Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1365688
1 ELI TOMAC 10TH 450SX With his back up against the wall and at a track he favors, Eli Tomac was a favorite to win especially a er topping qualifying and his heat race, but he couldn't ride that momentum wave into a win. Instead, a bad start and a couple of crashes in the main event relegated him to 10th. As a result, he is now mathema cally eliminated from this year's tle chase and will give up the number-one plate next week. "Man, I was feeling so good on the bike all day long and I've been looking for- ward to coming back to Salt Lake City," Tomac said. "I always enjoy riding here and felt confident heading into the main, especially a er qualifying fastest and winning my heat race. Unfortu- nately, I made a few mistakes and ran out of me." MYOWNRACE 64 COLT NICHOLS 3RD 250SX EAST Colt Nichols missed a prime opportu- nity to clinch the 250SX East Champi- onship at SLC 1, but he's all but assured the number-one plate next week. "I needed to execute a li le be er in the main and I didn't," Nichols said. "I got a horrible start which made it hard on myself and I had to come through the pack. I felt like I didn't start riding very well un l about 10 minutes into that main and then I started to get going. I 450SX The 450SX title hunt continues to be another nail biter, with Cooper Webb and Ken Roczen (Honda HRC) now taking it down to the final round. Webb could have mathematically clinched the title with a win and with Roczen logging a finish of seventh or worse. But that scenario did not play out. Musquin was the big winner on the night after holding off a barrage of attacks from the hard- charging Webb. Musquin logged fast laps behind early race- leader Roczen and obtained the advantage when Roczen went down. Many wondered if team tactics would come into play as Webb closed in on the back of his Red Bull KTM teammate, but none played out. You might remember East Rutherford 2017, where Musquin conveniently cross-rutted in the final laps ahead of teammate and title favorite Ryan Dungey? No such antics this time. Musquin laid to rest any rumors of that, as he held off a series of ambushes by Webb. The two took the race for the win all the way down to the fi- nal corner, with Musquin edging out Webb by just 0.32 seconds at the line. "I was trying to be very con- sistent," said Musquin. "Then I saw Coop coming and I was like 'Let's give it my best.' I'm so proud, I gave it my all tonight." This win, his first since India- napolis 2019, is a huge swing in the right direction for the French SUPERCROSS MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES, AN FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 16 / APRIL 24, 2021 RICE-ECCLES STADIUM / SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH P58