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00:00Great job, Chase. Heck of a win, and congratulations to that racing.
00:05And you know they'd like more, maybe even tonight, but the fans have voted
00:08with the Rocky Mountain ATV MC Fantasy Picks, and the fans are picking Eli Tomac for the victory tonight.
00:14Over Sexton, Hunter Lawrence, the fans picked for a third over Roxanne and Webb.
00:19Jorge Prado, they're picking his eighth as a wild card, but...
00:22They're dogging Prado, man. I don't know. I like Prado tonight.
00:27He's a starter. He's won two heat races this season.
00:30That's right.
00:31These races are only a little bit longer than a normal heat race, so don't count that dude out.
00:37Eighth? Yeah, that's actually low for him this year.
00:40Show you the points. It's a triple crown race.
00:43Points will be scored at the end of the night, not with each individual race.
00:46It is Tomac with an eight-point lead over Hunter Lawrence, who has been a quiet assassin this year.
00:51Back-to-back seconds, not a win yet, but he has proven to be a title contender.
00:55Sexton moving back up the charts at the win last weekend, and a rough one for Ken Rockson just because of an early crash.
01:01But you saw speed this afternoon in qualifying.
01:03Yeah, I did. I saw speed, but another thing that I saw was how comfortable he looked on that motorcycle at the speed he was going.
01:09So that says something. Remember, Kenny is a very good starter.
01:12And one thing I love about the triple crown is the average and how well you have to do on the average to get that overall score.
01:21And I think this plays into Kenny's hand.
01:23Oh, it definitely could be the night for the man on the progressive Suzuki.
01:27Could it be a third different winner this year?
01:29Tomac, the first two victories of the year.
01:31Sexton wins last week.
01:32We mentioned at the top of the show, the number one right up against the box.
01:35Cooper Webb has to get going.
01:38No podium so far this year for the defending champion.
01:42First of three races in the 450s.
01:44Rifts are up.
01:49Gates down.
01:50And Prado as expected and rocks it.
01:57One, two.
01:58Good start for Savace and Sexton also.
02:00Yeah, Kenny gets it.
02:01He has the advantage on the inside.
02:03He's going to push out the 26 of Prado.
02:06He's got to hold off the charge from the four.
02:08Sexton trying to get Prado.
02:10It's actually Christian Craig there.
02:11Oh, mistake.
02:12I thought it was Savace.
02:13It's Craig.
02:15And Sexton almost had that pass, but he kinks that jump.
02:17Oh, look at that.
02:18Hunter Lawrence cuts up the inside, I believe, and makes the move on Savace or Craig.
02:24Craig, yep.
02:25Yeah, this is where Hunter really needs to improve.
02:29Those opening laps.
02:30Look at Sexton going back to work on the green Kawasaki.
02:34Working Prado as Roxen already getting away.
02:37And where is Tomac?
02:38He is ninth.
02:39First bad start of the year for the number three.
02:42JT.
02:43Well, Ken Roxen, if you were looking for a guy that Triple Crowns were invented for,
02:48you wouldn't have to look any further than the 94.
02:50This guy's first lap intensity is unmatched anywhere else in the sport.
02:55And if you let him get out front with clean air in a race format like this, in a shorter format, he's as good as gone, boys.
03:03100% game over.
03:04Great insight there, JT.
03:07And another thing that Kenny Roxen does well is if you make a move on him, boom, he counters that in an instant.
03:14Hey, you want to talk about Hunter Lawrence needing to improve those early laps?
03:17How about the fact that he is caught and is pressing Sexton?
03:21Little bobble there, though, for the Honda man.
03:22Well, he did.
03:23Uh-oh.
03:23Here goes Webb.
03:24Yeah, defending champ.
03:25We talked about him at the top of the show, the situation that he's in.
03:29And this comes as no surprise.
03:31Now, he had a better run last weekend, but he laid it down.
03:34And if he wants to fight for this championship, he has to have these kind of rides.
