Image: Octopi Media.

Bringing a relaxed, thoughtfully-paced approach to Angel Stadium for a second time in 2023, Adam Cianciarulo took another step forward in the year’s first Triple Crown.

The 26-year-old Monster Energy Kawasaki representative matched his ninth-place performance from the season-opening round at Anaheim three weeks earlier on the strength of three well-executed starts.

Cianciarulo’s qualifying position of ninth perhaps foreshadowed his eventual overall result on the night. However, it doesn’t tell the story of his sixth-place finish in Anaheim 2’s second 450SX race — his best in the stacked premier class since finishing fifth in the third Indianapolis round in 2021.

The longtime Kawasaki rider has seen gate drops in Supercross competition just seven times since that Indianapolis event. His three laps led inside San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium in the second round of 2023 remain his on-paper highlight since that point. Still, given his aim of simply seeing checkered flags, Cianciarulo’s Anaheim 2 was a success.

Critically, Cianciarulo completed the first laps in the third, fourth, and sixth positions on a deteriorating track, enabling himself to experience the leaders’ pace as he builds back from long periods on the sidelines due to injury. The end result was ninth overall via 6-11-8 scores.

“All in all it was a good night for us as a team,” Cianciarulo said of his third round in 2023. “I had three good starts tonight and got to mix it up front with the lead group once again. It’s promising to see that I can consistently start up front and hold my own with them for a good portion of the race.

“I’d say tonight was another successful night of steady improvement. I’m ready to get back to work this week and put on another good ride for the fans next weekend in Houston.”

While the debuting 250SX East regional group may earn the most attention, Cianciarulo’s night in Houston on Saturday, February 4, is another angle of interest as he returns to NRG Stadium — the site of his last Supercross podium, a lengthy 739 days earlier.