Is Adam Cianciarulo the next AMA SX sensation?
By Team TMX on 11th Jan 20
AMA Supercross Adam Cianciarulo Anaheim
Could Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Adam Cianciarulo be the next big thing in 450 supercross racing?
Of course, its too early to say but hes definitely got off to a flying start after moving up from a 250 at the back end of last year with victory at the Monster Energy Cup in October followed by a second place at Anaheim 1 on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old never won a 250 SX title but all the signs are that hes adapted quickly to the extra power, weight and longer race duration and was fastest in every practice in the Angel Stadium before his epic Main Event performance.
The Monster Cup was a little bit of a surprise for me so when I got done with that I was pretty stoked with where I was, he said. I was like okay, maybe I can be a contender in the first year.
Even after practice youre still kinda wondering where you fit in in a race setting because theres guys like Cooper (Webb) who can go out and qualify 15th but you know hes going to be there in the Main Event every time.
Im lucky enough to be able to ride with Eli (Tomac) and ride with Ken (Roczen) so I have a good gauge where the speed is and I know that Im not too far off and I felt that I had a good chance if I kept my head on straight.
Its quite a lot different. As a 250 guy you do 20s, you practice during the off-season and a lot of the time youre doing the longer motos 20 (minutes) plus one but a race setting is always different. The track breaks down more, youre going from the gate so the heart rate is higher right from the get-go.
After Justin Barcia went off track, Adam led for seven laps before a mistake of his own let Barcia back through.
It was crazy getting out front and leading but, honestly, I didnt feel too nervous. I felt more nervous last year on 250s and definitely the years prior. There are so many good guys, I just dont look over I just pretend that theres nobody else out there. Its the only thing you can do because everybody is so good.
Its just cool that Im up here racing with all these guys. Its kinda cool that Cooper and I come from the same generation one or two years apart and I always enjoy racing him. As you can see tonight hes sick but I swear you could take a footpeg off the bike and hed still find a way to get a podium.
Adams a self-confessed supercross super-fan and is clearly loving life.
Im stoked to be up here, stoked to be battling and just want to be in the fight. Personally, I have to constantly level myself because ultimately this stuff is so sick for me.
I love this stuff. If I didnt have the talent to race a dirt bike Id be serving popcorn in the stands so I could catch a free seat. I love supercross. So its a constant process for me of saying chill out, you belong here, youre one of these guys.
A class rookie hasnt won the 450 title since Ryan Dungey in 2010 could 2020 be the year it happens again? Watch this space...
More like this…
Justin Cooper takes another podium finish at St. Louis Supercross
On the heels of his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross win, Justin Cooper crossed the line second for another podium finish to help grow his lead in the 250SX West Championship, Saturday night in St. Louis, Missouri.
Cooper Webb battles through sickness to finish on the podium at Anaheim SX opener
It was a great start to the 2020 AMA Supercross season for Cooper Webb and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team as the reigning 450SX Champion secured a podium finish at Saturday’s opener in Anaheim
Ken Roczen and Justin Brayton on A1
The highly anticipated 2020 AMA Supercross season kicked off at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium, where Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen rode his factory CRF450R to a sixth-place finish, while team-mate Justin Brayton overcame a mid-race crash to secure eighth.