03:39But a great job, like you talked about, with Hunter getting up here in that position early on in the race.
03:46But Prado's still holding strong in second ahead of these three.
03:51Sexton and Webb, who have won this title before.
03:54And Lawrence, who has been so strong to start the year.
03:56Kind of what we expected, though.
03:57Prado with the starts.
03:59He has proven he can run this pace.
04:02No holding back in this triple crown format.
04:05Remember, the races are much shorter.
04:0612 laps are 12 minutes plus one lap.
04:09And these guys have to go all out in three sprint races.
04:16Then you see Tomac and Anderson behind Webb.
04:19What direction is it going to go?
04:20You had Lawrence attacking Sexton.
04:22Now Webb attacking it.
04:24Here comes Tomac.
04:25He checks up.
04:27Gets to the outside of Jason Anderson right here.
04:32It's going to be really important for Eli to try to make a move early.
04:36If he doesn't, those top four guys are going to continue to build a gap.
04:41And it's going to be hard for Eli to catch up, make up that much ground.
04:46Well, similar story to his teammate, Roxen.
04:50Anderson proved he can go fast for a bit.
04:52I like that.
04:52Last week.
04:53I like that inside line that Anderson took.
04:55That could be a possible passing line if he finds himself in a position to have to make a move.
05:02The starts have been lights out for Tomac on this Red Bull KTM thus far this year.
05:09Now he's got work to do.
05:10He and Anderson have battled literally their entire racing lives at every level.
05:16And another one here.
05:17Well, we talk about how it's so important to be consistent in the Triple Crown.
05:27I will tell you, it works kind of in your favor in this situation if you're Eli Tomac.
05:32Because if you don't win this first race, at least you have two other races to redeem yourself and make up possible points.
05:40Rather, if this was just a regular main event, he would have his work cut out for him.
05:45So, yes, it's funny how we've learned through the years.
05:51It almost works the opposite of what you think, where you almost get a reset.
05:55In certain circumstances, and this being the circumstance that Eli's in right now.
05:59Love how he's coming out of these corners to the inside.
06:02Now he'll have the advantage coming to this 90-degree corner.
06:05Perfect pass.
06:06He set that pass up.
06:07He worked on it two laps in a row.
06:10And now he executes it.
06:11These next couple laps will be really fun.
06:13Oh, Sexton has brought Prado for Sexton.
06:15Watch this inside here.
06:18Oh, he doesn't go.
06:21Remember what I talked about, Prado, this format, and how it plays into his favor.
06:27Now, on one end, Prado has been caught, but he is not that far off of Roxton.
06:31Here's the inside for Sexton.
06:33Got it.
06:34Great pass.
06:35Let's see if Prado is able to do anything with it.
06:37No.
06:38Oh, he misses that rhythm lane.
06:39He's not able to go triple-triple.
06:42Well, that's what JT has been talking about to JT.
06:46That corner right there.
06:47Yeah, that's one of the passing zones that we're going to be looking for tonight.
06:51And these guys have to really come with a plan.
06:53You saw Eli Tomat get aggressive.
06:55You simply don't have time to wait.
06:57If this was a 21-minute race, sure, Chase Sexton could be patient.
07:01But if you're going to go chase down the likes of Ken Rockson, you simply don't have time to wait on Jorge Prado.
07:06There's reason to believe, JT, that we might even see a better version of Chase Sexton this weekend than we did last weekend when he got that win.
07:14He got out in front last weekend and seemed to sort of maintain that gap very well.
07:18And talking to the team, they said to me, well, you know, he has more than that.
07:23We want to give him more than that.
07:24But maybe he didn't have it last weekend.
07:26So they actually went back to work on the bike this week, put another long testing day in.
07:30So what they're trying to do is to get him in that position where if 100% is needed and he does have to push, then it will be there for him when the comfort will be there.
07:38Well, look at the bottom of your screen right there.
