An East/West Showdown event will be held on Easter Saturday as part of the 14th round of the US Supercross Championships in Atlanta. Dominique Thury (Yamaha) is up against even tougher competition.
The US Supercross Championships in Atlanta, Georgia will be held earlier than usual this weekend, so for once the race times in Europe will not be in the middle of the night. Races are held outdoors in the infield at Atlanta Motor Speedway and feature the East/West Showdown a special treat.
The track is extremely versatile and selective: the starting straight in front of the grandstand is very long and ends in the first long left-hand bend, followed by the first rhythm section. The course has 3 (!) washboard sections with 12 and 15 and 11 hills. One of them is even designed as a sand section. There is also a sand split lane, various double and triple jumps and exceptionally long straights.
Although the weather forecast predicts temperatures of around 24 degrees Celsius for Atlanta, there is a 90% chance of rain. So it could be that Atlanta will host the first mud race of the season.
After the premature end of the season for HRC factory drivers Ken Roczen the series has lost some of its excitement from the German perspective, but with Dominique Thury is in the 250er Great but a hopeful at the start who is getting better from race to race. Thury was able to do well this year with one exception (3rd run in San Diego) qualify for the finals at each race and ranks in the championship after 7 out of 10 races P15.
A East/West But the showdown is a bigger challenge than usual. In qualifying, the East– and west group, only the top 20 advance (otherwise top 40). The top 9 of the two heats then qualify for the Showdown-Event East Coast vs West Coast. 4 more Finalists are determined via the repechage.
The direct clash between the two championship leaders should be particularly interesting Lites classes will. star Racing Yamaha Works driver Christian Craig leads West Coast Championship by 26 points, HRC-Youngster Jett Lawrence leads on the east coast by a margin of 34 points. In the 250er However, there are also many injuries to be lamented: Jeremy Martin (shoulder), Seth Hammaker (back, spleen), Ty Masterpool (Wrist), Colt Nichols (arm fractures), city shock (lung, shoulder, knee), Kyle Peters (back, hand, ribs), Levi Kitchen (Knee) and some other pilots are unable to take off. After all, however, returns with Pro Ciurcuit Kawasaki factory rider Austin Forkner is also a top athlete returning to the competition. East Coast title aspirant Cameron McAdoo (Kawasaki, ligament injury) had originally announced his return for Atlanta, but had to give up this plan again.
Championship score 250 West after heat 7 of 10:
1. Christian Craig (USA), Yamaha171
2. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda, 145, (-26)
3. Michael Mosiman (USA), GASGAS, 141, (-30)
4. Vince Frisian (USA), Honda), 117, (-54)
5. Jo Shimoda (JPN), Kawasaki, 106, (-65)
6. Nate Trasher (USA), Yamaha94, (-77)
…
15. Dominique Thury (GER), Yamaha49, (-122)
Championship score 250 East after run 6 of 9:
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda, 148
2. Cameron McAdoo (USA), Kawasaki, 114 (-34)
3. RJ Hampshire (USA), Husqvarna107, (41)
4. Jordon Smith (USA), Honda, 95, (-53)
5. Pierce Brown (USA), GASGAS, 94, (-54)
6. Enzo Lopez (USA), Yamaha92, (-56)
In the 450er Class, before the 14th round, the title decision is already well advanced. Yamaha-Works driver Eli Tomac will definitely keep the championship lead, because with a lead of 56 points he is as good as through with only 4 races left in the championship fight. What tactic Tomac now always applies, he only has to score points in the last races. If he extends or maintains his lead in Atlanta, he could decide the title as early as next week in Foxborough bring about. But, one should not praise the day before the evening, after all the weather and the resulting track conditions are the biggest uncertainties for the weekend in Atlanta.
Championship standings after round 13 of 17:
1. Eli Tomac (USA), Yamaha302
2. Jason Anderson (USA), Kawasaki, 246, (-56)
3. Justin Weather in Barcia (USA), GASGAS, 240 (-62)
4. Malcolm Stewart (USA), Husqvarna235, (-67)
5. Marvin Musquin (FROM), KTM232, (-70)
6. Cooper Webb (USA), KTM208, (-94)
7. Chase Sexton (US), Honda, 206, (-96)
8. Dean Wilson (GB), Husqvarna152, (-150)
9. Dylan Ferrandis (FROM), Yamaha141, (-161)
10. Ken Roczen (GER), Honda, 133, (-169)
How to watch the races in Atlanta:
Livetiming (for free)
Livestream (chargeable)
Time schedule Atlanta*)
Saturday April 16, 2022
15:35: 250SX West Qualifying 1
15:50: 250SX East Qualifying 1
16:05: 450SX Gruppe A Qualifying 1
16:20: 450SX Gruppe B Qualifying 1
16:35: 450SX Gruppe C Qualifying 1
17:10: 250SX Overflow Qualifying
17:25: 250SX East Qualifying 2
17:40: 250SX West Qualifying 2
heats:
21:07: 250SX East (6 Min. + 1 round)
21:21: 250SX West (6 Min. + 1 round)
21:34: 450SX Heat 1 (6 Min. + 1 round)
21:48: 450SX Heat 2 (6 Min. + 1 round)
hope runs;
22:12: 250SX run of hope (5 Min. plus 1 Runde)
22:12: 450SX run of hope (5 Min. plus 1 Runde)
East/West Showdown:
22:53: East/West Showdown (15 Min. plus 1 Runde)
Finale:
23:26: 450 SX Finale (20 Min. plus 1 Runde)
*) Information in CEST and without guarantee