10 Things to Watch: Las Vegas
USA Supercross 2014
www.racerxonline.com By Aaron Hansel and Chase Stallo
To Be Determined
While the 450SX and essentially the Eastern Regional 250SX championships are on ice, the 250SX battle out West between Rockstar Energy Racing’s Jason Anderson and Troy Lee Designs Lucas Oil Red Bull Honda’s Cole Seely is still smoking. Anderson leads Seely by eight points, so if Seely wants the title, he needs to win and have Anderson finish fifth or worse. Coincidentally, Anderson’s worst finish of the year was a fifth at A3. This one’s going to be a nail biter! – Aaron Hansel
Hill of a Ride
What a ride last week in MetLife Stadium from Josh Hill, who took third place to score his first podium since A3 in 2010, where he finished second. It couldn’t have come at a better time, either—Hill and the Soaring Eagle RCH Suzuki team are parting ways after the final round in Vegas and Hill will be in need of a ride. As the old adage goes, you’re only as good as your last race, and another podium performance from Hill this weekend would be a great way to boost his stock as he enters unemployment. - Hansel
The Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout
You could bench race about which region has the better talent until you’re blue in the face and still not arrive at a solid conclusion. Fortunately, there’s the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout, which pits the best riders from each region against each other. It’s the ultimate opportunity to claim bragging rights, or a shot at going out on a high note for a rider whose season hasn’t gone according to plan. - Hansel
Jason Anderson can lock in his first career 250SX title in Vegas tonight. Photo: Simon Cudby
End of the Road
Speaking of riders whose seasons haven’t gone according to plan, Dean Wilson will be racing his final supercross aboard a 250 this weekend. The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider has pointed out and is no longer eligible for the class, and while that’s just fine with Wilson, who wants to be on a 450 anyway, you can bet he’d like to stamp the end of his 250SX career with a win. He’s got two shots at it this weekend, let’s see how he finishes it out. - Hansel
Fantasy League Alert
Looking for a solid pick to boost your fantasy league standing? Look no further than Kyle Cunningham. No matter what kind of season the SmarTop MotoConcepts rider is having, he always seems to turn it up a notch in Sam Boyd Stadium. In fact, every podium of his supercross career has been earned there. Will he end the season with yet another strong showing in Sin City? - Hansel
Privateer Power
As Steve Matthes noted earlier this week, Factory Metal Works/Club MX’s Vince Friese has a chance to become the first privateer since Greg Schnell (MotoWorld Yamaha) in 2000 to finish inside the top three in 250SX points. This would be quite a feat for not only Friese and his growing team, but also a victory for every privateer. Friese, coming off his first career podium in New Jersey, needs just one point to pass the idle Adam Cianciarulo and Blake Baggett to grab the spot. – Chase Stallo
Vince Friese can join history tonight. Photo: Simon Cudby
Top Privateer
The aforementioned Friese has top privateer honors on ice on the East Coast, but out west the battle continues. Jake Canada (72pts), Michael Leib (69pts) and Dakota Tedder (68pts) are in a fierce battle for not only top privateer honors, but a spot inside the top ten in points. Who is the favorite to leave Vegas with the honor? – Stallo
Fill-In
Tyler Bowers returns to the site of his first, and only, 250SX career supercross win this weekend. But Tyler isn’t there to just soak in all that is Vegas. Nope, the four-time Amsoil Arenacross Champion is filling-in for the injured Chad Reed on the Discount Tire/TwoTwo Motorsports Kawasaki. The last time Bowers rode a 450 in supercross was in Seattle in 2012. He finished sixteenth that night. Can Bowers make a splash in his return to supercross? – Stallo
Will Jake Canada prevail as the top privateer out west?Photo: Simon Cudby
Still Battling
Yes, Ryan Villopoto and Justin Bogle have locked in their respective titles, but there are still battles to watch for in Sin City. The 250SX West Region duel between Jason Anderson and Cole Seely will garner headlines, but keep an eye out for the battle for top ten in 450SX. Weston Peick (119pts) and Mike Alessi (119pts) trail the idle Wil Hahn (tenth, 122pts) and Broc Tickle (ninth, 126pts) by three and seven points respectively. Will Peick and/or Alessi both move inside the top ten? – Stallo
Stewart’s Knee
Following last week’s race, there was great concern from the Yoshimura Suzuki team that James Stewart may have done significant damage to his knee. Team manager Mike Webb was quoted: “We were really concerned after the New Jersey race on Saturday night. But although he twisted his knee pretty bad, we had it checked out this morning and we all feel good about James racing the final round of Supercross." Stewart said he was sore earlier this week, so time will tell on how he will feel tonight. - Stallo