Image: Octopi Media.

A runner-up result allowed Eli Tomac to extend his lead in the 2020 Monster Energy Supercross standings on Wednesday, satisfied despite falling short of consecutive wins in Salt Lake City.

With only five races remaining – all to be staged inside Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium – the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider now has a 13-point buffer.

While Tomac trailed defending champion Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) at SLC2, second position handed him a strong haul of points on a night when primary title rival Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC) struggled to fifth place.

“Positive, that way with the points, but I mean yeah, I would’ve liked to win,” Tomac said. “Second was okay on the night. Just the way things were going, I didn’t get the starts that I got on Sunday and that was it basically, right?

“Too many good guys in front of me early on in the main event to really catch the lead group. So, that was it for me. Overall I was satisfied with the points though.”

Tomac said that, although in the past he has faltered when fighting for the prestigious 450SX crown, ever-increasing experience is on his side this time around when vying for a first-career Supercross championship.

“I feel like, maybe I’ve done maybe X amount of races and have done X amount of time racing now that you get more comfortable or you know what to do in these certain situations,” he explained. “It’s an experience thing.”

Image: Supplied.

The 2020 Junior Motocross World Championship scheduled to take place in Greece has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Global restrictions still currently in effect make it impossible for teams to commit to the event that was scheduled for 8-9 August at Megalopolis.

“Regarding the FIM 85cc and 125cc Junior Motocross World Championships and the FIM 65cc Junior Motocross World Cup organised for young riders from all over the world , the event could not be rescheduled beyond the end of August,” a statement confirmed.

“Many of the riders aged between 10-17 years old will be back at school/college and it was considered that their education remains the absolute priority. We look forward to 2021 when we will see the return of the highly anticipated youth event.”

Last year’s event in Trentino, Italy, saw Team Australia score ninth in the Nations classification. It was already previously revealed back in March that Motorcycling Australia (MA) was reconsidering its participation in the event.

Image: Supplied.

Salt Lake City 2 saw Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen lose ground in the Monster Energy Supercross title-chase after claiming fifth in the 450SX main event.

Roczen entered the final stretch in Utah only three points down on red plate-holder Eli Tomac, that margin now extending to 13 points following round 12.

After winning heat two over Tomac, Roczen wasn’t able to maintain that momentum in the final after ending the opening lap in P8. Despite a short-lived surge, he eventually crossed the finish a full 27 seconds behind winner, Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM).

“I’m feeling good on the bike and had a good heat race, but obviously I’m having issues that prevent me from keeping it going,” Roczen explained. “I’m trying to figure it out and do my best to come back stronger. This thing isn’t over yet, but obviously fifth place is not where we want to be.

“The main goal is to try to be better and especially get a better start. I took a chance going to the very inside on the start gate and that didn’t work out. I’m going to rest, recover and I look forward to trying our best in the next race.”

Team Honda HRC manager Eric Kehoe said Roczen has to rebound for the next round, which will take place following another short turnaround on Sunday. After charging early, it appeared he lost strength

“Today was about damage control,” Kehoe said. “Early in the day things were good, practice went well and Ken’s heat race went well. We know that starts are so important and in that main event, both Ken and Justin [Brayton] were too far to the inside, got shut off and were pretty far back.

“Ken had to put in a really hard effort to battle back up into position and he struggled to maintain that same effort throughout the race. We need to work on starts and come back strong for the next event.”

It was defending 450SX champion Webb who won his second race of the season on Wednesday, as Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Tomac rode to second and increased his points advantage in the process.

Image: Octopi Media.

High-profile rookie Adam Cianciarulo has been ruled out of tonight’s 12th round of Monster Energy Supercross as a result of pain and a lack of strength in his lower-back.

The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider crashed out of SLC1 on Sunday and was confident he would be fit for tonight, but opted out following qualifying one.

Cianciarulo was a lowly 19th position at the end of that session earlier this afternoon, visibly uncomfortable and not able to return for the second qualifier topped by Blake Baggett (Team Rocky Mountain KTM WPS).

“It’s just been crazy-sore since the crash on Sunday,” Cianciarulo explained. “It’s my lower-back and unfortunately it’s not just the pain, it’s weakness, so I can’t really squeeze the bike and the impacts out there are really giving me a hard time.

“I thought I was going to be able to do it today, but it’s just not on the cards, so I’ve gotta take the smart play here – I don’t want to be a danger to myself or anybody else out there. I’m gonna have to sit this one out and hope to be ready Sunday.”

There will be an extended turnaround for Cianciarulo to improve by Sunday’s 13th round of the 2020 season, eager to get back aboard the factory KX450 and continue to gain experience over the next couple of weeks in Utah.

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250SX East number one plate-holder Chase Sexton struck a working relationship with James Stewart during the mid-season pause in Monster Energy Supercross, declaring the multiple-time champion as an asset to his program in these early stages.

Details remain thin on the extent of Geico Honda rider Sexton and Stewart’s cooperation in Florida, although he did touch on the topic after finishing second at Salt Lake City 1 on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s kind of been under the radar a little bit,” Sexton said. “But it’s been really good and he’s helping me a lot. I think today I rode decent, but my race-craft wasn’t very good – I’ve got a few text messages already about it, so we’ll go back to work.

“He’s been a big help and mentor so far and it’s only the beginning, so looking forward to going back and doing some more work this week. Unfortunately, he’s not here, but yeah, we’ll go back to work.”

It was a frustrating main event of sorts for the 20-year-old, not able to mount a serious challenge on title rival Shane McElrath (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) and eventually crossing the finish-line 2.949s behind.

“I felt like I rode decent,” he recalled. “I think the lappers were gnarly for both Shane and I. Every time I felt like I’d gained some ground I’d just lose it the next corner. I just feel like that was on me – I had a win in my sights, but didn’t make it happen.”

Sexton saw his advantage in the championship standings reduced to seven over the weekend as McElrath took victory. He will step up to the 450 class with Team Honda HRC once Pro Motocross commences next month and into the entire 2021 season.