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00:00One on a 450. Let's go.
00:10Justin Cooper. Yeah, that's Justin Cooper and Plessinger, I believe.
00:14One-two off the line. Rare bad starts for the Honda teammates.
00:19Plessinger going for the lead.
00:21Yeah, we saw Aaron. He was really fast in practice.
00:24They're already trying to get around Justin Cooper.
00:26But as I mentioned, this track's going to work well for him.
00:29Good to see him up there and his teammate, Eli Tomac, right behind them three.
00:33Let's see if Aaron slingshot.
00:34Woo, he did, James.
00:35Yeah, that's Cowboy style. Rope him up. I'm gone.
00:38Number seven out front.
00:40And the crowd explodes with that.
00:42Meanwhile, Lawrence pressing Tomac for third.
00:45Yeah, that's Hunter Lawrence behind him.
00:46Jeter, so not a bad start for him.
00:48But look at the Cowboy go. He knows what's time.
00:53Daylight out front.
00:54A couple of battles to watch. Tomac and Hunter.
00:58But now Tomac starting to close on his teammate, Justin Cooper, for second.
01:03It's the first time Eli's been in front of Jett Lawrence.
01:06Anytime he's raced him, so different position.
01:09And we know this number three, he just grows that confidence.
01:12He's able to get around his teammate and maybe get around Aaron before Jett does.
01:17We're going to have a race, folks.
01:19On up, Lawrence versus Lawrence here.
01:22It's so odd to think about this.
01:23The starts have been so consistent with Hunter and Jett lately over the last two years.
01:28This is what I would consider a bad start for them.
01:31And it's fourth.
01:33Look at Tomac on the inside with Cooper.
01:37Yeah, Tomac, he wanted to get on the gas, but you can tell they put some water down.
01:40But when you hear that number three and that bike is wide open and the clutch pulled in, he's feeling pretty good.
01:53I believe Jett Lawrence was able to get around his brother, Hunter.
01:57Yeah, I saw them right there before the mechanics area battling.
02:00Meanwhile, two-second lead after lap one.
02:03But all eyes on this.
02:04Tomac versus Cooper.
02:05Listen to the crowd.
02:09And you know they're pulling for the three.
02:15Still not enough.
02:16Yeah, but, man, Eli looks good in the beginning part of the race.
02:19Let's see if he tries to square up.
02:21He's going to make a new one.
02:22Yeah, but you see how hard-packed that is.
02:24You can start seeing him sliding out.
02:26If they have that paddle tire, that's the one section that it's not going to work on there when that bike's leaned over.
02:34Justin Cooper was second in the first moto last week.
02:36But now...
02:39Dealing with towback.
02:45Woo!
02:47This is good stuff.
02:48See what Eli does.
02:49He's going to try to rail around the outside.
02:52Oh, yeah, he should have a good momentum if he can get over the top of that.
02:55Yeah, there you go.
02:56Oh, puts the power down.
02:58He's got the inside.
03:00Yeah, beautiful move by Eli.
03:02Just had to get over that big single, and he was.
03:04Now he's moving forward.
03:05The bike looks good.
03:07Oh, boy.
03:09Can towback uncork it into hang town?
03:11Not the leader, though, because Aaron Plessinger's throwing down early.
03:14It's a reminder, as you see these two Yamaha riders battle to check out Yamaha beyond the gate.
03:22That is the inside look at Yamaha's factory-supported race teams.
03:26Go to the at Yamaha Motor U each week for a look at how this race team operates.
03:32And you get a good look at Eli Tomek.
03:40He operates right now wide open.
03:42Yeah, and people, I see that head lean.
03:45It looks like he's got a baby with his head leaned over when Eli, and when he's in that zone, the man's here to play.
03:50But shout-out to the Cowboy here, Plessinger, 2.8 seconds.
03:57It's actually a bigger lead now than it was at the end of the first lap.
04:01He is rolling.
04:02Yeah, you know, this hang town, there ain't no stranger to number seven being out front out here.
04:06Oh, okay.
04:07AP's pulling his own, and we saw last weekend AP was able to stick with Hunter Lawrence and get that third place.
04:13So Cowboy's looking good.
04:15Now Jet Lawrence has that sense of urgency.
04:17He sees Eli going up.
04:18Should be in behind him.
04:19He doesn't know his tendencies.
04:20So we're going to find out how that plays out.
04:23Now I aired at the start of the race.
04:24I said this is the one track Jet Lawrence hasn't won on a 450.
