Schedule
Another year and another season opener from Anaheim with the first race taking place on January 4th. The second round will take the series to St. Louis on January 11th with a return to Anaheim taking place on the following weekend. The fourth round will be in Glendale, Arizona on January 25th and it will be the first Triple Crown event of the season.
February starts with consecutive California races, first in Oakland on February 1st and then to San Diego on February 8th. Supercross will cross the country for Tampa Bay on February 15th. The second Triple Crown event will be in Arlington on February 22nd. The midway point of the season will fall on Leap Day and take place in Atlanta.
Daytona falls on March 7th before Indianapolis on March 14th. Detroit follows on March 21st with Seattle on March 28th. Denver will be the final race before the Easter break on April 4th.
Supercross will return to competition on April 18th in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Las Vegas will host the penultimate round of the 2019 season and it will be the final Triple Crown event on April 25th. Salt Lake City will host the finale on May 2nd. This is the first time the finale will not be in Las Vegas since 1996 when Denver hosted the finale. It is the first time Salt Lake City has hosted the finale.
Teams:
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Cooper Webb: #1 KTM 450SX-F Factory Edition
What did he do in 2019: Webb won the 2019 Supercross championship with victories at Anaheim 2, Oakland, Minneapolis, Arlington, Atlanta, Houston and the Meadowlands. In the Motocross season, Webb picked up two victories but finished sixth in the championship after missing the final five races due to a knee injury.
What to expect in 2020: Webb will be flying solo for the most part with KTM teammate Marvin Musquin ruled out for the 2020 Supercross season due to a knee injury. Webb took a shocking championship in 2019. I think he is going to win races but I do not think he will be able to replicate what he did last year. He should be in the top five of the championship.
Monster Energy Kawasaki
Eli Tomac: #3 Kawasaki KX450
What did he do in 2019: Tomac was second in the Supercross championship, 18 points behind Webb, with six victories at San Diego, Detroit, Daytona, Nashville, Denver and Las Vegas. Tomac picked up his third consecutive Motocross championship with 11 victories. He closed the year with a runner-up finish in the Monster Energy Cup.
What to expect in 2020: This has to be the year Tomac wins the Supercross championship. The 2019 Supercross season was a little of a dud. He didn't have the explosiveness we have seen in previous years. Tomac got back to normal in the Motocross season and I think he has found the balance to win the Supercross title. I think he will be good for another six to nine victories on his way to his first Supercross championship.
Adam Cianciarulo: #9 Kawasaki KX450
What did he do in 2019: Cianciarulo was vice-champion in the Supercross 250cc West championship, losing the title in the final race to Dylan Ferrandis after falling. He did win five races. In the Motocross season, Cianciarulo won the 250cc championship with seven victories. He made his 450cc debut in the Monster Energy Cup and he won the event with finish of second, second and first across the three main events.
What to expect in 2020: If there is one rider that could surprise us all it is Cianciarulo. How much could we be surprised after his Monster Energy Cup victory? He has come in ready for 450cc action. It could be a case of expectation being set too high after his Monster Energy Cup results. I think there could a swarm of people that are disappointed in Cianciarulo because of the lofty expectations set. I am going to try and be calmer than others. I think a top five in the championship with one or two victories will be a great season for him. He is a championship sleeper.
Team Honda HRC
Justin Brayton: #10 Honda CRF450R
What did he do in 2019: Brayton was tenth in the Supercross championship but only ran 13 of 17 races after an injury suffered at Seattle. His best finish was seventh at Glendale and Atlanta.
What to expect in 2020: Brayton moves up to the factory team and I do not think he will be challenging to be the top Honda rider. I am not sure he will be in the top ten of the championship. The highest championship finish for him would be eighth but he could end up about 12th.
What did he do in 2019: Roczen was fourth in the Supercross championship, 60 points behind Webb. Roczen failed to breakthrough and get a victory but he did get six podium finishes in 2019, four of which were runner-up finishes. He did finish vice-champion in the Motocross season with six victories.
