Words by: Dan Lamb – Interview by: Chase Yocom – Photo by: Hoppenworld

At the opening round of the 2014 Monster Energy Supercross 250SX Eastern Regional Championship in Arlington, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo reminded everyone why there was so much hype centered around his amateur graduation last season. Some may have thought the amateur superstar was overrated after his mediocre professional debut during the 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, but those doubters were quickly silenced when the #46 scored his first supercross win in his first attempt. With the question of could he win when everything goes right being answered, the next question was how would he handle adversity.

Well, if round number two in Atlanta was any indication, the answer is like a champion. The rookie started the day off qualifying number one with the fastest time, but the night quickly took a turn for the worse when he crashed twice in his heat race. First, he went down in the massive Georgia Dome whoops and then again while trying to make his way back up into a qualifying position. We later found out that Adam jacked his front break up in the first crash which later caused the second crash. Either way, he was eighteenth in his heat race and there’s nothing scarier than an outside gate pick in the gnarliest of all supercross races: the 250SX LCQ.

S_S_14_13_10551
Adam’s holeshot ability is going to dig him out of a lot of holes. Photo by: Hoppenworld

What’s funny is, before the LCQ, Shane Lusk—the brother of former premier class supercross winner Ezra Lusk and a great rider in his own right—told us that Adam can holeshot from as far back as the tunnel, and Adam did just that. In both the LCQ and later in the main, Adam yanked monster holeshots from the outside gate. In the end, the kid with the red plate won his LCQ and, after getting passed by his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammate Martin Davalos in the main event, went on to finish a solid second and maintain the red plate heading to round three next weekend in Indianapolis. Adam made a late-race push to carve into Martin’s lead, but crossed the line with his second-straight rookie podium in second. With that, Adam rides the red plate out of the tunnel in Indy with a two-point lead over Davalos.

After the race, MotoXAddicts’ favorite east coaster, Chase Yocom, caught up with Adam to ask him about his night. You can read that below.

Adam, a little bit of a rough start to the night, but you pulled it together and scored a solid second place finish in the main event. You have to be happy overall considering how your night started?

Yeah, the day started out really well. In practice, I was fastest in qualifying and was feeling really good about the track. Obviously the whoops were pretty hard today, but I was able to get through them in qualifying so I thought it wasn’t going to be a problem. I was feeling awesome in the heat race, but I just hit a slick spot, went into the hay bales, went down and I actually bent my front brake rotor—and that caused me to crash again. Then, I went to the LCQ, was able to win that.

Adam got up front and away from the carnage in the Atlanta SX LCQ. Photo by: Hoppenworld
Adam got up front and away from the carnage in the Atlanta SX LCQ. Photo by: Hoppenworld

Yeah, and you were still able to rip a holeshot from the outside. Can you take us through your main event tonight?

In the main event, I was able to get the holeshot from the way outside which is good. I tried to find my rhythm behind Martin and a stupid mistake on my part. I was rolling the when the yellow lights were flashing. You can jump on yellow lights, but you gotta roll on red ones. I think that might have cost me a shot at the win, but I can’t take anything away from Martin. He rode great, and I’m definitely happy to salvage some good points tonight.

 

Yeah, we’re hearing from everyone tonight that the whoops were the big separator, but that triple step-on to tabletop looked pretty tricky too. Overall, what were your thoughts on the track tonight?

Yeah, really the whoops were the make or break, for sure. I was able to just get a rhythm through them. I was watching some guys in the LCQ jump through them and just said there’s no way I’m going to be able to skim them for fifteen laps. So I got a rhythm, and actually, I think I was the strongest rider in the whoops in the main event. I think that’s where I was making up a lot of my time. I was happy I was able to take my weak point and make it into my strong point. I think we had a win in us tonight, but I’m happy to come out of here with good points.

 

How exciting is it to have that red background on the Kawasaki?

It was nice, for sure. Keeping it on for next weekend, that’s the goal: just keep it on the bike.

Two professional starts and two podiums. How long can he continue that streak? Photo by: Hoppenworld
Two professional starts and two podiums. How long can he continue that streak? Photo by: Hoppenworld

I’m not sure if you caught the 450 main, but your training partners—Ken Roczen and Ryan Villopoto—had a heck of a battle for the win. How pumped are you for those guys?

Yeah, it’s awesome for them. Obviously, they’re both really good guys and I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know them really well. I’m super happy for Kenny and Ryan both. They raced each other clean, and it’s awesome to watch.

 

Thanks for taking some time out to talk with us, and good luck next weekend in Indy.

Thank you.

Author