Image: Octopi Media.

An injury for Eli Tomac changed the outlook of the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross visit to Denver as well as the inaugural SuperMotocross World Championship season as Chase Sexton won the race and assumed the points lead with one 450SX round remaining.

With local favorite Tomac out of sight of the Denver fans receiving medical attention to his left leg, Sexton faced no further challenge en route to his fifth 450SX main event win of 2023.

The feat marks Sexton’s second consecutive victory after the Team Honda HRC caught and passed Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Tomac last time out in Nashville.

Ken Roczen (Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki) charged forward from last place after a first-turn crash to finish second, 8.361s in arrears of Sexton at the checkered flag.

Despite losing second to Roczen, Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) held on for third to secure his first Supercross podium since January 2021 in Houston.

Justin Hill (Team Tedder Monster Energy Mountain Motorsports) and Shane McElrath (Twisted Tea Suzuki Progressive Insurance) were fourth and fifth, leading Dean Wilson (Fire Power Honda), Josh Hill (Team Tedder Monster Energy Mountain Motorsports), Kyle Chisholm (Twisted Tea Suzuki Progressive Insurance),  Grant Harlan (Rock River Yamaha), and privateer Justin Starling in the top 10.

In addition to Tomac, Kevin Moranz and Team Honda HRC’s Colt Nichols left the race early, with Nichols notably receiving medical attention for multiple minutes after a crash.

Supercross heads next to Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah to wrap up its 2023 season on Saturday, May 13. There, Sexton will be crowned the 2023 450SX champion, as he leads injured riders Tomac and Webb by seven and 42 points, respectively.

Detailed results