2022 Detroit Supercross | Race Report & Results

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Weeks of consecutive competition have taken a toll on riders in the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross Championship. The days leading up to the race were noted by injury reports and health concerns for names on the entry list, but no one could have expected things to go the way they did during the Main Events for the 250 East Region and 450 Class. 

Jett Lawrence 1st Place | 250 Class

It was a perfect day in Detroit for Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence, as the Australian teenager set the fastest qualifying time as the only 250-class rider in the 43-second range. Lawrence showed everyone the way in the second heat race aboard his Honda CRF250R, then performed a disappearing act in the main after taking the lead on the first lap. The only imperfection in Lawrence’s evening was a third-place start behind holeshot artist Stylez Robertson and new Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha fill-in rider Kyle Chisholm. Lawrence, however, made quick work of both fast starters and took control on the opening lap with ease. Lawrence lost a large chunk of his lead just past the halfway point when some lappers prevented him from jumping the finish line jump, but in spite of some mid-race pressure from Pierce Brown, the younger Lawrence was able to pull back out. At the checkered flag, Lawrence enjoyed a comfortable six-second lead as he notched the sixth 250 SX win of his career.

“The lappers were gnarly, and you really had to be patent,” said Lawrence. “I got into a flow and took my time. There were quite a few slick spots out there and I had to stay on my toes. It feels good to win again. I’m finally being smarter now. I am pretty harsh on myself sometimes with those mistakes. I am trying to learn from them and not do them again.”

Cameron McAdoo | 2nd Place | 250 Class

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo was solid all day long. After qualifying third fastest, McAdoo came home second in the stacked second 250 heat race behind Jett Lawrence and transferred straight to the main event, McAdoo’s start in the main event wasn’t amazing, but he completed the first lap inside the top five and made his way forward quickly. McAdoo overtook Pierce Brown for the runner-up spot with less than five minutes left in the main event with a brilliant charge into the whoops. Though he was six seconds off Lawrence at the finish, McAdoo’s runner-up finish was hard-earned and well deserved.

“I need to put myself in a better position at the start of the race,” said McAdoo. “I started about fifth or so and made too many mistakes at the start of the race and I was really unhappy with my riding. Overall I had a lot of fun tonight but I need to start chipping away at that points lead of Jett’s.”

Pierce Brown | 3rd Place | 250 Class

Pierce Brown had a great day in Detroit. The Troy Lee Gas Gas rider qualified second fastest, then returned to earn his second heat race win of the season aboard his Gas Gas MC 250F. In the main event, Brown gated near the front of the pack and moved into second behind Lawrence early on. The Utah native kept Lawrence honest in the early parts of the race, staying within two seconds of the Honda rider. At one point, a mistake by the leader allowed Brown to close within a couple of bike lengths, but just as soon as Brown set his sights on Lawrence, he found himself under attack from Cameron McAdoo, who was on a tear of his own. A mistake entering the whoops in the closing stages of the race cost Brown the runner-up position, but he rode solidly en route to third and his first podium finish of the season.

“Man I had so much fun tonight,” he said. “I really needed that. I have shown bits and pieces of speed and I finally put the GasGas on the podium.”

Eli Tomac | 1st Place | 450 Class

Series points leader Eli Tomac started the day off with the fourth-fastest qualifying time, but the Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider was unfazed as he turned in dominant performances in the night’s race program. Tomac turned in a commanding performance in the first 450 heat race as he crossed the finish line with a big lead over the rest of the field.

In the main event, Tomac was mired at the start and completed the first lap near the mid-pack portion of the field. Undeterred, Tomac went to work in typical Tomac fashion, though, and quickly worked towards the front of the pack by turning in.the fastest laps on the track. En route to the front of the pack, Tomac worked past formidable competitors like Justin Barcia, Chase Sexton, and Cooper Webb with relative ease. Once into second, Tomac found himself three seconds down on his championship rival Jason Anderson. Tomac sliced through that distance quickly, however, and at the halfway point of the race the Colorado native made an authoritative pass for the lead. Though Anderson responded and pressured Tomac for a few laps, the Yamaha rider found himself with a massive lead with five minutes left in the race when Anderson crashed out and retired from the race looking dazed and shaken. At the finish, Tomac enjoyed a six-second lead over the day’s fastest qualifier, Malcolm Stewart.

“This is one of the tougher surfaces I have ever raced on,” said Tomac. “There were sticky parts that pulled your tires, and then there were slippery areas, too. I love nights like these, though, where I am able to work through the field.”

Malcolm Stewart | 2nd Place | 450 Class

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider started the day in Detroit by setting the fastest qualifying lap of the day aboard his Chris Loredo-tuned FC 450. The Floridian kept the ball rolling with a big holeshot and uncontested win in the second 450 heat race; his second of the season. At the start of the 450 main, though, Stewart was mired and completed the first lap in the back half of the pack. Undeterred, Stewart went to work and made his way through the field at a torrid pace, bettered only by Tomac, who also started miserably. Stewart found himself in a great position by the time he worked past contenders like Barcia, Webb, Sexton, and more, as second-placed Anderson went down and handed the position over for Stewart’s second runner-up position of the season. 

“I felt good all day,” said Stewart. “I am beyond thankful. to be up here on the podium again. I didn’t get a great start but I just raced the track and things came my way.”

Justin Barcia | 3rd Place | 450 Class

Troy Lee Gas Gas rider Justin Barcia earned the third podium spot in a battle of attrition. After qualifying for the night show with the ninth-fastest lap time, Barcia transferred to the main with a fourth-place finish in the second heat race. At the drop of the gate in the main event, Barcia gated second and displaced holeshot winner Justin Bogle to lead the main event for a while. There was no denying Anderson, Tomac, Stewart and Sexton, though, as Barcia dropped back in the field for a bit before being gifted some positions by the late-race carnage that claimed Webb and Sexton, and later Anderson. 

“I had to dig deep,” said Barcia. “I didn’t think I was gonna be able to race at all. I cut my finger really bad in a test track crash and it looks like a zombie body part. I came here to test out my hand and see if I could even race, but here we are!”