2019 NEW JERSEY SUPERCROSS PREVIEW

Metlife stadium in East Rutherford New Jersey will host this week’s AMA Supercross as tumultuous season enters its final stages. Now, it’s all about how well Cooper Webb stands up to the pressure of being on top. Webb has held the red plate as the points leader since the Minneapolis round on February 9th. Last week, the riders had a weekend off and now it’s game on with two rounds left.

 

For Eli Tomac, East Rutherford probably brings back a bitter taste. The last time a Supercross was held here in 2017, he was in a similar situation; second place in the standings and on a winning streak. In that race, Marvin Musquin was out front with red-plate holder Ryan Dungey in second. On the last lap, Musquyin pulled over to give Dungey three additional points in the title chase. Tomac later said that KTM “fixed the race.”

In the end, Dungey won by five points, but the Musquin move in New Jersey changed the dynamic of the season. Musquin could once again play a role in the 2019 title chase. The question, whose side would he favor? There’s no love lost between Musquin and Webb, despite playing for the same team. He probably doesn’t care for Tomac, either, and Musquin isn’t out of the running himself.

Webb’s 18-point lead means that he doesn’t have to race for the win. He can finish in sixth place in both remaining races and still be the 2109 Supercross Champion.

1. Cooper Webb 332
2. Eli Tomac 314
3. Marvin Musquin 309
4. Ken Roczen 283
5. Blake Baggett 255
6. Dean Wilson 223
7. Joey Savatgy 192
8. Cole Seely 180
9. Justin Bogle 157
10. Justin Barcia 154

There’s much more drama in the 250 Eastern Regional points race. Austin Forkner started the season with a win streak, but had to sit out Nashville with a knee injury. Now he’s only four points up on Chase Sexton. After putting in the work at physical therapy, Forkner has made positive strides in his recovery to feel confident enough to line up on Saturday.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how well the therapy has been going on my knee and I’ve really been trying to keep a positive attitude about the situation,” said Forkner. “The whole team has been really supportive and doing everything they can to make sure I have what I need to try and bring them home a championship.”

1 Austin Forkner 151
2 Chase Sexton 148
3 Justin Cooper 144
4 Martin Davalos 115
5 Mitchell Oldenburg 105
6 Alex Martin 105
7 Brandon Hartranft 100
8 Kyle Peters 98
9 Kyle Cunningham 97
10 Jordan Bailey 76