Gillette Stadium plays host to the next round of Monster Energy Supercross. We only have three stops left on the grueling series schedule and everyone who has been on tour is surely feeling the effects by now. Having a new round in the Boston area, next week’s New York/New Jersey stop, and then the Las Vegas desert finale creates three rounds that will still generate some excitement and enthusiasm for industry and riders alike. This Foxboro (or Foxborough if you’re so inclined) round, in particular, will be interesting as we haven’t been to the New England area in quite some time. Supercross visited here in 1990, which for me seems like yesterday, but for many of the current stars, it sounds more like 1890. Riders who won here in the past like Jean-Michel Bayle are easily conjured up in my mind as a superstar that the sun has just recently set upon. In reality, though, that was twenty-five years ago and most of the riders on the starting gate have no idea that we have ever been to this area before for supercross. For the new era, this is their chance to bring a new legacy to the New England diehards.
As for the track, everything will depend on the weather. April can be very unpredictable in New England and it’s looking like we are going to get lucky on Saturday. With Dirt Wurx having mastered the art of track sealing, Friday’s rain forecast shouldn’t matter too much. The only residual effect can be some softer sections from the water seepage and condensation. The days of Friday rain meaning Saturday mud seem to be long gone. Still, dirt will be soft because the winter weather has added months of moisture. That should lead to ruts and tricky conditions, much like we saw in the last two rounds. Rhythm sections will become much less routine than the cookie cutter track surfaces we encounter at some of the hard-packed rounds. A rhythm option that seems elementary on paper can become quite treacherous in conditions such as these. After Indy and St. Louis, this weekend’s expected soft dirt and what we have seen from MetLife Stadium in the past two years, could make four races in a row with more ruts than usual.
The start is medium length and bends into a long left turn. The first arc could see some riders blowing through the Tuff Blocks as it is a hard ninety degrees to the left but as they continue around, it will give riders a chance to file back into line. The long left is interesting to watch as those with the upper hand will press the issue deep into the turn while those that didn’t quite nail the jump out of the gate will attempt to sneak under them. Dungey has been a master of this move and has come out inside the top three multiple times after looking to be buried in the pack. His inside-in-the-first-turn execution has been a mainstay of the series and at times has made his main event life much easier.
Most of the track is of the standard supercross variety. There are some very long football-stadium type rhythm sections that, if soft and rutty, will prove very tough to manage as the track deteriorates. There are two whoop sections, which is always a plus for lap-times. I expect to see the whoops become a rhythm of a hop, skip and jump by main event time. Look for Marvin Musquin and Christophe Pourcel to excel if that’s the case. Big Anaheim whoops may not be their forte but the uneven, rutty mess that East Coast whoops can become certainly is. I don’t see anything too outlandish on the layout but it will be challenging nonetheless. The obstacles won’t be the toughest aspect, per se, but more how the dirt evolves and shapes those obstacles as the day and night progress.
Who’s Hot
Ryan Dungey has led every lap but one for three races in a row but it hasn’t been easy. He has had pressure on him every step of the way. He hasn’t faltered, though, and is showing why his number plates are red.
Ken Roczen deserves a lot of credit for his last three races as well. Sure, he hasn’t been able to surmount Dungey, but he has shown a consistent ability to match or even surpass Dungey’s pace at times. He is the main threat to the point leaders dominance.
Justin Bogle rode a very solid race to claim his best ever 450 finish. Jason Anderson helped him a bit with his antics but Bogle should be very proud of his ride. It was a great result at a time when great results are needed. Silly season is heating up and fourth is a solid bargaining chip.
Jeremy Martin claims he is basically out of this title hunt but I would disagree. He is sixteen points down but as we have seen, that is simply one main event for these guys. I have never witnessed such a roller coaster between the top five riders so to count him out now would be foolhardy.
Aaron Plessinger is quietly on the cusp of taking over the points lead. He sits one point behind Malcolm Stewart after Mookie’s St. Louis meltdown. The next two tracks should favor Plessinger’s skill set but Mookie will surely be looking for revenge.
Benny Bloss will fill in for Davi Millsaps this weekend and get his shot on a factory KTM 450. His 250 results have been up and down but surely the bigger 450 will help the long and lanky Bloss. Most riders never receive a chance at this level of equipment so he has to be pumped.
Who’s Not
Malcolm Stewart was looking to be in firm control of 250SX East Region with four rounds left. If we have learned anything from this 2016 East series, though, it’s that nothing can be assumed. Three crashes left Mookie with only a one-point lead going into this weekend and a completely different landscape moving forward.
Marvin Musquin has had a rough month. He was on such a roll in March, nailing podium after podium. Then a practice crash in Santa Clara changed the whole situation. He missed the Indy round altogether and then looked to be somewhat back on track in St. Louis until a freak mechanical failure relegated him to the back of the field. Marv will be back in the mix soon.
Eli Tomac just can’t find his groove. He looks great in practice and is in pole contention more times than not. He has to be wondering why he can’t put the main events together, though. His starts are surely part of the problem but he isn’t dicing through the field like we have seen from him in the past, either. I know I sound like a broken record with this but every day is a day closer to Hangtown.
Jason Anderson may be riding incredibly well but he certainly isn’t making any friends on the racetrack. His maneuver on Justin Brayton was another on a long list of questionable decisions this season. There are more than a few riders waiting on an opportunity to return the favor.
Bold Predictions
Malcolm Stewart rebounds for the win in Foxborough.
Ryan Dungey wins at Foxborough and clinches his second supercross title in a row. Fans at the two final rounds feel deflated when they hear the news. (Sorry Patriot fans)
Justin Brayton puts a dent in the Husky parts budget.
Justin Barcia scores his first top ten of the season.
Scientists from MIT and Harvard converge on Gillette Stadium to try to figure out what in the he-double-hockey-sticks is going on with James Stewart.
My Picks
250
Malcolm Stewart
Aaron Plessinger
Jeremy Martin
450
Ryan Dungey
Ken Roczen
Trey Canard
