The FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX) returned with the season-opening Canadian Grand Prix hosted by BC Place in Vancouver. High drama and high-octane racing was always going to be guaranteed with the calibre of the riders second only to their hunger and determination to win. It was all to play for going into the first event of the season. Words: WSX
With practice complete, the pressure mounted for riders in the roaring 450cc class. The time to set a blistering lap time and determine gate slots for the rest of the night had come. Once again, it was Ken Roczen in imperious form almost three-tenths quicker than Eli Tomac who, in turn, was just shy of three-tenths faster than Joey Savatgy. Luke Clout rounded out the top four, making it the same four riders as in Practice who progressed to SuperPole’s one-lap shootout.
The top four in 450 upped the ante further still in the one-lap SuperPole showdown, but Roczen remained the persistent pacesetter to claim the #1 gate. Tomac’s lap placed him two-tenths back in second while Savatgy’s effort yielded third and Clout took fourth.
Race 1
Vince Friese secured the first 450 holeshot of the night, but a pair of Supercross titans in Roczen and Tomac lurked close behind. Never one to shy away from robust defensive riding, Friese held off Roczen who had to slow to avoid contact, allowing Tomac to slip through into second.
Tomac then made his attempt to get around Friese and after one unsuccessful move, made it stick. Roczen wasn’t going to take that lying down and cut underneath the pair of them to take the lead. After the halfway point, Tomac closed onto Roczen’s back wheel using much tighter lines, but eventually the German won out ahead of Tomac and Savatgy in third.
Race 2
For the second headline race of the night, Tomac claimed the holeshot with Dean Wilson in second and Matt Moss in third. The big surprise was Roczen in 11th after a sluggish getaway.
After a promising start, Dean Wilson crashed out, elevating Savatgy into second, but he dropped back soon after. Friese and Oldenburg occupied second and third as the resurgent Roczen’s comeback continued getting past them both in one corner.
Friese and Savatgy went into combat over second, but Oldenburg was on the hunt behind and contact resulted in Friese crashing out. A rare mistake from Roczen – who’d climbed back from 11th to second – dropped the reigning champion all the way back down to 11th. Tomac eventually won by a whopping 22 seconds over Savatgy and Nichols.
Race 3
A lengthy 12-lap race awaited the 450 riders and, initially, it looked to be Tomac who held the advantage at Turn 1, but Friese then edged ahead before Roczen ducked underneath the pair of them. Making quick work of Friese, Tomac secured second and set about chasing after the #1 bike.
Yet more aggressive riding from Friese held off Savatgy, but the Fire Power Honda rider eventually passed, by which point he’d lost seven seconds to Tomac and Roczen. The leading pair, meanwhile, battled it out for the race lead and Tomac eventually finished ahead of Roczen and Savatgy.
SuperFinal
Seizing the advantage with the final holeshot of the night, Tomac exited Turn 1 of the first-ever mixed class SuperFinal ahead of Friese and Roczen. Wary of more tactics from Friese, Roczen made a point of getting past as quickly as possible over the whoops.
Try as he might, Roczen was unable to make any inroads into Tomac’s advantage, who extended his gap to a mammoth 16 seconds. Such was his advantage that he was able to run for the final half a lap and cross the line with a flat rear tyre. Roczen followed him home in second while Nichols muscled past Friese to finish third on the road.
On the overall podium, there was little disputing who the top step belonged to; Tomac took victory ahead of Roczen and Savatgy, setting up a tantalising title fight prospect as WSX heads to Perth for its first-ever double-header.
Eli Tomac, CDR Yamaha with Star Racing, said: “It was a fantastic evening of racing. Kenny rode well in the first two races, and we were battling out there. I found my rhythm in the last couple of races, and everything just clicked. The energy from the Vancouver crowd was incredible, and I’m looking forward to the next round in Perth.”
Image: WSX
