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Anaheim 1, finally! After an unbearable wait, here we are, the SX US season is here. A return as expected by fans as Santa Claus by children, and we were not disappointed.
The SX US was already making a comeback in Anaheim, at the stadium that helped forge its legend. No gauge, an audience that made the trip in numbers and made noise, thus contributing to the energy of the evening. Each racing incident, and there have been many, has ignited an Angel Stadium full as an egg, and it feels good. And not just to Feld Entertainment's finances. The public contributes a large part to the spectacle that is the SX US, it is by finding this type of atmosphere that we realize it.
Usually, the opening track is the quiet kind, just to allow the pilots to get back in the bath in a cool way. This year, with two series of beefy whoops, it was better to be ready right away… The whoops largely decided the outcome of the races. This combined with looser-than-usual dirt in Anaheim 1, which produced unfathomable ruts all over the place. “It looked like an east coast track” summed up veteran Justin Brayton, who has seen a few tracks since his debut in 1949…
After declaring at a press conference that he had had a difficult month of December because of a serious illness that took a long time to treat (not the Covid, he took care to specify!), Ken Roczen did not didn't seem to be too much of a standstill anyway for this Anaheim 1. Historically speaking, the German always starts his seasons on the right foot, and he proved it again this time. Honestly, he didn't seem too embarrassed or ill on this evening... Seventh fastest time less than half a second from the pole, winner of his heat and the final, K-Roc was still solid as a rock , exactly. With a formidable weapon, departures more than to the point. Fortunately, because he would have had more trouble in the middle of chaos like the one behind him, he who doesn't like to rub too much. Holeshot in heat, holeshot in the final, nothing better to start the season.
Of course, he had to contain his impetuous teammate Chase Sexton at first. What he was able to do with mastery, moreover. Much better, in my opinion, than if it had been his arch-nemesis Cooper Webb. No panic in his driving, KR94 skillfully countered each attempt of the youngster. Here is a dynamic that will have to be followed carefully between the two teammates. Because we have on one side the former clearly defined number 1 of the team, and on the other the one who aspires precisely to become it, this number 1. Until we have two Alpha males who argue like two lions in a zoo for the same female, there is only one step. Kenny has always liked being the leader, and if that wasn't a problem with good old Brayton, that's changing fast. Good luck to Lars, the new manager, to manage the egos! In the meantime, Ken will be able to hang a nice red plate on his Honda...
A bit in difficulty in practice, who made a mistake in heat, the evening was going to be complicated for Cooper Webb, after an average start. The pit bull with plate #1 was not transcendent at the start of the final either. And finally, passing by the grenades which exploded here and there, there he was, beating Justin Barcia in the last laps to offer himself a perfect second place. His best result so far on the opener. OK, it looks like he's taken an all-you-can-eat buffet subscription since he left Aldon Baker, but it seems to be working out for him… Anyway, he didn't falter in the end racing, far from it, and he started his title defense perfectly. More dangerous than ever, the Coop'. We're going to have to go and snatch this plate #1 from him. With the teeth.
Speaking of dangerous, here is our Justin Barcia, king of openings, who offers himself a podium. Admittedly, it's not a fourth victory in a row, but it's still a very nice way to start the season. In typical Barcia fashion, with a nice little block-pass to get rid of Jason Anderson. JB51 had already wished a happy new year to Marvin in heat in the same way, proof that he knows how to show good manners. A real gentleman, since he married an Englishwoman. We wonder what the Queen is waiting for to ennoble her. In short, not much new for this Barcia 2.2, except for these horrible rims on its GASGAS.
Aggressive Marvin Musquin in Anaheim 1
It's been a long time since we've seen such a combative and aggressive Marvin Musquin, which is nice to see. No doubt, he is obviously not there just to make the number if we base ourselves on this Anaheim 1. Despite having been Bambamer in heat, then having tackled a commissioner with his Kate, and therefore having found himself poor 16th place on the grid, Marv' fought like a lion, rather than like the kittens he loves so much. To the point of cutting Malcolm Stewart as Vince Friese would have done, then elbowing with Sexton to snatch this fourth place with the guts. Sacred introduction to Musquin, in any case. Worthy of Santa's aunt is garbage.
If you add it up, it's been about three finals that Chase Sexton could/should have won, but he's still zero. However, that's it, everything is in order! The bike, the starts, the style, the speed, the passages in the whoops… Nothing is missing from our Dumbo from Illinois, except a little patience and success. No doubt for me that he was the fastest on this final and would have flown away if he had passed Kenny immediately. No doubt either that he would have been more aggressive with anyone but his teammate. Alas, that's a lot of conditionals... And the result is that he still has zero wins on the clock, and just a top 5 to show. However, all of this could change very quickly. It smells strongly of the change of generation...
David Vuillemin said it in a live broadcast before the race: Eli Tomac on the Yam is like on the Kawa, but in blue. Indeed, not seen much difference. The departures are of the same ilk, and the openings just as sluggish. A very average day, from which he comes out with an average place. Business as usual at this time of the season. We'll talk about it again at the beginning of March.
After the rave reviews heard all winter on a Malcolm Stewart now sharp as a blade, sharp as a knife (heat like a flame, powerful like an assault rifle…) thanks to his passage through the Bakery, as much say that I expected little more than that. OK, getting cut in half by Marv didn't help, but the rendered copy was nothing special so far. Truth be told, it's, like ET3, the same as last year with different colors, for now. Mookie is the only one, moreover, to have taken advantage of Sexton's fall in the whoops by leaving the series before its end by rematting like a pig... As for going to make his mourner after the race for the same move he has himself administered to Jason Anderson in heat, MDR, as the young people say. Bump your speed, Malcolm, instead of playing bad boy. Pff, I miss James.
