Monster Energy’s Chase Sexton (Honda) & Jo Shimoda (Pro Circuit/Kawi) sweep 450 & 250 classes at Unadilla!

Sexton wrestled back the o/a 450 point lead from Monster Energy’s Eli Tomac, reclaims the leaders’ red # plate; Monster Energy’s Justin Cooper 2^nd in 250

CORONA, CA – August 15, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Monster Energy’s Chase Sexton (Honda) flat out took his rival Eli Tomac (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) to task on Saturday at the famed Unadilla MX Raceway in upstate New York, catching and passing the overall Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship point leader – twice – in a 1-1 performance that shifts the premier class’ championship point race momentum back in favor of Sexton.

“I did what I could. Chase (Sexton) was really strong today,” said 2^nd (2-2) place Tomac.

Sexton, who’s now captured two-straight 450 class overall victories (Washougal, Wash., & Unadilla), looks to have overcome the crash gremlins that haunted him, and his path to victory, during both Monster Energy AMA Supercross season and earlier MX National rounds.

“I needed to catch Eli (Tomac) and I did. I needed to step up, and I did that at Washougal, then again today. Now I’ve got some confidence and I want to keep that going,” said Sexton, who leads Tomac by one point, 409-408, with three races remaining on the 2022 schedule.

Sexton and Tomac were joined on the Unadilla 450 podium by Jason Anderson (Monster Energy/Kawasaki), who put in a great 3-3 run for 3^rd to complete the Monster Energy podium sweep.

And in 250 class racing Monster Energy’s Jo Shimoda (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) backed a masterful opening moto victory with a strong 3^rd place finish in the second moto (1-3) at Unadilla to capture the overall victory – his second of the season. Joining Shimoda on the podium in 2^nd place was Justin Cooper (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha), who overcame an opening moto crash – while leading – to place 5^th, then dominated the second moto for 2^nd overall (5-1).

450 class podium Monster Energy’s Eli Tomac, Chase Sexton and Jason Anderson

Here’s a look at what went down at Unadilla MX, beginning with the 450 class.

450 Moto 1 – Monster Energy’s Eli Tomac

Right out of the 450 Moto 1 starting gate it’s Monster Energy’s Dylan Ferrandis (Star Racing/Yamaha), pulling the holeshot and leading in his first race back from a thumb injury suffered in practice the Tuesday before the MX Nationals started. … Anderson got out in 3^rd place, but a bobble would allow Tomac to strike, taking 3^rd (with Sexton starting in 6^th place). ……