Carson Mumford Talks Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki Fill-In Ride

Seattle, WA SeattleMonster Energy AMA Supercross Championship

Mitch Payton’s Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team has legendary status, but as of late has had a string of bad luck. Nothing like the start of the 2023 season when all of his riders were hurt (to be fair Cameron McAdoo seemed pretty dang beat up but still toughed it out at A2). This seemed like good news for Carson Mumford who got the call to be a fill in rider, until he too got hurt before he could race the Oakland Supercross. Finally, barely back on the bike, Mumford was able to line up for his debut on the Kawasaki in Seattle. We caught up with him after the race to see how it went.

Finally, back in action. Ran up front a little bit. Eventually ended up eighth. Just take me through it.
Carson Mumford: Didn’t get quite as good of a start as I would like. I think I was like fifth in the first turn. Tried to hug the inside really tight, and then Pierce Brown got into me on the first jump, and it threw my whole rhythm off for that first rhythm. You know how important that is. So, probably went back to 12th or something. With limited time on the bike, I really just wanted to focus on getting some good laps in and staying smart and smooth. So, I just tried to hit all my marks and jump all the rhythms as much as I could. A couple guys went down. I made some good passes and ended up eighth.

Take me through the heat race. Obviously, first race back and then bam, right up front. What’s it like doing that?
Yeah, that was awesome. I was in the B practice all day, so the track was pretty prime. I ended up qualifying fourth, which is the best I’ve ever qualified. So, that I was stoked on. Gave me a great gate pick for the heat race. Then something came over me on the gate in the heat race. I was like, all right, this is going to be awesome. Got off to a great jump. Came around the first turn first or second and got into the lead. I was feeling really comfortable out there. Like you said, it’s my first race back and the nerves and everything. I really haven’t had that many days on the bike. So, I was just trying to focus on staying smooth and smart, but I was having a great time. I was smiling under my helmet and everything. Pierce ended up getting around me, but I led for way over half the heat race, so I was stoked. Got second in the heat race, which is the best I’ve ever done. It was good for me to show I still have speed and a lot of talent, so that was awesome.

I know you weren’t quite 100% coming back, so was this about where you expected to end up on the night? Or is this a little bit better?
I really had no clue, honestly. I tore my calf muscle after my wrist, so it’s kind of just like never-ending nagging injuries. I really only had four or five full days on the bike before I came here, and the last couple days weren’t the greatest. I was kind of stressing out about the race. I hadn’t got too many long motos in. So, I was like, “You know what? Tonight, I just need to show I’ve got speed and sprint as long as I can, and wherever I end up, I end up.” In the main, I got into a good groove and just rode it home.

Insight: Carson Mumford