Photo by: Hoppenworld

Motocross and Supercross can create the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo has experienced the extreme ends of both. After the most successful amateur motocross career in history, the very likable Cianciarulo started his professional motocross career off in 2013 with a violent case of salmonella that delayed his debut at Hangtown and put a huge dent in his rookie motocross season results.

To start his rookie Supercross season in 2014, Adam came out on fire, winning his first-ever main event and three of his first five races—finishing second in the two main events that he didn’t cross the line first in. In his sixth main event, though, Adam separated his shoulder and has not been healthy for a Supercross race since that night in Toronto.

Two years ago Adam was on top of the world after winning his first-ever main event in his first-ever SX race. Photo by: Hoppenworld
Two years ago Adam was on top of the world after winning his first-ever main event in his first-ever SX race. Photo by: Hoppenworld

Heading into the 2015 Supercross season, Adam lookedon the pace to pick up where he left off, but his 2015 SX season ended when he separated his good shoulder in a preseason SX race in Europe. Today in Phoenix we were told that it’s now happened again. While preparing to start his 2016 Eastern Regional 250SX Supercross season in just a few weeks, Adam went down and suffered a broken wrist. We weren’t told the exact extent of the injury or an exact timeline for his return, but we are hearing his 2016 Supercross season will be just like the one before it: nonexistent.

This is a huge letdown for everyone, but we cannot imagine what it is like to be Adam Cianciarulo today. There have been many comparisons drawn to other amateur superstars who were too brittle for the next level or did not live up to the hype, but for many reasons, we still believe Adam is a different story. None of the riders he is being compared to have won three of their only five Supercross races in their careers. It may be another year before we see him line up for a SX race, but we truly believe Adam’s story is just beginning to be written. We wish him well and hope to see him at Hangtown in May.

Remember, we all love a good come back story.

Author

Dan Lamb is a 12+ year journalist and the owner of MotoXAddicts.