Image: Octopi Media.

Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin has found his way to the top step of the 450SX podium, taking the win in the first of two races in Salt Lake City, while Jo Shimoda kept his title hopes alive in 250SX East.

After an up-and-down comeback season, Musquin found himself in the position to win tonight in the 16th round of the 2021 Monster Energy Supercross Championship and was able to hold off his teammate Cooper Webb to make it happen.

Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC) grabbed the holeshot and took off to a lead early, with Musquin settling into second place. With 15 minutes to go, Roczen had stretched out a three-second lead over Musquin, with Jason Anderson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) three seconds back from the Duo in third.

As Webb maintained fourth place, Malcolm Stewart (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) began to charge, asking questions of Webb as the duo caught Anderson who was circulating in third. Webb made the move on Anderson and about that time, Roczen hit the ground out front, dropping him to sixth place.

A mistake by Anderson dropped him outside the top five allowing Stewart to slot into third. Out front, Webb caught Musquin and applied pressure but was unable to make a move, giving Musquin the win.

Stewart took third, notching the first 450SX podium of his career. Fourth place went to 450SX rookie Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) with fellow rookie Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) rounding out the top five after a big crash in practice.

Roczen ended the night in sixth, dropping 22-points back from Webb in the championship. Anderson recovered from his mistake to finish seventh place with Aaron Plessinger (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) ending up in eighth.

Dean Wilson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) continued his run of top 10 finishes in ninth as Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) took the final spot in the top 10. Justin Barcia ended up 14th after multiple crashes in the main event.

Webb will look to grab his second Monster Energy Supercross championship in the premier class next Saturday, 1 May, as the final round commences at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

Image: Octopi Media.

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Shimoda kept his title hopes alive with a maiden 250SX East victory in Salt Lake City.

It was a must-win situation for the Japanese talent in the penultimate round of Monster Energy Supercross and that’s exactly what he did tonight.

Shimoda grabbed the holeshot from Thomas Do (KTM), Michael Mosiman (TLD Red Bull GasGas), Joshua Varize (KTM) and Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC), while points-leader Colt Nichols (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) slotted into 10th.

Lawrence got by Varize on lap two as Nichols made his way to sixth place. Mosiman then made a quick pass on Do and set out after Shimoda, who was just over one second ahead. Lawrence and Nichols soon jumped past Do, Lawrence making a mistake and allowing Nichols to close up quickly.

Meanwhile, out front Mosiman caught Shimoda and the duo began to battle for the lead. Mosiman made a pass around the outside on Shimoda, but Shimoda quickly grabbed the inside and put himself back into the lead. Mosiman again attempted a pass but was forced to miss the triple and again dropped back nearly a second.

All the while, Lawrence worked his way toward the leaders with Nichols just two seconds back while setting the fastest lap, over a half-second quicker than those in front of him. Mosiman again closed the gap to Shimoda, now with Lawrence just behind.

Lawrence grabbed second from Mosiman and set out after Shimoda. Nichols then closed up on Mosiman, taking third place with Mosiman making a mistake over the triple. With one minute to go, Shimoda had a two-second lead over Lawrence, with Nichols a second further back from that.

Shimoda, in lapped traffic, allowed Lawrence to close with two laps to go. In the end Shimoda captured the first win of his career ahead of Lawrence and Nichols on in the final podium positions.

Mosiman took fourth ahead of Do, as sixth went to Varize, with Logan Karnow (Kawasaki), Australian Geran Stapleton (Honda), Hunter Schlosser (Yamaha) and John Short (BarX Chaparral Ecstar Suzuki) taking the final spots in the top 10.

Nichols now carries a 23-point advantage over Shimoda when Rice-Eccles Stadium will host the 2021 Monster Energy Supercross finals next Saturday, 1 May, for the second-straight weekend in Utah.

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