Take a traditional sports style "versus" approach to this weekend's racing action and liven up your watch party, group text, or forum rivalry. Play with your buddies, place wagers, and have fun!
Let's take a look at this week's AirWheeliesOnly Versus Challenge matchups. Below you will find a brief explanation why I picked each of these match ups and my predicitions. Feel free to comment on what matchups you look forward to, what matchups you would have created, or why on the of the matchups will be a landslide victory.
Bars close at 4am, so don't be surprised to hear some 2 stroke burnouts in the Indy streets at 4:15am Sunday morning as the dog starts barkin'!
Here are the 2022 Indy Supercross AirWheeliesOnly.com Versus Challenge Matchups
The Match-ups
Things were looking a bit stale for creating new and exciting matchups, so instead of splitting by classes, I am mixing it up a bit more.
Chase Sexton vs. Jason Anderson vs. Cooper Webb
Eli Tomac vs. Jett Lawrence (Better finish, tie breaker is margin of victory of least deficit behind leader)
Brandon Scharer vs. Dominique Thury
Jordan Smith vs. Mitchell Oldenburg
Freddie Noren vs. Alex Ray
Marshal Weltin vs. Josh Osby
Kyle Chisholm vs. Phil Nicoletti
Does Gared Steinke make the main event?
Josh Varize vs. Derek Drake
Henry Miller vs. Alex Martin (Better finish, tie breaker is least deficit behind leader)
Chex Picks
Chase Sexton vs. Jason Anderson vs. Cooper Webb
Who will bounce back from their DNF and getting banged up in Detroit best? If Webb couldn't even put his hand on the bar a week ago, and it sounds like he has an actual injury, I definitely can't pick him. Sexton is the youngest and will likely bounce back, but he has to be banged up from all his hits. Anderson's body is likely fine, and as long as the concussion symptoms are gone, he will be nearly 100%, and he's been better than these guys most the races all year when he's 100%.
Eli Tomac vs. Jett Lawrence (Better finish, tie breaker is margin of victory of least deficit behind leader)
This one is a flip of a coin for me. I could easily see both of them winning and I could also see both of them taking it easy on the rutted Indy track. Tomac excels when the conditions get tough, and his closest competitors (with the exception of Malcolm Stewart) are coming in banged up from Detroit. I also think it's more likely Jett makes a big mistake in the tough conditions, though I wouldn't bank on that.
Brandon Scharer vs. Dominique Thury
The ClubMX trainer or the ClubMX 250 West rider jumping up to the 450 class, who will go do better? I have to go with the trainer and his experience. Scharer might not be a full-time racer anymore, but he might be better than he's ever been. The ClubMX program is definitely superior to any program he had as a full-time racer, he's technically sound, and he will avoid the big mistakes allowing him to cruise into the main event. Thury is maybe a touch faster in speed, but he's still young and mistake prone. Not a good mix with a rutted track.
Jordan Smith vs. Mitchell Oldenburg
Which of the former factory supported guys who have landed on different Honda support teams will fare better? You know you are going to get blazing speed and potential with Jordan Smith, but he's likely going to hit the dirt at least once on the evening... it's only a question of how hard and how many times. I feel like Oldenburg has found a nice home with the Smartop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts Honda team and is going to continue building. I see a podium or two from him before the season is over. Oldenburg will not only beat Jordan Smith in Indy, but in the points standings as well.
Freddie Noren vs. Alex Ray
Freddie is back and putting down some great times in Indy, even out of the B practice when the track looks worse than an alley in a third world country at 4am. He's been noticably better at Supercross all season and seems to have calmed down some of the scary moments from the past. All positives for Noren, so why am I picking Alex Ray? Simply because ARay is comfortable being sketchy, and that's the only way you can get around this Indianapolis track. Also, he won't quit; it's not in his vocabulary. And finally, if you can't be first on the track, you need to at least be the best in your truck. Captain Cade over at SGB Unlimited/Storm Lake Honda is coming off a top 10 finish; ARay needs to do something special to beat him and take the leadership role of the team back.
Marshal Weltin vs. Josh Osby
Josh Osby and the Phoenix Honda team split ways as Osby's results and riding was terrible to start the season. While the PR said things were mutual and Osby was going to "heal some old injuries"; I am going to call bullsh!t... If that was the case he wouldn't be borrowing his buddy Marshal Weltin's practice bike to race in Indy.
Weltin is crazy fast outdoors and has the wins in Canada to prove it, but his record in Supercross hasn't been as strong. He's been solid this year, but he doesn't have the SX skills of Josh Osby.
Osby is motivated to prove a point. Rumor has it the Phoenix team has been struggling with their bikes and the Yamaha is a great platform that Osby has ridden before. With that motivation and no pressure, Osby will shock people with a great finish in Indy. Weltin might need to repo that practice bike before any other races.
Kyle Chisholm vs. Phil Nicoletti
Grueling, demanding, sketchy... dare I say deathcross? That is going to be the Indy track in the main events and no one takes advantage of the chaos in those situations more than Kyle Chisholm. Nicoletti has been very good this season, but in these conditions he's no match for Chiz.
Does Gared Steinke make the main event? YES
No, I haven't partaken in any of the devil's lettuce that is definitely spewing it's sweet aroma from the Stank Bus in the back 40 of the privateer pits right now. I also haven't been inhaling the wonderful scents of two stroke race fuel. Stank is a veteran, a man of opportunity, and a damn talented rider. It will be a night of chaos on the track for most riders, but it'll be only a night of chaos at the after party after Stank Dog puts the 250 2 stroke in the main event in Indy. Bars close at 4am, so don't be surprised to hear some 2 stroke burnouts in the Indy streets at 4:15am Sunday morning as the dog starts barkin'!
Josh Varize vs. Derek Drake
I would imagine Varize is on the cusp of jumping back into the factory Rockstar Husqvarna truck with Stilez bowing out due to a wrist injury. He needs to put in a solid result to show his worth, but also has to be sure to survive the difficult conditions.
Derek Drake hasn't been talked about enough this season in my opinion. He's quietly been just outside the top 10 in all but one race. He's getting the experience he needs to be better at Supercross and he just looks more mature and comfortable on the bike now. I think he'll crack the top 10 and finish in front of Varize in Indianapolis.
Henry Miller vs. Alex Martin (Better finish, tie breaker is least deficit behind leader)
Two of Minnesota's finest veteran pros. Miller has made the jump back to the 250 class for 2022 while Alex jumped up to the 450. Both riders have had quiet, but pretty good years. Martin started off a bit rough, but he found his footing a few rounds in. He's a solid main event guy, but hasn't really shown the flashes of brilliance I thought we might see. I would expect him to be battling with Hartranft and consistently beating guys like Clason, and that isn't happening.
Miller has been steady, but I think he's better than the results are showing. I see Miller using his veteran experience to out-last the kids in the ruts to grab his best result of the season in Indy.
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