In Quotebook, a selection of riders detail how their races played out in the 14th round of the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross Championship at Atlanta. 

450SX

Image: Octopi Media.

Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM) – 10th:
It was just a weird day, I was a little off physically and unfortunately, it showed on the riding. I was ready to go for the main – I didn’t get a good jump but my position off the start allowed me to push it wide and I had an okay start but going into the end of the tunnel I caught that bank/edge with my rear wheel and it kicked me and I did a 180 [degree turn]. My right-hand glove came off in the crash and my bike was twisted a bit but it took me a couple turns to get used to it and I came back to 10th. I’m a little bit disappointed, obviously, but that’s all I could get today.

Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) – Fourth:
It was a crazy race – a good battle for the lead and we were all going for it. I had a couple crashes but it felt really good to be back in the mix. I missed last week and just been struggling all season but man it felt great to just get back in it. I haven’t really gone that speed since probably last year, so I’m pretty happy. I have to give it up to the team, I had a big crash last week and they came down to Florida and we figured some stuff out. We’ll just keep going for podiums, and hopefully get the first win of the season – there are three races left and we’ll see what happens!

Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – First:
It seemed like we might have a mudder this morning but, the dirt came around after the sun showed up around mid-day. By the time my main event started, the track was gnarly but, we’re in a great spot with the bike so I was able to keep pushing the pace through the tough conditions. Even though the whoops were cupped out and edgy, the bike was consistent and predictable, so I kept charging across them every lap. The whole team has put in a lot of effort to have the KX450SR working as good as it is right now so hopefully we can enjoy a few more of these wins before the season ends.

Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) – Sixth:
It was a pretty crazy day with a different schedule and only having one practice. I ended up qualifying P6, which was not a bad place since the track was pretty slippery and kind of wild and one-lined. I wasn’t particularly stoked on my heat-race finish but I got through it and did some bike changes for the main and ripped an awesome holeshot, it felt so good! Unfortunately, I had a few mistakes, went down and just didn’t ride that well, so it was definitely a tough night but I’m a tough SOB and I’m going to go back to Cali, work hard this week and come out swinging at the next round.

Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) – Third:
It was a really good day for me, riding-wise. I felt good here last year, and I was excited to be coming back. I felt good with the track again, and I probably haven’t had this much fun riding my dirt bike, ever. The rain made it pretty technical – still pretty fast, but I think it slowed down a tad. I knew Jason [Anderson] was going to be good, and Eli [Tomac] obviously. I put myself in a good position, and then I came into that corner and couldn’t really save it; it was just gone so fast. I had to gather my thoughts and just go for it; I knew I could probably make it back to the podium if I rode like I know how, and that was my goal after my fall. I’m thankful to be back up there, but obviously I want to be where Jason is sitting. I’m glad the team and I have made this much progress. Sometimes it doesn’t go your way, and you’ve got to keep digging. I know that sunrise is coming.

Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – Fifth:
The day was actually pretty good, even though it was a short day. I feel like I rode pretty good in the main. I had a decent start and I kind of just made some things happen and we ended up fifth. I do feel like there was a lot more left in the tank but honestly, I’m happy to re-bound myself after the crash last weekend. I know it’s just a top-five but it’s something to build off of and I’m stoked to just be back racing again and we’ll be ready for next weekend.

Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) – Second:
It was a really tough track that changed the whole time and was very challenging throughout the day. In the morning, it was really slick, then it slowly came around, but it was still a tough race track. I made a couple of mistakes early in the main event, and that got me out of touch with the lead, but I was able to have a good second half of the race and fought to finish second on the podium. So it was a solid night and good for the championship.

Brandon Hartranft (H.E.P Suzuki) – Ninth
I felt great today in the night show. I had a solid heat race and then a solid ride in the main for ninth. I fought hard, tried to catch eighth, but we ended up ninth overall. I’m healthy and we moved up to the top 10 in points so I’m super happy. I’m ready to go back home and have another solid week and head to Foxborough.

Justin Bogle (H.E.P Suzuki) – 21st:
I had a close call on press day which made for a good video, but not for a very fun time. Today was just kind of an average day. I got a good start in the heat. I didn’t ride as well as I can but ended up with a fourth in the heat. I got a decent start in the main, then had an issue in the first rhythm section and bent my shifter under the foot peg. I had to pull in to get it bent back which put me a lap down. I ended up going down again at the end. It was just a rough weekend and I’m glad to get out of here healthy for next weekend.

Adam Enticknap (H.E.P Suzuki) – 20th:
This weekend went better than last weekend. It was a solid day for me. I made it through the LCQ, got third place, and made the main event. Unfortunately, right now I’m just not as in shape as I want to be. I just have to keep pushing. We’re heading in the right direction and we’re ready for Foxborough.

250SX

Image: Octopi Media.

Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Fourth:
This weekend my starts were really good in the heat and the main event so that is nice progress on something I’ve been working to improve. At the beginning of the main I felt strong and was comfortable out front with the lead but, I think my speed was a little bit off this weekend, so I ended up being passed by a few riders. I want to be back on the podium, so I wouldn’t say that I’m satisfied with fourth place but, there are positives to take away from this weekend and we will keep trying to be better.

Austin Forkner (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Seventh:
I’ve been eager to get back to racing and definitely wanted to show that I’m a contender for wins this year. In the Heat Race, I was really happy with my riding. To come through the whole field and get a win with a last lap pass on last weekend’s overall winner was a good way to get back into the swing of things. I’ve only been back on the bike about a week now, so I was really happy with my race craft and I think I was on track to have another strong performance in the main event until I crashed while running in third. Overall, it was great to be racing again and I’m ready to fight for some wins before the championship ends.

Michael Mosiman (TLD Red Bull GasGas) – Sixth:
What a track and what a night, so close! It was crazy conditions with so much mud an uncertainty but I felt good all day and things were clicking for me. I had a lot of speed today and I feel like my riding has matured and my race craft is there, but it’s almost like I wanted it a little too bad today and I have to work on calming down and letting it come to me. I think all the pieces are there, I’m super stoked on my team and the program, I’m just looking forward to seeing the results in due time.

Pierce Brown (TLD Red Bull GasGas) – 10th:
Another tough weekend for me. I ended up 10th overall in the main event and I’m not too stoked on it, I felt like I had more in me. I feel like we work too hard for that so we’re going to go back to Cali this week, put the work in for next weekend and bounce back after a tough couple of weeks.

RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – Eighth:
This was my first time racing Atlanta and it was a tough day to try and get comfortable with only one practice. My starts are still pretty solid but I just wasn’t comfortable in that main event. It got pretty hairy as the race went on and I just kind of went big-picture and backed it down, so I can live to fight another weekend. Hopefully we’ll be back on the podium in Boston, if not the top step.

Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – 11th:
It wasn’t the best day for me but we got some better starts. I just need a little bit better riding and we’ll fix the issues. All good, just looking forward to the next round and we’ll try to end off supercross with some good results.

Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – First:
Any time you win is cool, so East-West is really good. Everyone has been hearing about the East-West deal – who’s going to win, this and that – but it’s not really anything new that you have to change your approach for; you just have to race. I did my best in qualifying, but I live for the night show. I got a good start and took it from there. Jett’s on the box as well, which is so awesome for our family – we’re in the best place we’ve ever been. Our work ethic is second to none, and the team we have around us now is unbelievable – every one of our guys that we work with. It’s cool, and we’re having fun. This is what we train for, and I’m so stoked to pull it off.

Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) – Third:
The biggest thing today was the traction, because it was obviously pretty muddy in the qualifiers. It was kind of just seeing what the traction was going to be like – when it was going to be tacky and grippy – and I found out those spots where it wasn’t tacky at all. It is what it is, and you can’t really throw your hands up; you have to get back on your bike, put your head down, your bum up and keep charging. I feel like days like today are a good test of my mental side, to see how I’m building from previous races, and it’s a well-deserved podium. I was definitely cheering inside my helmet when I seen Hunter was P1, and I was just thinking, ‘Be smart Hunter, and bring it on home.’ It’s nice that we got one and three.

Nate Thrasher (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) – Fifth:
It was a crazy day with the weather, and we only had one qualifying session, but I felt good and was the fastest qualifier. I was fifth in my heat race, but I felt good going into the main and felt that I had the speed for a podium. I chose a far outside gate pick, which worked for me last year, but didn’t pay off today. I fought my way back to fifth, which is still not the result we are looking for, but there were a lot of positives to take away. I’m looking forward to the last two rounds and want to finish with some podiums.

Christian Craig (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) – Second:
Atlanta was a wild one! It rained all morning, and I thought the track was going to be underwater, but somehow it stopped at the perfect time, and they were able to scrape off the mud. We only had one practice due to the rain, but I was able to qualify well, and I won my heat race, which was nice. Then in the main, I got off to a decent start and worked my way up to second about halfway through. I was pushing to try to catch first, and I went down with three laps to go. Luckily, I was able to get up in second and hold that position to the end. We lost three points in the title fight, but we still have a 23-point gap with two rounds left. I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing, have some fun and move on to Denver.

Derek Drake (BarX/ Chaparral Suzuki) – 16th:
I had some flashes of brilliance in Atlanta. I had a nice heat race going, then landed in a mud hole and crashed. Then I had another great start in the LCQ and went on to win that race. The main was not my best start. It was hard to make passes with such stiff competition in the East-West Shootout. I’m looking forward to next weekend back on the east coast and having some more strong starts!

Carson Mumford (BarX/ Chaparral Suzuki) – 19th:
I had a very good day going into practice. I qualified seventh. From my heat race I made it straight into the main, but unfortunately struggled terribly in the main. It’s a race I want to learn and move forward from, but I had a great time in Atlanta. I love that area.