Photo: Supercross.com
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM Championship, headed to Northern California for round number four of the Western Regional Supercross Lites Championship and the Oakland Supercross. Both the Supercross Class and the Lites Western Regional series headed into the O.Co Coliseum with three different winners in three races. Unlike the Supercross Class, though, one rider in the Lites has now stepped up and become a clear favorite in the Championship. After dominating round three in Los Angeles last weekend, GEICO Powersports/Honda’s Eli Tomac backed his win up with another complete smack down on the class in Oakland. It was a “like a boss” effort that stretched his lead in the Lites Western Region Championship race.
After rounding turn one in around fourth, the number seventeen headed straight for the lead and assumed it after watching big mistakes from both Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson and Rockstar/Suzuki’s Martin Davalos. Once in the lead, the Championship points leader did what he is becoming known for doing best: disappearing. With his blazing speed, Eli built himself a comfortable thirteen second lead by the midway point of the race and easily cruised it home for his second win of 2012. The Colorado kid, with his second straight win in a row, now sits atop the points with a quickly growing fifteen point lead over Dean Wilson and, more importantly, a level of confidence that is growing even faster.
While Eli was in a world of his own up front, some incredible battles for the final two spots on the box were taking place behind him throughout the fifteen lap Main Event. Martin Davalos, after being passed by Tomac, had fallen under extreme pressure from the #338 of Monster Energy/Yamaha’s Zach Osborne. After a back and fourth battle for a few laps, Zach secured the second spot, but that was just the beginning of a podium fight that left Zach battling with three different riders.
The first to join the battle was the other Rockstar/Suzuki, Jason Anderson. After a mediocre start, Anderson showed incredible speed and worked his way up and around both Martin and Zach for second, but it would be short-lived. While running second, Anderson went down hard, and his night went from a best-ever finish for the second year professional to a disappointing twelfth place finish on the night. If there is anyone that surprised and impressed in Oakland, though, it was Jason Anderson. Expect to see some podiums out of the #44 in the near future.
As the race wore on, the podium race came down to a battle between Zach Osbourne and a charging Red Bull/KTM of Marvin Musquin, with Musquin taking the second spot on the box. If a “ride of the night” award was given out, it would have gone to Marvin. After rounding turn one outside the top ten, Musquin put on a charge that had him making his final pass into second position with just two laps left in the Main Event. Osbourne also rode well, scoring his second podium in a row in what will be his last Monster Energy Supercross race of the year. Zach now heads overseas to prepare for his 2012 MX2 World Championship campaign. You can expect to see Zach back in the States full time in 2013.
The final two spots in the top five went to the rivals from the Phoenix Supercross: Star/Valli/Yamaha’s Ryan Sipes and JDR/Jstar/KTM’s Matt Moss. Ryan fought hard for all fifteen laps and turned an eleventh place start into his best finish of 2012 with a fourth. Matt Moss’ fifth in Oakland was also his best finish of 2012. Both of these veterans have the speed to run up front and, with a couple more top fives, should also have the confidence. Let’s hope both get what they need to get it done.
In Oakland three Championship contenders had nights they’d like to forget. Dean Wilson while running second crashed hard and could only manage to get back to ninth. Similarily to Dean–and only one corner later–Troy Lee Designs/Honda rider Cole Seely went down as well. Cole and Deano found each other and had a race long battle for the last spot in the top ten. Cole came up on the short end and finished eleventh.
The other Championship contender having a bad night was Tyla Rattray. The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider went down very hard in his heat race and was carried off the track in a stretcher. The number twenty eight’s title hopes ended there, but that’s where his recovery will begin. Tyla was diagnosed with a fractured C7 in his neck and will miss the rest of the series.
Just two rounds ago, the Lites West region had five riders within four points, but the Eli Tomac show has now commenced.
Next stop, Anaheim 2.
Lites West Region – Oakland Supercross Results
To view full results click here>>> 1. Eli Tomac 2. Marvin Musquin 3. Zach Osbourne 4. Ryan Sipes 5. Matt Moss 6. Travis Baker 7. Nico Izzi 8. Max Anstie 9. Martin Davalos 10. Dean Wilson
Lites West Region – Championship Points – After four rounds
To view full points standings click here>>> 1 17 Eli Tomac Cortez, CO, USA 88 2 15 Dean Wilson Menifee, CA, USA 73 3 338 Zachary Osborne Chesterfield, SC, Usa 67 4 38 Marvin Musquin Murrieta, CA, USA 64 5 28 Tyla Rattray Wildomar, CA, USA 60 6 34 Cole Seely Murrieta, CA, USA 57 7 44 Jason Anderson Edgewood, NM, USA 53 8 50 Nico Izzi Menifee, CA, USA 46 9 119 Max Anstie Hemet, CA, USA 45 10 53 Ryan Sipes Ekron, KY, USA 43
