2023 Houston Supercross | Kickstart

The Moto Academy's AJ Catanzaro qualified for the 250 main event in Houston with a solid second in the LCQ. The Floridian was 22nd in the main.

Progressive Insurance/Ecstar/Suzuki's Marshal Weltin had a weekend he'd rather forget in Houston. A big crash on press day set the tone and he couldn't find his groove or stay off the ground on Saturday, either, and he failed to qualify for the 250 main. Better days definitely lie ahead for the Michigan rider.

Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha's Nate Thrasher showed blazing speed all day at Houston, but a crash held him to 15th in the first 250 main of the season. Thrasher came out with guns blazing in his rookie season by capturing two Supercross wins in 2021, and followed it up with the 2022 season-ending East/West Shootout victory. Needless to say, he headed into the Houston kickoff with his sights set high and he was visibly devastated after his showing. We expect him to rebound this weekend in Tampa.

Honda HRC's Hunter Lawrence rolled into Houston as the heavy favorite and he didn't disappoint. The Australian took control of the main event early on and was never challenged as he earned the fifth 250 Supercross win of his career.

Chance Hymas is scheduled to compete in the Eastern Regional 250 Supercross series only through Daytona, as the team wants him to make a serious run at the 250- Nationals this summer. In the main event, Hymas was super impressive as he matched Hunter Lawrence's pace in the early laps, but he told us that, "around the fifth or sixth lap, I was completely gassed." Hymas faded to eigth at the finish. We wouldn't be surprised to see him sneak onto the podium before his part-time stint in the series comes to a close.

Jordon Smith looks great on his new Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha YZ250F. Smitty made a few mistakes in the main event but rebounded to earn the final podium position. "I love the new bike and the new team," he said. "The season opened is always a bit hectic, but I am happy to come away with third. We will be better."

Frenchman Tom Vialle was surprisingly good at Houston. We've seen him ride a few times as he prepared for his first AMA Supercross season and he never looked quite as comfortable as he did in NRG Stadium. The MX2 World Champion ran at the front of the pack every time he was on the track, and he should be a podium threat in no time at all.

Fire Power Honda's Max Anstie was arguably the most pleasant surprise of round one. The veteran racer has enjoyed success around the world, but never in 250 Supercross. "I love this 250 class," said the likable Englishman. "I'm kind of going about it in reverse, moving to 250 Supercross after racing a 450. But when Yarrive called and made me this offer, I couldn't resist. I absolutely loved every part of today. I've always wondered what it felt like to go up on that podium in a Supercross, and to finish second is amazing."

The veteran and the rookie: Club MX Yamaha's Jeremy Martin bobbled in the whoops on the last lap of the 250 main and allowed Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha's Haiden Deegan to race past on on to fourth in the first 250 Supercross of his career.

Tom Vialle was stoked with his first experience in AMA Supercross. "I got a good start in the main event and was following Hunter, but then he made a mistake and I was able to pass him," he said. "I got to lead three or four laps and that was nice, but I knew he was much faster in the whoops and would pass. I am maybe a little bit frustrated with my crash at the end of the race because maybe I could have been on the podium, but I am happy."

Monster Energy Kawasaki's Jason Anderson led every inch of the first 450 heat race, then went on to fight to third in the main; his second-consecutive podium finish. When do you think El Hombre will notch his first win of 2023?

Sending healing vibes to Frenchman Dylan Ferrandis. The Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider was knocked unconscious for nearly three minutes when he collided midair with Ken Roczen early in the main and brought out the red flag. Ferrandis suffered a concussion and was told that he could not fly home to Florida for a few days. Feel better, Dylan!

The sand section inside NRG Stadium was treacherous, to say the least. Sand is tricky enough as is, but throw super-stiff supercross suspension into the mix and iyt becomes nearly impossible to negotiate consistently. Cooper Webb has some pretty rad style in the soft stuff, though!

Getting a good start is always one of the keys to the race. Nice one, Alex.

We've been surprised to see Josh Hill turning his transponder in early. Since finishing 18th at the Anaheim One season opener, "Big Hill" has failed to qualify for the following three 450 mains. We're sure he will be in the show soon enough.

Past Supercross ChampionshJason Anderson and Cooper Webb battled in Houston's main. Which will be the first to taste victory in 2023?

