The second round of the 2019 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship continued in Southern California on Saturday to Fox Raceway in Pala, California for the first time in eight years.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac dominated the day in the 450MX class by sweeping the class with a 1-1 result and taking the championship points lead.
Tomac, who was determined to regain the red plate and the 450MX points lead, lined up for the first moto and put on a performance that showed why his KX450 machine is adorned with the #1 plate.
A 13th place start had the two-time champion in tough spot with only one option, and that was to race forward as quickly as possible and not let his competition slip away.
In true Tomac fashion, he had moved into fourth by the halfway mark of the first moto and was on a charge. Frustrated from taking roost, he dropped the hammer and went to work for the front of the field.
After making a pass for third, he mounted a charge on the front two leaders, who appeared to be out of reach, but with three laps to go he passed into the lead and never looked back.
Tomac made it easier on himself in Moto 2 as he rocketed out to a third-place start and quickly moved into second position. It was there where he would study his competition for the first 15 minutes of the race, and as a true hunter does he stalked his prey and at the halfway mark of the race he moved into the lead.
Tomac crossed the finish line 11-seconds ahead of the competition with a perfect 1-1 score for the day. Tomac now sits four points ahead of second place in the 450MX Championship Points standings.
The Colorado native returns home next weekend to defend his “home-town” race at the Thunder Valley National. Tomac proudly waved the Colorado flag in front of the Southern California race fans after going 1-1 on the day.
Eli Tomac: “Man, today is one of those days where all of that hard work pays off. I came back out to California this past week to do some testing with the team and as you can see it really paid off.
“I had that feeling today where you are just one with the motorcycle and when you find that flow there is nothing stopping you.
That first moto at the halfway point I just got angry and was over the roost, so I was stoked to get the win. In the second moto I had a much better start and just waited for the right time to strike. I can’t thank my whole Monster Energy Kawasaki team for all of their hard work this past week. It was rewarding to repay them by going 1-1 and getting that red plate back. I am excited to go to Colorado next weekend and defend my home turf.”
What’s Next?
Eli Tomac will be back in action on June 1 for Round 3 of AMA Pro Motocross in Lakewood, Colorado for his home race, Thunder Valley National.
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