2019 Las Vegas Supercross | Kickstart

Dylan Ferrandis admitted his chance at the title was a longshot. The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider came into the weekend as one of the fastest riders of the 250 class, but knew that a freak sort of incident would have to happen to close the margin of points between he and Cianciarulo. With the title almost out of reach, Ferrandis went into the 250 Main Event determined to prove that he was the fastest person of the class that night, which he proved with a dominant lead that went from the drop of the gate to the checkered flag. Ferrandis credited his start of the race to intense testing with the team and explained there were recent changes to the motorcycle and his technique, all of which helped him claim the holeshot. Cianciarulo’s crash in the late stages of the race that dropped from third to twentieth swayed everything into Ferrandis’ favor. When it became clear that he had pulled off one of the most dramatic championship rides of recent memory and made lifelong dream come true, Ferrandis funneled all of his emotions through the YZ250F engine until it let go and screamed in excitement with his wife Nastasia, trainer David Vuillemin, and the rest of the Star Racing squad. The celebration continued at the podium, where Ferrandis’ friends from France sang their home country’s national anthem and guzzled the sparkling wine. During the post-race press conference Ferrandis made it clear that although championship means the world to him, his attention is already on a future in the 450 class. When on stage, Ferrandis explained that he would like to ride the big bike at select races next season and was ready to talk with Yamaha and Star Racing team to work out the details for the next chapter of his career. If you don’t have Ferrandis on your short list as a favorite for the 250 class this summer in the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, you have a few weeks to reconsider. During the last stretch of the SX season, when the title seemed out of reach, the team put much of their efforts into testing for the summer to the current YZ250F to be the best it has ever been and Ferrandis worked to have the physical strength, speed, and confidence necessary to run at the front.

Chase Sexton might be the most unlikely champion of 2019. In just his second year of Supercross, the nineteen-year old GEICO Honda rider managed to piece together consistent finishes and avoided the carnage that comes with racing. Sexton has become known for making big strides in a short period of time (he was a podium finisher in his rookie year and was often of the fastest riders of the entire field , 250 or 450, at some of this year’s races), but even he is surprised with the final outcome of the East Coast region. Sexton was solid in the 250 Main Event at Las Vegas. He got into a top-five position behind teammates Cameron McAdoo and RJ Hampshire and stayed clear of any trouble. With the second-fastest lap time of the race (a 1:01.457), he could have worked into a higher finishing position but decided against pushing it. Risk versus reward judgement like that is what got Sexton the title. That success came this soon is important for Sexton’s career. During the post-race press conference, it was pointed out that winning this championship and defending the honor in 2020 could push him into the 450 class by 2021, but in the pit area this was disputed due to the ever-changing eligibility rules of the 250 class. Luckily, he has a long-term contract with GEICO Honda, a team that has stuck behind riders who were faced a sudden move to the 450 class (think about what the team did with Wil Hahn, for example).

Cooper Webb’s comeback from the brink of failure to the top step of the podium is nothing short of incredible. The last time that motorcycles were at Sam Boyd Stadium, during las October’s Monster Energy Cup, Webb was just a few days into his deal with Red Bull KTM. The rider and team decided that there was no better way to learn about each other than in a race environment, but even then, it was clear that something was working with Webb and the 450 SX-F motorcycle. That weekend’s results were marred by a crash in the second race of the night, but it fueled the offseason and Webb came into the 2019 prepared for anything. Webb knew that if he got through Saturday night without much issue, the title was his. A win in the 450 Main Event wasn’t going to be necessary. A top-five finish wasn’t even a requirement. After a Heat Race battle with Tomac that showed Webb could run with and force the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider into a mistake, Webb backed down the intensity and stayed clear of any commotion in the 450 Main Event, yet still finished on the podium. Compared to the excitement of the track-side 250 celebrations, Webb’s time included a simple burnout and photo opportunities. The real party was at the Red Bull KTM trailer an hour after the race, when KTM’s Off-Road Vice President led a post-race celebration that included a massive bottle of vodka and repeat burnouts while fanning the clutch. Webb has finally claimed the spot at the top of the sport many expected him to hold since 2016. His old brash demeanor, but beneath the surface is the confidence that he gained from multiple 250 titles and Webb knows he’s back to being one of the best in the world. Could this be the first part of a new era?