04:28He did win it in 2023.
04:29It's the only track where he's lost a race.
04:32He did not win it last year after a big crash.
04:39And that's it.
04:40He's won every other 450 overall in every race.
04:4316 out of 17.
04:45You're talking about what race that I lost.
04:47No, look.
04:48It's the only race that I ever lost.
04:50But right now in fourth, closing on his old rival from the 250 class, Justin Cooper.
04:59They put a, they stretched the gap.
05:05Over Hunter Lawrence, which is surprising.
05:07Yeah, true.
05:08Oh, Jet looking for an opening now on a 32.
05:14Yeah, what's crazy, these two kind of ride similar.
05:18You know, Jet jumps around.
05:19Both of them are very light on the bike.
05:21So they'll probably have some of the same line.
05:23But Justin Cooper, that mistake came from him looking back.
05:27Wasn't really paying attention.
05:28Over jumped in.
05:29And he might end up getting passed up the inside here.
05:31There it is.
05:32Jet to the inside.
05:33Man, yeah, he almost had the handlebars come loose.
05:36Yeah.
05:37His hands.
05:37Yeah, that was a close call for Justin.
05:39But.
05:39So now Jet Lawrence up to third with Tomek second.
05:45Plessinger leading.
05:46JT.
05:47Well, Jet makes the move there.
05:48You know, it's such an interesting dynamic here.
05:50Because I think if it was just AP out front, you'd see a very patient, very reserved Jet.
05:55Because he knows he has 24 minutes plus two laps to get to the front.
05:59But you simply cannot do that with Tomek.
06:02And that's the question.
06:03He doesn't have the experience.
06:04Like James was saying, he doesn't know exactly how to race Eli Tomek.
06:08I think you're going to see him be a little bit more urgent.
06:11Press a little bit harder here early in the mid part of the race than maybe he would otherwise.
06:15Well, you look at the lap times there.
06:17He's not as fast as Plessinger or Tomek, but he was battling this next time around.
06:22Open racetrack for the 7, the 3, and the 8.
06:32Dean, who's quickest?
06:33Yeah, at this moment, Jet's already starting to close that gap.
06:36And he's pushing it because he wants to close that gap.
06:39Because the race, like, he doesn't know how his Eli's confidence.
06:42And all that being said, Aaron's stretching that gap out.
06:47So, it's true.
06:49We're hyping up Tomek and Lawrence, multi-time champs.
06:52But how about Aaron Plessinger, 3-1⁄2-second lead.
07:00It's cowboy country out here.
07:02It's an old western right now.
07:04Hangtown.
07:05Every place is cowboy country.
07:06Well, it's true.
07:07It has to pass.
07:08Yeah.
07:09The drone giving you the good idea.
07:11The solid lead.
07:13It's a very solid.
07:14And one thing I didn't think about was that as this track drives out, it's going to play well to the KTM.
07:19We know it's a little bit softer frame.
07:21So, it gives a little bit more than the other bikes.
07:23So, Aaron looks really comfortable out here.
07:25And as this day goes on, this bike is going to work even better.
07:28So, might have slept on the cowboy.
07:31Yeah, we saw that real shiny rut at the top of that hill.
07:34Is that the type of section you're talking about, that hard stuff?
07:36Yeah.
07:36I mean, even right here, the chatter, the braking bumps.
07:40So, sliding things.
07:41And he looks comfortable out here.
07:43So, for me, Aaron looks really good.
07:46Probably the best I've seen him outdoors in a long time.
07:47What direction will it go?
07:51Plestinger over Tomac.
07:53Lawrence, Justin Cooper is fourth.
07:56There's Tomac.
07:57Got a battle here between Shock and Hampshire.
08:00Sixth and seventh.
08:03RJ has a line to the inside, but not close enough.
08:06Yeah.
08:07RJ, we heard him in the break right there.
08:10It feels comfortable.
08:11Locked calm.
08:11He's the thinking man now.
08:12Yeah.
08:13He's thinking of a line to make a move on Shock.
08:16Can he finish the deal?
08:17Oh, he did.
08:19Yeah, that was a nice move.
08:20And just like Aaron's bike, the Husqvarna is a little bit softer, too.
08:24So, it allows those guys to land off that finish line because the bike flexed underneath him.
08:28So, nice move by him.
08:30And he's going after 96, which is right in front of him.
08:35Yeah.
08:35RJ looking strong in the 450.
08:37That is what he told me yesterday.
08:38He says he now has time to think about different lines and race strategy on the 450, where on the 250, it was just wide open.
