Gate Scheduled to Drop on Monster Energy Supercross Season

Due to the spread of coronavirus, officials at Monster Energy Supercross were forced to suspend championship racing following the tenth round at Daytona Bike Week in early March. Restrictions on domestic and international travel as well as federal, state, and local governments prohibiting large group gatherings, put one of the best championship point races on an indefinite hold. Team Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac and Team Honda’s Ken Roczen shared the red plate (denoting the Monster Energy Supercross series leader) with both riders deadlocked at 200 points. Midway through the Daytona Supercross, Roczen led the main event ahead of 2019 SX Champion Cooper Webb, Husqvarna’s Jason Anderson, and Tomac. Known for his ability to mount a late-race charge, Tomac reeled in Anderson and Webb to takeover the second spot behind Roczen. Tomac, who was looking for his fourth Daytona 450 main event win, was noticeably closing the gap when Roczen made a mistake exiting a corner. The win gave the Team Green rider a three-point lead when the series was halted with everyone heading to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the next round of the east coast swing.

Last week, Feld Entertainment Inc. announced that the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship series, will resume racing at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 31. Officials plan to conduct the remaining seven rounds of the 2020 championship in a three-week span. In addition to the remaining races being run on Sundays and Wednesdays at the same facility, the racing format has been adjusted to reduce the number of athletes and crew members to stay within guidelines and protocols. Mitigation efforts will include mandated COVID-19 testing of all competitors and essential staff, temperature checks, face masks, increased sanitation efforts and protocols for social distancing. Monster Energy Supercross is the primary income source for thousands in industry that are eager to get back to work. Where most professional athletes and team personnel have guaranteed contracts, the majority people involved in a supercross event are independent contractors. Unfortunately, the final seven races will be broadcast on NBC and NBCSN without fans in the stands. Monster Energy Supercross already works directly with Alpinestars Medical Unit to furnish trained medical professionals for all events.

According to RacerX Online, supercross riders have little to no contact as athletes race solo against other competitors and wear several protective elements, including full-face helmets that cover the mouth, goggles, gloves, jerseys and pants that leave little to no skin exposed, plus fully secured knee-high boots. Monster Energy Supercross partners Oakley, Toyota and VP Racing Fuels have been lending their expertise to the medical community and first responders by developing and mass-producing protective shields, medical eye wear, and hand sanitizer. This type of expertise that exists within the industry, coupled with Utah’s political leadership and Feld Entertainment’s live event experience will all factor in to helping the industry get back to racing while aiding in the recovery and healing process nationwide. In the final seven races at Rice Eccles Stadium, three champions will be crowned: 1) 450SX Class; 2) 250SX East Division; and 3) 250SX West Division.

*East Regional 250cc Championship Event

**West Regional 250cc Championship Event

***East/West Combined Championship Event