2019 High Point Motocross | Race Preview

2019 HIGH POINT MOTOCROSS | COMPLETE COVERAGE

After three rounds of racing and a weekend off, the 2019 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship has begun its East Coast run with the 2019 High Point Motocross. The change in scenery that comes when one crosses the Mississippi River is a little startling and not to discredit Hangtown, Fox Raceway, or Thunder Valley in the slightest, but there’s something about High Point that makes one think, “Yeah, this is a proper outdoor national.” Getting to the track takes a little bit of time, as one must get through the windy back country roads without smashing head-on into traffic or driving through someone’s yard, and since cell reception is virtually non-existent, one needs to know their way in. All of that is made worthwhile the moment you come around a corner and see the campground and pit area that covers the rolling green hills of southern Pennsylvania.

High Point has held a spot on the series schedule for decades, but the course that racers face now is far different than what Hannah, Bailey, Bradshaw, Carmichael, and even Stewart spun their laps on. The Coombs family revamped the entire layout a few years ago and eliminated a few iconic elements of the course; some things needed to be redone for the modern era while other changes just jacked up the layout and made it far less interesting in our opinion. Well, another few weeks of dozer work by the track crew resulted in a new part of the track that goes through the woods. We’ve only seen riders hit the section on press day but can say for sure that it’s a welcome change and will make for much better racing come Saturday afternoon.

Due to a television slot, the schedule of events will be swapped at High Point, with the 450 class getting the earlier motos in the order. How will this impact the racing? Well, it’s a welcome thing for the premier class because the track conditions should be a little less hammered for their 30-minute plus two lap runs, but the younger riders in the class will have to traverse a more chewed up and rutted track later in the day than they are used to. This will be interesting to watch, especially since there have been some big swings in results through the recent weeks and we’ll get to see which riders are well-rounded.

Racers have been relatively lucky with the weather through the first part of the year and that should again be the case this weekend. The forecasted high for Saturday afternoon is in the high 70s, which is almost frigid compared to some of the sweltering hot races that High Point had in the past. Rain hit the area over recent weeks, but the skies were clear on Friday and will be again on Saturday, so there’s no real chance of a muddy moto. If there’s ever a time to see riders and motorcycles at their peak performance, it could be this weekend.

People often rave about the soft soil conditions of the East Coast, but that’s not exactly the case at High Point. The valley has its share of soft spots and the new elements of the track have been deeply tilled, which will make for plenty of rutted corners and technical lanes. The faces of certain jumps and the area of the track near the starting line, however, are rock solid and sort of resemble West Coast hardpack. There should be no need to run anything other than an intermediate terrain tire.

The aforementioned week off doesn’t seem like much on paper, but when you go through it, the time between gate drops has felt like a lifetime. For some riders, it was a much-needed chance to recover after a long Supercross season/last-minute outdoor testing/the first three rounds, while others used it as a chance to get more in-tune with their motorcycles and to prepare for the long run of rounds that they currently face. Did someone reveal the breakthrough for their bike setup or their physical health? Saturday will be our first chance to find that out.

Ken Roczen comes into the weekend in control of the point standings. This honor was once such a common thing for the two-time 450 MX championship, but after the last few years, it’s still somewhat of a feelgood story to type those words. The Team Honda HRC rider has won a few motos straight up and put together two very solid days at Hangtown and Thunder Valley for those overall victories, so there’s no question of his speed or comfort on the CRF450R. The issue now, though, is if he has a handle on the energy-draining illness that haunted him through the final portion of the Supercross season. How much longer will we have to wonder if Roczen is back to full health or if the summer series will take a toll on him? We should have a better idea after next week’s race in the swamps of Florida, where the weather should be hot and muggy. For now, Roczen must take advantage of Saturday’s prime weather and tack a few more points to his total. All said, the 94 could leave Hangtown with another successful day and we wouldn’t be surprised.

