With the inaugural SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) due to feature a unique set of hybrid tracks later this year, Atlanta’s round of Monster Energy Supercross was likely one of the closer layouts to what we can expect to see in the post-season, even if it’s not entirely clear what will be produced at this point. In this Input feature, the top three from the 13th round of this year’s 450SX series share their takes on Atlanta Motor Speedway potentially acting as an SMX finals teaser of sorts.

Image: Octopi Media.

Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing):
This is what I’d assume would be more like a SuperMotocross track, in my opinion. I think the way that all of our bikes handled, we are all probably quite excited for what is to come. I was quite happy with the track, it’s high speed, it’s technical, but it did break down to where we had to pick good lines, and hit our marks and do all of that stuff. I quite enjoyed it, I actually like it better than Daytona.

Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC):
I liked it. For some reason, I have always done good here. I like that they have a lot of dirt, so the obstacles are bigger, there were some big jumps. We walked the track yesterday and there was like a 75ft turning double over there that they fixed. Big jumps, definitely high speed and usually some bigger whoops sections. So, it’s technical and today it definitely broke down more I think than it has in the past since we’ve been racing here. As far as SuperMotocross goes, there’s no… we don’t really know what it is going to be like. I am assuming it is going to be high-speed like this. I enjoy these speedways, I definitely like it during the day more than at night because there was no shadows out there.

Image: Octopi Media.

Ken Roczen (Progressive Insurance Ecstar Suzuki):
I agree, I’m right there with those guys. I like… not to talk smack on Daytona – I love Daytona, it’s a very prestigious race – but I like this better for some reason. I don’t know if it is because of the dirt, we have a lot more traction, where Daytona it gets super loose and the dirt is black, I always struggle seeing there, especially if you have tear-offs on. I think it was fine here in the past when we raced at night, but I overall had a good time all-day on the track honestly, it’s a little bit more Supercross style than Daytona is and I thought it was rad.