[to catch Lawrence], but I didn't
want to override because it was
going to be a long main event.
I just settled into second. We
had a four-point lead; it's one
point now. It is what it is going
into the last race. That's most
exciting for the fans, us, and
everyone."
Eli Tomac returned to action
and finished third on the night.
The hometown hero got off to a
slow start and even stalled the
bike early in the race through
the sand section. He then found
himself battling teammate
Jorge Prado and eventually
passed the Spaniard for the
final spot on the box. Tomac
looked to be catching Roczen
for second place but held tough
through the final laps to take his
best finish since round 10 in Bir
-
mingham. Another podium, his
111th,
sees Tomac tie Jeremy
McGrath for second all-time.
"I'm glad to land on this
podium for the Colorado fans,"
Tomac said. "I was so bummed
when I stalled it in the sand.
I just happened to stomp on
my rear brake there and then,
honestly, like double-stalled.
Anyway, I was able to claw [my
way] back there, had some fun
on this track, and it was just a
good bounce-back. I'm happy
to get back for these last two
rounds and love being on the
West Coast, too, of course—
home state in Colorado."
Malcolm Stewart qualified
through the LCQ and finished
fourth after multiple riders
crashed out of the top five.
"There was a lot going on in
that race," Stewart said. "You
could've thrown a blanket over
all of us! There was a lot of car-
nage, but at the end of the day,
I
guess Christmas came in May
for me for a fourth. We've just
got to continue moving forward.
the others… Tomac's start in the
Salt Lake City finale will mark
his 199th career 450SX start.
Only three athletes have 200-plus
450SX-class starts: Chad Reed,
Mike LaRocco, and Kevin Wind-
ham… If Haiden Deegan wins
the finale, he'll miss tying James
Stewart for most 250SX wins by
one… Yamaha now holds the win-
ningest single season in 250SX
history with two championships
and 15 victories, surpassing
Honda's previous clip of 14 set
in 2023.
Briefly...
VOLUME 63 ISSUE 18 MAY 5, 2026 P77
Ken Roczen (94),
here making a
move on Jorge
Prado, moved up to
second but didn't
have anything for
Lawrence, who had
already checked out.
