There are two ways to watch a Supercross race . you’re able to concentrate on a finical spot on the track , or you’re able to survey a specific rider . Regardless , you ’ll lose things in this tight - paced sport . We were lucky , though , and got a behind - the - setting look at the 45th Supercross time of year opening race . It ’s roll in the hay as Anaheim 1 ( A1 ) , and this year it was held Jan. 5 , 2019 , at Angel Stadium in Anaheim , California .
And as soon as the gates drop for the first limiting around , it was clear that a few of the twist on this track would cause the racers trouble . Why ? Rain . But permit ’s back up a bit and talk about the history of Supercross and everything that go away into making Anaheim 1 .
History of Supercross
Supercrossis a high - flying motorcycle variation that has roots in the outdoor terrain cartroad of motocross . Its chronicle date back well into the ' XX when the American Motorcyclist Association ( AMA ) was promoting motorcycles . Whenmotorcycle racingwas popular after World War II , races were held on dirt oval and knight rail across the U.S. But the bike at that time were too weighty and underpowered to handle that terrain .
Things changed by the early sixties , when European experts brought their skills to North America , and in just a few old age , motocross took hold . In 1971 , the terminal figure " supercross " was coined by conflate the words " super bowl " and " motocross " . wheel also got faster and cut through more proficient . rider also became menage name .
Today , Supercross is one of the fastest - growing motor variation in the world , and includes 17 races between January and May . The racer contend on custom - design tracks that launch them up to 30 feet ( 9 meters ) in the air and cover distances of up to 90 feet ( 27 meters ) — all while free on 225 - Lebanese pound ( 102 - kilogram ) motorcycles . More coolheaded stats from Supercross admit :
Anaheim 1
It takes a 20 - member crew 60 hour to make the runway , which is comprised of 5,500 three-dimensional yards — or 26 million Lebanese pound — of dirt . ( Incidentally , that dirt is kept in parking raft 4B of Angel Stadium , under a layer of mineral pitch during baseball season . )
The A1 track itself is as much a character in the Supercross universe as the riders and the bikes . " No Supercross caterpillar tread has ever been duplicated , " with the exception of a retro - theme event , according to Supercross director of operations Dave Prater . This year it included a triple jump that was 70 metrical unit ( 21 meter ) long — riders achieved elevation of 32 feet ( 9.7 meters ) .
The Riders and Bikes
And speaking of the rider , they do get to practice on the dry track before the literal A1 backwash , but as rider Barcia mentions , that aforementioned rain can really mess up up their plans and make the recollective hour of drill , well , for nothing . That ’s because , as Yamaha squad manager Jimmy Perry explain , the bike can find fault up as much as 65 pounds ( 29 kilograms ) of clay when the track is wet . All that mud fox off the bike ’s execution , and the track ’s fastest argumentation will be totally different when it ’s wet .
Thebikesmay seem topnotch - hyped , but they ’re really just make from yield wheel . No one - off physique are let , a rule that ’s been in effect since 1986 . That means they ’re fairly skinny to what you’re able to buy from a dealership , except for the suspension components , which are tune up to every rider ’s druthers .
" You have to take your bicycle and work on your weak points to make them as strong as you may " with money and manpower , " excuse Yamaha ’s Perry . " It ’s 80 percent rider , 20 percent bike . "
" There is no staring setup . None , " former Yamaha passenger Ryan Villopoto says .
Supercross Goes Super High-tech
During the retiring three seasons , teams have been able-bodied to trail and equate passenger in literal time , thanks to an advancedGPS antennaand sensing element pop the question byLITPro . The LitPro allows them to get all kinds of stats they can view right on their iPhone or iPad . It tracks the riders ' position on the course of study throughout the full race . For exercise , the organisation can follow a saltation from takeoff to landing place and can sometimes even predict the winner of a race by digesting various analytics .
But teams do n’t rely only on engineering to meliorate their racers . They also calculate on the expertise of personal trainers . Aldon Baker , a flight simulator for four Supercross passenger , say he lick with his clients to progress overall cardio and military capability . In term of racing , it helps improve their endurance , dash and starts . On race days , he typically warm them up on a spin bicycle . Spin bike are his preferred training method because they ’re low impingement and can move around well . Baker ’s clients come after apescatariandiet , with an emphasis on veggies and high - quality protein from fish .
It ’s strict , Baker acknowledge , but he acknowledges that he only has so much controller . " You ca n’t sit the guy down and program him like a robot , " he articulate .
