Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
As always, there are many unanswered questions coming into the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross Series. These questions can only get addressed by the riders hitting the track and getting the opening round under their belts. And even though every rider will tell you that Anaheim 1 is just one race of a long and challenging series, we all know that it’s not the case. Every rider on the starting gate would love; I repeat, LOVE to win Anaheim 1, as it’s what every rider dreams about. However, only a selected few can put an Anaheim 1 win on their resume, and in recent years, those riders have yet to go on to win the Supercross title. With the opening round of 2023 now upon us, here are my top five picks for Saturday night at Angel Stadium.
450SX Class:
1. Chase Sexton:
Picking Sexton to win on Saturday isn’t exactly out of left field, as last year, he was one of the fastest riders in the series. Also, during the 2022 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championships, he battled Eli Tomac right down to the final moto of the series. Sexton is fast, fit, and confident, and he’s young enough to head into Anaheim 1 with a lot of aggression in his riding. Finally, he’s also going to be racing an improved version of his 2022 HRC CRF450R, so there’s no reason to think Chase won’t be comfortable and fast all night long. When you add up all of these things, I don’t see how you can’t pick Sexton to win this weekend and multiple times in January to kick-off this 2023 Monster Energy Supercross Series.
2. Jason Anderson:
JA21 is another rider who is not only coming off a solid 2022 season but will be racing on an improved version of his bike from last year. Anderson was brilliant throughout most of the 2022 Monster Energy Supercross Series, and if it weren’t for a few miscue’s in the second half of the series, then he certainly would’ve challenged Tomac for the 450SX title in the final few rounds. I love watching Anderson ride a dirt bike, and I hope he wins multiple races in 2023 and can maintain that success for 17 rounds. I’m sure he learned a lot last year about the bike and himself, and there’s no reason to think he won’t be even better in 2023. On Saturday night, I can see Anderson getting off to a so-so start and then battling back to second overall.
3. Justin Barcia:
Over the past few years, no rider has had more success at the opening round than Justin Barcia. Whether it’s his riding style or his laid back demeanour, Barcia appears to always live in the moment, and first-round jitters don’t seem to exist with him. Could he win on Saturday evening? Of course he can, but I feel like he’ll need a little luck as his competition is just that good this year. I hope Barcia has a good series, and I hope he wins some races in 2023. The sport needs and likes when Barcia is upfront, even though I’m sure his fellow riders hate it.
4. Eli Tomac:
Even though he’s been there and done that for many years, as well as the fact that he’s riding an all-new YZ450F for 2023, you have to think that Eli Tomac will find a way on Saturday evening to finish inside the top five and get his 450SX title defence started in a positive way. Being the veteran rider that Tomac is, I think he rides a little cautious on Saturday night, knowing that the riders who finish in front of him all have weaknesses that he’ll be able to exploit in the coming weeks. Tomac may also need a few races to get completely comfortable on his new bike and then once that happens look out world. I don’t feel as though Tomac is the favourite to win this weekend, but I do feel that he’s the favourite to repeat as the 450SX Champion and then ride off into the sunset as perhaps the best modern-day rider ever.
5.Cooper Webb:
With all of the work that Cooper Webb has done during the off-season with Aldon Baker and his KTM teammates, you would assume that he’s going to start off this year much better than he did in 2022. During last year’s off-season, Webb used the knowledge that he had obtained from Aldon Baker in the previous years, but instead of training in Florida at the Bakers Factory, he ran his own schedule. What probably seemed like a good idea at the time obviously didn’t work out for Webb as he came into last year out of shape and also loaded with the task of trying to figure out a newly designed KTM. Well, you can bet the two-time Champion isn’t going to make the same mistake again, and although I have Webb finishing 5th on Saturday evening, I believe he’s going to get better as the series goes on.
250 SX West Class:
1. Cameron McAdoo:
I know what you’re thinking. How would anyone bet against Jett Lawrence for the win at Anaheim 1? Picking Jett is the easy thing to do, and while I do have him winning this 250SX West Championship, the opening round is going to be a pressure-filled struggle for the 19-year-old phenom from Australia. As we’ve seen in the past, anything can happen at Round 1, and I feel like under the coaching of Nick Wey, McAdoo is coming into the series 100% ready and with little or no pressure on him as Lawrence will be bearing most of that burden. Also, if McAdoo and his teammate Austin Forkner can build some momentum early in this series and get into the head a little of Jett, then maybe, just maybe, this title fight can be a multi-rider battle.
2. Austin Forkner:
I thought last year that Forkner had finally matured into a fast and consistent championship contender in the 250SX class. Until Jett accidentally crossed-jumped him and knocked Austin out of the 250SX East Series, he was building momentum, and if he’d been able to finish the series I think he could’ve challenged for the title. By the looks of things, Forkner has had a great off-season, and his recent motos with Jason Anderson and his Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammates should have him race ready. Like always though, Forkner will have to remain healthy if he wants to take down the Jett and win his first pro title in 2023. He can for sure, even if he’s struggled to do it in the past.
3. Jett Lawrence:
I don’t know why I have Jett finishing in third this weekend as he’ll probably come out and crush everyone in the main event. My only thinking is that since it’s the opening round, the pressure will be on him to do exactly that, crush everyone! Usually, the track at Anaheim 1 is not the place to take chances so Lawrence could be in for some struggles on Saturday night. As I said above, I have him winning this title; however, like most fans, I hope it’s not a runaway every weekend.
4. Levi Kitchen:
Back in late October, I had the opportunity to watch Levi and his Star Racing Yamaha teammates ride in person at the old Goat Farm. Of the large group of 250 riders, Kitchen was the fastest rider, and since we’re now over two months past that, I can only assume that he’s riding even better now. This kid is very talented, and he has a lot of inner confidence, as well as the best bike in the class under him. I don’t think he’ll crack the top three in the opening round, but he could be a podium rider after that.
5. Cole Thompson:
Even with riders like RJ Hampshire and Max Vohland racing this weekend in the 250SX West class, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if our own Cole Thompson finds himself in 5th by the end of the main event on Saturday night. Of all the riders in the 250SX class, including the top guns, Cole is coming into Anaheim better prepared than anyone. Having competed in the Australian SX Series just over a month ago, Cole’s race craft will be razor sharp, and his fitness will be as good as it’s ever been as the gate drops in 2023. If you recall, Cole won the final round of the Aussie SX Series, so he’s coming into this year on a high note. It won’t be easy, and he may need some help in the form of some of the top riders struggling this weekend, but I think Cole can pull off a top five, and for all of the Canadian race fans out there, I hope he does.