Red Bull KTM's Aaron Plessinger was on fire in Houston and enjoyed his best showing of the season thus far. At the start of the main, the popular racer hounded Eli Tomac for the lead, but the red flag brought out by Dylan Ferrandis' crash interrupted his flow. On the restart, Jason Anderson squirted past and Chase Sexton eventually followed as well. Fourth at the finish, Plessinger told us, "I'm just out of the money! I need to get in the money, man!"

Originally scheduled to sit out the entire Supercross series since he is only contracted for the 250 MX Nationals with Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha, Justin Cooper will race four or five selected 450 Supercross rounds to prepare for the class full-time in 2024. Houston was JCoop's first race of the year, and he was very impressive in his 450-class debut, finishing seventh. "There were a lot of jitters and a lot of new things," he said, "but how can I not be happy with seventh?" Cooper executed a great last-lap pass on Ken Roczen. We wonder if his stint in the 450 class might go longer than anticipated, depending on Ferrandis' condition...

"I rode the struggle bus hard all day," said Cooper Webb. "We've simply got to be better in Tampa next weekend." Webb's scores thus far in 2023 are 2-2-4-5.

Cade Clason qualified for his second main event of the year at Houston and finished 18th aboard his PRMX Kawasaki KX450. "I struggled hard on the West Coast and I am glad to get back on soil I am more comfortable on," said Clason.

For some reason, every time swap points his camera at Alex Ray, things take a turn for the worse. ARay was working his way through the pack in his heat race when he was bit by the tricky sand section.

Rock River Yamaha's Benny Bloss transferred directly to the 450 main from his heat race, but an undisclosed mechanical forced him to pull of early in the main event and the extra-tall rider was credited with 22nd.

Is that a Mickey Mouse glove font?

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's Christian Craig spent the week in between Anaheim Two and Houston testing with the team in Southern California. "I wanted to explore options and do my due diligence," he told us. "I am still looking for a setting that I feel comfortable racing with."

A little finish line style, courtesy of Jason Anderson after winning his heat.

The Houston SX start was intense, as riders powered towards a flat, 180-degree left-hander. Getting the jump and controlling the inside line was key, and it was Eli Tomac who did it best in the main event.

Chase Sexton stalked defending Supercross Champion Eli Tomac early in the second 450 heat race before passing the Yamaha rider and scoring a convincing win. When the duo found themselves in a similar situation in the main event many expected the same result, but Tomac rose to the occasion and never faltered, eventually breaking free of Sexton at the finish. "I was pretty much the second-fastest rider all day long," said Tomac. "But I was able to find some better lines and clean up my riding in the main, and it was another great night for us."

Justin Barcia showed flashes of speed at Houston but he ultimately finished sixth in the main.

Chase Sexton was the fastest 450 qualifier of the day, then backed that up with a great performance in the second heat when he ran down leader Eli Tomac and made the pass for the win. Sadly, he was unable to replicate that performance in the main event. Sexton was second. With 3-5-1-2 scores thus far, Sexton controls second in the championship, seven points behind Tomac, 88 to 95.

Christian Craig's 11th in the 450 main is much more impressive than it looks on paper. After colliding with another rider on the over/under bridge early in the main, Craig was given a second chance when the race was red-flagged and restarted, single-file. Though he was 21st in line, he passed 10 riders before the checkered flag flew.

Tedder Racing's Justin Hill had a bad night in Houston, finishing 20th. The younger Hill brother has been enjoying being back at the races and tells us that he wants to be battling for a top-five position soon enough.

Michigan privateer Kevin Moranz turned in a strong second-place ride in the 450 LCQ and went on to earn a career-best 14th in the main event. Interested in backing a hard-working privateer? Join the Moranz Army at kevinmoranz.com

Honda HRC's Colt Nichols was looking quite comfortable on his CRF450R when he raced to fifth in his heat, but a crash in the tricky sand section held him to 13th in the final. After debuting in the 450 class with an impressive sixth at Anaheim One, Nichols has yet to finish inside the top 10.

Four races into the 2023 season and Eli Tomac has won 75% of the races, an impressive statistic when you consider what a slow starter he has been in the past before gaining momentum as the series wears on. Tomac told us that, "I was pretty much the second-fastest guy all day long, but in the main I found some better lines and cleaned up some mistakes I was making, and it turned out to be a great race for us."

Before the single-file restart, Adam Cianciarulo handed his bike to his mechanic Justin Shantie and ran to the single porta potty in the tunnel. Since it was occupied, AC surveyed the area and relieved himself behind the Andy Gump, where no one could see. Later on, he was fined $1000 by the AMA for relieving himself in plain view. Perhaps multiple portable toilets in the staging area could eliminate these issues.

