Can Eli Tomac extend his title?
450 AMA Supercross 2021SX Preview.
The last time the AMA Supercross Championship did not start in Anaheim was 1998, when Sebastien Tortelli won the race in Los Angeles. To start the series outside California we have to go back a little further, namely 1996! Then the championship kicked off in Orlando and tomorrow it all starts at Houston's NRG Stadium and we're looking ahead!
Kawasaki
With reigning champion Eli Tomac, we believe Team Kawasaki has the best credentials to extend the title. Tomac is lightning fast and he has the most victories of the starting field to his name. However, the 28-year-old rider only has 1 title to his name. And that's as much as Cooper Webb and Jason Anderson. Tomac will have to improve his starts because he too often falls far behind in the early stages of the final. He often manages to make up for this, but in midfield you also run more risks! Just like last year, Adam Cianciarulo is Tomac's teammate. The 24-year-old American is difficult to beat on pure speed. However, the fact is that he often falls to the ground and often not without consequences. Cianciarulo is an important candidate for us to wrest Tomac's title.
Honda
Ken Roczen's serious crash in Anaheim2 in 2017 seemed to end his career. However, the German came back to level and managed to win again last season. He competed in the title fight for a long time, but later health problems caused a setback. The Honda rider decided to skip the 'AMA Nationals'. Perhaps that extra rest is now decisive for the 26-year-old Roczen. After one season, Justin Brayton has to make way for Chase Sexton at Team HRC USA. After two 250SX EastCoast titles, 21-year-old Sexton is moving up to the toughest class. It won't be easy at Roczen's side, but we see Sexton as the 'Rookie of the Year' in 2021!
Brayton (36) is still active in the championship, he competes for Muc-Off Honda, but if he finishes in the top ten he must be very happy! With four riders we cannot forget the SmarTop Motoconcepts Racing Team. Broc Tickle has taken over from Justin Hill while Shane McElrath is out of the team and the toughest class. Vince Friese and Benny Blose also ride in the colors of Mike Genova and Tony Alessi.
KTM
Besides Tomac and Roczen, we think Cooper Webb has the best credentials for the title. The 25-year-old rider won the title in 2019. Last year he fought to the end, but it was Tomac who took the title. Under the wings of Roger DeCoster and Ian Harrison, Webb came back to life. Can Webb win his second 450SX title this year? The KTM rider from North Carolina has already won the 250SX West Coast twice! A serious injury forced Marvin Musquin to miss the entire 2020 Supercross Championship. The big question is how the Frenchman will return. It will be a tough job for the two-time world champion, but he will do everything he can to achieve success and probably win matches.
With the Team Rocky Mountain ATV/MC-KTM-WPS-BBMX, KTM has another team behind the starting gate. Justin Bogle and Joey Savatgy form this team where Blake Baggett left very unexpectedly. Currently, Baggett's future is still unclear. Savatgy (26) could surprise in various matches, but a permanent fixture in the top 8 is too ambitious. It should be noted that we also thought the same about Webb in 2019...
Husqvarna
The Rockstar Energy-Husqvarna Factory Racing USA stood on the podium with three riders during the finals last season. The same trio will also compete for the Austrian brand this year. Anderson has broken away from Aldon Baker, will this do the former champion any good? Zach Osborne won the finals in Salt Lake City and stunned last summer by winning the 450MX title. We think Anderson, Osborne and Dean Wilson should be happy with podium finishes in the coming season.
Yamaha
The official Yamaha team has transferred their activities to Star Racing, which is going to take a major approach in 2021. The 450SX team will consist of three riders and all 250SX champions! After two West Coast titles, Dylan Ferrandis naturally attracted the attention of other brands. The Frenchman remains loyal to Yamaha and will fight with Sexton for the rookie title. Ferrandis broke his hand during the preparations, will this affect him during the three matches in eight days? Aaron Plessinger returns to the team he won his 250SX titles with. Plessinger has had a hard time in the premier class and has only been able to make little impression. This is also his last season of the contract so he will have to prove himself for the future! Malcolm Stewart impressed several times on the MCR-Honda. The 28-year-old brother of James Stewart can regularly surprise, but is probably not consistent enough to finish in the top five.
Gas Gas
GasGas is new in the USA for the coming season. In 2020, the brand will enter the MXGP with a GP victory for Glenn Coldenhoff. The Team Troy Lee-RedBull-GasGas has signed Justin Barcia. In 2019 and 202, 'BamBam' won the first competition of the season. Will he go for the 'triple' and manage to delight his new employer with their first SX victory?
Suzuki
Suzuki's best days are far behind us and with the withdrawal of Joe Gibbs Racing, things won't get any easier for the Japanese brand. Fortunately, the brand remains active in the USA by entering into a partnership with HEP Motorsports. The team has two rookies in their ranks with Max Anstie and Brandon Hartranft. The third man is Adam Enticknap who mainly relies on his appearance. Anstie had a bad crash during training earlier this week. The Brit will therefore not play the matches in Houston. Hartranft will have to be satisfied with a permanent place in the final, something we do not see Enticknap doing.
With no fewer than 16 factory riders behind the starting gate, it will be a special season. Who will have the most points after the 17 races and will take the most important title in motocross land after the MXGP? According to our crystal ball, it's between Tomac, Roczen and Webb!
Door: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photos: Brands
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