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
Staging Area: Houston 1
Jason Thomas

Jason Thomas

Staging Area Houston 1

January 14, 2021 11:30am
by: Jason Thomas
  • Home
  • Staging Area
  • Jason Thomas’ 2021 Houston 1 Preview - Supercross
NRG Stadium Houston, TX Houston 1 (East) Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship

It’s finally here! The long awaited 2021 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship is no longer a far-off thought that everyone has in the back of their minds. That time has officially arrived and I could not be more ready! Two thousand twenty was a doozy of a year in every way imaginable and had so many firsts that it would take days to list them all. I think we can all agree that the new chapter of 2021 is a welcome sight, so let’s get it on!

Dirty Little Secrets

Houston is not where we would typically start the season but the upside is that most riders enjoy this particular venue. Anaheim has the aura that only Anaheim can bring but you won’t find many riders that love the slippery dirt that Anaheim can offer. Houston’s tacky dirt and beautiful stadium are a welcome landing spot anytime during the season, even more so for the opener.

The track for the opening round of the series is always one I am curious about. The track design team has used different approaches through the years, ranging from very easy tracks in hopes of a smooth and safe transition to racing, to more technical tracks that can provide a rude awakening to those lacking experience.

This week’s track has a bit of both. It has open spaces that will allow riders to loosen up and get aggressive but it also offers a few technical rhythm sections to test rider skill. The real question will be how difficult do they make the whoops at the opening round? My guess is that they will defer to the easier end of the spectrum.

The 2021 Houston 1 Supercross track layout.
The 2021 Houston 1 Supercross track layout. Feld Entertainment

The start this week is fairly long but has a very nice arc that will provide room to turn. Riders on the outside will have to really push the edge and carry speed through the outer edge of the corner while those on the inside will want to tip toe through the trickier inside line. Both lines can work and that’s what I like most. Starts where the far extremes have little chance of success don’t seem to be good for racing overall.

The first section will provide an opportunity to put a few triples together. The first triple looks to have a tabletop-ish landing so there may not be an opportunity to go 3-3 there. If that is the case, then the ideal 3-3-3 option is gone, too. Riders would then opt for a 3-2-3-1 option. That leads to another decision in the upcoming 90-degree, left-hand corner. Cutting across the inside of these is usually the play but this particular setup could reward an outside line. The inside line will force riders to go 1-2 or 2-1 but the outside could allow for a triple. Riders will likely try both options in qualifying practices and a consensus will likely form on which is the ideal line. My guess is that riders will cut across the inside line, stand up as they manual over the first single and then double onto the next straightaway. That is the shortest route and also the least airtime. Less airtime equals more opportunity to drive forward.

After charging across the mechanics’ area, another 90 degree left, there is a small tabletop that leads into the finish line double. A small double-double leads into the first bowl berm of 2021 and immediately into the first standard supercross triple. A flat 180 back onto the start straight is next and will create a fight for traction. Patience and technique will be on full display exiting this flat corner.

A single into a bowl berm sets riders up for a big double across the first corner. As if the big double wasn’t enough to get the heart rate up, the only set of whoops immediately follows the landing. Look for riders to push the pace as they enter these whoops. The deftest of whoops masters could make passes here on a regular basis if they decide to accelerate with reckless abandon. They could also end up in the Alpinestars Medical Truck, too.

Another bowl berm leads to a tricky rhythm section. Riders will either go 3-2 or 2-3 but both options lead to landing on top of or the downside of a tabletop. If riders can make it to the downside, that’s the ideal line, allowing them to double out and onto the flat area (also first corner). Another bowl berm brings riders back into the first rhythm straight away for lap two.

Fantasy Talk

PulpMX Fantasy is back! Round one is so much fun. There are no real trends yet and everyone is guessing. That also provides big opportunity if you can guess right. As the series rolls forward, the handicap team (I am a member of that) can narrow the range as we accumulate data. That limits the volatility and also makes the picks tougher. For now, though, it’s bombs away.

The 250 class will boil down to who qualifies and who doesn’t. Typically, the big value comes from higher handicaps that find their way into the main event. It also helps if they perform well in said main event but simply qualifying is enough to pay dividends. This weekend may be a little tougher as the attractive plays are the mid-field picks.

A few of the 250 names I am eyeballing are Josh Osby, Jess Pettis, Max Vohland, Joshua Varize, and Thomas Do (French rider). Their handicaps are not exceedingly high but they are solid main event level riders that should earn in the upper range of point scorers. There are not any names that jump off the page as “auto-pick” but as always, watching qualifying times is a huge tool for finding a sneaky pick.

In the 450SX class, I always go for main event mainstays that have upside value. The 450 main events are very difficult to qualify for and this is arguably the deepest field ever. I will likely avoid the long shot in favor of a rider I can depend on. That will limit the point ceiling at times but it also lessens the chance of a huge letdown. A few of my likely picks are Vince Friese, Broc Tickle, Joey Savatgy, Dean Wilson, Justin Brayton, Dylan Ferrandis, and Martin Davalos. Sure, any and all of those could DNF the main event and ruin your team’s chances of glory but they are all very likely to make the main event and get you some sort of value. There is a case to be made for swinging for the proverbial fences with riders like Adam Enticknap, Alex Ray, Freddie Noren, Justin Rodbell, Justin Starling, or Carlen Gardner, but the risk of a DNQ is simply too high with this depth. As the series moves on and injuries take a toll on the field, those picks will be a much safer play.

For more insight into picking a team for this weekend, listen to the PulpMX Fantasy Houston 1 Supercross preview podcast. 

Dean Wilson
Dean Wilson Simon Cudby

Bold Predictions

Chad Reed helicopters in just minutes before qualifying practice to make his 19,457th consecutive start.

Jett Lawrence announces a global partnership with Krispy Kreme donuts.

Justin Brayton and Zach Osborne star in a Fly Racing television commercial and combine for the highest average age in the history of SX.

Cooper Webb yells obscenities at the entire main starting grid and then proceeds to win said main event.

Justin Barcia gets into a wild fracas with the AMA as he refuses to remove the red plate he claims to have earned at last week’s Red Bull A1.

Dean Wilson broadcasts the entire main event on his YouTube channel.

Twitter bans my account for saluting the flag during opening ceremonies.

Austin Forkner gets into some sort of altercation with someone or something.

My Picks

450

Cooper Webb
Eli Tomac
Ken Roczen

250

Austin Forkner
Jett Lawrence
Colt Nichols

  • Feature: Moto Family Gathering Feature: Moto Family Gathering 11:00am
  • SX Preview Show: Episode 5 - The 250SX Class SX Preview Show: Episode 5 - The 250SX Class 3:15pm
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