Good, Bad and Ugly | 2024 San Francisco 7

Monster Energy Supercross' second round did little to please those desperate for answers in the wake of a first race that was full of intrigue. Adverse weather conditions meant that most scrambled to be effective. There were still points of interest and lessons learned: Not all of them dropped into the 'positive' column and so the spirits of some are as sodden as the stadium floor within San Francisco's Oracle Park.

It is round three, held in San Diego, where light could start to be shed on the current landscape in 2024's Monster Energy Supercross series. An initial threat of further rainfall has fallen to the wayside and so the riders in both classes will be able to flex their metaphorical muscles. The advancement of the athletes in this particular column shall be rather interesting.

GOOD

For Chase Sexton to triumph at the second race of 2024's Monster Energy Supercross season was crucial for numerous reasons. The difficulties that he faced in the month of December are so well documented at this point and, truth be told, there is little to no doubt that he did not expect to be so effective in the first two weeks of the new season. The fact that he is will only boost morale – confidence will rise and so he'll be even more of a threat. It's a valuable momentum switch that will serve the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing squad so well.

The question that remains is this: Is it possible that he could be a lot better than this in one month's time? Sexton expected to peak towards the end of January, so has he simply peaked earlier or is he already this good with so much more to come? The mind boggles at what is on the horizon. The prospect of Sexton and Jett Lawrence duking it out at such a high level is truly tantalizing. San Diego, round three of the current term, could be the first example of that.

BAD

Jo Shimoda has never climbed onto a Monster Energy Supercross podium in the first two rounds of a new season and, much to the despair of all at the 'red' team, such a disappointing statistic has remained intact. Anaheim 1 was a turbulent experience for Shimoda – he did well to escape the stadium floor with his title hopes alive and well. There was little cause for concern. Poor luck in San Francisco's Oracle Park has all but shattered those: a bike malfunction has put him in a twenty-nine-point hole. More of a concern is the fact that this is his fifth shot at success in regional competition.

Now, of course, this is a mechanical sport where poor luck can hit whenever a race takes place and so it is unreasonable to disregard his title chances completely. Even those close to the situation have to acknowledge that success is doubtful after just two rounds though. To return to the initial point: Shimoda's lack of spark at the start of each term is bizarre and must be addressed. Is it at all possible that this leopard will not be able to change his spots and such difficulties will be a hinderance across the next ten seasons? That is a stance that this scribe is beginning to lean towards.

UGLY

There was an air of excitement surrounding Malcolm Stewart in the weeks prior to 2024's Monster Energy Supercross opener. Such enthusiasm has led to a pit of disappointment and despair – he has so little to show for two weekends of furious on-track action. Unfortunately, it has been nineteen months since those in the off-road space were able to appreciate what he can achieve in a competitive situation. Now, as he plots a return to relevance, a finish as menial as sixth would be cause for celebration. The aforementioned expectations were far greater than that.

The common consensus is that Stewart is on the cusp of a maiden win and, as hinted, there is no data to support that. '27' has achieved just four podiums in eighty-nine starts as a premier class athlete and led thirteen measly laps in that time – this underlines the fact that the perception is somewhat skewed versus the reality. Not only that, but he is also in his fourteenth term of action and far from the flamboyant rookie who jumped onto the professional scene with impact in the early 2010s. This is not to state that his most effective days are behind him. It is more a chance to ponder the facts that are rarely referenced.