Every round of the 2017 Monster Energy Supercross becomes more important than the last as the top riders in the world compete for precious points in both the 250SX and 450SX class. Each year the indoor motorcycle series opens in Anaheim, CA, before traveling around the U.S. and culminating at the championship round in Las Vegas. This year, the series featured a stop across the border in Toronto, Canada. To help riders work their way up the AMA supercross ladder, the 250SX indoor dirt bike championship is divided into the East and West Divisions. This allows twice as many young riders to compete in eight regional races with the top riders advancing to Las Vegas for a spot in the Davey Coombs Sr. Memorial East-West Shootout.
Although the 250SX East is still to be decided this weekend in East Rutherford, NJ, at the Giants stadium, Kawasaki's Justin Hill wrapped up the West Coast championship last weekend in Salt Lake City. The premier league, on the other hand, has never been closer in points with Kawasaki's Eli Tomac and KTM's Ryan Dungey starting the main event at Rice-Eccles stadium tied in points for the 450SX series. In last Saturday's main event, Dungey grabbed the hole shot and a comfortable lead early with Tomac buried deep in the 20-bike field of riders. With eight season wins under his belt, Tomac went to work and caught the Red Bull rider with nine laps remaining.
Tomac would cruise to a 6-second win (his ninth of year) over Dungey giving the Monster Energy sponsored rider a three-point lead in the season standings. Although Tomac has momentum on his side, Dungey already has three Supercross Championships and is known for his cool, calm approach to beating the odds. Plus, last weekend's event at over 4,000 feet may have favored Tomac who lives and trains at more than 6,000 feet in Cortez, CO. Nonetheless, three points is a drop in the bucket when it comes to negotiating 75-foot triple jumps and deeply rutted corners. When the engines fire up for 250SX race at East Rutherford, it will be Kawasaki's Joey Savatgy trying to hold on to a six-point lead over KTM rider Jordan Smith. Husqvarna's Zac Osborne is currently twelve points behind Savatgy in third place in the 250SX East division.
