Photo by: Hoppenworld
The most successful and deservedly hyped amateur in the history of motocross is hands down Adam Cianciarulo. The amateur superstar was signed to a five-year deal with the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki squad while still on super-mini’s, and with that came exorbitantly high expectations when he decided it was time for the big leagues. The Floridian was slated to start his professional career at the 2013 Hangtown National, but after riding press day, he was admitted to the hospital with a 103-degree temperature and a mystery illness that was later diagnosed as a gnarly case of salmonella. Adam’s professional debut was put on hold and we didn’t get our first glimpse of the prodigy until later that year at the Budds Creek National.
With the rest of the stacked field already having four rounds of momentum and Adam being a true rookie still recovering from his sickness, he struggled out of the gate. Looking back now at the 250MX line up in 2013, there were 11 combined Regional Supercross and Motocross National Championships as well as three MX2 World Championships in that field, but with AC’s extremely exaggerated expectations, the internet grumblings of AC possibly being another overly hyped bust could already be seen across the interwebs. It’s mind boggling the weight this kid carries, but his ability to shut it out and perform has always been what separates him.
Adam quickly quieted the peanut gallery in 2014, blowing everyone’s wig back with a win in his first ever Monster Energy Supercross 250SX main event. He backed that up by going 2-1-2-1 in the next four main events—building a comfortable 17-point lead in the Championship—but ended his season with a separated shoulder in Toronto. His 2015 Supercross season ended with another shoulder injury when he had a brief rendezvous with a concrete wall at the 2014 Geneva Supercross in Switzerland. Of course the second injury lit the peanut gallery back up, but I’m convinced there’s not a person on earth that cares less about the naysayers than Mr. Cianciarulo.
Fast forward now to last weekend’s 2015 Hangtown National. Despite the #50 not racing an AMA event since March of 2013, Adam quickly reminded everyone of his talent when he was the fastest 250MX rider in both of the qualifying practices on Saturday. At the end of qualifying, he was nearly a full second faster than any 250MX rider and there was only one rider with more speed: Eli Tomac on the 450. It was an incredible display of pure speed, and six laps into moto one he was leading and looking poised to set the pace in 2015. That, though, was when his day went from all smiles to pure frustration.
After getting a fifth place start and passing Justin Bogle for the lead on lap two, Cianciarulo’s perfect day came unglued. It started with a small crash in moto one and continued getting worse with another crash in moto 2 and what looked like a myriad of small race-rust mistakes. In the end, Adam left his first-ever race at Hangtown with a 9-11 scorecard and 8th place points. While we know he’s not pumped on his day, after fourteen months away, he has to feel good knowing he has the speed to win. With that and Aldon Baker in his corner dialing in the fitness, he knows the wins are coming.
After the race, I caught up with Adam to get his perspective on his first day back, his lofty expectations and more. As always, the man is grounded, understands exactly what he needs to fix to contend for Championships and, after talking to him, I’m 100% positive he will fix it sooner than later. To quote Adam from the interview below, “I will win championships. I will win races.”
Adam’s moto 2 crash at Hangtown
Adam, first race back, did you end up with 9th overall?
I think 8th. I’m not entirely sure. Overall coming in I didn’t think I was going to qualify first like that. That was pretty cool. Basically all day I felt like I was riding within my comfort zone and my speed was good, so that’s what I’m most stoked on. I would be less stoked if I was just on my limits and out of control. I was faster, but I was totally within myself and just made some mistakes. I was completely focused, but I just made some dumb mistakes that were my fault, because they didn’t happen to anybody else. At the same time, you just don’t see those type of things coming. The first moto, after I crashed, I didn’t have any front brakes so that kind of ruined my little comeback. I think I could have probably got back to 6th or so if I had some brakes. Anyway, my speed in the first moto was really good, just felt like—even with Cooper and those guys behind me—the pressure didn’t bother me. I wasn’t riding over my head or anything, so that was good. Second moto I think I was in 5th or 6th after a subpar start and about halfway I washed the front end again going into that half pipe section. Then after that, I mean—I told everybody coming in here that my fitness isn’t exactly where it needs to be and especially after a year of not racing. You don’t have that base that these other guys have. After that last crash, I just was kind of lacking on some energy a little bit. I think if I limit the mistakes, obviously my fitness is going to get better as we go. I think without the crashes today I would have had more energy stored up. You expend a lot of energy.
