Each week, Speed TV’s Jeff Emig stresses the start as a key to the race. And each week, the riders talk about needing to get a good start.

We all know the start is important, but how important is it? We decided to look back through the first ten races of the season and see where the winner was after the first lap of the main event. See below:

The start. A key to any race.
Photo: Andrew Fredrickson

Race – Winner – Position after the first lap

Anaheim 1 – Ryan Villopoto – second

Phoenix – James Stewart – first

Los Angeles – Ryan Villopoto – ninth

Oakland – James Stewart – second

A2 – James Stewart – first

Houston – Trey Canard – fourth

San Diego – Chad Reed – first

Atlanta – Ryan Villopoto – fourth

Daytona – Ryan Villopoto – second

Indy – Ryan Villopoto - second

As you can see, there were only three times where the rider who got the holeshot won the race, but every time except once, the winner did get a top five start. (The worst position an eventual race winner was on the first lap was when Ryan Villopoto came around on the first lap of the Los Angeles supercross in ninth.)

So what does all of this mean? The start is key! Didn’t you already know that?