Ryan Nitzen | April 30, 2022
Eli Tomac can now say he’s a two-time Monster Energy AMA Supercross Champion. He proved that his switch to Yamaha at the end of 2021 was the right one after clinching the 2022 title a round early at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.
The Monster Energy/Star Racing Team celebrates clinching the 2022 Supercross title in Denver. Photos: BrownDog Wilson
Tomac came into the race needing only to finish 14th or better, so baring a disaster, it was only a formality for the Coloradoan, who enjoyed winning the number-one plate in front of his home crowd. Tomac got into the lead early in the main event and held it there for a while before playing it safe and crossing the finish line in fifth place. He wanted no part in any funny business on what was an extremely hard-packed, slick, and tricky racetrack.
Jason Anderson, the only rider who had a mathematical chance of denying Tomac the 2022 title, went on to win the race for the third straight time and the sixth of the season. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider, however, has a lock on second place in the championship with one round left to go.
Jason Anderson captured his third straight win and sixth of the season.
Tomac inherited the lead when Chase Sexton got out of control and went down early in the race, nearly collecting third-place Anderson, as well. The Kawasaki rider then chased down Tomac, who put up no fight whatsoever when Anderson came calling. From there, the race was all Anderson’s.
Malcolm Stewart and Marvin Musquin also got by Tomac unabated and went on to fill out the podium, Stewart 13 seconds behind Anderson, and Musquin another 20 seconds in back of Stewart.
Sexton also got around Tomac later in the race and took fourth.
After Tomac came Cooper Webb followed by Justin Barcia, Justin Brayton, Mitchell Oldenburg, and Kyle Chisholm.
“To think back to deciding to make a change [Kawasaki to Yamaha]—unbelievable,” Tomac said. “Always make you speechless.”
Tomac dropped a shocker on the podium when he said his so-so results as of late had to do with a knee injury that he’s been keeping a secret, saying he tweaked it at the Atlanta Supercross two races ago. “I was pretty calm today [regarding the championship being on the line]; I was more freaked out at Atlanta and Boston because of the knee. It was jacked and still is. I wanted to give the Denver fans more today, they were really engaged today.”
Tomac is the first Yamaha rider to win the 450SX title since James Stewart in 2009.
Malcolm Stewart (left), Anderson (center) and Marvin Musquin made up the Denver podium.
With first and second now locked, the race for the very important third-place finish in the championship is still very much up for grabs going into Salt Lake next week. Stewart currently holds the position with 295 points, followed by Justin Barcia, seventh today, with 291 points, and Musquin with 287.
250SX West
The only championship that is still undecided going into the final round is the 250SX West Championship. Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Christian Craig had a chance to clinch it in Denver but first had to beat Honda HR’s Hunter Lawrence to get it done. Craig was in a position to do that, too. He was challenging and pressuring Lawrence for the lead on the fifth lap when he went down on the slippery track. He got back up in seventh. Craig charged through the pack to third where he would finish, which was impressive but not enough to clinch the title, he’ll have to wait until next week to hopefully for him and his team to wrap it up at the East/West Shootout, which will add a bit more pressure than he would’ve wanted. But he has some breathing room. He leads Lawrence by 18 points.
Hunter Lawrence kept the 250SX West title race alive with the 250cc win.
All Lawrence can do now is go for the win and hope for the best in Salt Lake. He is the only rider capable of denying Craig the 250SX West Championship.
Finishing sandwiched between winner Lawrence and Craig was TLD/Red Bull/GasGas’ Michael Mosiman who crossed the finish line four seconds behind Lawrence and three seconds ahead of Craig.
Michael Mosiman took second in the 250SX West main.
Jo Shimoda and Garrett Marchbanks rounded out the top five.
Mosiman has at least locked third in the championship, while Vince Friese and Shimoda are tied on points in fourth. CN
Christian Craig still has a good chance to wrap up the 250SX West title at the Salt Lake final.
MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES
ROUND 16 OF 17
EMPOWER FIELD AT MILE HIGH – DENVER, CO
RESULTS (April 30, 2022)
450SX Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
26 laps |
| 2. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
+13.860 |
| 3. |
Marvin Musquin |
(KTM) |
+33.779 |
| 4. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
+39.951 |
| 5. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
+1:02.966 |
| 6. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
+1:13.216 |
| 7. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
+1:33.980 |
| 8. |
Justin Brayton |
(Hon) |
25 Laps |
| 9. |
Mitchell Oldenburg |
(Hon) |
+03.203 |
| 10. |
Kyle Chisholm |
(Yam) |
+36.872 |
250SX West Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
20 Laps |
| 2. |
Michael Mosiman |
(GG) |
+04.042 |
| 3. |
Christian Craig |
(Yam) |
+07.495 |
| 4. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Kaw) |
+11.183 |
| 5. |
Garrett Marchbanks |
(Yam) |
+25.575 |
| 6. |
Vince Friese |
(Hon) |
+29.409 |
| 7. |
Chris Blose |
(GG) |
+30.413 |
| 8. |
Robbie Wageman |
(Yam) |
+32.444 |
| 9. |
Nate Thrasher |
(Yam) |
+39.720 |
| 10. |
Jalek Swoll |
(Hus) |
+41.348 |
DENVER QUALIFYING
450SX
Chase Sexton and Jason Anderson went at it again today trading fast laps during the second qualifying session. Sexton grabbed the top spot for the third week in a row, while Tomac snatched the second-fastest time late in the session. Anderson ended up falling during his last chance at a hot lap, which dropped him to third.
Chase Sexton qualified first for the third week in a row. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Eli Tomac was second in qualifying. He can clinch the title tonight if he finishes 14th or better.
Jason Anderson clocked the third fastest time.
250SX
Hunter Lawrence and Christian Craig went back and forth during the entire qualifying session, but Lawrence ended up with the advantage by just two-tenths. Garrett Marchbanks clocked the third fastest time.
Hunter Lawrence qualified first. If he beats Craig tonight, the title will get pushed back another week.
Craig just missed the top spot by two-tenths.
Garrett Marchbanks looked good and qualified third.
QUALIFYING
450SX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
44.624 |
| 2. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
44.677 |
| 3. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
44.711 |
| 4. |
Marvin Musquin |
(KTM) |
44.732 |
| 5. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
45.559 |
| 6. |
Justin Brayton |
(Hon) |
45.756 |
| 7. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
45.803 |
| 8. |
Alex Martin |
(Yam) |
45.895 |
| 9. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
45.910 |
| 10. |
Justin Bogle |
(Suz) |
46.169 |
250SX West Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Hunter Lawrence |
(Hon) |
45.252 |
| 2. |
Christian Craig |
(Yam) |
45.405 |
| 3. |
Garrett Marchbanks |
(Yam) |
45.872 |
| 4. |
Jo Shimoda |
(Kaw) |
46.395 |
| 5. |
Michael Mosiman |
(GG) |
46.402 |
| 6. |
Vince Friese |
(Hon) |
46.656 |
| 7. |
Jalek Swoll |
(Hus) |
46.714 |
| 8. |
Nate Thrasher |
(Yam) |
46.847 |
| 9. |
Chris Blose |
(GG) |
46.922 |
| 10. |
Carson Mumford |
(Suz) |
47.328 |
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