Image: Octopi Media.

After posting the fastest lap time in qualifying, a crash saw Adam Cianciarulo snap his shifter off while leading moto one by eight seconds in the opening round of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross.

Eventually finishing with 7-12 moto scores on the day at Fox Raceway, the results sheet isn’t evident of Cianciarulo’s potential to contend for the 450MX championship in this year’s outdoor series.

“Even though the result wasn’t what we hoped for today, there were a lot of things we can build on for the season,” Cianciarulo explained. “I’m staying positive and I’m glad we can shake off those first-round jitters.

“We can now focus on getting back up on that podium where we belong. We know what we need to work on, and I can’t wait to get back out there next week.”

On the heels of a collarbone injury and subsequent surgery to plate the injured bone, Cianciarulo said coming into the season there would be discomfort throughout the summer in that shoulder.

It didn’t seem to affect him much as the series got underway at Fox Raceway on Saturday, showing plenty of speed and stamina as he battled to maintain seventh in moto one.

He’ll get a chance to regain some ground in the championship this weekend, as the series heads to Thunder Valley in Colorado for round two on Saturday.