It was a format shake-up at round four of the 2020 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship with the first of three Monster Energy Supercross Triple Crown events that drops the gate three times in each class.
Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen dominated the 450SX Class, earning his second overall win of 2020 with three fast and composed Main Event wins in front of 53,107 fans inside State Farm Stadium. Roczen made the victory almost look easy, leading 38 of 39 total laps raced over the three 12- minute plus one lap Main Events. Just two weeks prior, Roczen’s win in St. Louis marked his dramatic return to the top of the podium after nearly three years without a win – his Glendale victory proved that the Honda rider is back and possibly better than ever.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac was nearly as consistent, with 2-2-3 finishes to earn second place and also move into second position in the championship points. Grabbing his second podium of the year, 2018 Monster Energy Supercross champion Jason Anderson of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team got onto the box with Main Event finishes of fifth, third, and second.
The Western Regional 250SX Class also had its first repeat winner, coincidentally like Roczen the same winner as round 2; Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Austin Forkner won the first two 250SX Class Main Events with little drama and no true challenges for the position. He rode strategically in the final Main Event for a third to wrap up the night’s victory. The winner of the third 250SX Class Main Event, Monster Energy/Star Yamaha Racing’s Justin Cooper, had crashes and bad finishes in the first two Main Events; he finished ninth on the night and lost 9 points of his 12-point lead in the championship chase. Tailing Cooper now by only 3 points is his teammate Dylan Ferrandis. Forkner’s win edged him into third overall in points, now only 10 points down.
The series moves to RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland, California next weekend, February 1st with a return to the standard Heat Race and single Main Event format for each class. The second of three Triple Crowns in 2020 will next take place in Arlington, Texas at AT&T stadium on February 22nd.
450SX Class Results1. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda (1-1-1)2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (2-2-3)3. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna (5-3-2)4. Cooper Webb, Clermont, Fla., KTM (8-5-4)5. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha (6-8-7)6. Justin Brayton, Charlotte, N.C., Honda (7-7-9)7. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda (4-14-6)8. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (3-6-17)9. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (11-9-8)10. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM (12-4-14)
450SX Class Championship Standings1. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda (92)2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (84)3. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Yamaha (81)4. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna (78)5. Cooper Webb, Clermont, Fla., KTM (72)6. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (71)7. Justin Brayton, Charlotte, N.C., Honda (63)8. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda (62)9. Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., KTM (55)10. Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., Husqvarna (51)
Western Regional 250SX Class Results1. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki (1-1-3)2. Dylan Ferrandis, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Yamaha (2-2-2)3. Michael Mosiman, Menifee, Calif., Husqvarna (4-4-6)4. Brandon Hartranft, Corona, Calif., KTM (5-6-4)5. Jacob Hayes, Lodi, Calif., Husqvarna (6-5-5)6. Mitchell Oldenburg, Godly, Tex., Honda (7-7-7)7. Alex Martin, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki (8-8-9)8. Derek Drake, Corona, Calif., KTM (10-3-13)9. Justin Cooper, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha (17-9-1)10. Luke Clout, Hemet, Calif., Honda (13-12-8)
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings1. Justin Cooper, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha (86)2. Dylan Ferrandis, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Yamaha (83)3. Brandon Hartranft, Corona, Calif., KTM (77)4. Austin Forkner, Richards, Mo., Kawasaki (76)5. Alex Martin, Clermont, Fla., Suzuki (66)6. Michael Mosiman, Menifee, Calif., Husqvarna (62)7. Jacob Hayes, Lodi, Calif., Husqvarna (62)8. Mitchell Oldenburg, Godly, Tex., Honda (55)9. Luke Clout, Hemet, Calif., Honda (48)10. Derek Drake, Corona, Calif., KTM (48)