2020 Salt Lake City Two Supercross | Qualifying Report

2020 SALT LAKE CITY TWO SUPERCROSS | COMPLETE COVERAGE

And just like that, qualifying is complete and we’re about ready to race the first-ever Monster Energy Supercross Series race on a weeknight. The 2020 Salt Lake City Two Supercross is going to run under the lights at Rice Eccles Stadium on Wednesday evening, which will be much different than what riders experienced on Sunday and more like a “normal” event format (We’ve already outlined details of that in the Race Preview post, so click on this link when you’re done with the Qualifying Report). The sessions of afternoon practice went by quick and offered plenty to talk about, so let’s get into it…

2020 SALT LAKE CITY TWO SUPERCROSS | 250 EAST COAST REGION

Like Sunday, Shane McElrath was the fastest rider in the 250 Class during the afternoon. The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider had the top spot in both qualifying sessions, something that can be credited to the big rhythm combinations he found on the track, and his best lap time was a 44.972. Yes, he was the only rider in the small-bore class to go under 45-seconds on the track.

Chase Sexton secured second place in the timing sheets, thanks to a 45.427 time posted by the GEICO Honda rider. It’s worth noting that Sexton was the fastest rider in the free practice at the start of the day and that he was the only rider in the 250 Class to post a 45-second lap.

GEICO Honda’s Jeremy Martin was third-fastest in the group with a 46.114 lap. The third through sixth place riders of Martin, Garrett Marchbanks, and Colt Nichols could certainly be in a battle when the Main Event comes. The only group in the 250 Class in the 46-second range on the stopwatch, their best respective times were within only 0.617 seconds of each other.

2020 SALT LAKE CITY TWO SUPERCROSS | 450 CLASS

Blake Baggett is showing that he could be a factor in these last few races. The Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS/KTM rider looked good when he led laps in Sunday’s 450 Main Even until he slid down the running order late in the race. Well, Baggett proved that speed wasn’t a fluke with a fast lap in the final moments of Wednesday’s qualifying session. With a 44.770 time, Baggett was the fastest rider of the combined 80-competitor field. What does this mean? We’ll find out soon.

Want to add another wild card into the mix for podium finishes? Jason Anderson looks like he’s ready to dice it up with guys and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider was the quickest guy in the first session of qualifying. Although he upped the pace even more in the second outing, his 44.961 was only enough for second place.

Eli Tomac was the rider everyone had an eye on during the Wednesday practice. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider hovered near the top of the timesheets through both sessions and looked like he was going to be the top guy until Baggett and Anderson’s bursts of speed. Nevertheless, a 44.989 time put Tomac third overall.

Ken Roczen and Cooper Webb were further down the list than they probably would have liked, but it’s not like their times were terrible. Roczen was fifth with a 45.118 and Webb was sixth with a 45.261.

After riding a few laps of practice, Adam Cianciarulo decided that it was unwise for him to rush back to racing and he will sit out tonight’s event. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider stated that he doesn’t feel comfortable on the bike, due to the crash and accidental contact he had with Cooper Webb in Sunday’s Main Event, and that he’ll do his best to be back on the line as soon as possible.