Irvine, CA (February 7, 2016) – Saturday night in Glendale, Arizona was a turning point for Monster Energy® Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac, as he captured his first podium finish of the season. After a great start inside the top five, he began pushing forward and quickly making passes. By the halfway mark, Tomac had made his way into second place and started making up time on the leader. A few small mistakes in the whoops caused Tomac to lose time and eventually his second place position in the latter half of the Main Event. In the end, Tomac brought his KX™450F home in third place, a season best. Teammate Wil Hahn had another great night of racing as he qualified straight out of the semi. In the Main Event, Hahn came around Lap 1 in 12th place but wouldn’t stay there for long as he began making dynamic passes to place himself inside the top ten. Hahn held on to his top ten position to match his best finish of the season.
“It feels great to finally get up on the podium”, said Tomac. “This is exactly how we wanted to rebound after last weeks’ performance. We worked really hard all week and it paid off. Overall, the day was smooth and the team and I are making steps in the right direction. It’s a long season, we just need to keep riding, working hard and we’ll end up where we want to.”
“Tonight was a huge improvement,” said Hahn. “From the start of qualifying to the Main Event, we made progress all the way through the day. I can’t thank Monster Energy Kawasaki enough with how patient they have been with me and for allowing me to grow. Another 10th tonight but I really felt I earned this one. Looking forward to next weekend and continuing to progress.”
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy rolled into Glendale, Arizona this weekend to contest Round 5 of the Monster Energy Supercross season with the series points leader’s red plate aboard his KX™250F, while Chris Alldredge set his sights on stepping onto the podium. Both Savatgy and Alldredge lined up behind the gate for 250 Heat 1, with Savatgy nearly grabbing the holeshot and pushing into the lead within the first couple of turns. After a heated battle, Savatgy remained the man on top and took the Heat 1 win with Alldredge earning a transfer spot into the Main Event as well. In the Main Event Alldredge got the start he’s been working towards, rounding turn one in fourth, while Savatgy followed close behind in sixth. Savatgy cut his way through the pack and by Lap 7 had worked into third place, where he would remain until the final lap. Teammate Alldredge rode hard and smart to bring his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki home in sixth. Savatgy, now tied for the points lead, looks to San Diego for another chance at the top step of the podium.
“Today was pretty good,” said Savatgy. “We ended up qualifying second and had a pretty good heat race, where we were able to come home with another heat win. We struggled in a few key sections of the track but to come home with a podium and salvage points is great, but we want to work for another win and keep the red plate for another weekend.”
“My day was pretty good,” said Alldredge. “I had the track dialed early in the first practice which I’ve been struggling with a bit. I didn’t have the start I wanted in my heat but I worked my way up into third which I was really happy with, especially because I ran some good lap times, much faster than I was in practice. I finally got the start I wanted in the Main Event, unfortunately a couple guys got by me but I kept it together for sixth. Sixth is a lot closer to where I should be, and I’m going to keep working hard, and keep getting better.”