08:47Don't even breathe.
08:48Don't even think.
08:49Go.
08:49And you were saying you think as wild as RJ's riding style is, it might actually be more tame on the 450.
08:58Yeah, and the reason I believe that is because the 450 has so much power on it.
09:02One, you can't ride it like a 250.
09:04And if RJ, by riding the 250 so hard, you're trying to find the power, especially dealing with these Yamahas.
09:10So, he doesn't have to do that in the 450 class.
09:12It would allow him to slow down and be more patient.
09:15And I think that's what we're seeing because he's riding really good as he's watching his teammate behind Jorge Prado right here.
09:21My brother.
09:23Yeah, that is 9 for Prado.
09:25And Malcolm Stewart there in 10, closing.
09:30And a real test for Prado.
09:32The heat, probably a little higher than most of the MXGP races.
09:36They have some hot ones when they go to Indonesia and things like that.
09:39Send it down to Haley.
09:41Thanks, Weege.
09:41When I spoke with Jorge Prado after the race last week, he was not stoked with his race finish.
09:47No, he expects to be up front.
09:49He expects to be winning.
09:50But he gave it a nod to.
09:51He is learning this season.
09:52He is learning these tracks.
09:54He's learning, doing it with Monster Energy Kawasaki.
09:56So, he just has to be a sponge absorbing so much information at a very fast pace, Jorge Prado.
10:03Yeah, and I visited the team this morning, Haley, and they said they learned a lot.
10:07The way Oscar, the crew chief, put it, he did not ride in the race like he did during the week when they were testing.
10:15Simply put, everybody rides just a little bit harder.
10:17They race a little bit differently.
10:19So, they've had to make some bike changes.
10:21And that's probably going to be a constant.
10:22He said, yeah, we'll probably be learning all year.
10:24He's the next GP champion.
10:26And all he knows is winning, especially when you get outdoors.
10:28So, when you're not winning, I don't care where you're at.
10:31You might be at my house or grandma's house or here at Hangtown.
10:34You want to win.
10:35And when you're not, it just hurts you as a confidence.
10:38So, Jorge has got to be careful.
10:39And I know the Kawasaki guys are doing the right thing about just trying to get him set up, letting him know it's okay not to fall in the zone.
10:50And you start just racing behind you and forgetting what made you who you are.
10:54Because, believe it or not, he's running in eighth place right now or ninth place.
10:58The guy wants to be winning, and he's not happy unless he's up front battling with those guys.
11:02No, it's probably been a long time since in a fight just to stay inside the top ten.
11:07A couple other riders we're going to show you here because the gaps are not changing much up front.
11:11So, they're in 15th on the Twisted Tee Suzuki.
11:14The Frenchman, right in front of him, is the Swiss native, Valentin Quixote.
11:20And these two have, I'm sure, battled many, many times throughout their lives.
11:24Two veterans, and Perpaturelli actually came to California in the springtime
11:30and just started riding the local tracks out there hoping someone would notice.
11:34But he's going fast, and it worked.
11:36Ended up getting this deal with Twisted Tee Suzuki because Kyle Chisholm, who raced for them in Supercross,
11:40does not race full-time motocross any longer.
11:44And then Giyode raced the first two MXGP rounds.
11:49What's up, privateer?
11:50Wasn't making any money over there.
11:52Said in three days he got more help with Yamaha and the Rock River team over here
11:56than he did the first three rounds in Europe.
11:59So, he's here for the whole summer.
12:01Yeah, it's good to see these guys out there.
12:02They got Roman Pope behind them.
12:05And it looks like the sweet.
12:06He's a Frenchman.
12:07And the Swedish rider.
12:08Yeah, he's coming up.
12:09And these guys, they battle every weekend.
12:11I feel like around this, anywhere from like 12th to 18th, these guys meet up,
12:16and they decide to battle.
12:17So, they're probably out here like, man, you really want to push that hard?
12:20It's hot out here today.
12:21Let's take it easy.
12:22Yeah, so that is, let's see.
12:25We got the Swiss native, the Frenchman, the Swedish rider, another Frenchman battling right now.
12:31And also interesting, when we get back to just outside the top 20, Harry Kulass, Estonian rider.
12:43He expects to be with them, Gigaude and Patrell, because he's been racing him his whole life.
12:48He knows where he normally stands.
12:49Patrell came to the U.S. earlier this spring.
12:52And actually, as soon as he got here, he got linked up with Marvin Muskan.
