Racer X Online - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X Online

  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News

Racer X Online - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X Online

  • 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
    • 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
    • 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
  • Multimedia
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Galleries
    • The Weege Show
    • Racer X Films
    • Video
    • SX Preview Shows
    • Factory Tech Tip
    • MX Preview Shows
    • Behind The Bars
  • Races
    • Series Schedules
    • TV Schedules
    • Results
    • Champions
    • Teams
    • 2021 Numbers
  • Results
    • Points Standings
    • Race Results
    • Riders
    • The Vault
    • Loretta Lynn's Vault
  • The Mag
    • Customer Care
    • Digital Magazine Bookstand
    • Current Issue
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletter
    • Free Stickers
    • Store Locator
    • Sell Racer X
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • Table of Contents
  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News
Results Archive
Supercross
Houston 1
Articles
450SX Results
  1. Justin Barcia
  2. Ken Roczen
  3. Marvin Musquin
Full Results
250SX East Results
  1. Christian Craig
  2. Austin Forkner
  3. Colt Nichols
Full Results
Supercross
Houston 2
Articles
450SX Results
  1. Eli Tomac
  2. Dylan Ferrandis
  3. Justin Brayton
Full Results
250SX East Results
  1. Jett Lawrence
  2. Colt Nichols
  3. Christian Craig
Full Results
Supercross
Houston 3
Articles
450SX Results
  1. Cooper Webb
  2. Ken Roczen
  3. Adam Cianciarulo
Full Results
250SX East Results
  1. Colt Nichols
  2. Christian Craig
  3. Jett Lawrence
Full Results
Upcoming
Supercross
Indianapolis 1
Sat Jan 30
Articles
Upcoming
Supercross
Indianapolis 2
Tue Feb 2
Articles
Upcoming
Supercross
Indianapolis 3
Sat Feb 6
Articles
Full Schedule
The List: Storylines

The List Storylines

August 20, 2020 12:00pm
by: Kellen Brauer & Jason Weigandt
  • Home
  • The List
  • Storylines From the 2020 Pro Motocross Opener - Motocross

Developed in the USA and tested on the toughest tracks in the world, Maxima Racing Oils are proven to increased horsepower, prolong engine life and offer unsurpassed engine cleanliness. Maxima has been committed to MX & SX for over 30 years and is used by more factory teams, engine builders and racers. Know you’re running the best with championship winning products. Maxima – Race Grade Formulas.

Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Loretta Lynn Ranch Hurricane Mills, TN Loretta Lynn's (National) Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship

Too many riders to watch at the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship opener at Loretta Lynn’s. The first 450 moto alone saw about a dozen riders making moves toward the front, and between career comebacks, surprises, rookies, a new winner, and more, it was hard to remember every single thing that happened.

Round two looms with many of the same stories. Here’s a review of round one. Expect more this Saturday!

The Comeback: He didn’t look far off from his old self—and by old, we mean the one-year-younger version, because Marvin Musquin hadn’t raced in almost exactly a year (357 days, to be accurate). Not only did Marvin have a ton of time away, but piling up knee injuries is never good news, and the 450 Class always gets deeper with new talent. Marv wasn’t on the podium at Loretta’s, but he was in the hunt, and now that both Roczen and Webb are out for the summer, it’s especially comforting to see an old favorite running back up front.

The Flyer:Chase Sexton carried a lot of hype into this race thanks to flying at the test track, but rookies and hot test-track times are nothing new. Turning that into a fast qualifying lap was impressive, but again, we’ve seen that before. Look, rookies are gonna rookie, right? Indeed, Sexton crashed away his chances in moto one. But what’s this? A strong, solid, smart ride in moto two for a podium? Can this kid keep it together? This has just become a more tantalizing prospect than we realized.

Chase Sexton showed speed during his 450 debut. But he also showed he's still a rookie by making costly mistakes. Moto two was much better, though. He'll be an interesting factor this summer if he can keep the speed high and the mistakes to a minimum.
Chase Sexton showed speed during his 450 debut. But he also showed he's still a rookie by making costly mistakes. Moto two was much better, though. He'll be an interesting factor this summer if he can keep the speed high and the mistakes to a minimum. Align Media

The Win:Jason Anderson is haunted by this weirdo “never won a national” stat, which paints him as a far less capable outdoor rider than he actually is. The reality is he’s always been good, but he’s always just a hair off of some other elites when the time comes to seize the victory. Normally, just staying in the hunt like this results in a win, but the stars just don’t align for the Rockstar rider. This dominant first-moto victory is a reminder he can still go very fast outdoors. One of these days, this has to just work out.

