Eli Tomac versus Chase Sexton represented arguably the best Pro Motocross battle in 50 years. It took character and courage to get there
WORDS: JASON WEIGANDT
PHOTOS: ALIGN MEDIA
The numbers were crunched in every possible way—and they were impressive. This was the closest 450 Class championship ever going into the final round of the 2022 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. It was the best season ever for a rider ranked second in a championship. The final points margin tied for the second-closest ever, but the only closer year ran four fewer rounds.
The numbers are impressive, but this one went deeper—it was about the dig it took to get here. Many seasons begin with loaded fields of talented, determined contenders. But this season went where those didn’t, because Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac and Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton both refused to give in. They never stopped believing that this title should be theirs. That brought them to the final round nearly deadlocked in points, followed by a daylong battle in the Southern California heat. That was not a measure of the numbers. It was a testament to their character.
We are deeply rooted in Moto—We’ve been here all our lives. Back in 1998 when we turned an underground newspaper into a shiny color magazine, it immediately changed the game with its unprecedented depth of coverage, sense of humor, and access to the sport’s biggest names. Today, our readers know they can go to Racer X Online for all the news, race results, and event coverage they need, and then enjoy even more detail and perspective in the pages of Racer X Illustrated. The mag offers a chance to learn something new on every page and stay connected with the people and personalities that shape our sport—the competitors out on the racetrack, as well as the ones behind the scenes—through our exclusive deep-dive stories and columns.
Our trademark has always been insider knowledge from the experts who are at the races and around the sport. We have long prided ourselves on our unparalleled race reporting and detailed storytelling. We go deep with the riders and teams to provide comprehensive coverage you won’t find anywhere else—all with first-class photography and design. It’s a full education in motocross past, present, and future.
Davey Coombs
Editor-in-chief & Founder
Racer X Illustrated
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