In Quotebook, a selection of riders detail how their races played out at round five of the 2021 Monster Energy Supercross championship, the second of three races at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

450SX

Image: Octopi Media

Justin Barcia (TLD Red Bull GasGas) – Second:
The last round was really tough but tonight we put ourselves in a much better position. I got a good start and Kenny [Roczen] rode an amazing race, I tried to give him a little battle in the beginning but that’s all I had tonight. I’m glad to be back up here on the podium, we’ve been searching a little bit with setup but we’re getting there and feeling good, ready to get back to winning.

Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM) – Fourth:
It was an up and down day once again. We did a lot of bike changes that actually seemed to help and the heat race was going really good, I pulled a great start and led a few laps but unfortunately a hay bale that wasn’t there the first time, was there the second time, and I ended up going down. I didn’t have a great gate pick for the main event, which really messed up my start and I struggled to get going. I made a lot of passes at the beginning and then I charged hard to make some really late passes, which I think was great, but I’m going to need to get some better starts. I’m excited for next Saturday, I think with a good start I’m right there in the mix. We’re still in the fight for this title and that’s the goal.

Zach Osborne (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – Seventh: 
I had a pretty rough day actually. I blew my chin/tongue out on the bars in the first practice and that kind of set the tone for the day. I really was not that comfortable on the track and I kind of pressured myself out so looking for more moving forward. I’m riding well, just not putting myself in good positions. My starts need some work and I’ll be back on Saturday with a better game plan and we’ll be moving forward.

Jason Anderson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – DNS:
I didn’t crash or anything, I just landed and my hand slipped and I dislocated my finger. I’m going to heal up and be back out there trying hard ASAP!

Aaron Plessinger (Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing) – Fifth:
It was a pretty good day. I started off slow in qualifying as usual and then went out in the heat race and didn’t a good start and got stuck in a slump for some reason. It was just not a really great heat race. That got me fired up and ready to go. We did some minor changes to the bike and I changed my starting technique a little bit. I just hammered it, and it played out well. I rode a good race. I’m stoked on it for sure, but I know there are some things that I could have done better. I’m going to go back and do my homework tomorrow and try and keep at it with the starts. I think we’ll land it up on the podium before too long.

Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing) – Ninth:
I felt better today on the bike and made some improvements. I felt good during the day. Unfortunately, I had a bad start in the Main and crashed at the beginning of the race with another rider. I was way back, but I just put my head down and gave everything I had. I finished ninth, for sure it’s not what we expect, but the 450 class is really hard. We’ll keep working and try to do better Saturday.

Malcolm Stewart (Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing) – 10th
We definitely made some huge improvements on the bike for this track, this layout. I just felt good all day honestly. Practice went well, the heat race I rode really well. Even in the Main Event, we were having a good battle. Aaron was just right in front of me. Cooper [Webb] got around me, I tried to get back around him in the whoops and I made a mistake and went down. I was on the other side of the track when I rejoined, so we really lost a lot of time and we ended up 10th. Yeah, it was a top 10, but we could’ve ended up fourth or fifth. You live and learn. We made a few mistakes, but overall, I felt like we put ourselves in a better position than at the beginning of the year, where we started. I’m more confident with the bike. There’s nothing but positives from here. The results didn’t show, but the riding was there. We’re going to regroup, watch some film, and make some improvements to be ready for Saturday.

Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Third:
I felt good all day aboard my KX450. After setting the fastest time in the first qualifying session, I didn’t have to change much on the bike. I had a small mistake in my heat race while pushing for the lead but still managed to put in some solid laps and finish in fourth. In the main event, I got stuck behind a group of riders on the opening laps and knew I had to quickly cut my way through the field because I could see Ken [Roczen] was pulling away. I put my head down and started charging and made it up to fourth behind Adam [Cianciarulo] before the half-way mark. After getting past Adam, I could see second place and I eventually ran out of time before I could make a pass stick. I feel like I rode well tonight and, with a better start, could have challenged for the win.

Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy Kawasaki) – Sixth:
I feel like I was struggling to find a flow out there tonight. The track was challenging, and I made far too many little mistakes. sixth place isn’t something I’m normally pleased with, but mentally I kept it together out there, even after the mistakes, and I’m proud of that. It’s a long season and there’s still much to improve on. I can’t wait to get back out there on Saturday.

Justin Brayton (Muc-Off Honda) – 22nd:
Damn, I am so bummed, two weekends in a row we are in a position for top eight finish and a small crash brings it all undone.  The bike and team are doing awesome, it’s disappointing our results don’t show it, but they are. I will rest up and get ready for round six.

Brandon Hartranft (Twisted Tea HEP Suzuki) – Eighth:
I felt way better today. I think I’m starting to come around and ride the 450 a lot better. I’m getting used to the pace and I’m liking the RM-Z a lot. In the heat race I got a strong start, made a few mistakes, and then caught a tuff block in a turn with my shifter and fell over. In the main event I actually went into the first turn first – I didn’t come out first, but I went in first. I got shuffled back a little bit and I had to roll the finish line because I almost got pushed into the side of the finish line structure. That dropped me back from around the top 10 to about 20th. That was a bummer, but I rode a lot better in the main, had consistent laps, and just never gave up. It was a much better day today and I’m already looking forward to Saturday.

Adam Enticknap (Twisted Tea HEP Suzuki) – DNS:
Coming into the races I was definitely coming off of a high from the last round. In the LCQ, I had a good gate position and came around the first corner in around fifth or sixth. I made a couple of moves, but in the end I got in contact with the fifth place rider. We bumped right before the triple face and I landed on the tuff blocks which ended my night. We’ll go back, get some more good starts, start the day off right, and go into next week with a holeshot and a stronger finish.

250SX East Coast

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Michael Mosiman (TLD REd Bull GasGas) – Third: 
That was an awesome start, I was ripping clean laps and I busted out the triple-quad, I hadn’t done that all day, and I felt good in the whoops. A guy went down in front of me in the rhythm section and that was hectic, it spooked me a little bit. I hit him pretty good, lost a spot to Colt and lost my mojo a little bit mid-way. I had such good lines out of the gate and as the track was breaking down, I think I needed to move with it a little bit quicker but all-in-all, it was a good day and a step in the right direction. I just have to thank my team, they’ve been behind me so much and this opportunity to race in front of a crowd is awesome, I love it!

Colt Nichols (Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing) – First:
You can never complain about a win, but I need to clean it up. The start of that race wasn’t very good and I felt like I was fumbling around. So; if there is something I need to work on, it is cleaning it up. I got lucky with Michael [Mosiman] running into a lapper. I’m looking forward to closing it out here in Indy this weekend.

Christian Craig (Monster Energy Star Yamaha Racing) – Second:
Colt [Nichols] is on it and I’m going to have to execute a little better from the start of the race if I’m going to have a chance to break his streak. He’s on a roll and I need to focus on getting in front of him at the start and giving it everything I have to stay ahead of him. I had a tough round last weekend, so it’s nice to get back up on the podium where I feel like I belong. We’ll see what I can do to make the fix for Saturday.

Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) – Fourth:
I have been able to avoid being involved in any crashes so far on the start, but it got me this time. All I could think was to get up as fast as I could and just start putting in solid laps. The track was tough in spots and I just did my best to not make any mistakes. I won’t know if I would have been up there able to pass for the podium, but we get another chance in Indy this weekend. I definitely want another podium so we’ll be working to get back up there.

Mitchell Oldenburg (Muc-Off Honda) – 20th
It’s a night to forget but also to take positives from.  We got great starts again and our bikes are competitive. The mechanical issue was unforeseen, it’s something we haven’t had a problem with until now. It’s behind me now and I am focused on round six.

John Short (Twisted Tea HEP Suzuki) – DNS
Tonight wasn’t the best night. I had some issues in practice and felt just off a little. I raced hard in the heat race and was very confident with my speed as I felt great in the closing laps. I was aiming to put my RM-Z up front early in the main, but unfortunately I put myself in a bad position off the start and went down hard, ending my night early.