07:40Eli Tomat, he's pulled up on the rear tire of Cooper Webb.
07:44And he was the fastest guy on the racetrack last lap with a 47.2.
07:50Second was Chase Sexton with a 47.3.
07:53So a tenth faster.
07:55And Eli showed us a lot of speed in qualifying practice.
08:00Much better than last week for sure.
08:02So I think he's back in the zone.
08:04And there they are right in front of him.
08:06Oh, what a battle here.
08:07You've got Lawrence, Webb, and Tomac.
08:11Prado just ahead of them.
08:12What direction is it going to go?
08:14At one point it looked like Webb was trying to set up Hunter.
08:17Now it looks like Eli's trying to set up for a pass on Webb.
08:21It's tight.
08:22Well, we talked about these long rhythm lanes here and how much speed they have going through these rhythm lanes.
08:28So one good thing about that, it gives you time to make a possible pass.
08:32If you get a good run out of the corner, you have a lot of straightaway speed.
08:36You can make the move there.
08:37Well, I'll tell you who's got speed.
08:39It's Sexton.
08:40He is to the rear wheel of Roxanne.
08:42You see the top box.
08:43Battle for the lead.
08:44Starting now as the battle.
08:47Well, two positions.
08:48Lawrence going after Prado.
08:49Tomac going after Webb.
08:51And I'm digging that drone shot there from behind.
08:55It really gives us a perspective.
08:56And you can see how the lines are starting to form up.
08:59And the different lines say that Chase is taking compared to Ken Roxanne.
09:04Just kind of off the path a little bit either to the left or to the right.
09:08Just by a couple inches.
09:13Oh!
09:13That's what's a great stuff right there for the drone.
09:17You can see it playing his A.
09:18I thought the four was going off the track.
09:20And honestly, Webb almost made the same exact mistake and nearly collected Tomac with him.
09:25Things are starting to ramp up as these battles get closer.
09:29Webb's still right there with Lawrence.
09:31Yeah, watch Eli Tomac right here.
09:33If he's able to get a good run to see if he can make a move through the whoops.
09:36He's got to go to the left right here.
09:38No?
09:39Good run for Coop through the whoops and Eli.
09:44Maybe Eli's going to try to size up Cooper Webb in that same corner, which will be the next corner here.
09:50This left coming up, where he swung it out wide, turned down early, and positioned himself to be in the inside, but he isn't able to do that.
09:59What about the position in the middle, Webb and Lawrence?
10:02They're both in that offense-defense.
10:04Talk about the sandwich that they're in right now.
10:06Oh, I mean, it's a nail-biter right here.
10:11Webb would like to get Lawrence.
10:12Lawrence would like to get Prado, but they've got to worry about being passed also.
10:15Watch this.
10:16There you go.
10:17Remember how he's turning down early like that.
10:19He's going to have to do it here.
10:20It's going to be tough if he can get to the left-hand side.
10:23He does.
10:25Watch the one right here, though.
10:27Oh, he does, and he closes the door.
10:29Great riding by Eli, but Coop's coming back.
10:33And Eli just out jumps.
10:35Webb.
10:36Oh, Webb thought going inside.
10:38Tomah protected.
10:39Webb back.
10:42Wow.
10:43And Lawrence has gotten around Prado as well.
10:46Critical juncture of the race.
10:48Let's see if Tomah can keep the momentum going.
10:52Not get hung up by Prado.
10:55He's going to have to make the move.
10:57He's all over him, Weege.
10:59That was too close for comfort.
11:01The teammates.
11:02Tomah was almost underneath Prado in the air.
11:05Yeah, Eli riding a lot better this weekend than he was last weekend.
11:11He's able to turn down early in the corners.
11:15Wasn't able to do that last week.
11:17Looking very similar to what we saw the first two weeks.
11:20But give it up to Jorge Prado and just how well he's done this season.
11:24A little fun fact for you guys.
