Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson grabbed the final race win of the year at the 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championships at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Utah, while Christian Craig took the final title on offer for the season.
The event wrapped up the 17-round series of Monster Energy AMA Supercross racing.
Honda’s Chase Sexton rode a steady ride for second and GasGas rider Justin Barcia took third in a dramatic race that had the fans on their feet.
In the 250SX class racing, Nate Thrasher took his first victory of the year, besting the top riders from both regions in the season wrap-up Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Showdown. His Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team-mate Christian Craig wrapped up the Western Regional 250SX Class title with an eighth place finish.
When the gate dropped for the final race of the 2022 season, Justin Bogle grabbed the holeshot ahead of 2021 Champion Cooper Webb, Anderson, and Sexton.
Anderson charged early, getting past Webb before the first lap was complete then taking over the lead less than two minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap main event.
Sexton was quickly into second and the two front runners steadily distanced themselves from the pack. But there was plenty of action behind them.
Third place overall for the season was on the line with only eight points separating Malcolm Stewart, Barcia, and Marvin Musquin.
Less than four minutes into the race, Barcia moved into third place with Webb in fourth, Stewart in fifth, and Musquin in sixth. Stewart was the rider on the move, battling past Webb then getting around Barcia just before the race’s halfway point.
Just a few corners later the stadium erupted when Barcia dove across the inside of a 180-degree bowl turn and made hard contact on Stewart. Stewart popped off his bike as if it had vanished beneath him. The Husqvarna rider was quickly back up and charging to regain positions.
The crowd saw the potential for an incredible battle. As Stewart made his way forward the entire stadium was screaming. Stewart was up to Barcia’s rear fender as the clock ticked past zero. On the final lap, a lapped rider briefly held up Stewart and the last lap clash never took place.
At the chequered flag, Anderson grabbed his fourth win in a row, earning his seventh victory in 2022.
Sexton was close but not within striking distance of a win and capped the season with a second place finish.
Barcia grabbed the last podium spot of the year to the sounds of a crowd that did not approve of the pass that got him there.
On the podium Barcia owned the move and reminded the crowd that a season podium position was on the line in the high-pressure sport that awards handsome bonus money to top finishes. As it was, Stewart’s fourth place finish was enough to earn him that third season-overall spot, and bonus, for the year.
The 2022 450SX Class season concluded with Eli Tomac, who was out healing an injury at the final race, taking his second premier class title.
Anderson finished second on the season with seven wins, eclipsing his 4-win 2018 championship title -winning year. And in the tightly-contested battle Stewart grabbed third overall in the 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.
250 CLASS
The 250SX Class racing in Utah was equally intense. The class’ final race put both regional divisions on the track together in the second of two Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Showdowns in 2022.
With the title on the line, Craig pulled the holeshot but Australian Hunter Lawrence was quickly past and at the front. Lawrence needed a win and needed Craig to finish 15th or worse to take the title.
The surprise came when Nate Thrasher began to apply pressure on Craig for second place early in the race. Thrasher took the spot and within about one lap was also past Lawrence and in the lead.
The top three held steady until Craig crashed in the corner after the whoops. Craig was quickly back up and rode a conservative ride to eighth to secure the title. Thrasher took the evening with a strong win ahead of Lawrence and Utah racer Pierce Brown.
Christian Craig wrapped up the 2022 Western Regional 250SX Class Championship with eight place.
Lawrence’s brother Jett Lawrence had earlier wrapped up the 2022 Eastern Regional 250SX class crown.
Photo courtesy Kawasaki
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RESULTS & STANDINGS:
450SX Class Results:
1 Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki
2 Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
3 Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS
4 Malcolm Stewart, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna
5 Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM
6 Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM
7 Justin Brayton, Charlotte, N.C., Honda
8 Brandon Hartranft, Brick, N.J., Suzuki
9 Justin Starling, Deland, Fla., GASGAS
10 Ryan Breece, Athol, Idaho, Yamaha
450SX Class Championship Final Standings:
1 Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (359 points)
2 Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (350 points)
3 Malcolm Stewart, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna (314 points)
4 Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM (305 points)
5 Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (302 points)
6 Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (292 points)
7 Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (278 points)
8 Brandon Hartranft, Brick, N.J., Suzuki (178 points)
9 Justin Brayton, Charlotte, N.C., Honda (176 points)
10 Dean Wilson, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna (152 points)
Dave Coombs Sr East/West Showdown Results:
1 Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha
2 Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda
3 Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS
4 RJ Hampshire, Minneola, Fla., Husqvarna
5 Jo Shimoda, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
6 Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki
7 Michael Mosiman, Minneaola, Fla., GASGAS
8 Christian Craig, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha
9 Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., GASGAS
10 Jalek Swoll, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Final Standings:
1 Christian Craig, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (230 points)
2 Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (220 points)
3 Michael Mosiman, Minneaola, Fla., GASGAS (197 points)
4 Jo Shimoda, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki (162 points)
5 Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha (152 points)
6 Vince Friese, Menifee, Calif., Honda (150 points)
7 Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., GASGAS (120 points)
8 Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Yamaha (117 points)
9 Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha (109 points)
10 Jalek Swoll, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna (106 points)
Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship Final Standings:
1 Jett Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (192 points)
2 RJ Hampshire, Minneola, Fla., Husqvarna (158 points)
3 Pierce Brown, Sandy, Utah, GASGAS (149 points)
4 Mitchell Oldenburg, Aledo, Tex., Honda (132 points)
5 Enzo Lopes, Indian Trail, N.C., Yamaha (117 points)
6 Jordon Smith, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda (116 points)
7 Cameron McAdoo, Sioux City, Iowa, Kawasaki (114 points)
8 Jace Owen, Mattoon, Ill., Yamaha (101 points)
9 Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki (98 points)
10 Derek Drake, Lake Elsinore, Caif., Suzuki (88 points)