Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Shane McElrath took his third victory of the season at Salt Lake City’s Rice-Eccles Stadium, but it was Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Justin Hill who had the most to celebrate after clinching the 2017 Monster Energy 250SX West Supercross Championship one round early.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Austin Forkner led off the start, ahead of Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger and McElrath. Plessinger took advantage of his best start of the season to move into the lead, bringing McElrath along with him into second. Forkner settled in to third. Hill started behind this group in sixth, but made early passes to take over fourth.
Plessinger set a torrid pace to establish a multiple-second lead over the field and appeared to be in full control of the race. However, a mistake on Lap 7 in the whoops sent Plessinger to the ground and out of the race. That allowed McElrath to take control of the lead, with Forkner moving into second and Hill into third. Forkner was poised to challenge McElrath for the lead but he too encountered misfortune in the whoops, altering his line while navigating around a lapped rider and losing control. Forkner crashed out of second, allowing Hill to assume the spot and moving Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Mitchell Oldenburg into third.
Oldenburg put on a charge and caught Hill for second, successfully making the pass on Lap 13. Hill continued to lose ground and was soon at risk of falling off the podium as Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Martin Davalos closed in from fourth. With McElrath in the lead, Hill needed a podium result to clinch the title.
McElrath went on to take his third win of the season by 3.9 seconds over his teammate to give the Troy Lee Designs team a 1-2 finish.
“This win was about staying up,” McElrath said. “It’s unfortunate for Aaron [Plessinger], but tonight was one of those tracks where you couldn’t ride too hard because it was so technical and precise. I’m pumped for Justin [Hill], but for us to finish 1-2 is amazing.”
On the final lap Davalos and Hill battled for third, with Davalos making a pass for the position. However, Hill refused to give up and made an impressive pass in the final corner to take away Davalos’ line and grab the final podium spot by mere inches, securing the title as a result.
“This championship means everything,” Hill said. “This is my fifth time around, and I’ve had bumps along the way, which makes this win way more sweet. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid. This is awesome.”
The championship is Hill’s first career professional title, clinching one round early, but its the 20th title for his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team, the most successful team in the history of the sport.
The 2017 Monster Energy Supercross season will continue next Saturday, April 29, for the 16th and penultimate round of the championship from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Live broadcast coverage can be seen on FOX, beginning at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET.
2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Salt Lake City, Utah
Results: April 22, 2017 (Round 8 of 9)
250SX West Main Event
1. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM
2. Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM
3. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki
4. Martin Davalos, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna
5. Jimmy Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
6. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki
7. Dan Reardon, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
8. Hayden Mellross, Australia, Yamaha
9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Honda
10. Tyler Bowers, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
2017 Monster Energy AMA 250SX West Supercross Series Points Standings (after 7 of 8 rounds)
1. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Kawasaki – 180/4 wins*
2. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM – 154/3 wins
3. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha – 143/1 win
4. Martin Davalos, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna – 142
5. Jimmy Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda – 122
6. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki – 105
7. Dan Reardon, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha – 96
8. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Honda – 85
9. Cole Martinez, Rimrock, Ariz., Yamaha – 73
10. Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM – 60
*Clinched 2017 Monster Energy AMA 250SX West Supercross Series Championship
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