Cycle News Staff | September 3, 2016
Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb came away with the overall wins at the Monster Energy MXGP of Americas, which was held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina, August 3. Tomac dominated both MXGP motos and Webb came from behind to take the MX2 overall victory with 2-1 moto scores.
Eli Tomac Tops Monster Energy MXGP Of Americas
After wet weather canceled Friday’s qualifying races, near perfect weather greeted the racers for Saturday evening’s race. Tomac led every lap of the first MXGP moto after slipping past Justin Barcia just after the start. From there, the race was all Tomac’s as he opened up a small lead over Barcia and held it to the finish. Barcia followed him home in second, while Belgium’s Jeremy Van Horebeek took third just ahead of Tim Gajser, who clinched the 2016 MXGP Championship.
Gajser, of the Honda Gariboldi Team, is the first rider to win back-to-back titles in two different classes since Greg Albertyn won the 125cc and 250cc World Championships in 1992 and ’93.
In the second moto, Tomac, on the Monster Energy Kawasaki, got off to another fast start and led all but the first four laps after passing Gajser. Again, Tomac dominated the race, while Gajser had little troubles holding on to second for second overall.
Third in the moto went to KTM rider Glen Coldenhoff, but Horebeek ended up third overall with a 3-4. Coldenhoff was fourth overall, while last week’s winner Clement Desalle was fifth overall.
Barcia pulled out of the second moto early in the race, saying afterward that he jammed his wrist when he over-jumped a jump.
Red Bull KTM’s Jeffrey Herlings outdueled Webb in the first MX2 moto. In fact, Herlings passed both early leader Austin Forkner and Webb on the same lap near the midway point to take the lead. Herlings then rode on to take the win over Webb and Forkner.
After a terrible start that saw Webb complete the first lap buried deep in the pack, the Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha Team rider was spectacular. He blitzed his way through the pack and passed both Herlings and leader Forkner on the 15th of 19 laps and ran off with the win, his 2-1 topping Herling’s 1-3 for the overall victory.
Forkner rode well to keep Herling’s at bay, much to the liking of Webb. Forkner went 3-3 for third overall.
Even though Webb took the win, Herlings clinched the MX2 Championship for the third time of his career.
“I am just going to be honest,” Herlings said, “Cooper was faster than me in the second moto, I didn’t have anything for him. I know people are going to be saying he’s faster, or I’m faster, but we both went 1 – 2, you can’t tell who’s faster from that, it is just one race, you need a whole championship to decide that, with different tracks, different days and different conditions.”
Thomas Covington, on the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna, made it three Americans in the top five after going 4-4 for fourth overall.
The Netherlands’ Calvin Vlaanderen was fifth overall.
Of note, Adam Cianciarulo suffered a hard get-off while vying for the lead in the first MX2 moto. He lost the front end at speed and reportedly suffered a dislocated shoulder.
MXGP of the Americas
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte, North Carolina
Results: August 3, 2016
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