2020 Arlington Triple Crown Supercross
If you missed the Monster Energy Supercross Triple Crown in Arlington, you missed 6 of the most intense races to date in 2020 season. Passing was aggressive and nonstop bringing the fans to their feet in every single moto. The stadium roared all throughout the night and it was racing you couldn’t take your eyes off. During qualifying Adam Cianciarulo was injured while sitting in qualifying position 3. He was holding his arm in place as he walked to the Alpine Star medical and later commented he had broken his collarbone. The incident occurred after he missed the top of the dragon back with his front tire causing the bike to buck forward and sending him into the face of the next jump.
250 Race #1 set the tone for the night. RJ Hampshire was out to an early lead. Sexton stayed consistently within a second of him. Sexton made the smoothest run of night through the longest set of whoops I’ve seen in a long time competing a smooth pass on Hampshire. Moments later in the corner after the finish line Hampshire came in hard on the inside of Sexton hitting the front tire and putting Sexton into the dirt. Sexton got up immediately and went back charging on the track finishing in 2nd for the moto. After the event it was clear Hampshire felt Sexton shouldn’t have left the door open for an aggressive pass and Sexton commented that he was able to pass Hampshire without touching him.
250 Race #2 had Josh Hill getting the hole shot with Sexton again making up ground on lap one in the whoops passing for the lead. Sexton didn’t look back through the whole moto and secured a lead of 10+ seconds early on taking the win.
250 Race #3 had Shane Mcelrath and Sexton running 1 and 2 just as the series standings going into this event. Sexton maintained visual of Mcelrath and made sure not to let him out of sight the entire moto. It was important to him to not allow Mcelrath too much confidence by showing his speed and letting him know he is just as fast as him and with a good start Sexton is right there with him. Going into Atlanta both Mcelrath and Sexton will be running red plates as they are now tied in the points lead. Sexton said, “I didn’t want to see the same thing happen as happened last year and show him I’m here to play.” He also wished his sister a Happy Birthday on the podium. He then was seen shaking hands with Hampshire on the podium. Sexton has always been a humble person and rider and follows the motto that he wants others to race him as he does them. He competes clean in all avenues and uses his speed and talent to meet his personal marks to pass.
Eye’s will be on RJ Hampshire as the 3rd moto he made another aggressive pass sending Jordan Smith looking up at him from the dirt as he continued. He’s setting the tone for the East Coast racing but is also showing he’s here to be taken seriously and is pursuing a chance at the title.
450 Race #1 had Roczen taking the checkered flag with Webb and Anderson right behind him. Tomac was in 13th after the first lap and finished 5th; right where he knew he needed to be to stay in contention for the overall win.
450 Race #2 had Blake Baggett with the start and Tomac checking out in lap 1. Both Roczen and Webb were sitting in 9th and 10th after lap 1. Giving Tomac a chance to literally walk away with moto 2. Jason Anderson was able to grab a good start and moved into 2nd midway through the race where he remained for the remainder of the race. Cooper Webb passed into 4th place as he was pushing for a pass on Justin Hill, he took a hard hit onto the concrete off the track. His front tire had missed the top of the dragon back causing the back tire to buck him off balance. The result was him being helped to the Alpine Star medical cart and taken to be examined. He later posted that he had been extremely lucky to escape severe injury. He commented that he had deep bruising to his tailbone and pelvis.
450 Race #3 Baggett was running in 4th with Tomac right behind him as he tucked the front end putting Tomac into 4th. Osborn was leading half of the race when Anderson sealed a pass. Immediately following this lead change Tomac passed Roczen followed by Roczen passing Tomac. Tomac regrouped and passed and took Roczen’s line from him causing Roczen to miss a jump allowing Tomac time to getaway. Tomac next passed Osborn and went for a pass on Anderson where he again took the line coming off the dragon back away from Anderson putting him into the lead. With a few minutes left in the race moto #3 ended with Tomac taking he checkered flag and securing the overall win and another week of the red plate. Anderson struggled towards the end of the moto in the whoops causing him to go off track and hit a camera. He later joked in the press conference that the whoops kept biting him as he had “taken out a medic and taken out a camera” in the whoops. Roczen ended the night in 2nd place overall and Anderson secured 3rd even after his crash.
Round #9 in Atlanta will draw in a crowd to see if Eli Tomac will be able to finally secure a consistent season and run with it through the remaining 8 rounds or Will Ken Roczen be able to steal that red number plate back? Cooper Webb escaped a season-ending injury by pure luck after missing that last step of the Dragon Back with his front tire sending him airborne and causing him to land directly onto the ground on his tailbone. Will he be able to line up Saturday night in Atlanta?