For the first time ever, we are headed to Nashville for supercross. Nashville is a fast-growing city with a great reputation for night life and music. Many in the industry have had this one circled since the schedule was released. If the weather cooperates, the Music City could quickly become one of the series’ highlights.
DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS
The track in Nashville is what I would refer to as a standard football stadium type layout. The start cuts right down the middle of the track and makes a long sweeping 180 to the left. The first straightaway is a rhythm section that will have riders jockeying for position. Sections like this have been the topic of many debates. Many feel that having a rhythm section immediately after the start exponentially increases the likelihood of big crashes but I don’t necessarily agree. Regardless of what is put on the first straightaway, having that many riders that close together is always going to get dicey.
This section is a bit difficult to decipher on paper, but the rule of thumb is to find a way to triple as many options as possible. If the track isn’t muddy, look for riders to try several options in hopes of staying low and fast.
After the first rhythm, there is a left-hand bowl berm before another long rhythm. This section looks to have the possibility to triple out of the corner, but I don’t think that will be the fastest line. I expect riders to race around the corner as quickly as possible (tripling would require a slow set-up), double and then jump-on jump-on jump-off and then double out. This line will allow riders to accelerate across the tabletops instead of jumping high off of any of the take-offs. As mentioned above, staying low and fast is the name of the game.
A 180 to the right fires riders back down the start straight (backwards) and into a fast left-hand corner. There will be an inside and outside line purpose built to offer options in the next section. The outside line will set up for a triple in, triple again, then either step-on step-off then single, or step over the tabletop and double, or someone might quad-single. That looks to be the fastest option but it’s all created by choosing the outside line initially.
If riders decide to stick inside, they will have to double in and then make a choice of when to triple afterwards. I think that going 2-2-3-4 is possible from the inside line but I am not sure how fast it will be. What I am interested in watching is for the elite 450 riders to try to triple from the inside line and put the rest of the section together from the outside line option above. It will be a tough seat bounce but the ideal line if possible.
A bowl berm to the left is up next (look for a net here) and into the first set of whoops. Without any Nashville history to draw from, it’s anyone’s guess as to how they will build these. They are fairly short in length, followed by a few jumps into the corner. Riders could possibly hop from the small rise after the whoops and then triple out, but I am betting it’s a basic 2-2 for most.
Another bowl berm to the right leads into the second set of whoops and then the finish line. With the corner being just before these whoops, look for several riders to jump through these by race time. The landing of the finish line jump flows into an immediate left-hand turn, followed by a standard supercross triple. Look for riders to land on the right side of the finish line downside and sweep across from outside to inside for the triple. The 250’s might have to swing all the way wide to triple, but the fast 450 line will be to arc across the corner and scrub their outward momentum. They will then land on the downside of the triple and do exactly the same thing in the next left hand 90. It’s a bit of road race apex tactics, with the goal being to stay off the brakes and continue with the motorcycle’s natural momentum.
Questions I Need Answered
Can anyone slow down Austin Forkner’s East Coast domination?
Will Marvin Musquin strike back on Cooper Webb or take more of a laissez faire approach?
Does “Eli’s gonna Eli” mean he is going to show up and dominate or does it mean he will leave us scratching our heads in bewilderment? I know in 2017 and 2018 it meant the former but I kind of think now it means the latter.
When will the first PulpMX MTB podcast be released?
How many riders come out to country songs for Nashville’s opening ceremonies?
Who’s Hot
Webb rode aggressively to take yet another win and the Triple Crown Championship.
Cole Seely has looked much better in recent weeks.
Ken Roczen hurt his toe in the second Triple Crown main event but wow, was he good in that first one.
Dean Wilson grabbed his first podium of the season and might be the most impressive rider in qualifying every week.
Who’s Not
Tomac can be hot and cold all in the same week. Even in the same main event. I don’t get it.
Justin Barcia and Josh Grant both had tough nights where they wrecked, didn’t finish the second Triple Crown event, and did not start the third one. Tough weekend for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing.
Adam Cianciarulo’s points lead dropped to five after a rough and tumble night. He can win every single time he lines up but it’s always an adventure with the #92.
Bold Predictions
Dolly Parton signs on to be a Nashville Monster Energy girl. A new outfit is needed.
Forkner qualifies fastest, wins everything, and takes the Monster girl home. No, not Parton.
Someone fabricates spurs onto their moto boots.
Musquin and Webb channel their inner Jean Girard/Ricky Bobby.
Jason Weigandt and I argue endlessly about precipitation models and barometric pressure.
My Picks
250
Austin Forkner
Chase Sexton
Justin Cooper
450
Marvin Musquin
Eli Tomac
Cooper Webb
