After over two years away from Supercross, Monster Energy / Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo looked back on form and poised to challenge for the 2017 Eastern Regional 250SX Championship with his first win since 2014 at the Daytona SX a week ago. With that big shot of confidence still fresh, Adam came into Indianapolis looking to make it two in a row, but a game of on-track tag with the red plate holder, Zach Osborne, in the first qualifying session put the #36 on the medic mule with an injured knee. After getting his knee looked at, though, Adam returned for the final qualifying session and put it into the night show with the eighth fastest lap.
It was obvious in the heat race that Adam was hurting, and after holeshotting, he seemed to lack his normal aggression that we’ve seen from him in ’17 and went backwards to finish third. In the main event it was more of the same. Adam wasn’t slow by any means, but he did not have the speed to run with the guys up front either.
After an eighth place start, he worked his way up to a solid fifth and looked content to just get through what had been a tough day with solid points. Late in the race he had a shot at Alex Martin for fourth after Alex crashed, but it just wasn’t there. Considering earlier in the day there was speculation of a possible torn ACL for Adam, 16 points looked like a decent night. He is currently 18 point behind Osborne with four main events left on the 250SX East schedule.
After the race, MotoXAddicts’ Chase Yocom caught up with Adam to talk about his incident with Zach, the prognosis on his knee and even his win last weekend in Daytona.
AC, kind of a rough day for you. Can you talk about your day and how you’re feeling right now?
It was a rough day, but at the same time, I’m pretty happy with where I’m at now. I had to overcome a lot of adversity today. I got into it with Zach [Osborne] in practice and came out on the wrong end of it—kind of dabbed my leg and hurt my knee. At the same time, I think where we ended up—fifth in the main—I felt pretty good about my ride. I think considering after practice I didn’t think I was going to be able to race to now, I think we’re pretty good.
Take us through what happened with Zach from your perspective. It looked like you got into it with him and then he got together with you. Also, did you two talk at all after the incident?
No, we didn’t talk at all and I don’t think we really need to. He’s aggressive, I’m aggressive, and I’m not going to let him push me around just because he’s a lot older than me or whatever. That’s part of racing. I’m not going to whine about it. I got the wrong end of the stick today, but that could change as early as next weekend. I respect him as a racer. He’s a good guy, a talented guy and he works hard. We’ll go back to the drawing board this week and bring it next weekend.
It was your knee you injured in the deal? How’s it feeling now?
Yeah, the left knee. After practice it was bad. I didn’t think I was going to be able to race, but I worked with my guy, Dr. Novaro, and we did everything—icing it, taping it up and everything we can. It was actually better in the main. Standing on it right now it’s a lot better than it was earlier. I’ll do some rehab on it this week, and we should be 100% for next weekend.
Will you just take it day by day through next week? Probably not a whole lot of riding for you next week before Detroit?
Yeah, I’ll probably be a little bit lighter, but I think if I had to ride Monday, I think I could. It’s just going to be about what’s best for me. I’ll go over it with my team and make a game plan.
We didn’t get to talk to you last weekend—you got pulled away from us to be taken to the press conference—but that win in Daytona had to feel good. Are we going to be seeing some more of that?
Yeah, I think I’m capable of that. I think a lot of people know that I’m capable of that. In these main events, everybody is so close that it’s a situational thing. You got to put yourself in the right situation. You have to execute, and your whole week comes down to those fifteen minutes. It’s going to be about continuing to improve, not being complacent and bringing the heat every weekend.
Being away from SX for a couple of years due to the injuries, did you remember how hectic it can be out there? Tonight looked hectic too.
For me, tonight wasn’t too hectic, to be honest. I didn’t get a good start—had to get through some guys—and by the time I got through them, it seemed like there was a bit of a gap. I was just trying to make up time but, at the same time, ride a little cautious—especially with the knee. It was not too hectic, definitely. The first couple of rounds were a little bit hectic for me after being away for so long, but now I have the hang of it.
Thanks for the time, Adam—I appreciate it—and get that knee healed up.
Thank you.
Photos by: Ryne Swanberg
