Denver SX: Eli Tomac crowned 450SX Champion
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac wrapped up his second Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship with a fifth place finish after leading early in the race.
When the gate dropped Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton grabbed the holehot with Tomac applying pressure to take over from the first lap. Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia sat third at the holeshot stripe but it was Anderson on the move, gaining quickly from sixth to third before the first lap was in the books.
Two minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap race Sexton’s front tire went over a ledge that ran across the start straight. He spun sideways, grabbed traction, then ran into the mechanic’s area barriers and went down. Tomac suddenly had the lead. The stadium erupted. The Colorado fans cheered, section by section, as Colorado-native Tomac circled the track at the front of the pack.
Anderson continued his momentum forward and was quickly on Tomac and pressuring hard for the top spot. Anderson sat as the only rider with a mathematical shot at the title if Tomac finished fifteenth or worse. Anderson rode around Tomac cleanly before the whoops and Tomac did not counter attack. Just before the race’s midpoint, Anderson was unchallenged out front as Stewart reached Tomac’s rear fender and also got past.
With just under seven minutes left on the race clock, Musquin also got around Tomac, and inside of two minutes left on the clock Tomac allowed Sexton back around. Tomac held steady in fifth place to the end, wrapping up the 2022 Championship, the second of his career.
450SX Class Championship Standings
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (359) 2. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (324) 3. Malcolm Stewart, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna (295) 4. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (291) 5. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM (287) 6. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (269) 7. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (261) 8. Brandon Hartranft, Brick, N.J., Suzuki (163) 9. Justin Brayton, Charlotte, N.C., Honda (160) 10. Dean Wilson, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna (152)
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