12:55And he actually stayed at Marvin Muskan's house while Marvin was away in Florida.
12:59So, we know there's a relationship there.
13:01And we know from other current riders, specifically in the 250 class with Tom Vial,
13:05they've proven that when working with Marvin Muskan, things turn out pretty well for them.
13:09Oh, yeah.
13:09Marvin, one of the all-time greats out here.
13:11We talk about how great Tomac was at Hangtown.
13:14It was often Muskan who Tomac was battling with for the win.
13:18So, he has a lot of knowledge.
13:19Good to see Patrell.
13:25Carrying the flag here for Twisted T.
13:27Suzuki up front.
13:29You can see the lap times.
13:30Tomac has inched up a little bit.
13:32Umpliss, who's now, well, it was seven and a half.
13:36We're going to see.
13:37It just changed.
13:38We're going to find out if that's a transponder situation.
13:40Or if suddenly, Lawrence is closing the gap.
13:44We'll let you know in a moment.
13:45As Patrell, Noren, and the rest of the European contingent battle.
13:51Here's Tomac.
13:57Let's get an idea of the gap.
13:59Yeah, that gap, it's stretched out a little bit.
14:02So, it has.
14:03Yes, that was, uh, it's not 4.7.
14:04It's eight and a half way mark.
14:06But I'll tell you what.
14:07Jet did not make up any ground at all when he got up to third.
14:10Yeah, I was kind of cheating a little bit.
14:11Wondering where they were going to make some mistakes out there.
14:13I mean, all these guys are trying.
14:15And the one guy who actually looks the most comfortable is the guy out front, Aaron Plessinger.
14:19So, little mistakes like that from Eli.
14:22He went off the track at that last lap.
14:23But, oh, still, as you mentioned, we're not even halfway yet.
14:27Well, it was interesting when they all had open track for the first time.
14:32The lap times were within a tenth of each other, all three.
14:34And now Tomek has pulled away from Lawrence just a little bit.
14:39Last time around, 158 for Plessinger and Tomek.
14:42159 for Jet.
14:45With these conditions, James, the 100-degree temperatures strategy here.
14:50We're halfway through.
14:51So, a reminder, Monster Energy available now.
14:54We enter the second half of this race.
14:56Got to wonder how these riders are managing the temperatures.
15:02Send it down to JT.
15:03Thanks, Weech.
15:04I've just been kind of racking my brain.
15:07Ever since Lawrence has moved to 450,
15:08I'm trying to think of a time where he was not able to match the pace of anyone in front of him.
15:14And I simply can't.
15:16Now, we know these are extreme conditions.
15:18It's the hottest race since 2022.
15:20We also know Jet Lawrence is coming back really early from a knee surgery.
15:24But you see a huge mistake there.
15:26And I don't know if he's struggling with the bike.
15:28But, guys, I've never seen him be able to close a gap.
15:32And that has to be notable.
15:34Yeah, I'm with you, JT.
15:36And like those mistakes that you're seeing, I was watching them.
15:39And, you know, again, it's a unique place for him to be at because, yeah,
15:44as you mentioned, he wasn't able to close the gap.
15:46So all the things, him being able to jump around,
15:49you can't do that when you're trying to have to close a gap because it's not that fast.
15:53It's not faster.
15:54It's just overall it's a lot more consistent.
15:56But when you're almost 10 seconds behind a guy, you're going to have to push.
16:00You're going to have to ride more like Eli.
16:01And he's never been in this position.
16:03So I don't know if this is playing the alone game.
16:06I think there's a little bit more of just different scenarios.
16:09And we're going to find out.
16:11Oh, I feel like we've seen more mistakes in this half a lap from JT.
16:16We've had the camera on than you'll see in an entire race sometimes.
16:19And now he's 10 seconds back.
16:22Yeah.
16:22And I believe a lot of that's because normally he's dictating the pace.
16:26And like I said, last weekend he was able to almost pull up in him almost when he's going
16:31in the corners by being so patient.
16:33Eli slamming into it.
16:34But now he's got to do the pushing and you're starting to see the mistake.
16:38So race ain't being dictated by him.
16:41It's being dictated by the number seven out front.
16:43Might be the first time to JT's point that we have seen Lawrence go into points mode.
16:48I don't know if he's going to make a run at it.
16:49Look at the lap times.
16:51That lap eight, those mistakes really cost him.
16:53But those 159s aren't getting it done because for a while Tomac and Plessinger were still
16:59doing 158s.
