Photo: Supercross.com

The Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM Championship, back down to Southern California for round number five of the Western Regional Supercross Lites Championship and the Anaheim 2  Supercross. Heading into round five, GEICO/Powersports/Honda rider Eli Tomac had just become the first two-time Main Event winner in 2012 and had begun to separate from the pack in the points, but the question was, could he make it three? Eli answered that question at Anaheim 2 with a dominant yes. The second year Western Regional Supercross  Lites rider performed like a veteran and, for the third week in a row, checked out from the pack for the win, gaining a gigantic twenty-two point lead in the series. With just four rounds left to race, that lead will be a huge mountain for anyone to climb.

In the Main Event, it was the Anaheim 1 winner–Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda’s Cole Seely–with the holeshot and early control. The number thirty-four was on fire in the opening laps, even being able to pull an early gap on the field despite starting with Eli Tomac. Cole looked smooth and consistent, but a small mental error on lap four sent the Californian down and gave Tomac the little break he needed. Cole quickly remounted in second place, but the damage was done. Eli would ride away to his third straight win of 2012 and, with that, ride away in the points chase as well. Cole would hang on for his second podium of the year in second, a finish he was probably okay with after three straight rounds of finishing well behind where he belongs.

Cole Seely - anaheim 2 - supercross - 2012
After having three very bad Main Events in a row, Cole Seely rebounded in Anaheim for his second podium of 2012. Photo: Supercross.com

Back in third, from the first turn through the checkered flag, was the Red Bull/KTM pilot Marvin Musquin. While  Musquin was fast enough on Saturday night to keep the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki of Dean Wilson behind him, he never came up with the speed to make a run at Seely for second. Dean Wilson made a run at the Frenchman at the midway point, but the former MX2 World Champion rode his own race and easily scored his third Supercross podium of 2012 in third while Wilson had to settle for a fourth. Dean and Marvin now sit second and third in the points, but with a twenty-two and twenty-nine point gap between themselves and Tomac, they definitely have their work cut out for them.

Finishing fifth and sixth at A2 were two men claiming their best finishes of 2012, Star/Valli/Yamaha’s Nico Izzi and Rocket Exhaust’s Michael Leib. Both men have been working their way up in the results since A1, and both have really begun to make themselves known over the last few rounds. With Izzi’s first top five and Leib finishing sixth, both should now have some newfound confidence and will possibly start looking for the box.

The ride of the night goes to the JDR/Jstar/KTM rider Matt Moss. After going down and crossing the stripe after lap one in 20th, the Australian charged his way back to a 7th place finish. Photo: Hoppenworld

As the series now heads down to San Diego, California, the question still remains, can anyone stop the man with the red plate? With three different winners in the first three rounds, many thought this series might be a tight one, but Eli obviously had different plans. One thing is for certain: if Wilson, Musquin, Seely or somebody else does not step up before the series goes East, the final three rounds may have little consequence when the West returns in Seattle.

Next stop, San Diego!

 

Race Results: Lites West – Anaheim 2 Supercross

For full Anaheim 2 results click here>>>

1 17 Eli Tomac Cortez, CO, USA Honda CRF250
2 34 Cole Seely Murrieta, CA, USA Honda CRF250
3 38 Marvin Musquin Murrieta, CA, USA KTM 250
4 15 Dean Wilson Menifee, CA, USA Kawasaki KX250F
5 50 Nico Izzi Menifee, CA, USA Yamaha YZ250F
6 170 Michael Leib Menifee, CA, USA Honda CRF250
7 105 Matt Moss Sussex Inlet, NS, Australia KTM 250 SX-F
8 59 Vince Friese Cape Girardeau, MO, USA Honda CRF250R
9 51 Travis Baker Temecula, CA, USA Honda CRF250
10 31 Martin Davalos Cairo, GA, USA Suzuki RM-Z25
Lites West Anaheim 2 podium. Eli Tomac (center) Cole Seely (right) Marvin Musquin (left) Photo: Supercross.com

Championship Points: Lites West Region

For more championship points standing click here>>>

 1 Eli Tomac Honda CRF250 113
 2 Dean Wilson Kawasaki KX250F 91
 3 Marvin Musquin KTM 250 SX-F 84
 4 Cole Seely Honda CRF250 79
 5 Zachary Osborne Yamaha YZ250F 67
 6 Nico Izzi Yamaha YZ250F 62
 7 Tyla Rattray Kawasaki KX250F 60
 8 Jason Anderson Suzuki RM-Z250 54
 9 Matt Moss KTM 250 SX-F 53
 10 Ryan Sipes Yamaha YZ250F 53
Author

Dan Lamb is a 12+ year journalist and the owner of MotoXAddicts.