Southwick National TV Schedule

Change in Tactics

All season we’ve seen Hunter Lawrence calmly deal with coming through the pack when he didn’t get the best start, and snagging wins when the starts were good. The result was four consecutive overall wins and a big points lead coming into RedBud. Well, as mentioned above, that big points lead has shrunk to 11, and Lawrence likely will be dealing with some pain at Southwick after that big crash on the start last week. Will he focus on simply getting good points at Southwick, or will he come out swinging in an effort to extend his points leads? -Hansel

Get that Start

Levi Kitchen has long maintained that, if he can get a good start, he can run at the front. Well, he backed it up once again in the second moto at RedBud, that’s for sure! That ride was easily one of Kitchen’s best performances, and the most dominant. We’ve seen riders break out and go on a streak after winning motos—will Kitchen do the same? -Hansel

Up and Down

If you look at Tom Vialle’s (and Kitchen’s too, for that matter) moto history this season, it’s mostly so-so first motos followed by much better second motos. It was true at RedBud too, where he went 9-2 after tangling with Ryder DiFrancesco in the first moto. Vialle is starting to look sharper out there, so don’t be surprised if he finally puts together two great motos at Southwick. -Hansel

Back on Track

We’ve seen some nice rides here and there from Jo Shimoda this summer, but so far, the flash hasn’t been consistent, and at RedBud it wasn’t there. The Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider went 8-5 last weekend, which is below the level he’s capable of. He made things harder for himself when he gained position after going off the track and was penalized a position in the first moto. Shimoda is capable of dicing at the front, we’ll see if he can get back up there at Southwick. -Hansel

AP

Some riders, like Aaron Plessinger, do better the gnarlier the track gets. AP, who sits third in overall points, finished third at Southwick in 2022. After a couple of weekends off the box he will be looking to get back up there, and Southwick is just the track for him to do it. – Sarah Whitmore

Halfway

We are pretty much at the halfway point of the season (with only 11 rounds, halfway will be after the first motos at Southwick). Justin Cooper was a title favorite coming in, as he took off most of supercross to prepare for the outdoor season. Missing High Point due to a qualifying crash definitely hurt his points, so if he has any chance at all he had better start picking off some moto, and overall, wins here soon. Can he turn it around at Southwick? -Whitmore

Locals Only

Southwick is the one track where the local privateers have the biggest advantage. They’ll be battling up toward the front, and with an earlier track time, do not be surprised if they get one of the fastest times in qualifying. Rumor has it that local favorite Jimmy Decotis is back out of retirement for this one round, how will he and the other locals end up? -Whitmore