Not every rider who begins the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season will reach the end.
It’s not due to a lack of talent, racers getting tired of the weekly grind or teams kicking an athlete to the curb. Rather, it’s due to the brutal breaks, bumps and bruises that come with the sport and remind observers of the danger involved.
The rider entry list for the finale at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 13 is missing eight key players in the sport — making it painfully clear that the name of the game is indeed survival.
It’s also about perseverance.
Last weekend at Empower Field in Denver, Colo., the podium spotlight shifted to two Supercross riders who have walked the road to recovery numerous times and emerged triumphant on the other side.
Both H.E.P. Motorsports’ Ken Roczen and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo, who finished second and third, respectively, have had careers plagued with injury.
Roczen endured a devastating injury to his left arm that took 11 surgeries to repair in 2017.
When he attempted to make a return to racing the following year, the No. 94 rider fractured a metacarpal in his right hand during a crash at the sixth round of the season, effectively ending his campaign.
“I’ve had a couple really hard years physically with my health and having that weight on me mentally,” Roczen said. “It was hard going into the weekend, not knowing what you’re going to get. I was down in the dumps and I honestly didn’t know if I wanted to do this anymore.”
Over the years, Roczen has become beloved by myriads of fans for his never-quit mentality. As for the on-track aspect of his comeback, his résumé this season speaks for itself. The No. 94 rider has finished in the top five at 12 of 16 rounds, including his breakthrough victory in Indianapolis on March 11.
“I think this is honestly, weirdly, one of the best years I’ve had and definitely the most fun I’ve had in a long time,” Roczen said. “I haven’t made it through an entire Supercross season a whole lot of times.”
Cianciarulo has also experienced more than his fair share of injuries — back (2020), broken collarbone (2021), grade III AC separation to shoulder (2021), right knee (2022), damaged ulnar nerve (2022), aggravated wrist injury (2023).
But he has always pressed on, despite the trials and tribulations he’s faced.
On Saturday night, it paid off as Cianciarulo earned his first podium finish in 835 days.
“I’ve had to dig so deep, there’s so many times I’ve almost quit or thought I was done. And I really, really mean that,” Cianciarulo said.
Prior to the start of the season, the 26-year-old admitted, “It wasn’t looking good for me.” He hadn’t spent much time on the bike during the offseason and wasn’t even sure he was ready to go racing, come January. His early season was mediocre at best, where he earned an average finish of 10.75.
“I’m used to having pace and being up toward the front, and I haven’t had any pace. That’s been tough to swallow for me,” Cianciarulo said.
But as the Supercross campaign has neared its close, the Kawasaki rider has subtly been making headway. He’s stacked up seven consecutive top-10 results, including his emotional, third-place finish in Colorado.
“I’ve laid in bed so many nights and imagined this moment right here, what I would say and what I would feel. I love this sport with everything in me,” Cianciarulo said. “I know that I can still do this at a high level, I wouldn’t be here collecting a check otherwise.”
The Overwhelming List Of Injured SX Riders
The first to fall this season was Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin, who injured his wrist during practice after round one. Next was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Malcolm Stewart, who was out by round three with a knee injury.
Star Racing Yamaha’s Dylan Ferrandis suffered a concussion at round four. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Christian Craig dislocated his hip and right elbow at round 14, ending his rookie 450SX season. Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger has missed several rounds due to various minor injuries.
Round 17 was ruthless, claiming three victims.
Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb made his exit after sustaining a concussion in the heat race. Troy Lee/Red Bull/GASGAS rider Justin Barcia broke his collarbone, two ribs and right shoulder in the main event. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson discovered a non-displaced fracture at C5 and C6 vertebrae in his neck post-race.
And finally, the penultimate round last weekend was the end of the road for Star Racing Yamaha’s Eli Tomac, who ruptured his Achilles tendon. To add to the heartbreak, Tomac was on track to win his third 450SX Supercross championship.
Now, the title will go to one of the last men standing — Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton.