Page 10 - Issue_56

ELI TOMAC
450 MX / 2ND
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / TILLS
>> Our 2017 450 outdoor series points leader has not had the easiest path to the red plate this season. Eli Tomac began the season winning in dominant fashion at Hangtown but then ran into a series of unfortunate events at the next three rounds. Crashes and me- chanicals kept him outside of the top three at all three of those races and he was visibly becoming frustrated. That all changed at Muddy Creek where he’d take the overall win, triggering a domino effect of victories to follow. He’d win all four motos at Red Bud and Southwick to retake the points lead with a sizable gap on his competitors. A third overall after a moto two crash at Millville last weekend has Tomac itching to get back to his win- ning ways this weekend at Washougal.
Tomac looked fantastic per usual in qualifying practice. The Factory Monster Energy Ka- wasaki rider soared through the mystique, wooded venue that is Washougal. He claimed the fastest lap time by nearly one and a half seconds showing he was more than ready to do battle.
Tomac got a solid start in moto number one starting just outside the top five but hopping up into third by the end of the first lap. He saw title rival Marvin Musquin sneaking away up front and knew he had to pass second place rider Martin Davalos quickly to make a run at Musquin. Tomac would get by Davalos on lap three and the race was on. He and Musquin traded fast lap times and played a bit of cat and mouse. But around the halfway point Tomac made his biggest surge of the race and started showing Musquin a wheel. This continued for about a lap until the two riders nearly came together coming out of a corner. This close call seemed to shake Tomac and he fell a tad off the pace. He’d lose track of Musquin down the stretch and settle with the second-place finish.
Tomac got another good start to begin moto two. This time he rounded lap one in fifth and once again found himself chasing after Musquin. Tomac would follow Musquin through Bogle, Davalos and Baggett in the first handful of laps and try to stay close but once he would get into second, Musquin had already built a comfortable lead up front. He tried cut- ting into Musquin’s lead but the Frenchman was on the gas and Tomac could not make up any ground. Tomac would settle for second again going 2-2 for second overall. Thirty-two points up on Blake Baggett and fifty-four up on Musquin, it is safe to say Tomac is sitting comfortable with the red plate heading into the final three rounds.
10 GRITMOTO • JULY 31, 2017