Photo by: Octopi

The 2018 Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM World Championship series lands in the high altitude of Salt Lake City, UT. for the penultimate race of the year.

After the first timed qualifying sessions, you can feel the tension between Red Bull / KTM’s Marvin Musquin and Monster Energy / Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac as they were both jousting for the top spot. Eli (47.3) bettered Marvin (47.8) near the end, but in watching them it is clear they are both paying attention to each other. Marvin saw that Eli was behind him over the finish line and much like Monster Energy / Yamaha’s Justin Barcia or Monster Energy / Yamaha’s Cooper Webb, Marvin threw a huge whip. Definitely showing a little attitude.

Rockstar Energy / Husqvarna’s Jason Anderson looks like a guy who knows exactly what he needs to do in order to wrap up the Monster Energy Supercross Championship and isn’t taking any chances. With his first ever 450SX title looming, Anderson was the 10th fastest in the first session. If Marvin wins tonight, Jason will need to get 4th or better to clinch the title.

450SX A Group Time Sheet

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450 Group A Qualifying – Session 1 – 2018 SLC SX – Click to Enlarge
Shane was fastest overall in first 250SX qualifying session. Photo by: Simon Cudby

In the 250 class Troy Lee Designs / KTM Shane McElrath will be strong tonight, as he won here last year and really rides good on hard packed California type of soil. Shane (49.182) was fastest overall in the first session.

Monster Energy / Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger (50.086) and Monster Energy / PC / Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo (49.540) also were fast as always. Cianciarulo really sends it during timed qualifying—not going to lie he scares me. In the B practice Blake “Slash” Wharton looked smooth and fast other than a small tip over. Blake was stuck in the B group today and was the fastest in the session ahead of his IB Corp / Yamaha teammate Michael Leib. Look for “Slash” to be a top 5 guy tonight.

250SX A Group Time Sheet

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250 Group A Qualifying – Session 1 – 2018 SLC SX – Click to Enlarge
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