Welcome to the Race Day Feed, coming to you from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, for the opening round of the 2021 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. From practice reports to the blow-by-blow from tonight’s program, you’ll find it all right here on the Racer X Race Day Feed. Updates are posted in chronological order, so be sure to scroll down for the latest info. For even more updates be sure to follow us on Twitter, @Racerxonline.

Morning Report

We're here! It's happening! Monster Energy Supercross has arrived in Houston for the first of a three-round title in the Lone Star State. The top riders got to hit the track yesterday for press day, which just reinforced the standard #deepfield theme that starts every season. We've got the established stars like defending champion Eli Tomac and perennial challengers Ken Roczen and Cooper Webb, alongside the returning Marvin Musquin, 2018 Champion Jason Anderson, last year's round-one winner Justin Barcia on a new bike (GasGas), Zach Osborne fresh off of a 450 National Motocross Championship, Adam Cianciarulo expected to pay dividends in year two, a new Yamaha 450 effort with Aaron Plessinger and Malcolm Stewart all joined by a strong rookie crop including a third Yamaha man in Dylan Ferrandis and Roczen's new teammate Chase Sexton. We've probably left several contenders out of the story already. That's how many great riders there are.

We did lose one rookie, though, as Shane McElrath will not be racing due to a shoulder injury suffered a few weeks back.

Osborne took a big digger yesterday on the second lap of press day when his bike cut out on a jump. He tells us he banged his knee but should be okay. The rest of the 450 field looked good--this track features great dirt and no bizarre sections so riders picked it up quickly. Barcia was the only rider to do the big quad after the finish line jump. No idea if that will be a real line here on race day.

In the 250s, just check out our preview to see who is racing and what they expect. Should be some fireworks in the smaller-bike class, and no matter what we'll have new 250 champions crowned since Sexton and Ferrandis have graduated.

Practice has begun here in Houston. Stay tuned for more.

Free Practice

Christian Craig and RJ Hampshire took turns at the top of the board in this session, with Craig holding the top spot early and Hampshire then taking it away. Jett Lawrence looked incredible in yesterday’s press day but this session was trouble, as he crashed twice, once in a rhythm and another time washing the front tire out in a corner. Austin Forkner also went down in a bowl berm. From out vantage point, the corners look to be getting more rutted than they were yesterday and that led to small mistakes.

These times don’t count, but Hampshire was fastest. Riders were experimenting with the rhythm lane after the whoops, which led to a sick double wheel tap yesterday, but has been changed today. The hot line might be to double off the table, then double again all the way over the start straight and into the corner. It wasn’t easy to do, though, but Christian Craig got it down late. He still ended up second to Hampshire in times.

In the 450s, Marvin Musquin was the first rider on track followed by Vince Friese. Justin Barcia looked really racy right from the get-go, though. Soon Adam Cianciarulo and Eli Tomac took over the top two spots. Riders were really trying to figure out the rhythm lane after the whoops. Double over start or triple off? Chase Sexton went down and was slow to refire the bike, heading to mechanic’s area, but then he returned and logged the seventh-best time, so he must be okay. On the other end, Zach Osborne went down hard yesterday and was only 21^st fastest in that session, so this is not a good start to the season for Zacho. Late in the session…Dean Wilson jumped to the top! Dean looked really good yesterday and his time in this session held on for the top spot.

In the 450 B group, Justin Robell, the privateer star of last summer's Lucas Oil Pro Motocross tour, is jumping into supercross. He crashed early, and that's not good, but then came back to log the top time of the session...until the last lap, when Carlen Gardner took it away. Rodbell was second and Austin Politelli third.

This track is already hammered. Track work has begun and we'll be back with more.

First Timed Practices

French veteran Thomas Do was the fastest of the 250 B group. In 250 A, RJ Hampshire and Yamaha teammates Christian Craig and Colt Nichols jumped out early. It looked like a race from lap 1, as these three were flying. Craig, who led the field around in Free practice looked really determined to get ahead, he battled with Nichols to get by his teammate at one point. Craig then logged the early fastest lap time. This looked like a race! On the other end, Kawasaki teammates Shimoda and Forkner each had a crash early. Phoenix Honda’s Josh Osby cased a triple super hard and had to cruise around for a few minutes. Hampshire once again took the top spot but then had a crash across the start straight. He was okay but had to visit the mechanics’ area to get his bike checked. Jett Lawrence was much better in this session and moved to second-best. Then late in the session Jett jumped to the top spot!

