Eli Tomac’s incredible season continues as he won all three main events in the first ever WSX World Supercross championship at Cardiff. With wins in the AMA Supercross and outdoor Nationals this year as well as the Motocross of Nations, he dominated the brand new event inside the Principality Stadium to a packed audience.
The showdown between Tomac and Ken Roczen was the focus of the 450 class. In the opening moto, Roczen led with Tomac on his tail until the Honda man slipped off. Roczen made some daring passes to take third at the flag, behind Vince Friese.
Second time out Friese led from the start with Tomac and Roczen mid pack. Tomac was in no mood for second place and staged an incredible run through the front to take the win, from Roczen and Friese.
In the longer, final moto, Tomac tailed Justin Brayton on the opening lap while Roczen had a poor start. Tomac soon took the lead while Joey Savatgy battled with Brayton for second place, as Roczen caught them up. But the finsl outcome was never really in doubt as Tomac took the win from Savatgy and Brayton with Roczen fourth from Friese. That gave Tomac the overall from Roczen and Friese in an all-AMA podium.
Tomac said: “I’ve had a great time here and it was very intense racing. The track was good – a rea supercross track – and the fans were great.”
Roczen said: “It was a tough event, with three races back to back. I haven’t raced Supercross that intense for a very long time.”
Best Brit was Jack Brunell in 15th, helped by a great start in the first moto when he finished eighth. He followed that up with two points-scoring rides.
It was not a great debut for fellow Brit Dean Wilson, who had set some great times in practice. Out for the first time on the new Honda, Deano was seventh in the first race but then crashed hard in moto two. He started race three but pulled out after one corner.
Also out was Chad Reed who fell and was taken away nursing an arm injury. And Josh Grant had a massive crash when his bike’s chain broke and he was pitched over the bars. He eventually walked off but took no more part in the racing.
In the 250 class, it looked like it could be a dream UK debut on his new Honda for Max Anstie after he was blazing fast in practice and won his qualifying race. But when it counted in the triple-header finals, he won one moto but had poor starts and took sixth overall. With the races only being short, poor starts were a major issue so tenth in the Superfinal halted his glory bid.
The overall was taken by Shane McElrath, who didn’t win a single race but had consistent results. Chris Blose took second – also without a race win – from Mitch Oldenburg who won the first and last motos. But he went down in race two which ruined his bid for glory. Oldenburg won the Superfinal from Cole Seely and Aussie 450 champ Aaron Tanti.
Dylan Walsh had a storming ride in his heat, then took a storming fifth in the opener. He was tenth in the second moto but hurt his wrist, but bravely went out in the superfinal to rescue some points. He finishes 11thoverall.
Dylan Woodcock had a best of a 16th and an 18th but didn’t finish the superfinal in the points.
