Supercross preview – resumption of the title pressure!
The favourites
Eli Tomac enters what will be a frantic final seven rounds of supercross in just three weeks as he bids to finally get a 450 indoor title to go along with three straight 450 outdoor titles.
It hasn’t been due to a lack of speed, in fact, if speed was the main factor Tomac would have won at least two of the last three titles. Tomac’s issues have been head scratching mistakes or simply an average ride instead of the level his is accustomed too that doesn’t fit with a rider that can win so many races. Many have surmised pressure gets to Tomac in the short intense supercross races when he’s in position to win the title. With an intense schedule of high pressure ahead in the next 21 days, we are about to find out of Tomac has the mental stability to go with his blistering raw speed when it comes down to the big moments. Tomac has also just become a dad, will that help him race with more perspective and freedom?
Ken Roczen has the chance to come full circle in his comeback story. The German was the class of the field before his big crash in 2017 but now, while he might now quite have that raw speed, his talent is still immense and he appears to be riding smarter this year, almost like Ryan Dungey did during his title wins. Roczen is there every week and when he is feeling good has shown he can win, whether he can beat Tomac straight up enough over the next seven races remains to be seen, but if he keeps the pressure on Tomac, especially by coming out firing in the opening couple of rounds this in-coming week, he might be able to put Tomac on the back foot.
You can’t even count Cooper Webb out. The Red Bull KTM rider has the number one plate for a reason, he knows how to deliver results under pressure. 29 points behind, Webb only needs a chink of light to burst through the door of opportunity. Webb runs on momentum and confidence, he’s fully fit again and I don’t think he trusts either Roczen on Tomac to go mistake free in the next seven rounds. But Webb has no margin for error so will be going all-out to make a dent in the points and hope to pressure Roczen and Tomac as they both search for a championship they’ve yet to win.
The spoilers
Adam Cianciarulo is in a bit of weird spot when you look at the bigger picture. He is teammates with Tomac and good friends and training partners with Ken Roczen, yet he desperately wants to win his first 450 supercross race too! Cianciarulo’s broken collarbone ended his outside chance of a title in his rookie year, so all he has to focus on is winning races, but how will he race Roczen and Tomac – hard or with extra care that he wouldn’t give to a rival like Webb? And, if Kawasaki want a favour to help Tomac, does AC fell comfortable doing that to the detriment of hid buddy Roczen? AC is the guy with the raw speed of both as well as long-term rival Webb, he is the most likely guy to get in the middle of the title battles but he has loyalties and rivalries with all three in different ways.
Justin Barcia is 31 points out of the championship lead so he won’t be giving up on his title aspirations just yet, but it’s his fall-out with Tomac that creates extra intrigue. Barcia started strong and, while he has remained consistent hasn’t won since, something he will need to do quickly to if he wants to be in with a shout of the championship. He and Tomac got into it just before the break and with the stakes even greater now for both, it won’t take much for Barcia to become Bam Bam again, and Tomac has more to lose than the factory Yamaha man at this point, who has a lot to gain if championship leader Tomac ends up on the deck.
You just never know with Jason Anderson! The 2018 champ sits in fifth in the series but has the ability to run up front anytime he gets away with the contenders. A race win or two for Anderson won’t surprise anyone and, with Husqvarna and KTM being under the same umbrella, he might be Cooper Webb’s best ally as the championship winds down.
Add in the battle for the East Coast title with Chase Sexton and Shane McElrath, plus the West Coast title fight between Dylan Ferrandis, Justin Cooper and Austin Forkner as well as the return of the sensational Jett Lawrence and the supercross debut of brother Hunter – it promises to be a electrifying end to the season after a long, long wait!
Words: Jonathan McCready
Image: Feld
