Image: Octopi Media.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo and Christian Craig (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) led the way in this afternoon’s combined qualifying sessions in Houston.

Tonight marks the inaugural ‘SuperTuesday’ race in Monster Energy Supercross, just three nights following the weekend’s season-opener.

450SX qualifying saw Cianciarulo grab the number one spot heading into the night show. Cianciarulo set the benchmark with a 42.925s, edging out last week’s fast qualifier Chase Sexton (Team Honda HRC), who looked consistently fast through the morning sessions.

Zach Osborne (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) looks to have hit the reset button after a tough opening round, finishing last session in third place. Fourth went to Malcolm Stewart (Monster Energy Star Yamaha), with Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen rounding out the top five.

Class rookie Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Yamaha) looks to be figuring out the 450, crossing the line in sixth. Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki), Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) and Justin Brayton (Muc-Off Honda) rounded out the top 10, that were all separated by just 0.662s.

Former class champions Cooper Webb and Jason Anderson find themselves just outside of the top 10, though they each logged times within 1.0s of Cianciarulo, proving just how deep the field is in 2021.

Image: Octopi Media.

In 250SX East, Craig continued his success from last week, finishing in the top spot with a 42.138s, followed closely by his teammate Colt Nichols just 0.013s behind.

Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) got rolling in the later half of the session and landed in the third spot, in front of Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GasGas rider Michael Mosiman.

Despite having a big crash in the second session, RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) rounded out the top five, while sixth place went to Austin Forkner (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki), who proved he’s sticking to his plan of remaining calm and not pushing too hard in qualifying despite a fall – the final rider within a second of Craig.

Just behind him was his teammate Jo Shimoda, who finished seventh, as Mitchell Oldenberg (Muc-Off Honda) was slow to get up from a crash, but managed to finish eighth. The last two positions in the top 10 went to Josh Osby (Phoenix Racing Honda) and Thomas Do (KTM).

Detailed results