The Speed:Adam Cianciarulo is really fast, and fast is something you can’t teach. Adam Cianciarulo has the tools to win, and that fact alone makes him a tantalizing threat every week.

The Suzuki: Remember this guy? Joey Savatgy was up front off the start of the first 450 moto, and while he didn’t stay there (9-11 for ninth overall), it was a brief reminder that he used to be a frontrunner. But he hasn’t raced since November. "Yesterday was subpar for me. It was my first race back in almost a year and it got the best of me," Savatgy said. If he has more in the tank as he gets his racing legs under him, there’s a chance Joey surprises the people who forgot how good he was last year.

  • Joey Savatgy
    Joey Savatgy Align Media
  • Savatgy and Noren at the front of a moto at the Loretta Lynn's Ranch.
    Savatgy and Noren at the front of a moto at the Loretta Lynn's Ranch. Align Media

Don’t Miss a Moto!

 

Sign up for our newsletter to get headlines, info, and scoops as soon as they break. As a bonus, you’ll be entered into our weekly giveaways too!

TGI Freeday - Newsletter Giveaway
By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy
Forms on this page are protected by reCAPTCHA, its Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The Free Agent: Three straight years of Justin Barcia starting seasons with great Anaheims, followed by talk of Yamaha having it dialed in, only to have it fall apart. It’s finally over, as Barcia has all but said he’s not coming back on blue next year. Yet he’s still stationed in California and riding and testing sunup to sundown with the team, trying to find that elusive setup. He was damned good at Loretta’s. Someone else is going to have him next year, and you’re getting glimpses of the kind of damage Barcia is still capable of.

The First Time: While a large majority of the 250 Class had previously raced at the Ranch for the Loretta Lynn's AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship Dylan Ferrandis had never once been there. He could have fooled anyone, though: he carved up the Tennessee soil like he grew up racing in those exact conditions. Whether or not the dirt in Avignon, France, actually does move just like the dirt in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, after some rain cannot be confirmed at this time.

the Rookie: Among a trio of riders making their Pro Motocross debuts a week on from the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, Rock River Yamaha's Mason Gonzales shined through. After losing both Pro Sport titles to Stilez Robertson—and perhaps being talked about less than Dilan Schwartz—Gonzales got good starts and put together two solid rides for a top-ten in his debut.

Mason Gonzales
Mason Gonzales Align Media

The Attrition: Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Darian Sanayei and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's Jalek Swoll will miss the second round of the series due to injuries sustained at the opener. Sanayei suffered a shoulder injury, and Swoll’s mild concussion will leave him on the sidelines as well. Both are expected to return potentially as early as the third round at Ironman Raceway.

The Healer:RJ Hampshire beat normal recovery expectations from ACL surgery by a couple of months when he lined up for the opener just four months removed from the procedure. And he did more than just line up, as the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider picked up second overall on the day.

The Return:Jeremy Martin lined up as the only former series champion in the 250 Class, but his presence on the gate was much more than that. After a burst fracture in his spine during the 2018 Muddy Creek National kept him off the starting gate for well over a year, Martin finally returned to Pro Motocross on Saturday. Third overall was a welcome return for the GEICO Honda rider.

The Wrong Foot:Justin Cooper and Hunter Lawrence entered this season as expected title contenders. Cooper had a rough day, including a few falls; Lawrence had an awful day, including a DNF in one moto. The old phrase goes that you can't win the championship at the opening round, but you sure can lose it. Well, Cooper and Lawrence may well have seen their championship hopes disappear before they really ever got started.

  • Justin Cooper
    Justin Cooper Align Meda
  • Hunter Lawrence
    Hunter Lawrence Align Meda
  • Privateer Profile: Jeremy Smith Privateer Profile: Jeremy Smith 11:00am
  • Staging Area: Loretta Lynn's 2 Staging Area: Loretta Lynn's 2 1:05pm
Presented by:
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Website
Read Now
March 2021 Issue Now Available
Get Racer X on your iPhone
Check out all the exclusive content this month on any device!
Read Now
The March 2021 Digital Issue Availalbe Now

Motocross & Supercross News - Racer X Online

122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 | 304-284-0084 | Contact Us
©1999 - 2021 Filter Publications LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
designed at: Website DesignImpulse Studios