Finally delivering – Cianciarulo eventually gets that AMA title!
It looked like he had it all. A long term Pro Circuit contract, schoolboy dominance and a charisma that made him a star before he even went professional, Adam Cianciarulo was supposed to be the next Ryan Villopoto in the USA, but it didn’t happen.
Injuries, mistakes and crashes, sometimes from trying too hard, continually frustrated the confident American. But then, in his last opportunity to win a 250 title, six years into his small bike career, a determined Cianciarulo finally figured it out and became the title winning rider everyone thought he would always be!
Cianciarulo had just thrown away the supercross title in the final round at Vegas in yet another heartbreak story but, to his immense credit, the supercross specialist came out swinging outdoors to surprisingly win the first four rounds of the season – he had only won one overall outdoors prior to this season!
In fact, he made the podium at every single round, got good starts and made good decisions the rare time he had to come through the field, he ticked every box, he wanted it bad, and this time he made it happen. Instead of the story of a talented phenom breaking records, Adam’s narrative is the can’t miss kid who kept missing but never gave up and finally achieved his potential by winning an AMA title.
But Cianciarulo says he prefers it this way now because it means so much more. “The road to this championship has been a journey,” he admitted. “I grew up in the Team Green program and many people had such high expectations but because of injuries, I’ve been unable to fulfill those expectations until now. I wouldn’t change a thing though. I have learned so much, grown as a person and appreciate this moment more than I could have imagined.”
“I’m just so emotional thinking about this accomplishment my entire Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team and I have achieved; we have worked so hard for this and I really put my mind to it. I wanted this title so badly, now it’s time to celebrate!”
Now Cianciarulo is where he wants and expected he would always be, a national champion with a factory 450 Kawasaki contract in hand ready to go for his ultimate goal – 450 supercross champion. Now it’s time to deliver again.
