2021 Atlanta One Supercross | Race Preview

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2021 ATLANTA ONE SUPERCROSS | COMPLETE COVERAGE

It’s great to be back at the track. The 2021 Monster Energy Supercross Series has set up shop on the infield at the Atlanta Motor Speedway for the last Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday rotation for rounds thirteen-fourteen-fifteen. We’ve said it repeatedly this season and meant it every time: this will be a monumental week for every rider on the starting line. The end of the long tour is coming into sight, but there are still five rounds to be run and a small number of points between the title contenders in the 250 West Coast Region and 450 Class, so riders will have to avoid any adverse or stressful situation in the next few days. You know, like a potential rain race at the biggest track in modern Supercross history.

THE COMPETITION

We know one thing for sure coming into ATL: the focus of the 450 Class is the two-man title fight between Cooper Webb and Ken Roczen. They’ve found each other repeatedly this season, almost always at the front of the pack, and their flawless riding has put them on the podium more often than not. As we mentioned in Kickstart last week, wins have been the key to Webb’s success, while Roczen has relied on consistency, and it’s interesting to watch their individual strategies be put to the test on the track.

We are eager to see how they come back from the extended break. Thoughts of the championship most definitely crossed their minds a few times over the three weeks, of course, but both riders will have different takeaways from the time off. Webb has the confidence of four wins in five races, with three of them happening in a row at Arlington. Roczen had time to disconnect and prepare for the weeks ahead, physically and mentally.

Of course, there’s the Tomac factor that must be kept in mind. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider will almost certainly lose the number one plate when it’s all over, but this long and flowing track is expected to suit his riding style. Can his finishes shake up the points?

The 250 West Coast Region is a three-way duel between Cooper, McAdoo, and Lawrence. All three have held the red plate at one point in time through the last few weeks, and the final Arlington round put it back on Cooper’s Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha. A good finish on Saturday would set the bar for the rest of the time in the South.

THE TRACK

Yes, this is the biggest track in the history of modern SX. Per Feld, this layout required three times more dirt than a stadium course. The infield location is the only thing that really compares to Daytona; the construction of the jumps seems to be in line with the standard riders are used to, not the awkward or oddly spaced obstacles that the Florida race is known for. It’s a heck of a sight, and we’re hoping that it races as good as it looks.

The threat of storms has hung over the entire weekend, and the current forecasts call for rain to roll through right when the gate drops in the afternoon. Feld kept the course covered on Friday and canceled the press day riding session, but we did get a chance to walk on it during the afternoon. The red clay is pretty dry, as it looks like they held off on over-watering out of precaution.

2021 ATLANTA ONE SUPERCROSS
250 WEST COAST REGION
PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST

31. Cameron McAdoo

32. Justin Cooper | The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider leads the West Coast region championship.

33. Derek Drake | After missing the first part of the year due to a broken femur, the BARX/Chaparral/ECSTAR/Suzuki rider will start his season in Atlanta.

35. Mitchell Harrison

39. Carson Mumford

41. Hunter Lawrence

45. Pierce Brown | The Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing rider returns to action after missing multiple races due to a hand and thumb injury. 

47. Jalek Swoll

48. Garrett Marchbanks

50. Enzo Lopes

54. Nick Gaines

56. Kyle Peters

59. Jarrett Frye

60. Chris Blose

67. Stilez Robertson | The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider missed multiple races in Arlington due to a foot injury, but is on the entry list for Atlanta One.

68. Jace Owen | The CLUBMX rider has a completely torn ACL in his knee, but plans to complete the season. 

69. Robbie Wageman

72. Coty Schock

73. Derek Kelley

75. Ty Masterpool

77. Jerry Robin

90. Dilan Schwartz | The BARX/Chaparral/ECSTAR/Suzuki rider sat out the Texas events, but will return to action in Atlanta.

