It is early January, but there is no time to rest at the start of the New Year. Supercross is back and it is getting right to business. Starting this Saturday night, the two-wheel championship will begin its 17-race season taking place over 18 weekends.
After two pandemic-affected seasons, 2022 looks normal with a variety of venues all across the United States. On the track, things will look different. Top riders have switched manufactures, but the defending champion has remained in place. There are many questions heading into the new season.
Schedule
It is back to normal for Supercross in 2022. There are no multiple race residencies scheduled and no midweek races either. Every race is scheduled for a Saturday and the 17 races are scheduled to take place at 15 different venues in 13 different states after competing at only seven different venues in only five starts last year.
Anaheim is back as the season opener, and it starts a four-race California swing to open the season with five of the first six events taking place in the Golden State. Saturday's race is the first in California since February 8, 2020 in San Diego. Round two will take the series up the coast to Oakland on January 15 before heading down south to San Diego on January 22. Anaheim will host the fourth round to close out the month.
Glendale, Arizona is the first stop outside California on February 5 before one more Anaheim race the following weekend. The series makes a big jump to Minneapolis on February 19, the first of four afternoon races, before returning to Arlington, Texas, and a primetime event, on February 26.
Daytona Bike Week is the midpoint of the season with the only Floridian round running on March 5. Detroit will host Supercross on March 12 with Indianapolis following on March 19. The series returns to the Pacific Coast on March 26 for a return to Seattle.
The series will take the first weekend of April off before returning on April 9 at St. Louis. Supercross will run Easter weekend this year, but it will be an afternoon race starting at 3:00 pm on April 16 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Foxborough is back on the schedule and that will also host an afternoon round on April 23. Denver closes the hat trick of afternoon races on April 30.
Salt Lake City will host the season finale for the third consecutive season. The season closes on May 7.
Teams:
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Cooper Webb: #1 KTM 450SX-F Factory Edition
Cooper Webb: #1 KTM 450SX-F Factory Edition
What did he do in 2021: Webb won his second Supercross championship with eight victories, 13 podium finishes and 15 top five finishes from 17 races. He was fourth in the AMA Motocross championship, but he did not win a race with four podium finishes.
What to expect in 2022: After winning the championship two of the last three seasons, expectations will be he can do it again. In 2020, Webb had a slow start, but ended strong and finished second in the championship. In Webb's favor is many of his competitors have switched teams and there are many unknowns. His rivals could experience growing pains, allowing Webb to remain on top.
Aaron Plessinger: #7 KTM 450SX-F Factory Edition
What did he do in 2021: Plessinger was fifth in the Supercross championship with his best finish being third at Daytona riding for Yamaha. He was tenth in the AMA Motocross championship and finished on the podium four times, but only made 18 starts.
What to expect in 2022: Plessinger had a few rough seasons with Yamaha, but last year was a nice step forward. He should push Webb a little bit, but I think Plessinger will be the clear second in the team, competing for a race victory here and there, but mostly fighting for a top five championship spot.
Marvin Musquin: #25 KTM 450SX-F Factory Edition
What did he do in 2021: Musquin was ninth in the Supercross championship and won the penultimate race in Salt Lake City. He had five podium finishes but he finished outside the top five in his other ten starts and he did not start two races due a concussion and an arm injury. He was seventh in the AMA Motocross championship with only one podium finish in 18 starts.
What to expect in 2022: Musquin has been on the decline for a few seasons. After it appeared he would carry KTM after Ryan Dungey's retirement, Musquin has not met those expectations. If he is healthy, he should finish somewhere in the top ten of the championship, but I don't think he will be winning races or pushing for the championship.
Team Honda HRC
Chase Sexton: #23 Honda CRF450R
What did he do in 2021: Sexton missed six races after suffering a shoulder injury in the second race of the season in Houston. He returned for the final nine races, where he was on the podium three times and had six top five finishes, earning Sexton 12th in the championship. In the AMA Motocross championship, he was fifth in the championship with a victory and five podium finishes.
What to expect in 2022: Sexton had a few close calls for victory last season, and he should breakthrough in 2022. It is a matter of staying healthy. He should push for a top five championship finish.
