Racer X - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X

  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News

Racer X - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X

  • One Click Sign-In

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    OR

    Sign in with your username and password

    • Sign In
  • Features
    • 10 Things
    • 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers
    • 3 on 3
    • 250 Words
    • 450 Words
    • Arenacross Report
    • Between the Motos
    • Breakdown
    • Deals of the Week
    • GNCC Report
    • Great Battles
    • How to Watch
    • Injury Report
    • Insight
    • In the Mag, On the Web
    • Lockdown Diaries
    • Longform
    • MXGP Race Reports
    • My Favorite Loretta Lynn's Moto
    • Next
    • Next Level
    • Observations
    • On This Day in Moto
    • Open Mic
    • Privateer Profile
    • Race Day Feed
    • Racerhead
    • Racer X Awards
    • Racer X Redux
    • Rapid Reaxtion
    • RX Exhaust
    • Saturday Night Live
    • Staging Area
    • The Conversation
    • The List
    • The Moment
    • Things We Learned at the Ranch
    • Unphiltered
    • Wake-Up Call
    • Where Are They Now
    • 50 Years of Pro Motocross
  • Multimedia
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Galleries
    • The Weege Show
    • Racer X Films
    • Video
    • SX Preview Shows
    • Factory Tech Tip
    • MX Preview Shows
    • Behind The Bars
    • Racer X Rapid News
  • Races
    • Series Schedules
    • TV Schedules
    • Results
    • Champions
    • 2023 Numbers
    • Teams
  • Results
    • Points Standings
    • Race Results
    • Riders
    • The Vault
    • Loretta Lynn's Vault
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • The Mag
    • Digital Magazine Bookstand
    • Customer Care
    • Current Issue
    • Newsletter
    • Store Locator
    • Subscribe
    • Free Stickers
    • Sell Racer X
  • Table of Contents
  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News
Results Archive
Arenacross
Salem
Articles
Supercross
Detroit
Articles
450SX Results
  1. Chase Sexton
  2. Cooper Webb
  3. Eli Tomac
Full Results
250SX East Results
  1. Hunter Lawrence
  2. Nate Thrasher
  3. Haiden Deegan
Full Results
Arenacross
Little Rock
Articles
Supercross
Seattle
Articles
450SX Results
  1. Eli Tomac
  2. Cooper Webb
  3. Justin Barcia
Full Results
250SX West Results
  1. Jett Lawrence
  2. R.J. Hampshire
  3. Cameron McAdoo
Full Results
MXGP of
Sardegna
Articles
MXGP Results
  1. Jeffrey Herlings
  2. Glenn Coldenhoff
  3. Jorge Prado
Full Results
MX2 Results
  1. Jago Geerts
  2. Kay De Wolf
  3. Thibault Benistant
Full Results
Live Now
Arenacross
Lexington
Articles
Upcoming
GNCC
Tiger Run
Sat Apr 1
Articles
Upcoming
MXGP of
Switzerland
Sat Apr 8
Articles
Upcoming
Supercross
Glendale
Sat Apr 8
Articles
Full Schedule
Breakdown: Southwick
Jason Thomas

Jason Thomas

Breakdown Southwick

July 3, 2018 2:30pm
by: Jason Thomas
  • Home
  • Breakdown
  • 2018 Southwick Analysis - Motocross

After 30 years in the off-road parts business, we never stopped developing and improving our products. That’s why Polisport is an OEM supplier of some of the main motorcycle brands. We create exclusive technologies, constantly think of innovative products, and we always care for the customer. We make performance plastics!

Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Southwick, MA Southwick AMA Pro Motocross Championship

This 2018 edition of the 250 Class in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross has been a hot mess. Every time we think we have an idea of what to expect, we are thrown a curveball. With defending champ Zach Osborne leaving the series in Colorado, two-time champ Jeremy Martin exiting two weeks later in Tennessee, Alex Martin crashing in three out of the last four motos, Austin Forkner going down with him in the fourth, Justin Cooper crashing his way to a tough Southwick day, and Aaron Plessinger’s 9-5-3-7 scores over the last two weeks, everything seems to be in flux. There just hasn’t been any continuity or solid trends other than sheer chaos. If we are to expect anything at this point, it’s the unexpected.

