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Monster Energy® Kawasaki Dominates Daytona for the Second-Straight Year
Round 10 of the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship arrived at Daytona International Speedway for the 50th Anniversary of the Daytona Supercross where Kawasaki showed championship character to sweep both class wins for the second year in a row. Monster Energy Kawasaki's Eli Tomac came from behind to overcome his championship rivals and extend his points lead, while Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Garrett Marchbanks captured this first career 250SX win.
Tomac kicked off the 50th running of the Daytona Supercross with top speed in qualifying posting a fastest lap time of 1:09.3 in the 450SX class, earning his second pole position of the season.
450SX Heat 2 saw Tomac in third out of the gate, where he battled for the lead as well as battling the challenging track and would go on to finish in third.
In the 450SX Main Event, Tomac found himself in sixth position as the field rounded the unique first corner and quickly went to work to maneuver his way to the front. Tomac made his way up to third at the halfway point of the race and began throwing down heater laps more than a second faster than his competitors to gain on the front-runners quickly. Once on the rear wheel of the leader, the feared No.3 KX™450 pressured his championship rival into a mistake and took the lead with less than two minutes remaining and secured his fifth win of the season.
Now in the lead for the 450SX championship point standings, Tomac takes back sole possession of the coveted red plate heading to Indianapolis next weekend.
The technical, elongated track along with unusual chilly weather in the "Sunshine State" couldn't stop Kawasaki's Daytona dominance, as Tomac became one of only three riders to have four career wins at the iconic Speedway.
"I've always loved racing at Daytona; I have fun out here and it's special having the fans so close and loud by the track. I had a positive attitude all day and just kept that energy rolling into the night show. Truthfully, I really thought it was a long shot to win the main as I was riding around sixth in the first lap with some tough contenders in front of me. I had some good momentum in the sand and a few other sections though, so I was able to put in some solid laps and begin making moves, giving it everything I had."
- Eli Tomac
The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki duo kicked their day off at the World Center of Racing by Marchbanks qualifying fifth and Smith following suit in sixth.
As the gate dropped on 250SX Heat 1, Smith shot out of the gate in second and held his position for the entirety of the race.
Marchbanks wasted no time attacking the field in the second 250SX heat race as he rocketed out of the gate in second and quickly blasted by his contender to begin creating a gap on the field. Marchbanks went on to lead all six laps and capture his very first career heat race win.
The 250SX Main Event saw both Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki KX™250 motorcycles blasting around the first corner, but it was the No. 36 machine of Marchbanks who kept his momentum rolling throughout the night as he grabbed the first holeshot of his professional career. Despite the heightened pressures right on his back tire from the defending series champion, Marchbanks never looked back and continued charging to lead all 14 laps and grab the checkers and secured his first professional career win.
Unfortunately, Smith suffered a first-lap crash while battling the leaders and was unable to finish the race.
After the successful night of earning his first 250SX Main Event, the Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green alumni, Marchbanks sits just one-point shy of third position in the 250SX East Championship point standings.
"Today was unbelievable! I don't even know what happened to me in that heat race, but I wanted that win, so I kept charging. I took advantage of the good starts; I even got my first holeshot of my professional career and really just used that confidence from the heat race to set the tone in the main event. We've been working so hard and I can't thank the team enough for everything they do to help me get up here on the podium. This win is for them."
- Garrett Marchbanks
"I was feeling good and riding aggressive all day. We showed some progress last weekend and I was even more confident after my heat race. I'm frustrated because I actually got off to a great start to the main, but I made a costly mistake and wasn't able to continue as I twisted my knee and couldn't get back out there. I hope to get checked out and back out on the track soon after further evaluation."
- Jordon Smith