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Saturday Night Live: Salt Lake City 3 Supercross
Jason Weigandt

Jason Weigandt

Saturday Night Live Salt Lake City 3 Supercross

June 7, 2020 10:55pm
by: Jason Weigandt
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  • 2020 Salt Lake City 3 Supercross Race Recap - Supercross

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Rice-eccles Stadium Salt Lake City, UT Salt Lake City 3 (Rd 13 - East) Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship

Three races in the same stadium and the same location, and yet three completely different races, at that. From last Sunday’s heat and dust to today’s hellacious rain and borderline mud conditions, Monster Energy AMA Supercross has served up the full menu during its return, including, now, an all-time classic duel fans will be talking about for a long time.

If only they had been able to see it in person.

Regardless, even without the energy of a crowd, and even in conditions that usually don’t produce good racing, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb waged a 20-minute duel of wills and smarts, passing each other back and forth while bouncing off of lapped traffic, creating new lines and leaving the victory up for grabs until the final turns. Tomac emerged victorious even after Webb dug into his usual bag of late-race tricks, surviving yet another high-pressure test in a season that has been full of them. Is this championship-level stuff? You’d better believe it, although Tomac also made it clear he’s racing each round on its own, reaching deep for wins, and not counting points.

The 450SX class in the first turn. What you can't see is Tomac salvaging a third from way on the inside.
The 450SX class in the first turn. What you can't see is Tomac salvaging a third from way on the inside. Align Media
Tomac
Tomac Align Media

“It was a freaking sweet race, easy to say for me because I won, but really fun,” said Tomac. “I mean, the win is sweet, it’s easy to be happy, but we passed each other twice. A lot of time in these mains you’re either getting passed once, by the guy who wins, or you make the pass and you pull away. Here, we were just scrapping, even the last turn, I was dabbing, just freaking pinning it and hanging off the back. It was just a good race! As a competitor, everything was right.”

“Yeah overall it was an incredible race, we were laying it all out there,” said Webb. “I think I was first to the first turn but Zach [Osborne] snuck inside of me. Once I cleared him it was me and Eli.”

The lead duo pushed so hard they started lapping deep into the field…and then doing it again! Fourth-place Zach Osborne got lapped and tenth place Ken Roczen (who faded again following a rough run at the last race) was lapped twice. Further, while these conditions usually create a one-line track, the duo managed to find new places to make passes throughout the race.

“I don’t know,” said Webb of how they lapped that far. “At one point I saw Kenny again and I didn’t know what was going on. I pushed as hard as I could, we were switching lines every lap. I don’t know, it wasn’t a 100 percent mud race, I think we were both wanting to win.”

“Surprisingly we were getting through the whoops, and I think that’s where Cooper and I were making big time on everyone,” said Tomac.

Tomac took his 34th career 450SX main event win, tying him for sixth all-time with Ryan Dungey.
Tomac took his 34th career 450SX main event win, tying him for sixth all-time with Ryan Dungey. Align Media
There was no quit in the #1 as he battled Tomac to the checkered flag.
There was no quit in the #1 as he battled Tomac to the checkered flag. Align Media

The whoops did play the lead role early, as Tomac blasted past Webb in them to take the lead. Webb adjusted his line and then, miraculously, actually started gaining back all the time he lost in that section, in the same section!

“I was doing that line in the whoops, it felt good, but after he passed me I saw it wasn’t the preferred line,” said Webb. “He led, I led, I think we both led twice. The lappers were insane. From my end, we both left it all out there. I think I uncorked a cool rhythm, but I just watched the highlights and he did that 3-3-3. I feel like it was a race for the ages, and it’s cool to go to the toe-to-toe with the red plate holder. It’s cool to be able to run with him.”

After both had the whoops dialed, the rhythms were next, and Tomac finally figured out a new line.

“The one rhythm that was instinct, that second lane with the double and the triple-triple, I knew it was there but I didn’t know how the transitions were going to form up,” said Tomac. “To be honest I was bad in that rhythm section to start the race, I missed it the first three or four laps. That was a line I had to adapt to, for sure.”

