America’s most extreme sport returns to Gillette Stadium this weekend as dozens of elite off-road motorcyclists compete in the Monster Energy Supercross Championship Series.
The last Supercross race in Foxborough was in 2018, and athletes including that year’s victor, Marvin Musquin, have been itching to return.
“We’re back and this season has been great,” 32-year-old Musquin told the Herald. “We had a great crowd back in 2018. Supercross needs to have fans and a full stadium.”
Credit its name, Supercross is the most souped-up dirt bike racing competition out there: about 20 riders race through a winding, jump-packed course in a heat lasting five minutes, plus one lap. The top nine riders go onto the main event, where they can rack up points towards a season championship. There are 17 rounds in the nationwide traveling series, and Foxborough is round 15.
Eli Tomac, 29, is looking at the chance to clinch his second championship in three seasons Saturday. His main adversary is Jason Anderson, who won the last round in Atlanta.
“A couple things have to go my way. I have to beat Jason if we’re both in podium position. A lot’s on the line,” Tomac told the Herald.
Fans attending Supercross for the first time can expect high-flying races where riders soar into the air flipping their bikes to the side or lifting up their handlebars.
It’s not the most popular extreme sport in this part of the country, but at least one rider from the Northeast is competing and excited to grow the sport.
“I’m looking forward to this race a lot,” said 30-year-old Justin Barcia, who hails from Monroe, New York. “I grew up riding up here a bit. It’s very exciting for me to be here racing. The fans here have always been into riding motorcycles, and there’s lots of trails and tracks here. It’s definitely been a breeding zone for the East Coast.”
Tickets to Supercross are on sale for $25 apiece, according to Ticketmaster. Qualifying races will begin at 9:00 a.m., and competitive heats will start around 3:00 p.m. NBC and NBC-owned Peacock will air and stream the races.
After Foxborough, the racers will continue to Denver for the 16th round, and finally, compete in the World Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah, May 7.