Eli Tomac’s first moto at Thunder Valley was not great, as goggle issues and mistakes on the bike dropped the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider down the order and pulled the championship lead out of his grasp. There is no sense of panic from the Tomac camp about this and really, why should there be? The two-time and defending 450 MX champion often has quick company in the early part of the season and he’ll trade wins with a roster of riders until the middle of July, when he has a knack for going on a hot streak. The only other rider to win 450 Motos this summer, Tomac could totally retake control with a great day at High Point and all would be right in his world again.

Zach Osborne has wasted no time proving his prowess on the 450. In just three races, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider has slotted himself into third overall in the series standings and has shown he has the pace to run with the “veterans” of the class. It sounds like Osborne is finally back to his full strength and speed on the 450, something that was obstructed by crashes and injuries around the start of the Supercross season, and we expect him to win a moto very, very soon.

The move back to the East Coast always seems to favor Marvin Musquin and the High Point layout looks like something the Red Bull KTM rider should have a handled on in no time. With the Hangtown crash now out of mind and another two years on the orange factory bike confirmed, everything is in place for Musquin. That rough outing at the opening round put Musquin in a sort of hole, so now’s the time for him to climb out and back into title contention.

Look, Jason Anderson’s riding through the first three rounds isn’t a surprise now. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider has proven he is a capable front-runner in the 450 class and that a place on the podium should be expected every time the 21 rolls into the gate. What’s more important than speed, in my opinion at least, is the fact that Anderson is having a lot of fun racing. Spending most of the past year on the sidelines has relit the fire in Anderson and he’s quick to crack jokes at the truck, talk with fans through the morning pit activities, and has that online video series with his close friends that shows he’s here for a good time. A win from him will come before the end of the summer.

Justin Barcia and Dean Ferris have represented Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing very well through the first three rounds and now it’s time for the two riders to put the blue bikes further up front. Barcia seems like he has gotten a handle on the wrist injury that came from Supercross crashes, while Ferris now has plenty of time on the YZ450F to his credit. We know that Barcia is good on the East Coast tracks, so we’re interested to see if Ferris can do the same.

Justin Bogle and Blake Baggett are two other teammates that are close together in the point standings. Bogle has been the better of the Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS/KTM riders (what was typed about Anderson having fun applies for Bogle, too) and it’s earned him an extension for the rest of the summer, even now with Benny Bloss back in action (High Point will be Bloss’ first race of 2019). Baggett, meanwhile, is one of those riders that could have benefitted from the break because he needed to get a handle on a hand-wrist injury he sustained in a crash at the second round. According to the team, it’s far less serious than his thumb was in 2017, but it’s not ideal for a rider that many had slated for race wins.

If you haven’t heard, shoulder injuries have taken two riders from the roster at High Point. Team Honda HRC’s Cole Seely is out for the rest of the summer due to a torn labrum and broken shoulder socket, while JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing’s Justin Hill is on a week-to-week basis after a crash of his own. It’s unlikely that Honda will hire a fill-in rider, but JGRMX has already got Kyle Chisholm confirmed for High Point and WW Ranch in Jacksonville.

Adam Cianciarulo continues to hold on to the top spot of the 250 series points, a place the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider claimed at the opening round. Cianciarulo’s strength has been in the second motos, and those three moto wins have netted him the three overall victories. Thunder Valley’s 250 Moto Two detour and controversy hasn’t shaken Cianciarulo and he’s on the right path to win the 250 MX title for the first time in his career (with a 450 contract either signed or on the table, it’s AC’s last chance to do so). All said, Cianciarulo is expected to be at the front at High Point.

All of those positive things we just typed about Cianciarulo have been the thorn in Justin Cooper’s side this summer. The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider is the only other person in the 250 class to win a moto so far, but his wins have all come in Moto One, and misfortune in the critical Moto Two have kept him from getting the first overall win of his career. Cooper was understandably upset with Cianciarulo and the officials following their decision to not penalize AC for his error, and that has been a big motivation in the days since the Colorado race. A podium finisher at High Point last year, Cooper knows how to get around the track and should be somewhere in the front on Saturday.