11:28He's won more heat races in his 450 career than Hunter Lawrence and Justin Cooper.
11:34You would not think that.
11:35No, you wouldn't.
11:36You would not think that.
11:37This rider is only now 11 races in to racing Supercross.
11:41The Spaniard from the MXGP series, which is based all over the world,
11:47but mainly racing in Europe where they do not have Supercross.
11:50Tomah got the pass.
11:53Prado misses that rhythm section right there.
11:55Isn't able to go triple in the middle.
11:59Oh, Prado trying to come back on his teammate.
12:02Remember I told you that inside when Jason Anderson went there.
12:06That's a really sneaky line there.
12:07You can catch someone sleeping.
12:09So, that was huge.
12:16Big two positions gained for Tomah.
12:21A couple other incidents earlier in this race.
12:24We can show you it's still in for Rambis on the 14th.
12:26Going up the inside, Christian Craig.
12:30Oh, Christian kind of leans in to guard his position.
12:36And Dylan keeps using the track up.
12:39Ruben's racing.
12:40Uh-oh.
12:40Oh, Lawrence.
12:42An uncharacteristic mistake for the 96.
12:45Yeah, but if you think, that's right there in that corner before the mechanics area.
12:50We saw a couple guys almost jump off track right there.
12:53It narrows up after that 90-degree corner.
12:56Guys fading to the outside.
12:57Let's see what happened.
12:58Tabletop over single.
13:0290.
13:03Oh, he's losing his front end to start with going in that rut.
13:07And doesn't get straightened up enough.
13:09Watch his front end just ever so slightly.
13:11Moves right there.
13:12See it wiggled a couple times.
13:14And then you hit that pavement on the edge of the track right there.
13:20It is like ice.
13:21So that is a huge swing.
13:25Lawrence going back.
13:26Got passed by Webb Prado and Tomac and Anderson.
13:31Wow.
13:31I can't believe how far Ken Rockson has pulled away.
13:35Yes.
13:36Four seconds lead, JT.
13:40Wow.
13:41Yeah, the resilience here is remarkable because Sexton seems like he had him in his sights.
13:46And it would be interesting to ask Chase Sexton after the race what exactly went on.
13:50Does he feel like Kenny responded?
13:52Or did Chase simply make mistakes at a critical time?
13:54Because I think most people felt like that pass was becoming inevitable.
13:58Yeah, JT sitting here looking at timing and scoring.
14:02Chase had a 51.4 that last lap to Kenny's 4.9.
14:06So there goes the delta right there.
14:09Yeah, that lap for Sexton may be a mistake.
14:11And suddenly Rockson has a commanding lead.
14:14Rockson's the first rider to ever sweep a Triple Crown in Glendale, Arizona a couple of years ago.
14:20And we knew he would be strong in this format.
14:22And he has not disappointed.
14:24Love to see it, man.
14:25Just looks so comfortable on this motorcycle.
14:28Starts are on point.
14:34And if this ain't a confidence booster for him, for Kenny, here tonight, I don't know what would be.
14:41I can't believe how many lappers that they've caught up to early on in this race.
14:44Yeah.
14:45Yeah, short race.
14:46And they're still deep into it.
14:47And these are good riders there lapping.
14:50Track really got ruddy just in this 12 minutes plus one lap race.
14:55That ability there trying to tell the lap riders to get out of the way.
15:00Rockson fires first here in the Triple Crown in Houston.
15:04Not a surprise.
15:05He's been riding well all year long.
15:06And again, it's all about the overall at the end of the night.
15:20What a salvage job for Tomac to come through for third.
15:24Webb is going to get to fourth.
15:26Got around Prado and Lawrence had the crash.
15:30Jason Anderson, 600.
15:31Lawrence back to it.
15:32Just pointing to seven.
15:34Ken Rockson on top.
15:36Talk to him next.
15:36Keep easy.
15:37Keep easy.
15:38Keep easy.
15:41Keep easy.
15:42Be easy.
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