2018 250cc East SX Preview: This Saturday night in Arlington, Texas, the 250cc Eastern Regional Supercross Championship kicks off, and the obvious favorite is defending champ Zach Osborne of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team. Osborne was on a tear in 2017, and his final-round ride in Las Vegas last year is all-time stuff. But although he’s the favorite, he’s not alone.
Here’s a breakdown of the racers we can expect to see tomorrow night in Texas.
GEICO Honda
Jeremy Martin rode the first three rounds of 450cc Supercross out west before he got back on his CRF250R to get ready for the start of the 250cc East. Lots of success outdoors, he’s still hoping to put it together indoors and win a title. And he certainly can do it. He’s joined back east by Cameron McAdoo and RJ Hampshire, the latter of whom put in some really eye-opening rides outdoors in 2017 (as well as a strong fourth-place at the 250cc East opener last year).
6 Jeremy Martin
36 RJ Hampshire
66 Cameron McAdoo
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna
Prior to 2017, Zach Osborne had never won a professional championship. Now, he gets his first opportunity to defend a title. And rumor has it that he may remain on a 250 outdoors to defend that title as well, even though the plans initially were for him to race a 450 outdoors. He’ll be joined back east by young Michael Mosiman.
1E Zach Osborne
64 Michael Mosiman
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Austin Forkner is recovering from an off-season injury, but should be good to go for the 250cc East. And after a summer of really killing it on a 450, Martin Davalos is rejoining the team after a few years away. Last year, Justin Hill returned to the PC team after time away and won the 250cc West title. Davalos is hoping to do likewise.
29 Martin Davalos
35 Austin Forkner
TLD/Red Bull KTM
Jordon Smith was a 250cc East contender in 2017, and may have won the title if not for a huge crash at the Vegas finale, and his teammate, Sean Cantrell, is a young ripper. They’ll put up some numbers.
43 Sean Cantrell
45 Jordon Smith
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM
Anthony Rodriguez, from Venezuela, spent a couple years on the Star Yamaha team before being relegated to nearly privateer status on the Trader’s team last year. Rodriguez has a natural riding style for supercross and this could be his opportunity to reignite his career here in the States.
56 Anthony Rodriguez
AutoTrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing
Jimmy Decotis is a proven 250cc contender, and Kyle Peters, who is hoping to reignite his career in the States after spending a while in Australia. Justin Hill just proved this bike is capable of winning, so the pressure’s on.
47 Jimmy Decotis
76 Kyle Peters
Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha
Colt Nichols used to be considered a supercross-specialist, but not anymore. Still, he should be strong out East, as should Frenchman Dylan Ferrandis, who grabbed a couple podiums in his rookie season in 2017.
24 Dylan Ferrandis
31 Colt Nichols
CycleTrader/Rock River Yamaha
Brandon Hartranft is a young ripper getting his feet wet in Supercross with the Rock River team in 2018.
TBA Brandon Hartranft
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