Cycle News Staff | February 12, 2022
The 2022 season is sparing no drama and each race proves to be another nail-biter. Anaheim three played host to round six of the series where we saw a pair of repeat winners, Jason Anderson and Christian Craig. There’s no shortage of action unfolding and we’re here to bring you everything that happened on track.
450SX
Hot temps today were just a precursor for the heated battles on track at Anaheim three. At the end of the 22 lap main event it was Jason Anderson who took home the victory.
Anderson and Eli Tomac came through the holeshot line neck and neck as they blitzed through the long opening whoop section. The clear track allowed these two to open up a gap on third place right away. The Kawasaki rider fended off the charging Tomac in second and minimized mistakes in the treacherous whoop section. Anderson is credited with the holeshot, leading all 22 laps, and taking the race win.
Anderson led all 22 laps tonight.
Tomac pressured Anderson for almost the entire main event and the two even exchanged momentary passes for the lead in the early laps. Tomac just couldn’t make a pass stick and also struggled with mishaps in the whoops. He never hit the ground but gave up 3.5 seconds to Anderson at the finish. A solid second-place finish allows Tomac to hold onto the points lead, 12 over Anderson who is now second in the standings.
Justin Barcia is back on the box tonight with a third place finish. The TLD Red Bull GasGas rider won his heat race and sat solidly in fourth for the early stages of the main event. He followed behind KTM’s Marvin Musquin until an incident with a lapper caused Musquin to crash. This handed the position to Barcia and he never looked back. This is Barcia’s third third-place finish of the season and he is fifth in the overall standings.
Malcolm Stewart brought home fourth tonight. The Husqvarna rider is fresh off a career-best finish in Glendale and lands another solid top-five tonight. Malcolm’s been one of the most consistent riders of 2022 and is fourth in the overall championship.
Tough night for Marvin Musquin as the Red Bull KTM rider looked to be on target for a podium result. He tagged the rear end of a lapped rider in the sand section and fell. After remounting, he logged fifth on the night.
Anaheim three 450SX podium
450SX Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
22 Laps |
| 2. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
03.481 |
| 3. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
09.630 |
| 4. |
Malcom Stewart |
(Hus) |
16.973 |
| 5. |
Marvin Musquin |
(KTM) |
21.343 |
| 6. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Yam) |
28.692 |
| 7. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
33.331 |
| 8. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
40.552 |
| 9. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
43.689 |
| 10. |
Justin Brayton |
(Hon) |
48.010 |
250SX
What a wild night in the 250SX division. This is the last round of west coast racing for about a month. The series heads east next week which will kick off the east coast swing of racing. Christian Craig and Garrett Marchbanks won their heat races earlier on in the night. Jo Shimoda crashed out of his heat race and unfortunately did not line up for the main event.
In the 250 main it was once again all Christian Craig. Craig didn’t actually get the holeshot but quickly jumped into the lead after a few turns. It’s dangerous for the competition when Craig gets the lead and he went on to lead all 16 laps of the main event. Hunter Lawrence stalked Craig for the opening few laps but a crash in the whoops took him out of contention. Craig missed the chaos going on behind him and won by 25 seconds at the checkers.
Another win this season for Christian Craig.
Vince Friese rode ultra consistent tonight and finally locked down a podium spot. Even better, Friese grabbed second place, his best finish to date. Friese got the holeshot early on but was passed by Craig and Lawrence shortly after. He held his lines and hit his marks throughout the main and eventually got passed by Michael Mosiman. Late in the race, Mosiman crashed in the whoops and handed the second spot back to Friese. With only a minute-thirty left on the clock, Friese cruised it home for second place.
Michael Mosiman made it to the finish in third place after a crazy race. He went off the track in the sand section on lap one and was way down in the pack. He worked his way through the field, passing up to second at one point. Late in the race though, he took a tumble through the whoops and gave the position back to Friese. Mosiman remounted and still claimed a podium spot on the night. Mosiman announced in the press conference that he is riding with a broken hand, another testament to his ride tonight.
Big night in a bad way for Hunter Lawrence. Lawrence finally got a great start behind Craig and followed him closely for the first few laps. He became another victim of the whoops section and cartwheeled through the final three bumps with the bike hitting him in the process. Lawrence laid on the ground for some time and eventually left the track in the medical cart. This 18th place finish is certainly a huge blow for his championship hopes as he falls to third and is 29 points back from Craig.
Garrett Marchbanks looked good all day and won his heat race earlier in the night. He also fell on lap one and had his work cut out for him in the 16 lap main event. Marchbanks worked through the field and landed fourth on the night. It’s been a wild season for the Club MX Yamaha rider, but great to see him back up where the pre-season predictions put him.
Tonight’s 250SX podium.
