Image: Octopi Media.

Victory at Glendale’s opening Triple Crown of the year saw Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Eli Tomac make it two in a row to extend his 2022 Monster Energy Supercross advantage.

The start was dialed in the first of three 10-minute 450SX main events for Tomac and he was never headed from there, building a 2.240s advantage at the front of the field.

Tomac went on to win ahead of Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) and Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), who each overcome Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC) into the podium placings, while Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM) filled the top five.

Positions six through 10 included Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas), top qualifier Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) after he was well outside the top 10 at the beginning, number one plate-holder Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM), Dean Wilson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) and Shane McElrath (Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM WPS).

In a lowly 11th position was Team Honda HRC rider Chase Sexton after going down twice, affecting his overall scores for the night in these early stages.

Making it two from two on the night to begin, Tomac asserted himself at the front by 4.058s this time out from Stewart, with Sexton rebounding and making his way to the podium in third.

Musquin went one better for P4, comfortably ahead of countryman Ferrandis, followed by Roczen, Barcia, Webb, Wilson and Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM) in his best showing of the round so far. Anderson crashed with on five minutes remaining, was caught on the tuff-block for some time and ultimately finished in 12th place.

There was no clean-sweep tonight for Tomac as Sexton stepped up in the final 450SX main, going flag-to-flag and taking the checkers 2.539s ahead of the fast-finishing Anderson.

While Sexton maintained control at the front, Anderson climbed from as far back as ninth on lap one in another spirited effort, with Tomac claiming third in the race and the overall – his second in succession.

Stewart ran as high as second, only to drop to fourth in the end, but ahead of Webb, Barcia, Roczen, McElrath, Wilson and Plessinger. An early fall from Ferrandis damaged his bike, forcing him out altogether.

Overall, Tomac was the clear winner, topping the round podium over Stewart and Sexton, who salvaged another top three result despite his finish in the opening race. Tomac now leads by 11 points entering Anaheim 3 next Saturday.

Detailed results