Get the shot!

POV: when you fall down in your heat race and have last gate pick in the LCQ.

Gratuitous and obligatory Monster Energy Girl photo.

Engaged and set to tie the knot in November, you won't catch ARay slippin' and sneaking a peek on the line...

We were stoked to see home-state privateer Josh Cartwright earn the win in the 450 LCQ with a start-to-finish romp. The Dallas-based rider finished 19th in his third main of the year.

Long-time Alpinestars Mobil Medic Unit boss Dr. John Bodnar has been on crutches throughout this year's Supercross series as he suffered a broken hip in a motocross crash at Cahuilla Creek earlier in the winter. As motocrossers, it's nice to have a doctor who understands what you're going through! Heal up, Doc!

Haiden Deegan and his mechanic Brent Duffe enjoyed a fantastic showing in Houston. The rookie Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha rider is expected by the team to gain experience and get his feet wet in his first pro Supercross season, but he surprised many with his strong fourth-place finish!

Another rookie pro making his debut was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's Talon Hawkins (339), who enjoyed a superb jump at the start of the main, in which he finished 11th. "I came into the race telling myself that if I got a top 10, that was like winning," he said. "So an 11th still feels like a podium!"

Moments after our guy Alex Ray moved into a qualifying spot in the 450 LCQ, he caught a hook in the sand and shot off the track. In a panic, he raced down the side of the course and rejoined the race a few positions down, and was docked two positions by the AMA for burning rubber on the side of the track and throwing caution to the wind. From the looks of it, the new Maxxis hard terrain tire hooks up well...

It was awesome to see Tom Vialle start up front and rub elbows with Hunter Lawrence early in the main, even taking control of the lead briefly when the eventual winner bobbled.

Jeremy Martin was initially put off by his fifth in the 250 main, but after some reflection, he realized that he was contending for a podium position before a mistake on the last lap cost him. "It's bittersweet, but in reality, this is my first time racing in a year," he said. "It's a new tea for me and I really enjoy the vibe here. We will be better next week!"

After the 250 main event, Max Anstie was protested for not riding straight to the bike impound area and instead returning to the team's pits. The objection was eventually dropped, but we did hear rumors of another protest involving the displacement of his machine. Again, nothing official was filed against Anstie and the Firepower Honda team. Great ride, Max!

The calm before the storm.

MX2 World Champion Tom Vialle made his AMA Supercross debut in Houston, and even though his bike is largely the same as Maximus Vohland's out West, it's always fun to drool over a factory bike.

The standard KTMs come with a right-side mounted combination start and kill switch, but the team bikes have two separate buttons. Check out the 3D-printed cage around the kill button that guards against the rider's wrist from pressing it while riding.

We asked Vialle's mechanic Richard Sterling if his rider had any quirky or unusual set-up preferences, and he replied, "Not anymore!" Pedro told us that in the World Championships, Vialle used to run a throttle cable that made the turn much firmer than standard. Over the course of time he's been riding and testing in the States, Sterling has gotten rid of the cable.

Another quirky setup preference Sterling says Vialle used to have was a spacer mounted beneath the bike's frame guards, to give the bike a wider feel between his boots. "Yeah, that's gone, too," joked Pedro.

Tom Vialle's Airoh helmet.

What a wild ride the past years have been for Richard "Pedro" Sterling! From Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha, to the short-lived Chaparral Honda team, to Red Bull KTM where he got to wrench for Antonio Cairoli and now MX2 World Champion Tom Vialle.

We like the flag details on Tom's name.

Former 125 MX and Supercross Champion Johnny O'Mara is an integral part of the Lawrence Brothers' success. As their trainer and mentor, O'Show has endless credentials and experience. It's always great to see Johnny.

Legendary MX mechanic Mike Gosselaar was on hand at Houston as a guest of the Honda HRC team. Since retiring from life on the road, Goose has opened up a small repair shop near his home in Idaho. We chatted with him for a bit, and get the feeling we may be seeing more of him soon.

Jordan Troxell is one of our favorite mechanics to chat with in the pits. He's enjoying his time with new team rider Colt Nichols.

