The next section is a separator. If riders can go 3-3-2, they will be on the razor’s edge. These triples out of the corners are very difficult with the elevation. As the corners deteriorate, that only gets tougher. Watch for riders to try the 3-3-2 and if that doesn’t work, they will resort to a possible 2-3-2-1 into the bowl berm.

Exiting the bowl berm, the finish line jump is up next, preceded by a small double over the first corner lane. Riders will slingshot back down the start straight and into a hard, right-hand corner. A small double sets riders up for the whoops and unlike last week’s slow corner lead-in, riders will have speed to burn as they land from the double and accelerate towards destiny (I always felt like I was approaching death when entering whoops). These whoops will show who has the confidence to lift the front wheel and get aggressive and who chops the throttle in submission.

Another bowl berm sends riders down a stadium-long rhythm section. I am curious to see how the next section shapes up. At sea-level, the 450 guys would rocket out of the berm and triple onto the tabletop. With less torque, that might be difficult. Either way, they will land on the same backside of the same jump before taking off for a rhythm triple and possible quad into the corner. That last quad might be slower, though, as riders can single across the inside of the corner if they don’t go for the full four.

Up next is the same supercross triple that looked so difficult last weekend, so watch for which 250s can make it and who has to back out of it. Another 90-degree left sends riders over a triple section that won’t be tripled. Riders will most likely double from the inside of the corner and then single right back into lap two.

Fantasy Talk

With the 250SX West group returning, we get a whole new list to choose from. It couldn’t come at a better time, either, as the East was losing stars far too fast. Keep in mind that these West riders haven’t raced since February 8  in San Diego, over four months ago! Back then, the world thought that booing Dylan Ferrandis was a crisis and COVID-19 wasn’t in our vernacular. All of the trends that we thought we knew that are now useless. Hopefully that results in some wild and unpredictable results throughout the field.

There are a few picks that jump off the page. Both Christian Craig and Cameron Mcadoo are both great picks, although they have had a very tough time finishing races in 2020. A tougher choice will be between the two Lawrence brothers, Hunter and Jett. I suppose you could avoid that choice and pick both but my team will not have room for both. A few other value picks include Derek Drake, Mitchell Oldenburg, Robbie Wageman, and Mitchell Falk. With so much time off, it will be very important to watch practice closely to see. The difference in those that capitalized on the layoff and those that too a more relaxed approach could be significant.

Are you team Hunter or team Jett?