It seems like the entire industry can feel the heartbreak of Adam Cianciarulo’s championship-shattering crash in the 250 Showdown. The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider had the first title of his pro career in sight until a small mistake in the closing laps spit him off the bike and destroyed the Renthal Twinwall handlebars (not a knock on Renthal, because force of the bike to rock-hard dirt would have mangled any metal). A trip to the work area did very little to repair the damage and Cianciarulo circled the track at a slow pace, just in case the same fate might have struck Ferrandis and shifted the points again, but a twentieth-place finish was all he could muster. Simply put, this is a damn shame for one of the most well-liked riders in the sport, because he said during Friday’s press conference that the title could have erased any of the issues he experienced early in his career. Not all is dark for the 92, though, because all signs point to Cianciarulo going to the 450 class with a factory ride (rumor is between Kawasaki and Honda, depending on who you talk to) and he has twelve rounds this summer to get another title.

Eli Tomac wanted to leave his mark on the 2019 Supercross season. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider’s four wins in the last eight races of the year was too little and too late to make up the points necessary but proved that on any given Saturday he can run a pace no one can match. That was the case in Las Vegas, as Tomac claimed the holeshot, was the only rider to log a 58-second lap time (58.868 seconds),and finished twelve seconds ahead of the competition. We’ve noticed a change in Tomac’s demeanor through the final part of the year, as he seemed to be less devastated when a win didn’t come. Could this be a new outlook that lowers the pressure and allows him to ride at his best? We’ll see if things stay this way over the summer.

Shout out to Tyler Bowers for his Supercross season. With access to Kawasaki’s practice track and factory-level parts on the KX45 but no financial support from the manufacturer or transportation assistance to the races, Bowers blurs the line of what it means to be a privateer. After illness and distractions admittedly impeded his performance on the track early in the year, Bowers bounced back in recent weeks, scored a season-best eighth place result in Las Vegas, and finished ranked twelfth overall in the championship. With the way the sport goes, expect some sort of fill-in ride to come to Bowers during the Nationals.

More improvement from Zach Osborne. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider has been on the rise in recent weeks and in Las Vegas, we had him picked for a podium finish. On press day Osborne was the only rider to uncork a tricky quad that was hidden in a long rhythm lane, and the way the track shaped up made it impossible to do on Saturday (If you want to see it for yourself, go to Osborne’s Instagram). Osborne showed speed in his Heat Race battle and win over Musquin, then logged a solid fifth place finish in the Main Event. With the Nationals next on the schedule, many expect Osborne to be a common sight in the top-five and a contender for a moto win.

Las Vegas was a big weekend for Ken Roczen. There was the hype of the limited-edition Zebra print gear from Fox Racing, with its nods to Rick Johnson and Damon Bradshaw and James Stewart, then the announcement of a three-year contract extension with Team Honda HRC (hit the homepage for an interview with Roczen about that deal), and finally a fourth place finish to end the Supercross season. Roczen is still struggling with a lack of energy and other health issues, something he traces back to the San Diego lime incident, and he will spend some time at Stanford undergoing medical tests to sort out what is wrong before the Nationals kick off.

Small issues in the final races of the year ended Marvin Musquin’s chance at the championship, but he ended the year with another second-place finish in Las Vegas and ranked third place overall in the series standings. Musuqin’s current contract with Red Bull KTM expires at the end of September, but as we posted back in Nashville, an extension has been offered to the rider. We’ve heard some speculate that Musquin wants to explore options from other OEMs, something we didn’t consider to be a possible scenario due to his relationship with the brand and Aldon Baker. During the post-race press conference he said that he still has not signed the deal but knows he has a place there by saying, “I’m working on it. I know I have a lot of support from Red Bull and KTM. It’s been ten years that I have been racing for KTM this year, so it’s very special. I have been really happy racing this year and all that, so I am looking forward to the future and to get a championship. It’s been ten years and I don’t see myself anywhere else. I have great support from the factory and everyone here in the US.”

Note the toes tucked under the brake pedal. Yeah, Justin Bogle is feeling it. The last few weeks have put the Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS/KTM rider back in the lead group and he’s clearly in sync with the KTM 450 SX-F. Right now the team only has a confirmed spot for Bogle through Colorado, because Benny Bloss is expected to return to action at High Point, but that could all change if the season starts well for the number 19 (he won a 450 moto in Colorado while at RCH in 2017). There are a number of riders going for limited team spots in 2020 and Bogle’s resurgence makes the contract conversations even more unpredictable.

