Racer X Magazine.
f you want to see just how much social media has changed the way news is reported in the moto world, look no further than the curious case of Chase Sexton and the dreaded December Surprise. That’s the unfortunate late-off-season injury that inevitably occurs just when it seems everyone is settled and ready to go for the new supercross season in January. This miserable annual mishap has ranged from a pair of broken wrists for Jeff Emig (New Year’s Eve 1999) to a torn ACL for Ricky Carmichael (Thanksgiving ’03) to Marvin Musquin (the last two years). It’s often caused by an accident on some supercross practice track, and it has the effect of shaking up everyone’s preseason predictions.
Sexton’s case was a little different. His injury was a broken collarbone, which will likely heal by the end of January. But the 2019 Monster Energy AMA 250SX East Region Champion was slated to race for GEICO Honda in the West Region, starting on January 4. Fortunately, he should be ready to go for the East Region; unlike then-premier-class guys like Emig, Carmichael, and Musquin, Sexton’s December crash won’t wreck his whole supercross season.
By JASON WEIGANDT 
@JASONWEIGANDT
By JASON WEIGANDT @JASONWEIGANDT
o much drama predicted! Yet so little will happen. Adam Cianciarulo’s entrance in the 450 class for 2020 has set the tee for a few tantalizing stories, including: “Can Ken Roczen and Adam Cianciarulo Remain Friends While Racing the Same Class?” “Can Adam Cianciarulo and Eli Tomac get Along as Teammates?” “Will Cooper Webb Be Out for Blood Against Adam Cianciarulo?”
Guess what: these are non-stories. Nothing is going to happen.
As my man Steve Matthes said during our Monster Energy Racer X Supercross Preview Shows, “What is this, Teen Beat magazine here?”
Everyone loves the gossip a little too much, and thus predicts crazy things. Usually they point to some moment in history where it happened before—drama between teammates and training partners—and predict a little bit of history repeated.
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You don’t invest millions of dollars and hire riders like Ken Roczen or Justin Brayton if you’re not in it to win it, as Honda HRC is for supercross in 2020. But the brand is also going big on a second objective: helping anyone competing aboard a Honda WORDS: AARON HANSEL PHOTOS: SIMON CUDBY |
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You don’t invest millions of dollars and hire riders like Ken Roczen or Justin Brayton if you’re not in it to win it, as Honda HRC is for supercross in 2020. But the brand is also going big on a second objective: helping anyone competing aboard a Honda WORDS: AARON HANSEL PHOTOS: SIMON CUDBY |
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You don’t invest millions of dollars and hire riders like Ken Roczen or Justin Brayton if you’re not in it to win it, as Honda HRC is for supercross in 2020. But the brand is also going big on a second objective: helping anyone competing aboard a Honda WORDS: AARON HANSEL PHOTOS: SIMON CUDBY |
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Supercross in Australia and New Zealand: halfway around the world to have fun with the same old friends
“Three weeks?” my neighbor asked. “You can get that much time off of work?” Yes, because this was for work. Barely. Yeah, I was covering and announcing the Monster Energy S-X Open in New Zealand and AUS-X Open in Australia, the biggest supercross races Down Under, but I also packed my wife and two kids. We took in beautiful scenery and fantastic cultures. Yet I had the most fun seeing the least. For instance, my daughter came down with a stomach virus, so we skipped a day of hiking and watched movies all day in a hotel room. It was a blast. We should have days like that at home more often. That was the theme of these races, too. On the other side of the world, racers hung out in ways they don’t at home. The more serious stuff? Save that for American life. |
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Supercross in Australia and New Zealand: halfway around the world to have fun with the same old friends
“Three weeks?” my neighbor asked. “You can get that much time off of work?” Yes, because this was for work Barely. Yeah, I was covering and announcing the Monster Energy S-X Open in New Zealand and AUS-X Open in Australia, the biggest supercross races Down Under, but I also packed my wife and two kids. We took in beautiful scenery and fantastic cultures. Yet I had the most fun seeing the least. For instance, my daughter came down with a stomach virus, so we skipped a day of hiking and watched movies all day in a hotel room. It was a blast. We should have days like that at home more often. That was the theme of these races, too. On the other side of the world, racers hung out in ways they don’t at home. The more serious stuff? Save that for American life. |
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Supercross in Australia and New Zealand: halfway around the world to have fun with the same old friends
“Three weeks?” my neighbor asked. “You can get that much time off of work?” Yes, because this was for work. Barely. Yeah, I was covering and announcing the Monster Energy S-X Open in New Zealand and AUS-X Open in Australia, the biggest supercross races Down Under, but I also packed my wife and two kids. We took in beautiful scenery and fantastic cultures. Yet I had the most fun seeing the least. For instance, my daughter came down with a stomach virus, so we skipped a day of hiking and watched movies all day in a hotel room. It was a blast. We should have days like that at home more often. That was the theme of these races, too. On the other side of the world, racers hung out in ways they don’t at home. The more serious stuff? Save that for American life. |
Sam Nicolini
PHOTOS:
Christian Munoz
OPENING SPREAD IMAGE:
COREY ALLEN
