over the years as one of those sporting events that stand out as a wild and unique race.
It resulted in a huge mix-up in the points, granting Tomac a seemingly insurmountable lead. Only time will tell which riders will be recovered enough to line up on the gate next weekend at the Indianapolis Supercross.
Even if lady luck played a hand in Tomac’s win he was more than happy to accept the help.
“It was a wild night of racing overall and a great result for us,” Tomac said. “I had a good start down the first straight away but then got bumped in turn one and was shuffled back. From there I had to go to work.
“Once I got to the lead, I just kept pushing. After the halfway point, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing – some of the best guys were down on the track, and it was a bummer to see. At that point, I just kept doing my thing and kept my focus, and that was it. It was a good night for the championship and another race win; we’ll keep pushing.”
Stewart continued to boost his own confidence with another second place and is now on equal points in the second spot in the championship and, riding with seven stitches in his hand, Barcia was happy to end the night on the podium.
Eastern Regional 250SX class
In the Eastern Regional 250SX class, Lawrence (pictured above) took the main event win, his third of the season, and extended his points lead to eight just four rounds into the division’s championship.
When the gate dropped in the Eastern Regional 250SX class, Lawrence was credited with the holeshot but Stilez Robertson jumped past into the lead.
The two battled for the opening laps with Lawrence taking over the spot for good at the end of the first lap. Pierce Brown was next to get around Robertson with Cameron McAdoo getting past and into third before two minutes ticked off of the clock in the 15-minute plus one lap race.
At the race’s midpoint, Brown was slowly chipping away at Lawrence’s three-second lead. Then a lapped rider prevented Lawrence from jumping the finish line and Brown was on the Honda’s rear wheel.
After some close battling Lawrence inched away as McAdoo caught Brown’s rear tire. With just over four minutes left on the clock, McAdoo took over second but wasn’t able to close on Lawrence. The finish extended Lawrence’s points lead to 8 after four rounds of the 9-round regional series.
The series now heads to Indianapolis for another exciting Saturday night of racing inside Lucas Oil Stadium on March 19.
Photo courtesy Honda USA
Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here
RESULTS & STANDINGS:
450SX class result:
1 Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha
2 Malcolm Stewart, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna
3 Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS
4 Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM
5 Justin Brayton, Charlotte, N.C., Honda
6 Vince Friese, Menifee, Calif., Honda
7 Shane McElrath, Oakland, Fla., KTM
8 Justin Bogle, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Suzuki
9 Brandon Hartranft, Brick, N.J., Suzuki
10 Cade Clason, Chesterfield, S.C., Honda
450SX class championship standings:
1 Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (229)
2 Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (187)
3 Malcolm Stewart, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna (187)
4 Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (184)
5 Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (173)
6 Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (164)
7 Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM (164)
8 Dylan Ferrandis, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (141)
9 Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda (133)
10 Dean Wilson, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna (119)
Eastern Regional 250SX class results:
1 Jett Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda
2 Cameron McAdoo, Sioux City, Iowa, Kawasaki
3 Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS
4 RJ Hampshire, Minneola, Fla., Husqvarna
5 Jordon Smith, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
6 Mitchell Oldenburg, Aledo, Tex., Honda
7 Phillip Nicoletti, Bethel, N.Y., Yamaha
8 Stilez Robertson, Bakersfield, Calif., Husqvarna
9 Enzo Lopes, Indian Trail, N.C., Yamaha
10 Joshua Varize, Perris, Calif., Husqvarna
Eastern Regional 250SX class championship standings:
1 Jett Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (99)
2 Cameron McAdoo, Sioux City, Iowa, Kawasaki (91)
3 Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS (68)
4 Stilez Robertson, Bakersfield, Calif., Husqvarna (67)
5 Enzo Lopes, Indian Trail, N.C., Yamaha (64)
6 Jordon Smith, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda (63)
7 RJ Hampshire, Minneola, Fla., Husqvarna (60)
8 Phillip Nicoletti, Bethel, N.Y., Yamaha (58)
9 Mitchell Oldenburg, Aledo, Tex., Honda (50)
10 Jeremy Martin, Rochester, Minn., Yamaha (42)