FACTORY BIKES UP CLOSE // 2023 SAN DIEGO SUPERCROSS

On Jan 21, 2023 Last updated Jan 21, 2023

FACTORY BIKES UP CLOSE // 2023 SAN DIEGO SUPERCROSS

It’s Friday and Motocross Action’s cameras are hot and ready for another Saturday Supercross. One day before the gate drops, we sent Trevor Nelson to scour the pits and highlight the work that each mechanic has done to their race bike since Anaheim 1. The 2023 San Diego Supercross was originally slated to be Round three of the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross season, but heavy rainfall in Northern California led FELD Entertainment to cancel the Oakland Supercross, which was supposed to race January 14th, and reschedule it for February 18th. Motocross Action’s Best in the Pits photo gallery is brought to you by Helix Racing Products.

Photos by Trevor Nelson

2023 SAN DIEGO SUPERCROSS | FULL COVERAGE

It’s a team effort. Each factory team has one truck driver (per rig), but on most teams, the mechanics and managers are required to pitch in while pitching the tent.

Mechanic Josh Ellingson is all smiles with Eli Tomac’s red plated Star Racing Yamaha YZ450F.

Tomac’s steed looks pretty sharp.

HEP Suzuki truck driver, Joe Thomas, served our country as an electronic warfare technician in the US Navy. It’s fitting that he is the man assigned to the job of setting up the American Flag. Learn more about Joe in our interview with him by clicking here.

Up close on the Star Racing Yamaha YZ450F engine and LightSpeed skid plate.

Ken Roczen and Dilan Schwartz are apart of the HEP Suzuki team, but their primary sponsor is Progressive insurance. Kyle Chisholm and Shane McElrath represent the Twisted Tea HEP Suzuki team. Reason being, Ken Roczen’s Red Bull sponsorship conflicts with the Twisted Tea alcoholic iced tea brand.

Notice Ken Roczen’s Suzuki RM-Z450 doesn’t have fork stickers? He was testing factory Showa suspension and Factory Connection suspension this past week in Florida. He posted how thankful he was for the hardworking HEP Suzuki team.

Ken Roczen’s mechanic, Travis Soules, is all smiles.

Sadly, Austin Forkner injured his knee at Anaheim 1. The Pro Circuit team hired Carson Mumford to replace him, but Carson won’t begin racing until Oakland, on February 18th.

Marvin Musquin crashed this week and injured his wrist. He’s not racing this Saturday.

We’re excited to experience the brand new SnapDragon Stadium.

Chase Sexton was third at A1, but he tightened up while leading the race. We expect him to have ironed out the kinks for Round 2.

Sexton’s front wheel.

Christian Craig was 13th in his first 450SX Main Event at A1.

Wow, those 52mm WP forks look big from this angle.

Cooper Webb’s Red Bull KTM 450SXF loaded and “Ready to Race.”

Shane McElrath’s Twisted Tea Suzuki.

Another view of the Suzuki RM-Z450.

Chase Sexton’s rear wheel.

Jason Anderson’s mechanic, Jason “Rango” Montoya, is proud of his work.

Anderson was 7th at Anaheim 1 and is surely looking for redemption after lots of crashes at the opener.

Chase Sexton’s mechanic, Brandon Zimmerman, tightening the front brake rotor bolts.

Pro Circuit spares.

Malcolm Stewart’s Rockstar Husqvarna.

The Troy Lee Designs GasGas pits with Justin Barcia and Pierce Brown’s bikes.

Josh Varize’s AEO KTM 250SXF.

Josh Varize’s AEO KTM teammate, Derek Kelley, earned AMA National number 41 for 2023. Pretty funny to see teammates with numbers 41 and 42.

Edging out Varize and Kelley on the National number list is the forty of Stilez Robertson.

Colt Nichols’ HRC Honda CRF450. Colt was sixth at Anaheim 1.

It’s surprising that FELD gave up the Monster Energy advertisement real estate on the front number plates for the 2023 season. Now that it’s a SuperMotocross series, they want each series to be identified on the front plates.

Jett Lawrence’s HRC Honda CRF250 is looking very red.

Cooper Webb looked spunky at A1. We’re hopeful that he looks the same at San Diego. It’ll make for an exciting season.

Ty Masterpool missed the 250SX Main Event last weekend due to crashes, but he was plenty fast enough to make it if he hadn’t of crashed while leading the LCQ. He was sick with the flu during A1, so we expect him to be healthy and in the Main this weekend.