Ken Roczen: #94 Honda CRF450R
What did he do in 2021: Roczen was second in the championship, 35 points behind Webb after Roczen won four races and stood on the podium ten times. He did finish outside the top five in four of the final eight races. Roczen was third in the AMA Motocross championship with seven victories with 15 podium finishes.
What to expect in 2022: Good, but not good enough. After multiple comebacks from injuries, Roczen has been at the top, but not been the ruthless winner we had been expecting to break out many years ago. He should win multiple races, but after the last few years of fading late in the season, it is hard to see him breaking that trend. For Roczen to win the championship, he needs to be stellar early while others stumble around him.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing
Eli Tomac: #3 Yamaha YZ450F
Eli Tomac: #3 Yamaha YZ450F
What did he do in 2021: Riding for Kawasaki, Tomac won three times, his fewest victories since one in 2016, with eight podium finishes on his way to finishing third in the championship, 62 points behind Webb. Tomac was second in the AMA Motocross championship with six victories and 13 podium finishes.
What to expect in 2022: New team, new expectations. After a successful stint with Kawasaki, Tomac's shift to Yamaha shocks the Supercross system. Yamaha hasn't been a regular challenger for the last few seasons, but it made progress in 2021, and had a great Motocross season last summer. Tomac could lift Yamaha to a contender for race victories, or the combination could struggle a bit and have a few good races. Tomac is a champion, but if he finishes third with a few victories again I would consider that a successful season.
Dylan Ferrandis: #14 Yamaha YZ450F
What did he do in 2021: Ferrandis was seventh in the championship with one podium finish, a runner-up result in the second race at Houston. He did finish in the top five of three of the final five races. He won the AMA Motocross championship with eight victories and 22 podium finishes in 24 starts.
What to expect in 2022: After winning the Motocross championship, expectations increase for Ferrandis. His Supercross season was good last year. He has a challenge within his own team, but after thoroughly dominating the Motocross season, he can't be flat to start 2022. The bare minimum is beating Tomac in the championship. If he does that, he will likely be in the top five of the championship and have won a few races. I am holding off on pronouncing Yamaha a contender. We need to see some results first.
Monster Energy Kawasaki
Adam Cianciarulo: #9 Kawasaki KX450
What did he do in 2021: Cianciarulo had one podium finish and four top five finishes in seven starts before breaking his collarbone in the second Orlando race ending his season early. He returned to the AMA Motocross championship and won a race, but only made 11 starts.
What to expect in 2022: Cianciarulo is still battling his shoulder injury entering 2022. A fully healthy Cianciarulo should be fighting for race victories, but if he is banged up, I am not sure he can fight at the front on a consistent basis. It would not surprise me if he won a few races, but I worry his body will not hold up for an entire season.
Jason Anderson: #21 Kawasaki KX450
What did he do in 2021: Anderson ended up eighth in the championship with only two podium finishes, both third place results. He had only five top five finishes all season and failed to qualify for the second Indianapolis race.
What to expect in 2022: We have seen the best of Anderson. He is a consistent rider who keeps his nose clean and gets results, but Supercross is rising to a higher level and Anderson's consistency will not win him a championship like it did in 2018. He will be somewhere between sixth and tenth in the championship and could get on the podium a few times.
Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/Gas Gas Factory Racing
Justin Barcia: #51 Gas Gas MC 450F
What did he do in 2021: Barcia was fourth in the championship after winning the Houston season opener and having four podium finishes. He had ten top five finishes. He won once in the AMA Motocross championship but only made 14 starts, finishing ninth in the championship.
What to expect in 2022: Barcia was the surprise of 2021. I don't think anyone expected him to win at all, let alone the season opener on a new manufacture. Barcia will drop a little in the championship. I don't think he will fall out of the top ten, but I expect fewer top five finishes.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Team
Dean Wilson: #15 Husqavarna FC450 RE
What did he do in 2021: Wilson was 11th in the championship with his best finish being eighth with seven top ten results. He also missed two races and failed to qualify for two others.
