2021 Indianapolis Two Supercross | Race Preview

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2021 INDIANAPOLIS TWO SUPERCROSS | COMPLETE COVERAGE

Super Tuesday. We’re back inside Lucas Oil Stadium for the 2021 Indianapolis Two Supercross, round five of the 2021 Monster Energy Supercross Series. Today will be a crucial time for riders in the championship chase, as a few have already established themselves as the favorites for the titles while others need to score a big result to stay in contention. Saturday was a challenge for everyone on the starting gate due to the track design and dirt conditions, and it was remarkable to see battles happening from the front to the back of the pack.

We’ve got a lot going on today, so let’s dive in.

THE COMPETITION

Like we said in the intro, today is a “must deliver” situation for some on the entry list. In the 450 Class, we’ve seen Ken Roczen, Cooper Webb, and Eli Tomac finish on the podium in the last few rounds, finishes that have earned them ever-important points and allowed them to inch closer toward the championship, while Colt Nichols has seized control of the 250 East Coast region with back-to-back wins.

We’re still early in the years, and anything can happen, but if guys like Adam Cianciarulo, Justin Barcia, or even Zach Osborne want to mount a late-season charge, they must finish in the top-three today and remind Roczen-Webb-Tomac that they’re not going away. Christian Craig and Jett Lawrence are in a similar position, if not a more serious position, because they only have a handful of races left in the East Coast region (Indy Three, Orlando One, Salt Lake City One, and the East-West Showdown at the finale). Both could cut into Nichols’ point lead with a win and regain some much-needed confidence.

Every rider we’ve talked to this year has said how important a start is, and a look at the lap times backs that up. A poor position in the opening laps allows the lead group to break away, and with little separation in the pack, it’s very difficult to make up the time.

Bikes haven’t even hit the track yet, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see another rotation of riders on the podium when things are over tonight. Let’s hope.

THE TRACK

Even though the Saturday-Tuesday timeframe is limited, the Dirt Wurx crew has created an all-new course for the second race. Saturday’s, uh, “creative” start on led to some issues, but that won’t be a problem today, thanks to a sweeping left-hand first turn that dumps into a rhythm lane that runs the length of the stadium. This lane of the track is the longest in the layout and will allow riders to try differing lines and jump combinations. Is there a big hit hidden that only a few guys will be brave enough to try in this section, or will it be faster to hop over the jumps and bounce off the tabletops?

The other lanes are shorter and are filled with triple jumps, walls, a smaller rhythm, and a whoop pad, making maintaining a flow all the way around the track a tough task.

How will dirt break down compared to the other night? It’s been a mild winter in the Midwest, so the dirt wasn’t as water-logged as we’ve come to expect of Indy, and it’s had even more time to dry out, but we expect some deep ruts in the corners-transitions-jump faces to develop due to the current race durations in the Main Events.

2021 INDIANAPOLIS TWO SUPERCROSS
250 EAST COAST REGION
PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST

18. Jett Lawrence

29. Christian Craig

30. Jo Shimoda

42. Michael Mosiman

49. Mitchell Oldenburg

55. John Short

64. Colt Nichols | The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider is the 250 East Coast Region’s current championship leader.

76. Grant Harlan

85. Kevin Moranz

87. Curren Thurman

88. Logan Karnow

95. Josh Osby

99. Hunter Sayles

122. Jeremy Hand

124. Lane Shaw

125. Luke Neese

162. Max Sanford

170. Devin Simonson

185. Wilson Fleming

193. Hunter Schlosser

216. Devin Harriman

241. Joshua Varize

364. Chad Saultz

384. Lorenzo Camporese

414. Mason Morris

437. Vincent Lohovey

441. Scott Meshey

509. Alex Nagy

512. Austin Cozadd

551. Guillaume St-Cyr

597. Mason Kerr

604. Max Miller

625. Jonah Geistler

637. Bobby Piazza

675. Kyle Dillin

693. Rene Garcia

773. Thomas Do

MISSING FROM THE LIST

24. RJ Hampshire | The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider is hurting. His finger was smashed during a run-in with Christian Craig at round one, road rash was left on his torso from an incident with Austin Forkner at round two, and a crash in Free Practice at round three left him with a significant wrist injury, including a perilunate dislocation, chipped ulna bone, and broken metacarpal. He will be out for an extended period of time.