17:00And that's why the lead has gone back to 11.4 for Lawrence up front.
17:05We still have not given enough love to Aaron Plessinger because even beast mode Eli Tomac
17:09is not that.
17:10Does he have a run at him now?
17:12Yeah, Eli's been, I believe Eli's faster, but Aaron, they're pretty close in speed.
17:17Aaron's bike just looks better.
17:19As he's able to get in these corners, as I mentioned, just the KTM just seems a little
17:22bit softer.
17:23So when he's leaned over, his bike has more traction, which is allowing him to be more
17:27Jet Lawrence-ish, not making some mistakes.
17:30Like coming out of that corner, his bike's hooking up.
17:32He's able to get there.
17:33And when you see Eli, he gets close, but then he makes a mistake.
17:36He slams it in the corner, kind of like what we saw last weekend.
17:39So we're going to be interested to see what 12 minutes left.
17:41Is he able to close that gap without making the mistakes?
17:44Bottom box, Jorge Prado makes the move on Cody Schock.
17:48That'll put him up to eighth.
17:49Haven't mentioned Cooper Webb.
17:50He's running strong in seventh place.
17:53The new champion of Monster Energy Supercross Hampshire.
17:56We saw him earlier as sixth.
17:58Hunter Lawrence, fifth.
17:59Justin Cooper, fourth.
18:01All right, James, I was getting at a couple of minutes ago.
18:04Is there a little bit more management of energy reserves and things like that because of
18:09the temperatures in this moto?
18:10Yeah, absolutely.
18:12As you can see, Aaron's hand kind of blew off at that point as that bike is getting to
18:17the point.
18:17But, yeah, it is.
18:18But you can see the mistakes that all these guys are making.
18:21I mean, Aaron was making the least out of all those.
18:23But, you know, Eli's making mistakes.
18:25We saw Jet make a mistake.
18:26So it's not like they're in cruise mode.
18:30Even Jet running at 159s, it seems tough for him to do that.
18:33So imagine him trying to pick up the pace and go to 157s.
18:37These guys, he might not have been able to do it.
18:38So I don't think they are in that mode yet.
18:41Okay.
18:42Meanwhile, Plessinger is straight to 4.3.
18:45A bad lap for Tomek.
18:47A two-minute flat for Plessinger.
18:49A 2-0 worse.
18:51Chase Sexton, the defending champion, not here.
18:54Bang.
18:57Not 100%.
18:59But Red Bull KTM's got a runner anyway.
19:02How about Plessinger, if he can put both Tomek?
19:04Yeah, and I think a lot of that comes down.
19:07These next three laps are going to be very important for AP if he's able to win this race.
19:12JT.
19:13Yeah, I echo that sentiment, James.
19:15You remember last year when Chase Sexton came from last to first?
19:18Well, guess who was winning that race the entire way?
19:21That was AP.
19:21And you know he hated giving up the lead on the very last lap, even though it was to his teammate.
19:27That has to be fresh in his memory.
19:29He's like, I'm not going to relent again.
19:32Somewhere in his psyche, last year's second place is winning.
19:35And Plessinger still looking for his first career 450 moto win.
19:43Career 450 moto win.
19:48Still 10 minutes center, two laps to go.
19:51And we'll give you an idea of the gap.
19:52Yeah, that's not much.
19:56No, it's not much.
19:58And when you're watching AP, I actually think he's now starting to get in that management mode, as you were talking about.
20:04Okay.
20:04Really just consistent.
20:05Just try not to overwhelm yourself.
20:08You've still got 10 minutes left in here.
20:09So what you might see is Eli might be able to close that gap pretty easily.
20:14But if AP is just trying to manage this thing and not trying to make the mistakes, he might be able to hold on to it.
20:19Because Eli is definitely pushing still.
20:21Give you the check in for the Monster Energy Yamaha star racing team.
20:25Tomac second.
20:26Cooper fourth.
20:27And Cooper Webb is seventh.
20:32Now we'll give you the gap between Tomac and Lawrence.
20:37And that is sizable.
20:38Let's send it down to Haley.
20:40Thanks, Weege.
20:41You and I were catching up with Darren Lawrence, the father of Jet and Hunter Lawrence, this morning.
20:45And he was saying that the issues they're sensing with that bike is not when they're simply on pace.
20:51It's when for Jet specifically, that when he's pushing north of 100%, 102%, 103%, is where he really has to assert more effort to control that bike.
21:01He hasn't had the comfortability when he's pushing north of 100%.