91. Nate Thrasher

92. Chase Marquier

93. Hardy Munoz

118. Cheyenne Harmon

119. Logan Boye

120. Todd Bannister

121. Chris Howell

137. Sean Cantrell | The BARX Motorsports/Chaparral/ECSTAR/Suzuki rider will return to action in Atlanta; he missed much of the season due to a broken collarbone at the opening round.

138. David Pulley

150. Seth Hammaker

155. Nathan Augustin

157. Hunter Calle

158. Tre Fierro

163. Camron Mitchell

201. Cedric Soubeyras

204. Kyle Greeson

220. Ramyller Alves

242. Garrett Hoffman

246. Chance Blackburn

247. Brock Papi

264. Ryan Sipes

281. Cory Carsten

321. Bradley Lionnet

357. Kameron Barboa

371. Dawson Ryker

412. Jared Lesher

434. Dustin Winter

446. Blaine Silveira

460. Michael Hicks

464. Dominique Thury

538. Addison Emory

645. Colby Copp

726. Gared Steinke

767. Mason Wharton

951. Ryan Surratt

MISSING FROM THE LIST

6. Jeremy Martin | The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider is absent from the lineup after dislocating his shoulder at the opening round. Martin is already back on the bike, but will sit out the rest of SX in order to prep for the summer’s Nationals.

26. Alex Martin | The Manluk/Rock River Yamaha/Merge Racing rider will miss the first Atlanta race due to a wrist injury.

53. Jake Masterpool | The Supercross rookie will sit out Atlanta One after a number of crashes took a toll on his body.

61. Joey Crown | The CLUBMX rider will miss an undetermined amount of time due to a concussion he suffered at Daytona. He is back on the bike, but will not return for Supercross this season. Crown aims to return for the summer’s Nationals.

63. Martin Castelo | The JMC Motorsports Husqvarna rider is dealing with an ongoing issue in his hand (fractured bone, ligament damage) that will require surgery. After a crash at Daytona, Castelo has decided to sit out Arlington.

65. Carson Brown | The JMC Motorsports Husqvarna rider will miss upcoming rounds of the Supercross series due to a dislocated elbow at the opening round. Brown intends to return for the final portion of the West Coast region.

66. Jordan Bailey | The Florida racer will sit out the remainder of the Supercross season due to a crash and shoulder injury at Arlington Two.

80. Jordon Smith | The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider will sit out the remainder of the Supercross season due to a crash and shoulder injury at Arlington Three.

142. Dakota Alix | The PRMX Racing rider will miss an undetermined amount of races due to a recent back injury.

182. Izaih Clark | The TiLube Honda rider had a hard crash in Timed Qualifying at Arlington One, was absent from the rest of the races in Texas, and will not race Atlanta.

259. Corbin Hayes | The TPJ rider tore a ligament in his thumb during the Arlington races and is missing from the entry list for the Atlanta race.

300. Casey Keast | The Canadian privateer was the victim of a serious car crash after Arlington; although he was uninjured, his motorcycles were destroyed.

483. Bryton Carroll | The Northeast racer will broke his sternum, ribs, and foot in a crash at the Daytona Supercross. He will miss an undetermined amount of time.

711. Tristan Lane | The Florida privateer suffered an AC joint separation and concussion at the opening round, injuries that will sideline him for an undetermined amount of time.

815. Colton Eigenmann | The Florida racer tore his ACL and meniscus during the Arlington races and will sit out the rest of the Supercross season.

837. Bryson Gardner | The Team BWR rider will miss an uncertain number of races due to compression fractures of his L2 vertebra and a fracture of the pelvis.

2021 ATLANTA ONE SUPERCROSS
450 CLASS
PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST

1. Eli Tomac

2. Cooper Webb | The Red Bull KTM rider leads the 450 Class championship.

7. Aaron Plessinger

11. Kyle Chisholm

14. Dylan Ferrandis

15. Dean Wilson

17. Joey Savatgy

19. Justin Bogle | The Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS/KTM had a hard crash at Arlington Three, but will line up at the Atlanta races.