It’s taken a little longer than some expected, but Blake Baggett is now a front-runner on any given weekend, indoors or outdoors. The Main Event win at the second round of the year was huge for the Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS/KTM rider, but Baggett’s ability to offset a few poor results with steady finishes was equally impressive to us and it helped him lock down fifth overall in the championship rankings. We’ve heard a lot of people online say that Baggett is either due for a factory ride or on his way out at Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS/KTM, but both things couldn’t be further from the truth. Last year Baggett signed a contract extension with the team that’ll run through 2021 and KTM makes sure the satellite team has the equipment and assets necessary to fight for race wins.

Did you tell all of your friends that Joey Savatgy was going to be the 450 Rookie of the Year during your preseason bench race sessions? The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider had an exciting first go at the premier class, complete with top qualifier honors and top-five finishes to hard crashes and missed races with injuries. A slam during the first timed qualifying session in Las Vegas left Savatgy with a massive hematoma on his thigh, an injury that was too much for him to overcome for the night show. Savatgy’s absence from the night show dropped him to eighth in the overall season standings (he and Cole Seely were in a close duel for seventh place in points), but this was a wise decision long-term, because it gave Savatgy a much-needed chance to recover nagging issues before the start of the summer.

Props to Ben LaMay for his 2019 season. LaMay started the season under the TPJ tent with Teddy Parks then jumped to SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts/Honda as a fill-in for Justin Brayton/Malcolm Stewart/Vince Friese when they were injured. LaMay has improved every year and 2019 was the best season of his career so far, thanks to three twelfth-place Main Event finishes and an eighteenth overall ranking in the championship.

Last week we heard news of layoffs at the JGRMX team, a topic that hit home for our staff. After a talk with Jeremy Albrecht on Friday for an interview that will go on site Tuesday, the decision was made to let five staff members go at the conclusion of the Supercross season and will not field Jimmy Decotis, Enzo Lopes, or Kyle Peters for the summer, which means that only Justin Hill and Alex Martin will be on the track come Hangtown. The team is working to secure a title sponsor as soon as possible and have confirmed that they will race the 2020 season as Suzuki’s factory effort in the US.

Alpinestars did it again. For the Las Vegas round, the boot company whipped up kicks with glued on glitter and brightly colored details (blue, green, orange) for their list of riders, something that the public won’t be able to get. Of all the Sin City themed gear and graphics each year, Alpinestars’ boots are always some of our favorite pieces because they are just flashy enough without being too cliché or “VEGAS BABY VEGAS!”

Justin Brayton really, really wanted to finish tenth overall in the 450 championship. It’s widely known that the contract structure of the SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts/Honda rewards riders that can accomplish the feat and that motivated Brayton to heal up from his knee injury and get back to the track for the final two rounds of the Supercross season. With Chad Reed and Justin Barcia MIA, Brayton just had to hold off Justin Hill for a spot in the top-ten and his eleventh-place finish in Las Vegas gave him the rank by just one point over Hill. Brayton will run the Hawaiian Supercross this coming weekend, then will spend the first part of the summer letting his knee heal more before a trip to Australia for his title defense of the country’s Supercross championship. For those of you trying to plot the pit area for 2020, Brayton has one more year left in his current contract at MCR.

Cameron McAdoo’s first-career podium finish could not have come at a better time. McAdoo’s stint as a fill-in rider with GEICO Honda was done at Las Vegas (he rode for the team in 2017 and 2018, was set to go to CTR Motorsports for 2019, then returned to GEICO Honda when Hunter Lawrence and Christian Craig were injured in December), and he has nothing lined up for the Nationals. A great start put McAdoo up front at the start of the race and he fended off teammates RJ Hampshire and Chase Sexton to finish third in the 250 East-West Showdown, and he had a hard time hiding the emotions on the podium. GEICO Honda said they will support McAdoo with a bike so that he can stay sharp in case another fill-in ride, with them or another team, comes his way.

For the first time in his 450 career, Malcolm Stewart has a deal signed for the next race season. The SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts/Honda team slid the deal in front of Stewart during Saturday’s autograph signing and he put pen to paper on the spot. This is a big, big relief for Stewart, a rider that many expected to finish on the podium at some point in 2019 until his season was cut short by a broken femur. The team feels that Stewart has the pace to be a front runner in the 450 class and if able to get through every round of the 2020 season without issue, could be a title contender. Check back for an interview with Mookie tomorrow.

