Monster Energy® Kawasaki Rider Eli Tomac on the Podium in Florida

2020-09-30 12:25
For the second year in a row, the AMA Pro Motocross series returned to the “Sunshine State” to compete at the WW Ranch Motocross Park in Jacksonville, Florida for Round 7 of racing where the Monster Energy® Kawasaki duo of Eli Tomac and Adam Cianciarulo both picked up a moto podium finish resulting in third and fourth place overall finishes respectively. In the 250 class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Cameron McAdoo rebounded to finish seventh overall (9-8), while Mitchell Harrison earned 13th overall (11-16).

As the morning fog wore off at the WW Ranch facility, the Kawasaki duo wicked up the pace and laid down fast laps during the morning qualifying sessions as Cianciarulo qualified second for the second week in a row with a 2:05.054 and Tomac in seventh with a 2:06.383.

Cianciarulo repeated his pattern from the previous race in Millville and rocketed out of the gate to an early lead aboard his KX™450 in Moto 1. Cianciarulo remained calm, cool, and collected as he led the race under pressure from the competition for 25 out of the 30 minute plus two lap race but would have to settle for second place in the first moto. Tomac found himself outside of the top-10 at the first turn but made quick work on one of the roughest tracks the series has seen this season and made his way up to sixth by Lap 5 where he would remain for the remainder of the race.

As the gate dropped on Moto 2, it was the No. 9 of Cianciarulo who once again launched out front to a fourth-place start and made quick work of the competition moving into the lead before the end of the first lap. Cianciarulo put together consistent laps and around the halfway point, trouble struck as he came together with another rider, sending him to the ground. Cianciarulo would quickly remount on his KX450 to finish the moto in seventh place and his 2-7 scores were good enough for fourth place overall. The race came to life as the three-time defending champion as Tomac once again strung together one of his signature come from behind performances by starting outside of the top-10. The champ hounded and challenged the race leader for the win but lappers and roost kept him from being able to make a pass stick. The 450 class veteran pieced together a 6-2 performance, earning him third place overall on the day.
#1 Eli Tomac
3rd (6-2)
#9 Adam Cianciarulo
4th (2-7)

“Today we finally felt like we were back to normal a bit with how Moto 2 shaped up. Moto 1 was similar to how the entire season has gone, where I get buried and couldn’t dig myself out of the hole, but Moto 2 I felt fresh and felt like I had a lot left in the tank physically to make that push. At this point we are out of the title fight, but that’s not going to stop me from pushing for moto wins these last two weekends.”

- Eli Tomac

“We put ourselves in such a good position both motos to grab another overall and close the points gap so I’m pretty disappointed with how the second moto went. I needed to be a little stronger at the end of Moto 1 to hold off (Zach) Osborne and Moto 2 I felt like I was doing everything right but left the door open and came together with (Marvin) Musquin. I did everything I could to salvage what I could. The good news is we are healthy and know what we need to improve on for the last two rounds.”

- Adam Cianciarulo
DOWNLOAD 450MX CLASS IMAGES

In the 250 class, Harrison led the charge in the morning for the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team as he qualified eighth with a 2:07.897 while McAdoo qualified 16th with a 2:08.883.

As the gate dropped for Moto 1, both McAdoo and Harrison leapt out the gate but found themselves outside of the top-10 looking in. Battling stomach issues throughout the day McAdoo would fight, scratch, and claw his way the entire moto to charge past his competitors before ultimately finishing ninth. Harrison spent the vast majority of the race in 10th place, but a last-lap, off-track excursion would result in an 11th place moto finish.

Source: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.

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