What a way to open the 2022 Supercross! I mean the East Coast Champion goes out in Heat 1 of the night for the season with injury.
Heat 2 sees a red flag for another factory rider going down. Not to mention the number of crashes that occurred in those whoop sections during the daytime program for practice and qualifying. I don’t think there could have been many more injury issues at the opener and still have a round 2. Might have exaggerated that bit but there was a lot going on.
Plenty of action on the track. Plenty of covid talk of the track also. Numerous riders were forced out due to positive tests at the gate. Hunter Sayles, Cheyenne Harmon amongst others. This will continue to occur each week and maybe a big name that could shake up the championship standings. Keep your eyes and ears open for this. It will happen at some point this season. Justin Hill was also a no show for round 1. Not sure what this was caused by. Could have been Covid. Could have been injury. Could be something else entirely.
Adam Cianciarulo came into the opener under an injury cloud. It was pretty obvious in his riding also. Yes, he got good starts. That saved his night really. If not for those he would have had an even worse result than the 11th he got. Over the next 2-3wks, watch that result improve slowly (unless other issues or more crashes occur of course). Expect a podium from him before the end of the Californian rounds. It will not take long for him to get stability and strength back into his shoulder.
Carson Brown upset a lot of people from a fantasy point of view at the opener. But a lever in the mouth caused him a cut to his inner mouth and some dental damage. Not something common but enough to take him out for the night. He should be on the line at Oakland.
Jalek Swoll’s season started about as bad as it could. A concussion on the first lap of his heat race ended his night very early. He will be following the AMA concussion protocol this week. This is a minimum of a 5 day clearance period so he may not be available for Oakland. He won’t know if he is cleared for action until he gets retested at the event on Saturday morning.
The big letdown of Anaheim was the heat one season-ending injuries to Colt Nichols. Details are still patchy as the team has not been updated yet either. Colt is having surgery this week and potentially multiple surgeries as he has both arms injured. Not the greatest situation for Colt. Unable to race. Injured. But Both arms are going to be very useless for a few weeks. Simple things like feeding yourself and cleaning yourself are extremely difficult with both arms in casts. You also get to find out who your true friends are. Some tasks cant be done at all and require assistance.
On the results side of the event. It was a surprisingly familiar podium for the 450 class. Ken Roczen can’t help himself but be fast out of the blocks. He is just programed that way. It’s a muscle fibre and mental makeup. Cooper Webb was gritty. Think he might be programmed that way too. Eli Tomac was nowhere at Round one and missed the podium. Justin Barcia was good but also Bam Bam to make that last step on the podium. Notice the familiarity. Will it be the same at Oakland? The softer dirt and colder nights in Oakland tend to favour Ken Roczen’s skill set but it’s not somewhere he has won at a alot. Jason Anderson has done well here in the past. Maybe he gets some payback on Barcia and gets that podium he probably should have had at the opener?
Whatever happens, I’m sure this season’s injury list is going to be a long one. The list below is already long and we are one race in. Maybe the play for some mid-pack guys is to slow it down and play the long game this year? Everyone seems to be going hard and crashing so far. Maybe things settle in this week but I feel they are still going to be intense. Something that will probably see more injuries.
See you next week Moto fans.
THE INJURY LIST – GOING INTO ROUND 2 – OAKLAND
As always, If your favourite rider is on this list, most likely they have been to the Emergency Department recently.
This list has who we know has an injury. What that injury is, as well as when we expect them back at the races. Maybe some extras if you’re lucky!
If we have missed a rider or got an injury update wrong let us know. alwaysmoto2019@gmail.com or @always.moto on Instagram
Colt Nichols #45 – Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
Injured When? Anaheim 1
Injured What? Multiple injuries. Both arms, burn and hip contusion. Specific details have not yet been released by the team manager when we spoke this week.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 8-12wks
Next race prediction – Unclear at this stage but likely not until Round 1 of Outdoors.
