Monster Energy’s Jason Anderson (Kawasaki) wins a thriller at Budds Creek MX National

Wild race day as Monster Energy’s Tomac regains the o/a 450 class point lead from Monster’s Sexton; Monster’s Shimoda 2^nd @ Budds, now 2^nd o/a 250 points

CORONA, CA – August 22, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – With a strong 2-2 moto finish on Saturday at Budds Creek (Md.) MX, Monster Energy’s Jason Anderson won his second overall premier 450 class Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship event of the summer. Anderson’s victory highlighted a wild day for Monster Energy racers as overall 450 point leader Chase Sexton (Honda) crashed twice in the opening moto, which Eli Tomac (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) won. Sexton then came back and won the second moto – only to have his (Sexton’s) point lead and coveted red leader race plate reclaimed by Tomac at day’s end with a 2^nd place 1-5 finish.

“You don’t win championships on your good days… you win them on your bad days,” said Sexton of his heroic comeback in the second moto, salvaging a 4^th place on the day (7-1).

Added Tomac: “I look at the positive… I’ve got the points lead and we’re ready to carry on.”

As it stands, with two races remaining, Tomac leads Sexton by a single point, 449-448, in one of the closer Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship 450 class title chases of all time.

And in 250 class racing, Monster Energy’s Jo Shimoda (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki) was thisclose to winning his second-straight overall, but settled for 2^nd (3-1) to RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) based off one thrilling second moto race finish position. Despite that, Shimoda moved from 3^rd place to 2^nd place in the overall 250 class point chase, six points ahead of Honda’s Hunter Lawrence (396-390).

450 class podium Monster Energy’s Jason Anderson

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

450 Moto 1 – Monster Energy’s Eli Tomac

With Honda’s Ken Roczen pulling the opening 450 moto holeshot, Sexton and Tomac were in strong positions – 5^th and 6^th, respectively – at the midpoint of the first lap. … Tomac would quick move onto Sexton, and pass the then 450 class point leader, who only moments later caught neutral in a corner, tucked the front end and went down over the bars as Tomac sped off. … “All that (Sexton’s wreck) was caused by Eli (Tomac) passing him (Sexton) on the uphill,” cited announcer, five-time MX champ James Stewart. … Tomac then moved up onto former champ Ryan Dungey (KTM) and put the YZ’s power on to…