What to expect in 2020: Roczen was constantly good in 2019 but never great and was second in the closest margin of victory in Supercross history at Arlington to Webb. I think Roczen wins a few races but I am not sure he can be a championship contender. There just seems to be that raw tenacity has been worn away through multiple grueling injuries. He will be in the top five of the championship.
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC – KTM – WPS
Blake Baggett: #4 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
What did he do in 2019: Baggett was fifth in the Supercross championship with a victory at Glendale and five podium finishes. He did win one race in the Motocross season but it was his only podium finish in an abbreviated Motocross season, as Baggett missed the final four rounds due to a virus.
What to expect in 2020: Baggett had another good season in Supercross but I am worried that he is not in shape for 2020. I think we see Baggett take a step back in the championship. He is not going to fall off the face of the planet unless he is not fit enough to complete a full season but he may be somewhere between seventh and tenth in the championship.
Justin Bogle: #19 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
What did he do in 2019: Bogle was ninth in the Supercross championship where his best finish was fourth at San Diego and Denver. He had only six top ten finishes in 17 starts. In Motocross, Bogle was ninth in that championship, where his best finish was fourth.
What to expect in 2020: Bogle and Baggett will be closer to each other in the championship but not because Bogle sees a big uptick in results. He has three top five finishes in his 450cc Supercross career that dates back to 2016. He will end up somewhere between ninth and 14th in the championship.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Team
Dean Wilson: #15 Husqavarna FC450 Factory Edition
What did he do in 2019: Wilson was sixth in the Supercross championship after being a midseason addition to the Husqvarna factory team due to injuries to other Husqvarna riders. Wilson's best finish was third at Houston and he had four top five finishes in 15 starts. He missed the final two races due to injury. He returned for the final six rounds of the Motocross season with his best finish being sixth.
What to expect in 2020: Wilson did well as a privateer rider before getting the factory call and Husqvarna is running three full-time riders. I think all three Husqvarna riders will be close to one another in the championship and all will be in the top ten of the championship if healthy. Wilson will be the third of those three.
Zach Osborne: #16 Husqvarna FC450
What did he do in 2019: Osborne ran only 11 of 17 Supercross races in 2019 but he had eight consecutive top ten results to end the season, which included a runner-up finish in the Meadowlands. He was fifth in the Motocross championship with one victory and seven podium finishes.What to expect in 2020: I think Osborne could take the spot as top Husqvarna rider in the championship. He is coming off an encouraging Motocross season. A lot of people were excited for his move up to 450cc action prior to him missing the first few races due to injury. A victory would not be crazy, he nearly won in New Jersey last season, but I think his goal should be three to four podium finishes.
Jason Anderson: #21 Husqvarna FC450
What did he do in 2019: Anderson entered 2019 as the defending Supercross champion but his title defense ended after three races due to an injury in training. He did finish runner-up in Glendale. Anderson returned for the Motocross season and was fourth in the championship, four points ahead of Osborne but he did not win a race and had only five podium finishes.What to expect in 2020: Anderson is back and I expect more consistency, which is what Anderson is known for. However, as was my concern heading into 2019, I am not sure that consistency will be enough to get him another championship. The grid is strong and it requires someone to go out and wrestle three or four victories that otherwise do not belong to that rider. I am not sure Anderson could do that. There may be one or two races that he pulls out but I think Anderson will have a tough battle with Osborne and both are shooting for somewhere between fourth and seventh in the championship.
Smartop/Bullfrog Spas/Motoconcepts/Honda
Malcolm Stewart: #27 Honda CRF450R
What did he do in 2019: Stewart ran the first two Supercross races before an injury at Glendale ended his season and forced him to miss the Motocross season as well. He returned for the Monster Energy Cup and finished third in the event with finishes of third, first and third in the three main events.
What to expect in 2020: I don't know! Stewart has never had a top five finish in his 450cc Supercross career. He has started 33 races dating back to 2017. I think that will change. Stewart is coming into this season with some momentum and I think there could be one race where he finishes fifth. That doesn't seem too crazy. If he does finish in the top ten of the championship it will be ninth or tenth.
