by Davey Coombs
250 Words: Salt Lake City
Sunday, April 29, 2012 | 6:40 PM
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Ironically, just week ago we were riffing on some of the strangest championship endings we've ever seem for The List, and one of them involved the 1984 125cc World Motocross Championship finale. There, two Italians were battling for the title until the one with the points lead, Corrado Maddii, was drilled by another rider practicing starts. His leg broken, Maddii could only watch as Michele Rinaldi took the all-but-forfeited championship.
Well, something similar happened on Saturday night, only it did not involve the title rivals, GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Dean Wilson. Instead, it was last week's winner Ryan Sipes getting drilled by Jason Anderson on the hot lap, nearly bringing out the first-ever parade lap red flag! Yamaha Valli/Star Racing's Sipes, last week's winner, got the worst of it, and though he tried to go, he was unable to finish, and after pulling in the mechanic’s area a few laps into the race, was last seen being hauled over to the Asterisk Medic Unit on their chuck wagon.
Wilson fought, but couldn't hold Tomac at bay, and in the blink of an eye, Tomac was champion.
Cudby photo
As for Anderson, the Rockstar Energy rider got an even better jump in the race than he did on that fateful parade lap and came close to winning the race, but the pragmatic and methodical Tomac had other ideas. After cleanly passing his rival Wilson, he set off after the lead and took the win. He was then shocked to learn that Wilson crashed out spectacularly in the whoops before the finish and pulled off, giving Tomac the mathematical title and avenging himself for last year's falter at the series finale. Fortunately, someone on the GEICO Honda team had the good sense to pack a #1 jersey just in case on an unlikely title, Tomac pulled it on shortly after race. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki is thus shut out of the title split for the first time since '08, when GEICO's Trey Canard and Yamaha of Troy's (remember them?) Jason Lawrence (remember him?) took each Lites SX title.
As for Anderson, he did the best he could, leading much of the way after that embarrassing crash off the parade lap start, and then earned a career-high second in front of Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki teammate Martin Davalos. But he still had to be bummed about what happened to Ryan Sipes.
What's left is to see how injured Deano is after that get-off, how dinged up Sipes is, and how Tomac will do against his fellow champion and teammate from the East Region, Justin Barcia, in the final East-West Shootout in Las Vegas. One more great finale to go!
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Excellent ride for Tomac...congrats. Time to heal up Deano ..get ready for the TGO's...Vegas will tell alot about whos really the boss on this class.....can't wait.
What? martin davalos got a podium?
Tomac seems so mature and his riding is so controlled..his CC level is very high.. he could be hard to stop in the great outdoors...tonewall I cant wait either to see all the talent in the lite class go at it ...
Congratulation Tomac, you deserve it! But I am not going to lie (and I hate when people get hurt and can't race) I found it kinda funny how Jason Anderson didn't notice Sipes, obviously a bummer for him and I hope he's okay, I just found it a little comical. I also hope Tomac doesn't have another Outdoors like he did like year, with probably a boring 450 class we need a many riders as possible to be battling it out for the 250 title. Hoping Deano's okay, like I said need as many people possible for the Outdoors!
I'm glad Tomac got the title this time around. I felt it was his last year but, that's another story altogether.
I'm VERY happy for GEICO Honda, shutting out evil-empire PC is a daunting task and they should cherish the accomplishment because they (PC) are not going to rest easy 'till they take those #1 plates back, you can be sure of that.
I'm really looking forward to seeing the 250F shootout and see who is top dog in the East / West. What makes me nervous is, everybody going all-out in a race that doesn't count for much while risking their whole outdoor season.......sketchy.
I'm betting the PC guys will be out for blood as getting blanked in the SX title race has got to have their hackles up and they want to have something to show for their year (in SX).
Ok carlsbad, since you brought it, let's all pick the top 3 for the East/West shootout.
Here's mine:
Barcia
Tomac
Wharton
shootout- barcia tomac roczen
Tomac will crush Barcia next weekend and all summer long. I think I'm making Tomac my outdoor pic as well. He is on it.
I pic Barcia for the East/West, or Roczen if he's in it, give Tomac 3rd, Wilson doesn't care about that as he's not 100% as we seen from the last 2 weeks after Tomacs takeout, but he will school Tomac outdoors! Dungey should win Vegas also!
I'm gonna go with Djmoto on this one...
1. Barcia
2. Tomac
3. Roczen
I couldnt believe how fast Anderson was at Seattle and wasnt sure if he was a one week wonder. Guess not! What a great riding style too! Eyes up and on the gas!
I dont know this kid but really look forward to seeing him outdoors. I'm a fan!
"Congratulations Eli Tomac" Couldn't happen to a more stand up guy. And he proved his words from a week ago, Saturday night, that he doesn't like or need to win with cheap shots. I am really happy for he, and his family on a hard earned, West Coast 250 SX Championship. This might be a little pre-mature but, I think this kid just might deserve a (consideration) of a spot at Lommel this fall. Certainly someone on the short list to consider as there are several months left before decision time. And last but not least, I think ole Deano did a lot of maturing as a racer and a person over the last week, the hard way. Humbling, but lasting lessons learned.
I know DC started out this article using the word "ironically", just to pi$$ me off. But what I want to know is which national will be holding their final event before being removed from the calendar for next year's races. If it's a track I have never been to, I would like to see it before it's yanked. Will it be Mt. Morris or Steel City, who are within about 50 miles of each other? Or, if you include Budd's Creek, that's 3 nationals within a 100 mile radius. Or perhaps Red Bud, who is more than happy to reap the profits of a pro national but choose to run non-AMA amateur events. Freestone, TX? Lakewood, CO? Surely not storied 'dilla or Southwick! Inquiring minds want to know.
Hopeful picks:
1) Roczen
2) Tomac
3) Barcia
Reality picks:
1) Barcia
2) Tomac
3) Roczen
I think East will prevail over West in the top ten final tally, even though I'm a west "homer".
I'm worried about the guys that have MX title shots at stake vs guys that do not. Davalos (for example, no offense) traditionally underperforms outdoors and therefore has every incentive to go for it, throwing caution to the wind.
Roczen, Barcia, Tomac & Wilson (already injured) have legitimate shots at a 250F MX title and I don't care how you slice it, a TITLE pays more than a RACE WIN. I'm also fairly certain their bosses want them around for the bigger prize.
It seems to me that the E/W shootout should carry more weight than it does. ALL of the 250F talent is there after all, and wouldn't that make the race winner "The best 250F SX racer of the year / overall"???
Considering one race vs a series is obvious but, again, ALL the 250F talent is on the line........thought provoking.
WHAT WAS THE QUESTION
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hokTZGO0xCE
SWEET
Tomac is a CONTENDER! He has got that throttle cable stretched at every opportunity!! The outdoors will be wild. I think Decoster will have some great choices, come September!