Defending Champ Eli Tomac Back to Top Step with 450SX Class Victory

Jett Lawrence Dominates Field in First 250SX Class Win

HOUSTON, TX – January 20, 2021 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – In the first ever Tuesday night Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship event, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac rebounded from a disappointing opening round to seize the round two 450SX Class win in front of a restricted-capacity but screaming audience inside NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. 450SX Class rookie Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrandis landed his first premiere class podium in only his second attempt, and Muc-Off Honda’s Justin Brayton stepped onto the podium for this first time in three years at the SuperTuesday event. In the Eastern Regional 250SX Class 17-year-old Jett Lawrence of Team Honda HRC took his first win going away in only his eighth Supercross start.

The 450SX Class Main Event was dramatic from the drop of the gate when class rookie Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton jumped out to an early lead. He was pressured hard and early by Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo but three minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap race Cianciarulo tucked his front end in the sand turn and fell from the top ten. Two laps later Sexton made a similar mistake that dramatically threw him forward on the track and out of the race with an injury.

Defending champion Eli Tomac was in position to capitalize and took over the lead uncontested until the race clock ticked down to the five minute mark; at that point Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Zach Osborne, who grabbed his first Main Event win at the final round of 2020, began to reel in the Kawasaki rider. Tomac remained composed as Osborne trimmed the lead down to about one second, then pulled his Kawasaki back away to take his first win of 2021, an impressive rebound from his disappointing 13th place finish at round one.

Dylan Ferrandis, in his second 450SX Class race, fought through the pack to earn second place at the second Houston Supercross of 2021. Photo Credit: Feld Entertainment, Inc.

Class rookie Dylan Ferrandis earned his first podium the hard way, by hanging it out lap after lap in the technical whoops section and clawing forward from outside the top ten. Despite pressure from Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen and 2019 Champ Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb, Justin Brayton held on for his first podium finish in three years.

Honda’s Jett Lawrence, one year and one day since a near-win disaster last season, rode a perfect race to his first 250SX Class win. Photo Credit: Feld Entertainment, Inc.

The Eastern Regional 250SX Class win was taken by Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence, who grabbed his first Heat Race win earlier in the event. Lawrence grabbed the Main Event holeshot and steadily pulled a gap on the rest of the field, reaching fourteen seconds before he managed his lead during the final race minutes. His first win moved him up to third in the title points standings.

Near the front early, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Austin Forkner came together when Forkner made an aggressive pass attempt. Forkner would remount for sixth, while Hampshire ended the night in ninth. The final two podium spots went to Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha teammates Colt Nichols and opening round winner Christian Craig.

Houston holds a third round of the 17-round 2021 Monster Energy Supercross series on Saturday, January 23rd. With three first time Heat Race winners and a first time Main Event Winner at round two, the season is off to a dramatic and unpredictable start. Tickets are on sale for early rounds through the Arlington races in a limited capacity, pod-seating format, with tickets for the remaining rounds to go on sale in the coming weeks. For the full schedule, ticket availability updates, and airtimes on Peacock and NBCSN please go to SupercrossLIVE.com.

450SX Class podium (riders left to right) Dylan Ferrandis, Eli Tomac, and Justin Brayton. Photo Credit: Feld Entertainment, Inc.

450SX Class Results

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki
2. Dylan Ferrandis, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Yamaha
3. Justin Brayton, Charlotte, N.C., Honda

450SX Class Championship Standings

As of press time 450SX Class results had not been certified due to pending appeals with the AMA and FIM regarding flag rule infractions. For official results and point standings once certified please go to results.amasupercross.com

250SX Class podium (riders left to right) Colt Nichols, Jett Lawrence, and Christian Craig. Photo Credit: Feld Entertainment, Inc.

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Results

1. Jett Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda
2. Colt Nichols, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
3. Christian Craig, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha
4. Michael Mosiman, Menifee, Calif., GASGAS
5. Jo Shimoda, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
6. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki
7. Mitchell Oldenburg, Aledo, Tex., Honda
8. Max Vohland, Granite Bay, Calif., KTM
9. RJ Hampshire, Minneola, Fla., Husqvarna
10. Joshua Osby, Valparaiso, Ind., Honda

Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings

1. Christian Craig, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (47)
2. Colt Nichols, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha (44)
3. Jett Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (43)
4. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki (40)
5. Jo Shimoda, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki (37)
6. Michael Mosiman, Menifee, Calif., GASGAS (35)
7. RJ Hampshire, Minneola, Fla., Husqvarna (32)
8. Mitchell Oldenburg, Aledo, Tex., Honda (31)
9. Max Vohland, Granite Bay, Calif., KTM (29)
10. Joshua Osby, Valparaiso, Ind., Honda (26)

Assets

Round 1 Photo Gallery
Round 1 450SX Class Video Highlights
Round 1 250SX Class Video Highlights
Houston 2 Virtual Post-Race Press Conference – Audio Only

For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com, the official website of Monster Energy Supercross, or follow via social channels:

Facebook: facebook.com/supercrosslive
Twitter: twitter.com/supercrosslive
Instagram: instagram.com/supercrosslive
YouTube: youtube.com/supercrosslive

About Monster Energy Supercross:

Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in 1974, Supercross is currently co-sanctioned by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the official global governing body for motorcycle racing, thus making it a formal World Championship. Over 17 weeks and a million-dollar All-Star Race, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.

About Feld Entertainment, Inc.:

Feld Entertainment® is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live family entertainment experiences that bring people together and uplift the human spirit. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, Disney On Ice, Disney Live!, Marvel Universe LIVE!, Sesame Street Live!, DreamWorks Trolls The Experience and Jurassic World Live Tour. Across the brand portfolio, Feld Entertainment has entertained millions of families in more than 75 countries and on six continents. Visit feldentertainment.com for more information.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.

Source: Feld Entertainment, Inc.

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