Image: Octopi Media.

A mishap in qualifying two for Adam Cianciarulo ultimately brought a premature end to his night in New Jersey, with the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider following the series concussion protocol and sitting out the race program.

The incident occurred at the double after a 90-degree left corner, where Justin Barcia made an error and his trajectory then veered him into the path of Cianciarulo, who was already committed in that direction.

Cianciarulo was brought down heavily when he collided with the TLD Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing rider, later making the decision to sit out the remainder of the East Rutherford event to not compound any problems.

“In Q2, had a good practice start and came around in the double there and I was already committed to the double,” Cianciarulo recalled. “Pretty basic jump, Justin just got a little out of control there on the bottom and swerved into me.

“I landed right into him, and it was kind of a blur from there – hit my head pretty good – and looking back at the tape it seems like it was kind of a whiplash thing, I really took a lot of G-forces when I hit him there.

“The bike kind of got me on the head when I was coming down, got up a little dazed, obviously, I kind of collected myself and went… obviously I will do anything to get back out there on the bike and make it work, I have no problem riding through pain or whatever.

“Yeah, basically didn’t feel good. The speed was off and I’m going to have to make the decision to call it this weekend [East Rutherford]. Not what I want to do, obviously going to go on the concussion protocol.

“It’s a really tough call for me to make, but I think it is the right call. We’ve had a good building year so far, and to miss one race and not compound the problem, and kind of just keep going like we have been. It’s a bummer deal, but like I said, I’ll go on the concussion protocol and do my best and be back as soon as it’s safe.”

Despite ending his night prematurely in New Jersey, this year Cianciarulo has reached the furthest point in a 450SX season that he has contested to date. He has had the firm target of building and remaining injury free throughout 2023, and is currently eighth in the Monster Energy Supercross standings.