The second round of the SuperMotocross Playoffs went down over the weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, and the situation in the 450 Class is now tighter than ever, thanks to some close racing up front from the usual suspects. In order to gain a little insight into the chaos of round two, we sent our burning questions to former pro and NBC Pit Reporter, Jason Thomas.
This is the first time we’ve ever raced at this venue. What was the dirt like, and how’d it shape up? Is there another venue you could compare it to?
I don’t think you’re going to find many positive reviews for the dirt at round two. It was reasonable early on in the day but by moto time, it had hardened and become less than ideal. The trick was keeping moisture in it so that it didn’t harden. Once that change happens, it’s nearly impossible to undo in the time window given. Adding water once the dirt gets really hard only creates slippery, almost ice-like conditions. There were riders slipping and sliding all over the place once racing commenced. Riders were nice enough to not hammer the conditions too harshly, but you could glean from Hunter Lawrence’s postrace comments that things were a bit challenging.
Personally, I don’t mind different conditions at different rounds. Would I feel that way if I was racing? Probably not. But, in the spirit of testing riders’ skillsets, I think it makes sense to test them in all conditions. And in the post-race press conference, Hunter did say it was good to put some old hard pack skills back to the test. It was definitely a challenge.
It was hot in Texas, with temperatures in the mid 90’s and humidity making it feel much worse. Did that change how the track shaped up, and did any of the guys seem to wilt late in the second motos?
It did. That temperature only made that dirt harden up even faster. The heat evaporated the moisture out of otherwise pliable dirt Saturday morning. If it had been 65 and overcast, the track would have stayed much more agreeable. As for the effect on the riders, there’s no doubt they were feeling it. I didn’t specifically notice one rider suffering more than another, but simply standing outside in the heat was enough to have a serious impact on energy levels and fatigue. It was one of the most difficult days, as far as heat and humidity go, in quite a while.
There was another split lane this week, but this time it seemed like almost all of the guys were taking the inside. Why was that, and was there any situation in which taking the outside would have been better?
It’s so difficult to create a split lane that doesn’t have a faster/slower dynamic. With bumps, jumps, and differing distances, it would be a miracle to have them equate to exactly the same timing. The inside was clearly the better choice, but those laps that Jett Lawrence tried the outside, he almost made it work. He was pushing way over the limit to do it but it was a solid effort. It seems like the more obstacles inserted into the option lane, the less likely it becomes that they will end up the same.
What’d you think of Jordon Smith’s move on RJ Hampshire in the first 250 moto? Smith isn’t exactly known as being dirty, but it sure looked like he went out of his way to make contact with Hampshire’s front wheel.
It was a block pass that just didn’t pan out to RJ’s favor. RJ and Jordon are friends and have a long history together so I don’t believe there was more to it than that.
With any block pass, the timing is the most critical aspect. If the passing rider has any hitch or hesitation in the apex, the rider being passed is at risk of being stood up too long to keep their balance. If they tip down to the inside, they simply fall over the rider underneath them. It happens quite a bit and I wouldn’t read too much into it.
The “over” section of the over/under looked tricky, with both Ty Masterpool and Nate Thrasher having crashes there. What made this obstacle complicated?
The takeoff was as slippery as a buttered waterslide. I watched several riders execute a two-wheel slide on the take-off and save it. It was only a matter of time before one or more of those went sideways. If you noticed the 450 veterans, they didn’t take risks with lean angle on that jump. The penalty was far too harsh for very little upside. Could they have scrubbed it and saved a tenth of a second? Sure, but the risk was extremely high and a mistake meant the end of the day.
Cooper Webb was a lot better in Texas than he was in Charlotte. Do you think it’s just getting additional gate drops under his belt, or was there anything specific that he was doing better this time around?
The track was more conducive to what he does well and his starts were significantly better. Those two catalysts will almost always result in a big improvement. Webb is better at slower, more methodical race tracks. He isn’t as good at wide open, “send it,” style tracks. Had Texas been super tacky with lots of traction, I think he would have been even better. He’s not going to be the guy he was in Monster Energy Supercross in the short term, but watch for him to come out swinging in 2025.
Eli Tomac was coming in hot late in the first 450 moto. Did Jett Lawrence dial it up as a result? And if so, why didn’t he go faster earlier if was able to?
I believe Jett was letting the race unfold and being very patient. In the end, maybe that was a mistake but this is a strategy that he’s executed to perfection time and time again. He has been able to manage surges and best competitors when they try to make their runs. This time he simply wasn’t able to. Was it the rust of the injury? Did he make a mistake in not pushing harder earlier? Those are fair questions to ask given the outcome. My guess would be that he didn’t see Tomac making up the time needed and was content to play the long game with his brother, Hunter. If he could do it all over again, I think he would raise the aggression level earlier and increase the gap to Tomac when he had the chance. Instead, he was in a battle royale to the checkers and it cost him the overall.
Tomac found himself sandwiched between Hunter Lawrence and Jett Lawrence for much of the first moto. What’s it like being in a position in which you’re trying to pass the rider in front of you, but are having to ride defensively to prevent being passed by the rider behind you?
It’s not an ideal setup. To pass, unusual lines typically need to be utilized, which leave you vulnerable to the rider behind you. It’s almost a damned if you do, damned if you don’t scenario. Most riders will try to gauge exactly how close the rider is behind them and then guesstimate if they can use an unorthodox line without being passed. Also, understanding where legitimate passing zones are is important. Don’t take silly alternative lines in areas where a pass is very unlikely. Save the risk for when it is worth the reward.
Chase Sexton was by far the best we’ve seen in SMX so far in the second moto. On the broadcast James Stewart mentioned Sexton is a different rider when he’s alone and up front. Is it really that simple, or were there other things at play?
It’s not the only factor but it is the biggest one. Chase is very sensitive to the up-and-down swings that racing brings. Put him out front and confident, he is a world beater. Put him in traffic and in a tough spot, he doesn’t have the same alpha attitude. I believe he’s always the same rider, but he’s battling the thoughts in his head. If he ever truly believes that he’s the best rider on the planet, it’s going to be a wild ride. There are sports psychologists in this world for a reason. The mental roller coaster that athletes ride upon is not to be understated. Sexton has the tools that 99.9 percent of all pro racers do not. When he believes that, he is as good or better than any rider alive. But only when he believes it.
