It's the most wonderful time of the year With the kids Supercross racing And everyone telling you be a good sport It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the gnar-gnarliest season of all With those silly season dealings and off-season feelings And the deepest field ever to be called It's the gnar-gnarliest season of all
There'll be pit parties for hosting Factory rides for boasting And block passing out on the track They'll be scary season ending crashes And tales of rider bashing of Supercross seasons, long, long ago
It's the most wonderful time of the year They'll be much brake checking And lots of roost throwing When rival ones come near It's the most wonderful time of the year
They'll be holeshots to grab And lappers to bag Please, no goon riding out on the track They'll be pinned 4-stroke bikes Along with West and East Coast hikes But no 2-stroke motors allowed to braaap
It's the most wonderful time of the year There'll be some who go casing While more figure out scrubbing And others who get stuck in a rut
Don't expect any sand baggers But beware of the flaggers Who tell you when you can jump You won't need any more hoops As you rip through the whoops And dream of that #1 Plate
It's the most wonderful time It's Supercross time The 2017 Supercross season Is here
You were probably expecting a 2017 Monster Energy Supercross season preview. The kind that talks about how this year's field is the most stacked ever. And who might win, who should win and what past champions and dark horses might pull out their sleeves? Complete with pound signs (kids call them hashtags) throughout? As a matter of fact, after reviewing last year's season preview, with a few changes here and there, it could very well work for this year's season preview. Other than some riders switching teams, not much has changed. Wouldn't you know it, Justin Barcia is already out with a practice crash injury - just like last year - though unlike 2016, he's not lining up for Anaheim on Saturday.
Well, it is a new year, therefore...
Ryan Dungey is healthy and ready for a third straight Supercross title
Injury aside, expect three or four riders to run up front all year long in the 450 class. Defending two-time Champion Ryan Dungey returns from an injury sustained during the Motocross season. He's refreshed but might have some rust to work through. Plus, he'll have his hands full with the aggressive and very fast 2016 Motocross Champion Ken Roczen. He's yet to win a 450 class Supercross title and if not for a rough and tumble 2015, might have pulled it off. But Roczen who celebrated the Outdoor #1 plate with a Coors Light then shelved his Suzuki for a Honda also seems determined to show titles can be won without the tutelage of his former trainer Aldon Baker. One down, one to go.
Ken Roczen rides Red this year
Eli Tomac has a year under his boots on the Kawasaki and on those new shoulders he wrecked during the 2015 Motocross season which ended a most dominating and potentially historic run. He took second in the 2016 Motocross season and was also runner-up in the 2015 Supercross season. He showed flashes of brilliance throughout the Indoor and Outdoor season last year as some speculated perhaps a few kinks needed ironing after he switched from Honda to Team Green but double shoulder surgery likely played as big if not a bigger factor. Don't expect any of those excuses this year from the man who never gives any.
Don't be surprised if Eli Tomac leads the pack this year
Jason Anderson, finished third last year, after taking the checkers in Round 1. He didn't reach the podium again until Round 7 and by then Dungey already pulled away. Marvin Musquin returns for his second year on the big bikes and if not for a late season injury might have finished in the Top 5. Thanks to a lapper - cough JamesStewart cough - he missed out on his first career 450 class win but managed to take home three second place finishes. By the way, if you're just tuning in, Dungey, Anderson and Musquin all train with Baker.
Jason Anderson brings success to Anaheim 1 - he won last year and took second his rookie year in 2015
Speaking of James Stewart, don't expect him to line up at A1. If you recall, some time ago, he said when it's time to retire he'd rather fade away with the sunset rather than make a spectacle about it or embark on a farewell tour. Or something like that. The concussion sustained at last year's opener was likely the beginning of the end for #7.
Trey Canard on the KTM after 10 years with Honda
As far as everyone else, go ahead and "pick'em." A magical night might propel Trey Canard to the top of the podium on his new KTM but he's got to stay on two wheels and even the elder statesman Chad Reed should fight for a podium or at least Top 5 every week. Davi Millsaps brings the 2016 Canadian Motocross Nationals Championship to the gate after an early Supercross exit last year thanks to injury. And, Cooper Webb makes his debut in the 450 class coming on the heels of his 2015 Motocross Championship in the 250 class and the 250SX West class title he won by a point.
The 250 West class might just be the life of the Supercross party like it was last year. Jeremy Martin, the two-time Motocross Champion, found some success in the 250SX East class the last few years but tackles the West Coast before heading to the 450 class next year. He's also on a new bike and new team switching from Yamaha to Honda.
He's a heavy favorite but it won't be easy to bring home that elusive Supercross title because he's up against rookie Austin Forkner, who finished fourth in Motocross last season with scarcely an ounce of first year jitters, and veteran Aaron Plessinger. The good news for Martin? Joey Savatgy, who finished runner-up to Webb last year in the West and Christian Craig, who finished third appear headed for the East Coast despite their names appearing on Saturday's pre-entry list. Martin's brother Andrew is also slotted for the East and so is Zach Osborne.
The biggest change in Supercross? Timed laps. This year the 250 class races for 15 minutes plus one lap (instead of 15 laps) and the 450 class competes for 20 minutes plus one lap (instead of 20 laps). So, you'll get to see your favorite rider for a bit longer than you're used to and crashes won't necessarily mean a rider can't get back into the thick of the race. A win for everybody! Check out the track map for Anaheim 1 below:
Our podium picks:
450
- Eli Tomac
- Ken Roczen
- Ryan Dungey
250SX West
- Jeremy Martin
- Aaron Plessinger
- Martin Davalos
Gates drop for the 2017 Supercross season on Saturday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA . Practice and qualifying starts at 12 p.m. (PST) and the Main Event begins at 6:30 (PST). Buy tickets online or at the box office.
In case you forgot:
2016 Supercross Season Standings
450SX Class
- Ryan Dungey (391) - 2016 450 Class Supercross Champion
- Ken Roczen (331)
- Jason Anderson (315)
- Eli Tomac (290)
- Chad Reed (250)
- Cole Seely (219)
- Marvin Musquin (214)
- Justin Brayton (200)
- Trey Canard (196)
- Jake Weimer (128)
250SX West Class
- Cooper Webb (180) - 2016 250SX East Class Supercross Champion
- Joey Savatgy (179)
- Christian Craig (160)
- Zach Osborne (154)
- Colt Nichols (147)
- Mitchell Oldenburg (122)
- Jimmy Decotis (111)
- Kyle Peters (100)
- Jordon Smith (78)
- Alex Martin (78)
- Kyle Cunningham (78)
