2023 HOUSTON SUPERCROSS PRE-RACE REPORT: TV SCHEDULE, INJURED LIST & TRACK MAP

The 2023 Monster Energy Supercross season has started to migrate it’s way to the East, bringing on a whole new roster of 250 riders for our entertainment. The unfortunate part about the East Coast, similar to the West after three rounds, is that the roster has already taken a hit in injuries. However, there are still plenty of riders that we think will make the series exciting as long as they stay rubber facing down. For the 450 class, things have gotten closer as Eli’s near disastrous crash during the third Main at A2 would close the points gap for the top 5 riders.

Motocross Action will be on hand at the Houston race, be sure to click the link below for more of our coverage from the Houston Supercross.

2023 HOUSTON SUPERCROSS | FULL COVERAGE

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JUSTIN COOPER TO MAKE HIS 450 DEBUT

Justin Cooper will race the 450 class indoors and 250 class outdoors. 

Justin Cooper won the 2021 250SX West Coast Supercross title and he was allowed one season to run the number one plate and back up his Championship in the 250 class before he officially pointed-out of the 250SX ranks and was forced to race Supercross in the 450 the class. Unfortunately, Justin got hurt before the 2022 season began and he wasn’t able to race a single Supercross event.

Although he had some strong finishes outdoors and he was the top MX2 rider at the Motocross of Nations, playing a key role in helping Team USA win the Nations classification with Eli Tomac and Chase Sexton, the Star Racing Yamaha team still didn’t sign Justin up for a full-time 450 ride in 2023. Instead, Justin Cooper and Star Racing decided to keep Justin in the 250 class for the Pro Motocross series (where there isn’t a point-out rule) and also race select 450SX rounds, as he and the Yamaha team see fit. So, after spending the last few weeks ironing out any extra kinks, Justin is ready to lineup for his 450 debut this weekend, alongside Eli Tomac and Dylan Ferrandis at Houston.

If the race goes well, we expect him to continue on for multiple weeks. If it doesn’t he’ll go back to training at the Star Yamaha facility in Cairo, Georgia, (formerly Ricky Carmichael’s GOAT farm) and he’ll come back swinging later in the series.

Justin Cooper in action on the 2023 Yamaha YZ450F.

HAIDEN DEEGAN TO MAKE PRO DEBUT IN 250SX EAST CLASS

Haiden Deegan crashed in the Supercross Futures Main Event last weekend, but he still showed a lot of speed and tenacity and now he’s racing 250SX East this weekend. Click here to read more. 

TALON HAWKINS TO MAKE 250SX EAST PRO DEBUT

After leading laps and finishing on the podium in third place last weekend at the Anaheim 2 Supercross Futures race. He wasn’t originally slated to race this weekend, but Jalek Swoll got injured and that left Rockstar Husqvarna without a rider for the 250SX East class.

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INJURY REPORT:

MALCOLM STEWART 

Malcolm Stewart missed A2 after a practice crash and the extent of his injury hasn’t been revealed.

JO SHIMODA – COLLARBONE

Jo Shimoda was slated to race 250 East Coast, but he broke his collarbone this week and will miss the 250 East region opener. 

MARVIN MUSQUIN – WRIST

KTM press release: The 33-year-old unfortunately sustained the injury while practicing and, as a result of that incident, will also sit out this Saturday’s first Triple Crown event of the season at Anaheim 2 on January 28.

It is expected that Musquin – who finished fourth in last year’s series – will at least miss the next few rounds of the season at this point, as he awaits further confirmation on the extent of the injury to his left wrist.

Marvin Musquin:“To have this injury that happened last Wednesday practicing this early in the season is not ideal. You prepare yourself for three months and to only race one race at Anaheim and get hurt is obviously disappointing. Right now all that I can do is wait and do everything I can to heal. There’s bone bruising and a bad sprain, but the time that I will be out for is a little bit unknown. I’ll go by feeling, day after day, week after week, and see how it goes. That’s all I can do right now.”

SETH HAMMAKER (250 EAST CLASS) – WRIST

Kawasaki press release: Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker will miss the opening round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Eastern Regional Championship in Houston, Texas on February 4th following a wrist injury sustained in a crash while practicing. Hammaker was on form to contend for the 250SX Eastern Regional Championship when a crash during a routine practice session resulted in an injury to his wrist. Hammaker consulted medical professionals and it was determined that the injury will force him to miss the opening rounds of the 2023 Monster Energy Supercross Eastern Regional Championship.

Hammaker, the 2021 Monster Energy Supercross ‘Rookie Of The Year’ award winner, claimed two consecutive podium finishes at the start of the 2022 Western Regional Championship and secured eight top-10 overall finishes in the AMA Pro Motocross season. The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider carried that momentum into what had been a productive off-season of preparation prior to this set back which will delay him from his goal to once again challenge for race wins.

JALEK SWOLL (250 CLASS EAST) – BROKEN ARM

Just a week before the Supercross championship kicked off, Jalek crashed suffer spiral fracture in his arm. Jalek has already undergone a successful surgery.

GARRETT MARCHBANKS – RECOVERING FROM ARM INJURY

Garrett also suffered an arm injury has been in the proccess of recovering for quite some time and the ClubMX team hopes to have Garrett back at the races by Daytona. 