21:03So, guys, I'm just curious to see what's your read on his body English now.
21:08Does it look like he is pushing more than 100% or is that even necessary here in Moto1?
21:13No, I think that's what we were seeing earlier when he was making those mistakes, that now, you know, being out front, he's able to dictate the pace.
21:21But he lost that time.
21:22So, now he's going to have to push himself, and he's starting to make a lot of mistakes.
21:26So, I think Darren is right.
21:28Doesn't look that good when you're trying to push him.
21:30But, you know, still in third place.
21:31Well, for 32 of Justin Cooper, which we're going to get to here in a second, I actually really like the way he looks.
21:38You know, he got the start that he was looking for, and I think it's just really important for Justin Cooper to stay here in this top five.
21:46The more he can do that, he's become more and more comfortable.
21:49There he is coming down the hill towards the mechanics area.
21:52But he looks the part, and that's what he wants to do.
21:54He wants to establish himself as a podium, week-in, week-out guy, and a true championship contender.
22:00And I'll be honest with you guys.
22:01If he hangs in there, he could drop some really fast laps.
22:05I don't think Jet Lawrence is out of the question.
22:07Jet's laboring pretty bad when he can't pass here.
22:14Let's go back to fifth here.
22:16It's going to be Hunter Lawrence.
22:18Yeah, Hunter Lawrence.
22:19Probably not the ride that you want, but when you're looking at Jet Lawrence and your brother's struggling,
22:23I'm assuming that they're probably having some of the same issues as well.
22:27And you've got to remember, as dominant as they were last weekend, these guys are coming off the couch.
22:32And maybe that fitness and with this heat's probably getting to him, as you can see, made a mistake.
22:37He's not the same Hunter Lawrence as he was last weekend.
22:40And when these races get long like this and that heat gets up, it is hard being out here by yourself in no man's land.
22:46And I would say that's where Hunter Lawrence is.
22:48No one in front of him, no one right behind him, hard to keep charging.
22:53Well, you don't have to worry about the charging from the sixth place rider, RJ Hampshire.
22:58He'll always give you everything he has.
23:01And because of that, he has started to close and now has Hunter Lawrence in his sights.
23:07This is quite the 450 debut for RJ, especially considering wrist surgery Monday after the Salt Lake City Supercross finale.
23:15That's only two weeks ago.
23:16They took a bone out of his wrist and he's riding this well, sixth and could be fifth before it's over.
23:27Hold on to that, RJ.
23:30And still digging.
23:31There we see on our screen, Cooper Webb.
23:38In my interactions with him this outdoor season, I like the mood from this guy.
23:42I like how he's approaching things, just his personality this weekend.
23:46You know, last week when I spoke to him, he was pairing himself and keeping tabs on Jorge Prado.
23:52And he was really stoked to be ahead of pace with Jorge or just on pace with him.
23:56Well, he's doing it right now, Haley.
23:57He is seventh.
23:58Prado is eighth.
24:00Webb did say he made some changes this week to the motorcycle.
24:03Things are better.
24:04Things are better for his teammate Eli Tomek as well because he has cut the gap in half to Plessinger.
24:10Yeah, you're talking about on pace.
24:11I mean, Eli's been looking the same way this whole race.
24:14And as I mentioned, AP started to look like he was starting to try to save his energy, make his way around the racetrack, be real consistent about it.
24:21So I felt like Eli, if he just got a clean lap, he'll be able to close that gap.
24:24And that's exactly what happened.
24:25So if I'm Eli, I'm going to try to make the pass now because it feels like, for me, I'm taking some chances to get to AP.
24:32Might be easier for him to do it.
24:33I got to get him now.
24:34Oh, it's on right now.
24:38And still plenty of time for Tomek to make the move, slicing through some lap traffic.
24:43And these fans who braved the 100-degree temperatures on their own to come out here and watch this.
24:51It's what they wanted to see, the return of ET3 to Hangtown.
24:55Yeah, I love that inside going down that hill by Aaron, man.
24:58He cuts off half the track, and it looks a lot smoother.
25:01And I don't know if Eli just can't get there or what, but definitely losing some time for sure right there.
25:08Yeah, last two laps, you see that lap time comparison there.
25:11Tomek has put a bunch into Plessinger.
25:13So the key is, is that 2-0-4, that lap time drop-off, was that just one bad one for AP, or is he starting to labor?
25:21Yeah, we don't know.
25:22Maybe Aaron got caught up with some lap riders because, I mean, as quickly as Eli's got there, that gap's kind of stabilized.