Jalek Swoll #31 – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
Injured When? Anaheim 1
Injured What? Concussion
Return to Riding Timeframe – 2wks
Next race prediction – Anaheim 2 at the earliest pending passing the AMA concussion protocol
Carson Brown #910 – AEO Powersports KTM
Injured When? Anaheim 1
Injured What? Mouth Laceration and Dental damage
Return to Riding Timeframe – 1wks
Next race prediction – Expected to race Oakland this weekend unless further issues arise.
Jack Brunell #755 – AJE motorsport
Injured When? Anaheim 1
Injured What? Fractured wrist (Triquerum bone), and Tibia fracture (Medial Malleous – the bump on the inside of your ankle).
Return to Riding Timeframe – 2-4wks.
Next race prediction – Jack spoke with AlwaysMoto and he will rest this weekend but try to race Anaheim 2.
Scott Champion – Privateer Yamaha
Injured When? January 2022
Injured What? Unconfirmed shoulder dislocation
Return to Riding Timeframe – unclear. If minor 2-4 wks. If other damage and unstable. Would require surgery and potentially 3-4months recovery
Next race prediction – Unclear at this time.
Jett Lawrence #18 – HRC
Injured When? Early January 2022
Injured What? Unspecified Rib injury. Looks to be just beat up. Maybe some rib cartilage issues.
Return to Riding Timeframe – 2wks
Next race prediction – Will now switch to East Coast 250’s.
Addison Emery #538 – Privateer Yamaha
Injured When? Few days prior to Anaheim 1
Injured What? Mouth Laceration and Dental damage (3 teeth knocked out)
Return to Riding Timeframe – 1wks
Next race prediction – Addison spoke with AlwaysMoto this week and will be attempting to race Oakland this weekend. Unless further issues arise after dental surgery that was completed this week.
Justin Cooper #32 – Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
Injured When? 4/1/22
Injured What? LisFranc fracture to Foot
Return to Riding Timeframe – approx 6months currently reported by his surgeon.
Next race prediction – At best MX round 1. At worst MX round 6.
Benny Bloss #73 – Team Tedder KTM
Injured When? 22/12/21
Injured What? Lower Leg fracture (Unconfirmed Tib/Fib) and Collar Bone fracture
Return to Riding Timeframe – If Tib/Fib, approx 4months.
Next race prediction – Potentially missing all of SX
Austin Black – AEO Powersport KTM
Injured When? December 2021
Injured What? No details confirmed as yet
Return to Riding Timeframe – unclear
Next race prediction – Reports he won’t be racing Supercross. So expecting a return for Round 1 of Outdoors.
Ty Masterpool #42 – AEO Powersport KTM
Injured When? December 2021
Injured What? Fractured Wrist
Return to Riding Timeframe – 6wks
Next race prediction – Will now switch to East Coast 250’s. If recovery goes well enough. If not, would expect him back for Rnd 1 of Outdoors.
Coty Schock #37 – Phoenix Honda
Injured When? December 2022
Injured What? Collarbone
Return to Riding Timeframe – 2-4wks
Next race prediction – Will now switch to East Coast 250’s.
Levi Kitchen #59 – Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha
Injured When? Early November
Injured What? Shoulder blade fracture
Return to Riding Timeframe – 5wks
Next race prediction – East Coast 250s round 1.
Joey Crown #355 – Privateer KTM
Injured When? Early November
Injured What? Unspecified multiple fractures
Return to Riding Timeframe – unclear
Next race prediction – At best East Coast 250s round 1 but not enough info to confirm at this stage.
Bobby Piazza – Privateer
Injured When? 5/11/21
Injured What? Compound fracture to Left Wrist – suffered on Day one of Supercross training. Will most likely miss the entire Supercross season
Return to Riding Timeframe – approx 4months
Next race prediction – Sometime in the Outdoor nationals at best for 2022.
