10 Things to Watch: Foxborough
US Supercross 2016
www.racerxonline.com By Aaron Hansel and Chase Stallo
Title Town
Gillette Stadium is the home of the New England Patriots, but Ryan Dungey has an opportunity to make it his house this weekend by clinching his third, and second straight, Monster Energy Supercross 450SX championship. Simplest case scenario, if he wins the race he wins the championship. If he doesn’t win, he needs to put two points on Ken Roczen and not lose more than eighteen points to Jason Anderson. –Aaron Hansel
The Red Plate
Where’s it going to end up when the action’s over on Saturday? More than likely it’ll be on either Aaron Plessinger’s Yamaha or Malcolm Stewart’s Honda—the two are only separated by one point after Stewart’s crash-plagued night in St. Louis. Then again, given how crazy things have been out East lately neither one of them might end up with it! –Hansel
Sure Plays a Mean Pinball
If the tracks of Monster Energy Supercross were pinball machines, Jason Anderson would be the ball. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider has taken turns banging his way into most of his fellow competitors over the course of the season, and several riders have publicly voiced their displeasure with Anderson’s aggressive style, most recently Justin Brayton. But so far nobody has offered up any payback. We’ll see who bangs into whom in Gillette Stadium. –Hansel
Podium Drought
It's weird to think Trey Canard doesn't have a podium yet, but in the twelve mains he's entered this season his best result is a fourth. It's not that he doesn't have podium speed, he definitely does, but when he's had it he's either had issues or gotten poor starts. In St. Louis he got a terrible start, rounding the first lap in fifteenth, but was able to charge all the way back up to fifth. As we’ve said pretty much all year, we'll see if he gets a good start this Saturday and puts an end to this undesirable streak. -Hansel
Sneaky Fast
Talking about RJ Hampshire here, who was very, very good in St. Louis. The GEICO Honda rider started horribly, and at the close of the first lap was in seventeenth place. But that didn’t stop him from throwing down some blazing laps, and when the checkers flew he’d worked his way up to fourth! Like Canard, Hampshire doesn’t have a podium yet, but that could change in Foxborough. -Hansel
Supercross Back
Supercross has FINALLY comeback to the Northeast. Well, that’s not entirely accurate. It returned to East Rutherford in 2014. But, the last time supercross was in the Boston area was 1990, at the old Foxboro Stadium. (Yes, it’s FOXBORO stadium in FOXBOROUGH the city. Confusing, I know.) On that day, Denny Stephenson topped Mike Jones and Barry Carsten (oh, man, can you imagine that after party?) in the 125 class with the enigmatic Jean-Michel Bayle winning over Jeff Ward and Mike LaRocco in 250SX. Weather is always a concern in this part of the country in April, but as of Thursday, it looks like we’ll escape any bad conditions. It will be chilly, with a high of 64, but thankfully it’s a day race, because it’s expected to drop to the 40s at night. Either way, expect the NESC faithful come out en Mass (that’s a line stolen from Weege) this Saturday. –Chase Stallo
Still a Chance
Jeremy Martin has been downplaying his chances to make a point comeback in 250SX East. Maybe those comments after his St. Louis win were a way for he and the team to downplay his chances, in effect reliving pressure—which is strange, because it appeared he handled pressure very well en route to his second 250MX title last year—or he really believes he’s not in this thing. Here’s, in part, what he said: “The championship is pretty far gone, so we’ll just go out there, ride solid, and do what I did tonight.” What Martin said is true: It will take a lot of help for him to win the title, even if he wins four-straight to end the season, which is a tall task in itself. A win this weekend—and depending on what happens behind him, which could be anything—will go a long way in determining his title chances. –Stallo
What Else Can He Do?
Ken Roczen is saying all the right things—“We’re fighting really, really hard and I’m having a blast.” He’s putting a smile on his face after ever disappointing loss. But he and his team have to be getting frustrated after stalking Ryan Dungey for sixty consecutive laps and coming away empty handed. It’s a testament to his competiveness—and wanting confidence heading into Lucas Oil Pro Motocross—that he continues to fight like it’s Anaheim 1, not more than 40 points down. You know Roczen desperately wants to win one, or all, of the last three rounds to gain some confidence. Can he spoil Dungey’s title celebrations with a win this weekend? –Stallo
Picking Up Steam
“[I] feel like I had a breakthrough night for me,” Justin Bogle said after his season-high fourth last weekend. “Really starting to come around for me now…” His breakthrough may have come last weekend, but his turnaround started seven rounds ago in Atlanta. On that night, Bogle scored his first career top ten with an eighth. He found the top ten two weeks later in Detroit, and again in Santa Clara and again this past weekend. Rookie seasons are supposed to be a learning year, but there’s more on the line for Bogle, who is trying to secure a ride for next season. He doesn’t have the luxury of waiting; he needs results now. And recently, he’s getting them. –Stallo
Debut
In the last seven months, Benny Bloss has spent time with four different teams, had two different fill-in roles, and ridden in two classes. That’s a lot for even a 10-year veteran, rather less a 19-year-old rookie. Bloss will debut in 450SX this weekend for the injured Davi Millsaps at BTOSports.com-KTM-WPS. Earlier this week, the 2015 Horizon Award winner told us there was no way he could pass up the opportunity, even though it meant switching from a Yamaha to a KTM and the 250 class to the 450 class in less than a week. “I just felt there was no possible way that I could pass up this opportunity,” he said. “If I have fun, and enjoy it, then I think I’ll do very well.” Bloss said he’d be content on just making the main and seeing what happens. –Stallo