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Tomac is absolutely dominant, going 1st-1st to take the 450 class; Shimoda wins his (and Japan’s) first-ever MX National moto – and backs it up with the overall
CORONA, CA – July 4, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – On a picture perfect, holiday weekend day for motocross – at one of Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, presented by Monster Energy, most beloved tracks – Monster Energy-backed racers Eli Tomac (Star Racing/Yamaha) and Jo Shimoda (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) captured top honors in their respective classes in a Monster Energy domination of the KTM RedBud MX National, presented by Intense Tazer MX.
Beginning with the heartwarming story of Shimoda, the Japan-born racer became, somewhat surprisingly, the first racer in his country’s history – a country that for decades has dominated he rest of the world in the in the construction of dirt bikes – to win a moto at an American MX National. And in the process, another first-ever with an overall two-moto victory in the 250 class.
“It’s weird that I took the overall, but I’m really happy about it,” said an elated Shimoda on the RedBud podium, the words “I Love (in the form of a heart) USA” scrawled across his stomach with a Sharpie. “I went down on the first lap, and I didn’t realize I was in 3rd either (Shimoda’s 1st-3rd finishes would earn him the overall by one point over Honda’s Hunter Lawrence’s 2nd-2nd finish).
When asked on the podium what went through his mind when he tipped over early in the race, and dropped back to 25th place, Shimoda replied with a smile “Not good!”
“I was rushing and rushing, almost tucked the front end everywhere,” added Shimoda. “Good think I kept going.”
Tomac’s overall win would be his second of the season, though he still trails Monster Energy’s Chase Sexton (Honda), who finished 2nd overall at RedBud with a 2nd-2nd results, in the overall point chase (224-217). Tomac has won three-straight motos and two-straight 450 class overalls.
Said Tomac from the podium: “It’s just a perfect day for us. Literally perfect crowd. Perfect motocross track. I just love RedBud.”
250 class podium Center: Jo Shimoda
Here’s a look at what went down at RedBud MX, beginning with the 250 class.
250 Moto 1 – Monster Energy’s Levi Kitchen
Shimoda would have the top gate pick as the fast qualifier to open the 250 class racing.
Shimoda pulled a great start, coming out in 2nd place behind Hunter Lawrence (Honda). … Heralded rookie 250 class racer, Ryder DiFrancesco (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki), would go down in the second turn of the opening moto of his first professional race and re-entered the moto near last place (out of 40 racers). … Seth Hammaker (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) got out in a strong 5th place, Matt Leblanc (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) close back in 6th, with Nate Thrasher (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) also in the top ten (8th). … 250 point leader Jett Lawrence (Honda) would catch and pass Shimoda, with Monster Energy’s Justin Cooper (Star Racing/Yamaha) entering the top ten (9th) at the 20-minute mark of the 30 minute plus two lap moto. … At the 13:45 mark Hammaker was holding strong at 5th, Thrasher in 6th. … At the 11:50 mark the race leader’s (Jett Lawrence) bike let go, belched out a cloud of white smoke – spelling the end of the moto for the undefeated and overall 250 class point leader. … Shimoda, now in 2nd place, took just one lap to reel in race leader Hunter Lawrence, then out-dueled the Australian on RedBud’s famed Monza Turn to take the lead. … With two laps remaining Shimoda put 6.9 seconds on Hunter Lawrence to secure his – and Japan’s – first-ever American professional motocross moto victory. … Rounding out the top ten for Monster Energy were Hammaker (5th), Cooper (7th), Levi Kitchen (Star Racing/Yamaha) in 9th and Thrasher (10th). Also noteworthy was DiFrancesco’s run from the back of the field to 14th.
250 Moto 2 – Monster Energy’s Ryder DiFrancesco
DiFrancesco pulled the holeshot in just his second pro moto. Hammaker quickly jumped into the lead, then wrecked – high siding off a jump and tumbling into the trackside fencing. … DiFrancesco would hold onto 3rd place through the first lap, with Nick Romano (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) in 6th, Kitchen in 9th and Thrasher in 10th. Shimoda, who started in 13th, would get collected in a crash on Lap 1, involving Cooper and RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna), and came out of it in 25th place. … By the 21:30 mark Shimoda had moved up to 14th place, then into the top ten (9th), past Max Vohland (KTM) at the 18:13 mark. … At the moto’s halfway point Stilez Robertson (Husqvarna) crashed and Shimoda moved into 7th place, with DiFrancesco holding solid in 4th place. … Shimoda continued to check riders off his list on the way to the front, getting past Thrasher and DiFrancesco with six minutes (plus two laps) to go and into 5th place, then onto Kitchen for 4th place. … As Kitchen moved past Ty Masterpool (KTM) for 3rd, Shimoda would get past Masterpool as well for 4th. … At the 1:50 plus two laps mark Shimoda had made his way all the way back from 25th, to a rush around Kitchen in a corner to take 3rd – giving Shimoda the improbable 1st-3rd overall win ahead of Hunter Lawrence. … Kitchen would take 5th (9th-4th), Cooper 7th (7th-9th) and Thrasher 10th (10th-7th) to round out the 250 class’ top ten for Monster Energy. … DiFrancesco would wind up with a respectable 13th (14th-12th) in his pro debut.
