Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac may ride a green motorcycle, but the Coloradoan proved that he becoming red hot when round five of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series made its stop at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
In a spectacular, come-from-behind ride, Tomac landed his sixth career 450cc main event win and his second win in a week’s time as he came from well well down in the field and out-dueled reigning series champion Ryan Dungey to land atop the podium.
It wasn’t easy, as Tomac crashed during his heat race and was forced to gain entry into the 20-minute-plus-two-lap 450cc main event via a semi, which he won handily. Although he didn’t crash, Dungey struggled in his heat race and also failed to earn a direct transfer, thus he, too, was forced to make the main through a semi as well.
Dungey, however, nailed the start of the main event, and although Smartop/MotoConcepts Racing Honda’s Vince Friese bagged the holeshot ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Jason Anderson, Dungey was right there in third place, and he wasted little time in taking the lead and setting sail on the field–or so it seemed.
But while Anderson and Monster Energy/Yamalube/Chaparral/Yamaha Financial Services/Yamaha’s Cooper Webb and Team Honda HRC’s Cole Seely engaged in a brilliant battle for second place, Tomac came from down in eighth place to run right behind them. Webb overtook Anderson for second place on lap two, and for a few laps it appeared as though the rookie Yamaha rider might be able to eat into Dungey’s 3-second advantage. Then it seemed as if Dungey was able to find a little more speed and stretch that lead.
However, Tomac was clearly flying, and he got past Anderson, who had already been displaced by Seely, to take over fourth place on lap six. Tomac then caught and passed Seely one lap later. Then Tomac really went to work, cutting into the fading Webb’s advantage even though both men were using a time-saving triple/quad jump technique through one of the track’s treacherously rutted rhythm sections. Tomac made a clean pass on Webb on lap 12, and he soon began to look across the track to gauge his distance from leader Dungey. At that point, Tomac was 3.5 seconds out of the lead.
The relentless Tomac attacked the track even harder, and he brought the 47,061 crowd to their feet as he reeled-in the champ. Dungey, however, was in no mood to simply give up the lead, and he fought back Tomac’s first few pass attempts. But Tomac would not be denied as he shot past Dungey at the end of the long whoop section and sealed the deal in the ensuing left-hand corner. From there, Tomac pulled away to win the race by more than 10 seconds, making it look even easier than it really was–something he readily admitted afterward.
“I had to work for that win tonight, and it feels good to grab my second straight win,” Tomac said. “The track was real technical, and I had a good flow going in the middle of the race. I snuck to the inside of [Dungey] and kept pushing until the checkered flag.”
Dungey went on to finish second, once again upping his podium streak.
“The track was tricky,” Dungey said. “It could jump up and bite you at any moment. I was able to get out front early and open a nice lead, but [Tomac] was riding really good and a little better than me. It’s nice to leave the West Coast with the points lead, and I am looking forward to heading east.”
Webb grabbed his first career 450cc supercross podium finish in third, punctuating a true breakthrough afternoon for the North Carolinian, who scored his first career 450cc supercross heat race win earlier in the day.
While Dungey now holds a 17-point lead in the series, what was feared to be a potentially done deal in the race for the championship is now clearly anything but. Tomac has now moved into second place, passing Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin, who struggled in the main event and finished ninth behind the top three, Anderson, Seely, Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/KTM/WPS teammates Davi Millsaps and Blake Baggett, and Monster Energy/Yamalube/Chaparral/Yamaha Financial Services/Yamaha’s Chad Reed. In his debut ride for the team, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Dean Wilson finished a season-best 10th, one position better than the pair of 11th-place finishes he earned at the previous two rounds as a Yamaha-mounted privateer.
The series now moves east to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, February 11.
2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series
Oakland Alameda Coliseum
Oakland, California
Results: February 4, 2017 (Round 5 of 17)
450cc Main
1. Eli Tomac-Kaw
2. Ryan Dungey-KTM
3. Cooper Webb-Yam
4. Jason Anderson-Hus
5. Cole Seely-Hon
6. Davi Millsaps-KTM
7. Blake Baggett-KTM
8. Chad Reed-Yam
9. Marvin Musquin-KTM
10. Dean Wilson-Hus
11. Broc Tickle-Suz
12. Justin Brayton-Hon
13. Jake Weimer-Suz
14. Vince Friese-Hon
15. Mike Alessi-Hon
16. Nick Schmidt-Suz
17. Malcolm Stewart-Suz
18. Alex Ray-Hus
19. Cade Clason-Hon
20. Adam Enticknap-Hon
21. Jimmy Albertson-Suz
22. Justin Bogle-Suz
2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series Points Standings (after 5 of 17 rounds)
1. Ryan Dungey-111/1 win
2. Eli Tomac-94/2 wins
3. Marvin Musquin-86
4. Cole Seely-85
5. Davi Millsaps-70
6. Jason Anderson-65
7.Cooper Webb-64
8. Chad Reed-62
9. Ken Roczen-51/2 wins
10. Dean Wilson-48
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