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Red Bull Moto Spy 2020 | Episode One

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The crew at Red Bull picked the perfect time to release the debut episode for this season of the Red Bull Moto Spy video series. As everyone eagerly awaits the first knobby to the dirt at Angels Stadium and wonders what will happen, a 24-minute video filmed over the last few months showcases the effort put in during the preseason by riders expected to be front-runners in the 2020 Monster Energy Supercross, including defending 450 champion Cooper Webb, incoming 450 rookie Adam Cianciarulo, a rebuilt Ken Roczen, and the young roster of the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM team. Voiceovers from media members bring context to the clips and drum up the anticipation, but it’s the personal moments filmed at the practice tracks, in the gym, or at home that really reinforces what we’re about to see play out over the course of 17 weekends.

Not to read too much into things from a single video, but there were a number of things that caught my attention ahead of this weekend’s opening round…

KEN ROCZEN

Wes Williams and his editing crew put the biggest storyline of the episode right at the start, and rightfully so. Many spent the entire 2019 season wondering when Ken Roczen would score his breakthrough Main Event win following a pair of catastrophic arm injuries in 2017 and 2018, but it never came. Not from a lack of trying or effort from the Team Honda HRC rider that thanks to consistency held the championship lead for a good portion of the series, only to see his energy levels get drained midseason. It’s a health issue that he fought from March through August, spent the offseason recovering from, and is apparently still trying to manage. So with that, many are now left to wonder if it will be an ongoing problem or another obstacle the determined Roczen can overcome.

While his social media posts of play riding and practice laps were seen as an indicator of confidence, the clips in this episode, filmed in the early days of December, caught Roczen on a rough day. “When you’re fit and you have a good day, you feel like Hercules. And some days you feel like you haven’t trained a fucking day in your life,” said one of the most physically fit guys in the history of the sport. The audible self-frustration was contrasted with some reflection, as he acknowledged it was one day and that he was caught up in the moment. “What’s nice about this, it’s humbling. You feel good one day, feel like you’re the king. Show up a couple days later, do not feel like a king.” That Roczen doesn’t live and die by the stopwatch is a good thing, as it shows he now looks at the bigger picture, which is necessary for a chance at the championship.

ADAM CIANCIARULO

It’s good that although Adam Cianciarulo is a Monster Energy rider and has been for much of his life, he still gets some shine in the Red Bull series. It makes sense too when you consider the fact that he and Roczen are training partners and that the cameras will always be around. Highly-touted for his win at the Monster Energy Cup in October, it’s still uncertain where Cianciarulo will rank in the 450 class in his first few races. He told us that he doesn’t think he should be considered a championship contender right away, but that good finishes and possible race wins are his plans. The mood stays light with Nick Wey and Oscar Wirdeman around, as the two industry veterans see AC as a quick learner but are aware he will face his share of challenges in the premier class. There are five more minutes in a 450 Main Event than what he was used to in the 250 class, and that’s an eternity when your heart rate is in the high 100s. 

TROY LEE DESIGNS/RED BULL/KTM

We’ve documented the tumultuous 2019 season that the TLD KTM went through, from rider’s struggles with injuries to the setup of the 250 SX-F to missed opportunities with free agents. The voluntary departures of Jordon Smith and Shane McElrath opened up two spots on the squad, which KTM and Roger De Coster helped fill with French import Brian Moreau and potential untapped talent Brandon Hartranft. Team Manager Tyler Keefe realizes that it’s risky to put four riders that have limited Supercross skills (Derek Drake, Moreau, and Pierce Brown have never raced a true US SX) or results (Hartranft is yet to top-five in a Main Event) on factory bikes, but it’s something that the higher-ups at Austrian OEM are willing to try.

COOPER WEBB

One has to wonder what Cooper Webb thinks of the way he was discussed in the preseason. The rider that won the most Main Events, logged the most consistent scores through the whole series, and claimed the championship in 2019 has not been seen as the incoming favorite for the 2020 season; that unofficial honor has been bestowed on Eli Tomac. What other quality or accomplishment does the three-time 250 champion need to solidify himself as a constant threat to the title?

Webb certainly didn’t give people much to talk about this offseason, as he opted out of the Monster Energy Cup and didn’t flood the Instagram feed with footage of fast practice laps. Instead, he hunkered down at Aldon Baker’s facility in Florida with training partner Zach Osborne and pushed through the notorious boot camp. The footage of Webb in this segment is key, because it shows his raw speed around the track and how high the intensity is during the practice motos. 

Seriously, this dropped at the perfect time. Can’t wait for Saturday night…

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Michael Antonovich

Michael Antonovich has a wealth of experience with over 10 years of moto-journalism under his belt. A lifelong racing enthusiast and rider, Anton is the Editor of Swapmoto Live and lives to be at the race track.

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