Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac came to Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, looking to get back on top of the podium, and the Coloradoan accomplished just that as he dominated the 450cc main event en route to his fourth Monster Energy AMA Supercross in nine rounds of the series.
“We had such good preparation this year, and we didn’t have ‘it’ right away, but we do now,” Tomac said after claiming his eighth career win—his fourth win in 2017 doubling his career mark. “This track was a night of survival. It was really tough.”
Tomac was tougher, as he handily won the second heat race to qualify for the 22-rider 450cc main. When the premier race of the night left the starting gate, he was off to a great start, chasing Rocky Mountain ATV/MC-WPS-KTM’s Blake Baggett through turn one while RCH/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Broc Tickle got off to a fantastic start to run third after having to qualify for the main event through a Semi. Tomac blitzed past Baggett in a rhythm lane to take over the lead on the opening lap, and after that he disappeared into the night, winning the race by 14.2 seconds.
In a practical role reversal from last weekend’s Atlanta Supercross, reigning Monster Energy AMA Supercross Champion Ryan Dungey found himself outside the top 10 on the opening lap in Toronto, and the Red Bull KTM rider had his work cut out for him if he was going to land on the podium. Dungey was up to the task. Dungey rode his tail off to break into the top five just five laps into the race, and he was in podium contention after passing Baggett—who had crashed but quickly remounted on lap four—near the halfway point of the 20-minute-plus-one-lap race. Dungey was cutting the fastest laps on the track, and he soon caught up to Tickle, making a pass for the runner-up spot on lap 16. That was as close as he could get to Tomac before the checkered flag fell.
“It was a very bad start,” Dungey said of his run off the gate in the main event. “I got out [of the gate] and just spun [the tire]. I needed a good jump [to contend], but it didn’t happen. I tried to pick off as many guys as I could and did that one by one. To be in second place [after all that] I can’t be mad at all. I didn’t think I’d get there with the way things started. Eli [Tomac] was there. He was out front and made it happen. We need to make it tougher on him. We’ll work on our starts and come back fighting next weekend.”
Tickle, meanwhile, was thrilled to score his first career 450cc supercross podium finish in Toronto after coming home third.
“It all started with the start,” Tickle said. “I’ve been working really hard this whole off-season with the RCH/Yoshmura team. It’s been [about] just getting up there in the front those first couple laps, and I did it tonight and hung in there for the whole race. I’m not going to lie, at the end there, I was struggling, riding tight, and Dungey passed me. I got in behind him and got a flow going again. I got my first career podium here in the Lites class, and now my first podium in the 450, so I’m stoked.”
Monster Energy-Yamalaube-Chaparral-Yamaha Financial’s Chad Reed, who was hoping to parlay his first heat race win of 2017 into his first main event win of the year, still had a good night, pushing his way up to fourth place ahead of Baggett. Team Honda HRC’s Cole Seely finished sixth, ahead of Baggett’s teammate Davi Millsaps, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Dean Wilson, Autotrader/JGR/Suzuki’s Justin Barcia and Smartop/MotoConcepts Honda’s Justin Brayton.
Although Tomac chipped into Dungey’s series lead, the champ still enjoys a comfortable 24 points over the Kawasaki man, 196-172. Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin who struggled to finish 13th while battling the flu, is now 39 points out of the lead, in third place.
The 2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series now heads from the northern-most date on the schedule to its southern-most for round 10, the Daytona Supercross by Honda at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, March 11.
2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series
Rogers Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Results: March 4, 2017 (Round 10 of 17)
450cc Main Event
1. Eli Tomac-Kaw
2. Ryan Dungey-KTM
3. Broc Tickle-Suz
4. Chad Reed-Yam
5. Blake Baggett-KTM
6. Cole Seely-Hon
7. Davi Millsaps-KTM
8. Dean Wilson-Hus
9. Justin Barcia-Suz
10. Justin Brayton-Hon
11. Josh Grant-Kaw
12. Justin Bogle-Suz
13. Marvin Musquin-KTM
14. Jake Weimer-Suz
15. Malcolm Stewart-Suz
16. Vince Friese-Hon
17. Mike Alessi-Hon
18. Kyle Chisholm-Hon
19. Jason Anderson-Hus
20. Nick Schmidt-Suz
21. Cody Gillmore-Kaw
22. Adam Enticknap-Hon
2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series Points Standings (after 9 of 17 rounds)
1. Ryan Dungey-196/2 wins
2. Eli Tomac-172/4 wins
3. Marvin Musquin-157/1 win
4. Cole Seely-153
5. Jason Anderson-123
6. Davi Millsaps-112
7. Chad Reed-101
8. Blake Baggett-99
9. Dean Wilson-97
10. Broc Tickle-96
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