Qualifying Report – 2018 Minneapolis SX

The track is difficult today inside of the US bank Stadium for the 2018 Minneapolis SX. The triple after the sand section is giving the 250 B riders a lot of trouble. Only a handful of 250 B riders are getting it clean. Fantasy Supercross killer Jerry Robin is back for his local SX, and it looks like the time off hasn’t changed anything–very fast with a tendency to crash big. Robin is one of my favorite guys to watch, but he already had one big crash but looks alright. The 250 B riders might want to quit trying the triple as it’s one yard sale after another.

Zach Osborne was the first rider to clear the camelback triple on the far side, although he did not get it clean he was the first rider try it. Jordan Smith crashed hard in the whoops, but seems alright. The intensity of timed qualifying is noticeable today, these rides all know the importance of a good time with the triple crown format. The top four guys, Osborne, Smith, Jeremy Martin and Austin Forkner are in a class if their own. Forkner did have the fastest time, but it was waved off because he jumped on a cross flag.

In the 450 A session has guys have abandoned the outside line in the split lane. The guys are only using it to get out of the way. Jason Anderson is struggling, looks like he is managing risk. Unlike last week, Anderson looks like a guy trying not to lose the championship. The large whoops have Marvin Musquin struggling. A track that looked to have multiple lines early has become more one lined. This track and the “Triple Crown” format have Justin Brayton feeling it. Justin was fastest and looked smooth in the process. Justin Barcia is back from injury and showed flashes of speed and style, but looks to be shaking off the rust.

Before the final sessions started they made major changes to the triple in the center of the track. They moved the landing in about 5 -10 feet and changed the takeoff to give the riders more distance. Now it looks like a triple from 1999. I am all for safety, but what about competitive advantage? If you had the guts to send it during the first session, the time you made up risking your life is now worthless. This change should have been made after the free session.

In the final sessions, times were much faster due to the track change. Zach Osborne, Jeremy Martin and Austin Forkner were all three going back in forth setting the fastest time. Austin is fearless and clearly didn’t want Zach to get the fastest time. Because of that, the #35 looked to be on the edge of disaster the entire session and had one minor crash. Jordan Smith looked to be fast early, but couldn’t drop his time after the halfway session. Those four guys are in a class of their own tonight, with Zach being another step up from that. Zach’s (48.297) was fastest in 250’s and faster than the 450’s by nearly a half second.

In the last 450 A session, Eli Tomac—to nobody’s surprise—set the fastest lap time (48.709). Malcom Stewart once again showed his talent by qualifying 2nd, if he had fitness Malcom could be a contender. Maybe Broc Tickle could give him some supplement advice….. to soon? Cooper Webb looks like the fastest man on the track until the whoops, he just can’t get through them. Webb reminds me of Mike Alessi in his prime, good everywhere but the whoops.The track has broken down into one line, the starts are going to be incredibly important at this the final triple crown event.

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