2013 AMA Moto-X 338 National
GEICO Honda rider Eli Tomac might clutch his trophy a little harder tonight knowing he is likely the final overall 250cc winner at Moto-X 338.
Tomac closed the curtain on the famed sand track during the Moto-X 338 National on Saturday by securing a dominant Moto 1 victory and following that with a stirring drive to second in Moto 2 to secure his second overall win in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship Series.
Eli Tomac (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: “It’s cool to get a win in Southwick because it’s probably going to be the last round ever here. It’s a classic track and has been here for over 30 years. I really love the sand, and I really wanted to get a win here before it was all said and done, and we did that.”
Teammate Zach Osborne joined Tomac on the podium with a third-place finish, and Justin Bogle and Wil Hahn both had positive moments before mechanical issues sunk their races.
Tomac had no such issues and picked up three points on leader Ken Roczen. Tomac is now within seven points of Roczen at the halfway point of the season.
Tomac made up most of that ground with a dominant performance in Moto 1, leading all 17 laps and winning by more than 16 seconds. He was never challenged despite a slip late in the race.
Eli Tomac says: “It was a good start and I made the pass for the lead early on. I made a little mistake and crashed, but luckily I had that lead and could get back up and get going again.”
In Moto 2, Tomac was 11th after one lap but charged through the field, passing riders lap after lap before getting into position for the overall win.
Eli Tomac says: “I knew I had to get to second. Ken was in the lead, and I knew he got third in the first moto, so I had to go full bonkers. I knew I could at least get to second. You can never count your chickens before they hatch, but I knew I had a good chance.”
Tomac eventually passed Osborne on lap 11 and settled in for the second-place finish. Osborne was second or third the entire second moto, improving on a fifth-place finish in Moto 1 for an overall third-place effort.
Zach Osbourne (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: “The first moto was a little better. I felt like I should’ve been on the podium in the first moto, but to come away with an overall podium finish, I’m so happy.”
First motos have been Osborne’s downfall this year, but he was solid this time, and after a solid start in Moto 2, Osborne held firm in the top three.
Zach Osbourne says: “I got off to a third-place start and quickly moved past Marvin (Musquin). I just tried to hold it out there as long as I could. I knew Eli was behind (Jason) Anderson, and I needed to keep it out there until he could get by Anderson and give us a little bit of a gap. That was my plan and that’s what I did. I just tried to execute every lap the same, same lines, try to hit the same bumps because it changes a lot. But if you stay in the same lines, you know what to expect every lap. It worked out for me.”
Things didn’t work out so well for Bogle or Hahn. Bogle had a strong first moto, posting his best finish of the season with a fourth-place effort, but after rallying in Moto 2 following a slow start, Bogle was forced to the sidelines with mechanical problems.
Justin Bogle (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: “I was coming through the pack and riding really good. I felt like I had a shot at the top 10 for sure. The bike started to go at about lap five, and I tried nursing it in, but a few laps from the finish it finally gave up.
“Stuff happens. It is what it is, and I’m building and improving every weekend. We’ll move on and go into RedBud swinging.”
Hahn hopes to do the same after mechanical gremlins ended both of his races. He did secure his third consecutive Motorcycle-Superstore.com Holeshot Award in Moto 1 and was third after five laps but then had to park his bike. Hahn didn’t get a chance to start Moto 2 because of more mechanical problems.
Wil Hahn (GEICO Honda CRF250R Motocross) says: “Another holeshot. That started off the weekend awesome. It just kind of played out the way it did, and there’s not much you can do about it. Sometimes all you can do is put a smile on your face and look forward to the next one.”
The series resumes next Saturday with the RedBud National in Buchanan, Mich.
