News 8 Mar 2020
Late charge seals Tomac win in 50th Daytona Supercross
Section: Competition
Marchbanks breaks through for Kawasaki double in 250SX East final.
Image: Octopi Media.
Monster Energy Supercross points-leader Eli Tomac charged to a fourth-career Daytona Supercross 450SX main event win in the historic race’s 50th edition.
Tomac and Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC) were tied in points entering round 10 of the season, the pair separated by only 0.707s as the checkered flag flew.
Roczen led from the opening lap all the way through to the closing minutes when he made a minor error, when a late effort from Monster Energy Kawasaki-mounted Tomac saw him finally make his way to the front from as far back as fifth on lap one.
Meanwhile, defending champion Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) crossed the line in third, fending off 2018 title-winner Jason Anderson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), while the top five was filled by Justin Barcia (Monster Energy Yamaha).
Barcia’s teammate Aaron Plessinger (Monster Energy Yamaha) delivered an inspiring ride for sixth, followed by Dean Wilson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), Malcolm Stewart (Smartop Bullfrog Spas MotoConcepts Honda), his teammate Justin Hill and Justin Brayton (Team Honda HRC).
The final appearance of Chad Reed (Mountain Motorsports cbdMD CR22 Racing Honda) saw him ride to 13th position, matching his best result of the season from Arlington two races ago.
The 2020 season will now move on to Indianapolis for round 11 of 17 next Saturday night, with Tomac leading by three points over Roczen in the premier class standings.
Image: Octopi Media.
A first-career victory was earned by Garrett Marchbanks in 250SX East at Daytona.
After winning his heat race earlier in the night, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Marchbanks went wire-to-wire in the main event.
His eventual margin over defending champion and red plate-holder Chase Sexton (Geico Honda) was 2.019s, as fast qualifier Jeremy Martin (Geico Honda) completed the podium.
Martin managed a late move on RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) for position with just three laps remaining, while fifth was Shane McElrath (Monster Energy Star Yamaha) despite an opening lap incident with Jordon Smith (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki). The latter went out of the race.
In sixth position was Pierce Brown (Troy Lee Designs Red Bull KTM), joined in the top 10 by Jo Shimoda (Geico Honda), Enzo Lopes (Yamaha), Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) and Cedric Soubeyras (Husqvarna).
At the top of the point-standings remains Sexton, extending his advantage to 10 points over McElrath entering Indianapolis next Saturday, 14 March.
Detailed results
Source: MotoOnline.com.au