Ryan Nitzen | April 23, 2022
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series is inside Gillette Stadium for round 15. It’s been a big day for both classes because both Jett Lawrence and Eli Tomac had the opportunity to clinch their respective championships two rounds early. Lawrence needed to finish 26 points ahead of RJ Hampshire while Tomac needed to be 52 points clear of Jason Anderson. When the checkered flags flew fans saw Austin Forkner take the 250SX win while Anderson claimed the 450 victory.
450SX
A championship on the line made for a suspenseful start to the 450SX main event. The star-studded field all seemed to start up front as Cooper Webb, Jason Anderson, Eli Tomac, and Chase Sexton led from the get-go.
Webb held the top spot for the opening few laps as Anderson and Tomac dueled behind him. As they pushed up to Webb, Anderson made a close pass to Tomac which resulted in him stalling the Yamaha and dropping to sixth.
Shortly after, Anderson made the pass for the lead. Webb tried to defend and showed Anderson a wheel but couldn’t make it stick. The Kawasaki rider did not relinquish the lead from this point forward. Another win for Anderson comes at a clutch time as he pushes the championship another weekend back.
Jason Anderson put in a clutch win and pushed the championship back another week. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Chase Sexton was fast all night and the only rider who looked to challenge Anderson. The Honda rider set the fastest time of the race but struggled with lappers along the way. He rode consistent laps to log second at the finish.
Chase Sexton was arguably the fastest rider of the day and finished second.
Marvin Musquin rode to another quiet podium in Foxborough. He got a decent start and made quick work of his teammate Webb. The number-25 held tough in third for practically the entire main event and came home with a solid podium finish.
Marvin Musquin rounded out the podium in third.
Tomac will have to wait at least another week for his championship celebration. The points leader got a great start and looked to be a challenger early on. After Anderson made an aggressive pass which resulted in Tomac stalling his bike, the number-three looked to play it safe and not take any unnecessary risks. He rode a smooth and safe race to finish seventh.
450SX Podium
450SX Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
24 Laps |
| 2. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
+03.111 |
| 3. |
Marvin Musquin |
(KTM) |
+18.166 |
| 4. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
+23.020 |
| 5. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
+23.745 |
| 6. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
+29.891 |
| 7. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
+32.821 |
| 8. |
Vince Friese |
(Hon) |
23 Laps |
| 9. |
Alex Martin |
(Yam) |
+06.467 |
| 10. |
Brandon Hartranft |
(Suz) |
+21.015 |
250SX
After a wild start to the day for the 250SX riders it was time to drop the gate for their main event. Phoenix Honda’s Cullin Park grabbed the holeshot and led the first lap just ahead of Pierce Brown. Brown took the lead shortly after and proceeded to lead for most of the main event. The rest of the players like RJ Hampshire, Austin Forkner, and Jett Lawrence didn’t have similar luck off the start and were forced to come through the pack.
Hampshire made his way into second and set his sights on the lead. After qualifying through the LCQ, the Husqvarna rider found himself putting in strong laps and eventually getting right behind Brown. While looking to pass for the lead, he tagged Brown’s rear wheel and went down. He remounted but finished off the podium in sixth.
Austin Forkner bounced back with a big win in Foxborough.
Jett Lawrence and Austin Forkner locked into a battle for nearly the entire main event. Forkner suffered a huge crash in his heat race but looked ready to come the main. The two rivals worked their way through the field together and after Hampshire’s fall, it was Forkner second and Lawrence third. They exchanged a set of aggressive block passes but Forkner maintained the position.
Jett Lawrence played it safe with a second and won the title.
Forkner continued to charge to the front and closed the gap on Brown with just under two minutes left on the clock. He made the pass and pushed his way through the final laps to take the win. This is big for the Kawasaki rider after an injury earlier in the season and a big crash in his heat race.
Pierce Brown led most of the 250 main but eventually finished third.
Jett Lawrence finished second on the day and with it he earned his first career Supercross championship. The young Honda rider looked to be playing it safe early in the race but spiced things up a bit by battling with Forkner. He rode smart for the final few laps, staying close to Forkner and crossing the line just 0.5 seconds back.
250SX Podium
250SX East Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Austin Forkner |
(Kaw) |
18 Laps |
| 2. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
+00.580 |
| 3. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
+04.746 |
| 4. |
Mitchell Oldenburg |
(Hon) |
+32.843 |
| 5. |
Kyle Chisholm |
(Yam) |
+34.331 |
| 6. |
RJ Hampshire |
(Hus) |
+38.972 |
| 7. |
Enzo Lopes |
(Yam) |
+46.218 |
| 8. |
Joshua Varize |
(Hus) |
+48.057 |
| 9. |
Cullin Park |
(Hon) |
+48.845 |
| 10. |
Jace Owen |
(Yam) |
17 Laps |
QUALIFYING
450SX
Chase Sexton grabbed the top spot late in the session and was the only rider to slip into the 49-second range with a 49.956. Jason Anderson held the pole position for most of qualifying but dropped to second after Sexton’s hot lap. Malcolm Stewart put in the third best time. Eli Tomac played it safe and went fifth fastest.
Chase Sexton grabbed the top spot and was the only rider to crack the 49-second mark. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Jason Anderson was clocked in second.
Malcolm Stewart looked good to qualify third.
450SX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
49.956 |
| 2. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
50.316 |
| 3. |
Malcolm Stewart |
(Hus) |
50.519 |
| 4. |
Marvin Musquin |
(KTM) |
50.680 |
| 5. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
50.844 |
| 6. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
51.004 |
| 7. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
51.340 |
| 8. |
Justin Brayton |
(Hon) |
52.129 |
| 9. |
Vince Friese |
(Hon) |
52.462 |
| 10. |
Brandon Hartranft |
(Suz) |
52.936 |
250SX
Austin Forkner came to play. He went back and forth with Jett Lawrence to set the fastest lap of the 250’s. Forkner and Lawrence were the only two riders to crack the 50-second mark. Lawrence had a small mistake and went down towards the end of the session but already put in his best time. RJ Hampshire clocked the third best time just a few tenths off the top two.
Austin Forkner put down the fastest time of the 250’s.
Jett Lawrence was second fastest. He can lock up the title tonight.
RJ Hampshire rounded out the top three.
250SX East Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Austin Forkner |
(Kaw) |
50.649 |
| 2. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
50.947 |
| 3. |
RJ Hampshire |
(Hus) |
51.067 |
| 4. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
51.805 |
| 5. |
Mitchell Oldenburg |
(Hon) |
51.844 |
| 6. |
Enzo Lopes |
(Yam) |
51.845 |
| 7. |
Kyle Chisholm |
(Yam) |
52.341 |
| 8. |
Jordon Smith |
(Hon) |
52.475 |
| 9. |
Jace Owen |
(Yam) |
53.244 |
| 10. |
Jarrett Frye |
(Hon) |
53.305 |
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