A selection of riders detail round one of 2020 Monster Energy Supercross at Anaheim in California.

450SX

Image: Octopi Media.

Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – Third:
It’s been a struggle today with the sickness but that’s what makes this sport so gnarly, you have to be able to go out on Saturday and perform despite how you’re feeling. I’m just pumped to be on the podium, I feel like I dug deep and pushed through it tonight and it’s a good start to the season for myself and the team.

Jason Anderson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – Fifth:
My weekend went pretty decent. In the Main Event, I started in the back and I had to make some passes to get into fifth-place. Once I got behind [Blake] Baggett and Cooper [Webb], that’s all she wrote.

Dean Wilson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – 13th:
My weekend was pretty good. Going from dead last to 13th isn’t the greatest way to start the season off but I charged the whole way and I know we’re just going to get better from here.

Zach Osborne (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – 14th:
The first round didn’t go the way I would have liked, I’ve had a flawless off-season and it’s a bummer to come in super prepared on a great bike/team and then get sick – I’ve had a fever pretty much since Tuesday and tonight I just had nothing left to give.

Justin Barcia (Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing) – First:
It doesn’t get much better, honestly. We had a really nice day. I qualified alright. The heat race was great, I got a great start and won. And the main event, wow, just unbelievable. I got another great start, led a lot of laps, but I made a mistake and got passed. I regrouped and got into the lead again and took the win. I’m feeling over the top right now. It’s phenomenal! It’s going to be a long season though. I just want to keep having a lot of fun and keep putting that bike on the podium.

Aaron Plessinger (Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing) – 12th:
A1 wasn’t really the night that I wanted. I felt kind of tight in practice and qualifying and then in the heat race I went down and someone ran over my ankle. I had to get it taped up and went out for the LCQ. I was able to get the last transfer spot to the main and I pretty much got the best start I could have with the gate pick that I had. In the end, I was able to salvage the night with 12th and get some valuable points for the championship. I’m going to go back with the team this week, work out some kinks and come back swinging in St. Louis.

Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Second:
I fell in love with Supercross watching Anaheim 1 back in 1999. Ever since then I’ve been dreaming about what I got to experience tonight. Everything from opening ceremonies to getting my first 450 podium. I was bummed we couldn’t capture the win, but regardless I am stoked on this result. It is a long season, I still have a lot to learn and build on from here, but I am already fired up to go racing next weekend in St. Louis.

Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Seventh:
Man, the first race of the season is always an interesting one. The whole day is just chaotic. I started feeling a bit of a flow by the end of the last qualifying session today, but in both the heat race and main event tonight I got decent starts but got shuffled back in the first turn and the way the track broke down tonight it became very one-lined and difficult to make passes. The competition this year is deeper than ever, so we will regroup this week and come out swinging in St. Louis next weekend.

Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC) – Sixth:
Anaheim 1 started pretty good but the main event was definitely not the greatest. We were a little off on our bike setup, with it being way too stiff. That really showed in the main because of the way the track deteriorated so much. I didn’t feel like I was able to keep a good flow or attack the track the way I needed to. For sure this is not the position we wanted for the night, but it’s good to get the first race out of the way and leave healthy. We know what we need to work on for the upcoming race and have a plan in mind moving forward to implement those changes. Overall we’re not going to let this first race get us down, and I’m looking forward to St. Louis.

Justin Brayton (Team Honda HRC) – Eighth:
I’m pretty happy with how tonight went overall. To start the night with that heat win and Kenny and I going 1-2 was super cool. The biggest thing I’m really stoked about is my starts. All off-season, that was my main focus. I told myself that if we can start up front, we can win some of these races, and I think I really put a stamp on that tonight. Running top-three for over half the race was great too; unfortunately, I got taken out, but it is what it is. I was still able to get up and get eighth. So a heat win, two good starts and an eighth with a crash—I’d say I’m pretty happy. The bike was awesome too, so it’s only up from here.

Fredrick Noren (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Racing) – 21st:
It was great to be at A1 for the first round of the season. I came in wanting to learn and grow, and I accomplished that this weekend. In the main, I got together with another rider and went down which was a bummer, but overall was consistent. I felt the most comfortable I ever have at Supercross due to the great bike and training with Buddy Antunez this pre season. I’m very excited for St. Louis next weekend.

Jimmy Decotis (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing) – 22nd:
It was an awesome feeling getting back to racing under the lights again at Anaheim 1. First race of the year is always exciting. I’m looking forward to round two to make some improvements, learn from the first race, and continue to keep striving to be better. Just glad to be back at the races and look forward to the future.

250SX West

Image: Octopi Media.