450 class podium – Center to Right: (Eli Tomac and Chase Sexton)
Tomac, Jason Anderson (Monster Energy/Kawasaki), Joe Savatgy (Monster Energy/Kawasaki), Sexton and Christian Craig (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) would qualify 1st through 5th, in the aforementioned order, in 450 class timed qualifying.
Tomac opened the day’s racing action by wheelieing through the MotoSport.com holeshot award line, followed closely by Savatgy in 2nd place, with Sexton in 6th. … Unfortunately for Anderson he was collected in a first turn wreck and rejoined the contest in a disappointing 38th place. … Craig joined the front runners in 8th place after Lap 1, with Anderson quickly making is way back into the top 20 by Lap 3. … With Tomac up 2.3 seconds on Savatgy at the 23:41 mark, Sexton would soon get past Justin Barcia (Gas Gas) for 4th, then onto Honda teammate Ken Roczen for 3rd. … At 17:49 Tomac enjoyed a 4.5 second lead on Savatgy as Craig made it past Max Anstie (Honda) and into the top five (5th). … The Sexton vs. Roczen battle would bring the RedBud faithful to their feet on multiple occasions over the next several laps before Sexton, at the 9:14 mark, pulled a slick block pass on Roczen up the face of LaRocco’s Leap to take 3rd place. … Sexton then quickly moved onto Savatgy in a battle for 2nd place, getting past the Georgia-born racer with a powerful blast through RedBud’s massive sand roller section. … With two laps to go Tomac had an 11.2 second lead on Sexton, which Sexton cut to 7.7 seconds on the last lap (in part due to Tomac dialing it down a bit). … Tomac would win, Sexton 2nd and Savatgy 3rd – to complete the Monster Energy 450 class Moto 1 podium sweep at RedBud. Craig would put in a solid effort to place in the top five (5th) and Anderson rode valiantly, salvaging a 7th place finish after starting the race in 38th.
Said Tomac: “That sure was nice. Lot of fun doing that. Gotta do it again.”
Said Sexton: “Every moto’s not going to be perfect. I ate a lot of dirt, obviously (he said between coughs). I put my head down and just had to be consistent with my passes and make them stick.”
Added Savatgy, on his first-ever 450 moto podium: “This (RedBud) is the best track we have all year. They get wild here and I love it.”
450 Moto 2 – Joey Savatgy (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki)
Tomac gets out of the start in 2nd place, Anderson 5th, Sexton 7th and Savatgy 8th. … As the front runners jockey for position on the opening lap, Tomac rushes past Barcia for 2nd place and sets his sights on leader Roczen. … Sexton, Anderson and Ryan Dungey (KTM) get into a three-way battle early that has the attention of the RedBud fans. … Running in 4th place, Anderson lays his bike down – and collects Sexton – right after both Monster Energy racers got by the three-time champion Dungey. … Sexton was able to quickly regroup and gets past Dungey (again) and Barcia to take 3rd place, nine second back of leader Roczen and 2nd place Tomac. … Nearing the second moto’s halfway mark Tomac rips past Roczen for the lead, instantly puts 1.5 seconds on the former champion, and checks out. … Sexton is then quickly onto Roczen and catches him in the sand section at the 7:10 mark, moving into 2nd place – and 6.7 seconds back of Tomac with time running out. … Sexton would charge, cutting into Tomac’s lead, but the three-time champion would make it three-straight moto wins and two straight overalls with the 1st-1st performance at RedBud. Sexton rode great to place 2nd (2nd-2nd), with Anderson (6th), Craig (7th) and Savatgy (9th) rounding out five in the top ten for Monster Energy.
Said Sexton: “The starts just weren’t there. I think today was some of my best riding, especially in the sandy conditions. Eli’s (Tomac) riding awesome and it’s going to be a tough fight. This was an awesome home race for me.”
Overall 2022 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, presented by Monster Energy, Points (Round 5 of 12)
450 class
Eli Tomac
1st – Sexton
2nd – Tomac
4th – Anderson
6th – Craig
9th – Savatgy
250 class
Jo Shimoda
3rd – Shimoda
4th – Cooper
5th – Kitchen
7th – Hammaker
Up Next
The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, presented by Monster Energy, continues its eastern U.S. swing with the MB Tractor & Equipment Southwick National in Massachusetts, July 9th. For more information visit www.promotocross.com
About Monster Energy
Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at www.monsterenergy.com
Source: Monster Energy Company