When Jade Dungey posted a shot of his Las Vegas race bike build, our jaws hit the floor. GEICO Honda and D’COR Visuals certainly celebrated Chase Sexton’s status as East Coast series leader with a new graphic pattern laid over white and red plastics, all of which made the CRF250R stand out on the track. Yeah, it’s for sale to the public.

Cole Seely was impossible to miss in Las Vegas, thanks to the brightly colored SE Pro gear and SE4 helmet that Troy Lee Designs rolled out for Las Vegas. Seely’s one of the most discussed riders in need of a contract for 2020, but the Team Honda HRC rider isn’t letting all of the talk about him or his future play on his mind and is having fun with project like his Honda CRF450L dual sport bike and Circuit Spirit car drifting organization in Southern California. Seely busted out of a mid-season slump with four top-five finishes in five races, one of which was a sixth-place result in Las Vegas, and he snatched seventh overall in the points. Seely will spend the first part of the summer in California working with the team and will move to Florida to adapt to the humidity and track conditions of the East Coast rounds.

Bubba Pauli is making a name for himself in privateer circles and some money along the way. The Illinois racer hit every round of the 2019 season as the leader of the TXS Productions Supercross Race Team, made two 450 Main Events, and has a summer schedule that includes the upcoming Hawaiian Supercross, Midwest fair races, and the French and Spanish national Supercross championships. Pauli plans to follow the trail carved by journeyman pros like Tiger Lacey and Jason Thomas, who raced anywhere where they could get a reliable bike and paycheck.

A handful of companies can say that they were a big part of the championships. Alpinestars, 100%, and Dunlop products were used by Webb, Sexton, and Ferrandis, D’COR Visuals printed the number one plates for both 250 riders, Hinson Racing clutches were in the KTM and Honda bikes, and Bell lids were worn by both Ferrandis and Webb. This was the first time that 100% had swept all three championships in SX.

Factory parts you can buy. Works Connection’s Pro Launch start device was on the Team Honda HRC bikes in Las Vegas, a switch that came after a few issues with Honda’s house-made part. Remember when the first holeshot devices were used by Factory Yamaha in the early 2000s?

All signs were pointing up for Mitchell Oldenburg early in the day at Las Vegas. Fresh off a podium finish in New Jersey, the Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider was one of the top qualifiers in the 250 class and looked like he was going to end his season on a high note. Unfortunately, two crashes in the exact same spot of the whoops during the 250 East Coast Heat Race and 250 LCQ ended his chance of making the Main Event and left him with some burns from a hot header pipe. Oldenburg has been quick at the local outdoor tracks during preseason testing, so here’s hoping things turn around this summer for a rider with plenty of potential.

If there was a Most Improved Rider award from year to the next, Michael Mosiman would take the honor for the 2019 season. In 2018, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider was shaky at best when it came to Supercross, but this year he showed stellar speed and bike control and posted seven top-ten finishes over ten races. Widely viewed as a better outdoor rider, he could be a surprised to the 250 class this summer.

You can't hurt Chris Blose. The Gas Monkey Energy/AJE Motorsports rider had his share of slams in recent weeks, but the stocky Arizona native seemed to bounce back up no worse for the wear. It's a bummer that his breakout year had to end with another get-off in Las Vegas, but Blose had an incredible season on the 250 and 450 bikes and should be on the short list to a 250 team for 2020.

We fought the ninety-degree desert temps with a few of the PNG drinks Mike Sleeter slid our way on Saturday morning. The supplement company is new to the market but has already made in-roads with moto via sponsorship of the KTM JR SX Challenge and some privateer riders. The drinks are based around coconut water and offer a good source of electrolytes but are low in sugar. pinnaclenutritiongroup.com

We got a call on Saturday afternoon to come over to the Star Racing rig for a photo opportunity. We didn’t know that the shot was Jarrett Frye signing a deal that will carry him through the last part of his amateur career into the professional ranks. A recent addition to the Star Racing squad, Frye will run the B Class through Loretta Lynn’s, then jump to the A Class and get ready for a pro debut some time in 2020.

This is going to be an important summer for Garrett Marchbanks. The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider missed much of last year’s Nationals with a knee injury and he’ll have to learn most of the tracks on the schedule in a short period of time. Marchbanks has a helpful coach in former pro Ivan Tedesco, especially as Tedesco also serves as the team’s test rider. To his credit, Marchbanks qualified for every Main Event of the 250 West Coast region, a feat for any first-year racer.

Sights of final round. Thanks for reading Kickstart, now it's time for us to work on more content from Las Vegas. See you soon.