Cycle News Staff | March 12, 2022
What. A. Night. The racing in Detroit was unlike anything we’ve seen all year. A tight track with tricky soil conditions made for close action and tons of drama. In the end, Eli Tomac and Jett Lawrence came out on top.
450SX
A wild start to the 450 main event was simply a foreshadow for the race. Justin Bogle on the HEP Suzuki machine grabbed the holeshot and the early lead. Bogle led the first two laps of the race before eventually finishing eighth.
Justin Barcia took over the lead from Bogle and proceeded to lead the next three laps of the race. The GasGas rider suffered a practice crash earlier in the week that required seven stitches to his right-middle finger and the fact that he was riding at all showed true heart. Barcia found himself locked in battles for the entirety of the 27 lap race. He duked it out with the likes of Cooper Webb, Malcolm Stewart, and Eli Tomac just to name a few. Carnage ensued throughout the main but Barcia rode a safe race to finish third.
Barcia is riding with seven stitches in his finger and still finished third. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Many picked Malcolm Stewart as the favorite tonight and for good reason. The Husqvarna rider qualified first and won his heat race earlier in the night. Come the main event though, Stewart started ninth and was forced to make his way through the pack. He got as far as fourth but bobbled in the whoops and ran off the track. The number-27 re-entered the track and got back the positions he gave up. Stewart rode great and crashes from other riders bumped him into second place come the checkers. He is now tied for second place in the overall standings, down 42 points.
Malcolm Stewart won his heat race and finished second on the night.
Eli Tomac came out on top in Detroit. The points leader started outside the lead pack but made his way into the lead by the half-way mark. He stalked Jason Anderson before taking the top spot and got the pass done through the whoop section. From there, the Yamaha rider led the remainder of the main and fended off a close Anderson. Tomac is now the first rider to win three-in-a-row this season and breaks Ryan Villopoto’s all time record. Another victory puts Tomac 42 points clear of Anderson and Stewart.
With a victory in Detroit, Tomac beats Ryan Villopoto’s all-time win record.
The real drama of the race took place in the form of crashes from the rest of the 450 class. Jason Anderson started up front and took the lead from Justin Barcia and looked to be a threat at the front of the field. He later gave up the lead to Tomac but stayed close until two successive crashes forced him out of the race. Anderson hit the deck after the finish line but remounted only to fall in the following corner. He looked dazed and pulled out of the race right after. A result of 21st is a huge hit to his championship hopes as he falls back to 42 points behind Tomac.
Detroit 450SX Podium
Another huge incident took place between Chase Sexton and Cooper Webb. The two were battling inside the top five when Webb cased the initial triple of a rhythm section. Sexton looked to avoid Webb but the two crossed paths with Sexton landing his Honda on Webb’s head and shoulder. Sexton was sent straight to the ground, ripping his jersey in half in the process. Somehow Webb remounted and rode multiple laps one-handed. He later pulled off the track after being lapped multiple times.
RESULTS 450SX
| 1. |
Eli Tomac |
(Kaw) |
27 Laps |
| 2. |
Malcom Stewart |
(Hus) |
+03.556 |
| 3. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
+05.606 |
| 4. |
Marvin Musquin |
(KTM) |
+24.992 |
| 5. |
Justin Brayton |
(Hon) |
+36.733 |
| 6. |
Vince Friese |
(Hon) |
+41.213 |
| 7. |
Shane Mcelrath |
(KTM) |
+43.331 |
| 8. |
Justin Bogle |
(Suz) |
26 Laps |
| 9. |
Brandon Hartranft |
(Suz) |
+17.501 |
| 10. |
Cade Clason |
(Hon) |
+24.606 |
250SX
The 250SX main event was a tooth and nail battle as no one had a true advantage on the tight Detroit track. Jett Lawrence managed to edge the field to the line for the holeshot, but it was Stilez Robertson again taking the early lead. He held the front spot until turn two where he was overtaken by both Lawrence and Pierce Brown.
Pierce Brown scored his second career podium with a third.
