In a prelude to the night’s thrilling Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship finale, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo score the win in the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Showdown for the 250cc supercross contenders, and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Zach Osborne earned the 2017 Monster Energy AMA 250SX East Supercross Championship in dramatic fashion at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas on April 6.
Osborne became the 53rd different 250SX Class Champion in Monster Energy Supercross history.
In what can best be described as an up-and-down season for him, 2017 Daytona Supercross winner Cianciarulo left little doubt about his winning intentions when he snared the holeshot in the East/West Shootout main event, running ahead of his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate Joey Savatgy, who was embroiled in a shootout of his own with Osborne and Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Jordon Smith for the 250SX East title; Cianciarulo still had a mathematical shot at the title as well. The race took its first dramatic twist when Osborne was caught up in a first-turn crash that collected several riders and was left to run in 21st place—dead last—at the end of the first lap.
Savatgy was looking good for the East title early as he ran right with Cianciarulo while Smith ran in fifth place, thus losing the advantage of the one point that he held over Savatgy and Cianciarulo after the points shake-up at the New Jersey Supercross. However, Savatgy then crashed at the end of lap one, which allowed the charging Smith to move into second place, ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Martin Davalos. Then it was Smith’s turn to falter as he went off the track and lost several positions while trying to recover.
Davalos was now second with Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s recently crowned 2017 AMA 250SX West Supercross Champion Justin Hill, third. Smith’s title hopes ended on the same lap when he suffered a big crash and was unable to continue.
Cianciarulo maintained the lead while Savatgy ran fourth behind Hill and 51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha’s Hayden Mellross, but all the while Osborne continued to pick off riders and move toward the front of the field during the 15-minute-plus-one-lap race. Savatgy then appeared to Struggle as he fell back through the field to eighth place.
Savatgy still held the mathematical championship lead on track—if the race had finished right then, he would have won the title by a single point over Cianciarulo—but Osborne continued to advance through the field while Savatgy struggled to find a way past Melross. Savatgy finally made the pass on Mellross to give himself a two-point advantage over Osborne, but Osborne dug deep and pulled to Savatgy’s rear fender as they raced toward the checkered flag.
Cianciarulo scored a dominant, wire-to-wire win to capture his second victory of the season, with 5.7 seconds in hand over Hill, while Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger came through from a 15th-place start to finish third.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to do [win the east/west shootout],” Cianciarulo said. “I am going to have to go back and watch the whole race to see all the action that happened behind me but I was in a groove and just tried to keep pace the entire race. It feels amazing to end the season like this.”
he action Cianciarulo was alluding to came just a couple turns from the finish, and it ultimately decided the 2017 Monster Energy AMA 250SX Supercross Championship. In a momentous move, Osborne drew alongside Savatgy in a right-hand corner and stole the inside line. The two made heavy contact with Savatgy going down and Osborne escaping to score his first and give Husqvarna its first AMA Supercross title in dramatic fashion. After coming off the track, Osborne clearly let the emotions flow.
“I can’t believe I made that pass,” Osborne said. “I could see him [Savatgy], but he was so far away in my mind. To come back and pass him with one corner to go is unreal. I’ve worked my whole life to be here. There’s just so many people that have shaped and molded my career into what it is today, and I just can’t thank them and my team enough. It’s just unreal.”
2017 Monster Energy AMA 250SX East Supercross Series
Sam Boyd Stadium
Las Vegas, Nevada
Results: May 6, 2017 (Round 9 of 9)
Dave Coombs Sr. 250SX Class East/West Showdown
1. Adam Cianciarulo-Kaw
3. Aaron Plessinger-Yam
4. Dylan Ferrandis-Yam
5. Mitchell Oldenburg-Yam
6. Jimmy Decotis-Hon
7. Zach Osborne-Hus
8. Hayden Mellross-Yam
9. Mitchell Harrison-Yam
10. Cameron McAdoo-Hon
2017 Monster Energy AMA 250SX East Supercross Series Points Standings (after 9 of 9 rounds)
1. Zach Osborne-173/4 wins
2. Adam Cianciarulo-171/2 wins
3. Joey Savatgy-166/1 win
4. Jordon Smith-161/2 wins
5. Dylan Ferrandis-144
6. Christian Craig-97
7. Mitchell Harrison-86
8. Luke Renzland-84
9. Anthony Rodriguez-82
10. Kyle Cunningham-77
2017 Monster Energy AMA 250SX West Supercross Series Points Standings (after 9 of 9 rounds)
1. Justin Hill-202/4 wins
2. Shane McElrath-164/3 wins
3. Aaron Plessinger-163/1 win
4. Martin Davalos-145
5. Jimmy Decotis-137
6. Austin Forkner-114
7. Dan Reardon-104
8. Kyle Chisholm-90
9. Cole Martinez-77
10. Mitchell Oldenburg-76
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