Midweek Supercross McElrath and Webb Post Wins

Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT — June 3, 2020

Monster Energy AMA Supercross ran a first-ever midweek race in the series history Wednesday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The venue for all of the remaining rounds of the 2020 season looked far different than Sunday’s track as the entire racing surface was reconfigured.

250SX East

While the track was different the heat races played out the same as the motos run three days earlier. Again it was points leader Chase Sexton(1E) winning the 1st heat. His closest pursuer for the championship, Shane McElrath(12), took the top spot in the night’s second heat.

In Sunday’s event, McElrath’s win shaved three points off Sexton’s lead. Closing the deficit to seven points and keeping Shane in the hunt for the championship with four events left, including tonight’s main event.

250SX Main Event

In the 250SX Main Event, McElrath’s teammate Colt Nichols(13) took the holeshot with McElrath on his tail. Sexton made a huge mistake on the opening lap and dropped his bike in a corner. Pierce Brown(163) ran over Chase and got his bike stuck on top of Sexton’s Honda. When they untangled, Sexton was 17th.

Just past the midpoint of the race, McElrath passed Nichols for the lead, and Sexton had made his way back into the top 5. Under six minutes and McElrath is extending his lead while Sexton was stuck in 4th, 15 seconds back. The two were tied in the points at that time in the race.

Sexton was 10 seconds back of 3rd place Jeremy Martin(6), he would need to catch and pass him to retain his sole point lead. Unfortunately for Sexton, the interval was too large for him to overcome. The points race is a dead heat.

250SX Results

250SX Points Standing

450SX Heats

After a brutal crash on Sunday, Adam Cianciarulo(9) hoped to return for today’s race. But, after practice, Cianciarulo withdrew. Still recovering from the incident where Cooper Webb ran over him after Adam crashed off his bike on Lap 1. Cianciarulo said he hoped to make it back for next Sunday’s race after four more days to heal.

Malcolm Stewart took the win in the 450SX 1st Heat, with a last-lap pass of defending champion Cooper Webb(1). In the 2nd Heat, Eli Tomac(3) faced off against rival Ken Roczen(94). The pair lined up next to each other at the start with Roczen getting the holeshot while Tomac dropped to 7th position.

Blake Baggett(4), the fastest qualifier, lined up next to Webb. Baggett had trouble early and dropped out of the top 10. He fought his way back to 7th to avoid the last chance qualifier.

Upfront, Roczen rode away for the Heat win. While Tomac worked through the field to move into the 2nd position.

450SX Main

At the start of the 450SX Main, it was Zach Osborne(16) with the holeshot win. Tomac and Roczen got caught up in a huge bunch up in the middle of the pack, they were 11th and 16th respectively at the start. Roczen was quick to recover and passed Tomac in the whoops.

The pair swapped positions until Roczen opened up a slight advantage. At the 15 minute mark, it was Osborne in the lead. Cooper Webb(1) in 2nd, Jason Anderson(21) 3rd with Roczen and Tomac 4th and 5th.

Tomac started his drive to the front passing Roczen with 11 minutes to go, he caught Anderson 2 minutes later. Webb began to pressure Osborne as Tomac tried to cut the four-second deficit to the leaders.

As the minutes wound down the top three tightened up. Webb was the first to make a move, passing Osborne inside the four-minute mark. Tomac moved to 2nd a minute later, while Roczen was mired back in 5th.

With 2 laps to go Tomac was closing, but a couple of small slips took away his opportunity for the win. Webb held on for the victory and Tomac extended his lead over Roczen to 13 points in the year-long standings.

450SX Results

450SX Points Standing