2020 Salt Lake City Three Supercross | Race Preview

2020 SALT LAKE CITY THREE SUPERCROSS | COMPLETE COVERAGE

All ready for our second Sunday at the races? We’re hours away from the 2020 Salt Lake City Three Supercross, round thirteen of the 2020 Monster Energy Supercross Series, and it’s shaping up to be much different than the other gate drops in Utah. Yes, it’s another Sunday afternoon special, but forecasts for cool temperatures mean it will be far less physically taxing than last week’s near triple-digit heat. Unfortunately, the change in weather means rain is almost certain and everyone in the paddock is coming up with their strategies to survive a possible mud race. 

With two races to look at and analyze, we’re getting an idea of how are riders handling the return to action, the altitude, and the rushed schedule. Some have faired much better than others, which shows in the results sheets and championship standings. Do things continue in the same way or will the weather cause a change in the running order?

250 EAST COAST REGION | ALL TIED UP

The outcome of Sunday’s 250 Main Event will have a tremendous impact on Chase Sexton and Shane McElrath. Defending champion Sexton entered the Utah program at the top of the standings and with more Main Event wins to his credit, but McElrath eliminated the difference in points with back-to-back Main Event wins in the last week. Add in the early crash and fourth-place finish by Sexton at the SLC Two SX and now the two are tied for first place with 140 points each. The outcome of this race will be huge, because the rider that comes out ahead will enter the short break with confidence knowing they some sort of advantage entering the final two races.

Does McElrath go three for three? The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider has been dominant in SLC, as he’s been the top qualifier, won his Heat Races, and claimed both feature races. His YZ250F is clearly good on power at altitude and he excels on the hard-pack soil, so things are certainly in his favor. With the most laps led and most Main Event wins on the East Coast, it’s hard not to pin him as the top rider of the region. Having teammate Colt Nichols back on the track certainly can be a help, because Nichols is quick enough to get a podium or get between the two title contenders in the results.

Sexton needs to finish ahead of McElrath. Doesn’t matter if it’s for 17th place and McElrath is 18th; the single point difference would keep the GEICO Honda rider at the top of the chart. It’s not like Sexton has been bad in Utah, because he’s shown that he can run McElrath’s speed in qualifying and has won his Heat Races, but to lose the lead like this puts him in a position he’s never been in. Remember, Sexton outlasted Forkner to win the 2019 title and was the most consistent rider through the first part of the season. He’ll need to unleash some raw speed or hope for a poor showing by McElrath to swing things his way.

LAST “EAST COAST” ROUND

While we’re on the topic of the 250 East Coast region, this is the last race before more than a week off. An eternity, we know. But seriously, riders throughout the running order will need to get a good result today because they’re running out of chances to make a mark in the point standings and to make some money. Garrett Marchbanks and Colt Nichols have it in them to end the day on the podium while rookies Jalek Swoll, Pierce Brown, and Jo Shimoda could have a breakthrough performance that shows they are fast and able to stay upright for the full 15-minute plus one lap moto. Go even deeper into the entry list and you start to wonder what guys like Kyle Peters, Josh Osby, Jace Owen, Chris Blose, John Short and Lorenzo Locurcio could do in the mud (more the track below). Keep an eye on everyone in the Main Event, because this should be good from first to last.

450 CLASS | ELI IS ON A ROLL

No, he didn’t win both 450 Main Events, but yes he proved that he has what it takes to rip through the pack and post the fastest laps of anyone on the track. With one win and a third-place result, Eli Tomac has added to his lead over Ken Roczen and Cooper Webb in the championship standings and is inching closer to his first career 450 SX title. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider has lived up to the expectations everyone had for him in the elevation as well as on the dry, slick dirt, and he’s made very few mistakes. So as we wait for round thirteen to begin, we have to wonder if Tomac will be able to avoid the same issues that have plagued him in the past to bring it home. He’s certainly the favorite for the title right now, because he’s shown consistency, steered clear of any serious mistakes, and by all indications figured out how to stay mentally strong. Tomac could be excellent in a mud race today or he could cook his bike if things get really challenging. 

WEBB RACING TO WIN

Haven’t you learned not to count Cooper Webb out yet? If his podium finish over Tomac at Atlanta, a week after that body jarring crash, didn’t remind you that the Red Bull KTM rider will grit it out to get the checkered flag, then Wednesday night’s 450 Main Event should have. Although there’s a large 29-point difference between Tomac and Webb in the standings, the defending champion is still looking at this as his title to win and he’s going to do whatever it takes to keep the number one plate on his bike. He showed raced Tomac close and aggressively at SLC One for a second-place finish and days later dove over on ET and KR at the start of SLC Two’s Main Event, ran in the lead group for the full duration of the race, and passed Zach Osborne in the closing stages to get the win. Webb knows that he can rattle Tomac, something he’s tried to do by getting in close to Tomac during practice and with race passes that are clean but leave little room between them. These tactics are what won Webb so many 250 Class races and apparently, it works in the 450 Class, too.

ROCZEN’S RESPIRATORY ISSUES

Many expected Ken Roczen to do great in Utah, including us. That’s not to say that the Team Honda HRC rider has been bad, but it hasn’t been a battle for race wins like we all figured he and Tomac would have. Roczen has some experience at altitude, his riding style works well on dry-slick (remember the German practice track he grew up riding), and he has the bike setup to his liking. So what’s been the problem? Turns out Roczen got very sick late last year and that led to him developing asthma, a serious problem when he’s at elevation. Roczen explained that his fade on Wednesday was because he was short of breath, an issue that he’s actively working to correct but there’s no clear fix in sight. Will this be a burden he has to carry through the last few races or can a good finish at a muddy race give Roczen the boost he needs?