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WHO TO WATCH | 250 EAST

Hunter Lawrence

Jett’s brother will be riding the HRC 250. (We’re joking Hunter don’t be mad at us)

Jordon Smith

This will be Jordon’s first race aboard the Star Racing Yamaha.

Nate Thrasher

This won’t be Nate’s first go at the East Coast. It will be interesting to see how both Jordon and Nate race together.

Jeremy Martin

This will be the first race Jeremy Martin will be riding a privateer bike.

Michael Mosiman

Michael is back and has had a very good off season. 

Tom Vialle

Tom Vialle be the rookie factory rider amongst the bunch.

Talon Hawkins

After Jalek Swoll’s injury, a spot on the Pro team has been left opened. Being impressed by Talon’s performance at A2 during the Futures race, which he led the majority of, the team has decided to put Talon in the big leagues to compete on the East Coast.

Chris Blose

Just like everyone who claims retirement in this sport, Chris also lied. Jokes aside, and as of right now, Chris will be the only one to be riding for Pro Circuit after both of their East Coast riders crashed just a week before their race season started. 

Marshal Weltin

Marshal will be sporting the HEP Bike.

Max Anstie

Pictured is the 450 he raced in select rounds outdoors, but he will be on a 250 for Firepower Honda on the East.

Coty Schock

Coty will be riding for Phoenix Racing Honda

Henry Miller

Henry will be riding for TiLube Honda.

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TV SCHEDULE: 2023 ANAHEIM 2 SUPERCROSS

The Peacock premium streaming service costs $4.99 per month and it provides LIVE coverage of the daytime qualifying sessions at each Round and live coverage of each Supercross race. International Supercross fans can now watch LIVE using the SuperMotocross Video Pass streaming service (Supermotocross.tv) which costs $129.95 for a one-year subscription.

New for 2023, Race Day Live will expand in 2023 to cover all 31 races of the SuperMotocross World Championship series. The program will feature 2.5-hours of coverage for each Supercross event, 1-hour for each Pro Motocross event, and 2.5-hours for both SuperMotocross Playoff events and the SuperMotocross World Championship Final.

Houston Qualifying Show – 11:30am (pacific) – Peacock

Houston Night Show – 5:00pm (pacific) – Peacock/USA Network

Houston (re-air) – Sunday Feb. 5th – 10:00pm (pacific) – CNBC Channel

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THIS WEEK IN MXA: 2023 HOUSTON PREVIEW

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HOUSTON SUPERCROSS – RACE DAY SCHEDULE

12:00 PM – 6:00 PM CT – FanFest/Doors open
6:30 PM CT – Opening Ceremonies
7:00 PM CT – Gate Drop

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450 CLASS POINT STANDINGS (AFTER ROUND 3 OF 17)

POS.	#	NAME	POINTS
1	1	Eli Tomac	69
2	23	Chase Sexton	65
3	2	Cooper Webb	65
4	94	Ken Roczen	58
5	21	Jason Anderson	55
6	14	Dylan Ferrandis	54
7	51	Justin Barcia	48
8	7	Aaron Plessinger	45
9	9	Adam Cianciarulo	43
10	45	Colt Nichols	39
11	17	Joey Savatgy	39
12	28	Christian Craig	34
13	15	Dean Wilson	28
14	46	Justin Hill	27
15	27	Malcolm Stewart	15
16	47	Fredrik Noren	14
17	12	Shane McElrath	14
18	11	Kyle Chisholm	12
19	25	Marvin Musquin	11
20	60	Justin Starling	11
21	519	Joshua Cartwright	7
22	78	Grant Harlan	6
23	751	Josh Hill	5
24	44	Benny Bloss	5
25	80	Kevin Moranz	4
26	68	Cade Clason	3
27	140	Alex Ray	2
28	73	John Short	2

250 WEST COAST POINT STANDINGS (AFTER ROUND 3 OF 9)

POS.	#	NAME		POINTS
1	18	Jett Lawrence		75
2	48	Cameron McAdoo		59
3	24	Rj Hampshire		58
4	49	Mitchell Oldenburg		54
5	40	Stilez Robertson		52
6	56	Enzo Lopes		46
7	43	Levi Kitchen		44
8	69	Phillip Nicoletti		44
9	41	Derek Kelley		43
10	79	Dylan Walsh		37
11	34	Max Vohland		36
12	33	Pierce Brown		33
13	83	Cole Thompson		32
14	111	Anthony Rodriguez		28
15	508	Hunter Yoder		23
16	59	Robbie Wageman		18
17	42	Joshua Varize		13
18	93	Jerry Robin		12
19	85	Dilan Schwartz		12
20	53	Derek Drake		11
21	162	Maxwell Sanford		7
22	76	Dominique Thury		7
23	84	Mitchell Harrison		7
24	102	Wilson Todd		6
25	98	Geran Stapleton		5
26	702	Hunter Cross		4
27	410	Brandon Scharer		4
28	604	Max Miller		3
29	260	Dylan Woodcock		3
30	173	Hunter Schlosser		2
31	388	Brandon Ray		1
32	55	Austin Forkner		1

2023 HOUSTON SUPERCROSS | FULL COVERAGE