Ryan Nitzen | April 8, 2023
Round 12 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross is going on today in Glendale, Arizona for another triple crown night of racing. The points in the 450SX class are all tied up with Cooper Webb and Eli Tomac both sharing the red plate. In the 250 class, Jett Lawrence is looking to get some triple crown redemption.
After three races in each class, it’s Eli Tomac and Jett Lawrence taking top honors.
Main Events
450SX
Race 1
Eli Tomac kicked off the 450 races with a wire to wire win in race one. He held his main rival Cooper Webb at bay for the duration of race one and stamped his name early on in the night. With Tomac and Webb tied in points, these two will be tight all night.
Webb stayed close for the entire race one. At one point he looked to be closing on Tomac, but didn’t have enough to get in and make a pass. He starts the night with a consistent second.
Justin Barcia battled his way to third in race one. He clawed his way into podium territory and made a decisive pass on Ken Roczen for the final podium spot. Barcia looks to keep it consistent with two races left on the night.
Tomac kicked off the night with a win. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Race 2
The second 450 race saw Chase Sexton sneak to the lead after the first turn. He easily led for the first few laps until he stalled the bike just before the rhythm section. This allowed Eli Tomac to momentarily take the lead but Sexton answered back and reclaimed the lead in the whoops. He checked out from there and won by over three seconds ahead of Tomac.
Tomac ran it in for second behind Sexton in race two. He briefly took the lead when Sexton stalled but was overtaken in the following whoop section. Tomac managed to hold third place at bay. He has three points going into race three.
Ken Roczen battled for the final podium spot. He grabbed another good start and stayed close to Tomac early on. The Suzuki rider fended off a charging pack and even held off Jason Anderson in the final corner. Roczen’s seven points keep him in contention for the night.
Sexton grabbed the top spot in race two.
Race 3
Race three saw a hectic start as Eli Tomac grabbed the holeshot in a winner take all finale. Tomac proceeded to lead every lap of the final race as he held Justin Barcia at bay. His 1-2-1 finishes gave him the night’s overall, the points lead, and the definitive second spot on the all times win list.
Justin Barcia looked strong in the final race and started second just behind Tomac. The GasGas rider stayed close for the entire main but never managed to make a pass happen. Barcia’s results improved throughout the night and his 3-6-2 finishes gave him third overall.
Chase Sexton finished third in race three. He nearly crashed off the start but saved it and charged through for the final podium. Sexton proved to be consistent with 4-1-3 finishes and earned second overall on the night. The Honda rider also took the overall win in the Triple Crown Championship.
Tomac claimed the third win and the overall.
450SX Overall Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
1-2-1 |
| 2. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
4-1-3 |
| 3. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
3-6-2 |
| 4. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
2-5-4 |
| 5. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
5-3-5 |
| 6. |
Adam Cianciarulo |
(Kaw) |
7-7-7 |
| 7. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
9-9-6 |
| 8. |
Colt Nichols |
(Hon) |
8-8-8 |
| 9. |
Dean Wilson |
(Hon) |
10-10-9 |
| 10. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
6-4-21 |
250SX
Race 1
A crash involving Stilez Robertson caused a full restart in 250SX race one. After the restart, Levi Kitchen grabbed the lead over Jett Lawrence and RJ Hampshire. Kitchen led early on but gave up the top spot when Lawrence made the pass through the whoops. From there, Lawrence pulled away and held on for the win.
RJ Hampshire made his way into second after a few run ins on the opening lap. He tracked down Kitchen as the laps wore on and kept his eyes on the number-18. Hampshire stayed close and finished two seconds back from Lawrence.
Kitchen rounded out the podium in third. The Yamaha rider led early on and was the only rider to give challenge to Lawrence. Kitchen faded a bit as the race wore on but still grabbed the final spot on the box.
Jett Lawrence won the opening 250 race.
Race 2
RJ Hampshire got the holeshot in race two and never relinquished. He led the entire 10-minute race and won by almost two seconds. Hampshire sits at three points after two races.
Levi Kitchen put himself on the podium again in race two. He started up front with Hampshire and held off Jett Lawrence to stay in second. Even with a close last lap charge, Kitchen held on for second place. He’s got five points with a third and a second.
