450 AMA 2021MX Preview
Will Eli Tomac regain his 450MX title from Zach Osborne? That is the key question for the upcoming Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship that starts tomorrow at Pala Raceway in California. Tomac is in his final season for Kawasaki and dominated the American outdoors from 2017 to 2019.
Tomorrow's race is the opener of a 12-round championship. A big contrast with the shortened championship over 9 rounds in 2020. The last (Hangtown) and penultimate round (Pala Raceway) will also take place in California.
Reigning champion Zach Osborne (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) extended his contract for 2022 earlier this week. The former GP rider (photo below) can therefore fully focus on a title extension, but he has to deal with a persistent back injury. Tomac will undoubtedly think differently. The 28-year-old superstar did not perform well in the Nationals last season and also performed inconsistently in the past supercross season.
Cooper Webb wants to win a second motocross title after four supercross titles (250SX and two 450SX). In 2016, the then Yamaha rider won the 250MX championship ahead of Alex Martin. Of course, Webb will have to deal with Tomac and of course Ken Roczen. The German returns to the 'Pro Nationals' after a year's absence. The Honda rider already has two 450MX titles (2014 and 2016) to his name, although he is also struggling with health problems.
In addition to Osborne, Husqvarna also has Jason Anderson and Dean Wilson behind the starting gate. Two years ago, Anderson finished fourth in Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross. Marvin Musquin won one supercross this season and will undoubtedly want to join the title fight. His contract is expiring, so a strong outdoor season would do the Frenchman good!
In addition to Tomac, Kawasaki can also count on Adam Cianciarulo who left the SX championship prematurely after a number of crashes. Cianciarulo won the 2019MX title in 250 and then moved up to the toughest class. There is no doubt about his speed, although the popular Floridian also regularly makes mistakes. Last season he already became vice-champion in the Nationals.
Chase Sexton, Roczen's teammate at Honda, is best known as a supercross specialist. He won two 250SX titles before switching to the 450SX. Although Dylan Ferrandis became the 'Rookie of the Year', Sexton showed the most speed. In Daytona he even almost took a victory, but he had to bow to Tomac within sight of the harbor. However, Outdoor could surprise Ferrandis, at least if he can improve his starts.
At Star Racing-Yamaha, Christian Craig is 'new' in the 450 team. He takes over from Malcolm Stewart who has a 'Supercross-Only' contract for 2021. Last year Craig finished sixth in the final standings. However, his current agreement expires at the end of this season. In addition to Stewart and Craig, Star Racing is also fielding Aaron Plessinger. Although Plessinger has already proven a lot in the outdoors on a quarter liter - he became champion in 2018 - he is still waiting for confirmation in the premier class. Justin Barcia is and will remain the only driver at Team TLD-GasGas-Red Bull, but for next season there are plans to use two drivers when Will Hahn (now working at Star Racing) will lead the team.
From Europe we are of course watching Max Anstie who is in his second season at Twisted Tea-HEP Motorsports. Although the likeable Brit missed the first 7 rounds of the SX Championship, he still showed top-10 speed. Hopefully Anstie can improve during the nationals. After all, he is Suzuki's hope.
After the opening race at FOX Raceway in Pala, almost all the classic locations of the American MX Championship will follow: Thunder Valley, High Point, RedBud, Southwick, Spring Creek, Washougal, Unadilla, Budds Creek, Ironman and Hangtown. Most matches will allow spectators which we can only applaud!
Door: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photos: Octopi, Simon Cudby, Suzuki
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