Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1248810
VOLUME 57 ISSUE 20 MAY 19, 2020 P17 prescreening, testing, tem- perature checks, face masks, increased sanitation efforts and social distancing to limit contact among individuals executing the events. The stadium will assist with the implementation and ex- ecution of our plan. Supercross, in partnership with the Alpine- stars Medical Unit, has a trained medical team of 7 professionals to assist on site. The racing format has been adjusted to reduce the number of athletes to stay within the mini- mum requirements and a stan- dard race format will be used for all seven rounds, except for the finale which will be an Eastern/ Western Regional 250SX Class Showdown. Supercross Race Format for Final Seven Rounds: 450SX Class – 40 Riders based on current point standings and 2020 top 100 number or com- bined season qualifying results 250SX Class – 40 Riders based on current point standings and 2020 top 100 number or com- bined season qualifying results Two qualifying sessions will be held for gate pick: 250SX Class – Two Heat Races and a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) 450SX Class – Two Heat Races and a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) 250SX Class Main Event 450SX Class Main Event In the final seven races, three champions will be crowned—one in the 450SX Class and two in the 250SX East and West Regional Classes. It is the hope of the series that the final seven races will start to bring some normalcy to race fans by creating memo- rable experiences through the live television broadcast that continue to bring people together via a shared experience while also uplifting the human spirit, as all forms of sport do. Supercross athletes have little to no contact as riders race solo against other competitors and wear several protective ele- ments—full-face helmets that cov- er the mouth, goggles, gloves, jerseys and pants that leave little to no skin exposed, plus fully secured knee-high boots. Supercross partners Oakley, Toyota and VP Racing Fuels have been lending their expertise to the medical community and first responders by developing and mass-producing protec- tive shields, eyewear and hand sanitizer. NBC and NBCSN Television Schedule*: Round 11 (East) Sunday, May 31: 3:00 – 4:00 pm ET on NBCSN then 4:00 – 6:00 pm ET on NBC Round 12 (East) Wednesday, June 3: 10:00 pm – 1:00 am ET on NBCSN Round 13 (East) Sunday, June 7: 5:00 – 8:00 pm ET on NBCSN Round 14 (West) Wednesday, June 10: 7:00 – 10:00 pm ET on NBCSN Round 15 (West) Sunday, June 14: 7:00 – 10:00 pm ET on NBCSN Round 16 (East) Wednesday, June 17: 7:00 – 10:00 pm ET on NBCSN Round 17 (East/West) Sunday, June 21: 3:00 – 4:30 pm ET on NBCSN then 4:30 – 6:00 ET on NBC *TV schedule subject to change. Immediately after Feld made the announcement, the Red Bull KTM sent out their own an- nouncement saying they welcome the return to Supercross racing. "At KTM, we are always ready to race!" said defending champ Cooper Webb. "I know it was questionable as to whether or not we would get to finish the season, but I feel as professional supercross racers it's our job to be ready to race, and we do our jobs whenever called upon. With that being said, it also gives us an opportunity to grow our sport, give people jobs back and give all the fans a chance to see us race on TV while we do everything possible to stay safe and continue practicing social distancing." "We are so happy to finally have this plan in place," said Roger DeCoster, Director of Motorsports, KTM Group. "We started feeling pretty bored after being off for this long without rac- ing and now there is a sensation of life and energy again. And, it is cool for Supercross to be one of the first professional sports back!" CN