What to expect in 2022: With Anderson is leaving for Yamaha and Zach Osborne retiring, Wilson is the veteran leader at Husqvarna. However, I am not sure Wilson can get back into the top ten of the championship when looking at the depth of the field.
Malcolm Stewart: #27 Husqvarna FC450 RE
What did he do in 2021: Stewart scored a career best sixth in the championship and picked up his first career podium finish with a third in the penultimate race in Salt Lake City.
What to expect in 2022: This is a big shift, as Stewart moves from Yamaha to Husqvarna. Stewart should be leading this team, but I am not sure he can get back to sixth in the championship. Unfortunately, it looks like Stewart is leaving Yamaha as it is ascending and joining Husqvarna when it is going through a dip. He should pull out a few top ten results, but his goal should be beating Wilson and also the man he is replacing Anderson in the championship.
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC – KTM – WPS
Shane McElrath: #12 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
What did he do in 2021: McElrath started only two race with his best finish being 14th after he suffered a shoulder injury in January 2021.
What to expect in 2022: McElrath was second in the 250 SX East championship in 2020 and fourth in the 250 Motocross championship that same year. Now he shifts over to a customer KTM program after being a customer Honda rider. If he is fit, he could be fighting for a top ten championship position.
Joey Savatgy: #17 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
What did he do in 2021: Savatgy was tenth in the championship with his best finish being sixth. He had eight top ten finishes. He was eighth in the AMA Motocross championship.
What to expect in 2022: After missing much of 2020, Savatgy's results were sufficient in 2021. I don't sense 2022 will be much different.
Max Anstie: #34 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
What did he do in 2021: Antsie started the final ten races with Suzuki and his best finish was 12th.
What to expect in 2022: Suzuki is the weakest of the manufactures, and it is impressive Anstie was best of the bunch despite missing nearly the entire first half of the season. He should give Savatgy a run for his money.
Smartop/Bullfrog Spas/Motoconcepts/Honda
Justin Brayton: #10 Honda CRF450R
What did he do in 2021: Brayton missed eight races due to injured ribs and an injured hand. His best finish was third in the second Houston race, but his only top ten results were in the three-race Houston residency.
What to expect in 2022: This will be Brayton's final Supercross season. He turns 38 years old in March. He could sneak into the top ten of the championship, but I think those results will be hard to come by. He should have a few stand out races.
Vince Friese: #40 Honda CRF450R
What did he do in 2021: Friese started 13 races with his best finish being 11th on his way to 18th classification in the championship.
What to expect in 2022: Motoconcepts is doing something different this year. Friese and Mitchell Oldenburg will be splitting a 450 SX program while each compete in one of the regional 250 SX championships. Friese will run the 250 West season with Oldenburg in the 250 East championship. On the 450 bike, I don't see Friese doing much better than he did in 2021.
Mitchell Oldenburg: #54 Honda CRF450R
What did he do in 2021: Oldenburg was ninth in the 250 SX East season with two top five finishes. He also made four 450 SX starts with his best finish being 13th.
What to expect in 2022: Oldenburg's 250 results aren't spectacular, and his 450 results last year match Friese's output. Friese has more 450 experience, but Oldenburg has a chance to outperform him in this split program.
Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports Suzuki Racing Team
Justin Bogle: #19 Suzuki RM-Z450
What did he do in 2021: Bogle had two top ten finishes, but failed to qualify for three races and missed five other events, leading him to 20th in the championship.
What to expect in 2022: Suzuki isn't a great bike and Bogle is at a crossroads. He was ninth in the 2019 championship. A top 15 championship finish would be a great result in 2022, and I think that could be a stretch for him.
Brandon Hartranft: #28 Suzuki RM-Z450
What did he do in 2021: Hartranft made nine main events but failed to qualify for seven others. His best result was 17th.
What to expect in 2022: About the same as 2021. Some main events made, other missed, not much to brag about.
Adam Enticknap: #722 Suzuki RM-Z450
What did he do in 2021: Enticknap made four main events with his best finish being 20th twice. He failed to qualify nine times and did not enter four races.
What to expect in 2022: See Hartranft.
The 2022 AMA Supercross season begins this Saturday at 10:00 pm with coverage on CNBC.
