Jason Anderson’s Supercross Championship Points Lead is Slipping Away…

The penultimate round of Monster Energy Supercross was held this past weekend in Salt Lake City, and current championship points leader, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson, didn’t have the main event he was looking for, ultimately finishing 17th after a first turn tangle that sent him to the pits to swap front wheels. Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin finished first and took a considerable bite out of Anderson’s points lead, narrowing it to a margin of only 14 points. Should Anderson have another less than ideal race at the season finale in Vegas this coming weekend, Musquin might be able to steal the championship out from under Anderson… Tensions will certainly be high this weekend, and given Marvin’s newfound aggression, the Frenchman may just have what it takes to pull off a major Husqvarna upset.

Brent Jaswinski

Jason Anderson Marvin Musquin Salt Lake City SX 2018

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – April 29, 2018 – Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, made its return to “The State of Sport” in front of 43,849 fans at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

Jason Anderson Marvin Musquin Salt Lake City
Marvin Musquin celebrates his fourth 450SX Class win after leading 23 of the 26-Lap Main Event in Salt Lake City. Photo credit: Feld Entertainment, Inc.

In the 450SX Class Main Event, the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC WPS KTM of Blake Baggett grabbed the holeshot ahead of Team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Marvin Musquin and Team Honda HRC’s Christian Craig, while points leader Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson got caught up in a first turn crash that sent him to the mechanics area for a tire change. As Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing’s Eli Tomac battled from a 10th place start, Musquin made the pass on Baggett for the lead after three laps. Tomac found his groove and worked up to second over Baggett by the checkers while Anderson finished 17th after going two laps down and holds a 14-point lead over Musquin heading into the season finale in Las Vegas.

“Sometimes it’s not the fastest guy that wins the race,” Musquin said after the finish. “You’ve got to be very consistent. The whoops are really, really tough and you know I was just trying to be safe and get it done. I was happy to win here. It’s definitely not a track that suits me. It’s hard and slippery, but the bike was working good. It was a tough day for me, but that made me stronger.”

Jason Anderson Marvin Musquin Salt Lake City
Shane McElrath captured his second Western Regional 250SX Class win in Salt Lake City after a third-place start to lead 11 of the 19-Lap Main Event. Photo credit: Feld Entertainment, Inc.

In the penultimate round of the Western Regional 250SX Class Championship, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy grabbed the holeshot while Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha Racing’s Aaron Plessinger battled into second after the start with Troy Lee Designs Red Bull KTM’s Shane McElrath in third. Savatgy lead eight laps until McElrath charged from third to first through the whoops while Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo found second over Savatgy, Plessinger and Sexton rounded out the top five, and McElrath led 11 laps to the checkered flag. Plessinger holds a 13-point lead heading into the season finale at the Dave Coombs Sr. 250SX East-West Showdown in Las Vegas.

“It feels good to do it in front of Utah today,” McElrath said on the podium. “Man, God is good. We got a beautiful day today.”

450SX Class Results

  1. Marvin Musquin, Clermont, Fla., KTM
  2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki
  3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrance, Calif., KTM
  4. Christian Craig, Orange, Calif., Honda
  5. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha
  6. Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., Honda
  7. Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki
  8. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., KTM
  9. Vince Friese, Cape Girardeau, Honda
  10. Tyler Bowers, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Kawasaki

450SX Class Championship Standings

  1. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna (338)
  2. Marvin Musquin, Clermont, Fla., KTM (324)
  3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (292)
  4. Justin Brayton, Mint Hill, N.C., Honda (264)
  5. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrance, Calif., KTM (264)
  6. Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki (235)
  7. Dean Wilson, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna (193)
  8. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., KTM (184)
  9. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha (181)
  10. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha (163)

Western Regional 250SX Class Results

  1. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM
  2. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki
  3. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki
  4. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha
  5. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda
  6. Phillip Nicoletti, Bethel, N.Y., Suzuki
  7. Dakota Alix, Jay. Vt., KTM
  8. Mitchell Harrison, Tallahassee, Fla., Husqvarna
  9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha
  10. Martin Castelo, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha

Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings

  1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (196)
  2. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (183)
  3. Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki (174)
  4. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM (172)
  5. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda (150)
  6. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Suzuki (128)
  7. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Yamaha (124)
  8. Mitchell Harrison, Tallahassee, Fla., Husqvarna (115)
  9. Christian Craig, Orange, Calif. Honda (106)
  10. Phillip Nicoletti, Bethel, N.Y., Suzuki (94)

The 2018 Monster Energy Supercross season concludes in Las Vegas with the finale on May 5 at Sam Boyd Stadium. Watch the action live on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET.

For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to SupercrossLIVE.com, the official website of Monster Energy Supercross, or follow via social channels:

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