25:27So, well, last year when Sexton caught him on the final lap in that amazing last-to-first charge, Plessinger said he was cramping up.
25:39He had nothing left to fight with.
25:40It's hot today.
25:42This is only the first moto, but he is proving strong right now.
25:45Yes, not letting Tomek get any closer.
25:49Yeah, you can see that gap go again.
25:51And as I mentioned, when you watch AP, it just looks like he's able to do it easier.
25:56And even though Eli's there, the bike's bouncing around, it's just a little bit harder for him.
26:00So unless both these guys are riding really good, any time you can put that much time on Jet Lawrence, it's a win.
26:09Yeah, as JT said, any time, it's almost been never time that we have seen that, or Jet cannot get there.
26:15So it is going to be, it looks to be, down to these two.
26:19And Plessinger, well done.
26:21He stretched it.
26:24Yeah, I felt like Eli, the only chance he really had was once he got close to him, because, you know, as quickly as he got there,
26:31you could just tell, like, it was hard for him to do it, really to be consistent with him.
26:35In that one corner previous to this, his hand came off.
26:38So he's definitely charging.
26:42See if he has one more good run with him.
26:43And remember, it's a two-moto format, so the overall still up for grabs later today in Moto 2.
26:50And as they say in motocross, a second is as good as a first if you win Moto 2.
26:57A 2-1 gets in the overall.
26:58So how will these two play it?
27:02Yeah, if you're Eli, you don't want this to happen.
27:05I mean, it'll be two weeks in a row that you can somewhat say you're able to close in on a leader,
27:09but be that close and not be able to get him.
27:12But Aaron Plessinger, I don't think we picked this one coming in.
27:16Kids run great.
27:18Yeah, so much talk about Lawrence versus Tomac after last week, after their history is so many race wins and titles between the two of them.
27:27And Plessinger might get his first ever 450 Moto win against them both right here.
27:36Two and a half minutes and two laps left.
27:40Three seconds, the gap.
27:41Yeah, they're both on the breaking point.
27:44If Eli can close the gap, it'll give him some motivation to maybe push towards the end.
27:50And if I'm Aaron, man, if I don't make a mistake and this gap stays the same, once that two-lap board comes out,
27:55because you're going to have about close to three laps, maybe four laps, depending on how fast they hit this next lap.
28:02Once that two-lap board comes out, I'm going to hold this thing off to the finish.
28:05And you hear the fans still powering Tomac forward.
28:12He's got it back down.
28:13It was almost three seconds.
28:15Now it's 1.6.
28:18Oh, Plessinger almost went for a ride.
28:20Big mistake.
28:21Yeah, now Eli senses that he needs to go out and hit this berm.
28:24There you go.
28:25Not try to make that inside, because if he has that paddle tire, it's not going to work on that hardback.
28:29And so he's got to be patient.
28:30So a nice adjustment from the three.
28:35Oh, another mistake from seven.
28:38Yeah, Eli knows it.
28:42Plessinger lost traction at the beginning of the uphill.
28:44Now Tomac has him.
28:48Let's see how much this line works out for Aaron, this inside.
28:55Tomac sends it down that hill and loses time.
29:00Yeah, just inside lines.
29:03Aaron's crushing that.
29:04He's able to get that bike leaned over.
29:06And that's so frustrating if I'm Eli, because I'm like right there.
29:09But look how quickly he's able to catch back up.
29:13Yeah, there are a couple of insides.
29:15Plessinger looks very smooth.
29:18That's a good line by Aaron.
29:19Raddick just went in the middle, missed all those bumps.
29:21Oh, Tomac's got him in his sights.
29:26Time running out 100 degree temperatures.
29:29Who's going to dig deepest here?
29:32That corner right there.
29:33Plessinger greases it.
29:34At the top of the hill, he's been good, too.
29:41Oh, not that time.
29:43Yeah, that's the hard part.
29:44I think Eli made a mistake, too, from seeing him.
29:46But as a rider, being 30 minutes into it, when that bike slides out there, you're just like, oh, my gosh.
29:51This thing's 500 pounds, but still, you're so close.
29:55And I think, Jason, there might be three laps left to get to that finish line.
29:59Oh, it's going to be so tight, James.
30:01Clock, watch closely.
30:03It's the last turn.
30:04Will it be two to go or not?
30:06It is two to go.
30:08That is going to help Plessinger big time.
30:10It could have been three.
30:12The clock just expired.