It’s go time for Dylan Ferrandis. The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider hasn’t been in the mix for race wins the way he and many expected this summer, but he’s determined to make up for the lost time in the next few weeks. High Point seems like somewhat of a European-style track, which could favor the Frenchman, and a look at the lap times shows he has the same pace as the front runners. Should Ferrandis get to the lead this weekend, there could be a third name added to the win list and maybe even some more tension in the 250 championship.

After stellar Supercross seasons, Chase Sexton and Colt Nichols were quiet through the first three rounds. Don’t let the lack of wins fool you though, because the two are tied at 94 points for fourth and fifth in the standings, respectively, and are eager to bust through to the next level. Sexton and the GEICO Honda team have worked tirelessly in recent weeks to improve the performance of the CRF250R and they’ve made even more progress, while Nichols is showing that he’s just as capable outdoors as he was indoors. Either could add to the podium excitement on any given weekend.

2019 HIGH POINT MOTOCROSS | 250 CLASS ENTRY LIST

23. Chase Sexton
26. Alex Martin
31. RJ Hampshire
32. Justin Cooper | The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider is currently second in the point standings.
34. Dylan Ferrandis | The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider is currently third in the point standings.
36. Michael Mosiman
38. Christian Craig
39. Colt Nichols
44. Cameron McAdoo | High Point marks the first race of McAdoo’s fill-in role with the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM team.
45. Brandon Hartranft
52. Jordan Bailey
55. Kyle Peters
59. Nick Gaines
61. Garrett Marchbanks
66. Mitchell Oldenburg | The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider returns to action after serious burns at the Las Vegas Supercross sidelined him for the early part of the summer.
73. Martin Davalos
77. Challen Tennant
83. Killian Auberson
91. Zack Williams
92. Adam Cianciarulo | With overall wins at Hangtown/Fox Raceway/Thunder Valley, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider leads the championship standings.
110. Yusuke Watanabe
112. Thomas Covington | The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider is racing despite an ongoing case of Epstein Barr, which is draining his energy levels.
129. Ryan Diezic
156. Jacob Hayes
161. Justin Thompson
162. Maxwell Sanford
164. Matthew Klann
168. Cale Kuchnicki
194. Jerry Robin
196. Hunter Lawrence
205. Wilson Todd | The Australian rider will continue his term as a fill-in rider with the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM team at High Point.
210. Jonathan Mayzak
212. Tyler McCoy
233. Derek Drake
247. Brock Papi
269. Dalton Dyer
291. Zane Merrett
301. Jordan Jarvis | The WMX rider will line up for her first Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship race through the new Amateur A Class rule.
303. Michael Hand
321. Bradley Lionnet
337. Vincent Luhovey
339. Bryan Bachman
340. Blake Taylor
346. Kevin Moranz
356. Daniel Lippman
407. Benjamin Nelko
425. Joshua Leininger
426. Kein Denzler
432. Salvatore Colangelo
451. Klay Prager
500. Ben Adamson
509. Alexander Nagy
514. Anthony Roth
554. Wade Brommel
573. Hunter Calle
622. Zac Maley
631. Brandon Dickson
668. Ryan Blanford
691. James Justice
719. Joshua Berchem
795. Aaron Leininger
818. James Barry
841. Jeff Walker
847. DJ Christie
870. Colton Camp
916. Jorge Rubalcava
923. Chris Moore
931. Stephen Vuckson
936. Ty Masterpool
964. Mitchell Goheen
993. Austin Wagner

MISSING FROM THE LIST

6. Jeremy Martin | GEICO Honda rider is still recovering from the vertebra burst fractures he suffered in the 2018 season; he is expected to return to competition in 2020.
12. Shane McElrath | | The Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM rider had a hard crash earlier in the week that left him “shaken up” and the team has allowed him the chance to sit out High Point to recover.
24. Austin Forkner | Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider will miss the entire summer with torn ligaments in his knee.
28. Jordon Smith | The Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM rider could no longer deal with the lingering tendonitis in his wrist from a crash in the Supercross season and will soon undergo surgery to correct the injury; Smith will miss the rest of the summer.
40. Sean Cantrell | Lingering wrist injuries will keep the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM rider from the opening rounds of the season.
64. Jimmy Decotis | Due to a recent restructure at the JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing team, Decotis will not be a part of the two-rider 250 team this summer.
67. Enzo Lopes | Due to a recent restructure at the JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing team, Lopes will not be a part of the two-rider 250 team this summer.
123. Mitchell Falk | A crash during practice at Hangtown left the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM rider with a broken collarbone that required surgery; he is out for an undetermined amount of time.

