As the Tampa round of the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross Championship approaches this Saturday, the tone has been set in a number of different dynamics that are surfacing across the series. In this edition of Countdown, MotoOnline takes a closer look at a selection of trends that are emerging following the opening races of the year.

Image: Octopi Media.

7. Six different riders on the 450SX podium:
Questions at the start of any new season often include who is bringing form in and, also, who will later emerge as contenders down the line? Four rounds into the season, six riders from five different manufacturers have landed on the 450SX podium. Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) and Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC) have notched three each, Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has a pair of seconds, Jason Anderson (Monster Energy Kawasaki) has had podiums at the most recent two rounds, plus Ken Roczen (Progressive Ecstar Suzuki) and Justin Barcia (Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing) also have a podium apiece. Fittingly, each of the six riders who have scored a top three in this year’s series to date also feature inside the top six of the point-standings. Notably, Roczen’s podium at Anaheim 2’s Triple Crown marked the first-ever for the HEP Motorsports team, and the first for the German since reuniting with the RM-Z450. The premier class field is deep this season and, despite some key contenders ruled to the sidelines with injury, there are others who are proven capable of finishing inside the top three, with the intensity and unpredictable outcome making the premier class once again a thrilling spectacle in 2023.

6. KTM Group turnaround:
After an underwhelming title defence last season onboard an all-new KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition, the general thought is that Webb is in an improved spot after the opening rounds of the year. A pair of seconds opened his 2023 title charge, with Webb feeling he was ‘in a good, raceable spot’ after A1 and pleased to be within striking distance of Tomac come race-end in San Diego. While he has not featured on the podium across the past two rounds, Webb has more points after four races than what he had 12 months ago. The new bikes that featured in KTM and Husqvarna’s efforts last year were arguably not in the place they needed to be, with an extensive off-season testing program improving the overall package. This is evidenced also by RJ Hampshire, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider delivering his strongest start to date in 250SX West with a pair of seconds in the opening two rounds, also winning a final in A2’s Triple Crown before misfortune saw his night come underdone. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger notably scored a season-best result of P4 last Saturday in Houston, while Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing is equipped with the latest platform for 2023 and Barcia notably put the MC 450F Factory Edition on the podium at San Diego. And we can’t overlook the early form of Husqvarna’s Malcolm Stewart prior to his injury, including leading laps at A1, being top qualifier at round two and winning his heat race also in San Diego.

5. Rookies on the rise:
There are a number of highly-capable rookies that have made their professional Supercross debut this season, particularly at the opening round of 250SX East last weekend. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan was a standout performer, delivering a clinical performance to work his way up to finish fourth at NRG Stadium. Two-time MX2 world champion Tom Vialle also showed plenty of promise in his first-ever Supercross event, charging to the lead early in the final before mistakes dropped him back to P7. Team Honda HRC 250SX debutant Chance Hymas also impressed, running inside the top three in the early stages of Houston’s main before ultimately taking the checkered flag in P8, while Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Talon Hawkins finished a solid 12th. In 450SX, Justin Cooper notched seventh place during his first premier class main event in Texas. The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider was announced to compete in select rounds of this year’s Monster Energy Supercross Championship, with his next outing to take place this Saturday at Tampa. Colt Nichols impressed with sixth at Anaheim 1 to commence his 450SX stint with Team Honda HRC, but now sits 11th in the standings with 6-12-12-13 finishes in the season to date. Although he doesn’t consider himself a rookie, 2023 marks Christian Craig’s first full 450SX campaign, notably competing in partial premier class Supercross campaigns in the past. Joining Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in 2023, Craig is currently 13th in the 450SX points race, scoring 13-11-11-11 finishes across the first four rounds.

4. Sexton carries title challenge into Supercross:
The 450MX title battle last year of Sexton and Tomac will go down in history as one of the most entertaining and intense, with momentum swaying back and forth until the decisive final round. Many were hopeful that Sexton would be able to carry that form and challenge into Supercross this year, and after a slightly underwhelming opening two rounds at Anaheim 1 and San Diego with 3-5 finishes, the number 23 has confirmed his challenge with 1-2 results at A2 and Houston. There is no question about Sexton’s speed, but in terms of the overall package it seems as though Tomac still has the slight upper-hand, the way the reigning champ was able to turn the tables on Sexton at Houston a prime example, the Honda rider notably losing a considerable amount of time in the sand following a dominant heat race showing. Despite Sexton emerging as Tomac’s greatest threat after four rounds, you cannot count out the likes of Anderson, who won the final four main events last season and is moving in the right direction across recent rounds following a shock change, reverting to what he used in 2022. After 2-3 finishes at A2 and Houston, Anderson is fourth in the points with 73, as Tomac (95) leads Sexton (88) and Webb (83).

Image: Octopi Media.

3. High injury toll in opening rounds:
Unfortunately, there has been a high rate of attrition across and between the opening rounds in terms of riders sidelined with injury. Where to start? After showing early promise in this year’s 450SX series, Stewart has been forced out for an extended duration due to a knee injury sustained from practising in January. Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has been sidelined since after round one, sustaining a wrist injury while training. Following a violent crash in Houston that brought out the red flag, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis has stated that he is ‘okay’ after his 450SX main event scare in Houston that ultimately gave him a concussion. That said, a return date has not been named for the number 14. In 250SX West, heartbreak for Austin Forkner sees the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider sidelined for the remainder of the championship with a right knee injury, following that start straight incident at Anaheim 1. 250SX East teammates Jo Shimoda (broken collarbone) and Seth Hammaker (wrist injury) were forced to the sidelines before the season even commenced, with Carson Mumford named as a fill-in for 250SX West and Chris Blose in 250SX East. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jalek Swoll underwent arm surgery prior to the commencement of 250SX East, with a recovery time not yet determined for the FC 250 rider. Recently, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250SX contender Nick Romano shared that he will sit out the entire season altogether, suffering severe knee damage while building towards his Supercross debut. It’s been a tough start for many riders and teams.

2. Lawrence brothers leading in red:
It’s been a near-perfect start for Team Honda HRC duo Hunter and Jett Lawrence in their respective 250SX divisions, both holding the red plate in the early stages of the season. For 250SX West contender Jett, his quest for a second AMA quarter-liter Supercross crown is progressing nicely, achieving a 66 percent strike-rate in terms of round victories to start the season. Even in an eventful Triple Crown at Anaheim, the number 18 was able to salvage P2 and now holds a 16-point lead ahead of Cameron McAdoo, the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider himself delivering an inspired performance at A2 to push through after a sizeable qualifying crash. Another key challenger to Lawrence in 250SX West has been Hampshire, who sits third in the points and 17 from the red plate. Chasing an elusive AMA title, Hunter started his 250SX East campaign in the best possible way, taking a commanding 7.403s victory in Houston from Max Anstie (Fire Power Honda Racing), with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith completing the top three.

1. Best start to date for Tomac:
Winning Anaheim 1’s season-opening round for the first time in his career set the tone for reigning 450SX champion Tomac to deliver his strongest start to a premier-class Supercross campaign to date. The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider has been victorious in three of four of the rounds contested so far, with the only blemish in Tomac’s season to this point being Anaheim 2’s Triple Crown when a heavy fall in the final race left him to salvage sixth overall on the night. With his charge boosted by the all-new YZ450F for 2023, the sheer speed and composure Tomac has continued to deliver on the new platform places him in a position of strength in his bid for 450SX title number three.