Webb edges Tomac to keep 450SX title chances alive
Fourth win takes Sexton a step closer to 250SX East crown.
The 2020 Monster Energy Supercross championship will go down to the wire this weekend after Cooper Webb withstood Eli Tomac to take victory on Wednesday in Salt Lake City.
Tomac needed to defeat Webb and Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC) today in order to seal the title with a round to spare, but Red Bull KTM’s Webb proved too tough.
Incredibly, Tomac went through the first turn in last position, made his way to 12th by the end of the opening lap and then charged forward from there to the runner-up result, falling just short of the win by 2.214s.
The road into P6 was relatively straightforward over the first 10 laps, but the challenges mounted as he reached the likes of Jason Anderson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), Roczen and Zach Osborne (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) for podium position.
Webb made a move on longtime leader Osborne – who made a mistake in the process – with three minutes remaining and Tomac followed him straight through, setting up the face-off between the duo in the closing laps. But Webb held on and, as a result, he kept his 450SX defence alive.
In the end, behind Webb and Tomac came Osborne as he scored his third podium at Rice-Eccles Stadium in six races, keeping Roczen at bay and with top-qualifier Anderson finishing fifth.
Positions six through 10 included Justin Brayton (Team Honda HRC), Malcolm Stewart (Smartop Bullfrog Spas Honda), Martin Davalos (Monster Energy Team Tedder KTM), Justin Barcia (Monster Energy Yamaha) and Blake Baggett (Rocky Mountain KTM WPS).
After winning the LCQ, Australian icon Chad Reed (Mountain Motorsports CR22 Racing KTM) finished 15th in the main event ahead of what will be his final ride as a full-time rider this weekend in Utah.
Entering the 17th and final round of the 2020 Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship, series on Sunday, Tomac has a 24-point advantage in the standings and will need just two points to clinch the crown regardless of where Webb finishes.
There was no denying Chase Sexton a fourth victory in the 2020 Monster Energy Supercross championship, taking him another step closer to defending his 250SX East title.
Sexton started behind title rival Shane McElrath (Monster Energy Star Yamaha) before pushing his way past as the halfway point approached.
It was a convincing ride from the Geico Honda rider, sprinting away to a 3.427s advantage over McElrath, who had no answers in Salt Lake City 6 tonight. Completing the top three was Colt Nichols (Monster Energy Star Yamaha).
Finishing fourth was rookie Pierce Brown (TLD Red Bull KTM), who was in podium position until Nichols moved by, and the top five was filled by another newcomer in Jo Shimoda (Geico Honda).
Top of the non-factory riders was Kyle Peters (Phoenix Racing Honda) in sixth, ahead of Enzo Lopes (ClubMX Yamaha), Chris Blose (Chaparral FXR Racing Honda), Lorenzo Locurcio (Team PR-MX Kawasaki) and Chase Marquier (Manluk Racing Honda) inside the top 10.
Sexton will carry a six-point lead over McElrath entering this Sunday’s 250SX Showdown round at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the final round of the 2020 Monster Energy Supercross championship.