Jason Anderson Wins Atlanta Supercross, Tomac Nears Title Clinch

0
1152
Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, GA — April 16, 2022

Round 14 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series taking place at Atlanta Motor Speedway will serve as the “THIS RACE SAVES LIVES” event, dedicated to the children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Participating athletes, teams, partners, and OEMs will support the season-long and multi-year St. Jude partnership by featuring patient-inspired artwork on their bikes and gear and then donating the items to the Supercross – St. Jude online auction where all proceeds will go towards eliminating childhood cancer.

Fans will have the chance to bid on the items worn and used by their favorite athletes when the auction opens on Monday, April 25, as the series heads into Round 16 in Denver. The auction will run through the conclusion of the season and the Monster Energy AMA Supercross World Championship 2022 taking place in Salt Lake City, and closing on Monday, May 9.

The auction will feature big-ticket items such as a St. Jude inspired Team Solitaire Yamaha PW50, Eli Tomac signed Fender guitar, Aaron Plessinger signed Zoe guitar, two STACYC bikes, and custom prints from some of the biggest names in the sport. For more information please visit supercrosslive/stjude.

Trackside at Atlanta

The Supercross layout at Atlanta comprised the entire grassy area on the front stretch of the NASCAR track.

Graphic Courtesy of Feld Entertainment

Overnight rain soaked the racing surface, despite it being covered. An early morning walkthrough found standing water in several locations causing the cancellation of practice and some qualifying time.

Mother Nature and track crews did their job, by noon the bikes were on the track for limited qualifying laps. The East/West Showdown for the 250SX class brought out a huge group of riders looking to put themselves into the feature race.

250SX East Heat

After breaking his collarbone earlier in the season Austin Forkner(33) is back on the track today at Atlanta. Jett Lawrence(18) will try to continue his dominance of the 250SX East class looking for his first Supercross Championship.

Lawrence collided with RJ Hampshire(24) on the first turn as they raced at the front of the pack. Lawrence went down but Hampshire was able to continue. The crash held up Forkner briefly as he avoided the fallen rider. Lawrence was dead last when he finally remounted his bike and rejoined the race.

Mitchell Oldenburg(54) was the early leader as Hampshire was closing the gap, while Lawrence was just trying to move to a top-nine qualifying position. By mid-race Lawrence had worked his way into the top nine.

With two laps to go Hampshire passed Oldenburg for the lead, while Forkner raced his way into the third position. With a furious run over the final lap, Forkner passed RJ coming to the finish line to capture the win. Lawrence finished fifth.

Austin Forkner / Lasco Press Photo

250SX West Heat

Joe Shimoda(30) grabbed the holeshot at the end of the long opening straight away. Michael Mosiman(29), Christian Craig(28), Hunter Lawrence(96), and Nate Thrasher(49) were all in the mix up-front.

With two laps to go, Mosiman bobbled and went down. Craig and Lawrence were able to pass. Mosiman recovered to come in third, just ahead of Shimoda.

Christian Craig / Lasco Press Photo

250 SX East/West Showdown

The Lawrence brothers fired out of the gate at the start, but it was Joe Shimoda grabbing the holeshot and taking the early lead. With RJ Hampshire in the second position. Craig was stuck back in 10th.

Hampshire went down on Lap Two, followed a few seconds later by Jett Lawrence hitting the dirt. Recovering quickly Hampshire remained near the front, Jett dropped back in the pack to 15th.

At the mid-way point of the race, Hunter Lawrence made the pass for the lead. Craig moved to second, and Jett Lawrence had rebounded to the eighth position.

Hunter Lawrence / Lasco Press Photo

As the clock wound down, Jett Lawrence moved toward the front one position at a time. Hunter held on for the win as Craig finished second. Jett Lawrence passed Shimoda on the final lap, but Joe did not give up the position easily. He fought back as the two rider’s fought for the final podium position. Lawrence prevailed to join his brother atop the podium in the East/West Showdown.