OTHER RIDERS DEALING WITH ALTITUDE ISSUES

This is proving to be a bigger problem than we anticipated. The heat and first experience with elevation at SLC One took a toll on guys in both classes of all levels, including Justin Barcia, Vince Friese, Tyler Bowers, and Ryan Breece. This group has the most on the line (Barcia needs to finish the season in the top-three of the championship to earn a contract extension with Yamaha, good finishes net Friese bonus money, Bowers and Breece rely heavy on their purse and sponsor money) and they’ve been hampered by it the most. Barcia, Friese, and Bowers seemed to have a better handle on their problems by race two, while Breece took precautions to avoid draining himself in practice and the Heat Race. 

THE TRACK & THE WEATHER

We’ve heard for days that this could be a mud race and yep, it’s shaping up to be a wet one. Heavy rain on Saturday evening soaked the track, which Dirt Wurx had covered up shortly after the build was complete, but it’s been enough to force the race officials to alter the day’s schedule. Instead of one Free Practice and two Timed Qualifying sessions, riders will have a single 10-minute Timed Qualifying session to learn the layout and log a fast lap for gate pick in the Heat Races. Considering every rider on the entry list is confirmed a spot on the gate in the race, qualifying won’t be as important as it’s been in the past, because guys (especially privateers) will need to salvage their bikes for the day’s race. 

The sky was clear this morning, but another storm is moving in from the West as we type this and is supposed to hit the track through the afternoon. Honestly, it might be in everyone’s best interest to have it rain all day because this Utah dirt could become a bike destroyer if it starts to dry out and get heavy during the races. The track is still covered, so we have yet to see how wet it really is, but either way, it’ll be important for riders to keep their bikes running and going forward during the race. Now is not the time to DNF.

2020 SALT LAKE CITY THREE SUPERCROSS | 250 EAST COAST CLASS PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST

1E. Chase Sexton | The GEICO Honda rider is tied with Shane McElrath for the championship lead and will have the red plate at this race.
12. Shane McElrath | The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider is tied with Chase Sexton for the championship lead and will have the red plate at this race.
13. Colt Nichols | The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider is back in action after a shoulder injury caused him to miss the first part of the season.
36. Garrett Marchbanks
38. Kyle Peters
39. Jordan Bailey
43. John Short
47. Lorenzo Locurcio
49. Chris Blose | The FXR/Chaparral/Honda rider will return in the 250 East Coast region after recovering arm/hip/internal injuries he sustained in a crash at the Glendale Supercross.
56. Justin Starling | After beginning the season with FXR/Chaparral/Honda, Starling has joined the Gas Monkey Energy/AJE Motorsports team for the rest of 2020 and all of 2021.
59. Josh Osby
66. Enzo Lopes | The CLUB MX rider dislocated his shoulder at the Salt Lake City Two Supercross and left the track with his arm in a sling, but aims to ride on Sunday.
67. Jerry Robin | After beginning the season with FXR/Chaparral/Honda, Robin will complete the 2020 SX season aboard a privateer Husqvarna.
68. Nick Gaines | The 3D Racing rider hurt his shoulder at Salt Lake City One and sat out Salt Lake City Two, but is hopeful to race on Sunday at Salt Lake City Three.
73. Chase Marquier
75. Coty Schock | The FXR/Chaparral/Honda rider will start his Supercross season in Salt Lake City; this will be his first race.
77. Kevin Moranz
84. Jo Shimoda
124. Lane Shaw
125. Luke Neese
128. Carter Halpain
157. Darian Sanayei
159. Jace Owen
160. Vincent Murphy
162. Max Sanford
163. Pierce Brown
185. Wilson Fleming
208. Logan Leitzel
248. Travis Delnicki
258. Justin Rodbell
332. Dustin Winter
352. Jalek Swoll
357. Kameron Barboa
364. Chad Saultz
367. Hunter Sayles
675. Kyle Dillin
981. Curren Thurman

OUT WITH INJURIES OR OTHER ISSUES

6. Jeremy Martin | The GEICO Honda team and rider have decided to sit out the remaining rounds of Supercross so that Martin can maintain eligibility in the 250 Class for 2021. 

24. RJ Hampshire | The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider has decided to sit out the remainder of the Supercross season after having surgery during the break to repair the damaged ligaments in his knee.

53. Jimmy Decotis | The JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing rider recently announced he will take a break from racing to get a better handle on his health and continued battle with Lyme Disease.

54. Jordon Smith | The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider torn ligaments in his knee at the Daytona Supercross, underwent surgery to repair the damage and will miss the remainder of the season.

79. Isaac Teasdale | The JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing rider will miss the Utah races due to a torn MCL.

104. Brian Moreau | The Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM rider suffered a spinal injury during a practice crash at professional Supercross debut in Tampa. We will share updates about his recovery as we receive them.

175. Josh Hill | The ClubMX rider will miss the Utah races due to a recent hip dislocation from a practice crash.

194. Lance Kobusch | Despite scoring points in the championship, the Missouri racer did not make the trip to Utah for the final races of the season. He is back on the bike after missing time due to a collarbone injury.

197. Dillon Cloyed | After racing the first two races in Utah, the privateer has returned to work in Nebraska. 

201. Cedric Soubeyras | Despite scoring points in the championship, the French rider was unable to make the trip back to the United States for the final races of the season.

355. Joey Crown | The Club MX/ATVs & More/FXR rider is sidelined due to continued issues from a concussion suffered at the Atlanta Supercross.

349. Grant Harlan | The TiLube/Storm Lake Honda rider hurt his wrist during qualifying at the Salt Lake City Two Supercross and will sit out the next few rounds to heal up. 

725. Richard Jackson | Despite scoring points in the championship, the Oklahoma racer did not make the trip to Utah for the final races of the season.