Let's quickly go over Joey Savatgy's Anaheim 1, exactly in its place, even a little better than last year in terms of pace. Even faster on an Aaron Plesssinger, exciting as a rainy day, to interest us in the real hero of this final: Jason Anderson.
Ah, here's one that's nice to see! Without a (clean) attack from Justin Barcia which made him over-react a little (he had room not to fall…), “my” Jason offered himself a superb second place for this opening. This despite a rather poor start, that says a lot about El Hombre's current form and ambitions, even in victim mode this weekend. From Malcolm first, then, therefore, from his friend Bambam. All this obviously promises us repercussions commensurate with the damage, and I rub my hands in advance. In any case, what speed! What style! Nothing to say, he took advantage of his change of colors to put his career back in the right direction. Go!
Adam Cianciarulo limited the damage quite well with a loose shoulder, and still masters the art of the start. Great performance from Justin Brayton in heat, less so in the final. Superb heat from Shane McElrath, who could quickly show great things at this pace. He prays for, in any case. Others ? Not seen, or at the limit we don't care, what. Yes, I liked the persistence of Cade Clason in LCQ to come back from afar to snatch the qualification against the poor Spaniard (redundant?) Joan Cros. Just kidding, Iberian gentlemen, I love tapas and Cruzcampo. Especially the Cruzcampo, in fact.
And finally, Dylan Ferrandis. With good starts at the end of the outdoor season, I naively hoped that the problem would be solved by Anaheim 1. Obviously not quite. But DF14, like last year, showed superb and encouraging speed. To be faster than Stewart in the whoops, first good sign. Overtaking his teammate Eli Tomac, second good sign. Back in the top 5 after leaving in the last car, third good sign. In short, it smells good, but it will now be a question of putting everything together to avoid missing out as in 2021. We believe in it!
What can it hold, a title, or even a career in SX? A few centimeters, sometimes. Like the extra ones between Colt Nichols front wheel and that bump it should have hit. But the wheel didn't hit, went behind to crash into the next whoops, and that's the tragedy. Two broken arms, a gash in the hip… A whole damn offseason of preparation, and room for pain, operations, rehabilitation and whatnot for a driver who was in full ascending phase, defending champion east coast, did not let's not forget. Hard. And Star Racing which finds itself with its two 2021 champions on the flank. It depends on little...
Fortunately, they still have the daron of the category, Christian Craig. Craig sharper than ever, for his 23rd season (approximately) in the 250. “The last, we promise”, as he says every year. At this rate, he will not be long in playing the title with one of his many children… Besides, I have already said it, but YOU DO NOT BRING YOUR CHILD ON THE PODIUM WHEN RIDING IN 250. Apart from this detail, Christian is clearly the boss of the category, as he also wanted to show it to all those who dared to approach him throughout the evening. To the point of being a little impatient at times, even aggressive, when he only had to wait for the whoops to deposit his opponents as if they were not there. Easy victory, therefore, for Craig, more favorite than ever now that Nichols is in the infirmary.
Nice performance from the neckless man, I named Seth Hammaker. Fast, constant, well in the whoops, our future insurance agent assured, precisely, and knew how to resist to the end the return of Hunter Lawrence. Good job.
The same can be said for Hunter, despite a rocky start. The eldest of the Lawrence bros is actually more comfortable in SX than last year, it seems. Over the length of the championship, he could be the most dangerous opponent for CC28, provided you at least leave with him. And the whoops aren't too big.
After a decent year last year, Garrett Marchbanks seems to have turned a corner this season. Comfortable in the heat as in the final at Anaheim 1, where he passed very close to the podium, the ClubMX rider has the speed to play in front, despite a machine that is not 100% factory.
Two starts, two holeshots for Vince Friese, that sets the tone for the season. As expected, Vince isn't here to make friends, and it shows. And on slightly less technical circuits, it will be even more threatening for the leading men. I'm not even talking about the little youngsters who will have to overtake him race after race… Solid, the guy.
Michael Mosiman is one of those who can win a final, but he still has to think about using his brain… His mistake in the final is, in this regard, a perfect example. How can you hope to cross a track where there are already two motorbikes engaged? And the fall that follows, is it not avoidable? Too bad, because the speed is there. Race intelligence? A little less…
Jo Shimoda was one of the big disappointments of the evening. The Japanese made a lot of mistakes, far too many in any case to hope to play in front. Unlike Mosiman, it's not usual for him, so we'll put it down to the nervousness specific to an opening. But it will have to make a much cleaner copy to do better, which it is largely capable of.
Poor Jalek Swoll was not far off in Anaheim 1, losing consciousness in the first few meters of his heat when it was not his fault. Cruel, the SX.
A word on Thomas Do, who must already miss the deserted east coast in 2021. No doubt, it's harder when everyone is there. “Ketchup” would have probably made it to the final at the LCQ had it not been for a first-round collision he didn’t cause, but that’s what SX US is, too. The LCQ 250 is like a bullfight in the streets of Pamplona, it can end badly very quickly...
Come on, see you next Saturday in Oakland, near San Francisco. In the meantime, comment, share and everything else.
By Richard Angot.
