My WAY too early super/motocross predictions:
In 2022 almost the entire field had a career best year, topped off by Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Eli Tomac having one of the best years the sport has ever seen, winning the indoor supercross title, the outdoor motocross title, and bringing home a win for the United States at the Motocross of Nations (along with Chase Sexton and Justin Cooper) for the first time in 11 years. 2023 I expect to be even more competitive and exciting, as riders like Jason Anderson and Malcolm Stewart are settled in for their second year at Monster Energy Kawasaki and Rockstar Husqvarna respectively, and Ken Roczen looks to put Suzuki on a comeback tour. Meanwhile, Yamaha has put out an all new motorcycle which by all accounts is lighter than the 2022, and according to Tomac corners even better. However, we saw how a new motorcycle can effect an entire team when RedBull KTM and 2021 champ Cooper Webb struggled all year in 2022. To keep it (kind of) short, here’s who I think can win the titles this year.
2023 450cc SX Champ prediction: Jason Anderson, Monster Energy Kawasaki #21
Ando coming off a career best year in 2022, winning more races and riding even better than he did when he won the SX title in 2018, should be settled in with the bike and the team and has proven that he can straight up beat anybody in the field including the reigning champ Eli Tomac. If he can keep it drama free, and avoid racetrack takeouts and confrontations (which cost him his shot at the title in 2022) Ando has the speed, and balls to the wall, no fear riding style to become a 2x SX champ.
2023 450cc MX Champ prediction: Chase Sexton, HRC Honda #23
The 2022 Pro Motocross Championship was the closest title fight between two riders, literally ever, in the 50 year history of outdoor motocross - with Chase Sexton trailing Eli Tomac by just a single point heading into the final round, but coming in second to Tomac in both motos at Round 12. Tomac has said that he will not be racing outdoors this year, and I think that it’s clear that the next best guy is Chase (he’s also my second pick to win the indoor title). If Sexton can keep the bike on two wheels and avoid the mistakes that cost him first place finishes on more than one occasion in 2022, I predict Sexton will win his first 450 title in 2023.
I’ll make my 250cc SX predictions once we know who’s riding on what coast but outdoors…
2023 250cc MX Champ prediction: Hunter Lawrence, HRC Honda #96
With younger brother Jett Lawrence stepping up to the 450 class for outdoors in 2023, the door is open for Hunter to continue the Aussie dominance. He’ll have to hold off the TLD GASGAS of Michael Mosiman and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki of Jo Shimoda, both of whom are maturing and becoming more consistent contenders, but Hunter has got the speed and experience (and doesn’t have to worry about his brother leaving everyone in the dust) to win his first titles, both indoors and outdoors in 2023.
