MusicCityNashville.net: Monster Energy Supercross Has a Super Turnout with Return to Nissan Stadium in Nashville

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Monster Energy Supercross Has a Super Turnout with Return to Nissan Stadium in Nashville

by Rich and Laura Lynch

The Monster Energy Supercross event had a super turn out in Nashville, Tennessee on April 29, 2023. A sizable number of fans arrived at Nissan Stadium as early as 7:00 a.m. to take in all that Supercross had to offer.

Monster Energy Supercross Has a Super Turnout with Return to Nissan Stadium in Nashville

Chase Sexton crosses the finish bringing a fantastic Supercross to a close in Nashville.

Supercross the sport is a variant of motocross which involves off-road motorcycles on a constructed dirt track made up of obstacles, sharp turns and steep jumps. Supercross was founded in the States in 1974 and is sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). Since its inception Supercross has grown in popularity with a worldwide broadcast audience in the millions. These competitions also draw sizable crowds to the tracks on race day as was the case in Music City.

Supercross is a fan-friendly, colorful and multi-sensory stadium-sized event.

The Supercross FanFest which was an add-on, ran from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fans were given an insider's look as teams prepared, practiced and qualified for the Main Event. Activities included exhibitions, a pump track, toy play tables and more. There were also photo ops along with time to meet and get autographs from the riders. Team sponsors had substantial displays. Plus, there was ample amounts of gear for sale. Peacock who was airing the race gave out coffee and donuts. EPIC VIP Experiences were also available. This extra encompassed rare access to Friday's press rides, a walk on the track with Supercross legends to see the huge hurdles that the top riders confronted on Saturday and more.

#1 Eli Tomac finished second in the Main Event.

As FanFest wrapped up, folks headed over to the stadium in advance of the Main Event. DJKO was spinning and scratching records between videos about Supercross. Apparently, Tennessee has an important place in the sport's history. As the story goes, racing promoter Dave Coombs approached country music legend Loretta Lynn and her husband Moody about hosting a national amateur race for dirt bike riders of all ages. Located in Hurricane Mills, their property had 6,000 acres along with room for camping and Dave saw its potential. The Lynns welcomed Motocross in 1982 and the ranch has remained in the circuit ever since.

The Monster Energy Girls fueled part of the fun at FanFest.

Back in Nashville, the colors were displayed as the anthem was sung. Fire and smoke added to the excitement during rider introductions. The competitors took a Hot Lap to re-familiarize themselves with the course. The outdoor track at Nissan Stadium consisted of a right-handed start, split lane with sand obstacles (passing opportunity and multiple options) along with an elevated bowl turn creating challenges for the superstars along with a lot of excitement for the spectators. We witnessed a number of spills during the day but thankfully all were able to walk away.

A look at the challenging layout at Nissan Stadium.

Both the 250SX and 450SX heats were hot with leaders grabbing their positions early as they raced around the track until 0.0 triggered the last lap where position to quality for the Main Event was the goal. From the first to the last, each rider had to navigate dangerous curves, speed up and then slow down just enough for the next turn or series of jumps. They also had to contend with the whoops.

A bend, a jump and then on to the whoops!

Supercross is a family friendly event with a focus on the next generation of riders. A Junior race was held. The youngsters in the 7-8-year-old range traversed the same track as the pros but at a slower pace. Early on there was a small pile-up but these determined kids picked themselves up and got back on their bikes to cross the finish line victorious. The top three were interviewed, a skill that they will need if they do pursue this sport as a career. Interaction with fans does seem to be an important part of the scene along with the ability to ride and control a motorcycle on all the high-risk tracks that these athletes face.

There were a lot of exciting twists and turns in Music City.

The Last Chance Qualifying (LCQ) runs took place in advance of the final races which would determine that day's winners and impact ongoing standings. Tension was high as each group took a Sighting Lap to figure out what changes had occurred as track conditions alter over time.

FanFest offered an inside baseball look at the sport of motocross.

The last and longer races of the Main Event found the men more determined than ever but it was Australia's Hunter Lawrence (250SX) and Chase Sexton (450SX) who took the number one spots on Saturday. The Monster Energy Supercross in Nashville was a full day of activities culminating in an action pack Main Event!