2021 Indianapolis One Supercross | Race Preview

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2021 INDIANAPOLIS ONE SUPERCROSS | COMPLETE COVERAGE

Here we go again. The 2021 Monster Energy Supercross Series will continue this weekend with the 2021 Indianapolis One Supercross, the first in a trio of events at Lucas Oil Stadium and the fourth round of the 17-race championship. These races will be run in the Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday rotation, and from what we saw in Texas, it has positives and negatives. For some riders, the hurried pace allows them to stay in a groove, while others had little time to heal significant injuries. Keeping the bike on two-wheels through the next three races will be critical because there’s no time off in the next few weeks.

THE COMPETITION

What more can we say about the start of the season? Three races, three winners, a big mix of podium finishers, and incredibly close action from first all the way to 40th make it obvious that the competition continues to raise the bar, and almost impossible to pick a winner before the gate drops. Riders have noted that getting a start is more important than ever, because passing through the pack that runs a similar pace has been a challenge and allows the leaders to break away.

We expect to see more of the same at the first Indianapolis race, especially regarding race winners. Riders have used the “week” since Houston Three to put in practice motos, refresh their bodies and minds, and get ready for this set of three in Indianapolis. Everyone knows how close the points are, which is extra motivation to score a career-best result at Lucas Oil Stadium. 

There is some separation. The elite group consists of the usual contenders (Roczen, Webb, Barcia, Tomac), and they have taken over control of the series with race wins and podium finishes. All eyes will be on these four today because another win would propel them to the top of the standings and force others to respond at Indianapolis Two or Three. 

Although these four riders are near the top of the board, they could easily be knocked back down. Inconsistent results from them at different times in Houston is one reason why the points are so tight, and it allowed others in the field to finish on the podium.

And that could certainly happen at Indianapolis. The Midwest’s soft soil and a tight track always create a technical course, which could favor someone like Musquin, Ferrandis, Cianciarulo, Plessinger, Osborne, and Anderson.

The 250 Class is coming down to a three-man fight between Christian Craig, Colt Nichols, and Jett Lawrence. The two Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha riders are tied for the championship lead and the Team Honda HRC rider is just a few points back in third place. Injuries have really taken a toll on that class, which we’ll cover at the bottom of the page.

THE TRACK

The fast flow of the Houston One and Two tracks showed us how little separation there is in the field, while Houston Three’s technical layout emphasized how riders must be consistent from lap to lap. Expect the Indianapolis tracks to be much more like Houston Three, with punchy rhythm lanes and big jumps.

The final Indianapolis One track design is slightly different from what Dirt Wurx revealed a few months ago. The start will still hook a tight left and use the finish line landing as a big roller on lap one (creative), but the first short whoop pad has been replaced by big back-to-back doubles that actually jump over turn one. Before you freak out over first turn and rider safety, read this: the track crew has decided that at the start, riders will cut a hard right before the first double and go back across the start straight, avoiding the first turn intersection entirely. If that doesn’t make sense, just wait until bikes hit the track for a live demonstration.

The Indianapolis dirt will be a major factor. It’s soft, like always, but a rather dry winter has kept it from being as water-logged and spongy as we’ve seen in years past. There will be ruts and holes everywhere, but we don’t think there will be footpeg deep trenches up the triple face.

2021 INDIANAPOLIS ONE SUPERCROSS
250 EAST COAST REGION
PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST

18. Jett Lawrence

29. Christian Craig | The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider is tied as the 250 East Coast Region’s current championship leader.

30. Jo Shimoda

42. Michael Mosiman

49. Mitchell Oldenburg

55. John Short

64. Colt Nichols | The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider is tied as 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

115. Max Vohland

116. TJ Albright

122. Jeremy Hand

124. Lane Shaw

125. Luke Neese

151. Carter Gordon

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

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. 

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.

160. Vincent Murphy | The New York privateer will be missing from the Indianapolis races due to the start of his spring semester at school. 

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 ONE SUPERCROSS
450 CLASS
PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST

1. Eli Tomac

2. Cooper Webb

7. Aaron Plessinger

9. Adam Cianciarulo

10. Justin Brayton

11. Kyle Chisholm

14. Dylan Ferrandis

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 has spent the last few days doing what he can to be ready for the weekend. He will attempt to race on Saturday and will make a decision during the race.

16. Zach Osborne

17. Joey Savatgy | The Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS/KTM rider went down during the Main Event at Houston Two and limped off the track, a fearful sight considering his heel injury. Savatgy said that he has suffered a hematoma and raced Houston Three.

19. Justin Bogle

20. Broc Tickle

21. Jason Anderson

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. Friese will be at Indianapolis One.

43. Fredrik Noren

51. Justin Barcia

57. Justin Rodbell

81. Justin Starling

83. Alex Ray

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

114. Nick Schmidt

184. Scott Champion

280. Cade Clason

282. Theodore Pauli

309. Jeremy Smith

330. AJ Catanzaro

421. Vann Martin

447. Deven Raper

501. Scotty Wennerstrom

606. Ronnie Stewart

722. Adam Enticknap

805. Carlen Gardner

824. Carter Stephenson

848. Joan Cros

952. Ludovic Macler

976. Josh Greco

981. Austin Politelli

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. It’s still unclear when he will line up; we’ve heard it could be as soon as the next Indianapolis race or as late as Orlando.

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 third Indianapolis 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.