Cycle News Staff | April 27, 2019
Things might not have gone Cooper Webb’s way for most of the day at the East Rutherford Supercross in New Jersey for the second-to-last round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series at MetLife Stadium. However, like so many times this year, Webb still managed another victory despite not being the dominated rider of the night. Even he thanked his rivals afterward for the gifts (crashes that helped him get the win). It was his seventh victory of the season, and he goes into the final round next week in Las Vegas with a comfortable points lead.
East Rutherford Supercross 450SX Video Highlights
East Rutherford Supercross 250sx East Video Highlights
Webb Wins East Rutherford Supercross 2019
Webb, Osborne and Tomac made up the 450SX podium. Photos: Rob Koy
Zach Osborne (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) had a shot at his first 450SX win of his career but ended up settling for second (a victim of a semi-crash), while Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki), who certainly had his chances to win, ended up third after a thoroughly frustrating night that saw him crash multiple times.
Off the start of the 450SX main, Webb came out with the lead and soon was challenged by Tomac. Tomac made the pass on Webb but was unable to gap him before he crashed in the whoops section of the track, giving the lead back to Webb. Tomac dropped back to fourth.
Webb was unable to hold the point position for long. He eventually gave way to Osborne who was desperate to grab his first career 450SX win. Unfortunately for him, he suffered a similar fate as Tomac. A bobble in a rhythm section left him almost crashing and handing the lead back to Webb. Osborne regrouped in third.
Tomac, however, was on the move again. On the 18th of 20 laps, Tomac took over second place but still had about a second or so between himself and Webb. But Tomac crashed again in the same section of the track that he fell in earlier, crashing into the exact same Tuff Block, as well. That fall cost him second place and valuable points on Webb, who took the win ahead of Osborne and Tomac.
After the race, Webb revealed that he came into the race feeling ill but kept it a secret, which became evident as he was coughing while removing his helmet after the race.
Webb said from the podium: “[The win is] a great momentum booster for me. Having another win for me and the team that works so hard is awesome, but anything can happen, as we saw tonight, but it is nice to come in with a bigger lead.
“I felt like crap all day and all week, so to be out here at all was great, the goal was a top five, so to come away with a win was incredible.”
With one race left, Web enjoys a comfortable 23-point lead over Tomac and looks to be a shoe-in for the next supercross champion.
Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM), who came into the race as the only other rider besides Tomac within striking distance of his teammate, Webb, went down in the first turn and salvaged a fifth. Musquin now trails Musquin by 31 points. He is no longer in championship contention.
Sexton Takes Over 250SX East Points Lead with East Rutherford win
Chase Sexton scored the 250SX East win.
In the 250SX East class, the racing wasn’t exactly thrilling, but there was plenty of drama to make up for it. Points leader Austin Forkner (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) came into the race nursing a severely injured knee but things looked promising for him. He qualified well and was running up front early in the 250SX East main before coming up short over a jump and over-stressing the knee. He was forced to pull out of the race in pain and see a certain championship just a few weeks ago wash away.
Geico Honda’s Chase Sexton, the nearest rider to Forkner in the championship, went on to win the race ahead of Monster Energy/Yamaha Star Racing teammates Mitchell Oldenburg and Justin Cooper, who was the closest to Sexton in points going into the race.
In the main, Alex Martin earned the holeshot on his JGR Suzuki but fell on the first lap, handing the lead over to Marin Davalos (Monster Energy/ Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki).
Sexton, however, ran Davalos down and passed him for the lead on the seventh lap and never looked back after that.
“I’m so pumped, it feels so good,” Sexton said. “I have been waiting for this for two, three years and it just feels so good.”
Davalos eventually gave way to both Cooper and Oldenburg, who showed no favortism for his teammate and passed him for second. Oldenburg was clearly faster than Cooper on this night and later said there were no team orders to stay behind him, so he went in pursuit of what he hoped would be his first-career win. He was happy with second, though.
Cooper admitted that he just didn’t have it on this day and settled for a disappointing third.
Davalos held on for fourth, while Brandon Hartranft (CycleTrader/Rock River Yamaha) rounded out the top five.
Kyle Peters and teammate Alex Martin ended up sixth and seventh, respectively.
Sexton is now the 250SX East points leader and leads Cooper by nine points. Forkner is now third, 22 points behind Sexton.
– LEXI THOMPSON
East Rutherford Supercross Results 2019 – 450SX
East Rutherford Supercross Results 2019 – 250SX East
East Rutherford Supercross Qualifying Results
Qualifying is completed at the East Rutherford Supercross in New Jersey, April 27, 2019. It’s the second-to-last round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series, and, with a little bit of luck on his side, Cooper Webb could clinch the 450SX title tonight, but Eli Tomac and Marvin Musquin would both have to have a terrible night. However, that doesn’t seem likely based on what happened in this morning/afternoon’s qualifying.
