Brandon Clarke
Wake up beautiful people it’s Championship Friday! Today we start crowning all the hard work, the sacrifice, and dedication. And with that, these are the my top 3 things to watch today at Loretta’s,
Supermini 1 (12-15)
If you’ve been sleeping on this class, today’s the day to wake up. This championship has had all the makings of a heavyweight title fight. Every moto has felt like another round, with the top three trading punches and refusing to give an inch.
Jackson Vick and Maddox Temmerman come into Championship Thursday tied on points, but thanks to yesterday’s moto win, Vick owns the tiebreaker. Then there’s Easton Graves. On pure speed, Graves has arguably been the guy all week. The only thing keeping him from complete control of this championship is the Moto 1 penalty that cost him valuable positions.
So here’s the question: Do Vick or Temmerman have anything for Graves when it matters most? Or does Graves remind everyone why he’s been one of the fastest riders on the track all week? I have a feeling if these three get out with clean air, this one goes the distance.
250 Pro Sport
This one feels personal.
The last time these guys lined up, Carson Wood made the pass on Ryder Malinoski and rode away with the moto win. But don’t let that fool you into thinking this championship is settled. Mathematically, Malinoski is still in complete control. Wood would need to finish ahead of him again to have any shot, but if there’s one thing I know about Ryder, it’s that “playing it safe” isn’t exactly in his vocabulary.
I’ve talked with Ryder a few times, and during an interview earlier this year he told me, “You have to be willing to die for it,” while we were discussing his SMX Next injury. That pretty much tells you everything you need to know about how he’s wired.
Wood is the real deal. You don’t earn a Monster Energy Star Yamaha ride by accident. But I also think Malinoski, now aboard the ClubMX Yamaha, has something to prove.
At this point, I still think it’s Ryder’s championship to lose.
But more than that, I think we’re watching the beginning of something bigger. Don’t be surprised if these two are lining up against each other all winter long once Supercross rolls around. This rivalry might just be getting started.
Women’s
Somebody hand me the popcorn.
I’ve been waiting all week to see Jordan Jarvis and Mayla Herrick go head-to-head with everything on the line. I still think Herrick has the outright speed. We saw flashes of it earlier this week, even while battling mechanical issues. But Jarvis has done what championship contenders do, she’s stayed out of trouble, minimized mistakes, and put herself in the perfect position heading into the final moto.
Then there’s one more factor…
The track.
These ladies roll to the line late in the afternoon, around 4 p.m., when Loretta’s is at its absolute nastiest. Deep ruts, square edges, brutal braking bumps, and Tennessee heat all combine to make survival just as important as speed.
And don’t forget, there are plenty of fast women capable of getting between Jarvis and Herrick early. One good start, or one bad one, could completely scramble the championship.
I don’t think this one disappoints.