38. Austin Forkner | The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider will be absent after a collarbone injury at Houston Three. He had surgery to have fracture plated and the team will have a full update soon, but expect him to race before the end of the season.

50. Enzo Lopes | The Phoenix Honda rider is sidelined for the foreseeable future due to shoulder and wrist injuries he suffered during a Timed Qualifying crash at the opening round. 

115. Max Vohland | The Red Bull KTM rider will miss the remaining Indianapolis races, if not longer, after dislocating his hip in a practice crash on Saturday.

116. TJ Albright | The New York privateer privateer will sit out the next few races due to a crash and injury during practice at Indianapolis One.

134. Jess Pettis | The Red Bull KTM Canada tweaked his knee during Timed Practice at the opening round. After a further medical evaluation, Pettis and KTM have decided to sit out the rest of the Supercross season.

151. Carter Gordon | The Illinois privateer will sit out Indianapolis Two due to a shoulder injury; he is hopeful to race Indianapolis Three.

160. Vincent Murphy | The New York privateer will be missing from the Indianapolis races due to the start of his spring semester at school. 

260. Dylan Woodcock | The British privateer suffered a broken back in a crash at Houston Three. After a short period of numbness in his leg, Woodcock is back on his feet and has taken steps in the hospital.

914. Geran Stapleton | The Australian racer has been sidelined with four broken ribs and three compression fractures of the vertebra after a Houston Two crash.

2021 INDIANAPOLIS TWO SUPERCROSS
450 CLASS
PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST

1. Eli Tomac

2. Cooper Webb

7. Aaron Plessinger

9. Adam Cianciarulo

10. Justin Brayton

11. Kyle Chisholm

14. Dylan Ferrandis

16. Zach Osborne

17. Joey Savatgy

19. Justin Bogle

20. Broc Tickle

21. Jason Anderson

25. Marvin Musquin

27. Malcolm Stewart

28. Brandon Hartranft

36. Martin Davalos

37. Benny Bloss

40. Vince Friese | The Smartop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts/Honda rider had a hard slam at Houston Three and tended to by medics for pain in his hip, but raced that night, then crashed hard again at Indianapolis One. He’ll be on the line at Indianapolis Two.

43. Fredrik Noren

51. Justin Barcia

57. Justin Rodbell

81. Justin Starling

83. Alex Ray | The SGB/Maxxis/Babbitt’s/Kawasaki rider is nursing a sore wrist after landing on Friese’s bike at Indianapolis One.

94. Ken Roczen | The Team Honda HRC rider is the current championship leader in the 450 Class.

114. Nick Schmidt

280. Cade Clason

282. Theodore Pauli

309. Jeremy Smith

330. AJ Catanzaro

421. Vann Martin

447. Deven Raper

501. Scotty Wennerstrom

722. Adam Enticknap

795. Aaron Leininger

805. Carlen Gardner

824. Carter Stephenson

848. Joan Cros

952. Ludovic Macler

976. Josh Greco

981. Austin Politelli

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.

12. Shane McElrath | The SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts/Honda rider is not on the entry list for Indianapolis One due to a Grade Three AC separation. He plans to be back for Orlando.

15. Dean Wilson | A practice crash left the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider with a list of small injuries on his left leg. Wilson said that he hit neutral on a jump during a moto, ejected from the bike, landed on his feet, and cartwheeled down the track. The get-off resulted in a broken big toe, sprained ankle, and bone bruising on his knee, but no serious damage. Wilson had 165cc of fluid removed from around his knee and attempted to race on Saturday, only to have the pain make it impossible. He’ll be out an undetermined amount of time.

23. Chase Sexton | Team Honda HRC has announced that Chase Sexton will sit out the 2021 Indianapolis One and Two Supercross races due to ongoing pain in his shoulder from his Houston crash. The rookie has undergone multiple exams and scans on his shoulder, all of which have come back free of fractures, but the injury has limited his range of motion, and is still too fresh to line up. Sexton has returned home to Florida and will use the additional time to recover, with hopes of making it back for the third Indianapolis race.

34. Max Anstie | The Twisted Tea/HEP Motorsports/Suzuki rider had a hard crash during his last preseason practice day. Anstie will miss the first rounds of the season with a back injury.

44. Tyler Bowers | The privateer will miss the first six rounds of 2021 after a recent sponsorship funding change.

46. Justin Hill | It’s unclear what Hill will do in 2021 following a split from the SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts/Honda team. 

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