After Seattle, now 11 rounds in, we have Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb tied on points, 1 vs 2. Both these warriors have scaled the mountain before, in fact, they have shared the last four 450 titles. Eli’s victory on the weekend was a very important one, not because it was his 50th but because he needed a win. That sounds a bit harsh when it was his 6th of the season, but he had a couple of rough weeks prior, losing the points lead in Indianapolis and having Coop put another couple of points on him in Detroit.
I don’t know what to say about Chase Sexton, his crash on the weekend probably
threw away his title chances, and he is now 22 points down. Of course, anything can happen but his chances now hinge on others' misfortune rather than his own efforts. It’s a real shame. And no one knows it more than Chase.
250s – I loved seeing Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Carson Mumford out there and looking good, leading heat one until a late race pass for the lead by TLD Gas Gas rider Pierce Brown. Heat 2 provided the drama for the night, with Jett Lawrence and Cameron McAdoo tangling, socials went wild as did the crowd. In my opinion, there wasn’t much in it, Cameron was just a little too keen. Good thing they weren’t injured. Of course, Jett won the main event, flanked on the podium by RJ Hampshire and McAdoo once again. Gotta be frustrating for those two. Shame to see early leader, Star Yamaha’s Stilez Robertson crash hard in the whoops and appear to have a shoulder injury, reports are that he will be ok for Glendale.
450s – Heat 1 saw a holeshot from privateer Kevin Moranz, a taste of what was to
come, Christian Craig taking the win. A stacked heat 2 saw Coop taking the win from Chase and Eli, Coop unleashing a “No you don’t” finger wag at Chase over the finish line. This I love, I have gone from hating Coop and his salty attitude a few years ago, to now not being able to get enough of it. It’s real emotion, he’s authentic and authenticity is great.
My Favourite thing of the night was Kevin Moranz's holeshot and leading the main event, fending off Chase’s pass attempts for half a lap but ultimately overjumping at the end of a rhythm section, sending himself into the tuff blocks. It was awesome. Do it again dude!
Midway through the main event I was worried about Eli. Running 3rd early on but
shuffled back to 5th, this seemed to light a fire though, working his way back to 2nd and most importantly back past Coop, then inheriting the lead from Chase. Eli was able to hold off Coop. Great to see Justin Barcia keep his good form, Bam Bam with his 3 rd podium of the year.
Eli looking relieved on the podium, Bam Bam looking hungry for more, and Coop,
well, he’s just “trusting the process”.
Now for the week off, whatever you don’t tell your better halves about it, just
watch some replays.
Go Riding
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