There was quite an about-face in round six of the Monster Energy AMA West Lites Supercross Championship at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium. Going into the race, GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac held a substantial points lead after dominating the last couple of races, but not anymore.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson is the new points leader after capturing his second win of the season, taking full advantage of a DNF suffered by Tomac.
Wilson got off to a fast start after passing holeshotter Vince Friese and quickly opened up a significant lead, while Tomac was busy making up for a sixth-place start.
Dean Wilson topped the Lites main at San Diego.
Tomac had worked his way up to third and was trying to make up ground on second-place runner Cole Seely when he swapped and crashed in the whoops. Tomac was banged up in the crash and couldn’t start the bike, the muffler having gotten packed with mud in the crash. Tomac surrendered to the pits, earning just one point on the night.
Wilson now leads the championship by two points over Tomac.
Cole Seely finished second for the second straight week.
Seely, on the Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda, finished second on the night and is 15 points behind Wilson and very much back in the title hunt.
Matt Moss, on the JDR/J-Star KTM, got on the podium for the first time ever with a third.
Fourth and fifth went to Rockstar/Star Valli Yamaha’s Gareth Swanepoel and Nico Izzi, respectively.
Rounding out the top 10 was Gavin Faith, Billy Laninovich, Travis Baker, Friese, and Nick Paluzzi.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic with the win,” said Wilson. “I knew I needed to run consistent laps out there and get through the whoops as fast as I could all night long. Eli [Tomac] is a tough competitor, so it’s a bit of a surprise to be in the points lead, but I’m going to work my butt off during the break to try and stay there.”
With the Supercross series heading to Texas next weekend, the West Lites Series now takes a long break and doesn’t resume until the Seattle round, April 21.
RESULTS:
1. Dean Wilson (Kaw)’
2. Cole Seely (Hon)
3. Matt Moss (KTM)
4. Gareth Swanepoel (Yam)
5. Nico Izzi (Yam)
6. Gavin Faith (Hon)
7. Billy Laninovich (Hon)
8. Travis Baker (Hon)
9. Vince Friese (Hon)
10. Nick Paluzzi (Kaw)
11. Kyle Beaton (Kaw)
12. Bruce rutherford (Hon)
13. Max Anstie (Hon)
14. Killy Rusk (Hon)
15. Martin Davalos (Suz)
16. Marvin Musquin (KTM)
17. Jason Anderson (Suz)
18. Jean Carlo Ramos (Hon)
19. Scott Champion (Hon)
20. Eli Tomac (Hon).