250SX East/West Showdown Results

POS. # RIDER HOMETOWN BIKE INTERVAL
 1 96 Hunter Lawrence Wesley Chapel, FL Honda CRF250R 12 Laps
 2 28 Christian Craig Temecula, CA Yamaha YZ250F 4.055
 3 18 Jett Lawrence Zephyrhills, FL Honda CRF250R 8.069
 4 30 Jo Shimoda Menifee, CA Kawasaki KX250 9.630
 5 49 Nate Thrasher Livingston, TN Yamaha YZ250F 17.294
 6 29 Michael Mosiman Minneaola, FL GASGAS MC 250F 21.071
 7 33 Austin Forkner Richards, MO Kawasaki KX250 22.816
 8 24 Rj Hampshire Minneola, FL Husqvarna FC 250 34.570
 9 54 Mitchell Oldenburg Aledo, TX Honda CRF250R 45.354
 10 44 Pierce Brown Sandy, UT GASGAS MC 250F 54.908
 11 31 Jalek Swoll Clermont, FL Husqvarna FC 250 01:11.6
 12 66 Chris Blose Phoenix, AZ GASGAS MC 250F 01:13.2
 13 62 Vince Friese Menifee, CA Honda CRF250R 01:16.9
 14 35 Garrett Marchbanks Coalville, UT Yamaha YZ250F 01:20.1
 15 80 Enzo Lopes Indian Trail, NC Yamaha YZ250F 01:27.5
 16 331 Derek Drake Lake Elsinore, CA Suzuki RM-Z250 01:31.3
 17 81 Jace Owen Mattoon, IL Yamaha YZ250F 11 Laps
 18 140 Cullin Park Clermont, FL Honda CRF250R 3.681
 19 43 Carson Mumford Simi Valley, CA Suzuki RM-Z250 16.855
 20 39 Jarrett Frye Mechanicsville, MD Honda CRF250R 01:20.6
 21 70 Ramyller Alves Coconut Creek, FL KTM 250 SX-F 9 Laps
 22 243 Hardy Munoz Kissimmee, FL Kawasaki KX250 4 Laps

250SX East Standings

POS. # RIDER TOTAL POINTS
 1 18 Jett Lawrence 169
 2 24 RJ Hampshire 122
 3 48 Cameron McAdoo 114
 4 44 Pierce Brown 107
 5 54 Mitchell Oldenburg 103
 6 80 Enzo Lopes 100
 7 90 Jordon Smith 95
 8 81 Jace Owen 77
 9 715 Phillip Nicoletti 76
 10 331 Derek Drake 68
 11 50 Stilez Robertson 67
 12 38 Joshua Varize 63
 13 33 Austin Forkner 55
 14 11 Kyle Chisholm 46
 15 72 John Short 44
 16 6 Jeremy Martin 42
 17 129 Henry Miller 41
 18 140 Cullin Park 35
 19 39 Jarrett Frye 26
 20 52 Kyle Peters 25

 

250SX West Points Standings

POS. # RIDER TOTAL POINTS
 1 28 Christian Craig 194
 2 96 Hunter Lawrence 171
 3 29 Michael Mosiman 158
 4 62 Vince Friese 127
 5 30 Jo Shimoda 125
 6 49 Nate Thrasher 112
 7 35 Garrett Marchbanks 99
 8 69 Robbie Wageman 94
 9 66 Chris Blose 90
 10 910 Carson Brown 83
 11 31 Jalek Swoll 80
 12 43 Carson Mumford 70
 13 74 Derek Kelley 66
 14 161 Cole Thompson 50
 15 98 Dominique Thury 49
 16 47 Seth Hammaker 44
 17 101 Dylan Walsh 41
 18 67 Logan Karnow 40
 19 58 Ryan Surratt 40
 20 64 Mitchell Harrison 39

450SX Heat One

Jason Anderson(21) earned the holeshot, then he and Eli Tomac(3) rode away from the field. Justin Barcia(51) was the only rider able to keep the top two in sight as they dominated the first heat of the 450SX class.

Jason Anderson / Lasco Press Photo

Tomac passed Anderson near the end of the timed portion of the race, but could not make it stick as Anderson surged past and back to the front. Tomac made two more runs at the lead and in both instances almost laid the bike down. After the second bobble, Tomac backed off the throttle and was content to take the second position into the 450SX Main Event.

Eli Tomac / Lasco Press Photo

450SX Heat Two

Alex Martin(26) took the early lead as riders just behind scrambled for position over the first lap. As things settled out, Sexton moved to the top spot followed closely by defending 450SX Champion Cooper Webb(1). Martin eventually faded as Marvin Musquin(25) and Malcolm Stewart(27) moved up into the top five.

