WSX kicks off in Vancouver
By Team TMX on 28th Oct 24
News Supercross International Supercross
The opening round of the 2024 FIM World Supercross Championship delivered another evening of awesome racing as BC Place in downtown Vancouver, Canada hosted the first-ever WSX event held under new management. A slight tweak to the fast-paced schedule gave supercross fans even more time to see their heroes in action with the added bonus that every time the racers hit the track, FIM World Championship points were up for grabs.
Current WSX champions Ken Roczen and Max Anstie took victory in the Superpole session, Roczen using a new line through a rhythm section to take the WSX win ahead of Eli Tomac, Joey Savatgy and Luke Clout. In the SX2 class, Anstie was 0.096 quicker than Cole Thompson with Coty Schock third ahead of Ryder Kingsford.
Anstie carried that speed into the first SX2 Main Event, beating Kingsford and Cole Thompson across the line. Five minutes after the finish of that race, the gate dropped for their second Main Event. Shane McElrath won that one ahead of Anstie and Schock.
The WSX class rolled out for their back-to-back Main Events with Roczen claiming victory in that ahead of Tomac, Savatgy and Vince Friese. A crash for Roczen in the second final allowed Tomac to cruise to an easy victory over Savatgy with Colt Nichols securing third place.
The third Main Events for each class would be 12 laps rather than the eight of the back-to-back races. An off-track excursion followed by some smaller crashes cost Anstie as he only placed ninth in this one. McElrath took the win ahead of Enzo Lopes with Thompson third. In the WSX class, Tomac took another win with Roczen placing second ahead of Savatgy and Nichols.
The all-new Superfinal pitched the top eight WSX and SX2 racers together for another 12-lapper. This race would pay out points on the overall result. As things turned out, WSX class riders finished first through fifth with the leading SX2 competitors in sixth and seventh so it didn’t skew things too much.
Tomac grabbed the holeshot and was never headed on his way to the race win which also secured him the GP victory and lead in the world championship. Roczen placed second ahead of Nichols, Friese and Savatgy.
McElrath was the leading SX2 rider home and with Anstie a lap down in 13th, the overall victory went his way too. Lopes and Schock rounded out the top three in the race although the overalls were different.
The WSX podium was saw Tomac flanked by Roczen and Savatgy while in SX2 McElrath took the GP win ahead of Anstie and Thompson.
The riders and teams now head to Perth, Australia, for an exciting double-header, with rounds two and three taking place at HBF Park on November 23/24.
Results
WSX
1 Eli Tomac CDR Yamaha 100 points
2 Ken Roczen PMG Suzuki 84
3 Joey Savatgy Firepower/Froth Honda 79
4 Colt Nichols PMG Suzuki 74
5 Vince Friese MotoConcepts Honda 65
6 Mitch Oldenburg Arby’s Rick Ware Racing Kawasaki 61
SX2
1 Shane McElrath Firepower/Froth Honda 89
2 Max Anste Star Racing Yamaha 79
3 Cole Thompson Firepower/Froth Honda 79
4 Enzo Lopes Arby’s Rick Ware Racing Yamaha 76
5 Coty Schock Arby’s Rick Ware Racing 74
6 Kyle Chisholm PMG Suzuki 59