30:14Aaron couldn't even get the bike turned over.
30:18Beast mode now.
30:20Tomek with two to go, finding strength.
30:25Eli, you've got to funnel back into this outside.
30:27Good move right there.
30:28You know that bike ain't going to work.
30:30We saw Aaron make it.
30:31Maybe charge down this inside because you know Aaron ain't going to hit it.
30:35He tried.
30:36Plessinger is going to block the inside.
30:38Can Tomek get a run?
30:40Here it comes.
30:42There he goes.
30:43Eli Tomek to the lead.
30:45Big power move by the three.
30:51And the old hangtown spirit for Tomek is back.
30:55Man, what these athletes.
30:57Nice line by Eli.
30:58He saw it go to the inside where he was losing all that.
31:01And that might be all she rode.
31:03Look at him go and pulling away.
31:09Tomek saved it to the end.
31:12And this is beast mode at his finest.
31:16Baby getting a new crib if I hold this off.
31:18And here's what's crazy.
31:21Plessinger has led the last 32 laps of this track.
31:24He led every lap except the checkered flag.
31:2829 of the last 32 last time.
31:31And now down to the two laps to go in the first moto this time.
31:38But he is still, it looks to be denied,
31:42as far as that first career moto win at a 450.
31:45Wow, man, what a ride by Eli.
31:48And, man, he is exhausted.
31:50You can tell by him going up that hill.
31:52He had to just sit down going up that step up
31:54because those guys are so tired.
31:56But, I mean, look at the gap already.
31:58He was able to pull on Aaron.
31:59About five seconds in that one lap.
32:01But still, great ride by the number seven.
32:04Want to get the idea of the gap between Plessinger to Lawrence.
32:08Everyone laboring now in these conditions.
32:11But Tomek is so strong.
32:13One to go.
32:18It's been about 1,000 days since Eli Tomek has won a moto
32:22in the Pro Motocross Championship.
32:25And you want to talk all-timer.
32:27If he gets this one,
32:28he's going to break a multi-way tie
32:30and become the second highest career moto wins list
32:36with none other than Rick Johnson and Ryan Dungey,
32:39two other all-timers.
32:42Okay, people, you want to know why we call him Beast Mode?
32:44Did you see how he came down that hill
32:46when everybody else is laboring?
32:48When he went down that hill last lap,
32:50the fastest he has all race long,
32:52and he's putting it on these boys.
32:54He's got about 10 seconds over Aaron in this last lap.
32:57That's why we call him Beast Mode.
32:59When everybody else is feeling it,
33:00this dude comes out,
33:02and you're witnessing Bigfoot right here.
33:04He's out here.
33:04And that has always been it,
33:07the late race endurance
33:09that has led to four championships in this series.
33:13And we might add that the last time he did win,
33:15that 1,000 days ago,
33:17missed a lot of races with injury in between.
33:19It was brutally hot that day,
33:21and a title was hanging in the balance
33:22between he and Chase Sexton,
33:24and he got it done.
33:26Yeah, when Eli, prior to Jet Lawrence,
33:29this was almost a foregone conclusion
33:30that he was going to win on these hot days.
33:33Jet Lawrence has just been so dominant,
33:34as you had to question it,
33:35but there ain't no question
33:36whether this guy came here to,
33:38and he's serious about winning his championship.
33:40Oh, yeah.
33:41And at this age, 32,
33:42when most riders are,
33:44well, even he had been considering retirement
33:46at one point,
33:46he says he wants back next year,
33:48and it's because of rides like this.
33:50Why step away
33:51when you still might be the best in the business?
33:58He weighed a little bit.
33:59Was there some patience?
34:01He took it down to two laps.
34:02No, I think Aaron was just riding really good.
34:04Yeah, but Eli's definitely the strongest one
34:07so far today.
34:08He's got that for sure.
34:09And we're going to see how well
34:11these guys can recover from Moto2.
34:13Can Tomek get the overall?
34:15Right now, Eli Tomek's back on top
34:17with a Moto win at Hangtown.
34:22Jet Lawrence, third.
34:24Where is Plessinger?
34:25Plessinger, they are cruising to the end.
34:29Oh, he didn't realize that Jet was that close.
34:32I mean, he almost got him.
34:34Plessinger will hold on for a second
34:36with a 2-10 final lap.
34:38That's about 12 seconds off of race pace.
34:41Eli Tomek, though,
34:43turned it up
34:44when the heat was on
34:46and gets it done.
34:50And gets it done.
34:51And gets it done.