As these wild swings have been occurring, it made me wonder when we last saw such crazy variance at the front of the field. There is usually such a strong, dominating presence at the sharp end of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship—a couple of guys controlling the field and putting up big point totals. This year just hasn’t panned out that way. I went back and researched how 2018 stacked up against other years and found some interesting trends. In fact, it’s one of the lowest point totals at the halfway point that we have ever seen. Aaron Plessinger’s 233 points are good enough for a 23-point lead over Alex Martin’s , but let’s take a look at how he would fare against past years.

YearRiderpoints
2017Zach Osborne254
2016Cooper Webb243
2015Marvin Musquin258
2014Jeremy Martin250
2013Ken Roczen265
2012Blake Baggett272
2011Dean Wilson258
2010Christophe Pourcel260
2009Christophe Pourcel255
2008Ryan Villopoto291
2007Ryan Villopoto263
2006Ryan Villopoto240
2005Mike Brown223
2004James Stewart275

As the chart shows, we would have to go back to 2005 to find a series with more turbulence at the top than 2018. That 2005 season was one of the wildest in history. There were six different winners that summer, including heavy hitters like Grant Langston, Andrew Short, Ivan Tedesco, Broc Hepler, Mike Alessi, and Mike Brown. Brown was a complete privateer that season, having left a dissolving ride in Europe, but started the year strong. He would struggle down the stretch, making way for Ivan Tedesco to win the 250 title. Tedesco’s 412 points would also mark the lowest season total for a champion in that span as well.

Throughout that season, all of the riders had their moments, but also suffered big crashes and sporadic results. Langston’s ankle dislocation in the opening round would prove pivotal, as would Brown’s mid-season slump, Alessi’s inexperience, and more. It seemed that every time someone would get momentum rolling, disaster would strike. Sounds like 2018, right?

The most important rounds of this series may be the next two on the calendar. Alex Martin finished second overall at RedBud in both 2016 and 2017. Aaron Plessinger, on the other hand, has struggled to 10-11-6-11 scores at RedBud. If that trend continues, things could be very tight as we roll into Alex Martin’s home track (literally) of Spring Creek, Minnesota. Plessinger has fared slightly better in Minnesota than Michigan, but hasn’t beaten Martin in a moto there since 2015. These next four motos all clearly favor Martin on paper. That 23-point lead could be erased quickly if that trend holds true. I am curious to see how the momentum swings between now and the end of Spring Creek’s second moto. 

Martin is 23 points behind Plessinger in championship standings at the halfway point in the series.
Martin is 23 points behind Plessinger in championship standings at the halfway point in the series. Rich Shepherd

It’s tricky to start picking apart individual tracks and races in a season like this, though. The real question is, who is going to step up and take control of this title? Plessinger has the edge even after two tough rounds. He has almost a full moto over Martin. Forkner looked like he was going to get back into the mix, but his crash really put a dent in that momentum. Justin Cooper suffered the same fate, losing big points to the lead duo. There just doesn’t seem to be that dominating presence yet. This is the most wide-open series that we have seen in over a decade. Any takers?

  • Privateer Profile: Lorenzo Locurcio Privateer Profile: Lorenzo Locurcio 2:20pm
  • On This Day in Moto: July 3 On This Day in Moto: July 3 3:30pm
Presented by:
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Website
Read Now
May 2023 Issue Now Available
Get Racer X on your iPhone
Check out all the exclusive content this month on any device!
Read Now
The May 2023 Digital Issue Availalbe Now

Motocross & Supercross News - Racer X

122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 | 304-284-0084 | Contact Us
©1999 - 2023 Filter Publications LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
designed at: Website DesignImpulse Studios