The AMA and Feld require new logos to be implemented on the front numberplate, starting in Houston. Monster Energy was added to the front plate as it has signed on as the title sponsor of the Supermotocross Championship in addition to the Monster Energy Supercross Series. In Houston, temporary stockers were handed out in tech inspection.

Hunter Lawrence's Alpinestars Supertech helmet.

Chane Hymas' Fly Formula helmet.

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team decided to bump its amateur rider Talon Hawkins up to the big leagues on the Monday before Houston. Third in the Anaheim Two SX Futures main, Hawkins was impressive enough for Team Manager Nathan Ramsey to make the call. "I came into Houston with a goal of finishing inside the top 10," said Talon Hawkins. "A top 10 would have been like a first place for me. Ultimately I finished 11th and that still feels like a podium and I am so stoked!"

Jeremy Martin's Muc-Off/Club MX/Yamaha.

Say hello to Ken Roczen's Progressive Insurance/Ecstar/Suzuki mechanic Travis Soules. We've inadvertently been calling him Justin this year. Soules reported that no major changes were made to Roczen's bike in between Anaheim Two and Houston, and that Kenny was happy with his suspension setup at A2.

Honda HRC's Shane Drew was caught admiring Jesse James' all-black attire for Texas. The Fly Racing Athlete Manager is a long-time fixture in the pro pits and always a fun guy to catch up with.

Looks like Dylan Ferrandis' Yamaha YZ450F will sit idle for at least one week following his scary crash and concussion in the 450 main event. Ferrandis said on his Instagram account that he hopes to be back in action at Oakland on February 18.

The new front numberplate and fender of the 2023 Yamaha YZ450F draw strong reactions on both sides of the spectrum. No matter what you think of the bodywork shape, though, everything looks great with a red-plate number one on it!

Polar watches are used by many of the top racers to keep track of their heart rates while riding and training. Since some don't like to ride with it on their wrist, Polar makes a cool foam sleeve so that it may be mounted to the bars.

Dave Burgess has been wrenching for Michael Mosiman for a few seasons now. We asked him if Mosi has any peculiarities when it comes to bike set up...

"He likes the rear brake set extremely low," he said. "And he never uses it! I rarely change rear brake pads. Come to think of it, he doesn't wear out front pads either....he maintains momentum."

Mosiman does get picky about his seat covers, though, and likes them to be extra grippy, as they are when new.

The 2023 Honda CRF250R returned unchanged from 2022. We asked Hunter Lawrence's mechanic Cameron Camera if there were any big changes made to the Honda HRC race bikes...

Camera told us that the biggest change for the new race season are the GET ignitions, which allow for greater tunability than the previous units the team used.

Do you know this man? Yoshi Sako is enzo racing's traveling suspension technician. Do not approach him if you see him as he may bite.

We like the bags John Kuzo and 100% package the racers' goggles in. No guessing game here!

Chris Blose had only a few days to prepare for Houston, but he made the most of it and had a respectable showing in his debut ride. Mechanic Jacob Martin told us that Blose's experience made it easy to set the bike up, and that he actually learned a thing or two from his fill-in rider.

Star Racing's Alpinestars Supertech helmets.

Daniel Castloo spins the wrenches for Justin Cooper, and he was glad to get to the race track. Daniel told us that JCoop has access to every trick part and all the available horsepower that Eli Tomac and Dylan Ferrandis do, but he likes a smoother, easier-to-ride setup.

Aaron Plessinger has been on a tear lately, and we expect to see him on the podium sooner than later.

Talon Hawkins finished third at the Anaheim Two SX Futures event and was asked only on Monday before Houston if he'd like to make the jump to the pros. Impressive! "The bike is so amazing," he said. "It was definitely an adjustment from the bike I raced in Futures."

Colt Nichols has shown flashes of brilliance on his Honda HRC CRF450R, but he has not been excited about his finishes. Before you write off the Oklahoman, remember that he is a former 250 Supercross champion.

Spotted a Swapmoto Race Series/Dirt Bike Kidz hoody in Texas!

Opening ceremonies at Houston were exciting.

Justin Cooper’s YZ450F was kept under the Star Racing team’s 250 pit at Houston, in mechanic Daniel Castloo’s usual spot at the end of the rig. The bike is built to the race spec, including Neken clamps, KYB suspension, and the in-house motor package. Castloo told us that Cooper’s use on stock components through 2022 taught the rider a lot about setup and how every piece plays a role in the handling, which has been helpful in the transition to the big bike.

