Just as the 2012 Monster Energy Supercross series began to lose its excitement, the Western Regional Lites guys reconvened and gave it the shot in the arm that it needed. The two Championship contenders—GEICO Powersports/Honda’s Eli Tomac and Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson—went toe-to-toe for the first seven laps at last weekend’s Seattle Supercross and had the entire stadium, along with every fan at home, on the edge of their seats. For the first five laps, it looked like Wilson had the upper hand—block passing and pushing around the #17 at will—but in the end, it was Tomac who got the last word in with an ultra-aggressive pass that left the #15 on the ground. Tomac went on to finish third while Deano—who was complaining of a separated shoulder from the crash—went on to finish seventh.
All week, there has been talk about Wilson and Tomac’s aggressive racing and whether or not either rider went too far. Personally, I think the answer is no. It was refreshing to see two kids want something that badly. Isn’t that what it’s all about? I guess in the eyes of the AMA, the answer is no. Word is that the AMA had a talk with the two riders and told them that the aggressive riding ends in Seattle, but I do not get it. If their battle had affected other riders or if they were dangerously cross-jumping each other, I would understnad, but that was just a good old fashioned, mano a mano block-pass war. The bottom line is that Seattle was the most exciting race of the year and the only real reason that a lot of fans that had given up on the series will be tuning back in for SLC and Vegas.
This weekend, the series kicks off its final two rounds in Salt Lake City with Tomac leading by four points over Wilson and fifteen points over Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs/Honda’s Cole Seely back in third. Normally, Seely’s fifteen-point deficit might be enough to take him out of the Championship hunt, but with the way that Tomac and Wilson are fighting, anything is possible. If Seely can win in Salt Lake City and put riders like Seattle SX winner, Ryan Sipes, and Marvin Musquin–who placed second in Seattle–between himself and Tomac, there could be a three way battle come Vegas. With Sipes showing in Seattle that he can still win, and Musquin just wanting to nail down his first win, this could get interesting. Both riders are very capable at getting in the middle of the fight and may even use the fight to their own advantage.
No matter what happens I am pumped that we have a championship fight to watch, and I hope it comes down to the Las Vegas finale.
Lites West – Championship Points
1 17 Eli Tomac Cortez, CO, USA 134
2 15 Dean Wilson Menifee, CA, USA 130
3 34 Cole Seely Murrieta, CA, USA 119
4 38 Marvin Musquin Murrieta, CA, USA 111
5 53 Ryan Sipes Ekron, KY, USA 78
