Eli Tomac cruises in 1st of 7 races marking Supercross' return at Rice-Eccles Stadium

SALT LAKE CITY — Eli Tomac came from behind to cruise to a victory in the professional sports’ return to Utah in Sunday’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series.

Tomac topped second-placed Cooper Webb by 3.771 seconds in the first of seven rounds that will conclude the supercross season that was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each race will be held at Rice-Eccles Stadium, with rotating tracks.

“That was huge for us,” Webb told NBC, which broadcast the race Sunday afternoon. “It’s so cool to get to go back racing at Salt Lake City and get back to riding and racing and doing what we know.

“Overall, awesome day there.”

Tomac increased his lead to eight points over Ken Roczen in the season standings. Roczen finished third Sunday.

In the 250 East Main event, Shane McElrath beat out Chase Sexton by 2.949 seconds, trimming Sexton’s lead to seven points in the championship standings.

The track was slick, the dust was flying, and several riders lost traction and skimmed or crashed into protective barriers. After 22 laps, only four of 22 riders finished on the lead lap, according to NBC Sports.

But for one afternoon, live competition was back.

Six more races will conclude the 2020 AMA Supercross Series in Salt Lake City, beginning Wednesday at 8 p.m. MDT on NBC Sports.

NBC Sports will air events next Sunday, June 7, followed by every Wednesday and Sunday until June 21, when NBC will again air the series finale at 2:30 p.m. MDT.

Related topics