For this week’s Breakdown, we are going to take a look at each track map for the 2015 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. Each round of the series has its own quirks. Whether it is the dirt consistency, a dome versus open stadium, or just a unique vibe, there are no two rounds exactly alike (although there are three Anaheim rounds and two Atlanta rounds, even they have different layouts each time).
Anaheim 1
The first things I noticed are the long rhythm lanes. This usually allows for some creative line selection and the brave to jump that elusive quad somewhere along the way. The whoop section looks very short, which doesn’t surprise me. Many times the track builders will start the season off a bit mellower in hopes of warming everyone up to the new season. The biggest concern with the first round, however, is that I don’t foresee much passing. Most of the turns are of the ninety-degree variety, which makes for a long night if you get a bad start.
Phoenix
Arizona’s dirt is usually the same year in and year out. Chase Field keeps the weather out and guarantees nice racing conditions. The hard adobe doesn’t lend the best traction, but at least it’s consistent. For the track, the theme that jumps out at me is how tight the infield is. Those tight turns will really slow the pace down and bunch riders up. The whoops have the possibility of being really tough here, depending on how tall they decide to build them. The Phoenix whoops are notorious for breaking down bad (like last year, as we saw with Justin Brayton, who was making up ground there). That could be a difference maker.
Anaheim 2
This track looks long to me. There is a lot going on, so hopefully there will be long lap times. It is a bit faster, though, so maybe that offsets the longer layout. The over-under bridge makes its 2015 debut, much to Steve Matthes’ delight. The whoops look incredibly short, which will certainly be a subject of debate during rider track walk. With the short set then a small turn and another small set, look for riders to hop once or twice and make these look easy. Also, at this point in the series, the dirt has been sitting inside Angel Stadium for a few weeks, becoming harder and harder. It will be noticeably more slippery than Anaheim 1.
Oakland
Bay area weather in January is always a crapshoot. Beyond that, this track looks remarkably easy. The whoops look relatively short, and unless someone can create some huge rhythm, most riders will have this track figured out within 3-4 laps. The start is very short before the first bend, which could bottle up some of the riders if they get a bad jump out of the gate. Couple that with a very easy track, and a championship contender could struggle to get to the front in Oakland.
Anaheim 3
The final round of the Anaheim trilogy. By now, the dirt has been on the floor inside the stadium for over a month. It has become more and more packed, as the monster trucks have been holding events here every other weekend. In other words, traction will be at a minimum. This round boasts the longest start thus far, which could change who we see at the front. It also has two whoop sections back to back, which is torture on rider heart rates.
San Diego
The last round of the initial West Coast swing is here in San Diego. The series will make its debut at Petco Park, which is the stadium of the San Diego Padres. In years past we have been over at Qualcomm Stadium, and I think this will be a nice upgrade. Qualcomm is ancient and is about to undergo significant renovations, making way for the move to Petco. Because Petco is a baseball field (compared to Qualcomm’s football), the track design will be different. In a general sense, that means more ninety-degree turns. San Diego has been a bit stale with the older stadium, but hopefully this change breathes new life into an otherwise great event.
Arlington
Easily the coolest stadium on the circuit, this round has improved massively in the years since we made the move away from Irving and out to Arlington. The dirt here is notoriously hard-packed and not ideal, but everyone knows what to expect. The whoops are typically difficult at this round and can be a difference maker. The track looks really busy, and there could be some big rhythm options in the mix. With the hard dirt, it won't break down, and that will inspire confidence for some big combinations. Also, the start looks very long here, which can always play a role.
Atlanta 1
This looks to be the prototypical supercross track layout—a long start, two standard supercross triples, a whoops section, and the normal rhythm sections. The focal point with Atlanta, especially the first round, will be how the dirt turns out. Atlanta can be extremely soft and rutty in any given year, which completely changes the dynamic. Simple doubles can become death-defying obstacles if the dirt is soft enough. Keep an eye on the weather leading up to the event; if it is raining or snowing on the dirt before it goes in the building, expect the ruts to ensue.
