2021 Indianapolis Three Supercross | Race Preview

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2021 INDIANAPOLIS THREE SUPERCROSS | COMPLETE COVERAGE

After a few days off, it’s time to return to Lucas Oil Stadium for the 2021 Indianapolis Three Supercross, the sixth round of the 2021 Monster Energy Supercross Series.

Believe it or not, we’re a third of the way through the schedule. The triple headers in Houston and Indianapolis have made this year very unique; we’ve looked at each city’s set of races like a “series within a series” and that’s made the on-track action even more intriguing.

Staying on two-wheels and off the ground is more important than ever. Riders are making the most of the rest days, which is important, because they have virtually no chance to recover from injuries in the limited time between races. You can see the toll this has taken on the field in the entry list and injury report, and even the results.

THE COMPETITION

Ken Roczen and Colt Nichols have been dominant this season. They are two riders to have multiple Main Event wins and have finished on the podium more often than the competition, a rare feat in a field this talented, and they have control of their respective championships. Can they go three for three in Indianapolis?

Roczen has been remarkable in the 450 Class. The Team Honda HRC rider came into the year with the most question marks next to his name due to his illness and absence last year and the all-new bike, but he’s been on a roll since round one. To point how stable the new Roczen has been: if you were to spot him the seven points he missed out on at Houston Two and Three (four from the AMA, three from his second-place finish), he’d have a 20-point gap in the standings, which would be a massive lead this early in the year. Fortunately for the competition, it’s only 13 points…

Cooper Webb, Eli Tomac, and Justin Barcia are Roczen’s main rivals right now. Webb is second overall, as the Red Bull KTM rider’s ability to push late in the Main Events has put him in the top-five at the finish and score significant points. Tomac has been consistent and quick from Houston Two to now, which has landed the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider on the podium, but hasn’t exactly been dominant and has crashed out of the lead a few times. Still, he’s avoided a major catastrophe and has been in the mix from race to race. Justin Barcia’s results have been up and down, something that’s expected of the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing rider; a rough day and 13th place finish at Indianapolis One was all but forgotten after he held off Tomac for second place at Indianapolis Two.

Nichols has been a big surprise in the 250 Class. The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider didn’t get the same preseason acclaim as Craig-Forkner-Lawrence-Hampshire, even though he’s one of the few riders in the field that has a Main Event win trophy and red plate on his mantle (2019). A win at Houston Three springboarded Nichols toward the top of the standings, and his two victories in Indy helped him put 11-points on Christian Craig. There are only two races left in the 250 East Coast Region before they take an extended break, so if a rider wants to challenge Nichols, they need to start a charge tonight. Realistically, Craig is the only person that can keep Nichols in check for the championship.

THE TRACK

The Indianapolis Three Supercross track will be another all-new course, something that Dirt Wurx cranked out over the “extended” Tuesday-Saturday break. We took a look at the layout this morning when we first got to Lucas Oil Stadium, and from the stands, it looks like they’ve again opted for a mellow build. The shape and size of the obstacles seem to be more rounded, with smoother transitions between them, much like Tuesday’s track.

Lap times have been relatively short this year, a trend we expect to continue with this layout. But with four different rhythm lanes on the track, a short whoop section, and six 180-degree turns, it could also make for close racing and ample passing opportunities. That right-hand first-turn will be a factor in every race.

Track conditions are always a factor, especially if lap times are low, and that’s something to keep an eye on as the day goes on. The Indy dirt hasn’t been as wet as years past, something riders have to be a little thankful for, but the track is still hammered at the end of the night. Expect to see some footpeg-deep ruts again tonight.

2021 INDIANAPOLIS THREE SUPERCROSS
250 EAST COAST REGION
PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST

18. Jett Lawrence | The Team Honda HRC rider injured his shoulder in a Heat Race crash on Tuesday. He sat out the Main Event as a precautionary measure and has undergone an exam, which revealed a possible separation. Lawrence is uncertain for Saturday; the team press release stated he will do what he can to be ready for the race, but could sit it out to further recover.

29. Christian Craig

30. Jo Shimoda

42. Michael Mosiman

49. Mitchell Oldenburg

55. John Short | The BAR X/Chaparral/ECSTAR/Suzuki rider dinged his shoulder in a first-turn crash in Tuesday’s Main Event. Short plans to race on Saturday.

64. Colt Nichols | The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider is the 250 East Coast Region’s current championship leader.

76. Grant Harlan

85. Kevin Moranz

87. Curren Thurman

88. Logan Karnow

95. Josh Osby

99. Hunter Sayles

122. Jeremy Hand

124. Lane Shaw

125. Luke Neese

151. Carter Gordon | The Illinois privateer sat out Indianapolis Two due to a shoulder injury and is hopeful to race Indianapolis Three.

160. Vincent Murphy

162. Max Sanford

170. Devin Simonson

185. Wilson Fleming

193. Hunter Schlosser

216. Devin Harriman

241. Joshua Varize

364. Chad Saultz

384. Lorenzo Camporese

414. Mason Morris

437. Vincent Lohovey

441. Scott Meshey

509. Alex Nagy

512. Austin Cozadd

551. Guillaume St-Cyr

597. Mason Kerr

604. Max Miller | The Orange Brigade KTM rookie is sore after a Main Event crash on Tuesday, but will race on Saturday.

625. Jonah Geistler

637. Bobby Piazza

675. Kyle Dillin

693. Rene Garcia

773. Thomas Do

MISSING FROM THE LIST

24. RJ Hampshire | The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider is hurting. His finger was smashed during a run-in with Christian Craig at round one, road rash was left on his torso from an incident with Austin Forkner at round two, and a crash in Free Practice at round three left him with a significant wrist injury, including a perilunate dislocation, chipped ulna bone, and broken metacarpal. He will be out for an extended period of time.

