By Jason Weigandt and Chase Stallo
Here’s what you really want to know from the opener: Who looked good? Who looked bad? You know the results. Here’s a quick review with the info you can’t quantify.
Wax Build Up
“I had to pass six guys that were waxing me last year,” said Jason Anderson. Rumors from the Baker’s Factory in Florida said the 21 has stepped it up. Indeed. It’s one thing to win, it’s another to start behind the big guns and do it.
A Different Story
Kenny Roczen’s Anaheim 1 luck ran out. He won the previous two years, but this time a bunch of first-turn crashes nearly ruined his night and season. We saw him in next-to-last on the first lap, so fifth is a hell of a salvage effort. “I feel like it was a cluster for a lot of people,” he said.
Caught in the Webb
Cooper has now won five straight West Region races dating back to last year. For added confidence this time, he caught one of the contenders from a ways back. Can anyone stop him?
The Contender
Jessy Nelson sure tried. He led more laps (ten to Webb’s five) than anyone, but even a good start, a hard sprint and a big lead couldn’t stop Webb. He could be better after the opener, but this could also be a case of mere mortals trying to stop some sort of alien beast.
Pumped Up
For a few laps, Justin Barcia was much better than at any point in supercross last year. He had his trademark starts back, too. Then came the arm pump. “I don’t even remember the last time I got arm pump,” he said. He better hope it doesn’t return this weekend.
What Dungey Does
An entire year has now gone by since the champ finished off the podium in Monster Energy Supercross. This time Canard knocked him down and he still finished second.
Reed Still Reed
At 33 he’s the oldest rider on the gate, but he looked better than he did at most of the races last year. #AgeIsANumber #NeverCountTheManOut! #InItToWinIt
Pourcel Still Pourcel
Guy misses five seasons of supercross and tops the final 450SX practice. Then eighteenth in the main. Do not try to figure him out.
Comeback on Hold Again
Even Yoshimura Suzuki team manager Mike Webb admitted to us that James Stewart isn’t quite 100 percent ready after last year’s layoff and a turbulent off-season. We saw some of the old speed in practice, but there weren’t enough laps to judge anything in the main. The comeback grade remains incomplete.
What You Wanted
Everyone knew Eli Tomac was returning from a serious injury, everyone knew he just needed a solid finish after a disastrous A1s in 2014 and 2015. He got exactly that with a solid fourth.
Rebounders
Davi Millsaps, Dean Wilson and Justin Brayton all needed strong rides after terrible 2015 seasons. They weren’t contenders for the win, but they all grabbed the top tens they needed to get rolling.
Solid
He’s no longer a factory rider, but not a privateer unknown, either. Somewhere in the void is Jake Weimer, who had a quiet return from last year’s gruesome injuries to net 12th.
Canard Come Close
Trey was fastest in practice. Trey caught Seely to win his heat. Trey was behind Seely in the main and ready to make a move—then his charge stalled, and he later crashed. Speed was there, though.
A1 Much Better for Osborne
Hey, he didn’t break his thumb! #Winning
Decotis Strong in Return
Surprised GEICO Honda called in the Rippah? A career-high fourth makes them look smart.
Three Peat?
Mitchell Harrison’s quest to become the third straight Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha Rookie of the Year (Webb, 2014; Plessinger, 2015) started with a thirteenth.
Aussi, Aussi, Aussi
Lawson Bopping was the only three-digit privateer (21st) to make the 450SX main, while Hayden Mellross scored an eleventh in his Monster Energy Supercross debut.
What Sophomore Slump?
Seely led thirteen laps on Saturday night. Title contender?
Making it Through
Wil Hahn has to be happy to make it through the first round a year after his season ended at the opener.
Still Battling
Last year’s 250SX East combatants tussled for thirteenth in 450SX, both nursing injuries (wrist for Marvin Musquin, foot for Justin Bogle). They’ll need some time.
More Soon
An up and down return to SX for Christian Craig, but he certainly showed he hasn’t lost his speed.
Needs Another Shot
Savatgy went down in the main; a tough break for the title contender. An eighth is tough to bounce back from in a short series.
Other Star
Sixth—more consistency from Alex Martin.
Quick Colt
Quick: What position did Nichols finish? If you said seventh, take a bow. Nice return from ACL surgery for the sophomore.
A Good Ribbing
Solid top ten for Peters, who reportedly broke several ribs in practice.
Swede
Supercross isn’t quite Freddy Noren’s forte yet. He should be happy with a fourteenth.
Tough Debut
Rough start for the Motorcycle Superstore Suzuki team. After losing Mark Worth in practice, Kyle Cunningham crashed in the main and finished nineteenth.
Mad Max
Under the watchful eye of David Vuillemin, Frenchmen Maxime Desprey qualified for his first professional supercross race in his first try.
Smith Overcomes
He crashed again, but Jordon recovered for fifth. Solid start after just one top ten last year.
Privateers
Solid performances from Trevor Reis (16th) and Chris Howell (22nd) in 250SX.
