Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac earned his second Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in front of a home-state crowd inside Empower Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colo. Tomac’s fifth place finish at round 16 of the 17-round series gave the 29-year old racer the distinction of becoming the oldest rider to capture the Supercross Championship in the sport’s 49-year history.

Tomac grabbed second place at the start of the Main Event. The crowd went wild when a mistake from the leader put Tomac into the lead and in position to take the title with a victory. The hard pack track was dry and slick, and Tomac played it smart with a protection pace to stay upright. Tomac eventually dropped back to fifth place. On the podium, with the #1 plate in his hands, he revealed that he’d suffered a minor knee injury two rounds prior that had been a component to his protection mode approach.  Tomac joined the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team just prior to the 2022 season in a move that proved successful for both rider and brand. Tomac’s seven race wins thus far in the 2022 series that spans 13 states elevated the Yamaha rider to a tie for fourth place on the all-time wins list. Prior to this season, Yamaha had only amassed two wins between the years 2013 through 2021. Tomac’s #1 plate marks the first premier class championship for Yamaha since 2009. One round remains in the 2022 season, set for next Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The season finale marks the fifteenth different city to host a Monster Energy AMA Supercross in 2022. Tomac could tally one more win, moving him closer to the third place spot on the all-time wins list, currently held by 5-time Supercross Champion Ricky Carmichael at 48. Carmichael retired in 2007 and now calls the races from the broadcast booth during the live airings on Peacock, NBC, CNBC and USA Network. In Utah the season’s second Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Showdown, a unique race that faces off 250SX Class racers from both the Eastern and Western regions, will determine the final championship of 2022.

450SX Class Results1. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki2. Malcolm Stewart, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna3. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM4. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha6. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM7. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS8. Justin Brayton, Charlotte, N.C., Honda9. Mitchell Oldenburg, Aledo, Tex., Honda10. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha 450SX Class Championship Standings after 16 of 17 Rounds1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (359)2. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (324)3. Malcolm Stewart, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna (295)4. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (291)5. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM (287)6. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (269)7. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (261)8. Brandon Hartranft, Brick, N.J., Suzuki (163)9. Justin Brayton, Charlotte, N.C., Honda (160)10. Dean Wilson, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna (152)

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson nabbed his sixth victory of the season, and third straight, at Round 16 of the 17-round 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series. At the daytime race at Empower Field inside Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac wrapped up his second Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship with a fifth place finish after leading early in the race.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart grabbed second place in Denver’s Main Event with Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin earning his sixth podium finish of the season in third. In a thriller of a Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event, also with the title on the line, Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence held strong for the win to take the championship to the final round next weekend.

Jason Anderson took his sixth win of 2022 earning more wins than even in his 2018 Championship season. Photo Credit: Feld Entertainment, Inc.   When the gate dropped Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton grabbed the holehot with Tomac applying pressure to take over from the first lap. Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia sat third at the holeshot stripe but it was Anderson on the move, gaining quickly from sixth to third before the first lap was in the books. Two minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap race Sexton’s front tire went over a ledge that ran across the start straight. He spun sideways, grabbed traction, then ran into the mechanic’s area barriers and went down. Tomac suddenly had the lead. The stadium erupted. The Colorado fans cheered, section by section, as Colorado-native Tomac circled the track at the front of the pack. Anderson continued his momentum forward and was quickly on Tomac and pressuring hard for the top spot. Anderson sat as the only rider with a mathematical shot at the title if Tomac finished fifteenth or worse. Anderson rode around Tomac cleanly before the whoops and Tomac did not counter attack. Just before the race’s midpoint, Anderson was unchallenged out front as Stewart reached Tomac’s rear fender and also got past.

Eli Tomac had the lead but kept his eyes on the points to lock down the 2022 Championship one race before the final round of the season. Photo Credit: Feld Entertainment, Inc.   With just under seven minutes left on the race clock, Musquin also got around Tomac, and inside of two minutes left on the clock Tomac allowed Sexton back around. Tomac held steady in fifth place to the end, wrapping up the 2022 Championship, the second of his career.

In the Western Regional 250SX Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Christian Craig sat in position to wrap up his first Supercross title with a win or by gaining three points over Hunter Lawrence. When the gate dropped for the Main Event, Lawrence grabbed the holeshot ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jalek Swoll and Craig. Craig was quickly into second place and up to Lawrence’s rear fender. From the first laps Craig applied intense pressure, showing a wheel to Lawrence in more than one section of the track. Craig looked to have the speed, and a line in the whoops that would deliver the championship. Lawrence had said before the race he enjoys the pressure, and he proved his ability to keep his composure as he maintained his sliver-thin lead. It was Craig who fumbled. Just before the race clock hit the ten minute mark in the 15-minute plus one lap race, Craig slid out on the take-off into the sand section. He dramatically looped as he fell off the bike when he landed. The crash dropped Craig to sixth place as Hunter held a comfortable lead over Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Michael Mosiman. Craig was on the move on the slick, hard-packed track. With just over two minutes left on the clock he passed Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jo Shimoda to keep his podium streak alive for 2022. Craig goes into the final round in Salt Lake City with an 18 point lead. To complicate the championship-deciding race it will be the second Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Showdown of the year, and Hunter Lawrence’s younger brother Jett will be on the track as the championship is settled between Craig and Hunter Lawrence. With only one round remaining motorsports fans have only one more chance to catch the incredible action live. Tickets are on sale for the season finale at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. For the full points standings, video highlights, feature stories, live airtimes on Peacock and CNBC, and the re-airing broadcast time on NBC please go to SupercrossLIVE.com.

450SX Class Results1. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki2. Malcolm Stewart, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna3. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM4. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda5. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha6. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM7. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS8. Justin Brayton, Charlotte, N.C., Honda9. Mitchell Oldenburg, Aledo, Tex., Honda10. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha 450SX Class Championship Standings1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Yamaha (359)2. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Kawasaki (324)3. Malcolm Stewart, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna (295)4. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (291)5. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM (287)6. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (269)7. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., KTM (261)8. Brandon Hartranft, Brick, N.J., Suzuki (163)9. Justin Brayton, Charlotte, N.C., Honda (160)10. Dean Wilson, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna (152)

Western Regional 250SX Class Results1. Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda2. Michael Mosiman, Minneaola, Fla., GASGAS3. Christian Craig, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha4. Jo Shimoda, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki5. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Yamaha6. Vince Friese, Menifee, Calif., Honda7. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., GASGAS8. Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha9. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha10. Jalek Swoll, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings1. Christian Craig, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (215)2. Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (197)3. Michael Mosiman, Minneaola, Fla., GASGAS (181)4. Vince Friese, Menifee, Calif., Honda (144)5. Jo Shimoda, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki (144)6. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha (126)7. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Yamaha (117)8. Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha (109)9. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., GASGAS (106)10. Jalek Swoll, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna (93)