38. Austin Forkner | The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider will be absent after a collarbone injury at Houston Three. He had surgery to have fracture plated and the team will have a full update soon, but expect him to race before the end of the season.

50. Enzo Lopes | The Phoenix Honda rider is sidelined for the foreseeable future due to shoulder and wrist injuries he suffered during a Timed Qualifying crash at the opening round. 

115. Max Vohland | The Red Bull KTM rider will miss the remaining Indianapolis races, if not longer, after dislocating his hip in a practice crash on Saturday.

116. TJ Albright | The New York privateer privateer will sit out the next few races due to a crash and injury during practice at Indianapolis One.

134. Jess Pettis | The Red Bull KTM Canada tweaked his knee during Timed Practice at the opening round. After a further medical evaluation, Pettis and KTM have decided to sit out the rest of the Supercross season.

260. Dylan Woodcock | The British privateer suffered a broken back in a crash at Houston Three. After a short period of numbness in his leg, Woodcock is back on his feet and has taken steps in the hospital.

914. Geran Stapleton | The Australian racer has been sidelined with four broken ribs and three compression fractures of the vertebra after a Houston Two crash.

2021 INDIANAPOLIS THREE SUPERCROSS
450 CLASS
PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST

1. Eli Tomac

2. Cooper Webb

7. Aaron Plessinger

9. Adam Cianciarulo | The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider has a strained muscle in his leg. He will race the Indianapolis Three Supercross.

10. Justin Brayton

11. Kyle Chisholm

14. Dylan Ferrandis

16. Zach Osborne

17. Joey Savatgy

19. Justin Bogle

20. Broc Tickle

21. Jason Anderson | The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider had his hand off the bars and dislocated a finger in practice on Tuesday. He was able to put it back in place himself, but sat out the night’s race. It’s undecided if he will race on Saturday.

25. Marvin Musquin

27. Malcolm Stewart

28. Brandon Hartranft

36. Martin Davalos

37. Benny Bloss

40. Vince Friese | The Smartop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts/Honda rider had a hard slam at Houston Three and tended to by medics for pain in his hip, but raced that night, then crashed hard again at Indianapolis One. He’ll be on the line at Indianapolis Three.

43. Fredrik Noren | The Ikthus/ Brittenum/Kawasaki rider sat out Tuesday’s race after hitting his head in practice, but expects to line up on Saturday.

51. Justin Barcia

57. Justin Rodbell

81. Justin Starling

83. Alex Ray | The SGB/Maxxis/Babbitt’s/Kawasaki rider is nursing a sore wrist after landing on Friese’s bike at Indianapolis One.

94. Ken Roczen | The Team Honda HRC rider is the current championship leader in the 450 Class.

114. Nick Schmidt

280. Cade Clason

282. Theodore Pauli

309. Jeremy Smith

330. AJ Catanzaro

421. Vann Martin

447. Deven Raper

501. Scotty Wennerstrom

722. Adam Enticknap

795. Aaron Leininger

805. Carlen Gardner

824. Carter Stephenson

848. Joan Cros

952. Ludovic Macler

976. Josh Greco

996. Preston Taylor

MISSING FROM THE LIST

4. Blake Baggett | A contract dispute with Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS/KTM and recent surgery have put Baggett’s career on pause for the time being.

12. Shane McElrath | The SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts/Honda rider is not on the entry list for Indianapolis One due to a Grade Three AC separation. He plans to be back for Orlando.

15. Dean Wilson | A practice crash left the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider with a list of small injuries on his left leg. Wilson said that he hit neutral on a jump during a moto, ejected from the bike, landed on his feet, and cartwheeled down the track. The get-off resulted in a broken big toe, sprained ankle, and bone bruising on his knee, but no serious damage. Wilson had 165cc of fluid removed from around his knee and attempted to race on Saturday, only to have the pain make it impossible. He’ll be out an undetermined amount of time.

23. Chase Sexton | Team Honda HRC has announced that Chase Sexton will sit out the 2021 Indianapolis One and Two Supercross races due to ongoing pain in his shoulder from his Houston crash. The rookie has undergone multiple exams and scans on his shoulder, all of which have come back free of fractures, but the injury has limited his range of motion, and is still too fresh to line up. Sexton has returned home to Florida and will use the additional time to recover, with hopes of making it back for the Orlando race.

34. Max Anstie | The Twisted Tea/HEP Motorsports/Suzuki rider had a hard crash during his last preseason practice day. Anstie will miss the first rounds of the season with a back injury.

44. Tyler Bowers | The privateer will miss the first six rounds of 2021 after a recent sponsorship funding change.

46. Justin Hill | It’s unclear what Hill will do in 2021 following a split from the SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts/Honda team. 

974. Brian Marty | The privateer suffered a separated AC joint, broken elbow, and broken rib in a recent practice crash and will undergo surgery to correct the damage. He hopes to be back later in the season.

981. Austin Politelli | The HRT-backed privateer crashed in practice on Tuesday and will be sidelined for Indianapolis Three with a concussion.