Yamaha Motor Canada Presents Wednesday Supercross Recap

Anaheim 1: January 7, 2017 | Race Report by Krystyn Slack

And just like that, the first race of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship series, is in the books. Anaheim 1 is one of the most anticipated races on the circuit, and not just because it’s the first race of the season. Whether riders line up to defend a championship or for redemption from a less than stellar previous season, everyone shows up with something to prove. This race also marked the introduction of timed races for Heats, Semis, LCQs, and Main Events. The 2017 season is going to be one of legendary proportions – a season that is likely to be talked about for years to come.

The 250SX class is missing a few riders that have moved up to the premier class, but there is a handful who have switched coasts from East to West or vice versa, leaving plenty of room for new names to make headlines, including the handful of rookies making their debut. With the two-time 250SX West Champion, Cooper Webb, moving up to the 450SX class, and the 2016 250SX East Champion, Malcolm Stewart, also moving up to the 450SX class – if he lands a ride – the door is now open for someone new to seize the opportunity and make a name for themselves in 2017. The movement and change in the 250SX class has surged the talent in the 450SX class, leaving it absolutely stacked in ways it hasn’t been in years, which is guaranteed to make for some epic battles moving forward.

GEICO Honda’s Jeremy Martin set the fastest qualifying time of the day in the 250SX class with a 1.02.925. A mere 2.01 seconds separated Martin, the top qualifier, from the tenth place qualifier Kyle Chisholm. And in the “Fast 40,” the top qualifier was separated from the 40th place qualifier by only 5.843 seconds. Claiming victory in the Heat Races the #30 of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Martin Davalos in Heat 1 and the #38 of Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM Shane McElrath in Heat 2.

When the gate dropped for the first Main Event of the season, we watched the 22 fastest 250SX riders battle it out in the 15 minute + one lap race. Included in those 22 riders were three Monster Energy Supercross rookies making their debut: the #24 of Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki Austin Forkner, qualifying in third, the #74 of Cycle Trader Rock River Yamaha Bradley Taft, qualifying in tenth, and the #179 of Jon Ames, qualifying in 21st . Making a Supercross Main Event is nothing shy of impressive for a first-timer, especially considering it’s something that even some long-time pro riders have yet to accomplish. Shane McElrath carried his speed from his Heat Race win directly to the main event, leading the entire 15 minute + one lap Main, resulting in his first ever career Supercross victory! Jeremy Martin ended up sixth on the evening, but look for him to make a statement in San Diego this weekend.

The fastest qualifier of the night in the 450SX class was the #25 of Red Bull KTM Marvin Musquin with a 1.02.011. In this particularly stacked and wicked fast class, only 1.338 seconds separated Musquin from tenth place qualifier Broc Tickle and only 6.9 seconds of separation between the fastest qualifier and the 40th fastestqualifier. The “talk of the town” in the 450SX class was, of course, the #94 of Team Honda HRC Ken Roczen. Kenny, who actually qualified in fifth with a 1.02.428, went on to a supercharged Heat Race win in Heat 2. The night continued to improve for Roczen when he grabbed the holeshot and never looked back in the 20 minute + one lap Main Event, setting the fastest lap time of the evening during Lap 4 with a 1.01.859. He took the checkers with a commanding 16.200 second lead over second place finisher Ryan Dungey. Roczen is nothing shy of comfortable and lightning-fast aboard his new steed and will be a force to be reckoned with this season, especially for the two-time reigning champion, Ryan Dungey.

Honorable mentions in the 450SX class include impressive Semi victories by the #12 of fill-in JGR Suzuki rider Jake Weimer in Semi 1, and the #20 of RCH Suzuki Factory Racing’s Broc Tickle in Semi 2. Although disappointed with his performance in his 450SX debut, two-time 250SX West Champion Cooper Webb still finished in an impressive tenth place on the evening. Webb is a fast learner with very high expectations of himself and will be looking for redemption when we #DropTheGate in San Diego this weekend.