GALLERY: World Supercross Round Two: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The second round of the 2023 World Supercross Championship made for some all-out racing and it was brilliant to see British winners in both classes.
One great side-effect of the tight track layout was the close racing, and the series is also to be commended for the amount of awesome pics they provide us here in the media.
It seems a shame to let such prime wallpaper material go to waste, so here’s a few shots that stood out from the crowd.
Images: World Supercross Championship
Colt Nichols (Mobil 1 Rick Ware Racing) leads Gregory Aranda(Team GSM Yamaha). Nichols struggled to 18th overall whilst Aranda improved through the night to 6th overall in the WSX class.
Cedric Soubeyras (Team Bud Racing Kawasaki) leads Josh Hill (CDR Monster Energy Yamaha). Cedric took a fine 2nd in race one but finished 5th overall, still nine better than Josh who took 14th on the night.
Dean Wilson had his best, and most eventful WSX night yet with 2nd overall and the second Main Event win. He sits three points ahead of Vince Friese for 3rd in the series. Should make for fun at the last round!
Joey Savatgy took his second overall victory in World Supercross with a 1-4-2 scorecard. He will stick the red plate on the Mobil 1 Rick Ware Racing Kawasaki for the final round. He leads reigning Champ Ken Roczen by 5 points.
Vince Friese’s rapid starts on the MCR Honda, and Ken Roczen’s second row grid position on the Pipes Motorsports Suzuki, meant that this scenario was repeated in all three races.
This tangle between Phil Nicoletti (FXR Club MX Yamaha) and Mitch Oldenburg (MCR Honda), who couldn’t avoid the fallen #69 machine, put them both down the order in the final Main Event, with Phil ending the night 10th and Mitch 11th.
I think this should be a caption competition! Savatgy and Wilson compare notes at the end of the last main. Vince Friese’s ears are burning…
Still the star of the WSX show, Ken Roczen flew through the pack from his second row starting point in all three motos. A first race, final corner fall while trying to pass Friese cost him the overall win as finished 3rd & 1st in the last two races.
The Firepower Hondas of Wilson Todd #20 and Max Anstie #99 duke it out with the FXR Club MX Yamaha of Canadian Cole Thompson and the Nils Honda of #96 Kyle Webster. Four 250Fs all in a shoe box, please!
Aussie Luke Clout took 6th overall for CDR Monster Energy Yamaha.
Chris Blose took a fine 2nd overall for Nils Honda.
Frenchman Maxime Desprey put the only tricolor on the podium all night for Team GSM Yamaha.
Wilson Todd leads defending SX2 Champion Shane McElrath, who had a rough night for 9th overall and lost his championship lead.
Max Anstie showed some serious pace to take two race wins and carry a big 32-point lead to Australia in his quest to become the next British World Champion.
Max, Maxime and Chris share the (substitute) Champers at the end of their event!
