Tomac returns to take first-ever Triple Crown round win at A2
Savatgy dominates 250SX West division in first of three revamped rounds.
Image: Supplied.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac has taken a special victory in Anaheim 2’s inaugural Triple Crown event of the 2018 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.
Tomac lodged a 5-1-2 scorecard in the trio of 450SX main events – eight, 12 and 15 minutes in duration – to win the overall in the event that utilised an Olympic-type scoring system.
It was a perfect way to rebound for Tomac, who hasn’t raced since crashing out with a shoulder injury at Anaheim 1, topping opening final winner Cole Seely (Team Honda HRC), who went 1-2-7 to lose out on the overall by three markers.
After winning the third final of the night, Jason Anderson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) extended his points lead in third overall, registering 7-3-1 results. The top five was filled by two-time Australian champion Justin Brayton (Smartop MCR Honda) and Weston Peick (Autotrader Yoshimura Suzuki).
Anderson leads the championship following three rounds of 17 on 70 points, now 11 ahead of Seely, with Justin Barcia (Monster Energy Knich Yamaha) a further two points back in third position.
Round three was a marginally improved one for Australia’s Chad Reed (Team CR22 Husqvarna) despite having to transfer via a victory in the last-chance qualifier, scoring 14th with 12-17-16 finishes. He’s now P16 in the standings, racing his way into fitness once again this weekend.
It was Joey Savatgy (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) who charged to the win in round three of the 250SX West series, winning races one (six minutes in length) and three (12 minutes), combined with a second in race two (10 minutes).
Savatgy is now tied for the championship lead with Shane McElrath (Troy Lee Designs Red Bull KTM), who was runner-up tonight with 5-1-4 scores. Completing the podium as Christian Craig (Geico Honda) after he went 2-3-5, as previous points leader Aaron Plessinger (Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha) dropped to third in points after taking P6 tonight.
Anaheim 2 was the strongest of the year yet for Australian rising talent Hayden Mellross (51Fifty Energy Drink Yamaha), going 7-10-8 in the three finals for a season-best seventh overall, also matching the highest result of his career in the process.
The 2018 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship now travels directly to Glendale, Arizona, for round four of the season next Saturday, 27 January.
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