Eli Tomac was the man in Glendale, but Justin Barcia was always lurking. Photo by: Ryne Swanberg / Garth Milan

The 2018 Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship series, headed to Glendale, Arizona’s University of Phoenix Stadium for round 4 of the 450SX Championship and round 4 of the 250SX Western Regional Championship—the Glendale SX.

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In the 450SX main event, Monster Energy / Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac took his second-straight victory of 2018 and showed everyone that he is still a viable contender for the title. Monster Energy / Knich / Yamaha’s Justin Barcia kept the #3 honest for the entire main event, but never quite got close enough to make a run at the win. Filling out the podium in third was Team HRC / Honda’s Ken Roczen, with the red plate holder Rockstar Energy / Husqvarna’s Jason Anderson finishing fourth on the night—his first main event podium of 2018.

In the battle for the fastest lap in the 450SX class, Eli Tomac (55.679) was on another level and was the only rider to break the 56-second mark. Eli used two 55-second lap times and a bunch of low 56’s to sprint out to an early eight-second lead, and from there, he managed his gap over Barcia—who had the second fastest lap time (56.076)—from the front. Barcia closed on Eli late in the race with consistency, but Eli’s early race pace was too much for Bam Bam to overcome.

The third, fourth and fifth fastest lap times were clocked by Roczen (56.271), Monster Energy/ Kawasaki’s Josh Grant (56.651) and Team HRC / Honda’s Cole Seely (56.678). While Kenny’s speed was combined with consistency and a podium finish, both Grant and Seely’s speed was combined with a myriad of small mistakes. Grant finished back in tenth and Seely way back in 12th on the night.

Is Justin Barcia a new man, or just finding his old self? Photo by: Ryne Swanberg / Garth Milan

The top three fastest 450 average lap times were separated by nothing. In the end, the start was everything for Tomac, Barcia and Roczen. Tomac’s average was 57.125, with Barcia (57.135) and Roczen (57.151) just a tick off. Both showed a holeshot would have likely meant their first win of the year in Glendale.

450SX Main Event Lap Time Graph. Click the riders name in the graph to add and remove them from the graph.

Top 20 450SX Times Top 20 250SX Times
1. E. Tomac – 0:55.679
2. J. Barcia – 0:56.076
3. K. Roczen – 0:56.271
4. J. Grant – 0:56.651
5. C. Seely – 0:56.678
6. J. Anderson – 0:56.764
7. B. Baggett – 0:56.840
8. W. Peick – 0:56.877
9. M. Musquin – 0:56.937
10. J. Brayton – 0:56.939
11. C. Webb – 0:56.989
12. B. Tickle – 0:57.076
13. M. Stewart – 0:57.464
14. V. Friese – 0:57.655
15. T. Bowers – 0:58.094
16. C. Reed – 0:58.433
17. D. Wilson – 0:58.477
18. J. Bogle – 0:58.592
19. B. Bloss – 0:58.816
20. J. Weimer – 0:59.626
1. A. Plessinger – 0:57.013
2. S. Mcelrath – 0:57.216
3. J. Savatgy – 0:57.282
4. A. Cianciarulo – 0:57.424
5. M. Oldenburg – 0:57.569
6. C. Sexton – 0:57.670
7. C. Craig – 0:58.149
8. B. Taft – 0:58.163
9. M. Harrison – 0:58.497
10. J. Hill – 0:58.525
11. P. Nicoletti – 0:58.805
12. K. Chisholm – 0:59.160
13. H. Mellross – 0:59.726
14. J. Starling – 0:59.860
15. J. Hoeft – 1:00.172
16. J. Ramos – 1:00.182
17. C. Martinez – 1:00.390
18. K. Auberson – 1:00.445
19. M. Castelo – 1:00.481
20. B. Leith – 1:00.823
/td>

Full 2018 Glendale SX results here>>>

Aaron Plessinger has popped open three champagne bottles in 2018. Photo by: Ryne Swanberg / Garth Milan

In the second 250SX Western Regional Supercross Championship main event of the year, Monster Energy / Star Racing / Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger scored his second win in 2018. Finishing on the podium with Aaron were Troy Lee Designs / KTM’s Shane McElrath and Monster Energy / Pro Circuit / Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo.

The race for the fastest 250SX lap time of the night was also won by Plessinger (57.013) in Glendale. Aaron is proving in 2018 that he is fast in any condition, hard or soft. Aaron started third, and on lap seven, he passed McElrath—who had the second fastest lap time (57.216) and checked out for a dominant win on the Arizona hard pack. Aaron also left Glendale with the fastest average lap time of the main event: 57.789.

The third, fourth and fifth fastest lap times were recorded by Monster Energy / Pro Circuit / Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy (57.282), Cianciarulo (57.424) and Star Racing / Yamaha’s Mitchel Oldenburg (57.569). All three of these riders made mistakes in the main event, but Cianciarulo and Savatgy still managed third and fourth place points. Mitchell’s crash pushed him back to a 17th place finish. We do not know what’s going on with Oldenburg. Every week he is near he top of the board in speed, but so far that has not translated into good finishes.

Shane McElrath is just 1 point behind AP in the points. Photo by: Simon Cudby


250SX Main Event Lap Time Graph. Click the riders name in the graph to add and remove them from the graph.

Updated 2018 250SX West and 450SX Championship Points>>>

Top 20 450SX Avg Lap-Times Top 20 250SX Avg Lap-Times
1. E. Tomac – 0:57.125
2. J. Barcia – 0:57.135
3. K. Roczen – 0:57.151
4. J. Anderson – 0:57.722
5. M. Musquin – 0:57.786
6. B. Baggett – 0:58.004
7. C. Webb – 0:58.024
8. J. Brayton – 0:58.061
9. W. Peick – 0:58.140
10. B. Tickle – 0:58.155
11. J. Grant – 0:58.226
12. C. Seely – 0:58.551
13. M. Stewart – 0:59.340
14. V. Friese – 0:59.771
15. D. Wilson – 1:00.173
16. C. Reed – 1:00.774
17. T. Bowers – 1:01.098
18. M. Bisceglia – 1:01.107
19. A. Ray – 1:01.220
20. J. Weimer – 1:01.441
1. A. Plessinger – 0:57.789
2. S. Mcelrath – 0:58.062
3. A. Cianciarulo – 0:58.105
4. J. Savatgy – 0:58.700
5. C. Sexton – 0:58.725
6. C. Craig – 0:59.032
7. B. Taft – 0:59.428
8. M. Harrison – 0:59.474
9. J. Hill – 0:59.549
10. M. Oldenburg – 0:59.811
11. P. Nicoletti – 1:00.475
12. K. Chisholm – 1:00.749
13. H. Mellross – 1:01.087
14. C. Martinez – 1:01.461
15. J. Starling – 1:01.575
16. J. Ramos – 1:02.097
17. J. Hoeft – 1:02.246
18. K. Auberson – 1:02.333
19. M. Castelo – 1:02.533
20. R. Breece – 1:02.670
Jason Anderson will have the red plate for the third-straight weekend. Photo by: Simon Cudby

250SX vs 450SX Main Event Lap Time Graph. Click the riders name in the graph to add and remove them from the graph.


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Author

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