3 hours in the past | Phrases: Andy Wigan | Images: YMC, Feld Motorsports, Inc.
Did you’ve your cash on Eli Tomac successful the opening spherical of the 2023 AMA Supercross Championship previous weekend at Anaheim 1? In fact you probably did; he’s the two-time and reigning champ, proper? Plus, after upstaging everybody late final 12 months on the opening spherical of the World Supercross Championship in Wales, it was clear the man was on kind and injury-free coming into the 2023 AMA SX season opener. And he seems to be higher than ever aboard Yamaha’s much-updated 2023 YZ450F.
Nevertheless, not all pundits agreed that the 30-year-old was a protected wager to again for the A1 win, pointing to the fascinating stats that Tomac’s common end at Anaheim 1 was a lowly 10th place, and that his finest ever end result on the SoCal baseball stadium was a sixth final 12 months. Yep, consider it!
Properly, Tomac certain shrugged off any doubters at A1 final weekend. Regardless of a mid-race crash that relegated him to sixth, ET regathered himself and stormed again although the sector to take an exciting victory on a gnarly, rain-affected and rut-strewn monitor. It was Tomac’s 45th Foremost Occasion win and a stellar first outing for the much-lauded new 2023 YZ450F, whereas teammate Dylan Ferrandis narrowly missed the rostrum in a drama-filled 450SX Foremost Occasion.
The win additionally meant that Eli Tomac surpassed Australia’s Chad Reed to turn into the fourth all-time winningest AMA SX rider. With 45 wins, Tomac now solely sits behind Ricky Carmichael (48), James Stewart (50) and Jeremy McGrath (72). Talking about Tomac and the unbelievable stats the dude is racking up, verify these for dimension:
- Fourth in all time Supercross wins (45)
- Fifth in all-time Supercross podiums (85)
- Third in all time Supercross and Motocross wins mixed (77)
- One in all solely six riders to win a Supercross Foremost Occasion over the age of 30
- Equal third (with Jeremy McGrath) for all-time AMA wins (450SX, 450MX, 250MX, 500MX)
- Fifth in all-time mixed title wins (all SX/MX in 250/450/500 courses) with eight titles (one win behind Ryan Dungey for fourth)
- 11th all-time for begins (145)
- Fifth all-time for podiums (88)
- Sixth all-time for top-fives (107)
Eli Tomac: “It was a tremendous Anaheim 1! It’s fairly particular for us to do that at Spherical 1 with a brand new platform, and for me, it’s been 10 years that I’ve been within the 450 class, so it feels good to get this win. It was an unbelievable day for us as an entire. I used to be P2 in observe and was very near first place there, after which within the warmth race, I received the holeshot and ran away with that one. That was superior. In the principle occasion, there was a lot that occurred there. I used to be actually near the holeshot once more. I used to be proper there and battled with Justin [Barcia]. I made a cross for the lead after which made a mistake. I had a crash on the tunnel bounce and ended up washing out. At that cut-off date, I assumed the prospect on the lead once more was perhaps over, however fortunately my bike was nonetheless straight, and every thing was good. I in some way made it to the entrance of the pack once more, so it was a wild flip of occasions, however total the bike labored so effectively in the present day. We’re off to the appropriate begin.”
Dylan Ferrandis: “It was a great day. Truthfully, it was the perfect opening spherical for me within the 450 class. I had an opportunity to be on the field tonight. I used to be third sooner or later in the principle occasion, however a small mistake price me the rostrum. In the long run, I completed fourth and was proper on the wheel of the third man, so it’s a great end result, and I’m actually proud of that first race. Truthfully, after two very dangerous seasons in supercross, it’s good to be again within the combine and again to combating for podiums. I do know what I’m able to, and I feel tonight, I didn’t race to my full potential. I do know I’ve a small margin to enhance, and I’m prepared for subsequent week. The brand new bike is simply so a lot better for me in supercross. I feel we proved it tonight with Eli. He gained, and I completed fourth. It’s a great begin to the season for us.”
450SX CLASS: RESULTS – ANAHEIM 1
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha
2. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM
3. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
4. Dylan Ferrandis, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha
5. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki
6. Colt Nichols, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
7. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki
8. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, KTM
9. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Seashore, Fla., Kawasaki
10. Joey Savatgy, Clermont, Fla., Kawasaki
450SX CLASS: MAIN EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Torrential rain within the lead-up to this coming weekend’s Spherical 2 of the AMA SX sequence at Oakland, CA, has pressured organisers to maneuver the spherical to February 18. The subsequent spherical will subsequently be in San Diego, CA, on January 21.