From there it was smooth sailing for Lawrence who went on to lead every lap of the 21 lap main event. Things did get close at one point as Jett approached lapped riders and was forced to roll the finish line on one of the laps. This allowed Brown to get within striking distance but he never managed to get a wheel on the number-18 machine. Lawrence proceeded to re-open his lead and took the eventual win. Another victory allows Lawrence to increase his overall points lead to eight over Mcadoo.
Cameron Mcadoo came through the pack to finish second.
Cameron Mcadoo claimed second tonight. After starting sixth, the Kawasaki rider had his work cut out for him. He made passes early and got himself into third place. Mcadoo relied on his whoop speed to overtake Pierce Brown with five minutes remaining and secured the second position. By this time though, Lawrence was too far gone and Mcadoo settled for second.
Another perfect day for Jett Lawrence – fastest qualifier, heat win, main event win.
Pierce Brown had a great showing in Detroit. The GasGas rider won his heat race early in the night and started up front in the main event. He quickly moved into second behind Lawrence and even looked to be a threat for the lead once the lappers came into play. Late in the race, Brown surrendered second place to Mcadoo in the whoop section. The two stayed close for the final few laps with Brown finishing third. This is Brown’s second career podium.
Detroit 250SX Podium
RESULTS 250SX
| 1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
21 Laps |
| 2. |
Cameron Mcadoo |
(Kaw) |
+06.459 |
| 3. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
+10.151 |
| 4. |
RJ Hampshire |
(Hus) |
+20.879 |
| 5. |
Jordon Smith |
(Hon) |
+24.121 |
| 6. |
Mitchell Oldenburg |
(Hon) |
+32.570 |
| 7. |
Phil Nicoletti |
(Yam) |
+40.255 |
| 8. |
Stilez Robertson |
(Hus) |
+47.055 |
| 9. |
Enzo Lopes |
(Yam) |
20 Laps |
| 10. |
Josh Varize |
(Hus) |
+07.159 |
QUALIFYING
By now we’re well past the half-way mark in the 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series. The season heads to Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan for round 10. Here’s some action from the morning’s qualifying action.
450SX
The big news in the 450 class is the absence of Ken Roczen. The Honda HRC rider openly opted out of the remaining rounds of the series to better his health. In qualifying though, it was all Malcolm Stewart. He went down late in the session but only after he posted the fastest time. The top four riders all clicked off times in the 43-second range.
Malcolm Stewart is today’s fastest qualifier. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Chase Sexton was second this afternoon.
450SX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
43.568 |
| 2. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
43.701 |
| 3. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
43.716 |
| 4. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
43.983 |
| 5. |
Dylan Ferrandis |
(Yam) |
44.033 |
| 6. |
Marvin Musquin |
(KTM) |
44.063 |
| 7. |
Dean Wilson |
(Hus) |
44.573 |
| 8. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
44.214 |
| 9. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
44.844 |
| 10. |
Justin Brayton |
(Hon) |
44.987 |
250SX
Jett Lawrence again topped the 250SX division being the only rider to touch the 43-second mark. Pierce Brown and Cameron Mcadoo qualified second and third. Mcadoo mentioned a knee injury in last weekend’s heat race, but says he’s good to go for tonight. Kyle Chisholm is filling in on the Star Racing Yamaha team as both Jeremy Martin and Levi Kitchen are both injured. Chiz went ninth fastest in the 250 class.
Jett Lawrence was the only 250 rider to break the 43 second mark.
Pierce Brown looks fast going into the night show. He was second in the 250SX class.
Despite a minor knee injury at Daytona, Mcadoo looks fast and qualified third.
250SX East Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
43.856 |
| 2. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
44.170 |
| 3. |
Cameron Mcadoo |
(Kaw) |
44.480 |
| 4. |
Jordon Smith |
(Hon) |
44.915 |
| 5. |
RJ Hampshire |
(Hus) |
44.998 |
| 6. |
Enzo Lopes |
(Yam) |
45.316 |
| 7. |
Mitchell Oldenburg |
(Hon) |
45.325 |
| 8. |
Stilez Robertson |
(Hus) |
45.789 |
| 9. |
Kyle Chisholm |
(Yam) |
45.934 |
| 10. |
Jace Owen |
(Yam) |
46.189 |
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