Yeah, picking the bike up and kicking it or whatever can take it out of you.
I know this is one of the rougher ones of the year. I’ve been told from other guys. Overall, I’m stoked with my speed. Some mistakes didn’t let us reach our potential results-wise today, but I was better today than I was on paper.
Did you surprise yourself at your speed when you went out and qualified? Your speed was no fluke. You were fastest in both sessions.
Definitely. I mean coming in here I honestly thought I was probably a 7 to 10 guy, just from the practice track. I don’t know; it’s hard because I haven’t raced for so long, but I’m always the guy that’s no good at the practice tracks during the week, just way off everybody’s times.
Really? I wouldn’t expect that with who you train with.
Yeah, and I just come to the race and I don’t know I can ride well all of a sudden. It’s all about my technique. If my technique is good in practice leading up to the race, it transfers over to the race. I’m able to go fast and ride the bike the correct way, and that’s when it always goes the best for me. Yeah, I didn’t think I was going to be the fastest, and I was fastest in both practices. Like I said, I didn’t even feel like I was pegged. I felt like I had more speed. In the first moto, the same thing. I felt like I had that speed for 35 minutes. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see it or find out, but we will sooner or later.
It’s your first time here at Hangtown. What did you think of the track overall? It is definitely one of the roughest. You heard correct.
I liked it. I liked it a lot. I mean, there was a lot of ruts and it was super choppy and rough and difficult. The last 15 minutes of that last moto, I didn’t like it very much, but it’s all part of the learning process. I’ve never raced Hangtown. It’s exciting to be here. Just was stoked to be here all day. I was happy and my teammate [Chris Alldredge] got a podium and Joey [Savatgy] rode really well too. Just stoked for the team. I think over the course of the last couple of years when this team is the team to watch and the team to beat, then all of sudden you’re not winning, they’re like, “What’s wrong with the team?” I think it’s just about everybody getting healthy and being there and being in the fight. Just stoked with all the guys. We’re already planning next week for testing and stuff we saw on the bike and looking forward to next week and getting more motos under my belt, getting fitter, getting faster and hopefully winning here pretty soon.
Because of your incredible amateur career, the lofty expectations kind of shadow over you. Because you’ve had a rough start in the pro’s, some people are saying this might be a make or break year for you. Do you feel that way at all?
No, it’s not. It’s not a make or break year. I don’t know who says that, but I’ve been off the bike for—I’ve been on the bike six weeks. I basically rode the bike two months total over the past year and I have good speed already, so if anybody says this is a make or break year because I make mistakes or I don’t win the championship or something like that, they’re crazy. They just don’t know what’s going. For me, it’s about blocking that out and doing exactly what I should do, and I have 100% confidence in myself that I will win.
I think you showed everybody today what you’re capable of.
I will win championships. I will win races. Whether it’s now or a year from now or whatever it is, it doesn’t bother me. Like today, 8th place overall, it doesn’t bother me because I know I will be there eventually.
How are the shoulders?
Good. Yeah, shoulder is good, no issues. I didn’t even fall on the shoulder. Yeah, I mean it’s been miserable, the rehab. It’s every day for that shoulder. I’ve done everything I can, so I feel strong and I’m glad.
Next week we head to Glen Helen. You’ve never raced it before, but obviously you practice there quite a bit. What are your thoughts on that track?
Well, I heard it’s really different for the race compared to Thursday practice. I’ve been there on some good days and I like the track. I’ve been testing there since I was 12 years old on Pro Circuit. All these guys have raced there, but I’ll do the same thing I did today: go there, learn and get better starts than I did today. I think my speed will be there and we’ll start chipping away in the fitness area.
Appreciate it, Adam. Nice meeting you. Congrats.
Thank you