Musquin Is The Top 450SX Qualifier at the East Rutherford Supercross 2019
Musquin Tops 450SX Qualifying At East Rutherford Supercross: Photos: Rob Koy
In the 450SX class, Musquin (Red Bull KTM) earned the fastest qualifying time of the day with a 51.848-second time.
Ken Roczen (Honda HRC) was hauling, as well, his time was just .7 seconds off Musquin’s with a 52.055. Despite a crash in the second session, Roczen is the second-quickest 450SX-class qualifier overall.
Joey Savatgy (Monster Energy Kawasaki) earned the third-place spot with teammate Eli Tomac trailing behind him in fourth. Season points leader Webb (Red Bull KTM) rounded out the top five.
Webb has an 18-point lead over Tomac in the 450SX Championship. Musquin is third another five points back.
Roczen Impressive In East Rutherford Supercross Qualifying
Ken Roczen looked good in qualifying (despite having one crash).
In the 250SX East class, title contender, Chase Sexton (Geico Honda) was able to take the first-place spot in qualifying, giving him his first choice gate pick for the heat race later on. Not far behind is Mitchell Oldenberg (Monster Energy/ Star Racing/Yamaha) who came up just short of clinching the top spot.
However, the one rider who everyone is keeping a close eye on is points leader Austin Forkner (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki). He is nursing an injured knee yet still managed an impressive third. He’s almost exactly a second off the pace of the two riders ahead of him.
Sexton Leads The Way In 250SX East Qualifying at East Rutherford Supercross
Chase Sexton is the top 250SX East qualifier.
Jace Owen (Phoenix Racing/Honda), an Arenacross title winner, qualified in the fourth position.
Brandon Hartranft rounded out the top five on the Cycle Trader/ Rock River Yamaha.
New York native Justin Cooper (62), on the Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha, has the home-track advantage and qualified seventh overall.
Geico Honda’s Christian Craig (38) is back after suffering an injury to his thumb in the early parts of the season. He started solidly in qualifying number one, but suffered a crash in number two, leaving him just inside the top 10.
Forkner Off To Steady Start Despite Tender Knee
Austin Forkner is look good despite his bum knee.
Forkner leads Sexton by just three points in the championship, 151-148. Cooper is third with 144. Oldenburg is tied for fifth with Alex Martin. Both riders have 105 points. (Martin Davalos is fourth in points with 115.)
Despite steady rain yesterday and the roof-less stadium, the track is holding up quite well and looks to be in great shape. There is no rain in the forecast for the rest of the day.
-LEXI THOMPSON
East Rutherford Supercross 450SX Qualifying Results
East Rutherford Supercross 250SX East Qualifying Results 2019
Click here for complete qualifying results.
East Rutherford Supercross Pre-Race Notes
Monster Energy Supercross returns to action at MetLife Stadium tomorrow, April 27, for the East Rutherford Supercross, the second-to-last round of the 2019 AMA Supercross Championship. The New Jersey race is a bit different than most of the others, as it will be an early-evening race, with the first 250SX heat race set to go off at 5:06 p.m. (EST). The 450SX main event will leave the start line at 7:29 p.m. (EST).
East Rutherford Supercross Qualifying And Race Schedule
Track walk starts at 10:15 a.m. (EST), and the first timed qualifying gets underway at 11:15 a.m. (EST). There will be no free practice.
In other news, Austin Forkner (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Team) will suit up for tomorrow’s race. The 250SX East points leader sat out the previous round with a knee injury but said he feels good enough to race in New Jersey.
The team said that after putting in the work at physical therapy, Forkner has made positive strides in his recovery to feel confident enough to line up on Saturday.
“I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how well the therapy has been going on my knee, and I’ve really been trying to keep a positive attitude about the situation,” said Forkner. “The whole team has been really supportive and doing everything they can to make sure I have what I need to try and bring them home a championship.”
Forkner leads Chase Sexton (Geico Honda) by just three points in the 250SX East Championship, 151-148. Justin Cooper (Monster Energy/Star Racing Yamaha) is third another four back with 144 points.
Forkner In, Wilson Out For East Rutherford SX
Austin Forkner will suit up for tomorrows East Rutherford Supercross. Photo: Rob Koy
However, Dean Wilson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) won’t be suiting up. He announced earlier this week that he’s going to sit out the rest of the series after suffering a shoulder injury and a contusion on his kidney at the previous round in Denver.
Wilson wrote on Instagram: “…I injured my shoulder and got a contusion on my kidneys. Got MRI and good news is I dodged a bullet on my shoulder and I am just going to give it a few weeks of rest and therapy and see where we are at. Huge disappointment to end my SX season like this…I will be back.”
Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) leads the 450SX Championship with 332 points, followed by Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) with 314 points and Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM) with 309 points. Ken Roczen (Honda HRC) is fourth with 283 points.