The last few weeks have been tough on Mitch Payton and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki, but the team’s winning history and competitive bikes makes it a coveted place in the pit area, one that almost every up-and-coming small-bore rider hopes to be under at one point in their careers. PC will field Chris Blose through the entire East Coast Region as Jo Shimoda and Seth Hammaker recover from injuries.

Anyone else getting flashbacks of Alloy gear from this Moose Racing kit?

Talon Hawkins will represent the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team through the East Coast Region as Jalek Swoll continues to recover from a broken upper arm. Hawkins and the rest of the Supercross Futures graduates were part of the B Group in Timed Qualifying at Houston, but their Main Event results will promote him, Hymas, and Deegan to the A Group for Tampa.

Why only a few Supercross races for Chance Hymas? The Team Honda HRC rider explained it to us on Friday, saying, “My pro contract doesn’t start until outdoors in 2023, but for me to make that next jump to where I need to be, racing Futures wasn’t where I needed to be. I need to be with these guys, racing the real deal. Luckily the team was behind it and will do select rounds to get my feet wet.” Hymas will race Tampa, Arlington, Daytona, but with no serious expectations. “We’re here to have fun and see how I stack up against these guys.”

Grant Hutcheson, Crew Chief of Team Honda HRC’s 250 program, explained the ongoing development of the red bike, including the adoption of GET electronics for 2023. “Last year was my first year with the team and they had just gotten the new bike, so we made a lot of progress really quick. By mid-Supercross we were in a good spot and made a few upgrades through the year. But coming into this year, we didn’t make a bunch more, we had a really good platform with the suspension and guys loved their base setting. The biggest change for us on the engine has been GET, a switch we made late in the offseason that took a lot to get going, but I think we are in a better spot with it. We’ve made a lot of improvements there with the power and tuning, and it shows in the starts for Jett. That’s been our biggest thing this year.”

Logan Karnow’s pit spot is impossible to miss, with his smaller Mercedes van, 74-5 branding, and a counter that shows how many Instagram followers he’s gained through the day. You never know who you’ll see under his OnlyFans canopy.

New team jacket for Michael Byrne. The Australian MX icon has taken on an advisory role with Chance Hymas, as the rider is part of the Lawrence Family practice crew at Chad Reed’s old compound in Florida.

Tony Lama or Justin Barcia?

We’re bummed for Preston Kilroy. The developing rider was tapped by Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX/Yamaha as a fill-in for Garrett Marchbanks in the 250 East Coast Region, an upgrade from his original plans of being a YZ250F-mounted privateer, but crashed hard in the Heat Race and broke both wrists upon impact to the concrete floor. He’ll miss the rest of SX and the team will have just Jeremy Martin on track at Tampa.

If you’re in the upper Midwest and are looking for a riding coach, contact Mason Kerr. The Iowa native is USMCA certified and will spend the summer at local tracks in his area helping others hone in their skills.

DJ RD.

Gage Linville was another youngster who did Futures at A2 and lined up in the 250 Class at Houston. The Fire Power Honda rider has raced everywhere in the last few months, including the Australian Supercross championship, Kicker Arenacross, and now the AMA series. Linville was twenty-eighth in Timed Qualifying and tenth in the LCQ.

Michael Hicks clinched the General Tires Arenacross championship on Friday in Memphis, then loaded up the van and drove nine hours overnight with his father to Houston. The duo experienced a bit of a mechanical issue on the way, but were able to make it to the stadium on time for Saturday’s first laps and finished nineteenth in the 250 Main Event. With Arenacross success and some SX experience, the racer is solidifying himself as the top talent to come from the St. Louis area.

Finish line style check with Aaron Plessinger…

How low can you go? We were in awe watching the bottom rut that got carved into this berm, as riders were able to slingshot around 180-corner like they connected to a slotcar track.

Christian Craig

Justin Barcia

Chase Sexton

And Benny Bloss. Who gets the gold, silver, and bronze medals?

Stand by your man. The 450 B Group mechanic area was filled with wives and girlfriends keeping an eye on their guys and helping with lap times and motivation.

We saw this one play out through the viewfinder. Luckily both Coty Schock and Luke Neese were unfazed and made it into the 250 Main Event.

Just another day in the Lommel sand for Max Anstie...

Crowd control device? Something to put the fear into trackside hecklers? Or the most useful tool to have when the bike gets tweaked on the track?

