Welcome to the Vurb Practice Party, where you will probably find qualifying times at some point and random thoughts from Troy and Slaw, but mostly Troy. Hang around, it’s going to be the best time of your life.
Yeah, Birmingham! A new venue on the tour! Man, has it been a year for rain and mud. I’m starting to turn amphibious and whatnot. Apparently the track was built out of mud and it rained all week, which meant that the crew had to make a different layout. However, as of Saturday morning, Vurb’s own Grant Harlan said that the track will be dry and all good come race time. He’s quite the wordsmith.
Free practice has been canceled for the day and we will have two practice sessions instead of the traditional three.
While we wait for practice to begin, why don’t you visit our store and check out the new merch? Get that tee shirt for yourself. You deserve it.
How to Watch
Live on Peacock/Saturday
– Race Day Live: 1:30 p.m. ET
– Race: 7 p.m. ET on Peacock
Encore: Monday, March 4 at 1 a.m ET on CNBC
Birmingham Race Schedule
Track Map
*Note: Due to weather, the track will be different come Saturday.
Storylines Heading Into Birmingham
- Jett Lawrence had a statement win in Daytona, does this mean he’s about to go on a win streak? He’s the first rider to three wins this season.
- Will Eli Tomac be able to return to beast mode?
- Chase Sexton’s hand was at 85% at Daytona and he ended up with his fourth podium on the year. He now sits thirteen points off of the points lead.
- Only 21 points separate the top 12 in 250SX East Region points.
- Four points separate the top six in the 250SX standings.
- Coty Schock has used consistency to sit sixth in points.
- Tom Vialle has two podiums in a row and now has his first win under his belt.
- Benny Bloss gave Beta their first top ten in Daytona.
- Grant Harlan and Justin Starling still haven’t made a main event.
- Kyle Chisholm is coming off a season best 13th in Daytona.
- The 250 East has had three winners in three rounds.
- John Short made his first main event in a year and finished 15th at Daytona, a career 450SX best finish.
- Malcolm Stewart has gone 10-11-8-9-7 in the past five rounds.
- Justin Cooper tied his career best 450SX finish at Daytona with a 6th. Where was the other 6th? At Daytona last year.
- Before this season Marshal Weltin has never finished inside of the top ten in a 250SX main event. This year he has two with a ninth at Detroit and Daytona.
- Pierce Brown and Jalek Swoll are coming for the podium.
Rider Updates
- Factory Beta’s Colt Nichols will make his season debut in Birmingham after sitting out with a damaged rotator cuff.
- Christian Craig’s elbow is still bothering him and we haven’t seen an official update on his condition. He won’t be racing tonight.
- Justin Starling is sick and is sitting out the race weekend.
- Hunter Lawrence is sitting out Birmingham due to his injured shoulder from his crash in Daytona. No timetable has been set for his return.
- Coty Schock cracked his collarbone at Daytona, but will be racing in Alabama.
- Dean Wilson injured his shoulder in Daytona and he hopes to return towards the end of the season.
Christian Craig Update
Deegan’s Crash in 250SX P2
Haiden Deegan took a wild ride on his second attempt on this triple. He would be okay and resume the practice session.
Jett and El Hombre Crash in 450SX P2
The fake start claims Jettson and El Hombre this week, but that didn’t stop the 18 from putting in the fastest qualifying time of the day.
Three Riders Who Look Spicy Today
- Cade Clason
- Mitchell Harrison
- Benny Bloss
250 Combined Qualifying Times
450 Combined Qualifying Times
Main Image: Octopi Media