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For all its bells and whistles, Anaheim 1 rarely—if ever—truly defines how a season will unfold. Yes, beneath the glitz and glamour of the opener there are storylines worth tracking, trends worth noting, and performances worth questioning. But in the grand scheme, it’s still just one round in a very long Monster Energy AMA Supercross season.
That’s why, in this edition of Most Likely, I will be examining a few results that need more attention and explanation.
Is Jorge Prado for real?
Yes, he is a real person. He is also really, really great on a motorcycle. Lost in the noise of last season, I think we all forgot how damn good this kid can be on a dirt bike. Could last year have gone worse? Not really. Has he responded in a way that I feel shows his true mental fortitude? I believe so.
We’ll never truly grasp what happened last year, but we can look forward and predict what MAY happen this year. And, as we found out at Anaheim 1, Jorge is already off to a WAY better start than any of his previous stints in Supercross. But, will it last?
I’ve struggled with this. Are we asking, will he contend for a title? I think he is a year or two away from that. Will he contend for top 5s and podiums? I believe so. He’s far too talented not to. San Diego will be a big step to further quiet the critics (of which there have been many) following a disastrous first year in the U.S.
Is Max Anstie a legit title threat to Haiden Deegan?
Yes, yes, yes. While I had Mad Max behind Deegan and Levi Kitchen entering the year, that didn’t mean he wasn’t a contender. As I noted pre-Anaheim 1, Max spent the entire winter racing… and winning. No, World Supercross is not on the same level, but I think gate drops are the best recipe for success entering a new season. And Max showed that at Anaheim. He took advantage of off-nights from Deegan and Kitchen and could do the same this weekend.
Who is most likely to have to the biggest rebound at round 2?
Chase Sexton has entered the chat. If you think Sex Dog is going to finish outside the top 5 again, give me some of what you smoking. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN. And further, I have Sexton winning this weekend. You heard it here first. Or probably third. Or maybe even fourth.
