Monster Energy Supercross 2023 Season Begins

Monster Energy-backed bikers won 22 AMA Supercross races last year (15 out of a possible 17 in 450 class racing and seven in the 250 class). This weekend, at the first race of the season in Anaheim, California, famous drivers will be back in action with one goal in mind: to win the championship.

Another all-star team driving the Monster Energy-sponsored Yamaha brand, led by defending 450 class series champion Eli Tomac (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha), features Dylan Ferrandis, and Justin Cooper, a 450 class rookie who has moved up from the 250 class for '23.

The runner-up in the 450cc class at the 22nd Monster Energy AMA Supercross, Monster Energy/Jason Kawasaki's Anderson, will be right behind Tomac in the hunt for the overall 450 championships. The lightning-quick Adam Cianciarulo, who missed much of the 2022 season due to injury, will once again be teamed with Anderson on the Kawasakis.

Cianciarulo is undoubtedly eager to make a full recovery. And the Monster Energy-backed Chase Sexton with Team Honda is coming off a fantastic sophomore season in supercross, supported by an unbelievable season outdoors (runner-up to Tomac). The intriguing brother team of Josh and Justin Hill with Team Tedder/Monster Energy/Mountain Motorsports/KTM Racing will fill out the 450 class for Monster Energy.

The lineup for the Monster Energy 450 SX class 

• Eli Tomac (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha)
• Dylan Ferrandis (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha)
• Justin Cooper (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha
• Jason Anderson (Monster Energy/Kawasaki)
• Adam Cianciarulo (Monster Energy/Kawasaki)
• Josh Hill (Team Tedder/Monster Energy)
• Justin Hill (Team Tedder/Monster Energy)

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki and Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha will have excellent numbers in the 250cc class.

All five racers from Mitch Payton's Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team return for 2023. Cameron McAdoo and Austin Forkner, who both finished in the top ten in the 250 ESX last year but were injured, will open for the team this weekend. They have much to prove. Payton will ride with Jo Shimoda and Seth Hammaker in the 250SX East. Shimoda finished fourth overall in the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/highest Kawasaki finisher in the 250 WSX last season. Hammaker, who wrecked during Round 3 of the '22 Monster Energy AMA Supercross in San Diego, wants solid SX numbers in '23. Ryder DiFrancesco and Jett Reynolds may see some 250 SX actions in 2023 for Monster Energy, Pro Circuit, and Kawasaki.

The lineup for the Monster Energy 250 SX class

 
• Cameron McAdoo (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki)
• Austin Forkner (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki)
• Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki)
• Seth Hammaker (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki)
• Nate Thrasher (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha)
• Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha)
• Nick Romano (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha)
• Stilez Robertson (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha)
• Jordon Smith (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha)

2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Results 

Race wins: 15 (450 class), 7 (250 class)
Combined wins: 22
Podium finishes: 30 (450 class), 21 (250 class)
Combined podium finishes: 51