“Track is definitely pretty technical and to get one clean lap together really helps,” said Lawrence. “I got in one stinger [lap] at the end. I got that one lap in clean and that’s all that matters. Track is prime, pretty tacky, I don’t expect to make any bike changes.”

This pushed Craig and Hampshire to second and third. Nichols and and GasGas’ Michael Mosiman were next.

In the 450s, Friese led the pack on the first lap with Cianciarulo right behind him, then Webb. Friese then slowed up and Webb became the first rider physically on track, but, Friese has looked very good in both practice sessions so far. Then Roczen jumped to the top spot followed by Tomac. Malcolm Stewart hit the tough blocks in the whoops and went over the bars, he was up and okay. Bogle has a late crash and seemed shaken up, he waked off the track and didn’t immediately try to get on the bike, but was able to walk away eventually. Zach Osborne was not good in the first Free practice which was scary considering his big crash yesterday, but this was much better and he took eighth best.

A lot of things can change in this game, but in the end it’s stalwarts Roczen and Tomac 1-2 in this session.

“I’m just doing my thing and having fun,” said Roczen after taking the top spot. “We’re still learning the bike a little bit, but at the same time we’ve been on the same setting for a month. The track, for as basic as it us, it’s getting chewed up. The ruts are really grabby. But I’m sure the other guys are going to step up. I haven’t ridden this kind of dirt in a long time since I’ve been in California for awhile now.”

Carlen Gardner again ruled the 450 B group and his time makes him 24^th best overall, just ahead of A session 450 rider Kyle Chisholm. Politelli and Starling came next.

Final Practice Sessions

Thomas Do was the fastest in the B group again. In the A group, Christian Craig and Jett Lawrence had a moto going early. You could tell in every single session that Craig was determined to get to the front, and if anyone got the jump on him off the practice starts, he was going to try to pass them just like it was a race. He pressed Jett Lawrence early in this one and then Lawrence made a big bobble trying to jump into the whoops, and Craig went by. Not long after, though, Lawrence put in a heater lap to jump to the top of the charts, but then Craig took it back away and hung on for the top qualifying spot.

“I’m feeling awesome out here,” said Craig. “The track crew did an awesome job, the track was a little muddy this morning but it’s come around. We have fans in the stands here and that’s awesome. I’m just excited to keep the ball rolling into tonight.”

Nichols, Forkner and Hampshire were three four five. 

In the 450s, Barcia grabbed the holeshot in the practice start ahead of Webb and Roczen—yes these guys treat it like a real race start. Barcia was ripping early. Starts used to be a major strength of Barcia but he's struggled off the gate the last few years--if this is a sign he's got them dialed in again, that would be big.

Sexton and Roczen then took over 1-2 spots for awhile on their Hondas but then Tomac moved to second, behind Sexton. Anderson had a great lap going but hit a tough block. Sexton’s time held on, which makes him the fast 450 qualifier in his first-ever 450SX, matching his feat from his first 450MX race last summer at Loretta Lynn’s. And a rookie Adam Cianciarulo was fastest in qualifying at last year’s opener. The kids love round 1!

Marvin Musquin has looked quick, nimble and creative each time on the track and was a solid third.  

Justin Starling has looked solid all day on his 450 and was fastest in the 450 B group, ahead of Politelli. Justin Rodbell was fast earlier in the day but had a crash and was only 12th in this session.

Justin Bogle went down in practice and didn't ride the final session, but we have heard he will be racing tonight. Enzo Lopes crashed in the 250s and hurt his wrist, he's out for the night getting the wrist checked. Jess Pettis hurt his leg in practice but is trying to gut it out and line up tonight.

250 Heats

Jo Shimoda started the season with the first holeshot of the year on his new Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki. Jett Lawrence was up front but bobbled and nearly crashed, leaving privateers Lane Shaw and Logan Karnow up front. Lawrence recovered to get back to second by the third lap, but Austin Forkner was up to third and closing. The rookie, Max Vohland, then went to fourth. The battled was on between Forkner and Lawrence. Forkner got buck wild trying to make a pass and it was on between the two talents…Forkner then made a pass and Lawrence stalled. On lap eight, Forkner was all over Shimoda for the lead and then passed him in the whoops. Shimoda stayed closed but Forkner held on for an impressive win, he has not shown the front-runner speed in qualifying but came through some of the top contenders to get the win here.

