Image: Octopi Media.

Defending 450SX champion Eli Tomac was able to avoid any major injuries following a spectacular crash in the final race of Anaheim 2’s Triple Crown, with the red plate-holder looking to the positives in what could have been a disastrous outcome.

Prior to the first Triple Crown of the season at Angel Stadium, Tomac had achieved a 100 percent strike rate in terms of heat race and main event victories in 450SX this year.

Qualifying fourth at A2, Tomac notched consistent 3-2 scores in the opening two finals before disaster struck in main event three. Locked in combat with Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Tomac crashed in spectacular fashion when he drifted to the left off a ramp and landed on a tuff block in the triple onto the tabletop section.

“We put ourselves in a good spot going into the third main and then obviously made a huge mistake,” Tomac recalled. “I went for a triple onto the tabletop and pulled a little bit to the outside when I went onto the ramp and jumped onto the tuff blocks.

“Honestly, my bike was just wiped away from me and I kind of folded over it. When I cartwheeled, thankfully my body landed on the tuff blocks again, so I came away unscathed. The bike was pretty beat up, but thankfully I was able to keep going and salvage that sixth overall.

“So, it was a bad scenario, but also a good scenario because it was a Triple Crown and the points damage wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. That’s the way I’m looking at it, to take it as a positive and learn from my mistake and come back next week.”

Importantly, Tomac was able to salvage 17 points towards his title defence. Ahead of Houston this Saturday, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider holds a four-point lead over A2 winner Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) and Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).