Houston 2 Report: Tomac on top step - Jett Lawrence dominates 250SX
By Feld Entertainment on 20th Jan 21
AMA Supercross Eli Tomac Jett Lawrence Houston
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 premier 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 10.
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 capitalise 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.
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 10. 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.
250SX East
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 14 seconds before he managed his lead during the final race minutes. His first win moved him up to third in the title points standings.
Jett Lawrence
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 team-mates Colt Nichols and opening-round winner Christian Craig.
What's next?
Houston holds a third round of the 17-round 2021 Monster Energy Supercross series on Saturday, January 23. 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.
Houston 2 Supercross top-10 results
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.
Update: 450SX results and point standings are here...
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)
More like this…
Why there is delay to Houston 2 450 Supercross results [updated]
If you have been wondering why there is a delay to the Houston 2 450 Supercross results, you are not on your own.
Smartop Bullfrog Spas Honda: Houston 1 team report ft. Friese, Tickle and Bloss
Smartop/Bullfrog Spas/Honda started 2021 with a respectable performance at the Houston One Supercross, the opening round of the Monster Energy Supercross Series, and one of three events set to at NRG Stadium over the course of seven days.
Stewart scores top-five finish in Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing debut
Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing’s Malcolm Stewart kicked off the new year with his new team securing a solid top-five finish at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season opener in Houston, Texas.