2015 AMA Supercross: 250 Class Gambling

With Anaheim 1; the beginning of what will surely be an epic SX season, fast approaching, it’s time to get revved up for the New Year. Transmoto will be running weekly articles, presented by Fox Head Australia, discussing a range of topics, from contenders to pretenders to rookies. And we’re putting our money where our mouth is, with some predictions. 

It’s all guns blazing at the practice tracks as the search for milliseconds continues. Riders have been back training and undergoing intensive boot camps since shortly after the outdoors wrapped up. Those with injuries have rehabbed, or are in the process of recovery, and every day each athlete is doing something to improve themselves in the lead up to the 2015 season.

For a number of 250 class riders, however, they are not sure whether their first race will be in January for the West Coast series or in February on the East Coast. Mitch Payton, owner of the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team, prefers to keep his riders on edge so that they prepare to the best of their abilities, before making final decisions. Many teams have adopted this strategy; a key reason for this is the possibility of injury, thus if a rider gets injured a teammate is prepared and ready to race.

The 250 class this year will be a free for all, as Jason Anderson, Dean Wilson and Blake Baggett, three of this year’s dominant riders, move up to the 450 class. Jeremy Martin, 2014 Lucas Oil AMA Motocross champion, and the East Coast champ, Justin Bogle, will remain however, along with talented up-and-comers such as RJ Hampshire, Cooper Webb and more. Throw Justin Hill, Marvin Musquin and veterans such as Josh Hansen and Martin Davalos in, along with a bunch of rookies, and the class is as strong as ever.

Although the chance of injury before the season is still a possibility (as seen in the past week with the unfortunate shoulder injury of Adam Cianciarulo) and the question of who will ride each coast remains, I’m going to get stuck into some predictions for the year.

Disclaimer: These opinions are my own and these predictions are made with little evidence and more in the nature of fun rather than seriousness. I fully expect the majority of them to be proven wrong throughout the season.

Champions:

Incredibly hard to pick with only pre-season videos to go on, however, I’m going to say Cooper Webb and Marvin Musquin. I would have had Cianciarulo as a title winner if not for his injury, however this sport is ever changing and doesn’t wait for the injured. Musquin is experienced, consistent and it’s now or never for the Frenchman. In my opinion, Cooper Webb will get his first SX win quickly and go on to claim the title – he is just that good. This is obviously dependant on them racing opposite coasts.

New race winners:

Cooper Webb – With two seconds last year and a great outdoor season, he is primed to win races and push for a title.

Malcolm Stewart – It amazes me that Malcolm has not yet won a race; this will be the year in my opinion, however he will be too inconsistent to be in the title battle.

RJ Hampshire – In my opinion, he’s the top rookie entering the class. Training with Tim Ferry will be the key and I believe he will win a race.

Title contenders:

Justin Bogle – 2014 East Coast champ through consistency and it would be no surprise to see him win again.

Justin Hill – The 2014 Monster Energy Cup highlighted his potential and I believe he will win multiple races.

Jeremy Martin – He under-performed in supercross last year but dominated in motocross; I see a far better 2015 SX season for Jeremy.

Title pretenders:

Josh Hansen – No doubt he can podium and possibly win races, but it will be tough for Hanny to stay consistent enough to win a title when he is also running his own mini-team.

Martin Davalos – Class veteran, proved he could win races last year, but I don’t see him changing ten years of mixed consistency into a championship.