Tomac gets his title hunt back on track

Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Eli Tomac put his KX450F back on top at Muddy Creek Raceway, finishing 2-1 for first overall at the fifth round of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.

Team-mate Josh Grant was forced to retire early from the race weekend after a practice mishap.

On the opening lap of 450MX Moto 1, Tomac crossed the green flag in eighth. He wouldn’t stay put for long and by Lap 6, Tomac had positioned himself in third and began applying pressure to the leaders. Two laps later, Tomac moved into second, but ran out of time to catch the leader, finishing second in Moto 1.

When the gate fell on Moto 2, Tomac would briefly sit in third place, eager to press to the front. By the end of the opening lap he had placed his KX450F at the front of the competition and had already began gapping the field. There was no catching the #3 Kawasaki machine in Moto 2, as he went on to win the race by a 33.9 second margin over second place. Tomac would win his second overall of the season and move within four points of the lead in the 450MX Rider Point Standings.

“It feels good to get back to where we started,” said Tomac. “We had a mix of bad luck and small mistakes, but we’re past it and back on top. Overall, today was great for both the team and I. My Kawasaki was working great from start to finish. I’m ready to race Red Bud tomorrow, if I could.”

Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship – Tennessee National Results

450 Class Overall Results (Moto Finish)

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (2-1)
2. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna (1-2)
3. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM (3-3)
4. Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki (4-4)
5. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Husqvarna (9-7)
6. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Suzuki (5-10)
7. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Suzuki (12-5)
8. Martin Davalos, Quito, Ecuador, Husqvarna (11-6)
9. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha (9-9)
10. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki (6-12)

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM – 195
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki – 191
3. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Husqvarna – 176
4. Marvin Musquin, La Reole, France, KTM – 161
5. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki – 139
6. Justin Bogle, Cushing, Okla., Suzuki – 137
7. Dean Wilson, Glasgow, Scotland, Husqvarna – 137
8. Weston Peick, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki – 112
9. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha – 112
10. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Kawasaki – 106