2019 FLORIDA NATIONAL PRE-RACE REPORT

On Jun 21, 2019 Last updated Jun 21, 2019

PRE-RACE REPORT FOR THE 2019 FLORIDA NATIONAL AT WW RANCH IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

Ken Roczen and Eli Tomac are tied in points headed into round five.

By Ben Bridges

The final AMA Pro Motocross race happened in Florida on March 3rd, 1997 in Gainesville, Florida at the Gatorback Cycle Park. That day Ricky Carmichael grabbed his first and last ever Motocross win in his home state in the 125 class while his friend Jeff Emig won the 250 class.

For the first time in 22 seasons the aroma that filled the Florida air from 1972-1997 will return, albeit without Ricky Carmichael on a saddle. Guys like Eli Tomac, Ken Roczen, Marvin Musquin, and Cooper Webb have taken over the Motocross landscape and all are looking forward to stripping Jeff Emig of the Florida National belt he has held for so long. Regardless of the state’s lack of Nationals in the past two decades, it is still home to some of the fastest Motocross racers in the world and some of the best amateur racing in the world. Going back to Daytona in 1972 (one of the first points-paying Motocross races in the country) there have been five different venues host AMA Nationals in the state: Daytona Intl. Speedway, Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah, Orlando Sports Stadium, Sunshine Speedway, and Gatorback Cycle Park. After 1982 Gatorback was the only Florida National held and played host to the opening race of the season many times.

Honda has largely dominated the Florida Motocross Nationals, with 19 wins spread across the 125, 250, and 500 classes (12 in the 250cc/450F class). Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Husqvarna are the only other brands to win a 250cc/450F national in Florida. Suzuki leads the way in the 125cc/250F class, with eight victories in the state. Of the hundreds of riders to race in the Florida Nationals, Rick Johnson is the only one with three 250cc/450F wins. Jeff Ward, Broc Glover, and Jeremy McGrath each have two.

Without even winning a Moto, Eli Tomac’s 3-2 Moto scores earned him the overall at the High Point National. The last time a 450 rider won an overall at an outdoor National without winning a moto was Brett Metcalf back in 2011 when he went went 3-2 for the win at Southwick.

Adam Cianciarulo has now tied James Stewart and Ricky Carmichel as the only three riders to win the first four rounds of the season. The record for best start to a season came from 1981 when Mark Barnett won the first seven rounds on his way to a 125cc championship. Adam only had one outdoor National win coming into the 2019 season and he now has won four in the start of this season.

Ken Roczen 2019 Hangtown 450 qualifying-6

Ken Roczen with his 6-1 moto scores at High Point gave him second overall on the day.

GNCC STAR KAILUB RUSSELL RIDES THE WW RANCH NATIONAL TRACK

Kailub Russell has been spending some time with Aldon Baker and his riders while training for the GNCC off-road series and recently he went with the Baker’s Factory crew and Rj Hampshire out to the WW Ranch to ride the new layout while they prepared for the National this weekend.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FLORIDA USGP FROM 2017

This Saturday won’t be the first time that a major Motocross event has been hosted at the WW Ranch. The MXGP World Championship stopped at the track in Jacksonville for their 2017 MXGP of the USA.

Hunter Lawrence and Chase Sexton pose for the camera after both of them landed on the podium at High Point. Both riders will be strong in Florida this Saturday after gaining confidence in Pennsylvania.

2019 FLORIDA NATIONAL | FULL COVERAGE