St. Louis Supercross Triple Crown Sweep

With an absolute statement 1st/1st/1st three race finish at the St. Louis Triple Crown, Round 12 of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Eli Tomac put to rest any lingering questions regarding his comeback following a season-ending leg injury in 2023 as the two-time supercross champ flat out dominated the 450 class field at the Dome at America’s Center.

And, based on his Anaheim (Calif.) 2 and Indianapolis SX Triple Crown finishes, coupled with his 2nd place run on Saturday in St. Louis, Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Cooper Webb wins the overall 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Triple Crown – a Championship within a championship.

Said Webb: “These Triple Crowns you just can’t give up. You never know what’s going to happen,” said Webb of his 5th/6th/2nd performance at St. Louis for 2nd overall behind Tomac.

Equaling Tomac’s 1st/1st/1st performance in the 250 WSX class at St. Louis was Monster Energy’s Levi Kitchen (Pro Circuit/Kawasaki), who swept the 250 Wester Region Supercross (WSX) class, going undefeated (3-0) on the Triple Crown night and increasing his points lead in the 250 WSX title chase over RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) to 15 points, 156-141.

On the 450s’ opening Triple Crown race Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo couldn’t avoid a Mitchell Oldenberg (Honda) crash in the second corner, got his leg run over in the mele (which also collected points leader, Honda’s Jett Lawrence), and, unfortunately, AC had to call it a night. Freed up from Oldenberg’s crash were Tomac (2nd) and Race 1 leader Hunter Lawrence (Honda). Hunter Lawrence would crash, on his own, giving Tomac the lead he’s never relinquish in the 3.4 second victory over Jett Lawrence.

Race 2 on the 450s saw Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Justin Cooper blast out to the holeshot and early race lead, with Tomac in 3rd on the second 14-lap race on the night. A Cooper mistake would allow Jett Lawrence to take the lead – which he gladly took, jumping with glee at the finish line checkers for the win. But hold on! With the red cross flag clearly flying, signaling a fallen racer, Lawrence’s celebratory finish line win jump would cost him – two spots to be exact. The beneficiary, Tomac, who was in 2nd place, would be awarded the Race 2 win. 450 Race 3 was all Tomac as the Monster Energy racer completed the 1st/1st/1st Triple Crown sweep with a wire-to-wire win for the overall – his first win of the 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season and record-setting 100th career podium finish, topping Ricky Carmichael’s 99 career podiums.

Said Tomac: “Tonight was old me,” said Tomac. “I was just able to execute everything I was able to do; starts, riding, qualifying – all of the above. This was big for us. I didn’t like where I was finishing, I’ll tell you that.”

On the 250s Kitchen was practically untouchable, taking the early lead in all three Triple Crown races at St. Louis – and winning everyone at the checkers. Monster Energy’s Jo Shimoda (Honda) was 2nd and Jordan Smith (Star Racing/Yamaha) was 3rd – giving Monster Energy the 1st/2nd/3rd 250 WSX podium sweep at St. Louis.

Said Kitchen: “Three good starts. And then, yeah, going into that last race, getting into the lappers at the last triple (jump)… if I would have missed that triple RJ (Hampshire) would have been right on me. So I had to send it and still made it somehow. All-in-all what a day!”

Notes & Quotes

• “He looked great in practice and you just wondered when the elusive win in 2024 was coming,” said NBC announcer Ricky Carmichael on Tomac’s impressive 1st/1st/1st Triple Crown win at St. Louis, his first win of the 2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season.
• Tomac has proved to be the King of the Triple Crowns as Saturday’s 1st/1st/1st effort gave him 17 race wins and eight overall Triple Crown victories. Monster Energy’s Jason Anderson (Kawasaki) is second with eight Triple Crown wins (one Triple Crown overall) and Webb’s third with six race wins (four overalls).
• “Putting everything together. Really, that’s it,” said Tomac when asked of the difference between his previous Monster Energy AMA Supercross races this season and his dominant performance at St. Louis.
• “Bummer deal for Jett (Lawrence). You don’t want to gain points like that by any means,” said Webb of Lawrence’s jumping during the red cross flag penalty that cost him the Race 2 win.
• Kitchen’s 1st/1st/1st sweep of the 250 Triple Crown race was only the second time a 250 class racer has completed the 1st place event sweep. The other was Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Austin Forkner, who did so in Detroit in 2019.
• Given that Forkner milestone effort, and the fact that Kitchen’s teammate is out for the season with an injury, Kitchen gracefully dedicated his St. Louis Triple Crown win to Forkner. “That was for Austin Forkner back home. I hope he’s healing up good. He’s the only one to do that (go 1st/1st/1st in a 250 Triple Crown).”
• Cool feature on Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Jordan Smith on NBCSports.com. Smith discusses his career, struggle with injuries, and comeback to victory this year in San Francisco.
• Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha welcomes Michael Mosiman to its 250 WSX squad. Mosiman, who last raced for Gas Gas in 2023 before a shoulder injury shut him down, recently signed a multiple year deal to race with Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha. “I am honored to be part of such a successful team and to be surrounded by so many driven individuals,” said Mosiman.

Up next: Monster Energy AMA Supercross takes its annual spring break before returning to action on Saturday, April 13, for Round 13 of the series at Gilette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., home of the New England Patriots. For more information, including tickets, hit up www.supercrosslive.com