Atlanta 2
A week later, we are still in the ATL. The first-ever back-to-back Atlanta rounds should be a fun addition. The reason for this double round is easy: Atlanta sells huge amounts of tickets. Feld is hoping to cash in on such a popular race, and who can blame them? People drive from hours away for the Atlanta round, but the question is if the public can afford to attend two weeks in a row. Time will tell. As for the track, it’s a big change from the previous weekend. It’s much more busy and tightened up. There are a lot of twists and turns with short rhythm lanes. A bad start on this track could be catastrophic. There won't be much of an opportunity to get next to someone on a straightaway before you are once again entering a turn. Great race to break out the nitrous. Also, by this time, the dirt should have dried significantly, so watch for a totally different traction level from the previous week.
Indianapolis
This track has a little bit of everything. The finish line jumps completely over the start straight, which is always a bit scary the first time. There’s a sand section, what looks to be provide multiple options in a few rhythms. The whoops here can be tough, as they break down and change from lap to lap. I’ve seen traction be both incredibly good and incredibly bad on any given year. The weather and lead times will play a role as to how this year's dirt turns out. Being in March, I don't expect a super-soft edition for 2015.
Detroit
Back into the peristyle! In a tip of the cap to the now defunct Pontiac Supercross, Detroit's track will climb up into the stands, mere yards from spectators, before heading back into the stadium floor. This was always a unique feature for Pontiac and is a great throwback. There’s typically no passing there because it’s such a tight 180-degree turn, but it is cool nonetheless. The rest of the track looks pretty straight-forward, but the whoops do look very minimal.
St. Louis
The best dirt of the year, bar none. Tacky, yet unrefined is how I would categorize STL's great dirt. The whoops will break down a bit, and given the length, there could be guys jumping big gaps in between the lower whoops. The start looks very short, so getting a good jump without a wheelie will be crucial. This is one track I’ll miss racing.
Houston
Houston has a huge stadium floor and usually has some big obstacles to boot. This race will come after the one-and-only off weekend of the year, so expect fireworks as riders come in rested and rejuvenated. The track itself looks incredibly short, and I wouldn't be surprised to see lap times in the low forties. I am interested to see how this one turns out because this track map just looks incredibly short. There are a lot of open straight-aways and fast sections, so look for riders to really get loose.
Santa Clara
Ah, another new venue. Just north of San Jose, Levi's Stadium plays host to this new event. The weather should be great in early April for the bay area, and a new stadium will be a welcome highlight. With new dirt, who knows how the track will hold up, but if it is anything like San Francisco, it will be a bit marbly and loose on top. The track itself is pretty wild in its design. The first rhythm section will be used in both directions over the course of the race. On the start, it will be run in one direction, but on every other lap, it will be used in the completely opposite direction. How that will work out is anyone's guess, but kudos to the track designers for thinking outside the box. Now, for that gator pit idea…
East Rutherford
In the second edition of the newly revived East Rutherford SX, the over-under bridge returns. The rest of the track seems pretty normal, but last year's rain completely changed the situation, so keep an eye on that. Also, this race will mark the first time ever that supercross is on the Fox network. The event will be run during the daytime, which will certainly change the track and shadows. The late afternoon practices sometimes cast a nasty shadow on jump faces, so we’ll have to see if that is a nuisance to the riders. In any case, this is a huge step forward for the sport et al.
Las Vegas
The finale. The only event to exit the stadium completely with max-speed and re-entry is also the last event on the schedule. By now, the track designers have pulled out all of the tricks up their sleeves, but they’re somehow still able to come up with something exciting for Vegas. There looks to be a really tricky on/off tabletop section after the start and two sets of notoriously tough Vegas whoops. With lap times typically in the 1:07 range, Vegas is the longest main event of the season other than Daytona. It is not one to miss.