Rain in Seattle? Right.
Such is the forecast for Round 13 of the 2019 Monster Energy Supercross series on Saturday in Seattle, WA. And not just rain. A cold downpour with wind! Who would have thunk that?
We last left our fearless riders in the warm confines of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis safely tucked inside away from the snow storm outside. In the 450 class, Marvin Musquin won for the first time since the opener, Dean Wilson finished second for his first career Supercross podium and the best story of the year in Justin Brayton returned to the podium in third.
Jason Anderson also proved his mettle racing to fourth-place from nearly last preventing Musquin from wiping away his 42 point lead entering Round 12. Instead, Musquin shaved off seven points a good chunk but hardly enough to ensure a Championship fight. Five rounds remain and Anderson has finished in fourth-place or better in every round except one. Eli Tomac also officially bounced out of making a storied comeback thanks to some early season woes, finishing 15th his worst finish of the year in a race he finished. He's now 71 points from first, more than two rounds worth in points.
Jason Anderson has led the 450 class in points since Round 2
At this rate, Anderson stares down his first 450 class Supercross Championship and Indianapolis might have clinched it for him. Musquin can certainly find 35 points between now and Las Vegas because winning out and Anderson finishing fourth the rest of the way totals 35 points. Brayton who landed his first career Supercross win in Daytona is also not out of contention at 55 points back but he too needs a few more wins and help. Anderson's worst finish, in Daytona, no less, was seventh. So chinks in the armor exist, Anderson so far knows how to handle them.
However, if Seattle indeed turns into a mud bath as the forecast indicates then count any and every one in as bodies wear down, bikes overheat and tires lose grip. The last one was the 2016 final in Las Vegas when Anderson finished second and Tomac third. Ryan Dungey, with title already in hand, shook off the mud and Ken Roczen for the win. Roczen went down just after taking the lead on Lap 6 and took Dungey with him. Dungey resumed the race while a muddy Roczen, secure in second-place for the year, bowed out. But in Daytona 2008 Chad Reed's bike died on the last lap giving the win to Kevin Windham as privateer Jacob Marsack finished a career-best third nearly two minutes behind Windham.
Marvin Musquin likely needs five more heel clicks for a shot at the 2018 Championship
Musquin led the entire way last year in Seattle, the city's first time back on the schedule since 2014, quickly overtaking Davi Millsaps for the lead on Lap 1 while Tomac took second despite enduring a pretty gnarly crash and Anderson finished third. Dungey, if you recall, salvaged serious Championship points getting caught up in the first turn pack and resumed in 19th making his way to fourth but left tied in points with Tomac. So, if the rain drops expect mud to play a factor somehow, but either way Anderson leaves Seattle with the points lead - but by how much? Anderson has never won in Seattle.
Elsewhere, Malcolm Stewart continues to improve after a late start to the season finishing a season-high sixth-place at Indianapolis. Stewart missed Anaheim 1 but has posted seven Top 11 finishes with a couple of clunkers in between but four Top 10 finishes in the last five rounds. Sitting 11th place in the standings, Stewart should enter the Top 10 in points after this weekend with the injured Cole Seely just five points in front of him.
Malcolm Stewart had his best finish of the season last time out
The 250SX West class returns sans the 250SX East class and a much closer points battle than the 450s. Only Adam Cianciarulo represented the West on the podium in Indianapolis for the East/West Shootout taking second-place as points leader Aaron Plessinger finished fifth but extended his lead over second-place Joey Savatgy, who crashed, regrouped and took a season worst 10th-place. Cianciarulo and Savatgy battled last year in the East to second and third place overall, respectively, (with both in position for the 2017 Championship during various times through the final round) and just three points separate them for the same positions this year. Plessinger has the most wins of any 250SX West rider but has not won since Round 5, also his last podium.
A win in Seattle gives Aaron Plessinger some breathing room in his hunt for a 250SX West Championship
Plessinger got his only 2017 Supercross win in Seattle as eventual Champion Justin Hill took second and Mitchell Oldenburg, finished a career-high third. Oldenburg crashed this year in Phoenix, attempted Oakland and has not raced since but hopes to line up Saturday. San Diego was the last time the West raced alone where Hill got his first win of the season, Cianciarulo took second and Sexton third.
Christian Craig who raced the first six rounds in the West before filling in for the injured Roczen in the 450 class for Round 9 remains in the premier class. A brief stint for Hill in the 450 class while the East class lined up ended after two rounds in Atlanta thanks to injury and he did not line up for the West in Indianapolis but is expected for Saturday though he has very little chance of repeating as Champ.
Our Podium Picks for Seattle:
450 Class (no mud)
- Marvin Musquin
- Eli Tomac
- Jason Anderson
450 Class (in the mud)
- Justin Brayton
- Eli Tomac
- Christian Craig
250SX West Class (no mud)
- Adam Cianciarulo
- Aaron Plessinger
- Joey Savatgy
250SX West class (in the mud)
- Adam Cianciarulo
- Chase Sexton
- Shane McElrath
Check out the track map for Round 13:
For the fans who scored tickets underneath the partial covering at CenturyLink Field, enjoy, but for everyone else including the riders bundle up and weather the storm. Practice for Seattle starts at 12 p.m. (PST) with the Main at 7 p.m. (PST) on Saturday. FOX Sports 1 provides television coverage.
2018 Supercross Season Standings
450 Class
- Jason Anderson (265)
- Marvin Musquin (230)
- Justin Brayton (210)
- Eli Tomac (194)
- Blake Baggett (194)
- Weston Peick (172)
- Broc Tickle (165)
- Cooper Webb (162)
- Dean Wilson (138)
- Cole Seely (124)
250SX West Class
- Aaron Plessinger (151)
- Joey Savatgy (142)
- Adam Cianciarulo (139)
- Shane McElrath (127)
- Chase Sexton (109)
- Christian Craig (106)
- Justin Hill (105)
- Kyle Chisholm (95)
- Mitchell Harrison (84)
- Hayden Mellross (68)