Hampshire got the holeshot but he almost washed the front, almost came into Craig’s line and Craig managed to slice through and take the lead. Mitch Oldenburg was third but Michael Mosiman got around him to take the spot away. Then Craig went down in the corner that connects back to the start straight! Hampshire assumed the lead. Now the battle was on as Craig closed back in on Hampshire. Quietly Colt Nichols rolled up to fourth. Late in the race the Craig Hampshire battle really got good. Craig got to the inside in a bowl turn and they made contact, and Craig re-took the lead. Hampshire wasn’t going anywhere and showed real fight. On the last lap Hampshire tried the same inside pass on Craig, couldn’t quite get there, then mis-timed a rhythm lane and still dove inside and almost made the pass! Craig escaped and took the heat win.

“I feel good and I’m happy to be out there," said Craig. " The fans are awesome and I can hear them—it’s been a long time since that’s happened. It was a good race.”

450 Heats

Barcia holeshot 450 Heat 1 over Cianciarulo, Brayton and Roczen, then Roczen took third from Brayton and started pressing AC. Roczen quickly made the pass and went right after Barcia. Tomac moved up to fifth. Roczen pressed Barcia hard, but Barcia avoided the big mistake and wicked it up when he needed to—especially with the big quad after the finish. Roczen even tried it on the last lap but framed it, and that allowed Barcia to escape and take the win. Not a bad debut for the TLD Red Bull/Gas Gas team in the 450 class! Roczen was second, then Cianciarulo and Tomac.

Brandon Hartranft led the field into turn one in Heat 2 on his Twisted Tea/HEP Suzuki, but Cooper Webb got inside to emerge with the lead. Then came Aaron Plessinger, Zach Osborne and Marvin Musquin. They made short work of Hartranft, in his first 450 start, as he was quickly shuffled back. Malcolm Stewart joined the party and went crazy trying to get Musquin and made the pass for fourth, Marvin got him right back then Mookie repassed him. Up ahead, Osborne was pushing Plessinger for second and Webb was not too far ahead. Plessinger tried to get Webb a few times, but then Osborne turned up the heat, shot past Plessinger and then grabbed the lead from Webb. Osborne was so down early in this weekend—huge crash yesterday and didn’t ride after that, way off pace in first practice, so-so after that, and now is sitting on an impressive heat race win.

Musquin crashed in the whoops. Sexton quietly snuck up on Plessinger. Then came Anderson and Ferrandis, and somehow Hartranft ended up outside the main in 10^th after holeshotting. This 450 field is tough!

Last Chance Qualifiers

Typical 250LCQ craziness! Devin Simonson led early, was block passed by Max Miller and that led to a chain reaction crash that claimed Wilson Fleming and Hunter Schlosser. Super bummer as all three went down. Up ahead, Dylan Woodcock controlled the race ahead of Jeremy Hand,, Josh Osby and Miller. It got wild again on the last lap and Harriman tried to get Miller for fourth, Harriman stuffed the front wheel in but wasn’t far enough and went down. Miller held on fourth.

Joan Cros lead the 450 LCQ early, Brandon Hartranft moved to second with teammate Adam Enticknap and Kyle Chisholm fourth. You just knew Chizz would chizz in this one. Meanwhile Benny Bloss got caught in a pile early and found himself nearly last—he was in a main event spot in the heat race and crashed there too. Chisholm, the absolute master of making mains, did what he does, working his way forward to win the LCQ ahead of Hartranft and Adam Enticknap. Alex Ray closed on Enticknap a few times but thought wisely and backed it way down, those four veteran riders held on for the final four transfer spots.

250SX Main event

Jett Lawrence got the jump out of the gate but was too far inside to make it work and RJ Hampshire worked fro the middle to get the holeshot. Christian Craig moved to second and then overtook Hampshire on a big rhythm lane. Lawrence held third while Austin Forkner sliced and diced past his teammate Jo Shimoda to take fourth. They battled hard and that allowed Nichols to slide underneath Shimoda and take fifth away. Craig and Hampshire traded fast times up front, like they did in their heat race, while Forkner closed on Lawrence and brought Nichols with them. Lawrence then began to close on Hampshire, but got wheelspin coming out of the corner that connected to the start straight, and that allowed Forkner to get him. Nichols passed Lawrence as well. Then Forkner went to work on Hampshire and found an opening at the end of the whoops to take second. Behind the Craig/Forkner/Hampshire/Nichols/Lawrence group came a battle between Michael Mosiman and Shimoda for sixth. Mosiman got tangled with a lapper and went down, and that allowed Shimoda and Mitchell Oldenburg to move through.

