Monster Energy AMA Supercross has now had three different winners in the last four rounds as the tenth fixture of the season saw Ken Roczen walk the top step of the box at the Rogers Centre and with more than 50,000 spectators in attendance in Toronto. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac could not repeat his sensational performance from Daytona last Saturday in the sole non-American meeting on the SX calendar; the 23 year old ran to fifth in what was a crash-strewn 450SX Main Event.
The crowd were shocked only a few seconds into the tenth Main of seventeen in the 2016 series as Yamaha’s Chad Reed clipped the rear wheel of another rider and ‘cartwheeled’ on the start straight and before entry into the first turn. The Australian, who won the inaugural supercross in Toronto in 2008, escaped serious injury but was out of the running.
Justin Bogle, vying for the lead, then made a mistake in the first rhythm section and collected a host of riders with his fall, including the likes of Anaheim 1 victor Jason Anderson. Carnage ensued but Tomac, champion Ryan Dungey, KTM teammate Marvin Musquin and Roczen were able to emerge unscathed. Dungey made a rare mistake and lost the front end of the 450SX-F that handed the initiative to Roczen as Tomac faded slightly.
The defending number one recovered to set a new record for 26 consecutive podium finishes stretching back to the start of 2015 as he followed the German and the Frenchman home. Tomac, who had set off from first in the gate, rolled across the line in fifth. Dungey controls the 450SX class by 34 points.
“We had a great practice, rode really well in the heat and tried to carry that speed into the Main Event,” Eli said. “I got out of the gate really well, avoided the incident on the first lap and then made the pass into the lead. From there I just didn’t feel exactly how I needed to get the job done. I’m looking forward to next weekend and will build off what I learned tonight.”
In 250SX East Coast Monster Energy Pro Circuit’s Arnaud Tonus was part of a first lap pile-up but fought back to tenth position, one place in front of teammate Tyler Bowers who had earlier impressed by winning his Heat race but couldn’t replicate the speed in the Main Event.
Already barrelling across the breadth of North America Monster Energy AMA SX drops down to Ford Field in Detroit next weekend for the eleventh consecutive Saturday evening of competition and before a well-earned break over Easter weekend.