2019 HIGH POINT MOTOCROSS | 450 CLASS ENTRY LIST

1. Eli Tomac | The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider is currently second in the championship standings.
2. Cooper Webb
4. Blake Baggett
11. Kyle Chisholm | Joins JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing team on a week-to-week basis while Justin Hill deals with a shoulder injury.
14. Cole Seely
16. Zach Osborne | The Rockstar Energy Racing Husqvarna Factory Racing rider is currently third in the championship standings.
17. Joey Savatgy
19. Justin Bogle | After being initially hired by the Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS/KTM team as a fill-in rider for the 2019 Supercross season, Bogle has a spot on the squad for the rest of the year.
21. Jason Anderson
25. Marvin Musquin
29. Benny Bloss | A torn ACL in December kept Bloss from racing any of the Supercross season. The Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS/KTM rider will make his return to action at High Point.
41. Ben LaMay
43. Tyler Bowers
49. Henry Miller
51. Justin Barcia
56. Lorenzo Locurcio
60. Justin Starling
69. Jake Masterpool
80. Heath Harrison
90. Jeremy Hand
94. Ken Roczen
100. Dirco Van der Westhuizen
101. Fredrik Noren
103. Dean Ferris
119. Issac Teasdale
124. Robert Fitch
125. Luke Neese
152. Ryder Hanninen
207. Ronnie Demorest
222. Brandon Hugney
227. Cory Gilliam
243. Hunter Braun
254. Cody Briner
261. Landon Davis
263. Rece Campbell
265. Nick Fratz-Orr
270. Jacob Runkles
273. Noah Vislosky
279. Timothy Crosby
312. Chris Makuta
314. Tyler Stepek
324. James Cooper
351. Eric Grondahl
354. Matthew Toth
402. Samuel Greenawalt
437. Charles Bright
447. Deven Raper
463. Levi Kilbarger
468. Austin Walker
489. Ricci Randanella
493. Mason Price
499. Dawson Chesnut
504. Gregory Hutchinson
511. Charles Wernig
513. Aerian Weaver
524. Frank Peneno
553. Brent Rouse
566. Jacob Rose
577. Felix Lopez
591. Tanner Myers
595. Michael Kitzmiller
596. Carson Tickle
600. Connor Olson
609. Leo Demastry
612. Max Darling
624. Garrett Smith
637. Bobby Piazza
647. Matthew Hubert
664. Hunter Stempel
673. Landon Armbruster
700. Justin Weeks
718. Toshiki Tomita
724. Jason McConnell
727. Bradley Esper
731. Steve Roman
750. Gavin Chinn
763. James Henshaw
788. Josh Heintz
804. Cole Robbins
811. Christopher Williams
827. Blake Ovitt
829. Taylor VanBeek
878. Eric McKay
927. Jamal Porter
929. Taiki Koga
957. Jarrett Thompson

MISSING FROM THE LIST

7. Aaron Plessinger | A broken heel will sideline the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing rider through the opening part of the summer.
15. Dean Wilson | A shoulder injury from a crash at the Nashville Supercross will keep the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider sidelined through the opening part of the summer.
33. Josh Grant | A practice crash and injured leg at the end of the Supercross season has sidelined Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s original fill-in rider; there is no timetable for Grant’s return to action.
46. Justin Hill | JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing rider is on a “week-to-week” basis after suffering a recent shoulder injury.
54. Dylan Merriam | A hard crash at the 2019 Thunder Valley Motocross left the California privateer with a broken collarbone, fractured T1 vertebrae, fractured rib, bruised lung and pulled groin.