2019 Florida Motocross | Qualifying Report

2019 FLORIDA MOTOCROSS | COMPLETE COVERAGE

PHOTOS | Michael Lindsay

The first competitive element of the 2019 Florida Motocross has just wrapped up and the field is set for round five of the 2019 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. Riders took to the sandy circuit at Jacksonville’s WW Ranch for the two standard qualifying sessions on Saturday morning and almost instantly, it became evident how technical and taxing the 30-minute motos will be later today. The fastest laps typically come in the early moments of the first session usually come during the early moments of the first sessions, when the track is smooth, but that wasn’t exactly the case for both classes today.

Heat and humidity are expected to soar just before riders roll into the starting gate later this afternoon, with the heat index to feel like triple-digit temperatures. This will be something to watch for both in regards to both bikes and riders, and as much as we hate to say it, it’s highly unlikely everyone makes it to the checkered flag of the second moto without issue. But that’s all later on! Let’s look at the lap times from the morning…

2019 FLORIDA MOTOCROSS | 250 CLASS QUALIFYING REPORT

High Point was not a great weekend for Justin Cooper and the weekend in Pennsylvania was the first time we’ve seen the Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider have a “slump” in 2019. Cooper pinned it to an “off day” and said that he expected to bounce back without issue in Florida. Well, he wasn’t wrong and his 2:09.461 time in the first round of qualifying went unmatched for the rest of the morning.

Dylan Ferrandis has proven himself as one of the fastest riders in the 250 class, something evident in a look at lap times every weekend from each moto. The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider got his best lap, a 2:09.890, in during the first session and this put him second overall. That early pace helped ease his mind when issues finding a flow had him outside the top-20 for much of the second session. 

Adam Cianciarulo comes into the weekend with all of the momentum in his favor, a key thing for his “home race.” Like Cooper and Ferrandis, Cianciarulo logged his best time in the first session, a 2:10.314, and managed to run a pace just a few ticks off in the second outing. That’s an indicator that he should be quick when the track gets rougher and rougher.

Unlike the three riders just mentioned, Chase Sexton’s best lap came in the second qualifying session. The GEICO Honda rider’s 2:10.341 put him fourth overall on the scoreboard.

Martin Davalos has improved every weekend since Hangtown and that continued this morning in qualifying. Davalos kept his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki near the top of the board in both practices and his 2:10.532 put him fifth overall.

RJ Hampshire won the MX2 overall when the MXGP series visited WW Ranch in 2017 and the GEICO Honda rider was seventh on the scoresheet with a 2:11.122 time.

2019 FLORIDA MOTOCROSS | 450 CLASS QUALIFYING REPORT

Jason Anderson had a unique strategy for qualifying in Florida. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider found clear track early in the final session, put in an all-out effort for one lap, posted a 2:08.178, and pulled into the pit area to save his energy for the rest of the day. It worked out for Anderson because that time was the fastest of the entire field, including the 250 class.

A lot of attention and expectations have been directed Ken Roczen’s way this weekend, but none of it seems to faze the incoming championship co-leader. The Team Honda HRC rider set the bar in the first qualifying session with a 2:08.910 lap time, a pace that was bested only by Anderson. 

Eli Tomac is the other champion co-leader, and if qualifying is any indication, then expect the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider to continue his duel with Roczen for sole ownership of the red number plate. Tomac put in a 2:09.237 time in the final practice session, a lap that put him third in the standings. It’s worth noting that Tomac won a moto when the MXGP series visited the track in 2017; sure, the layout this weekend is completely different than what it was then, but that’s an accomplishment no one else in the 450 class has.

Zach Osborne’s excellent rookie season continues and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider was again in the top group during the morning session. With a 2:10.307 time, Osborne was fourth overall.

Sand and big jumps are Justin Barcia’s forte, so it should come as no surprise that the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing rider logged a quick, wild lap in qualifying. Barcia has been hampered by injuries through the first part of the year, but it looks like he’s almost clear of the concerns and a 2:10.571 put him fifth overall.