Photo Credits: Feld Entertainment, Inc.
Two racers went into round ten of the 2020 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship tied in points but it was Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac who emerged the victor at the 50th running of the Daytona Supercross at the Daytona International Speedway. The win gives Tomac a three-point lead in the championship points over Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen.
At the drop of the gate for the 450SX Class Main Event, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson grabbed the holeshot but only held the lead for three corners before Roczen got by and immediately pulled out a gap on the field. In less than a lap the Honda rider had nearly four seconds on Anderson. Tomac and Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb were pushing forward early, with Tomac pressing hard for a pass on the defending champion.
Webb held off the early charge and the two previous 2020 winners moved forward together. Eight minutes into the race Cooper reached second, and three and half minutes later Tomac was into third. Then Tomac turned on the speed he’s known for. He got around Webb then quickly erased Roczen’s four and a half-second lead. With less than two minutes and a lap to go Roczen had a light tip over in a deep-rut turn; Tomac rode around and into the lead and held on for his fourth win at Daytona; it earned him a three-point advantage over Rozcen and broke the championship points tie the two riders had when the racing began.
Eastern Regional 250SX Class racing produced a first-time winner; Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Garrett Marchbanks had a nearly perfect night. He started it by grabbing his first heat race win, then followed that up with a 250SX Class Main Event holeshot. A skirmish between Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jordon Smith and Monster Energy/Star Yamaha Racing’s Shane McElrath allowed Marchbanks to gap the field almost immediately. The second-year racer rode like a calm and collected veteran. He maintained over a two-second lead for most of the race. The race became a nail-biter in the final laps as defending champion GEICO Honda’s Chase Sexton closed in on the Kawasaki rider’s rear fender, but Marchbanks kept his cool and held the lead until the checkers.
Next weekend Monster Energy Supercross heads to another city with a racing heritage: Indianapolis. Lucas Oil Stadium hosts the racing in Indianapolis, Indiana, where the top racers are sure to scrap and battle again for every point.
Words by: Feld Entertainment, Inc.
