The Eli Tomac train is gaining momentum again, has has once again blasted back into the winners circle. His shoulder injury at Anaheim 1 has left him with a serious job ahead, but the #3 is on the move. The Monster Energy Kawasaki racer put on a dominant performance to hold off a charging Justin Barcia and fast-finishing Ken Roczen, Tomac led all 23 laps.
“That was a big, big push,” Tomac said on the podium. “The pressure behind me was there the entire time; you couldn’t miss a line. I nailed everything … That was just awesome. We put in a big effort all day and to go out on top was the best.”
Barcia earned his third podium with a second-place finish from the start, ahead of the battle for third. By the checkered flag, Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen captured third and his second podium of the season ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson. Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Marvin Musquin found a much-needed top five finish as he recovers from injury.
In the 250SX Class Main Event, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy and the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM ride of Shane McElrath, who both came into the race with red number plates and tied in points, ran wheel-to-wheel ahead of the Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha Aaron Plessinger after the start. McElrath found an inside line on Savatgy and caught the lead until Plessinger found a way around both of them for the win and regained the points lead.
450SX Class Results
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki
2. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha
3. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda
4. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna
5. Marvin Musquin, Clermont, Fla., KTM
6. Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki
7. Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., Honda
8. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
9. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrance, Calif., KTM
10. Joshua Grant, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki
450SX Class Championship Standings
1. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna (89)
2. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha (80)
3. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda (77)
4. Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki (71)
5. Cole Seely, Newbury Park, Calif., Honda (70)
6. Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., Honda (68)
7. Joshua Grant, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki (58)
8. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrance, Calif., KTM (57)
9. Marvin Musquin, Clermont, Fla., KTM (54)
10. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Co., Kawasaki (53)
Western Regional 250SX Class Results
1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha
2. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM
3. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna, Fla., Kawasaki
4. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki
5. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
6. Bradley Taft, Nixo, MO, Yamaha
7. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki
8. Mitchell Harrison, Tallahassee, Fla., Husqvarna
9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha
10. Christian Craig, Orange, Calif. Honda
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (92)
2. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM (91)
3. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki (87)
4. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna, Fla., Kawasaki (77)
5. Christian Craig, Orange, Calif. Honda (70)
6. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (69)
7. Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, Yamaha (58)
8. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki (58)
9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha (53)
10. Bradley Taft, Nixo, Mo., Yamaha (51)