Cycle News Staff | October 29, 2024
Eli Tomac (CDR Yamaha) got off to the best possible start as he chases a maiden World Supercross Championship crown by taking the overall win at the season opener in Vancouver, BC, October 26.
Eli Tomac won the first round the WSX Series in Vancouver, Canada.
Vancouver saw a somewhat depleted SX1 (450cc) field in which no one from the top three in this year’s Monster Energy Supercross Championship attended, the main protagonists being Pipes Motorsports Group Suzuki’s two-time WSX champion Ken Roczen, Tomac and Fire Power Honda’s Joey Savatgy.
The night saw a busy schedule with practice, qualifying, a one-lap Superpole and four races, including a 12-lap race three, but it was Roczen who drew first blood, dominating practice and qualifying and taking the Superpole by three-tenths of a second over Tomac.
Race one saw Roczen take the win after overhauling Fire Power Honda’s Vince Friese in the early stages. Tomac closed right up on Roczen late in the race, but the German held out for the first WSX race win of the season, with Savatgy taking third.
Roczen’s night started to unravel at the beginning of race two, the Suzuki man exiting the first turn in 11th while Tomac stole the holeshot. Roczen gradually worked his way up through the field until a small crash put him back in 11th, with Tomac crossing the finish line a massive 22 seconds up on Savatgy with Roczen’s Suzuki teammate Colt Nicols in third.
The extended race three was another Tomac benefit as he took the win ahead of Roczen and Nicols, the icing on the cake coming with another dominant win in race four’s Superfinal—albeit with some extra drama thrown in when Tomac’s rear tire deflated on the last lap. However, such was Tomac’s dominance in Canada, he still crossed the line 16 seconds up on Roczen, with Friese taking third. The overall podium had Tomac given the gold ahead of Roczen and Savatgy.
“It was a fantastic evening of racing,” Tomac said. “Kenny rode well in the first two races, and we were battling out there. I found my rhythm in the last couple of races, and everything just clicked.”
In the SX2 (250cc) class, Honda’s Shane McElrath claimed the overall with 7-1-1-6 results. McElrath topped Star Racing Yamaha’s Max Anstie and his teammate Cole Thompson.
Rounds two and three of the 2024 World Supercross Championship will be held in Perth, Australia, on November 23-24. CN
OVERALL (Top 5)
- Eli Tomac (Yam)
- Ken Roczen (Suz)
- Joey Savatgy (Hon)
- Colt Nichols (Suz)
- Vince Friese (Hon)