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Once Tomac had that down, it was up to Webb to find something else, and he did it by trying to jump and land on the inside of the supercross triple. “It was funny, the suspension guy joked about it before the main event, and I was like, 'You’re delusional.' But we got to a point with two laps to go where I was like “F it lets’ go for it!' It was a good line, but I guess it wasn’t enough. I was expecting to case it for sure.”

As it came down to the last lap—Tomac had made a brief push to get away but got thwarted by lappers again—Webb tried his inside line after the triple and got halfway to making the pass, but Tomac hung on. The whoops loomed, but this time the lappers gave the worst of it to Webb, as Tyler Bowers slowed him. It was just enough for Tomac to escape without one last challenge. Still, what’s impressive is that after all that heat, they kept the racing clean and respectful, and even kept it that way after the race. Both riders mentioned that lappers cost them both, equally, instead of using that as any kind of an excuse.

Making no excuses, also, was third-place Jason Anderson, of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna. He rode well, passing his teammate Osborne to take the podium spot. “I think I had a little more leg than Zach in the whoops,” joked Anderson. “Next thing I know I was in no man’s land. Those guys up front waxed me. I feel like I’ve been able to work on my weak points. Compared to Sunday my start was better. I’m just going to try to keep it going.”

Osborne was fourth, a good follow-up to his third on Wednesday. Malcolm Stewart was strong again, this time scoring a career-best fifth on his SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts Honda. Dean Wilson was sixth, completing another great night for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team. Justin Brayton was seventh ahead Martin Davalos, who has been rock-solid in the three races in Salt Lake City. Justin Barcia was ninth and Roczen, who lost the pace again here like he did on Wednesday, fell back to a disappointing 10th.

After a battle with his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna teammate Zach Osborne, Jason Anderson made his way into third place where he would finish the main event.
After a battle with his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna teammate Zach Osborne, Jason Anderson made his way into third place where he would finish the main event. Align Media
The 450SX podium from the Salt Lake City 3 Supercross.
The 450SX podium from the Salt Lake City 3 Supercross. Align Media
Supercross

Salt Lake City 3 (Rd 13 - East) - 450SX Main Event

June 7, 2020
Rice-eccles Stadium
Salt Lake City, UT United States
RiderTimeIntervalBest Lap Hometown Bike
1Eli Tomac Eli Tomac24 Laps50.927 Cortez, CO United States Kawasaki KX450
2Cooper Webb Cooper Webb+01.28151.647 Newport, NC United States KTM 450 SX-F
3Jason Anderson Jason Anderson+43.99552.111 Edgewood, NM United States Husqvarna FC 450
4Zach Osborne Zach Osborne23 Laps52.195 Abingdon, VA United States Husqvarna FC 450
5Malcolm Stewart Malcolm Stewart+11.82753.691 Haines City, FL United States Honda CRF450R
Full Results
Supercross

450SX Standings - 2020

Rider Hometown Points
1Eli Tomac Eli Tomac Cortez, CO United States384
2Cooper Webb Cooper Webb Newport, NC United States359
3Ken Roczen Ken Roczen Mattstedt Germany354
4Jason Anderson Jason Anderson Edgewood, NM United States287
5Justin Barcia Justin Barcia Monroe, NY United States272
Full Standings

The 250 race didn’t disappoint either. While it didn’t offer the instant-classic racing of the 450s, it did provide plenty of title drama. Monster Energy/Star Racing Yamaha’s Shane McElrath and GEICO Honda’s Chase Sexton were tied in points coming into the race. Immediately, it looked like McElrath’s Salt Lake City run would continue, as he made a pass on Sexton in the second turn of the race, and Sexton went off the track…and then crashed a few turns later as McElrath took off.

Then, a red flag which completely changed everything. Garrett Marchbanks went down hard which led to a red flag, restart, and second chance for Sexton. He made the most of it, pressuring McElrath from second, and then Shane bumped into a lapped rider and went down. Sexton took over from there.