Late in the race the battle for third was on between Hampshire and Nichols. Nichols showed him a wheel but Hampshire held him at bay, then Hampshire went down in the next turn allowing Nichols to take it. Lawrence wasn’t far behind Nichols but he lost it in a bowl berm on the last lap and coughed up several positions.

Craig did it! He held on for a big win, delivering with great riding from yesterday’s press session through every practice, his heat and the main. He literally broke down in tears after the victory. Could this be the Christian Craig season we’ve all been waiting for? It’s early, but it was impressive.

Forkner was solid in the night show and took second, and Nichols was third to put two Monster Energy/Star Yamahas on the podium. Shimoda and Hampshire were top five, ahead of Lawrence, Mosiman, Oldenburg, Vohland and Osby.

"Bobby Reagan and Star Racing offered his support when I was getting no results," said Craig. "This is why I work so hard. You dream of this moment."

I’m the happiest I’ve been for second place," said Forkner. "Start wasn’t what I wanted fifth or so, I haen’t had to come through the pack like that for awhile. I’m really happy, it’s my first race back in while from my big one at Salt Lake City. I’m really happy with my ride tonight, made some good passes in the heat race in the main. Christian got out front early and there wasn’t much I could do with that."

"I was taking pressure pretty much the whole time from some good dudes," said Nichols about his third. "Overall it was a fun race. I’m looking forward to some more races, I just have to get off the line better."

450SX Main event

Barcia and Musquin battle for the holeshot but Barcia controls it, then Brayton slides into second. Musquin and Cianciarulo battle hard for third and AC gets it, Roczen slides by as well. Roczen was on a mission and went by Cianciarulo and started closing on Brayton. A few spots back Martin Davalos crashed and Chase Sexton has nowhere to go and crashed into him. Heat race winner Zach Osborne was last early after going down in the first turn. And Tomac got together with Friese and went down in a bowl turn after the whoops! That left him in 15th, and soon Sexton went down for a second time. Amazingly, seven minutes into the main, Tomac and Osborne were battling for 14th and Webb was in 10th.

Up front the  battle lines were drawn as Roczen moved past Brayton into second and started closing on Barcia. Both busted out the big quad jump. Roczen started to close at times and then Barcia made a mistake in a rhythm lane. This allowed Roczen to jump the faster combination and get inside…but he didn’t run it in deep enough for the pass. A lap later and Barcia made a mistake again, and Roczen got to him again…but didn’t pass him. Obviously, if you’re going to bring contact to pass Barcia that’s playing Barcia’s game, and Kenny didn’t want to go there. The next few laps, though, Barcia cleaned up the mistakes, got the rhythm, and Kenny never got close enough to pass him again. Barcia held strong and for the third year in a row, he’s the winner of the Monster Energy Supercross season opener!

Roczen was second and Marvin Musquin was an impressive third. The first few laps were a bit hectic for him but he rebounded nicely, closed back in on Cianciarulo and took third away to score a podium. This is Marvin’s first supercross race since 2019. Cianciarulo was fourth and Malcolm Stewart logged a steady ride for fifth. Brayton held on for sixth, and late in the race Ferrandis passed Plessinger for eighth. Webb was ninth and Osborne was tenth. Savatgy, Wilson and Tomac came through next, ahead of Sexton, and Anderson faded badly down the stretch to 15th.

“I don’t know. I got a great start, Kenny pressured me the whole race but I kept it together,” said Barcia. “It was an insane race, I’m glad I did the three peat, but that wasn’t the goal. I want to be in it the whole year and not a one-hit wonder!”

“It was a good race, it was clean,” said Roczen. “The track was rough and tacky. We did great, I made some good passes at the beginning. Second place, I’m totally fine with it, we had some great racing there. I kind of let it go there a little bit at the end and I had to try to reel it back in.”

“My goal this year was to have good training, be smooth with no injuries and come into the season prepared,” said Musquin, who missed all of the 2020 SX season with a knee injury. “I feel like I had a good off-season. I had a fun in practice but that’s one thing—racing in another. I had a rough heat race, but when it counted I got a good start. I got passed at the beginning but I came back for third. I can’t believe it. I feel like my fitness will come with more racing, and I’m happy with this.”