Kenny Roczen said all the hype about Marvin Musquin was bullshit, Eli Tomac said in the pre-race press conference he would be limiting mistakes. Turns out both men were wrong and it was the two-time world MX2 champion, Musquin who celebrated in Angel stadium this morning.

“To win tonight definitely was not expected,” Musquin said. “It was a difficult day but I tried to stay calm and we were able to make it happen. I had a bad start in the Main Event but we put everything together and we were consistent, it was a long Main – but this is what we’ve been working so hard for. I can’t thank everyone enough for their support!”

Tomac threw it away, and Roczen who started around 12 seconds behind the leader in the opening laps ended around 10 seconds behind Musquin at the end. While he passed a lot of riders, he will need some weeks before he is anywhere near the old Kenny Roczen.

When Eli Tomac took the holeshot, everyone inside the Angel stadium must have though it was all over. He didn’t get too far ahead of second placed man Justin Barcia early, and Peick, Martin and Musquin were holding the other top five places, but it was Musquin who was on fire, moving into fourth quickly, then third.

Roczen starting in 12 was quickly into 10^th, but it was clear he wasn’t riding like his pre-injury speed, as expected with 12 months off the bike.

Just as Musquin moved into third, Tomac had a three second lead over Barcia, and was six seconds ahead of Musquin, while Roczen moved into sixth place. Anderson was also coming through as he battled with Peick for fourth spot.

Roczen had a near accident as he chased team-mate Seely but held it together. Then on the seventh lap, Tomac went down hard, handing the lead to Barcia, but with Musquin just two seconds back, it wouldn’t be long before the Frenchman took the lead.

Tomac was back in 20^th after having to stop to do his pants up, that had come undone in the crash. Again, the American rider once again showing his lack of concentration in important moment.

Roczen moved up to fifth and Musquin was all over Barcia. Bullshit or not, the Frenchman must be the favourite for this year’s AMA Supercross Championship.

Jason Anderson was second at the start of the first 450 heat race and made the move for the lead in the second lap. He fought with Cole Seely for position and battled in the top three in lap 2. He got into the lead shortly after, pulled a gap, and claimed the first 450 heat race victory of the season to transfer directly to the 450 Main Event. 

He was seventh at the start of the 450 main and worked his way up to fifth by the second lap. He stayed focused and held his ground as he battled and passed Weston Peick for fourth in lap five. He moved into third after leader Eli Tomac went down and set his sights on moving into the top two with 10 minutes to go. 

He was on the move and hunted down Justin Barcia down second before making a clean inside pass for the position with seven minutes to go. He continued to set a blistering pace and consistently improved his time with each lap. He ended the night with a second-place finish.

“This was a rather smooth day,” said Anderson. “I was able to get a good start in the heat race and then got the win there. Then I was able to make some good moves in the main and work my way up to second. I think it was a good opening round and it puts me in a good position for the rest of the season.”

Now with Tomac with zero points and a possible shoulder injury and Roczen clearly not his old self, Marvin Musquin, the mister nice guy of American racing might just do a Ryan Dungey and cruise to a title in 2018. Its early going, but I know who I have my money on.