Justin Hill: #46 Honda CRF450R
What did he do in 2019: Hill was 11th in the Supercross championship after starting 15 of 17 races. His best result was seventh at Daytona. In the Motocross season, Hill only ran the first three rounds before being sidelined with a shoulder injury.
What to expect in 2020: Not much. A few top ten finishes but Hill will be outside the top ten in the championship.
Vince Friese: #64 Honda CRF450R
What did he do in 2019: Friese only raced the first six races of the 2019 season before a torn ACL ended his season and prevented him from participating in the Motocross season. He returned for the Monster Energy Cup and was fifth overall after finishes of fourth, fifth and fifth in the three main events.
What to expect in 2020: In 72 starts in 450cc dating back to 2013, Friese has three top ten finishes with his best finish being ninth. His best championship finish is 12th. I know he did well in the Monster Energy Cup but I do not expect him to match that career best championship finish.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing
Aaron Plessinger: #7 Yamaha YZ450F
What did he do in 2019: Plessinger ran the first ten races in 2019 with his best finish being fifth at Atlanta but broke his heel at Daytona, ending his Supercross season. He returned for the final seven rounds of the Motocross season, where his best finish was ninth
What to expect in 2020: When Plessinger's season ended last year he was eighth in the championship. I think he will be somewhere around there in the championship but I think there will be two or three races where he is at the front and fighting for a podium position.
Justin Barcia: #51 Yamaha YZ450F
What did he do in 2019: Barcia opened the season with a surprising victory at Anaheim 1, his first Supercross victory since 2013 and Yamaha's first victory since 2012. Unfortunately, Barcia would not get on the podium again and only ran 12 of 17 races after suffering a slew of injuries from a bruised tailbone to a concussion. He ran the full Motocross season and was seventh in that championship with his best finish being third.
What to expect in 2020: It felt like Yamaha was going in the right direction last year but it still has some work to do. That Anaheim victory was not a true representation of where Yamaha is. Barcia can get a few top five finishes but not a boatload. He will mostly be racing between seventh and tenth.
JGR/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing
Joey Savatgy: #17 Suzuki RMZ450
What did he do in 2019: Savatgy was eighth in the championship despite only running 15 of 17 races. His best finish was fourth at Minneapolis and he had five top five finishes. Shoulder injuries and a hematoma kept him out of those two Supercross races and he only ran nine of 12 Motocross rounds with his best finish being fourth.
What to expect in 2020: Savatgy was quickly dropped by Kawasaki and now he finds himself at Suzuki, which has not won a race since 2016. Add to that Savatgy will miss the start of the season due to a foot injury suffered at a race in Australia. I think Savatgy's goal should be the top Suzuki finisher in every race he competes in this season with his 2020 debut still to be determined.
Fredrik Norén: #31 Suzuki RMZ450
What did he do in 2019: Noren was eighth in the Motocross championship with his best finish being fifth. He also ran three 250 East races in 2019 with finishes of 13th, 14th and 13th.
What to expect in 2020: Noren is a bit of an unknown and he had a good Motocross season but he is lacking Supercross experience with just 18 starts between 250cc and 450cc competition dating back to 2015. His only two 450cc starts were Oakland 2015 and San Diego 2017. He will be outside the top ten of the championship. The biggest question is whether or not he can stay in the top fifteen.
Mountain Motorsports
Chad Reed: #22 Honda CRF450RWhat did he do in 2019: Reed ran only 12 Supercross races after an injury at Seattle. His best finish was third at Detroit. In November, while competing in Australia, Reed announced the 2020 Supercross season would be his final season in competition.
What to expect in 2020: I am sad to see the end of Reed's career but it is time. He has hung on as long as he could. We should be thankful he has stuck around for as long as he did. He is back to a privateer bike, which is where he started last year before Suzuki drafted him in because of a slew of injured riders. Reed was seventh in the championship when his season ended after Seattle. I think Reed will have a few top ten finishes and maybe there is one race he is fighting for a top five.
The 2020 Supercross season opener from Anaheim will be held at 10:00 p.m. ET on Saturday January 4th.
