Image: Octopi Media.

The chase is on for the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross Championship after Jason Anderson captured his second 450SX victory of the year, overcoming Eli Tomac in a head-to-head battle at Anaheim 3 as Christian Craig won again in 250SX.

The race we all wanted to see was delivered as Anderson and Tomac led the field out of the first turn, setting up an intriguing dual at the front.

It was Anderson, however, who was composed enough to stay there, coming under attack in the opening laps, before building an advantage and going on to win by 3.481s over the rider he replaced at Monster Energy Kawasaki in the off-season.

Second was still another solid finish for Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Tomac to maintain the red plate coming out of the west coast, with Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) riding to third following a mid-race error of Musquin.

Fourth was Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) in yet another consistent effort from Musquin, overcoming Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) – who transferred through the LCQ – and Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) in the closing minutes of the main event.

It was a quiet outing again for Red Bull KTM duo Cooper Webb and Aaron Plessinger for eighth and ninth positions, while Justin Brayton (Smartop Bullfrog Spas MCR Honda) brought it home in 10th.

Next in line was Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC), another disappointing night as he was forced to recover from an off-track excursion in the first turn that put him at the rear of the pack.

Points-wise, Tomac carries a lead of 12 points heading into Minneapolis ahead of tonight’s 450SX main event winner Anderson.

Image: Octopi Media.

A clean-sweep of the Anaheim rounds and a dominant advantage heading into the 250SX West break signified another winning night for Christian Craig, steering clear of trouble in a race of attrition.

Another decisive victory from runaway points-leader Craig saw him claim his fourth win in six rounds, but the storyline was the non-finishes in the field.

With Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) already out following the heats, Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) crashed out of P2, plus both Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) and Nate Thrasher (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) went out early.

Instead, it was Craig who powered to a commanding 25.423s win ahead of Vince Friese (Smartop Bullfrog Spas MCR Honda) in his first podium of the year and Michael Mosiman (TLD Red Bull GasGas), who recovered from a crash on the opening lap and again in the latter stages, this time in the whoops.

Behind him, heat winner Garrett Marchbanks (Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha) charged from last to fourth place, with Carson Brown (AEO Powersports KTM) claiming an impressive fifth ahead of Chris Blose (AJE Motorsport Motul GasGas), who was yet another to go down in the whoops tonight.

The top 10 was rounded out by Robbie Wageman (Team Solitaire Nuclear Blast Yamaha), Derek Kelley (AEO Powersports KTM), Logan Karnow (Kawasaki) and Ryan Surratt (Team Solitaire Nuclear Blast Yamaha).

In terms of the point-standings, Craig now has a massive 28-point buffer over Mosiman, who is now second and a single point up on Lawrence. Next weekend will see the series shift east, with Minneapolis marking the opening round of the 250SX East region.

Detailed results