Watch: Palms Takes Us Through The San Diego SX Yamaha Animated Track Map

Raise your hand if you missed watching SX on television last weekend. With the Oakland SX postponed because of the terrible weather in Northern California until February 18th, there was certainly a void in our lives last weekend. However, the good news is that the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross Series is back this weekend at the new Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. With a differently shaped floor area than Petko Park Stadium (Snapdragon is used for football while Petko Park is a baseball stadium) the track crew was able to build more of an east coast type track with a few more options for the riders. This morning the series released the Yamaha Animated Track Map, so let’s look at how the San Diego track will shape up on Saturday evening.

Unlike the split start we saw at Anaheim 1, the start at San Diego is something we’re more accustomed to seeing at a SX. It’s long and almost runs the entire length of the stadium floor, and then at the end, we have a 180-degree gradula left-hand corner. The start straight and first turn look fair and safe, so there shouldn’t be too many issues during the night show.

From there, the track heads into two long back-to-back technical rhythm sections that could see the top riders trying multiple jump combinations. With a tight 180-degree corner between them, we might see a lot of passing throughout the evening in turn two. In supercross, rhythm sections are the great separator as only some have the talent or the courage to go big and try and makeup time. Also, once riders find the fast way through them, the next thing they have to master is consistency. It’s one thing to jump through them a certain way in practice or your heat race, but can you do it for 20 minutes in the main event? Most riders cannot and that is why rhythm lanes are so important on a SX track.

After the first two rhythm sections, the riders will make a 90-degree right-hand turn before heading into yet another rhythm-type collection of jumps. This one will not be as important as the two before, but remaining consistent will be important. From there, the riders turn 180 degrees left and into the only big triple on the San Diego track. In the old days, triple jumps were significant because on certain tracks, not every rider jumped them. But everyone jumps these days, so the once mighty triple jumps are now just a place to relax and catch your breath.

After the triple jump, the riders head into a tight 180-degree left-hand turn which could be a good passing spot during the main events. If a rider can gain an inside advantage over the triple, they could throw a solid block pass in this turn. Also, with it being a left-hand corner, the riders will be able to be aggressive as they’ll have complete access to their rear brake the entire time.

Once the riders survive this corner, it’s onto a tricky high-speed dragon’s back, followed by a 90-degree right-hand turn and then into a long whoop section. Obviously, the whoop section will be a good passing spot, depending on how each rider can get through them. Hopefully, the whoops will be challenging enough that only some riders will be fast through them. From there, it’s over the finish line, then a left-hand 180-degree turn before the riders head back up the start straight to probably one of the most unique sections we’ve seen in a while in SX. No, it’s not a jump section or a sand section (thankfully) it’s just a flat, 180-degree corner right in front of the starting gate. This turn is going to take a lot of work as it will be easy to mess up. Any issues with braking or the balance of your bike while trying to get set up for the turn will cost a rider time and will determine the drive they get on the exit. We’ll see how this simple section turns out, as it will either improve the racing we watch on Saturday or hurt it. After that, the riders head back down the start straight and begin another lap. So, there you have it. One lap around the San Diego SX track!