Jason Anderson rode virtually uncontested in the Monster Energy Supercross Round 17 season finale as points champion Eli Tomac took the night off to let a knee injury suffered at Atlanta heal.
Anderson did not get the hole shot - that honor went to Justin Bogle - but he was in the lead by the end of Lap 1. He managed the gap well as he and second-place Chase Sexton lapped rider after rider until only six were remaining on the lead lap at the end.
Anderson was not able to catch Tomac in the points, but with his fourth consecutive victory and seventh on the season, he tied Tomac for the most in 2022. Tomac holds the edge with five consecutive wins this year.
The final tally shows Tomac with a nine-point lead after the final race.
RESULTS: Click here for 450 Results; Click here for 250 results
Sexton had an up and down season with some strong runs interrupted by crashes. He ended the season on a high note and his second-place finish was his sixth consecutive top-five.
The biggest drama in the season finale was the battle for third in the points. Three riders, Malcolm Stewart, Justin Barcia and Marvin Musquin, had a shot at the position. Stewart was on a flyer through the field and was riding faster than the leaders midway.
When Stewart executed a pass for third, Barcia rode into the side of his Husqvarna and sent Stewart flying off the bike. Barcia went on to claim the final spot on the podium.
Click here Heat 1 results | Heat 2 | LCQ
Stewart remounted and rode like a man possessed. He caught up to the back tire of Barcia on the final lap until a lapped rider stalled his momentum. Stewart had the last word, however, by claiming third in the standings by nine points over Musquin and 12 ahead of Barcia.
Barcia ended the race two points behind Stewart and would have claimed fourth in the standings, but he was docked 10 points for rough riding.
Justin Barcia has been docked 10 points and fined for his move on Malcolm Stewart in last night’s 450SX Main Event 📋#SupercrossLIVE pic.twitter.com/4YSS6dEksR
— Supercross LIVE! (@SupercrossLIVE) May 8, 2022
Musquin rounded out the top five for his 10th such finish in 2022.
Cooper Webb’s disappointing defense of his 2021 championship closed with him as the final rider on the lead lap in the season finale. His sixth-place finish came with a seventh-place position in the points. Prior to the race, he announced he would not compete in the outdoor Motocross championship.
Click here for Round 17 450 Overall results | Rider Points | Manufacturer Points | Lap Chart
For the third straight week, a Supercross champion was crowned.
Knowing he needed to finish only 14th or better, regardless of how second-place Hunter Lawrence finished, Craig rode a safe race and failed to stand on the race podium for the first time in 2022. He finished eight, which was fine with him because he still had the opportunity to stand on the top of the box and receive his No. 1 plate.
His points advantage after the final race goes down at 10.
“This feels like a dream right now” 🗣 @_ChristianCraig on winning his first professional championship 🏆#SupercrossLIVE @MonsterEnergy @StarRacingYam @YamahaMotorUSA pic.twitter.com/TE1fKC5gck
— Supercross LIVE! (@SupercrossLIVE) May 8, 2022
Nate Thrasher won his first race since April, 2021 when he was victorious in two of three races in the Atlanta residency, which was mostly run in groups of two and three races to minimize travel during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thrasher had only a slight advantage over Hunter Lawrence, who was seeking his fourth straight win. for the second straight season, Lawrence finished second in the standings.
Click here East Heat results | West Heat | LCQ
Pierce Brown was the top 250 East rider with his third-place finish. His second consecutive podium was not enough to catch the second-place rider in the 250E points standings, however, as RJ Hampshire crossed under the checkers one position back in fourth.
Jo Shimoda rounded out the top five. This was his fifth consecutive top-five and he has not been worse than seventh all season, but he was forced to miss Anaheim 3 with injury.
Click here for 250 West Overall results | 250 West Rider Points | 250 East Rider Points | 250 Rider East/West Points Combined | Lap Chart
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 1 AT ANAHEIM: Ken Roczen, Cooper Webb renew rivalry with 1-2 finish
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 2 AT OAKLAND: Jason Anderson wins, Roczen struggles to tighten points’ standings
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 3 AT SAN DIEGO: First time wins for Chase Sexton (450s) and Michael Mosiman (250s)
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 4 AT ANAHEIM: Eli Tomac solidifies points’ lead with first win of season
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 5 AT GLENDALE: Tomac is first rider to repeat in 2022
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 6 AT ANAHEIM: Anderson ties Tomac with two wins in 2022
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 7 AT MINNEAPOLIS: Anderson makers it three, closes in on Tomac
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 8 AT ARLINGTON: Tomac wins the overall and takes maximum points, Anderson wins two features
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 9 AT DAYTONA: History made: Tomac is winningest Daytona rider
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 10 AT DETROIT: Tomac makes it three in a row and takes sole possession of fifth on winners list
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 11 AT INDIANAPOLIS: Justin Barcia moves to second after controversial race
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 12 AT SEATTLE: Tomac’s streak continues with fifth straight win
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 13 AT ST LOUIS: Marvin Musquin gets first win of 2022 in Triple Crown format
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 14 AT ATLANTA: Anderson keeps pressure on Tomac with win
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 15 AT FOXBOROUGH: Two in a row for Anderson pushes title chase to Denver
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 16 AT DENVER: Tomac locks down the championship
POINTS, RESULTS AFTER ROUND 17 AT SALT LAKE CITY: Christian Craig crowned 250 West champion