Stewart was the only rider able to change the running order at the end as he passed Musquin.

450SX Main Event

Barcia, Sexton, Anderson, Tomac, and Webb were the first five riders around the opening corner and into the lead of the 450SX Main Event. Last Week’s winner Marvin Musquin went down early on Lap One and will not repeat this week.

Justin Barcia / Lasco Press Photo

It did not take long for Chase Sexton and Jason Anderson to dispatch Barcia and set about their own battle for the top spot. Five minutes in and Sexton dropped his bike and fell from the top five as Anderson took over the lead.

Barcia went down, allowing Webb and Tomac to move into podium position. With a huge lead in the points, Tomac just needs to ride smart and avoid trouble to maintain his advantage in the 450SX points standings.

Cooper Webb / Lasco Press Photo

Still, with five minutes to go, Tomac engaged Webb and made the pass for second. With the Championship leaders finishing one-two, Tomac will only drop three points of his leader’s advantage to Anderson. Sexton passed Webb late to grab a podium spot and continue Webb’s season of disappointing finishes.

450SX Main Event Results

POS. # RIDER HOMETOWN BIKE INTERVAL
 1 21 Jason Anderson Rio Rancho, NM Kawasaki KX450SR 15 Laps
 2 3 Eli Tomac Cortez, CO Yamaha YZ450F 2.370
 3 23 Chase Sexton Clermont, FL Honda CRF450R WE 4.125
 4 1 Cooper Webb Newport, NC KTM 450 SX-F FE 6.643
 5 27 Malcolm Stewart Haines City, FL Husqvarna FC 450 RE 28.078
 6 51 Justin Barcia Greenville, FL GASGAS MC 450F 39.150
 7 10 Justin Brayton Charlotte, NC Honda CRF450R 54.136
 8 11 Kyle Chisholm Valrico, FL Yamaha YZ450F 01:02.1
 9 41 Brandon Hartranft Brick, NJ Suzuki RM-Z450 01:06.2
 10 25 Marvin Musquin Corona, CA KTM 450 SX-F FE 01:08.8
 11 61 Fredrik Noren Indian Trail, NC KTM 450 SX-F 01:17.4
 12 26 Alex Martin Clermont, FL Yamaha YZ450F 01:21.7
 13 73 Benny Bloss Oak Grove, MO KTM 450 SX-F 01:34.3
 14 200 Ryan Breece Athol, ID Yamaha YZ450F 14 Laps
 15 95 Justin Starling Deland, FL GASGAS MC 450F 13.751
 16 72 John Short Pilot Point, TX Honda CRF250R 17.982
 17 129 Henry Miller Rochester, MN KTM 250 SX-F 36.272
 18 57 Kevin Moranz Topeka, KS KTM 450 SX-F 51.750
 19 63 Jeremy Hand Mantua, OH Honda CRF250R 01:11.7
 20 722 Adam Enticknap Lompoc, CA Suzuki RM-Z450 13 Laps
 21 19 Justin Bogle Wesley Chapel, FL Suzuki RM-Z450 10 Laps
 22 78 Cade Clason Chesterfield, SC Honda CRF450R 7 Laps

 

450SX Points Standings

POS. # RIDER HOMETOWN Total Points
 1 3 Eli Tomac Cortez, CO 325
 2 21 Jason Anderson Rio Rancho, NM 272
 3 51 Justin Barcia Greenville, FL 257
 4 27 Malcolm Stewart Haines City, FL 253
 5 25 Marvin Musquin Corona, CA 245
 6 23 Chase Sexton Clermont, FL 227
 7 1 Cooper Webb Newport, NC 227
 8 15 Dean Wilson Murrieta, CA 152
 9 14 Dylan Ferrandis Tallahassee, FL 141
 10 41 Brandon Hartranft Brick, NJ 139
 11 94 Ken Roczen Clermont, FL 133
 12 10 Justin Brayton Charlotte, NC 132
 13 12 Shane McElrath Oakland, FL 101
 14 19 Justin Bogle Wesley Chapel, FL 100
 15 7 Aaron Plessinger Hamilton, OH 97
 16 11 Kyle Chisholm Valrico, FL 84
 17 62 Vince Friese Menifee, CA 81
 18 95 Justin Starling Deland, FL 73
 19 26 Alex Martin Clermont, FL 73
 20 200 Ryan Breece Athol, ID 70