Michael Mosiman (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – Fourth:
It was good to come out of here with a top-five result but I’m not super stoked on how I rode. It’s comforting, though, because I know I’ve got a whole lot more in the tank.

Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing) – First:
It’s indescribable. Everyone says that about their first win, but it honestly it is. I felt like I needed to pinch myself after I went over the finish line. Looking up into the crowd and all the lights and realizing what I had just accomplished – my first win at Anaheim – it’s unreal! I can’t wait to go home and sleep on it and see how I feel tomorrow. I really don’t want this feeling to end.

Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing – Second:
The day was good as a whole, I just got a bad start in the Main. I came back pretty strong, but I’m a little bit disappointed because I think I should have finished a little bit closer than I did. I was riding a little bit tight today. It’s the first one of the year, a lot of pressure, a lot going on. Everyone wants to win the first one. But it’s good. Last year, I finished second and went on to win the championship. So no problem, we’ll move on to next weekend.

Austin Forkner (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Fifth:
It was a split-second decision to be as safe as possible. That’s what they always tell us to rejoin safely and with me pointed backward and slightly left, I thought that after the next rider went by I would be fine. I didn’t gain any position by doing what I did. It’s a bummer they (the officials) didn’t feel the same way. After knowing I was able to put a good pace out front, I’m more fired up than ever to get back out there next weekend.

Cameron McAdoo (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Sixth:
After so much preparation, it’s nice to finally get on the track and get a finish under my belt. We took away a lot of good from this round that I’m hoping we can work on this week to go after an even better result. I would love to be challenging for the podium and proving to these guys that I am able to run up front.

Christian Craig (Geico Honda) – Third:
Anaheim was awesome honestly. I went into the weekend just grateful to be there so to leave with a third is so cool. For months I’ve been riding supercross but had no idea when I’d be racing. I assumed it would be in April, when my suspension was supposed to end originally. The trip I took to Switzerland in December thankfully went my way and I was able to race A1. All day on Saturday I felt good. I qualified third overall and got second in my heat. The main was going pretty good for my first race back. I started around third and stayed there for a lot of the race. Dylan [Ferrandis] got by me eventually and then I road pretty tight, keeping me in fourth. [Austin] Forkner, who was in front of me, ended up having a crash and re-entered the track at the wrong place. I was not far behind him, so I really do think we were in for a good battle had he entered back where he was supposed to, but we have the rest of the season to do that. Saturday night I got the call that I would be bumped up to third for his mistake. I’m not extremely pumped on it because I want to finish in third and actually stand on the podium but we will get there! Really looking forward to the rest of the year!

Jett Lawrence (Geico Honda) – Ninth:
Well, Friday started off with getting food poisoning from a Chick-fil-A sandwich!. I ended up waking up at one in the morning throwing up and having diarrhea and really bad stomach cramps so I couldn’t make it to press day. Saturday morning I was feeling a little bit better but I didn’t get very good sleep. I was pretty tired plus couldn’t eat anything—just a rice cracker and some sips of water so my energy was pretty low. In practice I was struggling to dial the track in and get a good flow and was struggling with the whoops a bit because they were very close together and fast. It was easy to miss a whoop with the front wheel and go over the bars, and then of course that’s exactly what I did! By the time it came to the main event I was starting to feel a little bit better but halfway through I started to get some belly cramps and started to feel a little bit lightheaded. At the end of the day it was not the result I was wanting but I guess it is not such a bad result for my first race.

Luke Clout (Penrite Honda Racing) – DNF:
My riding was good for most of the day but I am just so bummed. I was sitting in eighth and pushing hard, but I made a mistake and it cost me really big. I’m a bit banged up, but there are a lot of positives to take away from the night – it’s been good to see where I’m at over here against some of these guys and I know I will only get better from here. I haven’t had too much time on the 250 and the whoops were a challenge for me tonight, but I will keep grinding – I’ve only been back on the 250 for 3-4 weeks and it’s been about four years since I’ve been on one, so its an adjustment.

Mitchell Oldenburg (Penrite Honda Racing) – 16th:
It was a tough night for me so I am looking forward to being better for the next round, I know what I need to work on before St. Louis. The team are great and the bike feels good so we are on track for stronger results. After the heat I felt sore because I had a couple of crashes, but mentally I’m in a really good spot so as much as I am disappointed in tonight’s result, I need to keep in mind that it’s only race one of 10, I have a bit of time for redemption.

Alex Martin (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing) – 10th:
It was very exciting to be back at the races after a productive and healthy off season. We made some positive changes throughout the day to be fourth in qualifying. The heat race went great for me as I scored the holeshot and led a few laps. The main event was going decent after a top-five start, but I made a mistake. Not the end result we wanted, but lots of positives to take away from this weekend.