Texas Rematch: Sparks set to fly at the Arlington Supercross tripleheader
By Feld Entertainment on 13th Mar 21
Going into Round 10 of the Monster Energy Supercross series this Saturday in Arlington, the top two title contenders are showing some remarkable similarities to their visit to AT&T Stadium in 2019, with of course a handful of significant differences.
In 2019, Honda's Ken Roczen and KTM's Cooper Webb entered the race in the north Texas town in first and second place in the series with just one single championship point separating them. At that point, neither had yet to claim a 450SX Class title and both were coming off disappointing prior seasons. It turned out to be an unforgettable race, with a win by Webb of only .028 seconds over Roczen after a last-corner block pass distilled the race down to a panicked drag race to the checkers.
Heading into Arlington in 2021 Roczen again leads in the championship points, and Webb again sits close behind in second: this year they are separated by two championship points.
Roczen is winning. After a 26-race win drought, not counting the 24 races he missed in nearly those three years due to injury, Roczen won four races in 2020 and this season he's already strung three wins together at the Indianapolis triple-header.
Webb is winning. In 2019 he took the title. He pulled in four wins in 2020. His first 2021 win was on Texas soil at round three in Houston, and he recently swept the doubleheader in Orlando.
Arlington's track is traditionally hardpack and dry similar to the conditions the riders faced at the Orlando rounds where Webb excelled... yet Roczen's finesse and throttle control is generally better suited to such low-traction tracks.
Their nearest rival is 24 points back. The problem there for Roczen and Webb is that it's Kawasaki's Eli Tomac and he won the previous round last Saturday in Daytona, he wears the number one plate on his bike as the defending champion, he has a proven ability to string wins together like no other rider racing today, and he won Arlington twice in the last three years (2018 and 2020).
There's only one way to settle this, and Monster Energy Supercross does it seventeen times a year: line the riders up and drop the starting gate. The 2021 Arlington visit is a triple-header; a Saturday Tuesday Saturday schedule that is sure to deliver great racing. Best of all, spectators are allowed on a restricted-attendance basis situated in pod-style seating.
Arlington 2019: 450SX Class Highlights
450SX Class Championship Standings
1. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda (199)
2. Cooper Webb, Newport N.C., KTM (197)
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (175)
4. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (153)
5. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha (143)
6. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM (135)
7. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (134)
8. Zach Osborne, Clermont, Fla., Husqvarna (123)
9. Dylan Ferrandis, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Yamaha (121)
10. Adam Cianciarulo, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (120)
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