Eli Tomac Takes San Diego Supercross Victory
Julien Beaumer Earns Career-First Win in 250SX Class
In a race that took the battle down to the final lap, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac grabbed the win inside Snapdragon Stadium to earn his 53rd career Monster Energy AMA Supercross victory. Significantly for the crowd favorite, Tomac takes over the points lead for the first time since suffering what was potentially a career-ending injury in 2023.
Snapdragon Stadium hosted its third Monster Energy AMA Supercross and treated the San Diego crowd to excellent racing, including witnessing Eli Tomac make history by becoming the first rider to earn a win in eleven consecutive seasons. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence was on Tomac’s rear fender until the very end but never mounted an attack for the top spot; Jett’s second place finish marked a strong improvement from his 12th place finish at the Anaheim Opener. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb led early but was overtaken by Tomac and Lawrence nearly simultaneously at the race’s mid-point. Webb, under the weather, held off a late race charge from Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen to keep his podium spot. Last weekend’s winner, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton recovered from a first lap crash; he reached sixth place by the time the checkered flag flew. The Western Regional 250SX Class produced a new first-time winner when Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer earned his first Supercross win and took over the division’s points lead.
First place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“It has been a long time since I’ve won one of these 20-minute Main Events. So it feels so good to rebound from last weekend; it was a heartbreak there in Anaheim… I had to work for this. I made a lot of passes and was able to keep it on two wheels. This feels so good.” – Eli Tomac.
Second place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“That [race with Eli] was awesome. He got me at the start and I was trying so hard just to get close enough to make a pass, but he was ripping… I’m just happy that I’m ten positions better than last weekend, for sure, so I’m happy to be on the box… We tested hard this week to try and get the bike to a better spot, and it was much better.” – Jett Lawrence
Third place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“It was a good race. I was able to lead a lot of laps. I got a great start, much better than last week. We saw that those two guys [Tomac and Lawrence] were coming, and then they were [by me and] gone, just like that… I’ve been a bit under the weather so at about the halfway point that was all I had. I gave it my all, had a great battle with Kenny, and was able to hold him off and get a solid podium.” – Cooper Webb
Sixth place 450SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“On the first lap I almost got landed on and then in [about] the next turn I fell over. It was just me not being ready to go at the gate drop, honestly. That kind of lit a fire under me and after that I really feel like I rode the best that I’ve ridden in a long time… Some night’s aren’t your night so we’ll come back at A2 and try to get back on the top step.” – Chase Sexton
In 250SX Class racing, 18-year old Julien Beaumer followed up his career-first podium with his first career win. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies, in only his second pro race, led early with Beaumer making several moves for the lead before working his way past six and a half minutes into the race. Triumph Racing’s Jordon Smith was steady in third until taking over the second-place position at the race’s midpoint. Defending 250SMX World Champion Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan fought forward from a mid-pack start. With just under four minutes left on the clock Deegan reached third, capitalizing on a mistake in the rhythm section from Rockstar Energy GASGAS Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco.
First place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“It was an amazing main event. I got off to a good start and was just trying to be patient behind Davies. I tried to wear him down a little bit and then made my move. From there I just tried to ride my own race.” – Julien Beaumer
Second place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“It was a good day. We were changing settings on the bike all day trying to make it better. We still have a lot of things that we can dial in a little bit just to get a little more comfortable, but overall [the bike’s] been really good… the track was gnarly tonight. There were a lot of rocks coming out, even in the faces of the jumps, so you had to be careful.” – Jordon Smith
Third place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
“Congrats to Juju, that was a good race on him. My race was just embarrassing, I’m sorry you had to watch that. I just got a little pumped up in the beginning and it just [got worse] from there. All I can do is work harder this week and come out swinging.” – Haiden Deegan