250SX West (Top 10)
| 1. |
Christian Craig |
(Yam) |
16 Laps |
| 2. |
Vince Friese |
(Hon) |
25.423 |
| 3. |
Michael Mosiman |
(GG) |
30.169 |
| 4. |
Garrett Marchbanks |
(Yam) |
46.865 |
| 5. |
Carson Brown |
(KTM) |
49.789 |
| 6. |
Chrise Blose |
(GG) |
54.679 |
| 7. |
Robbie Wageman |
(Yam) |
57.611 |
| 8. |
Derek Kelley |
(KTM) |
15 Laps |
| 9. |
Logan Karnow |
(Kaw) |
03.914 |
| 10. |
Ryan Surratt |
(Yam) |
08.959 |
QUALIFYING (Photos: Brown Dog Wilson)
It’s a scorcher here in Anaheim for round six of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series. This is the season’s third and final stop at the big A and the last west coast round before the series heads east next week. Here’s some news from the daytime program.
Another unique track layout here in Anaheim. Riders will jump right into a long set of whoops just after the start straight. Later they’ll battle a tricky sand section and a finish line jump that crosses over the start straight. Should make for some exciting passes throughout the night.
Jason Anderson qualified first today after a nasty get-off in practice. He shook that off and looks good to go for tonight. Eli Tomac and Chase Sexton rounded off the qualifying podium. Shout out to Dean Wilson who posted the sixth fastest time and is mixing it up at the front.
Anderson topped the charts after a crash in practice.
Eli Tomac clocked in second.
Chase Sexton was third fastest.
450SX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
56.700 |
| 2. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
56.772 |
| 3. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
57.213 |
| 4. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
57.456 |
| 5. |
Marvin Musquin |
(KTM) |
57.485 |
| 6. |
Dean Wilson |
(Hus) |
57.997 |
| 7. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
58.151 |
| 8. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Yam) |
58.154 |
| 9. |
Shane McElrath |
(KTM) |
58.360 |
| 10. |
Justin Brayton |
(Hon) |
58.453 |
250SX West – No surprise here. Christian Craig is again the fastest qualifier in the 250SX West division. In fact, he was nearly an entire second faster than the next fastest rider. Shimoda and Mosiman went second and third fastest in today’s qualifying session.
Craig again put down the fastest lap in qualifying.
Shimoda turned in the second fastest time, almost a full second back from Craig.
Michael Mosiman was the third fastest 250.
250SX West Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Christian Craig |
(Yam) |
56.813 |
| 2. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Kaw) |
57.948 |
| 3. |
Michael Mosiman |
(GG) |
58.147 |
| 4. |
Nate Thrasher |
(Yam) |
58.266 |
| 5. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
58.386 |
| 6. |
Garrett Marchbanks |
(Yam) |
58.703 |
| 7. |
Vince Friese |
(Hon) |
59.970 |
| 8. |
Derek Kelley |
(KTM) |
1:00.422 |
| 9. |
Jalek Swoll |
(Hus) |
1:00.512 |
| 10. |
Carson Brown |
(KTM) |
1:01.114 |
Pics From The Pits (Photos: Ryan Nitzen)
A new kit for Cooper Webb. Decked out in a Bell helmet, Thor gear, and Alpinestars boots.
Cool piece of data acquisition on Webb’s KTM.
A new set of graphics for Christian Craig’s bike.
Malcom Stewart is fresh off a career best finish in Glendale. He looked fast again in practice.
Marvin Musquin strapping on a themed Airoh lid.
Another look at the Angels inspired helmet.
So much nostalgia coming from the BarX Suzuki pits.
Solitaire Yamaha is sporting a new title sponsor this weekend with Motul. Here’s a shot of their red and blue graphics.
Speaking of Motul, AJE Motorsports is rocking this plaid getup for A3. This kit pays homage to Pfaff Motorsports and their Porsche race cars.
Eli Tomac is still sporting the red plate.
Jerry Robin continues his stadium themes with this Lakers outfit.
Final touches on Ken Roczen’s Honda.
Heath from Alpinestars helps Aaron Plessinger get strapped in.
E-bikes are all over the Supercross pits and two of the moto manufacturers (Husqvarna and Yamaha) make e-mtb’s as well. Here’s the Husky model in their pit.
Not too often we see a full Akrapovič exhaust on a Yamaha. This is Vann Martin’s ride.
After a controversial pass attempt in last week’s 250 main, Vince Friese is ready to go tonight.
Check out this unique engine mount setup on Friese’s Honda.
The Monster Energy Freestyle riders were out in full force during the Party in the Pits.
Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas Team tightening those spokes.
Finally, some pit cart trickery. How cool are the Renthal Bars and Grips on KTM’s cart?
ProTaper’s for the Husqvarna team.
Disc brakes to stop a heavy load of factory parts.
Mandatory vintage bike shot. Name the rider and year.