Jett Lawrence rounded out the podium in race two. Lawrence got off to a slow start and didn’t seem to be riding with much intensity in the opening laps. Lawrence turned it on late in the race and set the fastest lap of the race on the final lap trying to get Kitchen.
Hampshire took a win in race two.
Race 3
Kitchen took the third and final holeshot of the night as he got out to the early lead. He held the top spot for a few laps until a mistake allowed Lawrence to take over the lead. Kitchen stayed relatively close and crossed the line second. His 3-2-2 scores gave him third overall as he jumps to third in points.
Jett Lawrence started second behind Kitchen but closed on the leader after a few laps. Once Jett took over the lead it was game over for the rest of the field as he cruised to the final victory of the night. Lawrence’s 1-3-1 finishes finally broke his triple crown curse as he earned the overall win.
RJ Hampshire held on for third in race three. He struggled with a poor start but somehow came out third after the first few turns. Hampshire had his issues in the whoops and nearly crashed multiple times. Hampshire’s 2-1-3 gave him second on the night.
250 Podium.
250SX West Overall Results (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
1-3-1 |
| 2. |
RJ Hampshire |
(Hus) |
2-1-3 |
| 3. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Yam) |
3-2-2 |
| 4. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
4-4-5 |
| 5. |
Enzo Lopes |
(Yam) |
7-5-4 |
| 6. |
Derek Kelley |
(KTM) |
5-8-7 |
| 7. |
Mitchell Oldenburg |
(Hon) |
6-7-12 |
| 8. |
Max Vohland |
(KTM) |
18-6-6 |
| 9. |
Robbie Wageman |
(Suz) |
9-15-8 |
| 10. |
Carson Mumford |
(Kaw) |
13-9-10 |
QUALIFYING
450SX
Triple Crown format means only the top 18 riders transfer straight from practice to the night show. No issues for Chase Sexton as he snuck in late in the final session and grabbed the fastest time of the day with a 56.248. He bested Eli Tomac and Adam Cianciarulo for the practice podium. Cooper Webb found himself in eighth.
Sexton topped the charts in the 450 class. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Adam Cianciarulo clocked the third best time.
450SX Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Chase Sexton |
(Hon) |
56.248 |
| 2. |
Eli Tomac |
(Yam) |
56.467 |
| 3. |
Adam Cianciarulo |
(Kaw) |
56.980 |
| 4. |
Ken Roczen |
(Suz) |
56.986 |
| 5. |
Jason Anderson |
(Kaw) |
56.987 |
| 6. |
Justin Barcia |
(GG) |
57.077 |
| 7. |
Colt Nichols |
(Hon) |
57.444 |
| 8. |
Cooper Webb |
(KTM) |
57.512 |
| 9. |
Dean Wilson |
(Hon) |
58.246 |
| 10. |
Aaron Plessinger |
(KTM) |
58.416 |
250SX
Same thing goes for the 250 riders as the top 18 riders make it right out of practice to the night show. Jett Lawrence topped the charts in the 250’s by almost a full second ahead of second place, Pierce Brown. Rj Hampshire rounded out the top three, six tenths back from Brown. Note that podium contender, Cameron Mcadoo is out for tonight after sustaining a shoulder injury earlier in the week.
Jett Lawrence put in the best time for the 250’s. Photos: Brown Dog Wilson
Pierce Brown looked fast all day and grabbed second.
RJ Hampshire was third.
250SX West Combined Qualifying (Top 10)
| 1. |
Jett Lawrence |
(Hon) |
56.930 |
| 2. |
Pierce Brown |
(GG) |
57.306 |
| 3. |
RJ Hampshire |
(Hus) |
57.901 |
| 4. |
Enzo Lopes |
(Yam) |
57.912 |
| 5. |
Levi Kitchen |
(Yam) |
57.986 |
| 6. |
Mitchell Oldenburg |
(Hon) |
58.381 |
| 7. |
Stilez Robertson |
(Yam) |
58.618 |
| 8. |
Max Vohland |
(KTM) |
58.855 |
| 9. |
Derek Kelley |
(KTM) |
58.905 |
| 10. |
Hunter Yoder |
(Kaw) |
59.034 |
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