Minneapolis SX Blog- A Day At The Races With Jackie Riess

For die hard motocross fans like me, a day at the races really turns into a full weekend event. Supercross comes and goes from my home of Minneapolis, MN, so I do my best to cherish the times when the series comes to the Midwest. My weekend started on Friday afternoon when I headed downtown to US Bank Stadium, about 20 minutes from my house. I first helped to set up the District 23 ARMCA booths (our local racing organization here in Minnesota), and then met up with MXMatt to check in for my MXP media credentials. Though there were a couple kinks in the process, I was able to pass my COVID test and receive my wristband. By this time, press day was over, but I was able to sneak a peek of the on-track action while volunteering with D23 ARMCA. 

I then headed to my Airbnb to check in and heat up my leftover spaghetti. I was joined by a few friends for a glass of Target’s cheapest red wine, and we quickly headed to Inbound Brewery on the other side of town for the PulpMX Live Show. I presented the crew with monster and chocolate chip cookies, panic button cupcakes, and banana bread; how else am I supposed to make friends? My friends and I went on to enjoy the show and admire Darkside’s ponytail in its final resting place.

Jackie (bottom right) and friends with Darkside’s ponytail.

I have mixed feelings about daytime races, but the first qualm I have is with the early rise time. I’m normally a morning person, but not when I’ve only slept a few hours because I’m too excited for Supercross. We got to the stadium bright and early, and watched the first few rounds of qualifying. I spent some time watching the Canadian 250 East riders, and aside from Tanner Ward’s wild ride, he looked smooth and in control all day.

Seeing the Minneapolis skyline through the stadium windows is one reason why US Bank Stadium is so unique.

I then went looking for my second cup of coffee for the day, and of course Minnesota has a Caribou in the stadium. Overpriced as any stadium is, but as staple in our Midwestern culture, I had to. I enjoyed my coffee as I continued to watch qualifying and my caffeine buzz set in. The whoops were claiming many victims Saturday morning, so we changed location to get a better view. Many riders were dropping the front end in the last few whoops and riding the front wheel up the face of the triple. This caused some chaos to say the least.

Jackie (top right) and friends enjoying coffee and qualifying.

Surprisingly, there was excess soil in the stadium this weekend. Notably, there was one corner that the track crew was able to take soil from in order to fill in gaps in the whoops and lengthen the landing of the triple. Additionally, they had enough dirt to have a full length table top before the finish. When was the last time we saw a table top in Supercross that wasn’t part of a rhythm section? Anyway, the lip of the table top was very steep to slow the riders down, so much so that I think TP199 could’ve backflipped it easily. That would’ve been a great addition to opening ceremonies back in the day!

The whoops were arguably rougher after qualifying than the main events.

After watching practice and the first round of qualifying, it was my turn to man the D23 ARMCA booth. I was there for a few hours, and missed the last rounds of qualifying, but I talked with many of our members past, present, and future. At the end of my shift,  I quickly walked away from the booth to make my fantasy picks, and by then it was time for the show to start.

MN’s own Ryan Dungey with Karen Umphress at the District 23 ARMCA booth.

My second qualm with daytime races is the lack of hype during opening ceremonies. This is absolutely not for a lack of trying, but with the sun shining through the many stadium windows, we were unable to see any of the fireworks. They turned into noise makers, which triggered many crying children. And with a small crowd compared to every other round this season, the cheering was much quieter than I think anyone expected. The perk of a small crowd? I got to move seats multiple times throughout the night.

The lighting at US Bank Stadium during opening ceremonies. Can you imagine being in the sliver of pure sunshine?

The racing this season has been exciting, but being at the race in person shows you how much excitement we miss on TV. There were many battles and crashes farther back in the pack that I was able to catch being there in person. However, having the replay of Sexton’s crash was very important to my understanding of what actually happened. I was watching him struggle to get back up, and he was unfortunately in a section of the track where they were unable to bring the SxS to pick him up during the race. From afar it looked like he was favoring his left arm and was very woozy as he was trying to get back up. I’m glad he was able to walk off the track, and I hope, even though he has the championship in his mind, he takes some time to rest and recover. His mechanic struggled to bring his bike off the track, and I watched as they changed the front wheel in order to get the bike rolling again. His wheel was so bent that it wouldn’t rotate between the forks, something I’ve never seen happen to a motorcycle before.

After the racing concluded, I had plans of joining the post-race press conference via Zoom back at the Airbnb in a quiet space. However, the crowded concourse prevented my exit, which in hindsight was probably okay. For some reason this year, the stadium was not ventilated. Maybe because of the cold temps, but that left me, and most other people, with itchy, red eyes, a scratchy throat, and voiceless. After getting back to the room, I spent the night sleeping after a long couple days of excitement. The early bedtime is truly the best perk of daytime racing. I live for two-wheel racing, and I can’t wait to get back outdoors this spring.

Until the next race,

JR27

The crowd was held up by people trying to exit the stadium from two directions.