“Got a decent start, I think I was second, and I was kind of just riding behind him, because the first time I made a stupid mistake,” said Sexton. “I got close and he got together with a lapper, and I ended up running into the same lapper, and it broke my front brake system. It was sketchy with the way the track was. I felt like I rode decent considering the traditions, but that red flag played in my favor, I was like 'Yeah, now I have to win.'”

The 250SX class coming into the first turn.
The 250SX class coming into the first turn. Align Media
McElrath led the first five laps of the 250SX main event and looked like he might take another win.
McElrath led the first five laps of the 250SX main event and looked like he might take another win. Align Media
  • Then McElrath went down, allowing Chase Sexton to take over the lead.
    Then McElrath went down, allowing Chase Sexton to take over the lead. Align Media
  • Sexton pulling away as McElrath remounts in the background.
    Sexton pulling away as McElrath remounts in the background. Align Media

Watch McElrath run into Coty Schock and go down: 

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@ShaneMcElrath_ with the tip and allows @ChaseSexton to move into the lead! ???? LIVE Presented by @StateOfSport #SXRound13 #SupercrossLIVE

A post shared by Supercross LIVE! (@supercrosslive) on Jun 7, 2020 at 4:22pm PDT

“It was a bummer, I was ready to go, I think it showed, I got into the lead right away in the first one and the second one I pulled a holeshot,” said McElrath. “I felt like it was time to go. I’m not sure what really happened to Garrett. Bummer to see him have to get hauled off, and to see it get red flagged, because we were in the perfect position. I think we all were a little wet from having to sit there in the rain a little bit, but it was another good start, and really just tried to go. I was doing okay, just crossed paths with that lapper. Gloves were slippery, hands were kind of frozen. It is what it is, but to come out second in a mud race, I did my best so I’ll be ready for next Wednesday.”

The red flag, the restart, and the flipping of the script now leaves Sexton with a three-point lead and critical momentum with two 250SX East races left (one more stand alone round, and the East/West Showdown finale).

McElrath’s teammate Colt Nichols was third.

“I got kind of lucky with all the stuff happening and I was able to come hit these races in Utah,” said Nichols. “I would have liked to have a little more time, but I didn’t know where I was going to be. I’ve ridden with Shane, but obviously, it’s different when you have championship intensity. I just didn’t have it tonight, but being able to race, and two podiums in the last two races is awesome for me.”

Sexton took his third win of the 2020 championship.
Sexton took his third win of the 2020 championship. Align Media
In his third start to the 2020 championship, Colt Nichols earned his second main event podium.
In his third start to the 2020 championship, Colt Nichols earned his second main event podium. Align Media
The 250SX podium from the Salt Lake City 3 Supercross.
The 250SX podium from the Salt Lake City 3 Supercross. Align Media
Supercross

Salt Lake City 3 (Rd 13 - East) - 250SX East Main Event

June 7, 2020
Rice-eccles Stadium
Salt Lake City, UT United States
RiderTimeIntervalBest Lap Hometown Bike
1Chase Sexton Chase Sexton17 Laps52.939 La Moille, IL United States Honda CRF250R
2Shane McElrath
Shane McElrath
+08.02352.572 Canton, NC United States Yamaha YZ250F
3Colt Nichols Colt Nichols+20.25255.605 Muskogee, OK United States Yamaha YZ250F
4Pierce Brown Pierce Brown+48.89356.367 Sandy, UT United States KTM 250 SX-F
5Kyle Peters Kyle Peters16 Laps57.666 Greensboro, NC United States Honda CRF250R
Full Results
Supercross

250SX East Standings - 2020

Rider Hometown Points
1Chase Sexton Chase Sexton La Moille, IL United States218
2Shane McElrath
Shane McElrath
Canton, NC United States209
3Jo Shimoda Jo Shimoda Suzuka Japan122
4Garrett Marchbanks Garrett Marchbanks Coalville, UT United States119
5Enzo Lopes
Enzo Lopes
Rio Grande do Sul Brazil107
Full Standings

  • Race Day Feed: Salt Lake City 3 Race Day Feed: Salt Lake City 3 2:10pm
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