Persistence pays off. After a string of injuries, Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin raced to a win in the second to last race of the 2021 Monster Energy Supercross season.
“Nothing is better than winning,” said Musquin post race. “After the ups and downs of the past two years, it feels great to get back on the podium with a win and to be up there with Cooper (Webb) as well. He gave me a great race tonight and I wanted that win bad. It was fun really battling for it.”
Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb battled his way to second place after a bad start and some misfortune of the race leader for the first half of the race, Team Honda HRC’s Ken Roczen when he went down in the whoops section.
Had Webb secured the win and Roczen lost one more position on the track, Webb would have clinched his second 450SX premier class season title.
“We came close to the win tonight in multiple ways,” said Webb post race. “Another season race win is always great, but we have bigger goals this season and that goal of winning the championship is within reach, we just have to wait one more week to do it.”
It all comes down to round 17, the final race of the season.
The 250SX Eastern Regional returned to racing with Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Colt Nichols, the red plate holder, needing to only gain two points on Shimoda going into the Main Event to wrap up the title one round early. Nichols crossed the holeshot stripe outside the top five and although the fastest rider on the track at several points, was slow to climb through the pack. Nichols managed a third-place finish, taking the title to the final race, the always unpredictable Dave Combs Sr. 250SX East/West Showdown. Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Christian Craig, who sat eight points out of first at the start of the day, injured his left ankle in qualifying. He lined up for Heat Race two but after one rhythm section it was evident he would not be able to compete and rode off the track and back to the pits. Craig’s departure meant his teammate Colt Nichols would start the Main Event with a 28-point lead over Shimoda and the realistic chance to claim the title at the race.
Just like Webb in the 450SX Class, the win by a different rider barely prevented both Webb and Nichols from clinching a race early.
Tickets are on sale for the season finale on Saturday May 1 in a limited-capacity, pod-seating format. Fans can also catch the action live on Peacock and NBCSN or watch the re-broadcast on NBC on Sunday May 2. For more race information, video highlights, race stories, and more please visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
Beyond the racing, for the third year in a row Supercross is excited to be hosting an online auction in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The biggest names in Supercross have once again lent their support to the St. Jude mission: Finding Cures. Saving Children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food—because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Just as the “We Won’t Stop” text-to-donate campaign has been saying all season long, we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. Auction items include autographed jerseys from Cooper Webb, Ken Roczen, Eli Tomac, Justin Barcia, Jason Anderson, Adam Cianciarulo, Aaron Plessinger, Marvin Musquin, Chase Sexton, Dean Wilson and others. Dean Guitars, based in Tampa has donated a bass guitar that has easily become one of the most unique items in the auction – autographed by the 450SX Class top 4 in points – Cooper Webb, Ken Roczen, Eli Tomac and Justin Barcia. StaCyc has also donated a custom 12eDRIVE bike in metallic Cyan, sporting patient-inspired artwork graphics. The auction includes over 60 unique items for Supercross fans and St. Jude supporters to choose from and runs until Monday, May 3 at 6 p.m. ET – www.stjude.org/supercrossauction.