20. Broc Tickle

21. Jason Anderson

23. Chase Sexton

25. Marvin Musquin

27. Malcolm Stewart

28. Brandon Hartranft

34. Max Anstie

36. Martin Davalos

37. Benny Bloss | The Smartop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts/Honda rider will return to action after missing multiple races with a foot injury.

40. Vince Friese

43. Fredrik Noren | The privateer suffered a compound fracture to his finger at Arlington One and missed the remaining races in Texas, but will be back in Atlanta.

44. Tyler Bowers

49. Mitchell Oldenburg | With Brayton sidelined, Muc-Off Honda has brought Oldenburg back to the 450 Class.

51. Justin Barcia

57. Justin Rodbell | The SGB Racing/Babbitts Online/Kawasaki rider missed much of the year with a knee injury, but is on the entry list for Atlanta One.

70. Henry Miller

81. Justin Starling

83. Alex Ray

84. Josh Hill | The do-it-all rider will line up for three rounds of Supercross with support from Monster Energy, Mountain Motorsports, Fox Racing, and other sponsors.

85. Kevin Moranz

87. Curren Thurman

88. Logan Karnow

94. Ken Roczen

100. Dirco van der Westhuizen

114. Nick Schmidt

125. Luke Neese

184. Scott Champion

185. Wilson Fleming

280. Cade Clason

282. Theodore Pauli

309. Jeremy Smith

330. AJ Catanzaro

421. Vann Martin

441. Scott Meshey

447. Deven Raper

501. Scotty Wennerstrom

512. Austin Cozzad

519. Josh Cartwright

597. Mason Kerr

606. Ronnie Stewart

637. Bobby Piazza

722. Adam Enticknap | The Twisted Tea/HEP Motorsports/Suzuki rider will return to action in Atlanta after missing multiple races due to a broken collarbone.

848. Joan Cros

976. Josh Greco

MISSING FROM THE LIST

4. Blake Baggett | A contract dispute with Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS/KTM and recent surgery have put Baggett’s career on pause for the time being.

9. Adam Cianciarulo | The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider will miss the remainder of the Supercross season due to a broken collarbone. He will return for the summer’s Nationals.

10. Justin Brayton | The Muc-Off Honda rider injured his hand in a Heat Race crash at Arlington Two and will miss an undetermined amount of time.

12. Shane McElrath | The SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts/Honda rider is dealing with pain in his back, something similar to the issues he faced in 2019, and will sit out Atlanta One.

16. Zach Osborne | The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider has a bulging disc in his lower back and will miss Atlanta.

76. Grant Harlan | The TiLube Honda rider suffered a small brain bleed, broken elbow, and broken wrist in a crash at Daytona. He has been released from the hospital and will miss an undetermined amount of time.

99. Hunter Sayles | The Illinois privateer tore his ACL and partial tore his LCL when he cased a jump at Arlington One. He will undergo surgery and sit out the rest of the season. 

141. Richard Taylor | The California privateer tore his ACL and sprained his MCL in a practice crash, which will sideline him for the rest of Supercross.

216. Devin Harriman | The Washington racer is dealing with an assortment of hand and elbow injuries.

805. Carlen Gardner | The Team BWR rider suffered an arm injury in the LCQ at Arlington One and will sit out an undetermined amount of time. 

824. Carter Stephenson | The privateer will miss the rest of the season due to a broken wrist, fractured sternum, and two broken ribs.

952. Ludovic Macler | The French rider has finished his time limited time racing in the US with Team PRMX.

974. Brian Marty | The privateer suffered a separated AC joint, broken elbow, and broken rib in a practice crash and will undergo surgery to correct the damage. He hopes to be back later in the season.

981. Austin Politelli | The HRT-backed privateer has been dealing with lingering symptoms from a concussion and another hard crash at Daytona has put him on the sidelines for Atlanta.