Three different types of starting blocks on the Star Racing track cart, including the usual adjustable steps, a fabricated pair that slots into the grid, and an eye-catching titanium set that has sharp teeth on top for additional grip. Which ones do you want?

Texas native Curren Thurman, letting it flow in Houston’s late afternoon sun.

Have you seen the special graphic sets Tristan Lane has run through the first rounds? SKDA picked the independent rider to be their partner for this year’s themed series, which is inspired by various F1 cars and put down on vinyl for motocross graphics. The Houston kit was a take on a chevron testing livery used by the Red Bull team a few years ago. You can purchase replica kits with your own sponsor logos through SKDA.

Don’t expect Joey Savatgy to bounce on his Rick Ware Racing ride for a fill-in job. The rider has expressed a preference for the aluminum frame of the KX and has earned some more technical support from Mitch Payton, including a few chassis parts that were added to the bike in Houston. Savatgy is still set to follow plans for a limited engagement on the AMA SX series, which will be perfect prep for a second go on WSX tour later this year.

The Dirt Wurx crew got a big hand in Houston, as the one round of Supercross acted as a break in Monster Jam’s residency at NRG Stadium, which meant they didn’t have to spend hours hauling material into and out of the stadium. The time in a climate-controlled building, plus the weight of the car-crushing trucks, packed in the track’s base and made it extremely hard, but efforts in the heavy equipment and on the watering hoses made Saturday’s dirt practically perfect.

First race nerves aren’t just for riders, and Team Honda HRC’s Tommy Harris experienced the same ups and downs as Chance Hymas during their pro debut in Houston.

Tom Vialle had plenty to experience in his first-ever Supercross race, from the build of a Dirt Wurx track to the size of the stadium and even the sensation of racing “late” at night. The Red Bull KTM rider told us this moment, when Hunter Lawrence lost a little speed in the sand, was his chance to go for the lead and he spent two impressive, if not surprising laps at the front of the pack. Can the two-time MX2 champion get a win in his rookie season?

Max Anstie, Tom Vialle, and Jordon Smith. Can you think of a trio of riders with more varied backgrounds and racing histories? The 250 East Coast Region is a melting pot of talent and we’re excited to see how things shake out over the next few weeks.

First race, first place for the new Alpinestars goggle. Astars is determined to complete their head-to-toe package, something only a few brands can claim, and have partnered with EKS Brand to produce a goggle that Hunter Lawrence will run through 2023. Expect to hear much more on this as the year continues.

Sand & champagne

Hunter Lawrence stepped away from the podium celebration to share a few notes about the track with Chase Sexton before the 450 Main Event rolled out for their sighting lap. Team Honda HRC riders have been on the podium more often than not this year, a trend that they’re keen to keep up in both classes. Three titles in one season?

Eli Tomac rocketed out of the gate at the start of the 450 Main Event, another example of his improved starting abilities on the YZ450F, and kept the pack at bay during the first few laps before the red flag flew. Much has been made about Tomac’s ability to regroup during the pause in action, especially after Plessinger and Sexton applied pressure. He admittedly struggled to find a flow on the track, but all concerns were dashed away when he knifed through lapped traffic and forced Sexton into a series of time-consuming mistakes. This really might be the best we’ve ever seen of ET.

Mechanics were ready for anything after the red flag. Because it was immediately unclear how many laps had been recorded and what the restart procedure would be, most re-prepped their grates and laid out the starting blocks for another gate drop. This would be unnecessary, though, as riders were sent off with a staggered single-file restart.

You could feel stadium let out a sense of relief when Dylan Ferrandis got back to his feet after a worrying amount of time spent under the care of the Aplinestars Medical crew.

Something we’re going to ask mechanics and riders about in Tampa is the lack of holeshot devices used on the restart. After looking at pictures and video, it seems that a lot of guys didn’t engage the hook and rings on the fork guards for the single-file staggered restart (yes, we know they’d have been released under braking in the first turn and that the forks would be fully extended by this shot).

Christian Craig probably isn’t happy with his Houston results, but it was exciting to watch the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider charge through the pack. A crash on the initial start put CC in very last place and far behind the pack, and he got a second change with the restart.

Battles on battles

Eli Tomac’s Houston victory puts him one shy of Ricky Carmichael in the all-time list, a ranking that will almost certainly be reshuffled by the end of the season. Given Tomac’s recent response to Dirt Shark’s question about retirement, who knows what we’ll see his final number be. That’s it for this one from Houston.