With 17 races over the span of 18 weeks, Monster Energy Supercross is as much about survival as it is consistency. Virtually every rider in the field is bound to have an off night at some point, and how that rider handles the adversity almost always makes or breaks his shot at the title. Through the jubilation of January, the fury of February and the madness of March, we have reached the lone quiet weekend of the season.
This break in action is a welcome one by all, even those enjoying success. In many ways the athletes of Monster Energy Supercross are gladiators, waging battle against one another for weeks on end. When they aren't on the battleground of the country's many massive coliseums, they're painstakingly logging laps in training and testing, and spending even more time ensuring they're in peak physical condition, all the while hoping to avoid overtraining and burning themselves out.
Whether on the track or not, contending Monster Energy Supercross means riding the fine line of every competitor's physical and mental limit. Sure it's an individual sport, but where else does your individuality mean having to break the will of 21 other competitors at once, including supposed "teammates" riding identical equipment? Make no mistake about it, this championship stands alone in the sporting world and is arguably the most grueling season of any other championship-oriented sport on the planet.
The relentless pursuit of victory, both at the races and at home during the week, is accompanied by perhaps the most challenging element of all - travel. Supercross riders' lives are based on regimen and control, but the necessary travel required to compete at all 17 races essentially takes all of that control and regimen out of their hands. As a result, you add a weekly, repetitive grind that is more stressful than relaxing and magnifies the task at hand every weekend. The constant back and forth from Southern California or Florida to the various cities on the schedule puts unique wear and tear on a rider that can't really be accounted for. Many of the elite competitors even make coastal transitions from when the season begins out west and soon travels east. It adds another layer of complexity to an already chaotic season.
It's very easy to underestimate the grind of racing for four months straight when there is no sense of relief for the competitors in the days between races. Saying it's a full-time gig is an understatement. Staying healthy is paramount in supercross, but these riders are constantly flirting with danger due to the immense amount of time required on the bike. That's why we inevitably see riders make major mistakes at the races, and in worst case scenarios see those mistakes result in injury. It seems like every year one of the major contenders is forced to bow out with an injury. Occasionally the attrition is shockingly high, like 2015 in particular.
We entered the new year with a wide open championship and the true belief that anyone can win. I myself had never seen a season in which I truly wasn't sure which rider would ultimately emerge triumphant. The talent was that deep and the potential for any one of the elite to step up was there. Thirteen weeks later #WhosNext has turned into a waiting game of when the title will finally be wrapped up.
Pushing the limits as needed to be successful in this truly grueling championship has resulted in the downfall of Dean Wilson, Justin Barcia, Ken Roczen and now Trey Canard. While other hopefuls like Eli Tomac, Cole Seely, Chad Reed and Jason Anderson remain, they too have all had major hiccups and multiple points this season, all but eliminating them from any shot at the title.
The mental and physical demands of the championship week after week is what makes Ryan Dungey's run towards a second world title that much more impressive. We've gone over his rock solid consistency time and time again this season, but when you look a little deeper and understand what goes into making a championship run like this, what Dungey is accomplishing is nothing short of incredible. This is a run for the ages.
Dominance in supercross is commonplace. It has been for decades. However, the bikes are the fastest and most powerful they've ever been, with the ability to jump higher and farther than ever before on arguably the most challenging tracks in the four decades of the sport. Moreover, the physicality of the athletes is more dynamic and has reached a world-class level, across all sports. All that combines to make this the most competitive and most difficult era in the history of supercross. Somehow, someway, Dungey is making it look easy.
The lone off weekend of the season is a welcome reprieve for everyone. The KTM rider has made life tough on everyone, including himself, so the chance to actually stay at home and afford riders the opportunity to make their own choice as to how they spend their weekend is a luxury. Here's to hoping it results in everyone coming back rejuvenated and ready to make the final four races as exciting as they have the potential to be. In the meantime, everyone enjoy the well-deserved break.
